Clean farm award presented

At a small award ceremony held last week, Custom Harvesters, Inc., a 580-acre farm owned and operated by Andrew and Jennifer Oliver, received a Clean Farm Award for their conservation efforts.
The farm, located on Pamunkey Creek near Monrovia, consists of 500 acres in cropland, pasture and hay land, 80 acres of forest, 200 brood cows and 120 dairy heifers. Additional land from other farms in the area is rented for cropland and pasture. On the land farmed, Andrew Oliver typically plants 250 acres of corn, 400 acres of soybeans and 500 acres of small grain.
Custom Harvesters is a farm concerned with conservation. No-till methods are used as well as contour cropping and strip cropping to prevent erosion. Oliver also uses an updated nutrient management plan, takes measures to eliminate erosion with vegetated drainage swales and uses field borders for quail and other wildlife to use as cover.
According to Stephanie DeNicola-Turner of the Culpeper Soil and Water Conservation District, typically 100 beef calves are raised on the farm as stockers and sold in local markets. The 120 dairy heifers are boarded each year and returned to the original farm for breeding and milk production. The liquid dairy manure is kept in a lagoon and spread on the cropland in the spring. The cows have their own spring and alternative watering system and are put out in pastures fenced off from Pamunkey Creek and the tributaries at the farm keeping the water clean.
The Olivers' conservation practices have protected the York River which ultimately feeds into the Chesapeake Bay, making them the recipients of the 2009 York River Basin Clean Farm Award.
"I'm very proud that we were chosen to be the recipient of this award," Andrew Oliver said.
The award is given to 10 farmers who implement nutrient management plans and are exemplary in their protection of the state's soil and water quality. Each of the 10 represents the best of the best for one of the 10 major river basins in the state.
"Custom Harvesters, Inc. is the best of the best for the York River Basin," Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation Division Director Jack Frye said. "This is a beautiful farm. We appreciate all you do here."
Delegate Ed Scott was also present at the ceremony and thanked the Olivers for their commitment to conservation.
"They've looked for new and interesting ways of farming," he said. "It's a big help."
Custom Harvesters, Inc. also previously received the Clean Water Farm Award which is given locally to hundreds of farmers utilizing clean water practices.