Powerpoint presentation on sustainable agriculture and the grass-fed beef industry by Penn State Cooperative Extension

1. Susquehanna County Envirothon
Station Training
Current Issue:
Sustainable Agriculture
Locally Grown

2. Key Topics
1. Understanding the three pillars of
sustainable agriculture and the indicators of
sustainable farming.
2. Understanding how ecosystems function and
the services they provide. Good soil health is
the foundation of a healthy ecosystem.

3. Key Topics Continued
3. How sustainable farming practices enhance
and protect soil health, water quality and
water quantity, biodiversity, manage insect
pests, disease, and weeds.
4. The importance of local and regional foods
systems to sustainable agriculture.

4. Key Topic:
1. Understanding the three
pillars of sustainable
agriculture and the indicators
of sustainable farming.

5. What is Sustainable Agriculture?
• Sustainable agriculture integrates three main
goals:
– environmental health – (ENVIRONMENT)
– economic profitability – (ECONOMIC)
– social and economic equity – (COMMUNITY)
• The word “sustainable” comes from the word
“sustain” which means to maintain, support,
or to endure.

6. The Three Legs of Sustainability

7. Grass-Fed Beef Production

8. Grass-Fed Beef Production

9. Photo credits: Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA)

10. Key Topic:
2. Understanding how
ecosystems function and the
services they provide. Good
soil health is the foundation
of a healthy ecosystem.

11. Agro-ecosystems
• An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants,
animals and microbes) in conjunction with the nonliving
components of their environment (things like air, water and
mineral soil), interacting as a system. These biotic and
abiotic components are linked together through nutrient
cycles and energy flows. As ecosystems are defined by the
network of interactions among organisms, and between
organisms and their environment.
• “Agro” refers to agricultural production. High Ag production
relies heavily on the quality of a soil ecosystem.
• The quality of a soil eco-system can directly effect crop
production and livestock production.
It begins with the soil!

13. Key Topic:
3. How sustainable farming
practices enhance and protect
soil health, water quality and
water quantity, biodiversity,
manage insect pests, disease,
and weeds.

14. Sustainability
• Sustainable agriculture is the act of farming using principles of ecology.
Ecology is defined as the study of relationships between organisms and
their environment. An ecosystem exemplifies the study of ecology.
• Sustainable Ag farming principles
– No-till planting is a way of growing crops from year to year without
disturbing the soil through tillage.
– Rotational grazing: The length of time a paddock is grazed will
depend on the size of the herd and the size of the paddock. Resting
grazed lands allows the vegetation to renew energy reserves, rebuild
shoot systems, and deepen root systems, with the result being longterm maximum biomass production
• Intensive rotational grazing is a variety of systems where herds
and/or flocks are regularly and systematically moved to fresh
rested areas with the intent to maximize the quality and quantity
of forage growth

15. Sustainability
• Vs. Common (Less Sustainable) Farming practices
– Plowing and tillage planting- is the agricultural preparation of soil by
mechanical agitation of various types, such as digging, stirring, plowing
and overturning.
– Conventional/Continuous Grazing- is where herds and/or flocks graze
one large area of pasture, picking grasses that are most palatable and
not allowing plants to rejuvenate themselves for sustainable growth.
• Confined Feeding Operations (Factory Farming) - involves raising livestock
in confinement at high stocking density, where a farm operates as a
business. Confinement at high stocking density is one part of a systematic
effort to produce the highest output at the lowest cost by relying on
economies of scale, modern machinery, biotechnology, and global trade.
Confinement at high stocking density requires antibiotics and pesticides to
mitigate the spread of disease and pestilence exacerbated by these
crowded living conditions

16. Plowing and tillage planting
Rotational Grazing
No-till planting
High Density
Farm Operations

17. Sustainability
Why are these Ag practices more sustainable than others?
No-till:
– reduces the risk of erosion during rain storms
– reduces labor, fuel costs, irrigation and machinery wear and tear.
– increases yield because of higher water infiltration and storage
capacity.
– Overall no-till farming can be more profitable, conserve soil nutrients
increasing soil quality and sustaining seasonal and annual plant growth.
– Increases the amount of soil left intact and crop residue is left on the
field. Soil layers are conserved in their natural state.
– more beneficial insects, a higher microbial content, and a greater
amount of soil organic material.
– No-till increases the amount and variety of wildlife. This is the result of
improved cover, reduced foot traffic and the reduced chance of
destroying ground nesting birds and animals.

19. Cover Crops
•
•
•
•
Slow erosion
Improve soil
Smother weeds
Enhance nutrient and moisture availability

20. Sustainability
• Rotational/intensive Grazing (environmental and agricultural
benefits)
– Provides a permanent vegetative cover which reduces
erosion from wind and water because the soil is never left
exposed
– Reduces hoof and leg problems, which seem to be
accentuated by prolonged time spent on concrete floors
– physical strength of the cows has improved because the
cattle receive a lot more exercise
– production increase because of good grass production and
the improvement of the overall health of the animal
– Increase of grass and legume production
Overall nutrient laden grass produces healthy livestock, healthy
livestock leads to wealthy production rates

21. In Summary
• An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (farm
plants and animals) in conjunction with the nonliving
components of their environment (the mineral soil
component), interacting as a system.
• As ecosystems are defined by the network of interactions
among organisms, and between organisms and their
environment. (Cause and effects)
• Agro refers to agricultural production.
– Plants
• Crop plants such as corn and hay
• Pasture plants such as grasses, legumes
– Animals
• Livestock
– Production from that livestock
It begins with the soil!

22. Key Topic:
4. The importance of local and
regional foods systems to
sustainable agriculture.

23. Why Locally Grown?
• People worldwide are rediscovering the
benefits of buying local food. It is fresher
than anything in the supermarket and that
means it is tastier and more nutritious. It is
also good for your local economy--buying
directly from family farmers helps them stay
in business. – source: www.localharvest.org

24. Local Foods Marketing Campaigns

26. People Value Knowing Where
Their Food Comes From

27. PA Preferred
Made in PA. It makes a difference.
PA Preferred was created to ensure that
Pennsylvanians are supporting fellow
Pennsylvanians, our neighbors, friends,
family. By purchasing products made in
PA you are making a difference by
restoring pride in our homegrown
products and helping our economy.

29. Loch’s Maple, Springville

30. Rowlands Pennsylvania Produce
Falls, Wyoming County

31. LeRaysville Cheese Factory
LeRaysville, Bradford County

32. Lang’s Chocolates, Williamsport

33. Organic Farming
• USDA defines organic agriculture as…
“A production system that is managed to
respond to site-specific conditions by
integrating cultural, biological, and
mechanical practices that foster cycling of
resources, promote ecological balance, and
conserve biodiversity.”

34. More specifically:
• Uses cover crops, green manures, animal
manures, crop rotations to fertilize the soil.
• Use of biological control, crop rotations to
manage weeds, insects and disease
• Emphasis on biodiversity of agricultural
system and surrounding area
• Use of rotational grazing and mixed forage
pastures for livestock operations and
alternative health care for animal well-being

35. Continued…
• Reduction of external and off farm inputs and
elimination of synthetic pesticides and
fertilizers and other material such as
hormones and antibiotics.
• A focus on renewable resources, soil and
water conservation, and management
practices that restore, maintain and enhance
ecological balance.

36. “Back to the Start”
Questions?