Attending the Central Plains Dairy Expo?
DAIRY ST R Visit us in booth C2!
Volume 19, No. 2
“All dairy, all the time”™
March 11, 2017
A fuller Reaching the golden standard load
Proposed bill alleviates milk truck weight restrictions By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
Milk truck drivers across the state of Minnesota are looking for relief from current weight hauling restrictions. A coalition of cooperatives and Minnesota Milk are pushing for two separate pieces of legislation that would provide relief for milk trucks. Due to how they are regulated, one addresses trucks on interstates while the other addresses single unit trucks. For the larger trucks, Minnesota’s interstates have been limited to 80,000 pounds for decades. The issues rose to the surface in 2016, with inconsistencies between states for multi-state cooperatives that saw different rules between states. Then, haulers were issued overweight tickets after hauling milk the same way for decades. The federal government decided to standardize interstate weight limits in 1974. But the federal FAST Act, which was signed into law by President Obama in December 2015, characterized milk as a non-divisible load, which allows states to distribute permits that excludes milk trucks from federal weight limits. “Like a big piece of construction equipment, you have to haul milk all at once,” Josh Finnesgard said. Finnesgard is the co-owner of Finnesgard Trucking out of Goodhue, Minn. Unlike regulations in Wisconsin and Iowa, which alleviate the federal 80,000-pound weight limit for milk trucks, Minnesotans must continue to abide by that law or be issued a hefty ne for not doing so. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) included the change to its Department of Transportation bill, which will next be heard in committee as of this writing on Turn to LOADS | Page 13
Calvert averages 38,000 SCC in third year dairying By Cassie Olson
cassie.o@dairystar.com
MINERAL POINT, Wis. – When Kyle Calvert decided to purchase a dairy herd and resume milking cows on his home farm near Mineral Point, Wis., he did so without expectations. Just three years into his dairying career, Calvert has found his rhythm, milking 70 cows twice per day. At the age of 27 and with an average somatic cell count of 38,000, he was the youngest producer to recently receive a Gold National Dairy Quality Award. If there is a secret to his success, Calvert said he has not discovered it yet. “Honestly, I don’t know that I’m doing anything special,” Calvert said. “I just take my time and careful care while milking the cows.” Calvert began his solo dairying adventure in 2014. His parents, Dave and Cathy Calvert, had milked cows on his home farm until 1996 when they made the decision to sell the herd. For 18 CASSIE OLSON/DAIRY STAR years, the freestall barn and parlor sat vacant, but Calvert never lost his love for the business as he Kyle Calvert milks 70 cows on his farm near Mineral Point, Wis. Calvert recently became the youngest person to receive a Gold NaƟonal Dairy Quality Award Turn to CALVERT | Page 7 with an average somaƟc cell count of 38,000.
A band of brothers
MIKE KOSIK/DAIRY STAR
The O’Reilly family – (front, from leŌ) Ethan, Maddox, Kaleb, Baxter; (back, from leŌ) Kelby, Bailee, Dorothy and Zach – cheered on Kelby and Bailee at the state wrestling tournament March 3-5 in St. Paul, Minn. Five O’Reilly brothers parƟcipate on the Goodhue varsity wrestling team.
O’Reilly family shares time on farm, mat By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
GOODHUE, Minn. – As the Minnesota state high school wrestling tournament came to an end March 4, the bands of brothers dispersed for another year, but for the O’Reilly brothers, that band reaches far beyond the wrestling mat.
Five brothers, Bailee, 17, Kelby, 16, Kaleb, 16, Baxter, 14, and Maddox, 13, O’Reilly – ranging from a senior in high school to a seventh grader –, are all on the Goodhue Wildcats varsity wrestling team, and also reliable farm help on their family’s 280-cow dairy near Goodhue, Minn. “Dairying and wrestling are actually very similar,” said the brothers’ dad, Zach. “Whether it’s farming or the sport, you have to be committed, consistent and keep things simple, and if you do it right you make your own luck.” Turn to O’REILLYS | Page 5
Page 2 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017
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 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
In the spring, it’s always fun to have the Minnesota DHIA reports printed in the paper. For this issue, we looked for farms that had signiďƒžcantly raised production compared to three years ago. Six dairy farm families – Sobecks, Kerns, Grueneses, Tumbergs, Kurths and Bachmanns – answered questions about how they have made those increases possible. Read about what they did to boost production on pages 10, 11 and 12 in ďƒžrst section. By Mark Klaphake Another interesting read this issue is about a Editor new calf barn at Global Dairy in Estelline, S.D. The owners of this farm decided to try raising youngstock a little differently, taking inspiration for their new facility from a modern pig nursery. Read on pages 4 and 5 in section second section about how calves are raised in a different type of facility. Century farms are becoming a rarity across the countryside, but even less popular are century dairy farms that have kept the milking barn running. For Scott and Ashlee Uekert, of Marathon, Wis., they are proud to be one of the few who are dairying on their family’s century dairy farm. Read about their family’s success on page 17 in second section. For this issue’s “From our side of the fenceâ€? feature, we talked about another animal other than cows – farm dogs. Farmers told us why their having a farm dog is important to them and a few of their dog’s unique characteristics. Meet these farmers and their special canine companions on pages 15 and 16 in ďƒžrst section. And don’t forget about one of our newest features in the paper – Family Ties. Read how brother and sister – Dean Frisle and Dawn Schauer maintain a farming connection despite living in different states. The two relate to each in a way that allows them support each other in their own dairy businesses.
Favorite quotes from this issue:
“A CDL is required ... if you are hauling someone else’s animals – even when you are going somewhere like the state fair.� - Kory Stalsberg
(Third Section, Pages 8-9)
“Anyone can buy cows, but breeding them is another step.� - Henk Van Dyk
(Third Section, 2-3)
By the Numbers
40 MILLION:
Worldwide views of The Peterson Farm Brothers Youtube channel. (Third Section, Pages 4, 6)
25 MILLION:
Pounds of butter consumption added each year if the 14,000 McDonalds in the nation increased butter use by 5 pounds each day. (Second Section, Pages 28, 30)
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Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017 • Page 3
It’s all inside... Why is having a farm dog important to you? Pages 15 - 16
New Richmond
Willows Edge complete dispersal on March 18 Children Museum of Eau Claire hosts June John F. CruzDairy Month activities Viroqua, Wis.
All-Breeds Convention
All-Breeds Convention Round Table presentation Page 15
Second Section: Pages 26 - 27
Iron
n ur
Sawyer
Willard
Williams still farming despite health problems
Price
First Section: Page 28
Rusk
Barron
Taylor Chippewa
Pierce
Dunn
Brian Bigler
Decorah, Iowa
Mineral Point
Buffalo Barron, Wis.
Dairy Prole: John Blume and Alexa Hoffman Page 39
Calvert averages 38,000 SCC in third year dairying
Clark
Eau Claire
Pepin
Trempealeau
St. Croix
First Section: Pages 1, 7
Jackson Broadhead
Kid’s Corner: The Day Family
La Crosse Monroe
Third Section: Pages 16 - 17
Vernon
Winnebago
Worth
Mitchell
Cerro Hancock Gordo
Dairy’s Star Youth: Anna Sachs Pages 18 - 19 Some Udder Stuff
Floyd
Howard
ick
Ch
w
a as
Bremer
Pages 20 - 21 Dairy Calendar
Pages 23 - 30 Classieds
hb
Polk
Jay Decker
Bernard, Iowa
Pages 38 - 39 Dairy Recipes
Pages 12 - 13
Bayeld
W as
Burnett
Page 17
THIRD SECTION Pages 4, 6 Peterson details internet fame, key to social media advocacy Pages 8 - 9 Stalsberg prepares farmers for safe, legal hauling Pages 10 - 11
Halopka presents on dangers of manure gases
Ashland
Pages 14 - 15 Dairying Across America
Uekert family farm thrives for 160 years Pages 20 - 21 Family Ties Page 22 November mailbox prices higher in most reporting areas Page 25 Mid-American Hay Auction Results Page 28 Plourd presents optimistic opportunity for agriculture Page 37 Opportunities
Stetsonville
Second Section: Pages 3, 6
Second Section: Pages 18 - 19
Douglas
Pages 14 - 15 Second Section
Buhr Farms rely on robotic milkers
Samuel milking cows for 45 years
Third Section: Pages 2 - 3
Eau Claire
Sumner
Hatchville
Zone 2
Black Hawk
B
For additional stories from our other zone, log on to www.dairystar.com
Iowa
Clayton
an
an
ford
Craw
Dane
Grant
Fayette
h uc
Richland
Allamakee
SECOND SECTION Pages 4 - 5 New facility provides a warm, healthful environment for youngstock Pages 10 - 11 The “Mielke” Market Weekly Page 12 Dairy Markets
FROM OUR SIDE OF THE FENCE:
Winneshiek
FIRST SECTION Pages 1, 13 Proposed bill alleviates milk truck weight restrictions Pages 1, 5-6 O’Reilly family shares time on farm, mat Page 9 Ag Insider Pages 10 - 12 Producers share insight on signicant production increase Pages 18, 20 Grouping cows leads to better management, higher production for Johnsons Page 26 FSA News & Notes Page 27 The Transition Pen Page 29 Rosedale Genetics: A journey through the show ring and beyond Page 30 Dear County Agent Guy Page 31 On the Mark Page 32 Making Cents of Dairy Page 33 Dairy Good Life Page 34 Veterinary Wisdom Page 35 God bless veterinarians
are
w ela
D
Linn
Lafayette
Green
Dubuque
Jones
Jackson
New Vienna
Women in Jeans: Joyce Pasker First Section: Page 36
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Page 4 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017
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USED EQUIPMENT SAUK CENTRE TRACTORS NH 8770, 2WD, 20.8x42 Duals.......................$49,000 NH T7000 Front PTO/3 Point Kit .....................$6,500 JD 3400 Telehandler ........................................ Just In! SKID LOADERS NH L230, Cab Heat, A/C, Air Seat .................$36,900 NH L218, Cab, Heat .......................................$24,900 HAY TOOLS NH 1475, 14’ Haybine ....................................$13,500 BALERS NH BR7070, Crop Cutter................................$28,900 NH BR7090, Net Only, Wide P/U ...................$27,900 NH BR780A, Twine/Net, Wide P/U .................$11,500 JD 568, Net/Twine, Wide P/U .........................$19,000 NH BR7070 Roto-Cut...................................... Just In! TILLAGE Salford 8214 Plow, 14 Bottom .......................$55,500 JD 3710, 10 Bottom Plow...............................$42,500 FORAGE Krone EC7500 ................................................$29,500 NH 365W Hay Head, 15’, Off FX25. .................$5,900 NH 919A4 CH, 4R-36”, Fits 1915.....................$1,750 NH FX25, 4WD, AutoLube, 360N6 CH, 365W HH, Consigned .................................... $52,500 MANURE SPREADERS NH 195, Hydraulic Drive ...................................$8,900 MISCELLANEOUS Berti TA-220 Offset Flail Mower. .......................$4,500 PIERZ
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SKID LOADERS NH LS170, Cab, Heat, Hyd. Q-Tach...............$19,700 NH 218, Cab, Heat, A/C, 2 Speed..................$28,800 NH L220, Cab, Heat, A/C, 2 Speed................$32,700 HAY TOOLS NH 166 Inverter, Hyd Drive, RH Table Ext ........$6,700 NH 1411, 10’ 4” Discbine ...............................$13,500 (2) NH 499, 12’ Haybines, 540 PTO Starting at $5,500 (2) NH 1475, 14’ Haybines.............. Starting at $3,500 NH 492 Haybine, Nice ......................................$5,800 NH H7230, 10’ 4” Discbine, Std Tongue ........$17,800 BALERS NH BR780, Net/Twine, Bale Command .........$17,500 NH BR740a, Auto-Wrap, Wide P/U, Monitor .$15,400 NH BR740, Bale Slice, Net/Twine...................$17,500 NH BR7060, Roto Cut, Twine/Net, New Belts..$22,500 NH BR7070, Net-Twine, XtraSweep ...............$23,500 JD 469 Premium, Net, Mega Wide P/U ..........$34,500 JD 547, Twine, Bale Ramps, 540 PTO .............$8,200 TILLAGE Krause 8200, 25’ Disc, Cush. Gang ...............$35,500 JD 726, 38’ Mulch Finisher .............................$15,000 JD Plow, 5 Bottom, Hyd Reset ............................$750 GRAIN HANDLING Sudenga 8”x61’, 540 PTO Drive ......................$2,900 FORAGE NH FP230, 27P HH, 3PN CH, KP...................$39,500 Miller Pro 5200, 16’ Rear, 12T Tandem ............$7,800 NH 790, 12 Knives, 824 CH ...........................$11,500 NH 3PN Corn Head ..........................................$9,800 MANURE SPREADERS NH 155, Splash Guard, New Tire .....................$7,900 MISCELLANEOUS Hiniker 5610, RH Discharge Stalk Chopper .....$7,900 NH 918 Flail Mower ..........................................$2,600 Grouser Skid loader tracks...................................Call!
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SAUK CENTRE, MN
320-352-6543 • Hwy. 71 South
PIERZ, MN
320-468-2161 • Hwy. 27 West
© 2017 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. “New Holland” is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or afÀliates. “Equipped For A New World” is a trademark in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or afÀliates.
PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR COME IN AND SAVE!
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OPEN HOUSE
MARCH 13-17, 2017
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sauk Centre & Pierz Locations
Special financing available! Milk, Coffee, Doughnuts & Ice Cream All Week
Open House Financing: NO INTEREST FOR 120 DAYS* ON QUALIFYING PURCHASES OF $750 OR MORE** Interest will be charged to you account from the end of the 120 day promotional period if the promotional balance is not paid in full within the promotional period. Offer valid on new genuine New Holland or remanufactured parts and related services, Purchases must be made on the CNH Industrial Capital Productivity Plus Account. *With credit approval. After the promotional period, the standard variable APR for purchases will apply except when you Account is at the default APR. See your billing statement and account agreement for you specific APR information and additional details. Offer valid for Accounts in good standing; see dealership for details. Minimum payments required. May not be combined with any other credit promotional offer. **Purchase requirement before taxes, fees and other discounts and must be made in a single transaction.
GET 10% OFF PARTS & LABOR ON ANY REPAIRS, ALONG WITH 50% OFF TRUCKING Schedule your spring maintenance inspections before March 31 and you may also be eligible for 6 extra months of parts warranty on repairs we complete!
Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017 • Page 5
ConƟnued from O’REILLYS | Page 1
Is your cow a Drinker? Make her first drink count! Famo Dairy Drink is a drinkable, nutritional supplement given immediately after calving. Famo Dairy Drink’s calling card is its superior palatability... she will drink it!
So what else does this unique formula provide? MIKE KOSIK/DAIRY STAR
Bailee O’Reilly (right) wrestles an opponent during his 160-pound matchup at the Minnesota State High School Wrestling Tournament March 3-5 in St. Paul, Minn. ple, and if you do it right you make cism and character for his younger siblings. The high school senior ended your own luck.” Zach manages the dairy, Sham- his high school career in grand fashrock Farms, with his brother, Ben, and ion with a state championship in the 160-pound class, after being named father, Steven. In addition to milking cows and the 152-pound class A state champion feeding youngstock, Zach and his last year and having the second-most wife, Dorothy, and the O’Reilly sib- all-time wins for Goodhue. He is now lings, including the youngest two the rst Goodhue wrestler to win two – Ethan and Greta – spent the rst state championship titles. weekend in March cheering on their “Setting a good example is always Wildcats, Bailee and Kelby, as they something I take pride in and the succompeted for state titles at the Excel cess on the mat is the reward,” Bailee Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. said. “I want them to treat everyone As the oldest brother, Bailee has with respect, work hard in the classset quite the precedence in athleti- room, and just do all the little things Turn to O’REILLYS | Page 6
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Page 6 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017
ConƟnued from O’REILLYS | Page 5
MIKE KOSIK/DAIRY STAR
Bailee O’Reilly composes himself aŌer a match at the state wrestling meet. Bailee was named the 160-pound Class A State Champion.
Target Your Customers!
The Dairy Star is sent only to DAIRY FARMERS!
If you would like to advertise in the DAIRY STAR, call 320-352-6303 for more information.
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Willmar Ag Show March 14-15
Willmar, MN
WILLMAR CIVIC CENTER • 9-4 DAILY
FREE Parking
All ag displays including crop inputs, feed, material handling, building, swine and dairy equipment.
