June is finally here with the kind of weather
we’ve all been waiting for.
Wasn’t the air show a great way to start the
summer? Congratulations to all the Thunder on the Lakeshore volunteers on a
terrific weekend.
Great events like Metro Jam, Sundae Thursday,
and the Garden Fair in Washington Park are coming up in the days ahead.
And it’s June Dairy Month, a time when we
think about agriculture, an important part of our community and economy. The
celebration goes on all month but the centerpiece is the annual Dairy Breakfast
sponsored by the Manitowoc County Dairy Promotion Committee. Breakfast on the
Farm will be hosted this Sunday morning from 8 a.m. until noon by the Nic
Schoenberger and Mike Schuler families at their Greendale Dairy near St
Nazianz.
These families represent the kind of
commitment that helped build Manitowoc County, a good example of the role
agriculture has played in the history of our community. We thank them for this
valuable opportunity to get a closer look at how a real farm actually works,
and salute everyone involved in this important local industry.
Here in Manitowoc County agriculture has not
only been an important part of our history, but is also vital for our present,
and crucial for the future. Farming and related commerce provides about 5000
jobs, 18 percent of the commerce, and along with manufacturing and tourism is a
major sector of our county economy. Dairy farming is dominant. With nearly
50,000 cows our local dairy farms annually rank among the tops in the state in
milk production.
Farmers are our friends and neighbors. It
takes a special kind of resilience to be a farmer. Weather and the economy are
beyond their control. The growing season can be harsh; commodity prices are
unpredictable and operating costs stay high while the demand for capital and
urban sprawl make it very competitive.
In Manitowoc County we appreciate agriculture
while taking a progressive balanced approach toward protecting the environment.
Modern dairy operations are growing larger. Increased housing built out into
the county creates new problems, but we’re working hard to help solve the land
use and logistical challenges that result.
Our county Soil, Water and Land Conservation
staff work closely with the local Ag community to develop nutrient handling
regulations that in many cases are even stronger than state standards and
designed to provide increased protection for the rivers, lakes, streams and
groundwater for future generations.
We want agriculture to be successful for a
long time and we don’t take it for granted.
Original Article Here
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