SKANEATELES — On Aug. 25, the Skaneateles Lake Watershed Ag Program (SLWAP) contracted with CNY Drone Services to apply cover crop seed on growing corn fields.
Cover crops protect soil from erosion and promote soil health.
This is the first time in Central New York that drone technology was used in this application.
The main goal is to establish a cover crop before the crop is harvested.
Rainy weather conditions can delay the corn harvest or cover crop planting after the harvest, thereby reducing the soil protection benefit that cover crops provide during the winter.
The targeted agricultural fields are in the Shotwell Brook subwatershed, located in the vicinity of Pork Street, which is a high priority for the SLWAP to protect water quality in Skaneateles Lake.
Planting of cover crops with the drone technology will allow for a quick establishment of a “green carpet” of growing plants as enhanced protection for this great resource.
The program’s mission is to conduct a cost-effective, innovative program for the farming community that supports the high drinking water quality standards of Skaneateles Lake.
The Skaneateles Lake Watershed Agricultural Program is a cooperative effort between the City of Syracuse, the Soil & Water Conservation Districts (SWCD), and Cornell Cooperative Extension associations of Onondaga, Cortland and Cayuga counties, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Skaneateles Lake watershed farmers. Principal funding is provided by the City of Syracuse.
For more information contact SLWAP Farm Planner Eric Jensen at 315-457-0325 or email [email protected] or visit our Onondaga Co SWCD office location at 6680 Onondaga Lake Parkway, Liverpool, NY 13088.
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© 2021 Community Media Group, LLC - 2501 James St. Syracuse, NY 13206
© 2021 Community Media Group, LLC - 2501 James St. Syracuse, NY 13206
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