Farming Systems
What makes a farm sustainable?
What is the difference between Organic Farming and Permaculture?
Below you will find brief overviews of some of the main alternative farming systems in the US. All aim to enhance environmental qualities by using low-input methods to promote clean air, clean water, and soil building.
A wide range of techniques are used and slightly differ from one another, but all of the systems listed fall under Sustainable Agriculture.
What is
Sustainable Agriculture?
Sustainable Agriculture is a holistic philosophy and design approach that aims to meet today’s agricultural needs while keeping long term goals in mind for future farmers and consumers. By viewing and understanding our ecosystem as interconnected cycles, farmers work with nature to improve the health of the land, animals, people, environment, and financial viability. Farms are seen as living biological systems, and ecology-based approaches are used. In order to create a closed-loop farming system with minimal dependencies on external inputs such as oils and chemicals, a variety of methods are used, including integrating animals and crops, using cover crops, and using methods of rotational grazing. Sustainable Agriculture also values the quality of life of farmers, farm families, and farm communities while being economically viable.
What is soil health?
Soils vary widely depending on region, local climate, past soil management, past applications of fertility amendments, past and present plant and animal life on the soil, and more. The health of the soil determines what types of plants can be used and what types of animals can graze there. Healthy soils typically include organic matter, minerals, physical properties, water drainage, and soil structure. Soil tests where the soil is sent into a lab are often conducted before a grazing or crop plan is made or implemented.
What is Carbon Sequestration?
Carbon sequestration is the process of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and capturing/storing it in plants, soil, or the ocean through physical or biological processes. Carbon gets into the atmosphere from natural sources, as well as human activities.
What farming systems fall under Sustainable Agriculture?
Quick Links
Regenerative Agriculture
Agroforestry
Biodynamic Agriculture
Permaculture
Organic Farming
We will focus on five farming systems that are apart of Sustainable Agriculture: Regenerative Agriculture, Agroforestry, Organic Farming, Permaculture, and Biodynamics.
Grazing practices are also an important factor in sustainable agriculture, so we will break these down too.
While Regenerative Agriculture and Sustainable Agriculture are similar in tools and ideas, they differ in their theoretical approach and their implementation. Regenerative Agriculture aims to improve and expand upon restoration, while Sustainable Agriculture aims to maintain. Regenerative Agriculture places a high value on increasing soil fertility and soil health. Through the use of compost, managed livestock grazing, crop rotation, perennial crops, no-till/minimum till methods, and more, Regenerative Agriculture supports and improves biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and overall farm resilience. This approach is based on multiple agricultural and ecological practices that emphasize soil health through polyculture, crop rotation, rotational grazing, compost, animal manures, minimum tillage, and other practices.
Agroforestry is an intentional, integrated, and intensive land-use management system in which trees and shrubs are grown among or around crops, pastures, or in a polyculture system. By mimicking the function of a natural local ecosystem, agroforestry is able to maintain closed-looped systems that are not completely dependent on outside inputs. Agroforestry achieves biodiversity through implementing species variety in both plants and animals, as well as the diversity of use, especially with trees. Trees can produce valuable crops and fiber for both humans and animals. Trees used for this purpose are called tree crops. There are five common agroforestry practices that all focus on a perennial cyclical ecosystem: Alley Cropping, Forest Farming, Riparian Buffers, Silvopasture, and Windbreaks.
What are Tree Crops?
Tree crops are part of an intentionally managed system that provides high-quality and highly nutritious foods for both humans and animals. They are most often used in a perennial and polyculture farming system. Tree crops allow trees to be utilized for more than just their timber, by supplying windbreaks, shade, and food for grazing animals, shelter for wildlife, and value-added products like walnuts. Trees are vital in all agroforestry practices.
Biodynamic Agriculture is an ecological system of farming based on a Goethean observation of nature. Working alongside the earth’s rhythms and astrological influences, this approach focuses on seeing the farm system as a working relationship, with each individual part supporting and balancing the whole as a living system. Biodynamics sees each space in which food is grown as unique with deep consideration of climate, culture, landscape, and scale. Biodynamics includes the use of both plants and animals working together to grow, just as in natural ecosystems. By seeing animals as essential to the farm’s fertility and success, biodynamics has standards that each farm must follow. Biodynamic certification is managed by Demeter USA and uses the USDA Organic Standard as a foundational requirement, with additional requisites that must be met. It is mandatory that the whole farm is certified and not only a specific crop.
