Does+'Sustainability'+Help+The+Environment+or+Just+Agriculture's+Public+Image?



Wade Dooley of Albion, Iowa uses less fertilizer than other farmers because of the crops he grows like corn and soybeans. The field of rye pictured has not been fertilized at all. http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/08/22/545022259/does-sustainability-help-the-environment-or-just-agricultures-public-image

__[|Does 'Sustainability' Help The Environment or Just Agriculture's Public Image?]__ National Public Radio August 22, 2017

__Summary__ The effects of nitrogen usage on plants have long been identified as a factor in the release of the powerful greenhouse gas nitrous oxide. Nitrogen is essential to growing corn and most other crops so elimination of nitrogen usage is unthinkable of. Enter the SUSTAIN program. Through the SUSTAIN program, Walmart and a handful of food companies are providing a way for farmers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions without reducing their profits. SUSTAIN helps farmers learn to use nitrogen more efficiently so they can grow more corn without using more fertilizer. Although SUSTAIN is heading in the right direction, critics suggest that SUSTAIN make farmers switch to crops like oats which can be used with a "cover crop" of clover which will add nitrogen to the soil in a more organic way. This simple move can cut greenhouse emissions by a third but they move is not that easy as those farmers don't have a market for oats.

__Relation to Class__ In our course, we have been observing the effect of various pollutants on our environment. This includes the fertilizers used by farmers like nitrogen based ones discussed in the article. This article shows us how we can take small steps like using fertilizers more wisely to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There is a specific section which takes a look at Pollution in general terms and how we can quantify it on MIller 17. On MIller 18-19, there are positive notes on what we can do about pollution like better prevention in order to avoid the cost and hassle of a pollution cleanup.

__Opinion__ Humans are headed in the right direction with programs like SUSTAIN. It is up to bigger companies like Walmart to take initiative and help farmers cut down on their greenhouse gas emissions. I agree with the critics at the end of the article because nitrogen waste only accounts for a small percentage of total sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Our legislation should encourage the change in the type of crops or jump-start a market for safer crops like oats to help farmers in their path to eliminate their contribution of greenhouse gases.

__Law__ The law which relates most to this environmental issue is the //Soil and Water Conservation Act of 1977//. It was established to promote soil and water conservation by preventing erosion. This was passed in order to prevent the runoff of harmful chemicals and wastes into streams or lakes. Farmers can prevent the buildup of nitrous oxide if they maintain their soil's health by preventing soil erosion.