What is Sustainable Agriculture?
Congress has defined sustainable agriculture as an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will over the long-term:
- satisfy human food and fiber needs;
- enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agriculture economy depends;
- make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls;
- sustain the economic viability of farm operations; and
- enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole. (U.S. Code Title 7, Section 3103)
There are almost as many ways to reach these goals as there are farms and ranches in America. To get a flavor of sustainable agriculture at work, check out these SARE publications:
What is Sustainable Agriculture?
Type: National SARE Promotional Product
This award-winning report provides a sampler of best practices in sustainable agriculture—from marketing and community vitality to cover crops and grazing—as well as eight profiles of producers, educators and researchers who have successfully implemented them.
The New American Farmer, 2nd Edition
Profiles of Agricultural Innovation
Type: Book
Hailing from small vegetable farms, cattle ranches and grain farms covering thousands of acres, the producers in The New American Farmer, 2nd edition have embraced new sustainable approaches to agriculture.
