15 Best Sustainable pa dept of Agriculture

 There is no “away” to “throw” to. Everything is connected. The three “R”s apply here more than ever: reduce, reuse, recycle. It’ll not only be more sustainable, but it’s cheaper, too.

• Examine every bit of garbage and waste that your operation produces and ask “What else can I do with this?”
• If you can’t do anything to do with it, try to think of ways someone else in the community can use it. Be creative.

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5. Encourage diversity within the farm.

Choosing “poly culture” over “monoculture” results in less waste and often, reduced fossil fuel consumption.

Use varieties and breeds that are well-adapted to the conditions in your locale, rather than bred for maximum productivity and storage (with a sacrifice in hardiness and flavor).

6. Rotate crops and pasture.

Use companion planting and green manures to keep the land perpetually fertile and to prevent topsoil loss. Don’t let any one piece of land lose an irreplaceable amount of nutrients.

7. Keep plants and animals around that indirectly benefit the farm’s stability and productivity.

For example, yarrow and nettles add to the nutritional value of plants grown near them, as well as increase the volatile oil content of plants grown for oils. Plant extra basil to serve as an insecticide, and keep guinea fowl around to keep ticks at bay. As they roam your farm (and the surrounding countryside), guineas eat the ticks left by browsing deer off tall grasses. They are traditionally reputed to kill or keep rattlesnakes away as well.

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8. Raise both livestock and crops, and set up a mutually beneficial relationship between them.

The simplest way to do this is to use manure from your livestock to fertilize crops, and use some of your crops to feed the livestock. If you are unable to raise both, find a neighbor who’s specializing in the opposite and set up an exchange.

9. Encourage the diversity surrounding the farm.

The ecology of your farm does not end at the property lines.

• Plant trees around the farm that act as windbreaks and also provide habitat for local birds (which can prey on insects that prey on crops).
• Tolerate natural predators that keep pests at bay (for example, snakes that feed on gophers, ladybugs that feed on aphids, spiders that feed on insects which spread diseases to crops).

10. Diversify financially.

An ecologically sustainable farming operation won’t do anybody much good if it can’t generate a profit and keep itself running. Unless you or someone else is willing and able to sponsor the farm with an off-farm day job or another external source of income, you’re going to have to crunch the numbers until you’re in the black.

• Take advantage of the options available to you as far as direct marketing is concerned. That includes: CSA/subscriptions, farmers markets, roadside stands, and even the Internet.

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11. Cater to every economic level and ethnic group in the community.

People of varying wealth seek different things from a farm. Certain ethnic groups value farm products that the mainstream community has no interest in (for example, many Caribbean immigrants seek male, uncastrated goats for meat as well as amaranth, a widespread weed, which they use to make a dish called Callaloo).

12. Publicize.

Talk to everyone about what you’re doing at the farm. Provide educational tours and workshops. Keep your farm looking nice, because if it ever comes down to it, the local community may fight development proposals because they perceive your farm to be a haven of agricultural heritage.

13. Find good, reliable labor.

Find people who are committed to sustainable agriculture (not just dabbling in it) and who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty as they apply their minds.

• A reduced dependence on fossil fuels means an increased dependence on human labor, and not just physical, manual labor––you’re going to need knowledgeable workers who understand the complexity of the system you’re running and can enhance it with every decision they make.

14. Enjoy your life.

Farming is hard work, but the most successful farmers know when to call it a day and circumvent burnout. Remember why you’re farming and why, in particular, you’re aiming for a sustainable operation. For most people, it’s because they like knowing they’re leaving land in better shape than they found it.

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15. Know how to build Best Sustainable Florida Dept of Agriculture

•  Protect Florida’s livestock, honey bees and crop plants from pests and diseases.
• Promote Florida’s agricultural commodities across America and around the world.
• Help farmers implement best management practices to conserve water and prevent water pollution.
• Assist businesses and residents in the safe and proper use of pesticides.
• Manage over a million acres of state forest land for multiple uses, including timber, wildlife habitat and recreation.
• Fight wildfires to protect lives and property.
• Through regulation and mediation, safeguard consumers from unlawful and deceptive business practices.
• Provide information and help resolve complaints.
• Assist Florida’s schools in serving more than a million healthful meals each day, providing our students with the sustenance they need to succeed.
• Inspect grocery stores and convenience stores for cleanliness and safety.
• As Florida’s lead agency for food safety, analyze more food samples each year.
• Test for toxins, allergens, chemical contaminants, pesticide residues, food additives and fraudulent formulations.

pa dept of agriculture

Conclusion