SARE and project partners hope to paint a clearer picture of sustainable agriculture by profiling successful farmers and ranchers. While the case studies will describe production and marketing practices, they also will detail how these practices improve profitability, the environment, rural communities, and the families' quality of life.

"Sustainable agriculture defies simple definition," says. John Ikerd, an agricultural economist at the University of Missouri-Columbia and coordinator of the "1,000 Ways" project. "The best way to communicate the meaning of sustainable agriculture is through real-life stories of people who are developing these systems in their own fields."

"To be sustainable, these operations must be profitable," adds Ikerd, who is also coordinator of the Sustainable Agricultural Systems Program at the University of Missouri. "But these producers aren't maximizing profits at the expense of family, community, and the environment."

Craig Cramer, former editor of The New Farm magazine and author of the Sustainable Farming Connection web site, will research and write the profiles. By gathering information directly from practitioners, he believes the case studies will reflect a true from-the-fields perspective.

To recommend a farmer or rancher for the case studies or for more information about the project, contact Cramer at (607) 753-8925 or cdcramer@clarityconnect.com), or visit the project's web site http://1000ways.baka.com.