Practical Ways to Adopt More Sustainable Farming Practices
Farmers are increasingly searching for ways to make their operations more sustainable to protect the environment and reduce the costs associated with farming inputs and waste management. Implementing sustainable practices can get challenging, as it often comes with upfront costs.
Nonetheless, many farmers have already adopted sustainability as a business model, and investment in sustainable agriculture is increasing significantly.
According to a study by InsightAce Analytic, the global sustainable agriculture market is estimated to reach over $31.35 billion by 2031, exceeding a CABR of 10.17%. The USDA also recently invested $46 million in the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, which funds farmer-driven grants and grassroots education programs for climate-oriented solutions on farms.
In this article, we'll explore some practical ways farmers can improve sustainability in their operations.
Using Renewable Energy
Renewable energy sources like solar and wind power have become cheaper and more accessible. And because farmers must manage large tracts of land, they have plenty of options for implementing sustainable energy solutions right at home.
Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, for example, can be used to power irrigation pumps and other farm equipment. Wind turbines can also be used to generate electricity on the farm and help reduce electricity bills.
Renewable energy use on farms is still relatively new, but it is gaining traction. In 2020, Darigold reported that of the more than 2 million farms recorded across the U.S., about 6.5% used renewables. That's a small amount, but it's a significant increase from the 2.7% of farms using renewables in 2012.
Engage in Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
IPM is an ecosystem-based strategy that focuses on long-term prevention of pest outbreaks, rather than treating individual infestations with chemical pesticides.
IPM includes a variety of tactics, such as monitoring pests, using physical barriers to prevent infestations, releasing beneficial insects to reduce populations of damaging species, and rotating crops to reduce the chance of pest outbreaks. It can also reduce the amount of chemical pesticides used on farms, which in turn helps protect both human health and the environment.
Pesticides can find their way into groundwater, causing health issues in local communities and animal populations. They are also a significant risk to farmers themselves. According to one global study, about 44% of farmers are poisoned by pesticides every year.
Focus on Hydroponics and Aquaponics
Hydroponics and aquaponics are growing systems that don't rely on soil to grow produce. These methods use nutrient-rich solutions instead of soil, allowing farmers to grow crops indoors and in limited spaces.
Hydroponics is more efficient because it can produce higher yields with less water and fewer nutrients than traditional farming methods. Aquaponics takes this a step further by using fish waste to fertilize the plants, eliminating the need for chemical fertilizer, and reducing water use.
Both systems are also great for urban farming, as they don't require large amounts of land. And because they use less water and fewer inputs, they can be more sustainable than traditional farming methods.
Practice Sustainable Crop Rotation
Crop rotation is one of the oldest agricultural techniques in existence and arguably still the most effective for sustainable farming practices. It involves growing different crops in a fixed sequence in the same field to maximize soil fertility, reduce pests and diseases, and minimize the need for chemical inputs.
Crop rotation also helps increase soil organic matter content, which helps improve the structure of soil and increases water-holding capacity. This can help to reduce runoff from fields, which in turn helps protect local waterways from excessive nutrient pollution.
Embrace Urban Agriculture
Urban agriculture is an increasingly popular way of growing crops in an urban environment. This type of agriculture can take many forms, such as rooftop gardens, vertical farms, and even aquaponic systems in abandoned buildings or greenhouses.
Urban agriculture has several benefits over traditional agricultural methods. It allows for more efficient land use by utilizing existing infrastructure to grow food close to where it's consumed. Urban farms also reduce food miles, helping to decrease the environmental impact of transportation and packaging.
Consider Organic Farming
Organic farming involves growing crops without using synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides. That means organic farmers must rely on natural methods such as crop rotation, mulching, composting, and beneficial insect release to protect their crops from pests.
Organic farming can reduce the need for chemical inputs, which helps protect human health and the environment. It is also becoming increasingly popular with consumers, as organic foods command a premium in many markets.
"The continual rise in interest for updated organics data is consistent with the growth of this important sector,” said NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer, according to a report by the USDA. "These comprehensive and essential, national- and state-level data are critical for producers, businesses and policymakers in determining growth and trends in the organic industry.”
The report found that the market for organic livestock and poultry has increased by 32% in 2022, while the market for organic field crops had increased by 27%.
Harness Regenerative and No-Till Farming
Regenerative farming refers to practices that restore soil biodiversity and health by increasing soil carbon levels. Practices such as cover cropping, no-till farming, and composting are all part of regenerative agriculture.
No-till farming involves planting crops without disturbing the soil by tilling or plowing. This helps protect soil from erosion and increases water infiltration in the soil, reducing runoff and nutrient pollution. It also encourages soil biota to thrive, which can improve crop yields.
These methods have been shown to help farmers grow crops more sustainably while increasing their yields.
Make Your Farming Operation More Sustainable
Sustainable farming is essential for a healthy and vibrant future, and there are plenty of practical ways farmers can start engaging in more sustainable practices today. From renewable energy sources to regenerative farming techniques, the opportunities for improving sustainability are many and growing.
If you'd like to learn more about how you can implement more sustainable farming practices, don't miss the Smart Harvesting Summit on cultivating precision, yield, and sustainability with farmer-driven innovation. It’s happening at the Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego, California from February 21 to 22, 2024.