Dairy Farm Food Safety

Single digit temperatures are not our favorite kind of weather

 down on the dairy farm, but so far the calves and cows are doing very well. 

 I am  spending more time than usual observing each calf for any sign 

or symptom of illness that often occurs with the stress 

created by  extreme weather changes.

                            If  our calves become sick and require treatment with an antibiotic,
                            we follow a treatment plan that has been designed by our veterinarian.

                                          It's a fact that healthy animals are the  foundation
                                                     of a safe and abundant food supply.
                                           
                         

                         

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

The book Barns of Benton County,Arkansas became available just before Christmas. 

It was the perfect surprise gift for a native Benton County farmer.

As I looked at each page and read the history that was carefully collected

 about the barns and their owners, I found myself  filled with pride 

just thinking about the farming families of Benton County.

Little did I know that dairy barns would get their own chapter

 when I gave the authors a tour of the dairy many months

 before the publication of the book.

As our county continues to become more urbanized and more barns disappear, 

I'm thankful to the authors, Melba Shewmaker and Monte Harris,

for their dedication to documenting the barns of Benton County

and 

                       providing the history about life on the dairy farm in Benton County.

                                       

Promises for 2017

It's a clean slate and I'm looking forward to a new year that for me 

is guided by my faith in Jesus Christ. I already know it will be a great year

 based on these faith promises. 

These are just a few of the promises for 2017:

" For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord,

 "Plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope."

                                                      ---Jeremiah 29:11

"And my God shall supply all your needs according

 to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

                                                                                         --Philippians 4:19

                                    "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give
                                        thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
                                                                                        --I Thessalonians 5:16-18

                                       From down on the dairy farm, from my family to yours,

                                                          Happy New Year!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

If cows could ride a sunbeam,

 it looked quite possible this afternoon when the sun was setting.

My thought really  was that after  an afternoon of  eating whenever I felt like 

it and resting leisurely in the pasture, a quick ride to the milking  barn

 would be appreciated.

                             I'm thankful for these extraordinary  natural scenes of beauty down
                                         on the dairy farm that occur on ordinary days.

Holiday Helper Recipe

As I was thumbing through my recipe file this past week, Sausage Breakfast Casserole from Simply Recipes  was the perfect holiday helper  recipe for my Christmas morning schedule that included calf feeding and making it to church on time.

I heartily recommend Sausage Breakfast Casserole for anytime you need a holiday helper recipe or trying to feed a hungry family!


Sausage Breakfast Casserole

Ingredients:

1 lb pork sausage, (cooked,drained,crumbled)
4 1/2 cups cubed day old bread
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
10 eggs slightly beaten
4 cups whole milk
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon onion powder (optional)
Fresh ground pepper to taste
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms (optional)
1/2 cup peeled, chopped tomato (optional)

Directions:

1. Heat a skillet on medium high. Break up the sausage into chunks and cook, working in batches if need be, until browned all around. Make sure the chunks of sausage have some space around them or your meat will steam and not brown. Remove the cooked sausage from the pan and let sit on paper towels on a plate to soak up the excess fat. Crumble into smaller pieces.

2. Place bread in a well buttered  9 x 13  inch baking pan. Sprinkle with cheese. Combine the eggs, milk, dry mustard, onion powder and pepper. Pour evenly over the bread and cheese. Sprinkle sausage and optional ingredients over the top.

3. At this stage you can cover and chill overnight, if you want to prepare ahead. If not, let sit for 10 minutes before putting in the oven. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Bake uncovered for about one hour. Tent with foil if top begins to brown too quickly.

Merry Dairy Traditions

Our Christmas tree is full of ornaments that have been lovingly

 received as gifts from friends and family over the last thirty-two years.

Placing these special ornaments on the tree each year is 

an important part of our family tradition, a celebration of friendships

 and a thankfulness for the relationships of those who are no longer with us.

These two ornaments always bring a smile to this  dairy farmer!

Christmas Day on the dairy farm will be busy as usual  as we 

 milk the cows, make sure all the cows and calves are fed 

 and add the usual fun family Christmas traditions

 of eating a lot and opening presents.

A merry  day on the dairy  indeed!

From down on the dairy farm...

Merry Christmas!

           

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

It seemed like the calves were celebrating the first day of 

winter with a moooving song  while waiting on their morning milk.

Since it's just a few days before Christmas, 

they may have been singing their version of Jingle Bells

 or letting us know how they appreciated a warmer

 morning with bright sunshine.

Although we don't like to dwell on the type of winter weather we may face,

I'm thankful for the warm sunlight and the promise of longer daylight hours.