Through The Gate // September 2022

10-03-2022 in Through The Gate

National Good Neighbor Day

September 28 was National Good Neighbor Day! Do you know an Iowa livestock farmer who takes pride in doing things right, including caring for the environment, their livestock, and being a good neighbor? Celebrate today by nominating them for the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award!

Doing Good in the Neighborhood

Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award Honorees

Cronin Farms

Located near Meriden in Cherokee County, this multi-generational family farm is owned and operated by Tim & Angela Cronin, their son Andrew and daughter-in-law Valerie, and son Matthew. The family grows corn, soybeans, and hay and maintains a 200 head cattle feedlot. They also do custom farming and farm management and operate a fleet of 15 trucks that are utilized for hauling feedstuff.

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Jo-Lane Dairy

Jo-Lane Dairy, located near Monona in Clayton County, started in 2006 when lance & Jonna Schutte were married. The couple continues to operate the family farm with the help of their four children: Blake, Briella, Breklyn, and Brayton. They own 140 Holstein and Brown Swiss cows and replacements, dairy steers, and sell a few breeding bulls to bull studs. Each of the children have also their own small herds.

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Good Neighbor Tip of the Month

Be proactive when it comes to neighbor relations. Make talking to your neighbors part of your annual business plan. If you need help getting the conversation started, a good icebreaker is to take your neighbors some pork chops or steaks when you visit with them. It’s also a good idea to take your family so your neighbors can see who all is involved with the farm. Encourage all family members to share what the family farm means to them and how they care for their land and livestock.

HPAI Preparedness

CSIF staff had the opportunity to attend the HPAI Preparedness Mini Conference hosted by the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at the Scheman Building in Ames on September 23rd. The conference provided some key insights for producers, veterinarians and industry professionals to prepare for future HPAI outbreaks. There were four breakout sessions covering the lessons learned from the 2015 and 2022 outbreaks; the what, why and how of permitting; what to do when your farm becomes infected; and how to collect samples if you suspect your flock is infected. It was a very informative and timely workshop as surrounding states have reported HPAI outbreaks in recent weeks.

For more information about HPAI, visit the Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship website.

Internship Spotlight

Janie’s View Through the Gate

“As the CSIF intern, I have been given a variety of opportunities to expand both my knowledge and skillset in many areas. Anywhere from traveling and networking to photography and marketing, I have explored new skills while perfecting old ones.”

Read Janie’s blog to learn about some of her favorite experiences!

2023 CSIF Communications Internship

We are now accepting applications for the 2023 Communications Internship! Click here for more information.

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