Partnering with CSIF

The Wessling family from Grand Junction, Iowa will be part of the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers Green Farmstead Partner Program. This is a new program and Bruce Wessling sees several advantages to partnering with CSIF.  He is in the planning stages, having met with Trees Forever and will be putting trees around one of the buildings to improve air quality, help shelter against snow and to make it look nice.The environment is important to the Wesslings, just as it is for non-farm neighbors. Bruce explains that his values are not so different from neighbors who are not raising hogs or crops. Keeping the environment clean and air quality good is important to him. 

Bruce has close ties to the local community.  He is involved with several organizations, purchases goods locally, and employs 2 full-time laborers. 

AUDIO: Conversation with Bruce Wessling

More pictures from the 2009 Doing It Right Farm Tour

Seeing is believing

These are not easy times economically for most, and hog farmers are no exception. As a matter of fact, cash hog prices this year are down about 20 percent from a year ago and wholesale pork prices are down 28 percent, driven largely by a lagging national economy, commodity prices, and other concerns. Jenny Wessling says that is no reason to cut corners when it comes to being good stewards of the land, air, water, and animals on the Wessling family farm near Grand Junction, Iowa.During a visit to the Wessling farm on the Coaltion to Support Iowa’s Farmers/Brownfield Ag News Doing It Right Farm Tour, Jenny said her husband Bruce keeps stewardship at the top of his mind. As for “doing it right,” Jenny explains that there is no question that they will be good stewards because it is the right thing to do. Jenny said they want to be good producers, they live there and they want to make sure the land, water and air are safe for the next generation. She is very comfortable with the air, water and food on their farm.

Jenny often thinks about the consumer of the food harvested from the Wessling family’s farm. She would like for them to see what REALLY happens on the farm and how the animals are raised.

AUDIO: Conversation with Jenny Wessling

More pictures from the 2009 Doing It Right Farm Tour

Green Farmstead Partners

An ag background and skill as a landscaper came together for Matt Roelfs from Ackley, Iowa when he saw a need for farmers who wanted to put up vegetative buffers or trees around their farms. Roelfs started his business Advanced Greenscapes to help those farmers.Matt is working with the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers and its Green Farmstead Partner Program. He explains that vegetative buffers can serve not just as a visual screen, but there is science to prove that with prevailing winds and a vegetative buffer around a hog site you can settle out winds that carry odor.

At a time when there is little if any profit in livestock farming, it is not easy for some to wrap their minds around spending the money to put in vegetative buffers or plant trees around the livestock buildings. Matt says farmers need to think about this as an investment that will, over time, continue to reap benefits.

Not only do vegetative buffers serve as visual screens, if placed correctly, they will save farmers from having to plow as much snow in the winter.

AUDIO: conversation with Matt Roelfs

AUDIO: Continued conversation with Matt Roelfs

More pictures from the 2009 Doing It Right Farm Tour

Wessling family farm visit

Bruce Wessling started farming with his dad, Roger, the year after his high school graduation. In 1990, the men farmed 1500 acres of corn and soybeans and raised hogs in outside facilities on the farm near Grand Junction, Iowa.  In 1997, Bruce decided it was time to expand and the Wesslings put up a 1200 head confinement building. They raised hogs independently for 3 years. In 2000, they built the second facility and began feeding with Cargill. In 2004, they expanded more, putting up another building and are currently in the process of putting up another.Bruce sees many benefits to raising hogs in buildings instead of in open lots. The temperature remains constant throughout the year so the hogs and humans working with them do not have to withstand weather extremes of heat, cold, rain, snow, sleet, hail, wind, etc. The farmers have better control of odor because, as Bruce explains, with under-roof manure storage, rain does not make contact with the manure and evaporate off of it. Now, they haul manure once year instead of weekly, the lighting is better and it is safer for both the animals and the people working with them.

Deep pits under the hog barns will hold over a year’s worth of manure. A local custom manure operator is hired to come in, the manure pits are stirred to mix the nutrients and the manure is applied according to the nutrient anaylsis and the manure management plan.

The manure management plan is a valuable tool for the Wesslings. A local agronomist does soil sampling and makes fertilizer recommendations. A hired consultant writes the manure management plan for the farm. Bruce says that between the recommendations on fertilizer rates from the agronomist and the consultant’s manurea management expertise, the two work together to come up with the rates needed to grow the crops. With the high price for fertilizer, it is important to scatter the manure over as many crop acres as possible. Manure saves the Wessling family farm a significant amount of money because they do not have to rely strictly on commercial fertilizers.

For ten years, The Wesslings have worked with the Iowa Soybean Association on nitrogen testing to be as precise as possible with correct and specific applications of manure to meet nitrogen requirements.

Being part of a family farming operation has been a good experience for Bruce. He started farming with both Dad and Grandpa. Having their help and guidance getting started was very important to him. Now, as Bruce’s Dad nears retirement, he is hopeful that he is giving back.

All Bruce ever wanted to do was farm. He likes the independence and ability to set his own schedule and freedom of being his own boss. He likes the animals and the outdoors.

