A field day addressing low-cost dairy expansion will be at the Janet Sanderson farm near Little Falls from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 8. The Sandersons built a new 115-cow four-row free-stall barn with mattresses in 1999. They converted a tie-stall barn to a double six parallel parlor and maternity pens, and converted a pole shed into sand bedded free stalls for dry cows and close up heifers. Heifers are all custom raised on a nearby farm. Learn about how the transition from tie-stall to free-stall worked for Janet. Learn about different options for feed storage and see how they work. The program will discuss designing free-stall barns for cow comfort and cow flow. The cost for the program is $5, payable at the door. To request a brochure or to register for the program, contact Eric Sonnek at the Stearns County Extension Office at sonne006@umn.edu, (320) 255-6169 or (800) 450-6171. Registration for the meal ends Friday, Sept. 3.
