APS Farm Success Story

Jim, a dairy farm owner in northern New England was growing increasingly frustrated. The owner of a 200-cow farm, his dairy’s milk production, somatic cell count and butterfat content were not where he wanted them.

But he had little time take the management steps he needed to improve those numbers because he was too tied up with just getting his cows milked, fed and bedded … and with finding reliable workers for his rural farm – an increasing strain on his days.

After a conversation with a fellow dairy farmer and Agri-Placement Services client, Jim called APS. Two weeks later, APS respresentative Peter Conlon arrived with Martin and Adrian, and change began on Jim’s farm.

Martin and Adrian had no experience on a dairy farm and spoke next to no English, challenges Jim thought would pose major obstacles. APS on-farm training and availability by phone for follow-up translation in those initial days helped, but the biggest benefit was the selection by APS of two men with a strong work ethic and desire to learn. During a follow-up visit less than two weeks later, Jim reported that his cows had never been milked better, his parlor and milk room had never looked cleaner, and never had he employed such reliable and motivated workers. They showed up on time every shift ready to do the best job they could, Jim said. And they were eager to learn whatever he showed them.

The changes over the next few months were remarkable. With Jim able to get back to hands-on management, and a crew willing to milk the cows the way Jim wanted, clean the way he wanted and take care of the barns the way he wanted, the cows responded. The dairy started hitting quality bonuses for somatic cell count and butterfat content consistently. Producation increased. Inspections resulted in the highest scores the farm had seen. Mastitis went down almost as much as Jim’s stress levels.

Soon, his crew of two took over most of the scraping and calf care. Jim was again able to focus on other parts of his diverse farm: raising organic feed, custom cropping for other farms and roasting soybeans.

APS was with Jim throughout the transition, as they are today, with monthly on-farm meetings to iron out personel issues, provide training and plan for the future, most importantly handling the transition of workers as Adrian and Martin returned to their families.

Jim said he called APS at a crucial crossroads in the farm’s life.

“I was two good workers away from selling this farm,” he says.

His only regret: not having called APS sooner.