CTIC, in conjunction with U.S. EPA and the Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition (ADMC), will be hosting a Drainage Water Management Certification webinar on July 7, 2022. The webinar will be a 6-hour interactive online training and certification course on planning drainage water management systems.
A total of 5 CEUs will be available for CCAs and PEs. Partial CEUs will be available for completion of session 1, 2, or 3. Upon successful completion of the quiz modules, an ADMC course certificate will be awarded.
... more. |
ADMC received a Conservation Innovation Grant in 2006 to promote and characterize the unique technology of drainage water management (DWM) – the practice of managing water table depths to reduce nutrient transport from tiles during the fallow season or to reduce water deficit stress during the growing season. Considering that no such guidance currently exists, this innovative multi-state project is developing a set of regional recommendations that are necessary to facilitate and encourage the widespread adoption of DWM. ... more. |
... edge of field practices. Attendees also learned about in-field nutrient management for improved water quality.
ADMC Summer Series Trainings
For the final technical training workshops, ADMC developed a TSP certification class that followed new NRCS guidance on their Conservation Activities that was expected to be released in the fall of 2021. The certification focus was on drainage water management Conservation Activity. Upon development of the TSP certification class, ADMC was to host at least one in-person training as well as an additional synchronous online module. The 3 final training workshops were held in 2022.
July 2022 - ADMC Drainage Water Management Certification - online sessions
Session 1: Drainage Design and Soils: Soil and water concepts & tools, fundamenta ... more. |
Drawing on talent from across the U.S. and around the world, St. Louis is a vibrant hub for agriculture and technology- the perfect place to celebrate 40 years of conservation in action. Download the agenda HERE.
Monday, September 12th:
6:30-9:30pm CTIC 40th Anniversary Celebration
Trolley Room, St. Louis, Forest Park
Speakers include:
-Rod Snyder, Agriculture Advisor, EPA
- Scott Herndon, ... more. |
... Health Program; and insight into pollinator habitat opportunities by Mike Smith of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever.
Register online by August 8 to secure one of the limited spaces in this free program.
Presented by the SWCS-Hoosier Chapter with support from USDA-NRCS, the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative (CCSI) and CTIC.
August 23: Drainage Water Management Certification Course
Hendricks Co. 4H Conference Center
Danville, IN
9:00 am-4:15 pm
Earn 5 CEUs and dive deep into drainage water management design with the Agricultural Drainage Water Management Coalition and instructor Gary Sands of the University of Minnesota.
An optional design installation activity and seminar on becoming an NRCS-approved technical service ... more. |
... Protection Agency (EPA), CTIC provides leadership and technical support for 5 workshops between 2015 and 2020 that teach Certified Crop Advisors, ag retailers and other agronomic consultants to identify conservation systems that could benefit their clients' farms, then connect them with technical and financial support for implementation. Practices include in-field nutrient management, drainage water management systems, bioreactors, saturated buffers and more.
|
... (IDALS) have signed on as a Diamond-level sponsors of the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) Conservation in Action Tour. The tour, which will be held August 20 and 21 in Des Moines, Iowa, is CTIC's 12th annual program of its type.
The tour will include a wide range of practices, from prairie strips to bioreactors, interseeded cover crops, stover harvesting, drainage water management techniques, and precision application of fertilizer. The tour also includes lunch at New Century FS and dinner and a keynote speaker at Jester Park Lodge in Granger, Iowa.
Bayer, Mosaic and Syngenta have sponsored previous Conservation in Action Tours. The Conservation Infrastructure Initiative signed on this year specifically to expose tour participants from around the country to co ... more. |
... of August 20 hosted by John Deere at the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates in downtown Des Moines.
On-Farm Installation Site
Among the highlights of the tour on August 21 will be a visit to an in-progress, on-farm installation of a wood chip bioreactor near Nevada, Iowa. With insight from Keegan Kult of the Ag Drainage Management Coalition and Sean McMahon of the Iowa Agricultural Water Alliance, the stop is sure to uncover deep insight into these ingenious nitrogen-capturing systems.
Later in the day-long tour, the group will visit the Iowa Land Improvement Contractors Association (LICA) Farm near Melbourne, Iowa. The 80-acre field is a d ... more. |
Bayer CropScience, The Mosaic Company, Syngenta and the Conservation Infrastructure Initiative co-led by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and the Iowa Association of Water Agencies (IAWA) have signed on as a Diamond-level sponsors of the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) Conservation in Action Tour. The tour, which will be held August 20 and 21 in Des Moines, Iowa, is CTIC's 12th annual program of its type.
|
... of the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) Conservation in Action Tour. The tour, which will be held August 20 and 21 in Des Moines, Iowa, is CTIC's 12th annual program of its type.
The tour will include a wide range of practices, from prairie strips to bioreactors, interseeded cover crops, stover harvesting, drainage water management techniques, and precision application of fertilizer. The tour also includes lunch at New Century FS and dinner and a keynote speaker at Jester Park Lodge in Granger, Iowa.
Bayer, Mosaic and Syngenta have sponsored previous Conservation in Action Tours. The joint IDALS-IAWA initiative signed on this year specifically to expose t ... more. |
... better soil health in a large corn/soybean operation
Farmer/retailer partnerships for improved nutrient management strategies
Cover crop benefits and challenges on a Minnesota farm; an interseeding demonstration in the field.
Download the handout "Cover Crop Interseeding in Rice County"
Stop #3 - Dave Legvold Farm, Northfield, Minn.
Drainage water management, including a saturated buffer demonstration, and SWCD's role in buffers, highlighting Dakota County's Farmland and Natural Areas Program (FNAP)
Download the handout Saturated Buffers: A new approach to water quality
Impacts of reduced tillage on soil health and a demonstration of Soil Warrior strip-tillage equipment
Download the hand ... more. |
CTIC is a clearinghouse for a wide range of information on conservation agriculture. Click on one of the themes below to browse our site, or look for a particular practice or place in the search bar.
Ag Consultant Resources
Bees and Pollinators
Buffer Strips
Community Organizing
Conservation Tillage
Conservation Practices—Adoption
Crop Residue Management (CRM) Survey
Drainage Water Management
Cover Crops
Cover Crop Survey
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
Demonstration Projects
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
Grazing and Rangeland
Hypoxia
Know Your Watershed
Leadership
Mississippi River Basin Initiative (MRBI)
No-Till
National Aquatic Resource Survey (NARS)
National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI)
Nutrient Management
Operational Tillage Ass ... more. |
... agreement with the US EPA, CTIC will provide leadership and technical support to successfully plan, organize, coordinate, evaluate and share information from five workshops held between 2015 and 2020.
These workshops will provide attendees the foundation to target, design, and implement conservation practices for their clients. Practices covered will include in-field nutrient management, drainage water management systems, bioreactors, saturated buffers and more. CTIC will host specific practice summaries and other materials that will help this project’s target audience.
In addition to the US EPA’s assistance, the following partners ensure that these workshops provide value to and are well attended by their membership:
Agri Drain Corp.
Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition (ADMC ... more. |
... with the US EPA, CTIC will provide leadership and technical support to successfully plan, organize, coordinate, evaluate and share information from five workshops held between 2015 and 2020.
These workshops will provide attendees the foundation to target, design, and implement conservation practices for their clients. Practices covered will include in-field nutrient management, drainage water management systems, bioreactors, saturated buffers and more. CTIC will host specific practice summaries and other materials that will help this project’s target audience.
In addition to the US EPA’s assistance, the following partners ensure that these workshops provide value to and are well attended by their membership:
Agri Drain Corp.
Agricultural Drainage Manageme ... more. |
... PM - Stuttgart Public Library
Topics of discussion
Identify symptoms suggesting need for conservation - Mike Taylor, Farmer (30 min)
Selecting right practices - John Lee, NRCS (90 min)
Resources for technical support - Keith Scoggins, NRCS
Selecting a contractor - Keith Scoggins, NRCS
Arkansas’ nutrient reduction strategy and how practices covered by this training protect water quality - Ken Brazil, Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (15-30 min)
Wednesday August 23
8:00 AM - Check-in, coffee and donuts at Stuttgart Public Library
8:30 AM—Bus departs for Terry Dabbs’ farm
Outdoors on the farm
Discovery Farms: Water quality monitoring as a driver of voluntary conservation adoption - Mike Daniels, Arkansas Discovery Farms (30 mins.)
Dab ... more. |
... with the US EPA, CTIC will provide leadership and technical support to successfully plan, organize, coordinate, evaluate and share information from five workshops held between 2015 and 2020.
These workshops will provide attendees the foundation to target, design, and implement conservation practices for their clients. Practices covered will include in-field nutrient management, drainage water management systems, bioreactors, saturated buffers and more. CTIC will host specific practice summaries and other materials that will help this project’s target audience.
|
Drainage water management systems can help to increase soil organic matter, eliminate compaction problems and reduce nitrate loss to nearby waterways.
Smart Drainage System™ Photo courtesy of Agri Drain
Putting Producers in the Driver's Seat
By Lisa Newby
The public is becoming more aware of what agricultural producers have alw ... more. |
... Schafer says. “If we, as a country, feel we need to rely on rural America to get environmental benefits, water quality trading is a market approach to get the benefits to the beneficiaries.”
Agri Drain is a member of the Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition (ADMC), of which Schafer also serves as president. The ADMC serves as a resource of the latest technologies in drainage water management systems and assists agricultural and environmental communities in improving water quality.
In an attempt to help producers adopt better drainage water management (DWM), ADMC was awarded a three-year, multi-state, USDA/NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant in 2006. Covering Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, this project’s goal was to improve and refine regional recommendations ... more. |
... Schafer says. “If we, as a country, feel we need to rely on rural America to get environmental benefits, water quality trading is a market approach to get the benefits to the beneficiaries.”
Agri Drain is a member of the Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition (ADMC), of which Schafer also serves as president. The ADMC serves as a resource of the latest technologies in drainage water management systems and assists agricultural and environmental communities in improving water quality.
In an attempt to help producers adopt better drainage water management (DWM), ADMC was awarded a three-year, multi-state, USDA/NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant in 2006. Covering Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, this project’s goal was to improve and refine regional recommendations n ... more. |
... turn it into organic-matter-boosting biomass.
Minnesota grower Tony Thompson is one of those growers. He installed 16 control structures on a 140-acre field near Windom, Minn., to control drainage water. Thompson's slope is about one percent, so each structure manages a zone of about nine acres. At $500 to $2,000 per structure, the drainage water management structures only added about five to 15 percent to the cost of upgrading the field's century-old drainage system.
Though he hasn't measured a yield bump from the system yet, Thompson thinks drainage water management could be a good investment on his operation.
"If we as farmers don't take aggressive action ourselves to make sure our runoff water is of th ... more. |
... flow down the drain.
Worse, drainage water can carry nitrates and phosphorous downstream, helping nurture blooms of algae that eventually die by the billions. Those dying algae cells tie up oxygen from the water as they decompose, creating an oxygen-starved hypoxic "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico that can be hundreds of miles across.
Research shows that drainage water management can reduce annual nitrate losses from tile-drained fields by 15 to 75 percent, depending on location, climate, soil type and cropping system. Most of the reduction in nitrate results from the reduction in water flow from the field through the tile. However, there is some indication that a portion of the nitrate may be seeping deep into the ground or be denitrified by soil microbes.
... more. |
Shaping and establishing grass in a natural drainage way to prevent gullies from forming.
How it works
A natural drainage way is graded and shaped to form a smooth, bowl-shaped channel. This area is seeded to sod-forming grasses. Runoff water that flows down the drainage way flows across the grass rather than tearing away soil and forming a larger gully. An outlet is often installed at the base of the drainage way to stabilize the waterway ... more. |
... source, at the Right time, in the Right place, and at the Right rate. The concept emphasizes managing all aspects of nutrient application, rather than just one piece. CTIC, Agrium, Agri-Food Canada, and state fertilizer associations also endorse the concept.
Farmers increasingly rely on manure testing and soil testing to influence nutrient application decisions. Producers can manage drainage water to minimize nutrients lost through tile drains. Equipment manufacturers continue to fine tune variable rate technology. Seed companies are looking at ways to make seed absorb nutrients more efficiently. New crop simulation models estimate increases over current yield to inform crop and nutrient management decisions. And more than ever, producers see manure as an asset, a saleabl ... more. |
... Water Protection Control Administrations. Key questions include:
1) What is considered a manmade conveyance? 2) What is the connection between the AFO and the receiving water? (For large CAFOs, discharges from either production areas or land application areas require permits. For medium-sized AFOs, the land is considered to be separate from the production portion of the operation, so field drainage doesn’t trigger a requirement for an NPDES permit.) 3) What are waters of the state (or the United States)?
Some operations raise clear red flags, Wilson notes. For instance, dairies need to be considered closely “because they have so many places where manure is stored and tracked,” he says. But the nuances come into play as soon as the manure starts to move.
“ ... more. |
EPA's New CAFO Rule Changes "Duty to Apply" for NPEDS Permit
Nutrient management plans and voluntary NPDES permits may be helpful to confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) – even if they do not discharge or don’t propose to discharge water from their operations.
EPA's New CAFO Rule Changes "Duty to Apply"
for NPDES Permit
By Steve Werblow
A new rule for confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) requires only operations that discharge or “propose to discharge” water from their facilities to apply for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) ... more. |
... for full video coverage of each of the presentations from the program.
Summary
A brief summary of CTIC's Ag Consultants Training at the 2019 Iowa Agribusiness Showcase and Conference in Des Moines, Iowa, featuring Mike Naig (IDALS), Jason Gomes (North Iowa Agronomy Partners), Greg Wandrey (The Nature Conservancy/4Rs Plus), Robert Mier (USDA-NRCS), Keegan Kult (Ag Drainage Management Coalition) and Tim Recker (Iowa Land Improvement Contractors Association).
Welcome: Mike Naig, IDALS
Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, greets crop consultants at CTIC's Ag Consultants Training workshop in Des Moines, Iowa, on March 13, 2019. Naig urged success in voluntary conservation practices to achieve the goals set out in the Iowa Nutrient Reduction ... more. |
... be at least 8 feet deep. *
The landowner should secure necessary permits or easements.
Divert runoff from feedlots, barnyards and septic tanks if the pond is used for drinking water, livestock, wildlife or recreation.
Clear all trees and shrubs within at least 30 feet of the dam's spillway and embankment. *
Generally for every surface acre of pond there should be at least 10 acres of drainage area. *
Too large a drainage area for the pond site may make the site unfeasible.
Maintenance
Keep outlet free of debris.
Keep burrowing animals, trees and shrubs off the dam.
Maintain grass cover on the dam.
* Criteria may need to be adjusted for local conditions.
|
A short earthen dam built across a drainage way where a terrace
is impractical; usually part of a terrace system.
How it works
An embankment is built across a depressional area of concentrated water runoff to act similar to a terrace. It traps se ... more. |
... the crop that grew in the field last year (and in many cases two or more years ago) fix nitrogen for use in the following years? Has long-term no-till increased organic matter? Did the end-of-season stalk test show a nutrient deficiency? These factors also need to be factored into your plan.
4. Estimated yield. Factors that affect yield are numerous and complex. Your field’s soils, drainage, insect, weed and disease pressure, rotation and many other factors differentiate one field from another. This is why using historic yields is important in developing your yield estimates for next year. Accurate yield estimates can dramatically improve nutrient use efficiency.
5. Sources and forms. The sources and forms of available nutrients can vary from farm-to-farm and even field-to-fiel ... more. |
... Feb. 18, 2010
Phosphorus Management
- Dr. Albert Sims, University of Minnesota
Agriculture and the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Issue
- Dr. C.S. Snyder, International Plant Nutrition Institute
On-Farm Evaluation of Nitrogen and Phosphorous Nutrient Management
- Brian Williams, Minnesota Department of Ag
Where the City Meets the Farm: a Case Study of Drainage and Water Quality
- Dr. John F. Moncrief, University of Minnesota
Nitrogen Management to Minimize Nitrate Losses to Water Resources
- Jeff Vetsch, University of Minnesota
"New" Technologies for Drainage Systems
- Dr. Gary Sands, University of Minnesota
Corn Belt N Guidelines
- Dr. John Lamb, University of Minnesota
What is Manure Really Worth ... more. |
... water quality improvement efforts—not just in Livingston County, Illinois, but across the country.
Project organizers talked to every single producer in the watershed about conservation practices and water quality, and by the end of the project, conservation systems and best management practices (BMPs) were in place on at least 57% of the agricultural acreage in the Indian Creek drainage.
Goals and Recipes
Key concepts at the heart of the Indian Creek Watershed Project included:
The importance of locally led conservation efforts
The power of including stakeholders in the watershed from off and on the farm
Cooperation among conservation entities within the watershed
Demonstrations of key conservation practices under local conditions
The impact of applying prior ... more. |
John Vrieze's on-farm wastewater treatment system starts with manure (left), removes the suspended solids to create low-P "tea water" (center), then filters out dissolved solids to yield clear water (right).
Graphic courtesy of Integrated Separation Systems
Wastewater Treatment Plants Dewater Dairy Manure
by Steve Werblow
... more. |
Building Partnerships in Rec. Water Monitoring and Remedation
Citizen Science at the EPA: Streamlining Water Quality Testing and Future Visions
Jay Benforado
Speaker Bio
Jay Benforado is the Chief Innovation Officer in EPA’s Office of Research and Development. Jay is a founding co-chair of the Federal Community of Practice for Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science, helping to guide it from a ... more. |
Productive soil builds the foundation for any successful cropland. The higher soil quality, the better it performs. Whether producing organic matter, cycling nutrients, filtering water or other critical functions, soil quality is a key ingredient in the Core 4 Conservation recipe for enhancing soil and water resources, improving farm profitability and working toward a brighter future.
“Soil quality is the capacity of a specific soil to function,” said Mike Hubbs, agronomist with NRCS Soil Quality Institute. “Soil quality is not the end, but a means to an ... more. |
... We Serve
The Southern Plains Agricultural Resources Coalition (SPARC) serves an area of Oklahoma west of Interstate 35. The goal of SPARC is to broaden its coverage to neighboring states in the southern plains region.
Who We Serve
SPARC serves producers of agriculture products as well as consumers. This includes all communities, policy makers, tribes, landowners, and water users throughout rural and urban areas.
Priority Resource Concerns
SPARC has determined that the three priority resource concerns with the greatest potential for beneficial results are:
1. Soil Quality
2. Economics
3. Water Resources
Soil Quality Concerns
The general soil quality condition indicates a declining trend in soil organic matter content. This indicator is t ... more. |
Restoring Waters to Recreational Use
Tracking Land-based Sources of Nutrients and Microbial Contamination in a Pacific Northwest Estuarine Watershed
Amy Zimmer-Faust
No Bio Available
No Bio Delivered
Video Length - 12:58
Ambient Water Quality Thresholds for Human-associated HF183: Effect of Water Temperature, Aging, and Co-contamination with Gull Fece ... more. |
... native Dr. Harold F. Reetz, Jr. leads design and oversight of demonstration and testing plots. These will measure the effectiveness of how farmers manage fertilizer and manure and will demonstrate systems of best management practices for reducing negative effects on water quality in Indian Creek and downstream.
Indian Creek Watershed
The 82-square mile drainage area (52,480 acres) of Indian Creek Watershed flows to the South Fork of the Vermilion River, one of USDA’s Mississippi River Basin Initiative focus areas.
Agriculture dominates the watershed – 95 percent of the land is tillable, most in a corn/soybean rotation, although there are numerous livestock operations. The average farm size is 500 acres.
The City of Fairbury ... more. |
... webinars
Barry Toning
Jim Kreissl
Vic D'Amato
Khalid Alvi
Juli Beth Hinds
will focus on information in regards to wastewater treatment for upcoming and existing development.
Presentations will be given by the members of Tetra Tech staff.
To view the agenda and topics to be discussed, click here.
Sponsored by
Conservation Technology Information Center, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Tetra Tech
November 9th: Overview of Centralized and Decentralized Treatment Issues
S ... more. |
Advances in Monitoring, Approaches and Technology
Five Years of Enterococci qPCR in Chicago: Research to Practice
Kendall Anderson
Speaker Bio
Kendall Anderson is an environmental epidemiologist who specializes in micro/molecular biology for recreational water and drinking water in sub-Saharan Africa. He has worked in this field since 2014 at Georgia Southern University and most recently in Chicago Illinois from 2016 onward at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Chicago Park District. Currently Kendall is employed by the Chicago Park District as the project manager for beach water quality in which he oversees the administration of the beach w ... more. |
Farmers throughout the Mississippi River basin are making the right choices for nutrient efficiency and water quality protection, and CTIC is telling their story.
Photo courtesy of USEPA
Upstream Heroes: CTIC Spreads Nutrient
Management Success Stories from along the
Mississippi River
ByAmy Raley
With current recession-generated challenges on the minds and balance sheets of every business and industry, farmers are ... more. |
... offers a variety of other valuable benefits:
Flushes out unwanted Magnesium, Aluminum, and Sodium
Aids biological processes in building soil structure
Loosens soil and reduces compaction
Improves residue breakdown, which adds more nutrients to your soil
Enhances soil's water infiltration and water-holding capacity
Allows for faster drainage, which can mean more days in the field
Helps soil release nutrients to the crop
Improves rooting of plants for better drought tolerance
Reduce expensive fertilizer applications
You already have literally hundreds of years of nutrients trapped in your soil. The main issue is balancing these nutrients and making them available to your crop's roots. Gypsum helps bri ... more. |
... taken for total suspended solids and phosphorus.
A Hydrolab probe was also used to gather dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, and conductivity data during each visit. Since July 2011, all parameters were sampled monthly through March 2012, when weekly sampling will began again. This sampling occurs at four sites located along Indian Creek and on one tributary.
