Latest news with #Holstein
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Kansas lawmakers in D.C. stand as aside as Farm Bill writers raid SNAP — again
A Holstein cow peers through the barrier of a dairy farm in Hamilton County, Kansas. (Allison Kite/Kansas Reflector) 'I do not believe the bill goes far enough in insuring that the truly needy are able to participate in the food stamp program.' U.S. Sen. Bob Dole, R-Kansas Me neither, Sen. Dole. But they're at it again. Last year, Republicans on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, with the support of Kansas Rep. Tracey Mann, wrote a Farm Bill. It went nowhere, not even a vote in the full House of Representatives. The Senate Ag Committee didn't even write a bill. Congress missed its second deadline to extend the 2018 Farm Bill. Why? That bill destroyed the coalition that has united to pass every farm bill of the last 50 years. Farm interests join supporters of food assistance programs to back one comprehensive piece of legislation. Nutrition advocates revolted against the draconian cuts in food stamps — now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP — and farmers don't have the votes by themselves to pass a Farm Bill in the House. With the extension of the extension ending in just four months Republicans are running the same play and running scared. They have raided SNAP of $60 billion for new farm subsidies, plus another $230 billion for tax cuts for the wealthy. Low-income families lose $5, with $1 going into a farmer's pocket and $4 into a rich taxpayer's bank account. The House Agriculture Committee passed it on a party-line vote; the Republican Mann voted yes while Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids voted no. Two strikes are enough. Farm lawmakers are using money dedicated to putting food on hungry families' tables like a bottomless checkbook — a private cookie jar — to increase subsidies to millionaire farmers. Now that the House has passed pieces of the Farm Bill as part of President Trump's tax cut package (the Kansas delegation split along party lines), the Senate is taking a look. Then, the House should rewrite its rules to take food stamps and nutrition assistance, along with overseas food aid, out of the jurisdiction of the Agriculture Committee. It's probably time to move SNAP out of the USDA, for good measure. Aggies justify the monstrous boost in spending as necessary to protect farmers from 'dire circumstances.' But maybe the circumstances wouldn't be so dire if farmers were not facing a trade war triggered by Trump's tariffs. Remember Trump Trade War I and the $20 billion shelled out to make up for that fiasco? Instead of preventing a replay, Congress went along. Kansas Republicans in the House voted to support Trump Trade War II when they voted for a provision preventing the House from even considering legislation to end the tariffs. Kansas Sens. Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran twice voted against a measure in their chamber that would have done the same. They saying they're simply putting 'farm back into the Farm Bill,' a quaint description of shoehorning $60 billion in new farm payments into one catch-all piece of legislation. The proposal includes every legislative cat and dog the president and the Republicans can corral — from tax breaks for millionaires to more money to carry out the Trump draconian, damn-due-process mass deportation scheme. (If anyone thinks Congress is taking its responsibilities seriously, look at the sophomoric title its backers gave the bill-a name I refuse to dignify by repeating.) Lawmakers claim they're simply asking SNAP recipients to work in exchange for benefits. That sounds reasonable. Democrats favor work too, along with ensuring workers are paid a living wage. However, there is little evidence the requirements the House champions will themselves work. Most research is ambiguous, but it suggests that paperwork and reporting requirements will deter prospective workers. Moreover, the bill's transfer of administrative costs to states may lead to even more cuts in cuts in assistance. If you're thinking how catchy the 'putting the farm back into the Farm Bill' mantra sounds, consider: In the past 10 years, the top three Kansas farm program recipients cashed checks from Uncle Sam totaling more than $30 million. That doesn't count payments they earned last year and their share of the $10 billion in emergency payments Congress appropriated in December. The average Kansas SNAP beneficiary receives a little more than $200 per month, and none of them can 'eat tariffs' to survive. Meanwhile, the House's new Farm Bill will boost by $30,000 the limit on a single farmer's payments. That's not the maximum amount — that's just the increase in the maximum amount. Kansas representatives and senators have never shied from supporting farm spending. It's Kansas Politics 101. Despite partisan differences, it's one thing Sens. Dole, Kassebaum and Roberts and Reps. Glickman, Keys, Sebelius and Slattery all had in common. They also all supported a sound, effective, amply funded food and nutrition safety net. Greg Frazier was involved in writing five farm bills, as USDA chief of staff and a House Agriculture Committee staff director. A Kansas native, he now lives in Kansas City. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Pineland Farms sells its historic Maine dairy herd
