I, like many of our customers, try to grow at least a few things in my own garden. This year our efforts are watered down by other priorities, most noteworthy being our delivery service. Combine our waterered down efforts with those scalliwag chipmunks who seem to take great joy in picking my not yet ripe tomatoes, taking a few bites to get to the seeds I think and then leaving the remains where they KNOW I will find them and you have what Frank from Golden Rule Farm calls an exquisite failure! I used to think chipmunks were adorable, now I think they are scheming - they watch us with those beady little eyes, find our weaknesses and then strike.
Last week I as driving from farm to farm picking up produce when I happened to pass Lolans Farm in Middleborough. It was the chickens that caught my eye, and of course, Sue bent over in a field planting so I stopped. She was so gracious, and was happy to stop what she was doing to talk to me about all things farming and hear all about who we are, who are customers are, and what our goals are. Lolans is actually a dairy farm, and Sue is a warm, hospitable person - the result was that we have another source for eggs - yeah!
This week I stopped by again (for the eggs of course) and was invited inside, sat at the kitchen table with her husband Sam so that we could talk about Dairy farming in South Eastern Massachusetts over some iced tea. Sam and Sue had read my Dear Dairy blog from a couple of weeks ago and wanted to set the record straight - so I got an education and I say this very tongue in cheek of course because you couldn't meet nicer people, who are passionate about what they do and every time I meet people who are passionate about what they do, I am inspired. Every time. So on a hot Tuesday afternoon, over some delicious, cold iced tea, here is what I learned: - There is some good in Walmart - some of the dairy farmers in New England belong to Cabot, a cooperative that distributes profits back to the farmers. I knew this of course, but what I didn't know is that Walmart approached them with a ten year growth plan and asked if they were interested in becoming a supplier and the members of Cabot were and do you know why? Because the milk keeps coming that's why. Cows need to be milked, and the milk needs to be moved it is as simple as that and to have a steady, consistent outlet for milk is crucial to the success of a dairy farm. Not only that, but now they can manage their businesses for growth with the foreseeable future secure. I am not a fan of Walmart - that is my personal position, but we don't live in a black and white world, we live in one with many shades of gray and so if they are guaranteeing the livelihoods of local dairy farmers, and the farmers are happy, then I am happy too.
- Consumers Decide - actually, I know that what consumer dollars have a voice, but I always ask farmers what their policies are on pesticides, environmental issues etc. and since I had the ear of a dairy farmer, I asked about the use of BST or Bovine Growth Hormone and was told that none of the farmers in New England use it anymore because there IS NO MARKET for milk produced from cows injected with BST. Which leads to my next point . . .
- Farming for Herd Health - dairy farming IS a volume driven business model, make no mistake, but now instead of pushing cows to produce as much as possible, Sam said it is more worthwhile putting together a herd of good, reliable milk producers and then taking good care of them by giving them the best feed you possibly can, and keeping the cows happy. Stressed cows are sick cows, they get ulcers, and have problems with their reproductive cycles and calving and all sorts of other issues. 'Feed 'em well and you will trim their feet less, and have fewer vet bills and a higher number of offspring which is another source of income', Sam says.
- Quality over Quantity - Milk collected from farmers is tested - bacterial counts are checked and so is the fat and protein content of the milk. Farmers are paid for their milk depending on the results of those tests, good milk fetches a higher price. Now no one is advocating that in the current system you can keep your cows on the best quality forage year round and justify it with the price your milk will fetch - we are not there yet, but it is good to know that we are moving in the right direction, that good quality fresh milk is worth more per gallon means we are moving in the right direction.
- Dairies Direct - local dairy farms who produce milk with a low bacterial count should be allowed to sell their raw milk or other dairy products to neighbors and independently owned farm stands and stores. Currently, legislation is so sticky that it is made difficult or impossible and so very few of them can logistically do it, but another source of retail income for these farmers would also help secure their future, and provide yet another incentive to keep happy cows producing healthy milk.
I often write on my blogs about the challenges with our food system and how much needs to be done. Well, dairy farming is not immune from these challenges and the system is far from perfect. It is a very hard way to make a living and I don't know that many sane people would sit up in this day and age and say 'Hey! I know, I am going to invest hundreds of thousands if not millions in some land, cows, tanks and all the rest so that I can make a living milking cows!'. But for those that do, I salute you and you have my gratitude.
