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News Release RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 (401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
DEM ANNOUNCES THAT BREENE HOLLOW FARM IN WEST GREENWICH HAS BEEN NAMED STATE'S 2009 OUTSTANDING DAIRY FARM OF THE YEAR PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management announces that Breene Hollow Farm in West Greenwich has been named Rhode Island's 2009 Outstanding Dairy Farm of the Year by the Rhode Island Green Pastures Committee. Winning dairy farmers from each New England state will be honored at an awards banquet on September 18 at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, MA. Ken Ayars, chief of DEM's Division of Agriculture has been asked to host this year's awards ceremony as a demonstration of RI's support and commitment to dairy farming.Kevin Breene established Breene Hollow Farm with 20 cows at his parents' home in 1977 upon his graduation from the University of Connecticut. In 1980, 150 acres of land were purchased at the farm's present location in West Greenwich, and a new free-stall barn and milking parlor were constructed. Over the years several abutting properties were purchased, bringing the farm's total acreage to 360 acres. The farm currently milks 50 cows and has 90 head in total consisting of registered Holsteins, Jerseys, Ayrshires, Guernseys and Milking Shorthorns. Crops include 20 acres of corn and 45 acres of hay land and pasture. Corn silage is also purchased from a neighboring farm and the cows are fed a total mixed ration twice a day. The remainder of the farm is managed forestland with continual harvesting of firewood and saw logs. Manure is hauled daily to fields and spread in the spring and fall, although a manure storage facility designed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service is scheduled to be constructed this fall. Breene Hollow Farm is a member of the Agri-Mark Co-Op and Rhody Fresh Milk, which has been very successful in marketing local Rhode Island milk to consumers. The farm is operated by Kevin and his son Steven and daughters Melissa and Hillary. Melissa attended UCONN, Steven is currently enrolled at UCONN School of Agriculture, and Hillary is a senior in high school and vice president of the R.I. State Future Farmers of America (FFA) Association. The entire family is also actively involved in the community. Kevin has been a member of the West Greenwich Town Council for 14 years and was a member of the Rhode Island State Senate for 12 years. He is also involved in 4-H, FFA, Wood River Watershed Association, Exeter Grange, and was a past state chairman of the USDA's former Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) for 12 years. Melissa is a former 4-H member and past state vice president of FFA. Steven was also actively involved in 4-H and is past state president of FFA and a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho agricultural fraternity at UCONN. The Outstanding Dairy Farm of the Year award is sponsored by the New England Green Pastures Committee, made up of agricultural interests such as state and federal agricultural offices and farm organizations. Rhode Island's Green Pastures Committee is coordinated by DEM's Division of Agriculture, with members including the RI Dairy Farmers Cooperative, the RI Farm Bureau, the RI Farm Service Agency and the Agri-Mark Cooperative. -30- |
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