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Deborah Wallace’s Story
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Thank you for considering our application for a grant or scholarship towards irrigation equipment. My husband and I own 96 acres and lease another 100 acres from his parents. Our farm is located in an area that has drought and economical issues. Before we started farming our land in 2009 the leases’ did not care for the land. The land has been stripped of all nutrients and the crops all needed to be rotated. Upon great research and thought we decided to transition our farm to organic in 2009.
Our farm has two issues. One is irrigation equipment that was poorly designed for our farm and the other is the large amount of nutrients needed to prepare the soil to grow strong health crops. We need to apply elemental sulfur, Tiger 90, at 200 pounds per acre to 142.2 acres every year for three years to get the soil to release the potassium that is locked in the soil. For three years we have grown grain and after the third watering we are unable to move through the fields. The slope of the field, the height of the grain and the exceptionally long length of the wheel-line caused the pipe to twist in half. Because of this we have lost crops, had low yields and poor quality.
We had McMillen, LLC perform a water and energy evaluation. They recommended agree that we have inefficient irrigation equipment. Our inefficient irrigation equipment and need for additional nutrient has depleted our funds to a level that is taking a strong financial toll on us.
To compound future irrigation issues my husband is employed in the construction industry and is now required to travel away from home. He is no longer able to help irrigate or farm. Being a family farm there is no one else to help me and all of our funds are being used to improve our land and equipment.
I hope you will find our family farm to be a worthy recipient for seed money to be used to purchase elemental sulfur. The grant or scholarship will insure the future of our organic farm. Our goal is to purchase 200 pounds per acre of elemental sulfur for 142 acre for a total of $7,668. It cost $52 an acre for the sulfur. We hope to be awarded $3,500 to 5,000 to put towards the sulfur needed.
Both me and my husband are third generation farmers and want to be able to pass on our farm. If we are awarded a grant or scholarship, this gift will continue to grow and will be returned through our conservation stewardship. We will forever be grateful for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Randy and Debi Wallace
