Sustainability - A Holistic Approach

Sustainability rests on an understanding that each farm is a system, and that changes to one component of the farm affects the others. Sustainability is an integral part of pest management, cultural practices, soil health, and long-term farm viability. Sustainable agriculture is a holistic approach to farming, and is an integral part of pest management, cultural practices, soil health, and long-term farm viability.

Sustainable agriculture is an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will, over the long term:

• Satisfy human food and fiber needs
• Enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agricultural economy depends
• Make the most efficient use of non-renewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls
• Sustain the economic viability of farm operations
• Enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole