Indy Family Farms Achieves Certification, Urbandale, IA, August 11, 2010
Indy Family Farms was awarded Environmental Certification by Validus Ventures, LLC for their commitment to environmental cropland stewardship. The award, presented in St. Louis on July 19th, recognizes a farmer’s commitment to caring for the land and implementing exceptional conservation practices while producing crops.
Earl Dotson presents to Eric Richards and Rob Richards of Indy Family Farms
“In today’s world it is simply not enough to say you are taking care of the land you farm and that you believe in good environmental production practices,” said Earl Dotson, Validus CEO. “Consumers want proof. The annual certification program proves their commitment to protect the environment,” he continued.
Environmentally Certified by Validus Ventures, LLC.
The Environmental Certification program focuses on five key areas: water quality, soil quality, plants, wildlife and energy use. “This program is very proactive and detailed,” said Dennis Pate, Validus Director of Planning. “We audit everything from record keeping and documentation to on-site observations and review.” The audit involves maintaining or improving soil productivity and water quality, improving wildlife habitats, controlling noxious weeds, reducing energy inputs, restricting access to fuel, pesticides and fertilizer storage, improving energy conservation and improving security of stored grain.
“Participating in an objective, third-party certification program allows us to prove we are implementing production practices that protect the environment and preserve the land,” stated Eric Richards, Indy Family Farms. “One of our family’s goals is to leave a legacy for future generations, and this certification demonstrates our commitment to that legacy,” he said.
Our Commitment to Environmental Stewardship
Indy Family Farms is committed to maintaining strong conservation practices which improve wildlife habitat, water quality, and land fertility.
We recognize and embrace our responsibility to this and future generations as we interact with and care for your land, water and wildlife. Environmental stewardship includes, for us, not only protecting and caring for the resources we now have, but also improving them, leaving them in better condition than when we began farming.
We have a personal stake in properly taking care of your land, water and wildlife. We live on this land. We drink the water. And we take pride in producing a high-quality safe crop which helps feed the world.
Because of our commitment to protecting and enhancing vital resources for future generations, we participate in an environmental audit each year. That audit examines soil quality, water quality, and our wildlife and conservation practices. Audit findings help us to focus our efforts on identification and application of those conservation practices which will enhance our stewardship and improve the quality of the legacy we leave for generations to come.
Our purpose is to create an efficient and profitable business that will help fuel and feed the world. We are striving to grow our business so that we can continue to add family members and/or partners who share our beliefs.
Landowners are a top priority for Indy Family Farms. We believe it is a privilege to care for their land as if it were our own. Indy Family Farms strives to maintain a prosperous relationship that benefits our landowners by providing a fair return for their assets.
Indy Family Farms is one of three farms in Indiana that has complied with the environmental assessment audit.
The audit consists of an on-site review of:
- Best management practices as they relate to soil and water quality,
- Our environmental records,
- Our security practices such as fuel, fertilizer and chemical storage,
- Our wildlife plan.
