American Dairy Farmer

By

Fran Alt

There is perennial argument in the Peeler household that revolves around this question: "Who squeezed first?" L.D. and Sherrie Peeler each believe the other 'squeezed first.' The mystical "squeeze" goes back more than twenty years. L.D. and Sherrie met on a blind date and that night, while dancing, each claims to have felt a 'squeeze' from the other. That mystical squeeze possessed the magic for everything that ensued.

Everything includes two children and a 172-acre dairy farm with a very special view of the sunset. As L.D. explains it, "Sherrie was a city girl who lived in the city and never saw a real sunset. Once she saw the dun go down on this farm, that's all it took."

That particular sunset happened during Sherrie's first visit to the farm they now own. "We were hunting several years for a farm," L.D. continued, "and one afternoon after Iris got out of school, we came here and Sherrie saw that sunset. That was about it."

L.D. says he never really thought about whether a city girl like Sherrie would take to farming. "I feel like anyone would love this life."

If you watch Sherrie Peeler gaze at the sun setting over their farm and hear her talk about how, "Most folks live and save all their lives for something like this," you'd have no doubt that she shares her husband feelings. The magic in the sunset makes you wonder about that mystical squeeze.

Peelers buy their dream farm.

"We had sold our house and we invested the profit from it in this farm. We pretty much had the cows paid for when we moved here. The farm is a paradise for dogs and kids."

Ask L.D. what he feels best about when it comes to the dairy and he will tell you it has to do with the 'kids.' "I want them to have a lifestyle they will be proud of and enjoy."

Both Davis 15 and Iris 18 are involved in the farming. During the summer months Davis helps in the hay field and Iris helps with the milking. Iris, a Dairy Science major at Virginia Tech is also active in FFA. Last year she won the National Jersey Youth Achievement Award. Davis a high school student who loves golf, is an active member of the FFA.

L.D.'s long range plans are to expand a little - 100 to 125 cows. "Several years ago 75 cows was all I wanted. At one point you become a milk factory instead of a way of life.

"Once the kids get through college if they want to come back to the farm it will be here for them. Then I would look at other options try to process and sell milk something. If Davis and Iris are bent and determined to come back I really think I can process every drop of milk. I grew up in a processing family- Peeler's Dairy. We always been involved in dairy and it has always been a family business."

Farm management.

L.D. uses a computer feeder and says the feed the cow gets is dependent on milk production and body conditioning. The cows also have free choice hay. L.D. believes this is the least expensive way to feed cows. "Cheaper than a mixer wagon a tractor and an operator. You don't have a lot of feed out there for the cow. If the cow does not eat, the feed stays in the feed bin. Whereas with the Total Mix Rations, you mix up the rations; you put it out in a silage trough; it gets hot, then it goes bad. This way the cow eats what she wants, and that's what is allowed for her. Each cow has a transponder around her neck. The transponder tells the computer which cow is in the feeder. The computer knows how many times that cow has been in the feeder, how long, how much feed she has eaten and how much feed is left. It's a Westphalia computer.

Another money saver for the Peelers is the use of wash cloths for cleaning teats. L.D. says some dairies spend $700 to $800 a month for paper towels, but he prefers damp wash cloths right out of the machine. The cleaning process for the cloths is simple. First they run the wash cloths through the washing machine with water to get off the dirt, then they run them through another cycle with chlorine to sanitize.

L.D. says the SCC stays around 200,000 and the Peelers drink their own milk. "We always get the premium from the co-op. We are dedicated to producing quality milk. Let's face it once it leaves my place it does not get any better.

All the Peeler cows are artificially inseminated. "I don't buy any calves. AI offers better genetics. You've got to stay on the cutting edge. I try to use the top ten bulls. We been using some young sires also."

Off the farm.

L.D. also works as a salesman for two stud companies, Network Genetics and Sire Power. "Nowadays a lot of dairy people prefer one dairy salesman to sell them all their needs. It's better than dealing with too many sales people." He also sells for IBA, Independent Buyers Association. "They carry animal health products such as ear tags, vaccines, teat dips - any thing you can think of they pretty much have it."

L.D. got into sales in 1991 when PET Inc. went into bankruptcy and the Peelers found themselves in need of another income. "PET kept forty-five days worth of milk before we found out they were not going pay us."

Once involved with sales L.D. decided he could manage the farm and a job.

"I like going to other dairies. I get to see what works and doesn't work. I get new ideas and pass these ideas on to other dairymen. When I go on a farm they don't see a salesman they see another dairyman. I don't sell anything I haven't tried - and then only if it works."

L.D.'s advice to would be dairy farmers?