The PA Association of Conservation Districts Inc. Monday awarded the operators of three farms within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed the Clean Water Farm Award. The honor is annually awarded to farmers who manage their daily farm operations in an environmentally conscious manner that helps to protect Pennsylvania’s water quality.

This year’s award recipients are from Cumberland, Sullivan, and Blair Counties.

“These three farming families are being honored today for going above and beyond what is required of them by law to reduce pollution and improve water quality,” said PACD President Jack Tressler.

“Farmers are taking proactive steps to ensure there is enough clean water for future generations. By protecting their local waterways, they are protecting the Chesapeake Bay,” added Tressler.

2013 Clean Water Farm Award Recipients are:

-- Weary’s Dairy (Cumberland County): Weary’s Dairy in Newville, PA is operated by Boyd, Brian, and Brandon Weary. They have 375 cows, heifers and calves and 400 acres of cropland. The farm has a long history of implementing conservation practices to protect the nearby Conodoguinet Creek.

Weary’s conservation practices include a large animal mortality composter, cover crops, and 7 years of continuous no-till which has increased residue on cropfields to improve soil health. The combination of all these practices helps the Weary’s manage the farm in a way that reduces runoff of nutrients and sediment.

-- D&D Hottenstein Farm (Sullivan County): The D&D Hottenstein Farm in New Albany, PA is owned and operated by brothers, Dennis and David Hottenstein and managed by Wess Hottenstein. The beef and dairy farm includes 500 acres of cropland. The operation practices no-till corn production and cover crops on corn silage ground.

Many best management practices are used at D&D Hottenstein Farm including milk house waste transfer and treatment, stream bank fencing, stream buffers, and heavy use area protection. This farm sets the standard in Sullivan County for what a sustainable operation can be while protecting the environment. The Hottensteins were unable to attend the awards luncheon.

-- Burket Falls Farm (Blair County): Burket Falls Farm in East Freedom, PA includes approximately 300 acres of ground for crop production and 98 acres of pasture. The dairy operation houses 120 adult dairy cows and 150 heifers and calves. The Burkets are known worldwide for their fine genetics of Polled Holstein Cows. Best management practices implemented on the farm include a 6 month manure storage system, milk house waste piping, roof gutters, water control structures, and no-till planting. Through their conservation practices, the Burkets, have helped to not only reduce and control the amount of sediment leaving their farms, but improved the water quality of local streams as well.

The Clean Water Farm award was initiated in 1986. Recipients of the award are nominated by their local county conservation districts. This annual award program is coordinated by the Pennsylvania Chesapeake Bay Education Office, administered by PACD.

The awards are sponsored jointly by the Department of Environmental Protection's Chesapeake Bay Program and the Department of Agriculture to recognize farmers who implement Best Management Practices.

The PA Chesapeake Bay Education Office conducts numerous activities promoting the theme, "We All Live Downstream."

NewsClips:

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7/22/2013