In the scenic landscapes of Virginia, young dairy farmer Ben Smith is charting a course of innovation and sustainability on his farm, Cool Lawn. As Smith shares, growth in his dairy operation isn’t just about expanding the acreage or increasing the number of cows; it’s about capturing opportunities that align with their values and boost efficiencies.
A New Chapter in Dairy Efficiency
The installation of a new milking parlor in 2022 marked a significant shift for Cool Lawn. Previously, the team was involved in an intensive schedule of milking every hour of the day. With the new 50-stall rotary parlor, milking is now conducted in 12-hour shifts, which has not only boosted efficiency but also opened avenues for potential growth. However, Smith reflects on the stress levels associated with round-the-clock milking, expressing the farm’s cautious approach to expanding milking hours again.
“I don’t know if we’re ready to go back to milking every hour of the day, just because of the stress level associated with break down,” he shares.
Advanced Sustainability Initiatives
Sustainability has always been a focus for Smith, and since 2023, the farm has leveraged several opportunities to enhance their practices. Manure injection, backed by private sector studies on carbon capture, has been a notable success.
“We had done very little, mainly because we didn’t have the equipment,” he says, adding that Northern Virginia doesn’t have a surplus of custom applicators, so it didn’t make a lot of sense prior to 2023 for them to do this.
“Now, our neighbors are happier. We’re happier. We’re getting the full value of that nitrogen, and not to mention, we’re getting an incentive to do this practice.”
Smith also highlights the impact of being part of the Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers cooperative. Through customer incentives, Smith and his fellow dairy farmers have raised their operational standards, emphasizing documentation and better farming practices. This focus on sustainability hasn’t just improved their methods; it’s confirmed their role as better stewards of the land.
“These are things we were already doing,” Smith says. “These opportunities have made us better farmers. Now, we’re documenting everything we’ve done.”
Cultivating a Committed Workforce
Managing operational expenses continues to be critical for Smith, with feed remaining the most significant expenditure. Despite high costs, he considers himself fortunate with his knowledgeable, long-standing team of employees.
“We’ve got a bunch of veteran employees here — 17 people on the farm, most of which have been here 10-plus years, and some even more than 20 years. We’re very fortunate for that,” he shares.
At the same time, Smith notes that with seasoned employees and great overall retention, it’s been a challenge finding growth opportunities for newer employees who have been with them for less than five years.
“There’s not much opportunity to grow for those employees, simply because we’ve been around the 600 to 900 cow mark the past five years with a good, solid crew. Nobody’s leaving, so if you have a real ambitious employee, there’s not a lot of room for promotion because that position is already filled,” he says.
Expansion is partially driven by the need to retain ambitious employees and foster their development within the farm. Smith emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement to keep employee engagement high and maintain their interest.
“They would get bored if we weren’t improving,” he says.
Land and Customer Expectations
Cool Lawn faces challenges beyond the farm boundaries, with shifts in land ownership and usage in proximity to bustling Washington D.C. As more individuals seek to escape city life, land previously used for silage crops is now converted to more visually appealing grassland, impacting traditional farming operations. Smith navigates these changes carefully, maintaining the farm’s economic viability while adapting to evolving landowner preferences.
“To buy 50 or 100 acres,” he says. “You might not think a 30-acre field is that big a deal, but when you potentially lose a handful of those, that is challenging.”
The young Virginia dairy farmer says the challenge lies in new landowners who don’t see the value of chopping corn for silage.
“It’s just not esthetically pleasing to them. So, in some scenarios, we have some landowners want us to grow grass, which has been challenging to adapt to because you can’t have everything grass.”
Harnessing Technology for Growth
Cool Lawn is committed to leveraging technology as a vehicle for managing both livestock and employees. From SCR activity collars to PeopleCor, a cloud-based program facilitating team communication, technology aids in strengthening management practices. Smith uses these tools to ensure transparency and clarity among employees, fostering a cohesive work environment where everyone is informed and involved.
“That’s been a piece of technology that has really helped me manage people. Employees clock in on a tablet there in the office,” he says, noting that the dairy office takes a picture of them to ensure the right person is indeed clocking in. Then Smith can post messages that will automatically translate to Spanish to employees, like, ‘Team meeting Wednesday at 11 a.m.’ or individual messages.
“It just helps to make sure everyone’s on the same page,” he notes.
In Smith’s words, the present and future of Cool Lawn revolve around adapting to change, seizing sustainable opportunities, and advocating for innovation in dairy farming. As they look forward, Cool Lawn is poised not just to survive but thrive, setting a benchmark for progressive farming in Virginia.
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