Page 8 • Dairy Star • Second Section • Saturday, February 8, 2014
A dairy farmer’s view of health care
In most of my previous columns, I have attempted to write about dairy or crop farming, tearing down old buildings, or even labor management. At least with those topics I could pretend to know what I’m talking about because they are what I deal with Making Cents of Dairy every day. Today, writing about health care is a little scary because all I know about is the small segment I see in my own little world. Trust me when I say “seeing” in my own little world. Two days ago I had eye surgery where the eye surgeon removed my optical lens containBy Dave Vander Kooi ing a cataract from my right eye and replaced it Columnist with an articial bi-focal optical lens. To accomplish this they use a laser to cut the thin cover of the cornea and then proceed to replace the lens. All of this was accomplished in 10 minutes using local anesthesia, with absolutely no pain felt during the procedure. The equipment, doctors, staff, and even the new building involved with this eye clinic in Sioux Falls, S.D. were simply amazing. All is not perfect in the health care world, however. A week before my surgery, I had to go see a local doctor to get a certicate saying I was heathy enough to have surgery. I do not have a regular doctor for several reasons; one is that I have been relatively healthy, and second, our big new corporate clinic in Worthington seems to have a very hard time keeping regular doctors. My rst clue of trouble came when I entered the main door of the clinic and the three receptionists were sitting behind their desks wearing stocking caps, winter coats, and blankets on their legs. Their desks faced directly north out the main front entrance across a large barren parking lot on one of the coldest, windiest days in January. I would compare it to building a new parlor with the cows coming in from the north end and the freestall barn is 200 yards away. The nurses and support staff at the clinic are good local people that are excellent at what they do, but then the doctor entered the room. This guy had his wrinkled, stained shirt half tucked in, half hanging out,and he reeked of the smell of orange juice. He asked me if I did any exercise, and I told him I played racquetball. He proceeded to tell me I needed to watch professional women’s tennis from Australia, which is on TV in the middle of the night. Similar to the dairy business, it seems health care can get it right or do it wrong. What also is important is how we insure our families and employees in this new health care environment . After doing some research, it seems MNsure or Obamacare really doesn’t t us because of income levels. What really seems to work and save us a lot of money is using a very high deductible plan coupled with a Health Savings Account (HSA). HSAs are a tax free fund you can establish for non-covered health expenses, and if you don’t use the money it can continue to grow in your account and it is your money. Make sure your health insurance policy is HSA compatible, but don’t necessarily set up an HSA with the health insurance company. Usually a nancial advisor can steer you toward an HSA that is easier to use than a health insurance company plan. With our HSA , we can simply write checks from a separate checkbook for prescriptions and such, and not have to send in receipts and get reimbursed. Health is important to all of us, and as I write this column at the end of Super Bowl Sunday, I have a heavy heart. A good, honest, hardworking farmer friend of mine was sent home from the hospital this week with the diagnosis of no cure from multiple myeloma. Take time to enjoy your family and friends, you just never know. Vander Kooi operates a 1,200-cow, 3,000 acre farm with his son, Joe, and daughter-in-law, Rita, near Worthington, Minn.
Dairy Star • Second Section • Saturday, February 8, 2014 • Page 9
CLEAR VINYL STRIP DOORS
Dairyland Pest Control Specializing In Farm Fly, Rodent & Bird Control
Clean Plastic Strips you can see through, walk through and drive through
FARM • COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL
Great for energy saving!
Toll 507-359-1123 Free 800-826-7380 • New Ulm, MN Dayle Besemer, owner/operator
133 Atlantic Ave. NE Pennock, MN
Available for any size opening
320-599-4466
tfn
8R WINTER SALES EVENT!
