For six generations the Cushman family has farmed acreage located in North Franklin.
Although Cushman Farm started on 155 acres at the homestead, the Cushman and Smith families
manage nearly ten times that acreage today in Franklin, Lebanon and Bozrah, thanks in
part to Connecticut’s Farmland Preservation Program. Their newest dairy complex
includes a rotary parlor that milks 30 cows at a time, and their barn offers free movement
and private stall space for nearly 600 milking cows. The calves and heifers are still
raised at the home farm.
The Cushman Farms employs 14 employees to manage its 900 acres of corn, 300 acres of
grass and to milk the cows three times a day, every day. Each milking takes five hours,
and each day more than 5,000 gallons of milk are produced—enough milk to supply
a city the population of Norwich! To produce all that milk the cows feast on a mixture
of corn silage, grass silage, canola, hominy and minerals. Oh yes, and bagels, too.
The Cushmans and Smiths are founding members of Very Alive, and are active supporters
of Farm Bureau, 4-H and Future Farmers of America. Each year they host a popular walk
for the Quinnebaug Shetucket Heritage Corridor’s Walking Weekends through their
operation and farm property. The partners of Cushman Farms look forward to continued
growth for their family farm and Connecticut Agriculture. |
