farm and land
SECLUSION FOR
environmental inclusion THE RUFFNERS ARE PLANNING TO INSTALL NINE WATERING TROUGHS IN THE FIELDS FOR CATTLE TO UTILIZE. FENCING OFF THE WATERWAYS WILL AIDE IN KEEPING CREEK BEDS FROM EROSION AND IMPROVE THE OVERALL HEALTH OF THE CATTLE. THIS YEAR, MUCH OF THE CREEK BEDS
SAVE THE DATE:
2020 customer events
HAVE BEEN DRY, GIVING THEM THE
OPPORTUNITY TO INSTALL FENCING WITH MORE EASE. ONCE THE WET SEASON
COMES ALONG, THE CREEKS ARE FULL TO THE BRIM, AND THE FENCING WILL KEEP CATTLE OUT. THE NEW CONSTRUCTION OF THE BED-PACK BARN HAS FED THE NEED FOR AUTOMATIC WATERERS TO BE INSTALLED IN DIFFERENT CATTLE GROUPINGS. DRILLING FOR WATER TO
ACCOMMODATE THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE PROJECTS ON THE FARM’S CHECK-OFF LIST TO REACH THEIR ENVIRONMENTALLYFRIENDLY GOAL. STORY AND PHOTOS BY ANDREA HAINES | MANY RESPONSIBLE LAND OWNERS TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE
VALUABLE ESSENTIALS WHEN IT COMES TO PROPERTY VALUE: NUTRIENT BASE, LONGEVITY OF ANIMAL INHABITATION, AND WATER SOURCES, TO NAME A FEW.
John and Holly Ruffner and family, along with their son, Cody who is a full-time caretaker of the farm, have some major plans for their Virginiabased property. The Page County land is nestled in Stanley, Virginia, home to Angus x Simmental cow and calves, and replacements. “We own around 500 acres of land and lease 850 acres,” explains John. “Our beef cattle numbers run about 275 head for the cow and calf operation.” For the past five years, John and his son have been setting the new project in motion on their farm. “Stream exclusion has already been implemented by some neighboring 10
| VOLUME 24 | ISSUE 4 | mafc.com
farmers,” expresses John. “We’ve been working with the local NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) to develop a plan to protect our waterways and build a bed-pack barn for our livestock to preserve the land.” As described in a press release by NRCS, “Farmers in 22 Virginia counties have applied for funding to help improve Chesapeake Bay water quality through livestock exclusion and forestry practices in targeted rivers and streams. The new Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project will focus on fencing, watering systems, and establishing/maintaining forested areas along waterways.”
John advises that the process takes some time. “We weren’t approved in the beginning,” he shares. “I would urge others not to give up on the process.” They can already see the benefits, even in the early stages of the project. “Our cattle won’t be muddy and feeding will be more convenient and controlled,” he says. “The groupings of animals will allow us to be able to keep tabs on health concerns, too.” This is referring to the new bed-pack barn currently in construction that they began building this year because of the extra wet season in 2018. John and Cody have visited other beef operations so that
