A half century ago Harold Gould was looking for some good land to start a farm. The Delaware County native in 1956 picked a spot on South Street Road in Pavilion, New York. The high limestone soil has a good pH for growing crops. But Gould, now 82, noticed some spots didn’t drain well. He installed tile to move water off the land so he could plant crops sooner in the spring. He was rewarded with better yields in the well-drained soil.
That helped make him an early convert to conservation on the farm, a philosophy embraced by his son John. The Genesee County Soil and Water Conservation District honored Harold in the mid-1960s for his conservation efforts.
Now the district in recognizing John Gould, who transitioned the farm to an organic dairy beginning in 2005. HaR-Go Farm became certified organic in 2008 for its 170 cows. The farm utilizes a grazing plan for its cattle that Soil and Water highlights as an example for others to follow.
“It’s a good farm to see how things are done,” George Squires, Soil and Water district manager, said about the Gould grazing system.
Soil and Water picked HaR-Go Farm as the 2010 Conservation Farm of the Year. The Goulds will be honored March 19 during the Celebrate Agriculture Dinner at the Alexander Firemen’s Recreation Hall.
Squires said the farm has a long history of sound environmental practices, including rotational grazing, strip cropping, diversion ditches, fencing, animal trails and walkways. They also have built an agricultural waste storage and installed about 25 miles of drainage tile.
John Gould said the 620-acre farm has increased its management of nutrients since switching to organic. The farm doesn’t use chemical fertilizers and has to rely on plants and manure to maintain soil fertility.
“We’re constantly seeding with clovers and alfalfa,” Gould, 55, said.
Squires said the farm values every piece of land, growing something, even grass, on all the soil.
“Anytime you can cover bare soil you’re fighting erosion,” he said.
HaR-Go also has implemented a woodlot management program where less valuable trees are removed in favor of better trees.
John Gould said Soil and Water provides invaluable expertise for many of the projects at the farm.
He praised his parents, Harold and Rose, for picking Pavilion for the farm, and for working so hard for so many years. Rose did the books for many years. Harold remains a daily presence at the farm, and fetches parts at local equipment dealers.
“I’m the gopher,” he said. “I go and get parts and help out where I can.”
John’s wife Susan keeps the books and also is up at 4 in the morning to milk cows. John and Susan have four children.
John credited the farm’s three employees – Ron Rodgers, Eric Zinkievich and Tim Bodine – for their dedication and commitment to conservation.
“It’s an honor and we’re proud to be recognized,” Gould said about the award. “This is a great agricultural county and region.”
When Harold Gould was growing up in Walton in Delaware County, that county had the most dairies in the state, he said. Now only a few remain, and there aren’t many ag-support businesses in that region.
Harold said there are many resources in Genesee County and the surrounding area for farms. When he needs a part, it’s usually a short drive. PD
—From The Daily News
