No use crying over it, however...

[gone-a-milkin]

Tonight I forgot to put the milkline into the tank.

First time EVER.

What a stupid waste.
A whole milking straight down the drain.

I feel about terrible right now. Gah.

[sammyd]

suddenly I don't feel as stupid..........

I've run a few pounds down the drain

[gone-a-milkin]

I told my Farmer Boss he ought to fire me.
He just laughed and told me he has done the same thing a few times and not to worry about it.

I sure feel stupid though.

[Callieslamb]

I've done that....not a good thing. Life went one, once my dad was over it. Fortunately, for me - he'd done it a time or two also.

[ozark_jewels]

Sorry! I've not done that....yet.LOL!! I do have a recurring nightmare about running the soap wash into the milk tank though....

[gone-a-milkin]

Originally Posted by ozark_jewels

I do have a recurring nightmare about running the soap wash into the milk tank though....

I have that nightmare too. Thankfully, it would be hard to do here.
You have to go *IN* the tankroom to turn the water on.

I am still beating myself up over my mistake.
I do so much of this work on autopilot, really. After all this time, it isnt about thinking hard.
One time I got home (2.5 miles away) and wondered if I remembered to turn the tank on.
Then I drive back and see that it is FINE.
The body knows the routine.

Tonight there was a visitor to the barn, right during set-up. That is NO EXCUSE though.

[springvalley]

My dear, we have all done it, that is why I carry my milk now, but I have still dumped milk in the bulk tank and have gotten milk on my feet from not turning off the valve on the tank. We have a saying here at the farm, "We don`t cry over spilled milk" If that is as bad as you do, don`t worry. > Chin Up, Marc

[willow_girl]

Hugs!!! Stuff happens ...

[rancher1913]

did the wash water in the tank one time. cought it before the detergent cycle and luckily they were making cheese with the milk that week so they just did not add water later like they usually do. I was 16 and did the AM milking before school every day so my mind was not always on the job.

[Tad]

Have had the vacume line come off the reciever jar so every time it tripped it pumped the milk on the floor, ran the rinse into the milk tank a time or two too, left the valve open, it happens to everone. 730 milkings a year one or two screw ups a bound to happen!

[topside1]

Us "handmilkers" sleep peacefully...You have a good boss, smile.

[Jennifer L.]

Oh, yes, the sick thrill that hits you when you see the dreaded "white floor" when you glance in the milk room! I won't tell you how many times I did that over the years, but I'll bet twice a year I lost part of a milking. Very rarely the whole thing, but I've had that happen, too. And the wash water in the tank. And the valve open when you're washing that fills up the vacuum pump with wash water--that was a favourite, too. A real PITA in the winter time!

Jennifer

[gone-a-milkin]

Reading everyone's stories does help me feel better. Thanks.

I have a GREAT boss, and I am thankful for that.
He has been dairying all his life and has made every mistake there is himself, so he doesn't hold much against me.

I think the only time he ever got mad at me was once when I took someone else's word that the fencing had been moved. (I didnt double-check it).
Turns out the person had straight up LIED to me, and the cows ended up staying in the drylot all night.
I never let THAT happen again either.

[Up North]

I've done all of the above. No body has mentioned forgetting to turn the tank cooler on. Hot summer, I made 1000 lbs of yogurt once.

[pookshollow]

I think the worst I've done (so far) is forget to change the milk filter before turning on the wash cycle. Tried to do it during the wash cycle - got a nice hot shower! Of course, I heard all the horror stories of mistakes from my friend who used to work for this farmer before she hurt her shoulder. He's very patient.

I only have to worry about turning on the cooler when I'm doing afternoon milking - which isn't very often, only if the family is away.

The other woman that milks has managed to let the cows out a time or two - didn't notice that the gate at the end of the barn was open.

[sammyd]

Once I got a call from a guy, his bulk tank wasn't working, could I hurry out and fix it.
Turned out he slipped a step in his routine and just forgot to turn it on......

[DaleK]

It's been done. It'll be done again.

$30-40 worth of parts will prevent wash water from ever going into the tank. We have to have it installed here. Heard of doing the same to keep the milker from starting if the pipe isn't swung over.

Time Temperature Recorders have pretty well done away with forgetting to turn the tank on now that they're mandatory here.

[willow_girl]

$30-40 worth of parts will prevent wash water from ever going into the tank.

Yep, we have that where I work. It's saved my biscuits more than once!