The Indiana State Department of Agriculture and Elwood-based Red Gold recently appointed two Midwest tomato growers as agricultural stewards.
The government agency partners with Red Gold each year to present the Red Gold Stewardship Award. This year's recipients are Niese Ag LLC of Pandora, Ohio and Myers Sod Farms of Seymour, Indiana.
As the first place winner, Niese Ag received a $1,000 scholarship and an option to ship an additional truckload of tomatoes each day during the harvest season. In second place, Myers Sod Farms won $500 and an option to ship an additional half truckload per day during harvest.
The state agriculture department and Red Gold specifically seek to recognize growers who prioritize soil health and water quality in their farming practices.
“Growers are committed to continuing their good efforts with soil and water conservation practices,” Red Gold Director of Agriculture Curt Utterback said in a press release. “They are grateful to be part of an industry that provides nutritious food to an ever-growing population and want to ensure that future generations of their family have the same opportunity to produce the freshest, best-tasting tomatoes.”
One way farmers can practice strong conversational practices in the soil is through planting cover crops. In Indiana, growers planted more than 1.6 million acres of crops in 2022, according to the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.
This year's Red Gold Stewardship winner, Niese Ag, is planting cover crops in its corn and soybean fields. Owner Derek Niese said this comes as an effort to “build and preserve farmland for future generations.”
Myers Sod Farms of Southern Indiana also works with cover crops, as well as practices reduced tillage and regular soil testing to conserve farmland.
“Practicing conservation is important on our farm,” Myers Sod Farm owner Adam Myer said in the release. “We feel that if we take care of the earth, it will take care of us.”
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