Today, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and Perdue Farms are sharing the results of a three-year pilot project proving that when financial and technical barriers are eliminated, conservation adoption skyrockets. Our initiative delivered over $2.5 million in on-farm conservation investments, across 30 farms in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware. By providing voluntary, zero-out-of-pocket solutions, we achieved an extraordinary farmer adoption rate proving that responsible food production and environmental stewardship can thrive together at scale.

A vegetative buffer for pastured birds. The switchgrass is critical in capturing fan dust on poultry farms.

For over a decade, the Alliance has worked closely with dairy and poultry operations to craft on-the-ground environmental solutions that keep farms operational and profitable. Part of this strategy involves partnering with agribusiness to balance the need for healthy food sources, while protecting and giving back to our natural resources. To reach these goals, many food companies have set ambitious environmental footprint targets to reduce their impact, however, when these goals meet on-farm realities, sustainability programs often struggle to bridge the gap.

Long before supply chain sustainability became an industry buzzword, Perdue Farms was setting the benchmark. By partnering with the Alliance early on, they took a visionary approach to corporate responsibility recognizing that true environmental stewardship requires direct, proactive investment in their independent growers.

Since 2009, Perdue and the Alliance have collaborated through ‘Project Clean Stream’, by removing trash and litter from local waterways. This initiative was a catalyst into looking deeper into the operational opportunities we had to support their farmer network. In the spirit of keeping farmers at the center, we went directly to them to ask them where we could best provide support. Through regional farmer councils, we learned that the growers in Pennsylvania were in most need. Powered by this feedback, we built a voluntary program braided into the fabric of poultry production itself.

Real environmental change across the agricultural supply chain doesn’t start with regulatory mandates, it starts with trust. Perdue’s flock advisors have built long-term relationships with growers and were able to connect them to technical experts such as the Alliance. Flock advisors spend significant time working closely with farms throughout the state, and they understand the unique needs and personalities of the farms they manage. This pre-existing relationship provided trust and understanding when meeting with interested farms. Perdue was able to connect us to the growers with the greatest environmental needs. This network allowed us to reach more farmers at an accelerated rate.

To date, the partnership has installed 44 Best Management Practices on working poultry farms such as manure facilities, stormwater and heavy use area improvements, and over 5,000 trees planted around streams and poultry facilities. The waiting list for assistance continues to grow in anticipation of the next phase.

A new facility designed to compost mortalities under cover

Initial funding was awarded through a grant from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). By leveraging other technical support and financial cost share through USDA’s NRCS and local Conservation Districts, our team was able to capitalize on additional resources to help more growers.

These practices resulted in reduced nutrients and erosion making its way into the air and local waterways. Removing nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, is crucial for preserving water quality and safeguarding downstream aquatic wildlife. Native vegetation also sequesters carbon, provides ecological resilience to the landscape, and creates healthier communities.

Before (left) and after (right) of a vegetative buffer planting on a large swath of grass surrounding the farm. The native vegetation reduces mowing needs for the farm, protects the house from weather, and provides habitat for pollinators.

Nature-based practices such as vegetative environmental buffers (VEBs) are rooted in 30+ years of poultry science and environmental research. Dr. Paul Patterson, professor emeritus from Penn State University contributed VEB research findings and planting design philosophy that supports poultry house function, animal welfare, and disease mitigation. Species were carefully selected based on site conditions and purpose intended in reference to other farm facilities or open spaces. Vegetative environmental buffers are often overlooked but work the landscape through capturing dust and ammonia, while simultaneously creating vital pollinator habitats on land that previously lacked diversity of species.

The practices also help support farm profitability through a myriad of ways. For example, manure sheds aren’t just for clean water; they give farmers operational control over when to spread manure based on crop nutrient cycles, saving time and fertilizer costs. Trees and shrubs lower barn heating and cooling expenses by offering shade and windbreaks.

A new manure storage which will help the grower be able to store manure and compost under cover, preventing any runoff of nutrients.

The reception of these conservation practices by the farmers themselves has been greatly received. A 75% success rate is almost unheard of in voluntary conservation. It is proof that farmers are more than willing to participate when given the opportunities and the risk is removed. Conservation practices can be extremely cost-prohibitive, and require a large time commitment to implement. We designed our program to provide streamlined results. For example, in the case of new plantings, the Alliance provided 3 years of maintenance to offset any additional labor needs, so that farmers can continue to focus on their day-to-day operational success.

Agriculture and environmental goals can go hand in hand. When agribusiness invests in their growers, the entire watershed wins. This program elevates the baseline of environmental standards across the industry.

The takeaway for the broader agribusiness industry is clear: when you remove risk and build incentives into payment systems, farmers are eager to lead the way. This model has the power to change our food systems. Through this partnership, we created a supply-chain-wide approach to on-farm conservation that empowers farmers to implement sustainable practices they otherwise couldn’t afford.

As our initial pilot project with Perdue winds down, we are excited to take lessons learned beyond the poultry footprint. The next phase expands our focus across the broader agricultural supply chain, engaging with grain growers who produce the feed that powers the region’s poultry industry. By extending soil health initiatives and habitat creation to grain fields, we are building a truly comprehensive conservation pipeline extending across the wider Chesapeake Bay watershed, including Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. This 3-year project serves as a scalable model for other agricultural sectors across the U.S.

If you want to learn more about our initiatives, or learn how you can join this momentum, contact Brittany Smith at bsmith@allianceforthebay.org.

The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Government or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and its funding sources. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government, or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation or its funding sources.

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