Other Sustainable Efforts on Farms Big and Small
• Diversified crops• Diversified animal operations• Smart water use• Low and no till• Wind power• Solar power• Biofuel production
– Animal digesters– Bio diesel– Ethanol– Grass Pellets
http://www.sare.org/Learning-Center/Bulletins/Clean-Energy-Farming/Text-Version/First-Steps
Diversified Crops and Livestock• Choosing more specialized
grains and growing different crops in different years builds soil, reduces pests and increases revenue– Millet, buckwheat, amaranth,
canola, sunflower, sesame, flax, legumes and alfalfa
• Cover crops• Introducing animals• Agroforestryhttp://www.sare.org/Learning-Center/Bulletins/Diversifying-Cropping-Systems/Text-Version/Profiles/Diversified-North-Dakotan-Works-With-Mother-Naturehttp://www.sare.org/Learning-Center/Bulletins/Diversifying-Cropping-Systems/Text-Version/Profiles/Profitable-Pecans-Worth-the-Wait-in-Missouri-Alley-Cropping-Systems
Smart water use
• Groundwater volume is on the decline in many regions of the country
• Using drought tolerant crops reduces or eliminates the need for irrigation.
• Example is replacing corn with sorghum
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/10/31/231509864/heat-drought-draw-farmers-back-to-sorghum-the-camel-of-crops
Conservation Tillage
Wind and Solar energy
• Helps farmers offset costs
• Increase self-reliance
http://www.vindy.com/news/2008/sep/03/with-the-help-of-solar-technology-farmer/