Resources
>
Production Information
> Soil, Water, Energy & Composting
Soil, Water, Energy, & Composting
Some articles are in PDF format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing.
Click here
to download the reader. This section provides general
information on managing small farm soil and water resources, as well as more
specific information on soil health, composting,
manure and waste management, cover crops,
soil testing, farm ponds, water
quality, and energy. To navigate within this page
more quickly, click on the links below.
General | Soil Health | Composting | Manure & Waste Management Cover Crops | Soil Testing | Farm Ponds | Water Quality | Energy
General
http://www.css.cornell.edu/
Cornell's Department of Crop and Soil Sciences web site includes research, extension, recent publications, and featured links.
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences 235 Emerson Hall Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853 Phone: (607) 255-5459 Fax: (607) 255-2644
http://nmsp.css.cornell.edu/
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Cornell University
The NMSP aims to improve grower and agricultural industry awareness of crop nutrient needs, crop quality, management of organic amendments, environmentally sound nutrient management practices, and overall soil fertility management in New York State. Additionally, they hope to improve understanding of nutrient release and risk for runoff and leaching losses from inorganic and organic amendments as affected by soil type, hydrology, time and rate of application, and the use of specific soil and fertilizer amendments.
Videos on soil conservation and water quality
Cornell University
Titles include:
- Soil and Water Management for Agricultural Production: Nitrate Leaching (1997): describes research by the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences (formerly Soil, Crop, and Atmospheric Sciences) at Cornell University on nitrate leaching from agricultural lands. Useful to soil and water management professionals and students of soil science. 7 minutes. Item 125VSWMAPNL. $29.
- Soil and Water Management for Agricultural Production: Demonstrating Field Capacity of Soils (1997): demonstrates the field capacity of different soil types using sponges. Describes the forces acting on soil water. Provides basic information and is useful for introducing students to soil science. 8 minutes. Item 125VSWMAPDFCS. $29.
- Soils and Their Role in Protecting Water Quality (1995): describes soil characteristics and functions in protecting water quality. Runoff and leaching are discussed in relation to nonpoint source pollution. Introduces approaches to water quality protection. Useful to students of soil science and to government officials, soil and water professionals, and concerned citizens involved in developing local watershed management plans. 23 minutes. Item 125VSTRPWQ. $29.
Available from: Audiovisual Resources Center Cornell University 7 Cornell Business & Technology Park Ithaca, NY 14850 Phone: (607) 255-2090 Fax: (607) 255-9946 E-mail:
Dist_Center@cce.cornell.edu
http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us/soilwater/home.html
New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets
By clicking on the AEM (Agricultural Environmental Management) link at this site, you'll open a page that offers a presentation about AEM as well as a directory of certified nutrient management planners in New York State. After taking a look at those, check out the "Revised AEM Guide" link. This page offers on-farm environmental assessment tools, in the form of PDF documents. The first step is represented an initial, "quick" assessment, called the "Tier I Questionnaire." Areas identified as likely to benefit from a closer look can then be assessed with more detailed, subject specific tools, found by clicking on the "Tier II Worksheets" link.
http://www.ny.nrcs.usda.gov/
U.S. Department of Agriculture
The NRCS web site offers an excellent collection of information resources on a wide range of soil and water management practices. It also provides detailed and up-to-date information about the many USDA loan and grant programs that can help farmers conserve soil and water resources.
NRCS technical staff are located in 47 field offices in New York State. They provide one-on-one assistance to private landowners and local governmental units in all aspects of natural resource protection including soil erosion control, wetland restoration, grazing management, wildlife habitat restoration, water quality improvement, livestock manure management, nutrient management, and flood protection. They deliver conservation programs to local landowners, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Wetlands Reserve Program, Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, and the Small Watershed Program.
USDA NRCS 441 S. Salina St. Suite 354 The Galleries of Syracuse Syracuse, NY 13202 Phone: (315) 477-6504
http://policy.nrcs.usda.gov/scripts/lpsiis.dll/TN/TN_SA_1_A.pdf
Stefanie Aschmann, Robert Caldwell, Larry Cutforth, Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, March 2003
The purposes of this technical note are to provide a brief background on precision farming and to describe ways in which its concepts and principles may be applied on farms without a substantial investment in equipment. This information is intended to help farmers who may or may not own a computer, but who are interested in long-term management strategies for improving their farm. Publication is in
PDF format.
http://attra.ncat.org/soils.html
Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas
A large selection of factsheets and publications on how to assess, improve, and maintain soil health for both croplands and pastures. Several publications address fertilization and composting specifically for organic production. Soil management can also play an important role in protecting water quality, and additional resources are listed on that topic.
http://www.nacdnet.org/
NACD is the national voice of America's 3000 local conservation districts. By working with landowners, organizations, and government, districts have helped to protect our soil, water, forests, wildlife, and other resources for over 60 years.
