They Sell Milk In Plastic Bags

1980 - Volume #4, Issue #6, Page #08

[ Sample Stories From This Issue | List of All Stories In This Issue | Print this story | Read this issue]

Plastic bagging, a new concept in milk packaging, is "working great" for Thure Osuldsen, a Northern Wisconsin dairyman. I r about a year, he's been packaging milk in plastic bags and selling it retail at the farm.
He says his $100,000 bagging machine, a French-made product, has increased milk income 50%. An 80-cow milking herd is now able to support the elder Osuldsens and the families of two sons, Dan and Dale, without the addition of any more land, buildings or cattle.
The packaging system includes tjie bagger, pasteurizes, homogenizes and cooler, plus accessories. The Osuldsens package 150 gals. daily which takes about three hours, including cooling and pasteurizing. They also market milk to two local school districts and sell some to a local dairy.
The milk in plastic bags is currently sold for $1.50 a gal. when picked up by customers at the farm. The bags slip into a plastic pitcher for easy handling and pouring.
The whole dairy operation keeps the three families busy, especially in winter when the herd is milked three times a day.
The Osuldsens are relatively new to dairying. Until 1971, they were on a cash crop and beef farm in southern Wisconsin. They purchased their present 400-acre farm in 1968.
The decision to bag milk in plastic came after considerable discussion and investigation. There are only three such operations in the north central states, to Osuldsen's knowledge. He looked at them before putting in his own.
The entire operation had to pass inspection by the state department of agriculture, and inspectors make regular visits to see that it is operating properly.
"Any way you look at it, this system is more economical and easier than a conventional dairy," says Osuidsen. "Even when you pay for the extra equipment, it's cheaper than expanding your herd. It fits very well into a small operation."
Customers like buying milk in plastic bags, and many of them travel fairly long distances to get it. Osuldsen's Countryside Dairy is somewhat off the main roads, but people find it and keep coming back again.
For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Osuldsen's Countryside Dairy, Rt. 2, Box 386, Ladysmith, Wis. 54848 (ph 715 5325213).

Click here to download page story appeared in.

Click here to read entire issue

They Sell Milk In Plastic Bags DAIRY EQUIPMENT & IDEAS Dairy Equipment & Ideas 4-6-8 Plastic bagging, a new concept in milk packaging, is "working great" for Thure Osuldsen, a Northern Wisconsin dairyman. I r about a year, he's been packaging milk in plastic bags and selling it retail at the farm. He says his $100,000 bagging machine, a French-made product, has increased milk income 50%. An 80-cow milking herd is now able to support the elder Osuldsens and the families of two sons, Dan and Dale, without the addition of any more land, buildings or cattle. The packaging system includes tjie bagger, pasteurizes, homogenizes and cooler, plus accessories. The Osuldsens package 150 gals. daily which takes about three hours, including cooling and pasteurizing. They also market milk to two local school districts and sell some to a local dairy. The milk in plastic bags is currently sold for $1.50 a gal. when picked up by customers at the farm. The bags slip into a plastic pitcher for easy handling and pouring. The whole dairy operation keeps the three families busy, especially in winter when the herd is milked three times a day. The Osuldsens are relatively new to dairying. Until 1971, they were on a cash crop and beef farm in southern Wisconsin. They purchased their present 400-acre farm in 1968. The decision to bag milk in plastic came after considerable discussion and investigation. There are only three such operations in the north central states, to Osuldsen's knowledge. He looked at them before putting in his own. The entire operation had to pass inspection by the state department of agriculture, and inspectors make regular visits to see that it is operating properly. "Any way you look at it, this system is more economical and easier than a conventional dairy," says Osuidsen. "Even when you pay for the extra equipment, it's cheaper than expanding your herd. It fits very well into a small operation." Customers like buying milk in plastic bags, and many of them travel fairly long distances to get it. Osuldsen's Countryside Dairy is somewhat off the main roads, but people find it and keep coming back again. For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Osuldsen's Countryside Dairy, Rt. 2, Box 386, Ladysmith, Wis. 54848 (ph 715 5325213).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.

SUBSCRIBE OR RENEW NOW