Climate, Agriculture and Drought: Miscellaneous Papers

Abstract

Agricultural technology has greatly increased the productivity of American agriculture during the past several decades. The higher yields and larger production are a result of better hybrids and varieties, larger application of fertilizers, and better pest control using chemical pesticides. The larger applications of fertilizers and pesticides have resulted in a threat to our environment. This threat was due to an attitude of "if a little is good, more is better." An increasing awareness of environmental concerns by producers and the general public has resulted in the agricultural community reevaluating our recent production practices, and the creation of the Low Input Sustainable Agriculture (LISA) program. Regardless, whether a producer's philosophy is LISA or high input agriculture, the main concern is whether he/she is making a profit.