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Brian Burk, Shannon Gaffey, Sophie Gould, Sarah Kearsley The ecological health of the Lake Champlain Watershed is being adversely affected by agricultural pollution from Vermont dairy farms. http://philip.greenspun.com/images/pcd0737/ Non-point runoff from agricultural lands is a large source of ecological stress in the Lake Champlain Basin Minimal regulations surround the issue of run-off from small dairies. When analyzing dairy management in Vermont, we will take a holistic view on the issue. We will examine how the science, policy, economy, and social issues fit together. http://www.whyy.org/blogs/i tsourcity/files/2008/11/bag_ of_money.png http://www.allea.org/Content/ALLEA/imag es/SciencePolicy_website.gif http://www.hicmena.org/SocialCpital_files/image0 05.gif http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/essex/document/img/basinmap.jpg http://www.vpr.net/uploads/photos/original/bluegreen_algae.jpg “Agricultural sources are responsible for 46% of the sediment, 47% of the total P, and 52% of the total N discharged in US waterways.” (Rao et al.) Phosphorus is the limiting nutrient in Lake Champlain Main Sources of P in Lake Champlain Storm Water Sewage Treatment Nonpoint Agricultural Runoff Manure Fertilizer Use P Based Livestock Feed Livestock Waste Nutrient Loading: Phosphorus P concentration required for plant growth: ~0.2ppm Lake Water P concentration accelerating Eutrophication: ~0.02 ppm Small percent loss of P from agriculture has significant water quality implications (USDA 2003) Eutrophication in a Nutshell http://www.ars.usda.gov/images/docs/1 1769_11963/2005-12-19cattleStream.jpg http://extension.usu.edu/waterqu ality/images/uploads/applyingma nure.jp1.jpg http://www.ioe.ucla.edu/media/images/Fig3_56400-lrg.jpg Total Maximum Daily Load “The calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive and still meet Vermont Water Quality Standards” (VTDEC) Process Problem Identification Identification of Target Values Source Assessment Linkage between Target and Sources Allocations Public Participation EPA Approval and Monitoring (VT ANR) BMPS: “The most effective and practical means to attain a certain objective” Implemented on agricultural sites to reduce P pollution Include Nutrient Management Plans Riparian Buffer Zones Constructed Wetlands Livestock Fencing BMP Effectiveness Table 3. Potential total P reduction efficiencies (percent change) in surface runoff. Estimates are average values for a multiple year basis. Conservation Practice Total P Reduction (%) Reference Dinnes, 2004 P rate balanced to crop use vs. above recommended rate 15–47 Adoption of nutrient management plan 0–45 No-till vs. conventional tillage 35–70 Cover crops 7–63 Dinnes, 2004 Diverse cropping systems and rotations within row cropping 25–88 Dinnes, 2004 Contour plowing and terracing 30–75 Devlin et al., 2003; Gitau et al., 2005 Livestock exclusion from streams vs. constant intensive grazing 32–76 Dinnes, 2004; Gitau et al., 2005; Smith et al., 1992 Managed grazing vs. constant intensive grazing 0–78 Dinnes, 2004; Gitau et al., 2005 In-field vegetative buffers 4–67 Devlin et al., 2003; Dinnes, 2004; Gitau et al., 2005 Riparian buffers 40–93 Dinnes, 2004; Gitau et al., 2005; Smith et al., 1992 0-79 Dinnes, 2004; Gitau et al., 2005; Smith et al., 1992 Wetlands Devlin et al., 2003; Gitau et al., 2005 Devlin et al., 2003; Dinnes, 2004 Sharpley et al. p.1984 http://www.humaneparty.org/humaneparty-cow-only-4-inch.jpg Vermont Agriculture Nonpoint Source Pollution Reduction Program Law and Regulations : Accepted Agricultural Practices Law and Regulations, Best Management Practice Law and Regulations, Large Farm Operation Law and Regulations Full Law and Regulations found at: <http://www.vermontagriculture.com/ARMES/pidnonpointsource.htm> Written 1995, revised 2006 Improved farming techniques/ land management practices Not investments in structure/ equipment No financial assistance All farms but only medium and large checked on for compliance 1,026 farms,851 small farms, 900 dairies Accepted Agricultural Practice Regulations. April 24,2006. <http://www.vermontagriculture.com/ARMES/awq/AAPs.htm> Discharge, Nutrient and Pesticide Storage, Nutrient and Pesticide Application, Soil Cultivations, Agricultural Waste Management, Buffer Zones, Construction of Farm Structures, Ground Water Quality, http://www.mda.state.mn.us/protecting/conservation/practices/buffe rgrass.aspx Streambank Stabilization. Full regulations can be found at <http://www.vermontagriculture.com/ARMES/awq/AAPs.htm> Specific to