(add state here)Master Farmer Program

(add university logo here)

Silent Spring – 1962 DDT Threatens Bird Species Swimming Areas and Beaches

Closed Love Canal – Hazardous Waste

Dumps Passage of Clean Water Act and

Creation of the EPA - 1972

Where It Began

Restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of U.S. waters

Clean Water Act Goal

Point Sources – originate from a stationary location or fixed facility from which pollutants are discharged directly into a waterbody. Examples include:

Wastewater effluent, both municipal and industrial

Runoff from confined animal feeding operations Runoff from active mine sites and oil fields

2 Types of Pollutants

Nonpoint Sources – pollution sources, which do not have a single point of origin or are not introduced into a receiving stream from a specific outlet. Examples include:

Runoff from row-crop agriculture Runoff from pasture and range Runoff from forested areas Runoff from lawns and gardens Runoff from roads, highways and parking lots Natural sources, such as leaves, organic nutrients

and wildlife feces

2 Types of Pollutants

LOUISIANA LAND USE

(add your state map here)

Legend

Covertype_nameAGRICULTURE-CROPLAND-GRASSLAND

BRACKISH MARSH

DENSE PINE THICKET

FRESH MARSH

INTERMEDIATE MARSH

NON-VEGETATED URBAN

SALINE MARSH

UPLAND BARREN

UPLAND FOREST-DECIDUOUS

UPLAND FOREST-EVERGREEN

UPLAND FOREST-MIXED

UPLAND SCRUB/SHRUB-DECIDUOUS

UPLAND SCRUB/SHRUB-EVERGREEN

UPLAND SCRUB/SHRUB-MIXED

VEGETATED URBAN

WATER

WETLAND BARREN

WETLAND FOREST-DECIDUOUS

WETLAND FOREST-EVERGREEN

WETLAND FOREST-MIXED

WETLAND SCRUB/SHRUB-DECIDUOUS

WETLAND SCRUB/SHRUB-EVERGREEN

WETLAND SCRUB/SHRUB-MIXED

Legend

Covertype_nameAGRICULTURE-CROPLAND-GRASSLAND

BRACKISH MARSH

DENSE PINE THICKET

FRESH MARSH

INTERMEDIATE MARSH

NON-VEGETATED URBAN

SALINE MARSH

UPLAND BARREN

UPLAND FOREST-DECIDUOUS

UPLAND FOREST-EVERGREEN

UPLAND FOREST-MIXED

UPLAND SCRUB/SHRUB-DECIDUOUS

UPLAND SCRUB/SHRUB-EVERGREEN

UPLAND SCRUB/SHRUB-MIXED

VEGETATED URBAN

WATER

WETLAND BARREN

WETLAND FOREST-DECIDUOUS

WETLAND FOREST-EVERGREEN

WETLAND FOREST-MIXED

WETLAND SCRUB/SHRUB-DECIDUOUS

WETLAND SCRUB/SHRUB-EVERGREEN

WETLAND SCRUB/SHRUB-MIXED

It focused on point source or “end-of-the-pipe” sources via NPDES permits

Largely exempted nonpoint source (NPS) runoff from regulation

Nonpoint source contributors (which includes ag & forestry) were largely managed by voluntary implementation of BMPs

CWA Focus For First 25 Years

28 years after CWA implementation 21,000 impaired waterbodies

300,000 miles of rivers and shoreline 5 million lake acres

Almost 80% of Americans live within 10 miles of an impaired waterbody

Excess sediments, nutrients, and harmful microorganisms are leading reasons

The Result?

Requires states to develop lists of impaired waters (EPA approved)

Requires states’ to identify pollution reductions needed to meet standards

Requires reductions of both point and nonpoint source pollutants

Requires development of TMDLs and implementation plans that will lead to clean water goals (EPA approved)

Requirements of the CWA

Total Maximum Daily Load

A TMDL is the maximum amount of a pollutant (allocated among point, non-point, and natural sources) that can enter a water body and still comply with water quality standards. It is required for waters not meeting state / EPA approved water quality standards. TMDLs must also be approved by EPA.

What is a TMDL?

Croplands Pasturelands Animal production operations Forestlands Other industry contributions Homeowners (landscapes, septic

systems, stormwater runoff, etc.) Municipalities (sewerage treatment)

All Point and Nonpoint Contributors Are Included

Sediments Nutrients Pesticides Oil & Grease Animal Wastes

Agriculture and Forestry Nonpoint Source

Pollutants

Rivers and Streams 35% of assessed rivers polluted Siltation, pathogens, nutrients Agriculture leading source of pollution

Lakes and Reservoirs 45% of assessed lakes polluted Nutrients, metals, siltation Agriculture leading source of pollution

1998 NationalWater Quality Inventory

***Slide from EPA Presentation!!***

Farmers with 10 or more acres used for agriculture or forestry REQUIRED to implement a water quality plan.

