Massachusetts Water Watch Partnership

Project Leader: Jerome Schoen

Effective natural resource management policy and practice will always require a sound grasp of scientific principles underlying ecosystem function, access to current and pertinent information on ecosystem health and influencing factors, and an understanding of how to apply this knowledge and information in political, social and individual practices that affect the wellbeing of natural resources. A primary focus of the annual Water Resources Research Center conference is to bring together researchers and practitioners to share their knowledge and perspectives and to explore strategies for the effective translation of scientific knowledge into resource management, protection and restoration programs. This conference will continue to provide such a forum over the next five years.

Extension program related to this project: Natural Resources & Environmental Conservation

Sustainable Greenhouse Management

Project Leader: Tina Smith
In MA, nursery and greenhouse production has increased 46% since 1992 and is ranked first among the state’s agricultural commodities (MA Dept. of Ag Resources, NASS). Much of this increase is attributable to farmers transitioning to greenhouse crops in their businesses to increase income. Plant sales generate an estimated $763 million in Massachusetts. Floriculture production is also the basis for many associated horticultural industries such as plant and seed propagators, product suppliers and service industries. Combined, these companies provide a considerable economic impact to the economy of Massachusetts. The industry also affects our quality of life and the environment.

Extension program related to this project: Agriculture & Landscape

Sustainable Cranberry Production

Project Leader: Hilary Sandler
The cranberry industry in Massachusetts faces many challenges. In the past ten years, growers have gone from receiving record high prices for their fruit to record low prices. Although the industry has rebounded somewhat, the focus to remain economically and environmentally sustainable has sharpened. It is anticipated that the industry may lose some acreage due to attrition and that smaller growers may sell land to other parties. As with other farmers, energy costs are rising quickly, impacting the bottom line. Growers must develop and adopt innovative technology to remain competitive. They must understand the biology of cranberry pests to properly use new chemicals.

Extension program related to project: Agriculture & Landscape

Sustainable Turf Management

Project Leader: Mary Owen
In the highly populated northeastern United States, turf-covered surfaces collectively comprise an integral part of our communities: home, business and industrial lawns; parks and cemeteries; public and private sports fields; municipal, private and public school grounds; golf courses; utility and roadside turf; sod farms; and various other open spaces. Property values, safety of youth and adult sports participants, protection of environmental resources especially water resources, economic viability of businesses and communities, and potential human and non-target exposure to turf management materials may all be impacted by turf management practices.

Extension program related to this project: Agriculture & Landscape

Nutrient Management: Livestock and Crops

Project Leader: Masoud Hashemi

Project Year: 2009

The crops, dairy, livestock, and equine industries are important economic contributors to the Massachusetts economy, both directly and indirectly through the services and industries they support. Together the dairy and livestock farmers manage more than 130,000 acres of hay, pasture and corn, contributing to open space that is important to both non-farm residents and tourism. Massachusetts also has a sizable equine industry with a horse population of more than 45,000, with more than 10,000 horse owners. The UMass Extension Nutrient Management: Livestock and Crops Project provides educational opportunities to farmers, livestock producers and horse owners to increase their knowledge of environmental issues and their ability to reduce the threat of pathogens and nutrient loss from barns, stables, fields and pastures.

The project focuses on reducing the risk of non-point source pollution from all crop, livestock, and horse farms through the development and voluntary adoption of Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans and principles by farmers. An additional goal is finding management alternatives that, when implemented, help to ease the burden of increased prices of grains and nitrogen fertilizer. Educational activities include: on-farm demonstrations, field meetings, workshops, facts sheets, and consultation. Animal operation farms, including beef cattle, dairy, goat, hog, horse, and sheep, occur in almost all watersheds. The project therefore also has potential to reduce the threat to water quality in many communities.

This project is part of the Agriculture & Landscape program

Plant and Soil Diagnostic Services

Project Leader: Bess Dicklow

The vegetable production industry faces many challenges. These include new and more severe plant diseases, introduced and invasive pests, and expanding range of pests as a result of climate change; the need for healthy and resource-efficient technologies that provide long-term stewardship of soil, water and energy; extreme development pressure and high land values; competition from regional, national and international suppliers; establishing new farmers to carry on the knowledge and culture of farming. To remain viable, this industry needs cutting edge research that unites basic scientific investigation with applied and practical solutions, new and effective marketing strategies, and well-educated farmers who are ready for the changes of the next fifty years.   Health and environmental risks from pesticides and fertilizers should be minimized using new technologies and products, without compromising crop quality or net costs. Water and soil conservation practices are key to providing healthy crops while conserving the resource base for agriculture.

Extension program related to this project: Agriculture & Landscape