water quality, target phosphorus Expensive, require governmental funding Structural improvement, not techniques Specific to each farm Application process Usually voluntary, except when specific farms not meeting AAP standards http://blog.americanfeast.com/images/Cabot,%20Ver mont%20Cows.jpg Full laws and regulations can be found at: <http://www.vermontagriculture.com/ARMES/BMP.htm#top> Medium Farm Operations (MFOs) >90% MFOs are dairy in Vermont 200-699 dairy animals Follow AAPs have a Nutrient Management plan in place 25 foot buffers around all surface waters Large Farm Operations (LFOs) • 700+ mature dairy animals • Follow AAPs • Follow MFOs general permits • Additional rules : odor, noise, traffic, insects, flies and pests Agricultural Water Quality. ARMES. <http://www.vermontagriculture.com/ARMES/awq/AWQ.html> http://www.vermontagriculture.com/ Nutrient Management Plan Incentive Grants Environmental Quality Incentives Program Conservation Innovation Grants Farm Agronomic Practices http://www.vermontagriculture.com/ Non-competitive grant awarded by VT Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets Provides financial support to help farmers develop, install and improve manure BMPs An initial $5,000 is available over a three year period to help with nutrient plan development, pending on proper maintenance and update during those three years. Maximum funding amounts to: $9/acre + $15/soil test + $35/manure & other waste tests + $8/acre for PreSidress Nitrogen Testing (PSNT) available to farms currently developing plans For farms with an existing plan that are no longer receiving financial aid, up to $3 per acre for a max of 333 acres (or, $1,000) is available to help farmers UPDATE their existing plan Total payment is limited to $14,000 Applications and payment outlines available at: http://www.vermontagriculture.com/ARMES/awq/NMPIG.html EQIP offers financial and technical help to aid participants in installing BMPs Contracts last from 1-10 years after final scheduled implementation Payments are set based on per unit cost of installing a practice in a “typical scenario” Contracted activities are carried out according to a plan of operations which is developed with the producer. EQIP payments may cover up to 75% of the costs of practices stated in the contract, but in special cases may provide up to 90% Payments for specified management practices may be provided for up to 3 years Overall contract ceiling is set at $300,000 Program outline available at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/ http://www.cabotblog.com/2008/10/ Competitive voluntary program that functions on both State and Federal levels, distributing funds available under EQIP to strictly non-federal entities. http://www.santarosa.edu/adminserv/grants.html Designed to stimulate the adoption of and Federal investment in conservation techniques and environmental stewardship Applications should demonstrate the use of innovative management techniques which address natural resource conservation/protection. 50% or more of the total cost and all of the technical support for the programs outlined in the application must be funded by the grantee. The NRCS provides necessary “technical oversight.” In 2009, $317,596 in federal funds were available for 7 VT projects under CIG. Program outline available at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/cig/index.html Information for grantees: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/cig/InfoForGrantees.html FAP goals are more soil-quality oriented than other programs Encourages soil-based BMP and outreach on agricultural water quality impacts through funds made available by VAAFM Funded practices include: cover cropping, strip cropping, conservation crop rotation, cross-slope tillage, conservation tillage and alternative manure incorporation Conservation practices usually cannot be doubly funded under FAP. Depending on fund availability, the FAP program payment is capped at $5,000 per farm per fiscal year Grant applications and Fact sheet found at: http://www.vermontagriculture.com/ARMES/awq/FA P.html http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/landcenter/tracker/spring2007/oconomowoc.h tml Northeast Recycling Council Publications and workshops for livestock farmers in New England area 6 workshops in Vermont: 74 of the thousand dairy farms in Vermont Emphasis on self-sufficient http://www.vermontdairy.com manure management and nutrient recycling on small farms Bridges gap between the science and the policy implementation through education Bradley, A. Personal Communication. April 13, 