Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

It's a dreary, chilly last day of 2020. Today we received a load of oat hay from

somewhere in Kansas to add to the dairy cow ration.  We still have plenty of hay that 

we have raised on the farm but with the drought we experienced in the late summer and

early fall, it was decided to purchase hay to stretch our supply.  No matter how

well you plan, the plan seems to always change !

The hay has been sampled and will be sent for a lab analysis

to give us the best information on how much hay to include in the daily diet.

We're hoping the milking cows are going to appreciate this addition by

producing a little more milk!

In the last few weeks, 2020 has brought us some very sad experiences.

We have lost several friends in our community due to complications of CoVid.

I am thankful for each of these special friends that made such an impact on 

my family and our community.

Intertwined in our sadness, I am thankful for those

that we have celebrated in a big way when you turn 2,

family time that we 

enjoyed during the Christmas holiday,

and 

for Mac that was 

added to our family roster!

                                                  

Merry Christmas!

Fifteen degrees was not the temperature I was hoping for

on Christmas morning but with several layers of clothing for 

myself and a new calf coat for the baby, we really had

nothing to complain about.   

Even though our chores of calf feeding, milking and feeding

all of the cows continue as usual, our celebration will take place when

all the work is done. 

I hope that today brings you an abundance of 

love, peace and joy as we

celebrate the birthday of our Savior.

From down on the dairy farm...

                                                     Merry Christmas!

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

We had a population explosion in one night!

You might even say, Christmas came a little bit early.

Eight new calves greeted us Monday morning.

It's not unusual to find one or two during calving season but

we were a little overwhelmed to have eight new babies 

to bring in from the pasture.  

Before each calf is taken to its own hutch, we record 

information about the calf and its mother, give calf vaccinations.

dip the navel with iodine to prevent infection and provide

a warm bottle of colostrum. 

I'm thankful for our employees that

work hard everyday in helping us

care for each calf,

for our two sons that work with us

everyday down on the dairy farm 

and

even though the pandemic has caused

a lot of craziness, 

Santa still stops for milk and cookies  on Christmas Eve!

 

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Sunday was truly a snow day--

it snowed all day long. It has been 

 a very long time since we have experienced a snow day

 and like  many of our friends and neighbors,

it seemed a welcome change in our daily lives that 

have been impacted by all the changes brought to us during this pandemic.

 A snow is much more welcome

than freezing rain or inches of ice that can be hazardous

to the cows walking  and  for the farmers  trying to care for them.

It's always our daily job to make sure that the cows and

calves have plenty of feed and water to meet their 

nutritional needs. Colder temperatures with a blanket of

snow made the day's work even more important 

to make sure plenty of calories were provided for 

the stress of increased cold weather conditions.

Most of the calves were eager to drink their warm milk 

                                            but   a few needed a little coaxing to enter out into 

                                              their first   experience  with  six inches of snow.

                                       

                                I'm thankful for the refreshed feeling brought with  this first

                                 snow of the season, for the magical landscape created by snow,

                                              and the reminder of how God blesses us

with the beauty provided in nature  down on the dairy farm.

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

 

Although the Pandemic has brought many 

changes to our lifestyles and cramped our 

 social gathering plans for routine and holiday events,

it has not stopped the essential work down on the

dairy farm.

We are still milking cows twice daily, seven days a week

and providing the feed and care that the cows and calves

require daily. We are proud to be considered essential

workers to provide food for our fellow Americans.

I'm thankful that  my family and our employees have remained in 

good health and able to continue the daily tasks on the dairy farm.

All across our community, we have essential workers that

are performing jobs that we often take for granted.

With the help of Midwest Dairy, our dairy promotion group,

we are able to thank a few of our essential workers with

a token of our appreciation.

This week I wrapped up an Undeniably Dairy thermos cup and

warm stocking cap  to give to our rural mailman.

                                                 I'm thankful for every essential worker and

                                                    this week I celebrate the rural mailman 

                                                   for a job well done and much appreciated!

