Diversity is the name of the game at Scott’s Yankee Farmer in East Lyme,
Connecticut.
Owned and operated by Tom and Karen Scott, Scott’s Yankee Farmer grows a
wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and berries, as well as annuals and cut
flowers. The farm also has a corn maze and cider press (which is in operation
during harvest in the fall). Produce is sold from a seasonal store at the
farm.
With assistance from the AMA Program, the Scott’s have converted 12 acres
of vegetables one acre of berries, and two acres of orchard from “big guns”
and overhead sprinklers to micro-irrigation. The conversion to drip has not
only reduced the quantity of water used to irrigate the crops (especially
important in a dry year such as this), it has saved the time previously spent
moving pipes and irrigation equipment from field to field.
“This was the perfect season to realize the benefits of micro-irrigation,”
remarked Karen Scott. “Because it was so dry, the system has probably paid for
itself in this first season alone.”
Another benefit of the system is the ability to fertilize crops through the
drip system, putting the fertilizer right where it needs to be – saving both
time and fertilizer costs.
The Scott’s AMA contract also provided financial assistance for deer
fencing (deer pressure has been an ongoing battle). Fencing can be expensive
and this cost-share allowed Tom to finish the areas he had started on his own.
“Good quality deer fencing is the only way to go,” says Tom. “Deer pressure is
so high around here; even with my crop damage deer permit I can’t control
them.”
The Scott’s will also be working on an Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Plan with a consultant and the deer fencing will be an integral part, keeping
one of the more destructive pests at bay.
AMA Program Dollars and Contracts
| |
Fiscal Year 2005 |
Cumulative Total (1997-2005) |
| Congressional District |
Obligated Dollars |
Number of Contracts |
Obligated Dollars |
Number of Contracts |
| District 1 |
$ 53,850.00 |
1 |
$ 82,752.00 |
5 |
| District 2 |
$ 92,540.00 |
6 |
$278,357.00 |
24 |
| District 3 |
$ 14,625.00 |
1 |
$ 77,029.00 |
6 |
| District 4 |
- |
- |
$ 60,292.00 |
3 |
| District 5 |
$ 64,763.00 |
3 |
$343,648.00 |
21 |
| State Totals |
$225,778.00 |
11 |
$842,077.00 |
59 |
Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) provides cost share assistance to
agricultural producers to voluntarily address issues such as water management,
water quality, and erosion control by incorporating conservation into their
farming operations. Producers may construct or improve water management
structures or irrigation structures; plant trees for windbreaks or to improve
water quality; and mitigate risk through production diversification or resource
conservation practices, including soil erosion control, integrated pest
management, or transition to organic farming.
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