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Few folks searching for groceries give a lot thought to the place the meals got here from, the work it took to supply it or who did the work. Still, serving to to feed the world is a satisfying feeling. So says Aimee Chandler, whose household is our Farm Family of the Week.
How lengthy has your loved ones been farming?
Chandler Family Farms has been an entity for about 5 years. It consists of brothers Greg and Philip Chandler and their spouses, Aimee and Beth Chandler, respectively, who created it after taking up floor of their very own. Previously, Greg and Philip had each been serving to their dad (Mike Chandler) and grandfather (Louis Chandler) of their operation.
Another factor to notice is that Greg and Aimee’s oldest daughter, Addyson, simply graduated from highschool and shall be attending Illinois State University in the fall, majoring in agribusiness.
Where is your farm operation?
The farm operates out of Buckley, however farm floor is unfold from Onarga to Roberts to Cissna Park.
What does your operation consist of? Is it strictly grain, or do you even have livestock?
The farm consists of largely corn and soybeans with a bit of wheat infrequently. Cover crops are additionally utilized. Greg and Aimee and their household increase present pigs in the spring and summertime. Philip and Beth’s household has a small group of chickens and breed looking canines.
How many individuals in the household does it help?
Two households make a dwelling off the farm, however many produce other jobs to complement earnings.
Do you have got any relations additionally working different jobs?
Greg works excavation jobs equivalent to discipline tile and drainage work when time permits. Most days, the farm is his principal job. Aimee works as a math instructor at Iroquois West High School. Philip works full time as an space enterprise chief for Bevant Seeds.
How have you ever seen farming change over the years?
Technology has turn into a big half of agriculture in the previous a number of years. The introduction to cowl crops, adjustments in tillage practices, the significance of completely different advertising methods are a couple of of the issues that we have now seen change in agriculture.
Your tools: Green (John Deere), purple (Case IH) or different?
Most tools is blue (New Holland) with a bit of inexperienced sprinkled right here and there.
What makes farming such an excellent vocation?
It is one thing that the complete household can become involved with. The farming manner of life is a household way of life like no different. Meals in the fields, youngsters using or serving to on the farm resulting in studying, cooperation (amongst household and group) are huge components of the way of life which might be rewarding. It is a superb feeling to know that you’re doing all your half to maintain this world going by feeding others. Every 12 months you see your product by means of from begin to end — from seed to a harvested crop.
If you would change one factor about farming, what wouldn’t it be?
The perceived picture of what farming was — assume American Gothic — to what it actually is, sitting in high-tech tools, accumulating and utilizing knowledge to get higher every year. There are so many misconceptions about agriculture that must be dispelled — GMOs are dangerous, spraying chemical substances hurts the meals we’re placing into our physique, antibiotics are present in the meat we eat, and so on.
What’s the greatest time of 12 months to be on the farm?
Each of us has a distinct favourite time. For some, it’s the fall harvest and seeing the crop are available. For others, it’s the first rising seedings in the discipline.
How a lot of an affect have larger inputs and hovering gasoline costs had in your operation?
They have had a big affect on the backside line. Higher inputs have made advertising selections extra necessary. Tracking and locking in enter costs has additionally turn into essential.
Do you discover that as a result of of larger prices, farmers are having to farm extra acreage to make ends meet?
We don’t imagine that that is true. The older technology tends to retire, and the youthful generations lower prices in different places, as a result of in case you aren’t worthwhile on 1 acre, you aren’t going to be worthwhile on 100 acres.
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