By Kristin Kveno
The Land Staff Writer
Goodhue — On a farm four miles east of Goodhue, sixth-generation farmer Brandon Schafer relishes the farm history while maintaining an eye on the future.
The Schafer farm corporation consists of Brandon managing the hog operation, brother Brian and father, Lowell, managing the cattle enterprise. Family has and always will remain an integral part of this farming operation.
“All the way through my youth I was actively involved (in farming),” Schafer said, though he was more of a cattle guy before he went to college. An internship changed that, providing the opportunity to view sow production in a different light. Schafer discovered that it “didn’t all have to grunt and sweat.”
After graduating college with a degree in animal science, Schafer decided to focus on his family’s hog operation. “We have simplified the process and made it much, much more animal friendly,” he said. With a staff of four full-time workers and one part-timer, Schafer appreciates the time he can take off due to an experienced crew.
Schafer is currently farrowing 1,600 sows and finishing about 38,000 pigs year.
It is not just taking better care of the sows; for Schafer it is continuing the legacy of taking care of the land as well. “My grandpa was actually awarded a soil conservation award,” he said. This practice is “on-going through generations” and has “always been a fundamental understanding of how you work and live in agriculture in our family.”
Schafer doesn’t believe that his farm’s conservation mindset is unique. What is unique, however, is the “nature in which we operate.” Since they are predominately a livestock operation, they use conservation methods in that respect, rather than just out in the field. They farm between 110 and 150 acres of corn each year, rotated with alfalfa, providing feed for the their cow herd. They purchase grain for the pigs and cattle.
One conservation practice seen on the Schafer farm is their terrace system created generations ago to keep soil erosion at a minimum. They conserve water by using swinging waterers. They also use a drag-line system for manure application, which “gives us an opportunity to navigate on these rolling hills,” he said. The system treats the soil with little or no soil compaction, maintaining a good microbial environment. “Once you lose that topsoil, it takes generations to replace that,” he said.
Schafer calls conservation efforts on his farm “the right thing to do. ... If the environment isn’t treating us right, we go hungry.” Schafer works hard to treat the environment right so that it may return the favor.
The Schafer farm is concerned about the people as well. In 1994, the farm had 200 sows; with that number growing to 400 in 1997, Schafer knew that “through that progression there are implications that the neighbors realize.” Living in the country, you can’t segregate agricultural business from where people live. Schafer wanted a way to say “thank you” to his neighbors for their understanding, and so the “Pignic” was born.
On the last Saturday of June every year, the Schafers host between 100 and 200 people at the farm. They take them on a hayride through the farm. It is an opportunity for the employees to meet and greet the neighbors, and a chance for neighbors to meet each other. They do a coin hunt in the sandbox, pig races and give away processed pigs. “We hope the neighbors enjoy it.”
The Pork Checkoff recently recognized Schafer’s efforts to care for the land and people by bestowing upon him the Pork Industry Environmental Steward Award. This award, according to the Pork Checkoff website, “honors producers who demonstrate a firm commitment to safeguarding the environment and their local communities.”
How did Schafer feel when notified that he was a recipient of the award? “Humble. ... (I) appreciate the recognition.” He called it a good thing when people in agriculture get recognized for doing something right.
As for what is currently going on in farming, Schafer is adamant that “agricultural facts need to be more accurately portrayed. ... There is an opportunity for modern-day agriculture and the environment to co-exist.” He believes this can be done through sound decision-making and management practices.
The idea that you need to take care of the environment, if you want it take care of you, is alive and well on the Schafer farm.
