For more than a decade, the American Soybean Association has been recognizing U.S. soybean producers’ outstanding environmental and conservation achievements through the Conservation Legacy Awards program.

As stewards and partners with the land, today’s farmers understand the responsibility of protecting one of our most precious natural resources and are dedicated to enhancing the quality of the land entrusted to them. As 2009 National Conservation Legacy Award Winner John Buck stated, “There is always more that can and should be done to protect our resources of land and water. We need to be attentive to this responsibility every single day.”

The Conservation Legacy Awards are open to any U.S. soybean producer to showcase their farm management practices that are both environmentally friendly and profitable. Growers using reduced-tillage systems, such as no-till, strip-till, minimum-till or other conservation practices are encouraged to submit a nomination form. The registration deadline is September 30, 2010, so enter today!

Awards are given in three regions: Midwest, Northeast and South. Of the three regional winners, a national winner is selected. All winners and a spouse/guest receive an expenses-paid trip to Commodity Classic, the annual convention and trade show for U.S. soybean, corn, wheat and sorghum farmers, where the awards will be presented. The 2011 Commodity Classic is in Tampa, Florida, March 3-5, 2011. Winners will also be featured in the Corn & Soybean Digest.

The Conservation Legacy Awards are sponsored by Monsanto and Corn & Soybean Digest.

For additional information please contact ASA Program Manager Byron Keelin, (314) 754-1355 or email bkeelin@soy.org.

2010 Conservationist of the Year
Josh Lloyd
Lloyd Farms
Clay Center, Kansas

Pictured: At the ASA Awards Banquet in Anaheim, CA. (Left to Right) Rob Joslin, ASA President; Josh Lloyd, National Conservation Legacy Award winner and Midwest Region winner; Kim Magin-Sutter, Monsanto; and Greg Lamp, Corn & Soybean Digest.

Josh Lloyd of Lloyd Farms in Clay Center, Kansas has been named “2010 Conservationist of the Year” in the Conservation Legacy Awards Program. Lloyd was announced the winner of this national award on March 5 at the ASA Awards Banquet at Commodity Classic in Anaheim, CA.

Lloyd, a fifth generation farmer, also won the Midwest Region competition in the Conservation Legacy Awards Program. His regional win qualified him for the national competition.

Lloyd farms 29-hundred acres of wheat, milo, soybeans, corn and sunflowers. He manages his cropland to mimic the native prairie. He employs continuous no-till to manage all his cropland. Cropping intensity and diversity also play a big role in his land management. Lloyd has specific procedures in place for farmstead protection and environmental management.

Lloyd said his family’s five generations of success with farming comes from basing decisions not only on what is good for the current generation, but also what will help ensure success for generations to come.

Conservation Legacy Awards: 2010 Regional Winners

Northeast Region

Pictured: At the ASA Awards Banquet in Anaheim, CA. (Left to Right) Rob Joslin, ASA President; H. Grant Troop, South Region Conservation Legacy Award winner; Ken Scott, Troop's business partner; Kim Magin-Sutter, Monsanto; and Greg Lamp, Corn & Soybean Digest.

Northeast Region
H. Grant Troop of Troop Farms in Oxford, Pennsylvania has won the 2010 Northeast Region Conservation Legacy Award. Troop and his business partner Ken Scott accepted the award on March 5 at the ASA Awards Banquet at Commodity Classic in Anaheim, CA.

Troop Farms has been in operation for 33 years. Troop produces corn and soybeans on 102 acres. No-till, buffer strips and contour farming are some of the practices used. Farmstead protection and wetland protection are also important aspects of Troop Farms, where active conservation is standard operation.

Troop said their goal is to plan and implement effective conservation on every acre, and actively participate in the process, as they manage soil and water resources with good stewardship.
 

South Region

Pictured: At the ASA Awards Banquet in Anaheim, CA. (Left to Right) Rob Joslin, ASA President; Rose and Malcolm Oatts, South Region Conservation Legacy Award winner; Kim Magin-Sutter, Monsanto; and Greg Lamp, Corn & Soybean Digest.

South Region
Malcolm Oatts of Four Mile Farm in Hopkinsville, Kentucky has won the 2010 South Region Conservation Legacy Award. Oatts and his wife Rose accepted the award on March 5 at the ASA Awards Banquet at Commodity Classic in Anaheim, CA.

Oatts has been farming for 60 years and has been dedicated to conservation since the early 1960s. He grows corn, wheat and soybeans on 190 acres. One hundred acres are no-till and he has waterways, filter strips and diversion, and strip crops. Oatts works diligently to promote soil conservation and protect water quality.

Now in his late 70s, Oatts said he continues to farm because it is what he wants to do – what he enjoys doing. Oatts said he is committed to leaving the land better than he found it.