Agriculture

Are Working Landscapes Desirable?

Natural Resources

Economic Development

Government Presence

Neighbor vs. Neighbor

Public vs. Private

Urban Sprawl

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There are some things farmers cannot control and some things they can. Farmers cannot control the weather, the price they get for their crops, or how bad the insects will be in a year. They can control how they farm, which is very important to the health of a working landscape.

The following is a summary of farming practices and issues that challenge a farm's role in a working landscape.

Two Types of Farming
Growing Crops
Crops like corn, wheat, cotton, and soybeans are grown to produce food and products we use everyday.

Raising Livestock
Animals, like cows and pigs, are raised for food like hamburgers and bacon. The also supply materials for products we use everyday, like belts and shoes.

Problems Farmers Have Little Control Over
Water
The availability of water can determine the life or death of crops and livestock. Irrigation (watering crops) is a key issue. Periods of extreme drought and flooding complicate the issue of irrigation.

Problems Farmers Have a Great Deal of Control Over
Chemical Pesticides and Fertilizers
Farmers often apply chemicals to their fields to either help add nutrients to the soil or to destroy unwanted insects, weeds, and animal pests. The chemicals can do one of two things. They either break down into harmless products, or they remain toxic. In either case, they find their way into our underground aquifers or run off directly into our lakes, rivers, and streams. This means they can end up in our drinking water, or they may affect unintended organisms that are not on the farm.

Farmers can minimize their use of chemicals or even grow crops organically. They can also look for safer alternatives like integrated pest management, which uses pesticides as little as possible, looks at ways the environment can help control pests, and modifies the way a farm is run in order to reduce pests.

Erosion
Soil erosion is the most severe agricultural problem. When water and wind have access to bare ground, they rob a landscape of top soil and nutrients. Dirt in our air impacts air quality. Dirt in our water can also make it unfit to drink. But conservation tillage practices (ex., contouring, terracing) can minimize soil erosion.

Overgrazing
Overgrazing occurs when all of the vegetation is consumed by the animals feeding on a landscape. The land becomes susceptible to soil erosion. Controlled grazing can prevent this. Reintroduction of native animals that do not overgraze is another option (ex., bison, elk).

Feedlots
Feedlots are areas where a large number of animals are confined to a small area. They often threaten the land's ability to maintain itself. The land may not be able to handle the large number of animals that rely on it. The health of the land and the health of the animals are at risk.

Ranchers can make sure their animals have room to roam. They can rotate grazing animals from field to field.

Manure
Manure management deals with this question: after the animals "do their business," what do we do with it? Manure makes great fertilizer, but applying too much will result in pollution of our water supply. It can be placed in confinement ponds, but that only intensifies the smell. Confinement ponds allow solid waste to settle to the bottom of the pond and not run off into our sources of drinking water like rivers and streams.

Other Potential Issues
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is the genetic engineering of crops that have desirable traits like pest and drought resistance. The effects on other crops, biodiversity, and the ecosystem remain to be seen.

Solutions for Working Landscapes
Thoughtful farming can be a component of a working landscape, but if problems associated with agriculture are not addressed, a working landscape cannot exist. Fortunately, there are many good practices to prevent problems and save the land.

Farmers who are aware of the problems associated with growing crops and raising animals and take action to solve these problems are rewarded with a special relationship to the land. They are also rewarded financially. The ultimate reward is a working landscape for future generations to use and enjoy.

What do you think?
How can agriculture best fit within a working landscape?

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"The Best of Agriculture" a photo essay
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IPTV Market to Market Links
Co-op without chemicals
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Expanding Organic Industry
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Northern California Distributor Connects Farmers & Chefs Through Web
Farmer and high-tech guru Brian Gardiner applies his skills to make the distance shorter from "field to fork."

Generating Profit From Less Acres
While conventional agriculture seems to be expanding acreage to make ends meet, some savvy marketers are making money growing less traditional crops on a fraction of the land used by an average farm.

Cooperative venture finds place in local groceries
A cooperative of Oregon organic growers are joining forces to sell their bounty to local grocery stores.

Organic market grows a booming business
sales of organic produce and products have, over the last 8 years, grown at an annual rate of better than 20%.

Conservation, Non-traditional Crops Take Front Seat in Farm Bill Debate
The House version of the farm bill calls for an increase in the size of the Conservation Reserve Program to 40 million acres. It also seeks a 75 percent increase in baseline spending for other conservation programs.

Researchers and farmers tackle soil loss
Soil erosion contributes to nutrient runoff and water pollution. While researchers work to help farmers understand their contribution, many in the fields are already doing their part.

Agriculture's Clean Water Alliance (spring)
A farmer-driven effort is working to curb farm run-off in Iowa.

Agriculture's Clean Water Alliance (fall)
One combatant in the fight against pollution is a group of Iowa farmers who have embraced the challenge of curbing nutrient run-off.

Large scale hog production controversy lingers
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Iowa Wrestles With Landmark CAFO Bill
In recent years states in a variety of ways have come to grips with issues provoked by large-scale animal feeding operations.

Water Issues Trouble Rural America
Grain processors are concerned the Mississippi would become the major grain transportation route causing the price of shipping to rise as much as 40%. Farmers are worried the river would return to its destructive flood- prone ways.

Riverkeepers Target Big Pork
In recent days hefty fines have been levied on pork operations found guilty of violating environmental regulations. Most of the fines were attributable to the improper handling and disposal of manure.