THE GREAT
Volume 26, No. 19
See pages 24 and 25 of this section for details!
“All dairy, all the time”™
November 23, 2024
Measurement Focusing on details for better management Carlsons receive national animal Using carbon footprint, care award credits to capitalize on sustainability efforts
By Sarah Middendorf sarah.m@star-pub.com
By Danielle Nauman
PENNOCK, Minn. — Caring for animals is a top priority at Carlson ATHENS, Wis. — Dairy farm- Dairy LLP. Doing so has led to their ing in the 21st century can be com- receipt of the 2024 National Dairy plex, and understanding what it Farmers Assuring Responsible Manmeans to be sustainable, and how to agement Program Excellence Award in Animal Care & Antibiotic Stewachieve it, is paramount. Farmers knowing their carbon ardship. “It’s kind of nice to hear that footprint number and understanding somebody else is seeing that,” said carbon credits to capitalize on sus- Chad Carlson, a partner at Carlson tainability efforts were explained at Dairy. “We appreciate (that) other MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR the Professional Dairy Producers’ people have noticed. We are really The Carlson family — Curtney (from le� ), Carl, Chad and Kindra — gather with “Carbon, Crops and Cows” work- proud of what we do.” Nicole Frank Nov. 1 at Carlson Dairy near Pennock, Minnesota. Frank nominated shop Nov. the Carlsons for the Na�onal Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management 12 at MilTurn to CARLSONS | Page 2 Program Excellence Award in Animal Care & An�bio�c Stewardship. trim Farms Inc., near Athens. “For years we have been hearing from our European counterCarson Dugger parts about Lead Agronomist Eocene how susEnvironmental Group tainable they are because they have a carbon footprint number,” said Shelly Mayer, executive director of PDP. “The U.S. dairy farmer is leaps and bounds ahead — the most sustainable — but we need to know that number to be able to make that claim. If you can’t meaPHOTO SUBMITTED sure it, you can’t manage it.” In response to the global drive The owners of Dairy Doctors Veterinary Services — Drs. Eric Rooker (from le�), James McGowan, Brandon Debbink, Chris towards sustainability, Mayer shared Booth, Kent Bindl and Jeff Bleck — hold gallons of milk in 2018 to promote their Gallons of Goodness campaign near that PDP has developed Your Farm Plymouth, Wisconsin. The clinic set a goal this holiday season to donate 3,000 gallons of milk with help from clients and — Your Footprint, a farmer-led sus- industry supporters to local food pantries and food banks in a ve-county area. tainability initiative aimed at empowering dairy producers to understand their environmental footprint and assist them in implementing solutions back to their communities with milk During the one-month campaign, By Stacey Smart to help shape the future of their farm. in the spotlight. Through its “Gallons Dairy Doctors is asking its clients stacey.s@dairystar.com Lead agronomist Carson Dugof Goodness” campaign, Dairy Doc- and industry supporters to help them ger and technical services manager tors Veterinary Services has set a goal reach their goal with a monetary doPLYMOUTH, Wis. — As the to donate 3,000 gallons of milk to lo- nation that equates to 10 gallons of Turn to CARBON | Page 7 holiday season approaches, one vet- cal food pantries and food banks in a milk or more. erinary clinic and its clients are giving ve-county area. Turn to DAIRY DOCTORS | Page 6 danielle.n@dairystar.com
Giving the gi� of milk
Dairy Doctors launches Gallons of Goodness campaign