Jonathan May, Timberville, Virginia

Excerpt

Jonathan May farms north of Timberville, Virginia. He runs a diverse operation that includes pure-bred Angus cattle and crops raised for cattle feed. He also sells breeding bulls and replacement heifers, contracts embryo work, and produces turkeys. He has been farming his entire life.

“I think farmers for the most part feel that the environment is their livelihood,” says May. “Only by protecting it and improving it do we maintain that livelihood.”

May has been receiving technical assistance from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for over 20 years. Bill Patterson, NRCS district conservationist, is May's primary source for technical assistance. Sometimes May contacts Patterson with questions about new options for technical assistance, and sometimes Patterson contacts May with ideas.

“My operation has benefited from my cooperation with NRCS and other government programs. It's hard to believe that there would be a next step that I wouldn't be interested in,” May says. He also searches the Internet for ideas and solutions to specific issues.

“I am continually seeking ways to improve what I'm doing,” says May. “I think the current trend indicates that if you haven't started base levels of environmental protection or taken advantage of the available programs, …