Sustainable Agriculture Oral History Series

Leaders in Alternative and Sustainable Agriculture

Dr. James A. Duke

Agricultural Research Service, USDA

Beltsville, Maryland

Dr. James A. Duke is a lecturer, author, plant explorer and former USDA botanist with the Agricultural Research Service. He created the groundbreaking Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases at the USDA as well as publishing numerous books such as the Handbook of Legumes of World Economic Importance. Dr. Duke is also famed as an expert on herbs and alternative crop plants, penning titles such as the CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants, and many others.

National Agricultural Library Cataloging Record

1. Introduction, music and early life [11 minutes]
2. Early botanical interests and early memories [11 minutes]
3. Memories, early work, music and high school [10 minutes]
4. College, military service and post graduate work [14 minutes]
5. Work in the botany of Latin America [8 minutes]
6. Medicinal plants and publications [8 minutes]
7. Dr. Duke’s farm and herb garden – tobacco, lobelia, may apple and sweet annie [11 minutes]
8. Photopheresis, ginseng and culinary herb farming [11 minutes]
9. Farming practices, evening primrose, thoughts on the future and video of the farm [11 minutes]

1. When did you have pet goats? [2 minutes]
2. What was the focus of your ethnobotanical research in Panama? [4 minutes]
3. What was the USDA Medicinal Plant Resources Laboratory? [3 minutes]
4. What is photopheresis? [5 minutes]

Leaders in Alternative and Sustainable Agriculture

Dr. Charles A. Francis

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lincoln, Nebraska

Dr. Charles A. Francis served as Director of the Center for Sustainable Agricultural Systems at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Dr. Francis's research has focused on the areas of long-term and flexible crop rotations, on-farm research design and interpretation, and the interface between urban and rural areas. As an author, speaker, and professor, Dr. Francis is an influential spokesperson on behalf of sustainable agriculture.

National Agricultural Library Cataloging Record

1. Introduction, early life, education and international work and work with Rodale [14 minutes]
2. Work at the University of Nebraska and defining sustainable agriculture [10 minutes]
3. Center of Sustainable Agriculture Systems, crop trials and participatory research [11 minutes]
4. Ongoing research and the need for collaboration [8 minutes]
5. National Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources Conference and predictions for the future [8 minutes]

1. What is your experience and philosophy on implementing agricultural programs overseas? [2 minutes]
2. Why do you define sustainable agriculture as a philosophy? [3 minutes]
3. How do you view the relationship between farmers and researchers? [4 minutes]
4. How do you see the future use of technology and measures in agriculture? [4 minutes]

Leaders in Alternative and Sustainable Agriculture

Dr. Wes Jackson

The Land Institute

Salina, Kansas

Dr. Wes Jackson is the co-founder, with Dana Jackson, of the Land Institute and has researched and influenced thought on the environment and agriculture in general and specifically perennial polyculture cropping systems based on the prairie ecosystem. He is a farmer, philosopher and author of several landmark books on the subject of sustainable agriculture.

National Agricultural Library Cataloging Record

1. Introduction, family, academic life and founding of the Land Institute [12 minutes]
2. Man and the Environment and the Land Institute as a school of thought [8 minutes]
3. New roots for Agriculture, the history of soil conservation and prairie as analogy [11 minutes]
4. Friendship with Wendell Berry and the state of agriculture and soil [9 minutes]
5. The next twenty years and global agriculture [12 minutes]
6. The future and the age of discovery [8 minutes]

1. What is the educational philosophy of the Land Institute? [4 minutes]
2. What is the major principal guiding the Land Institute? 5 minutes]
3. What are the irritations that you talk about in Altars of Unhewn Stone? [5 minute]
4. What are your hopes for 2090? [5 minutes]

Leaders in Alternative and Sustainable Agriculture

Dr. Fred Kirschenmann

At the time of this interview, Dr. Kirschenmann had returned from the world of academia to operate a 3,000+ acre certified organic family farm in Windsor, North Dakota and successfully converted it to organic production. Currently, he shares an appointment as Distinguished Fellow for the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University and as President of Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in Pocantico Hills, New York. He still oversees management of his family's farm and is a professor in the ISU Department of Religion and Philosophy. He is still active in sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation organizations and in demand as a conference speaker.