LIMITED TIME ONLY! Trade in your 8000 series tractor for $5,000 bonus cash towards any pre-owned 8R tractor in inventory
JD 8360RT Model
Year Hrs
JD 8360RT 2012 JD 8360R 2012 JD 8360R 2012 JD 8360R 2012 JD 8360R 2012 JD 8360R 2012 JD 8345R 2010 JD 8335R 2012 JD 8335R 2011 JD 8335R 2012 JD 8335R 2012 JD 8335R 2012 JD 8335R 2012 JD 8335R 2012 JD 8335R 2012
JD 8285R Price
195 $279,000 1042 $269,000 900 $269,000 900 $269,000 672 $273,000 1320 $245,000 925 $247,000 560 $250,000 400 $250,000 982 $251,000 1063 $251,000 1022 $251,000 660 $250,000 693 $249,000 951 $249,000
Loc
ELK DYS DYS DYS DEC ELK CRE DYS CRE DEC CLE DEC DYS OEL WAU
Model
JD 8270R Year Hrs
JD 8335R 2012 JD 8320R 2010 JD 8320R 2010 JD 8320R 2010 JD 8310RT 2011 JD 8310R 2011 JD 8310R 2011 JD 8310R 2011 JD 8310R 2011 JD 8310R 2011 JD 8310R 2012 JD 8295RT 2009 JD 8285R 2011 JD 8285R 2012 JD 8285R 2013
907 1864 1932 1348 1497 702 664 800 661 1400 1011 951 1611 414 161
Price
$250,000 $210,000 $219,000 $217,000 $235,000 $234,000 $234,000 $234,000 $244,000 $210,000 $229,000 $220,000 $215,000 $215,000 $235,000
Loc
ROW NH WAU CLE ELK CLE WAU DEC DEC WAU ELK NH MON OEL DYS
JD 8235R Model
JD 8270R JD 8270R JD 8270R JD 8260R JD 8260R JD 8245R JD 8235R JD 8235R JD 8235R JD 8235R JD 8235R JD 8420 JD 8410 JD 8320 JD 8130
Year Hrs
2010 2010 2010 2011 2012 2010 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2004 2000 2004 2007
1700 1741 1200 950 705 1582 832 650 675 541 211 4987 6158 3500 1790
Price
$190,000 $195,000 $187,000 $190,000 $195,000 $178,000 $173,000 $181,000 $187,000 $175,000 $195,000 $129,500 $105,000 $139,000 $149,000
Loc
CRE ELK ROW DEC OEL ELK DEC DEC DEC DEC DYS ROW DEC MON DYS
For a full list of Equipment and Pictures go to www.bodimp.com
BODENSTEINER IMPLEMENT CO.
ELKADER • 563-245-2470 CASCADE • 563-852-3203 CLERMONT • 563-423-5206 CRESCO • 563-547-2152
DECORAH • 563-382-2961 DYERSVILLE • 563-875-2724 MONTICELLO • 319-465-3515
www.bodimp.com
NEW HAMPTON • 641-394-3061 OELWEIN • 319-283-4371 ROWLEY • 319-938-2222 WAUKON • 563-568-3463
YOUR NORTHEAST IOWA JOHN DEERE DEALERS
Page 26 • Dairy Star • Second Section • Saturday, February 8, 2014
People in the dairy community AJCA Junior All American winners announced Twenty-two Jersey youth between the ages of 9 and 20 from 10 states have been recognized by the American Jersey Cattle Association as the owners of the Junior All American winners for 2013. Named Junior Three-Year-Old Cow was Norse Star Tequila Shotski, Grant Fremstad, Westby, Wis., Reserve Junior All American winner.
TOP PRICES PAID & CONTRACTING AVAILABLE Your Market For:
Holstein Steers • Fed Dairy Cows • Lean Dairy Cows Your local area buyer for MN, IA and WI.
Bruce Belter • 507-429-0359 Holstein Steers • Lean Cows • Bulls • Fed Cows Bill Bartusch • 877-300-9298 Long Prairie, MN Lean Cows • Bulls
Wisconsin Holstein Juniors honored during annual banquet During the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association’s state convention Jan. 3-5, the annual banquet was held to honor outstanding juniors in the association. Brett Hildebrandt of Dodge County and Breinne Hendrickson of Green County claimed the most prestigious honor, being named Outstanding Holstein Boy and Girl. These individuals have excelled in their Holstein programs and have been an asset to the association and dairy industry as a whole. Also receiving honors were 17 other Distinguished Junior Members, 12 Young Distinguished Junior Member winners, and 18 Twelve & Under Recognition winners, all of which excelled in their Wisconsin Holstein activities in 2013. Of the exceptional youth recognized, four representatives in the Distinguished and Young Distinguished Member categories were selected to submit award forms to the national level with hopes of being honored at the National Convention, being held in Iowa in June. Ryan Pralle of Clark County, Nicholas Schuster of Fond du Lac County, Cassy Krull of Jefferson County and Carrie Warmka of Dodge County were all chosen to represent Wisconsin as Distinguished Junior Members. The Young Distinguished Junior Member delegates include Carley Krull of Jefferson County, Megan Nelson of Trempealeau County, Nicole Pralle of Clark County and Rachel Coyne of Pierce County.
