Healthy, well-managed grazing lands can be instrumental in maintaining healthy watersheds across the country. ARS sustainable livestock management research strengthens producers understanding of how grazing systems impact water quality and provides tools for reducing impacts on watersheds. Phosphorous is an essential element for plant growth, and it is a necessary part of fertilizer to maintain profitable crop production. These water plants grow quickly and consume much of the oxygen dissolved in the water, causing fish to suffocate and die.
Eutrophication is a serious problem for fisheries, recreation, industry and water supply.
ARS research on several watersheds in Pennsylvania has shown that it is relatively easy to pinpoint areas of high phosphorous concentration, and areas at risk of eutrophication. By creating and testing a system to identify trouble spots, this research allows farmers to apply phosphorous more precisely, safeguarding water quality while continuing to run a viable agricultural enterprise. Conservation Technical Assistance allows NRCS to provide basic technical conservation services to farmers across the country. These services are critical to farmers who participate in cost-share programs like EQIP, WHIP, CFO, WRP and FPP , and also to those who want to apply conservation practices without such financial assistance. Nearly 170 offices across the country may not be able to be staffed and might be closed.