12/16/24 - 110 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/3ubmzu7a
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Spotlight - Penn State Extension: Feeding Cows Differently To Improve The Water
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Improving local water quality and the Chesapeake Bay starts with feeding cows. The amount of nitrogen and phosphorus that goes in the front end of the cow directly impacts how much comes out the back end. Nitrogen and phosphorus are the two main nutrients associated with impaired local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay. Penn State has teamed up with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to promote and implement Feed Management Plans on dairy farms throughout Pennsylvania.
Feed management plans are written by nutritionists, who attended further training through Penn State. The plans are written with significant input by the farmer and are then submitted to NRCS. The farmer can apply for EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) funds through NRCS to cover the costs of having the plan written, and the costs of implementation of the plan for the next three years, assuming a three year contract with NRCS. Plans are written to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loss from the farm by addressing issues with the ration itself and/or how feed is managed on the farm.
Initially this program focused on dairy operations, but due to increased interest it has been expanded to beef operations as well. Although improving water quality issues through feeding cows may not seem like the most logical place to start it is one of the best practices we have available to reduce the impact of livestock on water quality.
For more information on the Feed Management program go to the Penn State Dairy and Animal Science website or the NRCS Feed Management website.
(Written By: Sarah K. Dinh, Ph.D., Penn State Cooperative Extension, Extension Educator, Dairy/Environment, reprinted from the Penn State Extension Watershed Winds Newsletter.)
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7/4/2011 |
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