The two practices that are most important for environmental protection on 

 farmlands are crop rotation and other soil erosion control, and application of 

 biocide chemicals. State soil conservationists and agricultural extension 

 agents encourage strip cropping, contour plowing, crop rotation, and cover 

 crops to reduce soil erosion and increase production. Ultimately, of course, 

 soil conservation is controlled by farmers. 



The use of agricultural chemicals (e.g., pesticides and herbicides) is 

 regulated by Federal legislation and by the Maine Pesticide Control Act of 

 1975. Enforcement of the regulations is carried out by the Department of 

 Agriculture. Pesticides dangerous to fish and wildlife and to human life must 

 be applied by a licensed operator who has demonstrated ability to use them 

 safely. Safe use of farm chemicals is provided in guidelines issued by the 

 USDA Cooperative Extension Service. An integrated pest management program has 

 been underway in Maine since 1974. The object of this program is to reduce 

 the need for pesticides by carefully monitoring insect populations to 

 eliminate excessive spraying if applicable, and to eliminate alternate host 

 plants for some insect pests. One of the most important Federal acts was the 

 1974 ban on the use of organochlorides as pesticides (the residues of which 

 are still present at upper trophic levels). 



The amount of agricultural chemicals applied to farmland is being reduced by 

 applying conservation practices aimed at reducing surface runoff, soil 

 erosion, and chemical dispersion. Proper disposal of chemical containers is 

 one aspect of this problem. 



Safe methods of storage and disposal of raw manure are reasonably well known 

 but not always practiced. An extension service bulletin entitled "Maine 

 Guidelines for Manure and Manure Sludge Disposal on Land" is available from 

 the USDA Cooperative Extension Service. The U.S. Soil Conservation Service 

 has suggested Federal cost-sharing assistance for construction of costly 

 manure storage facilities. 



A number of Federal and State agencies have recommended that farming methods 

 be modified to benefit fish and wildlife. Suggestions made were to reduce the 

 size of the individual fields, to grow farm woodlots, and to increase the 

 abundance of weed and brush patches, by providing greater areas of fencerows, 

 roadsides, woodlots, and other areas of natural vegetation that provide food 

 and nesting cover. 



No program exists for managing abandoned farmlands for fish and wildlife. 

 Attempts to reclaim abandoned farmlands for agriculture would not favor most 

 wildlife. Some conservation groups have bought and successfully managed 

 abandoned farmlands for wildlife. 



Many of the sewage disposal programs of urban and suburban areas, and 

 industrial sites, are aimed at protecting public health, fish and wildlife 

 resources, and natural habitats in the air, land, and waters of the cities and 

 nearby natural habitats. City parks, parkways, recreation areas, and similar 

 types of municipal lands sometimes are managed for natural vegetation and 

 various forms of wildlife and provide natural areas and nature trails. 



The value of the fish and wildlife and natural environments in the 

 agricultural and developed land of coastal Maine is and will be determined 



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