April 21, 2009
Nearly seventy percent of US farms adopt sustainable practices
Nearly 70 percent of US farmers and ranchers have taken steps to implement sustainable agricultural practices, a survey conducted by Rabobank showed.
Direct seeding, minimizing chemical use and employing crop rotation were the three most popular steps taken toward sustainability, Rabobank's Farm & Ranch Survey said.
"Energy and water resources are limited and costly, so the development and employment of sustainable energy sources in agriculture is a smart business practice as well as beneficial to the environment," said Aitor Ezcurra, executive vice president and head of commercial banking for Rabobank, N.A.
The types of sustainable practices employed varied by region and farm income.
For instance, the survey found lowering energy use employed by more farmers in the West, compared to other regions. Direct seeding was more prevalent in the South and North-Central portions of the US, the survey showed. Direct seeding was also more popular on farms with more than 1,000 acres.
Results are based on 458 respondents to a telephone survey conducted in early February. The survey by Rabobank, a leading agricultural lender, targeted farmers who own or operate a farm grossing US$250,000 or more in one of three US census regions: Midwest, South and West.
