What Works: Farming Practices Forestry, Farming and Filtration: Productive Lands and Water Supplies Can Coexist September 23, 2010 St. Paul Center, Augusta, Maine
Farming Practices Protect Water Nutrient Management Plans Reduced Tillage Pest Management Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Crop Rotation Decisions Cover Crops Irrigation Choices Pastured Livestock
Nutrient Management Plans Maine Nutrient Management Law No manure spreading Dec. 1-Mar. 15 Variances granted in some situations Nutrient Management Plans created by certified planners Nutrient Management Plan required if: Over 50 animal units Verified Complaint Import over 100 tons compost, manure, biosolids
Nutrient Management Plans Considerations in NMP Volume of manure produced/imported Animal type, bedding, storage type (liquid/semi-solid) Manure Nutrient Analysis Crop Crop Type, yield goal Soils Erosion potential Soil analysis, ability to meet yield goal of crop Phosphorous excessive?
Soil Sampling
Nutrient Management Plans Considerations, continued Maps Show wells, waterways Is Farm in a Most at Risk Watershed? Manure Storage Adequate for storage needs of the operation?
Liquid Manure Lagoon
Liquid Manure Spreader
Nutrient Management Plans USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) requirements To qualify for cost share funding on many projects a Comprehensive NMP is needed CNMP is like Maine NMP plus considers: Silage leachate Mortality Carcass Disposal Movement of water over farmstead impervious surfaces
Grass Filter Strip
Reduced Tillage Reduced tillage practices increasing No-till Zone Till Potential to improve soil quality Reduction in erosion Generally requires herbicide use for weed management Manure not incorporated
Pest Management Farmers need to protect crops to optimize yields Weeds Insects Diseases Rodents
Always Learning!
Pest Management Integrated Pest Management Identify Pest and Understand life cycle Monitor Pest population Control when Economic Threshold is reached Understand control options Cultural management Tillage, variety selection, rotation Pesticides Select right product for pest, crop rotation,
Pesticides Newer Chemistries, generally More pest specific Less leaching Shorter ½ life Days vs. Years Lower rates per acre Fractions of ounces vs. pounds
Genetically Modified Crops Herbicide Tolerant Round-up Ready Plant Incorporated Protectants Bt Corn GM Traits reduce volume of pesticides applied to crops
Crop Rotations Break pest cycles in crops Weeds, insects, diseases Maintain/Improve soil quality Organic matter levels, soil microbial life, nutrients
Crop Rotation Examples Potatoes/Small Grains Silage Corn/Grass Forage Winter Squash/Sweet Corn/Small Grain
Grass Diversion between fields
Winter Cover
Cover Crops Prevent movement of soil Physically protect soil from water and wind erosion Capture and hold nutrients that may be lost to environment Nitrogen and Phosphorous Legumes add Nitrogen for next crop Grasses break disease cycles
Winter Cover
Riparian Buffers Biological Filters Protect waterways from: Nutrient laden eroded soil Pesticides Bank Erosion
Riparian Buffer Planting
Irrigation Choices Crops require supplemental water in times of drought to achieve adequate yield and quality of the crop Different methods of applying water can impact environmental water quality
Hard Hose Traveler Gun Irrigation
Center Pivot Irrigation
Drip Tape Irrigation
Rotational Grazing, Fencing
Pastured Livestock Well managed grazing is good for water quality Dense sods formed Reduces erosion Modest levels of nutrients distributed over time and space Reduces potential for point source pollution
Good Fences Make Good Water
Services Available to Farmers University of Maine Cooperative Extension Ag Industry Field Representatives Fertilizer, Pesticide, Biosolid Companies Maine Department of Agriculture USDA NRCS FSA Private Crop Consultants Commodity Associations Non-profits Land Trusts, etc.
Questions? Lauchlin W. Titus, CPAg AgMatters LLC Vassalboro, Maine