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National Programs
Agricultural System Competitiveness and Sustainability
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American farms generate more than $200-billion in goods and services on 442-million acres. Profitable farms are also the basis of vibrant rural economies. Consumers benefit from agricultural production that provides abundant choices of products at relatively low costs. However, many farms are suffering from commodity prices that have remained relatively unchanged for decades, while the costs of fuel and other purchased inputs have continued to rise. In addition, there is increasing competition from overseas markets where production costs are comparatively low. At the same time, continued advancement of conservation goals is needed to enhance the natural resource base upon which the nation not only depends for food, feed, fiber, and renewable energy, but also for abundant and high quality supplies of fresh water, clean air, and healthy ecosystems. The challenges producers face regarding productivity, profitability, and natural resource stewardship are complex, so solutions to these challenges are not simple.
The twenty-one projects in USDA-ARS National Program Agricultural System Competitiveness and Sustainability (NP-216) use a similar interdisciplinary systems research approach to bring together the expertise needed to understand how different kinds of farms function and how changing or introducing new technology will affect their productivity, profitability, energy efficiency, and natural resource stewardship. Whether the ARS teams of scientists and universities and industry cooperators are in the Pacific Northwest, Southwest, Great Plains, Midwest, Southeast, or New England, they use their collective scientific talent to find the best combinations of practices for different farming systems to help producers achieve their production goals. NP-216 is one of six ARS National Programs in Natural Resources and Sustainable Agricultural Systems that conduct research at 70 locations comprising a nation-wide network dedicated to helping farms and ranches become more profitable while enhancing the environmental goods and services derived from agricultural lands.
NP-216 Agricultural System Competitiveness and Sustainability contributes towards USDA-ARS Strategic Plan Goal 2: Enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of rural and farm economies Objective 2.2: Increase the efficiency of domestic agricultural production and marketing systems, and Objective 2.1: Expand domestic market opportunities; and Strategic Plan Goal 6: Protect and Enhance the Nation’s Natural Resource Base and Environment.
Current Action Plan (2008-2012), pdf
Organic Research Action Plan (2005), pdf
Previous NP 207 Action Plan (2002-2007 - replaced by NP 216)
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Last Modified: 03/30/2009
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