Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts
Maryland Farm Stewardship Certification and Assessment Program
FSCAP: Recognizes farmers for being good conservation
stewards and meeting the Agricultural Conservation Stewardship Certification Standard (ACSCS)
(PDF Link
Here)
Core Partners: Maryland Association of Soil Conservation
Districts (MASCD), Maryland Farm Bureau (MFB),
Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF),
USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and the
Maryland
Department of Agriculture (MDA).
Funding Sources: United Soybean Board (USB), Maryland Grain
Producers Utilization Board (MGPUB), Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), and
Chesapeake Bay Trust (CBT) (link to each of their web sites)
FSCAP is helping farmers on the Eastern Shore comply with new Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) rules and get Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans written.
How do I get involved? The best way is to email Gerald Talbert, FSCAP Project Leader
The Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts (MASCD) has established the Farm Stewardship Certification and Assessment Program (FSCAP) to acknowledge those farmers who are good stewards of their natural resources and to encourage and reward farmers to put more conservation best management practices (BMPs) on the land. The project has established the Agricultural Conservation Stewardship Certification Standard (ACSCS), which measures compliance with state requirements for the farm's nutrient management plan plus a level of conservation BMPs that prevent any significant sources of pollution from leaving the farm. FSCAP is also leading a smaller project, the FSCAP CNMP Project, in Somerset County to help develop Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMPs).
Through FSCAP, MASCD will establish a collaborative process to recognize
good stewardship by farmers that will be acknowledged and respected by both
the environmental and agricultural communities. By “setting the bar”, it
will encourage other farmers to achieve certification and participate in new
conservation programs that will put more conservation on the land and reduce
pollution to the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.
When a farmer volunteers to be evaluated, FSCAP works through the local soil
conservation district to visit the farm to review the existing nutrient
management plan, soil conservation and water quality plan and other
pertinent documents to determine if the farmer meets the Agricultural Conservation
Stewardship Certification Standard (ACSCS).
The assessor and the district planner will walk the farm with the soil
conservation and water quality plan to see if existing conservation
practices have prevented any significant sources of pollution from leaving
the farm. If additional conservation best management practices (BMPs) are
needed, the farmer may elect to work with the district for technical
assistance in determining, designing and installing the appropriate BMP to
solve the problem, after which the ACSCS evaluation could continue.
The farmer will also be provided with a Stewardship Notebook that contains
background information and references on a variety of topics to improve farm
management and conservation for the farmer to consider in the future.
The Agricultural Conservation Stewardship Certification
Standard (ACSCS) is a measure of good conservation stewardship. The
certification project provides recognition for a farmer's accomplishment in
sustainable management of his natural resources and will serve as a source
of pride for himself and the agricultural community. It combines a current
implemented nutrient management plan that meets state requirements and a
soil conservation and water quality plan that prevents any significant
sources of pollution from leaving the farm.
MASCD has four core partners in planning and
supporting FSCAP: the Maryland Farm Bureau; the Chesapeake Bay Foundation;
the Maryland Department of Agriculture; and, USDA-Natural Resources
Conservation Service. Representatives of the core partners formed a FSCAP
Work Group and drafted project documents and procedures.
To date, FSCAP funding partners include: the United
Soybean Board; the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board; the
Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Chesapeake Bay Trust.
MASCD received a grant from the United Soybean Board
to provide its regular FSCAP services plus a specific focus on helping
poultry growers develop Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMPs). A
CNMP as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) contains nine
basic elements including nutrient management and conservation practices.
In the fall of 2009, FSCAP started working
cooperatively with the Somerset Soil Conservation District to help poultry
growers in Somerset County develop their CNMPs. FSCAP has commissioned two
certified CNMP planners to perform 20 CNMPs in Somerset County by April 30,
2010. Those poultry growers who have implemented their CNMP will be
contacted by FSCAP through the Somerset Soil Conservation District to
provide recognition for their conservation efforts.
Agricultural Conservation Stewardship Certification Standard
Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan Project