Nieman Named Conservation Farmer of 2008

Jan 10, 2009      Greensburg Daily News

Elizabeth Bailey

Jan. 10, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- A process that began with a recommendation from the Decatur County Soil and Water Conservation District Board will culminate in a state honor next week for Decatur County farmer Larry Nieman.

Nieman will be one of five Indiana farmers to receive the title of 2008 Conservation Farmer of the Year, an award given by the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

"I'm pleased to be chosen," he said.

The motivation for Nieman's farming practices has never been the chance for public accolades. He credits Darrell Nicholson, district conservationist with NRCS, with whom he spent time to develop conservation practices.

"Without his office, I couldn't have done it," he said.

He is also grateful for the work of the Soil and Water board in serving as a resource for the conservation of soil and water, including educational initiatives to foster respect for natural resources beginning at a young age.

Conservation in farming includes no-till practices for erosion control, creation and maintenance of waterways to control sediment and comprehensive nutrient management that insures the ground is getting what it needs and not so much that chemicals enter the water table, Nieman explained. It promotes longevity of agricultural land, enabling it to be used for crops long into the future.

For Nieman, these practices are not undertaken in competition with others but rather out of care for the natural resources of the land. He is certain many other farmers are also participating in beneficial practices.

"This was just my year," he said.

He served on the Soil and Water Conservation District board for nine years, he noted, and it was this relationship that informed the local district of the work he has been doing.

From childhood, Nieman wanted to farm, his wife Sandy noted. She said many of the changes in his practice of farming have been small and gradual, but a constant focus on being a good steward of the land in conjunction with a desire to do the best job he can while doing what he loves has enabled him to achieve the state distinction.

Nieman is a South Decatur High School graduate who was a member of the FFA under retired agriculture teacher Reuben Kissel. The lessons he learned at South have stuck with him through his years as a Decatur County farmer, Sandy Nieman noted.

In addition to taking care of the land he farms, Nieman is pleased that his family shares his love of agriculture. His son, Greg Nieman, is a 2000 graduate of Greensburg Community High School who attended Purdue University to study agronomy and now sells Federal crop insurance through John Deere's Farm Risk Management Services. His youngest son, Curtis Nieman, will be graduating from Greensburg this spring with intentions of attending Purdue University and the possibility of studying something related to agribusiness. His son-in-law Ben Bedel is also involved in agriculture in Decatur County.

"This is the work I like to do," Nieman said, "and it's nice to share that."

He will be attending the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts conference and accepting his award next week with his wife and parents.

From there, he will continue to do what he can to keep the soil and water of his farm healthy long into the future.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0371-30968943

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