Cooperator of the Year 2009

In appreciation of the conservation of natural resources Timothy S. Bodine Each year the District recognizes someone who displays an exceptional level of management and dedication to the conservation of natural resources. Tim Bodine has been involved with the District’s Pequest River Project for thirteen years. This unique Project began in 1953 with dredging the river and has been continued with the District organizing a partnership between Allamuchy, Independence, and Liberty Townships to provide funding.  Since 1996 Tim’s work removing fallen trees and clearing debris that block the river’s flow has helped prevent flooding in the agricultural mucklands. On his Knowlton Township farm where he raises hogs, Tim has implemented various best management practices to improve and protect water quality in northern Warren County. Tim also works with woodland property owners under Farmland Assessment doing logging, cutting firewood, and performing timber stand improvement. It is with great pleasure for the District that we honor Tim Bodine with this award.

2008 Farmer Cooperator of the Year    Kate Haik  The Haik Farm encompasses about 100 acres of important farmland between Bloomsbury Road and the Musconetcong River in Franklin Township.  The farm is preserved through the NJ Farmland Preservation Program. Mrs. Haik has cooperated with the District to install several large erosion control projects over the past few years.  Crop fields are rented to a local farmer for the production of field crops and hay.  A contoured stripcropping system is practiced that rotates production between corn and other field crops and hay for sheet and rill erosion control on this Highly Erodible Land.  The 52 acre stripcropping practice was cost-shared through the USDA, NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).   Mrs. Haik also installed a 1200 foot long grassed waterway with permanent erosion control material and a 200 foot long rock-lined outlet.  The waterway controls field gully erosion that previously sent topsoil and sediment into the river.  The Musconetcong now has C-1 classification, the highest order of protection afforded State waterways by NJDEP.  From the waterway outlet, stormwater flows across a stable filter strip and buffer area into the river.  A system of eight diversions, totaling 4100 feet in length, is located in permanent hay strips to control upland erosion and direct runoff into the waterway.  A 3700 foot tile drainage system was also installed to collect groundwater seeps that had kept the site wet causing additional soil loss.  The layout of this whole system allows the farmer to easily manage field crops without endrows.  Financial assistance for construction and maintenance of this waterway is provided through the Farm Service Agency’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).  Cost-sharing for installation of the diversions, tile system and water control structure came from EQIP.  The EQIP contract was funded in 2004 and is now nearing expiration with all eligible practices completed. Other best management practices being utilized on the Haik Farm include nutrient and pest management for field crop production. Mrs. Haik is also working with the North Jersey Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Council to improve and enhance a riparian forest buffer corridor between the crop fields and the Musconetcong.

2007 Farmer Cooperator of the Year Wayne Willever  Wayne began his operation in 1999 with the purchase of five beef cows.  Since then, he and his wife Wendy have expanded the operation to a herd size of around 30 head.  Their farm encompasses about 30 acres off of Creek Road in Pohatcong Township and is adjacent to the Pohatcong Creek. As the operation grew, the Willevers recognized a need to make some improvements to the farm.  The areas surrounding the water troughs and round bail feeders were becoming unmanageable, the pastures were not being utilized to their fullest, and managing the animal waste had become daunting.  That’s where the WCSCD and the NRCS came in and worked with Wayne and Wendy to develop a conservation plan for the farm. The NRCS staff developed a grazing plan and comprehensive nutrient management plan which provide guidance to best manage the forage, both pre and post bovine digestion. Engineering designs for the structural practices were developed and, with lightning speed, the structures were built.  The approximately 2600sf, covered, concrete, heavy-use area collects about 40-50% of the animal waste and can be easily scraped clean.  The roof on the structure keeps the rain water clean. Gutters at the eaves direct water away from the manure-laden feeding area to a safe outlet.  Wayne spreads wood chips on the pad to increase cow comfort and footing.  The wood and waste are mixed on the floor and begin the composting process.  The waste and chips removed from the feeding area are then stacked on an adjacent pad where they continue to compost and can be stored for about two months.  Continued composting of the waste and chips can occur off the pad, and the material is finally used as a soil amendment. NRCS staff is quoted as saying of the Willevers: “They are a joy to work with. Wendy has a knack for keeping meticulous records, and Wayne creates a nice working environment on the jobsite and has put a lot of thought into the details of the facility.” The Willevers are pleased with the improvements to their farm.  The conservation practices provide benefit to both the farmer and the environment.  The daily operations of tending to the animals are now a bit easier on Wayne, Wendy, and their equipment.  The pastures are kept lush, green, and healthy; and excess nutrients are kept out of the creek.  The Warren County Soil Conservation District commends the Willevers on their outstanding achievements as true stewards of their land.

2007 Forestry Cooperator of the Year Ted and Anna Bryan The candidates chosen as the Warren County Soil Conservation Districts’ Forestry Cooperator of the Year must exemplify a willingness and enthusiasm to improve their woodlands or open areas and demonstrate this by implementing their state-approved, woodland management plan to the best of their abilities. Because they have demonstrated themselves to be proven forestry cooperators, Ted and Anna Bryan have been recognized as the 2007 recipients of the Warren County Soil Conservation District’s Forestry Cooperator of the Year award. Ted and Anna currently reside on approximately 12½ acres on the outskirts of Washington Township which they purchased around 1998.   Since that time, the Bryans have worked with the WCSCD in administering their woodland management plan. Six acres of their property are wooded while the remaining acreage is used for gardening, livestock, or tree plantings. Among their many activities has been the clearing of a wooded area for the further propagation of native seedlings.  The material that was harvested from this clearing effort resulted in the removal of sawtimber and firewood from the tree tops. To date, species such as American chestnut, sugar maple, and  black locust have been planted on the property.  In 2004, an 8-foot high fence was erected around approximately 8 acres of the Bryan property in order to better protect the seedlings against unwanted deer browse.  According to the Bryans, it has been effective in deterring the deer population from invading this area; however, this cannot be said for the local bears that have been seen scaling this fence on occasion.  Since the inception of their association with the District, the Bryan’s efforts have produced 8,000 board feet of sawtimber, more than 50 cords of firewood, the planting of 700 seedlings, and abundant produce from their garden area which has produced such crops as potatoes, corn, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, peppers, watermelons, pumpkins, onions, string beans, beats, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, broccoli, sunflowers, radishes, and turnips.  All the materials and products harvested from this property are self-utilized, donated to a local church, or sold to friends, family, and neighbors.  Some projects that are planned for the future include plantings of various seedlings, gardening activities, possibly clearing another small area for livestock pasture, and production of traditional forest products to satisfy the annual income requirements of the Woodland Assessment Act.