Field Teams

Our field teams are made up of dedicated and skilled people who are passionate about their work. They continually strive to produce the highest quality feedstuffs for our cows with each new growing season. The results speak for themselves; superior feed fed to healthy, contented cows producing quality milk for you.

While there are three dairy teams involved at our three farm sites, only two field teams do the work necessary to raise the feed we need each year. The field teams begin their work long before spring makes an appearance. Throughout the cold winter months they are busy planning and projecting the needs for every acre. Each piece of machinery needed for the upcoming season is made ready. Timely tillage, planting and harvesting is crucial in producing optimal feed. They may have to wait for Mother Nature to give her okay but there are no delays when the sun is shining and the fields are ready. The days are long, well past sunup to sundown. Often they work by headlight and moonlight, always prepared to get the job done.

The field teams take many steps to ensure a successful growing season. This begins with the application of natural fertilizer. Working in tandem with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, manure from our dairies is spread on the fields in a timely fashion. It is immediately incorporated into the soil increasing soil productivity and eliminating nutrient runoff. Then the ground is worked in order to provide an ideal seedbed for planting.

On our farms, we grow two major crops, alfalfa and corn, along with some wheat and soybeans. Alfalfa is a perennial crop, which means it comes back each spring, A field of alfalfa lasts three to four years. Throughout the growing season, alfalfa is harvested about every 28 days, beginning with the first cutting sometime in late May. The alfalfa is cut, chopped and packed carefully into a bunker silo. When the silo is full it is covered with plastic, which is then weighted down with tires. This perfectly preserves the crop for future feeding. This process requires extensive teamwork on the part of our field crew as oftentimes corn planting or corn harvesting is occurring at the same time as alfalfa is harvested. Corn harvest begins in late summer. While some corn may be combined for grain, most of our corn is chopped for silage. This process is similar to the alfalfa harvest in that the corn is chopped and then packed in a bunker. The entire corn plant from stalk to ear is utilized. The combination of alfalfa haylage and corn silage results in a premier combination of feedstuffs for our cows.

When the last cutting of alfalfa is completed and the corn is harvested our field teams continue to care for the land. Cover crops are planted on many acres to protect the soil and help boost soil fertility. This practice gives both the team and the earth a head start on the next growing season. As the year draws to a close, the field team heads back to the shop, preparing and planning for the year ahead.

The field teams of Willow Bend/ Spring Hope and Bonna Terra Farms-caring for the cows by caring for the land.