TUESDAY, MARCH 14TH SEMINAR:
10:30 a.m. Commodities - Van Ahn and Companies from Alexandria, MN - heard on the Linder Farm Network
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15TH SEMINAR:
11:00 a.m. Estate Planning
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right.” For Kelby, it was his rst year wrestling in the state competition. At 152 pounds, the high school sophomore claimed the section title and capped off the season with more than 35 wins, including a third-place nish at state. “It’s great knowing I came out of one of the best sections in the state, and was able to represent section 1, my family and, most importantly, my school,” Kelby said. Watching his sons grow in the sport has been a remarkable journey for Zach, who also wrestled as a youth. “I wasn’t as good as the kids are now,” Zach said. “I’ve learned as soon as they hit 10th or 11th grade, I know better than to grab hold of them.” The O’Reilly brothers rst began wrestling in kindergarten when they participated in folkstyle wrestling. Throughout the years, they developed the needed skills of a wrestler and became well versed in the traditional freestyle method and Greco. When the brothers are not practicing at school, their garage is home for them to practice their moves and techniques. “Even in the winter, we park our vehicles outside so that the mat is set up in the garage,” Zach said. Growing up on their family’s dairy farm has also aided in the brothers’ success, which is evident at every meet. When able, the O’Reilly brothers help with milking and hay making – baling round bales, picking them up in the elds and storing them. “They’re always hauling manure or plowing or doing tractor work in the spring and fall,” Zach said. “They do scrape and lime stalls, but I try not to give them too many chores when it’s time to cut weight.” However, there is one exception. When Sundays arrive, regardless if it is the heart of wrestling season or not, the O’Reilly brothers are in the barn before daybreak. Together, with one hired-hand, Codey Lexvold, they complete the chores while the farm’s other employees have the day off. “Dairy farming has taught me that hard work and dedication is the best path to success,” said sophomore Kaleb, who wrestled the season at 145 pounds with 35 wins. “And I’ve also
learned that it is the most rewarding in the end.” Zach agreed, attesting to how working on the dairy has encouraged his sons to have the right mindset when approaching a wrestling meet and being pleased with the results knowing they did their best. Maddox said having older brothers to wrestle against and to mentor him has been advantageous. “My brothers push me to do my best and nothing less than that,” he said. “They have made me way better by doing extra wrestling and sometimes in the early mornings before school.” At 106 pounds and in seventh grade, Maddox completed his rst varsity season with 20 wins. Baxter said he tries to emulate his older brothers in many different ways. “My brothers are great wrestlers and people,” Baxter said. “I try to copy [Bailee’s] work ethic, whether that is in school, on the mat or at home.” Baxter is an eighth grader, who nished the wrestling season with 16 wins in the 126-pound weight class after coming off a wrist injury from football. When Baxter fully recovered, it was a memorable day for the O’Reilly family as all ve brothers competed and won in the varsity competition – a double dual meet against WatervilleElysian-Morristown and JanesvilleWaldorf-Pemberton (WEM/JWP) and St. Peter. “I was really hoping all my sons would make the team. When they nally did, that was a big deal,” Zach said. As a proud parent and dairy producer, balancing chores and cheering on the kids can be difcult, but Zach has not missed a single match. On competition days, Zach will help get the evening chores started and then leave the farm in enough time to watch his sons wrestle. “I had no idea what it was like for my dad to watch me until I had my own kids,” Zach said. “It’s a lot of fun for me to watch my kids be successful.” The fun does not seem to be running out anytime soon. Next year, Ethan will be in seventh grade and eligible for the high school wrestling team, where the O’Reilly band will continue.
Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017 • Page 7
ConƟnued from CALVERT | Page 1 worked on numerous dairies throughout high school. “It is all I’ve ever known,” Calvert said. Following his high school graduation, Calvert attended University of Wisconsin-Platteville where he studied agriculture business for two and a half years while working for another producer, Rodney Weigel. There was no question; Calvert wanted to milk a herd of his own, and in 2014, he began doing just that. “I had everything available to get started back home,” Calvert said. “I decided to take the gamble and it was one that proved to be worthwhile.” Having been utilized for raising heifers, the facilities on Calvert’s farm were still in-tact despite an 18-year absence of a milking herd. As he searched
year,” Calvert said. “But I quickly learned to be patient.” That patience paid off as Calvert now averages 76 pounds per cow, with a 4.1 percent butterfat and 3.1 percent protein while milking twice a day. Combined with his attention to detail, Calvert’s patience also led him to receive a Gold National Dairy Quality Award from the National Mastitis Council. It was his rst year receiving a milk quality award from his processor, as well as his rst year competing in the national milk quality contest. Calvert applied for the award at the suggestion of his Swiss Valley Farms representative, Ken Ley. CASSIE OLSON/DAIRY STAR “My eld rep suggested I Cows are bedded on sand in a naturally-venƟlated freestall barn with fans over the stalls and apply, and I lled out the appli- feed bunk. cation in November,” Calvert said. “[Ken] helped me ll out milkings, they recognize prob- days, depending on severity. them, he said he could not have lems quickly and easily. Keeping the cows com- reached this achievement. “It’s just me and Dad here; fortable and clean are also key. “It is a nice pat on the sometimes my brother will Sand bedding is replaced ev- back,” Calvert said. “I’m come in for a milking if neither ery 10 days, pens are scraped young and small; most people of us will be around, but it’s once per day and waterers are don’t know this farm even exjust family,” Calvert said. “We cleaned twice per week. To ists, so this was a huge honor.” know the cows and can tell keep the SCC from rising in the Calvert has plans to build KYLE CALVERT, DAIRY PRODUCER right away when something hot summer months, Calvert a dry cow barn in the coming for a herd of cattle, he made the application.” isn’t right.” said he tries to keep the barn as year and to buy the farm from the necessary updates to get In an interview with Swiss Visual detection during comfortable as possible. his parents in the long-run. For the farm in order. After buying Valley Farms, Ley said he milking and careful monitoring “When it warms up, bacte- now, Calvert is relishing in his a new bulk tank, equipment for made the suggestion due to in the freestall barn has helped ria just grow faster. I have fans recent accomplishment as a the parlor and vacuum pumps Calvert’s consistency. Calvert keep his SCC consis- over the stalls and feed bunk, as symbol of the last three years. for the units, he purchased his “If his SCC ever gets up tently low. Identifying cows well as curtains on the walls,” “In these rst three years, herd from a farm in Shawano, to 90,000, Kyle thinks, ‘Oops. with hard quarters or seeing Calvert said. “Even in the sum- I saw all the bad; a lot of times Wis. Somebody’s got something,’” their interactions change be- mer months, I keep somatic I wanted to give up, but it was Calvert admitted that start- Ley said. tween milkings are ways Cal- cell counts under 100,000.” all worth it,” Calvert said. “It ing out was anything but easy. Calvert said he is able to vert said he has been able to do Calvert said he owes a big really is an indescribable feel“It was denitely hard at keep his SCC low because of so. Cows identied with masti- thank you to his parents for ing.” rst. The cows were milking his attention in the parlor. As tis are treated with Spectramast their support in his rst three 60 pounds at best for the rst he and his dad complete all the once per day for three to ve years of farming. Without
“I’m young and small; most people don’t know this farm even exists, so this was a huge honor.”
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Getting a team in place Russell Group president Randy Russell, a veteran of several farm bills, thinks Sonny Perdue could be on board as agriculture secretary by the end of the month. Russell also believes it’ll take much longer than that to get the entire USDA team in place. “We’re very hopeful we’ll see Governor Perdue get a hearing in front of the Senate Ag Committee maybe as early as the second week of March. Hopefully, he’ll be conrmed by the end of the month. It may take the rest of the calendar year to get the rest of the team in place, which is unAg Insider fortunate, but a fact of life.” Russell thinks the leaders of both agriculture committees will have a document to put before their committees to start markup of the farm bill very early next year. In Russell’s view, this will not be a revolutionary farm bill; it will be more evolutionary. One of the areas that will need to be addressed is dairy policy. “They’ll have to x the Margin Protection Program.” Conaway’s farm bill feedback In 2018, House Ag Committee Chairman Mike Conaway thinks we’ll have a better backdrop to support a safety net and keep producers in business. “I am askBy Don Wick ing folks if they have requests for more money, who Columnist will we take it away from? The budget is at. That will require swapping around from where it is currently at. I anticipate there will be hard decisions to make. I raised my hand and lobbied to get this job and I want to be the guy that helps make decisions.” Conaway said it’s important to get a Farm Bill done on-time. “The docket is probably pretty full moving forward, so I don’t anticipate being able to get at the Farm Bill until late fourth quarter into 2018. There’s no reason we can’t get it done.” First farm bill eld hearing The Senate Agriculture Committee held their rst 2018 Farm Bill eld hearing in Manhattan, Kansas. In his opening statement, Chairman Pat Roberts said all of agriculture is struggling right now, not just one or two crops. Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow agreed. “Low prices have pinched margins and made it tough for many producers to make ends meet. It’s a tough time. Producers want us to take a look at cotton and dairy issues. I think our Senate Ag Committee members agree we need to focus on the needs of farmers and rural communities in the next Farm Bill and not arbitrary cuts. We created savings in the last Farm Bill. Now, I think it’s important to address agriculture’s needs.” POTUS deals with WOTUS The controversial Waters of the United States is on the way out. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a formal review of the WOTUS rule. This begins the process of repealing the WOTUS regulation. In a statement, the National Milk Producers Federation said the Trump decision is a welcome development for dairy farmers. The action indicates the Administration recognizes we need to go back and rethink the entire process that led us to this point. Farm economy adjusts lower Farm income has declined for four straight years. Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City assistant vice president and regional economist Nate Kauffman says agriculture is facing signicant economic challenges. “Farm income from its peak in 2013 has projected to decline by 50 percent. You’re going from 2013 historic highs to where we are in 2017 and there is mounting nancial pressure.” To provide some perspective, Kauffman said the current farm economy is similar to what was seen in 2002. “In a historical context, it’s not at a level that would be so low that it would be compared to the depths seen in the 1980s.” Alfalfa’s new checkoff program The National Alfalfa and Forage Alliance visited Capitol Hill, meeting with
Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017 • Page 9
lawmakers about research and the safety net. NAFA President Beth Nelson says alfalfa growers are making an investment in research with its new checkoff program. “Because alfalfa isn’t sold at a common sale point or taken to the elevator, it’s been a hurdle to gure out the checkoff system. Seed marketers on a voluntary basis will be collecting $1 per bag sold from the farmers. That funding will go 100 percent into public research.” Record year for Land O’Lakes Land O’Lakes is reporting record earnings for 2016. At $320 million, the net earnings are $16 million higher than the previous year. The Dairy Foods business segment had 2016 net sales of $3.8 billion, down from $4 billion. Record volumes were seen in branded butter and food service sales. In its rst full year with the combined Wineld and the United Suppliers crop protection business, sales totaled $5.5 billion. That’s up from $4.8 billion in 2015. Wineld and United will be fully unied on October 1 of this year. The Animal Nutrition business segment had net 2016 sales of $3.8 billion. That compares to $4.2 billion in the previous year. Land O’Lakes had record volume and earnings in its milk replacer business. Holstein breeders honored The Wisconsin Holstein Association has presented its highest honor to Carl and Bonner Werner of Dodge County. The award recognizes Car-Bon Holsteins as the Distinguished Holstein Breeder of 2017. Rick and Paula Bovre of Great Northern Land and Cattle Company, received the Distinguished Service Award. Adam Borchert of Tree-Hayven Holsteins took home the Young Breeder Award. 25 years for PDPW The Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin is celebrating its 25th anniversary at its annual conference March 15-16 in Madison. A special tribute will be given to PDPW founders Pete Kappelman, Linda Hodorff, Alan Koepke, Joe Draxler, Pete Giacomini, Mike Brown, Lynn Johnson and Terry Smith. Longtime UW dairy professor passes William ‘Terry’ Howard, 80, has passed away. Howard was a professor in the UW-Madison Extension dairy science department for 31 years. Trivia challenge The average American consumes 23 pounds of cheese per year. That answers our last trivia question. For this week’s trivia, we’re focused on ice cream. Vanilla, chocolate and strawberry are the three most popular ice cream avors. What kind of ice cream is ranked fourth? We’ll have the answer in the next edition of Dairy Star. Don Wick is owner/broadcaster for the Red River Farm Network, based in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Wick has been recognized as the National Farm Broadcaster of the Year and served as president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Don and his wife, Kolleen, have two adult sons, Tony and Sam, and ve grandchildren, Aiden, Piper, Adrienne, Aurora and Sterling.
“This keeps all the details in one place.” Why do you test with DHIA? We test with DHIA for multiple reasons. We like having all the information at our Àngertips. It’s very convenient to have software that will keep you in the loop, and my DHIA testing enhances my daily milk weights and activity already on the farm. With SCC, component testing and milk pregnancy testing, DHIA makes my life easier. I now keep track of lameness events, regular hoof trimming, and all mastitis and health events. What beneÀts do you see to using protocols? I like being able to see at a glance which cows are still hot and can’t be sold or antibiotic tested yet.
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How long have you been using it? We set up hoof trimming protocols a couple years ago and I threw away my spreadsheets I had kept for years on each individual cow. This keeps all the details in one place. In the past year, I’ve added my protocols for health events as well. I’ve always been extremely cautious when it comes to using drugs and obeying withdrawl periods. This just makes that so much easier. What is the best feature? If I have to pick one, it’s the lameness manager. Hoof trimming lists are done very quickly and I can see at a glance what’s happening over the lactation with her hooves. How has this changed how you do things on your farm? It has certainly decreased my time needed in the ofÀce which is a huge plus without hired help!
Holly Thompson • Little Valley Dairy Plainview, MN • 188 cows Minnesota Dairy Herd Improvement Association 307 Brighton Avenue South Buffalo, MN 55313 1.800.827.3442 www.mndhia.org
Page 10 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017
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Producers share insight on signiďƒžcant production increase The Dairy Star staff visited with six dairy farms that test with DHIA in Minnesota. These producers had substantial herd average increases from 2013 to 2016. What was your herd average three years ago, what is it now?
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Bachmann: It was 16,211 and it is now 23,565. Gruenes: The averages listed are for our Holstein cows. In 2013, for 1,192 cows, we had 27,030 RHA; 1116 fat; 871 protein. In 2016, for 1,720 cows, we had 35,366 RHA; 1336 fat; 1112 protein. Kern: Three years ago our rolling herd average was 24,235 pounds of milk, and now it is 30,570 pounds of milk. Tumberg: We went from 18,000 to 25,000. Kurth: Our RHA three years ago was 18,098. Our current RHA is 23,367. Sobeck: Three years ago, our rolling herd average was 22,177 and now it is 28,175.
Jason and Nancy Bachmann, daughters, Ashley and BriĆŠany, 60 cows Frazee, Minn.; Becker County
How many times a day do you milk?
Bachmann: We milk two times a day. We use our 32-cow tiestall barn as a ďƒ&#x;at barn parlor. We call it a 32-cow, carry-6 parlor. That usually gets a good laugh. Gruenes: We milk three times a day. Our parlor is a double-24 parallel rapid exit. Kern: We milk three times a day in a double-6 rapid exit pit parlor with automatic take-offs. We have a double-6 rapid exit pit parlor with automatic take offs and a 55-cow holding pen. We prep six cows at a time. The ďƒžrst pass we strip, check for signs of mastitis and dip with a hydrogen peroxide dip. On the second pass, we wipe with microďƒžber towels. The milking unit is attached on the third pass. We use a combination of iodine and chlorhexidine with 10 percent emollients for a post dip. Tumberg: We milk three times a day in a tiestall barn. Kurth: We milk twice a day in a 26-stall tiestall barn. The remaining cows are switched in and out. We milk with ďƒžve automatic take-offs. One person milks while the other person switches cows in and out. Sobeck: An average of 2.7 times a day with robotic milkers. We built a new robotic facility, which we started using in June 2015. When a cow enters a robot, brushes apply a peroxide-based disinfectant to the teats. The brushes then wash off the disinfectant and dry the teats before the milking unit is attached. The total preparation time is two minutes. When the cow is done milking, teats are sprayed with an iodine solution.
Twin Spruce Farms, Inc., 1,575 cows Kris and Arnie Gruenes Richmond, Minn.; Stearns County
Kerncrest LLC, 98 cows Ken and Lisa Kern, and Andrew (pictured) and Allana Kern Owatonna, Minn.; Steele County
What type of facility do you have for your cows? What kind of bedding do you use?
