Archive for the ‘Dairy Farms’ Category

Sequim Dairy Farms - Only Two Left in Clallam County

Author: Chuck Marunde

2 Aug

There are only two dairy farms left in Sequim, and those are the only two left in all of Clallam County. Both are small family operations. Dairy farms have been going away in Washington and throughout much of the Northwest as the profit of producing milk diminishes coupled with the extraordinary increases in the value of land for residential development.

Here is a graphic showing the decline of milk cows in Clallam County, Washington.

Click on graphic to enlarge.

From a high of over 7,300 milk cows in 1950, we are now at about 500. The small dairy farms have been going away in western Washington rapidly over the last decade.

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Filed under: Dairy Farms, Sequim Real Estate

Sequim Dairy Farm

Author: Chuck Marunde

23 Jan

Sequim is home to Maple View Farm, otherwise known as the Smith family dairy. The Olympic Peninsula was home to many dairy farms going back 100 years ago, but as with hundreds of other dairy farms around the country that closed, there are only two left in the Sequim area.

Ben Smith, who manages dairy at Maple View Farm, was kind enough to give this author the grand tour. There are 1000 cows, bulls and calves, with 350 milking cows. It’s an amazing operation that runs 24/7 in three shifts non-stop, with average daily milk production of 10 gallons per cow with top producers at 25 gallons per day.

While touring the farm, I was fortunate enough to witness a cow calving. Fortunately, I helped deliver my own four children, so I was not queasy during my digital photo shoot. You can see more photos of the Sequim Dairy Farm here. [Click on photos to enlarge.]