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As concern grows in our communities regarding water quality, there are farmers utilizing conservation
practices that are making a difference. The practices they have implemented, often voluntarily, are
protecting waterways and water quality in Indiana and beyond. Alan Weyer and JBM Lammers in
Dubois County are farmers who have used this practice and each is one of the 47 farmers who received the statewide award of River-Friendly Farmer at the Indiana State Fair on Farmers’ Day, August 14, 2019.
This award, hosted by the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (IASWCD),
recognizes landowners and farmers in the state of Indiana for the work they do on their land to protect
Indiana’s natural resources. Weyer and Lammers were nominated by the local Dubois County soil and
Water Conservation District.

JBM Lammers has no-till history. Jim Lammers was one of the very first farmers in Dubois County to
use a no-till planter to plant corn in a hay field in the 1970’s. The family is still no-tilling today ad using
cover crops, grassed waterways, filter strips, rotational grazing, and rock chutes. Located in the Patoka
Watershed, they use cover crops to keep the soil in place and provide baleage for their cattle. No-till
has reduced their labor input; as well as, saved them top soil, especially in the steep areas they farm.
Bryan Lammers stated, “When I was a kid and everything was tilled, the mud in the ditches was
terrible. Using cover crops and no-till, they are now much cleaner.”

Alan Weyer’s farm is involved in the production of corn, soybeans, beef cattle and hay. He has
implemented the use of water and sediment control basins, waterways, cover crops, no-till, grid soil
sampling, variable rate fertilizer application, and crop rotation. Everything on the farm has improved
including soil tilth, crop quality, amount of soil loss through erosion, nutrient runoff, amount of
manufactured fertilizers applied, and increased wildlife population. The amount of nutrient and
sediment leaving the fields in the water has been greatly reduced. The water leaving the farm looks
clearer, nearly drinkable. He uses rotational grazing, HUAPs (heavy use area protection), and watering
and manure storage facilities. The livestock have been fenced out of the ponds and most of the
woodland on the property. Weyer is a former SWCD supervisor and chairman, current SWCD associate
supervisor, honorary member of the local FFA Chapter, and former IASWCD regional director.

Indiana Lieutenant Governor, Suzanne Crouch, and President of Indiana Farm Bureau, Randy Kron,
presented each recipient with an award certificate and ribbon. Amie Simpson, Brownfield Ag News,
emceed the ceremony with Jerry Raynor, Indiana State Conservationist, Natural Resources
Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) and IASWCD President, Roger Wenning making brief remarks.

The River Friendly Farmer Award has been presented by the IASWCD and sponsored by the 92 local Soil
and Water Conservation Districts and Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc. since 2000. This year’s group of award
winners brings the total number of River Friendly Farmers in Indiana since the awards beginning to
1,008

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