Transition is on the mind of many farmers.
“What will come next after farming?”
And because many love the land there’s another thought.
“How can my farm remain a farm?”
And because each farmer and farm is unique, the answers to those questions may vary. Still one thing is fairly uniform – answers are not arrived at easily. But sometimes the right people appear on the scene at the right time to make transition possible.
Dale Peacock previously milked a certified-organic dairy herd. And then he transitioned to pasture-raised beef and hay. Recently he found himself ready for the next farming transition at his Red Hoof Farm.
Early one evening he parked a load of hay in his yard and climbed down from his tractor to visit.
“I’ve been farming for about 25 years, the last 14 years here in Port Wing, (Wisconsin),” he said. “A new couple is going to manage this farm and keep the cattle here. They will keep it a pasture-based-beef operation. I’m sure they will be able to make improvements as they go along. We have an agreement and I plan on continuing to live on the farm.
“I love being with the cattle. One of my favorite things is to move the cows around from pasture to pasture and see how the forage is growing. I love trying to keep the pastures, forages and paddocks healthy to keep those cows growing. I enjoy making my own schedule and I like working by myself a lot. It’s great to be in tune with the outdoors, nature and the changing seasons.”
And though he will live on his farm, Peacock is not yet sure what he will be doing next beyond making hay – and assisting and mentoring the young couple.
Iris and Anders Podschun are taking over Red Hoof Farm. Standing near a pasture they discussed farming and their future.
“I’ve been farming since 2007, helping on the farms of others in seven different states,” he said. “I grew up in Wisconsin and my goal was always to come back and farm here. I dropped out of law school to farm. But I thought it was not feasible to farm in Wisconsin. (While we learned farming) we dealt with the land-access problems new farmers have. Plus out west we also had water-access problems and wildfires. So I was glad to come home to Wisconsin where we have grass and probably won’t have to evacuate because of wildfires.
“Our long-term goal is to keep Red Hoof Farm going. We will keep selling direct to consumers. Dale (Peacock) has built up the genetics in the cattle herd. We are one of the larger grass-fed-beef operations in this area. We have a good share of the Twin Ports (Superior, Wisconsin, and Duluth, Minnesota) market. We will probably make some changes as we go forward since one has to roll with the punches in farming. We will keep putting out a quality product to remain competitive. We hope to grow the operation.
“It has taken us years to get to the position of having our own farm and take on a cattle loan. We are grateful to have Dale’s mentorship. He knows the land, the cows and the market. Sometimes farmers want to sell and get out. They don’t want to help new owners; they just want to be done. We feel very fortunate to have found this situation.”
Iris Podschun said, “I like being part of shaping an ecosystem, having a relationship with the animals, paying attention to the land and the life that is happening all around us. To influence that all in a positive way over time is enjoyable.
Click here to see more...