Loudoun Soil & Water Conservation District

RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell today congratulated the owners of the 1,650-acre Cleremont Farm of Loudoun County for being a regional winner of the Environmental Stewardship Award presented at the 2010 Cattle Industry Conference in Denver. The farm is one of seven finalists for the national Environmental Stewardship Award to be announced in February 2011.

The commercial Angus beef cattle operation is owned and managed by Ann-Mari Lindgren Horkan and her sons Carl Lindgren and Tony Horkan. Much of the stewardship work carried forward on the farm today was begun by the late George Horkan, Jr. Those efforts include rotational grazing among 23 different pastures, voluntarily fencing nearly five miles of streams, installing alternative watering systems, managing 1,000 acres of hardwood forest and placing the entire working farm in a perpetual conservation easement held by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation.

“Cleremont Farm has a long tradition of environmental stewardship handed down from generation to generation,” said Governor Bob McDonnell. “With the stresses facing both our farms and our local rivers and streams, this shining example of voluntarily protecting our lands while keeping them productive is now more important than ever before.”

Shortly after taking office Governor McDonnell formally announced his intent to conserve 400,000 acres during his term. Maintaining working farms is one priority in that initiative. Virginia is also one of the Chesapeake Bay states working to develop a “pollution diet” to help restore the Bay and its tributaries. Increased use of conservation best management practices such as those found on Cleremont Farm will be a key part of Virginia’s pollution diet.

“Virginia’s cattle producers are taking the lead provided by the Lindgren-Horkan family and working with federal, state and local agencies to proactively make our farms more environmentally friendly and economically efficient,” said Bruce Stephens, a cattle farmer from Wytheville and president of the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association.

Cleremont Farm has a long working relationship with the Natural Resources Conservation Services and the Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District in funding, developing and implementing agricultural best management practices. The Virginia Agricultural BMP Cost-Share program delivered by the state’s soil and water conservation districts is administered by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.  

 Reprinted from the Office of the Governor, contact Stacey Johnson.

The spring rain barrel workshops are over, but it is not too late to get a rain barrel.  We have make-your-own and pre-made rain barrels available at the District office.  The make-your-own rain barrels are $52.50 and the pre-made barrels are $68.25 each.  Call the District office at 703/777-2075 to arrange a time to pick-up your barrel.

The Town of Purcellville is still offering $25 rebates to Town of Purcellville residents, one per household.  Form and receipt must be submitted to the Town of Purcellville for reimbursement.

If you are looking to build a barn, enter into open space or agricultural land use taxation, or just want to get some ideas managing your farm, LSWCD has a new revised Conservation Farm Plan which is now more tailored to specific different types of farming operations in Loudoun.  Farm plans are required by Loudoun County for the building of barns, entering the Land-Use Tax Program,  as well as for grazing livestock on parcels under five acres.  Small acreage grazing plans are developed by the District and Loudoun Cooperative Extension to help landowners manage livestock on small properties.  Contact LSWCD at 703-777-2075 to schedule an appointment to create a farm plan for your operation.

The new fiscal year for the Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost Share Program begins in July, and while funding is significantly reduced over previous years due to state budget cuts, money is still available for landowners wishing to put conservation in action on their farms.  A new cost share score sheet will aid LSWCD in prioritizing practices based on their positive impact on nutrient and bacteria reduction on Loudoun’s waters.  Ranking will establish top candidates for both cover crop and grassland conversion practices as well as stream fencing and water system cost share practices.  For more information about the Agricultural Best Management Practices Program or to schedule a site visit for your farm contact the District at 703-777-2075 or e-mail LSWCD staff.