Wilson View Dairy, Tillamook, Oregon, recently navigated a transformative journey some may find daunting. Over the past year-and-a-half, Derrick Josi, dairy owner and well-known social media influencer, guided his team through a significant herd expansion and technological advancement.
“Our motivation was efficiency,” he explains. “We were at a point where we needed to expand or quit. We chose to expand, and with that, we wanted to do it as efficiently as possible.”
With that in mind, the team embarked on this ambitious project, transitioning from well-used facilities to a state-of-the-art dairy operation. The shift wasn’t just about physical structures and cow numbers. It involved the integration of innovative technologies across all areas of the farm.
Josi recalls, “We added everything at once. It wasn’t just a rotary; it was everything. We had no activity monitoring, no RFID tags, a totally different DHI system, cow system, and we didn’t have an auto sort gate.” Until now.
One of the critical decisions Josi made was implementing Nedap’s innovative solutions.
His objectives for the dairy align with Nedap’s goal of future-proofing dairy farms through technologies such as cow locating, milk metering, accurate animal identification and more.
This move dramatically changed how Wilson View Dairy manages its herd. The activity monitoring system now provides 24/7 insights into each cow’s behavior, significantly increasing labor efficiency and enhancing animal and employee wellbeing.
“It’s a huge time saver and helps us manage the cows better,” Josi says.
Adopting new technology so abruptly and on such a scale came with its challenges, particularly in getting the team on board.
“The team was apprehensive at first,” Josi says. “Change is always a bit scary. But, we involved people in the process, trained them and showed them the benefits of the different tools and technologies.”
The team’s ability to adapt proved fruitful, and everyone now fully embraces the new way of working, realizing how much easier and more efficient their jobs have become.
Before, during and after the transition, Josi worked to create a positive workplace culture, leveraging the new technology to help bolster that goal.
The expansion wasn’t limited to technology alone.
Wilson View Dairy more than doubled its herd size, growing from 500 to about 1,100 cows. The bold move was necessary for the farm’s sustainability.
The new facility and the technological advancements allowed for more comfortable housing of cows and better overall management.
Reflecting on his experience, Josi offers the following advice to dairy owners contemplating similar changes.
“Plan and involve your team,” he says. “Don’t be afraid of technology; embrace it. It can make your operation more efficient and your life easier.”
Josi also emphasizes the need for planning and resilience. “Be prepared for some bumps along the way,” he notes. “Change isn’t easy, but it’s worth it.”
In the future, Josi will continue to hone in on optimization and data analytics to enhance herd management and efficiency. He also aspires to build a visitor center to expand public outreach beyond those he already influences on social media.
“Our focus is on fine-tuning what we have. The goal is to continue improving and growing,” he says.
Josi’s journey offers lasting lessons about embracing change and technology in an ever-changing dairy industry – and the courage, innovation and dedicated pursuit of efficiency needed to succeed.
“Don’t be afraid to take risks,” he concludes. “In this industry, you have to be willing to evolve and adapt. Technology is a big part of that.”
