Like any business owner or operator, farmers take careful consideration when making any changes to their operations. A change that may seem relatively simple to an outsider could require new equipment, more labor or a different response to heavy rain or drought. In the end the change may turn out to be a great success, but that is often difficult to be sure of at the outset.

This balance of change, risk and opportunity cannot be overlooked when asking farmers to address environmental challenges in the Chesapeake Bay. Agriculture may be the leading source of nutrient run-off there, but it has also been the second largest contributor to the progress in cleaning up the bay. We have been working with farmers in the region to help advance this progress through our BMP Challenge, a risk management program that American Farmland Trust is implementing across the nation to encourage farmers to make conservation happen on-the-ground. (For more on the BMP Challenge, read my recent story about visiting a farm in Virginia.)

A recent study in Pennsylvania focused on how to address risk when the business of agriculture intersects with the need to improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay. . Here is what we found:

Risk Is Real

The National Academy of Sciences acknowledges the dilemma that farmers face in deciding how much fertilizer to use:

“Since (they) must make nitrogen applications without being able to predict weather and crop yields, the potential for being wrong is always present and will always occur in some years.”

Our data shows that reducing fertilizer on crops can result in decreased yields 40 percent of the time even with well-tested practices. Over time, these practices should pay off, but farmers cite fear of lost income as a major consideration when deciding whether or not to implement new conservation practices.

An Effective Way to Manage Risk

The BMP Challenge provides three helpful supports to farmers willing to take a chance:

1) Technical assistance from a certified agricultural consultant to help plan and implement the change

2) A comparison of the standard and the new practice on the farmer’s field so he or she can get experience using it and see the results

3) An income guarantee so that if a loss in profit is experienced, the farmer receives the difference

The Result: Widespread Adoption of New Practices

In Pennsylvania, we found that BMP Challenge participants report high satisfaction with the program, and 85 percent say that they have continued to use the practice or a modified form of it on their farm.

Looking Ahead

These results are an important step in addressing the risk that farmers face when adopting conservation practices. We believe that the BMP Challenge is an important new tool for farmers—helping them manage part of the risk they face in trying to be good stewards of the environment and successful small businesses at the same time.

Over the coming months, we will continue exploring how these results will impact the Chesapeake Bay and impaired water bodies across the country. Can we scale up our demonstrations to broader availability? Are there other ways to address “conservation risk,” such as emerging income opportunities like water quality trading that can help mitigate the financial risk of adopting water quality practices?

The Mid-Atlantic region is blessed with agricultural diversity, producing an array of food, fuel and fiber from Delaware to Virginia. The past year has been filled with both challenges and opportunities for farms and farmers. Inclement weather throughout much of growing season tested the patience of farmers across the region. State budget concerns brought discussions of conservation to the forefront, at times challenging critical efforts to protect farmland.

As we look back on another year passed, there is also much to celebrate. 2011 saw a remarkable mix of work undertaken to save the land that sustains us, including efforts across the region to protect valuable farmland resources and to safeguard clean water sources and clean up the Chesapeake Bay. We are proud of our work in the Mid-Atlantic and wanted to share a few highlights from the past year:

Honoring a Farmland Preservation Hero

This year, we honored Robert Ambrose of Ridgeview Acres Farm with the Pennsylvania Farmland Preservation Local Heroes Award. The award recognizes his outstanding efforts to protect the farms, natural resources and waters of the commonwealth. Ambrose, who runs a 130-acre cut-flower farm with his wife Sally, has served as the chairman of the Westmoreland County Agricultural Land Preservation Board since 2001, which has preserved more than 10,960 acres of productive farmland.

Helping Farmers Protect Clean Water

Kevin Craun, who farms in the Shenandoah Valley area of Virginia, is just one of many farmers working with American Farmland Trust to reduce fertilizer use and protect clean water. Craun has been working with us by experimenting with alternative soil sampling. This method guides his final fertilizer application, closely matching the crop’s need. By sampling so accurately, Craun and other farmers are reducing their fertilizer use—saving money and protecting their crop yields while helping the environment.

Expanding Our Work in the Chesapeake Bay with Corn Farmers

Through our Mid-Atlantic Clean Water Initiative to help farmers improve their conservation practices, we reached out to farmers and their crop advisors in Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania to test effective practices that reduce fertilizer applications while maintaining crop yields. By working with farmers in the field and at the policy level, we made progress in reducing the amount of fertilizer flowing off farm fields and into waterways.

