Buffer Ohio Award Winner- Ralph Brothers Farms

News Release
For Release: Wednesday, January 23, 2002
Columbus, Ohio

Ralph Brothers Farms in Morral was recognized today as one of ten statewide Buffer Ohio Award Winners. The award was presented at the Annual Meeting of the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Don Ralph accepted the award on behalf of the Ralph Brothers.

Buffer Ohio is a statewide awards program, which recognizes exceptional landowners who have done an outstanding job of applying and maintaining conservation buffer practices to the Ohio landscape. It is co-sponsored by Ohio Farm Bureau, Ohio Corn Growers, Pheasants Forever, ODNR Division of Wildlife, ODNR Division of Forestry, ODNR Division of Soil and Water Conservation, Ohio Wetlands Foundation, Nature Conservancy, Ohio Soybean Association, National Conservation Buffer Council, USDA Farm Service Agency, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and the Lake Erie Buffer Team.

Conservation buffer practices include grass filter strips, riparian tree plantings, sod waterways, wetland restorations, and windbreaks. They are a fundamental part of the conservation effort to protect and enhance Ohio’s precious soil, water, plant, and animal resources. Buffer practices provide improved agricultural production, erosion control, water quality, and wildlife habitat benefits. Buffer areas trap sediment, nutrients, pesticides, provide food and cover for wildlife, and increase plant and animal diversity.

Ralph Brother Farms was recognized for their work in installing conservation buffer practices. The Ralph brothers are outdoorsmen as well as farmers and can see the benefits of conservation buffers. The filter strips they have installed are adjacent to the state owned Kill Deer Plains Wildlife Refuge. The Ralph brothers chose to use warm season grass and switch grass mixes for their long-term benefits to water quality and wildlife. Over the past year, they have installed an amazing 133.1 acres of filters strips and have encouraged their neighbors to enroll as well. The Ralph brothers have persuaded six different landowners from Columbus, Ohio to Savannah, Georgia to enroll in CRP. They have also acted on behalf of absentee landowners to help complete the necessary paperwork to enroll in CRP. The Ralph brothers have done an outstanding job of applying and maintaining the conservation buffer practices they have installed and have also helped others to install and maintain their own conservation practices.

As part of the award Don Ralph of Ralph Brother Farms received a cash award, recognition plaque, and Buffer Ohio Jacket. Award recipients were selected based on a review of their conservation buffer accomplishments. Judging was done by a committee of the Buffer Ohio Partner Organizations.

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