Happy Fall 2022!
Opportunities abound in 2023 with new conservation opportunities for federal, state and community partners. This is exciting as we know that many resources will be directed to our nation's working lands. These resources combined with your talent, skill, and experience will benefit many as we provide the best conservation assistance to our shared customers. In many instances, our collaboration support with our common customers in West Virginia will continue to be a model for the country.
A few examples of the opportunities are the 2022 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and a renewed focus on Urban Agriculture/Community Scale Agriculture. Specifically, the BIL has provided West Virginia additional resources to address Watershed Planning and Dam Rehabilitation. The IRA will provide West Virginia with additional opportunities to support Climate Smart Agriculture and Forest Stewardship planning, practices, and partner expertise. The renewed focus on Urban Agriculture/Community Scale Agriculture will be a significant opportunity for our conservation partners to support a use of land that is very much part of our West Virginia farming heritage.
Another opportunity example includes a national mission to increase the inclusion, diversity, and equity through our delivery of partner supported programs and services. We too, will look to expand these opportunities. Additionally, the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) will provide more partner opportunities to address natural resource concerns. And finally, we have an ongoing opportunity for our partners to provide guidance through the State Technical Committee (STC). The STC continues to be a vital part of our locally-led conservation implementation. Our collaboration is imperative. The next STC meeting will be January 23rd, 2023.
In closing, I am hopeful that you are as excited about these opportunities as I am. Our work is valued and each of you is a valuable member of our team and programs. I know that we have the talent, skill, heart, and experience to benefit our region, our state, and our country for generations to come.
Respectfully,
Jon Bourdon
NRCS-WV State Conservationist
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Chico and Mary with their children
The National Organization of Professional Hispanic Natural Resources Conservation Service Employees (NOPHNRCSE) is the proud sponsor of the 2022 Hispanic Farmer of the Year Conservation Award. The award is presented to farmers or ranchers making exceptional efforts and exhibiting the highest commitment to conserving, enhancing, maintaining, and/or protecting our natural resources.
This award is open to all small farmers. To be eligible for this award, the nominee must meet the NRCS definition for Small Farmer. A small farm is a farm (ranch) having less than $250,000 gross receipts annually.
The awards committee uses a judging criterion with a predetermined points allocation for each category totaling 100 points.
- Conservation on the Farm 40 points
- Impact on the Community 20 points
- Conservation Involving Agriculture Leadership 20 points
- Economic Viability 20 points
The winning farm was announced during the NOPHNRCSE Training Conference, October 13.
We, Mary Oldham and Francisco "Chico" Ramirez, are excited to come full circle to live in and serve the Morgantown, West Virginia area. We moved back to Morgantown-Mary's hometown- in 2012. Prior to that we were living in Chico's home country of Honduras where Mary was a Peace Corps volunteer working with a women's agricultural cooperative and Chico was running his family farm and selling vegetables to supermarket chains. We bring different agricultural approaches and experiences to the table in our small but growing Mountain Harvest Farm, LLC.
We are blessed with the help and support of our friends, family, and Owl Creek Farm owners Del and Linda Yoder. We couldn't have launched this without you all - thank you!
We are committed to providing the quality and quantity desired of our customers using environmentally-friendly organic growing practices.
Thank you to those that have supported us so far! We look forward to sharing many years of healthy food and fellowship with you!
"Growing food is the common thread throughout the whole world. It connects everyone, across all party lines, all ethnic and religious differences."
Learn more about the Ramirez family on their website, mountainharvestfarmllc.com
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Submitted by Tom Basden, WVU Extension Specialist Nutrient Management
Fourth Workshop in Cabell County, soil health pit in foreground, winter crop seedlings on the table
The WVU Extension is providing the high tunnel and local food production training series in collaboration with USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The objective of the series is to improve high tunnel and knowledge of local food production methods by Agricultural Service Providers, ultimately to increase the productivity of WV specialty crop producers.
In 2022, there were two workshops in the Northern area and two in the Southern area of the state. These workshops provided professional development to NRCS agents, WVU Extension faculty, High School teachers and selected growers.
