The agricultural sector of Florida, right now, is not looking good. After much spending on the recent citrus greening, and budget cuts due to water usage, the farming industry was forced to take extreme measures (Jordan 199). The cost of crop and natural resources has soared in the recent months. This has caused a bump in the market, where consumers are not purchasing as much local commodities because of the prices. The recent problems in terms of agriculture are on the rise, while the House matches citrus greening while still on the topic of the expenditures. A great solution for South Florida’s agriculture sector would be to come up with a sustainable and organic method of farming in order to reduce cost, provide better crops and reduce the impact on natural land.
The problem with sustainable and organic farming is in the cost. By aiming to preserve the natural land and reducing environmental impact, much measures have to be taken. This means that the traditional methods of farming have to be revaluated. Not only will pesticides, fertilizers, farming equipment and other resources have to be retracted from South Florida farms, new methods and equipment have to be sought after (Jordan 204). This is a big investment for the state, and the farmers who will be effected by this movement. Although, the plan for making South Florida a fully sustainable agriculture environment is set for 2020, which gives the state and everyone affected about six years in order to come up with an environmental plan that is efficient and economic.
In the simplest of terms, sustainable agriculture is the production of natural resources such as fiber, food and other plants, by using methods that help protect the environment, human communities, public health and animal welfare. These methods are done in a way that is good for both the environment and the end-consumers. There are three primary benefits to sustainable agriculture:
- Environmental Preservation
The natural environment is preserved through sustainable farms by eliminating the use of all toxic chemicals (Whitman and Cooke). This means that there will be no toxic chemicals in the pesticides, fertilizers or seeds that are used on the farms. All of these practices are seen to degrade the soil and create a harmful environment, not just within the farm, but also throughout the communities that exist outside the farm areas. Sustainable farms will be able to protect the biodiversity of the environment as well as maintain healthy ecosystems.
- Protection of Public Health
Harmful and toxic chemicals that are used for crops have negative effects on those who consume the food. This means that the end consumers are the ones who will reap the toxins that are used in pesticides, fertilizers and other crop management chemicals on farms. These chemicals can cause sickness, disease and ill health. Pathogens, toxins and other pollutants can be spread because of poor farming practices.
- Sustaining Vibrant Communities
A great component of organic and sustainable farming is in maintaining a sense of community around the agriculture sector. This means that the farms in South Florida can become economically viable. This provides farmers, workers and food processors employment through the agriculture sector. The sustainable farms also boost businesses in local economies which can be a great jumpstart for those who are looking to invest in a trade.
There is a way for Florida, as a state, to move forward in terms of agriculture (Jordan 204). South Florida has the best temperature and climate for certain crops and animal livestock. In order to provide food for the local communities and reduce health risks, a sustainable farming method should be adopted by the state in order to regulate the local farms within the area. If this movement is to happen by the year 2020, certain measures have to be taken.
All farms should undergo a thorough check within the year in order to be evaluated (Du, F., et al 70). A state regulated farm evaluator should see how the current process of farming is done by a majority of the farmers. Through this check, it should be seen what type of farming methods are used, how much crop is harvested annually, what types of chemicals are present in certain farms and how the livestock are kept during the year.
Environmental Preservation
Sustainable farms aim to preserve the natural land and to use only organic material for crop management (Jordan 199). This means that no harmful pesticides or other chemical products should be used on the soil or on the crop. These harmful chemicals will be able to seep in to the soil and damage nearby water sources or greenery. By focusing on organic farming methods, farmers will be able to produce better crop that does not damage the environment. In order for the crops to flourish, only natural and environmentally friendly products should be used for growing any type of crop.
Before more farmland is also created, it is important that the farmers, landowners and the government, takes note of the natural structure of the land. It should be made a point that any natural forest area should be assessed before it is turned into a crop field or a place to keep livestock. The natural flow of the land and the resources that grow in the area should be assessed before any kind of deforestation is done.
Instead of occupying more land, one technique that should be used by all South Florida farmers is crop rotation. This means that if a certain field is not growing any type of crop because it is not the season, it should be used for something else. Growing different crops in succession in the same field can help preserve the environment and make use of the land. This can also increase the revenue of certain farms and keep the farm productive throughout the year. Instead of farms breaking the reproductive cycle of their crops, they will be able to reap a harvest during months that were usually considered slow.
Soil enrichment methods should also be taken note of in order to preserve healthy soil and promote a well-balanced ecosystem. Along with this, covering crops should be regulated across the farms. This will prevent soil erosion, suppress any weed growth and ultimately enhance the soil quality.
Protection of the Public
Understanding the ecosystem of farms can help farmers reduce their need for pesticide (Du, F., et al 70). They can look for natural pest predators and introduce them in the farm’s ecosystem instead of loading the crops with different types of pesticide that can be harmful for the public. Many local birds, insects and spiders are actually the natural predators for pests. By doing some research on which crop are prone to what type of pests, the farmers can look into the natural solution to their problems.
One big issue on farms is the problem on public health. Since farms will start to introduce natural predators and organic solutions for their farm management, crops will not be covered with toxic chemicals, and public health will not become an issue. Food that is organically grown in sustainable environments do not need to be preserved or dipped in harmful chemicals which can cause free radicals in human systems. This means that organically grown crop will be better for the environment, and it will definitely increase the health of the population around the organic farms. Biocrontrol is something that farmers should look into, and pesticide should not be an option, it is only a last resort.
Sustaining Vibrant Communities
Organic farms will be able to sustain the communities around them through an increase in productivity through the farm (Du, F., et al 69). As discussed above, crop rotation is something that can be done to improve the efficiency of certain land. Instead of relocating or having a dead field during certain times of the year, it can be used for other crop. This means that more workers will have jobs throughout the year. As employment levels will rise, the buying ability of nearby communities will also be powerful. This makes the sustainable farm very economically viable.
Farms that cannot afford high-technology means of farming do not need to worry about investing on heavy machinery. As sustainable and organic farming discourages the use of diesel engines for tractors that ruin the soil and leave carbon footprints, farms will be able to hire more farmhands in order to increase jobs. This will reduce erosion, carbon emissions and help workers find employment that is worthwhile.
Sustainable and organic farms can also promote tourism for the state by being involved in Will Work On Organic Farms (WWOOF) organizations (Jordan 204). This is a type of job which allows tourists or backpackers do farm work in exchange for food and lodging. This will encourage tourism in nearby areas, and further increase the local economy by providing them with customers who are willing to purchase local products.
Sustainable farming methods can reduce costs by getting rid of the need to purchase harmful chemicals. It can create jobs for people within the community, and increase the buying power of those within the local economy. It can also promote tourism and public interest in the local farms.
Works Cited
Du, F., et al. "Survey of pasture species and management, manure management, milk production
and reproduction on pasture-based dairy farms in Florida and Georgia." Tropical Grasslands-Forrajes Tropicales 1.1 (2013): 69-70.
Jordan, Carl F. "Case Studies of Contemporary, Sustainable Farms in the South." An Ecosystem
Approach to Sustainable Agriculture. Springer Netherlands, 2013. 199-216.
Whitman, Andrew, Peter Cooke, and Sustainable Economies Initiative. "A User’s Manual for
Farm-level Environmental Sustainability Indicators." (2014).
