Agriculture Overview & Information

Overview

Agriculture includes farming, but also aquaculture, horticulture, ranching and just about anything involving the systematic growing and harvesting of plants and animals. Agriculture employs 36 percent of the world’s workers, but only accounts for 5 percent of the GDP. In the United States it employs less than 1 percent of the workers, and accounts for less than 1 percent of the GDP.

Environmental issues associated with agriculture include fertilizer and animal manure run-off that contributes to high nitrogen and phosphorous levels in water resources; soil erosion; greenhouse gas emissions from cattle; the possible harmful effects of pesticides on humans and animals; loss of biodiversity of plants; the growing of genetically modified plants; possible plant contamination in some areas; and the dedication of more and more land and water resources to the growing of corn for ethanol.

Supporting Views

Environmentalists cite inadequate controls and safeguards by the agricultural and urban communities to minimize pollution of waterways. Fertilizer and livestock waste run-off from farms and urban lawns finds its way into rivers, lakes, and oceans causing algae growth and dead zones void of aquatic life. Soil erosion often accompanies the fertilizer run-off and contributes to sediment build-up as well as loss of valuable soils.

The use of pesticides to control insects and weeds has unintended effects when it enters the air, soil or waterways. Farm workers are particularly vulnerable from pesticide poisoning which can result in severe sickness or death. Animals such as birds ingest worms and insects contaminated by pesticides; large fish kills can occur in streams when pesticide run-off after a rain.

“Conservation compliance” is one means of encouraging more environmental responsibility by linking eligibility for crop subsidies to effective measures to control fertilizer and soil run-off. Measures could include more crop rotation, allowing crop residue to remain after harvesting thus minimizing erosion, and adding buffer zones of trees or grasses between fields and waterways to absorb run-off during heavy rains.

Responsible farming has many advocates in the farming community, but it doesn’t mean they support some of the more extreme measures proposed by environmentalists.

Supporting Websites
Environmental Working Group
National Resource Defense Council
National Farmers Organization

Opposing Views

The agriculture industry as whole is supportive of conservation measures and environmental safeguards. However, some of the proposed measures such as converting strips of land to forests to act as a barrier for run-offs can have severe economic consequences for some independent farmers.

Rather than placing more environmental regulations on farming, many farming groups advocate programs for education and technical and economic assistance to mitigate discharges of agricultural fertilizer and waste; and responsible self policing instead of new regulations.

Also, while much of the focus has been on agriculture’s role in adding to nitrogen and phosphorous in our waterways, the contribution from urban lawns and gardens is significant and often doesn’t receive the same degree of criticism in the media.