The Great Christmas “GRAND” PRIZE
GIVEAWAY
See pages 24 and 25 of this section for details!
DAIRY ST R “All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 22, No. 18
November 14, 2020
Meadow Brook Dairy Farms places priority on calf care Lung ultrasounds, colostrum, cleaning critical to success By Stacey Smart
stacey.s@dairystar.com
MANITOWOC, Wis. – Understanding the signicance of quality calf care and how it impacts the future milking herd is embedded in siblings Beth Gierke, Erin Kenneke and Mitch Kappelman, as well as Erin’s husband, A.J. The siblings are the fth generation to run Meadow Brook Dairy Farms near Manitowoc where they milk 420 cows and farm 1,100 acres. Pete and Shellie Kappelman remain majority owners of the farm, which is managed by their three children and son-in-law. The four members of the younger generation bought into ownership in 2017. Mitch is the herdsman, Erin is in charge of calves, and Beth does bookwork and helps A.J., who is in charge of crops, with eldwork. A.J. also feeds and does mechanical work. Turn to MEADOW BROOK | Page 6
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Beth Gierke (from leŌ), Mitch Kappelman, A.J. Kenneke and Erin Kenneke run Meadow Brook Dairy Farms near Manitowoc, Wisconsin. They milk 420 cows and farm 1,100 acres.
Giving dairy farmers a voice in policy New act to address supply chain issues, pricing transparency By Stacey Smart
stacey.s@dairystar.com
MADISON, Wis. – Dairy farmers could soon have a direct say in the laws, regulations and policies that affect them most, thanks to a new act designed to address pressing issues in the dairy industry. The Dairy Pricing and Policy Commission Act of 2020 gives dairy farmers a seat at a table tasked with diving into matters near and dear to the dairy producer’s heart. “If you are a dairy farmer, this is a historic opportunity to have our voices heard from the highest levels of leadership to correct some long overdue deciencies in dairy policy,” said Joe Bragger, dairy farmer and Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation president. Envisioned to be a part of the next farm bill, the act would benet dairy farmers by creating a commission whose job will be to provide pricing transparency, address supply chain issues, nd more opportunities for dairy exports and increase the competitiveness of
dairy products in the marketplace. “There are a lot of factors going on that require us to take a new look at dairy policy,” said Bragger, who farms with his family in Buffalo County, milking 400 cows and cropping about 1,300 acres. “We’ve seen shocks on our supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic and inelasticity in our production systems being impacted. Prices have rebounded, but we got hit with another blow – producer price differentials. The announced Class III price is not reective of what farmers are receiving. Deductions are being made to this amount, and these deductions hurt us.” Joe Bragger The Dairy Pricing and Policy WFBF president Commission Act of 2020 will direct the United States Secretary of Agriculture to form a commission consisting of one member of a national consumer organization, three members representing land grant universities, one member representing the food and retail beverage sector, six dairy producers, three dairy processors and two dairy industry experts. These individuals would be charged with creating
legislative, regulatory and market-based policy recommendations to address: – Responding to periods of heightened dairy production during low prices by considering better supply chain coordination and market price signals. – Enhancing the competitiveness of American dairy producers in world market. – Evaluating and identifying challenges and opportunities for new markets for dairy exports. – Ensuring that Federal Milk Marketing Orders and FMMO rule makings are transparent and provide a fair return to producers regardless of the end product for which their milk is used. – Ensuring the competitiveness of dairy products with other competing products in the marketplace is preserved and enhanced. “We need to develop some transparency in our pricing,” said Derek Orth, a dairy farmer from Lancaster who supports the Dairy Pricing and Policy Commission Act. “There’s so much that goes into what we get paid on that doesn’t make any sense. Creating this committee could help simplify things and help all of us understand what goes into our milk check.” Turn to POLICY | Page 5
Page 2 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020
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 (ofďƒžce) 320-248-3196 (cell) 320-352-0062 (home) Ad Composition Nancy Powell 320-352-6303 nancy.p@dairystar.com Consultant Jerry Jennissen 320-346-2292 Editorial Staff Krista Kuzma - Editor/Wisconsin (507) 259-8159 • krista.k@dairystar.com Andrea Borgerding - Associate Editor (320) 352-6303 • andrea.b@dairystar.com Jennifer Coyne - Assistant Editor (320) 352-6303 • jenn@dairystar.com Danielle Nauman (608) 487-1101 danielle.n@dairystar.com Stacey Smart - Staff Writer (262) 442-6666 • stacey.s@dairystar.com Maria Bichler - Copy Editor 320-352-6303 Advertising Sales Main Ofďƒžce: 320-352-6303 Fax: 320-352-5647 Deadline is 5 p.m. of the Friday the week before publication Sales Manager - Joyce Frericks 320-352-6303 • joyce@dairystar.com Bob Leukam (Northern MN, East Central MN) 320-260-1248 (cell) bob.l@star-pub.com Mark Klaphake (Western MN) 320-352-6303 (ofďƒžce) 320-248-3196 (cell) Laura Seljan (National Advertising, SE MN) 507-250-2217 fax: 507-634-4413 laura.s@dairystar.com Jerry Nelson (SW MN, NW Iowa, South Dakota) 605-690-6260 jerry.n@dairystar.com Mike Schafer (Central, South Central MN) 320-894-7825 mike.s@dairystar.com Amanda Hoeďƒ&#x;er (Eastern Iowa) 320-250-2884 • amanda.h@dairystar.com Julie Barnes (SE WI and Northern IL) julie.b@dairystar.com Megan Stuessel (Western Wisconsin) 608-387-1202 • megan.s@dairystar.com Ashley Curry (Northeast WI and Upper MI) 920-539-7268 • ashley.c@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 ďƒžnal 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. 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 ofďƒžces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378-1246.
A glance at the other side
The Great Christmas Giveaway It’s that time of year. Dairy Star is once again hosting The Great Christmas Giveaway for dairy farmers and their children in our coverage area. While adults have the opportunity to win one of two $1,000 cash prizes, children ages 17 and under could win a heifer calf. In our Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan circulation area, registrants could Crisdhome Solo Angel-ET, a nearly 2-month-old Holstein heifer calf from the Kruschke family in New Richmond, Wisconsin. Make sure to enter your name to be eligible. Check out pages 22-25 for more information! Dairy Star likes to provide local stories, which is why we have two versions of the paper. Below are a few highlights from stories you will not ďƒžnd in this paper, but you can ďƒžnd online in zone 1. Find full editions on our website, www.dairystar.com, and click on the e-edition tab under the Dairy Star header. Ahlgrens install automation to address looming labor concerns In an effort to keep family the focus of the farm, Rick and Sarah Ahlgren installed three robotic milking systems and an automated feeding system on their 160-cow dairy in Meeker County near Darwin, Minnesota. The 4-month-old setup, while years in planning, has allowed the Ahlgrens to spend more time with their six young children and continue employing high school students. Jansen ofďƒžciates high school volleyball There is a lot about fall that dairy farmer Odie Jansen enjoys, but his favorite is the high school volleyball season. After playing the game for 15 years, Jansen transitioned to a different part of the court and has now been ofďƒžciating high school matches for more than 15 years. It is a busy time of year as he also work with his sons on their 130-cow dairy in Renville County near Danube, Minnesota. Herdering returns from military to dairy farm with his dad Luke Herdering returned to his family farm, North Oak Dairy, near Freeport, Minnesota on Sept. 1, 2019. When he joined the Marines, he thought he would make the military his permanent career but that changed. Today the Herderings milk 120 cows. Luke treasures his time in the Marines but is happy he returned home.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020 • Page 3
It’s all inside... Columnists Ag Insider
Brillion
Manitowoc
First Section: Page 36
First Section: Pages 28 - 29
First Section: Pages 1, 6 - 7
Second Section: Page 7
The “Mielke” Market Weekly
Daniels, Searls look forward to career after dairy farming
Just Thinking Out Loud
First Section: Pages 34 - 35
Page 22 Second Section
Juneau
Vernon
d
Cobb
Pages 8 - 9 Second Section
Richland
Waushara
Lafayette Green
Do or
Jefferson Waukesha
Rock
son
en
ph
Ste
Carroll
Walworth go
eba
n Win Ogle
Whiteside
Racine Kenosha
McHenry
DeKalb
Zone 2
aun ee
Green Lake Fond Du Lac
Dane
Iowa
Grant
Ke w
o ag Calumet
eb
nn Wi
Columbia Dodge
Sauk
Jo Daviess
Zone 1
O
Adams
Monroe La Crosse
ie am Brown
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ton S he bo Milwaukee Ozauk M yg ee an anito wo c
Wisconsin Farmers Union premieres video
Page 33 First Section
Wood
ing
Westby
Portage Waupaca Jackson
te
Wa sh
Come Full Circle
et
Shawano
e
Buffalo
in
Oconto
on
Pepin
Menominee
Marathon
Clark
Eau Claire
Menominee
Langlade
Bo
Pierce
ar
for
First Section: Pages 22 - 23
Dunn
Taylor
Chippewa
ce
M
Forest
ett e
St. Croix
Kruschkes provide an angel of a calf
Lincoln
aw
Page 32 First Section
New Richmond
Barron
ren
Oneida
Rusk
Cr
Veterinary Wisdom
Price
Delta
Dickinson
Vilas
qu
Polk
First Section: Page 39
Flo
Sawyer
Trempealeau
Burnett
Dairy Prole: Aaron and Todd Augustian
Iron
Ma r
ur
Page 30 First Section
Making Cents of Dairy
Ashland
n
Filling the freezers
Page 31 First Section
Bayeld
Douglas
Page 27 First Section
Kewaunee
Meadow Brook Dairy places priority on calf care
Kempen family celebrates 100-plus years in agriculture
Women in Dairy: Darice Riebe
hb
Cooking like Grandma
Cumberland
Wa s
Pages 8-9 First Section
Theresa
Ehlers shares memories of 45 years on the route First Section: Pages 37 - 38
Kane
Lee
Madison
How breeding practices transform heifer inventory
on
Mercer
Hen ders
For additional stories from our other zone, log on to www.dairystar.com
Third Section: Pages 8 - 9
Rock Island
n
re War
FROM OUR SIDE OF THE FENCE: What will you remember about the 2020 fall harvest? First Section: Pages 15 - 16
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Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020 • Page 5
ConƟnued from POLICY | Page 1 The act was created in partnership between Reps. Ron Kind and Mike Gallagher and WFBF. The bill is comprehensive in nature; therefore, the commission would be looking at a host of issues, including the importance of trade and enhancing worldwide demand for dairy products. “We have big issues in dairy, and we need to look at all legs to position dairy better,” Bragger said. “We need consistency to the supply chain. We need
“I’m hoping this committee can create solutions to stabilize volatility and stabilize markets for the future.” JOE BRAGGER, DAIRY FARMER & WFBF PRESDEINT
to balance supply with demand a little closer to eliminate waste and improve price and possibly efciencies.” Orth agreed. “In the last eight months, we saw a shortage of milk in the grocery store, but farmers were dumping milk down the drain because of distribution issues,” he said. “I hope this committee can come up with ideas to alleviate distribution issues like this in the future.” Orth milks 250 registered Jerseys and farms around 400 acres with his wife, Charisse, and his parents, Randy and Laura. Shedding light on specic areas that impede progress, the goal would be for the commission to make strides that can ultimately improve protability for
dairy farmers. Bragger said Wisconsin has lost nearly 9,000 dairy farms since 2003 – a loss that has impacted local communities and the industries within those communities in a negative way. “We’re doing our job as farmers to get product out there in great volume and in an efcient manner, and it’s to our own demise often times,” Bragger said. “If we’re protable, we can support our communities, and then everyone wins.” When it comes to pricing policies, Bragger sees farmers getting the short end of the stick in many situations. “We have a gift in Wisconsin – our wonderful diversity of cheese and how much value it adds to milk; however, farmers are not really capturing this value,” Bragger said. “A better transparency of pricing is needed. Farmers are too far down the chain. A complete overhaul of dairy pricing is necessary and long overdue.” Orth said dairy farmers have dealt with unstable price markets and price volatility for decades. “I’m hoping this committee can create solutions to stabilize volatility and stabilize markets for the future,” he said. “It’s hard to create a budget when you make a lot of money some years, and then other years, you’re making a third of what you were at your peak.” Bragger encourages dairy farmers and supportive consumers to call their member of Congress and ask for their support of the act. “This discussion of dairy reform is very timely, and we want to get this on the radar screen of elected ofcials,” Bragger said. “We have to start early. There are a lot of channels to go through to get this into the next farm bill.”
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Erin Kenneke takes a blood sample Oct. 27 to test for serum total protein at Meadow Brook Dairy Farms near Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
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Doing lung ultrasounds, feeding higher quantities of colostrum and following rigorous cleaning protocols are recent improvements the farm has made to its calf program. As a result, health and growth rates have improved. For the past 1.5 years, the farm has conducted lung ultrasounds to look for pneumonia. Working with Dairy Doctors Veterinary Services, of Plymouth, the procedure has proved beneďƒžcial in making early treatment and culling decisions. “We haven’t treated a clinical pneumonia case in months,â€? Erin said. “We’re really careful not to lose growth rate. If a calf is sick enough to go off feed, you don’t get that back. We like to take a preventative approach.â€? Prior to doing ultrasounds, the farm was seeing some pneumonia in 2- to 3-month-old calves. “When the weather changed, they would go off feed,â€? Erin said. “They didn’t look great. Now, we’re catching pneumonia at 3 to 5 weeks. We’re treating early, and they never stop eating.â€? Calves receive one to two ultrasounds, starting near 1 month of age. If the test is positive, a follow-up ultrasound is done to ensure the calf is doing better. “It’s a helpful management tool,â€? Erin said. “If we get high scores on the ultrasound, we can make adjustments within our program.â€?
