Monday, December 13, 2010
Increased Soil Quality & Environmental Quality through No-till Planting
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Images of Thankfulness
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Making the World a Better Place
George Reger, ISDA Resource Specialist... Happy Surveying! |
Sarah Lake, ISDA Resource Specialist..... discussing conservation options with a farmer |
In a recent report from our 23 Resource Specialists, they are currently working on the survey, planning, and completion of over 130 miles of Grassed Waterways!!! Wow! If calculated, this would equate to thousands of tons of soil saved as well as thousands of pounds of phosphorus and nitrogen reduced from runoff as well(these are three components that can create significant water quality degradation). Not to mention the farmer who installs this practice is thrilled because he no longer has that uncrossable gully in his field.
Recently constructed Grassed Waterway, new grass coming up through erosion control blanket |
Grassed waterways solve gully erosion problems. Essentially you take that area in the field where water runs and it is starting make a channel from erosion(this is the gully) and you reshape that area to a designed width and depth, grow a dense vegetative cover(grass), and the erosion problem is gone. Along with washing priceless topsoil away, nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus can quickly be washed away in these areas as well. The Grassed Waterway eliminates the erosion and the grass acts as a filter for the nutrients.
Functioning Grassed Waterway |
Many thanks to our staff and State Soil Conservation Board who work out in the field, in the board rooms, and in the offices to bring conservation solutions to our lands.
Thank You!
Indiana State Soil Conservation Board |
Thursday, October 21, 2010
It's CREPtastic! Guest Post
Let me start from the beginning, my beginning anyway. When I joined the staff at ISDA, CREP was available in three of Indiana’s HUC 8s and only in parts of 29 counties (What’s a HUC 8? Here’s a link!). By the way, Indiana contains or touches parts of 38 HUC 8s. The CREP amendment allows this program to increase its availability to 11 total watersheds touching 65 counties. Ok, great, so CREP is available in 11 watersheds? What is it? CREP – the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program – is a program that provides financial incentives to landowners who voluntarily set aside some of their marginally productive or sensitive farm ground into certain natural resource conservation practices for 14-15 year periods. CREP funds come from the State of Indiana, as well as USDA Farm Service Agency. Additional technical and financial assistance comes from Natural Resource Conservation Services, The Nature Conservancy, and the White River Restoration Fund. Members of the Indiana Conservation Partnership, as well as other conservation groups, serve on the CREP coordinating and technical committees. So, CREP is most definitely a group effort!
Native grasses (above) are one example of a CREP practice
CREP is designed to alleviate some of the nonpoint source sediments and nutrients leaving agricultural lands; improved water quality is a large constituent of this program. What are nonpoint source sediments and nutrients? Well, point source discharges are those that leave from a single source, such as a pipe. Nonpoint source discharges are basically everything else that leaves the landscape through overland flow. CREP also enhances wildlife habitat. So, let’s talk specifically about practices and what they do. Most of the practices available in CREP focus on “buffer-type” practices: native grasses, riparian buffers, filter strips, wildlife habitat, and hardwood trees. These types of practices do several things to enhance water quality. Grasses and other plants act as a filter; sediments and nutrients are filtered out of the water before they can enter a waterway, the water entering a buffer decreases velocity and drops particles, and plants uptake excess nutrients. The decreased velocity also allows more of the water to percolate through the subsurface, further filtering the water and allowing for groundwater recharge. Riparian buffers that include tree planting shade waterways, allowing for more species diversity due to the cooler water temperatures and additional places for species to thrive. These areas also allow for connected corridors, which many species need to be successful.
There are a few whole field practices available as well, including wetlands and bottomland tree plantings. These practices again slow down water flow, allowing sediments to drop, filtering to occur, and groundwater recharge. Wetlands in particular, allow for denitrification to occur (wetlands could be a whole other guest blog!), reducing the nitrates that enter our waterways (reducing Gulf Hypoxia – guess I’ll be writing a few more guest blogs!). Another benefit of these practices is the potential to mitigate water quantity issues (as opposed to quality). Wetlands hold large amounts of water, allowing water to slowly enter our waterways, helping to alleviate flooding and droughts. Mature trees uptake vast amounts of water, again, using water that would have directly entered an adjacent waterway. Just one more benefit - the majority of our State and Federally listed threatened and endangered species use these areas at at least some stage in the life cycle.
