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About AFSIC
The Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC) provides research-based resources for nontraditional food-production and crop-management practices to support the USDA's mission of promoting a sustainable future and agricultural economic viability for farmers worldwide.
Historic Resources
Pioneers in Sustainable Agriculture
Video interviews with individuals who provided leadership and inspiration in the early years of alternative and sustainable agriculture, including Dr. James Duke, Dr. Charles Francis, Robert Rodale and others. (Recorded with AFSIC staff, 1988-1991)
Organic Roots Collection
The documents in this NAL digital collection were specifically chosen for their relevance to today’s sustainable and organic farmers.
Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases
Dr. James Duke was a USDA botanist and a leading authority on medicinal herbs. This database is one of the world's leading repositories of ethnobotanical data and houses information on plants and their chemicals, bioactivity, and ethnobotany.
Funding Opportunity Announcements
See Agricultural Funding Resources by Topic for additional resources.)
- Forest Landowner Support - Applications due October 21, 2023
Program awards financial assistance for underserved and small-acreage forest landowners to participate in emerging private markets for climate mitigation and forest resilience.
- Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) - Applications due November 23, 2023 (11:59PM ET)
Program awards grants to help eligible, domestically-owned, meat processors expand their processing capacity.
Bulletins
Gearing up to Sow and What is a Plant Breeder?
(May 2022)
Plant breeding is an ancient activity that originated as our ancestors shifted from gathering wild plants to growing them in a controlled manner.
What is Sustainable Agriculture?
(March 2022)
"Sustainable agriculture" is legally defined as integrating plant and animal production practices that target several specific long-term objectives.
News
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USDA To Provide Additional Financial Assistance to Qualifying Guaranteed Farm Loan Borrowers Facing Financial Risk
The USDA will begin providing qualifying guaranteed Farm Loan Program (FLP) borrowers experiencing financial risk with additional, automatic financial assistance.
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USDA's Science & Research Strategy Aims to Boldly Transform U.S. Agriculture
The strategy reflects a three-year vision for transforming U.S. agriculture through science and innovation.
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The Prevalence of the "Natural" Claim on Food Product Packaging [PDF, 10 pages]
This ERS Brief explains what regulatory authorities mean by "natural," and how the public misinterprets these claims.
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Twelve USDA Regional Food Business Centers Finalists Selected
Regional Food Business Centers assist small- and mid-sized farms and food businesses with technical and financial assistance, as well as coordinate food systems across geographic regions and organizations.
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ERS Vegetable and Pulses Outlook - April 2023 [PDF, 70 pages]
This report covers basic supply, demand, price, and trade analysis for fresh-market vegetables, processing vegetables, potatoes, and pulses (e.g., beans, peas, lentils, and chickpeas).
AFSIC Background
The Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC), founded in 1985, was one of the first USDA programs to focus on sustainable and organic agriculture.
AFSIC disseminates information across a diverse subject area to a broad audience that includes research scientists, agricultural professionals, and the hobbyist. The Center regularly collaborates with other federal agencies and organizations and serves as a communication hub fostering delivery of relevant data-driven science, tools, and agricultural program information to public stakeholders – ensuring that USDA resources for agricultural equity, resilience, and prosperity are available to all.
Contact Us
Online: Use the library's Ask a Question form.
Questions will be answered by AFSIC Technical Information Specialists.
Phone: (301) 504-6559
Sign Up
To sign up for the Alternative Farming Systems Information Center Listserv go to USDA Agricultural Research Service (govdelivery.com) and find us under the National Agricultural Library.