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DAIRY ST R “All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 19, No. 23
Tax code may benet farmers but revisions necessary By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
RINGLE, Wis. – When President Trump signed the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) into law Dec. 22, 2017, it became the most comprehensive overhaul to the United State’s tax code in more than 30 years. With that, businesses large and small sought how their tax portfolio would change – and the dairy industry was no exception. “It’s hard to speculate right now how this could all work; each farm will be affected differently,” James Juedes said. Juedes and his wife, Joanne, milk 60 cows 10 miles east of Wausau, Wis., in Marathon County. The farm is operated as a sole proprietorship. As the law is further developed and understood, Juedes has worked with his accountant to envision how the changes will reect in his dairy business. Of the individual and business changes noted in the tax reform, the most notable for the dairy sector include: Personal property is no longer eligible in a Section 1031 exchange; Section 179 increased to $1 million and a $2.5 million threshold for purchases; Accelerated depreciation increased to 100 percent on new and used property; a seven-year class life on new farming assets was shortened to ve years; Corporation rate is set at 21 percent; and DPAD was repealed and replaced with a 20 percent deduction on Qualied Business Income. “The tax package will ultimately result in lower taxes for farmers,” said Amber Hanson-Glaeser of Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation. “There’s a lot of good things Turn to TAX | Page 5
January 27, 2018
“Everyone is just superb. They knew they had to keep the farm going.” – Bruce Asfeld
The power of many
Asfeld recoups with support from family, neighbors By Jennifer Coyne Staff Writer
WEST UNION, Minn. – In Bruce Asfeld’s 24 years of dairy farming, he has never taken an extended leave of absence from the farm – that was until the afternoon of Dec. 3, when he tore the muscle that surrounds his right kneecap. Now, after nearly eight weeks in a brace, Bruce is improving his mobility and able to return to the farm in small capacities. “Sitting in the house is not for me,” Bruce said. “When you spend 24 years building this up, you have to know what’s going on, and I’m glad to be working Turn to ASFELD | Page 11
MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR
Bruce Asfeld (right) is recovering from a knee injury that occurred Dec. 3 at his 110-cow dairy near West Union, Minn. The farm has remained operaƟonal with help from friends and family, including (from leŌ) neighbor, Ryan Pallow; son, Jonathon; wife, Rose; and daughter, Nicole.
Everyone happy with robots at Du-Ayr Dairy Dubans build facility to replace outdated barn By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
FARIBAULT, Minn. – The Dubans feel their cows are thriving in their new environment. They say they can tell partly by the way the cows greet them upon entering a pen. “When we go in the pen and the cows are licking our coats, I always think they’re telling us, ‘Thank you. We don’t have to be outside all the time anymore,’” Paul Duban said. The people are also happy at Du-Ayr Dairy, where Paul and Audrey Duban along with their daughter, Clarissa, Clarissa’s ancé, Shawn Suess, and their sons, Scott and Chad, built a new milking facility with two robots to accommodate their herd of 120 cows near Faribault, Minn. The 70- by 242-foot barn has 126 sand bedded stalls and drive-by feeding. There is a pen for each robot. The Dubans separate the cows into pens KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR based on size because of the herd’s mix of breeds. Clarissa Duban wipes the screen on one of the two roboƟc milkers on her While Holsteins make up about 50 percent of the herd, Ayrshires total 40 percent with the rest being family’s 120-cow dairy near Faribault, Minn. Jersey. Turn to DUBANS | Page 6
Page 2 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018
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 Amanda Thooft 320-352-6303 amanda.t@dairystar.com Consultant Jerry Jennissen 320-346-2292 Editorial Staff Andrea Borgerding - Associate Editor (320) 352-6303 • andrea.b@dairystar.com Krista Kuzma - Assistant Editor (507) 259-8159 • krista.k@dairystar.com Jennifer Coyne - Assistant Editor (320) 352-6303 • jenn@dairystar.com Ron Johnson (608) 874-4243 ron.j@dairystar.com Ruth Klossner (507) 240-0048 cowlady@centurylink.net Brittany Olson (320) 352-6303 brittany.o@dairystar.com Danielle Nauman (715) 245-6848 danielle.n@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 - Jeff Weyer (Northern MN, East Central MN) 320-260-8505 (cell) jeff.w@dairystar.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 Lori Menke (Eastern Iowa, Southern WI) 563-608-6477 • lori.m@dairystar.com Megan Stuessel (Western Wisconsin) 608-387-1202 megan.s@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.
North America dealers. A glance at what’s inside
Dairy Prole brought to you by your
The end of January signals more than the approaching warmth of spring. For football fans, it means watching the Super Bowl, which will be played right here in Minnesota. Although the Vikings didn’t make it to the big game, we talked to a few dairy farmers who were in the audience for the Vikings’ big win against the New Orleans Saints on Jan. 14 during a playoff game. Ryan and Karen Grifn, from Thief River Falls, Minn., and Chris Schulze, from Holland, Minn., told us about their experience watching the exciting nal seconds of the game, held at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Read about it on pages 23 and 25 in rst section. For the “From our side of the fence” feature, we decided to keep the excitement going by asking producers about their Super Bowl traditions. They also talked about who they would invite to a dairy-themed party, what food would they serve and how they would promote dairy. Read about their answers on pages 15 and 16 in rst section. The Kalthoff family has been busier as of late. This past summer, Ben and Kate Kalthoff sold their home, purchased a dairy farm and welcomed their third child into the family – all within a month’s time. The family is milking 75 cows in a 67-stall tiestall barn in Stearns County, Minn., and began milking July 4, 2017. Read about their transition to their new dairy life and the challenges they faced along the way on pages 11-13 in rst section. Dave and Ann Buck of Goodhue, Minn., are fortunate to be farming with family and reected on that blessing when we caught up with them. On pages 4-5 in second section, read about their 2017 Goodhue County Farm Family of the Year award, and how they’ve transitioned their dairy to allow for two of their six children to continue dairying alongside them. Organic production was the topic of the Minnesota Organic Conference, Jan. 11-12, in St. Cloud, Minn. We sat in on the session to hear about the mechanical techniques of raising organic row crops and controlling weeds. Read what we learned on pages 6-8 in second section. On pages 14-15 in second section, travel across the globe to Brockton Farm located on the island of Tasmania, Australia. For this issue’s “Dairying Around the World” feature, learn how Nigel Brock and his family pasture their 830 cows year-round and milk in a 50-unit DeLaval rotary parlor with the help of ve full-time staff members. The farm is situated at the base of the Great Western Tiers, an extensive mountain range, and receives 47 inches of rainfall each year, commonly leaving their pastures ooded. – The Dairy Star Editorial Team
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The views and opinions expressed by Dairy Star columnists and writers are not necessarily those of the Dairy Star LLC.
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 27, 2018 • Page 3
It’s all inside... Columnists Ag Insider
Pages 8-9 First Section
Roberts
Sherburne
Codington
The “Mielke” Market Weekly
Hamlin
Pages 10 - 11 Second Section
Brookings
nb or
n
Kingsbury
Deuel
n nso
McCook Minnehaha
Carver Scott
Sibley Lyon
Redwood
Nicollet Brown
Murray
Rock
Nobles
Dakota
Rice
Employees, repro focus group raises Plymouth Dairy Farms’ preg rate
First Section: Pages 18, 20
Second Section: Page 3
Goodhue Wabasha
Cottonwood Watonwan Blue Earth Waseca Steele Dodge Olmsted Jackson
Martin
Faribault
Freeborn
Winona
Fillimore
Mower
Hutchinson
Houston
Turner
Bon Yankton Homme
Lincoln Clay
Union
Lyon
Osceola Dickinson Emmet
Sioux
O’Brien
Clay
Palo Alto
Kossuth
Winnebago
Worth
Hancock
Cerro Gordo
Mitchell
Zone 1
Floyd
Howard
aw
as
ick
Ch
Bremer
Plymouth
Le Mars
Rollingstone
Gibbs home after 14-week hospital stay
For additional stories from our other zone, log on to www.dairystar.com
FROM OUR SIDE OF THE FENCE:
Black Hawk
Fayette
How do you typically take in the Super Bowl?
Sparrgroves happy to continue families’ dairy tradition Second Section: Page 25
Clayton
n
na
ha
c Bu
Castalia
Allamakee
Charles Mix
Moody
McLeod
Renville
Yellow Medicine
Wright Hennepin
Second Section: Pages 4, 6
Winneshiek
Douglas
Lake
Meeker
Bucks receive Goodhue County award
Ha
Da
vis
on
Sa
Miner
Kandiyohi
Chippewa
Lac Qui Parle
Isanti
Anoka
Swift
Grant Clark
Benton
Stearns
Pope
Goodhue
r
Day
Stevens
Mille Lacs
Morrison
Douglas
go
Big Sto Stone
Second Section: Pages 4 - 5
Pine
sey
Tra ve
rse
Forages, cover crops, silage pile Marshall safety topics at winter workshop
First Section: Page 39
Carlton
Crow Wing
Todd Grant
Dairy Prole: Craig Duden
Aitkin
Washington
Wilkin
Otter Tail
Red Wing
Cass
isa
Page 33 First Section
Becker
Clay
Watertown
First Section: Pages 23, 25
Kanabec
First Section: Pages 36
en
om
n Mah
Ra m
Norman
Itasca
eu
Women In Jeans: Melanie Fritsche
Hubbard
Polk
New Ulm
Minneapolis
Vikings fans witness team beat Saints in nal seconds of playoff game
Ch
The Next Generation
Koochiching St. Louis
Red Lake
Page 31 First Section
Page 32 First Section
Beltrami
Pennington
Something to Ruminate On
Just Thinking Out Loud
Third Section: Pages 6- 7
Wadena
Page 30 First Section
First Section: Pages 1, 6 - 7
Clearwater
Dear County Agent Guy
Second Section: Pages 6 - 7
Lyseth looks back on her journey as a Jersey breeder
Lake of the Woods
Marshall
Page 27 First Section
Cloverdale
Dubans build facility to replace outdated barn
Su
The Transition Pen
Faribault
Scherpings talk about benets of grazing
First Section: Pages 11 - Roseau 13 Kittson
First Section: Pages 1, 11
St. Cloud
Le
Asfeld recoups with support from family, neighbors
Lincoln
Page 26 First Section
Kalthoffs embrace new lifestyle as dairy farmers
Pipestone
FSA News & Notes
Albany
West Union
are
law
De
Linn
Dubuque
Jones
Jackson
Pages 15-16
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Page 4 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018
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ConƟnued from TAX | Page 1 in here for farm management – increased expensing, cash accounting, the deduction for interest and estate tax exemption. Hopefully, these are good changes that will benet farmers’ bottom line.” Juedes agreed. “If you could make a substantial amount of money, then maybe you would hang on to more without spending as much as in the past,” he said. Arguably the biggest change in the tax code is farmers’ inability to use personal property as a Section 1031 line of exchange. Previously, farmers could trade a tractor for a different piece of equipment and defer the gain. “This puts an end to using equipment and livestock as part of 1031,” Hanson-Glaeser said. The increase to Section 179 from $500,000 to $1 million allows farmers to write off more. While Juedes views most of the changes as a positive benet to the dairy industry, he has reservations about Section 179. “That takes a lot of purchases to write off that much, especially if the farm is established,” Juedes said. “You’re not going to replace a whole eet of trucks or buy new combines just to reach that.” Dairy farmer Michael Leahy is pleased with the revisions of Section 179 as it will facilitate potential expansion for his family’s business and that of the industry. Leahy, along with his parents and brother, milk 130 cows near Alto, Wis., in Fond Du Lac County. “As a whole, I see the tax reform as a positive measure. The expansion of Section 179 deductions in total dollars will be helpful to promote growth,” Leahy said. Coupled with Section 179 is another opportunity for farmers to save with accelerated depreciation. This revision allows businesses to deduct 100 percent of new and used properties until 2022. After 2022, the deduction will be phased out until it is fully eliminated in 2027. “The increase in bonus depreciation will denitely be a tax tool used this year,” said Leahy of his farm’s tax planning. “The most overlooked aspect is the expansion of qualied property, including used. Especially during these nancially stressful times, that ability to include used property will serve as a tax benet.” However, professionals are cautioning farmers about this particular change in the tax code. “This particular change was retroactive to Sept. 27, 2017,” said Jan Schaffner of Compeer Financial. “I’m
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cautioning farmers with this change. Bonus depreciation is great, but it’s on all assets in a single class life. You can’t pick and choose which to include.” Another benecial revision is new farming assets depreciating in ve years, rather than seven. Leahy and his family have accelerated some of the farm’s deductions to gain the most from this change. “This whole tax bill is good, but it also comes with negatives,” Schaffner said. Dairy farms categorized as a C-Corporation are now administered a at rate of 21 percent. While not many farms are categorized as such, the rate change will have an impact. “I’m all in favor of a at rate. It promotes growth, but dissuades farmers from capturing any income as savings for a rainy day fund,” said Leahy, whose farm is setup as a C-corp. “When we’re looking at protable years, we could have a 6 percent increase in taxes. Hopefully, with the deductions, we can mitigate that increase.” The most notable, potentially consequential change is the repeal of Domestic Production Activities Deduction (DPAD). “Section 199 was the big one that was eliminated and a ‘x’ was put in place, where a 20 percent deduction on payments can be given through cooperatives,” said Hanson-Glaeser. “It was a good idea at the time to preserve the benets, but now there are unforeseen marketing decisions with unintended consequences because of it.” “Not everyone is agreeing with how one calculates the 20 percent deduction on qualied business income. It’ll come down to the IRS to gure out,” Schaffner said. For Juedes, he is concerned with how the new deduction will affect his farm’s earning potential. “Each farm is being affected differently [with TCJA], but it’s also affecting the dairy plants,” he said. “What happens to them has a big effect on my bottom line.” As Juedes and other farmers prepare for the implications TCJA will bring, they are encouraged to speak with their tax consultant and develop a plan best t for the farming business. “In this day and age, it’s imperative that farms of all sizes have top-notch accountants and tax professionals,” Juedes said. “Without a shadow of a doubt, investing in an accountant is the best money spent.” Revisions to the new tax code are expected to develop within the next several weeks.
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WANTED Stearns County DAIRY PRINCESSES The Stearns County American Dairy Association is seeking candidates to participate in the 2018 STEARNS COUNTY DAIRY PRINCESS CONTEST I ran for Stearns County Dairy Princess because it was a perfect opportunity for me to share my passion for dairy and give back to the dairy community that has done so much for me. I grew up watching my dad spend endless hours in the barn caring for our animals or in the field tending the crops. As a dairy princess, I got to represent hardworking men and women of dairy community just like him. Being a dairy princess is very rewarding. I was really able to develop a fantastic network of friends who all have the same passion for dairy. Being a Stearns County dairy princess was truly an unforgettable and beneficial experience that I would recommend to anyone. - Gina Holdvogt, Stearns County dairy princess and 2017 Princess Kay of the Milky Way finalist Dairy princess candidates must be at least a senior in high school and not yet 24 years of age by July 1, 2018. The candidate or her parents must be actively engaged in the production of milk in Stearns County for sale to a licensed plant during the current year. A candidate also qualifies if she or her parents are employed on a dairy farm in a dairy related capacity.
For more information please contact: MARY ROSEN at 320-493-8668 or rosendairy@albanytel.com The Princess Banquet will be March 10, 2018 at the Freeport Community Center, with dinner at 7:30 pm and coronation program at 8:30 pm.
