David Postill’s Post

I recently came across a friend who embarked on agriculture as a business venture, setting up a farm sprawling across 15 acres, which accommodates 70 goats, two cows, and five buffalo. While two acres of the land are designated for vegetable cultivation, the remaining 13 acres are allocated for wheat, bajra, and mustard crops. However, it's disheartening to note that he's solely practicing chemical farming. When questioned about this decision, he explained that employing six laborers per acre for a day to remove weeds from the wheat field is costly, especially if it needs to be done twice. In contrast, using weedicide, a chemical option, is significantly cheaper, albeit with the downside of potentially contaminating the food cycle if the next crop is a root vegetable. This issue is exacerbated by the reluctance to pay a premium to farmers, pushing them to cut costs wherever possible. To address this dilemma, we must acknowledge and address the underlying factors driving such practices. This includes not only the cost-saving benefits of chemicals but also the time-saving advantages and preventive measures against infestations. Continuing to ignore the needs of farmers and their methods of food production raises critical questions about our commitment to sustainable agriculture and food security. It's imperative to understand and support farmers in transitioning towards more environmentally friendly and sustainable farming practices while ensuring fair compensation for their efforts. for more read the below detailed article and do reed the harm related section https://lnkd.in/ggq_GfSk

Hybrid True Potato Seeds: Groundbreaking Economic and Food Security Around the World Hybrid true potato seeds have revolutionized agriculture, offering unprecedented benefits in productivity, disease resistance and scalability. Farmers, agronomists and agricultural engineers are encouraged to explore how these innovative seeds can improve economic stability and food security around the world. In modern agriculture, the need to ensure a reliable and plentiful food supply is enormous. As […] https://lnkd.in/eyiPfyih

Agricultural Doctors: The Guardians of Our Food Supply Agricultural doctors, also known as agricultural scientists or agronomists, play a crucial role in ensuring our food supply is safe, plentiful, and sustainable. They are experts in the field of agriculture, specializing in the study of plants, animals, and the environment. Key Responsibilities: * Research and Development: Agricultural doctors conduct research to develop new and improved agricultural practices. This can include developing new crop varieties, improving livestock breeding, and finding sustainable farming methods. * Disease and Pest Control: They identify and control diseases and pests that affect crops and livestock, helping to protect our food supply. * Soil Health and Nutrient Management: Agricultural doctors study soil health and develop strategies for improving soil fertility and nutrient management. * Sustainable Agriculture: They work to promote sustainable agricultural practices, such as organic farming and precision agriculture, to minimize environmental impact. * Food Safety: They ensure that food products are safe for consumption by developing and implementing food safety standards.

Hybrid True Potato Seeds: Groundbreaking Economic and Food Security Around the World Hybrid true potato seeds have revolutionized agriculture, offering unprecedented benefits in productivity, disease resistance and scalability. Farmers, agronomists and agricultural engineers are encouraged to explore how these innovative seeds can improve economic stability and food security around the world. In modern agriculture, the need to ensure a reliable and plentiful food supply is enormous. As […] https://lnkd.in/efCywf7j

In a 1787 letter to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson wrote that “[a]griculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals and happiness.” Agriculture, perhaps more so than any other vocation or enterprise, is indelibly American. Defined as the cultivation of plants, animals and other life forms for food, medicine and other products necessary for both sustaining and enhancing our lives, agriculture will only continue to play a large role in the modern American economy. The U.S. currently boasts what is undoubtedly the safest, highest quality and most innovative food system in the world. Meanwhile, global demand for agricultural and forest products is expected to increase substantially in the coming decades. Policymakers should seek solutions that remove barriers for production, trade and consumption, thereby allowing the modern agriculture system to flourish and meet this growing demand. Most would probably be surprised to learn that 97 percent of U.S. farms are family-owned and run by small farmers and ranchers. Great care should be taken to avoid unnecessary rules and bureaucratic hurdles for producers competing in our global agriculture environment. As Senator Barry Goldwater once said: “[farmers] have a more intimate knowledge than most of us of the consequences of unlimited government power, and so, it would seem, a greater interest than most in returning agriculture to freedom and economic sanity. EPIC Policy Group is dedicated to advancing the interests of the agriculture industry by providing comprehensive representation and advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels. Our team works tirelessly to ensure that agricultural producers have a voice in legislative and regulatory matters, helping to remove barriers to production, trade, and consumption. We engage with policymakers to advocate for solutions that support the growth and sustainability of agriculture, aiming to maintain the U.S.'s position as a leader in the global food system. By focusing on the unique needs of family-owned farms and small ranchers, EPIC Policy Group empowers the agriculture industry to thrive in a competitive global market.

This act is not only timely but potentially very high impacts.

🌍🥔 Strengthening the Spud: Innovations in the Potato Supply Chain #sustainableagriculture #traceability Embracing technology and innovative farming practices is key to ensuring the sustainability and reliability of the potato supply chain. This article underscores the importance of traceability and strategic diversification, reflecting a growing consumer demand for transparency and ethical production in the agriculture industry. #innovation #sustainability 📖 Full read here: https://lnkd.in/dNXdB4dQ

In a 1787 letter to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson wrote that “[a]griculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals and happiness.” Agriculture, perhaps more so than any other vocation or enterprise, is indelibly American. Defined as the cultivation of plants, animals and other life forms for food, medicine and other products necessary for both sustaining and enhancing our lives, agriculture will only continue to play a large role in the modern American economy. The U.S. currently boasts what is undoubtedly the safest, highest quality and most innovative food system in the world. Meanwhile, global demand for agricultural and forest products is expected to increase substantially in the coming decades. Policymakers should seek solutions that remove barriers for production, trade and consumption, thereby allowing the modern agriculture system to flourish and meet this growing demand. Most would probably be surprised to learn that 97 percent of U.S. farms are family-owned and run by small farmers and ranchers. Great care should be taken to avoid unnecessary rules and bureaucratic hurdles for producers competing in our global agriculture environment. As Senator Barry Goldwater once said: “[farmers] have a more intimate knowledge than most of us of the consequences of unlimited government power, and so, it would seem, a greater interest than most in returning agriculture to freedom and economic sanity. EPIC Policy Group is dedicated to advancing the interests of the agriculture industry by providing comprehensive representation and advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels. Our team works tirelessly to ensure that agricultural producers have a voice in legislative and regulatory matters, helping to remove barriers to production, trade, and consumption. We engage with policymakers to advocate for solutions that support the growth and sustainability of agriculture, aiming to maintain the U.S.'s position as a leader in the global food system. By focusing on the unique needs of family-owned farms and small ranchers, EPIC Policy Group empowers the agriculture industry to thrive in a competitive global market.

Exciting news for American farmers—and all the people we feed: Today, a bipartisan group of lawmakers announced the introduction of H.R. 9263, the Supporting Innovation in Agriculture Act. It may seem like Republicans and Democrats don't agree on much right now, but both parties are invested in keeping American agriculture competitive. This bill would establish a 10-year tax credit for investments in specialty crop production like (but not limited to) vertical farms, incentivizing a massive tech scale-up that can make the U.S. more resilient and bring food prices down. This is a popular idea, endorsed by more than 20 state agriculture secretaries and commissioners and more than 50 agriculture trade organizations at the state and national levels. For more information, click the link below. And please tell your representatives about this bill—a big step forward for the controlled-environment agriculture industry and a win for all specialty crop producers.

Educating Farmers on Soil Health and Aflatoxin Management: A Step Towards Sustainable Agriculture in Dodoma