Project Bibliography

As part of the Future of Farming and Rural Life in Wisconsin Project, the Wisconsin Academy is compiling a bibliography of relevant readings. These readings represent both "academic" selections, often focused in a particular field of study, and "popular" items, geared towards a more general public, including literature and the arts. The broad list of topics is meant to match key areas of investigation during the project. This list will grow throughout the course of the project. For more information on this aspect of the project, contact Sarah Lloyd.

FOOD SYSTEMS, INNOVATION, AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Food Systems

Busch, L. and C. Bain (2004). "New! Improved? The Transformation of the Global Agrifood System." Rural Sociology 69(3): 321-347.

This article examines the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other forms of regulation that are impacting the global trade in food and agricultural systems. The authors conclude that despite a heavy focus on the role of the WTO, the ability for the private agrifood sector to consolidate and expand internationally is important in understanding the current situation. The article concludes that the private sector, particularly the growing influence of large, "oligopolistic" food retailers, in concert with private standards, are at the center of the transformation of the global agrifood system.

Fromartz, Samuel (2006). Organic, Inc.: Natural Foods and How They Grew. New York, Harcourt

Fromartz tackles the question that many consumers have, "should I buy organic or should I buy local?" Fromartz examines the intersection of the values for healthy food, a healthy environment, and support for local farms and how these values are expressed in the context of the rise of organic food to an $11 billion industry with many big corporate players. The book traces the origins of the natural and organic food "movement" and analyzes what happens when "ideals meet the marketplace."

Goodman, D. and M. Redclift (1991). Refashioning Nature: Food, Ecology and Culture. London, England, Routledge.

This book presents a political economic analysis of the modern food system. The authors take a structural look at U.S. and international connections between technology and policy, consumption and production, social justice and directions of change. They also examine intangible matters "less amenable to structural analysis," such as gender in the household and beyond and cultural patterns of resistance to environmental change. Goodman and Redclift argue that structural processes have fundamentally changed our view of the relationship between food and nature. The authors conclude that without changes in labor process and in gender roles, the transformation of agriculture that has been seen would not be reflected in the wider food system and "in refashioning nature we are doing no more, and no less, than refashioning ourselves."

Kloppenburg, J., J. Hendrickson, et al. (1996). "Coming into the foodshed." Agriculture and Human Values 13(3):33-42.

The authors present the idea of the "foodshed" as a conceptual and methodological tool for examining and acting on where our food is coming from and how it is getting to us. The foodshed is made up of the "physical, biological, social, and intellectual components of the multidimensional space in which we live and eat." This article documents the structural distinctions between the current global food system and the emergence of local food systems. Kloppenburg and co-authors advocate for the establishment of a "commensal community" of sustainable relationships between people (who eat together) and people and the land. The foodshed presented here is based on ideas of "secession," building alternatives to the dominant system rather than directly challenging this system.

Lyson, T. A. (2004). Civic Agriculture: Reconnecting Farm, Food, and Community.
Medford, MA, Tufts University Press.

This book lays out the term "civic agriculture," defined as the "emergence and growth of community-based agriculture and food production activities that not only meet consumer demands for fresh, safe, and locally produced foods, but create jobs, encourage entrepreneurship, and strengthen community identity." Civic agriculture is presented as an alternative to commodity agriculture, maintaining the need for profit at the enterprise level but fulfilling other social needs outside the economic sphere. The book includes a background presentation of the development of commodity agriculture and its implications. The book does not provide new empirical evidence but uses the classic theory of C. Wright Mills, Walter Goldschmidt, and others to build a case for a relocalization and re-embedding of agriculture into civic life.

Stevenson, G. W. (1998). "Agrifood systems for competent ordinary people." Agriculture and Human Values. 15(3): 199-207.

Stevenson introduces the idea of multi-layered "competencies" for building the necessary human infrastructure and negotiating alternative agrifood systems. Analytical competencies are necessary for making connections and evaluating contradictions in socio-economic structures. Relational competencies are tied to the development, nurturing, and adaptation of human relationships in new organizational forms. Ethical competencies involve the ability to understand and negotiate ethical dilemmas and recognize trade-offs. Finally aesthetic and spiritual competencies denote the ability to value beauty and work comfortably with the sacred. Within this framework the author discusses the value of a diversified farm structure that includes significant midsize family farms and in connecting the agrifood systems with human health issues and the consumer.

Wilkins, J. L. (2005). "Eating Right Here: Moving from Consumer to Food Citizen." Agriculture and Human Values. 22(3): 269-273.

This article is the text from the 2004 Presidential Address to the Agriculture, Food and Human Values Society conference. Food citizenship is food related behavior that supports, rather than threatens, the development of a just democratic, social, economic, and environmentally sustainable food system. Concrete examples for individuals and Universities to practice and foster food citizenship are suggested. The current food system, federal food and agriculture policy, local and institutional policies, and the culture of professional nutrition organizations are identified as current barriers to food citizenship.

Yiridoe, E. K., S. Bonti-Ankohmah, and R. C. Martin (2006) "Comparison of consumer perceptions and preference toward organic versus conventionally produced foods: A review and update of the literature." Renewable agriculture and Food Systems: 20(4) 193-205.

This article provides a review and evaluation of empirical studies comparing organic and conventionally grown food products. The authors find that consumers are not consistent in their interpretation of what is organic. Also uncertainty and skepticism about what is organic and organic claims may deter people from purchasing organic produce. The difference in price between organic product when compared to the comparable conventional product is important in consumer purchasing habits. The research reviewed primarily looks at organic fresh fruits and vegetables. Current research does not clarify if other organic products, such as organic meat, are considered "normal" goods or viewed by consumers as luxury goods.

Local Food Systems

The following section provides resources to connect local food producers and consumers in your area. Currently there is not one source that combines all the contacts and venues across Wisconsin. There are several regional efforts listed below as well as information from specific counties that have developed resources.

SavorWisconsin.com is an online directory and resource for consumers to find food and agricultural products and services across the state of Wisconsin. This is an attempt to bring together information on Wisconsin's agricultural producers and connect them to consumers locally, across the state, and beyond. The site allows you to search by county or region and by product. You can also look for restaurants and shops carrying local foods and products and find out about upcoming events. A searchable database of farmer's markets is also a feature of the website.

The Southern Wisconsin Farm Fresh Atlas includes 91 entries of Southern Wisconsin farms and producers of local meat, vegetables, and produce; including flowers and plants, apples, cheese, and eggs. The website includes a description of each producer and a map. Also a listing of where to find hard copies of the Atlas is on the website. For more information email info@reapfoodgroup.org or call Miriam Grunes at 608-294-1114.

