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We're Seeking Nominations For The 2010 No-Till Innovators Award Program

Syngenta Crop Protection and No-Till Farmer are seeking nominations to honor outstanding leaders of the conservation-tillage industry. The No-Till Innovator Awards, now in its 15th year, are open to individuals and groups in the United States and Canada who practice, promote and/or demonstrate commitment to soil conservation, regardless of the crop grown, or brand of equipment, seed or crop protection products used.

Butch Fisher (left) of the Embarras River Management Association receives the Organizations award from Shane Taylor of Syngenta Crop Protection during the 2009 National No-Tillage Conference in Indianapolis, Ind.

“At Syngenta, we feel it’s important to honor the exceptional growers, educators, organizations and others who are devoted to making no-till programs more effective, economical and beneficial for the environment,” says David Piñon, communications manager for Syngenta. “Recognizing the efforts of exceptional innovators by nominating them for an award reinforces the value of this practice.

"It also provides more examples to motivate others to institute no-tillage and other practices beneficial to the environment.”
 
Nominations are open to individuals or groups, and self-nominations are also accepted. The deadline for nominations is Friday, July 16.

The No-Till Innovator Awards recognize excellence in each of the following four categories.
 
Business and Service: A business or service representative who promotes the environmental and economic advantages of no-till or who encourages the adoption of no-till practices. Potential nominees include certified crop consultants, agronomists, professional farm managers and retailers; fertilizer, agrichemical, seed and equipment dealers; or individuals who have designed an innovative modification to existing equipment, created new no-till equipment or developed a new method to improve no-till farming.
 
Crop Production: A grower who has increased the economic viability of no-till on his or her own farm.  Criteria include innovation, creativity, willingness to share findings with others and creating a positive image for no-till farming.
 
Organization: A group that has actively promoted no-till farming through activities, programs, clubs or educational seminars.

Research and Education: A university researcher, educator, center of influence or extension specialist who tests and evaluates no-till concepts, products or equipment, and who promotes the benefits of no-till farming.
 
The 2010 winners will be announced at the National No-Tillage Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, Jan. 12-15, 2011. The National No-Tillage Conference, now entering its 19th year, has provided industry-leading agronomic information, as well as unique discussion and education opportunities.

Throughout its lifespan, the conference has featured several of the best no-till pioneers and trendsetters from North America, making it an ideal place to honor the No-Till Innovators each year.
 
No-Till Innovator Award winners will receive complimentary conference registration and lodging for the duration of the 2011 National No-Tillage Conference, as well as a special token of appreciation to commemorate their achievements.
 
For additional information or to obtain a nomination form, visit the online Nominations Page , call (847) 519-9150, e-mail kklaas@gibbs-soell.com or mail your request to No-Till Innovator Awards, Gibbs & Soell, 2800 W. Higgins Road, Suite 730, Hoffman Estates, IL  60169.
 
Syngenta is one of the world's leading companies with more than 25,000 employees in more than 90 countries dedicated to our purpose: Bringing plant potential to life. Through world-class science, global reach and commitment to our customers, we help to increase crop productivity, protect the environment and improve health and quality of life.  For more information, visit www.syngenta.com.

No-Till Innovator Award Winners

Crop Production…
1997 — John McLarty, London, Ontario
1998 — Ron Jaques, Hutchinson, Kan.
1999 — Steve Groff, Holtwood, Pa.
2000 — Doug Harford, Mazon, Ill.
2001 — Mike Ellis, Worth & Dee Ellis Farm, Eminence, Ky.
2002 — Russ Zenner, Genesee, Idaho
2003 — Mike, Ted, Paul, Tom and Nick Guetterman, Bucyrus, Kan.
2004 — Tom, Jeff and Doug Martin, Mt. Pulaski, Ill.
2005 — Randy Schwartz, Great Bend, Kan.
2006 — John Aeschliman, Colfax, Wash.
2007 — Joe Breker, Havana, N.D.
2008 — Bill Richards, Circleville, Ohio
2009 — Allen Berry, Nauvoo, Ill.
2010 — Rulon Enterprises (Rodney, Ken and Roy Rulon), Arcadia, Ind.

