Ed Rippley, located among the rolling hills and the steep valleys of the Wisconsin region, Ed Rippley has Buffalo, goal and deep respect for the Earth. For ED, agriculture is more than life measures – it is a heritage. A third generation farmer, ED spent the last 18 years, raising chickens as a contract breeder Pilgrim’s pride. In addition to chickens, he also raises goats, manages and cultivates cash, creating a diverse operation that reflects his involvement in both sustainable development and adaptability.
What does sustainable development for a chicken farmer mean?
“Sustainable development means continuing to cultivate my family for the third generation,” explains ED. “Our family added cows before switching to the farm to bringing up chickens. We found new ways to generate income and successful land manager and our resources.” The change not only kept the farm, thanks to which it was more resistant. “Chickens diversify our activities and ensure the benefit of our land, using chicken litter as a fertilizer for our crops.”
How do farmers in a region without a drift protect water?
This management goes beyond his fields. The stream winds through the Rippley farm, which is often visited by local fishermen. “It is important that we keep our water clean so that we can be good members of our community and take care of our resources,” he says. There have been years of efforts to protect. “I made projects to stabilize the stream bed because of the flood in the past.” And on its sloping earth, nature does a lot of work. “In the area without a drift, we rely a lot on grassy water roads to filter water, because it naturally flows down. We also make unitage and plants on our slopes to keep the soil in place and prevent erosion.”
How do farmers apply technology in raising chickens?
Technology plays a role in raising chickens. “We use technology in our henhouse to maintain heat zones. It manages the speed of feeding and measures how much water they consume,” ED shares. “The system can alert us when something is wrong in the barn, so that we can actively react when the water line is damaged or incorrect operation of the power line. This technology helps us be more efficient and manage our time.”
First of all, the sustainable development of Ed Rippley is personal. “Sustainable development is important to me because I want to set up our farm for success for the next generations,” he says. “My grandchildren come to visit me on a farm and I want it to be around them someday.”
Ed Rippley is part of Gather Wisconsin’s Leaders of the Land® Segment, in which Wisconsin farmers move agriculture thanks to their involvement in sustainable development.
