Seniors! CELEBRATING OUR
Pages 8 - 9 of the Second Section!
DAIRY ST R
Volume 23, No. 6
Dairy groups unveil Class III Plus proposal Plan would create pricing reform for FMMO
May 8, 2021
“All dairy, all the time”™
“I’m very optimistic for the future.” – Cliff Thompson
Puzzle pieces t together for Thompson expansion
By Jennifer coyne
krista.k@dairystar.com
Four Midwest dairy farmer organizations are proposing a change to the Federal Milk Marketing Order pricing formula. In a press conference April 27, the Dairy Business Association, Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, Minnesota Milk Producers Association and Nebraska State Dairy Association unveiled the Class III Plus – a reform proposal for FMMO, specically targeting uid milk pricing. “We’re tying the ultimate price of Class I to what the price of Class III is, with Class III becoming the primary mover of Class I,” said John Holevoet, director of government affairs at DBA. “Both class prices will still exist but in a linear relationship that is more predictable and stable.” The proposal would revise how Class I is calculated in the FMMO formula. In short, the Class I skim milk price would be calculated as the Class III skim milk price plus the Class I skim milk price adjuster. Using the average of the monthly differences between the higher of Class III and Class IV skim milk prices plus the Class III skim milk price during the prior 36 months of August through July will result in the adjuster. It is intended for the United States Department of Agriculture to publish a revised adjuster each September for the upcoming year. To facilitate a quick move toward revenue-neutrality after the pandemic, the Class I skim milk price adjuster will not be lower than $0.36 per hundredweight for 2021-25. The proposal would also replace advanced pricing with announced prices. This shift may reduce the likelihood of depooling and negative producer price differentials. “The pandemic brought to light what could happen with milk prices. It discovered areas that needed improvement,” said Wisconsin dairy farmer and DBA President Amy Penterman. “Hopefully this will level Turn to PRICING | Page 5
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Mitch (le�) and Cliff Thompson stand in the freestall barn at the farm they recently bought to expand their dairy, Thompson Family Dairy, near Lewiston, Minnesota. The Thompsons now milk 800 cows on two farm sites.
One farm family leaving Winona County meant opportunity for another By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
LEWISTON, Minn. – More pieces of the Thompson Family Farm puzzle have t in place. “I’m very optimistic for the future,” Cliff Thompson said. “It’s really awesome to see and know that Thompson Family Dairy is not dying. People say in dairying you’re either growing or dying. We’re growing. This piece of the puzzle fell in place.” The Thompsons – Cliff and his wife, Cindy, along with their son and daughter-in-law, Mitch and Hilary – bought a neighboring dairy farm April 8, expanding their dairy to milking 800 cows on two farm sites near Lewiston; however, the acquisition came at the loss of neighboring dairy farmers and friends, Parker and Katherine Byington, moving out of state. “They were the best neighbors you could ask for,” Mitch said. “It’s a double-edged sword because I really hate to see great neighbors leave, but it’s a good opportunity for us.” Likewise, the Byingtons enjoyed having the Thompsons as their neighbors before they moved West with over 200 of their cows to pursue buying a larger dairy farm closer to family. “We have enjoyed doing business with the Thompsons
from the moment we arrived to Lewiston,” said Parker Byington about his family who moved to the area from Washington in 2015. “They were extremely good to us not only in a business way but in a neighbor way. They took care of us.” Expansion has been on the Thompsons’ minds since Mitch started his dairy farming career on the family farm after graduating from high school in 2004. Their original dairy site sits in a valley without much room to add on to buildings or build new ones. “We’ve always talked about having more cows,” Mitch said. “But we had to gure out how do we get more and how can we feasibly afford to do it with needing to build a different facility somewhere else to house more cows and more land to do it.” So, when the Byingtons approached the Thompsons in December 2020 about buying their dairy, it made the pieces of the Thompsons’ dairy expansion puzzle fall into place. “At rst we asked if we could do it or should we do it,” Mitch said But it did not take long for the family to be on board. “It was almost like how do you not do it,” Cliff said. “You wouldn’t want to drive by the rest of your life and say we should have bought it.” Turn to THOMPSONS | Page 6
Page 2 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021
DAIRY ST R www.dairystar.com
ISSN 020355 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave. Sauk Centre, MN 56378 Phone: (320) 352-6303 Fax: (320) 352-5647 Published by Dairy Star LLC General Manager/Editor Mark Klaphake - mark.k@dairystar.com 320-352-6303 (ofce) 320-248-3196 (cell) 320-352-0062 (home) Ad Composition Nancy Powell 320-352-6303 nancy.p@dairystar.com Consultant Jerry Jennissen 320-346-2292 Editorial Staff Krista Kuzma - Editor/Wisconsin (507) 259-8159 • krista.k@dairystar.com Andrea Borgerding - Associate Editor (320) 352-6303 • andrea.b@dairystar.com Jennifer Coyne - Assistant Editor (320) 352-6303 • jenn@dairystar.com Danielle Nauman (608) 487-1101 danielle.n@dairystar.com Stacey Smart - Staff Writer (262) 442-6666 • stacey.s@dairystar.com Maria Bichler - Copy Editor 320-352-6303 Advertising Sales Main Ofce: 320-352-6303 Fax: 320-352-5647 Deadline is 5 p.m. of the Friday the week before publication Sales Manager - Joyce Frericks 320-352-6303 • joyce@dairystar.com Bob Leukam (Northern MN, East Central MN) 320-260-1248 (cell) bob.l@star-pub.com Mark Klaphake (Western MN) 320-352-6303 (ofce) 320-248-3196 (cell) Laura Seljan (National Advertising, SE MN) 507-250-2217 fax: 507-634-4413 laura.s@dairystar.com Jerry Nelson (SW MN, NW Iowa, South Dakota) 605-690-6260 jerry.n@dairystar.com Mike Schafer (Central, South Central MN) 320-894-7825 mike.s@dairystar.com Amanda Hoeer (Eastern Iowa) 320-250-2884 • amanda.h@dairystar.com Julie Barnes (SE WI and Northern IL) julie.b@dairystar.com Megan Stuessel (Western Wisconsin) 608-387-1202 • megan.s@dairystar.com Kati Kindschuh (Northeast WI and Upper MI) 920-979-5284 • kati.k@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.
A glance at what’s inside
Celebrate your senior
Pomp and circumstance will soon be playing as students don their cap and gown. Yes, it is graduation season once again. To honor high school seniors who live or work on dairy farms, we will feature them in Celebrating Seniors on pages 8-9 in second section starting this issue and going through June. Dairy Star started the feature last year when COVID-19 caused shut downs of schools, events and most of the world’s normalcy. Students missed gatherings for milestones and took to coming together in online platforms rather than in person. To recognize these students especially with unprecedented circumstances, Dairy Star dedicated a few pages of the paper to these graduating individuals. These students provide necessary labor for dairy farms while gaining valuable life skills in the process. Please take a moment to read about these seniors, who help keep our area dairy farms running. Congratulations to the graduating class of 2021! If you know of a graduating senior who lives or works on a dairy farm in our coverage area, please send their name and phone number or email to Krista at krista.k@ dairystar.com. We will continue to feature these students through our June issues.
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The views and opinions expressed by Dairy Star columnists and writers are not necessarily those of the Dairy Star LLC.
The Dairy Star is published semi-monthly by Dairy Star, LLC, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378-1246. Periodicals Postage Paid at Sauk Centre, MN and additional mailing ofces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378-1246.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021 • Page 3
It’s all inside... Columnists
Turner
Bon Yankton Homme
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Lin
Clay
Lyon
Osceola O’Brien
Sioux
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Dick
Clay
Palo Alto
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Plymouth Woodbury
Ida
Monona
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Po
Sac
Zone 1
Zone 2
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A day in the life of the Brands family
Mon
bo du
Greene Guthrie
Kanabec
Washington
Ra
ms ey
Mitchell Howard
Hancock Cerro Gordo
ldt
Floyd
Boone
Polk
ll
ha
Story
rs Ma
aw
as
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Ch
Bremer
Wright Franklin Butler
Dallas
Houston
Black Hawk
Tama
Jasper
Fayette
Clayton
an
an
ch
Bu
e war Dubuque
Dela
Benton
Linn
Iowa
n oh
Jones
Taylor
Madison Warren Marion Mahaska Keokuk
Union R
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old
Clarke
Lucas
Decatur Wayne
Monroe Wapello
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n ppa
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n Cedar
so
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Davis
son
fer
Jef
Jackson Clinton
Muscatine
n Adair
y mer Adams
Page
Worth
Grundy un Webster Hamilton Hardin
tgo
Mills
n Win
o
mb
Hu
Au
Pottawattamie Cass
Luverne
go
eba
Kossuth
First Section: Pages 1, 6 - 7
Winona
Fillimore
Mower
lho
Ca
Crawford Carroll
Harrison Shelby
as
Freeborn
Faribault
Martin
e
Hutchinson
Jackson
iek
Charles Mix
Nobles
ake
Douglas
Gregory
Rock
Brown
Cottonwood Watonwan Blue Earth Waseca Steele Dodge Olmsted
am
Tripp
McCook Minnehaha
Murray
Puzzle pieces t together for Thompson expansion
Wabasha
sh
Todd
n
Ha
Moody
Rice
ne
Mellette
n so
Lake
Nicollet
All
Aurora
Miner
Redwood
W in
Brule
Sanborn
Brookings
Goodhue
gto
Lyman
Jerauld
Kingsbury
Lewiston
Dakota
Scott
Sibley
Lyon
hin
Buffalo
Beadle
Louisa
Wa s
Hamlin
Hand
iek
Hyde
Hennepin Carver
sh
Jones
Hughes
McLeod
Renville
Yellow Medicine
Po we
Stanley
Deuel
Anoka
Wright
Meeker
Chippewa
Lac Qui Parle
Codington
Clark
Kandiyohi
Isanti
eu r
Sully
Spink
Sherburne
Swift
Grant
Pine
Mille Lacs
Su
Faulk
Potter
Ziebach
Carlton
Benton
Stearns
Pope
Second Section: Pages 22 - 23
Aitkin
Morrison
Douglas
Stevens
Millers create fundraiser to purchase portable AEDs
Crow Wing
Todd Grant
Big Stone
Day
Cass
Plainview
go
Dewey
Edmunds
Otter Tail
Wilkin
Roberts
Marshall
McPherson Brown
Walworth
Jackson
Richland
Sargent
Itasca
Becker
Clay
Lincoln
Campbell
Corson
Dickey
McIntosh
Ma
Ransom
LaMoure
Emmons Sioux
Bennett
Cass
en
m hno
Cook Lake
Le
Bames
Tra ver se
Stutsman
Logan
Haakon
Polk
Pipestone
Kidder
Koochiching St. Louis
Red Lake
Trail
Steele
Beltrami
Pennington
Hubbard
Griggs
Lake of the Woods
Marshall
Grand Forks
Kids Corner: The Mellgrens
isa Ch
Shannon Page 26 Second Section
Burleigh
Grant
Come Full Dairy Circle
Fall River
Foster
Morton
Adams
Country Cooking
Wells
Dalquists use contract for deed to transition farm
Roseau
Norman
Oliver
Pennington
Custer
Walsh
n
Page 32 First Hettinger Section
Kittson
Eddy
Mercer
Pages 10 - 11 Second Section
Lawrence
Pembina
Benson
Sheridan
The “Mielke” Market Meade Weekly
Butte
Cavalier
Towner
Ramsey
McHenry
McLean
Page 33 Perkins First Section
Harding
Rolette
io
Bowman
Third Section: Pages 12, 13
Nelson
From the Zweber Stark Farm
Slope
First Section: Pages 12 - 13
Bottineau
Ward
Billings Golden Valley
First Section: Pages 18, 20
Da vi so n
Dunn
Second Section: Page 3
Un
Mountrail
Page 31 First Section
Zumbro Falls
Pierce
Veterinary Wisdom
McKenzie
Randall
Using genetic information improves herd at Sandhill Dairy
Wadena
Renville
Burke Page 30 First Section
Williams
Perham
Carlson earns distinguished Big 12 honor
Dear County Agent Guy
Divide
Brookings
n
Pages 8-9 First Section
Clearwater
Ag Insider
Van Buren
Scott
Waukon
Northeast Iowa cow expecting 13th calf for Bushman family Third Section: Page 5
Henry Des
Moines
Lee
Second Section: Pages 14, 16 - 17
FROM OUR SIDE OF THE FENCE: What was the most challenging part of this past year as a mom and farmer?
For additional stories from our other zone, log on to www.dairystar.com
First Section: Pages 15 - 16
Richmond
Clinton
First Section: Pages 34 - 35, 38
Third Section: Page 11
MJHA hosts all breeds convention
Dairy’s Working Youth: Hillary Burken
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Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021 • Page 5
ConƟnued from PRICING | Page 1 out the playing eld to not experience that again. This would be a sensible change that will last for decades.” Class III Plus was announced ve days after National Milk Producers Federation requested an emergency hearing with the USDA regarding their own proposal to the order. NMPF’s proposal aims to reform the Class I uid milk price mover by adjusting the value every two years based on market conditions of the prior 24 months. The current mover of $0.74 per cwt would remain the oor. In a press release, NMPF stated the current Class I mover contributed to disorderly marketing conditions that cost dairy farmers more than $725
“This is not only a short-term x but goes into future generations. Ultimately, we need to eliminate volatility moving forward.” JOHN HOLEVOET, DBA
million in lost income. The proposed change – which had not yet been entirely unveiled at the time of this writing – is said to help recoup the lost revenue and ensure farmers and processors are protected from future signicant price disruptions. The Midwest dairy group representatives said their proposal offers longer-term solutions than the one presented by NMPF. “We should be making changes that leave us with a better system overall. Class III Plus does that,” said Kris Bousquet, executive director of NSDA. “We owe it to farmers, processors and customers to get it right.” With NMPF’s hearing request on the table, the four Midwest dairy groups are in a better position to present their proposal for reform. “We are a baseline position and want to look at this issue and others, regardless of timing on a hearing,”
Holevoet said. “Now because of NMPF’s proposal, we might be moving forward with a hearing sooner than we anticipated. Ultimately, the issues at the core of our proposal are important and need to be addressed whether that happens in the near or long term.” While the proposal was developed by dairy organizations in only two of the nation’s FMMOs, research and conversation have proven the plan would be effective in all orders. “Our proposal does a good job at eliminating negative PPDs and volatility in the milk price,” Bousquet said. “I’m proud of how this proposal does that and we’ll champion that moving forward.” Lucas Sjostrom agreed. “We believe our proposal does not create an advantage or disadvantage overall between classes,” said the executive director for MMPA. “Our goal is to nd something that works best for the nation’s federal milk marketing orders. We want something that’s good for processors, consumers and dairy farmers.” As the dairy groups wait for conrmation on the hearing, the proposal is being further discussed with dairy farmers across the nation, and organizations are opening up those lines of conversation with lawmakers. “This is the rst unveiling of Class III Plus,” Sjostrom said of the press conference. “But we’ve talked about the principal of this proposal from coast to coast.” Holevoet agreed. “Those conversations are ongoing, today and well into the future,” he said. “We’ll continue to monitor if and when an ofcial request is made to the USDA for a hearing. Then, we’ll decide if and when to engage. All that work lies ahead of us.” With the possibility of FMMO reform on the horizon, Penterman encourages all to understand the implications of the current system and what will create effective change. “We’re not going to get it perfect, but we’re going to poke holes and try to perfect it,” she said. “This is not only a short-term x but goes into future generations. Ultimately, we need to eliminate volatility moving forward.”
