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Designed with Livestock in Mind
From improving site aesthetics to enhancing neighbor relations, a properly planted windbreak can serve many functions on the farm. Most importantly, trees can protect livestock from inclement weather conditions including harsh winds, blowing snow or extreme temperatures. Whether livestock are raised in a feedlot, pasture or barn setting, windbreaks should be designed to meet the...
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CSIF Symposium to Focus on Calving Under Roof
Industry experts share insight into environmental benefits, economics, cattle health and reducing feed costs WEST DES MOINES, IOWA – February 6, 2017 – The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF) is hosting a “Calving Under Roof Symposium – Expanding the Cowherd – The Confinement Option” on March 21-22 in Omaha to provide livestock farmers an...
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Swanson Family of Montgomery County Presented with Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award
For brothers Kirk, Kent and Kevin Swanson, building relationships with their neighbors is as important as the cropland they tend to and the livestock they raise. “We produce pigs, but I really think more than anything we’ve been a vehicle for relationships, and that’s the neatest thing about the experiment we call 4K Farms,” said...
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CSIF News Briefs – January 2017
Tight Margins Fuel Farmers’ Risk Management Decisions If history is any guide of agriculture’s economic cycle, today’s downturn in prices will create new opportunities for farmers to capture the next movement of consumer demand. The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers recent Farming for the Future Conference provided farmers the risk management tools and resources they...
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Top 10 Farming for the Future Considerations
During periods of low profit margins, it can be easy to get caught up with the current conditions of the market and overlook the preventative measures needed to ensure future profitability on the farm. Business and financial planning experts at the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers recent Farming for the Future Conference highlighted the key...
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Tight Margins Fuel Farmers’ Risk Management Decisions
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – January 27, 2017 – If history is any guide of agriculture’s economic cycle, the risk management strategies farmers realize during a downturn in prices will greatly impact their ability to capture the next movement of consumer demand, according to experts from the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF) recent ‘Farming...
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Accu-Steel Fabric Covered Buildings Invests in the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – January 13, 2017 – Accu-Steel Fabric Covered Buildings, a leading manufacturer of fabric-covered buildings, affirms its support of Iowa agriculture through an investment in the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF). Jason Owen, president of Accu-Steel, said the family-owned business is proud to serve Iowa’s livestock farmers today and into...
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CSIF Announces Call for Good Farm Neighbor Award Nominations
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – January 9, 2017 –The Wergin Good Farm Neighbor award recognizes Iowa livestock farmers who take pride in doing things right. To celebrate responsible livestock farming, the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF) is announcing a call for Good Farm Neighbor award nominations through March 1, 2017. “We invite all Iowans...
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Winter Guide to Windbreaks
The holiday season may be over, but Old Man Winter remains. Tired of those inconvenient snow drifts piling up on your livestock farm? A properly planted windbreak can greatly reduce your time and effort spent on moving snow. Two Approaches to Snow Control When it comes to windbreaks, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all...
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12 Reasons to Call the Coalition
Since 2004, the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF) has assisted over 3,720 Iowa farm families in raising livestock responsibly and successfully. As a trusted third-party resource, CSIF offers a variety of services that are completely confidential and free of charge. The wide range of these services are summarized in the following “12 Reasons to...
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