Ag & The Environment
Introduction
Agriculture has a major influence on the Earth’s environment and impacts biodiversity, geochemical cycles, energy flows, water quality and quantity, air, toxins and climate. Approximately 37% of the land area in both Washington State and the U.S. is used for agriculture. Without agriculture, we would not be able to provide adequate food and fiber for the current and anticipated human population. A major goal of sustainable agriculture is to minimize the negative environmental impacts of farming while maintaining acceptable levels of food and fiber production and profitability.
The environmental issues facing agriculture in Washington State vary somewhat depending on location. In western Washington, water quality protection has become a priority due to high rainfall ecosystems, the historic presence of dairy farms, and the rapid urbanization throughout the region. Soil erosion concerns and resulting water and air quality impacts have dominated farming in the dryland regions of eastern Washington for over a century where wind erosion can be severe. In central Washington, the growth of irrigated agriculture has impacted both water quality and quantity, and certain native habitats and species have become rare. Across the state, endangered species (especially salmon), pesticide use and loss of farmland are growing challenges.
WSU faculty, growers, and other partners have been tackling agriculture and environment problems for decades, with considerable success. Direct seeding and cover crops can stop soil erosion and protect water quality. Crop rotation and green manures can suppress pests and reduce the need for pesticides. Farmland can be managed to increase wildlife habitat. And agricultural soils can tie up, or sequester, carbon from the atmosphere to help reduce potential global warming from increasing carbon dioxide levels.
Resources
Columbia Plateau Wind Erosion/Air Quality Project. Provides information on wind erosion and dust emissions from farm fields and the potential impacts to people living downwind. Includes a number of potential farm management and cropping system options to control wind erosion, and identifies and develops sustainable practices that will reduce dust emissions from agricultural soils as well as to develop the capabilities to predict blowing dust events.
Direct Seed Case Studies for the Inland Northwest
Direct seeding and NW Direct Seed Conference Proceedings and Highlights
Drought Alert. This WSU site provides access to WSU Extension publications and news releases about drought concerns and issues, a list of experts on related subjects, and a list of useful links from other organizations and agencies.
Eco-Portal – The Environmental Sustainability Info Source. A gateway to facilitate the movement of information to enhance and assure environmental sustainability.
Farm Management. The WSU Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics enables farmers and ranchers make effective and efficient decisions regarding farm and ranch business management.
Farming West of the Cascades. This WSU publication series is a project of the WSU Small Farms Team, a group of Extension faculty and staff seeking to promote and enhance sustainable, community-based food and fiber systems through research, education, and partnerships.
Green manures. Mustard green manures are being used in irrigated regions of Eastern Washington to improve soil quality, control wind erosion, and manage soil-borne pests. We have been conducting on-farm research since 1999 to determine the benefits of these crops and to improve their effectiveness.
Nature Conservancy. To preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth, the Nature Conservancy protects the lands and waters they need to survive. They work closely with communities, businesses and individuals, and have a science-based plan that achieves tangible results.
The New American Farmer; Profiles of Agricultural Innovation–see entire book
Resources
WSU Resources
WSU Energy Program. Based in Olympia, WA, the Energy Program is active in promoting renewable energy and energy conservation, and is exploring potential renewable energy solutions that can come from agricultural and rural areas.
Anaerobic Digestion Research. Dr. Shulin Chen, Dept. of Biosystems Engineering, is researching new designs and processes for anaerobic digestion of animal manure. Methane is a renewable energy source that results from this process.
Other Resources
Northwest S.E.E.D. is a regional non-profit organization working to develop renewable energy supplies that can also provide new economic opportunities for farms and rural communities.Climate Solutions is a regional non-profit organization working to expand renewable energy use as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that can potentially lead to unpredictable climate changes.
Environment and Energy Study Institute, a policy group based in Washington, DC, has been working on renewable energy issues for over two decades.
US Dept. of Agriculture. The 2002 Farm Bill authorized an Energy title that enables the USDA to devleop programs for expansion of renewable energy from agricultural sources.
US Dept. of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center . The US Dept. of Energy has a number of renewable energy programs, including a focus on alternative fuels such as ethanol and vegetable oils to substitute for petroleum.
University of Idaho biodiesel home page. The University of Idaho has been a leader in the development of biodiesel from rapeseed and mustard crops for nearly 20 years, conducting extensive research on their performance in engines.
ATTRA energy information products. ATTRA is a public information clearinghouse for sustainable agriculture that has information pertaining to agriculture and renewable energy.
Rocky Mountain Institute. RMI has produced some of the most innovative ideas on renewable energy, particularly at the level of national policy.
American Coalition for Ethanol. ACE unites all types of commodity organizations, rural electric cooperatives, ethanol producers, grain cooperatives, businesses, and individuals to promote and expand the development of the ethanol industry.
American Wind Energy Association. AWEA represents wind power plant developers, wind turbine manufacturers, utilities, consultants, insurers, financiers, researchers, and others involved in the wind industry and promotes wind energy as a clean source of electricity for consumers around the world.
Canadian Renewable Fuels Association. CRFA is a non-profit organization that promotes renewable bio-fuels (ethanol, biodiesel) for automotive transportation through consumer awareness and government liaison activities.
"Eating Oil: Food Supply in a Changing Climate”. An interesting report from Britain on the reliance of the current food system on oil.
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