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DAIRY ST R

Volume 19, No. 6

“All dairy, all the time”™

May 13, 2017

Dairying from a retailer’s perspective Coborn’s teams up with MDA for academy By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com

ALBANY, Minn. – “Are the cows comfortable standing on cement all day? “What happens to the colostrum after a cow gives birth?” Those were among the many questions Steve and Lisa Groetsch received from dairy case managers during a tour of their dairy near Albany, Minn. The Groetsches hosted the grocery store personnel as part of Midwest Dairy Association’s Dairy Academy training May 3-4 with Coborn’s. Kemp’s was also a partner in the academy. “A lot of these people have never been on a farm, but they’re selling our products,” Stacy Dohle said. “They need to be able to tell the consumer about antibiotic use on the farm, the difference in organic and conventional practices, and other hot topics.”

JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR

Lisa Groetsch demonstrates the automaƟc feed pusher to Coborn’s dairy case managers during a tour of Groetsch Dairy May 3 near Albany, Minn. The tour was part of Midwest Dairy AssociaƟon’s Dairy Academy.

Dohle, senior communications manager with Midwest Dairy Association, organized the two-day event, where more than 40 individuals participated from the grocery store’s Minnesota, Wisconsin and South Dakota locations. Each day began at the grocery store’s corporate ofce in St. Cloud, Minn., where participants heard from Dr. Lloyd Metzger, South Dakota State University, Dr. Leo Timms, Iowa State University, and Julie Mattson-Ostrow and Beth Bunton, Midwest Dairy Association, on food safety and quality, sustainability and on-farm practices, nutrition, and consumer trends and growing dairy sales. At this time, participants also watched a video tour of a dairy processing plant before taking a bus to the Groetsches’ 260-cow dairy. For the past six years, Midwest Dairy Association has coordinated the academies with more than 10 retailTurn to RETAILERS | Page 7

A full house

Story & Photos by Jennifer Coyne

Barka family doubles in size through adoption

LITCHFIELD, Minn. – Josh and Lynn Barka always wanted a large family; but when they rst married, neither imagined their home would be so full – full of hungry mouths, laughter and love. On their 350-cow dairy near Litcheld, Minn., the Barkas are parents to eight children – Natalie, 16, Liz, 13, Joe, 8, Chris, 7, Ben, 6, Hope, 5, Annie, 3, and Olivia 2. “I had always dreamed of having a family of 10,” said Lynn, smiling. “First we had four, then six, seven, eight.”

Josh agreed. “Once we got past our rst two girls, and then another, what’s one more,” he said. After having four of their own children – Natalie, Liz, Joe and Ben – Josh and Lynn made the decision to adopt four siblings – Chris, Hope, Annie and Olivia, welcoming them into their home as children of their own. Turn to BARKAS | Page 6 Pictured from leŌ: Hope, Natalie, Chris, Liz, Joe, Ben, Olivia, Josh, Lynn and Annie Barka.

Page 2 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 13, 2017

DAIRY ST R www.dairystar.com

ISSN 020355 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave. Sauk Centre, MN 56378 Phone: (320) 352-6303 Fax: (320) 352-5647 Published by Dairy Star LLC

General Manager/Editor Mark Klaphake - mark.k@dairystar.com 320-352-6303 (ofce) 320-248-3196 (cell) 320-352-0062 (home) Ad Composition Nancy Powell 320-352-6303 nancy.p@dairystar.com Amanda Thooft 320-352-6303 amanda.t@dairystar.com Consultant Jerry Jennissen 320-346-2292 Editorial Staff Andrea Borgerding - Managing Editor (320) 352-6303 • andrea.b@dairystar.com Krista Kuzma - Assistant Editor (507) 259-8159 • krista.k@dairystar.com Ron Johnson (608) 874-4243 ron.j@dairystar.com Ruth Klossner (507) 240-0048 cowlady@centurylink.net Jennifer Coyne (320) 352-6303 jenn@dairystar.com Cassie Olson (715) 245-6848 cassie.o@dairystar.com Brittany Olson (320) 352-6303 brittany.o@dairystar.com

Advertising Sales Main Ofce: 320-352-6303 Fax: 320-352-5647 Deadline is 5 p.m. of the Friday the week before publication

Sales Manager - Jeff Weyer (Northern MN, East Central MN) 320-260-8505 (cell) jeff.w@dairystar.com Mark Klaphake (Western MN) 320-352-6303 (ofce) 320-248-3196 (cell) Laura Seljan (National Advertising, SE MN) 507-250-2217 fax: 507-634-4413 laura.s@dairystar.com Jerry Nelson (SW MN, NW Iowa, South Dakota) 605-690-6260 jerry.n@dairystar.com Mike Schafer (Central, South Central MN) 320-894-7825 mike.s@dairystar.com Lori Menke (Eastern Iowa, Southern WI) 563-608-6477 • lori.m@dairystar.com Megan Stuessel (Western Wisconsin) 608-387-1202 • megan.s@dairystar.com

Deadlines The deadline for news and advertising in the Dairy Star is 5 p.m. Friday the week before publication. Subscriptions One year subscription $35.00, outside the U.S. $110.00. Send check along with mailing address to Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378. Advertising Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an advertisement shall constitute 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 ofces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378-1246.

North America dealers. A glance at what’s inside

Dairy Prole brought to you by your

As students are graduating from veterinary school and entering the workforce there is an opportunity for them to help pay off student loan debt while working in an underserved area for at least three years. A new grant program, the Veterinary Medical Loan Repayment Program, offered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, offers up to $25,000 per year in aid. To read more about the program and the counties that qualify, turn to pages 2-3 in third section. Dairy farmers who are members of Hastings Cooperative Creamery are expecting a decrease in their milk By Mark Klaphake check in the coming months. On May 1, the cooperative sent a letter to its members stating it had lost a contract with another Editor processor, which is going to result in a lower-than-base milk price. Read on page 32 in second section about how dairy farmers who are members of the cooperative reacted to the news. With spring weather upon us, so are the ies. From now until September, house and stable ies will be present on the farm; and while a small amount of ies are common, excessive populations can be detrimental to cows’ health and production. Turn to pages 12-13 in rst section for tips on how to control y populations on your dairy. The spring planting season is here and so is the spring sports season. In our “Day in the life” feature we had a chance to follow the Gjerdes from Sunburg on May 4. Their busy day included having the pit pumpers come, preparing machinery for eldwork, doing daily chores and traveling to extra curricular activities. Turn to pages 16, 18-19 in second section to see and read about the family’s day. A dairy farm family had a once-in-a-lifetime visitor to their 30-cow dairy near Blachardville, Wis. On April 30, the Gant family welcomed Facebook chairman and chief executive ofcer, Mark Zuckerberg, to their Lafayette County farm. During a venture to visit all 50 states this year, Zuckerberg wanted to include a real Wisconsin dairy farm. Read on pages 10-11 in rst section about his experience and what the family had to say about the CEO of a social media site worth nearly $63 billion. With Mother’s Day celebrated in May, we wanted to pay tribute to all the hard working dairy farm moms in this issue’s “From our side of the fence” feature. Sons and daughters who followed in their mom’s occupational footsteps share with us what they learned from their mom and how they apply that on their own farm today. Read about it on page 15 in rst section.

Favorite quotes from this issue: “There’s nothing more enjoyable than getting to go into the parlor and seeing a nice row of udders. It makes the job easier.” - Ernest Martin, Pages 35, 37 in First Section

“Unless God calls us elsewhere, we’ll be in Mozambique until we die. Our vision is to empower the extremely poor to thrive through agriculture by developing agricultural training farms and equipping people to produce enough food for their families to eat.” - Camille

Hakes, pages 3-4 in Second Section

By the Numbers

dollar amount dairy goat 36: The farmers receive as a base price. (Second Section, pages 5-7)

number of students 3,600: The who attended the 88th

annual Minnesota FFA Convention (First Section,

pages 23, 25)

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Dairy Star • Saturday, April 22, 2017 • Page 3

It’s all inside...

FIRST SECTION

Second Section: Pages 5 - 6

Third Section: Page 13

First Section: Pages 1, 7

Roseau

Beltrami

Koochiching

DHIA High Herd Honro Roll Pages 34 - 35 Crop and weather reports Page 37 Mother’s Day treats Pages 38 - 39 Dairy Recipes

Hamlin Kingsbury or n

THIRD SECTION

Douglas Charles Mix

n nso

Brookings

Lake

Moody

McCook Minnehaha

Kandiyohi

Chippewa

Meeker

Hennepin McLeod

Renville

Yellow Medicine

Wright

Carver Scott

Sibley Lyon

Redwood

Nicollet Brown

Murray

Rock

Nobles

Goodhue

Team at Clay View Dairy works together to achieve high production

First Section: Pages 18, 20, 22

Dakota Goodhue

Rice

Wabasha

Cottonwood Watonwan Blue Earth Waseca Steele Dodge Olmsted Jackson

Martin

Faribault

Freeborn

Mower

Winona

Fillimore

Houston

Dakota

vis

Sa nb

Miner

Deuel

Isanti

Anoka

Swift Lac Qui Parle

Codington

Clark

First Section: Pages 1, 6

Sherburne

Grant

Pages 27 - 29

Benton

Stearns

Pope

Litcheld

Barka family doubles in size through adoption

isa

Roberts

Day

Mid-American Hay Auction Results

Morrison

Douglas

Stevens

Mille Lacs

Page 25

Big Sto Stone

Pine

sey

Marshall

Crow Wing

Todd Grant

Second Section: Pages 16, 18 - 19

Carlton

Washinton

Ottertail

Aitkin

Second Section: Pages 8 - 9

Cass

A day in the life of the Gjerde family

Kanabec

Family Ties: The Lingens

Sunburg

Wadena

Becker

Clay

Woodstock

nom

Mah

Itasca

Hubbard

Norman

Clearwater

Polk

First Section: Pages 35, 37

National convention to be held in Minnesota, features many farm tours

St. Louis

Red Lake

Martins boost milk with management improvements

Coborn’s teams up with MDA for academy

Lake of the Woods

Pennington

Brooten

Dairy’s Star Youth: Ashley Maus

Ra m

Kittson

Marshall

Pages 26 - 30

Pages 2 - 3 Financial relief for veterinarians Pages 5 - 7 ‘Flower Barn’ helps brighten Oppriecht’s winters Pages 9 - 10 Lowest milk hauling charges in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin Pages 11 - 12 Two breeds exhibited during April 28 Wisconsin Dairy Showcase Pages 20 - 21 Some Udder Stuff Page 22 Dairy Calendar Pages 24 - 30 Classieds

Third Section: Pages 14 - 15

First Section: Pages 12 - 13

Promotion ingrained into Merrill’s routine

Albany

Olsons mark one year into 50-goat dairy

Pages 22 - 23

Freeport

Wilkin

Cedar Country, Lakeland and United Ag announce merger

Little Sauk

Kids Corner: The Hendrickson Family

rse

Pages 20 - 21

Menahga

Lincoln

Pages 3 - 4 Couple sells dairy to serve the poor as missionaries Pages 10 - 11 The “Mielke” Market Weekly Page 12 Dairy markets Page 13 Area hay auction results Pages 14 - 15 Dairying Across America

Assess environment for best y control option

Pipestone

SECOND SECTION

Eagle Bend

Tra ve

Page 5, 9 Ag Insider Pages 10 - 11 Facebook founder sees Wisconsin dairy rsthand Pages 23, 25 Practice, patience pays off for FFA kids Page 26 FSA News & Notes Page 27 The Transition Pen Page 28 Identifying cows that do not respond to synch protocols Page 29 To bafe or not to bafe Page 30 Dear County Agent Guy Page 31 Springtime trafc jam Page 32 Making Cents of Dairy Page 33 Dairy Good Life Page 34 Veterinary Wisdom

Hutchinson

Turner

Bon Yankton Homme

Lincoln Clay

Union

Lyon

Osceola Dickinson Emmet

Sioux

O’Brien

Clay

Palo Alto

Kossuth

FROM OUR SIDE OF THE FENCE:

Women in Jeans: Darienne Frickson First Section: Page 36

What traits do you admire most about your mom? Page 15

Plymouth

Lanesboro, Minn.

Zone 1

For additional stories from our other zone, log on to www.dairystar.com

Dairy Prole: Tom and Sue Holst Page 39

Give milk production a push GEA’s FRone works around the clock to keep feed at the bunk, maximizing your cows’ production. Could your bunk management routine use a little extra push? GEA’s FRone automated feed pusher provides consistent, high-quality feed available day and night to boost production results from your whole herd. It’s easy to use, charges fast and contains twin batteries for maximum run time. With the help of GEA’s FRone, you can push the limits on your feeding program.

Page 4 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 13, 2017

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Not playing fair

Dairy Star • Saturday, May 13, 2017 • Page 5

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President Donald Trump brought his “America First” message to Wisconsin and promised to stand up for the U.S. dairy industry in its current dispute with Canada. Canada has implemented a new pricing policy that prevents U.S. dairy farmers from exporting ultra-ltered milk across the border. Trump responded, saying Canada is not playing fair. “It’s another typical one-sided deal against the United States. It’s not going to be happening for long.” Ag Insider Trump went on to say the North American Free Trade Agreement is a disaster. “NAFTA has been very bad for our country, bad for our companies and workers. We will make some very big changes or we are going to get rid of NAFTA once and for all.” The National Milk Producers Federation praised Trump for defending the U.S. dairy industry.

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Trudeau’s input Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is defending supply management, saying it works for suppliers, the agriculture industry, and it works for Canadians. This comment is in response to the Canada-U.S. dairy disBy Don Wick pute. Trudeau also said there will always be issues that Columnist come up. “The way Canada deals with issues will be based on facts, a strong-defense of Canadian interests, and an approach that is respectful and productive.” “Absurd” The Canadian Ambassador to the United States, David MacNaughton, has upset leaders within the U.S. dairy industry. MacNaughton has said the market problems for dairy farmers in Minnesota, Wisconsin and New York are due to overproduction and has nothing to do with Canada’s new pricing policies. In a statement, National Milk Producers Federation President and CEO Jim Mulhern said MacNaughton’s comments are “absurd” because it is very clear the losses experienced by U.S. dairy farmers are directly linked to Canada’s pricing system.

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Bad timing It is unusual to have President Donald Trump, House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to agree on anything, but all three are pointing the nger at Canadian policies and its impact on U.S. dairy farmers. Canada’s new pricing strategy was blamed when Grassland Dairy cut off more than 75 dairy farms in Wisconsin and Minnesota. A home has been found for all of that milk, but the decision also highlights the tight processing capacity for the Midwest dairy industry. National Milk Producers Federation spokesman Chris Galen said, “Certainly, the Canadian decision to stop buying milk from the United States couldn’t have come at a worse time. The beginning of April is the start of the spring ush. The last few years, we’ve had a lot of spring ush. It looks like this year, that’s also the case. It was bad timing all the way around.” Galen said the capacity issue is a longer term issue that will be addressed.

