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Farmers, public invited to Hampshire County farm conservation tourThree local farms will showcase their natural resource conservation practices to the public on Thursday, October 11
The farms, which have implemented conservation practices that protect soil and water resources, include an Easthampton grass-fed beef operation, a North Hatfield vegetable farm and a Hadley dairy farm. All of the farms have received technical and financial assistance through federal and state conservation programs. The tour is free; attendees may attend all or a portion and should provide their own transportation or carpool. For more information, call the Hampshire Conservation District at 413-585-1000, ext. 5 or visit www.ma.nrcs.usda.gov. “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.” “I hope that anyone interested in being a good steward of the land, whether they are a farmer or not, will take advantage of this opportunity and join us on the tour. They’ll learn about these operations and the roles NRCS and the Hampshire Conservation District play in natural resource conservation,” said Williams. Sign-up is now underway for one of the federal programs that will be highlighted on the tour: the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). With financial and technical assistance from NRCS, EQIP helps farmers improve production while protecting environmental quality by addressing such concerns as soil quality, grazing land conservation, irrigation efficiency and comprehensive nutrient management. Farmers interested in applying for EQIP this year are encouraged to attend to learn about the program. Itinerary2:30-3:00 pm 3:00-3:30 pm - Travel to Hatfield. 3:30-4:15 pm 4:15-4:40 pm - Travel to Hadley. 4:40-5:15 pm 5:15-5:30 pm - Travel to NRCS Service Center, Route 9 (Russell Street), Hadley 5:30-7:00 pm 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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HADLEY,
Mass. (October 4, 2007) – Anyone interested in learning how local farms are
protecting natural resources is invited to attend a farm conservation tour of
three Hampshire County farms on Thursday, October 11, from 2:30 pm to 5:15 pm.
The tour is hosted by the Hampshire Conservation District and the USDA Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). 
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