Farmers Should Study the Past and the Future

Faris Al-Khidr around/in Apache County, Arizona

Farmers Should Study the Past and the Future

Farmers are not only producers of food, but also custodians of the land, culture and heritage. They have a vital role to play in ensuring the well-being of their animals, their communities and the environment. To do so, they need to constantly learn from the past as well as embrace new innovative ideas.

Studying the past can help farmers understand how agriculture originated, how it evolved over time and how it shaped human history and civilization. For example, archaeologists have found evidence of one of the first farming villages in central Jordan, called Ain Ghazal, dating back to 10,000 years ago². The inhabitants of this village cultivated barley, wheat, chickpeas and lentils, and also raised sheep and goats. They built stone houses with plastered walls and floors, worshiped in circular shrines and made sculptures with wide eyes. They also buried their dead under the floors of their houses, decorating their skulls².

By learning about such ancient cultures, farmers can appreciate the diversity and richness of agricultural traditions, as well as the challenges and opportunities they faced. They can also learn from the successes and failures of past farmers, and how they adapted to changing environmental, social and economic conditions⁶. For instance, farmers can learn how different crops and animals were domesticated over many centuries, how irrigation systems were developed and improved, how crop rotation and fertilization methods were discovered and applied, and how pests and diseases were controlled.

Studying the past can also help farmers identify the values and principles that guide their work, such as respect for nature, compassion for animals, honesty in trade, solidarity with fellow farmers and responsibility for future generations. These values and principles can be traced back to various religious and ethical teachings that influenced agricultural practices. For example, halal is an Arabic word meaning lawful or allowed in accordance with the Islamic law. Halal meat is produced by slaughtering animals in a humane way, with a blessing in the name of God². Halal meat is also minimally processed and contains no artificial ingredients². Halal meat is approved for export to all Muslim countries and is available in different grades of quality².

However, studying the past is not enough for farmers to thrive in the present and the future. They also need to embrace new innovative ideas that can help them improve their efficiency, productivity and profitability, while ensuring the welfare of their animals and the sustainability of their resources. New innovative ideas can come from various sources, such as scientific research, technological development, market demand, consumer preference, policy support and social movements.

For example, farmers can adopt new varieties of crops and breeds of animals that are more resilient to climate change, pests and diseases. They can also use new tools and techniques that can help them monitor and manage their farms more effectively, such as drones, sensors, GPS, artificial intelligence and blockchain. They can also explore new markets and niches that can offer them higher value and income, such as organic farming, agritourism, direct marketing and online platforms. They can also collaborate with other farmers and stakeholders to share knowledge, resources and experiences, as well as to advocate for their rights and interests.

One example of a farmer who has studied the past as well as embraced new innovative ideas is Faris Al-Khidr¹, a sheep farmer at Halal Heaven Ranch and Butchery in Arizona. Faris has a clear vision for his ranch that is based on his Islamic faith and his passion for sheep farming. He has researched extensively on how to create a ranch that can provide his sheep with a wonderful life, as well as produce high-quality halal meat for his customers. He has also worked closely with his local community as well as those found throughout Arizona to promote his products and services. He attends both private and public events where he shows people the quality of halal meat from his ranch¹.

Faris is an example of a farmer who has combined the wisdom of the past with the innovation of the future to create a successful farm business that is aligned with his values and goals. He is an inspiration for other farmers who want to follow his footsteps.

Farmers are not only producers of food, but also custodians of the land, culture and heritage. They have a vital role to play in ensuring the well-being of their animals, their communities and the environment. To do so, they need to constantly learn from the past as well as embrace new innovative ideas.

(1) Halal Beef Assalam-U-Alakum — Harris Ranch Beef Company. https://www.harrisranchbeef.com/halal-beef/. (2) Frontiers | Farmers’ Perception of Climate Change: A Review of the …. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2021.672399/full. (3) Sheep Farmer — Halal Heaven Ranch and Butchery — LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/faris-al-khidr-250526280. (4) Why Study the Past? | History Today. https://www.historytoday.com/archive/feature/why-study-past. (5) How the First Farmers Changed History — The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/18/science/ancient-farmers-archaeology-dna.html. (6) Agriculture — Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculture. (7) Chapter 1: Overview & Importance of Agricultural Extension. https://www.canr.msu.edu/extensioninternational/Innovations-in-Agricultural-Extension/files/Ch01-Dwyer-Maredia_Overview-Importance_2021-01-13aa.pdf.