Permaculture is the intentional design of perennial agriculture. It is based on whole-systems thinking which includes a set of ethics and design principles. The word permaculture is a contraction of permanent, agriculture and culture. By “working with, rather than against, nature” farmers observe and utilize patterns of nature found in natural ecosystems. This minimizes the necessity of external inputs by creating closed-loop systems. Every component of a landscape or structure must fulfill multiple functions, thus creating resiliency and self-sufficiency. “Zones” are used to organize design elements based on the frequency of use and proximity to one another. Elements include things like buildings, sheds, and homes, as well as gardens, trees, livestock, and the like. Because this system can be scaled up or down, it can be utilized for a range of sizes, from a small home garden to a full-scale farm. Permaculture design aims to minimize waste, human labor, and energy input by building these systems in a way that maximizes advantages between elements.
Organic farming is a USDA certification for farms that rely on ecosystem management rather than external agricultural inputs. Certified organic farmers must follow USDA regulations by using only permitted natural pesticides and fertilizers. The use of crop rotations, animal manures, green manures, and other factors helps promote biodiversity and soil health, therefore promoting farm health and resilience. Both crops and animals can be certified organic as long as they meet the standards. The USDA Organic Standard lays out specific requirements that must be verified and approved by a USDA-accredited certifying agent. Land that is used for organic production must be free from prohibited substances for at least three years, and animals must be fed 100% certified organic feed. Farms can grow both organic and conventional crops, but must take certain measures to ensure that regulations are being met.
Regenerative Organic Agriculture
Similar to Regenerative Agriculture, Regenerative Organic Agriculture was founded by Robert Rodale. In addition to regenerative practices, this approach also emphasizes animal welfare and worker fairness. It has a certification called Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) which is overseen by the nonprofit Regenerative Organic Alliance.
Grazing Systems
With all grazing systems there are two key factors to consider: the stocking density, or number of animals on a pasture area or paddock; and the length of time they are grazing there. In systems of Rotational Grazing, the stocking density directly affects how often the animals are rotated to a new area.
What is Continuous Grazing?
The continuous grazing method is a one-pasture system in which livestock have unlimited access to a pasture area with little to no rests during the season. There is no rotation of livestock. This system has low material cost (mainly fencing), as well as low daily management.
What is Rotational Grazing?
Rotational grazing is a system where a large pasture is divided into smaller sections called paddocks, in which livestock move from one paddock to another. Livestock are concentrated on a paddock for a few days (depending on animal quantity and weather) and then moved to another paddock.
What is pasture health?
Pasture health directly contributes to the increased health of the animal. Pastures differ depending on what area of the world they are in. Generally for midwestern regions, a healthy pasture contains a good mix of legumes, grasses, and forbs. Legumes (such as clovers) are a highly digestible forage for livestock that also provide the soil with nitrogen. Grasses provide fiber and energy to the livestock, and forbs (broadleaf plants, such as plantains, that are not grass) provide a mix of protein and fiber.
Why is rotational grazing important?
Rotational grazing is an integral part of sustainable agriculture. Rotational grazing increases forage productivity, which leads to higher yields of animal products and soil health. A good grazing management plan can reduce supplemental feeding, improve biodiversity, increase pasture health and quality, and raise farm income. Animals can trample weeds and dead plants into the ground and spread their own manure, which adds to soil organic matter. Animals are also outside more and moved at least once daily to fresh grass, resulting in animal health and welfare.
There is not a single answer or a one-size-fits-all model. Each farm is different, and circumstances vary. Each system has pros and cons and there will always be trade-offs.
Farmers can practice one, multiple, or a combination of the systems listed. Some farmers choose to get certified and therefore must meet specific annual requirements. However, many farms operate above and beyond certification in addition to, or in some cases, without, the certification label. One is not necessarily better than the other, rather they are different approaches.
These overviews are by no means an exhaustive explanation. To achieve a deeper understanding, resources are provided at the bottom of each section with links to government websites and other organizations.
It is important to know your farmer, their values, and how that translates into the products that they offer.
Want to learn the differences between organic labels?
What about the difference between grass fed vs. grass finished?
Check out our resource page to learn all this and more.