5 Years Later...


Wow! It has already been 5 years since our last addition to the farm. Well a lot has happened in 5 years. A couple pieces of land have been acquired. Pivots were added for water conservation, increased crop yields and to manage labor more efficiently.
 

We have outgrown our current milking facility. I think it has served it purpose. Built in the 1960's, it serviced 3 Holsteins per side and grain was fed as the cows were milked. The first change in the early 1980's came with the removal of the grain feeders, and a change in stall size to accommodate 5 Jerseys per side. The next change came in 1992 with a few upgrades. It would stay like that for the next 10-12 years when auto take-offs were added. With continued increase in herd size, the last change added another stall to each side about 4 years.

Mid year 2014, we start our adventure of looking for a new barn. We look at plans, barns, talk, talk, talk, meetings and then...someone suggests that we need to look into ROBOTIC MILKERS. WHAT? So, what did we know about robots? NOTHING!!! That was February 2015. Now we have 4 binders full of robot information, plans, research and are much more knowledgeable about robots. The decision...ROBOTS!

So here we are February 2016 and we have started construction on our robot facility and a new free-stall barn. The weather has slowed progress but now things are starting to pick up. The views are changing and there is no turning back! There is still a lot to be accomplished, a short time frame to work with and more to learn. We are excited about the newest addition but a little scared about how it will all come together and work.

Want to know more about robotic milkers? www.youtube.com and search Lely Robotic Milkers.



Free-Stall Building Site

 



 

 







View of existing free stall barn. There will be 2 robot rooms added at the end of this barn. One will have 2 robots installed and the other will be for future installation of 2 additional robots.

A free stall barn will be added on west side of these existing barns. It will also have 2 robot rooms for 4 robots and bulk tank room and offices.

FFA District Dairy Judging Contest

In September we hosted the 2011 District Dairy Judging Contest, representing 5 area schools: Vale, Ontario, Nyssa, Jordan Valley and Adrian. There were 156 students participating. Our best count was about 195 in total attendance.

Many thanks to local dairy producers, Scotty, Shelly and Bill for bringing us holsteins and guernseys for judging.

After lunch, participants listened to speakers from the Oregon Dairy Products Commission and Farm Service Agency office.

Congratulations to Nyssa FFA for taking home 1st place banners for beginning and advanced teams.



Guests



Participants

Cook Jerry

Guernsey class

Tallying the scores

The Cow Crew

Helpers

District officers presenting awards

Advisors

Got Milk t-shirts to top individuals

Guernsey class

Jersey class

Holstein class

Brown Swiss class

Nose-to-nose

Oscar and David

Finished Barn

The construction is finally finished on the barn. We still have lighting to add and then the COWS! We are looking toward the first of October before we add cows, providing we have lights. The contractors will be back mid-October to start the loafing shed for the dry cows that will set east of the new barn.

Construction update

We are at the end of week 4 of construction. We have gained a  lot of concrete in 4 weeks. The lanes at the ends are left to pour as well as the feed alleys and alley to move the cows to the barn. Work was a little slower this week as the crew was in Hampton installing a hay barn. These pics should give you a good idea of how everything will be connected together.

This doe was getting breakfast the other morning from the bag of corn.

These killdear hatched in the driveway. One of the three is still wet. The fourth egg hatched the following day and we were lucky to get a picture as they took them all away soon after they hatched.

Starting Construction

Construction finally got underway on June 28. The crew seems to be wasting no time after a day and a half the concrete truck was here and things were starting to take shape. They have the 2 outer alleys poured, 2 curbings, 1 manger curb and have moved and piped the water line.