CHECK OUT THE
2020 Dairy Star year in review starting on Page 18 of this section!
DAIRY ST R “All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 22, No. 21
Milk price outlook uncertain for 2021 By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
Without a doubt, 2020 was a challenging year for dairy farmers, and many are wondering what surprises 2021 might bring. BoviNews hosted a webinar Dec. 30, 2020, featuring three top dairy economic experts. Dr. Scott Brown, director of strategic partnerships at the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, began the program looking at the drivers of supply and demand, analyzing the role they play in dairy markets. “The strong cheese and uid demand in 2020 has certainly been important, but whether that lasts into 2021 is a question we have to continue to pay attention to,” Brown said. “Trade is important. We know the Chinese hog herd has been rebuilding, how much whey does that continue to take off the market? On the supply side, dairy cow numbers are moving higher. Too much milk supply can create a much tougher milk price environment.” Brown also talked about how non-market revenue, such as the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program and Dairy Margin Coverage Program, played in farm nances. “Those programs made a difference in the bottom lines of dairy producers,” Brown said. “We had roughly $41 billion in cash receipts in 2019. I think as we entered the worst of it at the beginning of COVID-19, many of us would have thought that would be down. But with nearly $3 billion of CFAP …, we actually increased total revenues to about $43.5 billion. My concern for 2021 is that if we do not see the same level of CFAP payments, or other stimulus, that could make things worse as we look at the bottom line.” Turn to MILK | Page 5
January 16, 2021
A lifestyle they love
Schrimpfs are farm family of the year By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
GOODHUE, Minn. – When holiday gatherings or special occasions roll around, the Schrimpf family tries to talk about other topics besides farming. “When we have get-togethers, the farm stuff stays outside and it’s family time,” Kristin Schrimpf said. “That’s my rule.” The distinction of labor versus leisure time helps the family be present in the moment, which they in turn think helps them be better farmers and members of their families. It is one way the Schrimpfs try to keep their dairy moving in the right direction. Last year, the family reTurn to SCHRIMPF | Page 10
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
The Schrimpfs – (from leŌ) Ken, KrisƟn, Ross and BreƩ – are the 2020 Goodhue County Farm Family of the Year. They milk 500 cows on their dairy near Goodhue, Minnesota.
A dream gone up in ames Springers lose barn, goats in re By Danna Sabolik
danna.s@dairystar.com
MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR
Stephen and BriƩany Springer lost their barn, milkhouse and 800 goats in a re Dec. 24. The Springers built the 80-by-240 barn and 22-by-24 milkhouse in 2017.
HENNING, Minn. – Around 3 a.m. Dec. 24, Brittany Springer woke to a strange noise coming from the basement. Thinking one of her ve kids might be awake, she ventured out of bed and to the hallway, peering down the stairs. She realized the odd noise was their back-up well turning on, signaling there was a water leak in the dairy barn down the hill. As Brittany turned back to the bedroom to wake her husband, Stephen, the power in the house went out, and she noticed a dreadful orange glow illuminating the sky through their bedroom window, right where the barn should be. Waking in a rush, Stephen scrambled to get dressed in the dark and hurried outside while Brittany called 911. “By the time I got out there, it was all gone,” Stephen Springer said. “As I went out the basement door, the re was billowing out the milk house window, and the roof had just fallen in.” The buildings, which included an 80-by-240 foot barn to house their almost 800 goats and 22-by-48 foot milk house with a custom rotary parlor, were up in ames. Turn to SPRINGER | Page 6
Page 2 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 16, 2021
DAIRY ST R www.dairystar.com
ISSN 020355 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave. Sauk Centre, MN 56378 Phone: (320) 352-6303 Fax: (320) 352-5647 Published by Dairy Star LLC General Manager/Editor Mark Klaphake - mark.k@dairystar.com 320-352-6303 (ofce) 320-248-3196 (cell) 320-352-0062 (home) Ad Composition Nancy Powell 320-352-6303 nancy.p@dairystar.com Consultant Jerry Jennissen 320-346-2292 Editorial Staff Krista Kuzma - Editor/Wisconsin (507) 259-8159 • krista.k@dairystar.com Andrea Borgerding - Associate Editor (320) 352-6303 • andrea.b@dairystar.com Jennifer Coyne - Assistant Editor (320) 352-6303 • jenn@dairystar.com Danielle Nauman (608) 487-1101 danielle.n@dairystar.com Stacey Smart - Staff Writer (262) 442-6666 • stacey.s@dairystar.com Maria Bichler - Copy Editor 320-352-6303 Advertising Sales Main Ofce: 320-352-6303 Fax: 320-352-5647 Deadline is 5 p.m. of the Friday the week before publication Sales Manager - Joyce Frericks 320-352-6303 • joyce@dairystar.com Bob Leukam (Northern MN, East Central MN) 320-260-1248 (cell) bob.l@star-pub.com Mark Klaphake (Western MN) 320-352-6303 (ofce) 320-248-3196 (cell) Laura Seljan (National Advertising, SE MN) 507-250-2217 fax: 507-634-4413 laura.s@dairystar.com Jerry Nelson (SW MN, NW Iowa, South Dakota) 605-690-6260 jerry.n@dairystar.com Mike Schafer (Central, South Central MN) 320-894-7825 mike.s@dairystar.com Amanda Hoeer (Eastern Iowa) 320-250-2884 • amanda.h@dairystar.com Julie Barnes (SE WI and Northern IL) julie.b@dairystar.com Megan Stuessel (Western Wisconsin) 608-387-1202 • megan.s@dairystar.com Kati Kindschuh (Northeast WI and Upper MI) 920-979-5284 • kati.k@dairystar.com Deadlines The deadline for news and advertising in the Dairy Star is 5 p.m. Friday the week before publication. Subscriptions One year subscription $35.00, outside the U.S. $110.00. Send check along with mailing address to Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378. Advertising Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an advertisement shall constitute nal acceptance of the advertiser's order. Letters Letters and articles of opinion are welcomed. Letters must be signed and include address and phone number. We reserve the right to edit lengthy letters.
A glance at the other side
Remembering 2020 With 2020 safely in our rearview mirror, Dairy Star has gathered the most popular stories of the last year. PreCOVID-19 headlines like Australia’s bushres, USMCA and FARM 4.0, and the dawn of the year-dening coronavirus pandemic in March started out the year with lots of news. Other headlines include CFAP payouts, drive-thru dairy promotions, cancelled trade shows and Iowa’s Derecho, impacting how the year continued. With a hearty attitude, dairy farmers have come out the other side of a tumultuous year, and the stories highlight how relying on each other and planning ahead became more important than ever. Dairy Star likes to provide local stories, which is why we have two versions of the paper. Below are a few highlights from stories you will not nd in this paper, but you can nd online in zone 2. Find full editions on our website, www.dairystar.com, and click on the e-edition tab under the Dairy Star header. Wichman Farms a site for industry learning From Finland to Sri Lanka, Wichman Farms near Appleton, Wisconsin has welcomed visitors from all over the world. A showplace for robotics, the farm is also an educational destination. People come to Wichman Farms for handson training, school trips, tours, parties and more. When the family built a robot barn in 2013, they also added a special conference area that could be used for teaching purposes. The local technical college hosts classes on the farm and the Wichmans’ hoof trimmer also conducts clinics at their facility. An Alice double-header for Nunes The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection made the decision earlier this month to cancel the 74th Alice in Dairyland nals and instead have current Alice in Dairyland Julia Nunes of Chippewa Falls, Wis., continue to serve as the 74th Alice. While her year as the 73rd Alice has looked different from that of her predecessors, Nunes has embraced the challenge of creating meaningful ways to share the story of Wisconsin agriculture virtually. Gifts found among the ashes The morning of Dec. 22 Kobey and Trine Spindler of Stratford, Wis., awoke to the sight of the old tiestall barn they had recently retrotted as a parlor, in ames. Throughout the chaos that ensued, the Spindlers found comfort and hope in family, friends and many members of their local community. They were able to locate an empty freestall barn and parlor 15 minutes from their home to move their 110-cow herd until they can build a new facility on their farm.
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The Dairy Star is published semi-monthly by Dairy Star, LLC, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378-1246. Periodicals Postage Paid at Sauk Centre, MN and additional mailing ofces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378-1246.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, January 16, 2021 • Page 3
It’s all inside... Columnists Ag Insider
Pages 8-9 First Section
Turner
Bon Yankton Homme
ln
co
Lin
Clay
Buss, Kucera plan wedding amid pandemic First Section: Pages 37 - 38
Lyon
Jackson
Osceola O’Brien
Sioux
Woodbury
Clay
Monona
Palo Alto
e Buena Vista
Ida
Pottawattamie Cass
nt
mo
Guthrie
Kanabec ms ey
Worth
Mitchell Howard
Hancock Cerro Gordo
t
Floyd
Houston
Boone
Story
Polk
all
rsh
Ma
aw
as
ick
Ch
Bremer
Wright Franklin Butler
Dallas
Black Hawk
Tama
Jasper
Fayette
Clayton
an
e war Dubuque
an
ch
Bu
Benton
Dela
Jones
Linn
Iowa
Madison Warren Marion Mahaska Keokuk
Adair
y mer Adams
Page
Mower
Third Section: Page 7
Winona
Fillimore
Webster Hamilton Hardin Grundy
Greene
tgo
Mon
n Win
old
mb
Hu
n
lh Ca
go
eba
Kossuth
ou
Sac
Harrison Shelby
as
nt
ho
ca
Po
Crawford Carroll
Fre
Zone 2
n inso Emmet
Dick
Freeborn
Faribault
Martin
ke
ero
Ch
Mills
Zone 1
Hubbard Wadena
Nobles
Plymouth
Hutchinson
Cottonwood Watonwan Blue Earth Waseca Steele Dodge Olmsted
e
Hutchinson
Rock
Ra
Tra ver se
McCook Minnehaha
Murray
iek
Charles Mix
Moody
Dairy’s Working Youth: Naomi Scott
Wabasha
ake
Douglas
Gregory
Lake
Brown
Westgate
Goodhue
Rice
sh
Tripp
Ha
ns
on
Nicollet
ne
Todd
Miner
Redwood
am
Mellette
Sanborn
Lyon
All
Aurora
Brookings
Clinton
s
hn
Jo
Taylor
Union old
gg
Rin
Clarke
Lucas
Decatur Wayne
Monroe Wapello e
oos
pan
Ap
Davis
son
fer
Jef
Van Buren
Jackson
on Cedar
Muscatine
n
Brule
Jerauld
Kingsbury
Dakota
Scott
Sibley
gto
Buffalo Lyman
Beadle
Carver
W in
Bennett
Hand
Hennepin
McLeod
Renville
Yellow Medicine
hin
Jones
Hughes
Deuel
Hamlin
Anoka
Wright
Meeker
Wa s
Stanley
Hyde
Lac Qui Parle
Codington
Clark
Kandiyohi
Chippewa
Isanti
Washington
Sully
Spink
Sherburne
Swift
Grant
Benton
Stearns
Pope
eu r
Ziebach
Day
Stevens
Su
Faulk
Potter
Big Stone
First Section: Page 33
Pine
Mille Lacs
Morrison
Douglas
Le
Edmunds
Carlton
sh iek
Page 26 Second Section
Dewey
Jackson
Roberts
Marshall
McPherson
Aitkin
Crow Wing
Todd Grant
Viola
Sheas donate money from sweet corn sales to favorite restaurant after tip money stolen
Po we
Fall River
Country Shannon Cooking
Sargent
Brown Walworth
Haakon
Richland
Cass
on
Custer
Campbell
Corson
Dickey
McIntosh
Sioux
Otter Tail
Wilkin
Emmons
Lake
Itasca
Becker
Clay
Ransom
LaMoure
Logan
Grant
Cass
Lincoln
Pages 8 - 9 Second Pennington Section
Bames
Pipestone
Lawrence
Stutsman
Mah
Cook
go
The “Mielke” Market Meade Weekly
Kidder
Morton
Perkins Page 35 First Section
Butte
Burleigh
Koochiching
isa Ch
Harding
en nom
Norman
Oliver
A little about me and our farm
Polk
Trail
Steele
First Section: Pages 1, 10 -11
Second Section: Pages 8 - 9
St. Louis
Red Lake
n
Page 33 First Adams Section
Griggs
Da vi so n
Bowman
Foster
Beltrami
ub
Sheridan Mercer
Schrimpf family named 2020 Goodhue County Farm Family of the Year
Lake of the Woods
Pennington
Grand Forks
Eddy Wells
Roseau
Marshall
Benson
McLean
Come Stark Full Dairy Hettinger Circle
Kittson
Walsh
Nelson
Billings
Slope
Pembina
Ramsey
McHenry
Ward
Veterinary Wisdom
Page 31 FirstDunn Section
Cavalier
Towner
Pierce
Mountrail
McKenzie
Rolette
Au d
Page 30 First Section
Williams
Golden Valley
Bottineau
Goodhue
Updated guidelines for Americans uphold recommendation of three servings per day
Second Section: Pages 6 - 7
Clearwater
Renville
Buffalo
Goebel recalls dairy career with robotic milkers
First Section: Pages 1, 6-7
Third Section: Page 6
io
Dear County Burke Agent Guy
Freeport
Springers lose barn, goats in Christmas Eve re
People in Dairy: Fernando Diaz
Page 27 First Section
Divide
Henning
Brookings
Un
On the Road with Princess Kay
Louisa
Henry Des
Moines
Lee
Scott
Monticello
Monticello natives plan next entry for the National Farm Toy Show Third Section: Pages 3 - 4
Hull
Women in Dairy: Joanne Van Middendorp First Section: Page 36
For additional stories from our other zone, log on to www.dairystar.com
FROM OUR SIDE OF THE FENCE:
What are you looking forward to most in 2021? First Section: Pages 15-16
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Page 4 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 16, 2021
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Dairy Star • Saturday, January 16, 2021 • Page 5
ConƟnued from MILK | Page 1 Brown said an increase in uid milk demand would positively impact dairy prices in the future, pointing out how the surge in uid milk sales at the beginning of the pandemic helped inuence the rebound in milk prices last summer. Another area of concern for Brown is that dairy cow numbers are once again on the rise, after nearly a year of decline from 2018-19. When looking to 2021 pricing, Brown said he is uncertain what demand trends will look like coming out of 2020. He forecasts the U.S. all-milk price for 2021 to average around $18 per hundredweight. Nate Donnay, director of dairy market insight for StoneX, shared Brown’s sentiments. “Overall, farmgate margins were pretty good in 2020,” Donnay said. “I would expect those margins to tighten up closer to break-even levels in 2021.” According to Donnay, the single greatest predictor for dairy consumption globally is typically gross domestic product growth, but as with many other things, 2020 was atypical. “The surge in global dairy demand despite the worst economic conditions we have seen in a decade was surprising,” Donnay said. “Demand in 2021 is the big question, because we did not see the decrease in demand with the decrease in GDP in 2020. So, I don’t know if we will see another surge with increased GDP growth in 2021.” Figuring out what to do to protect farm revenue was the focus of the webinar by Mike North, a principal at ever. ag, who stressed the importance of dairy farmers maintaining optionality and being exible within the markets. “The opportunity before us is a very special one, looking at 2021 as we look at class III and class IV markets and compare the current environment to the last ve years,” North said. According to North, the class IV opportunity is at $14.85 cwt, which he said may not be the best, but it is in the top end of what we have seen in the past ve years. Even better is the class III opportunity at $17.30 cwt. “The class III opportunity is singularly the very best opportunity that we have witnessed in class III milk, going back to 2014,” North said. North added that the $17 cwt price range falls into the 75th percentile of price outcomes historically and $17 cwt has some signicance in what actions farmers
might take to manage their prices. According to North, there are four arenas of risk management: futures, options and over-the-counter products; Dairy Margin Coverage; insurance products such as Dairy Revenue Protection and Livestock Gross Margin; as well as buyer-sponsored forward programs. While the window of opportunity to enroll in DMC for 2021 closed in midDecember, North hopes all dairy farmers signed up for the program at $9.50 cwt for at least the rst 5 million pounds of milk produced. “At that level, the program pays out quite a bit, and we advise everyone to take part,” North said. “If you are under that 5 million mark for production, it covers your entire farm.” More traditional options for protecting dairy farm revenue include using puts and calls. North explained that a put provides price coverage in down-trending markets but allows producers to receive the rewards of higher prices. Puts are best used on milk that is uncommitted to a buyer. Calls, he explained, re-open opportunity after a sale of milk in up-trending markets and best applied to milk that is already committed. “In a rising market, the put value decreases and the call value increases, while the opposite is true in a declining market,” North said. “If I am a dairy farmer coming through a rising market and decide to protect myself from falling prices, I would buy a put option to defend the market at a certain level, or strike price. I would pay a premium, similar to insurance, and if the market falls through that level, up to the expiration point, it will yield a return to offset lost opportunity.” Another option is the DRP which is available quarterly through licensed crop agents. North calls DRP a great tool and said one-third of the milk produced in the U.S. is protected with the program. “Like with any insurance policy, you are indemnied if net revenue is less than the revenue guarantee you created at the onset,” North said. “The pounds of milk you want to cover is not standardized; you get to choose.” North said the most important thing for each dairy farmer to do is to develop a game plan for their individual operation, taking feed costs and how they plan to manage their margin into account. “There is no universal approach,” North said. “You need to ask questions to determine your best strategy. It is a very opportune time to address pricing options available.”
