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DAIRY ST R “All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 22, No. 4
Producers dump milk due to COVID-19 Processors ask farmers to get rid of, reduce production during pandemic By Krista Kuzma & Jennifer Coyne Staff Writers
HORICON, Wis. – As other dairy farmers received letters in March from their processors about potentially needing to dump milk due to shutdowns because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lisa Condon became nervous for her own farm’s production. “We thought maybe we would be under the radar, but that didn’t happen,” Condon said. Condon and her husband, Bob, began dumping milk April 1 on their 500-cow dairy near Horicon. They are one of many farms in the country having to let raw product go down the drain. “What a waste,” Condon said. “You work your whole life and every day just to throw it down the drain. Right away we tried to gure out options to try to use it or do something with it.” Instead, the Condons are pumping 6,000 gallons – one tanker load – each day into their manure pit. “We didn’t get a lot of warning,” Condon said. “We got a call from our eld representative that afternoon saying don’t ship anymore milk through the weekend. But it has continued longer than that.” Condon is a representative for the central district in Wisconsin for her cooperative, Dairy Farmers of America. She said her family’s dairy was chosen to dump milk because it has a manure pit and direct ships with its own tanker trucks. “If our dairy dumped, then four or ve smaller dairies Turn to MILK | Page 7
April 11, 2020
A vision for the future
Behnkes in midst of transitioning farm to daughter, son-in-law By Stacey Smart
stacey.s@dairystar.com
CLINTONVILLE, Wis. – Passing the farm onto the next generation is an opportunity many dairy producers someday hope to have. However, transitions are not as simple as handing over the keys. Transitions require careful and thoughtful planning. With many i’s to dot and t’s to cross, it can take years to properly transition a farm to a new generation. Doug and Mary Behnke are in the early stages of transitioning their dairy to their daughter, Kellie Zahn, and her husband, Ryan. The family milks 310 cows and farms 1,000 acres near Clintonville. Doug is 63 and is hoping to retire in the next four years. The Behnke farm has been in the family since 1905 when Turn to BEHNKE | Page 7
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Kellie and Ryan Zahn (leŌ) are pictured with Kellie’s parents, Doug and Mary Behnke. The Behnkes and Zahns milk 310 cows and farm 1,000 acres near Clintonville, Wisconsin. The Behnkes are in the process of transiƟoning the farm to Kellie and Ryan.
Milk given to those in need Cooperative, dairy farmers give school cartons to Rochester food bank By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
ROCHESTER, Minn. – When schools in Wisconsin and Minnesota closed in March due to COVID-19, Plainview Milk Products Cooperative was left with 250,000 half pint cartons with nowhere to go. Charlie Sachs, a dairy farmer from Eyota, thought he could help. “I was in a position where I could get the right people talking and product out,” said Sachs, who is on the board of directors for both Plainview Milk Products and the Olmsted County American Dairy Association. The cooperative and association teamed up to donate milk March 19 to Channel One Food Bank in Rochester. Plus, Plainview Milk Products donated additional milk to three other food banks in the Twin Cities metro area. “It came at a really good time because we were just starting to worry about COVID-19,” said Jessica Sund, communications and development director for Channel One Food Bank. “We were able to use that milk to push out additional distributions to families, so that was really helpful.”
Fred Berndt, assistant general manager for Plainview Milk Products Cooperative, said about 15% of the cooperative’s milk is sent to its plant in Hastings and bottled. This includes milk for many local schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin. “We produced on Friday (March 13) as though the schools would be open and going,” Berndt said. “By Sunday afternoon and night, we reached out right away because we knew we would have to nd homes for it.” He had 250,000 half pint cartons, or 10,000 gallons, of milk that would not be going to schools. When Kevin Connelly heard about the extra milk, he had no hesitation with using money to donate it to a great cause. “We jumped on board and didn’t want to see the milk go to waste,” said the Olmsted County ADA board chairman and dairy farmer from Byron. “There are people who need dairy products. We always make a monthly donation to Channel One, but to me there was a greater need now than even two months ago, especially with kids out of school.” Sund is grateful for the donation and others like it. “It’s such a perishable item and it has to have cooling so we can’t accept donations of milk from the public,” Sund said. While the food bank can accept dairy given from retailers and distributors, more often, it is bought with donation money. Turn to FOOD BANK | Page 6
Page 2 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020
DAIRY ST R www.dairystar.com
ISSN 020355 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave. Sauk Centre, MN 56378 Phone: (320) 352-6303 Fax: (320) 352-5647 Published by Dairy Star LLC General Manager/Editor Mark Klaphake - mark.k@dairystar.com 320-352-6303 (ofce) 320-248-3196 (cell) 320-352-0062 (home) Ad Composition Nancy Powell 320-352-6303 nancy.p@dairystar.com Consultant Jerry Jennissen 320-346-2292 Editorial Staff Krista Kuzma - Editor/Wisconsin (507) 259-8159 • krista.k@dairystar.com Andrea Borgerding - Associate Editor (320) 352-6303 • andrea.b@dairystar.com Jennifer Coyne - Assistant Editor (320) 352-6303 • jenn@dairystar.com Danielle Nauman (608) 487-1101 danielle.n@dairystar.com Stacey Smart - Staff Writer (262) 442-6666 • stacey.s@dairystar.com Maria Bichler - Copy Editor 320-352-6303 Advertising Sales Main Ofce: 320-352-6303 Fax: 320-352-5647 Deadline is 5 p.m. of the Friday the week before publication Sales Manager - Joyce Frericks 320-352-6303 • joyce@dairystar.com Bob Leukam (Northern MN, East Central MN) 320-260-1248 (cell) bob.l@star-pub.com Mark Klaphake (Western MN) 320-352-6303 (ofce) 320-248-3196 (cell) Laura Seljan (National Advertising, SE MN) 507-250-2217 fax: 507-634-4413 laura.s@dairystar.com Jerry Nelson (SW MN, NW Iowa, South Dakota) 605-690-6260 jerry.n@dairystar.com Mike Schafer (Central, South Central MN) 320-894-7825 mike.s@dairystar.com Amanda Hoeer (Eastern Iowa) 320-250-2884 • amanda.h@dairystar.com Julie Barnes (SE WI and Northern IL) julie.b@dairystar.com Megan Stuessel (Western Wisconsin) 608-387-1202 • megan.s@dairystar.com Ashley Curry (Northeast WI and Upper MI) 920-539-7268 • ashley.c@dairystar.com Deadlines The deadline for news and advertising in the Dairy Star is 5 p.m. Friday the week before publication. Subscriptions One year subscription $35.00, outside the U.S. $110.00. Send check along with mailing address to Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378. Advertising Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an advertisement shall constitute nal 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 ofces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378-1246.
A glance at the other side
COVID-19 updates As the novel coronavirus continues to impact communities around the world, here at Dairy Star we want to make sure you are informed with the latest updates surrounding the pandemic and our dairy industry. We compiled a list of helpful resources, news and updates on postponed or canceled events on our website. We will update this page daily. Please visit www.dairystar.com for more information. If you have a helpful link or change of event to share with others, please email andrea.b@dairystar.com. Here are a few highlights from stories you will not nd in this paper, but you can nd online in zone 1. Concerns about spreading COVID-19 causes Vilands to delay sale Steve and Marla Viland had been planning a complete dispersal sale on their farm since early fall. But with the onset of the coronavirus, the couple has postponed their April 22 dispersal to May 29 on their 40-cow dairy farm near Ihlen, Minnesota. In these unprecedented times, however, the Vilands are cautious. If they wait much longer to sell the registered herd, they will run out of feed. The couple is hopeful by late May the concern of spreading the virus will be signicantly less than what it is right now and people will be able to attend the sale. A virtual contest The May leadership event and selection of Princess Kay of the Milky Way nalists will look a little different this year. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Midwest Dairy made the decision to cancel the annual event but continue with judging virtually. The 10 nalists will be chosen this year through video conference calls. Check out more about the change to the competition on page 25 in rst section.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020 • Page 3
It’s all inside... Columnists Ag Insider
Buffalo
Come Full Circle
Page 33 First Section
La Crosse
Juneau
Westby
Richland
e nn Wi
Dane
Lafayette Green
Jo Daviess
Jefferson Waukesha
Rock
son
hen
p Ste
Carroll
Walworth go
eba
n Win
Whiteside
Dairy enthusiasts use social media for connecting Third Section: Pages 8 - 9
Mercer
Hen ders
on
For additional stories from our other zone, log on to www.dairystar.com
Rock Island
n
re War
Greenleaf
Dairy Prole: Dan Brick
First Section: Page 39
Racine Kenosha
McHenry
Ogle DeKalb
Zone 2
Do or
Green Lake Fond Du Lac
Columbia Dodge
Sauk
Iowa
Grant
Page 22 Second Section
Zone 1
go ba Calumet
Waushara
aw Cr
First Section: Pages 23, 25
Country Cooking
Ou
for
d
Rogers nds inspiration for artwork, illustrations
e mi Brown
a tag
Adams
Vernon
Pages 10 - 11 Second Section
Shawano
Wood
Monroe
te
Oconto
e
The “Mielke” Market Weekly
Menominee
Portage Waupaca Jackson
et
Langlade
Marathon
Clark
Eau Claire
in
aun ee
Pepin
Chippewa
ar
Menominee
Ke w
Pierce
Page 32 First Section
Taylor
Forest
on
Making Cents of Dairy
Dunn
Lincoln
M
ce
ton S he bo Milwaukee Ozauk M yg ee an anito wo c
Page 31 First Section
St. Croix
Rusk
Barron
ren
Oneida
ing
Polk
Price
Bo
First Section: Pages 34 - 35
Flo
Sawyer
Wa sh
Burnett
Finders enjoy making maple syrup
Delta
Dickinson
Vilas
ett e
Knapp
Iron
qu
ur
n
Ashland
Trempealeau
Veterinary Wisdom
Bayeld
Douglas
hb
Page 30 First Section
First Section: Pages 1, 7
First Section: Page 36
First Section: Page 38
Wa s
Ramblings from the Ridge
Women in Dairy: Kendra Thewis
Monitoring SCC a part of Manshaems’ farm management
Page 27 First Section
Behnkes in midst of transitioning farm to daughter, son-in-law
Mellen
Chetek
Do you have dog alarms, too?
Clintonville
Ma r
Pages 8-9 First Section
Plymouth
Farm families adapt to learning from home
Kane
Second Section: Pages 3 - 5
Lee
Monroe
Crop & Weather Reports Second Section: Pages 16 - 17
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Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020 • Page 5
Con�nued from FOOD BANK | Page 1
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A refrigerated delivery truck from Plainview Milk Products Cooperaďż˝ve drops o cartons of milk March 19 to the Channel One Food Bank in Rochester, Minnesota. “It’s a critical item we always try to keep in stock,â€? Sund said. “Anytime we get a donation like this is extremely helpful because it is something we have to purchase otherwise.â€? Berndt liked being able to help others in need. “Being good community members, we knew there were going to be people who were going to be in need quickly with the schools closing,â€? he said. “There are a lot of places where these kids are only getting meals at school – breakfast and lunch. We knew there was a need for milk.â€? Although the cooperative had a backlog of milk that ďƒžrst week of school closings, it is now continuing to bottle at a different pace. “We’re producing a lot less half pints,â€? Berndt said. “A lot of schools are still taking as much milk, but they’re taking it in a different form. They are taking gallons and half gallons, and giving them to families.â€? Other milk sales in local grocery and convenience stores have increased for the cooperative. Its dairy store attached to the plant in Hastings has also seen three times the normal daily sales. “We’re actually producing more milk out of the plant right now than we were prior to the pandemic,â€? Berndt said. “So, we’re able to serve the community.â€? The cooperative is hoping it will not get to the point of needing to dump milk. “Having the ďƒ&#x;uid bottling does make a difference,â€? Berndt said. “It
gives a place to put some of it.â€? Channel One Food Bank is also seeing changes during the pandemic. More people are using the service. “We’re seeing people who are needing food shelves who never thought they would or are ďƒžrst-time clients,â€? Sund said. “People are out of a job, and they can’t afford food because they’re trying to pay their other bills.â€? The organization has also changed the way it distributes food. In the past, people could come into the food bank and pick the food of their choice. Now a large group of volunteers packs emergency food boxes distributed in a drive thru. One family of four can receive a 30-pound box of nonperishable items along with one box of perishable protein items. “It’s safer to use this model, but it’s more expensive,â€? Sund said. Plus, a lot of the grocery stores have given fewer donations because they have not had as many leftovers. “We’re having to purchase a lot more food,â€? Sund said. That is why the milk donation from the cooperative and the Olmsted County dairy farmers was greatly appreciated. “We’re really pleased with the community support we’ve been shown at this time not only with the monetary donations but the generosity of manufacturers, farms and people close to it,â€? Sund said. “It’s a really important cause to give to right now so we appreciate everything everyone’s done to support that.â€?
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would not have to,” Condon said. The cooperative has asked several member owners to dump milk because many of its customers have shut down. “Think about everything that goes on that uses dairy and cheese – restaurants, schools, sporting events and other events,” Condon said. “They’re all closed. So, the processors are backed up with nowhere to go with the milk.” On a recent conference call with other DFA patrons and leaders, Condon said the cooperative is trying to work with organizations and businesses to quickly nd markets for its product. Another cooperative is also feeling the strain from shuttered businesses no longer needing as many dairy products. “Our sales pretty much came to a halt with the closing of the country,” said Scot Meyer, chairman of the Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery Board of Directors and a dairy farmer who milks 160 cows with his son, Andy, near Lake City, Minnesota. Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, known for its cheese curds, had 15 weekly loads of cheese canceled. “We’ve never had any products canceled,” Meyer said. “That’s the hiccup. That’s the affect we’re feeling from producer to processor to retail.” To help offset this hiccup, the cooperative sent a letter to its member owners April 1 asking for producers to reduce production by 7%. “We are still making barrel cheese, but we’re storing it in our warehouse,” Meyer said. “We can only do that so long before we’re going to get full. The intent here is to keep the milk owing. The last thing we want to do is dump milk.” It also created a program for those looking to exit the business. Any dairy that agrees to the program and sells its cows by April 15 will be paid 100% of its equity from 2010 through 2019. The program is only for the rst 100,000 pounds of milk per day of member milk and the cows cannot be sold to another member of the cooperative. “First and foremost, we’re not forcing anybody out of business,” Meyer said. “It’s got to be a voluntary thing.” This program helps the producers who were looking to retire from dairying soon regardless of the pandemic. “We knew four farms were going to retire this month anyway,” Meyer said. “We just sped it up a bit because of the jam we are in.” Several of the cooperative’s patrons have signed up for the equity payout program and over one-third of the creamery’s 300 producers have verbally committed to reducing production. “It has really been accepted,” Meyer said. “They’re more than happy to reduce production and are even offering up to 10% if we can just keep the plant going. We’re real fortunate to have those kinds of members.” Many dairy farmers are feeling the pain from the COVID-19 pandemic; however, there are options for farmers to recoup some of their losses due to the novel coronavirus. President Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act March 27. Within the $2 trillion relief package, an estimated $14 billion is allocated to the United States Department of Agriculture’s borrowing authority of the Commodity Credit Corporation. Historically, the CCC is used to support agriculture industries in crisis. The CARES Act also provides an additional $9.5 billion for livestock, direct retail and specialty crop farmers. “Farmers are determined to deliver on their commitment to provide a safe and abundant food supply, but make no mistake, they are facing make-or-break
struggles,” said American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall in a statement. “After years of a down farm economy, … the COVID-19 ripple effects are forcing farmers to face heartbreaking nancial realities. Without question, the disaster aid provided in the CARES Act is a lifeline that will help many farmers hold on.” Farmers also have the unique opportunity to apply for loans through the Small Business Association’s Paycheck Protection Program. The program, under the CARES Act, authorizes up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses to pay their employees during the pandemic. A small business – less than 500 employees – may use the loan to cover payroll costs, mortgage interest, rent and utility cost over an eight-week period with the rst loan payment deferred for six months. The application period for PPP opened April 3. SBA is also offering Economic Injury Disaster Loans up to $2 million based on actual economic injury determined by SBA. The association can also provide up to $10,000 in emergency grants for those who apply for EIDL. In addition to contacting a Farm Service Agency representative, visit http:// www.sba.gov for more information about the programs and a list of local lenders. For individuals, the CARES Act is expected to deliver a one-time cash payment of $1,200 if a person’s 2018 or 2019 tax returns show earnings of less than $75,000. Married couples earning less than $150,000 are each expected to get a check plus an additional $500 per child. Those who receive Social Security benets but did not le a tax return in the previous two years are also eligible. At the state level, there are few programs available to provide nancial relief to dairy farmers during these unprecedented times. In Minnesota, the agriculture department’s Rural Finance Authority is available for farm operations affected by COVID-19. Gov. Tim Walz signed a $330 million relief bill that includes expanding funding for RFA’s Disaster Recovery Loan Program for loss of revenue due to human contagious disease. State lawmakers also claried animal diseases covered by the Disaster Recovery Loan Program by broadening it to hazards rather than specic names. “It’s important that we make sure farmers whose businesses are affected by the COVID-19 outbreak have the resources to help them get through this difcult period,” Minnesota agriculture commissioner Thom Peterson said. To apply, dairy farmers should visit the state’s website at https://www.mda. state.mn.us or call 651-201-6004. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem established the Small Business Relief Fund which will provide up to $75,000 loans to small South Dakota businesses – those with less than 250 employees. The conditions allow for a maximum loan term of 60 months with payments deferred for six months. More information about the program is available at https://sdreadytowork.com/covid-19. While there is assistance, both Meyer and Condon admitted they do not know what the future holds. “It feels like there’s been an accident, as if one of your family members is in a coma but you have no idea when it will end or what things will be different,” Condon said. “Things are going to change so we’ll see what will happen. We’ll take it one day at a time.”
Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020 • Page 7
Con�nued from BEHNKES | Page 1 it was purchased by Doug’s grandfather. After farming in partnership with his dad for 10 years, Doug took over the farm in 1988. In 2006, the Behnkes completed the payments to Doug’s parents from their farm transition purchase agreement. This summer will mark the completion of a 20-year payout of a buy/sell agreement with Doug’s brother who left the farm in 2000. At that point, Kellie and Ryan can begin to acquire property. “This is the year we can start moving forward,” Doug said. This is not to say the family is rst starting to think about transition. For several years, they have gathered information and ideas about how best to proceed. Kellie and Ryan have also been earning equity in the form of cattle and taking on more responsibility, including increased decision making. Ryan and Kellie own over 100 head of livestock – animals they have acquired over the last four years. In lieu of wage increases, they were gifted calves but did not have to pay raising expenses. Ryan and Kellie continue adding more cattle to their name every month. “It’s messy, but we’re keeping track of it all on a spreadsheet. We know whose cows are whose,” Doug said. “I’d like for Kellie and Ryan to own at least half the herd by the time I get to retirement. And they have a good start already.” The Behnkes and Zahns have attended farm workshops and clinics on transition and also met with a nancial expert from the University of Wisconsin Center for Dairy Protability. Doug is a numbers guy, and he came to the meeting prepared. “From net value to the cost of land, I had all the numbers she needed on a spreadsheet,” Doug said. “She provided a lot of guidance. You want to transition a potentially protable business, and it was a good, eye-opening conversation.” Doug has been a part of the Fox Valley Farm Management Association for nine years, which he said has been helpful with transition ideas. The Behnkes also met with a lawyer to discuss the transition process but do not have an ofcial plan in place yet. “We have three daughters,” Doug said. “It’s not going to look equal, but it will be fair.” In addition to Kellie, the Behnkes have two daughters who work off the farm. Christa Hoffman is employed at Urus in Shawano, and Katie Burgess works at Dairy.com in Sun Prairie. Doug, Mary, Ryan and Kellie are having many discussions about the upcoming transition to ensure the best possible outcome. “Transition is sometimes uncomfortable to talk about,” Kellie said. “It can be an awkward situation to say, ‘Do we get this farm or not?’ That’s why we’re keep-
ing the dialogue open, and we’re willing to talk about how it will all look.” In the next two years, the transition will more concretely take shape as Kellie and Ryan acquire land or other assets and buy more of the herd. “The hardest part will be when Mary and I have to move,” Doug said. “We’ve been in this house for 35 years. Ryan and Kellie currently live 15 minutes away, and it’s a challenge not being right on the farm, so they will move here when we retire.” The Behnkes and Zahns recognize this transition will not be the same as the previous times this family farm changed hands. “Things are quite different now than they were 30 years ago, for example,” Kellie said. “One thing that Ryan and I will likely do different is turn it from a sole proprietorship into an LLC.” Kellie and Ryan, who started dating in high school, have always wanted to farm. Ryan comes from a 60-cow dairy that his brother will be taking over. “This farm became an option for us,” Kellie said. “And I appreciated that. It’s my home.” Ryan worked at a factory for six months after high school. He soon realized that type of work would not suit him, so he switched gears and began working for Genex in one of the bull stud barns before joining Kellie at her parents’ farm full time in 2015. Ryan feeds cattle and is the farm’s mechanical troubleshooter, xing whatever needs repair. He also works and learns alongside Doug in caring for the herd. Doug does the breeding and the farm’s bookwork while Mary handles payroll and other employee paperwork. Herdsman responsibilities are shared between Doug, Ryan and a couple of the farm’s employees. The farm employs four full-time and two part-time people. With her agronomy background, Kellie is big into cropping. The farm grows corn, soybeans, alfalfa and grass hay, and Kellie is in charge of the nutrient management plan and crop scouting. “We overlap in our duties and are cross-trained on everything,” Doug said. Over the last few years, Kellie’s parents have stepped back a bit to allow Ryan and Kellie to broaden their roles on the farm. For example, Doug runs the farm’s computer reports, and Kellie said she is learning how to read those reports and make sense of the data. Also, for the last two years, Ryan has planted the corn. Kellie has an agricultural business degree from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, and Ryan is attending a farm training course at Fox Valley Technical College. After nishing college, Kellie’s parents encouraged her to spend time working off the farm to gure out
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Cows are milked in this 20-stall rotary parlor that was built in 1988. Fresh cows are milked four �mes a day for one month, while rst-calf heifers are milked four �mes daily for six weeks. The rest of the herd is milked twice per day.
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Kellie Zahn feeds grain to calves March 16 at her parents’ farm near Clintonville, Wisconsin. Kellie returned to the farm 3.5 years ago but also holds a full-�me job off the farm. She and her husband, Ryan, are in the process of taking over the dairy. what she wanted to do in life. “It was awesome having an off-farm job,” said Kellie, who spent ve years working as an agronomist while continuing to help her parents as needed. “I found it helpful being off the farm for a while. Working with a bunch of farms, I was able to expand my horizons, and I learned a lot.” Kellie returned to her parents’ farm 3.5 years ago but also holds a full-time job at Stockbridge-Munsee Community as their agricultural agent, helping with everything from gardening to cropland. She manages the tribe’s gardens and teaches community members about growing fruits and vegetables. “I really enjoy it,” Kellie said. “It’s
fun. My hours are very exible, and it’s nice to have benets like health insurance.” The Behnkes and Zahns have already learned a great deal about farm transitions. Kellie said talking to people who have been through it has been especially helpful. “Surround yourself with an experienced team – that’s really benecial,” Kellie said. “Our veterinarian was also a good source of info. He has seen various transitions play out and was able to give us good advice. We’re relying on a variety of people in the community to help and advise us.” Doug agreed. “We’re learning as we go,” he said.
COVID-19 results in milk going down the drain Page 8 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020
Dairy Farmers of America reports milk processing USDA to make federal government purchases of milk plants are already operating at capacity, forcing and dairy products. The letter to Agriculture Secretary strategic milk dumping at large dairies. West Bend, Sonny Perdue describes the loss of markets due to Wisconsin, dairy farmer Ryan Elbe spoke to the coronavirus. The letter was signed by Wisconsin Farm Midwest Farm Report. “Anything we never thought Bureau, Wisconsin Farmers Union, Profession Dairy Producers of Wisconsin, Cooperative could happen seems to be happening the Ag Insider Network, Dairy Business Association, last couple weeks. There is a lot of pride Edge Dairy Cooperative and the Wisconsin in producing milk so the thought of just Cheese Makers Association. dumping it down the drain is denitely disheartening.” COVID-19 has resulted in Bleak situation sudden changes in demand. There was an According to University of Minnesota initial surge is buying at the grocery stores, Extension Economist Marin Bozic, the but that has leveled off. School closures milk check has been hurt by the coronavirus and the loss of restaurant business have pandemic. “Looking at recent charts of resulted in a sudden oversupply of milk. Class III milk prices, there were highs a few months ago of $18 per hundredweight. DFA responds to milk dumping Now, the most decent price is around Dairy Farmers of America vice $12.84 per hundredweight,” Bozic said. president of corporate communications By Don Wick “Just as farmers were coming off ve Kristen Coady said the company is Columnist years of misery, we got hit by the virus “diligently working to ensure our farm in the most vicious way.” Foodservice families’ milk continues to be picked up (and) our plants continue to operate.” Due to COVID-19 demand for U.S. dairy products is down. Not all of that and the subsequent school and restaurant closures, there demand is gone, but no one is stepping forward with is a milk surplus. Since plants are already operating at new demand either. Bozic said it is important to set a capacity “in combination with the perishable nature of price oor for milk so farmers do not nd themselves our product has resulted in a need to dispose of raw in a situation where low prices hurt even more. “Set the milk on farms in some circumstances.” Coady said oor on part of the milk, wait a little bit and if prices DFA is exhausting all possible avenues to nd a home recover, set another oor. If the markets don’t recover, pull the trigger anyway,” Bozic said. “Now is the time for their farmer/members’ milk. to take protection for 2021. By all means, be optimistic and hope for the global recovery, but farmers shouldn’t Evers seeks federal assistance Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers is urging the United bet their farms on that.” States Department of Agriculture to step up and support the dairy industry. “In a time when many people are Coronavirus to accelerate consolidation of small already food insecure, it’s more important than ever dairies There has been a signicant uptick in dairy that we get Wisconsin’s nutritious commodities in the hands of consumers who need them the most. I’m consumption at home, but that has been offset by the hopeful that our federal partners understand the urgency downturn in foodservice business. There are reports of of the need here and will take action accordingly.” milk being dumped and trucks being turned away at the Evers wants USDA to purchase surplus dairy products dairy plants. From Feb. 11 to April 1, National Milk Producers Federation Chief Economist Peter Vitaliano for food banks and nutrition assistance programs. estimates U.S. dairy farmers lost $6 billion of gross total income. Vitaliano sees long-term implications for Wisconsin ag groups seek federal relief A coalition of Wisconsin farm groups is asking
the dairy sector. “We’ve already seen over the last two years, the number of commercial dairy farms dropping at a faster rate than has been the case in the last decade-and-a-half,” Vitaliano said. “Unfortunately, I expect that is going to continue and further consolidate production at the farm level.” Since there is a lag in what happens with the markets, dairy farmers will not see the full impact in their milk check until May or June.
NMPF seeking solutions to market downturn There are economic challenges for the U.S. dairy industry, including the impacts of COVID-19. “In late 2019, there was a light at the end of the tunnel in terms of milk prices. Now, prices are expected to be lower in the coming months,” said Paul Bleiberg, vice president of government relations, National Milk Producers Federation. “We’re trying to make sure producers can stay aoat during this challenging time and get product to places where it will be consumed.” The NMPF would like USDA to re-open signup for the 2020 Dairy Margin Coverage program. Stimulus package includes relief for dairy farms Help is coming for farmers and ranchers impacted by COVID-19. The USDA is in the process of guring out a formula for assistance. “Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue is having the chief economist and staff look at the different aspects of agriculture, trying to gure out what commodities have been the most damaged by the coronavirus. Also, looking at which ones will have the most damage going forward,” said Collin Peterson, chairman, House Agriculture Committee. “USDA may come up with a system like they did the last time, but it would be a different formula. It’s not facilitation payments based on trade, it’s damage that’s been done by COVID-19.” The USDA has $9.5 billion to help livestock and specialty crop producers and local food providers. Court approves DFA/Dean Foods deal Dairy Farmers of America will acquire a substantial portion of assets from Dean Foods through the Chapter Turn to AG INSIDER | Page 9
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Cattle Center has closed temporarily. The dairy herd has been consolidated at other UW agricultural research stations. The decision to reopen the facility will be considered in early May.
Federal court rules in favor of beef checkoff The U.S. District Court of Montana has ruled in favor of USDA and the Montana Beef Council in a legal battle over the beef promotion and research checkoff program. R-CALF USA wanted the beef checkoff declared unconstitutional in 15 states, arguing the program is a violation of the First Amendment. To no one’s surprise, R-CALF does not support the ruling, and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association called it a major victory.
Trivia challenge Finland leads the world in per-capita milk consumption, totaling 34.3 gallons per year. That answers our last trivia question. For this week, we know the United States produces the most milk. What country is ranked second? We will have the answer in the next edition of Dairy Star. Don Wick is owner/broadcaster for the Red River Farm Network, based in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Wick has been recognized as the National Farm Broadcaster of the Year and served as president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Don and his wife, Kolleen, have two adult sons, Tony and Sam, and ve grandchildren, Aiden, Piper, Adrienne, Aurora and Sterling.
University of Wisconsin dairy center closed With the state stay-at-home order, the University of Wisconsin-Madison Dairy
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CORRECTION
In the March 28 issue, a photo printed in the article, “Creating the next great Holstein” was misidentied. The photo caption should have read: “This is one of the barns that houses donor heifers at Genetic Futures. Calves that test high genetically are worked into the donor program.” Dairy Star regrets the error.
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How has testing with DHIA beneÀtted your dairy? By keeping milk quality strong and keeping only proÀtable animals around. We also have better pregnancy rates and more production. What are some of the other DHIA tests you use? Pregnancy tests. Minnesota Dairy Herd Improvement Association 307 Brighton Avenue South Buffalo, MN 55313 1.800.827.3442 www.mndhia.org
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Chuck Klaphake farms in partnership with his nephew, JarreƩ Borgerding (not pictured), on their 120-cow dairy near Sauk Centre, Minnesota. The two are working together to transiƟon ownership to Borgerding.
Klaphake, Borgerding make arrangements for farm transition By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
SAUK CENTRE, Minn. – In all of Chuck Klaphake’s years as a dairy farmer, he has always wanted someone to take his place when it came time for him to hang up the milking units. While Klaphake is not to the point of retirement, he is taking the steps to transfer the farm to another generation. “It’s nice to see a younger person get into it. I can’t be here forever,” Klaphake said. “Just look at all the dairy buildings sitting empty out there. It’s a good thing to have someone make use of the things you have.” Klaphake is in the process of selling his 120-cow dairy farm to his nephew, Jarrett Borgerding. For the past nine years, the two have followed a plan for Borgerding to have sole ownership of the dairy in Stearns County near Sauk Centre. Borgerding has worked as an employee for Klaphake since 2007, but began taking on a percentage of the milk check, farm expenses and farm management decisions in 2011. “(Borgerding’s) percentage of the milk check has been slowly increasing every year. My goal was that every year he stayed, I gave him a little more,” Klaphake said. “Until this year, now I’m the minority. He gets more of the milk check than me, but also pays more of the bills.” Today, Borgerding milks the dairy herd every morning and evening, and feeds the youngstock. He also oversees breeding decisions for the herd. The two also have several part-time employees that help milk and do other chores around the farm. “A number of years ago, he wanted to breed the cows, so I told him he could take care of it,” Klaphake said. “It’s worked out. He was interested in doing it, so I said he could take it over.” Klaphake milks with Borgerding in the morning and continues to help with chores in the evenings, and lls in for Borgerding in the milk barn when he is unavailable. “In the summertime, if we are busy chopping hay, Jarrett will go milk and myself and a part-timer will continue chopping,” Klaphake said. “If (Borgerding) has something going on and I have to nish up chores, that’s what I’m here for. It’s nice to have another person around for that.” Borgerding’s willingness and desire to take on more responsibility on the farm has beneted the partnership. “He likes to work with the cows,” Klaphake said. “He knows how to A.I. the cows. He knows how to treat them and IV them. He can handle ketosis, milk fever.” Borgerding agreed. “I’ve learned a lot from (Klaphake),” he said. “His experience in the dairy industry is a good compliment to what I bring to the table.” Borgerding grew up on a dairy farm, and both of his grandparents were dairy farmers. He knew at a young age
that it was a career he wanted to go into when he was older. Forming a partnership and developing a transition plan with Klaphake was a feasible way Borgerding could become a dairy farmer himself. “As soon as I started (working with Klaphake), the plan was to buy the farm one day,” Borgerding said. “I gured if I worked hard then it could be attained.” At the rst of the year, Borgerding purchased 105 acres of the farm, including the main dairy site. “He bought it all together, sort of like the original farm when I started out,” Klaphake said. “Now, he has something to work on.” Borgerding agreed. “This was a big step. It’s pretty cool to have land of my own,” he said. “I have a long way to go until it’s paid off, and I think that’ll be the day I can really appreciate it more.” The price of land today is signicantly more expensive than when Klaphake rst purchased the farm in the late 1970s. Borgerding also has to weather the volatile milk prices and onset of the novel coronavirus. “There’s always something to worry about,” Klaphake said. But, these challenges do not deter Borgerding from dairy farming. “I’m just trying to maintain quality milk and try to be more efcient every year,” Borgerding said. The duo is working with a nancial planner and lawyer as the transition continues. They have also kept in contact with their tax advisor. While the transition is not nearing its end, both Klaphake and Borgerding agreed working through the business transaction slowly has been benecial. They rst created a relationship as employer and employee, became business partners and are now reestablishing their roles as minority and majority partners in the dairy. “You can’t do it all in one sum. You have to transition slowly,” Klaphake said. “I’ve given (Borgerding) percentages so that he can take the peaks and valleys from one year to the next, and what to expect.” Borgerding added, “(Klaphake) has treated me well over the years and I don’t see that changing. We plan to continue progressing, and I’ll take on as many assets as I can handle at a given time.” Transitioning a farm is not an easy process, but in Borgerding’s experience it is possible and one he encourages other young aspiring farmers and retiring farmers to both consider as an option to strengthen the dairy industry. “Find somebody that is looking to get out of dairying because if you don’t have help to get into it, it’s hard to do,” Borgerding said. “And, if you put in the hard work and time, it’s attainable to take over a dairy farm.” Mark Klaphake contributed to this article.
Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020 • Page 11
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Page 12 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020
Sewing to stop the spread of COVID-19 Krueger makes supplies for health care workers By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
ARLINGTON, Minn. – When Madison Krueger was asked to leave campus and move home to wade out the novel coronavirus pandemic, she gured her time would be spent doing homework and milking cows. What she did not anticipate was helping her local health care workers. “We’re all in this together, and I’m
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Madison Krueger sews a facemask at her grandmother’s home near Arlington, Minnesota. Krueger made 100 facemasks for area health care workers.
just trying to help in a way that I can,” said the college sophomore. Krueger, 19, is the daughter of Scott and Stephanie Krueger of Arlington. She has spent the past few weeks sewing facemasks for area health care workers. “My mom saw the pattern for the facemasks, and she told me I should make them with all of Grandma’s scraps,” Krueger said. “I really thought that would be cool. It’s something I could do for the local clinic.” Krueger and her grandmother, Pam, then devised a plan. And, Krueger’s brothers, Mausten and Murdock, helped too. “We’ve made it into a fun assembly line,” Krueger said. As Krueger’s grandmother cut the fabric, her brothers cut the elastic and bias tape to attach to the masks. Krueger and her grandmother would sew the masks, and then her brothers would turn the masks right side out once it was all sewn together. “These were all minor jobs, but they really enjoyed being a part of this,” Krueger said about her brothers. In the rst day, the family made 13 masks for the clinic in Glencoe. The following day, they were able to construct 24 masks. “We kept working on them until we ran out of elastic,” Krueger said. “Then, we had to convert the pattern a bit to use bias tape because the stores were sold out of elastic.” Turn to KRUEGER | Page 13
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Madison Krueger holds a handful of completed facemasks she made with her grandmother, Pam, at her home near Arlington, Minnesota. The college student is using her extra Ɵme at home to help protect local health care workers during the novel coronavirus pandemic.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020 • Page 13
ConƟnued from KRUEGER | Page 12 In her rst two weeks of being home from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Krueger made 100 facemasks for the clinic in Glencoe, hospital in Waconia and pharmacy in Gaylord. “When we dropped off the rst set, they were very grateful,” Krueger said. “Then, we posted about what we were doing on Facebook and started to receive a lot of messages with people saying others could use masks.” Since Krueger’s actions rst gained attention, she has received fabric and other sewing supplies from community members who do not feel comfortable making the facemasks themselves. “They tell me they can’t use the fabric,” Krueger said. “It’s a way for them to pay it forward and help in a different way.” When Krueger decided to take on this project, she was unsure of how much time she could dedicate to sewing while also doing schoolwork and chores. But, she found a way to work it into her schedule. Krueger has begun her college classes at 8 a.m. every day and works on assignments until they are complete. Then, she has spent her afternoons sew-
“This has been such a cool way to give back, and it’s rewarding when you see the hospital and clinic staff using the items you sewed.” MADISON KRUEGER
ing with her grandmother and brothers until 4 p.m. when it is time to begin chores. Every evening, Krueger helps her dad milk 100 Holsteins on their farm, Sunshine Dairy in Sibley County. “Sewing has been a nice break from homework and chores,” Krueger said. “Plus, having my family to talk to and work with during the day is a good break from homework.” For Krueger’s grandmother, she has enjoyed the extra time spent with her grandchildren and the fun it brings to work as a group, said Krueger. Krueger’s interest in sewing began when she was 5 years old. Her rst nished piece was a blanket for a 4-H project.
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PHOTO SUBMITTED
A pile of completed facemasks sits near Madison Krueger’s sewing machine. Krueger made 100 facemasks and is now sewing scrub caps for health care workers. “I think being in 4-H has really been the reason I’m doing this,” she said. “Anyone who has been in the sewing project can do this. And for those younger kids, they can save a mask and use it for a fair project later.” Krueger said the 4-H youth organization has a goal of creating 10,000 facemasks for health care workers across the state of Minnesota. Growing up on a dairy farm has also helped Krueger prepare for this newfound pastime. “On the farm, we learned how to work hard and problem solve to gure something out,” Krueger said. “And, I’m working with my family, as a team, as we do on the dairy.” With plenty of fabric and other sewing supplies on hand, Krueger has shifted her focus to another personal protective gear health care workers are requesting. She recently started making scrub caps. “We’re going to keep making things until something changes,” Krueger said. “This has been such a cool way to give back, and it’s rewarding when you see the hospital and clinic staff using the items you sewed. That’s such a good feeling because you never know who is going to need their help, but you know you’re helping them.”
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Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020 • Page 15
Describe your favorite tractor.
Almon Klapoetke Montello, Wisconsin Marquette County 83 cows Describe your favorite tractor. My favorite tractor is a 180 Allis Chalmers. My dad bought it at an auction when I was in fourth or ďƒžfth grade. Its ofďƒžcial color is Persian red, but it looks more orange to me. It’s a hand clutch tractor on its second overhaul, and it’s the second tractor we ever had that was diesel. Why does this tractor mean so much to you? This tractor was my father’s, and I have many special memories of it. When my dad died, all of the tractors were dispersed. My brother got this tractor, and then my son bought it from him, and then I bought it from my son. I told him, ‘You can’t sell it.’ How has the workload of this tractor changed over the years? This tractor was the main workhorse on our farm for probably 10-12 years. We planted corn and cut hay with it up until a couple years ago and also used it for discing. Then, it sat on the blower for a while. After that, it sat in the shed for years and is still tucked in the back of the shed right now, but I’m going to be pulling it out again soon. What type of maintenance do you do to it? It’s had an overhaul done on it once. I’ve also taken apart the radiator and cleaned it a couple times. This year, I plan to take out the injectors and clean them, as well, because the tractor has been running a little rough. What are a few great memories you have with this tractor? My mom was mad when my dad bought this tractor, so we ate boiled chicken for three days because my dad didn’t like chicken, and that was my mom’s way of punishing him. He bought the tractor in January when it was super cold – around 20 degrees below zero. The tractor came from the town of Dane near Madison, and it was quite an adventure to get it home. There were three people, including my dad, who took turns driving it. They got to Pardeeville the ďƒžrst day after driving 18 miles. The second day, they drove it 5 more miles, and then the tractor spent two weeks at my uncle’s place before it ďƒžnally came home. For 10 years, I was the main driver on this tractor. We also used it for hayrides with the family and during Halloween when we got together with neighbors and had a bonďƒžre. It’s been a good tractor. If you could, what kind of enhancements would you make to this tractor? It’s a tractor of the late 1960s, early ’70s. It has ďƒ&#x;ashers, nice headlights and square fenders. It’s easy to get on because I added steps to the side, taking it from one step to three steps. My dad also added more wheel weights to it over the years – a to-
Garrett Nielsen Mauston, Wisconsin Juneau County 20 cows Describe your favorite tractor. I have a 1990 Ford TW15 I bought when I was 17 from a local dealership. Why does this tractor mean so much to you? As soon as I saw and drove the tractor, I fell in love with it. This tractor means a lot to me because that was the start to my dairy career. I bought the tractor two years before I bought the cows. How has the workload of this tractor changed over the years? It is a powerful tractor for its size. It’s a perfect size for everything I need to do. What type of maintenance do you do to it? I change the engine oil every 100 hours. I also change hydraulic oil and ďƒžlters twice a year. I have pressure washed and waxed it every spring and fall since I have owned it. What are a few great memories you have with this tractor? A good memory has been chopping hay with it and spreading the ďƒžrst load of manure after I bought my cows. That was pretty special. I also took my senior pictures with this tractor. If you could, what kind of enhancements would you make to this tractor? I would put a new seat in it. The old one is not attached to the mounts anymore and makes it a pain to stay in the seat. What are your plans for this tractor down the road? I plan to have this tractor as my main workhorse for many years to come. Tell us about your farm. I bought my cows in July 2019. I milk 20 cows and have 16 heifers with plans to expand to 60 cows in the future but never more than that. tal of four to ďƒžve sets. The tractor weighs almost 10,000 pounds total with the weights. What are your plans for this tractor down the road? It cost $3,000 to put new brakes in, which I did last year. I’m going to make it a yard dog tractor and use it for doing general stuff on the farm again starting this year. For example, we’ll put it on the manure spreader and also use it to unload chopper wagons. I’m also going to ďƒžnd an original loader for it and use it to pick up round bales and clean around the farm. I would like to plant alfalfa with this tractor, as well. It’s too slow to drive on the road though as it only goes 10-12 mph. It’s always been a slow tractor. The fastest it ever went is 16 mph. Tell us about your farm. My son, Almon John (AJ), and I milk 83 Red and White Holsteins and farm 250 acres. I am the third generation on this farm, and my son is the fourth. I also have two daughters, Anna and Alexandra. Anna just had a baby and is a teacher in the Adams School District, and Alexandra is an ag teacher in East Troy. I also have one grandson and two granddaughters.
Randy Krueger Merrill, Wisconsin Lincoln County 240 cows Describe your favorite tractor. My favorite tractor is a well-used, blue Ford 7000. I’m 54 years old, and the tractor must be about 50 years old. I can remember my dad buying it. It was our biggest tractor at the time. Nobody but me likes driving it now because everyone wants four-wheel drive, air conditioning, a radio, etc. I can still ďƒžx this tractor with a hammer which is another reason why I like it. Why does this tractor mean so much to you? It has a lot of history. I can remember it as a little kid, and I have a lot of memories with this tractor. How has the workload of this tractor changed over the years? It went from being a primary tractor to sitting in the corner of the shed. We still use it for merging hay and pulling wagons around the yard, but our equipment has gotten too big for it. What type of maintenance do you do to it? Other than changing oil once a year, pretty much nothing. I know every time I go over there and hit the key, it’s going to start. It’s a very reliable tractor. What are a few great memories you have with this tractor? I remember it burning up twice, and both times, insurance paid to ďƒžx it. It burned up once in our neighbor’s yard 30-35 years ago. It’s a sentimental memory to me because these neighbors were like a second grandpa and grandma to us. They were wonderful, old-school people, the kind of neighbors everyone should have. It’s hard to ďƒžnd people like that now. The tractor burned up a second time while ďƒžlling a silo 20 years ago, right after my wife and I got married. If you could, what kind of enhancements would you make to this tractor? Nothing really. I wouldn’t want to change it or then it wouldn’t be what it is. What are your plans for this tractor down the road? It’s going to stay here. It’s never going to leave. We still utilize this tractor whenever we need it. We’re limited by what we can do with it because of our applications. Tell us about your farm. The farm has been in my family since 1886, and I am the ďƒžfth generation to farm here. We milk 180 Holsteins and 60 Jerseys, all of whom have names, and farm 600 acres of alfalfa and corn. My wife, Ann, and I, have two children – Zach, 19, and Abbi, 17. Zach is working on the farm, and Abbi will graduate from high school this spring and attend North Central Technical College in the fall to pursue a dairy degree. We also have one full-time and three part-time employees. Turn to OUR SIDE | Page 16
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Page 16 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020
ConƟnued from OUR SIDE | Page 15
Peter Salzl, pictured with kids, Kaylee, Riley and Brantley Albany, Minnesota Stearns County 140 cows Describe your favorite tractor. It is a New Holland TV6070 bi-directional. Why does this tractor mean so much to you? We can do a lot of things with it. How has the workload of this tractor changed over the years? It has not changed much over the years. We use it for many things, such as blowing snow, cutting hay, spraying, baling, loader work and everyday uses. What type of maintenance do you do to it? We do regular oil changes and any other maintenance that comes up. What are a few great memories you have with this tractor? When my kids, Kaylee and Riley, learned to drive it. If you could, what kind of enhancements would you make to this tractor? It would be nice to have a roomier cab, but I would not change anything else. What are your plans for this tractor down the road? We plan to keep it as they no longer make bi-directional tractors, and we use it for many things. Tell us about your farm. My wife and I along with our four children milk 140 cows. We grow our own corn, alfalfa and soybeans.
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Jay Graber Parker, South Dakota Turner County 30 cows Describe your favorite tractor. I have a goodsized collection of Farmall and IH tractors, but one of my favorites is our IH 856. My father, Jerry, purchased it new for $8,300 on December 26, 1969. It now has more than 9,900 hours on it. It has had its engine overhauled once, but other than that it is pretty original. Its paint is faded, but I would never repaint it. I like the weathered patina of a well cared for tractor. Why does this tractor mean so much to you? I drove it a lot as a youth. Up until we got the 856, the biggest tractor on our farm was a Farmall 450 diesel. The 450 had a hard time pulling the plow in alfalfa, so I begged Dad to get the 856. It has been a good, tough tractor. It still performs well today. How has the workload of this tractor changed over the years? It has gone from being the farm’s biggest tractor to a mower or auger or manure spreader tractor. With only 100 HP, it is not big enough to cover all the acres we have today. Dad put a Year-ARound cab on it in 1973, and we later added a heater and air conditioning. These days, the tractor has an easier life and a much lighter workload. What type of maintenance do you do to it? I just check the antifreeze regularly, and change the oil and the lters as needed. What are a few great memories you have with this tractor? It was a real joy to move up to a 100 HP tractor from our Farmall 450. The 856 eventually became our planting and cultivating tractor. I used it to plant a lot of acres with a 6-row planter. When I was cultivating, I would often stop to pick up rocks and put them into the tractor’s rock box. This was a lot of extra work, but it gave me a break from cultivating and helped prevent damage to the combine during harvest. If you could, what kind of enhancements would you make to this tractor? There is not much I could do to improve it. Maybe I would put on a modern tractor cab on it. That would be pretty luxurious compared to what was considered state-of-the-art back in the day. What are your plans for this tractor down the road? I hope it stays in the family and they keep it original. I try to keep it running and well maintained. I plan to keep on using it to help it stay in good health. Tell us about your farm. My brother, Cal, and I milk 30 Registered Jerseys and farm 2,500 acres. Our grandpa, Peter, started dairying on this farm in 1927 and began milking registered Jerseys in 1932. We have maintained our herd at 30 cows since 1957. That is what our barn will hold and it works for us because of the amount of help available. Our elds look to be in much better shape this spring compared to last spring. One of my current tractor projects is xing up a Farmall Super C. It is similar to my grandpa’s Super C, which was the rst tractor I ever drove.
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Kyle Kunze Abbotsford, Wisconsin Marathon County 48 cows Describe your favorite tractor. My favorite tractor that we currently own is a 1994 Ford 8670. My parents bought it in 2004. Why does this tractor mean so much to you? Through the years, as I grew up, I have put many hours on this tractor and learned most of the elds and how to work them. How has the workload of this tractor changed over the years? Since we got it, it’s been our main tractor and has done most of the tillage and does all the chopping. What type of maintenance do you do to it? We change the oil twice a year, blow out air lters every few months and the occasional wear and tear repairs. What are a few great memories you have with this tractor? Tractor rides when I was younger. I look forward to taking my 15-month-old daughter for rides when we can get in the elds soon for planting season. Also long nights to beat the rain when either planting or chopping. If you could, what kind of enhancements would you make to this tractor? I would like to put some LED lights on it because the lights on it are not the best otherwise it does the job the way it is. What are your plans for this tractor down the road? I plan on keeping this tractor for a long time. I would like to get another tractor that is slightly bigger to help speed things up and in case our 8670 breaks down. We don’t have anything else to do tillage or chop with so it would be nice to have a second option to keep things rolling. Tell us about your farm. I milk 48 Holsteins and a few Jerseys. During the summer, I milk about 60 when cows can get out to pasture and I can switch cows. In total, I have 103 head of cattle between milk cows, dry cows, heifers and calves. The farm crops 140 acres. I plan on renting/buying some more land from an uncle that is going to be retiring in a couple of years. My ancée and I are in the process of taking over the farm from my parents. I’m the second generation on my farm but come from a long line of dairy farmers.
Rob Klinkner Viroqua, Wis. Vernon County 60 cows Describe your favorite tractor. My favorite is our 1066 International. I like it because it is the rst tractor I bought when I started milking cows. Why does this tractor mean so much to you? Growing up they were new and a few people had them, and they we big and shiny and it was the rst tractor I bought when I started milking. How has the workload of this tractor changed over the years? It has remained the same pretty much, it runs the TMR. What type of maintenance do you do to it? We have put a different motor in it and are currently putting a clutch in it now. What are a few great memories you have with this tractor? We have taken it to the county fair and to the tractor pull a few times and went on a tractor ride with it. If you could, what kind of enhancements would you make to this tractor? I really don’t need to do anything to it. What are your plans for this tractor down the road? Someday I would like to repaint it. Tell us about your farm. My wife and I milk 60 registered Jersey and Holstein cows with our 5 children in southwest Vernon County.
Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020 • Page 17
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Components important at Country Aire Farms Country Aire Farms LLC Greenleaf, Wisconsin Brown County 3,700 cows What is your current herd average, butterfat and protein? 32,384 pounds of milk, with 4.5% butterfat and 3.1% protein. How many times a day do you milk? If you do not milk 3X a day, have you tried it in the past? We average 2.9 milkings per day. Not all cows make it to the parlor three times every day due to time constraints in getting everyone
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The Gerrits family (from leŌ) – MaƩ, Jon, Mike, Craig and Nick – own Country Aire Farms in Greenleaf, Wisconsin. They milk 3,700 cows and maintain a herd average of 32,384 pounds of milk with 4.5% buƩerfat and 3.1% protein. through the parlor.
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Cows at Country Aire Farms eat their raƟon, which consists of haylage, corn silage, wet brewers grain, soybeans, coƩon seed, straw, protein mix and dry corn.
Do you contract your milk? Has it been successful for you? Yes; milk options, selling futures and using Dairy Revenue Protection have been successful for us. Describe your housing and milking facility. Cows are housed in a sandbedded freestall barn, and we milk in
a Boumatic/Blom 40-stall rotary parlor. We also have a double-10 herringbone parlor for milking treated and fresh cows. What is your herd health program? Fresh cows and heifers are walked and examined daily by the herdsman. Hospital cows are treated once daily with proper medication. At both of our facilities, the herdsman walks through
pens a few times a week to monitor sick and lame cows. All pregnant cows are vaccinated at 200-206 days carrying calf with Ultrabac, 217-221 DCC with Scourguard and J-5, and 254-260 DCC with SRP and a second dose of J-5. All calves are given Enforce at birth. What does your dry cow and transition program consist of? Cows are dried off at 221 days in milk and moved Turn to COUNTRY AIRE | Page 20
FOR SUCCESS.
The Signature name says it all. The 504R Signature baler advances the Vermeer legacy by giving the working man a baler that is built upon the three signature pillars of Vermeer — convenience, ease of use and durability. Combine that with a camless wide pickup, rotor and a durable steel windguard roller for quiet and smooth operation — all while making bales at a quick pace. Backed by a 3-year pickup warranty*, it’s clear the 504R Signature baler is truly one of a kind. *3-year pickup warranty covers internal components and includes parts and labor. Does not include teeth or hardware for teeth. See local Vermeer dealer for details. Vermeer Corporation reserves the right to make changes in engineering, design and specifications; add improvements; or discontinue manufacturing or distribution at any time without notice or obligation. Equipment shown is for illustrative purposes only and may display optional accessories or components specific to their global region. Please contact your local Vermeer dealer for more information on machine specifications. Vermeer and the Vermeer logo are trademarks of Vermeer Manufacturing Company in the U.S. and/or other countries. © 2020 Vermeer Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020 • Page 19
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“This one did the job... getting SCC down by over 100,000.” — Mark Spadgenske
SPADGENSKE DAIRY, MENAHGA, MINNESOTA Mark and Mike Spadgenske and families 300 cows, 75 lbs 3.9F 3.2P, SCC consistently below 200,000 Mark and Kristine Spadgenske with Adam, Kate and Seth at the 2019 Central Plains Dairy Expo. Not pictured is oldest son Ryan as well as Mark’s brother Mike and son John.
“We were able to get SCC down by over 100,000 and are still going strong with Udder Comfort™ in our fresh cow routine. The results pay in quality and performance,” says Mark Spadgenske. He and his brother Mike and their families operate Spadgenske Dairy, milking 300 cows near Menahga, Minn. “We brought home Udder Comfort samples from the 2017 Central Plains Dairy Expo in Sioux Falls and started spraying every fresh udder 2x/day for 4 days after calving. “Within just 2 months, we saw counts come down, and by 6 months, SCC was down by over 100,000. “Three years later, we continue using Udder Comfort on all fresh udders. Our counts remain well below 200,000. We had tried other products, but this one did the job. We love Udder Comfort.”
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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, April 11, 2020
ConƟnued from COUNTRY AIRE | Page 18
to the far-off dry pen. Dry cows receive Spectramast DC and are then sealed with Orbeseal. Dry cow rations consist of corn silage, haylage, sorghum, oat hulls, soybean meal and dry cow mineral mix. Eventually, they get moved to the steam-up pen 250+ days until freshening. Once fresh, there is a 20-30 day wait period in the fresh pen until they are moved to milking pens. What is the composition of your ration? What has been one of your most recent changes that has been successful for you? Haylage, corn silage, wet brewers grain, soybean, cotton seed, straw, protein mix and dry corn. Feeding more corn silage has been benecial in making a more consistent ration that enables fewer ration changes.
Through the years you have been farming, what change has created the biggest jump in your herd average? In 2008, we switched from mattresses with sawdust to sand bedding. This along with increasing the quality of feed and providing consistency in overall management have all helped to increase our herd average. What role does genetics play in your production level and what is your breeding program? Genomic testing plays a big role in culling the bottom 10% of low-level ranked cows. Double ovsynch and tail chalk are the two main breeding programs we use, and we are also breeding more cows to beef bulls regardless of lactation number. When evaluating what bulls to use, we look at
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Cows are milked in a 40-stall rotary parlor at Country Aire Farms built in 1998. The farm places equal emphasis on components and milk volume. cow value, pregnant value and genetic rank. What type of improvements would you like to make that would increase your rolling herd average even higher? The improvements we would like in 2020 for increasing the rolling herd average start with better forage quality and cow comfort. Also, our breeding strategy going forward is to produce top-tier genetics in the herd.
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Cows rest on deep sand beds in the freestall barn at Country Aire Farms. Cow comfort has been a major contributor to increasing the farm’s herd average.
List three management strategies that have kept you protable. Keeping key employees, milk quality/high components and consistent feeding. We feed and breed for high components. It is not all
about milk volume. Components are just as important as production per cow. What are the three most important factors that helped you attain your current herd average? Our nutritionist, Jim Barmore, has played an important role in nutrition and in dairy consulting on our farm. Tunnel ventilation and sprinklers have also played a part along with better stall and sand management. Tell us about your farm. Country Aire Farms was started in the early 1920s by Edward Gerrits milking nine cows. In 1965, the farm was taken over by Budd Gerrits who started milking 70 cows and ended up
at 378 cows by 1995. Brothers Tom and Mike Gerrits purchased the farm in 1995 and started milking 700 cows. We are at 3,700 cows between two facilities. Tom’s sons, Nick and Craig, and Mike’s sons, Jonathan and Matthew, are also part of the operation. Country Aire has two dairies. The dairy in Kaukauna milks 550 cows where each of the four boys take two years in managing that operation before they come home to the main dairy in Greenleaf. Country Aire Farms consists of 5,700 acres split between corn, hay and wheat. All of the forage harvesting is done in-house. The dairy is in the process of the succession plan where the four boys are transitioning into the business.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020 • Page 21
LOW RATE FINANCING AVAILABLE Financing subject to pre-approval through JD Financial. Some restrictions apply. See dealer for details.
JD 2200, 2002, 47’, 1161487 614487 87 # 16
25,400
$
Case IH Steiger 620 Quadtrac, 2017, $ 561 hrs., #161650
369,500
JD 8335R, 2011, 4937 hrs. $ #165966
139,000
DB66 Planter, 2012, 36R22” $ #1166629 296 96 #166296
75,900
JD DB66, 2005, 6R22” #166985
199,900
WARRANTY JD 6120M, 2018, 169 hrs., #141903
92,900
$
JD 1765, 2018, 12R30” #161082
JD 6175R, 2015, 5043 hrs., $ #156490
78,900
$
128,400
$
Over 1200 items with pictures updated daily • Go to www.mmcjd.com COMPACT TRACK LOADERS
10 JD CT322, 2009, Cab Enclosure, Foot Controls; Aux Hydraulics; Narrow Rubber Tracks; 76” Bucket, 1461 hrs., #166632 ......................................................................................................................................$27,500 10 JD 323D, 2010, Cab Enclosure, A/C, Foot Controls, Air Ride Seat; Aux Hydraulics; 2 Speed; Wide Rubber Tracks; General Purpose Bkt, 2761 hrs., #167345 ..............................................................................$27,900 10 Bobcat T590, 2013, Cab Enclosure, A/C, Foot Controls; Aux Hydraulics; 72” Bucket, 914 hrs., #157124 .... 28950 4 JD 323D, 2012, Cab Enclosure, A/C, EH Controls, Hi-Flo; Aux Hydraulics; 2 Speed; Narrow Rubber Tracks; 76” Bucket; Reversing Fan, 2356 hrs., #165363 .................................................................................$30,900 13 JD 329D, 2011, Cab Enclosure, A/C, Foot Controls, Hi-Flo; Aux Hydraulics; 2 Speed; Narrow Rubber Tracks, 1962 hrs., #165473 .............................................................................................................................$35,499 8 JD 317G, 2017, ROPS, EH Controls, Joystick; Aux Hydraulics; Narrow Rubber Tracks, 57 hrs., #155403 ....... $37,900 10 JD 329E, 2016, Cab Enclosure, A/C, EH Controls; Aux Hydraulics; 2 Speed; Self-Leveling; Wide Rubber Tracks; 84” Bucket; Reversing Fan, 1309 hrs., #167683 .....................................................................$45,000 13 JD 333E, 2014, Cab Enclosure, A/C, Hand Controls, EH Controls, Air Ride Seat, Hi-Flo, Joystick; Aux Hydraulics; Ride Control, 2 Speed; Wide Track, Wide Rubber Tracks; 84” Bucket; Reversing Fan, 1831 hrs., #165057 ..............................................................................................................................................$46,000 13 JD 317G, 2018, Cab Enclosure, A/C, EH Controls, Air Ride Seat, Joystick; Aux Hydraulics; Self-Leveling; Narrow Rubber Tracks; 72” Bucket, 101 hrs., #162594.......................................................................$48,900 12 JD 333E, 2014, Cab Enclosure, A/C, EH Controls, Air Ride Seat; Aux Hydraulics; 2 Speed; Wide Track; 84” Bucket; Reversing Fan, 1135 hrs., #159838 .......................................................................................$49,595 10 JD 333E, 2015, Cab Enclosure, Cab Enclosure, A/C, A/C, EH Controls, EH Controls, EH Controls, Air Ride Seat, Hi-Flo, Hi-Flo; Aux Hydraulics; Ride Control, Ride Control, 2 Speed, 2 Speed; Wide Rubber Tracks; 84” Bucket; Reversing Fan, Reversing Fan, 803 hrs., #157583 .................................................................$54,900 6 JD 333G, 2017, Cab Enclosure, A/C, EH Controls, Air Ride Seat, Hi-Flo; Aux Hydraulics; Ride Control, 2 Speed; Self-Leveling; Rubber Tracks, 745 hrs., #153697 ...................................................................$63,500 7 JD 333G, 2018, Cab Enclosure, A/C, EH Controls, Air Ride Seat, Hi-Flo, Joystick; Aux Hydraulics; Ride Control, 2 Speed; Self-Leveling; Wide Rubber Tracks; General Purpose Bkt; Reversing Fan, 582 hrs., #166120 ..............................................................................................................................................$69,900 2 JD 333G, 2018, Cab Enclosure, A/C, EH Controls, Air Ride Seat, Hi-Flo; Aux Hydraulics; Ride Control, 2 Speed; Self-Leveling; Rubber Tracks; Reversing Fan, 715 hrs., #162031...........................................$70,400 15 JD 333G, 2018, Cab Enclosure, A/C, EH Controls, Air Ride Seat, Hi-Flo, Joystick; Aux Hydraulics; Ride Control, 2 Speed; Self-Leveling; Wide Rubber Tracks; Reversing Fan, 689 hrs., #160845 .................$70,400 11 JD 333G, 2019, Cab Enclosure, A/C, EH Controls, Air Ride Seat, Hi-Flo; Aux Hydraulics; Ride Control, 2 Speed; Self-Leveling; Wide Track; General Purpose Bkt; Reversing Fan 485 hrs., #166156 ..............$74,900 13 JD 333G, 2018, Cab Enclosure, A/C, EH Controls, Air Ride Seat, Hi-Flo, Joystick; Aux Hydraulics; Ride Control, 2 Speed; Self-Leveling; Wide Rubber Tracks; Reversing Fan, 329 hrs., #163424 .................$74,900
DISKS
10 Krause 4991W, 30 ft, 3-Section Folding, 9” spacing, #165465 ..................................................$14,900 10 JD 2623, 2013, 23 ft, 3-Section Folding, 9” spacing, #167883 ......................................................$23,900 11 Sunflower 1830, 2012, 30 ft, 3-Section Folding, 11” spacing, #161784 ....................................$29,400 5 Kuhn Krause 8300, 2014, 28 ft; 3-Section Folding, #167353 ....................................................$29,500 3 Wishek 862-NT, 2009, 33 ft, 3-Section Folding, #163465 ...........................................................$30,000 10 JD 2620, 2016, 26 ft, 3-Section Folding, 9” spacing, #165298 ......................................................$38,500 5 JD 2625, 2013, 42 ft, 11” spacing, #151841....................................................................................$38,500 5 Summers DT2510, 2012, 45 ft, 3-Section Folding, #167770......................................................$39,000 4 JD 2623, 2013, 33 ft, #149511.........................................................................................................$39,500 7 JD 637, 2011, 45 ft, 5-Section Folding, 9” spacing, #166177 .........................................................$42,000 14 Summers 36FTDC, 2015, 35 ft, 3-Section Folding, #167985....................................................$52,400 14 Lemken Rubin 12, 2017, 23 ft, 3-Section Folding, 11” spacing, #165159 ..............................$64,900
(1) = GLENCOE 4561 Hwy. 212
C&H Mfg 4300, 2000, 52 ft, #168170 ........................................................................................... $7,400 JD 960, 1989, 42 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #165959............................................................ $9,900 JD 980, 2000, 41 ft, 3-Section Folding, C-Shank, #168036..........................................................$13,500 JD 2200, 2002, 47 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #161487 .......................................................$25,400 JD 2210, 2005, 54 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #167743 .......................................................$30,900 JD 2210, 2007, 65 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #166478 .......................................................$43,900 JD 2210, 2008, 65 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #166479 .......................................................$45,900 JD 2210, 2011, 60 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #168037 .......................................................$49,400 JD 2210, 2012, 55.5 ft, 5-Section Folding, Standards: C-Shank, #162453..................................$51,900 JD 2230 fh, 2018, 60.5 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #166421...............................................$89,900
7 9 5 8 10 8 8
Hesston 3312, 2007, #167802 ....................................................................................................$15,500 JD 835, 2008, #161169 .................................................................................................................$17,500 JD 835, 2012, #164224 .................................................................................................................$18,900 New Holland H7550, 2014, #167351 .......................................................................................$20,500 JD 635, 2017, #166698 ..................................................................................................................$23,500 JD F350R, 2019, #166686 .............................................................................................................$27,000 JD R990R, 2019, #166685............................................................................................................$65,300
1 4 17 4 6 3 8 4 14 16 14
MOWER CONDITIONERS
PLANTERS
JD 7200, 1993, 12R30”, Wing Fold, 1.6 Bushel Hopper, #166682 ...............................................$13,900 JD 1780, 2002, 24R20”, Flex Fold, 3.0 Bushel Hopper,..................................................................$30,000 JD 1765, 2015, 12R30”, Flex Fold, 1.6 Bushel Hopper, Row Command, #155243.......................$44,900 JD 1760, 2013, 12R30”, Flex Fold, 3.0 Bushel Hopper, #156200 ..................................................$52,500 JD 1765, 2018, 12R30”, Flex Fold, 3.0 Bushel Hopper, Row Command, #161082.......................$75,900 JD 1770NT CCS, 2012, 24R30”, Wing Fold, Central Fill System, Row Command, #167881 ....$118,500 JD DB66, 2005, 36R22”, Flex Fold, Central Fill System, Row Command, #166985...................$128,400 JD 1775NT, 2018, 16R30”, Flex Fold, Central Fill System, Row Command, #150736...............$169,000 JD DB66, 2012, 36R22”, Flex Fold, Central Fill System, Row Command, #166296...................$199,900 JD 1775NT, 2017, 24R30”, Wing Fold, Central Fill System, #160204........................................$262,900 JD DB66, 2018, 36R22” Flex Fold, Central Fill System, Row Command, Electric Drive, #161783.........................................................................................................................................$279,500 7 JD DB66, 2018, 36R22” Flex Fold, Central Fill System, Row Command, Electric Drive, #161533.........................................................................................................................................$315,400 5 JD 1710, 24R22”, Wing Fold, 1.6 Bushel Hopper, #168066 ........................................................$17,900 15 JD 1710, 24R22”, Wing Fold, 3.0 Bushel Hopper, #168140 .........................................................$19,900
ROUND BALERS
1 JD 535, 1989, Both Twine and Surface Wrap, 540 PTO, 5’ bales, 151,310 bales ...........................$8,325 2 Case IH RBX561, 2002, Regular Pickup, Both Twine and Surface Wrap, 1000 PTO, 5’ bales, 9000 bales, #160144 .......................................................................................................................... $9,900 11 Vermeer 555XL, 2005, Regular Pickup, Twine Only, 540 PTO, 5’ bales, #160364........................ $9,900 17 JD 567, ‘01, Mega Tooth, Twine Only, 540 PTO, 5’ Bales, 16,500 bales, #161325 .......................$10,900 14 NHBR780A, 2007, Mega Wide Pickup, Both Twine and Surface Wrap, 1000 PTO, 5’ bales, 15,900 bales, #167206 .....................................................................................................................$11,900 10 NH BR7090, 2009, Mega Wide, Twine Only, 540 PTO, 5’ bales, 6484 Bales, #167794 ...............$14,500 10 NHBR7060, 2012, Regular Pickup, Twine Only, 540 pto, 4’ bales, 2900 bales, #166079............$18,500 2 JD 558, 2010, Mega Wide Pickup, Twine Only, 540 PTO, 5’ bales, 1153 bales, #163653 .............$19,900 4 JD 854, 2010, Mega Wide, Both Twine and Surface Wrap, 1000 PTO, 5’ bales, Precut Knives, 11,400 bales, #159849 .....................................................................................................................$20,900
Visit one of our 17 locations in Central Minnesota! (7) = ALEXANDRIA (9) = PRINCETON (4) = ST. CLOUD 1035 35th Ave. NE