Financial benefits vary depending on practice and soil type, but include up to 90% cost share for certain practices and annual rental payments from FSA, and payments from $100-$950 per acre from the state. For more information, go to ISDA's website or visit your local Soil and Water Conservation District, and remember, it’s CREPTASTIC!
It’s CREPTASTIC!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Conservation Loans
Indianapolis, September 13, 2010 - Julia A. Wickard, Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Indiana announced the launch of a Conservation Loan (CL) program that will provide farm owners and farm-related business operators access to credit to implement conservation techniques that will conserve natural resources.
“This will provide farmers, who want to implement conservation measures on their lands, a chance to do so by providing assistance with up-front costs,” said Wickard. “In return, these producers will help reduce soil erosion, improve water quality and promote sustainable agricultural practices.”
Direct CLs can be obtained through local Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices with loan limits up to $300,000. Guaranteed CLs up to $1,112,000 are available from lenders working with FSA.
CL funds can be used to implement conservation practices approved by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), such as the installation of conservation structures; establishment of forest cover; installation of water conservation measures; establishment or improvement of permanent pastures; implementation of manure management; and the adaptation of other emerging or existing conservation practices, techniques or technologies.
For more information on the Conservation Loan program, contact a local FSA office or visit the FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Conservation on the Farm through Innovation
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Growing Corn and Soybeans in Indiana
Get To Know A Grain Farmer
Farmers have always been and are increasingly aware of the environment. As agricultural technology improves and we learn more from science on how we can be better stewards of the land, many farmers have adapted their management. As you view this short (under 3 minutes) video; note that they are planting soybeans in a field with standing corn stalks, i.e. no-till planting. These corn stalks have remained in field, providing a cover (commonly called residue) to minimize soil erosion, over the late fall, winter, and early spring. He mentions the use of filter strips (grass strips between the farm field and a stream/creek) and grassed waterways (a grassy strip that moves water safely off of the field minimizing gully erosion). These grassy areas help trap soil and any pesticides/fertilizers that may be carried off of the field during a rain. So, grab Hoosier-grown popcorn...dim the lights...and enjoy getting to know a grain farmer!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Which Ditch is Which?
Without the nitty-gritty specifics the fact is that this simple design alteration to a traditional drainage ditch allows for more capture of sediment and nutrients that would typically shoot right through to the next tributary and on and on. In addition to that the side slopes are more stable providing minimal maintenance costs and because of the vegetated slopes the opportunity for more biological diversity is an improvement.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Racing to Conserve on Artificially Drained Land
I love the Indy 500. I’m a born and bred Hoosier with a hankerin’ for racin’ and a need for speed, ! I probably haven’t missed the Greatest Spectacle in Racing for over 15 years and every year it still amazes how fast those cars make it around that 2.5 mile track. This need for speed is a common trait among many people and it seems to creep into almost all facets of life; sometimes that’s good and sometimes not so much!
For example, good - fast food, eating your lunch 30 seconds after you order it …….. not good - fast food can taste like it was prepared in under 30 seconds; good – roundabouts, help traffic move more efficiently and reduce 4 way stop delays…… not good…….have you seen the movie European Vacation?(“look kids, Big Ben… Parliament”).
For agricultural example, good – bigger/faster tractors can get across the fields quicker, pull larger equipment, and potentially spread out compaction with distributed weight over larger tires/tracks……not good – corn planted too fast can make the planter bounce and leave a very inconsistent stand which means a likely reduced yield.
As for this blog entry’s specific ag/conservation example, good – agricultural drainage, gets the excess wetness out of the farm fields quick and in Indiana, and much of the Midwest, this is absolutely critical to crop production on most of our farm ground and without it we would not enjoy the strong agricultural presence that we do today…. not so good, altering the natural drainage patterns, water tables, etc. can speed the transport of pollutants to surface waters as well as some other environmental concerns that this modified drainage can exacerbate.
Let’s trench in to this agricultural drainage topic some more, what’s the story??
Much of Indiana’s ag land is drained with ditches or an extensive subsurface drainage system, otherwise known as tile, and many times a combination of both. Without this drainage network, which quickly sends rainwater and excessive moisture from the soils downstream, many of our fields would be too wet to farm or would grow poor stands of crops. So, over the last century or so farmers have invested in these systems to improve their efficiency, boost yields and continue to feed the world’s growing population.
