1. (add state here) Master Farmer Program
(add university logo here)

2. Where It Began Silent Spring – 1962 DDT Threatens Bird Species
Swimming Areas and Beaches Closed
Love Canal – Hazardous Waste Dumps
Passage of Clean Water Act and Creation of the EPA
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3. Clean Water Act Goal
Restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of U.S. waters
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4. 2 Types of Pollutants
Point Sources – originate from a stationary location or fixed facility from which pollutants are discharged directly into a waterbody.
Examples include:
Wastewater effluent, both municipal and industrial
Runoff from confined animal feeding operations
Runoff from active mine sites and oil fields
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5. 2 Types of Pollutants
Nonpoint Sources – pollution sources, which do not have a single point of origin or are not introduced into a receiving stream from a specific outlet.
Examples include:
Runoff from row-crop agriculture
Runoff from pasture and range
Runoff from forested areas
Runoff from lawns and gardens
Runoff from roads, highways and parking lots
Natural sources, such as leaves, organic nutrients and wildlife feces
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6. (add your state map here)
LOUISIANA LAND USE
(add your state map here)
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7. CWA Focus For First 25 Years
It focused on point source or “end-of-the-pipe” sources via NPDES permits
Largely exempted nonpoint source (NPS) runoff from regulation
Nonpoint source contributors (which includes ag & forestry) were largely managed by voluntary implementation of BMPs
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8. The Result? 28 years after CWA implementation
21,000 impaired waterbodies
300,000 miles of rivers and shoreline
5 million lake acres
Almost 80% of Americans live within 10 miles of an impaired waterbody
Excess sediments, nutrients, and harmful microorganisms are leading reasons
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9. Requirements of the CWA
Requires states to develop lists of impaired waters (EPA approved)
Requires states’ to identify pollution reductions needed to meet standards
Requires reductions of both point and nonpoint source pollutants
Requires development of TMDLs and implementation plans that will lead to clean water goals (EPA approved)
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10. What is a TMDL? Total Maximum Daily Load
A TMDL is the maximum amount of a pollutant (allocated among point, non-point, 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.
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11. All Point and Nonpoint Contributors Are Included
Croplands
Pasturelands
Animal production operations
Forestlands
Other industry contributions
Homeowners (landscapes, septic systems, stormwater runoff, etc.)
Municipalities (sewerage treatment)
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12. Agriculture and Forestry Nonpoint Source Pollutants
Sediments
Nutrients
Pesticides
Oil & Grease
Animal Wastes
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13. 1998 National Water Quality Inventory
Rivers and Streams
35% of assessed rivers polluted
Siltation, pathogens, nutrients
Agriculture leading source of pollution
Lakes and Reservoirs
45% of assessed lakes polluted
Nutrients, metals, siltation
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***Slide from EPA Presentation!!***

14. Kentucky Agriculture Water Quality Act
Farmers with 10 or more acres used for agriculture or forestry REQUIRED to implement a water quality plan.
Must fully implement applicable requirements within 5 years
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15. North Carolina Neuse River
The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission has established the goal of reducing the average annual load of nitrogen delivered to the Neuse River Estuary from point and non-point sources by a minimum of 30%. The Neuse Rules were developed to achieve this goal. THEY ARE NOW LAW!
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16. The Neuse Agricultural Rule
The rule provides two options for reaching the nitrogen reduction goal. Farmers MUST choose between:
Option 1 Participate in a local nitrogen reduction strategy that would include specific plans for each farm that would collectively meet the nitrogen reduction goal
Option 2 Implement BMP’s that include riparian buffers, filter strips, water control structures, and nutrient management plans
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17. The Neuse Nutrient Management Rule
Applies to all persons who apply fertilizer to 50 or more acres of land per year, or persons who manage 50 or more acres of land per year (Agricultural, Rural and Urban)
Option 1- Complete Nutrient Management Training Certification Course by Aug. 2003
Option 2 – Develop and properly implement a written nutrient management plan for all properties where nutrients are applied by Aug. 2003
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18. Arkansas Considers Regulation of Commercial Fertilizer
Arkansas officials have proposed regulating the use of commercial fertilizer in Arkansas and Oklahoma as part of a comprehensive strategy for improving water quality by reducing nutrients.
Arkansas poultry and state officials are asking the same question: "If we ship litter out of the basin, how do we assure that folks don't just replace it with commercial fertilizer?"
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19. Arkansas Considers Regulation of Commercial Fertilizer
"In those sensitive watersheds, if a management plan for poultry litter is required, then the application of commercial fertilizer should be (included in nutrient-management plans)," said Earl Smith, the chief of the water-resources management division of the commission. "If what we are concerned with are nutrients, we need to look at all of the ways nutrients get into the streams."
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20. Can It Happen In (your state)?
Calcasieu Parish Ordinance – Prohibits Draining of Fields into road ditches (if there have been rules or laws passed, add here with offense for each)
Misdemeanor offense – up to 30 days jail or $500 for each offense
“It shall be unlawful for any person to make use of the ditches along the right-of-way of public roads for the purpose of conveying water from fields or other enclosures along such public roads, everyone being required to provide drainage ditches along their fields or enclosures sufficient to convey water to the nearest natural drain.”
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21. (Add your state with endorsements and support logos here) Louisiana Master Farmer Program Collaborations/Partnerships
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22. Master Farmer Initiative
(highlight your programs’ benefits and sponsors here)
Multi-agency effort sponsored by the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation
Implemented by watershed, with the AgCenter’s watershed agent coordinating the program
Targets all agricultural producers
Voluntary
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23. Louisiana’s Watersheds (your state’s watershed map)
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24. 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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25. Master Farmer Initiative
Environmental
Stewardship
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26. Phase 1: Environmental Education
Conducted at the parish(or county) level
Specific topics addressed include:
The Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972
National & (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
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27. Phase 2: Model Farms Representative farms for each watershed
(if you do not have model farms, replace this info with whatever your next phase would be or skip this phase)
Representative farms for each watershed
BMP demonstrations
Water quality monitoring
Education and outreach
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28. Model Farms (add your model farm map here or delete if no model farms are selected)

29. Phase 3: Conservation Plans
Development and implementation of farm-specific conservation plans
Plans will be developed by the NRCS working with the local Soil and Water Conservation Districts
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30. Time Line For Implementation (time-line for implementing program in your state by watershed approach)
Schedule
Mermentau/Vermilion-Teche (2001)
Calcasieu/Ouachita (2002)
Barataria/Terrebonne (2003)
Red/Sabine (2004)
Pontchartrain Basin (2004)
Mississippi/Atchafalaya/
Pearl (2005)
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31. Summary
As TMDL’s are being developed in (your state) 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.
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32. THANK YOU
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