WV Farm Bureau Magazine July 2016 | Page 9

Long-range planning, along with programs from NRCS, are helping this couple build the operation they’ ve always dreamed of

Slow and Steady

Long-range planning, along with programs from NRCS, are helping this couple build the operation they’ ve always dreamed of

Tabby Bennett
Jeff and Janet Allen are the owners of Meadow View Farm in Moundsville, West Virginia. Over the past ten years they have transformed their farm from a goal-driven project to a fully self-sufficient 197 acres of productive land.
Jeff and Janet purchased their farm in 2006, then in 2010, purchased more land nearby to complete what is now Meadow View. Although Jeff spent some time on his grandparent’ s farm, neither Jeff nor Janet had farmed extensively before.
“ When we bought the farm there was a lot we wanted to do, but of course you have to be able to afford it. We had to prioritize, and we made a 7-8 year plan,” said Janet.“ NRCS helped us get a lot done and helped us by cost sharing. They have a lot of great ideas too.”
The Allens raise hay and cattle, and with the financial and technical assistance of Natural Resources Conservation Service( NRCS), this couple has steadily made improvements that have allowed them to farm the way they had intended from the beginning.
“ We are able to completely stabilize 30-40 head of cattle on our own, and our goal is 50 head,” said Jeff.“ We also sell round bales.”
The Allens utilize many aspects of several NRCS programs to ensure their farm is able to run sustainably and smoothly.
“ It’ s always been a personal goal of mine to have something like this,” said Jeff.“ You can’ t take from the land without giving something back.”
One major program the Allens use most on their farm is Environmental Quality Incentives Program( EQIP). With EQIP, they have developed five springs with watering troughs. The spring developments and water troughs ensure their cattle get all of the fresh water they need, and eliminates the cattle’ s need to enter water sources like creeks and rivers.
Additionally, the Allens have built 23,000 feet of exclusion and division fence for rotational grazing, as well as 3,500 feet of wildlife friendly fencing. Exclusion and division fencing help by making sure cattle remain in areas where they belong, and makes the transition from field to field more easy when all of the vegetation in a field is consumed and the cattle need to move to another. Wildlife friendly fencing is helpful to the farmer when animals such as deer visit the farm. Reflectors are attached to exterior fences so wildlife can see them and jump over or go around the fence instead of crashing through.
Jeff and Janet also built a 30x120 foot feeding facility for cattle and a manure storage facility. The feeding facility is helpful because it makes
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