W Is For Wrap-Up

I know what you're thinking...It's the last day of June, and Janet is only on letter W! You're right, I fell behind. Have you ever heard the phrase, "stuff happens"? Well, "stuff" has been happening here on Bremer Farms. No, not all bad, just busy. As much as I had every intention to blog each day of June, sometimes life gets in the way. So please excuse the couple of missed days, and let me wrap-up our A-Z journey through June Dairy Month. (Thanks!)

I have shared this video before, but I like to share it occasionally since not everyone has been following my story since I began my blog four years ago. (I know, weird right? Not everyone was here from the beginning. But hey, you're here now, and that's what matters).

I made this video of our farm two years ago. The pictures may not be new, but the information is still current. I was asked by Phil Lempert of the Lempert Report to make this video. I hope you'll take time to watch it, and add a thought or question in the comments below, if you'd like.  

I'll see you tomorrow as I continue to finish the alphabet. And if "stuff" stops happening, maybe I can update this video. Michael...I need you, pleeease.

V Is For Volunteer

Tonight Bessie and I did a bit of volunteering.

Bessie and I were invited to an activity for United Way of Hastings. United Way describes itself as neighbors helping neighbors, right here in the community you live in. (I love this!) Their mission is to "collaborate with other organizations, identify root causes, and solve our most crucial community needs."

How could Bessie and I possibly say no to an organization that is all about improving the lives of my fellow community members. 

In the spirit of June Dairy Month, United Way held an ice cream social for the organizations it supports. Bessie and I were invited to talk dairy,  hand out dairy recipes and everyone got a dairy filled goodie bag. We also thanked everyone for enjoying dairy foods. Bessie even reminded folks of the importance of  #Dairy3forMe.

I really enjoy the opportunity to visit with new friends about dairy farming. I appreciate all the great conversations. I hope everyone left tonight knowing I am a dairy farmer passionate about what I do, and also knowing how much I appreciate them consuming our healthy and good tasting dairy foods. 

Thank you Mari and the United Way crew, for letting me be a part of your event. Also, thanks for what you and the supporting organizations do for my neighbors in Hastings.

Happy June Dairy Month!

U Is For Us

Bremer Farms is a family affair. Farming takes all of us working as a team to get the jobs done. While Farmer John and I are baling hay, Sara and Michael were feeding and milking the cows.

This is the tractor that I drive. I am pulling the baler which makes square bales.

This is my view while driving the tractor. The light colored stripes on the field is the hay (alfalfa) which has already been cut down into rows. The hay typically lays for a couple days to dry before being baled.

While I am driving the baler, John is picking up the bales using a New Holland Automatic Bale Wagon. Watch the video below to see how it works. I think it is amazing and it sure beats handling all those hay bales by hand like we used to do when John and I were kids!

After the bales are picked up from the hay field, John drives the bale wagon into the hay shed where the bales, with the flip of a lever, are automatically unloaded into a neat pile.

These square bales are fed to our calves and younger cattle. Square bales, which are 16" x 16" x 32" are more convenient and easier for us to bring to the barns where these animals live. We feed about 75 square bales per week. 
We also make large round bales.

Round bales are 4 feet by 4 feet, and are used to feed our cows. Because of their size, they are brought in from the field in a different way. Take a look.

We use about 20 round bales per week. They are stored in another hay barn until they are used.

We can typically  harvest our hay crop 3-4 times during its growing season. It takes about 30 days for alfalfa to grow to be ready for another cutting. It is a really satisfying feeling knowing that when we are finished we will have quality feed for our animals.

PS- Did you know 97% of farms are family owned?

Don't forget to pledge to have your 3 servings of dairy each day.

 

T Is For Teeth and Trivia

Do cows bite?

I get this question often.
Have you ever seen a cow smile?

If so, it did not look like this.

Google image

Cows have 32 teeth, just like us, but cows do not have upper front teeth. Instead cows have a tough dental pad. They could "gum" you, but they can't bite you.

Why no front teeth?

