Last Chance
See pages 4 and 5 in the second section for end of the year specials!
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DAIRY ST R “All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 18, No. 21
Fixing bottlenecks
Jones shares strategies to achieve 95 pounds of milk By Missy Mussman missy@dairystar.com
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – An average of 95 pounds of milk per cow per day may seem near impossible to achieve, but Dr. Gordie Jones, a DVM who owns Central Sands Dairy near De Pere, Wis., feels otherwise. “There are cows being milked twice daily giving more than 100 pounds of milk in a 50-cow herd,” Jones said. “It can happen.” Jones shared strategies to accomplish that during his presentation, “Achieving Excellence: Simple things you can do to achieve 95 pounds plus” Dec. 1 at the Minnesota Milk Dairy Conference and Expo in St. Cloud, Minn. Although the industry has changed over the last 25 years, Jones said the rules of achieving high milk yields still apply: cow comfort comes rst, dry cow programs stop early fresh cow losses, pregnancy rates mean farmers keep their cows, milk quality is everything, forage is king and better forages are better. “You take care of her, she’ll take better care of you,” Jones said. Regardless of herd size, Jones said producers have to nd where the bottlenecks are happening to obtain 95 pounds of milk. “Sometimes we need someone outside of our farm to look at things because we’ve gone barn blind,” Jones said. “What is abnormal becomes normal for us.” To know what is normal while looking for bottlenecks, there are three things a cow should do – stand to eat and drink, stand to be milked and lie down. Knowing this, farmers should look at the number of times cows are milked and/or how long the cows are in the parlor. Turn to MILK | Page 5
December 24, 2016
A gift in the barn Nus wins grand prize for Great Christmas Heifer Giveaway By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
ARLINGTON, Iowa – This year, one of the Nus family’s Christmas presents can be found in the barn rather than under the tree. Jody Nus is this year’s grand prize winner of the Dairy Star Great Christmas Heifer Giveaway, taking home Sheeknoll Kingboy 2615, also known as Henny, a year-old heifer from Sheeknoll Farms in Rochester, Minn. Nus and her husband, Nathan, milk 40 cows on their dairy in Fayette County near Arlington, Iowa. “I’ve never gotten a heifer for a Christmas gift so this is a great present,” Nus said.
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Jody Nus won the Dairy Star’s Great Christmas Heifer Giveaway grand prize, Sheeknoll Kingboy 2615, also known as Henny. Nus and her husband, Nathan, milk 40 cows near Arlington, Iowa.
Turn to NUS | Page 6
Jonathon’s wish come true
Ten-year-old wins Brown Swiss heifer calf By Missy Mussman missy@dairystar.com
FREEPORT, Minn. – For the last couple years, Jonathon Job has wanted a brown cow. “We have all Holsteins on our farm, and I wanted something different,” Jonathon said. This Christmas, that wish nally came true. Jonathon won the Brown Swiss calf, Eachibon Jessa R Jamaica, in the Dairy Star’s Great Christmas Heifer Giveaway. Jonathon is the 10-year-old son of David and Alice Job, who milk 55 cows near Freeport, Minn. “I was so surprised,” Jonathon said. “All I could think was, ‘Did I really get this?’” Jonathon registered three times, once at the Freeport State Bank and twice at Leed-
MISSY MUSSMAN/DAIRY STAR
Jonathon Job pets his new Brown Swiss calf on the evening of Dec. 20. Jonathon was the youth winner for the Dairy Star’s Great Christmas Heifer Giveaway. Job is the son of Alice and Dave, who milk 55 cows near Freeport, Minn.
stone. “I wanted to register more than once, because it gave me a better chance of winning,” Jonathon said. “I’ve tried the last couple of years. It’s fun trying to win it.” On Dec. 16, Jonathon’s persistence paid off as he was drawn as the youth winner in the contest from Freeport State Bank. That same day while Jonathon was at school, David came in the house from chores to hear a message from Dairy Star. “When I called back, they told me Jonathon had won. I thought they were kidding,” David said. “Then it dawned on me that the drawing was that day. I never thought this would happen.” Alice agreed. “We feel very lucky,” she said. Although David and Alice Turn to JOB | Page 7
Page 2 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016
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 Amanda Thooft 320-352-6303 amanda.t@dairystar.com Consultant Jerry Jennissen 320-346-2292 Editorial Staff Andrea Borgerding - Managing Editor (320) 352-6303 • andrea.b@dairystar.com Krista Kuzma - Assistant Editor (507) 259-8159 • krista.k@dairystar.com Missy Mussman (320) 429-1084 missy@dairystar.com Ron Johnson (608) 874-4243 ron.j@dairystar.com Ruth Klossner (507) 240-0048 cowlady@centurylink.net Jennifer Coyne (320) 352-6303 jenn@dairystar.com Cassie Olson (715) 245-6848 cassie.o@dairystar.com Brittany Olson (320) 352-6303 brittany.o@dairystar.com 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 - Jeff Weyer (Northern MN, East Central MN) 320-260-8505 (cell) jeff.w@dairystar.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 Lori Menke (Eastern Iowa, Southern WI) 563-608-6477 • lori.m@dairystar.com Megan Stuessel (Western Wisconsin) 608-387-1202 • megan.s@dairystar.com Deadlines The deadline for news and advertising in the Dairy Star is 5 p.m. Friday the week before publication. Subscriptions One year subscription $35.00, outside the U.S. $110.00. Send check along with mailing address to Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378. Advertising Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an advertisement shall constitute 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.
North America dealers. A glance at what’s inside
Dairy Proďƒžle brought to you by your
For Bill and Bridget Ciolkosz, Christmas is more than a special time of year – it is their favorite time of year. Since moving onto their fourth-generation dairy in 2005, the couple, along with children, have decorated their farm in lights. This year, the 186-cow dairy near Thorp, Wis., is covered in nearly 30,000 Christmas lights, spreading holiday cheer to all who visit. It’s a trend many in the industry know: Dairy farm numbers have been dropping since the 1930s, but dairy cows numbers have steadily increased. The past year’s By Mark Klaphake low prices haven’t helped, but the decline is less than expected in Midwest. It may have something to do with Editor feed and location. Read more about dairy farm and cow numbers on pages 12-13 in ďƒžrst section. Farm transition can be a timely, sensitive, difďƒžcult or even challenging process. The Rosenhammers have just recently started the process with the next generation returning to the farm. The father-daughter duo of John and Laura Rosenhammer will discuss how things are done on their farm and how the transition process is going over the next year in Dairy Star’s newest column, called The Transition Pen. Follow their journey every issue on page 27 in ďƒžrst section. For the past 102 years, a 160-acre farm has been home to the Rylaarsdam family. The farm was started by the Rylaarsdams’ Dutch ancestors who immigrated to America in the early 1900s. Now, the family’s third, fourth and ďƒžfth generations live on the 250-cow dairy near Chandler, Minn. The Rylaarsdams recently received a Century Farm Award. Read about their farm’s history on pages 2-3 in third section. As the year comes to a close, we can reďƒ&#x;ect on the past year. In this issue’s “From our side of the fenceâ€? farmers from the Dairy Star coverage area talk about the highlights of 2016, what they are planning in 2017 and their holiday traditions. Read about it on pages 15-16 in ďƒžrst section. The Mursu family was in for a surprise when their robotic milkers won them $10,000. A ďƒžlmmaker approached them about making and entering a video about their automated system to the AT&T Real Stories Contest. Read about how they made the video and what they plan to do with their prize money on page 4 in third section.
Favorite quotes from this issue:
“It was an emotional day when we adopted the girls. When we adopted Cole, it was just pure joy. Our family was complete. We could celebrate.â€? - Jessie Westho, Second Section Pages 3-4
“In a year like this, you basically spend whatever you’ve got, so my advice to anyone starting to farm is to make sure you have money saved up to cover your ďƒžrst year.â€? - Matt Olson, First Section Pages 34-35
59:
By the Numbers First service conception rate percentage for SunBurst Dairy (First Section, Pages 18, 20)
pounds-per-day 13,632: The production goal for SÊrgio Costa’s Brazilian farm by 2025. (Second Section,
Pages 16, 18-19)
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Dairy Star • Saturday, December 10, 2016 • Page 3
It’s all inside...
Pages 16, 18 - 19 Dairying Around the World Page 25 Mid-American Hay Auction Results
What will you remember about 2016? Pages 15 - 16
Osceola
Raddatz switches focus from crop farm to dairy Third Section: Pages 10 - 11
Eau Claire
Children Museum of Eau Claire Kevin hostsMakos June Dairy Argyle, Wis. Month activities
Iron Hixton
Olson reects on rst year in dairy career
n
Polk
Barron
Sawyer
Thorp, Wis.
First Section: Pages 34 - 35
Price
Rusk Taylor
St. Croix Pierce Wilson, Wis.
Buffalo
Cashton, Wis.
Dairy Prole: Tyler Mlsna Page 39
First Section: Pages 1, 6
Clark
Eau Claire
Pepin
Melissa and Jon Kuhn
Arlington
Nus wins grand prize for Great Christmas Heifer Giveaway
Chippewa
Dunn
Jackson
Belleville
Variety of factors help SunBurst Dairy achieve 36 percent preg rate
La Crosse Monroe
Rylaarsdam family marks 102 years on their farm
First Section: Pages 18, 20
Vernon
Winnebago
Worth
Mitchell
Cerro Hancock Gordo
Floyd
Howard
a
ick
Ch
w sa
Bremer
Zone 2
Black Hawk
Bu
For additional stories from our other zone, log on to www.dairystar.com
ford
Craw
Dane
Iowa Grant
Fayette
Clayton
n
are
na
a ch
Richland
Allamakee
Mursu family wins AT&T’s Real Stories Contest
Winneshiek
Page 4
Classieds
First Section: Pages 23 - 24
ur hb
Burnett Henry Burkholder Jr.
THIRD SECTION Pages 2- 3
Pages 20 - 22 Some Udder Stuff Pages 23 - 26
Third Section: Page 12
Johnsons celebrate birth of rst child, another year without cancer
Ashland
Pages 26 - 28 Kieffers win Dakota County award Pages 30 - 31 Dairy Recipes
Page 5 Bentley discusses factors for building a new facility Page 7 Dr. Ruark discusses science behind soil health Pages 8 - 9 Farmer panel discusses cover crops at UW Discovery Farms conference Page 13 Dairy’s Star Youth: Morgan Paulson Pages 14 - 15 Kids Corner: The Ernste Family Pages 17 - 19 Dairy Calendar
Star Prairie
Bayeld
Douglas
Pages 14 - 15 Second Section
Spooner
Marker named this year’s WI Farm Bureau Excellence in Ag winner
Trempealeau
SECOND SECTION Pages 5, 7 Annual Minnesota conference to be held Jan. 12-13 in St. Cloud Page 6 Fernholz shares tips for organic farmers Page 8 Gambling with milk price Pages 10 - 11 The “Mielke” Market Weekly Page 12 Dairy Markets Page 13 Area hay auction results Pages 14 - 15 Thesings keep goal of passing on love for dairying to future generations
FROM OUR SIDE OF THE FENCE:
W as
FIRST SECTION Pages 1, 5 Jones shares strategies to achieve 95 pounds of milk Pages 1, 7 Ten-year-old wins Brown Swiss heifer calf Pages 8 - 9 Ag Insider Pages 12 - 13 More milk, more cows, less farms Page 26 FSA News & Notes Page 27 Sharing our farm transition experience Page 28 Calf thoughts today Page 29 Who makes the decisions on your farm? Page 30 Ramblings from the Ridge Page 31 Looking on the DSO horizon Page 32 Just Thinking Out Loud Page 33 Dairy Good Life Page 36 Women In Jeans: Janice Hill
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Lafayette Dubuque
Jones
Jackson
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Westhoffs’ family complete in time for Christmas Second Section: Pages 3 - 4
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Page 4 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016
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Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016 • Page 5
ConƟnued from MILK | Page 1
or how long the cows are in the parlor. “Cows shouldn’t be away from feed, water and their stalls for longer than four hours each day,” Jones said. “They need 20 hours of cow time. Anything under that, farmers will lose four pounds of milk.” When the cows are fed is another factor to consider for potential bottlenecks. According to Jones, historically cows are a slow moving, prey species with natural instincts to avoid predators, so they ate at dawn and dusk. “If you’re feeding them at 11 a.m., they’re hungry, and you should never have hungry cows,” Jones said. “Anything we do to change a cow’s behavior, we lose.” Jones suggested farmers feed cows at dawn and dusk with 50 percent of the average dry matter intake (DMI) fed in the morning after milking. “If we deliver less than half of the average DMI, half of the cows will not have enough feed in front of them. We never want to have bare mangers or be able to see concrete before noon,” Jones said. One way to ensure that does not happen is by pushing feed as often as needed. “Non-dietary factors – when
“If we x the bottlenecks, we’ll make money tomorrow through improved milk production.” GORDIE JONES, DVM
and how feed is delivered and if it is pushed up – account for 56 percent of milk yield variation on the same TMR,” Jones said. “We want to keep feed in front of them because it’s worth nine more pounds of milk.” Along the same lines, farmers should observe how long cows are locked up in the feed lane. “There should never be a time the whole group isn’t eating,” Jones said. “At least 30 percent should be eating, and their lock up time shouldn’t exceed the time they’re in the parlor or one hour.” The reason Jones wants cows to eat following milking is so they can lie down with a full stomach as soon as possible. “If they get an extra hour of rest, but don’t have any food in their stomach, they won’t produce more milk,” Jones said. “But if they have a full rumen and spend an extra hour resting, they can produce 3.7 more pounds of milk.” Stall management and design play a big role in getting cows to lie down. “One of the biggest reasons cows don’t lay down is because the stalls aren’t soft enough,” Jones said. “They need plenty of cushion. If you can’t drop to your knees in the stall, it’s not soft enough.” There are several usable types of bedding, but Jones said sand makes six pounds more milk than solids. The neck rail placement is just as important.
“If 15 percent or more of the cows are perching in the stalls, the neck rail needs to be moved forward,” Jones said. Ideally, Jones said neck rails should be 46 inches high off the rear curb and 66 inches from the end of the usable curb. Lunge space limitations also deter cows from lying down. “If cows don’t have enough space to do that, they aren’t as likely to lie down,” Jones said. Lack of vision can also cause issues. “Cows can’t see anything if they’re facing a wall, which goes against their natural instincts,” Jones said. “They won’t lay down if they can’t see.” Air quality is another factor for cow comfort with the ideal temperature for cows being 40 degrees. “Anytime the temperatures are above freezing, half the curtains or doors should be open,” Jones said. “That’ll increase the amount they eat, making you money.” It is equally important cows lie straight in the stall instead of at an angle. That is where wider stalls can be an issue, as cows tend to lie to the side instead of forward. “If they lay straight, they don’t contaminate the bedding, which reduces mastitis and somatic cell counts,” Jones said. “If the stalls are correctly managed and designed, you’ll get six to 10 pounds more milk. You’ll make the most money on full, clean, dry, comfortable cows in stalls.” The number of group changes cows make in a year has an impact on production, too. “It’s stressful for them to introduce themselves to the group, and you’ll lose six pounds of milk each time,” Jones said. “That’s why we want to limit it as much as possible.” Each group has a social order, which is why having enough waterers is very important. According to Jones, a group of 120 to 140 cows needs four watering spots equaling 18 to 20 feet of water space with a mid crossover, especially in a six-row barn. “This doesn’t allow the boss cows to cover the waterers,” Jones said. “If there are less than 100 cows, there should be at least two waterers.” Even changing the ration can affect milk yield. “Sometimes, it needs to be changed, but every time you do, you lose milk,” Jones said. Although farmers try to feed low rations to save money, Jones cautioned against the practice. “Most farmers believe low rations will save them money, but it has the opposite effect,” Jones said. “Farmers lose more money in milk than they’re saving in feed costs.” After identifying the bottlenecks, Jones said they should be xed as soon as possible. “If we x the bottlenecks, we’ll make money tomorrow through improved milk production,” Jones said. By doing that, Jones said farmers can improve the lives of cows and their own. “Milk is the absence of stress,” he said. “Let’s get it right, reduce the stress and make more milk.”
