Windswept Farm: Beef, Horse & Hay

As a pilot farm in the East of Hudson watershed, the Colley’s Whole Farm Plan is one of the first in the area to be on its way to full implementation. With the Titicus Reservoir visible from the upper pastures of the farm, best management practices were targeted to the cow/calf beef operation. The centerpiece of this plan is a riparian buffer which serves as effective protection for hydrologically sensitive areas.

Last fall, animal fencing was installed to exclude livestock from stream areas. In addition, WAC designed new watering facilities to eliminate the need for the herd to travel long distances to the same single watering location each day. Not only is this rotational grazing system more sustainable, it encourages good grazing practices. Since calving is carried out in the open fields, pathogen risks are reduced by limiting direct access to hydrologically sensitive areas. Runoff from pastures and access roads are also controlled through a series of diversions, lined waterways and plantings that will help to reduce sediment and potential erosion concerns in the future.

While much of Westchester County continues to suburbanize, Colley’s Windswept Farm in North Salem remains relatively rural, in an area where existing farms board horses and produce orchard crops and hay. The Colleys carry out custom haying on 200 additional acres in the town, maintaining open space and providing food for horses and cattle on the remaining farms in the area.