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AUTHOR
Dr. Taylor Randell-Singleton
Assistant Professor
University of Georgia
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
SLIDE CONTENTS
- Sustainability Objectives Taylor Randell Singleton Extension Sustainability Specialist
- Sustainability
- In my mind, this means: To pursue sustainability is to understand and anticipate how farms, cropping systems, and production practices will need to change in the years to come, and prepare for these changes ahead of time Sustainability is to ensure: Economical feasibility Flexibility and adaptability Environmental soundness Sustainability
- Georgia Agriculture Sustainability
- Incredible opportunity to support this need for GA agriculture Interdisciplinary, whole-farm approach Sustainable cropping systems Agronomic + specialty crops Emphasis in pesticide stewardship Ag Sustainability Understand practices that support the farm and the environment: Cultural/Mechanical/Chemical
- Foundational concepts: Cover crops Erosion mitigation Pollinator protection/habitat Protecting natural resources (minimize inputs where applicable) Traditional Sustainability Advance sustainable cropping systems + farm health
- Numerous environmental/economic benefits: Cover Crops MANY options depending on your goals Location, equipment, resources, cropping systems, etc. Acres vary in GA….not a fit for everyone BUT need to understand barriers
- What species to plant? Benefits/value of each When to plant/terminate? Pros/Cons Value of cover crops to farm: Economic/Environmental Pesticide stewardship?? Mitigation points for pesticide use Cover Crops
- Numerous environmental/ecological benefits: Erosion/Runoff Mitigation Conservation Tillage Grassed Waterways Filter/Prairie Strips Terrace/Contours Landscape, equipment, resources, cropping system, etc. Support overall health of the land and the farm Need to understand barriers to implementation
- What practices are suitable? Service needed Landscape/Topography How to install? Equipment Resources Creative ways to implement in GA? Public perception Environmental stewardship POINTS on pesticide mitigation menu Erosion/Runoff Mitigation
- Proposed “Mitigation Menu”
- Numerous environmental/ecological benefits: Pollinator Protection/Habitat Establish Habitat Maintain Habitat Support Pollinators Value to System Lots of challenges = Need to understand how to implement IF WE DON’T SUPPORT WILDLIFE HABITAT, WE CANNOT MAKE ADVANCES IN FIGHT TO PERSERVE PESTICIDE USE !!!!
- Pollinator Protection/Habitat 2024 = year 3 of research Lots to learn….. How to establish on farm? Mix of species Technique/Timing Weed control Cost-share programs? How to maintain year after year? Combine with practices from Mitigation menu??
- Cover Crops/ Reduced Tillage Erosion/Runoff Mitigation Pollinator Habitat Minimize Labor Needs Minimize Inputs Navigating Regulatory Challenges Overall Farm Sustainability ……..etc. Pesticide Sustainability
- Agriculture sustainability currently relies heavily on pesticide use: Economical and environmental standpoint Without the ability to use pesticides: Crop yield loss from weed competition? Burndown cover crops before strip-tillage? Attractive product for the consumer? Capitalize farm investments? Pesticide Stewardship
- To Preserve Pesticide Use… Practices that support the farm and maintain environmental quality: Protect utility of pesticide product (i.e. resistance mgmt.) Environmentally focused practices Navigate regulatory challenges
- Challenging Times Ahead Pesticides (sustainability) face enormous hurdles Regulatory restrictions (ESA, FIFRA, etc.) Pesticide resistance On-farm impacts today – adapt on the GO!
- GA impacts thus far: Pesticide-use buffers Product restrictions in the state Widespread resistance GA impacts soon: Mitigation Measures Menu Challenging Times Ahead Navigating regulatory challenges will influence sustainability!
- Counties with Threatened and Endangered Species Source: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Environmental Conservation Online System (ECOS). https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/ Counties with threatened/ endangered species highlighted in red. *Remember, it’s the species AND its habitat 140 out of 159 counties have threatened/ endangered species
- “Sustainability” can go a lot of different directions…. Help me understand what is important to you and your growers You don’t have to put your name on it (but you can if you want) Leave on table/put in box….THANK YOU!!!! Please fill out my survey!!!
- Thank you! Questions/Comments/ Thoughts??? trandell@uga.edu
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