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Maryland's Cooperative Extension Service assists farmers in the development of nutrient 

 management plans under Maryland's Nutrient Management Program. Since 1989, farmers have 

 prepared 748 plans, covering 49,966 acres of cropland. Nutrient management plans include 

 manure tests for nutrient content, soil tests, documentation of crop histories and manure 

 management, documentation for a statewide nutrient management data base, and personalized 

 service fi-om consultants. First priority for preparation of the plans is given to farmers applying 

 for state cost-share funds for all animal waste storage BMPs. 



Pennsylvania's Ntarient Management cost share program is funded in part by the CTiesapeake Bay 

 Program. Cost sharing for installation of BMPs is available to farmers within priority watersheds 

 where they must adopt nutrient management plans. Such plans include manure tests, soil tests, 

 summaries of recommended nutrient applications, and provisions for verifying nutrient and 

 pollution reduction. Conservation districts provide technical assistance in developing the plans, 

 and a mobile nutrient laboratory assists with rapid analyses of soils, water, and manure. 



Virginia's Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act requires farmers in the 13 coastal counties to develop 

 water quality management plans that include integrated pest management plans, soil conservation 

 plans, and nutrient management plans. Since 1989, the state has required farmers statewide to 

 develop nutrient management plans to receive cost share funds for animal waste BMPs. A new 

 law allows tax credits for purchases of manure and pesticide spreaders for fanners with nutrient 

 management plans approved by their local conservation district. 



Kansas' Cost-Share Efforts under the State Water Plan — In 1989, Kansas established the State Water 

 Plan Fund to serve as a dedicated source of ftmding for state water planning activities. The economic 

 incentives are available both for practices to treat highly erodible land and practices to protect water 

 quality by limiting run-off of agricultural contaminants. 



North Carolina's Cost-Sharing to Reduce Nutrients — The voluntary North Carolina Agricultural Cost- 

 Share Program was established to protect surface water from contamination by sediments, nutrients, 

 animal wastes, and pesticides. The program pays farmers 75 percent of the average cost to implement 

 appropriate BMPs. 



Jefferson County, Washington's Water Quality Improvement Fund — Washington state provides 

 $200,000 to Jefferson County for loan to county residents in a low-interest loan program — the Jefferson 

 County Water Quality Improvement Program — which finances major NPS pollution control projects. 

 The funds for the state loan are from the state's Revolving Loan Fund, capitalized by an EPA grant and 

 a 20 percent state matching grant. The Fund is designed to encourage and assist county residents in 

 repairing or upgrading existing septic systems under the direction of the County Health Department and 

 in designing and implementing farm plans and agricultural BMPs under the direction of the County 

 Conservation District. 



Iowa's Education and Technical Assistance Efforts — Iowa's 1987 Groundwater Protection Act 

 establishes a program for research education, and demonstration projects to address ground water 

 problems caused by agricultural contaminants and other sources. The law requires the state Department 

 of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (DALS) to promote the adoption of BMPs for soil conservation and 

 for reducing ground water contamination from agricultural chemicals. As part of this effort, DALS is 

 helping finance the Private Pesticide Applicator Training Program conducted by Iowa State University 

 Cooperative Extension Service, which is educating over 60,000 farmers on environmental and personal 



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