Feeding more colostrum is another practice that has beneďƒžtted the farm’s youngstock. “We want to give calves as much protection as we can,â€? Erin said. “We’re very careful about getting in the ďƒžrst gallon of colostrum within two hours, and we focus on that when training new people.â€? Calves receive another half-gallon during the ďƒžrst 24 hours and an additional feeding the next day. “We want to give them as much as we can of the good stuff,â€? Erin said. “By adding that second feeding, we’re seeing a lot of success. The third feeding is a bonus. In following this system, we know calves are getting the energy, nutrients and antibodies they need.â€? The farm tests all colostrum and gives the best quality milk to its heifers. They shoot for a Brix score above 22 but like to feed colostrum with a score over 25, if possible. Blood samples are also taken to test calves’ serum total protein. “We’d rather add more tasks than more treatment,â€? Erin said. “The serum total protein is one more piece of data. The protein is tested on a meter and is a form of checks and balances on our colostrum protocols to see if passive transfer through colostrum has been achieved. If not, we can be quicker to treat with antibiotics.â€? Turn to MEADOW BROOK | Page 7
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Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020 • Page 7
ConƟnued from MEADOW BROOK | Page 6 In 2014, the dairy built four calf barns each with an automatic feeder. Calves are allowed 14 liters of milk per day, but most drink between 10-12 liters or 3.17 gallons daily. Calves are fed pasteurized milk with pasteurized milk balancer. Newborns start out in Calf-Tel pens before moving onto the automated feeder at approximately one week of age. Calves are weaned at 60 days but remain in the same barn for three months. Average daily gain at 65 days is 2.1 pounds. The family started out housing 25 calves per barn but have found 17 calves to be the optimum capacity. “We want to make sure a high genomic animal is not the runt of the group,” said Beth, who fed calves before Erin took over. “Even when we housed 20 calves per barn, there was always a runt. But at 17 calves, we have no runts.” Before the automated barns were built, calves were fed in hutches twice a day and bottle fed 2 quarts at each feeding. “We didn’t have a lot of death loss, but we’ve gone from a par calf program to right where we want to be,” Erin said. “We have greater consistency.” Better cleaning techniques are also making a positive difference on the farm. Using the recommendations of Dr. Donald Sockett, the family follows an all-in, all-out cleaning process using a system of detergent, rinse, acid, rinse, chlorine dioxide and rinse. Before returning to the family farm, Mitch, Beth and Erin had to rst meet their parents’ requirement of working off the farm for a period of time. “They wanted us to experience what it was like to have weekends off, get paid vacation, a company car, insurance and other benets before diving into
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Calves mingle in one of four automated calf feeder barns at Meadow Brook Dairy Farms near Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Four automated calf feeder barns built in 2014 house 17 calves per barn. this,” Beth said. Beth worked in the marketing department at CP Feeds and also held a variety of part-time jobs before coming back to the farm. Erin worked in the sales department at AgSource. Mitch spent two years at Accelerated Genetics as a herd analyst and sire analyst. A.J. worked for a crop research company in Madison and began working at Meadow Brook Dairy in 2012, followed by Mitch and Beth in 2015, and Erin in 2016.
“I returned to the farm because I liked the thought of working with my family and being my own boss,” Beth said. “The exibility of the job and ability to make decisions is what really drew me in. Not needing full-time daycare and being able to bring my kids along sometimes are perks as well.” Beth and her sister are working moms whose unwavering dedication to family and farming helps them effectively balance their roles on the dairy
with the demands of motherhood. Their children attend the same daycare part time, and Beth and Erin help each other with picking up the kids, supplying diapers and formula, etc. Beth and her husband, Greg, have three children: Kenny, 4, Lucy, 2, and Ellie, 3.5 months. Erin and A.J. have two children – Claire, 2.5, and Colton, 9 months. Erin works the early morning shift at the farm, taking care of calves from 4:30-8 a.m. while A.J. is home with the kids. When Erin is done at the farm, she and A.J. swap places. Erin then comes back in the evening to feed calves. “There’s an exceptional amount of effort put into our calves before they’re even born,” Erin said. “Decisions about the calves begin a year prior with Mitch’s mating program. A great deal of time and thought is invested into each calf by the time they arrive in the calf barn, and the next two months really determine their future – it’s a crucial time period, and we want to do it right.” Beth agreed. “Mitch has created a lot of value for the farm through his Brown Swiss embryos and genomics,” Beth said. “A great deal is riding on these animals’ futures, and we need to get them to the milking herd successfully.” The farm focuses on health traits and does genomic testing on all animals. A sharp focus on calf health and growth works hand in hand with nurturing the dairy’s elite genetics. “We like doing things the best way and the right way all the time on all areas of the farm,” Erin said. “With our farm’s genetic program, we have to do a good job in the calf barn. We can’t lose an expensive animal.”
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Page 8 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020
NMPF: Dairy industry is facing biggest challenge of a lifetime During its rst-ever virtual annual meeting, like “milk-like” or “cheese-style” for plant-based foods National Milk Producers Federation Chairman Randy that contain no dairy ingredients. The European courts Mooney applauded the dairy industry’s response to already banned terms like “soy milk” and “vegan the coronavirus pandemic. “Are we out of the woods cheese.” yet? Certainly not, the economy still has too many Break the bureaucratic logjam unemployed workers and too many Ag Insider The National Milk Producers restaurants are closing for good. We Federation is asking the Food and Drug need the federal government to continue Administration’s ombudsman to make stimulating demand,” Mooney said. sure the agency enforces the proper Mooney said NMPF is ready to work with labeling of imitation dairy products. whoever is in the White House next year NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern to help the dairy industry recover. said the ombudsman should “intervene to break the bureaucratic logjam,” allowing Exports help drive dairy markets products containing no dairy ingredients higher use dairy terminology. China is credited for boosting demand within the dairy markets. “There’s good Gray wolf removed from Endangered Chinese demand for things like powder Species Act and cheese, giving that market quite a lift,” By Don Wick The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said AgResource Company President Dan Columnist removed the gray wolf from the list of Basse. “The extension of the Farmers to protected species under the Endangered Families Food Box program has helped.” Species Act. The rule gives states like Wisconsin the authority to manage gray wolf populations and prevent EU ramps up sales of US dairy products The United States Department of Agriculture livestock losses. Wisconsin Farm Bureau President Joe Foreign Agricultural Service annual report on dairy Bragger applauded the Trump administration decision, product exports offered positive news for dairy sales to saying it was “long overdue.” Environmentalists are the European Union. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, already promising to take the Trump administration’s sales of milk, butter, cream, yogurt, low-cost cheese decision on the gray wolf to court. Earthjustice, the and processed cheese are forecast to increase. However, Sierra Club and the Western Environmental Law the FAS said exports of high-value cheese to the EU Center are among the activist groups saying they will will decline due to the closure of most restaurants. FAS legally challenge the delisting of wolves from federal expects U.S. uid milk exports will increase 5% over protection. 2019, primarily due to strong Chinese demand. Dairy consumption at a 60-year high Per capita dairy consumption totaled 653 pounds Labeling dispute continues in Europe The European Parliament has rejected a proposal per person last year, which is a 60-year high. Dairy made by farmers to prevent plant-based products from Management Inc. gives a lot of the credit to demand using terms such as steak, sausage or burger. Farm for pizza. That demand has continued during the groups claim these terms could mislead consumers. coronavirus pandemic. Frozen pizza has experienced However, medical groups and environmental activists double-digit growth during the pandemic. Pizza Hut said banning these terms would discourage consumers and Dominos have also averaged 10% sales growth from shifting to more plant-based options, which is part over the last two quarters. of EU goals for human health and the environment. Meanwhile, EU lawmakers voted for a ban on terms
Improvements made in Wisconsin air quality Wisconsin’s air quality is improving. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has released the 2020 Air Quality Trends Report. The report says 95% of Wisconsin’s population lives in areas that meet federal standards. DNR Air Program Director Gail Good credits state and federal air pollution control programs and voluntary industry actions. Dairy Innovation Hub releases annual report In its rst annual report, the Dairy Innovation Hub highlights the initial funding projects and its accomplishments. More than 50 projects were awarded across three campuses. Nearly $500,000 has been invested in dairy-related talent, capacity-building equipment and research. The rst-ever virtual Dairy Summit will be Nov. 18. Advocating supply management The Wisconsin Farmers Union has unveiled a new video called Supply Management and How It Can Save Our Rural Economy. WFU President Darin Von Ruden said there are many misconceptions about supply management. “Many of the myths around supply management are just a smokescreen for the fact that big agribusiness corporations and well-funded lobbyists want to be able to buy cheap surplus commodities from farmers and sell them at a steep markup to consumers,” Ruden said. Calyxt and S & W Seed partner on alfalfa traits Calyxt is collaborating with S & W Seed Company to identify quality enhancing traits for alfalfa. The new alfalfa seed will be sold as part of the S & W seed portfolio and branded IQ Alfalfa. The alfalfa trait will deliver improved digestibility for livestock. AMPI wins championship cheese contest For the second year in a row, Associated Milk Producers Incorporated won the Chairman’s Trophy following the National Milk Producers Federation Championship Cheese Contest. AMPI’s aged asiago cheese was named best of class in the Italian Turn to AG INSIDER | Page 9
ConƟnued from AG INSIDER | Page 8
division and went on to win the overall competition. The award-winning cheese is made at the cooperative’s plant in Hoven, South Dakota.
American Butter Association elects a new president Associated Milk Producers Inc. Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing Marshall Reece is the new president of the American Butter Institute. Catherine Fox of Land O’Lakes is vice president, and Mark Armon of Darigold is the rst vice president. Wisconsin Farm Technology Days site announced for 2023 The 2023 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days will be held in the Wisconsin Dells area. The agreement has not been nalized, but WFTD has approached the Badger Steam and Gas Engine Club about hosting the show at its grounds. UW-Madison/DHIA leader passes A longtime member of the University
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020 • Page 9
of Wisconsin Dairy Science Department, Clarence Olson, has died. Olson, 97, provided training for the National Dairy Herd Improvement program. During his time, Olson developed a test to quickly and accurately measure butterfat in milk replacing the Babcock test. Olson received numerous state and national awards for his work in the dairy industry. Trivia challenge The optimum temperature for serving milk is 40 degrees. That answers our last trivia question. For this week, how many servings of dairy products are recommended by the American Dietary Guidelines? We will 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.
“My husband, a complete non-computer user in 2013, uses this system (PCDART) every day and would be lost without it.” What are some of the DHIA tests you use?
We do use use the DHIA pregnancy conÀrmation test along with the monthly set of testing. Some of our favorite report pages are the calf management page, heifer genomics guide, and the reproduction page. The Monthly action cards are a great reminder, too! What do you like about the PCDart program? We chose PCDART as our herd management software because of the integration capabilities with SCR’s Heat-time Pro System (now AllÁex SCR) that we installed in December 2013. It was a blessing in disguise! PCDART is user friendly, and the trackers are invaluable for management tools, especially with embryo transfers and recips. There is information that I am sure we haven’t even begun to explore, but if we have a question, our support system, MN DHIA, is a phone call or email away and we are able to get the answers needed. And, my husband, a complete non-computer user in 2013, uses this system every day and would be lost without it.”
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Page 10 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020
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MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR
The Blackwelder family (from leŌ) – Kent, Mark, Amy, BreƩ holding Max, Callie holding Lila – operate County Line Dairy near Chokio, Minnesota. The Blackwelders milk 320 cows and grow crops on 2,750 acres.
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CHOKIO, Minn. – When Mark Blackwelder returned to his family’s farm in 1984 to continue milking cows, his parents were working hard to build a successful dairy. Their goal was to give their son something to come back to. Thirty-six years later, Mark wants to give the same opportunity to his sons, Brett and Kent, who are the fth generation to operate County Line Dairy. “I put in a lot of time but my parents, Earl and Andrea, really put in the time,” Mark said. “They are the ones who got this all up and running. I just tried not to mess it up.” Mark and wife Amy own County Line Dairy near Chokio where they milk 320 Holstein cows in a robotic milking facility. They run 2,750 acres of cropland growing alfalfa, corn, wheat and soybeans. Their sons, Brett, 30, and Kent, 24, both returned to the family farm after each earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from North Dakota State University. Both Brett and Kent revealed that their intentions to return to the family profession came early in their lives. “I always gured I would come back,” Brett said. “Dairying is something I’ve always enjoyed.” Brett returned to the farm full time in 2014. Prior to his return, he began purchasing cattle, having up to 30 cows at one time. Today, Brett manages most of the
dairy including breeding, feeding, health treatments, calves, monitoring the milking cows and managing two full-time employees. “I like to keep challenging myself by always trying to improve the dairy,” Brett said. “Lately I’ve been looking more in-depth at lowering feed costs while maintaining production.” When Brett is not working with the cattle, he acts as a oat to help with eldwork. Kent’s focus has been crops since his return to the farm a year and a half ago. In addition to managing the cropland and working with the agronomist, Kent also started a seed dealership as a side business. “I enjoy the independence and working for myself,” Kent said. Mark works where he is needed, often being the rst in the barn to start mixing feed at 4:30 a.m. After mixing feed, he sets to any eldwork that must be completed. Otherwise, he can be found walking the barn checking cows. Amy works full time off the farm but continues to do bookkeeping for the farm. Although they all work in their own focused area of the farm, each family member shares a common goal of completing the work efciently and in the most cost effective way to ensure the viability of the farm. The farm is currently set up in a corporation with the goal of transitioning ownership to the boys. Mark and Amy will gradually transition out of the daily tasks of the farm. At that time, Brett will manage the dairy with support from Kent. Kent will manage the crops with help from Brett. “This way one of us doesn’t get stretched too thin,” Brett said. “If we can oversee our own area of the farm we will be able to catch things easier.” Until the day when transition comes, the two generations are honing their communication skills to keep good working relations. Mark said being open to new ideas has MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR
Mark Blackwelder walks the barn on his farm, County Line Dairy, Oct. 28 near Chokio, Minnesota. Mark walks through the barn daily to monitor the cows.
