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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #254254
Title: Determining whole-farm conservation solutions for small farms in northeastern USA

Author
item Veith, Tameria - Tamie
item GHEBREMICHAEL, LULA - University Of Vermont

Submitted to: International Conference on Precision Agriculture Abstracts & Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/15/2010
Publication Date: 7/18/2010
Citation: Veith, T.L., Ghebremichael, L.T. 2010. Determining whole-farm conservation solutions for small farms in the northeastern United States. 10th International Conference on Precision Agriculture, July 18-21, 2010, Fort Collins, Colorado. 2010 CDROM.

Interpretive Summary: An interpretive summary is not required.

Technical Abstract: Optimal water quality pollution control comes from locating critical nonpoint source pollution areas within a watershed and applying site-specific conservation practices. However, management decisions are implemented at the farm-level. While site-specific conservation practices are crucial for environmental protection, reduction strategies must have economic benefit to the producer if they are to be implemented and maintained. Increased fuel, fertilizer, and grain prices are greatly impacting farmer profits in small (<100 ha) northeastern US farms, which have historically imported sizable quantities of nutrients (feed and fertilizer) and corn grain and use proportionally high levels of fuel due to non-contiguous fields and hilly topography. A whole-farm, process-based, simulation model called IFSM (Integrated Farm System Model) is applied to typical dairy farms to evaluate the economic and environmental impacts of conservation practices suitable to the farm. The goal is to determine a set of practices acceptable to the farmer which minimize nutrient imports and treat or control excess nutrients while maintaining or increasing long-term farm profits. Potential practices include Precision Feed and Forage Management, crop substitution and cover crops, and manure application techniques.