By many measures, the Chesapeake Bay is falling short of its potential to provide vital ecological services, food production and recreational uses. Nitrogen (N) pollution represents the most critical impairment because it accelerates algal growth and reduces the oxygen levels required by aquatic organisms. Agriculture is both the leading source of nutrients and a major contributor to the progress in reducing nutrient loading to date. Pennsylvania farmers alone have been responsible for 41% of all the N reductions from agriculture in the entire watershed. This report summarizes the results of a pilot project that demonstrates how a $6 million one-time investment can cover and deliver nearly 20% of Pennsylvania’s commitment to N-load reductions on a sustained basis.
Publications
Nitrogen Management Performance Guarantee System for Corn Producers in Pennsylvania: Feasability to Improve Water Quality in Chesapeake Bay
Downloadable Documents
Author
Thomas Green, Ph.D., Jim Cubie, Rebecca Ressl, Matt Anderson, Jim Baird, Brian Brandt, Jamie McCarthy, Mark Kieser, Jennifer Gilbert
Publisher
Washington, DC: American Farmland Trust
Page Numbers
56
Publication Date
November 07, 2011
Publication Type
Reports and Guides
State
Pennsylvania
Keywords
Conservation Policies and Programs, Environmental Benefits, Environmental Issues, Farming Practices