Close-up photo of hillside farm contours on St. Croix Photo of hillside farm contours on St. Croix
Photo of Dr. Weiss demonstrating use of A-frame
Discover the Cover
Conservation Covers, Buffers & Hillside Farming
USVI Conservation Covers 
for Sloped Land Protection 
& Farming Workshop
November 30 & December 1, 2016 –
UVI St. Thomas 
Expand your knowledge of conservation buffers and 
cover crops and how they play an integral role in 
soil & water conservation on sloped land. 
• How can conservation buffers and cover crops 
increase ecosystem services for farms and 
communities?  
• Join us to explore the world of improved sloped 
land management and the many benefits that 
conservation covers can provide to your land.
Wednesday, November 30, 2016,  6:00 – 8:00 p.m. 
Thursday, December 1, 2016, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Wednesday’s event will be held at the UVI Admini-
stration & Conference Center (ACC) Room 142. 
Thursday’s event will begin at the UVI Extension 
Service office, and then continue to a farm in 
Bordeaux to learn contour farming.            
For Thursday’s field activities, wear outdoor 
clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?  Farmers, Agricultural 
Professionals, Landscapers and Conservation/ 
Environmental Specialists.  The workshop is FREE.
Please RSVP by contacting UVI-CES at 340-693-1083 
or email Dr. Louis E. Petersen, Jr. at lpeters@uvi.edu
Sponsored by UVI-AES-CES, SARE, and USDA-NRCS
Agenda at a Glance
Wednesday Afternoon 11/30/16
6:15-6:30
Sign in, welcoming remarks, speaker 
introduction.
6:30-7:00
The role of conservation covers, buffers, and 
cover crops in promoting soil health.    
7:00-7:30
Contour farming on sloped land 
7:30-8:00
Sloped land rain simulation & the need for 
soil conservation. Terrace farming 
techniques.
8:00-8:30
Overview of AES Agronomy Program, NRCS 
Plant Materials Program & assistance, cover 
crop research, closing remarks. 
Thursday Morning 12/1/16
8:45 a.m.
UVI Extension Service Office.
9:00-10:00 Field tour begins. Discuss St. Thomas farming 
conditions, soil and water conservation, and  
no-till vegetable production.
10:30-1:00 Tour hillside farming contours. Demonstrate 
and practice establishing contours using a T-
Stick and A-Frame. Show terrace 
construction; use of perennial buffers, annual 
crops for sloped hillside farming. Explore 
different ecosystem services that contour 
farming with conservation buffers can 
provide. 
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USDA is an Equal Opportunity Provider, Employer and Lender SARE - Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education logo