Walton, Delaware County Covered Barnyard The Dave and Rhonda Stanton farm in Walton had a collection of Best Management Practices installed to upgrade an existing project and address additional unresolved conservation issues. A barnyard project installed in 2001 has been directing runoff through a filter screen, settling tank, and vegetated filter field. But increased use of the existing barnyard, due to a change in dairy herd management, required a significant upgrade of the existing facility. The old barnyard was roofed to meet new NRCS practice standards and now provides the environmental protection for the increased outdoor feeding and prolonged exercise times. A spring development, heavy use area pad, underground outlet, animal trail and walkway were also built with the roofed barnyard to address all of the conservation issues related to the farmstead and outdoor feeding areas. The largest part of the job was building the roofed barnyard. A timber structure with a 64’ x 75’ metal roof and clear sky panels now prevents any polluted runoff from leaving the area. Extended eaves also protect the feed mangers on each side. At his own expense, Dave installed head-locks on each side of the barnyard to allow half the dairy herd to feed under the roof. A push-off for manure provides for much easier cleanup of the barnyard. Prior to construction, upslope water ran toward the barnyard which, over time, dumped sediment as high as the top of the barnyard curb. A drop inlet and pipe now collect this water and safely deliver it away from and below the farmstead. The heavy use area pad allows the Stanton’s to feed heifers and extra dairy cows on a gravel pad six hundred feet away in the pasture. The sloped pad is 120’ by 40’ with a security block buckwall on the uphill end to contain manure during the winter when spreading is a difficult option. The spring development includes a watering trough near the pad so the animals won’t have to trek in and out of the barnyard for water. This reduces wear and tear on the laneway and helps the herd put more of their energy into making milk. “This is a much better alternative in protecting the environment and in making it easier for us to maintain the practices,” Dave commented.
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