Marvin Smith with his wife, Lita, and Bob Smith with his wife, Diane, make up Blue Top Farms, located southwest of Adams. Born and raised in this area, Marvin and Bob took over the farm from their dad in 1975 and are now farming 1000 acres of their own land plus about 240 acres of rented land. Their crop rotation consists of corn and
soybeans with some land devoted to canning crops, such as peas and sweet corn. Marvin and Bob use a ripper/minimum till system for their tillage operation and the Farm Tech service does the soil testing and pest management for the farm. Their livestock operation includes approximately 60 beef and dairy steers.
Over the past few years, Marvin and Bob have installed several CRP practices on their land. They understand the benefits of conservation for their operation and want to
enhance the wildlife areas where possible. Four different grassed waterways that total 3.5 acres have been constructed to help control soil erosion on different farms. Marvin and Bob have also installed four different filter strips totaling 14.2 acres to buffer
sensitive areas. In 2003, they planted 27.4 acres to trees and shrubs to create a riparian forest buffer. With this buffer, they also constructed a pond that is home to many
crappies, blue gills and turtles. Bald eagles have even been seen feeding from this pond. In 2004, Marvin and Bob added another 1.4 acres of riparian forest buffer where Marv and Lita live. Blue Top Farms is currently working on putting 6.0 acres into
the Back Forty Pheasant Habitat Program.
The Smiths are deeply involved with their church and local school district by doing a lot of volunteer work. Time spent with their families and helping out their neighbors also make up big share of their lives.
The Mower SWCD is very proud to have Blue Top Farms represent Mower County as its Outstanding Conservationist for 2009. They will be honored at the Minnesota
Association of Conservation Districts’ annual convention in December.
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Above is a picture of the wildlife pond that was constructed near their 27.4 acre riparian forest buffer.
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Above is one of the many waterways that Blue Top Farms
has installed.
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