National Association of Conservation Districts February 4, 2019 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Prince George’s Soil Conservation District Soil Health Demonstration Farm Project National Association of Conservation Districts February 4, 2019 Steven Darcey, CPESC District Manager

Education and Outreach Programs:  Envirothon  Farmers Soil and  Summer Intern Water Conservation Program  County’s Summer  County Inspectors Youth Enrichment  PGCPS Environmental  Urban Ag Conservation Academies  Maryland Green School  Soil Health Project Initiative

Soil Health Demonstration Farm Model  Work with conventional tillage farmer  Two farms with similar topography and soils  Setup prescribed crop rotations for both farms  Crop one farm with conventional system  Crop the other farm with all soil health best management practices  Manage fields w various cover crop mixtures  Manage farms w conventional vs no-till methods  Keep records on inputs and yields  Conduct field days and workshops  Engage the farming community  Present results at multiple functions

STEPS TO SUCCESS Located an abandoned overgrown farm owned by the Maryland National  Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC) Identify participating farmer. Offer free rent if he followed our program  Establish goals for the project  Get Board of Supervisor approval to proceed  Develop a Memorandum of Understanding w MNCPPC  Develop a tracking spreadsheet for inputs and outputs  Perform Maryland NRCS Soil Health Assessment   Take soil samples for fertility (Waters Lab) and soil health (Cornell) Develop a tentative budget  Define all participant’s roles and responsibilities  Begin clearing operations  Repair tobacco barn to be used for workshops and field days.   Apply for Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission “Regional Ag Production” grant

Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC) Spice Creek Farm - Total Acres: 145.0 Part of Patuxent River Park - Demonstration Area: Approx. 40 acres - Proposed Cropland: 32 acres - Environmentally sensitive site. Lies w/in Chesapeake Bay Critical Area and bordered by Patuxent River and Spice creek - Was in nursery stock for 30 years - Abandoned since 2008. Overgrown w/ non-native nursery trees and shrubs and invasive non-native trees and other woody plants. Typical invasive species are ailanthus (tree of heaven), Bradford Pear and multiflora rose.

Spice Creek Farm Topographic Map Located w/in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Limits Predominately “A” slopes Well drained sandy loam soils Collington-Wist series Good access for the public by land or water Old tobacco barn may serve as a focal point for workshops and educational activities Existing wooded buffers

Proposed Cropland Areas Predominant Soil Type: CnA Collington - Wist Slope: 0-2% average Other Soils: CnB

Roles and Responsibilities Spelled out in the MOU PGSCD MNCPPC Farmer Staff time Land Owner-Provides the Gets Free Land Rent if Property follows the plan Guidance, Farm Planning Equipment and labor for Work cooperatively with clearing PGSCD Funding via Grants Funding Provide input and yield documentation Education/ Outreach Education/Outreach Equipment and labor for clearing Research/ Documentation MNCPPC supply equipment Goldsmith brothers PGSCD pay for soil tests, for some of the clearing. perform some clearing cover crop seed and Additionally they supply w their equipment in grassed filter strip seed dumpsters for cleaning and soil amendments. The return for 10 year free out the old tobacco barn . District’s no-till drill was rent. used to plant cover crop and filter strips. District staff installed the initial

1 st ORDER OF BUSINESS CLEAR THE LAND 32.0 ACRES Debris is to be stockpiled for wildlife habitat. Some debris will be burned.

Goals Soil Improvements Economic Improvements Increase organic material Reduce Fertilizer and chemical inputs Improve water holding capacity Increase yields Decrease compaction Reduce time in the field Improve soil permeability and water Reduce the need for expensive structural infiltration BMPs to reduce soil erosion Improve soil biology Reduce Fuel usage Reduce weed competition Decrease variability between seasons Improve soil health w economic Improve soil health w economic agronomic agronomic BMPs BMPs

Ray’s Crazy Mix

Ray’s Crazy Mix Winter Pea 24% Oats 20% Triticale 20% Hairy Vetch 12.5% Crimson Clover 10% Annual Ryegrass 7.5% Forage Radish 3.5% Turnip 2.5%

1950 Tobacco Barn Before Renovation

1950 Tobacco Barn After Renovations

Progress Timeline 2016-2018 Spring 2016 Develop soil and water conservation plan. Develop nutrient management plan. Land clearing Removal of overgrown nursery stock. Establish brush piles. Establish 35’ cool season grass buffers. Establish wildlife corridor Fall 2016 Plant commodity wheat Summer 2017 DC Soybeans Fall 2017 Plant Multi-Species CC Spring 2018 Kill Cover Crop and Additional Clearing plant no-till corn Fall 2018 Plant Multi-Species CC Going forward no-till corn and soybean Other rotations may be used. Summer rotation w a fall multi specie cover crop. cover crops may be to extend the duration of “live” plants on the ground.

BUDGET Soil Health Demonstration Farm ITEM QUANTITY ACTUAL COS FUNDING SOURCE Field Border Seeding 5 acres @ $400.00/ac $791.66 PGSCD/MNCPPC New Roof for Barn $6,500.00 SMADC RAP GRANT Structural Barn Work $16,300.00 SMADC RAP GRANT Dumpster @ Barn 2 Ea $0.00 MNCPPC Removal of Old Truck in Barn $0.00 PGSCD Cover Crop Seed 15 Bags $750.00 PGSCD Weather Station 1Ea $0.00 SMADC GRANT Compactomometer: Soil Compaction Tester 1 Ea $668.27 MDA CBFT Cornell Soil Tests 4 Ea $240.00 PGSCD Cleaning of Barn: Trash Removal $1,640.00 SMADC RAP GRANT $26,889.93 SMADC RAP GRANT FUNDS: Start: $25,000.00 New Roof for Barn $ 6,500.00 Structural Barn Work $ 16,300.00 Cleaning Barn $ 1,640.00 Remaining Funds: $560.00

In 2018 the MNCPPC approached PGSCD about another site for a demonstration farm that was more accessible to the suburban public. WATKINS PARK FARM This farm is actually part of a larger public park and receives 1.5 million visitors a year. Soils and topography are similar to Spice Creek

CHALLENGES Weather: 65 inches of rain in 2018 set a one hundred year record. Farmer motivation to change old ways of farming. Urgency to follow the prescribed model. Proper timing is essential. Cost: conventional small grain cover crop is $12-$19 per 50lb bag. $36-$57/acre (150 lbs/ac) Multi species cover crop seed (Ray’s Crazy Mix is $50.00 per 50lb bag. $50.00/acre (50lb/ac)

CONCLUSIONS This is a long term 10-20 year project so to early to draw conclusions on the benefits of soil health practices. Potential to provide outreach and education to thousands of citizens. We are gaining knowledge of farmer perceptions, actual costs associated with applying soil health practices, what works and how to manage in unfavorable weather.

Thanks to: Yates Clagett-PGSCD Ag Engineer Wade Hampton-PGSCD Ag Planner Harrison Palmer-MDA Grant Technician Katie Bliley-PGSCD Administrative Aide Goldsmith Family-Farmer @ Spice Creek Eddie Toney-Farmer @ Watkins Park Kyle Lowe-Deputy Chief M-NCPPC and Christine Fanning-Deputy M-NCPPC

CONTACT INFORMATION Wade Hampton Wade.Hampton@md.nacdnet.net Harrison Palmer H arrison.palmer@md.nacdnet.net Prince George’s Soil Conservation District 5301 Marlboro Race Track Road suite 100 Upper Marlboro MD 20772 301-574-5162 ext 3 visit us on the web ww.PGSCD.org