Michael, Rick and Greg Williams - The Williams family feel the economics of dairy farming is easier because much of the land has been in the family for generations.

Family dairy nixes urban encroachment

by

Fran Alt

There are plenty of old abandoned stills in Randolph County, NC, and locals say a revenuer’s ax remains in one to this day. "Marijuana and moonshine are what’ll become of farming," Greg Williams says as we stand in a driveway on Williams Dairy Road, trying to talk above the sound of an oncoming tractor.

"Consumers need to be made aware of what is going on in the milk industry and the farming industry," Greg continues. He feels politicians prefer the scenario of urban encroachment and manufacturing to farming and that the general public needs to realize the eventual repercussions of the total loss of farmland.

The tractor stops and Greg’s brother Rick, nods hello from the driversí seat.

As with most dairy farmers, brothers Greg and Rick Williams enjoy their lifestyle. Along with Greg’s seventeen-year-old son, Michael, the brothers walk and work the same land as their father and grandfather. "This was my daddy’s place and my grandpa’s place and I don’t wanna see it become a housing development," Greg says.

The original 60 cow stanchion barn has given way to a double 6 herring bone supersurge milking parlor. Today the Williams milk 180 Holsteins, and sell directly to Maola. Rick says, "Maola keeps good quality dairymen, and they pick up every day."

"When financial questions don’t come into play dairy farming is easier. If we were not pretty well established it would be rough trying to make it in dairy today," Greg says. But even with low overhead allowing them less financial burdens, dairy is still a demanding seven day a week job.

The brothers keep their equipment in good repair. "Grandpa always said a farmer has more time than money, so use that time you have to keep your equipment going. He didn’t let too many dimes and pennies lay on the ground, and we try to do the same thing," Greg said.

Including rental land, the Williams farm about 1,000 acres. They grow wheat, oats, small grains and fescue for hay. The rest is pasture. With so much to do labor problems become a huge concern. Greg says it is difficult to find good labor.

Farming is a family affair on Williams Dairy Road, with cousin Jay Boyles, the Williams’ mother, Jeanette, Greg’s wife Barbara and their fourteen-year-old daughter Sharon working alongside Greg, Rick and Michael. Rick’s six-year-old daughter Brooke is not quite big enough to help with farm chores.

A TMR supreme mixer allows the Williams to mix a commercial feed with alfalfa balage, corn silage, and cottonseed. There is very little grazing, but the cows exercise on 30 acres of land. "We don’t have a lot of foot problems. Pasture is a lot better than having them on cement all day. I donít think the weather around here is good for grazing, and when you start moving up in numbers the land base in the area is not enough to support large grazing herds," Greg said.

Greg says a big problem for dairy farmers in North Carolina is not being able to control milk brought in from other states. "I tend to think they make milk cheaper in other states and when they haul that cheaper milk in here it keeps our price down. With prices kept down, we cannot cover the costs of production. The Southeast Dairy Compact might help us. You need to show three or 5 percent that you would get off your money in the bank you are spinning your wheels for nothing - which we don’t," Greg said.

As for the future of dairy, Greg feels major companies will control milk. "They are in a hurry to take over a business that has no profit, so you know there is something there. I don’t see vertical integration of dairy farms here in Carolina. Up north they have places they can cool milk, put it on tanker and ship it here in 16 hours. Another thing, they can take out the water and carry even more milk. For now the compact might help to keep out non Carolina milk."

Both brothers agree that working with the family compensates for some of the financial woes. Typical of dairy farmers they have no spare time and no hobbies. Rick says the brothers do not plan to increase the size of their herd. "You have to have some life besides dairy . . . you have to be able to pace yourself."