                                                        

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Even though it's been chilly in the mornings, 

the calves always happily greet us to drink their

warm milk  and wait on their grain feeding.

If they don't come out to meet us,

we soon find out if they are not feeling well.

It's  part of our everyday dairy farmer job to monitor the 

health of each calf and to make sure regardless of the 

weather changes that each calf eats and drinks. 

Weather is an environmental stress that can definitely

impact the health of a newborn calf.

These twenty degree temperature changes within

a few hours is rough on all of us!

 

I'm thankful for the health of our animals,

for the good health of my family and our employees

during this crazy pandemic

and

for the smiles we have had  watching

our new truck driver haul his load

of toilet paper left under the 

Christmas tree at his house.

                                                       
 

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

November has become a season of Thanksgiving as we 

pause to think of the many people in our community that

serve us throughout the year and in situations that 

we never expect  such as the pandemic.

This week it was my pleasure to present these 

community helpers with Undeniably Dairy stocking caps

and a Subway gift card provided by Midwest Dairy

 as a way to say "Thank-you" and 

express to them how much we appreciate their service.

 

I'm also thankful for the celebration of

36 years of marriage to the dairy farmer

                                       

                                          who brought me to the farm to build a life together,

                                             raise a family  and live in the   place we call home.

                                          Happy Thanksgiving...

                                from down on the dairy farm!

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

If you didn't   have a watch or a cell phone to give you the time, you

could still   estimate  time down on the dairy farm  by

 watching the cows standing in the pasture. It's obvious that like us,

the cows are creatures of habit.  

The feed wagon with silage rolls into the dry cow pasture  every

morning  around 8:30.  Today was no different and you can

see the cows are eagerly watching and  waiting  to get 

their first bite.

Dry cows receive a pellet feed that is formulated for their

metabolic needs during this time of resting and preparing to

give birth. The silage on the wagon is like dessert to the cows.

It's no wonder that there is a lot of mooing if the wagon is late!

                                     I'm thankful for  the simple daily reminders to 

                                   appreciate the predictable  and the unpredictable

                                            like an iris blooming in  November!

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Even though our daily routine stays the same,

there is never just a "normal " day.

Today we welcomed a new calf to the herd.

How we care for this new calf  prepares the

way for the production of  high-quality nutritious milk.

                              

                               Later in the afternoon, Ryan participated in a  virtual "Cheese Chat"

                             sponsored by Midwest Dairy. This was a new way to bring a variety of

                            consumers together to talk about the sustainable production of dairy

                            products, learn about cheese from the expert cheese monger

                                 and experience the taste of a  variety of cheeses produced

                                 in the midwestern states of Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma,

                                               Minnesota and Iowa.   

                                  

                                                  I'm thankful for this dairy farmer that was 

                                              willing to participate in a new experience that promotes

                                              dairy products and shares how dairy farms and families 

                                              work everyday to produce nutritious milk sustainably.

                                   

Thank-you Veterans

Veterans Day, also known as Armistice Day, pays tribute to all American veterans.

Living or dead, we pay tribute to all American Veterans and give thanks

to those who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.

President Woodrow Wilson declared "Armistice Day" on the first

anniversary of the end of World War I on November 11,1919.

Ryan's dad, Bill, served during World War II.

Fortunately for our family, he returned to our family farm

 after serving in Japan.

Ryan's Mom and Dad married before he left for his

service in Japan.

It's hard to imagine the sacrifices of the men

and women just like Ryan's parents who

left farm and family to fight for the 

freedoms we enjoy everyday.

During the years when Bill was serving,

Bonnah Lyn continued to farm with

her father while waiting on Bill's return.

Words seem totally inadequate when you think of 

the sacrifices made by families across America

during times of war but these days of

celebration give us the opportunity to

stop and give thanks for every Veteran.

From down on the dairy farm,

Happy Veterans Day!

