7 Ways that Farmers Help the Environment

Happy World Earth Day! Celebrated on April 22 each year, World Earth Day is dedicated to encouraging sustainable practices and stimulating conversations about climate concerns.  

Although important to discuss, conversations about climate change can take a turn when unjust blame is given. Far too often the agriculture industry is unfairly accused of harming our earth when others forget how much farmers truly care for the land they steward. After all, land is a farmer’s most valuable commodity... why would they want to damage it?  

Farmers understand that having a profitable and sustainable business requires taking care of their natural resources in order for it to last generation upon generation. 

So, while World Earth Day is a great time to spread awareness about environmental issues, it's also the perfect occasion to celebrate the ways that agriculture is supporting our earth. 

Here are 7 ways that farmers give back to our environment:  

1. Using Sustainable Land Practices 

Research-supported farming methods continue to be developed to minimize disturbances to farmland and keep soil healthy. Some of these practices include in-field winter grazing, rotational grazing, winter cover crops, and shelterbelts.  

These processes have been widely implemented across the agriculture sector and continue to increase each year. Since 2015, the percentage of farms that reported using sustainable land practices have increased from 53.7% to 64.5%.