Farming in the Works:
Are you proud to be an
American? It seems that recently The United States has been spotlighted for
issues that have not always represented our country in the best of light. From government
issues and immigration laws to global trading policy and infrastructure, our
country has been ridiculed and a source of controversy to other countries all
over the world. However, have you ever stopped to think about what parts of
American life are admired by other countries? If we have anything to be proud
of it is our film industry and our agriculture industry. While the film
industry provides pleasure and entertainment, our American agriculture industry
provides a necessity to not only Americans but also people all over the world.
That necessity is food.
Our American
agriculture is noted worldwide for its high productivity, quality, and
efficiency in delivering goods to the consumer. With over 2.2 million farms
covering an area of over 922 million acres, American agriculture is a large
industry that shoulders the job of feeding the country. From small organic
farms to large commercial farms, farmers and ranchers are constantly trying to
find ways to increase crop or meat yield and create new ways to manage pests.
While the majority of our farmers and ranchers go about their business with the
upmost of morals concerning their impact on the environment, there are still
other measures that can be taken to further reduce their impact on the
environment while not sacrificing the health and efficiency of their products…….
Agriculture and farming
is such a vital part of our society and well-being and yet the majority of the
population knows little to nothing about the subject. Therefore The Greener
Days crew would like to make y’all more knowledgeable about the link between
American agriculture and its impact on the environment. We would then like you
to use this knowledge to challenge our farmers and ranchers to do better by the
environment while still producing the best quality of crops and/ or meat. Do
you think this sounds too harsh? Think again- these people are made of the
toughest breed and if they can battle elements such as the rain and sun, they
will welcome your claims with open arms.
So, next time you go to
the supermarket to buy some corn, steak, and potatoes for that perfect hearty
American meal, consider where these products came from and how their production
impacted the environment. Do a little research on the companies from which you
usually buy and see how they manage their livestock grazing, for example.
Overgrazing can expose soils, increase erosion, and reduce the filtration of
sediment necessary for building stream banks, wet meadows, and floodplains. If
farmers and ranchers are adjusting their herds grazing intensity, keeping their
livestock out of sensitive areas, and revegetating rangeland and pastureland,
they are doing their upmost to reduce their impacts of grazing on water and
land quality. In addition to grazing, pay attention to how farmers and ranchers
manage pests. Are these farms using toxic pesticide, herbicide, and fungicide
formulas that after entering water through direct application, runoff, or wind
transport cause contamination, kill fish and wildlife, poison food sources for
animals, and destroy the habitats of aquatic organisms? Or are the farms and
ranches you buy produce and meat from managing their pests by Integrated Pest Management
techniques that are low impact and catered specifically to each plot of land or
livestock herd? How are these farms and ranches managing irrigation? By
irrigating their crops and watering their livestock through timed practices
that are designed specifically with the needs of the certain product, farmers
and ranchers can avoid wasting water and by not overwatering crops,
agricultural runoff can be decreased or prevented because the soil is able to
absorb all the water.
Managing livestock
grazing, pesticide use, and irrigation techniques are only three daily
practices that farmers and ranchers can improve or change to reduce their
impact on the environment while still feeding our bellies. By looking at labels
and packaging and researching what farms and ranches across the country are
doing to be more green, we are able to commend those that are practicing more
environmentally safe agriculture services and challenge those farms that are
not to rise to our standards while at the same time still thanking them for all
that they do for us.
Sources:
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