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Soil, Water, Energy, & Composting

Some articles are in PDF format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing. Click here to download the reader.

This section provides general information on managing small farm soil and water resources, as well as more specific information on soil health, composting, manure and waste management, cover crops, soil testing, farm ponds, water quality, and energy.

To navigate within this page more quickly, click on the links below.

General | Soil Health | Composting | Manure & Waste Management
Cover Crops | Soil Testing | Farm Ponds | Water Quality | Energy

General

Cornell's Department of Crop and Soil Sciences Web Site
http://www.css.cornell.edu/

Cornell's Department of Crop and Soil Sciences web site includes research, extension, recent publications, and featured links.

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
235 Emerson Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
Phone: (607) 255-5459
Fax: (607) 255-2644

Nutrient Management Spear Program
http://nmsp.css.cornell.edu/

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Cornell University

The NMSP aims to improve grower and agricultural industry awareness of crop nutrient needs, crop quality, management of organic amendments, environmentally sound nutrient management practices, and overall soil fertility management in New York State. Additionally, they hope to improve understanding of nutrient release and risk for runoff and leaching losses from inorganic and organic amendments as affected by soil type, hydrology, time and rate of application, and the use of specific soil and fertilizer amendments.

Videos on soil conservation and water quality

Cornell University

Titles include:

  • Soil and Water Management for Agricultural Production: Nitrate Leaching (1997): describes research by the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences (formerly Soil, Crop, and Atmospheric Sciences) at Cornell University on nitrate leaching from agricultural lands. Useful to soil and water management professionals and students of soil science. 7 minutes. Item 125VSWMAPNL. $29.
  • Soil and Water Management for Agricultural Production: Demonstrating Field Capacity of Soils (1997): demonstrates the field capacity of different soil types using sponges. Describes the forces acting on soil water. Provides basic information and is useful for introducing students to soil science. 8 minutes. Item 125VSWMAPDFCS. $29.
  • Soils and Their Role in Protecting Water Quality (1995): describes soil characteristics and functions in protecting water quality. Runoff and leaching are discussed in relation to nonpoint source pollution. Introduces approaches to water quality protection. Useful to students of soil science and to government officials, soil and water professionals, and concerned citizens involved in developing local watershed management plans. 23 minutes. Item 125VSTRPWQ. $29.

Available from:
Audiovisual Resources Center
Cornell University
7 Cornell Business & Technology Park
Ithaca, NY 14850
Phone: (607) 255-2090
Fax: (607) 255-9946
E-mail: Dist_Center@cce.cornell.edu

The New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee
http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us/soilwater/home.html

New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets

By clicking on the AEM (Agricultural Environmental Management) link at this site, you'll open a page that offers a presentation about AEM as well as a directory of certified nutrient management planners in New York State. After taking a look at those, check out the "Revised AEM Guide" link. This page offers on-farm environmental assessment tools, in the form of PDF documents. The first step is represented an initial, "quick" assessment, called the "Tier I Questionnaire." Areas identified as likely to benefit from a closer look can then be assessed with more detailed, subject specific tools, found by clicking on the "Tier II Worksheets" link.

Natural Resources Conservation Service - New York
http://www.ny.nrcs.usda.gov/

U.S. Department of Agriculture

The NRCS web site offers an excellent collection of information resources on a wide range of soil and water management practices. It also provides detailed and up-to-date information about the many USDA loan and grant programs that can help farmers conserve soil and water resources.

NRCS technical staff are located in 47 field offices in New York State. They provide one-on-one assistance to private landowners and local governmental units in all aspects of natural resource protection including soil erosion control, wetland restoration, grazing management, wildlife habitat restoration, water quality improvement, livestock manure management, nutrient management, and flood protection. They deliver conservation programs to local landowners, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Wetlands Reserve Program, Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, and the Small Watershed Program.

