Follow along with this narrative: Installing conservation practices reduces in-field erosion. Reduced in-field erosion decreases the amount of sediment carried in a stream. Streams carrying less sediment have more energy. Streams with more energy result in additional streambank erosion. Added streambank erosion increases the sediment load in the stream. Ultimately the sediment load carried in the stream remains unchanged. In the end, applying upland conservation only shifts the source of the sediment load from upland erosion to …
Ditching Conservation
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Buffer Strips: The last ditch effort for conservation?
When everything else fails there’s always the “last ditch effort.” By definition, the last ditch effort is never the first choice. Instead, it is reserved as the last choice. In my opinion, buffer strips should be seen as the last ditch effort. Why? Because it is our last chance to filter sediment and nutrients out of the water before they leave the farm. While this may be good for downstream water quality, it doesn’t do much to help the farm itself. We need to rely more on in-field conservation practices and less on edge of field practices. …
What the hell am I doing here?
This is one of my favorite family photos. I have entitled this picture, “What the hell am I doing here.” Take another good look at this picture. Look at the closed eyes, the pursed lips, the locked knees, and the hands behind the back. At the tender age of 3, my daughter Jessica spoke volumes in this picture. She made no bones about it. She was somewhere where she didn’t want to be, doing something she didn’t want to do, and she wasn’t going to hide her feelings. I often wonder what would happen if adults openly shared this same level of …
Celebrate Soil and Water Stewardship Week
When the land does well for its owner, and the owner does well by his land—when both end up better by reason of their partnership—then we have conservation. - Aldo LeopoldIn 1955, the National Association of Conservation Districts began a national program to encourage Americans to focus on stewardship. Stewardship Week is officially celebrated from the last Sunday in April to the first Sunday in May. It is one of the world's largest conservation-related observances. The program relies on locally-led conservation districts sharing and promoting …