By Blake Jackson
The University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment recently showcased applied water conservation at the Robin Ridge Farms Field Day in Bourbon County.
This event, supported by two U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grants and the UK Cooperative Extension Service, highlighted practices crucial for protecting drinking water sources.
Amanda Gumbert, extension water quality specialist and PI for the grants, emphasized the importance: “It’s important to protect the waters that provide us drinking water. All of us drink water every day, and we need that to be healthy.”
Ben and Savannah Robin, owners of Robin Ridge Farms, led tours demonstrating their efforts to manage winter feeding, improve water access, and mitigate soil erosion within the Hinkston Creek watershed, a vital source for local communities.
Practices included gateway protection, drainageway shaping and seeding, strategic fencing, and a feed pad with bale grazing. Reducing runoff is paramount to minimize manure and sediment entering waterways, thereby lowering municipal treatment needs.
“Field days are one of my favorite parts of Extension, providing an opportunity for peer-to-peer learning when we partner with local farmers,” said Lee Moser, senior agricultural extension associate at Martin-Gatton CAFE and co-PI.
“It was great to see the conversations between the attendees and the Robins about the practical considerations of implementing conservation practices on their farm. Local farmers were also able to connect with representatives from their local resource agencies about issues and possible projects on their farms.”
The Robins’ journey into intensive conservation began after experiencing heavy rainfall and erosion in 2016. Their participation in the “Tap Your Potential” farmer watershed leadership workshop led to collaboration with Gumbert. “Now that they are putting these conservation practices on the ground, it will really help their farm be resistant to erosion, especially during heavy rainfall,” Gumbert said.
Further engagement through the “One Good Idea Shop Talks” fostered dialogue among farmers on row crop and livestock conservation.
“It’s really powerful when we can get farmers together, whether it be virtual space or a farm field day, to talk to one another,” Gumbert explained, highlighting the value of shared experiences. These efforts collectively demonstrate how Extension brings research to practical application, fostering widespread adoption of beneficial practices.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-tlillico
Categories: Kentucky, General