West Virginia Success Story

AMA Provides a Reduction in Production Costs

Program or Category: Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA)

Overview: Francis Weaver and Len Courtney started selling vine ripened hydroponic tomatoes last year on their Silver Fox Farms in Good Hope, West Virginia. In the beginning they were using city water to feed the nutrients to their tomato plants. They were spending over two hundred dollars per month just for the water needed for the 1450 plants in the greenhouse. Fran and Len decided to find an alternative water source for the tomatoes. Both being beginning farmers, they turned to NRCS staff in Harrison County for financial and technical assistance in the implementation of a well and pumping system to provide the alternate water source needed for their farm.

Accomplishments: Fran signed up for the Agricultural Management Assistance program in May of 2005. She was approved for a contract in June of 2005. She and Len had a well drilled and installed a pumping plant. Fran completed her contract in less than six months. The well produces an estimated 60 gallons of water a minute. The hydroponic system uses an estimated 1500 gallons of water per day. The pumping plant has an automated system to pump the water from the well throughout the day as needed.

Program Benefits to Landowner: Fran and Len have been reaping the benefits of having their well and pumping system in place. They are seeing a drastic reduction in production costs and will be able to pay more on overhead costs associated with their water system. They spent about $5,800 on the system and it should pay for itself in a little over 2 years. Fran and Len both felt as if they had a positive experience working with NRCS to achieve the objectives they had for finding an alternative water source that would be cheaper for their hydroponic tomatoes. Fran said, “We couldn’t have done it without (NRCS) help. We’re just tickled with (the well water) system.”

Program Benefits to Community: Installing these practices will also benefit the local community and customers of Silver Fox Farms. There are less chemical additives needed for the well water than the city water to neutralize chemicals such as chlorine. Len says, “Using the well water allows their product to be even purer than organic foods” because the only things in their closed ecosystem are the plants, water, nutrients, and bees for pollination. An economical benefit of the well and pumping plant will be the ability to keep production costs down therefore also the price will stay lower for the consumer. The going rate currently for a pound of tomatoes in a store is $2 per pound. The Silver Fox Farms are selling their hydroponic tomatoes for $1.65/ pound for a savings of about $.035 per pound for the consumers. Stores in Salem, West Union, and Morgantown carry the Silver Fox Farms hydroponic tomatoes.

Contact:
LaRae Baker, Soil Conservationist
304-624-9232 x 3
LaRae.Baker@wv.usda.gov

Mount Clare Service Center-Serving Doddridge and Harrison Counties
Rt. 2, Box 204-D
Mount Clare, WV 26408
Phone (304) 624-9232 Fax (304) 624-5976
http://www.wv.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/mt_clare.html

	Francis Weaver and Len Courtney started selling vine ripened hydroponic tomatoes last year on their Silver Fox Farms in Good Hope, West Virginia.
	The beginning farmers turned to NRCS staff in Harrison County for financial and technical assistance in the implementation of a well and pumping system to provide the alternate water source.
	Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) helped provide an alternative water source for the 1500 gallons of water per day  needed for the 1450 tomato plants in their greenhouse.
	Stores in Salem, West Union, and Morgantown carry the Silver Fox Farms hydroponic tomatoes.
	The well water allows their product to be  purer—avoiding the chlorine and other chemicals from the city water system. The closed ecosystem includes the plants, spring water, nutrients, and bees for pollination.

<  Back to 2006 Success Stories