Focusing on Stewardship for Long-term Sustainability
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Transcript of Focusing on Stewardship for Long-term Sustainability
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Focusing on Stewardship for Long-term Sustainability
Developed by:Cinda Williams, UID Ext.Kevin Laughlin, UID Ext.
Susan Donaldson, UNV Coop. Ext.Univ. of Idaho Extension
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Topics to be covered: The whole-property concept Integrating the lessons you’ve learned Viewing your property through a
sustainability lens How others are making it work Monitoring and assessing progress How you’re making it work
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What about sustainable agriculture? “involves farming systems that are profitable,
environmentally sound and good for people and communities.” (SARE)
These systems must be:◦ Economically sustainable◦ Environmentally sustainable◦ Socially sustainable
USDA NRCS
“meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” (U.S. EPA)
What is “sustainability”?
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So you want to be a steward of your land?
Steward: a person who manages another's property or financial affairs
Environmental stewardship: the responsibility to take care of our natural resources to ensure they are sustainably managed for current and future generations
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What does it mean to be a steward of a small-acreage property?
“The practice of carefully managing land usage to ensure natural systems are maintained or enhanced for future generations.”
-The Land Stewardship CenterUSDA NRCS
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Caring for the system as a whole◦ Holistic approach
Conserving resources◦ Renewable and non-renewable
Maintaining, building and enhancing stability in nature◦ Encourage biodiversity
Honoring cultural values and ethics◦ Think long term
Guiding principles of land stewardship
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Putting it all together with a whole-property perspective
Use what you’ve learned about:Inventory and goals SoilsWater Wildfire threat reductionPlantsAnimalsManagement
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The whole-property view
Redrawn by A. Miller from www.sare.org
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Applying a “systems” approach System: a group of interacting,
interdependent elements that function together as a complex unified whole
www.unesco.org
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National Center for Atmospheric Research
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Whole-farm nutrient balance
www.extension.org/pages/Whole_Farm_Nutrient_Balance
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An alternate view of the whole-farm nutrient balance
Losses or soil storage
Managed
outputs
Meat and milk
Crops
Manure
Inputs
Feed
Animals
Irrigation water
Fertilizer
Legume N
Feed Manure
Livestock and Poultry Environmental Stewardship
Farm boundary, but remember to think outside the box too!
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Applying systems thinking to your property
What are the components of your system?
How are they interrelated? How does an
action on one component affect other parts of your system?
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Systems diagram activity
www.icra-edu.org
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Seeks to understand the big picture
Observes how elements within systems change over time, generating patterns and trends
A systems thinker:
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Being a systems thinker
Identifies the circular nature of complex cause- and-effect relationships, i.e. interdependencies
Changes perspectives
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Developing your goals with sustainability in mind
Environmental concerns
Economic factors Social issues
www.sare.org
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Putting sustainable goals into action
SoilsShort-term Actions Long-term Goals
1. Do a soil test for nutrients, organic matter content, etc.
2. Plant cover crops and till in as green manure
Outcome:Improved soil quality
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Putting sustainable goals into action
Plants
Short-term Actions Long-term Goals
1. Assess existing vegetation
2. Improve grass mixture
3. Implement rotational grazing
Outcome:Healthy pastures and
healthy animals
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Putting sustainable goals into action
BusinessShort-term Actions Long-term Goals
1. Research and identify a feasible niche market
2. Develop a business plan
Outcome:Make a profit from your small-acreage
enterprise
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Make your own goals!
Short-term Actions Long-term Goals
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The living soil
How do the practices we employ on our land influence the soil?
USDA NRCS
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Improving soil quality Work on the basics of high-quality soils
◦ Reduce tillage◦ Add organic matter
(plant cover crops)◦ Reduce applications of synthetic-
based chemicalsMonitor for:
• Earthworms,• Organic matter, • roots and residues,• Subsurface compaction,• Soil tilth,• Erosion,
• Water-holding capacity, • Drainage and infiltration,• Crop condition,• Nutrient-holding capacity,• pH
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Protecting our water Water quantity
◦ Reduce unnecessary water loss by covering soil (cover crops, mulch, etc.)
