By Tracy Courage
Agricultural producers in Arkansas are under increasing scrutiny to minimize impacts on natural resources and to improve sustainability of the agricultural supply chain. The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture helps producers do just that through its Arkansas Discovery Farms Program.
The Discovery Farms team documents water quality, soil health, climate effects and resource use in research at 18 private farms across the state’s diverse agricultural sectors. The team also provides demonstrations and educational outreach to promote sustainable farming.
“The overall goal of the program is to document sustainable and viable farming systems that remain cost-effective in an environmentally sound manner,” said Mike Daniels, distinguished professor in the crop, soil and environmental sciences department at the University of Arkansas.