WHAT WE DO

We employ an EMS for numerous reasons. One is to help us comply with regulatory demands. Another is to ensure that we are protecting and improving the health and safety practices for our employees and the public. By having consistent systems in place, we can do this in a cost-effective way.

100% Wisconsin

We raise our forages – corn and alfalfa – to make up 60 percent of the cows’ diets. The remaining minerals and proteins come from local co-ops.

Our primary customer is a prominent Wisconsin cheese maker that sells nationally to pizzarias and restaurants. This company is well known for its fine, Italian-style cheeses – especially on the East Coast, where restaurants actually post in their windows that they use this particular brand. Yes, it’s that good. You know what they say, New Yorkers know pizza. Apparently, their restaurants know cheese, and they love the cheese that comes from our milk.

  Conservation

Committed to Conservation

Responsible farming is a broad term. We take amazingly good care of our cows. We keep the animals, stalls and equipment clean. We produce much of the food needed for our cows and even our family. But wait until you learn how responsible we are with waste!.

Working alongside 2000 cows, manure is a constant reality. It is a byproduct that needs to be dealt with in the most efficient way possible. Fortunately, Clover Hill Dairy knows a lot about manure processing. From electrical power to potable water, you might just be surprised what can come from a cow patty.

First, manure is captured in various ways and goes into a digester. This oxygen-free environment kills all pathogens. The digester processes the material much like a stomach. Bacteria feed on the waste and expel gas (just like us!). The gas is captured and routed to generators that produce electricity, which is used to power 400 homes each day!

The engines that process the gas from the digester are water cooled. The water becomes hot, so during the cold months, we reroute it to radiators that warm our milking parlor and offices.

So far, we’ve taken significant steps in the conservation of energy. But we’ve only just scratched the surface.

The solid portion of the digested manure is extracted from the liquid. Believe it or not, this material comes out quite clean and feels spongy. We use it as bedding in the free stalls. The cows love it!