The Agriculture Water Quality Plan

The Agriculture Water Quality Plan was passed in 1994 by the KY General Assembly.  The act protects surface and groundwater resources from pollution from agriculture practices, and 20 years later is becoming a very hot topic. 

According to Amanda Gumbert, UK Extension Water Quality Liaison, the Ag Water Quality Act effects all landowners with 10 more contiguous acres and who conduct agriculture or silviculture (forestry) operations on their land.  All landowners/land users with 10 or more acres must develop and implement a water quality plan based on guidance from the KY Agriculture Water Quality Plan.

These Water Quality Plans consists of best management practices from six areas: silviculture, pesticides and fertilizers, farmstead, crops, livestock and streams and other waters.  First, landowners must assess their operations and determine if they need an agriculture water quality plan.  Once that assessment is complete, the landowner must choose the appropriate best management practices for his/her operation.

The landowner is responsible for preparing an agriculture water quality plan that best meets the needs of his/her particular operation.  An interactive online tool is available at www.ca.uky.edu.awqa to help landowners decide which management practices are best suited for their operation.  Assistance in developing a plan can also be found at the Extension Office.

Producers are strongly encouraged to complete a Water Quality Plan if they have not already done so.  For more details on The Kentucky Agriculture Water Quality Act or for assistance in developing a plan for your operation, please contact the McLean County Cooperative Extension Office at (270)273-3690.

This Friday, February 6^th UK Extension Soils Specialist Dr. Josh McGrath will be speaking about nutrient management for water quality at 8am.  This is becoming a very important issue and I know Dr. McGrath will have a lot of valuable information to share with us. 

Feb 6^th             Round Table Series, 8am Nutrient Management for Water Quality,

Dr. Josh McGrath

Feb 6^th             Pesticide Certification, 2pm, Extension Office

Fed 10^th           Farm Bill Meeting, Extension Office, 9am

Feb 10^th           Plant Swap Organizational Meeting, Extension Office, 3pm

Feb 20^th           Round Table Series, 8am Diversifying Your Operation, Cary Hicks

Feb 24^th           Tobacco Update 10am and GAP Training 1pm, Extension Office

Feb 25^th           Pesticide Certification, 9am, Extension Office

Feb 26^th           Community & Economic Development Workshops 10am, Extension Office

Feb 26^th           Farmers’ Market Meeting, Extension Office, 4pm

Feb 27^th           Round Table Series, 8am Grain Crop Profitability, Economics, Dr. Greg Halich

March 5^th         Forages & Grazing Meeting, 5pm-8pm, Extension Office

March 6^th         Round Table Series, 8am Pond Management, Dr. Bill Wurts

March 13^th       Round Table Series, 8am Poultry Litter as Fertilizer, Dr. Edwin Ritchey