Oral Documentation and the Sustainable Agriculture Movement in Wisconsin

Abstract

FARMERS CONTINUE TO PRESS federal and state lawmakers for help in responding to the crisis that has swept through rural America in this decade. Their demands include tax restructuring, price support adjustments, moratoria on farm loan foreclosures, changes in inheritance and capital gains tax laws, and aid for depressed rural communities, among other things. New and old progressive farm organizations champion their causes. Such groups as the National Farmers' Union, Groundswell, Prairiefire Rural Action, the National Farmers Organization, the American Agriculture Movement, the North American Farm Alliance, Rural America, and Save the Family Farm Coalition all speak out for farmers in legislative hearing rooms, in courtrooms, at foreclosure sales, and in political campaigns. While these organizations may differ in emphasis and tactics, all aim at helping today's embattled farmer.' Increasing numbers of these same farmers-and others who do not belong to such organizations-have responded to hard times by changing their farming methods. Concerned about the high cost of farming, instead of using expensive synthetic chemicals they have adopted alternative ways to control bugs and weeds, and to supply nutrients to the soil. Many have farmed this way since the early 1970s-long before the current crisis began. These reduced-input, or sustainable agriculture farmers use