CONS 305: Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture - Fall 2015
Instructor: Dr. Joel Gruver
Office: Knoblauch Hall 302
Office hours: M,W 10-11, Th 10-12
Phone: (309) 298 1215
E-mail: j-gruver@wiu.edu
Class meeting time and location: 1- 1:50 Knoblauch Hall 152
Course description: This course operates from the premise that ag literacy is the
foundation of agricultural sustainability. We will start with an exploration of what it
means to be ag literate from both the perspective of the ag community and the non-ag
public. Next we will review the changing demographics of agriculture and the main
technological developments driving these changes. We will consider positive outcomes
of new technology such as increased productivity and efficiency as well as unintended
consequences such as pest resistance, declining rural communities and negative effects on
the environment. The second half of the course will focus on specific opportunities to
improve the sustainability of agriculture such as conservation agriculture, organic
agriculture, management intensive grazing and local food systems. We will conclude by
analyzing 4 challenges to the sustainability of agriculture: inter-generational transition,
global competition for inputs and markets, climate change and regulations.
Attendance: ATTENDANCE IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS CLASS!!!
Interview archive: The IA (https://www.wiu.edu/citr/InterviewArchive) is also a very
important part of this class. Students are expected to use the IA to submit responses every
week. All IA submissions should be ORIGINAL and submitted on time!
Personal initiative activities: I will provide a regularly updated list of personal initiative
options but you are also welcome to propose personal initiative activities. Field trips can
be written up as personal initiative activities. I am expecting you to use Western Online
to submit documentation for 3 personal initiative activities during the first half of the
semester (before the start of class on Monday 10/19) and 3 more during the second half
of the semester (before the start of the last class on Friday 12/11).
Readings: Readings from a wide variety of sources will be assigned some weeks. All
readings will be accompanied by questions. Answers should be submitted using Western
Online.
Grading:
Interview projects
Personal initiative activities
Attendance
Reading responses
Take home final exam
Pop quizzes
Grading scale:
A
> 93
A90-93
B+
87-90
B
83-87
B80-83
30%
20%
20%
10%
10%
10%
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C+
C
CD
F
77-80
73-77
70-73
60-70
< 60
Class schedule:
Ag Literacy – Understanding agriculture
8/24 What is ag literacy?
8/26 Overview of IL agriculture
8/28 Overview of US and global agriculture
Ag Literacy - What should the public know about agriculture?
8/31 Public perceptions of agriculture
9/2
The Pollanation of public perceptions
9/4
Examples of Ag Advocacy
The demographics of agriculture
9/7
no-class
9/9
The changing structure of IL and US agriculture
9/11 Migrant labor in IL and US agriculture
The Mechanical Revolution
9/14 Historical development of ag mechanization
9/16 The present and future of ag mechanization
9/18 Farm Safety
The Genetic Revolution
9/21 The story of hybrid corn
9/23 GMOs – understanding the issues
9/25 GMOs – basic science
The Chemical Revolution
9/28 Historical development of ag chemistry
9/30 The story of glyphosate
10/2 Understanding herbicide resistance
The Farm Crisis of the 1980s
10/5 Farm Crisis video
10/7 Short and long-term impacts of the Farm Crisis
10/9 Farm Crisis panel discussion
Get big or get out
10/12 The consolidation of agribusiness
10/14 BTOs vs STOs – challenges and opportunities
10/16 no class
Animal agriculture
10/19 The industrialization of animal agriculture
10/21 Alternative animal husbandry
10/23 Profiles of success in management intensive grazing
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Conservation agriculture
10/26 Culture of conservation
10/28 Conservation programs
10/30 Profiles of success in conservation agriculture
Organic agriculture
11/2 Historical development of organic agriculture
11/4 Modern organic agriculture
11/6 Profiles of success in organic agriculture
Local food systems
11/9 Direct marketing
11/11 Agro-tourism
11/13 Urban agriculture
The US Food System
11/16 Understanding the American food system
11/18 The impact of fast food
11/20 The American Diet
Thanksgiving Break
11/23 – 11/27 no class all week
Inter-generational transitions in agriculture
11/30 Multi-generational farming
12/2 Opportunities for new farmers
12/4 Inter-generational transitions panel discussion
Future challenges to sustainability
12/7 Global competition for markets and inputs
12/9 Climate change – mitigation and adaptation
12/11 Regulating agriculture
Final exam week
12/16 – Take home final exam due Wednesday @ 1pm
EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS
Participation and timeliness: You are expected to attend EVERY class, actively
participate in class discussions and submit assignments on time. ATTENDANCE WILL
BE MONITORED.
Academic integrity: NO CHEATING, PLAGIARISM, OR OTHER VIOLATIONS
OF THE WIU ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY WILL BE TOLERATED.
Please talk to me if you have any questions about the WIU academic integrity policy.
All suspected violations of the WIU academic integrity policy will be addressed promptly
and individually.
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Student rights and responsibilities: Detailed information regarding student rights and
responsibilities can be found at http://www.wiu.edu/provost/student/.
You are responsible for being familiar with your rights and responsibilities.
Special accommodations: If you have special needs, please feel free to discuss them with
me and/or contact Disability Support Services at 298-2512.
Special note for education majors:
Education majors who receive a "C-" or below must retake this course or find a
substitute course to meet School of Agriculture graduation requirements.
August 24, 2015
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