This project is independent of farm system or size. You should be able to work through this project whether you
are a small farmer or a large farmer or whether or not you are even directly involved in farming.
Pick a farming system (vegetables, small grains, forages, etc.) in your local area or region and work through an
analysis of the sustainability of the current system and how you would help that farming system become more
sustainable. Please use and cite scientific research and reports to support your arguments. Remember to
consider the “Triple Bottom Line” in your study. In your analysis, please include all of following parts, but you
can tailor the questions you want to ask and answer to your particular problem you want to solve. The outline
contains major parts of the plan and some ideas for questions you need to ask yourself when developing the
plan.
For the first part of the project, you should answer the following main questions. Please use and cite scientific
research and reports where possible to support your arguments. Remember to consider the “Triple Bottom
Line” in your study.
What is the “Big-Picture” problem you are trying to solve or improve?
Possible questions to ask yourself when determining the problem you are trying to solve:
Is it a water quality problem?
Is it a soil loss problem?
Water quantity?
Farm profitability or sustainability issue?
Combination?
Regulatory – too much; too little?
Other? – you decide
This portion of the project should serve as an introduction to the entire project. This portion should be
approximately 100-200 words in length and should explain what Big-Picture Problem you have chosen and
why. Please use and cite scientific research and reports to support your arguments. Remember to consider the
“Triple Bottom Line” in your study.
You will be assessed on your ability to:
Construct an organized response
Follow the project specifications
Provide quality information
Use recommended resources
Demonstrate strategic thinking
Create a well written and professional looking assignment
Synthesize and analyze data
Argue your points
Sample Solution
