Diversification of traditional row-crop farming in the Corn Belt is seen as advantageous in providing a wider economic base, decreasing economic risk associated with the link between commodity grain and cattle, increasing net farm income, and increasing biodiversity in the region. As farm size has increased to provide sufficient farm income, farm operations during the critical planting and harvesting windows are seen as limits to additional on-farm enterprises

Brandle, James R.

Francis, Charles A.

Helmers, Glenn A.

Hoagland, Lori A.

Hodges, Laurie

English

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University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
Agronomy & Horticulture -- Faculty Publications Agronomy and Horticulture Department 
7-2008 
Does the Corn/Soybean Farmer Have Time for Alternative Crops? 
[ABSTRACT] 
Lori A. Hoagland 
Washington State University, hoagland@wsu.edu 
Laurie Hodges 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, lhodges1@unl.edu 
Glenn A. Helmers 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, ghelmers1@unl.edu 
James R. Brandle 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, jbrandle1@unl.edu 
Charles A. Francis 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, cfrancis2@unl.edu 
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/agronomyfacpub 
 Part of the Plant Sciences Commons 
Hoagland, Lori A.; Hodges, Laurie; Helmers, Glenn A.; Brandle, James R.; and Francis, Charles A., "Does the 
Corn/Soybean Farmer Have Time for Alternative Crops? [ABSTRACT]" (2008). Agronomy & Horticulture -- 
Faculty Publications. 383. 
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/agronomyfacpub/383 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Agronomy and Horticulture Department at 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Agronomy & Horticulture -- 
Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. 
(173) Does the Corn/Soybean Farmer
Have Time for Alternative Crops?
Lori A. Hoagland
Washington State University-Pullman, Pullman, WA; lori_
hoagland@wsu.edu
Laurie Hodges*
Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE; LHodges@unl.edu
Glenn A. Helmers
Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE; ghelmers@unlnotes.unl.edu
James R. Brandle
Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE; jbrandle@unl.edu
Charles A. Francis
Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE; cfrancis2@unl.edu
Diversification of traditional row-crop farming in the Corn Belt is
seen as advantageous in providing a wider economic base, decreasing
economic risk associated with the link between commodity grain and
cattle, increasing net farm income, and increasing biodiversity in the
region. As farm size has increased to provide sufficient farm income,
farm operations during the critical planting and harvesting windows are
seen as limits to additional on-farm enterprises. We conducted a study
to see if sufficient labor hours were available for diversification into
horticultural crops and the effect on profitability. The labor availability
and enterprise schedule of a typical farm producer in eastern Nebraska
were determined. This was programmed into a linear programming
model along with the enterprise schedules of three supplemental
alternative production scenarios to determine the optimal acreage
allocation. Results of the study indicate that a significant amount of
underutilized labor exists in a typical corn-soybean rotation and the
integration of additional crops is feasible. Grazing of stalk residues
alone increased producer profitability but did not make use of the
underutilized labor; however, full integration of livestock should be
further explored. Integration of two alternative cabbage production
scenarios as well as an agroforestry alternative that included decora-
tive woody ftorals made use of the underutilized labor and increased
profitability. Due to market constraints associated with the woody
ftorals, the winter wheat/fall cabbage production scenario was the most
successful option. Overall, the integration of supplemental alternative
crops has the ability to make use of seasonal underutilized labor in a
corn-soybean rotation typical to midwestern agriculture.
Specified Source(s) of Funding: Department, College, State and/or
HATCH Private (Association, Foundation, Industry) Industry/Associa-
tion Program Name, Award Number: Valent Biosciences Corp.
1228 HORTSCIENCE, VOL. 43(4), JULY 2008
Hoagland, Hodges, Helmers, Brandle & Francis in HortScience (2008) 43: 1,228


Does the Corn/Soybean Farmer Have Time for Alternative Crops? [ABSTRACT]

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Agronomy & Horticulture -- Faculty Publications Agronomy and Horticulture Department 7-2008 Does the Corn/Soybean Farmer Have Time for Alternative Crops? [ABSTRACT] Lori A. Hoagland Washington State University, hoagland@wsu.edu Laurie Hodges University of Nebraska-Lincoln, lhodges1@unl.edu Glenn A. Helmers University of Nebraska-Lincoln, ghelmers1@unl.edu James R. Brandle University of Nebraska-Lincoln, jbrandle1@unl.edu Charles A. Francis University of Nebraska-Lincoln, cfrancis2@unl.edu Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/agronomyfacpub  Part of the Plant Sciences Commons Hoagland, Lori A.; Hodges, Laurie; Helmers, Glenn A.; Brandle, James R.; and Francis, Charles A., "Does the Corn/Soybean Farmer Have Time for Alternative Crops? [ABSTRACT]" (2008). Agronomy & Horticulture -- Faculty Publications. 383. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/agronomyfacpub/383 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Agronomy and Horticulture Department at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Agronomy & Horticulture -- Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. (173) Does the Corn/Soybean FarmerHave Time for Alternative Crops?Lori A. HoaglandWashington State University-Pullman, Pullman, WA; lori_hoagland@wsu.eduLaurie Hodges*Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE; LHodges@unl.eduGlenn A. HelmersUniv. of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE; ghelmers@unlnotes.unl.eduJames R. BrandleUniv. of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE; jbrandle@unl.eduCharles A. FrancisUniv. of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE; cfrancis2@unl.eduDiversification of traditional row-crop farming in the Corn Belt isseen as advantageous in providing a wider economic base, decreasingeconomic risk associated with the link between commodity grain andcattle, increasing net farm income, and increasing biodiversity in theregion. As farm size has increased to provide sufficient farm income,farm operations during the critical planting and harvesting windows areseen as limits to additional on-farm enterprises. We conducted a studyto see if sufficient labor hours were available for diversification intohorticultural crops and the effect on profitability. The labor availabilityand enterprise schedule of a typical farm producer in eastern Nebraskawere determined. This was programmed into a linear programmingmodel along with the enterprise schedules of three supplementalalternative production scenarios to determine the optimal acreageallocation. Results of the study indicate that a significant amount ofunderutilized labor exists in a typical corn-soybean rotation and theintegration of additional crops is feasible. Grazing of stalk residuesalone increased producer profitability but did not make use of theunderutilized labor; however, full integration of livestock should befurther explored. Integration of two alternative cabbage productionscenarios as well as an agroforestry alternative that included decora-tive woody ftorals made use of the underutilized labor and increasedprofitability. Due to market constraints associated with the woodyftorals, the winter wheat/fall cabbage production scenario was the mostsuccessful option. Overall, the integration of supplemental alternativecrops has the ability to make use of seasonal underutilized labor in acorn-soybean rotation typical to midwestern agriculture.Specified Source(s) of Funding: Department, College, State and/orHATCH Private (Association, Foundation, Industry) Industry/Associa-tion Program Name, Award Number: Valent Biosciences Corp.1228 HORTSCIENCE, VOL. 43(4), JULY 2008Hoagland, Hodges, Helmers, Brandle & Francis in HortScience (2008) 43: 1,228

Does the Corn/Soybean Farmer Have Time for Alternative Crops? [Abstract]

https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1383&amp;context=agronomyfacpub

Does the Corn/Soybean Farmer Have Time for Alternative Crops? [ABSTRACT]

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