Industrial agriculture is the norm in most of North America. But as population levels rise and concerns grow about natural resources like soil and water, more and more farmers are making sustainable agriculture a top priority. But is seeking sustainable certification worth it — does sustainability really have a positive impact on the environment? And what are the costs and benefits for farmers of being certified sustainable?

Working on a farm is one of the noblest jobs out there. Not only is some of the work pretty grueling, but pretty much everybody relies on the work that farmers put in. Farming is one of the biggest cogs in the machine of society. An ignorant pair of eyes from the outside looking in would view farming and farmers as something pretty unimportant – how wrong that opinion is. If this particular facet doesn’t get things done smoothly and productively, then it can cause a domino effect in terms of many other areas.  

Farming is an industry that is already tied tightly to the environment, relying on the sun and rain and soil to grow the food that will feed the world. Despite this link, farmers still need to carefully navigate government-mandated environmental compliance. How can farmers ensure that their farms remain compliant without compromising their productivity?

The agriculture sector had always had a reputation for being old-fashioned. It’s easy to understand why: Farming has been part of the history of humanity for as long as we can remember. As soon as our ancestors embraced a sedentary lifestyle, farming has played a significant role in bringing food on the table. 

The health and happiness of your farm animals will largely depend on how you feed them. Whether you're tending to your cows, pigs, goats, chickens or sheep, you need to take a special approach to their diet. Proper nutrition will keep them strong, healthy and happy.  

Unfortunately, you don't have a one-size-fits-all solution for animal feed. Every species of animal is different with unique characteristics, and you have to acknowledge these distinctions if you're going to manage your livestock successfully. The right type of feed for a chicken isn't the right type of feed for a goat, and vice versa.

So what should you keep in mind when you're feeding your farm animals? What do you need to know? We'll provide an overview of the subject to guide you in the right direction.

From pasta to beer, we can thank grain for a variety of our favorite foods and beverages. The popularity of this simple crop has made it a staple in many farming operations. If you're planning to grow it on your land — or you could use a little help with storage — we'll walk you through everything you need to know.

Here are 10 easy tips to help you on your way.

Taking care of livestock is a full-time job. You may not clock in and out, but your whole life revolves around taking care of your animals and making sure they're healthy.

One of the most common issues that livestock farmers face is pest invasions. There are many different types of livestock pests, which makes it difficult to know exactly what to do about them. What you do to banish one pest may not affect any others.

To better protect your livestock and make sure that pests don't wreak havoc on them, read on to learn what you can do to be proactive. You and your livestock will be better off once the pests are taken care of.

We think of farms as inherently earth-friendly, but this isn’t automatically the case. Sometimes, the farm does above average damage to the environment. The good news is that there have been plenty of developments in recent years, and now it’s more than possible to run a farm that has a low carbon footprint, especially if it’s a small farm. Whether you’re already on the path towards being eco-friendly or it’s the first time you’ve thought about it, take a read below, where we outline some useful tips for reducing your farm’s carbon footprint. 

Every business needs a little help now and then to be seen and to earn some money to keep going. Farms are beloved by all, but the farms that are typically visited by families are not as famous as they used to be. It's due to this that farms now struggle with getting an income, notably if they used to be places that people would visit often. Creating a fundraiser to bring some money into your farm is one of the best ways that you and raise some awareness about what you're doing as well as raise some money to keep your farm going.

Since farm-to-table or farm-to-fork started regaining popularity, with consumers demanding a fresher food source than the processed foods at their local supermarkets, there has been an average decrease of food-related diseases of 17% since 2012. There are innumerable benefits to sourcing fresher foods, not just for the the body but also the environment. For farms, fostering relationships with local restaurateurs and grocers is just part of it, as it not only creates stability in the local economy, but also helps their bottom line. For restaurateurs, however, this movement unlocks a whole new menu.

Modern livestock and animal feed is made by blending carefully selected ingredients, including essential nutrients like proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and antibiotics. A high-quality feed with these nutrients will improve the health of your animals while also enhancing the quality of the end-product, such as meat, milk and eggs. Some feed is grown specifically for animals. Others are a by-product from crop processed for human consumption. When it comes to finding the best feed for your livestock, you should look at the needs the specific animals on your farm.

When it comes to looking after our planet and helping the environment, it can be hard to know where to start. Whilst we all know how important it is to do our part, knowing exactly what it is we have to do is difficult, especially when there is so much conflicting information available online. The truth is, absolutely anything you can do that will help the environment is important, even if it’s only stopping yourself from grabbing a plastic straw. After all, every little helps. With that in mind, here are 7 ways you can help the environment: