New construction - Articles - Page 3

Key factors to consider for building a parlor expansion

Evaluating current facilities and goals can help you decide if a parlor update or an expansion is the best fit for your farm.

July 20, 2023

Dustin Moore

Are you considering expanding your milking parlor? If so, you probably know how daunting of a task it can be. However, with proper planning and the right resources, expanding your parlor can increase efficiency and productivity for your operation.

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A 6-step guide to successful farm construction projects

Some pre-planning before breaking ground on a new construction project can improve the outcome and ease stress throughout the process when everyone is aligned on expectations.

July 17, 2023

Andrew Skwor

Digging the first shovel of dirt is a rite of passage for farmers – a mark of progress, action and the exciting beginning of a long-awaited project coming to fruition.

Are high building costs impacting appraised dairy facility values?

Underlying market value, milk prices and construction cost are some of the factors influencing appraised values as building costs rise.

July 11, 2023

Jade Kruschke

The underlying factor when trying to make big decisions on whether to build a freestall barn, heifer shed, new parlor or that new robot barn is what it will be worth once it is erected and operational.

Designing freestall barns for automation

Cow comfort, barn flow and labour organization are some of the factors dairy producers should consider when retrofitting or designing a new freestall barn for automation.

May 10, 2023

Tony Brazda

With over 20% of farms in Canada utilizing automated milking, there are examples of both good and poor designs put into practice. Additionally, there are many options on the market to automate feeding and manure removal, which also impact barn design.

Considerations in designing freestall barns for automation

Careful consideration of factors including cow comfort, barn flow and labor organization help farmers considering automation make informed decisions regarding new construction or retrofit build options.

March 18, 2023

Rick Rugg

When designing a new or retrofit barn for automation, it is essential to give much thought to cow comfort, as well as the flow of cows and people in the barn.

Strategies for controlling building costs on your dairy

September 30, 2022

Jeff Prashaw

Making updates to your farm or expanding your operation with new construction may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but the decisions you and your team make during the planning and design process will be felt for the life of the building. While realizing new facilities or a completely new dairy can be a complex and expensive undertaking, you can keep your project on track, within your budget and still reach the operational goals for your new building with the following strategies.

4 ways to cut back on a new build without compromising cow comfort

March 31, 2019

Ashley Ambrosius

Trying to figure out how to make the numbers work on a new-construction barn can be a bit challenging when you know exactly what you want, but the price exceeds your budget allowance. Cow comfort is not an area to skimp, but there are other things a dairy owner can do to be more cost-effective with a project.

Perazzo family embraces future dairy opportunities while honoring the past

June 22, 2018

Ashley Abbott

Great opportunities are few and far between, and how they are utilized can make all the difference in the world. When Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) began building a processing plant for powdered milk in Fallon, Nevada, in 2014, dairy farmers saw opportunities abound.