1. Ag Pollution Prevention Sustaining the Momentum Dr. Mark Risse, P.E. and Ag P2 Team The University of Georgia/P 2 AD

2. What is the Partnership? P 2 AD and UGA Cooperative Extension Service Began in 1994 and grown to five faculty with $400,000 annually for program/support Offers technical assistance, applied research, and education on P 2 to the Ag community Provides P 2 AD/DNR with access to: –UGA community and research –Cooperative Extension Service Network –Farmers and Ag Stakeholders

3. Program Impacts Program has brought the College and Extension into the environmental area –Gone from 1 faculty to 10 in Extension –Development of Office of Environmental Sciences –Environmental programs in local plans of work Acceptance by stakeholders –Ag community view program faculty as unbiased experts –DNR and other agencies use program faculty as resources Viewed as an essential partner

4. Animal Agriculture: AWARE Multidisciplinary Issue Based Team “ Providing economically and environmentally sound waste utilization solutions to Georgia's animal production industry” Helped implement rules for AFOs Operator certification Nutrient management planning Successful partnerships - GDA - GSWCC - EPD - USDA-NRCS - Commodity Groups

5. Animal Agriculture Trainings on regulations, nutrient management, and environmental stewardship - Liquid waste: 400+ farmers - Dry litter: 3000+ farmers - 200 service providers trained to assist - Manure spreader calibration (10 events/12 months) - Value to farmers: $2.1 million Applied research: spreader calibration, lagoon closure, solid separation, and environmental management systems National impacts: EPA permit writer/inspector training and chair of Outreach and Education at National Animal and Poultry Waste Management Center

6. Crop P 2 Water conservation and metering: –Six workshops across Southern GA in response to HB 579 - “Water resources; farm uses; water-measuring devices” –Partners with GA SWCC, USDA-NRCS, Flint River Policy Center, Soil and Water Districts, and irrigation dealers Conservation tillage systems education: –Conservation tillage systems school, Sunbelt Ag Expo exhibit, and field days –Partners with USDA-NRCS, DNR Wildlife, and others –Impacts include: improve soil quality/reduce erosion (e.g., 36 tons/acre in Coastal Plain) 1.1 million acres in Georgia

7. Rainfall Simulator –County Agents/Farmers –Policy Makers –Teachers Water Quality Kits –County Agents –Farmers –Teachers Surface and Groundwater Models –County Agents/Farmers –Teachers –Policy Makers Hands-on Water FUNdamentals Program

8. On-Farm Environmental Assessments Success: –37,000 Farm*A*Syst/Home*A*Syst assessments distributed –3,200 farmers conducted Farm*A*Syst assessments –250 on-farm assessments conducted Unique Educational Tools: –Poultry EMS Project: National Leaders in Ag EMS –Well…What Do You Know: An Introduction to Protecting Your Private Well and Drinking Water DVD –Forest*A*Syst New Technology: –Down-Well Camera

9. Georgia Farm*A*Syst Partnerships Partnerships: –GADNR Groundwater Protection Committee –Georgia Department of Agriculture (inspectors) –Georgia Geologic Survey (Pesticide Screening Program) –GA Department of Human Health, Environmental Health –Poultry Integrators –USDA-NRCS –RC&Ds –EPA 319 grants

10. Sustainable Agriculture Partnership - USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Driven by Georgia advisory committee Conservation tillage systems/IPM Niche markets/alternative crops for small to medium producers Farmland protection and stronger rural communities

11. Land Application “Safe for the environment…works for the farmer” Pulp & paper mill lime mud: –Synthesize research and developed bulletin –23,000 tons diverted –Farmer savings $380,000 Biosolids: (sewage sludge) –EPD training on soil and crops –Operator training on nutrient management with GWPCA Wood Ash Result: Individual assistance to more than 50 industries.

12. Land Application “Safe for the environment…works for the homeowner” Beneficial reuse of ground scrap wallboard: –1.5 tons/2000 sq ft home –Improves infiltration and fertility –Research based guidelines Beneficial reuse of ground wood waste: –1.7 tons/2000 sq ft home –Research on engineered wood products –Safe for mulch or erosion control

13. Green P2 Education and technical assistance: –Landscape maintenance, design and installation professionals, –Nursery and greenhouse growers –Homeowners Focus on: –Water Conservation –Water Quality Improvement through better stormwater management practices and policies

14. Ornamental Horticulture P2 Trainings: –Rain Garden Education for Homeowners –Training and Education on Stormwater BMPs –Training and Education on water conservation for landscape water use –Advanced Master Gardener Workshop on Water Issues Projects: -Nine demonstration rain gardens in the Atlanta Metro area -Fact sheet developed for the Clean Water Campaign -Host Web site for Georgia Water Wise Council Results: 460 homeowners, 159 county agents, 845 landscape professionals, 95 local government staff and officials, 248 water utility professionals and 838 public citizens

15. Our work is not done! Addressing Emerging Issues… Animal Production: Issues: Reducing environmental impacts, nutrient imbalances, new EPA air regulations Crop Production: Issues: Reducing inputs and maintaining profitability Ag water use issues Biomass and energy production Land Application: Issues: Rising fertilizer prices, septage, compost rules, and solid waste diversion Stormwater and Erosion: Issues: New regulations, educational requirements DOT: compost for erosion control Watershed Education: Issues: TMDLs, growth, sustainability

16. Ag Pollution Prevention Working together to reduce waste and increase Efficiency, Economics, and the Environment Questions?