South Carolina Landowner Utilizes USDA Programs for Diversified Farming

A Farming Tradition.
Joe Woodard has farming in his blood. That’s because he comes from a long line of farmers, including his father and grandfather. The farm where he lives and works now, which was designated a ‘Century Farm’ by USDA, is the same one that his grandfather started in 1885 and Woodard retains fond memories of his childhood there. “I remember my grandfather working on this same farm and I also remember the small homes the sharecropper’s lived in.” A long time conservationist, Woodard is no stranger to conservation practices and programs. He says he has known about USDA-NRCS for many years because he told his students about it, back in the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) days. Woodard taught vocational agriculture for 30 years and stressed the importance of conservation to his pupils. He has been farming for nearly 40 years and is a loyal conservationist. He is very familiar with USDA’s conservation programs and the benefits of these cost-share programs can be seen throughout his farmland. From conservation buffers, terraces, no-till, wildlife food plots, and most recently a Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) easement, Woodard is a dedicated farmer who believes in conservation.

His Conservation Cause.
“With farming prices like they are today and the situation not looking like it’s going to change soon, I have to conserve all I’ve got,” remarks Woodard as he looks out over his corn fields. There’s not a hint of negativity coming from him though, and it is the challenge that keeps him motivated. “Farming is my life, and I’m going to do all that I can to survive.” This fierce determination keeps Woodard going at a time when farming is difficult. For instance, Woodard recently lost the one labor man that he had because he could make ten dollars an hour at a local plant. “I can’t compete with those prices. It’s hard to find good workers and other places are offering them more money than I can afford to pay them.” As a result, Woodard is the sole labor force on his farm.

A Model Conservationist.
Woodard believes in total resource planning and has applied conservation practices on almost the entire area of his 320-acre farm. He has worked with NRCS District Conservationist Jim Wilson since the late 1970’s. Wilson also worked with Woodard’s uncle and admires the strong conservation ethic of this family. “It’s no wonder that he received the Conservation Achievement Award from the Richland SWCD in 1993,” remarked Wilson. “I really enjoy working with him because he is truly enthusiastic about conservation and knows how to use USDA programs to benefit his farm.”  Woodard is involved in wildlife, forestry, and nutrient management and has a number of Farm Bill contracts. He has a Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) contract for upland habitat, in addition to a Forestry Incentives Program (FIP), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and WRP contracts. He also grows corn for his hogs, has a poultry operation, manages hayland fields, and practices pastureland development. At his poultry operation, he has a installed a composter for poultry carcasses and emphasizes, “Composting allows me to decompose the birds into fertilizer and also helps me do it safely by protecting groundwater.”He reports a dramatic improvement in the quality of his crops when using composted fertilizer. Woodard is a firm believer in no-till and practices it on his grain, soybeans, and corn. There is also a major emphasis on wildlife habitat improvement on Woodard’s farm. He has numerous forest openings and grass strips, as well as wildlife foodplots on his land. “I know it’s beneficial for the wildlife because I’ve seen them come around more. “We have several new coveys of quail and I’ve seen more turkey and deer, too,” he says.

Diversification through Wetlands.
In 1999, Woodard entered into a WRP contract. He has nearly 35-acres in wetlands, including the buffer area, which was restored with a water control structure last spring.  Evaluation of flood levels is still in progress, but so far, the area has thrived. NRCS Wildlife Biologist Jim Lewis was involved with the acquisition of the easement and remarks, “This wetland area adds diversification to his farm and is an extremely beneficial area for many species of wildlife.” Wilson, who is excited about the wetland area, points our a key feature of Woodard’s WRP plan. “There is a buffer around the area for upland game where he is installing annual plantings.” He continues that, “Mr. Woodard is adding a whole new element of conservation on his land with this wetland.” The restored wetland area may also be an additional source of income for Woodard in the future. “I may open the area up to duck hunters if all goes well,” hints Woodard. He has planted rye grass on the dike and has seen a dramatic increase in all types of wildlife in the wetland area. The wetland area adds to the beauty of the land as well and is located in a hidden spot along the perimeter of the farm. The wetland is just another component of his resource management plan for the farm. NRCS has provided technical assistance with planning, surveying, design, and construction certification.  Woodard is proud of his wetland and is looking forward to monitoring its progress over the years.

A Bright Future.
Woodard has done an outstanding job of practicing resource management and diversified farming for the benefit of the environment and for wildlife. Woodard plans for his son and daughters to continue the family’s long tradition of farming.  But don’t think that he is retiring anytime soon. He plans to work as long as a can—afterall farming isn’t just his job…it’s his passion.

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