Source:  NC Pork Council, 3/1/11

Deadline is March 31st

The Pork Checkoff and National Hog Farmer magazine annually partner to recognize four U.S. pork producers who serve as examples of the hard work and serious commitment to practicing environmental stewardship by the vast majority of the nation's pork producers.

Open between now and March 31, the Environmental Steward Awards program is open to pork producers of all types and sizes of production operations who demonstrate their positive contribution to the environment.  

Environmental stewardship is hard work and sharing the experience gained may help others become better caretakers. That's why it's so important to honor those producers who go above and beyond in this area each year.  

Nominations should focus on one single production site or farm. The primary emphasis of this program is to recognize good environmental stewardship and management practices. The program is not a technology-driven program.

Applications are available on Checkoff's homepage at pork.org. They can be completed with a few farm records as reference, some photos and a bit of reflection by the applicant on why they go above and beyond to demonstrate the industry's ethical principles as it relates to the environment.

Applications and nominations are solicited from pork producers, operation managers and other industry-related professionals. A national selection committee names four operations following a review of:
• General production information
• Manure/nutrient management
• Soil conservation management efforts
• Water conservation management efforts
• Air quality management efforts
• Wildlife habitat management efforts
• Neighbor and community relations management efforts, and
• An essay on the meaning of environmental stewardship.

Award winners' stories are featured on the Pork Checkoff's Web site, in an informational brochure and a video about the Environmental Stewards Award recipients. Environmental Steward Award stories also are featured in a special insert of the Sept. 15, 2011 edition of National Hog Farmer magazine/website as well as in other state pork association and National Pork Board publications and promotional pieces.

Award winners receive a financial award along with a special plaque and will be recognized at the annual Pork Industry Forum in 2012.

We encourage you to apply for the award and/or nominate another pork producer whom you believe to be a good example of pork producer environmental stewardship.