When I was taking a massive open online course hosted by Esri in end-August, one of the activities required us to monitor the impact of livestock grazing on water quality in Oregon, United States of America. Personally, I think we may need to give more attention to the nonpoint-source water pollution caused by livestock grazing. And the problem is not just limited to cattle – even chicken, which is often touted as a more environmentally-friendly option, can facilitate freshwater pollution.
(Spoiler: no, they didn’t. In all honesty, I don’t think anyone has ever considered the use of filters to resolve sedimentation issues caused by agriculture, so that’s probably the wrong question to ask.)
(Also, I would like to apologise for not being able to update this blog for the past two weeks. I have been struggling with some mental health issues, but hopefully, things will continue to improve in the future.)
Farming is a career filled with uncertainties – imagine having your annual income (and even food source) being threatened by natural hazards, pests, weeds, and many more dangers that could leave you and your family without sufficient resources to improve your standard of living. Other than having to live with a poor harvest, you may also find yourself negotiating with wholesalers and customers to reach a compromise regarding the lack of supply.