Jun. 2—NEW GLOUCESTER — Echoes reverberate off the walls of the dairy barn at Pineland Farms like they never have before. There's no hay covering the floors. The chirps of birds are no longer drowned out by moos. The barn is pristine because there are no more tenants. Pineland Farms has shut down its milking operation and sold off all but two cows in its Holstein herd, considered one of the oldest in the nation. It's keeping a pair of youngsters for educational purposes. It's a bittersweet change for staff at Pineland Farms — a farm, education center and major cheese producer with a large campus in New Gloucester. And it's an upsetting change for some community members. But milking and caring for 100 cows had become too costly — Pineland Farms said it lost $500,000 to $600,000 a year on the operation in recent years. Dairy producers across the state have expressed similar concerns: that costs are unsustainable, profits are shrinking and smaller farms in particular are struggling to stay afloat. The sale isn't foreshadowing the fall of Pineland Farms, though. Its educational programming is growing. And its cheesemaking business is going strong. It might sound counterintuitive, but Pineland believes parting ways with its Holsteins will make Maine's struggling dairy industry stronger. "We've had to think where our focus should be to help dairy in the long run," said Erik Hayward, executive vice president of Libra Foundation, which owns Pineland's nonprofit and for-profit arms. Even so, the cows' absence is noticeable. HOLSTEINS AT PINELAND The Libra Foundation purchased the 5,000-acre Pineland Farms property in 2000, replenishing the land left in disrepair by the state after it closed an institution for developmentally disabled adults and children. It built a tie-stall barn — a form of lodging, these days rare, for dairy cows where they can live and be milked without moving a hoof. And Pineland filled out that barn with the herd of Holsteins, which it purchased two years later. The herd's lineage dates back to the 1880s, when the Merrill family started breeding matriarch Trina Redstone Marvel, known as "Old Trina." It stayed in the Merrill family until the 1960s when Mike Wilson purchased the herd for his own farm in Gray. When the herd arrived at Pineland, there were about 200 Holsteins, half of which were milking cows. The count of calves, heifers and milking cows fell to 100 by this March, when the Holsteins left the property. Though the herd initially was the sole source of milk for Pineland's cheeses, that was short-lived. This year, the herd only contributed to about 10% of the 10 million pounds of milk Pineland uses to make cheese at its production facility in Bangor. Owning a herd of Holsteins is already an expensive endeavor. But Pineland had the additional burden of keeping its barn as clean as possible since it was on display to the public for demonstrations and field-trip tours. The animal barns have immaculately swept pathways and shop-vacced surfaces. Hayward said Pineland has for years effectively subsidized its commercial dairy operation. It wasn't financially viable to run such a small dairy operation anymore — a struggle that's affecting farms across the state. DAIRY INDUSTRY STRUGGLING Maine, at its height, had what was called the "Dairy Belt," from Waldo County, across to Kennebec County, into Somerset and Franklin counties and down to Androscoggin County. But the heritage industry is waning. In the 1950s, there were 4,500 dairy farms in Maine; today there are 135 that still ship milk commercially, according to Julie-Marie Bickford, executive director of the Maine Milk Commission. Maine dairy farms have an average 100 cows in their herd, compared to 250-300 nationally, Bickford said. The largest dairy producer in America, Rockview Family Farms in California, has 100,000 cows, according to trade publication The Bullvine. Maine's largest farm, Flood Brothers Farm in Clinton, has 1,700. "Someone in California once asked me what the average farm size was in Maine. And when I told them that, at the time, it was about 90 cows, they said, 'I'm sorry, it's not worth talking to you if you don't have at least 1,000 cows,'" Bickford said. And those smaller farms pay the price, struggling to keep up with the big players that the system favors. Small-scale dairy farmers have less negotiating power in how much money they sell their milk for. And they front the costs for shipping the milk, including a fee for a truck just stopping at a farm. Because there are few milk processors in the state, over 50% of raw, commercially made milk is shipped out of Maine, making those costs even higher than in other states. "Having 60 Holsteins milking, is more of a commercial operation done at a demonstration scale, which any farmer in the state would look at and say, 'You guys are losing your shirts,'" Hayward, at the Libra