National Farmers' Friers is new standout producer at Convention

     New York National Farmers newbies rock. That is, Elizabeth Friers, Fultonville, N.Y., a young dairy producer rocks. Her family's farm just started marketing through National Farmers in April, but her performance earned her a 2010 Outstanding Young Producer award. The awards were presented at the national level annual meeting in Coralville, Iowa, Jan. 19.
     We're new. We're very new," Friers says. "Our milk market was ripped out from underneath our feet, due to a hauling glitch." But their milk inspector, Ken Woodruff, suggested marketing through National Farmers.
     "We asked, "Will they pick up our milk?" We got the 'Yes,' answer. And we said, "We'd like to join,'" Friers says.
     Milk producers sometimes lose their milk market with little or no advance warning. "Having a group of people who could come and get your milk on the truck in two days, we were grateful," she emphasizes.
     "We were in a really big bind when the market was taken away from us," she adds. "Ken [Woodruff] is great about working with us. Having a milk inspector who will work with you, not just tell you what needs fixed and walk away, but help, is really good."
     Friers appreciates how openly National Farmers decision-makers share information. "A lot of co-ops do things behind closed doors, and don't tell members what's going on," she points out.
     Northview Dairy milks about 50 cows, holsteins, Jerseys and one surprise, a milking shorthorn-holstein cross. Elizabeth's parents, Ralph and Maryann, bought a milking shorthorn bull, took one of her brother, Alan's, Holsteins and bred her with him.
     "She turned out red. She's a very good little cow," Friers adds. "That little shorthorn will calf in [mid-February], and we're hoping for a heifer."
     On this dairy farm, located in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, everyone pitches in to get the job done. Elizabeth's sister, Rebecca, focuses mostly on the calves, and fills in at milking time when necessary. Overall, Elizabeth and her mother handle the milking.
     A cow needs to eat, too. The grain feeding, Elizabeth handles, while Alan and Elizabeth's dad take care of the forage feeding, the haylage. Elizabeth and her mom take care of the balage.
     At calving time, Elizabeth and her dad take turns. Elizabeth administers vaccinations, and other treatments she and her dad take care of. For show cattle vaccinations for rabies, and occasional other needs, their local vet stops by. In the office, her mom handles the accounting.
     "We all pretty much do a little bit of everything," Friers said. That's some in-depth cross-training at Northview Dairy. Between her on-farm experience and her education, this 2010 Outstanding Young Producer knows what to do.
     Her bachelor's degree in animal science, focusing on dairy, is from State University of New York-Cobleskill. She is also serving her second two-year term on the Montgomery County Farm Bureau Board of Directors.
     The Friers tend to the milk quality level, too. They administer California Mastitis Test on the cows before going on the tank, pre- and post-dip every cow, and clean every machine between cows to prevent cross-contamination. If they do see a high mastitis count, they dump milk on that quarter, or from the cow, depending on whether or not all four quarters are infected. They keep the cows clean, and the bedding underneath them, too. Cow care reigns.
     Looking ahead, Friers sees expanding the herd to 75 as a possibility. She is also interested in selling replacement heifers to other dairies, and selling packaged beef in the future.
     "I've wanted to farm since I was three years old. My grandpa gave me my first calf, and I was hooked," Friers says. Even through the hard times with low milk prices, she says, "I love it."