Since 1937, June has been the month to honor dairy farmers for the wholesome foods they provide. It’s also the perfect time to remind consumers of the health benefits that milk, cheese and yogurt deliver. Most Americans readily recognize dairy’s calcium and Vitamin D and their connection to bone health. Yet, few are in-the-know when it comes to milk’s power player, protein.

According to the International Food Information Council Foundation, 89% of Americans believe getting enough protein is important. And with good reason: protein is a powerhouse nutrient. It strengthens our immune system and our muscles following a workout. Plus it helps us feel fuller longer and regulates metabolism as we get older. “Protein plays a key role in helping to build and maintain healthy bodies,” notes Dairy Council registered dietitian Monica Nyman.

Making sure we’re hitting the protein mark is easier than ever. Grocery store shelves are filled with a wide array of products showcasing the nutrient. However, dairy foods have always been a standout for the natural protein they provide. “Most people don’t realize that one 8-ounce glass of milk contains as much protein as an egg. Simply adding milk to every meal can help sustain energy levels and fuel your body throughout the day,” says Nyman.

Long-considered a cereal bowl staple, milk can be enjoyed well beyond early morning hours these days. Biodegradable re-sealable bottles make milk an anytime on-the-go beverage. Chocolate milk is the finishing touch to many athletes’ workouts, thanks to research supporting its use as a recovery beverage for adults after strenuous exercise.

And milk is making an appearance on dessert menus, as well. “Milk processors have rolled out gourmet milks in limited edition flavors. Flavors such as caramel, dark chocolate and pumpkin spice work well in coffees and as stand-alone desserts,” notes Nyman. The calorie content of gourmet milks may vary, so check the labels for brand-specific information.

Consider these easy ways to plus-up your protein intake with dairy around the clock:

• Rise and shine with milk: add to hot/cold cereal, stir into coffee, or pair with breakfast bowls and sandwiches
• Layer it on for lunch: top crackers with cheese slices, sprinkle shredded cheese on salads and soups, or build a perfect parfait with yogurt, berries and granola
• Make it a meal with milk: round out lunch/dinner with a glass of nine nutrients and great taste
• Do dairy for dessert: savor the rich creamy flavors of gourmet milk, warm or cold
• Maximize mini-meals: whip up smoothies with milk and yogurt, roll cheese into wraps, or mix cheese cubes with nuts and dried fruit

While industry innovation may have changed the look of milk, no other beverage comes close to offering its nutrient package. Loaded with high quality protein, milk is a perfect choice to help power through your morning, noon or night. So this June Dairy Month, let’s raise a glass of powerful nutrition to the ones that make milk happen: our local dairy farmers.

For more information about dairy foods and their role in a healthy diet, visit our website or check us out on Facebook.

The post June Dairy Month: Power Your Day with Milk the Real Deal appeared first on Mackinson Dairy Farm.

I realized at a young age that I was not cut out to follow in my father and brother’s footsteps so I decided to pursue a career in agriculture business all the while being an advocate for an industry that I love. Those called to be a dairy farmer are truly an amazing group of individuals and I have had the honor to share many of their stories with you. They are committed to providing the consumer with a safe, wholesome product, milk.  They often begin their day before the sun comes out and do not finish it until the stars do. What happens on the dairy when forecasters predict an “epic” blizzard?  On the news we saw consumers flock to the store to pick up the basic necessities like bread, milk, eggs, etc. but how does a dairy farmer prepare?

Alban Farms is a 4^th generation family farm located in Hamstead, Maryland where you will find Lisa (Alban) Myers, Scott and Joyce Alban (Lisa’s parents) and Earl Alban (Lisa’s Uncle).  The past few days have been incredible stressful for the entire family.  They have worked countless hours, doing the best they can, in some of the worst conditions while maintaining the utmost dedication to their animals.   Here is their journey through the Jonas Blizzard which hit the East Coast January 22-23, 2016.

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

The news outlets really start talking about the blizzard; early predictions for Hampstead, Maryland say 24 inches of snow along with 50 mph winds starting on Friday night.

Thursday, January 21, 2016

The weather forecasters continue to adjust their predictions but the snowfall forecast puts Lisa and her family right in the “bull’s eye”.  The family works diligently to prepare for the worst while hoping for the best.

All of the calves received their usual amount of straw bedding plus a little more.  The farm utilizes calf condos so the front of the pen is open to the elements.

The curtains in the freestall barn are put down to help with the blowing snow.  The curtains are able to be raised and lowered depending upon the weather.

Something strange they do but have learned from previous big snows is they mix enough of their total mixed rations (TMR) to make it through the storm (so for this storm, 3 feedings.)  They make a clean spot on the cement pad, run the feed off on the cement and cover it with large tarps.  During the worst of the snow, they can uncover a portion; scoop it up with the skid loader (which has a heated cab) and put in the feed bunk without having to try and access the tractor and TMR mixer.  They also do not have to clear a path to the ag bags until the storm is over.

