Sustainability in Agriculture

A collection of flashcards focused on key terms and definitions related to sustainability in agriculture, derived from lecture notes.

Irish Potato Famine

A catastrophic period in the 19th century characterized by mass starvation due to poor distribution of food, despite continued exports from Ireland.

Sustainable Agriculture Production Systems

Integrated systems that provide high quality food while maintaining usable resources like feed, water, and land.

External Outputs

Products produced by the agricultural system that can also include water, feeds, or improvements to land.

Sustainable Livestock Production

A production system capable of functioning long-term while effectively meeting the needs of animals for welfare.

Precision Agriculture

Technology-driven farming management that optimizes field-level operations for increased efficiency and productivity.

Eutrophication

The process by which water bodies become overly enriched with nutrients, leading to excessive growth of algae.

Environmental Farm Plan

A voluntary process to identify and improve areas of an agricultural system for better nutrient and water recapture.

Nutrient Management Plan

A strategy required when nutrient units exceed a certain threshold, focusing on proper nutrient use in farming.

Methane Production

Gas generated from waste microbes, which can be converted to power for agricultural operations.

Geothermal Sources

Natural heat sources utilized for energy and temperature regulation in agricultural settings.

Animal Wellbeing

The condition of farm animals being raised in ways that adhere to scientifically-based welfare standards.