United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 North Carolina Go to Accessibility Information
Skip to Page Content




Moore Dairy Farm

The Moores were the 2002 Conservation Farm Family . Johnny and Karen Moore, along with their three children, operate a 110 cow dairy herd in Rowan County.  The Moores were the 2002 North Carolina Conservation Farm Family.  Using EQIP and North Carolina Agricultural Cost-Share Program funds, the Moores have taken a number of measures to protect and improve the natural resources on their farm.
No-till is used on the Moore's farm to reduce soil erosion. The Moores use no-till on almost 500 acres on their farm and on farmland they rent.  No-till uses the previous year's crop residue to provide a protective blanket over the soil.  The soil eroding impact of falling rain is blocked by the residue on the soil's surface.  The current year's crop is planted directly through the residue.  No plowing or tilling is done.  Special planters cut through the residue allowing for good seed placement.
Grassed waterways keep runoff from creating gullies. In areas of the farm where water is likely to collect and begin to cut gullies, the Moores have installed grassed waterways.  The grass waterway stays permanently in grass and allows concentrated flows of water to be safely moved downhill and off the field without causing erosion.
Livestock are fenced from streams and a vegetative buffer provides a filter that keeps pollutants out of the stream Livestock on the Moore farm are fenced out of streams.  Without the fences, cattle will drink and loiter in and around streams allowing animal waste to enter the stream and the streambanks to be trambled and eroded.  Watering tanks are provided.  The buffer between the fence and the stream is allowed to grow naturally in order to provide excellent food and cover for wildlife.  The buffer also acts as a filter removing any sediment and animal waste that may flow from the pasture.
A few rows of soybeans are left unharvested to provide wildlife food and cover The Moores recognize the value of wildlife and each year leave several rows of crops unharvested to provide food for wildlife.

< Back to Profiles in Conservation