Water quality sampling station locations.
US Geological Survey, with financial support from IEPA, installed a stream gage to monitor flow. In September 2011, the nitrate probe was installed. Flow and nitrate data will be taken in real-time every 15 minutes. View the real time data. The gage and probe will collect data through July 2013. For more information contact Trevor Sample.
... more. |
... ESN®.
ESN® controlled-release technology delivers N to the crop all season long, not just when it's applied, allowing the crop to reach full genetic potential. The unique polymer coating helps prevent against all forms of N loss, including volatilization, denitrification, and leaching.
When used correctly, ESN® can substantially reduce N losses to surface water, subsurface drainage water, and groundwater, a positive impact to water quality.
Producers!
Interested in trying one of our demonstration practices? Contact Terry Bachtold at 815-848-4455.
Right Source
Match fertilizer type to crop needs
Select appropriate nutrient sources for cropping system
Test soils
Consider N, P, K secondary and micronutrient
Consider en ... more. |
... controlled-release technology delivers N to the crop all season long, not just when it's applied, allowing the crop to reach full genetic potential. The unique polymer coating helps prevent against all forms of N loss, including volatilization, denitrification, and leaching.
When used correctly, ESN® can substantially reduce N losses to surface water, subsurface drainage water, and groundwater, a positive impact to water quality.
Producers!
Interested in trying one of our demonstration practices? Contact Terry Bachtold at 815-848-4455.
More...
Right Source
Match fertilizer type to crop needs
+ ... more. |
... miles long
• Reduced water content by 50 percent with new technology that manages pigs' use of water
Rulon Enterprises , Arcadia, Indiana
• 15 years of no-till for corn and soybeans
• Extensive use of precision agriculture technology to create a whole-farm fertility record
• Integrated manure management and cover crops used in conservation system
• Drainage managed and buffers incorporated for a total resource management system
Beck's Hybrids , Atlanta, Indiana
• Largest U.S. independent retail seed company
• 18-year no-till demonstration plots in Practical Farm Research™ (PFR) program
• Other studies look at strip-till and strip cropping with various crop combinations
• Research and Development facility ... more. |
To better manage nutrients, Lancaster County, Penn. dairy producers install manure storage tanks as part of their conservation plans.
Photo courtesy of USDA-NRCS
Manure Du Jour
Serving Pennsylvania's Best Practices on Animal Ag. Air, and Water Quality
By Kristen Saacke-Blunk
Pennsylvania dairy cow.
Photo courtesy of USDA-NRCS.
In January 2009, Penn State Cooperative Extension and its Agriculture and Environment Center debuted the Manure du jour webcast series in response to findings of the 2008 Agriculture in Balance conference. At the conference, Pennsylvania’s agriculture and en ... more. |
Mike Beard and his family have built a national reputation as top managers of feed, water and manure on their 15,000-head hog operation in Indiana.
Photo courtesy of Steve Werblow
Integrated Manure Management: Good Neighbors, Good Business
by Steve Werblow
There aren’t many 15,000-head hog operations that open their doors to neighbors for an annual open house. But Me ... more. |
... an Iowa farmer who serves as president of the National Association of Conservation Districts and co-chair of CTIC's tour planning committee, adds, "I've made friends on these tours that I still keep in contact with."
Wide Range of Speakers
At the tour stops, the group will gather perspectives from farmers, conservation planners, crop consultants, drainage experts and researchers. Stops will include:
Couser Cattle Company in Nevada. The Cousers are pioneers in corn stover harvest and utilization, manure management and precision application of inputs. They will also describe their 220-acre AGvocacy Learning Farm project.
New Century FS Melbourne Service Center. Facility manager Dan Hart and his team will open their ... more. |
... transportation, stops and all meals.
For more information on the Conservation in Action Tour, visit CTIC's website or call CTIC at (765) 494-9555.
The CTIC Conservation in Action Tour is sponsored in part by our Diamond-level sponsors—Bayer CropScience, The Mosaic Company, Syngenta and The Conservation Infrastructure Initiative co-led by the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance (IAWA) and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS)—and our Platinum sponsors, The Fertilizer Institute and Corteva.
|
... of August 20 hosted by John Deere at the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates in downtown Des Moines.
On-Farm Installation Site
Among the highlights of the tour on August 21 will be a visit to an in-progress, on-farm installation of a wood chip bioreactor near Nevada, Iowa. With insight from Keegan Kult of the Ag Drainage Management Coalition and Sean McMahon of the Iowa Agricultural Water Alliance, the stop is sure to uncover deep insight into these ingenious nitrogen-capturing systems.
Later in the day-long tour, the group will visit the Iowa Land Improvement Contractors Association (LICA) Farm near Melbourne, Iowa. The 80-acre field is a d ... more. |
Weed & Pest Management (IPM) Facts
What is it?
It's a comprehensive approach to fine tuning on-farm management of harmful weeds and pests. Today we have improved methods for control of weeds, insects and diseases. Management strategies that allow for better control, with minimum risk to the environment. Resistant plants, cultural controls, soil amendments, beneficial insects, natural enemies, barriers, ... more. |
Gulf of Mexico hypoxia issues pose a significant challenge in addressing the protection of the marine environment given the sheer magnitude of excess nutrient loading and the size of the contributing Mississippi River watershed. This nutrient loading is a result of cumulative nutrientdischarges across the largest river basin in North America, the Mississippi River Basin. The Wabash River watershed contributes a significant nutrient load, from portions ofIndiana, Illinois, and Ohio,to the Ohio River, the Mississippi River, and eventually, the Gulf of Mexico. Recent Total Maximum Daily Loads develope ... more. |
Agri Drain is a leader in agricultural drainage management systems. Our industry provides practice and product based solutions across our great nation. We can help offset the impact of weather, improve water quality and availability, reduce flooding, create wildlife habitat, and keep our farmers productive and profitable. |
CTIC Silver Corporate Member, Agri Drain Corp, America's most complete supplier of water management products for wetlands, ponds, lakes, controlled drainage, and subsurface irrigation with the best guarantee. To learn more about Agri Drain Corp, visit www.agridrain.com
|
... field research to support the MU soil test recommendation system. His research emphasizes in season crop nutrient management, primarily for rice. Dunn’s study will continue to be conducted at two locations representing the two major soil types used for rice production in Missouri. At each location, rice was cultivated using the standard methods of phosphorus and potassium fertilization, water management, and weed and insect control for dry-seeded, delayed flood rice in Southeast Missouri. At both locations four pre-plant nitrogen rates (35, 70, 105, and 140 lbs nitrogen/acre) were compared to an untreated area. No additional nitrogen was applied. At both locations the following products were compared: urea, urea + Agrotain® (Agrotain, International, St Louis, Mo.), urea + NSN (Nut ... more. |
Conservation Buffers
Conservation buffers are small areas or strips of land in permanent vegetation, designed to slow water runoff, provide shelter and stabilize riparian areas. Strategically placed buffer strips in the agricultural landscape can effectively mitigate the movement of sediment, nutrients, and pesticides within farm fields and from farm fields.
Buffers include: contour buffer strips, field borders, filter strips, grassed waterways, living snow fences, riparian buffers, shelterbelts/windbreaks, (grass, ... more. |
... the group
Jason Gomes, CCA, of North Iowa Agronomy Partners, exploring the role of crop advisers in conservation planning
Greg Wandrey of The Nature Conservancy, outlining training resources offered by the 4R Plus program
Robert Mier, resource conservationist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, detailing conservation incentive programs in Iowa
Keegan Kult of the Ag Drainage Management Coalition, describing conservation practices and programs for tile drained landscapes
Tim Recker of the Iowa Land Improvement Contractors Association, detailing constructed practices for sloping landscapes.
Videos of each of the presentations are available on www.ctic.org. Click here for a look.
|
What's Next? Emerging Concerns
How well do Coliphages Predict the Presence and Concentrations of Human Enteric Viruses in Water and Wastewater?
Mark Sobsey
Speaker Bio
Dr. Mark Sobsey specializes in environmental health microbiology and water, sanitation and hygiene. His research, teaching and service encompass the detection, characterization, occurrence, environmental survival/transport/fate, treatment, human health effects characterization and risk assessment of viruses, bacteria and parasites of public healt ... more. |
Who: Wye Mills, MD
What: March 4-5, 2009
Where: Chesapeake College
Together with its partners, Environmental Trading Network, the International Certified Crop Advisers, the Water Environment Federation, and the Maryland Departments of Agriculture and the Environment, the Conservation Technology Information Center hosted this interactive event as part of Maryland’s public outreach on its newly developed nonpoint-source trading program.
Water quality trading is a market-based approach to improve water quality. It is an innovative, voluntary tool that connects i ... more. |
Water Quality Credit Trading Workshop
August 19 - 20, 2008
Troy-Hayner Cultural Center
Troy, Ohio
Water Quality Credit Trading programs bring together agriculture and the wastewater community to solve difficult water quality issues.The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), in conjunction with the Environmental Trading Network (ETN), the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and Ce ... more. |
Agricultural conservation systems produce good yields and strong profits while responsibly managing environmental resources. These systems efficiently manage nutrients and pests, control irrigation and drainage water flows, use cover crops, rotate crops to maximize conservation benefits and
minimize equipment wear. See CTIC's conservation systems information sheet HERE.
|
... diet was supplied by habitat this project established on participating farms. The DNA identification method used is new and developed partially through this project's support. These pollen ID results are on track to be delivered later this spring and are expexted to provide the greatest indicator of our success providing cost-effective on-farm pollinator habitat.
National Water Quality Initiative:
CTIC is currently working with USDA's Natural Recources Conservation Service (NRCS) on a project in support of the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI). This project is identifying successful watershed management activities that engage landowners, farmers, and the broader public to protect water quality. Insights developed through this project will inform future NRC ... more. |
... Chain Sustainability in Iowa
CTIC recently applied to extend our supply chain sustainability project in Iowa for another three years. Because we are optimistic about that application’s success, we are simultaneously pursuing NRCS funding to enhance that project with farmer-led field demonstrations similar to those that were critical to the success of our Indian Creek Watershed project in Illinois. If your organization would like to be part of the planning or implementation of these demos, contact Chad Watts at watts@ctic.org as soon as possible for more information.
Bee Integrated
CTIC manages the Bee Integrated project on behalf of the Honey Bee Health Coalition to demonstrate how farmers and beekeepers can collaborate on a practical system o ... more. |
... farmers plant nearly 40,000 acres of cover crops.
For our next step, CTIC is joining partners including The Nature Conservancy, Practical Farmers of Iowa, and Unilever to encourage greater adoption of conservation systems among farmers already enrolled in supply chain sustainability initiatives. This project will focus outreach and education on farmers in on Iowa’s Skunk watersheds, as well as utilizing the recently developed4R Plusframework to engage ag retailers, CCAs, and other advisors at the local level in a common conversation about the potential economic and environmental benefits of conservation.
Bee Integrated
CTIC manages the Bee Integrated project on behalf of the Honey Bee Health Coalition to demonstrate how farmers and beekeeper ... more. |
... to encourage producers to conserve soil.
Several decades later, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency implemented a regulatory approach to resource conservation.
Both efforts succeeded to a point. However, their shortcomings have initiated ecoservice markets.
After a decade of progress, ecoservice markets seemed to backslide in 2009. Relatively few of the nearly 80 water quality credit markets in the United States have generated viable trades and function as true market systems.
Sequestered carbon credits are worth about a dime per ton on the Chicago Climate Exchange, and the cap-and-trade system to address climate change is losing support. U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, who played a major role securing rural lawmakers’ su ... more. |
... —- more than 180 crops ranging from potatoes to dairy products to trout.. Farmers, crop consultants, agribusiness professionals, state and federal agency representatives, and conservation group leaders visited four farms to see conservation agriculture and innovative conservation systems up-close.
What We Learned:
Stop #1 - Dixon Farm, Greenleaf, Idaho
Water quality and availability as it impacts high-efficiency irrigation
Irrigation/water delivery system
Semi-permanent drip irrigation
Managing multi-year crops in highly variable soils
Stop #2 – M&M Feedlot, Parma, Idaho
Business and neighborly impacts of creating an attractive, low-odor environment
Air quality and ammonia permits
Nutrient and water manag ... more. |
... diet was supplied by habitat this project established on participating farms. The DNA identification method used is new and developed partially through this project’s support. These pollen ID results are on track to be delivered later this spring and are expected to provide the greatest indicator of our success providing cost-effective on-farm pollinator habitat.
National Water Quality Initiative:
CTIC is currently working with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on a project in support of the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI). This project is identifying successful watershed management activities that engage landowners, farmers, and the broader public to protect water quality. Insights developed through this project will inform future NRC ... more. |
... farmers plant nearly 40,000 acres of cover crops.
For our next step, CTIC is joining partners including The Nature Conservancy, Practical Farmers of Iowa, and Unilever to encourage greater adoption of conservation systems among farmers already enrolled in supply chain sustainability initiatives. This project will focus outreach and education on farmers in on Iowa’s Skunk watersheds, as well as utilizing the recently developed4R Plusframework to engage ag retailers, CCAs, and other advisors at the local level in a common conversation about the potential economic and environmental benefits of conservation.
Bee Integrated
CTIC manages the Bee Integrated project on behalf of the Honey Bee Health Coalition to demonstrate how farmers and beekeeper ... more. |
Installing practices such as dikes in existing wetlands to manage water levels and improve habitat.
How it works
Most wetland enhancement work includes small structures built to add water or regulate water levels in an existing wetland. Subsurface and surface drains and tiles are plugged. Concrete and earthen structures—usually d ... more. |
By Nigel Key, William D. McBride, and Marc Ribaudo
Economic Information Bulletin No. (EIB-50) 29 pp, March 2009
In recent years, structural changes in the hog sector, including increased farm size and regional shifts in production, have altered manure management practices. Also, changes to the Clean Water Act, State regulations, and increasing local conflicts over air quality issues, including odor, have influenced manure management decisions. This study uses data from two national surveys of hog farmers to examine how hog manure management practices vary with the scale of production and how these practices evolved between 1998 and 2004. Included are the effects of structural changes, recent polic ... more. |
... leading edge of conservation practices—from the heart of the state's rich cropland to the edges of its fields and the banks of its rivers.
Conservation in Action Tour 2018
CTIC brought its 11th annual Conservation in Action Tour to the Eastern Shore of Maryland. The tour theme was, "Bringing Back the Bay: Partnerships, Profitable Farms, Clean Water and Innovative Conservation.”
The tour highlighted farmers who have taken the charge to protect Chesapeake Bay seriously, voluntarily going above and beyond the regions's regulations to use practices that not only benefit water quality, but also protect productivity and profitability on the farm.
Conservation in Action Tour 2017
CTIC’s 2017 Conservation in Act ... more. |
... the church at 3:00 PM central time. The church is located at 701 North 7th Street, Fairbury, IL 61739-1595. Participants will meet at the church then board a bus to visit the tour sites.
Farmers and corporate sponsors at the sites will focus on effective agricultural systems while they showcase products, practices and technology that can boost profitable farming and improve water quality.
Tour demonstrations will include nitrogen fertilizer split-application, slow release products, strip-till N application systems, and fertilizer use efficiency studies. These practices can improve both the farmer’s bottom line and water quality. Practices shown will emphasize the 4R cornerstones of nutrient management: use the Right source at t ... more. |
... of crop nutrition development, from the mining of resources to the production of crop nutrients, feed and industrial products for customers around the globe.
Silver Corporate Member
Agri Drain Corporation
www.agridrain.com
Agri Drain Corporation is an American company focused on manufacturing and distributing high-quality, durable products for the land improvement and water management industry.
Case IH
www.caseih.com
Case IH is a global leader in agricultural equipment, committed to collaborating with its customers to develop the most powerful, productive, reliable equipment — designed to meet today’s agricultural challenges. With headquarters in the United States, Case IH has a network of dealers and distributors that operates in over 1 ... more. |
... to improving farm profitability while addressing environmental concerns. It’s adaptable to virtually any farming situation and can be tailored to meet a farmer’s specific needs.
Better soil
Sustainable soils that increase long-term productivity result from increased organic matter, improved soil moisture, reduced compaction, sequestered carbon and reduced erosion from water and wind.
Cleaner water
In addition to food, fiber, energy and other renewable resources, agriculture can also protect and improve water quality.
Greater on-farm profits
Sharpening management skills and utilizing the latest appropriate technologies result in higher levels of economic efficiency and cropland productivity
A brighter future for all of us.
Consumer expectation ... more. |
In 2009, CTIC received federal funding to study the feasibility of a water quality credit trading program in the Wabash River basin.
Water quality credit trading may prove to be a useful, innovative, market-based approach to bolstering farm income while improving water quality. This voluntary tool connects industrial and municipal facilities with agricultural producers to economically achieve water
quality improvements.
This concept is ... more. |
When: July 8 - 9, 2009
Where: Atwood Lake Resort and Conference Center
2650 Lodge Road
Sherrodsville, OH 44675
888-819-8042
**To make reservations - call and reference the Water Quality Workshop to receive the group rate of $89 per night.
To view the Agenda, click here.
Together with its partners, Environmental Trading Network, the International Certified Crop Advisers, and the Water Environment Federation, the Conservation Technology Information Center will host a Water Quality Credit Trading Workshop at Atwood Lake Resort and Conference Center (30 miles sout ... more. |
... New products, such as inhibitors and controlled-release nitrogen, supply tools to follow the 4R stewardship initiative discussed in the December 2009 issue of Partners. (Click here for article.)
A popular topic today is excess nutrients in the environment. From the Gulf of Mexico to the Chesapeake Bay, the Great Lakes to the Pacific Northwest, policymakers look to agriculture to improve water quality and help reduce nutrients in ground and surface water.
Many conventional nitrogen application methods apply fertilizer in advance of crop needs. The delay between nitrogen application and crop uptake increases the chance for environmental losses through leaching, volatilization, and denitrification.
* Leaching: the movement of plant nutrients in the soil solution below the root ... more. |
... use the right fertilizer product, apply it at the right rate, at the right time and in the right place. CTIC, a trusted source of information for agriculture for more than 27 years, is uniquely qualified to launch an information campaign about nutrient management targeted to agricultural producers. A secondary audience is the general public, including members of environmental groups involved in water quality issues. CTIC's networks reach into the non-farm conservation community, allowing us to show members of the public the steps farmers are taking to protect water quality upstream The campaign will explain the hypoxia issue and need for nutrient management in terms and messages that appeal to agricultural audiences and deliver those messages at the right time and place to capture the att ... more. |
... nonprofit organization that represents America’s 3,000 conservation districts and the 17,000 men and women who serve on their governing boards. Conservation districts are local units of government established under state law to carry out natural resource management programs at the local level. Districts work with millions of landowners and operators to help them manage and protect land and water resources on all private lands and many public lands in the United States.
Conservation districts have been involved in delivering locally-driven conservation across America for more than 70 years. No other conservation or environmental group in the country implements more conservation practices on the ground. The beauty of conservation districts is that they exist in virtually every county ... more. |
... bacteria work their way through the manure over the course of days or weeks, the gas is captured, cleansed to enhance its energy value and fed to methane-powered engines that generate electricity. Heat from the process feeds the manure-warming system and other industrial processes, including Inland Empire’s reverse-osmosis desalination plant, which produces 14 million gallons of drinking water daily for local residents.
While the generators spin out 1 megawatt (MW) of electricity per day—enough to supply about half of what IEUA consumes—the environment wins in other ways, too. Odors and pathogens are controlled, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter are reduced by 99 percent and more than five tons of salts and nitrates are kept out of the Santa Ana ... more. |
Speaker Presentations
Benefits and Obstacles in Water Quality Trading - George Kelly, Environmental Banc & Exchange
Ohio's Great Miami River Watershed - Dusty Hall, The Miami Conservancy District
Water Quality Credit Training Workshop - Jim Klang, Kieser & Associates
Aggregators: Examples and Opportunities - Jamie McCarthy, Kieser & Associates
Sauk River Watershed Ecosystem Services Project - Jim Klang, Kieser &am ... more. |
Water quality credit trading may be, in many areas,a successful market-based approach to improve water quality. It is an innovative, voluntary tool that connects industrial and municipal facilities, subject to wastewater permit requirements, with agricultural producers to economically achieve water quality improvements. It has the potential to bea flexible and cost-effective approach for ma ... more. |
... regulatory. All require careful consideration.
What’s valuable about it?
One of the challenges of setting a value on manure is considering whether all of its contents are actually delivering a benefit. Manure is only valuable if it causes a crop response, notes Jon Rauch, Extension program director for The Ohio State University’s Environmental Management program.
Part of predicting crop response is recognizing which nutrient(s) are boosting yields. Commercial fertilizer can be tailored to match crop needs, in proportion, for each nutrient in a single application. Manure, on the other hand, tends to be relatively high in P and K and low in N. As a result, applying enough manure to supply the nitrogen needs of certain crops can cause ... more. |
Practical Conservation Planning in the Field
August 22-23, 2017
Stuttgart Public Library
Stuttgard, Arkansas
Ph: 870-673-1966
This workshop will provide CCAs and other ag consultants with the foundation to recognize opportunities for reducing their clients’ impact on water quality. The majority of the day will be spent with three speakers—representing industry, agency, and academia—who will lend their expertise to give a complete perspective on a set of edge of field practices. Attendees will also learn about in-field nutrient management for improved water quality.
The workshop is free, however, registration is required.
REGISTER HERE
... more. |
Two Hundred Visited Northwest Ohio Farms
Mark Scarpitti, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, left, demonstrates how no-till soil (in container on right) absorbs water while heavily tilled soil erodes quickly under water. This absorption capability protects no-till ground from erosion. CTIC photo.
