Four farms were honored as recipients of the Pork Industry Environmental Stewards Award at the annual National Pork Industry Forum in Kansas City, MO, last week. The award, now in its 20^th year, recognizes producers who demonstrate a firm commitment to safeguarding the environment and to serving their local communities.

The award recipients are: 

"These forward-thinking Stewards focus on innovative solutions and ideas on their farms. They are great representatives of thousands of pork producers who work every day to protect our environment and to be good neighbors in their communities," said Karen Richter, president of the National Pork Board and a pork producer from Montgomery, MN. "We are pleased to honor them at our annual meeting as pork producers who are raising high-quality pork for customers while adhering to the industry's We Care^SM ethical principles."

The Pork Checkoff honors the Stewards with a cash award, a plaque, a video and coverage in the Pork Checkoff Report magazine. The Stewards also are featured in National Hog Farmer magazine, co-sponsor of the Environmental Stewards program.

The Environmental Steward award winners were selected by judges representing pork producers and environmental organizations. The judges reviewed applications from pork producers who are committed to upholding the ideal relationship between pork production and the environment. Their operations were evaluated on their 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 an essay on the meaning of environmental stewardship.

The National Pork Board is receiving applications and nominations now for the 2014 Pork Industry Environmental Steward Award winners. The deadline is March 31. More information, as well as applications, can be found online at pork.org, or by calling (800) 456-7675