Who We Serve
Contact
Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District13061 Fitzwater Drive
Nokesville, VA 20181
Tel: (703) 594-3621
pwswcd@pwswcd.org
Join Our Mailing List
Yes, I would like to receive the latest news about the Prince William Soil and Conservation District's efforts:Many thanks to our Chesapeake Bay-Friendly Horse Farm Project Public and Private Partners:
Angler Enviornmental
Bar-Bar-A Horse Drinker
B&R Contracting & Fencing
Blue Top Farm
Clean Water Project
of VA Waters-Wetlands
CFC Farm and Home
Crawford Fencing
Ducks Unlimited
Fairfax Water
Kencove Farm Fence
Luck Stone Corp
Mistfield Farm
Morgan Excavating
Nokesville Horse Society
Northern VA Coalition of
Equestrian Org.
O2 Compost
Prince Wm. County
Supv. Wally Covington
Supv. Martin E. Nohe
Supv. John T. Stirrup, Jr.
Prince William-Watershed Mgmt
R.D.B. Trucking
Robert Patterson, Attorney
Seamless Gutter Supply, MD
Southern States,Calverton
Southern States,Manassas
Thomas Jefferson SWCD
USDA - NRCS
VA Cooperative Extension
Virginia Tech-Biological
Systems Engineering
VA Dept of Agriculture & Consumer Serv.
Yankey Farm Service
Welcome Horse Owners!
Chesapeake Bay Horse Farm Project | Helpful Information | Pastures | Facility Management | Manure Management
We are pleased that you are visiting the horse owners’ page
where we’ll share District ideas, programs, events, and
opportunities especially for horse owners. Many Prince William
County horse owners are already familiar with our mission and
services. We have visited many of your farms, learned about your
concerns and objectives, and are working with you to develop and
implement solutions. Your overwhelming interest and support
continues to keep us extremely busy! We thank you for your
commitment to protecting community waters.
As you read through the many articles we will introduce you to
Environmentally Sensitive and Sensible Horsekeeping. Most topics will focus on
the management of mud, manure, and pastures. We hope to provide you
with the tools to evaluate your land stewardship skills and the
inspiration to begin to make needed changes. The steps you take will
benefit not only your property and horses, but also local waterways
that eventually reach the Chesapeake Bay.
8th Annual Mid-Atlantic Nutrition Conference
March 24-25, 2010, Timonium, MD information and registration (due by March 15). Wednesday morning, March 24 Dr. Tom Lenz will present "The Unwanted Horse in the U.S.: An Overview"; Wednesday afternoon speakers covering Equine Metabolic Syndrome, Divergent Immune Development in Foals, and Growing a Structurally Sound Equine Athlete. On Thursday morning speakers will discuss Feeding Mares and Foals for Skeletal Development, Broodmare Nutrition, Feeding the Newborn Foal, and Nutritional Support of the Sick Horse. Other topics in the afternoon include Drug-Resistant Parasites, HYPP and its Nuturitional Management, and Herbicides in Manure.
Virginia Forage and Grassland Council,
Fencing for Controlled Grazing Systems
April 6, for information and registration contact Shea Porr
Chesapeake Bay-Friendly Horse Farm Project
The Chesapeake Bay-Friendly Horse Farm Project is a public/private partnership that is creating a model horse farm for the purpose of identifying and sharing land management practices that benefit horsekeepers and the environment. Through this web site, seminars, farm tours, and other on-site workshops we want to share information about the sensible and environmentally-sensitive horsekeeping practices that we have used.The installation of Best Management Practices, also known as BMPs, began in late March 2009 and has continued through the present with a projected completion in June 2010.
If you don't have time to read our lengthy report, here's a quick guide to finding the topics of interest to you:
Project Background
Spring 2009
Installation of streamside buffer fencing
Insallation of the sacrifice area/bluestone dust confinement paddocks
Stream Assessment
Gutters and downspouts on the barn
Fencing around the sacrifice area paddocks
Gate Selection
Pasture renovation (southern pastures)
Automatic water trough installation
Interior fencing installation
Spring/Summer 2009
Stream buffer improvements
Runoff management in the sacrifice area
Nokesville Horse Society visit
Installation of high-tensile fencing
Modifications to the interior fencing
Fall 2009
Pasture renovation (northern pastures)
December 2009 - Snow Update
Automatic water trough performance in 18" of snow
Coming Soon -
Ways to feed hay to keep horses happy and healthy while in confinement
O2 composter installation
Use of Stable Grid
This project received funding from the Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund provided by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), via grant number 2007-WQIF-19, and supported by many grant partners. Photos of Oakwood Farm during Spring 2009 construction
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| Barnyard Before Construction | Sacrifice Area After Construction |
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| Waterer Before Construction | Waterer After Construction |
Chesapeake Bay-Friendly Horse Farm Project Seminars being held across the state - March - May 2010
We will be having seminars on our Chesapeake Bay-Friendly Horse Farm Project statewide! Below is our schedule. If you are interested in any of these seminars, please contact Nicole Ethier. We will also be presenting local seminars/tours in the near future, so keep a look out for them!March 13, 2010 (Sat) Virginia Beach, VA
March 18-19, 2010 (Thur.-Fri.) Danville, VA
March 26, 2010 (Fri.) Lexington, VA
April 10, 2010 (Sat.) Farmville, VA
April 24, 2010 (Sat.) Culpeper, VA
May 5, 2010 (Wed.) Sweet Briar, VA
May 6, 2010 (Thur.) Bristol, VA
May 7, 2010 (Fri.) Clintwood, VA
Are you already well on your way to creating green pastures and cleaner waters? If so, we’d like to recognize your efforts! The District has handsome(& free!) metal signs that indicate your commitment to protecting community waters in your role as a District “Cooperator.” We think they’re a “must-have” for the environmentally conscious horse-keeper. Hang it on your farm with pride. Call the District if you’ve cooperated in the past, if you’ve been doing the right thing all along, or if you’re ready to start earning your sign. We’d like to see them everywhere! Embrace your vision for your horse property and achieve it on a budget! Here's what we can do for you...Whether you own a few acres, or a large farm, we offer FREE technical assistance to all Prince William County landowners. Any time is a good time to get started with improving your property, or developing your new property. We have the expertise to make your operation efficient in ease of use, effective in using the best tools for your situation, cost effective by giving you exact material recommendations and timing for implementation for your specific property. Call our Conservation Specialists Beata Coss or Nicole Ethier at 703-594-3621, e-mail beatacoss@pwswcd.org or nicoleethier@pwswcd.org.
Helpful Information
Soil Testing and Plant Analysis
Conservation Program and Financial Incentives
Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act and How it Affects Prince William County Horse Owners
Horse Owners Guide to Water Quality Protection
Conservation Planning for Your Soil
Total Maximum Daily Loads
Weed Identification
Poisonous Weeds in Horse Pastures
Septic and Well Care
A Solution for Icy Waters
Pastures
Pasture Management 101Preventing Muddy Pastures: Use of a Sacrifice Area
Timely Tips for a Greener Spring/Springtime Pasture
Spring Rules to Graze By
A Timely Tip: Pasture Management March 1st to April 15th
Late Fall Pasture Management
Using Cool-Season Annuals to Extend the Grazing Season
Timely Tips for Winter-Wise Farm Management
Frost Seeding Clover
Weed Control in Pastures
Facility Management
Manure Management
We offer your contact information to gardeners who would like to pick up your manure for composting. To be a part of our Urban Soil Enhancement Program email pwswcd@pwswcd.org.
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