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June 3, 2016 CapitalPress.com 13 North Coast dairyman adds social media to mix Fifth-generation California dairyman Cody Darst says his family has a joke that explains why they raise Jersey cattle. “The joke is we raise Jer- seys because when they step on your foot they are small enough that you can quickly shove them off,” he said. “Jer- sey cattle are the preference of the family as well as tradition, knowledge of mating selec- tion and familiarity.” The farm, on Califor- nia’s northern “Lost Coast” near Ferndale, was start- ed 91 years ago at the cur- rent 120-acre location by Darst’s great-great-grand- father. Through those years the family has continuously maintained a purebred Jersey herd even as it adapted to the changing markets and indus- try. Nine years ago the family made the transition to certi- fied organic, allowing them to capture a higher price point and providing financial sus- tainability for the family’s legacy. Many of the farm’s prac- tices continue the traditions of the region, making for a par- ticularly easy transition to or- ganic agriculture. In addition to the organic certification the farm maintains several other certifications, including Veri- fied Non-GMO and Certified Humane. “I grew up on the family dairy just as my father and grandfather did before me and worked alongside them each day in the barns,” he said. Today, the farm and herd are owned in a partnership be- tween Darst and his parents. The “Foggy Bottoms” herd usually consists of 120 head milking with additional young stock and dry cows. Currently they milk 105 head, due to the drought in Cali- fornia. Faced with escalating feed costs they made the de- cision to downsize the herd, culling the lowest-producing cows and freeing up pasture land for hay. Darst also removed 10 acres from pasture rotation and planted alfalfa. With the exception of the grain ration they were able to carry the herd through the past two win- ters without purchasing feed. “The Jersey herd earns it name from the valley we live in,” Darst said. “Nestled in the Eel River Valley along the coastal range, the area is col- loquially known as the Foggy Bottoms” because of the fog banks that roll in off the Pa- cific Ocean. He also decided to keep the name for their Facebook fan page name — “Foggy Bottoms Boys.” The dairy sells its milk to Rumiano Cheese Co. in Cres- cent City, Calif., where it is processed into organic cheese, butter, whey protein and dried edible lactose. Rumiano Family products can be found in all 50 states and 10 countries. Although he would recom- mend dairy farming to oth- ers, he admits there are some souring challenges. “Certainly the growing and often suffocating regulatory burden faced by dairy farmers in California is a monumental challenge,” he said. “We have come to depend heavily upon our trade associations such as Western United Dairymen to help us navigate these waters and remain within compli- ance.” However, he said that is only part of a much larger is- sue. “The consumer has be- come far removed from the food supply and with the accessibility of information (both good and bad) they have become largely misin- formed,” he said. “Coupling this with the fact that as an in- dustry we have until recently been largely reactionary, we now face a public with an of- ten poor perception of us. This seems to translate to increased regulation as people attempt to defend against what they perceive as a threat to their health and environment.” Realizing this, Darst has attempted to open up to the public through social media. “Utilizing Instagram and Facebook, we chronicle the daily life on our dairy com- bining a bit of humor and fun with the realities of dairy life,” he said. Fifth-generation farmer Cody Darst raises Jersey cows on California’s North Coast. He chroni- cles daily life on the dairy using social media. Courtesy of Cody Darst REAL TRACTION FOR YOUR PAYLOADER. 20.5R25 RELUGGED PAYLOADER TIRE OTECO WHEEL TRACK FILLERS • Fills ruts properly and with the correct material. • Completely fills ruts with one pass. • 10 cubic yard (28,000 lbs.) total capacity. • One-man operation. • Off-season uses include filling ruts in roads and transporting grain. We are your #1 Source for retreading & repairing rubber tracks for your ag tractor. SAVE UP TO 50% OVER NEW WHEN YOU LET US REBAR YOUR JD OR CAT TRACKS & WHEELS! Another Satisfied Customer: “D & S Tires has always been there for us whether we needed drivers, rollers, idlers or track. We know that we can rely on D & S Tires to keep us in the field and rolling with their service that can’t be beat.” Hunt Family Farms Has 7 track tractors THE ONLY SOLUTION All else is just another problem. (307) 331-0734 (307) 322-9415 www.otecomfg.com D16-4/#17 For the Capital Press D16-2/4x By JULIA HOLLISTER
