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Current Projects and Programs
LEARN ABOUT
Current Projects and Programs
PROJECT SUMMARY
Kovacs: Improvements Supporting Rotational Grazing at Sugar Maple Jerseys Farm
SITE SUMMARY
Sugar Maple Jersey is a woman/beginning farmer-owned mid-sized dairy operation. The farmer rotates livestock between 6-8 paddock to supply their 50+ herd of Jersey cows with forage during the spring, summer, and fall. During the winter cow are provided shelter in a barn.
OPERATION TYPE
Livestock, Pasture, Cropland
SITE FOCUS
Pasture
SITE RESOURCE CONCERN
The dairy does not have adequate pasture to facilitate proper grazing management. The overgrazed pastures are highly susceptible to erosion topsoil and increased soil compaction, and reduce water infiltration, which in turn cause increased quality of sediment and nutrient-contaminated topsoil.
RESOURCE CONCERNS
Erosion, Compaction, Nutrient Run-off
Pastures at the dairy farm have large denuded bare spots.
A stream through the center of the pasture at the dairy farm collects run-off from the pastures at the dairy.
SOLUTION
To alleviate grazing pressure at the dairy (located in the Delaware Watershed) Kovacs will install a permanent fence around 18.3 acres of hayfield at a second nearby farm (located in the Neshanic Watershed). They will use a temporary fence and moveable above-ground water to support improved grazing management. They will graze heifers and dry-cows (17.5 AUs) at this second site during the spring, summer, and fall. Animals will be housed at the dairy, in a barn, during the winter.
PLANNED BMPS
Rotational Grazing
A hayfield at a nearby new farm will provide adequate forage for young-stock, dry cows, and heifers' during the forage growing season. Hayfield can be fence and grazed to greatly reduce resource concern at the dairy.
Relevant Metrics
Acres
Feet
People
Other
18.3
Installation Date
Other Information
CONTACT INFORMATION
Heidi
Kovacs
9084550497
North Jersey RC&D Contact
B Hilshey
WATERSHED:
Neshanic
Neshanic
2030105030030
PROJECT
LOCATION
835 Sergeantsville Rd Stockton NJ 08559
Hunterdon
40.442207074088685
-74.93454701382213
This Project was Funded by:
["NJ DEP 319 (h) Neshanic"]