Prince George’s Soil Conservation District Soil Health Demonstration Farm Project

National Association of Conservation DistrictsFebruary 4, 2019

Steven Darcey, CPESCDistrict Manager

Education and Outreach Programs:

Envirothon Summer Intern

Program County’s Summer

Youth Enrichment PGCPS Environmental

Academies Maryland Green School

Initiative

Farmers Soil and Water Conservation

County Inspectors

Urban Ag Conservation

Soil Health Project

Soil Health Demonstration Farm Model

Work with conventional tillage farmer Two farms with similar topography and soils Setup prescribed crop rotations for both farms Crop one farm with conventional system Crop the other farm with all soil health best

management practices Manage fields w various cover crop mixtures Manage farms w conventional vs no-till

methods Keep records on inputs and yields Conduct field days and workshops Engage the farming community Present results at multiple functions

STEPS TO SUCCESS Located an abandoned overgrown farm owned by the Maryland National

Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC) Identify participating farmer. Offer free rent if he followed our program Establish goals for the project Get Board of Supervisor approval to proceed Develop a Memorandum of Understanding w MNCPPC Develop a tracking spreadsheet for inputs and outputs Perform Maryland NRCS Soil Health Assessment Take soil samples for fertility (Waters Lab) and soil health (Cornell) Develop a tentative budget Define all participant’s roles and responsibilities Begin clearing operations Repair tobacco barn to be used for workshops and field days. Apply for Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission “Regional

Ag Production” grant

Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC) Spice Creek Farm- Total Acres:

145.0 Part of Patuxent River Park

- Demonstration Area:Approx. 40 acres

- Proposed Cropland: 32 acres

- Environmentally sensitive site. Lies w/in Chesapeake Bay Critical Area and bordered by Patuxent River and Spice creek

- Was in nursery stock for 30 years

- Abandoned since 2008. Overgrown w/ non-native nursery trees and shrubs and invasive non-native trees and other woody plants. Typical invasive species are ailanthus (tree of heaven), Bradford Pear and multiflora rose.

Spice Creek Farm Topographic Map

Located w/in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Limits

Predominately “A” slopes

Well drained sandy loam soils Collington-Wist series

Good access for the public by land or water

Old tobacco barn may serve as a focal point for workshops and educational activities

Existing wooded buffers

Proposed Cropland AreasPredominant Soil Type: CnACollington - WistSlope: 0-2% averageOther Soils: CnB

Roles and Responsibilities Spelled out in the MOUPGSCD MNCPPC Farmer

Staff time Land Owner-Provides the Property

Gets Free Land Rent if follows the plan

Guidance, Farm Planning Equipment and labor for clearing

Work cooperatively with PGSCD

Funding via Grants Funding Provide input and yield documentation

Education/ Outreach Education/Outreach Equipment and labor for clearing

Research/ Documentation

PGSCD pay for soil tests, cover crop seed and

grassed filter strip seed and soil amendments. The District’s no-till drill was used to plant cover crop and filter strips. District staff installed the initial

MNCPPC supply equipment for some of the clearing. Additionally they supply dumpsters for cleaning

out the old tobacco barn.

Goldsmith brothers perform some clearing w their equipment in

return for 10 year free rent.

1st ORDER OF BUSINESSCLEAR THE LAND

32.0 ACRESDebris is to be stockpiled for wildlife

habitat.Some debris will be burned.

PresenterPresentation Notes3.3 and 2.6 ac fields are wildlife corridors. The 3 brown circles are brush pile areas. Burning permit required by PG County Health and Fire Department.

GoalsSoil Improvements Economic ImprovementsIncrease organic material Reduce Fertilizer and chemical inputs

Improve water holding capacity Increase yields

Decrease compaction Reduce time in the field

Improve soil permeability and water infiltration

Reduce the need for expensive structural BMPs to reduce soil erosion

Improve soil biology Reduce Fuel usage

Reduce weed competition Decrease variability between seasons

Improve soil health w economic agronomic BMPs

Improve soil health w economic agronomic BMPs

Ray’s Crazy Mix

Ray’s Crazy Mix

Winter Pea 24%Oats 20%

Triticale 20%Hairy Vetch 12.5%

Crimson Clover 10%Annual Ryegrass 7.5%Forage Radish 3.5%

Turnip 2.5%

1950 Tobacco Barn Before Renovation

1950 Tobacco Barn After Renovations

Spring 2016

Land clearing

Develop soil and water conservation plan. Develop nutrient management plan.Removal of overgrown nursery stock.

Establish brush piles.Establish 35’ cool season grass

buffers.Establish wildlife corridor

Fall 2016

Summer 2017

Plant commodity wheat

DC Soybeans

Fall 2017 Plant Multi-Species CC

Spring 2018

Additional Clearing

Kill Cover Crop and

plant no-till corn

Fall 2018 Plant Multi-Species CC

Going forward no-till corn and soybean rotation w a fall multi specie cover crop.

Other rotations may be used. Summer cover crops may be to extend the

duration of “live” plants on the ground.

Progress Timeline 2016-2018

BUDGET

ITEM QUANTITY ACTUAL COS FUNDING SOURCEField Border Seeding 5 acres @ $400.00/ac $791.66 PGSCD/MNCPPCNew Roof for Barn $6,500.00 SMADC RAP GRANT

Structural Barn Work $16,300.00 SMADC RAP GRANTDumpster @ Barn 2 Ea $0.00 MNCPPC

Removal of Old Truck in Barn $0.00 PGSCDCover Crop Seed 15 Bags $750.00 PGSCDWeather Station 1Ea $0.00 SMADC GRANT

Compactomometer: Soil Compaction Tester 1 Ea $668.27 MDA CBFTCornell Soil Tests 4 Ea $240.00 PGSCD

Cleaning of Barn: Trash Removal $1,640.00 SMADC RAP GRANT$26,889.93

SMADC RAP GRANT FUNDS:Start: $25,000.00

New Roof for Barn 6,500.00$ Structural Barn Work 16,300.00$

Cleaning Barn 1,640.00$ Remaining Funds: $560.00

Soil Health Demonstration Farm

Sheet1

Soil Health Demonstration Farm

ITEM QUANTITYACTUAL COSTFUNDING SOURCE

Field Border Seeding5 acres @ $400.00/ac$791.66PGSCD/MNCPPC

New Roof for Barn$6,500.00SMADC RAP GRANT

Structural Barn Work$16,300.00SMADC RAP GRANT

Dumpster @ Barn 2 Ea$0.00MNCPPC

Removal of Old Truck in Barn$0.00PGSCD

Cover Crop Seed15 Bags$750.00PGSCD

Weather Station1Ea$0.00SMADC GRANT

Compactomometer: Soil Compaction Tester1 Ea$668.27MDA CBFT

Cornell Soil Tests4 Ea$240.00PGSCD

Cleaning of Barn: Trash Removal$1,640.00SMADC RAP GRANT

$26,889.93

SMADC RAP GRANT FUNDS:

Start:$25,000.00

New Roof for Barn$ 6,500.00

Structural Barn Work$ 16,300.00

Cleaning Barn$ 1,640.00

Remaining Funds:$560.00

In 2018 the MNCPPC approached PGSCD about another site for a demonstration farm that was

more accessible to the suburban public. WATKINS PARK FARM

This farm is actually part of a larger public park and receives 1.5 million visitors a year. Soils and

topography are similar to Spice Creek

CHALLENGESWeather: 65 inches of rain in 2018 set a one hundred year record.

Farmer motivation to change old ways of farming.

Urgency to follow the prescribed model. Proper timing is essential.

Cost: conventional small grain cover crop is $12-$19 per 50lb bag.

$36-$57/acre (150 lbs/ac)

Multi species cover crop seed (Ray’s Crazy Mix is $50.00 per 50lb bag.

$50.00/acre (50lb/ac)

CONCLUSIONS

This is a long term 10-20 year project so to early to draw conclusions on the benefits of soil health practices.

Potential to provide outreach and education to thousands of citizens.

We are gaining knowledge of farmer perceptions, actual costs associated with applying soil health practices, what works and how to manage in unfavorable weather.

Thanks to:

Yates Clagett-PGSCD Ag Engineer

Wade Hampton-PGSCD Ag Planner

Harrison Palmer-MDA Grant Technician

Katie Bliley-PGSCD Administrative Aide

Goldsmith Family-Farmer @ Spice Creek

Eddie Toney-Farmer @ Watkins Park

Kyle Lowe-Deputy Chief M-NCPPCand

Christine Fanning-Deputy M-NCPPC

CONTACT INFORMATION

Wade HamptonWade.Hampton@md.nacdnet.net

Harrison PalmerHarrison.palmer@md.nacdnet.net

Prince George’s Soil Conservation District5301 Marlboro Race Track Road suite 100

Upper Marlboro MD 20772301-574-5162 ext 3visit us on the web

ww.PGSCD.org

http://www.pgscd.org/

Prince George’s Soil Conservation District Soil Health Demonstration �Farm Project��National Association of Conservation Districts�February 4, 2019�Steven Darcey, CPESC�District Manager Education and Outreach Programs:Soil Health Demonstration Farm Model��STEPS TO SUCCESSSlide Number 5Spice Creek Farm �Topographic Map���Located w/in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Limits� �Predominately “A” slopes��Well drained sandy loam soils �Collington-Wist series��Good access for the public by land or water ��Old tobacco barn may serve as a focal point for workshops and educational activities��Existing wooded buffersSlide Number 7Slide Number 8Slide Number 9GoalsSlide Number 11Ray’s Crazy Mix�Ray’s Crazy Mix��Winter Pea 24%�Oats 20%�Triticale 20%�Hairy Vetch 12.5%�Crimson Clover 10%�Annual Ryegrass 7.5%�Forage Radish 3.5%�Turnip 2.5%1950 Tobacco Barn Before Renovation1950 Tobacco Barn After RenovationsSlide Number 16BUDGETIn 2018 the MNCPPC approached PGSCD about another site for a demonstration farm that was more accessible to the suburban public. �WATKINS PARK FARM�This farm is actually part of a larger public park and receives 1.5 million visitors a year. Soils and topography are similar to Spice Creek CHALLENGESCONCLUSIONS�Thanks to:��Yates Clagett-PGSCD Ag Engineer��Wade Hampton-PGSCD Ag Planner��Harrison Palmer-MDA Grant Technician��Katie Bliley-PGSCD Administrative Aide��Goldsmith Family-Farmer @ Spice Creek��Eddie Toney-Farmer @ Watkins Park��Kyle Lowe-Deputy Chief M-NCPPC� and �Christine Fanning-Deputy M-NCPPC���CONTACT INFORMATION��Wade Hampton� Wade.Hampton@md.nacdnet.net �Harrison Palmer�Harrison.palmer@md.nacdnet.net��Prince George’s Soil Conservation District�5301 Marlboro Race Track Road suite 100�Upper Marlboro MD 20772�301-574-5162 ext 3�visit us on the web �ww.PGSCD.org��