More than 200 farmers, government officials, agribusiness, university and non-profit organization representatives toured Northwest Ohio on Aug. 9, 2011, to see agricultural conservation in action.
Tour host Conservation Technology Inform ... more. |
... tilth and, ultimately increases soil productivity.
Why is soil quality important?
Better soil retains more moisture for dry periods, yet the improved structure speeds natural infiltration in wet spots.
In the Great Plains, continuous no-till conserves 2-4" of soil moisture
annually when compared to intensive tillage systems.
In other areas, it improves water infiltration after the soil reaches its
maximum water holding capacity.
The improved soil structure also reduces compaction enabling plant roots
to be stronger, healthier.
Cleaner water
Soil erosion can be reduced by 90% (compared to intensive tillage). While we have
long thought of soil erosion as reducing top soil, we now know it's one of the
top &lsqu ... more. |
... Of course, compaction is also reduced by reducing trips across the field.
5. Increases organic matter
The latest research shows the more soil is tilled, the more carbon is released to the air and the less carbon is available to build organic matter for future crops. In fact, carbon accounts for about half of organic matter.
6. Traps soil moisture to improve water availability
Keeping crop residue on the surface traps water in the soil by providing shade. The shade reduces water evaporation. In addition, residue acts as tiny dams slowing runoff and increasing the opportunity for water to soak into the soil. Another way infiltration increases is by the channels (macropores) created by earthworms and old plant roots. In fact, continuous no-till can r ... more. |
Marsh-type area with saturated soils and water-loving plants.
Wetlands provide wildlife habitat and serve as natural filters for agricultural runoff.
How it works
Na ... more. |
A strip of grass, trees or shrubs that filters runoff and removes sediment, fertilizer, and pesticides before they reach water bodies or water sources including wells.
How it works
Strips of grass, trees and/or shrubs slow water flow and cause contaminants like sediment, pesticides, and fertilizers to collect in vegetation. Collected nutrients are used by the vegetation, rather than entering water supplies. Filtered water then enters water bodies.
How it helps
Grass, trees and shrubs provide cover for sma ... more. |
Water Quality Credit Trading Workshop
July 8-9, 2009
Sherrodsville, Ohio
Speaker Presentations:
Ohio's Water Quality Trading Rules - Gary Stuhlfauth, Ohio EPA
Ohio's Great Miami River Watershed - Dusty Hall, The Miami Conservancy District
Great Miami River Watershed Water Quality Credit Trading Program - Sarah Hippensteel
Community-Based Water Quality ... more. |
2020 Conservation In Action Tour- In Person EventPostponed
Join us virtually!
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, CTIC's 2020 Conservation in Action Tour has been postponed to 2021. We will instead host a virtual event in collaboration with the American Society of Agronomy's Sustainable Agronomy Conference on August 20, 2020.
Session #5: Environmental Benefits of Sustainable ... more. |
... on: developing consistent messages about nutrient management needs and practices in southeastern Minnesota, identifying and bringing the tools/ practices necessary for improving nutrient management, and obtaining funding to support direct technical assistance to help farmer understand, adopt and maintain nutrient management practices.
Working in 14 counties within the Wabash Watershed (two in western Ohio and 12 in eastern Indiana), CTIC has facilitated the formation of a watershed stakeholder group to identify needs for nutrient management within the watershed, identify existing programs and assistance for meeting nutrient management needs, determine what additional tools are needed for success, and search for ptential funding sources. The project's web site, http:www ... more. |
Weed & Pest Management (IPM) Benefits
Increases Profits
Inputs such as mechanical cultivation, pesticides, fertilizers and tillage costs money. By using best management practices to apply these inputs when they are actually needed, growers can reduce costs. Weed and pest management can help schedule required controls at the right time to maximize the benefits of the practice. Weed and pest management can improv ... more. |
... of these macronutrients in many states.
The absence of any single nutrient in the soil can limit plant growth, even when all other nutrients are present in adequate amounts. In addition, potash plays a critical role in drought and disease resistance.
Adding to farmers’ challenges is the growing awareness of environmental issues, such as climate change and water quality. Research is underway to determine how a comprehensive set of fertilizer best management practices (BMP) and conservation best management practices may help reduce nutrient pollution and soil erosion.
To help address these issues, the 4R nutrient stewardship system was developed. This peer-reviewed set of BMPs promotes the use of the right fertilizer source at the right rat ... more. |
From the Project Director
In our first year, the 10 farmers in the PLUS-UP program prevented almost 400 pounds of dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) from entering the Lake Erie watershed. For a little pilot project with 10 farmers and 5,000 acres, that's a big number.
DRP fuels algal blooms like gasoline feeds a fire. For PLUS-UP, we estimated the value of a pound of DRP at $100, a measure of the environmental damage it can cause and the cost of trying to remove it from water supplies to prevent it from enlarging the harmful algal blooms (HABs) that plagu ... more. |
... Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grant by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. EPA Region 5 Administrator Kurt Thiede announced today in a Chicago press event that the agency will fund the groups' three-year project—which uses satellite data, sophisticated models, farmer training programs, and direct incentives to create a market-driven reduction in phosphorus (P) runoff in the Ohio watersheds—with more than $472,000.
Mike Komp, CTIC's executive director, pointed out that the project will link not only extensive data collection, modeling, and on-the-ground action, but also link farmers with food companies and other players in the agricultural supply chain seeking to improve water quality.
“This grant will kick start an effort to lin ... more. |
... explanations of soil health, how we can improve it, and the progress that’s being made to ensure we have the healthy soils necessary to feed, clothe and fuel the world in the future.
The PED Talks series was created by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), Soil Health Institute (SHI), Soil Health Partnership (SHP), Soil Science Society of America (SSSA), Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) and U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
The inaugural PED Talks include a video introduction from NRCS Chief Matt Lohr and the following presentations:
Shannon Cappellazzi of SHI on “Soil Health Diagnosed as You’ve Never Heard Before”
Alex Fiock of SHP on “Focusing on Soil ... more. |
... of soil health, how we can improve it, and the progress that’s being made to ensure we have the healthy soils necessary to feed, clothe and fuel the world in the future.
The PED Talks series was created by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), Soil Health Institute (SHI), Soil Health Partnership (SHP), Soil Science Society of America (SSSA), Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) and U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
The inaugural PED Talks include a video introduction from NRCS Chief Matt Lohr and the following presentations:
Shannon Cappellazzi of SHI on “Soil Health Diagnosed as You’ve Never Heard Before”
Alex Fiock of SHP on “Focusing on Soil ... more. |
Today there are thousands of Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) nationally that require an National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)permit. Producers and their technical service providers need specialized informationand assistance with new technologies to resolve livestock waste management issues and address water quality concerns.
Collaborative watershed effortsfocused on managing livestock waste need resourcesto help inform the public and the producers.
Project Partner
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5
Activities
This project employs information technology transfer through published articles in CTIC's Partners online magazine, a manure managemen ... more. |
An earthen embankment around a hillside that stops water flow and stores it or guides it safely off a field.
How it works
Terraces break long slopes into shorter ones. They usually follow the contour. As water makes its way down a hill, terraces serve as small dams to intercept water and guide it to an outlet. There are two basic types of terraces—storage terraces and gradient terraces. Storage terraces collect water and store it unt ... more. |
... from 20 states heard this unique story. The audience represented numerous roles in the agriculture industry, such as growers, agricultural retailers, members of the media, agricultural and conservation organization representatives, federal and state agency representatives, students and researchers.
Tour high points:
Constructed wetland known as a stormwater treatment area that helps decrease the amount of nutrients in water running off of crop fields
Best Management Practices that agricultural producers can use to keep soil and inputs on their fields
Wooden boxes posted around fields as homes for owls
Sugarcane planting and harvesting
A beautiful view of the sunset over Lake Okeecho ... more. |
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and Conservation Information Technology Center (CTIC) partnered to provide information to watershed professionals throughout the state of Indiana. Below you can find agendas and presentations from those events.
Managing Runoff Networking Session
December 2009
Presentations
Riparian Forest Buffers
Wetland and Stream Restoration
2 Stage Ditch
Water Quality Monitoring Workshop
October 2009
Agenda
Presentations ... more. |
A highly qualified crop consultant (watershed coordinator) has been identified in each watershed to provide one on one technical support to the producers who participate in this program. These people will meet with producers and help them make important decisions to ensure a successful transition to using a cover crop and conservation tillage system.
Lake Michigan Coor ... more. |
... to improving soil organic matter and infiltration with continuous no-till.
Facilitating Conservation Farming Practices and Enhancing Environmental Sustainability with Agricultural Biotechnology explores environmental benefits of conservation tillage, facilitated significantly by biotechnology crops.
A Review of BMPs for Managing Crop Nutrients and Conservation Tillage to Improve Water Quality reviews research on nutrient best management practices (BMPs) for nitrogen and phosphorus, with emphasis on integrating BMPs with conservation tillage.
CTIC leads initiatives to promote and encourage adoption of conservation systems. Click here to learn more about CTIC Initiatives.
CTIC recommends the following sources for more information about agricultural conservati ... more. |
Whatcom County Dairy Farmers Tackle Water Quality Challenges
Using an innovative online tool to schedule late winter and early spring manure applications, Terry and Troy Lenssen of Lenssen Dairy in Lynden, Washington, can give soil microbes a chance to convert slurry nutrients into plant-available forms before spring growth starts in earnest, while also protecting local waterways from runoff of nutrients and bacteria. The Application ... more. |
Phosphorus runoff contributes to the shoreline of Lake Erie accumulating algae.
Photo courtesy of EPA
Experts Dispute Study That Relates No-Till to Algae Problem
Rachel Doctor
Last spring, a study conducted by Hiedelberg College's water lab in Tiffin, Ohio, reported that no-till farming was contributing to the dissolved phosphorus that enters the water supply and causes an accumulation of algae in Lake Erie.
According to Norm Widman, national agronomist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), no-till systems are not the reason for this dissolved phosphorus, but several things have caused a “perfect st ... more. |
... satellite images of the landscape through software developed by Applied GeoSolutions, OpTIS automatically identifies and quantifies various types of tillage and cover crop systems. Although the source data is captured at a resolution of 30 meters and tables are accurate to the acre, OpTIS ensures grower privacy by reporting and mapping at the USDA crop reporting district or HUC 8 watershed scale.
CTIC, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and Applied GeoSolutions have spearheaded the development, testing and promotion of OpTIS. Dr. David Gustafson, OpTIS project director for CTIC, points out that the trove of tillage system data is a natural update to CTIC's role as the go-to source for information on tillage ... more. |
News Source: Focus on Nutrient Management (PDF, 764 KB)
38 Nutrient Management Initiative Sites Established in 2009
Soil Fertility Research Program Approved by Legislature
Mining Soil Fertility Can Be Costly!
How do I Determine My Nitrogen Rate?
Nutrient Management and USDA-NRCS Conservation Programs
Fall Nitrogen Best Management Practices and Soil Temperature Network Pilot Proj
|
CTIC promotes conservation practices by raising awareness of the benefits of conservation, providing detailed information on successful implementation of practices, and sharing perspective on the needs and real-world challenges facing farmers trying to protect soil, water and air quality as well as their economic sustainability.
Watershed Success Forums
Working with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI), CTIC is identifying successful watershed management activities that engage landowners, farmers, and the broader public to protect water quality. Five forums in five states are yielding a g ... more. |
Nutrient Management Plan Resources
Minnesota’s Nonpoint Source Management Program Plan 2008, Chapter 9
MPCA Phosphorus Strategy
MDA Field Scale Water Quality Demonstrations (Hwy 90 & Red Top Demo site
Nutrient Management Initiative
Southern MN Nutrient Management Resources
|
Providing communities with the tools to research and adopt a viable solution for their waste water treatment. This workshop is designed to introduce participants to two free database management tools that can help improve wastewater management efforts in your communities.
When: October 7 and 8, 2010
Photo courtesy of NRCS
Where: Pike Bay Town Hall
&nbs ... more. |
... sustainability from an industry perspective, in relation to sustainable agriculture,” Mann says.
Increasing efficiency and precision in the application of inputs is one way agricultural producers can approach sustainability. With the right tools and technology, producers are reducing fuel use and emissions, keeping nutrients and chemicals on the field and reducing runoff to nearby waterways, Mann says.
Precision and efficiency
Last year, Deere spent more than $2.5 million per day on research and development, Mann says. That investment in efficiency and technology is paying off for the company, for producers and for the environment.
For example, Mann says, Deere’s smallest U.S.-made combine is more productive than Deere’s largest machine of jus ... more. |
... resources for learning about cover benefits, hear a farmer’s perspective on successfully adopting cover crops, see a demonstration of how to sign up for the program, and more.
Fact sheets from SARE, Extension Etc.
The following downloadable fact sheets from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program explain the impact cover crops have on soil erosion, water use, nutrient cycling and much more.
10 Ways Cover Crops Enhance Soil Health
Farmers can improve soil health by planting cover crops, which are planted between cropping seasons to protect and improve the soil. By keeping a living root in the ground for as long as possible, cover crops help build soil organic matter, improve water infiltration and water-holding capacity, decrease compaction, ... more. |
The History of NARS
The National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS) program is an EPA and State/Tribal effort to survey the condition of the nation’s waters.
Initiated in 2005, these statistically-based surveys have begun to provide EPA, States, Tribes and others partners with information to provide nationally consistent reports on the condition of the nation’s waters, to identify national and regional water quality priorities and to evaluate the effectiveness of the nation’s investment in water quality protection and restoration. The ... more. |
... advancements in conservation and identify future needs
Click here for more information.
Conservation Technology Information Center’s Conservation In Action Tour, slated for Aug. 2-3, 2010, will visit innovative farm operations in east central Virginia. Presenters will initiate discussions about agriculture’s role in addressing Chesapeake Bay water quality concerns and will demonstrate equipment, tools and technologies that help farmers use nutrients efficiently.
During this event, participating farmers, policy makers, agricultural advisors, conservation professionals, private industry, and others will visit farms and farmers in the Williamsburg area. Tour stops will feature successful, profitable farming operations bu ... more. |
Earthen embankment similar to a terrace that directs runoff water from a specific area.
How it works
A diversion is much like a terrace, but its purpose is to direct or divert runoff water from an area. A diversion is often built at the base of a slope to divert runoff away from bottom lands. A diversion may also be used to divert runoff flows away from a feedlot, or to collect and direct water to a pond.
How it helps
Reduces soil erosion on low ... more. |
CTIC has completed their workwith USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on a project in support of NWQI. This project identifiedsuccessful watershed management activities that engaged landowners, farmers, and the broader public to protect water quality. Insights developed through this project will inform future NRCS efforts to support local watershed initiatives with technical and financial resources.
As a first step, CTIC convenedwatershed leaders from across the country at five forums to learn from their experience—succes ... more. |
Know Your Watershed is a coordinated national effort to encourage the formation of local, voluntary watershed partnerships and help assure that these partnerships successfully attain their goals. The initiative is sponsored by more than 70 diverse National Partners representing private and public corporations, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. Each National Partner agrees to provide financial an ... more. |
... tilth and, ultimately increases soil productivity.
Why is soil quality important?
Better soil retains more moisture for dry periods, yet the improved structure speeds natural infiltration in wet spots.
In the Great Plains, continuous no-till conserves 2-4" of soil moisture annually when compared to intensive tillage systems.
In other areas, it improves water infiltration after the soil reaches its maximum water holding capacity.
The improved soil structure also reduces compaction enabling plant roots to be stronger, healthier.
Cleaner water
Soil erosion can be reduced by 90% (compared to intensive tillage). While we have long thought of
soil erosion as reducing top soil, we now know it's one of the top ‘pollutants ... more. |
Applying the correct amount, form, and timing of plant nutrients for optimum yield and minimum impact on water quality.
How it works
After taking a soil test, setting realistic yield goals, and taking credit for contributions from previous years' crops and manure applications, crop nutrient needs are determined. Nutrients are then applied at the proper time by the proper application method. Nutrient sources include animal manure, biosolids, and commercial fertilizers. These steps reduce the po ... more. |
Planting forage and using grazing rotations to maximize production and
reduce sediment and nutrient runoff. Consider food, water and herd size.
How it works
Pasture is divided into two or more pastures or paddocks with fencing.
Cattle are moved from paddock to paddock on a pre-arranged schedule based on forage availability and livestock nutrition needs.
How it helps
Improves vegetative cover, reducing erosion and improving water quality.
Increases harvest efficiency and helps ensure adequate forage thr ... more. |
Strips of grass or legumes in a contoured field, which help trap sediment and nutrients. Similar to stripcropping, but with narrower grass or
legume strips.
How it works
A series of grass strips are placed across the slope on a contour. The alternating strips of grass or other permanent vegetation slow runoff flow, trap sediment from the crop strips above, and increase water infiltration. Because the buffer strip is established on the contour, runoff flows evenly across the entire surface of the grass strip, reducing sheet and rill erosion.
How it helps
Vegetation provides cover and habitat for small birds and animals.
The strips reduce erosion by slowing water flow and increasing water infiltration.
By reducing siltation and filtering nutrients and ... more. |
Since its inception, CTIC has been the go-to source for data on the adoption of conservation practices across the U.S. Though federal support of the popular crop residue management transect survey ended in 2004, scientists, policy makers and marketers have continued to tap CTIC's databases. Now, we're at the forefront of using remote sensing to bring back state, regional and national data on crop residue and cover crop management.
Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS)
The Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) has been developed by Regrow, TNC ... more. |
Animal manure management is a significant challenge for many small dairy farms. One manure management system in limited use is a bedded pack. A bedded pack management system (BPMS) is defined here as a covered barnyard and feeding area that holds a variety of dairy cattle, storing their manure through the accumulation of an unturned bedding of dry material for later use as a nutrient amendment.
|
Top 10 Management Tips
10.
Soil Management: Providing sufficient amounts of crop residue on the soil surface improves organic matter of the soil. Soil testing and applying proper amounts of fertilizer and micronutrients provides for optimum growing environment.
9.
Cultural Practices: The pest’s environment is disrupted by rotating crops, and timely harvesting of crops. Planting cover cro ... more. |
MY CONSERVATION STORY...
BAMERT SEED
BOOSTING BIODIVERSITY AND WATER AVAILABILITY ON RANGELAND
Most conversations about the Ogallala Aquifer in the southern High Plains revolve around water scarcity. But ask Chris Grotegut about his 11,000-acre farming and ranching operation outside of Hereford, Texas, and you'll find out he pulled out 75% of his pivots and shifted to a largely dryland system.
Grotegut's secret weapon: b ... more. |
Conservation Buffer Facts
Conservation Buffers are small areas or strips of land in vegetation, designed to slow water runoff, provide
shelter and stabilize riparian areas. Strategically placed in the agricultural landscape, buffers can effectively mitigate
the movement of sediment, nutrients, and pesticides within farm fields. Buffers include: contour buffer strips, field
orders, filter strips, windbreaks, and wetlands. A small amount of land in buffers can assist producers in meeting
both econo ... more. |
Changing farming practices which occur on or near the farmstead in order to reduce the risk of contamination of water sources — mainly the well.& ... more. |
Earthen, wooden, metal, concrete or other structure built across a drainageway to prevent gully erosion.
How it works
A dam, embankment or other structure built across a grassed waterway or existing gully controls and reduces water flow. The structure drops water from one stabilized grade to another and prevents overfall gullies from advancing up a slope.
How it helps
Grade control structures are often used at the outlet of a grassed waterway to stabilize ... more. |
The Upper Wabash Nutrient Management Coalition is working with the Grand Lake/Wabash Watershed Alliance (GLWWA) to collect data on swine manure nutrient content.
The GLWWA’s watershed action plan, endorsed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, includes objectives related to agriculture. Many focus on reducing nutrient loading to streams. Nutrient loads can be reduced by addressing erosion problems and using best management ... more. |
... footprint of their raw materials, stakeholders throughout the agri-food supply chain are working diligently to quantify and benchmark sustainability. CTIC is a partner in several initiatives to bring together participants from various points in the supply chain to develop metrics and processes that provide useful insight and fit into real-world, on-farm management systems.
Phosphorus Water Quality Trading Program in Western Lake Erie
CTIC, in partnership with Ecosystem Services Marketplace Consortium (ESMC), Heidelberg University in Ohio, and others, has been awarded a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grant by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This grant will be used launch a brand-new program to compensate farmers for conservation practices that reduce ph ... more. |
... 21st century heir to CTIC's long-time Crop Residue Management (CRM) Survey, OpTIS will provide comprehensive maps of crop residue management practices and cover crops down to the HUC8 scale. Annual maps and data—with the capability of tracking practices longitudinally over time—will be invaluable to researchers analyzing carbon sequestration, soil erosion, water quality and soil health.
Policy makers can use OpTIS data to study the adoption of conservation practices or support emerging environmental markets in carbon or water quality credits, adds Dave Gustafson, CTIC interim executive director, who has been managing the OpTIS program.
CTIC has worked with Applied GeoSolutions and The Nature Conservancy to develop and ground-truth OpT ... more. |
... Redux.”
Robertson and the Ecological Society of America are encouraging development of policy programs to provide incentives for ethanol producers to follow proper management and use appropriate conservation practices.
To view ESA's position statement on biofuel sustainability, visit: www.esa.org/pao/policyStatements/Statements/biofuel.php
EPA Promotes Safe Drinking Water with New Brochure
A new brochure from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made its debut at the National FFA Convention in late October. The brochure is intended to provide access to key information on best agricultural practices to protect sources of drinking water. The target audience is high school ag science students, their advisors and instructors, as well as a broader agricultur ... more. |
... against the cost
of control. Finally, if pest control is economical, all alternatives are evaluated based on
cost, results, and environmental impact. Precaution is taken to keep any chemicals from
leaving the field by leaching, runoff or drift.
