Announcing 2012 Small Dairy Field Days!

A series to highlight creative strategies on family dairies to take place between May 9^th– July 11^th, 2012

Are you interested in how small dairy farms across New York are improving profitability, sustainability, and quality of life?  Whether you are a farmer, educator, homesteader, or just curious, the Cornell Small Farms Program has teamed up with educators and dairy producers to offer you a series of idea-generating on-farm field days.  Topics include everything from incorporating new value added products to improving nutrition to producing on-farm biodiesel.  These small dairies vary in location, but share a common size; each farm milks between 35 to 75 head.
The field day series is free and open to all.  See below for locations and descriptions.  Please pre-register by contacting the educator listed for the field day.  Hope to see you there!

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Region: Western, Allegany County
Title: Barley Fodder Feeding for Organic Dairies: Sprouting Small Grains to Increase Benefits
Registration: Dave Hardy, Organic Valley Milk Coop at (608) 479-1200 or Fay Benson 607-745-3807, afb3@cornell.edu
May 9, 2012. 10am – 3pm. Be-A-Blessing Organic Dairy. 1553 Heselton Gully Rd  Whitesville, NY 14897.  John & Tammy Stoltzfus will host Barley Fodder Feeding for Organic Dairies: Sprouting Small Grains to Increase Benefits.  We will be going over the technique of sprouting small grains to not only increase their nutritional benefits but also to reduce the negative effects of feeding grains to ruminants.   Scheduled Speakers will include Jerry Brunnetti and Veterinarian Silvia Abel-Caines, DVM.  Both are proponents of Small Grain Fodder Feeding.  The Stoltzfus’ have perfected the sprouting room on their dairy to produce enough to feed their 40 cows.  To register, contact Dave Hardy, Organic Valley Milk Coop at (608) 479-1200 or Fay Benson 607-745-3807, afb3@cornell.edu

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Region: Catskills, Delaware County
Title: Adding Income Streams to a Small Dairy
Registration: Mariane Kiraly, 607 865 6531, mk129@cornell.edu
July 26th, 2012. 11am – 1pm. DelRose Farm. 9635 Co Hwy 18, Bloomville, NY. Ernest and Barbara Hanselman will present Adding Income Streams to a Small Dairy.  The Hanselmans milk 75 Registered Holsteins and Brown Swiss in the fertile valley of the Delaware River.  They have been in the dairy business for over 30 years and have gradually added enterprises that diversify the farm into various income streams.   They will discuss making the best use of on-farm resources and trends to create a diversity of income streams that add to farm income and farm viability.  To register, contact Mariane Kiraly, 607 865 6531, mk129@cornell.edu

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Region: Fingerlakes, Tompkins County
Title: Staying Small Through a Century of Dairy Farming
Registration: Monika Roth, 607-272-2292, mr55@cornell.edu
June 20^th, 2012. 1-3pm. Snofarm Dairy. 644 Buffalo Rd, Brooktondale, NY 14817. Aaron and Calib Snow will present Staying Small Through a Century of Dairy Farming.  The farm has been in the Snow family for three generations.  A year and a half ago Calvin (father) and Aaron (son) started producing cheese from a small percentage of milk to sell locally.   Snofarm is milking 35 cows, primarily Holsteins, a few Dutch Belts and a few Brown Swiss.  The afternoon will consist of field, barn, and cheese making facility tours and discussion. To register, contact Monika Roth, 607-272-2292, mr55@cornell.edu

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Region: Hudson Valley, Columbia County
Title: Achieving Low Somatic Cell Count on Small Herds
Registration: Stephen Hadcock, 518-380-1497, seh11@cornell.edu
June 30^th, 2012. 11am-2pm. Tollgate Holsteins. 136 Fox Hill Rd, Ancramdale, NY 12503. Lowell “Jim” Davenport will present, Achieving Low Somatic Cell Count on Small Herds.  The Davenports consistently produce high quality milk from their herd of 60 cows with average somatic cell count less than 100,000.   Due to this low somatic cell count, Jim has been able to capitalize on working cooperatively with some other dairy producers to process and market their milk under the Hudson Valley Fresh label.   Their milk has gained a reputation of being high quality and marketing of the milk under this label continues to expand.    Jim also is a firm believer in feeding a high forage diet to his herd and has developed a system to take advantage of the soil resources at the farm to consistently produce high quality forages.  To register, contact Stephen Hadcock, 518-380-1497, seh11@cornell.edu

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Region: Fingerlakes, Cortland County
Title: On Farm Energy Production (Oilseed Press/Grass Pellet Demonstration)
Registration: Fay Benson 607-745-3807, afb3@cornell.edu
July 11th, 2012. 10am-2pm. Scheffler’s Farm. 643 Cobb Street, Groton NY 13073    . Ed and Eileen Scheffler will host On Farm Energy Production (Oilseed Press/ Grass Pellet Demonstration). Ed& Eileen have purchased an Oilseed Press through an Organic Valley project. They will demonstrate the oilseed press. The Schefflers will talk about how their plans have evolved and what their goals are now for the oilseed press.  Other farmers will join in leading the discussion as well.   John Stoker an organic dairy farmer from Cazenovia NY will talk about his business pressing oilseeds for human consumption.  Matt Dedrick, a crop Farmer form Lansing NY will bring his homemade grass pellet maker for demonstration.  To register, contact Fay Benson 607-745-3807, afb3@cornell.edu

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Region: Catskills, Delaware County
Title: Adding Income Streams to a Small Dairy
Registration: Mariane Kiraly, 607 865 6531, mk129@cornell.edu
July 26th, 2012. Time, 11:30 am – 2pm. DelRose Farm. 9635 Co Hwy 18, Bloomville, NY. Ernest and Barbara Hanselman will present Adding Income Streams to a Small Dairy. The Hanselmans milk 75 Registered Holsteins and Brown Swiss in the fertile valley of the Delaware River. They have been in the dairy business for over 30 years and have gradually added enterprises that diversify the farm into various income streams. They will discuss making the best use of on- farm resources and trends to create a diversity of income streams that add to farm income and farm viability. This tour has been incorporated into the 82 nd Annual Delaware County Dairy Tour. No registration is necessary. Bring a picnic lunch. Milk and ice cream will be served. Contact Mariane Kiraly, 607 865 6531, mk129@cornell.edu with any questions or visit www.ccedelaware.org for more details.