Community News
Bleckley resident named Conservationist of the Year.
By News release
Apr 17, 2015, 15:56

Chris Hill of Roland Hills Farms was named the Central Georgia Soil and Water Conservationist of the Year at Thursday's 53rd annual awards ceremony held at First Baptist Church. Hill is a native of Bleckley County.

He has been farming since 1999 on the family's land, Roland Hills Farms. Hill the fifth generation to work the farm that dates back to 1905. He farms approximately 1000 acres of corn, cotton, and peanuts on a three year rotation.

Irrigation systems with low pressure drop nozzles to ensure water is conserved and applied to crop needs cover 90 percent of the land. Terraces and waterways have been installed to limit runoff and prevent erosion and all acres are strip-tilled.

Cover crops are also planted to prevent soil loss and protect soil quality. GPS is utilized to fertilize and spray all of his crops which ensures only the amount needed is applied and also only applies nutrients to his fields based on soil sample results.

Hill is a board member of Bleckley County Farm Bureau. He enjoys hunting and fishing. Hill has a wife, Nicole, and two children, Caleb and Addison.

The Central Georgia Soil and Water Conservation District consists of Bleckley, Dodge, Laurens, Twiggs, Johnson, Washington and Wilkinson counties. Banks from those counties sponsored Thursday's awards program. All districts have one elected and one appointed supervisor from each of the seven counties.

The District, with support from the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, coordinates and directs local conservation initiatives in its seven county areas.



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