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Page 6 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 16, 2021
ConƟnued from SPRINGER | Page 1
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In this le photo from 2018 the Springer family – BriƩany and Stephen with their children (from leŌ) Gracie, Peter, Paisley and Savhannah – stand in the barn they lost in a re Dec. 24. Not pictured is Amelia. “This dairy has really been my dream since I was a teenager,” Springer said. “I really fell in love with (goats) when I was 13 or 14 years old and have wanted to do this since.” Early Christmas Eve morning, that dream which came reality was destroyed. Four re departments tackled the blaze for roughly seven hours, dousing what was left of the Springers’ livelihood. “It was hard,” Springer said as he remembered watching the barn burn. “All the sweat equity we put into the building denitely made it hard, but above all the hardest part was losing the goats.” Springer had invested three years developing his herd for optimal milk production. A mix of Saanen, Alpine, Nubian and Lamancha goats rounded out the barn, and twice daily lled the 24-goat rotary parlor. “(Losing the goats) was the hardest part for me,” Springer said. “The lives that were lost. … They were like family.” Running the farm was a family affair, with Brittany and their ve children: Savhannah, 9, Gracie, 7, Peter, 5, Paisley, 4, and Amelia, 2, following close behind. “Savhannah was in the barn just about every night,” Springer said. “She helped with milking and helped take care of the babies.” Springer said all the children were upset in the days following the re.
“There was a lot of crying,” Springer said. “The goats were their pets, too. We had a lot of family time spent in the barn.” The lingering smell of death and destruction make Springer nauseous, and for a few days after the re, he did not even want to go outside or think about the devastation. “It’s getting easier now,” he said. “I can see a vision of how we can redo it and how we can make changes to make it better. Part of you thinks, ‘Oh, maybe it was just a bad dream,’ but then you look out the window and the big pile of rubble brings you back to reality.” The Springers are working with their insurance company, and have yet to receive the green light to clean up the mess. “We’ve had a lot of people offer to help clean up or do what they can, but nothing can really be done until we are cleared from insurance,” Springer said. Remaining on the farm are a handful of doelings, or young females, who were not housed in the barn at the time of the re. Springer is hoping to hang on to the 60 does until they can rebuild their facilities. Springer said he hopes the barn can be rebuilt by midsummer but is skeptical with the current lumber prices. The farm is founded in faith, said Springer, and they would be lost without the Lord’s direction. “There’s a lot of people who don’t Turn to SPRINGER | Page 7
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
ConƟnued from SPRINGER | Page 6
Immigration reform and the economic viability of dairy farms
PHOTO SUBMITTED
The Springers’ custom rotary parlor was completely destroyed in a re on Dec. 24. The parlor was built in 2017 and used twice daily to milk 800 dairy goats. have faith or anything to help them out, but we can lean on God and know that he’s here with us,” Springer said. “That’s a huge part of (seeing the bigger picture).” The family is grateful for the support from their church as well as their community. “We’ve got a great church family that’s stood beside us and is praying for us,” Springer said. “They’re helping us pray through everything and get back on our feet again. I think faith is so
critical.” In addition to their dairy, the family sells a variety of seasonal vegetables, pasture-raised pork, grass-fed beef and organically-produced chicken, sourdough bread and goat cheese. In the summer months, they can be found at local farmer’s markets and sell yearround on their website. The Springers will continue to lean on God and stay vigilant in their faith as they face a new year in a way they never thought they would.
I called Lucas Sjostrom in December. He is the executive director for Minnesota Milk Producers Association. I had a question about the economic viability of dairy farms, so I thought I would seek the help of MMPA because they had Marin Bozic, who is an assistant professor in the department of applied economics at the University of Minnesota, do a study on that. Bozic testied on behalf of MMPA in front of the Senate agriculture committee on the state of the dairy industry in Minnesota. He said probably 80% are last-generation dairies. Their business model is not viable. He then said the large dairies have the economics of size and state resources should be focused on them. I do agree with Bozic that probably 80% are last-generation dairies. I believe the reason for that is they cannot compete against the dairies that are breaking federal immigration laws by employing illegal immigrants who will work for less money than Americans. Shelly DePestel, vice president of MMPA, told lawmakers when lobbying out in Washington, D.C., dairy farmers need immigration reform. Without immigrant workers, there will be no dairies. I agree; the dairies that are employing them (illegal immigrants) would be out of business. I was wondering if MMPA could get Bozic to do a study on that. Bozic would concur with myself and DePestel that the business model of the dairies that are employing illegal immigrants would not be viable if they did not employ an illegal immigrant workforce. I do not think Bozic should have told lawmakers that state resources should be focused on large dairies because they have the economics of size, making their business model viable. He was not talking to investment bankers. Lawmakers should use the rule of law as the determining factor of who to support. Maybe if Bozic did a study on dairies that employ illegal immigrants and presented it to state lawmakers, they would see how unfair it is that honest hard-working dairy farmers who abide by the law are having to compete against people who are breaking federal immigration laws. Then, hopefully state lawmakers would ask federal lawmakers to enforce federal immigration laws. It would be great if MMPA could get Bozic to do this study and present it to state lawmakers. I am hopeful because MMPA’s mission is to make public the views and objectives of dairy producers in Minnesota. I asked Sjostrom why he advocates for dairy farmers who are breaking immigration laws. He told me that employers have no way of knowing who is legal to work in the country and who is not. I told him all employers need to do is use E-Verify. I thought about that later, and if that is the case, why isn’t MMPA telling dairy farmers to use EVerify. Instead, they are telling lawmakers that dairy farmers need immigration reform. Without immigrant workers (illegal immigrants), there will be no dairies. I would like MMPA to explain their reasoning for that. I would advocate for a cause if I thought it was right and just. I believe this is all about a few employers enriching themselves at the expense of others. Joe Schindler Dairy farmer Red Lake Falls, Minnesota
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Agriculture recovery expected in 2021 Page 8 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 16, 2021
CoBank’s 2021 outlook sees a year of recovery are eligible. Funds for this food box program were alcoming. CoBank Knowledge Exchange Division located in the latest COVID relief bill. Deliveries will Manager Tanner Emke said that is good news for begin at the end of January. agriculture. “Especially for those impacted in the food service sector, because of so many restaurants New dietary guidelines put nutrient-dense foods/ drinks as a priority and schools being closed. Now that we Ag Insider The new Dietary Guidelines for have some good vaccines along the way, Americans has been released. Covering a the sector is expected to have a strong ve-year time frame, the guidelines, prorebound in 2021. That’s good news for vide science-based advice that promotes animal protein, dairy and crop sectors.” health, reduces the risk of chronic disease Emke also sees commodity prices holdand meets nutrient needs. “We have taken ing rm. the very important step to provide nutrition guidance that can help all Americans A positive farm nancial situation in lead healthier lives by making every bite 2020 count,” said Agriculture Secretary Sonny Most farmers are ending the year in Perdue. Health and Human Services better nancial shape than they did in Secretary Alex Azar added, “The sci2019. Farm Business Management inence tells us that good nutrition leads to structor Josh Tjosaas, based at MoorBy Don Wick better health outcomes.” One of the four head, said there has been a lot of healing Columnist main recommendations focuses on meetfor the balance sheet. “We’ve seen some ing food group needs with nutrient-dense improvement on working capital for a good chunk of our farmers and improvements on net foods and beverages while staying within calorie limworth. For those things to happen, you have to have its. Those core food groups include: grains, half of some protability on the farm.” Government pay- which are whole grain; low-fat dairy products; proments are having a signicant impact on farm income. teins, such as lean meats, poultry, eggs, beans, peas However, Tjosaas said most of those payments are for and lentils; fruits and vegetables; and oils. the losses experienced in 2018 and 2019. U.S. dairy farms produce more in November According to the USDA, November milk proMore Paycheck Protection Program benets The latest COVID-19 relief package provides duction in the 24 major dairy states was 17.2 billion $284.5 billion to reopen and strengthen the Paycheck pounds. That’s 3% more than last year. Production Protection Program for rst time and second time per cow increased an average of 41 pounds year-overborrowers. PPP loans are reserved for businesses with year to 1,935 pounds. In Minnesota, November milk fewer than 300 employees that sustained a 25 percent production was 820 million pounds, an increase of loss in revenue. Maximum loan amounts will be lim- 4% from one year ago. Minnesota’s dairy herd was ited to $2 million. There’s also a specic farmer and up 2,000 head from last year. In South Dakota, milk production increased 13 percent year-over-year. The ranchers calculation included in the PPP. average number of milk cows was up 13,000 head Another Farmers to Family Food Box Program from one year ago. begins soon USDA is launching its fth Farmers to Families How the dairy checkoff adapted to COVID chalFood Box program. The agency will purchase $1.5 lenges COVID forced the dairy industry to redirect its efbillion worth of food. With this round, additional types of cheese, like Parmesan, Gouda and Romano forts this past year. As of September, Dairy Manage-
ment Incorporated CEO Tom Gallagher said domestic dairy demand and dairy exports combined had an increase of 1.2%. That’s 2.7 million pounds. “I think if anyone would have placed a bet on that in March, people weren’t going to guess we’d be at that level. I think we’ll nish the year in positive territory domestically if cheese keeps going the way it’s going.” The dairy checkoff credits stronger domestic demand with pizza promotions, new products, the local work done to save school feeding programs and product donations to food banks. The U.S. Dairy Export Council data through the rst 10 months of the year suggests the industry is on track to ship more than two million tons of milk solids for the rst time in a single year. Two MN Senate Ag Committees become one The Minnesota Senate has recongured its committees. For agriculture, that means the nance and policy committees have merged. Chairman Torrey Westrom said there were redundancies with the previous system. “A bill might have policy and nance in it and it would go to two different committees made up of mostly the same members, this is a little more efcient.” With the state’s budget decit, all spending will be scrutinized. Westrom said it will be important to focus on agriculture’s priorities. “New development of market opportunities for farmers and strong broadband have to be part of our core mission.” Biden lls EPA post President-elect Joe Biden has selected Michael Regan as the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Regan now leads the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. Previously, Regan spent ten years at EPA and worked for the Environmental Defense Fund. Obama-era EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy will oversee domestic climate policy for the new Biden-Harris White House. McCarthy has been chosen to lead the new White House Ofce of Domestic Climate Policy. McCarthy currently leads the Natural Resources Defense Council. Turn to AG INSIDER | Page 9
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ConƟnued from AG INSIDER | Page 8
Rominger passes Former Deputy Agriculture Secretary Richard Rominger has died. Rominger, 93, was in that role at USDA during the entire Clinton presidency. Previously, Rominger was California’s Secretary of Food and Agriculture. Kruger recognized for 35 years of dairy leadership Former Midwest Dairy CEO Mike Kruger has been awarded the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board’s Richard E. Lyng Award for his service to dairy promotion. In 1993, Kruger brought together the dairy checkoff organizations in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota to form the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council of the Upper Midwest. That led to the consolidation of dairy checkoff boards to include Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Kruger also helped form the Minnesota Dairy Leader’s Roundtable. This award is named for former Agriculture Secretary Richard Lyng.
Kinney returns to Minnesota Farm Bureau Minnesota-native Robin Kinney will return to her home state, joining the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation as the membership and marketing director. Beginning February 1, Kinney will coordinate organization development, member growth and programs that serves Farm Bureau members. Most recently, Kinney served as senior director of member engagement for the American Farm Bureau in Washington D.C. Trivia challenge Inauguration Day is Wednesday, January 20. That answers our last trivia question. For this week, what is the name of the hard, yellow Swiss-made cheese that is known as a good melting cheese. We’ll have the answer in the next edition of Dairy Star. Don Wick is owner/broadcaster for the Red River Farm Network, based in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Wick has been recognized as the National Farm Broadcaster of the Year and served as president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Don and his wife, Kolleen, have two adult sons, Tony and Sam, and ve grandchildren, Aiden, Piper, Adrienne, Aurora, and Sterling.
