Oklahoma Producer Grant Program Created
Oklahoma farmers and ranchers may apply for cash grants under a new grant program offered by the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture in Poteau. A producer or producer organization with an innovative proposal for a research, demonstration or educational project can apply for up to $3,500 for a one year project, and up to $7,500 for a two or three year project. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis.
"Farmers and ranchers are often eager to innovate if they are given support and encouragement," says Alan Ware, director of the program. Ware thinks the program will give producers across the state an opportunity to try new, sustainable practices and learn from each other. A sustainable farming practice enhances the farm’s natural resource base, the quality of the environment, and farm profitability.
Projects funded in 1998 must address maintaining or improving water quality on agricultural land. Why fund water quality projects? Two areas of critical concern in agriculture today are reducing water pollution coming from farms and improving the producer’s bottom line. Often the two are related. Stopping soil erosion, for example, not only keeps streams and lakes clean, but preserves valuable topsoil and nutrients on the farm. Finding alternatives to using pesticides both keeps farm expenses down and reduces the likelihood of water pollution.
Projects must fall into one of four categories: livestock systems, cropping systems, best management/conservation practices, and youth activities. (see page 7 for more on these categories) Projects that are innovative, applicable to many farms, and useful for more than a year have the best chance of being funded. An impartial technical committee will evaluate and rank applications.
Ware is available to speak to farmers’ groups about the program. Grant proposals must be received at the Kerr Center by 5:00 p.m. on July 15. Recipients will be notified on August 14. The Center encourages applicants to contact agriculture professionals (such as in Extension, Conservation Service, etc.) for help in planning and analyzing their projects.
Applicants must live in Oklahoma. To find out more or to obtain an information packet (including a sample application and application form) contact Alan Ware, Director, Oklahoma Producer Grant Program, Kerr Center, P.O. Box 588, Poteau, OK. 74953. Phone: 918-647-9123, fax: 918-647-8712, or e-mail: aeware@kerrcenter.com.
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Just a Few SARE Projects
An Oregon vegetable farmer found better sweet corn yields after using a variety of cover crops, then strip-tilling corn into the cover residue the following spring, a set of practices he learned by working with a SARE researcher.
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In Indiana, an Extension agent and former conventional corn-and-soybean farmer is converting to an organic vegetable operation to realize more profits and a better relationship with the community after attending a SARE funded professional development workshop.
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Researchers in Virginia dramatically decreased nutrient loading and sedimentation entering a New River tributary by setting up spring-fed watering troughs as part of a SARE study on management-intensive grazing for cattle.
Families in about 1,000 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) ventures throughout North America regularly receive fresh, wholesome produce while helping support area farmers. SARE funded studies in the Midwest and Northeast are documenting CSA characteristics and advantages and helping CSAs improve their planning and viability.
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Status Report
A Million "Little" Piggies Go to Market
Editor’s Note: Controversy about the relationship between the waste generated by industrial-style large hog operations and environmental pollution has filled newspapers over the last year. The following article includes excerpts from a speech given by Michelle Stephens, the Kerr Center’s Director of Public Policy, to the Soil and Water Conservation Society in February 1998. Stephens served on Governor Keating’s Water Quality Task Force in 1997.
Over a million head of swine are being grown for market this year in Oklahoma. A quarter of a million are "staying home" (as in the nursery rhyme) to breed. Whether going to market or staying at home, these hogs and pigs generate immense amounts of waste-- two to four times as much waste as people.
In Oklahoma the struggle to manage huge amounts of waste produced by industrial-style poultry and swine operations in harmony with local citizens and the environment is an ongoing difficult task.
The swine waste issue began brewing after a 1991 bill created a broad exception to the state’s anti-corporate farming statute. In 1991 Oklahomans were largely unconcerned about swine production--the state had just 190,000 hogs in production. Through the broad exception carved out of the anti-corporate farming law in 1991, coupled with lax environmental regulation of large swine farms, Oklahoma became an attractive state for large-scale swine production. There was very little public debate about the consequences of inviting industrial hog production into the state to operate under an "honor system" type of regulatory scheme.
In the past two years Oklahoma has tripled its swine numbers. As of December 1997, Oklahoma’s hog and pig population was estimated at about 1,640,000 head. (This is a record high, surpassing the old record set in 1911 of 1.6 million)
The Conflict
In every area of Oklahoma experiencing rapid growth of corporate hog farms there are large numbers of citizens, who, based on their experiences, sincerely believe that their property is being devalued, that they are being taxed to bring in something that is destroying their quality of life, and that their environment is being destroyed by the odor, water pollution and water depletion associated with these large confined hog operations and disposal of hog waste.
These citizens are usually ranchers or farmers themselves.
On the other hand, the corporate swine community is angry because they believe that Oklahoma enticed them to locate here with financial incentives and minimal licensing requirements. They have invested millions of dollars in production facilities. Many follow the letter of the law and some go beyond the law to protect the environment, yet do not feel appreciated for doing so.
Effects on independent farmers
Many farm groups and individual farmers and ranchers are frustrated because they believe they have historically been good stewards of the land. They are fearful that regulations and laws passed to regulate industrial swine facilities will spill over and impact them when they have done nothing to merit being brought into a more regulated system. Traditional agriculture is also fearful that it cannot compete with well-financed and government subsidized corporations, particularly if mandated to spend more in environmental compliance. Farmers are forced to look at either getting out of the business or becoming contract growers for the corporations. This is evidenced by the fact that while the number of hogs produced is increasing, the number of hog farmers is declining rapidly.
The Task Force
Against a backdrop of increasing citizen concern, Governor Frank Keating appointed the fifteen member Animal Waste and Water Quality Task Force to study the current and past disposal of animal waste (poultry, swine and bovine) and its effect on Oklahoma water supplies. After six months of study it submitted 75 recommendations in its final report.
According to Governor Keating these are the highlights of the recommendations:
The unrestrained growth of confined animal feeding operations pose a threat to our precious groundwater and reservoir supplies.
It is unreasonable to expect people who live near these facilities to tolerate severe odor problems
Local residents should have the power, by vote on a county option basis, to approve or disapprove the size and nature of these businesses.
Some new regulations are necessary, including licensing, training for operators, soil testing for potential pollution problems, odor abatement procedures and tougher rules requiring barriers between waste lagoons and ground water levels.
Large feeding operations should not be built close to church camps, scenic rivers or other recreational sites
Current Developments
House joint resolution 1093 imposed a moratorium on the issuance of certain licenses for swine feeding operations until next year or other hog legislation is passed. At press time, numerous bills were in conference.
According to Tulsa World reporter Chuck Ervin in an April 20th article, "It is hard to walk across the Capitol’s fourth floor rotunda without stumbling over hog.....lobbyists, who have taken over corridors the way pigs have taken over the panhandle."
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Buffers -- A Glossary
Contour buffer strips:Strips of perennial vegetation alternated with wider crop land strips which are farmed on the contour. They can reduce sheet erosion and reduce movement of sediment, nutrients and pesticides.
Filter Strips: Strips of grass or other vegetation used to intercept or trap sediment, organics, pesticides, and other pollutants before they reach a water body.
Field border: Strips of perennial vegetation planted at the edge of a field. They can be used for a turn area or travel lanes for farm machinery.
Grassed waterway: Strips of grass on areas where water concentrates as it runs off a field. While they are used primarily to prevent gully erosin, waterways can be designed or combined with filter strips to help filter contaminants.
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Buffer Benefits
Did you know that riparian areas
- provide food, water and cover for wildlife and domestic animals?
- provide shade and food, and reduce water temperature for aquatic ecosystems?
- remove sediment from the water flowing through them?
- act as sponges to hold water in streambanks to provide a higher water table and more stable stream flow?
