Indiana Pork Producer Honored with National Environmental Stewardship Award

Mike Beard was named the 2007 recipient of the Pork Industry Environmental Steward Award

An Indiana pork operation has been selected as one of four farms in the United States for outstanding environmental stewardship by the National Pork Checkoff Board.

Meadowlane Farms, of Clinton County, is receiving the National Pork Checkoff Board's 2007 "Pork Industry Environmental Steward Award." This annual program was designed to honor operations that have demonstrated their commitment to protecting the environment while conducting their day-to-day activities.

Meadowlane Farms, based in Frankfort, is a family operation run by Mike and Pam Beard, along with their son, son-in-law, and two step-brothers. The business was selected as an environmental steward by judges drawn from pork producers and environmental organizations across the country. The judges reviewed the applications or nominations from U.S. pork producers representative of the industry's commitment to minimizing its footprint on the environment. The Beard's operation was evaluated on its manure management systems; water and soil conservation practices; odor-control strategies; farm aesthetics and neighbor relations; wildlife habitat promotion; innovative ideas used to protect the environment and philosophy on environmental stewardship.

"As always, an exceptional group of pork producers has applied or been nominated for this award," said Lynn Harrison, a member of the environmental stewards selection subcommittee and National Pork Board president. "Pork producers in general make the choice to farm responsibly and to protect the natural resources, air, soil and water. These producers in particular made the choice to share what they do with their neighbors, their communities and with us."

At Meadowlane Farms, Mike Beard and his family have made farming in an environmentally friendly way a priority. They have implemented initiatives such as an integrated pest management program, participated in the reforestation of the area, helped establish a local wildlife habitat, planted trees for odor mitigation, constructed and renewed waterways, and installed buffers to protect creek banks and surrounding woodland areas. They also utilize newer technology in manure application, participate in careful pretesting of nutrient levels in manure, and utilize GPS mapping to ensure accurate manure applications.

To Beard, the decision to be an environmentally responsible farmer was simple. "Protecting the environment is the right thing to do, and that's what we're about today in agriculture," said Beard. "We need to earn the public's trust and prove to them that we deserve their trust."

Beard also understands that the actions he makes today will have an impact on future generations. "I aim for my kids to have the opportunity to farm the same land that I am farming, and I want to leave this land better for them," he said.

"We are extremely proud of Mike Beard and his whole operation, as they demonstrate the best our industry has to offer when it comes to environmental stewardship," said Mike Platt, executive director of Indiana Pork. "We congratulate the entire staff of Meadowlane Farms and extend our sincere appreciation for the ways in which they make themselves examples of how we can run successful businesses and still protect our shared natural resources."

Mike and Pam Beard will receive the recognition of their peers at the 2008 National Pork Industry Forum in St. Louis. The Pork Industry Environmental Steward Awards are cosponsored by the Pork Checkoff and National Hog Farmer magazine.
Your contact is Sarah Bustamante, Indiana Pork, at 317-872-7500.