Business & Tech

Farmers Band Together To Cut Back On Nitrogen Fertilizers

A new program eliminates financial risk for farmers interested in trying the new conservation practices.

A group of farmers are taking steps to cut fertilizer use — and still ensure sustainable crop yields.

The water-quality improvement projects are part of a program being offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, American Farmland Trust, and AgFlex, a private company that minimizes farmers' risks when adopting new conservation practices.

With nitrogen loaded waters a critical issue on the East End, concerns have been raised about the quality of drinking water, as well as protecting the Peconic Estuary and the Long Island Sound.

Of the 35 farmers farmers participating in the program, 16 sweet corn and potato farmers are testing a new controlled-release fertilizer, which is designed to break down over time, according to the plant’s need for nutrients.  Conventional fertilizers can dissolve during heavy rains and enter local water supplies.

The farmers are enrolled in the BMP Challenge, a program developed by American Farmland Trust and AgFlex to eliminate financial risk as a barrier to farmers’ adoption of new, green conservation practices.

Introduced to 10 Suffolk County sweet corn growers in 2012, the program pays farmers cash if yield and income are slashed due to the new conservation practice, such as use of controlled release nitrogen fertilizer. 

"Farmers in Suffolk County are specialty crop producers who have farmed this land for generations," said Becky Wiseman, agricultural environmental stewardship coordinator of CCE. "They are as invested in water quality as anyone, because their families drink the water, too. This program provides risk protection for farmers interested in reducing their nitrogen fertilizer use, but who are concerned about possible yield losses from adopting a new practice."

Martin Sidor, whose family has farmed potatoes on the North Fork since 1908, said the new controlled-release fertilizer fits well in his planting and fertilizing plan. "It’s very user-friendly," said Sidor. "I have seen crops that store better, and I have not seen one deficiency in the field through all this time."



Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here