A Finished Barn!

Lunch break for some of our employees while they finish the interior of the barn.

Looking down the ally where the cows will be notice the fans and the overhead garage door to keep the cows cool in the summer and shelter from the wind in the winter.

Well after nearly six months of building, from start to finish, the barn is complete.  We are happy to say that the cows took to it like it was the Grand Hotel.  They love the openess and act very pleased with their new surroundings.  How do we know this?  Well, we look at the contentment of them, they walk slow and steady and are not hesitant or jumpy.  They eat well, drink lots of water and chew their cud showing us signs of satisfaction!  All in all, it is mission accomplished.  Having healthy, happy cows only strenghtens our commitment to agriculture.

This shows where the cows will lay down to rest.  They are bedded with a smooth soft sand, it's like having a day at the beach for them.  It is comfortable and cool.

Notice the outside wall of the barn.  There really isn't one.  To keep the cows cool in the summer the sides are left open for air flow.  In the winter we have material "curtains" that roll down to keep out the wind and snow. 

The cows are in!  They are happy and eating a well balanced diet.  Water is available 24 hours a day.

Until next time, 
Drink milk and have a healthy diet.

Progress....

In July I can usually be found at my blueberry patch down the road.  I had a usually busy season and just didn't find the time to go to the buidling site to take photos.  I have one from my patch around the corner:

AUGUST 2010

Let's take a look at what progress is:







Things are looking great, but we still have a lot of work to do.

 

When the roof of the barn gets on, we still have plenty to do inside to make a comfortable home for the cows.  With the latest in building technology to provide a safe and secure environment for the cows, come back to see whats goin on inside...

Until next time...

Meeting Season has Officially Begun!

Since there are just a few months during the year when farmers can actually attend events without having to worry about crops in the fields, we have officially entered "meeting season".

The invites have been coming for a couple of weeks. Salesmen show up at your office or your front door. They have a smile and the invite in their hand and tell you they will feed you and show you how to save money in the coming year. Yeah right! Well.....sometimes they are right.

Some of these meetings are to entice you to buy their products, some to educate you on new technologies or innovations and yes, some will help you save money this year.
We attend a lot of meetings, if i had to guess, I would probably say we will attend 20 meetings this winter. You know the old saying, "never pass up a free meal!" Oh, maybe that's my saying!

Until next time,
Let someone else pay for dinner:)

The Milk in Michigan is COLD today!!

Happy Thursday!

Today we have had our first "official" snow fall (meaning it has stuck to the ground just so you can see it.) Yep, you heard me - that dreaded 4 letter word!! SNOW. Oh Lord, I haven't even gotten all my fall work done yet. It's too early for this!! But the milk in Michigan is cold today!!

We just finished corn chopping- I will show you that later with pics-and still have to chop some sorghum sudan grass. All to feed the hungry cows!! Then it's full steam with harvesting soybeans and corn. And with the rainy weather every other day, it's been difficult to manage all this.

We will still pray for an "Indian Summer", you know when it actually warms up again! And if we're lucky, we'll get a long enough one to keep moving on the harvest and be done by Thanksgiving. That would definitely be a time for celebration!

So bear with me while I get my extra jobs done and I can move on to the next and get back to posting to keep all of you updated and informed.

Until next time,

Jennifer

Oh A Busy Fall!!

Wow, has this been a crazy, as usual, Fall. Over the past couple of weeks, my blog has suffered from lack of attention. It's not that I haven't wanted to post, it's just that one thing has lead to another and another and, you guessed it, another!
With chopping of haylage going full steam into corn silage and the wet weather to contend with every day, not to mention getting ready for the county fair-whew! Life's been full!
This week I have started a blog post, but unfortunately, it's not finished and I find myself juggling many apples. When the guys (employees) are hard at work trying to get the crops in either in the Spring or Fall, it's my job to feed them. So sack lunches and good nutritious dinners with DAIRY products is what they eat this time of year. Then in between, I work in the office, take care of the horses, and pet-goat, Gomez. Oh yea, right now I'm off to chase steers in the corn field-AGAIN!!
Sorry to cut this short, but there's no time to waste when the cattle run through the corn!!

Until next time,

Corral your cattle!!

The Last Fair in Michigan...for 2009!

What happens every year in Southern Michigan during the last weekend of September? The County Fair!! Yes, the smells of caramel corn, the sound of amusement rides, combine derby's and some "Famous Country Singer", and the sights of animals and kids!!


Oh how I love the county fair!! When I was a kid, my neighbors (the Nichols family) were the managers of the fair. They were also like my second family, and back then there were benefits of being "family" when the county fair started! I met "famous" people and rode all the rides for free (remember this was a long time ago-haha). It's great when you are ten years old and can stay late at the fairgrounds because you are doing the "rounds" with the "manager". I fell in love with the fair back then and still can't get enough of it today (just ask my husband).