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ceived recognition as the 2020 Goodhue County Farm Family of the Year. “When I got the call, I thought … ‘Wow! That’s pretty exciting,’” Kristin said. Kristin and her husband, Ken, farm together with their sons, Ross and Brett, on their 500-cow dairy near Goodhue. “I feel lucky that we all get along and are able to farm together,” Kristin said. Communication is one of the keys for making it work. “There’s no excuse with texting and cell phones,” Kristin said. “If one person misses the note about a certain thing, it can mess everything up. You can’t communicate too much.” Along with texts and phone calls, the Schrimpfs have discussions over a morning or midday meal. “But if we have to get something straight right away, we will meet in one spot on the farm for ve minutes and talk,” Kristin said. “It’s as simple as that.” Ross agreed. “In the past year, I’ve made it a goal of mine that if I had a problem, I would to talk right to that person and get to the bottom of it,” he said. Sometimes that means talking to one of the 10 employees the Schrimpfs hire to help them get the daily chores done. “We have good relationships with our employees,” Ross said. “Several of them have been here ve
or more years. They’re willing to tell you anything and that’s what you want them to do.” However, communicating with employees who only speak Spanish can sometimes be a challenge. “For milker training, we get them all in to have a meal and a vet will come in to do the training,” Ken said. “Even if they have already heard it, we encourage them to come again. It’s good to let them know it’s important to try to keep somatic cell count down and things like that.” Other challenges over the years other than milk price uctuations have been keeping up with different illnesses that might make cows sick. “Things can be going along really good and then hit a patch when they don’t do good at all,” Ken said. “Then we have to try to work with our vet or nutritionist and ask what little changes we can make to make it better. To try to keep a cow healthy and the herd healthy all the time is a challenge.” All the Schrimpfs said having healthy animals is one of their favorite parts of the dairy. Two years ago, the Schrimpfs dealt with the roof of their freestall barn collapsing due to the snow load. “But we only lost a couple cows, and there were lots of neighbors here to help,” Ken said. “We have good neighbors and good people in the community who helped us.” Despite the hurdles over the years, the Schrimpfs Turn to SCHRIMPF | Page 11
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Dairy Star • Saturday, January 16, 2021 • Page 11
ConƟnued from SCHRIMPF | Page 10 continue to keep their farm moving forward, including focusing their herd on achieving high components. “That is where the money is right now in the milk check,” Kristin said. Ross works with the nutritionist to maintain a solid ration to achieve those components. Plus, he likes to focus on forages. “It all starts with feed quality for me,” Ross said. “If you put up good quality feed then everything carries over to production, components and cow health.” For Kristin, the rst 24 hours of a calf’s life is one of the most important on the farm. “It’s kind of a pain, but if you do all that is necessary (in the rst 24 hours), it’s going to pay off so much down the road,” she said. “Whatever you’re doing, you have to stop and focus on the calf.” Taking care of calves in a barn the family built in 2014 is a lot easier, Kristin said. “The calves did well in the hutches, but this is so much nicer for the people too,” she said. Young calf care and bookwork are Kristin’s area of the farm. She receives help with calves from Brett who also does a lot of tractor driving and any other job that needs tending. Ross focuses on the herd by assisting the herdsman and also takes care of older youngstock while Ken does a lot of eldwork and keeps up on machinery maintenance. “It’s in your blood,” Ken
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Ken (leŌ) and Ross Schrimpf look at a tractor in preparaƟon to do maintenance on the equipment on their dairy near Goodhue, Minnesota. said about what drew him to farming. “You like to get out there and see the crops. You plant something, see it grow and harvest it. You see a calf being born and a couple years later it’s a cow. It’s the fulllment of seeing your labor pay off.” Ross agreed. “As early as I can remember, I didn’t want to do anything else,” he said. “I like being out in the country, working with my hands and moving around. … There’s so much variation to what you’re doing every day. It’s something dif-
ferent all the time.” Ross started working on the farm full time after he graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Farm and Industry Short Course in 2012. He joined ownership of the operation in 2019, when the family formed a limited liability company. “When we were going to an LLC, I thought farming would be different, but it’s not one bit different,” Ross said. For the Schrimpfs, it was more of a legal formality. “It is a way to pass the farm on to the next generation,” Ken
said. “We knew we were at the point where we needed to do something. The lawyer gave us options of a C corp, partnership or LLC. We picked through them all and decided the LLC worked for us.” Ken and Kristin have been through transitions before. The farm started with Ken’s parents, Edwin and Lois, when they bought the site in 1964. They housed heifers until 1969 when they built a parlor and freestall setup and started milking. Ken’s brother, Curt, joined in 1974 after he graduated from
high school, and Ken joined them in 1977 when he received his high school diploma. After Edwin passed away in 1986, Curt and Ken bought the farm from their mom that year and farmed in partnership. Kristin joined in 1989 after she and Ken were married. Curt’s wife, Julie, also worked on the farm. The two couples continued their partnership until 2000, when Ken and Kristin became sole owners. During that time, Kristin and Ken raised six children on the farm: Merribeth is married to Cameron Peterson, and they have two daughters, Leighton and Bria; Ross is married to Mikayla, and they have a daughter, Lacey; Jeremy is married to Sarah, and they have a son, William; Michaela is married to Wyatt Gadient, and they have a daughter, Eleanor; Brett; and Mitchell. Now the couple is proud the farm will continue on with the next generation. While Ross is part of the ownership team, Brett is deciding on his future career. He started working on the farm in December 2019 after graduating from Winona State University with a degree in computer science. While the Schrimpfs know their farm is a business, they also know it is more than a 9-to-5 job. “It’s a lifestyle,” Ken said. “If you like the lifestyle, that’s the main thing.” The Schrimpfs can condently say it is a lifestyle they love.
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Page 12 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 16, 2021
Top 10 visited stories of 2020 on Dairy Star website These were the top stories viewed on the Dairy Star Web site in 2020.
1.
Stuebers enjoy farming again, by Danielle Nauman, Stratford, Wisconsin; Jan. 11 2,893 issue views Jake, John and Jason Stueber of Stratford installed six Lely A5 robots on their farm in January 2019 to alleviate labor and efciency issues on their 360-cow dairy. Prior to the upgrade, the Stueber family was milking 420 cows in their double-5 Surge autoow parlor from 1997.
2.
Junk family perseveres through accidents, by Sherry Newell, Epworth, Iowa; Jan. 1,867 11 issue views The Junk family farm had a tough 2019. Jeremy Junk and Kendra Johnson, an essential farm employee, were both in accidents in spring, keeping them out of commission for a good portion of summer and fall. Jeremy’s wife, Melanie, stepped up and took care of the 85-cow dairy, 155-acre farm and early acquired IBA route, on top of raising the couple’s four children.
3.
The ice cream guy, by Jerry Nelson, Balaton, Minnesota; May 23 issue 1,821 Josh Lingen, dairyviews man from Balaton, was doing his part in promoting the dairy industry by selling soft serve ice cream. With a portable sales counter, Lingen can connect with consumers all over, from
DAIRY STAR FILE PHOTO
Jake, John and Jason Stueber of Stueber Farms installed six Lely A5 robots on their farm last January as an answer to labor and efficiency struggles. With the installa�on of the robots, the Stuebers have been able to reduce their workforce, elimina�ng the need to manage employees. small town festivals to Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
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Falling in love at the fair, by Stacey Smart, Brandon, Wisconsin; July 11 issue 1,516 Avid showmen, twin views brothers Darren and Derrek Kamphuis, went home with more than
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Trying to ll the void of Dad, by Mark Klaphake, Grey Ea1,352 gle, Minnesota; Dec. 12 issue Dean Ahrens died sudviews
denly of a heart attack while riding motorcycle in August, leaving his 64-cow dairy without an operator. His widow, Sue, and four grown sons, Chris, Mitch, Tyler and Douglas, quickly stepped in and have been working together to fulll the vocation their dad left unnished. Turn to WEB TOP 10 | Page 13
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Dairy Star • Saturday, January 16, 2021 • Page 13
ConƟnued from WEB TOP 10 | Page 12
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The Froelichs – (from leŌ) Tracie holding Jordyn, 2, and JusƟn holding Emery, 4 – milk 100 cows in Morrison County near Lastrup, Minnesota.
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Building for the future, by Stacey Smart, Bear Creek, Wisconsin; Aug. 8 issue Farms completed an expansion the summer of 2019 that 1,256 includedClinton a rotary parlor, freestall barn, holding area, conference center, views ofces and manure pit, while keeping the future in mind. Spanning three generations, the farm is excited for the new facility’s efciency and growth.
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Heinz advocates for mental health after losing partner to suicide, by Jennifer Coyne, Brooten, Minnesota; Oct. 24 issue Becky Heinz lost her partner, Casey Tangen, to suicide in Septem1,185 ber. Turning lemons into lemonade, Heinz has taken the pain of her loss views and turned it into advocating for others suffering from depression. Farm’s foundation breathes new life, by Jennifer Coyne, Lastrup, Minnesota; Feb. 22 issue Justin and Tracie Froelich converted an existing poultry barn into 1,143 a 92-stall tiestall facility as they pursue a dairy career. The couple had views been milking cows on a different farm site and were ready to be done commuting to work, and raise their two daughters on the farm. Customized calf care, by Krista Kuzma, Kellogg, Minnesota; Aug. 22 issue The Evers sisters – Shaylah Schouweiler, Jessica and Allie Evers 1,139 – run the family’s calf care program on their farm near Kellogg. A customviews built barn erected in Feburary 2019 is able to house 430 calves.
10.
Public service, dairy farming a way of life, by Danielle Nauman, Glen Haven, Wisconsin; Feb. 8 issue The Kirschbaums installed two robots in 2016 on their 112-cow 963 dairy near Glen Haven, allowing them more exibility to be involved views in the community. Patriarch Lynn, with son and daughter-in-law, Tyler and Kayla, volunteer with the local re department, rst responders and dispatch in Grant County. Kayla and Tyler are also able to hold off-farm jobs.
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Sisters – (from leŌ) Shaylah Schouweiler, Jessica Evers and Allie Evers – stand in the calf barn on their family’s dairy near Kellogg, Minnesota. The family moved calves into the new facility February 2019.
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What are looking forward to most in 2021?
Michael Rose South Haven, Minnesota Stearns County 55 cows What are you looking forward to most in 2021? No matter the year and previous year’s issues, spring is always my favorite, getting things ready for planting and 50-degree days. How did COVID-19 affect you personally and on your farm? It didn’t change anything for me besides not having church, and I had to plan ahead of what store was open and if they would be sold out of milking gloves. The biggest issue was when the bin fan went down after one day of drying on 19% corn. The motor was on backorder. I ďƒžnally got it, but that motor didn’t work. Then it was on backorder again. Three weeks later, it was ďƒžnally back up and drying. Besides COVID-19, what will you remember most about 2020? March was beautiful. I worked outside in a sweatshirt which was a nice change from the awful fall of the previous year. The early spring gave a fast start to everything. I’ve never had corn planted so early. It grew well and made exceptional tons for silage. There were no county fairs though which was a bummer. No deep-fried food and tractor pulls. What goals do you have for your dairy in 2021, and how do you plan to achieve them? I’d like to grow more of my own alfalfa. I buy 90% of it which deďƒžnitely makes for expensive days at the hay sales. I also would like to build a heifer/dry cow shed. They are on pasture the majority of the time which makes it difďƒžcult to watch them for calving and health issues. What management practice did you incorporate or change on your dairy in 2020? I put sawdust in my barn. The sand in my free stalls was creating issues with the manure pit and pumping. In the winter, it is an open front barn, and anything below 20 degrees the cows wouldn’t lay on the sand. The sawdust has eliminated both issues. It also lowered somatic cell count, and the cows are cleaner. I worked on reproduction to lower days in milk by making my own Excel program on my phone to keep track of calving and days to be bred and pregnancy. What concerns do you have for the next year? What are you optimistic about? Lots of variables but trying to ďƒžnd more optimism. After the last year of good milk prices, that has deďƒžnitely helped. I am thankful for what I have and what I’ve accomplished. Hopefully the good Lord gives us another good year of farming. Plus, a beer at the end of the day helps forget the concerns. Tell us about your farm. Just a guy milking 55 happy and sometimes occasional non-happy cows trying to make a living. I don’t follow the norm on most things. I look at bottom line and efďƒžciency. As long as it works for me and helps me, I’m happy because every farm is different. I have to do what works for me.
Paul Willger Rice Lake, Wisconsin Barron County 60 cows What are you looking forward to most in 2021? Higher grain prices, a more consistent milk price and good weather. How did COVID-19 affect you personally and on your farm? Personally, my wife, Catherine, and I never got it, but one of my daughters and son-in-law and my daughter-in-law had it. My daughter-in-law was sick for a week, and my daughter and son-in-law lost their taste and smell for a week. I have three sisters and two brothers and nieces and nephews who had it, and my sister-in-law passed away from it. She had other health conditions. Besides COVID-19, what will you remember most about 2020? The ďƒ&#x;uctuation of milk price. We had $13 earlier in the year, and in the fall, we had $25 milk for a month. Personally, it’s a challenge to keep everything in line. You have a lot of tough decisions to make like what to ďƒžx and what not to ďƒžx, what to buy and what not to buy; things like that because of the prices. What goals do you have for your dairy in 2021, and how do you plan to achieve them? The only goal is to produce as much quality milk as possible. Keeping our somatic cell count under 150,000 and getting a premium from the creamery means a lot to us. It means we are producing better milk and better cheese. I try to keep the cows clean, the equipment maintained and try to do the best job possible milking. What management practice did you incorporate or change on your dairy in 2020? We went to sanitary individual wipes for cows. You are not spreading anything from one cow to another. You wipe the cow and throw the wipe away. What concerns do you have for the next year? What are you optimistic about? The milk price. It would be nice if it could stay around that $18-$20 range. I am optimistic the winter stays warm and we don’t have any breakdowns, especially with the silo unloaders. Tell us about your farm. Catherine and I run the farm together. We have three daughters, a son and six grandchildren. She also cooks for the Catholic school. We farm 340 tillable acres. We plant corn, alfalfa and soybean. We milk our cows in a tiestall barn. We raise our heifer calves and sell our bull calves. We raise our replacements. We have been farming together since March 1981.
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Connard Ewalt and Carrie Weaver Webster, South Dakota Day County 70 cows What are you looking forward to most in 2021? First off, getting married to my ďƒžancĂŠ, Carrie, in June. Second, looking forward to better prices overall compared to past years. Looking forward to having a positive year. How did COVID-19 affect you personally and on your farm? COVID-19 affected us and our farm early when it came about because of the lack of demand for dairy products in schools and restaurants. Besides COVID-19, what will you remember most about 2020? Besides COVID-19, we will remember the nice fall and beautiful winter so far (hopefully). What goals do you have for your dairy in 2021, and how do you plan to achieve them? The goals we set for ourselves and the farm include growing our herd with our A.I. heifers and possibly adding more Jerseys. What management practice did you incorporate or change on your dairy in 2020? We do plant some cover crops following our small grain crops, but we plan on implementing more cover crops into our corn and soybean crops to increase soil health. We also started breeding with sexed semen in the spring of 2020 to get more heifers. What concerns do you have for the next year? What are you optimistic about? One of our concerns for 2021 is getting enough rain during our growing season. A second concern is we don’t know how the new president will affect the agriculture industry. Third is how the higher cost of commodities will affect the proďƒžtability of us smaller dairies. Tell us about your farm. We farm and milk alongside my mom and dad, Kari and David Ewalt. In total, we milk 70 Holsteins and a handful of Jerseys. We also have a ďƒ&#x;ock of 75 ewes that we lamb out and raise feeder lambs. Our cropland consists of 560 acres split between corn, soybean and small grain. We also run 150 acres of hay land. I also run a 30 head cow/calf herd. Carrie works at the local conservation ofďƒžce, helping farmers to improve their soil heath by promoting healthy soil farming practices. Carrie also works on the farm when she can.
Page 16 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 16, 2021
ConƟnued from OUR SIDE | Page 15
Mark Winkelman Milaca, Minnesota Mill Lacs County 55 cows What are you looking forward to most in 2021? I hope we have good weather, and I’m looking forward to the end of COVID-19 hopefully. It hasn’t caused too many issues on the farm, but it is annoying. How did COVID-19 affect you personally and on your farm? This past Christmas, my family didn’t get together. We usually do it every year, but with COVID-19, we decided not to this year. When we all get together there are 102 of us. Most of us live close in central Minnesota. The shutdowns haven’t affected us too much. We felt the drop in milk prices right away, but we’ve been pretty lucky so far. Besides COVID-19, what will you remember most about 2020? I quit raising youngstock. I am comfortable with the number of cows I’m milking now and can make a lot more money breeding with Angus semen. No one wanted Holstein calves, and I was selling the youngstock, so I switched my breeding program. We’ll see how it turns out. Right now it’s less work, but I also had a lot of pregnant heifers so I didn’t have to buy too many replacements. What goals do you have for your dairy in 2021, and how do you plan to achieve them? I hope to keep what I have going and put some money in my pocket instead of paying everyone else. I’m hesitant to make many plans with COVID-19 still going strong. After we ride this out, I’ll reevaluate. What management practice did you incorporate or change on your dairy in 2020? Getting rid of the youngstock freed up a lot of my time to do other things. I didn’t have to bale corn stalks this fall. I was able to plow them under. It’s weird to see the barns empty, but I’ve been using the calf barn for hay storage. What concerns do you have for the next year? What are you optimistic about? I hope that milk prices can stay consistent throughout the year and stay up. But, I’m not expecting that. Prices have been a roller coaster as long as I’ve been farming. Grain prices have come up lately which is nice to see. Hopefully, they will stay up. Tell us about your farm. I milk 55 cows in a tiestall barn with a pipeline. I also run 250 acres of land, 60 acres to alfalfa, about 60 acres to soybean, that I sell, and everything else is to corn. I keep about 7,000 pounds of corn for feed and sell the rest as a cash crop. I’ve been farming since I was old enough to hold a pitchfork, but I bought the farm from my parents in 1993. Today my kids are grown and have gone their own way, but my mom helps me with eldwork and chores.
Jason Decker Westgate, Iowa Fayette County 675 cows What are you looking forward to most in 2021? Another year of protable dairy farming, as prices are looking good for futures. How did COVID-19 affect you personally and on your farm? I did not have any direct problems with the virus; we did not have any outbreaks on the farm. The government stimulus helped rebound from low prices in March and April. Besides COVID-19, what will you remember most about 2020? The late summer drought that affected yields considerably and the derecho that devastated central Iowa. What goals do you have for your dairy in 2021, and how do you plan to achieve them? Hopefully maintain high production by harvesting high-quality corn silage and alfalfa again, and break through the 34,000-pound herd average mark. This will only be achieved through having good conception rates, low problems during calving, and again, very high feed quality by harvesting at the right time. What management practice did you incorporate or change on your dairy in 2020? We planted more low lignin haylage which increased our relative feed quality in our haylage about 20 points, on average. We added tunnel ventilation in both freestall barns which couldn’t have been installed at a better time with the excess heat and humidity this past year. What concerns do you have for the next year? What are you optimistic about? My concerns are probably more centered around prices than anything else. 2020 ended up being a good year – better than expected. I am optimistic about the Farmers to Families Food Box Program being extended, giving commodities the shot in the arm again that they needed. Tell us about your farm. Top-Deck Farms is owned and operated by Jason and Sharon Decker, Derek and Lori Decker, and Justin and Amber Decker. Our current mission is to maintain our herd size while becoming as efcient as possible with maximum milk output. We are fairly content with those for now. We are the fth-generation, farming roughly 1,000 acres of corn, 500 acres of beans and 500 acres of hay. We usually also have about 250 acres of winter rye. We have cattle on two owned facilities and one rented. We focus mainly on our heifers and cows, fattening out some heifers that don’t quite have the genetic potential as the others.
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Stephen Uthke Eyota, Minnesota Olmsted County 40 cows What are you looking forward to most in 2021? My oldest daughter, Heidi, graduates from college in May from Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. How did COVID-19 affect you personally and on your farm? I have always joked with my kids that I have seen or experienced everything. With the pandemic, I did not see it coming. With the spring shutdown, I had plenty of help on the farm because our kids were home from school. Other than that, not much changed on the farm. We are pretty isolated which makes me happy. My son, Marcus, had a drive-by graduation ceremony when he graduated from high school this spring. That was different. We also did a lot more cooking at home for all meals. Besides COVID-19, what will you remember most about 2020? I will remember how it snowed and was really cold in mid-October. I was shocked to see that coming. My youngest daughter, Katrina, got her farm permit. She got to do a lot of driving this fall with the harvest, which she liked. Marcus started college at Luther College and also earned his Emergency Medical Technician certication. What goals do you have for your dairy in 2021, and how do you plan to achieve them? I don’t really have concrete goals for this year. I plan to stay exible and roll with the punches. I would like to keep the somatic cell count low, though. I will do this with earlier detection and more aggressive treatments. What management practice did you incorporate or change on your dairy in 2020? I tried no tilling corn into corn ground. I was quite impressed by it. I learned I need to manage the stalks better, because when we planted, the stalks got caught in the planter. If we harvest in the direction we plant it, it should lay the stalks over a bit more. I upgraded my corn planter by adding attachments in order to be able to do no till planting. I plan to do it again this year What concerns do you have for the next year? What are you optimistic about? I am worried about the stability of the milk price. I guess we will see where it ends up. The protein price will go up with the price of beans increasing. There will be higher input costs. I am optimistic for the winter rye I planted in the fall on the sweet corn ground. I will be harvesting it this
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Pam and Joe Glisczinski Belle Plaine, Minnesota Scott County 65 cows What are you looking forward to most in 2021? In 2021, we hope to be able to maintain good health for our family as well as our animals. How did COVID-19 affect you personally and on your farm? COVID-19 affected us most by not being able to obtain some of the supplies we need to carry out daily chores and not being able to make face-to-face appointments necessary to keep our farm running smoothly. Besides COVID-19, what will you remember most about 2020? We will remember the sharp uctuation of prices for milk, grain and cattle markets. We will also remember the limited availability of certain supplies and parts for the farm. What goals do you have for your dairy in 2021, and how do you plan to achieve them? Our goals for 2021 include continuing to improve on herd health and fertility. What management practice did you incorporate or change on your dairy in 2020? In 2020, we focused on our newborn calf care procedures, making changes to vaccinations and feed. What concerns do you have for the next year? What are you optimistic about? We are concerned about the long-term effects that the COVID-19 virus will have on both the economy and the agriculture industry. We are optimistic that the economy will be more balanced for the coming year. Tell us about your farm. We took over the family farm in 1998. We raise our replacement heifers and sell the bull calves to area farmers. The farm is family run with the help of our two adult daughters, Mallory and Megan. spring. This is the rst time I tried it. I am also looking forward to getting back together with my family and traveling. We usually try to go on a vacation every few years. I would like to go to Glacier National Park soon. Tell us about your farm. My wife, Nancy, and I have three kids. On our farm, we grow our forages. In addition to our milking herd, we raise our replacements and feed out our steers. Our dairy’s name is 23rd Street Dairy.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, January 16, 2021 • Page 17
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Page 18 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 16, 2021
2020 Dairy Star year in review
Dairy Star compiled the dairy stories and news highlights from the past year that dene what we will remember from 2020.
Jan. 11 Boesl accident Brothers Steve and Curt Boesl and Curt’s 11-year-old son, Alex, succumbed to toxic silo gases Dec. 21, 2019, on Curt’s farm site near Millerville, Minnesota. The dairy farmers were involved in the local re department and known as good people in the community. Jan. 25 Australia bushres Wild bushres ravaged rural Australia in late 2019 through February 2020. After a six-month drought and rising temperatures, dairy farmers of the southeast Australian countryside faced daily threats of fried pasture land and destroyed homesteads.
Goodbye to South Dakota Dairy Princess program After 65 years of dairy advocacy, South Dakota terminated its Dairy Princess program. Decades of young women had the distinction of representing the dairy industry of South Dakota and were celebrated at a reunion in February. Feb. 8 President Trump signs USMCA A trade agreement to create a fair playing eld for dairy was signed into effect Jan. 29 by President Donald Trump. The United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement adjusted components of the former North American Free Trade Agreement to ensure secure trade relations with the United States, Canada and Mexico. FARM 4.0 New standards of the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management Program were released Jan. 1, it was their fourth version, FARM 4.0. This version focuses on animal welfare practices and
DAIRY STAR FILE PHOTO
Rita Young stands March 24, 2020 in front of the signs about prevenƟng the spread of COVID-19 she placed next to the Ɵme clock on her farm, Emerald Spring Dairy, near Plainview, Minnesota.
their industry. Aiming for the next generation of dairy leaders, the DEAL program hoped to offer opportunity to dairy leaders beyond the age limits of dairy princesses, ambassadors and interns.
record keeping, particularly in pre-weaned calves. The principles were implemented by dairy farmers across the country. Feb. 22 New DEAL program by Midwest Dairy Midwest Dairy launched an 18-month program that targets farmers ages 40 and younger. The Dairy Experience and Agricultural Leadership program encouraged dairy leaders to be more involved in
March 28 On-farm COVID prevention As COVID-19 swept into daily lives, dairy farmers took precautions on the farm. Dairies are considered essential work places during the coronavirus pandemic Turn to YEAR IN REVIEW | Page 20
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Page 20 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 16, 2021
ConĆ&#x;nued from YEAR IN REVIEW | Page 18 but encouraged to share information to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to keep family members and employees safe.
additional $1.25 million in the state’s COVID-19 aid package for Second Harvest Heartland to purchase protein and milk food products to distribute to food banks across Minnesota.
Trade shows canceled, dairy dispersal delayed As the spread of COVID-19 continued, trade shows, like the Central Plains Dairy Expo, were canceled, and auctions, like Marla and State Viland’s dispersal sale, were delayed. As multiple states declared a State of Emergency and began to limit gathering sizes, many industry professionals and producers alike stayed home.
May 23 PK ďƒžnalists chosen in virtual event Ten women were named Princess Kay of the Milky Way ďƒžnalists in a ďƒžrst of its kind virtual event May 17. The 10 ďƒžnalists selected for the 67th Princess Kay of the Milky Way title were Emily Benrud, Brenna Connelly, Mackenzie Craig, Emma Friauf, Taylor Jerde, Katherine Maus, Maggie Meyer, Maggie Molitor, Valerie Sauder and Rebeckah Schroeder.
April 11 Producers dump milk Many Wisconsin producers received a letter no dairyman wants to read in March. They were told to reduce production and potentially dump milk because of shutdowns from the COVID-19 pandemic. That potential became reality for many producers and was both ďƒžnancially and mentally scarring for producers. Milk given to those in need In one of several reoccurrences throughout the year, farmers helped ease the ache of the pandemic in their communities through dairy donations. With schools and restaurants closed, cooperatives needed to creatively and quickly re-route much of their product. Plainview Milk Products Cooperative found a need at the Channel One Food Bank in Rochester, Minnesota. PK goes to virtual contest Due to the impending uncertainty of COVID-19 and Minnesota’s ongoing state-wide shutdown, Midwest Dairy’s Princess Kay of the Milky Way program went virtual for the ďƒžrst year since its inception in 1954. The organization used Zoom software to complete the annual leadership event and judging, and ďƒžnalists were announced on the Princess Kay Facebook page May 17. April 25 Federal aid coming for farmers The United States Department of Agriculture
DAIRY STAR FILE PHOTO
An employee at Second Harvest Heartland organizes food inventory at the food bank in Maplewood, Minnesota. The food bank received $1.25 million from the state to purchase protein and milk food products to distribute to food shelves across Minnesota. announced the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, a $19 billion program to provide immediate relief to farmers and to keep the supply chain moving. Dairy producers fell under that umbrella and received a onetime direct payment from $2.9 billion of the funds. May 9 Minnesota approves $1.25 million for milk, protein purchases to give to food banks Communities needed safe and healthy food, and dairy farmers needed an outlet for their milk, which presented a great opportunity for action. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill April 15 that allowed an
June 13 WDE canceled for 2020 For the ďƒžrst time since it began in 1967, World Dairy Expo was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19. In-person gatherings were limited in Dane County to 250 people at the time of the event, and relocation was not a possibility. While the cancellation of World Dairy Expo left many in the industry heavy-hearted, the resilient community will gather in 2021. Honer helps at protests Past Princess Kay ďƒžnalist, Donna Honer, handed out supplies during an event advocating racial equality in Minneapolis following the death of George Floyd and subsequent uprising in the city. Honer was a 2019 Princess Kay ďƒžnalist and employed at a neighboring dairy farm near Rockville, Minnesota. Minnesota State Fair canceled The Great Minnesota Get-Together took a break in 2020, like many, in the precaution over the coronavirus pandemic. Dairy producers, showmen and enthusiasts shared sorrow over the cancellation. Next year, as the Minnesota State Fair has promoted, the 2021 fair will be the Great Minnesota Get Back Together. Turn to YEAR IN REVIEW | Page 22
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FIELD CULTIVATORS Case IH 200, 2014, 60’, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #176029 .........$47,500 Case IH 200, 2012, 55’, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #178072 .........$47,900 JD 980, 1996, 44’, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #169542 ...................$13,900 JD 2210, 2005, 54’, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #167743 ...........$30,900 JD 2210, 2012, 32 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #173629................. 35900 JD 2210, 2009, 55.5 ft’, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #175257 .........$45,000 JD 2210, 2011, 60’, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #168037.................$49,400 JD 2210, 2012, 60, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #176030 .................$49,500 JD 2230, 2018, 50.5, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #176637..............$94,900 Case IH 4300, 45.5, 3-Section Folding, C-Shank, #176927 ..............$10,400 Sunflower 5035, 2016, 24’, 3-Section Folding, C-Shank, #177191$28,900 JD 2210LL, 2014, 45.5’, 3-Section, C-Shank, #173708 ......................... 39000 JD 2230FH, 2019, 44’, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #177180 ............. 97900 Wil-Rich QX-2, 2008, 47’, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #173990 .....$32,900
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PLANTERS JD 1750, 1997, 6R30”, 1.6 Bu. Hopper, #176829.................................$13,900 JD 1750, 2000, 6Ro30”, 3.0 Bu. Hopper, #176783 ..............................$16,900 JD 1770, 2002, 16R30”, 3.0 Bu. Hopper, #174750 ..............................$25,500 JD 1780, 2007, 15R15”, 3.0 Bu. Hopper, #169548 ..............................$24,500 White 6106, 1992, 6R30”, 1.6 Bu. Hopper, #174852 ..........................$8,400 JD 7200, 1988, 12R30”, 1.6 Bu. Hopper, #176943 ...............................$9,500 JD 1770NT CCS, 2012, 24R30”, Wing Fold, #167881 ......................$108,500 JD 1775NT, 2016, 16R30”, Flex Fold, #177616 ................................$124,900 JD 1775NT, 2019, 16R30”, Flex Fold, #174754 ................................$149,500 JD 1775NT, 2015, 24R30”, Flex Fold, #170394 ................................$189,500 JD DB44, 2020, 24R22”, Flex Fold, #175323.....................................$289,500 JD DB66, 2012, 36R22”, Flex Fold, #166296....................................$189,500 JD DB66, 2017, 36R22”, Wing Fold, #175194 ..................................$349,500 Wil-Rich PT2200, 2005, 24R22”, #177551 ......................................$39,900 JD 1710, 1997, 12R30”, Wing Fold, #176726 .....................................$14,900 JD 1710, 24R22”, Wing Fold, #168140................................................$19,900 JD 7300, 1992, 12R30”, Wing Fold, #175563 ......................................$11,900
8 JD 1720 CCS, 2012, 16R30”, Wing Fold, #176499 .............................$65,900 ROW CROP TRACTORS 5 Allis-Chalmers 200, 1974, Cab, 2WD, Syncro, 7000 hrs., #169651 ..$9,500 7 IH 806, 1964, 2WD, Syncro, Singles, 8600 miles, #178028 ..................$9,500 5 IH 1066, Cab, 2WD, Syncro, Duals, 7911 hrs., #176992 ......................$13,500 1 JD 4430, 1977, Cab, 2WD, Syncro, Singles, Loader, 10335 hrs., #177917 ..............................................................................$15,900 10 JD 4450, 1983, Cab, MFWD, PS, Duals, 15500 hrs., #177261.............$35,900 3 JD 4640, 1978, Cab, 2WD, PS, 1000 pto, Duals, 9784 hrs., #176646 .$22,500 11 JD 4840, 1979, Cab, 2WD, PS, 1000 pto, Duals, 8000 hrs., #177919 .$26,400 6 JD 7810, 1997, Cab, 2WD, PS, Duals, 6748 hrs., #175559 ..................$56,900 14 JD 8300, 1995, Cab, MFWD, PS, Duals, 10129 hrs., #158662.............$49,500 9 JD 6145R, 2019, Cab, MFWD, PS, Singles, 287 hrs., #153237.........$137,900 2 JD 6145R, 2019, Cab, MFWD, PS, Singles, 286 hrs., #153236.........$139,500 4 JD 6155M/ 640R Loader, 2019, Cab, MFWD, Singles, 254 hrs., #153304 ................................................................................$134,900 15 JD 6155R, 2018, Cab, MFWD, PS, Singles, 382 hrs., #147651.........$129,500 17 JD 6155R, 2019, Cab, MFWD, Singles, 123 hrs., #159734..............$134,900 4 JD 6175M, 2019, Cab, MFWD, Singles, Loader, 260 hrs., #160856 .$142,900 11 JD 6195R, 2015, Cab, MFWD, Duals, 2024 hrs., #178027 ...............$129,900 6 JD 6210R, 2012, Cab, MFWD, IVT, Duals, 493 hrs., #178040 ..........$142,900 8 JD 7210R, 2018, Cab, MFWD w/Suspension, IVT, Duals, 2018 hrs., #172425 ..............................................................................$168,900 4 JD 7210R, 2019, Cab, MFWD, Duals, Loader, 412 hrs., #177177.....$195,000 1 JD 7210R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, IVT, Duals, 300 hrs., #176074 ..........$199,500 5 JD 8245R, 2017, Cab, MFWD, PS, Duals, 938 hrs., #176600 ...........$179,500 6 JD 8245R, 2017, Cab, MFWD, IVT, Duals, 1263 hrs., #176592 ........$201,400 16 JD 8245R, 2019, Cab, MFWD w/Suspension, IVT, Duals, 1362 hrs., #169246 ..............................................................................$218,500 16 JD 8245R, 2019, Cab, MFWD w/Suspension, IVT, Duals, 1343 hrs., #169248 ..............................................................................$218,550 1 JD 8245R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, PS, Duals, 300 hrs., #176075 ...........$224,900 1 JD 8245R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, PS, Duals, 300 hrs., #176076 ...........$224,900
