Family farm needs support after loss of dairy cows
Donation protected
SUPPORT FAMILY FARM AFTER LOSS OF DAIRY COWS TO NEW STRAIN OF PNEUMONIA
For more than 55 years, Glenn Harder has successfully farmed in Rib Lake, Wisconsin. Devastation hit the farm a few days before this Christmas when a new strain of pneumonia killed 65% of the herd in just one week.
Farming Family Tradition
Glenn’s farming career began as a partnership with his father until he took over with his wife, Mary, and their five children. His journey of owning a small dairy farm began with conventional farming, but evolved into innovative rotational grazing, and continued to progress into the certified organic dairy farm it is today.
In 2009, Glenn, then 59 years old, was faced with planning the future of his farm. His children went onto different careers, and his wife needed to work outside the farm for insurance purposes. Wanting the family dairy farm to continue, Glenn asked his farm hand, Brandon Probst, if he would be interested in taking over the farm.
Brandon is a friend of Glenn’s youngest son, and had been working on the farm since he was 12. He showed a passion for farming at a young age, and Glenn did not want Brandon to face a tough financial situation that many young farmers have fallen into -- buying a farm, going into major debt, and trying to make ends meet to support a small farm.
Instead, Brandon and Glenn began a two-year apprenticeship through the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship (DGA). This apprenticeship helps young farmers transition into farming by having an experienced farmer mentor them along the way. Brandon gradually took ownership of the cows and currently leases the farm from Glenn. This also has assisted Glenn’s transition into retirement and kept his farm operating.
The partnership with Glenn and Brandon has been functioning smoothly for the past 10 years until recently. A few days before Christmas their herd was hit with an aggressive strain of pneumonia. Despite the vet visiting and consulting, along with Glenn and Brandon working overtime to vaccinate and treat the animals, the pneumonia advanced too quickly. Of the 43 head of cattle, they have lost 28 milking cows in just 10 days. Out of the 15 cows that remain, 9 have stayed healthy, and 6 are thankfully responding well to treatment.
As many know, the livestock is the livelihood of a farmer. With Brandon and Glenn losing over half of the herd, the remaining cows do not produce enough milk to pay the bills. On top of the normal bills to run the farm, Brandon now has an extensive bill from treating the cows. As members of Organic Valley, there may be some assistance next spring, but until then, they need help to keep the farm running. Brandon wants to continue farming and will need the help of the community to get back on his feet and get the farm fully functional again.
Please share their story and keep these local farmers in your prayers!
If you would like to know more about the story of their farm, please check out the link DGA link below.
https://www.dga-national.org/case-studies/a-plan-opens-the-door-to-dairying
For more than 55 years, Glenn Harder has successfully farmed in Rib Lake, Wisconsin. Devastation hit the farm a few days before this Christmas when a new strain of pneumonia killed 65% of the herd in just one week.
Farming Family Tradition
Glenn’s farming career began as a partnership with his father until he took over with his wife, Mary, and their five children. His journey of owning a small dairy farm began with conventional farming, but evolved into innovative rotational grazing, and continued to progress into the certified organic dairy farm it is today.
In 2009, Glenn, then 59 years old, was faced with planning the future of his farm. His children went onto different careers, and his wife needed to work outside the farm for insurance purposes. Wanting the family dairy farm to continue, Glenn asked his farm hand, Brandon Probst, if he would be interested in taking over the farm.
Brandon is a friend of Glenn’s youngest son, and had been working on the farm since he was 12. He showed a passion for farming at a young age, and Glenn did not want Brandon to face a tough financial situation that many young farmers have fallen into -- buying a farm, going into major debt, and trying to make ends meet to support a small farm.
Instead, Brandon and Glenn began a two-year apprenticeship through the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship (DGA). This apprenticeship helps young farmers transition into farming by having an experienced farmer mentor them along the way. Brandon gradually took ownership of the cows and currently leases the farm from Glenn. This also has assisted Glenn’s transition into retirement and kept his farm operating.
The partnership with Glenn and Brandon has been functioning smoothly for the past 10 years until recently. A few days before Christmas their herd was hit with an aggressive strain of pneumonia. Despite the vet visiting and consulting, along with Glenn and Brandon working overtime to vaccinate and treat the animals, the pneumonia advanced too quickly. Of the 43 head of cattle, they have lost 28 milking cows in just 10 days. Out of the 15 cows that remain, 9 have stayed healthy, and 6 are thankfully responding well to treatment.
As many know, the livestock is the livelihood of a farmer. With Brandon and Glenn losing over half of the herd, the remaining cows do not produce enough milk to pay the bills. On top of the normal bills to run the farm, Brandon now has an extensive bill from treating the cows. As members of Organic Valley, there may be some assistance next spring, but until then, they need help to keep the farm running. Brandon wants to continue farming and will need the help of the community to get back on his feet and get the farm fully functional again.
Please share their story and keep these local farmers in your prayers!
If you would like to know more about the story of their farm, please check out the link DGA link below.
https://www.dga-national.org/case-studies/a-plan-opens-the-door-to-dairying
Co-organizers (4)
Melinda Harder
Organizer
Rib Lake, WI
Angie Stibbe
Co-organizer
Carly Harder
Co-organizer
Karah Grzanna
Co-organizer