Bill Bartusch • 877-300-9298 South St. Paul, MN Lean Cows • Bulls
Green Bay Dressed Beef
John Larson • 800-345-0293 Green Bay, WI Holstein Steers • Fed Cows • Lean Cows Jim Ryan • 605-668-4275 Yankton, SD Lean Cows • Bulls Mike Baczwaski • 800-445-0042 Gibbon, NE Fed Cows • Lean Cows • Bulls
ABRAHAM’S FARM REPAIR r Call us fo New & ts Used Par
WE CAN REPAIR YOUR HARVESTORES AND UNLOADERS
DAIRYSTAR.COM
Bill Abraham - Over 20 years experience
320-864-6821 Leave message
& SERVICE ISAACSON SALES
Kuhn offers a full range of rear- and side-discharge spreaders. From slurry to pen pack or anything in-between, Kuhn Knight has the machine you need to handle your operation’s manure. IN STOCK: 1) Kuhn-Knight Slinger 8124 2) Kuhn-Knight Pro Push 2044 1) Kuhn-Knight Pro Spread PS 150
1-888-228-8270
71 9TH AVE., LAFAYETTE, MN • 507-228-8270 We have what you need to keep your dairy operation moving forward!
ISAACSON
SALES & ISAACSON SERVICE
& SERVICE ISAACSON SALES The Leader In Manure Spreaders
AJCA All American winners announced The Jersey All American and Reserve All American winners of 2013 have been announced by the American Jersey Cattle Association, Reynoldsburg, Ohio. The winners included: Milking Yearling – Meadowridge Roosevelt Marlie, Roger R. Riebe, Cumberland, Wis., All American winner Intermediate Heifer Calf – Meadowridge Bart Betsy, Roger R. Riebe and Alleah Anderson, Cumberland, Wis., Reserve All American winner Summer Junior Yearling Heifer – Avonlea BC Kept Secret, Jason Steinlage and Grant Fremstad, Lawler, Iowa, All American winner Junior Yearling Heifer – Meadowridge Mac Kaitynn, Michael Riebe and Gene Henderson, Cumberland, Wis., Reserve All American winner Junior Best Three Females – Meadowridge Jerseys, Cumberland, Wis., All American winner.
SALES & SERVICE
Krueger named 2014 Wisconsin Holstein Princess The 2014 Wisconsin Holstein Princess and Attendant were also crowned at the banquet on Saturday evening. This year, Kayla Krueger of Waupaca County will serve as the WHA Princess, and Kristen Broege of Rock County will join her as the WHA Princess Attendant. Sell, Sarbackers recognized by WI Junior Holstein Association Special recognition is given to youth leaders who have been nominated by youth in the Junior Holstein Association and selected by the Junior Activities Committee. This year’s WHY (Wisconsin Holstein Youth) Friends were Mandy Sell of Dodge County in the ve year and under division, and Tom and Vicki Sarbacker of Dane County in the six years and over division. They were recognized during the association’s annual banquet during the state convention Jan. 3-5. New JAC members elected at WI junior Holstein convention Four new Junior Activities Committee (JAC) members were elected at the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association state convention Jan. 3-5. The JAC group is responsible for coordinating and overseeing all junior events within the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association. Selected this year for the southwest district was Charlie Hamilton of Grant County, Jessica Pralle of Clark County for the northwest Turn to PEOPLE | Page 27
Hoop Barn Super Sale! www.silverstreamshelters.com 30’ X 72’ single Galvanized Gatorshield Pipe and Ratchet
$5,790 Limit 5
38’ X 100’ Black Truss Pipe and Ratchet
$11,900 Limit 2
42’ X 100’ Black Truss Pipe and Ratchet
$14,250
Limit 1
SILVER STREAM SHELTERS
1-877-547-4738 • WWW.SILVERSTREAMSHELTERS.COM