Dave Rueckl’s businesses have always been impacted by agriculture, but he didn’t know how much until he started asking questions. He has been delivering oil to farms for over 40 years while the area’s water quality has an impact on his sportfishing business. His discussions with farmers landed him at the first Peninsula Pride Farms annual meeting a few years ago, where he was able to learn how some of the members’ practices had a larger effect on the area as a whole. Rueckl says he learned that farming practices like cover crops do not just have a positive impact on farmers but for his sportfishing business, citing improving water conditions over the last couple of years.

He has noticed the biggest improvements in water clarity and run-off control. Rueckl says despite the slow start due to the pandemic, his sportfishing business had a very good year. Salmon numbers were a little lower due to stocking cutbacks, but Rueckl calls the rainbow trout fishery this year “world-class.” He encourages other non-farmers to talk to farmers to learn more about their practices and to address their concerns. Rueckl recently joined the Peninsula Pride Farms Board as a non-voting business member.

Picture courtesy of his Facebook page