Water Conservation

This summer has been a dry one for many folks in Pennsylvania and around the northeast.  This has lead to major losses in crop production because many farmers in this part of the state do not irrigate their crops.  In other parts of the country irrigation is the norm, but in Pennsylvania there is usually enough rainfall to not warrant irrigation.  This year was an exception. 

Although drought has the most noticeable impact on crop production other areas of the farm can be impacted as well.  Farm animals need a lot of water and if the water supply to the farm is not adequate to sustain them through dry times animal production can also suffer.  A person uses about 62 gallons of water per day, much of which is water that we are using for washing and other activities, and not directly consuming.  However, a dairy cow needs about 30-35 gallons of water a day just to drink, beef cows and horses need about 15 gallons per day, and 100 chickens need about 10 gallons of water per day.  Many farms are supplied by wells or springs and both can give out during extended dry seasons.  Springs are more likely to give out than wells, assuming the well is dug deep enough, so they should be monitored more closely.  Monitoring the well, regardless of how deep it was dug, is always a good idea because if it is getting close to giving out you will have time to plan for an alternative water source.  Well monitors cost between $250 and $1000, but if that is the main water source for a farm it is well worth the investment.

There are a number of simple things that can be done to conserve water in the home and on a farm and many good suggestions can be found at the Penn State Extension Water Resources web page.

eXtension - A Great Resource

eXtension is a website that was developed within the last 5 years and is turning into a great resources on a number of issues.  All the material on the website is peer reviewed and comes from reputable research institutions and extension professionals so it can be trusted.  It has information on the following general topic areas:

• Community - master gardening and entrepreneurship
• Disaster Issues - floods, oil spill, wildfires, and agrosecurity
• Energy - farm and home 
• Family - child care, food and fitness, care giving, food safety, parenting, and personal finance
• Farm - manure management, bee health, beef cattle, dairy cattle, corn and soybean production, cotton, goats,  horses, organic, and small meat processors
• Pest Management 
• Youth   

Hidden under the "manure management" sub-section of the "Farm" tab is a great page on environmental regulations related to livestock and poultry operations.  This explains both water and air quality regulations that are enforced at the national level.  There are many state and local regulations that farmers will also need to follow which aren't discussed on this page, but it is still a great resource for the national laws.  On other pages is a dearth of information on environmental tools and management strategies that can be employed on varies types of farms.

Farms Are the Solution

"Agriculture is part of the solution for the bay" was a statement made by Kathleen Merrigan, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, USDA, at a recent event highlighting the designation of the Conewago Creek as one of three "Showcase" watersheds in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.  This is a statement that has been echoed by local officials as well, but it is always nice to here from those higher up the chain.  Farmers tend to receive a lot of blame for water quality concerns related to the bay, but for those who truly understand what impacts the water quality of local streams and the Chesapeake Bay they know that land in agriculture is better than developed land.  Developed lands are the only land types that have increasing nutrient and sediment loss. 

However, the proof is in the pudding and agency officials and legislators need to make sure they don't unwittingly pass laws that may hurt the very sector they are trying to preserve. 

Upcoming Water Webinars

The Water Resources team at Penn State University is hosting monthly webinars on water quality and quantity concerns.  More information and registration can be found at http://water.cas.psu.edu/webinars.htm  There is no cost, but registration is required.  To participate in the webinars a Penn State or "Friends of Penn State" account (directions on how to obtain found on above link) and a computer with access to the internet are needed.  All webinars will air at 12:00 pm and 7:00 pm on the listed days. The following is a list of dates and topics through May 2010.

• January 27, 2010 - Water Testing and Monitoring Strategies Near Gas Drilling Activity, Present by Bryan Swistock, Penn State University.  Strategies to monitor water wells, springs, and streams in areas where gas well drilling is occurring will be covered.
• February 24, 2010 - Saving Money and Your Septic System Through Water Conservation, Presented by Tom McCarty, Penn State Cooperative Extension, Cumberland County.  Tips on how to reduce water use in and around your home to save money on energy and water bills while also reducing the stress on your septic system.
• March 31, 2010 - Managing Your Pond and Lake, Presented by Susan Boser, Penn State Cooperative Extension, Beaver County.  Assessing pond and lake structures, testing water quality, identifying and managing aquatic plants, managing wildlife and fisheries.
• April 28, 2010 - Safe Drinking Water Clinic, Presented by Peter Wulfhorst, Penn Sate Cooperative Extension, Pike County.  How to construct and maintain your private water well, spring or cistern to ensure safe drinking water quality including water testing strategies and water treatment methods.
• May 26, 2010 - Managing Your On-Lot Septic System, Presented by Dana Rizzo, Penn State Cooperative Extension, Westmoreland County.  Proper strategies to locate, construct, and maintain a home septic system to prevent costly failures.

The Water Resources Extension website contains a lot of great information with more being added all the time so be sure to check it out.

Water Conservation is Not Just a Western State Issue

Although many of us in this area of the country tend not to worry about how much water there is unless there is a drought, which is decidedly not the case this year, water conservation is a big issue nation wide. As the population continues to grow and the water supplies do not water conservation will become an issue for everyone regardless of where they live. Even in Pennsylvania, where water is abundant, if a producer draws more than 10,000 gallons of water a day they must report that use to the state. When you figure that the average cow drinks about 30 gallons of water a day, a hundred cow dairy would use 3,000 gallons per day just in direct water intake, not including wash water and other water uses on the farm. Therefore, the reporting requirement at 10,000 gallons would cover many of the dairy farms in the state.

A recent article about water usage on dairy farms in Dairy Herd Management pointed out that dairies are often accused of high water usage, but in reality water on dairy farms is often recycled and used for 2-3 different purposes before it is used as irrigation on fields or added to manure storage. Due to the high level of water recycling that occurs on many farms and other advancements an article in the Journal of Animal Science estimates that dairy farms today use 35% of the water they used in 1944 to produce the same amount of milk. Like many other issues in agriculture we really need to do a better job of telling our side of the story.