For decades, farmers have focused on keeping the plants and animals on their farm healthy, their employees satisfied, and the land they live on viable for future generations. Sustainable farming means meeting the needs of today without compromising the needs of tomorrow. Farmers are a single group of people who concentrate on implementing sustainable practices on their farms in a variety of ways.
According to the 2022 Ag Census, which was recently released, New York State lost more than 1.2 million acres of farmland between 1997 and 2022. This loss is equivalent to the size of the entire state of Delaware. Because of this loss, farmers have a responsibility to continue to focus on efficiency and producing more products for our growing population with less land and fewer resources.
In the Finger Lakes region, there is a diverse range of agricultural products. Dairy farms produce milk. Beef farms produce a high-protein beef product while other farms produce crops and vegetables for livestock and human consumption. This region also is home to apple orchards and vineyards. Each farm is different, and each farmer chooses to focus on sustainability differently, too.
Dairy cows are considered the original recyclers on the farm. Manure can be used as a natural fertilizer on fields and cows can be fed byproducts from other industries. More than 80% of what cows eat cannot be consumed by people because we simply can’t digest it. Brewers’ grain from the brewery industry, bakery waste from retailers, and citrus pulp are all options for farmers to add to their cow’s nutritional diet. Recycling allows farmers to utilize items that would otherwise go to waste, ensuring that sustainable practices are helping them create a cleaner environment and a better tomorrow.
Heading to the apple orchards provides an opportunity for farmers to be sustainable as well. Today, farmers are planting trees in a high-density trellis system. This means there are more trees planted per acre than in the past resulting in higher efficiencies and increased yields. When trees are planted closer together on a single acre, there is less impact on the land, fewer trips with the tractor, faster trimming times, and improved fertilizer applications. Some orchard owners are focusing on water efficiency by installing trickle irrigation systems which apply water directly to the base of each apple tree, right where it belongs. The goal remains to produce a healthy, high-quality, and flavorful apple while focusing on producing more apples on less acres.
Crop and vegetable farmers in the region want to ensure that the soil stays where it’s most productive — in the field. Cover crops are planted in the off-season, growing through the winter which prevents erosion and improves the soil health of the field. The root system of the cover crops increases water filtration, absorbs excess nutrients, supports the soil structure, and decreases the chance of runoff. Cover crops can also be used as a feed source for livestock. When farmers choose to plant cover crops, they are putting the integrity of the land and the soil on the forefront of their decisions. Farmers know that their land is a precious resource, and they must properly care for it, so it is workable for future generations.
As consumers, it’s important to understand and support the choices that farmers make on their farm. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), “Compared to 70 years ago, farmers and ranchers are getting almost three times more out of their production than what they put into it.” As farmers continue to improve their sustainable practices, their impact on the environment decreases. AFBF continues by saying, “Per unit emissions (greenhouse gas emissions) continue to decrease among livestock as well, a 21% reduction in pork, 26% in milk and 11% reduction of emissions per unit of beef production.”
When farmers stay focused on implementing sustainable practices, everyone benefits. The goal on the farm continues to be to retain farmland as farmland and provide safe, healthy products in a responsible manner through sustainable farming to create a viable future.
Eileen Jensen grew up on a dairy farm in Penn Yan and today is the Executive Director of the NY Animal Agriculture Coalition, where she works to enhance the public’s understanding and appreciation of animal agriculture. Her “Farming in the Finger Lakes” runs monthly on the Finger Lakes Times Farm Page. Contact her at jensene36@yahoo.com.
FARMING IN THE FINGER LAKES: Sustainable farming creates a viable future
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04.03.2024
For decades, farmers have focused on keeping the plants and animals on their farm healthy, their employees satisfied, and the land they live on viable for future generations. Sustainable farming means meeting the needs of today without compromising the needs of tomorrow. Farmers are a single group of people who concentrate on implementing sustainable practices on their farms in a variety of ways.
According to the 2022 Ag Census, which was recently released, New York State lost more than 1.2 million acres of farmland between 1997 and 2022. This loss is equivalent to the size of the entire state of Delaware. Because of this loss, farmers have a responsibility to continue to focus on efficiency and producing more products for our growing population with less land and fewer resources.
In the Finger Lakes region, there is a diverse range of agricultural products. Dairy farms produce milk. Beef farms produce a high-protein beef product while other farms produce crops and vegetables for livestock and human consumption. This region also is home to apple orchards and vineyards. Each farm is different, and each farmer chooses........
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