Pork producers have a long-standing record of environmental stewardship. To highlight some of the top environmental management programs in the U.S. swine industry, National Hog Farmer and Pork Checkoff annually join forces to recognize pork producers and managers who exemplify outstanding manure nutrient management and innovation, wildlife preservation and community service.

This is the 16th year of the Pork Industry Environmental Steward Award Program, launched to showcase pork producers with all types and sizes of production systems, who demonstrate a positive stewardship of the natural environment in and surrounding their production sites.

Since 1995, Pork Industry Environmental Steward award 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 must focus 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, 2010 issue of National Hog Farmer. Winners will also be recognized during Pork Industry Forum held in March the following year.

Visit nationalhogfarmer.com/september09/ to read about the 2009 Pork Industry Environmental Steward winners. Additional information and an easy-to-use nomination form are available on the sponsors' Web sites: www.nationalhogfarmer.com, or at the National Pork Board site at www.pork.org. For more information, contact Allan Stokes at [email protected], or call 800-456-PORK. The deadline for applications is March 31, 2010.