Extra bedding is placed close to the barn, making it easy to access in the snow.

Friday, January 22^nd

The day began with a beautiful sunrise but it came with a warning…. Red in the morning, sailor’s warning.

In the days prior, the family worked hard to be prepared.  They continue on with their normal chores and hope the forecast is wrong.

The milk truck came and picked up their milk.  Their milk gets picked up every other day; so it will not have to be picked-up again until Sunday.  The farm can hold an extra milking in their tank – something they do not want to rely on.

8:00 pm – Lisa estimates around 6 inches of snow with no wind.

Saturday, January 23^rd

8:00 am – Lisa checks in and estimates 19 inches of snow has fallen so far. The forecasters have increased the snow amount and are now saying up to 36 inches.  So far, no wind.

7:00 pm – Lisa estimates 30 inches of snow on the ground and it has started to blow.

Joyce shares this picture of the freestall barn on Saturday night.  There was snow everywhere.  Scott and Joyce were at the farm all day today, doing chores during the worst of the storm.  These two individuals worked very hard to make sure their herd was cared for until everyone else could safely make it back to the farm.

Sunday, January 24^th

7:00 am – It has finally stopped snowing and the sun is out!  People are saying as much as 29 inches of heavy snow was on the ground with drifts everywhere.  The family is exhausted but they must start to dig out and pray the milk truck can make it to their farm today.  All humans and animals made it through the storm healthy.  The roads in the area are about 1 1/2 lanes plowed.

The snowed in freestall barn, which was built in 1970’s is a 3 sided barn so these nor eastern storms just whip right into.

Snowed in calf condo, do not worry it was an extra unused one, so they did not waste time cleaning it out.  The next cow due to calve is not due for another month.

This is a picture of a few the snow drifts around the farm and in the cow yard adjacent to the freestall barn which they have not moved yet.

Burall Family Barn Collapse – no cattle or humans were injured.

One concern with such a large amount of heavy snow is the risk of roofs collapsing.  The Burall Family unfortunately experienced this but thankfully there were no injuries to the animals or humans.

Monday January 25^th

The milktruck did not come overnight but the cow’s production was down significantly and they were able to squeeze this morning’s milking into the tank.  The waiting game continues.

5:30 pm – the milk truck just got to their farm!  They can now start the evening milking, only a few hours late.

During the storm, the Alban family did not miss a beat.  They milked, fed and cared for their animals like they would any other day.  See, dairy farmers are not allowed snow days.  I appreciate them allowing me to share their story.  There is still so much works to be done in the coming days.  The roads will need to be cleared to allow trucks to access the farms for milk pickup and feed delivery.  Roof structures needs to be monitored and prayers they do not collapse.  Finally, please say a prayer for the farm families.  These weather events are extremely stressful for everyone in the family.

To read more about Lisa, I encourage you to check-out her 30 Days of Dairy story and Women in Dairy feature.

I am not the first person to share how farmers care for their animals during the winter months, to learn more check out the following posts:

• Snow Day On A Dairy Farm – Farmer Bright
• Blizzard and Bullshit – Dairy Carrie 
• Caring for Feedlot Cattle During a Winter Store – Agriculture Proud

The post The Barn Lights Are Always On During a Storm appeared first on Mackinson Dairy Farm.

Heather’s Story in her own words:

“Heather, honey… there’s no heartbeat.”

I don’t know if I’ll ever forget those words. Dr. Kramer held my arm, and I began to cry. It was May 8, 2015, and what was supposed to have been a routine 20 week anatomy scan had just turned into a nightmare. A month earlier, I had been in the very same ultrasound room, listening to a heartbeat, watching a baby that Dr. Kramer described as “perfect” wiggle around on the screen.  I remember grinning with anticipation as the ultrasound technician handed me an envelope that would later tell my husband and I that we were adding a third boy to our farm family. Having spent the last six months completely immersed in farming and our two little boys, I wasn’t sure on my dates. The ultrasound was ordered to confirm a September arrival.

Sitting alone in an empty exam room, I called my husband who was at home. “How’d it go?” he asked – the same question he always asked after every appointment. “There was no heartbeat,” I choked out. Through our shock, we made plans for our boys, as well as a list of everyone we knew that might be able to milk my 30 dairy cows.

Dairy farming runs in my veins, and every beat of my heart pounds with love for farming.

I have a collage in my office that I made in my high school English class which lists my life goals:

• Go to college
• Have a family
• Own a dairy farm

I met my husband at UW-Platteville, in a class about managing beef cattle (required for me, enjoyed by him). When we discussed getting married and my move from dairy country in Wisconsin to beef country in Iowa, a dairy farm was always included in the conversation. In 2014, my dream came true, and we started our own dairy. My husband works off the farm and manages 850 head of feeder cattle so milking falls entirely to me.