(2) = HOWARD LAKE (5) = GLENWOOD 5845 Keats Ave. SW
1710 N. Franklin
(3) = STEWART
(6) = SAUK CENTRE
78412 Co. Rd. 20
FIELD CULTIVATORS
16 14 15 14 9 15 15 6 5 9
1140 Centre St.
320-763-4220 5005 Co. Rd. 82 SE
3708 Baptist Church Rd.
(8) = PAYNESVILLE
16069 Hwy. 27 E.
725 Lake Ave. S.
6 JD 469 Silage Special, 2015, Mega Wide pickup, Surface Wrap Only, 1000 PTO, 4’ bales, 9 500 bales, #166199 ..........................................................................................................................$24,900 11 NH 460RB, 2014, Mega Wide Pickup, Both Twine and Surface Wrap, 1000 PTO, 4’ bales, 7500 bales, #165910 ........................................................................................................................$24,900 10 JD 854, 2011, Mega Wide Pickup, Both Twine and Surface Wrap, 1000 PTO, 4’ bales, Precut Knives, 8170 bales, #160884 ................................................................................................$29,500 6 JD 854 Silage Special, 2016, Mega Wide, Both Twine and Surface Wrap, 540 PTO, 4 ’ bales, Precut Knives, 6000 bales, #151149 ....................................................................................$31,300 10 JD 450M, 2018, Mega Wide, Twine Only, 540 PTO, 4’ bales, 690 bales, #163947 .......................$33,500 10 JD 469 Silage Special, 2017, Mega Wide, Both Twine and Surface Wrap, 1000 PTO, 4’ bales, 6200 bales, #162893 .........................................................................................................$34,500 4 JD 469, 2017, Mega Wide, Both Twine and Surface Wrap, 1000 PTO, 4’ bales, 2600 bales, #167879............................................................................................................................................$37,400 6 JD 560M, 2019, Mega Wide Pickup, Surface Wrap Only, 1000 PTO, 5’ bales, 500 bales, #166321............................................................................................................................................$43,900 5 JD 460M, 2018, Mega Wide, Both Twine and Surface Wrap, 1000 PTO, 4; bales, Precut Knives, 5985 bales, #164359 ........................................................................................................................$49,900 17 JD 560M, 2018, Mega Wide, Both Twine and Surface Wrap, 1000 PTO, 5’ bales, Precut Knives, 3311 Bales, #165961 ........................................................................................................................$57,900
WINDROWERS
8 JD W260, 2018, 16”, Conditioner: Rubber/Urethane, 500 hrs, #163764 .................................$169,500
CALL TODAY! (320)365-1653 (12) = AITKIN 1120 2nd St. NW
(10) = LITTLE FALLS (13) = BAXTER (11) = WADENA 62505 US Hwy. 10
SKID STEER LOADERS
3 Bobcat 743B, ROPS, Foot Controls, 1648 hrs., #167800 .................................................................10900 10 JD 240, 2000, Cab Enclosure, Foot Controls; Aux Hydraulics; Beefy Baby Tires; 66” Bucket, 2385 hrs., #168163...............................................................................................................................13400 3 JD 250, 2003, ROPS, Hand Controls, 72” Bucket, 3750 hrs., #168067 .............................................13900 15 JD 315, 2007, ROPS, Foot Controls, Self-Leveling; Aux Hydraulics, 60” Bucket, 1874 hrs., #165904............................................................................................................................................$17,900 1 JD 250, 2000, Cab w/o AC, Foot Controls, 3100 hrs., #167442 ....................................................$18,500 17 JD 320E, 2017, Cab w/AC, EH Controls, Joystick, 2 Speed, Aux Hydraulics, Less Bucket, 2976 hrs., #158327..........................................................................................................................$27,900 15 JD 320E, 2017, Cab w/ AC, EH Controls, Joystick, 2 Speed, Aux Hydraulics, 3029 hrs., #159774............................................................................................................................................$28,900 4 JD 326E, 2014, Cab w/AC, EH Controls, Joystick, 2 Speed, Aux Hydraulics, Steel Tracks, Less Bucket, Reversing Fan, 1420 hrs., #167115 ...........................................................................$32,900 14 Caterpillar 236D, 2017, ROPS, Cab w/AC, Cab Enclosure, EH Controls, Air Ride Seat; 2 Speed; 72” Bucket, 671 hrs., #161230 .........................................................................................$33,400 10 JD 332E, 2014, 1059 hrs., #155014 ..............................................................................................$39,500 4 Bobcat S650, 2017, Cab w/AC, A/C, Hand Controls, Foot Controls, Ride Control, 2 Speed, Aux Hydraulics, 78” Bucket, 427 hrs., #166045.......................................................................................$42,900 9 JD 324G, 2018, Cab w/ AC, Foot Controls, Air Ride Seat; 2 Speed; Self-Leveling; Aux Hydraulics; Beefy Baby Tires; 78” Bucket; Reversing Fan, 291 hrs., #161893.....................................................$44,500 4 JD 324G, 2018, Cab w/AC, EH Controls, Air Ride Seat, Joystick; 2 Speed; Self-Leveling; Aux Hydraulics; 78” Bucket; Reversing Fan, 85 hrs., #166450.........................................................$45,900 4 JD 324G, 2018, Cab w/ AC, Cab Enclosure, A/C, EH Controls, Air Ride Seat; Ride Control, 2 Speed; Self-Leveling; Aux Hydraulics; 78” Bucket; Reversing Fan, #162065 ..............................$45,900 11 JD 330G, 2018, Cab w/ AC, EH Controls, Air Ride Seat, Joystick; Ride Control, 2 Speed; Self-Leveling; Aux Hydraulics; 84” Bucket; Reversing Fan, 575 hrs., #159949 ..............................$48,900 16 JD 332G, 2018, Cab w/ AC, EH Controls, Air Ride Seat, Joystick; Ride Control, 2 Speed; Self-Leveling; Aux Hydraulics, Weights; 84” Bucket; Reversing Fan, 150 hrs., #144002 ...............$56,900
7045 Foley Rd.
(14) = ELBOW LAKE
(16) = BENSON
(15) = MORRIS
(17) = MADISON
110 2nd St. NE
23604 State Hwy. 9
380 Atlantic Ave. 516 1st St. E
SEE OUR COMPLETE INVENTORY WITH PICTURES AND DESCRIPTIONS AT: www.mmcjd.com
Page 22 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020
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Contact one of the following dealers to learn more: IOWA Kramer Bros. Monticello, IA 319-465-5931 Prairie Land Ag Supply Inc. Rock Valley, IA 712-476-9290 United-Suckow Dairy Supply West Union, IA 563-422-5355 Postville, IA 563-864-7417 WISCONSIN Advanced Dairy/Bob’s Dairy Supply Spring Valley, WI 715-772-3201
Ederer Dairy Supply Plain, WI 608-546-3713 Joe’s Refrigeration Inc. Withee, WI 715-229-2321 Mlsna Dairy Supply Inc. Cashton, WI 608-654-5106 Mondovi Dairy Systems Inc. Mondovi, WI 715-926-5777 West Salem, WI 608-769-2113 Professional Dairy Services $UOLQJWRQ WI
Redeker Dairy Equipment Brandon, WI 920-346-5579 The Scharine Group Inc. Whitewater, WI 800 472-2880 Mt Horeb, WI 800-872-3470 MINNESOTA & SOUTH DAKOTA D&D Ag Supply Pennock, MN 320-599-4466 East Central Dairy Supply Mora, MN 320-679-1029
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provides forgivable loans to small businesses to pay their employees during the COVID-19 crisis. Farmers are eligible for PPP loans through the Small Business Administration (SBA). Farmers must have fewer than 500 employees and less than $1 million in net revenue. If farmers already have a relationship with the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), the SBA is encouraging those farmers to work with FSA ďƒžrst. Applications opened April 3, 2020 for small businesses. What costs are covered? – Payroll costs, including beneďƒžts; – Interest on mortgage obligations, incurred before Feb. 15, 2020; – Rent, under lease agreements in force before Feb. 15, 2020; and – Utilities, for which service began before Feb. 15, 2020
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is a registered trademark of Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. and “DeLaval� is a registered trade/servicemark of DeLaval Holding AB Š 2020 DeLaval Inc. DeLaval, 11100 North Congress Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64153-1296. All facts and figures are the result of data collected on test farms and from scientific studies. Results may vary and are not guaranteed. www.delaval.com
Loans will be forgiven as long as: – The loan proceeds are used to cover payroll costs, and most mortgage interest, rent, and utility costs over the 8 week period after the loan is made; and – Employee and compensation levels are maintained. Loans can be up to two months of your average monthly payroll costs from the last year plus an additional 25% of that amount, capped at $10 million. The PPP loan cannot cover pay for those employees whose principal address is not within the United States, nor can it cover their costs of paying independent contractors (those who get 1099s instead of W2s). Independent contractors and other self-employed individuals can apply for their own PPP loans starting on April 10, 2020. Applicants for these loans must already have a lender relationship with a bank or institution that have a relationship with SBA. Therefore, the ďƒžrst recommendation is for farmers to call their current lender(s) to see if they have that SBA relationship and ask if they are ready to accept PPP applications. Make that call today if possible. You will need to provide your lender with payroll documentation such as payroll processor records or payroll tax ďƒžlings. Independent contractors will have to provide their 1099-MISC forms. Self-employed individuals will have to provide their income and expenses from their sole proprietorship. To read more from DATCP regarding PPP visit: https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/News_Media/ DATCPWEDCPPPRelease.aspx
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Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020 • Page 23
Seeing the beauty in her surroundings Rogers nds inspiration for artwork, illustrations
beauty around me in my own pieces,” Rogers said. Rogers and her husband, Drew, milk 30 cows on their rst-generation dairy farm near Westby, along with By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com their children, Carter, 11, Caleb, 7, and Laney, 2. WESTBY, Wis. – Jessica Rogers The Rogers began their farm from nds beauty in the things around her scratch, starting with the purchase of a each day, and that, along with a great small farmette in 2005 after their mardeal of faith in God, is where Rogers riage. They added more land, bringing nds the inspiration for her artwork. their acreage to 19 acres. They rent some “Creating art has always been a additional land for hay and pasture. In huge part of me, and I’ve always en- addition to operating their dairy farm, joyed trying my hand at mirroring the Drew works off the farm as a patrolman for the township, and Jessica serves as the township treasurer. Drew grew up milking cows on his grandparents’ dairy farm until his grandfather passed away and the cows were sold in 2001. In addition to becoming a diesel mechanic, he continued to work on other farms. PHOTO SUBMITTED Despite the Jessica Rogers’ illustraƟon is complete with water colors. dairy industry’s She typically works in acrylics and oil paints, and found water colors to be a challenging new medium.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Jessica Rogers (leŌ) stands next to children’s author Anna Schumacher with Schumacher’s “A Bunny’s Christmas Eve Adventure.” Rogers illustrated the children’s book. She milks 30 cows with her family near Westby, Wisconsin. roller coaster ride over the past decade, dairy farming continued to be the Rogerses’ ultimate goal. They embarked on their dream in 2017 when they had the opportunity to buy part of a registered Holstein herd from Grant and Jenny Rudrud and Brody Rudrud. “After much prayer and planning, we
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Jessica Rogers is the illustrator for a children’s book. Rogers and her family dairy farm near Westby, Wisconsin.
Turn to ROGERS | Page 25
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Page 24 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020
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A virtual contest
COVID-19 forces change in Princess Kay nalist selection, statewide dairy princess workshop By Sherry Newell Contributing Writer
The uncertain timeline of Minnesota’s COVID-19 lockdown has resulted in the cancellation of Midwest Dairy’s annual dairy princess seminar, an event which serves as the backdrop for selection of the 10 nalists for Princess Kay of the Milky Way. County princess coordinators and American Dairy Association county chairmen were notied of the decision last week along with members of the Midwest Dairy Minnesota Division board and county princesses who had already registered for the event. The organization is planning to conduct judging virtually, using Zoom software, May 15-17, the event’s original date. The nalists’ names will be announced on the Princess Kay Facebook page at 2 p.m. May 17, the same time it would have happened during the luncheon that normally caps off the weekend of workshops and competition. “The hotel where our event was scheduled notied us they were closing until the end of May,” said Theresa Reps, Midwest Dairy agricultural affairs manager and staff lead for the state’s dairy princess program. “At that point, our committee had to decide what to do. Given all the uncertainty at this time, the decision was to move forward with virtual judging to get nalists in place.” The princess committee is a group of Minnesota Division board members and two county promotion board members
along with an industry representative and former princess. An alternative plan for the workshop portion of the event has not yet been developed, but Reps said that will be the next step. The sessions are designed to help county princesses carry out local promotion more effectively. “I think there will be creative ways to provide resources to county princesses. We’re still working through that,” Reps said. “We’re sad we can’t get all the princesses together. It’s a fun event and a cool celebration, but we certainly don’t want to put anyone at risk.” She said the new plans provide an opportunity for county princesses who might not have otherwise been able to compete for a nalist position. The committee is waiving the limit on how many candidates a county can advance to statewide judging. Normally, each county can send princesses to the nalist judging based on their county contest numbers. Since some counties have completed their contests, and others called off events and local judging due to the pandemic, the committee leveled the eld with the new ruling, Reps said. “Another nice thing is that princesses who were originally not available for the weekend might now be able to make the time to be in the contest on that one day (May 16),” she said. Princess Kay nalists are selected based on an application, a personal interview, a speech and a mock media interview with separate sets of two judges assigned to each component. Reps said the virtual judging will have the same portions, but with the participants – staff, committee members, judges and participants – all remaining at home. Reps said princesses must submit applications by May 1, and all materials will
Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020 • Page 25
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Former Princess Kay of the Milky Way Rebekkah Paskewitz talks with county dairy princesses during a previous promoƟon workshop. be distributed May 4, so each candidate has the same amount of time to prepare. Midwest Dairy will provide a tip sheet to help them do their best during the online judging. “Our goal is to make the process as easy and stress-free as possible,” Reps said. For instance, advice on things like lighting and background will be provided. There is also a plan to provide a phone number for troubleshooting in case technical or timing problems come up during the judging. “One advantage we have is that nearly every girl is already doing e-learning right now, so working online is not unfamiliar to them,” Reps said. If high-speed Internet is not available to a princess, she will be able to connect via cell phone signal using the same software. The scorecard is also being changed to put less emphasis on the visual aspects of evaluation, because each competitor will have different surroundings, and their speeches and mock media interviews will be delivered sitting down
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with a limited view. With judges in different locations, the scoring will also be entered electronically by each judge. Reps hopes to schedule professional nalist and group photos in July. Just like the state princess committee has adapted Princess Kay nalist judging for the pandemic’s limitations, the current Princess Kay’s activities have changed. “Naturally, she’s had events canceled, so we have worked with her to expand her digital activities,” Reps said. “For instance, she hosted a dairy-themed craft day on Facebook recently.” Similarly, Reps and the committee plan to encourage county princesses to stay active despite having fewer events to attend. “We want to do everything we can to work with these young women to be active and nd resources for them,” she said. “Princess Kay faces the same challenge right now that county princesses face. But they can be a positive light for dairy in a dark time.”
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Page 26 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020
Be proactive against COVID-19 The United States Department of Agriculture service centers are encouraging visitors to take proactive protective measures to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. USDA service centers in Minnesota will continue to be open for business by phone appointment only, and eld work will FSA News & Notes continue with appropriate social distancing. While our program delivery staff will continue to come into the ofce, they will be working with our producers by phone and using online tools whenever possible. All visitors wishing to conduct business with the Farm Service Agency, By Ryan Brunn Natural Resources Stearns Co. Exec. Dir. Conservation Service or any other service center agency are required to call their service center to schedule a phone appointment. In the event a service center is closed, producers can receive assistance from the closest alternate service center by phone. FSA’s Farm Loan Program division is continuing to provide full services through mail, by phone and by email. Borrowers needing checks endorsed are asked to mail their checks to the ofce and Farm Loan Program staff will endorse them and mail them back the same day they are received. Please contact your local FSA ofce with any questions. Youth loans The FSA makes operating loans of up to $5,000 to eligible individual youths ages 10 to 20 to nance income-producing, agriculture-related projects. The project must be of modest size, educational, and initiated, developed and carried out by youths participating in 4-H clubs, FFA, tribal youth organizations or similar agricultural-afliated groups. The project must be an organized and supervised program of work. It must be planned and operated with the assistance of the organization advisor, produce sufcient income to repay the loan, and provide the youth with practical business and educational experience in agriculture-related skills. These loans can nance many kinds of incomeproducing agricultural projects. The loan funds may be used to: - Buy livestock, seed, equipment and supplies. - Buy, rent or repair needed tools and equipment. - Pay operating expenses for the project. For more information on youth loans, visit http:// www.farmers.gov or call your FSA ofce. 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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of cows left the pen and were running up and down the feed alley. They were closed in the barn by the two garage doors for a long time until one tricky cow licked the door opener. This was just after 2 a.m., and the dogs noticed right away. It is a handy little door opener that we use in the tractor. We had clipped it on the fan and forgot to put it back. We ďƒžgured over 30 cows were out gooďƒžng around. The deep hoof prints all over the farm are daily reminders of what our cows used to do in our pasture. The dogs must have thought they were bringing them in just like in the old days before the robots. These dogs are truly the best alarms we own. Tina Hinchley, her husband, Duane, and their daughters, Anna and Catherine, milk 240 registered Holsteins with robots. They also farm 2,300 acres of crops near Cambridge, Wisconsin. They have been hosting farm tours for over 20 years.
