Southwest Kansas opportunities for dairies
By Jennifer M. Latzke, High Plains Journal
Kansas is the land of wheat fields and cattle feedlots. It’s known for sunflowers, Dorothy Gale, and now–dairies.
The Kansas Department of Commerce is currently reaching out to large dairies looking to relocate into agriculture-friendly communities through its Kansas Dairy Initiative. As a part of that initiative, KDC and the western Kansas Rural Economic Development Alliance hosted the Southwest Kansas Dairy Tour. The day tour of large-scale dairies in the Garden City, Kan., area hosted dairy producers from Tennessee, Virginia, Kansas and Saudi Arabia. The tour showcased Royal Farms Dairy and Plymell Dairy in Garden City, and Forget-Me-Not Farms in Cimarron, as well as discussed the benefits of relocating to the area.
At Royal Farms Dairy, Steve Irsik spoke to the group about the benefits of locating the 6,000-head dry lot milking operation just east of Garden City. Irsik said dairies can not only count on the abundant feed supply from the area’s corn and forage growers, but also communities that understand the needs of agriculture production.
“We’re 15 miles from Garden City, five minutes from the regional airport there,” Irsik said. This area offers employees and their families good schools and almost all the amenities of other regions.
The quality of life factor was further discussed over lunch. A panel discussion covered schools, health care and other community benefits for employees in the region.
Jody Wacker, dairy coordinator for the Kansas Livestock Association, spoke about KLA’s assistance to relocating dairies. Dr. Bob Moser, Tribune, Kan., shared with the group his experience in expanding the health care available in his small western Kansas community. Dana Nanninga, Garden City, said she and her husband returned to their roots in Garden City to raise their family because of the opportunities in smaller towns. Carole Jordan, with KDC, said small communities welcome new businesses and the opportunity for growth they bring to the areas.
