Post

Cab Conversations: Get Growing No. 3

This week in Get Growing, Meghan Grebner, Indiana Farm Director, talks with farmers from Texas, South Dakota and Michigan about their planting seasons, weather conditions and the Avian flu.

Keith Alverson, Chester, South Dakota
Matt Hinderer, Chelsea, Michigan
Darrell Glaser, Rogers, Texas

Show Notes: 
The Conversation, weather, illness, and how they impact production

Meghan Grebner: Asks the group about their operations.
Darrell Glaser: Says he raises about 600K turkey and cattle on his nearly 100 year old farm.
Keith Alverson: Says he’s planted mostly corn on his 6th generation farm.
Matt Hinderer: He operates a cash crop operation of corn, soybeans and wheat.
Meghan Grebner: Asks the group about their fields.
Matt Hinderer: He says it’s very wet. They’re about 25% in the ground with corn, no beans planted. They’ve been parked for 9 days.
Keith Alverson: He says things have slowed up after getting an early start on planting. It started dry with drought concern, but has started getting some rain.
Darrell Glaser: He says his operation works toward a 12 month grazing season. Texas has had more rain than normal so they may stock pile two or three years worth of hay.
Meghan Grebner: Asks about Avian flu.
Darrell Glaser: Says they’re lucky not to be that close to it. He says being cautious about not introducing anything into the poultry houses is top priority. Everyone takes and iodine foot bath going in and out. He says birds landing on the property is a concern.
Meghan Grebner: She asks the group to talk about why they’re willing to share their farming story.
Keith Alverson: He says he’s learned a lot from other farmers and that it’s important to let people know about farming since they’re such a small percentage of the population.
Matt Hinderer: He appreciates the feedback he gets knowing people want to know what’s going on, on the farm.
Darrell Glaser: He has had consumer groups visit and learn in order to battle misconceptions. He wants to show that farmers are working to make the safest products as possible.
Matt Hinderer: Talks about the expansion in relation to markets that social media has had.
Keith Alverson: Asks about the increase in wheat production and suggestions for making it work.
Matt Hinderer: He says he thinks there’s an increase in production because of more research being done.  He also says the concept of cover crops with wheat providing a great rotational opportunity.