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DAIRY ST R
Volume 22, No. 13
No regrets living his dream
Derecho storm leaves destruction on Iowa dairies
Danz reaches one-year milestone
By Sherry Newell
By Danielle Nauman
Contributing Writer
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – A derecho, a long-lived straight-lined wind storm that is often referred to as an inland hurricane, caused $14 million destruction in Iowa crops that headlined the news surrounding the unusual storm that developed in Iowa and crossed the Midwest Aug. 10. But dairy farm buildings and animals were also caught in the path of the winds the National Weather Service estimated as high as 130 mph. A half-dozen or more dairy farms near Cedar Rapids, one of the hardest-hit cities, suffered damage that in some cases meant moving cows to other farms. Dairies across the state were without power, some for a few days and others more than a week. Cell phone service and broadband was down, causing difculty reaching family, employees, electricians and other critical help. “I bet it blew for 50 minutes or at over 80 mph with gusts well over 100 mph,” said Bob Kettelkamp. Kettelkamp lost all or parts of three barns, three silos and four grain bins on the farm he operates with his brother, Bill, near Marion, just east of Cedar Rapids. A manure spreader was tossed upside down and a Quonset hut was moved off its foundation. A newer freestall barn survived but with one end pushed 20 feet outward and the curtain sides missing. “Our roof steel is all over the county,” Kettelkamp said. The brothers lost one cow and were able to keep milking in their parlor using a generator until power was restored after eight days. Two dairy farms on the opposite side of Cedar Rapids from the Kettelkamp farm were not as fortunate. Ron Franck, of Newhall, has sent his milking cows to three other eastern Iowa dairies while he picks up the pieces of his 220-cow freestall barn and parlor. A heifer barn, unused silo and trees were also taken out by the storm. “Basically, it’s the whole thing,” said Franck, who did not lose any cattle immediately but shipped 15 head due to being, what he called, banged up from debris. Franck said his heifers likely ran out of the building to survive, because they continued walking out of cornelds into the farmyard most of Monday. The storm hit the Newhall area at about 12:30 p.m. Brian Schanbacher, a mile away from
Turn to DERECHO | Page 10
August 22, 2020
“All dairy, all the time”™
danielle.n@dairystar.com
LIVINGSTON, Wis. – No regrets is how Nathan Danz describes the rst year of starting his Livingston dairy farm from scratch, a dream that several people told him was crazy to chase. Danz rst hung the milking units on his 50 cows June 27, 2019, and has not looked back. Now he is milking 60 cows in the Grant County dairy barn he rents from his grandfather. “I wouldn’t want to change a thing,” Danz said. “I’m living my passion. I love the cows and taking care of them. Milking is my favorite time of the day.” While he has enjoyed his rst year, it has not been without its own tribulations. Before purchasing a local herd of cows, Danz remodeled the interior of
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
Nathan Danz milks 60 cows near Livingston, Wisconsin. Danz began his dairy industry career with a purchased herd of 50 cows in June 2019. the tiestall barn that had sat empty for 16 years. He readied the milking equipment and replaced what was no longer useful. “For the rst couple of weeks, I really struggled with both the compressor and the
vacuum pump,” Danz said. “I had to eventually completely replace the compressor, but with the vacuum pump, it was just a Turn to DANZ | Page 5
Customized calf care
Evers family builds barn with individual, group pens By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
KRISTA KUZMA/ DAIRY STAR
Sisters – (from leŌ) Shaylah Schouweiler, Jessica Evers and Allie Evers – stand in the calf barn on their family’s dairy near Kellogg, Minnesota. The family moved calves into the new facility February 2019.
KELLOGG, Minn. – After the Evers family toured other calf facilities for ideas while in the planning stage for their upgrade, they realized none of the barns were exact matches of what they wanted to build. So, they decided to design their own. Since February 2019, the Evers family has been using a custom-built barn for calves up to 10 weeks for their dairy, which milks 2,900 cows on two farmsites near Kellogg. The 70-by350 facility can hold up to 430 calves when full. At this time, the barn has 390 calves. Sisters Shaylah Schouweiler and Jessica Evers, who are two of Turn to EVERSES | Page 6
Page 2 • Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020
DAIRY ST R www.dairystar.com
ISSN 020355 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave. Sauk Centre, MN 56378 Phone: (320) 352-6303 Fax: (320) 352-5647 Published by Dairy Star LLC General Manager/Editor Mark Klaphake - mark.k@dairystar.com 320-352-6303 (ofce) 320-248-3196 (cell) 320-352-0062 (home) Ad Composition Nancy Powell 320-352-6303 nancy.p@dairystar.com Consultant Jerry Jennissen 320-346-2292 Editorial Staff Krista Kuzma - Editor/Wisconsin (507) 259-8159 • krista.k@dairystar.com Andrea Borgerding - Associate Editor (320) 352-6303 • andrea.b@dairystar.com Jennifer Coyne - Assistant Editor (320) 352-6303 • jenn@dairystar.com Danielle Nauman (608) 487-1101 danielle.n@dairystar.com Stacey Smart - Staff Writer (262) 442-6666 • stacey.s@dairystar.com Maria Bichler - Copy Editor 320-352-6303 Advertising Sales Main Ofce: 320-352-6303 Fax: 320-352-5647 Deadline is 5 p.m. of the Friday the week before publication Sales Manager - Joyce Frericks 320-352-6303 • joyce@dairystar.com Bob Leukam (Northern MN, East Central MN) 320-260-1248 (cell) bob.l@star-pub.com Mark Klaphake (Western MN) 320-352-6303 (ofce) 320-248-3196 (cell) Laura Seljan (National Advertising, SE MN) 507-250-2217 fax: 507-634-4413 laura.s@dairystar.com Jerry Nelson (SW MN, NW Iowa, South Dakota) 605-690-6260 jerry.n@dairystar.com Mike Schafer (Central, South Central MN) 320-894-7825 mike.s@dairystar.com Amanda Hoeer (Eastern Iowa) 320-250-2884 • amanda.h@dairystar.com Julie Barnes (SE WI and Northern IL) julie.b@dairystar.com Megan Stuessel (Western Wisconsin) 608-387-1202 • megan.s@dairystar.com Ashley Curry (Northeast WI and Upper MI) 920-539-7268 • ashley.c@dairystar.com Deadlines The deadline for news and advertising in the Dairy Star is 5 p.m. Friday the week before publication. Subscriptions One year subscription $35.00, outside the U.S. $110.00. Send check along with mailing address to Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378. Advertising Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an advertisement shall constitute nal acceptance of the advertiser's order. Letters Letters and articles of opinion are welcomed. Letters must be signed and include address and phone number. We reserve the right to edit lengthy letters. The views and opinions expressed by Dairy Star columnists and writers are not necessarily those of the Dairy Star LLC.
The Dairy Star is published semi-monthly by Dairy Star, LLC, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378-1246. Periodicals Postage Paid at Sauk Centre, MN and additional mailing ofces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378-1246.
A glance at the other side
Dairy Star likes to provide local stories, which is why we have two versions of the paper. Below are a few highlights from stories you will not nd in this paper, but you can nd online in zone 1. Find full editions on our website, www.dairystar.com, and click on the e-edition tab under the Dairy Star header. Connelly crowned 57th Princess Kay The pandemic did not stop Minnesota’s dairy farmers from crowning the 67th Princess Kay of the Milky Way. During a limited capacity banquet and coronation Aug. 12, Brenna Connelly claimed the title for the state’s dairy ambassador. The 19-year-old University of Minnesota student is the daughter of Craig and Heather Connelly and from Byron, Minnesota. Although Connelly and the nalists do not have the Minnesota State Fair to attend this year, all 10 were still able to continue the tradition of having their likeness carved into a 90-pound block of butter in the rotating butter booth at the Dairy Building on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. Dieball grows produce to last all year No matter the time of year, the Dieball family eats fresh, homegrown food all year around. Wendy Dieball grows produce in a 50-by-70 foot garden and then preserves the fruits and vegetables in a canning shack that is equipped with electricity and water on her family’s 200-cow dairy near Green Isle, Minnesota. Dieball has been gardening for 20 years and enjoys the peace it brings after a long day of work. Hettinga crowned Iowa Dairy Princess It was not the usual time or place for the Iowa Dairy Princess coronation, never the less, eight candidates stood on stage anxiously waiting to see who would be crowned the 67th Iowa Dairy Princess in an afternoon ceremony Aug. 6 at the Courtyard by Marriott in Ankeny. By the end of the ceremony, Meghan Hettinga, 20, was crowned Iowa Dairy Princess while Amber Engelken, 18, was named Alternate Iowa Dairy Princess. Their ofcial reign begins Sept. 1. Byers named Becker County Farm Family of the Year For the Byers, family and farming go hand in hand. So when Marvin and Tammy were notied they were being recognized for their work as dairy farmers, they knew it was truly a family award. The Byer family happily accepted the 2020 Becker County Farm Family of the Year award this summer for their contribution to the agriculture industry. Marvin and Tammy, along with their youngest son, Landon, milk 100 cows on their farm near Frazee.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020 • Page 3
It’s all inside... Columnists Reedsville
Rented facility gives Krahn, Smith opportunities to expand First Section: Pages 23, 25
Boscobel
Sparrgroves cultivate future goals Udder Brothers Creamery
Pierce
hb Dunn
Pepin
Chippewa
Page 33 First Section
Jackson
Juneau
d
Green Lake Fond Du Lac
Columbia Dodge
Sauk
Dane
Iowa
Grant
Lafayette Green
First Section: Pages 1, 5
Jo Daviess
Carroll
Jefferson Waukesha
Rock
on
ens
h tep
S
Zone 1
e nn Wi
Walworth go
eba
n Win
Bo o
Danz celebrates small successes rst year
e mi Brown
go ba Calumet
Waushara
aw Cr
Livingston
Ogle
Whiteside
Cuba City
Tranel family embraces organic journey Second Section: Pages 6 - 7
Brandel’s Blooms brings sunshine to community First Section: Pages 34-35
Racine Kenosha
Kane
Lee
Rock Island Mercer
Hen
ders on
For additional stories from our other zone, log on to www.dairystar.com
Lake Mills
McHenry
DeKalb
Zone 2
te
Oconto
Ou
for
Richland
et
a tag
Adams
Monroe
in
Shawano
Wood
Vernon
Pages 8 - 9 Second Section
Menominee
Portage Waupaca
La Crosse
The “Mielke” Market Weekly
ar
Langlade
Marathon
Clark
Eau Claire
Buffalo
Second Section: Pages 14 - 15
Taylor
ett e
Dairy Good Life
St. Croix
Lincoln
Forest
Menominee
Do or
Page 31 First Section
Rusk
Barron
M
ce
aun ee
Polk
ren
Oneida
Ke w
ur
Something to Ruminate On
Price
Delta
Dickinson
Vilas
Flo
Sawyer
Wa s
Burnett
Page 30 First Section
Page 32 First Section
Ashland
n
Ramblings from the Ridge
Iron
Wa sh
Page 27 First Section
Second Section: Pages 3- 5
Bayeld
Douglas
qu
Enjoy the moments
Just Thinking Out Loud
Wavruneks’ design suited for intensive grazing of young animals
ton S he bo Milwaukee Ozauk M yg ee an anito wo c
First Section: Page 39
Denmark
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Dairy Prole: Chris Van Dyk
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New Richmond
Ma r
Pages 8-9 First Section
Trempealeau
Ag Insider
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Page 4 • Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020
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Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020 • Page 5
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ConƟnued from DANZ | Page 1
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Nathan Danz’s cows are housed in his grandfather’s dairy barn near Livingston, Wisconsin. In February of 2019, Danz began remodeling the barn in preparaƟon for launching his own dairy career. matter of tweaking it to get it running the way it should. Now it runs better than it ever has.” Winter brought a new set of challenges for Danz. Although the barn had a manure pit and pump system, the pit had solid manure remaining in it. Short on cash, Danz opted to wait to get the system operational until he had more money available for emptying the pit and doing any needed repair work to the pump, another piece of equipment that had long sat dormant. “I daily hauled during the winter,” Danz said. “I had a hard time getting the manure to run up the chute. Getting the barn cleaned and getting the manure hauled before it started to freeze up in the spreader was a challenge. In hind sight, I wish I had spent the money to get the pit system operational right away.” To his amazement, when he did have a custom hauler empty the pit in the spring and ipped the switch on the pump, it worked. “I kept testing it for a while until I felt condent that it was going to run,” Danz said. “That was a great feeling, and I’m looking forward to not ghting the battle of daily hauling this winter.” Dealing with mud and debris around a silage bag was another source of frustration for the edgling dairy farmer in the fall of 2019 and spring of 2020. “It was mud everywhere; it was just a mess,” Danz said. “I couldn’t keep it neat or clean enough. The bag was a source of daily frustration for me, and I ended up having to take two tractors down to get what I needed for feedings, so it added at least 20 minutes a feeding getting the equipment organized.” That experience prompted Danz to build a third 70-foot silo next to two existing ones on the farm, with plans to build a feed room and add a conveyer system to deliver feed either to an outdoor feed bunk or into the barn. “My goal is to eliminate having to start equipment as much as possible in the winter,” Danz said. “Equipment is expensive, and I don’t have a lot of it. And, I don’t want to be replacing it if I don’t have to.” Danz ships his milk for cheese and focuses on components. He started out with a 3.8% butterfat test last summer and hit a 4.1% content in January. To monitor overall herd health, Danz pays close attention to somatic cell count. “I started at about 150,000, al-
though I got close to 200,000 once or twice last summer,” Danz said. “Right now, I’m around 130,000, but in April, I hit 80,000. I really want to get back down there.” Cow comfort is important to Danz. He has replaced the majority of the stanchions with 60 tie stalls. He plans to leave the remaining stanchions in place for helping break heifers to the stalls. One thing he wishes he could have done was make the smaller stalls on one side of the barn the same size as the other, but said that would have involved tearing up curbing and moving king beams, a cost he was unprepared to take on. Danz is also in the process of replacing mats with new Mayo Mats. Although he has only replaced a small fraction so far, he is happy with the results he is seeing. “The cows on the new mats slip less than cows on the old mats,” Danz said. “That makes them worth it to me.” All animals on the farm are bred with articial insemination, and Danz does the majority of his own A.I. work. When selecting sires, he focuses on components and functional type traits such as feet and legs, and udders. However, after the rst year of working with his herd of cows, he said he is paying closer attention to genomic health and wellness traits that are available on most bulls. A new challenge creeping up on Danz is the pending dry-off of 20 cows, all due in November and December. “Not only will the bulk tank take a hit,” Danz said. “I’m working on creating a plan to care for the inux of baby calves.” Because Danz does not check the sex of the calf prior to birth, he is uncertain of the impending bull and heifer calf ratio. “I raise all my bull calves to about 300 pounds and sell them back to the man I bought the herd from. He raises them out,” Danz said. “I have started testing milk and am working to identify the best cows in my herd so that I can keep their daughters and only raise exactly what I need for replacement heifers.” Despite his love of the cows, Danz said he is most grateful for the connections and good friends he has made while launching his farm. “I have met people through networking that I probably wouldn’t have been in contact with if I weren’t dairy farming,” Danz said.
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Page 6 • Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020
ConĆ&#x;nued from EVERSES | Page 1
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23 family members involved in running the dairy, are in charge of the new facility. They get help from seven part-time employees, and their sister, Allie Evers, plays an important role as she manages the maternity pen along with being a herdswoman. The biggest reason for the custom build was the desire to have individual pens for calves for the ďƒžrst couple weeks before switching them to group pens. “We wanted to come up with a system to do both,â€? Schouweiler said. The Everses designed and built the pens themselves, crafting them out of ďƒžberglass painted rods. Each row of pens starts with 10 individual pens, where newborns are housed until 4 weeks old. “The ďƒžrst month to get them going is the hardest,â€? Schouweiler said. “You can look at them better in individual pens.â€? The dividers are not opaque. “Calves being able to see others is a plus,â€? Schouweiler said. “It’s good for socializing.â€? At 1 month old, calves are socialized in pairs. To do this, the divider rods are pulled out between two calves to make a larger space. When the calves are close to 6 weeks old, the Everses increase the pen size to ďƒžve. Again, dividers are pulled out between calves to create bigger pens. Just before weaning, calves are socialized in pens of 10 after all dividers are removed from the row. Calves stay in the same row until weaning. The barn provides a more controlled environment for the animals. Before building the new calf barn, the Evers family raised calves in 300 calf huts spaced out amongst three farms. “Now everything is together,â€? Jes-
sica Evers said. “It’s nice to have them all under one roof.â€? The all-cement ďƒ&#x;oor has a 3-inch drop in each pen to allow space for bedding, a design aspect the Everses wanted in order to keep the barn cleaner. After trying straw and sand, the Everses have found sawdust to be the best type of bedding for their facility. Each row of pens is wide enough to be cleaned out and bedded with a skidloader. “The easier the cleaning, the better,â€? Schouweiler said. “This saves so much physical labor. My wrists used to be so sore from bedding with a pitchfork.â€? Another custom design feature for their barn is having a trough of water that runs the length of each pen, giving calves access to water at all times. “When they were in the huts, they didn’t get as much water,â€? Evers said. “I think it’s better when they can get water whenever they want.â€? For ventilation, the sides of the barn can be open or closed with plexiglass window-like coverings rather than curtains. Ceiling fans above each row provide circulation, and exhaust fans down the middle aisle of the barn pull air up and out. “It stays nice in here,â€? Schouweiler said. “There can be a 10-degree (lower) difference on 90-degree days.â€? In the winter, in-ďƒ&#x;oor heat is used throughout the barn to keep the temperature at about 40 degrees. While all these aspects are good for the calves, the barn also provides a good working environment for the people. “It’s been a huge plus that we’re not outside dealing with frozen milk Turn to EVERSES | Page 7
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Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020 • Page 7
Con�nued from EVERSES | Page 6 and frozen ngers,” Evers said. Along with a customized barn, the Everses also invested in a new feeding system. Waste milk from the parlor is pumped 450 feet through an in-ground line to the holding tank in the calf barn twice a day. “This is also a time-saving factor instead of hauling it in 5-gallon pails,” Evers said. At feeding time, milk is pumped from the holding tank into another bulk tank that is connected to the new pasteurizer. Bottles, used to feed calves for the rst two weeks of life, are lled directly from the pasteurized tank. For the older calves, the Everses pump milk into a 150-gallon custom-made milk delivery system that one person drives to each pen.
“It’s like a golf cart,” Schouweiler said. “It’s fun to drive. The kids love it.” Every calf in the barn receives 3 quarts of milk from the day it is born until weaning. Because of this, they program the milk delivery system to administer the exact amount of milk into each pail. This helps keep feeding consistent amongst everyone who cares for calves. “We don’t have to worry about how much they’re getting,” Schouweiler said. To help speed up the washing process, the Everses installed a bottle washer into their new system. Sixteen bottles are washed at one time in 45 seconds. “Feeding time has been cut in half,” Evers said.
KRISTA KUZMA/ DAIRY STAR
Shaylah Schouweiler feeds calves with the custom-made milk delivery system on her family’s dairy near Kellogg, Minnesota. The wand regulates the amount each calf receives, shu�ng off at the specied 3 quarts.
KRISTA KUZMA/ DAIRY STAR
Jessica Evers checks on the colostrum pasteurizer on her family’s dairy near Kellogg, Minnesota.
The Everses made the facility able to accommodate their colostrum system. Colostrum is collected from the cow as soon as possible and then pasteurized and frozen right away. The freezers currently have about 40 gallons of colostrum to feed to the ve to 10 calves born each day. “We know colostrum is very important,” Schouweiler said. “We learned that the hard way. We collect the colostrum
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foot around equipment. Wear high visibility clothing. Never exceed a 3:1 Rise over Run on your piles to prevent rollovers. Always know where your kids are. And try and get some sleep when you can.
Harvesting at the correct moisture of 62-68% will greatly increase corn silage quality. Test whole plants for moisture when the kernels are dented and you see a 1/3-2/3 milk line. Don’t forget to test individual fields. Particle Length. Particle size needs can vary from farm to farm, but recommendations are for the theoretical length of cut (TLC) to be set at 3/8” for non-processed silage, 3/4” for processed silage, and 1-1.25” if you are set up for Shredlage. Don’t just set your knives and walk away. Check your TLC and make changes if necessary.
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kernels are larger than ½ of a kernel. Check kernel processing throughout the harvest period and tighten the processors or adjust the length of cut as necessary. A minimum packing density of 14 lbs/ft3 of dry matter should be the goal. But densities of 18+ lbs/ft3 can be achieved. If you would like your pile, bunker, bag, or silo tested before silage is chopped to know where you are on densities now, contact us and we will help you out. Cover your piles/bunkers immediately after packing has concluded. Do not skimp on plastic thickness and use an oxygen barrier to prevent spoilage. Overlap plastic at least 4 ft. Weight down the plastic across the entire surface. On silage bags, seal the end with dirt/sand/etc. and make sure to inspect sides for damage from cables. For upright silos, use a silo cap and don’t be afraid to blow water on top of the cap to weight the plastic down. Using a preservative throughout the entire pile or, at a minimum, on the last loads that go in a silo, bag, or bunker is a good way to ensure freshness when you open them.
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“Being able to watch them easier comes better calf health,” she said. Although the Everses regret not building a bigger barn to hold more calves, they are liking the benets the facility has provided. “It was at least two years of planning,” Evers said. “It was a big decision, but calves are a lot more manageable now.”
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and get it to the calf as quickly as possible.” Calf health has improved since the Everses started using the facility. Schouweiler said not as many calves get sick, and they are gaining more weight at a faster rate. “Calves breeze through the weaning,” she said. Evers also said the barn makes it easier to spot calves that are not feeling well, leading to faster attention.
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A roller coaster market for the dairy sector Page 8 • Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020
The dairy industry has seen huge swings in pillar of national security, we need to focus on critical the market. “We had $2 cheese, and we went to $1 questions,” Meshke said. “Here’s two: Do farmers cheese, and then it was $3 cheese, and now we’re have a secure market? And, are we providing food back in the neighborhood of $2 again,” said Michael security for this country and beyond our borders?” Dykes, president/CEO, International Dairy Foods AMPI is also analyzing consumer purchasing data, noting consumers are going back to the Association. With the loss of the food Ag Insider basics, picking foods they are familiar service business, some food processors with. “For dairy, that means signicant have been unable to fulll contracts. shifts. Through July 12, year-to-date retail Others have seen a buildup in inventories. butter sales are up 31.5% and cheese is Dykes said access to capital is critically up 16.7%. That’s signicant,” Meshke important for those companies. The dairy said. “Will that shift continue? That will recourse loan program is part of the be a question we’ll watch closely through discussion for the latest COVID-19 relief our customers and consumers. Our package. cooperative will also need to continue to focus on a diverse manufacturing Demand for cheese declines, prices portfolio and customer base to keep milk take a tumble moving through those sectors.” Cheese prices have taken a nose dive. AgResource Company president Dan By Don Wick NCFC wants no farmer left behind in Basse said that is due in part to a drop in Columnist CFAP sign-up demand as the United States Department National Council of Farmer of Agriculture Farmers to Family Food Box program winds down. “We’re now seeing the Cooperatives president Chuck Conner said the dairy markets reecting less demand, and because Coronavirus Food Assistance Program sign-up is more we’re not seeing a big change in cow numbers, prices difcult to monitor and determine its success because retreated sharply in recent days,” Basse said. “Then, it is much different from a regular farm program. “We the cheese markets were down a record amount.” just don’t know for sure what to expect, but we do Basse said the government stimulus program produced know that we don’t want anyone left behind,” Conner said. “If a producer’s commodity got approved late in a sugar high, but it is not a long-lasting situation. the game, we want them to have the full opportunity to apply.” Conner thinks the USDA will be sympathetic U.S. milk production increases in August report In the latest USDA World Agricultural Supply to CFAP sign-up requests because the agency wants and Demand Report, the milk production for 2020 the program to be successful. “I’m very inclined to rose 300 million pounds to 221.8 billion pounds. That think Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue doesn’t includes a higher than expected growth in the amount want this to drag on forever, you can’t run an agency that way, but USDA wants to give people ample time of milk per cow. to apply.” COVID-19 reveals areas of improvement for food Senators seek food name safeguards in trade talks supply chain Sixty-one U.S. Senators sent a letter to U.S. Trade In a virtual discussion on the U.S. food supply chain at Farmfest, Associated Milk Producers Representative Robert Lighthizer and Agriculture Incorporated co-president and CEO Sheryl Meshke Secretary Sonny Perdue asking them to establish said the COVID-19 pandemic is unmasking a core U.S. policy objective in all trade-related weaknesses in the system. “If our food supply is a discussion regarding specic common food names.
The senators are urging the government to secure stronger safeguards in trade negotiations for common food and wine terms. According to the National Milk Producers Federation, as the European Union becomes increasingly aggressive in restricting export opportunities, U.S. trade policy will need to respond in kind to combat EU misuse. Vilsack: U.S. dairy needs Canada to comply with USMCA The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement requires Canada to eliminate their class six and seven milk pricing systems and to have a fair tariff rate quota for dairy. The U.S. dairy industry said Canada is limiting access to their dairy market, lling quotas from competitors who have no incentive to export to the country. “At this point, they have limited our ability, which means we’re not likely to sell as much product as we hoped,” said Tom Vilsack, CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council. “We’ve called on the Canadian government to rethink the position.” Canada has six months to eliminate and replace their class six and seven milk pricing systems. “In order for prices to be set in the U.S. in a way U.S. dairy farmers can prot and stay in business means we have to nd a market for additional milk,” Vilsack said. “That market could be Canada if they comply with the agreement.” EPA administrator visits Wisconsin dairy farm EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler and EPA Region 5 administrator Kurt Theide visited Deer Run Dairy at Kewaunee, Wisconsin, Aug. 11. Duane Ducat, who is a co-owner of the farm, highlighted the manure digester and discussed the use of cover crops and no-till conservation practices. Wheeler said, “President Trump has been clear about the administration’s support for agriculture and rural America.” Advisory committee reviews dietary guidelines The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Turn to AG INSIDER | Page 9
Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020 • Page 9
ConƟnued from AG INSIDER | Page 8 is taking testimony on proposed changes. The National Milk Producers Federation was pleased dairy remains its own category and does not allow the inclusion of plant-based drinks or foods. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association said the recommendations should identify beef as a lean meat option, recognizing cuts like sirloin. Saputo merges two dairy divisions Saputo has merged its two U.S. divisions, cheese and dairy foods, into a single business unit. Now known as the dairy division, Saputo said the new structure will allow the company to be more efcient in its business dealings. The announcement was made when Saputo released its nancial statement. The dairy processor had rst quarter revenues of $2.55 billion. That is a 7.6% decline from last year. Compeer increases patronage distribution Compeer Financial will distribute more than $125 million in patronage payments to its 30,000-plus members. The Compeer board made the decision to increase the patronage after the farm credit organization had strong nancial results in 2019. Compeer CEO Rod Hebrink said, “We recognize this
infusion of extra capital can make a big difference for our member-owners, especially now.” DBA/Edge Cooperative adds Schauer to staff Steven Schauer is the new communications specialist for the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative. Most recently, Schauer was the director of athletic communications for Concordia University-Wisconsin. Before that, Schauer worked with the Green Bay Packers. Trivia challenge The Brown Swiss dairy breed is derived from the triple purpose Braunveih breed. That answers our last trivia question. Kraft Foods introduced a cheese sauce product in 1953. For this week, what is the name of that product? 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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“Very customer service orientated!” How long have you been using manure management testing from DHIA? Anez Consulting Inc has done business with DHIA for over 20 years. I work with farms on their manure management plans, permitting and compliance. I also work with industrial sites that require a Type IV operator for land application of industrial by products. What do you like about this service? I have found the staff to be very pleasant, friendly, and accommodating. Very customer service orientated! How are the results from the manure management tests used? Results from manure tests are used to plan Àeld application rates and for actual application reports. Commercial fertilizer (if needed) rates can be planned around the results from the manure applications. Our goal is to not overapply nutrients but to use the resource wisely. Why is having a manure management plan important? Manure management plans are required for feedlots in all states. NPDES sites are required to sample every year. Non NPDES sites every three years. Our recommendation is to sample every year regardless of the size of the operation and take multiple samples per source at the farm. Multiple tests help us Àne tune our recommendations so that we don’t have over application and that we don’t end up with under application of nutrients and yields suffer because of that. Our goal is Jeff Bauman to maximize the use of the resources our clients have and keep them compliant at Ag & Industrial Compliance the same time. Anez Consulting, Inc • Willmar, MN.
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Page 10 • Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020
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Conďż˝nued from DERECHO | Page 1 the Franck farm, was eating lunch with his wife, Kristen, in their home on their 100-cow robotic dairy. “I felt safe in the house,â€? Schanbacher said. “But I could see the trees getting snapped off and uprooted, and the trampoline blowing around. I wasn’t able to see the extent of the damage to the freestall barn until I went out after the storm had passed. Only the north wall was standing and there was no roof.â€? The farm’s robots are on the east end of the collapsed 66-by-120 foot PHOTO SUBMITTED freestall barn, and milk is pumped 240 feet to the bulk Silo damage is among the challenges faced by Schanbacher Acres of Atkins, tank through a cross alley. Iowa, aďż˝er the derecho storm Aug. 10 in Iowa. Feedstus in the silos could no The alley and a portion of longer be used and bags holding haylage were damaged by debris. the attached older barn was destroyed in the storm, compromising the pipeline and the communication to the robots. In addition, the storm destroyed a 60-foot silo but spared his machine shed, shop and grain bins. Not one cow was lost at his farm, although one heifer was put down and two others may not survive. Schanbacher’s robotic dealer found a way for the robots to begin milking cows by 7:30 p.m. Monday using a generator. Most cows were milked once, but the level of destruction meant by Tuesday, Schanbacher was moving the milking cows to two other dairies. With powerlines still down at his farm, Schanbacher went into a second week without power. He said he may not be milking at home until next year. Two of his cousins who also dairy in the area experienced signiďƒžcant damage as well. Schanbacher Acres, owned by J, Barb, Allan and Joyce Schanbacher near Atkins, sustained damage to PHOTO SUBMITTED three silos, a grain bin, a machine shed and commodity shed. Power came back on the eighth day after the storm. Most corn ďƒželds are blown over from the derecho “All of our animal housing facilities are ďƒžne, except storm Aug. 10. for calf huts,â€? said Carissa Buttjer, assistant herdsman for Schanbacher Acres. “Those were blown a half mile away through two ďƒželds and down into a neighbor’s creek. All began Bear Creek with her husband, Jan, in 2009. “It delivered what it promised.â€? calves were found unharmed.â€? Boelen’s team used empty cleaning supply totes to One of the huts hit a pickup truck that was with a group of employees baling hay. The driver and ďƒžve other move water to its heifer facilities located several miles employees were taken by surprise while in the ďƒželd or away. Milk truck driver Jon Silver, of Tom W. Silver Trucksurrounding buildings but also came through without ining in Marion, rode out the storm in a patron’s milkhouse juries. Like other dairy farmers in the area, Buttjer and her near Newton – 90 miles southwest of Cedar Rapids. He team are scrambling to clean up debris while ďƒžguring out had to rescue the farm dog and close windows when how to manage the loss of feedstuffs and changes in how debris cut through milkhouse screens. Later, he maneuthe feed is delivered. The corn crop is ďƒ&#x;attened, with si- vered along highways littered with trees and power lines lage cutting having been several weeks away. Each dairy to deliver his load. “I’ve never seen anything like it,â€? Silver said. “That farmer hopes to recover some of the corn, but the value stop was in Newton, and normally I drive two and a is questionable. “The corn is ďƒ&#x;at and leaďƒ&#x;ess now. It is all starting to half hours to the plant in Dubuque. That day it took six hours.â€? die,â€? Kettelkamp said. The trucking company had damage at its shop. In “We’ve had our nutritionist here almost every day helping us to get creative with our feed sources,â€? Buttjer the days following the storm, Silver saw delays in his route because of farm generators that delayed milking said. Schanbacher Acres has Franck’s silage crew chop- and pumping, but no milk on his route was dumped. Not so at one farm near Boone, two hours west of ping corn with plans to feed it as green chop for now. Earlage and silage in the damaged Schanbacher Acres’ Cedar Rapids, where Kathy Haub and their dairy dumped silos is inaccessible, and silage bags of haylage are full one tank before they were able to get a generator. Generosity became apparent through the crisis. At of holes from calf huts hitting them, Buttjer said. Roughly 30 miles southwest, the 1,550-cow Bear Bear Creek Dairy, employees were provided with hot Creek Dairy near Brooklyn had a large standby generator food and showers because their own homes had no power ready to operate. Damage was mainly limited to crops, and, in some cases, damage from the storm. Employees at Schanbacher Acres brought family members to help but the farm spent 80 hours without power. “We bought the generator because we heard all these clean up debris. At the Kettelkamp farm, Bob and Bill were surstories when we moved here,â€? said Dorine Boelen, who prised when a van drove into the farmyard the day after the storm, delivering food and water. Franck found homes for his cows quickly just by texting fellow dairy farmers and had other help in the crisis. “College friends were here; we had a Mennonite crew cleaning up on Tuesday, and we’ve got tons of food that’s come,â€? Franck said. But the unusual storm added multiple new layers to this year’s challenges for the Iowa dairies in the storm’s PHOTO SUBMITTED path. “It’s 2020,â€? Jan Boelen The collapsed freestall barn at Brian Schanbacher’s dairy lies in front of an older barn housing his robots near Newhall, Iowa. The robots survived the said. “What else can hapderecho but the wiring, pipeline and aďż˝ached freestall barn damage required pen?â€? Schanbacher to move his cows to neighboring dairies aďż˝er the storm Aug. 10.