Bachmann: Our cows are housed outside on a bedded pack in a two-sided loaďƒžng shed with pasture access at all times. We use rotary combined wheat straw, 3-by 4- by-8-foot squares at an average of one bale per day. Gruenes: Our barns are either power ventilated or cross ventilated freestall barns. We have sand bedding. Turn to PRODUCERS | Page 11
ScoĆŠ and Jolene Tumberg, 80 cows Pictured front, from leĹŒ: Amy, Ricky and Quinny; (back row) Amanda, Anna, ScoĆŠ and Jolene. New York Mills, Minn.; OĆŠer Tail County
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KurthKine Farms and 3 Sisters Dairy, 55 cows Bill and Leah Kurth Cosmos, Minn.; Renville County
Sobeck Farms, 230 cows Alex Kjos and Chris Sobeck (pictured), Gary Sobeck and Jim Sobeck Winona, Minn.; Winona County
Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017 • Page 11
ConƟnued from PRODUCERS | Page 10
Kern: We have a cross-ventilated freestall barn with sand bedding. We also have two bedded pack pens. One is used as a hospital pen and one is for calving. We moved into this facility in 2014. Before that, we milked our cows in a tiestall barn. Tumberg: We have a 67-cow tiestall barn with extra cows on a bedded pack in a hoop barn. Both barns are bedded with wheat straw. Kurth: The barn stays full, while the remaining switch cows are housed in a cornstalk-bedded loang shed. The barn is bedded with wheat straw. Sobeck: Our new barn has sand bedded freestalls, which have sand saver mats with sand added every ve days. Before this, we had a 63-stall stanchion barn with the herd housed in a freestall barn. This old facility is now used for our dry cows. In the new barn, we have alley scrapers that run every three hours. We also clean the back of the stalls by hand three times a day. The herd is split into two pens, each with two robots. One group is rst and second lactation cows with the rest of the milking herd in the other group.
What have been the three most important factors in obtaining a better herd average?
Bachmann: It has been a long process, coming to a head the past 18 months. Starting with faith, without the Lord and Savior above, nothing is possible. From there it has been anywhere from a good relationship with our lender, United Community Bank, to friends and neighbors who helped us when we purchased our rst irrigator in 2009. Also, friends and dairy farmers Aho Brothers Dairy helped us get our reproduction issues in order and improved our genetics. Cliff and Dave from Dairyland Vet Service not only work with us on routine monthly herd health checks, but also took the time to give us advice when we expanded in 2010 and went to outside housing, which
was a huge step for us. Eddy, our agronomist at Professional Agronomy Services, works with us to get the best use from our land, but also works with our nutritionist to see that we are getting as many micronutrients through our forage as possible. We made a nal change in 2015 when our herd average was still at 16,000. We began with nutritionist Jim, at Lakes Area Co-op for all dairy feed needs. The feed department staff at LAC sees to it that they sell good, consistent quality feed ingredients. Gruenes: Genetics, feed quality, cow comfort and paying attention to the little things. Kern: The rst is to keep the cows comfortable. We’ve done this with sand bedding, appropriatesized stalls and proper ventilation. Feed is the second most important factor. We make daily adjustments to the ration and use high quality feed. The third is our teamwork and milking three times a day. Tumberg: We put up a hoop barn in the summer of 2014, which enabled us to house the switch cows more comfortably. It also allowed us to properly care for our dry cows. At the end of February 2015, we started milking three times per day. After reevaluating our calf raising program, we started exclusively feeding AmpliCalf starter and grower pellets. The calves are also fed whole milk three times a day. The heifers are calving younger, fully grown and ready to milk. We stopped using middle-of-the-road sires. We focus on top bulls for production and health traits. We switched to BMR corn silage. We try to put up high quality forages and chop everything. Kurth: Since we started switching cows, we have seen an increase in cow comfort. With some of our herd out of the barn getting exercise, we are able to see stronger heat cycles which has helped decrease DIM along with healthier cows in general. By breeding specically for type, we have produced higher quality heifers which are able to contribute to a higher RHA. Additional fan installations in the barn as well as the loang shed have allowed us to control ventilation, thus keeping the cows
comfortable. Sobeck: The rst is the new facility. With the robots, we have increased the number of milking times per day to almost three. We used to only milk twice a day. The cows are more comfortable in the new freestall barn. Now that we’ve reached our herd size goal, we can be more selective on the cows we keep. We’ve found that milking speed is one of the most important factors while milking. With the new facility we’ve also decreased somatic cell count to 120,000. The second factor is all the information we get from the robots. It helps us better manage our herd, which in turn helps the cows produce more. We like looking at conductivity, rumination, activity and milk temperature. From this information we can quickly tell if a cow is sick. We have recently begun culturing, too. The third factor is the individual feeding plan. If we have a high producing cow, we can give her the energy she needs to sustain that production. On the other end, we won’t be feeding a late lactation cow lots of energy if she doesn’t need it. It helps keep things cost-efcient.
What is your ration, and have you made any recent changes that have increased production?
Bachmann: We feed 50 percent haylage, 50 percent corn silage, a complete dairy grain mix and a protein top dress. We currently do not use a mixer. When we switched to Jim, he lowered our urea and corn to meet rumen needs and added true protein and energy from fat to meet milk production which also raised forage levels for a healthier rumen. Gruenes: Our ration consists of corn silage, haylage, snaplage, ne ground dry corn and a variety of commodities and mineral mix. Kern: Our ration per cow consists of 52 pounds of corn silage, 7 pounds of 200 RFQ hay, 7 pounds of 155 RFQ hay, 14 pounds of corn gluten pellets, 13 pounds of corn, 3 pounds of soybean meal, 3.3 pounds of base mix, 0.75 pounds of protected fat and Turn to PRODUCERS | Page 12
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MF GC1705 w/60” deck ............................... Just In MF 8690, FWA, loaded, 1 yr. old....................Save MF 8660 CVT, only 460 hrs ....................$129,000 MF 8660 CVT, 600 hrs ........................... Coming In MF 8650 CVT ........................................... Coming In MF 8650, 1 yr. old, 300 hrs. ......................... Just In MF 8650 .......................................................$120,000 MF 7497 ......................................................... $95,000 MF 7490 CVT, 2500 hrs. .............................. Just In MF 6490, AWD ............................................. $82,000 MF 1085 w/cab ...............................................$7,500 AGCO DT 220 .......................................... Coming In
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JD 2700 ripper .........................................................$19,500 JD 510, 7 shank disk chisel ..................................$10,500 Lorenz 100 grinder mixer ......................................Just in MF 9895 combine, only 438 sep hrs ........................ Call Case IH 870, 9 shank ripper......................................... Call Sunflower 7200-28 Soil Cond................................Just In Sunflower 4610 ripper .....................................Coming In Sunflower 4511-13 disc chisel ......................Coming In Sunflower 4411-9 ripper ......................................$24,000 Sunflower 1435-26 disc ...........................................Just In Sunflower 1435-23 tandem disc w/mulcher $35,000 Sunflower 1434-32 tandem disc .......................$32,500 Krause 4900, 30’ disc................................................ $9,500 Geringhoff 6 row chopping head ....................... $8,500 Demco 650 gravity box ...........................................Just In MF 2170XD baler ................................................. $100,000 MF 2150, only 11,000 bales.................................$65,000 Vermeer 5500 round baler .....................................Just In Vermeer 605N, only 500 bales ..............................Just In Vermeer 605M, low bales ............................................ Call Vermeer 605M corn stalk, only 1500 bales....$39,500 NH 340 3x3, 2015, only 4500 bales .............Coming In J&M 620 grain cart ................................................... $8,500 Minnesota 250 gravity box w/auger ................. $1,500 JD 2700 5-bottom .................................................... $4,950 JD 240 disc mower ................................................... $2,450
Page 12 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017
ConƟnued from PRODUCERS | Page 11
10 pounds of added water. Our most recent changes have been adding water and fat. The fat helps keep the components up and helps high producing cows retain body fat. The water makes the ration more palatable. Tumberg: Our ration includes haylage, BMR corn silage, ne ground dry corn, protein, mineral mix, and QLF liquid. The changes we have implemented are BMR corn silage and ration consistency. Our nutritionist, Jos Melse, does an excellent job and is always willing to help. Kurth: In the last ve years, we have put up baleage. Three and a half years ago, we switched from a horizontal reel mixer to a vertical mixer. Our cow ration consists of 16 pounds of dry matter corn silage, 15.5 pounds baleage, 10.5 pounds ground corn, 4 pounds cottonseed and 7 pounds protein mix. In 2015, we switched our nutritionist and feed company. This change has allowed us to use more diverse ingredients which are included in our protein mix and TMR. Sobeck: The cows started getting a ration based on their individual needs with the robots. They now get two types of pellets in addition to the partial mixed ration (PMR). This helps us maximize each cow’s potential. For example, higher producing cows get more of the pellets that are high in fat. The PMR includes 47 pounds of haylage, 43 pounds of corn silage, two pounds of baleage along with a base protein, roasted soybeans and high moisture corn.
What advice do you have for any producer trying to increase his or her herd average?
Bachmann: Surround yourself with successful people. Four key people are your vet, nutritionist, agronomist and lender. Don’t be too proud to ask for advice. There are people out there who have ideas and want to help you improve. You have to decide what you are willing to do and what will and will not work for your operation.
Gruenes: Be particular about your quality of feed you put up. Watching weather and getting haylage up is important. You only have one opportunity to put up great forages. Also, be sure to face your bunker to keep your spoilage of product to a minimum and watch your cow comfort; stall maintenance, fresh feed and fans. Happy cows produce more milk. Kern: Never stop learning. Search out new ideas and be willing to try them. Tumberg: Our best advice would be to not cut corners in any area. Don’t overcrowd the animals. When you get a chance, attend farm shows and seminars. You always learn something that can be implemented on your dairy. There is no substitute for quality forages. Get cows bred back on time. A day open is expensive. Kurth: Focus on breeding quality animals that t into your facilities. This will ensure cows stay healthy, while also increasing your cow numbers and your RHA. Having a consistent and quality heifer program is vital for a successful transition into the milking herd and contributing towards your RHA. Sobeck: Make sure the cows are happy, which will help them stay comfortable and in return make milk. Also, make sure to have a good nutritionist. We work with Chad Kieffer.
Tell us about your farm and your goals for your dairy this year. Bachmann: Our primary goal is to strengthen our balance sheet, and next year, add new heifer raising facilities. We have had a number of businesses, including our lender, which have been patient and worked well with us. We want to take care of those who have worked with us and continue a good working relationship. Gruenes: Our goals for the next year are to continue with our intense ushing program. With our new IVF facility on-site, we are increasing our genetics as rapidly as possible. Our goals of
achieving higher milk production, high protein, positive DPR and calving ease are the main things we feel are going to help our dairy excel in the future. Kern: As the next generation, Andrew and Allana made the commitment to farm in 2013, and we started rebuilding our current milking site the next year. We focus solely on dairying and buy all our feed. We have only the necessary machinery it takes to do the day-to-day chores. We also raise all our replacement heifers. Our goals for this year are to purchase high quality feeds, keep pushing for more production while maintaining a low somatic cell count and to work on improving our herd’s reproduction. Tumberg: Our biggest goals in 2017 are to pay down our debt and have replacements to sell. We would also like to nd time to get away more with the family. Kurth: Our goals for 2017 are to keep growing from within while implementing quality genetics and continuing to increase our RHA. We also hope to see a production increase from our rst lactation heifers, who should benet from our recently constructed heifer facility. Sobeck: A portion of our land has been in our family for four generations. The farm site with the new facility is a second-generation farm. Jim and Gary are brothers who are bringing in the next generation – Gary’s son, Chris, and Jim’s soon-tobe son-in-law, Alex Kjos. We raise our heifers and our bulls for steers, which are all raised on different farm sites. Gary is the mechanic and in charge of crops, Jim does a little of everything, and Chris takes care of the steers and feeding while Alex cares for the calves and heifers. With the new facility, we are able to have one person take the weekend off. One goal we have for the herd is to drop our SCC below 100,000 and increase production to 100 pounds per cow per day. We didn’t think it was a feasible goal, but now with the robots, it is.
Want to write a more effective 590 Nutrient Management Plan? Incorporate European-Genetic Cool Season Grasses into your alfalfa • The extensive root systems of these grasses (Compared to alfalfa’s tap root) are the most effective plants to stem soil loss from either wind or water erosion • The yield-increasing addition of grass will sequester more phosphorous and lower your P Index • There is no plant we know of that will sequester more fertility—nitrogen, potassium & phosphorous – saving it for your dairy cows or for incorporating for your next corn crop • Trials at UW-Arlington showed that corn after grass was at least as good as corn after alfalfa – why not corn after alfalfa/grass? • These grasses will also add both tons/acre & quality to your haylage
Call your local ByronSeed Dealer for more Information Burkholder Seeds
For more info or dealer Claremont, MN inquiries - please call: Dwight
Rick Tamm
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Hy View Feeds 507-493-5564 Mabel, MN
Valley View Ag Russ Funke Dyersville, IA (563) 590-6939
Schueler Farms
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Luxemburg Feed Service
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Jack Stamschror Kellogg, MN (507) 259-0269
Timberline Dairy Service Joe Graber Kalona, IA (319) 656-3527
Dale Ommodt, CCA Crop & Livestock Nutrition Atwater, MN (320) 212-3190
Winscher Seeds Mike Winscher 320-282-6748 Shawn Winscher Royalton, MN (320) 420-4516
Lee Kurtenbach
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Tim Huffman 608-574-7918 Nelson Horst Adam Decker 608-988-6855 Canton S.D. Kevin Zimmerman (605) 359-0765 608-574-7918
Natures Best
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Jason Mickelson Frazee, MN 218-849-3137
Mervin Beachy St. Ansgar, IA (641) 381-0054
DJ Cattle Co.
Daryn Yoder Leon, IA (641) 344-6002
Chad Tesch Canton S.D. (605) 759-5622 Dan (Boone) Uphoff, Sioux Falls S.D. (605) 321-1862
Natures Best Roger TeSlaa
Inwood, IA
(605) 370-2249
Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017 • Page 13
ConĆ&#x;nued from LOADS | Page 1 March 9. With MnDOT’s endorsement, that means the change will likely occur and semi-trailer milk truck drivers will be able to get a permit to go over the current 80,000-pound limit. A separate matter is the overweight limits for single unit, or straight, milk trucks. While they can usually make regulations by axle, due to their short length they have trouble complying with the bridge law. Through several rounds of negotiations with MnDOT and the Department of Public Safety, milk haulers, Minnesota Milk and Representative Steve Drazkowski (R – Mazeppa) made no progress in changing this restriction. However, there is some wiggle room, as the current law shows the 10 percent increase is already being allowed. In Minnesota, if scale tickets are pulled at the milk plants, trucks are given a 10 percent variance to their legal weight limit. But trucks must remain under the legal weight limit if caught over the road, or be subject to a criminal penalty. When Finnesgard was issued a $2,300-ďƒžne for weighing 87,000 pounds while on the road, he approached Drazkowksi and Minnesota Milk for direction. Hopefully, a bill authored by Drazkowski and Sen. Michael Goggin (R – Red Wing) may eliminate this discrepancy. “Because of current weight limits, many milk trucks can only operate at 60 to 70 percent capacity, and only pickup at one farm at a time, to stay within the law’s guidelines,â€? Drazkowksi said. “It’s a waste of our economy of scale and opportunities, and a safety concern for our drivers.â€? Drazkowski and Goggin composed a bill that would allow a 10 percent allowance on weight restrictions for straight-unit milk trucks after their constituents expressed grave concerns on the limitations of the current law. “It’s very unconstitutional that the Department of Transportation can look back at 14-days worth of scale records, for any product, of any private business without a search warrant,â€? Drazkowski said. “It’s an illegal search and seizure.â€? Minnesota is one of just a few states that has any such law. “I was a little ďƒ&#x;abbergasted,â€? Finnesgard said. “If
I make it to the plant I’m good with 88,000 pounds, but if I get caught going to the plant, I get ticketed. I just wanted some kind of law that’s the same so we know what we’re doing.â€? Drazkowski said that former exceptions to the law worked well for milk haulers. “There was a previous exemption to milk haulers that worked really well in the past,â€? Drazkowski said. “But that exemption expired in 2014, and we’re trying to create opportunities for truck drivers and dairy farms for the delivery of the milk, efďƒžciently and safely.â€? Dennis Gavin will haul 2.3 million pounds of milk in 45 loads, on any given day, and relies on those exempt permits to legalJosh Finnesgard ly distribute his product. Gavin is the president of Finnesgard Trucking Caledonia Haulers, of Caledonia, Minn., and travels across state borders picking up and delivering ďƒ&#x;uid milk in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. “The challenge is that in Iowa, in each county I visit, I need a permit in addition to the state permit,â€? Gavin said. “I have one truck that hits four counties. We were all busy last year and forgot to purchase the permits.â€? Because of that untimely mishap, Gavin’s business accrued thousands of dollars in overweight ďƒžnes last year; a total of $20,000 between Iowa and Minnesota. However, with farms growing in size and the continually increasing volume of production, without a new law, Gavin does not see a solution that would meet the dairy industry’s needs other than to pay the ďƒžnes. “Now, the problem is that we’re too big to be legal on the roads. In Minnesota, for the weight limit to increase to more than 80,000 pounds our trailers have to be longer, and that’s not possible here with the driveways and windy roads,â€? Gavin said. “We want it to become legal, but the big question is how?â€? Finnesgard agreed. “The dairies are getting so much bigger now that we need to be able to carry a little more to be able to do this efďƒžciently,â€? he said.
