Back On the Farm
Farming 25 years ago
Life on the farm was a daily routine that was second nature to those who
lived it. It was more than a job for the families of farmers, it was and continues
to be a way of life. The daily routine was one that they didn't have to think about
as they went about their daily life but this might be an example of a farmers
daily agenda that someone who isn't a farmer could understand and learn.
The day would begin at about 4:30 AM. Then the drive to the farm
would consist of about a mile to where the milking would be done. The cows
would then be brought in from the fields. Each group of cows would come from
one of four different fields to be milked. The highest producing group would be
milked first; they would go into the holding pen, to wait to be milked. At that
time there was a 14 stanchion carousel milking parlor.
The first cow would go onto the parlor and put her head Into the feed
bucket Inside the first stanchion and lock herself in. All 14 stanchions were then
filled one at a time. The first cow's udder was washed and striped, to check for
any irregularities in her milk. The milking unit was then put on, all the other 13
were also done. When the first cow was finished milking; the milking unit would
automatically drop off and swing back into position for the process to be
repeated. Each cow would be on the carousel for approximately 7 minutes.
After the cow was finished being milked, the ball on the top of the feed bucket
would hit a steel plate and release the stanchion and the cow would walk down
the return lane to the feed racks for hay and grain. To dispense the grain to be
fed, the grain would be put into a self unloading feed truck and hauled to the
feed racks. Hay was also fed to the cows at this time. There were approximately
400 to 450 cows milked twice a day by this process.
The milk was collected in weigh jars, and then released into a 6000 gallon
stainless steel milk tank which was kept in the milk house located outside the
milking parlor. After the milking units were used, all were washed and sanitized
in preparation for the next milking.
While this was taking place, another worker would feed heifers grain and
hay in long feed racks at another farm because they were not being milked.
There were about 250 heifers and 200 bred heifers, from ages 12 months to
about 15 months located on the other farm.
Heifers from about 8 months to 12 months were feed grain in
troughs and given bales of hay but kept separate from the milking cows. New
born calves and calves up to 8 months were kept in separate calf hutches, given
milk, milk replacer, water and grain. Approximately 48 to 50 calves were raised
on the farm all year round.
The cows were turned dry 2 months before calving, and put into a lot for
feeding and observation. Cows were turned dry and placed in this lot weekly.
After a cow freshened, another cow would take her place, keeping about 50
cows total Inside this lot. They are fed grain and hay twice a day.
1250 acres of land were owned by the farming families. 500 hundred
acres were also rented for use in planting corn, alfalfa, soy beans, wheat, rye
and oats. They also double-cropped; when the wheat was harvested, corn was
then planted. They harvested everything that was grown on the farm
themselves. They chopped haylage from alfalfa, and baled hay. From corn, they
made silage and shelled corn. They could fill 6 large upright silos with Silage and
fill one small silo With small grains.
There were 9 workers, who were also family members. The men made
about 3,000 dollars a month, while the women made 1,000 dollars per month.
The kids, who also worked on the farm, made about 500 dollars per month as
well. Each family was provided: a house, electric, and heating fuel, all the milk
products they needed, 2 cows and 2 hogs per year for meat. Each family grew
a Vegetable garden, harvested and canned the vegetables.
This is just an example of one dairy family, farming in 1984, 25 years ago.
John Jones
Jefferson FFA
Farming 25 years ago
Life on the farm was a daily routine that was second nature to those who
lived it. It was more than a job for the families of farmers, it was and continues
to be a way of life. The daily routine was one that they didn't have to think about
as they went about their daily life but this might be an example of a farmers
daily agenda that someone who isn't a farmer could understand and learn.
The day would begin at about 4:30 AM. Then the drive to the farm
would consist of about a mile to where the milking would be done. The cows
would then be brought in from the fields. Each group of cows would come from
one of four different fields to be milked. The highest producing group would be
milked first; they would go into the holding pen, to wait to be milked. At that
time there was a 14 stanchion carousel milking parlor.
The first cow would go onto the parlor and put her head Into the feed
bucket Inside the first stanchion and lock herself in. All 14 stanchions were then
filled one at a time. The first cow's udder was washed and striped, to check for
any irregularities in her milk. The milking unit was then put on, all the other 13
were also done. When the first cow was finished milking; the milking unit would
automatically drop off and swing back into position for the process to be
repeated. Each cow would be on the carousel for approximately 7 minutes.
After the cow was finished being milked, the ball on the top of the feed bucket
would hit a steel plate and release the stanchion and the cow would walk down
the return lane to the feed racks for hay and grain. To dispense the grain to be
fed, the grain would be put into a self unloading feed truck and hauled to the
feed racks. Hay was also fed to the cows at this time. There were approximately
400 to 450 cows milked twice a day by this process.
The milk was collected in weigh jars, and then released into a 6000 gallon
stainless steel milk tank which was kept in the milk house located outside the
milking parlor. After the milking units were used, all were washed and sanitized
in preparation for the next milking.
While this was taking place, another worker would feed heifers grain and
hay in long feed racks at another farm because they were not being milked.
There were about 250 heifers and 200 bred heifers, from ages 12 months to
about 15 months located on the other farm.
Heifers from about 8 months to 12 months were feed grain in
troughs and given bales of hay but kept separate from the milking cows. New
born calves and calves up to 8 months were kept in separate calf hutches, given
milk, milk replacer, water and grain. Approximately 48 to 50 calves were raised
on the farm all year round.
The cows were turned dry 2 months before calving, and put into a lot for
feeding and observation. Cows were turned dry and placed in this lot weekly.
After a cow freshened, another cow would take her place, keeping about 50
cows total Inside this lot. They are fed grain and hay twice a day.
1250 acres of land were owned by the farming families. 500 hundred
acres were also rented for use in planting corn, alfalfa, soy beans, wheat, rye
and oats. They also double-cropped; when the wheat was harvested, corn was
then planted. They harvested everything that was grown on the farm
themselves. They chopped haylage from alfalfa, and baled hay. From corn, they
made silage and shelled corn. They could fill 6 large upright silos with Silage and
fill one small silo With small grains.
There were 9 workers, who were also family members. The men made
about 3,000 dollars a month, while the women made 1,000 dollars per month.
The kids, who also worked on the farm, made about 500 dollars per month as
well. Each family was provided: a house, electric, and heating fuel, all the milk
products they needed, 2 cows and 2 hogs per year for meat. Each family grew
a Vegetable garden, harvested and canned the vegetables.
This is just an example of one dairy family, farming in 1984, 25 years ago.
John Jones
Jefferson FFA
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