It All Started With Gas

Ethanol is a fuel produced by corn, but in the ethanol production process there are some by-products that are also made. One of those by-products include DDGs. DDGs are dried distillers grains. This is used as animal feed for all types of livestock like, cows and pigs. It’s super high in protein and can easily get animals up to weight for market. Lots of farmers are users of the grain, but some farmers are not quite as quick to pick up the grain. For the few dairy farmers in Iowa some may choose to let their cows eat grass. This makes a big difference in how quickly cows grow. Talking to Kevin Dietzel of Lost Lake Farm, a small dairy farmer near Kamrar, he explained that when it is time for some of his cows to be sold off to market for meat his cows are not top sellers because of weight in comparison to other cows who get fed grain, which in turn bulk up in size quickly.

I have always been under the impression that grass fed cows, for meat, are better. I was shocked to hear that his cows were not top market. But, I began to wonder; why “beef” up a cow with corn? What is so great about these DDGs that they make them take over and monopolize the feeding menu for animals? I surely want to investigate more on the subject of animal nutrition while I am here. My logic, right now, is that healthy animals make healthy people. Why confine animals to a singular diet? I am ready to find out how farmers diversify their animals’ diets to make sure the animals are happy and healthy.

We also had the great pleasure of meet Brain Wosepka, who is a young person starting to farm using the practices of Joel Salatin.  This kind of agriculture is done on few acres of land, which makes Brian’s operation quite different than many we’ve already seen and discussed.  To give some reference most farms here easily run a 1000 acres of land. That’s a lot, right? But Wosepka’s farm is only 100 acres, a big difference than those around him. His smaller scale operation has allowed him try out different feeding options on his cattle. He too grazes his cows, making them grass fed, and employs a type a rotational grazing. This constant movement of the cows not only mimics what grazing looks like in the wild, making it more natural for the cattle, but also helps nurture the soil making his land more valuable and nutritious when it is time to grow crops. This is great example of diversifying an animal diet, and proves that not all agriculture in Iowa has to be “Big Agriculture.”

To finish off the evening I was so intrigued to hear about Wosepka’s personal philosophy of farming. His values really familiarized Iowa with me. His value for the health of his environment and the animals creates a ripple effect for things around him. This kind of agriculture strengthens the local economy because his smaller farm means he can sell locally. His values also increase accountability, if people buy from you they know you, so all reviews, good and bad, will all lead back to the source, and finally to retaining a rural population. For smaller, rural communities it’s not rare to see people leave and never return; whether it be because of school, better jobs, or simply because there is nothing to enjoy or do, when people leave their original homes it makes some towns desolate and crumbling. His farming can easily become a framework for younger people to get their hand into farming. It is less intimidating and way more accessible than conventional agriculture.

It is only day three, and Iowa seems a little more recognizable with each passing day. Even though the Iowa way of farming is way different than the South Carolina way, the similarities are beginning to reveal themselves. I am hopeful that there is a small acreage out there for me one day, so I can get my hands a little mud covered.

Small agriculture lives on even in the great jungle of corn stalks here in Iowa.