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ConƟnued from THOMPSONS | Page 1
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A message on a white board greets people to the farm site the Thompson family recently purchased April 8. It is a neighboring farm to their original farm site near Lewiston, Minnesota. Mitch agreed. “When this opportunity came up, it answered our land question, our permitting question, our cow question. Everything was answered in purchasing this,” he said. “We could expand with a signature and just take over.” The friends and neighbors worked together from December until April 8 to make the transition seamless. The location of the Thompsons’ new dairy made it a great addition to their farm. “You can see my house from the end of the freestall barn,” Mitch said. “And I drove by it every day (before we bought it) to get to our other dairy.” The farm sits in between the family’s two other farm sites. One is where they raise heifers where Mitch and Hilary live. The other, where Cliff and Cindy live, is home to their original milking site with a freestall barn and double-8 parallel parlor for milking cows. Cows will be freshened and bred at the new dairy and then will move to the original Thompson dairy site once conrmed pregnant and through most of the dry period. Before the Thompsons bought the dairy, they were already managing the land through their custom business, Thompson Family Harvesting, which
they created as another revenue source after Mitch joined the farm. “Now everything we run is basically one big block,” Mitch said. The close proximity of the two dairies is partly what would have made expansion difcult if the Byingtons had stayed. They, too, had thoughts of expansion. “If we would have expanded, it would have put tight pressure in that area for feed and land,” Byington said “Instead of two families trying to eek it out, I think one family will do very well and be successful with the resources in the area.” Plus, the Byingtons knew the Thompsons would likely continue dairying into future generations. “The likelihood that one of my kids is going to want to farm is pretty high,” Mitch said about his three children, Dylan, 10, Sophia, 8, and Cullen, 5. Plus, there are many nieces and nephews who spend a lot of time at the Thompsons’ dairy and may be interested as well. “Given we weren’t from the area and had other goals, it made sense to bow out and surrender the land and rent Turn to THOMPSONS | Page 7
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ConƟnued from THOMPSONS | Page 6
in order for one farm to successfully continue,” Byington said. Perhaps one of the biggest underlying reasons both the Thompsons and Byingtons were holding out on expanding was the 1,500-animal unit cap in Winona County, which has been a topic of heated debate in the area for many years. “Winona County should take a harder look at what the animal unit cap really means,” Byington said. “The county is part of a national and global dairy market that depends on competition or producing milk at a low cost in order to produce it, and by not allowing the larger farms to grow does not mean that you’re supporting or fostering the survival of the smaller farms.” While the Byingtons said they received a lot of attention for leaving, they also felt like they had the opportunity to choose another place to continue their dairying dream because they did not have several generations tied to the land. “The people who are most negatively affected in that (animal unit cap) rule is not us,” Byington said. “It is the multigeneration dairy farms in Winona County that know that land for several generations, would like to continue it and are not able to. Those families are not going to choose to move their farms to another state or county. They will simply sell the cows and be done. That is a loss for those families, tradition, the heritage of dairying, and it’s an even
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Cows eat a total mixed raƟon at the Thompson Family Dairy site near Lewiston, Minnesota. The Thompsons recently purchased the site aŌer a neighboring dairy farm family moved out of state. greater loss for Winona County.” Byington said his family would have looked more closely at a future in Winona County if they would have been able to add more cows to their dairy, which has reached the animal unit cap. “The silent stories are the dairies that have had to sell out or deny fam-
ily members from returning to the farm because they’re not able to expand,” Byington said. “Many 300-, 400-cow dairies sold since we’ve been here. It’s an issue Winona County should own. It’s the No. 2 dairy county in the state, and they’re not acting like it or giving the dairies in the county the positive attention they should get.”
While the Byingtons did not get to continue their farming future in the county, the Thompsons are happy to take the opportunity to buy another dairy for the future of their farm. “It means a lot to be able to expand,” Cliff said. “I get kind of emotional. This is my legacy.”
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Page 8 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021
TEFAP to replace Farmers to Families Food Box Program
The Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Pro- I skim milk price to the Class III skim milk plus the gram will replace the United States Department of addition of a 36-cent adjuster. Agriculture Farmers to Families Food Box Program. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said TEFAP will Labeling bill introduced be more efcient, and there were disparities in adA bill has been reintroduced in the Senate to preministrative costs with the old program. vent plant-based products from being laAg Insider In response to the news, American Farm beled as dairy foods. The Dairy Pride Act Bureau Federation President Zippy Duwould force the Food and Drug Adminvall said he was surprised, because the istration to enforce its existing standards. need is there. The USDA also said it will The National Milk Producers Federation implement a Dairy Donation Program to said imitation dairy products, like almond facilitate the donation of dairy products or oat-based beverages, have led to conto nonprot organizations. sumer confusion.
Lawmakers ask for the return of USEnvironment will be a part of trade DA’s food box program discussions A group of lawmakers is asking AgThe Biden administration will use riculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to recontrade policy to enhance environmental sider his decision to cancel the Farmers protections worldwide. U.S. Trade RepBy Don Wick to Families Food Box Program. The proresentative Katherine Tai spoke at the Columnist gram provided fresh produce, dairy and Center for American Progress, saying meat products during the pandemic. This the U.S. must be a leader in the issues of coalition said it also supports American farmers and climate change and energy efciency. The U.S.-Mexranchers. The letter was signed by 22 lawmakers in- ico-Canada Trade Agreement does not acknowledge cluding Reps. Michelle Fischbach, Jim Hagedorn and climate change but does include the most comprehenTom Emmer of Minnesota. sive environmental standards in any trade agreement. Tai pledged to strictly enforce the standards within the Federal orders emergency hearing sought USMCA. The National Milk Producers Federation is seeking an emergency USDA hearing on federal milk WOTUS debate includes a promise from EPA admarketing orders. The effort is designed to spread the ministrator risk fairly between dairy farmers and processors. The EPA Administrator Michael Regan promises agproposal would change the current uid milk pricing riculture will be at the table when the Biden adminisformula by adding 74 cents per hundredweight to the tration reviews the Waters of the U.S. rule. “I pledge monthly average price for Class III or Class IV milk. to engage with our agricultural community; I pledge This rate would be reviewed every two years. to work with USDA and Secretary Vilsack,” Regan said. “We are going to set up a structured stakeholder Class III Plus proposed engagement where we actually sit and listen to those Midwest dairy groups have delivered their own who are impacted by regulations and come to a conproposal for Federal Milk Marketing Order reform. clusion on the best way to move forward.” Regan The Minnesota Milk Producers Association, Edge made his comments during an appearance before the Dairy Cooperative, Dairy Business Association and Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Nebraska State Dairy Association have put together the Class III Plus plan. This proposal ties the Class
PPP reduces demand for traditional loans The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City is reporting a drop in the number of farm operating loans during the rst quarter. The total volume of non-real estate loans was down 10% from last year. The report said the Paycheck Protection Program likely displaced a portion of the typical demand for nancing. Milk production continues to rise March milk production in the 24 leading dairy states rose 2%. Nationwide, South Dakota had the biggest increase in production, up 13.4% from one year ago. South Dakota dairy farms added 18,000 cows to the herd in the past year. Minnesota milk production is up nearly 8% with the year-over-year addition of 17,000 cows. A dramatic increase in earnings for Land O’Lakes A positive farm economy is reected in the Land O’Lakes rst quarter nancial report. The Minnesotabased cooperative had net earnings of $136 million, up from $37 million in 2020. The agriculture division was boosted by rising grain prices and strong performance by WinField United. Dairy foods earnings were helped by strong retail sales. Land O’Lakes also enjoyed sales growth in its livestock feed business. Minnesota loses no congressional seats Despite fears to the contrary, Minnesota will not lose a congressional seat in the next election. Minnesota’s 7th District, now represented by Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach, is expected to cover a larger geography, but the seat will not be lost. With the new Census Bureau data, ve states will gain a congressional district and seven states will lose one through reapportionment. Congressional power is moving from the Midwest and Northeast to the South and West. Body joins Stabenow’s staff Mikayla Body will oversee rural development and energy issues for Senate Agriculture Committee Turn to AG INSIDER | Page 9
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ConƟnued from AG INSIDER | Page 8 Chair Debbie Stabenow. Most recently, Body was a senior legislative assistant for Minnesota Congresswoman Angie Craig, focusing on agriculture and energy issues. Neubauer recognized by mastitis council The National Mastitis Council has honored Dr. Gary Neubauer with its Award of Excellence for Contributions to Mastitis Prevention and Control. Neubauer was a partner/owner of the Nicollet-New Ulm Veterinary Clinic before taking dairy-related positions at Pharmacia Animal Health, Pzer Animal Health and Zoetis. Neubauer retired in 2020. 2021-22 Minnesota State FFA Ofcer Team named The 2021-22 Minnesota State FFA Ofcer Team was named during the Minnesota FFA Convention. President is Emily Matejka from the Martin County West FFA Chapter in Sherburn.
The vice president is Wyatt Halvorson from the Thief River Falls FFA Chapter. The secretary is Nicole Koziolek from Randolph FFA, and the treasurer is Kyle Thomas from Rockford FFA. The reporter is Anna Ridenour of the Triton FFA Chapter, and Baleigh Peterson is the sentinel from the GFW Pioneer Express FFA Chapter. Trivia challenge The average dairy cow produces 200,000 glasses of milk in her lifetime. That answers our last trivia question. For this week’s trivia, how many times does the average cow chew her cud per minute? We will have the answer in the next edition of Dairy Star. Don Wick is owner/broadcaster for the Red River Farm Network, based in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Wick has been recognized as the National Farm Broadcaster of the Year and served as president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Don and his wife, Kolleen, have two adult sons, Tony and Sam, and ve grandchildren, Aiden, Piper, Adrienne, Aurora and Sterling.
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Page 10 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021
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CHILTON, Wis. – Dairy farmer Adam Faust has never lived a life without challenges. Born with spina bida, Faust wore braces on his feet as a child and has issues with walking and balance. To complicate matters, he also has two prosthetic legs after losing both limbs from the knee down within seven years. Because of the spina bida, Faust has limited feeling in his legs, which makes walking on prosthetics even more challenging. Despite STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR the burdens piled on Faust Adam Faust milks 70 cows and farms 200 acres near Chilton, Wisconsin. Faust over time, including two was born with spina bida which causes weakness in his legs and problems near-death experiences, with walking and balance. He also has two prostheƟc legs aŌer losing both he never lost his drive to limbs from the knee down. farm. Faust milks 70 registered Holsteins and farms 200 acres near Chilton. He is a second-generation farmer, who purchased Faust Farms from his parents in 2016. The year prior, he and his father gutted the tiestall barn and put in longer and wider stalls, manger tile and a DeLaval carrier rail to make milking easier for Faust. “You never carry a unit with this system,” Faust said. “You don’t have to physically pick anything up. You slide the unit in and all around the barn on the track. It saves on shoulders as well as knees. Carrying heavy units across a gutter is very hard on knees. To me, this is the only way to milk, short of robots.” The track begins in the milkhouse and runs around the barn, extending into every stall. Faust’s system includes eight milking units featuring Wi-Fi capabilities STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR to record milk weights and other information. Faust also Cows at Faust Farms are milked with units featuring installed rubber ooring throughout the tiestall barn, re- Wi-Fi capabiliƟes to record milk weights and other structured and strengthened the building, put in an air informaƟon. The units work with the carrier rail and intake system and added 72-inch fans to pull a 12 mph are aƩached to hooks that slide around the barn wind. and into each stall to eliminate heavy liŌing. “I’m prone to falling, so the rubber oor is nice,” Faust said. “It’s far superior to concrete.” Faust received a grant from AgrAbility for the carri“Easter Seals does a lot of the leg work,” Faust er rail. DeLaval has an agreement with AgrAbility, offer- said. “Rural rehab counselors go out to farms and watch ing a discount to farmers who wish to install the technol- someone work to gure out their needs. After watching ogy. Faust has been a member of AgrAbility since 2010 me work, they determined I needed a better way to get – an organization whose purpose is to assist farmers who around so AgrAbility got me a utility vehicle in 2011. have disabilities so they can keep farming. AgrAbility is They also watched how I fed cows with a wheelbarrow a national program, and each state has its own version and worked with a company to build a custom feed cart featuring university and nonprot components working for me.” together. AgrAbility of Wisconsin is a partnership beAgrAbility felt that a walk-behind cart was not safe, tween the University of Wisconsin Extension and Easter Turn to FAUST | Page 11 Seals Wisconsin.
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Manger Ɵle was added to the Ɵestall barn when it was remodeled in 2015 at Faust Farms near Chilton, Wisconsin. To make feeding easier and safer for Faust, he uses a custom feed cart featuring a plaƞorm for riding which he got from AgrAbility in 2011.
Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021 • Page 11
ConƟnued from FAUST | Page 10 so they worked with a feed cart company to put a platform on the cart, allowing Faust to feed with the push of a button while riding. “I’ve had the feed cart since 2011, and it works excellent,” said Faust, who also has a custom-made automated bedding cart. In 2013, Faust faced his rst amputation. After being sick for a week with what he thought was the u, Faust discovered he had diabetes. The diagnosis came on the same day he lost his left leg. He was 33 years old. Faust had dropped a grate on his foot, causing a bone infection that was exasperated by off-the-chart blood sugar levels. “I was so sick I didn’t care if I lived,” Faust said. “My pancreas decided to quit because my blood sugar went through the roof. I was in a coma for a couple days, and they weren’t sure if I was going to wake up. I was on massive antibiotics for several days.” Strong-willed and determined, Faust plowed through rehab in a week, which was two weeks quicker than doctors anticipated. Faust healed fast and got his prosthetic leg the following month. “I gured out how to walk, move around and get down steps,” said Faust, who does not believe in limitations. “A couple months later, I was milking cows.” But after his second amputation in 2020, Faust could do nothing on the farm for four months and was told he would never milk again in a tiestall barn. This forced Faust to hire help. Adam’s wife, Cassi, a medical lab technician, does all the milking on weekends. “Even milking with one prosthetic was tough, especially when crossing the gutter,” Faust said. “That’s why I’m looking at putting robots in.” Last April was a hard month for Faust. First, his machine shed started on re when a round baler went up in ames.
