Agricultural
conservation, historically,
has primarily meant
preventing soil erosion. In
recent years the concept has
been greatly expanded to
include the proper
management of naturally
occurring renewable
resources, such as,
preventing the silting up of
waterways, creating and/or
maintaining air and water
purity, reducing the harmful
effects of chemicals and
pesticides, and other
aspects of environmental
concern.
The owners/operators of
SycaMoore Meadows Christmas
Tree Farms regularly
practice agricultural
conservation measures which
assure the continued high
productivity of the land
while at the same time
providing protection for the
environment and the
ecosystem in which the Farms
are located. Some of the
measures practiced are:
-
Extensive use of
White Clover
within plantings
of trees, which
provides a
ground cover,
reduces runoff
of rainwater,
fixes nitrogen
within the soil,
and reduces the
amount of
chemical
fertilizers
necessary for
optimal growth
of the trees.
Plus, the clover
is a favorite
food of
whitetail deer.
-
Maintenance of
dense turf grass
sod on roadways
and borders
throughout all
plantations,
reducing
compaction of
the soil and the
runoff of
rainwater,
mostly
eliminating the
creation of ruts
on slopes and
the soil erosion
which normally
follows, and
helping to
control the
emergence of
weeds and
briars.
-
The use of
narrow-width-tractor
vegetation
control between
rows of trees
reducing the use
of herbicides
and preventing
the destruction
of desirable low
growing ground
cover plants,
such as the
White Clover.
-
Sodded buffer
strips between
tree plantations
and the springs
and streams on
the Farms
preventing the
silting of
Cripple Creek
(which runs for
about a mile
through the
Farms) and other
streams carrying
water from the
Farms all the
way to the Gulf
of Mexico.
-
Planting shrubs
and trees on and
around bluffs
and slopes too
steep or rocky
for Christmas
trees preventing
erosion,
providing food
and cover for
wildlife, and
improving the
aesthetic view
shed of the
Farms,
especially in
the spring and
fall color
seasons.
-
Establishment of
riparian borders
along the creek
banks for stream
bank
stabilization,
to cool the
water and
increase food
production for
fish, and to
provide safe
havens for water-loving birds and
animals.
|
 
 |
 Government
agencies have honored the
brothers with several
conservation awards,
including “Clean Water Award”,
“Outstanding Forest Steward” and
“Conservationist of the Year”. The farm is also
enrolled in the Conservation
Reserve Enhancement Program.
Springs on the SycaMoore
Meadows farm run so pure and
cold that a neighbor uses
the water for a commercial
trout rearing operation,
then the water goes on to
make up a good part of the
headwaters of Cripple Creek
and flows on into the New
River, Kanawha River, Ohio
River, and Mississippi
River.
Additional information on
Conservation Farming may be
obtained from
Virginia Cooperative
Extension,
North Carolina State Cooperative
Extension, and
USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service. |
