PFI
RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
Rick Exner, PFI’s farming systems coordinator traveled to
Washington D.C. in April to accept an award, on behalf of PFI and
ISU, from Renew America. As the program notes for the ceremony
explain “Renew America’s 2000 National Awards for Environmental
Sustainability honor those who have seized the opportunity to answer
the question ‘What is possible?’ and with their inspiring work
are helping to create a sustainable future for us all.”
PFI first took honors from Renew America in 1992 for
its partnership with Iowa State University. This year it was
selected from award winners of the past decade. Again, from the
program notes, “By taking
sustainable agriculture out of the university research departments
and into the fields of working Iowa farms, the PFI-ISU partnership
is showing how farmers can reduce fertilizer and pesticide use,
improve erosion control, maintain high yields and increase
profitability. The key to the partnership’s success has been its
ability to engage farmers across Iowa in hundreds of scientific
field trials of alternative farming methods and farm field days...
The partnership is making sustainable agriculture a reality in Iowa
and in states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, where elements
of the initiative are being replicated.”
