Cropping Systems: Where Is the Economics?.

There has been a long history on cropping systems. Extensive work has been done at Iowa State University and other Midwest Universities that revolves around the corn/soybean system. Historically, farming operations were based on a diversified system. Barriers were minimal for entry into alternative farming systems. Overtime, farming systems became more of a monoculture cropping system. This has led to increased inputs in order to maximize output. Monoculture cropping system has led to increased pest, diseases and weeds for example which implies increased inputs to control them. Yields are impacted which has placed greater burden on crop breeders to increase yield and the use of genetics. While research is being performed on the benefits of crop rotation, the adoption has been lacking. Why? The four principle reasons could be: market barriers, financial barriers, policy and lack of technical information. Research could show that a certain cropping system maximizes yields and have positive environmental benefits. Yet, there may not be a market for one of the crops in the cropping system. Financial barriers must be considered in the final product of a cropping system. If the cropping system requires significant capital outlay in terms of equipment, a farmer may not adopt the system. Policy has a major impact. The interactions of marketing loan, reference price and crop insurance by commodity impacts a farmer’s decision. Those interactions can significantly offset any positive gains that a cropping system may provide to a farmer. However, in the 2008 Farm Bill, the Resource Conserving Crop Rotation (RCCR) program under the Conservation Stewardship Program was established to aid farmers in adopting alternative cropping systems. This program was to help offset the market and financial barriers to adopting an improved cropping system. Cropping systems research is critical to the farming sector. However, economics whether derived from market barriers, financial barriers or policy must be incorporated into the final piece of cropping systems research.

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