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2009
Outstanding Conservation Farm of the Year
Edgecomb Family Farm
Limestone

Edgecomb Family Farm in
Limestone has received the Conservation Farm of the Year from the Central
Aroostook Soil and Water Conservation District. This award is presented by the
District to a landowner that does an exemplary job of natural resource
conservation. The Edgecomb family grows over 500 acres of potatoes along with
grains, hay and other vegetables every year. Their farms have good deep soils
that reflect long-term soil management and land stewardship. They plow deep to
eliminate a soil pan and keep their soil at optimum pH and with a high organic
matter. Bob Edgecomb says “Organic matter is the most important part of the
soil to manage. When you make a living off the soil, it becomes an asset”.
The
Edgecombs maintain many waterways and diversions on their farms. Each farm is
managed to improve the soil quality and to decrease soil erosion. Sod waterways
work particularly well on their farms and the diversions they have built are
particularly important in the spring. The family continually pursues
establishing a more efficient operation by diversifying, improving efficiency
and saving on operation costs.
Five members of the
Edgecomb family are active on the farm. Robert and Fred took over the reins
from their dad, Vernon in 1979. Robert’s wife Diane and sons Chris, Brian and
Bobby are an integral part of the farm operation. Chris, Brian and Bobby
Edgecomb are taking lead roles in crop diversification by moving into the hay
business and starting a market garden. Last year’s special project was a 6 acre
corn maize that attracted people from all over the county.
2009
Conservation Partner
Cavendish Farms, Maine and Scott Smith

The
Central Aroostook Soil and Water Conservation District presented Cavendish
Farms, Maine and farm manager Scott Smith with the Conservation Partner of the
Year award. Scott Smith and Cavendish Farms, Maine were recognized for their
contribution to soil and water conservation efforts in the Kennedy Brook/Mantle
Lake watershed.
“Cavendish Farms is committed to agricultural practices that keep the soil on
the farm” said Scott Smith at the meeting. Cavendish uses practices that
decrease the erosion potential on their farms such as a three year rotation for
potato production that increases soil protection and improves soil quality.
They continually upgrade waterways and diversions that keep their farms in top
shape.
In
2004, the District with help of a team of volunteers surveyed Kennedy Brook and
Mantle Lake’s watershed to identify sources of sediments and pollutants that
were causing algae blooms at Mantle Lake in Presque Isle. The clean-up efforts
at Mantle Lake started with draining the lake and removing up to 12 feet of
sediments that had collected over the last 100 years.
Cavendish Farms has been a key player in the Mantle Lake clean-up efforts. They
have reestablished and repaired conservation practices on their farms that
control any potential movement of sediment to Kennedy Brook, the stream that
feeds Mantle Lake.
This
past fall, Cavendish Farms installed a system of waterways and sediment basins
on the “Christie Farm” that will collect runoff during extreme rain events and
winter thaws when sediments have potential to reach the Kennedy Brook and Mantle
Lake.
The District secured
partial funding for this project through Maine Department of Environmental
Protection from an USEPA Clean Water Act Grant and from Maine Department of
Agriculture funding. USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service provided
engineering services for the project and Kenney Earthworks from Mapleton was the
contractor.
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