Every day is Earth Day, especially if you are a farmer.
Each year, on April 22, we celebrate Earth Day by raising awareness for environmental issues that are impacting us and the planet. Many times, we are showered with messages regarding planting trees, saving water and picking up litter. If you look deeper into actions we can take benefit the planet, there is one group that stands out with their land stewardship actions.
Often referred to as the “original stewards of the land” farmers work hard to keep the land and soil healthy today and for future generations. Farmers continuously adapt and create new methods that promote a healthy environment.
Warren Henderson Farm Bureau manager Gina Sanberg said that just like everyone else, farmers really care about the land and caring for their land is at the top of their mind.
“Some of the things that a lot of people have been doing has been reduced tilling or strip tilling, not tilling as often,” said Sanberg. “Using cover crops to help secure some of the soil. Even growing cover crops, some livestock farmers can also have some of their animals graze on those cover crops.”
Other planet friendly farming practices include implementing crop rotation and using buffer zones. These practices help farmers improve the quality of the soil and water for future generations.
And for those that are looking to implement more climate-friendly farming practices on their operation, Sanberg said its never to late to educate yourself and try something new.
“If it’s something where they set a goal and have that time, energy, and resource available to try something new, there are a lot of farmers doing things that they can reach out to for advice. There are a lot of conferences, webinars that they can do,” said Sanberg. “People know there are options out there, but sometimes it’s just taking that first step of getting it done.”
If you are able to grow your own food, you are able to cut down on the steps food travels through the supply chain, said Warren Henderson Farm Bureau manager Gina Sanberg.
“In the summer, you could grow something in your garden such as sweet corn. Just taking it to a farmers’ market and then having a consumer buy it- that’s pretty much as direct to consumer as you can get,” said Sanberg. “The quicker you can get any produce or meat or any types of food to people, the better it is for the environment.”
Supporting local food systems reduces supply chain travel, keeping local foods local. For example, when you are buying produce at the grocery store there is a chance that apple in your basket was grown 100 miles away on a farm in southern Illinois.
Local food systems can benefit the environment and even the community.
“Just being in a smaller community with little pockets of communities all around us, all communities realize to maintain and stay open, we need to support each other,” said Sanberg. “If you can eat locally, and they can source some of their foods- that’s a plus too.”
The Warren Henderson Farm Bureau has resources available to farmers looking to learn more about sustainable agriculture practices.
Witten by Kailey Foster
