1. Sustainability November 6, 2013

2. Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture USDA publication from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program (www.sare.org)www.sare.org

3. Primary Goals of Sustainable Ag Providing a more profitable farm income Promoting environmental stewardship, including: Protecting and improving soil quality Reducing dependence on non-renewable resources (fuel and synthetic fertilizer) Minimizing adverse impacts on safety, wildlife, water quality, and other environmental resources

4. Strategies No single practice works on every field No one recipe works on every farm We will explore how some people are trying to achieve sustainability

5. Elements of Sustainability Integrated pest management (IPM) Rotational grazing Soil conservation Water quality/wetlands Cover crops Crop/landscape diversity Nutrient management Agroforestry Alternative marketing

6. USDA SARE program Highlights and Success Stories, www.sare.org/highlights/www.sare.org/highlights/ Success stories and agricultural profiles that highlight diverse sustainable principles practiced coast to coast Funding Opportunities, www.sare.org/grants/www.sare.org/grants/ Research and Education Grants: primarily for scientists, producers researching new sustainable ag practices Producer Grants Producers conduct research, marketing and demonstration projects and share the results with other farmers and ranchers Typically $1,000 to $15,000

7. Class Assignment Read the article indicated on the assignment sheet Discuss with others that read the same article: Description of the farm Background Profitability Environmental Strategies Community, Outreach, Quality of Life Difficulties in starting a similar farm in Indiana Suggestions for improvements and expansions Closed book; team quiz

8. Assignment