"Look how far down you can see the fish," says my angling partner, as a silver
and black striped bass stretches his line deep into the water of Chesapeake Bay.
Fourteen years ago, striped bass, called rockfish by the watermen, were almost
gone from the bay. Pollution was killing the marine life in one of our nation's
treasured resources.
Submerged aquatic grass beds died. Famous Chesapeake oysters, which at one time
filtered and cleaned the bay's water each day, all but disappeared. Blue crab
catches declined, although experts say overharvesting was partly to blame.
With a great ballyhoo, surrounding states and the federal government launched
the Chesapeake Bay Program in 1983. This massive recovery project was perhaps
the first to link watershed protection efforts with their effects on an ocean
estuary.
Now, Chesapeake Bay is slowly recovering. Aquatic grasses are growing again.
Schools of voracious stripers slice through pods of baitfish, sometimes churning
acres of surface water. In 1995, the Chesapeake striped bass stock was declared
restored. Oysters are still scarce, mostly because of diseases caused by
parasites. Crabbers are filling their pots, although overharvesting remains an
issue.
"I was skeptical that we could get this far using voluntary measures by
farmers," says William Matuszeski, director of the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program.
"The costs of upgrading sewage treatment plants are spread over thousands of
bill payers. Investments on the agriculture side are made by individual farmers
spending substantial amounts of money."
Farmers stand as heroes, albeit sometimes reluctant ones, as this environmental
battle unfolds. Based on what has been accomplished, Chesapeake Bay may be the
ultimate "local solution."
Hurts a Little, Helps a Lot
Bruce Holland's eyes light up as he admires his new self-propelled sprayer. The
machine, which resembles a small airplane without wings, carries several ag
chemicals in on-board compartments. From his cockpit, Holland switches and
applies materials needed in specific parts of each field.
"We don't put out needless chemicals. That's good for the environment and saves
us money," says Holland, who farms 2,000 acres on Virginia's Eastern Shore of
the Chesapeake Bay.
The space-age sprayer is one of several pieces of equipment farmers can purchase
that qualify for tax incentives under the state's environmental programs.
Virginia's farmers can claim tax credits for the purchase of equipment that
increases the precision application of nutrients and pesticides.
Since 1990, almost 300 Virginians have claimed tax credits amounting to
$200,000. Use of new application technology on their combined 133,000 acres
reduced nitrogen applications by 2 million pounds and phosphate by 3 million
pounds.
Holland has also put his farm under a nutrient management plan guided by a
certified specialist. The plan saves money on fertilizer and keeps excess
nutrients out of the nearby bay.
"We go by the plan religiously," he says. "Before, we weren't accounting for
nutrients from the chicken litter we spread on crop fields."
Government regulations and red tape in the environmental program bother the
veteran farmer. Last year he wanted to square up a recently purchased field that
had a small piece of wetland. He spent three months ping-ponging from local to
state to federal agencies before the request was approved. All he had to do for
mitigation was plant a 66-foot grass filter strip along the field border.
Established farms are coping with bay cleanup efforts. Landowners seem willing
to implement best management practices, and growers are taking advantage of tax
breaks as they update equipment.
But young farmers worry about future tightening of regulations. In good growing
years, producers risk missing top yields if crop nutrients are restricted.
"At this point we have guidelines, but most of them affecting me are implemented
on a voluntary basis," says Joe Black of Seaview, Va.
"I'm concerned that down the road we could be more regulated. It depends on what
happens to Chesapeake Bay. If fishing declines, they'll point the finger at
somebody, probably farmers," says Black, who raises potatoes, grain, and
soybeans.
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Tributary Teamwork
To understand the problems of Chesapeake Bay, you should know that it is
actually a flooded river valley. Ten thousand years ago, glaciers melted,
raising the ocean level over the mouth of the Susquehanna River.
Half the bay's fresh water comes down the Susquehanna, which originates in New
York and flows through rich Pennsylvania farmland before emptying into
Chesapeake Bay. The Potomac, the Rappahannok, the York, the James, and even the
Shenandoah River are major tributaries. City sewage, auto exhaust, power plant
emissions, suburban development, deforestation, and agricultural activities
along feeder streams affect the bay's water quality, even when these sources are
hundreds of miles away.
In the 1987 Chesapeake Bay Agreement, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and
Washington, D.C., committed to reducing loads of nitrogen and phosphorus
reaching the bay 40% by the year 2000.
Urban areas can cut nutrient discharge by upgrading wastewater treatment. In
rural tributaries, most nutrient reduction is left up to agriculture. To meet
its goal, Maryland has divided its Chesapeake Bay watershed into 10 tributaries.
Lawrence Meeks, a farmer from Carroll County, Md., is part of a Tributary
Strategy Team made up of urban citizens, county planners, foresters, and
farmers.
"Under the present plan, voluntary nutrient management is not burdensome," says
Meeks, who is also president of the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board.
"Farmers would like to see better education of urban residents," he says.
"Fertilizer is a major expense for farmers; we don't want to waste it. But
homeowners and lawn-care companies put out more fertilizer than is necessary."
At present, nutrient management plans cover 1.5 million acres of the 7.4 million
acres of cropland in the Chesapeake watershed. Agribusinesses are beginning to
play a role in formulating nutrient management and Integrated Pest Management
plans.
To update nonfarmers, the Maryland Department of Agriculture has written a
brochure filled with tips for protecting the bay. Take It From Maryland Farmers
targets backyard gardeners and homeowners.
"Farmers have taken the lead in designing strategies and are leading the efforts
to make nutrient reductions happen," says Raymond Forney, sustainable
agriculture project manager at DuPont's Chesapeake Farms and chairman of the
Upper Eastern Shore Tributary Team.
"Practices such as nutrient management plans, cover crops, conservation tillage,
and animal waste handling will take us to our goal," says Forney. "Sometimes, as
with cover crops, there are additional costs and risks for farmers. We are
trying to find ways of making these practices fit into agricultural operations."
Where's the Beef?
Bill and Mary Poffenberger have dramatically changed the way they manage
Antietam Meadows Farm near Sharpsburg, Md. Their 640-acre beef operation is 70
miles up the Potomac River from Chesapeake Bay.
Over the past six years, the farm couple have converted marginal cropland to a
rotational grazing system. Well-managed permanent pastures protect hilly, rocky
land along the river.
In 1995, the National Cattlemen's Association recognized the Poffenbergers with
a regional Environmental Stewardship Award.
"Muddy water ran by our house when we tried to raise row crops," says Bill. "I
wish I'd known about cell grazing years ago."
He swears his land produces adequate forages to keep his cows fat and sassy
without grains. He has fenced livestock out of the river. Pure water from
underground wells meets his herd's needs.
USDA cost-share money helped pay for changes that benefit the Poffenbergers'
farm and the environment. For 10 years, they collected Conservation Reserve
Program payments for land that is now going back into beef production
rejuvenated with lush grass and clover.
"We farm for a living," says Bill. "With cattle prices the way they are, it's
tough. When they offered to pay for conservation, I learned to play the game."
He strongly identifies with cattlemen who can't afford to fence off streams. But
he insists that it's only a question of when, not if, stream protection will be
required.
The Poffenbergers and these other farmers have learned a lesson from 14 years of
Save the Bay programs. Big changes are coming for farm operators not just around
Chesapeake Bay, but in other watersheds.
Producers who go with the flow and participate can usually cope with
environmental demands. Those who buck the tide may go under.