New York State & Suffolk CountyPresented by George Proios

 New York State Soil & Water Conservation Committee, ChairmanSuffolk County Soil & Water Conservation District, Chairman

National Association of Conservation Districts Anaheim, California

February 3, 2014

New York State Soil & Water Conservation Committee

Voting Member Charles Colby, Vice Chairman Dale Stein, Executive Director Michael Latham, Chairman George Proios, Voting Member John Dickinson, Voting Member David Brass and

a Comprehensive Agency Representation as Advisory Members.

The mission of the New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee is to promote a comprehensive natural resource program for New York State by supporting local Soil and Water Conservation Districts to develop and implement projects and programs that will preserve, protect, and enhance the wise use of the state's soil, water, and all related resources.

New York State Soil & Water Conservation Committee

NYS Ag Statistics

Farming generates $4.5 billion annually

36,300 farms in NYS 6,000 Dairy Farms –

over 600,000 dairy cows

370 Medium CAFOs 180 Large CAFOs

NYS Ag Statistics

Milk is the leading agricultural product Yogurt Capital of the United

States – 13% of milk produced goes into yogurt

Yogurt production has tripled since 2007

Ranked 2nd nationally for apple and maple syrup production

Ranked 3rd nationally for wine and juice grape production

Agricultural Environmental Management

AEM is a State-wide, voluntary, incentive-based process that helps farmers make common sense decisions toward meeting their business objectives while protecting and conserving natural resources and water quality.

Agricultural Environmental ManagementCore Concepts

Voluntary, incentive-based Locally-led & delivered Based on watershed

needs Customized farm by farm Confidential Promotes teamwork Coordinates assistance

Agricultural Environmental Management

Meets Challenges to: Protect the environment Comply with regulations Address neighbor relations Help farm businesses thrive Document Stewardship

Agricultural Environmental Management

Protect and enhance the environment and the viability of agriculture in New York State.

Policy & Regulatory

CompliancePartnerships &

Coordination

Cost-Share

ProgramsTechnical Assistance & Tools

Locally-led Strategies & Priorities

Certified AEM PlannersApplied

Research &

Extensio

n

Outreach

Training

County AEM Strategic Plans

District Partners and Stakeholders develop and implement AEM Strategic Plan

Identify & prioritize local issues & opportunities

Plan & coordinate activities Obtain funding Conduct outreach Evaluate efforts

AEM Framework – 5 Tier Approach

Document existing stewardship Identify concerns & opportunities Develop conservation plans Implement conservation practices Evaluate plans, practices &

programs

Tier 1 – Inventory Questionnaire Tier 2 – Assessment Worksheets Tier 3 – Planning Tier 4 – Implementation Tier 5 – Evaluation

AEM Tier 1 Questionnaire

Watershed Site EvaluationAgriculture and the CommunityManure & Fertilizer ManagementManure & Fertilizer StorageHeavy Use AreasSilage StorageProcess Wash WaterManagement of Feed NutrientsWater-borne PathogensSoil ManagementPasture ManagementWaste DisposalPesticide UsePesticide Storage, Mixing & LoadingFarmstead Water Supply EvaluationStream & Floodplain Management Petroleum Products StorageForest ManagementLivestock Odor ManagementIrrigation Water ManagementVegetables & Small Fruits

Tree FruitGreenhouse MaintenanceGreenhouse Pest ManagementGreenhouse Fertilizer StorageWash Rack/Stall & Trailer AreaManure Management for HorsesHorse Farm – Outdoor PaddockHorse Farm – Waterborne Pathogen Management* Long Island Nutrient Management Fruit Tree Sustainable Viticulture Greenhouse Pesticide Management Fruit Tree Sustainable Viticulture Greenhouse Waste Management Soil Management Water Management

AEM Tier 2 Assessment Worksheets

AEM Tier 2 Example - Manure Management Worksheet

AEM Tier 3 – Conservation Planning

Uses the NRCS 9-Step Planning Process

3A - Initiation of progressive planning process addressing at least 1 priority issue

