WASHINGTON, DC – January 28, 2011 – Mercer Canyon of Prosser, Wash., and Walker Brothers Farms of Malin, Ore. were presented with the prestigious 2010 Environmental Stewardship Award at the 2011 NPC Annual Meeting. The award is a component of the Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program, a partnership between the National Potato Council and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to protect the environment and promote the safe and effective use of pesticides. Mercer Canyon and Walker Brothers Farms were selected based on their on-farm pesticide risk reduction practices, use of Integrated Pest Management practices, use of biological control or alternative pest control methods, water and habitat protection, and resistance management practices—all of which were accomplished without any compromise of yield or quality.
Through a sponsorship from DuPont Agricultural Products, a video highlighting the recipient’s on-farm strategies and practices in pesticide reduction and environmental protection was developed. Each year the video is used by schools, agricultural organizations and civic groups to demonstrate the potato industry’s commitment to sound environmental stewardship. The NPC compliments Mercer Canyon and Walker Brothers Farms for their leadership and innovation in being model stewards of the land. To view the video, visit the NPC website: www.nationalpotatocouncil.org. Complimentary copies of the video in DVD format are also available through the NPC. Call 202.682.9456 or send an email to spudinfo@nationalpotatocouncil.org for a copy.
Source: National Potato Council