Every day is Earth Day for farmers

Each year, on April 22, Earth Day is celebrated in more than 190 countries to raise awareness of the importance in protecting our environment.

To farmers, Earth Day isn’t just a 24-hour ordeal. They work with the soil on a daily basis. And when the time comes to pass their farms on to another generation, they want that land to be in even better condition than it was when they took over.

The environmental steps taken by farmers often go unnoticed.

• Each year, South Dakota farmers plant enough trees to create a row that would stretch to either the Atlantic or Pacific ocean.
• They’ve reduced soil erosion 67% by using innovative conservation methods.
• Energy used to grow a bushel of corn has decreased 43% since 1980.
• The land required to grow a bushel of corn has decreased by 30%.
• Farmers have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 36%.
• They’re growing 87% more corn per ounce of fertilizer.
• Farmers are increased the number of no-till acres, improving soil health and reduction erosion in the process.
• Farmers use cover crops, grass waterways and buffer strips to retain nutrients and reduce erosions.

To learn more about South Dakota farmer practices and sustainability efforts, visit ThisIsFarming.org.