National Association of Conservation Districts February 4, 2019 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Prince Georges 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
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
145.0 Part of Patuxent River Park
Lies w/in Chesapeake Bay Critical Area and bordered by Patuxent River and Spice creek
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.
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
PGSCD MNCPPC Farmer Staff time Land Owner-Provides the Property Gets Free Land Rent if follows the plan Guidance, Farm Planning Equipment and labor for clearing Work cooperatively with PGSCD Funding via Grants Funding Provide input and yield documentation Education/ Outreach Education/Outreach Equipment and labor for clearing Research/ Documentation PGSCD pay for soil tests, cover crop seed and grassed filter strip seed and soil amendments. The District’s no-till drill was used to plant cover crop and filter strips. District staff installed the initial MNCPPC supply equipment for some of the clearing. Additionally they supply dumpsters for cleaning
Goldsmith brothers perform some clearing w their equipment in return for 10 year free rent.
1st ORDER OF BUSINESS CLEAR THE LAND
32.0 ACRES Debris is to be stockpiled for wildlife habitat. Some debris will be burned.
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 infiltration Reduce the need for expensive structural BMPs to reduce soil erosion Improve soil biology Reduce Fuel usage Reduce weed competition Decrease variability between seasons Improve soil health w economic agronomic BMPs Improve soil health w economic agronomic BMPs
Spring 2016 Land clearing Develop soil and water conservation plan. Develop nutrient management plan. Removal of overgrown nursery stock. Establish brush piles. Establish 35’ cool season grass buffers. Establish wildlife corridor Fall 2016 Summer 2017 Plant commodity wheat DC Soybeans Fall 2017 Plant Multi-Species CC Spring 2018 Additional Clearing Kill Cover Crop and plant no-till corn Fall 2018 Plant Multi-Species CC Going forward no-till corn and soybean rotation w a fall multi specie cover crop. Other rotations may be used. Summer cover crops may be to extend the duration of “live” plants on the ground.
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
Soil Health Demonstration Farm
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)