Must fully implement applicable requirements within 5 years

Kentucky Agriculture Kentucky Agriculture Water Quality ActWater Quality Act

The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission has established the goal of reducing the average annual load of nitrogen delivered to the Neuse River Estuary from point and non-point sources by a minimum of 30%. The Neuse Rules were developed to achieve this goal. THEY ARE NOW LAW!

North Carolina Neuse River

The rule provides two options for reaching the nitrogen reduction goal. Farmers MUST choose between: Option 1 Participate in a local nitrogen

reduction strategy that would include specific plans for each farm that would collectively meet the nitrogen reduction goal

Option 2 Implement BMP’s that include riparian buffers, filter strips, water control structures, and nutrient management plans

The Neuse Agricultural Rule

Applies to all persons who apply fertilizer to 50 or more acres of land per year, or persons who manage 50 or more acres of land per year (Agricultural, Rural and Urban) Option 1- Complete Nutrient Management

Training Certification Course by Aug. 2003

Option 2 – Develop and properly implement a written nutrient management plan for all properties where nutrients are applied by Aug. 2003

The Neuse Nutrient Management Rule

Arkansas officials have proposed regulating the use of commercial fertilizer in Arkansas and Oklahoma as part of a comprehensive strategy for improving water quality by reducing nutrients.

Arkansas poultry and state officials are asking the same question: "If we ship litter out of the basin, how do we assure that folks don't just replace it with commercial fertilizer?"

Arkansas Considers Regulation

of Commercial Fertilizer

"In those sensitive watersheds, if a management plan for poultry litter is required, then the application of commercial fertilizer should be (included in nutrient-management plans)," said Earl Smith, the chief of the water-resources management division of the commission. "If what we are concerned with are nutrients, we need to look at all of the ways nutrients get into the streams."

Arkansas Considers Regulation

of Commercial Fertilizer

Can It Happen In (your state)?

Calcasieu Parish Ordinance – Prohibits Draining of Fields into road ditches (if there have been rules or laws passed, add here with offense for each)

Misdemeanor offense – up to 30 days jail or $500 for each offense

(Add your state with endorsements and support logos here)

Louisiana Master Farmer Program

Collaborations/Partnerships

(highlight your programs’ benefits and sponsors here)

Multi-agency effort sponsored by the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation

Implemented by watershed, with the AgCenter’s watershed agent coordinating the program

Targets all agricultural producers

Voluntary

Master Farmer Initiative

Louisiana’s Watersheds(your state’s watershed map)

The (your state) Master Farmer Program is a multi-agency effort targeted at helping agricultural producers voluntarily address the environmental concerns related to production agriculture.

Objective

Master Farmer Initiative

Environmental Stewardship

Conducted at the parish(or county) level Specific topics addressed include:

The Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972 National & (your state)water quality

standards Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) Impacts of NPS Pollution on the Coastal Zone Best Management Practices (BMPs) Role of Conservation Districts in conservation

planning and implementation The NRCS Planning Process Conservation Programs

Phase 1: Environmental Education

(if you do not have model farms, replace this info with whatever your next phase would be or skip this phase)

Representative farms for each watershed

BMP demonstrations

Water quality monitoring

Education and outreach

Phase 2: Model Farms

Model Farms(add your model farm map here or delete if no model farms are selected)

Development and implementation of farm-specific conservation plans

Plans will be developed by the NRCS working with the local Soil and Water Conservation Districts

Phase 3: Conservation Plans

Time Line For Implementation

(time-line for implementing program in your state by watershed approach)

Schedule Mermentau/

Vermilion-Teche (2001)

Calcasieu/Ouachita (2002)

Barataria/Terrebonne (2003)

Red/Sabine (2004) Pontchartrain Basin

(2004) Mississippi/

Atchafalaya/Pearl (2005)

As TMDL’s are being developed in (your state) watersheds, (your state’s) agricultural producers will face environmental challenges such as compliance with mandatory reductions of nonpoint pollutants, such as nutrients, pathogens (fecal coliform), organic material/dissolved oxygen, sediment, and metals. Voluntary implementation of incentive-based, economically achievable and effective BMPs, through the Master Farmer Program, represents a workable means of reducing agriculture’s contribution to the water quality challenges.

Summary

THANK YOU