Field Assessment for Water Resource Protection

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Field Assessment for Water Resource Protection
Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service
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Want to do a better job of protecting soil
water quality?
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Where do I start?
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What is a Field Assessment?
Use Extension publication Field Assessment for
Water Resource Protection (WQ-42)

• Helps you assess your
• Nutrient Management
• Soil Conservation
• Pest Management
• Drainage Irrigation Management
• Areas Adjacent to Fields

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Streamlined Method
Uses a 3-step quick check method to ask key
questions about field practices.

1. Answer questions
2. For No or Dont Know answers go to
   recommendations and assistance
3. Write down an action plan to improve upon weaker
   areas of management

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Assessment Quick Check
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Recommendations
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Action Plan
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Lets Try It
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• Background Information for Field Assessment
  Example
• Corn and soybeans are alternated from year to
  year
• No cover crops are grown
• No manure is applied
• Soils are tested for nutrient, mineral, and
  organic matter levels once every four years, but
  no other nutrient monitoring methods are used
• Tends to go on what fertilizer dealer recommends
  for application rates on nitrogen
• Nutrients are often applied in fall along with
  fall plowing due to time crunch of spring
  planting
• Unless it is raining, herbicides are applied to
  schedule, and label and rates followed, but no
  crop scouting is conducted
• Insecticides are applied if evidence of pests
  present, but application is not based on economic
  thresholds
• Field soils and topography have not been
  evaluated for potential for leaching and runoff
  of nutrients and pesticides
• Sensitive environmental areas (streams, karst,
  etc.) are recognized, but no specific management
  actions are taken to protect them
• Pesticides are mixed over the gravel driveway
  using a hose with no backflow device directly
  into spray tank
• Chemical jugs are triple rinsed and recycled

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Implement the Action Plan

• Implement the action plan
• Contact your local Extension Educator, and Soil
  Water District for assistance
• Ask about conservation programs for the practices
  you are seeking to improve upon.

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Monitor Changes in the Soil
Use Extension publication On-Farm Soil
Monitoring for Water Resource Protection, WQ-43

• Farmer driven
• Easy to do
• Increases soil quality knowledge
• Evaluates impact of practices
• Leads to better decision making

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How to obtain materials

• Call toll free to Purdue Extension
• 1-888-EXT-INFO and ask for WQ-42.
• Click on Field Assessment at www.ces.purdue.edu/
  waterquality.
• Ask your County Extension Educator

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Field Assessment for Water Resource Protection
helps you

• Assess your current practices,
• Identify recommended changes,
• Find Purdue publications and other resources that
  can help,
• Complete a plan for making the changes,
• Determine your next steps to improving and
  monitoring your practices.

Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service