Effectiveness in implementation: Mapping agricultural management practices and farmer perceptions

Session: Beyond the Edge of the Field: Mitigating the Impacts of Nutrient Pollution on HABs (1)

Kevin Czajkowski, University of Toledo, Dept. of Geography & Planning, [email protected]
Saatvika Rai, University of Toledo, [email protected]
Brinda Athreya, University of Toledo, [email protected]
Kimberly Panozzo, University of Toledo, [email protected]
Yitong Jiang, University of Toledo, [email protected]

Abstract

Implementation of best management practices (BMPs) has the potential to reduce nutrient runoff to Lake Erie and thus positively impact summer harmful algal blooms. The overall objective of this project is to assess the implementation of agricultural management practices, and perceptions and actions of the farming community, to better understand on-going efforts and identify potential areas for intervention. To allow for a comparative analysis, this project is focused on three sub-watersheds in the Maumee River Basin: Auglaize River, Blanchard River, and St. Joseph River. Remote sensing has been used to create data layers for tillage practice, cover crops, tile drains, and buffer strips and a weighted combined layer of high and low farmer implementation of BMPs has been created. These have been validated using driving transects of the watersheds as well as tile drain blueprints. Data from a survey of farmers and nutrient service provides under the project ‘Evaluating the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Concept and Certification Program in the Western Lake Erie Basin’ conducted by Dr. Robyn Wilson of Ohio State University is compared to the BMP combined layer to identify hotspots for policy intervention.