Agricultural Environment

Agriculture is one of the oldest human activities, and its importance to the environment cannot be overstated. It affects the production of food, the health of waterways, soils, and biodiversity of plants, animals, and other life forms, as well as the way land is managed. Agriculture’s environmental impacts include crop production, fertilizer run-off, tillage effects, soil erosion, water contamination, water use, air quality degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions. This environmental footprint can be addressed through sustainable agricultural practices that minimize soil erosion, conserve water, increase water/nutrient/pest management, and improve air quality, while taking into consideration economic efficiency, social equity, and the needs of the natural environment. A sustainable agricultural system is one which maintains and improves the quality of its soils while preserving and enhancing the biodiversity of the landscape and creating a favorable balance between the natural and human environments. To promote more sustainable agricultural systems, farmers can practice conservation farming, nutrient management, cover cropping, and incorporating native plants into their farming operations, among other things. Cover cropping can reduce soil erosion, and can help improve the nutritional content of soil. Nutrient management promotes more efficient use of inputs, reducing chemical runoff and improving water quality. The integration of native plants and grasses into farming systems can reduce inputs, combat weed overgrowth, and help maintain wildlife habitat. Agricultural practices that are deemed “sustainable” are necessarily context-specific. There is no single definition of sustainable agriculture, but all versions strive for the same goals: to improve the quality of the environment, while achieving economic and social sustainability. By carefully examining and working to improve their land management practices, farmers can help ensure that their agricultural operations are environmentally sustainable.