Willard Agri-Service of Greenwood, Del., was recently honored as the 2010 National Environmental Respect Award winner during a special ceremony in the U.S. Capitol Building. The award recognizes the environmental stewardship efforts of the best ag retail providers of nutrients, pest control and agronomic information and services critical to effective crop production.
Willard Agri-Service has operations in southeast Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware and is a major service provider around the Chesapeake Bay. Its Greenwood branch won the award based on excellence in site design, in-plant storage and handling procedures, proper application and leadership in safety and stewardship among customers and employees.
Keen awareness of Chesapeake's challenge
Willard Agri-Service has taken many extra steps to ensure minimal environmental impact. That includes sampling and testing storm water before release, installing three-tier containment systems on all bulk chemical storage tanks, and conducting both daily and monthly tank inspections.
"Our challenge is to find ways to lessen agriculture's impact on the environment," says Michael Twining, general manager at Greenwood. "We must promote the positive message of agriculture being a preferred land use over industrialization or urbanization."
The award is co-sponsored by DuPont Crop Protection and CropLife magazine.
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