Generations of soil conservation for Fines
Dean Adkins - Wed, 30 Jan 2013 17:04:00 CST
(Siam)--It's extremely important for many farmers in KMAland to leave as much fertile soil as they can for future generations, especially in counties where the ground is, in some areas, marginal.
Count Jerry and Darla Fine in that mix of people. Jerry, a 5th generation farmer and 1961 graduate of South Page High School, and his wife, Darla live near Siam, southeast of New Market where they raise corn, soybeans, alfalfa and cattle. They have four children and ten grandchildren.
Jerry's grandfather, Clem, ran an Allis Chalmers dealership in the Siam area and it was Jerry's parents, Harold and Helen, who helped instill the importance of conservation into the young farmer all the way back to the 1940's and 50's. Those conservation efforts remain today and are even enhanced as Jerry practices no-till, utilizes cover crops, manages grass waterways and plants buffers strips-as a matter of fact if there's a conservation practice to be tried on a farm that has some thinner soils the Fines are likely to give it a shot.
Darla is no stranger to conservation work either as the Yorktown native (she was a Nothwehr) worked as the State Secretary of Conservation Districts for the state of Iowa for many years. Jerry is Chairman of the Taylor County Soil and Water District, was State President of Conservation Districts, is on the Iowa Electric Board and is a Wallace's Farmer conservation award winner as well.
And if that's not enough we also thank Jerry for his service to our country as he served in the National Guard for 32 years!
Jerry and Darla want us to know about a good opportunity to learn more about soil conservation with the upcoming "The Dirt on Dirt: Improving Productivity by Improving Soil Health" workshop Wednesday, February 20th from 9:30a.m. to 3:00p.m. at the Lenox Community Center. Workshop themes will include "Healthy Soils 101", "Perennials to the Rescue", and "Cover Crops-A Producer's Perspective".
Sponsored by the Adams, Taylor, Union and Ringold County Soil and Water Conservation Districts, feel free to check out the video below to learn more about this unique opportunity from Jerry Fine and Doug Davenport, District Conservationist for Taylor and Adams Counties.
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