Grassland: Quietness and Strength for a New American Agriculture takes on the task of increasing our awareness of the vital role grass and grassland plants have in ensuring a sustainable future for America. Geared toward agriculturists, students, the public, and policymakers, Grassland aims to inspire and provide the reader the foundation needed to move into the future. Three main sections * track the history of grassland farming, highlighting the voices of grassland advocates * examine the current roles that grassland plays throughout the United States * look at the benefits grass-based agriculture can provide when grass is treated as an essential resource As Wendell Berry so eloquently argues in the foreword to Grassland, True farmers have minds that are complex and responsible...They understand and honor their debts to nature. They understand and honor their obligations to neighbors and consumers...In the time that is coming, we are going to need many more such farmers than we have, and we will need them much sooner than we can expect to get them.We will get them only to the extent that young people come along who are willing to fit their farming to the nature of their farms and their home landscapes, and who recognize the paramount importance of grass and grazing animals to good farming everywhere. This book will help that happen.

For 75 years, few textbooks have served a topic as well as Introduction to Forests and Renewable Resources. Widely recognized for its comprehensive yet engaging coverage, this major revision provides an outstanding, up to date overview of management issues, conservation policies and practices related to forests and renewable resources, and an authoritative perspective on how these topics are evolving. New directions are covered, including: green certification of forest management and wood products; improved harvest practices in response to public concerns; carbon sequestration and ecological services as important forest yields; ecosystem restoration and resilience as management responds to concerns about global warming; and more. Well-illustrated with new examples, case studies and abundant photos, this eighth edition describes the importance and history of forests, evolution of policy, North American distribution of forests, and moves on to describe forest health strategies to combat insects, disease, damage from mammals, and fire. Ecological principles are explained as basis for forest management, with chapters on management of the associated resources of wildlife, watersheds and streams, range resources, outdoor recreation and wilderness. Market concerns and technology are embraced in chapters on economics, measurement and analysis, harvesting, and forest products. Concluding chapters describe management of forests and renewable resources by the federal government, by states, by private land owners, and in urban areas and communities. For forestry, natural resource, and environmental science students, involved citizens and resource users and professionals, this book is your reference and guide to forests and renewable resources.