Livestock

Possum Tail Farm

Owner: Brian and Jennifer Kahly

Address:
1771 Oak Grove Rd
Terra Alta, WV 26764
Preston County

daytime phone: (304) 789-5556
Web site: http://www.possumtailfarm.com

Application Date: 2012-11-27

Applicant Details

Please briefly tell us why you are applying to be part of the Certified Naturally Grown program: *
Being a CNG farm gives confidence to the customers who can't visit the farm. Upholding the CNG standard and submitting to a third party inspection demonstrates our high level of commitment to earth, animal and family friendly farming.
Are you currently third party Certified for your livestock operation by any other organization (Organic, Biodynamic, etc)? *
no
Have you ever been certified in the past? *
yes
If yes, please note which agencies and dates: *
We have been CNG since 2013. 30 acres of our farm are certified Organic.
Have you ever been denied certification? *
no
How did you hear about Certified Naturally Grown? *
Other Local Farmers, Max Dubansky of Back Bone Food Farm
Your application will be reviewed AFTER we receive a valid Feed Declaration for your farm. We ask you to submit the Feed Declaration within ONE MONTH to ensure your application isn't denied. Check this box to indicate you understand this. *
How did you learn to farm, and for how long have you been farming for market? What has prepared you to farm successfully according to CNG standards? *

General Farm Information

Farm Acreage you want listed as Certified Naturally GrownTM:
Total farm acreage to be used for pasture and feed crops *
150
Number of above acres that you own: *
145
Number of above acres that you lease: *
5
Do you have other acreage in "conventional" agricultural systems? *
no
General Listed Acreage Breakdown
Pasture:
50
Hay:
23
Grains:
30
Other (please specify below):
47
If indicated, please specify how 'other' acres are used
They are just left fallow for now. Some are also wetlands that we choose to leave in their natural state.
Please check all items you grow and would like to market as Certified Naturally GrownTM (to certify produce, please complete the separate produce application) *



















Please Specify Any Other Items:
Veggies and Herbs.
Please check all markets you grow for (this will be displayed on your farm profile to help potential buyers find you). *











Please Specify Other Markets:
We make deliveries Morgantown, WV and Oakland, MD. Orders are placed through our on-line store @ https://app.barn2door.com/e/5NzL5/all

Farmland Management and Practices

Primary Tillage System: *
Conventional and no-till will be used in 2018-2019
Do you use Cover Crops? *
yes
If yes, please list: *
Buck Wheat, winter rye
Do you use Compost? *
yes
Please note general sources (on farm,purchased complete, local grass clippings, local dairy, etc.): *
on farm products-chicken processing offal, local dairy, local farms
Please list application rates. Give a specific amount or range (for example: one to two tons per acre, ten wheelbarrow loads per 1,000 square feet, or 1-2 inches deep). Do not answer "varies". *
1,000 lbs / acre
Do you use Manure? *
yes
Please note general sources of manure: *
In state poultry production and out of state mushroom production.
Please list application rates. Give a specific amount or range (for example: one to two tons per acre, ten wheelbarrow loads per 1,000 square feet, or 1-2 inches deep). Do not answer "varies". *
9,000lbs/acre
Please list any other brought in fertility sources that you use (specific rock powders, lime, soybean / alfalfa meal, specific purchased pre-mixes, etc)and how often it's used. If you indicate a name brand product, please also specify the ingredient/s.
High Magnesium Agricultural Lime to increase PH as part of our farm soil building program. We also use some Fertrell brand fertilizers that are OMRI approved (approved for organic use).
Have any chemical fertilizers been applied to the fields you are seeking Certification for in the last three years (36 months)? *
no
Have any non-acceptable pesticides and/or herbicides been applied to these fields in the last 3 years? *
no
Describe your primary weed problems and methods of control. If you indicate a name brand product, please also specify the ingredient(s), what kind of product it is (a soap, microbial, oil, a botanical...), and how often it's used. *
We use specifically timed grassing and mowing to manage unwanted plants to interrupt their reproductive cycle.
Describe your primary plant pest problems and methods of control. If you indicate a name brand product, please also specify the ingredient/s, what kind of product it is (a soap, microbial, oil, a botanical...), and how often it's used. *
We have some thistle. We try to cut flowers before they seed and dig it up. It is not a terrible problem at this time.
Please list the water source you use for crop irrigation. If source is public river, pond or lake, please note the name: *
When irrigation is needed we use spring water treated by UV light.
Are there any known contaminants in the irrigation water? *
no

