Farmers take responsibility as stewards of the land seriously, and work every day to leave farm’s soil in better condition than the day before so that it can be fruitful for many generations to come. In fact, farming is truly an exercise in responsibility, each and every day.
However pesticides are one of the most regulated industries in the world. And the United States has one of the most thorough and science-based review processes globally. This means that the process a pesticide product must go through to make it from the lab to the field involves hundreds of tests and will likely take more than 11 years.
The regulation process results in very specific directions for the use of each product needed to fight threats from pests and diseases to crops, while keeping families, neighbors and the community safe. From pesticide applications to seed technology agreements, most farmers carefully observe and document every activity that happens on the farm to ensure they are abiding by those regulations.
As a steward of the land, farmers base the decisions of how they farm on what will sustain their ability to grow crops. Part of that stewardship involves pesticide applications. That’s why it’s important to understand that whether you are buying organic or non-organic, local or imported, your food has likely been grown with the help of pesticides.
Pollinators are vital to most farming operations. In fact, scientists estimate that at least one-third of food wouldn’t exist without pollinators.
Fortunately, there are tangible steps to balance pesticide use and protect pollinators and other wildlife. For instance, only apply pesticides in target areas and as needed. Additionally, only apply in certain conditions, such as when winds are low. These precautions prevent pesticides from inadvertently drifting where they’re not wanted, such as to neighboring farms or pollinator gardens.
When used responsibly, pesticides are amazing tools to help meet the needs of a growing global population. What’s more, advanced technology and precision agriculture allows farmers to target specific areas of fields for treatments rather than applying pesticides and fertilizers across entire fields. In addition to protecting local wildlife, this reduces farming’s environmental impact and helps meet the needs of a growing world without requiring additional land.
Thanks to these advancements in farming technologies, total crop yields nearly tripled between 1948-2017. That’s good news, considering we’ll need to produce 70% more food by 2050 when the global population is expected to top 9.3 billion.
These farming practices help Americans enjoy a wide variety of foods at affordable prices, as the average U.S. family spends just over 10% of their disposable income on food.
When producing a successful crop using sustainable practices that respect the local community, farmers are doing their part to be good stewards of the environment.