Page 6 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018
ConƟnued from DUBANS | Page 1
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KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
The Dubans (from leŌ) – Audrey, Paul and Clarissa – built a new milking facility, including two robots, on their dairy near Faribault, Minn. In the pen with the smaller animals, the Dubans retrotted the robot stall with boards to make it 4.5 inches narrower, a more comfortable t for the Jerseys and younger cows. “The bigger cows can still squeeze in if they need to,” Paul said. Since the startup of their robots in August 2016, the Dubans could list a number of areas that have beneted from having a new setup. Their herd has gained in production. The daily average sits at 80 pounds of milk per cow, a 20-pound increase from before. Alone, the Holsteins are averaging around 100 pounds of milk per cow daily. The Dubans attribute part of this to the increase in number of milkings per day, which usually averages around 2.8. However, cow comfort is a large factor for the increase of milk. Prior to building the facility, the Dubans’ cows were housed outside on a bedded pack and milked in the tiestall/stanchion barn. “The winter is just too hard on outside cows,” Paul said. It wasn’t always easy on the people, either. “Cows would come in all full of snow. Then, when we were milking them, water would be dripping off them and onto you and in your ear. It wasn’t fun,” Audrey said. Now for milking, the Dubans set the robots at a 45-degree angle because
they thought it allowed for better cow ow to and from the robot. The Dubans like how comfortable the cows look in their sand bedding. “They love it,” Clarissa said. The activity and rumination collars have also been benecial. “We can nd cows off feed. It tells us a day ahead of time before we can physically see that something is wrong,” Paul said. It also detects cows in heat. “Our repro has always been good, but now we catch even more cows. It’s also needed now because we are not amongst the cows as much,” Clarissa said. They also like how well the cows have adjusted to a new routine. “The older cows got used to it better than the younger cows,” Clarissa said. Another example is about a recent third-lactation cow that had recently freshened. When they put her in the robot pen that morning, the Dubans thought they would need to look for her that evening to guide her to be milked in the robot. “She had already visited the robot. She took off on her own,” Paul said. A lot of cows have become troublefree and take care of themselves. “Sometimes you forget you have some cows,” Audrey said. Turn to DUBANS | Page 7
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KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Cows line up to use the robots, which the Dubans installed at a 45-degree angle to allow for beƩer cow ow.
Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018 • Page 7
ConƟnued from DUBANS | Page 6
“High-end system at an affordable price.” Nate and Jenny Landon LANCASTER, WI INSTALLED J&D HEADLOCKS, STALLS, FANS AND CURTAINS
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
The robot uses a laser to nd the teats and aƩach the milking unit on a cow at the Duban family’s farm, Du-Ayr Dairy. Plus, the robots have allowed the Dubans to expand and progress without having employees. “That’s why we did this, so we can do it ourselves,” Clarissa said. “It would be weird having hired help.” Of course, the Dubans have had to work through challenges, too, most of which are with equipment. For the rst eight months, there were issues with the cameras that help the animal align with the robot. “We nally got it gured out, but that was frustrating,” Audrey said. They have also had to take on small xes themselves. “It forces you to learn how to x things,” Audrey said. They have taught themselves simple xes such as changing chains and listening for air leaks. They have also learned the basic maintenance and every day washing routine. Paul said the upkeep of the machines has been the most difcult aspect. “You can’t have [the dealer] coming out here to do it all the time. They’re more than 1.5 hours away,” he said. “We wish we could have done a crash course in robot maintenance before we put them in. But we have been able to learn it over time.” It is certainly a different routine than the way Paul and Audrey operated the farm when they rst started. The Dubans bought the farm in 1991, after Paul had been working for his parents on their dairy for several years. They
ventured on their own to a farm a few miles away from Paul’s parents. To start, they had 35 cows in a barn with a combination of tiestalls and stanchions and raised their family on the dairy. Clarissa made the decision to return home to the farm in 2012 after graduating from Ridgewater College in Willmar, Minn. “We thought about a lot of options (for building) after I came home,” she said. She wouldn’t be there if they hadn’t, Clarissa said. “They did this mostly for me, the next generation,” she said. “They knew I wanted to farm here.” They couldn’t continue on like they had been with the labor-intensive barn and housing cows outside. “We were tired from milking physically. We would come in for lunch and already our feet hurt and our backs ached,” Audrey said. But that has changed. “We don’t hurt as much,” Audrey said. Despite the current economic status of the dairy industry, the Dubans are optimistic for the future. “You can only keep on in an old facility for so long. Everything gets older and starts to break despite maintaining it,” he said. “My philosophy is if you’re not trying to move forward you’re moving backward.” The Dubans are happy – and think their cows are, too – with their choice to move forward.
“We love the headlocks for ease of breeding and herd health work. The fans increased our milk production and conception rate. The stalls for more comfortable and keeps our cows clean. The curtains are a high-end system with an affordable price.”
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KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
An Ayrshire cow rests in the sand bedding at Du-Ayr Dairy. The Dubans milk three breeds – Ayrshire, Holstein and Jersey.
Submit resume to: jeff.w@dairystar.com
House farm bill timeline is pushed back Page 8 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018
House Agriculture Committee Perdue referenced that campaign. Ranking Member Collin Peterson “Sometimes a mud puddle is just a said everything is coming together puddle and we don’t need the federal on the farm bill. “We still have the government coming in and regulating cotton and dairy issue going on in everything to death.” the appropriations process. Who knows how that will AFBF ‘18 agenda Ag Insider end up? If that could ratied get resolved in the The American Farm appropriations process, Bureau Federation that would really simplify has nalized its policy the farm bill.” Peterson agenda for the year has met with Agriculture ahead. Delegates Committee Chairman support improvements Mike Conaway about the to the Agriculture Risk farm bill timeline. “This Coverage program to limit is going to take more time differences in neighboring than everyone thought. counties. Changes in the Now, we’re looking at the farm bill to support dairy By Don Wick end of March, probably, and cotton farmers are Columnist for the farm bill.” also recommended. The Farm Bureau continues President Trump promotes rural to support conservation compliance agenda for federal crop insurance benets, A receptive audience greeted but left options open to change that President Donald Trump as he position if challenges remain with spoke at the American Farm Bureau the way conservation programs are Federation Convention. Trump implemented. Georgia farmer Zippy offered a plug for the recently-passed Duvall and South Dakota farmer tax law. Regulatory reform was also Scott VanderWal were re-elected to addressed. “My administration is another two-year term as president in the process of rolling back a rule and vice president, respectively. that hit our farmers and ranchers very, very hard; the terrible Waters AFBF board develops action plan of the United States rule. It sounds so At the end of the American innocent and it was a disaster.” AFBF Farm Bureau Federation convention, was one of the agriculture groups the national board put together its that went to court to shut down the strategic action plan for the year WOTUS rule. Farm Bureau also ahead. Minnesota Farm Bureau initiated a campaign called ‘Ditch the President Kevin Paap is part of that Rule.’ Agriculture Secretary Sonny board. “Our top four goals are to
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enact a farm bill that benets farmers and ranchers, as well as work to enact immigration reform that helps agricultural labor needs. We need to reform the regulatory process to make sure federal rules are limited to what’s necessary. Finally, the fourth is to defend and expand U.S. trade opportunities for agriculture.” The Nashville convention had record attendance with more than 7,500 people at the meeting. The appearance by President Donald Trump was a convention highlight. The speech was well received, but Paap was hoping for more. “For a 35-minute speech and less than one minute on NAFTA and trade, quite frankly, is something we wish we would’ve heard more about.” RRFN’s coverage of the AFBF Convention is sponsored, in part, by Minnesota Farm Bureau. Perdue calms NAFTA withdrawal fears Threats to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement has left many in agriculture nervous. During his stop at the Farm Bureau convention, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue tried to calm those fears. “We know that trade is key to rural farm prosperity. Canada and Mexico continue to be major markets for U.S. exports. So successful completion and improvement of NAFTA negotiations remains a top priority. But to get a deal, we need all sides to seriously roll up their sleeves and get to work.” Perdue said NAFTA needs to be modernized, especially when it comes to dairy trade, and it’s time for Canada and Mexico to get engaged in this process. “I have great faith in President Trump’s negotiation skills. I’m quite condent that he will strike the best deal possible, and we will have a fair NAFTA agreement that works well for our economy, including the agricultural sector.” Canadian ag leader defends supply management According to Canadian Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay, Canada, the U.S. and Mexico are strong partners in the North
American Free Trade Agreement. At the American Farm Bureau Federation Convention, MacAuley was asked if Canada has any ‘must haves’ in the trade talks. “We are not going to lay down any markers that if we don’t get this, we won’t do that. The fact is, we are fully aware of the asset NAFTA has been. What we’re doing is making sure our input does something to increase trade.” The U.S. and Canada are at odds over dairy policy. MacAulay defends the Canadian system. “We have indicated, quite publicly, as a government, but we are fully supporting the supply management system. All countries in agriculture have certain things they’re careful about and protect; we have supply management.”
Upcoming election overshadows policy action Russell Group President Randy Russell said the upcoming U.S. elections will impact nearly every issue on Capitol Hill. There are 46 lawmakers not seeking re-election in the House and three in the Senate. “We’ve got a lot of retirement and people choosing to run for a higher or different ofce. With a 22-vote margin in favor of Republicans, it’s going to be close in terms of what happens in 2018 and who will control the House. Republicans will probably hold on, but will lose seats.” HSUS sues USDA The Humane Society of the United States is suing USDA for withdrawing a controversial organic rule. This rule, which was nalized in the nal days of the Obama Administration, included standards for housing and animal well-being for organic milk, meat and eggs. HSUS claims the loss of this rule will weaken the integrity of the organic label. The Trump Administration withdrew the rule as part of its regulatory reform process. Smith named to ag committee Minnesota Senator Tina Smith has been named to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee. Smith will also serve on the Energy and Natural Turn to AG INSIDER | Page 9
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Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018 • Page 9
ConƟnued from AG INSIDER | Page 8
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Trivia challenge It takes 10 pounds of milk to produce one pound of cheese. That answers our last trivia question. For this week, how many pounds of milk are needed to produce one pound of butter? 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.
FFA ofcers visit South Africa Seventy-four FFA members have returned from a 12-day experience in South Africa. Members participated in the 2018 International Leadership Seminar for State Ofcers. The Minnesota FFA students participating in this experience were Wendy Bauman, of Raymond, Katherine Benson, of Staples, Kylee Kohls, of Litcheld, Emily Pliscott, of Kenyon and Madeline Weninger, of Buffalo. Jaclynn Knutson, of Centerville and Andrew Streff, of Salem represented South Dakota.
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ConƟnued from ASFELD | Page 1 again.” Bruce along with his family – wife, Rose, and son, Jonathon – milks 110 cows near West Union, Minn. But if it were not for Rose and Jonathon, as well as the other grown children – Nicole, Mikayla and Nathan – and neighbors, Ryan Pallow and Mark Quistorf, Bruce would not be milking cows today. “I really appreciate everything everyone’s done,” Bruce said. “It’s a lot of work, and they were a lot of help.” Rose agreed. “It’s been a whirlwind experience and has gone by so fast. I couldn’t do it without them,” she said. “I’m very grateful for our neighbors and kids.” On the day of Bruce’s accident, he was moving cows from the freestall barn to the holding area before afternoon milking when he tripped on the entryway. “I could feel my leg go out and there was nothing I could do. … I just laid there,” Bruce said. Bruce was able to catch the attention of Jonathon, who was also in the barn. Then, they called Rose and she brought the pickup truck. As Bruce grabbed Rose to stand up, she slipped and fell on the oor, as well. Jonathon helped his mother hoist Bruce into the truck. They rushed him to the emergency room as they MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR realized the muscle was entirely torn off at the kneecap. “I had to gure something out [for taking care of the Nicole Asfeld has been invaluable in the milking parlor while her dad recovers from a knee injury. For farm],” Bruce said. As the Asfelds traveled to the hospital, they called the last several weeks, Asfeld has traveled to and Pallow and Quistorf to see if they would be able to nish from her home in St. Cloud, Minn., to the farm to help with chores near West Union, Minn. evening chores and milking. “We were back from the ER around 7 p.m., and Mark and Ryan were just nishing milking,” Bruce said. when it was -30 degrees,” Jonathon said. “One of the In the days that followed, Bruce had an MRI and then waterers froze and I carried hot water by the bucket loads surgery to repair the tear, and prepared for 12 weeks of to the barns until things were thawed.” recovery. Bruce agreed. “The muscle had to be stitched and molded back “I was in the house for the coldest part,” he said. together,” Bruce said. The family found technology to be particularly helpful While Bruce adjusted to his new role on the farm, so as they completed chores with guidance from Bruce as he did those who would pick up his responsibilities in the was laid up inside. barn. “We would send him a picture and ask what do we do. “A lot of times, Rose worked twice in a day, at her full- He was farming off site,” Rose said. time job and here. She only took three days off,” he said. Bruce agreed. “She did all the milkings for the rst two weeks after Mark “Every time I’d hear the tractor, I’d get up out of my and Ryan showed her how to do it.” chair and see what was going on,” he said, laughing. Ryan agreed. As Bruce continues healing and strengthening his “We had 24 hours to learn what Bruce has learned over knee, he has slowly reintroduced himself to the farm with 24 years,” said Ryan, who frequently helps the family when hopes of reaching full recovery by March 1. they are away. The past few months have been hectic, but the Asfelds Jonathon, a senior in high school, would wake at 5:30 are grateful for the help they have received from family and every morning to do chores before heading to school. He friends. would nish the chores when he returned in the afternoon, “We want to thank everyone who helped by doing as well as mixed feed on the weekends. chores, bringing meals, helping unload straw bales, getting “It took me a couple days to gure out the feeding, but the last of the corn stalk bales off the eld, and all of the then I mixed TMR every day,” Jonathon said. prayers,” Rose said. The Asfeld’s daughter, Nicole, also took time away Bruce agreed. from her full-time job in St. Cloud, Minn., to help. “I’m very happy with how things have worked out,” he “The kids always helped,” Bruce said. “Nicole was said. “Everyone is just superb. They knew they had to keep bedding dry cows and heifers, and milking while Jonathon the farm going.” was in school.” And for all of Bruce’s family and neighbors, they Rose agreed. know he would do the same if the roles were reversed. “The best part is that Nicole came home to help, and “That’s always how it’s been; … we help each other,” Jonathon picked up all the other slack,” she said. “If she Ryan said. didn’t come home, I’d have had to take a full leave from work.” In the weeks that followed the accident, the team of helpers became acquainted with their newfound routine and responsibilities. “It’s eye-opening. My dad needed help and he needed it now,” Nicole said. “I never thought my mom would be out here helping, and my little brother stepped up and did a lot all by himself.” While everyone was able to balance long days of farm chores with work and school, it was not easy. “There was one day that I just wanted to break down and cry,” Rose said. Rose and her children, as well as Mark and Ryan, helped many cows calve, as well as dealt with frozen waterers and made decisions MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR as it pertained to the chores. Jonathon Asfeld, a high school senior, mixes feed and helps with other chores “The biggest challenge was dealing with the cold, before and aŌer school, as well as on weekends, while his dad recovers.
Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018 • Page 11
Cows, kids, contentment
Kalthoffs embrace new lifestyle as dairy farmers By Jennifer Coyne & Mark Klaphake Staff Writers
ALBANY, Minn. – Farmers are naturally busy folk, but the Kalthoffs have redened what busy looks like. This past summer, Ben and Kate Kalthoff sold their home, purchased a dairy farm, bought a herd of cows and moved them, and welcomed their third child into the family – all within a month’s time. “Our lifestyle is crazy and full, but what farmer’s isn’t like this?” Kate said. “It’s exciting. There’s always something happening, whether it’s good or bad.” Kate and her husband, Ben, are milking 75 cows in a 67-stall tiestall barn and run 170 acres near Albany, Minn., in Stearns County with their children – Kiley, 5, Avery, 3, and Bennett, 6 months. The couple began their dairying venture on July 4, 2017. Throughout the past several months, the Kalthoffs have acclimated to being dairy farmers, while also juggling positions unrelated to the farm. Ben works as a full-time diesel mechanic at the local implement dealership and Kate stays at home with their two youngest children. By 5 a.m. every day, Ben is in the barn feeding the animals and milking.
MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR
Ben and Kate Kalthoff and their children (from le�) – Benne�, Kiley and Avery – milk 75 cows near Albany, Minn. The couple purchased the farm this past July. At the same time, Kate nishes calf chores. “We milk cows, get Kiley to school, and then go to work,” Ben said. “That’s
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going on during the day,” said Kate, who also runs errands and takes care of the farm’s nances in the afternoons. Once Kate picks up Kiley from Turn to KALTHOFFS | Page 12
Schedule of Events
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Page 12 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018
Con�nued from KALTHOFFS | Page 11 school, she begins evening chores and milking. “By the time Ben is home and has mixed feed, it’s time to switch cows and nish milking,” Kate said. The Kalthoffs have always had the will to operate their own dairy farm. When the couple wed in 2012, they established a list of goals they wanted to complete within
a ve-year timespan – dairy farming being a high priority on the list. “This has always been in our mind that this is what we were going to do,” Ben said. “We didn’t know how it would ever be possible, but it was always our goal to have our own farm.” After several years of Kate working with her parents
on their dairy farm, last year, the couple sought their own farming opportunities. “I was helping my dad, but not farming full time. It was time for us to start looking at a couple different places,” said Kate, who received 10 percent of her parents’ milk check and returned the prots to the farm and the cows she owned. They paid down debts and began investing in more cattle and equipment. Fortunately, the Kalthoffs received word of an upcoming farm sale – but they had to act quickly. “It came up that weekend,” said Ben, recalling it was the day after Easter they heard of the sale. “We either jumped on it or someone else was going to buy it.” With one showing of the property, the Kalthoffs knew it was the farm where they wanted to develop their dairy. “Ben walked in the barn and saw the big alleyway and huge walkway,” Kate said. “All I could think about was the kids running through (the walkway). I wanted them in there with us.” The Kalthoffs closed on the property – which included all necessary facilities and 80 acres – July 27, 2017, but were able to begin preparing the farm for their herd earlier in the month.
MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR
Kiley (le�) and Avery Kalthoff color while their parents milk cows on the evening of Jan. 19.
MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR
All members of the Kalthoff family are in the barn during evening chores.
Turn to KALTHOFFS | Page 13
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Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018 • Page 13
Conďż˝nued from KALTHOFFS | Page 12 The couple purchased all available feed from the farm, as well as rented hay ground, which contributed to 50 acres of hay made. “We bought silage and then made all of the hay. From the feed that was here and the feed we made, we’ve been able to make it,â€? said Ben, who rents an additional 90 acres of tillable land. Cattle came from a 50-cow herd purchased near Long Prairie, Minn., as well as the small herd Kate owned within her parents’ herd and a few cows from the previous farm owner. As Kate’s cattle are dried off at her parents’, they are moved to the current farm site before calving. “By the time [the previous renter] had his cows out, our cows got here, and the barn was ready, it was the 30th of June,â€? Kate said. “We started milking cows on the Fourth of July.â€? Soon after, on July 18, Bennett was born, and on Aug. 1 the Kalthoffs sold their home in town and moved onto the farm. “Those days were crazy,â€? said Kate, laughing. In the months that have followed, the Kalthoffs have received endless support from their families as they develop their dairying career. “Family has been more than accommodating,â€? Ben said. “Kate’s father has been here a lot, and makes up for anything I can’t get done in the day.â€? Together, the family has made improvements to the dairy and further pursued the Kalthoffs’ goals, such as cementing the calf barn, reaching a full barn, and putting up more gates. “We’ve met so many goals before we thought we’d meet them,â€? Kate said. Looking ahead, the couple has plans to improve their milk quality as the cows adjust to their new environment, install drive-by feeding for the heifers, as well as handle all of the breeding themselves, among others. However, the highest priority is creating a family environment their children ďƒžnd value in. “We’ll enjoy farming, but seeing [the kids] enjoy it, and hopefully one day see that dairy farming made an impact in their lives,â€? Kate said. “They don’t
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MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR
Ben Kaltho preps a cow during evening milking Jan. 19. Kaltho and his family recently started dairying, while he also remains a full-ďż˝me mechanic. have to milk cows, but maybe it’s the work ethic ‌ something they learned on the farm.â€? With six months under their belt, the Kalthoffs are reveling in their newfound duties. “It doesn’t feel like we just bought a farm and are milking 70 cows, and weren’t doing this a year ago,â€? Ben said. “We catch ourselves in the living room, just staring at the barn – how much is there, how nice it is. It’s all ours.â€?
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Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018 • Page 15
How would you promote dairy at a Super Bowl party?
Barb Grimm Waconia, Minn. Carver County 44 cows
Angie and David Tauer Hanska, Minn. Brown County 250 cows
Keith Knutson Pine Island, Minn. Goodhue County 60 cows
If you were going to host a Super Bowl party that combined dairy promotion and watching the big game, who would be on your guest list? In addition to my family and neighbors, I would invite the news anchors from KARE 11 (Minneapolis). They could see how a family farm lovingly cares for all the cattle by having fresh feed, water and clean bedding constantly accessible; how we carefully harvest the milk to ensure purity and wholesomeness so that everyone can enjoy its deliciousness, just like we do.
If you were going to host a Super Bowl party that combined dairy promotion and watching the big game, who would be on your guest list? My Super Bowl party would consist of my family and friends near and far. The Super Bowl is a great low stress way to socialize and relax. We are most inuenced by the people closest to us in our daily lives. It would be awesome to share what we do on the farm and portray the importance of the dairy industry to the consumers we love most. If it matters to us, it matters to them.
How would you promote dairy and what would be your biggest message during your party? I would serve a variety of cheeses, cold cuts and crackers, salsa con queso on chips, bite-sized cut fruit with a vanilla Greek yogurt dip, a veggie tray with ranch avored Greek yogurt dip, hot chocolate and mocha coffee. I like to show people some of the versatile ways that they can enjoy healthy, great-tasting food by incorporating some of the many different types of dairy foods that are available to them.
How would you promote dairy and what would be your biggest message during your party? Dairy promotion would start with a pre-game farm tour followed with appetizers including many different dairy products. I would also answer any questions my guests would have with careful thought and well backed research. My main message would be, “All dairy is the right dairy.” It’s affordable, nutritious, versatile and delicious across the board.
If you were going to host a Super Bowl Party that combined dairy promotion and watching the big game, who would be on your guest list? I would invite our U.S. senators, Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith; our U.S. representative, Jason Lewis, and any other others that want to come; Sonny Perdue, the U.S. secretary of agriculture; and President Trump. With the upcoming discussion and debate on the farm bill, it is of paramount importance that our elected ofcials understand the importance of domestically produced dairy products and their importance to providing the nine essential nutrients.
If you could make a commercial about dairy products for the Super Bowl, describe how it would play out. My commercial would feature cheese sticks. They are great for all ages, are easy to hold and eat even if someone is jumping around. Teams would score a cheese stick for each player for every point they put on the board. At the end, both teams have cheese. In addition, the winning team’s players would each be rewarded with a large serving of chocolate milk. What is your favorite dairy-friendly Super Bowl dish? Cheese cubes, nachos, or fruit with Greek yogurt to dip in. How do you typically take in the Super Bowl? We listen to the game on the radio while milking. We try to nish chores in time to watch the last quarter on TV. Tell us about your farm. Our farm has been in the family since 1917 and has always had dairy cows. My husband, Joel, and I farm 400 acres of corn, beans, alfalfa, grass hay and oats, with seasonal help from Joel’s two brothers, a nephew, and our son and daughter.
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If you could make a commercial about dairy products for the Super Bowl, describe how it would play out. I would go back to the old school classics with the Real Seal and the Milk Mustache campaign. It was effective and relatable. There are so many labels and so much misinformation in food choices today. Simple still sells. We as an industry are also in a constant state of divisiveness. I would showcase farmers of all size and scopes in footage of their daily lives; emphasizing doing what they do best each and every day. We’re all in this together, and we need to make that clear to consumers. What is your favorite dairy-friendly Super Bowl dish? Caprese skewers with fresh mozzarella and cherry tomatoes are a favorite. A cheese platter with cheese from our creamery served with crackers, fruit, olives and veggies is a given as well. Tortilla rollups with sour cream and cheddar are a family tradition not be missed. How do you typically take in the Super Bowl? Since the Super Bowl usually falls at milking time, we catch the highlight reel later. We do make fun treats throughout the day and enjoy the overall sense of excitement that only comes one Sunday per year. Tell us about your farm. My husband, David, and I milk 250 cows on a progressive third generation family farm. In addition to David’s parents, we have a full-time herdsman and three part time employees. We also host agricultural interns in conjunction with the
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How would you promote dairy and what would be your main message during your party? We would have several avors of sliced cheese, cheese fondue for dipping, avored milks and milk shakes. Our message would be, no matter which team wins or loses, your body is the ultimate winner with dairy being a part of your diet. If you could make a commercial about dairy products for the Super Bowl, describe how it would play out. It would picture two teams on the football eld – American cheeses on one side and European cheeses on the other. I would have various “blocks” line up and run plays with the ultimate losing team going into the shredder. What is your favorite dairy-friendly Super Bowl dish? Nacho cheese sauce. How do you typically take in the Super Bowl? I watch with family and friends. We eat during the game and are sure to be back by the TV during the commercials. Tell us about your farm. I am the fourth generation on our farm. My wife, Kristine, works off the farm, and we have two adult sons, Andrew and Zachary. I installed robots on our farm in 2008. In June 2016, we hosted Rochesterfest Country Breakfast on the Farm, where over 1,600 people were able to see the workings of a modern dairy farm. We have also hosted several exchange students over the past few years, some of whom did not have any dairy or agricultural background. University of Minnesota. We farm 320 acres, mostly alfalfa and corn ground with a rye/barley cover crop in rotation. We have two kids – Ruby, 6, and Adam, 3 – who love the experience of learning, laughing and growing on the farm every day.
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Page 16 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018
ConƟnued from FENCE | Page 15
Jennifer Gross Lake Benton, Minn. Lincoln County 1,000 cows
Jacob Twohey Stewartville, Minn. Olmsted County 250 cows
Ronda Koehler New York Mills, Minn. Ottertail County 400 cows
Zeb Johnson Mora, Minn. Pine County 52 cows
If you were going to host a Super Bowl Party that combined dairy promotion and watching the big game, who would be on your guest list? I would invite a combination of farmer friends/family as well as non-farm people. Sports have a way of bringing different people together, and it would be a great time for us to have real, honest conversations with consumers that have questions about dairy farming.
If you were going to host a Super Bowl Party that combined dairy promotion and watching the big game, who would be on your guest list? I would watch with family and friends because those are the people I enjoy watching football with, and not all our family friends are from a dairy farm so it would be a good opportunity for dairy promotion.
If you were going to host a Super Bowl Party that combined dairy promotion and watching the big game, who would be on your guest list? My guest list would include everyone on the national school lunch program committee. It would be nice to show them why all kids need more dairy products in their school lunches, especially whole and 2 percent milk.
How would you promote dairy and what would be your main message during your party? We would serve many options of delicious dairy foods. The main message would be that dairy farmers are passionate people that care deeply about our cattle and the land as well as feeding nutritious food to our families.
How would you promote dairy and what would be your main message during your party? I would have a lot of delicious dairy products to eat and focus on the joy of a good cheese dish or bowl of ice cream. I would encourage people to try different dairy products in hope they would want to eat more dairy.
If you were going to host a Super Bowl Party that combined dairy promotion and watching the big game, who would be on your guest list and why? I would invite President Trump. He could come early in the morning and spend the day doing chores. We could tell him what happens in a year on the farm; from hard work to expenses and what we get for the price of our milk. And, then we could show him the price of milk in the stores and ask him, is this fair? And, then we could have him try and pay the bills. Can’t we get a happy medium milk price? We need to keep our dairy farmers.
If you could make a commercial about dairy products for the Super Bowl, describe how it would play out. The ad would be a ‘Match Game’ game show that matches contestants with their perfect cheese based on personality. Tag line: Will you accept this cheese? What is your favorite dairy-friendly Super Bowl dish? Either seven-layer taco dip or sweet potato chili (need lots of cheese and sour cream for toppings). How do you typically take in the Super Bowl? We usually watch the Super Bowl with friends and family. Tell us about your farm. At Ash Grove Dairy, we milk 1,000 head of beautiful Holsteins. We have a passion for deep pedigrees and high-quality milk. Our son, Emerson, was selected by his teachers to help make promotional inschool videos and plan activities for his fellow students. Emerson is in third grade and is 9 years old.
If you could make a commercial about dairy products for the Super Bowl, describe how it would play out. It would have to be funny because people pay attention to the funny commercials. What is your favorite dairy-friendly Super Bowl dish? Nothing beats a good cheese pizza. How do you typically take in the Super Bowl? I watch with my family. Tell us about your farm. My family and I farm together near Stewartville, Minn. We milk 250 grade Holsteins twice a day. We also farm corn, soybeans, alfalfa and peas.
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How would you promote dairy and what would be your main message during your party? Milk makes for a healthy body. Drink milk! If you could make a commercial about dairy products for the Super Bowl, describe how it would play out. Kids running around playing on the farm; the family stopping to eat cheeseburgers and drink large glasses of milk, ending with everyone having a milk mustache. What is your favorite dairy-friendly Super Bowl dish? Pizza with lots of cheese. How do you typically take in the Super Bowl? We do chores and then watch the game with family. Tell us about your farm. We milk around 400 cows and raise our crops. Our two sons are on the farm with us, and we have six employees.
How would you promote dairy and what would be your main message during your party? I would promote it by having a variety of cheeses available for everyone to try and having different foods that contain dairy products. My main message would be, “Consume dairy to help dairy.” If you could make a commercial about dairy products for the Super Bowl, describe how it would play out. I would want a commercial similar to the Budweiser horse commercials but with cows in the process of being milked. I would have a Jersey, a Holstein and a Red and White milking. What is your favorite dairy-friendly Super Bowl dish? Beer cheese dip. How do you typically take in the Super Bowl? If chores go well, I can usually catch the later part of the game. Tell us about your farm. My ancé, Danielle, and I own and operate JerAnna Registered Holsteins. We milk 52 cows and run 120 acres of corn and alfalfa. We raise all of our youngstock and are excited to see where our future brings us.
Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018 • Page 17
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Page 18 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018
Repro Leaders
Employees, repro focus group raises Plymouth Dairy Farms’ preg rate Kurt Wierda, general manager at Plymouth Dairy Farms Le Mars, Iowa Plymouth County 3,150 cows What was your average pregnancy rate last year? We had a 36 percent, 21-day pregnancy rate. What is your voluntary waiting period for cows? For heifers? We have a 60-day voluntary waiting period for cows. We breed our heifers starting at 388 days of age.
What is your rst service conception rate? Our rst service conception rate is 52 percent. What is your reproduction program? Do you use a synchronization program? We use a modied 11-day pre-synch/72-hour co-synch protocol. We do weekly pregnancy checks on animals that have 29 to 36 days since their last service. If an animal is open with a CL, we put her into our co-synch program. If she is open with no CL, we will put her into our co-synch protocol with a CIDR.
JERRY NELSON/DAIRY STAR
Kurt Wierda, general manager at Plymouth Dairy Farms, helped manage the crew to achieve the herd’s pregnancy rate of 36 percent last year. Plymouth Dairy Farms milks 3,150 cows near Le Mars, Iowa. JERRY NELSON/DAIRY STAR
The tail head of every cow at Plymouth Dairy Farms is painted to assist with heat detec�on, including the tail heads of cows that are conrmed pregnant. A system of colors is used to differen�ate the status of individual animals.
How do you observe for heat? We watch for standing heats and paint the tail heads of all open animals. We also paint the tail heads of cows that are conrmed pregnant. We have a system
of colors that we use for different animals. How do you conrm pregnant or open cows? Our vets do ultrasound Turn to PLYMOUTH | Page 20
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Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018 • Page 19
“I didn’t even think we had stray voltage!” Roger Lange milks 100 head on his family dairy at Crofton, Nebraska. Until recently he was often forced to sell his fresh heifers because they wouldn t let down their milk. “We called Stray Voltage Consulting, and Jerry found the problem within half an hour.” Roger said. “I was very impressed with Jerry. He’s a former REA guy, so he understands both the farmer and the electric company. Being able to work with both sides is a key component to his success.” “I haven’t had a single problem with our fresh heifers since Jerry corrected our stray voltage problem. I would highly recommend Stray Voltage Consulting to anyone who thinks they might have stray voltage!”
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“For fresh cows and robot list, we love it!” — Martin Costello
COST FARMS, The Costello Family, LONG GROVE, IOWA 120 registered Holsteins and Ayrshires Robotic milking: 22,000M, SCC 200,000 Collin Costello’s Spring Yearling Ayrshire was 1st in WDE Jr. competition, 8th overall “Nothing works like Udder Comfort.™ For fresh cows and the robot list, we love it! We use the robot’s daily conductivity list to find cows with subclinical issues, applying the Udder Comfort to bring down swelling and SCC,” explain Martin and Maddy Costello at the World Dairy Expo booth. Martin and Jennifer and their children Zachary, 19, Collin, 17, and Maddy, 14, operate Cost Farms, milking 120 registered Holsteins and Ayrshires near Long Grove, Iowa. “We check the robot list for cows with high conductivity and find them to fetch or apply the Udder Comfort in the barn, following through for a few days. “We also use Udder Comfort on all fresh and prefresh, starting a couple days ahead of calving and for 4 to 5 days after, depending on the level of edema. This really brings quality to the udders. We also make sure it’s in our show box!”
