CHECK OUT THE
2020 Dairy Star year in review starting on Page 18 of this section!
DAIRY ST R “All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 22, No. 21
Milk price outlook uncertain for 2021 By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
Without a doubt, 2020 was a challenging year for dairy farmers, and many are wondering what surprises 2021 might bring. BoviNews hosted a webinar Dec. 30, 2020, featuring three top dairy economic experts. Dr. Scott Brown, director of strategic partnerships at the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, began the program looking at the drivers of supply and demand, analyzing the role they play in dairy markets. “The strong cheese and uid demand in 2020 has certainly been important, but whether that lasts into 2021 is a question we have to continue to pay attention to,” Brown said. “Trade is important. We know the Chinese hog herd has been rebuilding, how much whey does that continue to take off the market? On the supply side, dairy cow numbers are moving higher. Too much milk supply can create a much tougher milk price environment.” Brown also talked about how non-market revenue, such as the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program and Dairy Margin Coverage Program, played in farm nances. “Those programs made a difference in the bottom lines of dairy producers,” Brown said. “We had roughly $41 billion in cash receipts in 2019. I think as we entered the worst of it at the beginning of COVID-19, many of us would have thought that would be down. But with nearly $3 billion of CFAP …, we actually increased total revenues to about $43.5 billion. My concern for 2021 is that if we do not see the same level of CFAP payments, or other stimulus, that could make things worse as we look at the bottom line.” Turn to MILK | Page 5
January 16, 2021
A lifestyle they love
Schrimpfs are farm family of the year By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
GOODHUE, Minn. – When holiday gatherings or special occasions roll around, the Schrimpf family tries to talk about other topics besides farming. “When we have get-togethers, the farm stuff stays outside and it’s family time,” Kristin Schrimpf said. “That’s my rule.” The distinction of labor versus leisure time helps the family be present in the moment, which they in turn think helps them be better farmers and members of their families. It is one way the Schrimpfs try to keep their dairy moving in the right direction. Last year, the family reTurn to SCHRIMPF | Page 10
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
The Schrimpfs – (from leŌ) Ken, KrisƟn, Ross and BreƩ – are the 2020 Goodhue County Farm Family of the Year. They milk 500 cows on their dairy near Goodhue, Minnesota.
A dream gone up in ames Springers lose barn, goats in re By Danna Sabolik
danna.s@dairystar.com
MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR
Stephen and BriƩany Springer lost their barn, milkhouse and 800 goats in a re Dec. 24. The Springers built the 80-by-240 barn and 22-by-24 milkhouse in 2017.
HENNING, Minn. – Around 3 a.m. Dec. 24, Brittany Springer woke to a strange noise coming from the basement. Thinking one of her ve kids might be awake, she ventured out of bed and to the hallway, peering down the stairs. She realized the odd noise was their back-up well turning on, signaling there was a water leak in the dairy barn down the hill. As Brittany turned back to the bedroom to wake her husband, Stephen, the power in the house went out, and she noticed a dreadful orange glow illuminating the sky through their bedroom window, right where the barn should be. Waking in a rush, Stephen scrambled to get dressed in the dark and hurried outside while Brittany called 911. “By the time I got out there, it was all gone,” Stephen Springer said. “As I went out the basement door, the re was billowing out the milk house window, and the roof had just fallen in.” The buildings, which included an 80-by-240 foot barn to house their almost 800 goats and 22-by-48 foot milk house with a custom rotary parlor, were up in ames. Turn to SPRINGER | Page 6