Since cows are plant eaters, rather than meat eaters, they have no need for front incisors. Cows use their bottom teeth and their tongue to rip the grass or hay. They toss it in their mouths and swallow it whole, almost without chewing. When she has her fill, the cow then regurgitates it and chews it again using the top and bottom molars in the back of its mouth before swallowing it again. Once it is thoroughly chewed it is swallowed again and digested. Cows can spend about 8 hours a day eating, and another 8 hours per day chewing their cud. 

So what other interesting facts can I share today?

• Cows can smell odors up to 6 miles away.
• Cows can lick and pick their nose with their tongues.
• Cows drink about a bathtub full of water each day.
• Cow's spots are like snowflakes. No two cows are alike.

And did you know-

Google image

See you tomorrow as our June Dairy Month A to Z journey continues.

S Is For Sweets

S should really be for Sweets and Sara. Thanks to Sara for the inspiration for today's post.

Our daughter Sara made this Double Chocolate Cookie Tart on her TV show, Aprons Optional. She often makes recipes using dairy on her show. Yep, we brought her up right, and yes, it is as delicious as it looks! 

You can see the entire Aprons Optional episode right here.

 

Double Chocolate Cookie Tart

(recipe found at Yummly.com)

Chocolate-Chip Crust

Ingredients

8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, at room temperature

½ cup brown sugar
⅓ cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon salt
¾ cup mini chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease an 11-inch tart pan with nonstick spray.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter with the brown sugar and sugar until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix to combine.
3. Add the flour, baking soda and salt, and mix to combine. Add the chocolate chips and mix just until evenly incorporated.
4. Press the dough into the prepared tart pan, creating an even layer in the base and up the side. Use a paring knife to remove excess dough from the edge.
5. Bake the crust until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely before filling and serving.
Note: To bake this crust in a 9-inch tart pan, remove 1 cup of the finished dough from the mixture before pressing the remainder into the tart pan. To make use of that extra dough, divide it into 6 pieces and bake on a parchment-lined baking sheet for 8 to 10 minutes.

Tart Filling

Ingredients

Tart

1 recipe Chocolate Chip Crust

14 ounces bittersweet chocolate
1 cup heavy cream

Whipped Cream

1 cup heavy cream
⅓ cup confectioners’ sugar
½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1. Place the prepared chocolate-chip cookie tart crust on a flat baking sheet.
2. Make the ganache: Place the chocolate in a medium heat-safe bowl. In a small pot, bring the cream to a boil over medium heat. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and let sit for 15 to 30 seconds undisturbed.
3. Stir the ganache gently to combine until it’s totally smooth. If there are still pieces of chocolate, microwave the mixture in 10-second bursts until smooth.
4. Pour the warm ganache into the crust and use a spatula to smooth it into an even layer. Transfer to the refrigerator to chill until set, 20 to 30 minutes.
5. When the ganache is set, prepare the whipped cream: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whip attachment, whip the cream with the sugar and vanilla extract to medium peaks.
6. Spread the finished cream on top of the tart. Serve immediately.

You can follow Sara and Aprons Optional on Instagram @apronsoptional14 

 Visit Midwest Dairy. Click here.

R Is For Reading

I love to read and I also have many, many great memories of spending time at our local library with Sara and Michael when they were younger, so when the library invites me to do a cow story time each June for Dairy Month, my reply is always, "What day and time? I'll be there!"

Whenever I give a presentation, the kids always ask what kind of animals we have on our farm. So I began by reading, The Flea's Sneeze.

The farm in this book has many kinds of animals. I shared that our farm has only cows and cats. And since the Flea in this book shares his cold with the other animals, I then talked about what we do to keep our animals healthy, including visits from the veterinarian, and using medicine when, and only when, necessary.

Have you read the book Click, Clack, Moo, Cows That Type? My next book, Giggle, Giggle, Quack is written by the same author.

Farmer Brown goes on vacation, and the animals have a little fun with their caretaker. The cows even order pizza for dinner! This segues into sharing what our cows eat...and it's not pizza. I also explain how we grow all the food our cows eat. 

