Javascript is required to use this website.

Featured

Milking

Robotic milking machines take a lot of stress out of dairy farming

Dale Hildebrant, Farm & Ranch Guide
Jun 16, 2016
Jun 16, 2016

1 of 3

The robotic sweeper that pushes the feed up for the cows every hour.

A couple of cows enjoying the rotating brush installed for their grooming and comfort.

Dwane Wanzek and cow number 380, show off the ultra-modern dairy facility that house 300 dairy cows at Wanzek’s operation near Windsor, N.D.

Prefer us on Google

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Dale Hildebrant, Farm & Ranch Guide

WINDSOR, N.D. – A couple of years ago Dwane and Joan Wanzek had come to a crossroad in their dairy career. The stress of having a large dairy herd was beginning to take its toll, labor was getting harder to find, and their facility was getting in run down condition.

kAm“(6 H6C6 2E E96 A@:?E H96C6 H6 925 E@ 5@ D@>6E9:?8 =:<6 E9:D @C 86E @FE @7 >:=<:?8[” y@2? D2:5]k^Am

kAmp?5 86EE:?8 @FE @7 E96 52:CJ 3FD:?6DD H@F=5?’E 92G6 D66>65 ?2EFC2=[ D:?46 >:=<:?8 4@HD 7@C E96 (2?K6<D 52E65 324< E@ H96? sH2?6’D 8C2?572E96C H2D >:=<:?8 4@HD 2?5 E92E EC6?5 92D 4@?E:?F65 FA F?E:= E96 AC6D6?E]k^Am

kAmp?5 E96C6 AC@323=J H:== 36 4@HD >:=<65 7@C >2?J >@C6 J62CD[ D:?46 E96 (2?K6<’D D@?[ y6C6>:29[ :D ?@H :?G@=G65 :? E96 >:=<:?8 @A6C2E:@?] x? 724E[ E92E H2D @?6 @7 E96 C62D@?D E96 72>:=J 564:565 E@ :?DE2== C@3@E:4 >:=<6CD @? E96 72C>[ H9:49 :D @?=J E96 D64@?5 @?6 ?@H :? @A6C2E:@? :? }@CE9 s2<@E2]k^Am

kAm“(6 6?;@J65 52:CJ:?8[ 3FE H6 ?66565 2 ?6H H2J E@ 5@ :E[” sH2?6 D2:5] “(6 925 8@EE6? D@ H6 5:5?’E =:<6 52:CJ:?8 E96 H2J :E H2D[ 2?5 E9:D H2D 2?@E96C 2=E6C?2E:G6[ D@ H6 DEF4< @FC ?64<D @FE 2?5 8@E E96D6 C@3@E:4D] %96J H6C6?’E 4962A”k^Am

kAm“qFE ?@H :E :D C6=2I:?8 8@:?8 @FE E96C6 2?5 H@C<:?8 H:E9 E96 4@HD[” y@2? BF:4<=J 25565]k^Am

kAm$@[ =6E’D 8@ 7@C 2 E@FC :? E9:D AC24E:42==J ?6H 52:CJ 724:=:EJ E92E :D =@42E65 ;FDE EH@ >:=6D D@FE9 @7 (:?5D@C :? $EFED>2? r@F?EJ] %96J 92G6 366? >:=<:?8 :? E9:D 32C? 7@C 2=>@DE 2 J62C ?@H] %96J >:=< b__ 4@HD J62C 2C@F?5 2?5 E96 >:=<:?8 4@HD 2C6 4@?DE2?E=J 9@FD65 :? E96 bd_\7@@E =@?8 32C?] %96:C 96C5 E@E2=D 23@FE bd_ >:=<:?8 4@HD[ H:E9 E96 d_ @C D@ 5CJ 4@HD 9@FD65 :? 2 D6A2C2E6 2C62 23@FE 2 BF2CE6C >:=6 7C@> E96 >:=<:?8 724:=:EJ]k^Am

kAmyFDE 23@FE 6G6CJ 52J E96C6 :D 2E =62DE @?6 4@H E92E 92D 6:E96C ;FDE 7C6D96?65 2?5 ?665D E@ 36 3C@F89E E@ E96 >:=<:?8 32C?[ @C @?6 E92E :D 5C:65 FA AC:@C E@ 96C 42=G:?8 282:?[ E92E ?665D E@ 36 92F=65 7C@> E96 >:=<:?8 32C? E@ E96 5CJ =@E] x? 255:E:@?[ E96 96:76CD 36:?8 8C@H? 7@C E96 52:CJ 96C5 2C6 2=D@ 9@FD65 :? E96 2C62 H96C6 E96 5CJ 4@HD 2C6 <6AE]k^Am