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Mexican and Canadian leaders discuss NAFTA with Trump More details are emerging about President Trump’s decision not to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement. On April 26, Trump received calls within 30 minutes from his Mexican and Canadian counterparts urging him not to terminate the trade agreement. Trump told Wall Street Journal he is convinced Mexico and Canada are now more serious about renegotiating NAFTA.

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Back and forth over U.S.-Canada trade President Donald Trump has imposed a preliminary tariff of about 20 percent on softwood lumber coming out of Canada. This action comes just days after Trump challenged Canada’s new dairy pricing strategy. In an interview with Wall Street Journal, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said the dairy and lumber disputes are connected during the negotiations process. Canadian President Justin Trudeau’s ofce released a statement reinforcing “the importance of stability and job growth in trade.”

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Page 6 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 13, 2017

ConƟnued from BARKAS | Page 1

JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR

Lynn and Josh Barka prepare snacks for their children as they arrive home from school April 28 on their dairy near Litcheld, Minn.

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The waiting game Josh and Lynn can remember the rst phone call in November 2011 as if it was yesterday – Lynn’s second cousin’s children, Chris and Hope, were in need of foster care. “We talked to our parents and knew the brother and sister needed help, so we moved forward with getting licensed for foster care,” Josh said. Five months passed and the Barkas had yet to receive approval from the county to be foster parents. With little participation in the program, the licensing training was delayed until June. “[The county] was not listening to us,” Josh said. “We needed to become licensed. Chris and Hope needed a home.” On May 18, 2012, Chris and Hope arrived on the Barkas’ front steps. “They were dropped off with their belongings in garbage bags and a small baggie of medication for Hope who had an ear infection,” Josh said. From that day forward, Josh and Lynn had 120 days to complete the proper licensing for foster care, which included having the Barkas’ home and livelihood closely scrutinized. On day 120, the Barkas were legally approved to foster Chris and Hope. “If the kids weren’t with us at the time, I think we’d have had a harder time completing the process so quickly,” Josh said. “But we had two kids looking at us, needing us.” Nearly a year after being licensed for foster care, Josh and Lynn became legal guardians of the children. “When we rst decided to take in Chris and Hope, we didn’t know for how long it would be – six months, a year or more,” Lynn said. “But once they came to us, adoption was always the plan.” A growing family The following three years were a blur for the Barkas as Annie and Olivia joined the family. “It’s been a long and short journey,” said Josh, chuckling. Annie was born in July 2013, and the Barkas received a letter in October inquiring about their interest to participate in a hearing with the girl’s parents and extended family to decide where she should be placed. “We walked into the room, and it was pretty obvious the plan was always for us to take her because Chris and Hope were her older siblings,” said Josh about Annie, who became a part of the Barka family in February 2014. No less than 13 months later, Olivia was born. “On a Friday afternoon we found out she was born. On Monday, we received a call asking for placement. Of course we said yes,” Lynn said. “I had a happy heart when she came and the kids were so excited.”

Josh agreed. “We arrived at the hospital, showed our license and away we went with Olivia,” he said. Adjusting to a new normal Ben was only 6 months old when Josh and Lynn rst heard the news of the other children, and after three years, the Barkas’ family was complete. However, the years that followed were an adjustment as the Barkas became acquainted with the new family dynamics and the chaos of a house bursting with young children. “At one point, we had four children in diapers,” Lynn said. “Once Joe was being trained, I decided to then help the others. Within a year, they were all potty trained.” The Barkas quickly outgrew their minivan, and then an SUV, and now travel in two vehicles. “Whoever is ready rst goes in the rst car … it’s organized chaos,” Lynn said. As the children have grown, they have developed into their own personalities – bringing treasured characteristics to the Barka family. “It’s fun and interesting to see how different they all are,” Lynn said. The children have also found their role in the family, taking care of each other. “Your siblings are all who you live with your whole life,” Josh said. “Siblings are siblings and they help each other out.” Lynn agreed. “The boys are not quite close enough in age to be twins, but they’re close and act like brothers,” she said. “I think Chris is in a unique situation – he’s the middle child with older sisters to look after him, but also is the older brother to look after his younger sisters.” When Natalie feeds the calves and Liz takes care of her ock of chickens, the younger siblings often want to help. “It’s loud and chaotic,” Josh said. “Some like doing chores and some like being at Grandpa’s.” After ve years since Chris and Hope arrived at the Barkas’ home, the family has acclimated to their new normal. “We really didn’t know what all to expect when we started this,” Josh said. “We’ve given up a lot, but we have absolutely no regrets. It’s been so rewarding.” With May 18 on the horizon, they are eager to celebrate. “That’s the day we all celebrate that this is their home. It’s a bigger day than their birthdays,” Josh said. “We call it ‘Happy Day.’” While the family only celebrates their unity once each year, for Josh and Lynn, every day is an unmistakable happy day in their full house.

Dairy Star • Saturday, May 13, 2017 • Page 7

ConƟnued from RETAILERS | Page 1 ers across the Midwest dairy states in an effort to educate dairy case managers how milk is collected, processed and distributed to their stores. “We’ve had great participation so far and are glad the retailers are on board,” Dohle said. The May 3-4 event was Coborn’s rst time participating in the academy. “There are so many places selling milk and we want to be the experts. We want to be more knowledgeable than just selling the product for $1.99 per half-gallon,” Mike Gaetz said. “Guests expect [dairy case managers] to know all about these dairy products, but they don’t. This program gives us a good idea of dairy farming and to be able to return to the stores with a knowledgeable background.” Gaetz is a lead category manager at Coborn’s. Amongst the various learning opportunities presented during the academy, attendees found the farm tour the most valuable experience. The Groetsches milk their herd with four robots and also have an automated calf feeder, in addition to cameras, a feed pusher and other technology advancements that aid in efcient farm management. This was the rst academy tour that showcased a robotic

coolest thing,” Gaetz said. “We’re nding that more of our guests are in tune with food safety and where their food comes from. This tour showed us how each piece – from the farm to the hauler to the processor – impacts the quality of the product.” While the academy was directed towards educating dairy case managers, the Groetsches also found it benecial for them as dairy producers. As Steve nished chores on the farm before the participants arrived, Lisa attended the morning sessions in St. Cloud. “It was good for me to sit in on the other meetings,” Lisa said. “I learned what’s all on their minds, like dairy alternatives and how advertising inuences the buyer.” With the academy completed, the Groetsches gained greater insight into consumers’ curiosity and the dairy case managers returned to their stores able to answer those questions that linger with every consumer purchase. For Erickson, who grew up helping on his grandparents’ farm, the academy experience will be unforgettable. “Today, consumers don’t know enough,” he said. “If I can learn a little more about dairy, then I can explain what I’ve learned to customers.”

JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR

Groetsch Dairy’s nutriƟonist, Ron Mehr, explains the raƟons on the farm and shows dairy case managers the feed bunk, located behind the freestall barn. farm – allowing attendees to see the different technologies available in the industry. “There are a lot of fun things on this farm,” said Shane Erickson, who manages the dairy case at the Marketplace grocery store in St. Croix Falls, Wis. “I’m learning that although it’s an automated process, it’s still a lot of work.” Over the years, the Groetsches have hosted many farm tours, but this one was

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different. “It can be intimidating giving a tour, and with this audience we weren’t sure what to expect,” Lisa said. Steve agreed. “I had asked what the biggest concern was at the stores and they said it used to be hormone use in milk, but that’s not the case anymore,” he said. “They want to know where the milk is coming from and how the animals are cared for.”

Throughout the farm tour, attendees visited the robotic milking rooms, walked through the freestall barn, spoke with the farm nutritionist, and learned about the Groetsches’ calf care program. Attendees questioned the use of sand bedding, how tails were trimmed, and why some cows were rejected when they entered the robotic milking system. “The farm tour was the

The next issue of the Dairy Star is published May 27th. Advertising and news deadline is Friday, May 19th.

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SKID STEERS & SPREADERS

Gehl 7810E ................................................................$27,000 Gehl 5640E, 2 spd. ..................................................$17,000 Gehl 5640E, 2 pd. ....................................................$24,500 Gehl RT-175 track loader.........................................Just In Gehl R190 .....................................................................Just In Gehl 6640E, cab/heat ............................................$24,500 Gehl V-400, only 50 hrs .........................................$50,000 Gehl V-330, 300 hrs. ..................................................Just In Bobcat S250.........................................................Coming in Bobcat S650..............................................................$27,500 Bobcat 863 ...............................................................$11,500

Meyers 7400 spreader .............................................Just In Meyers 390 spreader ............................................$11,500

MISC. ITEMS

JD 2700 ripper .........................................................$19,500 JD 510, 7 shank disk chisel ..................................$10,500 Lorenz 100 grinder mixer ......................................Just in MF 3986, 14 wheel rake.......................................... $7,500 MF 9895 combine, only 438 sep hrs ........................ Call Case IH 870, 9 shank ripper......................................... Call Sunflower 7200-28 Soil Cond................................Just In Sunflower 4610 ripper .....................................Coming In Sunflower 4511-13 disc chisel ......................Coming In Sunflower 4411-9 ripper ......................................$24,000 Sunflower 1435-26 disc ...........................................Just In Sunflower 1435-23 tandem disc w/mulcher $35,000 Krause 4900, 30’ disc................................................ $9,500 Gehl 700, 14 wheel rake ......................................... $6,500 Geringhoff 6 row chopping head ....................... $8,500 Demco 650 gravity box ...........................................Just In MF 2170XD baler ................................................. $100,000 MF 2150, only 11,000 bales.................................$65,000 Vermeer 605N, only 500 bales ..............................Just In Vermeer 605M, low bales ............................................ Call Vermeer 605M corn stalk, only 1500 bales....$39,500 NH 56 rake, nice ........................................................ $1,595 NH H7460, 2013 .................................................Coming in NH 340 3x3, 2015, only 4500 bales .............Coming in Minnesota 250 gravity box w/auger ................. $1,500 JD 2700 5-bottom .................................................... $4,950 JD 240 disc mower ................................................... $2,450

Page 8 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 13, 2017

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Dairy Star • Saturday, May 13, 2017 • Page 9

ConƟnued from AG INSIDER | Page 5 Taking action Minnesota Senator Al Franken met with state agriculture groups to talk about the Minnesota dairy industry. Canada has implemented a new pricing policy preventing U.S. dairy farmers from exporting ultra-ltered milk across the border. Franken said Minnesota lawmakers are putting pressure on the administration to change the Canadian national ingredients policy and make it a priority of any North American Free Trade Agreement renegotiation. If this effort isn’t successful, Franken said there will be a complaint led with the World Trade Organization. “In the meantime, we would ask the USDA to get the Commodity Credit Corporation to buy milk to ease the market and turn it into cheese. We don’t want this to happen, but there are also disaster loans.” Trump meets with farmers President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue met with 14 farmers and ranchers at the White House Tuesday to discuss agriculture issues. This select group of farmers included American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall, Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey, former California Agriculture Secretary A.G Kawamura and a young woman from southeastern Minnesota. Valerie Earley is the National FFA Central Region vice president. “I think they wanted a young farmer perspective on the panel,” Earley said. “Around the table, we talked about big-picture issues like labor and immigration, trade, regulatory reform and infrastructure.” Earley said the White House meeting also focused agriculture’s next generation and what can be done to encourage young people to go into farming or a related career. It is believed this is the rst time a diverse group of farmers met with a U.S. president this early in the administration since 1981 with Ronald Reagan. “It was quite a day. I’m really thankful for the FFA jacket and the tradition behind it that allowed me to be in that room and learn so much,” Earley said. A perspective on immigration About one-half of the workforce on U.S. dairy farms is immigrant labor. H2A visa programs are available in some seasonal jobs, but cows are milked year-round. As a result, the dairy workforce is not eligible for that guest worker program. Associated Milk Producers, Incorporated public affairs director Sarah Schmidt cites a North Dakota dairy farm that has a special understanding of the immigration issue. “We do have a member who milked cows in the Netherlands, Canada and the U.S. In each of those experiences, she was able to work with a guest worker program that worked for dairy. In the U.S., the program isn’t working very well. We want a program that’s effective and can be something that keeps the industry going. We don’t need any hiccups when it comes to working cows.” The National Milk Producers Federation, U.S. Dairy Export Council, International Dairy Foods Association and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture was on Capitol Hill and highlighted this issue. During the congressional meetings, Schmidt said the immigration issue is connected to the No. 1 U.S. dairy customer, which is Mexico. “The second through ninth customers combined don’t even equal what we do in business with Mexico. It’s an important market for dairy products. We need to preserve our trade relationship with Mexico.” FGI les lawsuit against Alforex Seed Forage Genetics International has led a lawsuit against Alforex Seeds with allegations of false and misleading advertising. The suit claims Alforex inaccurately promotes its Hi-Gest alfalfa as a low-lignin variety that is comparable to FGI’s HarvXtra alfalfa. In reality, the Hi-Gest alfalfa is only comparable to conventional alfalfa varieties and Forage Genetics International company ofcials said that is confusing for the marketplace.

CORRECTION: Below is a clarication on the article, “Kleins’ dairy retirement didn’t last long,” featured in the April 22 issue. “The automated milking system comes with MDi – Mastitis Detection Index, which, among other functions, detects electrical conductivity of milk throughout the entire lactation. Electrical conductivity increases signicantly when cows are sub clinically or clinically infected. Measuring conductivity is therefore a very useful and accurate measurement in detecting mastitis. The Klein’s can detect even a slight change in a cow’s milk quality and can even begin treating her before she showed any outward sign of mastitis.”

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Stockholders approve AgCountry-United FCS merger As of July 1, AgCountry Farm Credit Services and United FCS will become one entity. Stockholders overwhelmingly approved the merger. AgCountry President and CEO Bob Bahl said the merged organization will best serve the needs of its customer/ members. “Both associations are signicant in size and have a great position in the marketplace. We’re able to handle what we do today very well. It positions us stronger for the future.” The new entity will operate in 65 counties in North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin, and have $7.2 billion in assets. The merged organization will operate under the AgCountry Farm Credit Services name and will be headquartered in Fargo, N.D. MN Milk Conference and Expo is moving The 2017 Minnesota Milk Conference and Expo is moving to a new location in 2017. The Minnesota Milk Producers Association event will be in Red Wing, Minn., Nov. 28-30. In the past, St. Cloud has been the home of the dairy conference and trade show. Trivia challenge Fuel Up to Play 60 is the joint initiative of the NFL and the Dairy Checkoff. That answers our last trivia question. For this week’s trivia, when did Congress approve the mandatory beef checkoff? We’ll have the answer in the next edition of Dairy Star. Don Wick is owner/broadcaster for the Red River Farm Network, based in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Wick has been recognized as the National Farm Broadcaster of the Year and served as president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Don and his wife, Kolleen, have two adult sons, Tony and Sam, and ve grandchildren, Aiden, Piper, Adrienne, Aurora, and Sterling.