Drazkowski and Goggin are hoping they have the solutions for milk truck haulers with their proposed laws, which were sent through the House and Senate Transportation Policy and Finance Committees during the week of March 6. If the bill were not to pass, milk haulers would still remain subject to a ďƒžne, up to $10,000 for being over the gross weight limit. As fewer milk plants remain, milk can travel over 100 miles for delivery, and current equipment and drivers do not have the time to legally haul more in order to accommodate weight restrictions. “In a time where equipment costs are constantly rising and qualiďƒžed drivers are increasingly difďƒžcult to ďƒžnd, it is very difďƒžcult to add more,â€? Gavin said. “Some days it feels as though the ďƒžnes are unavoidable in our operation.â€? While Gavin is fortunate to operate despite these challenges, for smaller-scale operators, such as Finnesgard, the current law could be detrimental to their business. “I would have to add one more truck and another driver, and that’s just to haul the same amount of milk,â€? he said. “It’s not feasible.â€? Opponents of the straight truck bill include MnDOT, the Association of Minnesota Counties and the Minnesota Association of Townships because of the insufďƒžcient funds for additional maintenance needed by the heavier weights. But for Minnesota Milk, milk haulers and cooperatives, they contend that changing this law would not change how milk is hauled today. “Milk haulers do what they need to do to get loads to market efďƒžciently today,â€? explained Minnesota Milk Executive Director Lucas Sjostrom. “But they do not want to feel like criminals while on the road.â€? For Drazkowski, he sees and understands the importance of this bill for the vitality of the dairy industry. “This bill would allow the industry to continue forward and develop in a positive way without any hiccups or inhibition,â€? Drazkowski said. “If our laws don’t change, this could stop the growth of the industry.â€? Dairy Star writer Krista Kuzma contributed to this article.
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Page 14 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017
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From Our Side Of The Fence Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017 • Page 15
Why is having a farm dog important to you?
Jay Decker, with JoJo and Rosalee Bernard, Iowa Dubuque County 350 cows
John F. Cruz, with Bonnie Viroqua, Wis. Vernon County 200 dairy goats
Brian Bigler, with Buttons Decorah, Iowa Winneshiek County 135 cows
What is the name, age and breed of your dog? We have three dogs around the house. Rosalee, a 9-yearold St. Bernard, Clare Bear, a 5-year-old Lab mix, and JoJo, a 4-year-old Lab mix. We have four working dogs in the barns. Blue heelers, Bella and Izzy are both 5 years old and Molly is a 1-year-old. Lydia is a 4-year-old heeler-border collie cross.
What is the name, age and breed of your dog? Clyde, an 8-year-old male Marrema; Bonnie, a 7-year-old Great Pyrenees; Teddy and Ray, 2-year-old brother Great Pyrenees-Marrema crosses; and Annanees, a Great Pyrenees-Anatolian Shepherd cross.
What is the name, age and breed of your dog? Buttons is a 7-year-old border collie and Australian Shepherd mix.
Why is having a farm dog important to you? Having a farm dog is very important to us. No matter how bad our day is, they are always at our side with a smile. What is one unique trait about your dog? Our dogs know their place. The St. Bernard and two labs always stay by the house. The other four know their work area. When it is time to milk, they help get the cows in. When we are working in the barn, we do not have to worry about cows licking the cords or tools. The dogs keep the cows several feet from the work site. What is one thing your dog does that you don’t like? The barn dogs do not let the house dogs by the barns, and the house dogs do not let the barn dogs in their area. There is an imaginary line between the house and the barn. They know their limits. What’s your favorite activity to do with your dog? The barn dogs won’t ride with us, and the house dogs are always ready for a ride in the truck. Needless to say, we get lots of looks. What is the most memorable experience with your dog or a dog you’ve had in the past? I was 18 years old when I got my rst heeler mix dog. His name was Jo Bo. He was my sidekick. My mother would give him a Snickers and an ice cream cone as a treat. When he died, it was like losing my best friend. I was very lucky to have him for 15 years. Tell us about your favorite dog you’ve ever had. My favorite dog was Jo Bo. Later I got a border collie named Lady. Our kids were young at the time. Lady was our hired man. I would point to the heifer I wanted sorted from the group, and she would do it. Tell us about your farm. My wife, Marlene, and I purchased our farm, Bernard County Dairy, in 1988. We built the dairy barn in 1989 and planned to milk 50 cows. Marlene worked off the farm at Divine Word College and still does today. Over the years, the farm has grown, and we raised our kids. We worked together seven days a week. In the earlier years, the girls helped milk and feed the calves along with their house responsibilities and schoolwork. Today, they are still good managers of their time. Our two sons, Richard and Robert, and I run the day-to-day operation. We milk three times a day with some full and part-time hired help. We are involved with our local community, church and the Dubuque County Dairy Association.
Why is having a farm dog important? Predation control and companionship. What is one unique trait about your dog? They work as a pack and a team. They have the ability to split themselves up. Two roam the woods, while the other three stay with the herd. What is one thing your dog does that you don’t like? Pyrenees females, and Pyrenees in general, are excessive barkers. It helps deter predators. What’s your favorite activity to do with your dog? Sit on a ve-gallon bucket in the barn and give them each individual attention. What is the most memorable experience with your dog or a dog you’ve had in the past? Buckshot was an American Bulldog. Leon Wilkerson, the bass player for the Lynyrd Skynyrd band, asked me to keep Buck in his spare lot as a watchdog. He lived across the street from us. I did, along with a younger female. He came home and went to see Buck, who was aggressive against other dogs. He fought the female and drew blood. Buck licked Leon’s hand and left it with blood on it. When I saw Leon, I thought the dog had bitten up his million-dollar hands. Tell us about your favorite dog you’ve ever had. Buckshot was an excellent watchdog and always had my back. He never bit anyone, but put the fear into them. He was the rst dog I was ever able to keep from a puppy until he passed away. We were a military family and always had to leave our dog behind. Like most American Bulldogs, he was extremely athletic. He could run full speed, turn 180 degrees and come right back. He would catch whatever I put him on without killing it. Tell us about your farm. I am the fourth generation to farm. We are on Notingham Ridge, and our tillable acreage is on hillsides. We have one natural spring in the valley, and near that are the original foundations of our barn and an old house we recently demolished. We were absentee owners for 35 years. When Mom and Dad retired from Florida to return here, I came along. I started building a dairy goat herd and have been milking commercially for four years. We have pigs, six steers, and I nally purchased two Holstein heifers. We also have chickens, a geriatric rescue horse and will be adding Icelandic sheep this summer. We have over 100 acres of pasture and woods. The goats have free range, but I will be implementing a rotational grazing program for the dairy herd this summer. We have 60 tillable acres. We also do a relaxed and free version of agri-tourism. We call it the total goat experience. It is open to anyone wishing to learn about goats and wanting to see where food comes from. They learn how to milk a goat by hand, and we send them home with the milk and instructions on how to make their own lemon juice cheese.
Why is having a farm dog important to you? Having a farm dog provides companionship when working. She also keeps varmints away and is a signicant help with handling cattle. What is one unique trait about your dog? Buttons loves to please. She loves to play and will climb the swing set to go down the slide with all of our nieces and nephews. She alerts us immediately if cattle get out, day or night. What is one thing your dog does that you don’t like? Buttons doesn’t travel well. Our daughters were training and showing her in 4-H projects, but she couldn’t make it to town without getting carsick. She was easy to train and did great, but she’s happier when she can perform at home on the farm. She also leads the house dogs back to the woods. There have been times all of them come home a mess after getting into mischief. What’s your favorite activity to do with your dog? Watching Buttons herd cattle not only helps immensely, but is entertaining to watch. If we need her to help, all we have to do is call her and she’s there in seconds. She gets right into the herd and helps guide or hold cattle where they need to be. What is the most memorable experience with your dog or a dog you’ve had in the past? One night the coyotes were howling. I could hear Buttons barking at them in the eld, so I called her home and put her in the house. During the night she opened the door to get out and go back to the eld to chase them away. When we got up the next morning, it was 40 degrees on the main level of the house. Tell us about your favorite dog you’ve ever had. It’s very difcult to pick out a favorite dog. There are too many memorable experiences. Picking a favorite would be like picking a favorite child. Tell us about your farm. We are a century farm located near the bluffs of the Upper Iowa River Valley. All family members play important roles keeping this farm going. We are also blessed with several parttime employees. Cows are housed in a freestall barn on sand bedding and milked twice a day in a double-8 parallel parlor. The operation consists of 375 acres owned and two rented pastures.
Turn to FARM DOGS | Page 16
Page 16 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017
ConƟnued from FARM DOGS | Page 15
Corey Janke, with Chief Hixton, Wis. Jackson County 150 cows
Samantha Fink, with Roni Tomah, Wis. Monroe County 150 cows
Steve Baier, with Colt and Oscar Eau Galle, Wis. Dunn County 380 cows
What is the name, age and breed of your dog? Chief, a black Lab, is 6 years old.
What is the name, age and breed of your dog? My dog is Roni. She is a 15-month-old Australian Shepard.
What is the name, age and breed of your dog? Oscar is an 8-year-old yellow Lab, and Colt is a 3-yearold corgi.
Why is having a farm dog important to you? Part of it is the companionship of having a little buddy running around the farm. But, for us, we pasture our cows. In the summer, Roni gets the cows up from the pasture and back into the barn when it is time for milking. Even when she was 8 months old, she helped out and continues to gure out her role.
Why is having a farm dog important to you? I’ve had a dog ever since I was a kid, so having a farm dog is important to me.
Why is having a farm dog important to you? Chief is a good companion. He goes everywhere with us on the farm. He is friendly and strives for attention, and is just an overall good companion to have on the farm. What is one unique trait about your dog? He can sense when someone is coming up the driveway before anyone else. He also knows all the schedules around here. He knows when it is time for milking or when milking is done. What is one thing your dog does that you don’t like? When you leave him home alone, he always gets into something like food or garbage. It’s his way of rebelling when you go away without him. What’s your favorite activity to do with your dog? When I wake up in the morning, he is right there. From the start of the day to the end of the day, he is by my side. He sleeps on the couch at my house and when my alarm clock rings, he comes right in beside me. He is always up for a ride in the truck, tractor, combine – you name it. I just like having him by my side throughout the day. What is the most memorable experience with your dog or a dog you’ve had in the past? There was a cow ready to calve, and my dad was checking on her throughout the night. I had gone home, and the cow calved in the middle of the night, but she had milk fever. My dad tried calling me, but my phone was on vibrate and I didn’t hear him. Chief could hear him when he showed up at my house and was barking to get me out of bed. He knew something was wrong before I even did. Tell us about your favorite dog you’ve ever had. Chief is the only dog I’ve had. He has a lovable personality. He goes with the ow and is happy to be with me. Tell us about your farm. We have a 150-cow dairy and all our work is done by family with the exception of one hired employee. We raise all our youngstock and do the majority of the crop work ourselves. We are running 750 acres.
What is one unique trait about your dog? Roni is quick learning. She started picking up on things right away. She is denitely a cow dog and knows what she is supposed to do. She is pretty smart, but I suppose I am a little biased. What is one thing your dog does that you don’t like? She likes to jump. She would jump right into someone’s car when they pull up to the farm because she wants to go for a ride with them. I get a little frustrated because sometimes she can be pretty dirty. What’s your favorite activity to do with your dog? Bringing the cows in is a lot of fun. She knows right where she needs to be and when. She rounds them up to come in for milking and, in the freestalls, will go in and get them up and backed out when it’s milking time. She knows well enough to leave the cows alone when they are resting, but when it is go time, she does a great job of getting them up, moving and down the alleyway. What is the most memorable experience with your dog or a dog you’ve had in the past? Just spending the time with them, petting them and even talking to them was the best. Growing up on the farm, there weren’t always a lot of kids around to hang out with, but we always had a dog to be our buddy. Tell us about your favorite dog you’ve ever had. My grandma’s dog, Johnny. He was a mixed breed German Shepard. He was a friendly dog, not one to get in trouble, and always around when I was at my grandma’s. He never caused trouble.
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What is one unique trait about your dog? My dogs are very obedient. We can walk into town without leashes, and all I need to do is snap my nger and they’ll come back to me. What is one thing your dog does that you don’t like? I wish my dogs didn’t shed and bark at every vehicle that comes in the driveway. What’s your favorite activity to do with your dog? We like to walk and go to the lake for a swim. What is the most memorable experience with your dog or a dog you’ve had in the past? Oscar got me through my divorce. That was when I really started getting attached to dogs. Colt likes to jump in the tractor and do chores, too. Tell us about your favorite dog you’ve ever had. Bruto, the collie. He liked to play in the sandbox with me and my cousins when we were kids. Tell us about your farm. Baier Creek Dairy milks 380 cows in a double-12 parlor with a rolling herd average of 33,000 pounds per year and a somatic cell count of 60,000 in a sand-bedded freestall barn. We also crop 1,200 to 1,300 acres of corn, hay and soybeans.
Tell us about your farm. We are currently milking 150 cows – Holsteins, Jerseys and crossbreds. We are an organic dairy, milking in a double-8 parlor with a freestall barn. We are farming 250 acres in addition to our beef and crop farm in Trempealeau, Wis. I own the farm with my father, Dale, and brother, Cody. We bought this farm in 2012 and began milking cows two years ago. Providing quality building materials and friendly service since 1971
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Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017 • Page 17
Page 18 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017
Top Performers
Grouping cows leads to better management, higher production for Johnsons The Johnson Family Darren and Lynn Johnson Winona, Minn. Winona County 225 cows
How many times a day do you milk? If you don’t milk 3X a day, have you tried it in the past? We milk twice a day. We have never tried three times a day.
What is your current herd average, butterfat and protein? Our herd average is 29,327 pounds of milk with 1,078 pounds of butterfat and 892 pounds of protein.
Do you use BST? If so, what is your protocol? No, we have never used BST. Do you contract your milk? Has it been successful for you? No, we have never contracted milk.
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
The Johnsons - (from leŌ) Shawn, Lynn and Darren – milk 225 cows that have a rolling herd average of 29,327 pounds of milk with 1,078 pounds of buƩerfat and 892 pounds of protein. They farm together with Darren’s parents, Dennis and BeƩy, Darren’s brother, Kevin, and Darren and Lynn’s other son, Kyle, near Winona, Minn.
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
A double-10 rapid exit parallel parlor the Johnsons built in 2014 is used to milk their herd of 225 cows twice a day.
