By TIM ALEXANDER
Illinois Correspondent

PEORIA, Ill. — The National Assoc. of Conservation Districts proclaimed the week of April 27-May 4 as Stewardship Week, prompting some producers’ organizations to announce environmental stewardship programs that will reward farmers for incorporating conservation practices into their daily operations.

On April 17, The Illinois Pork Producers Assoc. (IPPA) announced its program to recognize and honor pork producers who demonstrate outstanding stewardship and conservation practices. Rosemont, Ill.-based Dairy Management, Inc. (DMI) rolled out its sustainability initiative with a focus on environmental stewardship the following day.

IPPA will accept applications for the award through July 31, with entrants judged on criteria including nutrient management practices, soil and water conservation, air quality and odor management, neighbor and community relations, wildlife habitat, environmental innovation and a short essay concerning stewardship.

“As the citizens of Illinois reflect on their responsibility to protect the natural resources of our state, we want to recognize producers who have made innovative and meaningful contributions to the environment,” stated Phil Borgic, a pork producer from Nokomis and IPPA president.

“Our industry has made environmental stewardship a priority, and recognizing the outstanding achievements of our producers is not only the right thing to do, but it can also help other producers learn about new techniques.”

Winners will receive a custom farm sign recognizing the achievement and will be feted at the Illinois Pork Expo in February 2009. Producers can nominate themselves or be nominated by others by downloading an application from the IPPA website online at www.ilpork.com/producers/environment.html and questions may be directed to Tim Maiers at 217-529-3100.

Dairy industry leaders have joined together to create another stewardship program. DMI, the National Milk Producers Federation and the International Dairy Foods Assoc. announced their program will bring together producers, processors, manufacturers, distributors, retailers and others in the dairy supply chain to encourage industry innovations and improve environmental performance.

The initiative focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and growing the dairy business by fulfilling unmet consumer demand.
“The dairy industry recognizes the growing number of people who care about the health and environmental impact of the products they buy,” said Tom Gallagher, CEO of DMI, which manages the national dairy producer checkoff program. “We must do all we can to ensure that consumers know that the dairy industry is committed to improving their lives, both nutritionally and environmentally.”

With an eye on positioning dairy as a preferred product among environmentally conscious consumers, the program will focus on reducing energy consumption and costs in milk production and processing, as well as boosting farm income in emerging “green” energy markets through methane capture and other innovations.
The organizations have begun efforts to analyze the “carbon footprint” of milk production from the farm to the consumer. The analysis will help identify potential innovation opportunities and possible best practices that can reduce energy use and increase sales in the dairy supply chain, according to a news release from DMI.

Gallagher said the initiative will “increase dairy sales through innovation opportunities that will promote health and wellness and preserve natural resources.

“Our focus will be on identifying sustainable practices that can help the dairy industry meet unmet consumer demand by driving innovation and efficiency in a way that sustains the industry economically, environmentally and socially.”