How to Go Green as Cattle Ranchers
Going green as a cattle rancher is a must for farmers who are concerned about the Earth. "I am not criticizing individual farmers," begins Land Institute writer Charlie Melander, "but farming has been the biggest cause of erosion, wildlife habitat loss and water pollution by fertilizers and pesticides in this country." The cause of this, according to Melander, is pressure upon farmers to compete for government subsidies by producing high output at any cost. But cattle ranchers and farmers can fight back, protecting the Earth while continuing to make money.
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Instructions
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Monitor your energy consumption. Fix all leaks from hoses, faucets and watering tanks. Consult your utility company and ask to have an electricity audit to see where and how you use electricity, and ways you can cut down on its consumption.
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Conserve rainwater. Catch rainwater in clean, polyethylene buckets. Cover the buckets' tops with mosquito netting to preserve the freshness of the water for cattle and irrigation. Route rainwater into irrigation systems by constructing gutters to catch rain flowing off tin or barn roofs, for example. Design the gutters to feed water into pipes and buckets for rainwater storage and filtration to plants, animals and crops.
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Feed cattle locally. Purchase barley and molasses cane, for example, from local or regional farmers to feed your stock and reduce the carbon emissions necessary for transport.
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Sell products locally. Establish relationships with local grocers, shops and commissaries to sell your meat within your town or region. Participate in farmer's markets to promote your product. Selling locally maintains the freshness or your product and reduces carbon emissions.
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Use machinery planters and sprayers that benefit the environment. Employ organic fertilizers, for example, using aragonite, phosphate rock and alfalfa meal to condition soil and boost composting. Choose planters that run on ethanol -- a clean-burning fuel that reduces emissions -- and protect the soil while you're harvesting. The ROGRO Planter, for example, tills land and increases exposure of its organic matter to naturally enhance the nutrients and bounty of the land.
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Join the American Farmers for the Advancement of Conservation and Technology (AFACT), an organization promoting farmers, ranchers, conservation and green living. Connect with fellow farmers around the country to pressure government officials to act on behalf of farms and the environment with improved legislation, and to share information on conservation methods. AFACT can be contacted at 800-340-0737 or information@itisafact.org.
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References
- Good to Be Green: To-Do List
- Southern Maryland Online; Farmers Offer Backyard Water Conservation Tips to Residents; July 2010
- Land Institute; Reward Farmers for Conservation; Charlie Melander
- Burren Life: A Guide to Feeding Cattle on Burren Winterages
- Extremely Green: Organic Fertilizer and Soil Amendment Guide
Resources
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
