TBF 140 :: Applying Farm Knowledge, Farm News, and a Hard Lesson Learned

The Beginning Farmer Show

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Earlier this month I was able to take a long drive to northwestern Iowa and visit Seven W Farm during their Practical Farmers of Iowa Field Day. This was the second field day at the Wilson's farm that I have been able to attend (along with watching their Niche Pork Webinar from 2009) and I am very thankful they are willing to open their farm, and share their experiences! Seven W Farm consists of 660 acres, seven Wilsons (plus kids), organic grains, hogs, organic dairy, pastured poultry, grassfed beef, and grassfed lamb. To say that there is a lot going on would be an understatement for sure. Behind the diversity of enterprises though is a great wealth of knowledge that comes from multi-generational family farm. In fact Dan has been pasture farrowing hogs for 50 years now! What I'm trying to say with all of that background information is that I learned a lot. I mean I really learned A LOT!!! And, the great thing about some of the knowledge I picked up from their experiences is that it is stuff I think that I can still apply to this growing season. Here are four things that I hope to apply in the coming weeks and of course a bunch of links that I mention in the episode: What I learned and will be (hopefully applying soon) ...

1. Burst Proof Water Line for Pastured Pigs
2. A-Fram Farrowing Sheds are the Bomb
3. Premier1 Pig Fence is Worth a Try
4. Three Words ... Apple. Cider. Vinegar.

The pile of links mentioned in this episode ...

• Seven W Farm PFI Field Day Recap
• Seven W Farm Website
• High Density Polyethylene from Powerflex
• A-Frame Farrowing Hut Design (and other pasture farrowing info)
• Premier1 Pig Fence
• Apple Cider Vinegar Research from Frantzen Farm
• Apple Cider Vinegar Stories (Will Winter)
• ACV for Pigs from The Vinegar Guys (you can buy vinegar from them too)
• Grass Farmer Supply (ACV for sale along with other minerals, vitamins, healthy stuff)

:: Practical Farmers of Iowa Recap of 2016 Field Day ::

If you are interested in having a grassfed Dexter Cattle Herd of your own shoot me an e-mail because we have cows, heifers, and cow/calf pairs available right now! Check out The Beginning Farmer Show on Facebook! As always, I want to thank you so much for listening and supporting the show with your encouragement and reviews on iTunes! I am continually working to produce a better show, and I'm thankful for all of the listeners sticking with me as I learn. If you do enjoy the show, don't forget that you can subscribe on iTunes and leave a five star rating and review (by clicking the link). If you are an Android phone user you can also subscribe on the free Stitcher App. It is so very encouraging to know that people are listening and enjoying the show! I would love to hear your questions, show ideas, or comments about the show. Feel free to shoot me an e-mail! As always you can follow along with "The Beginning Farmer" and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links ...

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