The Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program has named Klaas and Mary-Howell Martens as the winners of the 2008 Patrick Madden Award. This award honors a farmer or a farm couple who exemplify the effective use of sustainable farming techniques. Named for the founding director of the SARE program, the award recognizes innovation, leadership, and good stewardship. The Madden award was formally presented at the 2008 SARE national conference in Kansas City, March 25 to 27.

Soil stewardship: The Martenses have been farming organically in the Finger Lakes region of New York since 1991 and currently manage over 1400 acres of organic cropland. While corn, soybeans, dry beans, and processing vegetables are their primary cash crops, they also grow small grains such as barley, spelt, wheat, buckwheat, and oats, which provide a diversified rotation to maintain soil health and manage weeds. Working with NRCS personnel, they have put in place an Agricultural Environmental Management plan that uses strip cropping, tile drainage, waterways, and diversion ditches to help control erosion and improve water quality.

"Soil quality and soil health are the most important factors in successful organic farming," says Klaas. "Our key agronomic practices focus on improving soil health, which then makes for healthier crops and more successful weed control."

Organic feed expansion: In 1996 they started an organic feed business, and by 2001 this enterprise had grown sufficiently to justify purchasing a vacant local feed mill. This operation, Lakeview Organic Grain, now employs seven full-time employees and two truck drivers and supplies feed to over 300 organic livestock farmers in New York and Pennsylvania. It also distributes seeds and supplies to farmers throughout the Northeast. The mill has become a key component of the area's agricultural infrastructure, and the Martenses place a high priority on purchasing New York grain to sell to New York livestock farmers.

"We feel it is very important that all New York organic farmers benefit from the prosperity that these new opportunities have brought," says Mary-Howell. "At Lakeview, we try to provide the information, products, and support necessary to help New York organic farmers be successful."

While the mill's economic effect has been significant, Klaas and Mary-Howell are most often praised for their support for transitioning farmers, for their generosity with their time and expertise, for their focus on community prosperity, and for their coupling of sustainable agriculture with rural development. They are founding members of New York Certified Organic, an educational and networking group of organic farmers, and Klaas and Mary-Howell frequently speak at sustainable agriculture conferences throughout the United States and Canada.

The Martens farm was named one of eleven focal farms for the Northeast Organic Network (NEON) project. Through this effort, the agronomics and economics of their farm were studied intensively for two years and will be incorporated into a case study. Klaas and Mary-Howell have also used Northeast SARE Farmer Grants for farm-based research on growing kiwi, tracking soil nutrient levels, and testing the use of pelleted starter composts.

Wider industry support: Since 1997, Mary-Howell has been a freelance writer for Acres USA and the Rodale Institute's New Farm magazine, writing articles on organic crop improvement, biotechnology and sustainability. In 2000, Mary-Howell was appointed to the USDA Advisory Committee on Agricultural Biotechnology; in 2007, she testified before the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture. She currently serves on the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Science Dean's Advisory Committee, and on the newly formed New York Agriculture and Markets Organic Agriculture Advisory Committee. She also is a member of her county Farm Bureau Board of Directors. Klaas has participated in the Scientific Congress of Organic Agricultural Research, and now reviews grant proposals for Northeast SARE. He consults on several farms and on Cornell University research programs, and serves as a county Soil and Water Conservation District director.

Northeast SARE offers grants to farmers, researchers, educators, and others in the agricultural community for projects that advance healthy farms, profitability, good stewardship, and strong rural communities. The program serves Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia. The web site is at www.uvm.edu/~nesare.
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