Edge-of-field and conservation practice monitoring

In Vermont, and across the United States, unprecedented investments in agricultural conservation practice implementation have been made in the last decade, but these efforts have not yet yielded desired water quality results.

Stone staff are actively working to collect edge-of-field monitoring and end-of-tile data to document the effectiveness of field-based agricultural conservation practices. Stone typically applies a paired watershed study design to test the effects of Best Management Practices (BMPs) on event discharge and pollutant concentration and export in surface runoff. Data generated through edge-of-field monitoring activities are used by farmers to consider and weigh the relative benefits of potential conservation measures against the investment required for successful implementation.