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16 JD 8245R, 2019, Cab, MFWD, IVT, Duals, 879 hrs., #169247..........$230,150 17 JD 8245R, 2019, Cab, MFWD, IVT, Duals, 588 hrs., #171965 ..........$239,500 1 JD 8245R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, IVT, 1000 pto, Duals, 300 hrs., #176079 ................................................................................$252,900 3 JD 8245R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, IVT, 1000 hrs., Duals, 300 hrs., #176080 ................................................................................$252,900 8 JD 8270R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, PS, Duals, 475 hrs., #175590 ...........$229,000 1 JD 8270R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, PS, Duals, 300 hrs., #176082 ...........$237,900 4 JD 8270R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, PS, Duals, 700 hrs., #175591 ...........$239,000 1 JD 8270R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, PS, Duals, 300 hrs., #176083 ...........$258,900 1 JD 8270R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, IVT, Duals, 315 hrs., #176084 ..........$267,900 2 JD 8295R, 2015, Cab, MFWD, IVT, Duals, 1463 hrs., #172975 ........$209,500 6 JD 8295R, 2019, Cab, MFWD, IVT, Duals, 630 hrs., #172428 ..........$265,400 16 JD 8320R, 2017, Cab, MFWD, IVT, Duals,2098 hrs., #172227 .........$217,900 4 JD 8320R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, IVT, Duals,650 hrs., #175589 ...........$285,900 4 JD 8320R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, IVT, 1000 pto, 500 hrs., #175588 .....$289,500 15 JD 8320R, 2019, Cab, MFWD, IVT, Singles, 607 hrs., #171964........$289,500 3 JD 8320R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, IVT, Duals,303 hrs., #172932 ...........$289,500 1 JD 8320R, 2020, Cab, MFWD w/Suspension, IVT, 1000 pto, Duals, 300 hrs.,#176086 ......................................................................$298,500 1 JD 8320R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, IVT, Duals, 298 hrs., #176088 ..........$298,500 1 JD 8320R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, IVT, Duals, 300 hrs., #176091 ..........$298,500 1 JD 8320R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, IVT, Duals, 300 hrs., #176085 ..........$301,900 1 JD 8345R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, IVT, Duals, 334 hrs., #176095 ..........$314,000 1 JD 8345R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, IVT, Duals, 296 hrs., #176092 ..........$314,900 1 JD 8345R, 2020, Cab; MFWD, IVT, Duals, 299 hrs., #176096 ..........$314,900 3 JD 8345R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, IVT, Duals, 297 hrs., #176093 ..........$314,900 1 JD 8345R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, IVT, Duals, 413 hrs., #176098 ..........$318,900 1 JD 8345R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, IVT, Duals, 308 hrs., #176101 ..........$318,900 15 JD 8345R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, IVT, Duals, 200 hrs., #164193 ..........$325,000 3 JD 8360R, 2012, Cab, MFWD, IVT, Duals, 4450 hrs., #177867 ........$152,000 16 JD 8370R, 2017, Cab, MFWD, IVT, Duals, 1450 hrs., #175314 ........$264,900 1 JD 8370R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, IVT, Duals, 281 hrs., #172943 ..........$319,500
CALL TODAY! (320)365-1653 (12) = AITKIN 1120 2nd St. NW
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Page 22 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 16, 2021 Cleaning Drain Tiles, Manure Systems, Sewers and Frozen Lines
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ConƟnued from YEAR IN REVIEW | Page 18
The Dairy Star is sent only to DAIRY FARMERS! If you would like to advertise in the DAIRY STAR, call 320-352-6303 for more information.
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DAIRY STAR FILE PHOTO
Marla and Steve Viland hold an ad for their dairy dispersal aucƟon that was scheduled April 22, 2020 on their farm near Ihlen, Minnesota. The Vilands decided to delay their aucƟon unƟl the end of May due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. June 27 USDA issues rst CFAP payments By June 27, the USDA Farm Service Agency approved more than $545 million in payments to producers who applied for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. The agency received over 86,000 applications for the relief program since enrollment opened May 26. Hunekes host drive-thru dairy breakfast Like many other COVID-19 shakeups, dairy promotion throughout June Dairy Month looked different in 2020. The Huneke family volunteered to host a drive-thru breakfast on their 240-cow dairy farm near Bellechester, Minnesota, with the Goodhue County American Dairy Association. There was an estimated 1,136 people who participated in the creative pandemic-safe celebration of dairy.
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July 25 Pence visits Morning Star Dairy Vice President Mike Pence made a visit to Morning Star Dairy in Onalaska, Wisconsin, to speak with dairy producers about the United States-MexicoCanada Trade Agreement, among other issues. Pence toured the 500-cow dairy with owners Barb and John Schaller and participated in a round-table discussion
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Contact one of the following dealers to learn more: IOWA Prairie Land Ag Supply Inc. Rock Valley, IA 712-476-9290 United Dairy Systems, Inc. West Union, IA 563-422-5355 WISCONSIN Advanced Dairy/Bob’s Dairy Supply Spring Valley, WI 715-772-3201 Ederer Dairy Supply Plain, WI 608-546-3713
Joe’s Refrigeration Inc. Withee, WI 715-229-2321 Mlsna Dairy Supply Inc. Cashton, WI 608-654-5106 Professional Dairy Services Arlington, WI 608-635-0267 Redeker Dairy Equipment Brandon, WI 920-346-5579 The Scharine Group Inc. Whitewater, WI 800 472-2880 Mt Horeb, WI 800-872-3470
July 11 Toddler rescued from manure pit Amanda and Jason Douvier’s 2-year-old son, Carter, fell into the farm’s manure pit June 24. While Jason cut hay and Amanda milked the family’s 56 cows, Carter wandered off and slid into the pit. Luckily, they found him in time and local reghters showed up within minutes of the 911 call.
MINNESOTA & SOUTH DAKOTA D&D Ag Supply Pennock, MN 320-599-4466 East Central Dairy Supply Mora, MN 320-679-1029 Farm Systems Melrose, MN 320-256-3276 Watertown, SD 605-886-7401 Sioux Falls, SD 800-284-0015 S&S Dairy System LLC St. Charles, MN 507-932-4288 Professional Dairy Systems Wadena, MN 218-632-5416
is a registered trademark of Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. and “DeLaval” is a registered trade/servicemark of DeLaval Holding AB © 2021 DeLaval Inc. DeLaval, 11100 North Congress Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64153-1296. Data collected at test and pilot farms. Results will vary from dairy to dairy. Nothing in this document shall constitute a warranty or guaranty of performance. www.delaval.com
Turn to YEAR IN REVIEW | Page 23
SUPPORTING THE FARMERS OF TOMORROW. The future of farming depends on dreams like this. And at American Family Insurance, we’re proud to support the National FFA Organization and the dreams they help.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, January 16, 2021 • Page 23
Con�nued from YEAR IN REVIEW | Page 22 with other area farmers to discuss CFAP, relief funding and the importance agriculture has to the current administration. PPD values plunge to historic low As the effects of the pandemic ravaged the markets back and forth, 2020 was a year of historic negative values for producer price differential. PPD is a calculation used to determine the milk price in Federal Milk Marketing Orders that pay on milk components. The value is typically positive or a relatively small negative number, ranging from -$0.30 to $1 per hundredweight. In June, the Upper Midwest Marketing Area reported a PPD of -$3.81 per cwt.
DAIRY STAR FILE PHOTO
Vice President Mike Pence stands with Barb and John Schaller July 17, 2020 at their 450-cow Morning Star Dairy near Onalaska, Wisconsin. The Schallers hosted a roundtable discussion about the USMCA trade agreement that went into effect.
DAIRY STAR FILE PHOTO
Brenna Connelly puts her hands to her head in reac�on to being crowned Princess Kay of the Milky Way during a limited capacity corona�on banquet Aug. 12, 2020 in St. Paul.
Aug.8 Virtual Dairy Experience Forum – consumer habits changing In the third annual Dairy Experience Forum, dairy farmers and other industry leaders heard insight from a variety of consumers. Five people from various parts of the country shared their thoughts on dairy as part of a consumer panel during the virtual Dairy Experience Forum July 15. Industry plans to be carbon neutral or better by 2050 In the next three decades, dairy farmers are
asked to join their industry partners – cooperatives, processors and milk haulers – to reduce carbon emissions to net zero or better, as well as improve water and manure management as part of the Net Zero Initiative by 2050. This effort is backed by the National Milk Producers Federation, United States Dairy Export Council, the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy and Newtrient. Aug. 22 Connelly crowned 67th Princess Kay Breanna Connelly of Byron, Minnesota, was crowned the 67th Princess Kay of the Milky Way Turn to YEAR IN REVIEW | Page 25
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Con�nued from YEAR IN REVIEW | Page 23 in a limited capacity banquet Aug. 12. The Olmsted County native is the daughter of Craig and Heather Connelly. Despite COVID-19, this long-standing Minnesota dairy tradition continued. Iowa Derecho A derecho, a long-lived straight-lined wind storm that is often referred to as an inland hurricane, devastated Iowa in its path through the Midwest Aug. 10. The storm caused $14 million destruction in Iowa crops that headlined news surrounding the unusual storm. Dairy farm buildings and animals were also caught in the path of winds estimated to be as high as 130 mph. Sept. 12 Moynihan named Friend of Agriculture Meg Moynihan, with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, advocated for rural stress help. She received the annual Friend of Agriculture award by the Minnesota Association of Extension Ag Professionals in recognition of the work she has done helping farmers identify and manage farm stress since 2016. Oct. 24 Heinz advocates for mental health after losing partner to suicide Becky Heinz lost her partner, Casey Tangen, in September to suicide. While grieving the fresh loss, Heinz advocated for mental health and shared her story, and Tangen’s. The couple milked 43 cows on their dairy in Stearns County near Brooten, Minnesota. Passage of omnibus bill includes full section 179 conformity In its fth special session, the Minnesota legislature approved an omnibus bill Oct. 15 that had many farmers relieved. As part of the $1.87 billion bonding bill, passed in bipartisan support, farmers across Minnesota felt relief as the state was now in full conformity with Section 179 of the federal tax law.
DAIRY STAR FILE PHOTO
Silo damage is among the challenges faced by Schanbacher Acres of Atkins, Iowa, a�er the derecho storm Aug. 10, 2020 in Iowa. Feedstuffs in the silos could no longer be used and bags holding haylage were damaged by debris. Dairy consumption grows during pandemic A silver lining of the coronavirus pandemic was dramatic growth in dairy product consumption. Consumers’ eating habits changed as a result of shutdowns, so people cooked more and ate the majority of their meals at home. Thus, more dairy found its way into shoppers’ carts, leading to a spike in butter, cheese, milk and other dairy products. Midwest Dairy, dairy promotion council change district map With the number of dairy farms decreasing in the state, the Minnesota Dairy Promotion Council board of directors and Midwest Dairy Minnesota Division
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Page 26 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 16, 2021
Aid for producers affected by natural disasters The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced that signup for the Quality Loss Adjustment (QLA) Program will begin Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. Funded by the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020, this new program provides assistance to producers who suffered eligible crop quality losses due to natural disasters occurring in 2018 and 2019. The deadline to apply for QLA is Friday, March 5, 2021. “Farmers and livestock producers nationwide experienced crop quality losses due to natural disasters in 2018 and 2019,â€? said. Bill Northey, USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation. “We have worked diligently over the past couple of years to roll out meaningful disaster assistance programs to help alleviate the substantial ďƒžnancial loss experienced by so many agricultural producers and are pleased to offer quality loss assistance as added
relief. Many of the eligible producers have already received compensation for quantity losses.�
Eligible crops Eligible crops include those for which federal crop insurance or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage is available, except for grazed crops and value loss crops, such as honey, maple sap, aquaculture, ďƒ&#x;oriculture, mushrooms, ginseng root, ornamental nursery, Christmas trees, and turfgrass sod. Additionally, crops that were sold or fed to livestock or that are in storage may be eligible; however, crops that were destroyed before harvest are not eligible. Crop quality losses occurring after harvest, due to deterioration in storage, or that could have been mitigated, are also not eligible. Assistance is based on a producer’s harvested
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affected production of an eligible crop, which must have had at least a 5% quality loss reďƒ&#x;ected through a quality discount; or for forage crops, a nutrient loss, such as total digestible nutrients. Qualifying disaster events Losses must have been a result of a qualifying disaster event (hurricane, excessive moisture, ďƒ&#x;ood, qualifying drought, tornado, typhoon, volcanic activity, snowstorm, or wildďƒžre) or related condition that occurred in calendar years 2018 and/or 2019. Assistance is available for eligible producers in counties that received a qualifying Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration or Secretarial Disaster Designation because of one or more of the qualifying disaster events or related conditions. Lists of counties with Presidential Emergency Disaster Declarations and Secretarial Disaster Designations for all qualifying disaster events for 2018 and 2019 are available here. For drought, producers are eligible for QLA if the loss occurred in an area within a county rated by the U.S. Drought Monitor as having a D3 (extreme drought) or higher intensity level during 2018 or 2019. Producers in counties that did not receive a qualifying declaration or designation may still apply but must also provide supporting documentation to establish that the crop was directly affected by a qualifying disaster event. To determine QLA eligibility and payments, FSA considers the total quality loss caused by all qualifying natural disasters in cases where a crop was impacted by multiple events. Applying for QLA When applying, producers are asked to provide veriďƒžable documentation to support claims of quality loss or nutrient loss in the case of forage crops. For crops that have been sold, grading must have been completed within 30 days of harvest, and for forage crops, a laboratory analysis must have been completed within 30 days of harvest. Some acceptable forms of documentation include sales receipts from buyers, settlement sheets, truck or warehouse scale tickets, written sales contracts, similar records that represent actual and speciďƒžc quality loss information, and forage tests for nutritional values. Payments calculations, limitations QLA payments are based on formulas for the type of crop (forage or non-forage) and loss documentation submitted. Based on this documentation FSA is calculating payments based on the producer’s own individual loss or based on the county average loss. More information on payments can be found on farmers.gov/quality-loss. FSA will issue payments once the application period ends. If the total amount of calculated QLA payments exceeds available program funding, payments will be prorated. For each crop year, 2018, 2019 and 2020, the maximum amount that a person or legal entity may receive, directly or indirectly, is $125,000. Payments made to a joint operation (including a general partnership or joint venture) will not exceed $125,000, multiplied by the number of persons and legal entities that comprise the ownership of the joint operation. A person or legal entity is ineligible for QLA payment if the person’s or legal entity’s average Adjusted Gross Income exceeds $900,000, unless at least 75% is derived from farming, ranching or forestry-related activities. Future insurance coverage requirements All producers receiving QLA Program payments are required to purchase crop insurance or NAP coverage for the next two available crop years at the 60% coverage level or higher. If eligible, QLA participants may meet the insurance purchase requirement by purchasing Whole-Farm Revenue Protection coverage offered through USDA’s Risk Management Agency. For more information, visit farmers.gov/qualityloss, or contact your local USDA Service Center. Producers can also obtain one-on-one support with applications by calling 877-508-8364.
New year, new goals, same great dairy
Dairy Star • Saturday, January 16, 2021 • Page 27
At the start of each year, people are busy setting their New Year’s resolutions. Many want to exercise more, eat healthier, start a new routine and so much more. However, life can get busy, and our resolutions get put off for the next On the Road with year. 2020 was a year Princess Kay that challenged each and every one of us. Everyone was excited to nish the year and put it behind them. Although it would be easier for us all to put this hard and trying year behind us and forget, reecting on what we gained is also important. This year taught us By Brenna Connelly the importance of coming 67th Princess Kay of the together and the power Milky Way of community. The year taught us to support each other and our local businesses. 2020 brought some families closer together and forced us to slow down and spend more time at home. We cannot grow if we are not challenged, and that is exactly what this year did; it challenged us. Despite hardship and loss, we will enter 2021 stronger and ready to conquer the year ahead. Although it is a new year, for many the goal remains the same: to care for our cows with exceptional care and produce the same wholesome and nutritious product. To do this, we will look for ways to improve
your friends and family to add dairy products to their shopping carts. The benets that dairy can have on our health is outstanding, and it is budget friendly. Incorporating more dairy into a diet is a simple resolution and an easy task that can provide long-term benets for everyone. I am excited for what this year has in store as I continue my reign as the 67th Princess Kay of the Milky Way. I am looking forward to meeting more incredible people and nding new and creative ways to share the story of dairy. I cannot wait to visit more classrooms, attend summer events, meet the next nalists and more. This year has a lot to offer, and I can’t wait to see where this journey goes. Thank you for your continuous support and your daily dedication to your farms. I hope you all had a great Christmas
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daily operations, nutrition and animal care. Many of us will look for new ways to become more sustainable and even better stewards of the environment. Some will invest in new technologies and the future of our farms. No matter what our goals are, we are striving for a great and bright future for dairy. Recently, the United States Department of Agriculture and Department of Health Human Services released the 2020-25 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Once again, it shows that consuming dairy daily is key for healthy dietary patterns and good health. Why is this so important? The DGA gives guidance on dietary recommendations for federal food assistance programs such as those in schools. With so many health benets, dairy is an essential part of lling key nutritional gaps. In 2019, more than 10 billion pounds of uid milk, 683 million pounds of cheese and 662 million pounds of yogurt and other dairy foods moved through these programs. It is so incredible to be a part of an industry that can provide everyone with a healthy, nutrient-packed product and one that can offer so much help to our communities. This year, I challenge you to share your dairy story more than ever. People are looking for economical and healthy foods to ll their plates. Help those around you create healthy dietary patterns by encouraging
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Thi year, I challenge This h ll you to share your dairy story more than ever.
season, and I wish you all a happy New Year. Princess Kay of the Milky Way, Brenna Connelly serves as the Minnesota dairy community’s goodwill ambassador. Throughout the year, Princess Kay helps people understand the dedication of dairy farmers to wholesome and nutritious food, and the way milk is produced. Princess Kay does many school presentations, represents dairy farmers at the Fuel Up To Play 60 events that are held in conjunction with the Minnesota Vikings, and is very active during June Dairy Month sharing the importance of dairy farming and dairy foods. Brenna grew up in Byron, MN working on her cousin’s dairy farm. She is a sophomore at the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities, studying agricultural education and animal science. When she is not showing cattle or participating in dairy judging, she loves to read and travel.
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Page 28 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 16, 2021 Dana Adams, adam1744@umn.edu 320-204-2968 Joe Armstrong armst225@umn.edu 612.624.3610 Luciano Caixeta lcaixeta@umn.edu 612-625-3130 Hugh Chester-Jones chest001@umn.edu 507-835-3622 Gerard Cramer gcramer@umn.edu 612-625-8184 Marcia Endres miendres@umn.edu 612-624-5391 Sandra Godden godde002@umn.edu 612-625-8177 Joleen Hadrich jhadrich@umn.edu 612-626-5620 Les Hansen hanse009@umn.edu 612-624-2277 Brad Heins hein0106@umn.edu 320-589-1711 Nathan Hulinsky huli0013@umn.edu 320-203-6104 Kevin Janni kjanni@umn.edu 612-625-3108 Karen Johnson ande9495@umn.edu 320-484-4334 Emily Krekelberg krek0033@umn.edu 507-280-2863 Claire LaCanne lacanne@umn.edu 507-332-6109 Brenda Miller nels4220@umn.edu 320-732-4435 Erin Royster royster@umn.edu Jim Salfer salfe001@umn.edu 320-203-6093 Mike Schutz mschutz@umn.edu 612-624-1205
www.extension.umn.edu/dairy
Experimenting with yeast supplementation in calf starters In 2013, I was nishing up my master’s degree at South Dakota State University when I was approached by the dairy extension specialist about an opportunity. I was asked to work on a research project about probiotics in calf starters. My advisor frequently had his students involved in calf research, but this project would be an opportunity to get to know more about Extension’s role in the university as well as its value to producers across the state. It was a chance to better understand what producers are looking for and how that information, those answers, were obtained. This research, paired with several other extension programs, are what motivated my By Dana Adams decision to search for a career as an extenUniversity of MN sion educator. I found tremendous value in becoming engrained in a community and providing relevant research and support to those in agriculture. When it is said that extension takes research to producers, I was now part of that information, that research, being disseminated. That seemed like a career that, simply put, t. Supplementation can be utilized at various points throughout dairy cattle’s lifetime. This tool in the diet can be especially benecial when there is excessive stress from the environment and microbial pathogen challenges to the animal. Feeding yeast products in a dairy calf starter is one of several methods of supplementing yeast and it can potentially improve calf health and consequently growth parameters. The objective of this research performed during my graduate work in 2013 was to evaluate the immunity, health status and growth of pre-weaned dairy heifer calves fed a combination of Proternative SF and Levucell SC. Our hypothesis was that immunity, health status and growth of pre-weaned dairy heifer calves fed Proternative SF and Levucell SC would be better in comparison to heifers not receiving this supplement (control animals). This research was conducted at a commercial calf raising facility in South Dakota from Aug. 7 to Nov. 5, 2013. Calves were fed 3 liters of colostrum within the rst hour after birth and 3 liters in the following six hours according to farm protocol. Upon transport and arrival at the calf facility, calves were blood sampled to measure total serum protein. Calves were housed individually in polystyrene calf hutches and were given pasteurized waste milk two times per day according to farm protocol. Sixty Holstein heifer calves were blocked by birth date and total serum protein, then randomly assigned to one of two treatments within 10 days of arrival. Treatments included non-supplemented and yeast supplemented. The YS treatment consisted of Proternative SF (containing dried live yeast cells of Saccharomyces cerevi-
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siae boulardii) and Levucell SC (containing rumen specic dried yeast cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae I-1077)). All calves were on the trial for 80 days. Calves were fed free choice of a texturized calf starter formulated with cracked corn, whole oat, protein pellet, liquid fat, molasses, corn gluten fed, Bio-Mos® and Deccox®. The calf starter was formulated in one batch, with half unsupplemented and half yeast supplemented to contain 10 billion CFU of both Proternative SF and Levucell SC. Throughout the trial, both calf starters were sampled weekly and stored. Sampling was performed on days zero, 30, 60 and 80 for measuring growth and blood parameters. Growth parameters measured included body weight, wither height, hip height and hip width. Simultaneously, blood was sampled via venipuncture. We observed no signicant respiratory problems or diarrhea during the study. No signicant differences were detected in any growth parameters measured such as average daily gain, total weight gain, hip height, wither height or hip width for calves fed NS or YS calf starter. Blood parameters were analyzed by individual day and for the entire study and were similar for both groups. During the rst 30 days, YS calves showed a trend of increasing ADG compared to NS calves. In the nal 20 days of the trial, YS calves showed signicantly higher feed efciency when compared to NS calves. Our use of yeast supplementation with animals from a high-health, low-pathogen facility resulted in the expansion of research regarding this aspect of calf management and health. By working with this facility, we were collecting from animals that already had high total serum protein, immunoglobulin levels and subsequently high-quality management. This project’s value lies in its focus on where yeast supplementation will show the greatest return on investment (i.e., when fed to health challenged animals). This project also highlighted the impact of high-quality management on the farm. As a helpful anecdote to add context to our ndings, I observed high-quality management in the form of both written and practiced standard operating procedures for every aspect of the farm. Staff members were communicative and took pride in the quality of the calf leaving their care. Before research even began, this was a wellrun farm. Yes, the research focused on a new type of product for calf care and performance, but most importantly, data was gathered when a product was not really necessary. This is a perspective infrequently discussed, but I would argue equally valuable to the dairy science eld. Total serum protein of non-supplemented or yeast supplemented calf starter Measurement NS YS SEM Total serum protein (g/dL) 6.52 6.52 0.131
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Milk price, somatic cell count for WCROC dairy farm
This winter weather has been a challenge for many producers. It snowed in October, then melted and warmed, got cold again, and in January 2021 as I write this article, there is snow on the ground but warm sunshine. At the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center dairy herd in Morris, we had the cows out on pasture until late October and nally put cows in their outwintering lots in late December. We have been tracking our monthly milk price and somatic cell count for our two dairy herds since 2013. They provide some By Brad Heins interesting views of the dairy inUniversity of MN dustry within the last seven years and how our herd is managed and affected by weather. One issue that is consistent across the years is somatic cell count and how to improve milk quality. Therefore, let us discuss the milk price and some milk quality information from the past seven years at the WCROC, and tell you what we have done to lower the somatic cell counts for both the organic herd and the conventional herd. In the milk price gure are the nal mailbox price, with premiums, that we have received for milk for our two herds. Across the years, we average about 4.25% butterfat and 3.4% protein. Our cow numbers and milk production for both herds uctuate during the year, because half of cows calve in the spring and half calve in the fall. For the organic herd, there has been a downward trend in milk price since early 2016. That $40 per hundredweight milk price was really nice that year, and we were around $30 cwt at the end of 2020. The conventional herd also had the same downward trend from the highs of 2014, and we were about $26 cwt at the end of 2020. The milk price is volatile during different months of the year, and I am sure we will continue to see the ups and downs into the future. In the other gure are the bulk tank somatic cell counts for both herds from 2013 to 2020. For the organic herd, the somatic cell count has been on a roller coaster ride. Typically, during the spring, the somatic cell count can be high because of cows getting turned out to pasture while facing spring rains and the dreaded mud. We have always culled some cows because of high somatic cell count (that is our No. 2 reason for culling cows). We have always done extensive culturing of bulk tank samples for both herds. Typically, our biggest issues are non-ag strep and staph species. These are environmental mastitis caused by the environment of the cow (i.e., bedding, poor milking prep, weather). We also use the Minnesota Easy® Culture Triplate system for on-farm culturing. This helps us diagnose what is happening with our cows to determine either what we can change with management or how to treat our conventional cows with antibiotics. This has helped us get our somatic cell count and mastitis under control. The lower somatic cell count in the conventional herd comes at greater expense because of the use of antibiotics to treat mastitis. Many dairy producers are skeptical of organic production because of the restrictions imposed on the use of antibiotics. Organic dairies treat mastitis in a variety of ways, including frequent stripping of quarters to utilization of a variety of organic products such as garlic, aloe or essential oils. There are some key points for all dairy producers to consider to improve milk quality in their herd. First, identify subclinical infections and culture cows to determine if the cause of the mastitis is either environmental or contagious. Second, milking hygiene is important. Make sure to use a pre- and post-dip, and wear latex or rubber gloves while milking. Lastly, develop culling guidelines and either cull chronically infected cows or milk them last.
Dairy Star • Saturday, January 16, 2021 • Page 29
Forty-eight hours in Fargo Page 30 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 16, 2021
Some years ago, my wife and I slipped across the Continental Divide and found ourselves in a strange land where the inhabitants use an unfamiliar dialect and the rivers run backward. That is, we spent 48 hours in Fargo, North Dakota. Neither of us had ever set foot in the Peace Garden State. I do not know why; maybe it was due to that whole “north� thing with its implications of iciness and desolation. There once was a time when North Dakota had kicked around the idea of dropping the “north� part of its name in the hopes of giving the state a warmer public image. As a lifelong South Dakotan, I was affronted. Imagine how you would feel if your twin said to you one day, “It’s been fun sharing a birthday and all that, but I think it’s time for me to change my name and move on.� Wouldn’t you feel slighted? Wouldn’t you want to
start calling him Beet Breath? During our short sojourn in Fargo, my wife and I learned several things. For example, you know you are in North Dakota when: – North Dakota is pronounced as one word as in, “Is this your ďƒžrst trip to Nordakota?â€? The correct way to respond to that or any other question which requires an afďƒžrmative answer is, “Yah, sure, you betcha.â€? – The predominant signs in parking lots do not say such things as “one wayâ€? or “no overnight parking.â€? The most popular North Dakota parking lot signs read, “dumping of snow is prohibited.â€? – A standup comedian tells a joke poking fun at sugar beets and no one – not a single soul in a roomful of semi-inebriated North Dakotans – laughs. But there is more to North Dakota than beets and wheat and the northward ďƒ&#x;owing Red River with its ďƒ&#x;at-as-a-pool-table valley. There is also Moorhead,
minne-series Webinar series focused on advancing your farm’s success
Don’t miss out on this NEW opportunity for Minnesota dairy farmers, employees, and industry professionals. Every Thursday and Friday, beginning January 7th, Minnesota Milk will host four different webinars featuring expert speakers. Webinars are free to producer and associate members of Minnesota Milk and partner organizations including UMDIA and MFA. Non-members will be invoiced a one-time fee of $100 to access the content. Register now at MnMilk.org.
People
Production
Policy & Economics
Conservation & Sustainability
Thursday, 11:00 a.m.
Thursday, 1:00 p.m.
Friday, 11:00 a.m.
Friday, 1:00 p.m. S PO N S O R E D BY:
Agenda January 7/8
January 14/15
January 21/22
January 28/29
Safety Doesn’t Happen by Accident
Beef Options for Dairies to Diversify, Maximize proďŹ ts
MN Milk Resolutions and Policy Opportunities in 2021
A Holistic Approach to Dairy Conservation
Kevin Wulf
Andrew Swanson
Lucas Sjostrom & Daryn McBeth
Nathan Hylla
Engaging Employees: We can do it!
Dairy Category Analysis
Financial Knowledge your Banker Wants You to Know
Why The Nature Conservancy Loves Farmers
Jorge Delgado
Megan Sheets
Gary Sipiorski
Leif Fixen
Making the Most out of your Farm Advisory Team
Oddball Organisms
Dairy 2021 Outlook
Deep Dive on Dairy Data from Discovery Farms
Leah Bischof
Matt Boyle
Marin Bozic
Tim Radatz
Bend But Don’t Break: Exploring Resiliency
Udder Dissection
Environment versus Execution
What’s a Strip Tiller have to do with Saving Money?
