The Potomac Drinking Source Water Protection Partnership and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Water Program jointly sponsored a training workshop entitled “Ag 101” on August 21, 2008, at the USDA’s Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland.

Download Ag 101 Agenda.

Workshop Goals

• Establish a baseline of understanding about the beef cattle and dairy industry
• Introduce the regulatory and political framework directed at the beef and dairy industries
• Understand the economics and trends of agricultural livestock production systems
• Start building a foundation of understanding that will allow the Partnership to devise a strategy

Workshop Presentations

From Cattle to Surface Water

• Cryptosporidium and research that tracks its movement from the cattle to surface waters, Dr. Ron Fayer, USDA-ARS Beltsville Agricultural Research Center

Understanding Farm Operations and Management – How the operation of these farms and the economic/political pressures that drive operational decisions

• Beef Cattle Operations, Dr. John Currin, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
• Dairy Operations, Dale Gardner, Executive Director, Virginia State Dairymen’s Association

CAFO Permitting and Regulations

• General Overview of CAFO Permitting, K.R. Young, Environmental Scientist, EPA Region 3
• CAFO Permitting and Regulations – Presentations on state regulations and demonstrate differences across states:
  • VA Permitting & Regs, Betsy Bowles, Coordinator, Animal Feeding Operations Program, VA Department of Environmental Quality
  • MD Permitting & Regs, Patsy Allen, Coordinator, General Permits – Wastewater Permits Program, MD Department of the Environment
  • PA Permitting & Regs, Jim Spontak, Program Manager, Watershed Management Program, PA Department of Environmental Protection

General overview of programs and best management practices (BMPs) promoted through federal cost-share programs

• NRCS Conservation Programs and Best Management Practices, Eric Hines, NRCS District Conservationist

State Nutrient Management Programs and Best Management Practices – Presentations on programs and BMPs promoted through state cost-share programs

• VA Nutrient Programs & BMPs, Russ Perkinson, Asst Director, NPS Programs, VA Department of Conservation and Recreation
• MD Nutrient Programs & BMPs, John Rhoderick, Director of Operations, Resource Conservation, MD Department of Agriculture
• PA Nutrient Programs & BMPs, Doug Goodlander, Director, Nutrient Management Program, PA Department of Agriculture

TMDLs, Tributary Strategies, and Source Water Protection

• Overview of TMDLs, TMDL implementation, and tributary strategies and their relevance to source water protection, Ross Mandel, Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin