02
Feb

Maryland’s Conservation Buffer Intiative

 

Maryland’s Conservation Buffer Initiative

Back by popular demand, Maryland's Conservation Buffer Initiative provides farmers with attractive incentive payments to plant streamside buffers on farms to protect water quality. New this year, farmers can receive up to $4,500 an acre to install riparian forest buffers with pasture fencing. Financial assistance is also available to install deer fencing next to grass buffers. Other features include a buffer option for field ditches, flexible site management, and shorter contract terms. Three types of buffers are eligible for funding and free technical assistance from local soil conservation districts: riparian forest buffers, grass buffers planted next to waterways or field ditches, and watercourse access control areas adjacent to pastures.
  • Payment rates range from $500/acre for an existing grass buffer to a maximum of $4,500/acre to install a riparian forest buffer with pasture fencing.
  • Financial assistance is offered to install deer fencing next to grass buffers.
  • Mowing and hay harvesting are allowed; nutrient applications are not.
  • Famers receive a one-time payment for enrolled land; contracts are for 5 or 10 years.
  • All work must be completed by June 30, 2023.
Apply online or by mail between January 10, 2022, and February 18, 2022. For more information and application instructions form: Click Here

FORMS

Application Form: Maryland Conservation Buffer Initiative Application Nutrient Management Plan Certification: Current Nutrient Management Plan Certification Special Power of Attorney Form: Special Power of Attorney Form Certificate of Sole Proprietorship: Certificate of Sole Proprietorship Certificate of Resolution: Certificate of Resolution
February 2, 2022 / Program / Keli Kirby / Permalink
01
Feb

Featured BMP: Watering Facilities

Featured Best Management Practice: Watering Facilities

One of the most valuable Best Management Practices (BMP) that I think a landowner can install is a watering facility. On the conservation side, it allows a landowner to provide water for their livestock without accessing a stream, thus reducing nutrients and sediment from entering the Bay. On the management side, it allows a landowner to visually monitor livestock as stream corridors are usually wooded and some have steep slopes leading to the stream. There's no need to worry about what is in the water upstream. You know the water is clean and without contaminants and you can monitor the animal(s) intake of water. There are many types of troughs or waterers you can install. They fall in two general categories: waterers fed by natural springs and pressure fed waterers. Spring Fed Waterers These concrete troughs utilize natural springs to supply water. They are practically damage proof and provide a constant source of water with little to no risk of freezing. Heavy use areas should be incorporated into the design to minimize erosion. The heavy use area should extend a minimum of six feet beyond the trough. Large troughs like these can be placed on the fence line to provide water for two pastures.

Waterers Fed By Natural Springs

These waterers do not require any electricity to pump or heat the water. The constant flow of water keeps it from freezing. Gravity provides the flow. They are usually a round concrete trough with a 12-inch hole in the middle of the floor. Perforated pipes in a bed of stone are used to collect the subsurface water and the underground line becomes a solid pipe that runs downhill to the concrete trough. The pipe comes up through the center of the trough. Another pipeline is installed in the center and provides an outlet for water not used. Generally, the water leaving the trough flows into a nearby stream. If the underground water supply is available all year, the waterer will have a constant flow. The drawback of this system is in a drought. During dry times the water table may drop below where the perforated underground collection pipe was installed, causing the waterer to go dry. The advantage to this system is a constant source of fresh, cool clean water without the use of electricity or pressure tank and it does not freeze. Spring fed waterers are ideal for equine, cattle, sheep and goats. The trough itself can be ordered in different sizes and installed at any height to accommodate any size livestock. Pressure Fed Waterer The “JUG” is a pressure waterer and provides water on demand. At first you allow the concave area to fill with water to get the animals used to drinking out of it. Over time you reduce the level of water and eventually no water is exposed and the animal has to draw it out. This design shows a stone dust Heavy Use Area Protection. This waterer serves two paddock areas.

Pressure Fed Waterers

There are several different designs that can be purchased depending on the type of livestock and the needs of the landowner. They all rely on a pressure tank to supply the water. The set up requires a well or other source of water, electricity and a pressure tank that is in a location that will not allow it to freeze. A pipeline is run underground from the pressure tank to the waterer. Since they only flow on demand there is a greater chance they will freeze. Different companies have different methods to prevent the water from freezing in the trough. Some require an electric heater; others rely on foam insulation and the constant use of the trough. Most have some method of limiting the water’s exposure to the cold air. The advantage to these waterers is a guaranteed source of clean fresh water. The amount of water used is only what the livestock needs. Maintenance is minimum. The disadvantages are, if the electricity goes out the trough will not refill. Some designs require constant use to keep from freezing which could be a problem with small herds. They may be more expensive to install if you do not already have a well and pressure tank available. Pressure Fed Waterer with Heavy Use Areas On the left, the pressure fed waterer has movable floating spheres to keep the water from being exposed. The livestock learn to push the spheres out of the way to access the water. Note the concrete heavy Use Area around the trough. On the right, a Nelson stainless steel waterer. It has a pressure plate that senses when to add water and utilizes an electric heater to keep the water from freezing in the winter. The stainless steel bowl simply lifts out for cleaning. The black cloth is the geotextile and it is ready to receive stone dust or wood chips. Nelson waterers are too small to be split by a fence, so you need one per pasture.

Heavy Use Area Protection

Watering Facilities become high traffic areas, so we always install Heavy Use Area Protection around them. Since we know it will be difficult to maintain grass around the trough, we remove eight inches of soil a minimum of six from all around the trough and either, install geotextile with eight inches of stone dust or place three to four inches of stone and pour a concrete around the trough. With the concrete we make sure it is a little rough and not perfectly smooth, so the animals have traction. The concrete is always sloped away from the trough.

Designing for Watering Facilities

Watering Facilities can stand alone or be placed in series to supply multiple pastures with water. One Watering Facility can supply two pastures with water if it is placed on the fence line.

Next Step

If you think you may be interested in installing a Watering Facility, please give us a call. Cost share is available through both the Maryland Department of Agriculture cost share program and through Natural Resource Conservation programs.
February 1, 2022 / Uncategorized / Jamie Tiralla / Permalink
23
Jan

Soil Conservation District Coloring Contest

The Anne Arundel Soil Conservation District in association with the Maryland Association of Conservation Districts (MASCD) is hosting a 2022 coloring contest for elementary school students. The coloring must be done by the participating child. Please only use wax crayons. Each will be judged on neatness, attention to detail and how well directions are followed. To enter your work of art, fill out the second page with all the required information or a 3" x 5" card with the contestant's name, address, phone number, age, name of school, county, class (A, B or C) and grade Classes are: Class A - Kindergarten & 1st grades Class B - 2nd & 3rd grades Class C - 4th and 5th grades Send to our office at: Anne Arundel Soil Conservation District Suite 150 2662 Riva Road Annapolis Maryland, 21401 First prize in each class is $25.00 Second Prize in each class is $15.00 The first-place winner will be submitted at the Annual MASCD Summer Meeting for judging against all other county winners on August 30, 2022. Winner of the state contest will receive a $25.00 cash prize. Entrees must be in our office by start of business on May 6, 2022.

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Click here for Required Information

 
January 23, 2022 / Education / Keli Kirby / Permalink
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