Conservation Planning

What is a Conservation Plan...

The Conservation plan is a record of management decisions, modifications, and practices to help the land owner/operator enhance and protect soil, water, livestock, and wildlife resources on the farm.

Benefits of Conservation Planning...

  • You will save soil and nutrients
  • You will protect your farm' productivity
  • You will protect the water resources for your farm and your neighbors
  • You will comply and be more eligible for environmental programs and
  • financial/technical assistance

How is a plan developed...

You along with the assistance of a soil conservationist from AET Consulting, together we will analyze your farm, field by field. We will sit down with you and explain the various soil types on your farm, the slope and slope lengths of each field. We will calculate your farm's current soil loss numbers and compare that with the tolerable or allowable soil loss for the given soil types on your farm. The various farm best management practices (BMPs) will be discussed with you and options presented to minimize soil loss.

You make the decisions...

All of the resource tools will be provided to the operator of the farm. The conservationist will inventory the resource conditions that exist on the farm. They will help interpret the information about the land, soil, and production capability. You, as the operator, can discuss resource concerns that you have encountered. Then you will decide what changes you can make to protect and improve your land. The conservationist will help you by offering a variety of choices, based on the USDA-NRCS Field Office Technical Guide for your county.

 

Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP)

The objective of a CNMP is to combine management activities with conservation practices. This combination, when implemented, will minimize the adverse impacts of livestock farms on water quality. Each state has been delegated, by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to administer the CNMP process and legislation.

Each state has their own protocols, standards, and specifications for their respective CNMP. In all states, the plan will require a certain framework that will include the following elements:

  1. Animal Outputs - manure and wastewater collection, handling, storage, treatment and transfer
  2. Evaluation of cropland resources - soil types, sensitive areas, setbacks
  3. Land Application and Nutrient Management on crop and pasture acres
  4. Record Keeping for CNMP compliance
  5. Feed Management and Inputs to Livestock
  6. Other Utilization Activities

The consultants at AET Consulting are professionals with in-depth training and education, many years of field experience, and are committed to providing you the very best in planning, options, and overall recommendations.
 

 
 

Forms to Download

Pennsylvania EQIP Signup Form
Maryland EQIP Signup Form
Delaware EQIP Signup Form