Willard Agri-Service Honored With National Environmental Respect Award
July 27, 2010 Willard Agri-Service of Greenwood, DE was named the National Environmental Respect Award winner for 2010 Thursday, July 22 at a special ceremony in the U.S. Capitol Building. Winners were selected May 6 in Willoughby, OH.
The Environmental Respect Awards, sponsored by CropLife® magazine and DuPont Crop Protection, are the agricultural industry’s highest recognition for environmental stewardship among U.S. agricultural retailers, those who serve farmers and ranchers with the nutrients, pest control and agronomic information and services critical to effective crop production. Each year a panel of industry experts gathers to recognize achievement in environmental stewardship, professional excellence, and community involvement.
Willard Agri-Service won the award based on excellence in site design, in-plant storage and handling procedures, proper application and leadership in safety and stewardship among customers and employees. Willard Agri-Service has taken many extra steps to ensure the environmental impact of their business is minimal. Some steps include, sampling and testing storm water before release, installing three-tier containment systems on all bulk chemical storage tanks, and conducting both daily and monthly tank inspections.
“Our challenge is to find ways to lessen agriculture’s impact on the environment,” says Michael Twining, general manager at Willard Agri-Service. Twining continued, “We must promote the positive message of agriculture being a preferred land use over industrialization or urbanization.”
The company received a personalized, Environmental Respect Award crystal sculpture at the ceremony and participated in a stewardship forum, hearing speakers from the World Wildlife Fund, the Center for Global Food Issues, CropLife International, The Fertilizer Institute, the Ag Retailers Association and Croplife America. Representatives from Willard will also have the opportunity to visit an Environmental Respect Award winning business in another country on an ag tour next year.
“DuPont is pleased to congratulate the winners of the 2010 Environmental Respect Awards and applauds their accomplishment in environmental stewardship,” says Jim Collins, president, DuPont Crop Protection. “These leaders are helping to advance environmental safety and the safe use of agricultural products, and we hope they will inspire others who share our passion and desire to elevate environmental stewardship around the world.”
“It’s through the conscientious efforts of these ag business and the crop producers they serve that this nation is assured of a safe and bountiful food supply,” says Paul Schrimpf, group editor of CropLife magazine. “We’re delighted to be able to gain them some recognition for their environmentalism.”
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