Laura Finger Family Farm

Finger Family Farm

Finger Family Farm, WI, USA

Finger Family Farm, welcome to Piper Systems!

“The Piper will meter out the exact amount needed…resulting in no spilled milk in the driveway and no overweight loads.”

 
In October 2023, Piper Systems proudly introduced FloStream technology at Laura Finger’s dairy farm, connecting our FloStream to a 6,000-gallon tank and a 20-gallon vertical storage system.
 
“We saw a value of increasing on farm storage and moving into a more advanced way of knowing our product being produced. 
 
The FloStream is directly linked to both our existing 6,000 gallon bulk tank and our new 20 gallon vertical upright storage. We can use both vats interchangeably. The metered system easily gets accurate readings on milk volume and should we have to transfer between vats and when it is time to load the milk truck. 
 
A few additional valuable points are that the hauler can set the capacity of the tanker in which the Piper will meter out the exact amount resulting in no spilled milk in the driveway, no overweight loads. 
 
The Piper System has also decreased the loading time due to the standard size of the pump and upon leaving the farm, it’s not necessary for the hauler to spend extra time at the plant either agitating or scaling the milk as the Piper ticket is the FDA approved official load weight.  These changes have made our hauler one happy driver!
 
Secondly, after installing the Piper System, our total pounds shipped including components aligned better with what our parlor milk meters and DHI testing data was.  We think this is because of the way the FloStream does a consistent collection over the entire loading time, instead of using the old dipstick method to skim milk off the top of the tank. At first it seemed like extra work.  However, as time has gone on, we value having the Piper System in place for the sheer facts of efficiency and that we know exactly what is leaving the farm.”
 
– Laura Finger, Finger Family Farm
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Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative’s (SDBII) ‘Precision Technology & Management Grant’

2024 Grants

Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative’s (SDBII) ‘Precision Technology & Management Grant’

Support available to farm owners looking to modernise with new farm equipment and technology. 

SDBII is a new initiative to help farmers cover some of the cost of upgrading and modernising their farm equipment. Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative’s (SDBII) ‘Precision Technology & Management Grant’

The grant aims to enhance farm efficiency by supporting the utilization of new and existing technologies. These technologies assist in managing key farm metrics effectively, ensuring optimal use of resources like labor, feed, and fertilizer. What’s great is that this grant isn’t just about innovation; it’s about practical, measurable improvements in your day-to-day operations.

Here’s what you need to know:

The Precision Technology Investment Grant, part of the SDBII, offers substantial funding – up to $150,000.00 per applicant. There’s a total of $1.5 million available in this category, with a minimum of 10 grants to be awarded. However, it’s important to note that applicants are required to provide a cash match of 25% of the requested amount in eligible expenses.

This opportunity is open to applicants in a wide range of states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Puerto Rico.

Application Period: The application window is open now until March 1. 

Why Apply?: If you’re using or planning to upgrade or switch to a electronic milk metering technology then this grant can significantly reduce the financial burden. Investing in your farm is always a wise choice,  but a Piper System not only boosts your farm’s efficiency but also aligns with the grant’s focus on maximizing farm output through precision technology. Recording data for every precious drop of milk you produce.

From our perspective:

Piper Systems milk metering technology aligns perfectly with the opportunities presented by the Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative’s (SDBII) ‘Precision Technology & Management Grant’. This grant, offering up to $150,000.00 in funding, is a game changer for dairy farms looking to improve efficiency and productivity through advanced technology.

Cost-Effectiveness: The grant requires a 25% cash match of the requested amount. Investing in PIPER Systems technology can be a cost effective solution, leveraging the grant to cover a significant portion of the expense.

Easy Integration: PIPER Systems’ products are designed to integrate smoothly into existing farm setups. This ease of integration means less downtime and a quicker path to realizing the benefits of precision technology.

Support and Guidance: Our team at PIPER Systems is committed to supporting dairy farmers throughout the grant application process. We can provide insights and assistance to ensure that your application highlights the potential benefits of integrating our technology into your farm operations.

Long-Term Benefits: Investing in PIPER Systems technology is not just about meeting immediate needs; it’s about setting up your dairy farm for long-term success. Our technology is designed to evolve and adapt to future challenges in the dairy industry.

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S3 Food Grant

Leigh Hamiliton - CEO

The smartest delivery from mega farms to the dairy.

The STORYTELLER project has been selected to receive an S3FOOD application voucher. Leigh Hamilton from lead SME Piper Systems explains how the integrated smart sensor system will raise food safety and quality standards, reduce waste and improve efficiency in the dairy value chain.

Dairy companies don’t always get what they count on when milk arrives from the farms for processing. Variations in butter fat, compromised milk quality and poor traceability are just some of the issues they face. For the farmers, that creates uncertainty about milk payment.

Irish dairy technology company Piper Systems believes it can solve all those challenges by integrating multiple sensor technologies in one intelligent system.

According to CEO Leigh Hamilton, the rise of large dairy farms with more than 1,000 head of cattle makes accuracy a major challenge when sampling, metering and tracing the milk supply.

“The average size of dairy herds is increasing all over the world. In the US, some farms have 10,000 animals. That means, they have large on-farm storage facilities to keep large volumes of milk cool and ready for transport.

“A 50ml to 100ml milk sample is analysed to determine the composition of butter fat, proteins and solids and overall milk quality in an entire silo. The problem is that milk is a stratifying liquid. So samples taken from storage silos are often not representative.”

Knock-on effect
Non-representative sampling has a huge knock-on effect for dairy companies, as the milk quality they receive often does not match expectation. Another risk factor lies in the manual measurement and recording of some critical milk quality parameters. Late discovery of human errors can, at worst, result in expensive product recalls from the market and considerable milk waste.

“Poor samples are a source of disputes between processors and farmers, who get paid according to the quality of their milk. Fair pay is also something we emphasise in the design of our systems,” Leigh says.

Accuracy and efficiency
Piper Systems partnered with stainless steel equipment supplier DC Fabrication to develop an intelligent solution. Powered by proven smart sensor technologies, the system is designed to deliver accurate metering of milk volume and full traceability of the milk. High-speed pumping technology ensures efficient milk transfer, reducing loading time and ensuring tanker capacity is
used to a maximum.

Accurate milk analyses are made possible by Piper Systems’ continuous sampling technology. Without coming into contact with the milk, sensors gather the necessary data to provide a reliable overview of milk composition and temperature. Farmers also get feedback about whether the cleaning processes in their milk storage system meet the necessary hygienic standards.

Field test in the US
With S3FOOD funding, the integrated system will now be tested in action. The first trial is in collaboration with Dairy Farmers of America, where many large dairy farms are in operation. For Leigh and Piper Systems, it’s a moment of truth.

“Piper Systems has made systems for measuring and sampling milk for more than 25 years, but this is the first time we have put them together in one solution to address the specific challenges of these very large farms. A number of people have asked us to look into these issues in the dairy supply chain, so we are very keen to deliver.”