First and Second Workshop —The first two workshops were titled Setting the Stage for a High Tunnel Crop Production System. They were held in Monongalia county on May 11 and Boone county on May 25, 2022. A total of 45 participants (18 in the northern and 27 in the southern area) attended the workshops, and it had 5.5 contact hours at each location. Pre-and-post-tests were used to evaluate the knowledge gain in the workshops. The topics covered in the first two workshops and results of the evaluation tests were:
Third and Fourth Workshops —The third and fourth workshops were titled Fall Crop Transition, Review of Summer Nutrient and Pest Management. They were held in Marion County on August 25 and Cabell County on Sept 27, 2022. There were 17 participants in the northern area and 21 participants in the southern area. Each workshop had 4 contact hours. A survey after the workshops were used to evaluate the program and the results follow: Results for the Third Workshop— Fourteen participants completed the survey in the third workshop.
Demographics
Age: One trainee was 25-34 (7%); four were 35-45 (29%); three were 45 to 54 (21%); three were 55 to 64 (21%); two were 65-74 (14%); one did not answer (7%). Gender: Half the trainees indicated they were women (7) and half were men (6). None choose the other gender options. One did not respond to this question (7%). Level of Education: Trainees were asked to indicate the highest level of education that they have achieved. Two trainees had some college (14%), seven had a four-year degree (50%), and four had a graduate degree (28%). One did not respond to this question (7%).
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 To the question: Will you use the information provided from this workshop to improve your agriculture operation? Twelve trainees responded yes (85%), one responded maybe (7%) and one did not respond to the questions (7%). We are processing the results of the survey of the fourth workshop. Our next planned workshop will focus on micro-irrigation and will be held at Jackson Mill State Four H Camp Assembly Hall, November 3rd and if interested in attending contact Heather Grimes. Email is Grimes@mail.wvu.edu
Submitted by ASD’s Agroforestry Program Director, Katie Commender. Photo Credit: Stesha Warren, Virginia Tech's Kentland Farm, Whitethorn, VA.
Silvopasture at Kentland Farm, Whitethorn, VA
The USDA has awarded a generous grant to The Nature Conservancy and partners, including the Appalachian Sustainable Develpment (ASD) non-profit, with $64 million for the Expanding Agroforestry Production & Markets for Producer Profitability and Climate Stabilization project. The project aims to advance agroforestry in 38 states across the eastern United States and Hawaii and is funded by the USDA through the Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Initiative.
“We are grateful to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack for this transformative investment by the USDA into the agroforestry sector,” said Katie Commender, ASD’s Agroforestry Program Director. “This funding will catalyze significant private investments into the industry and increase farmers’ incomes, while simultaneously expanding carbon sequestration, soil health, biodiversity, and water quality.”
Despite the benefits, agroforestry currently represents less than 1% of U.S. agriculture. To increase access to capital, this innovative project will provide $40M in direct incentive payments to producers for tree planting, creating a national network of demonstration farms that will be used for education and outreach. Through regionalized technical assistance and farmer outreach efforts, this project will transform 30,000 acres into agroforestry systems over the next five years, thus building a foundation for scaling agroforestry nationally. Within 10 years, the model for this project could facilitate the adoption of climate-smart agroforestry practices such as alley cropping, silvopasture and windbreaks on 10% of U.S. farmland.
“With support from this grant, ASD's Agroforestry Program will be able to provide financial, technical, and marketing assistance to advance agroforestry adoption and profitability across Central Appalachia,” said Commender. “We will lead efforts to create a national brand for silvopasture-raised meat to help increase profitability, as a financial incentive for adoption. Increasing the demand for agroforestry commodities will cultivate new supply chains and develop markets for domestically produced climate-smart agroforestry crops.”
By combining the necessary incentives, outreach, and education through a distribution network of the leading NGOs, businesses, and researchers in the agroforestry space, project partners will increase capital investments in tree planting, thus increasing the supply of agroforestry commodities. Climate-smart commodities from agroforestry systems include nuts, fruits, timber, and products grown amongst the trees like annual and perennial crops and livestock such as beef and chicken.
