1. (your state) Master Farmer Program
Add your university logo or program logo here

2. ________________________________________________________________
The Clean Water Act
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Originated as the Water Pollution Control Act (WPCA) of 1948
WPCA amendments in 1970 created the EPA
WPCA Amendments of 1972 became what is commonly known as the Clean Water Act (CWA) today

3. CWA Focus For First 25 Years
Focused on point source or “end-of-the-pipe” sources - originate from a stationary location or fixed facility from which pollutants are discharged directly into a water-body
-includes run-off from wastewater treatment plants, CAFOs, oil refineries
Largely exempted nonpoint source (NPS) runoff from regulation; these were managed by voluntary implementation of BMPs
-includes run-off from all agriculture, lawns, highways, parking lots, natural sources
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4. Requirements of the CWA
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Requires states to develop lists of impaired waters (EPA approved)
Requires states’ to identify pollution reductions needed to meet standards – now includes both point and non-point source pollutants
Requires development of TMDLs and implementation plans that will lead to clean water goals (EPA approved)

5. What is a TMDL? Total Maximum Daily Load
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Total Maximum Daily Load
A TMDL is the maximum amount of a pollutant (allocated among point, nonpoint, and natural sources) that can enter a water body and still comply with water quality standards. It is required for waters not meeting state / EPA approved water quality standards. TMDLs must also be approved by EPA.

6. Agriculture and Forestry Nonpoint Source Pollutants
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Sediments
Nutrients
Pesticides
Oil & Grease
Animal Wastes

7. Impairment Status of Louisiana’s Basin Sub-segments
Fully Meeting Needs – No impairments for any designated use
Insufficient Data – Water Body was not assessed, or was assessed and had insufficient data to determine status
Impaired; Has TMDL – Water body has been determined as impaired for at least 1 impairment of 1 designated use, and a TMDL has been developed for that impairment and use
Impaired – Does not need TMDL – Water body has been determined as impaired for at least 1 impairment of 1 designated use, but does not need a TMDL. Examples: non-native vegetation, natural conditions, impairment is drought-related, etc.
Impaired – Needs TMDL – Water body has been determined as impaired for a least 1 impairment of 1 designated use, and a TMDL needs to be developed for that impairment and use.
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Add your state map with impairments
*Based on DRAFT (b) List and subject to minor changes.

8. Add your state land use map here.
LOUISIANA LAND USE
__*_Stress that there is, at least for Louisiana, a correlation between the land use map
and the impairment status of our watersheds. This gives producers and idea of how our
state and agriculture are being viewed in light of impairments and their relationship with_
agriculture and forestry.________________________________________________
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Add your state land use map here.

9. Louisiana Master Farmer Program Collaborations/Partnerships
Add your university and program logo here; also add any partnering or supporting agency logos
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Louisiana Master Farmer Program Collaborations/Partnerships

10. Master Farmer Initiative
Multi-agency effort sponsored by the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation (add your own)
Implemented by watershed, with the AgCenter’s watershed agent coordinating the sessions (add your university dept. or center here)
Targets all agricultural producers
Objective: The (your state) Master Farmer Program is a multi-agency effort targeted at helping agricultural producers voluntarily address the environmental concerns related to production agriculture.
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11. Master Farmer Initiative
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Environmental
Stewardship

12. Phase 1: Environmental Education
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Conducted at the parish/watershed level
Specific topics addressed include:
The Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972
National & Louisiana (your state) water quality standards
Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
Impacts of NPS Pollution on the Coastal Zone
Best Management Practices (BMPs)
Role of Conservation Districts in conservation planning and implementation
The NRCS Planning Process
Conservation Programs

13. Phase 2: Model Farms
Representative farms for each watershed; commodity specific for that area
BMP demonstrations; ex. No-till vs conventional tillage
Water quality monitoring
Sponsor field day with data collected for education and outreach purposes
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14. “Potential” Model Farms
Add your state watershed map here or delete if no Model Farms will be selected.
“Potential” Model Farms
Poultry
Beef Cattle
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Cotton
Soybeans
Corn
Rice, Soybeans
Crawfish
Beef Cattle
Beef Cattle
Dairy
Sugarcane

15. Phase 3: Conservation Plans
Development and implementation of farm-specific RMS level conservation plans
Looks at all resource concerns
Plans will be developed by the NRCS and working with the local Soil and Water Conservation District
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16. Time Line For Implementation of Program
Schedule of Watersheds
Mermentau/Vermilion-Teche (2001)
Calcasieu/Ouachita (2002)
Barataria/Terrebonne (2003)
Red/Sabine (2004)
Pontchartrain Basin (2005)
Mississippi/Atchafalaya/
Pearl (2006)
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Develop and list a time-line for implementation of the program state-wide by watershed.

17. Summary
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As TMDL’s are being developed in (your state)’s watersheds, (your state)’s agricultural producers will face environmental challenges such as compliance with mandatory reductions of nonpoint pollutants, such as nutrients, pathogens (fecal coliform), organic material/dissolved oxygen, sediment, and metals. Voluntary implementation of incentive-based, economically achievable and effective BMPs, through the Master Farmer Program, represents a workable means of reducing agriculture’s contribution to the water quality challenges.

18. Add your contact information here.
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