Indiana family restores eroded farmland to help protect rare salamander — Report

A family farm in southern Indiana is restoring degraded farmland through conservation practices that improve soil health, reduce agricultural runoff and help protect the habitat of the Eastern Hellbender, a newt that depends on clean, oxygen-rich water.

According to the US Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Shireman family’s experience highlights how targeted conservation programs can help farmers address ongoing environmental challenges while supporting wildlife and sustainable agriculture.

The farm, managed by Ben Shireman and his family, has suffered years of severe erosion from continuous row cutting by the previous owner. Deep gullies cut through the fields, while depleted soil, low crop yields and high input costs made operations increasingly difficult.

“We were averaging 100 bushels of corn and not really producing anything,” Ben said. “We knew we had to do something.

Heavy rains washed away soil between sinkholes across the nearly 800-acre watershed, exacerbating erosion on the property. The family responded by moving to integrate livestock and adopting conservation practices aimed at restoring soil health rather than relying on fertilizers to replace lost topsoil.

Conservation programs support farm transformation

The Shiremans worked with NRCS conservation specialists and initially received assistance through the Environmental Incentives Program (EQIP). They later accessed funding through the Farmers Helping Hellbender Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) to expand their conservation efforts.

The RCPP brings together federal, state, and local partners to address resource issues in target areas, including watersheds that impact Eastern Hellbender habitat. By directing aid to specific geographic priorities, the program supports conservation measures that might otherwise be financially difficult for farmers to implement.

With support, the family reportedly introduced cover crops, pastures, filter belts and nutrient management measures. Fencing allowed for rotational grazing, which helped improve pasture health and prevented overuse of individual plots by livestock. The family also adopted bale grazing systems to promote soil improvement.

For 17-year-old Lily Shireman, the changes required addressing the root causes of land degradation.

“We needed to rip off the Band-Aid and start healing the real wound, not just covering it up,” she said.

Improving the quality of water and the natural environment

The benefits go beyond the farm. Although the property has no visible streams, it lies in an area characterized by karst topography where water can travel quickly through sinkholes and underground channels before reaching waterways such as the Blue River.

According to Conservation Program Coordinator Eliza Hudson, agricultural practices can affect water quality even if surface water is not visible on the property.

Excess sediment can cover the rocky streambeds that Eastern Hellbenders need, while nutrient runoff can degrade aquatic ecosystems. By reducing erosion and managing nutrients, Shireman conservation measures can help protect these habitats.

“It may not look like it’s directly related to water quality because we can’t see the surface water,” Hudson said, explaining that the combined effect of conservation practices contributes to improving water quality.

Lower costs and signs of ecological recovery

The family reported reduced erosion, more resilient pastures and less reliance on commercial fertilizers as organic matter builds up in the soil. Wildlife also began to return and the family reported sightings of quail.

Lily thanked NRCS staff and program partners for providing the technical guidance and financial assistance needed to implement the changes.

Ben hopes other farmers will explore similar support to improve their land and pass healthier farms to future generations.

“I want someone else to take advantage of it, learn, and then everyone can grow together,” he said.