Augustian Farms: Technology matters

Technology is advancing rapidly everywhere today, and that includes on the farm.

Todd and Aaron Augustian and Todd’s wife, Ginane, are taking full advantage of it to make their family farm in Kewaunee more efficient, more comfortable for their cows and more environmentally friendly.

In 2001, Todd took over the 60-cow family farm from his parents, Edward and Claire Augustian. Over the next few years, Todd started to grow the herd but experienced a barn fire in 2005 that took the milking facility and the entire milking herd. Todd found a neighboring barn that was available for rent and started again with 33 cows.

In 2007, Todd and Aaron formed a partnership and expanded the herd to 250 cows. Two years later, they started building a new dairy facility back at the site of the home farm, they grew up on. Over the years, the herd continued to grow. An expansion in 2015 brought the farm to where it is today, with 1,150 cows and 1,100 acres of land.

Todd and Ginane’s children - Regina, Grant and Layna - round out the family affair.

DBA: What are you most proud of on your farm?

Augustians: We are proud of the facilities we have designed and built for our cattle. Our cross-ventilated barn has kept our cattle cool in the summer heat and has been very easy to work in the dead of winter. This reduces stress on cows and makes for a very healthy environment.

DBA: What sustainable practices are you using on the farm?

Augustians: We work closely with the county Land and Water Conservation Department to reshape waterways and maintain buffers. A wildlife conservation plan has been incorporated with the planting of native grasses and clovers to encourage bee habitat. Cover crops are planted to prevent erosion and no-till planting is being introduced on our farm.

DBA: What do you see as major challenges and opportunities facing the dairy community?

Augustians: A major challenge is the public perception of farming. We feel there is an opportunity to show the public how dairy farmers care and create the best possible environment for their animals. We need to demonstrate that antibiotic use is closely monitored and only used when needed. We all eat the food that comes from our farms and strive to supply the highest-quality goods.

DBA: What technologies have you incorporated on your farm that have been beneficial?

Augustians: The technologies available in farming today are almost endless. In the fields, we use GPS units on tractors and equipment, which help to make it more efficient and maximize the use of the soil. We have better seeds to improve yield and reduce pesticide use. In our barns, we monitor cow health, get daily milk production records, genomic testing and much more.

From left: Todd, Ginane and Aaron Augustian.