Like so many successful family operations, Buresh Dairy also uses the help of extended family – sons-in-law, nephews and even young grandchildren.

It’s a Norman Rockwellian pursuit of the American Dream by a hardworking farm family.

Established in 1876 by Roger’s great-grandfather, Joseph Buresh, the farm has come a long way from its modest beginnings.

Today, Buresh Dairy milks a herd of 600 and farms approximately 1,100 acres. About 570 of that is corn planted for silage and high-moisture corn feed.

Alfalfa acres total around 430, and soybeans and winter wheat make up the remaining 100 acres.

People skills and skilled people
Just as the size and scope of the operation has evolved, so has the role of the participants. Patriarch Roger Buresh plans crop rotation and also analyzes and purchases seed and inputs.

All chemicals and fertilizer are prepaid in the fall for the most advantageous pricing. Son Jeff runs point on the field work and machine maintenance.

Joe is the herdsman, managing the cattle and milking staff as well as handling the parlor maintenance and overall electrical repairs on the farm.

Barb manages the nuts and bolts of the business, handling critical payroll and accounting functions.

Together, the Buresh team manages personalities and strengths to the tasks at hand. The result is a cohesive team that benefits from individual strengths working towards a common goal.

“When working as a family you need to walk that fine line between developing expertise and being ready to pitch in and handle whatever needs to be done.

It’s a roll-your-sleeves-up management style that works for us,” explains Roger.

Besides the expertise that the family members bring to the operation, Buresh Dairy also works with consultants in the area of soil nutrient management, herd nutrition and agronomy.

Buresh is convinced that to be smart about running a growing operation like theirs, you need to admit how much you don’t know. And bringing in experts to advise adds the needed intelligence.

Buresh considers these consultants as partners in his operation, helping Buresh Dairy push production and productivity to a higher level. New ideas, new products and new methods are all part of the discussion between the family stakeholders and their consultants.

Dealing with the lake effect
Located near Lake Michigan, the high winds and lake effect weather conditions present unique challenges for Buresh Dairy.

Cold and blustery conditions can initiate winterkill of alfalfa and leaf disease issues can be prevalent, depending on the year.

The soil, described as hard, packed clay, is tilled once and then planted with narrow shovels into vertical tillage seed beds.

Crops are rotated regularly as a part of their soil management program. Seed genetics are carefully selected for hybrids that flourish in the shorter growing season and windy conditions native to Kewanee County.

In addition, Buresh uses a full complement of seed treatments and pesticides to control disease, insects and weeds.

Using an approved nutrient management plan allows Buresh Dairy to utilize manure credits, helping them to minimize fertilizer chemical costs and comply with regulations.

Turning a setback into an opportunity
In August 2010, the Buresh Dairy had a devastating fire and lost the fresh cow and maternity cow barns.

During a record-breaking cold and snowy winter, the rebuilding process began and continued. Today, the farm has new calf, fresh and maternity cow sheds.

The fire-damaged silos, once used to store feed, were removed and bunkers expanded. While a hardship, the rebuilding was done in a manner that allowed the Buresh team to increase the efficiency of their 2-10 parallel milking parlor and consider the demands of future growth.

Quality forage makes a big bottom-line difference
Buresh believes that the health of his herd and his business operations is directly determined by the quality of feed.

One of Buresh’s consultants, Mike Haedt of Partners in Production, explains that dairy farmers in general have a natural instinct to not waste anything, especially with the low milk prices experienced in recent years.

If forage is spoiled, many times farmers will feed that forage to their young stock, without understanding the long-term negative implications for the herd health.

At Buresh Dairy Farms, they are fanatic about minimizing forage spoilage, understanding that it is a potential herd health issue as well as a lost feed expense.

Where typical farm forage tests may show an average of 250,000 to 300,000 units of mold, Buresh Dairy consistently aims and usually achieves a level of 1,000 units.

By tightly packing the forage and using preservatives, they optimize feed quality and minimize spoilage, keeping the waste at a rate of 4 percent, compared to the industry average of 15 percent per bunker.

Another bright spot in the forage of the operation is the use of new foliar products on their alfalfa crop. Buresh harvests alfalfa in 28-day cycles – harvesting approximately 120 to 130 acres a day. Approximately seven days after each cutting, a foliar application is applied to enhance the re-growth vigor.

The result is plants that have larger crowns, more leaves up and down the stem and a sturdier stem that stands tall and is easier to harvest.

These visual results are confirmed by the nutritional tests that show an increased protein level and tonnage.

“It’s the little things that add up to make a big difference,” shared Buresh. “That’s why we push our consultants to look at new product methods to improve efficiency and quality.”

In fact, with their alfalfa management program – which is comprised of careful hybrid selection, regular fertilization and foliar treatments after cutting and a strict harvest schedule – Buresh has seen his forage crop go from feedstuffs to an income-generating asset.

The program has increased yields to the point that Buresh can not only feed their cattle, but market up to 10 tons per day to neighboring dairy farmers that recognize and appreciate the outstanding quality of Buresh alfalfa.

Stay involved and optimistic
As if the dairy operation was not enough to keep one busy, Roger Buresh has also served as a community leader involved in area organizations.

Currently Roger is finishing his third term on the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB).

Buresh cites the many challenges that face dairy farmers, including regulatory demands, waste management, environmental stewardship and expanding operations to support growing family involvement.

In addition, Buresh feels that it is each and every farmer’s responsibility to “help educate those not involved in agriculture about the importance of the industry to the economy and production of quality food.”

It’s no wonder that Buresh’s advice to the next generation of farmers is: “Look to technology and education to build on what the previous generations have taught you.

Be enthused about what you do and stay positive about the future by helping shape the future.”  FG

Visit www.stollerusa.com or e-mail patricia.lawson@hondogroup.com for more information.

PHOTOS
Examining alfalfa in the field, (left to right) Don Stork, StollerUSA Crop Consultant; Roger Buresh, Buresh Dairy Farm; and Mike Haedt of Partners in Production, are impressed by the amount of leaves and increased yield they are observing. Photo courtesy of StollerUSA.