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Page 20 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018
ConƟnued from PLYMOUTH | Page 18
pregnancy Tuesday.
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What is your breeding philosophy? How do you select bulls? What traits do you focus on? Does fertility play a role in bull selection? When I select bulls, I look at a number of things. Chief among them are milk components, followed by productivity and fertility. I don’t look at type. We use the Genex ICC$ Index to help us sort through the bulls. We aren’t using genomic testing on our herd at this time, but might try it in the future. How are cows and heifers bred? Do you have a different philosophy for breeding both? We breed
our rst lactation cows with sexed semen once, then go to traditional semen. We will service our heifers twice with sexed semen before going to traditional semen. Our heifers are the genetic future of our herd, so we are willing to invest more in their breeding. What do you do to settle hard breeders? At rst, we try Ovsynch and timed breeding. If that doesn’t work, we will have the vet check the cow to see what’s going on. If everything seems OK, we might use a CIDR to get her back on cycle. Our focus is on transition management and preventing injuries. We want to make sure that every cow is given the best chance to thrive.
JERRY NELSON/DAIRY STAR
Animals that are bred 29-36 days are checked for pregnancy every Tuesday at Plymouth Dairy Farms. Headlocks throughout their faciliƟes help make this job easier. How many times do you try to breed a cow before you sell her? It depends on a cow’s milk production. Some cows are given as many as eight chances. Our heifers are given four chances.
JERRY NELSON/DAIRY STAR
Every cow at Plymouth Dairy Farms has a set of ear tags that contain RFID chips. During their weekly preg checks, an RFID wand is used to conrm the idenƟty of the animal and record her status on a computer.
Is there anything you have done or changed that brought about a signicant improvement in your reproductive program? It’s a combination of paying attention to the details and keeping it
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simple. Our employees are the most important part of the equation. We reward them for their hard work and for doing everything they can to follow our protocols. We have a reproductive group that meets quarterly. This group includes key players such as our vet, our nutritionist and our Genex rep. We will kick around different ideas that are developing and decide if we want to try some new things.
Tell us about your farm. This dairy is owned by the Feuerhelm family, who have been farming in this area since the early 1900s. Plymouth Dairy Farms was founded in 1999 and milked its rst cows in August of 2000. We started out with 1,800 head and have slowly expanded to about 3,600 head. We have 34 employees, each of whom is critical for our success. Every new day brings a new challenge. It keeps things interesting.
Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018 • Page 21
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7 6 6 3 7 3 6 3 8 7 5 3 5 7 2 2 7 2 11 11 8 2 13 8 4 7 2 1 13 12 7 13 13 9 13 8 5 7 6 2 2 2 8 3 6 7 9 5 9 7 5 7 7 8 8 4 11 4 12 4 9 3 7 8
ARTICULATED 4WD TRACTORS JD 8640, 1987, 275 hp,10435 hrs., #137151 .... $20,350 JD 8650, 1985, 290 hp, 8250 hrs., #143923...... $19,500 JD 9400, 1996, 425 hp, 6332 hrs., #134367...... $69,500 JD 9400, 1997, 425 hp, 6450 hrs., #143813...... $73,000 JD 9620, 2006, 500 hp, 6120 hrs., #138706...... $99,500 JD 9410R, 2014, 410 hp, 1525 hrs., #143772 .$230,000 JD 9460R, 2014, 460 hp, 2656 hrs., #141947 .$201,400 JD 9470R, 2015, 470 hp, 693 hrs., #143840 ...$259,500 JD 9520R, 2017, 520 hp, 350 hrs., #142212 ...$329,500 JD 9560R, 2012, 560 hp, 1135 hrs., #143874 .$249,900 JD 9620R, 2015, 620 hp, 561 hrs., #137678 ...$365,000 JD 9620R, 2015, 620 hp, 693 hrs., #125913 ...$365,000 Caterpillar MT945C, 2009, 440 hp, 2805 hrs., #143742 .....................................................................$159,000 NH T9020, 2009 2905 hrs., #142873.................$129,000 BOX DRILLS JD 450, 1991, #140270 ..............................................$6,600 JD 455, 1992, #137165 ........................................... $14,500 JD 455, 1992, #143815 ........................................... $18,900 JD 455, 1996, #132155 ........................................... $19,500 JD 455, 2004, #141660 ........................................... $20,700 JD 455, 2016, #131015 ........................................... $62,900 JD 455, 2017, #139188 ........................................... $55,900 JD 1590, 2007, #143037......................................... $31,900 COMPACT TRACK LOADERS JD 323E, 2016, 152 hrs., #137785 ........................ $54,900 JD 323E, 2017, 317 hrs., #140018 ........................ $56,500 JD 329E, 2014, 363 hrs., #131459 ........................ $56,900 JD 333E, 2014, 894 hrs., #133945 ........................ $54,900 JD 333E, 2014, 1130 hrs., #135021 ..................... $59,900 JD 333E, 2015, 305 hrs., #143895 ........................ $66,000 JD 333E, 2015, 352 hrs., #134320 ........................ $68,900 JD 333E, 2015, 1256 hrs., #142114 ..................... $54,900 JD 333E, 2016, 541 hrs., #134167 ........................ $68,900 JD 333G, 2016, 398 hrs., #143346 ....................... $71,900 JD 333G, 2016, 463 hrs., #142414 ....................... $71,900 JD 333G, 2017, 322 hrs., #142768 ....................... $71,900 JD 333G, 2017, 326 hrs., #142769 ....................... $71,900 NH C227, 2011, 1000 hrs., #140112.................... $27,500 FIELD CULTIVATORS Case IH 200, 2012, #135767 ................................. $52,000 Case IH 200, 2012, #135951 ................................. $53,000 Case IH 200, 2011, #129150 ................................. $55,000 JD 985, 1993, #138938 ........................................... $15,000 JD 985, 1998, #138937 ........................................... $15,000 JD 985, 1995, #130971 ........................................... $18,000 JD 985, 1998, #135905 ........................................... $21,500 JD 985, 1998, #143979 ........................................... $22,000 JD 2200, 2003, #142441......................................... $26,000 JD 2210, 2013, #143876......................................... $28,500 JD 2210, 2013, #143846......................................... $28,900 JD 2210, 2013, #143827......................................... $29,000 JD 2210, 2005, #120515......................................... $39,500 JD 2210, 2013, #140858......................................... $59,500 Wil-Rich QUAD X, 2005, #138553 ....................... $20,900 Wil-Rich QUAD X2, 2011, #138552 ..................... $38,695 Case TIGER MATE II, #143937 ............................... $21,450 Case IH TIGERMATE 200, 2010, #140723 .......... $45,000 MULCH FINISHERS JD 200, #136844 ..........................................................$9,200 JD 726, 1995, #135555 ........................................... $22,900 JD 2310, 2008, #124769......................................... $41,900 PLANTERS JD 1750, 1998, 8 Row 30”, #143368 ................... $17,600 JD 1750, 2001, 6 row 30”, #127462 .................... $20,500 JD 1750, 2014, 6 row 30”, #141859................... $32,000 JD 1750, 2013, 8 Row 30”, #131524 ................... $33,000 JD 1760, 1996, 12 row 30”, #140452 ................ $27,500 JD 1760, 1997, 12 row 30”, #137790 ................. $28,050 JD 1765, 2015, 12 row 30”, #140333 ................. $72,900
4 4 7 9 8 11 8 1 9 8 5 5 3 8 3 7 8 3 13 10 8 4 9 6 10 11 8 8 11 10 7 5 5 4 8 4 6 4 11 3 7 6 1 12 4 12 4 1 5 10 7 11 6 8 11 7 11 4 3 2 8 3 10 5 3 4
JD 1765, 2015, 12 row 30”, #138495 ................. $79,900 JD 1770, 2011, 12 row 30”, #132629 ................. $72,500 JD 1790, 2013, 16/31 Splt, #140721................$104,900 White 8186, 2005, 16 row 30”, #139731............ $34,000 White 8200, 2013, 12 row 30”, #137538............ $49,900 White 8524, 2013, 24 row 30”, #140624............ $79,500 JD 1770NT, 2006, 16 row 30”, #135018 ............ $64,000 JD 1770NT, 2014, 16 row 30”, #140214 ..........$109,000 JD 1770NT CCS, 2013, 16 row 30”, #142692 .....................................................................$103,000 Wil-Rich 24-22, 2009, 24 row 22”, #139224 ....................................................................... $53,900 JD 24R22, 2005, 24 row 22”, #143814 ............... $39,000 JD DB44, 2017, 24 row 22”, #141612 ...............$255,000 JD DB60, 2010, 24 row 30” #140814...............$135,000 JD DB60, 2016, 24 row 30” #138733...............$269,000 JD DB66, 2005, 36 row 22” #141473...............$125,000 JD DB66, 2016, 36 row 22” #140442...............$239,500 JD DR24, 2017, 24 row 30” #138592 ..............$189,500 SEEDBED FINISHER JD 200, 2009, #141274 ..............................................$9,500 SKID STEER LOADERS JD 325, 2008, 3177 hrs., #138043 ....................... $19,900 JD 318D, 2011, 5895 hrs., #143844 ..................... $16,500 JD 318D, 2013, 2447 hrs., #143873 ..................... $19,250 JD 318D, 2012, 2346 hrs., #143720 ..................... $23,500 JD 318D, 2013, 925 hrs., #135024 ....................... $29,500 JD 318E, 2015, 2811 hrs., #140525 ..................... $25,900 JD 318E, 2015, 2297 hrs., #135979 ..................... $26,500 JD 318E, 2014, 762 hrs., #135937 ........................ $33,500 JD 318E, 2015, 478 hrs., #136780 ........................ $33,500 JD 318E, 2015, 335 hrs., #142491 ........................ $34,000 JD 320D, 2013, 1023 hrs., #133492 ..................... $28,900 JD 320E, 2016, 2489 hrs., #143842 ..................... $27,500 JD 320E, 2015, 1734 hrs., #134169 ..................... $30,900 JD 320E, 2014, 1101 hrs., #135139 ..................... $34,900 JD 320E, 2014, 470 hrs., #142118 ........................ $35,900 JD 320E, 2014, 475 hrs., #135901 ........................ $35,900 JD 320E, 2015, 645 hrs., #138375 ........................ $37,600 JD 320E, 2015, 145 hrs., #142683 ........................ $38,500 JD 320E, 2016, 79 hrs., #140280 .......................... $39,900 JD 320E, 2015, 260 hrs., #143386 ........................ $42,900 JD 324E, 2016, 104 hrs., #137786 ........................ $45,000 JD 326D, 2012, 318 hrs., #135015 ....................... $38,500 JD 326D, 2012, 210 hrs., #135673 ....................... $40,500 JD 326E, 2016, 1105 hrs., #141601 ..................... $38,900 JD 326E, 2015, 537 hrs., #134033 ........................ $39,500 JD 326E, 2015, 387 hrs., #118578 ........................ $40,900 JD 326E, 2016, 347 hrs., #138363 ........................ $42,000 JD 326E, 2016, 65 hrs., #126370 .......................... $45,900 JD 326E, 2016, 150 hrs., #142477 ........................ $46,000 JD 328D, 2010, 410 hrs., #141011 ....................... $38,900 JD 330G, 2016, 600 hrs., #140027 ....................... $53,000 JD 332D, 2012, 812 hrs., #127231 ....................... $41,900 JD 332E, 2014, 1408 hrs., #132664 ..................... $38,900 JD 332E, 2015, 168 hrs., #135560 ........................ $49,500 JD 332E, 2015, 511 hrs., #138924 ........................ $51,900 JD 332E, 2016, 390 hrs., #139118 ........................ $54,500 NH L230, 2011, 3300 hrs., #139121 .................... $27,300 Bobcat S185, 2003, 1550 hrs., #141064 ............. $18,900 Bobcat S650, 2013, 859 hrs., #140188 ................ $37,500 Bobcat S850, 2013, 550 hrs., #140039 ................ $48,900 SPRAYERS Redball 580, 2006, #136873.................................. $17,500 JD 4720, 2006, 1673 hrs., #130054 ...................$129,500 JD 4730, 2008, 1058 hrs., #128705 ...................$160,000 JD 4830, 2013, 450 hrs., #141508 .....................$240,000 Fast 7400, #130185 .................................................. $21,500 Hardi COMMANDER 4400, 2011, #135264....... $37,900 Hardi COMMANDER 6600, 2012, #143849....... $50,000 Hardi NAV 1100, #137542 ..................................... $17,000
4 5 8 8 8 8 2 10 10 5 4 4 4 12 6 10 10 10 4 2 9 10 10 10 6 4 4 8 10 11 4 8 4 4 6 10 6 5 6 6 6
Hardi NAV 1100, #137543 ..................................... $17,000 Hardi NAVIGATOR 4000, 2012, #138223 .......... $30,900 JD R4038, 2016, 340 hrs., #132431 ...................$309,900 JD R4038, 2017, 169 hrs., #141223 ...................$329,500 JD R4038, 2017, 396 hrs., #143961 ...................$346,500 Case IH SPX3320, 2008, 4833 hrs., #143628 ....................................................................... $57,500 UTILITY TRACTORS Case IH 95, 2010, 95 hp., 972 hrs., #143823 ....................................................................... $37,900 JD 5400, 1995, 3700 hrs., #143991 ..................... $18,500 JD 6200, 1997, 89 hp, 9911 hrs., #141979 ........ $28,600 JD 6420, 2002 7725 hrs., #143373 ...................... $37,900 Case IH 115C, 2014, 115 hp., 425 hrs., #142395 ....................................................................... $63,800 JD 5045E, 2015, 45 hp., 150 hrs., #143514 ....... $21,900 JD 5075M, 2015, 75 hp., 175 hrs., #143519 ....................................................................... $37,500 JD 5095M, 2010, 95 hp., 1735 hrs., #144023 ....................................................................... $54,900 JD 5100E, 2016, 100 hp., 542 hrs., #124826 ....................................................................... $54,900 JD 6105E, 2015, 105 hp., 185 hrs., #124312 ....................................................................... $65,900 JD 6105E, 2016, 105 hp., 285 hrs., #124882 ....................................................................... $65,900 JD 6105E, 2016, 105 hp., 313 hrs., #124869 ....................................................................... $65,900 JD 6105M, 2014, 105 hp., 396 hrs., #132099 ....................................................................... $66,900 JD 6105R, 2013, 105 hp., 454 hrs., #135169 ....................................................................... $91,500 JD 6110R, 2015, 110 hp., 176 hrs., #119898 ....................................................................... $94,900 JD 6110R, 2017, 110 hp., 294 hrs., #132075 ....................................................................... $98,900 JD 6110R, 2017, 110 hp., 198 hrs., #132073 ....................................................................... $99,500 JD 6110R, 2017, 110 hp., 198 hrs., #132074 ....................................................................... $99,500 JD 6110R, 2016, 110 hp., 193 hrs., #133619 .....................................................................$112,000 JD 6110R, 2017 140 hrs., #142813 ....................$116,000 JD 6120R, 2015, 120 hp., 280 hrs., #124875 .....................................................................$106,900 JD 6125M, 2014, 125 hp., 1006 hrs., #143939 ....................................................................... $79,000 JD 6125R, 2013, 125 hp., 1500 hrs., #143649 ....................................................................... $92,500 JD 6125R, 2014, 125 hp., 1527 hrs., #142739 ....................................................................... $94,500 JD 6125R, 2013, 125 hp., 600 hrs., #134131 .....................................................................$103,000 JD 6130M, 2016, 130 hp., 217 hrs., #127623 ....................................................................... $94,900 JD 6130R, 2016, 130 hp., 170 hrs., #138428 .....................................................................$110,000 JD 6135E, 2017, 135 hp., 92 hrs., #134655 ....................................................................... $84,900 JD 6430 PREMIUM, 2007, 120 hp., 3725 hrs., #143744 ....................................................................... $68,000 Case IH MAXXUM 140, 2014, 140 hp., 914 hrs., #140549 ....................................................................... $78,500 WINDROWERS JD W235, 2014 26 hrs., #140754 ........................$129,500 JD W235, 2014 584 hrs., #134973 .....................$134,900 JD W235, 2014 641 hrs., #135622 .....................$142,500 JD W260, 2015 443 hrs., #132464 .....................$162,000 JD W260, 2016 570 hrs., #140978 .....................$166,000
rge
c
Exa
JD 455, 2017, #139188
55,900
$
e tEm
255,000
JD DB44, $ 2017, #141612
109,000
JD 1770NT, $ 2014, #140214
104,900
JD 1790, $ 2013, #140721
Page 22 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018
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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 Waunakee, WI 608-849-5043
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Relevancy in today’s marketplace is contingent on the dairy industry’s ability to identify and meet consumer needs. Now more than ever, consumers want to know about the foods they are eating. In their effort to be socially responsible, consumers want to make sure the foods they eat are made in a way they can feel good about – from proper treatment of animals to quality care for the land on which food is produced or grown. It is this shift which prompted Midwest Dairy to implement By Lucas Lentsch a new strategic plan this year, CEO, Midwest Dairy one that is nimble in its ability to meet consumers where they Association are at, yet built on dairy farmer priorities and ideals. After a yearlong process which included gathering feedback from dairy farmer leaders, staff and our partners, we’ve developed a new vision: to bring dairy to life, and a new mission: to give consumers an excellent dairy experience. Our plan of work will bring this vision and mission to life and refocus our efforts on nding new, creative ways to build a bridge between consumers and dairy farm families. By doing this, we will create open, transparent dialogue and increase trust and condence in dairy across all points in its farm to table journey. To kick off the new year and our new strategic plan, Midwest Dairy held its annual Winter All Staff Meeting bringing together our team from our 10-state region. Without a doubt, the most meaningful speakers on our agenda were two Midwest dairy farmers. Each spoke eloquently and humbly as they shared their passion for farming and family and their commitment to ensuring their farms are here for future generations. Their words serve as a beacon to guide and inspire Midwest Dairy to be successful in implementing our plan. Anytime you look ahead to where you are going, it is important to look back at where you’ve been. Last year was a difcult year for farmers and a year of transition for Midwest Dairy. As we drafted our new strategic plan, we were mindful of the challenges many farms face and wanted to be diligent in implementing goals across these challenges. In fact, our plan was developed with input gathered from our dairy farmer board, project partners, our staff and other stakeholders. Dairy farmer insight has, and will continue to be, fundamental to Midwest Dairy’s success. Rest assured, much of the work we’ll do this year and beyond will be a continuation of proven dairy checkoff strategies. For example, our commitment to youth wellness remains strong, however, our efforts to reach youth and to create valuable touchpoints with them might look different. While we will continue to support Fuel Up to Play 60, we will identify more opportunities to allow for students to interact with dairy farmers and learn about dairy farms outside of the classroom. This brings me to our exciting involvement in Super Bowl LII, which will be played in just a few days in Minneapolis. Through our Fuel Up to Play 60 partnership with the NFL, 50 Midwest dairy farmers will be a part of the Super Bowl Experience, an interactive exhibit open to the public during the week leading up to the big game. Families who visit the Super Bowl Experience will have the opportunity to talk with local dairy farmers, take virtual tours of a dairy farm and an NFL locker room, as well as enjoy dairy products and learn more about how dairy fuels physical activity. It is estimated nearly 250,000 people will come through the Super Bowl Experience, with at least 50,000 engaging with dairy farmers. At rst, both children and their families might be surprised to see dairy farmers at a sporting event, but once they make the connection between farm, food and tness, the lens through which they view dairy will likely be transformed. By putting dairy in unexpected places, we hope to have lasting impact on consumers. I look forward to sharing more examples of how we will give an excellent dairy experience in the months ahead.
Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018 • Page 23
The Minneapolis miracle Vikings fans witness team beat Saints in nal seconds of playoff game By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
MINNEAPOLIS – Although the Minnesota Vikings did not advance to the Super Bowl after losing the NFC championship game, the team gave their fans a game to remember in the one prior to that. A few Minnesota dairy farmers – Ryan and Karen Grifn from Thief River Falls, Minn., and Chris Schulze from Holland, Minn. – were able to attend the Vikings playoff game against the New Orleans Saints on Jan. 14 at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. During that game, the home team pulled through on the last play of the game to beat the Saints, 29-24. Schulze explained what he experienced during the nal 10 seconds when the Vikings needed to score in order to win. “He (Keenum) threw it and you could hear everyone inhale their breath … then he (Diggs) caught it and the place just erupted. I’m pretty sure I’ve never heard anything that loud in my life,” said Schulze, who milks 450 cows with his family. “It was just a big uproar of everyone yelling and screaming. Everyone was giving each other hugs
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Karen and Ryan Griffin celebrate the Vikings thrilling win over the New Orleans Saints during a playoff game on Jan. 14 at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
and high ves. It was something I’m sure I’ll never witness again in my life.” The Grifns had a similar experience. “We (the Vikings) hiked the ball and the place went quiet. In my mind it was almost like time stopped for half a second when he (Diggs) caught that ball. … It was a wave of noise as Diggs got closer and closer to the end zone. The place went crazy. People were jumping. It was nuts and absolute chaos,” said Ryan, who milks 12 cows on his farm along with managing his seed corn business. While the Grifns were 13 rows up from the end zone where Diggs ran in the nal touchdown, Schulze and his group was in the rst row in the same spot. “It was almost too good to be true,” Schulze said about the nal touchdown. “After the play I just kept thinking where is the ag. Somebody was probably holding.” But the Vikings indeed won with a Hail Mary play in the last seconds of the game. “The media stormed the eld and there was so much excitement,” Ryan said. “It was so loud. I could not hear that whole night. My ears were ringing.” It gave Ryan a feeling more than just that of a home team victory. “The way we’ve been as a society and a world, even the dairy industry … just for that moment, that night, it was so cool to be around so many people Turn to VIKINGS | Page 25
Page 24 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018
R E T BET ITY L A QU Y CUT EVER
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Stephen Hawk Grower
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HarvXtra® is a registered trademark of Forage Genetics International, LLC. HarvXtra® alfalfa with Roundup Ready® technology is enabled with technology from The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc. Roundup Ready ® is a registered trademark used under license from Monsanto Company. Do not export Pioneer ® brand alfalfa seed or crops containing Genuity® Roundup Ready® technology, including hay or hay products, to China pending import approval. In addition, due to the unique cropping practices, do not plant this product in Imperial County, California. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Alfalfa with the Genuity® Roundup Ready® technology provides crop safety for over-the-top applications of labeled glyphosate herbicides when applied according to label directions. Glyphosate agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. ACCIDENTAL APPLICATION OF INCOMPATIBLE HERBICIDES TO THIS VARIETY COULD RESULT IN TOTAL CROP LOSS. Pioneer ® brand products are provided subject to the terms and conditions of purchase which are part of the labeling and purchase documents. ®, TM, SM Trademarks and service marks of DuPont, Pioneer or their respective owners. © 2018 PHII. DUPPFO17044_VA_012018_DS
ConƟnued from VIKINGS | Page 23 who cared about one thing,” he said. The Grifns both grew up in households that cheered for the purple and gold. “Someone had given me a Vikings jersey with my name on the back when I was about 5 years old. I’ve been a fan since before I could remember,” Ryan said. He also met Randy Moss and has a signed pennant from the former famed wide receiver, along with other autographs of Vikings players from when Ryan watched training camps growing up. Although Karen also grew up cheering for the Vikings, she admits she’s not as big of a fan as her husband. “I remember watching the games with my dad growing up,” Karen said. “And I grew up throwing around the football, playing 500 with my cousins.” Despite attending several games at The Dome, this was the couple’s rst time going to U.S. Bank Stadium. “It was absolutely amazing,” Ryan said. “We will need to take a guided tour sometime.” Schulze has only attended three games, two of which were this year. After their touchdown, the Vikings had a chance to kick an extra point with zero seconds left on the clock, but took a knee instead; however, while waiting for the Saints team members to take their positions for the nal play, quarterback Case Keenum led the stadium in clapping the Skol chant, one of Karen’s favorite parts of the game. “I feel like we’ve witnessed one of those great moments in Minnesota sports history,” she said. “It was electric.”
Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018 • Page 25
South Dakota Dairy Princess candidates sought The Midwest Dairy Association South Dakota Division is seeking candidates to participate in the State Dairy Princess contest scheduled Mar. 27, 2018, at the Sioux Falls Convention Center in Sioux Falls. The event is held in conjunction with the Central Plains Dairy Expo and Convention. The South Dakota Dairy Princess reigns for one year as the ofcial goodwill ambassador for the state’s dairy industry, making a variety of public appearances to help consumers understand dairy products and the responsible practices used by dairy producers. The new princess will be South Dakota’s 63rd State Dairy Princess. The entry deadline is March 1, 2018. Candidates must be 17 to 24 years old, a graduating high school senior this year, unmarried and have parents or guardians who are actively engaged in the production of milk for sale to a licensed plant. A candidate also qualies if
MN counties seeking dairy princess contestants Morrison County Morrison County American Dairy Association is seeking candidates to participate in this year’s Dairy Princess Contest. The 65th Annual Morrison County Dairy Princess Contest has been set for March 24, 2018 at the Falls Ballroom, Little Falls, Minn. Candidates must be a high school graduate by July 1, 2018, and not yet 24 years of age. She or her parents must be actively engaged in Production of milk for sale to a licensed plant during the current year. A candidate also qualies if she or her parents are employed on a dairy farm. The newly crowned Princess will be able to attend a training seminar in May at the College of St. Bens and will also have a chance to compete for 12 spots to advance to the Princess Kay competition in August.
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At all levels of competition, contestants are judged on their communication skills, personality, and enthusiasm and knowledge of the Dairy Industry. For an application, or any questions, contact Stacy Happke 320-468-6257 or Cindy Welle 320-745-2615.
Mower County The Mower County American Dairy Association is seeking candidates to participate in the 2018 Mower County Dairy Princess contest. Dairy Princess Candidates must be at least a senior in high school and not yet 24 years of age by July 1, 2018. The candidate or her parents must be actively engaged in the production of milk in Mower County for sale to a licensed plant during the current year. A candidate also qualies if she or her
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parents are employed on a dairy farm in a dairy-related capacity. Mower County dairy royalty are paid for their appearances and receive college scholarships. Girls in 3rd and 4th grade, whose parents or guardians are Mower County dairy farmers or are employed on a dairy farm, are eligible to become Mower County Milkmaids. Girls who are avid users and promoters of dairy products may also apply. Milkmaids can participate at dairy promotion events throughout the county. This is a Mower County program and there is no further competition beyond the county level. Any interested candidates are asked to call Mower County Princess Coordinator Lisa Hurley at 507-2690963 or email lmhurley12@gmail.com as soon as possible.
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she, her parents or guardian is employed on a dairy farm or a young lady sincerely interested and passionate about the dairy community. Candidates are judged on their communication skills, personality, general knowledge of the dairy industry and enthusiasm for dairy promotion. The 2018 South Dakota Dairy Princess will receive a $1,000 scholarship from Midwest Dairy Association. A $500 scholarship from the Central Plains Dairy Expo will be awarded to the rst runner-up. All candidates competing in the 2018 South Dakota Dairy Princess contest will receive a $250 scholarship. For complete rules and an application form, visit midwestdairy.com or contact Char Hovland, Midwest Dairy Association – Dairy Princess Consultant, 5313 Pop Fly Place, Sioux Falls, SD 57110 or 605.695.3131, or email char. hovland@gmail.com.
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Page 26 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018
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Now might be a good time to assess your farm storage needs. If you found yourself not being able to store your own grain because you added acres or yields were good, you might be interested in lowinterest loans that are offered by FSA. It’s no FSA News & Notes longer only grain bins and dryers, so keep on reading. FSA’s Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) program provides lowinterest nancing to producers to build or upgrade storage facilities and to purchase portable (new or used) structures, equipment and storage and By Ryan Brunn handling trucks. The low-interest funds Stearns Co. Exec. Dir. can be used to build or upgrade permanent facilities to store commodities. Eligible commodities include corn, grain sorghum, rice, soybeans, oats, peanuts, wheat, barley, minor oilseeds harvested as whole grain, pulse crops (lentils, chickpeas and dry peas), hay, honey, renewable biomass, fruits, nuts and vegetables for cold storage facilities, oriculture, hops, maple sap, rye, milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, meat and poultry (unprocessed), eggs, and aquaculture (excluding systems that maintain live animals through uptake and discharge of water). Qualied facilities include grain bins, hay barns and cold storage facilities for eligible commodities. Loans up to $50,000 can be secured by a promissory note/security agreement and loans between $50,000 and $100,000 may require additional security. Loans exceeding $100,000 require additional security. Producers do not need to demonstrate the lack of commercial credit availability to apply. The loans are designed to assist a diverse range of farming operations, including small and mid-sized businesses, new farmers, operations supplying local food and farmers markets, non-traditional farm products and underserved producers. To learn more about the FSA FSFL, visit www. fsa.usda.gov/pricesupport or contact your FSA county ofce. To nd your FSA ofce, visit http://ofces. usda.gov.
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Overcoming the ve dysfunctions of a team
Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018 • Page 27
The Transition Pen
By John & Laura Rosenhammer Father/Daughter Farming Duo With the freezing winds and frigid temps lasting from Christmas until well into the new year, this winter is certainly one I won’t soon forget. While the chilling wind slams my face as I sort heifers, I am thankful for the luxuries we have, such as keeping our young calves inside a barn, rather than walking outside from hutch to hutch and the door on our skidloader to keep the heat in as we drive across the yard. Now that the cold spell has passed, it is time to focus on setting goals for the coming year. My top goal for 2018 is to build my team. Currently, my team involves myself, my dad and uncle. My sister, mom and several others are involved in the farm as well, but we are the three decision makers at our farm. Together, we have a beautiful resume. My dad has years of experience, is passionate about our herd’s genetics, is handy and innovative and has the drive to keep getting up each morning with a positive attitude. My uncle takes time to research and choose the right seed varieties to plant, takes care of coordinating spring and fall eld work, takes care of getting manure hauled, feeds the cows each day and is always curious about the next big thing. I am young, full of passion to make our herd more protable, knowledgeable about our nancials, the go-to for technology questions, and am constantly seeking out workshops and seminars to learn more. Individually, we each do well in our areas, but as a team, we hold each other back. We each want the farm to be successful, but have different measurements on our progress. We each express our feeling of disagreement with each other differently; one raises his voice and another goes silent. Our expectations of each other differ. We assume the other person should understand how to do their job without asking if they need assistance or have concerns. My top priority is to bring us together and nd ways to express these concerns to one another in a respectful manner. I nished reading a book about a team that had the same issues and once paired with a determined, persistent leader, they learned how to respect, trust and communicate with each other. I want to be a leader for my team. “If you could get all the people in an organization rowing in the same direction, you could dominate any industry, in any market, against any competition, at any time,” said Patrick Lencioni. To clarify, I’m not out to dominate the dairy
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industry, but rather to get the three of us rowing in the same direction. According to the book, the ve dysfunctions of a team include absence of trust, fear of conict, lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability and inattention to results. In reading the book, I realized how important trust between team members is. For instance, while I’m gone on my honeymoon, I need to trust my dad to feed calves and trust my uncle to understand that our end of the year review meeting won’t take place until February. If I come home to a sick calf, I can simply treat her myself and not talk to my dad about it, or I can ask him for details, knowing it may involve some conict. I need to show my commitment to our farm by scheduling and preparing for our end of the year meeting. At our meeting, we will review the nancial, dairy and crop numbers and hold each team member accountable for events throughout the year. Finally, we need to review
last year’s goals and see if our strategy led to the results we aimed for. I realize asking a 56- and a 42-year-old to trust a 26-year-old’s guidance is a stretch. However, we have potential to become a better team and work together in harmony. I’m striving to hold meetings where each of us can share our opinion of different ideas, engage in ideological conict, agree on decisions, commit to a strategy, hold ourselves and each other accountable, and determine how we will measure our results. Most of all, I want to build trust and respect between each of us. As Patrick Lencioni states, “When there is trust, conict becomes nothing but the pursuit of truth, an attempt to nd the best possible answer.” Laura Scholtz farms with her father, John Rosenhammer, and uncle, Greg, on Roseview Dairy near Sleepy Eye, Minn. They milk 200 Holsteins and run 580 acres of cropland.
