In addition to some normal odor, dust, or farm noises, these operations usually produce large amounts of manure. Care must be taken to make sure excess manure is used or disposed of properly so that nutrient-laden manure does not cause surface or groundwater pollution. Farmers have traditionally been good land stewards, practicing management techniques which protect natural resources while producing optimum crop yields. In fact many early farming techniques, such as crop rotation, are still practiced. Like many other industries, however, today s farmers rely on the latest facts and technology to get the job done in the most productive manner possible.
Agriculture is essential for human health and well being, and for the economy.
Pennsylvania s farmers provide food to feed people all over the world, and Pennsylvania s farm products bring billions of dollars in revenue to the state each year. The ultimate goal, then, is finding a way to sustain agriculture and many Pennsylvanians are working toward that goal. A number of laws have been put in place to promote sustainable agriculture. Different pieces of legislation have been passed to encourage people to remain as farmers and to help save farmland. In 1981, for instance, the Agriculture Area Security Law was enacted, which allows counties to create areas which shelter farmland from development.