A High-Quality Combination
Quality is important to Terry O’Neel – in his hog barns and in his soybean fields.
“As a pig farmer, I know the relationship between quality feed and animal performance,” he says. “Since the majority of the value of soybeans is derived from soybean meal that is fed to animals, it is critical to produce high-quality soybeans.”
O’Neel, soybean farmer and National Pork Board member, is uniquely qualified to speak to both sides of the equation.
He cares about the quality of the soybeans he grows not only as a crop he sells but also as a top-notch feed for his hogs.
“Quality matters to me because we rely on soybeans to provide a good protein source for our animals to grow efficiently,” he says.
The Best of Both
Raising both animals and crops is nothing new to O’Neel, who helped his dad raise dairy and beef cattle as well as grow soybeans, corn, wheat and alfalfa.
He couldn’t find land to rent after college, so he and his wife, Diane, started in the hog business by purchasing 40 feeder pigs. They began crop farming on a small scale in 1988.
Now, they have a 500-sow birth-to-market operation and 700 acres of corn and soybeans in Friend, Nebraska, not far from where he grew up.
O’Neel understands how soybean quality translates to his bottom line, and he takes pride in improving his own soybeans through seed selection.
“When we start with quality seed with the genetic traits to perform well under no-till conditions, we have good disease resistance, excellent weed management, and high yield and protein potential,” he says.
In addition, O’Neel pays attention to sustainable practices and harvest moisture.
“We no-till all our beans, which allows a superior seed stand because we are able to plant into good soil moisture and erosion-controlling residue,” he says. “We also strive to harvest our beans at 12 to 13 percent moisture, which enhances both quality and yield.”
Quality Matters
When it comes to feeding his hogs, O’Neel counts on that soybean quality. In his feed mill, he uses soybean meal as a protein source to balance his hogs’ rations.
“If the bean meal is not the proper protein or lysine level, our sows don’t perform as well feeding their piglets, and our pigs won’t grow as fast or develop as much lean pork – they won’t reach their genetic potential."
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