DENVER (July 20, 1999) — Rhea Cattle Company, owned by Bill and Kathy Rhea of Arlington, Nebraska 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 Eastern Nebraska, the Rhea’s were honored during the NCBA summer conference in Denver for Region VII, which includes Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota and South Dakota.
Rhea Cattle Company is a two-enterprise operation, which involves both cattle feeding and farming. The business, which includes a 6,000 head one-time capacity feedlot, and 4,000 acres of farmland has been in the family for 128 years. Today, Bill and Kathy and their children, Bill III, J.P., David and daughter Lori are all involved with the business.
The Rheas were recognized, in-part for their effective management of waste from the feedlot. The cattle pens are designed in a running "W" mound fashion, which allows them to shed water and dry more quickly. All drainage is collected in retention ponds and is cycled through a series of settling ponds before being distributed onto cropland through a low-pressure center-pivot irrigation system.
"The Rhea Cattle Company is an exceptional example of the unique partnership U.S. Cattlemen have with the environment," said NCBA President, Georeg 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."
Minimum tillage practices are used on the cropland to reduce erosion as well as reduce the time and fuel needed to farm 4,000 acres. All cropland has been completely terraced over the last 20 years through a cost sharing agreement with the Papio-Missouri NRD in an effort that has virtually eliminated soil erosion.
"For an operation to remain viable in the coming millennium producers must evaluate management practices in relation to the longevity of the operation," said Rhea. "A properly managed beef operation must also be sustainable, with each output being managed as a resource, not a waste or by-product."
The ESAP award annually recognizes up to seven cattlemen nationally. Members of the selection committee include representatives from the following organizations: 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.