Adapting to Change: How Technology Shaped One Minnesota Dairy Farm
Surrounded by rolling hills and a nearby lake sits Kerfeld Hill-View Farm, a family dairy farm in central Minnesota. The Kerfeld family has modified a once 20-cow dairy to a 280 Holstein cow operation through innovation and by adapting to technology.
The Melrose dairy farm has seen its share of changes and in 1991 the Kerfeld family formed a partnership, bringing in their son, Tim, and his wife, Carrie into the farm. Four years later the family built a freestall barn with a double-8 parlor milking 96 cows. In 1996, they added a new heifer barn, and the following year added a commodity shed and new feed area. In 2000, the farm formed an S-Corporation and the next year, they expanded their freestall facility to milk additional cows and to accommodate a maternity section.
The farm has always been changing with updating facilities and the Kerfeld family states that the success on their farm naturally has led to future growth. Kerfeld-View Farm expanded its heifer facility in 2009 and the following year they remodeled their calf barn and installed an automatic calf feeder.
However, the biggest transition for Kerfelds happened in 2019 when the family installed four robotic milkers. “This allowed us not only to embrace technology, but also allowed the next generation to see different opportunities and how they can take a potentially different path on the dairy farm,” Carrie says.
With three generations living and working side-by-side, it was natural for the older generations to include the younger generations into the conversation of “what’s next.” The younger generation includes Tim and Carrie’s children: Nicholas, and his wife, Kristin; Jessica and her fiancé, Michael; and sons Nathan, Isaac and Riley. Before the robots were installed, the family had brainstormed ideas, crunched numbers, visited neighboring robotic farms and had a lot of late-night talks to figure out what their next chapter would be. Working with a farm management advisor allowed for continued conversations on how to continue the family dairy farm. “When we consider our future we got together numerous times, talking over the transition from one generation to the next,” Carrie states.
Intriguing technology
Nicholas graduated in 2014 with a GPS & Farm Management degree and Nathan in 2021 with GPS/GIS degree, both graduating from Ridgewater college. This allowed them both to bring keen knowledge back to the farm. Utilizing precision farming, Nicholas and Nathan have been fascinated with technology, using it for soil sampling and mapping both on their home farm, along with custom work they perform for other nearby farmers. “Using and exploring new avenues with technology has consistently added to our efficiency and profitably of the dairy operation,” Nicholas says.
The Kerfeld children have always been a part of meetings and decisions that needed to be made on the farm and Tim states it was natural to ask the children how they want to milk cows in the future. “In 2017 we updated the legal work to include Nicholas and Kristin in the farm,” Tim says. “We are keeping it open to include all our children if they choose to part of the family dairy farm.”
Growing up on a dairy farm herself, Carrie says it means a lot to her to see her children’s heart and soul into the family dairy operation. “It’s the ultimate pride to have your children want to do what mom and dad do for a living,” Carrie adds.
The Kerfeld family credits patience, respect, open communication and their willingness to adapt to change for the continued success of their multi-generation dairy farm.
Drive Through Breakfast on the Farm Event
Kerfeld-View Farm is this year’s Stearns County Breakfast on the Farm host farm. Carrie says this is a perfect time to open their barn doors to welcome some 2,000 visitors to their farm and it has been a family affair with all generations actively involved preparing and hosting this event. “This was one generation showing another how to work together,” Carrie says.
The drive through tour is scheduled on Saturday, June 5th from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Visitors meet at the local Melrose high school and will follow a pilot car that will lead them to the farm. Sterns County is partnering with Coborns and having a Moobell scavenger hunt along the way and once visitors arrive at the farm, they will be welcomed by the Kerfeld family. Guests will tune their radio to a different frequency or scan a QR code that will tell them about each station. The five Kerfeld dairy farm stations are: calves, manure management, crops, soils, and drive through the free-stall barn to see the cows and the robots.
Finally, each visitor will leave with breakfast to go inside a thermal bag, which will include a breakfast sandwich, milk, cheese, and more. To learn more about the Kerfeld-View Farm, check out stearnsfarmbreakfast.com.
