0
What is Sustainable Agriculture?
By: Noah Weems
Sustainable Agriculture is the production of food, fiber or other plant or animal products
using farming techniques that protect the environment, public health, human communities,
and animal welfare. This form of agriculture helps us have healthful food. ln the following
paragraphs I will explain several benefits of sustainable agriculture.
The healthy way of raising crops is that sustainable farms do not rely on toxic chemical
pesticides. That is a Breat way to help the environment by not having all the chemical run off
that comes out of the soil when it rains. Sustainable farms also don't rely on synthetic fertilizers
and genetically modified seeds, so they basically do all the natural seeds and that helps the
environment. They also do not do practices that degrade the soil, water, or other natural
resources, by not doing that they grow a variety of plants and using techniques such as crop
rotation, conservation tillage, and pasture-based husbandry. Sustainable farms protect
biodiversity and foster the development and maintenance of healthy ecosystems and a healthy
environment.
eat:hould never be a worry concerning our health. Sustainable crop farms
avoid hazardous pesticides, therefore by growing the fruits and vegetables on their farms there
fruits and vegetables are much healthier for our bodies and our communities! Sustainable
farmers and ranchers treat and take care of their animals. They raise their animals without
dangerous practices like the use of nontherapeutic antibiotics or arsenic-based growth
The food we
promoters. Through careful, responsible management of livestock waste, sustainable farmers
also protect humans from exposure to pathogens, toxins, and other hazardous pollutants. To
me this is a great way to farm because I do not want to eat nasty meat or fruits or vegetables
fullof
bad things for my body.
Helping mine and your localcommunities and economy! Sustainable farmers sometimes
have local produce stands so you and I know that the fruits and vegetables are homegrown !
The people that work for these farms are provided with livable wage and safe, fair working
conditions. ln my community we have a family that raises and sells the crops that they raise
themselves on their farm. You can see them working on their farm allday and you can see the
healthiness of the fruits when u buy them. When buying from a local produce stand or a family
business, you are helping a family make a light bill payment or their child's shoes or clothes,
your helping them make rent. So therefore if you can help out and support local, family
businesses, they are always helping our environment by farming the sustainable way!
Keeping our animals happy and healthy the sustainable way! The farmers and workers
on the farms treat their animals with care and respect. lmplementing livestock husbandry
practices that protect animal's health and wellbeing. By raising livestock on pasture, these
farmers allow their animals to move freely, engage in instinctive behaviors, consume a natural
diet, and avoid stress and illness that go along with being confined in a little stall. The farmers
actually take care and pride in raising their livestock, by not giving them hofmone shots and
irrelevant shots that affect the meat quality. lf I am going to an expensive restaurant and want
a nice juicy steak I do not want it to tasle bitter from the shots and possibly the stress. Happier
livestock means yummy food!
Although industria! agricultural is dominating the country but getting the word about
sustainable agriculture will slowly help the environment and economies! Sustainable agriculture
usually takes place in small towns like mine, but we also buy our crops from the grocery store. I
hope people start to see that sustainable agriculture is the way to go! I understand we will need
the industrial farming as well because our population is constantly climbing, but every little
homegrown livestock and crops help! l'm sure more and more large sustainable farms will
grow more and more, as the more knowledge and awareness people learn about this type of
farming. Let's help spread the word !