Jimmy Gray and his dad, Reid, have both spent many years serving as Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) supervisors, so when Jimmy says that they utilize just about every best management practice they can for soil and water, he knows what he’s talking about.
The Stony Point, North Carolina, farm spans two watersheds, and the local topography is known for hill erosion. When it came time to build a new dairy five years ago, Jimmy and his brother, Andy, did extensive research, consulted with experts and toured other dairies. As a result, the new dairy is, as Jimmy calls it, “conservation and efficiency by design.” Jimmy is quick to point out that these choices weren’t made just for environmental reasons; they also provide an economic return.
The farm earned a 2022 Dairy Sustainability Award from the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy for their outstanding care for the environment, their land, and their animals.