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Pork producer selected for national environmental stewardship a
Iowa The National Pork Checkoff Board has selected an Iowa pork production operation to receive one of four Pork Industry Environmental Steward Awards in 2007. Keppy Farms of Scott County received this award for demonstrating its commitment to preserving the environment. Keppy Farms, represented by Loren and Jeantee Keppy of Durant, was selected as an Environmental Steward Award winner by judges drawn from pork producers and environmental organizations. The judges reviewed the applications or nominations from U.S. pork producers representative of the industry's commitment to minimizing its footprint on the environment. The Keppy operation was evaluated on its manure management systems; water and soil conservation practices; odor-control strategies; farm aesthetics and neighbor relations; wildlife habitat promotion; innovative ideas used to protect the environment and philosophy on environmental stewardship. The Keppy family owns and operates a 1,920-space feed-to-finish hog operation and 900-acre grain farm. Loren and Jeantee built two barns on the site in 1995 and in 2005, started a hog finishing contract with The Maschhoffs. Today, the Keppys and their children, Kaylee and Jake, run the farm. Members of the high school wrestling team Keppy coaches come in on days when extra help is needed. Manure from the pigs accumulates in 8-foot deep pits under the barns until Keppy empties the pit, allowing effluent to run into an earthen basin usually covered with a layer of oats or wheat straw that helps reduce odor emissions. Once a year, Keppy and a custom applicator apply the nutrients from the basin on 900 acres of land that Keppy uses to plant Pioneer seed corn and soybeans. To reduce the chance of spills when hauling the manure, Keppy lays a soft hose to the fields within 1.75 miles of the basin. He takes other precautions to avoid runoff and contamination of creeks in the vicinity. "As always, an exceptional group of pork producers has applied or been nominated for this award," said Lynn Harrison, a member of the environmental stewards selection subcommittee and National Pork Boar president. "Pork producers in general make the choice to farm responsibly and to protect the natural resources, air, soil and water. These producers in particular made the choice to share what they do with their neighbors, their communities and with us. "Each one of the award winning operations deals with a different environment, different inputs, different type of soil, different regulations, etc. Each one of them employs sound environmental management practices to deal with its particular situation," said Harrison whose Elk Mound, Wis., farm received the environmental steward award in 2002. "We believe this commitment and responsibility merits our recognition and elevates our industry's image." The Keppys' farm and fields are so close to Durant that on a Friday night you can see the lights from the school's football field in the distance. People in town would not know the Keppys' farm is there, except for the teenagers from town who come over to sit on the porch or around the fire after a game. If not told, they would not know pigs also lived on the farm. The family believes that it's important for people not involved in agriculture to have this experience. To reduce odor, feed spills are cleaned promptly; dust is not allowed to accumulate on equipment, gating or fans; and, production losses are picked up and composted in a concrete-lined and covered three-bay composting facility. The Keppys feel that sustainability is the right thing to do for their land, for the environment and for the community. Loren and Jeantee will receive the recognition of their peers at the 2008 National Pork Industry Forum in St. Louis, Mo. The Pork Industry Environmental Steward Awards are cosponsored by the Pork Checkoff and National Hog Farmer magazine. Date: 10/17/07
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