Information about the Southeastern Wisconsin Farm Fresh Atlas can be found at
http://www.townandcountryrcd.org/sustainable_agriculture_issue_team.asp
The contents of the atlas are not available on the web but a hard copy can be obtained at local extension offices or by calling the Town and County

Resource and Conservation Development office at 262 335 4855 or by email

There are several other regional efforts under way that are not yet available on the internet.
For information about the Farm Fresh Atlas of Eastern Wisconsin directed to consumers in Eastern Wisconsin counties contact: Robin Calvey, or 920-979-9658.

For information on the Southeast Farm Fresh Atlas directed at consumers in the metropolitan Milwaukee area contact: Rose Skora, or 262-857-1945.

For information on the Farm Fresh Atlas of Western Wisconsin contact: Andrew Dane, or 715-726-7950.

For information on the new Central Wisconsin Farm Fresh Atlas contact: Bill Ebert, or 715-343-6214 or Jasia Steinmetz, or 715-346-4087. This resource is directed to consumers in Adams, Juneau, Marathon, Marquette, Monroe, Portage and Wood counties.
In addition to the regional Atlases, many counties have developed guides to connect consumers and producers and also larger initiatives to promote local food systems at the county level.

Barron County's guide to direct marketed local products can be found at DOWNLOAD

Dane County has taken the first steps to actively promote local food production and consumption across the county and in the region. Information on these initiatives to create an economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable local food system for the Dane County region can be found at

Also in the Dane County area is the Madison Area Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Coalition. CSA's are a way to connect producers and consumers through a subscription-based system. Consumers "subscribe" to receive a weekly box of seasonal vegetables and often pay up-front for their weekly share of the harvest from a particular farm. CSAs create a social and economic tie between farmers and local households, setting up a system of shared responsibility for the harvest. The organization also produces a useful cookbook, From Asparagus to Zucchini: A Guide to Cooking Farm Fresh Seasonal Produce, so you can make delicious dishes from all of your fresh, local produce. For more information on CSAs, to find a farm, or find the cookbook go to

A guide to local agricultural products in Juneau County can be found at DOWNLOAD

The local food guide for Marinette and Oconto Counties features 33 producers as well as the area farmers' markets and can be found at DOWNLOAD

Information on the Rusk County Farmers' Market is on the web at

Sauk County "Farm Connect" guide features vegetable, garden plant, Christmas tree, honey, and beef and pork producers among others in the area and can be found at DOWNLOAD

Information on the Walworth County farmers' market is on the web at

Waushara County list of farms direct marketing products locally can be found at

Innovation

Coughenour, C. M. (2003). "Innovating conservation agriculture: The case of no-till cropping." Rural Sociology 68(2): 278.

This article reviews past research findings on farmers' use of conservation practices. Past research has failed to develop consistent predictive models. The author concludes that conservation tillage and cropping are products of social networks that join farmland, farmers, farm advisors, and farm supply representatives in new ways. Advancement and innovation in conservation agriculture has occurred as a result of new agricultural science and the spread of actor networks.

Dudley, K. M. (2003). "The Entrepreneurial Self." in Fighting for the Farm: Rural American Transformed. J. Adams (ed.). Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania.

This book chapter looks at how the economic restructuring in the 1980s U.S. farm crisis became translated into a question of identity and morals at the local community level. The author advocates that industrial restructuring of agriculture is a "culturally mediated process." The cultural commitment to economic growth is pared with a morality and individualists understanding of risk which constructs "the entrepreneurial self" of farmers.

Hinrichs, C. C., G. Gillespie, et al. (2004). "Social Learning and Innovation at Retail Farmers' Markets." Rural Sociology 69(1): 31-59.

This article uses a 1999 survey of farmers' market vendors to show that social learning is important in innovation and is moderated by human capital and structural factors. Survey results indicate that social learning by vendors through interaction with customers led to increased marketing innovations. Furthermore, engagement with customers and other vendors increased the likelihood of diversification to markets outside of the farmers' market.

Nowak, P. (1992). "Why Farmers Adopt Production Technology." Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 47(1): 14-16.

Contrary to the title, in this article Nowak discusses the different reasons why farmers do not adopt new production technology, particularly residue management systems. Farmers may fall into three categories; those able to adopt but unwilling, those willing to adopt but unable, or those both unwilling and unable. The author explores the dynamics of these three categories of farmers. He also advocates a look beyond the farmer. Failure to adopt a new technology may not be "farmer failure," it may be "system failure." More attention to the needs of the farmer "as defined by the farmer" will be necessary to reach significant gains in adoption of new technologies.

Padel, S. (2001). "Conversion to Organic Farming: A Typical Example of the Diffusion of an Innovation?" Sociologia Ruralis 41(1): 40-61.

Organic farming challenges the productivity paradigm of agriculture. Padel examines 20 years of research on organic farming in Europe to investigate if organic farming therefore also challenges the standard theories of adoption and diffusion. The article includes a short summary and critique of the history of the adoption/diffusion model, laying out the ideas of "innovators," "early adopters," and "laggards." Organic innovations are differentiated from more "traditional" agricultural innovations because they are seen as information or "software" based. Padel advocates a focus on the system (economic, structural and institutional) instead of the personal characteristics of the farmer. The author does not throw adoption/diffusion models out completely but urges consideration of the complexity of organic systems and considerations in understanding change.

Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of Innovations. Fifth Edition. New York, Free Press.

This book, originally published in 1962, presents one of the main theoretical models for the research and practice of the adoption and diffusion of innovation. The four traditionally identified elements of the diffusion process are that "(1) an innovation (2) is communicated through certain channels (3) over time (4) among the members of a social system." Rogers provides a range of case studies, from agricultural extension project in the global South to high tech gadgets in the global North, highlighting how these four elements interact and how diffusion networks operate.

Sustainable Agriculture

Bell, M. M. (2004). Farming For Us All: practical agriculture & the cultivation of sustainability. University Park, PA, Pennsylvania State University Press.

In this award-winning book Michael Bell and co-authors present an ethnography of the organization, Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI). PFI is a non-profit, farmer-led group of farmers, researchers, and consumers committed to enacting sustainable agriculture. The book focuses on how sustainable agriculture is socially possible and why some farmers change to sustainable agriculture and some do not. The book presents an easy-to-read and lively narrative with distinct chapters (called "intermezzos") of sociological theory, which the reader is guided to read or skip depending on their own interest. Farming for Us All concludes that PFI makes sustainable agriculture socially possible, "cultivating knowledge" by guiding and encouraging open and critical dialogue.

Bird, E.A.R., G. L. Bultena, et al., eds. (1995). Planting The Future: Developing an Agriculture that Sustains Land and Community. Walthill, NE. Center for Rural Affairs.

