DENVER (July 20, 1999) — Lykes Bros. Inc., a family owned company, has received the 9th Annual National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Environmental Stewardship Award in their region. Sponsored by Dow AgroSciences, the award recognizes cattle producers across the United States for using innovative practices to enhance the environment.
Located in south-central Florida, Lykes Bros. Inc., Charlie Lykes, executive vice president, and Mike Milicevic, cattle division manager, were honored during the NCBA summer conference in Denver for Region II, which includes: Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.
The roots of the Lykes Bros. Inc. go back more than 100 years to Dr. Howell Tyson Lykes, a physician by training who gave up the practice of medicine to raise cattle and citrus at the family homestead in rural Hernando County, FL. Today, the ranch carries the fifth largest cow-calf herd in the United States and includes 350,000 acres in Highlands and Glades Counties, making it one of the largest landholders in the state. Lykes Agriculture is a wide spectrum agriculture operation utilizing land for sustainable economic production of sugar cane, wildlife management, cow-calf, forestry and citrus.
The topography is relatively flat with elevations ranging from 15 to 75 feet above sea level with slopes averaging 1 to 3 feet per mile, approximately 23% of the ranch considered a wetland. Water management and availability is critical for intensive agriculture and plays a pivotal role in land use decisions regarding the ranch. The ranch is transected by three major water control canals which are part of the Central and South Florida Flood Control Project managed by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). About 128,000 acres (36%) of the ranch are served by these facilities. Beyond the major government-sponsored facilities, Lykes Agriculture maintains and operates several thousand miles of ditches and canals with associated culverts, pumps and water control structures, and over 10,000 acres of water retention reservoirs.
"Lykes Bros. Inc. is an exceptional example of the unique partnership U.S. Cattlemen have with the environment," said NCBA President, George Swan of Rogerson, Idaho. "This is a prime example of U.S. cattlemen working with the rhythms of nature, to increase their bottom line, while improving the earth for future generations."
The operation's management centers on reducing energy consumption, protecting water and wetlands from chemicals and fuels and preserving and enhancing wildlife habitat. The land, water and marshlands of Lykes Bros. Inc. are home to more than two dozen rare or federally protected animals or birds.
"We've found that the health of wildlife is the best indicator of the health of land and water," said Charlie Lykes. If we manage for habitat, we also make land more productive for our cattle. It's a careful balance, but it can be a win-win situation for everybody."
The ESAP award annually recognizes up to seven cattlemen nationally. Members of the selection committee include representatives from the following organization: Environmental Protection Agency, USDA Agriculture Research Service, American Farmland Trust, US Fish & Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy, Texas A&M University, Mississippi Research & Extension Center, Society for Range Management, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Bureau of Land Management, Wildlife Management Institute, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Florida State Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. Several criteria were used in the selection process, including the range of conservation practices that the candidates employ, such as water quality programs, manure management and wildlife habitat development. Candidates’ leadership activities were also important elements in the selection process.
A national winner will be selected from among the seven regional winners and announced during the NCBA Annual Convention in Phoenix, AZ, January 26-29, 2000.