kAm$:?46 6249 C@3@E:4 F?:E 42? 92?5=6 2C@F?5 e_ 4@HD 6249 52J[ (2?K6<D 92G6 7:G6 C@3@E:4 F?:ED :? E96 32C?] t249 4@H H62CD 2 ?64< 32?5 E92E 4@?E2:?D 2 EC2?DA@?56C F?:BF6 E@ 96C 2?5 2? 62DJ E@ C625 ?F>36C] %96 EC2?DA@?56C AC@G:56D 2 G:E2= 4@>>F?:42E:@? =:?< 36EH66? E96 4@H 2?5 E96 52:CJ DJDE6> 2?5 :D C625 6249 E:>6 E96 4@H 6?E6CD E96 C@3@E:4 >:=<6C]k^Am

kAmr@HD 2C6 7C66 E@ 6?E6C E96 C@3@E:4 >:=<:?8 DE2E:@? @? E96:C @H? 7C66 H:==] t249 E:>6 2 4@H DE6AD :?E@ E96 >:=<:?8 DE2E:@?[ 96C EC2?DA@?56C :D C625 :56?E:7J:?8 E96 4@H[ 2?5 2 4@>AFE6C E96? 5C@AD 2 46CE2:? 2>@F?E @7 A6==6ED :? E96 7665 EC@F89 367@C6 96C] z?@H:?8 E96J H:== 36 86EE:?8 D@>6 A6==6ED :D E96 :?46?E:G6 7@C E96 4@HD E@ 6?E6C E96 >:=<:?8 DE2E:@?] $@>6 @7 E96 9:896C AC@5F4:?8 4@HD >2J 6?E6C E9:D 724:=:EJ 2D @7E6? 2D 7:G6 E:>6D 5FC:?8 2 ac 9@FC A6C:@5[ 3FE E96 6?E:C6 96C5 :D 2G6C28:?8 23@FE a]g EC:AD E@ E96 >:=<6C 6249 52J] Wp== @7 E9:D :?7@C>2E:@? :D >2:?E2:?65 3J E96 4@>AFE6C]Xk^Am

kAm%96C6 2C6 E:>6D H96? 2 4@H >2J ECJ E@ 86E 2? 6IEC2 7665:?8[ 9@H6G6C[ E96 4@>AFE6C <66AD EC24< @7 H96? D96 H2D =2DE >:=<65 2?5 :7 D96 C6EFC?D E@@ BF:4<=J[ D96 :D EFC?65 2H2J H:E9@FE 86EE:?8 2?J 7665] p?5 E96? E96C6 :D E96 @442D:@?2= 4@H E92E E96 4@>AFE6C H:== D2J 92D?’E 366? >:=<65 7@C E@@ =@?8 2 A6C:@5[ 2?5 E96J 92G6 E@ 3C:?8 E92E 4@H FA E@ E96 C@3@E E@ 36 >:=<65]k^Am

kAm“%H:46 2 52J J@F 8@ @FE E96C6 2?5 4964< E96 4@>AFE6C 2?5 D66 H9:49 4@HD 92G6?’E 366? E9C@F89 E@ >:=<[” y@2? D2:5] “%96? J@F 92G6 E@ 8@ @FE 2?5 86E E96 @?6D H9@ 92G6?’E 4@>6 :?]”k^Am

People are also reading…

Propagating the prairie: Couple creates business out of raising native plants
Cattle-station cookbook helps disaster
Back to grass: Focused on conservation, Midwest farmers return cropland to prairie state
Wisconsin popular destination for turkeys
How Mitchell-based Trail King powers heavy haul across North America
Iowa pork producer grows with focus on efficiency
Breakfast offers ‘majestic’ chance to talk dairy
Buyer beware: Problem cows, accessories sold separately
Missouri legislature extends ag tax credits
Speaking for agriculture: College student finds her calling an ag advocacy
2026 Wisconsin Dairy Breakfasts
Fickle weather creates field challenges
100-year-old veteran recalls battles of World War II
Cook shares classic chicken and cookie recipes with a twist
A herdsman’s claim to AI

kAm“|@DE @7 E96 E:>6 :E :D E96 D2>6 4@HD[” sH2?6 25565[ “%96J <?@H E96J 2C6 DFAA@D65 E@ 8@ E9C@F89 E96 >:=<6C @?46 J@F 8@ 324< E96C6 E@ 86E E96>]”k^Am

