More on Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable agriculture can mean many different things to different people. No one practice or approach works for every farm, but the primary goals of sustainable agriculture are:

• providing a more profitable farm income,
• promoting environmental stewardship, including: soil quality, reducing dependence on non-renewable resources, and minimizing adverse impacts on safety, wildlife, water quality, and other environmental resources,
• promoting stable, properous farm families and communities (taken from USDA SARE, Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture).

In Georgia, there are many groups that are promoting sustainable agriculture in various ways. The University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences along with Cooperative Extension Service provides research and education on many aspects of sustainable agriculture. You can information on ideas such as: nutrient management , forages and rotational grazing, sustainable crop production , grass-fed beef , integrated pest management , alternative marketing, biological controls, and water quality.

Fort Valley State University also has a strong program in sustainable agriculture. Dr. Mark Latimore is the primary contact. Ft Valley specializes in goats and has also worked extensively with various cover crops and alternative crops.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service provides technical assistance for sustainable agricultural practices including soil conservation, cover crops, conservation tillage systems, grazing lands, nutrient management, and specifications for practices such as heavy use areas, stream crossings, and lagoon pumpouts to name a few. In addition, Georgia has several USDA Agricultural Research Service stations that are conducting research on a wide variety of pertinent topics such as conservation tillage and cover crops, year round grazing systems, alternative crops for increased profitability, and agricultural water quality impacts.

Other examples of groups working with sustainable agriculture are:

• the Georgia Conservation Tillage Alliance - a farmer led group that helps new farmers transition into conservation tillage systems, and helps experienced farmers solve problems they might be experiencing. Explore their links for local alliances.
• Georgia Organics - a groups of organic farmers and citizens who promote organic production in Georiga. This groups provides farm tours and other educational programs.
• Southeast Region American Farmland Trust - this groups works with agricultural professionals and community leaders to develop local solutions to preserving farmland.

These are just some examples of approaches to sustainable agriculture in Georgia. There are many people and grass roots efforts that are working to accomplish the goals of stable, properous, and healthy farms and communities.