The Cattaraugus County Soil & Water Conservation District has selected Telaak Farms, LLC for the 2025 Conservation Farm of the Year Award. Don, David, Joyce, Mike, & Kimberly operate a Dairy operation in Mansfield, milking approximately 390 cows. Together with many long-term employees, like Justin, Rachael and Michael, the farm operates roughly 1100 Acres around the Maples - Mansfield Creek area. Telaak Farms has been actively participating in NY State’s Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) program since the program came to Cattaraugus County. They have also worked in close cooperation with various partner agencies and organizations, including the Conservation District, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service & Farm Service Agency and Western NY Crop Management Association to implement many conservation practices to address agricultural runoff, agricultural nutrient management and erosion & sediment control. In addition to conservation practices, the farm also implemented several additional projects to improve operational efficiency of the farm. Practices and projects implemented through cooperation with the District and partnering agencies include:
- Construction of a concrete manure storage structure, which allows for application of nutrients at optimum times of the year for improved crop production and reduced runoff potential.
- Construction of a bunk silo leachate collection & treatment system to control concentrated runoff from their feed storage area.
- Allowing the installation of Trout habitat improvements along the Mansfield Creek in partnership with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and The United States Fish and Wildlife Service and participating in follow up trout population surveys.
The Farm Continues to work with the Soil and Water Conservation District through both planning and implementation to reduce its impact on the local environment and improve its efficiency.
