Thank A Farmer
Why?
They put food on your plate!
America's family farmers feed our nation and the world.
Farmers protect our land, air and water
Before placing nitrogen (a plant food) on a field, farmers get soil tests to make sure they put proper supply of nitrogen on the crop. That way, the crop uses all the plant food and water quality is protected.
Farmers also protect our land by participating in Conservation Reserve Programs (CRP). Under this program, farmers convert highly erodible cropland or environmentally sensitive land to "cover," such as native grass, wildlife plantings, trees, or filter strips.
This helps reduce soil erosion, protects the farmers' ability to produce food and fiber, reduces sedimentation in streams and water ways, creates habitat, and improves forest and wetlands. CRP reduces soil erosion each year by hundreds of millions of tons
Here are some strategies farmers use to protect the environment:
* Filter strips – consist of grass or other vegetation that filter run off or waste by trapping pesticides and pollutants
* Riparian Buffers – trees and shrubs planted next to wetlands, lakes and streams to catch runoff and pollutants….also contributes food and shelter to wildlife
* Grass Waterways – channels that are planted with vegetation to help protect soil from erosion during a storm
* Shallow Water for Wildlife – provide cover and water for wildlife
* Trees in this program remove an estimated 3.7 million tons of carbon per year from the atmosphere, helping to reduce greenhouse gases that cause global warming
Farmers also are involved in Conservation Reserve Enhancement Programs (CREP). The goal of CREP is to improve water quality, erosion control, and wildlife habitat in specific geographic areas.
First established in 1997, CREP helps to protect the stream water quality in Maryland and reduce pollutants running into the Chesapeake Bay. High levels of algae and too many nutrients have contributed to reduction of fish, shellfish, and other water life.
Delaware will be able to protect 1,200 miles of waterways through participation in the CREP by saving environmentally sensitive land. Some things will be specifically done for wildlife while others will be done to restore wetlands. Maryland retired 100,000 acres that were considered important in protecting the Chesapeake Bay's health.
Virginia is targeting 25,000 acres in the bay watershed, and plans to reduce nitrogen contaminants, phosphorous levels and sediment in water ways
o Pennsylvania is also involved in the program to reduce excessive nutrients in the Chesapeake Bay.
Farmers may participate in the Wetlands Reserve Program, a voluntary program to restore wetlands. Wetlands filter out pollution and sediment, improve water quality, and serve as flood control by slowing down the speed of water flow.
Farmers in Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland also use these strategies to keep our air, land and water clean:
o Roof Runoff Management in Feedlots – system of components for collecting, controlling and disposing excess liquid from roofs that would otherwise enter a feedlot and become contaminated
o Manure Sheds – structure used for stacking dry manure and protecting it from precipitation while its being stored
o Lagoons – waste treatment impoundment made by an embankment or excavating a pit. A lagoon is used to treat manure and wastewater, reducing pollution
o Cover Crop – goal is to reduce erosion, scavenge nitrogen, put nitrogen back into the soil or a combination of these objectives
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