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Sustainable Agriculture
A stable, plentiful, high quality food and fiber supply is essential to the
health and development of our families, our communities, our nation, and
our world. The United States has been blessed with a wealth of natural
resources, soil, water, air, climate, and genetics, in which to produce the
food and fiber that we need. Our nation's farmers, agricultural businesses,
and agricultural universities and research institutions have done a
tremendous job at utilizing these resources to meet our most basic human
needs.
Many of the technologies utilized today, though currently productive,
diminish the richness of the land. In many places our soil is eroding and
its quality diminishing, reducing the productive potential of the soil and
making it more susceptible to failure in years when conditions are not
optimal. Expensive inputs are needed to get some of the native productivity
back. Many of our water resources are being polluted and, in some aquifers,
depleted altogether. The air is polluted with particulates, gases, and
odors which are nuisances and potential risks to agriculture and its
neighbors. Excessive carbon dioxide is causing our climate to change. This
instability increases the potential for crop failures. Our genetics are
becoming simplified, increasing the potential for catastrophic crop
failures from pests and reducing the diversity of our food supply.
The role of government, of our policies, our agricultural universities, and
our agricultural research services, should be to promote sustainable
agricultural technologies. These technologies should be consistent with and
respectful of natural systems and produce a bountiful harvest. They should
do so not only for the present generation, but also for all future
generations of Americans.
Thus, the development and promotion of sustainable agriculture will be a
priority in all agricultural policy making and funding.
"Since the achievement of our independence, he is the greatest
patriot who stops the most gullies." --Patrick Henry
Eric G. Hurley
829 Douglas Ave #3
Ames IA 50010-6221
515/232-2568
ehurley@iastate.edu
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