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» Mississippi Delta MSEA Volume 2, Issue 3, Page 2
| Mississippi Delta MSEA Volume 2, Issue 3, Page 2 |
|
REPORTER
Volume 2, Issue 3, Page 2, Third Quarter 1996
1997 Effort
- Establish additional well sites in cropped areas, filter strips, sediment basins, and riparian zones.
- Evaluate surface water quality from Bt and non-Bt cotton areas.
- Establishment of QA/QC and data sharing and availability protocol.
- A more intense implementation of precision farming technology.
- More regional emphasis.
- Detailed land survey.
- A MSEA Agribusiness day featuring precision farming technology.
- A new MSEA Project video.
Southern Weed Science Lab
- Continue characterizations of spatial variability of soil properties to monitor changes with time.
- Use GPS to map distribution of soil properties and weed populations.
- Continue herbicide dissipation studies in cotton production areas.
- Continue monitoring lake water for changes in microbial populations.
- Evaluate herbicide binding and degradation on soils collected in spatial variability studies.
Application and Production Technology Research Unit
- Evaluate new GPS controlled application technology.
Baton Rouge
- Continue to improve 7-day forecast as a planning tool.
- Determine pesticide levels in runoff.
Closing comments
- Cooperation from land owners and state and federal agencies makes the project work.
- The Model Farm 319 money with help from Soil and Water Conservation Commission and DEQ has made a significant impact.
- Special thanks to Animal Damage Control, US Fish and Wildlife, Delta Wildlife Foundation, Farm Services Agency, and NRCS.
- MSEA is having effect outside of the project - the Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks agency is discussing setting aside state funds for renovation of Delta lakes (3 to 4 lakes a year initially) if a farmer can exhibit MSEA-like practices.
Dr. Charles M. Cooper, Ecologist
Water Quality and Ecological Processes Research Unit
USDA-ARS-National Sedimentation Laboratory
Oxford, MS 38655
Phone: 662-232-2935
Fax: 662-232-2915
Email: ccooper@msa-oxford.ars.usda.gov
