Regulators Congratulate Tar-Pamlico And Neuse River Basin Agricultural Communities For Nitrogen Reduction Efforts Regulators Congratulate Tar-Pamlico And Neuse River Basin Agricultural Communities For Nitrogen Reduction Efforts
RALEIGH — Annual reports from the state’s Division of Water Quality on progress made to reduce nitrogen pollution in the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico rivers show a resounding success.
The agricultural community in both basins exceeded the goals of the state’s first row crop regulations to address agricultural practices with regard to water quality. Basin-wide reduction goals were 30 percent, but the Neuse Basin showed a reduction of 42 percent with the Tar-Pamlico at 45 percent based on average 1991 -1995 baseline levels. Excess nitrogen in river water can come from a variety of sources, including urban stormwater runoff and wastewater treatment plants. The reports focused on the agricultural part of the state’s Nutrient Sensitive Waters Strategy.
These precedent-setting rules provided a chance for the agricultural community to work collectively on a solution. Reductions were achieved through a variety of measures including best management practices that include vegetated stream-side buffers, conservation tilling and drainage controls along with cropping shifts, and fertilization rate decreases.
Progress was not limited to nitrogen reduction, however, as both basins saw lower phosphorus levels and erosion rates while farmers benefited from savings on fertilizer. In the Neuse River Basin, more than 480,000 tons of soil were saved. In the Tar-Pamlico Basin, more than 396,000 tons of soil was diverted from erosion. Sediment is the number one pollutant of North Carolina waters, by volume.
Other factors that affect agriculture’s impact on water quality were also cited. Higher fertilizer costs encouraged farmers to apply less. Crop shifts from cotton to corn and the sale of farmland for development also affect water quality. For these reasons, both basins’ oversight committees believe the program should continue to maintain existing BMPs and promote those that increase the efficiency of fertilizer use.
“The agricultural community can now place a number on the improvements they’ve been making to the land. They deserve to take credit for their progress,” stated Rich Gannon, non-point source planner with the Division of Water Quality. “Since some reductions were based on volatile market shifts, we need to continue working together so the reduction goals are maintained.”
“I am very proud of our farmers who have stepped forward and exceeded the mandated reductions in nutrients,” said Agriculture Commissioner Britt Cobb. “I hope others will recognize that through decades of work with our regional agronomists and local Cooperative Extension Service agents, farmers have become conservative and prudent in their use of all agricultural chemicals, including crop nutrients.”
To participate in the program, farmers should contact staff from their local Soil and Water Conservation district, Cooperative Extension or Natural Resource Conservation Service office.
RALEIGH — Annual reports from the state’s Division of Water Quality on progress made to reduce nitrogen pollution in the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico rivers show a resounding success.
The agricultural community in both basins exceeded the goals of the state’s first row crop regulations to address agricultural practices with regard to water quality. Basin-wide reduction goals were 30 percent, but the Neuse Basin showed a reduction of 42 percent with the Tar-Pamlico at 45 percent based on average 1991 -1995 baseline levels. Excess nitrogen in river water can come from a variety of sources, including urban stormwater runoff and wastewater treatment plants. The reports focused on the agricultural part of the state’s Nutrient Sensitive Waters Strategy.
These precedent-setting rules provided a chance for the agricultural community to work collectively on a solution. Reductions were achieved through a variety of measures including best management practices that include vegetated stream-side buffers, conservation tilling and drainage controls along with cropping shifts, and fertilization rate decreases.
Progress was not limited to nitrogen reduction, however, as both basins saw lower phosphorus levels and erosion rates while farmers benefited from savings on fertilizer. In the Neuse River Basin, more than 480,000 tons of soil were saved. In the Tar-Pamlico Basin, more than 396,000 tons of soil was diverted from erosion. Sediment is the number one pollutant of North Carolina waters, by volume.
Other factors that affect agriculture’s impact on water quality were also cited. Higher fertilizer costs encouraged farmers to apply less. Crop shifts from cotton to corn and the sale of farmland for development also affect water quality. For these reasons, both basins’ oversight committees believe the program should continue to maintain existing BMPs and promote those that increase the efficiency of fertilizer use.
“The agricultural community can now place a number on the improvements they’ve been making to the land. They deserve to take credit for their progress,” stated Rich Gannon, non-point source planner with the Division of Water Quality. “Since some reductions were based on volatile market shifts, we need to continue working together so the reduction goals are maintained.”
“I am very proud of our farmers who have stepped forward and exceeded the mandated reductions in nutrients,” said Agriculture Commissioner Britt Cobb. “I hope others will recognize that through decades of work with our regional agronomists and local Cooperative Extension Service agents, farmers have become conservative and prudent in their use of all agricultural chemicals, including crop nutrients.”
To participate in the program, farmers should contact staff from their local Soil and Water Conservation district, Cooperative Extension or Natural Resource Conservation Service office.
