Maryland farmers could be poised to receive more money to help pay for conservation practices that reduce the amount of pollution making its way into the Chesapeake Bay.
A version of the 2007 federal Farm Bill drafted by Rep. Collin C. Peterson, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, would direct $150 million to farmers in bay-region states for conservation programs.
Environmentalists in Maryland are applauding the Minnesota Democrat's proposal as a potential major step in the restoration of the bay.
"The region's farmers have repeatedly demonstrated their willingness to implement conservation measures, but they can't foot the bill alone," said Doug Siglin, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's federal affairs director.
The bay region - Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware and New York - is the only region in the country that has been designated to receive funds for conservation practices, said Michael Heller, who oversees the foundation's Clagett demonstration farm near Upper Marlboro.
If Peterson's bill becomes law, the government will pay between 50 percent and 65 percent of the cost of programs to reduce water pollution, Siglin said.
"This is a huge step," Heller said of the legislative process.
The increased bay program funding would come in addition to the $3 billion to $4 billion a year normally approved by Congress for farm conservation programs across the country.
Farmers could use the funding for a variety of programs that reduce nutrient runoff into the bay, such as a manure-management plan, Heller said. With such a plan, manure is placed in a storage pit. The farmer then draws the material from the pit to spread over fields at appropriate times.
If manure is spread in winter months, nutrients can run off into creeks that lead to the bay. But there is less runoff when a farmer can store the material and spread it over fields before spring planting.
The additional federal funding could also help pay for cover crop programs, whereby crops such as rye are planted after the corn is harvested to absorb nutrients in the soil during the winter.
Agriculture is not the only source of bay pollution, Heller said. Water treatment plants and air pollution from cars also add to the bay's problems. But "every dollar spent on farm conservation is equal to $6 spent on other efforts," Heller said.
Maryland farmers have long argued that they were not getting their fair share of the money that the federal government distributes each year in farm production payments. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has complained that if bay region growers received as much funding as their Corn Belt counterparts, the bay could be a lot cleaner.
An analysis by the foundation last year showed that for every dollar of food produced in Maryland, farmers received 4.8 cents in federal support, well below the national average of 9 cents per state.
In North Dakota, farmers receive an average of 22 cents for each dollar of food produced.
"These additional funds would go a long way toward helping us get our fair share of the Farm Bill dollars," Heller said.
Milk money
Milk prices are up this year, but history suggests that the boom times will not last.
To help dairy farmers prepare for when the pendulum swings back, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is holding a one-day trade show at which farmers can learn to create value-added products on the farm.
"Dairy farmers are finding it necessary to expand their businesses to stay profitable," said Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff. "By adding value to their milk by processing cheese, ice cream or other dairy products, they can target niche markets and sell directly to consumers to boost on-farm profits."
Farmers who process such products will be at the show to share their experiences and offer samples. Equipment dealers, suppliers and services companies are encouraged to set up displays and demonstrations.
The Blue Ribbon Cows Making Blue Ribbon Cheese, Ice Cream and More event will be held from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center in Harrisburg. The event is free.