Read the Dairy Star online FREE at www.dairystar.com!
DAIRY ST R “All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 18, No. 22
Swiss Valley Farms, Prairie Farms merge BY RON JOHNSON Staff writer
DAVENPORT, Iowa – The proposed merger between Swiss Valley Farms and Prairie Farms Dairy can benet both cooperatives, according to Chris Hoeger, chief executive ofcer (CEO) of Swiss Valley Farms. “It’s going to be a great opportunity for our membership and employees,” Hoeger said. “It’s going to be a good opportunity for both companies to grow and diversify.” Swiss Valley Farms, headquartered in Davenport, Iowa, and Prairie Farms Dairy, headquartered in Carlinville, Ill., began discussing joining forces last July, Hoeger said. “They approached us, and we said, ‘Well, let’s sit down and talk,’” he said. “We’ve worked together on things over the years, and we sold them our Dubuque bottling plant.” If dairy farmer members approve the merger, Hoeger will oversee the operation of the enlarged group’s cheese plants. In a news release, he said, “We are very excited to be joining forces with Prairie Farms. This merger offers numerous benets for our cooperative members and is an ideal opportunity to bring together two industry leaders. We will leverage the strengths of both companies to offer a broader range of products and to enhance and expand relationships with customers.” Ed Mullins, CEO of Prairie Farms Dairy, said, “The merger with Swiss Valley was driven by our commitment to build value for our cooperative members and is consistent with our growth strategy. Swiss Valley’s contributions will allow us to diversify our product portfolio and expand into new markets.” Before the merger can take place, it needs to be approved by Swiss Valley’s 520 members and Prairie Farms’ approximately 700 members. Voting is taking place now. Hoeger said Swiss Valley members have until Jan. 20 to turn in Turn to MERGER | Page 5
January 14, 2017
“I didn’t know I had more friends than I had cows.” – Keith Eckhoff
Fire ravages Henning dairy Eckhoff sells herd after disaster destroys several buildings BY JENNIFER COYNE Staff writer
HENNING, Minn. – Just two days shy of Christmas Eve, Keith Eckhoff was wishing for a year of good milk prices and continuing his family’s fourthgeneration dairy farm near Henning, Minn. What he received instead was an empty barn and a pile of charred rubble where the milking parlor once stood. On Dec. 22, ames engulfed Eckhoff’s double-3 autoow parlor, further destroying the milkhouse, holding pen and all milking equipment. “We lost everything,” Eckhoff said. “The cows had a place to sleep and they were all there, but everything we needed to milk the cows was gone.”
MISSY MUSSMAN/DAIRY STAR
Keith Eckhoff stands in front of what is le� of his milking parlor, milkhouse and holding pen. Eckhoff sold his 55 cows a�er losing his milking facility on Dec. 22 near Henning, Minn.
Turn to ECKHOFF | Page 7
Saved from the silo
Fall Creek couple rescued from entrapment BY CASSIE OLSON Staff writer
FALL CREEK, Wis. – The holiday season is a busy time for many people, including farmers. As schedules become increasingly busy, Norman and Jane Anderson remind fellow farmers of the importance to remember both personal and farm safety following a farm accident, which trapped the couple in a silo on their 30-cow dairy near Fall Creek, Wis., on Dec. 18. The couple said the day had been anything but typical. “It was a very cold day,” Norman, 69, said. “The water had frozen and the barn cleaner wasn’t working.” With temperatures well below zero and a long list of tasks to complete, Norman headed to the barn to begin chores and evening milking at 4 in the afternoon. Meanwhile, Jane was inside putting the nishing touches to gift wrapping for their week’s holiday celebrations. Turn to ANDERSONS | Page 6
CASSIE OLSON/DAIRY STAR
Jane and Norman Anderson milk 30 cows on their dairy farm near Fall Creek, Wis. The couple was rescued from a silo on Dec. 18 a�er becoming trapped due to haylage plugging the chute.