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
This carrier rail was installed in 2015 to make milking easier for Faust. The track begins in the milkhouse and runs around the barn, extending into every stall. Faust received a grant from AgrAbility to help with the purchase of the rail which eliminates the need to carry units. Shortly thereafter, Faust contracted a rare esh-eating disease known as necrotizing fasciitis. When Faust reached the hospital, the infection was moving at an inch per hour. “The doctors told me that in 24 hours, I would’ve been dead,” Faust said. Faust banged his foot on a skidloader which gave the fasciitis an opportunity to attack. “I didn’t have to go through rehab after the second amputation, but I was on antibiotics for months,” Faust said. “It took four months to get my preliminary leg.” Currently using a cane to get around, Faust received his permanent prosthetic a couple weeks ago and is looking forward to becoming more mobile with the new leg. “One prosthetic was easy compared
to two,” he said. Faust is gearing up for an expansion and has plans drawn up for a 125-stall robotic milking barn he hopes to be in by the end of this year. He started planning for robots before losing his second foot. “Robots have been the goal for a long time,” Faust said. “Plans and permits are in place, and we’ll start construction as soon as the bank gives me the green light. I’m going to start with two robots, but I’ll have space for three.” Faust plans to have 130 cows milking at startup. “With more cows, I’ll need more tons of feed per acre,” Faust said. “I plan to keep my acreage the same but just manage it differently. We’ve been completely no till since 1996 and also plant a lot of cover crops. We get really high yields. This is a forage-focused farm. I don’t
like feeding grain. Cows are healthier and make a lot of milk when consuming high-quality forages. We plant HarvXtra alfalfa and BMR corn silage – both of which give us super high ber digestibility levels. This year, I’m also going to add triticale to the mix.” Although he no longer milks, Faust is able to do everything else, including feeding, cleaning and eldwork. “You learn to adapt,” Faust said. “I learned to do things a little different over the years. If it doesn’t work to do it the way everyone else does it, I can usually gure out a new way.” Faust is creative, concocting inventions that allow him to do things people with two regular legs can do without thinking. He made a step and connected it to a string, allowing him to get up and down the steps of his two biggest tractors. Faust has the will; therefore, he always nds a way to accomplish what he needs to. Active off the farm as well, Faust serves as president of Calumet County Dairy Promotions and vice chair of Packerland Milk. Faust is also on AgrAbility’s advisory council and does speaking events from Madison to Portland, Maine. Presenting on assistive technology available to farmers, Faust also shares his personal experiences with the audience. Faust would describe himself as headstrong – a characteristic that has helped him persevere through hardship. Blessed with a never-give-up attitude, Faust is a ghter. Where others might fold, Faust meets his challenges head on and refuses to let any disability prevent him from doing what he loves. Even two prosthetic legs will not stop him from farming. “I’ve always had challenges,” Faust said. “But I’ve never considered myself handicapped. I don’t let stuff stand in my way.”
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Page 12 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021
A plan for ownership
Dalquists use contract for deed to transition farm By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
RANDALL, Minn. – Whether milking cows, xing fence line or planting his spring crop, Michael Dalquist is working toward farm ownership; a quest he began one year ago. “We wrote out the pros and cons of coming back here to dairy farm, and we did a lot of praying,” Michael said. “It was a big decision. But, since high school, I have always wanted to do this.” Michael and his wife, Cora, milk 30 cows on their organic dairy farm in Morrison County near Randall. The Dalquists are in the process of purchasing the farm from Michael’s parents, Dale and Kathy. Michael and Cora returned to the farm in 2019, and a year later, June 2020, the couple entered into a contract for deed agreement with Dale and Kathy, which is a 28-year contract to purchase the farm site and most of the land. “The way we’re set up, the contract for deed is not a huge
JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR
Michael and Cora Dalquist and their daughters – (from leŌ) ChrisƟna, 2, and Elsie, 3 – milk 30 cows on their organic dairy farm near Randall, Minnesota. The Dalquists are taking over Michael’s family farm through a contract for deed arrangement. monthly payment, but there is always an option to pay more,” Michael said. Before the agreement was set in stone, the Dalquists also included the herd of milking cows and machinery. However, before both parties signed, they agreed to have Michael and
Cora purchase those entities separately. “This way I can own the cows,” Michael said. “I already own almost half of the herd.” The Dalquists’ days begin around 5 a.m. when Michael heads to the barn for milking and other chores. After
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come over once a day for afternoon chores,” Michael said. “Dad does a lot of the eldwork too.” The Dalquists milk in a 30-stall tiestall barn. “Not too long after I took over, I bought automatic takeoffs,” Michael said. “It’s been an adjustment.” When Michael and Cora met, they pursued another agriculture business with Cora’s family in central North Dakota. While it was always Michael’s intentions to farm the land he grew up on, the couple could not justify the decision at the time. “We really had a hard time envisioning enough income to feed two families here,” Cora said. “We joined my family’s seed-cleaning business and became part owners.” Then, three years ago, the Dalquists re-evaluated their long-term goals after Dale’s health began to decline. “It was a lot of physical labor,” said Michael of his father milking cows. “There were two summers in a row he got pretty knocked out.” After discussing the possibility of returning home and developing a plan that would allow the farm
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Dairy Cattle Reproductive Management Course SDSU Extension is exploring a Dairy Cattle Reproductive Management Course designed for Spanish- and/or English-speaking employees. Technicians are frequently taught the skill of breeding, but not the factors that influence reproductive success. Therefore, the course is targeted toward individuals wanting to increase their reproductive knowledge to bring back to the farm. To help determine the need and development of the course, we are requesting you complete a survey. Scan the QR code or visit the link below. Contact:
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The Dalquists – (from leŌ) Michael, Cora, Elsie and Kathy, holding ChrisƟna – talk about the farm dynamics on their dairy April 19 near Randall, Minnesota. to nancially support two families, Michael and Cora and their young family relocated. “This farm has been in the family for generations,” Michael said. “We didn’t want that to end.” Kathy agreed. “We were doing all right, but we were getting to the point that it was more than we could handle,” she said. “We didn’t want to tell him to come home but it worked out. When they decided to milk cows, oh, it was so great.” The couple started receiving the milk checks a few months before the contract for deed was signed, but had already been working on the farm for half a year. The arrangement has allowed Michael and Cora to make management decisions for the future of their farming enterprise. For example, Michael makes all breeding decisions on the farm, even though he does not own all the cows. “My breeding goals for cattle are to incorporate all A2A2 genetics and polled as much as I can,” Michael said. “That all takes time, so I started buying sexed semen.” When a transaction is made for an animal owned by Dale and Kathy, the senior Dalquists receive the prots. Revenue from calves of cows owned by Dale and Kathy is recouped by
them, whereas cull cows receive a set price and the junior Dalquists receive anything above that amount. To create an effective contract, the Dalquists worked with a nancial consultant and attorney. “When Dale took over from his dad, it wasn’t exactly a shake-of-yourhand deal, but there was a lot less to it,” Kathy said. “This was more work than we expected. But, it’s what we had to do.” Michael agreed. “Dad wanted to offer a good deal, but we had to be practical,” he said. “Neither party wants to rip the other one off. We have a lot of trust.” That strong, understanding relationship is what the Dalquists credit to their relatively smooth transition. Not only has it allowed one generation to step back, but it has also allowed a generation to create the best dairy business they envision for their family. In time, Michael plans to expand the dairy to provide more income on less labor and accomplish his high school dream of owning his family’s dairy farm. “I like being my own boss because no one tells me how to run my day or what decisions to make,” Michael said. “If things go wrong, it’s my fault. If things go right, it’s my fault.”
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Page 14 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021
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Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021 • Page 15
What is the most rewarding part about being a mother? Cinda Van Der Zwaag Boyden, Iowa Sioux County 48 cows
Describe a typical day for you. I get up at 5:30, start getting the kids’ stuff ready, give the kids their breakfast and make their lunches. After the kids get on the bus, I go out and feed the calves. After that, I make breakfast for my husband, Brad. I do household chores for the rest of the morning. After we have lunch, I do some general maintenance around the farm. We are the fourth generation of Brad’s family to dairy farm here, so I’m going through things and deciding what to keep and what to recycle. When the kids come home, I help them with their homework or run them to soccer practice. After the evening calf chores are done, I make supper. We make a point of having supper together as a family. What was the most challenging part of this past year as a mom and farmer? All of the one-on-one time helping the kids with their schoolwork when their school was shut down by the pandemic was the biggest challenge. My whole day was spent at the kitchen table with the kids. The biggest farm challenge was worrying about all of the bottlenecks for the things that we need and the things we were sending out. We want to keep on producing the food people need. What are lessons from the farm you try to instill in your children? If you don’t work, you don’t eat. It’s OK to get dirty, just don’t track it all through the house. Who has been your mentor? What did he or she teach you? My maternal grandmother was a huge inuence on my life. I grew up in town but spent a lot of time as a girl on my grandparents’ dairy farm. Grandma taught me how to cook and bake, and how to keep the guys fed during their 18-hour workdays. My aunt taught me how to care for baby calves. Because of these experiences, I knew what I was getting into when I married Brad. I think about my grandma and my aunt, and what they taught me every day. What is the most rewarding part about being a mother? Watching the kids grow and learn and guiding them on their paths. The whole process is very rewarding. Tell us about your farm. Brad and I have four children: Mason, 14, Clint, 13, Jena, 9, and Elias, 7. We farm 220 acres and fatten out all of our steers. We are pretty self-sufcient, as we farm just enough land to raise all of our own feed with a little grain leftover to sell each fall. It’s very enjoyable to work on the farm with my family to produce milk and meat. It’s a privilege to follow in Brad’s family’s footsteps, and I hope we can continue. I feel God is calling me to do this work.
Amy Blunt Kimball, Minnesota Meeker County 60 cows Describe a typical day for you. The kids and I get up at 6:30 a.m. The kids are on the bus around 7:10 a.m. After the kids leave, I’ll take care of our ducks and rabbits before I head to the farm. Once at the farm, I start with giving milk to the calves then get ready to milk. After milking, I feed the cows then clean the barn. I’ll start feeding dry cows, heifers, younger cattle and steers. Whatever I don’t nish before lunch I’ll nish after the kids get home from school at 4 p.m. The kids have a snack and do homework before heading back to the farm. I’ll nish up with the chores that I didn’t get done before. Now with planting, I’ll help where I am needed. Grandma will take the kids home for bed because I’m nishing up with night chores. The goal is to be home before 11 p.m. What as the most challenging part of this past year as a mom and farmer? The most challenging thing about last year was balancing chores with distance learning. The kids had two set times for class; they did one class before heading to the farm. Most of the time, Grandma would have to take them home for their second class while I nished chores. What are lessons from the farm you try to instill in your children? Work for what you want. To understand the commitment of being a dairy farmer and taking care of animals, any animals. Who has been your mentor? What did he or she teach you? My dad, Robert Christofferson. He has taught me a lot throughout my learning. He is always a call or a visit away. The second mentor would be my mom, Lori Christofferson. She’s always there when I need her advice or to put a smile on my face. What is the most rewarding part about being a mother? Being able to have my children alongside me working and watching them get excited every time a new calf is born. Tell us about your farm. I am the fourth generation on this family farm. My dad and uncle own it. They are involved with the farm operation, mostly with the eld and crop work. My husband and I take care of the animals. My mom, dad and grandma live on the original farm site where the dairy is located. My uncle, Don Christofferson, lives 1.5 miles northwest, and we live 1.5 miles east of the dairy farm.
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Angela Scherping Freeport, Minnesota Stearns County 62 cows Describe a typical day for you. There never seems to be a typical day. My day usually starts around 2:30 a.m. when my husband, Travis, gets up to start morning milking. I either help get cows in the barn and help get milking started, or I do housework until it’s time to get the kids up. My two older boys do morning feeding, and I get the rest of the kids ready for school. Once the kids are at school, I mainly do housework and prepare meals due to a little one in the house. I do help with feeding, bedding calves, moving cows, feeding chickens, running for parts/supplies and other tasks around the farm. Once the kids are home from school, it’s time for evening chores and milking. I also do the bookkeeping and organic records for the farm. What was the most challenging part of this past year as a mom and farmer? The most challenging part as a mom and farmer over the past year was to make sure I was taking time for myself. It often takes a back seat to making sure the kids stay healthy and the needs of the kids and the farm are meet. What are lessons from the farm you try to instill in your children? Work ethic, patience, communication, working as a team and love for what you are doing. I also teach the kids to take one day at a time. We never know what tomorrow is going to bring so we only need to worry about today. Who has been your mentor? What did he or she teach you? My mentors are my parents. My parents taught me to be the best I can be and never stop trying. They also taught me it doesn’t hurt to ask for help and to offer help whenever I am able. What is the most rewarding part about being a mother? The most rewarding part about being a mother is watching my children grow into unique people. Seeing what they do and say, and to know that you played a part in that. Also, the hugs, thank yous and I love yous. Tell us about your farm. Travis and I have been on his family’s organic dairy farm south of Freeport since 2005. We have six kids: Levi, 12, Leo, 10, Logan, 8, Lucas, 6, Lewis, 3, and Lily, 8 months. We milk 62 cows, and our cattle are rotationally grazed.
Turn to OUR SIDE | Page 16
Page 16 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021
ConƟnued from OUR SIDE | Page 15 Anne Borgschatz Plainview, Minnesota Wabasha County 180 cows Describe a typical day for you. A typical day starts around 5 a.m. I review homework, make sure the kids are up and moving, do a few household chores, start a load of laundry and load breakfast dishes into the dishwasher. My oldest is out the door by 6:30 a.m., and my youngest gets on the bus at 7:30 a.m. I eat breakfast and take some time for devotions and then head out the door to feed calves around 8 a.m. I am usually back in from chores around 9:30. Two days a week I work as a bookkeeper for a local meat processing plant from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. On the days I am not there, I do farm ofce work, barn work, yard work or house work during that time. After school and evenings are reserved for kids’ activities (sports, piano lessons, etc.) and board meetings. I try to have supper on the table by 6 p.m. if there is not an activity or meeting going on. I am back out the door for calf chores again at 8 p.m. My goal is to wrap up the day by 9:30 or 10 p.m. What was the most challenging part of this past year as a mom and farmer? The most challenging part about being a mom this past year was keeping the kids motivated and optimistic. I have a senior and an eighth grader. Many of the things they had looked forward to during their last year were canceled or changed beyond the point of recognition. Even the things that were mostly normal were a little bit harder. The most challenging thing about being a farmer this past year is adjusting to the turnaround time and price increases on everyday parts and supplies. What are lessons from the farm you try to instill in your children? Be the best steward of everything that has been entrusted to you. Who has been your mentor? What did he or she teach you? There have been so many people who have been kind to me and taken me under their wings in the 15 years we have been farming; too many to choose just one. Because I didn’t grow up dairying, I had to start from scratch. Just about everyone I dealt with taught me something. What is the most rewarding part about being a mother? The most rewarding part of being a mother is watching my children grow into humble, hardworking, responsible and caring adults. Tell us about your farm. We are a fth-generation conventional dairy farm, milking 180 cows twice daily in a double-9 herringbone parlor. We raise our replacements and grow most of our feed. We own a small grains seed company, Zabel Seeds, in partnership with my husband’s cousin and family. Our dairy tool design and manufacturing company, Easy B-Z Manufacturing Company, is the original portable calf restraint company.
