Story & Photos by Ryan Curtis

Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania hosted a dairy bus tour that featured some of the most progressive dairy facilities in Colorado. Visitors saw Bella Holsteins, Dyecrest Dairy, Empire Dairy, Johnson Dairy II, Longs Peak Dairy, Quail Ridge Dairy and Veeman Dairy. Each producer showed participants their facility and fielded questions. Frequently asked questions included: What is your cost of production and margins? How do you deal with labor? Where do you find labor?

Each producer had a different perspective and solution, but all had a unique gem of insight to share with the group. Dyecrest Dairy talked about how they deal with the encroaching suburbs and lack of room to expand, while still finding ways to be sustainable for future generations. Quail Ridge talked about systems they have in place that help remove language barriers, and the owner of Johnson Dairy II shared how he can turn two heifer calves and a bull calf in for a bred heifer – all with seed capital. (Truly, a dizzying conversation.) PD

ABOVE: A worker on Johnson Dairy II gets bottles ready for feeding the dairy’s several hundred calves. The dairy calves between 40 to 60 cows per day. Photo by Ryan Curtis.

ABOVE: Dycrest Dairy on the front range of Colorado is being encroached by the suburbs. Photo by Ryan Curtis.