Turn to BLACKWELDERS | Page 11
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020 • Page 11
ConƟnued from BLACKWELDERS | Page 10
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BreƩ Blackwelder checks over data provided by the roboƟc milkers on his family’s farm, County Line Dairy, near Chokio, Minnesota. BreƩ manages the milking herd and calves on the dairy. been key on his part. “I think I’ve been good at listening to their ideas for the farm,” Mark said of his sons. “We have tried some new things.” In turn, Brett said he has learned much from his father, especially in terms of managing people. “That’s something I wish I had taken more classes on,” Brett said of managing employees. “I speak Spanish, but sometimes I say too much and that’s when Dad comes in to smooth things over.” Prior to installing the robotic milk-
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versication in an unstable farming economy. “Brett was interested in continuing the dairy and it’s been good to us,” Mark said. “The cows pay the bills.” Brett, too, realizes the importance of being diversied. “Yes, dairy was tough from 2015-19, but at least now dairy prices were good before corn and soybeans went up in the last month,” Brett said. To continue planning for the future, the Blackwelders discuss future purchases and processes for the farm. All know that compromise comes with running a diversied farm. MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR “At times it is difcult to sit and gure out Kent Blackwelder manages the crops at the Blackwelders’ family farm near what is more important,” Chokio, Minnesota. Kent returned to the family business a year and a half ago. Brett said. “Kent will want something for the crop side, and I will want the funds to do something for the try to lay off some stuff,” Mark said. “I have to catch myself sometimes when I want to say something.” cows. We usually discuss and prioritize things.” Mindful of the opportunity his parents provided Keeping open lines of communication has been key in keeping operations running but keeping those for him, Mark knows being open to the next generalines open is something all the Blackwelders admit is tion is key to keep the Blackwelders’ farm going for future generations. As the fth generation, Brett and not a strong point for them. “If someone tells you they get along 100 percent Kent both appreciate the work invested by prior generations while also looking ahead to possibilities for of time they aren’t telling the truth,” Mark said. Brett and Kent appreciate their father’s balanced the family farm. “I really started thinking about it when we had approach to difcult decisions and often has a nal our son,” Brett said of his two children with wife, Calsay in decision making. Although, Mark admits he is trying to scale back lie. “We could possibly have a sixth generation here. I’m curious as to what the future holds for us.” his input. “I remember what it was like with my dad so I
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ConƟnued from BLACKWELDERS | Page 11
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Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020 • Page 13
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Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020 • Page 15
What will you remember about the 2020 fall harvest? Jodi Behn Reedsburg, Wisconsin Sauk County I am involved with my husband’s family farm, Behn Farms, 80 cows; and my family’s 400cow dairy, Joe Meyer and
Sons. How far along is your fall harvest? We are wrapping up harvest this weekend by ďƒžnishing our corn and making corn stalk bales. What was your yield like for fall harvest? We had an above average year on this year’s corn and soybean crop. We had an excellent growing season compared to last year when we were always too wet. Between our family farms, we utilize our corn crop by making corn silage, snaplage, high moisture corn and dry corn. The conditions were great for making corn stalk bales, and between the farms, nearly 2,000 bales were made. Last year was such a struggle to make good, dry bedding. What will you remember about the 2020 fall harvest? I will deďƒžnitely remember the great help from our sons because they were home from school more due to virtual learning. What adjustments did you make for this year’s harvest? We really had no major adjustments this year other than working virtual schooling into our schedule. What has been your biggest challenge for this year’s harvest? My biggest challenge for this year’s harvest has been trying to balance kids school work, chores and ďƒželd work. Tell us about your most memorable fall harvest season. This year will be one of my most memorable harvests because I have been able to spend more time working with my boys doing ďƒželd work. This year, they have really taken hold and grown so much. Along with the pandemic going on, this really has been a memorable year. Tell us about your farm. My husband, Josh, and I have three sons Jared, 14, Jason, 12, and Jed, 6. Both my family’s farm and his family farm received the century farm award in 2018. Both farms raise all youngstock including steers to ďƒžnish and all crop and manure work is done by ourselves.
Hugh Hale Holmen, Wisconsin LaCrosse County 50 cows How far along is your fall harvest? We are pretty close to done. We have one small ďƒželd of corn left
and stalks to bale. What was your yield like for fall harvest? We did an 8-by-200, 8-by-150 bag and about 50 feet of an 18-by-60 silo with corn silage, which, if the tables and math is right, should be around 310 tons or so of corn silage. Maybe we don’t have quite as much corn as usual. After ďƒžlling the silo with high moisture shell corn, we usually have about 10,000 bushels left to sell and won’t have quite that much to sell for next year. Between my parents and I, we had maybe 34 or so acres of soybeans. We were pretty surprised with decent yield on those, close to roughly 1,900 bushels total. We haven’t made any stalk bales yet, but hopefully this weekend we can get some made. What will you remember about the 2020 fall harvest? What I might remember the most is the weather ďƒžnally straightening out and being close to normal and allowing people to get done in a shorter period of time. What adjustments did you make for this year’s harvest? I haven’t really changed anything this year as compared to other years. What has been your biggest challenge for this year’s harvest? I haven’t really had many challenges or problems, thankfully. Tell us about your most memorable fall harvest season. My most memorable would probably be 2014, when I married my wife. I worked up to and on the day of our wedding, which is in November. It kind of pushed the rest of harvest back for us, but we got caught up. Last year was also another one with it snowing so early and trying to get corn off in the snow. Tell us about your farm. My parents started renting the farm in the late 1970s then bought the farm in the late 1980s from the previous owner whose family we are friends with today. I’m an only child, so I’ve pretty much been working from an early age and the only one around to help them out. It’s been a little nicer the past few years since I got married to have my wife be able to help
Kurt Raaen Preston, Minnesota Fillmore County 55 cows How far along is your fall harvest? We have about 100 acres, which will take about one week, depending on the weather. What was your yield like for fall harvest? We harvested 20 tons of silage, 165 bushels of corn, 150 cornstalk bales and 20-30 cornstalk stacks. What will you remember about the 2020 fall harvest? The corn was dry, about 17% moisture. This was the ďƒžrst time in the last ďƒžve years we haven’t run the dryer for the corn. What adjustments did you make for this year’s harvest? I had equipment issues during corn silage and a neighbor came over and ďƒžnished up the last half. What has been your biggest challenge for this year’s harvest? I had a combine ďƒžre while harvesting beans Oct. 14. We had to get a new combine so it set us back about 10 days. Tell us about your most memorable fall harvest season. In 2011, my dad was sick with pancreatic cancer, and neighbors, family and friends came to help with the harvest. There were ďƒžve combines, 12 semis and four grain carts here. We did 26,000 bushels of corn in one day. Tell us about your farm. I farm with my wife, Tracy, and our three children, Tyler, 19, Taryn, 19, and Tori, 14. We farm east of Preston and raise corn, alfalfa and soybeans on 450 acres. I am on the Fillmore County Fair board, am a 4-H adult volunteer and a board member for the local cooperative. with some of the basic chores while in the ďƒželds. My mom grew up on a farm on the south side of Holmen. Around 2005, they sold her part of that farm, and we bought another farm closer, only about a mile away from our home farm. Plus, we were able to buy my dad’s home farm from his parents which is right behind our home farm and adjoins it. We have between 300-350 acres, growing a mix of alfalfa, corn and soybeans. We milk a mixture of Holsteins and Brown Swiss cows and raise a few Angus as well.
Tyler Bulgrin Milladore, Wisconsin Portage County 190 cows How far along is your fall harvest? Fall harvest is complete for 2020. What was your yield like for fall harvest? Yields ranged between 10 ton to the acre and topping out at 29 ton to the acre for corn silage this year. We had 53 bushel to the acre for soybeans this year. What will you remember about the 2020 fall harvest? I will remember the 2020 harvest because the last day of corn chopping was warmer than the ďƒžrst day of corn chopping from 2019. It was much nicer weather this year. What adjustments did you make for this year’s harvest? We didn’t really change or adjust much from last year to this year. As boring as that is, it went well so we just kept going with it. What has been your biggest challenge for this year’s harvest? Our biggest challenge this year was storage for all of our extra haylage and corn silage due to our higher than expected yields this year. The growing season was great. Tell us about your most memorable fall harvest season. My most memorable fall harvest was when we stopped harvest for lunch and pulled out the picnic table for lunch and ate lunch in the middle of the ďƒželd. It is one of my favorite harvest memories. Nice days like that don’t come around often during harvest. Tell us about your farm. My farm has been in my family since 1907. We milk in a tiestall barn and are switching cows during our two-times-per-day milking for the 160 cows. We recently upgraded to a 4,000-gallon tank. We crop 550 acres for our feeding needs and do custom harvesting in our neighborhood as well.
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Page 16 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020
ConƟnued from OUR SIDE | Page 15 Scott Swanson Pecatonica, Illinois Winnebago County 60 cows How far along is your fall harvest? Corn silage and soybeans have been harvested. We’re still working on harvesting the remaining corn. What was your yield like for fall harvest? We were able to make quality corn silage with good tonnage and moisture. Corn yields have been surprisingly high at about 235 bushels per acre with moisture ranging around 17%. Food-grade soybeans didn’t perform as well because of lack of rain in August. What will you remember about the 2020 fall harvest? The warm, dry weather has been ideal for making the last crop of hay and harvesting the crops. Also, the fall colors have been beautiful this year. What adjustments did you make for this year’s harvest? We planted corn and soybeans earlier in the spring using a shorter season variety corn. What has been your biggest challenge for this year’s harvest? I have had 20 cows and heifers freshen in the last few weeks. At the same time, I am trying to harvest soybeans and corn. Taking care of the new calves takes extra time each day. Luckily, my brothers help me with the harvest. Tell us about your most memorable fall harvest season. Due to the weather last year and wet crops, we didn’t nish harvesting until Jan. 21. Tell us about your farm. My dad started the farm in 1970, and I took over in 2000. Today, I milk 60 cows with a Lely A3 robotic milker that I installed in 2012. I planted 200 acres of corn, 100 acres of food-grade soybeans and 100 acres of hay this year.
Craig R. Fietzer Manawa, Wisconsin Waupaca County 425 cows How far along is your fall harvest? Our fall harvest is complete. We completed corn silage Oct. 16 and high moisture shell corn Oct. 30. What was your yield like for fall harvest? Corn yielded 190 bushels on average. Corn silage yielded 7.3 DMT on average and haylage yielded 4.3 DMT. We didn’t plant soybeans. Bedding bales yielded 3.5 bales per acre at 900 pounds per bale. What will you remember about the 2020 fall harvest? It started early and dry, which was different from the last couple years. What adjustments did you make for this year’s harvest? I was only getting 40-42 pounds per cubic foot density on the corn silage pile. My goal is 45 pounds or higher. I ran three tractors on the pile this year, instead of two, to accomplish this goal. I have not gotten to the new silage yet, so I don’t know if I was successful. What has been your biggest challenge for this year’s harvest? With all corn silage maturing at the same time, getting the custom harvesters here on time was a challenge because they were overbooked. Tell us about your most memorable fall harvest season. Nothing really stands out. Tell us about your farm. Fietzer Dairy Farms Inc. is a third-generation dairy farm. In 2016, we moved into our new robotic dairy barn. We have six Lely A4 robots that milk the cows about 2.8 times per day on average. We are averaging 93 pounds of milk per cow at 4% butterfat and 3% protein. We run 678 acres of land – 415 owned and 263 rented. We focus on silage production with 234 acres of alfalfa, 285 acres of corn silage and 130 acres of winter rye planted each fall. The rest is used for high moisture shelled corn, winter wheat and soybeans, depending on what works best in the rotation.
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Allen Fredrickson Arlington, South Dakota Brookings County 180 cows How far along is your fall harvest? We just nished up harvesting the last of our corn
and soybeans. What was your yield like for fall harvest? Our corn silage yielded about 23 tons per acre, which is pretty close to normal for us. Our soybeans went 50 bushels per acre and our corn yielded between 170 to 180 bushels per acre. I was hoping the corn would yield better, but what we ended up with was pretty close to average. We harvested nearly four bales of corn stalks from each acre. What will you remember about the 2020 fall harvest? What I will remember most is how fast it went. All our corn came out of the eld dry. We had only one load that was over 15% moisture. What adjustments did you make for this year’s harvest? Because our corn came out of the eld so dry, we were able to haul it all into the elevator and store it in the grain bank. We normally grind and bag our corn, which takes a lot of extra time and fuel. It was nice not to mess around with the grinding and the bagging. The elevator didn’t charge us anything for drying, and we didn’t have any shrinkage. What has been your biggest challenge for this year’s harvest? We really didn’t have any. Everything went very smoothly except for a few minor mechanical issues. Tell us about your most memorable fall harvest season. Last year’s fall harvest season stands out most in my memory. The wet soils turned silage harvest into a nightmare. We pulled a lot of trucks out of the elds and twisted off a lot of drive shafts. The ground was so saturated we couldn’t even start making earlage until things froze in November. The cold temperatures made it a challenge to get the trucks started each morning. We often had to let the trucks idle overnight. We had one truck we didn’t shut off for a week. Needless
Brian Young Benson, Minnesota Swift County 110 cows How far along is your fall harvest? We got done one week ago. What was your yield like for fall harvest? We had 20 tons of corn silage, 190 bushels of corn, and we made about 725 corn stalk bales. What will you remember about the 2020 fall harvest? The weather was fantastic. We did not have to dry corn. What adjustments did you make for this year’s harvest? None; with the lack of rain, we could do what we wanted. What has been your biggest challenge for this year’s harvest? There really were none this year. Tell us about your most memorable fall harvest season. 2008. We had a fantastic fall and got our work done, and built a new shed for our dairy cows. Tell us about your farm. I farm with my brother, and we milk 110 cows and farm about 350 acres.
