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DAIRY ST R
Volume 20, No. 22
DMC offers relief for industry Small farms to benet most from new program By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As President Donald Trump signed the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 into law on Dec. 20, Steve Schlangen saw hope for himself and the dairy community. “We thought the last farm bill was good, but it turned out to be a op,” said Schlangen, who attended the signing at the invitation of U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson of Minnesota, ranking member of the House Ag Committee. “This new bill went the other way. It will help all farms some, but smaller farms the most.” Schlangen and his wife, Cheryl, dairy farm near Albany, Minn.; Schlangen serves as chairman of Associated Milk Producers Inc. and on the National Milk Producers Federation Board of Directors. In this role he has had the opportunity to provide input on government programs, such as the previous Margin Protection Program for Dairy and the newly created Dairy Margin Coverage. Updates to the farm bill were given overwhelming support in Congress and now those in the dairy industry are anxious for its implementation. The most notable change for dairy farmers is the discontinuation of MPP and start-up of DMC, a risk management tool more reective of current industry trends. “MPP for dairy producers is discontinued as we know it. … They changed the name; they rebranded it,” said Dr. Marin Bozic, University of Minnesota. “This really will be a new program in terms of its effectiveness and ability to help dairy producers.” Bozic presented information on the farm bill during a webinar, “2018 Farm Bill: Implications for Dairy Producers,” co-hosted by I-29 Moo University and Minnesota Milk Producers Association Dec. 27. While the formula to calculate a margin payment under DMC remains the same as was MPP, coverage options Turn to FARM BILL | Page 6
“All dairy, all the time”™
January 12, 2019
Froehlich saves the day
DHIA tester performs CPR during a farm visit By Danna Sabolik
danna.s@dairystar.com
ELROSA, Minn. – Early on a Friday morning Darcy Froehlich was on a usual milking visit to perform DHIA testing when her instincts were tested. On Dec. 14 around 5 a.m., Bruce Felling was drinking his morning cup of coffee and reading the paper when he began experiencing chest pains. “I thought I should be by people, and I knew my daughter-in-law was milking in the barn outside,” Bruce said. That is the last thing he Turn to FELLING | Page 5
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Bruce and Tessie Felling stand in the parlor where Bruce collapsed the morning of Dec. 14 at their dairy farm near Elrosa, Minn. Tessie and DHIA tester Darcy Froehlich rushed to his aid by performing CPR while wai�ng for EMS to arrive.
Sexton rebounds with robots
Millville dairyman uses new system after parlor re in 2017 By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Sco� Sexton sprays off one of the two robo�c milking units on his 120-cow dairy near Millville, Minn.
MILLVILLE, Minn. – Although a parlor re was devastating, Scott Sexton’s dairy has rebounded. “We had to make a quick decision,” Sexton said. “Because of the construction schedule, nobody would have had time to build if we didn’t gure it out quick.” Scott Sexton His choice for a parlor replacement? Robots. Since August 2017, Sexton has been using two Turn to SEXTON| Page 7