assessing benefits of winter crops
TRANSCRIPT
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Assessing Benefits
of Winter Crops Winter Crops for Bioenergy Workshop
March 29, 2011
Presentation for Penn State Bioenergy Short Course Series 2011
Dan Dostie, State Resource Conservationist, USDA NRCS, Harrisburg, PA
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Objectives
Review the Benefits of Winter Crops
Present Tools to Assess Benefits Provided
Discuss NRCS Programs Promoting Bioenergy
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Current NRCS Practice Standard Definitions
Cover Crop (340) Crops including grasses, legumes and forbs for
seasonal cover and other conservation purposes and
not harvested for seed or forage
(Applies on all lands requiring vegetative cover for
natural resource protection and or improvement)
Forage and Biomass Planting (512) Establishing adapted and/or compatible species,
varieties, or cultivars of herbaceous species suitable
for pasture, hay, or biomass production
(Applies to all lands suitable to the establishment of annual,
biennial or perennial species for forage or biomass production )
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Benefits of Winter Crops
Add biodiversity to existing crop rotation yielding a
variety of environmental benefits
Add new source of income from biomass harvest
Contribute to producing a national renewable energy
supply
"The greatest service which can be rendered any country is to add a useful plant to its agriculture."
Thomas Jefferson Quote in reference to his service to his country
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Environmental Benefits of Winter Crops
Improve the Health of the Soil
Sustain Crop Productivity
Provide Clean Water
Support Fish and Wildlife Communities
Mitigate Climate Change
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Soil Biology
and the
Landscape
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Tools to Assess Benefits of Winter Crops
PA Soil Health Assessment Worksheet
NRCS Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE2)
On Farm Landscape Energy Audits
NRCS delivers Conservation Technology in Partnership
with leading University and Research Centers
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PA Soil Health Assessment Worksheet
Indicators Excellent Soil Health
Soil Structure
Stable, strong soil aggregates; good weight-bearing ability by soil super structure; excellent tilth; low potential for compaction, crusting and/or puddling
Surface Cover
Soil surface cover year-round with growing crop, crop residue and/or cover crop; 50-100% soil cover
Water Infiltration and Drainage
Soil drains well after rain; brief or no ponding visible; surface pores; low runoff
Organic Matter
Organic matter content stable at or increasing toward high levels for given soil type; active carbon sequestration practices
pH
Soil pH within the optimum range for grown plants
Fertility
Sufficient levels of all essential plant nutrients; proper nutrient balance ratios
Soil Movement
No visual evidence of soil movement; surface runoff generally clear
Soil Biodiversity
Numerous signs of earthworms including night crawlers; active strong bio-diverse soil life community present
Plant Growth
Healthy uniform growth; consistently high yields; robust root system; plants resist stress
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Example of Bulk Density indicator of Soil Health
1.40
1.45
1.50
1.55
1.60
1.65
1.70
1.75
Mixed Austrian Winter
Peas
Diakon Radish
So
il b
ulk
den
sit
y (
gr*
cm
^-3
)Soil Densities
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NRCS Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE2)
Centre County Example with Winter
Canola
Lancaster County Example with Winter
Barley
Other tools embedded in RUSLE2
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Centre County
All crops no-till
All crop residues
returned to field
200 ft, 15% slope
Hagerstown soil (5)
Yields
Corn grain – 150 bu
Corn silage – 23 T
Wheat – 80 bu
Winter canola – 60 bu 0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
Corn silage- wheatgrain
Corn silage- wintercanola
Corn silage- corn grain
NRCS RUSLE2 Estimated erosion
Soil loss T/A/Y
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Lancaster County
All crops no-till
200 ft, 15% slope
Hagerstown soil
Yields
Corn grain – 150
bu
Soybean - 60
Barley – 110 bu
Rye cover 2.5 T
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
Corn grain -soybean grain
corn grain -winter barley -DC soybean -
rye cover
Same asmiddle, 50%
residueremoved
NRCS RUSLE2 Estimated erosion
Soil loss T/A/Y
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Other Tools in RUSLE2 . . .
Fuel Savings Estimator
Soil Condition Index (trend of OM)
Soil Tillage Intensity Rating (STIR)
Lots of other On Line Tools too!
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On Farm Landscape Energy Audits
Documents current energy usage, over
the past annual cycle, and provides cost-
effective recommendations for energy
conservation.
Includes energy used in the cultivation,
protection, and harvesting of agricultural
crops.
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NRCS Programs Promoting Bioenergy
New Policy Energy as a Concern
Technology being developed
Financial Assistance 2012 . . .
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Energy as a Resource Concern
New Policy as of October 2010
It is NRCS Policy to provide assistance to support
the national goal of reducing reliance on fossil fuels
through energy conservation and replacement of
fossil fuel-based energy with renewable energy
sources including biomass feedstock production
that is environmentally and economically sustainable.
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Energy as a Resource Concern
The scope of NRCS technical assistance to address
energy related resource concerns includes:
(1) Reducing on-farm energy derived from fossil fuels
and energy efficiency.
(2) Assistance to produce renewable energy feedstocks in a
sustainable manner.
(3) Assistance to produce energy from renewable resources to
support the application of a conservation practice
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Conservation Technology being developed
7 existing practice standards (512)
32 practices having energy added as a purpose
To be reviewed on Federal Register
Cover Crops (340)
Residue Management (NT, MT, RT, Ssnl)
Renewable Energy Production (641) NEW!
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USDA Financial Assistance 2012
Biomass Crop Assistance Program (FSA)
Rural Energy for America Program (RD)
Conservation Loans (FSA)
Conservation Reserve Program (FSA)
NRCS may provide Technical Assistance
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NRCS Financial Assistance 2012
Environmental Quality Incentives Program
On Farm Landscape Energy Audits
Conservation Practices to consider
• Forage and Biomass Planting (512)
• Cover Crops (340)
• Residue Management (NT 329, MT 345)
• Crop Rotation (328)
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NRCS Financial Assistance 2012
Payment Cost Categories
• Typical Statewide Average Scenarios
• Materials, Equipment/Installation, Labor,
Mobilization, Operation & Maintenance,
Acquisition of Technical Knowledge,
Forgone Income, Risk, Administration Costs
• NOT all eligible costs!!!!
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Current Cover Crop Scenarios
Rye, Wheat, Barley, Buckwheat
Typical Scenario for average 30 acre unit
Conventional Seeding $25/ac
No Till or Aerial $35/ac
Organic Scenarios $38/48ac
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Current Forage & Biomass Planting Scenarios
Typical Scenario for average 8 acre unit
Non Native Seeding $220/ac
Orchard, ryegrass, clover
Native Seeding $260/ac
Switchgrass Mix
Organic Scenarios $240/$300/ac
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Current Crop Rotation Scenarios
Typical Scenario for average 30 acre unit
General Change $9/ac Adding legumes, etc
Increasing Residue $21/ac Minimum 30% residue
Positive Soil Condition Index so need to increase OM, improve
field operations, & reduce erosion.
Vegetables $45/ac
Organic Scenarios $25/ac/$58
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Current Residue Management Scenarios
No Till $22/ac Planting Corn or Drilling Small Grains
Typical scenario for average 130 acre unit
Organic No Till $36/ac Includes No Till seeding of rye/vetch cover crop
Use of Roller Crimper to terminate cover crop
Typical scenario for average 25 acre unit
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NRCS Financial Assistance 2012
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative?
Federal Budget Impacts?
Questions?