Dairy Robotics Pay Off for WNY Family Farm

Milking 60 pasture-raised cows a day, Lester and Cindy York's organic dairy farm in Canaseraga, New York has undergone some drastic improvements in the past year. With guidance from Cornell Cooperative Extension Harvest New York Farm Strategic Planning Specialist Tim Terry, the Yorks utilized a NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets Southern Tier Ag Industry Enhancement Program grant to assist them in building a 72’x 228’ compost bedded pack barn that includes robotic milking machines and feed pushers.
In addition to improved milk production, the robotic upgrades have allowed the Yorks to spend more time with their 21 grandchildren. And since opening the new barn, two of Les and Cindy's daughters have rejoined the farm labor force as part-time laborers (while remaining full-time moms).

[@SuperHigear]

With the increased reliance on electricity needed to run the new equipment meant to reduce manpower costs and increase efficiency it might be advantages to find a way to generate your own independent power source, too; maybe by using solar panels or wind turbines. Things sure have come a long way in the dairy industry since the late 1970s when I was on a dairy farm.

[@AbidAli-bv2gl]

Excellent

[@roosky9260]

great setup, and healthy looking cows

[@deanpahl8591]

I wished they would interview these dairy farmers in five years from now. Everything works good when it's new.Grew up milking cows, spent 15 years servicing Harvestoe structures, sold feeding equipment, the more electronics it had the more problems I had.

[@markknoop6283]

The lely systems are 15 to 20 years old so I think the electronic fallers are reduced by now.

[@phillipsaunders8062]

Lester is a friend of mine, I believe he is about 5 years in and has nothing but good things to say about his set up. At the end of the day, longevity and reliability are tied to maintenance

[@justadumbfarmer4744]

yeah, 1 robot milker? they wont be in business long

[@preciosa2324]

Actually, they continue to be in business! People like you need to just keep it moving rather than spreading negativity!

[@phillipsaunders8062]

Lester is a friend of mine and has been very helpful during the planning process in designing our barn that we are hoping to break ground on in the spring. The numbers show a new facility will cash flow better than a paid for tie stall!

[@justadumbfarmer4744]

@@phillipsaunders8062 70 cows. 1 cow milked every 5 minutes is 12 cows an hour. That roughly 6 hours to milk 1 time. Cows standing in line for hours waiting to get milked or simply standing around with none being milked until the time they all want to be milked. This is not a recipe in my opinion for financial success. Granted a tie barn is probably the most inefficient methods. Point of having a dairy farm is milk cows, this is set up more as a hobby farm.

[@phillipsaunders8062]

@@justadumbfarmer4744 maybe do a little research before you make yourself look dumb, cows do not stand around waiting to get milked, average box time is around 7 mins. Robots run 24/7 and cows have free access, cows will be laying down and jump up and run to the robot when it is empty. In lester situation and mine labor savings and a small increase in milk makes the payment, along old facilities that need constant repairs. I've been to a number of robot dairys and that is a similar story at every one

[@justadumbfarmer4744]

@@phillipsaunders8062 by definition if the robot is occupied, the only thing every other cow can do is stand around (waiting) unto the robot is unoccupied. Whether they are lying down or standing somewhere is irrelevant, the point is they might have to wait till (let’s say 32 as an example) other cows go before them. You make yourself sound dumb, it has nothing to do with me.