This book distills a wide ranging socioeconomic comparison between "conventional" and "sustainable" agriculture. The edited volume includes a range of authors, who provide a research-based look at the impact of different farming practices on farms, farm families, and agriculture-dependent communities. Case studies from the Pacific Northwest, Montana and Idaho, and the Midwest are included. The book provides empirical data supporting the conclusion that a widespread shift to sustainable farming practices would lead to a greater number of farms, increased farm employment and value-added opportunities, and stability in rural communities. However, according to the authors, this shift will not happen unless there are changes in the federal farm commodity and conservation programs, rural development policy, and extension education.

Butler, L. M. and R. Carkner (2001). Bridges to Sustainability: Links between Agriculture, Community and Ecosystems: Interactions between Agroecosystems and Rural Communities. C. Butler. Boca Raton, CRC Press: 157-173.

This book chapter presents an agroecosystem analysis and advocates the need for a multifunctional agricultural strategy to achieve food security, income generation, and environmental conservation for the future health of farms and rural regions.
The authors employ the concept of "foodshed" as a broad interdisciplinary mechanism to reflect on where we live and eat and as a tool or gathering point for collective action. Three case studies of farm enterprises are presented to illustrate the importance of "connectors," or the identification of common denominators between farm enterprises and nonfarm neighbors, in creating systems of mutual interdependence to provide a bridge to sustainability. The cases highlight moves by farmers to make direct connections with consumers in their communities thus overcoming the status quo structures of industrial agriculture.

Daniels, T. and D. Bowers (1997). Holding Our Ground: Protecting America's Farms and Farmland. Washington D.C., Island Press.

The authors present this book as a fundamental resource for citizens, elected officials, planners, and landowners working to develop and implement programs to promote farmland protection. The chapters cover the philosophical and intellectual arguments for the "big picture" importance of farmland and farmland preservation. They also cover the legal and economic aspects of private property, growth, and "the business of farming" in the United States. The book provides information on the subjects of federal and state government farmland protection initiatives, the basics of agricultural zoning, and urban sprawl. Additionally the ins-and-outs and interworkings of purchase and transfer of development rights, land trusts, and farm transfer and estate planning are presented. A series of helpful appendices provide sample zoning ordinances, Governor's Executive Orders, and conservation easements, among other things.

Flora, C. B. and J. L. Flora (2004). Rural Communities: Legacy and Change. Boulder, Westview Press.

This comprehensive survey of issues impacting rural communities is often found as a guiding text in undergraduate course on rural sociology and community development. The theoretical concepts, demographics, and on-the-ground realities of the cultural, social, human, political, natural, financial, and "built" capital of rural communities are explored. The book also considers the impact of the global economy, consumption, government policy and institutions. Each chapter includes a concise chapter summary and glossary of key terms. The concluding section of the book examines self-help, technical assistance, and conflict models and their impact on mobilizing communities for social change.

Flora, C. B., G. McIsaac, et al. (2001). Farm-Community Entrepreneurial Partnerships in the Midwest: Interactions between Agroecosystems and Rural Communities. Boca Raton, CRC Press: 115-130.

Using a case study of Piatt County, Illinois, this chapter proposes that there is a shift in the terrain of intangible assets that plays a role in farm and community success in the changing context of agriculture today. The shifting relative importance of the assets of production skills, mechanical and technical skills, financial arrangement skills, and relational skills is discussed. Comparative resource flow diagrams, including intangible assets, ecological inputs and outputs, institutions, and individuals, describe the possibilities for farm community entrepreneurial partnerships. These partnerships make "risky" shifts away from bulk commodity production to more economically, ecologically, and socially sustainable alternatives possible.

Sumner, J. (2005). Sustainability and the Civil Commons. Rural Communities in the Age of Globalization. Toronto, University of Toronto Press.

This book looks at the economic, political, social, environmental, gendered, and cultural impacts of corporate globalization on rural communities. Sumner problematizes the value system dominant in economic globalization discourse that privileges money and profit maximization over different systems of values. She also recognizes potential benefits of "globalization from below" that could be beneficial for communities. The book examines the historical concept of sustainability and develops a theory for practice in the context of rural communities and argues that sustainability can result in increased well-being at both the individual and community levels. The idea of the "civil commons" is presented as an alternative value structure that engages with the world in a cooperative rather than competitive way.

Walzer, N., Ed. (2003). The American Midwest: Managing Change in Rural Transition. Armonk, New York, M. E. Sharpe Inc.

This edited volume of articles describes and documents the transformation of the agricultural and manufacturing structure in Midwest rural communities. The primary focus of the analysis is the 1990s. The book explores the major trends in twelve Midwestern states and includes an assessment of innovative approaches available to address concerns. The focus is rural areas, however linkages between metro and nonmetro areas are recognized. Opportunities for value-added agriculture and advances in technology and telecommunication are examined. The book identifies the need for rural public officials, producers, and community leaders to adopt new and innovative strategies, as well as a reformulation of federal farm policy beyond farm programs to achieve success and viability in rural areas in the future.

Case Studies in Sustainable Agriculture and Innovation

The Farm as Natural Habitat: Reconnecting Food Systems with Ecosystems. Edited by Dana L. Jackson and Laura L. Jackson with foreword by Nina Leopold Bradley. Published in 2002 by Island Press.

In the spirit of Aldo Leopold, this collection of essays provides concrete examples and analysis of agriculture initiatives working to produce healthy food, healthy land and healthy ecosystems. The essays focus on ecological restoration projects on private agricultural land. Prairie and wetland restoration projects are detailed as well as efforts to maintain production in concert with conservation projects.

Farming with the Wild: Enhancing Biodiversity on Farms and Ranches. By Daniel Imhoff with foreword by Fred Kirchenmann. Published in 2003 by Sierra Club Books.

This book presents striking photographs and interesting profiles documenting Daniel Imhoff's travels around the country in search of farmers and ranchers combining conservation with agricultural production. The book is meant to inspire and encourage communities and farmers interested in shifting their practices from struggles against nature to systems of "farming with the wild." Wisconsin case studies of watershed restoration in Coon Valley and community-supported vegetable farming in Osceola are included in this collection.

The New American Farmer: Profiles of Agricultural Innovation (2nd edition),
Published in 2001 by the Sustainable Agriculture Network in Beltsville, MD.

This book profiles over 60 farmers and ranchers from around the country who have embraced new approaches to agriculture. Two Wisconsin cases are included. The stories range from small organic vegetable farms, to apple orchards, to large-scale grain farms. These farmers raise beef, corn and soybeans but also specialty crops and meat and value-added products like ice cream, cashmere wool, and agri-tourism experiences. Each profile is short and easy to read and many include a picture of the farmers and ranchers with contact information. All profiles are available on line at

LAND USE, TOURISM AND RURAL ECONOMICS IN THE NORTH

Green, Gary P, Steven C. Diller and David W. Marcouiller eds. (2005). Amenities and Rural Development: Theory, Methods and Public Policy. Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar.

