The Nealy Family of Nealand Farms in Newville honored for outstanding farm management
(RESTON, Va., November 4, 2019) The Nealy family of Newville, Pennsylvania have been named Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative’s Producer of the Year for District 1. Nealand Farms milks 400 cows and raises close to 1,000 acres of crops. It is run by Steve Nealy and his son, Matthew, and Tom Nealy and his son, Tommy. They are the second and third generations on the farm. Nealand Farms have three full-time and three part-time employees. They house their cows in a freestall barn, and heifers are raised at three different locations, divided by size.
The Nealys use advances in technology which allow them to work efficiently and stay connected to their herd. Six years ago, they installed automated calf feeders that allows them to better care for their calves. Matt manages the milking herd, and Tommy handles the calves and some milkings.
The Nealys work to ship top quality milk and be mindful of their carbon footprint. They use their conservation plan and nutrient management plans to guide them in making decisions on the farm. The farm illustrates what it means to be an environmentally conscious and sustainable dairy farm. Nealand Farm’s conservation efforts have been supported by a new public-private partnership between Turkey Hill Dairy, Maryland & Virginia and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. The Turkey Hill Clean Water Partnership’s goal is to protect the waterways that feed into the Chesapeake Bay. The Turkey Hill Clean Water Partnership is providing support for dairy farms to develop conservation plans and implement best management practices. “Healthy rivers and streams are shared goals of farmers and communities. By providing technical and financial assistance to meet farmers’ conservation goals, everyone wins,” said Lindsay Reames, Director of Sustainability & External Relations.
The Nealys are also doing outstanding work around conservation and nutrient management. “Farmers have always led the way in conservation practices,” said CEO Jay Bryant. “They were named Producer of the Year for District 1 for their leadership in conservation and sustainability.”
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About the District Producer of the Year Awards:
Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative presents the District Producer of the Year award to a member farm in each of its five regional districts. The awards are given to members for their outstanding commitment to continuous improvement and to advancing dairy sustainability and industry leadership. First awarded in 2019, the District Producers of the Year will be considered for the cooperative’s top honor, Producer of the Year, at the cooperative’s annual meeting in March 2020.
Contact: Lindsay Reames, 804-370-4324
