Hi all!
We are finally getting caught up enough to send out an update on our progress!
Things here are going very well for us. We have made it through the lengthy Russian holidays and now everyone is back to work! We had very cold weather here (-11F), but now it is near freezing during the day. This is allowing us to get caught up on problems that occur on any dairy farm in extreme cold. We had frozen alley scrapers, frozen manure pumps, frozen water, no water and even power outages! These problems can be solved, but when two or more occur at the same time it is a challenge to say the least!
Our days are very long and sometimes the days and nights run together! We start our day at 7:30 am for the first milking, lunch is at the farm. We do run home for dinner and return at 8pm for the second milking. We try to be home by 9pm, but sometimes it is midnight. We have a very good staff and everyone is learning day by day. (ourselves included!) Don’t think for a minute that we are complaining! We are having an absolute blast!
We are currently milking 900 cows. We have about 700 more to have calves and join the milking string and another 800 will arrive on the ship in late February. The last barn is nearly completed and this will make room for the new shipment. We are milking two times per day now, but we have made the decision to milk 3 times per day starting next week. It will be interesting to see how everyone handles this next step!
The days are moving quickly for us and we are eagerly awaiting the arrival of spring! We will be flying to the USA on March 10 for a quick trip to take care of some things at home.
We are finally getting caught up enough to send out an update on our progress!
Things here are going very well for us. We have made it through the lengthy Russian holidays and now everyone is back to work! We had very cold weather here (-11F), but now it is near freezing during the day. This is allowing us to get caught up on problems that occur on any dairy farm in extreme cold. We had frozen alley scrapers, frozen manure pumps, frozen water, no water and even power outages! These problems can be solved, but when two or more occur at the same time it is a challenge to say the least!
Our days are very long and sometimes the days and nights run together! We start our day at 7:30 am for the first milking, lunch is at the farm. We do run home for dinner and return at 8pm for the second milking. We try to be home by 9pm, but sometimes it is midnight. We have a very good staff and everyone is learning day by day. (ourselves included!) Don’t think for a minute that we are complaining! We are having an absolute blast!
We are currently milking 900 cows. We have about 700 more to have calves and join the milking string and another 800 will arrive on the ship in late February. The last barn is nearly completed and this will make room for the new shipment. We are milking two times per day now, but we have made the decision to milk 3 times per day starting next week. It will be interesting to see how everyone handles this next step!
The days are moving quickly for us and we are eagerly awaiting the arrival of spring! We will be flying to the USA on March 10 for a quick trip to take care of some things at home.
5 comments:
Kevin and Jen,
Keep up the great work over there, you guys are doing such an awesome job. I love hearing your updates and seing new photos.
God Bless you both,
Stacey
Enjoyed the update. I remember the challenges of the cold weather - not even as cold as you have. It is good to hear that you have good help!
Best wishes for success with the 3 x milking.
Mike
Hi guys!
The updates are great. I love the photos and it's been neat to hear the challenges and similarities of milk farming in another country. I'll be praying for you!
Tiana
Hey Kevin and Jen - Thanks for the post - we hope you are doing well. The entire family is now here in Brussels and yes.. It's been cold here too. Coldest winter in a decade in Brussels.. Take care
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