Dairy Meets Data - Hilltop Acres Farm's Integrated Success
- Greg Vincent
- 5 days ago
- 1 min read
"Better forage, healthier cows, and global recognition, all from system thinking."
Hilltop Acres Farm in Calmar, Iowa is a fully integrated dairy-crop operation with 1,000 acres and 450 registered cows. Their journey with the Maximum Farming System began with a simple goal: improve forage quality. What they achieved went far beyond expectations.
A System That Supports Livestock
Forage quality directly impacts herd health and milk components. By adopting the Maximum Farming System, Hilltop Acres saw a dramatic improvement in both. Healthier cows meant higher milk quality and a cull rate that dropped from 40% to just over 20%.
Manure Management and Soil Strategy
The farm optimized manure application, planting schedules, and soil sampling to create a closed-loop system that maximized nutrient efficiency. This wasn’t just good farming, it was smart stewardship.
Global Recognition Through Resilience
Hilltop Acres’ model has gained attention beyond Iowa. Their ability to balance productivity with sustainability has made them a standout example of what system thinking can achieve.
The Partnership
Dairy operations present unique challenges and opportunities. Dealers who understand both crop and livestock dynamics can offer solutions that drive performance across the entire farm.
Want to learn more?
Watch the full video spotlight on Hilltop Acres and see how integration and innovation transformed their operation.
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