BMP CHALLENGE SM and Water Quality Trading: Opportunities for Farmers, Advisors and Educators

www.bmpchallenge.org

BMP CHALLENGE SM and Water Quality Trading: Opportunities for Farmers, Advisors

and Educators

Thomas Green, Ph.D., C.C.A., T.S.P. * IPM Institute of North America Inc.Harnessing the Power of the Marketplace to Improve Health, Environment and Economics

2004, 2005 EPA Pesticide Environmental Stewardship National Champion2005 EPA Children’s Health Recognition Award Winner

2003 EPA Region V Recognition Award Winner

Harnessing marketplace power…

Agriculture

Check Strip

BMP Strips

Sixth International IPM Symposium Portland OR, March 24-25, 2009

Communities


Best management practices…EPA, National Academy of Sciences and more than 20 other studies identify ECONOMIC RISK as a major reason why farmers do not adopt BMPs..

“We’ve used a crop consultant in the past…

…if he’s wrong, the cost of him being wrong is much more than the cost of that additional insecticide or herbicide.”


“EXTRA” is a RATIONAL DEFENSE

Against economic uncertainty• Nutrient mgt is an uncertain

science - 1.2# N/bu no longer

• Nutrients may be lost if heavy spring rains occur

• Bumper crop conditions may call for more nutrients


2005 corn farmer survey• 700 farmers, each planting 850 acres

of crops per year on average

• Some progress– 54% have reduced fertilizer over past five

years, 18% by 15% or more

• Enormous potential for basic and advanced practice adoption– 16% do not credit N from soybeans– 25% do not credit nutrients in manure– 67% do not use variable rate– 88% do not use in-season

testing/application


2005 corn farmer survey

• 46% want to see proof before changing practices

• 80% would be interested in reducing fertilizer rates if income were guaranteed

ENTER THE…


BMP CHALLENGE• How will BMPs perform

in my field?

• Risk-free opportunity to find out.

Check Strip

BMP Strips


Applications• Nutrient management

– N, P and/or K application rates

• Enhanced nutrient management

• Conservation tillage

• Corn rootworm IPM

• Variable rate nutrient applications, split N applications, etc.?

• Guarantee value of trading credits.


2006 – 2009 CIG DeliverablesMinnesota• Training curriculum and support package

re BMP CHALLENGE and WQ Credit Trading, twelve seminars– Initial delivery Jan 11, 2007– Trading rules being developed

• Three in-state professionals trained to deliver curriculum ongoing

• Develop 10 point sources for trading

• Plus BMP CHALLENGE on 34,000 acres across 13 states


Results 2002 - 2006Nutrients• Avg. farmer benefit from BMP: ($0.05)/a

• Average fertilizer savings: 23% or 41# N/a

• Cost for Nutrient BMP CHALLENGE: $18/a, or $0.44/lb.

Tillage• 2006, first year: 20 bu/a shortfall

- $8.97/acre savings in tillage costs- ($27.03)/a average net return- Learning curve, weed management


BMP CHALLENGE/CIG Partners• Agflex: Iowa corporation, “bank” for

reserves to make payments to farmers

• American Farmland Trust’s Agricultural Conservation Innovation Center

• IPM Institute of North America

• Kieser and Associates

• Minnesota River Board

• Thanks to The Nature Conservancy


BIG THANKS to:Funders, Partners, Collaborators

Agren, Inc. American Farmland Trust Altria Group Cannon River Watershed Partnership

Chesapeake Bay Commission City of Decatur (IL) Great Lakes Protection Fund

IL Council on Best Management Practices IL Dept. of AgricultureIA Farm Bureau Financial Services IA Dept. of Economic Development IPM Institute of North America Joyce Foundation Kieser & Associates

LeSueur County (MN) McKnight FoundationMN Department of Agriculture MN Pollution Control Agency

Minnesota River Board National Fish and Wildlife FoundationNational Foundation for IPM Education Newcomer Consulting

Ohio State Extension PA Dept of Agriculture PA State Conservation Commission

RM Hirsch Consulting Seven Mile Creek Watershed Project Team Ag US EPA University of Wisconsin USDA CSREES USDA Small Business Innovative Research Program

USDA Natural Resources Conservation ServiceUSDA Risk Management Agency

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Thomas Green, PhD, CCA, TSPIPM Institute of North America

Madison WI, 608 [email protected]

PartnersWanted!

Photos courtesy USDA ARS Image Librarywww.ars.usda.gov/is/graphics/photos/

BMP CHALLENGE SM and Water Quality Trading: Opportunities for Farmers, Advisors and Educators

Documents