 

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Voting is such a privilege.

Standing in line last week during early voting, I 

was inspired by the number of people that 

were standing in line with me to cast their vote.

Regardless of the outcome of any election,

I am thankful to be an American farmer that enjoys 

the freedom to live and work

everyday down on our Arkansas dairy farm

caring  for the land we call home

                                              and for the beautiful cows that provide healthy

                                                  nutritious milk for your family and mine.

           

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for the  little bit of rain that allowed

the wheat planting to be completed this  past week.

The  last bit of seed left in the drill was just enough to plant into

the Bermuda and mixed grass  hay field next to the house. 

It will be harvested before the grass begins to grow in the spring.

This is commonly called a cover crop. 

Utilizing the manure from our cows to fertilize both crops is

one of  the ongoing sustainable practices down on the 

dairy farm.

 

                                  

                               

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

You can't help but smile when you see such a new sweet

red calf with its mother early in the morning down

on the dairy farm.

As you can tell from the angle of this picture, the mother

wanted nothing to do with posing as I followed along trying 

to get a better shot to share.

                     Our milking herd includes several of these beautiful Ayrshire 

                        cows that belong to son Cody. His Ayrshire herd began

                              during his 4-H dairy project days many years ago.

                     I'm thankful for these happy reminders  of great 4-H dairy project days

                                    and the expansion of the herd that will  continue to

                                                          produce nutritious milk.

                                 

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Surprise!

Surprise was our initial reaction when we found 

this cute red and white calf in the 

pasture this morning  while checking for  over 

night deliveries. This is a  a red and white 

Holstein  but when both the mother and father 

are black and white, 

it is a complete surprise to find a different color!

 

                                                  As you can see from the chart below, 

                                       there are 6 recognized breeds of dairy cattle.

                                    Each one is beautiful and has its own characteristics.

                                    The Holstein, which can be black and white or 

                                      red and white, is the largest of the dairy breeds

                                         and gives   the greatest volume of milk. 

                               During our sons' 4-H dairy project years we enjoyed 

                             raising  Guernseys, Brown Swiss, Ayrshire and Holstein.

                             We loved them all but the Holstein and Ayrshire are

                                        the breeds that are in today's milking herd. 

                                I'm thankful for these surprises that happen on just an 

                                              ordinary day down on the dairy farm.

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Just as hay and crop harvesting are winding down,

the fall calving season is beginning to ramp up with a new

calf arriving every day or two.

This experienced Mama that has had at least two calves before 

today's arrival, just couldn't complete the birth without assistance.

She was walked from the pasture to the maternity barn because the 

calf would need to be delivered by  the farmer.

In just minutes after delivery, she was welcoming her new baby

with heavy duty tongue licking to stimulate  and clean him.

Mother and baby are doing well.

There's never just one job happening down on the dairy farm.

While Casey was delivering this calf,

Cody was planting wheat. 

Just a routine day that requires management

and multi-tasking skills.

I'm thankful for these two sons that work so hard

every day to care for our cows and the land we call home

and 

for the fact that I have been  blessed to work with 

them every day down on the dairy farm.

 

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Fall has arrived!

Just in the last few days, we are wearing jackets 

in the morning and sweating in the late afternoon.

That's how it is in Arkansas!

The grass is mostly brown with a twinge

of green but it will still provide a tasty

treat this winter for our cows to enjoy!

As the hay harvest season is winding down,

the calving season is speeding up!

I'm thankful for these  new healthy 

babies

that are arriving in the perfect 

days of fall

and

for the changes of the season

that remind us to count our

many blessings down on the 

dairy farm.

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

In a year of extreme rain during the spring that delayed planting

and growth that has occurred in a  drought, we are thankful for this corn 

crop that will be enjoyed by our dairy cows in their daily feed ration.

A twelve row corn harvester certainly speeds up the job compared 

to our smaller chopper.

