Bayer CropScience Announces 2012 Young Farmer Sustainability Award Recipient
Virginia farmer focuses on fine-tuned nutrient management programs for greater efficiency through reduced inputs and higher yields.
Research Triangle Park, NC, March 03, 2012 --(PR.com)-- John Shepherd, a 27-year-old grain farmer from Blackstone, Virginia, has been named the 2012 Young Sustainable Farmer by Bayer CropScience at the 2012 Ag Issues Forum in Nashville, Tenn (#AgIssues12).
The award, sponsored by Bayer CropScience LP, recognizes young agricultural producers who demonstrate excellence in business and environmental sustainability. Entrants are judged on entrepreneurial initiative and new approaches to farming, environmental and other on-farm sustainability efforts, and economic stability.
“We believe America can take much pride in our young farm leaders. John Shepherd is a tremendous example of young farmers who are passionate about American agriculture. He’s proven to be a successful businessman, while actively working to improve agronomic and environmental conditions on the land he farms,” says Nick Hamon, head of sustainability with Bayer CropScience.
Shepherd and his business partner, Jordan Brandon, operate Tri County Grain Farms, LLC, where they farm 1,350 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and barley. Shepherd’s barley won the Virginia state yield contest with a yield of 152.26 bushels per acre. He also ranked second in state wheat yields with 120.89 bushels per acre.
He attributes his success in large part to having a detailed nutrient management plan for each field. Through ongoing soil and tissue sample analysis, Shepherd fine-tunes nutritional programs all season long. By doing so he helps better identify nutrient deficiencies before they become a problem, while avoiding environmental problems from excess nutrient applications. And as a certified nutrient management planner, Shepherd also helps other farmers produce nutrient management plans for their farms.
“Tissue sampling is very easy to do and is really key to our whole operation,” Shepherd says. “It tells us exactly what the nutrient content is of the plant and helps us adjust nutrient delivery. That way we don’t overapply nutrients, which saves us money and boosts yields.”
“Sustainable farming is not only about making a profit, but being a good steward of the land for future generations,” says Shepherd. “I believe that it is our duty as stewards of the land to not only prevent further degradation of resources, but to leave that land better than we found it. This is my goal on all the land that I farm.”
As this year’s award recipient, Shepherd will receive a new laptop computer and expense-paid trips to the 2012 Commodity Classic in Nashville, Tennessee, and the Farm Journal Corn College during the summer of 2012.
For more information about the Bayer CropScience Young Farmer Sustainability Award, visit www.BayerCropScience.us/our-commitment/sustainability-award.
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About Bayer CropScience
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. Bayer CropScience, a subgroup of Bayer AG with annual sales of EUR 6.830 billion (2010), is one of the world’s leading innovative crop science companies in the areas of crop protection, non-agricultural pest control, seeds and traits. The company offers an outstanding range of products and extensive service backup for modern, sustainable agriculture and for non-agricultural applications. Bayer CropScience has a global workforce of 20,700 and is represented in more than 120 countries. This and further news is available at: www.press.bayercropscience.com.
Contact:
Bayer CropScience Media Hotline, 1-877-879-6162, or
Beth Roden
External Communications Lead
Bayer CropScience
Tel: (919) 549-2030
Email: beth.roden@bayer.com
Twitter: bayer4cropsUS
Find more information at www.bayercropscience.us.
USA-BCS-2012-0073
Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
The award, sponsored by Bayer CropScience LP, recognizes young agricultural producers who demonstrate excellence in business and environmental sustainability. Entrants are judged on entrepreneurial initiative and new approaches to farming, environmental and other on-farm sustainability efforts, and economic stability.
“We believe America can take much pride in our young farm leaders. John Shepherd is a tremendous example of young farmers who are passionate about American agriculture. He’s proven to be a successful businessman, while actively working to improve agronomic and environmental conditions on the land he farms,” says Nick Hamon, head of sustainability with Bayer CropScience.
Shepherd and his business partner, Jordan Brandon, operate Tri County Grain Farms, LLC, where they farm 1,350 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and barley. Shepherd’s barley won the Virginia state yield contest with a yield of 152.26 bushels per acre. He also ranked second in state wheat yields with 120.89 bushels per acre.
He attributes his success in large part to having a detailed nutrient management plan for each field. Through ongoing soil and tissue sample analysis, Shepherd fine-tunes nutritional programs all season long. By doing so he helps better identify nutrient deficiencies before they become a problem, while avoiding environmental problems from excess nutrient applications. And as a certified nutrient management planner, Shepherd also helps other farmers produce nutrient management plans for their farms.
“Tissue sampling is very easy to do and is really key to our whole operation,” Shepherd says. “It tells us exactly what the nutrient content is of the plant and helps us adjust nutrient delivery. That way we don’t overapply nutrients, which saves us money and boosts yields.”
“Sustainable farming is not only about making a profit, but being a good steward of the land for future generations,” says Shepherd. “I believe that it is our duty as stewards of the land to not only prevent further degradation of resources, but to leave that land better than we found it. This is my goal on all the land that I farm.”
As this year’s award recipient, Shepherd will receive a new laptop computer and expense-paid trips to the 2012 Commodity Classic in Nashville, Tennessee, and the Farm Journal Corn College during the summer of 2012.
For more information about the Bayer CropScience Young Farmer Sustainability Award, visit www.BayerCropScience.us/our-commitment/sustainability-award.
###
About Bayer CropScience
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. Bayer CropScience, a subgroup of Bayer AG with annual sales of EUR 6.830 billion (2010), is one of the world’s leading innovative crop science companies in the areas of crop protection, non-agricultural pest control, seeds and traits. The company offers an outstanding range of products and extensive service backup for modern, sustainable agriculture and for non-agricultural applications. Bayer CropScience has a global workforce of 20,700 and is represented in more than 120 countries. This and further news is available at: www.press.bayercropscience.com.
Contact:
Bayer CropScience Media Hotline, 1-877-879-6162, or
Beth Roden
External Communications Lead
Bayer CropScience
Tel: (919) 549-2030
Email: beth.roden@bayer.com
Twitter: bayer4cropsUS
Find more information at www.bayercropscience.us.
USA-BCS-2012-0073
Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
Contact
Bayer Crop Science
Patty Briguglio
919-233-6600
Patty Briguglio
919-233-6600
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