U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) is releasing a seventh video in a series highlighting environmental stewardship on poultry and egg farms. The video features one of USPOULTRY’s Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award winners, Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch in Saranac, Mich., the largest egg producer in Michigan.
The Herbruck family has produced and supplied farm-fresh eggs to major retailers and food service outlets for decades. The USPOULTRY Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award recognizes the fourth-generation, family-owned farm for its exemplary dedication towards environmental stewardship, attributable to the farm's environmental management techniques, including those unique to the Herbruck family's operations.
This video highlights just a few of the practices Herbruck's uses to ensure a responsible environmental footprint, including developing a technology that processes hen litter into organic fertilizer onsite. This process drastically reduces odors and provides a nutrient-rich fertilizer for local farmers. Herbruck's also uses energy efficient equipment and methods at all facilities to reduce energy uses. To ensure the farm is a good neighbor and strong steward of the air, land and water, Herbruck's strives to maintain strong partnerships with local and state officials and first responders.
"Environmental responsibility is a core value of Herbruck's Poultry Ranch and stands at the heart of our business. This means that we take our environmental footprint very seriously and make the approach to have the ‘lightest’ footprint we can as we go about our operations. From litter management to water conservation and beyond, many aspects of what we do are leading the poultry industry," said Greg Herbruck, president of Herbruck's Poultry Ranch.
“USPOULTRY and our members know the importance of exemplary environmental stewardship. We are pleased to be able to provide this video series highlighting the environmental efforts of our family farmers,” commented Tom Hensley, Fieldale Farms, and USPOULTRY chairman.
Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch was recognized for exemplary environmental stewardship by family farms engaged in poultry and egg production. Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award winners are rated in several categories, including dry litter or liquid manure management, nutrient management planning, community involvement, wildlife enhancement techniques, innovative nutrient management techniques and participation in education or outreach programs.
The video can be viewed on USPOULTRY’s YouTube channel.