Alexander County Soil & Water Conservation District 2012 Farm Tour

Alexander County Agra Bus Farm Tour

  • Date: September 25th

  • Participants: Alexander County Soil and Water Conservation Board, county officials, legislative representatives, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, Taylorsville Carolina Farm Credit.

  • Transportation: Provided by Greenway public transportation.

  • Purpose: To educate about local farming operations and conservation practices.

Stop 1: Dragon W Farm

  • Operators: Dale and Diane White and family.

  • Operations:

    • Four Tyson broiler houses.

    • Innovative forced aeration composting technology.

  • Technology Overview:

    • Pre-cast concrete bins manufactured by Tindle Manufacturing, South Carolina.

    • Sealed system with air tunneled through channels from the bottom, draining to a back tank.

    • Moisture and bird byproducts are collected and processed.

Stop 2: Herman Dairy Farm

  • Operators: Ned Kent and Rodney Herman.

  • Farming Family:

    • Permitted for 600 Holsteins.

    • Equivalent to 10 Tyson broiler houses.

  • Environmental Impact:

    • Contributed 31 acres of riparian land for wetland mitigation through the Ecosystem Enhancement Program.

    • Project completed by Restoration Systems, led by Mr. Worth Cree.

  • Mitigation Strategy:

    • Matches parties needing mitigation with available land for restoration.

    • Restoration includes streams and wetlands, with various ecological credits generated.

    • Worked within the Kaboone River Basin.

Stop 3: Deal Apple Orchard

  • Operators: Lindsay and Alan Deal and family.

  • History:

    • Established in 1939; third generation fruit farm.

    • Over 100 acres, producing apples, peaches, nectarines, and Asian pears.

  • Practices:

    • Natural vegetation between orchard rows to minimize erosion.

    • USDA Good Agricultural Practice certified; participates in the Farm to School Lunch Program.

  • Orchard Operations:

    • Upgraded packing house for apple grading with modern equipment.

    • Introduced a stainless steel dump for gentler handling of delicate apple varieties.

    • Harvest timeline: Peaches start in late May; apple harvest begins at the end of July.

Stop 4: Morning Dew Farms

  • Operators: Vincent and Mary Ann Eisenhower and family.

  • Specialization:

    • Cover cropping on 700 acres.

    • Seasonal no-till rotation reduces erosion and crop loss.

  • Crop Details:

    • Grows squash, small grains, corn, and soybeans.

    • Market products primarily in Hendersonville.

    • Experiences variability in yield and weather impact.