In an increasingly competitive dairy industry, the Miller family of Woodstock, Conn. has managed to weave a strong family tradition with an eagerness to embrace technological innovation. The result? A solid platform for success.

The family history
Fairvue Farm began in 1962 when Paul Miller and his mother purchased the farm in northeastern Connecticut and milked 40 cows in a stanchion barn.

In 1967, Paul and his wife, Diane, purchased the farm from Paul's mother and began to expand the family business. Over the years they purchased additional land and added free stall barns and a milking parlor. In 1990, their son, David, returned home from Cobleskill College to work with his parents.

Today, with four generations living on the farm, the Millers milk 585 Holsteins in a double-20 parallel milking parlor. With the guidance of his parents, David eagerly advanced to the role of general manager and was recognized as one of the three national "Outstanding Young Farmers of 2000."

State-of-the-art milking facility
The family constructed a double-20 parallel milking parlor in 1995 that milks up to 1,000 cows on a three time-per-day schedule. The parlor is unique because it has a basement under the cow platform, which houses milk meters, milk lines and other equipment, all protected from damage, dirt and moisture.

The system is computerized. Its parlor cow ID system has transponders on each cow that provide individual daily production and milk quality records. The parlor stalls' rapid exit design allows an efficient and more stress-free movement of cows through the system.

Emphasis on cow comfort
A new 390-cow free stall barn allows for expansion of the dairy herd to 700 cows. Thick rubber mats, topped with sawdust, provide comfortable beds for the cows. The barn's curtain sides can be opened in good weather, allowing for full advantage of natural ventilation. And an abundance of fans help keep the cows cool and comfortable, even in hot weather. Concrete slatted floors provide a clean environment and efficient manure handling from "under-the-barn" manure storage.

Fairvue grows all forage
for dairy herd
Under the supervision of crops manager Dennis Pedersen, Fairvue grows 640 acres of corn for silage and 530 acres of grass and alfalfa for haylage, which is all the forage that the farm needs to feed its more than 1,000 head of cows and youngstock.

Purchased concentrates are stored in 27-ton grain bins. After outgrowing the commodity shed, Fairvue Farm installed nine grain bins to store purchased concentrates. In addition to supplying the needed additional storage capacity, these bins reduce shrink resulting from bird and wind loss, both of which occurred when grain was stored in the open commodity shed.

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A vital part of
the community
Fairvue Farm is widely known in Connecticut's scenic "Quiet Corner" for opening its doors to visitors. By hosting regular farm tours, the Miller family gives the public a chance to view first hand the increasingly complex milk production process. The Miller family serves as an important interface between milk producers and consumers.

The Miller Family
Fairvue Farms
Route 171
Woodstock, Connecticut 06281
860.928.9483