THE EQUIERY’SGuide to Building GREEN FARMS
Over the years, T e Equiery has published sev-
eral articles on diff erent ways horse farm own- ers can create farms that are both healthy for their horses and healthy for the environment. Some of these tips are as simple as changing barn lights to energy effi cient light bulbs while others take a bit more construction and outside contractors to implement. Whether you are looking for a quick solution or creating a long- term eco-friendly plan, T e Equiery is here for you with a plethora of resources! T e following pages include excerpts on how to build a proper dry lot, the benefi ts of solar power, controlling mud and so much more! T e full articles can be found on
equiery.com with links to each article imbedded in this issue. Don’t forget to check out our annual
Farm Fix-Up section in this issue for a list of professionals that can help make your healthy farm dreams a reality.
Soil Conservation Districts
Spring is a great time to remind horse people everywhere that there is a network of helpful (and free) experts in Maryland to help you get a grip on mud and soil management. Each county in Maryland has a Soil
Conservation District (SCD), funded by a combination of federal, state, and local governments. T e districts are the result of the Soil Conservation Act passed by Congress in the wake of the 1930s Dust Bowl. In response, the Soil Conserva- tion Act created a national program to control and prevent soil erosion. SCDs were created to provide technical assistance to farmers to help them design and install best management prac- tices on their farms to protect natural resources. In Maryland, the primary goal of the SCDs is to protect the Chesapeake Bay and its many tributaries. SCDs provide an invaluable resource for
horse farmers. SCDs help landowners develop nutrient management plans, implement proper drainage projects, understand the importance of harrowing fi elds, and more. T e SCDs also keep farmers up to date on the local, state, and national grants and cost-share funding avail- able for conservation projects. In addition, SCDs work with horse and livestock opera- tions to help manage manure more effi ciently and improve pasture health. For more about SCDs and county by county
information, see:
https://equiery.com/farm-stew- ardship-marylands-soil-conservation-districts/
Free Conservation Plans Did you know that there is a simple way to
address all natural resource concerns for your operation instead of tackling problems one by one? Consider getting a Soil Conservation and Water Quality Plan. T ese plans identify and prioritize environmental concerns for your entire operation. T ey are developed free of charge by technical experts in your local soil conservation district and will provide you with a blueprint for making environmental improve- ments as time, need, and money allow. A typical Soil Conservation and Water Qual-
eas is making you and your horses miserable, follow these tips.
• Manage water within your pasture to con- trol potential nutrient losses. T is may require diverting surface and roof runoff water away from pastures or paddocks. • Minimize standing water around your prop- erty to eliminate mosquito breeding areas. T is will help stop the spread of water-borne dis- eases such as West Nile Virus. • Always work to conserve water. Use a bucket of water rather than a hose to wash horses. • Planting a vegetative cover around buildings or on steep slopes can help minimize erosion and absorb nutrients while im- proving the appearance of your proper- ty. Commonly used covers include na- tive grasses, shrubs, and groundcovers. • It is important to reseed areas around watering troughs to maintain vegeta- tive cover. • Operations with 8,000 lbs. or more of live animal weight may qualify for cost-share assistance to install a con- crete pad and other artifi cial surfaces to stabilize areas that are disturbed be- cause of frequent and intensive use by livestock. Contact your soil conserva- tion district to see if you qualify.
A diagram on how to construct a proper heavy use area from the Maryland Department of Agriculture.
ity Plan includes: Farm map; Soil information; Inventory
of natural resources; Engineering
notes; and Recommended best management practices, including weed and pest management. Getting a conservation plan is a voluntary
decision that is based on your needs and objec- tives as the landowner or operator. Best man- agement practices proposed in these plans are also based on your input and needs. Conservation plans are “fl exible” and may be
altered as your operation or objectives change. Contact your local soil conservation district for
free assistance in developing a Soil Conserva- tion and Water Quality Plan for your operation. To read more, see:
https://equiery.com/farm- stewardship-go-the-extra-mile/
Give Mud the Boot T e Maryland Department of Agriculture
(MDA) Offi ce of Resource Conservation has a great list of ways horse farm owners can control mud during wet seasons. Mud can be a big problem wherever animals congregate, especially around gates, watering troughs, barn entrances, and feeding pads. If mud in these ar-
14 | APRIL 2024 | THE EQUIERY YOUR MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL PUBLICATION For detailed information on how to
create a Heavy Use Pad, see: https://
equiery.com/give-mud-the-boot/
Solar Power
T e solar power industry is constantly grow- ing and changing. T e Equiery has published several articles on the subject over the years but for those who are still debating if solar power is the right fi t for their farm, check out “Going Green with Solar Power” at: https://equiery. com/going-green-solar-power/. T is article is a result of polling Maryland horse farm owners who have gone solar to see what they like, what they don’t like, and what they wish they knew before installing. In addition, updates within the industry were published in “Solar Survey Results” which can be found here:
https://equiery.com/solar-sur- vey-results/ You can also visit the Farm Stewardship play-
list on the MHC YouTube channel for helpful videos from MHC sponsor Paradise Energy Solutions!
Farm Fix-Up Funding T ere are several grants and cost-share pro-
grams in Maryland available to horse farm 800-244-9580 |
www.equiery.com
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