The Environmental Stewardship awards program recognizes pork producers with all types and sizes of production systems who demonstrate a positive contribution to our natural environment.

Pork producers have a long-standing record of conscientious environmental stewardship. National Hog Farmer and the National Pork Board developed this program to annually recognize exemplary environmental management programs.

This is the 13th year of the Environ-mental Stewards of the Pork Industry program, launched to showcase producers who are doing an outstanding job of incorporating state-of-the-art environmental and nutrient management programs into their pork production systems.

Through this program, the pork industry has gained a greater public awareness and appreciation for pork producers' conscientious environmental management. Additionally, this program has reinforced to the nation's policymakers and the general news media that pork producers are committed to protecting the environment and our valuable natural resources.

Areas of Evaluation

Nominations are now open for the class of 2007 Environmental Stewards. A national selection committee, comprised of pork producers and various pork industry and natural resource organizations, will review all nominations and select four for national recognition.

Nominations will be evaluated in eight key areas:

• General farm production and background;

• Manure/nutrient management;

• Soil and water conservation practices;

• Air quality technologies and odor control management strategies;

• Farm aesthetics and neighbor relations;

• Wildlife habitat management;

• Adoption of innovative ideas; and

• A short essay describing the nominee's view of environmental stewardship.

Open to All

Since 1995, Environmental Stewards winners have represented family-owned-and-operated farms, management teams working within an integrated production system and contract producers.

Pork producers can apply or be nominated for this award by Extension agents, veterinarians or other industry-related professionals. A nomination should be focused on a single production site, outlining the owner's and/or manager's diligence and expertise in applying their environmental management program.

Each farm selected for this award will be featured in a special report published in the Sept. 15, 2007 issue of National Hog Farmer. Winners will also be recognized during Pork Industry Forum held in March the following year.

Additional information and an easy-to-use nomination form are available on the sponsors' Web sites: www.pork.org or www.nationalhogfarmer.com (click on the Environmental Stewards banner). You may also call the National Pork Board (800) 456-7675 or write: National Pork Board, Box 9114, Des Moines, IA 50306.

Send nominations to: National Pork Board, Attention: Environmental Stewards, Box 9114, Des Moines, IA 50306-9620. Nominations must be postmarked by March 31, 2007.