This edited book includes chapters covering issues that have arisen for many rural communities with a shift from extractive resource dependent economies to economies based on tourism, recreation, and second-home development. The role that amenities play, such as recreation and tourism opportunities from natural, social, and culture features, "view-sheds," lakes, open space, etc., and their impact on communities is explored. Below are summaries of four of the chapters from this book.

Johnson, Kenneth M. and Susan I. Stewart. "Recreation, amenity migration and urban proximity." pp. 177-196.

This chapter outlines the population deconcentration trend that is ongoing in the U.S. and the higher rates of immigration to areas with natural resource amenities. The research looks nationally at demographic trends in non-metropolitan recreation areas and implications of adjacent urban centers. A case study of Walworth County, WI., is presented, illustrating growth in a place that is recreational, "high amenity" and also near urban areas. The study finds that urban proximity leads to higher frequency and even temporal distribution of the use of second-homes. This has implications for both the positive and negative impacts of increased population and use of natural resources for living and recreating.

Clendenning, Greg and Donald R. Field. "Seasonal residents; members of community or part of the scenery?" pp. 216-236.

This chapter looks at the social integration of seasonal homeowners in northwestern Wisconsin. Community attachment, social ties and community participation were measured in this research. Particularly of interest is whether seasonal homeowners form ties with permanent residents or have ties limited to other seasonal residents. The data show that seasonal homeowners do have community attachment and wide social networks and do take part in an array of community activities.

Jensen, Dana A. and Donald R. Field. "Managing growth and development in a natural-amenity-rich landscape: landowner attitudes toward planning in northwestern Wisconsin." pp. 259-281.

This research looks at how new and long-term, year-round and seasonal residents differ in their perceptions of community change, support for growth management, and land use planning. The Pine Barrens region of northwestern Wisconsin is the geographic focus of the study. The results show that there are some significant differences in perceptions of change, growth, and planning that are important to consider, especially in light of Wisconsin's comprehensive planning or "smart growth" law.

Schnaiberg, J., Riera, J., Turner, M.G., and Voss, P.R. (2002). "Explaining Human settlement patterns in a recreational lake district: Vilas County, Wisconsin, USA." Environmental Management, 30(1), 24-34.

Since the 1960s, more than half of the new homes in Vilas County, WI., have been built on lakes. This article details research on shoreline building density on private land in Vilas County as a window into human settlement patterns. The research shows that larger, more accessible lakes with surrounding forests, as opposed to wetlands, have the highest probability of residential development. The authors hope that a better understanding of development patterns leads to better planning during this time of rapid social and environmental change in which tourism and second home development are transforming the rural landscape.

Deller, Steven C., David W. Marcouiller and Gary P. Green (1997). "Recreational Housing and Local Government Finance." Annals of Tourism Research. 24(3), 687-705

The primary objective of this study is to identify the impact of recreational housing development on revenues and expenditures of rural local governments. Results of traditional fiscal analysis using regression models of recreational housing density and revenues and expenditures for services show that higher recreational housing density leads to higher expenditures for services. In turn, higher recreational housing also leads to higher capacity for revenue collection for governments. The overall results suggest that recreational housing development just pays for itself in the local government perspective.

Kates, James (2001). Planning a Wilderness: Regenerating the Great Lakes Cutover Region. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.

This book looks at the intersections of technical forestry, social engineering and "conscious mythmaking" that characterized the reforestation of the Great Lakes Cutover Region. This region, covering the northern areas of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, was heavily logged in the 19th century and then opened for pioneer agricultural settlement. Kates provides a historic look at the ascendance of planning and zoning after World War I and the scientific rationalization of forestry and land use. These factors combined with the spinning of popular myth about the forest ranger and the forest collide to create a "synthetic frontier" in the area, extinguishing dreams of agricultural production and promoting forestry and tourism as the primary identity of the region.

Peterson, Garry D. et al. (2003) "Assessing Future Ecosystem Services: a Case Study of the Northern Highlands Lake District, Wisconsin" Conservation Ecology 7(3)1. HYPERLINK "http://www.consecol.org/vol7/iss3/art1" http://www.consecol.org/vol7/iss3/art1

This paper looks at the Northern Highland Lake District (NHLD) centered around Vilas County in northern Wisconsin, using the concept of scenario planning as laid out by the UN Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Scenario planning is used to identify and assess key social and ecological uncertainties and decision variables. The study focuses on the ecological services provided by lakes, which is a defining feature of this particular region. Human migration pattern and ecological vulnerability are used to lay out three different future scenarios for the NHLD featuring different levels and degrees of ecological change and local vs. 2nd home/tourism growth. The scenarios are not predictions but are used to expose different complexities of the future as a means for analysis and participatory discussion.

Stedman, Richard C. and Roger B. Hammer (2006). "Environmental Perception in a Rapidly Growing, Amenity-Rich Region: The Effects of Lakeshore Development on Perceived Water Quality in Vilas County." Society & Natural Resources. 10(2):137-151.

Stedman and Hammer look at the link between perception of water quality in Vilas County and geochemical properties of lakes, such as turbidity and chlorophyll levels, and human or social properties, such as density of lakeshore development and use of lake for recreations. They find that people perceive decreased water quality on lakes with higher levels of development, even though a relationship between development levels and water quality indicators is lacking. The authors also advocate for better interdisciplinary research, pointing out that: "understanding the linkage between population growth, environmental change, and human attitudes is only possible with high-quality data in all three areas."

Huang, Y.-H. and W. P. Stewart. 1996. Rural tourism development: Shifting basis of
community solidarity. J. Travel Res. 34(4):26-31.

Huang and Stewart depart from the tourism research literature and look at the impact of tourism development on personal ties and community solidarity. They find that tourism encourages contact between people of different backgrounds and in different ways both strengthens and weakens ties between new comers and natives in rural communities. The development of rural tourism forms an image of community, to which residents work to conform. A shift in solidarity among residents also takes place moving from shared cultural background to shared image of community.

Popular Sources for information on Wisconsin forests and forestry and rural development in the north

Forest History Association of Wisconsin

WI K-12 Forestry Education Program

Wisconsin Historical Society

The Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine website provides excerpts from a Randall E. Rohe's book 100 Years of Wisconsin Forestry, which covers the three main eras of Wisconsin forestry. Rohe describes the river drive/white pine lumber era from the 1840s to the 1890s, followed by the hardwood/rail phase that lasted until the 1920s, followed by the rise of pulp wood and decline of logging camps starting after World War I.

UW Extension Center for Community Economic Development facilitates the Northern Economic Development and Growing the Economy (EDGE) program. This demonstration project concentrates on community economic development in 29 northern Wisconsin counties.

The program has funded research and work on a number of projects focusing on; Main Street development in small towns and villages, outmigration of rural youth, labor pool development, recreational and tourism development, etc. Project summaries of all the work are provided in this document.