Rallying for Farmland Protection in Maryland

At the state level in Maryland, we galvanized the support of farmland advocates to ask the Maryland General Assembly to reject proposals that would negatively impact land conservation programs. As the Maryland General Session gets underway in January, we’ll need everyone who supports Program Openspace funding that protects farm and forest land and supports parks and recreation to make their voices heard.

A Look Ahead

As the calendar page turns to 2012, we look forward to more chances to work with our partners throughout the region to protect farmland, improve water quality and ensure a viable future for farms and farmers throughout the Mid-Atlantic. We will continue to do our best to turn the many challenges we face into opportunities by doing good work for agriculture in the region. We hope you stay tuned and keep in touch.

Water quality in the Chesapeake Bay has been a major concern in the region for decades. Farmers in the bay region, which includes Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Maryland, New York, Virginia and West Virginia, manage nearly a third of the land in the watershed. As a result, farmers must play an important role in maintaining and improving the region’s water quality.

A key challenge in meeting Chesapeake Bay water quality goals is how to achieve the right balance between helping farmers voluntarily adopt management practices that reduce nutrient runoff and insisting farmers do so through regulations. Perspectives on how far to lean in either direction vary widely among different stakeholders.

One group that is striking this balance in Pennsylvania is the Lancaster County Conservation District (LCCD). The LCCD’s approach seeks to balance its role as the farmer’s trusted advisor and neighbor with its mission to conserve natural resources. The LCCD board voted to force landowners to comply with state conservation regulations at the local level, a move that only 13 other counties in Pennsylvania have taken. The decision was based on the rationale that conservation is achieved most effectively when a more local entity acts as a buffer between state or federal regulatory agencies and the farmers. LCCD has set 2015 as its target date to have conservation plans written for 100 percent of the county’s farms, with a clear and consistent system to verify implementation that includes penalties when necessary.

To balance voluntary on-farm management with regulation, LCCD works to include farmers in the compliance process. Robert Shearer operates a 700 hog and grain farm on 250 acres in Lancaster County and also serves on LCCD’s Ag Compliance Committee. On his own farm, he has been implementing conservation practices for years. He recognizes that his efforts help him meet production goals while complying with Department of Environmental Protection regulations. When the compliance committee occasionally needs to fine a producer who has not responded to multiple requests to fix a runoff problem, Shearer feels confident the committee believes that everyone must do their part to “keep the soil where it belongs.”

This week, I had the opportunity to meet and learn from Mr. Shearer on a field trip that was part of the Chesapeake Bay Agricultural Network Forum. This annual conference sponsored by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Chesapeake Bay Funders Network brings together more than 30 grantees to share lessons learned from their work addressing water quality issues in the bay. The meeting of agricultural and conservation leaders demonstrated the passion and energy that people are bringing to bay restoration, from finding innovative ways to help farmers comply with conservation regulations to whole community approaches that stretch from farm-to-table.. The diversity of partnerships among grantees—representing ag groups, environmentalists, researchers, public employees and non-profits—is remarkable.

And those efforts are beginning to show positive results. The Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) Cropland Report released in March collected conservation data from farms in the region, made recommendations on the 4.3 million acres of bay cropland, and found conservation practices implemented on about 96 percent of that land. More recently, a study from Johns Hopkins found a decline in dead-zones—the oxygen-starved regions resulting from waters rich in nitrogen and phosphorus where plants and water animals cannot live—indicating that conservation efforts by farmers and others are beginning to pay off.

However, our work is far from complete. Achieving clean water will require well-funded, robust federal and state conservation programs and additional guidance for farmers to help them get those practices in place. It is important to give farmers credit for what they have accomplished, and the gathering of leaders and experts on water quality in the bay presents continued hope for future work. But we all need to ensure that we invest enough attention and resources to finish the job.

Making the farm-to-table connection through conservation

Farm-to-table meets farm bill conservation in Washington state during our Dine Out for Farms^TM week. The Mark in Olympia, Washington, is featuring steak from Colvin Ranch of Thurston County, one of the oldest, family-owned ranches in the Evergreen State. Fred Colvin was the first landowner in the state of Washington to enroll his ranchland in the Grassland Reserve Program, a farm bill conservation program that helps to safeguard the environment by expanding wildlife habitat.

Going a step further to bring fresh produce to the community

The food pantry in Greenfield, Massachusetts, has a lot more being donated than packaged goods and leftover produce. A retired farmer has planted a half acre of produce, including tomatoes, winter and summer squash, and green peppers, that go directly to the pantry. He estimates that this year’s total donation will come to about 10,000 pounds of produce.

