Delaware News

Marydel farmer receives Environmental Stewardship Award

Department of Agriculture | Date Posted: Monday, January 11, 2016



Photos are available for media use on Flickr.

HARRINGTON — Poultry farmer Chris Lesniowski of Marydel has been recognized for his efforts to improve water quality and reduce nutrient runoff with the 2015 Delaware Environmental Stewardship Award.

Lesniowski, who grows broiler chickens for Allen Harim Foods, has raised poultry since 2014, with a capacity of 252,000 birds per flock. As part of his efforts, Lesniowski’s farm created a sediment pond, installed clean-up pads, planted trees around the property, maintains food plots for deer and turkey, handles bird disposal properly and practices strict biosecurity.

The awards were presented Monday during Delaware Ag Week by Nutrient Management Commission Chairman Bill Vanderwende and Nutrient Management Program Administrator Chris Brosch.

“Chris Lesniowski and his fellow farmers exemplify the virtues of being good environmental stewards, protecting our water and land,” Brosch said. “Delaware has led the way in nutrient management practices and planning thanks in large part to the work of farmers like these.”

Runners-up were:

>> Jesse Vanderwende of Bridgeville, who grows for Perdue Farms, with a capacity of 127,200 broilers. He has installed heavy-use pads to help manure cleanup, built manure sheds and a composter, plants cover crops, and installed subsurface drip irrigation for those crops.

>> Brian Warrington of Houston, a grower for Mountaire Farms, with a capacity of 153,600 broilers. He has built a water drainage system and pond, keeps concrete pads clean and free of manure, uses attic vents to reduce odors, uses layering in composting, and plans to plant trees for buffers and stock a pond with fish.

>> E.B. and Teresa Workman of Bridgeville, growers for Amick Farms, with a capacity of 69,200 broilers. They have planted grass swales around poultry houses that leads to a holding pond, are planting trees and grasses to help reduce odors, keep concrete pads clean and free of manure, and leave manure inside houses until cleanout.

The awards were presented Monday during Delaware Ag Week, held at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington. Lesniowski will receive $1,000, a plaque and a sign for his farm. The runners-up will receive $500, plaques and signs.

Past recipients of the Environmental Stewardship Award include Georgie Cartanza of Little Creek (2014); Connie Carmean of Laurel (2013); Marilyn and Lee Ellers, Sparrow’s Song Farm, Houston (2012); Douglas and Deborah Vanderwende, Locust Grove Farm, Greenwood (2011); Frank Robinson and family, Dead Broke Farm, Harrington (2010); Mary Bryan, Laurel (2009); Joe Bauer, Harrington (2008); Scott Peterman, Milford (2007); and Guy and Nancy Phillips, Georgetown (2006).

The awards are supported by Allen Harim Foods, Amick Farms, Mountaire Farms and Perdue Farms.

# # #

Contact:
Dan Shortridge
Director of Communications and Marketing
Delaware Department of Agriculture
302-698-4520

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Marydel farmer receives Environmental Stewardship Award

Department of Agriculture | Date Posted: Monday, January 11, 2016



Photos are available for media use on Flickr.

HARRINGTON — Poultry farmer Chris Lesniowski of Marydel has been recognized for his efforts to improve water quality and reduce nutrient runoff with the 2015 Delaware Environmental Stewardship Award.

Lesniowski, who grows broiler chickens for Allen Harim Foods, has raised poultry since 2014, with a capacity of 252,000 birds per flock. As part of his efforts, Lesniowski’s farm created a sediment pond, installed clean-up pads, planted trees around the property, maintains food plots for deer and turkey, handles bird disposal properly and practices strict biosecurity.

The awards were presented Monday during Delaware Ag Week by Nutrient Management Commission Chairman Bill Vanderwende and Nutrient Management Program Administrator Chris Brosch.

“Chris Lesniowski and his fellow farmers exemplify the virtues of being good environmental stewards, protecting our water and land,” Brosch said. “Delaware has led the way in nutrient management practices and planning thanks in large part to the work of farmers like these.”

Runners-up were:

>> Jesse Vanderwende of Bridgeville, who grows for Perdue Farms, with a capacity of 127,200 broilers. He has installed heavy-use pads to help manure cleanup, built manure sheds and a composter, plants cover crops, and installed subsurface drip irrigation for those crops.

>> Brian Warrington of Houston, a grower for Mountaire Farms, with a capacity of 153,600 broilers. He has built a water drainage system and pond, keeps concrete pads clean and free of manure, uses attic vents to reduce odors, uses layering in composting, and plans to plant trees for buffers and stock a pond with fish.

>> E.B. and Teresa Workman of Bridgeville, growers for Amick Farms, with a capacity of 69,200 broilers. They have planted grass swales around poultry houses that leads to a holding pond, are planting trees and grasses to help reduce odors, keep concrete pads clean and free of manure, and leave manure inside houses until cleanout.

The awards were presented Monday during Delaware Ag Week, held at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington. Lesniowski will receive $1,000, a plaque and a sign for his farm. The runners-up will receive $500, plaques and signs.

Past recipients of the Environmental Stewardship Award include Georgie Cartanza of Little Creek (2014); Connie Carmean of Laurel (2013); Marilyn and Lee Ellers, Sparrow’s Song Farm, Houston (2012); Douglas and Deborah Vanderwende, Locust Grove Farm, Greenwood (2011); Frank Robinson and family, Dead Broke Farm, Harrington (2010); Mary Bryan, Laurel (2009); Joe Bauer, Harrington (2008); Scott Peterman, Milford (2007); and Guy and Nancy Phillips, Georgetown (2006).

The awards are supported by Allen Harim Foods, Amick Farms, Mountaire Farms and Perdue Farms.

# # #

Contact:
Dan Shortridge
Director of Communications and Marketing
Delaware Department of Agriculture
302-698-4520

image_printPrint


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.