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As managers of our natural resources to efficiently produce registered Angus cattle, we take pride in the efforts we accomplish to do our part to preserve water quality on our property. Our farm is located in western Fauquier County, Virginia on the banks of Great Run. Great Run is a major tributary of the Rappahannock River which is located approximately one-half mile from our farm. The Rappahannock River flows into the Chesapeake Bay approximately 100 miles downstream from our farm. In addition to Great Run, there is also an intermittent stream that runs through the farm.
In order to do our part to maintain and improve water quality, we have implemented a number of conservation practices over the last several years. Our most important practice is the rotational grazing program we utilize. While rotational grazing is not new to us, we have increased the degree in which we have practiced it over the last several years. We currently have ten separate fields on our farm which are all supplied water in six different water troughs by either a well or a recently constructed pond. Both Great Run and the intermittent stream that runs through our farm are fenced so the cattle cannot enter them.
Six of the fields are fed water by one well that is located on a high point of the farm. Due to the expense to carry electric power to the site of the well, a solar-powered well pump is utilized to fill a 1,500-gallon reservoir. The water troughs are then filled by gravity flow as the cattle drink from them. The pond previously mentioned is approximately 2 acres in size and is also fenced so that the cattle cannot enter it. Below the dam is a water trough that supplies water to two fields. Besides providing water for the cattle, this pond provides runoff and flood control for the farm. In years to come we know the pond will also provide recreation and improve the aesthetics of our farm. Two other fields are provided water by the same well that provides water to our house.
In addition to keeping our cattle out of our waterways we pay particular attention to our fertilizer needs and the timing of the applications to minimize runoff. We do not allow our pastures to be overgrazed so that our soils remain intact. We will admit that this was difficult during the drought we recently had.
By conducting all of these conservation practices, we are doing our part to ensure that the quality of the water that enters our farm is the same or better when it exits our property. We recently were honored by being awarded the 2000 Conservation Farmer Award for Fauquier County.
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