Georgia Cattleman Recognized for Environmental Excellence

    RENO, August 1, 1997 -- What has 1,200 legs, rotating
pastures and is "green" all over? The answer is Honeywood
Farm of Barnesville, Georgia, which was recently awarded the
National Cattlemen's Beef Association's regional
Environmental Stewardship Award for using innovative
practices to protect and enhance natural resources while
increasing the profits of their business.  The program
is sponsored by Park Avenue by Buick.

     With its 300 head of cattle, rotational grazing
practices and success in showing profits while safeguarding
natural resources such as land and water, Honeywood Farms
has emerged the clear winner of its region.

     Owned by Ed Mitchell and managed by Clay Allen,
Honeywood Farms was selected from the National Cattlemen's
Beef Association's Region 2, consisting of Georgia,
Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Tennessee, North
Carolina and South Carolina.

     "An award based on superior stewardship practices
demonstrates that a healthy environment, such as cleaner
water and thriving fauna and flora, go hand in hand with a
prosperous ranching business," says NCBA President Max Deets
of Beloit, Kansas. "Our industry depends greatly on the
health of the environment, and by recognizing that their own
economic gains are connected to environmental conservation,
Ed and Clay ensure that Honeywood will continue to flourish
environmentally and financially for a long, long time."

     With several ponds and streams on the property,
protecting water resources is an important priority for
Honeywood Farms. In order to preserve streambanks, eroded
riparian areas are revegetated and there is rotational
cattle grazing in riparian zones. These practices have been
successful in improving the health of streambanks and
stabilizing critical areas because grazed areas are rested
before cattle move back again. According to the USDA's
Natural Resources Conservation Service, which has worked
with Honeywood on its rotation plan, these practices
demonstrate a "prudent use" of natural resources by showing
that areas such as creeks could be used for grazing without
harming the land.

     Another important result of their rotational grazing
practices is that Honeywood's profits have increased as a
result of more cows being able to graze within the same
area. In addition, less continuous grazing has decreased the
need for fertilizers, and has resulted in improved pasture
quality and cattle disposition. "These practices over the
past four years have improved the quality of the farm and
made my job easier," says Clay.

     Wildlife and merchantable timber also reside on the 400
acres that are managed for timber production and wildlife
habitat, including wetland areas that are maintained in a
natural state.

     Honeywood Farms was selected by a committee of
representatives of the Environmental Protection Agency,
USDA's Soil Conservation Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, The Nature Conservancy, American Farmland Trust,
American Sportsfishing Association, Texas Tech University,
South Utah University and NCBA.

     The winners will compete against other regional winners
for a national award, that will be announced during NCBA's
1998 Annual Convention in Denver in February courtesy of
Park Avenue by Buick.

     Initiated in 1898, the National Cattlemen's Beef
Association is the marketing organization and trade
association for America's one million cattle farmers and
ranchers.  With offices in Denver, Chicago and Washington,
DC, NCBA is a consumer-focused, producer-directed
organization representing the largest segment of the
nation's food and fiber industry.

                             ###


                      Facts at a Glance
           Honeywood Farm of Barnesville, Georgia
                         Ed Mitchell
                             
* Honeywood Farm is located in the Piedmont area of Lamar
  County, and is owned by Ed Mitchell. Mitchell and his
  manager, Clay Allen, have been running the 300-head cow/calf
  operation and 100-head winter stocker operation of farm-
  raised calves together since 1991.

* As the third owner of the farm since it began in the
  late 1950's, Mitchell and Allen decided to aggressively
  revise and update the farm's conservation plan. As part of
  the new plan, some ponds were renovated and dams were
  cleaned off, reshaped and revegetated.

* Rotational grazing was started as one of the primary
  management practices. This system allows for intense, but
  more manageable short duration grazing to maximize forage
  production, and Clay has noticed that the grass responds
  better to stress such as drought and closer grazing during
  adverse weather. Less continuous grazing has allowed pasture
  quality to improve with the use of less fertilizers.

* Honeywood's stewardship program allows Ed and Clay to
  stock more cattle on the same number of acres, feed less
  hay, and prevent overgrazing and depletion of forages. In
  addition, farm profits have increased.

* Honeywood has hosted several on-farm field days and
  programs with the Lamar County Soil and Water Conservation
  District that promote environmental stewardship with over
  100 participants.  Honeywood was named the Lamar Soil and
  Water Conservation District 1997 Conservationist of the
  Year.

* Approximately 400 acres are managed for timber
  production and wildlife habitat. Wetland areas are
  maintained in a natural state, and a beaver pond provides
  excellent duck habitat.

* Clay has worked successfully with the USDA Natural
  Resources Conservation Service to show that sensitive areas
  like creeks could still be used for grazing without damage
  from cattle.