Success Stories
Read about Illinois livestock producers and practices that demonstrate how livestock producers can successfully work with the community.
Won’t You Be My Neighbor
Hunter Haven Dairy, located in a highly populated Northern Illinois community, implements good stewardship practices to coexist with the surrounding urban community.
Coming Home to Roost
After college graduation, these young people chose to join the family farm operation. See how they’ve put their education to work in the field
The Livestock – Biofuels Connection
The growing popularity of renewable fuels is strengthening the natural synergy that exists between the Illinois grain and livestock industries. Increasing Illinois biofuels production is boosting the local availability of feedstuffs, byproducts of fuel production. That benefits livestock producers, while grain producers profit from both the biofuels market and the feed market.
Environmental Stewardship is Hog Heaven
A Prophetstown pork producer discusses environmental measures implemented out of consideration for his downwind neighbors.
Gaf-Fine Farms: Defining Generations of Dairy Success
Truly solid businesses stand the test of time. Gaf-Fine Farms, Inc., near Greenville, Illinois, is no exception. Now in its third generation of family management, the Gaffner family finds that the long-time success of their grain and dairy operation has always required the right combination of professional skill, economics and local community involvement.
In efforts to improve their operation’s environmental stewardship and enhance the “neighborhood,” Verhulsts said, “We added a ring of 32 pine trees when we constructed our new finishing facility last year, and we took measures to cut down odor with a Slurrystore manure management system.” Although not required to do these things, Verhulsts said, “We did it because it’s a good business decision to help maintain the viability of the hog industry in Illinois.”
(See Hog Heaven for the full story.)
