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Iowa farmer uses Pork Cares report to guide environmental goals

An Iowa pork producer says a data tool from the Pork Checkoff has helped him adjust his on-farm sustainability practices.

Dwight Dial has a 700-acre livestock and row crop operation in north-central Iowa. He tells Brownfield the Pork Cares Farm Impact Report focuses on establishing environmental goals, which led him to make some changes with his manure applications.

“We went from a pretty much total liquid manure in the fall to a split application. In fact, we’ve now gone to a three-way split application.”

Dial says manure applications in hayfields have also been beneficial.

“We found it actually enhanced the thickness and growth development of alfalfa by knifing it in, splitting the roots, and getting more tonnage per acre.”

He says he’s also made a transition to solar power as a result of his impact report data.

“Currently, my solar provides all the energy for the farm. What once used to cost an average of over $300 per month electrical bills, we’re down in the last 8 months averaging $15.79 per month.”

The Pork Checkoff has worked with environmental group Eocene since 2018 to develop the reports.

Producers can request a checkoff funded report at porkcheckoff.org.

Dial spoke to Brownfield during a recent interview alongside Jamie Burr, chief sustainability officer for the National Pork Board, and Morgan Worek, staff member at Wisconsin Pork Association. The full interview with Dial, Burr, and Worek can be heard below.