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Next Wednesday, Aug. 12, New York's highest environmental honor, the Agricultural Environmental Management Award, will be presented to Tom and Elaine Trinder of Fabius, N.Y. The Trinders and the sponsoring Onondaga County Soil and Water Conservation District will be honored during the Agricultural Leadership Luncheon ceremonies at Empire Farm Days near Seneca Falls, N.Y.

It's the 16th annual AEM award, a program that bolsters public awareness of exceptional farmer efforts in preserving the environment. It's jointly sponsored by N.Y. Department of Ag and Markets, Empire State Potato Growers and American Agriculturist magazine.

New York Ag Commissioner Patrick Hooker says that the Trinder Farm "is an excellent model of employing environmental and resource innovations to build an excellent family farm. We're pleased to honor the Trinders and the Onondaga conservation district."

Farm is an environmental showcase
Since 1978, this family farm has transitioned from a conventional dairy and row crop farm into an all pasture and hay farm with constantly improving soils on the rolling hills above Fabius, N.Y. Today's operation protects all of its 400 acres from soil erosion at the headwaters of the Upper Tioughnioga River with grass waterways, water and sediment control basins and buffer zones.

Trinder Farm was one of the first in the region to practice strip cropping and zone tillage. As the Soil and Water Conservation District's chairperson, Tom continues to be a staunch advocate of the Agricultural Environmental Management program for all farms.

In 2002, they began pasture grazing and in 2006 they quit growing corn to convert every acre to pasture and hay for their 200-plus cows and young stock. "Now, every acre is protected from erosion," affirms Tom Trinder. Hay yields have increased under the farm's nutrient management plan. Another sign of soil health is worms – "lots of them. After 43 years, we now see earthworms everywhere," he adds.

SOLD ON GRASS: Tom and Elaine Trinder and their herdsperson Nancy Wood are sold on high-forage rations and grazing as the most profitable plan for this farm.

The grazing program, teamed with newspaper freestall bedding, resulted in clean cows and 14 straight years of Dairylea Cooperative "Gold" awards for superior milk quality. The Trinders credit herdsperson Nancy Wood for the farm's rolling herd average of close to 19,000 pounds per cow, with no extra purchased protein. This summer, Wood's efforts enabled the farm to become a certified organic dairy.

Despite low milk prices, the Trinders remain optimistic about the business that being good stewards of the land helped build. Now, they're even considering buying back their Conservation Reserve Program contract to reclaim the set-aside land for a higher and more productive use – grazing.

Three other farms recognized
Three other New York farms will be recognized as finalists in this year's awards competition at Wednesday's Leadership Luncheon. They include: