Making a Sustainable Difference

Sustainable farming practices can improve your bottom line

Many Mississippi soybean farmers practice sustainable farming methods. After all, farmers receive economic benefits alongside environmental benefits from these methods – and often find that even small changes can make a big impact.

According to a recent Mississippi Soybean Promotion Board study, Mississippi farmers see value in sustainable practices such as nutrient run-off management, irrigation monitoring and cover crops.

• More than 70 percent of surveyed farmers are aware of the amount of nutrients removed with each bushel of harvested soybeans.
• 70 percent of survey participants fertilize based on soil test results.
• 42 percent of participants use PHAUCET/Pipe Planner.

More than Profitability
The basics of sustainability are the same as they were 100 years ago – maintaining profitability while maintaining the integrity of the land.

One aspect of sustainability that tends to get overlooked is the economic impact. More often than not, treating the soil well can also be good for your checkbook.

For example, if a farmer can improve the organic matter of the soil, then it can hold and make available more nutrients. That means less fertilizer.
And lowering inputs can mean less fuel burned, less equipment needed and less cost.

The push for sustainability takes on added significance in times of low commodity prices, when farmers are trying to squeeze every penny of profit from their land. From an efficiency perspective, sustainable practices are common sense.

Sustainable Irrigation
Don’t forget about sustainability when it comes to your irrigation system.

“Farmers can use irrigation sustainably by making sure they are delivering the water as accurately as possible,” says Jason Krutz, Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute director.

Krutz urges producers to adopt three irrigation water management tools: Pipe Planner or Computerized Hole Selection (CHS), soil moisture sensors and surge valves. By adopting these irrigation water-management tools, farmers can experience a reduction in water use – and costs.

“We’ve seen in soybeans that these three tools can reduce water use by 28 percent,” Krutz says. “That means your pump is running 28 percent less – and you’re using 28 percent less fuel. The cost of these tools can be completely offset by that reduction in fuel costs.”

The bottom line? Sustainable methods can improve a farmer’s profitability over time, increasing overall profitability.