Clinton County Celebration of Livestock Farming

07-06-2015 in Cattle

By Haley Banwart, CSIF Communications Intern

An open house celebrating the addition of a 480-head slatted, monoslope cattle barn attracted over 275 neighbors, friends and community members to Ryan and Melissa Jargo’s family farm on Wednesday. Visitors had the opportunity to learn about the advantages of raising cattle under roof while taking a personal tour of the new facility and visiting with industry experts.

Farming is truly a family affair for the Jargos. Ryan and his wife, Melissa, are fourth generation farmers and took over the Jargo family farm together in 2002. Their two young sons, Connor and Carson, have taken a strong interest in the farm and are actively involved in the day-to-day operations.

In 2014, the Jargos decided to build the monoslope cattle barn in an effort to expand their farm without dramatically increasing their labor needs.

“Building the barn has allowed us to increase our capacity while improving efficiency, manure management and average daily gains,” said Ryan Jargo.

The design of the facility provides an environment for the cattle to have consistent feed intake and protection against inclement weather. The barn has four pens with each pen holding approximately 120 head. To increase cattle comfort, the Jargos also installed rubber mats on the slats of the barn floor.

For the Jargos, planning for a building project of this scale would not have been as easy without the backing of good neighbors and the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers.

“I want to extend a special thank you to the Larry Johnson family for helping us reach our goal of putting the barn together and for encouraging us to contact the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers,” said Jargo.

The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers assisted the Jargo family by assessing their existing feedlots and providing recommendations on how to remain in compliance with state and federal rules and regulations. Interpreting these rules early on in the planning process allowed the Jargo family to evaluate how to move forward with their proposed cattle barn.

“Working with the Coalition gave us a better handle on the rules and it helped to ensure we were doing things right,” said Jargo.

The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers assists farm families like the Jargos year round.

“It is rewarding to work with farm families who are passionate about what they do and are creating opportunities to bring the next generation back to the farm,” said CSIF Executive Director, Brian Waddingham. “The Jargos are a great example to Iowa’s livestock industry in exceeding expectations of raising their animals responsibly and successfully. We are proud to work with Iowa families who are dedicated to being good stewards.”

CSIF is a non-profit organization that assists livestock farmers who want help interpreting rules and regulations, guidance on good site locations for barns, counsel on enhancing neighbor relations and tips on how to protect the environment at no cost. For more information, call 1-800-932-2436 or visit www.supportfarmers.com.

The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers was created by farmers to help farmers raise livestock responsibly and successfully. It’s a joint partnership involving the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Turkey Federation and Midwest Dairy Association.

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