What to know before hedging milk The do’s, don’ts of investing in today’s dairy market By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
GLENWOOD, Minn. – With the unexpected milk prices many dairy farmers received in June and July, in hindsight, the idea of locking in prices was appealing. But is hedging milk in a market worth it? “The reality of trading is there is a lot of risk in doing it if you don’t know what you are doing,” Joe Spader said. “Even then, it can be very challenging.” Spader is the president and senior market advisor at DairyVisor Inc. in Glenwood. The purpose of hedging milk with futures and options is to allow dairy farmers an opportunity to reduce price risk and protect strong margin opportunities. Yet, there are several factors to consider before a farmer engages in trading. Milk can be traded on an assortment of futures markets – block cheese, cash settled butter and cheese, Class III and IV, nonfat dry milk and whey – with prices driven by the fundamentals in each category as well as underlying cash markets used to determine Federal Milk Marketing Order prices. The job of the futures market is to provide an efcient platform to nd a fair market value for the forward months that are being actively traded. “As long as there is liquidity in a market and a contract is being posted by the CME Group, it can be traded,” Spader said. “It just needs someone willing to buy and sell to establish a contract.”
“Finding the balance between taking on some risk and hedging to mitigate the bigger aspect of market exposure is critical to doing a good job hedging.” JOE SPADER, MARKET ADVISOR
Dairy farmers may opt for either futures or options contracts. A futures contract is an agreement established between hedgers and/or speculators to buy and sell an agreed upon price in the underlying commodity, whereas a futures option is a contract that establishes the right but not the obligation for the buyer to buy or sell the underlying futures contract at a specied strike price. Contracts can be made for specic months. The further out a contract is established, the less liquidity there is in the market thus higher the trading risk. To trade the markets effectively, Spader suggests working with an advisor who farmers can trust with their business decisions and fully understand the price drivers of the commodities being traded.
“Brokers that don’t charge consulting fees and only make money trading positions typically have a natural conict of interest with a farmer as it is their goal to get them to trade and make money. This in turn, can put the farmer in a position where they may be taking on more trading risk with increased trading activity,” Spader said. “Most farmers don’t spend enough time following the markets to be effective on their own without an outside advisor helping them. A broker with integrity is who dairy farmers should work with.” History shows that dairy farmers should only hedge about 40% of a milk price cycle, the advisor suggested, because 60% of the time individual contract months settle near the life of contract high. “Market uncertainty should be managed to prevent catastrophic situational losses, like COVID-19, 9/11, footand-mouth disease outbreaks,” Spader said. “Nobody knows when events like this will happen. The challenge is how much money should a dairy farmer risk annually to remove some of this risk. Is it worth doing?” There are several challenges with trading milk, including cross hedge risk, liquidity of the markets, component based hedging knowledge and the money required to margin volatile markets, among others. “A lack of knowledge for the various trading risk factors that may negatively affect a hedge is the No. 1 challenge we see for dairy farmers,” Spader said. “Most farmers don’t put in enough homework to do a good job and lack the full understanding of the complex dairy markets.” In today’s environment, there is a large amount of risk in hedging with negative producer price differentials on the milk check and likely to be seen in the future. “Dairy farmers can manage some of this risk, but it takes being proactive versus reactive in how various hedging tools are used when establishing hedges,” Spader said. “Some farmers are learning that tough lesson today.” While hedging milk is certainly not an easy task, it should not be discounted as part of an effective way to manage a dairy business. In Spader’s experience, he has seen the use of commodity trading to manage risk in concert with competing with cost of production and maintaining strong working capital as a threetier method to propel a dairy business forward. “Those are the ones that are moving ahead and expanding market share in the industry,” Spader said. “All three (of those objectives) are necessary to win the game. Trading is not the cure if you don’t have the other two working for you also.” There is a lot to understand when deciding if hedging milk is the right decision for a dairy farm, and it should not be a decision made without fully weighing the costs and benets as they relate to the farm’s overall business goals. “Finding the balance between taking on some risk and hedging to mitigate the bigger aspect of market exposure is critical to doing a good job hedging. It can be done but it takes a lot of work and knowledge in what you’re doing,” Spader said. “The best things farmers can do is educate themselves and work with a trusted broker.”
Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020 • Page 11
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Page 12 • Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020
A gradual buy-in
Peeters eases into dairy career by purchasing cattle from parents By Andrea Borgerding andrea.b@dairystar.com
MENAHGA, Minn. – For ve years, Erik Peeters invested time and energy into raising newborn calves, milking cows, managing herd health and breeding for all the cattle on his family’s dairy the hopes someday it would be his. That someday came July 1. “It’s a difcult time to take over,” Erik said. “But it’s exciting.” Fluctuating milk prices and supply challenges brought on by the novel coronavirus pandemic this spring challenged transition plans for Erik and his parents, Tony and Terry. Despite the uncertainty in the industry, Erik, 30, purchased the 160-cow dairy herd and youngstock July 1 on his parents’ farm near Menahga. “I had been basically taking care of the cattle for the past ve years or more so it kind of felt like the cattle were mine already because that is what I was working towards,” Erik said. “It wasn’t a big change when I did nally own them all.” Tony and Terry began milking together on the family farm after they were married in 1980. Before that time, Tony had worked out an arrangement with his father where he would earn a percentage of the milk check and purchase heifer calves as they were born.
MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR
Erik Peeters (front) and his parents, Tony and Terry, stand in the barn housing the milking herd on their farm near Menahga, Minnesota. Erik bought the milking herd from his parents July 1. As he gradually built up equity in cattle, Tony purchased 150 cows from his father in 1983. “In the back of mind, I know things are different today, but sometimes you can do the same thing now because it worked then,” Tony said. After graduating from college with an associate degree, Erik returned home
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10 years ago to start working on the dairy, rst earning a wage and eventually a percentage of the milk check. He started buying springers and breeding age heifers. In addition, Erik began buying all of the newborn heifer calves two years ago. He also started paying for expenses including feed. “That’s why we started with me
buying the newborn calves,” Erik said. “Then it was all my expense, and we didn’t have to split expenses.” A year ago, the Peeters family hired a professional advisor who specializes in transferring farm assets. “We didn’t know our options,” Turn to PEETERS | Page 13
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Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020 • Page 13
ConƟnued from PEETERS | Page 12
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Erik Peeters feeds calves on his parent’s farm Aug. 10 near Menahga, Minnesota. Peeters took ownership of the milking herd July 1. Terry said. “It’s nice to talk to someone who knows what we can do. He doesn’t tell us what is best for us but what our options are. This way, too, we can make everything legally notarized.” Working with the advisor is an ongoing process that has been delayed with the pandemic, but the Peeters are continuing the transition process. Erik covered the cost of planting this year’s crop while also covering the expenses of the dairy. It was a challenging transition time for him as he was earning only 50% of the milk check. “It was stressful because you’re putting out more than what’s coming in,” Erik said. After July 1, Erik began receiving a full milk check. “It’s easier to keep up now,” Erik said. “I still have bills to pay but it’s less stressful.” Erik is also renting the land and equipment from his parents. Tony continues to manage the eldwork and raise the crops for Erik. Terry receives a wage from Erik for milking cows, and Erik’s brother, Ryan, also milks cows. His brother, Anthony, works full-time on the dairy doing feeding and eldwork. Tony and Terry have three other sons who use their farming equipment on separate farmland, so part of the agreement is to have the three cover the costs of repairs and replacement parts on the equipment. “That way they don’t need to put out money for buying equipment,” Tony said. “It’s a little easier for everyone to get along if Mom and Dad are still overseeing the machinery situation.” Tony and Terry want to continue helping all of their children involved in farming, but Erik will have precedence over his siblings as the dairy is a priority. “In order for him to be successful here, the dairy needs to be priority,” Tony said. “You need feed and the land needs to be close by to get rid of the manure.”
The plan is for Erik to eventually buy the farmland around the farmsite and the farmsite itself. With the state of the economy this past spring and the milk price dropping, Erik decided to hold off on a real estate agreement until 2021. Erik is optimistic when it comes to working out any differences in management styles between the two generations. So far the working relationship has been positive. “It’s been a few years where most of what I do is the cattle,” Erik said. “He is more management of the crops.” At 66, Tony said retiring is not something he wanted to do but knows had to be done. Tony said having the next generation take over is a complicated process. “It has to be workable that he can be successful too,” Tony said. “We probably could’ve gotten more for the cows if we sold them outright, but we are trying to make it as easy as possible for Erik.” Erik said he has a tendency to ask his dad for advice. “I’m excited about making my own decisions and not asking if that’s alright,” Erik said. Tony admits he will be looking over Erik’s shoulder, ready to offer advice if he is asked. “I’m concerned that as Terry and I get older, we will be able to help less and less,” Tony said. “The labor situation is going to be challenging for him.” Despite the future of unknowns, Erik is certain he is where he is supposed to be. His parents think so too. “People keep telling me we are fortunate to have another generation that wants to take over,” Tony said. “He’s the cow man of the family and has always done a fantastic job.” The Peeters’ advice to others looking to transition in the next generation is to hire professional help because things are apt to change. “It’s going to be a continuous process,” Tony said.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020 • Page 15
Working together with the next generation
Carl, Matt and Paul Lippert Pittsville, Wisconsin Wood County 630 cows How long have you been working together? We formed an LLC with the three of us in 2012. Paul and Carl were students at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls at the time. What are your roles on the farm? How has that changed since the next generation’s return? Matt: I do ďƒžnancials, payroll, paying suppliers and doing budgets, etc. Paul is in charge of all day-today management. I have a few calf chores to give me the satisfaction of some hands-on farm work. I ďƒžll in as I can. I do fewer things and a lot less physical work today because the farm has grown and responsibilities are more specialized, which the next generation has made possible. What ideas has the next generation brought to the farm that have been implemented? Paul has attended programs through Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin. His peer group experience and ďƒžnancial training has encouraged us to do more for ďƒžnancial planning and updating systems. The herd has increased about 50% with all the buildings and infrastructure to accommodate that growth. What have been the best things about working together with your parent/child? Matt: We think a lot alike but not exactly the same. I share insight and appreciate it is treated as such by them. It is great to see that what has been created on the family farm by my and previous generations is being built to do even better today and in the future. Paul: I often think that the problem facing me that day or that week is the most important thing on the farm. This seems to change by the season. Dad helps steady me through those extremes. Sometimes I need to be told no, but more often I need a more long-term thought process to help guide me into not making rash decisions. What has been the greatest challenge of working together? How do you address your difference of opinions? Communicating as father to son is not always the best way to communicate as partner to partner. Matt: It is nearly impossible to separate the family relationship and the business one, especially in a family business such as a farm. The relationship and communication is based on respect for each other and a good understanding of each other’s values. It helps that our long-term goals align well. We interact on the go but also set up times to discuss. These are not always meetings where we decide who will do what and when; they can be about how we feel about things and get at our values and goals. Paul: I’m guilty of taking out any frustration on my family. I have no issue being calm around employees, but I often struggle with this around my father. We both assume the other understands what is going on in each other’s heads. We do a good job of having short memories if we are frustrated with one another. We are willing to compromise, and we both respect each other’s knowledge and experience. Having specialties on the farm helps us have our own space to function and make decisions. How is the business side of this working relationship setup? Why did you choose this arrangement? Grass Ridge Farm LLC was in place before the next generation joined. With my off-farm employment, there were previous partners. By 2012, the people involved had changed. The LLC has accomplished so much for the structure of the farm. We can decrease my share over time easily. As an LLC, the farm has a long-term outlook not limited by a lifetime. Carl has reduced his involvement within the last year. He has his own business interests that needed more attention. Paul is engaged to Trisha Blaser. The LLC allows us to be ďƒ&#x;uid as the family and partner dynamics change. Nobody is entitled in the business as family members. We pay hourly for work completed, and management skills are rewarded if the value of the business appreciates. What changes did you make to the farm in order to make the next generation’s return ďƒžnancially feasible? The farm wouldn’t be feasible without the next generation. I have been adding to my retirement from my off-farm employment and shouldn’t need to cash-in farm assets to enjoy retirement. As there was a previous partnership, the investment in modern facilities had begun before the next generation joined. They have always been treated as adults even before they were, so they organically were aware and vested in what was being created. They also understood hard work, success not being guaranteed and the commitment involved before they signed up as partners. Tell us about your farm. Our herd is 90% registered Holstein and 10% registered Jersey. The herd average is 31,000 pounds of milk on the Holsteins and 23,000 pounds for the Jerseys. We raise our replacement heifers which are housed in three locations. Grass Ridge is a century farm. We are the third and fourth generations of Lipperts. All ďƒželd operations for the 1,500 acres are hired out. The farm relies on employees. They are critical to the success of the farm.
