Generational Sustainability

We think it's bad when the power suddenly goes out and internet availability is gone, but can you imagine living without electricity , running water or a vehicle to drive?   Even with all the modern conveniences, I still need more hours in the day!  

Science and modern technology have improved not only our lifestyle but efficiency in food production. It's a fact that today, a farmer supplies food for more than 150 people in the U.S and abroad, compared with just 25.8 people in 1960, and on less land every year.

I don't  think the word sustainability was used  by  my mother-in-law as she worked the land with her father in the 1940's but I do know that every day, just like today,  required efficiency and careful use of all resources.

In our modern farming world, Sustainable agriculture was actually defined by the U.S. government in the 1990 farm bill.

 Here are the five elements of the USDA definition of sustainable agriculture:

• Satisfy human food and fiber needs
• Enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agricultural economy depends
• Make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls
• Sustain the economic viability of farm operations
• Enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole

(More information about sustainability and dairy farming can

 be found at Midwest Dairy or Dairygood.org.)

                                                                       

   Although the look of the family farm and the technologies have changed with each generation, we still have the same values of caring for the land and animals as we work to produce high-quality,nutritious milk. 

Dairy-Style Spring Break

                                          Spring break  on the dairy farm...

                               always includes feeding our new baby calves and a chance to share

                            how we celebrate during spring and  every day down on the dairy farm!

                 Caring for our calves is an important part of our day because these calves grow up to

                                           become the cows that produce milk on our farm and 

                                                it's a priority to get them off to a healthy start.

                I gave up my bottle feeding job this morning so that Cody could let Margaret's cousin

                     and her friend get a little dairy  farm experience during their college spring break. 

                                              I'm sure it was the highlight of their spring break!

                                                 

                           You have to admit, you can't have  dairy style spring break just anywhere!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Watching the sun rise just as we finish feeding  baby calves on our dairy farm  is a great start to any day but welcoming new life to the farm makes it spectacular!

I'm thankful for these moments of pure delight as I work with my family everyday to provide high-quality, nutritious  milk by caring for our cows, calves, and the land we call home.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

The landscape of Northwest Arkansas is rapidly changing with our population growth and development. 

As the places I've known since childhood are gobbled up with urbanization, I know that it is important to protect the open spaces that we all enjoy. 

Members of the Northwest Arkansas Open Space Steering Committee are on a mission to develop a coordinated,voluntary program to protect and promote the region's most valued natural landscapes and open spaces. We  enjoyed taking a field trip Monday afternoon to visit three natural springs in our area. 

I'm thankful for this process that has the goal to preserve these assets of our community that will maintain the high quality of life  as the region grows.

You can find more information about this project and participate in   this process by taking a survey about the spaces you enjoy in Northwest Arkansas at

nwaopenspace.com

Dairy Celebrates National Ag Day

National Ag Day is an opportunity for all Americans to celebrate and bring awareness about  the contribution of agriculture in our everyday lives.

                 Think about it, agriculture provides almost everything we eat,use and wear on a daily basis. American agriculture is doing more and doing it better.

Dairy farmers today,thanks to science, proven research and technology,

                      produce a gallon of milk using 95 percent less land and 65 percent less water
                                    while producing 76 percent less manure compared with 1944.

Thank a Farmer!!

Dairy Good Luck

Whether you're an Irishman or a Holstein dairy heifer,

what's not to love about green?

Our pastures are not this green and lush yet but with a little luck, more sunshine, warmer temperatures,

and the hard work of a dairy farmer, we'll be enjoying a dairy good spring!

I'll be raising my glass of high quality milk  today.

How about you?

Dairy Celebrates National Pi Day

                      I know, it's not really National Pie Day, but we can celebrate the mathematical Pi Day
                                                                   with pie and ice cream.

                                                                         Count me in!

  Happy Pi Day!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

With March being National Nutrition Month, it's only right that registered dietitians

 have their own day (March 11)  during the month!

Happy Registered Dietitian Day!

This group of dietitians visited our farm last year to find out how we produce safe,high-quality milk. 

Registered dietitians work in a variety of settings to provide nutritional information.

I'm thankful for the interest and educational training  registered dietitians have in helping clients of all ages in making nutritional choices that improve lifestyles ,boost health and especially for their efforts to reduce childhood obesity.

Daylight Saving Recipe

Last week my friend sent me an email with a variety of fast and easy soup recipes with this description: "good the first day but even better the second." Even though I believed her, I had to try it for myself!
Tortilla Soup  fit her description perfectly and is a daylight saving recipe,too!  Even better, it makes enough for a couple of freezer portions to really help the cook when the days are too busy for burning daylight in the kitchen.


Tortilla Soup

3-4 Chicken Breasts,cooked and shredded
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 chopped onion
1 clove garlic,minced
3 cans chicken broth
2 Tablespoons Mexican seasoning or 1 envelope taco seasoning
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can pinto beans
1 can kidney beans
1 can Great Northern beans

Toppings:Tortilla chips,jalapenos,shredded cheese

Saute onion and garlic in olive oil. Add chicken and all other ingredients. Simmer 1 hour. Serve with tortilla chips,jalapenos, and shredded cheese.

                                     

                                                I recommend enjoying this with a cold  glass of milk!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Dairy cattle are cared for around the clock 365 days a year.

During these cold,snowy days, I love  watching the cows gather around the hay feeders to enjoy the crop that we harvested on a hot summer day. We care for our dairy cows everyday by providing  a nutritious diet,good medical care and healthy living conditions.

Even though the snow is beautiful and moisture for the soil is appreciated, I'm thankful that we are approaching the end of winter!

Dairy Fuels Greatness

 National School Breakfast Week (March 2-6) is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the importance of good nutrition and physical activity each day with emphasis on starting the day with breakfast.

Breakfast at school  changes lives according to the No Kid Hungry organization. The annual 'Hunger in Our Schools' report identified that 76 percent of educators say that their students come to school hungry and one out of five American kids struggle with hunger.

It's been shown that  on average, students that  eat school breakfast :

• Achieve 17.5% higher scores on standardized math tests
• Attend 1.5 more days of school per year
• Improve chances of leading healthy lives
• Avoid food insecurity in adulthood due to achievement of higher academic performance

Dairy farmers are helping schools improve and expand their breakfast programs  through  Fuel Up to Play 60, a program founded by the National Dairy Council and the National Football League in collaboration with USDA, that empowers students to take charge in making small,everyday changes at school  that support lifelong health habits and reverse the problem of childhood obesity. Fuel Up to Play 60 is playing a key role in helping schools improve and expand their breakfast program such as the Grab and Go Breakfast, Breakfast in the Classroom and Second Chance Breakfast.

                                        I'm proud to be a supporting partner of this formula!