USDA NRCS
441 S. Salina St.
Suite 354
The Galleries of Syracuse
Syracuse, NY 13202
Phone: (315) 477-6504

Affordable Opportunities for Precision Farming: A practical way to support sustainable agriculture
http://policy.nrcs.usda.gov/scripts/lpsiis.dll/TN/TN_SA_1_A.pdf

Stefanie Aschmann, Robert Caldwell, Larry Cutforth, Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, March 2003

The purposes of this technical note are to provide a brief background on precision farming and to describe ways in which its concepts and principles may be applied on farms without a substantial investment in equipment. This information is intended to help farmers who may or may not own a computer, but who are interested in long-term management strategies for improving their farm. Publication is in PDF format.

ATTRA Soils and Compost Resources
http://attra.ncat.org/soils.html

Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas

A large selection of factsheets and publications on how to assess, improve, and maintain soil health for both croplands and pastures. Several publications address fertilization and composting specifically for organic production. Soil management can also play an important role in protecting water quality, and additional resources are listed on that topic.

National Association of Conservation Districts
http://www.nacdnet.org/

NACD is the national voice of America's 3000 local conservation districts. By working with landowners, organizations, and government, districts have helped to protect our soil, water, forests, wildlife, and other resources for over 60 years.

Find your local SWC District in the white pages under "U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service."

The New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee
http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us/soilwater/home.html

The mission of the NYSSWCC is to develop and oversee implementation of an effective soil and water conservation and agricultural nonpoint source water quality program for the State of New York that is implemented primarily through county Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

EPA-Compliance and Enforcement
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Designed to help farmers understand environmental laws concerning agriculture.

Best Management Practices - Nutrients
http://ceinfo.unh.edu/bmpnutr.htm

University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension

Guidelines for efficient use of crop nutrients while limiting the potential for contamination of surface or groundwaters.

Soil Health

Building Soils for Better Crops

Fred Magdoff, University of Vermont, Harold van Es, Department of Crop and Soil Science, Cornell University

This book is specifically directed to the needs of farmers, gardeners, students, and agriculture professionals who work with farmers. It discusses managing soil tilth, using appropriate tillage, and nutrient management. There are also chapters on using animal manures, making and using composts, cover crops, how to develop better rotations, methods to avoid compaction, reduced tillage, and other techniques for reducing erosion.

$19.95 plus $3.95 shipping. If using a credit card, call (802) 656-0484. Otherwise, send payment to:
Sustainable Agriculture Publications
Hills Bldg.
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT 05405-0082

Cornell Soil Health Program Work Team

Provides guidance for Cornell research and extension on soil health in vegetable production systems. The team is developing a soil health monitoring protocol and demonstrating its use to extension educators and farmers in 5 pilot regions in the state. It is also assessing the soil health status of several indicator farms in each of these regions.

Contact George Abawi, Department of Plant Pathology, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, at (315) 787-2374 or gsa1@cornell.edu.

Organic Soil Fertility Recommendation Service

Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York

NOFA-NY is offering a new Organic Soil Fertility Recommendation Service for farmers and gardeners. Brian Caldwell, NOFA-NY's Farm Education Coordinator, heads this new service. Caldwell has over 25 years of organic farming experience and has advised both organic and conventional farmers since 1995. He is a recognized expert on organic soil management and other aspects of organic farming.

For more information or to receive an Organic Soil Fertility Recommendation Service brochure, call (607) 564-1060.

Organic Soil Management

Steve Gilman, 2001

Discusses soil habitat, sustaining soil fertility, the soil foodweb, and nutrient availability and deficiency.

66 pages. $6. Send order and payment to:
NOFA-NY Certified Organic, LLC
840 Upper Front St.
Binghamton, NY 13905

Soil Biology Primer

Soil and Water Conservation Society, December 2000

Introduces the reader to the living component of soil and how that component contributes to agricultural productivity and to air and water quality. It's an excellent resource for gardeners, farmers, ranchers, ag professionals, resource specialists, conservationists, soil scientists, students, and educators. The Primer includes information on the soil food web -- the community of organisms living in soil -- and how the web relates to soil health. Chapter topics include bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, arthropods, and earthworms.

48 pages. $11. Orders can be taken via the Soil and Water Conservation Society site [http://www.swcs.org/]; by e-mail at pubs@swcs.org; or by calling 1-800-THE-SOIL, ext. 10.