Find your local SWC District in the white pages under "U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service."
http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us/soilwater/home.html
The mission of the NYSSWCC is to develop and oversee implementation of an effective soil and water conservation and agricultural nonpoint source water quality program for the State of New York that is implemented primarily through county Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Designed to help farmers understand environmental laws concerning agriculture.
Soil Health
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1882.pdf
Soil Health in Organic Agriculture- A publication from Iowa State University, University Extension
http://soilhealth.cals.cornell.edu/Cornell Soil Health Manual.htm
The Soil Health team has completed a final version ("1st edition") of a comprehensive "Soil Health Assessment Training Manual". At the following link, associated with the soil health website, you can view the table of contents and download the entire document or download specific chapters. Information for ordering hard copies is also provided.
Building Soils for Better Crops
Fred Magdoff, University of Vermont, Harold van Es, Department of Crop and Soil Science, Cornell University
This book is specifically directed to the needs of farmers, gardeners, students, and agriculture professionals who work with farmers. It discusses managing soil tilth, using appropriate tillage, and nutrient management. There are also chapters on using animal manures, making and using composts, cover crops, how to develop better rotations, methods to avoid compaction, reduced tillage, and other techniques for reducing erosion.
$19.95 plus $3.95 shipping. If using a credit card, call (802) 656-0484. Otherwise, send payment to: Sustainable Agriculture Publications Hills Bldg. University of Vermont Burlington, VT 05405-0082
Cornell Soil Health Program Work Team
Provides guidance for Cornell research and extension on soil health in vegetable production systems. The team is developing a soil health monitoring protocol and demonstrating its use to extension educators and farmers in 5 pilot regions in the state. It is also assessing the soil health status of several indicator farms in each of these regions.
Contact George Abawi, Department of Plant Pathology, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, at (315) 787-2374 or
gsa1@cornell.edu.
Soil Biology Primer
Soil and Water Conservation Society, December 2000
Introduces the reader to the living component of soil and how that component contributes to agricultural productivity and to air and water quality. It's an excellent resource for gardeners, farmers, ranchers, ag professionals, resource specialists, conservationists, soil scientists, students, and educators. The
Primer includes information on the soil food web -- the community of organisms living in soil -- and how the web relates to soil health. Chapter topics include bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, arthropods, and earthworms.
48 pages. $11. Orders can be taken via the
Soil and Water Conservation Society site [http://www.swcs.org/]
; by e-mail at
pubs@swcs.org; or by calling 1-800-THE-SOIL, ext. 10.
http://cesantabarbara.ucdavis.edu/sf4200.htm
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Build soil fertility, tilth, and biological activity -- using cover crops, minimum tillage, compost, and other organic amendments -- to yield profits and long-term value in the land.
http://www.uvm.edu/~nesare/slide.html
Northeast Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
A lengthy (56 slides) presentation about soil health.
Minnesota Soil Management Series
A series of publications on soil management, compaction, manure management, organic matter management, soil biology, and soil management which provides background information needed to monitor soil and to better understand the crop and soil needs for a producers farm.
If ordering with a credit card, call 1-800-876-8636. Otherwise, contact: USDA, NRCS, Soil Quality Institute Minnesota Extension Service Distribution Center 405 Coffey Hall 1420 Eckles Ave. St. Paul, MN 55108-6068 E-mail:
order@extension.umn.edu
Composting
http://cwmi.css.cornell.edu/Composting.html
Cornell Waste Management Institute
Cornell's Composting site, maintained by the Cornell Waste Management Institute, provides access to a variety of composting educational materials and programs developed at Cornell University.
http://cwmi.css.cornell.edu/Composting.html
Cornell Waste Management Institute
Lists a variety of resources on composting.
http://legacy.cce.cornell.edu/store/customer/home.php?cat=382
Cornell Cooperative Extension
A listing of recycling-, composting-, and waste management-related publications available in the Cornell Cooperative Extension catalog.
http://www.nraes.org/publications/nraes163.html
Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service
This video describes mortality and butcher residual composting -- an effective, economical, and environmentally sound alternative to disposal. Composting is a safe, affordable way for dairy and livestock farmers and custom butchers to dispose of their animal mortalities and residual waste. Operations at 7 different farms and institutes are described in this video, which will be useful to dairy and livestock farmers, butchers, producer advisors, extension educators, and others. Composting provides a desperately needed option for butchers and livestock operations, faced with the high cost of disposals, to reduce their overhead and become more productive.