Lastly, I read, Cow's Can't Fly. Our cow's can't fly, but they can do something else pretty amazing...

Our cows give lots of delicious milk! I then talked about the milking process that my family does two times a day, every day, including holidays. The kiddos then got to share all the foods they could think of that begin with milk! 

Before handing out the dairy goodie bags, and cow backpacks (thanks to the Dakota County Library for the backpacks), I asked the kids and their parents and grandparents that brought them, to pledge to have three servings of dairy each day. Have you pledged yet? If yes- we dairy farmers say thanks! If not, here's your chance. Go to Midwest Dairy #Dairy3forMe.

Q Is For QT's

Q is not an easy letter to work with, so I fudged a little. 

Q Is For QT (cutie).

I can't think of anything cuter than a calf. Let me introduce you to a few of Bremer's QT's!

Some are sassy.

Some are curious.

Some love to share.

And some are hams for the camera.

They all live in our "calf hotel."

They are all well cared for, well fed, and well loved!

 

 Pledge #Dairy3ForMe here

P Is For Planting

Today I am taking a little step back in time to June 2nd. That was the final day of corn planting 2016. Earlier in Spring I shared that I planted for the first time in our nearly 33 years of marriage. I planted alfalfa, oats, peas and barley (isn't there a song title in there somewhere?) 

In typical Farmer John fashion, he spoiled me again. No, he didn't wash the tractor windows this time, but he did fill the planter.

  We finished our planting season by planting silage corn. We plant this corn last because it is not necessary for it to be fully mature before harvest.

 We want the corn kernels to be mature, but not hard. This corn is cut at ground level because we feed the entire plant.

This was my view as I planted. The dark "stripes" are used to follow as I plant. This helps to plant straight rows too, as long as my first row is straight!

 This is the marker. It makes the dark "stripes" I just mentioned. There is one attached to each side of the planter. Newer, larger planters use GPS to dictate where to plant. Since our equipment is smaller, and older, we use the marker system.

 This is what I see behind me. The yellow tank is applying liquid fertilizer as I plant. I am planting six rows at a time.

 

The weather has been perfect for growing corn. It seemed like as I was finishing the field, the first row of plants were already popping their heads through the soil. Well, maybe not quite that quick.  :)

See you tomorrow! Until then, celebrate June Dairy Month
by taking the #Dairy3ForMe Pledge.

O Is For Out

Perhaps you have heard the phrase, "What goes up, must come down," made famous by the English physicist, Issac Newton when describing gravity.

Here on Bremer Farms we have a phrase, "What goes in, must come out." Now granted, it may not be a famous saying...yet, but I think it is catching on. Just look what I found on my Google search-

Of course we don't have cute little "onesies" for our cattle, but we are in charge of what goes in, and what comes out. 

A cow that is milking eats about 100 pounds each day of feed, which is a combination of hay, grain, silage and proteins, plus vitamins and minerals. Cows also need fresh, clean water, about a bath tub full each day. Our cows have access to food and water all day.

Freshly chopped haylage. Just one of the foods our cows munch on every day.

 Now we get to the "comes-out" part of the story. A cow poops about 10 times a day. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on average, a full grown cow produces approximately 120-148 lbs. of manure per day. We remove this manure every day to keep our animals as clean as possible, to keep them healthy.

We recycle the cow manure and use it as a fertilizer for our crops. Federal, state, and local clean water laws regulate how manure is applied on cropland, so nutrients are absorbed by crops, not groundwater. The manure helps the fields get back the important nutrients. We never refer to manure as waste since it is recycled as a valuable resource to help our crops grow. Nothing goes to waste!

Haylage goes in, manure goes out.

See you tomorrow for P Is For...?

N Is for Nibbles, Nuggets, and News

Welcome back for today's entry for June Dairy Month. Today we salute letter N.

Earlier this week I joined up with Princess Kay of the Milky Way, Kyla Mauk to visit with shoppers at Hy-Vee in Oakdale, MN.

