Environmental Respect Awards: 2006 State Winners
September 8, 2008 
Editor’s Note: The Environmental Respect Awards program is in its 17th year of honoring and celebrating agricultural environmentalism throughout the industry. Hundreds of dealerships have been recognized for their efforts and CropLife magazine will be showcasing some of these facilities each month through May. Those profiled here have won participant plaques and state awards at the local level for their efforts, and many have experienced increased business and customer loyalty as a result of their participation. They have filled out the Environmental Respect Awards Self-Audit, they have pledged their commitment, they have seen results, and they are proof that participation matters.
Crop Production Services, Dyersville, IA
“Environmental stewardship means doing whatever possible to protect our most prized possessions: our land, streams, rivers, groundwater, ponds, and our neighbors’ property as well as our own,” says Terry Bockenstedt, manager of Crop Production Services (CPS).
This caring attitude has earned the Dyersville, IA, operation a 2006 state Environmental Respect Award and the approval and respect of employees and customers.
“Our employees have a good feeling knowing that their efforts make a difference and I take a great deal of pride knowing that my staff does everything it can to be safe,” says Bockenstedt. “My customers can say that CPS really cares about their future.”
According to Bockenstedt, all liquid storage tanks have stainless fittings from the tank to the valve, and all are locked and secure before personnel leave at night. Every mixing and loading area has a concrete pad or curbed area to prevent runoff, and the company participates in the local county recycling program. Employees are trained in emergency management procedures and three employees have been trained as “incident commanders,” which helps the operation make a difference in the response time to an emergency situation.
Environmental stewardship practices have made a difference for Crop Production Services, and Bockenstedt urges more retailer involvement. “I would highly recommend other dealerships participate in this award,” says Bockenstedt. “When you look at your business, sometimes managers and employees become complacent about the small things that make a difference. We all need to do our job to be better stewards of the environment.”
Simplot Grower Solutions, Scottsbluff, NE
“Nothing hits the ground unless we intended it to be placed there” is the corporate motto for Simplot Grower Solutions in Scottsbluff, NE. And it’s the reason the operation took home a state Environmental Respect Award in 2006.
According to Kyle Lewis, SGS office coordinator at Simplot, the company works hard to make this motto a reality in its everyday business activities. “We strive for 100% accuracy for no soil or water contamination,” says Lewis. “Potential hazards are identified to virtually eliminate accidents such as spills, leaks, fire, or exposure.”
This full-service retail facility serves customers with bulk and liquid fertilizer and crop protection products, as well as consulting services, custom ground application, and variable-rate application. The processing and mixing area is under roof and all liquid storage tanks are contained. Employees are involved in many different community organizations including the volunteer fire department and the Agriculture Chamber of Commerce, and the agronomists at Simplot Scottsbluff are currently involved with the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, assisting producers to achieve better sugar quality.
According to Lewis, the rewards of maintaining an environmentally-friendly facility outweigh the costs. “As we all know, at times, environmental stewardship can become costly to a company,” says Lewis. “However, we realize that the upfront costs for awareness and prevention are worth much more than the cost of an environmental clean-up.”
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