Sustainable+Agriculture

Sustainable Agriculture
Sustainable agricultural practices are important in a world where there is a limited amount of farming land. Sustainable agriculture is possible through low-input farming. In this activity the student will examine organic and conventional farming practices.

Arable Land
Arable Land is fertile land that can be used to grow crops, where the soil includes a good mixture of organic material, water, air, and minerals. Sustainable agricultural practices are important in a world where there is a limited amount of arable land. This amount decreases every year. Declining arable land The land has been abused over time; meanwhile, population booms. Is there enough land to feed the population? Factors surrounding agricultural practices today: 1. Good land is flat, has moist, fertile soil and a temperate (not too cold not too hot), sunny climate. 2. Farm land is being lost due to erosion, water scarcity (desertification), mining, roads, salinization (salt build up in the soil) and (sub)urbanization. 3. Crop production is increasing through irrigation, fertilizer, pesticides, feedlots, genetically enhanced seeds ("Frankenfoods"), and alternative methods. 4. Urban agriculture, gardens, hydroponics, urban renewal, and aquaculture are possibilities, but unfortunately produce low amounts.
 * 80% of the world's farmland has "significant agricultural constraints" (damaged; eroded, lack of minerals, too dry, constantly flooded).
 * 45% of the world's farmland is steeply sloped (fragile soil, easily degraded).

Pesticides
===Pesticides are cheap (some governments help farmers by supplying money), but they become overused (excess application is regarded as insurance). The effects can be costly: === 1. Creating possible health risks (cancer, birth defects, nervous disorders). <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">2. Disrupting ecological processes (food chain): e.g., pesticides can kill pollinators, weaken bird reproduction, and kill natural predators to pest insects.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Feedlots
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Feedlots for livestock are efficient and cut costs, but there are problems: <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">1. Transporting corn/feed to cattle, hogs, chickens, and washing away manure into waterways (high impact). <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">2. Hog and chicken farms are major local problems to communities, because they pollute air and waterways. <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Sustainable agriculture is possible through low-input farming. An example of low-input farming is organic farming. Organic farmers grow crops or raise livestock without using synthetic pesticides, inorganic chemical fertilizers, anti-biotics, or hormones to fatten cattle, pigs, and chicken.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Organic Farming
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Organic Farming is done by: <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">a. keeping the soil moist by adding manure, compost, and other organic matter <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">b. keeping the soil planted at all times to avoid erosion <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">c. alternating different crops to reduce pest populations. <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">This type of farming not only protects the environment but also reduces the need for water, pesticides, and fertilizers. The amount of land needed for farming increases with this practice however.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Assignment
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">1. What is arable land? <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;"> 2. What are some factors surrounding agricultural practices today? <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;"> 3. What are pesticides and what are the problems associated with their use in agriculture? <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;"> 4. What are three organic farming techniques? Why is organic farming beneficial? <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;"> 5. What is an issue with organic farming? Why would that be a major difficulty?