The unfortunate side of these improved drainage systems, as with most anything with nature, there are and have been lots of adverse effects to the aquatic ecosystem that come from moving the water away from the fields quickly. Here are just a few of the general effects associated with increased drainage:
1. Excess nitrogen being transported to surface waters. Nitrogen, which is applied to cropland and is essential for plants, is very water soluble and easily leaches down through the soil to the subsurface drains. Once in the subsurface drain, nitrogen is then quickly transported to the nearest surface water/stream/lake. Excess nitrogen in surface water can significantly boost algae growth or a bloom. Once the algae use up that nitrogen they begin to die off and decompose which uses up the dissolved oxygen in the water. The dissolved oxygen can drop to a point that the area is no longer viable for many aquatic organisms. This lack of oxygen is commonly referred to as Hypoxia. Hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico at the mouth of the Mississippi River is a well-documented concern.
2. Potential for increased flooding. The rainwater that once used to be soaked up by the land or temporarily pond on the surface for days before slowly moving towards the nearest stream, now it gets there much quicker through tile and ditches. The altered drainage of tiles and ditches send higher quantities of water in a shorter interval of time downstream directly following rain events versus the natural groundwater or landscape delivery which will bring water downstream in a more gradual manner comparatively. This can depend heavily on soil infiltration rates, water holding capacity, ground cover, and many other factors.
3. Erosion on ditchbanks. Ditches tend to be dug in a trapezoidal fashion in a profile view which is an extremely efficient design for moving water quickly. However this design historically requires a great deal of maintenance due to the undercutting of the banks from erosion and then sedimentation downstream. Water systems naturally develop stability through the development of floodplains which act as a relief valve if the waters get too high. In a ditched system, the water is meant to be contained within the ditch, and therefore in high volumes the water will tend to cut a deeper channel which brings instability to the whole setup.
Here’s where the agricultural conservation folks come in hopefully with some usable solutions that are currently being utilized and studied for their effectiveness: Two-Stage Ditch, Drainage Water Management, Constructed Wetlands, Denitrifying Bioreactors, and Blind Tile Inlets. Please check out the next Chew On Dirt to learn more about these practices which are aimed to minimize these environmental concerns associated with drainage.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
"Farm the Best and BUFFER the Rest!"
This snazzy little catch phrase has been used for the last several years to describe a suggested mentality when considering profitability and environmental stewardship on the farm. So, what do we mean by the best and what in the world is a buffer?
Farming “the best” simply suggests that we look at the potential profits for farming a piece of ground after subtracting the cost for fertilizer, seed, time, pesticide/herbicide, sustainability to continue farming that piece, and risk. The fact is there are portions of fields that are planted regularly at a loss of profit and there are options that exist, such as buffers, to minimize the losses.
Think of it like this…. Let’s say you want to plant a garden and you love growing sweet corn. You just moved to a new place with lots of trees and shade. You plant the sweet corn, but only a portion of the garden grows decent because part of it is too shady (all of it was probably eaten by raccoons anyway!) You decide to try the same next year. Same result – a partial crop of raccoon ravaged sweet corn! Wouldn’t it be a better decision to plant the sweet corn in the sunny spot and either don’t plant in the shade, or put in a shade tolerant crop, personally I would go with spinach (obvious reason for spinach - because it makes you strong like Popeye the Sailorman, enough said). But the point is that not all of the garden spot was the best for growing sweet corn and essentially you are wasting your seed, planting time, fertilizer, sore back from weeding, ammunition from trying hit raccoons(oops, I mean you’re tired from chasing them!), and many of these things represent wasted cash money.
Since gardens are somewhat of a hobby to many folks and not nearly the size of most fields, the losses are not such a big deal, however for a farmer whose livelihood relies upon growing quality food in an environmentally and economically sustainable way, this can be a big problem. Ideally every acre on the farm would be making money from the crops grown and harvested each season, so this is where careful planning and management of the farm are critical. We should be figuring all the costs associated with getting the crops in the ground and sold, but the tricky part is trying to best guess what Mother Nature will do as well to determine “The Best” acres.
Three examples where we may not be farming “The Best” :
1. Those low-lying fields which flood and delay planting or prevent harvest 3 out of 5 years need to be really profitable on the 2 good years to justify continued planting.
