Dairy Developments
Isaac Hammock is a third-generation dairy farmer and owner of Hammock Dairy. After completing a research paper on agricultural engineering and considering other careers, Isaac realized that becoming a full-time dairy farmer was a better fit.
Ten years into his operation, he can’t imagine doing anything else. The farm has grown and evolved from tobacco, beef cattle and a little bit of everything to the successful 800-cow dairy operation known as the Hammock Dairy that it is today.
Isaac’s grandfather, uncles and father began milking a herd of 50 Holsteins in 1988 using a double six herringbone parlor. A decade later, they remodeled the parlor and expanded to a double ten herringbone.
Now, the farm features a brand-new double 24 parallel parlor. This new parlor will allow the Hammocks to grow to at least 1,200 cows over the next couple of years. They are utilizing sexed semen in their first calf heifers and are even starting to implement this practice in some mature cows to grow more quickly. They anticipate needing to build another dry cow facility and cow/ calf barn to handle the growth to 1,200 but they are excited at the growth.
“If you’re not growing and pushing forward, you are falling behind in this industry,” Isaac said.
Teamwork and Technology
The fluctuating market and supply chain issues have been the greatest challenges since 2020 that Isaac and his family have learned to manage. Input prices increase and the milk price doesn’t always keep up, but that’s a challenge dairy farmers have learned to plan for over the years.
The family primarily handles the breeding, treating, feeding, crop management, and calf-rearing, while other employees handle the round-the-clock milking and bedding of stalls. Many crew members have become as close as family in the years they’ve worked for the Hammocks. Adapting to new practices or technology can be easier said than done for some farm families, but since the Hammocks are relatively new to the dairy industry, they have never been afraid to try new things.
The family recognizes that no other business that was around 50-60 years ago is doing things the same way today and still making money, and farms should be no exception.
“We never want to be the first to adopt new technology, but we also don’t want to be the last to give up the old technology,” Isaac said. He noted there are two things that their farm prioritizes when it comes to adopting new technology or making large equipment purchases or upgrades: good quality forage for feed and cow comfort.
Partners in Progress
The Hammocks have a great working relationship with Farm Credit of the Virginias. They value the patronage dividend and since it often equates to about one month’s payment, they feel as though they’re only having to make 11 payments in a year.
“When you work with Farm Credit, you’re working with an organization that works for farmers and understands what we’re up against,” said Isaac.
Originally published in “Leader” of Farm Credit of the Virginias