Farming for Profit, Stewardship & Community: Improve Soil Quality
http://www.sare.org/tipsheet/tip1.htm

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Build soil fertility, tilth, and biological activity -- using cover crops, minimum tillage, compost, and other organic amendments -- to yield profits and long-term value in the land.

An Introduction to Soil Health
http://www.uvm.edu/~nesare/slide.html

Northeast Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education

A lengthy (56 slides) presentation about soil health.

Minnesota Soil Management Series

A series of publications on soil management, compaction, manure management, organic matter management, soil biology, and soil management which provides background information needed to monitor soil and to better understand the crop and soil needs for a producers farm.

If ordering with a credit card, call 1-800-876-8636. Otherwise, contact:
USDA, NRCS, Soil Quality Institute
Minnesota Extension Service Distribution Center
405 Coffey Hall
1420 Eckles Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108-6068
E-mail: order@extension.umn.edu

Composting

Cornell Composting Web Site
http://www.cfe.cornell.edu/compost/

Cornell Waste Management Institute

Cornell's Composting site, maintained by the Cornell Waste Management Institute, provides access to a variety of composting educational materials and programs developed at Cornell University.

Composting Resources
http://www.cfe.cornell.edu/wmi/Composting.html

Cornell Waste Management Institute

Lists a variety of resources on composting.

CCE Catalog Recycling, Composting, Waste Management Listings
http://www.cce.cornell.edu/publications/recycling.cfm

Cornell Cooperative Extension

A listing of recycling-, composting-, and waste management-related publications available in the Cornell Cooperative Extension catalog.

Natural Rendering: Composting Livestock Mortality and Butcher Waste
http://www.nraes.org/publications/nraes163.html

Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service

This video describes mortality and butcher residual composting -- an effective, economical, and environmentally sound alternative to disposal. Composting is a safe, affordable way for dairy and livestock farmers and custom butchers to dispose of their animal mortalities and residual waste. Operations at 7 different farms and institutes are described in this video, which will be useful to dairy and livestock farmers, butchers, producer advisors, extension educators, and others. Composting provides a desperately needed option for butchers and livestock operations, faced with the high cost of disposals, to reduce their overhead and become more productive.

There is additionally a free, 12-page factsheet [http://compost.css.cornell.edu/naturalrenderingFS.pdf] (in PDF format) that complements this video.

20 minutes. Item NRAES-163. $19 plus S&H. Available from NRAES Composting Publications [http://www.nraes.org/publications/composting.html]. Call or write to:
NRAES
Cooperative Extension
P.O. Box 4557
Ithaca, NY 14852-4557
Phone: (607) 255-7654
Fax: (607) 254-8770
E-mail: nraes@cornell.edu

Farm-Based Composting: Manure and More
http://www.nraes.org/publications/nraes150.html

Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service

Video that explores 6 composting technologies from low- to high-tech: passively aerated static windrow/pile, turned widrow/pile, actively aerated static windrow/pile, vermicomposting, in-vessel composting, and anaerobic digestion.

38 pages. Item NRAES-150. $19 plus S&H. Available from NRAES Composting Publications [http://www.nraes.org/publications/composting.html]. Call or write to:
NRAES
Cooperative Extension
P.O. Box 4557
Ithaca, NY 14852-4557
Phone: (607) 255-7654
Fax: (607) 254-8770
E-mail: nraes@cornell.edu

Field Guide to On-Farm Composting
http://www.nraes.org/publications/nraes114.html

Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service

This book was developed to assist in day-to-day compost system management. Topics discussed in this book include: operations and equipment; raw materials and recipe making; process control and evaluation; site considerations, environmental management, and safety; composting livestock and poultry mortalities; and compost utilization on the farm.