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“I don’t have to spend time sorting and disrupting cows for preg checks.” How long have you been using the DHIA pregnancy test? We have been preg check testing using milk for almost 5 years now. Why did you choose to use it? I like how it’s more convenient for me. I simply collect the sample when they came in the parlor to be milked. It’s eliminated my time spent sorting and disrupting the cows at a speciÀc time and date for the conventional vet checks. Testing through DHIA I can preg check cows 3 times for the same cost as preg checking with the vet two times. What do you like about it? What I like most is I’m not having to sort and disrupt my cows. Vet costs were going up, so for me to bring this cost down I would have had to add lock-ups to my barn which would have been costly. How many years have you been testing with DHIA? We went on ofÀcial test when I came back after college in 1984, but had been on unofÀcial test for many years prior to that. What are some other tests you use through DHIA? Johne’s testing.

Loran Sellner • Sellner Dairy 175 cows • Sleepy Eye, Minn. Minnesota Dairy Herd Improvement Association 307 Brighton Avenue South Buffalo, MN 55313 1.800.827.3442 www.mndhia.org

Page 10 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 13, 2017

WHO WILL YOU FIND IN OUR

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Facebook cofounder sees Wisconsin dairy rsthand

LOG ON TO: www.dairystar.com TO BE INCLUDED IN THE DAIRY STAR BUSINESS DIRECTORY CALL 320-352-6303

is your area dealer for Kuhn Krause

PHOTO PROVIDED BY FACEBOOK

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Facebook cofounder Mark Zuckerberg feeds a calf during his visit to Jed and Rona Gant’s farm on April 30 near Blanchardville, Wis.

KUHN Krause offers a line of primary tillage tools that promote the breakdown of crop residue and allow for excellent root development for the next crop. These sub-surface tillage tools break up compaction while preserving the soil surface, promote aeration, limit erosion and runoff, and improve water inﬁltration which helps the soil retain moisture. 800-642-4104 or 507-228-8224 • www.ufcmn.com Main Ofﬁce/Ag Service Center • 840 Pioneer Ave., Lafayette, MN Judson, MN • 507-947-3644 Used Dryers & Augers

Good Selection of Used Dryers - Call! Feterl 12”x72’, swing drive .........$8,500 WestÄeld WR8026 EMD .............$1,895 Sheyenne 13-70 Swing Dr.......... $12,995 Hutch 8”x62’ swig auger .............. $6,200 Sudenga 10”x71’ swing auger ..... $7,900 WestÄeld MK 130-71 swing drive auger ........................................ $13,900 Batco 2500 drive over hopper ...... $8,290 Sudenga 10”x41’ pto auger w/hopper .................................... $4,595

Tractors

Oliver 1365 .....................................$6,599 Agco White 8410, 4 wheel drive .........Call IH 1086 ...............................................Call

Combines

Gleaner R-62 w/heads .................$39,500 Gleaner A-75, 4 whl drive ........... $110,000

Skid Loaders

‘05 Bobcat S185, heat......................$10,600 Bobcat S630, 400 hr, heat, 2 spd ..$34,800 Bobcat S590 heat 2-spd . (3) from $31,900 Bobcat S850, heat & A/C, 2-speed 2 units .......................Start @ $45,900 ‘15 Bobcat S750, A71 pkg., 2 spd $35,950 Bobcat S750, A71, 2 spd., 1560 hrs....................................$35,900 ‘16 Bobcat S740, A71, 2 spd ..... $34,500 ‘15 S590, 2 spd, heat & AC ........ $31,900 Bobcat S550, heat, 2 spd., 300 hrs., ‘14..............................$31,800 Bobcat S550, heat, 2014, 2 spd. $29,900 Bobcat S130, heat, ‘12............. $22,400 Bobcat 610 w/bucket ................. $3,250 (2) Bobcat T590 ...........Start @ $34,900 ‘14 Bobcat T590, A71............... $35,900 ‘14 Bobcat T590, heat, hi-Åow . $34,900 ‘12 Gehl 5240E, 2 spd., heat, 900 hrs.................................... $23,900 Gehl 5240, heat, 2 spd, 400 hrs, radio .......................................$23,900 ‘14 Gehl V400, heat, AC, 2 spd ..$34,900 Gehl V330, heat & A/C, ‘12, 2400 hrs..................................$34,600 ‘07 Gehl 4640, single spd., heat $15,500 Gehl 4240E w/heat (3) Start @ $14,900 Case 430, ‘10 ...........................$24,900 Gehl R220, heat, 2 spd., joystick $31,900 Mustang 1750 2014 open cab .$36,500

TMR’s

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Tillage

JD 2700, 9-24 ...........................$23,900 JD 985 49.5’, 3 Bar...................$18,900 JD 980, 44.5’ ............................$19,600

JD 980 44.5’, 3 Bar...................$17,500 JD 512, 7 shank, 2013...................$29,900 JD Crumbler model 200, 45’ ........$10,500 CIH Tigermate II, 54.5’ .............$29,900 CIH 730B, 7 shank ...................$15,900 CIH 600PTX chisel plow, 38’, 3 bar harrow ...........................$29,800 2) CIH 370, 28’..........................$31,900 CIH PTX300 chisel plow, 34’ ....$22,800 JD 2210 4-bar, 2006, 45.5ft......$35,900 JD 980, 36’ ...............................$13,700 JD 331 disc, 28’ .........................$6,850 DMI 730 ripper..........................$10,900 DMI 730B .................................$15,900 DMI 527B .................................$14,900 Glencoe Soil Saver .....................$6,500 Wil-Rich 957, 9 shank ..............$29,900 Wil-Rich 957, 7 shank ..............$16,900 Wil-Rich 957, 5 shank ..............$16,500 Wil-Rich 513, 9-24....................$39,600 Wil-Rich 29’ chisel plow, ‘07 ........$22,800 Wil-Rich QX2, 60’, basket ............$49,900 Great Plains Turbo Chisel, 11 shk $22,800 Krause Dominator, 12 ft. (2) from $29,900 Krause Dominator, 12 ft., 2015.$40,900 Krause 18’ w/reel.............from $33,000

Planters

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Gant family uses Zuckerberg’s visit to advocate for agriculture By Ron Johnson

ron.j@dairystar.com

BLANCHARDVILLE, Wis. – This has to be a joke. Right? A multibillionaire businessman wants to visit our farm? That’s more or less what the Gant family of Blanchardville, Wis., thought when they were told Mark Zuckerberg, the cofounder of Facebook and worth roughly $63 billion, wanted to stop by their 30-cow dairy farm. “We thought we were getting our chain pulled,” said Austin Gant, the son of Jed and Rona Gant. But no, that phone call a few weeks ago was no joke. On April 30, the chairman and chief executive ofcer (CEO) of the social media website arrived at the Gants’ Lafayette County farm. Zuckerberg brought with him from his headquarters at Menlo Park, Calif., half a dozen or so associates, Gant said. They were set on visiting all 50 states this year, and Zuckerberg wanted a rsthand look at a real Wisconsin dairy farm. How does a world-known gure choose a farm to tour? Gant said his twin sister, Ashley, played a role. Her boyfriend’s brother lives in the Golden State. That California brother and his children vis-

ited the Gant farm a few weeks before Zuckerberg did, and posted pictures of their adventure on Facebook. Zuckerberg saw the pictures and decided the fth-generation farm would be an interesting stop on his 50-state tour. The 33-year-old internet entrepreneur and computer programmer got to try new things during his Sunday afternoon at the 129-year-old Gant farm that was homesteaded in 1888. “Today was a bunch of rsts for me: rst time feeding a calf, rst time trying unpasteurized milk straight from a cow, rst time driving a 70-year old tractor,” Zuckerberg wrote on his Facebook page. Along with the dairy herd, the Gants have a beef herd of 400 cow-calf pairs. The farms total 2,000 acres, most of it pasture. The cropland grows alfalfa, corn and oats – all of it fed right on the farm. Other key people in the dairy and beef operations are Austin’s uncle, Jason, and Austin’s great uncle, Karl. Approximately 15 members of the family were on hand for the Gants’ noteworthy day, Austin said. As Zuckerberg wrote, he tried his hand at activities farm folks take for granted, since they’re part Turn to FACEBOOK | Page 11

Spreaders

Knight 8032, slinger ..................$14,499 Knight 8114, (A088) ....................$8,949 Knight 8132, (B0077)................$19,899 Knight 8132 ..............................$17,899 Meyer 3954, (1250) ....................$4,949 H&S 430 w/end gate.................$19,300

Miscellaneous

Parker Grain Kart 838 .................$19,900 Brent 540 Box...............................$9,900 Loftness Chopper 20 ft...............$14,600 Valmetal 5600 RD bale chopper .$13,800 Used grain legs............................... Call Woods 3 pt. chopper, 20’ ...........$5,950 EZ Flow 300 bu. box ..................$1,950 Used Snowblowers ........................ Call Top Air 800 gal, 60’ boom ..........$6,950 Hardi 1,000 gal., 60’ boom .......$14,400 Demco 600 gal., 66’ bom .........$14,900 Century 750 gal., 60’ boom ........$6,950 Red Ball 670, 1200 gal., 66’ boom$13,800 Unverferth Cart 9200 1000 bu. $19,950 Fast Sprayer 1200 gal. 90 ft. boom$18,800 Red Ball 1200 gal, 90 ft. boom 570 $18,800 H&S 12 wheel Hi Cap rake .........$8,275 J&M 1151, scale & tarp ............$48,900 Vicon disc mower .......................$5,950

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PHOTO PROVIDED BY FACEBOOK

Gant family members shared Sunday dinner with their famous guest, Facebook execuƟve Mark Zuckerberg. Clockwise, from leŌ are: AusƟn Gant, Jason Gant, Mark Zuckerberg, Jed Gant, Joslyn Gant, Norma Gant, Nick Hartman and Ashley Gant.

Dairy Star • Saturday, May 13, 2017 • Page 11

ConƟnued from FACEBOOK | Page 10

PHOTO PROVIDED BY FACEBOOK

Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of the social media website Facebook, drove a tractor for the rst Ɵme during his Wisconsin visit. He’s at the wheel of a 1940 Farmall B, accompanied by farm owner Jed Gant.

of their daily lives. The 3-week-old Holstein calf that the CEO fed with a bottle dug right into her meal. “It was fun for him (Zuckerberg),” Austin said. “I think he really got a kick out of it.” That 70-year-old tractor Zuckerberg told his estimated 89 million Facebook followers about is actually 77 years old. Austin said his greatgrandfather, Bernard, bought the 1940 Farmall B when it was new. The smallish tractor was used for cultivating. Several members of the Gant clan cut their teeth learning to drive it. Austin said his grandpa, dad, uncle and sisters all chugged around the farm on the red machine. “[Zuckerberg was] really excited about driving it,” Austin said. The Gants had the beloved, old Farmall painted last fall. They had planned to have the restored tractor

“I cannot stress how genuine and nice and polite he and his entire staﬀ were.” AUSTIN GANT, DAIRY FARMER

debut May 13, when Austin marries Kelsey Fink in an empty barn on the farm. “We were going to unveil it for pictures at my wedding,” Austin said. “But it’s not every day Mark Zuckerberg comes to your farm.” The computer whiz also got to hold a baby kitten and see the inside of the tiestall barn, with its pipeline. Jed started the dairy 31 years ago. Many milkings nd Austin, Jed and Jason in the barn together, sharing the work. “We enjoy milking cows,” Austin said. “There’s no better way to start and end your day.” Perhaps the highlight of Zuckerberg’s visit was the family dinner Austin said his grandmother, Norma, prepares every Sunday. Dinner took place in her white, two-story house that’s on the farm. Austin’s aunt, Joslyn, lent a hand in making the meal. It included hearty country fare: roast beef, mashed potatoes, corn, peas, ice cream, and Norma’s homemade hot fudge, chocolate cake and brownies. After leaving the Gant farm, Zuckerberg wrote on Facebook that

he enjoyed more Wisconsin food. He posted a picture of himself in a restaurant in nearby Madison, Wis., noshing on bratwurst and cheese curds. According to Zuckerberg’s Facebook post, “I basically inhaled the rst brat and cheese curds before remembering I should take a photo to thank you all for telling me to come here, so then I ordered this second brat. I do not regret it.” Neither do the Gants regret Zuckerberg’s visit. “He was as common as common could be,” Austin said. Gant added, “I cannot stress how genuine and nice and polite he and his entire staff were. Their willingness to learn was just unbelievable.” Austin said he, himself, turns to Facebook multiple times each day. He nds it especially helpful in learning about the cattle genetics other farmers use. As to why his family agreed to let Zuckerberg visit, Austin explained, “We, as livestock producers, want to shed light on what we do. We’re not evil people. We’re out here seven days a week, 365 days a year, rain or shine, no excuses. Every livestock producer knows the livestock always come rst. We’re just like everybody else: If you don’t take care of the livestock, you’re not in business.” In his Facebook post, Zuckerberg wrote about his appreciation for what farmers do. “The family is incredibly disciplined,” Zuckerberg wrote. “Everyone works daylight to dark, seven days a week. When we were driving around his property, Jed told me he’d rather feed the cattle than feed himself if it came down to that. And even though the demand for milk and cheese has declined in recent years, he’s never taken a subsidy check from the government. The way he sees it, ‘If you don’t take the check, they can’t tell you what to do.’” Zuckerberg added that Jed Gant called farming “‘the greatest job there is,’ ... Their self-reliance is impressive.” The Gants sent the CEO and his crew on their way with steaks and roasts from the farm, plus seven kinds of Wisconsin cheese. Zuckerberg wrote on Facebook, “Thanks to the Gants for being such gracious hosts. Priscilla (Mrs. Zuckerberg), I hope you’re hungry for cheese, because I’m coming home with a lot of it.”