                                Even though we decided to hire the chopping done,  it was still a 

                                                   family affair to get the crop harvested. 

                                  Ryan and Casey  hauled chopped corn  from  the field to the 

                                  new silage pad while Cody was kept busy packing  each

                                                  delivered load from all the silage trucks.

                                                     The women of the family provided

                                                 love, support and food during the long day.

                                 It was dark when we moved the last truck home, shut gates and

                                 moved cattle back to the pastures but there was a joy and feeling

                                      of  accomplishment that only a farmer understands from 

                                                                 down on the dairy farm.

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

       

                                             Aren't these the cutest twins!

 

On a foggy morning in the pasture, the second calf was hidden  until it stood up next to Mama and appeared to be checking out the neighborhood before moving very far from Mom.  In just a short time, each calf was following their Mother around the pasture as expected.  Even though we will have three or four sets of twins born each year, each set is unique  and totally unexpected.

I'm thankful for the joy we find in the unexpected surprise gift of twins and the cooler weather for calving season down on the dairy farm.

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

For more than 50 years, corn and other types of grain or grasses have been

harvested and stored in the pit silo.  We have two of these

pit silos  located on the corner of the dairy farm where trucks can back up and unload.

Granddad Grover dug out the first silo on the corner and with the addition of 

more dairy cows, Ryan built the second silo. 

Everyday of the year, our tractor and feed wagon drive to the silo to load silage

that is mixed with other ingredients to provide a nutritious diet

for our dairy herd.

This past week a new chapter for our farm was begun with the 

design of a new concrete slab that will take the place of our pit silos.

Closing of the pit silos is necessary for the proper design of the road  that 

will accommodate the increased traffic of the development just across from

the dairy.  

Even though change is never easy, I am thankful that this change will actually

provide a safer place for us to load silage into the feed wagon and decrease the

chance of a traffic fatality as we strive to work on the farm in an urban environment.

Best of all, our cows will never miss a delicious bite that produces 

the high-quality milk for you and your family!

 

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

No matter the month, all new calves are welcome down on the dairy farm.

We don't typically try to have too many August calves due to the heat but

sometimes, it just works out that way. I'm thankful that all the calves and their

mothers are doing very well and probably adapting better than the farmers!

This baby bull was born yesterday  and has  been moved to 

his own individual hutch where he can be fed and monitored closely. The

baby does receive his mother's milk the first three days to make sure he

gets all his mother's colostrum.

Mom has moved to the milking herd where she is being milked twice a day.

The milk she produces will not be put in the milk tank for at least

 five days or when we receive the results from the test on her milk to

 make sure there is no medication present.  

It is the absolute truth that there are no antibiotics in milk! 

We are so thankful for the opportunity to work everyday 

to produce high-quality,antibiotic free  milk for you and your family!

 

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

In our days of nothing seems normal,

it is comforting to watch the cows relaxing and enjoying

the end of  a hot summer day in the cool of the evening.

Rest  is part of the care plan for these soon to be

mamas. To prepare for the big event of birth, each cow is  removed

from the milking herd and brought to the pasture to rest for the  60 days prior 

to calving. This is more maternity leave than most human moms enjoy!

Our commitment to ensuring high-quality milk begins with 

taking good care of our cows and treating them with respect.

I'm thankful for these visual reminders that every job on the farm

and in nature is important in making a difference to our   life down on the 

dairy farm.

 

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Dairy farmers support practices that make economic sense,

 help the environment and are socially responsible to our

 communities and our world. 

 A great example of this farming  practice statement is the hay crop that

 we are cutting this week has been fertilized with the manure produced

 by our cows. Utilization of cow manure increases the water retention of 

the soil, adds needed nutrients for crop growth and protects

the water quality of our farm by following our farm plan 

designed for environmental protection.

I'm thankful for the hay crop that not only feeds the cows but

for the dairy farmers that work everyday using best management 

 practices to  insure that our land will be left in better shape for the

next generation of  family farmers.