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Describe a typical day for you. I’m in the barn about 5:30 a.m. My husband and I milk the cows in a small swing-over parlor that we built about 10 years ago. I feed the calves while he cleans up, then we go in for breakfast. I usually do the housework, dishes, laundry and whatever else. I feed calves again at noon, then we have lunch. I don’t do much of the feeding of the cows. I’ll be doing some of the eldwork this summer. My husband would rather do cows than tractors, and I love the elds so this works for us. But, a lot of the eldwork we hire custom operators. We rotationally graze in the summer, and my husband does almost all of the feeding of silage and big bales through the winter months. We do chores again at 4:30 p.m., then the day’s work is about done. Without teenagers in the house anymore, we don’t have all the evening activities like concerts, sports or FFA. What was the most challenging part of this past year as a mom and farmer? The challenging part of this year is that I hate having an empty nest. We spent all those years with kids underfoot and then all of a sudden they’re gone, and I miss them more than I should, I suppose. What are lessons from the farm you try to instill in your children? I hope I instilled a great understanding of needing to work for a living. I hope they understand that stuff isn’t what makes life fullling, but it is people and a job done well. Who has been your mentor? What did he or she teach you? My parents were my mentors. They milked cows most of their adult lives until my dad got cancer. He sold the cows and had a small beef herd for a few years. They worked harder than anyone I ever knew before or since. What is the most rewarding part about being a mother? The rewards of motherhood are so much vaster than I can write. I loved every second from the rst morning sickness to today, when my grown daughter stopped by to get a gallon of fresh milk from the tank for her family. I was never the mom who looked forward to school starting again in the fall so that I could have some peace and quiet. I loved the noisy house. But now that they’re all grown up, I’m so proud I raised four children who are working jobs and contributing to society by paying taxes and being involved in things that improve the world and help those around them. Tell us about your farm. My husband and I own CloverKey Ayrshires. We milk about 60 registered Ayrshires on 120 acres of permanent rotational pasture with 90 acres of cropland not contiguous. We show and sell registered Ayrshires in Wisconsin and some out of state. Our youngest daughter is in college at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, and she will be home again for the summer to help with shows and the day-to-day running of the farm.
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Janet Hetke Ladysmith, Wisconsin Rusk County 60 cows
Describe a typical day for you. My day starts at 5 a.m. with checking dry cows and feeding calves. When the babies are fed, I move to robot chores: checking the robot stats, fetching cows and doing the daily robot maintenance. By 7:30 a.m., I go into the house and help get the kids ready for school. When they are off for the day, I go back to the barn and nish anything I didn’t nish and tackle any extras for the day. Ideally, I am back in the house by 10 to clean, do laundry, make supper, work at the desk and do whatever else the day throws at me. By 3 p.m., the kids are home. They have a snack and do homework after school and then the whole troop goes out by 4 p.m. for evening chores. What was the most challenging part of this past year as a mom and farmer? The biggest challenge was giving myself grace. As life keeps getting busier, I keep nding myself falling behind on all sorts of jobs: laundry, cleaning (barn and house) and paperwork. As a result, I stay up late trying to catch up. I am doing better at giving myself grace by occasionally allowing the dried towels to stay in the wash basket so I can sit down to watch a show or by telling myself it is OK to get supper uptown. What are lessons from the farm you try to instill in your children? The one lesson I want my kids to take away from the farm is patience. Patience with the calf that won’t drink or the cow that is antsy in the robot. Patience with the weather or with the rusty bolt that won’t come loose. There are so many situations we face as farmers that require a great deal of patience. I want my kids to learn to keep a level head in heat-ofthe-moment situations where patience needs to trump anger or frustration. Who has been your mentor? What did he or she teach you? This title goes to God. God gifted me with a strong skill set to be a successful farmer. As I get older, I nd myself leaning more and more into faith to lead me. Trusting that whatever situation I am in, whether good or bad, is exactly where I am supposed to be. I was put in that moment to teach somebody something or to learn something myself. I do my best to take away something from every situation I encounter. That being said, I also have a pretty awesome family circle who contributed to who I am today. What is the most rewarding part about being a mother? The most rewarding part about being a mom is watching the kids grow. It’s bittersweet but so gratifying. My heart overows when they tell me about something new Dad taught them to drive, an adventure they were on or the calf they got back in without help. The excitement in their eyes in those moments makes me so happy we are able to raise our family on the farm. The stories we tell our kids and the stories they will tell their kids are the best part about living and growing in this life together. Tell us about your farm. My husband and I are the third generation to run our farm. We milk 125 cows with two Lely robots. We raise our youngstock and farm 300 acres of corn and alfalfa. We also do custom hauling for hay and silage harvest as well as run a small herd of beef. Derek and I will be married 13 years in October. I wasn’t a farmer until I met Derek. We had our kids before I was 30. Jax is 11, Chloe is 10, Jovi is 8 and Alec is 4.
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Page 18 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021
Breeding Focus
Genetic testing guides decisions at Sandhill Dairy Sandhill Dairy Perham, Minnesota Ottertail County 350 cows Describe your facilities and list your breeding management team. We are milking in a double-10 parallel parlor three times a day. Heifers are kept at three facilities. Breeding-age heifers are kept in an indoor facility. Bob Dombeck oversees heifer breeding, and Deanna Harmann and Devin Meyer breed the cows. What is your reproduction program? Do you use a synchronization program? How do you get animals pregnant? We have a 70-day voluntary waiting period. We were using a doubleovsynch program but are in the process of switching to SCR heat detection. If they are not bred by 100 days in milk, then they will be started on ovsynch. They are bred until pregnant or made a do-not-breed at 250 days in milk. What are the top traits you look for in breeding your dairy herd and how has this changed since you started farming? We started genetic testing in 2011. We then started picking sires for genetic values, cheese merit and daughter pregnancy rate to bring good
MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR
The breeding crew at Sandhill Dairy includes (from leŌ) Bob Dombeck, Deanna Hartmann and Devin Meyer. The dairy milks 350 cows near Perham, Minnesota.
Turn to SANDHILL | Page 20
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Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021 • Page 19
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Page 20 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021
ConƟnued from SANDHILL | Page 18 reproduction qualities back into the herd. We use high-quality bulls in the heifers and do embryo transfer in lower genetics animals. We have started to use sexed semen in all embryo transfers. All of the embryo transfer work is done by us. The top half of cows get sexed semen and the bottom half of cows get beef; all heifers get sexed semen. Now, we have a strong genetic milking herd. What are certain traits you try to avoid? Low daughter pregnancy rate and big animals. Describe the ideal cow for your herd. Strong, healthy, medium-framed animals. What roles does genetics have in reaching the goals of your farm? Everything is based off of genetic scores. What percentage of your herd is bred to sexed, conventional and beef semen? All heifers are bred to sexed semen. Half of the higher cows get sexed semen, and the lower half are bred to beef which is a combination of sexed and conventional. What is your conception rate? How does this differ with different types of semen? Our conception rate is 32%; 30% for sexed semen, 30% for sexed beef semen and 38% for conventional beef semen. What is the greatest lesson you have learned through your breeding program? Using all of the genetic information has greatly improved our herd and made us more efcient.
MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR
This cow exemplies the type of animal Sandhill Dairy strives to breed. The dairy tries to breed for strong, healthy, medium framed animals. What is the age of your heifers at rst service? 14 months. How does your heifer inventory affect your breeding program? Our breeding program dictates our heifer inventory. We need approximately 12
heifers a month to keep up with culling. Our average age in the milking herd is 5, but right now, we have cows at 8 years old. Tell us about your farm. We milk 350 cows and raise our heifers. We farm
about 2,000 acres of corn, soybeans, alfalfa, and light and dark red kidney beans. I (Bob) work in partnership with my father, Mark, brother, Steve, and brother-in-law, Jeremy Lachowitzer.
¿Como se dice?
SPANISH CORNER SPONSORED BY:
Have you ever wondered ‘How do I say that in Spanish?’. Below are a few common phrases heard around the dairy, along with how to say them in Spanish.
› Push the feed please.
Empuje la comida por favor.
Exhaust Fans Recirculating Fans Chimneys 5RRI 9HQWV
Ehm-poo-heh lah koh-mee-dah pohr-fah-bohr.
› Wash the water troughs please. Lave los bebederos por favor.
Lah-beh lohs beh-beh-deh-rohs pohr-fah-bohr.
› Clean the alley please.
Limpie el callejón (pasillo) por favor. Leem-pyeh ehl kah-yeh-hohn pohr-fah-bohr.
Have a phrase you want to learn?
:H KDYH \RXU YHQWLODWLRQ VROXWLRQV &DOO XV WRGD\
United Dairy Systems :HVW 8QLRQ ,$
Submit your request to Jorge.
Jorge Delgado Talent Development Expert jdelgado@alltech.com
www.alltech.com/dairy-on-farm-support
Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021 • Page 21
Financing subject to pre-approval through JD Financial. Some restrictions apply. See dealer for details.
Low-Rate Financing Available
JD 569, 2014, ##179194 17919 1944
JD 460M, 2018, #164359
25,900
$
Hardi Nav4000, $ 2013, #179001
24,000
JD 1760, 2011, #182209
43,900
$
Demco RM600, $ 2014 #181336
17,900
CIH LBX331, $ 2002, #181560
20,900
42,500
$
Hardi Commander $ 1200, 2002, #181150
17,500
Top Air TA1200, $ 2011, #179435
44,900
Equipment and pictures added daily • Go to www.mmcjd.com AIR DRILLS AND SEEDERS
6 CIH SDX 40/adx2230 2007, 40’, 7.5” Spacing, Double Shoot, #180891 .......$53,900 4 4 2 17 17 1 9 9 16 14 14
FIELD CULTIVATORS
Sunflower 5035 2016, 24’, 3-Section Folding, C-Shank, #177191...............$28,900 JD 2210 2012, 32’, 3-Section Folding, C-Shank, #173629 ...............................$35,900 CIH Tigermate 255 2018, 55’, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #181416 .........$94,900 CIH TIGER MATE 2004, 40.5’, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #177257.............$19,900 CIH 4300 30’, 3-Section Folding, C-Shank, #181148 .........................................$8,500 JD 2210 2006, 57’, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #181942 ...............................$32,500 CIH 4800 28’, 3-Section Folding, C-Shank, #182692 .........................................$5,900 JD 960 1989, 38’, 3-Section Folding, C-Shank, #180045....................................$4,000 JD 2210 2009, 50’, 5-Section Folding, #182258 ...............................................$42,500 JD 960 1989, 42’, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #165959....................................$5,900 Elmers 6400 1991, 41’, 3-Section Folding, S-Tine, #178092 ..........................$10,900
LARGE SQUARE BALERS
2 JD L330 2016, 7,000 bale count, #179376 .......................................................$89,900 1 CIH LBX331 2002, 53,000 bale count, #181560 ..............................................$20,900 10 10 17 7 6 8
MOWER CONDITIONERS
NH H7230 2015, #176984 ................................................................................$22,400 JD 946 2012, #182272 .......................................................................................$17,900 Hesston 1372 2010, #178648 .........................................................................$17,400 JD 635 2009, #173285 .......................................................................................$14,900 JD 956 2015, #180948 .......................................................................................$35,900 NH H7550 2014, #167351 ................................................................................$19,900
DRAWN PLANTERS
4 JD 1770NT CCS 2006, 16 Row, 30” Spacing, Flex Fold, Vacuum, Central Fill System, #181880................................................................................$55,900 17 JD 1790 2003, 16/32 Row, 15/30” Spacing, Flex Fold, Vacuum, Central Fill System, #181335................................................................................$62,900 6 White 6100 1995, 6 Row, 30” Spacing, Rigid, Plate, #181144 .........................$7,900 9 JD 1770 1997, 16 Row, 30” Spacing, Flex Fold, Vacuum, 3.0 Bu. Hopper, #180078 ...............................................................................................................$19,500 16 JD DB66 2017, 36 Row, 22” Spacing, Wing Fold, Exact Emerge, Central Fill System, Row Command, Elect. Drive, #175194 .............................................................$349,500 16 JD 1760 2011, 12 Row, 30” Spacing, Wing Fold, Vacuum, 3.0 Bu. Hopper, #182209 .....................................................................................$42,500 5 JD 1775NT 2021, 16 Row, 30” Spacing, Flex Fold, Exact Emerge, Central Fill System, Row Command, Elect. Drive, #174940 .............................$199,500 5 JD DB44 2013, 24 Row, 22” Spacing, Flex Fold, Vacuum, Central Fill System, Row Command, #179347 .................................................................................$159,900
INTEGRAL PLANTERS
6 JD 7300 24 Row, 22” Spacing, Wing Fold, Vacuum, 1.6 Bu. Hopper, #182009$17,500 6 JD 1720 2006, 16 Row, 30” Spacing, Wing Fold, Vacuum, 3.0 Bu. Hopper, #181587 ...............................................................................................................$24,400
5 JD 7300 1989, 12 Row, 30” Spacing, Wing Fold, Vacuum, 1.6 Bu. Hopper, #180958 .................................................................................................................$9,000 3 JD 7300 1992, 12 Row, 30” Spacing, Wing Fold, Vacuum, 1.6 Bu. Hopper, #175563 .........................................................................................9,900 10 17 1 16 5 14 3 3 3
PULL-TYPE SPRAYERS
Hardi NAVIGATOR 1000 2007, #169543 ......................................................$11,900 Top Air TA1200 2005, #180618.......................................................................$12,500 Hardi NAV550 2005, #179504 ..........................................................................$9,500 Hardi Navigator 4000 #180889 ...................................................................$15,000 Hardi Commander Plus 1200 2002, #181150 ...........................................$17,500 Redball 132’ walking tandems, #176938.........................................................$12,900 Top Air TA2400 2011, #179435.......................................................................$44,900 Top Air TA1100 2004, #182369.........................................................................$7,900 Hardi Navigator 4000 2013, #179001 .........................................................$24,000
ROUND BALERS
4 JD 560M 2019, Mega Wide Pickup, Both Twine and Surface Wrap, 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale Width, 2,100 bale count, #179000 .........................................$45,500 2 NH BR7060 2011, Mega Wide Pickup, Surface Wrap Only, 540 PTO, 4’ Bale Width, Precut Knives, 7,300 bale count, #169262 ....................$23,900 2 JD 569 2012, Mega Wide Pickup, Both Twine and Surface Wrap, 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale Width, 3,300 bale count, #173254...........................................................$38,400 2 NH 664 1998, Twine Only, 540 PTO, 5’ Bale Width, #171161.............................$3,950 10 JD 569 Silage Special 2015, Mega Wide Pickup, Both Twine and Surface Wrap, 540 PTO, 5’ Bale Width, 3,300 bale count, #178210............................................$41,500 10 NH BR770A 2006, Twine Only, 540 PTO, 5’ Bale Width, 11,500 bale count, #182463 .................................................................................................................$8,400 10 JD 569 2016, Mega Wide Pickup, Both Twine and Surface Wrap, 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale Width, 9,800 bale count, #181002...........................................................$31,400 10 JD 854 Silage Special 2013, Mega Wide Pickup, Both Twine and Surface Wrap, 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale Width, Precut Knives, 6,000 bale count, #181465..................$27,900 10 JD 560M 2018, Mega Wide Pickup, Surface Wrap Only, 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale Width, 7,600 bale count, #181057...........................................................$41,500 17 JD 569 2014, Mega Wide Pickup, Both Twine and Surface Wrap, 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale Width, 15560 bale count, #179194..........................................................$25,900 6 JD 460M 2018, Mega Wide Pickup, Both Twine and Surface Wrap, 1000 PTO, 4’ Bale Width, Precut Knives, 6,400 bale count, #164359 ...................................$43,900 6 JD 459 Silage Special 2017, Mega Wide Pickup, Surface Wrap Only, 4’ Bale Width, 3,800 bale count, #177855 ..................................................................................$35,900 6 JD 569 Silage Special 2013, Mega Wide Pickup, Surface Wrap Only, 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale Width, 9,540 bale count, #177861...........................................................$29,400 6 NH Rollbelt 460 2015, Mega Wide Pickup, Both Twine and Surface Wrap, 540 PTO, 4’ Bale Width, 9,000 bale count, #178946............................................$20,900 6 JD 560M 2019, Mega Wide Pickup, Surface Wrap Only, 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale Width, 7,200 bale count, #179188 ..................................................................................$42,400
6 Claas 480RC 2017, Mega Wide Pickup, Surface Wrap Only, 540 PTO, 4’ Bale Width, Precut Knives, 5165 bale count, #179187 ...........................................................$31,500 6 JD 567 2002, Mega Wide Pickup, Twine Only, 540 PTO, 5’ Bale Width, 8,312 bale count, #179041 ..................................................................................$11,900 6 JD 568 2010, Mega Wide Pickup, Both Twine and Surface Wrap, 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale Width, 12,200 bale count, #181866.........................................................$25,400 6 JD 569 2016, Mega Wide Pickup, Surface Wrap Only, 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale Width, 5,085 bale count, #180947 ..................................................................................$42,400 6 JD 566 1998, 540 PTO, 5’ Bale Width, 14,000 bale count, #181621 ...................$9,400 6 Krone Comprima V180XC T 2016, Mega Wide Pickup, Both Twine and Surface Wrap, 1000 PTO, 4’ Bale Width, Precut Knives, 7,450 bale count, #182694 ...............................................................................................................$43,900 5 JD 568 2008, Mega Wide Pickup, Both Twine and Surface Wrap, 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale Width, 13,500 bale count, #176786.........................................................$21,900 5 JD 569 2013, Mega Wide Pickup, Both Twine and Surface Wrap, 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale Width, 18,000 bale count, #172972.........................................................$30,900 11 NH BR780 2003, Twine Only, 540 PTO, 5’ Bale Width, #169873 ........................$6,900 3 Vermeer 605F 1980, Twine Only, 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale Width, #168368 ..............$2,400
Visit one of our 17 locations in Central Minnesota! CALL (7) = ALEXANDRIA (9) = PRINCETON (12) = AITKIN (4) = ST. CLOUD (1) = GLENCOE 4561 Hwy. 212
