Interview with Dave Schubel & Phil Keppler
SK Herefords, Medina
Q1: How long have you been a producer?
A: Dave had a dairy back ground and went into beef farming in 1986. Phil has been in the
beef business his entire life with his family but struck out on his own in 1995. Dave and
Phil formed a partnership now known as SK Herefords in 1996 when they merged their two
farms (SK Hereford stands for “Schubel – Keppler Herefords). They own approximately
1200 acres combined grazing and crop land.
Q2: How many generations have been part of your cattle operation?
A: Dave is a 1st generation farmer whereas Phil is a 5th generation beef farmer.
Q3: What’s the most unique thing about your operation?
A: “Our personalities”!
We are one of the largest cow/calf producers in the state with approximately 230
head. We had up to 300 however a drought a couple of years ago whittled down the herd.
We have been trying to rebuild to that number again.
Our land is fairly unique as well; it is a very stony soil which lends itself to be better
for grazing with some cropping. This area is known for fruit farming however our land is
“marginal” at best to handle fruit crop farming.
We also have a big commitment to genetics to enhance feed efficiencies and carcass
traits (tender/lean).
Q4: What does being a cattle producer mean to you?
A: Being a producer is rewarding in the sense of personal experience not so much
economically. Working with animals, being outside, the breeding and calving is so exciting
to see and experiencing the birth of a calf; we’ve assisted in c-sections, which was
incredible! The people you work with in the livestock industry are great people!
Q5: As a producer, what role do you play in protecting the environment?
A: Well, let’s start off by saying that Phil was the “Conservationist of the Year” in 2001.
Protecting the environment is very important to us individually and to our farm. We have a
creek that flows into Lake Ontario and also a large local, very popular Brown Trout fishery.
We manage our fields to protect ground nesting birds. We use IPM (Integrated Pest
Management) and strategically do our deworming to allow the cow pies to be broken down
by insects, these insects are then consumed by wild turkeys, that thrive on these bugs.
We do active soil testing, which has showed us that we have raised the soil composition
due to our cattle grazing practices. Dave’s land has a “Class II Wetland” which allows for
an eco system for wildlife, birds and insects. SK Herefords has a higher ratio of birds on
its land due to how we manage our cattle and manage our wild life habitat than the local
sanctuary.
Phil: I love the birds, I love listening to them, they relax me on stressful days, knowing
that what I do to protect their habitat and environment makes me happy!
Q6: What would you want consumers to know about how you help conserve natural
resources?
A: Rotational Grazing, we don’t use fertilizers or pesticides; the grazing land decreases
the amount of erosion to the land vs. crop farming. We have manure tested to see where
spreading it would be most advantageous. We integrate our systems to help protect fish
and wildlife not only on our farms but the surrounding areas as well. We want to ensure
that what we do leaves the land as good or better for the next generation!
Q7: What’s the most important thing you do for the environment on your operation?
A: We raised the quality of life with open space. There is something good about the
outside of a cow that’s good for the inside of a man! To see cattle grazing, hear song birds
singing, knowing that what we do for our land and environment provides birds to sing and
cattle to grow to feed the population…nothing better in life.
Q8: Have you made any changes recently to further address your operation’s
sustainability?
A: How we handle manure has decreased our use of fertilizer. We use a “no till” corn, you
don’t have to till the land to plant corn, which helps reduce erosion. Seed technology has
helped crop yield as well as conservation of land.
Q9: What will your legacy as a cattle producer be? What will it be to the
environment? What will it be for your family?
A: Our legacy will be to produce better cattle than when we started by creating a more
efficient better quality animal through our work with genetics. American Hereford
Association has recognized our farm for its genetic work, with our bulls and our cows,
some of our cows have been awarded “Dams of Distinction”. We would like part of our
legacy to be recognized in feed conversion, our utilization of “marginal” land in a way that
allows you to feed a thriving herd and in turn provide nutritious beef for America’s dinner
tables.
Q10: What should consumers know about your daily life and how you are helping
to feed America?
A: Farming is a long and physically taxing job. You are at the mercy of Mother Nature,
politics and the change in consumer spending without having a say in any of it. It’s a huge
capital investment with little return, but at the end of the day you feel good because we
see the beginning and end to a job and God’s hand in nature. Breeding allows creation and
change and the ability to provide animal protein to feed America.
Q11: How do you educate future generations about the cattle industry?
A: This has been increasingly difficult due to fewer kids/generations wanting to become
cattle farmers. SK Herefords is open and welcomes the public. We conduct school tours
and summer camp tours, and we try to be as transparent as possible. People often stop
along the side of the road to watch cows calving; it’s an amazing site to see.
Q12: What do you do to be a good steward of the land?
A: We use the latest genetic hybrids for our crops that are insect resistant which lowers
our use for insecticides, we use No Till Corn to help decrease erosion and we are
committed to sound science. We participate in continuing education programs with Cornell
Extension , breed associations, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and Integrated Pest
Management. We use a special alfalfa that keeps “potato leaf hopper” off the plants to
prevent the use of insecticides, and utilize advances in science and genetics to ensure good
crops.
Q13: What actions do you take to ensure your animals are properly taken care of?
A: We work closely with the vet and nutrition consultant. We have a vaccination program,
we use feed rations that are most efficient and effective for feeding our animals. We
take a holistic approach as well as a team approach with other professionals to ensure our
animals have optimal nutrition. For example, we conducted soil and forage testing and
found that there was a deficiency in copper (a problem in western NY due to a low level of
copper in the soil) we now add a copper supplement to the feed to ensure a balance of
nutrients.
Q14: What do you do to ensure beef safety?
A: We follow labels on antibiotics and only use if a cow is sick. We are BQA Certified and
follow the standards set by BQA. We follow a vaccination program to minimize antibiotics.
Q15: What are some challenges you feel are facing the beef industry?
A: HSUS/PETA, myths and misinformation about the livestock industry
Q16: What breed of cattle do you raise? Why did your family choose to raise
this breed of cattle?
A: We raise Herefords and crossbred Hereford/Angus. We raised this breed due to the
fact that they are most well suited to the climate; they are a rugged animal, can handle
the snow, tolerate heat and are good grazing as well as having a good disposition.
Q17: What type of marketing programs do you use for your cattle? (e.g., natural
organic, conventional)
A: We are conventional farmers with some freezer beef sales, but it’s tough to maintain
that business due to the fact that processing is a challenge in New York.
Q18: How do you see all of the steps in the production chain working together?
A: We consider ourselves vertically integrated and sell direct to a packer. We grow our
own feed and finish our cattle to market weight. We utilize the distiller’s grain, the biproduct from the local ethanol plant as part of our feeding program. We use all parts of
the corn crop, corn to feed, stalks for feed and bedding.