How it helps
Scouting and spot treatment for only those pests that are threatening can save money.
Using fewer chemicals improves water quality.
Specific treatments for specific pests on specific areas of a field prevents over-treatment of pests.
Planning ahead
Which soils on your farm are likely to leach pesticides?
Did you establish filter strips along streams?
Did you consider pest control alternatives?
Did you use records of crops and pest control for reference?
Did you rotate crops to reduce the chance of p ... more. |
... harmful algae blooms in Lake Erie.
Our goal with the PLUS-UP pilot project has been to develop an efficient, effective program. That's why we focused on DRP, which is completely available to algae (and to crops, making its loss from farms a big economic blow as well as an environmental one). University researchers have calculated the economic damage caused by DRP in the Lake Erie watershed at over $1,000 per pound, based on direct costs like drinking water treatment and indirect ones like damage to tourism and the fishing industry.
To help drive this pilot effort to develop a procedure for understanding, incentivizing and reducing DRP in surface waters, The Bayer Carbon Program stepped up to underwrite the DRP credits. In turn, we are delivering those funds to ... more. |
... harmful algae blooms in Lake Erie.
Our goal with the PLUS-UP pilot project has been to develop an efficient, effective program. That's why we focused on DRP, which is completely available to algae (and to crops, making its loss from farms a big economic blow as well as an environmental one). University researchers have calculated the economic damage caused by DRP in the Lake Erie watershed at over $1,000 per pound, based on direct costs like drinking water treatment and indirect ones like damage to tourism and the fishing industry.
To help drive this pilot effort to develop a procedure for understanding, incentivizing and reducing DRP in surface waters, The Bayer Carbon Program stepped up to underwrite the DRP credits. In turn, we are delivering those funds to ... more. |
... and legumes to reduce soil erosion and improve production.
How it works
Drill or broadcast adapted grass or legumes into a low-producing pasture or a steep, eroding cropland field.
How it helps
Heavy grass cover slows water flow, reducing soil erosion.
Good pastures protect water quality by filtering runoff water and increasing infiltration.
Lush pastures give cover and habitat for wildlife.
As plants recycle and roots die, organic matter in the soil is improved.
Planning ahead
Are selected species suited to your soil types?
Have you chosen species that will help you reduce the use of pesticides and ... more. |
... responsibility for stewardship, carbon markets and profitable conservation;
lunch at the Shirley Plantation, the oldest family-owned business in North America;
the Carter farm where no-till cotton grows successfully in cool soil temperatures; and
a series of presentations at the Paul Davis farm. These will include how agriculture will play a significant role in removing water quality impairments in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and what Clean Water Act and Total Maximum Daily Load regulations could mean to agriculture and the region.
The day will end with a steak dinner on the banks of the Pamunkey River, a major tributary to the Chesapeake Bay. Plan to join us on Aug. 2 for a social event the evening before the one-day tour. Lodging and travel details wi ... more. |
FREE WEBINAR ON USING SATELLITE DATA TO MODEL WATER QUALITY, APRIL 26 NOON EDT
A free webinar on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at 12:00 pm EDT will feature key insights from researchers using data from the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) to help model water quality. Register here for the webinar and question-and-answer session with the panel.
Speakers during the live, hour-long "OpTIS 3.0: Unlocking Water ... more. |
... on the future of conservation in US row crop agriculture. In doing so, I realize some of what I have to say could be regarded as controversial, so let me be very clear that these are my words alone, and not those of CTIC. There’s good news and bad news. The good news is that practices like cover crops and continuous no-till have tremendous potential to deliver a future of improved soil and water conservation outcomes. But the bad news is that this future is now imperiled by rising levels of aggressive litigation targeted against agriculture, such as (1) the 2015 Des Moines Water Works lawsuit (eventually dismissed in 2017 after two years of costly legal wrangling); (2) a second March 2019 lawsuit against the State of Iowa brought by two activist organizations and a bevy of California-led ... more. |
Cover crops help control erosion, prevent nutrient leaching, fix nitrogen, improve sail conditions, and protect seedlings, but also use water, thus affecting soil water relationships far the next crop.
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;Calibri" ,"sans-serif";times="" new="" roman";times="" roman";"="">Cover crop effects on soil water relationships.
|
CTIC Institutional Gold Member, Soil and Water Conservation Society, has a mission to foster the science and art of natural resource conservation. Their work targets conservation of soil, water, and related natural resources on working land - the land used to produce food, fiber, and other services that improve the quailty of life people experience in rural and urban communities. They work to discover, develop, implement, and cons ... more. |
Farming with row patterns nearly level around the hill—not up and down hill.
How it works
Crop row ridges built by tilling and/or planting on the contour create hundreds of small dams. These ridges or dams slow water flow and increase infiltration which reduces erosion.
How it helps
Contouring can reduce soil erosion by as much as 50% from up and down hill farming. *
By reducing sediment and runoff, and increasing water infiltration, contouring promotes better water quality.
Planning ahead
Will more than one key contour line be needed because of steep or irregular slopes?
Are terra ... more. |
Schroeder planted corn into soybean residue without disturbing the soil. No-till helps reduce erosion, saves time and money, and improves water and soil quality.
Photo courtesy of Jason Johnson
More Acres Can Also Mean More Conservation
By Jason Johnson
As the number of Iowa farmers decreases and the average farm size increases, that can mean more conservation on the ground – especially when it’s farmed by environmental stewards like Paul &l ... more. |
DNDC: The Denitrification-Decomposition (DNDC) model was used to simulate carbon and nitrogen soil dynamics as a function of the soil health management practices monitored by OpTIS (crop diversity, conservation tillage, and cover crops).
DNDC performs process-based simulations of nitrogen and carbon dynamics in agroecosystems. Based on environmental drivers (inputs like soil characteristics, temperature and precipitation data, crop characteristics, and crop management) the model predicts crop growth and yield, soil organic carbon (S ... more. |
... of the Bee Integrated farmers in North Dakota establish their habitat," said Mike Smith, CTIC's Bee Integrated project manager.
Building on a successful 3-year pilot program in North Dakota, the Bee Integrated Demonstration Project stands as a model for beekeepers and farmers in other states to coordinate on best practices in pollinator habitat, varroa mite management, and crop pest management that can help improve colony health.
Data from six beekeeper/farmer-landowner pairs demonstrated that implementing the best management practices together resulted in:
Larger honey bee colonies
More pollen diversity in bees' diets
More managed and native bees observed foraging in established habitat
Practical insights from farmers and ... more. |
Watershed Management Starter Kit
This complete kit includes seven guides (Getting to Know Your Watershed, Building Local Partnerships, Putting Together a Watershed Management Plan, Managing Conflict, Leading and Communicating, and two others), a 13-minute dvd video (Partnerships for Watersheds), companion brochure and an application to the National Watershed Network. In other words, it includes ever ... more. |
... are used include:
assess successes of Farm Bill programs, state and local-level initiatives
document what farmers save in fuel usage at the county, state and national levels
track the progress of, and measure trends in, conservation tillage adoption
prioritize areas for program focus, such as Conservation Stewardship Program
provide assessment data as a core component of local watershed management plans.
Activities
CTIC is working to develop new software that will simplify the collection process, allow data to upload to CTIC's web site with a click of a button and tie collection points to GPS coordinates. With Purdue University, CTIC is exploring the use of remote sensing technology to estimate residue cover and, ideally, increase efficiency and accurac ... more. |
During the first 3-4 years of a no-till system, the soil biology and chemistry undergoes several significant changes.
No-Till Management- Nitrogen Management
|
Manure Management Planner (MMP) is a Windows-based computer program developed at Purdue University that is used to create manure management plans for crop and animal feeding operations. The user enters information about the operation's fields, crops, storage, animals, and application equipment. MMP helps the user allocate manure (where, when and how much) on a monthly basis for the length of the plan. Purdue&# ... more. |
... to interested farmers and ranchers from Oklahoma and surrounding states.
For more details, view the conference brochure.
Below is an outline of topics to be covered at this year's No-Till Conference:
Soil Fertility
Cover Crops
No-Till Cotton Production
Intensifying the Rotation with Double-Crops
On-Farm Research Session
Weed Management
Corn and Soybean Production
No-Till Wheat Grazing Systems
Weed Science 101
Soils 101
Intensified Management with Grid Soil Sampling and/or Management Zones
Dedicated Absentee Landowners Session
Soil Conservation
|
The Wisconsin Soil Nutrient Application Program (SNAP-Plus) is a Windows-based software package for developing N and P based nutrient management plans that meet the Wisconsin 590 Nutrient Management Standard. In addition to creating a nutrient management plan, SNAP-Plus integrates the Wisconsin P Index and uses RUSLE2 to access soil loss based on the rotation entered.
|
... of your production system, you can reduce risk and, ultimately, maximize profit. Environment.
Good nutrient management planning is an integral part of a system of practices that conserve and enhance natural resources. It reduces production and environmental risks. The more nutrients your crop converts to grain or fiber, the less opportunity for nutrients to reach streams, lakes or groundwater. And, if you’re like most farmers in the United States, you’re proud of your abilities to protect the environment. By tightening up the nutrient-crop conversion rate even more, you’ll continue to prove farmers are environmentalists.
Last Update: 02/02/00
|
... agribusiness leaders, conservation group personnel, farm media, and others. The organization is supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and other public entities. CTIC’s mission is to champion, promote and provide information on climate smart technologies and sustainable agricultural systems that conserve and enhance soil, water, air and wildlife resources and are productive and profitable. Learn more about CTIC at www.ctic.org.
About Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture and the Environment
Wolfe's Neck Center is a nonprofit, farm-based education, research, and visitor center on a mission to transform our relationship with food and farming for a healthier planet. By facilitating knowledge and bes ... more. |
... agribusiness leaders, conservation group personnel, farm media, and others. The organization is supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and other public entities. CTIC’s mission is to champion, promote and provide information on climate smart technologies and sustainable agricultural systems that conserve and enhance soil, water, air and wildlife resources and are productive and profitable. Learn more about CTIC at www.ctic.org.
About Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture and the Environment
Wolfe's Neck Center is a nonprofit, farm-based education, research, and visitor center on a mission to transform our relationship with food and farming for a healthier planet. By facilitating knowledge and bes ... more. |
... of fertilizer, seed treatments and other inputs. The FS team will also provide an exploration of the role of Certified Crop Advisors in implementing conservation and production goals.
LICA Demonstration Farm, Melbourne. The tour will visit the 80-acre home of a wide range of constructed conservation systems for an up-close look at many in-field and edge-of-field practices that protect water quality and build healthy soils.
Tesdell Century Farm, Slater. This fifth-generation farm is home to an installation of prairie strips, which Lee Tesdell and Iowa State University researchers use to study and demonstrate the power of plant diversity in building soils and habitat on the farm.
The tour also includes lunch at New Century FS and dinner and a keynote speaker at Jester Park Lodg ... more. |
Our demonstrations illustrate the 4 Rs of nutrient management:
Right Source
Right Rate
Right Place
Right Time
We demonstrate management systems---not individual practices.
We measure practice success through agronomic yield, economic sustainability, nutrient use efficiency and water quality impacts.
Agrium's ESN v. Urea
Agrium designed ESN®, a polymer coated urea, to slow the release of nitrogen into the environment. This is allows the plant to access nitrogen when it needs it the most... Read more.
Application Timing
We designed this study to demonstrate the differences in nitrogen rates and yields with different urea appl ... more. |
... of the acres and rotate planting of corn and soybeans on the rest of the land. Their minimum tillage practices leave at least 30% of the previous crops’ residue on the soil surface. This residue decreases soil erosion and feeds nutrients back to the soil.
They apply nitrogen after the corn plants emerge, when nutrient needs are the greatest. This minimizes nitrogen lost to air and water.
To maximize efficiency, farmers must select the right nutrient source. A controlled-release nitrogen source such as Koch Agronomic Service’s Agrotain® may offer benefits.
Agrotain® blocks the enzyme urease to prevent nitrogen loss, which begins the moment the farmer applies fertilizer or manure. Losses add up over time, decreasing profitability and increasing nitrogen’s ... more. |
... of the acres and rotate planting of corn and soybeans on the rest of the land. Their minimum tillage practices leave at least 30% of the previous crops’ residue on the soil surface. This residue decreases soil erosion and feeds nutrients back to the soil.
They apply nitrogen after the corn plants emerge, when nutrient needs are the greatest. This minimizes nitrogen lost to air and water.
To maximize efficiency, farmers must select the right nutrient source. A controlled-release nitrogen source such as Koch Agronomic Service’s Agrotain® may offer benefits.
Agrotain® blocks the enzyme urease to prevent nitrogen loss, which begins the moment the farmer applies fertilizer or manure. Losses add up over time, decreasing profitability and increasing nitro ... more. |
Our demonstrations illustrate the 4 Rs of nutrient management:
Right Source
Right Rate
Right Place
Right Time
We demonstrate management systems-- not individual practices.
We measure practice success through agronomic yield, economic sustainability, nutrient use efficiency and water quality impacts.
|
... microbes healthy (again through minimal soil disturbance), fertilizing crops adequately, avoiding soil compaction and rotating crops. “It's really site-specific, and we really need to understand the crop system we're talking about,” said Amado.
Got to Pay
Building carbon levels in the soil delivers a variety of important benefits, from improved soil quality to better water-holding capacity, higher fertility and resistance to erosion. Still, the biggest enticement to sequestering carbon will be creating markets through which farmers can sell the service they provide.
“I think what we're really looking for as a farm organization, or society in general, is some way to reward farmers and ranchers for doing things like storing carbon and some other envir ... more. |
... on the surface before and during planting operations provides cover for the soil at a critical time of the year. The residue is left on the surface by reducing tillage operations and turning the soil less. Pieces of crop residue shield soil particles from rain and wind until plants can produce a protective canopy.
How it helps
Ground cover prevents soil erosion and protects water quality.
Residue improves soil tilth and adds organic matter to the soil as it decomposes.
Fewer trips and less tillage reduces soil compaction.
Time, energy and labor savings are possible with fewer tillage trips.
Planning ahead
Will your crop produce enough residue?
Is crop residue management part of a planned system of conservation measures?
Do you have the needed equipment?
... more. |
CNMPs are very important resources. They provide valuable natural resource management information and help farmers and ranchers comply with water quality regulations. The final EPA regulation for CAFOs and recent public pressure elevate the importance of this NRCS planning assistance. You are encouraged to emphasize this importance and continue to communicate and collaborate with livestock and poultry industry producers and representatives.
Contact. Additional copies may be ordered for NRCS offices, partners, and the public, without cost ... more. |
Initiatives, publications, and opportunities for multi-state collaboration in animal waste management.
|
Agricultural biotechnology delivers more than just streamlined pest management options or the promise of healthier, higher quality crops. Biotech-derived crops allow growers to adopt sustainable farming practices ranging from conservation tillage to integrated pest management. Those practices protect soil, water and air quality and allow producers to sustain our natural resources as well as our lives and lifestyles.
The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), with funding from the United Soybean Board, has produced Facilitating Conservation Farming Practices and Enhancing Environmental Sustainability with Agricultural Biotechnology, a thorough exploration of the environmental benefits of ... more. |
... OpTIS data show we’re moving in the right direction, but we want to work with farmers to increase adoption and help them learn from the growers who have been experiencing the benefits from cover crops and conservation tillage for years.”
By adopting soil health practices, farmers can improve productivity of their fields, reduce soil erosion, improve water quality and increase soil carbon storage. In fact, agricultural soils are among the planet's largest reservoirs of carbon. Improving soil management practices on U.S. croplands has the potential to mitigate 25 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. That’s the equivalent to taking 5 million passenger cars off the road for one year.
Easily Accessible Data Can Help A ... more. |
The Conservation In Action Tour keeps growing! On May 31, 2012, nearly 250 participants gathered in the Mississippi Delta to meet and learn from farmers who face unique challenges in water quality, herbicide resistance and wildlife management. The Tour, organized by CTIC and partner Delta F.A.R.M., highlighted innovative conservation practices that producers and partners implement to protect and preserve one of the largest contiguous ecosystems in North America. Producers, agribusiness partners, government officials and media professionals from 26 states across the nation came to T ... more. |
Participants found out how agriculture protects water quality and improves soil health during
the Conservation In Action Tour 2010.
WHEN: August 2-3, 2010
WHERE: Williamsburg, Virginia
WHAT: Visited farms and farmers in east central Virginia who run profitable operations and provide communities with valuable ecosystem services.
Fill out an Evaluation Form from the Conservation In Action Tour 2010.
Vi ... more. |
... brand-new website at www.ctic.org. The easy-to-search, simple-to-navigate site contains thousands of documents and links to information on conservation farming systems. Among the highlights are:
A searchable database from the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), which uses satellite imagery to provide detailed data on tillage practices and cover crops at the county or watershed (HUC-8) scale;
Cover crop insight, including details of the economic and environmental benefits of cover crops and the results of five annual farmer surveys on cover crop use;
Tips on organizing watershed groups and multi-stakeholder conservation efforts, including tips, analysis of knowledge transfer, and ideas for creating effective demonstration plots;
Real-world perspective on conse ... more. |
... be held in the Des Moines area. Watch www.ctic.org/CIATours for details so you can mark your calendar and join us!
Conservation in Action Tour participants fill the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center.
Conservation in Action Tours provide a close-up look at BMPs.
Alex Echols of Ecosystem Services Exchange describes controlled drainage management systems.
|
CTIC is working with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to improve the effective engagement by NRCS in delivering watershed projects and to enhance the agency's ability to communicate the issues and success of watershed projects. This project is identifying successful watershed management activities that engage landowners, farmers, and the broader public to protect water quality. Insights developed through this project will inform future NRCS efforts to support local watershed initiatives with technical and fi ... more. |
The objectives of the National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS) Workshop and Training Sessions were to bring together EPA, State, Tribal and other partners working on water monitoring issues across waterbody types to:
Discuss and share information on the national aquatic resource surveys and their relationship to other state/tribal programs.
Provide technical training and tools so that States, Tribes and other partners can build their capacity to implement aquatic resource surveys at multiple scales (data management, analysis, interpretation).
Provide exam ... more. |
A Review of BMPs for Managing Crop Nutrients and Conservation Tillage to Improve Water Quality
This publication will review research on nutrient management BMPs for the two nutrients of major concern, Nitrogen and Phosphorus, with an emphasis on integrating BMPs with conservation tillage.
|
Participants found out how agriculture protects water quality and improves soil health during
the Conservation In Action Tour 2010.
WHEN: August 2-3, 2010
WHERE: Williamsburg, Virginia
WHAT: Visited farms and farmers in east central Virginia who run profitable operations and provide communities with valuable ecosystem services.
Fill out an Evaluation Form from the Conservation In Act ... more. |
... Crop rotation is a common practice on sloping soils because of its potential for soil saving. Rotation also reduces fertilizer needs, because alfalfa and other legumes replace some of the nitrogen corn and other grain crops remove.
How it helps
Pesticide costs may be reduced by naturally breaking the cycles of weeds, insects and diseases.
Grass and legumes in a rotation protect water quality by preventing excess nutrients or chemicals from entering water supplies.
Meadow or small grains cut soil erosion dramatically.
Crop rotations add diversity to an operation.
Planning ahead
Do you have use for other crops?
Cover crops may help in crop rotation.
Tech notes
Crops must be suited to your soils.
Design crop rotations to meet the residue needs ... more. |
... Hays and Tribune, Kan., and theUniversity of Nebraska at Sidney.
Algae Put to Work
Algae may become a biofuel source in the future, but could be employed todayto remove nitrogen and phosphorus in livestock manure runoff, according to the Agricultural Research Service (ARS).This may be an option for reducing nutrient delivery to the Chesapeake Bay and other water bodies. More...
Natural Resources Inventory Details Trends in Conservation Agriculture
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently released new data on soil erosion and development trends on non-federal lands. This latest National Resources Inventory (NRI), focused onthe years between 1982 and 2007,highlights data suggesting thatthat soil erosion has ... more. |
... Research Service National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment (NLAE) shows cover crops planted in the fall between harvest and planting of spring crops help reduce soil erosion, limit nitrogen leaching, suppress weeds, increase soil organic matter and improve overall soil quality. Small grain cover crops increase surface cover, anchor corn and soybean residues, and increase water infiltration. Several cover crops, like turnips and radishes, are also suitable for grazing by livestock and wildlife. Aerial seeding of cover crops in August or after harvest is also an option.
Cover Crop Success with Organic Farming
Workshop panel member Earl Hafner of Panora says a mix of cover crops serve a vital purpose for his organic row crop and livestock operation. He plants ... more. |
... no-till works to reverse these problems.
• Cover crops reduce soil compaction and improve carbon inputs and nitrogen recycling.
• As soil organic matter levels build, more nitrogen and phosphorus are efficiently recycled and released to the soil through increased microbial populations.
• Nitrogen losses decrease as soil compaction decreases, due to improved water infiltration.
• Ultimately, soil nutrient storage, water infiltration, soil structure and soil tilth improve.
The benefits of cover crops may help the soil’s ecological balance be restored in two to four years, rather than seven to nine. Soil type and prior management will influence the time required for these changes.
With dedicated effort and the input of cons ... more. |
... Your Fieldprint?
Corn, cotton, soybean, and wheat growers now have access to a free, confidential online tool that will assess how some operational decisions affect natural resource conservation and sustainability.
The Fieldprint Calculator, available at www.fieldtomarket.org, provides an easy way to analyze and assess their current land use, energy use, water use, greenhouse gas emission, and soil loss. It also explores various scenarios that may help improve farm natural resource management and, ultimately, their operation efficiency and financial return. Click here for more information on the Fieldprint Calculator.
