D2-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 5,1993
Kroeck’s Advice: Keep Up With The Change, Dollars Will Follow
CJ. HOUGHTALING place on the Kroeck farm. Karr
Tioga Co. Correspondent
KNOXVILLE (Tioga Co.) If
farmers arc to survive, they must
be willing to change.
For the Kroecks, that philoso
phy is evident throughout their
dairy operation. Farming, to them,
isn’t just a business, it’s big busi
ness. And keeping it big requires
making necessary changes in their
farming practices as the entire
dairy industry changes.
Change has always been takini
•»wr
Jjfi** w
Beverly Kroeck, bringing milk back from the barn, poses
with her youngest son, John, on his way to the barn for the
morning milking. Their dog, Duke, also wanted a little
recognition.
CUSTOM BUILDER OF DAIRY, HOG,
HORSE, STORAGE, RESIDENTIAL AND
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
i- Horse Barn - Riding 'ena
Wifw EY CONSTRUCTION, INC.
W ICW 2622 Valley View Rd., Morgantown, PA 19543
Office (215) 286-5407 • Home (215) 445-8317
moved his family to Knoxville
from Lancaster County in 1969.
Prior to the move, the Kroecks
raised hogs on 80 acres. But Karl
wanted to farm on a bigger scale,
so the Kroecks came north where
land was cheaper. Purchasing two
farms with a total of 500 acres,
they began milking SO head.
Since that move, the size of the
Kroeck family, as well as the
farm, increased. Karl and his wife
Bcverlv' e,
John Kroeck takes care of
the herd’s needs such as
feeding and medicating.
33; Larry, 31; Julie, 30; David, 28;
and John, 20.
Karl and his sons Mike and
John now milk 160 head of regis
tered and grade Holstein and own
2,000 acres of land. Managing an
operation of this size requires a lot
of careful planning and making
efficient use of time.
Helping the Kroecks with their
milking are three part-time
employees. Fran Hija is the first
one in the bam each morning to
start the milking. She is joined
later by Mike and John.
Others who assist with the
evening milking and chores are
Clayton McLean and Randy
Morseman. The bulk of the Held
work is done by Karl, although his
sons join him after the milking is
completed.
Over the years, the Kroecks
have changed their crop manage
ment practices and feeding sys
tem, both which have had positive
effects on their herd’s health and
milk production.
Future changes include switch
ing their stanchion bam and pipe
line operation to a free stall and
parlor set up to further increase
their herd’s size and manage
ability.
(Turn to Page D 3)
COLLEEN HOUGHTALING
Tioga Co. Correspondent
CJ. Houghtaling joined the
Correspondent staff at Lancaster
Farming in March of 1992. Pre
viously, she worked as an editor
and reporter at two Tioga County
newspapers, as well as a substi
tute teacher.
She has a bachelor’s in
elementary education, with an
area of concentration in commu
nication skills from Mansfield
University, and is a graduate of
the Writer’s Digest School for
fiction.
Her award winning fiction,
nonfiction, and poetry have
appeared in Byline Magazine,
The Carousel News and Trader,
Endless Mountain Review,
RISES Tv
°%
$ with
6y *0
<«
\ w
MARK C. HERSHEYf
FEEDS
• The top 5 DHIA herds in Lebanon
County use Mark Hershey’s feed
ing program (source: May 1993
DHIA list)
Dairy programs feature Steam-Cooked
Soybeans
Accurate ration balancing, without
expensive additives
• Grain bank program
• Competitive pricing
We salute all dairy farmers statewide for
their dedication in producing milk. We
want to especially recognize Lebanon
County dairy producers for having the top
county DHIA average in the state for the
last three years.
By incorporating Steam-Cooked Soy
beans into our feeding programs, we can
offer an economical, palatable source
fat and high bypass protein.
Whether you are in Lebanon, Lanca
Dauphin or W. Berks County, call toda
to see how we can improve your herd
total profitability.
Mark C. Hershey Farms, I:
479 Horseshoe Pike, Lebanon, PA 17042
717-867-4624
Tim Klssllng
Nutritional Consultant
215-693-5971
Mike Fair
Dairy Specialist
717-274-9838
Ellery Queen’s Mystery Maga
zine, Children’s Playmate, Mid
west Poestry Review, and many
more, including nine area news
papers and several anthologies.
She is president of the Mid
dlebury Union Cemetery, tjie
Northern Appalachian Pennwri
ters, and is a board member of
the statewide Pennwriters
organization.
Her hobbies include scuba
diving, woodworking, and ani
mals. She and husband Kevin
live with their Pomeranian, two
cats, three aquariums, and gold
fish pond in Middlebury Center,
Tioga County.
Sue Weidm
Dairy Special
717-865-Of