- protect streambanks and reduce erosion?
- help dissipate the energy of floodwater
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Producer Grants and Water Quality in Oklahoma
The Kerr Center’s new Oklahoma Producer Grant Program will fund projects that focus on maintaining or improving water quality on farm and ranch land around the state.
The general goal for all projects should be to improve the quality of water on the farm, such as in ponds or wells, or coming off the farm, as in run-off. Farmers know their land; we encourage innovation and creative solutions.
There are a number of approaches to improving water quality. A project may focus on practices or improvements that reduce erosion or chemical use, cut chemical/organic waste run-off, or prevent sediment or chemicals from entering the watershed.
Projects must fit into one of the following three categories:
Livestock systems: These projects should show ways to manage livestock that maintain or improve water quality. An example is using limited water access points in a pond to extend the life of the pond and improve water quality.
Cropping systems: These projects should focus on innovative crop production methods that can improve or maintain water quality. Production methods researched or demonstrated should have a direct impact on water quality--reducing soil erosion or chemical run-off are just two examples.
Best management/Conservation practices: These projects focus on practices that will reduce the negative effects of farming practices on water quality. One example is the creation of buffer strips next to waterways to prevent livestock damage to the waterway.
Youth Activities: This is a special category for youth ages 15-20. Activities must be coordinated with existing youth programs such as FFA or 4-H or be associated with junior college or vo-tech studies, and pertain to water quality or water conservation. An adult leader must assist the youth with coordination of the project.
An example of a viable demonstration project would be establishing buffer strips in wheat production. This project would fall into the best management/conservation practices category and should show how buffer strips can improve water quality within an existing grain farm operation.
Some of the tasks called for in such a project would include: determining buffer strip location with a NRCS specialist; planting the outer buffer strip with warm season native grasses, and inner area with trees and shrubs; establishing photo-monitoring points and taking photos of activities done for the demonstration; finding the best spots to take a water sample during a rain storm, and testing water "before buffer" and "after buffer."
And last, but certainly not least: holding a field day where farmers and others can learn from what you’ve tried.
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Editor’s Note
In Spring, Do a Farmer’s Thoughts Turn to Love? Well, Yes, and Rain...
April showers bring May flowers--as well as fat strawberries, tall grass, and waving wheat. In spring, water in the form of rain comes easily to mind, and in spring, those of us interested in sustainable agriculture tend to think a lot about how farming affects water quality.
In this newsletter we talk a lot about water quality and what farmers and ranchers can do to improve it. Water quality is the focus of our new Oklahoma Producer Grant Program, projects on our new Stewardship Farm, and an ongoing concern of our Rural Development and Public Policy Program.
Why? Agriculture is a major contributor to water pollution. And in some areas, agriculture is using groundwater reserves faster than they can be recharged.
And after all, farmers and ranchers drink water too.
---Maura McDermott
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Calendar of Events
Overstreet-Kerr Historical Farm
(Note: Advance registration must be received ten days prior to the date of workshop)
May 30-- Making Natural Potpourri (two workshops, beginners in the morning and advanced in the afternoon) each $30, limited to 12.
Instructor Viola Jay
Beginners will gather natural materials for making potpourri with essential oils, and learn about selection, cutting and drying.
Advanced will learn methods of drying flowers for use in potpourri and floral arrangements, and will blend simmering, salted, and moist potpourris.
June 6 -- Basket Weaving, Beginning and Advanced
Instructor Arla Williams will demonstrate the creation and use of natural dyes and how to blend them in the weaving process. Participants will make their own free form basket. Fee:$40-45, includes basket materials and lunch. Limited to 12.
For further information contact Jim Combs, 918-966-3396 or 918-966-3282 or write OKHF, Rt. 2 Box 693, Keota, OK 74941
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SARE Celebrates Ten Years of Good Work
On March 4-6, the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program, usually known as SARE, celebrated its tenth year of increasing knowledge about, and helping farmers adopt, sustainable farming practices. It has funded close to 1200 research and education projects for university researchers, producers, and extension agents.
