Agriculture sustainability is the ability of a farm to drive efficiency and productivity. Farms need to be well taken care of to meet future generation needs. Local farmers can do the following to be more sustainable.
Practice Sustainable Soil Management
Protecting and building your soil increases the productivity of the farm. Look for practices that reduce erosion to build healthy soil. The need for herbicides, fertilizers, and pesticides will be minimized when you adopt this practice. Add organic matter and plant cover crops for sustainable soil. Investigating the soil is also an essential aspect of determining the impact of agricultural products.
Another aspect of keeping yourself healthy is planting a variety of crops. Planting the same type of crops for years can destroy the soil nutrients making it difficult to produce quality products. Crop rotation retains and maintains nutrients in the soil.
Use Integrated Pest Management
Integrated pest management is a process that reduces the pest population on a farm. It is an eco-friendly practice that combines habitat manipulation, biological control, resistant varieties, and modification of cultural practices techniques. This process is better compared to the application of chemical pesticides because it focuses on long-term pest prevention.
Stay Informed
It is easy to find information nowadays due to improved technology. Research and be part of a community-based Natural resource management organization to get information that can positively affect your farming operations. You also need to know what the state and the federal are saying concerning food safety regulations, land use planning, and taxes. You will be in an excellent position to make sustainable decisions when informed.
Agroforestry Practices
Growing crops needs shelter and shade. Farmers can mix shrubs and trees in their farming operations to protect plants and water resources. You can get income from mature trees when you sell them for timber. Integrating crops and livestock is also another practice that increases the efficiency and profitability of a farm.
Change is inevitable, and it’s essential to embrace it to keep your farm profitable. A profitable farm is more likely to survive for generations compared to one that is not. Find ways of diversifying your crops, embracing new agricultural technologies, and the marketing aspects.
Reduce or Eliminate Tillage
Land tilling requires heavy machinery. This equipment destroys the soil structure when used consecutively and tampers with the soil tilth. Reducing or eliminating tillage increases the number of earthworms, improving soil aeration, and enriching soil fertility. Reducing tillage also minimizes the use of fossil fuels.
As a local farmer, following the highlighted tips will help you make your farm more sustainable.