Demonstrating Agricultural Best Management Practice Implementation and Impacts on a Commercial Farm

Abstract

Degraded water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries has been attributed in part to agricultural contributions of nonpoint source (NPS) pollutants, particularly nutrients. To encourage the adoption of agricultural best management practices (BMPs) and the control of nutrients from agricultural land use, the State of Maryland funded development of a demonstration farm. The farm is becoming a valuable means by which to showcase BMPs to both agricultural and non-agricultural audiences, and by which to obtain economic and water quality data concerning the use of BMPs on a commercial farm. Unusual weather patterns during the study make conclusions to date tentative and highlight considerations that should be made before using commercial farms as demonstration sites. Experience in developing this continuing demonstration shows that significant funding is required, that firm implementation schedules cannot be expected, and consequently, that depending on objectives several years are required to develop a successful onfarm BMP effectiveness demonstration.