The Clean Water Farm Award, a State award sponsored by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, is given to Virginia farmers who implement nutrient management plans and are exemplary in their protection of the State’s soil and water resources. Clean Water Farm nominees may be chosen to represent any of the 94 counties and 18 cities of Virginia. From the pool of Virginia Clean Water Farm Award recipients, up to 10 grand winners representing Virginia’s major river basins are selected each year.
This year’s Clean Water Farm Award was awarded to David Long of Long Grain & Livestock who then was awarded the Grand Basin Coastal Award. David Long was born and raised in Cape Charles. He graduated from Broadwater Academy in 1973. In 1975 he obtained an Associates
He returned to the Eastern Shore and started Long Grain & Livestock. He raised hogs and cattle while custom farming acres in Northampton County, eventually acquiring and tending his own crops. He began to grow
Mr. Long is a regular participant in the District’s annual small grain cover crop program and maintains a current nutrient management plan.
In
All of his cropland has a minimum 35’ buffer width to reduce non-point source runoff and remove excess nitrogen and phosphorous into our local waterways. He maintains nine irrigation ponds to water crops in times of drought and a minimum 15’ buffer around pond edges enables native plants to thrive and filters additional run-off. In 2014, he established a 2.3 acres pollinator habitat and plans to plant an additional 9 acres.
About the Author
Hard working people who properly use and sustain our natural resources for the enjoyment and profit of themselves and everyone around them are so much a very big part of how American Ideals are implemented by some of our TERRIFFIC CITIZENS. That was a long sentence but is sincerely intended. MANY KUDOS to this farming family for the lifestyle that implements such a wonderful work ethic. I wish them nothing but success.