Adding Value to Dairy: Ideas for Expanding Your Markets
Milky Way Farm - Troy, Bradford County
Wednesday, August 12
10:00am—3:00pm
$15 PASA members, $25 all others. Lunch will be provided.
Three generations are doing their part on this innovative 4th generation family farm, home of PASA Board President Kim Seeley. On their way to becoming a full-fledged creamery, Milky Way Farm has transitioned from selling excess fluid milk to turning it into chocolate milk, heavy cream, butter, cheese, and ice cream for added value. The key to their success is balancing their yearly milk supply according to the seasons and demands of their market. For 30 weeks of the year, Penn College of Technology purchases Milky Way milk and chocolate milk for their cafeterias. During the summer, the Seeleys find themselves with premium milk just waiting to be made into healthy, value-added dairy delights, and of course the calves thrive on any extra. Over the years, the Seeleys have expanded their facility to accommodate value-added processing equipment, adding on behind their on-farm restaurant, started by the 2nd generation of Seeleys in the 1960s.
We'll tour the milking barn, processing areas, restaurant, and enjoy a home-cooked local foods lunch. Then we'll take a pasture walk and discuss fencing, watering, nutrition, pasture maintenance, and controlled grazing, including grazing standing green corn. Milky Way has a closed herd developed from over 18 years of cross breeding seven pure dairy breeds. Bred specifically for characteristics necessary for grass-based dairy, Milky Way has recently begun to market these carefully honed grass-based genetics.
