I'm in the business of facilitating conversations. My Wisconsin Public Radio call-in show allows many people from different backgrounds to meet and exchange ideas.
Quite often, the conversations revolve around the environment or food, or some combination of the two, when we talk about Wisconsin agriculture. I really love those discussions, because it's like peeling an onion. Each layer reveals more people, places, products and issues that add flavor to our communities.
I find that when I talk to the people behind any industry or idea, I gain a deeper understanding. Yes, the statistics behind Wisconsin's dairy impact are compelling (see "Dairy's Impact on Communities"). But it's people who converse about issues every day. Like this issue: How does farming fit into our communities? It's an issue that is raised with increasing frequency, especially here in America's Dairyland, where many of our rural communities have more cows than people.
The truth is, there are people—real people—making a living on these farms, day in and day out. And many have real neighbors living nearby who may have questions about what happens on today's farms.
Take Dane County, for example. While some of the 360 dairy farms lie on the county's fringes in communities such as Blue Mounds and Marshall, some farms lie adjacent to cities such as Fitchburg and Middleton. These "farms on the edge" usually prompt the most discussion.
O'Brien farm anchors Fitchburg to the dairy industry
The O'Brien family started farming in Fitchburg in 1899 when Cornelius O'Brien purchased 140 acres—the property was known as Stoner's Prairie. Back then, Fitchburg was not a city.
Today, Fitchburg's population is 19,000. This suburb of Madison became attractive to those wanting to escape the state capital for lush rolling fields and more open space. Over time, the O'Briens' farmstead has grown and adapted to urban sprawl.
"We are in a unique situation, operating a dairy farm in a city of 19,000 residents," says Pat O'Brien. (Stoner Prairie Dairy is co-owned by Pat and his brother Tom.) "At times, it is a challenge, but there are benefits, as well. Being 15 minutes from downtown Madison, we are close to large retail outlets, entertainment opportunities and cultural events, plus agriculture resources available at the University of Wisconsin."
"We are in a unique situation, operating a dairy farm in a city of 19,000 residents."
~ Pat O'Brien
Explaining modern farming practices
The O'Briens try to accurately represent today's farms within their community. "We know that what the public observes here has an impact on how they perceive the overall industry," adds Pat. "On our farm, we strive to maintain cleanliness, along with a welcoming atmosphere. We take great pride in our dairy business."
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| Patrick and Jean O’Brien (left) and Thomas and Lyn O’Brien (right) farm on the fringe of Fitchburg, Wis. |
With less than two percent of the overall Wisconsin population actually residing on farms, the O'Briens know the importance of informing people about what they and their cows do daily. "Farming practices have changed so much. We welcome the chance to help the generations that are removed from the farm understand what we do and why agriculture is such an important part of our community and state's economy," says Pat.
The family regularly provides farm tours to school and community groups, informing them about the dairy business, the history of agriculture in Fitchburg and about the transformation of the rural Town of Fitchburg into a city.
The O'Briens also look for opportunities to share information about community issues, such as farm safety and biosecurity. "Transporting farm machinery can be a challenge with heavy bicycle and automobile traffic on our road," states Pat. The fourth-generation farmer encourages drivers to be careful and patient.
He also informs the public about farm management practices designed to keep their herd healthy and biosecure. Biosecurity refers to the measures farmers take to keep diseases out or to limit any disease from spreading. Non-farm visitors present low risk, but farmers still try to follow recommended biosecurity procedures during tours. "We have had to confront strangers who wander onto our farm to pet our calves or they are curious to see our farming operation," says Pat. "We strive to ensure adequate biosecurity measures and are installing new signage to help educate and inform people."
What's that smell?
For some neighbors, it's the smell of hard work. For many others, cow manure is not a pleasant odor. "Manure handling is by far the biggest issue we face with farming on the urban fringe," states Pat. "We try to be conscious of wind direction when spreading manure and incorporate liquid manure into the ground as quickly as possible. When we do receive complaints channeled through local authorities, we attempt to speak with the urban neighbor directly. Often times, just having the opportunity to 'air' their complaint is all that is needed to resolve the issue."
The number of people complaining is far fewer than the number of neighbors that tell the O'Briens they look forward to the smell of fresh cut hay, seeing cows graze on pasture, and watching crops grow and be harvested.
The O'Brien family strives to build strong and lasting relationships between rural and urban communities, and welcome visitors to their century-old farm. "We want our community to be proud of the farm in their back yard."
"We want our community to be proud of the farm in their back yard."
~ O'Brien Family of Fitchburg
What's happening in your community?
According to the American Farmland Trust, Wisconsin is losing more than 25,000 acres of prime working farmland each year to development (one acre is roughly the size of a football field). Whether I'm golfing, fishing, bicycling or driving, every year it seems like I have to look a little harder to find the neatly arranged puzzle pieces of bountiful farmland.
Yes, farming on the edge comes with its neighborhood challenges. Yet the abundant, local food production, coupled with the scenic views and shelters provided for wildlife, make keeping these farms worth the trouble.
Maybe you'd like to call into my show some day, and we'll have a conversation about today's modern dairy farms—and what they do for our communities.