HARRINGTON, DELAWARE (1/17/2015) A Kent County poultry farmer was honored Friday for her efforts to improve water quality and reduce manure runoff.
Georgie Cartanza of Little Creek received the 2014 Delaware Environmental Stewardship Award from the state Department of Agriculture. She raises roasters for Perdue Farms and has grown chickens since 2005. Her farm has a capacity of 156,000 birds per flock., according to the department.
To reduce pollution, Cartanza’s farm places manure in a shed immediately after clean-outs, minimizes manure spillage and directs all stormwater from the production area into a retention pond for treatment. She is certified as a private nutrient handler by the Delaware Nutrient Management Program.
“Georgie Cartanza is playing a leading role on the ground in protecting water quality and being a good environmental steward, like many of her fellow farmers,” Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee, said. “Their hard work is paying off, with indications of progress in improving Delaware’s water, and we are grateful for their leadership.”
Runners-up were:
• Robert and Lisa Masten of Milford, growers for Allen Harim, with a capacity of 80,000 broilers. They have planted grassed waterways to treat stormwater in the production area, plant cover crops to assist with nutrient uptake, and have located the chicken houses to reduce odors.
• William W. Clifton of Millsboro, a grower for Mountaire Farms, with a capacity of 51,400 roasters. He uses a manure shed to keep manure under cover before it is applied on fields, has a tree buffer to help with odor control and uses large heavy-use pads to help with cleaning up spilled manure.
• Chris and Cindy Long of Wyoming, growers for Amick Farms, with a capacity of 100,000 roasters. They have large heavy-use pads to help with manure handling, use grassed waterways between houses to treat runoff, and participate in a Natural Resources Conservation Service program to reduce ammonia emissions.
The awards were presented Friday during Delaware Ag Week, held at the state fairgrounds in Harrington. Cartanza will receive $1,000, a plaque and a sign for her farm. The runners-up will receive $500, plaques and signs.
Past recipients of the Environmental Stewardship Award include Connie Carmean of Laurel (2013); Marilyn and Lee Ellers, Sparrow’s Song Farm, Houston (2012); Douglas and Deborah Vanderwende, Locust Grove Farm, Greenwood (2011); Frank Robinson and family, Dead Broke Farm, Harrington (2010); Mary Bryan, Laurel (2009); Joe Bauer, Harrington (2008); Scott Peterman, Milford (2007); and Guy and Nancy Phillips, Georgetown (2006).
The awards are supported by Allen Harim Foods, Amick Farms, Mountaire Farms and Perdue Farms.
