USA - Nominations Open for Pork Industry Environmental Stewards
Published:December 6, 2004
Source :National Pork Board
The Pork Checkoff, with National Hog Farmer magazine, is accepting nominations for 2005 Environmental Stewards. This recognition honors U.S. pork producers who demonstrate outstanding commitment to protecting the environment.
“The Pork Checkoff’s Environmental Stewards are representative of pork producers across the country who are dedicated to maintaining and improving the environment,” said Dave Culbertson, a producer from Geneseo, Ill., and president of the National Pork Board. “The Environmental Steward Award program is an opportunity for the industry to recognize their commitment to protecting natural resources and the environment.”
Pork producers can apply or be nominated to participate in the Environmental Steward Award program. Application forms can be found at www.porkboard.org or requested from the National Pork Board at 800-456-PORK. Completed forms must be returned to the National Pork Board by March 31, 2005.
A national selection committee of producers and environmental experts reviews all applications and selects top entries. Selected operations are evaluated in seven areas including: manure or nutrient management, soil and water conservation practices, technologies used to improve air quality around the farm, wildlife preservation practices, neighbor and community relations and innovative management practices applied to the environmental management plan.
Four Environmental Stewards are selected annually. Winners are honored at the annual Pork Industry Forum and receive a plaque and a $1,000 cash honorarium for their strong environmental preservation ethic. Their stories are featured in National Hog Farmer magazine and in an educational video produced and distributed by the National Pork Board.
“The Environmental Steward Award program is an opportunity for pork producers like me to show what we do right,” said Betty Baker, a pork producer from Oklahoma and 1998 Environmental Steward. “The good things we do for the environment are not always reported. This is our opportunity to show what really goes on in the pork industry, to share our side of the story."
