Virtual Farm Tours

Located in the northwest corner of Washington State, Coldstream Farms is a second-generation family dairy operation in Deming, Washington. Established in 1978 by Jeff and Vickie Rainey, the farm is now operated through a partnership between Galen and Laura Smith, Lynne Wheeler, and Brad Smith.

Coldstream Farms currently averages 115 pounds of energy-corrected milk (ECM) per cow, with 4.8% butterfat, 3.5% protein, and a somatic cell count (SCC) of 190,000. Reproductive decisions are made on an individual-cow basis using production, health, and performance data. In addition to artificial insemination (AI), the farm incorporates embryo transfer (ET) into its breeding program, targeting 100 sexed pregnancies each month using Holstein sexed semen and approximately 30 Holstein embryos from Semex. This strategy accelerates genetic progress while reducing the percentage of Jerseys in the herd. Success is driven by a strong focus on cow health, nutrition, daily management, and effective natural heat detection.

Environmental stewardship and regenerative agriculture are central to Coldstream Farms' operation. Sustainability initiatives include a BioLynk flush system, alley scrapers, an upgraded feed facility to improve efficiency and reduce waste, and a Daritech Bedding Master that converts manure solids into bedding. The farm also upcycles food industry byproducts, including potatoes, bakery waste, whey protein, and distillers grains, into feed resources. Many of these investments not only reduce environmental impact but also enhance cow comfort, herd health, and day-to-day operational efficiency. These efforts are supported by a comprehensive nutrient management plan.

Coldstream Farms' commitment to conservation has been recognized through multiple awards and programs, including the Whatcom Land Trust Bob Keller Memorial Business Conservation Leadership Award, a Washington State Conservation Commission Grant, and participation in the National Dairy FARM Environmental Stewardship Program.

Double Eagle Dairy is owned by John and Karen Weller. As they work towards bringing in the 4^th generation, they represent a unique example of a multi-generational family farm that has grown with purpose and intention. What began with just five cows after World War II has expanded into a 3,500-cow dairy that ranks among Michigan's leading producers. Growth has been achieved while keeping all cattle within the state and raising nearly all feed on 6,000 acres of corn, alfalfa, and wheat.

The farm's investment in high-quality, homegrown feed contributes to strong herd performance, averaging 105 pounds of energy-corrected milk (ECM) per cow with 4.35% butterfat and 3.35% protein. Innovation has played a key role in the dairy's success. Double Eagle was among the first farms in Michigan to install a rotary parlor in 2006 and recently adopted Afimilk rumination collars and advanced parlor technology. These upgrades have improved efficiency, reduced milking time, and increased milk production while providing earlier identification of health challenges.

Animal care and labor efficiency are central priorities. Recent facility improvements, including new palpation rails and a renovated sort gate system, streamlined cattle handling and reduced labor needs during veterinary checks. Cows are housed on sand bedding, supported by a sand-separation system that enhances cow comfort and resource management.

Double Eagle's breeding strategy balances herd replacement needs with a growing beef-on-dairy program. Approximately 80 percent of heifers are bred to sexed semen, while most mature cows are bred to beef sires.

Environmental stewardship remains a cornerstone of the operation. The farm focuses on soil health, nutrient management, and responsible manure utilization and was among the first to adopt sand separation and a digester for compressed LNG, demonstrating its long-term commitment to efficiency and sustainability.

Established in 1988, Rancho Pepper Dairy originally housed a double-27 parallel milking parlor and freestall barns situated on 2,000 acres. The farm transitioned to organic production in 2006 and has since expanded to 4,400 acres dedicated entirely to pasture. In 2022, the operation advanced further by installing North America’s first DeLaval VMS batch-milking facility, which utilizes 22 VMS V300 units in a double-11 parallel parlor configuration. This automated system allows the herd to graze from March until October while receiving twice-daily milking with minimal labor requirements. Today, Rancho Pepper Dairy maintains a rolling herd average of 17,000 pounds of milk, featuring 4.5% butterfat and 3.4% protein.

Herd management centers on cow comfort and genetic progress. Cows are housed using sand bedding in the freestalls and compost bedding under shades in the open dry lots. The farm’s breeding program utilizes genomic-tested Jersey donor cows and slick-gene Holstein donors. Sires are strictly selected based on longevity, fertility, A2A2 beta-casein, low somatic cell count (SCC), high butterfat production, and feed efficiency. This strategy incorporates sexed Holstein semen along with beef-on-dairy matings to optimize the value of non-replacement calves. 

Environmental stewardship is also woven into daily operations through regenerative agriculture practices. Specifically, Rancho Pepper Dairy employs adaptive multi-paddock grazing to enhance soil health, biodiversity, water infiltration, and pasture productivity. Additionally, an on-site solar array supplies approximately 70% of the electricity required by the robotic milking facility, significantly reducing the farm’s grid energy consumption.

The farm also maintains structured community and employee support programs. To date, Rancho Pepper Dairy has provided more than $1 million in higher education scholarships to their employees’ children. Furthermore, the farm staff have contributed thousands of hours of volunteer service to local organizations, and the operation has donated more than $400,000 to regional food banks and hunger relief initiatives.