Water Quality Issues Leads Carroll County Farmer to Conservation      

Charles Robinson has been a citizen of Carroll County for 81 years and in the farming and cattle business for 55 years. Robinson says he is just a kid who loves to farm and play golf. The farm is located in Bowdon off of Kansas Jake Road. According to Natural Resources Conservation Service maps, the farm is approximately 72 acres.

Robinson is the third generation of his family to farm this land. Robinson first learned about NRCS in the late 1950’s. Then it was named the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), and was widely known at that time for pond design. Robinson helped other farmers construct ponds designed by SCS, and recalls that as one of his earliest memories of the SCS. Robinson had water quality issues on his farm that prompted him to phone NRCS’ Carrollton Field office.

Shemekia Mosley, a Soil Conservationist, provided technical assistance on three stream crossings, a watering ramp for his pond, and two heavy use areas. These practices are frequently used by his cattle and farm equipment to allow for minimal disturbance to our water supply. They were financed, in part, through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Robinson is to be commended on his conservation efforts.

As a participant in EQIP, he is required to complete only one practice within the first contract year; however, Robinson completed five of the six practices designed for his farm within the first year. That is an impressive accomplishment for any farmer. Robinson stated that his farm has truly benefitted from EQIP because NRCS worked very closely with him through the entire process.

He believes that EQIP and NRCS have helped him to meet the goals of the farm, and especially important to him, to prepare for future generations to come. “We are to be good stewards of the land, and it is our responsibility to take action to protect our natural resources for future generations,” said Robinson. Charles Robinson’s farm truly is a “success story” of farmers and NRCS working together to protect our land and natural resources.

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