ATLANTA — L & J Farm of Harrington, Del., was certainly one of 5 farms throughout america to obtain USPOULTRY’s Household Farm Environmental Excellence Award throughout the 2024 Worldwide Manufacturing & Processing Expo in Atlanta, Ga.
The household farm’s house owners, Linda and John Brown, have been in Atlanta to obtain the award, having been nominated for the honour by Delmarva Rooster Affiliation. USPOULTRY sponsors the annual awards in recognition of exemplary environmental stewardship by household farmers engaged in poultry and egg manufacturing.
The Browns increase 150,000 natural broiler chickens per flock for Perdue Farms, and theirs was the primary business natural farm on Delmarva. They’ve opened their doorways to many individuals through the years, together with professionals, CEOs, farm suppliers, consumers, faculties and extra. L & J Farm makes use of an EcoDrum composter and was the primary farm in Delaware to benefit from the USDA price share program for this gear. Litter is primarily windrowed, with partial and full cleanouts when vital. They take a look at their litter yearly, and all litter faraway from the farm is used for offsite cropland. Linda is an officer on the Tax Ditch Committee, a part of the community of drainage ditches on Delmarva that assist defend the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Browns additionally take on-line programs to maintain up with the most recent greatest administration practices.
The Browns have applied many measures on their farm to make it extra environmentally pleasant, in addition to neighbor pleasant. Grass buffers at followers and tree buffers on the property line assist to make sure that mud and odors are contained, and a pollinator backyard, heavy use pads, improved roads and stormwater drainage ponds assist to guard and improve the encircling atmosphere. Utilizing photo voltaic power, together with to cost their electrical automotive, helps to scale back their environmental impression. Final yr, anterooms have been added to 2 homes to be able to enhance biosecurity as effectively.
L & J Farm obtained Delmarva Rooster Affiliation’s inaugural George (Bud) Malone Environmental Award in 2022. Afterwards, DCA labored to appoint their farm for USPOULTRY’s highest environmental recognition, and USPOULTRY named the farm a semifinalist, incomes them an all-expense journey paid to IPPE. USPOULTRY representatives toured the farm final fall throughout the judging course of.
“John and Linda are absolutely devoted to working their farm with the best requirements of sustainability, and we at DCA are extremely pleased with what they’ve achieved in many years of rising chickens,” mentioned Holly Porter, DCA’s govt director, who attended the commerce present and congratulated the Browns at their award ceremony.
