Other Sustainable Efforts on Farms Big and Small

• Diversified crops• Diversified animal operations• Smart water use• Low and no till• Wind power• Solar power• Biofuel production

– Animal digesters– Bio diesel– Ethanol– Grass Pellets

http://www.sare.org/Learning-Center/Bulletins/Clean-Energy-Farming/Text-Version/First-Steps

Diversified Crops and Livestock• Choosing more specialized

grains and growing different crops in different years builds soil, reduces pests and increases revenue– Millet, buckwheat, amaranth,

canola, sunflower, sesame, flax, legumes and alfalfa

• Cover crops• Introducing animals• Agroforestryhttp://www.sare.org/Learning-Center/Bulletins/Diversifying-Cropping-Systems/Text-Version/Profiles/Diversified-North-Dakotan-Works-With-Mother-Naturehttp://www.sare.org/Learning-Center/Bulletins/Diversifying-Cropping-Systems/Text-Version/Profiles/Profitable-Pecans-Worth-the-Wait-in-Missouri-Alley-Cropping-Systems

Smart water use

• Groundwater volume is on the decline in many regions of the country

• Using drought tolerant crops reduces or eliminates the need for irrigation.

• Example is replacing corn with sorghum

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/10/31/231509864/heat-drought-draw-farmers-back-to-sorghum-the-camel-of-crops

Conservation Tillage

Wind and Solar energy

• Helps farmers offset costs

• Increase self-reliance

http://www.vindy.com/news/2008/sep/03/with-the-help-of-solar-technology-farmer/