Dearborn County, Indiana
A unique mixture of agriculture and industrial enterprises with easy access to surrounding areas
2023 RIVER FRIENDLY FARMER RECIPIENTS
Misty Acres Farm
Since 1999, key conservation and agricultural organizations have sponsored the River Friendly Farmer (RFF) Program. This statewide initiative recognizes farmers, who through good production management practices, help keep Indiana’s rivers, lakes and streams clean.
Annually, each county Soil and Water Conservation District may nominate up to two farmers who do an outstanding job of protecting rivers, lakes and streams through their every day conservation management practices on the farm.
Libby & Tom Klump owners of Misty Acres Farm located on North Hogan Road, have 17 head of brood beef cattle which raise feeder calves from every year, also feed out fat cattle for customer freezer beef. the cattle are raised naturally/clean without any enhancements or implants. Besides the cattle, the Klumps have 12 goats, 5 miniature horses, 2 donkeys, and 2 trail horses. Besides their own hay, they also do custom baling for others on approximately 120 acres.
The farm consists of 35 acres of pasture land and hay land, 30 acres of woodlands, and they've installed 40 - 12kw solar panels which supplements 75% of the farm's electric usage.
Libby & Tom have 5 children and 6 grandchildren. Their children grew up participating in 4-H. Tom is an Associate Supervisor with Dearborn County Soil & Water Conservation District, appointed to the Board Retail Representative on the Indiana State Ag Board. Tom has also completed the Master Cattleman's Program and Beef Quality Assurance Program.
Some of the conservation practices on Misty Acres Farm are: Alternative watering systems, rotational grazing, prescribed grazing, routine soil testing, follow nutrient management guidelines, heavy use area protection pads at eroded areas such as around watering tanks, feed lots, feed pads, high cattle traffic areas and gates. Main goal is to address any resource concerns on the farm by preventing sediment, erosion run off by implementing permanent grass cover to improve forage and water quality. In the woodlands, they are working on timber stand improvement and eradicating invasive species to provide a better wildlife habitat and healthier forest.
SCENIC VIEW FARMS
Mary & Wes Booker owners of Scenic View Farms, located on Scenic View Drive, breed and raise Balancer cattle breed. Balancer is a Gelbvieh/Angus cross. At the present time they are running 22 brood cattle, 6 bulls, 33 feeder calves, and in the fall will have approximately 26 fat cows, 5-6 heifers to keep for replacements on their 97 acres. They have standing orders for their freezer beef, usually about 27 head, they'll send to the locker plant every February/March.
Some of the conservation practices that are on the farm are: 2 spring developments with tanks, additional 7 automatic watering systems, heavy use area protection pads in feed lots and heavy used cattle areas such at through gates and around feed troughs and tanks. Pastures are divided to allow for rotational grazing. Fencing is in place to keep cattle out of sensitive areas, such a a stream that runs through the property. Roof Run Off on the barns with underground tile outlet away from the barn and feed lots to reduce pooling/standing water and erosion. Forage and water quality and quantity is important to maintain for the herd health and natural resources.
Wes has worked with Purdue University over many years, customizing his own feed to fit his herd's nutritional needs. He grinds and mixes his own feed adding minerals and protein to get the desired feed. The brood cows are artificially inseminated, so they can have a more selective choice when looking at genetics they wish to improve or keep. They also have 6 mature bulls for renting out and for breeding any open cows that may have missed with the AI. Wes also bales approximately 75-80 acres of hay for their own use and normally has some for sale.
When Wes was asked for any advise for someone wanting to get into the beef business, his reply was: "It's a 24 hour, 7 days a week commitment, and you have to love it." He also suggested go work on a beef farm to get the experience of the ups and downs and then decide if it would be what you really want to do.
The two farms will be recognized at theIndiana State Fair, August 9, 2023 Awards Ceremony, and at the Annual SWCD Meeting held in March 2024.
They receive certificates, hats, shirts, and a large sign to be erected at their farms.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
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