Central NY Dairy Proves That Staying Small Can Be Good – Lancaster Farming

SENNETT, N.Y. For a farm established only five years ago, Utopia Farm LLC has done pretty well for itself.

Amanda and Lee Pratt own the farm. The Pratts grew up on dairies and met at State University of New York Cobleskill while studying agriculture.

After graduation, they got married and worked on farms in the area for a few years.

The Pratts milk 55 cows and are raising 60 heifers. They want to have them calving around 24 months and start breeding at 13 to 14 months. Their desired pregnancy rate is 30 percent or more.

We cant compete on milk production, so we strive to do well on reproduction, Amanda Pratt said. Anyone who doesnt breed after three to four services usually leaves the herd.

Some animals are sold to supplement their milk income.

Milking is done in a tie-stall layout with pipelines. Heifers are kept in a freestall barn, and heifers and dry cows are pastured.

The Pratts keep the somatic cell count around 100,000. They employ a part-timer but do most of the work themselves.

They maintain 25 acres of pasture, which includes alfalfa, clover, orchardgrass and timothy. They buy all their hay and a pellet ration.

The Pratts bed their herd with mulch hay or straw.

Gabriel Carpenter with Keystone Mills of Romulus is the farms nutritionist.

Their efforts to enhance cow comfort include adding new mattresses a couple years ago and improving cooling in the barn during summer.

With production rates ranging from 70 to 75 pounds per cow daily, it appears their work is paying off.

But to protect their farm, they have a liability policy insuring the farm animals and equipment. Since they rent the property, they dont insure the buildings.

To help make ends meet, Lee Pratt works for Finger Lakes Dairy Service. They hope to eventually own their own farm, a goal hampered by a slow dairy market.

Amanda Pratt said their backgrounds in farming she is from western New York and Lee Pratt is from Vermont have helped as well as their degrees in agriculture.

Lees degree in business management was something helpful in having the ability to run the numbers and pay attention to budgeting and financial management, she said. That was very important.

Amanda Pratt helps with farm work while rearing their children: a son, 3, and a daughter, 7 months.

Utopia was one of two Cayuga County businesses acknowledged at the recent U.S. Small Business Administrations 19th annual Central New York Regional Small Business Excellence Awards luncheon in Syracuse.

The SBA selected businesses based on longevity, innovation, sales growth, increased employment, ability to overcome adversity or community contributions, according to an SBA press release.

Five Point Bank nominated Utopia Farm.

It was incredible to be up there honored for our hard work, Amanda Pratt said. The cows never say thank you, so that was pretty nice. Its still hard to believe wed qualify with some of the other businesses that were there.

Deborah Jeanne Sergeant is a freelance writer in central New York. Connect with her online at http://www.skilledquill.net.

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Central NY Dairy Proves That Staying Small Can Be Good - Lancaster Farming