This time last year, we would’ve begged for just one day of the kind of rain we have received week in and week out this year. We have now literally gone from one extreme to another in one short year. Although we needed the rain, the total amount has caused major water quality problems. Flooding has brought contamination in many lakes from rains rising out of the water’s edge and getting mixed up with septic systems and farmers’ fields. We need to take steps to prevent this contamination from happening in the future. One way is through creating filter strips.

There’s an old saying that goes "Don’t talk about farmers with food in your mouth." Being an agriculture instructor, nobody knows that better than me. Our farmers do a tremendous job of feeding our nation. Now we need to take care of them by ensuring they know about filter strips. Filter strips are small strips of land anywhere from 10 to 20 feet in width that separate farmers’ fields from any sort of stream, river or lake. These strips of land can be made up of trees, grasses, weeds or any plant that has a good enough root system to hold the soil in place. The tall weeds and grasses also filter rain water and melting snow as it makes its way downward to the water’s edge, keeping out fertilizer or other chemicals that are essential to a farmers harvest, yet detrimental to water quality. It also reduces siltation. As well, farmers also need water for their livestock by having water troughs instead of letting livestock into the actual body of water. Farm animals in our rivers, streams and lakes spells bad news to the water quality. All of this sounds like a great idea, but it does cost money. How do farmers build watering troughs without paying lots of money for a pump and watering system? And how can they afford to sacrifice cropland by building a filter strip that is vital to their harvest near waterways? Now there’s a way.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service in Virginia has $7.2 million available to help with conservation related issues on Virginia’s farms. Much of this goes towards establishing manure storage lagoons to prevent over-application of manure. But it goes towards the application of other things as well like watering troughs and erosion control practices. Farmers can receive up to 75% of the money needed to complete these practices by applying at their local NRCS office or the USDA’s Farm Service Agency. If you know of a farm that needs conservation improvements near the water, ask the owner if they know of this program. Offer to help them complete the paperwork and even install watering troughs or plant a filter strip if you have to. It seems like a lot, but this kind of conservation project is one that will pay off in the future. Help them help us keep our waters clean by letting them know about this and other programs.

Tad Phipps

State Conservation Director, VA B.A.S.S.