The Battle for Soil Conservation on a Small Farm!

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[@heathmiller8462]

Nice touch adding the aerial GPS shot - helps give a sense of direction. Looks like a lot of water moves across the land. Good luck with this process.

[@TheBeginningFarmer]

Thanks! That was my wife's idea to add the map :) I did it in a weird way after the fact, but I'm glad it worked. There is a lot of water coming down to our property ... really from all directions except for where the ravine exits the farm.

[@CMDSR]

Don’t know anything about your system where you live but first step around here in Virginia is to contact our Virginia Association Soil and Water Conservation District office. They are 3 rd party nonprofit that guides landowners through the steps to mitigate erosion.

[@TheBeginningFarmer]

That is my plan here. I have a feeling it could be a pretty big project if done correctly, so we'll have to see what happens. But step one is to be able to assess the problem and call in the local agency that deals with erosion issues.

[@twbishop]

contact the DNR for consultation and maybe a subsidized plan for erosion control. erosion control and management of farm natural resources are their jobs.

[@jimmyjohnson7041]

First...... any tile you see or find were there for a reason ! Drainage ! However since the trees took over.......they plugged all the tiles with roots ! You have a problem ! Next.... why the wash outs ?? Where is the grass cover to prevent it ??? You dont have grass where there are trees ! Remove all trees / brush......then start in small areas closing the ditches and re-seeding ! Make the waterways wide ! Allow the water to spread out ! Or if you dont....you force all the water into a small area....... and again cause cutting/ erosion !

[@ethanlee9441]

Field stone and boulders work as well

[@jerrylansbury9558]

Yes......I bought our farm.....it had at least 3 semi loads of rock...tires etc dumped into the ditch to keep if from washing out ! I removed everything to bare dirt. Leveled it out so the water could spread out.....problem solved ! Rocks.. tires only create churning / cutting. The dont solved the problem ! Pay attention......in a creek... what happens when a rock or tree limb is in the creek......it washes out around it......diverting the water in another direction. Thus....the water/creek changes course !

[@ethanlee9441]

It slows the water down

[@jimmyjohnson7041]

Water " runs " it dont walk ! You do not slow water down. You might back it up.......causing even more problems in the long "run" !

[@paularthurwebb7212]

If you put pigs in there you will have even more erosion.

[@TheBeginningFarmer]

Maybe, but with management (they will be in there for days and not weeks) I have found that we can use them for our benefit. Most of the water erosion we have is from water coming from neighboring fields and their tile lines. So, the idea is to slow the water down when it gets to our place. I think this puzzle will end up having many pieces!

[@jimmyjohnson7041]

If you " ring " hogs....they will not root !!! Interesting though.....people thing ringing hogs is cruel. At the same time men and women wear rings ?? Hello !