to say, we weren’t able to do any fall tillage. Tell us about your farm. My wife, Nicole, and I have four daughters, McKenzie, 12, twins Hayley and Paige, 9, and McKayla, 7. I operate this farm with my father, Bob. We farm about 1,200 acres and grow corn, alfalfa and soybeans. We raise our own replacement heifers, and Dad feeds out our bull calves. When the COVID-19 pandemic rst hit last spring, our girls had to stay home a lot. They began to help out quite a bit around the farm and now that they are back in school I miss having them here. The farm is too quiet without them.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020 • Page 17
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Page 18 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020
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Schefers Bros. LLC Ralph, Ken and Julie, and Jason Schefers Paynesville, Minnesota Stearns County 77 cows
What is your current herd average, butterfat and protein? 27,813 pounds of milk, 1,135 pounds of butterfat and 882 pounds of protein. How many times a day do you milk? We milk two times per day. We have never tried three times. Our goals were to breed a high producing cow that did not need to be milked three times per day. Do you contract your milk? Why or why not? We do not contract our milk; we prefer to use the available government programs, such as Dairy Margin Coverage and Dairy Revenue Protection. Describe your housing and milking facility. We have a traditional tiestall barn and milk with a pipeline. We do not have automatic take-offs. What is your herd health program? A reproductive herd check is done once a month. Cows are rechecked for pregnancy with Dairy Herd Improvement Association just before dry off. What does your dry cow and transi-
MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR
The Schefers family (from leŌ) – Jason, Ralph, Ken and Julie – milk 77 cows on their dairy farm near Paynesville, Minnesota. The family’s herd has maintained a 27,813-pound rolling herd average with 1,135 pounds of buƩerfat and 882 pounds of protein. tion program consist of? Cows are dry 50-60 days. They are housed in a bedded pack barn with an outside yard available in warmer weather. Cows are moved to a transition pens about 10 days before calving. The dry cow ration consists of
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30 pounds corn silage, 13 pounds alfalfa haylage, 11 pounds grass hay and 2 pounds dry cow supplement. Cows will calve in the transition pen or maternity pen depending on availability. Depend-
ing upon each cow’s needs, the time in the pen will vary, but they usually go into a stall about 10 days after calving. Turn to SCHEFERS BROS. | Page 20
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Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020 • Page 19
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TOM AND GIN KESTELL, EVERGREEN-VIEW FARMS, Waldo, Wisconsin 130 registered Holsteins BAA 111.7 RHA 44,767M 4.04 1807F 3.14 1404P, SCC 100,000 2017 National Dairy Shrine Distinguished Dairy Cattle Breeder 2018 National Holstein Elite Breeder “We use Udder Comfort™ for our fresh cows, especially 2-year-olds. We don’t have much mastitis or extreme edema. We use this product on fresh udders to speed up circulation and bring out any swelling they might have. I also like rubbing it on hocks,” says Tom Kestell, Waldo, Wisconsin. Comfortable, healthy, productive cows are the focus of the dairy Tom and Gin started in 1971. Evergreen-View Farm is home to 130 cows with a consistent RHA around 45,000M. They bred the only dam and daughter pair to both achieve World Records at 72,147M and 77,477M, and their genetics have gone to 40 countries. “Udder Comfort really works. It is a good, successful product for us,” says Tom. He loves everything about dairying, especially giving cows the opportunity to do their best. https://wp.me/pb1wH7-T
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Page 20 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020
ConƟnued from SCHEFERS BROS. | Page 18
What is the composition of your ration? What has been one of your most recent changes that has been successful for you? Our current ration is 36 pounds alfalfa haylage, 44 pounds corn silage, 14 pounds high moisture shelled corn, 10.6 pounds custom protein mix and 2 pounds grass hay. We have not made ration changes that resulted in large production increases. We have always worked closely with our nutritionist and have experienced a slow but steady increase in production since we started dairying. What is your average SCC, and how does that affect your production? Our average SCC is currently 65,000. Although the major reason for keeping SCC low is for milk quality, a low SCC also helps improve production. How much improvement is difcult to measure. Through the years you have been farming, what change has created the biggest jump in your herd MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR
A group of cows stands in the Ɵestall barn at Schefers Bros. LLC near Paynesville, Minnesota. The Schefers family puts an emphasis on breeding for components. average? The steady increase of production of our herd we attribute to improved genetics. We have always used the best bulls available. Components have always been stressed so we could have cows that will produce a high dollar value of milk without as many pounds of milk. This helps us avoid the need for three-times-a-day milking.
MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR
Jason Schefers holds a handful of oat hulls used for bedding on his family’s dairy near Paynesville, Minnesota.
What is your breeding program? What role does genetics play in your production level? Ken and Julie’s son, Jonathan, who works for Alta Genetics, takes care of our sire selection and mating. Ralph does all the breeding responsibilities on the herd. What type of improvements would you like to make that would further increase your rolling herd average? We believe that the most likely way to continue to improve our production is through genetics.
List three management strategies that have helped you attain your production and component level. We select the best genetics available. We keep cows healthy and clean. We feed high-quality feed and have an experienced person to balance the ration. Tell us about your farm. The farm we operate was purchased by Ralph and Ken’s father, Leander Schefers, in 1943. In 1979, Ralph and Ken formed a partnership and began the Schefers Bros. dairy. In 2016, Ken and Julie’s son, Jason, entered the business and formed Schefers Bros. LLC which consists of Ralph, Ken and Julie, and Jason Schefers. The farm consists of 77 dairy cows and 130 head of youngstock. The farm owns and operates 500 acres and grows corn, soybeans, alfalfa, wheat and grass hay.
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MOWER CONDITIONERS JD 535, 2007, #175321............................................................................ $10,400 JD 635, 2009, #173285............................................................................ $16,500 New Holland H7550, 2014, #167351..................................................... $20,500 JD 635, 2017, #166698............................................................................ $23,500 JD 956, 2010, #172718............................................................................ $24,900 PULL-TYPE SPRAYERS Hardi Navigator 1000, 2007, #169543 .................................................. $15,000 Fast 9508, 2008, #169075 ...................................................................... $23,900 Hardi Ranger 2000, 2014, #163524 ...................................................... $14,900 Summers Ultimate NT, 2005, #170079 ................................................ $13,500 Fast 9610E, #175515............................................................................... $15,500 Hardi 6600, 2011, #173719 .................................................................... $34,000 ROUND BALERS NH 664, 1998, Twine, 540 pto, 5’ bale, #171161 ...................................... $4,950 NH BR780, 2003, Twine, 540 pto, 5’ bale, #169873.................................. $9,900 NH Rollbelt 450, 2011, Twine, 540 pto, 4’ bale, 1200 bales, #173712 .. $17,000 JD 469, 2015, Mega Wide, Twine, 540 pto, 4’ bale, 8000 bales, #175511.$23,900 NH BR7060, 2011, Mega Wide, Surface Wrap, 540 pto, 4’ bale, 7300 bales, #169262 ............................................................................... $23,900 JD 569, 2013, Mega Wide, Twine & Surface Wrap, 1000 pto, 5’ bale, 8000 bales, #172972 ................................................................... $30,900 JD 468, 2011, Mega Wide, Twine and Surface Wrap, 1000 pto, 4’ bale, 2972 bales, #175425 ............................................................................... $36,400 JD 569, 2012, Mega Wide, Twine & Surface Wrap, 1000 pto, 5’ bale, 3300 bales, #173254 ............................................................................... $38,400 JD 460M, 2018, Mega Wide, Twine & Surface Wrap,1000 pto, 4’ bale, 5985 bales, #164359 ................................................................... $45,900 ROW CROP TRACTORS Allis-Chalmers 200, 1974, Cab, 2WD, Syncro, 540/1000 pto, 7000 hrs., #169651 .................................................................................... $9,500 Case IH 2294, 1987, Cab, 2WD, Partial PS, 540/1000 pto, Duals, 7935 hrs., #175424 .................................................................................. $17,500 JD 8300, 1995, Cab, MFWD, PS, 1000 pto, Duals, 10129 hrs., #158662 $49,500 JD 7810, 1997, Cab, 2WD, PS, 540/1000 pto, Duals, 6748 hrs., #175559 ................................................................................................... $56,900 JD 8110, 2000 hrs., Cab, 2WD, PS, 1000 pto, Duals, 4950 hrs., #174642.$65,000 New Holland T7.260 T4A, 2011, Cab, MFWD w/Susp, IVT, 540/1000 pto, Duals, 7700 hrs., #169557............................................... $74,900 JD 8130, 2007, Cab, MFWD, PS, 1000 pto, Duals, 5461 hrs., #175433 .. $83,900 JD 8330, 2007, Cab, MFWD, IVT, 540/1000 pto, Duals, 5598 hrs., #168270 .................................................................................................$105,000 Case IH Magnum 290, 2013, Cab, MFWD, PS, 1000 pto, Duals, 4232 hrs., ........ #174942 .................................................................................................$10,6400
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JD 320E, 2016, Cab w/AC, Foot Ctrls, 72” Bkt, 1150 hrs., #175366........ $31,900 JD 320E, 2017, Cab, AC, Foot Ctrls, 2 Spd, 76” Bkt, 1100 hrs., #175248 $32,500 JD 326E, 2016, Cab, AC, EH Ctrls, JS, 2 Spd, 84” Bkt, 517 hrs., #168499 $37,900 JD 320G, 2018, Cab, AC, EH Ctrls, JS, 2 Spd, 72” Bkt, 1190 hrs., #175365 $39,500 JD 320G, 2018, Foot Ctrls, 2 Spd, 72” Bkt, 332 hrs., #146287 ................ $39,900 JD 324G, 2019, Cab w/ AC, Foot Ctrls, 2 Spd, 491 hrs., #174448........... $43,900 JD 324G, 2018, Cab, AC, EH Ctrls, 2 Spd, 78” Bkt, 354 hrs., #162065 ..... $45,900 JD 324G, 2019, Cab, AC, 2 Spd, 78” Bkt, 477 hrs., #172715 ................... $46,000 JD 324G, 2019, Cab, AC, 2 Spd, 78” Bkt, 377 hrs., #172714 ................... $46,500 JD 328E, 2014, Cab, AC, EH Ctrls, 2 Spd, 84” Bkt., 415 hrs., #175287 .... $46,500 JD 324G, 2019, Cab, AC, EH Ctrls, , 2 Spd, 78” Bkt, 391 hrs., #174445 ... $47,000 JD 330G, 2018, Cab, AC, EH Ctrls, 2 Spd, 84” Bkt, 575 hrs., #159949 ..... $48,900 JD 330G, 2019, Cab, AC, EH Ctrls, 2 Spd, 84” Bkt, 642 hrs., #3171330... $53,400 UTILITY TRACTORS JD 2640, 1979, Syncro, 2WD, 540 pto, 8891 hrs., #171210 ..................... $6,900 JD 3020, 1967, PS, 2WD, 540 pto, Loader, 6700 hrs., #175313 ............... $8,500 JD 3020, 1965, 2WD, Syncro, 540 pto, Duals, 7772 hrs., #169574 .......... $8,900 MF 2615, 2013, Syncro, MFWD, 540 pto, Loader, 1355 hrs., #175073 .. $20,400 JD 5055E, 2018, Syncro, MFWD, 540 pto, 98 hrs., #140787 .................. $32,900 JD 5055E, 2018, Syncro, MFWD, 540 pto, 10 hrs., #140896 .................. $32,900 JD 5065E, 2019, MFWD, 540 pto, Loader, 75 hrs., #174319 .................. $36,900 JD 5090E, 2018, MFWD, 540 pto, Loader, 554 hrs., #171524 ................ $49,900 JD 5090E, 2019, Cab, MFWD, 540 pto, 100 hrs., #155536 ..................... $52,900 JD 5100E, 2019, Cab, Partial PS, MFWD, 540 pto, 100 hrs., #153188.... $54,900 JD 6430 Premium, 2008, Partial PS, MFWD, 540/1000 pto, Loader, 5832 hrs., #170886 .................................................................................. $56,400 JD 5100E, 2019, Cab, Partial PS, MFWD, 540 pto, 100 hrs., #153241.... $56,900 JD 6120E, 2019, Cab, Partial PS, MFWD, 540/1000 pto, Loader, 200 hrs., #160859 .................................................................................... $74,900 JD 6120E, 2019, Cab, Partial PS, MFWD, 540/1000 pto, Loader, 200 hrs., #160857 .................................................................................... $74,900 JD 6120E, 2019, Cab, MFWD, 540/1000 pto, Loader, 120 hrs., #160865 $78,900 JD 6135E, 2019, Cab, MFWD, 540 pto, 200 hrs., #153289 ..................... $78,900 JD 6135E, 2019, Cab, MFWD, 540/1000 pto, Loader, 200 hrs., #153287 $78,900 JD 6135E, 2019, Cab, MFWD, 540/1000 pto, Loader, 200 hrs., #153283 .$78,900 JD 5100R, 2019, Cab, Partial PS, MFWD, 540/1000 pto, 107 hrs., #153274 .$79,500 JD 5115R, 2019, Cab, , MFWD, 540/1000 pto, 100 hrs., #153281 ...........$81,900 JD 6135E, 2020, Cab, MFWD, 540 pto, Loader, 200 hrs., #165528 ........ $82,900 JD 6110M, 2018, Cab, MFWD, 540/1000 pto, 280 hrs., #149246 .......... $88,900 JD 6110M, 2019, Cab, MFWD, 540/1000 pto, 200 hrs., #153314 .......... $89,500 JD 6110M, 2018, Cab, MFWD, 540/1000 pto, 450 hrs., #149248 .......... $89,500 JD 6110R, 2017, Cab, MFWD, 540/1000 pto, 249 hrs., #145477........... $98,900 JD 6130M, 2019, Cab, MFWD, 540/1000 PTO, 323 hrs., #152367 ......... $99,500 JD 6120R, 2019, Cab, MFWD, 540/1000 pto, Ldr, 213 hrs., #153295 ..$119,500
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SEE OUR COMPLETE INVENTORY WITH PICTURES AND DESCRIPTIONS AT: www.mmcjd.com
Page 22 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020
A calf for Christmas
Start planning for tomorrow, today. 0
% FINANCING FOR UP
72 MONTHS*
TO
3 MONTH DEFERRAL ON CONTRACTS UP TO 60 MONTHS*
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
Crisdhome Solo Angel-ET is a grand prize in this year’s The Great Christmas Giveaway. Angel comes from the Krushcke family’s 100-cow dairy near New Richmond, Wisconsin.