Foundation, joked. "It was a question of where do we focus those resources and our energy?" That focus has ultimately landed on supporting the rest of Maine's dairy industry. "As the largest cheese producer in Maine, right out of the gates, we need to be able to put a dent in that lack of processing capacity in the state," Hayward said. Pineland Farms has committed to only using milk from Maine farms. And the money the organization will save from cutting down the Holstein costs can go toward beefing up cheese production. The organization made an average $2,100 for selling each cow, which varied from the 60 milking cows to the 40 heifers and calves. Amanda Beal, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, believes that these kinds of creative partnerships are key to the future success of the industry. "We are seeing promising innovation in the works," she said in an emailed statement. SAYING GOODBYE Brittany Moon grew up with cows on her family farm. She's used to seeing animals come and go. Still, the education department assistant director said it was weird to say goodbye to 100 cows all at once. The first thing she noticed when she came to visit the barn after the cleanup was the resounding echo. She misses the bonds she formed. But Cathryn Anderson, the education department director, said there are plenty of possibilities moving forward, to grow educational opportunities and shift Pineland's purpose. "Certainly there's a sadness, not seeing all the cows that used to be here day to day," Anderson said. "But there's also an excitement of what can happen." The hardest part of the process, however, was the reaction from the community. There were families visiting the cows every day, some coming once a week. After announcing the cows' departure in social media posts, Pineland got what Hayward described as a "flurry of comments" from people who were either disappointed, sad or concerned about the cows' safety. "Hopefully they'll go to a sanctuary and not directly to a slaughterhouse," one person commented. Hayward, Moon and Anderson all emphasized that they were not only headed to dairy farms, but that a majority of the herd was staying together, continuing the lineage and legacy. Most are headed to two farms in New York and Vermont, while a few others have been rehomed to local farm owners. "It was nice to think that even though they're not here anymore, there are groups of cows that came from Pineland who are still together out there in the world," Moon said. "We're spreading the genetics that we had worked so hard on, that are now benefiting other farms, and they're getting to have these really high-producing, long-living animals, because we worked so hard to make them be such great cows." And it's not the last of the cows on Pineland's property. Highland cows continue to roam the property. And there are two members of the "T" family (which means the direct line to Tina, the original, 1880s era matriarch) holding down the fort: Timber and Thunder. "The "T" family is what started Pineland," Moon said. "It's poetic that we decided to keep these ones specifically, to keep that legacy going." Copy the Story Link
Hospitality Net
23-05-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
B&B Hotels Advances Sustainable Building with First Modular Timber Hotel in Germany
B&B HOTELS is set to complete its first hotel using modular timber construction in Neustadt in Holstein by autumn 2025. The project combines modern modular techniques with the restoration of a listed historic building, reflecting a strategic focus on faster, more economical, and environmentally conscious hotel development. Combining modular construction and heritage preservation The new 100-room hotel will be located near the Neustadt train station as a hybrid building that integrates a modern new structure with a revitalized, protected agricultural storehouse. While the ground floor and stairwell core will be built using traditional solid construction methods, the upper floors will utilize prefabricated timber modules. These modules, produced under controlled factory conditions, come fully equipped with insulation, windows, wall finishes, and technical installations, and are transported to the site for rapid assembly. Collaboration with Timber One and sustainable production The hotel project is realized in partnership with Timber One, serving as the general contractor. The timber modules are manufactured by hobb Holzveredlung GmbH, a shareholder in Timber One, using wood sourced exclusively from certified sustainable forestry in Germany. This production process meets B&B HOTELS' rigorous quality and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards. Toward efficient and sustainable hotel development B&B HOTELS' Neustadt project is positioned as a model for sustainable hotel construction, leveraging modular timber technology to shorten construction periods, reduce site disturbances, and lower emissions. The project aligns with industry trends seeking environmentally responsible solutions alongside operational efficiency, combining heritage preservation with modern design and construction methods.