It is important to Bruce that his children have an understanding of the committment and responsibility that goes with raising livestock. His daughters help with simple chores on the farm and they raise 4-H pigs. Wife Jenny is very involved with bookkeeping and from time to time helps in the hog buildings.

The community is important to the Wessling family and Bruce believes that their farm gives much back to the community. In addition to involvement in local organizations, the Wessling farm spends a lot of money with local businesses.

It’s not an easy time to be in the livestock business, but Bruce says having both crops and livestock helps to balance things out for them. He said you have to be optimistic and in it for the long term. All businesses go through tough times and you need to hang in there to be ready for when things “get good again.”

Being a good steward is important to Bruce. From buffer strips on farms with creeks, to manure incorporation practices, it is important to Bruce to do it right.

Bruce’s message for non-farm families: “We are out here every day taking care of the farm and the livestock and doing the best job we can. My family lives here. I want the water safe, the air safe for my family. I would like to have them know that almost all livestock producers do a great job. It only takes a couple of bad ones to give everyone a bad name.”

He has benefited greatly by partnering with the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers. From helping with siting for hog buildings to just bouncing ideas off of them, CSIF has helped Bruce. He would advise all Iowa livestock farmers interested in expanding their farms to contact the Coalition.

Bruce and his wife Jenny graduated from East Greene High in Grand Junction. The high school sweethearts (she grew up 3 miles from the Wessling farm) have been married for 18 years and have two daughters.  Jolee is 12 (she’ll turn 13 in November) and Taylor is 11. 

Bruce and Roger Wessling farm 3500 acres of corn and soybeans.  They raise seed beans for Stine Seed Company.

The Wessling family farm will benefit from participation in the Green Farmstead Partner Program through the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers.

AUDIO: Conversation with Bruce Wessling (25 minutes, mp3)

More pictures from the 2009 Doing It Right Farm Tour

Doing it right on Iowa’s turkey farms

Robert Achen is a farmer from Wayland, Iowa. He is on the Board of Directors for West Liberty Foods and is President of Agri-Way Partners, the local feed company in Wayland.   He joined us on the Tim and Lisa Graber farm during the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers “Doing it Right” Farm Tour. When Oscar Meyer decided to close its West Liberty Iowa plant in 1997, a group of farmers got together and purchased the processing plant. West Liberty Foods was formed because the small turkey industry in Iowa had limited access to other processing plants. There have been tough times, but overall, Robert said it was a good decision to purchase the plant.

Robert believes Iowa turkey farmers do a good job of taking care of their birds, not only because it is the right thing to do, but from an economic standpoint, animals do better when they are treated well.

What he enjoys most about the turkey industry is that it is small and close-knit group which in many ways more resembles a family than a commodity group.

Having been in the business for many years, Robert remembers well what it was like before modern turkey barns were used to house and grow the birds. He told me that he grew a lot of turkeys on range, which looks nice on a pretty day, but the turkeys are open to predators like coyotes and owls. The turkeys were not as feed efficient as they are in modern barns, and the turkeys on the range were always fighting the elements.

There is much greater comfort for the turkeys in a modern barn, where they are kept out of rain and snow and weather extremes. In the heat of the summer, when people drive by and see curtains on the barns pulled up tight it is because the tunnel ventilation is cooling the turkeys.

Robert is optimistic about the future of the turkey industry in Iowa. The turkey industry consumes a lot of corn and soybean meal, and it makes sense to raise turkeys near the feed source. It also makes sense, he explains, because turkey litter (manure) is an excellent fertilizer for corn and soybean ground. Robert farms quite a few acres of row crops and has to supplement very little commercial fertilizer to grow his crops.

It is important to communicate to neighbors when you are spreading turkey manure fertilizer. A mutual respect and open communication has been important to Robert in building good relationships with his neighbors.

Robert is a fan of the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers. As a past president of the Iowa Turkey Federation, he explains that CSIF was very supportive to members even before the ITF became a member. The Coalition impressed Robert with its skill in communication, putting agriculture in a positive light, and helping young farmers get started.

More pictures from the 2009 Doing It Right Farm Tour

Mother, wife, farmer

Leanne Sutter identifies herself as a mother, a wife and a farmer. She grew up on a family farm and has been married to her husband for 25 years, and is living on his family’s home farm, a farm that has been in his family since 1965.Being a farmer is not without challenge – from marketing to weather – but Leanne is proud of her roots in agriculture and the farming opportunities she and her husband have been able to provide to their sons.It is important to Leanne that all member of her family are stewards of the land, water, air and livestock. When Leanne talks about how pigs are treated on her farm, she lights up. She is confident in knowing that her hogs are healthy. Sutter barns are ventilated, protecting the pigs from the outdoor elements while having all the fresh air they need. She told me that her pigs are low-maintenance. They are size and gender sorted so it is easy to detect sickness or injury. The pigs are well-fed, have plenty of water, are comfortable and overall, Leanne explains, “They seem very happy.”