“Climate change is the greatest environmental crisis of our time, and farmers are on the front lines. Agroforestry can mitigate the effects of climate change, and help our region adapt to its impacts. We are grateful for USDA’s support, and look forward to working with a network of innovative partners across the nation to tackle the climate crisis and advance agroforestry adoption,” said Commender.
Since 1995 ASD has been working to propel their mission to build a thriving regional food and agriculture system that creates healthy communities, respects the planet, and cultivates profitable opportunities for Appalachians. In the beginning ASD focused exclusively on 15 counties in northeast TN and southwest VA. Today their work has expanded to include partners in WV, eastern KY and southeast OH.
We look forward to launching this new project soon - stay tuned for more details! Click here to learn more about ASD.
ASD Funding Opportunity: ASD has funding to help two farmers in 2022 and up to 10 farmers in 2023 tap into their forest's potential for maple syrup production. If you have maple in your woodlands and would like to be considered for a free maple woodlot assessment to help get you started, please complete ASD’s Agroforestry Assistance Application today! https://www.asdevelop.org/programs-resources/agroforestry/
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Story and Videos by WVCA Communication Specialist, Davin White. Photos by NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, Becky Haddix.
Winners of the 2022 West Virginia Conservation Farm of the Year were announced at the October 18 West Virginia Conservation Partnership Conference luncheon in Flatwoods. Green Horizons Turf Farm took first place, while the Jason Meadows Farm took home second.
Green Horizons Turf Farm Family
Farmer J. Ware III of Green Horizons Turf Farm near Kearneysville operates the farm with his wife, Andrea, son, August, and daughter, Edy.
The Wares' farm was in the running against Jason Meadows' cow/calf farm at Ripley in Jackson County. Both farms have demonstrated a commitment to conservation practices that protect soil, land, water, and related resources.
Each year, one West Virginia farm receives the Conservation Farm of the Year honor after winning at the county, district, and area levels. Judges visited both farms in late August and graded the farmers on their use of best management practices and impact on ecological systems and community-based activities.
In addition to Green Horizons Turf Farm receiving a $1,000 award, J. Ware also will receive 200 hours, or three months, use of a John Deere tractor from Middletown Tractor Sales in Fairmont with an option to later purchase the tractor at a discounted rate. Brandon Thomas of Middletown Tractor Sales (MTS) also said each participant in the Conservation Farm of the Year program would be able to receive a 10 percent discount on MTS equipment.
On left: J. Ware and son, August. On right: Sod rolls in the harvester.
Green Horizons Turf Farm
The Wares currently grow and maintain more than 125 acres of turfgrass sod, and the operation is one of only two turf farms in West Virginia. J. Ware III contracts to sell his turf to PGA golf courses and country clubs in the mid-Atlantic region.
He is quick to dispel the idea that sod harvesting strips topsoil. He’s researched and cultivated growing practices that help his crop stand out and contribute to soil conservation.
He notes that topsoil is not removed with the sod, and that the turfgrass sod is left growing until a mature root system has been developed. After the sod is harvested, cover crops or soybeans are planted to build soil structure, replenish nutrients, and control erosion.
The Wares’ operation also includes hay, grain, and beef cattle.
They have implemented agronomic best management practices on their farm which include rotational grazing of cattle over nearly 88 acres, application of lime on 208 acres, pasture re-seeding, more than 2,800 feet of fencing, water pipeline for cattle, an irrigation system, precision soil sampling on 120 acres of sod fields, and more.
The Wares have been involved in the community and have shared their resources and knowledge, hosting agriculture field days, welcoming agriculture teachers and garden clubs to the farm, and sharing their knowledge and experience with local farmers about forage production, fertilizing, and harvesting. J. Ware also serves on the Jefferson County Planning Commission.
Each member of the Ware family contributes to the farm's operation. August Ware, age 8, has his own beef herd of seven cattle and planted his first pumpkin patch (half-acre) earlier this year.