For more information on the Fieldprint Calculator, please visit the Field to Market website www.fieldtomarket.org or see Frequen ... more. |
Improving the quality and quantity of woodland growing stock and maintaining ground cover and litter for soil and water conservation.
How it works
Existing woodland or other suitable land is dedicated to timber production. Livestock is excluded. Optimum tree populations are determined by the kinds of trees planted and their adaptability to your soils. Existing trees or newly planted trees are thinned, pruned and harvested to maintain desired production. Twigs, limbs and other debris are not removed, mainta ... more. |
... system and planned field application. Several options exist including an earthen storage pond, above or below ground tank, pit underneath a confinement facility or a sheltered concrete slab area. Manure can be pumped, scraped and hauled, pushed or flushed into your storage structure. The structure's purpose is to safely contain the manure and keep nutrient loss and pollution of downstream water bodies to a minimum by preventing runoff.
How it helps
Protects water quality, by preventing runoff from feedlots.
Cuts fertilizer costs and reduces nutrient losses.
Allows for field application when conditions are right.
Planning ahead
Is the structure planned for the proper location considering the landscape, potential odor problems, visibility, aesthetic value and compatibi ... more. |
We live our values by making sustainability goals part of everything we do throughout the soybean lifecycle - from soil to seed to marketplace. Our environmental stewardship programs encourage reduced tillage as well as other tactics to improve energy efficiency, water conservation, water and air quality, and a variety of best management practices. |
VirtualNational Recreational Water Quality Workshop
April 6-8, 2021
About the Workshop:
This virtual format, 3-day workshop will be a forum for recreational water quality managers, stakeholders, researchers and public health officials at all levels to share information and ideas about implementing a successful recreational water program. The focus of this workshop is on two common challenges in ambient recreational wa ... more. |
Risks to Recreation
Integrating Children’s Exposure in Risk Assessment
Helena Solo-Gabriele
No Bio Available
No Bio Delivered
Video Length - 9:10
Outbreaks Associated with Untreated Recreational Water — United States, 2009-2017
Michele Hlavsa
Speaker Bio
Michele Hlavsa is chief of the U.S. CDC's Healthy Swimming Program and the agency’s lead on the Model Aquatic Health Code. She collaborates with U.S. and non-U.S. public health authorities and the aquatics sector to develop evidence-based measures to prevent recreational water–associated illness and pool chemic ... more. |
Notification and Risk Communication
Beach Report Card and NowCast: Successes and Challenges of Public Water Quality Notifications
Luke Ginger
Speaker Bio
Luke Ginger is a Water Quality Scientist at the Southern California nonprofit Heal the Bay. He spends his time looking out for the people who go to the beaches, rivers, and streams by managing the organization’s recreational water quality programs. He has a B.S. in Biology from The University of St. Thomas and a M.S. in Biology from M ... more. |
CTIC has worked closely with U.S. EPA's Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds (OWOW) to organize a national, invitation-only NARS (National Aquatic Resource Surveys) meeting for 125 water quality professionals. Participants from federal, state and tribal agencies, as well as contract partners, will attend.
The NARS meeting, held in Denver March 25-29 in conjunction with the National Water Quality Monitoring Conference, will explore the direction of EPA ... more. |
Argonne National Laboratory found a home for its biomass test site on the Ray Popejoy farm in the Indian Creek watershed.
Argonne is exploring the potential for farmers to employ underused or marginal land to produce crops for biomass energy. Factors studied include economic potential and water quality benefits.
As this project moves forward, funding from the Department of Energy is expected to support the scientific investigation and field study. Agribusiness will assist with identifying potential su ... more. |
The National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS) are collaborative programs between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), states and tribes that assess the quality of the nation's inland and coastal waters, providing vital data that can help guide conservation efforts on the landscape.
CTIC works with EPA and its partners on technical training to carry out NARS assessments, and to promote conservation systems that help protect and improve water quality.
Through articles, videos and other media, we hope to inform farmers and landowners about water quality issues, inspire them to adopt practic ... more. |
... as an educational tool to help expand the knowledge compiled since the group's formation two years ago to farmers and others in agricultural-related fields.
The MCCC is comprised of a diverse group of academia, production agriculture, non-governmental organizations, commodity interests, private sector and representatives from federal and state agencies collaborating to address soil, water, air and agricultural quality concerns in the Great Lakes and Mississippi river basins (including Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Manitoba, Ontario, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and North Dakota).
The group's belief is cover crops are a practical way to decrease soil erosion, increase nutrient recycling by crops and decrease soil and nutrient waste entering waterways.
Dr. Eil ... more. |
... (FSH) program which offers additional financial resources for cover crops.
General Mills' generous contribution will enable CTIC to expand its reach, providing on-the-ground support and guidance to farmers interested in adopting cover cropping practices. These coaches will work directly with farmers, helping them navigate the complexities of cover crop selection, planting, and management, tailoring solutions to their specific needs and circumstances.
“There are many farmers in the Upper Midwest with deep knowledge and experience in adapting the soil health principles to this agricultural landscape.” said Jay Watson, Director of Regenerative Agriculture at General Mills. “We are excited to partner with the Conservation Technology Information Ce ... more. |
... groups, in which producers with a wide range of approaches—from traditional corn/soybean rotations to highly diversified operations—gather to discuss the challenges and opportunities posed by diversification.
Hosting in-field research, allowing agronomists, entomologists, hydrologists and soil scientists to study farmers' existing management systems, ranging from conventional corn/soybean rotations to more complex cropping and/or grazing systems. Host producers will not be asked to change their management; researchers will share and help interpret data produced on participating farms.
Joining Reimagining Agricultural Diversification (RAD) Teams, engaged conversations among producers, agricultural advisors, community ... more. |
Register today to earn 4 nutrient management CEUs free!
Visit ctic.org for the full agenda.
|
... groups, in which producers with a wide range of approaches—from traditional corn/soybean rotations to highly diversified operations—gather to discuss the challenges and opportunities posed by diversification.
Hosting in-field research, allowing agronomists, entomologists, hydrologists and soil scientists to study farmers' existing management systems, ranging from conventional corn/soybean rotations to more complex cropping and/or grazing systems. Host producers will not be asked to change their management; researchers will share and help interpret data produced on participating farms.
Joining Reimagining Agricultural Diversification (RAD) Teams, engaged conversations among producers, agricultural advisors, community ... more. |
... Place
Keep nutrients where crops can use them
Choose application method
Incorporate fertilizer
Use buffer strips
Use conservation tillage
Implement cover crop systems
Right Rate
Match amount of fertilizer to crop needs
Test soils
Yield goal analysis
Crop removal balance
Nutrient management planning
Plant tissue analysis
Record keeping
Variable rate technology
Site-specific management
Sponsors
|
... fertilizer in the fall, in a strip-tilled area. He harvested the plots with his yield-monitor-equipped combine.
We analyzed his yield data along with fertilizer rate and other data including field observations and soil and plant analysis and we used the Crop Nutrient Response Tool* to determine the maximum economic rate of nitrogen: 212 pounds per acre.
We encourage other farmers in the watershed to adopt this approach to collecting information critical to making fully informed nitrogen management decisions.
*International Plant Nutrition Institute designed the Crop Nutrient Response Tool to assist interpretation and record-keeping for on-farm field crop trials involving multiple rates of any added nutrient. It provides the an estimate of optimum rate for a single-year response ... more. |
... Place
Keep nutrients where crops can use them
+ Choose application method
+ Incorporate fertilizer
+ Use buffer strips
+ Use conservation tillage
+ Implement cover crop systems
Right Rate
Match amount of fertilizer to crop needs
+ Test soils
+ Yield goal analysis
+ Crop removal balance
+ Nutrient management planning
+ Plant tissue analysis
+ Record keeping
+ Variable rate technology
+ Site-specific management
|
... Place
Keep nutrients where crops can use them
Choose application method
Incorporate fertilizer
Use buffer strips
Use conservation tillage
Implement cover crop systems
Right Rate
Match amount of fertilizer to crop needs
Test soils
Yield goal analysis
Crop removal balance
Nutrient management planning
Plant tissue analysis
Record keeping
Variable rate technology
Site-specific management
Sponsor
|
The National Crop Residue Management (CRM) Survey is the only survey in the U.S. to measure at the county level the type of tillage used by crop. Tillage methods tracked are: no-till, mulch-till, reduced-till, and conventional tillage. Click here to see the tillage definitions.
Available Data
Data is available online from 1989 to 2008. Some of the data can be accessed without a password (unsecured data) and the rest requires a ... more. |
Nitrogen fertilizer costs remain volatile but continue to be one of the most expensive variable costs for corn.
Purdue Nitrogen Management Update for Indiana (revised N recommendations from Tri-State Fert Recs)
|
... to calculate and compare economic returns on crop production.
From 1991-1998, WinMax and its earlier DOS version were used to manage data for the national Farming for Maximum Efficiency program (The MAX®) sponsored byCTICand Successful Farming magazine.
WinMax manages crop input data, calculates crop fertilizer recommendations, generates production cost and nutrient management worksheets, and allows sets of custom input costs to be created and used in all calculations.
Various management options, such as tillage, pest control and fertilizer strategies, can be compared to help assess which practices are both economically efficient and environmentally sound.
Visit WinMax site.
|
... Incorporate fertilizer
+ Use buffer strips
+ Use conservation tillage
+ Implement cover crop systems
Right Rate
Match amount of fertilizer to crop needs
+ Test soils
+ Yield goal analysis
+ Crop removal balance
+ Nutrient management planning
+ Plant tissue analysis
+ Record keeping
+ Variable rate technology
+ Site-specific management
|
... application afforded the highest yields
Spring application revealed most efficient nitrogen use
Fall application displayed lower economic return on nitrogen, due to nitrogen losses
Fall timing had lowest yield
Split timing was better than fall but not as good as spring application
We encourage other farmers in the watershed to adopt this approach to collecting information critical to making fully informed nitrogen management decisions.
*International Plant Nutrition Institute designed the Crop Nutrient Response Tool to assist interpretation and record-keeping for on-farm field crop trials involving multiple rates of any added nutrient. It provides the an estimate of optimum rate for a ... more. |
The goal of IMMAG is to identify and share manure management information and educational programs, which can be used by producers, technical agencies, educational institutions, researchers, and the general public.
|
The purpose of this Air Management Practices Assessment Tool is to guide you through a process of determining which mitigation practices are best suited to your operation and your objectives. The website is organized into four air emissions of interest: dust (particulates), odor, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide. Within each gas or emittent, sources of emission are categorized by housing, manure storage, or land application.
|
... Service, the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The team was assembled in 1998 to comply with State Regulation R.61-43, which states:
100.190.A An operator of a new or existing swine facility, lagoon, manure storage pond, or manure utilization area shall complete a training program on the operation of swine manure management created by Clemson University.
200.190.A An operator of an animal facility or manure utilization area shall attend a training program on the operation of animal manure management under the program created by Clemson University.
|
The purpose of this Ohio Livestock Manure Management Guide is to help farmers utilize manure as a resource while at the same time protecting our shared environment. A guiding principal for the writers of this edition of Bulletin 604 was to address the needs of both large and small livestock producers. This updated edition contains new and expanded sections.
|
CTIC is seeking a Communications Director to help develop, deliver and monitor programs, messages and materials to promote conservation agriculture. The position involves regular communications with but not limited to federal, state and local government agencies; agriculture industry, media and associations; conservation groups and watershed partnerships. This position may also be responsible for grant-funded projects that involve technology transfer, publications, information dissemination, media relations or other communication-related outcomes.
Major Responsibilities
edit and write quarterly online magazine and e-newsletter
solicit advertisers for online magazine
write and distribute news r ... more. |
Many low-cost manure management publications are available from the MidWest Plan Service, a university-based publishing cooperative dedicated to publishing and disseminating research-based, peer-reviewed, practical, and affordable publications that support the outreach missions of the 12 North Central Region land grant universities plus the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
|
... Service, the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The team was assembled in 1998 to comply with State Regulation R.61-43, which states:
100.190.A An operator of a new or existing swine facility, lagoon, manure storage pond, or manure utilization area shall complete a training program on the operation of swine manure management created by Clemson University.
200.190.A An operator of an animal facility or manure utilization area shall attend a training program on the operation of animal manure management under the program created by Clemson University.
|
Information concerning odor mitigation, storage, nutrient management, and much more are listed here as well as a searchable Environmental Research Database.
|
In Illinois, there are three different manure management plans that a livestock facility might need to have. University of Illinois Extension has worked with Illinois Department of Agriculture, Illinois Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to develop one website of step-by-step instructions that, if completed, will comply with the needs of all three agencies.
|
Design of manure storage and treatment facilities requires an understanding of the operation involved in food animal production and engineering design principles. It also requires access to manure production data, as well as reporting and presentation software to put it all together. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service created the Animal Waste Management computer program to bring all of these features together.
This software has been used by consultants and government technical service providers for a number of years in designing storage and treatment facilities for animal production operations all over the country. The 2008 EPA CAFO rules cite this tool as part of the procedure to determine if a facility will discharge animal waste.
|
Conservation Tillage Systems and Management Handbook
The 29 chapters not only cover a broad range of topics, but the authors represent all regions of the United States. The right book for those with a basic understanding of conservation tillage who want to expand their technical knowledge.
|
A partnership of organizations including Conservation Technology Information Center, the Indiana Soybean Alliance, and The Fertilizer Institute measured adoption of conservation practices on Indiana farms.The survey revealed reasons farm operators and landownersdo not adopt conservation practices. Building onthe success of the recentnational Best Management Practices (BMPs) Survey, thissurvey recorded the conservation efforts of Indiana farmers and identified how to assist farmers in choosing appropriate and profitable conservation practices.
|
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
US Environmental Protection Agency
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
Livestock Waste Management Information for the Midwest - CTIC
International Plant Nutrition Institute—Plant Nutrition Today
|
... uses remote sensing (satellite-based) data to monitor conservation practices in agricultural systems, including various forms of reduced tillage and the planting of winter cover crops. While the OpTIS calculations are performed and validated at the farm-field scale, the privacy of individual producers is fully protected by distributing only spatially-aggregated results – at the county and watershed (8-digit HUC) scale.
CTIC has been the primary source of this type of conservation practice monitoring data for nearly 30 years. In partnership with USDA and many others, the CTIC curates and distributes the National Crop Residue Management (CRM) Survey, collected using validated transect methods – annually in most states from 1989 through 2004, and again in 2006 and 2008. OpTIS fill ... more. |
... National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, University of Missouri Center for Regenerative and the National Center for Appropriate Technology’s ATTRA. FSH is being funded by Climate Smart Commodity grants from USDA.
CTIC is a 501(c)(3) organization that promotes and provides information on climate smart technologies and sustainable agricultural systems that conserve and enhance soil, water, air and wildlife resources and are productive and profitable. The organization was founded in 1982 to support the widespread use of economically and environmentally beneficial agricultural systems.
|
... 2022, the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) celebrated 40 years of Conservation in Action. That's four decades of bringing a wide range of people to the table to advance conservation agriculture...from our early projects promoting no-till to our current programs that help farmers, conservationists, agribusiness professionals, academics and policymakers protect soil health, water quality and the atmosphere.
In 2023, CTIC will continue that legacy as the trusted source for data on conservation farming practices, the coordinator of demonstration projects, a builder of local capacity, and a partner in developing high-impact education on conservation systems.
We’re going to keep our boots on the ground and our hands in the soil as we continue t ... more. |
The Phosphorus Load-Reduction Stimulus (PLUS-UP) Program is paying 10 growers this summer for reducing dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) loads in the Western Lake Erie Basin on 104 fields covering more than 5,300 acres. Payments average $9.12 per acre.
The program, which emphasizes the role of no-till and cover crops in reducing the off-farm movement of DRP into surface waters, is detailed in this interactive story map.
CTIC and The Andersons will host a 4Rs Nutrient Stewardship meeting in Maumee, Ohio, on August 23. A PLUS-UP stakeholder workshop will be held the following day in Toledo, Ohio. Watch this link for details.
With a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, CTIC and our partners at Heidelberg University's National C ... more. |
The team at the National Center for Water Quality Research at Heidelberg University is using the Nutrient Tracking Tool, or NTT, to model the effects of conservation practices on dissolved reactive phosphorus on each field enrolled in PLUS-UP. Developed by the Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research at Tarleton State University, NTT is a powerful tool for estimating the nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment losses from cropland an ... more. |
Click on any of the links below for full video coverage of each of the presentations in the two-day program.
There's More Where That Came From: The Need for Conservation
Mike Taylor, Farmer, Helena, Arkansas
Selecting the Right Practices
John Lee, USDA NRCS National Water Management Center, Little Rock, Arkansas
Resources for Technical Support
Keith Scoggins, USDA NRCS District Conservationist, Wynne, Arkansas
Selecting A Contractor
Keith Scoggins, USDA NRCS District Conservationist, Wynne, Arkansas
Arkansas’ Nutrient Reduction Strategy
Ken Brazil, Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, Little Ro ... more. |
... Shore of Maryland on July 10 and 11 for our 11thannual Conservation in Action Tour. For more than a decade, we’ve been bringing together people from across the country with different perspectives on conservation agriculture for a front row view of the latest and best management practices. This year’s theme, “Bringing Back the Bay: Partnerships, Profitable Farms, Clean Water, & Innovative Conservation,” will highlight several Maryland farmers who are leading the way in conservation efforts and the partnerships that help them succeed.
Click hereto register!
The designated tour hotel is the Westin of Annapolis.Time is running out to secure the block rate,so please make sure you book your room by the deadline,June 8. The Westin is ... more. |
Scaling Up Water Quality Efforts in Iowa
Wallaces Farmer, August 2018
Landowners Support Cover Crops
Corn and Soybean Digest, August 2018
Time Is Money
Corn and Soybean Digest, July 2018
Nitrogen Cycling and Cover Crops
Corn and Soybean Digest, June 2018
All In On Cover Crop
Corn and Soybean Digest, April 2018
Study Links Be ... more. |
... Shore of Maryland on July 10 and 11 for our 11thannual Conservation in Action Tour. For more than a decade, we’ve been bringing together people from across the country with different perspectives on conservation agriculture for a front row view of the latest and best management practices. This year’s theme, “Bringing Back the Bay: Partnerships, Profitable Farms, Clean Water, & Innovative Conservation,” will highlight several Maryland farmers who are leading the way in conservation efforts and the partnerships that help them succeed.
Click hereto register!
The designated tour hotel is the Westin of Annapolis. Book your room by June 8 to secure the block rate. The Westin is honoring the block rate three days before the tour and three days post-to ... more. |
... new look and retrieving information about conservation agriculture will be easier than ever.
Our 2018 Conservation in Action Tour will be held in the Maryland/Washington D.C. area this summer. Plans are already underway, and we’re thrilled to share more information with you in the coming months.
Working with USDA on a project to highlight successful strategies for organizing local watershed protection efforts that engage local stakeholders and effectively communicate how agriculture is actively addressing water quality concerns.
Helping farmers and members of the supply chain document how they are sustainably providing commodities to downstream partners and how farming more sustainably can have a positive impact on the farmer’s bottom line.
Working with partners to imp ... more. |
... Corn Marketing Council
Indiana Soybean Alliance
Innovation Center for U.S.Dairy
Iowa Farm Bureau Federation
IPNI
James Lake
John Deere
Joseph Glassmeyer
Land Pro LLC
Larry Heatherly
Michael Adsit
Monsanto
National Association of Conservation Districts
National Corn Growers Association
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
No-Till Farmer
Scott Fritz
Soil & Water Conservation Society
Steve Bruere
The Fertilizer Institute
The Nature Conservancy
Timothy Healey
Truax Company, Inc.
To renew, please email Crystal Hatfield at hatfield@ctic.org or call 765-494-9555.
|
... new look and retrieving information about conservation agriculture will be easier than ever.
Our 2018 Conservation in Action Tour will be held in the Maryland/Washington D.C. area this summer. Plans are already underway, and we’re thrilled to share more information with you in the coming months.
Working with USDA on a project to highlight successful strategies for organizing local watershed protection efforts that engage local stakeholders and effectively communicate how agriculture is actively addressing water quality concerns.
Helping farmers and members of the supply chain document how they are sustainably providing commodities to downstream partners and how farming more sustainably can have a positive impact on the farmer’s bottom line.
Working with partners to imp ... more. |
Terry and Troy Lenssen of Lenssen Dairy in Lynden, Washington, safeguard water quality in a variety of ways, including:
The Application Risk Management tool from Whatcom Conservation District, which puts their information through an algorithm to determine the risk of a manure application during the wet winter or early spring.
Risk analysis, conducted with their local conservation district.
“Relay cropping,” 30 to 50 pounds of Italian ryegrass or cereal ... more. |
This national workshop will bring together EPA, State, Tribal and other partners working on water monitoring issues across waterbody types to discuss and share information on the national aquatic resource surveys and their relationship to other state/tribal programs, provide technical training and tools so that States, Tribes and other partners can build their capacity to implement aquatic resource surveys at multiple scales (data management, analysis, interpretation) and to rovide examples o ... more. |
This national workshop will bring together EPA, State, Tribal and other partners working on water monitoring issues across waterbody types to discuss and share information on the national aquatic resource surveys and their relationship to other state/tribal programs, provide technical training and tools so that States, Tribes and other partners can build their capacity to implement aquatic resource surveys at multiple scales (data management, analysis, interpretation) and to rovide examples o ... more. |
... The first-ever CTIC Dialogues briefed Washington, DC, staffers on how good policy yields good conservation.
• The 6th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture brought people from 51 countries to Winnipeg to share their insight and BMPs.
• We hosted a hypoxia panel for leading farm journalists at the Agricultural Media Summit.
