Suzy Friedman Ag Session - Collaboration with farmers

ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND

Collaboration for ProgressCollaboration for Progress

Suzy Friedman, Regional Director for the Suzy Friedman, Regional Director for the Chesapeake BayChesapeake Bay

EDFEDF


Getting to a Clean BayGetting to a Clean Bay

• Agriculture is a critical sector for water qualityAgriculture is a critical sector for water quality

• Cannot get to a clean Bay without Cannot get to a clean Bay without collaboration between conservation groups collaboration between conservation groups and agricultural organizations/farmersand agricultural organizations/farmers

• Need both carrot and the stick, but no set of Need both carrot and the stick, but no set of regulations can get the whole job doneregulations can get the whole job done

• Significant and critical opportunities for real Significant and critical opportunities for real change and impact through partnerships change and impact through partnerships


Keys to Effective PartnershipKeys to Effective Partnership

• Recognition of each other’s goals and needsRecognition of each other’s goals and needs

• Recognition of the importance of science and Recognition of the importance of science and economicseconomics

• Recognition that there is no one size fits all in Recognition that there is no one size fits all in agricultureagriculture

• Recognition that farmers often are operating Recognition that farmers often are operating at very small profit marginsat very small profit margins


Collaboration: VA Waste Collaboration: VA Waste Solutions ForumSolutions Forum

• Diversity of partnersDiversity of partners

• Ongoing collaboration to identify and Ongoing collaboration to identify and implement economically viable solutions to implement economically viable solutions to animal ag nutrient challenges in the Valley. animal ag nutrient challenges in the Valley.

• Has pulled in more than $5 million in project Has pulled in more than $5 million in project grant fundsgrant funds

• Going strong after 5 yearsGoing strong after 5 years

• www.vawsf.comwww.vawsf.com

http://www.vawsf.com/


VA WSF – On The GroundVA WSF – On The Ground

• Partners meet as full committee 3x/year, Partners meet as full committee 3x/year, various issue-specific subcommitteesvarious issue-specific subcommittees

• Develop and implement projects together – Develop and implement projects together – feed management, manure to energy feed management, manure to energy technologies, composting, no till, stream technologies, composting, no till, stream fencing, communications about agriculture, fencing, communications about agriculture, nutrient management, much morenutrient management, much more

• Open to any partner who wants to work Open to any partner who wants to work collaboratively, engage on the groundcollaboratively, engage on the ground


Project: On-Project: On-Farm NetworkFarm Network

• Goal – improve impact and farmer Goal – improve impact and farmer engagement in nutrient engagement in nutrient managementmanagement

• Strategy: Information is power –Strategy: Information is power –adaptive managementadaptive management

• Work with farmers to gather better Work with farmers to gather better information about crop nutrient information about crop nutrient needs/status, use that information needs/status, use that information to fine tune management and to fine tune management and improve efficiencyimprove efficiency

• Heavy focus on farmer Heavy focus on farmer engagement, driven by scienceengagement, driven by science

• Economics front and centerEconomics front and center

• Connect with farmers’ trusted Connect with farmers’ trusted advisors, public and privateadvisors, public and private


On-Farm Network – ResultsOn-Farm Network – Results

• Many partners – EDF, grower organizations, Many partners – EDF, grower organizations, extension, conservation districts, crop extension, conservation districts, crop consultants, NRCS, state agenciesconsultants, NRCS, state agencies

• Modeled on Iowa Soybean Association OFNModeled on Iowa Soybean Association OFN

• 80% of participating farmers change their 80% of participating farmers change their behavior, avg N reduction of 20-25 lbs/acre behavior, avg N reduction of 20-25 lbs/acre without reducing yields without reducing yields

• In 2009, 266 farmers who collectively manage In 2009, 266 farmers who collectively manage almost 270,000 acres in PA, VA, NC, and OHalmost 270,000 acres in PA, VA, NC, and OH


Project: Adaptive Stream Project: Adaptive Stream FencingFencing

• Problem – getting animals out of the streamsProblem – getting animals out of the streams

• Problem – 35’ buffer width required of many Problem – 35’ buffer width required of many fed/state programs takes too much land out fed/state programs takes too much land out of production for some farmsof production for some farms

• Partnership initiative – flexible Partnership initiative – flexible

fencing program – HUGE successfencing program – HUGE success

• Resulted in new offerings by Resulted in new offerings by

fed/state programsfed/state programs


Getting to collaboration – open Getting to collaboration – open mindednessmindedness

• Too often, wall of suspicion between ag and Too often, wall of suspicion between ag and environmental communityenvironmental community

• Too often, assume other’s intentions are harmfulToo often, assume other’s intentions are harmful

• Real need to sit down together, better understand Real need to sit down together, better understand the “other side”the “other side”

• Need recognize BOTH environmental restoration Need recognize BOTH environmental restoration needs/goals of conservation community AND needs/goals of conservation community AND economic viability needs/goals of farmerseconomic viability needs/goals of farmers

• Won’t always be successful, but worth a tryWon’t always be successful, but worth a try


Getting InvolvedGetting Involved

• Get involved in State Technical Committees – Get involved in State Technical Committees – Advisory groups to NRCS leadership at the Advisory groups to NRCS leadership at the state levelstate level

– Provide input on priorities, management of Provide input on priorities, management of programs and use of fundingprograms and use of funding

• Advociate for more agricultural conservation Advociate for more agricultural conservation funding – federal (Farm Bill) and state levels funding – federal (Farm Bill) and state levels (ag cost share programs)(ag cost share programs)


Suzy FriedmanSuzy FriedmanRegional Director for the Regional Director for the

Chesapeake BayChesapeake BayEDFEDF

[email protected]@edf.org

mailto:[email protected]

Education

Suzy Friedman Ag Session - Collaboration with farmers