National Agricultural Library Cataloging Record

1. Introduction and early years and formation of the Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society [13 minutes]
2. Transitioning the farm to organic, crop diversity and marketing [8 minutes]
3. Farm machinery, seeds, energy, cover crop and soil fertility research [12 minutes]
4. Organic weed and pest management, commitment to the land and the future of agriculture [11 minutes]
5. Producer/Consumer relationships and the future [9 minutes]

1. What was the genesis of the Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society? [4 minutes]
2. What kind of specialized machinery do you use on your farm? [3 minutes]
3. How have you reduced fuel consumption by farming organically? [1 minute]
4. What is the relationship between organic farmers and organic consumers? [3 minutes]

Leaders in Alternative and Sustainable Agriculture

Dr. William J. Lockeretz

Tufts University

Medford, Massachusetts

Dr. William J. Lockeretz was originally trained as a physicist, but turned his considerable research talents to environmental concerns, especially as they influence agriculture. He is an original thinker and a sought-after speaker who has long championed sustainable agriculture.

National Agricultural Library Cataloging Record

1.  Introduction, early life, education and move to Tuffs [10 minutes]
2.  Research on unconventional farming, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements Conferences and defining the concept of sustainable agriculture [10 minutes]
3.  Research on energy and agriculture, crop alternatives for sustainability and the rise of the soybean [13 minutes]
4.  Looking back at career, the relationship between urban and rural and writing and teaching [11 minutes]
5.  Thoughts on the future and cautions about looking back at the past [10 minutes]

1. What is the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM)? [2 minutes]
2. What do you think about the issue of energy use in agriculture? [3 minutes]
3. What are your thoughts on the relationship between cities and agriculture? [5 minutes]
4. What has been the environmental movement’s effect on agriculture? [3 minutes]

Leaders in Alternative and Sustainable Agriculture

Jayne MacLean

Alternative Farming Systems Information Center

National Agricultural Library

Beltsville, Maryland

Jayne MacLean was Coordinator of the Alternative Farming Systems Information Center, National Agricultural Library, from 1986 until her retirement in December, 1993. She was one of the first USDA employees to openly support alternative agriculture.

National Agricultural Library Cataloging Record

1. Introduction, organic programs and the formation of AFSIC [11 minutes]
2. Early AFSIC and the establishment of LISA [8 minutes]
3. Role of AFSIC, outreach, sustainability and the sustainable movement [10 minutes]
4. Low input farming, LISAs transformation into SARE and SAN and predictions for the future [11 minutes]

How did the Alternative Farming Systems Information Center get started? [4 minutes]

What are the impacts of sustainable agriculture on rural development? [3 minutes]

Do you feel encouraged by sustainable agriculture today? [4 minute]

What are your predictions for the future? [2 minutes]

Leaders in Alternative and Sustainable Agriculture

James Patrick Madden

Institute of Alternative Agriculture

Greenbelt, Maryland

Dr. J. Patrick Madden was for many years a professor at Pennsylvania State University and acting director of USDA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program, formerly known as LISA. He helped to design and develop the program.

National Agricultural Library Cataloging Record

1. Introduction, early life and early career in rural development [10 minutes]
2. Career switch to research on organic agriculture with Rodale and the Cornucopia Project [10 minutes]
3. Agricultural information, flow research and exploratory research [11 minutes]
4. Development of LISA, necessity of low-input farming and research needs [12 minutes]
5. Education, thoughts on Robert Rodale and predictions for the future [12 minutes]

1. What are barriers prohibiting researchers in universities from doing the work that society really needs? [2 minutes]
2. What is the importance of case studies and experiential research? [4 minutes]
3. What low-input myths is the LISA Program helping to dispel? [3 minute]
4. Tell us about your friendship with Robert Rodale. [4 minutes]

Dr. Paul F. O'Connell

Deputy Administrator of the USDA's Cooperative State Research Service and Leadership for the Low-Input Sustainable Agriculture (LISA) Program

Formerly the Deputy Administrator of the USDA's Cooperative State Research Service, Dr. O'Connell has provided leadership for the administration of the Sustainable Agriculture (LISA) Program since its inception in 1988.

