Types of Farming
Conventional vs. Sustainable
When playing the game, a crop farmer can make a choice to either operate using traditional, "high yield" methods, or switch to organic "sustainable" farming, usually depending on incentives given by the agricultural regulator.
Conventional:
This type of farming is usually defined by the cultivation of large acreage with the goal of high production. Such large-scale, industrial-grade monoculture farming practices use large amounts of chemical fertilizers and fuel for mechanized equipment. Many of the nutrients from applied fertilizers do not get taken up by the crops and end up in a stream that spills into the Bay.
http://us.123rf.com/400wm/139/28/ilfede/ilfede1002/ilfede100200008/6431985-farming-tractor-spraying-a-field.jpg
Sustainable:
This type of farming can include any number of alternative methods, as there is no official definition for "sustainable" farming. However, the goal of such farming is usually to reduce the ecological impacts associated with agriculture. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is attempting to create a truly sustainable farming operation at Clagett Farm in Maryland. Guided by ecological principles, this type of farming involves smaller crop fields, more crop variety, reduced fertilizer use, and high labor intensity. Sustainable and organic farming is generally more expensive than traditional farming for the amount of crops yielded.
http://www.pasafarming.org/resource/image/inside-pasa-main.jpg