Conesus Lake – Upstream Changes Maxwell Farms Farm plan developed by Nathan

Herendeen, Nancy Glazier, John Hanchar, and the Maxwell Brothers

Maxwell Farms – Changes initiated in 2003

Manure Handling Practices Spread manure away from Home Farm

(Graywood Creek) Apply according to spreading schedule

from CropWare Program – rate per acre based on soil tests, crop needs, manure analysis and Phosphorus Index of fields

Record application rates for each field

Calf Manure Spread calf manure on fields with lowest

risk for stream contamination Leave calf hutches empty for 3 – 4 weeks

between cycles Maintain grass filter downslope from calf

hutches

Calf hutches and grass filter at Maxwell

Cow exercise lot north of barn On rainy nights in the summer, cows are

not let out of the barn to use the pasture or exercise lot to the north of the barn. This prevents runoff of manure contaminated water from this area. This area is not used at all during the winter.

Handling of mortalities Mature animals to renderer Calves and young heifers composted

Fertilizer Practices Rate per acre based on soil test, manure

application rates, rotation credits and realistic crop requirements

Used Pre-Sidedress Nitrogen Test on demonstration field, resulted in NO sidedress application of nitrogen. Yields did not suffer.

Fertilizer - continued Hosted Phosphorus Starter Demonstration

plot Corn planted with four rates of starter

fertilizer Yields – no difference

Strip crops at Maxwell Farms

Strip crops on Maxwell Farms

Cover Crops Cover crop planted on field harvested as

corn silage. This was a cool growing season so harvest and planting were late and growth was less than ideal. But, some cover crop is better than none.

Land Management Practices Purchased additional farm land & buildings Tile (sub-surface) Drainage – 60000 feet

installed since 2001 Strip cropping on home farm Strip cropping, grass filter strips – south of

cow barn in runoff area Permanent sod on east field – farm runoff

Barber Farms

Barber Farms Installed Terraces & WASCOB Cover crop on dry bean acreage Traded acreage and is growing alfalfa on

some HEL acres Fertilizer reduction recommended

Terraces & WASCOB at Barber Farms

Jim Gray Farm Sold dairy cows – reduced manure volume

no more milkhouse waste water Rotational grazing system installed Manure being injected by farm renters

Manure Injection at Gray Farm

Water Quality? Tile line installation, strip crop layout,

terraces, etc.; all caused land disturbance during 2003 season. Benefits in reduced turbidity, N, P and organics in water not likely to be seen until 2004 growing season

Downstream monitoring data should start to show results in 2004