There is additionally a free, 12-page
factsheet [http://compost.css.cornell.edu/naturalrenderingFS.pdf]
(in
PDF format) that complements this video.
20 minutes. Item NRAES-163. $19 plus S&H. Available from
NRAES Composting Publications [http://www.nraes.org/publications/composting.html]
. Call or write to: NRAES Cooperative Extension P.O. Box 4557 Ithaca, NY 14852-4557 Phone: (607) 255-7654 Fax: (607) 254-8770 E-mail:
nraes@cornell.edu
http://www.nraes.org/publications/nraes150.html
Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service
Video that explores 6 composting technologies from low- to high-tech: passively aerated static windrow/pile, turned widrow/pile, actively aerated static windrow/pile, vermicomposting, in-vessel composting, and anaerobic digestion.
38 pages. Item NRAES-150. $19 plus S&H. Available from
NRAES Composting Publications [http://www.nraes.org/publications/composting.html]
. Call or write to: NRAES Cooperative Extension P.O. Box 4557 Ithaca, NY 14852-4557 Phone: (607) 255-7654 Fax: (607) 254-8770 E-mail:
nraes@cornell.edu
http://www.nraes.org/publications/nraes114.html
Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service
This book was developed to assist in day-to-day compost system management. Topics discussed in this book include: operations and equipment; raw materials and recipe making; process control and evaluation; site considerations, environmental management, and safety; composting livestock and poultry mortalities; and compost utilization on the farm.
128 pages. Item NRAES-114. $14 plus S&H. Available from
NRAES Composting Publications [http://www.nraes.org/publications/composting.html]
. Call or write to: NRAES Cooperative Extension P.O. Box 4557 Ithaca, NY 14852-4557 Phone: (607) 255-7654 Fax: (607) 254-8770 E-mail:
nraes@cornell.edu
http://www.nraes.org/publications/nraes54.html
Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service
This handbook presents a thorough overview of farm-scale composting and explains how to produce, use, and market compost. The information will be useful for farmers, waste producers, environmental regulators, and public health officials. Topics covered include benefits and drawbacks, the process, raw materials, methods, operations, management, site and environmental considerations, using compost, marketing, economics, and other options for waste management.
186 pages. Item NRAES-54. $25 plus S&H. Available from
NRAES Composting Publications [http://www.nraes.org/publications/composting.html]
. Call or write to: NRAES Cooperative Extension P.O. Box 4557 Ithaca, NY 14852-4557 Phone: (607) 255-7654 Fax: (607) 254-8770 E-mail:
nraes@cornell.edu
http://ianrwww.unl.edu/pubs/wastemgt/g1315.htm
University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension
A guide containing information on the composting process, management, methods, and land application. Also includes a short section on carcass composting.
Manure & Waste Management
http://cwmi.css.cornell.edu/index.html
WMI servies the public through research, outreach, training, and technical assistance programs in solid waste disposal, management, and planning. Web site provides information on composting, sewage sludge, waste reduction, recycling, and more.
Contact Ellen Z. Harrison, Director, at (607) 255-1187 or
cwmi@cornell.edu.
http://www.nraes.org/publications/waste.html
Natural Resouce, Agriculture, and Engineering Service
NRAES has many manure- and waste management-related publications available for purchase. Visit the web site for a list of these publications, as well as many others about various other topics.
NRAES Cooperative Extension P.O. Box 4557 Ithaca, NY 14852-4557 Phone: (607) 255-7654 Fax: (607) 254-8770 E-mail:
nraes@cornell.edu
http://legacy.cce.cornell.edu/store/customer/home.php?cat=382
Cornell Cooperative Extension
A listing of recycling-, composting-, and waste management-related publications available in the Cornell Cooperative Extension catalog.
http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/prodairy/
PRO-DAIRY, Department of Animal Science, Cornell University
Click on "Environmental & Nutrient Management on Dairy Farms" (in the left-hand menu) to access information on manure spreading costs, articles, and links.
http://cwmi.css.cornell.edu/WastRed/RecyclingAgPlastics.pdf
Lois Levitan, Ana Barros, Environmental Risk Analysis Program, Cornell University, March 11, 2003
This report is a product of the Cornell "open burning group," which formed in Winter 2002 to assess the extent and environmental health significance of open burning of household wastes and agricultural plastics in New York State, and begin work towards reducing these practices in order to protect public health and the environment. The report focuses on disposal of agricultural plastics, rather than on the household waste stream, for reasons that include the importance of agriculture in NY and the role of Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in working with New York State agriculture and the environment.
To order a print copy, contact: Environmental Risk Analysis Program 213 Rice Hall Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853 Phone: (607) 255-4765 E-mail:
envrisk@cornell.edu
http://www.ads.uga.edu/groups/dairy/CATEGORIES/waste.htm
Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Georgia and Mississippi State University
A list of links to information web sites on manure management.
New Fact Sheets Available for Download on Manure Management
1. A Web-based Program for Locating Sources of Organic Waste for Use as Renewable Energy Resources: www.manuremanagement.cornell.edu/HTMLs/Co-digestion.htm
2. Overview of Carbon Trading in Agriculture www.manuremanagement.cornell.edu/HTMLs/FactSheets.htm
Cover Crops
Cover Crops for Vegetable Production in the Northeast
Cornell Cooperative Extension
Presents the latest research on varieties and procedures to reap the benefits of using cover crops in vegetable production. Includes management factors and the characteristics of different cover crop species.
12 pages. Item 142IB244. $3.99. Order from: Cornell University Resource Center 7 Business & Technology Park Ithaca, NY 14850 Phone: (607) 255-2080 Fax: (607) 255-9946
http://www.cias.wisc.edu/pdf/cvrcrop.pdf
Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Crops that are grown solely to provide soil cover or for the purposes of increasing soil fertility are referred to as cover crops or green manures. Due to their ability to protect and enhance soils, cover crops are considered a fundamental aspect of any sustainable cropping system. The benefits of cover crops extend beyond soil health, however. More and more growers are realizing the pest management benefits of cover crops. This publication is meant to serve as a practical guide to using cover crops in small- to moderate-size fresh market vegetable operations. Publication is in
PDF format.
http://www.sare.org/publications/covercrops/covercrops.pdf
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
Newly updated in 2001. The second edition of
Managing Cover Crops Profitably explores how and why cover crops work and provides all the information needed to build cover crops into any farming operation. This is the comprehensive book on the use of cover crops to sustain cropping systems and build soil.
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/covercrop.html
Preston Sullivan, Steve Diver, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, January 2001
Cover crops are the backbone of any annual cropping system that seeks to be sustainable. This publication summarizes the principal uses and benefits of winter cover crops; summer green manures; living mulches; catch crops; and some forage crops. Management issues addressed include: vegetation management; limitations of cover crops; use in crop rotations; use in pest management; and economics of cover crops. A selection of print and web resources is provided for further reading.
Northeast Cover Crops Handbook
Marianne Sarrantonio
Combat the loss of soil's organic matter through the use of cover crops. In addition to providing nutrients to living organisms, cover crops improve soil structure and improve soil's retention of nutrients. Learn how to choose and use cover crops and take a close look at the 19 varieties proven effective in zones 3 through 7.
118 pages. $14.95. To order, contact The Rodale Institute: Phone: 1-800-832-6285 Fax: (810) 683-8548 E-mail: ribooks@fast.net
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/manures.html
George Kuepper, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, March 2003
This publication looks at different manure handling practices for organic growers.
Soil Testing
http://www.css.cornell.edu/soiltest/
Cornell University
The Cornell Nutrient Analysis Laboratories provide accurate and cost effective analysis of soil, plant, and water samples for faculty, staff, and others. Two branches, Extension and Research, function under CNAL. The Extension branch provides analysis and recommendations services to commercial growers and home gardeners in New York State, while the Research division offers soil, plant, and water analyses to research clients locally, nationally, and internationally.
804 Bradfield Hall Ithaca, NY 14853 Phone: (607) 255-4540 Fax: (607) 255-7656 E-mail:
soiltest@cornell.edu
http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/LawnGarden/2286.htm
University of Maine Cooperative Extension
General information and steps on doing a soil test on your farm or garden.