Vision Aire Farms LLC Roger and Sandy Grade, David and Torrie Grade, Travis and Janet Clark (Pictured from left: Corey Tavs, assistant herd manager; David Grade, Roger Grade, Sandy Grade, Janet Clark and Travis Clark) Eldorado, Wisconsin Fond du Lac County 140 cows How long have you been working together? David joined the farm after graduating from Fox Valley Farm Management. Travis and Janet joined the farm in 2010. We started the generational transition in 2013 when we established the LLC. What are your roles on the farm? How has that changed since the next generation’s return? Roger and Sandy are transitioning to retirement. They help with daily operations and oversee some management. David manages crops, land and equipment. Travis manages the dairy. Janet manages the calves and ďƒžnancials. As the next generation has returned to the farm, we have been able to specialize in areas of management. Previously, Roger and Sandy managed all the areas of the farm at a smaller scale. We have expanded the herd and increased acres we manage through owned/rented land and custom operations. What ideas has the next generation brought to the farm that have been implemented? Roger: They bring the experience and willingness to adapt technology faster than Sandy and I would be able to. I am amazed at how our operation has changed and will continue to be successful. What have been the best things about working together with your parent/ child? Roger: I am so proud that my children are willing to continue the business we started. My parents were farmers, but dairy farming was not their focus. The younger generation brings new ideas and ways to do things that help our business continue. We may not always agree on every matter, but at the end of the day, we are all family. Janet: I am thankful that when we are making decisions I can look to my parents for advice and guidance. The ďƒžve of us weigh in on decisions equally. We try our best to put all the options on the table and come to a decision together. There have been many times (especially lately) that my parents say, “Wow, I am glad you guys are making these decisions. These are unprecedented times.â€? What has been the greatest challenge of working together? How do you address your difference of opinions? Roger: For so many years, Sandy and I would make decisions. We would talk it through as we were milking cows or doing other chores. Now we have to consult with three additional people, and they have different ideas and goals. At times, I would like to move faster on some decisions, but working through it together gives us more of a purpose. Janet: The greatest challenge we face is ďƒžnding an agreement with ďƒžve personalities and ideas. We try to communicate as best we can. We always do what decision is the best for the farm to succeed. That is always our main objective. How is the business side of this working relationship setup? Why did you choose this arrangement? We have the dairy operation set up in an LLC and the land in another LLC. At this point in time, Roger and Sandy have gifted ownership percentage to David and Janet. When we consulted with our attorney, we felt this was the best setup for us. What changes did you make to the farm in order to make the next generation’s return ďƒžnancially feasible? We have increased our owned/rented land, doubled the milking herd size and added some custom operating. In 2012, we added a double-8 herringbone parlor and retroďƒžtted our tiestall barn into a tunnelventilated freestall barn. At this point, our heifers are custom raised starting at 9 months. We don’t have space or someone to manage heifer care. Tell us about your farm. Vision Aire Farms LLC is a 140-cow Holstein herd that was awarded the National Milk Quality award from Hoard’s Dairyman in 2015 and 2016. Along with milking cows, we also operate 1,200 acres of land and custom bale and harvest for neighboring farms. Turn to OUR SIDE | Page 16
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Page 16 • Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020
ConƟnued from OUR SIDE | Page 15
David and Steve Flood, and Nathan, Steve’s son Concord, Wisconsin Jefferson County 65 cows How long have you been working together? Forever. What are your roles on the farm? How has that changed since the next generation’s return? Steve is the herdsman, agronomist, mechanic, equipment operator, manager and in charge of the waste management. Both Steve and David have made the decisions by talking it over and making compromises. What ideas has the next generation brought to the farm that have been implemented? We went from milking in a stanchion barn with a pipeline and automatic take offs to milking in a double-6 swing parlor. We’ve set our cell count down under 100,000 and have been holding it there continuously for the last 10 years. We have gone to making all our dry hay with a round baler from a small square baler, and we now chop most of our hay and put it in bags instead of silos along with corn silage, even though we still have three silos that we use. We have gone from conventional tillage to minimal tillage and no-till, which we like and enjoy. What have been the best things about working together with your parent/child? David: The best part of working together is watching Steve learn the business, making new improvements and him asking me what I think of his ideas. It’s fun to see the next generation grow, including watching Steve’s son, Nathan, into the farm. Steve: We have had very few disagreements, and we make compromises. I like knowing that I have someone there with the same interest as me to talk to and help me solve problems on the farm. Best of all, I have one heck of a teacher and mentor along the way to guide me. What has been the greatest challenge of working together? How do you address your difference of opinions? David: The biggest challenge is going from main boss to the helper. Steve: Deciding who gets to drive the combine rst in the fall. To me, there was no big challenge other than trying to convince Dad to do things a little different, but it isn’t hard. When we disagree about something, we talk it over and discuss the pros and cons. How is the business side of this working relationship setup? Why did you choose this arrangement? Steve: I started out as an employee, then I went to being a percentage owner of the farm, to being the farm operator and manager. Steve and David: That was the best or easiest way to make it work for our operation. What changes did you make to the farm in order to make the next generation’s return nancially feasible? Both of us agreed to keep it at a manageable size operation level and watch our debt load at a manageable level. Tell us about your farm. We own and operate a 270-acre dairy farm where we cash crop and milk 65 Holsteins and raise our replacement heifers. We also rent some additional land. Along with that, we also do our own planting, harvesting and some custom eld work and harvesting. We try to do most of our own maintenance and repair work ourselves. Farming isn’t just a job or a way of life, it’s our passion and love for what we do. We don’t really think of it as a job. I (Steve) am a third-generation farmer, and if my son continues farming with me when he gets out of school, he will be the fourth generation on this farm.
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Virgil, Ben and Verlin Rylaarsdam Chandler, Minnesota Murray County 260 cows How long have you been working together? Virgil joined the operation in 2003, and Ben joined in 2011. Ben and Virgil both graduated from Ridgewater College at Willmar, Minnesota. What are your roles on the farm? How has that changed since the next generation’s return? Glen is in charge of the feeding, repro work and herd health. Virgil is in charge of eld work and machinery repair. Verlin helps out wherever he is needed. When Virgil came back, Verlin was milking 70-80 head in a stanchion barn and was doing everything himself. We built a new loang barn and milking parlor in order to expand our herd and make it possible for the boys to join the operation. Verlin and his wife, Kathy, still feed the calves. The boys are managing things now, but we make decisions together. What ideas has the next generation brought to the farm that have been implemented? One of the ideas they brought home was a TMR mixer to blend the ration for our cows. Another idea was to bag our silage and haylage. The boys have brought a lot of technology to the farm. We now use computers and smart phones to keep our herd’s records instead of a pencil and paper. We also began to use the ProCross breeding system shortly after Virgil came home. What have been the best things about working together with your parent/child? Verlin: It’s great to be able to see our grandkids every day. Our sons have an active interest in the farm. They are not just employees. Virgil: Everyone knows what’s going on, so there is no need for training. Having Dad around helps me see what has worked and what didn’t. It’s great to have access to his wisdom and experience. Ben: I get to see and work with my family every day; not many can say that. Mom and Dad help with babysitting. We get to learn from our parents’ experiences. Working with family gives us more exibility when we want to take time off. What has been the greatest challenge of working together? How do you address your difference of opinions? Verlin: We can’t all take off at the same time for a wedding or a similar event. When we have a difference of opinion, we talk it through and nd a way around the difculty. It is important to see the advantages of the other person’s opinion. I keep an open mind and know that the boys have a lot at stake. Virgil: Don’t blow up right away when there’s a disagreement and talk things through. We don’t have any big challenges because we all have the same mindset and aren’t afraid to work a little. Ben: We always try to nd a compromise whenever we have any differences. Any challenges we might face are usually pretty minor. How is the business side of this working relationship setup? Why did you choose this arrangement? When Virgil came home, we set up an S corporation. Everybody has a share in the corporation. As time goes on, the boys will acquire more and more shares. This makes it easier to transfer things from one generation to the next and ensures the boys have skin in the game. What changes did you make to the farm in order to make the next generation’s return nancially feasible? We had to expand our herd to make things work nancially. We did this by building a new parlor and loang shed. After Virgil joined the operation, we kept growing our herd from within to make it possible for Ben to join. We were about up to full capacity when Ben came home after graduating from Ridgewater. Tell us about your farm. This is a century farm. We farm about 700 acres and raise our own replacement animals. We sell our bull calves when they weigh about 500 pounds. Virgil and his wife, Sarah, have four children: Lydia, 16, Nathaniel, 8, Isaac, 7, and Silas, 3. Glen and his wife, Samantha, have three children: Parker, 5, Sydney, 3, and Landon, 5 months.
Will and Carol Gerdes Jonathan and Liz Gerdes Pictured from left, Grace, Chloe, 7, Liz, Jonathan, Anna, 5, Will and Carol Caledonia, Minnesota Houston County 90 cows How long have you been working together? Jonathan and his wife, Liz, came back to work with us on the farm in 2011. What are your roles on the farm? Will: When Jonathan rst came home, I took the typical father role, and for the most part, led the operation. How has that changed since the next generation’s return? Desiring to pass the farm operation to Jonathan and Liz, I have been stepping back as much as possible. What ideas have the next generation brought to the farm that have been implemented? Jonathan and Liz started Gerdes Fresh Farm LLC, which is a raw milk farm-to-consumer business on the farm. Jonathan is active in sharing and promoting dairy farm living on social media. We have implemented many improvements to our farming processes since 2011: a milking parlor, calf facilities, equipment, crop technologies and cow genetics, among others. We are hiring milking help in the evenings. What have been the best things about working together with your parent/child? Will/Carol: We love farming with our son, his wife and their family. Will wakes up every morning and is glad he gets to farm with Jonathan. Our shared values begin with desiring to please God in everything we do. It’s rewarding to see Jonathan take on all the challenges of farming and do so well keeping life in balance. We have the chance to love and inuence our grandchildren daily. Jonathan/Liz: We are thankful for like-minded parents who have an eternal perspective on farming. Both of our families realize there is more to life and eternity than farming which is invaluable. In everything we do, we seek to honor Christ with our farm, realizing that life is short and eternity is long. Beyond that, we are thankful to raise our kids with multi-generational inuence. My parents support and encourage us as parents while pouring into our kids on a daily basis. I can’t quantify the value of my dad’s wealth of knowledge and years of experience. Whether it be xing machinery, treating a cow, planting the crops, building anything, you name it – he has done it all, and he is good at it. I am thankful to work with such a capable partner. What has been the greatest challenge of working together? How do you address your difference of opinions? Will/Carol: Because Jonathan is wise and responsible, the challenges are few. We don’t disagree on much. We are both willing to compromise on almost anything. Because I desire to pass the operation to Jonathan, I want to do things he wants to do. He is easy to work with. Jonathan/ Liz: Taking on the challenges of a farm with someone who has a different perspective on life can either cripple you or make your business stronger through diversied strengths. We have chosen to see the latter, realizing we both have strengths that can complement each other’s weaknesses. Liz and I recommend the Enneagram personality assessment for anyone who is in a farming partnership or a marriage relationship. There is no farming decision that is worth wrecking a relationship. This means discussion and exibility are imperative for relating to each other. It also means we must hold farming loosely, choosing relationship over opinion on a regular basis. When we have a difference of opinion, our goal is a healthy relationship. We give proper trust to the years of experience my parents have and do our best to decide together. At the end of the day, farming is not important enough to harm a family. How is the business side of this working Turn to OUR SIDE | Page 17
Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020 • Page 17
ConƟnued from OUR SIDE | Page 16 relationship setup? Why did you choose this arrangement? About seven years ago, we set up a 50/50 LLC partnership until Jonathan’s percentage is greater than mine, which happens at the 10-year mark. We listened to many ideas and decided with our lawyer to go this route. We want to get the farm into Jonathan’s hands without breaking him. What changes did you make to the farm in order to make the next generation’s return nancially feasible? We built a parlor and increased our herd numbers. We made many changes to decrease the workload as much as possible, while at the same time increasing productivity. Tell us about your farm. Our farm is 240 acres, and we rent two neighboring farms. We milk around 90 Holstein cows and raise our heifers. We grow corn and alfalfa. We raised our eight children on this farm, and they all helped make it what it is today. Now Jonathan and Liz are raising three kids on the farm who will step into the new shoes we have created. We have built almost every building on our farm ourselves. We work hard at keeping it in order. We thank the Lord for the lifestyle we have.
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Page 18 • Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020
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Activity system, beef breeding key to Huneke Dairy 35% preg rate Huneke Dairy; Paul, Marc and Micah Huneke Goodhue, Minnesota Goodhue County 250 cows What was your pregnancy rate average last year? Last year, our herd had a 35% pregnancy rate average. The last 12 months, the average has been 40% with the last two cycles at 46% and 47%. What is your voluntary waiting period for cows? For heifers? Two weeks ago, we switched the voluntary waiting period to 75 days in milk for cows and 14 months for heifers. Before that, it used to be 60 days in milk and 13 months. Cows have been getting pregnant quickly so we needed to push it back. Plus, we had a few heifers that were too small at calving so pushing breeding dates out a month will hopefully help with that. What is your rst service conception rate? 56%. What is your reproduction program? Do you use a synchronization program? We use a presynch/ ovsych program for both the cows Turn to HUNEKES | Page 20
KRISTA KUZMA/ DAIRY STAR
Marc (leŌ) and Micah Huneke farm together with their dad, Paul (not pictured), on their 250-cow dairy near Goodhue, Minnesota. Last year, their herd had an average pregnancy rate of 35%.
Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020 • Page 19
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Page 20 • Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020
ConƟnued from HUNEKES | Page 18
and heifers. For the last six months, we have used a short synch program for animals found open. We also cherry pick cows to breed from the second prostaglandin shot of presynch before the herd check. How do you observe for heat? In May 2018, we started using an activity and rumination ear tag monitor from Genex for our heifers. It went well, so we decided to install it for the cows in June 2019. The majority of our herd’s breeding is done because of the activity found through this system. How do you conrm pregnant or open cows? Our veterinarian, Matt Anderson from Anderson Veterinary Services, ultrasounds our cows every two weeks.
KRISTA KUZMA/ DAIRY STAR
Many of the calves in the calf barn at Huneke Dairy are beef-Holstein crosses. Over 70% of the herd is bred to Angus or Limousin beef bulls.
KRISTA KUZMA/ DAIRY STAR
Cows at Huneke Dairy eat a total mixed raƟon. The blue acƟvity monitor aƩached to cows’ ear tags helps the Hunekes nd cows in heat more quickly.
What is your breeding philosophy? How do you select bulls? What traits do you focus on? Does fertility play a role in bull selection? All calves are genomic tested, so net merit is the main determination of how we will breed the animal. If a cow’s or heifer’s net merit is in the top 20% to 25% of the herd, she is bred to a Holstein bull with sexed semen. When choosing these bulls, we like to have them be high in components and low in somatic cell count. The rest of the herd is bred to a beef bull. We use Angus or Limousin.
