Earth Day is Everyday

                                    Down on the dairy farm, Earth Day is Everyday.  

                                 We don't just say that, we live it...EVERYDAY!

                                                     It starts with cow care. 

                     The carbon footprint of milk has been  reduced by 63 percent due  to       improvements in animal breeding, animal  health   programs,  cow comfort            measures   and overall  farm management   practices.

                         Everyday we feed our cows a nutritious, balanced diet.

Everyday we  follow regulations and best management practices to protect

the environment for our cows, our family and our community.

Everyday we recycle the cows' manure to fertilize crops that we

raise to feed the cows.

Everyday we strive to produce high-quality nutritious milk by caring

for our cows and the land we call home.

Earth Day really is Everyday down on the dairy farm!

Happy Earth Day!

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

What happened to our snow?

I was hoping for at least enough to cover up the mud

that we have been dealing with this winter!

The cows weren't a bit impressed with the big snow either.

We have had 2 new calves born in the last 24 hours and both are

doing well. It's obvious that weather conditions are not

a factor in delaying activity on the farm.

Due to the muddy conditions experienced all winter, 

we have unrolled hay in the pasture where cows are calving. 

These expectant cows are always

monitored closely for the anticipated birth of a calf but

with changes in temperature and weather conditions, we 

become even more alert to the need for rapid response

 to provide for a safe delivery.

                                         I'm thankful for just the little bit of snow down on the
                                  dairy farm and for the opportunity to be a part of this new
                                  beginning that is part of  our farm's sustainability in producing
                                                         milk for your family and mine.

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

It's corn  chopping time!

You may not get all excited when you see this picture but

to the family farmers and our dairy cows, harvest of this 

corn crop is  a real celebration.

  Raising a crop that  both  utilizes manure produced by the cows and 

  feeds our cows is part of the sustainability of our farming operation. 

The chopped corn is being trucked to the pit silo where it will 

ferment  for a few weeks and change into corn silage.

 Corn silage is a welcome addition to the cows' diet plan.

               
                                      I'm thankful for the cooperation of the weather this week,
                             for no major mechanical problems, and the safety of the trucks and
                                                           drivers on the trips to the silo.

Earth Day is Everyday

                                          Down on the dairy farm, Earth Day is everyday.
                                            Every day in each season  is filled with tasks
                                         that utilize the land for sustaining our family farm.
                               
                                       It's our job as caretakers of the Earth to use our natural
                                            resources wisely and strive to leave the land in
                                                 better condition for the next generation.
                                             
                                       As farmers, we take our job seriously  and recognize
                                       that we are blessed to have the responsibility of being
                                               caretakers of the Earth and producers of food
                                                              for families across America.
                                         

                                                                Happy Earth Day!

Permitted to Farm

                   
                       Like it or not, rules and regulations are a part of our everyday lives.
                           In fact, we are permitted to farm because we follow the rules that
                                protect the environment for us, our neighbors and our cows.

                       
                 We've been following the rules and regulations  of the Arkansas Department
                          of Environmental Quality with a Regulation 5 Permit since 1985.
                         The Regulation 5 Permit allows our dairy farm  to store liquid
                                     and dry manure that is produced by our dairy cows.

                                Our facility was designed by a professional engineer to
                            make sure that storage was adequate and designed specifically
                               to protect the environment and preserve our water quality.

                   A nutrient management plan that has been designed by a soil specialist
                        guides the amount,source, placement and timing of manure on fields.

                             
                                
                                     Whether you are a dairy farmer or a hog farmer,
                               we love the land, live to protect it and follow the rules so
                                                      we are permitted to farm.
                                 

Dairy Farm Magic

As I was watching the hay mowing cutter go across the field yesterday, 

I thought back to late last fall when Hattie and I were watching the 

manure spreader go in a similar pattern spreading  liquid cow manure.

From brown to green...a little dairy farm manure  magic!

 Cow manure is a nutrient used to fertilize fields that are 

part of our dairy farm's nutrient management plan.

Utilizing our  cows' manure is  an important part of our farm's

 sustainability because it adds organic material to the soil, 

increases the water holding capacity of the land and

decreases the amount of commercial fertilizer that is purchased.

                                             A perfect picture of a farmer working his magic!

Earth Day Everyday

Earth Day really is everyday down on the dairy farm.

As I watched the group of calves resting in the pasture next to the field 

filled with milking cows,my thoughts turned to how we have 

changed the environmental impact on dairy farms.

It's a fact that improvements in dairy cow nutrition, comfort, health and breeding have led to significant impact in production while decreasing the overall environmental impact.

Dairy farms today produce a gallon milk using 

95 percent less land and 65 percent less water while producing 

76 percent less manure compared with 1944.

                                   
                                               Our farm has been in the family since 1919.
                            We love caring for our animals, contributing to the local community
                               and most important, producing healthy milk,cheese and yogurt
                                                                for you and your family.

