Page 6 - AR Farm Families 2020

6N • Sunday, December 20, 2020 • Salute to Farm Families
Advertising Supplement to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Common sustainable agriculture practices
The concept of sustainability varies by industry. Within the agricultur- al industry, sustainability is a mul- tifaceted concept that has become
increasingly popular in recent decades. According to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, sustainable agri- culture seeks to increase profitable farm income, promote environmental steward- ship, enhance quality of life for farm fam- ilies and communities, and increase pro- duction for human food and fiber needs. In an attempt to reach those goals, farmers who embrace sustainable agriculture may
look to various practices.
COVER CROPS
e Union of Concerned Scientists, a non- profit organization that aims to employ inde- pendent science to address the planet’s most pressing problems, notes that cover crops are planted during the offseason when soils have
traditionally been le bare. Cover crops can help prevent soil erosion and replenish the nu- trients in the soil. Cover crops can also limit weed growth, reducing the need for herbicides that can prove harmful to the environment.
REDUCING OR ELIMINATING TILLAGE
According to the UCS, traditional plow- ing, or tillage, can cause a significant amount of soil loss, even as tillage prepares fields for planting and reduces the likelihood of weed problems. Eliminating or reducing tillage involves inserting seeds directly into undis- turbed soil, which can reduce erosion and improve the health of the soil.
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
Integrated-pest-management techniques aim to minimize the use of chemical pesti- cides that can prove harmful to the environ- ment and local wildlife. According to the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program, IPM strategies such as habitat manipulation and the plant- ing of disease-resistant plants are designed to
Farmers who embrace sustainable agriculture may look to various practices.
promote long-term prevention of pests and the damage such pests can cause.
AGROFORESTRY
e Association for Temperate Agro- forestry defines agroforestry as an intensive land-management system that incorporates trees and/or shrubs to optimize the benefits they provide when deliberately combined with crops and/or livestock. e shade and shelter provided by trees and shrubs can pro- tect plants, animals and water resources.
CROP/LIVESTOCK INTEGRATION
e UCS notes that there is growing evi- dence to suggest that the careful integration of crop and animal production can help farmers make their farms more efficient and profitable.
Sustainable agriculture is a complex concept that can benefit farmers, their local communi- ties and the environment in myriad ways.
— Courtesy of Metro Creative
What is sustainable agriculture?
Many transitions have taken place in the agricultural industry over the past several decades. e widespread adop- tion of various technologies over the past 20-plus years has helped farmers stream- line their operations, making their farms more efficient and less wasteful as a result. In addition, many farmers have embraced sustainable farming, which is a relatively recent approach to agriculture.
According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, sustainable agriculture is a com- plex, multifaceted concept. Sustainable ag- riculture intends to contribute to a robust economy by making farms profitable. Farm- ers who embrace sustainable agriculture also aim to have a positive effect on the environ- ment and surrounding ecosystems. at’s accomplished by embracing strategies that focus on building and maintaining healthy soil, managing water wisely, minimizing pol- lution and promoting biodiversity.
e National Institute of Food and Ag- riculture notes that sustainable agriculture encompasses a wide range of production practices, including some associated with conventional farming and some linked to organic farming. As a result, sustainable farming should not be mistaken for or- ganic farming, or vice versa. However, the UCS notes that there’s a strong likelihood that certified organic produce at local gro- cery stores are byproducts of farms that embrace sustainable agriculture.
— Courtesy of Metro Creative