AGENCY TESTIMONY
Cornerstone programs of the FAD: Agricultural runoff management
0:33:46
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47 sec
The commissioner describes the agricultural runoff management program, which is the third cornerstone program of the FAD. This program addresses pollution from farms in the watershed.
- The program works with hundreds of small family-owned farms in the watershed
- DEP subsidizes on-site evaluations of farming operations and recommends practices to reduce polluted runoff
- Thousands of best management practices (BMPs) have been installed on hundreds of farms
- The program enhances farm operations and profitability while sustaining farming in the watershed
- 90% of large farms in the watershed participate in this voluntary program
Rohit T Aggarwala
0:33:46
The watershed is home to hundreds of small family owned farms that produce dairy products, beef and produce.
0:33:53
Working with local partners, DEP subsidizes on-site evaluations of each farming operation and recommends tailored practices to reduce or eliminate polluted runoff.
0:34:03
With DEP funding, thousands of best management practices have been installed on hundreds of farms in the past 30 years.
0:34:11
These BMPs have the added benefit of often enhancing farm operations and profitability, thereby sustaining farming as a vital part of the watershed economy.
0:34:21
These are voluntary programs, and today 90% of the large farms in the watershed participate.
0:34:28
The fad relies on a network of watershed partners who receive funds from DEP and implement our programs.