Dairy Tall Tale

It's not a tall tale,  but it's the tale of how tall  corn can grow on an

Arkansas dairy farm when you have the right nutrients and

 almost perfect weather conditions. 

Can you see the dairy farmer's smile?

Our cows produced the manure that we applied to the field prior 

to planting this spring.

 Manure, also known to us as a nutrient,  improves the soil by increasing 

the organic matter,adds nutrients for plant growth and increases the water 

holding capacity of the soil. The amount,source,placement 

and timing of manure on fields for crops that we raise

 is part of our farm's nutrient management plan.  

 By following the plan,

we are  protecting the environment and improving the land.

Our tall tale is also a perfect tale of  sustainability.

At the end of this tale, when eating corn silage this fall,

 our dairy  cows will be so happy!

Earthday Everyday

On Earth Day, like everyday down on the dairy farm,

you'll find us milking our cows twice a day,

feeding our cows nutritious feed,

and watching our crops grow.

Earth Day is Everyday down on the dairy farm.

We understand the importance of taking 

good care of this land we call home.

Everyday Dairy Farm Sustainability

The feed barn is one of my favorite places to be when

 the cows come to eat after being milked.

They really seemed to be enjoying every bite  this morning

 and weren't a bit interested in what I was doing!

At the request of our dairy nutritionist,I was actually on a mission 

to collect a sample of the feed they were enjoying. 

Sampling  the feed mix is done when we have added a

 new or different ingredient to make sure the total mixed ration is balanced.

Making sure the cows have a nutritious and balanced diet 

keeps them healthy and leads to high-quality milk.

Feed efficiency is extremely important to the sustainability of our farm.

Sustainability is not just a word, it's how our dairy farm family 

has lived for generations, working to improve and

 make life better for the next generation.  

Since 1944 when my mother-in-law was milking cows on our farm, 

dairy farmers across America are producing more milk

 using 90% less cropland, 

producing 76% less manure,

 using 65% less water, 

and producing 63% less carbon emissions.

All that has happened through innovation and efficiency improvements that

 have been provided through research,sound science and technology.

                                                     

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 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 Farmer's Rain Dance

 

We've waited all winter for this spring wheat crop to start growing and now with a few warm spring days you can  see it changing almost daily. It's our kind of excitement!

 

 

Field crops need nutrients to grow so  Casey spread a measured amount of commercial fertilizer over several fields today. With moisture and more growing days, this wheat will be chopped or baled for our dairy cows to enjoy as part of their balanced diet that provides high-quality milk.

 

 Just so you know,

the dairy farmer's rain dance is done with a tractor and a fertilizer spreader!

 

 

Chillin' in the Milk Barn

It seemed fitting on the first day of summer during June Dairy Month that we would host a tour for dairy farmers and community members  to showcase our new milk chillin'  plate cooler. After completing an energy audit of our dairy farm  in 2011, the plate cooler was one of the energy saving suggestions. A Conservation Innovation Grant from NRCS made it possible for us to invest in this project for our farm.   Although cooling the milk is necessary year round, a hot first day of summer  was  perfect for talking about chillin' the milk!


Milk cooling costs are usually one of the largest energy operating expenses on the dairy because it  takes a lot of electricity to cool the cow's milk from 98 degrees when it leaves the cow to 38 degrees in the bulk storage tank. The plate cooler, also known as a Milk Pre-Cooler, is a series of steel plates installed in the milk line before the bulk tank. Cold water passes through a plate cooler in one direction and absorbs heat from the warm milk pumped through the plate cooler in the opposite direction. The plate cooler can reduce the temperature of the milk entering the bulk storage tank to within 4 degrees of the incoming cold water temperature.

Besides saving electricity and money with faster cooling, Milk Pre-Coolers also create these benefits:

• Increases the milk quality by inhibiting bacterial growth through faster cooling.
• Extends refrigeration equipment life by reducing load and run time.
• Daily milk production can also be increased when the warm water exiting the Pre-Cooler is used for watering the cows.

The installation of the Milk Pre-Cooler also required an addition of a variable speed milk pump and a water system to recycle the water used by the plate cooler for our dairy cows to drink in the pasture.

Our showcase tour also included a visit to the newly installed rubber tire water tanks.




Chillin' the milk and recycling water on our dairy farm are perfect examples of how we  continue our commitment to producing high-quality  milk while caring for and conserving  our natural resources!

June Dairy Month Celebrates Sustainability

June Dairy Month is a perfect time to celebrate how we work to provide safe high-quality milk while caring for our cows and the land.

Last year our family dairy farm completed an energy audit to look at potential ways we could save energy to improve the sustainability of our farm and in the long run, work to reduce our carbon footprint.

It's easy to understand that one of the recommendations from the audit was to install a piece of equipment in the milk barn called a 'plate cooler' because it takes a lot of electricity to milk the cows, cool the milk and keep the milk cool in the refrigerated tank until it is transported to the processing plant. The plate cooler saves energy by cooling the milk before it reaches the
refrigerated tank.