Popular sources on Natural Resource Tourism

The US Department of Agriculture's Rural Information Center has a wealth of information on tourism, including planning and "how-to" guides for communities and businesses.

On this site you can also find an annotated bibliography with sources covering a wide range of topics including; 'heritage" tourism, nature-based or eco-tourism, and agritourism.

Specific to Wisconsin, the UW Extension Center for Community Economic Development also has a number of publications of interest that cover issues of recreational and natural resource tourism.

THE LITERATURE, ARTS, AND AESTHETICS OF AGRI-CULTURE

Literature

A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold. Published in 1949 by Oxford University Press.

"There are some who can live without wild things, and some who cannot. These essays are the delights and dilemmas of one who cannot." With these words Aldo Leopold introduces his famous collection of essays compiled in A Sand County Almanac. The collection includes the poetic essays painting beautiful pictures of the month-by-month sights and sounds of Wisconsin. For example, Leopold lyrically reminds us that, "one swallow does not make a summer, but one skein of geese, cleaving the murk of March thaw, is spring." This book also contains Leopold's writings on the "land ethic," which has become a cornerstone of modern conservation in this country and even internationally, calling for an ethical relationship of love and respect between people and the land. The Aldo Leopold Foundation website includes a history of the Almanac and other resources on Leopold and his legacy at

"The Farmer as Conservationist" in For the Health of the Land by Aldo Leopold, edited by J. Baird Callicott and Eric T. Freyfogle. Published in 1999 by Island Press.

This important essay written in 1939 by Aldo Leopold explores the relationship between the farmer and the land. He writes "the landscape of any farm is the owner's portrait of himself". Leopold sees the farmer-land relationship as a partnership, "when land does well for its owner, and the owner does well by his land; when both end up better by reason of their partnership, we have conservation. When one or the other grows poorer, we do not." This essay is included in the book For the Health of the Land, which is a collection of previously unpublished essays and other writings by Aldo Leopold. For those familiar with Leopold or those new to his writing, this essay and entire book provide a guidebook for the ideas and vision of conservation on private land.

Book of Plough: Essays on the Virtue of Farm, Family & the Rural Life. By Justin Isherwood. Published in 1996 by Lost River Press.

Wisconsin farmer and writer Justin Isherwood shares a collection of short essays and reminiscences. His musings on farming and rural life cover topics such as the history of the plough, lighting rod salesmen, cutting potato seed, the family cemetery, bailing hay and rhubarb. To hear Isherwood reading an excerpt from his book go to:

Farm Aid: A Song For America. Edited by Holly George-Warren with foreword by Willie Nelson. Published by Farm Aid in 2005 with the Rodale Press.

This book marking the 20th anniversary of the Farm Aid initiative includes photos and essays documenting the struggles and successes of U.S. farm families. It covers topics of farm history, farm policy, impacts of industrial agriculture, and the alternative food and agriculture movement. Essayists include Barbara Kingsolver, Fred Kirschenmann, Howard Zinn, Jim Hightower, Michael Pollan, David Mas Masumoto and Wendell Berry. The book also documents the Farm Aid concerts, on-stage and behind the scenes, with lyrics and poems from Johnny Cash, John Mellencamp and Marge Piercy, among others. The book is dedicated to the farmers of the United States who, as Willie Nelson writes, are "the fabric that holds our country together." Excerpts from the book can be viewed at

Mapping the Farm: The Chronicle of a Family. By John Hildebrand. Published in 1995 by Vintage Books.

Hildebrand provides an enlightening narrative chronicling his wife's family's northeastern Minnesota farm; from the original Irish settlers to the challenges faced by today's generation. The book captures the seasonal rhythms of farming, inter-generational and community relationships, as well as the relationships between farmers and the land. Hildebrand includes a number of historic and present day photos of the family and the farm, which bring this story to life.

A Place to Which We Belong: Wisconsin Writers on Wisconsin Landscapes. Edited by Dennis Boyer and Justin Isherwood with foreword by Gaylord Nelson. Published in 1998 by 1000 Friends of Wisconsin.

This collection of essays provides an anthology of Wisconsin Voices exploring our relationship with the land. Writers such as Ben Logan, Jerry Apps, Howard Mead, George Hesselberg, Bill Stokes, Bill Berry, Susan Lampert-Smith, Curt Meine, Warren Nelson, John Gurda, August Derleth and Nina Leopold Bradley, among many others are included in this collection of writings from past and present. The stories are diverse and beautiful and as Nelson notes in his foreword, "the diversity of nature finds full expression in the hearts of those who write about the Wisconsin they love. … These essays remind us that Wisconsin is not one story. It is many stories. Stories about a place to which we belong."

When Chores Were Done: Boyhood Stories. By Jerry Apps. Published in 2006 by Voyageur Press.

Award winning Wisconsin author and Emeritus UW-Wisconsin professor and extension agent Jerry Apps shares memories from his childhood growing up on a farm. In this memoir the author remembers the rutabaga harvest, the local characters that made up the community, and much more about the ups and downs of farm life. Apps has a number of other books, including works on rural life, histories of breweries and cheese making in Wisconsin, and children's books. These can all be found at:

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation has a selection of children's books on agriculture which are highlighted on their website. These books are geared toward elementary school children and cover topics from beekeeping, sheep, hogs, and dairy, to cheese.

Arts in rural Wisconsin

A good summary of the efforts in Wisconsin to promote arts and culture in rural communities is found on the Wisconsin Academy's website. There Robert Gard's legacy is detailed. Gard was an avid and accomplished promoter of art in small communities. He came to the University of Wisconsin in 1945 and established many programs to promote the social and cultural values of art in rural areas. His more noted works include, Grassroots Theater: A Search for Regional Arts in America and The Arts in the Small Communities: A National Plan (often referred to as the Windmill Project). This site includes many resources and historical information as well as reports from recent projects promoting the arts in rural Wisconsin. Two samples are listed below.

The Arts and The Wisconsin Idea: A Conference Report from the 2003 conference "The Arts and the Wisconsin Idea: New Vigor for Local Arts." The report includes a short summary of the history of institutional efforts to promote art in rural Wisconsin. The piece summarizes initiatives such as the Wisconsin Rural Writers Association and the Wisconsin Rural Arts Project that engaged Wisconsinites in play-writing, poetry, drawing, and painting, among other artistic endeavors. We are also reminded of the artist-in-residence position that was created in the UW College of Agriculture in the mid-1930s and the Wisconsin Idea theater initiatives over the years.

Running To Catch Up with the People: A Conversation with Robert Gard, Ralph Kohlhoff and Michael Warlum, 1969. This website features a conversation with three of the people influential in the Arts in the Small Community efforts in the mid-20th century. They speak about the opportunities and challenges of stimulating artistic expression in small communities and the philosophy behind the efforts.

