On Farm Sustainability: On Farm Sustainability: A Poultry Growers A Poultry Growers

PerspectivePerspective

Arthur HaltermanArthur Halterman

Baker, West Baker, West Virginia Virginia

Watershed Watershed FactsFacts

Lost River – Native Trout StreamLost River – Native Trout Stream Lost River becomes “lost” near Wardensville, WVLost River becomes “lost” near Wardensville, WV Resurfaces in Wardensville about 3 miles awayResurfaces in Wardensville about 3 miles away Drains to Chesapeake BayDrains to Chesapeake Bay Largest poultry producing watershed in StateLargest poultry producing watershed in State

History of Family on History of Family on FarmFarm

Family ownership of the farm – 1932Family ownership of the farm – 1932 Grandfather raised poultry, cattle, sheep Grandfather raised poultry, cattle, sheep

& hogs& hogs Father began farm operations in 1952Father began farm operations in 1952 I began operating the farm in 1986I began operating the farm in 1986

History of Poultry on History of Poultry on FarmFarm

Grandfather started as an independent Grandfather started as an independent poultry grower, then began raising birds poultry grower, then began raising birds for Shawnee Milling Co of Petersburg, WV.for Shawnee Milling Co of Petersburg, WV.

Father started out with broilers. Switched Father started out with broilers. Switched to turkeys with Shawnee and then with to turkeys with Shawnee and then with Rockingham, Rocco and WLR.Rockingham, Rocco and WLR.

My Role on the FarmMy Role on the Farm

Raised broilers for Rocco while in collegeRaised broilers for Rocco while in college After taking over farm, I brooded range After taking over farm, I brooded range

turkeys for Roccoturkeys for Rocco In 1991, I began rising breeders for WLR- In 1991, I began rising breeders for WLR-

now Pilgrim’s Pridenow Pilgrim’s Pride

Current Operation Current Operation OverviewOverview

190 acres 190 acres woodlandwoodland

7 acres of riparian 7 acres of riparian area and wetlandsarea and wetlands

Raise 15,000 Raise 15,000 breeders in 2 housesbreeders in 2 houses70 head of beef 70 head of beef cattle cattle 140 acres of 140 acres of grasslandgrassland

Community Community InvolvementInvolvement

2008 US Egg and Poultry 2008 US Egg and Poultry Association Family Farm Association Family Farm Environmental Excellence AwardEnvironmental Excellence Award

2006 WV Poultry Association 2006 WV Poultry Association Environmental Award WinnerEnvironmental Award Winner

2003 Recipient of WV Primary 2003 Recipient of WV Primary Environmental EducatorEnvironmental Educator

Member of WV Farm Bureau and Member of WV Farm Bureau and WV Poultry AssociationWV Poultry Association

Active Ruritan and Parks Active Ruritan and Parks CommissionerCommissioner

EnvironmentalEnvironmental PracticesPractices

One of first producers to sign up for Potomac One of first producers to sign up for Potomac Land Treatment Watershed Project (PL-534)Land Treatment Watershed Project (PL-534)– Litter shed & composterLitter shed & composter

Partnership between federal, state and local Partnership between federal, state and local governments to make water quality governments to make water quality improvements to the land within the Potomac improvements to the land within the Potomac River DrainageRiver Drainage

Potomac Headwaters Land Potomac Headwaters Land Treatment Watershed Treatment Watershed Project (PL534)Project (PL534)

10 Year Project completely 10 Year Project completely voluntaryvoluntary participation participation addressing nutrients within Potomac Valleyaddressing nutrients within Potomac Valley

Special allocation of money though legislationSpecial allocation of money though legislation Focused on manure and nutrients from livestock Focused on manure and nutrients from livestock

operationsoperations

PL-534 PL-534 AccomplishmenAccomplishmen

tsts

$14 M dollars worth of $14 M dollars worth of agricultural improvements on agricultural improvements on over 300 ag operationsover 300 ag operations

Nutrient management, waste Nutrient management, waste storage, buffers, relocation of storage, buffers, relocation of livestock feeding areaslivestock feeding areas

Halterman Voluntary Halterman Voluntary PracticesPractices

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

houseshouses

CREPCREP

Signed up for CREP in 2005 Signed up for CREP in 2005 – 3840 Feet of stream bank fencing 3840 Feet of stream bank fencing – Planted 850 treesPlanted 850 trees– Partnered with US Fish and Partnered with US Fish and

Wildlife partners for Wildlife to Wildlife partners for Wildlife to install 5.2 acres of riparian bufferinstall 5.2 acres of riparian buffer

– ½ mile of stream bank protected½ mile of stream bank protected– ½ acre riparian tree planting½ acre riparian tree planting

Partnering with Cacapon Partnering with Cacapon Institute to monitor and Institute to monitor and perform research on low cost perform research on low cost deer fence projectdeer fence project

Environmental Practices Environmental Practices are Importantare Important

Commitment to lifelong teaching about Commitment to lifelong teaching about agriculture and the environmentagriculture and the environment

Goal is to leave land in better condition for Goal is to leave land in better condition for next generationnext generation

Showing others that farmers are committed to Showing others that farmers are committed to protecting the environment will help guard the protecting the environment will help guard the farming community from future regulations farming community from future regulations

There can be a partnership between the There can be a partnership between the agricultural agricultural andand environmental community environmental community

Future Future PracticesPractices

Looking at alternative energy such as solar or windLooking at alternative energy such as solar or wind Working to coordinate voluntary buffers on 7,300 Working to coordinate voluntary buffers on 7,300

linear feet of small stream in Baker community linear feet of small stream in Baker community Designating 7 acres of streamside property to be Designating 7 acres of streamside property to be

used as “outdoor classroom” for schools and used as “outdoor classroom” for schools and community to promote environmental educationcommunity to promote environmental education

Baker Run Baker Run Conservation SocietyConservation Society

Founded one of the first watershed Founded one of the first watershed associations in the State of WVassociations in the State of WV

Currently serving as President of this groupCurrently serving as President of this group Partnering with many groups to bring Partnering with many groups to bring

educational opportunities and make educational opportunities and make environmental improvements within the environmental improvements within the watershedwatershed

Chesapeake Bay and WV Chesapeake Bay and WV FarmersFarmers

Local farmers were involved in Local farmers were involved in the Chesapeake Bay program the Chesapeake Bay program and working in developing the and working in developing the local tributary strategieslocal tributary strategies

Farmers are willing to improve Farmers are willing to improve local watersheds which local watersheds which consequently improve the Bayconsequently improve the Bay

Keys to SuccessKeys to Success

Education is key to sustainabilityEducation is key to sustainability Regulation is Regulation is notnot the answer the answer More cost share is neededMore cost share is needed Programs need flexibilityPrograms need flexibility Farmers need to participate in Farmers need to participate in

programsprograms Practices not only help environment Practices not only help environment

but also improve farm productionbut also improve farm production

Agriculture and the Agriculture and the Environment Do Work Environment Do Work

Together!Together!