Soil Sense: How Farmers Can Profit And Help To Control Global Warming

Most people know that emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (C02) from industry and automobiles contribute to global warming. But how many knew that there are many ways for farmers to manage their fields and livestock that can improve their wallets and the world? Practices that keep more carbon in the ground make good soil sense.

“These practices are a win-win option,” said Dr. Janine Bloomfield, an Environmental Defense scientist. “These strategies make economic and ecological sense for farmers. Investing in climate change control can have financial benefits for US agriculture, and long-term benefits for people and the planet.”

An informative new brochure released today by the US Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the USDA National Agroforestry Center, the Soil and Water Conservation Society and Environmental Defense highlights many practices farmers use that improve the fertility and productivity of farms and are good for their bottom line while reducing greenhouse gas emissions from farm activities and increasing carbon storage on agricultural lands. More carbon in the soil means less carbon dioxide builds up in the atmosphere.

For example, conservation or “no-till” cultivation systems increase carbon storage in the soil, reduce the number of field operations, thereby saving energy, money, and time, and can often increase productivity, and reduce soil erosion. While concerns have been raised that no-till could necessitate more pesticide or herbicide application than conventional tillage in some cases, in other cases no-till reduces weed seed germination and thus requires less herbicides. In addition, many management options including crop rotation, biological control, and other Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques are available that reduce the need for chemical use.

Better management of nitrogen fertilizers means that less greenhouse gases will become trapped in the atmosphere and fields lose fewer nutrients to ground and surface waters. Farmers save money on fertilizer costs and protect water quality. In large livestock operations, recovery systems for liquid manure reduce methane emissions (a powerful greenhouse gas), improve water quality, and can be a source of energy - biogas.

The brochure is available on-line at www.swcs.org/f_pubs_education.htm.