National Agricultural Library Cataloging Record

1. 1. Introduction, early life, education and early career [9 minutes]
2. 2. Special programs work- industrial uses, aquaculture and small farms [7 minutes]
3. 3. History and structure of LISA [13 minutes]
4. 4. LISA projects, immediate future and goals [11 minutes]
5. 5. Historical low input farms, ecological impacts of monocropping and predictions for the future [8 minutes]

1. Introduction, early life, education and early career [9 minutes]
2. Special programs work- industrial uses, aquaculture and small farms [7 minutes]
3. History and structure of LISA [13 minutes]
4. LISA projects, immediate future and goals [11 minutes]
5. Historical low input farms, ecological impacts of monocropping and predictions for the future [8 minutes]

Leaders in Alternative and Sustainable Agriculture

Robert Rodale

The Rodale Institute

Emmaus, Pennsylvania

Robert Rodale is the son of J.I. Rodale, both pioneering promoters of organic farming and gardening in the United States. Robert Rodale carried on his father's work through publications, lectures, agricultural research and inspirational leadership. He built the family publishing company into a major entity and established the Rodale Institute - a leading organization in sustainable agricultural research.

National Agricultural Library Cataloging Record

1. Introduction, J.I. Rodale and the Depression years [12 minutes]
2. Advent of Organic Farming and Gardening magazine, farming, college and early years of Rodale Press [13 minutes]
3. Robert’s start at the press, family life and Rodale Press [10 minutes]
4. Rodale Press and Institute and New Farm magazine [8 minutes]
5. Rodale Press magazines and low-input agriculture [9 minutes]
6. Sustainable agriculture, big ideas and imperatives [9 minutes]
7. Russia, international projects and the Olympics [11 minutes]

1. How did your father become interested in organic farming? [4 minutes]
2. How did your family begin Organic Farming and Gardening magazine? [5 minutes]
3. How did you begin your involvement with Rodale Press? [5 minute]
4. What is the difference between sustainable and regenerative agriculture? [3 minutes]

Dick Thompson

Boone, Iowa

Dick Thompson is a farmer who advocates and practices sustainable agriculture techniques, sharing his knowledge through lectures, workshops and field days. He is a nationally known expert on ridge tillage.

National Agricultural Library Cataloging Record

1. Introduction, background, transition to low-input practices and early influences [12 minutes]
2. Field Days, on farm research and ridge tilling [8 minutes]
3. Animal farming, soil fertility and Practical Farmers of Iowa 11 minutes]
4. Cover crops, rotations and pest control [9 minutes]
5. Animal breeds and tips for transitioning to sustainable farming [10 minutes]
6. The future of sustainable agriculture [9 minutes]

1. How did your field days begin and what are they like now? [5 minutes]
2. How does your farm currently function? [4 minutes]
3. How did the Practical Farmers of Iowa get started? [4 minute]
4. What is your advice for beginning or transitioning farmers? [3 minutes]

Leaders in Alternative and Sustainable Agriculture

Garth Youngberg

Institute of Alternative Agriculture

Greenbelt, Maryland

Dr. I. Garth Youngberg was the founder and director of the Institute for Alternative Agriculture, producing one of the first journals that focused on the research in the field of alternative agriculture. His work in the field of agriculture has had a large affect on his contemporaries leading them to reexamine conventional agricultural practices and explore alternative approaches. In 1988, Dr. Youngberg received the MacArthur Fellowship Award for his work on sustainable agriculture.

National Agricultural Library Cataloging Record

1. Introduction, early life and education [11 minutes]
2. Awareness of alternative agriculture, path to the USDA and the 1980 Organic Report [11 minutes]
3. Reaction to the report and the Institute for Alternative Agriculture [8 minutes]
4. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture, awareness building and institute programs [11 minutes]
5. Research in sustainable agriculture, the MacArthur Fellows Award and the future [12 minutes]

1. What was your involvement in the USDA's 1980 Report and Recommendations on Organic Farming? [4 minutes]
2. How was the Henry A. Wallace Institute for Alternative Agriculture founded? [4 minutes]
3. What activities is the Institute involved in? [4 minute]
4. What are your thoughts on the future? [3 minutes]