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866-467-4717
Describe your housing and milking facility. In 2014 we put up a new 209-stall freestall barn that is divided into four groups – post-fresh, 2-yearold, mature cows and dry cows. All stalls are bedded with sand. Cows are
milked in a double-10 rapid exit parlor, which was also built in 2014. What is the composition of your ration? What has been one of your most recent changes that has been sucTurn to JOHNSONS | Page 20
Winter Specials TRACTORS AGCO DT225 FWA, 18.4R46 duals, 16.9R30 front, 3500 hrs ......................................................................... Coming in Allis Chalmers 190, gas, cab, 2WD w/loader & bucket ............... Call Case IH 695 2WD, platform, 2878 hrs w/TA26 ldr & bucket $13,200 Ford 9N .................................................................................. $1,500 MF 2680HD, cab, FWA w/ldr., grapple bucket, 1310 hrs ............. Call COMBINES & HEADS Gleaner S77 combine, 2013, duals, 850 eng, 553 sep ........$220,000 Gleaner R75 Combine, 2008, duals 2276 eng, 1656 sep ....$119,000 Gleaner R75 Combine, 2003, duals, 1438 sep,1976 E ..........$90,000 Gleaner 8000 Flex Head 30’ ..................................................$14,500 Cressoni 6R30 Cutter Corn Head, JD Mounts .......................$17,500 Harvestec 4308C Cutter Corn Head 8R30” Gl mounts, nice ..$36,000 Harvestec 4308C Cutter Corn Head 8 Row 30”, JD mount....$28,000 Harvestec 4308C Cutter Corn Head 8 Row 30”, NH/Case IH mount, ‘08 ...................................................... $36,000 Harvestec 6312C Cutter Corn Head, 12 Row 30”, GL Mounts, 2013 ................................................................$54,000
TILLAGE/FIELD CULTIVATORS CIH 4800 Field Cultivator, 24.5,’ w/3 row coil tine .................$6,800 JD 235 Duracushion 22’ Disc w/Remlinger 3-Row Coil Tine...$4,200 Great Plains 30’ Turbo Till Rolling Basket and Reel, 2010 .....$32,000 Wilrich 657 11 Shank Chisel/ Ripper Combo, 2014 ..............$27,800 Wilrich 657 11 Shank Chisel/ Ripper Combo, 2013, used 1 season .....................................................................$25,000 Wilrich 657 11 Shank Chisel/ Ripper Combo, 2012, 2 Bar Coil & Basket .............................................................$30,700 ROW CROP, DRILLS & SPRAYERS Brillion 12’ Packer 12P-10 ..................................................... $5,700 Hardi TR 1000 60’ Boom Flush And Rinse, triplet nozzle bodys .............................................................. $7,500 Hardi Navigator 4000 2013 90’ Boom,120” axle,ISO ........... $40,000 Hardi Navigator 4000 80’ Boom 120” Axle, ‘09, 1200 gal, foam................................................................................... $27,000 White 8202 12 Row 30” Wing Fold Planter, 2001, with 4,900 acres ................................................................ $32,000
GRAIN CARTS & WAGONS Unverferth 5000 Grain Cart w/24.5-32 tires & lights, green ..$12,800 EZ-Trail 220 Seed Wagon w/ 10 ton gear, tarp and auger .......$3,700 SKID STEERS Demco 750 Gravity Box, W455R22.5 tires, 2012..................$15,000 Mustang 1900R, 2014, 2435 hrs, cab, heat, rear weight ......$24,000 H&S 18’ 7+4 Front And Rear Unload Box, 4 wheel gear, NH L225 Skid Steer, 2755 hrs, cab, heat/AC, 2 speed...........$25,000 no roof ..................................................................................$9,900 HAY & FORAGE, STALK CHOPPERS Case IH RB455, 806 bales, 2016, silage baler with cutter .... $33,000 NH Roll-Belt 460 Silage Round Baler w/cutter, 1,500 bales . $33,000 Hesston 8200 SP Swather 12’ Header, no cab, 1860 hrs ........$6,200 Hesston 8200 SP Swather 12’ Header 1932 Hrs .................. $14,900 MF Hesston 2150 Baler, 3X3, tandem, app., scale, roller chute, 2012............................................................... $74,000 Hesston 4790 Baler, 3X4, 24,300 Bales .............................. $41,000 Hesston 1150 12’ Pull Type Haybine ...................................... $2,200 Hesston 4600 Small Square Baler............................................... Call H&S X10/13 15 wheel rake .......................................................... Call IH 600 Blower, nice shape...................................................... $2,700 Krone Swadro 881 Rake 2-point Hitch 540 Pto.................... $14,000 Ag Way BF 5000 3Pt Hitch Bale Feeder Like New................... $6,600 MC 180 15’ Shredder/Stalk Chopper, 2015, in good shape ...$12,000
MANURE SPREADERS H&S 550 Hydra-Push manure spreader, ‘16, like new ..........$32,500 Meyers M390 box spreader, single beater, hyd drive ..............$8,500 GRAIN EQUIPMENT Good selection of used augers ..................................................... Call MISCELLANEOUS Bush Hog SQ84T 7’ Rotary Twin Gear Mower, offset ..............$2,500 Bush Hog SQ84T 7’ Rotary Mower .........................................$1,600 Bush Hog HMG8 8’ 3 pt disc mower, Sold New In 2014, Consigned .............................................................................$5,200 1,000 Gal Fuel Tank & Trailer w/gas engine fuel pump ............$2,800 JD 60” Mower Deck for 4200 JD tractor .................................$1,350 EZ-Trail 12’ Fert Auger ............................................................... $750 3-Point Snowblower 7’ w/hydraulic chute, manual deflector . $1,100
103 3rd & Broadway Goodhue, MN 55027
(651) 923-4441
Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017 • Page 19
“We love the stuff... especially for fresh cows.” — Robert and Jeannette Sheehan
SHEEKNOLL FARMS, ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA The Sheehan Family with WDE Grand Champion Holstein ‘Thomas’ (Sheeknoll Durham Arrow EX96 97MS) 300 cows RHA 26,000 SCC 150,000
“If we take care of the cows, they will take care of us,” is the mantra of the Sheehan family at Sheeknoll Farms, Rochester, Minnesota. That was the case with Sheeknoll Durham Arrow (aka ‘Thomas’) in her grand journey with Jeannette Sheehan at the halter, picking up champion banners all summer on her way to first place aged cow, production, best udder, best bred-and-owned, senior and grand champion of the 2016 International Holstein Show at the 50th World Dairy Expo, where she was also reserve supreme. “It’s still surreal,” said Jeannette after leading the EX96 97MS 6-year-old to her storybook finish. “She had her share of Udder Comfort™. We love the stuff,” said Jeannette. Husband Robert explains: “We use the lotion before shows and really put it on thick after showing.
“We also use it at home in the parlor and stall barn operations,” adds Robert, partnering with his wife and children and brothers Jim and Jerome and their families in the 300-cow dairy. “We use it a lot, especially for fresh cows: 2x/day for 5 days after calving. For 8 years, we have been using Udder Comfort because it’s very effective in doing what we want it to do: reduce swelling and regain udder texture and quality.”
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Keep the milk in the system 1.888.773.7153 1.613.652.9086 uddercomfort.com Call to locate a distributor near you. For external application to the udder only after milking, as an essential component of udder management. Always wash and dry teats thoroughly before milking.
Page 20 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017
ConƟnued from JOHNSONS | Page 18
cessful for you? Composition amounts vary per group, but the mix consists of haylage, corn silage, high moisture shell corn and earlage. We started using a master mix for the dry feed stuffs one year ago. The mix consists of dry hay, cottonseed, soybean meal and a custom protein mix. We mix a batch every three days and then store it in our commodity shed. This has helped speed up mixing time and decreases the chance of mixing errors. We really like this change. The composition of the dry cow ration includes corn silage, wheat straw and a custom dry cow mix. We work closely with our nutritionist, Chad Kieffer. Through the years you’ve been farming what change has created the biggest jump in your herd average? Prior to 2004, the cows were housed in a tiestall barn. In 2004, the barn was converted to a atbarn, and we built a freestall barn. The cows were then introduced to sand bedding. This increased the herd average and lowered the somatic cell count because of increased cow comfort. More recently, with the addition of the new facility in 2014, we have been able to decrease our SCC due to being able to better manage the herd. Our computer system allows us to have daily milk weights, conductivity reports, activity monitoring and feeding time.
What is your herd health program? Our milking herd gets vaccinated with J-5, Virashield, SRP, Ultrabac 7 and Multi-Min. This past September we started using Imrester. All cows have their hooves trimmed twice per year. We work closely with our veterinarian, who does herd checks every two weeks. What does your dry cow and transition program consist of? We have all the dry cows in one group. Cows are dried off between 45-60 days. We move the cows into a bedded pack pen about four to ve days prior to their due date. Once they calf, they move into the postfresh group for approximately 45 days. What role do genetics play in your production level and what is your breeding program? Genetics are important. You have to have good cows to make milk. When breeding cows, we focus on net merit, combined fat and protein, productive life, daughter pregnancy rate and functional type – strength, udders, and feet and legs. We have an activity system that does day-to-day monitoring for heats. Generally, rst service is between 60 and 75 days, depending upon production. Our current average days open is 95 days. If no heat is shown on their own, we run the ovsynch program. The 2-yearolds are mated.
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
The Johnsons built their barn in 2014. The barn is bedded with sand, includes 209 stalls, and is divided into four groups along with a maternity pen. What type of improvements would you like to make that would increase your rolling herd average even higher? The only thing we could do at this point is to go to milking three times per day. What would you say are the three most important factors for you that helped you attain your current herd average? The rst is cow comfort. We have a one-to-one cow to stall ratio, so they are not overcrowded and there is more
bunk space. We don’t have as many fresh cow problems as we used to. The second factor is putting up quality feed combined with good nutrition. It’s important to get the crop harvested at the right time and feed the best ration. Working with a good nutritionist helps with this aspect. Having more groups in the barn also allows us to tailor each ration better rather than feeding one ration to the entire herd. The third factor is genetics.
Tell us about your farm. We are the third generation to own the farm, with the fourth generation working into the operation. Our son, Shawn, returned to the farm full time in April 2016 and our other son, Kyle, who is still in high school helps with chores when he is able. We currently own and rent a total of 600 acres. We raise our replacement heifers and feed out the steers. Darren’s parents, Dennis and Betty, are still involved by helping feed calves and doing eld work. Darren’s brother, Kevin, works for us full time.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017 • Page 21
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10 JD 7520, 2007, 13300 hrs., #134769 ...................................... $34,900 8 JD 7630, 2007, 3782 hrs., #131106 ....................................$105,000 4 JD 7830, 2008, 3289 hrs., #135361 ....................................$114,500 11 JD 7920, 2003, 4910 hrs., #134912 ...................................... $94,900 6 JD 8100, 1994, 3510 hrs., #134258 ...................................... $81,900 4 JD 8220, 2004, 1640 hrs., #132349 ....................................$122,000 8 JD 8220, 2002, 5469 hrs., #127863 ....................................$108,500 11 JD 8330, 2006, 4009 hrs., #121999 ....................................$124,900 6 CIH 145 PUMA, 2013, 755 hrs., #134447 ...................................... $84,500 10 JD 5075M, 2009, 385 hrs., #135624 ...................................... $39,500 4 JD 5075M, 2013, 100 hrs., #125138 ...................................... $38,000 6 JD 5085E, 2016, 241 hrs., #124729 ...................................... $51,900 12 JD 5085M, 2012, 1610 hrs., #125293 ...................................... $45,900 6 JD 5100E, 2016, 99 hrs., #124826 ...................................... $54,900 7 JD 5100M, 2015, 295 hrs., #118463 ...................................... $62,900 4 JD 5115M, 2012, 611 hrs., #129621 ...................................... $66,500 6 JD 6105E, 2016, 292 hrs., #124868 ...................................... $63,900 4 JD 6105M, 2014, 320 hrs., #132099 ...................................... $71,000 4 JD 6105R, 2014, 106 hrs., #127952 ...................................... $99,000 2 JD 6105R, 2013, 414 hrs., #135169 ...................................... $91,500 4 JD 6110R, 2015, 104 hrs., #119898 ....................................$105,900 12 JD 6120E, 2016, 125 hrs., #124883 ...................................... $73,900 8 JD 6120E, 2016, 267 hrs., #124871 ...................................... $67,900 4 JD 6120R, 2015, 132 hrs., #124875 ....................................$118,900 5 JD 6125M, 2013, 657 hrs., #126547 ...................................... $91,000 11 JD 6125M, 2013, 359 hrs., #123591 ...................................... $86,900 4 JD 6125R, 2013, 500 hrs., #134131 ....................................$103,000 7 JD 6125R, 2014, 505 hrs., #135212 ...................................... $99,500 3 JD 6125R, 2014, 479 hrs., #128687 ...................................... $99,000 10 JD 6130D, 2015, 223 hrs., #123740 ...................................... $69,500 11 JD 6130D, 2011, 4100 hrs., #134834 ...................................... $44,900
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10 JD 6135E, 2015, 1 hr., #124880 ...................................... $76,900 4 JD 6135E, 2015, 298 hrs., #124885 ...................................... $71,900 7 JD 6140D, 2014, 15 hrs., #133561 ...................................... $68,900 10 JD 6140D, 2013, 378 hrs., #131138 ...................................... $62,500 9 JD 6145R, 2015, 268 hrs., #120191 ....................................$122,900 9 JD 6150R, 2013, 698 hrs., #127915 ....................................$119,000 2 JD 6155R, 2015, 170 hrs., #134317 ....................................$129,900 1 JD 6155R, 2015, 179 hrs., #124983 ....................................$129,500 8 JD 6175R, 2015, 650 hrs., #135147 ....................................$148,000 1 JD 7200R, 2012, 729 hrs., #135070 ....................................$129,900 1 JD 7215R, 2013, 447 hrs., #117213 ....................................$149,500 4 JD 7215R, 2013, 1150 hrs., #133909 ....................................$142,000 2 JD 7215R, 2012, 2848 hrs., #135525 ....................................$123,100 1 JD 7230R, 2014, 447 hrs., #126805 ....................................$193,000 2 JD 7230R, 2015, 88 hrs., #134308 ....................................$187,500 1 JD 7230R, 2015, 446 hrs., #126922 ....................................$171,500 3 JD 8235R, 2013, 1636 hrs., #127894 ....................................$159,000 8 JD 8245R, 2015, 767 hrs., #134375 ....................................$192,900 4 JD 8245R, 2015, 494 hrs., #135325 ....................................$185,500 3 JD 8245R, 2014, 429 hrs., #107406 ....................................$172,900 5 JD 8260R, 2013, 1527 hrs., #125130 ....................................$179,000 6 JD 8270R, 2015, 223 hrs., #117210 ....................................$247,000 2 JD 8270R, 2015, 100 hrs., #134459 ....................................$239,000 2 JD 8285R, 2011, 1345 hrs., #118552 ....................................$226,900 8 JD 8295R, 2015, 911 hrs., #134373 ....................................$224,900 7 JD 8320R, 2014, 2084 hrs., #127013 ....................................$227,500 1 JD 8320R, 2010, 2557 hrs., #117098 ....................................$185,000 3 JD 8335R, 2013, 2029 hrs., #127896 ....................................$219,000 4 Kubota M100GX, 2014, 450 hrs., #131537 ...................................... $49,000 6 CIH MAGNUM 180, 2010, 1227 hrs., #131001 ....................................$103,500 2 CIH PUMA 230 CVT, 2012, 760 hrs., #121468 ...................................$159,000
JD 6140D, 2013, $ 140 hp., 378 hrs., #131138
62,500
Page 22 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017
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Brancel: Governor Walker’s budget works for rural Wisconsin
As a ďƒžfth-generation farmer living in Marquette County, I know ďƒžrsthand the importance of having strong, vibrant rural communities when it comes to Wisconsin’s future. When speaking with farmers, business owners and consumers across rural Wisconsin, I consistently hear the need to address the same issues: broadband, education, transportation and water quality. Governor Walker’s budget makes it clear that he heard that message as well. Governor Walker’s recently introduced budget is good for Wisconsin’s farm families, our rural communities and our future. Unfortunately, farmers do not all have internet access, or even if they have internet, it may By Ben Brancel not be fast enough or dependDATCP Secretary able enough to complete farm business. Our rural communities need broadband. Farms and businesses need to be able to advertise and sell products online. Students need internet to complete homework and seek information. Governor Walker’s budget will expand broadband funding, an increase of $34.5 million over the biennium. This is good for all of us. In Wisconsin, our students’ success today is fundamental to our state’s future growth. Governor Walker’s budget increases Sparsity Aid by $20 million and provides 100 percent reimbursement for rural school districts in the High-Cost Transportation Aid program, increasing this support by $10.4 million. His budget allows school districts to enter into agreements to share or jointly provide services or specialists in areas such as attendance ofďƒžcers or lifesaving skill instruction, reducing the burdens on rural schools. Farms and businesses depend on a solid transportation system to market its products across the region, state and country. Governor Walker’s budget also makes key investments when it comes to transportation in rural areas. His budget contains the most funding ever provided to local governments for local road aids. Local governments will receive a total increase of $76,966,700 in state aid and assistance over the 2015-17 biennium from the combined increases in general transportation aids, local road improvement program payments and state funded local bridge improvement assistance program payments. Water quality is essential for the long-term success of agriculture and Wisconsin’s rural communities. Farmers care deeply about the land they work and rely upon to make a living. Governor Walker’s budget emphasizes his commitment to Wisconsin farmers. It includes a number of initiatives to address land and water resource management, including $7 million in cost sharing grants for farmers implementing conservation practices with the assistance of county land conservation departments. We continue to support county land and conservation stafďƒžng as we always have. Governor Walker’s budget also includes a 24 percent increase, an additional $825,000 each ďƒžscal year (or $1.65 million over the biennium) in funding for nutrient management planning, which helps farmers determine when to apply manure and other nutrients at the proper rate and location. Continuation of the Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grants program in the budget will help farmers work together to develop solutions to prevent runoff. These producer-led efforts maintain or improve water quality through improved or new approaches to farming practices. After a thorough review of the fees and surcharges on farmers and businesses that are used to manage the agriculture chemical program and the Agriculture Chemical Cleanup Program, Governor Walker included in his budget proposal a reduction of fees to farmers and businesses of $2 million per year. His proposal will still fully fund the cleanup efforts managed by the DATCP as well as oversight of product uses and regulations. I am optimistic for the future of Wisconsin’s rural communities. I believe Governor Walker’s budget makes a strong investment in our rural communities and Wisconsin’s future. It is clear the Governor is investing in our state’s priorities and moving Wisconsin forward.
Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017 • Page 23
Rudruds receive Vernon County conservation award
Grass waterways, contour strips, no-till used on registered Holstein farm By Ron Johnson
ron.j@dairystar.com
VIROQUA, Wis. – One of the ďƒžrst things Grant and Jenny Rudrud did when they bought their farm was begin conservation work. Now, 29 years later, the Rudruds are the Vernon County Conservation Farmers of the Year. Jenny and Grant were given the honor Feb. 21 by the Vernon County Land and Water Conservation Department. According to the department, the Rudruds have a reputation for applying the principles of land and water conservation to their farm. Grant and Jenny were nominated by former award winners, Ralph and Sheila Petersheim. After moving from a rented farm near Westby, Wis., in 1988, Grant and Jenny wanted to improve their 240-acre farm. They began by targeting an old pasture with box elder trees and ditches you couldnot cross, Grant said. With the help of cost-sharing, in 1988, the Rudruds and the conservation department converted the pasture to a quarter-mile-long grass waterway. Grant seeded the waterway, but no rain fell between Mother’s Day and
RON JOHNSON/DAIRY STAR
Grant and Judy Rudrud are the Vernon County ConservaĆ&#x;on Farmers of the year. The Rudruds were given the award Feb. 21. They milk 80 cows near Viroqua, Wis. the end of July. To encourage the grass seeds and provide a bit of moisture, he applied a light coating of manure. Then at July’s end, rain arrived. The waterway greened and is still holding the soil 28 years later.
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“Last year we had a big rain in September that washed a lot of things out. But that waterway still held,� Grant said. As a bonus, the Rudruds gained six acres of usable hay ground. They do not
till or plant the waterway, but they do take as many as three cuttings a year off of it. In 2014, Grant and Jenny had a second waterway built to intersect with the ďƒžrst one. Turn to RUDRUDS | Page 25
Page 24 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017
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ConƟnued from RUDRUDS | Page 23 An aerial view of the Rudruds’ Gran-J Holsteins, a few miles south of Viroqua, shows the waterways and another of the farm’s conservation practices: contour strips. Vernon County, in southwest Wisconsin, has a rolling, rugged landscape in many places. The Rudrud farm has 30 contour strips. The concept of farming on the land’s contours, Grant said, involves following the same elevation around hills. Since there’s no tillage up and down the slopes, water is not encouraged to ow downhill and take valuable soil with it. While the many contour strips remain intact and grow
“I love cutting hay and looking at all the strips. It’s just beautiful.” JENNY RUDRUD, DAIRY PRODUCER
corn and hay, they are being changed to better t the farming methods of the 21st Century. Some of the strips are being widened every year to accommodate the Rudruds’ six-row corn planter, which replaced a four-row model. The Rudruds have planted part of their corn ground notill for the past 15 years. Grant
y d d e R
PHOTO SUBMITTED
This 2015 photograph shows some of the Rudruds’ conservaƟon work. The farm has two grass waterways and approximately 30 contour strips. said he likes that the soil is not turned over with no-till, minimizing the chances for erosion. Plus, no-till requires less fuel, time and labor compared to other eld preparation methods. The Rudruds haul manure daily and sometimes use tillage to incorporate manure. For approximately eight years, the Rudruds have farmed according to a nutrient management plan prepared by county conservationist Ben Wojahn.
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Grant said he appreciates the guidelines the nutrient management plan provides. It has proven its worth from a practical standpoint, too. Thanks to diligence in soil testing and good records, the plan has let the Rudruds cut back on their use of commercial fertilizer. They’ve also been able to target manure applications to areas of elds that need them the most. The plan gets updated every few years to reect changing eld conditions.
“This is good soil right around here,” Grant said. “It’s pretty deep black topsoil with clay underneath.” That soil, according to Grant, has provided the Rudruds with corn yields as high as 220 bushels per acre, with 180 bushels being common. Corn silage yields on the Rudrud farm typically run 30 tons or higher per acre. “It’s been many years since we’ve been below that. We’ve rented some ground over the years, and you can see if it’s
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been abused … things don’t grow as well. And you can feel it. You can feel it in the dirt,” Grant said. The Rudruds have begun to plant cover crops, such as rye and tillage radishes, as an effort to protect the soil when it would otherwise be somewhat bare and susceptible to erosion. Grant credits his sons, Heath and Brody, with the idea. Brody and Heath rent 250 acres on their own and grow corn and soybeans, and also handle much of the cropping work for Grant and Jenny. The Rudruds also have a daughter, Sanna Hennes, in Kaukauna, Wis., and Grant’s brother, Jeff, pitches in with eldwork and chores. Grant and Jenny are taking their interest in soil conservation off the farm. They are involved in forming the Tainter Creek Farmer-Led Watershed Council. Grant and Jenny milk 80 registered Holsteins. On a twice-daily schedule, the herd average is 24,500 pounds per cow. The butterfat numbers are 950 pounds per cow and a 3.98 percent average. For protein, the numbers are 734 pounds and 3.05 percent. Last year, the somatic cell count averaged 190,000. On being chosen to receive the conservation award, Jenny said, “It’s very nice to be recognized. The contour strips are beautiful. I love cutting hay and looking at all the strips. It’s just beautiful.”
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This fall, many producers utilized our marketing assistance loan program and took a loan on their 2016 corn, soybeans or small grain. Since it has been a few months, I wanted to remind these producers of their responsibility to maintain their grain and the proper way to dispose of any grain being used as collateral. Bins are ideally designed to hold a level volume of grain. When bins are overlled and grain is heaped, air- FSA News & Notes ow is hindered and the chance of spoilage increases. Producers who take out marketing assistance loans and use the farm-stored grain as collateral should remember they are responsible for maintaining the quality of the grain through the term of the loan. This includes preventing any insect infestations that could lead to unmarketable grain. If loan grain has been disposed of through feeding, selling or any other form of disposal without prior written authorization from the county ofce, it is considered unauthorized disposition. The nancial penalties for By Ryan Brunn unauthorized dispositions are severe and a producer’s name will be placed on a loan violation list for a two- Stearns Co. Exec. Dir. year period. Always call before you haul any grain under loan. If you are planning on feeding the grain, you must buy back the bushels before you feed.
Breaking new ground Agricultural producers are reminded to consult with FSA and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) before breaking new ground for production purposes, as doing so without prior authorization may put a producer’s federal farm program benets in jeopardy. This is especially true for land that must meet Highly Erodible Land (HEL) and Wetland Conservation (WC) provisions. Producers with HEL determined soils are required to apply tillage, crop residue and rotational requirements as specied in their conservation plan. Producers should notify FSA as a rst point of contact prior to conducting land clearing or drainage type projects to ensure the proposed actions meet compliance criteria such as clearing any trees to create new cropland. Then, these areas will need to be reviewed to ensure such work will not risk your eligibility for benets. Landowners and operators must complete the form AD-1026, Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certication, to identify the proposed action and allow FSA to determine whether a referral to (NRCS) for further review is necessary. Farm Service Agency is an Equal Opportunity Lender. Complaints about discrimination should be sent to: Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250. Visit the Farm Service Agency Web site at: www.fsa.usda.gov/ for necessary application forms and updates on USDA programs.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017 • Page 27
her story. In 2013, she lost her daughter to an unex- in the heifer lot, there are probably a few of her pected Epileptic seizure. Nine months later, she lost daughters there. When our parish needed a cow for the sausage a son in a tragic car accident along with three of his friends. The town of Sleepy Eye was instantly trau- dinner, I nally gave in to the Gopher’s request (my matized. Rather than becoming a victim, she chose daughter Laura) that it was time for her to go. I had run out of excuses. She to become a victor. She behad given us three daughcame a source of support When things hi h happen with i h the h ters, four lactations with and energy for the other Wh families involved. She, a cows that we prefer would not, we no mastitis and was a ne animal to work with. As lifetime 4-H county extension agent, now speaks should try to find the silver lining. we sat down to enjoy the dinner at our parish, the publicly on making good sausage tasted great. I felt choices. Her motto is, “Be like the victor, not the victim. kind, give more, stay humble.” Laura Rosenhammer farms with her father, When things happen with the cows that we prefer would not, we should try to nd the silver lin- John, and uncle, Greg, on Roseview Dairy near ing. Sure, maybe the cow I wanted to get pregnant Sleepy Eye, Minn. They milk 200 Holsteins and run so badly must go on the truck. However, if I look 580 acres of cropland.
This issue written by John Rosenhammer. Think of all the tools dairy farmers have available to help them do their job. Today, we have monitoring systems to analyze individual cow activity and cud-chewing times; cameras are now placed in the maternity areas to keep us updated on close-up and birthing cows. Milk time temperatures detect early fevers and udder infections. The use of ultrasounds to check for pregnancy has replaced manual palpation, and is now being replaced by blood and milk samples. Genomics has replaced three to four years of progeny testing with the instant results of a hair sample. Silage inoculants are no longer applied as pounds per ton, but rather as ounces. Cows no longer must be open to be ushed, as IVF has made it possible to recover embryos from pregnant animals. And the list goes on. So why with all these tools do cows still slip, die, get mastitis, fail to become or maintain pregnant and eventually end up on the cull list? We invest money in the hope we can make tomorrow better than today. I have concluded that after witnessing my generation, the one before me, and the one after me, that dairy farming provides life lessons. Some you can control, others you cannot. In the end, we must accept the fact that, “Thy will be done.” Many things can be controlled, however, tragedy, weather and the price of milk cannot. The key is to, “Not be dened by what has happened to you, but by what you have chosen to become.” This Lenten season, Patty, I and my youngest son had the privilege to listen to a local woman give
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Page 28 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017
Drawing strength from family Williams still farming despite health problems By Brittany Olson
brittany.o@dairystar.com
WILLARD, Wis. – If it wasn’t for his kids, Jim Williams says he wouldn’t be farming. Those words, uttered by Jim Williams, couldn’t be more true as he recovers from shoulder surgery – especially since his son, Adam, is milking his dad’s cows as well as 20-some of his own. Jim, who milks 38 cows with his wife, Diane, near Willard, Wis., is no stranger to the doctor’s ofďƒžce or the operating room, having recovered from several other injuries and surgeries in the past. Both family and the Easter Seals organization have helped the Williamses continue dairy farming. This isn’t the ďƒžrst time he’s had his shoulder worked on. “Ten years ago, I broke my right shoulder. I thought it was my rotator cuff, but it was actually broken,â€? Jim said. The dairyman’s battle to keep his health started early. “When I was 28, I had my ďƒžrst stroke,â€? Jim said. “But I recovered from that.â€? At age 40, he began having
mini-strokes and was placed on a blood thinner, which almost caused him to lose his arm. “I banged my arm while ďƒžxing a tractor, and my arm swelled up with blood. When I went in, the doctors couldn’t hardly keep the muscle from bulging out of the incision when they were draining the blood out because it was so full. They called it compression syndrome,â€? Jim said. “The doctors ended up putting 56 staples in. If I’d waited a few more hours, I would have lost my arm.â€? In addition to almost losing his arm, Jim lost a ďƒžnger while doing chores one milking. “I was trying to put a milker on, and the cow was very kicky,â€? said Jim. “She slammed my ďƒžnger between the claw and a post, and shattered the bone.â€? He has also undergone two open-heart surgeries, the ďƒžrst one taking place 13 years ago and another operation in 2015. “I’ve also had my back operated on, as well as gallbladder surgery,â€? he said. “One upside is that for every heart operation, I get a new dog from my kids.â€? A running joke in the Williams house centers around their many trips to the hospital. “We say that we’re a doctor’s dream because we’ve probably paid for half of a new hospital,â€? Diane said. After their plethora of health struggles, including Diane’s ro-
BRITTANY OLSON/DAIRY STAR
Diane Williams pushes up feed before evening chores start. Easter Seals put in new cement and reĆ&#x;led the mangers in the Williams’ Ć&#x;estall barn.
BRITTANY OLSON/DAIRY STAR
Adam Williams (leĹŒ) has been milking cows for his father, Jim, while he recovers from shoulder surgery. Adam also milks his own herd of cows, and has had more help from his wife, Emily, during this Ć&#x;me. The Williams family farms near Willard, Wis. tator cuff surgery in 2007 and knee surgery in 2016, Easter Seals of Wisconsin stepped in to help the farm family out by making upgrades to their barn and equipment. “We had 22 calves on milk that summer, and were running out of places to house calves, so they gave us about a dozen hutches,â€? Diane said. Easter Seals didn’t stop there. They put new cement and tile in the feed alleys, as well as providing a new automatic feed cart and putting in gravity ďƒ&#x;ow water lines, where large PVC pipes take the place of drinking cups between cows. “Now, if one isn’t working, we just need to take a plunger instead of shutting the water off,â€? Jim said. To top it all off, the organization also gifted a track system in the Williams’ tiestall barn, so whoever was milking didn’t have to carry milkers from inlet to inlet anymore, as well as onetouch stall cocks.
“We already had automatic take-offs, and had toured a farm near Cadott, Wis., that had a track. We thought it was pretty cool, but didn’t realize how cool it was until we had our own,â€? Diane said. Up until this recent operation, Diane helped with chores in the barn, all while working full time. “This time around I just fed calves, but I had to quit in order to do end-of-year bookwork,â€? Diane said. Their two sons, Adam and Jim Jr., stepped in to ďƒžll in for their father. While their other two children, Jason and Heather, work off the farm, they step in and help as needed. Jim Jr. does a lot of the feeding, while Adam milks both at his own farm and for his dad. Meanwhile Adam’s wife, Emily, takes time off work to milk their cows as needed. “I’ve been running a lot,â€? Adam said. “I milk my cows at noon and midnight, and milk for
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my dad at 7 to 7:30 twice a day.â€? When asked how he’s been able to keep both herds aďƒ&#x;oat, Adam’s answer was simple. “Just getting it done,â€? he said. Adam and Emily’s four children, Clara, 6, Jack, 4, Sonja, 2, and Gus, 7 months, love being in the barn whether it’s their own or their grandparents’ barn. “Farming is so thankless. You work your butt off, and for what?â€? Diane said. “But it’s a great place to raise kids. Adam’s kids act like the barn is their house.â€? Jim, with about one month left to go before he can return to farming full time, is looking forward to being back in the barn. He’s been back doing some chores, like feeding and cleaning. “I wouldn’t be farming anymore without the boys,â€? Jim said. “Especially Adam.â€? After all he’s been through, it is clear that his family keeps Jim Williams strong.
Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017 • Page 29
Rosedale Genetics: A journey through the show ring, beyond Rueths hosting Sale of Excellence March 25 By Brittany Olson
brittany.o@dairystar.com
OXFORD, Wis. – Some cows are so incredible and so outstanding that they only go by one name. Blackrose, Paradise, Redrose and Lexington are all prime examples. Those four cows are also the foundation of Rosedale Genetics, Ltd., of Oxford, Wis., a 55-cow registered Holstein herd owned and operated by Mark and Nicky Rueth. The Rueths, along with their infant daughter, Paradise, are hosting a 125-lot dispersal, the Sale of Excellence, at their farm on March 25. “Our intention wasn’t to milk a lot of cows, but to work with better genetics,” Mark said. Between not being able to nd help, being far away from family and aging equipment, the pressure of maintaining a worldrenowned farm by themselves took its toll over time. “We’re starting to get to the age where things hurt. We’re getting tired,” Mark said. “If we had kids that were older we’d expand, but the plan is to just keep some heifers back for Paradise when she’s a little older.” Mark explained that getting out of dairying at his age, compared to many other dairy producers who often exit the business at a much older age, has its benets. “Others that have sold cows at an older age either don’t have much time left to do much after the cows are gone, or the animals aren’t worth as much as they could have been,” Mark said. “We’ve cashed in on the cows a few times to make a living through tag sales, but now we’re selling a large group and taking a break.” Mark, who had grown up on a grade Holstein farm, was bitten by the show bug as a teen-
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Mark and Nicky Rueth, with daughter Paradise and Rosedale Lucky Rose EX-94, are hosƟng the Sale of Excellence dispersal on March 25 at their farm near Oxford, Wis. ager and spent most of his young adult years tting cattle for prestigious show herds across the continent. In addition, he is the only person to have owned or coowned four World Dairy Expo Supreme or Reserve Supreme Champions, and both he and Nicky have won the prestigious Klussendorf-Mackenzie Award for character, sportsmanship, ability and endeavor as well as Mark winning the Klussendorf Award, given for conduct and sportsmanship in and out of the show ring, in 2008. The Rosedale journey began in 1994, when Mark purchased the famed Stookey Elm Park Blackrose Excellent-96 3E GMD DOM, a Blackstar daughter, as a bred heifer for $5,000. Together with Bob and Karyn Schauf of Indianhead Holsteins, Ltd., of Barron, Wis., where Blackrose was housed, and Mark van Mersbergen of Markwell Holsteins, from Lynden, Wash., she would go on to create a legacy that outlived herself through her ability to transmit her outstanding traits through high-type offspring in both the Holstein and Red and White breeds. While he had owned cattle
on various farms across the U.S. and Canada, including two-time Expo Supreme Champion Vandyk-K Integrity Paradise (2000 and 2002), Mark decided to take the plunge into dairying for himself in 2001 right after World Dairy Expo. “All the cattle I owned came to Expo that year, and after Expo we brought them to our farm near Deereld, Wis.,” Mark said. “We had a lot of champions over the years, especially when we started.” Four years later, in 2005, Mark and Nicky moved the cows to their current farm near Oxford, Wis. “We were still farming in Deereld and trying to get things ready to go here,” Mark said. That year became even more incredible as one of Rosedale’s own, Lavender Ruby RedroseRed Excellent-95, a Blackrose great-granddaughter sired by Rubens, cleaned house at World Dairy Expo and became the rst Red and White to be named Supreme Champion. In recent years, the Rosedale prex continues to succeed in the show ring. Rosedale Lexington, a 95-point great-granddaughter of Blackrose sired by Goldwyn, won the 5-year-old
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class at the Holstein show during the 2013 World Dairy Expo, one year after Mark and Nicky were married, and was named honorable mention intermediate champion at World Dairy Expo in 2011, as well. The Rosedale prex continues to perform for other breeders through cattle purchased from the Rueths, also. “Our cows have done well for us, and for other people. If someone comes and buys a cow or heifer, she may not be the best cow in our barn so she won’t get as much time focused on developing her from us, but she might be the best cow in her new owner’s barn so they’ll start developing her and getting more daughters from her,” Mark said. “As a result, she’ll do better for them than she would have for us.” Examples include Rosedale Ghetto Cat and Rosedale GoldMine, who were purchased by Chris and Rikki Van Dyk of West-Croix Genetics near New Richmond, Wis., and Rosedale 2 Hot 2 Handle-Red, owned by Carley Krull of Lake Mills, Wis. Ghetto Cat, an Excellent-93 Goldlaser daughter with an Excellent-95 mammary system out of a Pronto sister to Lexington,
won the aged cow class along with best udder at the 2016 District 1 Holstein Show in Rice Lake, Wis. “Gold-Mine is a Goldwyn daughter of Redrose, and was named honorable mention all American as a junior 2-yearold for Mark and Nicky. Ghetto Cat is due in June with her sixth calf,” Van Dyk said. “She won grand and supreme champion at the St. Croix County Fair, and placed third in her class at the Wisconsin State Championship Show.” The cow, 2 Hot 2 HandleRed, sired by Artie-Red, was purchased as a pregnant heifer carrying an Atwood heifer calf at the 2014 Rosedale tag sale. “Hottie (2 Hot 2 Handle’s barn name) just had an Awesome-Red heifer calf that is really nice. Her Atwood daughter, Honey, is just fresh with a red calf and looks awesome,” Krull said. As the sale comes closer and closer, Mark and Nicky are counting the days with a slew of mixed emotions. “There’s a lot of work and emotion leading up to it. It’ll be a sad day for sure,” Mark said. “But we’re looking forward to some peace of mind and time off. As far as working off the farm, you never know what opportunities become available.” While their farm ofce is covered from oor to ceiling with ribbons, trophies, plaques and plates, it is the memories that stand the test of time. “Some days, when you just want to get chores done, you walk right past it and forget,” Mark said. “But some days you just need to take it all in.” While deciding to have a dispersal was a difcult decision for Mark and Nicky, it doesn’t necessarily mean their farming careers have come to a close. “The plan for this year is to do some eld work, x a house down the road that we own, go to a few shows and help people out,” Mark said. “The farm is always here if we want to start milking again. It’s been a good journey.”
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A dog named Sam Page 30 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017
A horde of growling bulldozers have carved milking facilities. But perhaps my fondest memories streets into the farm that was once known as the Old are those of Sam. Revell Place. Shortly after I moved onto the Old Revell Place What’s my interest in this inexorable urbaniza- and acquired dairy cows, I discovered one of the tion? None, really, except that was the farmstead farm’s largest faults – fences. The combination of where, many years ago, I long-necked Holsteins and launched my farming cabarbed wire that belonged reer. I quickly i kl ffound d that h owning i a bl blue in a museum was a constant I wondered if I should headache. So, I hired Sam tell the developer how the heeler was like having another as my rst blue heeler dog. soil next to the draw con- person with you at all times. He was nothing but a pudgy sists of a foot of black dirt, ball of grayish fur when he beneath which is a layer of came to live with me, and sugar sand that can swallow a tractor in a single gulp. we soon became inseparable. I wondered if I should tell them how that land down It wasn’t long before Sam began to help with east oods after heavy rains. milking. He would carefully watch the cows as they The Old Revell Place holds memories for me. The exited the milking parlor, sneaking up on them and rickety house never could seem to keep out the chill nipping their heels just as they rounded the corner. winter winds. The old barn with its cobbled-together I quickly found that owning a blue heeler was like
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having another person with you at all times. Sam was always hanging around, watching me, seemingly worried that he might miss out on something. Sam was wickedly smart. For instance, I might be wrestling with a reluctant disk bearing when I would glance up and see Sam watching me. “What Dear County Agent Guy do you think, Sam?” I might ask – and Sam would run off and chase a rabbit. There could be no doubt he was acting out a metaphor for my futile struggles with farming. Sam became a supreme cattle dog. I had a big (2,200-pound), mean Holstein bull who had learned how By Jerry Nelson to ddle with the gate Columnist until it opened. He would then lead his harem on a foray across the farmstead, usually homing in on the garden so they could trample our tender vegetable plants. Those who think cows can’t think should watch a bunch of Holsteins who are bent on maximizing their owner’s irritation. If I saw the bull working on the gate, I would call for Sam, kneel by his side, and whisper, “See that bull, Sam? Get ‘im!” Sam loved this. He would creep down to the barn, sneak around the corner and nip the bull’s nose. The bull would turn tail and run; Sam would give chase, bloodying the bull’s heels. Both Sam and I enjoyed this immensely. When our rst son was born, we worried how Sam might react. We needn’t have; Sam claimed the baby as if he were one of the pack. When my wife went to get the mail, she would often take along the baby in the stroller and Sam would walk alongside like the ofcial guardian. Aside from his rabbit chasing, these were the only occasions when Sam left my side. One fateful day, I discovered that my feeder calves had escaped from their pen. I called for Sam and commanded him to “Sic ‘em!” I left the dog to attend to the calf-chasing and fetched my fence-repair tools. When I got back, the calves were strolling about nonchalantly instead of galloping for the safety of their pen. Where was the 50-pound canine demon that should have been nipping at their heels? Strange. I called for Sam. Nothing. I walked down the fence line, and there he was. Sam was stretched out on the sod, motionless, looking as if he had been frozen in mid-stride. An unlucky kick from one of the calves must have snapped his neck. My wife and I buried him on the spot just as one might bury a fallen soldier on the eld of battle. Our son couldn’t understand why we were doing this to his dog. My wife cried. I tried not to. Tidy rows of houses have sprouted where I once grew rows of corn. Someday, a bulldozer will wipe away the remaining traces of those old fences that I struggled so mightily to maintain. Perhaps the dozer operator will spot a small smattering of bones and wonder what died there. Perhaps, decades hence, some suburbanite will till his garden and uncover a strange calcium deposit. I wondered if I should tell the developers about these things. But then I thought: Nah. They can nd out for themselves. Jerry is a recovering dairy farmer from Volga, S.D. He and his wife, Julie, have two grown sons and live on the farm where Jerry’s great-grandfather homesteaded over 110 years ago. Jerry currently works full time for the Dairy Star as a staff writer/ ad salesman. Feel free to E-mail him at: jerry.n@dairystar.com.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017 • Page 31
The rapid change of technology on dairies has been immense the past 30 years. Five-gallon pails, wheelbarrows and a recording notebook with a pencil were once common; however, TMR mixers, smartphones and computers have more often taken over in barns and ofces. Similarly, the newspaper industry has ourished and changed. When we printed the rst Dairy Star in February 1999, our staff had to work differently. Photos were developed from lm, and if a reporter didn’t work in the Sauk Centre, Minn., ofce, they had to On the Mark mail their pictures. Fax machines were our avenue for getting a story quickly. If a farmer had a letter to the editor or column they wanted to submit in quick fashion, it was done by fax. Our design was done on one of the rst Macintosh computers available. Then, we would paste the story on a page with the photo and our printer would take a picture and use the negative to publish the paper. There were no digital cameras, emails or the luxury of using websites to validate information. Oh have things changes. Nowadays, we lay the By Mark Klaphake paper out on our large monitors and pages only need to be downloaded to the press for printing. We have Editor digital cameras with memory cards that can store over 2,000 photos and a reporter can cover an event and have a story with photos to us in seconds. While on the topic of change, I wanted to let you know about two new columnists we are privileged to have join our staff, along with a new feature we hope you enjoy. We’ve had many talented columnists come and go, such as nutritionist, A.J. Kunkel, veterinarian, Florian Ledermann, or dairy farmer, Kerry Hoffman. Recently our nutritionist, Jim Linn, put the pen away. A couple new additions to the columnist group includes John Rosenhammer and his daughter, Laura, who have a column titled Transition Pen. They started writing this column in late December with a focus on farm transition. This can be a touchy subject, that if not done right can lead to disasters for families. John and Laura are in the initial stages of their farm transition and have been open to sharing their experience with our readers. Laura graduated from the University of Minnesota with the goal of someday taking over the farm from her dad and her uncle, Greg, on their 200-cow dairy near Sleepy Eye, Minn. Another new face to join our team is nutritionist Barry Visser and his column is titled Something to Ruminate About. He replaces Jim Linn who stepped aside late last year. Visser has an impressive track record working with farmers and fellow nutritionists. His column can be seen the second issue iis very grateful f l ffor of every month. We also introduced a new the time you take to share feature called Family Ties in your story with our readers. our Feb. 25 issue of Dairy Star. The goal with this feature is to highlight family members who dairy, but not together. The questions deal with anything from how often the family members talk farming to what technology they wish they would have had when they were kids, along with what the industry means to them. If you know of a unique situation where this is happening in your area, please contact our staff for possible inclusion down the road. As always, the staff at Dairy Star is very grateful for the time you take to share your story with our readers. Countless times farmers tell us their favorite things to read are the farmer interviews. Well, we don’t have those unless you share your story with us. Thank you. Hopefully sometime this year we will be visiting with you about your operation. Keep us in the loop if there is a great story in your area. Dairy Star is mailed free to dairy farmers in our circulation area. That’s the way it was when we started, and the way we want to do it in the future. But we need your help in our plan to keep it that way. In an effort to keep our postage rate down, we send out reader requester cards. If a certain percentage of our farmers send back their cards, we can mail out the paper at a much more reasonable price, which helps us keep your copy free. If you have not sent back your reader requester card or misplaced it, please call Dairy Star at 320-352-6303. Thank you and God Bless.
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The cows are eating the new posts Page 32 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017
A few months ago, I alluded to the fact that we The addition is 112 feet longer than the original were putting a freestall addition on our dairy site. barn so we could eliminate the old end walls and Joe started the planning for this addition more than garage doors, and put one large hydraulic door on two years ago, with the dirt work starting in the fall each end. This will allow us to access all three feed of 2015. I sat in the hot seat before the county plan- alleys with adequate turning room. The remodel inning and zoning board in June 2015. cludes tunnel ventilation of the old and new with Before this last addibeltless fans and computer tion, our dairy consisted controlled inlets. Some of a four-row, 440-stall We have triple checked the bad posts in the old part naturally-vented barn, were xed, and all the old built in 2000, on one side ration and even put out free headlocks were replaced. of the parlor and an 8-row, choice TM salt and bi-carb, but This is the second barn 1,000-stall cross-vent barn we have done where we g so. built in stages on the other they are still doing are the general contracside. The double-24 paraltor. The rst was 43 years lel parlor in the middle has ago when I hired two carbeen expanded several times. The new addition is penters to help me remodel a chicken barn into an a 6-row, 700-stall lean-to on the south side of the 80-cow tiestall barn. In between then and now, we original 4-row 16-year-old barn. This is not your have always bought a turkey barn or addition, prograndpa’s lean-to that he slapped up on the side of viding minimal labor other than site clean-up. a corn crib so he could park two are boxes inside. Joe has put time and effort into being the genThis is a factory engineered wood frame building eral contractor for this addition. We hired the buildmeasuring 160- by 584-feet. ing and concrete construction and used a reputable
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wood framed building and construction company. We are installing the freestalls, headlocks, ume plumbing, waterers, fans, gating and lights with our own crew. In addition, our crew is replacing most of the above equipment in the original barn. We Making Cents of Dairy hired a local electrician to bring in a new service, wire the fans and lights, and we bought a bigger generator. Some of our help call the project Joe’s Sweat Shop, but in December, it was so dark and frigid working in there that it felt like we By Dave Vander Kooi were bolting freestalls Columnist together in the Artic Circle. For help, we took two of our longterm employees, Robert and Ever, out of the milking parlor and hired two neighboring crop farmers for the winter. After this winter, Tom may never want to see another green freestall pipe, or Corey another French headlock. Joe bought a hydraulic wood splitter which Ryen used all winter to squeeze pipe ends for butt welding pen dividers. We have burned up battery tools, bought a pallet of welding rods, and are lucky if one out of three hammer drills are available or working. The gas powered cut off saw is the most sought after tool, and if you set it down it will end up 300 feet away in 30 seconds. We put cows in two new pens two weeks ago, but didn’t gain any space yet because we emptied two older pens so we could retrot them. This week we will have two more pens nished, and hopefully the weather stays cool because the electrician is slightly behind getting the fans wired. One problem we have noticed is the cows are chewing and licking on the new wood posts. We have triple checked the ration and even put out free choice TM salt and bi-carb, but they are still doing so. The theory now is the wood sat outside too long and got a softer and sweeter tasting. We ordered galvanized angle iron to screw onto the post corners and hopefully that will stop it. Just adding those angle irons to the posts in a large barn can accelerate the cost overruns on a project. Stay tuned for next month’s article when I will break down the complete costs and cost-perstall of the lean-to. Vander Kooi operates a 1,200-cow, 3,000 acre farm with his son, Joe, and daughter-in-law, Rita, near Worthington, Minn. Send him feedback at davevkooi@ hotmail.com.
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Crossbreeding, in retrospect
Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017 • Page 33
Hands down, one of my favorite parts of writing this column is hearing from you. I am humbled when someone makes time in their day to share their thoughts or ask a question about something I wrote. Several of you sent comments and questions Dairy Good Life regarding crossbreeding after my column about our blue roan heifer calf. Allow me to use this space, in a “reply all” of sorts, to explain more about our experience with crossbreeding and why we discontinued the practice. Crossbreeding can be a lot of fun. I grew up with crossbred cows (and single-breed cows). Certain cow families were bred to maintain their Holstein bloodlines. Some crossbred cow families were bred back to one breed. Other crossbred cow families were crossed back and forth. It was always fun to see what the crossbred calves looked like when By Sadie Frericks they were born. Columnist I still nd excitement and joy in the variety of markings and colors. On the other hand, I’m equally thrilled when a Holstein with classic markings or a Jersey with dark eyes or a red roan Milking Shorthorn is born. But there are no lines for adorable spots and interesting colors on our balance sheet and nancial analysis. In other words, our cows need to perform regardless of their breed. We carefully evaluate each cow’s performance against several measures. Cows that perform stay; cows that don’t are sold. Through those cow-by-cow decisions, most of our crossbreds sorted themselves out of the herd. They simply didn’t perform as well as their single-breed herd mates by any measure – health, reproduction, temperament, milk quality, milk components or milk volume. Our decision to discontinue crossbreeding wasn’t made in an instant. It’s more like we looked around one day and realized we no longer had many crossbreds. I will say, though, that many of those 50:50 crossbred cows, who were bred back to one of the original breeds, have daughters and granddaughters that continue to perform very well. There wasn’t one certain reason why the crossbreds left the herd – some of them had fertility issues, some had milk quality issues. We tend to be pretty lenient regarding milk production as long as a cow has decent components and good milk quality. We did nd that our Brown Swiss crosses were the rst to sort themselves out of the herd – mostly due to fertility issues. We no longer have any cows or heifers with Brown Swiss in their pedigree. We still have a number of Jersey-cross descendants, but most of them are fullblooded Jersey now. The Jerseys have contributed well to our goal of selling higher component milk. Their smaller size also means we can t two Jerseys in one Holstein stall. Just kidding. The Jerseys’ smaller size is a benet for handling, especially as our kids become more involved with milking and moving cows. Some argue Jerseys have better feed efciency than Holsteins, but I’ve seen Jerseys and Jersey-crosses clean up just as much feed as larger breeds. We also have a number of cows descended from Holstein-Milking Shorthorn crosses bred back to Holstein. If I had to pick one breed for crossbreeding, it would be Milking Shorthorns. I know I’m partial to them, but these cows tend to have exceptional health, reproduction and mobility with decent production. Part of the evolution of our herd’s genetic makeup is also due to improved performance of our single-breed cow families. The top cows in our herd for component-corrected milk continue to be Holsteins who breed back on the rst service and only see the veterinarian or hoof trimmer for preventative care. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: Focusing on genetics pays off. By carefully mating our cows to bulls which meet our requirements, we have improved performance across the board. Genomic testing has made it even easier to identify bulls with the production and health traits that will best meet our herd’s needs. In the end, though, our decision to stop crossbreeding might not be nal. We won’t be doing any widespread crossbreeding, but we’re already tossing around the idea of trying for a few more blue roans. Crossbreeding might not make sense from a herd performance point of view, but it’s still fun. And a few blue roans aren’t going to negatively impact our balance sheet. We need to nd ways to make dairy farming fun – and protable – wherever we can. Sadie and her husband, Glen, milk 75 cows near Melrose, Minn. They have three children – Dan, 10, Monika, 7, and Daphne, 4. Sadie also writes a blog at www.dairygoodlife.com. She can be reached at sadiefrericks@gmail.com.
