High Grove Farm Journal – May 2022
Jun 09, 2022 (Westby, WI)
By Jessica Rogers
There is so much more green since the last time I wrote! May started out gloomy with rain showers and the resulting mud. But now, it’s green and lush with the first crop of alfalfa taken off this last weekend. We made large round bales that we wrapped (those are the big white marshmallow looking hay bales) and then we did some small square bales. Then the kids and I had to drive around in the pickup and collect any bales that missed the hay rack which is always a hard day’s work.
Our son Carter is becoming so efficient on equipment and is a major help on the farm – especially during haying. We took turns hauling bales over to a pasture by the house where they were wrapped in plastic that night, while the others milked the cows and did chores. It always feels so good to be done with first crop!
On May 2 we put the cows out on pasture for the first time of the year. Drew has been researching and working very hard to grow our pastures for grazing and it has paid off. We “mob graze” our cows. Meaning, we move them to fresh new pasture every 12 hours every single day unless there are storms that prevent us from doing so.
Occasionally, we will find a newborn calf laying in the grass next to its mother while we round them up for milking. Those little surprises are my favorite.
The cows are enjoying grazing so much. We marvel at their excitement as they are let into a new pasture. Even some of the oldest cows run and jump for joy as they explore and eat in their new pasture before the next milking.
Spring on the farm is crazy busy and we are still catching up on projects and cleanup from winter. Keeping the yard mowed and ahead of the weeds in gardens is a part of my daily work on top of farming, but I love yard and garden work.
The kids are happy that they’re able to be outside a lot more and we’re hoping to make it down to the local swimming hole soon. Raising our family on a farm is so rewarding and full of memories working together. It’s hard work and there are very few breaks, but we’re together and that is the best place to be!
As summer starts, and June dairy month is here now, we hope that you will continue to support us small family farms and know that we appreciate it all so much!
–Jessica Rogers is a Westby Creamery farmer-owner who is sharing glimpses of farm life with us.
