The Future of Farming: Embracing Sustainable Agriculture & its Benefits

When many farmers hear “sustainable agriculture,” two words come to mind: expensive and unprofitable.

And while many poor farming decisions are made in the name of sustainability, embracing more environmentally conscious practices can actually make your operation more profitable in the long term.

So in this article, we’re going to dive into not only why sustainable agriculture is good for the environment, but what it’s good for your bottom line as well. 

Why is sustainable agriculture necessary?

There’s a myth out there that sustainable agriculture and farm profitability are mutually exclusive. Nothing could be further from the truth. 

For your land to stay productive and profitable over the long haul, you have to farm it sustainably. However, for many farmers, good intentions don’t always lead to good outcomes. 

In some cases, farmers could be engaging in harmful practices without realizing the effects: soil degradation, loss of biodiversity, water pollution, and others. In others, farmers are aware of these consequences, but don’t have a viable alternative that achieves the desired result.

Alternatively, you may avoid a particular practice that has a reputation for being unsustainable, but doesn’t measurably harm the environment. 

As such, education and innovation in sustainable agriculture is critical to maintain long-term land health. When done right, it can have a win-win benefit: keeping the land healthy and productive, while also maintaining long-term profitability for the operation.

The environmental & economic benefits of sustainable agriculture

As we mentioned earlier, sustainable farming isn’t just about realizing environmental benefits. It’s key to maintaining your operation’s profitability over the long haul. 

Here are some of the specific benefits of sustainable farming:

• Improved soil & land quality. It’s expensive to amend depleted farmland. By avoiding such depletion and erosion in the first place, sustainable farming can help you cut costs down the line. 

• Long-term profitability. Your farming business’s most valuable asset is your farmland. If you want it to stay productive and profitable, you need to take care of it. Sustainable farming practices can help you avoid long-term land damage.

• Decreased costs. By using Precision Ag to reduce water used in irrigation or variable-rate application for your treatments, you can avoid wasting thousands of dollars of treatment that won’t help your crop—and can hurt the ecosystem of your field.

• Community goodwill. There are too many stories of farmers applying a crop treatment, only for the wind to pick it up and carry it into a neighbor’s field. Sustainable practices, for the most part, avoid this problem. 

• Environmental & climate preservation. And yes, there’s the long-term benefit of protecting the climate, even if it’s only within your little slice of the planet. Farm fields are part of a wider ecosystem, and it’s important to be responsible in how you manage them. 

Ultimately, by embracing sustainable agriculture, you can avoid depleting your land, paving the way for better profit margins and building a more prosperous and resilient farming operation. Both the environment and the farm business benefit—a win-win for all involved. 

How to put sustainable agriculture into action

Considering both the environmental aspects and the business longevity benefits, sustainable agriculture practices are essential to the future of farm flourishing. Here are some specific practices some farmers are finding particularly effective.  

Farm-level practices

Conservation tillage: Reducing or eliminating tillage to conserve soil and reduce erosion, improving soil health, reducing nutrient runoff, and increasing the water-holding capacity of the soil.

Crop rotation: Rotating crops on a regular basis to improve soil health, reduce pest and disease pressure, and improve yields. Reduces the build-up of pests and diseases that can occur when the same crop is grown in the same location year after year.

Use of cover crops: Planting crops specifically to cover and protect the soil between cash crops. Cover crops help to reduce soil erosion, improve soil health, and suppress weeds.

Agroforestry: Integrating trees and shrubs into farming systems to improve soil health, provide habitat for wildlife, and increase biodiversity. Can include alley cropping, and windbreaks. 

Integrated pest management: Using a combination of strategies to manage pests and diseases, including cultural practices, biological controls, and targeted use of pesticides.

Incorporating Agtech: Precision Ag fosters sustainability by utilizing technology like precision application and irrigation, minimizing soil chemical contamination and conserving water. Other examples include soil sensors, and data analytics.

Landscape-level practices

Buffer strips: Areas of land planted with vegetation to protect water sources from runoff and erosion. They improve water quality, reduce soil erosion, and provide habitat for wildlife.

Wetland restoration: Involves restoring or creating wetlands on agricultural land to improve water quality, provide habitat for wildlife, and reduce the risk of flooding.

Habitat conservation: Preserving or creating habitat for wildlife on agricultural land. This can include planting native plants, leaving areas of land uncultivated, and creating wildlife corridors.

Landscape diversification: Creating a mosaic of different land uses on agricultural land, including crops, pasture, and natural areas. This can help to improve soil health, increase biodiversity, and provide multiple benefits for farmers and the environment.

Water and nutrient management: Practices like precision irrigation, variable rate fertilizer application, and nutrient management planning can help to reduce input costs and improve yields while protecting the environment.

Common sustainable agriculture challenges & how to overcome them

One of the biggest obstacles to implementing sustainable agriculture is traditional farming practices prioritize short-term gains over long-term sustainability, hindering the transition toward sustainability.

Many farmers and landowners are reluctant to change and believe that "sticking to tried and true" methods is the best way to ensure profitability.

Instead of thinking about sustainable agriculture as a blanket topic, look at the individual practices we mentioned above. See which of them could help improve your operation. Different practices are likely going to be more helpful than others. 

Final thoughts on sustainable agriculture

As conservationist David Bower said, “There is no business to be done on a dead planet.” Farmers, of course, have a unique perspective on this issue—as your work requires intimate connection with the land and the surrounding environment.

The choice between environmentally sustainable decisions and long-term profits aren’t mutually exclusive. If you make the right choices, you can achieve the best of both worlds. 

If you’re ready to pick up new ground to expand your sustainable farming operation, check CommonGround for local listings now.