Research & Education…
1997 — John Bradley, University of Tennessee, Milan, Tenn.
1998 — George Kapusta, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Ill.
1999 — Paul Jasa, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb.
2000 — Dwayne Beck, Dakota Lakes Research Farm, Pierre, S.D.
2001 — John Walker, Ricks College, Rexburg, Idaho
2002 — Wayne Reeves, National Soils Lab, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Auburn, Ala.
2003 — Glover Triplett, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Miss.
2004 — Norman Widman, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Columbus, Ohio
2005 — Dan Towery, Conservation Technology Information Center, West Lafayette, Ind.
2006 — Jim Cook, Washington State University, Pullman, Wash.
2007 — Jim Leverich, University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension Service,
Sparta, Wis.
2008 — Bud Davis, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Salina, Kan.
2009 — Randy Raper, National Soil Dynamics Lab, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Auburn, Ala.
2010 — Barry Fisher, Indiana NRCS state agronomist, Indianapolis, Ind.

Business and Service…
1997 — David Swaim, Crawfordsville, Ind.
1998 — Philip Anderson, Southern States Cooperative, Owensboro, Ky.
1999 — Joe Nester, Nester Ag Management, Antwerp, Ohio
2000 — Ed Winkle, Hymark Consulting, Blanchester, Ohio
2001 — David Savage, Farley, Iowa
2002 — Kevin Morrow, Smiths Grove, Ky.
2003 — Brad Mathson, Whitehall Agricultural Services, Whitehall, Wis.
2004 — Dave Moeller, Moeller Ag Service, Keokuk, Iowa
2005 — Guy Swanson, Exactrix Inc., Spokane, Wash.
2006 — Paul Schaffert, Indianola, Neb.
2007 — Karl Kroeck, Knoxville, Pa.
2008 — Don Hoover, Binkley & Hurst, Lititz, Pa.
2009 — Rich Follmer, Progressive Farm Products, Hudson, Ill.
2010 — Dave Nelson, Brokaw Supply Co.

No-Till Organizations…
1998 — Manitoba-North Dakota Zero Tillage Farmer’s Association, Brandon, Manitoba
1999 — Clark County Farm Bureau, Clark County, Ind.
2000 — Conservation Action Project, Defiance, Ohio
2001 — Ohio No-Till Council, Columbus, Ohio
2002 — Coffee County Conservation Tillage Alliance, Coffee County, Ga.
2003 — West Tennessee No-Till Farmers Association, Milan, Tenn.
2004 — Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Association, Pullman, Wash.
2005 — Lower Elkhorn Natural Resource District, Norfolk, Neb.
2006 — Innovative Farmers Association of Port Stanley, Ontario
2007 — Innovative Cropping Systems Team, Quinton, Va.
2008 — Clearwater Direct Seeders, Idaho
2009 — Embarras River Management Association, Toledo, Ill.
2010 — No-Till On The Plains, Salina, Kan.

Equipment Design…
1997 — Howard Martin, Elkton, Ky.
1998 — Ray Rawson, Farwell, Mich.
1999 — Eugene Keeton, Clarksville, Tenn.
2000 — Jon Kinzenbaw, Kinze Manufacturing Co., Williamsburg, Iowa
2001 — Terry Schneider, Shirley, Ill.
2002 — The Reed Family (Paul Reed), Washington, Iowa
2003 — Herb Stam, Hi-Pro Manufacturing Co., Watseka, Ill.

Ag Supplier…

1998 — Jim and Tom Boyd, B & B Farm Service, Fredericktown, Ohio
1999 — Eric Laux, Laux Farm Service, New Madison, Ohio
2000 — Crop Production Services, Morganfield, Ky.
2001 — Miles Farm Supply and Opti-Crop, Owensboro, Ky.
2002 — Roger Strand, Strand of Milan, Inc., Milan, Minn.
2003 — Loudonville Farmers Equity, Loudonville, Ohio

Environmental Stewardship…
1997 — Jim LeCureux, Bad Axe, Mich.

Public Image of Agriculture…
1997 — Marion Calmer, Alpha, Ill.

Education…
1997 — Mike Plummer, Marion, Ill.

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