Sustainable Agriculture Oral Presentation Scenario
Your group is a team of NRCS sustainable agriculture specialists and planners that assists farmers with converting their farming operations to organic sustainable farming methods. Your group has been asked by the Loam family, who currently run a conventional farming operation consisting of corn and soybean on a two-year rotation, to provide a plan for their conversion to a sustainable agriculture operation. The Loams have always been interested in diversifying their cropping system with organic methods of pest management opposed to their traditional use of pesticides. They currently have concerns about the fertility of their topsoil and the health of Doomy Creek that runs on the south edge of their property. They would like to grow different crops and sell them locally and within the state of Pennsylvania. They would also like to increase the number and variety of wildlife species on their property since some members of their family are wildlife enthusiasts and hunters. In addition to growing grains and other food crops, they would also like to start a small agroforestry operation on their property. Even though they are a well-established farming operation and would like to convert to organic sustainable farming, they are concerned about how a move would affect their economic situation. Also, they are concerned about any social repercussions and how this would affect their relationship with other farmers and the community.
Farm Description
The farm is currently 50 acres of land. Three acres consist of the family’s home, silos, equipment and maintenance buildings. On the south end of the property approximately seven acres consist of a grassy area that meets and includes Doomy Creek. The grassy field is mowed several times during the growing season, but tends to be wet closer to the creek. There are some bare spots of soils near the creek. The remaining 40 acres is on a two-year feed-corn and soybean rotation. The only conservation method currently used is the limited crop rotation. The western and southern borders of the property are adjacent to mature deciduous forest. Roads and similar farms border the northern and eastern edges of the property.
Your task:
Develop a 10-minute presentation the includes the following aspects:
-Create a plan that incorporates the principle of sustainable farming.
Sustainable farming includes: preservation of air, soil and water quality, the increase of crop diversity, soil conservation, organic pest management, and wildlife diversity.
-Identify environmental impacts that currently exist on their property and propose solutions to counter these problems.
-Explain the benefits of a sustainable farming system.
-Propose solutions on dealing with issues involving the economic and social aspects of sustainable agriculture.