Agriculture 



Recommendations to the Rhode Island General Assembly 



♦♦Expand the agricultural land management assistance program to include subsidization of 

 agricultural soil erosion control measures as well as agricultural waste control measures. 



Recommendations to the Rhode Island Dept. of Revenue 



♦♦Designate particular tax revenues to targeted agricultural BMP cost share support so that 

 the two year limited program supporting installation of animal waste control measiu^es can 

 be extended until all priority projects have been undertaken. The State of Indiana has 

 designated revenues ftt>m its vice tax to this purpose. 



Recommendations to Local Govertiments 



♦Towns should coordinate upcoming development of Comprehensive Plans with 

 participation in the state's Fann, Forest, and Open Space Act programs. 



♦♦Assessors should take into account the reduced value of land fenced off from streams, 

 adjusting tax valuations accordingly. 



IMPLEMENTATION OF AGRICULTURAL BEST MANAGEMENT 

 PRACTICES 



Findings and Concerns 



Although the technology applicable to agricultural non-point source control is well 

 established, several important factors impede installation of BMPs, including 

 implementation of sound land use and treatment systems. Some of these are sociological, 

 wlule others are stricdy financial. 



First, it is important to understand all of the steps involved in implementation of a farm 

 conservation plan. SCS provides technical assistance to : 



• determine the applicant's need based upon the severity of the problem; 



• evaluate and determine an individual's priority status for assistance, in consultation 

 with the applicable Conservation District; 



• work with individual participants to consider alternatives and to develop 

 comprehensive conservation plans addressing proper management of soil and water 

 resources; 



• design conservation practices intended for implementation; 



• lay out and inspect structural and land treatment practices; and 



• implement management practices. 



In spite of the availability of start-to-finish assistance of this quality, a major sales effort 

 on the part of SCS and the conservation district is involved. First, farmers must be 

 convinced that they are actually causing non-point source pollution, when UtUe if any site- 



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