The Beginning Farmer

I can’t tell you how many times people have said to me that they can’t believe I am farming without a real pickup (it’s even been said here on the blog). Since we began the farm I have been doing all of my farming with a somewhat trusty and clunky SUV. The great thing about the SUV was that I could haul lots of people or take the seats out and use it to take calves to the vet, haul buckets of corn, pick up feed from the feed store, and even take large round bales to the cows (that involved a couple of chains and I would not suggest trying it at home). I used the poor SUV to push things (the license plant is hanging on barely), to pull trees out of the timber (the better the tread on the tires the better off you are), and of course to pull the stock trailer to pick up and drop off countless pigs, sheep, cattle, and chickens.

But, last year I decided to step up into the pickup world … I purchased a mini-sized Chevy S-10 with 4 cylinders and five speeds! It worked okay for piling full of coolers and driving to the farmers market, but for any sort of “truck” job it fails miserably. That is why when the rear-end on the no longer trusty SUV took a death blow this year at the end of summer I knew it was time to step up to a “real” truck … one that had a bed you could fill up, one that could pull big things, and one that was big and loud and red!

There is just one thing though … If I believed in luck I would have to say that I have bad luck when it comes to purchasing vehicles or just plain vehicles in general! So, even though I was excited to get a truck I was not excited about looking for one and buying one … which is why it took two months. Finally after getting the feeling that my friends were tired of me borrowing theirs … I landed on this beauty …

Now I am a real farmer … I have a big red truck that is loud and can pull lots of heavy things! It’s not a new truck … it’s not a low mileage truck … it has some rust covered up with paint … and it has your typical bumps and bruises. But, it will be a nice addition to the farm and I know that my friends will appreciate me not borrowing theirs (really they have been a huge help though!).

I know that Joel Salatin bought one … I know that Walter Jeffries is building one … and I know that I would love to have my hands in one somehow. I mean don’t you ever just get those crazy little ideas in the back of your head? You know … ideas like making a career change or I don’t know … starting a farm! Well, I get crazy ideas in my mind all the time if you haven’t noticed already! My latest crazy idea involves having my hand in the meat I produce from the very beginning until the very end.

Now I’m not trying to disparage my current processor or any other processor for that matter, but there is something appealing to me about having as much control over my final product as I can. I would say that on my ideal farm I would have as much control as possible raising the animals from beginning to end, producing all of my feed and forage, processing and curing the meats, and of course marketing the bounty of the farm!

It’s not that I’m trying to create my own little bubble world, but rather that I would love to be able to have the control and ability to try as many different things as possible (different cuts, seasonings, cures, etc.). There are just certain things that a locker that is trying to cater to as many different types of customers as possible can’t do. But, boy would it be cool!

So, what do you think? Are you in favor of small scale meat processors or cooperatively owned small scale meat processors? Do you think the are feasible (maybe Mr. Jeffries can chime in on this one)?

Hopefully you realize that Thanksgiving day was just last week … and with Thanksgiving comes a nationwide focus on the turkey. Which means we see video of the president and governors pardoning birds to live out their lives on a farm, we search the internet for ideas on how to cook the perfect turkey, and in my case we hear lots of radio news stories about turkey production in Iowa. Of course the reason I heard so many radio stories is because I really only listen to talk radio stations and the played the same or similar stories all week long!

The basic story that I heard quite a few times last week is that Iowa is the number nine turkey producer nationwide and the number five processor of turkey in the country. According to this article that I found we produce about 11 million birds each year in the state! But, the thing that article says, and all the radio stories I heard said was that when you sat down for your turkey dinner you wouldn’t be eating an Iowa produced bird (unless of course you purchased your turkey directly from the farmers). It seems that almost all of Iowa’s turkey meat ends up in sub sandwiches at Subway or Jimmy John’s.

I’m not an economist, I’m not a financial guru, in fact I’m not even an intelligent agricultural guy! So, I understand that maybe I have no reason to even think about this sort of thing and that there is probably some large answer that I could not completely understand. In fact according to this flyer from the Iowa Turkey Federation there are 85 turkey producers in Iowa (it may not be a real up-to-date flyer) and I always think it’s a good thing to have more farmers in Iowa!

But, I just have to ask the question … If we produce 11 million birds each year in our own state and we have multiple turkey processors, then why can’t we purchase an Iowa raised and processed turkey for Thanksgiving dinner? That was just the thought that kept running through my head …

With all that being said … as long as there are no set-backs and I feel like we are set up enough to get things going we are planning on raising a limited number of heritage breed turkeys next year. I see it as another opportunity to bring a bit more diversification to the farm … and to have a great tasting bird for Thanksgiving dinner!

