The Sell Farm, LLC
Milner, Georgia
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The Sell Farm, LLC Milner, Georgia
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Environment
For us, farming is all about nurturing and protecting the environment so that mother nature is able to provide us with a sustainable agricultural enterprise and an edible product. During the past few years, The Sell Farm, LLC has introduced a number of conservation practices that are designed to reduce erosion, any the possibility of water contamination, and to provide a safe protected environment for our cattle. We also developed riparian buffer zones and wildlife feeding plots and eco-friendly stream crossings for use by cattle when moving from one area of farm to another. Feeding and watering areas were also developed and a gravity flow water system was installed. We thank the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service for their advice, technical expertise and cost share grants during this project. Intensive rotational grazing was also implemented, another method for improving pastures and the growth of cattle who graze on them. We also introduced a new variety of white clover developed by scientists at the UGA. Clover adds nitrogen to the soil, is a great source of protein for the cattle and reduces the need for added fertilizer.
There was erosion on a dam of a small pond when we took over the farm. This was completely renovated, trees removed from it, the banks were re-seeded with fescue and rye grass and completely fenced off so cattle cannot enter the pond.
Next we created two stream crossings so that we can move cattle from one side to the other, and at the same time prevent animals from standing in the water. The crossings were created and then geotextile fabric laid and covered with gravel.
Below is a completed crossing with a fenced and gated lane for use in cattle movement.
Each side of the stream crossings, and the streams, were also fenced off from cattle entry creating riparian buffer zones that act to filter any water run off from the pastures. Natural vegetation returns and in some areas we have planted food plots for quail and other wildlife.
During the winter hay is fed. Since during wet weather the cows spend hours standing around the hay rings, things can get very muddy. We therefore constructed feeding areas similarly to the stream crossings in which the land is covered with geotextile fabric laid and then covered with gravel. This has worked very well.
The picture above shows an old hay ring area surrounded in yellow. The grass is torn up, gets muddy in wet weather, and was just a mess. This has been reseeded and now is covered with lush grass. The blue area outlines the new graveled feeding area.
We take our job as stewards of our land very seriously, and have taken steps to insure that it will continue in agriculture into the future. In September, 2003 we also teamed up with the USDA and placed a twenty year easement on our farm so that it cannot be developed and will continue as pasture for beef cattle.
Beaver Lake is in the middle of the farm and was built forty years ago as a watershed lake to help prevent flooding by Honey Bee Creek downstream. It certainly does help: when we have a big rain, the lake rises some 8, or more, feet and then recedes over several days.
Barns
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service URL: Click the link below.
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Send mail to wmfarr@bellsouth.net with questions or comments about this web site.Last modified: July 21, 2008 08:56:10 AM |
Before Renovation
After renovation.
Here the black fabric can be seen being placed.
Deer 
Wild Turkey
Bringing in the
hay.
