The Qualities of Good & Progressive Farmers

Farming is a more complex process than many realize.

Farmers feed the world. Without strong agricultural industries around the world, the planet would starve. However, a constantly increasing population and business pressures require that farmers continually innovate and implement best practices to keep farms viable and successful. A successful farmer stays on the cutting edge of agricultural, mechanical and economic fields.

Market Awareness

Farmers considered progressive are aware of global food market conditions at all times. Not only that, such farmers can predict the trends in the market to some degree. This allows them to choose what crops to plant in a given year. Most large farmers rotate crops on a regular basis, and those who can plant the right crops to match market conditions have very profitable and successful years.

Crop Science

Successful farmers are careful students of agriculture and best practices in terms of crop rotation. When crops are rotated in an ideal order, it controls pests and diseases that can fester in the soil and plays a large role in the composition of nutrients in the soil. As new seed varieties are developed, new best practices in the field emerge. Farmers must stay up to date on the latest crop science developments to get the most from the land.

Environmental Awareness

Progressive farmers have an awareness of the effects farming actions have on the environment. Whether organic farmers or traditional farmers, both understand how critical it is to find ways to maximize the health of the natural environment while producing the best crop possible. Farming practices that benefit the environment generally benefit farming, because such practices preserve things like water, soil quality and soil nutrients.

Mechanical

Progressive farmers stay current with the latest technology. Better machinery and more advanced technology allow farmers to simultaneously be more productive in farming while being less environmentally destructive. An example of this is the use of biofuel in machinery. Biofuel is made from renewable resources and has been shown to be effective in machinery of all types. This creates an environmentally friendlier farm operation without compromising the performance of the equipment.

References

• Environmental Protection Agency: Major Crops Grown in the United States
• Australian Sustainable Farming Practices: Modern Best Farming Practices and How to Measure These
• Environment Agency: Best Farming Practices
• Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan: Biodiesel Farm Equipment

Resources

• U.S. Department of Agriculture: "GIS Best Practices"
• Organic Farming Research Foundation: Home
• Biodiesel: Biodiesel on the Farm