Tonight … we stand before you … with victory in our hands! (wait for applause to subside) The votes have been counted … you and others from around the surrounding counties have spoken! (wait for this round of applause to subside) We want you to know that it is because of you that we are here today … that without you none of this would be possible and we just want to offer our thanks from the bottom of our hearts … Thank You … each and every one of you Thank You! (there will be more excited applause here so just wait it out) Now, just as we have promised we are going to head out to the fields and woods and pastures and bring you some of the best heritage breed meat available! We’re going to put on our mud boots and dig in just as we promised! Thank You! (wait for applause) Thank You! (wait for applause) Thank You! Good night and may God Bless the farm! (exit stage right to extreme amounts of applause)

I know that I said a while back that I was back to blogging again, but then I sort of trickled off … like I have done a lot lately. This time it wasn’t because of a lack of desire to write, but rather because I’ve just been plain busy. Now that I have more mobility and one semi-working foot to go along with the good one I’ve been trying to do as much as possible … although I do things more slowly than before because I’m not near full strength yet.

With that being said there has been a lot accomplished lately. As you can see from the picture above we made it through our second Farm Crawl which meant we spent a lot of time getting the farm prepared for hundreds of people. In fact in the week leading up to the Farm Crawl there was much cleaning done as well as even some fence building. Now we have a hi-tensile wire fence around the yard and for the first time in four years the animals don’t have free and easy access to the yard … on the downside there will be A LOT more mower gas used next year (even if it is another drought).

Of course the Downtown Des Moines Farmers’ Market has continued (only one left) and we have begun taking in hogs for our whole and half customers. I’m very thankful for our whole/half customers and will admit that it is a lot of fun (and feels like a huge accomplishment) to take large groups of hogs into the processor all at once. I have another batch going in a couple of weeks and then we’ll be down to our sow herd and pigs mostly between birth and 150 pounds … a little less feed will be used at least for a short while.

And then most recently I was able to go up and help my uncle put the tarp on his 36′ x 100′ hoop house. His is for storing machinery, but it was nice to seen one in person and the building up close. It makes me want a hoop house for winter farrowing/growers even more than before. So … I’m researching different brands, checking prices, and trying to figure out just where I could put a hoop house!

I hope everyone is getting much accomplished this fall …

Lately I’ve been listening to podcasts while I’m driving to and from the farmers market, doctors appointments, and work. It seems like a slightly more profitable way to use that down time and I can usually find something encouraging to listen to. Most recently I stumbled across a podcast from Seth Godin. I had heard of him before through a variety of sources so I decided to give his new podcast (actually segments from a lecture) a try. So far so good …

But, what struck me was this quote, “Every successful business has a monopoly … has a monopoly on what it makes that someone else can’t make the way they make it. That leaves out commodity businesses …” (he also said that he was thankful for commodity businesses because they produce things that we all need) And, I really like this quote, “Brilliant entrepreneurship is around figuring out that thing that you can do that’s in the marketplace that people are willing to cross the street to get. That people understand that this is the one and I need it.”

The whole episode was interesting, but those were two keys that I took away and really made me think about the farm and marketing for the farm. To be blunt … my prices are higher than those at the supermarket. Sometimes they are quite a bit higher and other times they are only slightly higher. But, what I realize and what my customers realize is that comparing our woodlot raised heritage breed meats with those that come in a frozen tube in the freezer case or on a styrofoam plate in the cooler aisle is not comparing two equal things. Sure, they are similar in the fact that they are both meat products … and there are plenty of people that would argue with me saying that there is no difference between the two. But, when it comes down to it I’m not raising and selling a commodity … I’m working to raise something, “that someone else can’t make the way” I make it!

Another important thing to realize that even within my own “community” of farms (other farms doing something similar to mine) I have to offer something that encourages people to “cross the street to get”. At the Downtown Des Moines Farmer’s Market I’m one of multiple people raising pork, beef, lamb, and poultry products. So, the question I continually ask myself is how do I make the farm stand out? Of course I continually work to offer up great tasting meats, but what else can I do?