Vermont to increase instate food consumption and production

In an effort to increase farming and farm-related jobs in Vermont, the state is increasing its previously formed Farm to Plate Initiative. Some of the goals include doubling the amount of locally produced food consumed in state, and increasing economic development within the farm and food community.

Iowa struggles to feed its farm-rich state

You might think of Iowa as being a state filled with farmland. However, one in eight Iowans lack the resources to acquire nutritious meals. Food bank usage across the state has gone up 25-30 percent since 2008, with no improvement in sight.

Cranberries galore!

The Massachusetts cranberry crop looks like it may be a record harvest this year. To celebrate, plan a visit to a bog or try this delicious cranberry recipe using your local goods!

Farmland continues to be preserved nationwide

Harford County, Maryland, announced this week that nine farms, totaling 1,200 acres, have joined their agricultural preservation program. The state of Pennsylvania also announced the preservation of 1,788 acres of farmland this week. In Washington, 400 acres were preserved in Monroe County under long-term protection from development.

Have a great family farm photograph?

The Community Alliance for Family Farmers, based out of Davis, California, is hosting a photography contest. The theme is family farming and local food, so go capture your best images and submit them by October 24.

Devoted Pennsylvania farmer honored

American Farmland Trust honored Bob Ambrose with the Pennsylvania Farmland Preservation Local Hero Award this week. Bob and his wife run a 130-acre farm and are dedicated to protecting farmland from development.

Growing vegetables and palates

FoodCrops continues to thrive in its first year of service. One corps member in Maine is teaching students how to grow fruits and vegetables while eating healthier foods.

Creative (and manageable) solutions to farming

Sunnyside Farm in Dover, Pennsylvania, will be hosting a workshop on solutions to everyday farm problems on October 17th. Topics range from how to save thousands of gallons of water to learning about creating a pig-managed rototiller.

Grants awarded to beginning farmer programs nationwide

The USDA has awarded grants totaling more than $18 million for enhancing programming and support for beginning farmers and ranchers. Project funding was awarded nationwide, including support for the Stone Barns Center in New York.

More fruits and vegetables, how are you doing it?

The USDA is hosting a contest in which you submit short video clips on how you are adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet while still watching your budget. There are three different categories that you can enter into: tips for kids, tips when eating at home, and tips when eating away from home. So how are you adding more fruits and veggies to your diet?

Pure fall farm beauty

If you haven’t had a chance to get out to the countryside recently to enjoy the beautiful fall, savor some gorgeous fall farm photos before marveling in your closest countryside soon.

Climate change impacting wine industry

Changes in climate felt throughout the nation could alter grape growing conditions in California wine country within the next 30 years. Changes are already being felt in Washington’s Puget Sound and Central New York where conditions, for the time being, are becoming more favorable for the wine industry.

Many small voices make loud impact

Through combined community efforts, the voices of farmland protection are ringing loud and clear on the West Coast. With assistance from the Strauss Family Creamery, Organic Valley and other groups, one family has recently acquired an easement strategy to protect their farmland in California.

Developers tuning in to agricultural offerings

Suburban developers are now talking about farming, community gardens and environmental impact rather than other amenities that have traditionally attracted residents.

Community farm brings everyone together

With the aid of a grant from AgSouth, a small farm was built with the help of a community. Members of the Anderson, South Carolina, chapter of Future Farmers of America worked alongside Haven of Rest, an organization for those with life-controlling addictions. The partnership is proving to be a great success and will continue to grow.

Flooding of crops continues to cause problems

For farmers still suffering the effects of flood damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, the USDA and FDA announced this week that they will be providing damaged crop assistance. This is not the first time this year that intense flooding has done serious damage to crops. In the spring, areas of the Mississippi flooded into fields that are still unworkable.

Farmland preservation and education in Lancaster

Pennsylvania’s Lancaster Farmland Trust is hosting a train ride and picnic in honor of farmland preservation. They will also be holding a 5k “Run for the Cows” and “Share the Bounty” events in October and November, respectively.

Northeast continues to feel impact of Irene

With Hurricane Irene creating serious damage in Vermont, there has been a strong push to help local farmers in their recovery phase. In many places, legislators continue to work to find ways to assist victims of the flooding. The organization of Dine Out Irene, has also been created with proceeds being directed to New York farms that were damaged during the hurricane.

Community Revitalization Project + Farming = Grant Money!

The Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program is currently accepting applications for their Sustainable Community Grant. This grant would need to be used directly towards connecting community revitalization and agriculture. The deadline is October 19, 2011.

