District Services for
Farmers and Landowners
The Prince William Soil and Water Conservation
District offers numerous services to agricultural operations in Prince
William County, both large and small. We offer conservation and
nutrient management planning, financial assistance for conservation
practices, seminars on natural resource and agricultural topics, and
we are available to answer conservation and natural resource
questions. Best of all, these services are free of charge.
Visit the links below for more information on these programs.
To view
the latest issue of Prince William at Bay, the District newsletter,
click here.
Muddy
Pastures Are Our Specialty
By
Kate Norris, Prince William Soil & Water Conservation District
I was once told that if you really want to
see a farm with “its’ working clothes on” visit it in late winter.
Crop fields are generally idle, normally green pastures are a pale
shade of dormant, and mud from constant hoof traffic is evident.
Farms aren’t nearly as picturesque in February.
The spring planting season will be arriving soon
and experienced farmers are already implementing steps to ensure
abundant production. We work with the less experienced farmers,
especially small-acreage horse farm owners.
This time of year our conservation specialists
are busy answering phone calls and emails from horse farm owners that
want to improve their pastures this spring. This year is particularly
busy because our local farms were heavily impacted by the drought.
March and April are ideal times to reseed an overgrazed or thinning
pasture.
The process to rejuvenate pastures begins with a
simple test and our helpful staff will even give you the answers. The
test is a soil test. Healthy grasses grow in healthy soils. A soil
test is a free analysis that provides site specific guidance for lime
and fertilizer application based on the current nutrient and pH levels
in each pasture field. Our conservation specialists visit farms, take
soil samples, submit them to VA Tech for analysis, and then translate
the recommendations into an easy step-by-step process for busy horse
keepers.
If you don’t plant grass seed onto muddy
pastures weeds will grow in the bare areas instead. Our favorite
grass seed for most small-acreage horse farms is Kentucky 31 Tall
Fescue. This grass type is suitable for all types of horses except
mares in late pregnancy. Fescue is aggressive and tolerates less than
ideal growing conditions such as drought, extreme wet, low fertility,
and heavy grazing pressure. Other grass types may be more palatable
or nutritious but require more diligent management. A newly seeded
pasture field requires 90-120 days of growth before it should be
grazed for the first time. This growth time is critical for the roots
to become strong enough to withstand grazing. Grasses grazed too soon
will be pulled up by the roots by eager livestock.
Green
pastures in spring start with preparation today and year-long
management. Our agency offers free technical assistance to all types
of farm owners but we have special expertise in the management of
horse farms. If you would like to schedule an appointment to discuss
spring pasture management call our office at (703) 594-3621 or email
katenorris@pwswcd.org.
Conservation
Program and Financial Incentives
The Conservation District also has information on natural resources
and their management available to farmers. Follow the links below to many
publications you may find of interest.
Citizen Action Directory
Manure Testing Brochure
Soil Test Brochure
- for information on soil testing and plant analysis
click here
Nutrient Management Planning Brochure
Composting Fact Sheet
Agriculture in Prince William County and the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act
Brochure
Horse Owners Guide to Water Quality Brochure
