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2 DAIRY ST 5R C E L E B R A T I N G
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Y E A R S
August 12, 2023
“All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 25, No. 12
You can nd their cows in the city
Treschers farm among residents of Cashton By Abby Wiedmeyer abby.w@dairystar.com
CASHTON, Wis. – Driving through the residential streets of Cashton, people pass houses, children on bikes and perhaps the occasional Amish horse and buggy. Right in the heart of the downtown residential streets, they will also nd a fully operational dairy farm. This is where the Trescher family has farmed since 1909. “With our location, every single load of forage in and manure out is on a residential street, so it can be a little challenging from time to time,” Steve Trescher said. “But, I grew up here, my dad grew up here, and I guess we’re getting by.” Steve and his wife, Annette, have been married for 36 years
ABBY WIEDMEYER/DAIRY STAR
Anne�e and Steve Trescher take a break June 23 at their farm in Cashton, Wisconsin. The couple hosted this year’s tour for the Na�onal Jersey Conven�on. and have continued the Trescher family’s legacy of farming in town. The Trescher family’s farm was a tour stop June 23 for attendees of the National Jersey Convention. The Treschers milk 70 cows in a 50-stall tiestall barn. The tiestall is bedded with sand and
ABBY WIEDMEYER/DAIRY STAR
Heifers eat Aug. 4 on the Treschers’ farm in Cashton, Wisconsin. The view from the heifer yard includes the residen�al streets of town, and just around the corner is the hustle and bustle of Main Street. holds mostly Jersey and JerseyHolstein crossbred cows, while a freestall barn houses the Holsteins. The herd is intermingled during milking time when they switch groups. Their son Derek
helps with feeding and hauling manure every day. Running a dairy farm in the residential area of town has presented challenges. The Treschers said they do their best
to be as neighborly as possible by not doing eldwork after 10 p.m., keeping baleage plastic Turn to TRESCHERS | Page 6
Taking hot bu�on issues to Washington and their business partner, week of July 10, those converKrentz talks milk ly, Cory Biely, milk 600 cows and sations continued when Krentz farm 1,400 acres near Berlin. was in Washington to attend pricing reform, Krentz is in his third year serv- American Farm Bureau Fedfarm bill priorities ing as president of WFBF and eration meetings and talk with By Stacey Smart
stacey.s@dairystar.com
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Kevin Krentz (le�) discusses Federal Milk Marke�ng Order pricing reform and farm bill priori�es with Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson’s agriculture commi�ee staff July 12 in Washington, D.C. In July, the U.S. Department of Agriculture voted to move forward with the FMMO hearing process, which is set to begin Aug. 23 in Carmel, Indiana.
BERLIN, Wis. – As both a dairy farmer and president of Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, Kevin Krentz is in a unique position to ensure the voice of dairy farmers is heard not only at the state level but also at the national level. “This is the biggest voice the Farm Bureau has had in dairy in a long time,” Krentz said. “We are a major part of the discussions on the Federal Milk Marketing Order process as well as the farm bill. It’s good for farmers to have that extra voice.” Krentz and his wife, Hol-
has made two trips to Washington, D.C., this year with a third trip planned for the fall. During each visit, Krentz spends time with lawmakers and has found them to be receptive to his and other farmers’ ideas. “They want to hear from us and know what our priorities are,” Krentz said. “That’s one thing that’s always impressed me since I became a Farm Bureau member is the respect and willingness of our elected ofcials to want to sit down and listen – not only from Madison but also D.C.” In June, a Farm Bureau leadership group that Krentz is part of met with congresspeople and full groups of constituents and senators to discuss farm bill priorities. During the
lawmakers about FMMO pricing reform. “We need a pricing system that works for dairy farmers,” Krentz said. “We also need to continue to better our tools available to protect ourselves in the dairy industry whether that be Dairy Margin Coverage or Dairy Revenue Protection programs to provide that safety net. We need to continue to solidify those programs.” Krentz met with the staff of Sen. John Boozman, RArk., ranking member of the Senate agriculture committee; the staff of Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., chairwoman of the Senate agriculture commitTurn to KRENTZ | Page 7