QA Farming

There is not a single person on this planet that is disassociated with farming. It is how people live and eat. Even vegans or vegetarians have to rely on this food source. There is so much that goes on in the farming community. From the actually production of food to the final stage where the food is consumed, growing plants and animals on a farm is the cornerstone to civilization. It has been around since mankind first began to till the land or domesticate animals. In this article we will cover the basics of how the farm works and how you finally end up with the products that you eat. It is a fascinating process from beginning to end and it will make you aware of the obstacles that farmers face each day.

How long has farming been in existence?

The earliest records of sowing and harvesting plants have been pinpointed to the Fertile Crescent of the Middle East roughly 10,000 years ago. By 7000 BC it had spread to include Asia and other parts of the world. It was not until the Sumerians that the domestication of animals took place. Sheep and cattle were the first animals to be domesticated. Before there had been organized net fishing of rivers, oceans and lakes but it did not involve domestication. These were busy times for people as more and more natural resources were cultivated to be raised on farms. Farming at that point was still crude but it was making great headway into feeding larger numbers of people. As farmers began producing more crops and animals than they needed, they would in turn trade them for other goods.

What impact does farming have on the environment?

It would be great to say that farming has a positive impact on the environment but unfortunately it is not true. Many environmentalists are concerned that modern agricultural techniques are contributing to the decline in the environment’s health. Pesticides and chemicals used by large scale farms are polluting water sources. There is concern over the impact that genetically modified plants have on the soil conditions. You also have to keep in mind that in order to farm effectively, you need huge expanses of land. This means cutting down forests so that plants and animals can be raised. There are groups that are taking a stand against modern farming practices and returning to environmentally safe methods. Organic farms have risen in popularity as more and more consumers want all natural products that do not contain pesticides, chemicals or hormones.

What is organic farming?

Organic farming is a method in which farmers raise crops and livestock using no artificial pesticides or hormones. They utilize crop rotation in order to keep the soil healthy. Going organic is not new. During the 50′s and 60′s there was a movement to start eating more natural food sources and ensuring that people were not consuming harmful pesticides that were being heavily used at the time. This return to the organic movement has helped small farmers immensely. In a typical market they were being ousted by large scale farm operations. But by raising organically grown vegetable, fibers and animals, they can cash in on the organic niche. They do not have to worry about owning large expanses of land and they can charge more for their produce since it is “healthier.”

I have a small farming operation. Where can I sell my product?

If you have a small farming operation and have excess products, you can always sell your excesses at a farmer’s market. Farmer’s markets are a great way to develop a customer base that turns to you for their needs. If you combine this approach with that of organic agriculture, you will be selling your products in no time at all since the number of farmer’s markets have doubled since 1994. That means more money in your pocket.