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Page 6 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016
ConƟnued from NUS | Page 1
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Nus initially signed up her husband for the drawing at their local co-op, Viaeld. “I thought it would be a nice surprise for him if he won,” she said. About a week later when she was back at the co-op, she decided to put her own name in the box. “I was just hoping I would win a Dairy Star mug or something. I didn’t think I would win the calf,” she said. The day of the drawing, her nutritionist called her down to the co-op. “He told us to be there in 10 minutes because someone wanted to meet us,” she said. It was a representative from the Dairy Star to share the good news about her big win. “I was very surprised,” she said. Henny will join the Nuses’ herd, which consists of two Holsteins and four Jerseys with the rest being Milking Shorthorn, which they call Gold Mine Milking Shorthorns. All of their animals are registered and classied. “Milking Shorthorns have been milked by our family since 1887,” Nus said. Nus grew up as the fth generation on her family’s dairy in Clayton County. After graduating from Iowa State University with a dairy science degree, she dairy farmed with her grandparents until she and Nathan were married in 2004. At that time, Nus moved her cows to Nathan’s farm to join him. The couple works together with Nathan’s dad and brother, who also milk 40 Milking Shorthorn and Holsteins in a separate barn; however, they run their 500 acres together. Quality genetics is important to the Nuses. “We believe in a balanced, wellrounded pedigree,” Nus said. “Grandpa liked cows that milked and had high type so we try to follow that philosophy.” This year they sent three bulls to A.I. and currently have the No. 1 expansion type cow in the breed. They have also had many cows on the PPR list and own the No. 1 PPR Genetic Expansion cow along with being the breeders of the No. 1 PPR Herdbook cow that is owned by a breeder in Wisconsin. “I do all the mating and breeding,” Nus said. “I take that job very serious-
ly.”
Milk production is also a big factor in their breeding decisions. In the past, they have also been top in the country for production for the Milking Shorthorn breed. Their rolling herd average is usually between 21,000 to 22,000 pounds of milk. “My husband is very meticulous with the nutrition, crop and forage details. He values high quality forages and every aspect of the ration is scrutinized. We work well together. Attention to herd health and cow-side practices are high priority,” Nus said.
“But I love white Holsteins with black spots. I love Henny’s speckles.” JODY NUS, HEIFER WINNER
In addition to production, Nus said in the Milking Shorthorn breed they are also starting to focus on components. Nus’ experience with the Holstein breed is slim and focuses mainly on Red and Whites. “But I love white Holsteins with black spots. I love Henny’s speckles,” Nus said with a smile. Winning Henny and adding her to their herd will be learning experience for Nus. “This is helping me expand my genetic knowledge of the breed,” Nus said. She has already started contemplating bulls for mating options and thinks Henny will make a good show heifer next season. If that’s the case, Henny will spend the summer at the Henkes family’s farm in Luana, Iowa. The Henkes family and the Nuses are good friends. “We’re a closed herd and we don’t show, but we sell a lot of high prole animals that do show,” Nus said. Regardless if Henny shows or not, Nus is excited to have her join their herd. “I think she’s great. I love her pedigree and it will be very complementary to our breeding philosophy,” Nus said. “She will be well loved.”
Kapsner wins custom pedal tractor
MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR
Kruz Kapsner, pictured with his grandmother, Mary, and Mo Durheim from the Farmers & Merchants State Bank of Pierz, Minn., was the winner of the pedal tractor in the Dairy Star’s Great Christmas Heifer Giveaway contest. Kruz is the son of Nick and Jolene, who milk 60 cows with Nick’s parents, Mary and Darvin. The Kapsners had registered at the bank.
Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016 • Page 7
ConƟnued from JOB | Page 1 knew, they kept it a secret from Jonathon until the calf was at home. “We wanted it to be a surprise,” David said. On Dec. 20, Alice left for Melrose, Wis., at 8:30 a.m., to pick up the calf with David’s parents, Louis and Mathilda Job, and family friends, Loren and Jane Scherping, while David stayed home to do chores. “We told Jonathon that I was picking up decorations for a meeting we were hosting to keep him in the dark,” Alice said. As evening chores rolled around, Jonathon got ready to feed the calves like he normally does, but David stalled him until the calf arrived. “I told him to wait since I had cleaned the pens earlier that day and hadn’t fed the calves their hay until later,” David said. Thankfully, Jonathon believed him. “I didn’t think anything of it,” Jonathon said. But when the truck pulled in the driveway and backed up to the calf barn with a box in the back, Jonathon knew something was up. He waited in the calf barn with his brother, Philip, 12, to nd out what was going on. Once the Brown Swiss calf came out of the back of the truck, Alice told him he had won.
MISSY MUSSMAN/DAIRY STAR
The Jobs – (from leŌ) David, Alice, Jonathon and Philip – have a new Brown Swiss calf on their farm. Jonathon is the youth winner of the Dairy Star’s Great Christmas Heifer Giveaway. The Jobs milk 55 cows near Freeport, Minn. “My heart was beating so fast,” Jonathon said. “I couldn’t believe it.” During school the rest of the week, Jonathon told his friends about his prize animal
and his plans to spend time with Jamaica in the future. “I might take her to the fair at some point, and I’m just going to take really good care of her,” Jonathon said.
But for now, he is enjoying the moment with his very own Brown Swiss calf. “This is going to make calf chores a lot of fun for me now,”
Jonathon said. “This is the best Christmas present because I’ve always wanted to have a brown calf and now, I have one and it is mine.”
& Happy New Year!
from the Minnesota Milk Producers
Association Board of Directors
DAIRY MANAGEMENT WORKSHOPS Wednesday, January 25 Rochester Tuesday, February 7 Perham Wednesday, February 8 Sauk Centre Thursday, February 9 Hutchinson Thursday, March 2 Owatonna
Front, left to right: Bob Dombeck, Marianne Peterson, Kristine Spadgenske, Shelley DePestel, Dave Buck, Kindra Carlson. Back, left to right: Roger Peters, Pat Lunemann, Garrett Luthens, Craig Roerick, Michael White, Jerry Jennissen, Rick Smith. Not pictured: Cassie Czech.
We look forward to seeing you in 2017!
www.mnmilk.org
More power than expected Page 8 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016
When reviewing the 2016 election, Cook Political Report analyst David Wasserman said rural America has more power than many thought. “Hillary Clinton forgot to campaign through half of the country. Her bus tour through rural Pennsylvania lasted one day. She never advertised in Wisconsin and Michigan until the very last minute. She paid the price for it.� Wasserman is looking ahead to the mid-2018 elections, saying Democrats have a lot of seats to defend in very red territory. Fasten your seatbelt Change is a constant on Capitol Hill. That’s particularly true with the new Trump Administration. Agri-Pulse president Sara Wyant is making that point. “There is a lot to watch with the Trump
transition. We also have a lot of new members coming in at the House and a couple new ones in the Senate. With a White House controlled by a Republican, as well as both chambers of Congress, it has a lot of Republicans optimistic and Democrats scared about the next four years.� Pruitt picked for EPA Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt has been selected as the next administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. In the past two years, Pruitt has gone to court to challenge the Obama Administration’s Waters of the United States rule. American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said Pruitt should help ease the regulatory burden coming from EPA.
Vilsack shows support for Branstad Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack supports the nomination of his fellow Iowan, Governor Ag Insider Terry Branstad, as the nation’s ambassador to China. “There’s probably no better person in America today that’s better suited for that job than Terry Branstad, because he’s tenacious, he understands trade and has a relationship with Chinese leaders.â€? By Don Wick 2017 projections Columnist U.S. milk production is expected to increase in 2017. At the same time, demand is strong. World Agricultural Outlook Board Chairman Seth Meyer said domestic sales of butter and cheese are forecast to rise. “Expectations for cheese is higher so despite large stocks of cheese, strong demand is putting some support underneath those prices.â€? Export demand is also expected to increase for products, like nonfat dry milk. CoBank report offers optimism for dairy industry The outlook for dairy farmers is improving. According to a new report from CoBank, milk prices will beneďƒžt from new export opportunities and gains in processing and production efďƒžciency. Processing capacity has not kept pace with the growth in milk production, but new plants and plant expansions are expected in the next couple years. Global milk supplies decline Rabo AgriFinance said milk supply from dairy export regions has fallen sharply, declining by 2.6 million tons in the second half of this year. Milk volumes in Europe are down. Domestic demand is also up in the United States and Europe. Most of the domestic demand growth is for cheese and butter. Rabo AgriFinance expects the spread in prices across the dairy complex stocks will remain wide, with demand for butterfat driving the market and surplus protein weighing on the market.
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Conďƒždence in the American economy The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates by a quarter point. This is the ďƒžrst time interest rates have been raised in a year. Fed Chair Janet Yellen said the decision to raise rates is a reďƒ&#x;ection of conďƒždence in the U.S. economy. “It could boost shortterm interest rates very slightly, that could have an effect on borrowing costs that are linked to them, but my colleagues and I have judged the course of the U.S. economy to be strong. We’re making progress toward our inďƒ&#x;ation and employment goals.â€?
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Farm bureau delegates hammer out policy The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation has ďƒžnalized its policy priorities for the year ahead. At the federal level, WFBF wants changes in the Margin Protection Program. For state policy, WFBF wants the Department of Natural Resources to disclose wolf incidents on Wisconsin farms on a timely basis. Support has also been reinforced for Wisconsin’s livestock premise registration program. The American Farm Bureau Federation will consider policy issues at its convention early next month in Phoenix.
Wisconsin trade mission planned for China The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is seeking state companies to participate in a trade mission to China in March. This trade trip will include visits to Shanghai, Tianjin and Beijing. In each city, meetings will be scheduled with local ofďƒžcials. The registration deadline is February 6. Alfalfa checkoff begins next month For the ďƒžrst time, an alfalfa checkoff program Turn to AG INSIDER | Page 9
Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016 • Page 9
ConƟnued from AG INSIDER | Page 8
will be implemented in 2017. The $1-per-bag of alfalfa seed assessment will be used to fund research initiatives. The National Alfalfa and Forage Alliance is seeking input through its website to determine research priorities. Dairy co-ops to merge Prairie Farms Dairy and Swiss Valley Farms are working on a merger. The deal needs approval from cooperative members. If approved, the merger should be nalized by mid2017. Prairie Farms is based in Illinois and has 35 processing plants. The headquarters for Swiss Valley Farms is at Davenport, Iowa and the co-op has plants in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. Wilke moves to Valley Queen Cheese Doug Wilke is the new CEO for a South Dakota-based dairy processing company, Valley Queen Cheese in Milbank. Wilke has been a senior vice president for Foremost Farms USA in Baraboo. Wilke is president of the American Dairy Products Institute.
Cheesemaker honor The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association is presenting its Life Member Award to Ken Heiman of Nasonville Dairy in Marsheld. Heiman has been a cheesemaker for 48 years. The WCMA award will be presented in April. Trivia challenge The average U.S. dairy herd has 187 cows. That answers our last trivia question. For this week’s trivia, what state does Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Pat Roberts represent? We’ll have the answer in the next edition of Dairy Star. Don Wick is a partner and 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.
It's Christmas Everywhere!
On the farm and in the town, Goodwill and cheer are all around, In the mountains and the valley too, Signs of the season are on view So wherever you are, North, south, east or west... We’re sending you our very best And hope glad tidings come your way To brighten up your Christmas Day!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Visit us on Facebook!
Minnesota Dairy Herd Improvement Association 307 Brighton Avenue South Buffalo, MN 55313 1.800.827.3442 www.mndhia.org
Merry Christmas!
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Page 10 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016
Spreading Christmas cheer
THE SERVICE YOU NEED. WHEREVER YOU NEED IT. We are specially trained and equipped to meet your on-farm, in-field tire service needs. Call us night or day for repairs and replacement. We’ll deliver and mount your new tires quickly so you can get back to work. Specially trained maintenance and repairs minimize downtime. Inventory of most tire types and sizes.
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CASSIE OLSON/DAIRY STAR
Bill and Bridget Ciolkosz, with their children – Carley, Bryce, Blake and Hailey – decorate their home in lights every year. The Ciolkosz family milks 186 cows near Thorp, Wis.
Ciolkosz family decorates farm in 30,000 lights By Cassie Olson
cassie.o@dairystar.com
THORP, Wis. – The holiday season is a special time for many families across the globe. The garland comes out; trees are put up and gifts are exchanged amongst loved ones. For Bill and Bridget Ciolkosz, however, Christmas is more than a special time of year – it is their favorite time of year. Since moving onto their fourth-generation dairy in 2005, the couple, along with children Carley, 14, Bryce, 12, Blake, 8, and Hailey, 6, have decorated their farm in lights. This year, the 186-cow dairy near Thorp, Wis., is covered in nearly 30,000 Christmas lights, spreading holiday cheer to all who visit. While he was growing up, Bill said Christmas was always a big event for his family. “My dad always decorated the house and loved Christmas much like I do,” Bill said. “When we bought and moved onto the farm, we decided to decorate more than just the house.” Almost the entire farm gets frosted in holiday spirit. Along with the Ciolkosz’s home, the machine shed, old barn, new parlor, retaining walls and driveway are covered in Christmas lights. Since 2007, even the manure pit gets lit up. “We built the rst manure pit in 2007 and put a fence around it. On the fence, I will usually write, ‘Merry Christmas,’ and, ‘Happy New Year,’ in rope lights. I’ll go through a couple hundred zip ties to get it all completed,” Bill said. The entire decoration process is extensive. Bill said he tries to get started after the Wisconsin deer hunting season is completed and will decorate for a few hours at a time, oftentimes all the way up until Christmas Eve night. “It takes about fty to sixty hours to complete,” Bill said. While that amount of time may seem intimidating,
Bridget said it is a very enjoyable family tradition. “We get a little carried away with Christmas, but we enjoy it,” Bridget said. “We do it leisurely, which makes it fun.” Bill handles the majority of the outside decorations. Meanwhile, Bridget tends to decorating the inside of the house. The family has a collection of nativity scenes and snowmen. Mounted deer heads are decorated with red ribbons to resemble reindeer, and not one, but two, Christmas trees are displayed within the house. “We are big Case IH fans,” Bill said. “We used to have a green tree and put International stuff all over it; that just didn’t feel right. We have a ve foot articial white tree we decorate in our Case IH and cow ornaments in addition to the regular big tree.” The Ciolkosz’s love of Christmas has even extended into the designs of their farm buildings. Last summer, the family built a new four-row, naturally ventilated freestall barn with a double-10 parallel parlor. Although construction took place during the heat of the summer, Bill had the cold winter in mind as he spoke with the builders and electricians. “The electricians were here and I told them to put some outlets high on the ceiling on the parlor porch. They told me it was a funny place to put outlets, but I thought it would be nice to plug the Christmas lights into,” Bill said. “Everything is built on the farm for Christmas lights.” The kids are just as enthusiastic about the Christmas season. “When we were putting up the new barn, the kids were nailing up boards and stuff while the barn crew was screwing some pieces together. I later found out they were building their own nativity scene,” Bill said. “We found a little Mary and Joseph along with some lights and it is now a one of the ve nativity scenes we Turn to CIOLKOSZES | Page 11
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CASSIE OLSON/DAIRY STAR
The Ciolkosz family – (from leŌ) Carley, Bill, Blake, Hailey, Bridget and Bryce – uses 30,000 Christmas lights to decorate their 186-cow dairy near Thorp, Wis.
Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016 • Page 11
ConƟnued from CIOLKOSZES | Page 10 have out on the farm. They love this just as much as we do.” While their immediate family is primarily involved in decorating the farm, Bill and Bridget’s extended family share a part of the cheer. Throughout the year, the Ciolkosz’s receive lights from family members as they nd them at thrift sales and other items passed through-
out the family. Neighbors come knocking with lights they no longer use in hopes that Bill can nd a place for them in his displays. It has become a tradition for more than just their family. “We have a lot of people who have made it a tradition to come out here and see our lights,” Bridget said. “We were
CASSIE OLSON/DAIRY STAR
The original Ɵestall barn conƟnues to be decorated by the Ciolkosz family. They milked in the barn unƟl October 2015.
CASSIE OLSON/DAIRY STAR
In addiƟon to having a tradiƟonal Christmas tree, the Ciolkosz family also decorates a white arƟcial tree with InternaƟonal Harvestor décor collected over the years.
a little late getting them up because of the weather this year, so people have even called to ask.” But Bill was determined to get the lights up. “One family told me their tradition is to come out to our farm when they are done with Christmas Eve mass; the only way that Santa can come to their house is after they see our lights,” Bill said. “It’s their Christmas tradition just as much as it is ours.” Time and weather are the biggest factors that can make putting up the lights a challenge. Although some years may be difcult, Bill said it
doesn’t make the tradition any less enjoyable. “Last year was the only year I remember putting up lights in grass and mud; this year I’m trying to get up what I can in 10 below zero weather and blowing snow,” Bill said. “It never gets any less enjoyable, though.” Bill is still stringing up the last of the lights before the holiday weekend. Cold temperatures have made it difcult to get the rope lights up, but he said he hopes to have the project completed before Christmas arrives. “Everyone who drives past it sees that we are extending our
wishes to them,” Bill said. “We like that it can be a bright time during Christmas so they enjoy the holiday season, too.” Their love of Christmas cannot be ignored, and Bill said his family is happy to spread the joy of the season with all who visit their farm. “We live by the whole faith, family, farming idea. Our faith got us this far, family keeps us going and farming is what we do,” Bill said. “We enjoy everything we do, especially since we do it as a family. We hope that everyone nds as much enjoyment in seeing the lights as we do in putting them up.”
Remember Merry Christmas! We’d like to take this opportunity to present our sincere thanks for the loyal support our producers and advertisers have shown us in 2016. Your trust in us is truly a gift.
the Reason for the Season DAIRY ST R www.dairystar.com
Page 12 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016
Industry news addressed with help from your neighbors
A closer look by Jennifer Coyne
More milk, more cows, less farms
2016 solidied industry trends
Location of Dairy Cows—2011. One Dot = 1,500 Cows.
For decades, the dairy industry has developed a trend of fewer farms and more cows – and 2016 proved to be no different. As the year comes to an end, it is estimated that Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota and Wisconsin harbor more than 2 million milking cows – 7,000 Leo Timms more cows than in ISU 2015 – throughout 14,000-some licensed farms, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). “We’re down farms, but nothing more than we’ve ever been,” said Leo Timms, dairy specialist with Iowa State University. “That trend has been going on forever.” A mirror of years past Since the early 1900s, the U.S. dairy industry has seen its bouts of highs and lows as the number of farms has decreased yet production and aniTurn to TRENDS | Page 13
Produced by Mark Stephenson University of Wisconsin
The locaƟon of cows has shiŌed to certain pockets in the U.S., including the Midwest, as depicted in this graph produced by Mark Stephenson, University of Wisconsin.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016 • Page 13
ConƟnued from TRENDS | Page 12
mal units continue to increase. “The number of farms in the U.S. in every state peaked in the 1930s,” said Mark Stephenson, University of WisconsinMadison. “We’ve been losing farms since.” Whether it’s because of age, business nances or the lack of interest from the Mark Stephenson next generation, UW-Madison producers exit the industry each year. Marin Bozic from the University of Minnesota said the industry’s exit rate was greater during the dairy crisis in the 1980s than it has been in recent years. “In the ‘80s, that percentage was 10; in the ‘90s it was 6 to 8 percent,” he said. In 2006, there was an estimated 22,765 dairy farms in the Marin Bozic Upper Midwest University of MN between Iowa (2,230), Minnesota (5,295), South Dakota (600) and Wisconsin (14,640); that value fell to 18,445 ve years later. The current exit rate of the industry is roughly 4 percent, Marin said. “This has been a long-term trend and it’s not going to change,” Stephenson said, “but it’s not going to speed up either.” Historically, the choice to discontinue dairying has been two-fold – market conditions either entice a producer to leave the industry, but continue farming the land, or there are no interested individuals willing to take on the operation. “This is a double-edged sword,” Timms said. “Older facilities do not entice younger generations, but also farmers don’t want to lose their equity.” Despite the loss of farms, those remaining in the industry continue to grow. “The question is, ‘Can the people who are in and those coming in match those going out?’” Timms said. Factors contributed to 2016 With 2016 numbers solidifying the direction of the industry, there were notable factors that contributed to those changing values. Unlike in 2009 when many producers left the industry due to low milk prices and high feed Dave Weinand prices, the last MN Dept. of Ag 12 months were workable with the poor milk market but low cost of feed. This allowed producers who chose to stay in the industry maintain or grow their operation. “I actually anticipated the cow numbers to remain stable, but they grew this summer,” said David Weinand, who works with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. “We continue to see consolidation in the industry and increasing herd sizes over time.”
Weinand said 84 farms left Minnesota’s industry in 2016. But the Midwest remains an attractive dairy region in the U.S. with tillable lands and weather conditions suitable for dairy farming; capitalizing on these traits has helped the industry prosper. In South Dakota, the industry has grown with the available resources and eager producers. “South Dakota has put effort into recruiting family farms that are looking to grow their business for the next generation,” said David Skaggs, South Dakota Department of Agriculture. This year, South Dakota is home to 115,000 David Skaggs milking cows, with SD Dept. of Ag more than 30,000 that are permitted waiting for constructed facilities in the coming year. As a whole, this trend has been recognized throughout the Midwest. “We’re going through a growth spurt,” Stephenson said. “We’re using our resources more intensively to meet the needs of dairy farming.” Timms agreed. “Years when the feed is cheap, producers make more silage,” he said. “During tough times, these dairies can use those acres as swing land for cash.” All in all, the past year left the industry in stable condition with opportunity to prosper. “We’ve been through a couple tough years, but we’ll be ready to go when the prices go up,” Stephenson said. Opportunities on the horizon A much-needed change in the industry could be close. With 2017 nearing, many are hopeful for improved milk production, markets and a surge in farm transitions, particularly in the Upper Midwest. “Unfortunately, we’re still in a valley, but dairy travels in a cycle,” Weinand said. “We’re expecting to see milk prices improve in the next six months.” State governments and organizations are aiding dairy producers through grants and initiatives to facilitate in further developing the industry in Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. “The Midwest is always going to have farms,” Timms said. “We’re a pocket where people come and build and always will stay here.” Bozic agreed. “We have a few cow islands across the nation where we see a surge in milk production,” he said. “This includes the I-29 Corridor, western Minnesota and eastern Wisconsin.” Additionally, the industry continues to evolve with a growing demand for niche markets, including goat milk production and specialty dairy products. “We’ve never been more diverse in terms of size, input, all of it. There’s tremendous opportunity in the industry for anybody,” Timms said. Skaggs agreed. “I see continued growth in new farms, some expansion of existing dairy farms and more cows,” he said. “We all produce a tremendous, wholesome protein that everybody needs.”
YOUR Annual Dairy Checkoff Meeting is Coming Up!
Date
Time
Locations
District Director
1/4/17
11:30 a.m.
Falls Ballroom, Little Falls
Ron Rinkel
Greenwald Pub, Greenwald
Corrine Lieser & John Merdan
American Legion, Montgomery
Barb Liebenstein
1/18/17 11:30 a.m.
Zumbrota VFW, Zumbrota
Keith Knutson
1/27/17 11:30 a.m.
Browerville Community Center, Browerville
Debi Clasemann
1/13/17 11:30 a.m. 1/16/17
Noon
Extended Program Yes 1
1/28/17
Noon
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, New Ulm
Paul Fritsche
2/3/17
11:30 a.m.
Pizza Ranch, Alexandria
Suzanne Vold
2/7/17
10:30 a.m.
The Cactus, Perham
Kristine Spadgenske & Ken Herbranson
Yes 2
2/9/17
10:30 a.m.
Crow River Winery, Hutchinson
Charles Krause & Kevin Buss
Yes 2
2/14/17 11:30 a.m.
The Oaks, Willmar
Tom Walsh
Yes 3
Armed Forces Reserve Community Center, Cambridge, MN
Kathy Skiba
Lewiston Silo School, Lewiston
Rita Young
2/15/17
Noon
2/24/17 11:30 a.m. 3/2/17
10:00 a.m.
Cabela’s, Owatonna
Karen Kasper
3/6/17
Noon
Stewartville Legion, Stewartville
Chris Sukalski
3/7/17
11:30 a.m.
McIntosh Community Center, McIntosh
Dan Grunhovd
3/9/17
11:00 a.m.
Pizza Ranch, Slayton
Dave Schwartz
3/11/17
Noon
Tobies Big Kettle Room, Hinckley
Peter Ripka
3/13/17
7:30 p.m.
American Legion, Millville
Jim Dose
4/1/17
7:30 p.m.
Good Times, Caledonia
Carolyn Freese
Yes 4 Yes 5
ADDITIONAL COUNTY ADA LOCAL MEETINGS 3/16/17
7:00 p.m.
Branding Iron, Preston
Carolyn Freese
EXTENDED PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS
1. Guest Speaker: Lucas Lentsch, Midwest Dairy CEO 2. 2017 Dairy Outlook: Marin Bozic, University of Minnesota Selective Dry Cow Therapy - We Can Do this! Dr. Erin Royster, UMN Vet Med. 3. Guest Speaker: Kindra Carlson, MMPA Director 4. Preparing for the next $12 milk, Gary Sipiorski, Vita Plus Utilitizing puts, calls, futures, and options; Jason Vavra, AMPI 5. Guest Speaker: Dr. Brad Heins, University of Minnesota
Producers may attend the meeting closest to them. At some locations, County ADA business may be conducted so please contact your county leadership to learn more.
MidwestDairy.com
Also, visit MidwestDairy.com or call 1-877-577-0741 for more meeting locations and dates!
Page 14 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016
O Night Divine
May the warm light of our Savior’s love illuminate your path at the holidays and all year.
We wish you all the blessings this special season holds.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV)
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From Our Side Of The Fence
Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016 • Page 15
What will you remember about 2016?
Kevin Makos Argyle, Wis. Lafayette County 65 cows
Henry Burkholder Jr. Thorp, Wis. Clark County 45 cows
David Jansen Emery, S.D. Hanson County 100 cows
Curt Banach Pierz, Minn. Morrison County 55 cows
What will you remember about 2016? The almost-perfect growing season and the tremendous yields for everything.
What will you remember about 2016? The low prices. Something good I’ll remember from this year, though, is the crops. Our crops turned out excellent, so I’m hoping they balance out the low milk price.
What will you remember about 2016? We were terribly dry throughout the summer, but somehow managed to grow a crop on nothing but sprinkles and dew. The fall regrowth of alfalfa that’s out in the eld now looks better than all of the cuttings we took this year.
What will you remember about 2016? In August, lightning struck a shed which burned down. I plan on rebuilding when the milk prices get better.
What was the highlight of the year for you – farming and family? We have enjoyed getting the boys interested and involved with showing cattle at the county fair and getting to go to most of their baseball games during the summer. Describe a challenge you overcame in the past year. Other than the obvious, too much rain and low milk prices, we had a period of several months where we experienced a lot of fresh cow problems. Ketosis and LDA surgeries haunted us. It took a lot of discussions with veterinarians and our nutritionist, but we have made changes to the dry cow ration that have made a huge difference. What plans do you have for 2017? No big plans or changes are in the works. What are your holiday traditions? We like to go as a family every year to pick out a Christmas tree. Basically, we spend time Christmas eve and Christmas day with family. Tell us about your farm. My wife, RaeAnn, and I bought our farm from my parents in 2012. We farm 270 acres of corn and alfalfa. We built a new freestall barn in 2014 and installed a Lely robotic milker. We milk 65 cows and raise all of our bull calves to nish out as steers.
What was the highlight of the year for you – farming and family? We had two daughters out of school this year, which has been nice to have extra help around the farm. The cows did good this year, too. This summer we put in a new barn oor for us to store hay on. Describe a challenge you overcame in the past year. The biggest challenge was making enough money to get the bills paid with the low prices. What plans do you have for 2017? We have plans to nish the new barn oor. We have started on construction projects around the farm, such as building a new garage. What are your holiday traditions? This year, we are planning to have my wife’s family here, weather permitting. Otherwise, we do not do any special trips; just a big family dinner. Tell us about your farm. We started the farm in 1996 with our rst batch of 24 cows. My family moved here from Pennsylvania to a farm just down the road. When I bought this farm, I wasn’t married and the house had just burned down, so I rebuilt. We raise 152 acres of corn, beans, grass hay and alfalfa and milk in a 45-stall tiestall barn.
What was the highlight of the year for you – farming and family? Managing to get a crop despite the dry weather. Our oldest son graduated from college with a master’s degree in public accounting and landed a job with an accounting rm in the Twin Cities. Describe a challenge you overcame in the past year. Taking care of the cows when it was hot and humid. We didn’t lose anyone, and it looks like everything will turn out all right. What plans do you have for 2017? We don’t plan on expanding. Hopefully, Mother Nature will be kinder to us, and we’ll have a better crop growing season. Next spring, our second oldest son will be graduating from South Dakota State University with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture engineering. What are your holiday traditions? Our family gets together and has a big meal and opens presents on Christmas Day. Then we will all go to church as an extended family. New Year’s Day is another day in that the cows still need to be milked and fed. We will spend the afternoon together as a family watching a movie. Tell us about your farm. We are a 100-cow dairy and do everything ourselves. My wife, Lori, works off the farm. Our two youngest sons, twins Brooks and Brandon, are in eighth grade and are my main help.
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What was the highlight of the year for you – farming and family? In February, I wasn’t feeling well and it wound up being that I was low in Vitamin D. They gave me pills to take for three months, and it was a 180 degree turnaround. I’ve felt great ever since. Describe a challenge you overcame in the past year. I added hydrogen peroxide to my water. It kills the bacteria that was infecting my cattle. It also reduces or dissolves manganese in the water. What plans do you have for 2017? I plan to maintain and try to keep the bills down. Hopefully, the milk and beef price will come up. What are your holiday traditions? My sister and her three kids and I get together at Mom and Dad’s on Christmas day for dinner. For New Year’s Eve, I usually get invited to a friend’s place. Tell us about your farm. I own 240 acres and milk cows. I plant corn and alfalfa. My dad and I each own our own land, but we work together on eldwork. I also have 50 beef steers every year that I feed out. My nephew, Jordon Przybilla, helps on the farm part time.
Turn to FENCE | Page 16
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Page 16 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016
ConƟnued from FENCE | Page 15 at Kimball Area High School. She also had a good year in cross country and track and eld. We love to watch the girls run as much as the cows allow. Describe a challenge you overcame in the past year. It was tough to get the corn and small grains planted because of the rains. It was also hard to get the corn cultivated and hay made. What plans do you have for 2017? We are going to down size cow numbers. Anna is planning on joining her sister Emily at SDSU next fall. We will be the only ones around to do the chores.
Chris and John Donnay Kimball, Minn. Stearns County 45 cows What will you remember about 2016? We will remember that God blessed our family with good health and plenty of rain for our pastures and crops. The hay and corn were outstanding. The fall turned out to be really nice. What was the highlight of the year for you – farming and family? Organic farming was good this year because of the rains. We always had pastures for the cows to graze and never ran out of grass. The cows milked well. The overall health of the cattle was great. Our daughter, Maria, moved to Washington to attend Washington State University for the master’s program in animal science. Our son, Matthew, recently got engaged and works for Backyard Reections in Annandale. Emily is attending South Dakota State University in Brookings, S.D., and runs cross country and track and eld. Anna is a senior
What are your holiday traditions? Christmas with our children is celebrated Dec. 23 with a meal and gifts. After dinner, we drive to Clearwater to see the Christmas light display. On Dec. 24, we see Santa at my sister’s house. For Christmas, we travel to John’s side for more food and gifts. New Years Eve is always celebrated with friends. First, we go out for pizza in Cold Spring. Then after pizza, we play a dice game called Mexican train. Tell us about your farm. We have a 300-acre organic dairy. We were certied organic in 2005. Rosie and Florian Donnay, John’s parents, bought the farm in 1965 and we bought the farm in 1986. We raise a few pigs and chickens for our own use. We also sell eggs. Our daughters, Emily and Anna, have three gardens where they grow all organic vegetables.
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What will you remember about 2016? Getting to use the new barn addition for the rst full year. The new addition houses about 90 lactating cows in a freestall pen on slatted oors, and also includes our transition/calving pen on a bedded pack.
What will you remember about 2016? A year that, although challenging due to milk prices, was a great year for us. This was our third year of farming. My husband built our barn in 2012 with the mindset of starting small to stay out of debt and not being too overwhelmed. In 2016, we met our goal of 20 heifers born on our farm.
What was the highlight of the year for you – farming and family? For the farm, the highlight was seeing total cow numbers increase and having a very good year with reproduction numbers. The highlight of the year on a family level was getting married to my wife, Ashley, in early November. Describe a challenge you overcame in the past year. Besides the obvious low milk prices, we have been trying to increase cow numbers, so that’s a little bit of a challenge. Finding good cows/heifers to buy to help that increase can be a challenge lately, too. What plans do you have for 2017? Once we get to the herd size we want to be, we can focus on increasing production next year. As far as family goes, this past year has been very eventful, so were hoping to maybe just take the upcoming year as a year to relax and enjoy the little things. What are your holiday traditions? Every Christmas eve, my dad’s side of the family gets together to exchange gifts, eat and have our annual euchre tournament. On Christmas day, my mom’s side of the family comes to my parents’ house for dinner and gifts. We don’t have any traditions for New Year’s other than spending a portion of it with the cows. Tell us about your farm. We are a fourth generation dairy farm, and we milked in an old barn that is now a calf barn on the farm until 1994. That’s when the parlor that we are currently in today was built, and when Triple O Dairy was formed. My dad, Jay, my uncle, Kerry, and my grandpa, Bill, started Triple O Dairy together. All three had equal ownership in the farm until my grandpa passed away in 2010, and now my dad and uncle own it together. I came back to the farm full time about three years ago, and have taken over a portion of the management on both the dairy and crop sides of the farm. Along with milking around 400 cows, we raise our heifers and steers, which totals about 1,100 animals on the farm. We also run a little over 1,700 acres of corn, soybeans, alfalfa, wheat and canning crops.
KNOW WHERE TO GO FOR YOUR DAIRY NEWS
What was the highlight of the year for you – farming and family? This year we entered the world of showing cattle. We had a milking yearling win her division at the Wisconsin State Show and place second at the Minnesota State Fair. We decided to take her to World Dairy Expo. She placed 15th out of 32 entries. Describe a challenge you overcame in the past year. Balancing farming with working off the farm. I work for Menomonie School District, and we own a custom fencing company that my husband runs. Over the last two years, business has been busy. The low milk prices were an incredible challenge that some days brought uncertainty about our farm’s future. What plans do you have for 2017? Maintain our current numbers and keep our debt to a minimum. We also have thought about consigning an animal or two this year. I hate to part with any of our cows or heifers, but this may be the year we do. We have worked hard to breed to some great bulls, and I like to think we have some very nice animals. What are your holiday traditions? Our favorite holiday tradition is cutting down our Christmas tree and spending time together with our seven kids. Tell us about your farm. We are rst generation farmers. My grandparents farmed and Jon grew up working for local farmers. Jon dreamed of owning his own farm. My husband built our farm in 2012 from the ground up. We brought the cows home February of 2013. We decided on Jerseys and have been happy with that choice. They may not produce the volume of a Holstein, but make up for it with their components. I love the Jerseys’ personalities. We own 30 acres and rent 100 acres to produce our feed and pasture our animals in the summer. Our goal in the next few years is to double our barn size.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016 • Page 17
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Page 18 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016
Repro Leaders
Variety of factors help SunBurst Dairy achieve 36 percent preg rate SunBurst Dairy Brian, Yogi and Cory Brown Belleville, Wis. Dane County 493 milking cows What was your pregnancy rate average last year? Our herd’s pregnancy rate is 36 percent.. What is your rst service conception rate? The rst service conception rate is 59 percent.
What is your reproduction program? How do you get cows pregnant? Cows are set up with double ovsync. Before pregnancy checking, cows are set up so if declared open, they are inseminated three days later. Do you use seasonal breeding or avoid certain months? No, with cooling systems (fans and sprinklers) in place, heat is not as much of a concern as it used to be.
CASSIE OLSON/DAIRY STAR
Brian Brown (right) and his family, along with their herdsman, Alfonso, milk 493 cows on their farm, SunBurst Dairy, near Belleville, Wis. SunBurst Dairy has a current preg rate of 36 percent and a rst service concepƟon rate of 59 percent. How often do you do pregnancy checks? Weekly. CASSIE OLSON/DAIRY STAR
The Browns do not overcrowd pre-fresh, post-fresh and milking pens in order to maintain a high level of cow comfort and reduce cow stress.
What is your breeding philosophy? How do you select bulls? What traits do you focus on? Does fertility play a role in bull selection? I like
to use good genetics. It’s an in- If a sire has a bad trait, chances vestment you don’t start to see are we will not use that bull. a return on for three years. We Fertility traits are noted and if use a mating program. I like to poor, we probably won’t use visually evaluate 2-year-olds. those bulls much, especially Everything is pedigree mated. on a hard breeder. We also reI like medium sized cows with fer to fertility information from respectable milk and good legs. Dairy Comp. Turn to REPRO LEADERS | Page 20
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Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016 • Page 19
Merry Christmas The Gift of Love The Gift of Peace The Gift of Joy, from that humble stable to all mankind.
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Page 20 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016
ConƟnued from REPRO LEADERS | Page 18 What percentage of your herd is bred through A.I. or a bull? Our herd is bred using 100 percent A.I. If you use A.I., who breeds your cattle? Brian and our herdsman, Alfonso, breed our cows. If we need a backup, Jason Goke from Accelerated Genetics helps. Mark Wallace from Accelerated Genetics breeds heifers. Do you have a different philosophy when breeding heifers versus cows? Heifers are chalked and bred. If there are no signs of estrus, the vet will check them and decide what direction to take. What do you do to settle hard breeders? We don’t have any
certain protocols. We evaluate each situation, and if they have a history of difculty breeding they may be marked as do not breed (DNB). How many times do you try to breed a cow before you sell her? We may go to 250 days in milk versus times bred. Each cow’s status is evaluated individually. What is your target size/ weight/age for breeding heifers? The heifers are bred by age. We target 23 months at rst calving. Is there anything you have done or changed that brought about a signicant improvement in your reproductive program? Through the years,
CASSIE OLSON/DAIRY STAR
Brian Brown looks through a sire booklet. The herd at SunBurst Dairy is bred using 100 percent A.I.
CASSIE OLSON/DAIRY STAR
Fans and sprinklers help maintain cow comfort on SunBurst Dairy.
as we have learned more about animals and facilities, we have made adjustments to what we do on the farm. We don’t overcrowd pre-fresh, post-fresh and milking pens. Cooling systems, nutrition, double prostaglandin the week of breeding and keeping animals calm have helped with our breeding pro-
THE SPIRIT BUILDINIS G!
gram. We keep a close watch on our nutrition program, too. Tell us about your farm. SunBurst Dairy is owned by Brian and Yogi Brown. There are three generations actively involved. Our son, Cory, is involved with all aspects of the farm. He is transitioning
into the operation and his ancé, Katy, helps feed calves on weekends. Brian’s father, Gerald, helps with cropping and maintenance. We operate 750 acres of owned and rented land, with half of the acres for corn and half for alfalfa. We have nine employees.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016 • Page 21
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(2) = HOWARD LAKE 866-875-5093 5845 Keats Ave. SW
(3) = STEWART 800-827-7933 78412 Co. Rd. 20
4 5 8 2 1
(4) = ST. CLOUD 800-645-5531 1035 35th Ave. NE
1 7
(5) = GLENWOOD 888-7999-1495 1710 N. Franklin
4 6 1
(6) = SAUK CENTRE
11 2
888-320-2936 1140 Centre St.
(7) = ALEXANDRIA 888-799-1490 5005 State Hwy. 27 E
(8) = PAYNESVILLE 866-784-5535 725 Lake Ave. S.
(9) = PRINCETON 800-570-3453 3708 Baptist Church Rd.
(10) = LITTLE FALLS 800-655-5469 16069 Hwy. 27 E.