128 pages. Item NRAES-114. $14 plus S&H. Available from NRAES Composting Publications [http://www.nraes.org/publications/composting.html]. Call or write to:
NRAES
Cooperative Extension
P.O. Box 4557
Ithaca, NY 14852-4557
Phone: (607) 255-7654
Fax: (607) 254-8770
E-mail: nraes@cornell.edu

On-Farm Composting Handbook
http://www.nraes.org/publications/nraes54.html

Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service

This handbook presents a thorough overview of farm-scale composting and explains how to produce, use, and market compost. The information will be useful for farmers, waste producers, environmental regulators, and public health officials. Topics covered include benefits and drawbacks, the process, raw materials, methods, operations, management, site and environmental considerations, using compost, marketing, economics, and other options for waste management.

186 pages. Item NRAES-54. $25 plus S&H. Available from NRAES Composting Publications [http://www.nraes.org/publications/composting.html]. Call or write to:
NRAES
Cooperative Extension
P.O. Box 4557
Ithaca, NY 14852-4557
Phone: (607) 255-7654
Fax: (607) 254-8770
E-mail: nraes@cornell.edu

Agricultural Composting: A Feasibility Study for NY Farms
http://www.cfe.cornell.edu/compost/feas.study.html

Eileen E. Fabian, Tom L. Richard, David Kay, David Allee, Joe Regenstein, Cornell University, February 1993

A publication that describes considerations needed to start a composting operation on your farm.

Composting Manure and Other Organic Residues
http://ianrwww.unl.edu/pubs/wastemgt/g1315.htm

University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension

A guide containing information on the composting process, management, methods, and land application. Also includes a short section on carcass composting.

Manure & Waste Management

Cornell Waste Management Institute
http://www.cfe.cornell.edu/wmi/

WMI servies the public through research, outreach, training, and technical assistance programs in solid waste disposal, management, and planning. Web site provides information on composting, sewage sludge, waste reduction, recycling, and more.

Contact Ellen Z. Harrison, Director, at (607) 255-1187 or cwmi@cornell.edu.

NRAES Manure & Waste Management Resources
http://www.nraes.org/publications/waste.html

Natural Resouce, Agriculture, and Engineering Service

NRAES has many manure- and waste management-related publications available for purchase. Visit the web site for a list of these publications, as well as many others about various other topics.

NRAES
Cooperative Extension
P.O. Box 4557
Ithaca, NY 14852-4557
Phone: (607) 255-7654
Fax: (607) 254-8770
E-mail: nraes@cornell.edu

CCE Catalog Recycling, Composting, Waste Management Listings
http://www.cce.cornell.edu/publications/recycling.cfm

Cornell Cooperative Extension

A listing of recycling-, composting-, and waste management-related publications available in the Cornell Cooperative Extension catalog.

PRO-DAIRY Resources for Environmental & Nutrient Management on Dairy Farms
http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/prodairy/

PRO-DAIRY, Department of Animal Science, Cornell University

Click on "Environmental & Nutrient Management on Dairy Farms" (in the left-hand menu) to access information on manure spreading costs, articles, and links.

Recycling Agricultural Plastics in New York State
http://environmentalrisk.cornell.edu/C&ER/PlasticsDisposal/AgPlasticsRecycling/default.cfm

Lois Levitan, Ana Barros, Environmental Risk Analysis Program, Cornell University, March 11, 2003

This report is a product of the Cornell "open burning group," which formed in Winter 2002 to assess the extent and environmental health significance of open burning of household wastes and agricultural plastics in New York State, and begin work towards reducing these practices in order to protect public health and the environment. The report focuses on disposal of agricultural plastics, rather than on the household waste stream, for reasons that include the importance of agriculture in NY and the role of Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in working with New York State agriculture and the environment.

To order a print copy, contact:
Environmental Risk Analysis Program
213 Rice Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
Phone: (607) 255-4765
E-mail: envrisk@cornell.edu

Good Neighbor Guide for Horse-keeping: Manure Management
http://ceinfo.unh.edu/Agriculture/Documents/aahr1050.pdf

University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension

Publication is in PDF format.

Waste Management and Water Quality
http://www.ads.uga.edu/groups/dairy/CATEGORIES/waste.htm

Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Georgia and Mississippi State University

A list of links to information web sites on manure management.

