Caledonia Argus

Nelsons happy with dairy farm upgrade

Posted: 4/13/04

By David Heiller
Argus News Editor

Dozens of people checked out Eric Nelsonís new dairy farm operation at an ìopen barnî on April 8.

The farm, which is located in section 28 of Caledonia township, has a new 258-stall dairy barn, a new milking parlor, a 4,000 gallon bulk tank, new manure storage system, and other new things.

Nelson, who runs the farm with his wife, Gail, and son, E.J., talked about it during the open barn in between questions and compliments from many visitors.

The project was actually completed last August. Nelson had been milking 110 cows up to that point in two shifts in a 79 tie-stall barn. He is now milking 270 cows. He and Gail bought the 400-acre farm from Gailís parents, Charles and Mildred, in 1971.

Nelson gave a thoughtful pause when asked why he made the big change. Then he said he had been thinking about it for a long time, and with his son interested in making the improvement, they decided to go ahead.

It has made life physically easier, and saves labor, although there are more details to keep track of, he said.

ìIt meets all our expectations,î he said.

Nelson said he isnít sure if he will expand the herd more. ìThe potential is there, yes,î he said. Milk prices are high now, he said, and should stay that way until November.

Ericís two daughters, Jessica and Jennifer, help with the milking. They said the new system is much more efficient, and allows them to have afternoons off.

Cows are milked in four groups. The parlor holds 24 cows at a time. Workers stand below them, which saves on the sore knees that afflict many farmers.

A series of gates keeps the cows separated in the barn and moving efficiently toward the parlor at milking time, which is done twice a day. A motorized gate slowly moves them to the parlor once they get on the ramp from the barn to the parlor.

Cleaning is a lot easier. A SkidSteer is used in the barn while the cows are being milked, and a flush system is used in the holding area that leads to the parlor.

Manure goes into two pits, one solid and one liquid.

The five-hour open barn, which included free food ñ and of course free milk and ice cream ñ drew positive responses from many of the visitors.

Glen Schroeder, a dairy farmer from the Eitzen area, called it a state-of-the-art upgrade, and one that makes sense if a farmer is serious about the business.

ìAnd if youíre young enough,î his wife, Murial, added.

The Schroeders put in a milking parlor in 1992, and have no regrets. ìIt needed to be less work,î he said.

A lot of the contractors who worked on the project attended the open house. Brad Jilek, who did the electrical work, was impressed with the efficient use of water. It goes to a plate cooler to pre-cool the milk, taking 20-30 degrees of temperature off the milk and saving a lot of electricity. Then the water goes into a storage tank where it is used for cleaning and watering.

Al Brink, a salesman for United Dairy in West Union, Iowa, said the operation will help the Nelsons milk more cows per hour, and is better for both the animals and the farmer.

Milking parlors are a growing trend, he added. If you are a dairy farmer age 50 and have someone in line to follow in your footsteps, get a parlor, he said. ìThereís a million different styles.î

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