Missouri Dairy’s fifth annual Summer Social, held in partnership with University of Missouri Extension, is 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Thursday, June 5, at Twin Knobs Dairy in Vanzant.
Fourth-generation dairy farmers Kaleb and Erin Rodgers plan to host Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn for the June Dairy Month proclamation at the event. Beginning with only 100 acres, the family has farmed with resilience to amass 1,000 acres in their operation, said MU Extension dairy specialist Reagan Bluel.
One of the guiding goals to grow the Missouri dairy industry identified at the 2024 Missouri Dairy Summit is to build and support the future of existing dairy operations through improving production within, Bluel said. “Kaleb and Erin have recently made major investments in the construction of a parlor and pack barn for their operation,” she said. “This strategic reinvestment is the first in decades, and it deserves to be showcased as a model opportunity of private-public partnership increasing both financial and environmental sustainability.”
In 2021, the Rodgers began seeking approval to improve the housing conditions of their herd. Through partnership with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), they found common goals of cow comfort while also limiting runoff.
Source : missouri.edu