Davis Farm

When asked to name a farm that would represent its accomplishments for 2004, WAC’s Whole Farm Planning teams identified the Davis Farm. This 500-acre farm in Kortright operates as a dairy with about 90 cows and an equal number of young stock. The farm is run by Cecil and Carol Davis and their sons, Cecil Jr. and David, with the vision of maintaining a profitable, safe and attractive business that allows them the satisfaction of self-employment and working outdoors. At present, field crops of corn, alfalfa-grass, hay and silage are grown, with plans to expand if necessary to accommodate the younger generation if they choose to enter the business in the future.

One of the main goals of the Davis Whole Farm Plan was to improve manure handling. The Plan was created by the Davis’ together with Garry Nightingale of USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service and WAC’s Jim Hilson. To address high levels of phosphorus on the farm, the Whole Farm Plan called for the installation of a manure storage facility. With limited winter access to the fields, many of which were at high risk for erosion, the farm needed a safe place to store manure until spreading in spring.

To reduce the risks of pathogens like cryptosporidium and giarda from entering the water supply, calf health conditions were improved. Whereas before they were housed in a poorly ventilated area of the barn, separate hutches now keep the calves dry, happy and healthy while allowing the farmer to separate and spread young stock manure in lower risk areas.

The farm’s Nutrient Management Plan maps out the most environmentally safe time and place to do that spreading, which can now take place a few times per year as opposed to everyday. Dale Dewing, Cornell Cooperative Extension Nutrient Management Team Leader, comments, “The Davis’ have successfully followed their Nutrient Management Plan for the past few years, submitting their records every year for review, which has enabled them to accumulate a cost-share called the Nutrient Management Credit. They use this credit to offset the extra costs of owning and operating the manure handling equipment vital to carrying out the plan.”

Excluding cows from the stream and stream banks was another main goal of this Whole Farm Plan. Through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), the Davis’ were able to install about 16.4 acres of riparian forest buffers along Wright Brook which f lows into the West Branch of the Delaware River and eventually, the Cannonsville Reservoir. This entailed planting a variety of trees and shrubs on 11.8 acres including white pine, Norway spruce, white spruce and tamarack, as well as bayberry, cranberry, elderberry, and hazelnut.

In addition, an alternative spring-based watering system was established for the livestock, and fencing installed to direct them away from sensitive areas. Julian Drelich of USDA NRCS coordinated the project with Karen Clifford of Delaware County Soil and Water District who helped procure the plantings. “With the project now complete,” Julian states, “the CREP area is a long, narrow stretch that protects all the watercourses on this farm.”