A decision support tool for optimizing integration of specialty crop enterprises in grain production systemsHoagland L1, Hodges L2, Brandle JR3, Helmers GA4, Francis C21Department of Horticulture and L

Agricultural production in the Midwestern US is highly concentrated with 85% percent of cropland acreage planted to only corn and soybeans (NASS, 2006). Crop specialization has improved the productivity and market efficiency of grain based commodity crops, but maintaining profitability has become increasingly difficult as input prices continue to rise while grain prices fluctuate substantially (Dimitri et al., 2005). In addition, limited diversity has resulted in a number of negative environmental and social consequences. Diversification is one alternative to help farming operations become more sustainable and survive in today’s unpredictable climate. Crop diversification and livestock integration can result in a series of synergisms and complementarities among farming system components, leading to more balanced nutrient and pest management cycles (Altieri and Rosset, 1996), greater farm income (Barbieri and Mahoney, 2009), and reduced income variability and risk (Helmers et al., 2001). Dramatic shifts away from the production of corn and soybeans are unlikely as farmers possess the skills and equipment to produce these crops. However, the integration of livestock or specialty crops as supplementary enterprises could help grain producers obtain the benefits of diversification. Our research was undertaken to determine the feasibility of integrating various supplemental enterprises into a traditional Midwestern corn-soybean rotation system. The objective was to identify supplemental cropping alternatives that have agronomic and market feasibility, would contribute to the environmental and economic sustainability of the operation, fit in during times of low labor requirements for corn and soybean operations, and not require substantial additional specialized machinery or knowledge by the farmer.