ABSTRACT
Since 1979 on the national experimental farm for development and comparison of alternative farming systems (DFS) at Nagele, The Netherlands, an integrated farming system has been developed. As an example, the integrated cropping of wheat is discussed and placed in the context of the whole farm. The preliminary results show that the conventional wheat cropping has the highest physical yields and gross margins. Lower yields in the integrated system could not be sufficiently compensated for by cost reduction based on a considerably lower input of fertilisers and pesticides. However, the yield level can further be improved, mainly by a better timing of the N-fertilisation. Detailed cropping models are being developed to be used in microcomputer or view-data systems, to provide for the higher level of knowledge that is needed to practise integrated farming.