• Our Indian Creek Watershed Project yielded a highly successful tour and three great presentations at the 2014 International Soil and Water Conservation Society Annual Conference.
• We kicked off our 2.5-year Economic, Agronomic and Environmental Benefits of Cover Crops CIG project.
• Our 7th annual Conservation in Action Tour brought more than 150 conservation-minded participants to Florida for a look at ... more. |
South Florida Water Management District
|
South Florida Water Management District
|
Focusing on environmental stewardship and education
Dow AgroSciences joined CTIC as a Gold Corporate Member during the summer of 2013. The company uses technology to conserve natural resources and provide educational tools. Dow AgroSciences nitrogen stabilizers, Instinct and N-Serve, are used as a best management practice for improving groundwater quality, optimizing plant nutrients and supporting environmental stewardship. Both products contain the same unique active ingredient to help reduce nitrate leaching into ground and surface water. This ingredient also helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and makes more nitrogen available to plants.
Jason Moulin, portfolio marketing leader for Dow AgroSciences, noted that technology such a ... more. |
Working with Partnerships
The Mosaic Company and The Mosaic Company Foundation invest in partnerships with best-in-class organizations to promote many aspects of conservation, including nutrient stewardship, habitat conservation and watershed restoration.
For example, The Mosaic Company Foundation supports The Nature Conservancy’sGreat Rivers Partnershipthrough science-based work with farmers and partners to improve water quality in three key agricultural watersheds in the Upper Mississippi River Basin – Minnesota’s Root River, Iowa’s Boone River and Illinois’ Macki ... more. |
... SAG 08 09
This is a literature review of cover crop benefits from Dabney et al. 2001 and Dabney 1996.
Oilseed_Radish
Oilseed radish is a unique cover crop that farmers are planting to improve their soil quality for economic crop production.
IndianaRMA
Interest and use of cover crops as a practice to reduce high nutrient and sediment levels along existing water sources has increased across the Midwest.
Cover Crops Helps Chart-After Corn-Corn Silage-DR
Cover crop decision making chart for the year after corn.
Cover Crops Helps Chart-After Cereal Grains-DR
Cover crop decision making chart for the year after cereal grains.
Cover Crop rotations SAG_9_09
Cover Crops Rotations after Cash Grain Crop
... more. |
... that represents America’s 3,000 conservation districts and the 17,000 men and women who serve on their governing boards. Conservation districts are local units of government established under state law to carry out natural resource management programs at the local level. Districts work with millions of cooperating landowners and operators to help them manage and protect land and water resources on all private lands and many public lands in the United States.NACD's mission is to serve conservation districts by providing national leadership and a unified voice for natural resource conservation. To learn more about NACD, visit www.NACDnet.org
|
CTIC Corporate Member, The Flatwater Group (TFG), specializes in restoration design, water resources, planning, and environmental engineering. TFG was founded and organized on the principles of flexible client services coupled with creative solutions, and we strive to produce a successful product not just for their clients, but with their clients. The quality of TFG's professional services is excellent and their stat ... more. |
... but may also be in pounds. CRM is an “umbrella” term encompassing several tillage systems including no-till, ridge-till, mulch-till, and reduced-till.
Conservation Tillage Types (30 percent or more crop residue left, after planting).
Any tillage and planting system that covers 30 percent or more of the soil surface with crop residue, after planting, to reduce soil erosion by water. Where soil erosion by wind is the primary concern, any system that maintains at least 1,000 pounds per acre of flat, small grain residue equivalent on the surface throughout the critical wind erosion period.
No-till/strip-till
The soil is left undisturbed from harvest to planting except for strips up to 1/3 of the row width (strips may involve only residue disturbance or may include soil ... more. |
... our customers, and our investors. We’ve set ambitious goals for ourselves. And, we hope that our sustainability efforts will help make us stronger as we help the world grow the food it needs.”
To view the Mosaic Sustainability Report, click here.
Mosaic and CTIC
Mosaic is a strong supporter of the CTIC Upstream Heroes project, which focuses on water quality in agricultural operations.
Photo courtesy of Mosaic
In 2009, Mosaic became CTIC's first Gold Corporate Member – a support level of $8,500 above basic membership – which entitles Mosaic to the most benefits available from the organization.
Ron says the move was an easy one.
“We looked at the level of support we were already devoting ... more. |
... found their solution a little closer to home in the $3.6-million Elimanure system, designed by Wisconsin-based Skill Associates. Though their 2,600 owned acres and 2,600 rented acres represented enough land for agronomically acceptable manure application, building a power plant on the dairy reduced their manure movement from an 8-mile radius to about 1,000 feet of pipeline.
Because water comprises more than half of the weight of dairy manure, the Wieses' Elimanure facility dries the manure before heating it in a combustion chamber. That's a big challenge with dairy manure, but the Elimanure design channels heat from the furnace back to the biodryer building to dry the incoming fuel, blowing off the moisture as clean steam. Wiese calls the energy expended in drying the wet ... more. |
... manure and sending it to an approved lab for analysis to determine nutrient content is the first step in a manure management system. This data is used to match application rates to plant nutrient needs and soil test data.
How it helps
Manure testing and proper application to the land can reduce crop input costs.
Preventing over-application of manure to crop fields results in improved water quality.
Planning ahead
What form of manure do you plan to apply?
Have you calibrated your spreader to apply the volume of manure called for according to plant needs and nutrient value of manure?
Have you reduced commercial fertilizer use after accounting for nutrients supplied by manure?
Will you hire someone or take manure samples yourself?
Do you plan to take soil samples to he ... more. |
Various planner resources and research, educational programs and materials focus on economically feasible and environmentally-sound manure handling systems that also meet Federal, state, and local air and water quality protection regulations.
|
... help protect?
How close do you want the habitat area to your farmstead?
Tech notes
Plant the wildlife area with a vegetative cover of grass, trees or shrubs.
Exclude livestock.
To attract a specific wildlife species, choose cover and habitat for that species.
Create a diverse habitat to attract a wider variety of wildlife.
Consult with a local wildlife biologist, Soil & Water Conservation District, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or wildlife group in your area for local recommendations.
Include a food plot if possible.
Encourage shrub growth between woodlands and grasslands.
Include bird houses and feeding stations in habitat areas.
Plant fruit and nut bearing trees or shrubs to the windward side of a woodland habitat area.
Maintenance
Prescrib ... more. |
... goals, we have also been pursuing means and opportunities for increasing the adoption of CT in California.
This workgroup directly addresses the following DANR program priorities:
1) Issue 1. Productivity and Efficiency of Agriculture. Actions 1, 2 and 3 by evaluating and developing comprehensive management systems for crop health and soil quality, and for potentially increasing the water use efficiency of a variety of cropping systems throughout the state by the use of reduced tillage practices.
2) Issue 3. Environmental Quality and Resource Conservation. Actions 1, 5 and 6 by evaluating and developing production systems that may improve input use efficiencies, conserve soil quality and reduce health and environmental risks from agriculture.
The Conservation Tillage Wor ... more. |
At CTIC it is our mission to champion, promote and provide information on sustainable agricultural systems that conserve and enhance soil, water, air and wildlife resources and are productive and profitable.
CTIC is proud to bea clearinghouse of information on conservation agriculture.CTIC continues toadvance practical systems that improve soil health and water quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance resilience to intensifying climate change, and deliver other environmental benefits. We also vowto ... more. |
CTIC WRAPS UP ISDA BLUE CREEK PROJECT WITH INTERACTIVE TRAINING
Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) staff learned how to enroll farmers into Field to Market's FieldPrint Calculator and help growers in the Blue Creek Watershed Project put the tool to use in measuring the environmental impacts of commodity crop production and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
CTIC staff—including Sue Tull, Hans Kok and Callie Cleveland—organized and hosted a virtual, two-hour training session on September 29 on the grower sustainability tools used in the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) ... more. |
What do farms, water quality and the Great Lakes have in common? They all are helped by cover crops. Through the Great Lakes Cover Crop Initiative, CTIC and partners planted 36,970 acres of cover crops, providing many benefits to farmers in the Great Lakes region. Hear from three farmers in the Great Lakes basin, a researcher on Lake Erie and a Michigan State University Extension educator as they present "The Co ... more. |
Ag Consultant Training in Systems that Protect Water Quality National Aquatic Resources Workshop National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI)Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) Cover Crop Surveys
|
Ag Consultant Training in Systems that Protect Water Quality National Aquatic Resources Workshop National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) Cover Crop Surveys
|
Ag Consultant Training in Systems that Protect Water Quality National Aquatic Resources Workshop National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) Cover Crop Surveys
|
Ag Consultant Training in Systems that Protect Water Quality National Aquatic Resources Workshop National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI)Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) Cover Crop Surveys
|
Ag Consultant Training in Systems that Protect Water Quality National Aquatic Resources Workshop National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) Cover Crop Surveys
|
2010 NLA Workshop
November 1-2, 2010
Oklahoma City, OK
Draft Agenda
November 1, 2010
1:00 - 1:30 pm
2012 NLA overview,Amina Pollard, EPA
Each indicator group will have two hours to present their analysis of potential indicators for the 2012 lakes survey and discuss their thoughts with the steering committee.
1:30 - 3:30 pm
Water Quality Indicators
3:30 - 5:30 pm
Physical Habitat Indicators
November 2, 2010
9:00 - 11:00 am
Biological Indicators
11:00 - 12:30 pm
Lunch (on own)
12:30 - 2:30 pm
Recreational Indicators
2:30 - 4:00 pm
Recap, discussion and next steps,Amina Pollard, EPA
|
Farmers in Washington’s Whatcom County are engaged in a wide range of water quality improvement projects. TMDLs (total maximum daily loads) in local waterways cover fecal coliform, ammonia-nitrogen, biochemical oxygen demand, chlorine and temperature.
The presence of commercial shellfish beds not far from the mouth of the Nooksack River puts added pressure on farmers and shellfish harvesters to work together on water quality improvements.
The U.S. Environmental Pro ... more. |
... emerging issues in conservation and sustainable agriculture and plans to extend this recognition internationally. CTIC benefits from and serves a strong network comprised of leaders in agriculture and conservation. Through this network, CTIC promotes and disseminates comprehensive data, research and materials related to conservation and sustainable agriculture that achieves better soil, cleaner water, greater profits and a brighter future.
Mission Statement
CTIC champions, promotes and provides information on technologies and sustainable agricultural systems that conserve and enhance soil, water, air and wildlife resources and are productive and profitable.
Values
Respect: CTIC treats every member and partner with respect, efficient service and a dedication to quality.
Dedica ... more. |
Cover crops with limited irrigation can increase yields, crop quality, and nutrient and water use efficiencies while protecting the environment.
Delgado, J.A., M. A. Dillon, R. T. Sparks, and S. Y.C. Essah. 2007. A decade of advances in cover crops. J. Soil Water Conserv. 62(5):110A-117A.
|
In different studies conducted during the last 10 years, underground well water NO3−-N concentrations have been found to exceed drinking water standards of 10 mg NO3−-N L−1 (10 ppm) for some areas of the San Luis Valley of south central Colorado.
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;Calibri" ,"sans-serif";times="" new="" roman";times="" roman";"="">Sequential NLEAP ... more. |
Illinois EPA and other partners will conduct water quality monitoring in the watershed to document and determine if conservation practices are making a difference.
This project funded in part by IL EPA through Section 319 of the Clean Water Act. |
CTIC's Upstream Heroes campaignfeatures success stories about farmers who have developed and adopted sound nutrient efficiency strategies - protecting their bottom lines as well as local and downstream water quality.
Positive stories can highlight agriculture's role in contributing to water quality solutions, such as thoseassociated with high nutrient loads in the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone.
National agriculture and general media sources will have access to stories about our Upstream Heroes.
|
Getting Paid for Stewardship: An Agricultural Community Water Quality Trading Guide
This guide introduces the elements that are key to the trading process, noting critical questions to keep in mind as you go. References for additional information are also included.
|
... snow over the winter to provide more moisture for the newly emerging (green) soybean plants. The stalks and other crop residue will slowly decompose to help nourish the new plants.
Size: 1000 x 668 pixels (297k)
Source: CTIC
New corn plants growing among crop residues left from a previous harvest. Crop residues reduce runoff from farm fields to improve water quality.
Size: 1000 x 672 pixels (447k)
Source: CTIC
Standing stalks of corn (in the foreground) will slowly decompose to provide a natural mulch for the new seeds that are to be planted by the oncoming tractor.
Size: 671 x 1000 pixels (176k)
Source: Farm Journal
Rows of soybean plants emerge from a field covered with old corn s ... more. |
... first-hand how producers are making conservation profitable and sustainable. I hope you all will join us in 2009 for the Tour in western Illinois (see more details).
CTIC broke new ground this year, too, with new workshops and conferences on important topics for agriculture. In August, CTIC hosted a pilot workshop in Ohio that brought together agricultural producers and advisors and wastewater and energy utilities to learn about water quality credit trading. The positive feedback we received on the format and content of the workshop was inspiring and will help us to deliver three more workshops in 2009.
In September, CTIC was awarded a Conservation Innovation Grant from the Natural Resources Conservation Service(NRCS) for a project that promotes the use of cover crops to transi ... more. |
... the banks from heavy stream flow and reduce erosion. Fencing prevents cattle from trampling banks, destroying vegetation and stirring up sediment in the streambed. A buffer zone of vegetation along the streambank filters runoff and may also absorb excess nutrients and chemicals.
How it helps
Streambanks are covered with rocks, grass, trees or other cover to reduce erosion.
Better water quality results from reducing amounts of nutrients, chemicals, animal waste and sediment entering the stream.
Buffer zones provide cover and habitat for birds and small animals.
Planning ahead
Have you planned to install an offstream water system for livestock or limited livestock access to the stream?
Are proper soil conservation measures installed in the stream watershed to prevent ... more. |
... and be highly erosive. Field borders are sometimes referred to as picture frames of grass, and are used with contour farming, terrace, buffer strip and contour stripcropping systems. The grass or legume in the strip protects steep field edges from soil erosion, and provides turning and travel lanes around the field.
How it helps
Vegetative cover reduces sheet and rill erosion by slowing water flow.
Vegetation filters runoff to improve water quality.
Grass and legume strips may be harvested in some cases and are easier to turn on than end rows.
Vegetation provides cover and habitat for small birds and animals.
Planning ahead
Will the width be wide enough to turn your equipment?
Can that land qualify for set aside?
Tech notes
Borders must be at least 16 feet wide ... more. |
Planting grass or other vegetation to protect a badly eroding area from soil erosion.
How it works
Grass, legumes, trees or shrubs are established in small, isolated areas of excessive erosion. The vegetation provides surface cover to stop the raindrop splash and slow water flow.
How it helps
It reduces soil erosion.
A vegetated area improves water quality by reducing the amount of sediment, nutrients and chemicals running off farmland.
Protects areas such as dams, terrace backslopes or gullied areas when vegetation may be difficult to establish.
Vegetation can be planted to provide small areas of nesting cover for birds and small animals.
Planning ... more. |
... of corn or soybeans planted on the contour and alternated with strips of oats, grass or legumes.
How it works
Crops are arranged so that a strip of meadow or small grain is alternated with a strip of row crop. Not more than half a field can be planted to row crops. Meadow slows runoff, increases infiltration, traps sediment and provides surface cover. Ridges formed by contoured rows slow water flow which reduces erosion. Rotating the strips from corn to legumes allows nutrient-needy crops to benefit from the nitrogen added to the soil by legumes. This practice combines the beneficial effects of contouring and crop rotation.
How it helps
Contour stripcropping reduces soil erosion and protects water quality.
Contour stripcropping may help reduce fertilizer costs.
Planning a ... more. |
... are a company that manufactures or sells a product used in no-till agriculture, CTIC is the organization you should support. CTIC is the only organization that I am aware of that promotes the agricultural conservation practice that truly minimizes the impact of agriculture on the environment – continuous no-till.
Continuous no-till agriculture is smart agriculture. It reduces air and water pollution associated with tillage, improves soil quality and results in higher profits to producers.
If you are a company that consumes agricultural products, CTIC is an organization deserving your support. Most businesses involved in processing ag products to produce consumer goods have to comply with air and water regulations. A company can take their commitment to product stewardship one ... more. |
5-minute video about how The Nature Conservancy and partners work with farmers to improve water quality in the Pecatonica River. |
... Tour of HQ (30 minutes)
12:00 Steak Lunch from Black Leg Ranch – A Conservation Award Winning Ranch in North Dakota
Sponsored by North Dakota Natural Resources Trust
1:00 Welcome
Nick Wiley, Chief Operating Officer, Ducks Unlimited
Ryan Heiniger, Executive Director, Conservation Technology Information Center
1:15 The Duck Factory from a Rancher and Waterfowl Scientist Perspectives
Video of Doan Family and Black Leg Ranch
Ryan Taylor, ND Rancher & Ducks Unlimited Director of Public Policy
Dr. Mike Brasher, Sr. Waterfowl Scientist, Ducks Unlimited
2:00 Optimal management of your farm for waterfowl and waterfowl hunting
George Dunklin, Five Oaks – Stuttgart, Arkansas & Past DU National President
2:30 Opportuni ... more. |
... are available for vegetation type, herbaceous net primary productivity (NPP), herbaceous NPP trends, and herbaceous NPP deviation from what would be expected based on weather alone.
Remote-sensing derived, CONUS-wide grassland data for various vegetation type and health metrics. Data are currently available for the years 2015-2021. The vegetation health data are available at the watershed (HUC8) and Crop Reporting District (CRD) geographic scales.
Explore the Vegetation Types and Productivity
Vegetation Types
Annual average plant functional type (PFT) by HUC8 and CRD for years spanning 2015 to 2021.
PFTs include: Annual Forbs & Grasses, Perennial Forbs & Grasses, Shrubs, Trees, and Bare Ground.
View Data
Data Release April 2024
... more. |
... DNDC Modeling
Data are available for soil carbon changes and GHG emissions.
The soil and GHG outcomes (methane, as well as indirect and direct nitrous oxide) are based on the use of the vegetation type and herbaceous productivity data as input to the DNDC model. Data are currently available for the years 2015-2021. The croplands DNDC modeling results are available at the watershed (HUC8) and Crop Reporting District (CRD) scales.
View Data
Data Release September 2023
|
... Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities program.
The overall project (ACTION) is being led by theWolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture and the Environment, which was awarded up to $35 million by USDA to conduct this new partnership pilot.Through their global collaborative, Open Technology Ecosystem for Agricultural Management (OpenTEAM),Wolfe’s Neck Center will lead an alliance of over 60 national and regional buyers, funders, and organizations to launch and support climate-smart agricultural pilot projects on farms and ranches in the Northeast, Mountain West, and California.
The Connectorwill allow producers and landowners to find programs and service providers who can help plan, impl ... more. |
... favored by cover crop users.
The sixth survey from CTIC, USDA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), is the first to go into detail on "planting green," a practice employed by 52% of the respondents. Among farmers who planted green, 71% reported better weed control and 68% said soil moisture management improved. And despite the record-setting wet spring, yields after cover crops increased 5% in soybeans, 2% in corn and 2.6% in spring wheat.
View the August 19th, 2020 Press Conference launching this year's report.
|
... reported saving money on herbicides after cover crops, and 55% saw no change in herbicide expenditures. Among the "no change" group, 3 out of 4 observed better weed control in corn after cover crops.
Of the farmers using cover crops, 70.3% said it was helpful when transitioning to no-till, in part because of reduced soil compaction, better weed control, and better soil moisture management.
Slightly more cover crop users than non-users reported renting all of their farmland (14% of users vs. 10% of non-users), and non-users were just as likely as cover crop users to own 100% of their farm ground.
The seed supply chain is working effectively to scale with growing adoption. Only 7% of the cover crop users reported regular challenges in sourcing cover crop seed. Seed quality is im ... more. |
... favored by cover crop users.
The sixth survey from CTIC, USDA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), is the first to go into detail on "planting green," a practice employed by 52% of the respondents. Among farmers who planted green, 71% reported better weed control and 68% said soil moisture management improved. And despite the record-setting wet spring, yields after cover crops increased 5% in soybeans, 2% in corn and 2.6% in spring wheat.
View the August 19th, 2020 Press Conference launching this year's report.
|
... make farmers more economically and environmentally sustainable. Current projectsinclude:
•The Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), which uses satellite imagery and a specialalgorithmto documentthe adoption of soil-building farming practices;
•Spearheading stimulus projects that encourage phosphorus managementto protect surface waters in the Western Lake Erie Basin;
•Conducting educational programs on conservation practices;
•Hostingtechnical conferences with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency;
•and more.
An ideal candidate will combine leadership skills, technical acumen and a passion for helping farmers succeed with practices that help them become more economically ... more. |
... make farmers more economically and environmentally sustainable. Current projectsinclude:
•The Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), which uses satellite imagery and a specialalgorithmto documentthe adoption of soil-building farming practices;
•Spearheading stimulus projects that encourage phosphorus managementto protect surface waters in the Western Lake Erie Basin;
•Conducting educational programs on conservation practices;
•Hostingtechnical conferences with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency;
•and more.
An ideal candidate will combine leadership skills, technical acumen and a passion for helping farmers succeed with practices that help them become more economically ... more. |
THIS IS THE PERFECT YEAR TO BE PART OF CTIC
2022 is the perfect time to join CTIC- join CTIC as a member as we celebrate our 40th anniversary and hostour annual tour.
https://ctic.org/Membership/Membership_Info
YOUR MEMBERSHIP IN CTIC SUPPORTS:
• Innovations in tracking the adoption of conservation on the ground...from field-level validation to online surveys to remote sensing
• ... more. |
... of Conservation in Action. That's four decades of bringing a wide range of people to the table to explore conservation farming systems from nearly every angle. Forty years of growth and expansion...from our early projects promoting no-till to our current programs that help farmers, conservationists, agribusiness professionals, academics and policy experts collaborate to protect soil health, water quality and the atmosphere.
