Farm Planning
One of the many functions of the District is to prepare soil conservation and water quality plans for the agricultural community. The District currently has over 600 farmers (called cooperators), that are implementing soil and nutrient saving plans on their farms. You to can help protect the environment and keep your farm land productive by having a conservation plan prepared for you TODAY!
Do I Have to Get a Conservation Farm Plan?
Getting a conservation plan through Calvert Soil Conservation District is strictly voluntary. There is no law that requires you to have a conservation plan (unless you are in the critical area where all land must be under conservation planning per MD law or participating in a FSA program). However, most farmers that have conservation plans follow them because they decide, with the help of Calvert SCD, what will be included in the plan and it is no problem following the plan. If your operation changes, simply contact your Conservation Planner at Calvert SCD and they will revise your plan according to the changes made on your farm.
Why should I get a Conservation Plan?
Although conservation plans are voluntary, hundreds of Calvert
County farmers have plans. By helping farmers preserve their natural resources
following, a farm plan saves farmers money while reducing the amount of sediment
and nutrients entering the Chesapeake Bay and it’s tributaries. Farming
practices that reduce erosion on farm fields preserve or even enhance the productivity
of the field. This increased productivity reduces the amount of soil amendments
the farmer would have to apply to his fields to replace the nutrients that would
be lost through erosion and deposited into our waterways.
A secondary benefit to having a farm plan is the complaint mediation service
Calvert SCD provides, free of charge, to all their cooperators that have a farm
plan on their land. If a farm neighbor complains to Maryland Department of Environment
(MDE) about farm related odors, or sediment coming from a farmer’s fields,
MDE must contact Calvert SCD first. If the farmer has an updated farm plan,
and is following the plan, no action will be taken by MDE against the farmer.
How do I get a Conservation Plan?
It’s easy to get a soil and water conservation plan. Call the Calvert
SCD and ask for a Conservation Planner at 410-535-1521, ext. 3. The Planner
will explain what a conservation plan is and make arrangements to meet you at
your farm to write a plan specific to your farm operation’s needs.
