Rob Klink

Rob Klink, who joined the board in 2014, lends his ag retail and seed experience to the Yahara Pride Farms. He has provided seed sales and agronomic services to farmers in northern Dane County and southern Columbia County for the past 22 years.

He likes the producer-led approach to environmental stewardship.The producers’ ideas and practices show they want to be good neighbors. For example, the use of low-disturbance manure injection and practicing little to no tillage have helped keep erosion at a minimum, he says.

Having been involved in the Yahara Pride Farms for more than a decade, Rob says he’s seen the number of acres in conservation practices increase from little to none to more than 25,000 acres. He adds that the group is working to get more producers and acres involved.

“The practices are attainable with not a lot of out-of-pocket expense,” he says.

The most rewarding aspect of belonging to Yahara Pride Farms is seeing the producers’ willingness to try new practices. He also enjoys seeing them recognize the importance of those practices despite knowing that change is always difficult. Other farmers, particularly those in the next generation, need to be forward thinking while not being discouraged when their practices don’t meet their expectations, he says.

“We need to remember that elevated phosphorus levels didn’t happen overnight and they’re not going to change overnight,” he says. “We also need to remember that what we do today will have an effect years from now.”