(11) = WADENA 888-631-2311 62505 US Hwy. 10
9 11 5 4 5 4 6 1 2 2 7 4 8 2 1 4 3 2 8
(12) = AITKIN 800-732-1129 1120 2nd St. NW
2 3
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Price Reduced
1 5 6 10 6 9 11 1
ARTICULATED 4WD TRACTORS JD 8560, 1989, 9900 hrs., #127263 .................................................. $26,500 JD 9300, 1997, 4445 hrs., #132726 .................................................. $79,000 JD 9400, 1996, 6200 hrs., #134367 .................................................. $79,000 JD 9520, 2006, 5016 hrs., #110315 ................................................$141,500 JD 9630, 2010, 1746 hrs., #123341 ................................................$209,000 JD 9560R, 2013, 2226 hrs., #127914 ................................................$235,000 JD 9460R, 2014, 617 hrs., #125963 ................................................$249,000 JD 9460R, 2013, 550 hrs., #134628 ................................................$259,000 JD 9560R, 2012, 1661 hrs., #133796 ................................................$269,000 JD 9560R, 2013, 208 hrs., #123386 ................................................$279,000 JD 9520R, 2015, 211 hrs., #124593 ................................................$329,000 JD 9620R, 2015, 455 hrs., #125913 ................................................$399,000 COMBINE PLATFORMS JD 630F, 2004, #134110..................... $16,500 JD 630F, 2006, #133946..................... $18,000 JD 635F, 2009, #131606..................... $24,500 JD 635F, 2008, #132156..................... $25,000 JD 635F, 2011, #125837..................... $25,000 JD 630F, 2011, #113753..................... $25,900 JD 630F, 2011, #133185..................... $25,900 JD 635F, 2010, #134267..................... $25,900 JD 615P, 2016, #133554 .................... $26,000 JD 615P, 2016, #133555 .................... $26,000 JD 630F, 2012, #126623..................... $27,900 JD 635F, 2012, #118150..................... $33,900 JD 635F, 2013, #133692..................... $37,500 JD 630F, 2016, #134347..................... $38,900 JD 640FD, 2013, #125673 ................. $75,000 COMBINES JD 9500, 1989, 4400 hrs., 3300 sep., #132034 .................................................. $32,500 JD 9500, 1995, 4340 hrs., 3091 sep., #134360 .................................................. $39,500 JD 9600, 1995, 5000 hrs., 190 sep., #133728 .................................................. $39,500 Case 2388, 1999, 4479 hrs., 3309 sep., #134648 .................................................. $45,000 Case 2388, 1999, 4446 hrs., 3233 sep., #133693 .................................................. $49,500 JD 9650 STS, 2000, 3293 hrs., 2189 sep., #126187 .................................................. $58,500 JD 9550, 2003, 3115 hrs., 2153 sep., #132427 .................................................. $69,000 JD 9660 STS, 2004, 2242 hrs., 1525 sep., #132570 .................................................. $89,000 JD 9760 STS, 2004, 2642 hrs., 1763 sep., #107702 .................................................. $98,900 Case IH 8010, 2006, 2125 hrs., 1506 sep., #132086 ................................................$109,900 JD 9770 STS, 2009, 2597 hrs., 1919 sep., #124372 ................................................$130,000 JD 9570 STS, 2008, 1563 hrs., 1084 sep., #115868 ................................................$145,000 JD 9870 STS, 2009, 1722 hrs., 1293 sep., #106732 ................................................$152,900 JD S670, 2012, 2360 hrs., 1711 sep., #128689 ................................................$165,000
4 8 7 2 9 1 5 8 9 9 7 11 5 2 8 8 3 2 3 13 12 4 12 13 12 13 4 2 4 4 13 8 5 7 13 13 13 11 10 1 6
JD 9770 STS, 2009, 1861 hrs., 1289 sep., #117362 .........................................$165,000 JD S660, 2012, 1765 hrs., 1385 sep., #133738 ................................................$175,000 JD 9570 STS, 2010, 908 hrs., 682 sep., #122037 ................................................$179,000 JD 9770 STS, 2010, 1466 hrs., 1080 sep., #118492 ................................................$180,000 JD S680, 2012, 1910 hrs., 1275 sep., #134377 ................................................$224,000 JD S670, 2013, 1230 hrs., 904 sep., #134165 ................................................$229,000 JD S680, 2013, 1860 hrs., 1318 sep., #134536 ................................................$231,000 JD S690, 2013, 1362 hrs., 1051 sep., #131692 ................................................$240,000 JD S660, 2014, 545 hrs., 420 sep., #132631 ................................................$260,000 JD S660, 2014, 396 hrs., 89 sep., #116531 ................................................$265,000 JD S690, 2013, 1255 hrs., 855 sep., #119306 ................................................$265,000 JD S660, 2015, 578 hrs., 196 sep., #117457 ................................................$269,000 JD S670, 2014, 662 hrs., 488 sep., #133494 ................................................$285,000 JD S660, 2015, 386 hrs., 245 sep., #125946 ................................................$295,000 JD S670, 2015, 383 hrs., 290 sep., #124831 ................................................$305,000 JD S670, 2015, 290 hrs., 168 sep., #125750 ................................................$325,000 JD S680, 2015, 500 hrs., 380 sep., #134530 ................................................$359,000 JD S670, 2016, 185 hrs., 150 sep., #133717 ................................................$369,000 JD S690, 2016, 443 hrs., 350 sep., #134554 ................................................$392,000 COMPACT TRACK LOADERS JD CT322, 2006, 2100 hrs., #133832 .................................................. $24,995 JD CT322, 2006, 3290 hrs., #131411 .................................................. $26,900 NH C227, 2011, 982 hrs., #133181 .................................................. $27,900 JD 319D, 2010, 463 hrs., #130278 .................................................. $36,900 JD 323D, 2011, 1050 hrs., #134454 .................................................. $41,900 Case IH TR270, 2016, 17 hrs., #132330 .................................................. $47,000 JD 317G, 2016, 147 hrs., #133454 .................................................. $47,900 JD 333D, 2012, 690 hrs., #130565 .. $51,900 JD 323E, 2015, 282 hrs., #129368 ... $52,900 JD 323E, 2015, 147 hrs., #134295 ... $56,300 JD 323E, 2015, 165 hrs., #130570 ... $57,000 JD 329E, 2013, 424 hrs., #121156 ... $57,900 JD 329E, 2014, 419 hrs., #128337 ... $59,500 JD 329E, 2014, 240 hrs., #131459 ... $61,900 JD 333E, 2014, 550 hrs., #133945 ... $63,900 JD 333E, 2016, 293 hrs., #134167 ... $70,900 JD 333E, 2015, 180 hrs., #134320 ... $71,500 JD 333E, 2016, 205 hrs., #134366 ... $71,900 CORN AND ROW CROP HEADERS JD 693, 1996, #131820 ...................... $15,900 Drago N8TR, 2003, #132087 ............ $18,400 JD 693, 2005, #134028 ...................... $18,900 JD 1293, 2007, #132423 .................... $18,900
1 4 6 1 10 2 7 6 8 4 7 5 6 4 4 2 7 7 6 1 11 7 1 2 3 8 2 5 3 10 6 1 10 1 10 6 7 10 11 4 11 11 2 2 5 5 11 1 5 8 1 6 4 10 4 4 9 9 2 8 7 5
Geringhoff RD830B, 2004, #132061 .................................................. $18,900 JD 893, 1996, #134171 ...................... $19,000 JD 1293, 2005, #116503 .................... $21,900 Harvestec 4308C, 2006, #133685 ... $22,500 Geringhoff ROTA-DISC 1200B, #127038 .................................................. $23,000 Drago N6TR, 2010, #133807 ............ $23,000 Fantini 6R30, 2010, #133739 ........... $25,900 Geringhoff ROTA-DISC 830B, 2006, #107701 .................................................. $27,500 Harvestec 4112C, 2009, #127253 ... $35,000 Geringhoff ROTA-DISC 1200B, 2007 #134621 .................................................. $39,900 Geringhoff 1622, 2007, #132675 .... $47,900 Geringhoff ROTA-DISC 1222, 2007 #118082 .................................................. $48,900 JD 612C, 2008, #127007.................... $49,500 JD 612C, 2009, #126839.................... $52,900 JD 606C, 2013, #116470.................... $53,900 JD 606C, 2013, #132993.................... $53,900 JD 612C, 2009, #133911.................... $57,500 JD 612C, 2009, #103694.................... $58,000 JD 612C, 2013, #122102.................... $59,500 JD 608C, 2013, #126457.................... $59,900 JD 608C, 2013, #125707.................... $60,900 JD 612C, 2012, #106737.................... $74,900 JD 612C, 2013, #125221.................... $79,900 JD 612C, 2014, #134078.................... $85,000 JD 612C, 2014, #126845.................... $98,900 JD 612C, 2015, #126164.................... $99,500 JD 612C, 2016, #134111..................$109,000 JD 618C, 2013, #107764..................$119,000 DISKS JD 650, 1999, #126844 ...................... $18,000 JD 637, 2000, #130806 ...................... $20,900 Landoll 6230, 2008, #134260........... $20,900 JD 637, 2005, #131583 ...................... $29,000 JD 637, 2011, #126287 ...................... $33,500 Krause 8200, 2013, #131061 ........... $36,000 JD 2623, 2013, #126300 .................... $38,900 JD 2623, 2014, #126778 .................... $39,900 Salford 570RTS, #131148 ................... $43,900 JD 2623, 2014, #126286 .................... $45,900 JD 2623, 2013, #108452 .................... $49,500 JD 2623, 2013, #108855 .................... $51,900 JD 2623, 2016, #118461 .................... $83,900 Summers 9K4727, 2015, #129015 .. $89,500 FIELD CULTIVATORS JD 985, 1995, #130971 ...................... $18,000 Case TIGER MATE II, #129749 .......... $25,000 JD 2210, 2005, #119916 .................... $32,900 JD 2210, 2006, #119500 .................... $37,900 JD 2210, 2007, #102810 .................... $37,900 JD 2210, 2005, #120515 .................... $39,500 JD 2210, 2009, #131140 .................... $44,900 JD 2210, 2011, #106313 .................... $52,900 JD 2210, 2010, #102073 .................... $54,900 Case IH 200, 2011, #129150............. $55,000 PLANTERS: DRAWN JD 1750, 2004, #127953 .................... $19,500 JD 1750, 2007, #134453 .................... $19,900 JD 1750, 1998, #123390 .................... $20,000 JD 1750, 2001, #127462 .................... $20,500 JD 1780, 1997, #127222 .................... $28,500 JD 1750, 2013, #131524 .................... $36,500 JD 1780, 2001, #134553 .................... $42,500 JD 1770, 2004, #120099 .................... $42,900 JD DB44, 2008, #131589 ................... $58,500 JD 1790 CCS, 2004, #124998 ........... $61,900
8 2 10 2 10 4 4 1 5 2 4 3 7 4 7 6 1 5 8 4 2 8 10 12 8 7 1 1 1 9 7 5 3 6 6 2 4 2 8 4 4 11 10 4 1 1 10 8 5 8 8 8 6 2 12 1 4 4 6 4 6
JD 1770NT, 2008, #106973 ............... $65,900 JD 1790 CCS, 2004, #125700 ........... $67,900 JD 1790 CCS, 2007, #118810 ........... $67,900 JD 1760, 2014, #114182 .................... $69,500 JD 1770NT, 2010, #120512 ............... $71,500 JD 1770, 2011, #132629 .................... $72,500 JD 1770NT, 2010, #131019 ............... $75,000 JD 1770NT, 2010, #123272 ............... $77,500 JD 1770NT, 2012, #117386 ............... $89,500 JD 1770NT, 2014, #120447 ............... $89,500 JD DB44, 2005, #134620 ................... $89,900 JD DB58, 2008, #131528 ................... $92,500 JD DB44, 2007, #127876 ................... $93,900 JD 1770NT CCS, 2013, #125129 ....$115,000 JD DB44, 2013, #131588 .................$145,000 JD DB66, 2009, #101972 .................$149,000 JD DB44, 2014, #114004 .................$169,000 JD DB44, 2014, #114081 .................$169,000 JD DB44, 2014, #132329 .................$169,000 PLANTERS: INTEGRAL JD 7300, 1997, #126928 .................... $16,000 JD 1720, 2006, #120108 .................... $35,000 JD 24R22, #127252 ............................. $39,000 SKID STEER LOADERS JD 332, 2005, 6900 hrs., #131737... $16,500 JD 320, 2005, 2931 hrs., #126912... $18,900 JD 260, 2002, 2279 hrs., #134262... $20,500 Bobcat S185, 2008, 5666 hrs., #134431 .................................................. $20,900 JD 315, 2014, 27 hrs., #113452 ........ $28,900 JD 315, 2014, 42 hrs., #113451 ........ $28,900 JD 318D, 2013, 245 hrs., #134270... $29,900 JD 318D, 2011, 389 hrs., #134073... $30,900 JD 332D, 2011, 2749 hrs., #117927 .................................................. $30,900 JD 320E, 2014, 1748 hrs., #125994 .................................................. $32,000 JD 318D, 2012, 95 hrs., #134617 ..... $32,450 JD 318D, 2010, 317 hrs., #126439... $32,900 JD 320E, 2015, 1551hrs., #134169 .. $32,900 JD 326E, 2014, 1951 hrs., #126744 .................................................. $33,500 JD 320E, 2015, 142 hrs., #127651 ... $33,900 Bobcat S590, 2013, 757 hrs., #131472 .................................................. $35,900 JD 318E, 2014, 612 hrs., #125356 ... $36,900 JD 326E, 2014, 860 hrs., #127652 ... $37,500 JD 320E, 2014, 175 hrs., #118329 ... $38,500 JD 320E, 2014, 115 hrs, #121065 .... $40,900 JD 328E, 2014, 579 hrs., #123437 ... $40,900 JD 318E, 2015, 45 hrs., #118133...... $41,500 JD 326E, 2014, 430 hrs., #125552 ... $41,500 JD 320E, 2014, 429 hrs., #125588 ... $41,900 JD 320E, 2015, 30 hrs., #126180...... $41,900 JD 326E, 2015, 375 hrs., #134033 ... $42,000 JD 326E, 2014, 210 hrs., #131457 ... $42,900 JD 332E, 2014, 1345 hrs., #132664 .................................................. $42,900 JD 326E, 2014, 490 hrs., #128883 ... $43,500 JD 320E, 2015, 115 hrs., #130568 ... $43,900 JD 328E, 2014, 830 hrs., #125591 ... $43,900 JD 326E, 2015, 150 hrs., #128590 ... $44,000 JD 326E, 2015, 136 hrs., #118578 ... $44,900 JD 326E, 2015, 200 hrs., #127008 ... $46,000 JD 332D, 2012, 612 hrs., #127231... $46,000 JD 328E, 2014, 531 hrs., #127230 ... $49,500 JD 332E, 2014, 748 hrs., #132327 ... $49,900 JD 328E, 2016, 200 hrs., #131549 ... $51,000 JD 332E, 2015, 274 hrs., #131496 ... $51,900
Price Reduced CIH 8010, 2006, 2117 hrs., 1506 sep., #132086 $
109,900
JD S690, 2013, 1362 hrs., 1051 sep., $ #131692
240,000
JD S670, 2015, 230 hrs., 140 sep., #125750 $
325,000
‘09 JD 9870 STS, 1722 hrs., 1293 sep., $ #106732
152,900
Page 22 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016
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Mondovi Dairy Systems Inc. Mondovi, WI 715-926-5777 West Salem, WI 608-769-2113 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
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Birds, birds everywhere
This summer was the second summer where we have had swarms of starlings and pigeons on our farm. If there was to be a remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s movie, The Birds, video footage from our farm would have been perfect. The starlings ll up the trees making loud bird noises and then are suddenly silent. They y off in a ock and do synchronized ying moves swishing one way and then quickly turn to the opposite direction. Starlings perch on trees, power lines, top of the barns and silos, but their favorite spot is in the freestall barn. Close to food, water and a place to rest. Starlings eat 50 By Tina Hinchley percent of their weight Farmer & Columnist daily, and they are stealing it right out of the rations from our cows. Every day, my husband, Duane puts out feed in the barn and a ock of starlings swoop in and start eating. They drink from the cattle waterers and sit on the stalls and cows, leaving their droppings everywhere. Pigeons are equally as bad, nesting in the garage door openers, carrying up hay and straw to tangle and plug up the motors. Pigeons nest year around, and the population of them continues to grow. My brother-in-law and his friends practice trap shooting with these natural pigeons. This is a sight that could be put on a comedy show. The men have their trap shooting vests on and stand outside the barn while someone chases them out. The birds y in all directions, and the trap shooters spin around to nd their target. The shots are red, a pigeon or two at a time. But once they y out of the barn, they perch on the silo or another spot avoiding the danger zone. Shortly after the guns are put away, the pigeons y back in. We have had people shine the pigeons with spot lights to try to net them. They would be standing in the alley of the barn in the dark with cows all around holding long poles and nets. Someone shines the light on the pigeons and blinds them for a moment. After a few birds are caught, the pigeons know better and y to the other end of the barn. That was the end of that. Occasionally, we have had a hawk hang out in the barn, too. It will catch and kill the pigeons, but it brings the dead bird up on the door opener chain, eats part of his catch and leaves the rest to get caught up in the chain, too. In December, I purchased a sonic bird chaser, that uses predator bird calls and injured bird calls. It is on a timer with a loud microphone that covers over an acre. In the beginning, both the starlings and pigeons ew away. We have closed the curtains to keep the wind off the cows and the birds out, but every time Duane drives in with the mixer the starlings follow him in. Soon as the predator call sounds, the starlings leave and head to the bunker to eat. Pigeons are no longer fazed and continue to sit on their nests. I don’t think this sonic bird chaser is a solution to our problem. With nothing more to really do, we are hopeful we will have cold enough temperatures to have winter kill in both of the bird species. Driving them outside, denying them water and cold temperatures might just do the trick. Tina Hinchley, her husband, Duane, and their daughters, Anna and Catherine, milk 120 registered Holsteins and farm 2,500 acres of crops near Cambridge, Wis. They have been hosting farm tours for over 18 years.
Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016 • Page 23
A year of many blessings Johnsons celebrate birth of rst child, another year without cancer Hans and Catherine, who milk 315 registered Holsteins with his parents, Ted STAR PRAIRIE, Wis. – and Gretchen, near Star PraiThe past three years have been rie, Wis., learned that Hans nothing short of a roller coast- was cancer-free in January er ride for Hans and Catherine 2015 after months of surgery, chemotherapy and stem cell Johnson. Between Hans being di- transplants. Since then, Hans agnosed with testicular cancer has returned to farming full in 2013, going into remis- time in every sense. Despite a clean bill of sion and then discovering the cancer entered his lymphatic health, the Johnsons and their system in early 2014, getting medical team are still in conmarried that same year, and stant contact and keep an eye Catherine’s mother nding on any sudden developments. “Because it [was] such out she also had pancreatic cancer in the same time frame, an aggressive cancer, I still the couple are no stranger to have to get bloodwork done at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., every two months,” Hans said. “I need to go down for scans every four months also.” Hans’s most recent scan in November was clean, HANS JOHNSON, DAIRY PRODUCER but anxiety and dread from memories of an increasdoing battle together. Fortunately, 2015 and ingly distant time tend to 2016 have brought the John- resurge around trips to Rochsons some much-needed re- ester for the Johnson family. Catherine said that, even prieve and room to breathe. By Brittany Olson
brittany.o@dairystar.com
“Now we’re farming to make his future brighter because he might just decide to be a seventhgeneration farmer.”
BRITTANY OLSON/DAIRY STAR
Hans, Catherine and Easton Johnson milk 315 registered Holstein cows with Hans’s parents, Ted and Gretchen, near Star Prairie, Wis. Some months after Hans Defying the odds just was deemed cancer-free, he as his father had, their son, and his wife found another Easton Tiden Johnson, was blessing would soon be join- born May 2, 2016. ing their family. “He came right before “We were told that it planting season,” Hans said. might be harder to start a family because of the kind of cancer Hans had,” Catherine said. Turn to JOHNSONS | Page 24
though they try not to, fear and worry lurk in the back of their minds when those appointments roll around. “We have good doctors at Mayo and we’ve got lots of faith in them,” Catherine said. “But, as much as you try not to think about it, you still do.”
Merry. Bright. Magical. Joyous. Healthy Happy. Lucky. Blessed. Here’s hoping your Christmas and New Years is all that and more! From Your Friends at Sunrise Ag! LITTLE ROCK, MN 320-584-5147
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*20% down, 0% A.P.R. financing for up to 84 months on new Kubota BX, B (excluding B26) & L (excluding L39/L45/L47) Series Equipment is available to qualified purchasers from participating dealers’ in-stock inventory through 12/31/2016. Example: An 84-month monthly installment repayment term at 0% A.P.R. requires 84 payments of $11.90 per $1,000 financed. 0% A.P.R. interest is available to customers if no dealer documentation preparation fee is charged. Dealer charge for document preparation fee shall be in accordance with state laws. Inclusion of ineligible equipment may result in a higher blended A.P.R. 0% A.P.R. and low-rate financing may not be available with customer instant rebate offers. Financing is available through Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A., 3401 Del Amo Blvd., Torrance, CA 90503; subject to credit approval. Some exceptions apply. Offer expires 12/31/2016. See us for details on these and other low-rate options or go to www.kubota.com for more information. Optional equipment may be shown. Kubota Tractor Corporation Markets a Complete Line of Tractors, Performance-Matched Implements, Construction Equipment, Lawn and Garden Equipment, Hay Tools and Spreaders, Commercial Turf Products and Utility Vehicles Through a Nationwide Network of Over 1,000 Authorized Dealers.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016 • Page 25
ConƟnued from JOHNSONS | Page 24 Easton, who is now 7 months old, is as easygoing and upbeat as his parents with bright blue eyes and an everready smile. He enjoys going to the barn to watch skid steers and tractors, playing with the barn cats and can often be heard giggling or chattering in baby speak about how his day is going. Their little boy’s sunny disposition is like a ray of sunshine for his parents, who said Easton keeps them busy. “We’re blessed to have a healthy and happy baby. He’s only crabby when he’s hungry or tired,” Catherine said. “It could have been harder for us, but compared to other people’s situations, it seems so small. We often wonder if we just got lucky this time with Easton, but you never know what God has planned.” This year, Hans and Catherine also moved to the farm after living three miles away. In fact, they switched houses with Ted and Gretchen. “It’s so nice with a baby,” Catherine said. “I can put him down for a nap with the baby monitor and head down to the barn, and now we don’t have to drive back and forth with him.” Hans agreed, remembering the inconveniences of driving with an oftensleeping infant. “Sometimes he’d fall asleep, and then we’d have to wake him up when we buckled him into the car seat when we drove back and forth,” he said. Between another year without cancer, a new child and moving back to the farm, Hans and Catherine certainly have much to be thankful for this Christmas. However, there’s one more thing
Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board Election under way
BRITTANY OLSON/DAIRY STAR
Hans Johnson and his son, Easton, play together on a chilly aŌernoon at their 315-cow dairy farm near Star Prairie, Wis. Johnson has been cancer-free for nearly two years aŌer baƩling the disease twice. that makes this particular holiday season much sweeter, especially for Catherine. “My mom had pancreatic cancer, and her doctors said she’s now in remission after surgery and chemotherapy,” Catherine said. “Now I have two healthy people to spend Christmas with this year.” Hans and Catherine have a great deal to smile about. Most of all, these 365 precious days have been a reminder to the couple what farming is really about with the seventh generation of Johnsons now on the farm. “Before Easton came, we were just farming for ourselves to make our future brighter,” Hans said. “Now we’re
farming to make his future brighter because he might just decide to be a seventh-generation farmer.” When Hans asked Easton, sitting in his lap, if he wanted to be a farmer when he grew up, the little one smiled, giggled and smacked his hand on the table. Catherine smiled at the sight of her two farm boys – husband and son – together. After all they’d endured not so long ago, it was a happy moment. “We won’t force Easton into dairy farming if he wants to do something else,” she said. “But he’s here, we’re thankful and it’s all about him. We’re farming for him.”
Corn growers in three Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board districts have until January 10, 2017 to vote for new members to ll open seats on the board. Positions up for election are those representing Districts 1, 2 and 7. Voting opened Dec. 15, 2016. Nominated in District 1 is Randall Woodruff of Chippewa Falls; nominated in District 2 is Thomas Gillis of River Falls; and nominated in District 7 is Ken Rosenow of Oconomowoc. The three districts include the following counties: District 1: Douglas, Bayeld, Ashland, Iron, Vilas, Burnett, Washburn, Sawyer, Price, Oneida, Polk, Barron, Rusk, Lincoln, Chippewa, Taylor, Eau Claire, Clark, Marathon, Jackson, Wood, Portage and Waupaca counties. District 2: St. Croix, Dunn, Pierce, Pepin, Buffalo and Trempealeau counties. District 7: Green Lake, Dodge, Washington, Ozaukee, Waukesha and Milwaukee counties. Eligible corn growers in those districts have been mailed ballots. Returned ballots must be postmarked on or before January 10, 2017 to: Wisconsin DATCP, Market Orders Program, P.O. Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708. Refer questions to Debbie Gegare at 608-2245116. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) administers elections for the Wisconsin Corn Promotions Board and other commodity marketing boards in the state. Each year, three of the three-year terms expire on the nine-member corn promotions board. To learn more about the market order boards, visit https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/ Growing_WI/WisconsinCornPromotionBoard.aspx.
TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS
“Working with Bill in the design and planning phase of the barn was great. Bill was very helpful and informative. The curtains got scheduled at the right time in the project, and the crew was efÀcient. The curtains handle the strong winds well on top of the hill. It is great to be able to manage the barn environment to keep it comfortable for the cows. The curtains are so easy to use, as my cousin said, ‘Wow, anyone can run them’.”
Beef Barn 642’ of curtain
“The curtains are easy to use. They are a durable, heavy curtain & they are holding up well. In the winter they don’t Áop around in the wind. We are happy with our purchase, and will be adding additional curtains. The installation crew did a good job. They worked late when they needed to, and did a great job cleaning up afterwards.”
Matt Strief • Farley, IA
New Day Dairy, Daniel & Lynn Bolin • Clarksville, IA Randy Greidanus, Farm Manager for Snudden Farms Lake Geneva, WI
Ron Carpenter, Lamont, IA
E&M Farms Ossian, IA
540’ of curtain
“Most of the curtains were put in over the last 3 years. We’re happy with our investment, the curtains are durable and easy to manage. The installation crew did an excellent job.”
Page 26 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016
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Livestock losses due to extreme cold temperatures
We at FSA want to wish all of our producers and agricultural partners a happy holiday season. We realize time is precious with snow piling up, frigid temperatures and much work to be done, but hopefully you can nd some time to relax and enjoy with family and friends. With the recent frigid temperatures, I wanted to remind farmers of the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) FSA News & Notes which provides assistance to eligible producers for livestock death losses in excess of normal mortality due to adverse weather and attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by the federal government or protected by federal law. LIP compensates livestock owners and contract growers for livestock death losses in excess of normal mortality due to adverse weather, including losses due to hurricanes, oods, blizzards, wildres, extreme heat or extreme cold. For extreme cold, we look at the temperature and wind speed from multiple weather reporting sites in the county to determine if there is an extreme By Ryan Brunn cold weather event that would qualify for payments. Stearns Co. Exec. Dir. Eligible losses must occur no later than 60 calendar days from the ending date of the applicable adverse weather event or attack. A notice of loss must be led with FSA within 30 days of when the loss of livestock is apparent. Participants must provide the following supporting documentation to their local FSA ofce no later than 90 calendar days after the end of the calendar year in which the eligible loss condition occurred: • Proof of death documentation • Copy of grower’s contracts • Proof of normal mortality documentation • Management decisions implemented to prevent livestock losses USDA has established normal mortality rates for each type and weight range of eligible livestock, i.e. adult beef cow, 1.5 percent, and non-adult beef cattle (less than 400 pounds), 5 percent. These established percentages reect losses considered expected or typical under normal conditions. Producers who suffer livestock losses in 2016 must le both of the following: • A notice of loss the earlier of 30 calendar days of when the loss was apparent or by Jan. 30, 2017 • An application for payment by March 30, 2017. Additional information about LIP is available at your FSA ofce or online at www.fsa.usda.gov. 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.
You’ve been so kind and generous, and we’re so very grateful. Thank you for making 2016 an outstanding year for us.
Your Cow Comfort and Barn equipment Specialists
Our journey of transitioning the farm
Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016 • Page 27
Yes, it is possible for a Gopher and a Jackrabbit to work together. Despite our different collegiate experiences, my dad and I get along. My name is Laura Rosenhammer, and I am working towards fullling my goal of owning my family’s dairy farm. In upcoming columns, my dad and I will take turns sharing our dairy farming transition experiences over the next year. We will elaborate on how we’ve been able to compromise on aspects such as which cows to breed, which animals to cull, whether or not to invest in rumination collars, deciding between By Laura sand and mattresses, when to call Rosenhammer the vet and much more. The Transition Pen Our farm, Roseview Dairy, is located in Sleepy Eye, Minn. My grandparents started farming in 1959 with just a few cows, and in 1998, my dad and uncle, Greg, formed a partnership and took over. We currently milk 200 Holsteins and run 580 acres of cropland. We grow our forages and sell the excess grain. On the farm, we each have our own By John area to manage. I am in charge Rosenhammer of herd health, record keeping The Transition Pen both with cows and nancials, working with veterinary consultants and creating and implementing protocols. My dad does all the breeding, takes care of the calves, assists with herd health as needed, schedules employees, does maintenance and xing, and is the source of new ideas and projects. Greg is in charge of working with the nutritionist, mixing feed, morning scraping, purchasing seed, selling grain, planning crop rotations and organizing eldwork. My dad attended SDSU for dairy science and then returned to the farm. He is involved in the Brown County Holstein association, is the 4-H dairy superintendent, serves on the County ADA board and volunteers for 4-H and FFA events. He is driven to breed cows that stay in the herd for several lactations and are nice to look at. At 55, he has more energy than most 18 year olds. He spends lots of time coming up with new ideas for renovating our barns and making improvements. I grew up a typical 4-H dairy kid, which included activities such as dairy judging, dairy knowledge bowl, showing at county and state fairs, and, of course, many dairy related conferences and workshops. All of the contacts I made through 4-H and FFA led me to my decision to attend the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities. As a Gopher, I studied animal science-dairy production and applied economics. I was involved with Gopher Dairy Club, Agricultural Education Club and my sorority. During my senior year of college, I debated job opportunities, but always talked myself out of them because I knew I wanted to be at home on my farm where I was very eager to implement my new knowl-
E-EDITION
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edge. However, after a tour of Gar-Lin Dairy I talked ment was best for her. Each day brought cows with to my roommate, Rachel Friese, about applying for different challenges, which allowed me to continue their internship. Thankfully she put her foot down and learning from each experience and make better deciwouldn’t allow me to pass up the opportunity. sions. Following graduation, I set out for what I thought It’s now been an entire year at home where I’ve would be three months of been an employee who is working at Gar-Lin; howallowed to make decisions. ’ now b been an entire i year at I’ve reformed our vaccine ever, that turned into a year, IIt’s and then into a year and a home where I’ve been an protocols, reproductive half before I felt condent programs, record keeping enough with my herdsman employee who is allowed to and am looking forward to skills to head home and try make decisions. tackling nutrition this year. things on my own. Working We hope you follow on another farm taught me along on our journey starthow to be an employee, not ing the transition process. just one of the owner’s kids. I worked with two very Laura Rosenhammer farms with her father, John, experienced herdsmen, who taught me to examine on Roseview Dairy near Sleepy Eye, Minn. They milk each cow, analyze her situation and decide what treat- 200 Holsteins and run 580 acres of cropland.
Page 28 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016
www.extension.umn.edu/dairy
Betty Berning bberning@umn.edu 320-203-6104
Calf raising thoughts
Rafael Bisinotto rbisinot@umn.edu 612-625-3130
I recently attended and presented at the University of Wisconsin-Extension 2016 Calf Management Seminar event in Altoona and Kimberly, Wis. Tom Earleywine from Land O’Lakes Milk Products discussed nutritional impacts on calf health and helped the audience understand myths and truths about calf management. One of the myths is that reducing failure of passive transfer will stop all calf health problems. Although excellent colostrum management is critical, just doing this would By Marcia Endres not be sufcient to improve calf health. High U of M Extension plane of nutrition with consistent milk or milk replacer at the right temperature is also essential (among many other factors). Some operations are now feeding three quarts three times a day. The amount of energy a calf consumes needs to be calculated correctly and it is a combination of volume and concentration of nutrients. Equations used to convert brix percentage to solids are not correct because brix does not measure fat well. Each milk replacer will have a different concentration of fat and level of fat encapsulation which makes the measurement difcult. One aspect that hit home with me which Earleywine emphasized during his talk was water quality. Calves can’t tolerate high levels of sodium, for example, and many farms use water softeners which add sodium to the water. Something to pay attention to along with other minerals that might be present in the water. In addition, bacterial contamination of the water can cause health problems, but water bacterial analysis is not routinely done on farms. Earleywine gave an example of a farm in California having many sick calves and not being able to identify the problem as he was doing his best to clean equipment, give calves electrolytes, etc. Their water source was contaminated with Cryptosporidium – this water was being used to prepare the milk replacer, mixed with the electrolytes, mixed with the disinfectants and fed to the calves. Testing the water for standard plate and coliform counts would be a good practice to make sure the best quality water is being used for your most susceptible cattle age group. Some of the other factors Earleywine mentioned necessary for optimum calf performance included excellent cleaning and sanitation, adequate housing and good ventilation.
Hugh Chester-Jones chest001@umn.edu (507) 835-3622 Gerard Cramer gcramer@umn.edu 612-625-8184 Marcia Endres miendres@umn.edu (612) 624-5391 Sandra Godden godde002@umn.edu 612-625-8177 Les Hansen hanse009@umn.edu 612-624-2277 Brad Heins hein0106@umn.edu (320) 589-1711 Kevin Janni kjanni@umn.edu (612) 625-3108 Karen Johnson ande9495@umn.edu 320-484-4334 Brenda Miller nels4220@umn.edu (320) 732-4435 Kota Minegishi kota@umn.edu 612-624-7455 Randy Pepin pepin019@umn.edu (320) 333-1369 Erin Royster royster@umn.edu Jim Salfer salfe001@umn.edu (320) 203-6093 M. Scott Wells mswells@umn.edu 612-625-3747 Emily Wilmes krek0033@umn.edu (320) 255-6169
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David Kammel, extension dairy engineer specialist at UWMadison, discussed key aspects of designing or remodeling group housing facilities for preweaned calves. There are many details to consider such as group size, pen design, ventilation, bedding management and resting space. Kammel said a group system reduces isolation and weaning stress for the calves, allows for automated feeding, protects workers from weather and improves labor exibility, individual calf computer records can be available and a good environment can be provided to the calves. Some of the limitations of group housing include increased risk of disease transmission, compromised ventilation, varying age ranges of calves and the need for large amounts of bedding. Some of the keys for success in group housing include excellent ventilation design; bedding management to maintain a clean and dry pen; adequate resting, milk, starter and water access; small groups (12 to 15 calves appear to be manageable); limited age range within groups (ideally no more than 21 days); if possible manage as all-in all-out system to break disease cycle; and identify and treat sick calves quickly. Kammel prefers natural ventilation, but well-designed mechanical systems can work. Positive pressure ventilation tubes are supplemental and help especially when there is less natural air movement. The barn should be designed for 130 percent of the average calving rate in order to prevent overcrowding of calf groups. Kammel suggests 35 to 50 square feet of resting area per calf (this does not include feeding and watering areas) depending on bedding management. Calves lie down 17 hours per day, so the area where they rest should be kept as clean and dry as possible. Drainage in resting and feeding areas is very important. Feeding calves in groups can be done with gang feeders milk bars (mob feeders), ad lib acidied milk feeders or automated feeders. The milk feeder station space is a wet area; Kammel recommends a 6 to 8 foot elevated and/or drained platform made of concrete that provides condent footing. The water space should be separate from the milk and starter grain feeder area and provide two inches per calf perimeter; water should be free choice and a frost proof and an easy to clean waterer should be used. Starter grain feeder space should be 12 inches per calf. On the specic topic of automated calf feeders, keys to success include excellent colostrum management; clean, dry, comfortable bedding; adequate resting space per calf; excellent ventilation; quality and quantity of milk; small group sizes; clean and calibrated feeder equipment; and clean nipples and feeder hoses.
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Solstice, Christmas events mark winter’s arrival Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016 • Page 29
I come from a long line of cold-weather people. My frozen family tree includes branches from Scandinavia, France, Canada, England and Native Rural Roots Americans from near the Great Lakes. Even so, I am having a hard time embracing the cold and snow. As I look out my ofce window this morning, a few days before Christmas, I see nine inches – give or take – of new, uffy, cold snow. I also see, by the remote sensing device near my desk, that it’s quite By Ron Johnson nippy out there. The Staff Writer weather station at the edge of my garden reports a temperature of 12.5 degrees below zero. But, hey. The day is warming up. The temperature was 14.1 below an hour ago. We have no wind, as I write this. But the National Weather Service has put forth a wind chill advisory. It tells me I could face a wind chill as nasty as 45 degrees below zero this morning. Tonight, I’m told, could bring a chill of 30 degrees below zero. Do you remember when there was no such thing as a wind chill? I do. A day or night was either cold, darned cold, or colder than the tip of a polar bear’s nose. I suspect the folks who get paid to keep track of the weather and then tell us about it began spreading the term wind chill. Thanks a lot weather folks. I was perfectly ne not knowing how cold it really was, with the wind factored in. Out of curiosity, I looked into a bit of the history of the wind chill index. I’m told we can blame it on scientists who were working in the Antarctic before World War II. By the 1970s, the National Weather
Congratulations Jody Nus on winning the Dairy Star Great Christmas Heifer Giveaway! Harold Buhr
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Service started using and reporting the wind chill. rival? Making this time of year a bit more bearable is our Winter, as farm folks and other rural dwellers great and magnicent holiday of Christmas. Many of know, can be a tough time. Milking and chores are us count down the days until we celebrate the birth of made less pleasant by snow, cold air and wind. Christ. Most of us these The many retailers have days do not face starvation Making ki this hi time i off year a bi bit during the winter, but not gotten into the act, too. They M constantly remind us that more bearable is our great so many years ago, the wolf there are only X number of was at the door quite a lot. shopping days until Christ- and magnificent holiday of In times gone by, mas. people wanted reassurance Christmas. I like to make note of that the sun would, indeed, the winter solstice. That’s return. They wanted to the day astronomical winter know that Spring would arbegins. rive, so they could plant their crops and then prepare It’s also the shortest day of the year, in terms of for the next newest winter. light. And, the day of the solstice is also the longest Scholars and historians tell us Dec. 25 was selectnight of the year. ed as the date for Christmas partly because it lay near This year, the point during Dec. 21 that the ac- the time of the solstice. The solstice was already being tual solstice takes place is 4:44 a.m. Central Standard celebrated, so it made sense to give people a day of Time. I doubt I will be outside then, toasting the celes- glorious hope during the dreariness of winter. tial event, but I will recognize the day itself. Our gift of Spring is, again, on its way. So here’s That’s because the solstice heralds the turning hoping your winter celebrations of Christmas and point toward spring. The word solstice means stand New Year’s nd you well, safe and warm. still. For an instant, the sun seems to stand still, according to observers here on Earth. Then the Earth continues on its path around the sun and soon we get to the spring equinox and the rst day of astronomical spring. I take comfort in counting down the days as they click away after the solstice. I like knowing a mere 89 days stand between me and spring. I also like knowing the days are, ever-so-slowly, growing longer. We gain a couple of seconds of dayThe Dairy Star light at rst. But by the time the summer solstice rolls around, on June 21, the amount of daylight will have is sent only to increased so much we will be blessed by roughly 16 DAIRY FARMERS! hours of light and just eight hours of darkness. Is it any wonder previous peoples marked the If you would like to advertise in the DAIRY STAR, days until the solstice and even went so far as to build call 320-352-6303 for more information. great, stone circles to help them keep track of its ar-
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Baumler Implements, Inc. 1306 Hwy. 150 South, West Union, Iowa 52175 (563) 422-3835 • baumlerimplements.com
Congratulations Jody Nus! From all of us at
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The week before Christmas Page 30 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016
T’was the week before Christmas, and all ‘cross the farm we were struggling just to keep warm. The curtains were down on the barns so tight, in hopes they would keep out bitter winter night. The calves were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of warm electrolytes danced in their heads; and I in Dad’s long johns and Thomas’ shirt march like a penguin to prevent a fall that could hurt. When out in transition there arose such a clatter, I popped out of the parlor to see what was the matter. Away to the pen I quickly made haste kicked up some straw, and opened the gates. The sound that I heard, that familiar bellow,
I knew we had little time to go. When what to my ustered eyes should appear but a calf in the poo, and another’s entrance near. With a cuss and grumble about more fresh cows I knew what had to be done, but how? More prolic than rabbits, these calves just keep coming I know that’s what keeps Don’s milk truck humming. Now Stacy! Now Carmen! Now Shelby and Melanie! Bring the wagon. Get blue water. Make everything ready. To the front of the pen. To the parlor to wash. Throw that behemoth in the warmer. It’s cold out by gosh. As little boys on fresh snow on the hill they y,
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He had long legs, and a brown face like a deer. He scrambled and wiggled, out of new environment fear. It was just another crazy part of our wild farming life, and I shook my head, at least no twins today, less strife. Then she took her soft bed in the calving pen, someday there will be a calm day, but when? Dad spoke not a word, but picked up his stethoscope, and thumped all the fresh cows, as we waited with hope and pointing at the doors and the gate we knew our other chores would have to wait. He pulled out a new twisted stomach, another DA. Between a ood of fresh cows, calves, and this our coming our way, we are ready for a break, for a week that’s less, perhaps, gory. But, it’s a farm at Christmas time. Isn’t a baby part of the story? Merry Christmas to you and your crew. Hope that Santa Claus is nice to each of you. Jacqui and her family milk 700 cows and run 1,200 acres of crops in the northeastern corner of Vernon County, Wis. Her boys, Ira (10), Dane (7), and Henry (3) help her on the farm while her husband, Keith, works on a grain farm. If she’s not in the barn, she can most likely be found in the kitchen, the garden, or chasing little boys. Her life is best described as organized chaos, but she wouldn’t change it a bit.
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when they walk up the hill, they scarcely cry; we surveyed our work, knowing we were far from done like the boys, we Ramblings from the Ridge must trudge onward, 60 calves left before December’s run. And then, with a shudder, Peter came and opened the garage door, the loader dumped fresh hay for the cows and left with a roar. As I spread it out generously, some for each By Jacqui Davison bovine, I hoped this would put Columnist DAs at bay and keep them feeling ne. He was dressed all in Carhartt, from his head to his feet, and clipping a heifer so nice and so neat. Surgery kit he had set up and ready to go, Dad said C-section and he was all set to cut and sew. His eyes how they focused! His heifer how numb! Her brown eyes steely, his voice, if only that baby could have come. Peter, Carmen, Melanie, Tony V., bring the muscle, and get it all here stat, please hustle. The legs of the calf they held tight in their grip, and they lifted, up high, careful not to make her rip,
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It’s that wonderful time of year again. The feeling of anticipation lls many hearts and homes as we prepare for Christmas. I am equally excited in anticipation for Christmas, but I’m also anticipating a big change for the Dairy Star website. I have recently received the go-ahead to redesign and launch a brand-new site. This is something I have wanted to do for a long time, but other projects always were put ahead of this one. The Dairy Star site is a project I initially started in June 2007. It was my rst online project and it was a steep learning curve for me, but I was denitely up for the challenge. Dairy Star had not had a web presence prior to 2007, and we were looking for an avenue to get information out to our readers in a digital format. We also wanted the website to serve as a network to connect dairy producers – perhaps even provide a link to By Andrea Borgerding the next generation of farmers. Online Editor It worked. News spread fast of our new site and many producers began to seek out www.dairystar.com to read our articles and columnists from the paper, check the online classieds for items to purchase and even catch news briefs of breaking news in the dairy industry. Dairy Star website became an important part of what we do. As writers, it gave us an opportunity to put more urgency on the information we were gathering. Suddenly, what we compiled could be posted almost instantly to our readers. We could expand our horizons and become not only skilled photographers but videographers. It changed everything we had been doing at Dairy Star since it’s inception in 1999. Dairy Star as we knew it had changed forever once the website went live on Oct. 25, 2007. And so, we begin a new chapter for Dairy Star online. I realize change is not always good. There’s something wonderfully secure about staying with something that has worked for so long. But, I feel the change will be good for us, for our readers and, of course, for the businesses advertising on the website. My goal is to make the site streamlined and consistent. Content will remain the same – visitors will still have access to articles and other content for free. The classieds will still be posted, as usual, the Saturday of publication date. Many of the improvements will be to benet our advertisers. The upgraded software will allow us to see better what our visitors nd interesting on our site. We can give more accurate numbers to our advertisers. The website continues to be an important and necessary compliment to our print edition. I hope you nd our upgrade helpful. As always, I welcome feedback. I truly wish everyone a blessed and merry Christmas this year. Thank you to all of our faithful followers. Each one of you has made Dairy Star what it is today – a way to connect all Midwestern dairy producers.
Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016 • Page 31
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Christmas barn carols Page 32 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016
The radio in the barn has been playing Christ- you sneak into the barn, you are startled as the door mas songs for the past month and it is great. It slams shut behind you with a fresh gust of wind. seems to be the only time when I sing along with The cattle all snuggled down in their stalls have the radio throughout the no reaction to the sudden barn because every song sounds echoing throughout in a classic. In fact, just the IIt seems to b the barn. They are grabbe the h only l time i mere mention of the title or bing a quick nap before it a lyric activates the song to when I sing along with the is time to eat again. A holiplay in my head. See how radio throughout the barn day rhythm of eat, sleep, many songs you hear in because every song is a classic. eat, eat, sleep as you work this week’s column. your way through the holiThis is the most wonday season. derful time of the year ‌ I love listening to to be in the barn. As the cold north winds whip Christmas music in the barn. I know the words across the open farm yard, we scurry between sheds to every song I hear. In fact, I can recognize most and outside jobs trying to escape the bitter cold. As songs in three notes or less. Every song is familiar
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and the voices are recognizable. “Silver and Goldâ€? sung by Burl Ives is one of my favorites. Every time I hear his raspy, baritone voice, I can see his face as the vested snowman sliding around Christmas town in the Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer movie. Or see Andy Williams singing “White Christmasâ€? in a turtle neck on his 1970s Christmas special. So Just Thinking Out Loud many of these songs are tied to the simple and special moments in life. One of my ďƒžrst Christmas solos in church was, “I wonder and I wander out under the sky.â€? Today, I wonder as I wander around the barn on the feed cart ‌ which comes ďƒžrst. By Natalie Schmitt Do cows eat more because they milk more Columnist or do they milk more because they eat more? Now that’s something that will tie your brain up in knots for a while as you ponder the possibilities. It is the dairy version of the chicken and the egg question. The reason I bring it up is that I read it in a brochure about increased barn lighting. Their theory is that the cattle are milking more because they are eating more, but can’t it also be said they are eating more because they are milking more? Mind boggling. “Away in the Mangerâ€? is close to my heart. I would sing the third verse as a lullaby to the kids as they fell off to sleep in my arms snuggled in their footed pajamas on a cold winter’s night. The scene in the manger is one we live every day as we look down the barn and notice the cattle nestled in their stalls, chewing their cud as their heads nod to an invisible beat of peace and serenity. The scene melts away the tension and anxiety you have collected throughout the day as you take a moment to enjoy the peaceful sight. If you want a white Christmas, then you have to let it snow, let it snow. The weather outside is frightful, but the ďƒžre is so delightful. The lights of our Christmas tree shine through the living room window beckoning us to come in out of the cold. It feels like a mini vacation as we relax with a mug of hot chocolate and warm blanket underneath the mistletoe. But as the song says, since we have no place to go, except back out to the barn, let it snow, let it snow. Of course, a good dairyman doesn’t want two front teeth for Christmas but four good teats. Oh how I’m going to miss these songs once Christmas day has passed, but just like Frosty the Snowman, they’ll be back again next year. The spirit of Christmas is peace. The miracle of Christmas is hope and the heart of Christmas is love. From my family to yours, merry Christmas and a happy New Year! Natalie, Mark and his brother, Al, Schmitt farm together near Rice, Minn. They milk 100 registered Holsteins under the RALMA preďƒžx. Their four children are great help around the farm and are pushing Natalie out of several jobs. Therefore she is thankful to have something else to do. For questions or comments please email Natalie at mnschmitt@jetup.net.
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In search of Christmas
Perhaps by the time this issue of the Dairy Star shows up on your kitchen table (or wherever else you happen to read it), I will have found Christmas. But, as of today, my Christmas is still missing. I haven’t set out a single Christmas decoration. Our Christmas tree is up, but only because the kids hauled it from the basement and, impressively, gured out how to put it together. Despite their tornadic searching, the kids couldn’t nd the lights and ornaments, so the tree remains unDairy Good Life adorned. Every night I hear the question, “Mom, when are we going to decorate the tree?” This morning before school, Dan added extra urgency to his request: “Mom, it’s the 19th of December. We only have a few more days to decorate the tree.” “I know, Dan,” I said, calmly. But inside of me, the looming deadline of Christmas and the resulting anxiety are wreaking havoc on my happiness. I don’t commit to a lot when it comes to Christmas, but Christmas doesn’t feel like Christmas without some decorating and baking. Yet, I haven’t baked a single Christmas cookie. By Sadie Frericks We already had our rst Christmas gathering Columnist – and we all had a wonderful time – but I felt like I skidded into it in an unprepared rush. Yes, I am an incurable procrastinator, but a decade with kids and cows has taught me to work ahead at least a little. Not this year. Between chores and kids’ activities and meetings and deadlines, Christmas shopping and cookie baking and house decorating have been scheduled and then postponed multiple times. And, it has left me feeling rather grumpy. I subscribe to the line of thought that our happiness equals reality minus our expectations (happiness = reality – expectations). When something exceeds our expectations, it tends to make us happy. Conversely, when we have certain expectations and fail to meet them, we’re more prone to unhappiness. My Christmas expectations aren’t outrageous – and they’re denitely exible. Some years, we only decorate the tree with lights and LEGOs; some years, we hang all the ornaments. Some years, I bake one or two different Christmas cookies; other years I nish a dozen varieties. Some years, I give thoughtful, carefully selected gifts; some years, I give gift cards. I gave up mailing Christmas cards several years ago and now just publish a Christmas letter on my blog. I will ill d do what h I can to make k So, my expectations Christmas as joyful as possible aren’t grand, but this year my reality is not even close to for my children. meeting them. I tried to tell myself that it’s OK to have a minimalist Christmas, but my kids have certain expectations, too. (Plus, we have two birthdays to at least recognize this week.) Letting my kids down makes me feel even worse. Some happiness experts recommend lowering expectations to increase happiness. But I’m not going to alter my expectations. They’re already low enough as it is. Instead, I believe it’s important to know when to expect and when to accept. At this moment, I still have six days left to bring my Christmas reality closer to my Christmas expectations, so I can still expect to have a festive Christmas. And, because I’m a glass-overowing optimist, I truly believe that – and will keep working on it – until the kids go back to school after Christmas vacation. So what if we only hang the stockings on Christmas Eve? So what if we only decorate cookies on New Year’s Eve? I know my kids won’t care. Thankfully, my own exibility has taught them to have exible expectations, as well. And, if my Christmas expectations remain unmet, I will do my best to accept that this year was crazy. I will do what I can to make Christmas as joyful as possible for my children. More importantly, I will remind them that Christmas isn’t all about decorations and cookies and gifts – it’s about opening our hearts and celebrating together with family. Perhaps next year, we’ll decorate the whole house and bake oodles of cookies. Sadie and her husband, Glen, milk 75 cows near Melrose, Minn. They have three children – Dan, 8, Monika, 6, and Daphne, 2. Sadie also writes a blog at www. dairygoodlife.com. She can be reached at gsfrericks@meltel.net.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016 • Page 33
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Page 34 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016
One year under his belt
Support system helps Olson start dairy career By Cassie Olson
cassie.o@dairystar.com
HIXTON, Wis. – For those involved in dairy, 2016 will be a year to remember. While low milk prices and an excellent growing season dominated the conversations of many, one farmer has had much more on his mind. Matt Olson, a 21-year-old milking 40 cows near Hixton, Wis., is reecting on the rst year of his dairy farming career. While Olson’s solo venture began in January 2016, he said farming has always been a part of his life. Growing up, he spent many days alongside his grandfather, Rich Gearing, and great uncle, Greg Gearing, helping milk their 50 Brown Swiss cows. “I started going over to milk cows with them when I was 10 years old,” Olson said. “I’ve been around cows my whole life.” Olson’s passion for farming only grew from there. While in high school,
obtained a loan from the local bank before purchasing the milking herd in January. The milking herd consists of 40 Holsteins and Guernseys. Olson said he appreciates the qualities of each breed and plans to keep both breeds in his herd in the future. “I really like the efciency of Holsteins and the increase in butterfat in the milk of Guernseys,” Olson said. From years of working together, Olson said he recognized the protocols Nehring had implemented on the farm were working. When he purchased the herd at the beginning of the year, Olson said he had no intention of changing what was already proving to be successful. CASSIE OLSON/DAIRY STAR “Vaughn has always MaƩ Olson milks 40 cows near Hixton, Wis. Olson purchased his cows and currently rents the been helpful with giving me faciliƟes of his former employer, Vaughn Nehring. pointers. I didn’t go into this with the intention of startOlson was hired by neighOver time, Olson began be doing all of the same ing new or making a bunch boring dairy farmer, Vaughn to consider the possibility of work, I might as well start of changes. I wasn’t going Nehring, to help with chores. one day owning a farm. He doing it for myself,” Olson to switch up something that has been working for a long Each morning before school, said there was nothing else said. Olson would milk with Ne- he would rather do. His opIn the following months, time,” Olson said. Olson said that while hring before going to his portunity to do so was just Olson began working on a 2016 was a tough year to begrandfather’s farm to com- around the corner. rental agreement with Nehgin farming on his own, he plete chores. “In the spring of 2015, ring. Olson would purchase was able to do so with the “The days were long,” Vaughn asked if I had any the milking herd and use his Olson said. “But, I enjoyed interest in buying his cows. I own machinery while rentTurn to OLSON | Page 35 it.” thought to myself if I would ing Nehring’s facilities. He
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Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016 • Page 35
Con�nued from OLSON | Page 34
help of Nehring, family and friends. “I was fortunate enough to have a lot of help from people such as my dad, Vaughn, my uncle and my brothers,” Olson said. “If you don’t have people to help you get started, it’s nearly impossible. I don’t see how it could be feasible.” It was also a year of learning. Olson said 2016 was not about making money but rather learning to make do with what he had. “More than anything, I learned to be efcient. I also learned there is a ne line between cutting costs and being cheap,” Olson said. “In
“I also learned there is a ne line between cutting costs and being cheap.” MATT OLSON, DAIRY PRODUCER
a year like this, you basically spend whatever you’ve got, so my advice to anyone starting to farm is to make sure you have money saved up to cover your rst year.” Olson said he will certainly remember his rst year. “This year has been going good, considering the prices. There was one month when we saw the milk price get down to $12.85 and I had to ask myself, ‘What am I doing?’” Olson said. Olson’s advice to young farmers is to stay focused. He said it is important to consider the advice of ex-
CASSIE OLSON/DAIRY STAR
Ma� Olson began milking cows for Nehring while he was in high school. While he admits 2016 has been a difficult year to begin dairy farming on his own, he said he has learned valuable lessons that will benet him in the future.
perienced farmers and to be resilient. “The harder you work, the better off you’ll do. Do not be afraid to fail along the way because at least you know you tried. If you just try to get by with mediocre, you simply cannot make it,” Olson said. “Take care of your cows and they will take care
of you.” Olson is currently working on improving production genetics in the herd as he prepares to purchase Nehring’s heifers next month. He said he would one day like to purchase facilities of his own, but plans to continue renting from Nehring. He is
grateful for the last year and the opportunity he was given to purchase a herd to call his own. “I’m happy Vaughn gave me this opportunity,” Olson said. “We get along really well, and it has worked out so well this year.”
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Page 36 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016
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Farmland values show historic third year of decline ISU Land Value Survey shows 5.9 percent decrease statewide since 2015 Average Iowa farmland value has shown a decline for the third year in a row — the ďƒžrst time this has happened since the 1980s farm crisis — and is now estimated to be $7,183 per acre. The statewide per acre value declined $449, or 5.9 percent, since November 2015. Farmland values hit a historic high in 2013, but have steadily declined since then. The statewide average value for an acre of farmland is now about 17.5 percent lower than 2013 values. Land values were determined by the 2016 Iowa State University Land Value Survey, which was conducted in November by the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development at Iowa State University and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Results from the survey are consistent with results by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the Realtors Land Institute and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Wendong Zhang, assistant professor of economics at Iowa State University, led the annual survey. The $7,183 per acre, and 5.9 percent drop in value, represents a statewide average of low, medium and high quality farmland. The survey does also report values for each land quality type, crop reporting district (district hereafter) and all 99 counties individually. Average farmland values hit a historic peak of $8,716 per acre in 2013, but declined 8.9 percent in 2014, 3.9 percent in 2015 and have now fallen an additional 5.9 percent. “The golden era of phenomenal, yet abnormal growth in farm income and land values, as we saw from 2006 to 2013, is already behind us. The land market is going through an orderly adjustment while the U.S. agricultural sector, a competitive industry, is trying to adjust to the old normal of zero industry-wise net proďƒžts,â€? said Zhang. “For a pessimist, there are reasons to worry, especially for landowners and/or producers who are over-leveraged. For an optimist, this decline is still modest, and the probability of a replay of the 1980s farm crisis is low.â€? Zhang said the likelihood of another farm crisis is low due to steady farm income accumulation before the downturn, a stronger government safety net and an overall lower debt level in the agriculture sector. Starting in 2004, several factors, including the ethanol boom and historically low interest rates, drove ďƒžve consecutive years of double-digit growth in average farmland values. By 2008, average values were almost 70 percent higher than 2004, and by 2013, average values were over 230 percent higher than 2004 values. While they have declined three years in a row now, average values are still 173 percent higher than 2004. The decline didn’t come as a surprise for some — in November 2015, over 75 percent of ISU Land Value Survey respondents thought land values in their territory would continue to decline in 2016. The majority predicted the decline would be either less than 5 percent or between 5 and 10 percent, which is consistent with the 5.9 percent decrease reported by the 2016 ISU survey. “Looking ahead, land values might continue to adjust downwards in the next year or two,â€? said Zhang. “This is consistent with the stagnant corn and soybean futures prices and potential rise in interest rates; however, many respondents to the ISU survey are hoping for the market to rebound in three or four years.â€?
Land values by county All 99 counties reported a drop in average land values this year. For the fourth year in a row, Scott and Decatur counties reported the highest and lowest farmland values, respectively. Decatur County reported a value per acre of $3,443, a loss of $71, or about 2 percent, from last year’s report. Scott County reported a value of $10,335, a decrease of $583 per acre, or about 5.3 percent, close to the statewide average decline of 5.9 percent. Plymouth and Sioux counties reported the largest dollar decrease in values, $747 per acre, and Monona County reported the largest percent decline in values, 8.4 percent. Decatur County reported the smallest dollar decrease, $70 per acre, and Decatur, Appanoose, Wayne, and Lucas counties all reported the smallest percent decrease in average values, at 2 percent. Land values by district All nine districts reported a loss in average land values in 2016. The highest average land values were reported in the Northwest district, at $9,243 per acre. The lowest average values were reported in the South Central district, at $4,241 per acre. The largest district-wide decrease in value was in West Central Iowa, which reported a drop of 8.7 percent, bringing farmland values there down to $7,358 per acre. The smallest decrease was reported in the Southeast district, 2.6 percent, bringing values there to $6716 per acre. Values by land quality Low-quality land in the Southwest and South Central districts were the only areas to show an increase in average values, reporting gains of 2.9 and 5.2 percent, respectively. Zhang says that the increase is due to strong recreational demand and high Conservation Reserve Program payments. Statewide, low quality land declined the least, $169 per acre, or 3.5 percent. Medium quality land declined $422 per acre, or 5.9 percent. High quality land statewide declined the most per acre, losing $606, or 6.5 percent, of its value. The statewide averages per acre for low, medium and high quality land are now $4,665, $6,705 and $8,758, respectively. Factors inďƒ&#x;uencing land values The most common positive factors inďƒ&#x;uencing land prices noted by survey respondents were low interest rates, strong crop yields, limited land supply and strong demand. The most commonly cited negative inďƒ&#x;uences were lower commodity prices, high input prices, livestock losses, weak cash rental rates and a weakening global economy and stock market returns. The ISU Land Value Survey was initiated in 1941, the ďƒžrst in the nation, and is sponsored annually by Iowa State University. The survey is typically conducted every November while the results are released every mid-December. Only the state average and the district averages are based directly on the ISU survey data. The county estimates are derived using a procedure that combines the ISU survey results with data from the U.S. Census of Agriculture. The ISU Land Value Survey is based on reports by agricultural professionals knowledgeable of land market conditions such as appraisers, farm managers and agricultural lenders, and actual land sales. It is intended to provide information on general land value trends, geographical land price relationships, and factors inďƒ&#x;uencing the Iowa land market. The 2016 survey is based on 518 usable responses providing 711 county land values estimates. Fortyeight percent of respondents answered the survey online.
Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016 • Page 37
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Tyler Mlsna Cashton, Wis. Monroe County 120 cows How did you get into farming? This is my family farm. My mother grew up here. I took it over from my parents, Mark and Bridget, in 2009, when I was 20. What are your thoughts and concerns about the dairy industry for the next year? I would want sustainable market prices while dairy farming. What do you enjoy most about dairy farming? Being outdoors with animals, equipment and the land. What advice would you give other dairy farmers? Be money conscious; complete repairs with your own hands, if possible, to save; and buy new only if needed. What has been the best purchase you’ve ever made on your farm? Our double-10 parallel milking par-
lor. We can get done with milking and chores in less than two hours. What has been your biggest accomplishment while dairy farming? Being able to start my family. We, my wife Jessica and I, have three children: Rylan, 6, Zoe, 5, and Porter, 3 months. What are your plans for your dairy in the next ve years? We want to nish putting an extension on the freestall barn. What is your favorite thing to do on the farm? I would say my favorite job is milking and being a herdsman, because I like the breeding and herd health work. What is your favorite dairy product? Extra-sharp cheddar cheese and yogurt. What is your favorite tool? Battery-powered hand tools like a drill and impact wrench. If you could add one thing to your farm regardless of price, what would it be? More land or a system for liquid manure. How do you or your family like to spend time when you are not doing chores? Hunting, shing and meeting up with family and friends to play cards. If you could have a celebrity help you with chores for a day who would it be? The president, to see how hard farmers work to receive so little in return.
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Page 40 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 24, 2016
Oh, What Fun It Is to Celebrate With Good Folks Like You! To our friends near and dear, thanks so much for stopping here. We wish you all a merry Christmas and a very happy New Year!
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