Behind the Gate: Team Cone

by | Jul 1, 2020 | News, Uncategorized, Videos

Our First Non-Equine Founder Explains Why Supporting HFF is Good Business

When you crack open a cold one at your 4th of July barbeque, offer a toast to Cone Distributing. They employ 320 in Ocala and serve 22 counties in Florida with a vast array of beer and non-alcoholic beverages.

In this edition of Behind the Gate, Horse Capital TV visits with president/CEO Doug Cone, who makes a convincing case for Horse Farms Forever’s role in managing growth and protecting Marion County’s global brand.

Always Watching

We work hard to keep you informed, and to represent our members' interests in preserving our horse farms, farmland and the unique character and culture of Marion County's 193,000 acre Farmland Preservation Area.

Join the herd. Every voice matters.

Join Today!
Join or Donate Now
Soil and Water Experts Say NO to Double Gate ATV Park Location

Soil and Water Experts Say NO to Double Gate ATV Park Location

by | Jun 9, 2020 | Double Gate ATV Race Track, News, Uncategorized

Above is a photo taken yesterday of the proposed site for the Double Gate ATV Park in Flemington. Does this look like a good place to put “dry ATV trails?”

On Soil and Topography Alone, the Double Gate Location Fails

Neighbors to the proposed Double Gate ATV Park continue to write the County Commissioners with clear opposition and good evidence to support their contention that the Flemington location is not suitable for this use. Here is a letter from Rick Robbins, a nearby resident and former Soil and Water Conservation District employee.

Dear Commissioners (especially Commissioner Stone),

This email is in regards to the proposed Double Gate ATV park near Flemington, Florida. As a landowner in District 5 of Marion County, I am concerned about the possibility of introducing a land use that is not compatible with the current Zoning in the designated “Farmland Preservation Area”. The intent of previous commissioners was to protect this area from incompatible land uses and to foster the stewardship of agriculture in NW Marion County. I believe we should respect and honor the work of our past commissioners.

 
As a past employee of Marion County (Marion SWCD), I was involved with the initial efforts (mid-80’s) to collect land use and soils data to effectively protect this area for agricultural purposes. Below are the official soil metrics (from USDA-NRCS Web Soil Survey) associated with the Project Footprint:
Land Use Designation: Soils within the project footprint are within the USDA-NRCS classification: Farmland of Local Importance. This designation effectively demonstrates the agricultural value of the area (and soils) around Flemington, and should be protected.  

Over 91 percent of the soils within the footprint are designated as Farmlands of Local Importance.

Hydric Soils/Wetlands: Hydric Soils are one of the components of wetlands, hydrology and vegetation are the others. Over 50 percent of the soils within the footprint are designated as hydric soils and could be wetlands if the other 2 criteria are met. Please note that the USFWS wetland delineations often do not include wetlands rating in agricultural areas (pastures, etc.)

Soil Interpretations:

  • Erosion Hazard: Offroad/Offtrail – Many of the soils (over 40%) in the area have either a Moderate or Severe rating for Erosion (Off-Road). This means that there will be soil loss from the site and possible off-site impacts resulting in site degradation and unintended off-site consequences.
  • Soil Rutting Hazard: 100% of the soils within the footprint have a moderate limitation for Soil Rutting Hazard. This causes soil degradation and can channel water to affect and accelerate offsite impacts.
  • Suitability for Roads: Over 50% of the footprint have soils that are Poorly Suited for Roads with Natural Surfaces due to wetness.
  • Building Site Development: 100% of the soils are very limited to Buildings (with or without basements) due to wetness, shrink-swell potential, and a few soils are subject to ponding.  This should be considered when evaluating the site for an RV Park.
  • Camp Areas: 100% of the soils are very limited to camp sites (due to wetness), which should be considered when evaluating the site for an RV Park.
  • Off-Road Motorcycle Trails: 100% of the soils are either Very Limited (78%) or Somewhat Limited (22%) for motorcycle trails due to wetness.
  • Sanitary Facilities (Septic Tank Absorption Fields): 100% of the soils are Very Limited to either Sanitary Facilities and Septic Tank Absorption Fields.  This is also a consideration when considering an RV Park at the location.

Soil Properties: 

  • Seasonal High Water Table: All soils (100%) within the project footprint are poorly drained with a seasonal high water table within 12 inches of the soil surface.
  • Clay Content: All soils have over 35% clay within 20 inches of the soil surface.  Clay minerals are smectitic which means they are highly expansive (shrinking and swelling). This can affect construction, such as, concrete slabs, foundations, etc.
  • Permeability: Moderately slow to very slow.  This means that water transmission through the soil profile is highly restricted.  This will affect water movement on the soil surface since water cannot enter the soil profile. In addition, the use of ATV’s will compacted the soil and increase overland water movement to offsite locations.
  • Slope: Most of the soils have slope above 2 percent and up to 8 percent.  Slope along with restricted permeability means that water will move offsite, and even more so…. during tropical events.
  • Offsite Impacts: All of the above soil properties can result in onsite degradation that moves to offsite locations. The slope and restricted permeability means that pollutants, sediment, and surface water will most likely move offsite, unless retaining structures are built to mitigate the effects..