Page 12 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 13, 2017

A closer look

Industry news addressed with help from your neighbors

Swatting down on ies

by Jennifer Coyne

Assess environment for best y control option EAGLE BEND, Minn. – Warmer days and wetter grounds are sure signs of spring, but they are also tell-tale indicators of a season much less desired by dairy producers. “Flies have always been a bugger on my farm, and I’m always looking for ways to control them,” said Nolan Lenzen, who milks 25 cows on his organic dairy near Eagle Bend, Minn. In the Midwest, ies start to make a presence Nolan Lenzen in April and May, Dairy farmer with populations peaking in July and stay high through September. However, if the dairy farm is assessed early and proper controls are implemented, the effects of ies on cattle and humans are minimal. With female ies laying 150 to 200 eggs at one time, and with a y’s life cycle only lasting 10 days, it becomes nearly impossible to eliminate ies in a farming environment, said Heather Schlesser. Schlesser is an extension educator with University of Wisconsin-Extension in Marathon County. In addition to

working with producers in Wisconsin, Schlesser has also helped dairy producers in Nicaragua grasp the consequences of too many ies on the farm. “My goal is to make all cattle producers more aware of the situation,” Schlesser said. “Flies will always be there. We have to learn how to manage them to keep them away.” Although there are many y species, the most common found on dairies are house and stable ies, each posing different risks to the farm and surrounding areas. “House ies are known for moving substances, so they’re a vector of disease transfer,” Schlesser said. “They are more of Heather Schlesser a nuisance because UW-Extension they don’t bite or cause harm to animals.” Stable ies, on the other hand, have small biting mouthpieces and suck blood from their hosts. “Every time they pierce the skin, they are hurting the cow,” Schlesser said. There are four methods to controlling the presence of ies on a farm – cultural, biological, chemical and physical. Before choosing a method of control, Schlesser urges producers to evaluate the environment and determine how

JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR

Nolan Lenzen uses two fans on either side of the parlor’s entry way to remove ies from the caƩle and trap them behind luevers installed on the box fan. Lenzen milks 25 cows near Eagle Bend, Minn. many ies are present. If more than 250 house ies are found in a trap, a control method should be implemented. The same is true if 15 animals are observed and more than 10 stable ies are present. “If a y population is high, producers can expect to see a 15 percent decrease in milk production,” Schlesser said. “It’s important to identify the type of y and how many are present to know what control will work best to make an impact.” Despite maintaining a clean barn

and housing environment for his cattle, Lenzen struggled for several years with ies. During peak y season, he was applying more than two gallons of a natural substance on his cattle’s feet and legs as they walked through the milking parlor. “There were two months of summer when I didn’t want to milk because the ies were so bad,” Lenzen said. In recent years, the use of traditional spray insecticides has decreased Turn to FLIES | Page 13

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Dairy Star • Saturday, May 13, 2017 • Page 13

ConƟnued from FLIES | Page 12 as the insects develop resistance to the active ingredients. With this, other forms of control, often naturalbased, have become popular. “The best cultural control is keeping the environment clean,” Schlesser said. “Spread manure thinly so it dries, and keep grass cut because tall blades become a nice resting spot for the ies while they’re waiting to lay the eggs.” Some producers might incorporate natural enemies, such as beetles, mites and wasps, in the environment to feed on the ies. If the environment is capable of hosting Purple Martins and Blue Jays, these birds will also decrease the y population. Other controls may include ear tags and neck collars that have a chemical component to deter ies from landing on the animals, as well as physical controls like insect zappers and tapes. “Ear tags are becoming more popular; but if you’re organic, check with your certifying agent before using any substance,” Schlesser said. “Sometimes, bait is a better method of control that does not affect the biological agents.” After Lenzen evaluated his farm and tried several methods of control, he attended a summer eld day to view a contraption that captured ies as the cows walked into the milking facility. “On my way home, I started thinking of better ways to do that,” Lenzen said. “By the time I got home, I knew what I wanted to do.” Last May, Lenzen mounted a squirrel cage fan in the entryway to the platform of his single-8 parlor. Across the platform, a large fan was installed into the wall of the facility with louvers placed on the backside of the fan; and behind the louvers was a screened entrapment. Once the project was complete, y season arrived at Lenzen’s farm. “The ies were just starting to bother the cows one evening, so I turned the fans on and watched it suck the ies right off the cows in droves,” Lenzen said. “The rest is history.” Last summer, Lenzen collected a full 5-gallon bucket worth of ies from the entrapment and estimated that 70 percent of the ies on the farm were caught. By eliminating ies on the farm, Lenzen saw substantial improvements in his herd’s health.

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JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR

When the fan luevers are shut, the ies are caught in a screen entrapment behind Lenzen’s parlor. Last year, Lenzen collected a full 5-gallon bucket worth of ies. “I had the best milk production yet, lowered somatic cell count, and our reproduction was better than it has been the past ve years,” Lenzen said. “I wouldn’t milk cows without this fan setup.” Now, Lenzen has plans to install another trap at the exiting end of the parlor this spring, and use both traps when the cows are in the parlor. “With another fan set up, I’ll collect well over 90 percent of the ies,” Lenzen said. While this physical control will not work for all dairy farm setups, Lenzen encourages fellow producers to nd a form of control that will lessen ies’ nuisance on the farm and surrounding areas. “Flies are always going to be a problem,” Lenzen said. “If you think you’re y control is adequate, there’s always room for improvement.”

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(2) ‘11 NH H-7450, 13’ Discbine, 2 Pt Swivel Hitch ........$21,500 ‘07 NH 1465, 9’ Haybine, Very Nice ................................$11,900 NH 492, 9’ Haybine ...........................................................$6,500 ‘12 Case IH DX132, 13’ Discbine, Steel rolls ...................$21,900 ‘88 Case IH 8330, 9’ haybine ............................................$3,750 ‘02 JD 926, Flail Cond .......................................................$7,250 ‘15 NH FP-240, 29P Hayhead..........................................$39,500

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‘00 NH FP-240, Crop Pro, 3 row corn head, hay head.....$27,500 Gehl 1275 Chopper, Crop Processor, 3x30 Cornhead, Hayhead ..........................................................................$7,950 Gehl 1060 Chopper, 3x30 Cornhead..................................$5,900 ‘90 Meyers 500, 18’ forage box & wagon .........................$6,350 JD 200 Stacker & Mover ...................................................$1,500 ‘03 H&S 860 Blower .........................................................$3,650 ‘14 NH 560 Rd Baler, Netwrap, Endless Belts.................$34,500 ‘07 NH BR-780A Rd Baler, Twine Only, 1200 Bales only .$12,500 (2) ‘03 NH BR-780 Rd Baler, Net & Twine .......................$14,995 (2) ‘04 NH BR-780 Rd Baler, Twine Only ....... Starting at $10,900 ‘06 NH BR-770A Rd Baler, Twine Only ............................$13,950 ‘07 NH BR-740A Rd Baler, Wide Pickup ..........................$12,500 ‘11 NH BC-5060 Baler with 72 Thrower ..........................$19,000 ‘13 JD 469 Rd Baler, Net Wrap, 5500 Bales ....................$29,500 ‘97 JD 100 Baler, Roller Chute, Preserative .....................$17,500 ‘84 JD 327 Baler with Kicker .............................................$3,750 ‘10 Kuhn MM300 Merger w/fold down table ...................$19,900 Kuhn GA7302DL Rotary Rake .........................................$10,900 ‘14 Tonutti GTH540 Pro, 17’ Tedder ..................................$4,650

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Page 14 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 13, 2017

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From Our Side Of The Fence

Dairy Star • Saturday, May 13, 2017 • Page 15

What traits do you admire most about your mom?

Stacy Happke Mom: Judy Klaphake Pierz, Minn. Morrison County 100 cows

Harold Marthaler Mother: Darlene Marthaler Sauk Centre, Minn. Stearns County 72 cows

Rick Benke Mother: Nancy Benke Dent, Minn. Ottertail County 55 cows

Stephanie Tighe Mother: Monica Nussbaum Garretson, S.D. Minnehaha County 120 registered Holsteins

What role does your mom play on the farm? Although my mom and I don’t farm together, we basically play the same role at each of our own farms. We get done what needs to get done for the day – milking cows, feeding calves and youngstock, managing herd health, doing bookwork, running for parts and making meals. We pretty much do whatever needs to get done.

What role does your mom play on the farm? She is the tractor driver, skidloader operator, rock picker, lawn mower, bookkeeper, parts runner, and takes care of calves. During spring and fall, she cooks for the help.

What role does your mom play on the farm? She is and always has been a very important part. She and I do all the milkings together. She also runs for parts as needed, makes our lunches, and does all the yard chores at home.

What role does your mom play on the farm? Our mom is the chameleon of the farm – one day she is cooking for 10 people and the next she is tending to the baby calves.

Describe your relationship with your mom. That’s tough to describe. She’s, of course, my mom, but yet a business partner. The best of both worlds. We can talk about anything because she knows both really well. As with family, she has my best interest at heart in the dairy.

Describe your relationship with your mom. My mother and I are very close. We have worked together for 20 years, and we still like working together. She’s one of the people that I share almost everything with.

Describe your relationship with your mom. My relationship with my mom is more of a friendship. She is always willing to jump in and help, but always there to give advice even if I don’t like the advice.

What traits do you admire most about your mom? My mother is incredibly hard working, caring, dependable and kind. Growing up on a farm, you spend a lot more time with your parents than most kids do, and she’s always made it fun.

What traits do you admire most about your mom? Why? What I admire most about Mom is her ability to y by the seat of her pants. She never knows if she will be working cattle or moving equipment, and somehow she is always able to keep dinner warm for three hours. She does all this with a smile on her face.

Describe your relationship with your mom. We live about an hour apart, so we don’t get to see each other as much as we would like, but we talk on the phone at least twice a week, if not more, and sometimes an hour at a time. She’s probably the only one I can text before 5 a.m. and get a response. We both love to garden, so we enjoy seeing each other’s owers in the summertime. We get together to do crafts and also meet up for lunch and shopping. What traits do you admire most about your mom? Why? I don’t think I can pick just one, because she’s mom. I think a person admires everything about their mom because she’s always there for you. How has your mom inuenced you as a dairy farmer? My mom has inuenced me by showing me how to balance time and energy between kids, milking cows and farm life in general, especially during spring planting and fall harvest. It seems there is always a new obstacle every time you turn around, so she has taught me how to go with the ow, and do what you have to do to make things work. What is one thing your mom has taught you that you incorporate into your daily life? She has taught me how to be a good mom, that kids come rst and they are only little for a short time. She has also taught me her cooking and baking skills. We both cook two to three meals a day, so sometimes we need to get creative and plan ahead. I always have extra food around, because I never know who will stop over, and I always have cookies or bars hidden in my freezer. I still haven’t mastered her homemade noodle recipe, and my bread is never as soft as hers. What is your favorite memory of you two together on the farm? I don’t have one in particular because every day spent growing up with my parents on the farm is a great memory and brings a new experience. That is something I hope to pass onto my kids.

What traits do you admire most about your mom? Why? She is honest, dedicated, loyal, strong faithed, and always has the best interest of the family in mind. It’s the only way to run a family and farm together, and still sleep at night. How has your mom inuenced you as a dairy farmer? With spending so much time with her, it was a good way to raise a family and spend time together. What is one thing your mom has taught you that you incorporate into your daily life? Be on time and do a good job. The rest will fall into place. If you take care of it, it will take care of you. What is your favorite memory of you two together on the farm? Just the fact that she is there every day for advice and help if needed. Describe your dairy farm. We milk 72 cows, raise all of our own calves plus buy bull calves off two neighboring farms. We farm 800 acres of corn and soybeans and work close with the neighbors.

Describe your dairy farm(s). I farm with my husband, Kent, near Pierz, Minn., on his family farm. We have four kids: Carter, 8, Hayden, 6, Kensie, 2, and Sydney, 9 months. We milk 100 cows in a double-6 parlor and raise all of our own heifers. Both our families raise our own crops and raise steers, as well. My mom, Judy, and dad, Jeff, farm near Albany, Minn., where I grew up. They milk 220 cows with robotic milkers and have automatic calf feeders. My mom and sister-in-law do most of the cattle related stuff, while my dad and brother do custom harvesting. They buy some of our bull calves, although my mom never seems too happy about getting more calves to feed.

How has your mom inuenced you as a dairy farmer? My mother is one of the most patient people. She is easy going and stays calm in tense situations, which is underrated because anyone who has worked with cattle knows they can push your buttons. I would like to believe her temperament has inuenced mine. What is one thing your mom has taught you that you incorporate into your daily life? To be an honest, hard working man; to do what’s right and to do things for the right reasons; and to stay faithful and keep your family and loved ones close because that’s what’s most important in this life. What is your favorite memory of you two together on the farm? Our milk house water ghts, teaming up with my mom to pester my dad, raising our numerous pets, and the constant teasing will always be fond memories and have made the repetitive milkings enjoyable. Describe your dairy farm. We milk an average of 55 cows in a stanchion barn using seven automatic take offs. The cows are only in the barn while milking; otherwise they spend their time in a freestall barn and outside. We try to stay as efcient as possible with our chores, so they don’t cut into the rest of the day. Even when times can be tough, I wouldn’t trade my farm life for anything. It’s made me who I am. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. I love you!

How has your mom inuenced you as a dairy farmer? My mom has shown me that just because I’m a woman doesn’t mean I can’t be a dairy farmer, and that it’s OK to ask for help even though I’m stubborn and think I can do it myself. What is one thing your mom has taught you that you incorporate into your daily life? My mom has taught me to always nd time for the little things. The life of a dairy farmer is always a rush, but she has taught me to stop and plant a garden if that’s what you enjoy, or go for a walk even if your tired from a long day. Just do something for yourself to make you happy. What is your favorite memory of you two together on the farm? You probably wouldn’t guess it, but my mom and I like owers. Throughout the summer we would always nd time to do landscaping or weed the ower bed together. It gives us the chance to chat and catch up. Describe your dairy farm(s). We robotically milk 120 registered Holsteins outside of Garretson, S.D. We also have a herd of beef cows and crop farm about 1,800 acres of mostly corn, soybeans and alfalfa.

Turn to FENCE | Page 16

Page 16 â€˘ Dairy Star â€˘ Saturday, May 13, 2017

ConĆ&#x;nued from FENCE | Page 15

Mike and Rolf Annexstad Mother: Lois Annexstad St. Peter, Minn. Nicollet County 200 cows

Kevin Klingsporn Mother: Linda Klingsporn Pine Island, Minn. Goodhue County 160 cows

Josh Diersen Mother: Karyl Diersen Caledonia, Minn. Houston County 135 cows

Bjorn Neumann Mother: Laurie Neumann Osceola, Wis. Polk County 140 cows

What role does your mom play on the farm? Over the years, our mom, Lois Annexstad, has done just about everything on the farm from milking to ďƒželdwork to calf care. She currently helps with calf feeding and feeding employees. She has been taking care of calves for at least 60 years. Of the thousands of calves she has nurtured, keeping every calf healthy has been important to her.

What role does your mom play on the farm? My mom, Linda Klingsporn, takes care of baby calves, bookkeeping and making food for everyone.

What role does your mom play on the farm? My mom, Karyl, milks cows and does all the paper work. She also cooks a great dinner and watches the grandchildren.

What role does your mom play on the farm? My mom, Laurie, does everything around the farm: milking morning and night, driving tractor when necessary, all of the book work and running for parts, just to name a few.

Describe your relationship with your mom. Sheâ€™s still Mom. She wants to know everything thatâ€™s going on at the farm and wants to make sure weâ€™re getting enough to eat. Mike: Sheâ€™s my best friend. What traits do you admire most about your mom? Her concern for other people. She never runs out of energy and always puts others ahead of herself. Sheâ€™s also an optimist who would rarely admit to having a bad day. These attributes help keep us going when times are not so good. How has your mom inďƒ&#x;uenced you as a dairy farmer? Sheâ€™s taught us the values of taking care of, and being kind to, people and animals. And, that hard work is good for you. What is one thing your mom has taught you that you incorporate into your daily life? Rolf: Take good care of your livestock. Mike: Be happy that you have work and can work, because one day you may not be able to, and wish you could. What is your favorite memory of you two together on the farm? Mike: Mom feeding calves as Dad and I milked cows. Rolf: Feeding calves with Mom. Describe your dairy farm. We have 200 cows and farm 500 acres. We grow corn, alfalfa, soybeans and canning peas.

Describe your relationship with your mom. We have a close relationship. We see each other every day and get along very well. What traits do you admire most about your mom? Why? She is a good listener. I can talk to her about anything. She is caring and nurturing. She can make me feel better when Iâ€™m having a bad day. She is a good cook, and I like to eat. How has your mom inďƒ&#x;uenced you as a dairy farmer? She has taught me to be patient, kind and how to be frugal. What is one thing your mom has taught you that you incorporate into your daily life? That everything happens for a reason. What is your favorite memory of you two together on the farm? When we were little she would pull us kids in a Radio Flyer wagon to go to the other farm for chores in the morning. Describe your dairy farm. I farm with mom, dad, David, and my brother, Luke. We have 160 cows, raise all of our heifers and raise steers up to 350 pounds. We own 320 acres and put everything up as forage for the cattle.

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Describe your relationship with your mom. My mom and I are close. I can talk to her anytime for advice or if I need something. She is very caring and is always going to give me her honest answer. What traits do you admire most about your mom? Why? She always looks for the good in things. She is a strong-willed person, who is always donating her time to help out. She is never afraid to take charge of something and get it done. How has your mom inďƒ&#x;uenced you as a dairy farmer? Her hard work ethic and love of the dairy industry. What is one thing your mom has taught you that you incorporate into your daily life? Trust in God and family. What is your favorite memory of you two together on the farm? There are too many to name. I would have to go with the time Dad said something to Mom. She grabbed the hose in the parlor and soaked him. Mom and I laughed so hard. Dad, not so much. Describe your dairy farm. I farm together with my parents, John and Karyl, and brother, Jay. We are Minnigan Hills Farm. My dad was from Minnesota and my mom was from Michigan, so that is where they got the farm name Minnigan. We milk 135 registered Holstein cows. We work 560 acres of corn, alfalfa and soybeans. Our cattle are all raised on our farm. We also employ high school kids to help with milking.

Describe your relationship with your mom. Mom and I have always been close but have gotten even closer over the past few years. We do chores together every day, and she is the one I can always rely on to be there for milking. Milking with Mom is a time we get to talk about anything. It is kind of our therapy for each other. What traits do you admire most about your mom? My mom is always there when I need someone to talk to. She always ďƒžnds the best in people, and I donâ€™t think she has ever said a negative thing about anyone. She is always willing to help anytime of the day or night. How has your mom inďƒ&#x;uenced you as a dairy farmer? My mom makes me want to keep working at improving our operation to hopefully attract the next generation to carry on our family legacy. What is one thing your mom has taught you that you incorporate into your daily life? Even though the work is hard and sometimes bumpy along the way, the bright spots always outweigh the tough times. If a task is worth doing, it is worth the little bit of extra time to do it right. What is your favorite memory of you two together on the farm? When I was younger riding in the new cab tractor with her and getting to sleep all day behind the seat in the new IH 1486. Describe your dairy farm. Our farm consists of 140 Brown Swiss, polled Holsteins and crossbreds milking. We raise all of our youngstock. We also crop about 4,500 acres on which we grow corn, soybeans, hay, oats and rye. Tubeline Bale Wrappers provide a fast and efďŹ cient way to get hay off the ďŹ eld and put up high quality silage, allowing producers to deliver the nutrient rich, palatable, easily digestible hay that your dairy or cattle herds crave.

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Dairy Star • Saturday, May 13, 2017 • Page 17

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Page 18 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 13, 2017

Top Performers

Teamwork a key to high production at Clay View Dairy Clay View Dairy LLP The milking operation is in Goodhue, Minn., and the heifer operation is in Dennison, Minn. Both locations are in Goodhue County. Number of cows: 1,150 What is your current herd average, butterfat and protein? The herd is currently at 31,614 pounds of milk with 1,393 pounds of butterfat and 1,043 pounds of protein. How many times a day do you milk? We milk three times a day and have been doing so since 1997. Do you use BST? If yes, what is your protocol? We use BST on a 14day interval. First lactation animals milking over 100 pounds do not receive it unless they are conrmed open after the rst service. Second lactation and greater cows milking over 130 pounds do not receive it unless they are conrmed open after the rst service. Do you contract milk? Yes. Currently we rely on the quarterly data supplied to us by Rabo Bank. We use a mixture of options and futures depending on the market circumstances. Our goal

KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR

The team at Clay View Dairy works together to care for the 1,150 animals on the farm near Goodhue, Minn. The team includes – (front row, from leŌ) Fredy Marmol, Elisa Hernandez, Mario Cordon, Kathy Solaris Garcia, Raymond Bye and Jonatan Lara Rodriguez; (back row, from leŌ) Oscar Rivera, Carmen Sanchez, MaryCarmen Rosas, Janet Munson, Doris Salisbury, Byron Ramirez, Brad Bye and Jon Huseth.

is to always try to preserve market upside if possible. In the past, our operation was successful using the Livestock Gross Margin (LGM) program; however, we signed up for the Margin Protection Program (MPP) nearly two years ago and that was a mistake. By signing up for MPP, we were unable to use the LGM program.

dairy that has expanded from within since 1996. Before that, we were a 48-stall tiestall operation. Our cows are milked in a double-18 parallel parlor. Our most recent upgrades have been the purchase and installation of new electrical transformers with isolation devices for both the milking and heifer facilities.

Describe your housing and milking facility. We are a sanded-bedded

What is the composition of your ration? Have there been any recent

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changes? Our diet philosophy hasn’t changed for years. Our nutritionist, Ben Flueger, and primary veterinarian, Dr. David Atwell, have been the only people ration balancing here for over a decade. We were early adopters of that technology. Other than a post fresh diet, our rations are comprised of dry cow, transition and one group lactation diet. Our diet is a high corn silage diet with baleage and amino acid balancing. Turn to CLAY VIEW | Page 20

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Dairy Star • Saturday, May 13, 2017 • Page 19

“The fresh cow routine made sense and doing what it’s supposed to…” — Rick and Wade Kidman

KIDMAN DAIRY, BALATON, MINNESOTA Rick, Wade and Robbie Kidman 125 cows, 80 lbs/cow/day, SCC 140,000

“We started using Udder Comfort™ after installing an Udder Comfort Spray Gun in April. The fresh cow routine with this product made sense and is doing what it’s supposed to for our herd. We like how it works to soften those fresh udders right up,” say Rick Kidman and son Wade during a morning milking recently. Wade focuses on the cows of Kidman Dairy, Balaton, Minnesota, brother Robbie focuses on the crops. The Udder Comfort Spray Gun works off the air supply of their Double-8 parlor, where 125 cows average 80 lbs of high quality milk. They spray fresh udders after each milking for the first 7 days, and focus a light application on the center cleft and rear crease.

“Udder Comfort is worth the cost, and the spray gun makes it fast and efficient to soften quickly so fresh cows are more comfortable and get into milk faster with softer udders. Many tools contribute to quality, and we have seen quality improve with this routine.”

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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, May 13, 2017

ConƟnued from CLAY VIEW | Page 18

transition areas the last few years. However, there was a suppression in performance. We have not been reaching our genetic, milk production or protability potential due to the stray current issues. We were recently able to come to an agreement with our power provider to x their issues if we paid for it at both facilities.

Through the years you’ve been farming, what has created the biggest jump in your herd average? Improvements in genetics and sand bedding. We were early adopters of genomics and took advantage of the tools available to accelerate our herd’s genetic potential. Many can argue the pros and cons of sand, but we have always understood that cows are more comfortable on sand. On a negative note, our herd production, health and protability has been suppressed the last few years due to a stray current problem. We have implemented technologies such as, cross ventilation, modied tunnel ventilation, positive ventilation and added to our

What is your herd health program? Probably the most notable areas are: 1. Our philosophy of “We work for the cows.” We work very hard to make sure this is the center of our culture. 2. Constant monitoring, training, evaluation and benchmarking. Dr. Jim Fountaine and Ben Flueger are two examples of trusted KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR

Cows are milked three Ɵmes a day in a double-18 parallel parlor. The current rolling herd average is 31,614 pounds of milk with 1,393 pounds of buƩerfat and 1,043 pounds of protein.

individuals who help us interpret data so we can make good decisions.

KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR

This cow is one of Clay View Dairy’s high-tesƟng genomic animals. High genomic animals are ushed to advance the herd while low-tesƟng animals are marketed to other dairies.

What does your dry cow and transition program consist of? We target 62 days dry, and we just recently added seven days to cows conrmed with twins. Transition diets start around 30 days before calving. We have two group calving pens: one for new heifers and one for cows

in their second lactation or greater.

our Holstein herd an oddity when they see our component levels, but it is something we have focused on for years. We have had a timed breeding program for many years. We are very rigid in shot timing and do not cherry pick animals for breeding. Being successful with reproduction has allowed us to grow from within over the years. Dr. Fountaine has always kept us informed of cutting edge

What role does genetics play in your production level and what is your breeding program? Genetics has played a huge part. Even though the stray current hasn’t allowed us to express our full potential, our component values really show one part of the investment we have made in genetics. Some call

Turn to CLAY VIEW | Page 22

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62,500

Page 22 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 13, 2017

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work being done by reproduction researchers throughout the country. Consistency is the key. Our cows are pedigree-mated to the highest net merit bulls available. All animals are also genomic tested. We have our own ranking system and formula to choose the top ranking animals to ush. The bottom ranking animals are marketed to other dairy farmers. What type of improvements would you like to make that would increase your RHA even higher? For us right now, it is about improving protability. We can talk about RHA, but milk sold, feed conversion, cull rates, labor effectiveness and heifer raising performance/cost balance is where the rubber hits the road. We are working on two areas right now: The rst is working every day to ensure the normalcy of our system since the electrical xes took place. Our systems are sound. We just should keep monitoring, evaluating and improving. Ag Pathways LLC developed a stray current monitoring system, which constantly records data. With this system, we can measure off-farm current contributions to make sure the issue never affects us again to the extent it has. The second is a company we started. Ag Pathways LLC, is a labor resource company designed to source, improve leadership, create accountability, provide training and intelligent decision making on not only our farm, but to help other businesses in those same areas. “We work for the cows,” but we are in the people business. Through our experience, our objective is to not only continuously improve our own operation, but to share and help other operations through our experiences and resources. What would you say the three most important factors were that helped you attain our current RHA? The rst is great partners and team members. We have been through a lot together, but we are all rooted in continuous improvement, while helping each other become better. We all have our roles and there is not one role that is more important than another. The second is cow comfort. The third is focusing on continued genetic improvement. The fourth is data and performance monitoring, which are the basis for evaluation, vision and goal setting. The fth is implementing the best nutrition program we can. Tell us about your farm. The Huseth family owns the farm, a fourth-generation family farm that takes pride in the fact that we have several families working together. “We work for the cows,” because the cows provide us the opportunity to share in the betterment of each other’s lives.

DairySt r Milk Break Email andrea.b@dairystar.com

Dairy Star â€˘ Saturday, May 13, 2017 â€˘ Page 23

Practice, patience pays off for FFA students Benrud, Gratz, Popp, Portner claim top honors By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com

More than 3,600 students from across Minnesota attended the 88th Minnesota FFA Convention April 2325 at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Of the thousands of students competing in proďƒžciencies, career development events (CDEs) and earning state degrees, four individuals left the convention with high honors in dairyrelated competitions. Emily Benrud, Dillon Gratz, Nathan Popp and Isabella Portner all claimed ďƒžrst place in their categories of competition and will travel to Indianapolis, Ind., in October 2017 for the national convention. Benrud, Goodhue team takes gold in Dairy Cattle Evaluation Judging dairy cattle has been a passion of Benrudâ€™s for many years, so it came as no surprise when she chose to compete in the Dairy Cattle Evaluation CDE this year. â€œIâ€™ve been judging for several years through 4-H,â€? Benrud said. â€œIâ€™ll actually be traveling to Europe this summer because our 4-H team won the national competition.â€? The experience Benrud has gained in the youth organization aided her in success at the state convention as she was named ďƒžrst individual in Dairy

Cattle Evaulation. Benrud is the daughter of Roger and Michelle Benrud of Goodhue, Minn. Together, the family milks 100 cows on their organic dairy. â€œGrowing up on a dairy farm has been very beneďƒžcial,â€? Benrud said. â€œIâ€™m always around the cows and, in terms of judging, I can easily spot a good cow versus a not-so-good cow.â€? In preparing for the state convention, Benrud and her teammates â€“ Jay Dicke, Bradyn Hinsch and Kjersten Veiseth â€“ spent this past year Emily Benrud reviewing DHIA records and traveling across Goodhue County judging cattle. However, claiming top honors did not come without its challenges. During the state competition, Benrud was adamant on submitting perfect scores and responses to the DHIA questionnaire. Once the ofďƒžcial placings were released, Benrud only dropped eight points. With state convention complete and a trip to Europe on the horizon, Benrud is even more focused on perfecting her dairy cattle judging skills, and will do so throughout the summer in preparation for the national FFA contest. â€œThis has been a great experience, and Iâ€™ve met so many people,â€? Benrud said. Iâ€™m grateful for this opportunity and looking forward to competing again in Indianapolis.â€? Persistency takes Gratz to na-

tional Dairy Production Placement contest For four years, Gratz has developed his Dairy Production Placement Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) by reďƒžning the details of responsibilities on his familyâ€™s 65-cow dairy near Atwater, Minn. With closer recordkeeping, becoming more involved on the farm and showcasing the skills he has learned working alongside his family, Gratz received top honors for his proďƒžciency application. Dillon Gratz â€œI was really excited when the winners were announced. Iâ€™ve been working on this for four years,â€? said Gratz, the son of Brad and JoAnn Gratz. The high school senior ďƒžrst started his proďƒžciency application to showcase the work he does on the dairy, including caring for the calves and cows, vaccinating the animals, monitoring herd health and other daily tasks. â€œMy ďƒžrst year, I just wanted to get a feel for it,â€? Gratz said. â€œIn the years that followed, I kept doing better and received tips from my advisor on how to continue improving.â€? Gratzâ€™s proďƒžciency application at the state competition highlighted his time management skills â€“ balancing school, family and farming, as well as attainable goals for himself and the dairy. â€œItâ€™s really fun to look through the application and see how Iâ€™ve grown

over the years,â€? Gratz said. In preparing for the national competition in October, Gratz will further reďƒžne his application and touch up on his interviewing skills. â€œFFA has taught me a lot, and I want to continue learning,â€? Gratz said. â€œThrough this honor, Iâ€™m gaining more conďƒždence in my skills and am personally growing and understanding my potential.â€? Gratz also placed second in the Forage Production proďƒžciency, earned his state degree and was a ďƒžnalist for Star Production Placement at this yearâ€™s convention. Experience on dairy prepares Popp for CDE Growing up on his parentsâ€™ â€“ Larry and Reneeâ€™s â€“ 50-cow dairy, Popp has more than 10 years of experience prepping animals for dairy cattle shows. It was from that experience he was able to compete in the Dairy Handler CDE at the state convention and receive ďƒžrst place. â€œComing in Nathan Popp ďƒžrst was a great honor,â€? Popp said. â€œI was shocked when I heard the results, and really didnâ€™t believe it.â€? Popp competed against 33 other individuals, and was judged on his appearance in show whites, maintaining control of the animal and following show ring rules. Students were required to use animals from the University of Minnesota. â€œThat was the hardest part â€“ not beTurn to FFA | Page 25

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ConƟnued from FFA | Page 23 ing familiar with the cows,” Popp said. “You learn to adapt to their personalities and learn as you go.” Popp credits his show ring success to working with animals on his own farm and following in the footsteps of his father, who also showed cattle. In the months ahead, Popp will show throughout the region and prepare for the national FFA competition. “My goal is to work with animals this summer more and more, and be ready for nationals,” Popp said. “I’ll also have to look over the new set of show ring rules that were just released.” Through his experience in this CDE and FFA, Popp is eager to take what he has learned and apply it to his daily life, with the goal of creating a career in the dairy industry. Portner’s SAE shows recordkeeping of own cattle A small herd of registered Brown

“My family farm helped me set up the foundation of this project and assisted me in my decisions, as well as helping me keep my herd going through the rougher times it has seen.” ISABELLA PORTNER

Swiss has made a big impact in Portner’s life – from learning responsibility and management skills to most recently being named the top recipient of the Dairy Production Entrepreneurship. Portner resides in Sleepy Eye, Minn., on her parents’ – Tom and Mary’s – 250-cow dairy. On the farm, Portner owns 23 cattle, of which she built her prociency application Isabella Portner from. “I’ve been working to keep records of all the nances and happenings of cattle, so I have a clear vision of how my herd is doing to inuence future choices I make,” Portner said. In managing her own herd, Portner has experienced the triumphs and tribulations of dairy farming. However, with the help of her family, these times have been noted as valuable learning experiences. “My family farm helped me set up the foundation of this project and assisted me in my decisions, as well as helping me keep my herd going through the rougher times it has seen,” Portner said. After seeing her dedication and hard work pay off in the SAE, Portner still relishes in the award and is looking forward to competing for a place in the top four at the national competition. “It’s exciting and nerve-racking at the same time,” Portner said. “Through this whole prociency, I have increased my herd’s efciency and productivity, as well as making this experience unbeatable.”

Princess Kay nalists to be named May 21 Announcement concludes weekend workshop for county dairy princesses

Minnesota’s county dairy princesses will gather May 19-21, concluding a leadership development weekend with the announcement of the 12 nalists for the next Princess Kay of the Milky Way. The announcement takes place during a luncheon beginning at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, May 21, at the Gorecki Center at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph. More than 65 dairy princesses are expected to attend the workshop weekend, with most of the group competing for the nalist positions through a series of personal interviews, speeches and mock media interviews. Midwest Dairy Association, through its dairy farmer funders, provides the workshop to offer young women who are serving as county dairy princesses and ambassadors background information on dairy topics, as well as ideas for carrying out their role as dairy champions and helping them develop life skills. State dairy princesses from Iowa will also attend the event, along with the reigning Princess Kay of the Milky Way, Haley Hinrichs of Goodhue County, and most of the 2016 Princess Kay nalists. Winners announced May 21 advance to the Princess Kay coronation held the night before the Minnesota State Fair opens. Princess Kay nalists have their likeness carved in butter during the Minnesota State Fair and make public appearances during the fair’s 12-day run. Princess Kay serves as the dairy industry’s goodwill ambassador for a year, helping people understand the dedication of dairy farmers to wholesome and nutritious food, and the cows and farms providing it. The public is invited to view the naming of the 2017 Princess Kay nalists free of charge, but tickets for the meal may also be ordered for $20 through Stacey Lundberg at 651-487-4740 or slundberg@midwestdairy.com. The deadline for meal tickets is May 16. Live updates of the nalist announcements will be posted to Princess Kay’s Facebook page during the luncheon. On Twitter, updates can be seen by following the hashtag #MNPrincessKay. Dairy princesses are young women who are from dairy farm families or are involved in the dairy industry through their employment or that of their parents. They make appearances in classrooms, at parades and community events, and county fairs.

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Need extra cash ow but don’t want to sell your corn or soybeans just yet? FSA provides marketing assistance loans to producers who have this situation. These loans are for nine months and can be paid back by repayment or delivery of grain to an elevator. The deadline for your 2016 corn or soybeans is quickly approaching, in fact the deadline is May 31, FSA News & Notes 2017. Stop in to your FSA ofce if you are interested in putting some of your 2016 crop under loan. Also a reminder to all producers who already have a marketing assistance loan with FSA: Do not forget to call and get a marketing authorization before you haul or buy back bushels prior to feeding. As we gear up for planting season, agricultural producers are reminded to check with your FSA ofce before starting your spring planting to ensure there are no converted wetlands on any of your farms. A converted wetland is a wetland tiled after Dec. 23, By Ryan Brunn 1985. If you have a converted wetland on your farm, it is not to be planted to any row crops. The penalty Stearns Co. Exec. Dir. for planting any row crops on converted wetlands is severe and could result in a loss of all program benets on all of your farms, this includes federal crop insurance. Some of the determinations were made in the early 1990s, so you may not even be aware of a converted wetland on your farm. To ensure we do not run into issues later on this year with the possibility of spot checks on converted wetlands, please check with FSA for a review of your farms or if you are picking up new ground this year before you start planting. Just a quick reminder to all producers, the deadline for Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) is fast approaching. If you have not yet signed up for 2017 please call and make an appointment to do so. 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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“Just remember where I come from,” are the words I would tell Patty very early in our marriage; I do not punch a time clock. I am an owner who was brought up to do a job very well and take pride in it in the end. Having come from a dairy farm, Patty quickly learned that “Just 10 more minutes,” usually meant another hour. A single broken wire to mend a fence could turn into a whole day project. A small cement project could slowly set into a two-month long process. Just a small playhouse for the kids ended up being a miniature house, complete with heating, air conditioning, a porch, and a VCR player and TV to enable movie nights in the winter time. Leftover tin from the freestall barn turned into an equine shed, with water and electricity for the horses. Inscribed on the tin of the shed are words of wisdom and memories of my daughters’ horsey highlights. A dad who was too tight to buy the girls a doll house created one during a snow-bound week during the winter of 1996. Christmas vacation projects transformed leftover plywood and 2-by-4s into work benches for the boys. Each had electrical outlets, a light and sliding drawers. When used, slats became the base

out for him. So, raising children was not a job, but a privilege. Chores taught them the value of teamwork and responsibility. The children led Patty and I to paths less traveled that we would have never chosen otherwise. The time we spent together working on projects will eventually show them how much we cared for them. Laura’s July wedding is fast approaching; the past year has been full of her gathering ideas for their special day. When seeing ideas and weighing the costs involved, she will often reply, “I know we can save money by doing it ourselves.” That makes both of us smile. And then Patty replies, “I wonder where she got that from.” John Rosenhammer farms with his daughter, Laura, and brother, Greg, on Roseview Dairy near Sleepy Eye, Minn. They milk 200 Holsteins and run 580 acres of cropland.

result was so good he asked Johnny to build another one. I will never forget traveling down Highway 14 to Rochester, with my sons and an 8-foot tall deer stand secured on the back of a half-ton pickup. We got a lot of spooked looks along the way! With football ending last fall, Johnny needed a father-son winter project to make the snowy months pass quicker. He wanted a made-from-scratch ice shing house. For two months, we learned how to wire electricity and brake lights, install siding and apply spray foam insulation. For his interior, he chose diagonally installed pinewood because that’s what was in his cousin Drew’s house. When completed, he learned the value of budgeting money toward a project, as well as when and where to cut expenses. He also learned a lesson from the table saw that ended up, thankfully, in only a slight surface skin cut. His guardian angels were watching

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Betty Berning bberning@umn.edu 320-203-6104 Rafael Bisinotto rbisinot@umn.edu 612-625-3130 Hugh Chester-Jones chest001@umn.edu (507) 835-3622 Gerard Cramer gcramer@umn.edu 612-625-8184 Marcia Endres miendres@umn.edu (612) 624-5391 Sandra Godden godde002@umn.edu 612-625-8177 Les Hansen hanse009@umn.edu 612-624-2277 Brad Heins hein0106@umn.edu (320) 589-1711 Kevin Janni kjanni@umn.edu (612) 625-3108 Karen Johnson ande9495@umn.edu 320-484-4334 Brenda Miller nels4220@umn.edu (320) 732-4435 Kota Minegishi kota@umn.edu 612-624-7455 Randy Pepin pepin019@umn.edu (320) 333-1369 Erin Royster royster@umn.edu Jim Salfer salfe001@umn.edu (320) 203-6093 M. Scott Wells mswells@umn.edu 612-625-3747 Emily Wilmes krek0033@umn.edu (320) 255-6169

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Identifying cows that do not respond to synch protocols

Although the fundamentals and metrics of reproduction are extremely straightforward, a large number of U.S. dairy herds still struggle to achieve adequate reproductive performance. Recent surveys indicate that the national insemination rate (evaluated as the proportion of eligible cows inseminated every 21 days) and conception rate (percentage of cows that become pregnant from all inseminated cows) average 46 and 39 percent, respectively. As a result, the average pregnancy rate in U.S. dairy herds is 18 percent, meaning that less than one in ďƒžve eligible cows become pregnant at every 21-day breeding cycle. NevBy Rafael S. ertheless, there are a considerable number Bisinotto of dairies with 21-day pregnancy rate above DVM, PhD 30 percent. Among the several factors that distinguish herds in the extreme ends of this distribution, compliance to stated protocols is of crucial importance for reproductive success. Limited use of natural service and widespread implementation of artiďƒžcial insemination (A.I.) require excellent detection of estrus (heat). Because daily morning and afternoon visual observation is time consuming, numerous alternate methods are available to aid estrus detection, such as heat detection patches, tail chalk/paint, and automated activity monitors. Independently of the method, compliance with daily estrus detection is paramount for reproductive success. An inadequate estrus detection rate leads to missed breeding opportunities and delays pregnancy. Simulations performed by researchers at the University of Florida and the Ohio State University estimate a decline of 6 percentage points in 21-day pregnancy rate and an increase of approximately 40 days on herdâ€™s median days open if estrus detection efďƒžciency drops from 60 to 40 percent. Estrus detection inaccuracy also plays a major role in reproductive performance as insemination of cows that are not in heat rarely results in conception. Improving estrus detection efďƒžciency and accuracy expedites pregnancy and reduces culling of open cows at the end of lactation; thus, reducing replacement expenses and improving overall proďƒžtability of the dairy. The advent of protocols for synchronization of ovulation and timed A.I. has allowed dairymen to systematically inseminate cows without the need for estrus detection, which narrows the interval to ďƒžrst insemination after calving and controls the inter-A.I. interval for non-pregnant cows. Most U.S. dairy herds that use timed A.I. do so concurrently with estrus detection, as studies have demonstrated economic beneďƒžts from the combination of the two strategies over timed A.I. only ranging from $1 to

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$32 (U.S. dollars) per cow per year. Not surprisingly, compliance with estrus detection remains a critical factor in herds that use timed A.I. If daily observation is inaccurate and pregnancy per A.I. (commonly referred to as conception rate) for cows inseminated in heat becomes limiting, implementing estrus detection results in losses between $8 and $15 per cow per year compared with the exclusive use of timed A.I. Similar to estrus detection, compliance with stated synchronization protocols is extremely important for the success of timed A.I. programs. For instance, failure to regress a functional corpus luteum in cows that do not receive the injection of prostaglandin F2a is expected to reduce pregnancy per A.I. below 3 percent. In the same simulation mentioned above, enhancing compliance with synchronization protocols from 85 to 95 percent (i.e. proportions represent the percentage of injections cows received correctly) increased average 21-day pregnancy rate by 5 percentage points, shortened median days open by 42 days, and reduced replacement costs associated with culling of non-pregnant cows by $93 per cow per year. One layer of compliance to timed A.I. protocols that is not controlled by the dairy producer relates to cowsâ€™ ability to respond to hormonal treatments. For instance, only 70 to 85 percent of cows subjected to timed A.I. successfully regress their corpora lutea and ovulate shortly after insemination. Because nonresponders are less likely to become pregnant compared with herdmates that respond to each injection of the synchronization protocol, identifying such cows would allow producers to make better breeding decisions and apply early resynchronization to animals at small risk of becoming pregnant. Although university research has demonstrated that progesterone concentrations in blood can be used to assess response to the timed A.I. program, cow side tests are required so that progesterone information can be used to assist during routine procedures. Preliminary results from the University of Minnesota (Omontese et al., 2017, abstract accepted for publication at the American Dairy Science Association annual meeting) indicate that commercially available milk progesterone tests provide relevant information about the likelihood of pregnancy following timed A.I. Among other results, pregnancy per A.I. is smaller for cows with low progesterone concentrations at the prostaglandin F2a injection, high milk progesterone at A.I., and low progesterone concentrations 7 days after A.I. Accordingly, cows with an adverse progesterone proďƒžle could be diverged to a resynchronization program either before or shortly after previous insemination. Further developments in this area, such as incorporation of milk progesterone measurements into parlor equipment, are expected to improve predictive values and streamline the use of progesterone information for routine decision making in commercial dairies.

