Producer Features

Gary Vermeer, founder and chairman emeritus of Vermeer Corporation in Pella, Iowa, died February 2 at the Comfort House of Pella. He was 90 years old.

An interview with Dr. Garry Lacefield, Extension Forage Specialist, University of Kentucky

Q. How did you get started in the forage industry?

What was the best and worst part of operating in 2008?

“The best part for me was the weather. We didn’t have any rained- on hay, and the timing was good for all cuttings. Not too much went wrong with the year.

Editor’s note: The following is the first in a series of interviews conducted with industry-leading professionals and educators.

Progressive Forage Grower posed the following forward-thinking questions to individuals whose work plays a key role in moving forage production forward over the next several years. Dr. Neal Martin is the director of the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center

Will hay production remain profitable against current input prices?

“At least for now, it has gone hand in hand.

Through most of the year, Cranberry Creek Dairy appears to be your average dairy farm with a milking parlor, freestall barns, machine shed and feed storage, but come the first hard frost of the year, some of Santa’s many elves descend on the dairy and convert a couple of the farm buildings into Christmas workshops.