Powys County Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Buyers from across UK compete to buy Powys border dairy herd
A packed ringside of buyers from across the country competed for quality cattle from a Powys border dairy herd. T. A. Wainwright and Son, from Groton, Marton, near Welshpool saw his herd of 165 in-milk Holstein and Brown Swiss cows and heifers go under the hammer at a dispersal sale, held as part of Halls auctioneers' weekly livestock auction in Shrewsbury yesterday (Tuesday). Allen Wainwright sold the herd to focus on arable farming. His grandfather moved to Groton from Oswestry with his dairy herd in 1921 and three generations of the family bred cows for 'very good legs, feet and udders with strength, not extreme stature, plenty of milk with kilos of fat and protein'. The Groton Herd included 72 cows and heifers freshly calved since February. The trade peaked for the pick of the herd, the hugely admired Red and White Summerfield Awesome Cherry Chip Red, who won the pre-sale show and sold to a Cheshire buyer for the day's top price of £3,400. Calved for the second time on April 29, she was giving 42kg of milk. Fresh calved heifers from the dispersal peaked at £2,700 for a Sandy Valley Earthshaker daughter who calved on April 25. One of the very last cows in the ring was January calved Summerfields Addison Pistolwhip who she sold for £2,550. December to February calved cows and heifers sold from £1,700 to £2,200, depending on quality. 'The sale really took off with the cows due to calf from June to October, with demand significantly sharper than the spring calved,' said auctioneer Jonny Dymond, Shrewsbury Auction Centre manager. 'No doubt this was enhanced by the cows being in calf to British Blue and the farm's reputation for quality calves. 'The Wainwrights have always been great supporters of Shrewsbury Auction Centre with their calves which are firm favourites among the buyers.' Help support trusted local news Sign up for a digital subscription now: As a digital subscriber you will get Unlimited access to the County Times website Advert-light access Reader rewards Full access to our app A third calved De-Su Hartley daughter, due with her fourth calf in August, sold for £3,050, a second calver by De Su Reginald, due in July, made £2,800 and a heifer by Skywalker Stark, due in October, achieved £2, 700. A total of 208 dairy cattle were sold at Shrewsbury Auction Centre on the day, with Alisdair Drinkall from Wettenhall, Cheshire taking the reserve champion prize with a heifer that sold for £3,120. Show judge was James Williams from Nantwich. 'It was another highly successful dispersal sale here at Shrewsbury where Halls has drawn new customers to its dairy department,' added Mr Dymond. 'An entire herd has been sorted, sold and delivered all in one day. 'It's emotional selling your cows, so you don't need hassle or a drawn-out sales process. I would encourage any other dairy farmers considering selling their herd to contact me.' For more information about the herds, contact Mr Dymond at Shrewsbury Auction Centre on Tel: 01743 462620 or 07803 412617.
