Matthew Fielke
Sep 28, 2018
Excerpt from Field to Market Farmer Spotlight
STUTTGART, AR -- A fifth-generation farmer, Matthew Feilke is proud to follow in his father and grandfather’s footsteps as he stewards Feilke Farm’s 4,100 acres of rice, corn, and soybeans here, just 42 miles southeast of Little Rock.
Living and farming in the “Rice and Duck Capitol of the World,” Feilke takes conservation very seriously. He has participated in the Riceland, Kellogg, and Syngenta Arkansas Rice Fieldprint Project for the past two years, and documents and demonstrates sustainability practices annually utilizing the sustainability metrics of the Fieldprint Platform embedded within Syngenta’s Land.DB farm management software.
“Before I participated in the Fieldprint Project, I knew that I was implementing sustainable practices, but how would the consumer know that?” said Feilke. “By utilizing the Fieldprint Platform and collaborating with a major food company, we can demonstrate to consumers that farmers are doing our part to provide food that is healthy for them and the planet.”
"Matthew's farming operation perfectly showcases the innovative techniques that rice producers have adopted to make their production practices more sustainable,” said Josh Hankins, Rice Stewardship Partnership coordinator at USA Rice. “Through the integration of innovative irrigation techniques, a tail water recovery system, and commitment to flooding his fields for overwintering waterfowl, Matthew demonstrates the importance of stewarding our natural resources. It is because of sustainable and conservation minded producers like Matthew that the rice industry continues to do more with less each year."