Indiana Ag Connection - CTIC's Conservation in Action to Tour Chesapeake Bay

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CTIC's Conservation in Action to Tour Chesapeake Bay
Indiana Ag Connection - 03/20/2018

The 11th annual Conservation in Action Tour, hosted by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), West Lafayette, Ind., will take place near the country's largest estuary, the Chesapeake Bay, in Annapolis, Md., on July 10 and 11.

The tour will give attendees a front row view of how the area is leading the way in innovative conservation to improve water quality. The tour will also showcase the conservation practices that farmers have implemented to improve our environment both at the local level and downstream.

"Our 11th Conservation in Action Tour will highlight the maritime setting of Annapolis and give insight into the behind the scenes work that has helped protect the Chesapeake Bay," said Chad Watts, CTIC's executive director. "Our goal is to highlight conservation success and introduce our tour participants to the innovators and the diverse partnerships that help drive positive change in water quality in an area of such importance."

Attendees can expect to visit thriving, profitable farms who are leading the way by going above and beyond when it comes to conservation agriculture. We'll see those in action at our tour stops, which include:

- Hutchison Farms: The Hutchison Brothers grow corn, soybeans, wheat, barley, peas and lima beans for processing, and cucumbers for pickling. Their home farm sits on the Tuckahoe River and showcases advanced nutrient management practices including Greenseeker, bioreactors and water control structures.

- Councell Farms: Chip Councell is a renowned 10th generation farmer both on the eastern shore and around the world for his nutrient management plan. Councell's farm consists of over 2,000 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat, fresh market vegetables and timber. The farm includes an agri-tourism operation offering a fruit and vegetable stand, an annual straw maze, and a pick-your-own-pumpkin patch. In 2015, the Councell family was inducted into Maryland's Agriculture Hall of Fame.

"These farmers have taken the charge to protect Chesapeake Bay seriously, voluntarily going above and beyond the regulations to use practices that will not only benefit water quality, but also protect productivity and profitability on the farm," Watts said. "They are living proof that agriculture can thrive in the face of regulation."

Tour sponsorship opportunities are now available. For more information, contact Watts, watts@ctic.org or call 765-494-9555.

For information, including registration, please visit www.ctic.org/CIATours.

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