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To bafe or not to bafe

Most cross-ventilated dairy barns have four bafes that block airow from the roof down to about 6-7 feet above the oor. Some people have begun to question the need for bafes in cross-ventilated barns. Most bafes are constructed of rigid materials. Some barns have canvas bafes, which can be rolled up so the barn can be naturally ventilated in cold and mild weather. So, By Kevin A. Janni are bafes needed U of M Extension in cross-ventilated barns? As of now, there has not been research comparing cross-ventilated barns with bafes to barns without bafes. When thinking about ventilation and airow, it is important to remember that air is lazy. Air takes the easiest path it can. So if you install an exhaust fan next to an open window, the air will take the easiest and shortest path going in through the window and out the fan. The air entering through the window will not ow over to the far side of the barn before coming back and exiting through the fan. The air will take the easiest path, zipping in through the window and out through the fan. If you want uniform airow through a barn, you need to uniformly distribute inlets throughout the barn or in the far wall opposite exhaust fans. The key to uniform ventilation is uniform inlet distribution. Obstructions inside dairy barns will also impact airow through the barn. One of the weaknesses of tunnel ventilation is that cows, waterers and walls upstream of the stalls block airow past cows in downstream stalls. The blockages push the air to ow down feed and manure alleys or up above the cows. Early research in tunnel ventilated freestall barns without ceilings noted that a lot of the air owed high above the cows. Bafes were recommended in the trusses. Unfortunately, bafes cannot be brought much lower than the trusses in tunnel-ventilated barns because of the feed and manure handling equipment that need to move down alleys and pass under the bafes. Cross-ventilated barns can bring bafes down to 6-7 feet above the oor because bafes can be located over the freestalls. Cross-ventilated barns with drover lanes and equipment lanes at one or both ends of the pens can have air bypass the freestall pens if the lanes

do not have bafes or freezer strips. A lane without a bafe represents a big, smooth path for the air to take rather than ow through the cows and squeeze under the bafes in the freestall area. Bafes make the exhaust fans work harder, which reduces the fan airow rate by a small amount. Bafes force the ventilation air to speed up to squeeze through a 6-7-foot space. Squeezing the air and increasing the air velocity under the bafe requires energy that reduces the airow rate. Bafes in cross-ventilated freestall barns serve three purposes. Bafes increase the air velocity under the bafe, which helps cool cows near the bafes in hot weather. Secondly, bafes produce more uniform air ow through the barn from end to end if the bafes go from one end to the other. Finally, bafes prevent air from owing high above the cows where cows get little benet from the airow. There is little published research on cross-ventilated barns. Research on an early eight-row cross-ventilated freestall dairy barn with bafes found, as expected, that barn static pressure increased as the ventilating rate increased. At the high ventilating rate, each bafe added 0.015 inches of water static pressure to the total barn static pressure. Air velocities under the bafes were around 590 feet per minute (fpm) and around 180 fpm near a feed alley away from the bafes at the hot weather high ventilating rate. This work documented the role bafes have on static pressure and how they increased air velocity under the bafes. A University of Minnesota study measured air velocities in six crossventilated barns during four visits over a 12-month period. The air velocities averaged 256 fpm under the bafes and 120 fpm near the feed bunk away from the bafes. This work also documented that air velocities under the bafes were higher than in areas away from bafes. Heat stress modeling work at the University of Minnesota indicated that increasing the air velocity past a high producing cow from 60 fpm to 177 fpm to 530 fpm helped the cow lower her respiration rate (i.e., 83, to 76 to 66 breaths per minute, respectively) and her body temperature (i.e. 102.6, to 102.5 and 101.8 F, respectively) during hot weather. Bafes are expected to help cows with cooling during hot weather, create more uniform conditions and reduce the amount of air that passes far above the cows. Research is needed to document these expectations.

Dairy Star • Saturday, May 13, 2017 • Page 29

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Mother’s Day is almost here, which means the Day. This could involve a small, yet thoughtful, gesgreeting card industry is about to receive a cash infu- ture, such as taking her out for a restaurant meal, or sion that would dwarf the entire economy of Lichten- perhaps going over to her house and changing the stein. light bulb in the hallway and then hanging out with The holiday that has been set aside to honor our her while she cooks a nice meal for you. Just rememimmediate maternal ancestors bber, it’s the thought that counts. is fraught with peril for guys So, the honor thy mother part who, like me, are married with I can clearly of Mother’s Day is a no-brainer. l l recall ll the h children. There is no doubt The area where a guy can stumthat every living human being Mother’s Day when I didn’t ble is when he is married to the should purchase a gift and/or a give my wife a card. mother of his children. card for their mother, the person When our two sons were just who gave you life in a process llittle tykes, I made sure my wife that – let’s face it – isn’t much different than when the received a Mother’s Day card from them every year. creature emerges from the crewman’s abdomen in the The boys were illiterate at the time, plus they lacked movie Alien. the nancial means to purchase a card. Did their inWhile giving your mother a greeting card is ac- ability to read and write have anything to do with their ceptable, doing something nice for dear old mom woeful monetary situation? I think we all know the would be an even better way to celebrate Mother’s answer to that.

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The boys eventually entered grade school and acquired the ability to hand-craft endearingly slipshod Mother’s Day cards for their mom. At that point, I assumed that my obligation for giving my wife a card on Mother’s Day had ended. I have no defense Dear County Agent Guy for this other than to say I was young and stupid. Much has changed since then. For one thing, I am older now. I can clearly recall the Mother’s Day when I didn’t give my wife a card. The boys and I had taken her out for a meal at a classy By Jerry Nelson eatery – they wanted Columnist to treat her like royalty, so we went to Burger King – and our sons had given her their homespun conglomerations of construction paper and glitter. “Don’t you have anything for me?” my wife asked after we had tucked our sons in for the night. “Such as?” “I don’t know. A card or something would be nice.” “It’s Mother’s Day. You aren’t my mother.” You know how a person can be 100 percent right from a legal point of view, yet at the same time be totally wrong in the moral sense? My words were a prime example of this paradox. My wife didn’t say anything, but the look of disappointment on her face would have caused a stone to shed hot tears of shame. Her dismay hit me like an anvil dropped from the belly of a B-52 Stratofortress. It caused me to think, which is an enterprise that’s often fraught with hazard. Even so, I managed to glean a few useful insights. The rst thing that came to mind was that insane process of hosting an alien being in your abdomen for nine months and then pushing it out. My wife hadn’t gone through all of that for herself; she had walked across the searing coals of childbirth for our sons and for me. I recalled the jillions of things, large and small, my wife has done for our family. How clothes seem to magically wash themselves and appear in dresser drawers. How she would bring snacks out for us when we were busy with eld work and how she was an uncomplaining go-fer, be it a parts run to the farm implement dealer or helping me deliver a baby calf in the midst of a muddy cow yard. How it seemed like she was always the one who played the role of responsible parent by attending parent-teacher conferences. Another insight: a mother will automatically feel affection for her offspring. A spouse loves you because he or she chooses to. My mom and dad did a tremendous job of raising me. I know this to be true because my upbringing bestowed upon me the wisdom to marry my wife. Mother’s Day is almost here, which means that I, like many guys, will be purchasing a couple of cards and doing something nice for a couple of special ladies. I just hope there are some light bulbs somewhere that need to be changed. Jerry is a recovering dairy farmer from Volga, S.D. He and his wife, Julie, have two grown sons and live on the farm where Jerry’s great-grandfather homesteaded over 110 years ago. Jerry currently works full time for the Dairy Star as a staff writer/ad salesman. Feel free to E-mail him at: jerry.n@ dairystar.com.

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Last weekend, I was driving home from a Minnesota Twins game on Interstate 94. As I replayed the excitement of Joe Mauer’s walk-off home run that led to the Twins defeating the Boston Red Sox 4-3 the night prior, I was also trying to navigate through metro trafc during road construction. Easily my least favorite time of year, road construction is the silent fth season that can last anywhere from March to November in the Midwest. It’s a pain that we all are aware will return each year, but somehow never anticipate the backedup trafc, delays and detours it brings. As I got off the exit into Jackson County, Wis., however, I was greeted with a trafc jam that I pleasantly welcome: cars slowly driving behind a tractor on its way to spring planting. Living in a rural comBy Cassie Olson munity, we often slow ourselves down for impleStaff Writer ments with orange triangles instead of being stuck in gridlock due to orange road cones. As a driver, both can bring frustrations, but planting is a time of celebration as farmers embark on a new growing season. After a wet and rainy start to the spring, farmers across the Midwest were in the elds last week to get a start to the crop year. While planting season often feels rushed due to weather restrictions, it is important for farmers and community members, alike, to remember several tips to a safe and successful planting. Take your kids to work, but be mindful of their capabilities: Youth involvement on the farm is both expected and encouraged. However, it is important to remember to be cautious of how involved your child is. Make sure age and level of responsibility is matched with a child’s ability to complete a chore. Remind youth of safety measures and be sure to supervise them when necessary. Even when simply riding along in the tractor, you can never be too cautious with youth on the farm. Be a role model, on the road and in the eld: Having youth involved in pplanting and driving on highways means you are in the While I may b Whil be set b back k eyes of all of those around five minutes by following you. Be a model of safety and practice what you preach. an implement, it’s my and practicing propresponsibility to be cautious Teaching er safety skills will encourage and respectful of farmers on those around you to mimic your actions. the road. Know your surroundiings: Before jumping into the elds, critically look over your implements, equipment and surroundings for hazards. Taking a preventative approach to planting is the easiest way to prevent accidents before they happen. Potentially hazardous obstacles should not be overlooked before they become actual hazards to you and those around you. Rest up: Everyone wants to get as much done as possible in a day’s work, but it is important to remember to recharge and re-energize. Taking breaks is important to offset fatigue. Failure to do so is a leading cause of injuries and mistakes. Make and embrace rules: Finally, it is important for your family and employees to know the rules. Clearly identify the roles each person is and is not responsible for. Understand the rules of the road in your area and follow them to avoid potential hiccups that will otherwise set you back. Whether you’re driving the tractor or your car, take your time on the roads. Nobody likes a trafc jam, but when it comes to planting, I am always excited for what the new season will hold. While I may be set back ve minutes by following an implement, it’s my responsibility to be cautious and respectful of farmers on the road. As you dive into the full-swing of planting, remember to be cautious and respectful of your fellow farmers while exercising safe practices in the eld.

Dairy Star • Saturday, May 13, 2017 • Page 31

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Grandma, let’s try the mud mode Page 32 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 13, 2017

Three weeks ago, deb was on her way to Sioux Now this was no ordinary car that broke down. Falls, S.D., to catch a plane to Phoenix, Ariz., to My wife considered it on par with the family dog. attend the Midwest Dairy annual meeting, but her It was a yellow 2003 Ford Escape we bought new car’s tranny failed on Interstate 90 about 20 miles when our daughter Tae became Princess Kay of the from Sioux Falls. Milky Way. She needed reliable transportation to It was a nice day in the travel to the many dairy ret middle of the afternoon lated events around the state l Now this hi was no ordinary di when it happened, so when N of Minnesota for a year. she called me, I calmly sug- car that broke down. My wife After that, Kia drove it to gested she stick out her the University of Minnesota thumb and hitch a ride to the considered it on par with the for school. It was during that airport so she wouldn’t miss family time, I thought I would be a y dog. g her ight. I also added that good dad and change the oil g I would retrieve the car and for f her one weekend. Well, pick her up a few days later; I know, what a guy, the old rubber o-ring on the lter stayed on the car, right? She said she was uncomfortable with hitch- in addition to the new o-ring on the new lter, which hiking, so I said I would come, but it would be an resulted in all the oil spewing out of the engine in hour before I could get there. ve miles. This resulted in Dad buying a used motor

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for the Yellow. Kia drove the Yellow all through college and to a long commute job afterwards. Then, she got a job that supplied a vehicle so we got the Yellow back. We gave our tired minivan to Sarah to go Making Cents of Dairy to Mankato, Minn. The Yellow was deb’s favorite daily driver, putting on 220,000 miles going nowhere. Oh, it went to the cities or Sioux Falls plenty, but all the rest was local. A typical day would bring grandkids to school, check on my 93-year-old mother at her house in town, open By Dave Vander Kooi her store, bank, post ofColumnist ce, grocery store, give me a ride from moving machinery, deliver meals on wheels, etc. I was quite happy; the estimate to x the car came back at $2,400. It made it easy to convince deb that it was time to give up the car I recently had renamed the Yellow Garbage Can. Too many miles, kids, gravel roads and groceries had taken its toll. When I called the local salvage yard to pick up the Yellow, the guy who answered said, “That thing nally died?” We have three excellent car dealerships in our town with an abundance of vehicles to choose from, so nding a new car should be easy. Not so; minivans are too boring, large SUVs are too expensive, cars are too low to the ground, pickups are too big, and another Escape is too repetitious. Finally, after weeks of looking, she found a Jeep Renegade she felt comfortable driving and was priced right. It even has a heated steering wheel and automatic windshield wipers that turn on when moisture hits the windshield. Denitely a far cry from the Jeeps with four wheels and a roll-bar that we used to go ditch jumping with. Jeep must be trying to maintain the rough and tumble image though, because this new one has a selector switch for normal, ice or mud driving. So, the rst night deb was bringing 11-year-old Vince home, he noticed the mud mode on the switch. And, as she was driving past our soaked muddy elds, he said, “Grandma, turn into that eld and let’s try it.” Vander Kooi operates a 1,200-cow, 3,000 acre farm with his son, Joe, and daughter-in-law, Rita, near Worthington, Minn. Send him feedback at davevkooi@icloud.com. Follow him on Instagram, @ davevanderkooi.

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Dairy Star • Saturday, May 13, 2017 • Page 33

By the time you read this, our cows will be grazing again. In anticipation of opening the pasture gate, we took a scissor cutting of the pasture grass last week and sent it in for forage analysis. I shared a post about sampling the pasture on social media (you can nd Dairy Good Life me @DairyGoodLife) and immediately received several questions. In addition to the questions on that post, I got a phone call a couple weeks ago from another dairy farmer who had questions about grazing his dairy cows. So, to kick off the grazing season off, here’s a little Q & A about how we make grazing work for us. Q: Can you graze Holsteins? A: Yes. I might write a lot about our Jerseys and By Sadie Frericks Milking Shorthorns, but 80 percent of our herd is Columnist Holstein. The Holsteins graze just as well as our colored breeds. We’ve found that upbringing is more important than breed: cows that grazed as heifers adjust to being on pasture more quickly than cows that didn’t. Q: How many acres do you graze? A: Our milk cows graze a 60-acre pasture. Dry cows and bred heifers go to a remote 30-acre pasture. Three groups of younger heifers go to three remote 5- to 10-acre pastures. Q: Do you rotationally graze? A: No, we don’t. We tried rotational grazing on our rst farm and didn’t like it. We continuously graze all of our pastures. We manage pasture overgrowth by cutting and round baling some of the pasture grass; it makes great dry cow hay for winter. This year, we will be dividing our pasture in half to make cutting and baling easier.

THANK YOU!

Q: What else do you feed your cows while they’re grazing? A: We feed a partial mixed ration (PMR) during the grazing season and a total mixed ration during the winter. The PMR usually contains corn silage, alfalfa (as either dry hay, haylage or baleage), ne ground corn, soy hulls and a protein mix. Q: How do you balance a ration with pasture? A: It’s part science and part observation. We guestimate how many pounds of pasture the cows are consuming and plug that number into the ration. We also take scissor cuttings of the pasture and gure the relative feed quality of the grass into the ration. Then we watch the cows and the bulk tank. If grazing time, PMR consumption, rumen ll, cud chewing, manure consistency, milk production or components change, then we adjust the ration. By keeping nutrient levels in the ration as consistent as possible, we keep the cows’ health, reproduction and productivity consistent. Q: Why do you sample the pasture? A: We run forage samples on the pasture so we can more accurately balance the cows’ ration. Our nutritionist looks at protein, fat, sugar and structural carbohydrate levels in the forage analysis results and uses those values to help pinpoint which ingredients will best balance the cows’ ration. Certain feed ingredients pair better than others with the types of fats and sugars in grasses. Q: How often do you sample the pasture? A: We take scissor cuttings every one to two weeks during the grazing season. The relative feed quality of the pasture uctuates throughout the season, depending on rainfall and temperature. Q: How do you feed the partial mixed ration? A: We feed the PMR in feeder wagons and J-bunks outside in our cow yard. The cows don’t get any feed in the barn during the summer, since they’re only inside for milking. We mix the PMR and ll the wagons and bunks right before we bring the cows in for evening milking. The cows eat PMR before and after each milking, then return to the pasture.

