Pavelski’s earn NPC stewardship award

Dick and Jeremie Pavelski of Heartland Farms in Hancock, Wis., were presented with the prestigious 2011 Environmental Stewardship Award at the National Potato Council’s (NPC) 2012 Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla. The annual award is a component of the Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program, a partnership between NPC and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to protect the environment and promote the safe and effective use of pesticides.

Heartland Farms was recognized for its sustainable water management practices, including the use of low horsepower irrigation pumps to reduce power usage, soil moisture probes, and low-pressure irrigation systems with drop nozzles to reduce evaporation. Heartland’s use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which includes monitoring fields for the presence of pests, establishing thresholds for treatment, and applying pesticides to targeted problem areas, was also cited.

“Land and water is the lifeblood of agriculture, and we need to ensure we are vigilant with our precious resources. At Heartland Farms, we utilize the latest technology and good agriculture practices to help safeguard the availability of these resources for generations to come,” said Jeremie Pavelski.

You can view a video of Heartland Farm’s sustainability practices at www.youtube.com/user/NatlPotatoCouncil. Complimentary DVD copies are available by emailingspudinfo@nationalpotatocouncil.org. For more information on Heartland Farms, visit www.hfinc.biz.