Thanks to our members, CTIC has grown over the last four decades, expanded our reach, increased and diversified our partners and worked with thousands of people across the country to advance conservation.
We will be celebrating 40 years of conservation in action throughout 2022, culminating in a major event for members, partners and friends in the lat ... more. |
... tours that blended pre-recorded and live content in conjunction with the American Society of Agronomy's Sustainable Agriculture Conference.
Check out our digital library for interviews, panel discussions and videos that bring you across the country, from multi-generational commitment to conservation farming in Ohio, to in-depth explorations of carbon farming, phosphorus management, pollinator habitat and—CTIC's specialty—connecting for conservation.
In 2022, we hope to have the 15th annual CTIC Conservation in Action Tour back on the bus.
Watch our website and social media for more information about joining us in person in 2022!
|
... a roller-crimper, or other methods. In this year’s survey, 52% of farmers planted green into cover crops on at least some of their fields. (In the 2016-2017 report, the most recent prior survey by SARE, CTIC and ASTA, 39% of the respondents had planted green.)
• Of the farmers planting green, 71% reported better weed control
• 68% reported better soil moisture management, particularly valuable in a wet spring
Horticulture producers also benefit
For the first time, the survey queried horticulture producers about how cover crops have impacted their profit. Of the 184 horticulture producers responding to that question, 35% reported a moderate increase in net profit (defined as an increase of 5% or more), and another 23% reported a minor increase in n ... more. |
... after with herbicides, a roller-crimper, or other methods. In this year’s survey, 52% of farmers planted green into cover crops on at least some of their fields. (In the 2016-2017 report, the most recent prior survey by SARE, CTIC and ASTA, 39% of the respondents had planted green.)
Of the farmers planting green, 71% reported better weed control
68% reported better soil moisture management, particularly valuable in a wet spring
Horticulture producers also benefit
For the first time, the survey queried horticulture producers about how cover crops have impacted their profit. Of the 184 horticulture producers responding to that question, 35% reported a moderate increase in net profit (defined as an increase of 5% or more), and another 23% reported a minor increase i ... more. |
... This innovative strategy provides a blueprint for supporting pollinator health across North America.
Let's Do the Math On Cover Crops
With a Conservation Innovation Grant from USDA NRCS and support from other partners, CTIC led a detailed research project into the agronomic, environmental and economic impact of cover crops in 7 states. Lessons learned ranged from better cover crop management to improved design of multi-variate studies.
|
... serving as its new Executive Director in order to carry out its mission, which is to “connect, champion, and provide information on sustainable agricultural systems and technologies that are productive, profitable and preserve natural resources.”
The Executive Director is responsible for oversight and direction of programs, including quality control, financial and budget management, fund raising, fostering member involvement and commitment, facilitating public/private partnerships, and maintaining productive internal and external relations. This role reports to the CTIC Board of Directors and informs the board to guide its governance of the organization.
Applications are due by 5:00 pm Eastern time on Friday, March 1.
For more information or to sub ... more. |
... potential for increased profitability in a system that utilizes cover crops.
The project will also investigate the capacity of marginal and cover cropped ground to function as habitat for honey bees. Five pairs of farmers and beekeepers will be established. The farmers will provide additional bee forage either by planting pollinator habitat in marginal areas or by adjusting their cover crop management to allow additional blooming. Beekeepers will place hives on the partnering farm and monitor colony health and productivity. These partnerships will provide a useful model of communication between farmers and beekeepers and help us learn how farmers can support pollinator health without sacrificing profitability.
This project is funded by a Conservation Innovation Grant from the U.S. Departmen ... more. |
Environmental Change Initiative, June 2016
|
... agricultural landscapes.
"What we learned through this project has already been put to use," Smith says. "Purdue's Ag Economics Department developed an improved data collection framework intended to increase the accuracy of ongoing research into cover crop economics. The experience also enabled CTIC to serve as a consultant for the design and management of the Honey Bee Health Coalition's Bee Integrated Demonstration Project."
|
... site…just a little easier to find us now. In addition, all CTIC staff can be reached at lastname@conservationinformation.org and lastname@ctic.org.
CTIC Project Spotlight
Working with a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, CTIC and partners in three regions within the Mississippi River basin are joining efforts to improve nutrient use efficiency and increase nutrient management at the farm level. Learn more about this project -- Building Innovative Industry-Producer Partnerships to Reduce Hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico – and get involved. Click here.
|
2018 Conservation In Action Tour – July 10-11, Eastern Shore of Maryland
For 11 years, we've been bringing together people from across the country with different perspectives on conservation agriculture for a front row view of the latest and best management practices.
Registration is OPEN!Click hereto register.
The designated tour hotel is the Westin of Annapolis. Book your room by June 8 to secure the block rate. The Westin is honoring the block rate three days before the tour and three days post-tour.Click herefor more information andto lock in your room rate.
Opportunities for tour sponsorship are avail ... more. |
... Soybean Alliance
Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy
Iowa Farm Bureau Federation
IPNI
James Lake
John Deere
Joseph Glassmeyer
Land Pro LLC
Larry Heatherly
Michael Adsit
Monsanto
National Association of Conservation Districts
National Corn Growers Association
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
No-Till Farmer
Scott Fritz
Soil & Water Conservation Society
Steve Bruere
The Fertilizer Institute
The Nature Conservancy
Timothy Healey
Truax Company, Inc.
To renew, please email Crystal Hatfield at hatfield@ctic.org or call 765-494-9555
|
CTIClinks private businesses, non-profit organizations, associations, and local, state, regional, and federal government agencies to address their common conservation agriculture issues. Our coalition-led initiatives range from small watershed projects to national events and conferences. With strength, wisdom, and knowledge in numbers, CTIC’s coalitions work to disseminate information on new technologies and tools, to ensure conservation agriculture works on the ground.
The Conservation Agriculture Systems Alliance (CASA)unites voluntary producer organizations across North America that share similar missions and goal ... more. |
Mabry McCray
|
Mabry McCray
|
Alan Wright
|
Dan Forgey, farm manager at Cronin Farms in South Dakota, has been using no-till management for more than 17 years. Over that time, Forgey has developed a keen understanding of how his farming system works and where new challenges and opportunities exist.
The Next Step: Adding Cover Crop to a No-Till System (Video)
|
This publication examines the factors that affect glyphosate performance and offers management
strategies to minimize fluctuations in its effectiveness.
The Glyphosate, Weeds, and Crops Series: Understanding Glyphosate To Increase Performance
|
Safeguarding the environment is nothing new to John Deere - being green is in our blood. We know that responsible resource management is vital to our company, our employees, our customers, our neighbors and our world. John Deere works tirelessly to develop and offer products that are sound and sensible, efficient and effective. |
... Conservation Innovation Grant, promotes the use of cover crops to ease farmers’ transition to use of continuous no-till. Continuous no-till (CNT) has been around long enough that there is little doubt among experts of its many advantages. Despite the proven economic and environmental benefits of CNT, some farmers remain hesitant to fully adopt the system. In 2004, the National Crop Residue Management survey indicated that only 22.6 percent of farmers were no-tilling. Attempting CNT without proper technical knowledge may cause a disastrous first year and taint opinions toward the practice. Potential economic risks and yield losses during the first five years also can cause farmers to resist CNT. However, if farmers can maintain a CNT system for three consecutive years, the risks begin to fade. ... more. |
This project, funded by EPA's Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, will demonstrate the effectiveness of cover crops and conservation tillage systems to decrease agricultural nonpoint source pollution and inform producers about the economic benefits of the systems. CTIC and partners will assist agricultural producers in the Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, and Lake Huron watersheds with implementation of cover crops and conservation tillage systems on 15,000 acres by April 2013. Producers will receive technical, educational and social support to fully understand the benefits of cover crops and conservation tillage, to correctly incorporate the practices into their operation, to evaluate the changes and adapt management to optimize yield and resource protection. By prov ... more. |
... conduct his own on-farm NUE using field-scale equipment with minimal disruption of his normal field operations
show how RTK guidance and variable-rate application equipment can improve nitrogen application efficiency
show how RTK yield monitoring equipment works at harvest time
show how the farmer and his advisers can collect data and make management decisions during the winter months.
We set plot sizes to match the farmer’s equipment width, which allowed him to do all of the plot work needed for the demonstration.
|
... around 19,500 people in over 90 countries.
INSTITUTIONAL
CropLife America, Gold Institutional Member, is the national trade organization representing the nation's developers, manufacturers, formulators and distributors of plant science solutions for agriculture and pest management in the U.S.
INDIVIDUAL
Harold Reetz
We thank individual member Harold Reetz for his long-standing membership and participation in the Conservation In Action Tour.
|
Information concerning odor mitigation, storage, nutrient management, and much more are listed here as well as a searchable Environmental Research Database.
|
Economic Benefits with Environmental Protection
Explores many of the challenges, opportunities management tactics and successful marketing efforts that helped shape promotion of conservation in the Great Lakes watershed and North Central region.
|
The Living Landscape
An interactive computer game that takes learners of all ages through various best management and conservation practices to turn a rundown farm and landscape into an environmental showplace! Point and click on various areas of the farm to answer related multiple choice questions. With each correct answer the farm scape changes to show the improvement made (complete with sound effects!). Once you make it through the set of questions correctly, the farm is set in motion with animation. A le ... more. |
On November 23, 2009, Agstar released FarmWare Version 3.3. FarmWare is an analytical tool designed to provide a preliminary assessment on the feasibility of integrating anaerobic digestion into an existing or planned manure management system. The new version contains updated computations for biogas generation and costs of digester systems. The software can be downloaded free from the AgSTAR Web site.
|
CTIC Institutional Member, No-Till Farmer, provides the management information for farmers interested in and practicing reduced tillage techniques. To learn more about No-Till Farmer, visit www.no-tillfarmer.com/
|
CTIC Institutional Member, LandPro LLC, specializes in consulting, property management, referrals, sales and acquisitions of agricultural land. To learn more about LandPro LLC, visit www.landprollc.com.
|
CTIC Institutional Member, the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI), is a new not-for-profit organization dedicated to responsible management of plant nutrients - N, P, K, secondary nutrients, and micronutrients - for the benefit of the human family. As world population and demand for food, fuel, feed, and fiber continue to increase, there is also a growing need for knowledge and information based on sound science. That's where IPNI comes in. To learn more about the International Plant Nutrition Institute, visit www.ipn ... more. |
CTIC Institutional Gold Member, CropLife America, is the national trade organization representing the nation's developers, manufacturers, formulators and distributors of plant science solutions for agriculture and pest management in the U.S. To find out more about CropLife America, visit www.croplifeamerica.org
|
... interviews and a survey to learn from farmers about their willingness to adopt offset-eligible practices. Those interested in learning more about the adoption of conservation tillage systems were provided with a sheet comparing conservation tillage systems and resources for further information. In addition, CTIC can provide interested farms with information about conservation tillage and related management practices that make conservation systems successful, including referral to a local tillage expert in their area.
For More Information
Click here to view helpful resources concerning conservation tillage systems.
View references of Understanding Conservation Tillage Systems.
Contact Karen Scanlon at Tel: (765) 494-9555 or Email: scanlon@ctic.org
|
... Looking at certification program and how it can be
used in “put teeth” into NTOP message. Also working to take over one of KSU research farms,
in heart of typical Kansas soil. Preparing for grower meeting in March; Dave Brandt coming back
to attend and speak.
NRCS –Bill: still want effort to get RUSLE 2 databases (which are updated for cover crops and
different management systems) disseminated throughout the region. Want to have training for
state agronomist to understand how to use systems like continuous cover and no-till. Bill
Puckett leaving HQ to be state conservationist in Alabama.
CTIC – Tour planned for July 29, 2009 and invites all CASA to attend. Requested success
stories for information campaign.
Next Steps:
•KS send ema ... more. |
... conservation stakeholders in the Pacific Northwest works to develop CRP exit strategies to encourage, allow and assist farmers with pursuing direct-seed no-till methods.
Photo courtesy of PNDSA
A local Pacific Northwest working group has been formed to find a solution. Representatives from the PNDSA, Spokane County Conservation District, Washington State University, USDA Risk Management Agency, NRCS and Washington State Farm Service Agency have worked to develop CRP exit strategies to encourage, allow and assist farmers with maintaining the environmental benefits of land formerly under CRP.
The working group has investigated some options, and will ask for input from groups with a vested interest in the outcome.
The best option for some CRP land is to remain under perma ... more. |
... In Action Tour. On this one-day tour in western Illinois, we will visit farms where conservation agriculture systems are put in to action — to help protect resources and to build a profitable operation. Through conservation practices, including nutrient management plans developed by producers and their advisors, these farmers are minimizing agriculture's impact on the Mississippi River watershed. CTIC staff will be sending additional details about the tour over the next few months. So please save the date, sign up for the tour and visit these successful farms with us.
In addition to joining us on the tour, I hope you will accept my invitation to attend our next board meeting, which will be the day after the tour, July 30, 2009, in Moline, Ill.
On behalf of the entire CTIC ... more. |
This site is intended to bring together those having manure with those needing manure and includes a manure management planner. There are many other links to resources as well, including a listing of many Midwest testing labs, manure spreader calibration information, compost tipsheets and much more.
|
Components of a Plan
Know your pests
Today, we are armed with improved controls of weeds, insects and diseases. The arsenal of management strategies available allows for better control with less environmental risk.
Know your action thresholds
Just the presence of weeds or pests doesn’t justify the application of a control measure. The weed and pest pressure must be a threat to reduce yields or quality enough to make sense. This level of pressure to justify a control measure is called the action threshold.
Know you ... more. |
Meeting Notes
December 4, 2009
November 6, 2009
October 2, 2009
September 4, 2009
August 6, 2009
June 8, 2009
Action Plans
Upper Wabash River Nutrient Management Coalition Action Plan
Other
Nonpoint Source Monitoring Conference Notes—September 2009 (PDF, 1.45 MB)
Swine Manure Testing Project
|
Know Your Watershed
Livestock Waste Management
Core 4
|
Innovative Cropping Systems Incentive Program (ICS)
Established 1996
ICS is a cooperative program that strives to furnish incentives that advance cropping management systems that offer efficiencies in crop production and enhance pollution reduction performance. ICS adoption incentives include outreach, technical transfer, education, demonstration, research, cooperation, development, partnerships and financial assistance.
Mission, Goals and Contact Information
http://colonialswcd.vaswcd.org
|
Georgia Conservation Tillage Alliance
The mission of the Georgia Conservation Tillage Alliance is to promote the adoption of conservation tillage and other economically viable and environmentally sound agricultural and natural resource management practices through research, education, and communication.
Contact Information
www.gcta-ga.org
|
... the Individual Silver level
* Ad space in two issues of Partners magazine ($600 value)
* Recognition at two CTIC event during your annual membership term
* Two complimentary registrations to CTIC’s Conservation In Action Tour
* Recognition on CTIC’s Website
* One-year subscription to Partners magazine and Member Mail e-newsletter
* Access to Crop Residue Management Survey data from 1989 to 2004 through CTIC Website
|
Quick Links
> Topics A-Z
> Upstream Heroes
> Livestock Waste Management
> Know Your Watershed
> Online Store
> Become a Member
> Contact CTIC
|
... environmental sustainability, and consumer health. These technologies underpin its pioneering business model, which spans agriculture’s full value chain.
Silver Member
Agri Drain Corporation
www.agridrain.com
Agri Drain Corporation is an American company focused on manufacturing and distributing high-quality, durable products for the land improvement and water management industry.
Agricultural Retailers Association
www.aradc.org
The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) advocates, influences, educates and provides services to support its members in their quest to maintain a profitable business environment, adapt to a changing world and preserve their freedom to operate.
AGI
www.aggrowth.com
lanning, engineering ... more. |
CTIC Data Licensing Agreement
The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) provides Data to the public as part of its mission to champion, promote, and provide information about comprehensive conservation and sustainable agricultural systems that are beneficial for soil, water, air and wildlife resources and are productive and profitable for agriculture. By using Data from the CTIC web-site, the User agrees to the following Data Licensing Terms (modeled after “Attribution ShareAlike CC BY-SA”):
(1) The User will properly attribute all Data as having been obtained from CTIC (www.CTIC.org) and the designated Data Provider.
(2) Commercial and non-comme ... more. |
... Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities program.The Connectoris an app being developed by CTIC and its partners to connectthe relevant participants in the emerging climate smart commodity marketplace—buyers, producers, technical service providers, and certifiers–with each other and with the information needed to support transactions among them.
Indian Creek Watershed Project
The Indian Creek Watershed Project brought together farmers and other stakeholders in a central Illinois watershed in a remarkable collaboration that resulted in conservation practices being adopted on at least 57% of the agricultural acreage in the watershed and measurable reductions in nutrients in the creek. The project yielded perspective on conservation practices from demonstr ... more. |
... the biological activity. Higher biological activity increases nutrient cycling and availability and also reduces nutrient loss due to run off. With all this activity, soil structure and tilth are improved, increasing infiltration rates and reducing compaction.
Implementation of cover crops can have the following beneficial effects:
Increase soil organic matter
Increase infiltration of water into the soil
Decrease runoff to nearby waterways
Decrease soil erosion and transport to nearby waterways
Conserve soil moisture
Reduce soil compaction
Increase nutrient availability to the crop
Reduce nitrate leaching to groundwater
Supply nitrogen to following crop
Suppress weeds, potential reducing the need for herbicides
Suppress soil-born diseases and nematodes, potentially ... more. |
Phosphorus Load-Reduction Stimulus Program:
PLUS-UP
Background
The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) is leading a new effort to pilot a phosphorus load reduction market in the Western Lake Erie Basin (Maumee, Sandusky, and Cedar-Portage watersheds, see map). Growers within the indicated watersheds are now being sought to participate in this pilot market. The “Phosphorus Load-Reduction Stimulation Program” (PLUS-UP) payments now being offered to growers are intended to help offset their costs for the use of in-field practices—cover crops and no-till—which yield quantifiable reductions in the amount of dissolved ... more. |
... in the soil.
A webinar on Friday, April 14 will delve into the new data, new algorithm, and an exploration of how people are using OpTIS in their research. Check ctic.org/OpTIS for webinar details in the coming weeks.
Free Online Access
An intuitive visualization tool on the CTIC website (ctic.org/OpTIS) allows users to explore the data, zooming in on watersheds of interest and moving sliders to vary the date range they want to study. OpTIS data are available free on the site at the HUC 8 watershed or Crop Reporting District (CRD) level. CTIC members have access to customized data formats, and finer granularity can be arranged through Regrow via its Sustainability Insights platform.
“Since its introduction in 2019, OpTIS has provi ... more. |
... 2022, the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) celebrated 40 years of Conservation in Action. That's four decades of bringing a wide range of people to the table to advance conservation agriculture...from our early projects promoting no-till to our current programs that help farmers, conservationists, agribusiness professionals, academics and policymakers protect soil health, water quality and the atmosphere.In 2023, CTIC will continue that legacy as the trusted source for data on conservation farming practices, the coordinator of demonstration projects, a builder of local capacity, and a partner in developing high-impact education on conservation systems.We’re going to keep our boots on the ground and our hands in the soil as we continue to be at the forefront of con ... more. |
... agribusiness leaders, conservation group personnel, farm media, and others. The organization is supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and other public entities.
It is our mission to champion, promote and provide information on climate smart technologies and sustainable agricultural systems that conserve and enhance soil, water, air and wildlife resources and are productive and profitable.
|
CTIC champions, promotes and provides information on technologies and sustainable agricultural systems that conserve and enhance soil, water, air and wildlife resources, and are productive and profitable.
Lead Projects
CTIC is a leader and collaborator in projects that address conservation agriculture's most important topics. Funded by public investments, foundation grants, agribusiness and private donations, our projects provide insight into agricultural systems that are both economically and environmentally beneficial.&nbs ... more. |
... Anniversary this year, looking back at the evolution of the organization—and of conservation agriculture in America—and looking forward to the next 40 years of the organization's mission.
Over the years, CTIC has progressed from a strong focus on no-till and reduced tillage to a broader approach to economic and environmental sustainability that grew to include water and air quality, soil health, and climate-smart agriculture. Through it all, CTIC has been a clearinghouse for information and a hub for bringing a wide range of people together to share insights and ideas on making conservation farming systems more successful.
The 40th Anniversary celebration will kick off at the CTIC Conservation in Action Tour in September. For opportunities to sp ... more. |
... one that took well over a year to achieve through a seemingly endless series of Zoom calls. So far, Covid has prevented us from holding a kick-off meeting or workshop, but we have been able to launch our first market for dissolved reactive phosphorus in the Western Lake Erie Basin.
Here are the highlights, by the numbers:
10 growers in the Maumee, Sandusky, and Cedar-Portage watersheds signed up
5,000 acres enrolled in PLUS-UP
Bayer Carbon Program underwrites DRP credits
Participating farmers are sharing field data from the 2021 cropping season and the winter of 2021-2022 with the National Center for Water Quality Research at Heidelberg University. The Heidelberg team will use those details to calculate the effect of each farmer's conservation pr ... more. |
CTIC
National Water Quality Research Center, Heidelberg University
Geospatial Services, St. Mary's University of Minnesota
Bayer Carbon Program
|
... Program” (PLUS-UP) program, coordinated by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), will pay farmers in the project area $5 to $10 per acre in 2022 to reduce P loads using practices such as no-till or cover crops.