Our new plate cooler was installed in January but we just flipped the switch and turned it on last week because it involved the addition of a variable speed milk pump and an additional water system to recycle the water used by the plate cooler to cool the milk.

 Although we're still installing the permanent rubber tire water tanks in the pasture, the recycled water from the plate cooler is flowing into the water tanks in the pasture.

 

I realize that you might not share my enthusiasm about a piece of equipment but for me and my third generation dairy farm family, it's exciting to see the new milk pump and plate cooler running efficiently to reduce energy and recycle water to improve the sustainability of our family farm and the efficient use of our natural resources. 

Future of Food 2013

Just a few weeks ago, I spent a couple of mornings giving University of Arkansas students a tour of our dairy farm. I love sharing how we work every day (that's 24/7,holidays and weekends) to produce a safe and healthy product. Part of the tour includes explaining and showing how we work to protect the environment and utilize all our resources. It's science and technology that drive efficiency today and the future of our food production system.

                     

It's a fact that one of the greatest challenges of the next generation will be providing nutritious,affordable food to a global population expected to grow to 9 billion by 2050--while using fewer resources. Dairy foods are key to healthy people, healthy communities and a healthy planet.

Discussion of the Future of Food is vital to all of us--consumers and farmers. One of these discussions is being hosted by the National Dairy Council and Washington Post Live in Washington,D.C. tomorrow (May 22) beginning at 7:30 CST. You can join in the conversation using the twitter hashtag #ThinkFood or watch Future of Food online.

                                                                            
                                                                      #ThinkFood

Hope Rains

For the first time in two years, Sunday morning  we saw water standing in the pastures, running down the road and bringing ponds to overflowing levels after receiving just a little more than two inches of rain during the night. It seemed like magic--I wondered if it happened in that magical  Daylight Savings Time hour when the clock springs forward.

After this year's drought, we are looking forward to spring and the hope that our pastures and ponds will be revived by adequate moisture and good growing conditions. We have alot of work ahead of us in restoring drought damaged fields and pastures but....

 

the rain does give us hope for the possibility for our farm's sustainability.

 

 After losing my hour of sleep to meet the Daylight Savings Time schedule, receiving rain was the perfect attitude adjuster for me. I didn't even mind putting on my rain suit and rubber boots to face the wind and rain to feed calves!

Farmer's #ThinkFood on the Farm

It's pure coincidence that I'm hosting farm tours for University of Arkansas nutrition students in the same week as the Midwest's Future of Food Forum takes place on October 4th. The Future of Food Forum is hosted by the Washington Post Live in partnership with the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Chicago Food and Nutrition Network. The forum will be addressing questions about how to increase access to healthy,affordable food, the impact of the drought, as well as innovations to increase agricultural productivity.



Yesterday's 'on the farm' forum presented the up close and personal view of how we work every day to care for our animals and land by using technology and science to produce high quality milk. As we stood in the feed barn watching the cows eat their balance nutritious diet, it was the perfect place to explain the connection of how science and technology enables us to produce almost three times more milk with about half the number of cows compared to 1960. Feed efficiency improves the amount each cow produces, thereby reducing the amount of feed, water and space needed, resulting in less manure. Efficiency is one of the core elements of sustainability made possible by science and technology.

Midwest's Future of Food Forum will include two panels of key public figures,experts, and stakeholders discussing an Overview on Domestic and Global Food Security and Improving Access to Healthy,Nutritious Food in the Midwest. You can be involved in the Future of Food Forum on Thursday, from 8:30-10a.m. via live webcast at http://washingtonpostlive.com/conferences/foodsecurityillinois. If you are active on Twitter, follow the conversation by using the #ThinkFood hashtag.

You can find more information about dairy farming and our connection to Healthy People,Healthy Communities,Healthy Planet at http://www.dairygood.org.

                                                                 
                                                                      #ThinkFood

Drought Damage Control

In a normal year (whatever that is) , we would be chopping corn for silage and baling hay like crazy,but drought, exceptional drought in our case, is demanding change and flexibility in all of our farming decisions for this time of the year. Even though we have received a little bit of rain that has greened up the pastures, at least one third of the grass in our pastures is dead. In times like these we are relying heavily on the information and advice from our Cooperative Extension Agent and the Natural Resource and Conservation Service technicians to help us make the best decisions for farming practices under these drought  conditions.

Maintainence of grazing pastures is important to the nutrition of our dairy cows and calves and the sustainability of our farm. For fall and winter pasture grass, several pastures have been reseeded with rye grass by using a no-till drill. With diesel fuel edging closer to five dollars a gallon, it is very sustainable and cost effective to no-till plant because it reduces soil erosion,retains soil moisture and conserves fuel needed to cultivate.

 

Drought is challenging every aspect of our farming operation but in looking for the silver lining to the drought cloud, I would say that for me it has grown my faith and given me an even deeper appreciation of the science and technology that we rely on every day to care for our animals and land and to produce high-quality milk for your family and mine!