I started my 4-H club when my oldest was 7 and now he's 20. My daughter's last year was in 2008 and I'm down to one last child showing at the fair, and he's 16. I'm already dreading the day when it will be his last fair. But maybe then I will start to take things to the fair for myself? I've wanted to enter photos for the last three years, but still haven't gotten that done. I will have more time to spend in the "Little Red Barn", the one our County Dairy Promoters sell milk and ice cream out of. And yes, much more time for chit-chat!!

So this fair was just as good as all the others. My 4-H kids did exceptionally well, as usual. Many blue ribbons were won, along with some Grand Champions and Best of Class awards, too.

Although my family raises cows, we don't take them to the fair. We have a strict policy of keeping our herd separate from other cows so as not to pick up any type of sickness that could lead to whole herd contamination. My children, instead, take other animals that don't come home, along with crop projects. We sell the animals at the end of the week and the "buyers" have the option to take them for meat or send them to the "market" where they will end up on someonelse's table. It is a win-win situation. The kids are able to use their money for next year's animal project and the buyers are supporting the "educational process" that took place over the past 3-12 months. We are very fortunate to have dedicated people support the youth in our county. My family, in turn, are supporters of the 4-H kids as well. We purchased some ducks and sheep this year.

My 4-H club members also take a wide variety of craft and food and crop projects along with educational exhibits. And so it goes, long months of preparation to display your "harvests" at the county fair, and in one week it is all over until next year. But what a great week it is!!

Until next time,

May the fair season Moo-ve your way!

The Lewis' on Video!!

I only have 2 more days until a video crew and a photographer show up at my door at 7am in the morning!! Yikes!! My family and our farm have been chosen to represent Dairy farmers from the great state of Michigan (plus 1 other dairy farm family) on a video series. What a great honor!! But also a bit stressful.
We pride ourselves on trying to keep a tidy place. But when it's going to be seen nationwide-well, you just have to take a little bit closer look. So we have been busy for the last several days making sure all is in order. We have had a bit of rain lately, so the grass just keeps growing!! Good thing we have 2 lawn mowers.
I hope to be able to take some pictures while they are here and post them on my blog. Anyway, we will put our best foot forward-and so will the cows! When it becomes available, I'll let you know. Like they say in showbusiness, Break a Leg, or maybe I should say Hoof!!

Until next time,

Say cheese!!:)

Where's the Beef, the Chicken or the Pork?

You may be asking yourself this very question in the future.  "Where has all the meat gone?  Why can't I buy it in Michigan or Ohio or California anymore?"  Or any of the other states affected by poor legislative actions from people who don't really know the truth but rely on others to tell them the "story".
Do you believe everything you read or hear?  I would hope not.  But, I would say that sometimes you may hear things are just "amazing", "incredible", or even "inhumane?".   
As a dairy farmer, who is truly pro-active in the promotion and education of all of agriculture, it saddens me to think that people would believe anyone who isn't an actual farmer.  Would you ask questions of a lawyer if you wanted a diagnosis for an ailment?  Probably not.  Your best bet is to find a person who really knows their "business". 
Animal agriculture in this country is huge.  The majority of the population likes meat (and no I don't have numbers to back this statement up).  I am one of those people-the ones who enjoy a good steak, chicken salad, and pork loin.  I cannot think of a time or place where I have not seen any type of meat (pork, beef, chicken, fish) on a menu or in a store.  Obviously, I am not a vegetarian, but I am aware that there is a small population that does not eat meat.  And some don't even consume or use products from animals-not even dairy or poultry, these people are called vegans.  Each to his own.  And, I certainly don't ridicule these people, they have a choice, just like I have a choice to "Eat Meat".
I am no different than most people that I know.  I stand up for what I believe in and I tell the truth.  I don't make it a habbit to talk negatively about others.  But just for this "year", I am having a hard time sticking to that last point.  You see, there is a national organization, called the "Humane Society of the United States", HSUS, (led by a smooth talking man named Wayne Pacelle), not to be confused with any state or local Humane Society/Shelter.  This organization's purpose is to "eliminate animal agriculture" in the United States.  Now that leaves me in a bit of a pickle.  My families livelihood depends on animal ag, just like the thousands of farmers and ranchers throughout the U.S.  Where will McDonalds and Wendy's and all the other fast food chains be without hamburgers?  You guessed it-in another country.  And if there's no meat here, then the meat will come to us. Which leads us into another quandry-food safety!  America has the safest food supply in the world. Not to mention, the cheapest. 
The HSUS uses cute little puppies and kittens as their motive for collecting Millions of dollars a year from unsuspecting people, their annual budget is somewhere around $130 Million dollars. You may think you're helping to save the seals or the lost and abandoned animals, but in actuality you are contributing to their fundraising efforts to pass ballot initiatives in states such as California and Ohio.
My point is that people in the "business" know what they are talking about.  To let "outsiders" come into our state and fight for their "beliefs" is just immorally wrong.  Talk to a farmer, or someone who is directly connected to agriculture.  They are the experts-not people who don't live and breath it every day of their life.