I love every minute of it.

I know the cows, their moods, who their friends are in the herd, and their habits. Who’s going to be waiting at the barn door, and I know who I’ll have to pry away from the feed bunk.

In the hospital room, I cried when my brother-in-law answered his phone. He agreed to milk without asking for details. I could feel myself relax. My father-in-law had my boys, and my brother-in-law had my girls. My husband arrived and the nurse started the procedure to induce labor. Even though I had two inductions under my belt, this one was agonizing. Eight hours later, at 11:45 pm, our third son was born. We named him after two of the very first dairy farmers in my life, my grandfathers.  Brandon and I welcomed and said goodbye to our third son, Orvin Lloyd, within the same moment.

I was released from the hospital 21 hours after the ultrasound. Brandon had gone home hours before to do his chores and to check on a cow that had just calved. The sun was shining, and I had a fleeting thought of all the chores waiting for me.  But those thoughts were pushed to the back of my mind.

What am I going to do now?

How could this have happened?

Was it something that I did?

I wracked my brain, trying to come up with a reason to blame myself. Was I exposed to a new chemical? No, we use very few chemicals on our farm, and the ones I had been exposed to (cleaning chemicals) had been in use since before the pregnancy. Had I gotten kicked or pushed? No, none of my cows were kickers. No one had pushed me.  Had I fallen? No, impossible. As hard as I tried, I could not come up with a single way to blame myself.

Once home, I went looking for the new calf. I found him, curled in the straw of our baby calf pen. Snowy white, he laid serenely while I marveled at him.

This is the beauty of a farm, I thought, even when my heart is breaking, there is still good in the world. Life goes on.

Chore time at Moore Moos is 4:00 p.m. but I apprehensively headed to the barn, still in pain, stabbing physical and emotional pain. Brandon offered to find someone to milk for me, but I declined. That first milking, Brandon stood by in anticipation, washing cows, moving milkers, talking. The next milking was Sunday morning; Mother’s Day. I slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Brandon, ready to try this on my own. Needing to be alone with my thoughts, alone with my feelings; I needed to decide how to proceed and what emotions were in my head and in my heart.

The barn is where I center myself, the place where I deal with my emotions, the place where I hang my hopes and dreams, the place where I come to after a long day of working in town. The barn is where I solve all (or most) of my problems. The roar of the vacuum pump and the consistent rhythm of the milking machine ease my mind and spark my creativity.  Once I walked into the barn, I started to cry. It was there that I had thought about the baby and what he would become. It was there where I imagined a little boy in a stroller, waiting in the alley while I milked, listening to my stories and laughing at my songs. I imagined him running in and out of the barn with his brothers, building cities in the sand, treasure hunting, laughing and playing and fighting….

The cows don’t care if you cry.

They don’t give you funny looks and they don’t tell you it will be okay. They stand and proceed to chew their cud, regardless if there are tears rolling down your face. Occasionally one might lick your shoulder, or chew on your hair, as if to let you know that they are listening. Others let you lean against them as you bury your face in their sleek side and sob. I like to think their big eyes understood something was amiss as they moved to their stalls a little more quickly and a little more quietly than was typical. Over the next few milkings the tears got less and less and my soul felt a little more at peace.

I was angry the day of the burial. Angry that I had to bury our baby and angry that the world that I had I worked so hard to keep in order was now in shambles. In a grocery store bathroom, I counted the milkings. I had milked eight times since delivering our baby. How many more would I need for these feelings to go away? The burial site was beautiful but once we returned home, I needed to go to the barn. Half a dozen cows into milking, I could feel the burning anger in the pit of my stomach ease and finally die away. As I came to the last cow, Cinnamon, a beautiful Brown Swiss, her eyes told me how much she trusted me. No matter my shortcomings, no matter how much hurt I felt, I knew then that it would be okay. It might be another week, month or year, but the pain would subside. My body would get stronger, and my heart would heal. My girls were always going to be there to remind me that I would be okay.

As a farmer, we tend to go on about everything that we do for our cows, without ever mentioning what they do for us.

We analyze every pound of feed they eat, every little behavior they display, every drop of milk they give.  We do everything in our power to keep them happy and healthy. When we’re not with our cows, we’re thinking about them. We put our cows’ needs ahead of our families, our friends and our health. Why though? I can only describe it as the rush that fills our bodies when we step inside that barn, even if it’s been years.    I think it’s all the ways that our cows make our lives worth living. We depend on them for so much more than just making a living. They will never make us rich but they will fill our hearts. They help heal our wounds and they imprint themselves on our very identity. Our cows give us a reason to weather all kind of storms- the literal, the financial and the ones that rock our souls.

The post Heather’s Story – Cow’s Don’t Care if You Cry appeared first on Mackinson Dairy Farm.