Conclusion: There has to be a better location for an ATV/RV park than the proposed location. Soil characteristics, Farmland Preservation classification, and the rural environment around the proposed site should make the rejection of this proposal…a no-brainer. I am OPPOSED to the ATV Park at it’s proposed location.

 

I have attached the Soils Report for the proposed ATV park for your reference.
 
 
Sincerely,
Rick Robbins
Marion County Landowner

Blue Means Low and Wet

Let’s look at the proposed ATV Park site from a regional perspective. Most of the surrounding land has a higher elevation. All of the rainfall (and groundwater recharge) is going to accumulate in this drainage basin, and if the rainfall totals are high enough….they will bridge the levee and move significant water offsite and to the southeast. This map illustrates how water moves across the land. The red polygon is the proposed site. Red and yellow hues are higher elevations, green- mid-level elevation, and blue hues are lower elevations. If this graphic doesn’t illustrate what off-site impacts will occur (and where), I don’t know what will. The proposed site is in an extremely large drainage basin with significant areas of local recharge.

Soils of Local Importance

Lest you think this is a boggy and useless piece of property, we’d like to point out that the proposed ATV Park sits in the middle of one of the largest areas of “#8 soil” in the County. This soil is considered ideal for agriculture, particularly for pasturing livestock. It is designated as “Locally Important Farmland” by the USDA. The Farmland Preservation Area was created to protect these soils. Our supply of them is finite and valuable for farming.

No Brainer For You?

Last week, we wrote about how the decibel limit for ATV noise can not be met on this site. Today, Rick Robbins showed that the soils can not support an ATV Drag Strip and Racing Trails. Read the comments on our blogs – neighbor after neighbor is asking the County to oppose and deny this flawed plan in the wrong location. In an upcoming blog, we’ll show that there are many existing good locations for ATV trail riding and racing. It is not necessary to invade the Farmland Preservation Area.

What’s your story? The Commissioners need to hear it.

 

Email the Commissioners
Attend the June 17th Hearing
Protecting Farms is More Important than Ever

Protecting Farms is More Important than Ever

by | Apr 20, 2020 | News, Plan, Uncategorized

In this special to the Ocala Star Banner, Busy Shires Byerly, Horse Farms Forever’s Director of Conservation Strategies, makes the case for access to fresh food and the value of agricultural land.

In today’s trying times, our local farmers need our support. Byerly points the way to programs that provide tangible short-term relief to our farmers. She also discusses the land-saving ethic and longer-term goals that will ensure productive farmland for future generations.

“Now, more than ever, the future of many farms, businesses and families across America is uncertain. But one thing remains absolute – we must eat to live.”
Billy Van Pelt II, senior director of external relations for the American Farmland Trust.

Horse Farms Forever is organizing a Conservation Summit this fall in partnership with the American Farmland Trust. This summit will bring community leaders together in a productive conversation about how to best protect the valuable soils, water and agricultural lands of Marion County.

 

Read the Full Article
Ocala Stud – Learn About the Oldest Active Thoroughbred Operation in Florida

Ocala Stud – Learn About the Oldest Active Thoroughbred Operation in Florida

by | Apr 13, 2020 | News, Uncategorized

Perhaps you’ve seen the Ocala Stud painted sign? Maybe you’ve posed for a picture next to it?

Learn all about the oldest active Thoroughbred operation in Florida in the latest issue of Ocala Style Magazine.

The O’Farrell family have run Ocala Stud since March of 1956. Mike O’Farrell, Jr., became head of operations at the age of 22,  after his father’s heart attack. He was one month shy of finishing college.

Ocala Stud has been FTBOA Breeder of the Year most recently in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2018.

We thank the O’Farrells for their charter membership in Horse Farms Forever and what it says about their commitment to the Farmland Preservation Area.

 

Read the Full Article
Levy County Votes to Reject Toll Roads

Levy County Votes to Reject Toll Roads

by | Apr 9, 2020 | News, Roadway Threats, Uncategorized

This article from the Florida Phoenix lays out the latest in the toll road debate.

Highlights:

Two of the roads are supposed to cut through rural Levy County, near Ocala. But Levy commissioners voted 3-2 on Tuesday to say they do not want them — primarily because of the development they would bring.

“I don’t want to see Levy County become another Tampa Bay, and that’s what’s going to happen if we don’t stand up and say no,” said Levy commissioner Lilly Rooks, who brought up the resolution.

“There’s really no strong appetite for these roads,” said Charles Lee of Audubon Florida, who sits on one of the advisory groups appointed to study the toll roads.

Yet…

To Galvano, the economic disaster caused by the pandemic is an argument for building the roads anyway — just to provide badly needed jobs for Floridians thrown out of work by the pandemic.

“As Florida moves forward from the coronavirus, economic development opportunities like M-CORES, and the jobs created both during and after construction, will be critical to our recovery,” the Republican senator said. 

 

Read Full Article