It appears the best time to reply extra questions that readers have requested me about issues written right here or that they’re simply interested by farming-wise. Firstly, some readers appear to see me as the topic of those columns. In actuality, I am often writing about another person and their endeavors or accomplishments.
Chilly climate and cows
Q: How did farmers hold their milk cows from freezing over the previous winter?
A: Cows have a a lot greater tolerance to chilly than do people and provides off a superb quantity of physique warmth and can do fairly properly in the event that they are saved out of the wind. After all, curtains are drawn down on the freestall barns, bedding is saved clear and dry and additional feed is offered. The standard stanchion or tie stall barns have been constructed very tight and are sometimes on the nice and cozy aspect even throughout the coldest of climate.
All animals are saved underneath shut supervision and farmers alter what they’ll. Frozen water pipes may be an equally large risk as cows have to drink a variety of water.
The place can I go to a farm?
Q: The place can I take my household to go to a farm? I’d like my youngsters to see the place their meals comes from.
A: This query has come up regularly throughout the over the three a long time of this column’s existence and yearly it will get a bit more durable to reply as farms turn out to be greater and fewer in quantity.
Clearly, those that ask don’t have a relative or buddy on a farm so my reply is to attend a June Dairy Month Breakfast on the Farm. There are about 60 held yearly with one in about each Wisconsin county. About mid-Might, the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.com posts an inventory of farm breakfasts (by date and site) together with instructions and breakfast price (often $5 – $7).
You’ll have a possibility to eat a giant farm breakfast, get an overview of dairy farming, see animals up shut and speak with many dairy farmers. You could acquire a brand new buddy and an invite to go to their farm. Don’t be bashful or in a rush, ask questions study and have enjoyable.
These days, you don’t simply cease at a farm and ask to go to as most farmers are busy and don’t have time to offer excursions to people. Then there are the considerations of legal responsibility and bringing in illnesses on footwear. Actually, many farmers, particularly the bigger household operations, are comfortable to have guests and sometimes give excursions to teams like Kiwanis, Purple Hatters, church and youth teams. The secret’s to name and make preparations first.
There are additionally farms providing excursions (for a small charge) throughout the state. Examine the web.
It’s gone
Q: You used to often write a few common retailer at Utica in Dane county. Is it nonetheless open?
A: I’ve at all times liked outdated nation common shops and Barney’s Nation Retailer at Utica, about 20 miles south of Madison, was a favourite, particularly on weekend bicycle rides.
Sadly, Barney Lambert and Jackie Sperle, who operated the poplar group gathering spot, retired in 2008 after 30 years. The shop was bought to a few males who didn’t have the acumen and rural/folks wherewithal to make the enterprise go.
They final tried to promote pizza but it surely did not work. They moved out a number of years in the past and within the phrases of one of many Utica residents: “They left it vacant and it’s now populated by varmints.” Too dangerous, it’s sorely missed by the group.
A video public sale?
Q: You as soon as wrote a few beef cattle sale through which the animals truly didn’t undergo a sale ring. How did that work?
A: It labored fantastic. Right here’s how the system works. The primary video public sale I attended was some years in the past on the Gaffney Household Angus Cattle Sale held on the farm close to Barneveld. The public sale was held in a constructing outfitted with tables, chairs, bleachers and a giant display onto which the video of sale animals was projected and the bidding held.
The Gaffney household hires a marketing consultant who prepares the cattle and movies them (in pens) previous to the sale. On sale day, the cattle are on exhibit in non permanent paddocks simply outdoors the sale constructing providing potential consumers a close-up view.
House owners Scott and Valerie Gaffney have used the video system for a fairly a couple of years and prefer it. “It affords a superb view of the cattle and means we don’t want to coach the animals to steer,” Scott says. “It’s quite a bit much less work. These days most farm auctions from land to cattle have a video reference to off-site bidding.”
Tobacco, not gone but
Q: I didn’t know Wisconsin raised tobacco till I examine it in your column a number of years in the past. a reader mentioned. Does it nonetheless have a future as a crop?
A: Possibly, possibly not is the evasive reply. A number of counties in southern and western Wisconsin with a big Norwegian heritage have raised tobacco (for chewing) for over a 100 years. At the moment the acreage is small, just a few hundred acres, most all in Dane, Rock and Jefferson counties.
The issue is {that a} authorities/grower program ended, thus offering no assured purchaser. Now there is just one native purchaser (a Swedish firm) who assigns manufacturing quotas to a restricted variety of growers in response to their anticipated wants. Rising tobacco is difficult work and labor is scarce. And, imported tobacco appears to be taking up. Thus the way forward for tobacco as a viable long-term Wisconsin crop appears dim.
Good questions and hopefully good solutions.
John F. Oncken might be reached at jfodairy2@gmail.com
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