A couple of things that I’ve worked to focus on is building relationships (the market and things like the farm crawl are great for that) and raising rare or heritage breeds. I’d love to hear more thoughts on these topics, and you can be sure that I’ll continue listening to the podcasts as long as they are released …

Over the past four years, since the very beginning of the farm, we have been helped by countless family members and friends. They have spent an incredible amount of time helping us get this dream off the ground and dealing with my crazy ideas and procrastinating ways. Our “farm angels” have helped us build a home, construct fences, move pigs around, fix equipment, find hay, make portable pens and buildings, and above all help us to survive the first four years without doing complete damage to our minds, bodies, and souls!

But, I want to take a moment today to send an open letter to my Uncle Loren. Some of you may know of him, but I’m convinced all of you should get to know him … or someone like him. He is one of the many people that have helped out so much on this farm journey …

When my feed auger wagon broke and my feeble attempts to fix it fell far short Uncle Loren showed up in the middle of the night to take it home to his shop to fix (after I called and said I was at my wits end). When the cattle had spent most of their time on the farm getting out of my horrible excuse for a fence Uncle Loren showed up with the equipment and the knowledge to get the fencing project started. When the pigs are boggling my mind he is always just a phone call away. When a tractor breaks down he has shown up with a loaner (sometimes a long-term loaner) to help me. When water lines and electrical lines needed to be run underground … well … you probably get the idea …

My Uncle Loren has invested quite a bit of his time and himself into the farm. In fact just this week he spent almost two days building more fence, setting corner posts, smoothing ruts, and even moving and leveling a building that had been sitting haphazardly in the pasture for the past few months. When he left late Tuesday evening it hit me just how much he gives and how hard he works. The farm would not be where it is without the help of so many people! And, Uncle Loren is one of those people …

Uncle Loren … Thank you for the knowledge you share. Thank you for the work you give. Thank you for the time you so freely share with us. Thank you for the example that you are.

One of my many dreams is to have just a fraction of your farming knowledge. You remind me that farming is not just a set of physical movements, but rather an art. Uncle Loren … you are an artist.

Just the other day our local news station had this article on their website …

“Bacon, pork prices to increase next year”

There were a few quotes that stood out to me …

The group said farmers worldwide are cutting their herds “at a significant rate” that could double pork prices in Europe in the second half of next year.

“If I were purchasing all my grain to feed my hogs, I’d probably be closing out right now,” said David Struthers. 

“You will be able to eat BLTs next year. You just might be paying a little bit more for the bacon than what you did this year, but we will not run out,” said Joe Kerns. 

“If we have another dry year things could get really ugly,” said Struthers.

Wow … there is so much to think about in this little article. First of all it has me scared … the fear has been there deep down for awhile, but I’ve tried to not let it come to my mind. But, I’m with Mr. Struthers … if we have another dry year things could get really ugly. As a beginning farmer who still hasn’t established everything on the farm and as a hog farmer that must purchase feed I don’t even want to begin to think about grain prices going any higher than they already are. I’m praying (really praying) for a wonderfully cold and very snowy winter followed by the muddiest spring the farm has seen!

The article goes on to talk about the shortage that is expected in Europe and the probably price increases that will be seen in the United States. Many hog produces are cutting the numbers in their herds (in fact I know a few hogs leaving the farm in my area as well) and once those cuts are felt there will likely be price increases.

But, for me the most telling quote was this one …

The National Pig Association is calling on consumers to choose local products to help boost prices to help farmers.

I whole heartedly agree with that statement! I have one question though … are they talking about purchasing from local farmers directly or purchasing for local grocery stores. The only reason I ask is because at a recent taste test there was a pork shoulder roast from the local small-chain grocery store. The person hosting the tasting talked to the meat department at the grocery and asked about where it came from … the grocery store said it came from Tyson, but that it probably was an Iowa pig. The host then called Tyson directly and they said there was a chance that it came from Iowa, but it also could have come from Canada or Mexico.

My thoughts … purchase directly from you farmer and then know for sure you are supporting your local farmer! In fact we haven’t raised our prices yet (and hope not to), so you can reserve a hog for the spring at the same prices you could last fall.

Before we started the farm (and during the first year of farming) I was a head girls varsity soccer coach in our community. I loved soccer, coaching, and impacting students so it was a perfect fit for me. But, what it wasn’t a perfect fit for was the farm and it seemed that just as soccer got busy the farm got busy so I knew that soccer had to end if I wanted to farm. But, if you have had any sort of involvement in high school sports over the past 10 years or so you have experienced or heard of the push towards single-sport focus. What I mean is that many students are moving away from playing four different seasons of sports and beginning to focus in on one sport and playing/practicing year-round.