Kruschkes provide an angel of an animal for annual giveaway SCAN ME
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Contact one of the following dealers to learn more: IOWA Kramer Bros. Monticello, IA 319-465-5931 Prairie Land Ag Supply Inc. Rock Valley, IA 712-476-9290 United-Suckow Dairy Supply West Union, IA 563-422-5355 Postville, IA 563-864-7417 WISCONSIN Advanced Dairy/Bob’s Dairy Supply Spring Valley, WI 715-772-3201 Ederer Dairy Supply Plain, WI 608-546-3713
Joe’s Refrigeration Inc. Withee, WI 715-229-2321 Mlsna Dairy Supply Inc. Cashton, WI 608-654-5106 Professional Dairy Services Arlington, WI 608-635-0267 Redeker Dairy Equipment Brandon, WI 920-346-5579 The Scharine Group Inc. Whitewater, WI 800 472-2880 Mt Horeb, WI 800-872-3470
MINNESOTA & SOUTH DAKOTA D&D Ag Supply Pennock, MN 320-599-4466 East Central Dairy Supply Mora, MN 320-679-1029 Farm Systems Melrose, MN 320-256-3276 Watertown, SD 605-886-7401 Sioux Falls, SD 800-284-0015 S&S Dairy System LLC St. Charles, MN 507-932-4288 Professional Dairy Systems Wadena, MN 218-632-5416
*0% interest for up to 72 months, DeLaval equipment only and restrictions may apply, on approved credit and minimum deal amount of $25,000 is required to qualify. Lease option may include a residual to be paid in order to obtain full ownership at the end of the term. Subject to special conditions’ that may cease at any time. is a registered trademark of Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. and “DeLaval” is a registered trade/servicemark of DeLaval Holding AB © 2020 DeLaval Inc. DeLaval, 11100 North Congress Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64153-1296. www.delaval.com
By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
NEW RICHMOND, Wis. – Sometimes the best Christmas presents do not arrive in Santa’s sleigh or t underneath a decorated tree. Sometimes the best Christmas presents love to drink more milk than Santa, eat some sweet-smelling grain and snuggle into a warm straw bed. Sometimes the best Christmas presents are white with a smattering of black speckle. Sometimes a calf for Christmas makes the best Christmas present. Crisdhome Solo Angel-ET will be the Christmas present for the winner of Dairy Star’s annual Great Christmas Giveaway. Youth under the age of 17 can register for their chance to win Angel Dec. 12. Angel is a registered Holstein calf bred by the Kruschke family of Crisdhome Farms Inc., of New Richmond, where they milk 100 registered Holsteins and crop 2,200 acres raising, corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa and grass hay as well as cash-cropping green, yellow and wax beans for a local cannery. The farm dates to 1910 with the fourth, fth and sixth generations of the Kruschke family residing there. The farm is operated by brothers Chuck and Dave, along with Chuck’s sons, Pete and Jake, and Jake’s wife, Jade. Born Sept. 26, Angel is a Walnutlawn Solomon daughter and is a potential seventh-generation Excellent. She hails from a star-studded family, with her fth dam being World Dairy Expo Supreme Champion and two-time all-American winner Tri-Day Ashlyn-ET EX-96 2E GMD DOM. “This was the rst time we ushed her dam, and ironically, it was a Christmas Eve ush last year,” Jake Kruschke said. “Soloman seemed like a logical corrective mating for the cow.” Angel’s mother, Milksource Aftershk Aimee-ET EX-94 3E, is sired by Mr Atlees Sht Aftershock-ET and is a daughter of Milksource Goldwn Africa-ET EX-95 2E, who was a two-time grand champion of the Mid-West Spring National Holstein Show. Africa is a Braedale Goldwyn daughter of Butz-Butler Durham Angel EX-90 GMD. Angel’s fourth dam is EO Siemers Ashlyns Angel-ET EX-96 3E GMD, who Turn to KRUSCHKES | Page 23
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020 • Page 23
ConƟnued from KRUSCHKES | Page 22 was the 2005 All-American Winter Yearling, 2006 Reserve All-American Senior 2-Year-Old and the honorable mention All-American Aged Cow in 2010. “We bought Aimee at the Milksource Tag Sale as a 2-year-old in 2013,” Kruschke said. “Africa won at our state show the year before. We looked at Aimee and four Braxton sisters who were all heifers. We decided to go with the Aftershock since she was fresh. It turned out pretty well for us.” Aimee has been a consistent face in the barn, having calved in at regular intervals, and is due back in February just before her 11th birthday. Kruschke credits her with being a low-maintenance cow, who has never had any health or mastitis issues. Besides her ushmates, Angel has another full sister that is scored GP-84 as a 2-year-old, and another sister sired by Comestar Stormatic that recently scored VG-86, two weeks fresh in her second lactation. The Kruschkes have a third daughter of Aimee, a heifer sired by Maverick Crush. Angel is a shining example of the type of animal the Kruschke family aims to breed. “We still like to use proven hightype bulls in our breeding program,” Kruschke said. “We use a few genomic young sires, but we select those based on pedigree and sire stack. We typically like to wait until we see heifers from bulls before using them.” When selecting sires, Kruschke said he works to protect traits such as udder depth and rump width. He has begun utilizing proof information from Holstein Canada as they include frame traits like loin strength and front-end
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
Jake, Jade and Brantley Kruschke introduce Crisdhome Solo Angel-ET at their farm near New Richmond, Wisconsin. Angel will be given to a lucky farm youth as part of Dairy Star’s The Great Christmas Giveaway. height. “I’ve been happy to see this information being included in Canadian type proofs,” Kruschke said. “In particular, I think front-end height is something that the Holstein breed has been struggling with in recent years.” The focus on type-traits has paid off well for the Kruschke family. On
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their recent classication with Holstein USA, the herd racked up a breed age average of 112.8%. The herd also carries a rolling herd average of 25,500 pounds of milk with a 3.9% butterfat test and a 3.3% protein test. The Kruschke family takes great pride in their largely homebred herd and enjoys exhibiting their animals
at shows, garnering several premier breeder awards. “The registered Holstein cow has been a mainstay for us,” Kruschke said. “We are really happy to help make Christmas special for a kid and help them to start their own foundation cow family with a fancy, great pedigreed calf.”
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Page 24 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020
+
DAIRY ST R
The Great Christmas “GRAND” PRIZE
GIVEAWAY
Grand Prize Drawing Will Be Held Wednesday, December 16, 2020 THE WINNERS WILL BE POSTED ON WWW.DAIRYSTAR.COM, MILK BREAK NEWSLETTER AND ON FACEBOOK.
ADULT “GRAND” PRIZE:
2) $1,000 CASH GIFTS!
17 & UNDER “GRAND” PRIZE “Grand” Prize Holstein Calf: CRISDHOME SOLO ANGEL-ET
Grand Priz Calf come e sfro Born: September 26, 2020 Crisdholm m e Farms LLC Dam: Milksource Aftershk Aimee-ET EX94-3E , New Richm ond, Sire: Walnutlawn Soloman Wis. E Granddam: Milksource Goldwn Africa-ET EX95-2E
REGISTER FREE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!
Register at participating businesses, online at www.dairystar.com or Àll out the form below and mail to: Dairy Star 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378 ADULT REGISTRATION
17 & UNDER REGISTRATION
Name:
Name:
Address:
Parents Name(s): Address:
Phone:
# of Cows:
Mail to: Dairy Star • 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave. • Sauk Centre, MN 56378
Phone: # of Cows: Mail to: Dairy Star • 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave. • Sauk Centre, MN 56378
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020 • Page 25
REGISTER AT THESE PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES: WISCONSIN
CHIPPEWA COUNTY
• Chippewa Farm Service, LLC Chippewa Falls • 715-382-5400 • Chippewa Valley Dairy Supply Stanley • 715-644-2350
CLARK COUNTY
• Cloverdale Equipment Curtiss • 715-223-3361 • Premier Livestock Withee • 715-229-2500
DANE COUNTY
• Argall Dairy Systems, Inc Belleville • 608-424-6110
DUNN COUNTY
• Leedstone Menononie • 866-467-4717 • Midwest Livestock Systems Menomonie • 715-235-5144
GRANT COUNTY
• Argall Dairy Systems, West Platteville • 608-348-3385 • Fuller’s Milker Center, Inc. Lancaster • 608-723-4634 • Innovative Ag Services Cuba City • 608-744-2287 • Scott Implement Platteville • 608-348-6565 • Sloan Implement Montfort • 608-943-8888
GREEN COUNTY
• Compeer Financial Monroe • 608-328-5934 • Monroe WestfaliaSurge/Koehn, Inc. Monroe • 608-325-2772
JACKSON COUNTY • W.H. Lien, Inc. Hixton • 715-963-4211
LAFAYETTE COUNTY
• Center Hill Veterinary Clinic Darlington • 608-776-4083
MILWAUKEE COUNTY
• Yes JCB Milwaukee • (262) 790-8902
MONROE COUNTY
• Preston Dairy Equipment Sparta • 608-269-3830
PEPIN COUNTY
• Anibas Silo & Repair Arkansaw • 715-285-5317
PIERCE COUNTY
• Ag Partners Grange Hall • 715-647-5002 • Western Wisconsin Farm Store Ellsworth • 715-273-5066
RICHLAND COUNTY
• Advanced Dairy Solutions Richland Center • 608-647-4488
SAUK COUNTY
• Central Ag Supply Baraboo • 608-356-8384 • Central Ag Supply Juneau • 920-386-2611
VERNON COUNTY
• Koon Kreek Feeds Coon Valley • 608-452-3838
WALWORTH COUNTY
• Triebold Outdoor Power Whitewater • 262-473-2464
IOWA
ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
• Bodensteiner Implement Waukon • 563-568-3463 • Innovative Ag Services Waukon • 563-568-3455 • Waukon Veterinary Services Waukon • 563-568-2487
CLAYTON COUNTY
• Bodensteiner Implement Elkader • 563-245-2470 • Innovative Ag Services Elkader • 563-245-1230 Monona • 563-539-2001
DUBUQUE COUNTY
• Bodensteiner Implement Dyersville • 563-875-2724 • Brunkan Equipment Worthington • 563-855-2434 • CJ Beeps Equipment Farley • 563-744-5010 • Helle Farm Equipment Dyersville • 563-875-7154 • Innovative Ag Services Cascade • 563-852-7245 Farley • 563-744-3337 • New Vienna Ag Automation New Vienna • 563-921-2896
• Skip Breitbach Feeds Balltown • 563-552-2393 • Scherrmann’s Implement Dyersville • 563-875-2426 • Ungs Shopping Center (IAS) Luxemburg • 563-853-2455
JACKSON COUNTY • Innovative Ag Services Andrew • 563-672-3228
MINNESOTA DAKOTA COUNTY
• Werner Implement Vermillion • 651-437-4435
HOUSTON COUNTY
• Farmers Win Coop Caledonia • 507-725-3306 Houston • 507-896-3147 Spring Grove • 507-498-5321 • Hammell Equipment Eitzen • 507-495-3326
GOODHUE COUNTY
• Ag Partners - Grain Site Bellchester • 651-923-4453 Wanamingo-Grain Site • 507-824-2231 Wanamingo-Agronomy Location 507-824-2215 • Ag Partners Farm Store Cannon Falls • 507-263-4651 Goodhue • 800-732-1439 Pine Island • 507-356-8313 • GB Feed and Supply Bellchester • 651-923-4425 • Midwest Livestock Systems Zumbrota • 507-732-4673
WABASHA COUNTY
• Ag Partners Farm Store Lake City • 651-345-3328 Plainview • 507-534-2531 • Beck Implement Elgin • 507-876-2122 • Leedstone Plainview • 800-548-2540 • Wingert Sales & Service Plainview • 507-534-2285
WINONA COUNTY
• Benson Farm Service Lewiston • 507-523-2188 • Elba Coop Elba • 507-796-6571 • S&S Dairy Systems St. Charles • 507-932-4288
To view a complete list of participating businesses, log on to www.dairystar.com
*Enter as often as you like. One entry per store visit, please. Winners must be 18 years or older and a Grade A or B dairy farmer for adult prize, or 17 years or younger and a son or daughter of a Grade A or B dairy farmer for heifer calf. Winners must also live in the Dairy Star circulation area to be eligible and are responsible for transport of animal.
Page 26 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020
Deadline for DMC program enrollment is Dec. 11
The United States Department of Agriculture began accepting applications for the Dairy Margin Coverage program Oct. 13 for 2021 enrollment. Signup runs through Dec. 11. DMC is a voluntary risk management program FSA News & Notes that offers protection to dairy producers when the difference between the allmilk price and the average feed price (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer. DMC payments triggered for seven months in 2019 and three months By Ryan Brunn so far in 2020. More than 23,000 operations enrolled Stearns Co. Exec. Dir. in DMC in 2019, and more than 13,000 in 2020. If you chose the ve-year lock-in coverage, you must sign the contract and pay the $100 administration fee prior to Dec. 11. To determine the appropriate level of coverage for a specic dairy operation, producers can utilize the recently updated online dairy decision tool. The decision tool is designed to assist producers with calculating total premium costs and administrative fees associated with participation in DMC. An informational video is available too. Improvements to the decision tool, made in cooperation with representatives from the University of Minnesota and University of Wisconsin, include historical analysis that illustrates what DMC indemnity payments might have been had the program been available over the previous two decades. The analysis indicates that over the course of time, DMC payments made to producers exceed premiums paid. These decision tool enhancements provide a more comprehensive decision support experience for producers considering DMC. In addition to DMC, USDA offers a variety of programs that have helped dairy producers, including insurance, disaster assistance and conservation programs. Most recently, the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 1 provided $1.75 billion in direct relief to dairy producers who faced price declines and additional marketing costs due to COVID-19 in early 2020. Now, signup is underway for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2, which provides another round of assistance for dairy producers and many other eligible producers. For more information, visit the farmers.gov DMC webpage, or contact your local USDA Service Center. To locate your FSA ofce, visit farmers.gov/servicecenter-locator. Farm Service Agency is an Equal Opportunity Lender. Complaints about discrimination should be sent to: Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250. Visit the Farm Service Agency Web site at: www.fsa.usda.gov/ for necessary application forms and updates on USDA programs.
