Wayne County Farm Named NY Ag Award Finalist

A Wayne County farm is one of three finalists for New York’s AEM-Leopold Conservation Award.

Humbert Farms of Rose has incorporated practices and programs such as localized drainage channeling and extensive use of cover crops to protect their soil’s health. Owners Mark and Lisa Humbert also work to build community partnerships.

The award recognizes farms that promote and protect soil and water quality while keeping the farm viable for future generations.

The other two finalists are Dygert Farms in Montgomery County and Tongore Farm in Ulster County.

A winner will be announced later this summer.

More on each farm from the Department of Markets and Agriculture can be found below:

• Dygert Farms of Palatine Bridge in Montgomery County: Dygert Farms is a 250-cow dairy and dairy processing operation, which crops to feed its cows on 650 acres, and is owned and operated by Robbie and Shannon Dygert. Rich in history, the farm is celebrating its tricentennial anniversary in 2023. Through collaboration with the Montgomery County Soil and Water Conservation District, the farm’s planner, and the AEM Program, the Dygerts have adopted many conservation practices to cycle on-farm nutrients for crop production, continually build soil health, and protect water quality. These conservation practices include including minimum/no-till planting, cover cropping, clean water diversion practices, and whole farm nutrient management. The Dygerts also consider ways to further enhance the environment through their herd’s nutrition program. They take a whole farm approach by feeding diets tailored to meet their milk production goals while reducing imports of purchased feed nutrients to their farm and watershed. The Dygerts strive for efficiency, the preservation of their farmland, and the promotion of agriculture as they continue to build their agricultural enterprise. In 2021, they began the operation of their on-farm milk processing facility, Dygert Farms Creamery, as a means to diversify and expand their business for future generations.

• Humbert Farms of Rose in Wayne County: Humbert Farms, owned by Mark and Lisa Humbert, produces corn, soybeans, and wheat on 3500 acres. This 4^th generation farm prioritizes sustainability for the next generation by focusing on soil preservation and health, successor development, long term profitability, and community partnerships. Through the AEM Program, the Humberts have incorporated numerous practices and resource protection programs into their farming operation including watershed management through buffer creation and localized drainage channeling, extensive use of cover crops, addressing resiliency with inner seeding and irrigation, and various strategies to address the impacts of weather extremes. The Humberts exhibit leadership in agricultural conservation, working with the Wayne County Soil and Water Conservation District, commodity and advocacy organizations, as well as neighboring dairies, to look at ways of addressing carbon sequestration including partnering and building a 4-phase system of manure storage and transfer, which will be completed in 2024.

• Tongore Farm of Olivebridge in Ulster County: Tongore Farm is owned by Brett Fox and Jessica Wisneski. Originally a dairy farm, Mr. Fox has owned and managed 51 acres of the family farm for the past 10 years while leasing an additional 60 acres. During that time, he has restored the land back into production to grow hay and provide pasture for beef cattle and pigs. Working in partnership with the Ulster County Soil and Water Conservation District through the AEM Program, Mr. Fox focuses on soil and plant health and pasture management through rotational grazing and livestock watering systems. Mr. Fox serves as a grassroots educator of conservation, hosting field days to showcase his grazing and watering system to area farmers. His intent is to farm efficiently while protecting the environment and providing locally produced meat to his community, and investing in the farm for future generations.