The Koster farm experience backed the need for an accurate and simple method of testing moisture in crops and was the basis for starting the manufacturing of the Koster Crop Tester in 1948.
On a 290-acre farm in Wayne County, Ohio (40 miles S.W. of Cleveland), Ed Koster had a Holstein herd of approximately 100 head of which 75 were milkers. With a selective breeding program, it took five years to build a satisfactory herd, and even after that, low producers (under 30# daily and we considered them borders), were constantly weeded out. This procedure is very important in maintaining a high-grade herd and can be followed by any dairyman regardless of the size of the herd. Note, however, that our basic minimum would vary with the cost of feed and the price of milk. The herd averaged approximately 14,000# per lactation period, which back in the forties was considered a mighty fine average. The farm provided all the necessary feed required. The soil was a good quality loam correctly fertilized and limed. Eighty acres were allocated to alfalfa, which would supply the major source of protein. Forty acres were allocated to grain and the balance of usable land was for open pasture.
In 1986 at the age of 95 years, Ed Koster sold his company to the Faschian Family of Medina, Ohio. They are carrying on Ed’s tradition of a reliable product for a fair market price for almost 25 years.
A complete Koster Moisture Tester consists of an electrical forced air dryer that runs on 110 volts (220 volt now available), a stainless steel “basket” or “specimen container” and a dual readout mechanical scale or a digital version which gives the moisture/dry matter reading at a glance.
Each Koster Moisture Tester is warranted for one full year; the scales also have a one year warranty against manufactures defects (dirty, broken, rusty, altered and disassembled scales void the warranty).
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