How are cows and heifers bred? Do you have a different philosophy for breeding both? Because we use net merit as our determination if an animal gets dairy or beef semen, we do not breed them differently. The bulk of the heifers are the ones being bred to sexed semen because they are the ones with the better genetics coming into the herd. What do you do to settle hard breeders? We have few cows that are hard breeders. We usually sell them for other reasons before fertility is an issue. Turn to HUNEKES | Page 22
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Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020 • Page 21
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ARTICULATED 4WD TRACTORS JD 9220, 2002, PS, Duals, Guidance-ready, 8800 hrs, #172522 ...............$58,900 JD 9300, 1997, Partial PS, Duals, 7996 hrs., #168166 ...............................$59,500 JD 9430, 2009, PS, Duals, Guidance-ready, 4275 hrs., #171961 ...........$129,000 JD 9530, 2011, PS, Duals, Guidance-ready, 3410 hrs., #166213 ...........$154,900 JD 9530, 2007, PS, Duals, Guidance-ready, 4280 hrs., #165656 ...........$139,900 JD 9370R, 2018, PS, Duals, PTO, Guidance-ready, 581 hrs., #169869 ...$272,000 JD 9520R, 2015, PS, Duals, HydraCushion Axle, 1914 hrs., #171181 ....$263,900 JD 9560R, 2014, PS, Duals, Heavy Duty Gudgeon, 3777 hrs., #167995 $169,500 JD 9570R, 2019, PS, Duals, Heavy Duty Gudgeon, 198 hrs., #166628 .. $409,500 JD 9570R, 2015, PS, Duals, HydraCushion Axle, 1259 hrs., #168114 ....$310,900 JD 9570R, 2019, PS, Duals, Heavy Duty Gudgeon, 186 hrs., #172219 .. $379,500 JD 9570R, 2019, PS, Duals, Heavy Duty Gudgeon, 546 hrs., #166629 .. $399,500 JD 9570R, 2018, e18, Duals, Heavy Duty Gudgeon, 985 hrs., #172424 $349,000 JD 9570R, 2019, PS, Duals, Heavy Duty Gudgeon, 330 hrs., #172429 .. $399,400 JD 9620R, 2019, PS, Duals, Heavy Duty Gudgeon, 250 hrs., #172221 .. $409,500 JD 9620R, 2019, PS, Duals, Heavy Duty Gudgeon, 200 hrs., #172220 .. $399,500 JD 9620R, 2019, PS, Duals, Heavy Duty Gudgeon, 172 hrs., #172416 .. $399,500 JD 9620R, 2019, PS, Duals, HydraCushion Axle, 822 hrs., #169236 ......$394,900 JD 9620R, 2015, e18, Duals, HydraCushion Axle, 1561 hrs., #166166 ..$315,500 JD 9620R, 2016, PS, Duals, Heavy Duty Gudgeon, 2658 hrs., #161527 $269,500 NH T9.560HD, 2011, PS, Triples, 1964 hrs., #171911............................$169,000 COMBINES JD 9400, 1989, 2WD, Singles, 4595 hrs., 2986 sep hrs, #171530 .............$23,900 JD 9500, 1995, Corn/Bean, 2WD, Dls, 5392 hrs., 3503 sep hrs, #171987 $23,900 JD 9650 STS, 2001, Corn/Bean, 2WD, Duals, 3210 hrs., 2053 sep hrs, #171989 ..................................................................................$52,000 JD 9660 STS, 2004, Corn/Bean, 2WD, Duals, 3332 hrs., 1862 sep hrs, #172070 ..................................................................................$69,000 JD 9750 STS, 2002, Corn/Bean, 2WD, Duals, 3800 hrs., 2575 sep hrs, #171897 ..................................................................................$50,400 JD 9770 STS, 2009, Corn/Bean, 2WD, Duals, 2604 hrs., 1878 sep hrs, #162933 ..................................................................................$79,900 JD 9770 STS, 2011, Corn/Bean, 2WD, Duals, 3640 hrs., 2848 sep hrs, #165662 ..................................................................................$81,900 JD 9770 STS, 2009, Corn/Bean, 2WD, 2250 hrs., 1700 sep hrs, #171960$85,400 JD 9770 STS, 2009, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2406 hrs., 1566 sep hrs, #172422 ..................................................................................$98,000 JD 9860 STS, 2007, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 3763 hrs., 2268 sep hrs, #172083 ..................................................................................$70,400 JD 9870 STS, 2008, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 3295 hrs., #160885 ......$101,900 JD 9870 STS, 2010, Corn/Bean, 2WD, Duals, 3244 hrs., 2400 sep hrs, #161419 ..................................................................................$99,500 JD S550, 2012, Corn/Bean, 2WD, Duals, 1439 hrs., 1077 sep hrs, #161903 ...............................................................................$154,900
17 JD S660, 2015, Corn/Bean, 2WD, Duals, Chopper, 803 hrs., 545 sep hrs, #157075 .................................................................................$229,500 15 JD S660, 2014, Corn/Bean, 2WD, Singles, 1057 hrs., 702 sep hrs, #155345 .................................................................................$189,500 9 JD S660, 2013, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1488 hrs., 945 sep hrs, #172434 .................................................................................$185,000 5 JD S660, 2014, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1072 hrs., 810 sep hrs, #155826 .................................................................................$209,500 1 JD S670, 2014, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1740 hrs., 1326 sep hrs, #171681 ...............................................................................$189,900 9 JD S670, 2014, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1905 hrs., 1260 sep hrs, #153514 ...............................................................................$179,500 16 JD S670, 2013, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1584 hrs., 1190 sep hrs, #161854 ...............................................................................$179,500 11 JD S670, 2017, 2WD, Duals, 1090 hrs., 698 sep hrs, #146349 ............... $219,500 8 JD S670, 2014, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1673 hrs., 1265 sep hrs, #155388 ...............................................................................$199,500 2 JD S680, 2015, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1736 hrs., 1233 sep hrs, #167207 ...............................................................................$250,900 7 JD S680, 2014, Corn/Bean, 2WD, Duals, 2035 hrs., 1658 sep hrs, #172017 ...............................................................................$159,500 7 JD S680, 2013, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2117 hrs., 1391 sep hrs, #162070 ...............................................................................$184,900 6 JD S680, 2015, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2154 hrs., #169577 ..............$169,500 15 JD S680, 2012, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2612 hrs., 1958 sep hrs, #163765 ...............................................................................$159,400 15 JD S680, 2014, Corn/Bean, PRWD, 1774 hrs., 1361 sep hrs, #156460 ..$205,500 16 JD S680, 2014, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1671 hrs., 1157 sep hrs, #170663 ...............................................................................$179,500 16 JD S680, 2014, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2435 hrs., 1781 sep hrs, #159509 ...............................................................................$187,400 5 JD S680, 2013, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2848 hrs., 1904 sep hrs, #161858 ...............................................................................$159,500 5 JD S680, 2017, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 931 hrs., 701 sep hrs, #168849 .................................................................................$349,900 5 JD S680, 2017, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1493 hrs., 1044 sep hrs, #169826 ...............................................................................$299,000 14 JD S680, 2013, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2040 hrs., 1638 sep hrs, #166363 ...............................................................................$185,900 14 JD S680, 2013, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2277 hrs., 1670 sep hrs, #172215 ...............................................................................$180,400 14 JD S680, 2012, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2256 hrs., 1587 sep hrs, #171381 ...............................................................................$159,400 3 JD S680, 2016, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1366 hrs., 929 sep hrs, #172496 .................................................................................$295,000
Visit one of our 17 locations in Central Minnesota! (1) = GLENCOE 4561 Hwy. 212
(4) = ST. CLOUD 1035 35th Ave. NE
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78412 Co. Rd. 20
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3 JD S680, 2012, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Dls, 2375 hrs., 1739 sep hrs, #154637 $169,500 14 JD S690, 2014, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2146 hrs., 1563 sep hrs, #153332 ...............................................................................$189,500 14 JD S690, 2014, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Singles, 2222 hrs., 1638 sep hrs, #161532 ...............................................................................$189,500 14 JD S690, 2012, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2159 hrs., 1700 sep hrs, #171382 ...............................................................................$164,400 3 JD S690, 2012, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1802 hrs., 1395 sep hrs, #171923 ...............................................................................$179,000 3 JD S690, 2014, PRWD, Duals, 1944 hrs., 1317 sep hrs, #145222...........$179,500 3 JD S690, 2013, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1625 hrs., 1161 sep hrs, #167773 ...............................................................................$199,900 4 JD S760, 2018, Corn/Bean, 2WD, Dls, 586 hrs., 500 sep hrs, #163861..$289,500 6 JD S780, 2019, Corn/Bean, PRWD, 267 hrs., 199 sep hrs, #169550 ......$443,400 1 JD S780, 2018, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Dls, 580 hrs., 324 sep hrs, #157910$409,500 15 JD S780, 2018, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Dls, 684 hrs., 533 sep hrs, #165090$394,900 15 JD S780, 2018, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Dls, 545 hrs., 383 sep hrs, #171851$394,900 16 JD S780, 2019, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Dls, 417 hrs., 294 sep hrs, #169509$429,500 16 JD S780, 2019, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Dls, 350 hrs., 234 sep hrs, #171003$429,500 16 JD S780, 2019, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Dls, 448 hrs., 307 sep hrs, #169507$429,500 16 JD S780, 2019, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Dls, 439 hrs., 300 sep hrs, #169508$429,500 11 JD S780, 2018, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Dls, 457 hrs., 324 sep hrs, #154461$409,500 8 JD S780, 2018, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Dls, 725 hrs., 550 sep hrs, #171563$399,000 14 JD S780, 2018, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Dls, 744 hrs., 524 sep hrs, #171380$399,400 14 JD S780, 2019, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Dls, 859 hrs., 615 sep hrs, #171105$399,400 14 JD S780, 2019, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Dls, 539 hrs., 388 sep hrs, #171379$435,900 14 JD S780, 2019, Corn/Bean, PRWD, 698 hrs., 533 sep hrs, #171103......$404,400 14 JD S790, 2019, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Dls, 612 hrs., 405 sep hrs, #171378$441,400 TRACK TRACTORS 17 Case IH 500 Quadtrac, 2012, Guidance-ready, 1998 hrs., #167065 .$199,500 7 JD 9560RT, 2013, 760mm/30-inch tracks, 1925 hrs., #168766............$244,900 16 JD 9560RT, 2014, 36-inch tracks, 3788 hrs., #172172 ..........................$184,900 17 JD 9570RT, 2015, 36-inch tracks, 1425 hrs., #172411 ..........................$309,500 15 JD 9570RT, 2017, 36-inch tracks, 1904 hrs., #172163 ..........................$279,500 5 JD 9570RT, 2018, 36-inch tracks, 472 hrs., #169841............................$399,500 15 JD 9620RX, 2019, 36-inch tracks, 674 hrs., #171248 ............................$469,500 15 JD 9620RX, 2019, 36-inch tracks, PTO, 724 hrs., #171249 ....................$459,500 16 JD 9620RX, 2018, 36-inch tracks, 608 hrs., #165246 ............................$449,500 16 JD 9620RX, 2019, 36-inch tracks, 700 hrs., #169237 ............................$459,500 16 JD 9620RX, 2019, 36-inch tracks, 1029 hrs., #169240 ..........................$459,500 16 JD 9620RX, 2019, 36-inch tracks, 700 hrs., #169238 ............................$459,500 16 JD 9620RX, 2019, 36-inch tracks, 1062 hrs., #169239 ..........................$459,500 7 JD 9630T, 2011, 36-inch tracks, 4799 hrs., #167779 .............................$139,500 5 Case IH Steiger 600 Quadtrac, 2013, 760mm/30-inch tracks, 3150 hrs., #171910.....................................................................................$209,000
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(10) = LITTLE FALLS (13) = BAXTER (11) = WADENA 62505 US Hwy. 10
7045 Foley Rd.
(14) = ELBOW LAKE
(16) = BENSON
(15) = MORRIS
(17) = MADISON
110 2nd St. NE
23604 State Hwy. 9
380 Atlantic Ave. 516 1st St. E
SEE OUR COMPLETE INVENTORY WITH PICTURES AND DESCRIPTIONS AT: www.mmcjd.com
Page 22 • Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020
ConƟnued from HUNEKES | Page 20
Start planning for tomorrow, today. 0
% FINANCING FOR UP
72 MONTHS*
TO
3 MONTH DEFERRAL ON CONTRACTS UP TO 60 MONTHS* KRISTA KUZMA/ DAIRY STAR
Marc Huneke checks the acƟvity level of his family’s herd from an app on his phone at the dairy near Goodhue, Minnesota.
It also seems easier for our cows to settle well to beef semen. Because we are using so much beef, we don’t have many problems. How many times do you try to breed a cow before you sell her? It depends on each cow. It could be seven or eight times as long as she is milking above about 60 pounds; however, if there are other issues such as a high somatic cell count, past mastitis cases or other injuries, in addition to being open, we are willing to cull her even if she is milking well.
SCAN ME
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Contact one of the following dealers to learn more: IOWA Kramer Bros. Monticello, IA 319-465-5931 Prairie Land Ag Supply Inc. Rock Valley, IA 712-476-9290 United-Suckow Dairy Supply West Union, IA 563-422-5355 Postville, IA 563-864-7417 WISCONSIN Advanced Dairy/Bob’s Dairy Supply Spring Valley, WI 715-772-3201 Ederer Dairy Supply Plain, WI 608-546-3713
Joe’s Refrigeration Inc. Withee, WI 715-229-2321 Mlsna Dairy Supply Inc. Cashton, WI 608-654-5106 Mondovi Dairy Systems Inc. Mondovi, WI 715-926-5777
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Farm Systems Melrose, MN 320-256-3276 Watertown, SD 605-886-7401 Sioux Falls, SD 800-284-0015
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*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. is a registered trademark of Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. and “DeLaval” is a registered trade/servicemark of DeLaval Holding AB © 2020 DeLaval Inc. DeLaval, 11100 North Congress Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64153-1296. www.delaval.com
Is there anything you have done or changed that brought about a signicant improvement in your reproductive program? The rst big change we saw was six years ago when we started breeding about 25% of our herd to beef. It pushed our herd’s average pregnancy rate over 30%. This also reduced semen cost and lowered our heifer expenses because we were not raising an excess of heifers. When we put the activity monitor system in last year for the cows and in 2018 for the heifers, the pregnancy rate skyrocketed. It has helped us a lot. Tell us about your farm. In addition to our 250cow herd, we run 650 acres of corn, soybeans and alfalfa on owned and rented land. Marc and Micah are the third generation on the farm, and are working on the transition to ownership from Paul. We raise our heifers and feed out all our beef-dairy crossed animals. Our farm hosted a drive-thru dairy experience in June in place of the county’s usual breakfast on the farm.
DAIRY ST★R
is published the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. Advertising and news deadline is 5 p.m. the Friday before publication. 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378 • Fax (320) 352-5647
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Dana Berreau
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Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020 • Page 23
Living the dream
Rented facility gives Krahn, Smith opportunities to expand By Stacey Smart
stacey.s@dairystar.com
REEDSVILLE, Wis. – Josh Krahn thought it would take a lifetime to grow his herd to its current size. Buying his rst cow in 2017, Krahn never imagined he would be milking 75 head three years later. After renting a facility in the Green Bay area for several years, the perfect opportunity arose this past spring, allowing Krahn to accelerate cow numbers much quicker than he anticipated. Krahn and his ancé, Amanda Smith, added 31 Jerseys to their 50-cow herd when they began renting a farm in Reedsville June 1, about 10 minutes from where the couple resides in Brillion. “Cash owing is a lot easier here,” Krahn said. “We’re nally in a facility where we could expand.” Before Krahn started Livin’ A Dream Farm, he spent ve years as a herdsman for Randy and Rosalie Geiger in Reedsville. Krahn got his appetite for farming from his grandparents and later from his uncle, who took over the farm. He grew up working for his relatives where he developed a love for cows and dairying as he proceeded to take on other jobs at local farms before landing at the Geigers’ farm. Smith grew up with Jerseys on a dairy farm in upstate New York. In addition to helping Krahn with morning and evening
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Amanda Smith and Josh Krahn stand in the barn they began renƟng June 1 near Reedsville, Wisconsin. The couple recently expanded their milking herd to 75 cows. chores, Smith is also a nutritionist for CP Feeds in Valders. Determined to make a go of it, Krahn and Smith forged ahead in the dairy industry at a time when few were entering. Krahn purchased half of Randy Geiger’s herd and also bought 13 Jerseys from Smith’s parents – a purchase that sparked his interest in the little brown cow. Buy-
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ing a few more cows here and there, he started out with 38 head in a 40-stall barn that his herd soon outgrew. “We got up to 115 total head at one point,” Krahn said. “It was a nightmare. The place was small, and the rent was high.” When the farm was sold in April, Krahn and Smith had to nd a new home
for their cows. That is when they learned about the opportunity at the farm in Reedsville owned by Dan and Kari Dvorachek who sold their cows in 2019. Dan had been the herdsman at the Geigers before Krahn. “Amanda and I believe that things
Turn to KRAHN, SMITH | Page 25
Page 24 • Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020
Congratulations to the new Iowa Dairy Royalty
Meghan Hettinga & Amber Engelken Best Wishes to the 2020-21 Alternate Iowa Dairy Princess Amber Engelken. She is the daughter of Tom and Cherrie Engelken of Earlville.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020 • Page 25
Con�nued from KRAHN, SMITH | Page 23 and Smith also have about 10 dry cows and 50 heifers and calves. Focused on genetics, Krahn’s registered herd is twothirds Jersey and one-third Holstein. Krahn and Smith breed Jerseys for production and components, while Holsteins are the primary show animals for the pair who have exhibited at World Dairy Expo three times. “The Jerseys really saved us,” Krahn said. “If it wasn’t for them, we might not be here right now. Our goal is to ship out as many pounds of solids as we can and be in the top ve Jersey herds in the U.S. for production.” The rolling herd average for Krahn’s and Smith’s Holsteins is 28,000 pounds of milk, and the Jersey herd average is 19,000 pounds of milk. Holsteins are registered under the Livin’ A Dream prex, while Jerseys bear the prex, Moon Shadow Hills – a name Smith came up with for her show heifers when she was 8 years old. “The Jersey has phenomenal longevity,” Krahn said. “We have several cows that are 7 and
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Genevieve, a 10-year-old cow, is the oldest cow on the farm of Josh Krahn and Amanda Smith. She has ve daughters in the herd and was purchased from Smith’s parents.
8 years old and one that is almost 10. Jerseys are easier to work with, and we don’t ever really need to treat them nor do they have feet issues. They’re tough.” Krahn and Smith are devoted to raising heifers that turn into great cows. “We invest a lot in our calves and heifers,” Smith said. “We feed plenty of milk to our Jerseys and even more to our Holsteins. We want animals eating a good amount of grain at weaning so they keep transitioning well and remain on a high plane of nutrition to maintain growth all the way to adulthood.” Jerseys are fed 3 quarts of milk twice a day along with 2.25 pounds of solids. In the winter, they are given 3 quarts of milk three times per day. “We try a lot of different things here and experiment to see what works best,” Smith
said. “We even borrow some of my clients’ ideas.” Smith said the Dvoracheks’ kids are a phenomenal help around the farm. Zachary, 15, helps with milking Monday through Friday, and Kortney, 12, helps Smith with various chores. As Krahn and Smith continue to nurture their dream, they are proving it is possible to make it in farming without taking over a family business. “We didn’t start at a good time, and we struggled nancially the rst few years, but we’re starting to turn a corner,” Krahn said. Smith agreed. “It has not been an easy road,” she said. Farm ownership is on the horizon for Krahn and Smith who would like to set down permanent roots at some point. “We’d like to maybe buy
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this place someday,” Krahn said. “We’d also like to purchase land and get into rotational grazing. Currently, we buy all of our feed off the eld from area farms. We’re light on machinery – the only equipment we have is a tractor and skidloader. We have neighbors that take our manure every day, which we’re thankful for.” Working to build a standout herd in production and type, Krahn and Smith now have the facilities to make it happen. With plans to ultimately ll the 88-stall tiestall barn, the farm is the ideal place to grow their herd. “We’re running this as a business, not a hobby,” Krahn said. “We want to make it protable to set ourselves up to succeed.”
