Why do we need to protect our farm resources?
Only 3% of the world’s surface has soil that can be used for growing crops.
Fresh water is also needed to grow our crops and raise our livestock. Only 2% of the Earth’s water is available for use, so it needs to be kept as clean as possible.
What is Conservation?
Conservation is the controlled use and protection of natural resources such as forests, soil, and water. Farmers must be conservationists and find ways to care for the soil and water on their farms to produce the best crops, provide clean water for their livestock, and assure the groundwater remains clean.
Conserving Soil
Soil can be moved by water, wind, and ice. This is called EROSION. Water erosion is the most common type seen on Kentucky farms.
It takes 500 years to produce an inch of topsoil, but it only takes a short time for a rainstorm to wash it away.
Erosion by water on a Kentucky farm.
Wind Erosion
Ice Erosion
Soil Solutions
Cover Crops – plants that are sown on bare soil to hold it in place when it is not being used for food production.
No-Till – a practice that began in Kentucky, where farmers do not till or turn-over the soil after previous crop has been grown. They leave the soil and plant residue in place and drill the seeds into the topsoil layer.
Conserving Water
Run-off – washing away of water from the surface of land.
Water can carry away soil, waste, and nutrients on top of the soil to our waterways and water supplies.
Water Solutions
Cover Crops and Buffer Zones – Plants and trees are planted on bare soils near water ways to filter soil, waste, and nutrients.
Fencing and Feeding Areas - Livestock can be kept away from streams with fencing. When feeding hay or grain, they may place the animals in the barn or on a concrete slab so they are not disturbing the soil.
Soil Erosion Demonstration
Kentucky Farmers are Conservation Leaders
Learn how Mark Turner and his family work to conserve their farm resources. Read about others.
How can you help protect our �soil and water?