Happy New Year!

 

 

We wish you a very happy and healthy New Year from down on the dairy farm!

Dairy Cliff Notes: Dairy Makes Sense

In the last few days the talk is all about the fiscal cliff and the dairy cliff. It's hard to believe that it's possible for government regulations that effect dairy policy might  revert to 1940 laws that make no sense in today's dairy industry world. If our dairy  cows new about this--they might go on strike or demand more benefits!

Take heart--even though dairy farmers have no control over the dairy cliff--happening or not happening--you can be sure that Dairy Makes Nutritional Sense. Here are a few notes why Dairy Makes Sense:

• Together, milk,cheese and yogurt play a critical role in the diets of adults and children by providing nine essential nutrients, including calcium,magnesium,potassium and phosphorus, in addition to 48 percent of the daily value of protein.
• Dairy foods provide 70 percent of the calcium in the nation's food supply; milk is the top source of potassium,phosphorus,and vitamin D in the U.S. diet.
• Dairy nutrients are vital to the development of strong bones, thus reducing the risk of developing osteoporosis.
• Research suggest dairy foods help prevent weight gain and are beneficial for weight maintainence.
• Minerals found in dairy foods play an important role in maintaining healthy blood pressure.
• Consumption of dairy foods is associated with a reduced risk of cardiometabolic syndrome, a cluster of metabolic abnormalities that increases the risk of cardiovasuclar disease and type 2 diabetes.

You can find more information about dairy nutrition,dairy farming and nutritious recipes at DairyMakesSense.

Flat Aggie Shares Dairy Facts

Flat Aggie, my friend from California, just loves getting his  picture made on the dairy farm and learning how we work every day to produce high-quality milk. After spending the week on our Arkansas  dairy farm, these are a few facts Flat Aggie wanted to share:

 

 We start the day feeding calves. These babies are fed milk and grain twice every day.

Calves grow up to become the cows that produce milk, so we  make it a priority to get them off to a healthy start.

We milk 260 Holstein cows twice every day. Milk is never touched by human hands.

Milking equipment delivers milk directly from the cows to the refrigerated tank to preserve freshness and safety.

Milk is kept cold until it is transported to the processing plant.

The  cows are fed a nutritious, balanced diet  everyday. The feed ingredients include:hay,corn silage,ground corn, and vitamins and minerals. All of the ingredients are mixed together in the big wagon and delivered to the feed barn for the cows to enjoy.

 

The cows enjoy eating as soon as they leave the milking barn. When finished eating, they return to the pasture to rest.

 

 

It's alot of fun to play in the snow!! 

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

                                                                                 

From toys to tools, it's still fun to watch these two sons unwrap gifts at Christmas. While Ryan is recovering from shoulder surgery, these two boys are working together to manage all the activities on the farm that are needed to care for our dairy and beef cattle.   I'm thankful for two sons that choose to live and work on the family dairy farm and the blessings of family life.

Flat Aggie's Arkansas Snow Drill

Flat Aggie and I had a snow drill on Christmas Eve to prepare for the predicted three to six inches of snow the weather man was sure would happen in Northwest Arkansas on Christmas Day. We practiced our snow and extreme cold weather  readiness all during the day on Christmas Eve. While  Santa was checking his list of gifts, we were checking our lists for  the items we might need to make sure we could care for our cows and calves in extreme winter weather   like heat bulbs for the water  well pumps, diesel for the generators  in case of power outage and extra feed for the cows and calves.

 

 

 

 

We were ready on Christmas morning! It was sooo cold and windy and looked like it could snow any minute. Flat Aggie dressed in her warm Arkansas Razorback coat and hat. We watched for the snow while we fed older   calves in the pasture  and baby calves in the hutches and as  the dairy cows were fed and milked. 

We watched all day and night but not one flake of snow on the dairy farm!

 

 

 

Even though we didn't have any snow,  Flat Aggie learned that we  use all our snow drill skills every day--snow or no snow-- to care for our dairy  calves and cows around the clock whatever the conditions.   

Merry Christmas!

                                                                          
The Birthday Of A King

                                                          

In the little village of Bethlehem,

There lay a Child one day

And the sky was bright with a holy light

O'er the place where Jesus lay!

 

Alleluia, O how the angels sang!

Alleluia,how it rang!

And the sky was bright

With a holy light;

'Twas the birthday of a King!

 

'Twas a humble birthplace,

but O how much God gave to us that day!

From the manger bed what a path has led,

What a perfect holy way!

 

Alleluia, O how the angels sang,

Alleluia, how it rang!

And the sky was bright with a holy light;

'Twas the birthday of a King!

 

           ---William Howard Neidlinger

                 We wish you and your family a Merry Christmas from down on the dairy farm!

Celebrating Birthdays and Friendships

What do you give a friend for her December   birthday  who has everything and  tells you not to buy any birthday gift ?   Birthday cake seemed the perfect choice--not a purchased gift,nothing to dust but straight from the heart to celebrate a friend's special day!    Rave Reviews Coconut Cake is a great cake for any occasion and from past experience,  it's always a tasty treat for any celebration.

Rave Reviews Coconut Cake

1 package yellow cake mix (2 layer size)
1 package (4 serving) Jello Brand Instant Vanilla Pudding
1 1/3 cup water
4 eggs
1/4 cup oil
2 cups sweetened  coconut flakes
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Blend cake mix,pudding mix,water,eggs and oil in large mixing bowl. Beat at medium speed for four minutes. Stir in coconut and nuts. Pour into three greased and floured cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20-25 minutes. Cool in pans for 15 minutes,remove and cool on wire rack. Fill and top with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting.

Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting
4 tablespoons butter
2 cups sweetened  coconut flakes
1 package 8 oz. cream cheese
2 teaspoons milk
3 1/2 cups sifted confectioner's sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in skillet, add coconut,stirring constantly over low heat until golden brown. Spread coconut on paper towel to cool. Cream 2 tablespoons butter with cream cheese; add milk and beat in sugar gradually. Blend in vanilla. Sitr in 1 3/4 cups of the coconut. Spread frosting  on top of each layer,stack and ice top and sides. Sprinkle remaining coconut on top.