WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE FARM

Happy National Dairy Month!

The cows and dairy employees have been enjoying the late spring weather. There are currently 632 cows milking through the parlor, and despite the fluctuating weather the herd continues to average 100 pounds of milk per cow per day.

In mid-May we welcomed our Summer Experience in Farm Management interns. This year's group comes from across the country, including Ohio, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Iowa. Throughout the summer, the four interns will rotate through five areas of the farm: milking, calf care, herd health, feeding, and crop work. They’ll also participate in a variety of training opportunities including artificial insemination workshops through Select Sires, skid steer and forklift certification, and on-farm cattle trailer driving practice.

In mid-July the interns will show their project heifers at the Clinton County Fair Open Dairy Show in Plattsburgh. Each intern will be responsible for training, leading, clipping, washing, and fitting their heifer in preparation for show day.

During the first week of June, we will host our annual Farm Days for Fifth Graders. Hundreds of students from across Clinton County will visit the Institute for a hands-on agricultural learning experience. At the dairy barn, students and chaperones will rotate through several stations, including the milking parlor, calf barn, feed bunks, and displays of field equipment used on the farm.

As we prepare for the growing season, the crops and dairy teams have been busy clearing fields of stones and debris. Approximately 650 acres of conventional corn have been planted for fall harvest, along with 80 acres of pure alfalfa. In addition, we have approximately 670 acres of haylage. The crops team is preparing to begin our first cut of haylage during the first week of June.

We are all looking forward to a productive and successful summer season.

— Nicole Roblero

nstover@whminer.com