2010. Not much environmental regulation on small farms Farmers say economic pressures are much more of an issue Lyle Edwards- Newport VT Mike Eastman- Addison VT Legislation restricts sale of raw milk http://www.marlerblog.com/ Edwards, L. Personal Communication. March 19, 2010 Flagg, K. Raw Milk Picks Up Advocates. Addison County Independent. (2008). Farm of 100 head has a net loss of $100,000 spend $19/hundredweight, earn $12/hundredweight 250 Vermont farms lost in past 5 years Government aid: $11 million in 2009 Current system of aid allocation doesn't make sense http://www.understandingmoney.gov *Maroney, J. H. The Political Economy of Milk: Reinvigorating Vermont’s Family Dairy Farms. Gala Books Ltd. (2009). Government assistance for organic certification of small farms Effectively preserve small dairy farms Environmental benefits for watershed -use less pesticides -smaller eutrophication potential per tonne of milk -smaller point source Maroney, J. H. The Political Economy of Milk: Reinvigorating Vermont’s Family Dairy Farms. Gala Books Ltd. (2009). Government aid to increase and stabilize milk prices in Vermont Increase legal quantities of raw milk sales Expand educational initiatives such as the Manure Management Program http://www.treehugger.com/Milk-Glass-Bottle.jpg http://www.garagestrength.com/wpcontent/uploads/2008/07/raw-milk-200x300.jpg Accepted Agricultural Practice Regulations. April 24,2006. <http://www.vermontagriculture.com/ARMES/awq/AAPs.htm> Agricultural Best Management Practices. Northeast Georgia Regional Development Center: Alcovy River Watershed Protection Plan. (n.d.). http://www.negrc.org/Alcovy_Web/reports/Alcovy_River_Wtrshed_Protection_Plan_Chap-9.pdf Agricultural Phosphorus and Eutrophication: Second Edition. United States Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Research Service. (2003). ARS—149. Agricultural Water Quality. ARMES. <http://www.vermontagriculture.com/ARMES/awq/AWQ.html> Best Management Practices (BMP’s). Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets. 2001. <http://www.vermontagriculture.com/ARMES/BMP.htm#top> Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) in Vermont. Natural Resources Conservation Service, (2009.) Web. 17 Mar. 2010. <http://www.vt.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/CIG/>. De Boer, J. M. Environmental Impact Assessment of Conventional and Organic Milk Production. Journal of Livestock Production Science vol 80, Issues 1-2 (2003): 69-77 Edwards, L. Personal Communication. March 19, 2010 Flagg, K. Raw Milk Picks Up Advocates. Addison County Independent. (2008). Government Programs for Organic Growers. Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont, (n.d.) Web. 18 Mar. 2010. <http://nofavt.org/programs/farm-financial-resources/govt-programs>. Maroney, J. H. The Political Economy of Milk: Reinvigorating Vermont’s Family Dairy Farms. Gala Books Ltd. (2009). Non-Point Source Pollution Regulation and Education. Vermont Department of Agriculture, Food and Markets, Plant Industry Section. 2000. <http://www.vermontagriculture.com/ARMES/pidnonpointsource.htm> Nutrient Management Plan Incentive Grants (NMPIG). VT Agency of Agriculture, Division of Agricultural Resource Management and Environmental Stewardship, (n.d.) Web. 19 Mar. 2010. <http://www.vermontagriculture.com/ARMES/awq/NMPIG.html>. Rao, N., Easton, Z., Schneiderman, E., Zion, M., Lee, D.Steenhuis, T. Modeling watershed-scale effectiveness of agricultural best management practices to reduce phosphorus loading. Journal of Environmental Management. (2009). Vol. 90, Issue 3: 1385-1395 Revised Implementation Plan: Lake Champlain Phosphorus TMDL. Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. ( 2008). Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. Sharpley, A., Klienman, P., Jordan, P., Bergstrom, L., Allen, A. Evauluating the Success of Phosphorus Management from Field to Watershed. Journal of Environmental Quality. (2009). Volume 38: 1981-1988. Wu, Z., Satter, L, Blohowiak, A. Milk Production, phosphorus, excretion, and bone characteristics of dairy cows fed different amounts of phosphorus for two or more years. Journal of Dairy Science. (2001). Vol. 84: 1738-1748. Vermont Clean and Clear Action Plan. Vermont Agency of Natural Resources and Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets. (2008). <http://www.anr.state.vt.us/cleanandclear/rep2009/CleanandClear2009annualreport.pdf> Vermont 2010 EQIP Information. Natural Resources Conservation Service, (2010). Web. 17 Mar. 2010. <http://www.vt.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/EQIP/>.