Shamoka Run Farm: a Soil for Water Case Study

Project Type: Research and Education
Funds awarded in 2021: $1,000,000.00
Projected End Date: 09/30/2024
Grant Recipients: National Center for Appropriate Technology; Understanding Ag, LLC; Holistic Management International; JG Research and Evaluation; Mississippi State University; University of Arkansas; Virginia Association for Biological Farming; Virginia Tech University
Region: Southern
State: Texas
Principal Investigator:
Mike Morris
National Center for Appropriate Technology
Co-Investigators:
Dr. Eric S. Bendfeldt
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Dr. Dirk Philipp
University of Arkansas
Dr. Rocky Lemus
Mississippi State University, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
Description:
On their family farm in northern August County Virginia, Leo and Judy Tammi raise sheep and lamb on about 240 acres of hay and pasture and 60 acres of rented land. Leo was a founder of the Virginia Lamb Cooperative, is an active member of the Virginia Forage and Grassland Council, and has implemented various best management practices like riparian buffers, bird and pollinator habitat, and native grass plantings. In this video, Leo shares several epiphanies and observations about rotational grazing, resilience, aesthetics, marketing, wildlife habitat, and the need to educate people about the services farming and good land management provide to the broader community. He reminds us that regenerative and soil health-building principles must be internalized, requiring inquisitiveness, energy, resilience, and continual observation.
Type:
Video
Transcript Embedded:
Yes
Authors:
Eric Bendfeldt, Virginia Tech; Kim Niewolny, Virginia Tech; Katie Trozzo, Virginia Tech
Target audiences:
Farmers/Ranchers; Educators; Researchers; Consumers
This product is associated with the project "Soil for Water"
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.