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Dairy St r Milk Break
Volume 27, No. 1
Farm loss slows in 2024 Wisconsin dairy herd numbers at 5,348 By Stacey Smart
stacey.s@dairystar.com
Reversing the trend of the last four years, fewer farms in Wisconsin closed their doors in 2024 compared to 2023. As of Jan. 1, there are 5,348 licensed dairy herds in the state, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service. This is a loss of 313 farms or 5.5% compared to Jan. 1, 2024, when dairy herds numbered 5,661. Better milk prices in 2024 are one possible Ben Miller reason for the Dairy Farmers of exit of fewer Wisconsin farms. Class III prices reached $23.34 per hundredweight in September and averaged $18.89 for the year. This was up from an average of $17 in 2023. Ben Miller, senior vice president of industry relations at Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, said farm numbers do not tell the complete story across the countryside or reect how farm families are thinking about the next generation. “The number of farms is only one indicator of what’s happening in the industry,” Miller said. “Farmers are aging and retiring. Families are also discussing how they can combine assets and capabilities to ensure their operation will be attractive to their children in the future. The industry is vibrant and robust here in Wisconsin.” He said there is an increase in multiple generations working together and aligning knowledge, skills and abilities to optimize management and production while minimizing labor and other costs. Turn to DAIRY NUMBERS | Page 6
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February 22, 2025
“All dairy, all the time”™
A legacy of education, industry promotion Fetzer awarded Dairy Business Association’s 2024 Advocate of the Year By Dan Wacker
dan.w@dairystar.com
ELMWOOD, Wis. — A month ago, Paul Fetzer found himself in a familiar spot, sitting next to his wife, Char, at the Dairy Business Association’s Dairy Strong conference in Green Bay. After serving on the board for nine years, the now retired Fetzer felt he owed it to the board to sit in on proceedings and the yearly award ceremony. When the emcee began describing this year’s Advocate of the Year, Fetzer dropped his head, and the tears started to ow.
Turn to FETZER | Page 5
PHOTO COURTESY OF DAIRY BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
Paul Fetzer (right) accepts his Advocate of the Year award at the Dairy Business AssociaƟon’s Dairy Strong conference Jan. 17 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Fetzer worked at his family farm in Elmwood for 30 years and served on the DBA board for nine years.
A farm love story Dahls’ romance began with online match 15 years ago By Amy Kyllo
amy.k@star-pub.com
RUSHFORD, Minn. — After a conversation-lled rst date to a Minnesota Twins game in July 2010, Steph Dahl felt good about her date, Josh. “On my way home, I was like, ‘Oh yeah, I could see myself spending the rest of my life with him,’” she said. “I knew what I wanted. … I had a feeling that he was the one, like I could totally marry him.” Marriage, three kids and nearly 15 years together have proven her intuition correct. The Dahls dairy farm PHOTO SUBMITTED together near Rushford with Josh and Steph Dahl pause with one of their favorite cows Josh’s brother, Jon, and three on their farm near Rushford, Minnesota. The Dahls, who employees. They milk 300 milk 300 cows, met on FarmersOnly.com almost 15 years cows and farm 500 acres. ago.
The couple’s story started with each of the now spouses looking for love on FarmersOnly.com. Though Steph did not grow up on a farm she had hobby farmed with her rst husband of 10 years before he passed away in a farming accident. When she was ready to date, FarmersOnly.com was the only online dating she tried. “I’d never been on a dating website ever in my life,” Steph said. “When I found out about this one, I was like, ‘Yep, that’s what I want, because I knew I wanted a farmer.’” For Josh, rarely leaving the farm meant online dating was a good option to meet people. The couple matched quickly. Josh had been on the Turn to DAHLS | Page 2