Nebraska Farmers Awarded Elite Status in Environmental Stewardship

The Nebraska Corn Growers Association has honored 11 Nebraska corn growers with ELITE status of the Husker F.A.R.M. Program.  The official ceremony, held on Sept. 15 during Husker Harvest Days, recognized the farmers for their commitment to stewardship.

Husker F.A.R.M. (Farmers Advocating Resource Management) is a novel program initiated by the NeCGA in cooperation with the Nebraska Association of Resource Districts and the Natural Resources Conversation Service.  The program aims to recognize those professional producers who are good stewards of the land and water, and who exemplify leadership in adopting conservation and stewardship practices.

To qualify as a Husker F.A.R.M., the growers should show how they are following specific farm management techniques or projects or practices that mitigate impacts to the environment when using crop inputs.  Growers are also scored for habitat improvements.  Consultants for NeCGA called on hundreds of growers to review and suggest environmental stewardship practices.

The following growers placed in the top 5 percent of those completing the Husker F.A.R.M. survey.

Larry Snyder, Holstein                 Ron Perry, Aurora

                             Dennis McConville, Indianola     Bill Lubbert, West Point

                            Greg Wilke, Leigh                         Richard Newton, Hartington

                            Alden Zuhlke, Brunswick            Greg Mullins, Plainview

                            Brent Rainforth, Doniphan        Dean Korinek, Wilber

                            John Willoughby, Wood River

“The particular value of the Husker F.A.R.M. Program is the capability of growers to learn from a BMP review and make improvements,” said NeCGA President Dennis Gengenbach.  “The ‘whole farm management’ approach results in individual growers adoption of best management practices.  This overall continuing improvement produces meaningful benefits to Nebraska’s natural resources.”

Bayer CropScience is the proud corporate sponsor of the Husker F.A.R.M. Stewardship Program.  Bayer CropScience joins with NeCGA, the Nebraska Corn Board, and other cooperators to provide technical expertise to growers and assistance in conducting the grower reviews and follow-up consultations.

“The extra efforts toward improved environmental management demonstrated by these ELITE award winners exemplifies the finest principles of environmental stewardship,” said Jim Gray, Bayer CropScience Stewardship and State Affairs Manager.  “Bayer CropScience commends these 11 growers and all the participants of the third annual Husker F.A.R.M. Program for being the best they can be.”

Back to Current Issues                                 Back to Home Page