ATLANTA — Morrison Poultry LLC of Wingo, Ky., was one of five farms across the United States to receive U.S. Poultry & Egg Association’s Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award during the 2023 International Production & Processing Expo in Atlanta, Ga. U.S. USPOULTRY sponsors the annual awards in recognition of exemplary environmental stewardship by family farmers engaged in poultry and egg production.
Applicants were rated in several categories, including manure management, nutrient management planning, community involvement, wildlife enhancement techniques, innovative nutrient management techniques, and participation in education and outreach programs. Applications were reviewed and farm visits conducted by a team of environmental professionals from universities, regulatory agencies and state poultry associations.
Tim and Deena Morrison raise broilers for Tyson Foods. The Morrisons began raising poultry in 1999 with the construction of four broiler houses. In 2004, Morrison Poultry added two additional houses to bring the bird capacity to 123,000 birds per flock. Located on a total of 41 acres, the Morrisons also produce corn and soybeans on a rotational basis using no till farming to prevent soil erosion. They have implemented a phosphorus-based nutrient management plan since 2004. To further mitigate soil erosion, the Morrisons have constructed rock-lined ditches around the houses to collect stormwater and dissipate the erosional force of stormwater runoff.
In 2016, Morrison Poultry installed two 20-kilowatt and one 10-kilowatt solar panel collection systems with a dual-axis GPS tracking system. The electrical power collected from this system is sold back to the grid to provide electric company customers with green power. Based on an Environmental Protection Division Clean Energy Equivalent Calculator, the power produced from the Morrisons solar array since 2016 has offset their carbon footprint by 340 tons.
The Morrisons support their local FFA chapter by educating students on how poultry is cared for and raised. Over the years, Tim and Deena’s daughters have both participated in 4-H programs and have used those opportunities to communicate information pertaining to poultry farming.
Mikell Fries, president of Claxton Poultry Farms and vice chairman for the USPOULTRY Board of Directors, presented the award to Tim and Deena Morrison.