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pears and pumpkin puree waiting for my next day of baking. My counter is full of spices, my table has jars cooling on towels. The pumpkin skins, apple and pear skins and cores have been brought to the chickens to enjoy. Our pantry has more jams, apple sauce, salsa, pie lling and preserves than ever before. I believe my grandma would be so proud as it looks just like her pantry did when I was little. I can remember when she was canning and the aroma that hit you when you stepped through the door. I am happy to say our kitchen has never smelled so good. Tina Hinchley, her husband, Duane, and their daughters, Anna and Catherine, milk 240 registered Holsteins with robots. They also farm 2,300 acres of crops near Cambridge, Wisconsin. They have been hosting farm tours for over 20 years.
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We usually have groups coming out in the beginning of November to gather up a truck load or two as a service project to donate to the food pantries. This year, due to the pandemic, we have not had any 4-H clubs or the honor society requests to do so. If my schedule permits, I will try to get some gathered to give to the Cambridge food pantry. I am also nding extra time this year without school children visiting and have been cooking down a lot of pumpkins. It has been a fall harvest that has included nearly every apple off of our three apple trees and over 4 bushels of pears from one very productive pear tree. Tomatoes did not go to waste. This whole season, dinners have been planned better as I have been cleaning out the freezer, cooking the meat that has been hidden in the back. Now we have colorful packages of apple pie lling, sliced
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As the harvest season comes to an end, my husband, Duane, is always in a hurry to get all the equipment cleaned up and put away. Sunday, late afternoon, he called to say he was heading home with the combine and the grain buggy. He had called one of our helpers, Seth Grto, to be ready to blow off the dust and start pressure washing before it got dark. This past week with temperatures in the 70s, I have had people calling to see if they could visit our By Tina Hinchley farm. Families that have Farmer & Columnist been cooped up needing to get some fresh air and do some family time before the weather switches back to its normal, chilly, autumn days. The folks that have been visiting have been from all over. Many from Chicago, Milwaukee and the surrounding Madison area, but some cruising around Wisconsin with extended summer vacation due to COVID-19. All are interested in seeing cows, tractors, calves and spending time together while the sun is out. In a normal year, my brother-in-law, Darrell, calls me as he is heading back to the farm with the Quad-track to ask if he can disc under the left-over pumpkins. Not this year. With all of the visitors still trickling in, we are letting them get pumpkins. These are not normal jack-o-lantern pumpkins, these are sweet sugar pie pumpkins. That has been all we have grown for many years. They are the perfect size for the school children to carry, and they are amazing to eat. These cute little pumpkins will last for many months, and they are so easy to cook and freeze. Every family and group that have visited have been eager to take home pumpkins, even if they have never tried to cook them before. Now they have time. Cooking together, baking with children, making pies, mufns, cookies, breads, soups and pumpkin seeds are all on their activity list after their farm visit. They ask how do you cook this pumpkin? It is so simple. Cut them in halves, scoop out the seeds, steam them in the microwave or roast in your oven. The pulp can be scooped out just like squash and pureed in a food processor. It can be canned or easily put into freezer bags. Or easier yet, put the pumpkins in a cool spot, and cook them as you need them. With this opportunity to do something so simple, they load up on pumpkins.
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020 • Page 27
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Page 28 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020
Kempen family celebrates 100-plus years in agriculture
From poultry to dairy, farm survives many changes By Stacey Smart
stacey.s@dairystar.com
BRILLION, Wis. – Tony and Terri Kempen were honored to be recognized as a century farm this year. However, after a little digging during the application process, the Kempens discovered their farm has been in the family for well over a century. “We thought the farm was 100 years old when we applied for the centennial award,” Terri said. “But then we realized it went back another generation.” Founded in 1891, the farm is celebrating 129 years of Kempen ownership. Tony and Terri value the farm’s rich history, which has seen a shift from chickens to cows and conventional to organic over the years.
“Nothing is original to the farm except the water pump in the middle of the yard, but it doesn’t work,” said Tony, the fourth generation to run the Kempen farm. After graduating from high school, Tony worked at an outdoor power equipment company for four years. Proud to continue his family’s farming legacy, Tony took over the farm in 1981 – the same year he and Terri married. In 1987, the Kempens purchased the farm and have lived there for 33 years. An organic farm since 2004, the Kempens milk around 60 cows and farm 140 acres near Brillion. “My dad was very forward with biological farming,” Tony said. “And since Terri and I were so close to being organic,
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Organic dairy farmers Tony and Terri Kempen milk approximately 60 cows near Brillion, Wisconsin. The Kempen farm was recognized as a century farm this year.
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
These two calves are examples of the Kempens’ crossbreeding program at their farm near Brillion, Wisconsin. The white calf is a Fleckvieh-Brown Swiss crossbred.
the guy we get fertilizer and mineral from encouraged us to go for it.” Tony and Terri saw the switch to organic as a lifesaver. “It’s been great,” Terri said. “We ship our milk to Organic Valley, which has been very stable and solid through the years. Our banker told us at one point, ‘If it weren’t for organic, I’d probably tell you to quit.’” The Kempens said health problems in the herd are few and far between. “We only have one emer-
gency call to the vet per year, if that,” Tony said. “Pregnancy checks and dehorning are the only items on our vet bill. We also like that by being organic, we don’t have to worry about touching or breathing anything that will hurt us, our children or our grandchildren. There are no drugs or chemicals being used here.” The Kempen farm started out as a chicken and egg operation and saw its biggest changes occur in 1958, 1985 and 2001. Three different houses have
graced the property at one time or another as well as various barns and buildings. In 1958, Tony’s dad, Russell, converted the farm into a dairy operation and built a dairy barn with help from Tony’s two uncles. He also put in a Surge double-3 straight line milking parlor – the rst of three parlors built in Calumet County that year. “My dad was pretty progressive,” Tony said. His dad also built a freestall Turn to KEMPENS | Page 29
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The farm has been in the Kempen family for 129 years near Brillion, Wisconsin. StarƟng as a chicken and egg operaƟon, the farm converted to dairy in 1958. barn which the Kempens use today. Originally a pack barn, wooden free stalls were eventually added, and 10 years ago, Tony put in new stalls with mattresses. In 1985, his dad put up a big silo because he knew Tony was going to be taking over. Tony’s father remained working on the farm until he had a stroke in 1998. In 2001, a re destroyed the barn and parlor built by Tony’s dad. The Kempens proceeded to build a new barn within the same footprint. They also built a new double-8 swing parlor and made an addition to the freestall heifer barn. New electrical was installed on the farm 15 years ago due to stray voltage issues in the area. “It was miserable when we had stray voltage,” Tony said. “We hated to go out in the barn in the morning because we didn’t know what we were going to see. Milk was maxed out at 65 pounds per cow per day. We had health problems, mastitis and bad feet. When we put up isolators, things got better.” The Kempens’ mixed breed herd contains Holstein, German Fleckvieh, Jersey, Ayrshire and Brown Swiss blood. Tony said the Fleckvieh cattle serve a dual purpose of both beef and dairy, have a good temperament, great feet and udders, and are better for grazing. Tony said his breeding focuses on legs and feet to ensure compatibility with pasturing. “When we converted to organic, we were going to switch to Brown Swiss for the components,” Tony said. “We bred everything to Swiss for a year and that was the start of diversity around here. But when we got ahold of the calves, we found they were hard to work with. We kept breeding those animals to Swiss but also began mixing in other breeds. We’ve never had a bull here. To settle cows, we try different breeds, and it’s worked really well for us.” The Kempens have three children and eight grandchildren. Terri worked
off the farm for many years as a secretary at an elementary school. When her daughter had twins, Terri decided to quit her job and take care of her grandchildren instead. The Kempens’ son, Andrew, and their daughter, Amy, and her husband, Jeremy Hunt, live nearby and help on the farm when they can. The Kempens’ grandkids also help with feeding calves and the oldest one helps with milking. Their grandson is also learning to drive tractor. However, there is currently no one in line to take over the farm when Tony and Terri retire. Therefore, the end of an era is approaching as the couple sees their dairy farming days coming to an end in the near future. “We’re slowing down now,” Tony said. “We’ve stopped raising youngstock and plan to milk cows for only two or three more years.” The Kempens will not be abandoning the farm, however. They plan to work the land for cash cropping and organic soil. They recently lost 65 acres of pasture next door which they had rented for many years to graze their herd. After the owner passed away, her nephew sold the land. “Losing that piece of pasture really hurts and has been a factor in our decision to start winding down,” Tony said. Tony and Terri are looking forward to having more family time and opportunities to travel when they stop milking. The Kempens have been to Ireland and also like to visit their daughter, Jen, and her husband, Peter Stevens, at least twice a year in Portland, Oregon, where Jen is a physical therapist. “Our motto is faith, family, farming – in that order,” Terri said. “That’s what we’ve built our life upon, and we’ll continue to keep the farm in the family for as long as possible, even after the cows have left.”
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Filling the freezers Page 30 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020
Some of you will read this column and think, ‘How has she never done this before?’ Others will shake your head and be slightly disturbed. Then, there will likely be a small faction that understands my level of crazy and smiles to yourself as you read. If you recall a few months ago in a column, I mentioned we had six little piglets on the farm. Well, those adorable piglets (Steven, Meat, Wilbur, Charlotte, Meat and Meat) grew into hilarious hogs. Feeding pigs was a job that never failed to make me smile. The pigs were conditioned to the sound of the Gray Ghost (one of our farm trucks) rumbling down from the barn; they would pop up and jump, bark, grunt and run to the trough. They knew what was coming for them: warm milk to make their daily cereal of corn, milk and scraps. They kept their pen neat and orderly – bathroom on one side, bedroom on the other. The simple fact that they eat everything without complaint and offer appreciative grunts is a reward for me; I’m accustomed to having at least one child complain at a meal. These giant pink roly-poly
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creatures were hard not to adore. Yet, they had a purpose, and that was to ll freezers. We are all aware of the insanity that has booked up our butcher shops in the past few months. Unless I wanted to have freezer-sized pigs, I needed to make a different plan. Thankfully, our next-door neighbor at the farm, Tom, has butchered a handful of pigs in the past few years and had the tools and know-how to get the job done. On the day before Halloween, we loaded four of the crew in the trailer and weighed them on the scale. They averaged 380 pounds a pig. Peter parked the trailer by the shop so we were ready for the day’s events. Tom, his son, Ethan, Tom’s brother, Todd, and their close friend, Tony, all rolled up early afternoon with knives, gambrels, gloves, and the most important tool for any activity such as this – great attitudes. Henry, Finley, Cora and I were attentive observers as they got to work on the rst pig. Tom and his crew all knew their roles, so we stood back and watched with curious eyes. I have raised pigs a few times over the years, but this part
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of the process never happened on the farm. I was excited to learn more. After depositing the kids in the house for lunch and tossing an apple cake in the oven, I went back outside to see if the guys were brave enough to let me handle Ramblings from the Ridge a knife and try to help. These men were so patient with me; I have never even skinned a deer, much less a hog of this stature. They handed me a knife and assured me I couldn’t screw up that bad. I truly enjoyed it. I am aware that sounds strange, but it was a calming afternoon of working with goodBy Jacqui Davison natured, helpful humans. Columnist The weather cooperated for us, it was brisk, but the sun was shining on us as one pig after another was hung up in the shed and draped with a sheet for the night. Thanks to the tutelage of my dear friend, Ruth, I was prepared to save as much fat to render into lard as possible. Tony expertly removed the inner, leaf lard into clean 5-gallon pails which still had lids that another friend, Kelli, had squirreled away in her basement. Then, our ghostly creatures hung in the shed overnight. As Halloween day dawned, cow chores were done on high speed to be prepared for pig work. Tom, Ethan, Tony and new recruit Joe arrived by 8 a.m. Stacy, me and a small herd of children greeted them in the wash bay of the shop ready to be told what to do. We acquired a few metal dishwashing tables from our hospital this summer, and those along with our large folding tables made our workspace comfortable. As Peter delivered the rst pig to the table, we got to work, learning as we went what our roles would be. Ira and I, having never done this before, became the rib and bacon team. We patiently cut the ribs out and trimmed out the bacon slab. To say they had a good amount of fat on them is an understatement. We gleaned almost six 5-gallon pails of fat to render. Stacy and the other boys worked on packaging – neat and professional looking with cling wrap and freezer paper. Tom was running his band saw slicing beautiful pork chops and steaks. Joe worked on trimming up the hams, and Tony and Ethan worked on roasts. The sausage tubs were lling up as laughter and joking echoed across the wash bay. Even with members of the butcher crew being rookies, we managed to cut, package and grind sausage from all four pigs in about four hours. We enjoyed a simple lunch together in the shop, amidst the lingering smell of sausage seasoning. The kids (OK, me, too) were excited to try it, because the smell was so enticing. As our crew of amazing humans left, Stacy, Peter, and I took a break to rehash the morning in the shop. Much like when we butcher chickens each summer, it is the people involved who make the experience. The stories, the teasing and the patient teaching all make for a memorable time. The kids being involved in the process from the feeding and cleaning of the pen to the packaging of the meat makes them appreciate their food even more, that is no secret. I’m sure our great-grandmothers were beaming with pride this past week as Stacy and I worked daily to render lard. It was a delightful and rewarding experience to be a part of the process from start to nish. For me, my heart is as full as our freezers. Jacqui and her family milk 800 cows and run 1,200 acres of crops in the northeastern corner of Vernon County, Wisconsin. Her children, Ira (12), Dane (10), Henry (5) and Cora (3), help her on the farm while her husband, Keith, works on a grain farm. If she’s not in the barn, she’s probably in the kitchen, trailing after little ones, or sharing her passion of reading with someone. Her life is best described as organized chaos – and if it wasn’t, she’d be bored.
