WASHINGTON — Tim and Larry Nolan of Nolan Farms Inc. were awarded 2012 Daviess County Conservation Farmer of the Year honors Thursday night during the 71st annual meeting of the Daviess County Soil and Water Conservation District.
Each year, the DCSWCD recognizes one county farmer or family farm that has made outstanding progress in managing and improving their soil and water resources and making farm husbandry one of their main goals.
Todd Allison, DCSWCD board supervisor, introduced the winning farm, telling attendees at the annual banquet that the Nolans embrace an openness to learn and try new things - a mentality important to the future of agriculture.
“The recipients are committed to a full no-till system, and they are experimenting with cover crops in attempts to improve that system, especially on reclaimed mine farmland, where developing soil structure and organic matter are crucial,” Allison said.
He said Nolan Farms has worked with the SWCD to take advantage of conservation programs.
“It is evident that the recipients are willing to test conservation techniques with the conviction that these practices can be economically viable,” Allison said before introducing Nolan Farms as this yearÕs winner, sponsored by Farm Bureau.
Kevin Allison, district livestock and conservation technician, also made a presentation at the banquet. He said the DCSWCD was honored to have one of its own Daviess County producers join an elite group of Hoosier farmers when he was recognized as a 2012 River Friendly Farmer.
The award, given to farmers who use exceptional conservation practices to improve soil health and protect water quality, was presented to Randall Byrer at the 2012 Indiana State Fair.
“This producer has been no-till farming for many years to control erosion and increase yield,” Kevin Allison said. “His conservation practices are important to him because they reduce the amount of labor needed to operate his farm and are better suited to im prove his farm's sustainability and environmental health for future generations.”
He said River Friendly Farmers are grain, livestock and poultry producers from watersheds in 40 Indiana counties. The award is sponsored by the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and Indiana Farm Bureau.
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