Community involvement important for livestock producers
By Mark McHargue | 3/11/2008

Having a great rapport with neighbors and members of the community is a goal of every business owner – including livestock and poultry producers.

Although livestock and poultry producers contribute a great deal to the economic health and vitality of their rural communities, being a good neighbor – and a good citizen of the community – means more than that.

It means, for example, calling the neighbors before spreading manure to make sure they are not planning something outdoors that evening or week. If they are, postpone or spread manure someplace else.

It means having a barbeque for neighbors or giving away hams at Christmas or donating sausage to a breakfast fundraiser in town. Activities like these not only help build relationships, but they tie a farm’s production to a food product. It lets people know that products like those come from “the neighborhood.”

These kinds of efforts can go a long way toward building good will. It does not, however, change all of the perceptions that exist in today’s world simply because people don’t know what livestock and poultry producers do and how they do it. Twenty years ago, everyone living in rural communities knew how hogs, chickens and cattle were raised. That’s not true anymore – people simply aren’t as connected as they once were and production practices have changed considerably.

This makes it even more important for livestock and poultry producers to spread the word – to tell neighbors, people in the community and others – the truth about modern animal agriculture.

As a pork producer, I became part of the Operation Main Street speaking bureau, which is supported by the Pork Checkoff. I’ve had the chance to speak to many organizations about how I raise hogs.

One speaking opportunity was in my hometown, giving me a chance to tell people in the community about my operation – take them on a tour through photos. Like many livestock operators, I cannot allow large tours in person simply because of biosecurity risks. Photos and a first-hand account, though, help people understand what we do, why we do it and how. The more livestock and poultry producers can tell their story, the better others will understand – and the better we’ll all work together.

This mutual understanding and respect is of great help when a livestock producer is looking to expand. The Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska (A-FAN) stresses the importance of this and couldn’t be more right. If a positive relationship is already there, then it is easier to approach a neighbor with your plan.

Besides, if you are involved in the community, many people may already understand your needs – extra revenue to help pay for kids heading off to college, expanding to allow a son or daughter to join the farm or adding an operation in order to diversify income and be more successful in the future.

Being involved in a community and having a good relationship with neighbors is simply good business – and something all producers should strive towards.

Mark McHargue is a member of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation’s board of directors. He lives near Central City, where he operates a grain and farrow-to-wean hog operation.