With the full understanding that National Earth Day April 22 is an opportunity to focus on the environment, Oklahoma’s farmers and ranchers will go quietly about their day, implementing proven environmentally friendly practices.
“Everyday is Earth Day on my ranch,” said Steve Kouplen, Beggs, Oklahoma Farm Bureau President. “I have to protect the environment or I won’t be in business. That’s why I consider every day Earth Day.”
The Farm Bureau president notes agriculture is an environmental leader, continuously adopting new procedures that preserve the land while producing safe and affordable food and fiber.
“Farmers and ranchers use conservation tillage on more than 1.4 million acres of Oklahoma crop land reducing soil erosion, conserving moisture and reducing the need for crop protection chemicals,” Kouplen said.
Conservation tillage is defined as any tillage and planting system that covers 30 percent or more of the soil surface with crop residue, after planting.
Oklahoma landowners also have enrolled more than one million acres of highly erodible land in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).
“The CPR protects the land and provides habitat for wildlife,” Kouplen said.
Planting biofuel crops such as soybeans, barley, corn and grain sorghum, help reduce our nation’s dependency on foreign oil while improving air quality.
Biotechnology is another popular tool farmers are using to increase production without adverse environmental concerns.
A recent study by the National Center for Food and Agriculture found that biotech crops in the U.S. produced an additional 4 billion pounds of food and fiber and reduced the use of pesticides by 46 million pounds.
Agriculture producers also use grass waterways and grass buffer strips to filter water and the protect the soil.
“If you really want to celebrate Earth Day, stop the next farmer you see and thank him or her for taking care of the environment,” Kouplen concluded.
