Dairy farmers Paul and Candice Menke understand the value of land stewardship. Their farm was one of the first to enroll in the agricultural conservation pilot program sponsored by the New York City Watershed Ag Program. Recently they marked another environmental milestone by becoming the 100th contract enrolled in the Farm Service Agency's (FSA) New York Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).

CREP removes highly sensitive cropland along stream banks from production by planting the areas to grass and tree buffer strips. These buffers trap sediments and nutrient runoff, preventing the runoff from entering water bodies. Excessive siltation and nutrient loading in waterways contribute to poor water quality and threaten aquatic wildlife and their spawning grounds.

"It is quite the coincidence that I am the hundredth contract," said Paul. "I would have signed up earlier, but there was so much interest in the program I decided to wait."

The Menke farm is in the Cannonsville Watershed, which is part of the New York City Watershed. The farmstead sits on West Peakes Brook in the town of Meredith, approximately five miles above the confluence of the West Branch of the Delaware River.

Paul has been instrumental with CREP since its inception in Delaware County. He serves as Chairperson of the Delaware County FSA county committee. The committee reviews CREP applications for eligibility and ensures the practices are installed and maintained. There are now close to 125 approved CREP contracts protecting 1,000 acres of cropland, or the equivalent of 300 miles.

The Menkes' conservation odyssey began when the Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC) approached them in 1994 to become one of the first watershed farms enrolled in a program that promotes "best management practices" on farmland. They agreed to the project because of their commitment to maintain an environmentally friendly balance of animal numbers on their 230 acres of tillable cropland. They operate a 45-cow dairy, a small operation by today's standards.

One of the first projects the WAC installed was a milk house waste organic matter bed, the first of its kind in New York. The bed filters the effluence from the milk house. They also installed a barnyard water management system to control pasture runoff, a livestock crossing that removed cows from the stream, and subsurface drains to reduce overland water flows. A nutrient management plan is a key component to reduce fertilizer applications and distribute manure in an ecologically effective manner.

CREP was the final tool in the Menkes' conservation toolbox. The conservation project will provide an added layer of protection to the 1.5 miles of stream banks that run through the farm. Fencing will be erected to remove animals from the stream and limit their access to the stream banks. The grasses, shrubs, and trees planted in the buffer area will provide habitat for nesting birds and other wildlife habitat.

In return for eliminating the herd's stream access, CREP will finance an alternative watering system through the development of springs.

CREP is available only because of the partnership between New York City and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's FSA. FSA reimburses the farmer for 50 percent of eligible implementation costs. New York City is providing the remaining 50 percent of the practice costs along with technical assistance. In addition to annual rental payments, FSA issues incentive payments when a CREP contract is signed and conservation practices are established.

The Menkes' commitment to conservation extends beyond contracts and programs. Instead of planting rows of corn on their rolling acres, the farm is planted to native grasses. Switching to a grazing system eliminated plowing on the sloping hillsides and pesticide applications. Wildlife habitat has benefited from the eight plots of evergreen trees planted during the last 20 years on unproductive meadows. Turkeys, deer, and pheasants are frequently seen roaming the farm's hillsides. The Menkes also harvest select trees for lumber and firewood in an effort to maintain healthy woodlots.

The Menkes are committed to agriculture and the quality of life it provides. Paul was born on the multi-generation farm. Struggling with roller-coaster dairy prices and a limited land base, the Menkes are maximizing government programs to help preserve water quality and their farm. Development takes over when farmers leave the land. Out of county landowners now hold approximately 50 percent of the county's farmland.