Sustainable Agriculture Overview

Sustainable Agriculture

Farming that meets current food needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

No-Till Farming

A farming practice that minimizes soil disturbance to conserve moisture and reduce erosion.

Cover Crops

Plants grown to cover the soil rather than for harvest, holding in soil and adding nutrients when they die.

Agroforestry

The practice of integrating trees and shrubs into crop fields to enhance biodiversity and prevent erosion.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

An ecological approach to pest control that combines biological, cultural, and chemical management strategies.

Hydroponics

A method of growing plants without soil, using nutrient-rich water.

Aquaponics

A system that combines aquaculture (raising fish) with hydroponics (growing plants) in a mutually beneficial environment.

Organic Agriculture

A production system that integrates cultural, biological, and mechanical practices to promote ecological balance and biodiversity.

Local Food Movement

A trend advocating for food produced locally to support more environmentally friendly and ethical practices.

Vertical Farming

A method of growing crops in vertically stacked layers to save land and increase yield.

Soil Loss

The degradation of soil quality resulting from erosion, often due to unsustainable agricultural practices.

Contour Farming

A farming practice that follows the contours of the land to reduce soil erosion.

Prairie Strips

Strategically planted rows of native prairie vegetation that help reduce soil erosion in agricultural fields.

Biological Controls

Natural methods of controlling pests, using predators or parasites.

Crop Rotation

The practice of alternating different crops in a specific order on the same land to improve soil health.

Terracing

A method of reducing soil erosion by creating stepped levels on steep terrain.

Compost

Organic matter that has decomposed to enrich soil and provide nutrients.

Rural Poverty

Economic challenges faced by communities in non-urban areas, often addressed through sustainable agricultural programs.

Fertilizers

Substances added to soil or plants to supply essential nutrients for growth.

Independent Variable

The variable that is manipulated in an experiment to observe its effect on the dependent variable.

Dependent Variable

The variable measured in an experiment to assess the effect of the independent variable.

Alar Scare

A public concern in the 1990s regarding the safety of a chemical used to regulate apple growth, leading to growth in organic food industry.

4-H Programs

Youth development programs that often include agricultural education and promote involvement in farming.

Green Revolution

A period of agricultural transformation that increased food production worldwide, but also raised concerns about sustainability.