Big Ag refers to major segments of the agriculture industry rather than farms of a certain size. Sustainable agriculture aims to satisfy food needs, enhance the environment, efficiently use resources, support economic viability, and improve quality of life. Key aspects of sustainability in Big Ag include food security through efficient production, environmental conservation, use of new technologies, economic viability for farmers, and improving their quality of life. Contact information is provided for those interested in learning more.

1. Sustainability Developments
in “Big Ag”
“Feeding Ourselves, Sustaining the Planet”
May 16, 2012
By Cari B. Rincker, Esq.

2. Overview
• Definitions
– What is “Big Ag?”
– What is Sustainable
Agriculture?
• 5 Key Aspects of
Sustainability in
Agriculture

3. Definitions

4. What is “Big Ag”?
• Farms owned by major U.S. corporations?
– 97% of farms are family-owned
• Certain number of acres?
– Average U.S. farm size is 1046 acres
• Certain threshold of gross sales?
– In 2011, average farm household had an annual net
income of approximately $100K
– 85-95% of farmers supplement household income with off-
farm income
– 82% of farming operations have less than $100K annual
sales
– 8% of farming operations have more than $250K of annual
sales

6. What is “Big Ag”?
“Concentrated
Animal Feeding
Operations”?
– “Animal Feeding
Operations”?
– Not “factory
farms”

7. What is “Big Ag”?
• Organic vs. Non-
organic
• Use of technology?
• Farmers who do not
sell direct to
consumers?
– Some (organic) CSA’s
in Long Island gross
over $1 million a year

8. “Big Agriculture” Has Many
Segments of the Industry
• Will be focusing on agriculture production
• Will not be delving into other segments of the
industry
– Seed dealers
– Chemical producers
– Food processors
– Slaughter facilities
– Grocery stores
– Food transportation

9. What is “Sustainable” Agriculture?

10. What is Sustainable Agriculture?
• Under 7 USC § 3103, “sustainable agriculture” means
an integrated system of plant and animal production
practices having a site-specific application that over the
long-term will:
– Satisfy human food and fiber needs;
– Enhance environmental quality & the natural resources;
– Make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources
and on-farm resources and integrate, when appropriate,
natural biological cycles and controls;
– Sustain the economic viability of farm operations; and,
– Enhance the quality of life for farmers and society.

11. Five Basic Elements
• Food security;
• Enhance environmental quality & the natural
resources;
• Increase efficient use of nonrenewable
resources;
• Improve economic viability; and,
• Enhance the quality of life for farmers &
society

12. Food Security

13. Feeding the World
(and Our Community)
World population
expected to grow by
40% in next few
decades.
– 9 billion people by
2050

14. Feeding the World
(and Our Community)
Challenges
– Decreased supply of
farmland,
– Decreased water supply,
and
– Decreased supply of
energy
– Average age of today’s
farmer is 55.3

15. Feeding the World
(and Our Community)
• How Will Agriculture Meet the Future Food
Demands?
– Increase efficiency
– Produce more food with same resources
– Conserve more natural resources
• Farmland, water, energy
• Decrease development & (sub)urban encroachment
– Produce a product that is more affordable consumers
around the globe
– Improve the lives of farmers
• Profitability
– Succession Planning

16. Not All Land Is Farmable
• Two-thirds of the
earth’s land is not
farmable
• Ruminant animals
are able to graze that
forage and convert it
into human energy

17. Enhance Environmental Quality &
the Natural Resources

18. Enhance Environmental Quality &
the Natural Resources
• Crop rotation
• Intensive/rotational Grazing
• Environmental Quality
Incentives Program (“EQIP”)
• Reducing erosion
• Conservation Reserve
Program (“CRP”)
• Farmers are motivated to
protect their assets.
– Land
– Water
– Soil quality

19. Efficient Use of Nonrenewable Resources

20. Technological Advancements
• Decreased Tillage
– “No Till” farming
– “Strip till” farming
– “Medium till”
farming

21. Biotechnology
Seed technologies
imbedding genes
have reduced
requirements for
insecticides and
herbicides

22. Efficient Use of Nonrenewable Resources

23. Enhance Economic Viability

24. Enhance Economic Viability
In order to be
sustainable, farms
have to make money.
Profit is not a bad
word when we talk
about sustainability.

26. Enhance Economic Viability
• Precision Farming
– Variable rate
technology
– Global Positioning
Systems (GPS)

28. Biotechnology with Livestock
• Selection based on
genetics & breeds
• Expected Progeny
Differences (EPDs)
• Artificial insemination
• Embryo transfers
• Genetic DNA Markers
• Ultrasound data

29. Quality of Life
Farmers want to pass their
farm down to future
generations.
– Requires:
• Maintaining land & water
health;
• Having a viable business
model;
• Having tax structure that
encourages the succession of
family farms
• Having proper regulatory
balance
• Succession planning

30. Quality of Life
Technological advances
have contributed to
enhancing the quality of
life of farms and farm
workers
– Allowing them to do
more in less time
– Safer farm conditions

31. Contact Me
• Send Mail: 535 Fifth Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, NY
10017
• Call : (212) 427-2049
• Email: cari@rinckerlaw.com
• Subscribe to the Food & Ag Law Blog:
www.rinckerlaw.com/blog
• Tweet: @CariRincker @RinckerLaw
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/rinckerlaw
• Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/caririncker