The Jason Meadows Farm family
Jason Meadows Farm
Jason Meadows’ 520-acre farm in Ripley in Jackson County, which he co-operates with his son, Jace, was the West Area finalist on the statewide tour. Meadows practices rotational grazing on his farm, and the cattle are rotated each week so that the grass is not overgrazed which could cause erosion. Also, pasture division fence dividing the paddocks are necessary for rotational grazing.
Meadows plants corn and soybeans on his farm and rotates those crops, and then plants winter wheat for use as a cover crop after harvesting the soybeans or corn. Jason also no-till plants his crops to minimize soil disturbance and practices cross-slope farming which controls water runoff to prevent erosion.
During the spring, he uses manure that is stockpiled over the winter to enrich his fields and pastures. In the wet winter periods, he keeps cattle in the barns and out of the pastures to further protect vegetation and soil from erosion.
His barns are equipped with gutters that pipe stormwater to a creek running through the farm. Among many other practices, Meadows also uses lime and frost seeding to improve grass production on the farm.
Photos from the Meadows Farm
As part of his community outreach, he’s also welcomed participants with the Wounded Warrior Project to hunt on the farm during hunting season. “We’ve got some wheelchair-accessible cabins or hunting blinds for them, too,” he said. “They’ve been coming five, six years to the farm.”
Additionally, Jason has volunteered many hours to build fencing, bleachers and perform other site work on youth soccer, baseball and football fields, helped construct a new exhibit hall at the Jackson County Junior Fairgrounds, helped with mowing and maintenance at the Silverton United Methodist Church, helped install a generator at the Silverton Volunteer Fire Department, and sponsored truck pulls for FFA and a fundraiser for a local cancer patient.
Congratulations to both farms!
To be in the running for West Virginia Conservation Farm of the Year, each farm first had to win at the County, District and Area levels. The panel of judges consisted of WVDA Commissioner Leonhardt and officials from WVCA, NRCS, FSA, State Conservation Committee, West Virginia Division of Forestry, WVU Extension Service, and WVU’s Davis College of Agriculture Natural Resources and Design.
Link to Green Horizons Turf Farm Video
Link to Jason Meadows Farm Video
Front row from left: Michael Fiala, Emily Marstillier, Sarah Higgins, JosiLee Scott, Abby Clark, and Emma Jahns. Back row from left: Alexander Lawson and Abigail Clegg.
The WVU Soils Team was in Clemson, SC, October 17-20, to compete in the 2022 Southeast Regional Collegiate Soils Contest. The seven students from the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Design were among 61 students representing 11 different schools. The dry “red clay dirt” of the southern Piedmont landscapes proved to be a challenge, but three days of practice prepared the team for the unfamiliar soils and helped them calibrate their soil judging skills to the local conditions.
The contest was hosted by Clemson University. The students that traveled with the Team were Abigail Clark (Senior, Environmental Soil and Water Sciences), Abigail Clegg (Sophomore, Environmental Soil and Water Sciences), Michael Fiala (Junior, Environmental Microbiology), Emma Jahns (Senior, Agricultural & Extension Education), Alex Lawson (Senior, Wildlife & Fisheries Resources), Emily Marstiller (Freshman, Environmental Soil and Water Sciences), and JosiLee Scott (Sophomore, Environmental Soil and Water Sciences). Other schools that participated were Alabama A&M University, Auburn University, the University of Georgia, the University of Kentucky, Middle Tennessee State University, North Carolina State University, the University of Tennessee—Knoxville, Tuskegee University, Virginia Tech, and Western Kentucky University.
As always, the students embraced the hands-on, career-based learning offered through collegiate soil judging as they intensively studied soils that are unlike what they could experience on or around the WVU campus. In addition to honing their field methods—job skills that are highly desired by potential employers, the students also had opportunities to expand their social and professional networks, and learn about leadership, communication, and professionalism through involvement in soil judging.
Four of the WVU students placed in the top 25, with Abby Clegg and Josi Scott tied for 14th, Alex Lawson 21st, and Abby Clark 24th. Overall scores were tight, and the WVU Team finished seventh. The schools who finished in the top six and will represent the Southeast Region in the national contest are Auburn (first), Virginia Tech (second), Georgia (third), Tennessee—Knoxville (fourth), Western Kentucky (fifth), and North Carolina State (sixth).