1035 35th Ave. NE
(2) = HOWARD LAKE (5) = GLENWOOD 5845 Keats Ave. SW
1710 N. Franklin
(3) = STEWART
(6) = SAUK CENTRE
78412 Co. Rd. 20
1140 Centre St.
320-763-4220 5005 Co. Rd. 82 SE
3708 Baptist Church Rd.
(8) = PAYNESVILLE
16069 Hwy. 27 E.
725 Lake Ave. S.
1120 2nd St. NW
(10) = LITTLE FALLS (13) = BAXTER (11) = WADENA 62505 US Hwy. 10
7045 Foley Rd.
UTILITY TRACTORS
4 JD 5075M 2019, Standard, Power Reverser, MFWD, 540/1000 PTO, Mid Tire Width, 145 hrs., #177178 ................................................................................................$42,900 4 JD 5075E 2020, Standard, Cab, Power Reverser, MFWD, 540 PTO, Mid Tire Width, 36 hrs., #165329 .........................................................................$44,900 4 JD 5075E 2020, Standard, Cab, Power Reverser, MFWD, 540 PTO, Mid Tire Width, Loader, 61 hrs., #165325......................................................................................$51,900 4 JD 5075E 2020, Standard, Cab, Power Reverser, MFWD, 540 PTO, Mid Tire Width, Loader, 50 hrs., #163203......................................................................................$51,900 4 JD 5115M 2019, Standard, Cab, Power Reverser, MFWD, 540/1000 PTO, Mid Tire Width, Loader, 351 hrs., #159205 ..........................................................$79,500 10 JD 5100E 2019, Standard, Cab, Power Reverser, MFWD, 540 PTO, Mid Tire Width, 163 hrs., #182552 .......................................................$55,000 10 JD 5090E/Loader 2019, Standard, Cab, Power Reverser, MFWD, 540 PTO, Mid Tire Width, Loader, 60 hrs., #155533 ............................................................$59,500 7 AC D17 1958, Standard, Syncro; 2WD, 540 PTO, Narrow Tire Width, 5,994 hrs., #171331 .................................................................................................................$2,995 7 Kubota M5-111 2018, Standard, Cab, Power Reverser, MFWD, 540 PTO, Mid Tire Width, Loader, 1,740 hrs., #182142 .......................................................$48,900 7 Kubota M135 2013, Standard, Cab, Power Reverser, MFWD, 540/1000 PTO, Mid Tire Width, Loader, #179442 .........................................................................$38,900 6 JD 5075M/Loader 2019, Standard, Cab, Partial Power Shift; MFWD, 540/1000 PTO, Mid Tire Width, Loader, 147 hrs., #156690.................................$71,900 11 JD 6105R 2013, Standard, Cab, Power Reverser, MFWD, 540/1000 PTO, Mid Tire Width, Loader, 1,800 hrs., #182294 .......................................................$73,900 11 JD 5075M 2019, Standard, Power Reverser, MFWD, 540/1000 PTO, Mid Tire Width, 103 hrs., #156813.......................................................................$42,900
TODAY! (320)365-1653 (14) = ELBOW LAKE
(16) = BENSON
(15) = MORRIS
(17) = MADISON
110 2nd St. NE
23604 State Hwy. 9
380 Atlantic Ave. 516 1st St. E
SEE OUR COMPLETE INVENTORY WITH PICTURES AND DESCRIPTIONS AT: www.mmcjd.com
Page 22 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021
Dairy industry enters hydration market
Start planning for tomorrow, today. 0
% FINANCING FOR UP
72 MONTHS*
TO
3 MONTH DEFERRAL ON CONTRACTS UP TO 60 MONTHS*
PHOTO SUBMITTED
GoodSport is a new, all-natural sports drink made with milk permeate. The drink was developed in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center for Dairy Research.
GoodSport puts milk on the sports drink map By Stacey Smart
stacey.s@dairystar.com
SCAN ME
www.delaval.com
Contact one of the following dealers to learn more: IOWA Kramer Bros. Monticello, IA 319-465-5931 Prairie Land Ag Supply Inc. Rock Valley, IA 712-476-9290 United Dairy Systems, Inc. West Union, IA 563-422-5355 WISCONSIN Advanced Dairy/Bob’s Dairy Supply Spring Valley, WI 715-772-3201 Ederer Dairy Supply Plain, WI 608-546-3713
DeLaval Dairy Service Kaukauna, WI 866-335-2825 Joe’s Refrigeration Inc. Withee, WI 715-229-2321 Mlsna Dairy Supply Inc. Cashton, WI 608-654-5106 Professional Dairy Services Arlington, WI 608-635-0267 Redeker Dairy Equipment Brandon, WI 920-346-5579 The Scharine Group Inc. Whitewater, WI 800 472-2880 Mt Horeb, WI 800-872-3470
MINNESOTA & SOUTH DAKOTA D&D Ag Supply Pennock, MN 320-599-4466 East Central Dairy Supply Mora, MN 320-679-1029 Farm Systems Melrose, MN 320-256-3276 Watertown, SD 605-886-7401 Sioux Falls, SD 800-284-0015 S&S Dairy System LLC St. Charles, MN 507-932-4288 Professional Dairy Systems Wadena, MN 218-632-5416
*0% interest for up to 72 months, DeLaval equipment only and restrictions may apply, on approved credit and minimum deal amount of $25,000 is required to qualify. Lease option may include a residual to be paid in order to obtain full ownership at the end of the term. Subject to special conditions’ that may cease at any time. Accrued interest invoices are capped at 4 months, effective Jan 1st 2021. is a registered trademark of Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. and “DeLaval” is a registered trade/servicemark of DeLaval Holding AB © 2021 DeLaval Inc. DeLaval, 11100 North Congress Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64153-1296. www.delaval.com
MADISON, Wis. – Few athletes reach for milk when playing sports or working out. But dairy could soon be on the minds of many as the go-to source for thirst-quenching refreshment and hydration – thanks to a new product called GoodSport. Using dairy as its base, this revolutionary product is the rst of its kind to enter the sports hydration industry. For the rst time ever, a dairy product will directly compete with drinks like Gatorade and Powerade. “GoodSport is an all-natural sports drink made from the goodness of milk,” said entrepreneur Michelle McBride. “It provides truly effective hydration that is backed by science and is the only drink in the sports hydration industry that contains dairy.” GoodSport’s primary ingredient is milk permeate, which is captured from the ultraltering of milk. “Ultraltration leaves you with a clear, thirstquenching liquid packed with milk’s essential electrolytes, vitamins and carbohydrates but not the protein and fat,” McBride said. “It’s ideal for making an effective sports drink.” The idea for GoodSport came about when McBride was searching for a healthier drink option for her son to consume during baseball games. “Every time he went to a game, he was offered a sports drink lled with articial ingredients and too much sugar,” McBride said. “I’d bring him chocolate milk as a healthier option for after games, but it wasn’t very tting to use before or during a game. The protein in milk is slow to digest and can cause gastric discomfort during a workout.” McBride was inspired to create a hydrating beverage without the articial ingredients found in leading sports drinks. Milk turned out to be the perfect partner for McBride. Filled with electrolytes, milk is scientically shown to be more hydrating than traditional sports drinks and water. To bring her idea to life, McBride partnered with the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center for Dairy Research. Offering scientic expertise in dairy research, technical support and education, the CDR assists dairy food and beverage companies with new product development. K.J. Burrington, CDR’s dairy ingredients, beverages and cultured products coordinator at the time, worked with McBride to formulate a sports drink made with dairy. “No company had ever asked us for help in that area before,” Burrington said. Burrington determined milk permeate was the magic ingredient for McBride’s beverage. “Permeate is thirst quenching and has the right texture,” she said. Turn to GOODSPORTS | Page 23
Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021 • Page 23
ConƟnued from GOODSPORTS | Page 22
Providing the proper sensory experience was important, and milk permeate was up to the task. Plain milk would not provide the appearance, avor, texture or sensory experience compatible with typical sports hydration drinks. “Michelle started off with something based from milk, but the texture and mouthfeel wasn’t typical of a sports drink,” Burrington said. “When you develop a beverage with milk, it’s milky looking and has a thicker mouthfeel. I knew milk permeate was the way to go.” A number of companies ultralter milk, but the resulting permeate is not used in food applications very often; therefore, Burrington knew there would be plenty available for McBride. Working with companies to rescue and upcycle their permeate for use in GoodSport contributes to the sustainability of the dairy industry. “When we ultraltered the milk at CDR, we made a toast because I knew right then and there that we could do it,” said McBride, who does not have a dairy background. “It was a tear-shed moment. From there, it was a process of guring out the specics and science behind turning it into a delicious and shelf-stable drink. There were a lot of failed attempts before we got to the right formula – but we did it.” From start to nish, GoodSport took 4.5 years to develop. “GoodSport contains a combination of electrolytes, including calcium, magnesium
PHOTO COURTESY OF CENTER FOR DAIRY RESEARCH
Entrepreneur Michelle McBride (center) is pictured with K.J. Burrington (leŌ) and Vic Grassman (right) at the Center for Dairy Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2018. McBride used the center’s experƟse in dairy ingredients and beverages when formulaƟng her new sports drink, GoodSport. and phosphorus as well as other vitamins – all of which are naturally occurring in milk permeate,” Burrington said. “Other sports drinks have to add these nutrients. GoodSport contains all-natural avors and colors and no added sugar, which is something many consumers are looking for.” Burrington said the goal of her work is to ensure value-added uses for every component of milk, including co-products like permeate ingredients. “We’re using milk permeate in a completely new beverage space now,” Burrington said. “In the end, this does provide a return to dairy farmers. Moving dairy into a whole new
category where it wasn’t before is a big deal.” McBride describes GoodSport as delicious and addicting. “GoodSport is exactly what you would expect from a sports drink,” McBride said. “It’s light and clear with a great balance of sweet and tart. It was specically formulated to taste great when you are hot and sweaty.” Burrington agreed. “GoodSport is a very light and refreshing drink,” she said. “It’s also very nutritious from a hydration standpoint and from every standpoint, making it a great drink for anybody of any age.”
When tested against water and other commercial isotonic drinks in a study by Penn State University, GoodSport was found to be more hydrating, keeping subjects hydrated for more than two hours. “The study found the combination of electrolytes and carbohydrates in milk permeate to be very effective at hydrating at the cellular level,” McBride said. “GoodSport promotes the body’s ability to retain and hold more uid, which provides superior hydration.” Unlocking the natural hydrating power of milk, GoodSport has over three times the electrolytes of leading sports drinks and 33% less sugar.
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“We don’t add any sugar,” McBride said. “GoodSport contains only the sugar from milk. In addition, it’s the only sports drink that provides calcium.” McBride said it was truly a gift to be able to work with the CDR. “I continue to work with Susan Larson and Kristin Houck, who are a tremendous help with ongoing testing,” McBride said. “And Vic Grassman and the TURBO program at CDR continue to provide insightful info that helps us as we’re moving forward.” GoodSport is lactose-free and shelf stable, and available in four avors – citrus, fruit punch, lemon lime and wild berry. GoodSport hit the marketplace in February and is sold on Amazon and GoodSport. com, and will also be found on retail shelves in the Midwest this summer. “Consumer reaction to GoodSport has been great so far, and we’ve had a tremendously enthusiastic response from farmers,” McBride said. GoodSport is the rst product McBride developed. Filling a void in the sports hydration industry, GoodSport’s future looks promising. “Athletes no longer have to choose between natural ingredients or effective hydration,” McBride said. “Now they can have both. GoodSport could be a great opportunity for the dairy industry.”
Visit your local J&D dealer: DURAND, WI Komro Sales & Service 715-672-4263
FREEPORT, MN
Variable Speed • No VFD Required!
Dairyland Equipment 218-564-4958
MENOMONIE, WI
Arnzen Construction 320-836-2284
Lindstrom Farm Systems 715-231-3168
FREEPORT, MN
PENNOCK, MN
GILMAN, MN
ROCK VALLEY, IA
Hartung Sales & Service 320-386-2697
•
MENAHAGA, MN
Gilman Coop Creamery 320-387-2770
D&D Ag Supply & Construction 320-599-4466
Prairie Land Ag Supply 712-476-9290
SAUK CENTRE, MN JANESVILLE, WI Dairyland Supply
Add to PM Panel Fan or Belt Drive Panel Fan
Tri-County Dairy Supply 608-757-2697
320-352-3987 800-338-6455
Fuller’s Milker Center 608-723-4634 800-887-4634
Equipment 608-269-3830
SPARTA, WI LANCASTER, WI Preston Dairy
WHITEWATER, WI MARSHFIELD, WI The Scharine Group
www.jdmfg.com Family Owned & Operated in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Podevels Farm Service 608-883-2880 715-384-6193 800-742-5748 WITHEE, WI Hoover Silo Repair MELROSE, MN 715-229-2527 Farm Systems 320-256-3276
Page 24 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021
Instant Cool Your Milk Paul Mueller Company’s HiPerChill™ 5 package chiller works in unison with a Mueller® Accu-Therm® plate cooler to instant cool your milk before it enters your milk cooler, ensuring the highest quality product from your robotic dairy. With digital capacity control, the HiPerChill 5 lets your cows milk at their own pace while you benefit from greater energy savings.