Barns

There is a growing body of resources and information about barns and other farm buildings. These structures dot our landscape and serve as monuments to agricultural land use, past, present, and future. Below is a sampling of items available specific to Wisconsin investigating the aesthetic form and the agricultural function of barns and other farm structures.

Originally published in 1977, Barns of Wisconsin, by agricultural historian Jerry Apps with illustrations by Allen Strang, remains a great resource and testament to the historic form and function of barns. The book is illustrated with eloquent pencil drawings and several color plates of watercolors of barns and farmscapes. Apps and Strang promote the beauty and importance of barns as cultural monuments to agri-culture.

A Wisconsin Public Television interview with Jerry Apps on Wisconsin barns can be found at

A Wisconsin Public Television interview with landscape architect William Tischler and barn restoration expert can be found at .

Wisconsin Public Television has a website devoted to the past, present, and future of barns, including interviews with historians and architects at .

The newly released 30-minute documentary "Wisconsin Barns - Touchstones to the Past," features farmers, historians, and academics who are working to preserve the barn as a functional structure, an aesthetic beauty, and a reminder of the importance of agriculture in our communities and landscapes. The focus in on the barns but the piece includes a larger look at the social aspects of agriculture and includes a visit to a county dairy breakfast. This documentary has aired on public television stations and was completed with the help of Wisconsin Public Television. To obtain a copy of this resource visit your library or check .

The University of Wisconsin Extension, the State Historical Society of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Trust for Historic Preservation have a four part series on barns and silos entitled Giving Old Barns New Life. The four separate articles are available for purchase from UW Extension at its site or pdf files of the documents can be downloaded for individual use. Below is a short description of each article:

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"Ethnic History and Natural Beauty of Old Barns" by Jerry Apps. This piece traces the ethnic settlement history of Wisconsin guided by descriptions and photos of the different architectural styles of barns. Apps stresses the importance of preserving old barns because "for a rural community barns provide a sense of continuity. They are visual reminders of where the community has been and what it has been doing."

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"Wisconsin's Changing Farmsteads" by Jerry Apps covers the history and importance of barns. The article focuses on the technical and economic changes in agriculture that have shaped the architecture and use (and increasing disuse) of Wisconsin barns. Apps also looks at the history of silos, in form and function. Apps concludes that it is important to preserve our historic agricultural structures as tangible reminders of our past.

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"Barns and Barn Preservation - A Bibliography" by Peggy Lee Beedle and Geoffery M. Grysico provides an exhaustive bibliography of resources on the history of barns, barn preservation, farmhouses, outbuildings, rural landscape, geography, agricultural history, and rural preservation. If you are interested in barns in any way, from the architectural to the cultural, this is a great publication to find more detailed resources.

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"Silos: Markers of Agricultural Progress" by Peggy Lee Beedle. This section of the series covers the history of silos and silo technology in Wisconsin. The building materials and location is considered in detail accompanied by many historic photographs and images. Beedle makes that point that the history and spread of silo technology mirrors the history of scientific agricultural technology or "book farming" that was forwarded by the University system in Wisconsin. Silos played an important role in Wisconsin's emergence as the dairy state, allowing for storage of fodder for year-round milking.

Additional resources on barns in Wisconsin can be found on the following websites.
The exhibition "Remembering our Icons: Wisconsin Barns and their Environs" appeared at the West Bend Art Museum in 2002. The exhibit included the paintings of Wisconsin barns and rural landscapes by Bonnita Budysz, Steve Gerhartz and Craig Blietz. For an excerpt from the exhibit catalog go to: http://www.tfaoi.com/aa/3aa/3aa166.htm
A collection of photos of round barns in Wisconsin by Paul Vreugdenhil can be found at http://www.vreug.com/barns.html.

Also on the subject of round barns there is information on Algie Shivers, an African-American builder, who specialized in round barns. Shivers supervised the construction of at least 15 round barns in Vernon and Monroe counties. This area of western Wisconsin in fact has the highest concentration of round barns in the nation. For more, go to: http://csumc.wisc.edu/cmct/cheyenne/roundbarn.htm.

Information about barn restoration efforts and assistance available can be found at the following sites:

http://www.uwex.edu/lgc/barns/barns.htm

http://www.agriculture.com/ag/category.jhtml?categoryid=/templatedata/ag/category/data/agbarnagainchannel.xml&_requestid=126272

RURAL EDUCATION ISSUES IN WISCONSIN

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction launched a Rural Initiative in 2004 to address the needs of rural children, families and communities. This Initiative led to the formation of the State Superintendent's Advisory Council on Rural Schools, Communities, and Libraries. The Initiative is working to build an action agenda and recognize the opportunities and constraints in the intersection of community and workforce development and K-12 education. The meeting agendas, minutes, and presentations being considered by the Rural Initiative and Rural Advisory Council can be found on the web. http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/rural/index.html

The Wisconsin Department of Administration's report Wisconsin Population 2030 presents state, county, and municipal population projections for Wisconsin. This is an important information when considering school enrollments, tax base, and community issues associated with education and schooling. The total Wisconsin population is estimated to grow to 6.42 million by 2030. After a decrease the number of school aged children (ages 0-17) is estimated to increase from 2010 through 2030. At the same time the size of the 65-plus population will grow dramatically after 2010, climbing from 13 percent of the state's population in 2000 to 21 percent by 2030. The slowest growth in the state will be seen in rural counties and small rural communities (population under 500). http://www.doa.state.wi.us/docs_view2.asp?docid=2114

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development also has a variety of publications that provide important economic statistics and analysis on current and future trends in Wisconsin's work force and employment sectors. http://worknet.wisconsin.gov/worknet/worknetinfo.aspx?htm=publications

The Rural School and Community Trust has a wealth of information, policy analysis, and advocacy positions on rural educational issues. Below are two offerings.

Johnson, Jerry (2006). More Doesn't Mean Better-Larger High Schools and More Courses Do Not Boost Student Achievement in Iowa High Schools. Rural School and Community Trust. http://www.ruraledu.org

Despite the conventional wisdom that bigger is better this analysis of Iowa schools finds that smaller schools with fewer courses and higher measures of poverty in fact produce slightly higher achievement test scores than bigger schools offering a broader curriculum. Johnson concludes that a strategy of consolidating districts is not likely to raise student achievement levels and is likely to magnify existing negative effects of poverty on academic performance. Small schools have educational value and the author advocates that they should be intentionally supported by the public education system.
http://www.kintera.org/atf/cf/%7BF4BE47E7-FA27-47A8-B662-8DE8A6FC0577%7D/More_Doesnt_Mean.PDF

Johnson, Jerry and Marty Strange (2005). Why Rural Matters 2005: the Facts About Rural Education in the 50 States. Rural School and Community Trust.