We were invited by Hy-Vee Registered Dietician, Jena Pape to speak with shoppers about the importance of having three servings of dairy each day, and what better way to reach out to these consumers than to offer a nibble of cheese. The Chipotle flavored cheese was a big hit, even for those of us who aren't spicy food eaters.

We also invited shoppers to go to the Midwest Dairy website to pledge to have their Dairy 3 For Me servings each day, and also to view even more recipes than the ones in the recipe books we handed out.

Kyla answered several questions about being Princess Kay (who doesn't like meeting a princess?) and Kyla and I both answered lots of questions about dairy foods and dairy farming. We both agree we love speaking right to the people that buy, consume, and enjoy the foods we produce. Thank you to the shoppers at Hy-Vee Oakdale that came to us, the people behind the product, to get their questions answered right from a farmer!

Thanks Jena, for inviting us to share some nuggets and news with your friendly shoppers, about the dairy community we are proud to represent!

M Is For Milk, Of Course

Today, my friend and Midwest Dairy Registered Dietician, Alex Larson is going to explain why milk is such a powerhouse.
Take it away Alex!

Count on the Value of Milk
By Alex Larson, MS, RD, LD  
June Dairy Month is a good time to remember why we can feel confident serving our families three servings daily of nutritious, delicious and affordable dairy products.
Skim milk, 2% and whole milk have a unique combination of nine essential nutrients that include calcium, protein, potassium, as well as vitamins A, B 12 and D -- essential nutrients many Americans lack in their diets.

Non-dairy drinks can’t compete

Non-dairy drinks are fortified and must add vitamins and minerals to mimic the nutrition of milk. So when comparing milk to plant-based beverages, it’s easy to see why health professionals encourage three daily servings of milk.

Compare milk’s naturally occurring nutrients to what non-dairy drinks must add.

A serving of milk packs more nutritional value than non-dairy drinks, making it a financial and nutritional bargain.

Dairy makes sense

Milk is an excellent value when you consider the price and nutrition offered in a single serving. Here is a list of the foods you would have to eat to receive the same nutritional benefit as an 8-oz. serving of milk:

1 cup kidney beans (phosphorus)
3-1/2 oz. cooked salmon (vitamin D)
2 baby carrots (vitamin A)
One small banana (phosphorus)
2-1/4 cups broccoli (calcium)
1 cup raw spinach (magnesium)
1/3 cup almonds (riboflavin)

Combined, these foods total approximately 580 calories and cost about $7.25.

Whereas an 8-oz. serving of fat-free or low-fat milk is only 80 and 100 calories respectively, and costs around $.25 per serving.

Add dairy to your diet 

• In addition to being affordable and nutritious, dairy is delicious. Try these easy tips for adding dairy products to your meals and snacks.

• Make morning oatmeal with milk instead of water. Or “wow” your family with oatmeal crème brulee.

• Use milk as an ingredient in soups and smoothies like the blues buster smoothie

• Help tired muscles recover post-workout with a glass of chocolate milk

• Lactose intolerant? Try lactose-free milk. You’ll still receive the nutritional benefits of dairy.

• Make milk your family’s staple mealtime beverage.

• Try chocolate or other milk flavors – they have the same nine essential nutrients as white milk

• Use milk in your hot cocoa or coffee. Try this delicious hazelnut café-au-lait.

During June Dairy Month and all year long, we can feel good serving our families three daily servings of dairy knowing it’s nutritious, delicious and affordable.

 

L Is For Local

Did you know milk is local? In just 48 hours milk travels from the farm to the milk plant and then it's off to your grocery store. Our milk goes to Dean's Foods (Land O' Lakes) in Woodbury, Minnesota.

Take a look at the journey milk goes on to get to you and your family-

Did you ever wonder what milk plant your milk comes from?
Each milk jug is stamped with the "use by" date and a 4 or 5 digit code which identifies what milk plant that jug was packaged in. It looks like this...

 You can go to the website Where Is My Milk From and type in this code, and you will find where this milk is bottled. I typed in 27-168. Mine came from the Kemps Plant in Minneapolis, only 20.4 miles from our farm!

See you tomorrow!