Thomson Farm (Continued from Page ASS) cows in there right now, and (Keith’s) probably going to buy about 30 more.” Ventilation was a key issue in building the barn. “We built this type of bam be cause we love the 14-feet-high sides for ventilation,” said Bob, who explained that curtains on all sides of the barn allow for constant air movement. “We wanted a cold barn,” said Bob. At milking time, cows exit the barn and walk down a covered path to the parlor. “We put in steps and have no more than a five percent slope in the walkway,” noted Keith. They expanded their milking parlor from a double-six to a double-nine to increase milking efficiency. In the future they hope to build a new parlor di rectly behind the new freestall barn. “We have a little over 20,000 pound herd average,” said Bob Thomson, who also serves as a director for Dairy Farmers of America. Northeast Order Uniform Milk Price For April 2001 Announced BOSTON, Mass. The statis tical uniform price paid by milk dealers (handlers) regulated under the Northeast Order for April 2001 is $15.24 per hun dredweight ($1.31 per gallon) for milk delivered to plants located in Suffolk County, Mass. (Bos ton). The April statistical un iform price is $15.14 for delivery to plants in New York, N.Y., and $15.04 for delivery to plants in Philadelphia. The statistical uniform price is the benchmark minimum pro Bsaafe RALE ♦fbMAHAWK SHR B E A D L D e ERS VERSATILE • Chop and feed the wettest silage bales • Chop dry hay, straw, and corn stalks Discharges to either, or both sides for free stall bedding Optional hose attachment for hard to reach areas and mulching application Models available 10 handle all sizes of round and big square bales MANEUVERABLE • 3 point mounted to operate in close quarters EASY TO OPERATE • Load bales with 3 point bale handler, no loader required. • Simple durable construction • Operate with as little as 60 hp 100 Stover Drive 100-120 Lehigh Ave - PO Box 928 Carlisle, PA 17013 Batavia, New York 14021-0928 717/249-6720 716/343-5411 Serving Farmers Through Farm Equipment Dealers Since 1961 Their last test revealed 20,159 pounds of milk, 732 pounds of fat, and 619 pounds of protein on twice-a-day milking. “We just put in another tank in because they were picking us up two times a day. Now we have capacity for 7,000 gallons of milk,” said Bob. Even though careful thought was put into every aspect of the expansion, there are still unfor seeable difficulties. “No matter how well you plan, you still have glitches,” said Bob, who admits that some things could be better managed. Right now he explains that they have a lot of calves that are weaned and too big for their calf barn, but they have no other place to put them. “We have calves everywhere,” said Bob, who noted that they are thinking of contracting some out to a local grower. Because there are no head gates in the freestall area, Keith is also building a parturition rail, where the cows can walk in sin gle file just as they do in the par lor, for breeding and herd health checks. ducer blend price paid to dairy farmers, prior to allowable de ductions, for milk containing 3.5 percent butterfat, 2.99 percent protein, and 5.69 percent other solids. The price received by an individual dairy farmer will vary as the component composition of a farm’s milk differs from the es tablished benchmarks and by the location of the plant(s) to which the farm’s milk is delivered. The Class prices for milk pool ed in April are as follows: Class I, $16.69 (Suffolk County, m m « CUMMINGS and BRICKED, Inc. MULTIPLE BENEFITS • Improved Payability, less waste • Feed silage bales directly into bunk or fencelme feeders. Pre-chop material forTMR mixer. • Improved absorption ability of bedding material, less bedding required • Clean comfortable beds. • Easier handling of manure with chopped material Distributed by: WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTORS Before building, they read an article that said it would take about a year and a half to have everything operational and to re alize the potential. Though they did not believe that then, they now see that it can take a long time for everything to fall in place. “We’ve really been operating the way we should be for only five months,” said Bob. Olive, who does the majority of the bookwork, is excited about new technology that will help streamline efforts. “We bought a Palm Pilot. When Keith goes around the bam, he’ll be able to enter in formation such as breeding dates and calving dates, and then he’ll be able to bring it in here and download the information right into the computer,” said Olive. Another