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Celebrating 80 Years
November 2018 • Vol. 82, Numb er 11 • Published monthly by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture • www.Agriculture.Vermont.Gov
Farmer Profile: Jim Jones
By Nina Gage, VT Agency of Jim Jones in front of his milking parlor in Craftsbury, Vermont. we can do it when we need it,” Jim
Agriculture, Food & Markets explained, “It is a little hard driving
smile on his face. This was clearly a two other small farms in Craftsbury, it down the road, but boy it’s nice
Jim Jones is a third-generation worthwhile benefit for Jones’ fam- applied for a Capital Equipment when you get it to a field.” There are
dairy farmer. He farms land ily. “It’s kind of neat, to see it come Assistance Program (CEAP) grant many small farms in similar situa-
from the headwaters of the up, and it adds a lot of organic mat- with the Agency of Agriculture for a tions, not having the capital to invest
Black River to the Wolcott town line. ter.” In 2017 Jim Jones, along with No-Till Grain Drill. “We wanted it so in their own equipment, so they
Along the way, you’ll find his sugar rely on custom operators, who often
shack, and an awesome view of the can only make the trip after they’ve
river valley. finished work on the larger farms.
Sarah Damsell, the District Manager
When Jim was a kid, he took for the Orleans County Natural
turns with his brother Tony, milk- Resources Conservation District
ing the cows before the school bus (NRCD), said “It’s the equipment.
came. Today, Jim manages almost For a long time, it’s really been a
800 acres of land, mainly forestland barrier of the custom operator get-
and sugarbush, with hay and corn ting there at the right time.” Cover
fields between. The Certified Small cropping germination and success
Farm Operation has a herd of about requires planting at optimal times so
160 cows, calves and heifers. “We’ve there are plenty of growing days and
done a lot, there is more we can do,” enough vegetative plant growth to
explained Jim as we discussed con- cover the soil through the winter.
servation on his farm.
continued on page 5
I asked Jim about cover cropping,
and he told me “Deer like it,” with a
Nonprofit Org Inside This Issue
US Postage
Vermont Agency of PAID The View from 80 Years Ago. . . . . . . Page 13
Agriculture, Food & Markets Permit #10 116 State Street. . . . . Page 2 4-H News. . . . . . . . . . Page 14
Specialty Crop Big E Wrap Up . . . . . Page 16
116 State Street White River Jct VT Block Grants . . . . . . . Page 3
Montpelier, Vermont 05620-2901 CWD Discovered in
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED Quebec . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4
Agricultural Literacy
Week. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 5
SARE Grants. . . . . . . . Page 6
Climate Corner. . . . . . Page 7
Vermont’s Agricultural
Waters. . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 8
Spreading Manure. . . . Page 9
Vermont Vegetable
and Berry News. . . . . Page 10
Classifieds. . . . . . . . . Page 11
