Page 31 - 111117

Groton Daily Independent
Saturday, Nov. 114, 2017 ~ Vol. 25 - No. 125 ~ 31 of 66
— sometimes three to four years. We are looking at this as a longer-term investment but this is a pretty common way to invest in projects you see on the West Coast and the Northeast. A lot of investors know this is not a quick turnaround.”
However, down the road, Hall said he envisions West Virginia as being primary producers of niche pro- duce on the East Coast.
“If we produce enough at a low cost and upgrade to high value products, move it six to nine hours away, there is a huge amount of ways to use these lands in ways that we’ve barely started to scratch the surface,” he said.
Hall mentioned the possibility of products including lavender or grapes — plants that can thrive in the rocky soil.
“You could even have things like goat meat, which is something you don’t think about as something to eat in this area,” Hall said. “There are huge markets for it, maybe not here but the conditions are great for these sites.”
Hall spoke about some of the struggles with using these sites including the rocky terrain itself.
“You think about nice farmland where there is this loose, uffy, brown soil you can almost scoop your hand into,” he said. “This soil, you can’t get a shovel to go more than 2 inches. The only thing that can survive is something with a shallow breeding system.”
Another issue is invasive species of plants that were planted for reclamation. However, Hall said animals including goats and hogs can eat the shrubby plants while also adding nutrients to the soil.
“I’m a fan of high-intensity rotational grazing,” he said. “You have people out there tending fences and maintaining the animals and the site regularly. It has a more diversi ed income. And there is a bene t to the land through manure and reducing unwanted vegetation. You can eventually replant to better quality pastures if you do rotational.”
He said stacking systems including orchards and animals have been ef cient in maintaining the land along with adding a larger labor force.
“You have the animals in between the orchard growth keeping the areas maintained,” he said. “It’s bene t- ing the roots and the trees. You’re also able to sell the meat and eggs while harvesting fruit and berries.” Hall isn’t the rst or the only person to grow crops on reclaimed mine sites. Hall mentioned one in par-
ticular back in the 1990s in Kentucky where there was a hog farm on a former mine site.
“There are a lot of activity in these spaces,” he said. “We are more focused on stacking systems and having this multi-faceted approach. Other folks want one piece. . It’s an interesting time to be involved.
We can learn from each other and grow a new sector of the economy.” ___
Information from: The Register-Herald, http://www.register-herald.com
Fellow farmers help family after passing By GENE ZALESKI, The Times and Democrat of Orangeburg
BRANCHVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Branchville farmer Otis “Larry” McAlhany lived and breathed farming his entire life.
He grew up on the farm with his father Tom Clint Sr. and continued to till the land to help support his family through the years.
It was no different in 2017 when McAlhany planted 300 acres of corn, 250 acres of peanuts and 300 acres of soybeans.
But on Labor Day morning, McAlhany died of what family members believe was a heart attack. He was 67.
Seeing that he was about halfway done harvesting his corn crop, other farmers decided to take it upon themselves to help the McAlhany family in their hour of need.
Thad Wimberly was joined in the effort by his father Harry, Ronnie Weathers, Ernie Kirven, Blaine Huffel nger and Jonathan Berry.
“The passing was just a shock to the community,” Thad Wimberly said. “No one was expecting that.