Farmers

Missions

- To increase demand for dairy products through the development and execution of an industry wide market-driven business plan that invests resources in a strategic manner and provides the best possible economic advantage to the dairy farmers. - To contribute to optimal health through leadership in nutrition research and education by encouraging food selection patterns that include dairy foods and other major food categories in accordance with scientific recommendations.

2008 Maine’s New England Green Pastures Award Farm and Maine Farm Family of The Year

Orono, ME—Stonyvale Inc. (The Fogler Farm) has been an industry leader for decades and is this year’s winner of the Green Pastures award. The farm is currently owned by John Fogler, Robert Fogler, Richard Fogler, Fred Goff and Thomas Fogler. The farm started as a fertilizer business owned and operated by John Fogler’s mother’s family. After World War II, John returned to the farm as owner; in 1960 his brother Tom joined him on the farm milking 30 registered cows.

In the decades since, the Foglers have gone through several advancements adding more family members, milking parlors/barns and cows. In 1999 the family started their current expansion with the purchase of whole herds of cattle and now milk just over 850 cows with 20 workers that includes 4 hispanic workers. In 2001 the Foglers added a double 20 parallel parlor; the herd averages 68 lbs of 3.6% fat and 3.1% protein milk daily. Milk quality is excellent with a somatic cell count of less than 200,000. Herd reproduction is outstanding with a 29% pregnancy rate and a 12.7 month calving interval. Recently, the Foglers have been purchasing and implanting embryos into their recipients and have flushed some of their better cows to upgrade their herd and provide a source of cattle for merchandising. Milk is shipped to Dairy Farmers of America (DFA).

Aaron Fogler joined the farm in 1996 and works with the machinery and maintenance of this large farm. Travis joined the farm in 1999 followed by his wife Kate in 2000. Travis’ brother in law Brian joined the farm in 2002. This family team manages the 850 milking cows, 150 dry cows and 850 youngstock. Cows are housed in large, well ventilated barns with freestalls. Manure is stored in two manure storage structures with a capacity of 5.4 million gallons with manure nutrients being a main source of crop nutrition. Crops are produced on 1400 acres of cropland to make up their ration of haylage, corn silage and a complete feed. Grain is stored in a series of upright bins and silage is stored in five 200 foot long silos ranging in width from 40 to 120 feet assuring an empty silo to put in newly harvested silage.

The Foglers have long been heavily involved with their state and community. John served as associate commissioner of agriculture and served for several years on the Eastern AI/Genex board of directors. Bob has served as selectman of Exeter and has been a member of the Penobscot County Soil and Water Conservation Board for several years. Richard Fogler is trailmaster of the local snowmobile club, Brian is an officer in the Pinetree Holstein Association and Kate has been a member of the statewide Maine Cattle Health Assurance Program (MeCHAP) steering committee since its’ inception. Travis has been involved at the state level as a member of the Governor’s Task Force on the Sustainability of the Dairy Industry in Maine as well as the state Ag Water Management Board. They are members of the DFA Young Cooperators and participate in Farm Credit’s Large Herd Study.

Stonyvale Inc. will be recognized on September 12, 2008 at the Eastern States Exposition along with winners of this award from the other New England states. This program is sponsored by the New England Green Pastures Committee and Cooperative Extension at each of the New England Land Grant Universities.

Annual Report