Cover Crops

Cover Crops for Vegetable Production in the Northeast

Cornell Cooperative Extension

Presents the latest research on varieties and procedures to reap the benefits of using cover crops in vegetable production. Includes management factors and the characteristics of different cover crop species.

12 pages. Item 142IB244. $3.99. Order from:
Cornell University Resource Center
7 Business & Technology Park
Ithaca, NY 14850
Phone: (607) 255-2080
Fax: (607) 255-9946

Cover Crops on the Intensive Market Farm
http://www.cias.wisc.edu/pdf/cvrcrop.pdf

Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Crops that are grown solely to provide soil cover or for the purposes of increasing soil fertility are referred to as cover crops or green manures. Due to their ability to protect and enhance soils, cover crops are considered a fundamental aspect of any sustainable cropping system. The benefits of cover crops extend beyond soil health, however. More and more growers are realizing the pest management benefits of cover crops. This publication is meant to serve as a practical guide to using cover crops in small- to moderate-size fresh market vegetable operations. Publication is in PDF format.

Managing Cover Crops Profitably
http://www.sare.org/handbook/mccp2/

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education

Newly updated in 2001. The second edition of Managing Cover Crops Profitably explores how and why cover crops work and provides all the information needed to build cover crops into any farming operation. This is the comprehensive book on the use of cover crops to sustain cropping systems and build soil.

Overview of Cover Crops and Green Manures
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/covercrop.html

Preston Sullivan, Steve Diver, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, January 2001

Cover crops are the backbone of any annual cropping system that seeks to be sustainable. This publication summarizes the principal uses and benefits of winter cover crops; summer green manures; living mulches; catch crops; and some forage crops. Management issues addressed include: vegetation management; limitations of cover crops; use in crop rotations; use in pest management; and economics of cover crops. A selection of print and web resources is provided for further reading.

Northeast Cover Crops Handbook

Marianne Sarrantonio

Combat the loss of soil's organic matter through the use of cover crops. In addition to providing nutrients to living organisms, cover crops improve soil structure and improve soil's retention of nutrients. Learn how to choose and use cover crops and take a close look at the 19 varieties proven effective in zones 3 through 7.

118 pages. $14.95. To order, contact The Rodale Institute:
Phone: 1-800-832-6285
Fax: (810) 683-8548
E-mail: ribooks@fast.net

Manures for Organic Crop Production
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/manures.html

George Kuepper, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, March 2003

This publication looks at different manure handling practices for organic growers.

Soil Testing

Cornell Nutrient Analysis Laboratories
http://www.css.cornell.edu/soiltest/

Cornell University

The Cornell Nutrient Analysis Laboratories provide accurate and cost effective analysis of soil, plant, and water samples for faculty, staff, and others. Two branches, Extension and Research, function under CNAL. The Extension branch provides analysis and recommendations services to commercial growers and home gardeners in New York State, while the Research division offers soil, plant, and water analyses to research clients locally, nationally, and internationally.

804 Bradfield Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853
Phone: (607) 255-4540
Fax: (607) 255-7656
E-mail: soiltest@cornell.edu

Testing Your Soil, Know Your Soil
http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/LawnGarden/2286.htm

University of Maine Cooperative Extension

General information and steps on doing a soil test on your farm or garden.

Relevance of Soil Testing to Agriculture and the Environment

Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, June 2000

This issue paper helps pinpoint factors that need to be considered as farmers and others use soil tests as a guide to protecting the environment while producing economical food. The issue paper provides perspective on the increasingly important role of soil tests, which farmers have long used in making crop production decisions.

12 pages. $3 per print copy. Visit the CAST web site to order (in Publications g Non-Members).

Farm Ponds

Farm Pond Management
http://pond.dnr.cornell.edu/Pond/farmpond/index.htm

Cornell Cooperative Extension

This web site contains factsheets, links, and images related to commercial farm pond management in New York State. It is intended for the education of farm operators and other rural land owners in New York State.

Pond Management Fact Sheets
http://www.umext.maine.edu/publications/waterquality.htm

University of Maine Cooperative Extension

This series of 5 factsheets is for anyone constructing or managing a pond.

