Environmental StewardshipEnvironmental Stewardship

&&

Every Day of Every YearEvery Day of Every YearCaring for the EarthCaring for the Earth

AGRICULTUREAGRICULTURE

GA Ag Ed Curriculum Office

To accompany Georgia Agriculture Education Curriculum Lesson

July 2002

AWARENESSAWARENESSG L O B A LG L O B A L

PollutionPollution

Global Warming

Global Warming

Toxic WasteToxic Waste

Relying on the Land &

Water

Relying on the Land &

Water

Protecting their FutureProtecting

their Future

Those in agriculture have more invested in Earth’s resources

than any other industry in the world.

Those in agriculture have more invested in Earth’s resources

than any other industry in the world.

A G R I C U L T U R E A G R I C U L T U R E T h e E n v i r o n m e n t &T h e E n v i r o n m e n t &

F e e d I n g T h e W o r l dF e e d I n g T h e W o r l d

P r e s e r v i n g O u r F u t u r eP r e s e r v i n g O u r F u t u r e

A G R I C U L T U R E A G R I C U L T U R E

Conserve Soil

Protect Water

Reduce Chemicals

Protect Wildlife

Conserve Soil

Protect Water

Reduce Chemicals

Protect Wildlife

S t e w a r d s O fS t e w a r d s O f

T H E L A N DT H E L A N D

Today’s farmers are truly stewards of the land and demonstrate this by adopting more environmentally sound methods of farming that reduce the risks involved with planting and harvesting the world’s food and fiber.

E N V I R O N M E N T A L E N V I R O N M E N T A L

SOIL EROSIONSOIL EROSION INEFFICIENT CHEMICAL USEINEFFICIENT

CHEMICAL USE

WATER CONTAMINATION

WATER CONTAMINATION

WILDLIFE ENDANGERMENT

WILDLIFE ENDANGERMENT

H A Z A R D SH A Z A R D S

Land Conservation

Decreased Soil Erosion

Improve Water Quality

Efficient Chemical Use

Land Conservation

Decreased Soil Erosion

Improve Water Quality

Efficient Chemical Use

Biotechnology

Biotechnology

11EnvironmentalEnvironmental

SOLUTIONS SOLUTIONS

Preserving the LandEfficient Pest

Control Improving Soil Milder Chemicals Biological Integrity

Preserving the LandEfficient Pest

Control Improving Soil Milder Chemicals Biological Integrity

22

EnvironmentalEnvironmental

SOLUTIONS SOLUTIONS

IPMIPM(Integrated Pest Management)(Integrated Pest Management)

Global Positioning

SatelliteVariable-Rate

FertilizerVariable-Rate

SprayingTargets InputsImproves EfficiencySustains the Land

Global Positioning

SatelliteVariable-Rate

FertilizerVariable-Rate

SprayingTargets InputsImproves EfficiencySustains the Land

33

EnvironmentalEnvironmental

SOLUTIONS SOLUTIONS

Preserves the Land for the Future

Identifies Potential Environmental Hazards

Promotes Environmental Accountability

Preserves the Land for the Future

Identifies Potential Environmental Hazards

Promotes Environmental Accountability

Sustainable Farming

Sustainable Farming

44EnvironmentalEnvironmental

SOLUTIONS SOLUTIONS

FARMING METHODS FARMING METHODS S U S T A I N A B L ES U S T A I N A B L E

Conservation Tillage Improves Soil Quality and Productivity

Conservation Buffers Reduces Runoff, Protects Water

Cover Crops Reduces Soil Erosion

Wildlife Refuge Provides food & shelter for native wildlife

Conservation Tillage Improves Soil Quality and Productivity

Conservation Buffers Reduces Runoff, Protects Water

Cover Crops Reduces Soil Erosion

Wildlife Refuge Provides food & shelter for native wildlife

Preserving Our FuturePreserving Our Future 31.4 million acres of farmland in government

conservation programs Farmers to install 2 million miles of

conservation buffers 109 million acres of cropland using reduced

tilling methods 90% reduction in soil erosion Farmers provide food & habitat for 75% of

nation’s wildlife Today’s farmer feeds 129 people, as compared

to 25 people in 1960

31.4 million acres of farmland in government conservation programs

Farmers to install 2 million miles of conservation buffers

109 million acres of cropland using reduced tilling methods

90% reduction in soil erosion Farmers provide food & habitat for 75% of

nation’s wildlife Today’s farmer feeds 129 people, as compared

to 25 people in 1960

As a producer of food and fiber, I pledge to:

• Conserve and improve our soil resources, leaving the land I farm productive and in good health for the benefit of future generations.

• Protect the quality and supply of our water resources, always mindful of those who live down stream.

• Respect the diversity of nature and recognize my responsibility to provide habitat for animals and native plants whenever possible.

• Responsibly use fertilizers, crop protection and animal health products, never using more than needed and always applying with care.

• Help others in my community protect natural resources on their own farms.

 

As a producer of food and fiber, I pledge to:

• Conserve and improve our soil resources, leaving the land I farm productive and in good health for the benefit of future generations.

• Protect the quality and supply of our water resources, always mindful of those who live down stream.

• Respect the diversity of nature and recognize my responsibility to provide habitat for animals and native plants whenever possible.

• Responsibly use fertilizers, crop protection and animal health products, never using more than needed and always applying with care.

• Help others in my community protect natural resources on their own farms.

 

A Farmer's Environmental Creed

A Farmer's Environmental Creed

A G R I C U L T U R EA G R I C U L T U R EE A R T H F R I E N D L YE A R T H F R I E N D L Y

Agriculture has more invested in Earth’s resources than any other industry in the world.

New technology allows farmers to conserve the soil, protect water, reduce chemical use and protect wildlife.

Agriculture commemorates the Earth and its resources every day of the year

Agriculture has more invested in Earth’s resources than any other industry in the world.

New technology allows farmers to conserve the soil, protect water, reduce chemical use and protect wildlife.

Agriculture commemorates the Earth and its resources every day of the year

Environmental StewardshipEnvironmental Stewardship&&

Every Day of Every YearEvery Day of Every YearCaring for the EarthCaring for the Earth

AGRICULTUREAGRICULTURE

Everyone must get involved!

• Stewardship isn’t just for farmers– City and suburban workers & residents

must act as stewards too.