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The Citizen, 2006-03-16, Page 33Milking her... Taking advice from dairy farmer Freddy Pot, reporter Heather Crawford tries to get the hang of the whole milking process. (Lisa Boonstoppel Pot photo) VARIETY PRO 26-53 OAC Champion Monarch PRO 275 Jutra OAC Prodigy Katrina 2600 2650 2750 2750 2800 2850 2950 2006 OOPSCC RESULTS SOLD OUT!! 100% 3 yr index 105% 2 yr index 105% 2 yr index 104% 2 yr index 102% 3 yr index 111% (private trials) VARIETY PRO 2690R PRO 2795R Kaprlo RR PRO 2895R PRO 2995R PRO 3090R CHU 2650 2700 2800 2900 2950- 2950 2006 OOPSCC RESULTS 100% 3 yr Index SOLD OUT!! 100% 2 yr Index 100% 2 yr Index 104% 2 yr Index 100% 2 yr Index 1 Contact your local PRO Seeds dealer or calf (888) 537-5157 for more information and to locate a dealer near you. PAGE Al2. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2006. Agriculture 2006 Farmer says government needs to stand behind them Continued from All Freddy said on the political front, dairy farmers need the government to stand behind them. "We have a steady income thanks to supply management and that means we can plan ahead," Lisa said. Freddy would like to see supply management continue. He also said dairy farmers need the support of the consumer. "The prices go up sometimes because the costs go up for us. The fuel prices rise and we need that to run the machinery. I hear that the consumers are complaining about the cost of milk but we need to cover our cost," he said. "Politics on an international scene can be scary," Lisa said. Freddy said• he is hoping the government will leave the borders closed. "Sometimes we worry about the future of the global economy," Lisa added. The Pots said they are fortunate because the milk board handles the marketing, advertising and research for them. "There is already so much for a dairy farmer to do. It takes a lot out of you and it's so encompassing" Lisa said. "So it's nice not to have to worry about that." On the farm, they use a parlour instead of a tie-stall barn. "The difference is that in a parlour the cows come to you," Freddy said. "They are free to move around but in a tie-stall barn you can feed the cows individually." Both systems work well, they said. The children help out on the farm as well. "The boys sweep the barn," Lisa said. "Our older daughter takes care of the horses." The Pots have several different animals on their farm. have rabbits, goats, a dog, cats and some gerbils...but they're in the house," Lisa said. "It's really a pleasure for everyone because we all enjoy animals." Lisa said they get teased occasionally for having Jersey cows because they are so small. "They are the smallest of the dairy breed," she said. "They pro-duce the least amount of milk, but it has the highest components so it has greater value." The cost is less because Jerseys eat less and require less housing than Holstein, they said. "They also are easier to care for because they have less trouble calving," Lisa said. Freddy said dairy farming is the kind of business you really have to love and he's glad he chose it. "This is what I've wanted since I was young," he said. "Growing up on a farm I always knew I wanted to be a dairy farmer." Freddy and Lisa allowed me to spend the afternoon on their dairy farm, showing me the process it takes to make a glass of milk, right back to the cow and even supervised (closely) while I attempted to milk one myself. At first glance, I thought milking a cow would be a cinch. Obviously, this was my first time on a dairy farm and Freddy and Lisa made it look so easy. "If they sense that you are nervous they might kick," he said. Adding that if you look under the cow to see what you are doing and if they sense an unfamiliar hand that could also lead them to kick. He demonstrated with a quick ease and confidence, simply knowing where his fingers would lead him without thinking about it. My gumption had left me and I was beginning to stare helplessly at the back legs of the cow in front of me, trying to will them to stay on the ground. Maria, their daughter who is a little over one year old, patted a cow on the nose and toddled over towards her three brothers and one sister. "She's a real farm girl," Lisa said of her toddler. I am betting that when Maria is a few years older, she will be able to find her way around the udder of a cow much better than I could. I took a deep breath and with a little more than slight hesitation I slipped the milker onto the teats, (after a few attempts) and looked over to Freddy to see if I did it right. "It's difficult the first time," he said, which were very kind words from someone who does this to 60 cows twice a day. "A good dairy fanner just knows where they're going," he said. Well, I'm not quitting my day job just yet but I am going to thoroughly enjoy my next glass of milk. Still undecided on your soybean varieties for the upcoming season?