Sustainable Agriculture

The legal definition of sustainable agriculture is "an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will over the long-term:

1. Satisfy human food and fiber needs.
2. Enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agriculture economy depends.
3. Make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls.
4. Sustain the economic viability of farm operations.
5. Enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole."

(U.S. Code Title 7, Section 3101)

Sustainable agriculture is often associated with "natural" or "organic" farming, and it, indeed, is a portion of those farming systems. But there is a great deal of science involved: knowledge of the interactions between crops and soils, knowledge of crops and their nutrient and water needs, knowledge of the handling of crops and pests. One approach to sustainable agriculture is the practice of precision agriculture -- an information technology based management system that uses information obtained from global positioning systems (GPS) and integrating the data into global information systems (GIS). These new geographic tools are used with yield, rate, and other harvester/applicator based information to better manage nutrients, reducing impact to the environment and increasing cost effectiveness. These technologies are coupled with scientific knowledge of crop physiology, resulting in very effective timing and application of nutrients for crop use.

Sustainable agriculture encompasses a number of technologies, including integrated pest management, agro-forestry systems, use of cover crops and green manures, and crop residue management. It also includes biological processes to address multiple management factors, including soil carbon storage/management, nitrogen cycling, and pest and weed management. Proper management of all of these factors produces optimal yields with minimal economic cost and environmental impact.