Investing in a new parlor system and diversifying farm operations improves work-life balance and addresses labor issues.
At a Glance
- Kaleb and Erin Rodgers upgraded their family dairy farm.
- A new 12-cow milking system increases efficiency.
- Diversifying farm ventures improves future sustainability.
Kaleb and Erin Rodgers knew they needed to work smarter, not harder.
The young couple is committed to growing and thriving on the family dairy farm Kaleb grew up on in Douglas County, Mo. There, he developed a passion for being in the milk parlor at a young age.
However, after spending two years milking 16 hours a day, every day, the couple knew it was time to upgrade their facility. It was the logical answer to address their need for added labor while keeping Kaleb doing what he loved most about dairying — milking cows.
Investing in tomorrow
The Rodgers dairy is nestled in the Ozark hills of south-central Missouri near Vanzant. Once home to one of the state’s top dairy counties, today dairies only sparsely populate the region’s rugged landscape.
The struggle to find reliable labor is not a new problem for the dairy industry. Producers nationwide are challenged by inexperienced workers who lack commitment to the industry’s demanding schedule.
“It is so hard to find help,” Erin says. “We didn’t ever want to be in a position where one person couldn’t milk by themselves.”
LABOR ISSUES: Like many dairy farmers, the Rodgers family struggles to find people to work in tough conditions. They continue to rely on family for day-to-day tasks.
In 2023, the young dairy couple took a major leap forward by upgrading their milking facilities. They built a new parlor that would allow six cows on each side to be milked simultaneously, installed automatic take-off milking units, and constructed a pack barn to assist with cow comfort and cut down on mastitis.
Kaleb says the pack barn is filled with sawdust that’s tilled daily. It creates heat that kills bacteria to help cut down on mastitis. The barn is cleaned out in its entirety three to four times a year, with waste spread on pastures as fertilizer.
“A separation basin recycles all of our water,” Kaleb continues. “All of our flush water goes into the basin, separating solids from the liquids. The solids remain, and the liquids go back to the lagoon before being pumped back into the silo and flushed again.”
He adds that cows can lounge in the pack barn under fans and eat, or return to the pasture for grazing.
“I feel like if we wouldn’t have [upgraded our facilities], we wouldn’t be milking today,” Erin says.
The facilities investment allowed for both herd expansion and labor savings, cutting milk time by more than six hours every day.
“We had considered going to robotic milkers, but we are so rural we worried about being able to service the equipment,” Erin says. “And it was important to Kaleb to keep milking because that’s what he truly loves.”
NEW PARLOR: Kaleb and Erin Rodgers invested in a new milking parlor system, increasing from only milking four cows at a time to now 12 cows. It speeds up the process for this small herd.
Diverse and dedicated
With about 1,000 acres of pasture, the Rodgers operation includes a 200-head Angus and Simmental beef cattle herd, in addition to the Jersey-based dairy. A dog kennel, cattery, event center and rental property add to the operation’s diversity.
“It’s a good little ecosystem,” Kaleb says. “Each entity helps the other out, and it seems like if [income] is down from one, another picks up the slack.”
The farm’s dairy and beef cattle thrive on a fescue-orchardgrass rotational grazing system. Grid sampling through MFA Inc.’s Precision Agronomy program helps the Rodgers ensure nutrients are placed where pastures most need them.
A self-professed doer and thinker, Kaleb is active in the dairy industry. He serves on the board of directors for the Missouri Dairy Association and Midwest Dairy Association.
He’s also a member of the corporate resolutions committee and Young Cooperative Steering Committee for Dairy Farmers of America. Kaleb and Erin were selected to host the Missouri Dairy Summer Social, which will feature an official dairy month proclamation by Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn.
“I have learned [so much] being involved in the industry,” Kaleb says. “It helps me see what we might need to do and what would help us.”
Erin adds, “Dairy is struggling so much that if we want to see it through the end of our lifetime, if we want it to thrive, then we need to step up and make sure the infrastructure continues to improve.”
Today’s young people are challenged by the industry’s workload and the financial requirements needed to maintain a dairy operation, Kaleb notes.
Still, the Rodgers family remains committed to the dairy industry demands and embraces the lifestyle it commands. It’s a way of life the couple and their young son, Everett, enjoy.
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