“
Designing the farm for
optimum functionality and
sustainability was the goal
from the onset; utilizing NRCS
programs that helped me
achieve this just made sense.
”
Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation
Stewardship Program (CSP), and Agricultural
Management Assistance (AMA). Each of these
programs offers financial and technical assistance
to farmers who want to address issues dealing
with water management or quality, improving or
maintaining conservation activities and improving
soil, water, animal, air or other natural resources on
their farm.
Mike was already working to implement such
practices, but NRCS helped by providing funds and
expertise to assist him. He said, “Designing the farm
for optimum functionality and sustainability was the
goal from the onset; utilizing NRCS programs that
helped me achieve this just made sense.”
season for farmers in a structure similar to a
greenhouse, which is especially important when the
regular growing season does not go as planned. The
30x72 high tunnel has a staking system comprised of
spools that hang from the ceiling to keep crops like
cucumbers and tomatoes from growing so high that
they become top heavy and fall over.
Another NRCS project the Kwasniewskis enjoy,
especially in the wetter months, is a Heavy Use Area
Protection road. A road was laid from the barn to the
end of the property using surface treatment to provide
a stable, non-eroding area for Mike and his family to
drive on to feed cows, while still protecting
and improving water quality. The road
makes life easier for Mike as he carries out
his daily duties. “They don’t want you to
have to drive through two-foot mud ruts,”
Mike said. “It makes it so much more
pleasant to work every day.”
Mike has also incorporated a “Protected
Barnyard” pad for his cattle that allows
them to walk outside of their barn onto a
60x65 foot loafing pad. The pad controls
manure run-off and allows the cows
to go in and out of the barn as needed.
Additionally, the pad lets Mike move the
cows from one side of the barn to the
other every two weeks, and gives the cows
somewhere to go when he needs to shovel the barn.
At present, Mike has three high tunnels, one of
which was built with the help of NRCS, utilizing the
EQIP program. High tunnels extend the growing
Rotational grazing is another NRCS tool Mike
uses for his cattle. Through interior lightweight
West Virginia Farm Bureau News 17