Times are changing and how we are producing our products is changing as well. In fact, agriculture is just an ever-evolving business that is always looking for ways to feed the world better with fewer resources. That is where sustainability comes in. Sustainability has long been a buzzword that sometimes gets a connotation of only being a certain way of producing crops. But that assessment couldn?t be further from the truth. No matter if you are organic, conventional, use cover crops, or other means of producing your product, the idea of trying to do better is what sustainability is all about.
A group called Farmers for Sustainable Food is making efforts to connect with producers and suppliers up every supply chain in agriculture. Lee Kinard is the treasurer of Farmers for Sustainable Food. He talks about the need to engage agriculture across the board. Their efforts are bringing together groups that you wouldn?t always think about working together.
While we spend a lot of time focused on the ways we can improve growing grains, Farmers for Sustainable Food is looking beyond that to the livestock industry as well. They are working on a new partnership in the dairy industry as well. Kinnard talks about how that partnership is also about sustainability. From the cow to the processors.
Kinnard says that processors are only able to go so far as to reduce their impact on the environment before it affects their financial sustainability. That is why they are looking to farmers to further those goals beyond what they can accomplish.
Kinnard says doing things better while preserving the environment is naturally in a farmer?s mindset. If they don?t protect what they have, there is nothing to keep the business going into the future. This is why Farmers for Sustainable Food is working through cost-share programs to help farmers be more sustainable and economically viable.
Learn more about the mission of Farmers for Sustainable Food on their website.
