COLLEGE PARK. Md. Many people, environmentalists, legislators and farmers are con cerned about the quality of some part of this nation’s water resour ces, especially the part that fur nishes their drinking water. Against this background. Presi dent Bush last year recommended in his 1990 budget proposal to Congress a new initiative for enhancing water quality. The U.S. Department of Agri culture’s response to the initiative defines a vigorous effort to protect ground and surface water from potential contamination by agri cultural chemicals and wastes, especially pesticides and nutrients. In his statement of principles and policies, the president made it clear that farmers need to take responsibility for any contamina tion of water that may result from management practices they apply to the landscape. He said that the role of the U.S. Department of Agriculture is to conduct research and provide edu cation and technical assistance that encourages “farming prac tices that avoid water quality degradation” and are economical ly sound. In its July 1989 “Water Quality 11C PER FOOT* CALL TODAY LIMITED QUANTITY Wt ! '*«** *. 4% JT* Water Quality Initiative Affects Farmers Program Plan,” which supports the President’s initiative, the USDA outlines a multi disciplinary approach to meet water quality challenges head-on during the next five years. The program demonstrates that the U.S. agricultural sector is con cerned about the environment and will make the necessary phanges to protect groundwater quality. Major cooperating USDA agencies include the soil conser vation service, extension service, and the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service. These federal agencies are working with state and local agencies such as agricultural experiment stations and the cooperative extension ser vice at land-grant universities, together with soil conservation districts throughout the nation. The management of agricultur al chemicals and wastes to meet environmental and public safety objectives is in many ways a new activity for the USDA, particular ly as it relates to groundwater con tamination. However, such activi ties have existed at state and local levels for nearly a decade. USDA technical assistance programs relating to water quality have historically focused on reducing sediment and sediment * PRICE BASED ON PURCHASE OF FULL ROLLS ONLY OF 1020’ PER ROLL H SYCAMORE IND. PARK 255 PLANE TREE DRIVE HEY EQUIPMENT LANCASTER, PA 17603 COMPANY, INC. (717) 393-5807 > Ditigmn if Qaillty System fir Pwtoy, S*im Oral* HaiiJis) borne contaminants in surface waters as well as animal waste management and salinity control. The USDA water quality task force planning document declares that biological pest control, inte grated pest management, and nutrient management programs are being linked with compatible efforts in order to understand and address groundwater contamin ation. Eight USDA agencies and their cooperating state counterparts are collaborating with the Environ mental Protection Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the National Oceanic and Atmospher ic Administration to produce a wide range of new and interrelated water quality projects. The USDA’s Water Quality Program Plan is designed to com plement established programs such as integrated crop manage ment (ICM), the National Agricul tural Pesticide Impact Assessment Program (NAPIAP), and newer programs such as sustainable agri culture. Its successful implemen tation would contribute important ly to compatibility between agri cultural production and environmental quality. A continuation of on-farm demonstration projects, together 3% ” WIDE Maryland Involvement in the USDA’s Water Quality Prog ram Plan became official when representatives of the cooperative extension service and soil conservation ser vice signed a memorandum of understanding late last year. Seated are Dr. Craig S. Oliver, extension director at the Uni versity of Maryland and Stephanie E. Taylor, deputy state conservationist. Standing is Floyd Allred, Jr., of Colora, chairman of the state soil conservation committee. with information for farmers and technical assistance, will speed delivery of management systems to farmers. Economical and social evalua- Route 30 West at the Centerville Exit. Lancaster Farming Saturday, April 21,1990*D13 lions will assure that the manage ment systems recommended are both practicable and profitable. Public information efforts will promote communitywide under standing and acceptance of the need for increased compatibility between agriculture and the environment. The cooperative extension ser vice and the soil conservation ser vice will provide joint leadership for establishing on-farm demon stration projects. The Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service will provide financial assistance. Another objective of the USDA Water Quality Program plan is to provide the background, technolo gy, and consultation support that will allow farmers and woodlot owners to meet state and regional water quality objectives without economic hardship. A number of interstate efforts, such as the Chesapeake Bay Pro gram, also have ongoing initia tives to reduce nonpoint agricul tural source contamination of reg ional watersheds. A water quality information center is being established at the National Agricultural Library in Beltsville, Md. Dr. Janice C. Kemp is the coordinator. Kemp already has established a Water Information Network on the library’s electronic bulletin board system. Those with computer modems who wish to use this computerized conference category can dial (800) 345-5785. Local area users should dial (301) 344-8510. 1 1 Year Warranty Belarus § IS* - lir. L s: s3|l Z T2S Backhoe Loader.-Jl $16,922 H 400 AN M *f T 42 4WD Backhoe H II Loader..... ...57 $22,975 0 zV'AN4WD 57 $11,495 jg ’■■Kos 70 $10,995 . a BERG 4WD 70... $12,125 1 2 BUTLER 562 4WD w/C«b 70 $13,479 J, P FARMWAY 572 4WD w/Ctb 70 $13.97$ gj a "?S2“ sss-»;-- j J-STAR Q 22 4WD w/Cib 100.... $23»142 # JAMESWAY £ngme For Air Skid LoiderS 1 $3,650 Z g STARLINE Pl*cement Cooled Power $4,995 g g Tby Tractor 1/43 ". $15.95 3 ,E ROVENDALE SUPPLY 3 !«_ Bait 31, H 0 to 1-110 MF»-7j I 3 IdBR W f U> Wawaaown Bait (You Are Theial) Sat 1-5 I I*. 717-53a-5521 or 742-752 J Open IL Toll PrH PA l-«00-232-DAUt Holiday. |
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers