Brothers Tony and Jacob Brey are the fourth-generation farmers and owners of Brey Cycle Farm, a dairy farm on the Door Peninsula in northeast Wisconsin. The farm has been in the Brey family since 1904. Along with their families and a team of dedicated employees, they have grown the farm from 100 cows to 650 cows that produce 10,000 gallons of milk per day.
From the beginning, the Breys decided to incorporate conservation practices such as cover crops, no-till, and low-disturbance manure injection. These practices are all strategies used to improve soil health and protect water quality, and additionally help the dairy farm grow more affordable forage for their cows. Specialized rental equipment made available through GLRI funding allowed the Breys to test out these practices before investing in their own equipment. Surrounding neighbors have seen these practices work for the Breys and are now adopting similar systems.
The Brey family is active in the community and strives to promote a positive image for agriculture. Brey Cycle Farm is part of the Door-Kewaunee Demonstration Farm Network, a network designed to showcase and demonstrate leading edge conservation practices that improve water quality while also providing a space where farmers can share their experiences and learn from one another.
GLRI funding supports the network through an agreement between NRCS and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection in partnership with Peninsula Pride Farms, a farmer-led organization. GLRI also provides technical and financial assistance through NRCS programs to enable the planning and adoption of conservation practices.
A full article highlighting Brey Cycle Farm, “The Next Generation: Portrait of a Door County Dairy Farm,” is available in the June 16-23, 2023 issue of the Peninsula Pulse.