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

Summer has officially arrived, bringing with it the intense heat and challenges that come with seasonal weather changes. Despite the stress caused by a recent heatwave, our cows have continued to perform exceptionally well. In fact, for several weeks in mid-June, our herd was averaging an impressive 105 pounds of milk per cow per day which is a testament to both the health of our animals and the hard work of our team here at Miner Institute. While the high temperatures have since taken a slight toll, causing production to dip to 102 pounds, we still view this as a remarkable achievement. Maintaining this level of output under such demanding conditions reflects the resilience of our herd and the consistent care they receive. We're proud of these numbers and remain optimistic about continuing strong production throughout the rest of the season.

There’s always something new happening around the farm, and lately, we’ve been focusing on a few exciting improvements to keep both our cows and our equipment in top shape. One of our recent upgrades has been the installation of brand-new rotating cow brushes in several of our pens. These brushes are a favorite among our cows. Not only do they help keep them clean, but they also provide a form of enrichment that promotes comfort and relaxation. Our maintenance team has been hard at work replacing outdated brushes and adding new ones in areas where there weren’t any before. It’s been great to see the cows lining up to use them almost as soon as they’re installed! In addition to those comfort-focused improvements, we’ve also made some major upgrades in the milking parlor. We recently replaced all of our milking claw clusters, inflations, pulsators, and tubing with brand-new equipment. These changes are helping to improve milking efficiency, ensure better hygiene, and enhance udder health across the herd. It’s a significant investment, but one that we know will make a big difference in both cow comfort and milk quality.

Our summer students have been hard at work preparing their heifers for one of the highlights of their summer— the Clinton County Fair. Each morning the students take a break from their regular farm rotations to take time to care for their show animals. They can be found walking their heifers around the farm, giving them baths, brushing their coats, and spending quality time socializing them which are all important steps in building trust and preparing them for the show ring. This routine not only strengthens the bond between the students and animals but also helps ensure that the heifers are calm, confident, and well-behaved in a busy fair environment. As the fair approaches, the students will soon shift their focus to fitting by learning skills such as clipping and styling their heifers’ toplines to showcase them at their very best. The time and energy our students are investing in their animals go beyond a daily chore, it’s a full commitment. During fair week, they stayed overnight at the fairgrounds, continuing to care for their heifers around the clock while representing Miner Institute. We’re proud of their hard work and accomplishments in the ring. The Clinton County Fair ran from July 7th to 12th, and we enjoyed all the visitors who stopped by to meet our summer interns and say hello to the heifers, and see firsthand the results of weeks of dedication and care.

— Ella Shamus-Udicious

eudicious@whminer.com