Your Poll Results

Thanks for taking the time to vote on the Poll Questions.  The first question asked if you "have visited a farm in the last year"?  Out of the 13 responses, only 1 person hadn't been to a farm within that time frame.  That's terrific!  For those of you who work or visit a farm, you know all too well what actually goes on.  But for the many thousands of Americans who never get that chance, they need someone to tell them the "story".  That's where this blog comes in.  It's a tool to let the non-farm public see up-close and personal the ways in which their food is raised.  The care that we as farmers show to our livestock, our crops, our employees. 
24% of Michiganians are employed in agriculture.  That means that 1 out of every 4 people you may know have some relationship with ag.  But for the 3 out of 4 people who know little, if any, about agriculture please share this blog with them.  There are other blogs that I recommend also, follow my links.  And I am always searching for new and interesting blogs that tell the story of ag, so let me know if you find one that peaks your interest.
This weeks question was "Do you feel farmers take good care of their animals"? An overwhelming YES resounded.  Hooray! You're right.  Farmers and ranchers take excellent care of their animals.  The health of a cow and her calf is very important to us as healthy animals equate to healthy products.  As mentioned in an earlier post, we provide shelter, a nutritious diet of fresh feed and water daily, veterinary care, and plenty of good ole' cow comfort.  We care for every animal, every acre and every person. This is our livlihood, this is where we raise our children and grandchildren and this is where we feed the world.  So Thank a dairy farmer the next time you meet one, and drink that cold glass of milk knowing that plenty of hard work and care went into it!

Until next time,

Thank a farmer.

Milk Prices-Bad for Farmers

Have you noticed the price in the grocery store for milk these days?  Here in southern Michigan, the prices range from $1.48 per gallon to $2.78.  Amazing!!  The $1.48 milk is at a local grocer with a national chain, Kroger, competing for that market share.  The $2.78 milk price comes from another national chain, Wal-Mart.  You know Wal-Mart, who will beat any price, guaranteed??  Well, if you want that lower price all you have to do is ask, and they will oblidge.  Who would have guessed that?
But, I'm wondering, why is milk that high priced?  You see, the dairy farmer only receives about 50 cents from that gallon.  This is not typical.  The milk price paid to the farmer is so low that we are not even breaking even.  How is that?  There are many reasons.
As you have figured out this year, there is a recession.  And there is a world recession also.  That means that other countries who typically buy (import) from the United States have cut back dramatically or are not importing at all.  The dairy supply of dry milk, butter and cheese is then stockpiled in the U.S. with no where to go but wait to get consumed. 
Dairy product consumption is lower in the summer months.  Ice cream may be higher, but overall, other dairy products are not consumed as much as in the Fall and Winter, when baking and holidays lead to stronger sales. 
I want to mention that other businesses suffer from periodic market lows also.  But there seems to be radical changes in agriculture these days.  As anyone who is in business for themselves knows, you can only hold on for so long and then the time comes that you may have to sell out.  Unfortunately, several large and small dairies around the country have had to do just that.  This is very painful to all dairy farmers, to see someone who has devoted his life to feeding the nation, have to call it quits. 
While we all hold on to the fact that agriculture is the core of this country, lets not forget that all consumers want "cheap" food.  According to the United States Dept. of Agriculture, America has the cheapest food supply in the world, only 10% of a person's annual disposable income is spent on food versus 13.4% in 1974.  Because of the increase in technology, our production has gone up and costs to the consumer have gone down.  Other countries remain at a higher level of income vs. cost for food, such as Italy, where the annual disposable income spent on food is as high as 23%, and India where they spend around 51% for food. 
What you can do.  To help out the American Dairy Farmer, buy more milk products.  Follow the Food Pyramid and make sure you get enough of the daily allowance of dairy.  Encourage others to add milk products to their diets and like I always tell my friends: "Support your local dairy farmer"! 

Until next time,

Get your "3 A Day", (dairy servings).

Welcome!

Welcome to The Milk Can!

I am so excited to tell you all of the great things about being a dairy farmer in this blog. Every day, yes, 365 days a year, we are living the story of the American Farmer.
Dreaming the dream of owning our own land. Because, about 99% of all U.S. dairy farms are family-owned and operated, just like ours. And every day we are raising animals in a healthy environment to help feed the world.

Feed the world, you say? Yes, feed the world. Nearly 60,000 U.S. dairy farms provide milk, cheese, yogurt and other dairy products to the U.S. and other countries. U.S. dairy farms produce roughly 21 billion gallons of milk annually.

A cow will produce an average of 6.3 gallons of milk each day. That’s more than 2,300 gallons each year. Most milk only travels about 100 miles from the dairy to the grocery store to ensure farm-fresh quality. To be sure you get a safe product, milk and dairy foods undergo extensive quality and safety testing before they reach the grocery store. In fact, dairy foods are one of the most highly regulated foods you will consume.

Milking machines deliver milk directly from the cows to a refrigerated holding tank to preserve freshness and ensure safety. The milk is then quickly transported to processing plants for continued freshness and safety. And isn't it wonderful? There's nothing better than a good cold glass of milk.
So stay tuned in to "The Milk Can" and I will help to educate you and your family on the benefits of being a Michigan farmer, and share in the joy (and sometimes the sorrow) of being a dairy farmers wife.

Until next time,

Drink Milk!!