| FROM THE TRACTOR CAB OF JOHN SWAINE III |
On Wednesday, Sept. 3rd, the Talbot County Planning Commission voted against the proposal to increase the critical area buffer width from 25 ft to 60 ft. It is doubtful this will be the last of these kinds of proposals. The agricultural community is under much scrutiny on many issues; with this in mind it is imperative we as farmers strive to do the best we can to be good stewards of the land. All farm land in the critical area (1000 ft. from mean high tide) is required to have a Soil and Water Quality Conservation Plan that is to be followed, not just a folder sitting in a file cabinet.
Plans are required to be updated every 10 years or sooner if there is a change in owner, operator or management.
Best management practices (BMP’s) are a key component of these plans and need to be implemented if called for. Cover crops, no-till farming practices, grassed waterways, filter strips, and nutrient management planning are all key to successful farm land management. Both landowners and farmers need to be good neighbors in our ever increasing urban landscape being careful to minimize pesticide drift along roadsides and other field borders.
Please remember, if you are a participant in CRP, CREP, EQIP, WHIP or various other USDA-NRCS programs, you are required to manage noxious weeds. Maryland’s noxious weed law requires control of Johnson grass, all types of thistle, shatter cane and multiflora rose before they go to seed. Many times these weeds go unchecked in on-cropland areas of the farm. We all need to do a better job with noxious weed control.
Please call the District office if you need help in conservation planning, BMP installation or any other natural resource concerns you may have.
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