USDA Finds Farm Progress on 'Bay Diet'

USDA finds reduction in runoff near Chesapeake Bay

Farmers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed are using conservation methods more than ever to reduce water pollutants, according to a study released Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The study found that runoff of eroding soil, phosphorus and nitrogen fell significantly between 2006 and 2011.

"It's a big, important deal," USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said during a conference call with reporters. "What we found is conservation is working."

Yes, it is a big deal for the 'Bay Diet.' While I don't know off hand exactly how much that Bay Diet calculates that the farmers need to cut back to achieve the goals they purport to achieve, I'm willing to bet that the amounts are based on older research, which will have thus misrepresented the amount and ease with which the farmers will be able to make further reductions.  The agriculture industry has been insisting throughout the process of the creation of the 'Bay Diet' that farmers had mad progress that they weren't being given credit for.  They may be right.

Meanwhile, environmentalists weren't giving an inch:

"We agree with many of the findings and are happy farmers are stepping up," said Beth McGee, senior water quality scientist at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. "The only way we're going to restore the bay is to reduce agricultural pollution."

Source

Which is, of course, not strictly true.  Since agriculture only contributes about 33% to 43% of the nutrient pollution to the Bay, the equivalent cuts could be made in the the other primary sources (urban storm water and point sources i.e. sewage).  However, it would be extremely difficult.