Farm Update: Big Projects

I haven't written much about what is going on right now on the farm, and there is a lot of catching up to do.  First, we have started our new barn for the pregnant sows.  By starting the barn, I mean we have started to dig a huge hole and now have a big pile of dirt.  This project will take up most of our resources for the rest of the summer, and most likely into the fall.  We hope to have all the pigs moved in by November.

(The big hole and dirt pile)

We are also preparing to get into the field for planting.  It rained last night, but the soil temperature is up where it needs to be (50+ degrees) and the weather looks promising, so as soon as we dry out we will start planting our corn.


On Thursday, our marketing guru, Greg, received a call from our buyer that we will have a third party audit at one of our Amish locations.  This is probably a good thing, but we are transitioning between our old record keeping system and our new one right now, so it is going to be a bit of a rush to make sure we have everything we need in the proper format in time for the audit.

(3 years worth of pig care records)

On the top of the crisis list this Monday, our fat tank sprung a leak.  Why do we have a fat tank?  It is part of our feed mill.  The fat we put in the tank is yellow grease.  That is basically the leftover fat from restaurants that is taken out and cleaned up a bit, then used for animal feed. I like to think it gives the feed a salty french fry flavor.We have been working to replace our current tank, knowing that it is on it's last legs, but the company we bought our old tank from is out of business.  We have a bid from another company, so we are in the process of getting the new tank built and installed, but that is still a few weeks away.

Unfortunately, the fat is kept warm in the tank so we can pump it, making it not very easy to contain once it spills.  We called the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD)  to report the spill and to figure out the best way to clean it up, but there won't be much to do until the fat hardens as it cools to air temperature.  To give perspective, this is the only time in 30 years that our fat tank has leaked.  Once the fat cools, it is pretty easy to clean up- similar to scraping ice off of your windshield, and we will dispose of it as MDARD recommends.  Fat isn't really a "hazardous" substance, like manure or pesticides, so it shouldn't be too bad of a clean up.

Things like this happen on the farm, even when we do our best to make sure everything is well maintained.  It is just like any other work place where problems occur from time to time.  We plan ahead for possible emergencies, so that we know what to do when something happens.  It's not fool proof, but it is the best that we can do.