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What is the most costly disease in your herd? Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020 • Page 31
Historically, mastitis has been the most common and most costly disease in the dairy industry. Our practice has monitored rates of diseases in dairy herds for quite a few years. It used to be common to see new clinical mastitis Veterinary Wisdom case rates (number of rst clinical cases for the lactation per herd size) of 3%-4% per month, or roughly, 36%48% per year. Herds with great milk quality used to run new clinical case rates of less than 2% (24% annually) per month, and total clinical case rates of less than By Jim Bennett 3% per month (36% annually). Milk sold Columnist with an average somatic cell count of less than 200,000 was considered high quality. Today, we expect well-managed dairy herds to have monthly new clinical case rates of 1% or less, and total clinical case rates of 1.5% or less (12% and 18% annually). The average SCC for the Upper Midwest Federal Milk Marketing Order in 2018 was 182,000, so clearly, 200,000 is no longer excellent. For lameness, a typical monthly rate of new clinical cases is around 3%, and a typical rate for all clinical cases is around 4%. That means roughly 36% and 48% annual case rates, respectively. Reasonable goals for well-managed herds are 2% per month (24% annually) and 3% per month (36% annually). Thus, lameness has become more common on well-managed farms than mastitis. Over one-third of cows can be expected to have at least one case of lameness per year. This is a big deal. Using an estimated cost of $500 per clinical case, a 500-cow dairy would be losing $120,000 per year due to clinical lameness. That same dairy can expect to spend over $40 per cow on foot bath
treatments per year, or another $20,000. There are move cows carefully and slowly. Remember that also hoof trimming and other treatment costs. One cows prefer to move slower than humans. Be also has to consider indirect and non-monetary costs especially careful with fresh cows, because parts of of reduced animal welfare, including consumer the hoof’s suspensory apparatus are relaxed due to perception. hormone release around calving, making the hoof The major causes of lameness in dairy herds have more prone to injury. Utilize a foot bath regularly. changed over time. For Use your hoof trimmer for example, clinical foot rot preventive and corrective is less common, probably O Over one-third hi d off cows can b be trimming, not just for because of widespread foot lame cows. In a typical bath adoption. Interdigital expected to have at least one freestall herd, most cows hyperplasia, or corns, is case of lameness per year. will need trimming twice also less common today, per lactation. For digital most likely because of dermatitis, detection and more routine hoof trimming and better genetics. treatment in heifers is often important, because On the other hand, digital dermatitis has become animals infected as heifers may become chronically endemic in dairy herds and is one of the major infected and show up with clinical disease when causes of lameness in many herds. Corkscrew claw they are cows, unless they are treated as heifers. of the rear claws might be less common, while it is Identify and treat lame cows promptly. Cows that more common in front feet than in the past. Sole are lame for longer periods of time cost you more ulcers and white line disease were common in the and are much more likely to be culled. Record all past and continue to be so today. cases of lameness and then use your records to As far as the predisposing causes, housing determine overall rates of lameness, including rates cows on wet, dirty concrete and overstocking have of second and more cases per lactation, and the become more important than muddy cow lots. primary causes of lameness on your dairy. Review Excessive standing on concrete results in hoof causes with your hoof trimmer and veterinarian. wear, damage to the sole corium, and increased Keep key people on your dairy in the lameness/ white line hemorrhage and separation. Slipping hoof health loop. Does your veterinarian have your and turning on wet concrete may contribute to hoof trimmer’s email address or phone number and white line disease as well. It is quite common to see vice versa? increased sole ulcers and white line disease in the Lameness is a substantial challenge on most fall following hot summers, because cows need to farms today. With knowledge and the proper tools, stand up to dissipate heat, and increased standing perhaps we can make similar progress to what has on concrete is detrimental to hoof health. been achieved with mastitis control. What is a farmer to do? Bennett is one of four dairy veterinarians at Well, rst, prevent problems when you can. Northern Valley Dairy Production Medicine Center Reduce standing time. This might mean less in Plainview, Minnesota. He also consults on dairy crowding, smaller groups in the parlor, better farms in other states. He and his wife, Pam, have stall comfort or reduced lock up time. Design and four children. Jim can be reached at bennettnvac@ maintain concrete ooring to minimize slipping. gmail.com with comments or questions. Use rubber where appropriate, such as in the parlor and holding area, and perhaps scrape alleys. Always
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Moving Mom Page 32 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020
My 96-year-old mother is in failing health. She days, but when that infection hit her, she was setting has lived alone the last 13 years in her own home records for pushing her emergency button. Because and has done fantastic until a few weeks ago. The of the infection, she was very uncomfortable and downhill spiral started with a u vaccine that hit her a confused, and it kept getting worse. The home health little hard, and then she fell nurse strongly suspected on her tailbone on carpet problem and secured Because off the h iinfection, f i she h was the causing a stress fracture that B medication to treat it. In is not repairable and needs very uncomfortable and confused, the meantime, I went from time to heal. Then she got a chasing into town every few and it kept getting worse. urinary tract infection that hours to staying with her changed everything for a every night. Those rst few week. nights were horrible, getting In my last article, I mentioned that Mom had woke up every couple hours by a person that really fell, and we installed a home emergency calling was not the mom I knew for 60 years, to help her with device so she could push a button on her wrist and a her needs, as she was not strong enough to get up company would immediately notify one of us that she herself. needed help. She did not use or need it the rst few Thankfully, during the day, my wife would stop
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and help her, and the home health nurses would give her a shower and do many other tasks. My daughter, Tae, would bring her a small fresh tasty meal at noon every day. We gured out Mom was better off with small portions of really tasty food than with the Making Cents of Dairy bland meals on wheels fare. Mom especially likes the ham and pineapple pizza from our station. Once the infection was under control, things improved greatly. Mom sleeps all night and is back to being her pleasant, quiet self. By Dave Vander Kooi She cannot arise from a Columnist sitting or laying position by herself, but once she is up, she walks with a walker with one of us steadying her. My brother, Stan, and his wife have been coming to help for a couple days at a time to give us a break, which has been a lifesaver for us. Mom knows she is a burden, and she begged us to get her into assisted living or a nursing home. All four of us siblings agreed that should happen, and we started to make plans for that to happen. That is when things started to get really interesting. The nursing homes and assisted living places in southwest Minnesota are all on lockdown because of COVID-19 and are not accepting new residents at this time. Tae suggested I try places in Sibley, Iowa, because they are under different rules, and Sibley is a short 15 miles from our house. There are two nursing homes in Sibley, and I asked several friends who I knew would know which nursing home would be the best for my mom. When I called the recommended nursing home, the lady was so helpful, and yes, they would take my mom. Of course, I had to give her all kinds of information, and we had to secure a negative COVID-19 test for my mom. This all was happening on a Monday morning, and I found out there was a drive-thru testing site at a local clinic on Monday afternoon. My younger sister, Kristi, who lives in California, and is a high-powered medical supply salesperson, made the appointment for my mom to get the test. The results were supposed to be back by Thursday noon. So, Monday afternoon my brother and I struggled and succeeded in getting my mom into my pickup to go get the test. It would have been easier if we could have put her in a rocking chair and lifted her in the back of the pickup for the ride across town. Thursday came and went with no test results, Friday came and went with no test results, even though my sister called and emailed the clinic every couple hours. The ironic part is my sister had just closed on the sale of millions of dollars of rapid COVID-19 tests to large hospital chains on the east and west coasts. Yet, she could not secure one rapid test for her own mother. Now it is Sunday, and my mother is in her home being cared for by family. Hopefully tomorrow we get some results, and hopefully the results are negative and Mom can get her wish of being in a safer environment where her caregivers know what they are doing. Vander Kooi operates a 1,800-cow, 4,500 acre farm with his son, Joe, and daughter-in-law, Rita, near Worthington, Minnesota. Send him feedback at davevkooi@icloud.com. Follow him on Instagram, @ davevanderkooi.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020 • Page 33
A saying that is often tossed out to youth to instill the idea of thinking before acting is, “Make good choices.” It seems that could be applied to most of the many decisions we need to make in every aspect of daily life, especially lately. An election nally happened, and I am so glad it is over. Many have been obsessed with whether to vote for one candidate or another and how the choices and resulting outcome would affect our future. I am one who sees a vast gray middle ground and not so much a far-left or a far-right Come Full Dairy Circle agenda for the country. I would prefer compromise and working together to solve problems and to reach amiable solutions that can be of benet to all of us. But, of course, it is not as easy as all of that. Like anything worthwhile in life, it will take a great deal of hard work. As farmers and rural dwellers, we are in a minority in our country and probably in our local communities as well. That means educating our leaders as to what is needed for keeping the business of agriculture healthy and able to function well is always in order. When we hit a pause at the end of harvest, it By Jean Annexstad makes sense to spend some time reaching out to those Columnist newly elected people who represent us on a local level and explain what we do, what is important to us and why it matters. It certainly could not hurt. These folks will have many critical choices to make in the months to come, and they might appreciate the input. In the busy days of trying to wrap up our harvest, get corn stalk bales made and hauled back to the farm, hauling manure and preparing livestock facilities before the cold and snowy winter that was here for a while; there are too many priorities. It is overwhelming. Making daily choices on what to do when and how to leverage every available person and every hour to get the work done before an impending stretch of rain or snow will shut it down seems crazy. Sometimes there is no choice but to keep going and try to do as much as possible. “We will sleep when we are dead,” someone once said. Since the rst of October through the rst week of November, there have been 45 head due to calve on our dairy. I have not kept track, but this seems like a record amount for our herd of 200 head of lactating cows. Choosing to check cows, feed nnew babies their colostrum and rearrange the calf barn to Since the Si h fi first off O October b t all the new babies into pens through the first week of has been necessary. It is good be near the end of this busy November, there have been 45 to stretch. Perhaps I will be able head due to calve on our dairy. to pick some different tasks to sspend my time on when the ccalves are weaned or the bull calves are sold. I made a choice to attend the virtual Dairy Girl Network Forward Together conference last week. I was really looking forward to it; however, I did not actually have time to focus on the sessions when they were taking place. There were too many new calves and other outside tasks that needed attention during the favorable weather. So now I will plan to catch up on the recorded sessions gradually over the next few weeks as time allows. A poorly-planned choice can sometimes be salvaged and savored in a better way. The pandemic, which has limited most in-person meetings and conferences, seems to be a game-changer by providing a lot more virtual opportunities. Many events I have thought about attending but could not due to the time spent away from the daily farm commitments can now be joined at the click of a keyboard and placing my smiling face in front of a screen. I nd the problem now is that there are too many choices. There are webinars, annual meetings, educational seminars on every dairy topic imaginable, virtual tours of new facility installations, cow shows and so much more. I need to nd a new framework to decide what is most important to spend my time with and how much time I actually have to join in and fully participate. I am learning that it takes a lot of energy and focus to sit at a screen and engage. Like many others who do this for their school classes, work and social life, it takes a learning curve to get used to it. I would much rather interact in person. When faced with an innite amount of what to watch on a screen, sometimes the choice to head out to the barn and interact with the calves and cows seems like a better one to make. Jean dairy farms with her husband, Rolf, and brother-in-law, Mike, and children Emily, Matthias and Leif. They farm near St. Peter, Minnesota, in Norseland, where she is still trying to t in with the Norwegians and Swedes. They milk 200 cows and farm 650 acres. She can be reached at jeanannexstad@ gmail.com.
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Page 34 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020
A chapter ends, another one begins
Daniels, Searls look forward to career after dairy farming By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
COBB, Wis. – In Laura Daniels’ mind, life is all about seizing opportunities and taking advantage of those chances to create success with something new. That is a philosophy she has followed throughout her life and applied to whatever venture she undertakes. “In a large part, we bought this farm because we wanted to raise our family on a farm,” Daniels said. “We did that, we raised our kids here. We are really grateful we could give them the gift of a work ethic that you don’t really have a choice to develop when you grow up on a farm.” Daniels and her husband, Jarred Searls, established their rst-generation Heartwood Dairy near Cobb in 2005, with their children Nathan, 20, and Julia, 15, purchasing 205 cows when they purchased their farm. Today, the herd consists of 250 Jerseys that will sell during their herd dispersal at the farm Nov. 19. “For us, this whole farm was always like this grand experiment,” Daniels said. “Jarred was a beef cattle nutritionist, and I was a dairy cattle nutritionist. And, we would go out and give advice to all these great farmers, and we would see them be successful. We always wondered if we could do that and be a
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Laura Daniels and Jarred Searls (center) along with their children, Julia Searls and Nathan Daniels, own Heartwood Dairy near Cobb, Wisconsin. The herd will be dispersed in a public aucƟon this month. success at that. What would it be like to have skin in the game? To be in that front row seat, so we did it.” Daniels, the primary herdsperson on the farm, takes great pride in the herd of cows her family has developed over the past 15 years and has enjoyed the milestones achieved since the rst time they hung the milkers as dairy farm owners. “The big focus with the auction and the end of this chapter is the joy that we have taken from breeding a great herd of cows,” Daniels said. “There is something so gratifying about choosing what you want to achieve through genetics and seeing it happen.” Daniels said their goals included breeding a herd that can milk and ex-
presses sound reproductive health. “We have chosen positive (daughter pregnancy rate) bulls for the past 10 years, and we have watched our preg rates climb since we have been really focused on that,” Daniels said. “We also have chosen bulls that are positive for percent protein and percent fat. To me, that is more important than pounds of protein or fat. I just want them to make higher components than the previous generation. Looking at the components on the individual cows and the bulk tanks, it is neat to see not just high components but high components for the breed. It’s been so cool to see it shift.” Functional type traits also play a role in Daniels’ breeding philosophy.
