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Try something new?

Spring 2011

Tim Hood is an early adopter - someone who embraces new ideas and products and is willing to try something that helps him achieve better results on his Michigan dairy farm.

"I am willing to look at new opportunities in order to maintain an edge," says the owner of Hood Dairy Farm in Paw Paw, Mich. "I spend a lot of time doing research on the Internet. If it looks good I'll give it a try. If necessary, I'll travel quite a distance to see something new."

With his registered Holstein herd of 400 cows milking at the rate of 28,500 pounds per cow per year, Hood's approach of looking at cutting-edge innovation is paying off.

When he heard about fabric-covered dairy buildings, which are mostly used in the West, Hood went to Wisconsin to evaluate the concept. That was the one located the farthest east, at least until Hood put up his own. Now he has four of the fabric-covered, steel truss structures (100 x 460 feet; 90 x 120 feet; 50 x 80 feet; and 30 x 96 feet). "The barns provide natural ventilation and light for the cows," he says.

The Hood farm was among the first in Michigan to tag cattle with radio frequency identification ear tags as part of the electronic identification program.

After reading about a Pennsylvania dairy farm that milked four times a day, Hood adopted the practice about a year and a half ago. Production is up 20 percent compared to previous milking schedules.

"We had been milking three times a day, and by adding one more session we actually have fewer people milking," he says. "Instead of milking every eight hours we now milk every six. That means employees work two six-hour shifts instead of one eight-hour shift."

He traveled across the border to Ontario to investigate a self-loading hay wagon. As a result, Hood believes his is the only Michigan dairy farm using this time-saving equipment.

Hood was the first farmer in the state to purchase a Doosan^® wheel loader.

"I did not even demo the DL200 tool carrier before I took delivery," he says. "I just looked at a photo. I had so much faith in my dealer - Carleton Equipment in Kalamazoo - that I figured they would not carry a product that was not top-rated. It turned out to be a wise decision."

Family involved in dairying for decades
Hood is the third generation of his family involved in dairying in southwestern Michigan. From 1977 until 1995 he operated the farm with his father, Nelson, who, at age 84, still does the spring tillage work and combines corn in the fall. Today two of Hood's four children - Charlie and Tammy - are active in the farm enterprise.

In addition to milking 400 cows, Hood also farms 1,100 acres, growing mostly corn and alfalfa. Other feed ingredients, such as soybeans and canola, are purchased. The feedstuffs are stored in an open-sided barn and are separated by concrete walls. Forages are stored outside, covered with plastic and tires.

"The DL200TC, equipped with a 2½ yard bucket, is used to deliver commodities to the vertical mixer wagon," Hood says. "Four days a week, it stays busy from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; the other three days until 7 p.m. The operators really like it, especially the comfortable cab with easy-to-use controls. Our feeding operation would be in trouble if the wheel loader went down."

After having some problems with his previous brand of wheel loader, Hood reports that the valuable DL200 has performed very well.

"Dealer service has been excellent," he says. "Whenever we have needed parts they have been delivered within 24 hours. When you need a machine seven days a week, I cannot emphasize enough how important that support from Carleton Equipment and Doosan has been."

With the success Hood has had with his DL200TC, and the other products and ideas he has incorporated into managing his dairy and farming operation, you can be sure he will continue to be on the lookout for more ways to increase productivity and profits.