List of Indicators of Sustainability for the Dairy System.
Sustainability as defined by Merriam Webster Dictionary is a method of using a resource so that the resource does not get depleted or permanently damaged. For a dairy farm like Kitzels" to be sustainable, we look at indicators in three areas. Sustainability in environmental, economical and social context can help us to indicate sustainability of Kitzel dairy farm.
Environmental sustainability would mean that there is no disruption of the natural ecosystem in the farm. The farm ecosystem would include all the biotic and abiotic interactions between the soil, water and air. An important environmental indicator would be the amount of Nitrogen and its" chemical forms like Ammonium (NH4) in the soil as well as in the water systems of the farm. Excess Nitrogen could facilitate growth of nitrogen loving weeds, which would compete for nutrients with the productive crops like the corn. Excess Nitrogen in the soil would also leach into the ditches and finally to the dyke. This excess Nitrogen could lead to eutrophication in the dyke, which would facilitate an algae bloom. As a result of the bloom, other life forms in the dyke would be affected tremendously as the algae bloom could cut the oxygen supply into the dyke. Another indicator of environmental sustainability would be the amount of biodiversity of life found around the farm. The 450-acre land and the ditches and dykes provide a natural habitat for many species of migratory birds like the rafters, waterfowls, eagle. The quality of soil, water and air are essential to support and sustain the biodiversity of life found on the farm. Waste management is another essential component to environmental sustainability. The waste, primarily manure, produced by about 750 animals at the Kitzel farm is dumped into the manure pit. An automated system works around the clock to collect the manure produced by the animals into a large pit.