Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Petting the baby calves is always a highlight of every farm tour! I am thankful for the opportunity to have conversation with University of Arkansas students about the commitment of dairy farm families working everyday to care for our animals and land as we produce safe,high quality milk.

Colored Cows and Flavored Milk

Do the brown cows give chocolate milk? That's the question I often receive when I speak to children about dairy farming and the kind of milk our Holstein cows produce. This original question about chocolate milk does have a serious side and provides opportunity to talk about the benefits of flavored milk.

Flavored milk, just like unflavored milk, offers the same nutrient rich package with the nine essential nutrients that includes calcium,potassium,phosphorus,protein,vitamin D, vitamin A, vitamin B12, riboflavin and niacin (niacin equivalents). Besides tasting great, flavored milk increases children's enjoyment and consumption of milk and is often acceptable to children who might not drink unflavored milk. This is an important point because seventy percent of children ages 9-19 do not meet their recommended dairy intake. Even though flavored milk does contain natural and added sugar, it is less than what is found in carbonated soft drinks. On average, an eight ounce low-fat flavored milk has around 4 teaspoons of added sugar while a can of soda has about 9 teaspoons and fruit punch about 6 teaspoons.

According to the National Dairy Council (http://www.nationaldairycouncil.org/), every eight ounce serving of flavored milk gives kids:

• 30% of the Daily Value for calcium


• 25% of the Daily Value for vitamin D


• 24% of the Daily Value for riboflavin


• 10% or more of the Daily Value for Vitamin A,vitamin B12,niacin,phosphorus,potassium,protein, and other nutrients


• 8% of the Daily Value for magnesium

Even though I have never been asked what color cow produces strawberry,banana,or orange flavored milk, I can just imagine red,yellow, and orange spotted cows. I also wonder what color cow would give cotton candy flavored milk. Just think what a pretty picture all those colored cows would make out in the pasture!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Last weekend our two sons were working together to vaccinate young heifers on our dairy farm. Ninety eight percent of all farms are family farms. I am thankful for the opportunity to live on the family farm,work with my family and watch the maturing transition of my children.

Dairy Recycling

As I was enjoying the spring sunshine and pulling weeds out of the flower bed, I was thinking about how many generations that our family has been on this farm. Our two sons are the fourth generation to live and work on our farm. Family farms like ours exist today because farmers live and work on the land and understand the importance of protecting natural resources for the next generation. Recycling cow manure is a good example of how farmers protect the environment for future generations.

To protect our land and make use of the nutrient-rich animal manure that our dairy cows produce, we follow a nutrient management plan that is designed specifically for our farm by professionals at the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service. Using the nutrient rich manure that our cows produce to fertilize our land makes good economic sense because it decreases the amount of commercial fertilizer that we may need to purchase. Animal manure also conditions the soil and increases the water holding capacity.

Soil samples are collected and tested yearly from every crop field and pasture where we land apply the nutrient-rich manure. These soil tests will tell us how much nutrient/animal manure can be applied for adequate fertilization and guide us to limit application if necessary. Following our farm plan and soil testing are best management practices that protect our natural resources for us, our community and the next generation. Dairy recycling fits perfectly with the sustainability commitment of dairy farm families to farm in a way that makes the dairy industry, people, and the Earth economically,environmentally and socially better--now and for future generations. You can find more information about dairy sustainability at http://www.usdairy.com. Dairy recycling is just one of the reasons that farmers celebrate Earth Day everyday!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

As a volunteer for Benton County Farm Bureau,I presented a $250 garden grant check from Arkansas Farm Bureau to this Russell Jones Elementary School second grade teacher and her students. I was treated to a tour of their awesome school garden and they shared with me what they were learning about the garden and growing their own plants. I am thankful for enthusiastic teachers who invest their time and energy to teach students how food is produced using a practical hands on,get dirty approach! Who knows,there just might be a farmer in this garden of students!

Dairy Save-a-Trip Plan

Rising prices for gas and diesel fuel are creating challenges for all farmers and consumers. Increased food costs at the grocery store are due to increases in the cost of packaging and transportation caused by high fuel prices. Unlike other business owners, farmers do not pass on this increased fuel farm cost to consumers. As I looked out my kitchen window today, I observed the activities that occur everyday on our dairy farm such as mixing feed and feeding the dairy cows, hauling feed to young heifers,and driving to pastures to feed and check cattle. Every task requires the use of a tractor or a truck. We are constantly scratching our heads and trying to figure ways to be more efficient in our daily activities. We call this head scratching plan the Save-a-Trip Plan. Maintaining equipment and making every trip count are at the top of our being more efficient list. Every trip to town usually has several stops to make the most efficient use of time and fuel. Dairy farm families like all families are trying to save money during these tough economic times. Here are a few general tips for any Save-a-Trip plan:

• Drive more efficiently


• Keep your vehicle in shape


• Plan and combine trips


• At the pump, use the octane level you need

You can find more details for saving fuel at the federal trade commission site http://www.ftc.gov/ or http://fueleconomy.gov/. Common sense and Save-a-Trip make good economic sense on the farm or in the city!

Sensational Cheese Support

One thing I love about attending our Dairy Farmers of America cooperative annual meeting in Kansas City is the opportunity to taste new dairy products provided by a variety of dairy food companies. It also makes me proud to know that milk produced on family farms just like ours are providing the main ingredient for these tasty foods for all of us to enjoy. One of my favorite products is Borden Cheese. When you purchase Borden Cheese, you are supporting local dairy farm families just like mine. Two new flavors of cheese slices have been introduced in the Borden Singles Sensations product: 3 Cheese Italiano and Extra Sharp Cheddar. These two flavors join Hickory Smoked Swiss,Bacon Cheddar, Pepperjack, and Chipotle Cheddar. You may want to try this sandwich recipe for your family this weekend!

Meatball Grinder

1 1/2 lbs ground beef

1 cup Italian breadcrumbs or panko

2 eggs,lightly beaten

1 garlic clove,minced

1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian (flatleaf) parsley

3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese,divided (3oz.)

2 (24-oz.) jars marinara sauce

4-6 hoagie rolls,split

8-12 slices Borden Three Cheese Italiano Singles Sensations

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Combine ground beef,breadcrumbs,eggs,garlic,parsley,1/2 cup Parmesan cheese,and salt and pepper to taste in a large bowl. Shape into 1 1/2 inch meatballs. Place meatballs on a metal wire rack coated with nonstick cooking spray. Place rack in a foil-lined baking pan. Bake 20 minutes or until meatballs are browned and an instant-read thermometer registers 155 degrees F. Place marinara sauce in a large heavy pot over medium heat; Bring to boiling. Add meatballs; Reduce heat to low. Simmer, covered, 20 minutes. Preheat broiler to low. Place 4 or 5 meatballs and sauce into each roll. Top with 2 slices of Borden Three Cheese Italiano Singles Sensations. Place uncovered, on a broiler rack; place under broiler. Broil until cheese melts. Serve warm.

You can find more tasty recipes at http://www.friendsofelsie.com/. Thank-you for supporting your local dairy farm families!