A center dedicated to local food education

Lake County, Illinois may soon be home to a local food learning center. The center would cover a broad range of activities from demonstrations to classes. The center would stand as a beginning farmer incubator location, but would also cater to general sustainable agriculture interest.

South Dakota State Fair not all fun and games

The South Dakota State Fair had another attraction this year, other then just their bull bash, fried food, and toe-tapping music. This year, a forum on the farm bill took precedence for many fair visitors.

The city of brotherly love is embracing food stamps

Philadelphia is now offering SNAP users a 40 percent discount when they use their stamps at participating farmers markets. So far, this program has been extremely successful in getting fresh, healthy produce into a large amount of home. This is just another wonderful reason to visit your local farmers market, in Philadelphia.

Farm and Food webinars for all

The National Good Food Network is offering a variety of upcoming webinars on topics such as ‘Technology for Good Food’ and ‘Two Revolutionary Tools for Beginning Farmers’. Their website also provides access to previously held webinars, ranging from ‘Economics of Regional Meat’ to ‘Real Food into University Cafeterias.’

More Farmland Protected in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Agricultural Preservation Board has protected another 1,425 acres of farmland on 16 farms in 7 counties. The newly preserved land will increase the total agricultural land preservation in Pennsylvania to 453,419 acres on 4,189 farms!

Investing in Farmland

Instead of investing in gold or companies, a growing number of investors are investing in farmland. Investors say the key to success is in finding a good farmer to rent the land.

New Program Brings Farm and Food Projects to 10 States

FoodCorps, a new program launched last week, will address nutrition education, building and tending of school gardens, and implementing farm-to-school programs nationwide. With a total of 50 members, they will combat issues and enhance communities on the local level in 10 states.

Farmer and Consumer Communications

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the number of farmers markets in America grew by 17% since last year, with Alaska and Texas showing the largest growth. With the increase in markets has come better communication between farmer and consumer, which is of great value to both parties. In addition to connections formed at the market, a recent AgChat conference educated more farmers about the uses of Twitter as another great way for farmers to connect with their customers.

Filling Plates by Improving Efficiency

Programs are being developed to make the food chain more efficient in order to alleviate hunger and improve farm income, thereby helping to protect farmland from the pressures of development.

New Farmers Get More Support

Young farmers are making debuts into the farming world and are gaining increasing support. The Greenhorns are network of young farmers who are helping sustain new farmer enthusiasm despite the hurdles facing the next generation of farmers.

Texas Drought Not Letting Up

Texas continues to suffer through drought and hot temperatures. An APM Marketplace report talked with various Texan farmers about their ongoing struggles with Mother Nature. With a mere 6.5 inches of rain since July, some worry that this is the new future of Texas weather.

Recently, we took the opportunity to recognize the valuable role that agriculture plays in protecting clean water in Pennsylvania. At an event on May 11, we celebrated our partnership with the Pennsylvania Departments of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, which has reduced pollution in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

(L to R) Jim Baird, AFT, DEP Sec. Mike Krancer, & Ag Exec. Dep. Sec. Mike Pechart (Photo courtesy of Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture)

At our May 11 event, we had the pleasure of presenting 4,036 Certified 2010 Nitrogen Credits to Secretary Michael Krancer of the Department of Environmental Protection and Michael L. Pechart, Executive Deputy Secretary of Pennsylvania’s Department of Agriculture. These tradable credits, generated by farmers in the Susquehanna Watershed, can be used by jurisdictions in the state to meet limits on pollution allowed in the watershed.

Agriculture is central to the culture and heritage of Pennsylvania. The vibrancy and passion behind efforts to protect farms and farmland in the state have deep roots, resonating beyond the fields to lawmakers and industry leaders,  local consumers and small business owners.

The story of farming is one about the men and women who work every day to grow the food we eat. But they provide so much more to us. They provide jobs—both on the farm and in the community—in processing, transportation, at farmers markets and grocery stores, and in other local businesses. Their work places—we call them farms— provide such beauty to the landscape that people travel to Pennsylvania just to see them.

These farmers are also stewards of the land that can protect our water, wildlife and air quality. Water quality is of particular interest in central Pennsylvania, where numerous rivers and other tributaries are part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. While there are many threats to clean water, including industrial pollution, waste treatment plant discharge and urban run-off, certain agricultural practices also can contribute to water emissions.

