Congratulations to Josh Salentine, our October Farmer of the Month. He and his family own Salentine Homestead Dairy LLC in Luxemburg where they currently milk 260 cows and have 40 dry cows.
Josh grew up working on the farm. He left for a few years but ended up coming back and going into a partnership with his parents. Over the years he’s seen quite a few changes to the dairy including the addition of a free-stall barn in the 90s, a milking parlor after that, and making more room for the milk cows a few years back.
One thing that makes the farm unique from others is the fact that they have their heifers raised in Kansas. “It’s a better climate for them. We really don’t have the proper facilities to raise them here,” he said. “This way I can focus on the milk cows and such.” The animals are out of state for 15 months and then come back to the dairy about two months before calving.
Josh was explaining the family aspect of the farm and shared how grateful he is for the help that they get from family and some very reliable employees. “We get by with mostly family help and some very dedicated employees,” he said. For example, his dad still helps on the farm with crop planting, harvesting, chopping hay, and repairing things in the shop. Along with that, Josh’s wife Jenny takes care of the calves, does payroll, plus has a full-time job outside of the dairy.
Josh and Jenny’s three kids Megan, Caleb, and Molly keep busy with the farm as well. Megan milks on the weekend mornings, while also working another job right after school off the farm. Caleb is his dad’s right-hand man helping Josh with whatever needs to be done, while their youngest Molly also helps on the family operation.
He brought up how he simply wants his kids to learn what it means to work hard and be able to keep that a huge part of their lives. “Just the work ethic, right? They have their own animals that they have to take care of, which is separate from the herd. I told them from the beginning, I’m not taking care of them,” Josh said. This teaches them valuable lessons that can be used not only on the farm but anywhere else in life, especially when it comes to the workforce.
With 2021 coming to a close pretty soon, he talked about what farmers could expect in 2022. “Unfortunately, higher prices on inputs. Fertilizer is literally almost double,” he said. “Fuel prices, fertilizer, seed prices.” Also, Josh mentioned the supply chain. For example, on their farm, it’s been a challenge to get the milking gloves they typically use because things are so backed up. He said you have to be prepared for disruptions like that on the dairy. Disruptions and higher prices for 2022.
Josh mentioned that as long as the dairy can stay viable and sustainable financially and land-wise, he’ll keep farming. “We’re only here for a certain short amount of time,” he said. “We are caretakers of the land.”
Congratulations to Josh Salentine, our Farmer of the Month! To hear the full interview, you can check out our podcast page.
