Agriculture 



***Work with municipalities to encourage development of land use 

 management programs in critical Basin watersheds to improve water 

 quality. 



**There is a need for greater involvement on the part of the State Conservation Committee 

 and the state association of District governing board members to promote coordination 

 among the three districts. Districts might benefit from development of a joint research 

 agenda to address common needs. Public education and technical assistance materials 

 should also be prepared cooperatively. 



**In cooperation with other districts, develop district- specific and statewide research 

 agendas to address specific impediments to installation of BMPs. For example, since 

 operators have expressed concern that more com is stolen by passersby when rows run 

 parallel to highways, districts might consider developing a crop theft case study, comparing 

 costs and benefits of contour plowing with costs and benefits of plowing to discourage 

 theft of harvest. 



*Working with SCS, develop a research inventory to identify differences in management 

 practice between operator-owned and rented lands. Consider developing incentives to 

 encourage improved management of rented lands. 



***Expand district staff to meet the rapidly increasing demand in all 

 districts for technical assistance, program review, education programming, 

 and enforcement assistance. At a minimum, a full time staff employee should be 

 available in each district to perform each of the following fiinctions: 



• assist in development of conservation plans for all farms in the Bay basin; assist in 

 inspection and enforcement (assuming a statewide statute is enacted mandating 

 preparation of conservation plans); 



• assist municipalities in development and implementation of erosion and 

 sedimentation control programs; 



• assist municipalities in development and implementation of runoff control 

 programs; 



• develop educational materials and promote control of agriculture-related non-point 

 source pollution; 



• develop educational materials and work with Cooperative Extension Service County 

 agents, garden clubs, and other organizations to promote control of non-point 

 source pollution resulting from home use of fertilizers, pesticides, and other 

 household chemicals; 



***Explore all avenues available in providing assistance necessary to help maintain farming 

 as a viable enterprise. In that regard: 



a) inventory all owners of farmland within the district; 



b) foster communication among fanners and landowners; 



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