On Farm Sustainability: A Poultry Growers Perspective

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On Farm Sustainability A Poultry Growers
Perspective

• Arthur Halterman
• Baker, West Virginia

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Watershed Facts

• Lost River Native Trout Stream
• Lost River becomes lost near Wardensville, WV
• Resurfaces in Wardensville about 3 miles away
• Drains to Chesapeake Bay
• Largest poultry producing watershed in State

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History of Family on Farm

• Family ownership of the farm 1932
• Grandfather raised poultry, cattle, sheep hogs
• Father began farm operations in 1952
• I began operating the farm in 1986

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History of Poultry on Farm

• Grandfather started as an independent poultry
  grower, then began raising birds for Shawnee
  Milling Co of Petersburg, WV.
• Father started out with broilers. Switched to
  turkeys with Shawnee and then with Rockingham,
  Rocco and WLR.

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My Role on the Farm

• Raised broilers for Rocco while in college
• After taking over farm, I brooded range turkeys
  for Rocco
• In 1991, I began rising breeders for WLR- now
  Pilgrims Pride

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Current Operation Overview

• Raise 15,000 breeders in 2 houses
• 70 head of beef cattle
• 140 acres of grassland

• 190 acres woodland
• 7 acres of riparian area and wetlands

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Community Involvement

• 2008 US Egg and Poultry Association Family Farm
  Environmental Excellence Award
• 2006 WV Poultry Association Environmental Award
  Winner
• 2003 Recipient of WV Primary Environmental
  Educator
• Member of WV Farm Bureau and WV Poultry
  Association
• Active Ruritan and Parks Commissioner

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Environmental Practices

• One of first producers to sign up for Potomac
  Land Treatment Watershed Project (PL-534)
• Litter shed composter
• Partnership between federal, state and local
  governments to make water quality improvements to
  the land within the Potomac River Drainage

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Potomac Headwaters Land Treatment Watershed
Project (PL534)

• 10 Year Project completely voluntary
  participation addressing nutrients within Potomac
  Valley
• Special allocation of money though legislation
• Focused on manure and nutrients from livestock
  operations

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PL-534 Accomplishments

• 14 M dollars worth of agricultural improvements
  on over 300 ag operations
• Nutrient management, waste storage, buffers,
  relocation of livestock feeding areas

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Halterman Voluntary Practices

• Maintaining manure spreader calibration
• Preserving riparian buffers in hay fields
• Sustaining practices from past programs
• Integrated Pest Management
• Storm water management around poultry houses

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CREP

• Signed up for CREP in 2005
• 3840 Feet of stream bank fencing
• Planted 850 trees
• Partnered with US Fish and Wildlife partners for
  Wildlife to install 5.2 acres of riparian buffer
• ½ mile of stream bank protected
• ½ acre riparian tree planting
• Partnering with Cacapon Institute to monitor and
  perform research on low cost deer fence project

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Environmental Practices are Important

• Commitment to lifelong teaching about agriculture
  and the environment
• Goal is to leave land in better condition for
  next generation
• Showing others that farmers are committed to
  protecting the environment will help guard the
  farming community from future regulations
• There can be a partnership between the
  agricultural and environmental community

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Future Practices

• Looking at alternative energy such as solar or
  wind
• Working to coordinate voluntary buffers on 7,300
  linear feet of small stream in Baker community
• Designating 7 acres of streamside property to be
  used as outdoor classroom for schools and
  community to promote environmental education

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Baker Run Conservation Society

• Founded one of the first watershed associations
  in the State of WV
• Currently serving as President of this group
• Partnering with many groups to bring educational
  opportunities and make environmental improvements
  within the watershed

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Chesapeake Bay and WV Farmers

• Local farmers were involved in the Chesapeake Bay
  program and working in developing the local
  tributary strategies
• Farmers are willing to improve local watersheds
  which consequently improve the Bay

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Keys to Success

• Education is key to sustainability
• Regulation is not the answer
• More cost share is needed
• Programs need flexibility
• Farmers need to participate in programs
• Practices not only help environment but also
  improve farm production

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Agriculture and the Environment Do Work Together!