Delaware News

Milford farmers receive Environmental Stewardship Award

Department of Agriculture | Date Posted: Monday, January 9, 2017



Photos are available for media use on Flickr.

Poultry farmers Ted Layton and Scott Willey have been recognized for their efforts to improve water quality and reduce nutrient runoff with the 2016 Delaware Environmental Stewardship Award.

2016 Environmental Stewardship Award winners
From left: Rich Batiuk, Associate Director for Science, Analysis and Implementation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Chesapeake Bay Program; Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee; Scott Willey; Ted Layton; Eddie Jewell of Allen Harim Foods; Delaware Nutrient Management Program Administrator Chris Brosch; and Delaware Nutrient Management Commission Chairman Bill Vanderwende.

Layton and Willey are co-owners of T&S Farms near Milford, growing broiler chickens for Allen Harim Foods on a 44-acre farm. They have four poultry houses, with a capacity of 134,000 birds per flock. As part of their efforts, they have installed a manure shed and composter, have a stormwater pond, and will plant a tree buffer. They focus on weed control, lane maintenance and pad cleanliness, and have all manure transported by Ellis Farms.

Awards to Layton and Willey and three runners-up were presented Monday during Delaware Ag Week by Nutrient Management Commission Chairman Bill Vanderwende and Nutrient Management Program Administrator Chris Brosch.

“These farmers are great examples of how Delaware’s farm families are wonderful stewards of our land and water,” Brosch said. “It is due to their hard work and dedication that has made Delaware a leader in nutrient management efforts.”

Runners-up were:

>> Alvin and Norma Warner of Milford, who grow for Perdue Foods growing the Coleman Organic Program, with a capacity of 62,000 organic broilers. They have created 15 acres of riparian buffers and wildlife habitat, planted tree buffers, and installed heavy use pads and a composter.

>> Tracey Hill of Laurel, who grows for Mountaire Farms, with a capacity of 116,000 broilers. He has grassed waterways and all pipes lead to a fish-stocked pond which treats stormwater from the production area.

>> Jim Nguyen of Georgetown, who grows for Amick Farms, with a capacity of 110,000 broilers. He has installed heavy use pads, planted trees to reduce exhaust emissions, graded swales to direct stormwater into a one-acre pond, planted apple trees and berry bushes for wildlife, and uses freezers for mortality.

Layton and Willey will receive $1,000, a plaque and a sign for their farm. The runners-up will receive $500, plaques and signs.

Past recipients of the Environmental Stewardship Award include Chris Lesniowski of Marydel (2015); 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.

# # #

Media contact:

Dan Shortridge
Director of Communications & Marketing
Delaware Department of Agriculture
302-698-4520
daniel.shortridge@delaware.gov

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.

Milford farmers receive Environmental Stewardship Award

Department of Agriculture | Date Posted: Monday, January 9, 2017



Photos are available for media use on Flickr.

Poultry farmers Ted Layton and Scott Willey have been recognized for their efforts to improve water quality and reduce nutrient runoff with the 2016 Delaware Environmental Stewardship Award.

2016 Environmental Stewardship Award winners
From left: Rich Batiuk, Associate Director for Science, Analysis and Implementation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Chesapeake Bay Program; Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee; Scott Willey; Ted Layton; Eddie Jewell of Allen Harim Foods; Delaware Nutrient Management Program Administrator Chris Brosch; and Delaware Nutrient Management Commission Chairman Bill Vanderwende.

Layton and Willey are co-owners of T&S Farms near Milford, growing broiler chickens for Allen Harim Foods on a 44-acre farm. They have four poultry houses, with a capacity of 134,000 birds per flock. As part of their efforts, they have installed a manure shed and composter, have a stormwater pond, and will plant a tree buffer. They focus on weed control, lane maintenance and pad cleanliness, and have all manure transported by Ellis Farms.

Awards to Layton and Willey and three runners-up were presented Monday during Delaware Ag Week by Nutrient Management Commission Chairman Bill Vanderwende and Nutrient Management Program Administrator Chris Brosch.

“These farmers are great examples of how Delaware’s farm families are wonderful stewards of our land and water,” Brosch said. “It is due to their hard work and dedication that has made Delaware a leader in nutrient management efforts.”

Runners-up were:

>> Alvin and Norma Warner of Milford, who grow for Perdue Foods growing the Coleman Organic Program, with a capacity of 62,000 organic broilers. They have created 15 acres of riparian buffers and wildlife habitat, planted tree buffers, and installed heavy use pads and a composter.

>> Tracey Hill of Laurel, who grows for Mountaire Farms, with a capacity of 116,000 broilers. He has grassed waterways and all pipes lead to a fish-stocked pond which treats stormwater from the production area.

>> Jim Nguyen of Georgetown, who grows for Amick Farms, with a capacity of 110,000 broilers. He has installed heavy use pads, planted trees to reduce exhaust emissions, graded swales to direct stormwater into a one-acre pond, planted apple trees and berry bushes for wildlife, and uses freezers for mortality.

Layton and Willey will receive $1,000, a plaque and a sign for their farm. The runners-up will receive $500, plaques and signs.

Past recipients of the Environmental Stewardship Award include Chris Lesniowski of Marydel (2015); 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.

# # #

Media contact:

Dan Shortridge
Director of Communications & Marketing
Delaware Department of Agriculture
302-698-4520
daniel.shortridge@delaware.gov

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.