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About Comprehensive
Farm Planning
Like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle each practice fits together with others to complete a picture. But anybody who has spent a rainy Sunday afternoon piecing together a jigsaw puzzle knows it takes patience, organization and teamwork.
When designing a soil conservation and water quality plan you need to consider all the resources on your farm. Take an inventory; think about every field, pasture, pond, stream, and wooded area. Then consider which soil conservation, water quality, wildlife habitat and energy conservation practices would contribute to an environmentally and economically sound farm.
Some of the most profitable practices like pest or nutrient management takes little or no financial investment and may have the highest impact on water quality.
For example, scouting crops, selecting pest control alternatives and targeting control in problem areas can cut expenses and improve water quality.
The planning process may seem overwhelming, but that is where teamwork can help.
There are local, state and federal agencies available to help you plan, implement and maintain your soil conservation and water quality plan. Soil conservation districts, private crop advisors and nutrient management consultants can provide you with technical assistance. In addition, the Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share Program (MACS) could provide you with up to 87.5 percent of the cost of installing eligible BMPs.
Make use of these experts and programs to choose sound conservation measures and profitable practices for your farm.
Developing A Soil Conservation and Water Quality Plan: Some Basic Questions
| What are the natural resources on my farm? | |
| What are tbe crops to be grown? | |
| Have I minimized runoff? | |
| Am I using crop rotations to reduce disease and pest problems? | |
| What type of wildlife would I like on my farm? | |
| Does any practice interfere widh or cancel out another practice? | |
| Can I use wetlands or filter strips to filter nutrients from runoff water? | |
| Am I making the best use of animal manure as nutrients for plants? |