Page 2 - Salute to Arkansas Farm Families

2H • Thursday, December 8, 2016 • Salute to Farm Families
Advertising Supplement to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Eco-friendly farming
makes cents
Environmental sustainability can foster economic stability
By Sarah DeClerk
SPECIAL SECTIONS WRITER
Farming with the environment in mind can lighten the load on farmers’ pocketbooks, as well as
the planet. Because conserving resources and reducing waste can help farms func- tion prosperously for generations, many farmers are invested in managing their property as efficiently as possible.
“Really, farmers were the first environ- mentalists,” said John Bailey, director of en- vironmental and regulatory affairs at the Ar- kansas Farm Bureau Federation. “They need to take care of the land, and by taking care of the land, that land continues to give back to them.”
The Farm Bureau works in partnership
with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture and other organizations to devel- op practices that increase crop yields while reducing agriculture’s environmental foot- print, he added.
Agriculture can have a profound effect on watersheds — areas of land that drain into waterways — when erosion allows runoff to pollute bodies of water. However, farm- ers may find it prudent to keep their topsoil in place.
“We know that a lot of people are con- cerned about sediment runoff from agricul- tural sites, but the simple fact is that soil is the key component as far as any agricultural use is concerned,” Bailey said.
“Every farmer wants to keep the soil where it’s at, and they also want to manage it so they can have that yield that they’re looking for on
New equipment and technology, such as GPS and drones, allow farmers to use precision when spreading seeds, fertilizer and pesticides, which can help reduce waste.
an annual basis, year after year, decade after decade,” he said.
“Top soil is money,” said Brandy Carroll, director of commodity activities and market information at the bureau. Row farmers may plant cover crops or use conservation tillage, in which residue from the previous crop re- mains on the field before and after planting, to conserve soil, she said, adding that many farmers also use precision leveling technolo- gy to reduce soil loss during irrigation.
Livestock farmers can maintain healthy
vegetation by rotating herds between pas- tures so that no area becomes overgrazed and eroded, Bailey added.
Using the proper amount of fertilizer also reduces harm caused by runoff, he said. Nu- trient management plans allow farmers to assess their soil and determine the ratio of nutrients needed, he said, adding that farm- ers who hope to adopt such plans can con- tact organizations like the Natural Resources Conservation Service or the Arkansas Natu- ral Resources Commission.
Congratulations!
Congratulations!
T O L O N O K E C O U N T Y ’S FARM FAMILYOFTHEYEAR
Brandon & Beverly Parker
Aful-servicefarm supplystore servin g the area sin ce 1975
LONOKE (501)676-3139 CARLISLE (870)552-7538