Livestock Management and Practices

Please list all livestock for which you seek certification by type/breed, and indicate how many of each are on the farm today (for example: belted galloways - 20, nubian goats - 5, orpington chickens - 7, frizzle chickens - 3) For animals that have not yet been stocked for the season (e.g. poultry or piglets) please estimate how many you expect to have on farm during the upcoming season. Only list livestock that are (or will be) managed according to CNG standards. *
35 Angus cross cattle (2020)
I affirm that all livestock listed on this application are raised according to Certified Naturally Grown standards. I further affirm that I will not represent ANY livestock products as Certified Naturally Grown if they have not been raised according to the standards required by Certified Naturally Grown. Any livestock treated with antibiotics or other prohibited substances will be quarantined and sold separately. All livestock are fed feed grown according to CNG standards - without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, and free of any genetically modified grains (GMOs). *
Have all the livestock been raised according to CNG standards since the last third of gestation or since hatching? *
yes
Give brief details of your rotation practice for each type and/or group of livestock. (E.g. heifers strip grazing behind electric fence moved daily, 28 day rotation, poultry rotated weekly - 3 pens.) *
During the growing season the cattle intensively graze strips of pasture and are rotated every 12-24 hours based on rate of grass growth and the grazing needs of the animals.
Do the animals listed above include cows, goats, sheep or other ruminants? *
yes
Do your ruminant livestock obtain at least 30% of their dry matter intake from grazed forage during the growing season? *
yes
Do the animals listed above include poultry? *
yes
Do your poultry either (a) have a minimum of five square feet per bird of natural, grassy outdoor space or (b) do they have at least two square feet per bird and get moved at least one time per day to fresh new pasture? *
yes
Do your livestock spend most of their time on pasture during the growing season? *
yes
Is all feed grown according to Certified Naturally Grown standards (without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or post-harvest fungal treatments)? *
yes
For all livestock you seek to certify, please provide more information about the feed. Is it grown locally for you? Purchased in bulk at a mill? Bagged at the feed store? Is it Certified Organic? What brand, if any? *
The cattle receive no grain.
Do you buy in some feed? *
yes
Will you be sure to submit a Feed Supplier Declaration within two weeks? (download it at naturallygrown.org/feed) Please note: when the big name brand companies say their feed is "Natural" that does not mean that they are grown according to CNG standards. It probably means they do not add antibiotics, which is a good start, but very likely the feed was grown with synthetic fertilizers and using genetically modified seeds. *
yes
Describe your primary livestock pest problems AND methods of control. Do not answer "none". You MUST indicate either actual pest challenges and/or LIKELY challenges, and you must ALSO indicate how you manage (or would manage) them. If you indicate a product, also specify how often it's used. *
Our primary defense with pests is a good offense. We provide clean water, hay and rotate stock often enough to interupt the reproductive cycle of pests.
Describe your primary livestock disease problems AND methods of control. Do not answer "none". You MUST indicate either actual disease challenges and/or LIKELY challenges, and you must ALSO indicate how you manage (or would manage) them. If you indicate a product, also specify how often it's used. *
The cattle had lice in the winter of 2013, we treated topically with Diatomaceous earth.
Provide details of all livestock owned by you, or grazed on your land, that are treated and quarantined on your property *
We have not quarantined any animals.

Seeds and Buffers

Do you purchase or grow using any Genetically Modified seeds? *
no
Do you use any chemically treated seeds in your operation? *
no
Chemical/Spray Drift and Buffers:
Is there any likelihood of Chemical/Spray drift contamination of your fields? *
no
Do you have an adequate buffer to protect yourself from potential contamination? *
yes
Please describe your buffer. Be specific. On all sides, how far is it from your livestock pasture to the next closest use (i.e. road, conventional crop, residential yard)? Specify what is grown on neighboring land in agricultural use. For example: To the north and east, a wooded area of at least 100 yards separates us from the neighbor's corn fields, to the south is a fallow field at least 100 yards deep separating us from a blueberry farm, and to the west about 60 feet separates our crops from a field where conventional corn and soybeans are grown. *
There is a 10 acre plot east of our farm across a road that uses some form of fertilizer for their hay crop. Winds in this area generally blow from the west. We are confident that given wind patterns and the small area being fertilized and the 30-40ft buffer that it is unlikely to contaminate our fields.

Agreements

Please indicate your agreement with the following statements by checking the boxes.
I will not label, or in any way lead consumers to believe that livestock not raised in accord with CNG standards is Certified Naturally GrownTM. *
I understand that I have to complete at least one (and hopefully more) Certification Inspection(s) of another ranch or farm in my area each year, and that the inspection will NOT be of the same rancher or farmer that inspected me. *
I have reviewed the Certified Naturally Grown livestock certification standards, I understand them, and I will abide by them. I understand that if I have any questions I may contact CNG for clarification. *
You may use this space to tell us anything else you think we should know about your farm: