Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable agriculture refers to agricultural production that can be maintained without harming the environment.

3 Main Goals Environmental protection Farm profitability Prosperous farming communities

When is Agriculture Sustainable? Maintains a diverse ecosystem Reduces environmental impacts Minimizes pest problems It has to be profitable

Examples of Sustainable Practices Recycling crop waste and livestock manure Growing legume crops and forages such as clover or lucerne that form symbioses with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Industrial production of fertilisers by the Haber Process uses hydrogen, which is currently derived from natural gas, (but this hydrogen could instead be made by electrolysis of water using electricity (perhaps from solar cells or windmills) or Genetically modified (non-legume) crops to form nitrogen-fixing symbioses or fix nitrogen without microbial symbionts.

•Fertiliser Use -Fertiliser Code of Practice -Nutrient Budgeting -Nitrification Inhibitors •Soils - Contour/Direct Drill - Cultivation - Standoff Pads •Shelter - Plant natural shelterbelts - Increases biodiversity

Not a good look Cattle die after drinking at contaminated lake February 22nd 2009 Nine cattle die after drinking water at contaminated Lake Forsyth in Canterbury.

Managing Soil Minimum cultivation No cultivation on wet soils Careful use of fertilisers Ploughing in crop residues Crop rotation Avoid soil erosion (wind and water)

Soil Cultivation Minimum tillage Direct drilling

Soil Erosion on Hill Country

Clean Streams

Riparian Stream Planting

Ground Water Pollution

Water for Irrigation – Central Plains Water Scheme Canterbury