← back to Lake Champlain Phosphorous Initiative

Lake Champlain Phosphorous Initiative Survey

We are trying to evaluate the effectiveness of practices and approaches intended to improve water quality. Specifically, we want to learn what is working, what needs to change, and what other ideas people in the agricultural community may have. You may find it helpful to read this handout before completing the survey for additional background information on water quality and agricultural practices. Please respond to the questions below that pertain to you or feel free to just provide suggestions at the bottom.

Cropland Management

Would you support enhanced cropland management based on a suite of options, such as implement early cover crops OR larger buffers regardless of farm size or type?

FLOODPLAIN

Yes

No

Maybe

NON-FLOODPLAIN

Yes

No

Maybe

Would you support buffering ditches with a minimum of 10 feet of perennial vegetation?

FLOODPLAIN

Yes

No

Maybe

NON-FLOODPLAIN

Yes

No

Maybe

Should any of these practices be required where fall manure applications are done?

FLOODPLAIN

Manure injection

Cover cropping

Wider buffers

NON-FLOODPLAIN

Manure injection

Cover cropping

Wider buffers

Are you interested in BMPs to address nutrient outflows from tile drainage?

Yes

No

Maybe

Sliding Cost-Share and Prioritization

What methods of prioritization do you believe would be the most effective for providing cost-share?

Fields with high phosphorus index

Fields with high phosphorus soil tests results

Modeled critical source areas

Agriculturally impaired watersheds

Water quality monitoring data

Floodplains

Would you support increased cost-shares in the prioritized areas and lower cost-shares in the other areas?

Yes

No

Maybe

Other Incentives

Would you be interested in any of the following exhanges that allowed more flexibility?

Achieve lower erosion rates on all fields, which may mean reduced corn production, in exhange for limited winter manure spreading in pre-approved areas

No spreading after Oct. 15th in sensitive areas in exchange for limited winter manure spreading in pre-approved areas

Smaller buffers (10') where the runoff doesn't leave the field and increased (50' or more) at points of runoff regardless of farm size or type?

Certainty

What non-traditional incentives would encourage you to implement additional practices above those already required?

Elevated cost share rates

Prioritization for funding in ranking above those only performing baseline projects

Public recognition for achieving higher standards

Protection from state on future water quality efforts

Forgiveness from EPA inspections

Acknowledgement that practice implementation by one government agency is sufficient for all, including EPA

Credit for practices already implemented on your farm in the ranking criteria or cost-share rates

Increased inspection capacity on small farms to uphold the AAP requirements.

What methods of inspection prioritization do you believe would be the most effective for water quality?

Farm Type (dairy, beef, horse, vegetable, etc.)

Farm Size (number of animals per acre)

Critical Source Area

Watershed

Water Quality Monitoring Data

Would you provide an annual report to the State on your farm's characteristics, type, number of animals and acres?

Yes

No

Maybe

Nutrient Management Planning on All Farms

Should there be different standards dependent upon farm size or animals per acre, and where should that threshold be?

Yes

No

Maybe

Would you support all farms being required to attend a water quality class every year (rougly 2-4 hours/yr)

Yes

No

Maybe

Should there be a manure applicator certification course or license requirement?

Yes

No

Maybe

Should all farms have the same buffer width requirements and erosion tolerances?

Yes

No

Maybe

Requiring Livestock Exclusion

Would you support diminishing cost-share rates leading up to a set date when all livestock must be excluded from streams?

Yes

No

Maybe

If you could choose when to make livestock exclusion mandatory, which length of time is most appropriate for your farm?

Now

Two Years

Five Years

Seven Years

If livestock exclusion were required for a subset of farms in the next year or two, what method(s) of prioritization would you prefer?

Farm Type (dairy, beef, horse, vegetable, etc.)

Farm Size (number of animals per acre)

Critical Source Area

Watershed

Water Quality Monitoring Data

Please provide any additional comments

Captcha *