Earth Day is Every Day for Conservationists

Many Virginia farmers understand that good conservation leads to cleaner water, healthier livestock, and more productive soils for crops, grazing land, woodland, wetlands and wildlife.  In short, taking care of the earth is what conservation farming is all about. 

Last year, farmers developed conservation plans to cover more than 200,000 acres of cropland and grazing land. By using conservation practices, they reduced soil erosion by nearly 700,000 tons.  To protect water quality in local streams, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay, more than 230 farmers have applied a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus runoff. 

Top conservationists are located in the eastern, western, northern and southern parts of the state.

In the Shenandoah Valley, NRCS District Conservationist Bill Patterson works with father and son farmers Donnie and Mikey Atwood.  With NRCS guidance, they have installed nearly a dozen conservation practices on their beef cattle operation.
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In the east, NRCS District Conservationist Brian Saunders worked with landowner Bill Owens to turn 175 acres of open space into a long-leaf pine operation to benefit wildlife.  
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In southwest Virginia, NRCS District Conservationist Tom Smith worked with Wanda Partyka to put five conservation plans on her newly purchased farm to address all resource concerns.
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