3B - Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan

3C - Whole Farm Plan

AEM Tier 4 – Implementation

Install conservation practices

Initiate management changes

Follow NRCS Standards & Specifications

Utilize appropriate local, state, and/or federal funding programs

Barnyard Water Mgt System

Farm Evaluation Assessment Update BMP Assessment, Validation

& O&M Assistance

Plan Assessment/Revision/Update

Continuing Education/Coaching

Planning Unit Evaluation County Program Evaluation Cover Crop

AEM Tier 5 – Plan & Program Evaluation

Benefits of Participation in AEM

Manure Storage & Mgt System

Risk reduction Utilize Farm Bill

Programs and other sources of funding for conservation planning & implementation

Economic viability Access to programs and

service discounts Regulatory discretion Participation signage Neighbor relations

AEM Base Program

Non-competitive funding to provide conservation technical assistance to farms through the AEM Tiers

Districts can earn up to $50k/year $65k with NRCS Certified Planner on staff $85k with AEM Certified Planner on staff

Progress Through the Tiers

Since 2005 7,599 Tier 1 Inventories 4,564 Tier 2 Assessments 2,329 Tier 3 Plans 1,920 Tier 4 BMPs

Implemented 914 Tier 5A Assessment

Updates 1,809 Tier 5B Plan/BMP

Evaluations Prescribed Grazing System & Buffers

AEM Success

AEM Base Funding Years 1 through 8

AEM and Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollution Abatement and Control Program

AGNPS program cost shares the implementation of Best Management Practices identified through the AEM planning process

In 2013, Governor Cuomo placed $14 million in budget for the AEM Base and AgNPS programs Over 19 rounds since

1993, ~$120 million appropriated.

NYS Ag Non Point Source Funding per County

Agricultural Environmental Management

Watershed Successes New York City

Watershed Skaneateles Lake Oneida Lake Conesus Lake Steele Creek Chesapeake Bay

Why does AEM work in NY? Two Decades of Development Codified into NYS Law Locally Developed, Deployed, and Aggregated Strong Delivery Network / Certification Umbrella Program (Coordination among

partners) Utilizes Federal, State and Local funding

sources Funding: Technical Assistance & BMP

Cost Sharing Strong Outreach Components Training

Agricultural Environmental Management

• Largest County in NYS (outside of NYC)• Population 1.5 million• 980 miles of coastline• Leading County in agriculture adding $150

million annually to the economy• Nationally recognized Sole Source Aquifer

Provides drinking water to 3 million• 3,000 farms in 1950• 585 Farms today 34,404ac farmland• First in the Nation to implement the

Purchase of Development Rights (1975)has spent $250 million saving 235 farms from development totaling 16,000ac.

• Farmland values in Suffolk County among the highest in the nation

• Long Island is one of the top 20 most threatened agricultural regions

• #1 in nursery stock, aquaculture, sod & duck. Suffolk is the 3rd largest wine growing region in American

Suffolk County Soil & Water Conservation District

Suffolk County Soil & Water Conservation District

Fuel Tank Replacement Program 2008-2014

Tanks 207 Farms 126 82,690 gallons

NYS & USDA NRCS Funding $955,522.00

Agricultural Handling Facility 2005-2014

Facilities Cost $40,000+ Farmer Reimbursement $30,000Total Payments To Date $263,486

Installed 11 Planned 15

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Funding $601,600USDA NRCS Environmental Quality Incentive Program $ 15,000

Suffolk County Soil & Water Conservation District

Deer Fence NYS Funding $960,000

Farms 65 received $14,642 eachPaid installation 182,857’ (34.63 miles)

Actual Installation 266,702’ (50.51 miles)

Suffolk County Soil & Water Conservation District

Productive Farms &

Healthy Watersheds

NYS Soil & Water Conservation Committee - www.nys-soilandwater.orgNYS Department of Agriculture & Markets - www.agriculture.ny.gov

Suffolk County Soil & Water Conservation District - www.SuffolkSWCD.org

Conservation Cropping System

Agricultural Environmental Management