Pork Checkoff announces 2009 environment awards

22-09-2009 | Home | News

The Pork Checkoff, along with its cosponsor, National Hog Farmer magazine, has selected four pork production operations to receive the industry’s highest environmental honour, which is the 2009 Pork Industry Environmental Steward Award.

The award, now in its 15th year, honours producers who demonstrate a firm commitment to safeguarding the environment and their local communities.

This year’s award recipients are:
• JAC Pork of Hartley, Iowa
• Schafer Farms of Goodhue, Minn.
• Bryan Worley Farms of Princeton, N.C.
• Sensenig Farm of Mohnton, Pa.

The Environmental Steward award winners were selected by judges represented by pork producers and environmental organisations. The judges reviewed applications from pork producers who are committed to upholding the ideal relationship between pork production and the environment.

Their operations were evaluated on their manure management systems; water and soil conservation practices; odour-control strategies; farm aesthetics and neighbour relations; wildlife habitat promotion; innovative ideas used to protect the environment and an essay on the meaning of environmental stewardship.

“We’re always excited to see another group of pork producers who are nominated for this prestigious award each year,” said Randy Brown, chair of the Environmental Stewards selection subcommittee and member of the National Pork Board. As a producer and past Environmental Steward award recipient, he added, “Pork producers are natural protectors of the environment because they realise that taking good care of the environmental and natural resources is not only the right thing to do, but it’s also smart business. This year’s award recipients exemplify this principle and take it to the next level.”

The award recipients will receive the recognition of their peers at the 2010 National Pork Industry Forum to be held next March in Kansas City, Mo.