“I am extremely proud of the accomplishments of these Mountaineers, and I hope that you will join me in congratulating them if you have them in any of your courses or if you interact with them in other ways. These students continue to be positive representatives of WVU and the Davis College when they travel. I believe this speaks to the quality of the mentoring that these students receive from the Division of Plant & Soil Sciences. It also reflects the overall strength of the academic programs across the Davis College.” — James A. Thompson, Ph.D., Professor of Soils and Land Use , Research Coordinator, National Soil Survey Center-Geospatial Research Unit, WVU Division of Plant and Soil Sciences.
Engaging Family Forest Owners to Enhance Songbird Habitat
Submitted by: Liz Brewer, Outreach Specialist, Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture. Photo Credit: Kyle Aldinger and Henning Stabins.
Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture (AMJV), Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), Weyerhaeuser, and NRCS-WV have partnered to launch a new outreach campaign in Fayette, Greenbrier, and Nicholas counties. Over 250 family forest owners near Weyerhaeuser forests received a letter informing them about conservation efforts and encouraged them to create a conservation plan for their own forests. Focusing outreach efforts on private lands adjacent to Weyerhaeuser will assist in creating a mixed-age forest landscape in a core conservation area for declining songbirds. Pictured: A landscape view of a Weyerhaeuser working forest in West Virginia. Photo courtesy of Henning Stabins.
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This effort is part of a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation awarded in 2021 to enhance songbird habitat through sustainable forest management and engaging private landowners. Three bird species that require diverse forests are focal in this project: the Golden-winged Warbler, the Cerulean Warbler, and the Wood Thrush. Family forest owners can play a critical role in enhancing habitat for the priority songbirds mentioned which ultimately benefits a diversity of other birds and wildlife species. Pictured: Weyerhaeuser field day with many of the partners on this project. Photo courtesy of Kyle Aldinger.
Additional partners on this project include American Bird Conservancy, West Virginia University, and West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. For more information, contact Liz Brewer at ebrewer@abcbirds.org.
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Welcome! We’re excited to unveil our new website that was launched on October 21.
It has been designed for you – the farmers, ranchers and forest landowners who use NRCS conservation programs and our partners who collaborate with us on data.
Link to NRCS-WV Website.
 The new NRCS site has been designed to support and enhance our mission by delivering relevant, timely, customer-focused information in an easy-to-navigate platform.
Key features include:
- It’s been designed using the U.S. Web Design System, so you’ll see a certain “family resemblance” among USDA and other federal websites, including farmers.gov.
- It’s accessible (or 508 conformant), meaning the site is designed for use by people with disabilities.
- It’s mobile responsive, meaning that it should work on a phone or tablet at easily as on a desktop computer.
Be sure to check out our:
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Guides and Instructions - Search by resource type, NRCS program, natural resource concern, and state.
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Getting Assistance - Learn more about available technical and financial assistance and how you can get support online as well as with the NRCS at your local Service Center.
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Conservation by State - Find information on NRCS programs, services and other information in your state.
If you can’t find something that you used to find on our website, contact Becky Haddix or Tim Hastings.
Appalachian Sustainable Develpment (ASD)
Environmental Defense Fund
USDA Farm Service Agency WV
WV Association of Conservation Districts
WV Department of Agriculture
WV Poultry Association
USDA Rural Development WV
US Environmental Protection Agency
WV Department of Health and Human Resources
WV National Guard
WV Rivers Coalition
WV Rural Water Association
WV University
WVU Potomac State University
WVU Potomac State University
WV Agricultural Land Protection Authority
WV Land Trust
US Fish and Wildlife Service
WV Division of Forestry
WVU Extension
USDA Forest Service
WV Association of RC&D Councils
WV Farm Bureau
WV Farmland Protection
WV Conservation Agency
American Bird Conservancy
The National Wild Turkey Federation
The Nature Conservancy
Trout Unlimited
WV Division of Natural Resources
WV Dept. of Environmental Protection
WV State University
Risk Management Agency
WVU College of Law
Send your submissions to rebecca.haddix@usda.gov
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