Ag-Environmental Leaders Are Raising the Bar for Sustainable Farming in Florida
November 3, 2022 Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nikki Fried recently announced the winners of the state’s 2022 Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award. The program highlights environmentally innovative farming practices across different parts of Florida’s agricultural industry.
The 2022 Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award winners are:
Brooks Garland of Lee Peanut Farms
Lynetta Usher Griner of Usher Land & Timber
Marlon L. Pendergrass of the Groves of Peace River
Each was honored at the Commissioner’s Breakfast during the recently held Florida Farm Bureau Annual Meeting.
“Florida is on the front lines of climate change and our farmers, ranchers, and producers are constantly evolving their practices to mitigate its effects while continuing to support a strong domestic food supply,” Fried says. “These agricultural leaders are wonderful examples of those efforts to preserve Florida’s natural lands for generations to come.”
The nominations for the award, which was established in 1994, were evaluated by a committee of representatives from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and key Florida agricultural groups.
Award winners were judged on the following environmental practices:
- Wildlife Protection and Habitat Conservation: Provide a safe, viable habitat for wildlife within an agricultural operation.
- Pesticide/Nutrient Management: Use pesticides/nutrients responsibly, maximizing benefits and minimizing potential adverse environmental effects.
- Water Quality: Preserve or improve water quality within or adjacent to an agricultural operation.
- Soil and Water Conservation: Reduce soil erosion, nutrient depletion, and water consumption; and enhance water recharge.
- Waste Management/Recycling: Reduce waste by recycling agricultural by-products and waste products on site.
To learn more about Florida’s Ag-Environmental Award, visit FDACS.com.
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