But proven farm conservation practices—called best management practices—that many farmers already utilize are among the most cost-effective ways to help protect water. However, farmers face barriers to adopting these practices, including cost, concern about loss of income, lack of guidance or financial assistance, and a lack of clarity on the exact requirements for implementing the practices. We work in a number of ways to help farmers address these barriers to improving their land stewardship. Our BMP Challenge, an innovative risk-management program, allows farmers to test, on their own land, practices for reducing fertilizer run-off. We’re also helping establish water quality trading markets that allow famers to earn a profit from pollution reductions on their land, which typically cost less to implement than equivalent reductions made by industries or urban communities. Our program in Pennsylvania is designed to bring these two innovations together.

Since 2006, participating farmers in our BMP Challenge in Pennsylvania have collectively reduced fertilizer applications significantly, keeping about 60,000 pounds from running off their fields and into the Chesapeake Bay. We recently worked with eight farmers and the Department of Environmental Protection on a “trial run” to see how well the department’s system for calculating credits functions and to determine if a trading market could financially benefit farmers who adopt conservation practices that reduce both fertilizer and sediment run-off. At our May 11 event, we highlighted the success of the pollution reduction efforts of Pennsylvania farmers and the partnerships needed to move these much needed farm conservation practices forward. We also recognized that these efforts are not only about stewardship, but also about the economics of maintaining thriving agricultural enterprises. Supporting a viable future for our farms will ensure our continued access to abundant, healthy food; a connection to the roots of our history and culture; jobs and a solid base for our rural communities; and clean water, today and in the future. That is certainly something we all can celebrate.

About the Author: Jim Baird is Mid-Atlantic Director for the American Farmland Trust where he works to help maintain viable farms and clean water through the adoption of nutrient-related conservation practices and ensuring that farmer concerns are reflected in policy and program discussions.

Sen. Stabenow Discusses next Farm Bill at Agricultural Outlook Forum

In an address at this week’s Agricultural Outlook Forum, Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, urged a focus on the guiding principles of the farm bill and not on specific programs as preparations are made for the 2012 Farm Bill. Remarked Sen. Staebenow, “We should start with principles that will guide us as we evaluate what works and what doesn’t in today’s economy and for the unique needs facing our farmers today.”

City Plan Seeks to Fight Obesity, Increase Access to Healthy Food in Philadelphia

In the Keystone State, the comprehensive plan and vision statement, Philadelphia 2035, addresses the city’s new zoning codes including an attention to health-related goals focused on combating obesity. Included in these goals is walkable access to fresh, healthy food.

More Farmland to Be Protected in Pennsylvania

This week, the Pennsylvania Agricultural Preservation Board voted to preserve an additional 3,819 acres on 43 farms in the state. Since 1988, the state’s farmland protection efforts have invested more than $1 billion to save 448,466 acres on
4,139 farms.

Whole Foods to Serve as CSA Drop-Off Sites in Florida

In Florida, Whole Foods Markets is helping to get local food moving from farm-to-table more easily.  The specialty grocer will now serve as a drop off point for Community Supported Agriculture programs in the state.   The hope is that this complimentary service will make access to local, seasonal food more convenient for consumers.

USDA Provides Online Mapping Tools

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service recently released the Atlas of Rural and Small-Town America.  The Rural Atlas is an online mapping tool that provides county level information on people, jobs, and agriculture. Along with the Food Environment Atlas, also from the USDA, the new atlas allows for easy tracking of local and national trends surrounding the nation’s farms and food.

Agriculture, Environment Groups Share Commitment to Farm Bill Principles

A group of Pacific Northwest organizations supporting a healthy future for farms and food has outlined six key tenets they pledge to follow as they work toward 2012 Farm Bill.  The Seattle Farm Bill Principles include an attention to conservation practices, equitable access to healthy foods, and a commitment to strengthen local communities.

Farmland Protection Plan Passed in North Carolina County

In Davidson County, North Carolina, local leaders came together to pass a comprehensive new farmland protection plan. Since 1992, the county has lost more than 15,000 acres of cropland. The plan still awaits final approval from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture but, nevertheless, it marks a big victory for the future of farming in the area.

Farm-to-School Programs in Northeast Get Funding Boost

The Northeast committee representing the National Farm to School Network has received a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expand its capability to process local food for schools. The rise in demand from schools to use local foods can boost the agricultural economy and help keep more acres in production.

Vermont College to Offer Summer Course in Sustainable Agriculture

Green Mountain College in Vermont will continue its for-credit summer program in sustainable agriculture. In its third year, the Farm and Food Intensive covers both traditional and more innovative management techniques with an attention to incorporating conservation practices.