FACILITIES & EQUIPMENT

Forage processors are an invaluable component of many of our cattle operations today. If you are feeding cattle in bunks or on the ground, forage processors add efficiency by reducing manpower, improving forage utilization and reducing waste.

Growing up on a farm in Iowa, I saw my share of on-farm injuries. When I was in fifth grade, my foot was crushed between a loader bucket and a concrete wall.

Ask any dairy producer what their number one expense is, and they’re likely to say, “feed.” The average 80-cow dairy farm spends more than $15,000 on feed each month and over $180,000 every year.

You know the old saying, “If your only tool is a hammer, the whole world looks like a nail.” While that might be the case, the next question has to be, “What kind of hammer do you have?”

More and more farms are transitioning to the world of robotic milking. During the preparation for this transition, farm visits will be made, drawings will be looked at and questions will be asked regarding numerous aspects of the project.

As farmers, we frequently find ourselves serving as our own service and repair departments. With apologies to highly trained and experienced service personnel reading this, there are times when we are better trained than the employees at a local dealership.