RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Design of resource efficient cropping systems, rotations and spatially diverse field crop designs, integrated crop/animal systems, whole farm planning and watershed design for environmentally sound production systems; on-farm and participatory research and educational activities, collaborative research design; future agricultural systems, role of diversity and integrated resource management, value added enterprises and products, and relationship of farms to viable rural communities.

EXTENSION INTERESTS:

Crop rotations, design of resource efficient crop, animal, and agroforestry systems, sustainable practices and farming systems in watershed design, value-added enterprises and products, organic farming and gardening, integration of farming with community viability, participatory on-farm research and education programs, regional professional development program in North Central Region.

MAJOR PROJECT ACTIVITIES:

Long-term crop rotations, analysis of flexible rotation systems, crop/animal integration, whole-farm and landscape analysis and design, on-farm research design and interpretation, urbanization of rural landscapes, farming at the rural/urban interface, innovative and participative learning environments.

COURSES TAUGHT:

• Agroecology (Agron 435/835, FFW 435/835)
• International Agriculture & Natural Resources (AGRI292)
• Sustainable Agriculture Seminar (Agron 496/896)
• Global Issues Seminar (Agron 496/896)
• Agroecosystem Analysis (AGRO 436/836)
• Urbanization of Rural Landscapes (AGRO 489/889, HORT 489/889, CRPL 489/889)
• Science-Based Organic Farming & Gardening (Agron 496/896, Hort 496/896)

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

• Lieblein, G., M. Moulton, W. Waalen, T.A. Breland, C. Francis, N. Sriskandarajah, J. Porter, J. Helenius, L. Salomonsson, and V. Langer. 2005. Systems thinking and experiential learning: a Nordic net-based course in agroecology: integrating student learning and teacher collaboration. European Journal of Open and Distance Learning [EURODL] Vol. 1. [http://eurodl.org/materials/contrib./2005/Lieblein.htm].
  
  
• Schneider, M., A. Colglazier, C. Pollard, R. Beutler, and C. Francis. 2005. Discovering the whole: multiple paths to systems learning. NACTA J. 49(2):15-22.
  
  
• Francis, C., G. Lieblein, H. Steinsholt, T.A. Breland, J. Helenius, N. Sriskandarajah, and L. Salomonsson. 2005. Food systems and environment: building positive rural-urban linkages. Human Ecology Review 12(1):58-69.
  
  
• Francis, C.A. 2004. Education in agroecology and integrated systems. In: New Dimensions in Agroeoclogy, D. Clements and A. Shrestha, editors. Food Products Press, an imprint of The Haworth Press, Binghampton, NY. p. 21-43.
  
  
• Waage, S., and C. Francis 2004. The elephant in the room: core stumbling blocks to operationalize sustainability concepts in large corporations. Green Money, Business and Sustainability Section, Summer, 2004. http://www.greenmoneyjournal.com/index.mpl
  
  
• Rickerl, D., and C. Francis, editors. 2004. Agroecosystems Analysis, Monograph Series No. 43, Amer. Soc. Agron., Madison, Wisconsin.
  
  
• Wiedenhoeft, M., S. Simmons, R. Salvador, G. McAndrews, C. Francis, J. King, and D. Hole. 2003. Agroecosystems analysis from the grass roots: a multidimensional experiential learning course. J. Natural Res. Life Sci. Educ. 32:73-79.
  
  
• Francis, C., G. Lieblein, S. Gliessman, T.A. Breland, N. Creamer, R. Harwood, L. Salomonsson, J. Helenius, D. Rickerl, R. Salvador, M. Wiedenhoeft, S. Simmons, P. Allen, M. Altieri, C. Flora, and R. Poincelot. 2003. Agroecology: the ecology of food systems. J. Sustainable Agric. 22(3):99-118.
  
  
• Francis, C.A. 2003. Advances in the design of resource-efficient cropping systems. J. Crop Production Vol. 8, No.1/2, (#15/16):15-32 [also Ch. 2 in Cropping Systems: Trends and Advances, A. Shrestha, editor. Food Products Press, 2003, pp. 15-32]
  
  
• Francis, C., G. Lieblein, T.A. Breland, L. Salomonsson, N. Sriskandarajah, and J. Helenius. 2003. Education in Agroecology: Reports and Publications from the NOVA University Program. Ext. and Educ. Mater. for Sustain. Agric., Vol. 14. North Central Region and Coop. Ext. Div., Ctr. for Applied Rural Innovation, Univ. Nebraska. 229 p.
  
  
• Limon-Ortega, A., K.D. Sayre, R.A. Drijber, and C.A. Francis. 2002. Soil attributes in a furrow-irrigated bed planting system in northwest Mexico. Soil & Tillage Res. 63:123-132.
  
  
• Lieblein, G., C.A. Francis, and H. Torjusen. 2001. Future interconnections among ecological farmers, processors, marketers, and consumers in Hedmark County, Norway: creating shared vision. Human Ecology Review 8(1):61-72.
  
  
• Schoeneberger, M.M., G. Bentrup, and C.A. Francis. 2001. Ecobelts: reconnecting agriculture and communities. Ch. 16 in: In: Interactions between Agroecosystems & Rural Communities, C.B. Flora, editor. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida. p. 239-260.
  
  
• Cutforth, L.B., C.A. Francis, G.D. Lynne, D.A. Mortensen, and K.M. Eskridge. 2001. Factors affecting farmers’ crop diversity decisions: An integrated approach. Amer. J. Altern. Agric. 16(4):168-176.
  
  
• Rietveld, W.J., and C.A. Francis. 2000. Future of Agroforestry in the USA. Ch. 11 in: North American Agroforestry: An Integrated Science and Practice, H.E. Garrett, W.J. Rietveld, and R.F. Fisher, editors. Amer. Soc. Agron., Madison, Wisconsin. p. 387-402.
  
  
• Lieblein, G., C. Francis, and J. King. 2000. Conceptual framework for structuring future agricultural colleges and universities. J. Agric. Educ. Extension (Wageningen) 6:213-222.
  
  
• Francis, C.A. 2000. Designing a durable and positive future for agriculture. Amer. J. Alternative Agric. 15(1):44-47.
  
  
• Limon-Ortega, Agustin, Kenneth D. Sayre, and Charles A. Francis. 2000a. Wheat and maize yields in response to straw management and nitrogen under a rainfed planting system. Agron. J. 92:295-302.
  
  
• Carter, H., R. Olson, and C. Francis, (eds). 1999. Facing a watershed: managing profitable and sustainable landscapes in the 21st century. Ext. and Educ. Mater. for Sustain. Agric., Vol. 7. No. Cent. Reg. and Coop. Ext. Div., Ctr. for Sustain. Agric. Systems, Univ. Nebraska. 262 p.
  
  
• Lieblein, G., C.A. Francis, L. Salomonsson, and N. Sriskandarajah. 1999. Ecological agriculture research: increasing competence through PhD courses. J. Agric. Education and Extension. 6(1):31-46.
  
  
• Lesoing, G.W., and C.A. Francis. 1999. Strip intercropping of corn/soybean in irrigated and rainfed environments. J. Prod. Agric. 12:127-128, 187-192.
  
  
• Olson, R.K., C.A. Francis, and S. Kaffka, editors. 1995. Exploring the Role of Diversity in Sustainable Agriculture. Misc. Publ., Amer. Soc. Agron., Madison, Wisconsin. 249 pp.