Farmer From Martinsburg Talks About Crop Conservation

Doug Smith of Dry Creek Farm in Martinsburg uses a variety of crop conservation practices to promote sustainability and soil health. His farm implements no-till, vertical tillage, cover crops, crop rotation, and grass waterways to achieve these goals.

“Adoption of these practices has evolved over the years as they were proven to conserve soil, nutrients, improve soil health and stewardship,” Smith said.

These conservation measures help farmers like Smith mitigate extreme weather conditions, such as heavy rain or drought, while still producing profitable crops. Cover crops, for example, protect the soil over the winter, providing a living root system that feeds soil microbes. Smith also uses a dragline manure application when possible to reduce soil compaction, and crop rotation to break up disease cycles.

No-till or minimum tillage methods reduce damage to soil structure and conserve moisture. “We can see a mellowing of soil in many places from reduced tillage and compaction,” Smith noted.

Additionally, Smith invests in seeds well-suited for the local climate. He said advancements in seed technology have helped mitigate the impact of drought.

Smith’s farm has also taken advantage of local resources, using support from the Blair County Conservation District and applying for REAP tax credits to fund a secondary manure storage unit.

Smith emphasized the importance of carbon in farming, pushing back on what he sees as misconceptions about the element.

“Carbon is an essential building block for green growing plants. Without it, there is no life on Earth,” he said. “People need to stop demonizing it.”

His advice to other farmers: “Try some conservation practices that you can easily incorporate into your farm and see if it has a benefit to your soil.”