Conserving the Land and a Family's Dream

Andres Sanchez (right) worked with NRCS planners to develop and implement a conservation plan to improve the productivity and sustainability of his newly established dairy operation. According to Mr. Sanchez, "Landowners should talk with NRCS; I couldn’t have done this alone.”

As a dairy worker, Andres Sanchez hoped to someday own and run his own operation. By 1998, he had built up a herd, bought a farm, and went into business for himself in the dairy producing region near Tillamook, Oregon. While this would constitute a happy ending for many, Sanchez was just getting started making his operation productive, efficient and sustainable.

Soon after moving his cows onto the newly-purchased farm, Sanchez sought the assistance and technical expertise of the local conservation district and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). With Spanish as the producer’s primary language, NRCS provided translation services for effective communication, ensuring that conservation planning and financial assistance matched the vision that the Sanchez family had for their new farm and new lives as owner-operators.

“NRCS works with us; if something goes wrong then they help to fix it,” Sanchez said.

NRCS technical and financial assistance helped him implement the conservation practices he felt were important for their operation. With the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and other programs, NRCS provided Sanchez with the tools he needed.

“NRCS and the EQIP program have provided us with a great deal of help,” Sanchez said.

This assistance resulted in a number of conservation measures to prevent resource problems and create a productive, efficient dairy operation.

With the Trask River running through the property, Sanchez made it a priority to fence off a 60-foot buffer to prevent cattle from disturbing the streamside vegetation, using EQIP cost share.

Next, a new dry-manure storage facility along with a new roof for the manure accumulation area was installed to prevent nutrient run-off. Manure management is now more effective and efficient. With a proper storage facility, Sanchez can apply the precise amount of nutrients to his pastures when they are needed.

In addition, Sanchez worked with planners to develop a pasture management and rotational grazing system. The grazing program involves a unique combination of three cuttings of grass silage on an 18 to 24 day rotation beginning in mid-April followed by pasturing the cows on that same 18 to 24 day field rotation. To do this, Sanchez moves cross-fences across the pasture according to the schedule. He finds the extra time worthwhile to improve the health of the pastures, as well as the cattle.

As a result of these and other actions, the pastures on the site are continuously healthy and green, and streams are protected from impacts of the dairy operation. In addition, the Sanchez family is living the life they worked hard for, and they are taking good care to keep their land healthy and productive. With NRCS, they have found a lasting partner helping them caring for their land now and into the future.

“Programs like EQIP are available to us, and when there isn’t much money, this helps a great deal. Landowners should talk with NRCS; I couldn’t have done this alone,” explained Sanchez.
 

###

NRCS—Helping people help the land.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people
conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment.

An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.

< Back to Oregon's Showcase...