Farm Ponds
http://pond.dnr.cornell.edu/Pond/farmpond/index.htm
Cornell Cooperative Extension
This web site contains factsheets, links, and images related to commercial farm pond management in New York State. It is intended for the education of farm operators and other rural land owners in New York State.
http://extensionpubs.umext.maine.edu/ePOS/this_category=2&store=413&item_number=2499&form=shared3/gm/detail.html&design=413
University of Maine Cooperative Extension
This series of 5 factsheets is for anyone constructing or managing a pond.
Series includes:
- Before You Build a Pond: 10 Important Questions and Answers Covers pre-planning basics. 4 pages. Item #2499. Free.
- Laws and Regulatory Requirements to Consider Before You Build a Pond Describes laws you need to be aware of before you build or renovate a pond. 4 pages. Item #2376. Free.
- Managing Aquatic Plants in Ponds Describes common aquatic plants and how to deal with them and still have a healthy pond. 4 pages. Item #2375. Free.
- Pond Trouble Shooting Pond problems and what to do about them. 6 pages. Item #2377. Free.
- What You Should Know About Water Quality and Ponds Information on factors that affect home and farm pond quality. 4 pages. Item #2378. Free.
To order, click
here
http://extensionpubs.umext.maine.edu/ePOS/this_category=2&store=413&item_number=2499&form=shared3/gm/detail.html&design=413
Water Quality
http://wri.eas.cornell.edu/
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Cornell University
WRI is a university-wide institute of Cornell faculty and staff whose purpose is to conduct water research and education projects in support of the public, water suppliers, businesses, and governments.
Contact Keith S. Porter, WSI Director, at (607) 255-5941 or
nyswri@cornell.edu.
Plant It Right: Restoring Our Streams
Washington State University Cooperative Extension
A video for students and volunteers that provides essential information on proper planting techniques. A separate 2-page factsheet covers the same information and accompanies the video. The video is available online through streaming video. The factsheet can be downloaded at
Washington Water [http://wawater.wsu.edu/]
.
17 minutes. $25 plus 7.6% tax plus $4 shipping. To order, contact the WSU Cooperative Extension Bulletin Office at 1-800-723-1763 and ask for "Plant it Right: Restoring Our Streams," VT 0113. Call for prices for quantity orders.
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/pme/publications/
Iowa State University, University Extension
publications on pesticides.
http://www.soil.ncsu.edu/publications/Soilfacts/AG-439-02/
North Carolina State University
Whatever its source, nitrogen (N) is essential for achieving optimum yields of grain, forage, and other crops. The same is true of phosphorus (P) and other nutrients. Applying too much nitrogen or phosphorus to cropland, however, can have adverse effects on the environment. Achieving optimum yields without applying excessive nutrients should therefore be a goal of all farmers. Excess nitrogen and phosphorus in surface waters and nitrogen in groundwater cause eutrophication (excess algae growth) in surface waters and health problems in humans and livestock as a result of high intake of nitrogen in its nitrate form.
http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension/publicat/wqwm/ebae111_84.html
James C. Barker, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service
Directions on how to sample and analyze livestock waste.
http://nutrient.psu.edu/
Penn State University
This user-friendly site contains 4 focus areas: livestock, regulations and planning resources, water and environmental policy, and phosphorus and the P-index.
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/om-waterquality.pdf
Barbara Bellows, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, October 2002
Organic farming involves many practices that protect against nutrient leaching, water runoff, and soil erosion. Water quality protection is greatest when organic practices are implemented using a "systems approach" rather than simply following a general list of approved practices. By understanding the biological, chemical, and climatic processes occurring in each field, organic farmers can implement practices that both enhance production and protect water quality. When organic practices are implemented in a more piecemeal and less sutainable manner, they can cause environmental impacts similar to those found on conventional farms. Environmental problems most commonly found on organic farms result from mismanaging manure applications or soil incorporation of green-manure crops, and from improper storage of manure or compost. This publication discusses practices that protect and practices that fail to protect water quality. Farmers can use the guidelines provided here to modify management to suit their soil, climate, and farming conditions. Publication is in
PDF format.
Energy
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/renewable_energy/index.cfm
Union of Concerned Scientists
The UCS web site features a wealth of information about clean, renewable energy, including many factsheets:
