The U.S. Department of Agriculture is looking for farmers to participate in an initiative to monitor the effectiveness of conservation practices at improving water quality.
The Edge-of-Field Water Quality Monitoring Initiative is administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Farmers in the Hayworth Creek, Kearsley-Swartz and Mid-Shiawassee River watersheds are eligible to apply for the initiative. The watersheds are located primarily in Clinton, Genesee, Oakland and Shiawassee counties with a small portion in Lapeer County.
Farmers within these three Michigan watersheds are eligible to apply for the initiative until June 14, 2013.Applications for the program will be ranked competitively on a nation-wide basis. Successful applicants will receive financial assistance to monitor water runoff from enrolled land. The information gathered will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of conservation practices, such as cover crops and filter strips, at reducing the amount of sediment and nutrients entering surface water.
For more information about the initiative and how to apply for USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service programs, contact your local Conservation District and NRCS field office or go online to www.mi.nrcs.usda.gov.