Their farms showcase sound, innovative, cost-effective conservation

Contact:  Steve Coleman 502-573-3080

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 1, 2006) – Jeff Deener, a Taylor County farmer whose family has been practicing good soil and water management for more than a century, has received the Outstanding Conservation Cooperator Award from the Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts (KACD).

The Deener family farms 880 acres. The farm features strip cropping to control sediment and corn-wheat-soybean crop rotation. Nutrient management includes soil testing and application of waste according to soil and crop needs. Pest management is practiced on all crops, and integrated crop management is practiced on wheat. Waterways were installed and maintained to manage surface water runoff.

The dairy operation has a waste facility and a waste pond to catch water and scraped solids from the milk house. To improve rotational grazing, three spring developments and four watering facilities were installed.

Deener received a plaque and $500, and the Taylor County Conservation District received a plaque at the recent KACD annual meeting in Owensboro.

State runner-up was Zack Saufley, owner of Church’s Grove Farm in Franklin County. The farm includes 800 acres of cropland and 300 head of beef cattle. Improvements include an animal waste stack pad and concrete feeding area; soil test and nutrient management; livestock access ramps, tanks and a pasture pump; fenced streams, ponds and springs.

Saufley received a plaque and check for $250. The Franklin County Conservation District received a plaque.