ON
THESE BUSINESSES WISH MEGHAN & AMBER THE VERY BEST DURING THEIR REIGN...
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Amanda Smith cleans off mats prior to the evening milking Aug. 6 near Reedsville, Wisconsin. Smith and her ancé, Josh Krahn, rent an 88-stall barn which has allowed them to grow their Jersey and Holstein herd. The bright, spacious facility offers greater cow comfort than the place they previously rented.
N
happen for a reason,” Krahn said. “It was a last-minute shufe to get everything ready, but everyone transitioned well to the new farm. Everything fell into place and worked out better than we thought it would.” Krahn said the bright, spacious barn is a large improvement in cow comfort over their previous place. Better ventilation and bigger stall size are a couple of the perks. “The ventilation in this barn is 150% better than at our previous facility,” Krahn said. “The barn feels really nice on hot days.” The tunnel-ventilated building features ve 48-inch fans that pull in shaded air from the adjacent freestall barn which is used to house dry cows. Krahn and Smith are busy making repairs to facilities and adding new features like a calf pad to make feeding easier. At the rst place they rented, Krahn and Smith put in a new pipeline and takeoffs and plan to install takeoffs at the new facility as well. In addition to the milking herd, Krahn
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Page 26 • Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020
USDA announces more eligible commodities for CFAP
The United States Department of Agriculture announced that additional commodities are covered by the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program in response to public comments and data. Additionally, the USDA is extending the deadline to apply for the program to Sept. 11, and producers with approved applications will FSA News & Notes receive their nal payment. After reviewing over 1,700 responses, even more farmers and ranchers will have the opportunity for assistance to help keep operations aoat during these tough times. USDA collected comments and supporting data for consideration of additional commodities By Ryan Brunn through June 22. The following additional Stearns Co. Exec. Dir. commodities are now eligible for CFAP: – Specialty crops: aloe leaf, banana, batata, bok choy, carambola (star fruit), cherimoya, chervil (French parsley), citron, curry leaf, daikon, date, dill, donqua (winter melon), dragon fruit (red pitaya), endive, escarole, lbert, frisee, horseradish, kohlrabi, kumquat, leek, mamey sapote, maple sap (for maple syrup), mesculin mix, microgreen, nectarine, parsley, persimmon, plantain, pomegranate, pummelo, pumpkin, rutabaga, shallot, tangelo, turnip/celeriac, turmeric, upland/winter cress, water cress, yautia/malanga and yuca/cassava. – Non-specialty crops and livestock: liquid egg, frozen egg and all sheep. Only lambs and yearlings (sheep less than 2 years old) were previously eligible. – Aquaculture: catsh, crawsh, largemouth bass and carp sold live as food sh, hybrid striped bass, red drum, salmon, sturgeon, tilapia, trout, ornamental/tropical sh and recreational sportsh. – Nursery crops and owers: nursery crops and cut owers. Seven commodities – green onion, pistachio, peppermint, spearmint, walnut and watermelon – are now eligible for CARES Act funding for sales losses. Originally, these commodities were only eligible for payments on marketing adjustments. Additional details can be found in the federal register in the notice of funding availability and nal rule correction and at www.farmers.gov/cfap. Producers who have applied To ensure availability of funding, producers with approved applications initially received 80% of their payments. The Farm Service Agency will automatically issue the remaining 20% of the calculated payment to eligible producers. Going forward, producers who apply for CFAP will receive 100% of their total payment, not to exceed the payment limit, when their applications are approved. Applying for CFAP Producers, especially those who have not worked with FSA previously, are recommended to call 877508-8364 to begin the application process. An FSA staff member can help producers start their application during the phone call. On www.farmers.gov/cfap, producers can download the AD-3114 application form and manually complete the form to submit to their local USDA Service Center by mail, electronically or by hand delivery to their local ofce or ofce drop box. Complete the application form using the CFAP application generator and payment calculator. This Excel workbook allows customers to input information specic to their operation to determine estimated payments and populate the application form, which can be printed, then signed and submitted to their local USDA Service Center. If producers have login credentials known as eAuthentication, they can use the online CFAP application portal to certify eligible commodities online, digitally sign applications and submit directly to the local USDA Service Center. All other eligibility forms, such as those related to adjusted gross income and payment information, can be downloaded from www.farmers.gov/cfap. For existing FSA customers, these documents are likely already on le. Farm Service Agency is an Equal Opportunity Lender. Complaints about discrimination should be sent to: Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250. Visit the Farm Service Agency Web site at: www.fsa.usda. gov/ for necessary application forms and updates on USDA programs.
An evening remembered I have been looking at photographs of grandparents for a collage for Anna and Kevin’s wedding that is coming up this weekend. I was interested in the ďƒ&#x;owers and cakes that were included in the wedding. I only have the Hinchley side, because Kevin’s mother was going to take care of their family history. What I found out was interesting. I am so glad I took the time to peak into what happened with Duane’s parents, Keith and Ruth. We found the actual wedding announcement that was posted in the local newspaper. “Miss Gretebeck is By Tina Hinchley bride of K.L. Hinchley.â€? It Farmer & Columnist goes on to list the families and addresses from both sides. It mentions the church and that it was an evening wedding Aug. 14, 1947, at 8 p.m. Aug. 14 is just a week before Anna and Kevin’s wedding date of Aug. 22, and Keith and Ruth would have been married 73 years if they were with us today. We will be thinking of them as we celebrate. I read that the wedding was at 8 p.m. I then remembered both families were dairy farmers. Of course, it had to be after milking, chores and time for everyone to get dressed and ready. The newspaper reported that Ruth wore a navy blue gabardine suit with burgundy accessories and her corsage was of roses and sweet peas. A wool suit in August struck me as crazy, but then I remembered it was late in the evening for the wedding. It does cool down after the sun sets. I read on. Immediately following the service, a reception was held at the lawn of the bride’s parents’, which was lighted by paper lanterns and decorated with paper wedding bells and pink streamers. The details of this announcement helped me visualize the whole event. The photos show a beautiful scene as the ďƒ&#x;ash caught everyone celebrating. The background was dark, because it was late and dark outside. A large table held a three-tier wedding cake, the groom’s cake and a large bouquet of pink and white gladioli. Garden ďƒ&#x;owers decorated the other tables. The table for gifts was overďƒ&#x;owing, and everyone was smiling as they both cut the cake together. I was not familiar with a groom’s cake, and I learned that it was a tradition that the cake would be made with chocolate or fruit. I like the idea of a
Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020 • Page 27
groom’s cake, except Anna loves chocolate and Kevin place for their wedding on our farm. The haymow is does not. Maybe we can do a switch and make a little draped with tulle and lights, straw bales are covered bride’s cake with chocolate. But then again, that is with burlap. Stumps and galvanized tubs to hold why there are also cupcakes at weddings with ďƒ&#x;avors everything from the cakes to the bottled and canned drinks. As the days get to please everyone. closer, and every detail gets Just like Ruth and Keith, We ffound d the h actuall wedding ddi completed just as they both the plan was to use ďƒ&#x;owers W planned, it will be satisfying from our garden to make announcement that was to be ready. Whew! Thank the bouquets for Anna’s wedding. I did not plant any posted in the local newspaper. goodness Aug. 22 is almost here. gladiolas but have a few varieties of coneďƒ&#x;owers, Tina Hinchley, her and the black-eyed Susans are bright and attractive. husband, Duane, and their daughters, Anna and The wild ďƒ&#x;owers blooming on the side of the ďƒželds Catherine, milk 240 registered Holsteins with robots. They also farm 2,300 acres of crops near Cambridge, will also be the likely choice to arrange. I am certain Anna and Kevin will try to remember Wisconsin. They have been hosting farm tours for all the work that went into creating this special over 20 years.
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Page 28 • Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020
Cultivating a productive environment
Junion Homestead Farm enjoys benets of pack barns By Stacey Smart
stacey.s@dairystar.com
CASCO, Wis. – When building a new barn in 2007, the Knorn family decided on a loose housing system – one where cows would be free to roam and rest without restriction. The compost-bedded pack barns at Junion Homestead Farm offer plenty of space for cattle to spread out, and the absence of stalls gives cows more exibility. All animals on the farm reside on pack bedding, including heifers which are housed in pack sheds bedded with cornstalk. “We were rotational grazing at the time, and the pack barn mimicked grazing,” Amanda Dolphin said. “Keeping cows on packs helps with longevity and cow comfort. We have a low cull rate, so our cows get old. We have two 13-year-olds in the herd. A slowermoving cow can continue living out
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
The Knorn family – (front, from leŌ) Jace and Jolin Dolphin; (back, from leŌ) Tony Knorn, Peggy Knorn, Amanda Dolphin, Mikayla Knorn and Kyle Zeman holding Eliza – milks 240 cows and farms 450 acres near Casco, Wisconsin. The farm has been in Peggy’s family for more than 150 years.
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Cows are housed in two compost-bedded pack barns at Junion Homestead Farm near Casco, Wisconsin. Packs are worked daily, receiving a layer of sawdust in the morning and being Ɵlled in the evening.
her life a lot easier than in a freestall setting. Plus, there’s no stalls for cows to get hung up on.” Amanda farms with her parents, Tony and Peggy Knorn, her sister, Mikayla Knorn, and brother-in-law, Kyle Zeman, in Casco. The Knorns milk 240 cows comprised of Holstein, Red and White Holstein, Brown Swiss and Guernsey. The family farms 450 acres. One-quarter of the herd is colored breeds, and every cow has a name. Amanda is the herd manager, overseeing cows with the help of Mikayla who also takes care of calves. Kyle, who is married to the Knorns’ daughter, Megan, is the head feeder and farm mechanic and does eldwork with Tony. Peggy does the bookkeeping and watches her grandkids who represent the seventh generation at Junion Homestead Farm. Amanda and her husband, Jesse, who drives a milk truck for De-
Jardin Trucking, have two sons – Jace, 8, and Jolin, 5. Kyle and Megan have a 3-year-old daughter, Eliza. The team also includes one full-time and three part-time employees. Two of the Knorns’ four daughters currently work on the farm. Megan works at a bank but wishes to return to the farm full time in the future, and Amber is a cosmetologist. Junion Homestead Farm has been in Peggy’s family for more than 150 years. Tony and Peggy began renting the farm in 1991 and purchased it in 1993 after sitting empty for 27 years with no cows onsite. The Knorns remodeled the barn with 48 tie stalls and two maternity pens, and made other updates along the way. The Knorns built their rst pack barn and milking parlor in December 2007, tripling in size from 50 cows to Turn to KNORNS | Page 29
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Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020 • Page 29
ConƟnued from KNORNS | Page 28
The Benton County American Dairy Association would like to thank the area communities for supporting the dairy farmers.
2020 Dairy Princesses Allie Ackerman, Emily Schreindl and Chloe Janski
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
One-fourth of the herd at Junion Homestead Farm is colored breeds, including Guernsey, Red and White Holstein and Brown Swiss. 150. The Knorns grazed cows from 1995 to 2010. In the summer of 2015, the second pack barn was built, and another 75 cows were added to the herd that had grown to 200. The newer barn contains most of the farm’s colored breeds, fresh cows, and rst- and second-lactation animals. A pen on the end of the barn is used to house show heifers. “We needed room for our dry cows, which were still housed in our tiestall barn,” Amanda said. “That new barn got us out of the tiestall barn completely. We retired the building and now use it only for storage.” Proper management of a pack barn is critical. The Knorns work the packs daily, adding sawdust in the morning and tilling the pack in the morning and evening. Compost builds up throughout the year as barns are cleaned out once a year in the fall. At that point, the Knorns start with a new layer of sawdust and continue adding a fresh layer every day. “The greatest amount of composting occurs during the summer because packs dry out quicker,” Tony said. “Right now, the packs are shrinking
“That new barn got us out of the tiestall barn completely. We retired the building and now use it only for storage.” AMANDA DOLPHIN, DAIRY FARMER
down and are 2.5 to 3 feet deep. At their peak, they reach about 4 feet.” Cows are grouped according to age with rst- and second-lactation animals in one group and third-lactation and higher in another. Fresh cows stick together for one month post-calving, and cows preparing for dryoff make up the last group. Cows are milked twice a day in a swing-12 parlor and average 90 pounds of milk per cow per day. Maternity pens are divided into three socially stable groups based on a design out of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Three weeks before freshening, cows enter the rst pen and keep moving down the row until they reach the nal pen. “This allows cows to establish their pecking order so there is less stress during the week of calving,” Amanda said. “This arrangement is a tremendous improvement in health and
comfort for our dry animals. Before we built the second barn, dry cows spent two months standing in stalls. They had no place to exercise and lost a lot of muscle mass and suffered from various health issues.” In 2014, the Knorns started using Dairymaster MooMonitor+ collars to monitor activity and rumination, which Amanda said has greatly helped in managing reproduction and health. “Tracking rumination is the biggest benet of this system,” Amanda said. “We’ve cut way back on the number of (displaced abomasum) we see and had a stretch of 10 months without any. When cows calve, if rumination is not rebounding within three days, we look into what’s holding her back. Or, if we’re treating a cow that is not responding, we might take a different approach to treatment.” Tony said the system cost a lot of money but has also saved the farm a great deal. “We made a lot of improvements because of it and no longer need to call the vet as much,” Tony said. “The rst year we installed the system, the vet said we were the client he lost the most money from.” The Knorn family are adamant showmen and exhibit cattle at county, district and state shows, state fair and World Dairy Expo. At this year’s state Guernsey show, Mikayla was honored as premier breeder after earning impressive standings in the showring with the rst-place fall calf, all-Wisconsin senior 3-year-old, fourth-place 2-year-old and two third-place animals. In January 2019, the farm sent its rst bull to stud – a Guernsey – and are hoping to send more bulls to stud in the future. “We breed for longevity,” Amanda said. “AAA mating has given us consistently nicer cows, with more conrmation, better feet and legs, bigger frames and better udders. It’s getting harder to cull because we have a lot of nice animals. We can take them to different dairy sales, and we’ve consigned to about four sales in the past year. We’ve been raising fewer heifers because we don’t need the replacements, and we’re also breeding more animals to beef.” The next generation is gearing up to take over Junion Homestead Farm as Tony and Peggy are in the early stages of transitioning the farm to Mikayla, Megan and Kyle. “We’re looking forward to keeping this farm in the family for many years to come,” Tony said.
