Weather and Farmers

                              

                     If you have ever been involved in farming, related to a farmer

                    or know a farmer, you know that weather is a big topic of 

                     discussion especially  when planning how to harvest a crop.

                 We listen to the weather reports morning, noon and night

                        and I  have learned (the hard way) that you do not talk to

                                      the farmer during the weather report.

                 

                           We've been waiting  for "the just right weather" to begin 

                                               these last days of fall harvest.  

                                After the three inch rain last week, the ground has

                       finally dried enough to begin  the last cutting of the hay crop.

This part of the acreage is being dry baled so an extra

day was required to allow it to dry before being baled.

The other part of this fall hay  harvest was baled and wrapped.

These bales will ferment and be used as silage in the 

feed ration for the dairy cows. 

Wrapping hay is often a great way to save a hay crop

from unpredictable weather. You might say it's one of the 

tools in the farmer's weather tool box!

It's time now to catch the next weather forecast!

Zoom goes Virtual

Have you ever been on a virtual dairy  farm tour?

I have watched a few and now I can tell you that

we have hosted one  with the technical help from Midwest Dairy

  to highlight dairy and  celebrate  the Arkansas  Farm to School 

program  during October.

As stated on the Arkansas Grown  website:

" Arkansas Farm to School activities improve public health, 

strengthen the local economy and communities, improve food access

 and food abundance for all, and protect the environment."

As Arkansas dairy farmers we were honored to share  from down on the

 dairy farm where nutritious milk and dairy products

are produced for our Arkansas students and their families.

Here's the link for the virtual tour:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbthCIWw0Lk

It's been my experience through the years, the favorite 

part of the dairy farm tour is visiting the baby calves in the hutches.

It was also true for the virtual tour!

On the day of the tour, this baby was two days old and drinking milk

twice a day from a bottle. The students actually named her

Zoom!

What a perfect name!  We thought it would be fun to 

share how she will grow and change over the next two months.

Just like all of our baby calves, Zoom received her mother's milk in

a bottle for the first three days. That first milk is so important because it

contains colostrum that provides antibodies to aid her immune system in

fighting illness. After those three days, we taught her to 

drink milk from a bucket.  She was a fast learner!

Zoom is now  two weeks old.

She drinks milk twice a day followed with a small

handful of sweet grain. 

If you look close, I think she's smiling at you!

                                                         

                                               The highlight of my virtual farm experience was 

                                                the gift of thank-you letters from Sheridan,AR 

                                                    written by Ms. Caldwell's 1st grade  class.

                                                       I'm so happy that Zoom went virtual!

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

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

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

We strive to wean a small group of calves from their

individual hutches to a group in a small pasture within

a 10 to 12 week time frame.  

This last  weaned group are a little bit older due

to trying to avoid rainy weather in a winter  season that seemed

like it rained every day! 

Newly weaned calves are still fed grain twice a day

and checked closely for any signs of illness.

 I  am thankful that this group of my babies are adapting

and thriving in their new pasture environment and

for the pride we feel in growing healthy calves that 

will eventually produce high-quality milk.

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

What's up Buttercup ?

I don't know the origin of that phrase but if you have noticed there is a lot 

of Buttercup weed in pastures all across Northwest Arkansas.

It's not unusual to see some Buttercup weed in the spring, but

this year's crop is outstanding! 

It is pretty but unfortunately, it is a weed and will require a plan

to get rid of it. Pasture management is  an ongoing

job of every farmer and changes each year with our always 

changing weather conditions.

I'm thankful for the science and research that provide

the ways to manage pastures safely and effectively

and the help farmers receive from our Benton County Extension

 agents in making management decisions that impact our farms.

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

We experience new life on the dairy  farm year round, 

but there's nothing like seeing new calves born in the spring

on a carpet of new green grass and the beauty around us. 

Our expectant mothers have been watched closely 

   to insure a healthy delivery.

 It's always exciting to meet our new baby!

Our days are filled with routine chores and common every

day challenges but I'm thankful for the blessings of new life,

for the smiles and laughter of children

and

                                                           the Hope of the Easter season.

                                                             From down on the dairy farm,
                                                               Happy Easter!

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

It was the perfect spring morning to walk across the pasture to 

find this baby snuggled down in the loose hay around the manger.

As usual, Mama stayed between me and the calf just in case 

I should act wild and crazy or the farm  dogs following me got too close!

                                                         
                                           I am thankful for new life down on the dairy farm
                                                                              and
                                                           

                                                                 for the gifts of spring!

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Being a "dry" cow means that you are resting and not giving milk everyday 

while you wait for the birth of your baby.

These dry cows  are due to calve within the next two weeks and

 are in the pasture next to our house so we can monitor them closely.

Even though we've had our share of cold and dreary days in January,

I'm thankful for  each bright black and white spotted cow that brighten our days

and

                       
                                                   for the opportunity to care for each one
                                                      everyday down on the dairy farm.

Christmas Blessings

Merry Christmas!

