1. The Cost of Policy Simplification in Conservation Incentive Programs
Armsworth, P. R., Acs, S., Dallimer, M., Gaston, K. J., Hanley, N., Wilson, P. (2012). Ecology Letters, 15(5)
Summary:
This paper examines the effectiveness of simple incentive payments to farmers, such as the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to conserve biodiversity and enhance ecosystem services. The term “simple” refers to “a one-program to achieve all conservation objectives” instead of a variety of programs targeted for specific conservation objectives. The authors argue the sheer variety of conservation objectives demanded by the public tax dollar, including soil stabilization, increases in flora-fauna diversity, water infiltration, and carbon sequestration to name a few, can come nowhere close to being met by a simple program. The paper points out simplified programs are currently justified as a means to decrease administrative burden for designing and implementing more holistic management strategies. The author’s findings show policy simplifications result in a 50–100% loss in achieving environmental objectives, depending on the conservation target. The authors suggest that even though administration costs to design and implement more holistic agri-environment schemes might increase by 70%, additional costs for more complex policies are worth bearing.
2. Categorization of Grazing Systems to Aid the Development of Land Use Policy in Aragon, Spain
Barrantes, O., Ferrer, C., Reine, R., Broca, A. (2009). Grass and Forage Science, 64(1), 26-41.
Summary:
Low-input large-scale grazing systems constitute a substantial part of what is termed “High Nature Value” farmland in Europe. Despite the social-ecological advantages associated with grazing pastures, no government program exists to encourage this type of agriculture. Lack of incentive programs are partially due to the variety of grazing practices, including: grazing strategies such as low density continuous and high to moderate density intensive managed rotational, livestock variety including cattle, cows, goats, swine, and sheep, and product variety including dairy, meat, and fiber. This variety makes it difficult to design a simple incentive program suitable to all grazing types. The authors then develop categories (typologies) of livestock systems within their ecoregion to help inform policy formation. The authors conclude grazing advocates need to categorize regional grazing typologies to inform regional policy formation.
3. Southern European Grazing Lands: Production, Environmental and Landscape Management Aspects.
Hadjigeorgiou, I., Osoro, K., Fragoso de Almeida, J.P., Molle, G. 2005. Livestock Production Science 96(1):51-59.
Summary:
The authors of this paper champion grazing as a sustainable form of food production and suggest the E.U. should focus upon creating policy and programs to encourage grazing over confinement livestock husbandry. Pro-grazing arguments are framed from a socio-ecological perspective. Challenges to grazing expansion in southern Europe are identified. The paramount challenge to grazing expansion is the inability for current confinement systems to switch to low input grazing systems. Confinement based systems list three primary reasons for their inability to switch over to low-input grazing operations, including: 1) the relentless debt burden associated with high-input confinement livestock husbandry, 2) perceptions of lower gross production associated with low-input grazing systems, and 3) lack of government policy to ease the transition.
4. Green futures for grassland: A regional case study on farmer engagement to develop measures for improving environmental benefits on intensively managed grassland
Hopkins, A., Lobley, M. (2007). In Vliegher A. d., Carlier L. (Eds.), HYPERLINK “http://www.cabdirect.org:80/search.html?q=ct%3A%22Permanent+and+temporary+grassland%3A+plant%2C+environment+and+economy.+Proceedings+of+the+14th+Symposium+of+the+European+Grassland+Federation%2C+Ghent%2C+Belgium%2C+3-5+September+2007.%22″Proceedings of the 14th Symposium of the European Grassland Federation, Ghent, Belgium, 3-5 September 2007.
Summary:
The goal of this project is to engage livestock farmers, environmentalists, processors, and consumers to find solutions that sustain agricultural production while improving ecosystem function and service. Through regional meetings, farmers identify management changes and financial implications as barriers to switching from confinement high-input based livestock production to grazing low-input based livestock production. Also, many current confinement based farmers lack the knowledge necessary to design, construct, and manage successful grazing operations. Likewise, processors and consumers lack information necessary to capitalize on emerging markets and benefits associated with pasture based agriculture. Meeting participants identified the need for local demonstration sites as important for the near-term expansion of grazing in Europe.
