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SCCC Students Learn about Agricultural Best Management Practices at Ideal Farms

Students in Dr. Larsson’s environmental science class at Sussex County Community College recently participated in an outdoor lab at Ideal Farms in Lafayette to learn how farming operations can make decisions to protect natural resources, like soil and water. Eric VanBenschoten and Kristine Rogers of the SCMUA-Wallkill River Watershed Management Group and Austin Drager of USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service toured the students around different areas of the farm so they could see how the farmers are working to protect the local environment. Students had an opportunity to see how tree buffers help control erosion and prevent pollution runoff from entering the river, how cow manure can be properly managed to prevent it from entering local waterways, and how shallow water habitat pools can be installed to provide a location where amphibians can lay their eggs in spring. The day capped off with the students installing dormant live cuttings of willow, dogwood, elderberry, and buttonbush around the pools. They were amazed that these “sticks” would be able to grow in the spring and cast shade around the shallow water habitat pools! USDA-NRCS and the SCMUA-Wallkill River Watershed Management Group are looking forward to organizing a similar-style outreach event with SCCC students next semester!