Agriculture & the Environment in Massachusetts

From the time people first started planting seeds and keeping animals, agriculture has had a tremendous effect on the environment. Agriculture was one of our first attempts to manage the environment for our benefit. And while sometimes those attempts have gone awry, we increasingly understand how to manage agricultural systems in ways that are beneficial and sustainable in an environmental sense.

Agricultural systems are really a type of ecosystem. These ecosystems contain the soil environment, water, air, agronomic and horticultural plants, and animals that interact with the plants. Sometimes these agricultural ecosystems are pretty simple, and not very sustainable, such as raising animals in feed lots or growing corn on the same land year after year. More sustainable agricultural systems recognize and work with the interrelationships among soils, water, crops, weeds, insects, microbes, animals and people. At the largest scale, agricultural ecosystems interact with today's global economy, our society.

Generally, development generates greater problems with water pollution and water use than does agriculture. Similarly, a sub-division or mall will generate more air pollution, through traffic for example, than will a farm. While at times there may be an uneasy relationship between farmers and wildlife, wildlife undoubtedly does better in an agricultural setting, particularly a mixed forest and farm situation, than in a commercial, industrial or residential development.

Massachusetts farmers, with rare exceptions, have taken their role as environmental stewards very seriously. One of the key programs for pesticide reduction in agriculture, integrated pest management (IPM) has been well developed and widely employed in the state. Pesticide reductions of 30% to 50% in different crops across the state have been achieved. The small farms and horticultural businesses in the Commonwealth don't generate the pollution and erosion problems seen in some parts of the mid- and far west.

The University of Massachusetts has long supported research and education in environmentally friendly agriculture. This work will be increasingly important as we work towards an agriculture that works environmentally for our communities.