"Pig Farmer Award" goes to three European pig farmers

The DLG (Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft – German Agricultural Society) and the European Pig Producers Club (EPP) have presented the Pig Farmer Award to three outstanding European pig farmers at EuroTier 2008. EPP President Per Bach Laursen from Logstor (Denmark) presented the Certificates at the European Pig Event on 10 November 2008. The prize-winners are Angelique and Kristof Verschelde from Nevele (Belgium), Jörg Stegemann from Münster-Nienberge (Germany) and Henry and Nelly van Asten from Van Asten Tierzucht Nordhausen GmbH & Co. KG in Nordhausen (Germany). The prizes are each worth EURO 2,000.

Angelique and Kristof Verschelde won the award for their consistent and exemplary further development of their sow farm. With extensive measures to improve animal health and animal welfare they laid the foundation for a commercially viable operation that is optimally equipped to satisfy future market requirements.

Jörg Stegemann won the award for his innovative overall system for recycling pig slurry through sustainable slurry management in conjunction with a low-emission pig housing technique. The pig fattener from Nienberge separates pig slurry with his system and dries the solids in a drying facility before compressing them to form pellets that are subsequently fired in a gasification hot gas generator.

Henry van Asten from Van Asten Tierzucht Nordhausen GmbH & Co. KG receives the award for his good antenna for approaching changes in the market. With his entrepreneurial skills he has continuously developed his business in recent years at a high performance level and adapted it to new requirements. For example in the recent past he invested heavily in environmental technology in order to boost productivity further and at the same time promote dialogue with the regional population.

An independent jury made up of consultants and practical farmers analysed the farms and businesses proposed on the basis of economic and production-specific aspects. They visited the farms and businesses and examined the operative features. In their analyses they also considered the developments behind the farm and its manager, especially how perspectives and visions were presented and made visible through the farm.