           Home > News > News Item |
||||||
 |
News Release RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 (401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
DEM ANNOUNCES THAT MONIZ DAIRY FARM IN TIVERTON HAS BEEN NAMED RHODE ISLAND'S 2008 OUTSTANDING DAIRY FARM OF THE YEAR PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management announces that Moniz Dairy Farm in Tiverton has been named Rhode Island's 2008 Outstanding Dairy Farm of the Year by the Rhode Island Green Pastures Committee. Winning dairy farmers from each New England state will be honored at an awards banquet on September 12 at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, MA.Antone Moniz began his farming career in 1956 by milking 25 cows on rented farmland in Tiverton, which is today's Moniz Dairy Farm. With the need to expand, in 1962 Antone rented another farm, increasing his herd to 75 milking cows and 25 young stock included calves and heifers. In 1965, he and his wife, Jean, purchased their first farm in Westport, Mass. Their herd quickly increased to 100 milking cows and 30 young stock. In 1970, Antone and Jean purchased the Tiverton farm to raise young stock. Between the Westport and Tiverton farms, Antone, Jean, and their two sons, Tony and Joe, worked hard raising calves, milking cows, and feeding the animals. In 1985, the Moniz family sold the Westport farm and moved their herd to Tiverton, which led to a new milking parlor on the farm. In 1988, parents Antone and Jean formed a partnership with their two sons. Two years later, Jean purchased the interest in her family's dairy farm, Arruda's Dairy Farm, and became the sole proprietor. Both Moniz and Arruda's Dairy Farms are operated by the Moniz Family. Between the two herds of Moniz and Arruda, the family milks 325 cows and raises 200 dry cows and young stock. The milk from Moniz's cows is shipped to Garelick Farms. Antone and his son, Joe, work in the fields planting, fertilizing, and harvesting the crops. With land they own and rent, they grow 350 acres of corn, 175 acres of hay, and 80 acres of double crop, which is used for wheat and corn. Jean and Tony Moniz work at Arruda's Dairy Farm, where they pasteurize four nights a week, raise the young stock, and deliver milk to a variety of stores, restaurants, and coffee shops. Today, three generations of the Moniz family works on the farm including Antone and Jean, their two sons, Tony and Joe, daughter-in-law Anita, and grandchildren Megan, Trisha, and Kimberly Moniz. Every family member works together, helping each other out on both farms, in order to continue the family businesses for many years to come. The Outstanding Dairy Farm of the Year award is sponsored by the New England Green Pastures Committee, made up of agricultural interests such as state and federal agricultural offices and farm organizations. Rhode Island's Green Pastures Committee is coordinated by DEM's Division of Agriculture, with members including the Rhode Island Dairy Farmers Cooperative, the RI Farm Bureau, the RI Farm Service Agency and the Agri-Mark Cooperative. -30- |
|||||
For General Information 222-6800 • After Hours Emergencies 222-3070 • Disclaimer