At the anniversary gathering in Austin Kerr Center staffers attended workshops and heard talks by people who have participated in the program. Kerr Center president Jim Horne, who has been active in the program from its inception, gave the keynote luncheon address the opening day. He ended by saying:
"When I think of change, I think of a river deep, wide, and fast. Farmers, ranchers, and everyone else in agriculture is sailing down that river of change. We are all in different kinds of boats--some are more sustainable than others---some are more solid, some steer better. Some trying to navigate that river need help...Let’s keep sailing and someday we will reach our destination: a healthy and enduring agriculture. "
That, in a nutshell, is what SARE is about.
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SARE Positives
Low overhead--94% of funding goes directly to support research and education.
Local leadership--Regional administrative councils and technical advisory committees decide how the money is spent.
Leverage-- Local matching funds of 80 cents to each SARE dollar show local support.
Quality-- A rigorous competitive review process ensures the best projects get funded.
Teamwork--SARE’s emphasis on a multi-disciplinary approach helps forge partnerships between scientists, producers, agribusiness and environmentalists.
Practical solutions-- Farmers and ranchers participate at all levels of decision-making, assuring practical, profitable results.
For more information about SARE: internet:www.sare.org (general information and descriptions of projects) Oklahoma is in the Southern Region. For information on grants and projects contact: Southern SARE, (770) 412-4787, 1109 Experiment St., Georgia Station, Griffin, GA 30223
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Industrial Hogs 101
What is an industrial-style hog farm?
Usually such operations are characterized by a separation of management, labor, and ownership; a limited or nonexistent role for family labor; managers, owners and employees who don’t live in or near the operation; and ownership by a non-family corporation or other entity that grants limited liability to investors.
The size varies, but nationally can range up to 500,000 confined animals.
These hog farms are one type of CAFO, confined animal feeding operation.
How is the waste from mega hog farms handled?
Waste is typically kept in large open "lagoons." Often waste is mixed with water and "sprayed" onto farmland with irrigation equipment.
Can these wastes pollute?
According to a Duke University study, hog farms have the potential to introduce significant amounts of nutrients and pathogens to sensitive watershed and underground water supplies.
Furthermore, the Duke study states that CAFOs "are a relatively new source of nutrient pollution in watersheds and ...a growing source of potential water pollution. The rapid growth in the industry has surpassed the ability of scientists to evaluate its impact on water quality."
Are there other problems?
Fields used for wastewater disposal, waste lagoons, and concentrated animal structures are sources of odor.
What’s Happening in Other States
In Kentucky: The Kentucky Attorney General has issued an opinion saying counties had the authority to regulate large hog operations as "industrial" rather than "agricultural" operations.
In North Carolina: In 1997, the state adopted a two year moratorium on all new construction of hog operations over 200 head, except those using "innovative technology to handle the manure.
In Kansas: Over 20 counties have voted to keep corporate hog farms out of their counties.
*State reports from Center for Rural Affairs Spotlight on Pork III
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Common Sense Conservation on the Ranch
Imagine if somehow the protective fat and muscle and skin were removed from around the veins and arteries in your body, and they were left raw and exposed to the environment. How long would they stay healthy?
Now imagine the draws and streams and rivers that course through fields and pastures, running across the body of Mother Earth, if you will, and see them stripped of their protective trees and grasses and plants.
How long would they stay healthy, with no buffers to absorb the sediment and chemicals and wastes and trampling that assault them daily?
The answer is pretty obvious: not long.
Agriculturists in the United States are beginning to realize this now more than ever, and giving the water on their land more attention. One way to protect water quality is through establishing conservation buffer strips: areas or strips of land in permanent vegetation, designed to intercept pollutants.
The USDA calls buffer strips "common sense conservation" and indeed they can improve water quality and even enhance wildlife habitat on the farm or ranch.
