Vrieze Farms
John Vrieze is the third generation owner of Vrieze Farms Inc.
We asked him about his views on sustainability:
What is your view on Sustainability – what does it mean to you?
JV: To me it means whether the practices we use today will allow the environment we live in to maintain or improve itself. By the environment I mean socially, environmentally, and profitably.
Please describe your sustainable solutions or practices
JV: We're doing a lot of designing to reduce energy consumption. We also have anaerobic digesters that displace fossil fuel use. I believe we also have to get more out of less and that means we need to get more units of production per acre, per cow, per unit of fossil fuel, etc. For some reason people want efficiencies out of their appliances, cars, and homes but they don't consider that same strategy when it comes to food production.
Why did you decide to go in a sustainable direction?
JW: Probably 9-10 years ago when I started reading about peak production of oil and global warming concerns.
How do you feel about the reports in media on dairy farming’s contribution to the climate change? Have you noticed any reaction from the community/the consumers?
JV: It's a very contentious issue right now at the coffee shops and at conventional agriculture seminars. I don't understand why people in agriculture are opposed to looking at this issue, since this is what the consumers want us to address. Quite frankly there's some money to be made for agriculture if we put practices in place to reduce our GHG's (green-house gases).
Have you felt the impact of the climate change?
JV: I live in North West Wisconsin and thirty years ago we had enough snow to snowmobile for at least three months. Now we are down to a few weeks per year and we are also seeing some species of animals living here that I never saw as a young man. This particular winter has been colder than the last ten years average, but not as cold as it was decades ago. The global warming nay-sayers of course say that's evidence of the fact there isn't global warming.
What opportunities are there in working sustainably?
JV: I think that when this global economic crisis is behind us there will be a renewed consumer demand for products that can mathematically and scientifically be proven to be more sustainable. I also am finding cost savings in energy consumption that will pay dividends for years to come.
What are the challenges in working sustainably?
JV: The cost savings and potential income enhancement aren't always immediate so a person needs to think long term with their business plan and not just at next week's P&L.
What is the main difference from ‘conventional’ dairy farming?
JV: For me it's energy consumption and production.
Where do you see yourself going from here?
JV: I'd like to think I'm part of the next generation of dairymen that is willing to address consumers’ concerns and demands and capable to find ways to do it.
What advice would you give to do those considering making changes to more sustainable dairy farming solutions?
JV: Do your homework first so that you're convinced that science and math are on your side when doing the calculations on your sustainability benchmarks. Once that's done aim your business toward those goals.
Don't assume conventional or organic or high tech farming will help you achieve those goals until you've done that homework. I see too many of my dairy friends choose a system of sustainability that fits them personally, instead of choosing what a consumer will want or will accept in the future.
Background and milk production facts:
Number of dairy cows: 2,700
No. of people working on the farm? 48
Total milk produced/year? About 70,000,000 lbs per year
Average yield per cow? 27,000
% of fat and protein? 3.5-3.6 fat and 3.1-3.2 protein
Somatic cell count, SCC? 250,000-350,000
Total bacteria count? <10
What do you grow? Corn for silage and alfalfa
Number of acres? 1,000
Baldwin Dairy, Inc. started operations in 1997 and is currently milking 1,050 cows.
John is also the co-owner at Emerald Dairy, LLC which was built in 1999 and is milking 1,200 cows.
The Transition Management Facility houses 450 dry and fresh cows and springing heifers from the home dairies and is also co-owned by John. The involvement of the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine since 2001 has allowed students to train in this facility with the professors on site with access to 2,700 cattle and the history of the herds.
In 2007 a new calf farm was created to house all heifers from birth to 400 pounds. Calf-A-Now houses 500 replacement heifers for the two milking facilities.
Dairy Business Association, Inc. was formed in 2000 to develop strategic plans to allow the growth of dairies in Wisconsin. John was the president since the organization began until December, 2007.
Since 2004 John has served on the Board of Directors for Agri-Waste Energy. This company is developing a system to convert biogas at Emerald Dairy into Natural Gas to be injected into the Natural Gas Pipeline in Baldwin, WI.
John also currently serves on the Governor’s Climate Change Task Force.
Read about other farms in the Sustainability section >>
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