Even though we will be doing our usual everyday chores of 

feeding, milking and caring for our dairy cows and calves, 

we always find time to celebrate together as a family.

From down on the dairy farm,

we wish you joy within your home,

love within your hearts

and happiness that all comes through 

the greatest gift that was given to us...Jesus.

Christmas Blessings!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

"Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name,

make known his deeds among the people.

Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him,

talk ye of all his wondrous works."

I Chronicles 16:8-9

As a child I only thought about Thanksgiving as   the one day of eating at Grandma's 

house and the few days out of school but thankfully,

I have lived long enough to understand and enjoy 

this  season of Thanks that brings me to be more aware

 of all the blessings

in my life, many that I easily take for granted.

.

I'm thankful for our home,

the dairy cows that provide nutritious milk for my family and yours,

                                                                   
                                                                             and
                                                    for family life down on the dairy farm.

                                                       Happy Thanksgiving!
                                                           

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

As fall progresses, the time clock is ticking to get the crops harvested.

We planted sorghum in the late spring hoping it would make 

a crop in case drought might not allow the survival of our corn silage crop. 

So, you might call it our farmer "just in case" insurance policy.

I'm thankful for this crop that will be added to our dairy cow's feed ration 

for producing high-quality milk

                                                                         
                                                                                  and
                                           for the third and fourth generation dairy farmers
                                                  working together till the end of daylight

                                                     
                                                to harvest the crop down on the dairy farm.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

                                                             
                                           
                                     Everyday is an adventure when you are two years old.

I'm thankful for every "Grandma"  moment I 

spend with Hattie down on the dairy farm

looking at the calves,

picking crab apples to feed the squirrels,

or

playing hide and go seek on a crisp fall day.

We are blessed in so many ways to share our family

 farm experience with the next generation.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Even though we have a daily routine that includes milking our cows

 and feeding all the animals on the farm, today was anything but ordinary.

During fall or spring calving season, 

it's not unusual to have from one to three calves born.

Today we had a total of nine new babies!

It was anything but a routine afternoon  as Ryan and I worked to

give each new calf a bottle of colostrum and vaccinations to prevent illness.

I'm thankful for these kind of interruptions of our daily routine

that bring smiles to our dairy farmer faces

                                                                                  and

                                         for the new crop of calves for Hattie  to help  feed!

September's Smoothie

How are you celebrating  the first day of September?

So far, we're celebrating birthdays down on the Arkansas dairy farm.

I think that calls for a September Smoothie!

If you need a quick,nutritious, refreshment  for your action packed Saturday,

try a Apple Yogurt Smoothie I'm sharing from Midwest Dairy

                                 Apple Yogurt Smoothie

Ingredients:

                                                       2 cups low-fat vanilla yogurt                                                         

1 medium Granny smith apple,cored,

    peeled and diced

  1/2 cup orange juice

  2 tablespoons honey

 5-6 ice cubes.

                                                                       Directions: 

                                Mix all ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth.
                                                                 Pour into 2 tall glasses. 

                            Garnish with sliced almonds, fresh mint and dollop of honey, if desired.

                                                          Happy September!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Farmers from across the United States gathered in Grand Rapids, Michigan

this week to attend the National Commodity Conference hosted by Michigan Farm Bureau.

It's an opportunity for different commodity groups to share information, 

discuss issues that impact their farming operations,

 and develop potential policy ideas to present during the grassroots

 policy development process of Farm Bureau.

American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall gave us an overview 

of issues we are facing in agriculture. Things are tough in agriculture but 

President Duvall has the ability to tell the truth and

 season it with hope for our future.

I  met with the dairy commodity group for information and discussion

about trade,immigration, and milk price.

You don't find all the answers at any meeting, 

but

 we can gain strength and insight from talking

 with others on shared problems and concerns.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to work with others on behalf of dairy farmers,

to experience  the beauty of other places,

to learn about agriculture in other states,

and

                                             to be home  down on the Arkansas  dairy farm.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

It's easy to get so busy and involved with work and life schedules 

that you miss the special moments that can never be recaptured.

I'm thankful for the moments we've spent in the beautiful month 

of May with Hattie wandering around the flower gardens just

 enjoying her curiosity 

 about the ladybugs and picking any flower she sees,

to experience the fun of family events that involve

 cake,ice cream and candles,

and

to celebrate  all birthdays down on the dairy farm.

                                       
                                                 

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

It was a week filled with listening and learning  about agriculture issues.

Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach spoke to 

agriculture and business leaders about  the impact of trade 

on Arkansas farms at the

 Arkansas World Trade Center in Rogers,

Dr. Mark Stephenson spoke about the changing landscape of dairy markets

 at the Heart of America Dairy Expo in Springfield, Missouri,

and

Arkansas Farm Bureau Vice President spoke about

the current threat to  our Right to Farm in Arkansas at the

 Winter Commodity Conference in North Little Rock.

                                         
                                          I'm thankful for the opportunity to be a member of
                                           organizations  that support our farms and farmers
                                            and for the routine days down on the dairy farm.