HiPerChill™ 5 Package Chiller
Advanced Dairy Solutions Richland Center, WI
Redeker Dairy Equipment Brandon, WI
United Dairy Systems West Union, IA
Central Ag Supply Juneau, WI; Baraboo, WI
Seehafer Refrigeration, Inc. Marshfield, WI; Sparta, WI
Gorter’s Clay & Dairy Equipment Pipestone, MN
Ederer’s Dairy Supply Plain, WI; Blanchardville, WI; Dodgeville, WI
Stanley Schmitz Inc. Chilton, WI
Leedstone Melrose, MN; Glencoe, MN; Plainview, MN; Menomonie, WI
J. Gile Dairy Equipment, Inc. Cuba City, WI Monroe Westfalia Surge Monroe, WI Professional Dairy Services Arlington, WI 1-800-MUELLER | PAULMUELLER.COM
Total Dairy Services Kewaunee, WI Tri-County Dairy Supply Janesville, WI Fuller’s Milker Center Lancaster, WI Eastern Iowa Dairy Systems Epworth, IA Sioux Dairy Equipment Rock Valley, IA; Colton, SD
Midwest Livestock Systems Zumbrota, MN; Menomonie, WI; Sioux Falls, SD S&S Dairy Systems St. Charles, MN Glencoe Co-Op Assn. Glencoe, MN
Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021 • Page 25
Two take home top dairy FFA awards Dieball, Lange are state SAE winners By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
While this year’s Minnesota FFA Convention had another year of a different format with a mix of virtual sessions, and live and in-person interactions, it still was able to recognize the hardworking students from across the state. State winners of the Supervised Agriculture Experience dairy categories included Aly Dieball, from the Sibley East FFA chapter, taking the top spot in Dairy Production Entrepreneurship. Gabby Lange from Martin County West FFA chapter won the No. 1 award in Dairy Production Placement. “I was very excited,” Dieball said about the moment she found out she won the top award. “Realizing that I was able to help contribute to the family farm and Aly Dieball able to grow my own knowledge and see it all paid off in the end was so cool. It was almost emotional.” Lange felt similarly. “I was in shock,” she said. “I was not expecting to win. Last year I got second place, and I didn’t think I did anything special to put myself ahead of last year. I was really honored to be Gabby Lange able to represent my school and community, too.” Dairy Production Entrepreneurship Dieball said her love grew from being in the barn and around the cows even before she could walk. “I would sit in the stroller and watch my dad and grandma milk,” she said. “It’s been something I’ve done since I was little.”
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Aly Dieball cares for a newborn calf on her family’s farm, Dieball Dairy, where they milk 200 cows near Green Isle, Minnesota. Dieball is this year’s Minnesota FFA Dairy ProducƟon Entrepreneurship winner. Now the 18-year-old senior actively participates on her family’s 200-cow farm, Dieball Dairy, near Green Isle, Minnesota. While the dairy is owned by her parents, Jim and Wendy, Dieball has a stake in the herd, owning 47 animals from young calves to older cows. “I decided when I was about 8 years old, I wanted to own my own cow because I thought it was cool,” she said. Her rst animal, a small crossbred animal her dad named Ugly, was one she showed in the 4-H dairy show
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Gabby Lange poses with one of the cows on her family’s 90-cow dairy near Sherburn, Minnesota. The 18-year-old senior at MarƟn County West High School won the Minnesota FFA Dairy ProducƟon Placement award. at the county fair. Despite her dad’s thoughts about the calf’s type, Dieball loved the animal that gave her a start in the dairy business. “I bought it and decided that owning animals was something I wanted to do and staying active in the farm is something I wanted to do,” she said. Over the years, Dieball grew her herd at a faster rate by breeding her animals using sexed semen. She was in constant communication with the representative Turn to FFA CONVENTION | Page 26
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Page 26 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021
ConƟnued from FFA CONVENTION | Page 25 from the farm’s genetics company about which bulls to use to breed her animals. Most of the 47 animals she owns now are crossbreds. “My family owns all Holstein,” she said. “I’m the person that brought in these crossbreeds. I really like how they look when they come out when they’re born. It adds character.” While in her younger years Dieball may have bred an animal only for a different color or look, now she takes into account what the cow’s production will add to the herd. In her experience, Dieball said her crossbreds have been healthy animals with few illnesses over the years. Longevity has also been a positive trait about her herd. “I still have my rst crossbred cow. She’s 10 years old and still going,” Dieball said. A few of the younger crossbred animals are also milking more than the older Holsteins, she said. “It’s really exciting to see my animals grow,”Dieball said. “I remember one of my heifers being so small and everyone else in the herd was so big. I didn’t even know if it was going to work. Now she’s in the barn and is amazing. That’s really rewarding to see.” Perhaps one of the most exciting changes to the farm came in 2018 when the Dieballs installed three robots on their dairy. “That was fun to be a part of,” Dieball said. But there has been an even better part of being in the dairy business for Dieball. “Working with my family and seeing what I’m capable of,” she said. “It’s shown me that it doesn’t matter how old you are. You can still make great decisions for yourself whether you’re 10 or 25.” In the fall, Dieball will attend South Dakota State University to double major in dairy production and dairy manufacturing with a minor in food safety. Ultimately, she would like to work for a robotic dairy company before returning to the family’s dairy to expand it or start an on-farm processing facility. Dairy Production Placement While Lange has been doing chores on her family’s dairy since her early years as a kid, she ofcially started logging her time in seventh grade, clocking in over 2,000 hours. The 18-year-old daughter of Mark and Joanna Lange has been working for her dad and his brothers who own the 90-cow dairy near Sherburn, Minnesota. “My favorite part has been working alongside my family,” Lange said. “It’s been a unique experience for us because I am the only one from a dairy farm in my school and only one of two dairy farms left in the county.” Lange cherishes memories she has working with her family. “Being with my dad one-on-one a lot in the barn milking is a good bonding experience with him,” she said. As a kid, Lange started with age-appropriate tasks on the farm. Feeding calves was one of her rst job. “It was kind of dangerous to be in the parlor with the big cows, and I wasn’t strong enough to carry a lot of the equipment,” Lange said about when she started helping on the dairy as a kid. “I’ve gotten a lot more responsibilities as I’ve gotten older because I’ve gotten stronger and obviously learned a lot more about the industry.” It is in the calf barn where she enjoys the work most. “I like working with younger calves because that’s what I’ve done my whole life,” Lange said. “I’ve always been around the younger calves. I feel like it’s amazing that a calf is going to become a super strong, powerful cow, and I have a role in helping it grow and develop.” Through all the hours logged, Lange said she has learned many life skills, especially the importance of hard work. “As long as you put hard work into every task you do, you’re going to come out with an outcome you can be proud of,” she said. “I’m a big believer of you get out of life what you put in.” Lange admits the last several years have been hard for her family because of the milk prices. Another challenge has been downsizing their herd. “It has been hard to see the cows go, but having the smaller herd has really beneted us and given us more time for other things,” she said. This fall, Lange will attend Iowa State University to pursue either agricultural or biological systems engineering. For her career, Lange would like to work to advance the technology of an agricultural business or potentially work or study in another country to help provide more resources on dairy farming.
Midwest Dairy elects leadership
Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021 • Page 27
Allen Merrill, from Parker, South Dakota, was re-elected chairman of Midwest Dairy during the organization’s annual meeting in April in Des Moines, Iowa. Elections for the Corporate board ofcer team also were held. Charles Krause, Buffalo, Minnesota, was re-elected rst vice chairman; Dan Hotvedt, Decorah, Iowa, was re-elected second vice chairman; Lowell Mueller, Hooper, Nebraska, was re-elected secretary and Barb Liebenstein, Dundas, Minnesota, was re-elected treasurer. New members elected by their Divisions to the Midwest Dairy Corporate board include: Brent Mueller, Garden Prairie, Illinois; Pam Bolin, Clarksville, Iowa; Megan Herberg, St. Peter, Minnesota; and Kate McAndrews, Sauk Centre, Minnesota. Division board ofcers and new members are as
follows: Illinois Division: chairman Bill Deutsch, Sycamore; vice chairman David Jarden, Staunton; secretary Amy Hildebrandt, South Beloit; treasurer Glen Meier, Ridott; Steve Obert, Orangeville, Bryan Henrichs, Breese, and Craig Meng, Freeburg, were seated as new members of the Illinois Division board. Iowa Division: chairman Dan Hotvedt, Decorah; vice chairman Lee Maassen, Maurice; secretary Jonna Schutte, Monona; treasurer Larry Shover, Delhi; and Jolene Duitscher, Rolfe, was seated as a new member of the Iowa Division board. Minnesota Division: chairwoman Barb Liebenstein, Dundas; vice chairwoman Kristine Spadgenske, Menahga; secretary – Rita Young, Plainview; treasurer Suzanne Vold, Glenwood; Joe Engelmeyer, Melrose, and Shirley Hulinsky, Burtrum, were seated as new members of the Minnesota
Central Plains 2021 Dairy Fest hosts youth ne arts, photo contests
POW!
Calling all young artists. Become a “Picowsa” and share your masterpiece of how you see the dairy industry on canvas! This contest is opened to all youth in South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota and North Dakota. Your masterpiece should be on a 16x20 or 18x24 canvas. Each exhibit will be evaluated for its merit as an original masterpiece showcasing the dairy industry. Artwork should be appropriately nished and ready to display. Grade categories are: K- 2, Elementary (3-5), Junior High (6-8), Senior High (9-12), College (Ages 18-23). Awards are: 1st place – $100, 2nd Place – $75, 3rd place – $50. K-2 grade winners will receive a dairy fun basket. Paintings will need to be dropped off at the Swiftel Center in Brookings between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 1 and can be picked up before noon on June 5. We can also meet in towns in route to Brookings to take the paintings to Brookings for you. To register or for more information, contact Suzanne Souza at 605237-2199 or email souza004@umn.edu. Behind the Lens with Dairy Photography Contest Capture how you see the dairy industry behind the lens of a camera. The 2021 Dairy Fest Photo contest is open to all high school students and college students in South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota and North Dakota. Photos must be printed on 5x7 or 8x10 and matted. Each exhibit will be evaluated for its merit as an original piece showcasing the dairy industry. Photos should be appropriately nished and ready to rst place in both age categories will receive $100. Photos will need to be dropped off at the Swiftel Center in Brookings between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 1 and can be picked up before noon on June 5. We can also meet in towns enroute to Brookings to take the paintings to Brookings for you. To register or for more information, contact Suzanne Souza at 605237-2199 or email souza004@umn.edu.
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Division board. The Minnesota Dairy Promotion Council, a quasigovernmental group with the same board members, elected the following: chairman Charles Krause, Buffalo; vice chairwoman Rita Young, Plainview; secretary Karen Kasper, Owatonna; treasurer Margaret Johnson, Fountain; and executive member at-large Sarah Kuechle, Eden Valley. North Dakota Division: chairwoman –Rita Mosset, Linton; vice chairman Terry Entzminger, Jamestown; secretary Sue Kleingartner, Gackle; and treasurer Lilah Krebs, Gladstone . South Dakota Division: chairman Jim Neugebauer, Dimock; vice chairwoman Annelies Seffrood, Summit; secretary Chris Fieber, Goodwin; treasurer Gary Jarding, Alexandria; Tim Den Dulk, Beresford, was seated as a new member of the South Dakota Division board.
Page 28 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021 Dana Adams, adam1744@umn.edu 320-204-2968 Joe Armstrong armst225@umn.edu 612.624.3610 Luciano Caixeta lcaixeta@umn.edu 612-625-3130
www.extension.umn.edu/dairy
Water: A critical resource to a dairy operation
Gerard Cramer gcramer@umn.edu 612-625-8184 Marcia Endres miendres@umn.edu 612-624-5391
Water is a critical resource for a dairy operation. By managing your water use, you can provide the water needed for each task without wasting either water or money. The biggest water uses on dairy operations include: drinking water for lactating cows and youngstock; cleaning milking equipment and the milking center; and sprinklers or misters for cooling cows in hot weather. Other water uses can include water needed for worker lunchrooms and restrooms, truck washes, and on-site washing of cow towels and employee coveralls. By Kevin Janni Daily water usage can vary. Normal aniUniversity of MN mal consumption levels are listed in Table 1. Animal drinking water intakes can easily double during hot weather. Sprinkler systems use more water as they run more in hot weather. Water usage for cleaning milking systems and equipment depends on parlor and equipment size. Equipment suppliers should be able to provide an estimate of the water requirements for cleaning. Water usage among dairy operations can vary by as much as three times. An unpublished study of ve dairy operations reported water usage, for all water uses on the dairy operations, ranged from 80 to 240 gallons per lactating cow per day. A Minnesota study found water usage just in the milking center ranged from 2.5 to 9.5 gallons per cow per day on dairy operations with between 41 and 130 cows. One factor in varying water usage is the amount used to wash milking center walls and oors after each milking session. Water systems need to be sized based on both demand and usage. Water demand is the rate of water used per minute and is measured in gallons per minute. Demand like usage varies. Water systems need to be sized to supply the maximum demand in gallons per minute, which commonly occurs in the summer when the animals are drinking, sprinkler systems are operating, and milking equipment and pipelines are being cleaned all at the same time. Your water source needs to be able to provide both the maximum demand and the maximum daily usage day in and day out. Most dairy operations use groundwater and extract it with well pumps. Groundwater resources are not unlimited. Minnesota’s water resources are managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources under state statutes. The statute requires the DNR to manage the state’s water resources to meet long-range seasonal requirements for competing uses. Water use permits are required for all users withdrawing more than 10,000 gallons of water per day or 1 million gallons per year. Most dairy operations use more than 1 million gallons of water per year and need a DNR Water Appropriation Permit.
Joleen Hadrich jhadrich@umn.edu 612-626-5620 Les Hansen hanse009@umn.edu 612-624-2277 Brad Heins hein0106@umn.edu 320-589-1711 Nathan Hulinsky huli0013@umn.edu 320-203-6104 Kevin Janni kjanni@umn.edu 612-625-3108 Karen Johnson ande9495@umn.edu 320-484-4334 Emily Krekelberg krek0033@umn.edu 507-280-2863 Claire LaCanne lacanne@umn.edu 507-332-6109 Brenda Miller nels4220@umn.edu 320-732-4435 Erin Royster royster@umn.edu Isaac Salfer ijsalfer@umn.edu 320-296-1357 Jim Salfer salfe001@umn.edu 320-203-6093 Mike Schutz mschutz@umn.edu 612-624-1205 Melissa Wison mlw@umn.edu 612-625-4276
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Using water for multiple purposes meets a dairy operation’s water needs while conserving the water resource. Most dairy operations use cool well water in a plate cooler to pre-cool freshly harvested milk. The slightly warmed water is stored and used to provide cows and youngstock with fresh drinking water. Water is used for cleaning. Milking equipment and pipelines are rinsed with cold water before being cleaned and sanitized with hot water and chemicals. The used hot water and a nal rinse before milking starts can be collected and stored before being used to wash down milking parlor and holding area oors after milking is completed. The rst cold water rinse after milking, which contains residual milk, is not recommended for oor washing in the parlor or holding area. Some dairy farms use recycled wastewater to ush freestall barn alleys and cross-gutters. This recycled water goes through multiple stages to reduce solids content before being used again to ush either manure alleys or cross-gutters in barns with sand lanes. A leaky water faucet that drips at the rate of one drop per second can waste up to 3,000 gallons of water per year. Excessive washing and rinsing can also waste water. Many dairy farms use water sprinkler systems or misters during hot weather to help cows manage heat stress. Water that does not land on the cows or evaporate may land on the manure alley or holding area oor and end up in the manure handling system. Poorly designed and managed sprinkler systems can waste water and add water to the manure storage system. A study in Wisconsin monitored energy consumption by well pumps on two dairy operations. A 1,750-head dairy farm used two 20 horsepower single-speed well pumps. The second operation, a 2,100-head dairy farm, used two 20 horsepower variable frequency drive-operated well pumps. Electrical energy used by the well pumps was monitored for three days on each farm. The study reported that the dairy using the variable speed drive saved 11.4 kilowatts of well pumping power, typically running at 40% to 60% of the overall horsepower, when compared to the dairy using single-speed well pumping. Animals Calves (1 to 1.5 gal. per 100 lb.)
