Saginaw Bay Agricultural Conservation Newcomer Award Nomination

Conservation Newcomer Award

Conservation Newcomer Award

Please note, information submitted will be used for award/event purposes only and will not be shared. You may nominate yourself or someone else. If you would like to make more than one nomination, please complete each nomination separately. All nominations must be received by January 10, 2018. For questions or assistance, please contact Ben Wickerham at 517-316-2286.

·Intent: To show appreciation for farmers who are new to conservation and to help build trust and deepen relationships with area farmers. Ideally, by recognizing this farm operation with the Conservation Newcomer Award, we would encourage other historically non-participating farmers to consider implementing conservation practices for the first time.

·Possible Recipients: Saginaw Bay Area farmers (row crop and vegetable farmers)

·Guidelines: Farmer must be farming land within the Saginaw Bay Watershed. Conservation can be either voluntary implementation or funded via a conservation program. Conservation practice first implemented in 2016 or 2017.

·Description: The Conservation Newcomer Award is intended to recognize an established cash crop or vegetable operation that hasn’t historically implemented conservation practices widely across the farm. An appropriate awardee would most likely not yet be Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP)-verified and would be implementing an important nutrient management practice or in-field management practice for the very first time. Well qualified candidates would be farming more than 500 acres, would report a positive experience with the new practice and would likely have the potential to be “influential” within the agricultural community.

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* 1. Tell us about who you would like to nominate!

Farmer Name

Operation Name

Farm HQ Address

Address 2

City/Town

State/Province

ZIP/Postal Code

Approximate Farm Size (total acres)

Email Address

Phone Number

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* 2. What type of Conservation practices do they use and on how many acres?

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* 3. Tell us about yourself:

Name

Affiliation

Address

Address 2

City/Town

State/Province

ZIP/Postal Code

Email Address

Phone Number

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* 4. Please describe the farm/farm operation itself. Consider the following questions: Type of operation? Crop rotation? Local watershed?

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* 5. Please provide a brief testimonial about why you think this farmer should receive the Conservation Newcomer Award. Consider the following questions: Is this farmer, farm, and/or specific project unique in some way? What makes this project a compelling or interesting story to highlight?

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* 6. Please describe the challenges (if any) that the farmer needed to overcome to implement this practice. Consider the following questions: Did the farmer need to develop a conservation plan? Did they need to alter or purchase new equipment? Did they need to consult with experts or other farmers to implement the practice correctly or troubleshoot any problems?

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* 7. How is this project being funded? If the farmer is participating in a cost share program please indicate which program if known.

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* 8. Have you notified this farmer that you are nominating them for an award (not required)?

Yes

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* 9. If your nomination leads to an award for this farmer, we would like you both to attend the March 1st Awards Dinner. Are you available?

Yes

Not sure