FROM THE FARM REPORT: WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE FARM

The grass is green and growing, buds are on the trees and the temperatures are getting warmer outside! It's time to begin spring fieldwork! Our crops crew has been cleaning and prepping the field equipment for planting. They have started to spread manure in the fields to fertilize the soil for planting, and stones are also being picked from the fields. Stone picking prevents damage to machinery and allows for a more ideal planting canvas. We always stay busy on the farm, but this time of year we focus on doing some spring cleaning around the barns as well as keeping up with regular facility and equipment maintenance. Our maintenance crews have been fixing gates, repairing light fixtures, pressure washing and landscaping to prepare the facilities for many visitors over the next several months!

In the dairy barn the cows are doing well. The temperature instability during late April into May has been a little tricky for a few of our cows to adapt to, and we’ve treated a few pneumonia cases in our lactating groups but the greater majority seem to be thriving in this spring weather. The calves in our calf barn have been doing well also, calf jackets are off and hopefully it will stay that way.

We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our summer students. The farm management students will have the opportunity to learn how to feed calves, milk cows in the parlor, and run farm equipment. They’will spend time with our herdsman team learning herd health, and they will participate in crops work out in the fields. Students will also be able to participate in an artificial insemination class. One of the highlights every summer for the students is being able to participate in the dairy show at the Clinton County Fair in July. The students will each be given a project heifer to halter break and show at the fair. The 2025 summer students will be arriving mid-May and it’s looking to be a busy summer!

— Mackenzie Abbati

mabbati@whminer.com