Accessibility Info.

About the Alternative Farming Systems Information Center

AFSIC specializes in locating and accessing information related to alternative cropping systems including sustainable, organic, low-input, biodynamic, and regenerative agriculture. AFSIC also focuses on alternative crops, new uses for traditional crops, and crops grown for industrial production.

The Center is supported, in part, by USDA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, and a cooperative agreement with the University of Maryland, College Park, MD.

Staff create publications that focus on specific topics of current interest. Some publications are bibliographic in nature, and are reflective of materials contained in the National Agricultural Library collection and/or indexed in NAL's database, AGRICOLA. Special Reference Briefs (SRBs) and subject-focused Web pages provide a broader picture of a topic, including descriptive text and organizational resources, as well as suggested reading lists and Web sites.

Most AFSIC publications are available through this website under Publications. To obtain AFSIC publications on computer diskette (in ASCII), or in hardcopy (limited availability), please make requests by contacting the AFSIC office by phone, mail, or e-mail. A complete list/printable order form of all AFSIC publications and format availability is available under AFSIC Publications: Hardcopy/Diskette Order Form.

Books, articles, and videocassettes cited in AFSIC publications are not available directly from AFSIC. For information on how to obtain these materials, please read NAL Document Delivery Information.

Specific topics not covered by AFSIC publications and Web pages may be addressed, on request, by AFSIC reference staff through brief, complimentary database searches.

Electronic Resources

• About AFSIC: Describes the Alternative Farming Systems Information Center and our services.
• Organic Roots: Organic Agriculture Information Access is an electronic collection of historic United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Research Bulletins and Miscellaneous Publications related to organic agriculture.
• Hot Topics: Resources include brief literature searches, resources, and contacts for alternative farming-related topics of current interest.
• Aquaculture: Resources include contacts, publications, directories, and links to aquaculture-related web sites.
• Publications, including:
  
  • "Great Places to Find Information about Farming Alternatives"
    
  • "List of Alternative Crops and Enterprises for Small Farm Diversification"
    
  • "Applying for a SARE Grant?"
    
  • "Educational Training Opportunities in Sustainable Agriculture Directory"
    
  • Organic Agriculture Production
  • Sustainable Agriculture in Print Series
  • "AFSIC Information Products: Current List/Order Form"
    
  • Links to our alternative agriculture-related publications and bibliographies
• Alternative Agriculture-Related Internet Sites and Documents
• Search the AFSIC Web Site.
• Policies and disclaimers related to AFSIC Web Site usage.

For further information concerning the services and activities of the Center, contact:

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Alternative Farming Systems Information Center
National Agricultural Library

The Alternative Farming Systems Information Center
afsic@nal.usda.gov, http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/
Page URL - http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/afsabout.htm, August 19, 2004