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News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade St., Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
For Release: August 28, 2001
Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402
Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

DEM ANNOUNCES THAT ESCOBARS' HIGHLAND FARM IN PORTSMOUTH HAS BEEN NAMED OUTSTANDING DAIRY FARM OF THE YEAR

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management announces that Escobars' Highland Farm in Portsmouth has been named Rhode Island's 2001 Outstanding Dairy Farm of the Year by the Rhode Island Green Pastures Committee. Winning dairy farmers from each New England state will be honored at an awards banquet on September 14 at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, MA.

The Rhode Island Green Pastures Committee chose the Escobars' farm because of the their outstanding relationship with the community, their use of good management practices, and their commitment to the viability of agriculture on Aquidnick Island.

Highland Farm, owned by Louie and Jane Escobar, was started by Louie Escobar's father in 1937. Louie helped with farm chores as a youngster and continued working the farm until he took over in 1972. Over the years, the dairy farm has grown from 52 acres to 96 acres, with 70 milking cows, and 50 heifers, and an excellent forage program consisting of high quality corn and hay. The farm, run in an environmentally sound manner using best management practices, is surrounded by suburban homes and appreciative neighbors. It is one of 23 dairy farms remaining in the state.

When an accidental fire engulfed the dairy barn in 1998, with fortunately no loss of life, the Escobars made an immediate decision that same night to rebuild rather than shut down the farm. They planned a barn that was bigger, better and unique, including an observation deck for spectators and a modernized milking system that would handle 12 cows at a time. Subsequently neighbors, other dairy farmers and farming affiliates offered to help, holding fundraisers to aid the Escobars in their rebuilding.

In addition to the farm, the Escobars operate an artificial insemination company serving dairy farms in the East Bay area of Rhode Island as well as Southeastern Massachusetts. Louis Escobar serves on the Portsmouth committee on open space and is their agricultural advisory committee representative to the Portsmouth Town Council. He also serves as Rhode Island's representative to the legislation and education committee of Agri-Marks, a dairy cooperative serving New England and New York. He has also been chair for eight years of the Rhode Island Farm Service Agency state committee.

The dairy farm of the year award is sponsored by the New England green pastures committee, made up of agricultural interests such as state agricultural offices and university cooperative extension agencies. Membership in Rhode Island's green pastures committee includes DEM's Division of Agriculture, the Rhode Island delegation of the Northeast Dairy Compact Commission and the RI Farm Service Agency.

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