Clean Water Act to bring big changes on the farm.

The article focuses on Clean Water Act that will soon impact agriculture from California to Maine. Under the new conservation title of the farm bill, growers can be rewarded for writing and adopting best management plans. Where extension once recommended applying the estimated amount of nitrogen needed preplant, banks said growers are now advised to apply half the crops estimated. The newly developed agricultural technology featuring GPS directed grid sampling, aerial imaging and variable rate application technology should go a long way toward preventing nitrogen from getting to waterways.