This report, including specific statistics and rankings for Wisconsin, looks at the relative importance of rural education, the level of poverty of rural schools, socio-economic challenges faced by rural schools, and policy outcomes, such as student achievement, graduation rates, and student-teacher ratios achieved in rural education. The authors identify the importance of focusing on rural schools and communities in today's urban minded society. Wisconsin has nearly 40 percent of its schools in rural areas and almost 30 percent of its students in rural schools. Compared to other states, rural Wisconsin schools and communities are relatively affluent, scoring above the median on all policy outcome measures.
http://files.ruraledu.org/whyruralmatters/WRM2005.pdf
http://files.ruraledu.org/whyruralmatters/WRM2005-Wisconsin.pdf

Gibbs, R.M., P. L. Swaim, and R. Teixeira eds. (1998). Rural Education and Training in the New Rural Economy: the Myth of the Rural Skills Gap. Ames, IA: Iowa State University Press.

With their edited book, Gibbs, Swaim and Teixeira present a series of chapters calling for a re-examination of the perceived weaknesses and strengths in education and job training facing rural areas. Elementary and high schools in rural areas are surprisingly strong. Recent studies show that rural and urban youth do no differ significantly in scores on reading, mathematics, and science measures. Job training and higher education however are clear weaknesses. Institutional effectiveness in rural schools exceeds that found in urban areas, given the resources available. The authors conclude that new technologies and management practices provide new opportunities for rural areas in the "new" technology and information based economy.

The Journal of Research in Rural Education is a rich source of research and analysis on the opportunities and obstacles facing rural schools and rural communities today. All articles are available in full text on-line. Below is a sampling of some of the topics covered. http://www.umaine.edu/jrre/articles/index.htm

Arnold, M. L., J.H. Newman, B. B. Gaddy, and C. B. Dean (2005). "A Look at the Condition of Rural Education Research: Setting a Difference for Future Research." Journal of Research in Rural Education, 20(6).

This article provides a review of literature on rural education research from 1991 to 2003 yielding a detailed bibliography on the subject. The article asserts that rural issues are different than those facing urban and suburban schools because of the unique relationship between rural schools and the local community. After examining the literature, the authors conclude that the little research on rural issues in the educational literature is of low quality and rarely experimental. Because of the unique challenges of rural education, more research should be done to aid policy makers. The authors point to a published research agenda including nine priority topics specific to rural education as a viable guide for moving forward. http://www.umaine.edu/jrre/20-6.pdf

Howley, A. (with M. Carnes, A. Eldridge, D. Huber, L. M. Lado, R. Kotler, and M. Turner) (2005). "The Poor Little Rich District: the Effects of Suburbanization on a Rural School and Community." Journal of Research in Rural Education, 20(9).

This article presents a literature review and case study of the impact of suburbanization on a rural school and community. The authors find that there are several main dynamics that come into play with suburbanization. The first is an "identity crisis" as the historic "rural-ness" of the area is reconfigured and renegotiated by both old-timers and newcomers. Newcomers perceive that through their actions they are working to preserve the "rural," while old-timers see the values of the newcomers as an imposition. The interface between these rural and suburban constituencies leads to ambiguity in goals that then leads in part to ambiguity in resource allocation. http://www.umaine.edu/jrre/20-9.pdf

Howley, C. B., A. A. Howley, and S. Shamblen (2001). "Riding the school bus: a comparison of the rural and suburban experience in five states." Journal of Research in Rural Education, 17, 41-63.

This article provides a theoretical and practical look at the school bus ride. Although seemingly benign, the authors argue that school busing patterns and systems provide a window into the structure of American schooling and society as a whole. They find that rural elementary schools are more likely than their suburban counterparts to: have bus rides of over 30 minutes, cover larger attendance areas, have rougher rides, lack a full-time bus supervisor, and include older middle and high school students on the same bus runs as elementary students. These indicators support parental and community concerns over the difficulties and dangers of school busing for young children in rural areas. http://www.acclaim-math.org/docs/jrre_archives/v17,n1,p41-63,Howley.pdf

Jimerson, Lorna (Spring 2005). "Special Challenges of the 'No Child Left Behind' Act for Rural Schools and Districts" The Rural Educator.

Lorna Jimerson, the Policy Program Coordinator for the Rural School and Community Trust ( HYPERLINK "http://www.ruraledu.org" www.ruraledu.org), critiques the federal "No Child Left Behind" Act (NCLB) as a "suburban-urban" law that is insensitive to the realities of rural places and the unique needs and problems of rural schooling. NCLB reliance on testing and an inflexible "adequate yearly progress" (AYP) measure creates unduly high stakes for rural schools due to their small student numbers, limited resources, and difficulties in attracting "highly qualified" teachers. Jimerson presents a list of specific critiques and offers suggestions for changes in NCLB. She also offers a list of strategies for rural schools to deal with the constraints of the law. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4126/is_200504/ai_n15354037

Kossar, Kalie (2005). "No Child Left Behind: A National Study of Its Impact on Special Education in Rural Schools." Rural Special Education Quarterly. 24(1).

Kossar examines the perceived impact on rural schools of the No Child Left Behind Ace (NCLB) and the newly reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEI). Because of the mandate for highly qualified teachers and annual yearly progress testing a majority of educators, administrators, policymakers, and parents surveyed anticipated a negative impact of NCLB on rural special education. There was concern that special education students would be blamed for lower scores. The mandate for highly qualified teachers was perceived to be difficult for rural schools because of the chronic shortage of special education teachers and also increasing enrollment of children with special needs in rural areas.

Israel, G., L. Beaulieu, and G. Hartless (2001). "The influence of family and community social capital on educational achievement." Rural Sociology, 66(1), 43-68.

This article investigates the impact of families and communities on educational achievement of youth in both metro and nonmetro areas in the United States. As has been found in past studies, parents' socioeconomic status is linked to children's educational achievement. This study goes further to find that internal family social capital is also positively related to higher achievement. Although it plays a smaller role, community social capital also leads to increased educational test scores and grades. The authors confirm the "it takes a village" idea and call for educational strategies to include strategies to build family and community social capital.

RURAL HEALTH ISSUES IN WISCONSIN

Jackson, Richard J. and Chris Kochtitzky (2005). Creating aHealthy Environment:
The Impact of the Built Environment on Public Health. Sprawl Watch Clearinghouse.

This report links urban sprawl and land-use decisions to public health. Jackson and Kochtitzky examine air and water quality as well as how the built environment influences physical activity, safety, and general quality of life. The issues of asthma, obesity rates, and mobility for elderly and disabled people are specifically addressed in this document. The authors call on planners, engineers, and architects to recognize and address the key role they play in public health, and conversely they call on public health professionals to recognize the built environment as a public health issue. http://www.sprawlwatch.org/health.pdf

Glasgow, Nina, Lois Wright Morton, and Nan E. Johnson eds. (2004). Critical Issues in Rural Health. Ames, IA: Blackwell Publishing.

