Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC)
AFSIC specializes in locating and accessing information related to alternative enterprises and crops as well as alternative cropping systems. Librarians/information specialists provide free library services on request: referrals to books, journal articles, internet sites, experts, and organizations and agencies. Their publications, "Quick Bibliographies" and reference guides include Community Supported Agriculture Resources for Farmers; Organic Agricultural Products: Marketing and Trade Resources; and Where to Find Sustainable Agriculture Research Online?. All publications are online. Recently, the Web site added "Organic Roots," a searchable electronic collection of historic pre-1942 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Technical Bulletins related to organic agriculture.
Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC)
National Agricultural Library, Room 132
10301 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville MD 20705-2351
Phone: 301-504-6559 or 301-504-6153
fax 301-504-6927
TDD/TTY: 301-504-6856
E-mail AFSIC
Web site: http://afsic.nal.usda.gov
"ATTRA provides technical assistance to farmers, Extension agents, market gardeners, agricultural researchers, and other ag professionals... Topics addressed by ATTRA can be categorized into three broad areas: sustainable farming production practices, alternative crop and livestock enterprises, and innovative marketing." In addition to direct assistance via telephone and a recently added "Ask a Sustainable Agriculture Expert" e-mail service, ATTRA provides dozens of free online farmer-ready publications on specific practices, crops, and enterprises. Recent titles include Oilseed Processing for Small-scale Producers, Enterprise Budgets and Production Costs for Organic Production, and Field Bindweed Control Alternatives. There are also newsletters, related links and resource guides.
ATTRA
P.O. Box 3657, Fayetteville AR 72702
Phone: toll-free 1-800-346-9140 (English); 800-411-3222 (Espanol)
Web site: http://attra.ncat.org/
SAN is the communications and outreach arm of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program, a USDA-funded initiative that sponsors competitive grants for sustainable agriculture research and education. SAN is dedicated to the exchange of scientific and practical information on sustainable agriculture systems; its resources include the SANET-MG listserv, free bulletins, minimally priced CDs and books, and a searchable database of all funded SARE project reports. Their most recent bulletins: Diversifying Cropping Systems and Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture. Most documents are online.
Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN)
10300 Baltimore Avenue
Building 046 BARC-WEST
Beltsville MD 20705-2350
Phone: 301-504-6425 or 301-504-5236; fax 301-504-5207
E-mail: san@sare.org
Web site: http://www.sare.org/
The Center serves "Missouri farmers, Extension staff, government personnel and people who want to begin farming, diversify their current operation, or find ways to profit from small amounts of acreage." Anyone may access their Web site resources, which include an on-line newsletter, and a comprehensive database of full-text, on-line Extension and related how-to publications from all states and on many alternatives, "from Asparagus to Watermelons, and Aquaculture to Worms."
While aimed at California producers, the Center offers a great deal of information useful to all. Publications for purchase include Small Farm Handbook and The Specialty and Minor Crops, and Production Practices and Sample Costs booklets focusing on specific crops/geographic areas. The Center also features the Center's Small Farm News, directories of Extension publications and small farm advisors, and a searchable 1600 item online library that allows ordering of publications which can be sent out via mail or fax.
Small Farm Center
University of California
One Shields Avenue
Davis CA 95616-8699
Phone: 530-752-8136; fax 530-752-7716
E-mail: sfcenter@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://www.sfc.ucdavis.edu
The New Farm: Farmer-to-Farmer Know-How from Rodale Institute
This recently renewed version of Rodale's New Farm Magazine is strictly online, and, presents "success stories with expert resources for crop and livestock production, direct marketing, local food systems, policy campaigns and community-building collaborations." New Farm includes a newsletter, news stories, research reports, organic price indexes, interactive discussions and surveys, and more.
The Organic Agriculture Consortium (OAC)/Scientific Congress on Organic Agricultural Research (SCOAR) provides this collaborative database of "current, accurate, scientifically-based or practically validated information about organic agriculture. The site contains information on production, economic data, research results, farmer anecdotes, certification information, transition strategies, as well as many other subjects related to organic agriculture."
"AgMRC brings together experts from three of the nation's leading agricultural universities - Iowa State University, Kansas State University and the University of California - into a dynamic, electronically based center to create and present information about value-added agriculture." Recent publications include Where to Find Information for Doing Marketing and Business Studies, Mushroom Industry Profile, and Fin-fish Aquaculture Industry Page and Profile.
Agricultural Marketing Resource Center (AgMRC)
1111 NSRIC
Ames, IA 50011
Phone: toll free 866-277-5567
E-mail: agmrc@iastate.edu
Web site: http://www.agmrc.org
The rich information at this site is available by searching on crop names; searching on state and county names for currently harvested crops and related USDA Census of Agriculture statistics; by accessing and downloading full-text publications; finding related experts and conferences; and through an e-mail discussion group. Full-text publications include proceedings of three National New Crops Symposia: Advances in New Crops (1990), New Crops (1993), and Progress in New Crops (1996).
NewCROP
Center for New Crops and Plant Products
Purdue University
1165 Horticulture Building
West Lafayette IN 47907-1165
Fax: 765-494-0391
Web site: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/
Plants for a Future: Resource and Information Centre for Edible and Otherwise Useful Plants
"Plants For A Future is a resource centre for rare and unusual plants, particularly those which have edible, medicinal or other uses." Located in the UK, its services include an on-line database, which currently consists of nearly 7,000 species of plants. The database is searchable by scientific name, common name or family; edible, medicinal or other use; or search for plants native to a particular area or a particular habitat.
"Select crops that may be suitable for small scale farming by limited-resource farmers and small landowners. You will be provided with Web links to cultural requirements and marketing strategies for the crops and states you choose."
NRCS Plants Database: Alternative Crops.
Web site:
http://plants.usda.gov/ Select "Alternative Crops" from the menu on the left side of the screen.
A monthly magazine, Growing for Market focuses on "news and ideas for market gardeners." Subjects include specialty produce, dried and cut flowers, and herbs; organic methods are emphasized. Feature articles are supplemented with resource information, commercial advertising, and an annual buyers guide to sources and suppliers.
"The original how-to magazine of alternative and traditional crops, livestock, and direct marketing;" published bi-monthly. Publisher/editor/farmer Ronald E. Macher also has written a book, Making Your Small Farm Profitable, aimed specifically at "beginning farmers or those seeking profitable alternatives." Ordering information for the book, and for back issues of the magazine is available on the Web site. Small Farm Today also sponsors the annual National Small Farm Trade Show and Conference held in Columbia, MO.
Small Farm Today
Missouri Farm Publishing Inc.
3903 W. Ridge Trail Road
Clark MO 65243
Phone: 800-633-2535 or 573-687-3525
fax 573-687-3148
E-mail: smallfarm@socket.net Web site: http://www.smallfarmtoday.com/
AquaNIC strives to be "the gateway to the world's electronic resources for aquaculture information and education." It currently provides access to newsletters, discussion groups, publications, Internet sites, and job listings, among other things. There is also a searchable database of information on specific fish species and aquaculture systems.
Aquaculture Network Information Center (AquaNIC)
Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium
Dauphin Island Sea Laboratory
Web site: http://www.aquanic.org/
ALBC works to conserve rare breeds and genetic diversity in livestock, and operates as a clearinghouse for information on livestock and genetic diversity. They offer publications for sale; their Other Sites of Interest (http://www.albc-usa.org/links.htm) links page is especially comprehensive.
American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC)
P.O. Box 477
Pittsboro NC 27312
Phone: 919-542-5704; fax 919-545-0022
E-mail: albc@albc-usa.org
Web site: http://www.albc-usa.org/