Buffering Water on the Ranch
The Kerr Ranch has supported cattle herds now for almost 50 years. Much of the land was converted from forest to pasture, and has been maintained as such. We continue to raise cattle, so like other ranchers, our conservation efforts must be compatible with our grazing land.
On the Kerr Center Ranch this spring we have been working on ways to protect the draws and streams that run across our 1500 acres along the Poteau River. In our humid environment, trees grow easily. So we have been planting adapted trees: green ash, hackberry, pecan, and sawtooth and shumard oaks next to draws, creating what is known as a riparian forest buffer. To protect the young trees from cattle, we have used electric fencing.
In another pasture, Kerr staffers have planted black willow whips along a draw. Willows love water, and as staffers found, will sprout if left in a tank of water for a couple of weeks. These whips have been planted along the steep banks, where other vegetation will not grow. The hope is they will stabilize the eroding bank.
Driving along one of the lanes on the Ranch, it’s easy to see the difference between where a draw has been fenced as a buffer strip for a few years, and where the cattle have had free access up until now. On one side of the road, in a newly fenced area, the sides of the draw are bare and crumbling; the vegetation near the draw rather sparse. The buffer strip, in contrast, has a thick carpet of tall grass, and young trees are growing. The banks are stable. Kerr natural resources economist David Redhage has set up photo monitoring points along these riparian areas to document changes over time. He has also set up several checkpoints to test water turbidity and pH: one where water flows onto the Ranch from a wooded hillside, another along a draw in a pasture, and others where water comes on and goes off the Ranch’s land.
The Center wants to protect the riparian areas it is responsible for. Eventually we plan to create areas where the public can view and learn about "common sense conservation."
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Buffer Progress
Did you know that
- the USDA has a National Conservation Buffer Initiative that has as a goal two million miles of buffer strips by 2002?
- about one-third of U.S. riparian areas border water courses that pass through agricultural land?
- that Iowa State University research found that 10-foot-wide buffer strips remove 70 percent of the upland sediment from runoff, and that 48 percent of the herbicide runoff from rain is filtered out on relatively small slopes and small areas?
(Taken from NRCS/RCA Issue Brief 13 "Riparian Areas")
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Resources: Water Quality
Publications from the Kerr Center:
A Pond Owner’s Management Guide
Author Kenneth Williams covers all aspects of pond management from fish production to fish diseases to wildlife to water quality. He provides a good explanation of the relationship between algae and dissolved oxygen levels and fish kills. $8 Agroforestry Practices, a fact sheet. While the advantages of trees to water quality is just touched up on in these four pages, author Tim Snell details which trees to plant in Oklahoma and how to plant them. 50 cents shipping and handling
(Our publications list is free upon request)
Your local National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, formerly Soil Conservation Service) has literature about buffer strips and information about cost share programs that offer technical and financial assistance in establishing buffers. Such programs include: Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Wildlife program offers cost share to landowners interested in restoring degraded wetlands, riparian areas and other habitats.
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Notable Events
Leadership in Your Community conference May 21, Mitchell Hall on the Eastern Oklahoma State College campus in Wilburton, Oklahoma. The goal of the conference is to increase participant awareness of their leadership potential. Small group sessions will provide participants with insight and important information on leadership styles and strategies as well as information on building community, preparing youth leaders, and successful leadership development programs from across the state. Registration deadline: May 14. Fee: $15. For a brochure or to register contact your county extension office.
Oklahoma Range and Wildlife Ecology Academy Would you like to try your hand at being an Oklahoma rangeland ecologist? During six action packed days (June 14-19, 1998) high school students have the opportunity to explore Oklahoma’s rangeland communities in a field course that also uses the latest GIS computer technology. Rangeland provides habitat for both wildlife and livestock, and contributes to better water quality. Held at OSU Camp Redlands, near Stillwater. For information contact: Jackie Badley (918) 287-3755; Mark Moseley (405) 742-1235 Applications must be postmarked by May 11.
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