Dairy Farmers Challenge Drought

Life,no matter where you live or what you do, has its challenges. For Northwest Arkansas dairy farmers,drought is our current challenge. With lack of the normal amount of spring rains and the late spring and early summer heat wave with no rain, our crops that we rely on to feed our cows through the year are extremely stressed. Although irrigating crops is not a common practice in our area, it can be done if you have the equipment and access to enough water. For the last two days, Ryan and our nearest dairy farmer neighbor,Don, have been working to set up the irrigation equipment to water a field of Sudan grass that will become feed for Don's dairy cows.

Getting the equipment set up is a hot,sweaty job in 100 degree weather. Irrigation pipe was hauled by trailer and connected from the lagoon water source to the field. Since the equipment had not been used in several years, it has taken time and effort to basically blow the cobwebs out of the pump system. Late this afternoon as we watched the water pump into the irrigation pipe, we were feeling a great sense of accomplishment when all of a sudden, a clamp broke, the hose blew off and provided a bath for Don and alot of laughter for all of us!  It was the perfect time to end the day's work!

Tomorrow the plan is to add more gaskets and clamps and get the water pumping on the field without any extra baths for the farmer. Drought can challenge our crops and the financial sustainability of our farms but it will never beat the friendship of farmers or the spirit of farmers who love their animals, care for the land and will do everything in their power to save the family farm.

Dairy Diversion for Hot Weather

As a diversion from the hot weather and stressful weather conditions that we are experiencing on the dairy farm, I'm thinking about next week's holiday celebration that we will enjoy as a family. Even though fireworks won't be part of our July 4th celebration due to the drought, we will be making our traditional freezer of ice cream to go with our hamburgers and hotdogs! If I can find some ripe peaches, I'm going to try this recipe I found in my Jim Graham's Farm Family Cookbook for City Folks which is a collection of recipes from a lot of good cooks in North Carolina.

Fresh Peach Ice Cream

1 quart milk
1 10-ounce package of marshmallows
2 cups sugar
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
2 cups Half & Half dairy creamer
3 cups mashed fresh peaches

Combine milk and marshmallows in Dutch oven. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until marshmallows melt; remove from heat. Add sugar and remaining ingredients; mix well. chill. Pour mixture into freezer container of gallon hand-turned or electric ice cream freezer. Freeze according to manufacturer's instructions. Pack freezer with additional ice and salt, and let stand for 1 to 2 hours to ripen before serving.

                     Hope you have a safe, dairy good July 4th!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

                                                                          
     
While June Dairy Month has been celebrated in a variety of ways in our community, I'm thankful for the opportunity to live and work everyday with my dairy farm  family   to produce a nutritious product for all of us to enjoy!
                  Thank-you for celebrating with us this month!

Dairy Water Patrol

It is a serious problem when you have thirsty dairy cattle any day but even worse on 100 plus degree days! Early this morning,while patrolling the water tanks, it was discovered that we had no water available for the dairy cows to drink in hte water tanks located in the pastures and the feed barn. After determining it wasn't an easy fix, we called for the repairman's help and  began  our  emergency no-water plan.

Water is an important nutrient year round for our dairy cows. A plentiful supply of good,clean water  is needed for milk production and proper growth and metabolism. A dairy cow will typically drink a bathtub full of water every day and that amount increases even more when the temperatures rise above 90 degrees.

Our morning was spent hauling water from a separate water system to the water tanks in the feed barn and pastures while waiting for the pump repair man to restore the system. By early afternoon, the water was flowing freely and we were feeling great relief to know that the water system had been restored and the cattle would have plenty to drink.


Water tank patrol is  part of our everyday routine in taking care of our dairy cows and providing high-quality milk for all of us to enjoy! 

Drive Easy with Dairy

No matter what age or stage of life, exercise and good nutrition are   important for good health. A few weeks ago, my sons presented me with a new Panama Jack Huffy bicycle for my birthday. It's a drive easy dream and  everything I desired--no hand gears or hand brakes,big tires for easy dirt road riding,comfortable seat, normal positioned handle bars and of course,girly looking. The drive around the dairy on my new bicycle is easy on the flat ground but I definitely need refueling when I reach the top of the hills!!

Dairy is a drive easy choice because it plays a critical role in the daily diet to  provide nine essential nutrients. One of my favorite drive easy dairy choices is chocolate milk. According to information provided by Midwest Dairy (http://www.midwestdairy.com), chocolate milk is a great choice after exercise because:

• it is 90% water and replaces fluids to prevent dehydration
• the carbohydrate in milk fuels muscles during exercise and refuels muscles after exercise
• the protein in milk contains all the essential amino acids to maintain healthy muscles
• milk provides potassium needed for normal muscle contractions and balance body fluids
• the calcium and vitamin D found in milk promotes strong bones
• milk contains B vitamins that help convert food to energy to fuel working muscles

While I'm not training for any races, I do hope to drive easy with dairy and  build my stamina for a bike trail ride in town with my sons by the end of the summer!

Drive Easy with Dairy!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Twenty three years ago a group of dedicated Benton County 4-H parents  who had a love for dairy began what we know today as 4-State Dairy Days in Bentonville,Arkansas. Before the dairy cattle show on Saturday, 4-H members from the four state area participated  in dairy quiz bowl,dairy skill-a-thon events ,dairy cattle judging, just for fun dairy olympics and grooming their cattle  for the show on Saturday.

I'm thankful for the dedicated volunteers

 that are still making Dairy Days

a successful fun event for families during

June Dairy Month!

            

Summertime Smoothie

By the weather we've been having for the last month in Northwest Arkansas,summer started a month ago!  It's so hot and ohhh...,so dry.While we can't make it rain, we can provide comfort measures to make sure our cows are as comfortable as possible. Fans and sprinklers are already in use to keep the cows cool while they eat and wait to be milked and water tanks provide fresh,clean water in the feed barn and pastures.

Enjoying a nutritious smoothie made with high-quality milk seems a perfect fit for celebrating summer and June Dairy Month. I found this tasty recipe at http://www.milkmustache.com.

PBB&J Smoothie

2 tbsp strawberry preserves
2 tbsp chunky peanut butter
1/2 cup ice cubes
1 banana
1 cup lowfat or fat free milk

Directions:

In a blender combine all ingredients. Cover and blend until smooth. Serve immediately.