Making the best of it

Twenty years ago, 110 acres — 90 of which were farmable — directly across the road from my parents’ farm were sold through a live auction. It would have fit perfectly into our operation because of its location and number of acres. However, it was purchased by a developer for far more than a young farming couple could afford. From that day forward, it became about building relationships and finding ways to coexist with the development. Even though it didn’t necessarily turn out the way my parents hoped, it has turned out OK.

From the beginning, my dad worked hard to build relationships with everyone involved in the development, starting with the landowners. Shortly after the purchase, he helped them seed the land to a clover-grass mix after the dirt work was completed. Although my parents didn’t buy the property, they were still given the opportunity to take 1,000 bales of hay off it over the years to feed the heifers. They did it in halves. Dad made the hay, kept half and bought the other half at a very reasonable price.

In the early 2000s, my parents decided to purchase the 4-acre lot that receives all of our water runoff so they wouldn’t have to worry about dealing with a future neighbor around the intake. It was also a way for them to be a part of the community, including the meetings, email chain and neighborhood association. They purchased the lot for around $30,000, but today, similar lots are bringing close to $60,000.

When you put that into perspective, it is crazy to think about. My parents have paid more per acre for some farms than for that small lot. Although it isn’t large, it still provides a little hay, and my parents planted pine trees to help improve its appearance. It could eventually become a place for one of the kids to build a house, or it could be sold someday, but the main reason for purchasing it was to become part of the association and have a seat at the table through the two annual meetings and ongoing communication.

Over the years, Dad has made it a priority to get to know the neighbors. As new houses are built, he introduces himself and often brings a small gift of cheese and butter as a way to start the relationship. He has always said he wants to meet them and give them his phone number before they have to meet them because cattle got out. It all comes down to having good communication and being a courteous neighbor, and that goes both ways.

Today, there are about 20 upscale houses occupied by retired professionals, engineers, doctors and others. Over the years, we kids have played sports with many of the families, and my mom has taught several of the children who live out there. Dad’s skid loader has probably been in almost every guy’s yard because they’ve asked to borrow it for projects or snow removal. There is also a small pond in the development, and if Dad sees someone fishing, he will load a calf onto the ranger and take it down to the pond for people, kids or grandkids to pet and to see up close.

Most farms today are surrounded by houses and people, most of whom don’t have strong ties to agriculture. It is increasingly important that we become comfortable working with them and being a good neighbor because they aren’t going away. It is much easier to have them on your side than to have them be against you.

Between owned and rented ground, we now either own or farm all four sides surrounding the development. On those fields, Dad tries to maintain larger headlands, plant cover crops and incorporate injected manure when possible, rather than leaving it on the surface. He also reduced the size of our heifer pasture and moved it farther from the road, creating more of a buffer between the cattle and the development. Additionally, he has created a dike with a tile outlet in the extra space to help slow the water that crosses the road.

It all comes down to making the best out of a situation that wasn’t preferred. My parents could have had a bad attitude and resisted the housing development, but they chose to adapt instead, and it has become about as positive an outcome as possible, given the circumstances. Housing developments and new neighbors are only going to keep getting closer to agriculture, so it is important we understand and work hard to make the best of those situations. In many cases, that starts with building relationships.

Abby Fairbanks is the third-generation on her family’s farm. She works full-time with her parents, Doug and Jody, where they milk 400 cows  near Anamosa, Iowa.