Farmers’ efforts to help environment benefit Lancaster County farms

Mill Creek flows through a riparian buffer on the Mahlon Stoltzfus farm in New Holland. Trees and shrubs along the banks prevent erosion and provide a cool, shady habitat for fish. Photo by Philip Gruber

Mahlon Stoltzfus’ cattle — eight or 10 dairy and beef animals he keeps for family use — go down for a drink at the stream. Usually farmers are told to fence cattle out of streams. They can destabilize the banks and sully the water with manure. But Stoltzfus has used an accepted alternative, fencing in a small area of the creek for drinking. Concrete slats on the stream bank keep the soil in place.

Stoltzfus, of Earl Township, is one of many Lancaster County farmers who are doing things on their farms to help the environment. Cover crops such as ryegrass and radishes enhance the soil and protect it from erosion between cash crops. Many farmers have switched to no-till implements, which, unlike traditional tillage equipment, preserve the soil structure. Large, cylindrical manure storage units keep animal waste from running off into streams before it can be spread on fields. Farmers have adopted these conservation practices not only for the farm benefits […]

Full article: Farmers’ efforts to help environment benefit their Lancaster County farms

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