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FeatureConservation practices highlighted on Hampshire County farm tour
HADLEY, Mass. (October 12, 2007) – More than a dozen people interested in learning how local farms are protecting natural resources attended a farm conservation tour yesterday hosted by the Hampshire Conservation District and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The featured farms, which have implemented conservation practices that protect soil and water resources, include an Easthampton grass-fed beef operation, a Hatfield vegetable farm and a Hadley dairy farm. All of the farms have received technical and financial assistance through federal and state conservation programs. Bill Chicoine's beef farm on Oliver Street in Easthampton was the first stop on the tour. Chicoine explained his conservation practices, which include prescribed grazing, fencing, brush management and no-till planting. Mary Johnson, Director of the Accelerated Conservation Planning Partnership (ACPP), an initiative of the NRCS, the Mass. Department of Agricultural Resources and the Mass. Association of Conservation Districts, described how she assisted Chicoine with conservation planning.
The group then moved on to Ed Malinowski & Sons vegetable farm on West Street in West Hatfield. Owner Rich Malinowski and NRCS Civil Engineering Technician Paul Benjamin discussed the agrichemical mixing facility, irrigation pond, sprinkler irrigation system, and nutrient management practices installed with NRCS assistance. "Without NRCS' help this wouldn't be here today," said Malinowski of the irrigation pond, which helped him weather this summer's dry conditions and conserve water. John Devine's dairy farm on Knightly Road in Hadley was the last stop on the tour. Devine's conservation practices include a waste storage facility, wastewater treatment strip, roof runoff management system. These practices, along with a comprehensive nutrient management plan, are helping to protect water quality and prevent soil erosion. “This farm conservation tour is a great way for the public to see a snapshot of the good work that forward-looking, local farmers are doing to protect our natural resources with the help of NRCS and the Hampshire Conservation District,” said Gordon Williams, Chair of the Hampshire Conservation District board of supervisors. “Their efforts will also help them remain competitive in the marketplace.”
“The tour participants, farmers and non-farmers alike, learned about these operations and the roles NRCS and the Hampshire Conservation District play in natural resource conservation,” said Dwane Coffey, District Conservationist for the NRCS field office in Hadley. The Hampshire Conservation District is one of 14 conservation districts in Massachusetts, established under state law to carry out programs for the conservation and wise management of soil, water and related resources. Each district is governed by a board of supervisors – locally elected citizens who volunteer their time and leadership to the conservation effort. The Natural Resources Conservation Service is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that helps people conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment. NRCS has seven Massachusetts field offices in Greenfield, Hadley, Holden, Hyannis, Pittsfield, Westford, and West Wareham, which work with local conservation districts and other partners to serve farmers and landowners throughout the commonwealth.
MEDIA CONTACT: Diane Baedeker Petit |
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