Northwest Producer Contender For NCBA Stewardship Award
Undoubtedly one of the most prestigious honors a beef producer can receive is the Environmental Stewardship Award. Now the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, better known as NCBA has been giving this award for 16 years, despite the fact our American ranchers have been practicing it for generations. Welcome to Open Range, I’m your host Susan Allen and I’ll be back after the break. Six cattle operations are vying for the coveted Environmental Stewardship Award and one of those just happens to be from the Northwest. Congratulations to M/M Feedlot of Parma Idaho. Now when I think of an award for stewardship in the cattle industry I picture vast ranches where wild life roam not a feed lot. Yet M/M Feedlots innovative approach to waste management and water purifying practices exhibit a standard of excellence that have become a model for the cattle industry. The Mann father and son team, Kent and Darin run the operation that feed more than 10,000 head of cattle each year. Not only do the Mann’s utilize the latest technology to compost manure that they use on their own field and also market, and state of the art water-purifying practices they’ve worked closely with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the National Resource Council and even the Boy Scouts of America. And there is no-closed door policy M/M Feedlot believes in education and hosts many student and consumer groups each year. The winner of the environmental Stewardship award will be announced at NCBA’ National meeting in Nashville this coming February. Good luck to the Manns.
