Tours to showcase top-notch dairies

Dairy operations throughout North America will be featured at the 2007 World Dairy Expo. Virtual farm tours will focus on a variety of operation types and sizes, from both the U.S. and Canada. These farms excel in new technology integration, forage quality, cutting-edge facilities, genetics, crossbreeding, embryo transfers, employee relationships and keeping dairying a family business.

These free tours will be presented daily, Tuesday through Saturday, in Mendota 1 meeting room, in the Exhibition Hall. The producers will present a half-hour pictorial view of their operation including general farm information and highlights of exceptional farm aspects. Time for questions and discussion will follow.

Tuesday, October 2, Noon
3,500 milking/sand separator and manure processing
Double Eagle Dairy. Inc.
Middleton, Michigan

Third-generation dairy producers John and Karen Weller of Double Eagle Dairy have been slowly expanding over the last 15 years. They began expanding in the 1990s, growing their herd to 100 cows. In August 2006, the final stage of their expansion was completed and houses 3,500 cows and a 72-stall rotary parlor. A vacuum tank system complete with manure processing was integrated into the dairy during the expansion to save sand and bedding and for overall cost effectiveness. Intense training and environmental considerations have earned Double Eagle Dairy the verification of the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program.

Tuesday, October 2, 2 p.m.
330 Milking/Grasses Enhancing Forage Quality
Woldt Farms LLC
Brillion, Wisconsin

Woldt Farms is owned and operated by Daryl and Amy Woldt along with their five daughters: Kelsey, Kayla, Kristen, Karly and Kortney. Started in 1998, Woldt Farms houses 330 cows that produce an impressive rolling herd average of 27,900 pounds of milk and earned top honors as the highest rolling herd average in the Northeast Wisconsin Region.
The Woldts attribute high-quality forages to their success. Corn, wheat, alfalfa and tall fescue grass are grown on 2,600 acres. The dairy’s research indicates that tall fescue grass may help lower the incidence of acidosis and promote overall healthier cows.

Wednesday, October 3, Noon
65 Milking/Compost Bedded-Pack Barn
Yeandle Farms
Drumbo, Ontario, Canada

Jeff Yeandle and his brother-in-law Bob Gilroy always do their homework in order to make sound decisions regarding their herd. Yeandle Farms is a certified organic dairy since 2000 that uses probiotics and homeopathic procedures to ensure healthy cows. Their newly completed compost barn, bedded with shavings, provides maximum comfort for the dairy’s 65 milk cows. Rotational grazing is done on 50 acres with 35 paddocks. Grasses and numerous crops are managed without the use of fertilizers or pesticides.

Wednesday, October 3, 2:00 p.m.
400 Milking/Dairy Enterprise Profitability
Huffard Dairy Farms
Crockett, Virginia

Huffard Dairy Farms is owned by brothers Jim and John Huffard. The dairy herd was established by their grandfather in 1929, and today it is among the best, with 326 lactations completed in 2006 averaging 19,017 pounds of milk, 834 pounds of fat and 675 pounds of protein. Top A.I. sires with the family’s Schultz prefix include “Legend,” “Shane” and “Hallmark,” who now has 18 sons in active A.I. service.

This operation is a case study in how despite urban pressures on all sides, high input costs and the variability in milk price, all milk producers may adapt and thrive in the dairy business.

Their attitude, attention to detail, smart decisions regarding adopting new farming practices and technologies, creativity in genetic selection and breeding decisions and merchandising have contributed to their success.

Thursday, October 4, Noon
500 Milking/Crossbreeding and Grazing
Greenberg Farms LTD
Stratford, Wisconsin

Better cow comfort and overall healthy cows is what dairy producer Jim Greenberg strives for by utilizing intense grazing practices. There are over 1,000 acres of paddocks that the 500-cow herd of Holstein and Holstein crosses rotate through. Young stock and pregnant heifers are also put out on pasture for the summer months.

To help lower feeding costs, very little to no corn is fed during these months. Jersey, Ayrshire, Finnish Red, Normande and more recently Montbeliarde genetics have been incorporated into the herd.

Greenberg Farms hopes to continue their work with crossbreeding. In the winter months, the herd is housed in the new compost bedded-pack barn. Built in 2006, the barn has an increased pitch on the roof for better ventilation to provide fresh air and exhaust excess moisture and stale air.

Thursday, October 4, 2:00 p.m.
500 Recipient Animals/Large Embryo Transfer Operation
City Slickers Farm LLC
Cross Plains, Wisconsin

An embryo transfer program to create ‘elite’ animals with the best genetics available from the six dairy breeds is the business plan of Mike and Linda Hellenbrand on their City Slickers Farm. Moving from New York City after 2001, they created an operation unlike any other.

Hellenbrands buy embryos and implant them into their herd of 400 dairy and beef recipients. Calves are born and raised at City Slickers LLC, then sent to a custom heifer grower. Unique things Hellenbrands are doing include testing every animal to identify PI-BVD carriers, leukosis and neospora, inducing recipients to minimize dystocia and viewing every embryo implanted including direct transfers. In addition, they’ve created a secondary market for their fresh and tested dairy recipients.

Friday, October 5, Noon
450 Milking/Retaining Employees
Nagel Dairy Farms LLC
Deerbrook, Wisconsin

Good help is the key to the success at Nagel Dairy Farms LLC. John and Shirley Nagel, along with son, Jason Nagel, and daughter, Jolynne Schroepfer, have monthly employee luncheon meetings to address concerns and issues affecting their business. As a result, Nagel Dairy has a somatic cell count of 100,000 on their herd of 450 cows and was honored with the Gold Award from the National Mastitis Council in 2006. Good communication and rewards help to retain their employees. The longevity and consistency of this help has enabled Nagel Dairy Farms to grow and expand from within, with a goal of 1,000 cows by 2009.

Friday, October 5, 2 p.m.
950 Milking/Family Values
North Valley Farms
Shepherd, Michigan

North Valley Farms is a family-owned partnership spanning three generations. Starting in 1959 with 23 cows, almost all of their growth has been internal to get to the current number of 950 milking. The Travis family partnership consists of four brothers and their parents. They have worked to maintain slow, steady, calculated growth. At North Valley Farms, issues are dealt with together as a family, sometimes over lunch. Mom puts a home-cooked meal on the table each day for the family and all the workers. No sales people are allowed on the farm during this time.

The operation also features a double-24 herringbone parlor, alley scrapers with flume tubes, two stage pits, 3,800 crop acres, 2,200 total head of livestock and a special certification as part of the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program.

Saturday, October 6, Noon
4,400 Milking/New Technologies Integrated into a Large Dairy
Double Dutch Dairy
Shelby, Nebraska

Producing high-quality milk is what Double Dutch Dairy strives for every day. Many new technologies have been implemented to help achieve this goal and minimize costs and increase production. Flushing of the alleys is done several times a day, and the sand is recycled through a sand separator and gravity settling channels. To ensure accurate feeding and reduce feed loss, a computer system monitors feed delivered.

In the hot summers, a sprinkler system and tunnel ventilation are used to keep cows cool. The direct result of these practices is a somatic cell count of 150,000. With a consistently low somatic cell count, Double Dutch Dairy has been honored with the Five Star Quality Assurance Award for the last three years. PD