Krusen Grass Farms

Krusen Grass Farms is a 340 a, grass based, modified seasonal Dairy, operated by Altfrid and Sue Krusenbaum. We milk 130 cows, raise about 60 replacements/year and also grow about 30 steers/year as grass-fed beef, marketed directly to the end customer. Since 2002 we are a proud member of Organic Valley Family of Farms.

We farm organically and are a certified organic milk producer with a biodynamic philosophy. Biodynamics looks at the farm as an organism with the goal in mind to develop a self-sustaining farm "individuality". No mineral fertilizers and /or farm chemicals are used on the land. We are in business since 1990, using intensive grazing since 1992 and spring seasonal calving since 1994.

The farm consists of 220 grazable acres, 100a in hay and annual forage crops, a 10 a woodlot (no animal access) and 10 a for buildings, lanes, hedges and a pond. The grazing land is divided into 47 paddocks, ranging in size from 3-6a with an average of about 4 a. There is water in all the paddocks during the grazing season. Perimeter fencing is 3 wire high tensile (4 wire along the road), internal subdivisions are one wire high tensile or polywire/fiberglass posts, allowing for larger field size during hay making, manure spreading, frost seeding etc. Lanes are improved with 20' width the first 500' from the buildings, then narrowing to 16'. For the milking herd we use within the paddock portable fencing for twice a day (July and August 3-4 times) feed allocation. Yearlings are used as a follower group behind the cows whereas calves are run on their own rotation. Laying hens follow the cattle through the paddocks.

Calves as well as heifers and dry cows are overwintered outside. The round bale silage and/or hay are fed directly onto the ground in the paddocks. All groups are cycled through the yard once a day where they receive water and minerals/salt. The milking group overwinters in a three-sided shed on a manure pack. Once the cows leave this building in April, pigs are turned in to aerate and thereby compost the pack on site. This generates about 400-500 t of compost, which is spread on 30-40 a in August. Barnyard scrapings are piled and hauled out every 1-2 weeks. Parlor wash water is irrigated onto the paddocks.

With average rainfall the farm provides for all the forage needs of the livestock. Each year about 4000 Bu of dry corn and 4000 Bu oats are bought in as well as straw for the bedding needs.

Krusen Grass Farms has a strong commitment to advocating grass based farming and sustainable farming practices both to producers and consumers. We host numerous farm tours and school class outings throughout the year.

The labor force consists of family (Altfrid and Sue and children Tony, Julia and Justin) and a sharemilking couple and two part-time employees. March 2006 we started a share-milking program on our farm, which we hope to turn into a career path for young people to start Dairy farming.

The farm is leased on a long-term lease. We own livestock, machinery and various improvements, incl. a 16 unit swing over parlor (constructed 1996). The farm provides a comfortable living for a family of five and the share milking couple in addition to a part time employee.