What is one of the worst phone calls a dairyman could ever receive? "Hey, Farmer Bright. You are going to have to buy that last milk truck tanker. Your sample tested positive for antibiotics. You polluted all of the other farmer's milk on the entire load. You have to pay for it." No farmer ever... Continue Reading →
Thanksgiving Is For Moochers
Thanksgiving is totally for moochers and there's no denying it. Let's think about the big feast you're about to attend. Odds are you didn't even help with preparing the meal. In fact it is probably a ten to one ratio of eaters to cooks. Sure mom, grandma, great grandma, and your aunt have been slaving... Continue Reading →
Lost and Found Knife
Today I was very happy to find my lost pocket knife. I misplaced it yesterday and finally retraced my steps back to where I had left it. A farmer can never be without one, or as my extension agent once said, "A man should always carry a pen and a knife." Okay, I'm still working... Continue Reading →
Against The Grain
I have a teenage daughter. Now most dads might think about what a burden that is. They might talk about the nonstop talking for instance. Or giggling. Lots of giggling. Lastly, they might reference teenage boys and explain how their gun needs cleaning or how hard they can hit a ball, or balls, with a... Continue Reading →
Coffee, Calves, And Kids
I can't take any credit for the photos, but I can definitely relate. It really helps being a morning person when you are a dairy farmer. I might have mentioned that you're late for work if you show up here after 4:00 am. I wasn't always as morning coffee person. I got along just fine... Continue Reading →
Fred The Farm Cat
Fearless Fred the farm cat is the last of three strays that someone dropped off at our farm about five years ago. His brothers were also orange, but had fewer lives. One lost a race with a car and the other a fight with a cow. Fred is an adventurer, and I am sure... Continue Reading →
Winter Whiner
My dad says the only good thing about winter is that there are no flies. I am not looking forward to winter. This has nothing to do with the holidays. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's; they are all fun for me and not stressful. I am strictly talking about the weather. Bah humbug on that, indeed.... Continue Reading →
Planning For Autonomous Vehicles
As a member of the local planning board I was very interested in reading the Op-Ed from the LA Times on preparing for the age of autonomous vehicles. Steven Strauss argues that just as turn of the century planners worried about dealing with waste from the 20 million horses used for travel instead of the... Continue Reading →