As a mother, Leanne is happy that she has been able to instill in her children many of the same values that she got from her parents. A strong work ethic and determination to finish what you start are examples she cites.

As a wife and mother, Leanne wants to be sure she is providing safe food and water and environment for her family. She tells me the most rewarding part of being a farmer. She knows the end result of the work they do is a safe product for her family, her neighbors and all consumers.

Being part of the community has been important to Leanne. Having her sons come back and be a part of the family farm and that local community is extremely rewarding.

The Coalition to Support Iowa Farmers helped her family when the Sutter Family built a new hog barn. CSIF helped the Sutter family with neighbor relations during the very trying time. After it was all said and done, neighbors who were opposed to the new hog building have come around and the community awarded her family with the Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award

AUDIO: Conversation with Leanne Sutter

Family farm upbringing builds strong work ethic

Jacob Sutter is the younger son of Kenny and Leanne. Like other family members, he is actively involved in both crop and livestock production on the Sutter Family Farm near Pleasantville, Iowa.This former FFA member graduated from Ellsworth Community College with degrees in Swine Management and Farm Management.He thought about doing something else, but told me that nothing can beat farming. Living in the small, rural community and being a part of that is important to him. A member of the volunteer fire department, Jacob believes it is important to be involved in his community.

Jacob credits his upbringing on the family farm with building in him a strong work ethic.

The Sutter family exemplifies what it means to be “Doing it Right” on a family farm in Iowa. His was the second family farm we visited on the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers “Doing it Right” Farm Tour.

 AUDIO: Conversation with Jacob Sutter (4 min, mp3)

Coming back to the family farm

One of our visits during the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers “Doing It Right” Farm Tour was on a family farm near Pleasantville.Working together is key to success on the Sutter Family farm, whether working with crops or with livestock, according to Tyler Sutter, the oldest son of Kenny and Leanne, and one of the members of the Sutter family that is a partner in the family farm.As stewards, Tyler believes his family improves every year. He cites new technology as one of the important tools that helps his family achieve its stewardship goals. Technology prevents the over-useage of seed and chemicals which helps the environment and the Sutter’s balance sheet.

Animal welfare is important to the Sutters. Tyler doesn’t understand why people would think farmers would abuse their animals. He said his family has nothing to hide when it comes to practices on their farm.

The values he learned growing up on the farm and the love of rural Iowa and farming brought this young man back to the family farm after college. Tyler wants to make sure the farm is there for future generations.

AUDIO: Tyler Sutter

Being part of the community important to Sutter family

Sutter Family farm near Pleasantville, Iowa, is very much a family farm. Kenny and Leanne Sutter, their sons Tyler, and Jacob, along with Kenny’s parents Don and Margene, Kenny’s nephew, and a brother-in-law who works there sometimes have plenty of work to do on this farm. Kenny told me that many of his sons’ friends also come to work on the farm from time to time.The farm corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa hay, cattle, and hogs. Collectively, Kenny explained, they farm quite a few acres, but no more than 1100 acres per family entity that works on the farm. They do as much of their business locally as is possible.Being part of a community is very important to the Sutter family.

Practicing good stewardship is important for Kenny and his family. He believes it is important to listen to what people have to say and not be too quick to ignore new ideas. He believes they are doing the best they can with the technology available today.

Kenny believes the best way to practice animal welfare is to spend time with the animals, something that they do on the Sutter farm. The Sutters raised hogs outside before putting up barns, and Kenny believes that raising hogs in a barn means healthier hogs and better manure management.

The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers was great help to the Sutter Family Farm when they decided to expand their farm. Kenny said, “It is important to have someone in your corner today.”

CSIF helped the Sutter family select a site and to better communicate with neighbors when they put up a new barn.

Kenny believes mutual respect is key in expanding livestock farms in rural Iowa. He believes there is room for the next generation and sees many opportunities for young people in this industry.

Kenny would like for consumers to know that his family is working on the farm between 14 and 16 hours a day, working to the best of their ability with the best technology available. It is way better than it ever was before and it will only get better.

 AUDIO: Kenny Sutter

Passion for agriculture shared with family

Amber Reed’s dad was an ag teacher in Albia. She grew up showing horses, hogs and cattle, developing a passion for agriculture that she shares with her husband.Appreciation for nature and livestock and the environment are qualities that Amber believes she and husband Bryan will instill in their children. As a special education teacher at the local high school, Amber has summers off so once her children are older, she’ll be able to get back “outside” to help with the cows. She looks forward to the days when her children will exhibit livestock at the county fairs.

The Reeds appreciate the support they get from their small-town community. They held an open house when they put up their new hoop barn and more than 200 people attended. Acceptance and support from neighbors is very important to the Reed family.

As a mother and wife, food safety and a safe environment is important to Amber, as she believes it is important to preserve the farm and its resources for the next generation.

Jaycee, who turns 5 later this month joined in the conversation to tell me what she likes about the farm. No surprise, like her mom and dad, she likes spending time with the livestock. Little brother Brayden likes the cows, too.

AUDIO: Conversation with Amber Reed

Next Page »