2. The edge of the field by the woods traditionally has low yields because the trees use up the moisture and the deer/raccoons just reach out and grab an easy meal, but typically the same amount of fertilizer is spent on that acre.
3. That area of the field is always wet, no matter how much tile is installed. The equipment gets stuck and it’s yielding poorly
So, this is where the phrase “Buffer the Rest” comes in to play(for the chemistry nuts we’re not talking about raising the pH/reducing acidity levels). Fields prone to flooding, wildlife damage, excessive doughtiness, excessive wetness, etc are all great candidates for the solution of “Buffers”. A buffer can be described as a vegetated or wetland area placed in the landscape for the purpose of protecting soil resources, improving air and water quality, or enhancing fish and wildlife habitat. Many times buffers or buffer strips are referred to as filter strips or field borders. The great thing about buffers is that, once they are established, the costs associated with seed, fertilizer, and labor are gone for that area. In addition to reduced costs, there are opportunities through federal programs, like the Conservation Reserve Program, to receive an annual payment for the land enrolled as buffer. Current regulations require minimum setbacks from surface waters for spraying pesticides/herbicides and a buffer provides an automatic potentially paid-for setback. A properly planned buffer can straighten up the edges of fields and make fields easier farm all while providing all of the above mentioned benefits. Many farmers enjoy buffers/field borders simply because of the easier access that this lane provides around the field for crop scouting or for activities like hunting.
As farmers carefully calculate their profit vs cost margins, the “Farm the Best, Buffer the Rest” concept should be seriously considered along with the role that buffers can play in the overall operation.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Save Money, Save Soil
One method that seems to pencil out time and time again is continuous no-till/strip-till. No-till is a tillage system in which the soil is not disturbed before planting, except for injecting fertilizer nutrients such as liquid manure or anhydrous ammonia and opening narrow strips with a coulter or disk seed-furrow during planting. This means that tillage is entirely eliminated. Furthermore, the entire residue from the previous crop remains on the soil’s surface to protect it from erosion. The economic benefits can really be seen when considering the costs of fuel, machinery, time for labor, and yield returns in dry years (generally more available moisture in no-till).
This is a conservation blog, so of course I have to mention that no-till/strip-till have many, many more advantages for the environment over conventional as well. Conservation tillage, particularly in the form of long-term or continuous no-till, minimizes the soil leaving the field by maintaining a cover on the soil's surface. Since nutrients that can pose some environmental concerns, such as phosphorus, are bound to soil particles the soil savings is doubly important.
There are many more benefits that I could go on about, but I'll stop by referencing one great resource to learn more about no-till/strip-till, cover crops, precision farming and nutrient management, the Conservation Cropping Systems Inititaive. This website has some excellent resources, including two good videos detailing no-till planter setup, and contact information for recieving specific technical help with these practices. Thanks to the Indiana State Soil Conservation Board, the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the Indiana Natural Resources Conservation Service, and our other conservation partners for making this great initiative possible!
Resources:
http://www.conservationinformation.org/Publications/BetterSoilBetterYields.pdf
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1901D.pdf
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Earth Day, Everyday!
- First, Earth Day serves to remind us all to reflect on our own actions and the impact we, as individuals, are making on the environment. With new technologies and greening efforts there are many ways to minimize our environmental footprint with our everyday behaviors such as recycling, over or improper fertilizer application, wildlife habitat establishment or enhancement, and water/energy conservation. Over the years there have been some really interesting campaigns regarding environmental stewardship for the everyday citizen, such as this
- Second, Earth Day provides an excellent opportunity to show our appreciation for the many Hoosier conservation professionals, advocates, and partners who have spent years dedicated to the common purpose of making this planet a more ecologically sound/sustainable civilization. I can think of no better group to honor for this dedication than our own ISDA, Conservation staff. Our staff of just over 30 individuals do everything from working with farmers/landowners to install conservation practices on the land, to helping each of the 92 Soil and Water Conservation Districts effectively provide conservation services, to developing the very programs that encourage more and more protection of our precious natural resources. I can't begin to explain how proud I am to be to the director of such an important area and such a quality class of people who share my passion for conservation.
My thanks to George and Kenny for the great Earth Day! Thanks again to our Conservation staff and our supporters at the Indiana State Department of Agriculture!
Next week is Soil and Water Stewardship Week!!!