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What To Know About Sustainable and Efficient Farming
People today want to understand where their food comes from and how it is produced. Terms like “sustainable farming” and “regenerative agriculture” are showing up more often online, at the grocery store and in conversations about the future of food.
Many of these farming practices focus on improving soil health, reducing erosion and protecting natural resources. Organizations such as Undeniably Dairy share how innovation and conservation can help support agriculture for future generations.
But there is another part of the sustainability conversation consumers may not hear as often: efficiency.
For decades, farmers and ranchers have worked to grow more food using fewer resources like land, water and energy. Improvements in technology, animal care and crop production have helped keep food available and affordable while reducing waste and environmental impact.
As interest grows around regenerative agriculture, many consumers hear about the benefits but not always the tradeoffs.
Some farming methods can require more land or more labor to produce the same amount of food. In simple terms, it may take more acres to grow the same crops or raise the same amount of meat. While those practices may offer certain environmental benefits, they can also affect food costs and how efficiently food is produced.
That does not mean one approach is right and another is wrong, and in fact, many South Dakota farmers already use a combination of traditional and regenerative practices to care for their land while continuing to produce food efficiently.
In South Dakota, organizations like the South Dakota Pork Producers Council and the SDSU Extension often describe sustainability in terms of efficiency — producing more food while using less land, water, energy and other resources.
For consumers, understanding modern agriculture means looking at the full picture. Sustainability is not only about doing things differently, but it’s also about balancing environmental goals with affordability, food supply and responsible use of resources.
Bacon Wrapped Pork Chop Nuggets
Ingredients:
- 4 Boneless Pork Chops
- 1 lbs Bacon
- Seasoning of Choice
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 225 degrees.
- Cut pork chops into strips or nuggets (personal preference).
- Wrap each piece with 1 piece of bacon for strips & 1/2 piece of bacon for nuggets.
- Use tooth picks to hold bacon onto chops.
- Add seasoning as desired.
- Line baking sheet with tin foil and lay backing rack to keep food off sheet.
- Cook for 50-60 minutes in oven (temperature will be over 145 internal on chops. If want to cook to 145 internal, cook for ~30 minutes and broil at end to crisp up bacon).
Watch a cooking demo with Pork Producer, Dan Howell of Volga, SD on Keloland Living here: SD Pork Producers Council: Bacon Wrapped Pork Chop Nuggets.
Upcoming Events
South Dakota Dairy Fest returns Saturday, June 6, 2026, with a full day of family-friendly activities, farm tours, delicious dairy treats and a chance to connect with local farmers.
Learn more by checking out the event flyer below, website, or Facebook page.
Then, keep the fun going at MoDak Dairy Day on Saturday, June 13!
This annual celebration highlights the dairy industry with engaging activities, educational opportunities and plenty of dairy-inspired favorites.
Be sure to visit their Facebook page for event details and updates.
South Dakota Pork invites you to the following events in July:
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Family Fare Rapid City Hog Wild | July 11 | 11am - 2pm
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Ken's Aberdeen Grilling | July 16 | 11am - 2pm
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Pig Wing Fest, Watertown | July 17-18
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Kids education activity by SD Pork on Friday, July 17 from 10am - 2pm
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25th Annual Soybean Open Golf Tournament | July 20
The South Dakota Soybean Association (SDSA) invites you to register for the 25th Annual Soybean Open Golf Tournament.
Secure your spot by clicking here, emailing [email protected], or calling the South Dakota Soybean office at (605) 330-9942.
AGPHD Field Day 2026 | July 30
The Ag PhD Field Day is agriculture’s largest one-day event, held in Baltic, South Dakota! Everything at Field Day is absolutely free — admission, parking, meals, drinks, entertainment, and so much more! The event runs from 7am – 4pm.
Pre-register on SD Corn’s website here.