Urban farming is a growing trend in the Atlanta metropolitan area. For Fulton County landowner Arletha Dixon, it’s more than a trend – it’s a passion. Dixon’s history in agriculture began with her father’s educational studies in horticulture. Combined with her mother’s commitment to promoting good health as a physician, Dixon adopted her parents’ career paths and began teaching urban agriculture to children.

Fulton - Dixon (PDF) (216 KB) html

NRCS Assists a Farm in the Heart of the City

"I’ve been farming since I was knee-high to a duck," said Ballard. "I was raised on a farm in Southern Illinois. When I left home I said I wasn’t going to do this no more and now, we’re right back at it." Curtis Ballard was in the construction industry for many years. When he noticed a sudden change in the industry, he began farming. While Ballard’s 11-acre farm is located just steps away from the airport, in Riverdale, the view of his operation is far from urban.

Clayton - Ballard (PDF) (146 KB) html

EQIP Helps Haralson County Landowners Preserve the Land

After searching the Internet for programs to assist them, Casey Durden found the NRCS service center in Carrollton. The Durdens’ applied for Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and received financial assistance to conduct a prescribed burn, for nutrient and pest management, forest stand improvement, riparian herbaceous cover and forest buffer, as well as tree establishment for a hardwood ecosystem. Tree tubes where used to accelerate the growth of young trees and provide efficient control of weeds.

Haralson - Durden (196 KB) html

Suppressing Invasive Pigweed

Research conducted by Stanley Culpepper, extension agronomist, specializing in weed science and others, proved that rolling down rye into a thick mat to block out sunlight is highly effective in the reduction of pigweed seed germination in crop fields. Research also indicates that allowing the cover crop to mature until it blooms, gives the best results by providing an extended period of soil shading. Rye was chosen as the cover crop due to its chemical properties which discourages the "germination" and "growth" of other plants.

Pulaski - Martin (341 KB) html

Third Generation Farmer Conserves Resources through CSP

Statesboro farmer Morris Prince has saved energy, money, soil and time with the help of the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). CSP is a voluntary conservation program that encourages producers to address resource concerns by undertaking additional conservation activities; and improving, maintaining, and managing existing conservation activities.

Bulloch - Prince (247 KB ) html

High Tunnel Makes the Difference for Lee Farms

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) has made a world of difference for Lee Farms. A hoop house that now sits on the 500 acre farm has extended the operation’s growing season.   

Bulloch - Lee (185 KB ) html

CSP Makes Difference for Georgia Olive Farms

Jason, Sam and Kevin Shaw wanted to re-introduce the Southeastern United States to olive farming in 2009. Two years later, Georgia Olive Farms produced the first commercial harvest of olives east of the Mississippi River since the late 1800’s. Like any other farming operation, it takes new techniques and practices to continue making improvements. A 2012 Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) contract will allow the Shaws the chance to make those improvements.

 Lanier - Shaw (208 KB) html

Sub-surface Irrigation System Helps Row Crop Farmer Survive Drought

Ronnie Lee has been able to save water on his farm by using the sub-surface irrigation method. An Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) contract has provided the financial and technical assistance to help Lee put his conservation plans on the ground.

Terrell - Lee (223 KB) html

EQIP and CSP Help Cattle Farmer Improve Operation

When he leads, they follow. However, this wasn’t always the case for Herman Wheatley when it came to running his cattle operation. Moving 100 head of cattle from one pasture to another was a very time consuming and labor intensive job until an EQIP contract changed it all.

Wilkes - Wheatley (208 KB) html

Pike County Landowner Believes In Protecting the Land

After noticing livestock using streams and wetlands for shade and water, Tom Lacey saw a negative impact on the water and soil, namely fecal matter, sediment and erosion. Having worked with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) (then Soil Conservation Service) while farming in Iowa, Lacey contacted the Service Center in Barnesville. District Conservationist Carmen Westerfield, assisted him in developing a conservation plan. Through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Lacey installed heavy use areas for his cattle and cross fencing for rotational grazing. He also received incentives for tree planting, nutrient management, a well, pipeline and pasture planting.  

Pike - Lacey (220 KB) html

Rockdale - Pritchard (130 KB) html

EQIP Helps DeKalb County Organic Farmer

Reynolds is a skilled farmer and conservationist, possessing advanced knowledge of plant families, crop rotations and cover crops. So, when Reynolds sought assistance from Jerome Brown, district conservationist with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Lawrenceville, the relationship was a great match.

Dekalb - Reynolds (322 KB) html

Micro-Irrigation System Helps Farmer Conserve Water

A 2011 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) contract has improved Clinton Trice’s ability to conserve water on his pecan orchard. The EQIP contract covers more than 16 acres of pecan trees that the Albany farmer previously struggled to keep irrigated. Now that he has a new, more efficient micro-irrigation system, Trice is able to keep his pecan orchard healthy while limiting water waste during a persistent drought.

Dougherty - Trice (125 KB) html

Wingate Family Commits Hundreds of Acres to WRP

The Wingates are continuing their legacy of conservation through the Wetland Reserves Program (WRP). By placing more than 1400 acres into permanent conservation easement, the Coffee County family will enable the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service to assist them in protecting, restoring, and enhancing wetland ecosystems on their land.

Coffee - Wingate (219 KB) html

Dedicated Farmer Puts Conservation First

Milton Ussery’s efforts to conserve natural resources on his land have been extensive. The Dodge County farmer has been able to preserve and restore important natural resources on his 570 acre property by several programs offered by the NRCS. One agreement is under the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) which has helped Ussery restore longleaf pine trees on several acres as part of the Longleaf Pine Initiative.

Dodge - Ussery (157 KB) html

StrikeForce Helps Geneva Farmer

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) has helped Ollie Chester make improvements on his small farm. Through the NRCS program, Chester has been able to better manage his cattle operation and protect water quality on his Talbot County property.

Talbot - Chester (122 KB) html

NRCS Helps Beginning Farmer in Fulton County

Arthur Ferdinand was looking for a way to stay active and reconnect with nature. So, he and his wife Betty bought a 38-acre plot of land in Chattahoochee Hills, which had been abandoned for years. Ferdinand had a vision for Chaguana Farm, but possessed little knowledge on how to get started. A call to George Hadley at the Fulton County Extension Office led him to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Fulton - Ferdinand (190 KB) html

EQIP Helps First-Time CSA Farmers in Paulding County

Spreading Oaks Farm is a 17-arce, family-owned farm, located 20 minutes west of Atlanta in the Paulding County town of Dallas. Occupying 10-acres of the farm are a small herd of Belted Galloway beef cattle, free-range laying hens and a variety of fresh vegetables and herbs. When the Cooks’ became concerned about contamination of a lake from runoff where their cattle were drinking water, a friend advised them to contact their local NRCS office for assistance.

Paulding - Cook (306 KB) html