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Farm feeling the squeeze of development

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

Harold Hanauska and his son, Paul, don’t know how long they can hold on to their farm on East Bingham Road in Harmony Township. Harold’s grandfather bought the first 80 acres of the farm in 1913.

Harold Hanauska sat in the kitchen of the farmhouse where he was born on a wicked cold November day 67 years ago.

"Ain't that something?" he asked. "I never moved in my life."

Hanauska's grandfather bought the family's first 80 acres at 4835 E. Bingham Road in 1913. Now, Hanauska hopes the Harmony Township farm can hang on for another four years so it can be designated a Century Farm by the state.

Hanauska's son, Paul, would like to buy the farm. His father would like to keep it in the family.

The land is wedged between Milton and Janesville. Development is pushing in on all sides.

The land tells the tale of a farm that will not survive far into its next 100 years. The Hanauskas will likely end up selling to developers. They don't have enough land to make a living but can't afford to buy more of the expensive property that surrounds them.

"Some of this land, they're getting $7,000 to $8,000 an acre for," he said. "There's no way you can buy that to grow corn that sells for $3 a bushel. It's crazy."

Hanauska owns 185 acres and rents an additional 200 acres. He grows soybeans, corn, wheat and hay and also feeds out some steer.

To make a go of it, Hanauska works in the summer for Janesville's parks department. His wife, Maureen, is an aide at Milton High School.

More and more, developers are buying the land that the family used to rent and farm.

Hanauska used to rent 90 acres that are now the Brown Deer subdivision. He used to rent land that is now the Vineyard subdivision across the road. He's been able to work about 50 acres of that land because it is not completely built out, but six homes have taken about 36 acres.

Hanauska recalls having a chance to buy land back in the 1970s at $600 an acre.

"My dad just talked me out of it," he said. "He didn't figure we could pay that much at that time."

Hanauska's father had lived through the Depression, when many farmers lost everything. He didn't want to borrow money for land. In all fairness, Hanauska never dreamed that development would creep as far as it has.

A pricey house was built several years ago right across the street from his farm.

Even if his son wants to continue raising steer, Paul would eventually be surrounded by housing and the difficulties that creates for farmers.

"Now, you can only spread manure just a certain distance from wells, and so it pretty much limits you," Hanauska said. "They pretty much forces you out."

Hanauska hasn't invested in new equipment or spent a lot of money to modernize the farm because of its uncertain future.

Finally, Paul, who works for a fertilizer and grain company in Whitewater, can't afford to buy out his three siblings.

"I hate to sell it, but it's kind of our retirement," Hanauska said.

The land has always been the family's retirement.

When Hanauska's grandpa died, his father took over the farm and paid his grandma. When Hanauska took over, he paid his father.

Hanauska is interested in new state and county efforts to save farmland, such as purchase development rights, but they might come too late for his farm and even his township.

Hanauska is a member of the Harmony Town Board, which has long struggled with development pressure.

The town allows development to increase the tax base to help maintain the roads, Hanauska said.

Still, Harmony continues to have some of the best farmland around, and the board is trying harder to restrict development, he said.

"We're trying to keep as much in agriculture as possible," Hanauska said.

"That's probably the biggest concern we got as a township," he added. "We want to stay in the country. We do not want Janesville to take it over.

"We've tried to talk with Janesville, but Janesville wants it all," Harold Hanauska said.

"We always said (Janesville) would never cross (Highway) 14."

Then, Harmony officials hoped the city would stop at Bingham Road.

"Now, it's kind of gone to Henke," he said.