Statewide Strategic Plan for Agriculture The Land Best Management Practices

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Statewide Strategic Plan for Agriculture-The
Land-Best Management Practices

• Royden N. Powell, III
• Assistant Secretary
• MDA-Office of Resource Conservation

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Strategic Plan For Ag-The Land-BMPsTOPIC AREAS

• Cover Crops
• Implementation
• Incentives
• Nutrient Management
• Research/Innovation

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Strategic Plan For Ag-The Land-BMPsTOPIC AREAS

• Cover Crops rec. 70, 79, 80, and 81
• Implementation rec. 69, 75, 76, 77, 88, 90
• Incentives rec. 71, and 82
• Nutrient Management rec. 72, 84, 86, 87
• Research rec. 73, 74 and 83

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Strategic Plan For Ag-The Land-BMPsCOVER CROP
FUNDING Rec. 80 Sufficient FundingRec.
81 Grant Over CSB Request - 3.0M

• 18 Million available for 2008/2009 Program
• 9.5M - New Ches.Bay 2010 Trust Fund
• 5M - Ches. Bay Restoration Fund
• 3M - General and Reimbursable Funds
• No Limits on Traditional Cover Crop enrollment
• Up to 85 per acre incentives

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Strategic Plan For Ag-The Land-BMPsCOVER CROP
PROGRAMRec. 79 Two-tiered program allowing
harvest Rec. 80 Reflect seasonal variations
statewide

• Commodity Cover Crop Program
• Allows harvest
• 30 per acre incentive for 2008/2009
• No fertilizer until March 1st
• Statewide standards based on efficiencies of
  early planting

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Strategic Plan For Ag-The Land-BMPsIMPLEMENTATION
Rec.76 Streamline MACS payment
proceduresRec.90 - Simplify/Fund Manure
Transport Program

• MACS payments 30 day goal
• Provide ongoing training to SCDs
• Enhance SCD administrative capacity
• Simplified forms for MTP
• Enhanced electronic formats

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Strategic Plan For Ag-The Land-BMPsIMPLEMENTATION
FUNDINGRec. 75 Adequate funding for
MACSRec. 77-Increase USDA funding for
Chesapeake Bay

• Ongoing capital bond authorizations support 7M
  activity level.
• Additional - Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund
• 9.5M Cover Crops
• 1.75 Animal Waste Management
• 1.25 Buffers and Wetland Restoration
• New Farm Bill funding- Chesapeake Bay
• 438M mandatory funding over 5 years
• USDA Listening Session July 14, Lowes Hotel

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Strategic Plan For Ag-The Land-BMPsIMPLEMENTATION
FUNDINGRec. 88 Enhance State Revolving Loan
Funding for LILAC

• MDE Increased allocation from 2.0M to 3.0M in
  FY 08
• FY 09 ongoing commitment of 3.0M
• Additional 500K available if needed
• Prioritized loans for
• BMPs
• Animal Waste Management
• Buffers/Wetlands

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Strategic Plan For Ag-The Land-BMPsIMPLEMENTATION
STAFFINGRec. 69 Increase SCD field positions
to 110 per HB2

• 12 new positions in FY 08
• FY 09 funding focused on retention ASR
• JCR report- How to count to 110
• Budget language-
• Structural barriers limit additional growth
• Additional funding defined in terms of 2006
  dollars
• HB2 language needs amendments to allow additional
  positions.
• 2010 Trust Fund - 1.0M technical assistance
  funding

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Strategic Plan For Ag-The Land-BMPsINCENTIVESRec
. 71 Reward Good FarmersRec. 82 Maximize
opportunities for environmental credits

• Nutrient Trading
• Farmers selling credits for implementing
  effective BMPs
• Ag NPS Trading Pilot underway- Upper Chesapeake
  Bay
• Climate Change Commission
• Carbon sequestration credits Upcoming auction
• Market-based approaches to BMP implementation

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Strategic Plan For Ag-The Land-BMPsNUTRIENT
MANAGEMENTRec. 86 Review delivery systemRec.
87 Support additional funding for MCE NM
Planning Staff BMP research

• Program reviews ongoing BayStat
• FY 08 Funding Request for MCE staff approved
• BUT Cost Share funding was reduced
• NM Cost Share funding - 70K for FY 09
• Dedicated revenue source for BMP research and
  development

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Strategic Plan For Ag-The Land-BMPsINNOVATIONRec
. 83 Dedicated fund source for BMP efficiency
research/expanded monitoring

• Long term dedicated research funding
• Grant funded BMP research
• Alternative BMPs for manure storage
• Cover crops remote sensing
• Heavy Use Areas Poultry pads
• Drainage system management
• Retention for nutrient reduction
• Modifying stream channels
• Wetland BMPs

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Strategic Plan For Ag-The Land-BMPsINNOVATIONRec
. 84 Information and training on BMPs to
restore/protect water quality

• CB 2010 Trust Fund Monitoring Component
• Paired watersheds
• Evaluate efficiency/effectiveness of focused
  resources
• Explore New Farm Bill opportunities
• Continue ongoing cooperative efforts

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Strategic Plan For Ag-The Land-BMPsSUMMARY

• Weve done well funding BMP implementation
• Were headed in the right direction on
• Implementation staffing/capacity issues
• Market-based approaches
• We need to continue to be smarter
• Develop new technologies/BMPs
• Understanding BMP efficiencies
• Understanding the landscape
• AND stay viable!

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Strategic Plan For Ag-The Land-BMPs
Thank You! Royden N. Powell, III Assistant
Secretary-Office of Resource Conservation Maryland
Department of Agriculture 50 Harry S. Truman
Parkway Annapolis, MD 21401 Phone
410-841-5865 Email powellrn_at_mda.state.md.us