Agriculture 



specific monitoring evidence is available to show cause and effect This is frequently 

 difficult given the nature of inputs and the diversity of potential sources. 



Second, operators must be convinced that a conservation practice will address the 

 problem and will prove cost-effective in the long run. Insufficient funding for 

 establishment of demonstration projects in the state has made it difficult to demonstrate the 

 effectiveness and economic efficiency of practices. At the same time, news regarding the 

 outcome of the Westport, Massachusetts RWCP project has not been encouraging, though 

 special factors were at issue in that effort (See Activities in Other States). 



Assuming that the need is identified, many practices are major financial undertakings, 

 requiring careful weighing of numerous cost and benefit factors. As outiined in the 

 previous section, too, capital cost levels are difficiUt to anticipate, and maintenance cost and 

 effectiveness arc difficult to gauge. 



Land values are such that many operators are reluctant to enter into expensive 

 installation agreements and long-term maintenance efforts when faced with extremely 

 strong incentives to sell property. For farmers who do anticipate selling, it is difficult to 

 second guess market factors which might govern timing of sale in the future. 



In addition, many operators rent a portion of the land they cultivate. Fears of losing 

 rented land to development, or of taking on major capital and maintenance requirements 

 without guaranteed income from rented property are major issues in farmers' decision- 

 making. Operators who lack real ownership control over the land they use are reluctant to 

 embark on long-term installation and maintenance contracts, even at 75 percent cost share. 



Once the cost scoping process has been completed, SCS personnel work with operators 

 to plan practices. This process may require a matter of months, during which an operator 

 must apply for state wedands permits, CRMC permits, and meet other applicable 

 requirements. The design and approval process can take several months or a year. The 

 "red tape" associated with the state permit process was cited by several interviewees as a 

 major frustration to potential applicants, and is presentiy being reviewed by ASCS, SCS 

 and RIDEM. 



The net result of the complexity and cost surrounding installation of conservation 

 practices is that operators are reluctant to participate. As in the Chesapeake Bay basin, 

 program administrators have stated that the programs are failing to elicit participation from 

 the farmers whose operations pose greatest risk to the watershed. As a result, 

 administrators solicit participation among the operators of lower priority farms. Although 

 these farms, too, need to install BMPs, the cost share dollars are frequentiy not spent in the 

 locations of most critical concern. 



REGULATORY OPTIONS AND ENFORCEMENT 



Findings and Concerns 



Presentiy, the Rhode Island Sediment and Erosion Control Law, which is an enabling 

 act providing towns authority to enact their own provisions, exempts agriculture from 

 consideration. This major omission, though common to many states, needs to be 

 corrected. Similarly, existing state law governing discharge of waste to receiving waters, 

 and requiring adequate treatment, can be interpreted to apply to agricultural discharge. 



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