The use of pesticides and fertilizers has come under scrutiny over the past few years as documentary filmmakers, conservationists, and environmentalists have questioned the safety of using these toxins on the plants consumers buy every day. Soil erosion is another concern. There has been movement toward sustainable farming practices, especially among those with smaller operations, although corporations are considering practical applications for farming sustainability using goats and other ruminants.
There are costs associated with maintaining livestock, but these animals can be income producers as well. A goat herd will produce milk and cheese. They can be purchased for their meat, although the meat and milk are found mostly in specialty and butcher shops throughout the country. Goat wool can be turned into cashmere and sold to clothing manufacturers. Some farmers breed their herds and sell the offspring to the public.
Sheep, cattle and goat herds usually co-exist harmoniously if they have plenty of room to roam. They need pastureland for grazing and water sources to keep them well nourished. Fencing and cross-fencing is necessary with livestock who will find a hole in a fence and go through even a small rupture. Whole herds may end up on the road or in neighboring fields if fences are not well maintained.
Burning brush and weeds to clear fields can create smoke hazards and killing them off with chemicals has its own set of problems. Goat herds will devour weeds and brush and reduce the use of pesticides, which are concerns for many. Over the years the Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration have published conflicting reports on the safety of the toxic chemicals used.
The use of certain fertilizers is also a subject of controversy among many adults who don't feel comfortable feeding their families fruits and vegetables that were sprayed with chemicals or injected to promote larger produce. A goat herd may not eliminate the entire need for fertilizer, but the manure they produce will significantly reduce the amount used. As the demand for organic produce increases, more and more farmers will be turning to natural means of fertilizing.
Soil that is worked year after year loses vital nutrients which in turn decreases yield, plant hardiness, and fosters disease. Farmers rotate crops, allowing certain fields to lie fallow while planting others. Rather than just let land lie empty, some farmers create pastures for livestock to feed. Not only does this reduce the cost of plowing up the land in the spring, it also creates a revenue source.
With their unique digestive system, a goat herd can dispose of the excess byproducts of harvesting, like seeds. They can ingest what other animals cannot. This is another cost saving measure as the livestock grazing reduces the time necessary to eliminate excess materials in the fields, and the by-products serve as feed for the goat herds.
More and more consumers are demanding organic produce and are getting interested in how food is produced. Many are also concerned about the environmental impact the use of toxic sprays, chemicals, and fertilizers has on the earth. Sustainable farming is a good alternative to the traditional methods of getting food from farm to table.
There are costs associated with maintaining livestock, but these animals can be income producers as well. A goat herd will produce milk and cheese. They can be purchased for their meat, although the meat and milk are found mostly in specialty and butcher shops throughout the country. Goat wool can be turned into cashmere and sold to clothing manufacturers. Some farmers breed their herds and sell the offspring to the public.
Sheep, cattle and goat herds usually co-exist harmoniously if they have plenty of room to roam. They need pastureland for grazing and water sources to keep them well nourished. Fencing and cross-fencing is necessary with livestock who will find a hole in a fence and go through even a small rupture. Whole herds may end up on the road or in neighboring fields if fences are not well maintained.
Burning brush and weeds to clear fields can create smoke hazards and killing them off with chemicals has its own set of problems. Goat herds will devour weeds and brush and reduce the use of pesticides, which are concerns for many. Over the years the Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration have published conflicting reports on the safety of the toxic chemicals used.
The use of certain fertilizers is also a subject of controversy among many adults who don't feel comfortable feeding their families fruits and vegetables that were sprayed with chemicals or injected to promote larger produce. A goat herd may not eliminate the entire need for fertilizer, but the manure they produce will significantly reduce the amount used. As the demand for organic produce increases, more and more farmers will be turning to natural means of fertilizing.
Soil that is worked year after year loses vital nutrients which in turn decreases yield, plant hardiness, and fosters disease. Farmers rotate crops, allowing certain fields to lie fallow while planting others. Rather than just let land lie empty, some farmers create pastures for livestock to feed. Not only does this reduce the cost of plowing up the land in the spring, it also creates a revenue source.
With their unique digestive system, a goat herd can dispose of the excess byproducts of harvesting, like seeds. They can ingest what other animals cannot. This is another cost saving measure as the livestock grazing reduces the time necessary to eliminate excess materials in the fields, and the by-products serve as feed for the goat herds.
More and more consumers are demanding organic produce and are getting interested in how food is produced. Many are also concerned about the environmental impact the use of toxic sprays, chemicals, and fertilizers has on the earth. Sustainable farming is a good alternative to the traditional methods of getting food from farm to table.
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