The Courier
15-05-2025
- General
- The Courier
Everything's coming up roses for Fife farmer Alex Nelson
There are few things nicer in life than receiving a delivery of flowers through the front door. If these flowers are grown and packed in Scotland, even better. Fourth generation dairy farmer Alex Nelson is doing her bit for flower growing in Scotland. She runs a peony rose and dahlia business at Easter Upper Urquhart Farm near Strathmiglo in Fife. Alex explained that more than 85% of cut flowers sold in the UK are imported. She is, therefore, proud to be able to supply Scottish-grown, seasonal flowers under her brand name, Jack Blooms. In 2014, following a degree in geography at Aberdeen University, Alex, the eldest of four girls, came home to work on the family farm with her mum and dad, Ben and Susan Jack. The farm is a traditional mixed enterprise, with dairy, arable and sheep. Although Alex had always helped out during holidays, there was a lot to learn. The herd of 350 Holstein cows is milked three times a day by a team of three dairymen, with help from relief milkers. It's a 'flying herd', meaning all the replacement heifers are bought in and the cows are bulled with an Aberdeen-Angus, with the calves being sold to finishers. It is also one of the Glasgow Vet School herds and the farm team works closely with staff and students, learning from their expertise. Meanwhile the students learn from the Jack family's dairy system. Alex said: 'Dairying is very intense, it is relentless work seven days a week, 365 days a year.' The family also run 1,000 cross ewes, which lamb outside in May, with the help of local contract shepherds. The Suffolk cross lambs are finished on grass and turnips alongside bought-in Blackfaces in time for the Easter market. As if she was not busy enough, and with her 2020 wedding postponed due to Covid, Alex was looking for something else to do during lockdown. Her grandad, Colin Grahame, grew prize-winning dahlias, so she decided to put up a small polytunnel and, with lots of Facetime instruction from Colin, she started growing flowers to sell locally. From this inauspicious start, Alex thought it would be interesting to grow flowers commercially on a field scale. She settled on peonies because they are robust flowers which cope well with the Scottish climate, can be grown outside and are perennial. There is also a well-established market for the flowers with retailers. Alex said: 'I really wanted to have something within the business that was mine, from idea to implementation. I did a lot of research and decided peonies were a great diversification to add to our farm calendar.' The initial peonies were planted in 2020, with the first small harvest in 2022 – too late, unfortunately for Alex's 2021 wedding to Angus Nelson. It has been a steep learning curve since then, she told us. She has, with the help of skilled workers on the farm, developed a planter and picking rig and also purchased a second-hand processor, which sorts the flowers into bunches of five, with equal length stems, ready to be transported south to the distribution centre. Alex continued: 'We usually start picking around the second week in June for 10 to 14 days. 'But there are so many variables with the weather – every year there is a different challenge to meet the tight specification.' She employs local people on holiday from school or university to de-bud and pick. 'One of the great things to come out of this is giving young people the opportunity to work on a farm,' Alex said, adding: 'This has led to some coming back to help with milking or other jobs. I am very proud of my young team.' Most of the flowers are transported to a packhouse in England, where they are distributed to various retailers, but in 2023, Alex developed her Jack Blooms boxes. She said: 'I wanted to add value, but also to create a brand and a more luxury arm to the business.' The flowers are picked in bud and packed, 10 stems at a time, in boxes before being posted out to customers who order on her website. Because they are robust flowers which happily survive several days without water, peony roses are ideal for this market and can be pre-ordered from May 30. The dahlias, however, are best sold at local farm shops and retailers. Alex took a break from growing dahlias when her daughter, Sibella, was born last year but has recently been cleaning out her tunnels to plant some more for this season. Managing a toddler, dairy farm, staff rotas and a flower business keeps her very busy. But she is showing no signs of slowing down and at the time of writing was planning to travel to Norfolk to pick peonies and see if she can find ways of improving her business. She said: 'Growing flowers in Scotland extends the season for home-grown UK flowers, so the demand is there. 'In the future, I would like to try out different varieties to find out what is possible to grow successfully in our climate.'
