Date:
7/28/2004 12:00:00 AM
Title:
Iowa Farm is ESAP Region III Honoree
White Family Farms
Wins Top Environmental Award
Washington, D.C. (June 28, 2004) – White Family Farms in Estherville, Iowa, has been selected as a regional winner of the 2004 Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP). The family farm is one of seven regional winners nationwide. The prestigious annual award program recognizes cattle producers across the nation whose stewardship practices are inventive, cost-effective and contribute to environmental conservation.
In its 14th year, the program is sponsored by Dow AgroSciences L.L.C and the Natural Resources Conservation Service of USDA and is administered by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). The White family is the sole representative of NCBA’s Region III, which includes five Midwestern states. They were nominated by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association.
“This award honors the overlooked environmentalists.” explains Megan Tipton, coordinator of the program, “People who spend their lives working the land embody the true nature of conservation and for this Iowa family, Earth Day is every day. Ranching is a lifetime spent outdoors, working with natural resources. Members of the White family demonstrate how today’s landowners utilize creative technologies and innovations to run a profitable, environmentally-friendly business.”
Sponsored by Dow AgroSciences LLC and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) of USDA, the Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) recognizes cattle producers whose stewardship practices are inventive, cost-effective and contribute to environmental conservation. The recipients of this top U.S. beef industry environmental award are selected by a committee of representatives from university faculty, federal and state government agencies, and conservation and environmental organizations.
White Family Farms is family-run and operated, supporting three active branches of the White family. Craig and Margaret White own 225 commercial Angus cows and annually feed out approximately 550 head of cattle. Son Brad and his wife Jill White run 160 commercial Angus cows, annually feed out close to 300 head of cattle, and develop about 100 head of replacement heifers. Nephew Lance White has a similar operation, with 150 commercial Angus cows and 300 head of cattle fed out annually.
In addition to performing the daily duties on their individual locations, the White family comes together to help each other during busy times— such as planting and harvesting season or working cattle. Originating from 280 acres, White Family Farms now consists of 1,400 acres of row crops, 1,200 acres of permanent pasture and 320 acres of hay ground/pasture.
“Over four generations, the White family has shown their dedication to sustaining a long term farming enterprise,” says Wayne Shafer, district conservationist for NRCS. “Their stewardship of the fragile glacial soil continues today, just as Craig’s grandparent’s initiated back in 1934.”
By investing time, effort and money toward many environmental practices, the Whites have increased the productivity of their land and their cattle. Some of the stewardship practices include no-till, minimum tillage, the farming of row crops, rotational grazing of pastures, converting row crop acres to permanent pastures and hayfields, and building ponds and water systems. Taking these measures has significantly attributed to an increased wildlife habitat, improved soil quality and overall long-standing preservation of land resources.
“We’d rather share our farm resources with our neighbors and community members,” says Craig White. “It makes better relationships with those who live nearby.”
White Family Farms has hosted several tours recognizing the importance of educating both the public and other producers about land stewardship. In the process of working to achieve their stewardship goals, the Whites have worked extensively with many organizations, including NRCS, the Farm Service Agency, Iowa State University Cooperative Extension, Iowa Great Lakes Controlled Grazing Project, Cow Herd Improvement Service and Pheasants Forever.
“Consumers often have the perception that if cattle are raised well, it will be a more wholesome end product,” says Craig. “When community members see our cattle grazing on lush, green pastures and eating feedstuffs we raised here on the farm, they are more inclined to buy our product in the long run.”
The White family will be formally recognized as a regional ESAP winner at the 2004 Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Denver, Colorado on August 11th. One of the seven regional winners will be selected as the national winner, announced in January 2005. For additional information on this family or other regional winners, contact NCBA’s D.C. office at 202-347-0228.