Nature Ridge Organic Dairy
“To us, sustainability is important because we want to be involved in agriculture long term. Sustainability means that we should be good stewards of the land and its resources. Two of Earth’s most important resources are water and soil. Because of the area in which we live, we know that the ground water is the life blood to all we do. We also understand the importance of soil health. We always want to look for ways to improve and be more efficient.”
Nature Ridge Organic Dairy is owned by three dairymen, Ray Robinson, Reed Gibby and Kevin Schroeder.
Milking on average 3,000 organic cows, the farm sits on about 1600 acres (about twice the area of Central Park in New York City). Founded in 2016, the farm is located between Burley and American Falls, Idaho, in an area called Raft River. Agriculture and farming are the foundation of the economy in the area.
- Location :
- American Falls, Idaho
- #Cows :
- 2600
- Milk production :
- Certified Organic
Nature Ridge Organic Dairy was founded on the principles of producing high quality organic milk by operating a safe, clean, and efficient facility, in an environmentally and socially responsible way. The cows are on pasture through the summer months and housed in free stall barns.
Nature Ridge Organic Dairy also focuses on growing the highest quality forages and feeds for their animals. When establishing the farm, each partner contributed to its successful formation by sharing their extensive background in agriculture. Ray Robinson and Reed Gibby both grew up farming and raising livestock and Kevin Schroeder has been involved in the livestock industry for many years, marketing livestock mineral and nutritional supplements.
The farm today
All three owners have different areas of expertise, and together their leadership drives success at Nature Ridge Organic Dairy. Ray Robinson oversees all cow decisions like breeding and herd health while also addressing barn equipment and manure equipment issues. Reed Gibby runs the farming side of the operation and manages the farmland, water, and irrigation decisions. Kevin Schroeder manages the purchasing of organic feed, employee relations, public relations and organic rules and audits. The farm relies on an incredible team of approximately 35 employees, including Riley Smith, the farm manager, who is on-site to oversee the day-to-day operations of the dairy. Riley’s extensive knowledge of cows, and his love of the challenges of managing an organic farm, are what has led to his pivotal role in implementing new projects and improvements on the farm.
At Nature Ridge Organic Dairy, one thing that remains constant is change. It is amazing how much technology is involved in agriculture and how things are changing fast. The team on the farm embodies the philosophy that it is important to stay up to date with the latest technologies or they will be left behind. Each year crop varieties are evaluated, in addition to updated farming and manure management practices and more efficient irrigation methods.
Planning for the future
Nature Right Organic Dairy has prioritised many different projects to improve the farm’s environmental footprint. Here is a list of some of the latest projects on the farm:
- Flow meters were recently installed on the farm’s pivots to monitor water flow on the crops more closely and to better monitor manure water that fertilises the crops. This information allows for adjustments to be made which conserve valuable ground water.
- A new water system that catches water from the barn, utilises the clean water for barn flushes, and sends the manure water to the lagoon system, which was installed in 2021. Implementing this project saves 40,000 gallons of water each day!
- A new feeding system that reduces feed waste on the farm is being implemented. Innovative technologies for storing, mixing, and grinding the feed are being evaluated. This includes building a new mill for grain management, covering the feed commodity barn with a roof, installing a stationary feed box to reduce fuel usage, and being more efficient with equipment on the farm.
- Manure management systems have been upgraded to allow the utilisation of the fibers, liquids and other nutrients that can be applied to the farm ground for fertiliser.
- Nature Ridge Organic Dairy is involved with a local group of farmers determined to conserve water in the Raft River farming area. This includes implementing ways to get water resources directed back into the aquifer.
- The farm is investing in equipment that will distribute liquid manure into the farm ground providing better nutrients to the crops and putting the nitrogen directly into the soil instead of on top of the soil.
- Biodiversity on the farm has been increased by installing bird boxes around the farm and by welcoming honeybee hives each summer.
More farmer stories
Willow Creek Dairy, United States
Willow Creek farm was established in 1977 by the Deichmann family. The current operator, Chuck Deichmann, has lived on the farm since he was 10 years old. Click to read more!
- Location :
- Belmont, New York
- #Cows :
- 120
- Milk production :
- Certified Organic
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