Godrie Farms LTD

The story of Godrie Farms is one of growth, resilience, and family commitment. Founded in 1986 when Mandy’s parents immigrated from the Netherlands, the farm began with a tie-stall barn and a small herd just a few kilometres north of Lake Erie and west of Dunnville, Ontario. Ten years later, they transitioned to a free-stall barn on the same property equipped with a conveyor feeding system, marking the first major step toward modernization. In 2002, the barn was renovated to include a feed alley for TMR, laying the foundation for improved efficiency and cow comfort. In 2013, Mandy Banks and her husband Mark returned to take over the family operation. Before farming, Mandy worked as an elementary school teacher, while Mark was employed as a millwright. Their unique backgrounds brought fresh perspectives to the farm. They credit their experience prior to farming to helping them communicate clearly, be a benefit to employee management, and as a significant impact to their management style with a large focus on scheduling and protocol adherence.

Today, Godrie Farms milk 150 cows, averaging over 35 liters per cow per day, with strong components. In addition, their reproductive efficiency and udder health reflect the herd’s health with an age at first calving of 22.2 months, 80% of cows pregnant by 150 days in milk, and an annual bulk tank somatic count under 120,000. Shortly after taking over, Mark and Mandy started making investments into the operation by installing a double-11 herringbone parlour. From there, they have focused on improving all aspects of the operation, included but not limited to: improving forage agronomy and harvesting practices, feed storage, grain processing, water quality, stall comfort, ventilation for both cows and heifers, the addition of close up pack space, invested in transition cow nutrition, implemented collar technology for health and reproductive monitoring, improved pre-weaned calf feeding, colostrum management, vaccination protocols, regular hoof-trimming schedule and the list goes on. Looking ahead, their plans include continuing to improve feed storage and adding a dedicated dry cow facility, ensuring continued progress and sustainability.

Family remains at the heart of Godrie Farms. Mark and Mandy are truly an example of a strong partnership when it comes to making decisions and managing the operation, with each taking the lead in different areas. Mark handles feeding responsibilities, agronomy management, and equipment fleet maintenance; while Mandy oversees milking, herd health, book-keeping, and their youngstock program. Their children, Austin and Avery, are actively involved  in calf and heifer care and help with tractor work, learning the value of hard work and teamwork. Mandy’s father continues to play a role in the cropping side of the operation, which spans 1,000 acres of corn, hay, soybeans, and wheat. Together, they emphasize producing and feeding high-quality forages and grains that are balanced with a custom Purina supplement to support strong components and overall cow health. The Banks family measures success not only by liters produced but by the health and longevity of their cows.

For their herd’s nutrition needs, Mark and Mandy turn to Matt Groen with service provided by Nature Feed Centre. Matt started taking care of the herd’s nutrition in 2015 and has developed a strong partnership with Mark and Mandy that has allowed the three of them to work as a team in the continuous improvement of Godrie Farms. Mark and Mandy take pride in how far they have come in just 13 years, improving production and herd health, modernizing facilities, and doing it as a team. Godrie Farms exemplifies what can be achieved through hard work, innovation, and family unity. Their story is a testament to the power of blending tradition with technology, and their commitment to excellence ensures a bright future for this progressive dairy operation.