Belshway Farms Provides Top Notch Care

Name: Wayne and Bradley Beidel

Farm Name: Belshway Farms

Family: Wayne and Loudenis Beidel – children Dale, Ginger and Curtis and grandchildren Sage and Abigail; Bradley and Sue Beidel - children Brandon and Benjamin

Location: Newburg, Pa.

Belshway Farms is tucked away in a sweeping mountain valley in Newburg, Pa. Brothers Wayne and Bradley Beidel care for more than 150 cows and 600 acres of land on this beautiful homestead.

“We enjoy farming, it’s a challenge for us,” Wayne says. “Each day is different and varied, with many opportunities. We might not be able to take a sick day, but to raise your family in this lifestyle and see them succeed, it makes each hard-working day worth it.”

Getting Started

In 1951, Wayne’s father, Roy, bought the homestead in central Pennsylvania. Growing up helping his dad, Wayne knew right away that dairying was the life he wanted, so in 1976, he formed a partnership with his father. By 1980, Wayne had purchased the cows and the land and was farming full time on his own. In 1988, Bradley joined Wayne and the two formed a partnership that still exists today.

Cow Care

The brothers built a new barn for their cows in 1988. Called a “freestall,” this type of barn allows the cows to move freely at all times. The cows can choose when they want to drink, eat or lie down since they have 24/7 access to water, feed and stalls (or”beds”). And these aren’t ordinary beds; the mattresses are filled with shredded rubber to make them more cushioned and comfortable, and twice a week they are covered with fresh, dry sawdust.

The new freestall barn also features opened sides with curtains. In the summer, the curtains are up and the sides are open to allow for fresh air to circulate along with the many fans with sprinklers mounted above the stalls. The cows can also visit the pasture areas surrounding the farm.  In the winter, the curtains are lowered enough to keep the cows comfortable but still allow for fresh air to help ventilate the barn. Cows like cooler weather, since their body temperature is set at a balmy 101 degrees Fahrenheit.

And, no need for the cows to pick up their room – a specially-designed machine called an “alley scraper” cleans the floor of the barn on a routine basis keeping it free of manure.

When the cows at Belshway Farm are expecting, they relax in a barn with special feed and stalls. As her time to give birth nears, each cow is given her own private “room” filled with fresh, clean straw.

Newborn calves live in a bright, open barn called a “greenhouse.” Each calf has her own pen to ensure she stays healthy during the first few months of her life when her immune system is lower. As calves grow older, they are housed together in group pens with other calves of similar age. This socialization helps them grow big and healthy.

Bradley specializes in cow care and comfort at the farm. He is in charge of making sure the cows are healthy, which he does with the help of a veterinarian who visits the farm once a month, or whenever there is an emergency. Bradley also supervises the cow and calf vaccination programs, which start at birth. He also oversees the “pedicure appointments” – each cow gets her hooves trimmed every two months!

The cows at Belshway wear necklaces equipped with an identification chip that helps Bradley monitor their health. As each cow enters the milking parlor, she walks between a curtain that reads her necklace and sends information to a computer. That information is valuable to Bradley – data like the cow’s milk production and time milked help him determine early if a cow is not feeling well so he can immediately check on her health and comfort.

Keeping the Land Sustainable

Wayne’s focus on growing the cows’ feed and keep the farm’s land sustainable is an equally important part of cow care. The farm is the recipient of several conservation awards, including the 1999 Conservation Farmer of the Year and the 1987 State Community Service Award. These speak to the care and detail Wayne takes in maintaining the land he farms.

Since 1980, the farm has been visionary in its approach to growing crops. The Beidels use two processes called no till and minimal till, which means they do not plow the land before planting the crop. This method cuts down on the release of carbon in the air, helps prevent wind and water erosion of the soil, increases soil moisture levels, and can lead to improvement in the quality of the soil.

The Beidels grow all of the feed used by the farm.  Crops like corn and hay are the foundation of the food the cows eat. Wayne’s brother, Jay, is an animal nutritionist and visits the farm once a week to make sure the feed is being mixed in the correct proportions.

Wayne points to how valuable it has been for the farm to have a conservation plan that was created with the help of professionals. The plan is the cornerstone of all of the cropping decisions and practices Wayne makes.

“I am responsible for taking care of our land in a fashion that will allow for future generations to use and enjoy it,” Wayne says. “And I take that responsibility very seriously. That is why we’ve implemented these practices.”

Future generations will certainly love the homestead and continue to protect its gorgeous surroundings.