Relevant

"Through this initiative, producers will be able to receive individual on-farm energy audit evaluations and assistance with implementation of energy conservation and efficiency measures," said Coleman. The energy audits will be individually tailored to ensure coverage of each farm's primary energy uses such as milk cooling, irrigation pumping, heating and cooling of livestock production facilities, manure collection and transfer, grain drying, and similar common on-farm activities. An Agricultural Energy Management Plan will be developed to identify what techniques or equipment can be used to reduce energy use and save money. The plan will be designed by a Technical Service Provider (certified by NRCS and placed on an approved list) who will provide technical assistance for specific conservation programs administered by USDA.

Through its Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), NRCS will pay up to 75 percent of the average cost of an Agricultural Energy Management Plan based on the number of animal units or acres of cropland. Payment rates can be viewed at www.pa.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/Energy/whats_new.html.  Producers signing up after July 9th, or producers who are not funded in 2010, due to the number of requests exceeding available funds, can ask to have their application retained for consideration in 2011.

A free on-line assessment is available at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/energy/index.html to see how you can become more energy efficient. For more information about USDA's energy initiative, or other conservation programs, please click here or contact the nearest USDA Service Center in your area. 

New York (NY Times Online, June 8, 2010 by Sindya N. Bhanoo):  In an article published last week on NY Times Online, the reported illustrated the clash between the Amish community in Lancaster County and regulators from the US Environmental Protection Agency who are enforcing stricter guidelines related to the pollution of the Chesapeake Bay. Click here to see the article.

Runoff from manure and synthetic fertilizers has polluted the Chesapeake Bay for years, reducing oxygen rates, killing fish and creating a dead zone that has persisted since the 1970s despite off-and-on cleanup efforts. But of the dozens of counties that contribute to the deadly runoff of nitrogen and phosphorus, Lancaster ranks at the top. According to E.P.A. data from 2007, the most recent available, the county generates more than 61 million pounds of manure a year. That is 20 million pounds more than the next highest county on the list of bay polluters, and more than six times that of most other counties.

The challenge for the environmental agency is to steer the farmers toward new practices without stirring resentment that might cause a backlash.  The Lancaster County Conservation District is working with Plain Sect farmers to move them toward good conservation practices by finding ways around issues the the regulation may raise.