Commercial Producer Award Winner

integral part of Seibert Livestock’s operation

Conservation, sustainability

Story & Photos by Amy Beth Graves

Innovation, sustainability and conservation have deep roots in the Seibert family in western Ohio. Ben and Daniel’s great-great-grandfather, John Wright, was a master farmer and their grandfather’s uncle, Harmon Wright, was instrumental in helping start up the soil and water conservation district. They said Auglaize County’s first maintained ditch runs through the back of the family’s property as part of a soil and water conservation effort decades ago. “John was in the first master farmer class and they pick farmers who do everything correctly and are progressive. These farmers weren’t afraid to take chances and used the newest technology and grew their farms with it,” Ben said. “Back then the family was trying to be progressive before it was popular, and that’s why the Seiberts and Wrights have been so successful over the years.” The foundation laid down by their forefathers was solid enough that the Seiberts still use the barn and other facilities today. “We’re unique in that we’ve saved the old and are just now in the process after 100 years of trying to expand and build new facilities,” Ben said. Sitting around the family table, Ben and Daniel share the history of the farm and their livelihood as their father, Richard, pipes in while holding a sleeping grandson. The three work side by side on Seibert Livestock, a commercial Holstein operation located near St. Marys in western Ohio. The Seiberts were recently named OCA’s Commercial Producer of the Year, an honor that surprised them. “We were very excited and humbled,” Daniel said. “It’s neat because our history goes back to prior generations winning awards and being successful in the industry.” The Seibert family runs just under 1,000 head of commercial cattle in their three main cattle lots and 3,500 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and hay spread out over four counties. Ben and Daniel help manage the cattle along with their father while their brother, Michael, is in charge of the grain side. About 15 years ago, the family switched from Angus to Holsteins and are at the point where they raise everything themselves from birth to harvest. They’ve also recently started buying calves from dairy farms who breed Holsteins cows with Angus bulls, also known as beef on dairy, driven by increased demand for less expensive beef. “We’ve been trying that for five or six years. Some of the genetics have been good and some have been awful,” Richard said. “As time goes on the genetics will probably start getting better. There just aren’t that many

“It’s neat because our history goes back to prior generations winning awards and being successful in the industry.”

outlets now. This country wants to eat cheap, which is why we’re eating Holsteins now. We’ll put in whatever is profitable.” Ben, Daniel and Richard all have separate but equally important roles in the livestock operation. Ben, who is a loan officer at United Producers, takes care of the bookkeeping, contracting of cattle and fertilizer analysis. Seibert Livestock has both nutrient and manure management plans in place and has received funding from the H2O Ohio program. Their farms are part of a watershed that flows to Lake Erie, and not only have they used cover crops and 2 ½-acre grid soil sampling for years but they’ve installed manure storage facilities and covered two feedlots to cut down on manure runoff. Currently, the family is in the process of building a 90-by-275 foot long cattle barn as part of an investment to increase the size of the operation by about a third. With that many cattle, they currently average about 20 contracts a year, which results in a lot of paperwork and coordination. Daniel is in charge of the calves, and about five years ago the Seiberts invested in an RFID (radio frequency identification) system to more efficiently manage their calves. One machine monitors 150 calves and another keeps track of 50 calves. “It tells me everything about that calf -- how much water it drinks and how fast. It allows me to watch the cattle better. Now I can tell by the RFID if a calf is drinking slowly that it may be sick. The health of our calves are better because of this technology,” Daniel said. The Seiberts also do almost all of their own hauling of cattle to processing plants with the furthest 10 hours away. They work with a representative at United Producers on marketing of the cattle and hit the road about two times a month. “We do everything ourselves; all in and all out,” Ben said. “We used to have born and weaned (calves) pulled in from the mountains, but switched to buying Holsteins due to profitability and ease. We still haul the cattle out ourselves. We load the truck together as a family.” Richard, who describes himself as being born with a screwdriver and crescent wrench in his hand, does most of the maintenance on the farm. “If it’s broke, I can fix it. I love the challenge of figuring out how things work and operate. We like to do almost everything ourselves. I guess that’s the old German side of us,” he laughed. Being involved with their community and church is important for the Seiberts. Richard has been a Salem township trustee for 30 years, all have been involved with 4-H and FFA and Michael started the vet tech program at Tri Star Career Compact. “We are big into volunteering,” Ben said. “We work with our neighbors and help them out, whether it’s with harvest or whatever.” The ultimate goal for the family is for their livestock and grain operation to be sustainable enough to support the next generation. “I’d love to help the next generation like what Grandpa did for Dad and Dad for us,” Daniel said. Ben chimed in that raising their children in the country and teaching them the value of a hard day’s work is rewarding and will provide the type of life skills they need to be successful. “I appreciate the rural life -- you can’t beat life out here,” he said. “We do this because there’s a need for us. People need beef and we’re helping feed the world. In lending, I always feel like I’m making such a difference for people. It’s the same with agriculture. If we can help someone, we’ll do what we can. We love doing what we do.”