“As a (University of Wisconsin)Madison Dr. Dave-trained dairy judge, I could hardly breed a herd without paying attention to type and udder composite,” Daniels said. “We have always used bulls that are at least one point on type and as high an udder composite as possible.” Despite the joy she has gleaned from her 15-year career as a dairy farmer, the successes she is able to enumerate and her excitement in what the next chapter of her story might bring, Daniels does admit to a touch of sadness at the prospect of watching her ladies leave Heartwood Farm. “It’s good to see those things when I walk through, but it also makes me a little sad when I make a list of my favorite cows and there are 20 or so on there,” Daniels said. “Being rst-generation dairy farmers, particularly with a woman at the helm, there was always that question could we do it. We did, and the herd is the evidence of that success, and I am incredibly proud of the health of the herd, the production and what I think is a herd bred for longevity.” Besides the performance of their herd, Daniels takes pride in the way those results have been obtained. “We have strived to give our cows excellent care,” she said. “Gentleness and animal well-being is something that is instrumental to how we have farmed. I’m just really proud of that. You can lead a team of people and train them how to care for your animals. I know that is possible because we did Turn to DANIELS, SEARLS | Page 35
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020 • Page 35
ConƟnued from DANIELS, SEARLS | PAGE 34 that here.” Daniels has realized personal growth and development in herself during her time as a dairy farmer, connecting with others, particularly women in dairy, which led her to create the Dairy Girl Network, which has become a global organization connecting women in agriculture. Those connections and interests have helped fuel her own interests, leading her to be ready to embark on a new chapter of life. “Anytime you make a major shift in your career or the work you are going to do, there is a multiple set of reasons,” Daniels said. “The decision to exit is because we are ready to do something else. I love this, I love our cows, I love Jerseys and I love being a dairy farmer. But there are lots of other things we can do.” Daniels said she plans to take some time off after the cows leave in midNovember to determine exactly what direction to take career-wise, while Jarred will continue his work with Zoetis, continuing to use his unique combination of skillsets in both dairy and beef production. Future plans for Heartwood Farm include continuing to raise a herd of beef cattle as well as continuing to crop farm. They are also hoping to nd a renter for the dairy facility to help a young farmer get a start. “You know being a dairy farmer is going to be hard work, but you also reap so many rewards like a beauti-
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Julia Searls (from leŌ), Laura Daniels and Nathan Daniels are pictured with their Jersey calf, Rochelle, at the 2013 World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. ful sunrise or a favorite cow having a heifer calf,” Daniels said. “It has been so worth it. For us, it was always about being successful in business, achieving something through hard work, raising our family here, and also not doing it forever if it wasn’t conducive to us continuing to be really happy. Now is a good time for us to switch gears.”
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Cows graze at Heartwood Farms owned by Laura Daniels and Jarred Searls near Cobb, Wisconsin.
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Page 36 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020
Women In Dairy Darice Riebe Cumberland, Wisconsin Barron County 100 cows Family: I farm with my husband, Roger, and our sons and their wives, Mike and Jaime and Mark and Tanya. Tell us about your farm. We own about 950 acres and rent another 100 acres. We grow corn, soybeans, rye and alfalfa. My husband is the second generation on the farm; his father started the farm in 1925 with registered Jerseys. My sons are the third generation. What is the busiest time of day for you? Morning and evening chore times are the busiest. When you get a spare moment, what do you do? I like to read. Tell us about your most memorable experience working on the farm. My most memorable farm experience was when Roger won the Klussendorf award at World Dairy Expo and the Max Gordon award at the All-American Jersey Show in Louisville, Kentucky, both in 2016. Also, I was honored to be named the Wisconsin Jersey Breeder’s Woman of the Year in 2013. What have you enjoyed most about dairy farming or your tie to the dairy industry? I have enjoyed showing a great deal. We have met so many great friends from all over who you only see once or twice a year at the shows. How do you stay connected with others in the industry? I stay connected through the shows and through the Wisconsin Jersey Breeders.
Who is someone in the industry who has inspired you? My motherin-law, Caroline Riebe, inspired me. When Roger and I got married, I hadn’t had all that much to do on my family’s farm. But I saw what my mother-in-law did to make her family’s farm what it was, and I worked to be like her and do the same. If you could give a tour of your farm to a prominent woman in today’s society, who would it be? There are so many politicians who have no idea what goes on on a family farm. They should have the opportunity to learn about what it takes to be a farmer in today’s world and economy. What is the best vacation you have ever taken? Roger and I went to Door County for our 40th wedding anniversary. It was a lot of fun, and that area of the state is beautiful.
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THERESA, Wis. – Larry Ehlers has many miles under his belt moving milk from farm to processor. A milkman since 1975, Ehlers often worked seven days a week from dawn to dusk braving Chicago rush-hour trafďƒžc, ice storms, snowstorms and more. He made lifelong friends along the way and even met his wife, Margarita, through the route. In his lifetime, Ehlers has taken on the role of both milk hauler and dairy farmer – at times doing both jobs simultaneously. “Hauling milk is a very exciting and very rewarding job,â€? Ehlers said. “My favorite thing about it is the farmers. All the farmers on my route were invited to my wedding in 1978.â€? The oldest of six boys on his family’s 38-cow farm, Ehlers’ father told him he would have to get a job after high school. Ehlers attended a breeding school in Waupun and bred cows from 1972-1974 while also working at Kasten Manufacturing in Allenton. “I got sick of working in the factory, and when I heard that Independent Milk Producers was looking for a
driver, I started hauling milk instead,� Ehlers said. “That’s where my dad shipped his milk.� Ehlers started out in an old Ford F800 single-axle automatic transmission milk truck he drove for two years before a route came up for sale. Ehlers then bought his own truck which he kept for a year until transmission trouble got the best of it. That was when he bought a brand-new International Cargo Star Tandem that held 30,000 pounds of milk. Driving in conditions not meant for the faint of heart comes with the job, and the ice storm of 1976 is something Ehlers will never forget. “It was the worst weather I ever drove in,� he said. “It was like an iceskating rink everywhere. A lot of roads were closed. Big power poles snapped off, and wires were laying on the road. Farmers had to lime or sand their driveways and have a generator ready to load the milk. We had no power in the area for 10 days. This meant milk in the cooler wasn’t cold so farmers were cooling it down with bags of ice.� Ehlers sold his truck in 1977 to drive for Schaefer Trucking out of Kewaskum. For four years, Ehlers drove down to Cicero Avenue in downtown Chicago to deliver milk to the Hawthorn Mellody Dairy milk plant. Trips Turn to EHLERS | Page 38
PHOTO SUBMITTED
People hand Larry Ehlers (on top of truck) pails of milk to pour it into the milk truck during an ice storm in March 1976. The storm caused a 10-day power outaged and some farms had to load milk by hand.
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ConƟnued from EHLERS | Page 37
to the Windy City made for lengthy days, sometimes keeping Ehlers on the road until 3 a.m. “There were 27 stop-and-go lights on Cicero, and it’s not that good of a neighborhood,” Ehlers said. “My boss told me, ‘Just keep driving no matter who’s out there. Don’t ever stop.’” Ehlers remembers 1979 as one of the snowiest winters. Deep snow drifts made for difcult driving, and that year, Ehlers’ truck almost slid off a hill while he was parked at a farm picking up milk. Hauling milk had many perks, one of which was all the gifts Ehlers was showered with at the end of the year. “Christmas was the best time of year to haul milk,” Ehlers said. “There were presents on every cooler – homemade cookies, whiskey, wine, etc. I got so much stuff. We also received baby presents when my wife and I had our rst child.” Ehlers gave Christmas presents in return, buying quarts of chocolate milk, egg nog, sour cream and cream cheese from the processor to give to dairy producers on his route. “I wanted to show the farmers where their milk went, and they really appreciated that,” Ehlers said. In 1980, Ehlers nearly missed the birth of his rst child when he was on one of his Chicago trips, barely making it back in time due to freezing rain and heavy, wet snow. “I got to the hospital at 3 a.m., and she was born at 6 a.m.,” Ehlers said. That same year, a bad stomachache landed Ehlers in the hospital just moments before his appendix burst. He spent the morning picking up milk, but then at the advice of a fellow driver, who was also a nurse, Ehlers went straight to the hospital after handing his route over to her for the day.
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Larry Ehlers measures how much milk is in the bulk tank at a farm Oct. 19. “I made it to the hospital just in time,” Ehlers said. “My doctor told me I was lucky I got there when I did.” In the early 1980s, Ehlers took a four-year break from hauling milk to haul livestock for Kreilkamp Trucking of Allenton. He covered the Midwest transporting cows, pigs, sheep and veal calves. The job kept him on the road all week – from Sunday afternoon to Friday. Spending so many hours behind the wheel was especially challenging with a young family waiting for him at home. “I wasn’t home much,” Ehlers said. “My kids would say, ‘Daddy’s gone all the time.’ That’s when I decided to start farming instead.” He bought some cows and began renting a farm. Three years later in 1988, when Ehlers was a father of four, he bought a farm near Theresa where he milked 100 cows and farmed 300 acres.
“For a couple years, I didn’t haul any milk because I was too busy farming,” Ehlers said. “But I kept my CDL license, and as my boys got older, I started lling in on weekends for Gundrum Trucking out of Slinger. I also served as a relief man for Ron Puls Trucking for many years.” A people-person, Ehlers loved talking with the farmers on his route as well as their children. He befriended many dogs as well. “Little kids would come walking into the milkhouse, and we would chat and get to know each other,” Ehlers said. “Now some of these kids are the ones running the farms. It’s really touching.” In 2003, Ehlers sold his cows and began working for nearby Schmidt Farms, helping with milking, eldwork and other chores. Today, Ehlers hauls milk for Schmidt Farms ve days a
week – a farm that was on Ehlers’ route when he rst started hauling in the 1970s. The dairy milks 1,900 cows, and Ehlers hauls one load per day to a Foremost Farms cheese plant in Marsheld – a 300-mile round trip. Ehlers also continues to haul for Gundrum Trucking on the weekends, picking up milk at a variety of farms to take to Saputo, Kraft, Galloway, BelGioioso and other processors. Ehlers remained on the farm which is now run by his sons, Tim and Nick, who brought cows back to the dairy in 2005. “Hauling milk is not a hard job, but you have to pay attention,” Ehlers said. “Trafc is the worst part. There’s not a lot of patience, respect or common sense on the road. The things I see people do out there is unbelievable. They don’t realize how much a milk truck weighs and how difcult it can be to maneuver.” Hauling milk for most of his adult life, Ehlers can tell countless stories about his time as a milkman and has seen many changes throughout the years. “When I rst started, there was no antibiotic testing,” Ehlers said. “You just pumped the milk, did a bacteria test and measured butterfat – that was it. Once a week, we did a plate count and sediment tests. Now, testing is so stringent and quick. Milk quality has progressed a lot since I started. Nowadays, the milk is so clean. You can’t nd any bacteria in it.” Ehlers’ love for the dairy industry kept him close to the farming community in his work as a milk hauler. “When I think of all the people I’ve met over the years on my routes and all the friendships that developed, it really warms my heart,” Ehlers said. “They’re like family to me.”
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Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020 • Page 39
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Aaron and Todd Augustian Augustian Farms LLC Kewaunee, Wisconsin Kewaunee County 1,000 cows
outdoors is a positive too. What advice would you give other dairy farmers? Follow your passion. If this is truly what you want to do, just put your nose to the grindstone. There are a lot of great people in this industry, and all you have to do is talk to them. They will put you in contact with people if they don’t have the answers.
How did you get into farming? My brother, Todd, and I got into farming at a very young age. We grew up on our parents’ 60-cow dairy where we did chores from the time we were young. We continued to help on the farm until buying our parents out in 2000. What are your thoughts and concerns about the dairy industry for the next year? Our main concern right now is the effects that COVID-19 is going to have on the milk markets moving into 2021. We are coming off strong prices now, but can we continue to carry them forward into the rst quarter of next year? Knowing our cost of production for next year helps us in our marketing decisions so we can lock milk. What is the latest technology you implemented on your farm and the purpose for it? Two of the latest technologies we implemented are activity monitors and a self-propelled mixer. Both of those technology decisions were based on labor. With the labor force shrinking, it allowed us to do the same amount of work with one less person in the barn and one less in the feeding position. We used to feed with two people, and now all the feeding is done with one person. The labor and fuel savings more than pay for the new machine. What is a management practice you changed in the past year that has beneted you? We have gone to 100%
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Todd (leŌ) and Aaron AugusƟan milk 1,000 cows in Kewaunee, Wisconsin. The brothers bought the farm from their parents in 2000. cover crops and reduced our tillage. This saves money on labor and fuel. We also started to haul manure on growing crops which has reduced our fertilizer cost. What cost-saving steps have you implemented during the low milk price? Some of the cost-saving steps we have implemented involve doing more of the barn maintenance ourselves. We used to hire this out, but with freeing up a guy from mixing, this has given more time to do that work. We also transitioned over to cover crops and planting green in the last couple years, so this helps save money on tillage and eld prep in the spring. How do you retain a good working relationship with your employees? Once a month, we have an employee meeting with an outside consultant. If
an employee doesn’t feel comfortable discussing a problem with us, he can call this human resources team at any time and voice his concerns, and then that information is communicated back to us. This seems to have opened up the lines of communication with our predominately Hispanic workforce. Tell us about a skill you possess that makes dairy farming easier for you. One of the skills we possess is being mechanically inclined. We do all the maintenance on the farm in our shop. This saves us money by not having to call the dealership or take the machine in for repairs. What do you enjoy most about dairy farming? The best part of dairy farming is working with the animals and the land. You get to see the complete life cycle in a short period of time. Working
What has been the best purchase you have ever made on your farm? The best purchase on the farm is our hardworking employees. Without them, our operation would not run 24/7. We do purchase new equipment to help make their jobs easier, but ultimately, they are our best investment. What has been your biggest accomplishment while dairy farming? One of the things we are really excited for is the whole no-till cover crop process that we are implementing on our farm. Not only does it lower our cost, but it in turn helps protect the water quality in our area. We farm about 1 mile off of Lake Michigan, so protecting the surface water is very critical. What are your plans for your dairy in the next year and ve years? In the next ve years, we will be looking into manure technologies extensively. With the last couple years being very wet, I think we have to look at handling our manure in a different way. How do you or your family like to spend time when you are not doing chores? Todd races stock cars in his spare time and enjoys camping with his family. I like to golf, hunt, ride motorcycle and snowmobile.
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Page 40 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 14, 2020
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