Richard Carlisle
2018 Cooperator of the Year
Richard Carlisle of Pine Breeze Farms, and his wife Kathy farm 1,120 acres in western Sussex County near Bridgeville and Greenwood, all within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Carlisle has long supported and participated in the Sussex Conservation District’s Soil Health Initiative and Cover Crop Program or the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service’s cover crop programs. He was instrumental in the purchase, implementation, and ongoing updates of the District’s air seeder, which he has used to establish his cover crops early to improve water quality and soil health. To address irrigation water management and improve efficiency, Pine Breeze Farms has installed new wells and pumps, and replaced aging center pivot systems and an old diesel irrigation motor with an electric motor. The farm has also improved nutrient management, using “smart soil sampling” technology and GPS yield maps to locate deficiencies in vital nutrients and help determine efficient use of fertilizers. Richard also serves as a tax ditch commissioner and officer on the Jones Mill and Jones Branch tax ditches, and worked with the District to develop a tax ditch conservation plan with a maintenance schedule and recommendations for implementing water quality best management practices.
Carlisle also serves on SCDs board of supervisors.
Photo Captions:
-Richard Carlisle addresses guests after receiving the 2018 Cooperator of the Year award at the 2019 Cooperators’ dinner held on Dec. 4, 2019.
- Carlisle accepts the 2018 Cooperator of the Year award from Joel Wharton, SCD chairman.
-D. Lyle Jarrett of Quantico, Md., Vernon “Chip” Baker of Millsboro, Richard Carlisle of Bridgeville and Blaine Hitchens of Laurel, intently listen to speakers Hans Kok and Loran Steinlage at the caffeine and cover crop breakfast at Rudy’s Family Diner in Harrington on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020. The event gave farmers an opportunity to discuss soil health topics with industry experts.
Additional Information:
Lancaster Farming • Jan. 28, 2017 • Farm Brothers Honored at Delaware Ag Dinner
Delaware.gov • April 30, 2019 • Governor’s 2019 Agricultural and Urban Conservation Award winners honored today