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Clean Water and Factory Farms
Buchmayer's Dairy

buchmayerKerry and Barb Buchmayer have been in the farming business for over twenty-five years. They worked on Kerry's parents' farm for three years before buying their own small farm in New York where they milked cows. Today they operate a dairy farm in Brookfield, Missouri, producing bottled milk and other dairy products that are sold to stores in St. Louis, Columbia, Kansas City, Lawrence, and Iowa City, including some mainstream grocery stores.

The Buchmayers use many environmentally friendly practices on their dairy farm. They do not use any antibiotics or hormones on their animals. They operate a grass-based certified organic dairy, only one of a few in the state of Missouri. Instead of using herbicides to rid the farm of weeds, they clip them and then use them as bedding for the cows.

Homogenizing, pasteurizing, and bottling their milk, all while operating an organic facility is very challenging. However, these efforts, along with continually offering exceptional products are necessary for the Buchmayer's to keep their business profitable. Despite the difficulties, the Buchmayer's find their work very rewarding, particularly when satisfied customers call to compliment them.

Besides being members of the Sierra Club, the Buchmayer's are involved in the Green Hills Farm Project. This group is a Farmer to Farmer networking group in North Central Missouri. The Green Hills Farm Project's website explains; "We encourage our youth to be involved in agriculture and teach sustainable methods that will leave future generations with a farm and family lifestyle that will be attractive and profitable." Over the years, the Buchmayer's have held different offices within this organization. In 2001, they received the Missouri Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Award. Proposals for the award focus on how farmers can reduce their dependence on non-renewable resources and protect and conserve natural resources.

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