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DAIRY ST R “All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 18, No. 23
January 28, 2017
Just like Dad
Opelt purchases family’s herd By Cassie Olson
cassie.o@dairystar.com
NEILLSVILLE, Wis. – When a new year rolls around, many people develop resolutions to have a fresh start. This year, however, one farmer had other changes in mind; so did his cows. Isaac Opelt of Neillsville, Wis., embarked on his dairying career after purchasing his parent’s herd of 56 milking cows, Jan. 1. Opelt said he felt a sigh of relief as he delivered the check to his father, Larry Opelt. “I’ve always planned to buy the cows,” Opelt said. “The time was nally right.” The family rst brought cows to their Neillsville farm in 1987. Larry had started farming with his brother before buying their farmstead. He continued to milk the herd of cows until 2005, when he sold the cows after beginning his career as a mailman. Despite the sale, Opelt’s dream of farming continued to grow. He worked
for other dairies throughout high school, but it did not take long for him to admit it wasn’t enough. “It was in my blood; all I had ever done. I wanted cows again,” Opelt said. “When I graduated high school in 2009, we started getting cows.” They revamped the dairy with 22 cows. While growing the herd from 2009 to 2011, Opelt worked on other dairies in addition to doing chores at home. He began farming at home fulltime in 2011, but was always under the direction of his father. In recent years, his roles have changed. “For the last two years, I was still making decisions through him, but I took on a lot more responsibilities. I started doing all the work with the nutritionist and vets,” Opelt said. Opelt was always clear of his intentions of purchasing the herd. Opelt and his father agreed that he would purchase the herd in 2016. The markets, however, had other plans. “The plan was that I would buy the herd last year. With milk prices where
The 45th: what Trump means for the dairy industry By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
Over the last two years, Donald Trump promised an America with opportunity for every citizen, but as the business mogul was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States Jan. 20, questions still lingered for the future of the dairy industry. “They always say that governing and campaigning are two different processes,” said Chris Galen, spokesperson for National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF). “Now, we have a chance to see how Trump will govern.” While on the campaign trail, the now-president spoke of several priorities of his future administration, including trade agreements, secure borders and multiple government reforms. “Some of those priorities are of interest to agriculture,” Galen said. “Others could pose a challenge.” Trade agreements In weeks leading up to Trump’s inauguration, NMPF and 15 other organizations expressed the benets of agricultural trade in a letter to the forming administration. “… As the Trump Administration assembles its team and policies, U.S. agricultural trade interest must be maintained, not only in existing markets, but by expanding access to new markets,” the letter stated. Turn to TRUMP | Page 6
CASSIE OLSON/ DAIRY STAR
Isaac Opelt milks 56 cows on his family’s farm near Neillsville, Wis. Opelt recently purchased the cows to begin his dairy farming career. they were at, we were pretty nervous to start that transition, so we decided to wait a year,” Opelt said. As the new year came, Opelt made his purchase. He now owns the farm’s milking and dry cows, as well as all the heifers, totaling 120 animals. He said the transition was a smooth transfer of ownership. While not much has
changed just yet, he is hopeful of what the future holds. “I’m looking forward to watching the farm grow as a whole. I’m ready to see what I can make of this place,” Opelt said. Although Opelt now owns the herd, Turn to OPELT | Page 10
Livelihood gone in one night
Deutschs lose barn, 63 cows in re By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
ELKO NEW MARKET, Minn. – In one night, the core of what makes up Cindy and Ray Deutschs’ livelihood went up in ames. “I would give anything to milk our cows tonight. Anything,” Cindy said. A re claimed Cindy and Ray Deutschs’ 65-stall tiestall barn during the early morning hours on Jan. 13 on their dairy near Elko New Market, Minn. The 63 cows inside the barn along with their three dogs died in the re. Fourteen cows in the milking herd, along with all the youngstock survived. Turn to DEUTSCHS | Page 7
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Ray and Cindy Deutsch stand in the middle of where their dairy barn and cows once stood. A re burned the barn and 63 of their cows on Jan. 13 on their farm near Elko New Market, Minn.