Pasture Prime: A Sustainable Farm Following Eco-Friendly Principles

Our family farm is located in North Central Florida. Ample rainfall and tall grasses help us maintain a sustainable farm that contributes to the health of the land and our animals. Our goal is to keep our farm running for generations to come and to provide our customers with the highest-quality meats.

“Sustainable agriculture is a way of raising food that is healthy for consumers and animals, does not harm the environment, is humane for workers, respects animals, provides a fair wage to the farmer, and supports and enhances rural communities.”
--SustainableTable.Org

Modern agricultural practices in the U.S. maximize profit by raising large amounts of animals in crowded spaces. The animals are fed diets that fatten them quickly, but are not natural to their systems. Does this have long-term consequences? You bet. Here’s a snapshot of some of the problems caused by industrial agriculture:

• Soil erosion and contamination.
• Industrial farm animals are administered 25 million pounds of antibiotics and related drugs a year—causing unprecedented levels of antibiotic resistance.
• Mass amounts of manure are generated in small areas of land. The animal waste leaches into the water systems and releases hazardous gases into the atmosphere.
• The EPA estimates 70% of all pollution in U.S. rivers and streams comes from agricultural runoff.
• Industrial agriculture selectively breeds only a few types of animals, which severely limits genetic diversity.

In contrast, eco-friendly farming uses free range-farming methods that give back to the land what is taken. The balance benefits the animals, the crops, and the environment—sustainable farms are just that: sustainable.
Eco-friendly farms:

• Use natural erosion-prevention methods, such as cover crops and low-tillage, and limit the use of pesticides
• Feed animals a natural diet and raise them in un-crowded conditions so they do not require antibiotics
• Do not raise more animals than the land can support. The animal waste is used as a fertilizer, thus giving back to the land.
• Conserve water resources and protect local water sources