Monica McConkey
Mario Solis Flores
Michael Swanson
Amos Smith
ONE WEEK BREAK
February 4/5
February 11/12
The Value of Collaboration for Sustainable Agriculture
Emily Krekelberg
Joleen Hadrich
Paul Bleiberg
Ryan Whisnant
Mental Resiliency
Changing the Game with Dairy Analytics
Farm Bureau Priorities for Dairy Industry Reform
Net Zero Initiative
Dennis Hoiberg
Jeffrey Bewley
John Newton
Jim Wallace & Karen Scanlon
Sleep: The Fuel of Your Resilience
Is My Dairy Business Competitive? Actions that Drive ProďŹ t
Building a Vaccine Protocol
Got Manure? Cover it Up and Take Credit
Joe Armstrong
Melissa Wilson
February 18/19
February 25/26
Dennis Hoiberg
Matt Lange & Jon Zander
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Minnesota. Moorhead lies just across the Red River from Fargo and is Fargo’s twin sister. Moorhead is also where we found the Hjemkomst. The Hjemkomst Dear County Agent Guy is a full-sized, true-tolife replica of a Viking longship. The dragonheaded vessel was the brainchild of Robert Asp, a Moorhead junior high school counselor and a descendant of Norwegian immigrants. Asp thought it would be fun to build By Jerry Nelson what is essentially an Columnist 1,100-year-old Viking ship and sail it to Norway, essentially reversing the path of his ancestors. This meant he was doing things backward and the hard way, which, I must proudly note, is the hallmark of being a true Norwegian. The Hjemkomst was built in Hawley, Minnesota, in an abandoned potato warehouse. Aside from the obvious connection of potatoes with lefse, the rent was also right at a thrifty 10 bucks per year. Once the Viking longship was completed, the 76-foot, 20-ton wooden behemoth was trucked to Lake Superior. Asp succumbed to leukemia shortly afterward, so he was unable to be physically present when the Hjemkomst lived up to the meaning of her name, “homecoming,â€? when she sailed into Norway’s Bergen harbor the summer after she was ďƒžnished. There can be no doubt that Asp was with her in spirit. Another treat was the nearby Stavkirke, or Stave Church. A replica of a church in Vik, Norway, that was built about the year 1100, the Stave Church sports both crosses and dragon heads on its gables. The original church was erected at a time when Norway was just becoming Christianized; my Norse ancestors were obviously reluctant to give up all of their heathenism all at once. We noted a couple of nifty features of the Stave Church. One is the ambulatory, an open hallway that girdles the church. This area was used as a marketplace on weekdays, meaning we Norwegians pioneered the concept of the shopping mall. Another novel facet of the Stave Church is a small door in the wall of the altar area. This opening made it possible for the minister to give communion to folks who were lepers and thus obliged to remain out in the ambulatory. This is yet another innovation as it is an obvious forerunner to our modern drive-thru. We enjoyed many other exciting features of North Dakota including the town of Casselton, which at the time was home to The Famous Pile of Tin Cans. Casselton also had a winery where we purchased wine jelly. You have to hand it to those North Dakotans for ďƒžguring out a way to sneak a snort with their morning mufďƒžns. At the end of the weekend, we pointed our car southward and headed home. We were pushed along by a north wind which, for once, did not seem icy and desolate. Neither did North Dakota. Jerry is a recovering dairy farmer from Volga, S.D. He and his wife, Julie, have two grown sons and live on the farm where Jerry’s great-grandfather homesteaded over 110 years ago. Jerry currently works full time for the Dairy Star as a staff writer/ad salesman. Feel free to E-mail him at: jerry.n@ dairystar.com.
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Eating the elephant
the time we were at the tipping point, she gave that enough to attach the fetal extractor. We then carefully leg a good kick, sending Stan ying. He landed on his and slowly extracted a live heifer calf. This was an butt in the sand. Pretty much everyone thought that unexpected, happy outcome. was quite funny, as a roar of laughter erupted. On the I had a lot of cleaning up to do. Once in the next try, we got her ipped. I examined her rectally to milkhouse, I removed my tbibs and top and hosed see if the torsion was corrected. Nope. We did it again, them off. Remarkably, I was reasonably clean and dry and upon my exam, I determined that we had partially underneath. Just as I nished cleaning, Stan walked untwisted the uterus. We tried again. As she nished in and said, “She just got up.” This was even more rolling she hit a portable feeding pan on the side of the remarkable. I walked back to the pen to see her licking pen, making it y. All of a sudden, a cat jumped into off her calf, neither looking worse for the wear. Stan the fray, nearly landing on the cow. We could hear and I stood there for a bit, admiring the sight. I am soft mewing. Marvin looked near the pen divider and pretty sure he was thinking the same thing as I; that reached down to rescue two we all had beat the odds kittens, who had apparently today. A big, black, down been living under the feeder. Wi cow, a calf living inside a With h uterine i torsions, i often f Mom seemed to be relieved uterus completely closed as she carried them away. delivery of the calf is difficult even by a refractory cervix, and This time we had corrected two old guys rolling around after the torsion is corrected. the torsion. in the sand; we all came out We still had a long way unscathed. The elephant had to go however. We had only been eaten. It was a great taken one or two bites of the elephant. With uterine day to be on the farm. torsions, often delivery of the calf is difcult even Bennett is one of four dairy veterinarians at after the torsion is corrected. In this case, the head Northern Valley Dairy Production Medicine Center in was twisted and folded back toward the front of the Plainview, Minn. He also consults on dairy farms in cow. Sometimes one has to use a head snare or an other states. He and his wife, Pam, have four children. obstetrical chain to get the head pointed in the right Jim can be reached at bennettnvac@gmail.com with direction. This can be difcult. It is especially difcult comments or questions. when the cow is down because there is more pressure on the uterus from the abdominal organs. Plus, trying to reach to the end of one’s ngertips to slide a cable or chain over the calf’s head is particularly hard when YOUR ALKOTA DEALERS! lying on your side in a pool of fetal uids, even on a warm day. Try as I might, I could not get that cable MIDWEST ALKOTA MIDWEST ALKOTA over the poll. I switched to a chain, and after some 18297 LINCOLN RD. • FAYETTE, IA 103 5TH ST. • GRUNDY CENTER, IA 563-425-3219 time, thought I had it. Sitting up in the muck, I put a 319-215-2138 Doug Kiel Taylor Appel handle on the chain and pulled hard to a make sure SERVING NE IOWA CENTRAL IOWA the chain was properly attached. But then the chain & SW WI slipped off, and I rolled backward, completely over Now selling Chlor-clean detergent, onto my knees. The crew apparently thought seeing one step cleaner and disinfectant, reduce the risk of infection Old Doc do a backip was hilarious, too, because CALL TODAY there was another roar of laughter. Unfazed, I returned to the depths of the beast and replaced the chain. This We service all brands time it held, and I was able to get the head straightened Pr
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I was mowing the lawn on a beautiful, sunny and warm Saturday afternoon when my phone vibrated in my pocket. I shut off the tractor and heard Stan, herdsman on a local Veterinary Wisdom adairy, say he had a cow that needed to be seen. She was down. She had a uterine torsion that was so tight Stan could not get his hand through the cervix. She was outside, and Stan wasn’t sure how long she had been down. He had given her a bottle of calcium, and she did not respond. She did not look good. This By Jim Bennett was enough information Columnist to give me a bad feeling. Stan had worked with cows for his entire life, and his skills regarding everything cow were amazing. In fact, I often told him I believed he was at least one-half cow. So, when Stan said he didn’t think the outcome of this situation looked promising, I believed him. Nevertheless, I replied, “I will be right out. Can you move her inside, out of the sun?” He told me they would get the pay loader and get the cow in the intensive care pen. Stan was right. The cervix was completely closed. The torsion was likely a complete ip, or 360 degrees. She was a big, black cow, 1,700 or 1,800 pounds, and she was not very responsive. Someone wiser than me once said that the answer to the question, “How do you eat an elephant?” was “One bite at a time.” So, we started. We needed to roll her to untwist the torsion. Stan got on the radio and soon had rounded up an army of four or ve strong, younger co-workers. I explained how we needed to roll her. Subsequently, there was a lot of grunting and heavy breathing as we made our rst attempt. This made her wake up. She immediately put one of her front legs out to the side to create a strong triangle that much as we tried, sabotaged our efforts. We pushed the leg back and regrouped. Stan had one of the rear legs. Just about
Dairy Star • Saturday, January 16, 2021 • Page 31
Page 32 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 16, 2021
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Filling up at the farmhouse table
Like many farm families, our kitchen table is the gathering spot for people, piles of mail, food to enjoy and good conversation. It is worth some reection of how that has changed or maybe not changed over the past years, especially in 2020. Because of COVID-19, the farmhouse table, which in our case is a long island style with taller stools, has had a bigger crowd these past few months. Our three college kids were home in March with the University of Minnesota canceling in-person classes. They proceeded to fulll the requirements of spring semester from home on their laptops. The table was lled with food and people for three meals a day. My duties as food manager were taxed as I tried to keep up with groceries, preparation and clean up. This part of farm life has never been my favorite, but I am learning. Thank goodness the rest of the family helped with the chores outside so I had more time for these tasks. They helped with cooking too. The result: typical meals to enjoy with more time together and some exchanging of ideas pertaining to farm decisions and college learning than we realized we’d be having. That was a really bright spot. I loved a recent conversation about the merits of various reproductive programs including which bull sorts to use and hearing everyone participate in the pros and cons. During the past summer, the table was still full for most meals, although food sometimes needed to be easily accessed as people dined more on their own schedules, with jobs, eld work and other reasons. In June, the end of the kitchen island was occupied with several slabs of beef ribs being salted as preparation for an outdoor pit barbecue roast which lasted for several hours. The beef was roasted by a friend from Brazil who wanted to show our sons how it was done by his family on their ranch. Later in the fall, their friend from India prepared an Indian meal for us with special cheese and spices. Both meals were delicious. In late summer, the table was not as full as our daughter Emily accepted a new job and went to Vermont for training for several weeks. In September, the college guys moved back to their fraternity house on campus but came home several times to help with harvest and chores. Sometimes only Rolf and I sat around the island, but often there were many more people with the kids returning and their friends who had come to the farm for visits. What a great way to get to know their friends and signicant others. This continued through the fall. It led me to think about the times when I had rst come to our farm to visit Rolf when we were dating. I sat in the same kitchen around the typical large wooden farmhouse table with his family and
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joined in the conversation. Rolf’s dad, Carl, sat at one end and Lois mostly bustled around serving food and never really sitting until maybe Come Full Dairy Circle the very end of the meal. Carl would ask me the best questions about farms where I had interviewed people for my writing By Jean Annexstad jobs. I didn’t Columnist always have answers. Conversation would usually end up on the tasks planned for the day or the local news. Then after marriage and starting our family, the table included our children in high chairs and booster seats. The Peterson boy cousins, their parents and Aunt Kirsten often visited the farm, and the table got really full and overowed to the dining room. We remember Emily proclaiming at about age 2, “Michael is dooty!” when she noticed manure on his arms from the morning milking. It’s encouraged to try to wash up before dining, but we don’t get real concerned. There were many milk spills, bread crumbs and other messes. No one minded. Food was always appreciated even if not perfect. Many times my husband stated, “I like it that way,” (referring to the food I had made that was burnt, over-cooked, not warm enough, etc.). The weirdest thing about these recent times has been the change in how to handle holidays and birthdays around our farmhouse table. We usually include other family members or we go to their homes and sit around their tables. Together we enjoy the delicious traditional holiday treats and meals. This year because of the COVID-19 concerns, Thanksgiving, winter birthdays and Christmas meals were with our family or outside around a re. These new experiences will surely make us appreciate our family gatherings around the table even more in the future. Around our farmhouse table there was always much talking and laughing. It is where people got caught up, asked questions, tried to make sense of events happening and planned their work for the day. It still is and hopefully always will be. Jean dairy farms with her husband, Rolf, and brother-in-law, Mike, and children Emily, Matthias and Leif. They farm near St. Peter, Minnesota, in Norseland, where she is still trying to t in with the Norwegians and Swedes. They milk 200 cows and farm 650 acres. She can be reached at jeanannexstad@gmail.com.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, January 16, 2021 • Page 33
Sheas donate money from corn sales to favorite restaurant after tip money stolen
A sweet act of kindness
By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
VIOLA, Minn. – Restaurants in the state have suffered through a tough 2020 with restrictions on dining during the pandemic. So when the younger generation of Shea boys heard one of their favorite restaurants was the victim of theft just two days into 2021, they knew they had to do something. The Sheas – Ryan, 17, and Bronson, 13, who are the sons of Tom and Missy; and Carter, 11, Bennett, 9, and Rowan, 6, the sons of Jason and Mindy – donated $200 of the money they earned from their summer enterprise, Shea Boys Sweet Corn, to Victoria’s Ristorante and Wine Bar in Rochester. The families milk 900 cows on their dairy near Viola. “We thought it would be the best thing to do and the nicest thing possible,” Ryan said. On Jan. 3, the business posted on its Facebook page about the tip money being sto-
PHOTO SUBMITTED
The Shea cousins – (from leŌ) Carter, BenneƩ, Ryan, Bronson and Rowan – donated $200 to Victoria’s Ristorante and Wine Bar aŌer Ɵp money was stolen from the restuarant Jan. 2. The Sheas milk 900 cows near Viola, Minnesota. len from the building the previous evening. Two women came in to place an order but left with the cash instead. The Shea boys, who have two aunts who work as managers at the restaurant, saw the post the next day. “We talked about how when you wait tables, the tips are money you make for the night so when the tips were stolen, we talked as a family about how those waitresses
and waiters went home with no money after they had worked hard for those tips,” Mindy said. Although the restaurant could not have sit-down dining due to COVID-19 restrictions, they offered take-out orders. The young Shea boys decided to show the business an act of kindness by donating money back. “We were all together watching the Vikings game,
and we all agreed on it,” Bronson said. “We wanted to help them out.” Bronson and Carter presented a card with $200 to the staff later that evening when they were picking up a takeout meal for Ryan’s birthday. “They were very excited and surprised, and they appreciated it,” Bronson said. So much so the restaurant posted a picture of the boys from that night and of the card
along with heartfelt words of thanks. “Thank you. … We are speechless,” the post said. “A fall to the oor and cry moment. Your kind gesture is commendable, and we are still in awe.” The kindness of the Shea boys has inspired others too. “We’ve heard donations have been ooding in from the community (because of that post),” Mindy said. This coming summer will be the fourth selling season for Shea Boys Sweet Corn. Planting usually starts in April, and they can have up to seven planting dates per year. Harvesting starts July 1 and continues through September. “They put in a lot of time during the summer months,” Jason said. As the oldest of the group, Ryan takes the shifts selling corn in the parking lot of the Kwik Trip in Eyota. They all take turns working shifts in the roadside stand on their farm. In the off months, they prepare for the selling season and now do acts of kindness when they feel compelled. They did not expect the restaurant to post about their donation, but they appreciated the recognition. “We were just trying to be nice,” Bronson said.
Page 34 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 16, 2021
Will the surge in land prices continue?