Regulators Congratulate Tar-Pamlico And Neuse River Basin Agricultural Communiti
Regulators Congratulate Tar-Pamlico And Neuse River Basin Agricultural Communities For Nitrogen Reduction Efforts Regulators Congratulate Tar-Pamlico And Neuse River Basin Agricultural Communities For Nitrogen Reduction Efforts
RALEIGH — Annual reports from the state’s Division of Water Quality on progress made to reduce nitrogen pollution in the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico rivers show a resounding success.
The agricultural community in both basins exceeded the goals of the state’s first row crop regulations to address agricultural practices with regard to water quality. Basin-wide reduction goals were 30 percent, but the Neuse Basin showed a reduction of 42 percent with the Tar-Pamlico at 45 percent based on average 1991 -1995 baseline levels. Excess nitrogen in river water can come from a variety of sources, including urban stormwater runoff and wastewater treatment plants. The reports focused on the agricultural part of the state’s Nutrient Sensitive Waters Strategy.
These precedent-setting rules provided a chance for the agricultural community to work collectively on a solution. Reductions were achieved through a variety of measures including best management practices that include vegetated stream-side buffers, conservation tilling and drainage controls along with cropping shifts, and fertilization rate decreases.
Progress was not limited to nitrogen reduction, however, as both basins saw lower phosphorus levels and erosion rates while farmers benefited from savings on fertilizer. In the Neuse River Basin, more than 480,000 tons of soil were saved. In the Tar-Pamlico Basin, more than 396,000 tons of soil was diverted from erosion. Sediment is the number one pollutant of North Carolina waters, by volume.
Other factors that affect agriculture’s impact on water quality were also cited. Higher fertilizer costs encouraged farmers to apply less. Crop shifts from cotton to corn and the sale of farmland for development also affect water quality. For these reasons, both basins’ oversight committees believe the program should continue to maintain existing BMPs and promote those that increase the efficiency of fertilizer use.
“The agricultural community can now place a number on the improvements they’ve been making to the land. They deserve to take credit for their progress,” stated Rich Gannon, non-point source planner with the Division of Water Quality. “Since some reductions were based on volatile market shifts, we need to continue working together so the reduction goals are maintained.”
“I am very proud of our farmers who have stepped forward and exceeded the mandated reductions in nutrients,” said Agriculture Commissioner Britt Cobb. “I hope others will recognize that through decades of work with our regional agronomists and local Cooperative Extension Service agents, farmers have become conservative and prudent in their use of all agricultural chemicals, including crop nutrients.”
To participate in the program, farmers should contact staff from their local Soil and Water Conservation district, Cooperative Extension or Natural Resource Conservation Service office.
RALEIGH — Annual reports from the state’s Division of Water Quality on progress made to reduce nitrogen pollution in the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico rivers show a resounding success.
The agricultural community in both basins exceeded the goals of the state’s first row crop regulations to address agricultural practices with regard to water quality. Basin-wide reduction goals were 30 percent, but the Neuse Basin showed a reduction of 42 percent with the Tar-Pamlico at 45 percent based on average 1991 -1995 baseline levels. Excess nitrogen in river water can come from a variety of sources, including urban stormwater runoff and wastewater treatment plants. The reports focused on the agricultural part of the state’s Nutrient Sensitive Waters Strategy.
These precedent-setting rules provided a chance for the agricultural community to work collectively on a solution. Reductions were achieved through a variety of measures including best management practices that include vegetated stream-side buffers, conservation tilling and drainage controls along with cropping shifts, and fertilization rate decreases.
Progress was not limited to nitrogen reduction, however, as both basins saw lower phosphorus levels and erosion rates while farmers benefited from savings on fertilizer. In the Neuse River Basin, more than 480,000 tons of soil were saved. In the Tar-Pamlico Basin, more than 396,000 tons of soil was diverted from erosion. Sediment is the number one pollutant of North Carolina waters, by volume.
Other factors that affect agriculture’s impact on water quality were also cited. Higher fertilizer costs encouraged farmers to apply less. Crop shifts from cotton to corn and the sale of farmland for development also affect water quality. For these reasons, both basins’ oversight committees believe the program should continue to maintain existing BMPs and promote those that increase the efficiency of fertilizer use.
“The agricultural community can now place a number on the improvements they’ve been making to the land. They deserve to take credit for their progress,” stated Rich Gannon, non-point source planner with the Division of Water Quality. “Since some reductions were based on volatile market shifts, we need to continue working together so the reduction goals are maintained.”
“I am very proud of our farmers who have stepped forward and exceeded the mandated reductions in nutrients,” said Agriculture Commissioner Britt Cobb. “I hope others will recognize that through decades of work with our regional agronomists and local Cooperative Extension Service agents, farmers have become conservative and prudent in their use of all agricultural chemicals, including crop nutrients.”
To participate in the program, farmers should contact staff from their local Soil and Water Conservation district, Cooperative Extension or Natural Resource Conservation Service office.