HENNING

Centre Dairy would like to thank all our friends and loyal customers for coming to the open houses in Henning on April 25th and Sauk Centre on April 27th.

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Q: How do you keep your cows cool during the summer? A: High temperatures and humidity are certainly the worst enemies of grazing dairy cows. We are lucky enough to have a stand of old oak trees in our pasture, which provides adequate shade for the cows. Our pasture also has several ponds, so the cows don’t have to walk all the way back to the barn for water. If we didn’t have good shade, we could consider keeping the cows in the barn during the day and letting them graze at night. We are, by no means, grazing experts, but if you have other questions about grazing, we’re happy to share our experience. My email address is below. It always makes my day to nd a message from another dairy farmer in my inbox. Sadie and her husband, Glen, milk 75 cows near Melrose, Minn. They have three children – Dan, 10, Monika, 7, and Daphne, 4. Sadie also writes a blog at www.dairygoodlife.com. She can be reached at sadiefrericks@gmail.com.

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Oversight

Page 34 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 13, 2017

Susan was hospitalized for three days after giving Consider this: On day 25 postpartum, she was sold for birth. She was treated with ampicillin trihydrate on slaughter due to failure to fully recover. Yes, Susan arrival to the hospital and for the followwas a dairy cow. If you did not gure this ing three days. She was also given dex- Veterinary Wisdom out reading the paragraph the rst time, trose via an IV. Dextrose was given again please re-read it. Knowing Susan was a three and ve days later. One-half dose of cow makes the story seem more reasonlaxative was given on day ve and six afable, because we all know it is pretty ter admission. Ampicillin treatment was hard to give sick cows the same degree started again on day 13 post-admission of diagnostic scrutiny and care a human and continued for one more day. On days patient would receive in a hospital. Perseven and 12 post-admission, she was haps it is more reasonable for a cow, and treated with an oral nutritional solution, perhaps stories like this are really comthe composition of which was not recordmon for bovine patients, but we can still ed in the records. Through day 17 post addo better. mission, no diagnosis had been recorded The big challenge we face, of course, in her medical record. Treatments were is economics. Typically, most ill cows are By Jim Bennett administered by several different individnot examined by a veterinarian, and cerColumnist uals, but it was not possible to determine tainly not examined for multiple days in a their identity by examining the records. row, because it is costly and maybe even On day 17 post-admission, she was examined, for the unworkable on many farms. As a result, we veterinarrst time since parturition, by a doctor. A diagnosis ians have designed treatment protocols which are a of acute gastrointestinal obstruction, with secondary way to ow chart the diagnostic and treatment prodehydration was made, and a three-day course of full cesses. There are a few problems with this approach. dose oral laxatives and rehydration therapy begun. All First, it is impossible to design a protocol for every other therapy was stopped per doctor’s orders. possibility in a biological system, so protocols need Perhaps you are wondering just what hospital Su- to be simplied to consider only the most likely disan was admitted to because there some are problems agnoses. Second, robot-like adherence to protocols with the diagnostic and treatment plan she received. removes human judgment. No two individuals, and thus no two cases, are ever the same, and many times human judgement is needed to customize treatment. Third, many different individuals may administer treatments, and there is often no standardized training in diagnosis and treatment. Fourth, adherence to protocols is often dismally low. As a result of these problems and others, drugs are often used inappropriFC 3209 ately. Treatments are sometimes sporadic and ineffec9 roller, 11’9” wide, tive, and sometimes treatments are unnecessary and 12,020 lbs. costly. Dairy owners often understand few details of how drugs are being used on their farm. FC 3211 Improving oversight can be accomplished by do11 roller, 13’9” wide, ing a drug use audit. The audit starts by examining 14,640 lbs. treatment records and then comparing actual treatments to protocols. This process usually opens a can of worms, as in the story above, because one often

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nds diagnoses and treatments are not faithfully recorded. Improving recording may be necessary before the audit can be continued. Once we know treatments are being recorded correctly, we can examine the records for compliance. The idea is to determine if the actual treatments administered are close to the treatments outlined for specic diseases in the treatment protocols. One way to conduct an audit is to randomly select a few cows, record the animal ID, and the answer these questions: What drugs were used? Were the protocols followed? Were records kept correctly? When did milk go back in the tank? Was the milk withholding period observed the same as recommended? What happened to the cow? If sold or died, was an appropriate reason listed in the records? Were slaughter withholding recommendations followed? Was there extra-label drug use, and if so, are there valid, specic protocols for use, and is there a written, valid Veterinary Client Patient Relationship (VCPR) on the farm? Most likely there will be signicant discrepancies between what was done and what was supposed to be done. This may be OK in some cases, but in most cases discrepancies may represent improper or ineffective drug use. This is expensive, wasteful, sometimes illegal and is not responsible drug use. There may be a variety of root causes including: inadequate training, language barriers, perceived or real lack of time, environmental challenges, lack of accountability, lack of proper tools and more. Further investigation to nd and address the root cause is needed. Just about any farm that uses drugs for treatment of ill animals may nd benets from periodic drug audits. Even farms without employees may benet. It behooves us all to use drugs responsibly. It helps our cows when we use drugs effectively and appropriately. It saves you money, too. Ask your veterinarian to help you get started.

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Dairy Star • Saturday, May 13, 2017 • Page 35

Protability, production one in the same

Martins boost milk with management improvements By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com

BROOTEN, Minn. – Over the years, Ernest Martin has dairy farmed with one goal in mind – to provide a lifestyle that would support his family; with on-farm adjustments, Ernest has done just that by increasing milk production and the dairy’s net gain. “Protability is the bottom line, and that’s what we’re after,” Ernest said. “But production and protability go hand in hand.” Ernest runs Spruce Grove

Dairy with his wife, Jolene, and their children – Wesley, 26, and his wife, Marin, Kenny, 18, Arnold, 17, Abigail, 14, Kristina, 11, and Jeremy, 10 – where they milk 230 cows near Brooten, Minn. Two married daughters, Jerlene Horst, 28, and Jessica Zimmerman, 24, are no longer involved with the farm, except occassionally during the busy fall season. Their son, Wendell, 20, works full time for a feed company, but also helps MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR

Ernest MarƟn and this three sons – (from leŌ) Kenny, Wesley and Arnold – walk through the freestall barn. The MarƟns are always looking for ways to improve cow comfort, and ulƟmately, milk producƟon on their dairy near Brooten, Minn.

MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR

The MarƟns milk their herd twice each day in a double-14 parallel parlor.

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out during busy times with eld work. The Martins moved to central Minnesota in 2000, after dairying in Indiana. For 17 years, the family has focused on reproduction, cow comfort and farm efciency to maximize the herd’s potential. Currently, Spruce Grove Dairy is running a 28,900 rolling herd average milking two times each day in a double-14 parallel parlor.

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With the ever-changing dynamics of dairy cattle breeding, the Martins choose sires which t the prole of a desired trait, rather than using one sire in the herd for too long. “There’s a difference between bulls 30 years ago and those today,” Ernest said. “We don’t breed with any one in mind because there is such a fast turnaround and new ones Turn to MARTINS | Page 37

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“We’re consistently climbing in an upward trend,” said Wesley, who owns 25 percent of the cows. Kenny agreed. “We do the best we can to improve,” he said. “There’s always room for that.” For some time, the Martins have followed a strict breeding program that incorporates the use of sexed semen, and beef bulls for heifers and cows with settling difculties.

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Page 36 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 13, 2017

Women In Jeans Darienne Frickson Dakota, Minn. Winona County 100 cows

Family: My husband, Andy, and I have two kids, Paislee, 23 months, and Jolena, 10 months. Tell us about your farm. Andy and I started dating in 2009. At the time, Andy was raising bull calves in order to have enough money to buy cows. In 2010, we bought a few cows and started milking in a rented facility. We were married in 2013, and continued milking in the rented facility a few miles away from our house. In September 2016, we moved into a new facility we built on our own farm. It’s a freestall barn with a at parlor. We converted an existing shed into an additional freestall barn. My main chores are milking cows and feeding calves. What’s the busiest time of day for you? Mornings are the busiest. It’s a rush to get chores done on time before the girls are up and I have to get them ready for the day. After chores, I go in the house to get started on breakfast and do house chores. When you get a spare moment what do you do? Andy and I like to go trout shing and four-wheeling. We also like to go to tractor pulls. We used to participate in them before we had kids. I am also in a women’s bowling league during the winter. We have a couple part-time employees who help us, so we try to take off one night each week. It helps us recharge. Tell us about your most memorable experience working on the farm. It’s always an adventure. The rst time I successfully started an I.V. by myself was memorable. And, the last time we milked in our barn at our rented facility was memorable and an emotional time, too.

What have you enjoyed most about dairy farming or your tie to the dairy industry? I like being able to spend time with Andy. Not everyone has the chance to work side by side with his or her spouse. I will admit, there are some days I want to rip my hair out, but most days I really like it. I also like being able to be at home with the kids. How do you stay connected with others in the industry? I use social media to stay connected with others in the industry. We also have friends in the area who are involved in dairy. We get together every once in awhile or call each other. In your opinion, what’s the importance of women in today’s dairy industry and how have you seen that change over the years? Women do just as much as men on farms and in the industry. There’s no division anymore. For example, both our vet and DHIA representatives are women. Plus, I know there are many nutritionists and A.I. technicians who are women. If you could give a tour of your farm to a prominent woman in today’s society, who would it be and why? Dolly Parton. I love her. She’s the queen of country music.

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What is the best vacation you’ve ever taken? For our honeymoon, Andy and I went to the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee. It was the rst real vacation we had ever taken together. We rented a cabin on top of a mountain that overlooked the whole valley. We were gone for nine days. It was amazing.

Joe Gill • Farm Director

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Dairy Star â€˘ Saturday, May 13, 2017 â€˘ Page 37

ConĆ&#x;nued from MARTINS | Page 35

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Stalls in the newer freestall barn are large enough to accommodate the bigger, older cows in the MarĆ&#x;nsâ€™ herd. The stalls are also bedded with sand to maximize cow comfort. coming in.â€? Traits that are continually bred for include milk production and feet and legs. â€œWe donâ€™t use anyone who is negative on DPR, SCR â€Ś they all have to be positive numbers,â€? Wesley said. By selecting for these particular traits, among others, and using sexed semen, the Martins have plenty of choices for the next generation entering the lactating herd. Ernest and his sons review the pedigrees of each calf to know if they want to keep her in the herd and maintain the dairyâ€™s proďƒžle, or sell her as another source of income. â€œWeâ€™ve never had a problem getting rid of heifers,â€? Ernest said. â€œEvery year we calve in so many heifers, but thereâ€™s always someone looking for them so that we donâ€™t have to sell them for slaughter.â€? The genetically superior youngstock are housed at Wesleyâ€™s farm site prior to breeding age. At 13.5 months old, they return to the dairy for ďƒžrst service. While a majority of the herd settles by third service, the Martins do use beef sires when the cows are approaching ďƒžfth service, Ernest said. â€œWe really only get a few that are that hard to settle, but itâ€™s been a good strategy to keep the barn full,â€? Wesley said. If a cow is not conďƒžrmed pregnant by 200 days in milk, the animal is removed from the herd. In following this protocol, the Martins have developed a productive, longlasting herd. â€œThereâ€™s nothing more enjoyable than getting to go into the parlor and seeing a nice row of udders,â€? Ernest said. â€œIt makes the job easier.â€? After establishing this breeding program, the Martins turned their focus to cow comfort and the facilities they were using to house cattle. Prior to 2013, the lactating herd was housed in a naturally-ventilated freestall barn, located south of the parlor. Four years ago, the Martins constructed a tunnel-ventilated barn, which is connected through an alleyway to the west side of the older housing facility. The tunnel-ventilated barn is equipped with 18 fans â€“ 16 57-inch fans and two 48-inch fans at the west end of the barn. â€œCows really adjusted easily from the old freestall barn to this,â€? Wesley said. â€œWe donâ€™t run the barn as full as we used to, which helps.â€? Three pens separate the herd into lactating cows, dry cows and breeding age heifers. Typically, ďƒžrst-lactation an-

imals are housed in the original freestall facility because the animals tend to be smaller and ďƒžt more comfortably in the stalls than the larger, older animals. â€œIt really depends on what we have room for,â€? Wesley said. â€œIf we need more room, the second lactations go to the old barn, too.â€? In addition to creating more space for the herd, the Martins also began bedding with sand in 2000. â€œIn general, sand bedding helps us keep cow comfort and overall animal health going,â€? Ernest said. â€œItâ€™s helped with milk production and reproduction.â€? The Martins farm a total of 850 acres, both for their own feed and a cash crop enterprise. â€œWe plant our corn as a dual purpose, that way we can shift the acres around if we need more shelled corn or earlage depending on if we think the acres will have a good grain yield or good silage,â€? Ernest said. To further their crop potential, Ernest and his family purchased a shredlage processor nearly two years ago. With the equipment, the Martins are able to process their crop more efďƒžciently, resulting in a better quality feed and increased digestibility. â€œWe pulled out straw [from the ration] and didnâ€™t see a loss in cow health, but an improvement in milk production by a couple pounds per cow,â€? Ernest said. With more attention given to feed quality, cow comfort and animal health, the Martins are reaping the beneďƒžts. However, such beneďƒžts would not be attainable without help from outside sources. â€œWe donâ€™t do it all by ourselves, and itâ€™s not one big thing, but a lot of little things that weâ€™ve done well to improve our herd,â€? Ernest said. Wesley agreed. â€œOur nutritionist and A.I. technician play key roles in the farmâ€™s success,â€? he said. â€œThey provide good advice and keep cows healthy.â€? In the future, the family plans to build an environmentally controlled calf nursery. Wesley will continue learning from his father and then start his own dairy, creating space on the family farm for his younger brothers to become more involved. The past 17 years have been a progressive time for Ernest, and he looks forward to many more years in a career that has supported his family. â€œThe whole thing about farming is that weâ€™re working with Godâ€™s creation â€“the animals and soil, and itâ€™s all about family,â€? Ernest said. â€œThatâ€™s why I farm.â€?

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Dairy Star • Saturday, May 13, 2017 • Page 39