Farming for the future

Farming for the future

We talk a lot about what the future of farming looks like. There was a time when terms like aquaculture, urban farming, and hydroponics were looked at with skepticism, but today, they are commonplace across the industry. And now, we are constantly asking ourselves, “What’s next?”

It’s undeniable that new forms of agriculture are critical to the future of our industry, but just as important are the farmers and ranchers who are working land and raising livestock in ways that consider what is best for the future. The four customers we feature in this issue of the Leader have implemented practices into their operations that help them ensure they are doing their part to protect the environment and leave it better than they found it.

Glen and Linda Krall of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania are one example. From the start, they’ve been implementing conservation practices on their crop farming operation. This includes the use of cover crops, stream bank fencing, and more.

In Frederick, Maryland, brothers Donnie and Charlie Lambert of Springview Farm take pride in caring for their animals and land. In 2017, the brothers upgraded their waste storage system to be more environmentally-friendly. As active members of their community, Donnie and Charlie always consider what they can do best for everyone.

Fox Chase Farm, owned and operated by Terry Baker in Millsboro, Delaware, made changes to his operation after a collapsed poultry house catastrophe. As a result, Terry and a business partner formed Greener Solutions, which provides freezers to poultry farms as a mortality management solution.

And lastly, we feature the Ruffner family of Stanley, Virginia. Over the past five years, John Ruffner and his son, Cody, have been working with local organizations to develop a plan to protect their community’s waterways. The family is always looking for ways to impact the environment in a positive way.

This issue also includes an article from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on conservation practices, written by Kate Zook, a program analyst with the Office of Energy and Environment Policy. Additionally, we announce our 2020 calendar photo winners and include an overview of some fun events we have planned for our members next year.

And, in our own effort to practice conservation, this is our first ever digital-only issue. We’d love to hear your feedback, and ideas for how we can better your Leader-reading experience. On behalf of the entire Farm Credit family, we wish you a safe and happy holiday season!

Tom Truitt