Oregon Dairy was honored with the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Award from the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy earlier this spring for its efforts to protect the environment. The award was presented in May during a ceremony in Washington, DC.
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding recognized the Hurst family’s achievements during Oregon Dairy Family Farm Days, an annual event hosted by the family during June Dairy Month, at its store in Lititz, Pennsylvania.
George Hurst, his daughter and son-in-law Maria and Tim Forry, and his son Chad Hurst own and operate Oregon Dairy Farm, a 500-cow and 900-acre dairy farm. The family was recognized for its commitment to animal care, environmental stewardship, community involvement and dairy sustainability.
Their commitment to protect the environment began 20 years ago following a visit to the Chesapeake Bay where they saw the impact of poor water quality on fishing. Today, the family practices no-till farming to improve soil conditions and reduce sediment runoff into creeks and streams. They’ve also planted native trees and perennials near the stream to reduce runoff and provide a habitat for pollinators. The trees and perennials also cool the water for aquatic life. In addition, they compost food waste along with cow manure to produce a rich source of nutrients sold to gardeners, run solar panels on the grocery store’s roof to provide 10 percent of the store’s electricity needs, and an anaerobic digester that helps them capture methane gas from manure to make electricity and heat for hot water.
Oregon Dairy shares its story of environmental stewardship at its Family Farm Days events, which welcome more than 15,000 visitors a year to the farm.
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding recognized the Hurst family’s achievements during Oregon Dairy Family Farm Days, an annual event hosted by the family during June Dairy Month, at its store in Lititz, Pennsylvania.
George Hurst, his daughter and son-in-law Maria and Tim Forry, and his son Chad Hurst own and operate Oregon Dairy Farm, a 500-cow and 900-acre dairy farm. The family was recognized for its commitment to animal care, environmental stewardship, community involvement and dairy sustainability.
Their commitment to protect the environment began 20 years ago following a visit to the Chesapeake Bay where they saw the impact of poor water quality on fishing. Today, the family practices no-till farming to improve soil conditions and reduce sediment runoff into creeks and streams. They’ve also planted native trees and perennials near the stream to reduce runoff and provide a habitat for pollinators. The trees and perennials also cool the water for aquatic life. In addition, they compost food waste along with cow manure to produce a rich source of nutrients sold to gardeners, run solar panels on the grocery store’s roof to provide 10 percent of the store’s electricity needs, and an anaerobic digester that helps them capture methane gas from manure to make electricity and heat for hot water.
Oregon Dairy shares its story of environmental stewardship at its Family Farm Days events, which welcome more than 15,000 visitors a year to the farm.
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