The Winner of the 2022 Conservation Farm Award was announced at the Essex Soil & Crop Improvement Association (ESCIA) Annual Meeting on Thursday, December 1, 2022.
The award is presented each year to the farming operation which best display’s conservation minded farming practices from those nominated. The farms are graded on tillage practices, crop rotation, chemical use and storage, knowledge of fertility programs, Best Management Practices and overall farm maintenance. The winner is determined by a committee of Directors from the Essex Soil & Crop Improvement Association.
This year the winner of the Conservation Farm Award is Quinlan Farms.
Quinlan Farms have established many conservation practices on their fields over the years. Soil health has always been an important part of the farming operation. No-till farming was started in the early 90’s. They now include cover crops and diverse crop rotation.
A large portion of the crops grown on the farm are planted into a living cover crop. This helps conserve moisture, suppress weeds and recycle nutrients. The farms pigs and chickens graze the cover crops helping to increase soil organic matter and overall soil health. In addition, grazing cover crops with livestock provides fertility for the next cash crop.
Their goal is to limit the amount of synthetic fertilizers use on their farm and keep soil and nutrients on the land and out of adjacent waterways. They have established treed windbreaks and a tree planting on their farm to protect the soil from wind erosion and increase biodiversity.
Waterways are protected with soil erosion control structures and grassed buffer strips.
Quinlan Farms was started by Walter and Gail Quinlan in the early 80’s. Today they are joined by sons Donald and Chad and their wives Kelly and April. Quinlan Farms have used funding from the Essex Region Conservation Authority’s Clean Water ~ Green spaces program to implement many of the Best Management Practices on their farm.
Congratulations to Quinlan Farms and keep up the fine work!
The Essex Conservation Farm Award is sponsored annually by the Essex Soil and Crop Improvement Association, and the Essex Region Conservation Authority.
Nominations for the 2023 Conservation Farm Award are being accepted from now until August 28, 2023 with the winner to be announced at the ESCIA Annual Meeting next December. For more information on how to nominate an individual contact Michael Dick at 776-5209 ext. 369.