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Page 30 • Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020
“These boots are made for walking, and that’s just what they’ll do…” Oh, the things that popped in my head as I made my rounds through the post-fresh cows, searching out the ones to graduate to the next pen. It was my rst time doing this with just Carmen and myself since the beginning of March. We’ve still got it. Or so we thought. Then, we turned around to sort them into their pens and a missing spring on the gate helped it swing wide open, letting them sneak back into the post-fresh pen. We looked at each other with eyes bulged in surprise, I squealed, and he scrambled up the other alley to cut them off before our work became completely undone. Such is life. We laughed about our oops and carried on, this time double-checking the gate latch. When our world became upended due to COVID-19 in March, I walked my boots out of the barn and into the shop to teach kids every morning. Stacy slid into her pink Udder Tech bibs, threw on her boots, and grabbed a clipboard and set about working with the cows. It went
well, and throughout the summer she was in the barn most mornings before I was, and I would look to her for the plans for the week. She has the computer system down to a ne science, and I have been taking notes on how she works her magic when it comes to moving cows. I’ve been constantly reminding myself that I must try harder to keep the computer up to date, knowing full well it is not my strong suit. I am back in charge of watching the gate on this sunny Thursday morning and catching the girls as they cruise by. I’m struck by how many names I can recall. I even tested myself by writing them down on the clipboard before I saw them – and then gave myself a pat on the back when I was right. Then, there are the cows that I don’t recognize at all anymore. Time seems to y between their freshening and their moving-out date of 35-plus days in milk. Usually I can refresh my memory as I vaccinate them, but Stacy has been doing it for months now. I peek out the end of the barn, giving me a clear view of the house, and just when I start to
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become overwhelmed with being back in the barn full time, I spy the laundry on the line. One of my favorite household chores; it requires patience, and watching it blow in the breeze settles me in an instant. I can do this, I tell myself. I’ve been in the barn, but without some Ramblings from the Ridge of the responsibilities for the past six months. Stacy has shouldered the weight of computer work, vaccinations and cow movements. There have been mornings where I stroll in and clean, take care of newborn calves, and help wherever I am most needed. Stacy’s trying to get her mind By Jacqui Davison back on school and all of the new restrictions, and Columnist has been leaving her bibs on the hook a bit more in the past week. This means my bibs are seeking out the wash machine, especially after moving 40 cows around. It’s OK; I do like to do laundry. We interrupt this Thursday’s edition of moving cows to bring you another episode of “Cell Phone Search and Rescue.” Dane comes to the gate on his bike with a crooked grin and informs us that Grandpa is getting his iPad out to pinpoint his phone’s location, and Dane is supposed to ride around and look. While this isn’t a frequent show, let’s just say he’s getting good at using the app. This got Dane out of cleaning off the bunkers. I can hear the steady forward and backing of the payloader while Ira takes on the weekly task himself. I’m anxious about doing as good a job as Stacy does on the record-keeping and cow counting. She tracks their movements as they sneak out of pens and is far more diligent than I about getting them put back the next day. That has never been a job at the top of my list. I also have a few weeks of big family meals to concoct before we move back into school mode. Working cows means no more meal prep in the morning, and better planning on the day before. Watching Cora and Henry cruise the feed alley with their dump trucks makes me brood over how Cora will fare when the boys leave her in the mornings again. Will she miss them? Will she delight in being the only child after all this time? They are giggling, tickling and rolling in the feed, happy as farm kids should be. Then I turn to catch a few more cows as a child’s scream and the slam of a truck echo through the barn. Well, she won’t have anyone to ght with; this may be OK. My boots are still made for walking cows, and that’s what they love to do. My old boots have a hole in them, and because my feet are stubborn and don’t like the new, hole-free ones yet, I bag up and wear them to the barn. My overalls still t, and the highlighters I have in my pockets are so handy when moving cows. I have plenty of pockets to hold others’ problems and even a few with solutions in them, as I remember that listening to life’s struggles while moving cows is part of the gig. My clipboard with its million notes (like the ones for this column) still ts in my hands and I haven’t forgotten how to zap cows with a vaccine gun. I did forget how much I like being able to let my mind wander as I move cows, and how lovely it is to have paper and pen in my hands to catch the words that oat around. Jacqui and her family milk 800 cows and run 1,200 acres of crops in the northeastern corner of Vernon County, Wisconsin. Her children, Ira (12), Dane (10), Henry (5) and Cora (3), help her on the farm while her husband, Keith, works on a grain farm. If she’s not in the barn, she’s probably in the kitchen, trailing after little ones, or sharing her passion of reading with someone. Her life is best described as organized chaos – and if it wasn’t, she’d be bored.
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Corn silage harvest timing, preparation
Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020 • Page 31
Normal spring planting, combined with plenty of heat and moisture, means corn silage harvest is only days away for some. With a great-looking crop, this may be an opportunity to replenish corn silage inventory. Of Something to Ruminate On course, that is not the case for everyone as some areas across the Midwest would not call this an ideal crop year as planting was delayed, too much or too little moisture was received, or storm damage occurred. A few strategies can help you determine when to hit the elds By Barry Visser and how to put up the Nutritionist highest-quality forage possible. Know your prime time to harvest Temperature affects crop growth and development. Accumulation of heat during the growing season can be used as a predictor of plant developmental progress. Growing degree days is a calculation to express this heat accumulation. The GDD equation utilizes maximum and minimum daily air temperature to determine the average daily temperature and subtracts a base temperature of 50 degrees. Upper and lower limits of 50 to 86 degrees are used because corn growth rate is near zero at 50 degrees and growth rates do not increase above 86 degrees. For the 2020 growing season, cooler temperatures in May held us below the historic average early in the season. We moved ahead of our historic average in early June and have remained several degrees above for the season. Note tasseling dates of elds. Silage harvest usually begins 42 to 47 days after tasseling; however, this is dependent on several factors, such as rainfall,
A ffew strategies i can h help l you determine when to hit the fields and how to put up the highest-quality forage possible. temperature, corn hybrid and fertility. As harvest nears, monitor whole-plant moisture for a more accurate harvest date. Collect some representative stalks (manually or mechanically) and dry them to obtain a whole-plant dry matter. The rate of dry down is typically one-half to 1 percentage point per day. Identifying and achieving harvest goals has huge production and performance implications along with economic impacts on your dairy. Corn silage must be ensiled at optimum DM to maximize packing density and fermentation. For bunkers and piles, the optimal DM range is 30% to 35%. Bags are similar but may tolerate corn silage put up a couple points drier. Dial in your harvest equipment Kernel processing is critical, especially as DM and milk line progress. Pre-harvest is a good time to check the processing roll condition and gap setting. Roll gap clearances are generally
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measured in millimeters with a normal opening of 1 to 4 millimeters. This setting is dependent on kernel maturity, hardness and size. Settings ideal for harvest in previous years may be signicantly different for the current crop. Once the chopper is rolling, evaluate kernel processing and adjust accordingly. The rst method is to ll a 32-ounce cup with corn silage before ensiling. Spread it on a at surface. You should see no whole or undamaged kernels. The second option it to use a bucket of water. Place a couple handfuls of corn silage in the bucket, skim off the oating plant material, pour off the water and evaluate the corn particles that remain in the bucket. Theoretical length of cut determinations for corn silage are dependent on factors such as harvest
DM, percentage of ration contribution and storage structure. Typical TLOC ranges from ve-eighths to 1 inch (16 to 25 millimeters). As DM increases, considerations need to be made to shorten the TLOC. Packing densities less than 15 pounds per cubic foot are subject to a DM loss of greater than 15%. Know your packing tractor weight and ll rate to help you achieve adequate density. Quickly cover bunkers or piles with an oxygen barrier plastic to prevent spoilage. Finally, and most importantly, be safe. Corn silage harvest brings an increase in machinery trafc and long hours. Make safety your top goal this corn silage season. Barry Visser is a nutritionist for Vita Plus.
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The sands of time Page 32 • Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020
“Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days Summer is usually marked by graduation parties, of our lives.� weddings, county fairs, annual family reunions and This is the iconic opening line to the long running closes out with the state fair. How will we know soap opera, “Days of our Lives.� I never watched this summer has ended without a state fair this year? show but have always been Without a fair, intrigued by the opening we have missed a great Without h all ll the h usuall markers k line. The dulcimer tones of Wi opportunity to talk with the narrator’s voice would of summer’s progression, we and teach others about life capture your attention as on our farms. I am sure the you tried to focus on the can find other signs that Princess Kay butterheads sand shifting through the summer is coming have loved to have g to a close. would hourglass marking the been in the butter booth movement of time. The sand surrounded by hundreds travels through the narrow of spectators, but they neck of the hourglass at a consistent pace, running are making the best of the situation. Hats off to the the course of time. We all mark time in one way or PK program for adapting to the current situation by another, mechanical or natural. We can use clocks, highlighting the ingenuity of farmers to get a job watches and calendars or by seasons and events. done regardless of obstacles. The virtual coronation
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and carvings are capturing the imagination of curious consumers. We are able to get out our message about the importance of dairy in a balanced diet. We sometimes forget that the Princess Kay program is not about the state fair but is the starting point to reaching the most people in a single event. The state fair also Just Thinking Out Loud gave our children the opportunity to reach out and teach people walking through the barns. The cutest calf or the calmest cow were always tied closest to the aisle for strangers to reach out and touch as our kids told their story about the animal and how we care for them. By Natalie Schmitt While people will not be Columnist walking down the barn aisles this year, some farmers have opened up their farms through virtual tours, giving consumers a new way to connect with their food and where it comes from. While we are talking about promoting dairy, I have to say it is about time. When the coronavirus started affecting daily life, Mark started complaining about the lack of ďƒ&#x;uid milk advertising. Here was a time when consumers were searching for nutritional information, trying to develop healthy meals, and it seemed the dairy industry was nowhere to be seen. He would lament, “Whatever happened to the ‘Got milk?’ ads?â€? Someone must have heard him. They are bringing back the campaign with checkoff dollars. I am so excited to see the new campaign. I remember taking a picture of Katie dressed up as a princess reading her fairy tale book with a milk mustache for a contest years ago. I hope they have another contest. I have couple of cute grandkids who love to drink milk. While it would have been fun to be at the fair, sitting along the rail, watching the show, what I probably have missed the most is our county fair. I missed eating at the 4-H lunch stand and catching up with 4-H family friends. Even with the kids graduating from 4-H years ago, we like to catch the 4-H dairy show and enjoy an ADA chocolate mint malt. County fair week marked the halfway point of our summers. It reminded us we needed to round up a baling crew to unload racks of straw and third crop hay bales. It pushed us to start looking at the corn silage crop and getting equipment ready for harvest. The county fairs reminded us how quickly the sands of summer were shifting through the hourglass of time. Without all the usual markers of summer’s progression, we can ďƒžnd other signs that summer is coming to a close. The dull maroon of the blaze maple trees is starting to turn more brilliant as the temperatures start to drop. The stash of sweatshirts strewn around the barn signals the crisp morning air of a new day. The ďƒžrst bites into a crisp Zestar apple or a handful of cherry tomatoes as a quick breakfast snack after all the cows are milked remind us fall is coming. Time is inevitable; all the sand will eventually pass through the narrow neck of the hourglass ďƒžlling the bottom bulb. And, then we will ďƒ&#x;ip it over and start marking a new season because time is constantly ďƒ&#x;owing as sand through the hourglass. Natalie, Mark and his brother Al, farm together near Rice, Minnesota. They milk 100 registered Holsteins under the RALMA preďƒžx. Their four children are grown up and all involved in agriculture with hopes of someone returning to the farm. For questions or comments, please e-mail Natalie at mnschmitt@jetup.net.
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August angst
Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020 • Page 33
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It’s that time of year again. The kids and I are sorting through their clothes and shoes to nd ones that t – I swear every child has grown a foot since March. We’re collecting school supplies and lling backpacks – this year with masks, too. This back-to-school season is when my love-hate relationship with school hits its peak. I loved school as a kid. I love that my kids love Dairy Good Life going to school. I love hearing about what they’ve learned and what they did with their friends. I love seeing them participate in all of the extra-curricular activities that go along with school. This fall, especially, I love that they’re actually going back to school instead of starting another season of distance learning. Monika and Daphne will go to school every day; Dan will go to school two days a week and do online learning three days a week. The hate part of my love-hate quandary is the darn schedule. By Sadie Frericks Dairy farming and parenting school-age chilColumnist dren just don’t mix. I’ve tried every chore schedule possible, but morning wake-up and evening activities/homework/supper/bedtime always overlap with morning chores and evening chores. The pull on my time – and the constant feeling that being a good mom competes with being a good farmer – is the cause of considerable unrest. I’ve never been a mom who enforces a strict bedtime. When the kids were babies and toddlers, there was no set bedtime. When chores were done, we went to bed. If chores took longer than usual, the kids would doze off in their strollers or on straw bales in the manger. We’d carry them to the house, change them into their pajamas, and tuck them into their beds. Those unscheduled years were wonderful and exactly opposite of the race-the-clock bedtime pressure I experience now. Likewise, the kids never had a set wake-up time. One of the best parts of farming was that I never had to wake kids up and get them dressed/fed/out the door before I could go to work. I absolutely loved letting them sleep until their own little internal clocks told them to wake up. I strongly believe in the importance of ample sleep, particularly for growing kids. I’m pretty sure all the growing our kids have done since March is due to actually getting enough sleep. Now that all the kids are in school, we [try to] stick to set sleep schedules during the school year. But, come summer, we revert back to an unscheduled life. The kids help with evening chores until evening chores are done. In the mornings, they sleep until their internal clocks roll them out of bed or I get done with morning chores and roll them out of bed, whichever comes rst. The downside of this unscheduling is August. Every year, August feels like a war between the schedule in our own little world and the schedule followed by the rest of the world. This year, we’ve had not three, but ve-and-aWhen school Wh h l starts, I kknow half, months of unscheduled the number of hours the kids bliss. Which makes back-toschool and converting back spend in the barn will be to school-time wake-ups and drastically slashed. bedtimes twice as dreadful. We’re nearly two weeks into my bedtime adjustment plan and I feel like my attempts are not moving bedtimes and wake-up times at all. I probably should have allowed for a longer adjustment period. The challenge would be smaller if school didn’t start so darn early. With a teenager and an almost-teenager in the house, I am acutely aware that teenagers’ biological rhythms absolutely do not align with schools’ 8 a.m. start. The other piece of my angst, which seems to grow with each passing August, is that back-to-school means losing our extra farm help. Dan and Monika have become considerable contributors in the daily tackling of the workload. Glen and I have been spoiled by their help. When school starts, I know the number of hours the kids spend in the barn will be drastically slashed. And with the sudden loss of help, it will feel like we’re scrambling for a while as we re-shufe schedules to cover all the milkings and other chores. But, like we always do when faced with challenges, we’ll gure it out. Sometime in September we’ll start to feel more settled and the angst of August will sleep again until 2021. Sadie and her husband, Glen, milk 100 cows near Melrose, Minn. They have three children – Dan, 11, Monika, 8, and Daphne, 5. Sadie also writes a blog at www.dairygoodlife.com. She can be reached at sadiefrericks@gmail.com
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Page 34 • Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020
Brandel’s Blooms brings sunshine to community Siblings plant sunowers to honor their grandma, raise money for charity By Stacey Smart
stacey.s@dairystar.com
LAKE MILLS, Wis. – When the Brandels’ grandmother was diagnosed with cancer last Christmas, Colton, Ashley, Katie and Justin wanted to do something special to cheer her up. So, they decided to plant sunowers – their grandma’s favorite ower – to bring her joy and raise money for medical bills.
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Ashley and Colton Brandel stand in the sunower patch they planted with their siblings, KaƟe and JusƟn, in honor of their grandmother who was diagnosed with cancer last Christmas. The Brandel family milks about 170 cows and farms 650 acres near Lake Mills, Wisconsin.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Classic yellow and ornamental sunowers in orange, red and purple are picked and ready to be sold by the Brandel children of Lake Mills, Wisconsin.
“My mom loves sunowers,” said the kids’ mother, Tracy Brandel. “To her, they’re a symbol of positivity and hope – a ower that’s always looking to the bright side of things.” Colton, 16, Ashley, 14, Katie, 11, and Justin, 10, created the sunower patch as a way to honor their grandma. It was a gift from their hearts and a labor of love as the Brandel children spent hours hoeing, planting, watering and weeding. They planted a half acre
of sunowers – totaling 8,000 seeds – by hand. Classic yellow and ornamental sunowers in orange, red and purple soon blossomed at their home in Lake Mills. Their business, Brandel’s Blooms, became a destination for sunower lovers and was open to the public for 11 straight days, from July 29 to Aug. 8. The owers were planted May 29 to bloom toward the end of August, but high humidity caused them to blossom
much sooner than expected. From 3-7 p.m. each day, visitors selected their sunowers while the Brandel kids picked and arranged them. Planted in 18-inch rows, the owers were too close together to allow for a pickyour-own patch. “Picking the owers was a good way for us to connect with visitors,” Tracy said. “It added that personal Turn to BRANDELS | Page 35
Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020 • Page 35
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Colton Brandel cuts a sunower for a customer of Brandel’s Blooms near Lake Mills, Wisconsin. Proceeds from the business are being donated to the Jefferson County Cancer Coali�on. touch, and people loved interacting with the kids. Justin said he wanted people to come happy and leave happier.” Along with shopping for sunowers, people could also visit the petting zoo consisting of a calf, two goats and a lamb. Various areas were set up for photo opportunities, using props such as an old tractor and a straw bale. “This meant so much to my mom,” Tracy said. “She walked out here twice a day. Relatives also came who we hadn’t seen in a long time because of the pandemic. It was really nice.” Colton and Ashley have many responsibilities on their family’s farm located four miles from home and were not always able to help their younger brother and sister with the sunower business. The kids are the fth generation at Straussdale Holsteins where Tracy’s husband, Matt, farms with his cousin, Bruce, and his family, and his uncle, Jim. The Brandels milk about 170 cows and farm 650 acres. The two oldest had to milk cows, feed calves, chop haylage, scrape barns and haul manure. Katie and Justin have many chores at home where the family raises heifers, steers, 20 head of beef cow/calf pairs, four donkeys, goats and sheep. “The kids take care of 99% of the chores at our farm,” said Tracy, who works full time for the Wisconsin Farm Center. Proceeds from the sunower sales are being donated to the Jefferson County Cancer Coalition – an organization that has been a great help to Tracy’s parents. Her mom insisted the money go to help others in the community who are also battling cancer. “The kids wanted it to be a benet for their grandma,” Tracy said. “But my mom said, ‘Cancer impacts hundreds of people in this community.