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“Nature is cruel; We don’t have to be.” Page 34 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017
The statement above is a quote from Temple This probably all sounds reasonable, but most the opposite horn, or by drawing a line between the Grandin, PhD, an expert in large animal handling dairy farmers have experienced one or more situ- base of the ears at the level of the external meatus and welfare. No true dairy farmer wants to be cruel ations where the outcome was quite uncertain, and (ear canal) on the midline. The angle of trajectory to his cows. However, every farmer thus the decision to euthanize or not is should be perpendicular or slightly downward, but knows that bad things sometimes hap- Veterinary Wisdom difcult. Many have seen a down cow no more than 45 degrees. Use of a captive bolt stunner is an approved pen to cows: cows go down, cows are get up after many days of being nonseverely injured and cows get sick beambulatory. However, we all know this method. However, use of a captive bolt may not reyond the point of recovery. Farmers, is not typical. Most down cows suf- sult in sudden death of the animal. To cause death, farmers’ employees and veterinarians fer some degree of pain or severe dis- stunning can be followed by exsanguination, inmake decisions about what to do when comfort, so euthanasia should be done jection of a paralytic substance such as potassium an animal is injured or ill. If an animal promptly once it becomes clear recov- chloride or pithing of the brain. The obvious advanis in reasonable shape and can be sold ery is unlikely. Part of training is under- tage of a captive bolt over a rearm is safety. The to slaughter, doing so can be the apstanding how to make this determina- captive bolt has a retractable bolt which penetrates the skull and brain, but then returns to the champropriate choice. There are other times, tion. however, when animals should be euThere are three methods of eutha- ber of the device, making it a relatively safe tool thanized on the farm by trained personnasia approved by the American Vet- to use. Captive bolt guns are not inexpensive, but By Jim Bennett nel. One requirement of FARM 3.0 is erinary Medical Association. The rst may still be an affordable method for many farms. Columnist that every farm have a written protocol is intravenous injection of pentobarbi- In our practice, all of our bovine veterinarians carry and training for non-ambulatory animal tal. Pentobarbital is a barbiturate drug captive bolt guns, because we want to be able to management. Another requirement is that every which stops the heart. Pentobarbital is a Drug En- provide instant relief to suffering animals in a cost farm has a written protocol and training for eutha- forcement Administration Controlled Drug. This effective and safe way. Cost should not have to be a nasia. The herd veterinarian could be designated as means the drug can only be purchased and used by reason for an animal to die a slow, painful death. the individual responsible for euthanasia. a veterinarian, and it requires very specic recordDairy farmers take excellent care of their aniWhen should euthanasia be considered? Some- ing of use and storage. Disadvantages are the cost mals. We should all strive to continue this excellent times the choice is clear, such as a broken leg, for and risk to other animals if the carcass is ingested. care right up to the point of death, if possible. Someexample. Any down cow with a condition that will Dogs, cats or wildlife can become ill, or even die, if times this means we need to properly and safely eunot respond to treatment needs to be euthanized. enough is consumed. thanize animals sooner rather than later. For more Other times, the choice is less clear, but in general, Gunshot is another information about methods we should euthanize down animals which are not approved method. Some and other considerations We should h ld all ll strive i to responding, and are not likely to respond to treat- people nd the use of gun- W regarding euthanasia see: ment. A veterinarian may need to be consulted to shot to be distasteful or continue this excellent care https://vetmed.iastate.edu/ give a prognosis in certain cases. One should also uncomfortable, but it is a vdpam/about/productioneuthanize cows that may be ambulatory, but are humane way to euthanize right up to the point of death, animal-medicine/dairy/ not responding to treatment and are not t to eat. animals if done correctly. if possible. dairy-extension/humaneA simple rule of thumb is if you would not eat the The correct method is not euthanasia meat from the animal yourself, the animal should to shoot between the eyes. Jim Bennett is a be euthanized. Also, any animal which will have The brain is located higher on the skull than the dairy veterinarian at Northern Valley Dairy Prodifculty with a long truck ride should be consid- eyes, and shooting in that area will not result in a duction Medicine Center in Plainview, Minn. He ered for euthanasia. Animals suffering signicant quick death for the animal. The correct site is de- and his wife, Pam, have four children. Jim can be pain should also be euthanized if relief is not likely termined by drawing two lines, in an “X” fashion, reached at bennettnvac@gmail.com with comments to be achieved in a reasonable amount of time. between the outside corner of the eye to the base of or questions.
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God bless veterinarians
I remember being a child and running into one of my teachers at the grocery store. That same awkwardness and disbelief has ltered into adulthood when I run into one of our veterinarians in public because it’s a reminder that they really do have a life outside of work; I’m not used to seeing them not in coveralls; and usually, unless it’s for herd check, I only see the vet when things have gone awry. The three vets we work with at the Barron Veterinary Clinic in Barron, Wis., have been nothing short of amazing to us, and I know their farmer-clients feel the same. There’s Dr. Don Peterson, or Dr. Don for short, who has been the veterinarian of record on this farm since the 1970s. He was Sam’s grandpa’s vet, my in-laws’ vet, and now he is our vet. Dr. Don’s easygoing and good-humored nature is enough to put even me at ease when something By Brittany Olson has gone horribly wrong, and I’m about to come undone. He has also rejoiced with us, as he and his Staff Writer wife were two of nearly 300 guests at our wedding, and comes bearing good news in the form of healing and conrmed pregnancies. Then, there’s Dr. Nate Carlsen. When Dr. Don is out on a call, he is the face we’re most likely to see. While he usually only comes for emergencies, Dr. Carlsen exudes calm and condence in a cool and calculated manner. The clinic’s newest large-animal vet, Dr. Lisa Hansen, visited our herd for the rst time on a cold night in early December when one of my Jersey heifers went down and nearly died. She reminded me of my friends’ moms from high school, and I can’t even begin to explain how comforting that was. Even though saving the heifer ended up being a futile effort and we had to put her down later on, I won’t soon forget Dr. Lisa’s expertise and care during what was my hardest night, to date, as a beginning dairywoman. On another night I won’t soon forget, we had a cow named Harley off feed and her abdomen made the characteristic pinging noise signaling she needed medical attention. And of course, another cow named Darla was two days overdue and in labor. Because Harley was pinging, we thought she had a displaced abomasum. However, that was not the case as she had developed a wicked case of hot mastitis, which ended up being very easy to treat. She was not the least of our problems that night because Darla was pushing her cleanings out before any calves. Since Dr. Carlsen was there, we asked him to take a look at Darla. I don’t remember how long it took because it felt like an eternity, but it took all three of us to deliver twin bull calves dead on arrival. Ih have a h hard d time i when h Even the calm and animals die on the farm even tranquil Dr. Carlsen was though I know it’s a part of life. showing signs of becoming disheveled as he had to maneuver the rst twin so it was no longer trying to come out with a front leg and a back leg at the same time. It was 8:30 p.m., by the time Dr. Carlsen left, and we hadn’t started milking. I managed to wait until he was gone before melting into a puddle of tears from sorrow and exhaustion. I have a hard time when animals die on the farm even though I know it’s part of life. I know veterinarians have a hard time with that, too. After all, they wouldn’t have strived to get near-perfect grades in undergrad classes like physics and organic chemistry to get into another arduous and demanding four years of vet school if they didn’t love animals. Our herd vets are called out at every hour to x our broken animals, and are often beaten and bruised by the very animals they’re trying to save. Yet, because they love cows, they do it anyway. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude and respect to Drs. Peterson, Carlsen and Hansen, as well as all of the other large-animal vets, who keep our cattle healthy and strong. I can’t forget my friends who are currently in vet school studying to do the very same, so I would also like to thank future Drs. O’Leary, Pogreba, Scharping, Severson and many more for devoting their lives to the care of the bovine species. Thank you all, and God bless each and every one of you.
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Page 36 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017
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Tell us about your most memorable experience working on the farm. Delivering calves with the help of the kids or my husband. It is such a great feeling when you have successfully helped deliver a new calf. The harder the calving, the greater the feeling. What have you enjoyed most about dairy farming or your tie to the dairy industry? I love being outside early mornings in the summer. I also enjoy working with animals. How do you stay connected with others in the industry? I follow the Dairy Girl Network. In your opinion, what’s the importance of women in today’s dairy industry and how have you seen that change over the years? There are fewer women involved on farms overall, since many have had to obtain a job in town. But those who are still on the farm are more deeply involved, and I think they have more of a say in the decisions being made. If you could give a tour of your farm to a prominent woman in today’s society, who would it be? News broadcaster Tamron Hall. She seems willing to try anything and appreciates other people’s work. She would be fun to be around. What is the best vacation you’ve ever taken? Last year, Tom and I went to Canada and Niagara Falls. It was the ďƒžrst vacation the two of us had taken together for too many years. The sights were beautiful. Plus, we saw different aspects of Canada’s agriculture industry. What are some words you like to live by? Help when you can. Volunteering and helping others makes you a better person. Plus, you never know when you will need to be on the receiving end of someone’s help.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017 • Page 37
Prairie Farms Dairy, Swiss Valley Farms merger approved
Prairie Farms Dairy and Swiss Valley Farms announced today that members of both cooperatives have approved I belong to many organizations and some are farm focused. As the years go the proposed merger with overwhelming by, I have witnessed a change in the types of farmers who are joining and par- support. Both companies are industryticipating in policy discussions. Many of the new farmers did not grow up on leading farmer-owned cooperatives and farms or even in rural communities. They are colrank among USDA’s list of Top 100 Colege educated, articulate in debating and passionoperatives. The merger agreement was originally announced late last year, and is ate about their ideas. As they project their views to expected to close on March 31, 2017. others in their communities, they are growing the “We had a great business relationship organization with more new members. with Swiss Valley for many years, and are There are more newer members than the midpleased to have reached this important dle-aged or retired farmers. The senior members milestone. Much has changed since our have stayed steady and strong through the ups and cooperative was founded in 1938, and the downs of the economic turbulence. Years ago, they merger reďƒ&#x;ects our purpose, which is to ran the meetings and created the policies that related generate sales and proďƒžt for our cooperato their farming practices. Some of these practices tive members,â€? said Ed Mullins, Prairie are being challenged by new members. New ideas Farms CEO. By Tina Hinchley in a changing landscape comes with the recent rush “Consumption of ďƒ&#x;uid milk, our core Farmer & Columnist product, has been declining for years, of diversity in agriculture.
All of these new and old farmers have their hands in the dirt. They all want better times for the shrinking number of the farms, which feed the world. Some embrace technology and are excited to see what new products are coming to bring more opportunities and environmental awareness than ever before. Others voice objection to these practices and are searching for different methods using novel ideas. All farmers drink the water on their farms. We are a product of our environment. It is our responsibility to ensure the water will be there and safe for the future. Conservation strips, nutrient management plans and proper storage of chemicals are in every farmer’s best interest. Conservation compliance isn’t to be ignored. It should be practiced to ensure everyone’s safety. Within farm organizations, I believe all farmers have a place and a voice in the creation of policy that represents its members. As new policies are created, others fade away as the needs to update and anticipate the future of agriculture evolve. Policies are written so our legislature knows the direction of the organization’s membership. It is the members’ hope that the changing ideas can inďƒ&#x;uence future legislation. Lobbying at the state level or even in Washington, D. C., will help create the effective changes desired by the organization, and in essence, the farmer’s voice will be heard.
while cheese consumption has increased nearly 150 percent since 1975. The complementary nature of Swiss Valley’s product line will help counter this major shift. At the same time, Swiss Valley is looking to grow their export business, and with the merger, they will gain access to many Prairie Farms products, such as extended shelf life milk and cream,� he added. The combined company will operate under the name of Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc., and both organizations will retain their brand names, Prairie Farms Dairy and Swiss Valley Farms, respectively. The company will remain under the direction of Prairie Farms CEO Ed Mullins. Chris Hoeger, former CEO of Swiss Valley, will continue with the company as President of the newly formed Prairie Farms Cheese Division.
Milk Marketing Board nomination period opens The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is inviting Wisconsin dairy producers who are interested in serving the state’s dairy industry to submit a nomination to represent their district as a Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB) director. DATCP oversees the nomination and election process. Nine out of 25 districts are currently up for election. They are: District 1: Ashland, Bayďƒželd, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Rusk, Sawyer and Washburn District 4: Barron and Polk Counties District 7: Clark County District 10: Brown, Door and Kewaunee Counties District 13: Buffalo, Pierce and Pepin Counties District 16: Fond du Lac, Green Lake and Marquette Counties District 19: Columbia and Dodge Counties
District 22: Grant County District 25: Green, Rock and Walworth Counties To qualify, a nominee must be an active dairy producer who sells milk into commercial channels and lives in the represented district up for election. Each potential candidate must acquire at least ďƒžve signatures from active dairy producers within the district, submit a completed nomination form, and have the “Afďƒždavit of Eligibilityâ€? certiďƒžcation requirement notarized. Nominations must be postmarked by April 1, 2017. Producers interested in serving as a director can contact Debbie Gegare, Market Orders Program Coordinator at (608) 224-5116 or Debbie.Gegare@wisconsin.gov, for a nomination form, or access an electronic copy at www.wmmb.com/elections or https://datcp. wi.gov/Pages/Growing_WI/MilkBoard.aspx.
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Page 38 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017
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For South/SW, West Central, and North/ NW Minnesota Call/Text: Dale Ommodt, CCA, R.A.S. 320-212-3190 daleo@frontiernet.net
For N.E. Neb, N.D. & S.D. Call/Text: Roger Frieler, R.A.S. 605-760-0514 whitetails@valyousat.net
For N.W. Iowa, Call/Text: Kenton Witt, P.A.S. 712-441-5470 kmwitt@orangecitycomm.net
For: N.E. Iowa, Call/Text: Lori Kintzle, B.S., P.A.S. 563-608-1552 loribockenstedt@gmail.com
For Houston, LeSueur, Rice and Dakota Counties in MN and Buffalo, Barron, Pepin, Pierce & Dunn Counties in Wisc. Call/Text: Kyle Bartsch, R.A.S. 507-450-1222 kyle.bartsch@agriking.com
For Winona & Wabasha Co, MN, Call/Text: Aaron Lee 507-450-4180 aaron.lee@agriking.com
For Houston in MN, Buffalo, Jackson & Trempealeau in WI. Call/Text: John Kiese, R.A.S. 507-313-1756 john.kiese@agriking.com
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Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017 • Page 39
sponsored by
John Blume, holding Brody Hoffman, and Alexa Hoffman Kocham Holsteins Barron, Wis. Barron County 150 cows
What is your favorite thing to do on the farm? There’s nothing better than watch a life being born.
How did you get into farming? We both had grown up farming. Once it’s in your blood it’s hard to get it out.
What is your favorite tool? The bedding shovel that we have xed four times.
What is your favorite dairy product? Cheese curds and ice cream.
If you could add one thing to your farm regardless of price, what would it be? We would like to add sand to the freestall and tiestall barns.
What are your thoughts and concerns about the dairy industry for the next year? The same concerns we have year after year,it’s always the milk prices.
How do you or your family like to spend time when you are not doing chores? We enjoy sitting down and watching a good movie.
What do you enjoy most about dairy farming? We really enjoy seeing the little heifer calves be born and grow into wonderful cows. What advice would you give other dairy farmers? Stick to your plan, stick to your goals and don’t let other people persuade you into something you don’t believe in. What has been your biggest accomplishment while dairy farmWhat has been the best purchase ing? I feel like at this point we you’ve ever made on your farm? I haven’t hit our biggest accomwould have to say the TMR mixer. plishment.
If you could have a celebrity help you with chores for a day who would it be? I would have to say Blake Shelton. I Have seen him in a farm video before and thought What are your plans for your he was pretty funny. dairy in the next ve years? We think the next plan is to build a parlor.
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Page 40 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 11, 2017
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Call us for more information: Advanced Dairy Solutions Richland Center, WI 608-647-4488 • 800-772-4770 Centre Dairy Equipment Sauk Centre, MN 320-352-5762 • 800-342-2697 Eastern Iowa Dairy Systems Epworth, IA • 563-876-3087 Fitzgerald, Inc. Elkader, IA • 563-245-2560
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