strategy the Thom sons use is forward contracting a percentage of their milk. Olive points out that as long as you contract at a price that is above your expenses, you really can’t lose. “It all evens out,” she said. “It gives us stability.” “Whether you use it or not, ev erybody needs to be knowledge able about it,” said Bob, who Mass.); Class 11, $15.10 Class 111, $12.06; and Class IV, $14.41. Comparable prices for April 2000 were: Class I $14.18, Class II $12.10, Class 111 $9.41, and Class IV price $11.38. The component values for April are protein, $1.5443 per pound; butterfat, $1.9483 per pound; other solids, $O.lOBl per pound; and nonfat solids, $0.8745 per pound. promotes risk management strat egies through his work in DFA. Bob and Olive are proud of their accomplishments but are equally proud of their sons, in cluding Keith, who continues the farming tradition, and Clay, Nel son, and Robert, who have off farm jobs. For estate planning purposes, they have a family partnership which includes Bob, Olive, and their four sons. “This is just for the land. We have it set up that we’ll gift them the maximum each year, but we’ll still keep 51 percent.” “Essentially it’s owned by the six of us,” noted Olive. “Then they can figure out what they want to do with it when we’re not here.” Said Bob, “There is an agree ment that nobody can sell with out the agreement of all four.” Keith rents the land from the partnership and has purchased additional cows. Some cows are still registered in Bob’s name and the partnership, and of course, Keith’s two sons and Bob and Olive’s other grandchildren each have calves to show. The brothers haven’t foi gotten the farm either. Last fall, while working to replace a wall panel in the barn during a windstorm, Keith was seriously injured. The situation was further com pounded because Bob was sched uled to have a knee operation. ★ ★ New Products Now AvaUabie ★ ★ - ~ * Tlic Advantages of the l ifccrqlass U'fleets arc: ~ * Very Low Maintenance Costs These wheels are built to last a lifetime and beyond without ever having to replace any parts on the wheels under normal use The only maintenance required will be tightening up or replacing the tire or rubber * High Performance Regardless of the Elements Wheels stay tight even in hot, dry conditions - No more loose rbttlmg spokes - ever' * Rugged Heavy Duty Design It takes a major accident or impact to break or twist these wheels * Hard Durable Surface Resists scuffs and scratches, paint job stays shinier * Easier Cleaning Spokes have all rounded comers, no tight spots for dirt to get into Fiberglass Wheels ~ i*_Tlu’ .Ufyaiilagcs o if the 116 m;t ass Springs arc: ~ • Lightweight A fiberglass spring weighs 22 lbs. less than a steel spnng, 44 lbs less weight on (he carriage • Durable One Piece Design No bolts to give out or wear. * Better Performance With Heavy Loads The more weight, the better the ride, will not go flat and bottom out. • No Rusting Ever Paint will not blister or peel off No rust stains running out between the plys, providing a nicer appearance and much easier cleaning. * A Lifetime Guarantee if these springs ever break under normal use, we will replace them free of charge. * Stabilizer Kits - Now Available For a smoother ride and less bounce Fiberglass Springs ~ Ask For These At Your Local Carriage Shop In PA And Surrounding States Wholesale & Retail Pice List Brochure Available - Wholesalers Must Include Tax Number Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 2,2001-A37 “When their brother (Keith) got hurt last fall, without even talking to us, they got together and said one or more of us will come up every weekend,” said Bob. “They helped until he got back on his feet again.” Their wives Traci, Andrea, Mary and Jo-Ellen and children also came along to help when possible. They also cannot say enough about their hired help Ronnie Bishop and Lyle Yates who do fieldwork and other farm work, and Dawn Stump, who is the calf feeder. Now they also employ two Mexican workers through Dairy Farmers of America. “That labor really helped a lot,” said Olive, who added that having additional milkers gives Keith more free time to manage the farm as a whole. The Thomsons are comfort able about their decision to ex pand the dairy and are confident that their larger size will give them money-saving advantages, such as being able to buy feed in bulk. Bob also points out that there’s no one right way to run a farm. “Everything isn’t for every body,’’ said Bob. “When it’s all said and done, we’re very ordi nary dairy farmers.”
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers