Eastern Iowa Farmer Spring 2021

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gate to plate “There’s some political navigating to do, but you also need to be cognizant that the quality is never sacrificed.” — Darin doerscher Doerscher said, that applied to food. “It’s cool because when people think about going to the lab and working with basic scientific concepts, they think about beakers and acids and things like that. And making concoctions. “Sometimes I think people say ‘well, it’s just a hot dog,’” Doerscher continued. “But there’s so much more to it than that.” Time with USDA Doerscher landed a job at the USDA 14 years ago. His responsibilities have morphed over the last decade and a half, but Doerscher said it’s an employer with whom he can envision retiring. He telecommutes to the job, which enables him to stay home. “I’ve been social distancing for the past 14 years,” he joked. The USDA, which is based in Washington, D.C., is responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, and food. It works with farmers, promotes trade, assures food safety, and features initiatives to end world hunger. And Doerscher is doing his part. His team deals with the specifications and grade standards for animal commodities including red meat, poultry, aquatic animals, and shell eggs. They are in charge of managing food safety issues, microbiological testing, and maintaining related data, among other things. More than 90% of the food they control is served through the National School Lunch Program and is distributed to more than 100,000 public and private schools. In September, Doerscher earned a promotion to branch chief, and with that came more responsibilities. “This is a significant promotion and a very proud moment of his 14-year tenure with USDA,” said wife Skye, a veterinarian based in Eldridge. Darin and all five of his team members work from home. Working with a view Working from home has its benefits. Doerscher hopes to parlay his work into developing a man cave or office in his outbuilding. For now, though, his office is Bedroom No. 5. “I can look out the window and see the property,” he said. Working from home, though, does come with its distractions. Doerscher keeps a rigid schedule of 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a half-hour lunch break. “It’s hard sometimes, there Another job complete Liberty ag & exCavaging provide the foLLowing serviCes: • Tiling • Precision Planting • Custom Farming • Anhydrous Application • Excavating • Site Prep • Dozing • Waterway • Pond building and repair • NRCS projects • Much more ContaCt: Matt Kelting | 563-370-2158 29159 10th Ave, New Liberty, Iowa 52765 36 Eastern Iowa Farmer | Spring 2021 eifarmer.com
can be other things you’d rather be doing,” he said. “You need to use time as a reward instead of a distraction.” The job is always different, a value Doerscher holds dear. The coronavirus pandemic has put a wrench in some of the duties he and his team complete, too. “You might be trying to get a specific commodity to a remote location, and there are issues with the pandemic, and maybe territories aren’t allowing commercial flights to deliver the food,” he said. “There’s some political navigating to do, but you also need to be cognizant that the quality is never sacrificed.” ‘Clean, honest work’ The Doerscher family has a small farm that includes a handful of cows and broiler meat chickens. gate to plate The driving force behind most of it, Doerscher said, is son Benjamin, who helps around the property. The agricultural lifestyle isn’t one to take for granted, he says. He spoke at a TED talk in Goose Lake in 2017 called “Building a Better Burger” and shared his insights. That video is on YouTube. Doerscher promotes the work being done by civil service workers like himself. “It’s hard work, but it’s good, clean, honest work,” he said. “I support ag through my job, and my wife supports it through her job, and we also do it through the limited farming activities (at home). I want to make sure my kid knows food comes from somewhere beyond Walmart,” Doerscher said. n Profitability is a key component in maximizing stability in all forms of agri-business. SERVICES PROVIDED: FORMULATIONS, COW/CALF AND FEEDLOT MONITORING SERVICES. CUSTOM FEED BUSINESS All feed plans formulated by Steve Tebbe, Beef Production & Cow/Calf Specialist 563-357-3784 Web: eastcentralconsulting.com Email: eastcentralconsulting@gmail.com Building a PartnershiP that works we take great pride in taking care of our customers. Your success in the field is our priority. For over 25 years we have operated as an independent ag retailer with a commitment to excellence and providing our farmer friends with quality products. Together let’s build a successful partnership. Owners Ted and Sharon Witt wish you a successful planting season! Pictured: owner ted witt with grandson, Cole. Low Moor AG SERVICE, INC. 563-522-2063 Fertilizer and ag ChemiCals • roCk hauling and ag-lime • anhydrous ammonia eifarmer.com spring 2021 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 37
Page 1 and 2: The Eastern Iowa Spring 2021 Farmer
Page 3 and 4: TODD HUSMANN Channel Seedsman Cente
Page 5 and 6: s... ter! › CommerCial Warehousin
Page 7 and 8: Today, Tomorrow, Forever Joining th
Page 9 and 10: Story Index 52 Mother Nature is hav
Page 11 and 12: McCaulley Ag Service Tyler Shannon
Page 13 and 14: Chores: The building blocks of char
Page 15 and 16: Country chores (Left) Among the ani
Page 17: Country chores “We’ve always ho
Page 20 and 21: Supporting local is who we are When
Page 22 and 23: We offer tile repair and systems of
Page 24 and 25: grain bin safety Eastern Iowa Farme
Page 26 and 27: Martens Angus Farms grain bin safet
Page 28 and 29: Maquoketa Agency Offce: 563-652-568
Page 30: ASSISTED LIVING • SKILLED REHABIL
Page 34 and 35: gate to plate “We’d take bones
Page 38 and 39: Have you cHecked your soil Fertilit
Page 40 and 41: 117 S. 2nd St. Maquoketa 563-652-65
Page 42 and 43: woolly endeavor “Every year I com
Page 44 and 45: nursed, Goedken puts the ewe in a h
Page 46 and 47: Bulletins offered good, free advice
Page 48 and 49: ulletins thor, and his or her quali
Page 50 and 51: little bit ...where FRANZEN FAMILY
Page 52 and 53: Clinton County farmer Chad Petersen
Page 54 and 55: It started with one truck... That w
Page 56 and 57: mother nature “None of this equip
Page 58 and 59: More FOR YOUR FARM Animal Health
Page 60 and 61: mother nature Eastern Iowa Farmer p
Page 62 and 63: mother nature Rebuild and Restart L
Page 64 and 65: mother nature In that phone call Le
Page 66 and 67: mother nature In fact, it was an in
Page 68 and 69: 903 DeWitt St.,Grand Mound www.lega
Page 70 and 71: mother nature John Mueller John Mue
Page 72 and 73: mother nature Water levels at Lock
Page 74 and 75: mother nature “I talked about how
Page 76 and 77: mother nature called and explained
Page 78 and 79: mother nature “It is like when a
Page 80 and 81: mother nature Gerry Farrell Delmar
Page 82 and 83: mother nature Almanacs use ‘secre
Page 84 and 85: When you need a familar face we’r
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mother nature Navigating through ca
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FARMERS AT HEART ® DOING WHAT’S
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mother nature repairs to get by unt
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mother nature Keeping an eye on thi
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mother nature way of life. Kara How
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A farming future is worth the sacri
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Land prices Prices moving to the no
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Land prices cultural professionals
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By KRIS KOTH Clinton County Executi
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Deep roots grow tall We want to tha
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Ag Bytes Meteorologist documents de
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Ag Bytes outstanding achievements i
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Delaneys Auto & Ag Center & Repair
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1. All in the family — Marty Kram
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1. Sage Medinger takes a quick snoo
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1. Cole and Logan Green help their
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1. “Spiderman,” Dylan Matthiese
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1. Molly Matthiesen and Meghan Klem
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One of the nation’s fastest growi
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Eastern Iowa Farmer Spring 2021

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