Without such an approach, farmers often face added paperwork, duplication among agencies, and even conflicting plans. The USDA's cooperation in implementing such a program is important because it contains several agencies deeply involved in working with farmers, including the Soil Conservation Service, the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, and the Extension Service. Increasing USDA involvement was a major recommendation of a special Nonpoint Source Agricultural Initiative started by the Bay Program's Executive Council two years ago. The initiative was aimed at finding ways to improve the effectiveness of nonpoint source control efforts in the Bay watershed and to better coordinate the information given farmers. Lack of coordination has frustrated farmers and hindered efforts to promote the adoption of practices that would curb nutrient runoff to the Bay and its tributaries.
Agriculture is a major source of nutrients to the Bay.
It comes down to people, people working together to preserve and protect the Chesapeake Bay. To aid in that effort, the department is planning a new watershed management approach for agriculture in the Bay region. The Bay states will be subdivided into hundreds of small watersheds ranging in size from 10,000 to 50,000 acres. Virginia alone will be subdivided into 491 small watersheds. You can't look at one dairy farm, or one subdivision plan, and do the best management job on those two pieces and think the whole puzzle is going to be nicely fitting together.