Richard Obrist: A Steward of the Land

Richard Obrist looks over 500 acres of sweet green grass that has helped make his Tillamook, Ore., dairy farm a success for both milk quality and as an example of environmental care.

"We're good stewards of our land because we need every blade of grass to feed our cows," says this third-generation dairy farmer. His Holsteins eat a rich and varied diet, but grass is one of their mainstays.

Being a good land steward, Obrist, with the help of his wife Pam and sons Ryan, Todd (in photo below), and Chris, uses sustainable practices to gain the most in grass production, while making sure neighboring creeks and streams remain clean.

It's no small task, but Obrist has successfully responded with a mix of technology and pasture management.

He's part of an innovative collective effort that turns manure into high-grade fertilizer, compost and electrical energy. His is one of eight local dairies each of which sends a weekly truckloads of manure to a methane digester operated by the Port of Tillamook.

Through a simple process, the digester separates solids, liquids, and extracts methane gas. The solids are cleaned, dried, bagged or sold in bulk as nursery compost. The methane gas is used to produce electricity, which is then sold to the Tillamook Public Utility District for its customers. The remaining liquid is trucked back to Obrist's Fairview Farms where it is stored and later applied as natural fertilizer.

Obrist pays to have his manure shipped, processed, and returned. But the cost is worth it. The processed liquid, which is 99% pathogen free, provides a higher grade fertilizer for his pastures. He estimates the processed slurry provides him with one to two additional cuttings annually from his fields, equating to some 3,000 added tons of grass for his cows.

Using a modern irrigation system or tank wagon, Obrist applies his liquid natural nutrients, but only when conditions are right. In addition, he keeps his applications at least 50 feet from bordering creeks and streams. Plus he's careful not to over apply the fertilizer for a host of environmental reasons, including the hazard it could pose to soil-enriching earthworms.

"Earthworms are a farmer's friends," he said. "I wouldn't want to harm my friends."

For these and other farm practices, Obrist was nominated by the Oregon Department of Agriculture and won a state Environmental Stewardship Award in 2001. In 2003, he received a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition for his accomplishments in promoting healthy watersheds by participating in the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds.

Of course, that's in addition to raising healthy cows and producing top-quality milk. With his standards of management and care, Obrist is able to consistently achieve "premium grade" in terms of milk quality, as determined by his cooperative, the Tillamook Country Creamery Association.

Taking care of his land, his cows and producing quality milk for a dairy-loving public – it's all in a day's work for Richard Obrist.