September, 2003

Rick Watkins, left, and David Baber inspect cropland that helps reduce runoff from Watkins' dairy while providing forage for his cows.

EQIPed
for the Future

Rick Watkins isn't normally satisfied with the status quo.

When he started 21 years ago he had 37 cows, a double four parlor, one employee and, he says, "a lot of debt." Now the Amelia, Va., dairy includes 410 Holsteins, a double 13 parlor, seven employees and a farm note marked "paid."

That still isn't good enough for this progressive producer. "We're in a slow expansion phase," he notes. "Our goal is to reach 500 cows."

But the expansion isn't just a matter of adding his best heifers to his milking herd. "With growth, we knew we needed to do a better job and be a little more environmentally friendly to this earth," Watkins says.

Enter EQIP, a USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service acronym for Environmental Quality Incentive Program. It offers funds and technical assistance for qualified conservation programs. That, along with a 3% interest loan from Virginia's Department of Environmental Quality, enabled Watkins to build a 370- x 80-foot dry pack loafing and feeding barn and a seven-paddock rotational loafing system.

These projects are designed to reduce runoff from the operation, which is in the drainage area for the Chesapeake Bay. The project's success is due in part to the product support and assistance from Southern States. The co-op played a key role in the construction of the loafing barn and loafing paddocks.

Watkins purchased high-tensile wire for paddocks, waterers and the barn roofing material from Southern States stores in Burkeville and Amelia. "After shopping around, we bought from Southern States," he notes. "You can't beat their service."

Southern States Feed Sales and Technical Representative David Baber is also a major player, supplying calf feed, mineral premixes and animal-health supplies to the dairy. "We respect David," says Watkins. "He takes good care of us."

The respect is mutual from Baber, a 12-year co-op veteran with experience in farming. "I grew up on a farm here in Virginia and farmed until I joined Southern States," Baber explains. That rich background is augmented with training through the co-op's Certified Crop Advisor Program, advance training in integrated pest management and dairy management advisory education.

"Rick's not just a good customer; he's an asset to the area because he's such a good steward of the land," notes Baber.

He also notes Watkins' concern for his neighbors--those in subdivisions springing up around the farm and the ones downstream.

With the new loafing barn and grassed loafing paddocks, Watkins hopes to improve milking averages in wet weather and reduce problems such as high somatic cell counts.

The grass in the loafing paddocks keeps the cows off bare ground. Forage cover also keeps runoff to a minimum.

Even with ground cover, the NRCS requires a minimum of three rotational paddocks and a sacrifice paddock for wet periods.

"With the dry pack barn, we're trying to do away with the mucky paddocks," Watkins explains.

The pack and loafing areas are considered waste-storage areas, making them eligible for EQIP cost-share funds and a DEQ loan.

Cost-share money under EQIP covered 75% of the paddock fencing materials and frost-free waterers.

Watkins says he, his father, Marvin, and his employees have done most of the labor on the EQIP projects to help hold down costs.

He strongly believes the effort will pay future dividends. "It took a lot of expense, planning and work, but it's worth it," he says.