Guy Choiniere, the fourth‑generation owner of the Choiniere farm, has taken the family’s original 100‑acre dairy to a sprawling 550 acres, adding 450 acres of farmland and woodland. The expansion followed a long‑standing partnership with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service that began two decades ago, during which the family addressed erosion and nutrient runoff. The farm now boasts 5,000 trees along the Rock River and a 51‑acre river‑corridor easement that lets the stream flow naturally without dredging.
The Choinieres replaced conventional liquid manure storage with a compost‑beded pack system that keeps nutrients on the farm. Cows are kept on solid bedding of hay and sawdust, preventing runoff into the river. Each batch of compost matures in six months to a year, delivering nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium directly to the fields.
After the 1990s milk‑market crash, Guy shifted the herd to grass‑fed, converting 25 acres of corn to permanent hay. He told NRCS that composting allowed him to stop using synthetic fertilizer for 25 years, while the resulting organic milk commands a premium price that funds further conservation work. The family’s organic certification also dovetails with the NRCS’s soil‑health goals.
Looking ahead, the Choinieres plan to install windbreaks, manage forested areas, and erect wildlife structures such as a bat house. Guy also serves as an instructor for the Champlain Basin Watershed Initiative, teaching elementary teachers about watershed stewardship. The next milestone is a 2025 NRCS audit that will assess the farm’s conservation efficacy.