For the past four years, the Alliance’s Agriculture team worked with an organic dairy farm in Lancaster County, PA, and last year, this nutrient reduction project was completed! Mr. Abner Stotlzfus, a Plain Sect farmer, operates a 40-cow organic dairy, supplying high-quality milk to Organic Valley. His preserved 40-acre farm is located right off the Pequea Creek. In addition to dairy, Mr. Stolzfus produces hemp.

Mr. Stoltzfus began transforming his farm in 2021, planting 2.9 acres of riparian forest to prevent runoff, and then completed a farm-wide intervention to address all nutrient concerns in 2024. This intervention included expansion of manure storage, barnyard stabilization, cattle walkways, fencing and more.

 

Cleaning up Pequea Creek

cows grazing in a field

Stoltzfus’ cows graze across the cattle walkway from the riparian buffer.

Pequea Creek is an important waterway for Lancaster and the Chesapeake Bay overall, and due to the farm’s proximity, the risk of nutrient runoff was high. The farm needed to address that main challenge and the Alliance was able to support that, first, by implementing a riparian forest buffer of almost three acres.

“Being that my farm is 100 yards off the stream, I see a lot of trash coming down when we get a lot of rain. It just makes me want to do a better job in trying to eliminate that. Over the years, the stream bank kept eroding, and the creek was changing its route and losing acreage to the neighbor across the stream. What is it going to look like in another 10 or 20 years?” – Abner Stoltzfus

an aerial view of a farm

An aerial view of Stoltzfus’ farm, including the circular manure storage installation, allowing for up to six months of storage.

Now, after the completion of the project, the farm is preventing multiple tons of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment from running to the water. The implemented practices also divert water and reduce the overland flow of water to help save the hillside from further erosion, while also being a more comfortable environment for the cows.

a barn and three silos

The stabilized barnyard on the farm, reducing flow into Pequea Creek.

With improved water quality, will come improved habitat for many species. The farm now sees more wildlife like fish, birds, and other animals that make this place their home.

A project like this takes more than one organization or individual, so working together is paramount. Partnering with Organic Valley, TeamAg, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and NRCs to implement the project, these additions to the farm address all of Mr. Stoltzfus’ nutrient concerns. Organic Valley is made up of small organic farms from Pennsylvania and across the country. When Organic Valley pools these farms together to implement environmental practices, they act as a conduit, helping connect our farmers with organizations like the Alliance to have a broader impact across the entire landscape.

Funding for these projects was provided by the Alliance’s RCPP, NFWF, and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grants.

“Mr. Stoltzfus is a great steward and truly cares about water quality, the community, and doing the right thing. He’s a wonderful producer, and is doing a great job managing his animals, the land, and the water. I am very proud to partner with him to help him accomplish his conservation goals.” – Mauricio Rosales, Senior Agriculture Projects Manager, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay

Mr. Stoltzfus exemplifies leadership in his community, passionately advocating for sustainable farming practices. His contributions make him an invaluable asset to the Plain Sect Communities.

“We like to go down (to the creek) in the evening. It’s a moment everybody looks forward to and we have made a lot of special memories down there along the creek as a family. I’ve been seeing a lot more wildlife habitat, more birds, and it’s just amazing the native wildflowers you can see down there.

The Alliance stood by me throughout the whole project, to make sure that everything is completed the way it should be. I feel like if everybody along the Pequea would have the same goal or vision, it could take away a lot of the challenges we face.” – Abner Stoltzfus

cows grazing in a field

The implemented practices create more efficient farms and happier cows.

Mr. Stoltzfus’ upstream efforts help clean all the water flowing downstream, eventually ending up in the Chesapeake Bay. Thank you, Mr. Stoltzfus, for being such a passionate, committed steward for the land, community, and future generations.

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