Explain why the practice described in the following scenario is NOT sustainable. There has recently been high demand for wheat and wheat-based products in the United States. To cash in on this boom, a farmer devotes every field on his farm to growing wheat for four years in a row.

Correct Answer:

This practice is not sustainable because the farmer is planting the same crop, wheat, in every field year after year. Growing one crop continuously depletes the same nutrients from the soil, lowers soil quality, and can increase erosion. It also makes the farm more vulnerable to pests and diseases that target wheat, because those problems can build up over time. A sustainable farm would rotate crops and manage resources so the land stays productive in the long term, not just for a few profitable years.