by Kate Johns

Created on: April 30, 2008   Last Updated: May 07, 2008

These days it seems just about everyone is going green. From eating organically grown foods, to restricting gas usage, to using less paper products, everyone is doing their part to pitch in. With farming playing an integral role in the very backbone of society, farmers are doing their part also.

Here are ten helpful tips to go green on the farm:

1.Go organic. "One year of carbon in one acre of organic soil will pull up to 7000 pounds of CO2 from the atmosphere", according to Rodale Institute. Just by using less pesticides and by going organic on several acres of soil will create a greener world.

2.Don't idle farm equipment such as a tractor or a thresher. One hour of automobile idling burns 1/5 of a gallon of gas and releases nearly 4 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere. Just imagine how much higher the level of Co2 that are released in to the air are for just one tractor.

3.Cut down on paper usage. Simply by doing more business on-line, will save more trees from being cut down. Utilize on-line banking systems by getting monthly statements and paying bills on-line. Make less paper copies and send them by e-mail or to a various websites.

4.This may sound funny, but use rain barrels to collect rainwater. No, it's not enough to water the crops, but it is enough water to wash a few cattle, water a garden and wash some farm equipment.

5.Collect and spread animal manure on the ground and on the crops to use as fertilizer. It's cheaper than buying manure, and it is recycling what already is available.

6.Buy supplies locally. By buying locally a farmer is supporting local industry, and building up relationships with people. That way local businesses can buy from a local farmer. This will save on gas, and diesel usage, and could be less expensive when shopping at a warehouse outlet store.

7.Install energy saving light bulbs in all farm buildings. By installing energy saving light bulbs in the farm office, barns, equipment buildings, even your own house can save electric usage over time, thus lowering the monthly bill payments.

8.Keep farm equipment running in top shape. With regular maintenance on farming equipment it will run well and not waste gas and diesel with are very expensive today.

9.Recycle spent printer cartridges. According to National Geographic Magazine, " Three quarts of oil goes into making just one brand new printer cartridge." Free mailers are available at U. S. post offices to send used printer cartridges to companies that take them back.

10.Convert the tractor to an ethanol ready machine. Just by using corn, or even sugarcane and by putting in a new fuel tank and a new spark injector, a tractor can use a cost saving and more efficient fuel method.

There it is, ten tips for going green on the farm. With so many people pitching in and helping out, there will be more land for farmers to work with and more good food for all of us to enjoy.

Sources: National Geographic Magazine, and WISCTV.com

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