Let’s try to touch as many lives as possible.’” Hundreds of people visited the sunower patch, helping the Brandel kids greatly exceed their goal of breaking even with expenses. The Brandels’ customer base was far reaching, attracting folks from Madison, Milwaukee, Waukesha, Beloit, Chilton, Tomah and beyond. “People came from hours away for fresh-cut sunowers,” Tracy said. “We even had people from Minnesota and Alabama visit who were vacationing in the area. I was blown away by how far people traveled. There were so many people who shared their stories with us about how cancer had touched their lives in some way. That was very heartwarming for me.” The project turned out to be a good nancial exercise and learning opportunity for the children. Except for Colton who helps with crops, agronomy was new to the Brandel kids. This was their rst exposure to fertilizer, bugs, growing something and spending money upfront on a project. The Brandels plan to pick the remaining owers to sell as arrangements at their local farmers market. The kids also hope to use extra ower heads to make birdhouses, turning the sunower seeds into food for the birds. If Brandel’s Blooms returns next year for a second season, the Brandels may do things differently. For example, they might plant in phases so all the owers are not blooming at the same time. “The kids wanted to give their grandma as many cherished, happy moments as possible,” Tracy said. “And they succeeded.” Colton, Ashley, Katie and Justin are happy to have brought a bit of sunshine to their grandmother’s life.
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Page 36 • Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020
Women In Dairy Heather Schuld Lake Mills, Wisconsin Jefferson County 450 cows
Family: My husband, Nate, and I will be married for 15 years in September. We have three kids, Tyler, 12, Carson, 10, and Tenley, 8. I have always worked on the farm and became full time 11 years ago. My husband works at Enbridge and also grain farms and does custom planting and harvesting. Tell us about your farm. Hasel Farms was established in 1936 by my great-grandpa, Otto Hasel, who came from Germany. Hasel Farms is a fourth-generation farm. As of today, the farm is run by my parents and uncle, along with my older brother and me. We have four employees who take care of the milking along with another full-time employee. We milk three times per day in a double-8 herringbone parlor with AFI farm and Bovisync for record keeping. The cows are housed in a tunnelventilated freestall barn. We have a manure press which recycles the manure and is used again for bedding. We farm approximately 1,500 acres which are forages of hay and corn silage. We also make high moisture corn and have cash crops of corn and soybean. Our planting and harvesting are completely done by Hasel Farms along with the maintenance of all equipment on the farm. Our calves are raised with an automatic calf feeder. I am the cow and calf manager. I feed the calves and do all the data entry and herd health of the animals. I also clean most of the barns and bed with the recycled manure solids. During harvest time, I run the chopper boxes and grain cart. My father does 100% of the A.I. breeding and all of the hoof trimming. What is the busiest time of day for you? The morning. I get the three kids up and ready for the day. They eat breakfast before either going to school or to my mother’s house. The morning is busy on the farm with calf chores, sorting through the cow records and milk weights, and looking for illness and what has to be done during the day. When you get a spare moment, what do you do? Everyone knows there is not a lot of spare time when you dairy farm, but when I do get some time, I love spending it with my family. My kids are active in school, sports and 4-H. I don’t have any hobbies, but I spend my time with the kids or doing household chores. I wouldn’t change anything.
Tell us about your most memorable experience working on the farm. My most memorable experience working on the farm is when we hosted the Watertown Agri-Business Dairy Breakfast for two years in a row. It was a lot of work to prepare for it, but to see people from all over coming to enjoy the day and learn about dairy farming made me happy. What have you enjoyed the most about dairy farming or your tie to the dairy industry? I enjoy dairy farming because I love being able to work with my family. I have worked on the farm since I was a kid and all during school and after college. I love the fact that my kids can come with me and learn alongside of me. It makes me happy to see their smiles on their faces whether they are feeding and playing with the calves, mowing lawn or riding in the tractors during harvest. How do you stay connected with the dairy industry? I follow different social media platforms and inuencers. I attend dairy meetings when they t into my schedule. I also keep up with other local farming friends during the year. Who is someone in the industry who has inspired you? My grandparents, Eugene and Betty Hasel, have greatly inuenced me throughout my life because of their hard work ethic, moral integrity and their faith in God.
FARM INFORMATION STATION Joe Gill • Farm Director
What is the best vacation you have ever taken? Last summer, we took a 10-day vacation out west and visited several national parks. Our kids enjoyed watching a real rodeo, seeing wild animals and all the natural beauty the mountains have to offer.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020 • Page 37
All good things must come to an end
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Selner retires from National Dairy Shrine
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By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
DENMARK, Wis. – A dairy icon has hung his hat up from serving as the leader of an iconic dairy institution after 13 years of service as the executive director. Effective Aug. 1, Dr. David Selner turned over the reins of the National Dairy Shrine to Mike Opperman, who comes to the position from more than 30 years of experience in the dairy and agricultural industries. Selner ďƒžrst became enamored by the Dairy Shrine while he was in college, a student in the dairy science department at the University of WisconsinMadison and an active member of the school’s judging team. During his years at the UW, Selner watched mentors and industry leaders like Dr. Jim Crowley, Dr. David Dickson and professor Bud Schultz as they helped shape the future of the industry through involvement in the National Dairy Shrine. “A fun fact: I had planned to join the National Dairy Shrine in 1973, but George Trimberger, a dairy judging coach at Cornell University who hailed from nearby Chilton, Wisconsin, was slated to serve as the president of the group in 1974,â€? Selner said. “I thought having his signature on my membership certiďƒžcate would be neat. So, I held off joining for a year.â€? In his 46 years as a National Dairy Shrine member, Selner has seen many changes in the organization but said the mission of the group remains the same. “The Dairy Shrine was created in 1949 by a group of dairy industry enthusiasts with the idea of creating an organization that would celebrate the history of the industry, the cattle and the people who served as industry leaders,â€? Selner said. “The second part of the purpose was to encourage and cultivate the youth who are the future of the industry. Both those missions remain true today.â€? In 1949, a group of industry leaders, primarily leaders of the breed organizations, met during the National Cattle Congress in Waterloo, Iowa. The group purchased a vacant house across the street from the fairgrounds to create the ďƒžrst home of the National Dairy Shrine. The house was converted to a clubhouse for the organization, with a meeting room and the portraits of the Hall of Fame honorees displayed in the hallway. “People from the show came to the house in droves during Cattle Congress,â€? Selner said. “Besides exhibitors, there were collegiate judging participants who had the opportunity to meet many of the industry greats there. Today we call that networking.â€? The current National Dairy Shrine Museum in Fort Atkinson was built in 1981, and the group began the work of collecting and displaying the memorabilia of the industry’s past in earnest. Selner is most proud of the scholarship program the National Dairy Shrine has fostered, helping young dairy enthusiasts further their education in the industry. Last year the National Dairy Shrine awarded 40 scholarships totaling over $49,000 to students in two-
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Dr. David Selner reĆ&#x;red as execuĆ&#x;ve director for the NaĆ&#x;onal Dairy Shrine Aug. 1. Selner was in the posiĆ&#x;on for 13 years. and four-year programs. Selner said a student may reapply and receive a scholarship each year they are studying dairy science at the collegiate and postsecondary levels. “Anyone who has ever attended the National Dairy Shrine banquet at World Dairy Expo will probably agree it is like going home,â€? Selner said of the annual event. “To see all the young students who are so enthusiastic in their futures in the industry and to meet all the great industry leaders and listen to all of the Hall of Fame inductees and award winners speak is a wonderful experience.â€? While many in the industry may be unaware of the purpose of the organization, Selner encourages anyone who has a passion for dairying to purchase a lifetime membership for a one-time membership fee of $50. Because of the small one-time fee, the group holds fundraisers to help grow the scholarship fund. “Knowing that you can give back, that you have helped someone and done something to help others, that is a universal human thread, something we can all appreciate,â€? Selner said. “And of course then there is the importance of maintaining the history of the industry, the cows and the people who have impacted the industry.â€? Before accepting the position as the executive director, Selner has been involved in other capacities throughout his years in the organization, serving as a member of the board of directors and as the organization’s president. During his tenure as the group’s executive director, Selner worked to digitize the group’s collections which are available for easy viewing in the museum. While the National Dairy Shrine has beneďƒžted greatly from the enthusiasm of Selner, they are looking forward to continuing under the new leadership of Opperman. “Dr. Selner has worked tirelessly for National Dairy Shrine throughout his career, especially over these last 13 years as executive director,â€? said Nate Janssen, National Dairy Shrine board president. “His passion and knowledge of the dairy industry is second to none. We knew the day would come when Dr. Selner would want to retire, and we are conďƒždent that Mike, with his extensive industry experience, will continue to build on the strong foundation laid by Dr. Selner.â€? The ofďƒžce headquarters for National Dairy Shrine transferred from Denmark to Fort Atkinson Aug. 1, concurrent with Opperman assuming the executive director position.
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Page 38 • Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020
Healthy meals made on a dime Dieball grows produce to last all year By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
GREEN ISLE, Minn. – On a busy winter night when the Dieball family has chores to nish and school activities to attend, a quick dinner made from canned produce and meat from the farm is a healthy choice for this family on the go. “We eat everything we produce,” Wendy Dieball said. “It’s such a good feeling to be able to grab a jar from the basement and make supper.” Dieball grows produce in a garden measuring 50 feet by 70 feet on her family’s 200-cow dairy farm in Sibley County near Green Isle. Every year, she prepares the fruits and vegetables for fresh consumption or preserves them to enjoy later in the year. The garden includes onions, potatoes, carrots, green peppers, squash, cucumbers, green beans, watermelon and cantaloupe. Dieball also tends to two cow waterers that are used to grow peas, beets and radishes. “I’ve always had a big garden,” Dieball said. “I started with totes in 2000 when Jim and I got married and it’s turned into this. Every year it grows.” The garden is located near the Dieballs’ home and a short walk from a canning shack that Dieball’s husband constructed, equipped with electricity and water. “The shack keeps the canning mess out of the house,” Dieball said. “I have a table outside where I do all the prep work, and then there’s a sink in the shack where I can nish canning.” Throughout the season, Dieball spends upwards of seven
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Cucumbers are prepared for pickling at Wendy Dieball’s home near Green Isle, Minnesota.
hours a week tending to her garden. She regularly hoes the dirt to keep the weeds at bay, only tilling twice during the season. “I’m on my knees with a 5-gallon bucket pulling weeds,” Dieball said. “I like to keep my garden under control. During the summer, it’s cleaner than my house.” She chooses not to water the garden. “I let God take care of watering,” Dieball said. “What will be will be.” When Dieball is not weeding, she is picking the ripe produce. While she saves some produce to eat fresh, she also uses a lot of it to can. Every week, Dieball makes time to preserve the produce. This past weekend, she returned from a family trip and proceeded to make eight quarts of chili starter and ve quarts of tomatoes. She has also canned 13 quarts of pickles and has sauerkraut waiting to be jarred. “Because there’s no county fair, I have more time to do more canning,” Dieball said. To date, Dieball estimates she has about 150 jars of canned goods in her basement. As she cans more, she brings the oldest cans to the front of the shelves to be eaten rst. “We could get snowed in for six months and be ne,” Dieball said. “With this whole COVID-19 thing, I’ve been to Walmart maybe twice. We’re eating a lot out of the garden and our canned produce.” Family favorite recipes are Dieball’s salsa and chili starter. The family enjoys ice shing, and will often make a quick chili from the starter and ground beef from the farm. They also eat pickled beets with every hotdish. “I can make a whole meal for my family for $2 or $3 because of our garden produce,” Dieball said. “It’s all fresh and costs us little to nothing.” Dieball’s desire to provide food for her family was further cemented when her oldest daughter was diagnosed with a gluten allergy. “I nd a lot of joy in knowing what goes into my kids,” said Dieball of her daughters, Alyson, 17, and Shelby, 15. “And, it’s what my grandma used to do and my mom still does. It’s knowing I’m following in their footsteps.” Even when Dieball’s children were young, she would make her own baby food from garden produce. “Sometimes canning feels like something that’s gone by the wayside,” Dieball said. “Most people my age don’t do it. I’ve been gardening and canning since I was 21, and I’ve loved every minute of it.” But canning this year has not been easy as supplies are running short.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Wendy Dieball kneels behind produce she picked and canned at her family’s dairy farm near Green Isle, Minnesota. Dieball grows produce in a garden that is 50 feet by 70 feet. “Everyone is canning this year,” Dieball said. “Garden centers around here and even online stores are wiped out of lids.” While obtaining canning supplies has been a challenge for Dieball, she has been pleased with the growing season. Every year, Dieball chooses seeds from produce she knows her family enjoys as well as seeds that are not costly. “I try and buy packs that are less than a dollar,” Dieball said. “You don’t know what the weather is going to bring. Just like in farming, some years are better than others.” This year, Dieball’s potatoes and carrots have been in abundance. She also has a good crop of watermelon and volunteer squash that came from last year’s garden. Dieball also has four apple trees planted nearby that she is looking forward to harvesting for applesauce. When Dieball is not working her full-time job at the local hospital or scheduling and doing bookwork for the family’s dairy, she can be found in her garden. “I can be having a really bad day, go down to my garden and it all goes away,” Dieball said. “I spend a lot of time in the garden and canning. It’s my peaceful time when there’s no laundry or dishes to worry about. It’s my escape. My happy place.”
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Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020 • Page 39
sponsored by
Chris Van Dyk, pictured with wife Rikki New Richmond, Wisconsin St. Croix County 75 cows
What do you enjoy most about dairy farming? I enjoy mating a cow and getting a heifer calf from that mating and then watching that calf grow into a show-winning heifer. Then, developing that animal into a show-winning, Excellent cow.
How did you get into farming? In 1995, my dad sold out. I kept my few head and farmed them out. For the next four years, I worked at tting for shows and sales and as a herdsman for a 700-cow dairy. By 1999, my herd had grown to over 30 head so it was time to farm or to sell. We bought our current farm location in 2000.
What advice would you give other dairy farmers? Work hard and hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst. Farming will throw everything at you.
What are your thoughts and concerns about the dairy industry for the next year? My concerns would be that as more and more companies and coops gear their programs and pricing toward the larger farms, can we continue to survive as a small, family farm?
What has been the best purchase you have ever made on your farm? The best purchase we have made was to purchase additional land. We are able to control our expenses and grow almost all our feed. With the large farms getting larger and the Twin Cities sprawling into our area, it is hard and harder to get land.
What is the latest technology you implemented on your farm and the purpose for it? Our tiestall barn has eight tunnel fans and each one has its own thermostat set at 5 degrees apart. They turn on and off to keep the barn at a more constant temperature.
What has been your biggest accomplishment while dairy farming? Our biggest accomplishment would be the 24 all-American and all-Canadian nominations that have passed through our barn as cattle we have bred, owned or housed.
What is a management practice you changed in the past year that has beneted you? We started making baleage in the last couple of years. It gave us more options based on the weather to get hay up. The cattle have loved it. What cost-saving steps have you implemented during the low milk price? We try to do most of the work
ourselves. We limit the number of cattle shows we go to. We examine every potential purchase to make sure it will give us the return we are looking for, for the amount spent. How do you retain a good working relationship with your employees? We have one part-time employee who works one or two nights a week and one
weekend per month. We let her pick her days to t with her full-time job. Tell us about a skill you possess that makes dairy farming easier for you. Paying attention to the cattle and being able to make adjustments to feed for better production and healthier cows.
What are your plans for your dairy in the next year and ve years? Our plans for the next few years would be to build a commodity shed and expand our heifer shed. How do you or your family like to spend time when you are not doing chores? We enjoy hunting, shing, swimming, hiking, camping and fourwheeling.
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Page 40 • Dairy Star • Saturday, August 22, 2020
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