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.
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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.
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“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 ChamplainStorm WaterSewage TreatmentNonpoint Agricultural Runoff
Manure Fertilizer UseP Based Livestock FeedLivestock Waste
Nutrient Loading: PhosphorusP 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
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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
IncludeNutrient Management PlansRiparian Buffer ZonesConstructed WetlandsLivestock Fencing
Conservation Practice Total P Reduction (%) Reference
P rate balanced to crop use vs. above recommended rate 15–47 Dinnes, 2004
Adoption of nutrient management plan 0–45 Devlin et al., 2003; Gitau et al., 2005
No-till vs. conventional tillage 35–70 Devlin et al., 2003; Dinnes, 2004
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
Wetlands 0-79 Dinnes, 2004; Gitau et al., 2005; Smith et al., 1992
BMP EffectivenessTable 3. Potential total P reduction efficiencies (percent change) in surface runoff. Estimates are average values for a multiple year basis.
Sharpley et al. p.1984
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
<http://www.vermontagriculture.com/ARMES/pidnonpointsource.htm>
Full Law and Regulations found at:
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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, Streambank Stabilization.
Full regulations can be found at <http://www.vermontagriculture.com/ARMES/awq/AAPs.htm>
http://www.mda.state.mn.us/protecting/conservation/practices/buffergrass.aspx
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
Full laws and regulations can be found at: <http://www.vermontagriculture.com/ARMES/BMP.htm#top>
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>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
• 700+ mature dairy animals
• Follow AAPs• Follow MFOs general
permits• Additional rules : odor,
noise, traffic, insects, flies and pests
Large Farm Operations (LFOs)
Agricultural Water Quality. ARMES. <http://www.vermontagriculture.com/ARMES/awq/AWQ.html>
Environmental Quality Incentives Program
Farm Agronomic Practices
Conservation Innovation Grants
Nutrient Management Plan Incentive Grants
http://www.vermontagriculture.com/
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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/
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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
http://www.santarosa.edu/adminserv/grants.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/FAP.html
http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/landcenter/tracker/spring2007/oconomowoc.html
Northeast Recycling Council
Publications and workshops for livestock farmers in New England area
6 workshops in Vermont: 74 of the thousand dairy
farms in VermontEmphasis on self-sufficient
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.
http://www.vermontdairy.com
Not much environmental regulation on small farms
Farmers say economic pressures are much more of an issue Lyle Edwards- Newport
VTMike Eastman- Addison
VTLegislation restricts sale
of raw milkEdwards, L. Personal Communication. March 19, 2010 Flagg, K. Raw Milk Picks Up Advocates. Addison County Independent. (2008).
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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
*Maroney, J. H. The Political Economy of Milk: Reinvigorating Vermont’s Family Dairy Farms. Gala Books Ltd. (2009).
http://www.understandingmoney.gov
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 salesExpand educational initiatives such as the
Manure Management Program
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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/>.