If you’ve had a mind to start an agricultural business, then you can find a reliable way to make money, and even a pretty lucrative one if you can tap into the government grants often available to the industry. However, you might be aware of the tool that agriculture can have on the environment and want to do your part in limiting the impact that your own business has. To that end, here are a few ways to make your agricultural business better for the environment.
Shrink your need for pesticides
Fertilisers and pesticides are not good for the environment but are often considered essential for the healthy growth of your crops. To that end, you might want to consider microbial products, which are microorganisms that more naturally increase your crop yield and make them more resilient to pests. These are still a relatively new technology, but there are already some market-ready examples that you might want to keep an eye on.
Protecting your soil
The more that your soil becomes a victim to issues such as erosion, the more impact it will have on the surrounding environment, not to mention the work that it might take to replace it. As such, learning about erosion control as well as techniques like planting cover crops can help ensure that you keep the earth that you rely on rich and healthy, reducing the potential long-term harm that farming can often do.
Get reliant on rainwater
All farmers rely on rainwater in part to help ensure their crops are hydrated and healthy. However, you shouldn’t only rely on rain whilst it’s raining, you should capture as much of it as you can to then feed the sprinkler systems that you might otherwise rely on. Aside from rain catchment systems, make sure to invest in farm water tanks. Otherwise, you can find yourself catching plenty of rain but not being able to keep it long enough to use.
Consider your energy sources
The question of the cost-effectiveness of renewable energy is becoming much less of a concern, especially when compared to the soaring costs of fuel over the past few years. Solar, wind, and hydro-powered farms are becoming somewhat more common. You might even be able to use geothermal heat pumps for many applications across the farm. Look for the renewable options that might best help reduce your reliance on fossil fuels.
Stay informed about the latest technologies
The tips above can all help you find practical ways to make your farm more sustainable but one of the most important parts of taking this approach is that there are always new developments. Follow the sustainable farming news to see what new results you can implement, as well as which technologies you can implement in the future. Aside from reducing your waste and the impact on your environment, sustainable branding can help you attract customers as well.
With the tips above, you can reduce the resource load that it takes to run your business, managing your impact on the environment.