"The PLUS-UP program will provide a financial incentive for conservation practices that help farmers reduce phosphorus loading in the Lake Erie watershed, keep their nutrients where their crops can use them, and build soil health," says Hans Kok, CTIC program director. "Bayer Crop Science has purchased phosphorus credits to provide these PLUS-UP incentives, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has supported the development of a market mechanism that could be sustainable well into the future."
Through educati ... more. |
Download the Abstract Book & Poster Session Presenter List
Get your copy of the Virtual National Recreational Water Quality Workshop Abstract booktoday! Download the PDFfile and view all of the available abstracts.
DownloadSpeaker List
Download Abstract Book
|
2020 National Recreational Water Quality Workshop
This 3.5 day workshop open to the public will focus on two common challenges in recreational waters. April 21-24, 2020
Read More
The Conservation Technology Information Center
The Conservation Technology Information Center promotes, supports and provides information on conservation technologies & sustainable agricultural systems.
Read More
... more. |
... transportation, stops and all meals.
For more information on the Conservation in Action Tour, visit CTIC's website or call CTIC at (765) 494-9555.
The CTIC Conservation in Action Tour is sponsored in part by our Diamond-level sponsors—Bayer CropScience, The Mosaic Company, Syngenta and The Conservation Infrastructure Initiative co-led by the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance (IAWA) and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS)—and our Platinum sponsors, The Fertilizer Institute and Corteva Agriscience.
|
... transportation, stops and all meals.
For more information on the Conservation in Action Tour, visit CTIC's website or call CTIC at (765) 494-9555.
The CTIC Conservation in Action Tour is sponsored in part by our Diamond-level sponsors—Bayer CropScience, The Mosaic Company, Syngenta and The Conservation Infrastructure Initiative co-led by the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance (IAWA) and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS)—and our Platinum sponsors, The Fertilizer Institute and Corteva Agriscience.
|
... Service (NRCS)
Katie Flahive, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Bill and Tim Couser, Couser Cattle Company
Tim Recker, Iowa farmer and former chair of Iowa Land Improvement Contractors Association (LICA)
Omar de Kok-Delgado and Tim Youngquist, Iowa State University
Lee Tesdell, Iowa farmer and prairie strip pioneer
Sean McMahon, Executive Director, Iowa Agricultural Water Alliance (IAWA)
Shawn Richmond, Environmental Services Director, Agribusiness Association of Iowa
and more.
"Our Conservation in Action Tours bring together speakers from across agriculture, from farmers to regulators, agribusiness leaders, researchers and representatives of various conservation groups, to provide insights on what's working in the field to help farmers operate sus ... more. |
For more than 35 years, the Conservation Technology Information Center has brought together people, information, and insight to move agricultural sustainability ahead. We provide the safe space where farmers, regulators, researchers, agribusiness, conservation group staffers and other stakeholders can explore conservation systems that improve soil health, water and air quality, and the producer's bottom line.
In short, we Connect, Inform and Champion.
To do all that, we need your involvement. Please renew your membership in CTIC, or join us today. Encourage your colleagues to join, too.
Several members have upgraded their membership status, including:
Case IH (Corporate Silver)
Indiana Corn Marketing Co ... more. |
Location
Lyden, WA
Documents
Whatcom County Dairy Farmers Tackle Water Quality Challenges, Capital Press, February 3, 2017
Images
$(document).ready(function(){
$('#terry_lenssen_img img').on('click', function() {
$('.enlargeImageModalSource').attr('src', $(this).attr('src'));
$('#enlargeImageModal2').modal('show');
});
});
×
Click the below images to enlarge them
... more. |
... Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) is a unique public-private partnership that brings together farmers, researchers, policy makers, regulators, agribusiness leaders, conservation group organizers and others at the same table to share information on conservation farming systems. In short, we Connect, Inform and Champion to encourage the adoption of practices that protect soil, water and air quality as well as farmers’ economic sustainability.
There has never been a better time to join CTIC. We’ve got great programs in the field and a clearinghouse full of information on everything from selecting the right cover crops to organizing watershed-wide conservation projects.
In addition to the information below, a membership application is now available online at ... more. |
Wallaces Farmer, August 2018
|
... even more of the crops that clothe, fuel and feed the world. One way to help alleviate this pressure is to significantly improvesoil healthon cropland.
By adopting practices like planting winter cover crops and reducing—or better yet eliminating—tillage practices, farmers can significantly improve productivity of their fields, reduce soil erosion, improve water quality and increase carbon storage. In fact, agricultural soils are among the planet's largest reservoirs (orsinks) of carbon. Improving soil on American croplands has the potential to mitigate 25 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. That’s the equivalent to taking 5 million passenger cars off the road for one year.
|
CONNECT
CTIC brings people together. We build coalitions. We connect farmers, researchers, policymakers, agribusiness, and lead discussions that move conversations ahead.
INFORM
CTIC is a clearinghouse for convservation information, from Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) regional trend data to how to implement practices on your farm.
CHAMPION
&n ... more. |
CTIC Projects « Promoting Conservation « NARS Water Quality Spotlights
|
... the biological activity. Higher biological activity increases nutrient cycling and availability and also reduces nutrient loss due to run off. With all this activity, soil structure and tilth are improved, increasing infiltration rates and reducing compaction.
Implementation of cover crops can have the following beneficial effects:
Increase soil organic matter
Increase infiltration of water into the soil
Decrease runoff to nearby waterways
Decrease soil erosion and transport to nearby waterways
Conserve soil moisture
Reduce soil compaction
Increase nutrient availability to the crop
Reduce nitrate leaching to groundwater
Supply nitrogen to following crop
Suppress weeds, potential reducing the need for herbicides
Suppress soil-born diseases and nematodes, potentially reducing ... more. |
Have you checked your mailbox for CTIC’s annual membership renewal notice? Renewing your membership helps us continue to make a difference in conservation agriculture and helps us continue to grow our organization. CTIC members play a critical role in spreading the message about how conservation practices can help improve soil and water quality, boost profitability and more. We couldn’t do it without you!
As a CTIC member, you:
Network with leaders in conservation and agriculture
Collaborate on projects that encourage and steer conservation efforts
Access the latest research and information
Gain national recognition for your support of agricultural conservation.
Have recognition on CTIC ... more. |
... the biological activity. Higher biological activity increases nutrient cycling and availability and also reduces nutrient loss due to run off. With all this activity, soil structure and tilth are improved, increasing infiltration rates and reducing compaction.
Implementation of cover crops can have the following beneficial effects:
Increase soil organic matter
Increase infiltration of water into the soil
Decrease runoff to nearby waterways
Decrease soil erosion and transport to nearby waterways
Conserve soil moisture
Reduce soil compaction
Increase nutrient availability to the crop
Reduce nitrate leaching to groundwater
Supply nitrogen to following crop
Suppress weeds, potential reducing the need for herbicides
Suppress soil-born diseases and nematodes, potentially ... more. |
Cincinnati, Ohio
This training was co-located with the National Water Quality Monitoring Council’s (NWQMC) Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, April 28-May 2.
The R training was a one day, interactive session held on May 1 or May 2, 2014 and focused on the analysis of NARS data using the R computing language.
Topics included:
Data preparation: building a state-level dataset.
How to compute population estimates of the ecological condition of aquatic ... more. |
CTIC's 11th annual Conservation in Action Tour is heading to the eastern shore! Join us in Maryland as we visit part of the country's largest estuary, the Chesapeake Bay, to get a front row view of how the area is leading the way in innovative conservation to improve water quality.
|
CTIC champions, promotes and provides information on technologies and sustainable agricultural systems that conserve and enhance soil, water, air and wildlife resources and are productive and profitable.
|
The Indian Creek Watershed Project demonstrated the power of voluntary conservation practices to impact local water quality. Hear local farmers explain how their community banded together to put conservation systems into action.
|
Richard Budell
|
Ron Rice and Luigi Trotta
|
Penn State University, University of Maryland, and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service have all been testing various soil parameters on the Cedar Meadow Farm.
Groff, Steve. 2008. Mixtures and cocktails: Soil is meant to be covered. J. Soil Water Conserv. 63(4):110A-111A.
|
Cover crops can provide a multitude of environmental benefits, including reducing soil erosion, minimizing nitrogen leaching, and increasing soil carbon storage (Delgado et al. 2007; Singer et al. 2007; Hargrove 1991).
Anderson-Wilk, M. 2008. The gap between cover crop knowledge and practice. J. Soil Water Conserv. 63(4):96A.
|
Cover cropping impacts soil properties in many positive ways. These include higher total carbon, which usually contributes to increased cation exchange capacity and water-holding capacity.
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;Calibri" ,"sans-serif";times="" new="" roman";times="" roman";"="">Biological and biochemical soil properties in no-till corn with different cover crops.
|
Mark your calendar for the 2013 Conservation In Action Tour, July 9 and 10 in Livingston County, Ill. We’ll be visiting the hub of several outstanding watershed conservation projects, with stops at demonstration plots, on-farm trials and in-stream water quality testing stations.
More than 40 percent of the farm acreage in the 80-square-mile watershed is enrolled in conservation programs, and many of the watershed’s 160 farmers are on the CTIC-facilitated Indian Creek Watershed Project advisory board.
That dramatic ... more. |
The New Leader line of crop nutrient applicators from Highway Equipment Company is an integral part of fertilizer handling - vital for improving water quality and farm sustainability in the Mississippi River Basin. "Right place" is one of the 4Rs of nutrient stewardship, and New Leader equipment is proud of its role in promoting and enabling that key tactic. |
Monsanto works with farmers from around the world to make agriculture more productive and sustainable. We've strengthened our goal of doubling crop yields by committing to doing it with one-third fewer resources such as land, water and energy per unit produced. We're working with our partners to develop conservation systems that are better for the plant. |
... CTIC’s 30th anniversary is a perfect opportunity to take stock of the conservation achievements of American agriculture over the last 30 years, trace the path that the industry has taken to get where we are, and chart a course for the future,” said CTIC board member Ron Olson of The Mosaic Company, the lead sponsor for the event. “Information about the stewardship of soil, water and air quality is absolutely critical to agriculture and to society as a whole. CTIC has a long and proud history of sharing the information that helps put conservation practices on the ground to everybody’s benefit.”
|
The Mosaic Company's mission is to help the world grow the food it needs. As the world's largest supplier of phosphate and potash, we consider this mission to be a compelling one that carries vast responsibilities.
From water conservation and energy efficiency to stringent safety programs and community investment, sustainability is embedded in virtually everything we do. We believe that lasting success comes from making smart choices about our stewardship of the environment, how we engage our people, and how we manage our resources.
The Mosaic Company is a long and active sponsor of CTIC activities. |
Provides local technical assistance, contact with area producers and guidance for project outreach and growth. |
The Soil and Water Conservation Society will hold their 67th annual conference in Fort Worth, Texas from July 22-25, 2012. This year's conference theme is "Choosing Conservation: Considering Ecology, Economics and Ethics" and will feature presentations, workshops, symposia, and technical tours to facilitate the sharing of resource conservation knowledge. In honor of our 30th anniversary celebrat ... more. |
CTIC took a party theme to the 67th International Annual Conference of the Soil and Water Conservation Society, titled "Choosing Conservation: Considering Ecology, Economics and Ethics," held July 22-25 in Fort Worth, Texas. Our exhibit stood out with balloons and festive gift bags to celebrate our 30 years of service to agriculture.
Karen Scanlon, CTIC executive director, and Chad Watts, CTIC project director, talked with co ... more. |
AgDay featured CTIC in a story as part of its ongoing "Future of Farming" series. Tyne Morgan, national reporter, visited the CTIC office in early March to interview Karen Scanlon, CTIC executive director. The story aired Wednesday, March 21.
Karen and Upstream Hero Larry Bonnell, interviewed on his farm in Michigan, discussed conservation successes, cover crops and water quality in the broadcast.
The AgDay report also promoted CTIC's Conservation In Action Tour 2012 in the Mississippi Delta this year.
To view the broadcast, click here, or for a written summary click here.
CTIC thanks AgDay and Tyne Morgan for great promotion of conservation and the Conservation In Action Tour.
|
What is agriculture doing to protect water quality and improve soil health? Find out on CTIC's Conservation in Action Tour 2010. Participants will visit farms and farmers in east central Virginia who have built successful, profitable farming operations through conservation and are providing their community with valuable ecosystem services. Recognizing, supporting and paying for agriculture’s ecosystem services – through go ... more. |
No-Till Farming Systems
The highly anticipated World Association of Soil and Water Conservation - Special Publication No. 3 - No-Till Farming Systems book has been released in the United States. As co-publisher, CTIC is honored to be the designated U.S. distributor.
"No-till farming systems have been developed and applied around the world over several decades. The technology is dynamic: it develops and changes as we overcome obstacles in soil opening, seed placement, ... more. |
... computer game that delivers information on non-point source pollution in a fast-paced and entertaining format. Appealing for audiences of all ages, it teaches fundamental concepts about non-point source pollution prevention measures in a farm, city, and neighborhood setting. Point and click screens that move and have sound help players learn how day-to-day decisions can affect the water quality of lakes and streams.
|
This full-color publication defines a wetland, describes the role of wetlands, wetlands protection, and status and trends associated with wetlands. Developed and published by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
|
Increase soil organic matter
Increase infiltration of water into the soil
Decrease runoff to nearby waterways
Decrease soil erosion and transport to nearby waterways
Conserve soil moisture
Reduce soil compaction
Increase nutrient availability to the crop
Reduce nitrate leaching to groundwater
Supply nitrogen to following crop
Suppress weeds, potential reducing the need for herbicides
Suppress soil-born ... more. |
CTIC Institutional Gold Member, Environmental Resources Coalition (ERC), believes that it's possible for government, private industry, and citizen stakeholder groups to work together. They understand that when it comes to water protection efforts, one size does not fit all. Successful groups will use sound science, common sense and have an appreciation for the cause and effect relationships between economics, the environment and politics. To learn more about Environmental Resources Coalition, visit www.erc-env.org/.
|
... annual Conservation In Action Tour 2011. This year’s Tour will focus on agriculture’s influence on the environmental and economic health of Maumee River and Bay, as well as Lake Erie.
WHEN: August 9, 2011
WHERE: Northwest Ohio
WHAT: The Tour will highlight producers implementing innovative conservation practices and solutions to water quality issues.
"Early Bird" registration for the Conservation In Action Tour 2011 is now open!
Click here to register.
Visit the Tour Website to learn more about the Cocktail Social, Lodging Information, Sponsorship Opportunities and more.
|
CTIC champions, promotes and provides information on technologies and sustainable agricultural systems that conserve and enhance soil, water, air and wildlife resources and are productive and profitable.
|
Markets for water quality and carbon trading credits could allow growers to earn money for the environmental services they provide.
|
By facilitating the switch to conservation tillage, biotech crops have helped dramatically reduce soil erosion and water pollution, increase carbon sequestration, and lower the use of crop protection chemicals by millions of pounds per year.
|
... fertilizer and livestock manure are recognized assets to agricultural operations. They both contain essential plant nutrients which enhance crop yields when properly applied to soils. Nutrients can be managed efficiently with the latest techniques and technologies, to avoid the potential financial and environmental risks of nitrogen and phosphorus reaching surface and ground water. Learn about research developments and new tools for improving on-farm nutrient efficiency.
Contact:brian.c.williams@state.mn.us
Please register by calling 651-201-6141. Your fee of $10 at the door will cover your refreshments and lunch.
Conference Presentations
Speaker Contact Information and Biographies
News Release
Download Confer ... more. |
... or by hand in understocked woodlands or open fields. Tree species are matched with soil types and selected to prevent soil erosion, increase income, or boost productivity of existing woodland.
How it helps
Improving stands of woodlands can increase profits.
Ground cover created by trees and associated debris protects soil from rill and sheet erosion.
Ground cover also protects water quality by filtering excess nutrients and chemicals from surface runoff and increasing infiltration rates.
Healthy, well-managed woodlands provide long-term wildlife habitat.
Planning ahead
Is the soil suitable for producing wood crops?
Is the soil suitable for the tree species you have selected?
Is there a market for the species you want to plant?
Do you need this land for crops ... more. |
Upcoming Events
July
Soil and Water Conservation Society Annual Conference
July 18-21,2010, St. Louis, Mo.
Fellows Forum, Sunday, July 18th, 2010:“Gulf Hypoxia – A Midwest Perspective”
The 32nd Southern Conservation Agriculture Systems Conference: Conservation Agriculture Impacts--Local and Global
July 20-22, 2010,Jackson and Milan, Tenn.
... more. |
... tour will feature stops in western Illinois!
An engrossed group of Conservation In Action Tour participants listens to a discussion at one of the Beck's Hybrids seed company's greenhouses.
Photo Courtesy of Purity Mason
Side-by-side demonstration models at Rulon Enterprises show how ground water appears in a conventional tilled field (left) versus a no-till field (right) with residue on the soil surface.
Photo Courtesy of Purity Mason
At Lamb Farms, drywall scrap from construction projects is ground into gypsum and spread on fields as a soil amendment.
Photo courtesy of Randall Reeder
... more. |
... say farmers who apply manure as a fertilizer to their no-till field can decrease the chance that pathogens end up in runoff, which can pose environmental and health hazards.
These researchers studied the transport of Cryptosporidium – a parasite present in animal waste – through no-till and tilled fields. They found that a greater amount of the parasite moved along with excess water through no-till fields and into tile drains than in tilled fields, especially during a rain event.
However, they say, by following a few simple recommendations, pathogens in runoff can be reduced.
For the full story, visit www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/newsitem.asp?id=5501.
New report outlines trade-offs of biofuel production
The Ecological Society of America (ESA) recently re ... more. |
... and farmers could lose nitrogen.”
In addition to protecting against erosion and helping to build soil quality, residue left on the field in no-till cropping systems can help producers get into the field earlier in cold, wet harvest seasons.
Photo courtesy of NRCS
Not only could farmers lose the nitrogen applied to their fields, that nitrogen can enter nearby waterways, creating water-quality issues and adding to already established hypoxic zones, he adds.
Another potential problem with applying anhydrous in a wet fall: heavy, silty clay soils will not crumble and reseal the slot though which nitrogen is applied, Reicosky says.
“Unless a farmer takes the precautions to cover that gap, he runs the risk of losing some of that nitrogen,&rdq ... more. |
... Research Service (ARS) have improved the precision of calculating the costs and benefits of using conservation tillage in cotton production.
Learn more at this web site: www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2009/090317.htm.
EPA Announces Video Contest
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will award $2,500 to the winning video that educates homeowners, farmers and communities about water pollution issues. Video submissions must be 30- or 60-second video that can be used as a TV public service announcement or a 1- to 3-minute instructional video (one winner in each category). The deadline for submitting videos to EPA is Earth Day, April 22, 2009.
Get more details at: www.epa.gov/owow/videocontest.html.
Three Factors Sent Farm Prices Up, Same Three Driving Prices ... more. |
... In fact, the company is the leading international producer of nitrogen products for agricultural, industrial and environmental markets. Terra owns and operates nitrogen manufacturing facilities in six North American locations and own 50 percent interest in joint ventures in the United Kingdom and The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
Terra takes pride in protecting the land, air and water and having superior customer relations in the communities in which they operate. Since 1987, Terra has reduced their nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions by about 80 percent by installing selective catalytic reduction systems in its facilities and has implemented projects to reduce toxic emissions of ammonia, nitrate and methanol. Currently, the company is installing low-NOx burners and greenhouse aba ... more. |
... supplies are in short supply.
How it helps
Standing crops with unharvested grain give food to wildlife that may
otherwise not be accessible after heavy snows or ice.
A food plot helps maintain wildlife on your farm by providing food.
Planning ahead
Will the crop you plan to plant or leave standing in the field attract the
wildlife you want?
Is there adequate cover and water near the food plot to support wildlife?
Are you endangering wildlife by placing the food plot too close to high
traffic areas?
Tech notes
Planting dates range from March 1 to June 15 depending on the crop. *
Food plots should be planted on the least erosive areas of the selected
field.
Plots on slopes steeper than 5% should be planted on the contour.
A plot can be planted on t ... more. |
A close-growing crop that temporarily protects the soil when crop residues are not adequate.
How it works
Crops including cereal rye, oats, clover, hairy vetch, and winter wheat are planted to temporarily protect the ground from wind and water erosion during times when cropland isn't adequately protected against soil erosion.
How it helps
Cover crops keep ground covered, add organic matter to the soil, trap nutrients, improve soil tilth and reduce weed competition.
Planning ahead
Do you have a seeding method that won't harm standing crops?
Are adequate soil conservation measures installed?
Tech notes
C ... more. |
Intro to Watershed Planning & 9 Elements
Getting the Big Picture
Purposes of Chemical, Physical, and Biological Monitoring
Common Monitoring Parameters
Accessing Existing and Web Based Data
Using Hoosier RiverWatch Data for Assessment and Planning
Observational Approaches to Monitoring and Assessment
Characterizing Baseline Water Body Conditions
Interpreting and Using Existing Data to Identi ... more. |
... the adoption of sustainable production systems based on reduced tillage.
Increase awareness of the positive effects of reduced tillage systems on climate change adaptation, greenhouse gas emissions or carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, and carbon sequestration.
Reduce cropping risk.
Increase the awareness of the positive effects of reduced tillage on surface water quality.
www.reducedtillage.ca
|
National Soil Tilth Laboratory
USDA Agricultural Research Service
Established 1989
Research laboratory within the USDA-ARS organization charged with conducting research on farming systems and their impact on air, soil, and water quality. Multidisciplinary research teams address problems using multiple scales of studies that range from basic laboratory analyses of soils to watershed and regional assessment of farming systems impacts on environmental quality and production efficiency.
Mission, Goals and Contact Information
www.ars.usda.gov/mwa/ames/nstl
|
|
