University of Minnesota Extension hosted a tour of a McIntosh, Minnesota dairy this past week. After participating in a similar dairy tour a few years ago, Golden Sunrise Dairy owner Tim Rolf decided to update the family dairy. Work on a new barn started in 2018 and by 2020, dairy cows moved into the new facility. “It was a big investment, but we wanted the rewards of better milk production.” The Rolf family invested in at least three robotic milkers, robotic feeders and manure cleaners. Tim’s son, David, has a big interest in robotics and considers this the future. “The milk production increase is amazing,” said David Rolf. “We were averaging 60 to 65 pounds of milk per cow in the old barn and now, we’re averaging about 80 to 85 pounds per cow.” More than 60 people attended the dairy tour. Hear the story.