Problem:

Farms within the Ozark and Ouachita Mountain region of the U.S. (Interior Highlands) are predominantly small farms and are characterized by low profitability. It is, therefore, essential that we understand what management practices and alternative enterprise options can improve the profitability of small-scale farms within the region.

 

Objectives:

• To quantitatively evaluate the impact of various agricultural production systems and management practices on biological and economic productivity within the Ozark-Ouachita Mountain region.
• To simulate biomass and economic yield distribution of potentially important bioenergy crops (e.g. sorghum) throughout the Interior Highlands.
• To estimate regional food consumption demands and the capacity for regional food production using existing data on food animal and vegetable production systems in the Ozark-Ouachita Mountain region. 

Approach:       

Addressing the objectives requires interdisciplinary collaboration and data collection from four regional USDA-ARS centers:

 

Booneville, AR:

• Food animal production
• Agroforestry and bioenergy crops
• Rangeland, pastures, and forages

Fayetteville, AR:

• Poultry production
• Byproduct management
• Food safety

El Reno, OK:

• Forage and livestock production
• Agroclimatology

Impact: THIS RESEARCH IDENTIFIES THE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND ALTERNATIVE ENTERPRISE OPTIONS THAT CAN IMPROVE SMALL FARM PROFITABILITY WITHIN THE OZARK AND OUACHITA MOUNTAIN REGION.

 

Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center

6883 So. St. Hwy 23

Booneville, AR  72927

P: 479-675-3834