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What started out with better than expected sales prices at land auctions prior to fall harvest extended into very strong prices at some auctions during October and November, surprising many. “Farmers National Company had auction sales in several states during this time where land sold near levels last seen in 2012. In specic instances, prices for good quality cropland in the heart of the Midwest are up hundreds to thousands of dollars per acre more than anticipated,” said Randy Dickhut, senior vice president of real estate operations at Farmers National Company. What is propelling the land market and will this current surge in prices continue? Agricultural land prices have been fairly stable in the past several years despite the gyrations of the ag economy. Producer incomes were taking hits, but the land market took it in stride except for the hardest hit areas or segments. The factors supporting the land market remained constant during this time, which included historically low interest rates, a lower supply of land for sale and adequate demand for good cropland about everywhere. The demand for land is the driver of the current land price surge. “Values for good cropland are strong right now with more farmers stepping up to buy as well as a growing number of individual investors. Buying interest from farmers has increased as they anticipate a better income year in 2020 than once thought,” Dickhut said. Higher commodity prices and the historic inux of government payments in 2020 have helped the nancial condition of many farmers and therefore their interest in productive land. Demand for all types of land has also seen an increase. As a result of COVID-19, a growing number of individuals have become
interested in land as an investment. An individual might be interested in a rural acreage so they can have a place outside an urban area or it might be cropland if they want a safe, long-term investment.Bottomline, buying interest for land in general is up. “The overall supply of good cropland for sale is on the low side and is similar to the past few years. Despite the slower ag land market, the dollar amount of land that Farmers National Company is currently selling for its clients is near record levels at $300 million,” Dickhut said. The New Year will bring a renewed examination of the underlying factors propelling land prices. There will be no large inux of government cash for producers in 2021, but grain prices are signicantly higher so that more of net farm income will come from the market. Interest rates continue to be historically low, which supports strong land prices. Looking ahead, the supply of ag land on the market will not change much as it remains mostly inheritors, estates and nonoperating families who sell. Farm nances will be adequate for another year to avoid an increase in forced sales by lenders. Active demand for good cropland by farmers and investors will continue for now, Dickhut predicted. In the land market, the same supporting factors that have been keeping ag land values stable the past few years are expected to carry on in 2021. The additional factor driving land prices at the end of 2020 is the stronger demand by both farmers and investors. “Calls from buyers and sellers come in daily at Farmers National Company. Interest in land and ag land in particular grew in 2020. Looking ahead, if nothing unexpected happens to challenge the current land market, land prices will continue to rm up in 2021,” Dickhut said.
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A little about me, our farm
Hello, readers of Dairy Star. When I was asked if I would be interested in writing an article, after taking up three times the amount of Mark Klaphake’s day he expected when he called me to get details for a Minnesota DHIA ad, I was surprised. Clearly he had not spoken to the professor who taught my rhetoric and technical communications class at the University of Minnesota; the only class I remember doing much writing in where run-on sentences consisting mostly of dairy industry jargon were not accepted. If he had, he may have been warned that my grasp of farming-related acronyms is great, but my skills with a pen are From the Zweber Farm lacking. That said, I will do my best to make this column as entertaining as it is poorly written because I imagine just like cows, dairy farmers who write have to be at least slightly more useful than annoying to stick around. In today’s world, the rst thing a lot of people do is jump on the internet when they want to nd out who someone is and how many friends they have in common. I will save you the trouble and possibly me the embarrassment of long forgotten college era photos. My wife, Emily, and I farm along with my By Tim Zweber parents, Jon and Lisa Zweber, and our three children, Famer Columnist Erik, Jonnie and Hannah, just north of New Market, Minnesota. Our town is only 30 minutes south of the Twin Cities and, as such, has turned into a suburb in the last couple decades. My three siblings have left the farm to pursue other careers but come back regularly to hang about and enjoy farm life for a bit, especially around the holidays. Our whole family loves the outdoors, and when we are not busy with eld work or other seasonal jobs that take more hours than there are in a day, we take advantage of all the outdoor recreation Minnesota offers. Rock climbing and boating in the summer, hunting and hiking in the fall, skiing and snowboarding in the winter. Spring is mostly devoted to mud, all the kinds of mud, and, of course, getting ready for the cropping and grazing season when that mud suddenly dries up and it is time to plant and get the cows out to pasture. Our farm has gone through many changes in its 117 years being run by our family. Starting out as a diversied farm with horses for eld work, dairy cows, pigs and chickens, it slowly became specialized to dairy cows only. My parents further specialized into managed intensive grazing and the rst steps toward being organic in the 1990s. When I returned to the farm from a stint as an auto mechanic then at the University of Minnesota studying dairy science, we certied the farm organic and joined Organic Valley Cooperative. Around the time they started grazing the cows, my parents also started to raise our bull calves for ourselves and family and then for friends and neighbors; thus our freezer meat business was born. Soon we added pasture-raised chickens back to the farm because beef is great but you have to eat more than just steaks and burgers. We butchered them ourselves one time and decided that in order to have friends and family answer their phones when called we best leave that job to the professionals at the butcher shop. When a neighbor somehow acquired a pig which they fed in their backyard for a short time before walking it up to our farm on a leash for us to raise, we became pig farmers again. Eventually we even built a chicken coop and got some layers to satisfy all the folks stopping out to pick up their meat or place an order, thinking if we had meat chickens we must have egg layers. It’s fun to look back at aerial pictures of our farm lined up by decade in the entryway of our house and see all the old buildings for the different species disappear then one by one reappear though in a modern form. Speaking of transitions, next week will be Emily and I’s 15th wedding anniversary, and I have nearly learned through her gentle reminders when I keep us too long at a friend’s house Minnesota “goodbyeing.” Sometimes I need to stop talking and let people get on with their business. Until next time friends, keep on living the dream.
Dairy Star • Saturday, January 16, 2021 • Page 35
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Page 36 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 16, 2021
Women In Dairy Joanne Van Middendorp Hull, Iowa Sioux County 510 cows Tell us about your farm. My husband, Todd, and I have 11 children: Trevor, 34, Jeremy, 32, Brandon, 31, Jared, 30, Brent, 29, Travis, 27, Lance, 25, Landon, 25, Treva, 21, Lanae, 20, and Justin, 17. In addition, we now have eight daughters-in-law, two sons-in-law, 15 grandchildren and are expecting two more if all is well. Three of our sons and one son-in-law have served or are serving in the U.S. Military domestically and overseas. We are proud of their service. Our farm is home to 510 Holstein dairy cows. We breed our herd with Angus bulls and sell our calves at birth. We purchase our replacement heifers. What is the busiest time of day for you? The mornings between 5 and 9. At that time, I take care of any baby calves. We then check all fresh cows for at least the rst ve days. We have a set protocol for all fresh cows. Also at that time, we walk the dry cow pen and bring in any near calving cows. When you get a spare moment, what do you do? In my spare time, I love to do all things pertaining to the home and yard, and spend time with our grandchildren. Tell us about your most memorable experience working on the farm. Without a doubt, our most memorable and life changing event was moving our family, some equipment and cattle in 2002. We moved from Washington state back to Iowa, my husband’s boyhood locale. What have you enjoyed most about dairy farming or your tie to the dairy industry? Being able to work while raising a large family. This gave our children a strong work ethic, which remains with them to this day. It is
a special privilege that from time to time our grandchildren come to the farm to help and to make special memories. How do you stay connected with others in the industry? I enjoy reading and looking through the farm publications we receive and going to the Central Plains Dairy Expo each spring. Who is someone in the industry who has inspired you? My husband. I grew up in a city near Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. I had no dairy knowledge or experience. It has been his lifelong occupation, and he has patiently taught me a lot of what I know today. If you could give a tour of your farm to a prominent woman in today’s society, who would it be? I would love to have Nancy Pelosi and Kamala Harris come for a tour, to educate them where and how their dairy products come to the table. I would love for them to see the dedication needed to operate a family dairy farm. What is the best vacation you have ever taken? Vacations on a dairy are rare, but we feel indebted, whenever possible, to go west to visit our elderly parents. This past year for our 35th wedding anniversary, we were able to take a few days off to Duluth, Minnesota.
FARM INFORMATION STATION Joe Gill • Farm Director
SERVING CENTRAL MINNESOTA FOR OVER 50 YEARS
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Dairy Star • Saturday, January 16, 2021 • Page 37
She said yes! Dairy barn is site for Buss, Kucera engagement By Danna Sabolik
danna.s@dairystar.com
HUTCHINSON, Minn. – It was not a typical morning milking for Kelsey Buss Nov. 14. Derek Kucera asked Kelsey to be his wife in the milkhouse of her dairy near Hutchinson, Minnesota. “I was very surprised,â€? Kelsey said. Kelsey had been completing chores with her sister, Brigette, when their dad, Kevin, asked for help with the feed mill. Kelsey followed her dad out of the barn but soon heard her sister urgently calling for help with a cow. “I was annoyed and a little ďƒ&#x;ustered,â€? Kelsey said. “And when I made my way back into the barn, there was a sheet on one of the cows.â€? Confused, Kelsey took a closer look, and as she did her boyfriend, Derek, appeared and knelt on one knee. “That’s when I realized what was happening, and my heart started to beat really fast,â€? Kelsey said.
Captured on video from a friend, Kelsey’s response was emphatically yes. Kelsey and Derek met through mutual friends and bonded over their shared love of hockey. They have been dating for two and a half years and have lived together about half that time on the farm. “I farm with my parents right now,â€? Kelsey said. “But eventually I’d love to takeover and run the family farm.â€? The Buss family milks 60 Holsteins in a ďƒ&#x;at parlor and rents cropland to grow forages for their livestock. Kelsey does all the milking and also balances an off-farm job working with disabled adults full time. Derek was not a farm boy but grew up helping local farmers near Silver Lake. Today, he works as a mechanic at Pro Auto in Hutchinson and helps on the Buss’ farm when he can. “I knew pretty early on it was going to last,â€? Kelsey said. “He ďƒžt in so well with my family, and that’s something really important to me.â€?
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Derek Kucera proposes to Kelsey Buss Nov. 14 on her family’s 60-cow dairy farm near Hutchison, Minnesota. The couple plans to marry in September 2021. For one of their ďƒžrst dates, Kelsey taught Derek how to drive tractor. “It was springtime, so that can get a little crazy on the farm,â€? Kelsey said. “I told him, ‘If you want to date a farmer, this is what it’s like.’â€? They had talked seriously about their relationship in Jan-
uary 2019 before Derek moved to the farm, but he wanted to wait for the right moment to make their engagement ofďƒžcial. Kelsey admits she was impatient through the process. “I was ready,â€? she said. “He maybe needed a little more time, but I was ready.â€?
In October 2020, the couple was in St. Cloud running errands when Kelsey suggested they stop at a ring shop to ďƒžnd her size. “I didn’t want there to be pressure, but I wanted him to know what size I was, and Turn to BUSS | Page 38
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Page 38 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 16, 2021
ConƟnued from BUSS | Page 37 Available at Madison Location
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Kelsey Buss and Derek Kucera plan to get married Sept. 4, 2021. Buss milks 60 Holsteins with her parents, Kevin and Lori, near Hutchinson, Minnesota.
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“I really like gardening, and I’d like to incorporate plants somehow in the decorations as well,” Kelsey said. “Derek’s family likes John Deere, and we’re a big IH family, so we’ll have to include that somehow too.” The county fair is a special place for the pair. “We had a lot of relationship dening moments at the fair,” Kelsey said. “He didn’t really grow up doing the fair thing, and I love it.” They are keeping the dairy theme incorporated in their wedding with cowbells on the tables to ring for a kiss. The threat of COVID-19 lingers in the air, but Kelsey said they are not wasting time worrying. KELSEY BUSS, DAIRY FARMER “We know a lot of people that are waiting to get The low-prole diamond with married,” Kelsey said. “But we don’t wrap-around innity band was everycare if we can’t have a big party. We thing Kelsey wanted. want to get married to be married.” Planning a wedding during a panThe couple has the back-up option demic can be challenging, but it has yet to get the best of the easy-going to hold the ceremony and reception on couple. They have set a date for Sept. 4 the farm if need be. “The vaccine coming out now gives and hope to get married on the McLeod us hope,” Kelsey said. County Fairgrounds. The engagement came just before “The pavilion was recently remodthe latest COVID-19-related regulaeled, and it’s huge so it would be a great tions in Minnesota, so the couple hosted place for social distancing if it comes to a small engagement party with friends that,” Kelsey said. Wedding colors are set to be blue and family in November. and magenta, the couple’s favorite colors. what I liked so that when he was ready, he wouldn’t have to worry about that part,” Kelsey said. Unbeknownst to her, Derek had already ordered a ring, and it was in the mail at the time of their tting in St. Cloud. “Looking back, it’s kind of funny,” Kelsey said. “I tried on a bunch of rings, and it was really fun. He was really interested in what I liked, and the ring he got me had a lot of my favorite things I had pointed out.”
“We had a lot of relationship dening moments at the (county) fair.”
Organic conference offers virtual learning opportunities
Minnesota’s only statewide conference on organic agriculture is going virtual for 2021. The Minnesota Organic Conference, hosted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) will take place every Thursday in January. Virtual sessions will begin at 3 p.m. and provide farmers and others interested in organic agriculture the opportunity to learn more about healthy farms, food businesses, and soils. The conference sessions lineup is as follows: Thursday, Jan. 21: The Challenges of Our Times: Climate Change, COVID, and Organic Farm Viability – Carolyn Dimitri, PhD, New York University Department of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health – Andy Pressman, National Center for Appropriate Technology – Cristel Zoebisch, Organic Farming Research Foundation Thursday, Jan. 28: Soil Health on Organic Farms – Amber Sciligo, PhD, The Organic Center Science Program Manager To register and for more information, including the conference schedule and updates, visit Minnesota Organic Conference or call Cassie Dahl at 651-201-6134.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, January 16, 2021 • Page 39
sponsored by
Josh Salentine Salentine Homestead Dairy LLC Luxemburg, Wisconsin Kewaunee County 300 cows
What advice would you give other dairy farmers? Don’t be afraid to listen to others, but remember, only you know your operation best. Others want to help you succeed. And always remember your why. Remember why you started dairy farming and why you continue to do it.
How did you get into farming? I got into dairy farming by being raised surrounded by it. I am the fourth generation and proud to follow in the footsteps of my parents and grandparents.
What has been the best purchase you have ever made on your farm? The best purchase we have made on our farm has been the Dairy Comp 305 computer system. It allows us to track, in conjunction with SCR, each animal in our herd with their breeding, treatment and freshening.
What are your thoughts and concerns about the dairy industry for the next year? Most of the concerns I have for the dairy industry in the next year surround the topic of COVID-19. I feel great pressure will be put on the markets until some of the states begin to allow restaurants to open at full capacity. What is the latest technology you implemented on your farm and the purpose for it? The latest technology we have implemented on our dairy has been the SCR cow monitoring collars. These allow us to individually track rumination, rest time and detect heats on each animal in our herd. What is a management practice you changed in the past year that has beneted you? In the last year, we have really focused on our alfalfa fertility to maximize tonnage. What cost-saving steps have you implemented during the low milk price? During the low milk price, we have gone through our cow rations
PHOTO SUBMITTED
The SalenƟne family – (from leŌ) Jenny, Caleb, Molly, Megan and Josh – celebrated 100 years of family farming in 2020 on their dairy near Luxemburg, Wisconsin.
with a ne-tooth comb. We looked closely to be as efcient with feeding as we can be. How do you retain a good working relationship with your employees? We strive our very best to keep an open communication relationship with our employees. We use whiteboards around the barns to keep everybody updated. Tell us about a skill you possess that makes dairy farming easier for you.
Dairy farming becomes very easy when you aren’t afraid to listen to your team members and take critiques and help from them all. The people on my team really want our business to succeed, and they are all skilled in their profession. What do you enjoy most about dairy farming? I enjoy the diversity of dairy farming. Every year is different, and every season is unique in its own way.
What has been your biggest accomplishment while dairy farming? The biggest accomplishment while dairy farming has been seeing our herd get better through the use of genetics. Also, we celebrated 100 years of family farming in 2020. What are your plans for your dairy in the next year and ve years? In the next ve years, I would like to see an increase in total solids sold per cow each year. How do you or your family like to spend time when you are not doing chores? My family and I like to spend our free time at our kids’ sporting events and taking small trips to see cool landmarks in our own area. Some of our favorites have been Cave Point and Fonferek’s Glen.
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