West Virginia Success Story

Where to Winter Feed? The Poop on Rush Run’s New Feed Pad and Stacking Facility

Program or Category: Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

Overview:
When the snow starts to fly and farmers begin to winter feed, one question always seems to pop into their minds, “where to place the hay bale this year?”. Winter feeding is an issue that faces all livestock producers. Do you feed in rings or unroll the bale? Do you feed down low by the stream or on top of the hill? What happens to all the manure that is produced during the winter season on the frozen ground? The answer to these questions can have a simple answer to please everyone: a stabilized feed pad and manure stacking facility.

Why a feed pad and stacking facility you ask? Simple, they give you a place to winter feed, stack manure, and help the environment all in one! Don’t believe me, just ask Jim McDonald.

Accomplishments: This spring, Jim completed work on his feed pad and stacking facility on his Rush Run farm in Marion County. Jim operates a 172 acre farm with 33 cows and a bull. The pad and stacker were constructed for the support of 34 animals. Round bale feeders will be used to contain the bales on a stabilized concrete surface and the manure will be scraped periodically and stacked during the winter months. When the weather breaks, and the ground thaws, the manure will be spread based on a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan for the farm. Technical assistance for the pad was given by the White Hall NRCS Field Office personnel, Ray Carr & Gary Ely.

Program Benefits to Landowner:
Winter feeding had been an issue facing Jim for some time and the answer became clear when NRCS began taking sign ups for the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP.). Based on the resource concerns and ranking criteria, he received a contract that aided him with costs incurred with the construction of his feed pad and stacking facility.

Program Benefits to Community:
With the assistance of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Jim was able to address resource concerns including:

• Soil Condition
• Contaminants
• Animal Waste and Water Quality
• Excessive Nutrients and Organics in Surface Water

Contact:
Ray Carr, District Conservationist
304-363-8861
Ray.Carr@wv.usda.gov

White Hall Service Center-Serving Marion and Taylor Counties
7007 Mountain Park Drive
White Hall, WV 26554

	Round bale feeders will be used to contain the bales on a stabilized concrete surface and the manure will be scraped periodically and stacked during the winter months.
	Technical assistance for the pad was given by the White Hall NRCS Field Office personnel, Ray Carr & Gary Ely.
	This spring, Jim completed work on his feed pad and stacking facility on his Rush Run farm in Marion County.
	When the weather breaks, and the ground thaws, the manure will be spread based on a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan for the farm.

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