Usage (gallon/head daily) 6-10
Heifers
10-15
Milking cows
35-50
Dry cows
Sprinkler system
20-30 10-20
Table 1. Normal drinking water requirements. Drinking water intake can easily double during hot weather (MWPS-7, 2013)
New concepts of subclinical hypocalcemia
Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021 • Page 29
Keeping Families on the Farm™
By Luciano Caixeta University of Minnesota
The daily calcium requirements almost triple when dairy cows transition from late gestation to early lactation. For instance, non-lactating cows require 21 grams of Ca to ensure normal bodily function whereas dairy cows producing 110 pounds of milk a day require an additional 55 g of Ca daily. Hence, adequate physiological adaptations are necessary to overcome this substantial increment in Ca demand in order to maintain normal bodily function and support health and production. A small percentage of cows (<5%), especially second and greater lactation cows, cannot adapt to this increase in Ca demand and develop clinical hypocalcemia (i.e., milk fever). In contrast, between 30% and 70% of the cows have a decreased blood Ca concentration without the presence of clinical signs around parturition (also known as subclinical hypocalcemia, SCH). Traditionally, blood Ca concentrations below the SCH diagnostic threshold (<8 mg/dL) within the rst day after calving have been considered as an undesirable trait because of its negative association with post calving outcomes. However, recent reports have shown that cows with low blood Ca concentration within 12 hours of calving are the cows with greatest milk production in early lactation. These reports also suggest that the negative post calving outcomes are more associated with the persistency of the low blood Ca concentrations rather than the lowest Ca concentration post calving. For example, dairy cows that have low blood Ca concentration in the rst day after calving and normal Ca concentration afterward had no difference in the risk of diseases and herd removal, similar reproductive performance and increased early lactation milk production when compared to cows with normal blood Ca concentration. On the other hand, dairy cows that continued to have low blood Ca concentration on days two and three after calving had increased risk of experiencing disease or being removed from the herd, decreased reproductive performance and similar milk production than cows with normal blood Ca concentration. Taken together, these ndings suggest that cows with a transient SCH are mounting an effective physiological response to the sudden increase in blood Ca requirement whereas cows with persistence SCH are not. A third type of SCH is the delayed SCH. In these cases, cows have normal blood Ca concentration levels in the rst two days after calving but decreased blood Ca concentration around four days in milk. These cows have increased risk to experience disease events, increased risk of removal from the herd and the lowest milk production among all groups. No physiological explanation for this late onset of SCH has being described yet; however, decreased dry matter intake because of another underlying metabolic or infectious disease has been suggested as a potential reason for these ndings. Taken together, results from recent reports suggest that combining the severity and duration of low blood Ca concentrations after calving might be a better parameter than checking the blood Ca concentration with a single sample within 24 hours of calving. Diagnosing SCH based on a single sample collected soon after calving is not a reliable strategy to identify cows with increased disease risk. Thus, measuring blood calcium concentration at day two after calving can be an alternative solution to identify cows that are unable to adapt to the new physiological state in the future. Nonetheless, more research is needed to investigate the feasibility of such management strategy.
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Graduation blues Page 30 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021
Ever since I can remember, I wanted to be a farm- handles of the giant strikes. I was watching enviouser like Dad. This might explain why I hated school. ly as the bigger kids ew in circles around the giant It didn’t begin that way. My academic career was strikes when Bonnie, a lanky seventh grader, saw me. launched in a one-room country schoolhouse in the “Here, let me help you,” she said. middle of the prairie. I was Bonnie lifted me up, essentially a male version of and I grabbed a handle. She Laura Ingalls Wilder. gave me a powerful TTown school h l taught h me severall then Our country school felt push. I soared high off the like one big family. The old- new things right away. ground, parallel to the earth, er kids actually looked out my arms straining at their for the younger ones. sockets as I screamed at the For instance, there was a piece of playground top of my lungs. It was wonderful. equipment called the giant strikes. A tall steel pipe Sadly, our country school was shuttered at the had been cemented into the ground; hanging from a end of rst grade. I was then sentenced to attend town rotating hub atop of the pipe were a set of chains that school. had handles at the bottom. The handles were at the Town school taught me several new things right perfect height to clunk unsuspecting kids on the nog- away. gin. I learned we were poor. I learned that cow manure Being a puny little kid, I was unable to reach the stinks, and some kids are bullies. Above all, I learned
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to hate school. I felt like a guy who had been falsely imprisoned. After all, I reasoned, how much does a farmer really need to know? Enough English to read a feed sack and enough math to calculate bushels per acre is all I reckoned I’d need. Dear County Agent Guy I told my parents I’d have more than enough education by the end of second grade, but they insisted I attend classes until I completed high school. A breakthrough came in eighth grade, when I was given a packet that described the classes that were By Jerry Nelson available in high school. Columnist Hidden deep within the packet were the bare minimum requirements for graduating from high school. I was struck by an epiphany. If I doubled up on English one year and took all of the other required courses, I could graduate in three short years. Think of it. A whole extra year with which I could pursue my dream of farming while my stolid classmates squandered precious time in stiing classrooms. I felt like a prisoner who had discovered a secret tunnel system beneath the jail. Against the advice of my parents and school authorities, I put my plan into effect. And it almost worked. It would have worked if Mrs. Hoffelt hadn’t unked me in her crafts class. Crafts was regarded as a gimme course. You smushed some clay and called it art; you splashed some paint and called it art. Anyone could do it. But Mrs. Hoffelt had a major hang-up. It seems that in order to receive a passing grade in crafts, you had to actually attend the class. I went to a few of Mrs. Hoffelt’s classes. But viewed through the lens of my farming ambitions, I could see fewer things that were a bigger waste of time than sitting through crafts class. My buddy Steve and I began to skip crafts class every day. We used the hour allotted for crafts to walk the block from our school to the house where Steve’s grandmother lived. Gramma appeared to be older than Moses and was as crusty as stale French bread. Instead of working with clay and macramé, Steve and I played euchre with Gramma and her octogenarian boyfriend. During our many pleasant hours of euchre, Gramma would chain smoke unltered Camels, drink cheap beer and belittle her befuddled boyfriend for his dunderheaded bidding. I really liked Gramma. Skipping crafts to play cards with Gramma was more than just a way to escape the classroom; it as an opportunity to learn more about our senior citizens. Honing my euchre skills was simply an added bonus. You might think that Mrs. Hoffelt would have taken this into consideration, but no. Despite my best arguments, she gave me an “F” for crafts. A lump formed in my throat on a long-ago May morning when I joined my classmates on the stage as the band played “Pomp and Circumstance.” The lump wasn’t just due to nostalgia and pride. It was also because I had blown an entire extra semester going to school. Jerry is a recovering dairy farmer from Volga, South Dakota. 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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Super facts about Minnesota’s super cows
Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021 • Page 31
By Jim Bennett
Columnist, Veterinary Wisdom
Minnesota DHIA published a list of the 64 top cows ranked by total lifetime pounds of fat and protein combined for 2020. These are truly super cows because they produce a lot, and they have stayed in the herd for many lactations. In the table below are the top six cows. Cow 8302, owned by Pater Dairy, has produced 26,070 pounds of fat and protein, and 401,152 pounds of energy corrected milk. That is 13 tons of fat and protein. 400,000 pounds of milk is eight semi-tanker loads or two tankers per teat. Remarkable. Farm Pater Larcrest GarLin Stelling Selke Hollerman
Cow
Age, months 8302 126 Crimson 154 8251 137 Lark 115 973 112 27G 145
LactaƟons 9 6 9 7 8 9
Fat and Protein 26,070 lbs. 25,543 lbs. 25,521 lbs. 23,848 lbs. 23,346 lbs. 23,064 lbs.
ECM 401,152 37,385 387,305 35,934 360,935 357,890
How much milk did they produce per day? Below is a table showing the top six cows ranked by total pounds of ECM produced per day in milk. The next column is total pounds of ECM per day of life going all the way back to birth. HydePark’s 3887 produced 134 pounds of ECM for every one of her 2,412 days in milk over eight lactations. She is truly a super cow. Farm
Cow
Hyde-Park Stelling Pater Hyde-Park GarLin Hinckley
3897 Orpha 8302 3876 11555 2113
Age, months 112 110 126 117 102 114
LactaƟons 8 7 9 8 7 8
ECM/ DIM 134 127 126 124 124 122
the average cow. Consider the cows with the most days in milk in the table below. Gruber’s Susie has produced milk for 3,846 days without needing a replacement and has produced over 300,000 of milk in that time. She is a super money maker. Farm
Cow
DIM
Age, months LactaƟons
ECM
Gruber
Susie
3,846
166
10
306,983
Crystal View 1018
3,813
160
11
325,023
HunsƟnger
188
3,793
156
10
320,058
Larcrest
Crimson
3,758
154
6
374,385
Redalen
Kash
3,646
158
11
298,580
Wendt
788
3,523
151
11
311,637
How does one get, or make, a super cow? Surely there are a lot of factors; however, top-quality animal care to animals has to be one of the most signicant. One-third of the cows on this list reside in herds owned by clients of our veterinary practice, so I can say that with some authority. I am pretty sure top quality cow care is the standard on the rest of these farms as well. Super cows have super owners. Thank you all for taking such great care of your animals. Bennett is one of four dairy veterinarians at Northern Valley Dairy Production Medicine Center in Plainview, Minnesota. He also consults on dairy farms in other states. He and his wife, Pam, have four children. Jim can be reached at bennettnvac@gmail.com with comments or questions.
ECM/Day ECM 95 95 105 88 100 88
322,106 317,755 401,152 312,533 309,278 306,186
To be a super cow, many of these cows had to be reproductively efcient. The table below is the top six cows ranked by lowest days in milk per lactation and shows total pounds of ECM and ECM per productive day. Swenson’s 2112 has averaged 289 days over 10 lactations, and the next ve cows’ average days are only a few days longer. These are reproductive super cows. Farm
Cow
Swenson GarLin Keiand Frendshuh Fjelmar Pater
2112 10845 215reg 5M1564 948 8325
Age, months 131 120 119 120 125 127
LactaƟons 10 9 9 9 10 10
DIM/ LactaƟon 289 290 290 291 292 294
ECM 304,080 302,230 277,374 238,671 309,935 328,305
ECM/ DIM 105 116 106 91 106 112
How about milk per lactation? Here are the top six cows ranked by ECM by lactation. Larcrest’s Crimson produced 62,398 pounds of ECM per lactation for six lactations. Farm
Cow
LactaƟons
Crimson
Age, months 154
Larcrest Valley Acres Stellling GarLin Friendshuh Stelling
ECM
6
ECM/ LactaƟon 62,398
63 Lark 11524 3J170 Venice
113 115 102 131 100
5 7 6 7 6
57,836 51,336 51,259 50,126 49,123
289,179 359,354 307,556 350,881 294,739
374,385
There are some other breeds on the list too. Here all the other breeds ranked by total pounds of fat and protein. GarLin’s 10340 produced over 20,000 of fat and protein combined. There is even a Jersey: Co-Jo Dairy’s 162. Even small cows can be super cows. Farm
Cow
Breed
LactaƟons
Crossbred
Age, months 124
GarLin Valley Acres Co-Jo Dairy Valley Acres
10340 10336 162 11065
Crossbred Jersey Crossbred
123 130 107
9 8 8
9
Fat and Protein 20,619 lbs. 19,896 lbs. 19,850 lbs. 18,497 lbs.
Super cows are super money makers. They produce many tons of product over their lifetimes, and they require far fewer replacements over that time period than
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Fixing what is broken Page 32 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021
It’s been one of those weeks at our farm. No, it’s taking logs, which could be burned for heat, and conbeen one of those years or maybe a decade or pos- verting them to lumber. He happens to be a landscaper sibly a century where there is always something in and lets me borrow his excavator when it’s not doneed of repair. Really, it’s more like a whole bunch ing something important for his business. This week, of somethings are perpetually broken. My skidloader it wasn’t busy for him so I’m busy using it before it recently broke, and the tile needs to do some landscaplines have been broken for ing, probably for the rest of The top thing hi on the h fi fix-it i lilist at the summer. After two years quite a while. I saw a joke Th going around the internet our farm has been drain tile. of the wettest weather I’ve the other week pertaining ever experienced, we’re xto this concept of the nevering the new problems creending x-it list. ated by the insane amount Crop farmers: “Run on Sunday, x on Monday.” of water as well as old ones that were exposed by the Livestock farmers: “There’s a 50% chance I nd ultimate drain tile stress test. Last year, we got many something broken any day of the week but 100% on problems xed. And, this year is cleanup of all the a holiday.” ones we missed on the initial attempt to dry areas out. Dairy farmers: “What day is it?” There were a few areas where I xed two or three The top thing on the x-it list at our farm has been obvious problems of water on top of the ground and drain tile. I share a mutual enjoyment with a friend of missed a few smaller ones. The problem was that in
some areas of the pastures and elds, the tile isn’t very deep due to the clay being close to the surface. That’s not a problem normally, but when it never stops raining, cows can step very deep in the soil and the manure spreader can sink almost as deep. The tile got crushed in a number From the Zweber Farm of places. I’ve been told my great-grandfather was the rst person in the county to install drain tile in his elds. I believe this based on the number of repairs I’ve had to do to aging clay tiles that are quickly approaching an age where, were they huBy Tim Zweber man, they would be reFarmer Columnist ceiving a letter from the president commending them on reaching centenarian status. It’s always an adventure when I start digging up a drain tile hole or geyser. I might nd clay tile. I might nd concrete tile. I might nd plastic tile. I might nd all three in the same place. Years of repair and replacement, some of which was done quickly with what was available, have led to some head scratching moments of wondering how this mess occurred and how to remedy it. The answer is obviously to just connect it all together and make sure it’s all running downhill, but the tricky part comes with the wondering whether I’m working on the same line 30 feet away or if I’ve dug just past where another line joins in, or maybe I found another parallel line. Belle Plaine Block and Tile have been added to my phone’s speed dial to get that one adapter or wye needed that never seems to be on hand so I’m not making quick xes I’ll have to dig up again 10 years later. My wife likes to say that I always have something I should be doing when I say we can do another thing. In the world of dairy farming, or at least the way I do it for better or worse, there’s always something to do. The never-ending list makes it easy to stay out of trouble as well as other people’s business. If you ever nd yourself lacking in things to do, stop by my farm. I guarantee there is something you can x for me. Until next month, keep living the dream and repairing the things that break along the way. Tim Zweber farms with his wife Emily, their 3 children and his parents Jon and Lisa by Elko, Minnesota.