5. China’s Grassland Contract Policy and its Impacts on Herder Ability to Benefit in Inner Mongolia: Tragic feedbacks
Li, W., & Huntsinger, L. (2011). Ecology and Society, 16(2), 1.
Summary:
Ecological integrity and associated livestock production from Northern China grasslands has declined since the 1980s. The declines are associated with the implementation of the “grassland contracting policy” which re-allocated former grazing common-lands into quasi-private herder units. This paper examines the relationship between policy implementation and the declines in ecosystem integrity and grassland production in Northern China. The authors conclude the individual ownership policy in Northern China semi-arid regions has eroded local knowledge and associated social-ecological resilience. The quasi-private herder units place inflexible boundaries that prevent herders from adjusting to non-equilibrium conditions (e.g. extreme weather events) by removing the flexibility of “otor” or herd movement. The result of this inflexibility sets in motion a series of feedbacks which cause declines in pasture health, ecological integrity, and farmer-community prosperity. In conclusion, sectionalism in semi-arid regions disrupts biotic landscape patterns causing rapid and permanent declines in ecological integrity.
6. Management of Grasslands in Intensive Dairy Livestock Farming.
Kristensen, T., Soegaard, K., Kristensen, I.S. 2005. Animal Production Science 96(1):61-73.
Summary:
Recent policy change in the E.U. potentially makes grass-based livestock production competitive with confinement based livestock production. This paper reviews different pasture production systems to extrapolate ideas on how to maximize dairy output. The question this paper proposes to answer concerns the ability for pasture based agriculture to supply the current E.U. dairy demand. The authors identify research needs that include: production of pasture and forage crops, the role of supplemental feeds, seasonal effects, livestock behavior, and the role of modern technology in pasturing. The paper concludes the lack of grazing knowledge makes it difficult to assess pasture based agriculture’s potential to meet E.U. demands.
7. Societal Expectations of Livestock Farming in Relation to Environmental Effects in Europe
Milne, J. A. (2005). Livestock Production Science, 96(1), 3-9.
Summary:
The intensification of confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) leads to adverse impacts in air and water quality. European countries regulate these impacts through a variety of mechanisms, which are viewed favorably by the public. Further reductions in adverse environmental impacts require additional regulation. Despite the publics’ acceptance of current regulation, the author suggests consumers are more motivated for additional regulation through their perception of human food quality and animal welfare instead of adverse effects on air and water quality, and these attitudes will likely to prevail into the next decade.
8. Low-intensity Livestock Systems in Europe: An Opportunity for Quality Products, Recreation Revenues and Environmental Conservation
Sebastia, M. T., Canals, R. M., Marks, E., Llurba, R. (2008). In Hopkins A., Gustafsson T., Bertilsson J., Dalin G., Nilsdotter-Linde N. and Sporndly E. (Eds.). Conference proceedings: 22nd General Meeting of the European Grassland Federation, Uppsala, Sweden, 9-12 June 2008″
Summary:
This paper examines the role of low-intensity livestock operations as an innovative management procedure for future change scenarios. The authors suggest low-intensity livestock systems preserve biodiversity, provide ecosystem services, and offer an income source for marginal agricultural areas and for value added producers. Also, low-input requirements associated with low-intensity grazing can economically out-perform high intensity agriculture. The authors conclude low intensity livestock operations offer a resilient means to off-set future uncertainties associated with climate change and energy resources.
9. Barriers to the Adoption of Management-intensive Grazing Among Dairy Farmers in the Northeastern United States
Winsten, J. R., Richardson, A., Kerchner, C. D., Lichau, A., Hyman, J. M. (2011). Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, 26(2), 104-113.
Summary:
The authors use survey results from a 1000 dairy producers in northeastern US to determine perceived barriers to the adoption of management-intensive grazing (MIG). Survey results indicate 13% of respondents utilize MIG to feed their herd, while 47% use some form of pasture, and 40% are completely confinement based. Respondents report the lack of information and technical assistance is a minor barrier to adoption of MIG. More importantly, confinement based producers with higher debt ratios view the financially related barriers as significant obstacles.