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The Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) works to conserve soil and water resources through conservation planning,
design & implementation.
Our programs focus on controlling and preventing soil erosion, floodwater and sediment damages and conserving water to help preserve natural resources and wildlife, and to protect public and private lands within the county. Madison County SWCD provides technical assistance to Madison County’s residents and municipalities with all manners of natural resource issues. In response to the 1989 Amendment of the Soil and Water Conservation District Law, we are also helping to improve the quality of the county’s surface and groundwater by fighting non-point (widely separated or diffuse) sources of water pollution.
Madison County SWCD leads in the implementation of the of the NYS AEM program. AEM is a voluntary, confidential, locally-led, and comprehensive approach that further advances environmental management on New York’s farms, across all sizes and commodities. This program delivers technical support and financial incentives needed to help farmers to implement conservation practices critical to the protection of water quality and other natural resources. AEM helps to ensure that New York’s farms remain viable and continue to meet their business objectives in an everchanging market place. Over the last two decades, over 12,000 farms across New York State have participated in AEM by working with local SWCDs and partnering with resource professionals, to develop and implement comprehensive, farm-specific plans using AEM’s 5-Tier approach.
Tier 1: Inventory current activities, and future plans of the farm business. Tier 2: Assess current environmental stewardship and opportunities for improvement.
Tier 3: Develop conservation plans addressing concerns and opportunities tailored to farm goals.
Tier 4: Implement plans utilizing available financial, educational, and technical assistance.
Tier 5: Evaluate practices and plans to ensure the protection of farm viability and the environment.
Completing this step provides farms the opportunity to become more engaged with the AEM program, often leading to further work through the Tiers to address farm and natural resource needs. Advancing through the AEM Tiers, opens doors for farms to apply for cost-share funding to implement priority practices, by advancing to the Tier 3 planning process. AEM takes a whole farm view to address not only nutrient management, but also addresses farmstead water supplies; pasture management; pesticide mixing, loading and storage; erosion control; stream and floodplain management; irrigation water management; and soil health to name a few. AEM can also address farm-to-neighbor relations and agriculture in the community. In today’s climate of environmental awareness, AEM’s technical and financial resources are valuable to assist farmers in maintaining their commitment to conservation. Proactively advancing conservation practices is central to economic viability on today’s farms. Any farm can participate in AEM. Madison County SWCD is currently reviewing potential projects for funding through the AEM process. If your farm is interested in getting involved in the AEM program please contact us at the office. Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District continues their long record of leading and implementing AEM with farmers at the county level, supported by statewide leadership from the Department of Agriculture and Markets and the NYS Soil and Water Conservation Committee.
Thank you to all who made the 2024 Annual Tree and Shrub Sale a success!
Look for the 2025 Tree and Shrub Order Form in January.
If you would like to be added to our email list or would like a tree or shrub we don’t currently offer, please email Joann Burke at joann-burke@madcoswcd.com.
The District continues to receive funding from the Madison County Board of Supervisors to implement flood mitigation projects around the County on both public and private property. District staff complete site visits and evaluation of potential project sites, assist public and private entities with required environmental permits, develops engineered designs and over sees construction of selected projects. If you are experiencing repeated flooding issues, please contact the office to set up a site visit from our staff.
With funding provided by the Upper Susquehanna Coalition, the district owns a 20 foot John Deere no-till drill to plant cover crops. If you would like to use or would like to participate in the cover crop program please contact Andrew Haslauer at the office.
The District has a 20 foot John Deere no-till drill and a post pounder available to farmers in Madison County to be utilized on their farms free of charge. Due to high demands of the post pounder, we will only loan it out for pasture management projects and water quality purposes.
DeRuyter, NY–For generations, Mariposa Heights Farm founded by the Fuller family has milked cows, made crops, produced beef and raised equally hearty children on land resources that rise up to 1800 feet of elevation and feed communities downstream. It wasn’t an easy journey for Ted and Becky whose life’s journey was cut short by cancer in 2020. Like many dairy families of that era, working off the farm became a reality for the Fuller family, with Ted driving school bus fulltime since 1996 (28 years) and Becky having a teaching assistant career in area schools. In 2012, the Madison County couple caught the passion for raising hearty, registered Red Angus cattle to complement their work schedules, sell breeding stock and freezer beef and teach the next generations the nuances of beef production while filling the family’s freezer with homegrown meat.
With over 40 head of cattle on the ground, Becky knew improving soil health would be paramount for their resiliency and slowing runoff atop the Tioughnioga River Watershed. She worked with Jessica Heim, Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District, Nutrient Management Planner lay the groundwork in decision-making for applying manures and fertilizers to enhance the hay and pastureland and in turn the health of the animals and water holding capacity of the soil.
Ted worked with district staff using the Agriculture Environmental Management (AEM) planning framework to build common-sense conservation measures in a smaller farm context. The first projects focused on establishing and constructing a rotational grazing system geared towards Ted’s daily workload off the farm with a secure perimeter high tensile fence and complimentary paddock subdivisions attached to a laneway for ease of people and cattle movement. To facilitate the nutrient management goals on pasture, an above ground water system was piped throughout the system to keep the cattle happy in the paddocks and secondary hay fields nourishing the microbes.
The farm’s soil health systems and watershed were further enhanced by a 5-acre, district-planted riparian forest buffer and stream/pond exclusion fence for the resident wildlife population. Recognizing the importance of cattle manure for the land, a new barnyard with associated stoned walkway, reinforced stream crossing and vegetated treatment area was built in 2022/23 to ensure proper collection of valuable nutrients and land applied at the right time.
“I appreciate the labor savings, healthier cattle, improved forage quality, the longer growing season up here, and less mud to deal with, said Fuller. Working with the district to improve our operation has been easy while also contributing to water quality coming off our “mountain” delivered to my watershed”.
“We appreciate working with the Fuller family to enhance the natural resources for all Madison County residents to enjoy while supporting the farm’s endeavors for a sustainable future, said Steve Lorraine, Madison County SWCD District Manager.
Madison County SWCD’s Newsletter
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