How does agriculture impact the health of the environment?

Agriculture has big impacts on environmental health. For instance, tilling (breaking up and turning over the soil) or adding fertilizers and other chemical inputs can affect soil health. 

Agricultural practices can also impact water quality by increasing the nutrient and sediment levels in watersheds. They can also influence water movement or water availability in a region.  

Air quality can also be affected when different greenhouse gases associated with agricultural production—such as methane, carbon dioxide, or nitrous oxide—are released into the atmosphere or sequestered (captured and stored) by plants and soil. 

Many farmers use best management practices to help mitigate some of the effects of farming.