Fridays on the Farm: Growing Conservation Efforts at Capability Farm

This Friday, meet Bob and Ellen Mulford, owners of Capability Farm in Ripley County, Indiana. Located in southeast Indiana, the farm is an inspiration to local landowners. Over the past 15 years, the Mulfords have transformed their farm into a thriving wildlife habitat with help from USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). 

The voluntary conservation program – which marks its 40^th anniversary this year – helps producers and landowners generate income from unproductive or marginal cropland while re-establishing valuable land cover to improve water quality, prevent soil erosion, and support wildlife habitat.

The Early Years

Bob’s grandfather purchased the farm’s original 160 acres, where Bob and Ellen live today, in 1940. Once purchased, the farm was worked, and the woods were cleared to provide land for livestock and small barns. In the ’60s, Bob’s mother and stepfather took over the farm and Bob became a partner in their beef cattle operation. The farm eventually expanded with the purchase of additional surrounding acreage. By the end of the ’70s, the farm transitioned from a beef operation to a grain farm. 

Although Bob appreciates his farming experiences, he has a deep love and interest in wildlife. 

“The sights, sounds and scents of the farm during the ’60s and ’70s are etched indelibly in my mind, heart and soul,” Bob said. “Gradually, but perceptibly, the smells, the sounds, and the sights we cherished began to diminish. The habitat was gone.” 

The Mulford family became increasingly aware that the aspects they loved most about the farm were fading from their lives. Their natural habitat was diminishing with each passing year. 

In 2010, the Mulfords made the decision to transform their farm into native habitat. To accomplish their goal, they reached out to their local USDA Service Center and met with Tim Schwipps, district conservationist for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). When Tim asked which fields they were interested in converting, he was surprised when Bob said, “all of it, all 400 acres.”

Tim brought in staff from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) to set the plan in motion. The Mulfords submitted offers for various CRP practices and planted 250 acres of cover crops that fall, with plans to begin seeding their CRP practices in the spring. 

For four decades, CRP has provided financial and technical support to agricultural producers, protecting more than 20 million acres of American topsoil from erosion. By reducing water runoff and sedimentation, CRP protects groundwater and improves the condition of lakes, rivers, ponds, and streams. By helping agricultural producers and landowners, like Bob and Ellen, establish long-term, resource-conserving vegetative cover, CRP increases wildlife populations in many parts of the country. The American Relief Act of 2025 extended provisions for CRP through Sept. 30, 2025.

The Transformation

With their previous warm season grass plantings and their CRP projects, the 250 acres transformed into a wildlife oasis, adding quail buffers, field wind breaks, tree plantings, shallow water areas (wetland), warm season grasses, and wildlife habitat. All 400 acres of their farm are now devoted to wildlife habitat.

“In the 13 years since we began this transformation, we have witnessed a renewal of nature in many forms,” said Bob. “We have documented over 200 species of birds. We see reptiles, amphibians and mammals of every kind, including bobcats, otters and beavers. There is a large insect resurgence.” 

Ellen is especially interested in Monarch butterfly restoration. For many years, her first-grade students were able to witness the caterpillars munching on milkweed, forming their chrysalises and emerging as beautiful butterflies. 

Their farm has become a magnet for individuals and nature groups, and they continue to host field days and educational events. Visitors to the farm have included a noted ornithologist, Audubon groups, school groups, photographers and master naturalists classes. 

“Working with Bob and Ellen to transform their property into wildlife habitat with a multitude of CRP projects has been wonderful,” said Steve Thurnall, FSA county executive director. “Having this CRP showcase across the road from our office has been a great way to show interested landowners the many benefits of the CRP program.”

FSA is accepting offers for both the General and Continuous CRP May 12 through June 6, 2025. Interested producers should apply through the FSA at their local USDA Service Center. 

More Information 

Visit local farms, ranches, forests, and resource areas through our Fridays on the Farm stories. Meet farmers, producers, and landowners who are working to improve their operations with USDA programs. 

USDA offers a variety of risk management, disaster assistance, loan, and conservation programs to help producers weather ups and downs in the market, recover from natural disasters, and invest in improvements to their operations. Learn about additional programs. 

For more information about USDA programs and services, contact your local USDA service center.