Today, we visited B&B Cattle Company, Sackmann Cattle Company, and Gies Brothers Farming, LLC. Our first stop of the day was B&B Cattle Company owned by the Bennett Family since 1964, near Connell, WA. The family operates a purebred herd consisting of horned Hereford and Angus cattle. They have an annual sale every February on their farm selling yearling bulls. Every October, there is a sale in Texas consisting of 2 yr. old bulls and replacement females. All crops grown, which include corn (silage and grain), alfalfa hay, and winter wheat, go back into the operation as feed. Since there is a local potato processing plant, they receive whole waste potatoes used as additives in the feed. Cattle are grazed on 3,000 acres of pasture, some of which is irrigated. Irrigated pasture can withstand 1 cow/calf pair per 2 acres and dry pasture can sustain 1 cow/calf pair per 70 acres. All irrigation is sourced from 8 wells on the property. Another process this operation goes through is screening the manure to get rid of rocks. Manure is piled up for roughly 4 years. The manure is laid out to dry before running through the screener. The manure is then spread on the field. The family provided our class with a wonderful brisket meal and authentic Washington apples before sending us on our way.

              The next stop for the day was at Sackmann Cattle Company near Warden, WA. We met Jaime Sackmann and discussed their operation. Their main commodity is alfalfa hay, in which they grow around 800 acres. Being close to ports in western Washington allows them to export hay to the Pacific Rim. The family owns 200 head of registered Angus cattle. Cattle are solely raised on forages with exception to the bulls they raise for sale. Irrigation is sourced from the Columbia River through a canal system. Only 2% of the flow from the river is used to source irrigation for the 600,000 acres in the Columbia River Basin. The total net used is less than 2% because the left-over water in the canal system goes back into the river. In their area, all their electricity is generated by hydro power.

              The final stop of the day was at Gies Brothers Farming, LLC in Moses Lake, WA. The Gies family were originally potato producers. Interests in finding better ways to amend the soil from disease and nematodes other than with harmful chemicals led the Gies brothers to where they are now. The family encountered Italian researchers who were studying the use of mustard plants as bio fumigation. This was a healthier and more natural alternative to the harsh chemicals. The mustard plant doubled as a bio fumigator and a green manure, all while adding organic matter to the soil. After seeing the success of this method on their own farm, the brothers partnered with the Italian researchers to help spread awareness to producers across the nation and world in similar situations. The Gies family no longer plant potatoes. Instead, they raise many plants for seed, including mustard plants of different varieties. Their operation is large enough that they even own their own seed cleaner.

              All in all, it was a very successful first day of tours. We learned a lot and met plenty of dogs. Enjoy the pictures!

 

 
Herefords at B & B Cattle Company


 
Group at B & B Cattle Company

 

 
Brisket lunch 


 
Gift of a box of apples 

Triticale field used for cattle grazing

 
Dogs to pet


 
Mustard field


 
Seed treatments 


 
Seed cleaner
 

 

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