Whole Farm Planning
Whole Farm Planning is a holistic approach to farm management used to identify and prioritize environmental issues on a farm while maintaining the vitality of the farm business. Potential risks to the water supply are identified and addressed by implementing conservation practices which are termed “best management practices” (BMPs). Through careful structural planning the risk of agricultural runoff into streams can be significantly reduced.
The whole farm planning process begins when a farmer signs a voluntary participation agreement with WAC and agrees to develop a Whole Farm Plan in conjunction with a Planning and Implementation Team. Each team is multidisciplinary and may have representatives from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Cornell Cooperative Extension and Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
Best Management Practices are selected using a multiple barrier approach starting with the source (i.e., barnyard water) and moving to crop fields and the stream corridor. Potential pollutants are parasites from animal waste, phosphorus, sediment, pesticides, fuels and other toxic materials.