SUNY Morrisville’s Arnold R. Fisher Dairy Complex is among farms throughout Madison County that will open its doors and showcase its facility to the public during Open Farm Day on Saturday, July 27.
Open Farm Day, held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., offers visitors an opportunity to see working farms in Madison County, meet local farmers, enjoy tours and demonstrations, animals and products tastings.
SUNY Morrisville will offer tours of its dairy complex, located on the west side of Eaton Street, a state-of-the-art free-stall dairy facility which houses 200 milking cows, as well as an electronically enhanced milking parlor and a student-managed computer system.
Visitors can see how SUNY Morrisville’s facility serves as a real-life learning laboratory for students in dairy and agriculture-related programs, providing them the opportunity to learn how to properly care for and manage animals on a dairy farm. It also offers a chance for community members to visit and learn more about how milk is produced on many commercial dairy operations in the United States.
SUNY Morrisville’s Dairy Complex consistently garners high marks, receiving a 2023 Progressive Genetics Herd Award by Holstein Association USA, Inc. and high-quality milk awards from Dairy One and DFA (Dairy Farmers of America).
“That is one of our highest priorities to consistently sell a high-quality product,” said Jon Mills, herd manager.
The college’s Dairy Complex will further put students on the cutting edge in the industry with three new robotic milkers. Through the advocacy of Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, the college was awarded $1.36 million in federal spending through the appropriations bill, funds which will purchase the robotic milkers.
Adding to the college’s acclaim is a bachelor’s degree in animal science, which launched last year with specializations in dairy management, livestock management, agronomy, and agricultural outreach and education.
SUNY Morrisville’s Dairy Complex features two growing heifer barns, weaned heifer barn, calf barn, maternity barn and a livestock show barn, which provide students with a true hands-on experience. The college’s 400 acres of cropland ensure a supply of forages for the herd.
Learn more about Open Farm Day here: https://openfarmdaymadisoncounty.com/