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Pictures surround us these days. They are on our screens, phones, papers, magazines and hanging on our walls. It wasn’t always so, at least not to the extent it is now. I have always liked to look at old photos of family, of old farming practices and especially of cows. Maybe some of you have the same preferences. In the or any of the seasons, photos remind us of the Come Full Dairy Circle spring, beauty that surrounds us. Popping up on screens lately are colorful tulip and daffodil photos. Flowers are not my talent, so I appreciate the dedication of good gardening friends and their willingness to document their pretty owers and landscapes on a screen. Farms and rural areas are especially good subject matter for photographs. When I was a young journalist, I spent many days with a Nikon SLR camera on someone’s dairy farm, setting up photos and trying to decide if Kodachrome or Ektachrome was the best choice of lm, loading cameras, attaching ashes, worrying By Jean Annexstad about F stops and shutter speeds, and whether the shot would be too grainy for a good reprint in a magazine. Columnist The dairy farmers who were my subjects were always patient as I worked. Then as the lm was processed, I waited to see if I had made good decisions. Sometimes they turned out well, while other times the photos were disappointing. Today, of course, photos are digital, instant and easier to edit. The problem now, at least for me, is how to organize and nd the ones I want to see again. Very few are ever printed, and many photos are not very often revisited. When it comes to explaining how things used to be on our farm to our kids, it is great if there is a photo to show them. “Here’s how the tiestall barn looked before we turned it into a holding pen for the parlor,” for example. We don’t seem to have a lot of farming methods of a few decades ago, so a lot is left to words and the imagination. Taking some shots of everyday things on the farm seems like a good idea. My brothers-in-law, Mike and Eric, do a great job of this. Mike keeps a digital camera handy. When there is something noteworthy going on, or if he is climbing up on a bunker silo or another high place, he takes good perspective shots of our farm and the activities on it. Eric likes to take farming shots, snowy landscapes and close-ups of plants and owers. These photos are great additions to walls and the yearly family calendar. One thing we do have from my husband’s family is old photos of farming from the 1900s through the 1950s. They are reprinted and captioned in a scrapbook put together by my mother-in-law for us to keep. They show how grain was threshed, how the farmers dressed, and what machinery and cars looked like. I wonder sometimes who the photographer was and why they placed such importance on taking these pictures. Did they know what a treasure they were creating? Today, dairy friends take and post shots of new facilities going up on their farms, detailing the transformation on an almost daily basis. What a great idea to have a record that is easily accessed and shows each step along the way. It is interesting to follow along with the progress being made. Pictures of families taken by amateur and professional photographers are also great to have. I like to take out our old ones and see how people have changed or how their early personalities show through on old photos. Sometimes, the spur-ofthe moment shots can reveal a lot. But the carefully-posed, gorgeous background shots are great too. I admire my rural photographer friends who are creative and take beautiful, artsy cow and people photos. Keep up the great work. Their work enhances calendars, blogs and articles I read. Many know of the ne work of Ruth Klossner, for one example, who takes and posts thousands of photos at the Minnesota State Fair 4-H shows, auctions and other cow-related events. We plan to have some family photos done soon incorporating our Red and White cow family. Alba, the cow family matriarch, is due to calve any day, and her favorite thing is to escape fences and tour around the farm. (Rolf suggested she could just as well calve in the calf barn so we don’t have to move her calf, as she likes to visit there.) I will let you know how it all turns out and if we ever have all three kids home at the same time the photographer can come. Jean dairy farms with her husband, Rolf, and brother-in-law, Mike, and children Emily, Matthias and Leif. They farm near St. Peter, Minnesota, in Norseland, where she is still trying to t in with the Norwegians and Swedes. They milk 200 cows and farm 650 acres. She can be reached at jeanannexstad@ gmail.com.
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Page 34 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021
MJHA hosts all breeds convention
Youth gather for day of learning, amity May 1 By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
RICHMOND, Minn. – When Arnie Gruenes spoke of his journey in the dairy industry to young dairy enthusiasts, he spoke of the opportunities he saw as a young person that have helped shape his career – opportunities to learn, grow and accomplish.
“Dairy is what we love, and we’ve seen opportunities to be able to do that,” Arnie said. That same message was carried throughout the Minnesota Junior Holstein Association’s All Breeds Convention May 1 at the Gruenes family’s dairy, Twin Spruce Farms, near Richmond. The one-day event brought about 30 youth, ages 5 to 21, from all corners of the state to learn more about the dairy industry. It was also a chance for these young individuals to connect with their JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR
The Minnesota Junior Holstein AssociaƟon board members – (front, from leŌ) Hailey Frericks, Megan Ratka, Abby Foss, Morgan Wingert, Kelsey Erf and Kallie Frericks; (back, from leŌ) Taylor Fester, MaƩhias Annexstad, Leif Annexstad and Jacob Schaefer – gather at Twin Spruce Farms May 1 near Richmond, Minnesota. The group planned the all breeds convenƟon for junior members.
JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR
Arnie Gruenes speaks at the Minnesota Junior Holstein AssociaƟon’s All Breeds ConvenƟon May 1 at his dairy farm near Richmond, Minnesota. The Gruenes family milks about 2,800 cows on two farm sites.
peers – a rst in nearly two years because of the ongoing pandemic. “We started planning for our in-person convention, but that did not happen,” MJHA member Jacob Schaefer said. “After we realized we weren’t going to be able to host our traditional convention, we started spit balling ideas.” The 10-member board, with the guidance of Kris Gruenes as the junior advisor, developed the untraditional
day that included four workshops for a hands-on educational experience. Having the event on a farm also allowed attendees to see a dairy operation; the Grueneses milk about 2,800 cows on two farm sites. “We really needed to nd something we could do in one day because of COVID-19 restrictions,” Schaefer said. The day began at 10:30 a.m. with workshops on udder health and nutrition, host-
ed by Chelsea Schossow and Travis Bischof, respectively. A mid-day lunch allowed for youth to hear from Arnie as the featured presenter. The event carried on with afternoon workshops on hoof trimming and reproduction, hosted by Willie Coyne and Spencer Hackett, respectively. “When we hosted the convention the last time, we Turn to MJHA | Page 35
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Chelsea Schossow explains the anatomy of an udder during a workshop at the Minnesota Junior Holstein AssociaƟon’s convenƟon May 1 near Richmond, Minnesota. Four educaƟonal workshops were a part of the one-day event.
focused a lot on the manufacturing side of the industry,” said Kelsey Erf, MJHA board member. “This time, we wanted to go back to the basics and be hands on with all that goes into making milk.” Each workshop delved into the value the topic has on a dairy herd. During the udder health workshop, the groups watched an udder dissection and helped identify parts that make up the mammary system. The nutrition workshop let children explore byproducts that may be included in a ration and learn about the benets those products have to the animals’ overall health. In the afternoon sessions, the reproduction workshop highlighted the added value of invitro fertilization for a herd’s genetic progress. At the hoof trimming station, youth learned about hoof anatomy and practiced placing blocks on cadaver hooves to simulate treating a lame cow. After the workshops were complete, the youth played games and enjoyed refreshments. The day concluded with a busi-
ness meeting, in which a new MJHA board was named and scholarships and distinguished junior members were announced. Hackett spoke of the National Holstein Association during the business meeting portion of the convention as the Minnesota group is preparing to host the National Junior Holstein Convention next year in June. The Minnesota organization has about 200 junior members, and in a normal year, the all breeds convention brings about half of them to participate. “Given the way the convention was structured this year and the timing of it, we weren’t expecting the turnout to be the same as it has been in the past,” said Matthias Annexstad, MJHA board president. “I’ve always looked up to the board and attended the convention when I was younger. Even though this is different, we wanted to give back to the organization and youth.” Turn to MJHA | Page 38
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Page 36 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021
Women In Dairy Heather Noskowiak Bryant, Wisconsin Langlade County 125 cows Family: I have been married for 18 years to my husband, Chris, who works on the road all week with Northeast Asphalt. We have three kids. Braeden, 16, is a sophomore at Antigo High School and stays active with basketball, football and 4-H. He made the 4-H shooting sports team for Wisconsin to shoot at nationals in Nebraska in June. Allison, 14, is also at the high school and is in eighth grade. She would rather be on the farm than be involved in sports. She has her rst bred-andowned Holstein heifer that will be 1 year in June, and she also purchased a Jersey. She plans to show both plus others at our county fair and show those two at state fair. And Aylah, 8, is the youngest and is in second grade. She loves to entertain everyone and sing and dance. I have been employed with CentralStar Cooperative for the last 20 years as a DHI specialist. Tell us about your farm. My grandparents owned the farm, and then they sold it to my parents and my uncle. We milk 101 cows in tie stalls three times a day. We put up a dry cow and springer facility in 2005, a weaned calf barn in 2010 and a greenhouse for the calves in 1997. We have three employees who milk. My dad takes care of all the feeding, and my uncle takes care of the herd health and calves. I live next door to the farm and ll in whenever and wherever I am needed. Braeden likes to help whenever there is a tractor involved. We grow corn and alfalfa to be used for silage. We purchase baled hay, straw and high moisture corn. We use a TMR to make sure they are getting everything they need. What is the busiest time of day for you? The busiest time of day for me is mornings. If I’m not helping on the farm, I have a farm I need to be at early in the morning, sometimes as early as 1:30 a.m. I also need to get the kids’ things ready for school and lunches ready before I go to work. Thankfully, my parents live down the road to help if needed. When you get a spare moment, what do you do? In my spare time, which isn’t a lot, I love to work with my owers. I started renishing furniture and crafting last summer. I love nding new pieces of furniture to makeover and love going to the ea markets. Tell us about your most memorable experience working on the farm. My most memorable memories on the farm were fair time. As crazy and hectic as it was, I was always excited to showcase animals from our farm and see my farm friends. And now to see my kids getting those same experiences is the best thing in the world.
What have you enjoyed most about dairy farming or your tie to the dairy industry? I have been a DHI specialist for 20 years. I have 27 dairy farms I test every month. I love my job. I love going to the different farms and talking to each of the producers about their families, the herd and other stuff going on. How do you stay connected with others in the industry? I stay connected in the industry through meetings I have to attend for work. I am also the dairy chairman for Langlade County 4-H so I try to come up with dairy related things for the youth. Who is someone in the industry who has inspired you? There is not just one person who has inspired me. Instead, many dairy farmers have inspired me. They work 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They are some of the hardest working people I know and are usually the rst ones to help. They care about their families, the cows, their neighbors and the land. If you could give a tour of your farm to a prominent woman in today’s society, who would it be? If I could give any prominent woman a tour of our farm, it would have to be the rst lady. Our nation needs dairy farmers. I have seen so many lose their family farm due to high costs and low milk prices and some because of retirement. Dairy farmers don’t get the recognition they deserve, and I would like for our government to do more for them to protect them from the low milk prices and work with other countries to get our products to them. What is the best vacation you have ever taken? The best vacation I took was probably this last spring. My daughters and I went to Florida with my mom and dad for a week. It was nice to get away from the cold and snow in the frozen north woods of Wisconsin. What are some words you like to live by? You never know what will happen tomorrow, so live for today. Be a better version of yourself.
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Page 38 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021
ConƟnued from MJHA | Page 35
Typically, the MJHA convention takes place in March with learning sessions and a business meeting hosted at a hotel. The last convention youth participated in was in 2019. “It’s so fun to watch the next generation get enthusiastic for the dairy industry,” said Kris of being able to put together a youth convention. The Gruenes family members are no strangers to hosting farm tours and open houses. With four of their seven children involved in the dairy business, Arnie and Kris see the benet of exposing youth to
JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR
Hoof trimmer Willie Coyne explains the anatomy of a hoof to Minnesota Junior Holstein AssociaƟon members May 1 at Twin Spruce Farms near Richmond, Minnesota. Coyne was one of four industry professionals who presented at the MJHA All Breeds ConvenƟon.
JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR
Alex MarƟ, of Courtland, Minnesota, applies a block to a cadaver hoof during a workshop at the Minnesota Junior Holstein AssociaƟon’s All Breeds ConvenƟon May 1 near Richmond, Minnesota.
the opportunities within the industry. “Promoting dairy to the next generation is beyond important to us,” Arnie said. “Working with the juniors is important, and Kris, especially, has a spot in her heart for these juniors. The industry needs these young people in any form or fashion.” While the day-long convention was designed to educate people about different parts of the industry that all contribute to producing milk, the convention also had a strong focus on camaraderie.
“We really hope kids are here to have fun,” Annexstad said. “Some of these kids don’t go to other events, so it’s been almost two years since they’ve seen each other.” Erf agreed. “These events are important for the connections the youth gain,” she said. “The people standing next to you today, you’ll be standing next to them in 10 years.”
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Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021 • Page 39
sponsored by
Mike Van Rossum Kaukauna, Wisconsin Outagamie County 575 cows
What advice would you give other dairy farmers? Ride the storm. Eventually you will come out OK. The world needs farming. Don’t give up.
How did you get into farming? I was raised on a small dairy farm. My dad, Henry, milked about 70 cows. In 1982, at the age of 21, I purchased my own farm with the help of my parents. At that time, I milked about 80 cows. Farming is in my genes.
What has been the best purchase you have ever made on your farm? In 2007, I purchased a diamond engagement ring and married my biggest supporter and fan. And, a Case 400 Steiger for packing feed.
What are your thoughts and concerns about the dairy industry for the next year? I’m worried about milk prices not matching expenses. At 60 years old, with no family interested in taking over, I worry about next steps. What is the latest technology you implemented on your farm and the purpose for it? I have cameras installed in the barns and parlor so I can view on my smart phone. I can ensure the best care and monitor the crew from anywhere. My cow records are also viewable through an app on the smart phone. I am interested in upgrading to a monitoring software that will assist with managing the cows electronically. What is a management practice you changed in the past year that has beneted
Mike and Mary Van Rossum milk 575 cows near Kaukauna, Wisconsin.
you? It has been a rough year, so nothing sticks out. I am changing management practices regularly and sometimes changing them back to stay aoat. What cost-saving steps have you implemented during the low milk price? We do most of our own repair work on machinery, and we work longer and harder ourselves.
How do you retain a good working relationship with your employees? I offer praise, frequent check-ins and an interpreter. Tell us about a skill you possess that makes dairy farming easier for you. My wife tells me I have a great memory. I can take one look at a calf and recall her lineage and the number of her mother’s ear tag. My sharp recall
PHOTO SUBMITTED
is helpful when I need to call for parts, seed or feed. What do you enjoy most about dairy farming? Dairy farming is many different jobs; one day I am a mechanic, another day a groundskeeper, sometimes I am a herdsman, and others, I act as a vet. I never know which hat I am going to wear. I love the challenge, the versatility and being my own boss.
What has been your biggest accomplishment while dairy farming? In 2000, I partnered with family to expand the business. In 2013, I bought out my partner and now I am the sole member. As such, I have endured two tornadoes with substantial damage and sinking milk prices, yet I still hold my head high and pay the bills at the end of the month. What are your plans for your dairy in the next year and ve years? I see myself in retirement mode by the time I am 64. My wife says 62. How do you or your family like to spend time when you are not doing chores? We enjoy camping, visiting friends and family, and working on projects to improve the farm.
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Page 40 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 8, 2021
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