Series includes:

  • Before You Build a Pond: 10 Important Questions and Answers
    Covers pre-planning basics. 4 pages. Item #2499. Free.
  • Laws and Regulatory Requirements to Consider Before You Build a Pond
    Describes laws you need to be aware of before you build or renovate a pond. 4 pages. Item #2376. Free.
  • Managing Aquatic Plants in Ponds
    Describes common aquatic plants and how to deal with them and still have a healthy pond. 4 pages. Item #2375. Free.
  • Pond Trouble Shooting
    Pond problems and what to do about them. 6 pages. Item #2377. Free.
  • What You Should Know About Water Quality and Ponds
    Information on factors that affect home and farm pond quality. 4 pages. Item #2378. Free.

To order, click here [http://www.umext.maine.edu/publications/orderpubs.htm].

Water Quality

New York State Water Resources Institute
http://wri.eas.cornell.edu/

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Cornell University

WRI is a university-wide institute of Cornell faculty and staff whose purpose is to conduct water research and education projects in support of the public, water suppliers, businesses, and governments.

Contact Keith S. Porter, WSI Director, at (607) 255-5941 or nyswri@cornell.edu.

Plant It Right: Restoring Our Streams

Washington State University Cooperative Extension

A video for students and volunteers that provides essential information on proper planting techniques. A separate 2-page factsheet covers the same information and accompanies the video. The video is available online through streaming video. The factsheet can be downloaded at Washington Water [http://wawater.wsu.edu/].

17 minutes. $25 plus 7.6% tax plus $4 shipping. To order, contact the WSU Cooperative Extension Bulletin Office at 1-800-723-1763 and ask for "Plant it Right: Restoring Our Streams," VT 0113. Call for prices for quantity orders.

Best Management Practices - Pesticides
http://ceinfo.unh.edu/bmppest.htm

University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension

Management practices that contribute significantly to preserving water resources.

Nitrogen Management and Water Quality
http://www.soil.ncsu.edu/publications/Soilfacts/AG-439-02/

North Carolina State University

Whatever its source, nitrogen (N) is essential for achieving optimum yields of grain, forage, and other crops. The same is true of phosphorus (P) and other nutrients. Applying too much nitrogen or phosphorus to cropland, however, can have adverse effects on the environment. Achieving optimum yields without applying excessive nutrients should therefore be a goal of all farmers. Excess nitrogen and phosphorus in surface waters and nitrogen in groundwater cause eutrophication (excess algae growth) in surface waters and health problems in humans and livestock as a result of high intake of nitrogen in its nitrate form.

Livestock Waste Sampling, Analysis, and Calculation of Land Application Rates
http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension/publicat/wqwm/ebae111_84.html

James C. Barker, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service

Directions on how to sample and analyze livestock waste.

Nutrient Management
http://nutrient.psu.edu/

Penn State University

This user-friendly site contains 4 focus areas: livestock, regulations and planning resources, water and environmental policy, and phosphorus and the P-index.

Protecting Water Quality on Organic Farms
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/om-waterquality.pdf

Barbara Bellows, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, October 2002

Organic farming involves many practices that protect against nutrient leaching, water runoff, and soil erosion. Water quality protection is greatest when organic practices are implemented using a "systems approach" rather than simply following a general list of approved practices. By understanding the biological, chemical, and climatic processes occurring in each field, organic farmers can implement practices that both enhance production and protect water quality. When organic practices are implemented in a more piecemeal and less sutainable manner, they can cause environmental impacts similar to those found on conventional farms. Environmental problems most commonly found on organic farms result from mismanaging manure applications or soil incorporation of green-manure crops, and from improper storage of manure or compost. This publication discusses practices that protect and practices that fail to protect water quality. Farmers can use the guidelines provided here to modify management to suit their soil, climate, and farming conditions. Publication is in PDF format.

Energy

Renewable Energy
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/renewable_energy/index.cfm

Union of Concerned Scientists

The UCS web site features a wealth of information about clean, renewable energy, including many factsheets:




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