Aerial view of Traven Day and Stephen Thornhill trench and excavate into the evening to install livestock pipeline at the C.G. Merlo Ranch in San Saba, Texas, on June 10, 2022. The pipeline is cost shared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Natural Resources Conservation Practice 516 will allow rancher landowner military veteran Chuck Merlo and wife Valerie to connect to their water supply line and pipe rather than transporting water to troughs for their cattle in distant pastures. This promotes rotational grazing. The work begins with locating the existing water and utility lines, then making the first of multiple passes of the trencher to dig down to where the new water pipe will be buried.

 

Over the years, rancher, landowner, and military veteran Chuck Merlo has participated in several U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA cost-sharing improvement and financial programs. Multiple programs have helped stabilize the CG Merlo Ranch operation during the drought and the pandemic. Through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services NRCS, he is implementing the Conservation Practices number 516 Livestock Pipeline, 614 Watering Facility, 382 Fence, and 314 Brush Management. Additionally, the USDA Farm Services Agency FSA has assisted with Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act CARES and the 2014 Farm Bill's Livestock Forage Disaster Program LFP. Courtesy Media.

 

For more information about Livestock Pipeline Conservation Practice 516, go to nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/technical/nra/?cid=stelprdb1092538.

Courtesy photo.