Success StoryLoretto Motherhouse Farm Good Ideas Conservation Field Day
Loretto Motherhouse Farm Good Ideas Conservation Field Day
Author: Lee Moser
Planning Unit: Forestry
Major Program: Water and Soil Quality and Conservation
Outcome: Initial Outcome
UK Extension specialists partnered with Loretto Motherhouse Farm during summer of 2022 to host an in-person field day and create videos highlighting stewardship practices used on the farm. The Good Ideas Conservation Field Day was held at Motherhouse Farms in Nerinx, KY. The Motherhouse farm manager, Cody Rakes, serves on the farmer advisory board for a multi-state project focused on farmer engagement in watershed protection and conservation efforts. He has been a strong advocate for stewardship in production agriculture and serves as a role model for other farmers. The field day focused on taking a closer look at how the Loretto Motherhouse Farm manages crops and cattle with a focus on soil and water stewardship. Topics covered during the field day included an overview of nutrient pollution in the Mississippi River basin and Gulf of Mexico hypoxia, intensive rotational grazing techniques, seeding cover crops with a combine-mounted air seeder, and cattle handling and housing facility improvements to manage manure and stormwater runoff. The field day also focused on introducing attendees to the One Good Idea web platform (https://goodideafarm.org/) that has been developed through a multi-state effort to share research-backed, farmer-produced videos sharing successes and challenges related to conservation practice implementation from across the country. Farmers also discussed cost-share options for conservation practices and partnership opportunities with agencies and organizations. Thirty-five farmers and land managers attended the field day. In addition, four videos were created and utilized on the One Good Idea platform. Video topics included manure management, winter feeding to protect soil resources, sustainable woodland management, and marketing beef with a sustainability mindset; impact of 936 views as of July 6, 2023.
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