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did not hear them; Anna, our daughter, did. She got up and looked out her window to see the barn door open and cows running everywhere in the rain. Her alarm was, “Cows are out!� We all hopped out of bed, pulled on clothes, boots and jackets and ran to the barn. With all of the alarms with the robots and the cameras, there is not anything but barking dogs to let us know the cows have escaped. They were stomping around by the grain bins, out by the bunker silo and standing by the cow statue making a big muddy mess. They were running and kicking up their heels. The manure splatters were up and down the driveway. Holy cow, what a night for everyone. We did get them all back in before my alarm went off. The dogs were proud of themselves, chasing and barking. We all wanted to know, how did they get out? Back on the cameras, we could see they were pushing on a gate at the far end of the barn by the cow brush, and the latch must not have been closed. This was at 9:45 p.m. Soon as the gate opened, a group
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I have an alarm to help me awake and get to the barn. However, I usually lay there waiting for it to go off. Since we started with the robots milking our cows 16 months ago, my body still thinks it needs to get up at 3:50 a.m. So, I usually go to the bathroom, get a drink, check the prefresh camera and then head back to bed until 5:15. That is when the alarm goes off. I check the camera again and then head to the barn. We have alarms that By Tina Hinchley go off once in a while Farmer & Columnist for different things that happen with the robots. I get a phone call, letting me know the problem and which robot to go to. The other night we had one that was about vacuum pressure, and the vacuum pump was down for a couple hours. It is good to know where to start and when I need to call for help. Duane, my husband, had the pump apart, cleaned and back together before the service man arrived. We had missed a step in restarting it. We had been turning the power on and off, but it took the service guy to show us were we needed to go next. We will remember and save that service call next time. This morning, the alarm call was for the full milk jar. With this alarm, I know what I need to do, and I need to get it done quick or else the robots shut down. We bed with shavings and they can clog a rinse hose which will slow everything down. I have to open both ends, rinse it out and put it back together which can be done in about 5 minutes. Most vehicles have alarms to let you know to buckle up. Our truck has an alarm to let me know
Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020 • Page 27
i c k ly
o and C
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Th d The deep h hooff prints i all ll over the farm are daily reminders of what our cows used to do in our pasture. when I am backing up and getting close to the trailer ball. It will also ďƒ&#x;ash a light when someone is in my blind spot. The GPS alarm in the tractor warns when we are getting to the end of the ďƒželd. There are beeps about the fuel level, tire pressure and so many things. I wonder how well we could farm without all of the alarms and technology we use every day. Warnings, alarms and beeps. We hear them, and it helps identify a problem. The same thing goes for animals in distress. When a chick is cold, its peep sounds different. Just as a lamb, goat kid or calf that is hungry or hurt, it bellers to say it needs something. Our geese honk like crazy when a coyote or a stranger is in the backyard. The geese can make the UPS man stay in his truck, and their ruckus lets us know to come and get the package. Our best alarms are our dogs. We have two mini Jack Russell terrier puppies that bark at everything. Any noise or quick movement breaks them into a chorus of high pitched yips. Very obnoxious, but they are so cute. Both are put into the laundry room at night or not a thing would be able to sleep on this whole farm. Our other two dogs are border collies. They are usually very quiet unless working the cows or if something is wrong. When they bark at night, we get up to see what is going on. They did a lot of barking last week at night while the rain was pouring down. I
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Page 28 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020 Joe Armstrong armst225@umn.edu 612.624.3610 Luciano Caixeta lcaixeta@umn.edu 612-625-3130 Hugh Chester-Jones chest001@umn.edu 507-835-3622
www.extension.umn.edu/dairy
Monitor calving traits to improve cow, calf health
Gerard Cramer gcramer@umn.edu 612-625-8184 Marcia Endres miendres@umn.edu 612-624-5391
By Brad Heins and Glenda Pereira
University of Minnesota
Sandra Godden godde002@umn.edu 612-625-8177
Calving problems prolong the ability of dairy cows to reach peak production and may impair the ability of a cow to calve again. First lactation cows that have a difcult birth may have increased labor and veterinary costs. Furthermore, there is an increased probability the cow may not survive, which can cost $2,000 before the heifer may enter the milking herd. Moreover, calves born with difculty are more likely to be stillborn or develop a digestive or respiratory disease. While superb management may help minimize calving problems, recording calving traits may also be valuable. At the University of Minnesota dairy research herds, calving traits are recorded to improve cow and calf health. Gestation length is the date of successful insemination subtracted from the date of calving. Birth weight is measured within 12 hours of birth. Stillbirth is recorded as dead within 24 hours of birth. Calving ease is measured on a 5-point scale, with 1 being a quick, easy birth with no assistance; 2 means over two hours in labor but no assistance; 3 is minimum assistance but no calving difculty; 4 means obstetrical chains were used; and 5 is an extremely difcult birth that required a mechanical puller. Stillbirth and calving ease scores may be entered in any dairy management software program for tracking of individual dairy herds. The University of Minnesota has two research herds: a conventional dairy in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a low-input pasturebased dairy in Morris, Minnesota. Cows in St. Paul calve primarily from September to May and are bred from December to July. Cows in Morris are bred to maintain a seasonal production system. The two herds have Holstein cows and ProCROSS St. Paul Morris crossbreds, composed of Holstein ProCROSS Holstein ProCROSS Grazecross the Montbéliarde, Viking Number of calvings (n = 645) (n = 471) (n = 476) (n = 922) (n = 401) Red and Holstein breeds. In addition, in the Mor- First lactation ris dairy herd, Grazecross Gestation length (days) 278 281 278 281 281 crossbreds are composed Calf weight at birth (lbs.) 86.6 89.0 84.6 87.3 75.6 of the Normande, Jersey Stillbirth (%) 9.1 9.4 9.1 9.4 9.4 and Viking Red breeds. Calving ease (1 to 5) 1.5 1.5 1.2 1.3 1.2 Table 1 shows means for calving traits for St. Multiple lactations Paul and Morris, for rst Gestation length (days) 279 281 279 282 282 lactation cows and cows Calf weight at birth (lbs.) 95.3 97.3 92.2 94.3 81.8 with multiple lactations, Stillbirth (%) 9.8 9.7 9.8 9.7 9.5 from January 2009 to De- Calving ease (1 to 5) 1.3 1.3 1.1 1.1 1.2 cember 2019. In St. Paul, GRAPH SUBMITTED Holstein cows had a shortThis graph depicts means for gestaƟ on length, calf weight, sƟ llbirth and calving ease of calves in St. er gestation length than ProCROSS cows. Gesta- Paul and Morris dairies January 2009 to December 2019.
Brad Heins hein0106@umn.edu 320-589-1711 Nathan Hulinsky huli0013@umn.edu 320-203-6104 Kevin Janni kjanni@umn.edu 612-625-3108 Karen Johnson ande9495@umn.edu 320-484-4334 Emily Krekelberg krek0033@umn.edu 320-255-6169 Claire LaCanne lacanne@umn.edu 507-332-6109 Brenda Miller nels4220@umn.edu 320-732-4435 Kota Minegishi kota@umn.edu 612-624-7455 Erin Royster royster@umn.edu Jim Salfer salfe001@umn.edu 320-203-6093 Mike Schutz mschutz@umn.edu 612-624-1205 M. Scott Wells mswells@umn.edu 612-625-3747
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tion length is inuenced by the genetics of the calf, and a longer gestation length has been documented in the Montbéliarde breed. Holstein calves had mean weight that was 2 pounds less than ProCROSS calves. The longer gestation length reported for ProCROSS cows may explain the higher weight at birth. Stillbirth and calving ease were similar for Holstein calves compared with ProCROSS calves. In Morris, Holstein cows had a shorter gestation length than ProCROSS and Grazecross cows. Calf birth weight was different between the breed groups in Morris, and Holstein and ProCROSS calves weighed more than Grazecross calves. This was anticipated because some Grazecross calves were sired by Jersey bulls, and Jerseys have lower body weight than other dairy breeds. Similar to St. Paul, stillbirth and calving ease were similar for Holstein calves compared with ProCROSS and Grazecross calves. While similar breeds for crossbreeding exist in St. Paul and Morris, there are management differences that inuence calf weight at birth. In Morris, cows that are dry during the summer months are on pasture and have less energy intake compared with dry cows in St. Paul that are fed a TMR. Additionally, calving ease was slightly higher in St. Paul than in Morris, and this may be due to a higher rate of unobserved calvings in Morris than in St. Paul. Dairy producers should consider genetic evaluations for calving ease of potential service sires especially for mating virgin heifers. Using different sire breeds might reduce costs associated with difcult births. Recording birth traits on farm can help producers improve cow and calf health and reduce nancial loss. Glenda Pereira is a graduate research assistant at the University of Minnesota advised by Dr. Brad Heins.
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Why monitor subclinical ketosis?
Well, everyone, I hope you are ready for a technical article with all sorts of numbers. I think I might have even avoided saying anything controversial. Continue reading to nd out. Why should you care about subclinical ketosis? Subclinical ketosis is a common transition disorder encountered on all dairies. Most studies show us that the prevalence of the condition is anywhere from 5% to 80%. Usually, 15% is considered the alarm level for when you, your veterinarian and your nutritionist should look into the transition program. Subclinical ketosis is dened as an elevation of ketone bodies without clinical symptoms of ketosis. SCK is associated with the occurrence of many other transition cow diseases, such as clinical ketosis, metritis, retained placenta and left displaced abomasum. By monitoring their herd level of SCK, producers can work to prevent these economically signicant diseases. What causes ketosis? All cows suffer from a negative energy balance around By Joe Armstrong the time of calving. This occurs based on increased energy University of MN demand from milk production and decreased nutritional intake. Most cows have reduced dry matter intake before and after calving. When this reduced intake is combined with an increased demand for energy from milk production, the cow uses the energy stores in her own body to try to make up for the difference. The cow mobilizes fat stores and sends the fat to the liver. The liver is an amazing and complex organ, and especially in the dairy cow, has a high workload. The liver metabolizes fat to useful components for energy, including ketones. Excessive fat mobilization to the liver can overwhelm the liver’s ability to process, and this can result in fat accumulation in the liver leading to fatty liver (hepatic lipidosis). The circulating ketones and circulating fat can be measured to determine the severity of the negative energy balance. The ketone that is measured is beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), and the fats measured are non-esteried fatty acids (NEFA). How is subclinical ketosis measured? Both BHBA and NEFA measurement has been evaluated in the literature. NEFAs are best used pre-calving, and BHBAs are best used post-calving. Both sampling techniques are valuable because they allow you to identify where your most signicant challenge is, either pre-calving or post-calving. NEFA measurement is done at a laboratory and requires a serum sample. Take samples from cows between 14 and two days before calving. The cut off that predicts clinical disease is 0.29 mEq/L. BHBA measurement can be done cow-side with ketosis meters initially developed for human diabetic monitoring. When using validated cow-side meters, SCK is considered when values are greater than 1.2 mmol/L. Take samples from cows three to 14 days post-calving. The values used for NEFA and BHBA were determined through research connecting these threshold values with their ability to predict clinical disease. Cows testing over the thresholds are more likely to develop diseases associated with SCK. For example, the paper establishing the values, stated cows testing above 1.2 mmol/L of BHBA post-calving were 6.7 times more likely to develop an LDA than cows testing below 1.2 mmol/L. Post-calving BHBA levels can also be tested using milk ketone test strips. In general, these test strips are far less sensitive for detecting ketosis resulting in a high percentage of false negatives. Milk testing through a laboratory is often an accurate tool for detecting SCK, but Minnesota DHIA no longer offers this testing due to a lack of interest from producers. What if you are above 15%? The rst thing to do is to make sure you have tested enough animals. In general, 12 to 15 animals need to be tested to reasonably make assumptions about the entire herd (this number will depend on the size of the herd). Several factors play into SCK. Anything that would decrease DMI should be addressed rst. Bunk space and stocking density are critical factors for DMI. Bunk space should be kept at a minimum of 24 inches per head and preferably 30 inches per head. Stocking density for free stalls should remain at one stall per cow or less. Bedded pack space allowance should be 120 to 150 square feet per head. With both systems, prioritize bunk space. Body condition scoring is an incredibly valuable tool and probably needs its own article, but for now, know that BCS has a signicant impact on SCK and transition performance. Both too high and too low body conditions lead to more issues during the transition period. Cows should maintain a BCS of 2.75 to 3.25 out of 5 and ideally maintain their body condition post-calving. A reduction of greater than 0.5 units of BCS following calving has huge implications for SCK and reproductive performance. To truly have a handle on the body condition of your cows, you should monitor BCS routinely. I like to incorporate BCS with times cows are already handled. Dry off, moving to close-up, calving and moving out of the fresh pen are all excellent places to record a BCS. At a minimum, I would recommend scoring cows at the move to close up, at calving and moving out of the fresh pen. This gives roughly 21 days before calving, calving and 14 to 40 days post-calving. There are other causes of subclinical ketosis. Work with your veterinarian and your nutritionist to help address the above issues and identify other possible causes. Should you treat cows diagnosed with subclinical ketosis? In short, yes. Cows identied with SCK benet from treatment with propylene glycol. Discuss treatment protocols with your veterinarian. Most often, SCK cows are treated with 300 ml of propylene glycol orally once per day for three to ve days. Remember, treating a condition is never as good as prevention. Do not be tempted to put a bandage on with treatment and not work to x the actual cause of a high percentage of SCK in your herd.
Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020 • Page 29
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The pause button has been hit Page 30 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020
Unprecedented times. Essential businesses. Social distancing. Pandemic. All of these words have entered our vernacular in full force in the past few weeks, and seem as though they plan to stay for a while. This pandemic has pushed pause on so many things. From dairy breakfasts to conferences, weddings to funerals, school … life as we know it beyond March 2020 has changed. The world seemed to have turned topsy-turvy overnight, and after three weeks of social distancing orders, I think we are started to recalibrate ourselves. Of course, as with most important events we encounter, it makes you step back and reevaluate your life and seek out what brings you joy, and focus on the things that truly matter. There are some interesting positive happenings coming from the great pains the pandemic has inicted upon the nation. I have had some intriguing conversations with close friends and family members revolving around the changes we have all witnessed in the past few weeks. One thing mentioned a few times is how many people are
now outside. Raking their lawns, walking, playing with their kids, hiking a state park trail, playing softball. All of these were happening before, yes, but not quite at this magnitude. There is a surge of appreciation for those of us performing essential businesses. Farmers, truck drivers, store clerks, healthcare workers and factory workers – all these people and more are quite literally keeping America running at the moment. Now, as grocery shoppers reach for yet another missing item on their shelves, they are starting to think of the supply chain responsible for getting that wanted thing to them. Things we all took for granted before COVID-19. The questions I ponder are: Will this be a short-lived tale of appreciation? Will this cause a shift away from the idolization of high-paid sports gures? Will people still appreciate the essential ones long after this has passed us by? A newfound feeling of patriotism has come about. “We are all in this together” isn’t a fancy tagline. We really are all in this together at the end of the day. We,
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as Americans, are coming together in a way we haven’t since WWII to ward off a common enemy – this novel coronavirus. There are factories designing better masks and producing them at top speed, auto manufactures working on constructing ventilators, countless celebrities reading books online, businesses offering free educational services to help children and their parents, singers Ramblings from the Ridge staging live concerts from their living rooms – the list of amazing ways people are reaching out to help all of us stay sane is moraleboosting. People are pulling cookbooks off their shelves in search of new things to make with what they have in their cupboards instead of hopping in the car to journey to a restaurant. Some are By Jacqui Davison rekindling their love of Columnist cooking, others are nding they are lacking knowledge in this department. There is no longer the excuse of not having enough time to cook; time is a plentiful thing these days. The business of being busy has halted. There are no extracurricular activities for kids. Kids have more time to be kids, and parents have more time to be parents instead of chauffeurs for small, tired, demanding clients. Granted with this is also the fact that many of us have been thrust into the world of homeschooling our children, but that, too, is providing much enlightenment. Families are spending more time together now, because they have to. Puzzles are being dusted off and covering the kitchen table. Board games are dug out from the closet. People are starting seeds for the gardens of their dreams. While at rst I think most of us thought we would be pulling our hair out because of having our offspring around us all day, it has brought about a strange feeling of having more patience because we are less hurried. We are getting better at giving up some control in an effort to teach them more things, like how to make delicious banana cake for example. Meals are being eaten together. At the farm, the old oak table has been extended to hold all the leaves and our daily lunchtime has become something the four adults and six children look forward to. The conversations between children, the hilarious lessons in table etiquette, the discussions of so many different topics that sitting around a table provide will be cemented in our memories for years to come. We are all thinking about wants versus needs. Be that a trip to go somewhere, or a particular grocery item. Before, we would want to go somewhere, now we don’t because we can’t, and after a bit, we realize we didn’t really need to after all. Limiting grocery store trips has been a great thing. It makes me better at meal planning in advance. I wasn’t a daily shopper by any means, but this makes me be more creative and resourceful. The robins still sing the sun awake each morning. The cranes are coming back, cackling their song high above the clouds. The daffodils and tulips are peeking out of the slow warming Earth. The earthworms are peppering the lawn with holes, releasing the scents of spring. Don’t take the simple things for granted, embrace them with both arms. These things are constant. They will happen despite what the latest news report says. As one friend said best, “It has made me thankful for sunshine and laughter.” While social distancing may be hard, it will make us cherish time together so much more in the future. Who knows what else will change because of the pause button being hit; let us hope we can keep some of these feelings with us long after someone hits play. Jacqui and her family milk 800 cows and run 1,200 acres of crops in the northeastern corner of Vernon County, Wis. Her children, Ira (12), Dane (10), Henry (5) and Cora (toddler), help her on the farm while her husband, Keith, works on a grain farm. If she’s not in the barn, she’s probably in the kitchen, trailing after little ones, or sharing her passion of reading with someone. Her life is best described as organized chaos – and if it wasn’t, she’d be bored.
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Milk per cow or milk per stall?
Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020 • Page 31
Forty years ago, a farmer might have been able to build a freestall barn for $750 per stall, and a cow cost about $1,000. Today, the same farmer might pay $2,000 to Veterinary Wisdom $2,500 to build that same freestall, and the cow costs about $1,000. Hence the attraction of putting more cows in a stall today. As xed costs per stall increase, increasing milk per stall makes sense. Running another cow through a parlor will likely increase milk production per parlor stall, too, By Jim Bennett but there is one critical Columnist difference between this and increasing cows per free stall. Increasing cows per parlor stall usually does not negatively affect the other cows in the herd, while increasing cows per freestall almost always negatively affects the other cows in the herd. Negatively affecting some or all of the other cows can easily wipe out the gains of adding cows to a xed number of stalls. There is research to quantify some of these claims. Increasing stocking density above one cow per stall likely reduces production by 1.7 pounds of milk per cow per day for every 10% increase in density (for example, 120% to 130%). Butterfat production may decrease by about 0.04 pounds per day for every 10% increase in stocking density. Conception rates may decrease by 0.1 percentage points for every 10% increase in stocking density. All of these assumptions, though based on research, will vary from farm to farm. There are other negative effects that unfortunately do not have a lot of research behind them but will most likely occur. Some of the more signicant are: increased reproductive and non-reproductive culls, increased somatic cell count
and clinical mastitis, increased lameness, reduced answer is probably, to some degree, yes. But most of rumination, increased heat stress, decreased feed the time depreciation is considered a xed cost. The efciency and increased health disorders. At least same is true for labor. More cows in the pen will, to ve of the six Compeer/Zoetis “Big Six” factors some degree, increase labor requirements. How one affecting protability (milk per cow, somatic cell models depreciation and labor costs will signicantly count, pregnancy rate, cow death rate and calf affect the economic projections of increasing stall s stocking density and thus death rate) are likely to complicates decision. be negatively affected by N Negatively i l affecting ff i some or There is, of the course, another increased stocking density. The big problem is this: all of the other cows can easily consideration. The negative effects of increasing The effects of increasing wipe out the gains of adding stocking density are mostly stall density can be hard to due to a decrease in the evaluate. The main reason cows to a fixed number of long-term welfare of the is that most of the negative stalls. ccow. Ouch. How would the effects are long term, while cconsumers of our products the positive effects of more milk sold per stall are short term. The farmer feel about this? Truthfully, we all know there are sees the immediate increase in the milk check but always tradeoffs between the natural state of animals does not necessarily see the effects of long-term in the wild and food production, but what are the negative effects on the cows. For example, a two limits and what is acceptable to our market? We veterinarians often nd ourselves as percentage point drop in pregnancy rate will have only moderate short term costs but could easily the primary cow advocate in discussions about cost $0.10 per hundredweight on a long-term basis. increasing farm protability. We sometimes are on Reduced performance becomes the new normal the losing side when decisions regarding cow welfare and is accepted as an acceptable cost of increased versus expected increased protability are weighed. This may be OK, but ultimately cow welfare is what stocking density. Another problem with increasing stocking makes money on a dairy, not milk per stall. Usually density is that it is more protable to increase a very small negative change in cow welfare has stocking density when the margin between milk large costs. Every veterinarian may not understand price and feed price is greater. Unfortunately, human the economics of milk production, but having your nature makes us want to increase milk per stall the veterinarian at the table when contemplating an most during periods of low milk prices not high increase in stall stocking density is almost always a milk prices. While this may intuitively make sense, good idea, because the decision is more complicated in reality this is precisely the time not to increase than just numbers. Bennett is one of four dairy veterinarians at stall stocking density on most farms. Increasing stall stocking density is an attempt to Northern Valley Dairy Production Medicine Center dilute the xed costs of the stall or pen. However, in Plainview, Minn. He also consults on dairy how does one dene xed cost per stall? Things like farms in other states. He and his wife, Pam, have interest cost are easy to quantify, but what about four children. Jim can be reached at bennettnvac@ depreciation and labor? Do more cows in the pen gmail.com with comments or questions. result in faster depreciation? In most cases, the
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Page 32 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020
We think we have it so bad. We worry about the I admit to seeing my grandkids at their homes when world-changing virus, we worry about our aging they are outside playing in the fresh air, but I really try parents, we worry about our busy adult kids, we to limit my exposure to others. I have not even been in worry about our free-range, a grocery store since this all not-in-school grandkids, and sstarted. I try to go to the farm hi iis the h end d off the h world, ld stores early in the morning we worry about our crashing If this milk prices. Watching or how come I have eaten more after chores to get necessary reading the news overwhelms supplies, because I gure us into thinking it is the end delicious home cooked meals there are less people buying of the world. dog food at that time of day, If this is the end of the in the last week than I have in and the store is cleaner. world, how come I have many When I think about our y moons? eaten more delicious home aancestors and worry, I cannot cooked meals in the last hhelp but think of all four of week than I have in many moons? Right now, on this my grandparents emigrating from Holland through Thursday evening, we have leftover roast, meatloaf, Ellis Island, not knowing the language, with only a baked potatoes to fry and fresh apple crisp in our piece of paper in their hand saying some relative from refrigerator. My wife, daughters and daughter-in-law northwest Iowa had sponsored them to come and work are all cooking up a storm, and I am the beneciary. as farmhands and housekeepers. One grandmother
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came from a well-to-do family in Holland that even had servants only to join her soon-to-be husband on a poor dirt road hog farm near Bigelow, Minnesota. Obviously my grandparents survived the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918, or I would not be here. Making Cents of Dairy I am sure the isolation of a southern Minnesota farm did not hurt their chances. My parents became voting age at the beginning of World War II. Both of them had quit school during the ninth grade to help their parents on their respective farms. By Dave Vander Kooi They met at a church gathering of teenagers Columnist from Worthington and Bigelow churches. My dad soon joined Merchant Marines and was stationed in New Jersey. On a long weekend furlough, he hitchhiked back to Minnesota, married my mother and took her on a train back to New Jersey. He then left her alone in a rented apartment while he sailed to Europe on a mission to bring back foreign war brides of U.S. soldiers. Fortunately, my mom found new friends through the church in New Jersey that gave her employment on their small farm. When the war ended, they returned to Minnesota and wanted to buy a farm. My grandfather had just died and left my grandmother with very little. She could only help my dad put a down payment on probably the worst, most rundown farm in Nobles County. From there, my dad made that place into one of the nicest 20-cow Grade A dairies in the area. My point in all this is how brave my parents were in adversity and times of worry. Yes, I am worried about our cheese plant closing down because a worker may get sick; however, I worry more about our employees on our farm staying healthy. My thought process is we could dump milk for a month or two and survive the nancial carnage of our cheese plant going down. It would be much harder to survive long term if we cannot keep 2,000 cows milked at least twice a day. Those cows would be ruined if not milked regularly. Granted we could lower protein and energy in the milk cow ration so they would give way less milk. We could milk the better cows two times per day and the lower end cows once a day, utilizing probably half the people we need now. We could also dry up many cows early in anticipation of better times ahead. I do not know how well cows in early lactation would respond to low input rations and then a ramp up again in 60 days. I think it would be generally a bad idea. Will cheese consumption come to pre-pandemic levels in a few months? I do not know if restaurants can survive long enough to reopen. I do not know if people will consume the same equivalent of cheese at home. Personally, I eat less cheese at home because the meat quality at home is superior and does not need cheese to make it taste good. I will say our Godfather’s Pizza sales at our convenience store have been through the roof since the pandemic started. People still have cravings for their favorite food. I know my mind has rambled through this article, but maybe your minds have been rambling a bit these past few weeks also. I leave you with this quote from Matthew 6:34: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Vander Kooi operates a 1,800-cow, 4,500 acre farm with his son, Joe, and daughter-in-law, Rita, near Worthington, Minn. Send him feedback at davevkooi@ icloud.com. Follow him on Instagram, @davevanderkooi.
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Clear my head. My thoughts and ideas do not seem to jell these days with so much of life upended by COVID-19 pandemic information and the ensuing changes. There are stay-at-home rules with unknown added weeks looming ahead. Cancellations of many enjoyable things keep piling up. Milk is being dumped throughout the dairy farm landscape due to market disruptions and prices nosedive. Health care and EMT workers must put their lives at risk to save others, and we worry about loved ones. And there is so much more to think about. These are difcult times for certain. How do we keep moving forward? How we resist getting mired in negative thinking due Come Full Dairy Circle do to circumstances beyond our control? No one has answers. I do not intend to be political; however, I will call out Gov. Tim Walz as being a gem of a leader for Minnesota. He speaks with clarity, calmness and calls forth unity. His examples of how Minnesotans step up to the plate makes me glad to live here. I listened to his State of the State address as I cleaned up after milking and fed a newborn calf. It moved me to tears and made me feel better at least for a while. “Staying home is some of the hardest work, but it’s the most crucial work. … You are making a By Jean Annexstad difference, and you are certainly saving lives,” Walz Columnist said. I decided I should start a COVID-19 journal a few weeks ago to focus on some good things happening each day. Not to gloss over these scary and uncertain times, but there are many fortunate outcomes that result from this current situation if you seek them. Some happen because of factors beyond our control, yet we can also choose to create opportunities. As I read through my journal entries, some patterns emerge in my writing. There are comments about the kids coming home for spring break and then not returning to college. As classes resumed, they each found a place to do the required online learning. They plug into headsets, watch screens, do problem sets, write papers. When the weather is nice, they take their laptops outside on the deck. It makes us happy to see them there. Leif is asked to train for his summer internship of breeding cows earlier with his more exible schedule, so he works with technicians to learn and practice a few times a week. When home, he catches up on his classes and chores. Matthias studies hard and helps with calf, milking and other chores when he can. He asks questions about our farm’s practices with crops and cows as he is learning about plant nutrients, ruminant nutrition and physiology right now. It is cool to see him apply what he is learning rst hand on our farm. Emily can do the work for her University CFANS job remotely, although she really misses her contact with co-workers. It is her nal semester of college and understandably she is sad to miss the last of so many things with classmates and friends. She patiently helps with calf chores and milking when needed. On March 20, the rst full day of spring, I write about the dueling conversations going on as I make a meal: - The boys are having a Zoom meeting with friends about securing a grant proposal for their food insecurity non-prot called Fasting for Friends. - Emily is at her desk giving input during a dairy production management class online. - Rolf is napping in the sunroom. - I am wondering if I will ever get an opportunity to vacuum and clean my house. I nd I write a lot about the weather, farm work, the kids helping, how nice it is to have them home and get to visit with them at meal time, and how much we appreciate their help. Spring is always busy with lots of new mammas and babies, so more help is a silver lining, especially for me. March 25 is a rainy day and perfect for sorting and cleaning, I note in my journal. I now am taking time to work on overdue projects with fewer places to go. On March 26, I wrote, “Argggg! I don’t want to know anymore about viruses, how they work or how they make us sick.” I am listening to more educational things, attending webinars and watching how-to videos with endless chances to learn. April 2: “We got done with chores early and were about to sit down to supper. Mike poked his head in the door and said, ‘You don’t have to help, but all of the big heifers are out.’ We went out for the round up, got them back in their pen and secured the gate. With three more younger helpers, it went way faster.” So, there is some good that comes from things beyond our control. Nobody’s life is easy or certain at this time, but we must work together to seek the good. We will make it through. Take care. Jean dairy farms with her husband, Rolf, and brother-in-law, Mike, and children Emily, Matthias and Leif. They farm near St. Peter, Minnesota, in Norseland, where she is still trying to t in with the Norwegians and Swedes. They milk 200 cows and farm 650 acres. She can be reached at jeanannexstad@ gmail.com.
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Page 34 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020
Keeping life sweet Finders enjoy making maple syrup By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
KNAPP, Wis. – When the days start getting warmer but the nights are still cold, sap begins to ow in the maple trees of the Wisconsin woods. Tony Finder, a Knapp dairy farmer, takes to the woods with his family to collect nature’s bounty. Finder, along with his parents, Ken and Pam Finder, milk 50 cows and raise steers on their Dunn County Wilson Creek Dairy farm where they own 316 acres and rent an additional 200 acres to raise all of their own feed and Tony Finder cash crop. Dairy farmer “My favorite part of the whole process is cooking the syrup,” Finder said. “There are many hours of hard work that go into line maintenance, cutting wood, tapping trees and hauling the sap. When I’m cooking the syrup, I am basically being rewarded for all those hours of work.” Finder rst experienced collecting sap for maple syrup when he was young. “My dad used to go help some guys that hand-collected sap,” Finder said. “I went with him once and was intrigued
by the whole process.” After several years of thinking it was something they should try, the Finders embarked on their rst maple season in 2004. They made a small cooker and tapped 85 trees. That same year, in preparation for the next year, they made a larger cooker. In 2008, they committed to the hobby by building a bigger cooker yet and tapping 900 trees. The enterprise grew again in 2010 with the purchase of a 3-by-12 evaporator and a reverse osmosis system, which makes the syrupmaking process more efcient by helping to expedite the process of removing water from the sap. Now, each year Finder puts out 2,500 taps on 50 acres of his family’s farm and buys sap from another 2,500 taps in the area. Finder usually begins tapping trees around March 10. This year, they tapped their rst trees March 1 and began collecting March 3. Collecting sap to make maple syrup is as much dependent on whatever weather Mother Nature serves, and this year the weather hindered Finder’s sap collection. “We didn’t have enough freezing nights for the big runs,” Finder said. “I usually make around 800 gallons of syrup. This year, I nished with 650 gallons. My sap collection was down about 12,000 gallons from an average year.” The trees in his area stopped running the last week of March. Finder said that despite the return of colder Turn to FINDER | Page 35
PHOTO SUBMITTED
This equipment is used to cook sap down to maple syrup on Tony Finder’s farm near Knapp, Wisconsin. During this part of the process, Finder can make about 40 gallons of syrup an hour.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020 • Page 35
ConƟnued from FINDER | Page 34
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The Finders use a bulldozer to collect sap when the woods are muddy. They run 2,500 taps on their own farm and buy sap from 2,500 addiƟonal taps in the area. nights in early April, he will not be able to collect any more sap this spring. Making maple syrup is a time consuming hobby, and Finder said one of the biggest challenges is the lack of sleep he faces during the month of March while he is collecting sap and cooking the syrup. “Fitting all the collecting and cooking in with chores is difcult,” Finder said. “The reverse osmosis system doesn’t need to be watched while it is running. It also helps with the lack of sleep I would get during syrup season.” Sap on the farm is collected using tubing. “We tap the trees and put vacuum on the lines to increase the sap yield,” Finder said. “The lines all run in to tanks in three different locations.” The sap is then pumped into truck tanks or a tank that is pulled with the tractor. In very muddy spring conditions, Finder uses a bulldozer to pull tanks of sap from the woods. Once the sap has been taken to the farm, it is pumped into another set of tanks. When the tanks are full, Finder begins running the sap through the reverse osmosis system which removes a large portion of water from sap, reducing the amount of time the sap needs to be cooked. “Once it has gone through the reverse osmosis, I cook it in a wood-red evaporator,” Finder said. “I can make
about 40 gallons of syrup in an hour.” Once the syrup is nished cooking in the evaporator, it is run through a lter press to remove any sugar sand that might remain from the boiling process. After being ltered, the syrup is either bottled for sale or stored in a barrel. Finder said the reverse osmosis system has made it easier to make syrup. “I’m able to start the reverse osmosis after morning milking and it runs while I feed,” Finder said. “We get done with chores around 11 a.m., and I can usually be done cooking syrup before the night milking. If for some reason I’m not, my mom and dad take care of the night milking, and I nish up the day’s syrup.” The Finders sell the majority of their syrup off the farm in quart-sized jars. Excess syrup is stored in 55-gallon barrels and sold at Roth Sugar Bush in Cadott. Making maple syrup is a family affair for the Finders, and they each have their own place in the process. “Mom and I do all the tubing repairs in February,” Finder said. “Both mom and dad and my sisters help in tap when the sap is ready to start running. Dad hauls most of the sap for me because I can’t leave while I’m cooking. Mom helps me cook it and keeps me fed while I’m busy cooking. It’s something we all enjoy doing together despite all the work.”
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Page 36 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020
school. I have to get them dressed, fed, backpacks packed and on the bus, then I start my day at the farm to feed, milk, bed, etc. My daughter also does dance class on Thursdays, so I pick her up from school, take her there and head right home after because it’s time to start milking. When you get a spare moment what do you do? Post to my Facebook page, 5 Minute Moos; walk my Siberian husky, Knut, eat donuts, dream about build-
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Kendra Thewis Mellen, Wisconsin Ashland County 115 cows Family: Me, 34, my husband Peter, 35, daughter Starr, 8, and son Skyler, 5. I have a bachelor’s degree in agriculture marketing communications from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. My husband has a degree in agriculture business from UW-River Falls. Tell us about your farm. Thewis Valley View Farm was established in 1935. The farm is owned by the third generation, my father-in-law, Michael, and mother-in-law, Jennie. Myself and my husband have been full-time employees for almost 12 years. My husband also got a job with the town of Morse as a road maintenance worker last August. We milk around 115 cows (mostly Holsteins with a few Jerseys and Ayrshire crosses) twice a day and raise about the same number in youngstock. We feed calves milk the ďƒžrst two weeks of life then switch to milk replacer until weaning. This has been a saving grace. I haven’t lost a calf in three years. We make our own haylage and corn silage between owned and rented land which is hard to come by living in the north woods of Wisconsin. All of our grains and additional hay are purchased. We had a devastating barn ďƒžre back in 2009, losing 24 cows and our milking facilities. We were able to milk at a neighboring barn for nine months while we constructed a new double-8 parabone parlor and retroďƒžtted an existing barn with stalls. What is the busiest time of day for you? The busiest days are when the kids have
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ing a micro-dairy and farm camp. Tell us about your most memorable experience working on the farm. Our skidsteer was on ďƒžre as it was sitting in the freestall barn. I went into our back holding area to get cows up for milking, and there were ďƒ&#x;ames coming out of the back of the skidsteer. I yelled to my husband. He got a ďƒžre extinguisher which didn’t put it out. We grabbed the parlor hose and sprayed it until we thought it was extinguished. My husband took the battery out, and we drug it out of the barn with the tractor. It was very scary as we had already had a barn ďƒžre 10 years before. I felt like a ďƒžreďƒžghter that day. What have you enjoyed most about dairy farming or your tie to the dairy industry? The cows and calves. I’ve always had a passion for animals as long as I can remember. Cows don’t judge you and don’t talk back. I love the feeling that we are creating a product that feeds people. It seems like such an essential job even if at times we might not feel respected. How do you stay connected with others in the industry? Online, mainly because we live in such a remote region of northern Wisconsin. We don’t have many dairy people to chat with in person. I like the Dairy Moms Facebook page along with Women in Agriculture. Who is someone in the industry who has inspired you? My mom, who is now a retired dairywoman. She broke many barriers, such as attending college at UW-Madison and learning to breed cows in a time when it wasn’t as widely accepted that women do those things. If you could give a tour of your farm to a prominent woman in today’s society, who would it be? Kelly Clarkson. She has a large following which would be good for dairy promotion. She seems so upbeat and interested in helping others. What is the best vacation you have ever taken? I’ve been lucky that I have been able to take a few throughout my life. My husband and I went to Napa, California, a couple years ago to celebrate our 10-year wedding anniversary. My cousin is a winemaker there, so he gave us a VIP tour of some of the wineries which was amazing. In addition, we took a hot air balloon ride over some of the vineyards thanks to my uncle. Both of those experiences made us feel very ritzy which is usually not the way you feel when you farm. We also checked out San Francisco and the sea lions on the pier. Our whole trip was less than four days, but it was just enough to feel refreshed and go back to the farm with a clear mind. What are some words you like to live by? Don’t be so serious all the time. Don’t be afraid to make jokes to get through hard times. Keep trying and if it doesn’t work, ďƒžnd a new plan that might.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020 • Page 37
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Alaina Johnson stands with one of her Jersey cows on her grandparents’ farm near La Crescent, Minnesota. Johnson was crowned Minnesota Jersey Queen in March.
Johnson crowned queen of the breed in Minnesota By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
LA CRESCENT, Minn. – Jersey became Alaina Johnson’s favorite dairy breed at the age of 3 after showing one for the ďƒžrst time at the Houston County Fair. “All the years after that until I was 8, I showed a Jersey calf at the fair because my aunts wanted me to, and I fell in love with them,â€? said Johnson, who is from La Crescent. Now the 17-year-old will use that love for the breed during her reign as Minnesota Jersey Queen after being crowned earlier in March at the All-Breeds Dairy Convention. Johnson is the daughter of Ryan and Tracy Johnson and is a senior at La Crescent High School. Although she does not live on a dairy, Johnson spends every weekend and many summer days on the farm owned by her grandparents, Linda and Richard Johnson, also from La Crescent. The 140-cow dairy has Holstein, Jersey, Brown Swiss and one Milking Shorthorn. Growing up, Johnson spent a lot of time playing with the barn cats, playing in the hay and helping her grandpa feed calves. “I didn’t know it at the time, but this was the beginning of my passion for dairy,â€? she said. Now, Johnson milks cows every weekend during the school year. This increases to almost every day during the summer. Plus, she feeds calves. “I’m always at the farm,â€? she said. “Anytime I can, I love to walk my show heifers.â€? Many of those show heifers are Jersey. “One year, my family wanted me to show a Holstein,â€? Johnson said. “I tried to walk it, and it stepped on my foot so I was done with that breed. I eventually grew out of that. But because of the early years of showing Jerseys it pushed me in that direction.â€? The Jersey breed’s temperament, curiosity and beauty are what Johnson loves the most. “Personally, I love their attitude, sass and curiosity,â€? Johnson said. “I can tell when I’m leading them, they’re more interested in what’s around them, and we bond so much better.â€? Beyond their personality, Johnson said she likes that Jersey cows are more efďƒžcient. “She produces a 20% less carbon foot print than that of Holsteins and also produc-
es more protein, calcium and phosphorus in her milk,â€? Johnson said. “She eats less feed and requires less land to produce the same amount of milk so all around, she’s a better cow.â€? Because of these desirable traits, the Johnsons have grown their herd to be about 20% Jersey. While showing in 4-H and being a part of the dairy judging and dairy quiz bowl teams have helped propel Johnson’s love for Jersey, last summer’s activities helped solidify her love for the breed. Last summer, Johnson attended the Jersey Youth Academy in Columbus, Ohio. “I learned so much about different Jersey operations and pedigrees,â€? she said. “It was really amazing.â€? Johnson also served as the Jersey Parish 1 Queen last year. “I absolutely loved sharing my passion for Jerseys and telling other farmers about the beneďƒžts of having Jerseys,â€? Johnson said. This experience is what gave Johnson the encouragement to compete for Minnesota Jersey Queen. Johnson competed with one other Jersey enthusiast for the role. “I was shocked at ďƒžrst,â€? Johnson said when she was crowned. “I didn’t think I would get it.â€? Now that she has been crowned, Johnson is excited for the year ahead. “I hope to talk to more farmers and consumers and just educate them about Jerseys, how cows are cared for, the beneďƒžts in their milk and hopefully encourage other farmers to add a Jersey cow like we did and grow their herd,â€? she said. However, with the pandemic, many events have been canceled or are on hold. “It stinks that I’m not able to do as much and get out in the public, but we have to stay healthy, so I understand,â€? she said. “I hope I’ll be able to get out and be at a lot of shows and sales, but we don’t know that right now. And hopefully the Minnesota State Fair will still go on so I can meet people there.â€? During the downtime, Johnson will promote dairy and the Jersey breed through her personal Facebook page. This fall, Johnson will continue her education at the University of WisconsinRiver Falls in the pre-veterinary program. She hopes to one day be a large animal veterinarian. Until then, she will promote the Jersey breed the best she can. “I’m very excited to represent Minnesota’s Jersey farmers,â€? Johnson said. “I want to help spread the word about how great the Jersey cow is and hopefully inďƒ&#x;uence to add a Jersey cow to their herd.â€?
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Page 38 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020
Monitoring SCC a part of Manshaems’ farm management By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
CHETEK, Wis. – Gordon and Michelle have a stack of milk quality awards from their dairy cooperative, but none are on display in their home. Rather, the awards are a small token compared to the couple’s continued diligence to produce a high quality dairy product. “It’s nice to get them because it says that your dairy is acknowledged, and you do a decent job milking cows,� Gordon Manshaem said. “But, I’m not doing this for recognition. I do this because it’s what I want.� The Manshaems maintained an average somatic cell count of 111,000 in 2019 on their 45-cow dairy in Barron County near Chetek. There are several components that come together for the Manshaems to reach a consistent level of milk quality. First, when the Manshaems moved to the farm site 26 years ago, they had the barn and other buildings rewired. “I’m not my own electrician, so I hired someone,� Manshaem said. “I wanted to make sure everything was in conduit so it stays dry.� The Manshaems breed for low SCC, aiming to choose a bull with a somatic cell score of less than 3. They also consider udder conformation, wanting both a balanced udder but needing teat
The lower the better
length. “The really super udders, the teat length is all short. If they’re short, they don’t want to milk out properly. The teat can’t support the weight of the claw and the milkers,â€? Manshaem said. “I have to start breeding a few for a little bit longer teats.â€? Michelle milks more often than he does and diligently follows a preparation routine. Before milking, the teats are sprayed with an iodine disinfectant and wiped clean with a paper towel. Then, the Manshaems attach the milking unit immediately. The couple uses ďƒžve milking units, all with manual take-offs. “It’s all about milk ďƒ&#x;ow,â€? Manshaem said. “We try to get them off right away. I’d rather have a milker hanging on the cart than hanging on the cow.â€? Manshaem helps milk the fresh heifers and troublesome cows. “That takes up most of my time,â€? he said. “Then, if I’m caught up, I switch all the milkers. That’s my one big deal. If the cow is done, I want (the milking unit) off of her.â€? After milking, the teats are dipped in the same iodine solution they were prepped with. The Wisconsin couple ships their milk to Associated Milk Producers Inc. Every few days, Manshaem will go on to the cooperative’s website and review his SCC from the most recent loads. If the value is high, he has time to review the farm’s management to see what might be contributing to the spike in SCC before the herd is tested through Dairy Herd Improvement Association.
“I like to make sure our monthly test and our daily reports are similar,â€? Manshaem said. “You would think if it jumped really high it would be a cow with thick milk or a hard quarter. If we have a fresh cow, is it her?â€? To monitor potential culprits of high SCC, the Manshaems religiously watch the ďƒžlter on the pipeline. They also check to see which cows may be leaking milk. “If they’re leaking, they’re not milking out, and some cows just give too much milk for the amount of oxytocin they can produce,â€? Manshaem said. “We don’t give a lot of oxytocin, but we’re also not afraid to use it.â€? The Manshaems will administer oxytocin to help with milk production but will not otherwise treat a cow for a high SCC or mastitis. “If they’re not milking out, we use oxytocin, and if that doesn’t do the trick then they’re gone,â€? Manshaem said. “If we have one with hot mastitis, we’ll have the vet come out. He’ll come up with his concoction, and we’ll see how they’re doing before we ship them.â€? This style of dairy farming is one Manshaem learned from his dad when the family dairy farmed in Michigan. “We’ve got too many heifers, so why would I treat an animal to try and cure something that I don’t know if there’s a chance of making better?â€? Manshaem said. “She might as well be gone so I can put a better one in her place. I don’t know if it’s the right way or wrong way, but it works for us.â€? To prevent an onset of high SCC, Manshaem maintains a clean herd. The cows are bedded with dry sawdust twice a day and the gutter grates
are scraped six times in a day in the Manshaems’ 80-stall tiestall barn. “We use a lot of sawdust and it costs a lot more money to do, but we don’t have any problems. And, I’m all about not having a problem,â€? Manshaem said. “At the end of the day, the cows stay as comfortable as much as possible.â€? Cows’ tails are also clipped. “We keep the cows pretty clean,â€? Manshaem said. Manshaem also houses heifers in the barn. The animals are brought into a stall at breeding age and are bred, and then remain in the barn when the weather is not warm and dry outside. “The heifers get treated just like the cows,â€? Manshaem said. “They don’t get the grain and protein like the cows, but they’re just as clean.â€? If conďƒžrmed-pregnant heifers are housed outside, they come into the tiestall barn at three weeks prior to freshening. “I think that’s some of it,â€? Manshaem said. “If a cow comes in and never sees the inside of a barn until she freshens, she might thrash herself around and injure her udder a little bit.â€? Manshaem’s methods of dairy farming are unique to him and have proven effective as shown by the years of producing milk that is high in quality. “I don’t really care what anyone else thinks because everybody has to do their own thing. This works for us,â€? Manshaem said. “For me, this is a personal accomplishment.â€? Mark Klaphake contributed to this article.
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LANCASTER, WI Fullers Milker Ctr. 608-723-4634 800-887-4634
• • • • •
Stiffer Bristles for a better scratch Rigid or swing arm Dual Voltage 115V or 230V Motion & Thermal Sensored Safety Auto Release
Northland Farm Sys. 507-451-3131
PENNOCK, MN
D&D Ag Supply & Con. 320-599-4466
ROCK VALEY, IA
Prairie Land Ag Supply 712-476-9290
ST CHARLES. MN
S&S Dairy Systems Gilman Coop Creamery 507-932-4288 320-387-2770
JANESVILLE, WI
SMART COW BRUSH
OWATONNA, MN
COWS
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MARSHFIELD, WI Podevels Farm Serv. 715 384 6193 800-742-5748
MELROSE, MN Farm Systems 320-256-3276
MENAHAGA, MN
Dairyland Equipment
MENOMONIE, WI
Lindstrom Farm Sys. 715-231-3168
SAUK CENTRE, MN Dairyland Supply 320-352-3987 800-338-6455
SIOUX FALLS, SD
Midwest Livestock Sys. 800-705-1447
SPARTA, WI
Preston Dairy Equip. 608-269-3830
WITHEE, WI
Tri-County Equip. 715-229-2000 800-569-6825
ZUMBROTA, MN
Midwest Livestock Sys. 800-233-8937
Dairy prole Dan Brick Greenleaf, Wisconsin Brown County 1,000 cows
What has been the best purchase you have ever made on your farm? The Boumatic double-10 parallel milking parlor we built in 2007 is by far the best asset on our farm. We milked in a at-barn parlor before that. My dad and I spent years milking, and it was very hard labor. Installing the parlor was exciting – it was a gamechanger for us. And it makes milking a lot easier for our employees.
Tell us about a skill you possess that makes dairy farming easier for you. My ability to listen to employee needs. I’m an approachable boss, and my employees come talk to me whenever they need to. I’m not a control freak; I allow them to make decisions. It makes my life much easier when they feel empowered to do things. As a result, I don’t have to be at the farm 24/7 which allows me to spend more time with my family.
What are your thoughts and concerns about the dairy industry for the next year? Getting through this COVID-19 pandemic. Milk prices are bad, and I’m trying to gure out how the dairy industry will be able to survive this.
What is a management practice you changed in the past year that has beneted you? Placing key employees in key positions on the dairy has been very benecial. Finding good, qualied people who make good team players is important.
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have a 10-minute huddle to discuss what we’re going to do that day and go over any recent news. We also check in with our milkers on a monthly basis through a team meeting and hold a big team meeting with all employees every quarter.
How did you get into farming? I am a fth-generation farmer, and I took over from my parents after I graduated from high school. Actually, I started running the farm even before that. Dairy farming is the only thing I’ve ever done or wanted to do.
What is the latest technology you implemented on your farm and the purpose for it? Related to agronomy, it would be auto steering and precision planting. We used to farm by the eld and then by the acre. Now, it’s by the square foot. With this technology, we’re able to place seeds in such a manner that we make sure to increase the corn population where the land can handle it and decrease where it can’t handle that kind of population to get everything we possibly can out of our land resources.
Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020 • Page 39
Dan Brick We look for employees who work well with cows and other people, follow through with protocols and can make key management decisions. What cost-saving steps have you implemented during the low milk price? In 2018, we began liquidating some of our land. By moving some assets off the balance sheet and leasing land back, we freed up a lot of capital for our dairy to invest in more protable things, like the cow piece of the business versus the land. How do you retain a good working relationship with your employees? Communication is essential. Every morning when people punch in, we
What has been your biggest accomplishment while dairy farming? Over the last couple years, we have worked on improving milk quality. For the past 18 months, our somatic cell count has been under 100,000. We have excellent milk quality, and it’s a big accomplishment our team is very proud of.
What do you enjoy most about dairy farming? I like the variety of work and the business part of farming. I also enjoy being outside, being with the cows and other animals, and working with my employees. The diversity of our daily workload makes every day interesting.
What are your plans for your dairy in the next year and ve years? For this year, it’s to get through the COVID-19 crisis. Our plans for the next ve years may include joining forces with other dairies to produce milk more efciently. Merging businesses or having an umbrella over the business are things to consider. I don’t think farms can continue to operate individually. I think more partnerships and mergers need to happen.
What advice would you give other dairy farmers? Whether you have 100 cows or 1,000 cows, develop a good team around you. The people around you are going to make you successful. Don’t be afraid to re people who might hurt your success. Instead, nd the ones who help you succeed. From my administration team and bankers to my mid-managers and all of my employees – I’d be nothing without my people.
How do you or your family like to spend time when you are not doing chores? My wife, Melanie, and I have three boys – Sawyer, 11, and twins Ian and Elijah, 9. We spend a lot of time at Lambeau Field in Green Bay attending Packer games, training camps and practices.
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Page 40 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 11, 2020
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Your Local GEA Milking Equipment Dealers: #FXCPEGF &CKT[ 5QNWVKQPU Monroe WestfaliaSurge Advanced Dairy Solutions Leedstone, Inc. (WNNGToU /KNMGT %GPVGT +PE Lancaster, WI • 800-887-4634 Richland Center, Richland Center, WI WI Melrose, MN Monroe, WI • 608-325-2772 608-647-4488 • 800-772-4770 320-256-3303 • 800-996-3303 608-647-4488 • 800-772-4770 .GGFUVQPG +PE Sioux Dairy Equipment, Inc. Glencoe, MN Centre Dairy Equipment 320-864-5575 • 877-864-5575 %GPVTCN #I 5WRRN[ +PE Melrose, MN Rock Valley, IA and Supply Inc. Plainview, MN • 800-548-5240 • 800-962-4346 Baraboo, WI • 608-356-8384 320-256-3303 •712-476-5608 800-996-3303 Sauk Centre, MN Menomonie, WI • 715.231.8090 Colton, SD Service 800-944-1217 Juneau, WI ••920-386-2611 Glencoe, MN Edgerton, MN Chemical Sales 320-352-5762 800-342-2697 320-864-5575 877-864-5575 Midwest Livestock Systems, Inc. •507-920-8626 %GPVTG &CKT[ 'SWKROGPV CPF 5WRRN[ +PE Fuller’s Milker Center, Inc. Zumbrota, MN • 800-233-8937 Sauk Centre, MN /KFYGUV .KXGUVQEM 5[UVGOU +PE Lancaster, WI • 800-887-4634 Menomonie, WI • 715-235-5144 Central Ag Supply Inc. WI • 920-386-2611 Sioux Falls, MN • 800-705-1447 320-352-5762 • 800-342-2697 Menomonie, WIJuneau, • 715-235-5144 Baraboo, WI • 608-356-8384 Beatrice, NE • 800-742-5748 Owen, WI • 715-229-4740 (KV\IGTCNF +PE Pine Island, MN • 800-233-8937 Elkader, IA • 563-245-2560 Sioux Falls, MN • 800-705-1447 Beatrice, NE • 800-742-5748
/QPTQG 9GUVHCNKC5WTIG Eastern Iowa Dairy Systems Monroe, WI• •(563) 608-325-2772 Epworth, IA 876-3087 5KQWZ &CKT[ 'SWKROGPV +PE J Gile Dairy Equipment CubaValley, City, WIIA • (608) 744-2661 Rock 712-476-5608 • 800-962-4346 Preston Dairy Equipment Colton, SD• (608) 269-3830 Sparta, WI Service 800-944-1217 Stanley Schmitz, Edgerton, MN Inc. Chilton, WI • 920-849-4209 Chemical Sales 507-920-8626 Tri-County Dairy Supply
#FXCPEGF &CKT[ 5QNWVKQPU Janesville, WI • (608) 757-2697 Richland Center, WI 608-647-4488