National agricultural policies and research programs should look beyond  cutting costs and increasing production and adopt a more holistic approach to farming, according to a 598-page report issued Tuesday by the National Research Council National Academies.

A news release about the report was the basis of an Associated Press story that was picked up widely by the media.

"Many modern agricultural practices have unintended negative consequences, such as decreased water and air quality, and farmers have to consider these consequences while trying to increase production," said Julia Kornegay, chair of the committee that wrote the report and horticulture professor at North Carolina State University, Raleigh. "If farmers are going to meet future demands, the U.S. agriculture system has to evolve to become sustainable and think broadly -- past the bottom line of producing the most possible."

To help achieve a sustainable agriculture system, the committee said four goals should be considered simultaneously:

• satisfy human food, fiber, and feed requirements, and contribute to biofuels needs
• enhance environmental quality and the resource base
• maintain the economic viability of agriculture
• improve the quality of life for farmers, farm workers and society as a whole

While most current research is aimed at solving a particular problem, the authors say there is a need for a broader, integrated approach to ag research. The report suggests more research be conducted into the effectiveness and consequences of such practices as reduced tillage, planting cover crops and diversifying crops on individual farms.

The 16-member committee that authored the report included one ANR scientist, Deanne Meyer, a livestock specialist at UC Davis.