Page 28 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018
Betty Berning bberning@umn.edu 320-203-6104 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 Les Hansen hanse009@umn.edu 612-624-2277 Brad Heins hein0106@umn.edu (320) 589-1711 Kevin Janni kjanni@umn.edu (612) 625-3108 Karen Johnson ande9495@umn.edu 320-484-4334 Claire LaCanne Extension Educator 507-332-6109 lacanne@umn.edu Brenda Miller nels4220@umn.edu (320) 732-4435 Kota Minegishi kota@umn.edu 612-624-7455 Randy Pepin pepin019@umn.edu (320) 333-1369 Erin Royster royster@umn.edu Jim Salfer salfe001@umn.edu (320) 203-6093 M. Scott Wells mswells@umn.edu 612-625-3747 Emily Wilmes krek0033@umn.edu (320) 255-6169
www.extension.umn.edu/dairy
Don’t forget to monitor your pasteurized milk feeding system Feeding calves non-saleable (hospital) milk or saleable tank milk can allow producers to capture important growth, health and economic benets, as compared to conventional milk replacer feeding programs. For example, the 2001 NRC predicts that a 90-pound, 10-day old calf fed 8 quarts per day of either whole milk or 20:20 milk replacer will gain 1.95 pounds per day or 1.32 pounds per day, respectively (assumes ambient temperature of 52°F). Improvements in average daily gain in the preweaning period have been associated with signicant improvements in rst and second lactation milk production. Other benets of providing a high plane of nutrition from whole milk can include improved immune function and health. In a study of 438 calves By Sandra Godden on one Minnesota dairy, preweaned calves fed pasteurized whole milk experienced U of M Extension signicantly better health (treatment rate = 12.1 percent; mortality rate = 2.3 percent) as compared to calves fed an equal volume of 20:20 milk replacer (treatment rate = 32.1 percent; mortality rate = 21.0 percent) (Godden et al., JAVMA. 2005). Despite the tremendous benets that whole milk diets can offer, feeding raw milk may expose calves to infectious agents such as Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (the agent causing Johne’s disease), Salmonella spp., Mycoplasma spp., and Escherichia coli. However, these risks can be addressed by adopting commercial on-farm pasteurization systems. Indeed, adoption of on-farm milk pasteurization systems has been increasing over the last 10 to 15 years, with 10 and 44 percent of medium and large dairies, respectively, reportedly pasteurizing milk in 2014 (USDA-NAHMS; 2014 Dairy Study). While many farms achieve excellent results feeding pasteurized milk, producers must remember that, if not properly managed and monitored, these systems can suffer from problems like variation in milk nutrient composition or inadequate pasteurization. The old saying goes: “You can’t manage what you can’t measure.” So, the purpose of this article is to review the basic steps to properly manage and monitor milk pasteurization systems. If you have not reviewed your system lately, please work with your herd veterinarian or other consultant to develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) to manage the system, train (or retrain) farm staff in implementing these SOPs, and then implement a routine monitoring program. With proper management and monitoring, you can consistently deliver a clean, high quality milk diet to your calves, and thereby maximize the benets captured from your pasteurized milk feeding program. 1. Harvest, move and store high quality raw milk before pasteurization a. Do not feed gargety/watery/bloody milk from cows with clinical mastitis, as nutrient composition will be poor. b. Prevent dilution of milk with water (i.e. do not discharge parlor wash water into the hospital milk storage tank).
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c. Pasteurize within two hours of harvest, or chill raw milk (40°F) until ready to pasteurize. d. If chilling and storing raw milk, pasteurize and feed it within three days of harvest. e. Agitate milk well before transferring to pasteurizer. f. Clean/sanitize all harvest, transfer or storage equipment. 2. Pasteurize the milk a. Use Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) times and temperatures: i. High Temperature-Short Time (HTST), or ash, pasteurizer: 161°F for 15 seconds. ii. Batch pasteurization: 145°F for 30 minutes. b. Do not re-pasteurize milk. c. Clean/sanitize pasteurization equipment. d. Ultraviolet (UV) treatment is signicantly less effective in reducing bacteria in milk as compared to traditional heat-based pasteurization systems. If you already own a UV system, be extra vigilant to monitor its effectiveness. 3. Deliver pasteurized milk to calves without grossly recontaminating it a. Feed milk within two hours of pasteurizing, or rapidly chill until ready to feed. (If chilled, you must then rewarm to 100 to 105°F before feeding to calves). b. If milk is not fed immediately after pasteurizing, agitate well prior to delivery. c. Clean/sanitize all milk transfer and feeding equipment. Monitoring the milk pasteurization feeding system 1. Monitor function of the pasteurization equipment a. Monitor times/temperatures reached with every batch (e.g. use chart recorder). i. HTST pasteurizer: 161°F for 15 seconds. ii. Batch pasteurizer: 145°F for 30 minutes. 2. Monitor the adequacy of raw and pasteurized milk handling, as well as pasteurizer function a. Periodic (monthly) culture of serial milk samples for total plate count (TPC): i. Pre-pasteurized milk: < 1 million cfu/mL ii. Post-pasteurized milk: < 20,000 cfu/mL iii. Sample in front of calf: < 50,000 cfu/mL 3. Monitor the quality of whole milk being fed a. Use a Brix refractometer to estimate total solids (TS). Check at least weekly. i. TS in whole milk is typically 12 to 13.5 percent. This will read as 10 to 12 percent on Brix scale (Brix reading + 2 percent = predicted total solids percentage in whole milk). b. If you notice curd formation in pasteurized milk, investigate if milk is fermented due to excessive storage time or warm storage conditions of raw milk prior to pasteurization: ii. Measure milk pH. Goal > 6.5 (expected trouble if pH < 5.0). A factsheet can be found at: https://www.vdl.umn.edu/sites/ vdl.umn.edu/les/pasteurized-milk-systems-for-calves.pdf.
WHAT CAUSES SLOW QUARTERS? How many cows do you have with a slow quarter?
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Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018 • Page 29
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manure storages greater than 20,000 gallons, the plans and specications must be signed by a PE or a qualied NRCS staff person. After construction, a PE must also prepare and sign a report stating whether the liquid manure storage was completed in accordance with the design plan and specications. In addition, the MPCA rules require that manure storages that have been unused for three years or more must be evaluated by a PE. Professional engineers also play important roles in structural design. They design trusses, sign off on truss certicates and specify building member sizes to withstand wind, snow and other design loads. Engineers also help design farm equipment including skid loaders, tractors, fans, pumps, motors, milking robots and other equipment that dairy producers use every day. Engineers use mathematics, basic sciences and engineering design processes to devise systems, components or processes that meet desired needs and specications within given constraints. Constraints include meeting applicable codes and regulations, constructability, functionality, maintainability, sustainability and cost. Dairy farms have many complex problems that would benet from an engineer’s expertise and training. Engineers are usually part of a team that involves other professionals. One of my best design experiences was when I was asked to help design a ventilating system for a barn being remodeled to raise calves. The owner met with his team at the barn being remodeled. The people at the meeting included the owner, the person that would be caring for the calves, the person who was to do
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the remodeling, the equipment supplier, the veterinarian, the nutritionist and me, the engineer. When we left the meeting we had a plan that everyone had agreed on, and I was able to work directly with the equipment supplier to select equipment for the ventilating system. Dairy producers will nd engineers useful when dealing with siting a new building or operation, permitting, barn layout, wells and water supply systems, ventilation, lighting, feed storage and processing, and manure collection and transport. An engineer can also be helpful planning for roof runoff, snow melt and storm water management. Engineers can also help develop practices for handling hazardous wastes, alternative energy systems, re protection and worker safety. To utilize a professional engineer most effectively it is important to dene what the building, equipment or system must do. Recently an engineer helped layout a heifer barn. For the engineer to layout the barn, the owner needed
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JD 1770, 16 row, 3 bu., liq. fert. ...........$29,900 JD 1770, 16 row, no fert........................$23,900 JD 1760 NT, 2012, row shut off, Vari. ..$56,900 JD 1760, 2003, 12 row, VAC, Liq Fert .$39,900 JD 1760, 1996, 12 row, 2x2, Liq Fert ...$33,900 JD 1750, 8 row, dry, 2014 .....................$39,900 JD 1750, 8 row, low acres, dry fert .......$28,900 JD 1750, 1998, 8-row, dry fert ..............$15,900 JD 1750, S6Orow, LD liq. fert ........................$13,900 JD 7200, 12 row, 3 bu., liq. fert ............$18,900 JD 7000, liq. fert, 8 row ..........................$5,900
to specify how many animals and their ages that the building needed to house. The owner also had to specify the type of ventilating system, bedding and manure handling system that was preferred. Another important topic that impacted the design was animal movement through the barn as the heifers grow. Animal movement was designed to be easy and safe by laying out the barn pens, gates and alleys well. This barn also had location constraints that limited some barn dimensions. All of this information provided constraints that guided the engineer. Design usually involves an iterative process of proposing, review and revising to get the best design for the owner and the people working in the barn. Professional engineers have a code of ethics with six fundamental cannons. All six are important but holding the safety, health and welfare of the public are paramount. To nd a PE, go to the Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers website (www.mnspe.org).
GET MORE.
Dairy producers commonly rely on help from veterinarians, nutritionists and other professionals to keep their cows healthy and productive. O c c a s i o n a l l y, producers need to hire a professional engineer. With limited experience working with engineers, producers and other consultants might not utilize By Kevin Janni an engineer’s skill U of M Extension set to best effect. Engineers can help producers layout and design their operations to run more smoothly and productively. Professional engineers (PE) must be licensed in a state to practice within the state. Most people become a PE after completing an accredited engineering degree program in college, passing a fundamentals of engineering exam, completing four years or more of professional experience, and nally passing a professional engineers exam. To remain licensed, engineers need to complete 24 hours of professional development every two years. Professional engineers can only practice within their area of expertise. There are times when animal feeding operation owners must deal with a PE. The most common time is when planning to install new or modify existing liquid manure storages. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) rules (7020.2100) require that animal feedlot owners planning to build new or modify existing manure storages submit design plans and specications before beginning construction. For
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The java junkie Page 30 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018
Being of Norwegian descent, I’m among those insomniacs are told to count woolies. who believe that coffee should be classiďƒžed as an The shepherds had to chew their coffee beans in essential bodily ďƒ&#x;uid. Yes, I’ll admit it: I am a java order to get their Minimum Daily Requirement of junkie. caffeine. I suppose it’s hard to ďƒžnd a power socket for Legend has it that your electric coffee grinder nomadic Arab shepherds in the middle of the desert. became an expert at were the ďƒžrst to discover I soon b These days, no the potent powers of the whipping up my own espressos, shepherd or shepherdess coffee bean. Through bold worth their salt block would experimentation – “Let’s cappuccinos and cafe lattes. be caught dead without his consume some of these or her high-impact, superstrange seeds, which, after insulated, spill-proof coffee all, could be poisonous.â€? – the shepherds learned that mug. Because after all these centuries, one thing coffee helped them stay alert while keeping an eye on hasn’t changed; watching sheep is still boring. their ďƒ&#x;ocks. A good number of coffee shops have sprung up in Ever sit around and watch sheep? Boring. our area over the years. This suits me just ďƒžne. I’m all We’re talking a level of tediousness that could put a for the beautiďƒžcation of our great nation, especially if hyperactive squirrel into a coma. There’s a reason that it involves the distribution of my favorite ďƒ&#x;uid.
Priority IAC
TM
the Smart bacteria & Nutrition Company
TM
the P-One Program
TM
- the
1st Ingredient
TM
EZ OPEN – Hold Wide Tape‌Pull Small Tape
For Healthy Cows
ÂŽ
Contains a source of o live (viable) naturally occurring microorganisms, Amylase which can hydrolyze starch, Protease which can hydrolyze proteins, prote beta-Glucanase which can hydrolyze Ă&#x;-glucans (a type of non-starch polysaccharide), Hemicellulase
Analysis
Total Propionibact Propionibacteria (minimum) ...........................................................................16 billion cfu/pound (35 million cfu/gram) (Propionibacterium freudenreichii) freud
Total Yeast Y (minim (minimum) ..........................................................................................300 billion cfu/pound (661 million cfu/gram) (Active Dry Yeast Y Saccharomyces Sacch cerevisiae)
Enzyme Activ Activity (minimum)
Bacterial Amylase y (Bacillus ( subtilis)................................................................................................................. 118,000 BAU*/lb. *Bacterial amylase BAU = one on bacterial amylase unit (BAU) is the quantity of enzyme that will dextrinize starch at the rate of 1 mg/min at pH 6.6 and 30°C.
Fungal g Amylase y ((A (Aspergillus oryzae)................................................................................................................. 95,250 SKB*/lb. *Fungal amylase SKB = number num of grams of soluble starch dextrinized, in the presence of excess Ă&#x;-amylase, per hour at pH 5.0 and 400C.
Fungal g Protease ((A (Aspergillus oryzae) ................................................................................................................ 68,000 HUT*/lb. *Fungal protease HUT = the amount of enzyme that produces, in 1 minute at pH 4.7 and 400C, a hydrolysate whose absorbance at 275 nm is the same as that of a solution containing 1.10 Č?J perr ml ml off ttyrosine yrosine in 00.006N hydrochloric acid.
beta-Glucanase (Trichoderma ((Tr longibrachiatum) .....................................................................................................900 BGU*/lb. *Beta Glucanase BGU = the amount of enzyme which, liberates glucose to 1 —mol glucose per minute at pH 6.5 and 40°C.
Hemicellulase (Aspergillus (Asp p niger) ............................................................................................................................225 HCU*/lb. *Hemicellulase HCU = one hemicellulase hem unit (HCU) is defined as that activity that will produce a relative fluidity change of 1 over a period of 5 min in a locust bean gum substrate at pH 4.5 and 40°C
Ingredients
Sodium bentonite bentonite, plant protein products, mineral oil, dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation extract, dried Aspergillus oryzae fermentation fermentati extract, dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, dried Aspergillus niger fermentation extract, extra dried Propionibacterium freudenreichii fermentation product, sodium silico aluminate.
Directions fo for Use
Pre-fresh Cows (or ( Lactating Cows): Feed DCP™ at 1 ounce per head per day for 14–21 day period to colonize and act as a lactic acid utilizer. Follow with feeding P-One™ (see P-One™ label for proper use). One group - dry g group, with no close-up group: Feed 1 ounce DCPTM the ¿ rst 14 days of each month.
Branded Strains of Smart bacteria: A4000h ......................Pediococcus pentosaceus A2020™ ..................................... Lactococcus lactis 2E-1™ ..................................Enterococcus faecium EF141™ ...............................Enterococcus faecium LC222™ .................................... Lactobacillus casei LBR1000™ .............................. Lactobacillus brevis LP100™ ............................ Lactobacillus plantarum Found Only in Priority IAC Products ™
For optimum syn synergy feed with P-OneTM and TracePac GoldTM Smart Release CrystalsTM Progr (the P-One Program™).
Storage Reco Recommendations Store in a cool dry area out of direct sunlight.
Priority IAC
TM
3504 County Road CR Manitowoc, WI 54220 USA forhealthycows.com info@forhealthycows.com 920-682-0264
Net wt. 30 lb. (13.64 kg) FULL WARRANTY/DISCLAIMER INFORMATION AT forhealthycows.com 03130.30.05232017
Smart bacteria Smart microbiome - Stabilize and maintain pH - Optimize energy transport through efficient carbohydrate metabolism
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The microbiome in every cow is different, yet all are fed the same TMR and expected to perform the same. The branded strains of Smart bacteria, found only in the P-One Program™, optimize energy transport through efficient carbohydrate metabolism. This stabilizes and maintains rumen pH, making the P-One Program™ - Your First Ingredient.
One day I went to town for tractor parts and decided to sneak a peek into one of those nifty little coffee shops. That aroma! I closed my eyes and took a deep whiff. It was exactly how I envisioned Dear County Agent Guy heaven would smell. I joined the line leading up to the counter and watched as a hipster dude ordered something called “espressoâ€? (which, I believe, is Latin for “thinned out road tarâ€?). The barista handed him a dinky little cup By Jerry Nelson that contained some Columnist mysterious black gunk. The hipster guy then proceeded to spoil this concoction by dumping a bunch of sugar into it. Disgusting. I thought that I’d show them how a real man gets his caffeine hit, so I ordered a double shot of that espresso stuff. I tossed it back without so much as batting an eye. In fact, I haven’t been able to blink ever since. I knew that I had found it. The nectar of the gods. I went to the super-mart and bought a home espresso maker. This is not your grandma’s twee little percolator. This machine has heft and substance and a stainless-steel chamber for creating pressurized steam. We’re talking about a manly apparatus that’s a cross between a coffeemaker and a steam locomotive. I soon became expert at whipping up my own espressos, cappuccinos and cafe lattes. And on those days when I needed an extra jolt of energy, a pickup truck load of asphalt. One evening I was doing some yard work when my wife approached me with a concerned look on her face. “Honey,â€? she said to me gently, “The boys and I appreciate that you’ve decided to dig a new swimming pool for us by hand. But shouldn’t you at least wait until the ground has thawed?â€? “Can’t talk,â€? I said as I walloped the permafrost with my pickaxe. “I’ve got too much to do. After this, I’m going to conduct a core competency workshop with the cows. They need to improve their tail swatting skills. There’s no reason why they can’t be swinging their tails in unison.â€? “I think that you need to cut back on your caffeine intake,â€? said my wife. “It’s nearly 2 a.m. and I can’t remember the last time that you slept.â€? “Shhh,â€? I said. “Can you hear that? Somebody is running a jackhammer!â€? My wife smiled wanly. “I’m pretty sure that’s your heart.â€? OK, so maybe she was right about my coffee ďƒžxation. Maybe I had become a bit of a caffeine head. I was going to cut back, but I just had too much to do. One day, all of my coffee making equipment mysteriously disappeared. The grinder, my beloved espresso machine, my stash of Joe’s Java Journal magazines. Even my favorite coffee mug went missing, the junior-sized one that only held half a gallon. I suspected my wife, of course. But I did notice one thing, though. She waited until I had ďƒžnished paving the driveway. 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.
E lectric Cell:
320-761-1042 Serving Central Minnesota
Evaluate nutrition strategies to maximize cash ow
Feed expenditures are the single largest operating expense in your dairy business. Given our current economic times, it is critical to evaluate on-farm nutritional strategies to determine if any potential changes can improve the dairy’s cash ow. Milk production is the income generator for Something to Ruminate On your dairy business, so saving 10 cents in feed cost but losing 20 cents in productivity is not a good economic decision. Consider several key nutritional and management strategies to help maximize income over feed costs. High-quality By Barry Visser forage reduces Nutritionist supplemental feed costs. Current forage inventory is established, but the value of harvesting high-quality forages this next season may be greater than ever. Harvesting forages at the correct moisture and maturity is a critical component. Hybrid selection can be part of the solution to improved forage quality, but needs to be balanced against input costs. With current prices, going from 15 to 5 percent feed shrink accounts for feed savings of greater than 50 cents per head daily. Feed shrink can be dened as any ingredient that enters the dairy but is not consumed by the cow. Some shrink to forages is inevitable, but with proper packing and storage practices, these losses can be minimized. Evaluate ingredient handling and storage, as well. Byproducts can be a great buy, but may lend themselves to double-digit shrink values under certain conditions. Maximize dry matter (DM) intake to maximize milk production. One pound of additional DM can lead to two pounds increase in milk production. In some cases, there may be an opportunity to reduce percentage leftovers below 5 percent. Feed distribution, push-up frequency and overall bunk management needs to be excellent to make this happen. Feed efciency is an important economic measure used to evaluate the amount of milk produced per unit of feed. Utilizing energy corrected milk will give credit to the milk component contribution. Several factors will impact feed efciency: • Multiple groups of milk cows versus one group to allow better targeting of nutrients and additives designed to improve feed efciency • Overcrowding to the point where performance is negatively affected • Cow comfort and heat abatement for milk cows and dry cows • Culling strategies to remove low-end producers • Aggressive reproduction strategies to have more cows in peak lactation • Proper particle size and moisture in the TMR • Adequate water access Two common non-productive assets related to nutrition expenditures are forage inventory and heifer replacements. If a farm is sitting on eight to 12 months of carryover on a given forage, managers may consider harvesting fewer acres to remove some crop input expenses. With heifer replacements, take a hard look at the number needed versus inventory. In addition, recognize the feed costs associated with calving heifers less than 24 months of age on most farms. Work with your nutrition consultant to review and ne-tune your feeding program. Any feeding changes that potentially jeopardize milk production or future cow health need to be carefully evaluated; do not sacrice long-term gains for short-term savings. Develop your list of potential changes, evaluate the positives and negatives of each potential change, and prioritize which nutrition changes will have the largest effects on your cash ow. In some cases, no changes will be made. In other cases, signicant changes can be made, resulting in greater income over feed costs. Barry Visser is a nutritionist for Vita Plus.
Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018 • Page 31
A special Christmas surprise Page 32 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018
The last present opened on Christmas may have Mark’s name on the tag, but it is truly a family gift to each other. This annual “Family Year” frame started with a simple comment by Mark. “We Just Thinking Out Loud didn’t do anything this year.” The challenge was thrown down, and I was set to prove him wrong. I searched through stacks of pictures I had taken of our everyday life and made a collage of the special moments. Katie singing “Some Where Over the Rainbow” dressed as Dorothy from the Wizard By Natalie Schmitt of Oz at the state fair talent Columnist show. Jonathon holding the spikes of his rst deer. Michael lifting a gopher trap in triumph over the pesky critter. Austin helping Mark to paint the outside frame of the pole shed from inside the tractor bucket. The Virginia and Minnesota Schmitt cousins standing in a row from tallest to shortest next to the dairy barn. This all started in 2005. As people replace the calendar on the wall at the end of the year, so, too, do we replace the old picture frame with the new one. The current pictures hang in the entry way of our house while the old frame is moved down to the “Hallway of Memories.” Smiling faces of special moments and accomplishments line both walls down the long narrow hallway serving as a reminder of where we’ve been and where we’re heading in life. Families and friends share their adventures through annual Christmas letters. I see pictures of happy families standing together with a breath-taking view of the Grand Canyon as a backdrop. I start to feel like we may have cheated our kids out of their childhood. We never made it camping in the mountains let alone a state park. We never went white water rafting down the Colorado River (which is something I still want to do). We never went to Disneyland let
alone Valley Fair Theme Park in the Twin Cities. this fall and didn’t want to break in a new dog over When the kids were little, we didn’t have the the cold winter months. We also decided we didn’t nances. We were starting out farming in the late ‘80s. want a puppy because we weren’t excited about going Everything we earned was being plowed back into the through the puppy stages of chewing, dragging and farm and cattle to build a future for our family. As digging. they grew older and we had a better nancial footing, I got a text from Matt that he was going to stop we felt we couldn’t go because they were a major in and visit us before Christmas. He needed to come part of the work force around the farm. We learned to down from Greenbush to get some supplies for their squeeze family fun trips in a day or two at the most dairy farm. Matt showed up. Katie was late. Sara between eld work and school. We appreciated these had to run errands. In other words, Sara had to take quick breaks away together as a family, but mostly care of our present without us suspecting anything. we created our own memories at home. The kids built She couldn’t be left alone. Katie was buying needed blanket forts on the clothes line to camp outside under supplies. Matt was keeping me occupied until milking the stars. They raced down the eld road on their was done and the guys came in the house. bikes through the sprays of water from the irrigation Once everyone was in for the night, out came guns with squeals of laughter as the water landed on the surprise. A dark, fuzzy bundle of puppy energy. their heads. She was so cute and cuddly. Everyone was thrilled, Now, as the kids have started careers off the except me. I saw the bigger picture of what was going farm, they are discovering a whole new world of to happen once everyone went back to their homes opportunities. There are summer volleyball and after the holidays. I wouldn’t give her a name because softball league games to play, biking trails to explore she was going back up north. She was a hit over the and road trips to take because they have a long holiday holidays, but then everyone left and the temperatures weekend. Michael’s car trunk is packed with camping plummeted. Our outside farm dog suddenly became gear and shing poles the laundry room puppy. because he never knows I’ve warmed up to her, and when he might nd the right Th she has warmed up to Mark. The llast present opened d on spot for an adventure. The We’ve created a new routine pictures in our Christmas Christmas may have Mark’s with the puppy on the farm. frame are starting to expand name on the tag but it is truly Bailey loves to help me beyond the adventures push up feed and shake out of our home and farm. a family gift to each other. hay. Her favorite chew thing There are pictures of trips is anything, especially corn to Brazil, grad school in stalks. She is learning how Florida, a yacht cruise on Lake Michigan and a to switch cows and has a natural knack for herding rst new house. I look at these new adventures and cattle. Cats on the other hand are giving her problems. realize how much our kids appreciate these chances to They just don’t understand her barks. She is learning explore as young adults. We may not have given them to avoid their paw swipes. It has been entertaining, and the big vacations, but we instilled an appreciation of I guess it is our new subject for the family Christmas celebrating the moment. picture frame. The Christmas frame also serves as a reminder of Natalie, Mark and his brother, Al, Schmitt farm together changes our family has gone through over the years. near Rice, Minn. They milk 100 registered Holsteins under We’ve been without a farm dog for almost six years. the RALMA prex. For questions or comments please e-mail Mark and I have been talking about getting a new Natalie at mnschmitt@jetup.net. dog this spring from the shelter. We were too busy
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Rural values
Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018 • Page 33
T HE MO S T S TA BL E SK ID S T EER ON E A R T H I S
In several ways, this past weekend was wonderful. We nally celebrated Christmas with my family. Our kids had lots of time to play with their cousins, go ice skating, and build snow forts – there’s actually some snow up north. At the same time, it wasn’t a good weekend at all. Daphne came down with inuenza. The last thing we needed was another health issue in our family. Our legislators failed to reach agreement on funding (and a number of other issues that were injected into the funding bill) and the government shut down, albeit briey. The government shutdown and the Dairy Good Life partisan politics it illustrates were disappointing more than anything else. And then the Vikings lost to the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game. The loss itself was depressing, but then the news was lled with reports about the disgusting behavior of the Eagles’ fans at the game. These last two events – the government shutdown and Philadelphia’s terrible fans – have me thinking that our country is in desperate need of a healthy dose of rural values. Kids who grow up on farms, or grow up By Sadie Frericks working on their neighbors’ farms, learn early on Columnist the value of working hard and working until all the chores are done. I had surgery a month ago and have been on strict light duty since then. Dan and Monika have been helping Glen with barn chores as much as they can. Their extra time in the barn has provided them with some important learning opportunities. One day, Dan and Monika decided they would switch chores with each other. But they didn’t check with Glen to make sure that was OK. We had a good discussion about that decision later. I asked them to fast-forward 20 years and pretend they were working for a boss who’s not their dad. That boss, I explained, would need to approve a job switch in advance; bosses assign jobs to the employees they feel are best suited to complete the task. We also had a discussion about what to do if you nish your chores early. Don’t just come back to the house, I told them. Check with the boss to see if there are any other jobs you can help with before your shift is done. Farm kids also learn how to work together with people they don’t always get along with: their siblings. We all learned that sibling squabbles were no excuse for failing to nish our chores. Our elected leaders could learn a thing or two from farm kids about setting differences aside to work together and working hard until the work is done. Likewise, the Philadelphia Eagles’ horrible fans could stand to spend some time with rural kids and learn a few things about respect and gratitude. I’m not sure why rural kids seem more respectful Our elected O l d lleaders d could ld and grateful. Maybe it’s prayers we say at night. learn a thing or two from farm the Maybe it’s the behavior kids ... expectations we hold them to. Maybe it’s the small, close-knit communities in which they’re raised, where every parent is as likely to correct poor behavior as a child’s own parents. Whatever the reason, Philadelphia’s fans clearly need more of it. Instead of showing gratitude for their team’s successful season and respectfully welcoming visitors to their town, their behavior was exactly the opposite. I believe strongly in understanding current events, but reading the news these days is disheartening, especially when the news is lled with humanity’s worst behavior. Perhaps someday we’ll nd a way to infuse our rural values into the rest of the country. Until then, I’ll just keep doing my best to make sure my own children understand the value of work ethic, respect and gratitude.
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*For commercial use. Offer subject to CNH Industrial Capital America LLC credit approval. See your New Holland dealer for details and eligibility requirements. Depending on model, a down payment may be required. Offer good through March 31, 2018, at participating New Holland dealers in the United States. Offer subject to change. Taxes, freight, set-up, delivery, additional options or attachments not included in price. © 2018 CNH Industrial Capital America LLC. All rights reserved. New Holland Agriculture is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. CNH Industrial Capital and New Holland Construction are trademarks in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates.
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Hurry in—offers end March 31, 2018. 1Subject to credit approval. Terms and conditions apply. Ask an associate for details. 2See your local New Holland dealer for complete details and qualifications. ©2018 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. New Holland is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. CNH Industrial Capital and CNH Industrial Genuine Parts are trademarks in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. Productivity Plus® is licensed or sublicensed to Citibank, N.A. in the United States. MRC
USED EQUIPMENT SAUK CENTRE
TRACTORS NH T7000 Front PTO/3 Point Kit .....................$6,500 SKID LOADERS NH L230, Cab Heat, A/C, Air Seat .................$36,900 HAY TOOLS NH 1475, 14’ Haybine ....................................$13,500 NH 1431, 13’ Discbine, Std Hitch ....................$9,500 NH H7450, 13’ Disbine, Drawbar Swivel ........$27,900 BALERS NH RB460, Dry Hay, 4’x6’, 1070 Bales ..........$32,900 NH BR780A, Twine/Net, Wide P/U .................$11,900 BR7070, Silage Special, 4’x6’, Clean .............$26,900 Vermeer 605M, Silage, Twine .........................$12,900 TILLAGE Salford 8214 Plow, 14 Bottom .......................$53,500 FORAGE Krone EC7500 ................................................$29,500 MANURE SPREADERS Gehl 1287, End Gate, Upper Beater ................$9,900 MISCELLANEOUS Messer Attachments and Rock Wagons ...... In Stock! PIERZ TRACTORS NH TN75, FWA, Pwr Shuttle, Loader .............$21,500 NH TT75a, Loader, FWA, 766 Hrs ..................$19,900 NH TC40DA, Super Steer, Loader, Hydro ......$15,500
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SKID LOADERS NHL225, Cab, Heat, A/C, Perf Package ........$31,500 NH L218, Cab Heat, A/C ................................$26,500 NH L220, Cab Heat, A/C, Hi-FLow, Air Seat ..$29,500 HAY TOOLS NH 166 Inverter, Hyd Drive, RH Table Ext ........$5,700 NH 488, 9’ Sickle, 2015 Model, Nice .............$12,900 NH 1431, Nice Consigned ..............................$14,000 NH 1465 Haybine, Hyd. Lift, Stub Guards .......$9,350 New Idea 5209, 9’ Discbine .............................$7,800 BALERS NH BR750A Net/Twine, Wide P/U ..................$17,800 NH BR780, Auto-Wrap, Bale Ejector..............$11,900 NH BR780, Net/Twine, Bale Command .........$17,500 NH BR7090, Net Only, Wide P/U ...................$27,900 NH BR7060, Roto-Cut, Net/Twine..................$27,250 NH BR7060, Silage, Net/Twine, 540 PTO ......$22,000 NH BR7060, Net/Twine, 4500 bales, Clean....$21,000 Vermeer 505I, 5x5 Bale, Electric Tie, Twine......$3,900 NH 851, Auto-Wrap ..........................................$2,000 TILLAGE JD 3710, 10 Bottom Plow, Nice, 2013 Model $29,500 FORAGE NH FP230, 27P HH, 3PN CH, KP...................$39,500 NH FP240, 29P HH, 3PN CH, KP...................$35,500
PIERZ, MN
Call 320-352-6303 to place your classied or mail to: Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378.
