Protecting livestock and water quality on Massie and Sons Farm
By Matt SabasPosted May 16, 2025
Fred Massie and his son Peter run a 1926 fourth-generation family farm in Louisa County, Virginia.
Together, they graze cattle across 450 acres on multiple farms in the York River Basin. They are steadily transitioning from an open pasture system to rotational grazing techniques.
Since beginning work with Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District in 2018 and participating in the Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost-Share (VACS) program, the Massies have installed permanent infrastructure that has protected over 33,000 feet of streambank and has excluded approximately 75 total acres of riparian buffers that connect throughout their farm to provide important wildlife corridors. VACS can provide up to 100 percent reimbursement for the cost of fencing the streams on operations while providing an alternative water source for livestock, and technical assistance is available through local districts.
Their unique use of agricultural best management practices, including livestock stream exclusion, exemplify stewardship of the York River Basin and earned Massie and Sons Farm a Grand Basin Clean Water Farm award in 2023.
Livestock stream exclusion
Livestock stream exclusion practices involve installing a permanent fence to keep livestock from entering streams while providing alternate watering sources from wells or troughs. Restricting livestock access to streams and providing alternative watering systems reduces streambank erosion and decreases the amount of sediment that local waterways carry.
Fencing works anywhere a creek, stream or river crosses a property. Fencing out livestock from streams improves water quality by eliminating the bacteria associated with livestock waste that cause illness in both animals and humans. Cleaner water can lead to increased quality and quantity of milk and butterfat production along with weight gain in cattle. It also results in fewer incidents of disease, leading to decreased vet bills and overall lower operating costs.
Installing a riparian buffer, another best management practice qualifying for VACS payments, that involves planting a strip of vegetation adjacent to a water body, can enhance economic and environmental benefits by filtering pollutants and improving erosion and flood control.
Contact your local Soil and Water Conservation District
For assistance in developing livestock stream exclusion and other conservation practices, contact your local Soil and Water Conservation District https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil-and-water/swcds.
Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District contributed to this post.
Categories
Soil and Water Conservation
Tags
nutrient management
Department of Conservation and Recreation