This edited volume includes 23 chapters that cover a range of current rural health issues. The book includes comparisons of morbidity, mortality, and health status in metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. Occupational health, mental health, food insecurity, and nutrition, as well as the rural health of minorities are among the topics covered. Importantly the chapters include a discussion of health insurance, rural health networks and the use of the internet or "telemedicine" to overcome disadvantages of rural people and communities. This is an important collection to consider when thinking of strategies and policies for improving rural health.

There are a number of different agencies and organizations that maintain expansive libraries of electronic resources on rural health. Links to these sites are included below.

The United States Department of Agriculture Rural Information Center website is host to a broad range of information. http://www.nal.usda.gov/ric/ruralres/health.htm

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services maintains an Office of Rural Health Policy that includes useful resources. This Office is charged with informing the Department on issues specific to rural hospitals and health care. http://ruralhealth.hrsa.gov/

The National Rural Health Association is another source of information. The association particularly identifies the unique obstacles facing rural health care today. An interesting fact is that only about 10 percent of physicians practice in rural America, despite the fact that nearly one-fourth of the population lives in the rural areas. Higher suicide rates, lower educational achievement, lower income, higher smoking rates and lower private insurance coverage are some of the issues impacting rural health. Links to a number of comprehensive studies are also included on this page. The National Rural Health Association also publishes The Journal of Rural Health, which is available online and covers national and international rural health issues. http://www.nrharural.org/about/sub/different.html

Closer to home, the Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center based at the Universities of Minnesota and North Dakota covers issues more specific to this region. This site includes a number of working papers published by the Center including issues of; small town physicians, dental care for low income rural residents and minority populations, hospital quality, etc. http://www.uppermidwestrhrc.org/pubs/

The Wisconsin Office of Rural Health, started within the University of Wisconsin Medical School has a mission of improving the quality of health for Wisconsin's rural and underserved communities. Their web site includes an information clearinghouse, technical assistance and coordination, and a wide selection of links on rural health topics including legislative updates. The site presents a number of documents covering specific issues of agricultural health such as muscular skeletal problems due to farm work and dairying and environmental health issues for farmers, farm families, and agricultural workers. http://www.worh.org/new_orh_docs/resrc_about.asp
http://www.worh.org/new_orh_docs/resrc_farmershealth.asp

In 2005 the State Medical Society of Wisconsin devoted a special issue of its journal to "Wisconsin's Rural Health Landscape." The issue covers topics ranging from children and farm accidents, possible links between pesticide exposure and Parkinson's disease, smoking cessation in rural areas, recruiting physicians to rural areas, and many more. Rural Wisconsin faces many health challenges and policy makers, health professionals, and communities must come together to find viable solutions. http://www.wisconsinmedicalsociety.org/health_news/wmj.cfm?volume=101&issue=5

OTHER RESOURCES

When City and Country Collide: Managing Growth in the Metropolitan Fringe. By Tom Daniels. Published in 1999 by Island Press.

This book loots at the current all-or-nothing battle between land development versus land conservation and hopes that we can all do better. The book explains how the fringe differs from traditional idea of suburbs because it has lower population density and more sporadic development, yet it is no longer considered remote. Daniels provides a history of suburban development and expansion into the fringe zones going back to the late 1800s. The main obstacle to managing growth is fragmented control among many different local governments and authorities. Regional planning is identified as a necessity. The book also includes different policy and legal tools for managing the fringe. Daniels also includes a review of the impacts of federal and state spending initiatives and regulations.

The Center for Integrated Agriculture Systems has a number of resources on its website detailing the current status of Wisconsin agriculture, specifically looking at grazing and organic agriculture.

Pastures of Plenty: Financial Performance of Wisconsin dairy grazing farms
Grazing in the Dairy State: Pasture use in the Wisconsin dairy industry, 1993-2003

It is estimated that in 2002, 23 percent of the state's milk production came from cows on pasture. These reports document the scope of managed dairy grazing in Wisconsin. Economic data show that, despite reduced milk production many graziers are able to achieve greater economic returns per cow and unit of milk sold due to reduced input costs. The average dairy grazier with a herd size of 48 cows obtained a roughly equivalent household income when compared to the average stored feed farmer with 108 cows. These studies show that grazing farms are economically competitive with confinement operations and should be considered part of a diversified strategy for a steady milk supply in the state. These reports are available as pdf documents at:

http://www.cias.wisc.edu/archives/2006/02/15/grazing_in_the_dairy_state/index.php

Organic Agriculture in Wisconsin: 2005 Status Report

Wisconsin is now second in the nation with an estimated 880 organic farms in 2004. Wisconsin has 33 percent of the nation's organic milk cows and 22 percent of the nation's organic layer hens and 18 percent of organic corn acreage. In 2002 over $20 million in organic products were sold by Wisconsin farms. Building on the original 2003 Status Report, this 2005 snapshot of organic agriculture in the state provides statistics and research on organic production, processing, and marketing. The report examines recent state government involvement in organic agriculture, including the governor's Task Force on Organic Agriculture.

http://www.cias.wisc.edu/archives/2006/02/28/organic_agriculture_in_wisconsin_2005_status_report/index.php

The Economic Research Service of the United States Agriculture Department has a website that includes information on the economics of food, farming, natural resources and rural America. http://www.ers.usda.gov/

Two recent publications of note are summarized below:

Economic Research Report No. 6, "Growing Farm Size and the Distribution of Farm Payments" from March 2006 by James McDonald, Robert Hoppe and David Banker finds that commodity program payments to farms shifted considerably from 1989 to 2003 to higher income households. Farms with at least $500,000 in sale (2003 dollars) accounted for 45% of production in 2003, up from 32% in 1989. This shift is attributed to the structural change in farming that is moving more and more production to very large family farms. The report attributes the share of production held by "nonfamily" farms as constant at around 14%. This trend is expected to continue. The full 4 page report is available as a pdf file at DOWNLOAD

Economic Research Report No. 7 "Economic Well-Being of Farm Household" from March 2006 by Carol A. Jones, Hisham El-Osta, and Robert Green finds that average farm household income has been consistently higher than overall average U.S. household income (5 to 17 percent higher) every year since 1996. This is in part due to an increase in household income from off-farm sources. The report examines the difficulty in categorizing farm income and how that might translate into economic well-being. In an attempt to remedy this the authors create a well-being indicator based on income and "wealth" (as measured by net worth). The study finds that farm households that receive commodity payments also have high incomes and high wealth. The full 4 page report is available as a pdf file at DOWNLOAD.