Too Much Snow Last Winter????
Have you noticed large snow drifts on the road or highway during a storm? Are you concerned about winter driving safety of your family and neighbors? Here's a practice that will work to reduce blowing snow. Traverse SWCD can assist with the design and establishment of living snow fences to control blowing snow AND fit into the property owners land use/farming operations. NOW is the time to take note of where the snow is accumulating and contact Bruce Johnson, District Technician Manager, to assist you with solving this problem. Don't delay another growing season.
This is a win - win situation for everyone!
The Traverse Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) Board of Supervisors are pleased to announce their selection of the 2009 Traverse County Conservation Partners of the Year:
RAS Farms!
Roger Schmidt, Alan Schmidt, and Steven Schmidt are the three partners of RAS Farms who were selected this year because of their combined conservation efforts. Currently, RAS Farms has over 440 acres enrolled into nearly 30 current CRP contracts! Since 2001, RAS Farms has signed up over 270 acres of wetland restoration, 56 acres of filter strips, almost 50 acres of field windbreaks, over 30 acres of farmable wetlands, 25 acres into State Acres for Wildlife Habitat, and one, six acre farmstead windbreak.
Roger began farming with his dad and after graduating from high school in 1957, rented 250 acres to farm on his own. Years later his sons, Alan and Steve, began helping Roger with the farm and now manage their own operations. Steven was elected to represent the family for the award due to his stout enthusiasm for conservation.
Steven farms a rotation of corn, soybeans, and occasionally sunflowers. He plans to incorporate wheat into the rotation in 2010. Steven also manages the family's grain marketing business, Dumont Grain, which keeps him very busy. When he has time, Steven supports the Toqua and Traverse Sports Boosters and local chapters of Pheasants Forever. He enjoys bow hunting deer in the fall and has recently sparked the interest in two of his girls!
Steven and Rebekah (Hoffman) were married in 1998 and now reside on the farm site in Croke Township where both Steven and his dad were raised. Rebekah was formerly a physical education, health teacher and basketball coach with the Clinton Graceville Beardsley School District. She now dedicates her time to her family raising their three girls, Emma (9), Isabelle (6), and Julia (2). Rebekah also teaches Sunday school and directs the annual Vacation Bible School at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Graceville. She also works from home with a scrapbooking supply business.
When asked about the main reason behind his enthusiasm towards conservation, Steven replied "It is very important to reduce erosion on our fields. We've had problems with erosion on some of the ridges where the topsoil has eroded away and we're left with sand. It's difficult to justify spending so much on input expenses when the crop yields are so poor in those places."