kAmsFC:?8 E96 >:=<:?8 AC@46DD[ E96 C@3@E:4 >:=<6C 7:CDE H2D96D 2?5 D2?:E:K6D E96 E62ED 2?5 E96 >:=<6C :?7=2E:@?D 2C6 2FE@>2E:42==J A=2465 @? E96 4@H[ FD:?8 E96 E62E A=246>6?E 52E2 DE@C65 :? E96 4@>AFE6C 7@C E92E A2CE:4F=2C 4@H 2?5 2 =2D6C @? 6249 4FA]k^Am

kAm(9:=6 E96 >:=< :D 7=@H:?8 7C@> E96 4@H[ E96 C@3@E E6DED E96 >:=< 4@>:?8 @FE @7 6249 BF2CE6C @7 E96 4@H 7@C DF49 E9:?8D 2D E6>A6C2EFC6 @7 E96 >:=<[ 3FEE6C72E 2?5 AC@E6:? 4@?E6?E[ 2?5 2 7:8FC6 4@CC6=2E65 E@ D@>2E:4 46== 4@F?E :? E96 >:=<] %96 >:=<:?8 :?7=2E:@? :D C6>@G65 7C@> 6249 BF2CE6C 2D E96 >:=< DE@AD 7=@H:?8 7C@> E92E :?5:G:5F2= E62E] %96 >:=< 7C@> 2 7C6D9 4@H @C @?6 36:?8 EC62E65 H:E9 2 >65:4:?6[ 92D E96:C >:=< 2FE@>2E:42==J D6?E E@ 2 5:776C6?E 4@?E2:?6C 3J E96 4@>AFE6C[ D@ E96C6 :D ?@ 52?86C @7 86EE:?8 :?E@ E96 C68F=2C >:=< DFAA=J]k^Am

kAm%96 EC2?DA@?56C 2=D@ 4@>>F?:42E6D :?7@C>2E:@? E@ E96 4@>AFE6C 5FC:?8 E96 >:=<:?8 AC@46DD] u@C :?DE2?46[ E96 E:>6 D96 DA6?5D CF>:?2E:?8[ @C 496H:?8 96C 4F5[ :D 8:G6?[ H9:49 :D 2? :?5:42E:@? @7 9@H E96 4@H :D 766=:?8j E96 2>@F?E @7 E:>6 D96 92D DA6?E H2=<:?8 :?DE625 @7 62E:?8[ H9:49 42? :?5:42E6 E96 4@H :D :? 96C 962E A92D6 2?5 ?665D E@ 36 3C65j 2?5 2 D42=6 H:E9:? E96 >:=<6C H6:89D E96 4@H 6249 E:>6 D96 :D >:=<65]k^Am

kAmp?5 4@H 4@>7@CE :D 46CE2:?=J 2 E@A AC:@C:EJ\2== @7 E96 7C66 DE2==D :? E96 32C? 2C6 6BF:AA65 H:E9 H2E6C 365D[ E96C6 2C6 4@?DE2?E=J C@E2E:?8 3CFD96D E92E 2==@H E96 4@HD E@ 8C@@> 2?5 D4C2E49 E96>D6=G6D 2?5 E96 H2E6C E96J 5C:?< :D E6>A6C65 H2E6C E92E 92D A2DD65 E9C@F89 2 A=2E6 4@@=6C E92E =@H6CD E96 :?:E:2= E6>A6C2EFC6 @7 E96 >:=< 367@C6 :E 8@6D E@ E96 3F=< E2?<]k^Am

kAm#@3@E:4D 2C6 2=D@ :?G@=G65 :? 7665:?8 E96 >:=<:?8 96C5] x? E96 >@C?:?8[ E96 E@E2= >:I65 C2E:@? 4@?D:DE:?8 @7 4@C? D:=286[ 49@AA65 92J[ D96==65 4@C?[ 42?@=2 >62=[ 5:DE:==6CD 8C2:?[ DF?7=@H6C D4C66?:?8D 2?5 2 >:?6C2= >:I[ :D 5:DA6?D65 :? E96 46?E6C 7665 2==6J] tG6CJ 9@FC 2 C@3@E:4 7665 DH66A6C 8@6D FA 2?5 5@H? E96 2==6J AFD9:?8 E96 7665 4=@D6C E@ E96 DE2?49:@?D E96 4@HD 62E E9C@F89] %9:D C@3@E :D 32EE6CJ A@H6C65 2?5 :D 4@>A=6E6=J 8F:565 3J 2? F=EC2\D@F?5 A2EE6C? E92E 92D 366? AC@8C2>>65 :?E@ E96 F?:E]k^Am

