Jude Becker was featured on Oprah’s show on October 14, 2008. Read about Jude and visit Oprah’s website to learn more about Prop 2 and the differences between factory farms and high-welfare family farms.

Like many farm kids of the 1980s, Jude grew up amidst a general decline in traditional agriculture. Factory farms and confinement operations were the growing trend, and “sustainable agriculture” was not the household word it has now become. However, after attending Iowa State in the mid-1990s, Jude pursued an interest in organic and sustainable production. Later, he took this knowledge back to his family farm in Dyersville, Iowa.

Starting out with six Chester White sows and one Berkshire boar, Jude now raises 6,000 pigs a year in a 400-sow pastured/deep-bedded operation. He has cultivated a niche market for organic pork and gourmet “Acorn Edition” prosciutto through a partnership with La Quercia, a local artisan pork processor.

Jude’s sows farrow on pasture, and piglets remain with their mother for 7 weeks-a sharp contrast to the 3-week industry standard. A typical piglet at Becker Lane is born into a nest with his or her mother and siblings, and begins to venture out in to the “yard” at 10 days. Jude grows much of his own feed, and uses his livestock operation in careful rotation with his other crops. This prevents disease, allows the land to rest, and utilizes the pigs’ manure rather than confining it to a lagoon.

When asked about his goals for Becker Lane, Jude says, “To maximize the morality of our process. Morality is kind of tongue-in-cheek, but it’s the best word-our goal is to improve the health and wellness of our animals, staff and the environment.