320-468-2161 Hwy. 27 West
SAUK CENTRE, MN 320-352-6543 Hwy. 71 South
www.modernfarmequipment.com
Page 34 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018
Dairying dream brings Briggs family from Massachusetts to Wisconsin
Grazing, lasting cows and self-processing are future goals By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
STRATFORD, Wis. – Growing up on a registered Jersey dairy farm in Medway, Mass., Jim Briggs always knew he wanted to be a dairy farmer. He also knew that it probably was not going to happen on his family’s farm that was located a mere 25 miles southwest of Boston. Briggs’ journey eventually led him to Stratford, Wis., in 2014, where he now milks 45 cows with his wife, Jenny, and son, Justin, 14. The herd is primarily Jerseys, with the exception of Justin’s Holstein show cow and her new daughter. “Today, all the dairies in eastern Massachusetts are basically gone,” said Briggs of his hometown. “We processed and bottled our own milk, and it was a great market for that at the time. But Medway was a bedroom community and it grew up around us. The regulations with processing were changing and it wasn’t feasible to change the dairy to meet them. The cows were sold, but my dad still owns the farm and runs a small hay business from there.” Until 2004, the Briggs family processed their milk using vat pasteurization at a lower temperature
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
Jim Briggs enjoys working with Jerseys and found them to be the best t for the dairy herd he and his family have established in central Wisconsin. The Briggs family milks 45 cows near Straƞord, Wis. and bottled it in glass bottles. They delivered their milk to restaurants, stores and nursing homes in the Boston area and also operated an on-farm store. “The farm was open to the public all the time with the store being right
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Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018 • Page 35
ConƟnued from BRIGGS | Page 34
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
Jim and Jenny Briggs milk 45 head of Jerseys on their farm near Straƞord, Wis., in Marathon County. The couple is entering their fourth year on the farm. outside of Boston. Instead, he left the area to pursue his dreams of dairying. The rst stop in his journey led him and his wife to Montrose, Iowa, an area not heavily populated with dairy cattle. There, Briggs worked for one of the few dairy farmers. As time continued, Briggs still had dreams of having his own dairy farm, and Wisconsin was where he wanted to farm. He had rst traveled through Wisconsin on a high school trip. “I liked the area, and always thought if I couldn’t farm at home in Massachusetts, this was where I wanted to be,” Briggs said. The Briggs family began searching for dairy farms in Wisconsin that would suit their dreams. Jenny was offered a job as a registered nurse at a clinic in Wausau, Wis. “We started looking for farms in the Wausau area and eventually found this one,” Briggs said of their farm. “It was a little farther than Jenny wanted to drive, but it was the place we liked the best, and it was in use when we bought it, so the buildings weren’t sitting empty.” The farm was purchased in November 2014 and the rst mortgage payment was due in January, so Briggs set about building a herd. “This is something I couldn’t have started, or continue doing, without the help of my wife and my son,” Briggs said. Holsteins and Jerseys were purchased at local sales barns, but Briggs soon discovered that Jerseys were a better t for the dairy herd his family was building. Briggs has worked to breed better cows with each generation and puts emphasis on positive health traits such as DPR and SCC in his sire selections. He also looks for bulls that sire good feet and legs and bulls that are polled. “I want to breed good, solid cows that are going to easily last 10 to 15 years,” Briggs said.
Looking outside the box, Briggs used a bull from a top production herd in New Zealand in his breeding program. The rst calves from that semen are now on the ground, and Briggs is excited by what he sees in them. He looks to maintain purebred Jersey status and doesn’t care to use bulls that are Jersey-cross bulls. The Briggs family’s herd is grazed as much as possible during warmer months, and Briggs would like to continue to improve and grow his grazing program. “I wish I could graze year-round,” Briggs said. “I’m very interested by dairying in New Zealand from a grazing aspect. Social media can be a great thing, it exposes you to things you’d never see or know about otherwise ... If there was any other place in the world I’d want to farm, that’s where it would be.” Briggs ships his milk to Mullins Cheese, but is still drawn to the idea of processing and marketing his own milk. “I miss having conversations with the public,” Briggs said. “There is so much misinformation out there. I’d like to get that connection back.” A desire to connect with the public goes hand-in-hand with Briggs’ concerns for the dairy industry. “I’d like to see more people self-processing and more small cooperatives,” Briggs said. “Plants and creameries seem to only want semiloads of milk today. That scares me, and it’s not good for the industry.” With cow longevity, grazing practices, and the potential of on-farm processing, Briggs is nding a niche for his skills and interest, and ultimately the potential of his farm. “There are so many different theories to farming,” Briggs said. “And none of them are necessarily wrong. The size of the farm doesn’t determine if you are a good farmer or not. It should be your dedication that determines your success.”
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DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
Urban growth in the Boston, Mass., area required Briggs to search for a new locaƟon to pursue his dream of dairy farming. The farmsite pictured is of his dairy in Wisconsin.
Page 36 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018
Women In Jeans Melanie Fritsche New Ulm, Minn. Brown County 35 cows
Family: My husband, Paul, and I have two sons – Andrew, and Daniel and Julie Fritsche – along with two grandsons, Adam and Ryan Fritsche. Both Paul and I grew up on registered Guernsey dairy farms. We met while exhibiting at the Minnesota State Fair FFA Livestock Show. Tell us about your farm. Paul’s grandfather, Paul E. Fritsche, began farming in the early 1920s. In 1928, he purchased his rst registered Guernsey heifer, and the herd grew from that initial purchase and additional purchases phasing out the grades by the late ‘50s. In 1980, Paul and I joined his father, Arlon, and in 2014, we began operating as Fritsche Farms LLC. The farm consists of the dairy, permanent pasture and 135 acres of tillable ground. We raise alfalfa, winter rye, corn and soybeans. Both boys own cattle in the herd with Andrew assisting with day to day management. This year marks the 90th anniversary of our registered Guernsey herd which is registered under the Whirlwind Acres and PAFarms prexes. What’s the busiest time of day for you? Usually mornings after milking when we do outside feeding, re-bed the tie stalls, clean feed managers and so forth. When we are planting, making hay or harvesting in the fall I take on more ll in responsibilities, ranging from milking alone to pulling in hay racks. Since we are a small operation, all family members tend to learn and do most every job. I also work as a orist part-time so busier weeks for me involve major holidays like Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day because of the extra hours at work. When you get a spare moment what do you do? I like to read, mostly biographies and history. I also like to do photography with my DSLR camera. Tell us about your most memorable experience working on the farm. When our homebred cow, Whirlwind Acres Mint Ember Ex-91 won grand champion Guernsey at the Minnesota State Fair Open Class Dairy Show in 2015 becoming the rst cow to accomplish winning grand champion three years running (2013-15). What have you enjoyed most about dairy farming or your tie to the dairy industry? I love working with the cows and being surrounded by nature, but I think it’s the people Paul and I have met from showing cattle and various industry organizations and boards that I have enjoyed most. Sharing commonalities of the industry and also learning from each other the differences has created a much wider understanding of the U.S. dairy industry. How do you stay connected with others in the industry? Email, texting and social media. We still get several print media dairy news items like industry magazines and are members of Dairy Management Inc.’s Dairy Hub along with several email lists for notications from Dairy Check-Off, other organizations and companies. We also attend various industry meetings via board positions and memberships, and we continue to show cattle which gets us in contact with many in the industry.
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In your opinion, what’s the importance of women in today’s dairy industry and how have you seen that change over the years? In some ways, the agriculture community has made great strides. Women serve on major boards including as ofcers, and we have had females as heads of milk co-ops. As a group, women have broken many molds and ideas of what a woman is capable of doing such as AI technician, mechanic, nutritionist or large animal DVM. My concern is that women are separating themselves from the men instead of pushing harder to have those inside and outside of dairy (and agriculture) to see us as one group of people in agriculture and each individual being capable in their own right. If you could give a tour of your farm to a prominent woman in today’s society, who would it be? I would host people who shape opinions and laws, so they could see a small farm and talk one on one with me and my family about those things important to our industry such as how hard we work to provide safe food, keep our animals healthy and that soil, water and the environment are vital to us. What is the best vacation you’ve ever taken? My family has never taken a vacation in the sense of the word most people would think of it. Vacations for us were state fair and World Dairy Expo. Breed conventions were also part of the mix and industry meetings for Paul and I. Yes, all of these were farm related business, but they got us off the farm and around other people. Often national annual meetings and conventions have been held in different parts of the country so we have gotten to see places we otherwise wouldn’t have been able to go. What are some words you like to live by? “There are opportunities and risks about any decision,” said Tom Gallagher CEO Dairy Management Inc.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018 • Page 37
Put operating agreements, business plans in writing By Ron Johnson
ron.j@dairystar.com
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Wis. – Put it in writing. That was the main point of the meeting, “Cultivating Your Farm Business’ Future,â€? Jan. 10 at Prairie du Chien, Wis. The meeting was sponsored by the University of Wisconsin Extension and the University of Wisconsin Center for Dairy Proďƒžtability. “Whether you’re farming with your son or daughter, brother or sister, or with someone who is not a relative, having written plans for operations and management provides a strong base for a sustainable business,â€? said Melissa O’Rourke. She is a farm and agricultural b u s i n e s s management Melissa O’Rourke specialist with Iowa ISU Extension State University Extension, and also a lawyer. One document that is often overlooked when people start farming together is an operating agreement. “Following a written agreement helps when things are going well and when things get difďƒžcult,â€? O’Rourke said. A farm business operating agreement is used when all the people involved contribute labor and management, invest capital and share any income that the business generates. “Often, the older party furnishes all the land, although the parties may rent additional land,â€? O’Rourke said. “Many variations of ownership of machinery, feed and livestock are used. The accounting requirements are simplest if the parties involved have equal ownership of much of the personal property.â€? As might logically be expected, each person bound by an operating agreement gets a share of the income based on his or her contributions. Whoever supplies most of the resources receives most of the income. Those involved should divide the income based on the value of their yearly contributions. “The costs and expenditures associated with owning individual assets are paid by the owner of the assets,â€? O’Rourke said. “For example, if the older party owns the land, and provides the use of the land, and receives a payment in return, he or she is responsible for paying the property taxes, debt payments and other costs associated with owning the land.â€? O’Rourke offered the example of a dairy farm that milks 45 cows and has 240 acres of cropland. The younger party supplies 12 months of labor and pays half the livestock expenses. In addition, this younger person also owns half the cattle and a tractor valued at $25,000. On the other side of the equation, the older person or couple also supplies 12 months of labor and pays the other half of the livestock expenses. This older party owns half the cattle plus all the remaining machinery and equipment. And, the older party owns the real estate. Adding up the value of what the younger party provides yields a yearly total of $56,300, O’Rourke said. Meanwhile, the older party provides resources valued at $196,400.
To calculate how much of the yearly income each party is entitled to, simply add the values of each of their contributions. Adding $56,300 and $196,400 yields a total value of $252,700. When percentages are calculated, it’s found that the younger party has contributed 22 percent of the resources. By contrast, the older party has contributed 78 percent. Turning to the distribution of income, it only makes sense that each party should receive it in proportion to what was contributed. In her example, O’Rourke assumed that cash income for the year amounted to $250,000. That means the older party should get 78 percent of that, or $195,000. Likewise, the younger party should receive 22 percent of the cash income, or $55,000. “Each party’s income is used to pay the debt and expenses associated with individually owned resources that are contributed to the business,â€? said O’Rourke. “Additional income can be used for family living expenses and taxes, or additional investment in the business.â€? O’Rourke also noted that some people use two more kinds of agreements: enterprise operating agreements and wage-and-incentive agreements. Just as its name implies, an enterprise operating agreement applies only to one speciďƒžc aspect of a farm. O’Rourke used the example of a farm that raises hogs, along with crops and other livestock. In this example, the enterprise agreement applies only to the hog aspect. This type of agreement is set up much the same as an operating agreement, with each party paying certain expenses and receiving a percentage of the income. Her example had the older party getting 75 percent of the income, and the younger party getting 25 percent. The third kind of agreement that O’Rourke discussed is a wage-andincentive agreement. Said O’Rourke, “It can be used during the ‘testing’ stage, when the younger party ďƒžrst comes into the business. The testing stage is part of the farm business transfer process that’s used to determine if the younger party really wants to farm and if all parties can get along.â€? With a wage-and-incentive agreement, the younger person usually does not have any money invested in the business. But he or she is paid a wage and might also receive free housing or other beneďƒžts, such as free meat or free milk. In addition, the younger party gets compensation through an incentive plan if the business does well. O’Rourke laid out ďƒžve key considerations to keep in mind when developing an incentive program: • The incentive plan is not a substitute for wages. Rather, it’s an addition to a fair and equitable wage. • The incentive should be large enough to motivate the younger person. “As a rule,â€? said O’Rourke, “it should average 15 to 20 percent of the base wage.â€? • Base the incentive on performance levels that are observable, measurable and controllable by the employee. • To make sure that the incentive really does motivate the employee, pay it promptly and regularly. • Review an incentive plan regularly. Change it as the employee gains skills or takes on new duties and responsibilities.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018 • Page 39
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Craig Duden Red Wing, Minn. Goodhue County 80 cows How did you get into farming? I took over the herd from my parents. I was the youngest of my siblings and the only one interested in dairy farming. I graduated with a degree in animal science from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 1993, and came home after that. My wife, Connie, and I bought the farm and took over the herd in 1998. What are your thoughts and concerns about the dairy industry for the next year? Milk price is an obvious one. It doesn’t look good for the immediate future. For the long term, I am concerned about regulations that might be implemented by people who don’t know why certain farm management practices are used. What are some cost-saving measures you have or plan to implement in the next year? I will only be making essential purchases and will not be upgrading anything. I don’t have a lot of expense on labor or feed (because I grow my own) so I can’t really reduce those areas. I’m lucky because I think I probably have a lower cost of production than other farms. What is the latest technology you implemented on your farm and the purpose for it? I’m not really technology-based on our farm. I don’t use silage – just baleage with a grain mix. It works for us. But the smartphone has been a great piece of technology that has helped me. I can look up DHI reports, check the markets, follow the weather and respond to emails. What is a management practice you changed in the past year that has beneted you? Somatic cell count has been under 100,000 for a number of years. That’s partly because of consistency while milking, but most recently I have also been able to cull heavier because replacement heifers are relatively cheap. I have a lot of extra heifers calving in, which allows me to cull out any cows that have a SCC that is too high. How do you retain a good working relationship with your employee or employees? I have one full-time employee who has been with me for seven years. With employees, I think it’s important to pay them what
they’re worth and verbally tell them you appreciate their hard work. Also, I don’t have him do what I wouldn’t do myself. I work right alongside him. Tell us about a skill you possess that makes dairy farming easier for you. I have patience. There are certain things you can’t control in farming so you just have to go with the ow and deal with it. Plus, it takes awhile to see the outcome of your decisions – whether through a bull mating or the harvest of a crop in the fall. What do you enjoy most about dairy farming? I like working with animals. There’s something neat about a calf being born. I’ve seen it and assisted it 100 times, but it’s still neat each time. What advice would you give other dairy farmers? Don’t get too set in your ways. Be exible about trying different things. In college, one of my favorite classes was one that included visiting different sized farms and learning how they manage. Even if my farm is a lot different than ones I visit, I can still learn something. What has been the best purchase you’ve ever made on your farm? Investment in facilities. The biggest two have been a heated shop and a new calf barn. While building them,
it seemed like too much money, but after I started using them I would often think how did I survive without them. I think investment in facilities pays off more than investment in machinery. I have neighbors who custom plant and harvest my crops along with custom wrapping my hay so I have low machinery costs. What has been your biggest accomplishment while dairy farming? Having a healthy and productive herd. I
may not be the top producing herd in the county, but it’s protable and healthy. What are your plans for your dairy in the next year and ve years? I just plan to hold on. Without another generation coming in to take over, I don’t plan to make big upgrades or investments. I plan to keep things up to date and maintained, but no big building projects. How do you or your family like to spend time when you are not doing chores? Our son plays baseball, both for his college and on a summer team, so we go to his games. Otherwise, we like to hang out with our two kids when they are home from college and maybe go out to eat. Tell us about your farm. The dairy is called Duden Dairy. I am the third generation on this farm. My wife, Connie, and I have two kids. Our son, Jacob, is a junior at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minn., and our daughter, Emily, is a freshman at Winona State University in Winona, Minn. I own 380 acres with 220 tillable, where I raise corn, soybeans and alfalfa. I sell the bulls as calves and raise all the replacement heifers. My parents, Duane and Jackie, still live on the farmstead next door. My 81-year-old dad still comes out to the farm every day to help with chores or eldwork.
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Page 40 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 27, 2018
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