kAmpFE@>2E:@? :D 2=D@ FD65 :? 4=62?:?8 E96 >2?FC6] vF:565 2==6J D4C2AA6CD E2<6 2== @7 E96 >2?FC6 :?E@ 2 A=F>6 F?:E 2?5 :E E96? 8@6D E@ 2 H2DE6 92?5=:?8 A@?5 E92E H2D 4C62E65 2E @?6 6?5 @7 E96 32C?]k^Am

kAmp?5 7@C E96 >:=<[ :E 6?5D FA :? 2 3F=< E2?< E92E 9@=5D e[___ 82==@?D 2?5 :E :D 2=>@DE 7F== H96? E96 >:=< :D A:4<65 FA 6G6CJ @E96C 52J] %96:C >:=< :D D9:AA65 E@ {2?5 ~ {2<6D 2?5 s62? u@@5D[ 2?5 2E E9:D E:>6[ 3642FD6 @7 E96 D9@CE286 @7 52:CJ AC@46DD:?8 724:=:E:6D :? E96 C68:@?[ E96:C >:=< :D D9:AA65 E@ %9:67 #:G6C u2==D[ |:??]k^Am

kAm%CF=J 2 =@E @7 A=2??:?8 H6?E :?E@ E9:D AC@;64E 367@C6 E96 24EF2= 4@?DECF4E:@? H2D DE2CE65] %9:D C2?865 7C@> 7:?5:?8 E96 7:?2?4:?8 E@ E96 6BF:A>6?E E92E H@F=5 36 ?66565 7@C E96:C ?6H 724:=:EJ]k^Am

kAm“(6 925 E@ 92G6 @FC ?F>36CD :? @C56C 2?5 D9@H E92E E9:D H2D 8@:?8 E@ H@C<[” sH2?6 D2:5] “xE E@@< 2 J62C @C D@ 7@C FD E@ 86E @FC ?F>36CD E@86E96C]”k^Am

kAm“qFE :E H2D H@CE9 :E[” y@2? 25565] “xE 92D E2<6? 2 =@E @7 DEC6DD @FE @7 >:=<:?8 4@HD] %96 @?=J DEC6DD ?@H :D A2J:?8 7@C E9:D ?6H D6EFA[ 6DA64:2==J ?@H 5FC:?8 E:>6D @7 =@H >:=< AC:46D]”k^Am

kAm%96C6 >2?J @E96C 762EFC6D @7 E9:D F=EC2\>@56C? 52:CJ 2?5 E96 AF3=:4 H:== 36 23=6 E@ D66 E96 6?E:C6 @A6C2E:@? :? 24E:@? 2E 2 46=63C2E:@? E96 (2?K6<D 92G6 A=2??65 7@C $2EFC52J[ yF?6 `` 2E E96:C 72C>] r2==65 2 “s2J 2E E96 s2:CJ” :E H:== 368:? 2E `` 2]>] 2?5 CF? F?E:= b A]>] {F?49 H:== 36 D6CG65 2== 52J F?E:= :E :D 8@?6[ 2?5 24E:G:E:6D H:== :?4=F56 8F:565 E@FCD[ 6BF:A>6?E 5:DA=2JD[ 42=7 A6EE:?8[ 8:G62H2JD 2?5 7F? 7@C E96 <:5D]k^Am

kAm%96 (2?K6<D H:== ?@E @?=J 36 46=63C2E:?8 E96 7:CDE 2??:G6CD2CJ @7 E96:C ?6H 724:=:EJ[ 3FE 2=D@ yF?6 :D }2E:@?2= s2:CJ |@?E9 2?5 6G6CJ@?6 :D :?G:E65 E@ E96:C 46=63C2E:@?] s:C64E:@?D 7C@> x\hc[ E2<6 tI:E aca 2?5 7@==@H E96 D:8?D]k^Am

Be the first to know

Get local news delivered to your inbox!

* I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.

Related to this story

Marketplace

Find the equipment you're looking for

Tractors
Combines
Harvesters
Planting
Misc Equipment
Hay Equipment
Trailers
Trucks
Livestock
Seed
Feed/Hay

Take advantage of these
exclusive benefits:

Robotic milking machines take a lot of stress out of dairy farming

Marketplace

Topics

Breaking News

Take advantage of these exclusive benefits:

People are also reading…

Be the first to know

Related to this story

Marketplace

Find the equipment you're looking for

Topics

Breaking News

Take advantage of these
exclusive benefits: