Learn how to better manage agriculture resources with this basic overview of agg soil and water management. For more management information visit
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1. A gricultural E nvironmental M anagement NYS Soil & Water Conservation Committee Department of Agriculture & Markets A E M
2. A gricultural E nvironmental M anagement Environmentally Sound Economically Viable Energy Efficient Agriculture A E M
3. A gricultural E nvironmental M anagement Over 12,000 farms of all types & sizes Statewide A E M
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5. AEM Statewide Organization Local AEM Team A gricultural E nvironmental M anagement Led by the NYS Soil & Water Conservation Committee & County Soil & Water Conservation Districts A E M
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12. Farmers doing their part to Protect Water Quality A gricultural E nvironmental M anagement
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18. Guide to Conservation Funding A gricultural E nvironmental M anagement Helps identify resources to get conservation on the ground! A E M
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22. A gricultural E nvironmental M anagement 2008 Statewide AEM Award Fessenden Dairy, Cayuga County AEM Roadside Sign Award E-Z Acres Farms, Cortland County A E M
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29. A gricultural E nvironmental M anagement Protecting natural resources, open space, & wildlife habitat for ALL New Yorkers! A E M
30. A gricultural E nvironmental M anagement NYS Soil & Water Conservation Committee Department of Agriculture & Markets www.nys-soilandwater.org Productive Farms & Healthy Watersheds A E M
Notas do Editor
For nearly 15 years, the AEM program has been working with farmers to conserve, manage & protect natural resources, while helping their farm businesses thrive. Since being signed into law in 2000, AEM has been a national model for advancing voluntary, agricultural conservation.
AEM supports farm families in their efforts to produce the fresh food, green energy and other products that we need every day, while protecting the state’s natural resources. AEM is the framework to help farmers advance their conservation efforts, and help the public connect how our farms protect soil and water quality, open space and wildlife habitat. During this time of increasing energy concerns, AEM will be used to explain the vital role of farmers in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and producing renewable energy.
Over 12,000 farms of all types and sizes are involved in counties across New York.
AEM helps farm families to farm cleaner & greener, comply with regulations and enhance neighbor relations, which are all necessary to maintaining a successful farm business. PHOTO: Terry Jones, Herkimer County Dairy Farmer
Administered at the state level by the NYS Soil & Water Conservation Committee, it is the local partnerships that are key to the success of delivering this award-winning state program.
AEM is locally-led and delivered by County Soil & Water Conservation Districts & their partners. PHOTO: John Snavlin walks the farm as he reviews his plan with Certified AEM Planner Brian Hall from the Onondaga County Soil and Water Conservation District.
Soil and Water Conservation Districts and their local AEM Team develop and implement AEM Strategic Plans that direct state , federal, and local resources to address priority conservation needs at the local level.
Addressing local priorities through locally-led conservation is also successfully addressing State and National priorities.
Soil and Water Conservation Districts provide on-farm environmental assessments, conservation planning and technical services. PHOTO: Dairy farmer Fred Lightfoote of Lightland Farms goes over his plan with Certified AEM Planner Bob Stryker of the Ontario County Soil and Water Conservation District.
AEM starts with an inventory of a farm’s activities, future plans and document environmental stewardship. Assessment Worksheets specific to the farm operation identify potential concerns & opportunities. A customized conservation plan is then developed. Conservation practices are implemented utilizing local, state and federal resources. This is followed by an evaluation to ensure that goals were met to protect the environment and the farm business.
AEM helps farmers incorporate environmentally-friendly farming techniques and install conservation projects that protect water quality. Practices include cover cropping, strip cropping, conservation tillage, barnyard runoff management, nutrient management , fencing cows out of streams & planting trees, shrubs & grasses in buffer areas along streams. AEM helps farmers consider their business objectives, the needs of the watershed they live in, and their environmental risk to make sound management decisions.
When rain falls, it flows across the land into groundwater, streams and other water bodies. In the process, it can wash contaminants from many sources into the water. AEM has demonstrated that well managed farms help protect water quality, and where agricultural runoff concerns do occur, they can be remedied by implementing AEM practices. For example , AEM practices installed by farmers in the Oneida Lake Watershed resulted in a measurable decline in nutrient levels that previously impaired the water quality of Oneida Lake. This year, the Department of Environmental Conservation ‘delisted’ Oneida Lake from their ‘impaired waterbodies list’, as the lake’s water quality has been restored and supports its designated uses. Another example is the role AEM plays in maintaining the water quality of Skaneateles Lake as an unfiltered drinking water supply for over 200,000 residents in the Syracuse area. Customize with local examples :
AEM collects information for: Sound decision making Strategic planning Prioritization Effective response to future mandates, environmental standards & emerging issues
The Tier 1 AEM Questionnaire can generally be completed in 15 to 20 minutes.
Tier 2 Worksheets identify concerns and opportunities across the farm to help make sound management decisions.
Specific worksheets are utilized depending on the type of farm.
In Tier 3, farmers work with AEM professionals to progressively develop a customized, comprehensive farm resource management plan.
AEM coordinates federal, state & local assistance. Direct the farmer to the programs that will do them the most good. To request copies of the AEM Guide to Conservation Funding email: claire.johnson@agmkt.state.ny.us
The bottom line is to get conservation on the land, progressing as the farmer is ready, willing and able.
Protect the farmer’s and the public’s investment. Seek continual improvement.
AEM is about environmental education as much as it is an effort to get conservation on the land. It is a continuous effort, striving for continuous improvement. Photo : Farm Tour of Methane Digester at AA Dairy in Tioga County.
The exemplary efforts of many AEM farmers conserving natural resources for future generations, while saving money and improving community relations have earned statewide and local recognition.
With growing public interest in everything from food quality and safety to carbon footprint and climate change, the agricultural community is positioned like never before to educate consumers about the benefits of well managed farms to environment. Over 550 farmers and AEM partners have attended communications training to help get agriculture’s message heard through their local newspaper, radio and television outlets. AEM’s Agriculture & the Community Worksheet , can help guide you in taking stock of the specific benefits your farm offers to the community. Benefits include value to the local tax base, contribution to the local economy, public recreation, drinking water protection, natural resource preservation (of course!), and many more. The worksheet makes it easy by providing a checklist and a few simple calculations that can help tell your story. It also provides suggestions for tried-and-true techniques for improving your farm’s relationship with your neighbors and community. Simple things like offering sample farm products or considering neighbors’ outdoor plans when timing manure spreading have gone a long way in improving farms’ neighbor relations. AEM is the framework to help farmers advance their conservation efforts, and to help the public connect how our farmers work to protect water quality, open space, wildlife habitat and natural resources. Photo : John Snavilin of Snavlin Farms in Onondaga County is interviewed for an ‘Earth Day’ story about his AEM practices by CBS 5 News Syracuse Reporter Keith Kobland.
The success in watersheds around the state demonstrates what farmers can accomplish by implementing AEM.
As a result of AEM’s substantial statewide success, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation presented the AEM Program with their ‘ 2008 Environmental Excellence Award’ . PHOTO: NYS DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis (Center) Presented the award for “Farming New York Cleaner & Greener”. Accepting the award from left to right are AEM Program Coordinator Jeff Ten Eyck, State Committee Director Michael Latham, State Committee Voting Member Dale Stein, and President of the Conservation Districts Employees Association Jeff Carmichael.
In Summary…
AEM Base Funding provides non-competitive grants for Conservation Districts to: Prioritize local watershed concerns Develop strategic plans Implement management practices to improve natural resources These non-competitive funds have: Engaged more farms of all types & sizes Advanced farms though the AEM framework
Looking ahead , Governor Paterson recently signed new legislation broadening the role of AEM to help farmers explore new opportunities to protect air quality, reduce greenhouse gases and produce renewable energy on their farms.
AEM is helping New York farm families meet environmental goals, while remaining competitive in today’s global marketplace. New York farms are the backbone of our local economies. They safeguard our local food supply and produce the green energy that will help lead us to energy independence. Our farms provide open space, wildlife habitat and a quality of life we all can enjoy. Investing in our farms through AEM helps New York farm families continue to support our economy and protect the environment for all New Yorker’s.
View the worksheets and find out more about AEM on the web at: www.nys-soilandwater.org
