In this month's issue, we salute the Mid America CropLife Association's 2004 Water Guardian retailers. This annual program recognizes what I call the “real” environmentalists in our country — those who have the responsibility of being land and water stewards on an everyday basis for millions of acres where crops are grown to feed the world.

This year's winners are again committed to preventing pollution and working with other organizations to recommend prudent use of fertilizers and pesticides. Whether it's reducing the level of atrazine in a watershed, protecting the land by encouraging use of minimum tillage, filter strips and other conservation programs, or building new facilities with all the proper containment features, retailers today continue to realize the importance of environmental stewardship. One retailer even has a full-time person on staff whose responsibility is to keep the company up to date on environmental issues and legislation.

I've spent a lot of time in recent years talking with retailers about being proud of their profession and being advocates for agriculture and the environment. The winners profiled in Apply this month represent the best of the best in knowing and understanding what being an environmental steward really means.

As Rod Wells of Lincoln Land FS, Jacksonville, IL, put it so well when talking about stewardship efforts and Lake Springfield: “Simply put, it was the right thing to do.”

Simply put, congratulations to all our Water Guardian winners this year!

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© 2007 Penton Media, Inc.