PRINCETON, KY - For more than a decade, the American Soybean Association (ASA) has been recognizing U.S. soybean producers' outstanding environmental and conservation achievements through the Conservation Legacy Awards.

As stewards and partners with the land, today's farmers understand the responsibility of protecting one of our most precious natural resources and are dedicated to enhancing the quality of the land entrusted to them. As 2010 South Region Conservation Legacy Award Winner Malcolm Oatts of Hopkinsville stated, "It's my desire to do everything I can to be environmentally-friendly. I work diligently to promote soil conservation, to protect water quality and have tried to be the best steward of the land that I can possibly be."

The Conservation Legacy Awards are open to any U.S. soybean producer to showcase their farm management practices that are both environmentally-friendly and profitable. Growers using reduced-tillage systems, such as no-till, strip-till, minimum-till or other conservation practices are encouraged to submit a nomination form. The registration deadline is August 5, 2011.

Awards are given in three regions which are Midwest, Northeast and South. Of the three regional winners, a national winner is selected. All winners and a spouse/guest receive an expense-paid trip to Commodity Classic, the annual convention and trade show for U.S. soybean, corn, wheat and sorghum famers, where the awards will be presented. The 2012 Commodity Classic is in Nashville, Tennessee, March 1-3. Winners will also be featured in Corn & Soybean Digest.

Kentucky has produced three regional winners over the past five years. Winners include: Sam and Erin Hancock of Fulton, 2007; Rick and Phillip Castlen of Owensboro, 2009; and Malcolm and Rose Oatts of Hopkinsville, 2010.

The program is sponsored by BASF, Monsanto, the United Soybean Board and Corn & Soybean Digest.

Conservation Legacy Award nomination forms may be found at www.soygrowers.com/clap.