Central Valley Agriculture: Land & Sustainability Sustainability begins with the land.
Sustainability November 6, 2013. Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture USDA publication from the...
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Transcript of Sustainability November 6, 2013. Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture USDA publication from the...
SustainabilityNovember 6, 2013
Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture
• USDA publication from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program (www.sare.org)
Primary Goals of Sustainable Ag
• Providing a more profitable farm income• Promoting environmental stewardship, including:• Protecting and improving soil quality• Reducing dependence on non-renewable resources
(fuel and synthetic fertilizer)• Minimizing adverse impacts on safety, wildlife, water
quality, and other environmental resources
Strategies
• No single practice works on every field• No one recipe works on every farm• We will explore how some people are trying to
achieve sustainability
Elements of Sustainability
• Integrated pest management (IPM)• Rotational grazing• Soil conservation• Water quality/wetlands• Cover crops
• Crop/landscape diversity• Nutrient management• Agroforestry • Alternative marketing
USDA SARE program
• Highlights and Success Stories, www.sare.org/highlights/• Success stories and agricultural profiles that highlight
diverse sustainable principles practiced coast to coast
• Funding Opportunities, www.sare.org/grants/• Research and Education Grants: primarily for scientists,
producers researching new sustainable ag practices• Producer Grants• Producers conduct research, marketing and
demonstration projects and share the results with other farmers and ranchers
• Typically $1,000 to $15,000
Class Assignment
• Read the article indicated on the assignment sheet • Discuss with others that read the same article:• Description of the farm • Background• Profitability• Environmental Strategies• Community, Outreach, Quality of Life• Difficulties in starting a similar farm in Indiana• Suggestions for improvements and expansions
• Closed book; team quiz
Assignment