APB agenda 112205 - Laserfiche WebLink

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c w5 FARMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT Farmers are part of America's heritage. 'They opened tarp vast tracks of land in New York State and on the Arnericarr frontier. Agriculture was the bedrock of our early state and stational. economies. Today, American farmers feed a na- tion of 285 million people and a sizeable portion of the world population, as well. Today's farmer Yesterday's feeds more than (1960) farmer fed ee�►�e+�eeeeere � �eeeeeee�reee� e�eee�►eeee�ea e ee�e�ree�►e�r+�e+r �►ee.ee :+�e�e+r�r p people- people Most farmers also try to be stewards of the land. As they fertilize and seed and harvest, they help our society preserve and protect the land for current and. future gertera.tions. And yet, they sometimes face a d.ilc inma: how to balance concerns abort conservation and the environment with concerns about economic. viability. To farmers, these often seem like competing interests. Finding the right rnix can weigh heavily. "I need to make a profit off my land. I don't need the government or nosy neighbors tell- ing me what to do." 9 r ei� 011V Ac "My farm abuts a stream and I certainly don't want to pollute my own drinking water." "I'm mindful of the regulations and my neigh- bors' concerns. I spend a lot of time trying to follow the regulations without goitrg broke." "If I don't protect and care for my land, .I'll lose my biggest investment." The pressure is om-Since the mid- 1980s, the environment and personal health have been li.n.ked in consumers' minds. That means closer attention to the impact of farming practices on the air we breathe, the water we chink, and the food we eat. "I'm OK with a. worm in an occasional ear of corn. But pesticide —no way!" Most farmers are mindful of these concerns. Even as they use chemicals to help protect their crops, many also follow environmentally sound "best management. practices" such as: 4 stria cropping grass buffers gear strums $ integrated best management 4 secure manure handling sIrsterns 'They work with Cornell Cooperative Extension educators, and with consultants, government agency representatives, farm suppliers, arid. bankers to find and irnple.rnen.t cost effective methods that pass environmental muster. "I follow a strict nutrient management plan that tells me the best time to spread manure on my fields. It's cheaper than buying fertil- izer. It's also more natural."