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Land O'Lakes, Inc. Member-Owner Wins U.S. Dairy Sustainability Award

Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy recognizes on-farm sustainability efforts for fourth consecutive year

Land O'Lakes, Inc. Member-Owner Wins U.S. Dairy Sustainability Award

https://cpdfstage.landolakesinc.com/Press/News/Sustainability-Award

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. (June 29, 2017) — Oakland View Farms, a Land O’Lakes, Inc. dairy memberowner located in Ridgely, Maryland near the Chesapeake Bay, is the winner of the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy’s 2017 Outstanding Achievement in Community Partnership Award announced this week at the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards in Chicago.

Oakland View Farms received recognition for their efforts to reduce nitrate concentrations in the Chesapeake Bay watershed in partnership with the Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy (MRC) by implementing Maryland’s first woodchip bioreactor. Since its installation in 2013, they have reduced nitrate concentrations by 100 percent, which helps prevent water quality issues like algae blooms. “Sustainability in agriculture is about partnering with organizations in our area and contributing to bettering our community. We’ve seen a lot of great results and for us, it helps us stay in business longer,” said Richard Edwards, owner of Oakland View Farms. “We’re excited about the future of ag and are always looking for new technology that’ll help us become better, more sustainable farmers down the road.”

Since this pioneering relationship began in 2010, more relationships between MRC and the agriculture community have been established with six additional woodchip bioreactors installed across the region. “Oakland View Farms’ partnership with Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy to restore and protect the waterways of Maryland’s eastern shore serves as a model for others across the country. Their use of woodchip bioreactor to mitigate nitrogen runoff from manure is both practical and effective,” said Chad Frahm, senior vice president, Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy.

Additionally, Mercer-Vu Farms, a Land O’Lakes dairy member-owner located in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, received an honorable mention for Outstanding Achievement in Resource Stewardship for its complete manure management system. Mercer Vu Farms improved its surrounding air and water quality by eliminating 3,500 tons of greenhouse gas emissions a year (the equivalent of removing 740 cars from the road) and separating 40 percent of the phosphorus out of liquid manure. The system maximizes the value of its manure and increase the economic viability of its operation while better protecting the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

This marks the fourth consecutive year that Land O’Lakes member-owners have been recognized for onfarm sustainability practices.

"As a farmer-owned cooperative, we congratulate all winners, past and present, for their commitment to sustainability,” said Matt Carstens, senior vice president of Land O’Lakes SUSTAIN. “We look forward to working together with member-owners to create innovative solutions on farm.”

Media Contact: Melanie Anderson: 651.375.2094


About Land O'Lakes, Inc.
Land O'Lakes, Inc., one of America's premier agribusiness and food companies, is a member-owned cooperative with industry-leading operations that span the spectrum from agricultural production to consumer foods. With 2016 annual sales of $13 billion, Land O'Lakes is one of the nation's largest cooperatives, ranking 209 on the Fortune 500. Building on a legacy of more than 96 years of operation, Land O'Lakes today operates some of the most respected brands in agribusiness and food production including LAND O LAKES® Dairy Foods, Purina Animal Nutrition, WinField United and Land O’Lakes SUSTAIN. The company does business in all 50 states and more than 60 countries. Land O'Lakes, Inc. corporate headquarters are located in Arden Hills, Minn.



4001 Lexington Avenue North Arden Hills, MN 55126 | Mailing: P.O. Box 64101 St. Paul, MN 55164-0101 | 651.375.2222