◦ Increase water-use efficiency by proper irrigation
Water quality ◦ Prevent runoff of soil into water bodies◦ Prevent contamination by livestock by installing
buffers or providing off-stream watering
USDA NRCS
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What are you doing to conserve water? For your crops or pasture?
For your animals?
In your landscape?
In your home?NDEP
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Sustainable water use Build well-structured soils that retain water Design for infiltration of water, rather than
runoff Plant species that are drought-tolerant and
disease-resistant Capture, conserve and recycle water
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Drought index
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/prelim/drought/palmer.html
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How does drought affect you?
In the short term? In the midterm (3 years)? In the long term (5 years)? What is your contingency plan? What will you do differently?
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Protecting and preserving your space Was wildfire part of your long-term plan?
Make a plan for protecting and preserving your space
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Managing plants for sustainability
Promote ecological balance with plant diversity
Maintain vegetative cover Enhance or provide organic matter Enhance nutrient recycling Promote pest population balance through
biological strategies
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Raising healthy animals – a systems approach
You can manage parts of the system to decrease internal parasites and their effects
ATTRA
Pasture rotation
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Managing energy use Make use of renewable energy
◦ Solar Pumps for watering and irrigation Greenhouses
◦ Wind Electricity for buildings
◦ Biofuels Oils or fuel from plants
◦ Energy from animal waste (which is not a waste after all!) Methane digesters
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Creating successful enterprises
Choose your production system Develop your niche
◦ Your uniqueness is the key ◦ Tell your story!
Value-added products Connect to customers and the
community Understand the bottom line
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Quality lives
For you and your family◦ Physical health: exposure and safety◦ Mental health: stress and depression
For employees◦ Fair treatment◦ Decent wages and living conditions
For animals◦ Humane treatment of animals◦ Low-stress handling
USDA NRCS
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Vibrant communities Links between the landowner or farmer
and the community Networking Partnerships and collaboration Lifelong learning What can you do?
◦ Host public and school tours◦ Share what you’ve learned◦ Donate food to local food banks◦ Buy fresh and buy local◦ Join a co-op or support group
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Stewardship Actions
Protect ground and surface water resources
Conserve water, practice efficient application
Stabilize, amend, and cover soil◦ increase organic matter ◦ Increase moisture content◦ decrease erosion
Improve vegetative cover and better manage vegetated areas to increase occurrence
Focus on systems sustainability by looking at all aspects of your property: land, soil, water, plants, animals, etc.
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Foster awareness in young people
Host field trips for schools Encourage students to
participate in the farm Create school gardens Support youth programs Volunteer
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Monitor and assess your progress
Before you took this class, how were you interacting with your resources?
What are you doing differently now? What do you plan to do differently in
the future? What results do you want? How will you achieve your goals? How will you know if you succeeded? How are you making progress toward
making your property more sustainable?
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Where can you get help? SARE – www.sare.org ATTRA – www.attra.org Local organizations
◦ CSU Ext. http://www.ext.colostate.edu/sam/
◦ USDA-NRCS◦ Conservation District
http://www.mountsopriscd.org/◦ CSFS
http://csfs.colostate.edu/pages/grandjunctiondist.html
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Summary What do sustainability and stewardship
mean to you? How will you be a better steward? How can you help your neighbors become
better stewards? How does systems thinking help you
achieve your goals?
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How are YOU making it work? How are you integrating what you’ve
learned about your resources? How have you affected your own property? How have you affected your community? Have your long-term goals changed? Why? What do you hope to accomplish? How will your property be more
sustainable? Are you a better steward?
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You’re on your way to a sustainable approach to managing all the resources on your small-
acreage property!
UNCE, Reno, NV