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NEWS RELEASE
FOR
RELEASE April
4, 2000
CONTACT:
Karen Scanlon (765) 494-9555
CONSERVATION
TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION CENTER TO RELEASE CORE
4 CONSERVATION REPORT CARD AT EARTH DAY 2000
WEST
LAFAYETTE, Ind.
– Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) today announced
plans to release a report on U.S. agriculture’s progress toward the
Core 4 Conservation goals of Better Soil, Cleaner Water, Greater Profits
and Brighter Future. CTIC Chairman, Bruno Alesii, will present the
report April 13 during a national celebration of environmental
stewardship in American agriculture in the week before Earth Day.
“The
Core 4 Conservation report card shows the ag community’s commitment to
balancing environmental protection with economic needs,” said Alesii,
“It also shows there is much more to do. In many cases the technology
exists, but the cost or understanding of how to use this technology is
seen as an increased risk.”
The
report card provides a progress report on Core 4 Conservation, a
CTIC-directed initiative that helps farmers increase profits while
protecting natural resources. Following the principles of Core 4
Conservation, producers implement an integrated management system of
land treatment practices that will better manage inputs, filter polluted
runoff, improve soil quality and protect water quality. The practices, such as conservation tillage, crop nutrient
management, pest management, conservation buffers and others, are
combined appropriately to match local conditions, individual farm size,
management capabilities and financial conditions of the producer.
Scientists
estimate that the use of this approach can reduce polluted runoff from
cropland by as much as 80 percent.
For example, no-till reduces soil erosion by 90 percent when
compared to an intensive tillage system. And, conservation buffers
remove 50 percent or more of nutrients and pesticides and 75 percent or
more of soil in runoff.
“Earth
Day is perfect timing for release of the Core 4 Conservation report
card,” Alesii said. “By adopting the principals of Core 4
Conservation into their management plans, America’s farmers will help
protect our resources while generating profits and sustaining their
farms for future generations.”
CTIC,
as a member of the Ag-Earth Partnership, will participate in Earth Day
activities on the National Mall, April 13-14 and on April 22. Together
with more than 70 agricultural organizations and agencies, CTIC will
exhibit on the Mall with interactive displays and hands-on learning
opportunities.
“CTIC
is very excited to
join other members of the Partnership in sharing environmental success
stories with the public, lawmakers and school children during the
celebration of Earth Day 2000,” said John
Hassell, CTIC executive director.
April
13 and 14 events sponsored by the Ag-Earth Partnership include:
·
A VIP speaker’s program on April 13, during which CTIC will
release the Core 4 Conservation report card and the Ag-Earth Partnership
will honor a Millennium Farmer/Rancher or Farm/Ranch Family that
illustrates agriculture's exciting story of environmental progress.
·
A live satellite uplink from the Mall on April 14 (12:30 p.m. to
2:30 p.m. - KU Band Uplink
SBS6-09K Frequency 14221 Vertical).
·
A live webcast on April 14, at www.ecoteam.com,
which will highlight the agricultural exhibits on the National Mall.
More
information about the Ag-Earth Partnership and Earth Day events is
available on the Partnership’s website at: www.nasda-hq.org/nasda/earth/index.html.
For more information about CTIC, and Core 4 Conservation, go to www.ctic.purdue.edu
or www.core4.org. CTIC is a
national, nonprofit public-private partnership working to promote soil
and water quality and equip agriculture with realistic, affordable and
integrated management solutions.
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