Ag Series speaker Miguel Altieri notes that smaller may be better on the farm Students, faculty, and the general public gathered to hear world renowned agroecologist, Dr. Miguel Altieri speak on April 2 as the CSU Stanislaus Agricultural Studies Department presented the first lecture of its 2008 Speaker Series sponsored by Yosemite Farm Credit. Altieri’s lecture focused on sustainable agriculture practices and global issues concerning agriculture and ecology. He stressed that reverting to traditional agricultural practices is necessary to fix the problems facing modern agriculture. These practices include smaller farm sizes, low to no inputs of inorganic chemicals, and biological defenses.   Altieri warned of what he feels is the danger of biofuels as a major source of alternative energy in the near future. He said biofuels may actually pose their own environmental and resource allocation challenges. Altieri noted that his research suggests that there may not be enough farm land to support the country's fuel needs and produce food. Altieri has been a professor of Agroecology in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, at UC Berkeley since 1981. By Jarrod Martin, CSU Stanislaus Agricultural Studies Student