Sign up for our Newsletter
Dairy St r Milk Break
Email andrea.b@dairystar.com to sign up.
DAIRY ST R
October 24, 2020
“All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 22, No. 17
Heinz advocates for mental health after losing partner to suicide Dairy farmer remembered as seless family man By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
BROOTEN, Minn. – Sept. 16 is a day Becky Heinz would just as soon forget. Yet, the events that occurred that fall evening have become a platform for her to talk about mental health. “I want people to know of the aftermath. Yes, the pain of depression is terrible. But the pain doesn’t go away, it just transfers; and now, it’s transferred to hundreds of people,” Heinz said through her tears. Heinz is grieving the loss of her partner Casey Tangen, who died by suicide in September after completing evening chores on the couple’s 43cow dairy farm in Stearns County near Brooten. “I wake up sometimes and think, ‘Is this real or is it all a dream?’ But then
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Becky Heinz and Casey Tangen embrace each other in a photo taken in June at their dairy farm near Brooten, Minnesota. Tangen died by suicide in September, and Heinz wants to tell his story to advocate for mental health.
I see the owers and realize this is my life now,” Heinz said. “It’s completely and utterly indescribable the thoughts and what ifs that go through your mind; the could’ve, the guilt. It’s overwhelming.” In the month that has followed, Heinz has reected on Tangen’s life and wants others to know his story. “There’s a lot of complete and utter selessness that he had, especially for his family,” Heinz said. “(Tangen) always tried to do right by other people. It was that constant doing and thinking for other people.” Heinz and Tangen’s journey began in April 2017 when the two met through work. Tangen was dairy farming in western Minnesota, and Heinz was spending her days as a nutrition consultant. Over the years, the couple grew closer and envisioned a life in the dairy industry for themselves and each other’s children. Turn to HEINZ | Page 5
Passage of omnibus bill includes full Section 179 conformity State tax provisions to fall in line with federal law By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
ST. PAUL, Minn. – In its fth special session, the Minnesota legislature approved an omnibus bill Oct. 15 that has many farmers relieved. As part of the $1.87 billion bonding bill, passed in bipartisan support, farmers across Minnesota will soon feel relief as the state is now in full conformity with Section 179 of the federal tax law. At the time of this writing, it was waiting Gov. Tim Walz’s signature. “For many years, we’ve been advocating for at least $250,000 federal expense cap because we felt that was the amount that was the most helpful most of the time for Minnesota dairy farmers,” said Lucas Sjostrom, Minnesota Milk Producers Association executive director. “What was really problematic was the 80% add-back which reduced the current benet to not that much. It is so nice to see this nally come to fruition.” Turn to SECTION 179 | Page 6
A Day in the Life of a Dairy Farmer, see Second Section
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Jim Pfeifer unloads corn from a gravity box at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 16 on his farm where he and his wife, Jan, milk 50 cows near Owatonna, Minnesota. Pfeifer planned to nish his harvest that day.
Page 2 • Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020
DAIRY ST R www.dairystar.com
ISSN 020355 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave. Sauk Centre, MN 56378 Phone: (320) 352-6303 Fax: (320) 352-5647 Published by Dairy Star LLC General Manager/Editor Mark Klaphake - mark.k@dairystar.com 320-352-6303 (ofďƒžce) 320-248-3196 (cell) 320-352-0062 (home) Ad Composition Nancy Powell 320-352-6303 nancy.p@dairystar.com Consultant Jerry Jennissen 320-346-2292 Editorial Staff Krista Kuzma - Editor/Wisconsin (507) 259-8159 • krista.k@dairystar.com Andrea Borgerding - Associate Editor (320) 352-6303 • andrea.b@dairystar.com Jennifer Coyne - Assistant Editor (320) 352-6303 • jenn@dairystar.com Danielle Nauman (608) 487-1101 danielle.n@dairystar.com Stacey Smart - Staff Writer (262) 442-6666 • stacey.s@dairystar.com Maria Bichler - Copy Editor 320-352-6303 Advertising Sales Main Ofďƒžce: 320-352-6303 Fax: 320-352-5647 Deadline is 5 p.m. of the Friday the week before publication Sales Manager - Joyce Frericks 320-352-6303 • joyce@dairystar.com Bob Leukam (Northern MN, East Central MN) 320-260-1248 (cell) bob.l@star-pub.com Mark Klaphake (Western MN) 320-352-6303 (ofďƒžce) 320-248-3196 (cell) Laura Seljan (National Advertising, SE MN) 507-250-2217 fax: 507-634-4413 laura.s@dairystar.com Jerry Nelson (SW MN, NW Iowa, South Dakota) 605-690-6260 jerry.n@dairystar.com Mike Schafer (Central, South Central MN) 320-894-7825 mike.s@dairystar.com Amanda Hoeďƒ&#x;er (Eastern Iowa) 320-250-2884 • amanda.h@dairystar.com Julie Barnes (SE WI and Northern IL) julie.b@dairystar.com Megan Stuessel (Western Wisconsin) 608-387-1202 • megan.s@dairystar.com Ashley Curry (Northeast WI and Upper MI) 920-539-7268 • ashley.c@dairystar.com Deadlines The deadline for news and advertising in the Dairy Star is 5 p.m. Friday the week before publication. Subscriptions One year subscription $35.00, outside the U.S. $110.00. Send check along with mailing address to Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378. Advertising Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an advertisement shall constitute ďƒžnal acceptance of the advertiser's order. Letters Letters and articles of opinion are welcomed. Letters must be signed and include address and phone number. We reserve the right to edit lengthy letters. The views and opinions expressed by Dairy Star columnists and writers are not necessarily those of the Dairy Star LLC.
The Dairy Star is published semi-monthly by Dairy Star, LLC, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378-1246. Periodicals Postage Paid at Sauk Centre, MN and additional mailing ofďƒžces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378-1246.
A glance at the other side
Dairy Star likes to provide local stories, which is why we have two versions of the paper. Below are a few highlights from stories you will not ďƒžnd in this paper, but you can ďƒžnd online in zone 2. Find full editions on our website, www.dairystar.com, and click on the e-edition tab under the Dairy Star header. Chippewa Valley beneďƒžts from Broadband Reconnect grant One thing that 2020 has taught us is the importance of rural e-connectivity, and badly underserved many areas of rural Wisconsin are. USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Bill Northey was recently in Cadott, Wis., to share the news of a $3 million Broadband ReConnect grant given to Ntera, LLC., for expanding highspeed broadband to over 2,044 people, 33 farms and 33 businesses in Chippewa, Rusk and Taylor Counties in northern Wisconsin. Gehri looks towards future with goat herd Tessa Gehri, 17, is looking forward to creating her own future in the livestock industry, focusing primarily on expanding her goat herd. Gehri, a senior at Wonewoc-Center High School in Wonewoc, Wis., won the state FFA goat proďƒžciency is a ďƒžnalist for the top spot in the nation during the virtual National FFA Convention slated for later this month. Gehri hopes to procure facilities that will allow her to milk enough dairy goats to market goat milk, while continuing to breed and develop her herd of registered Boer goats. Barn quilts bring joy Jill Wiederholt works alongside her mother, LuAnn Shea, to make barn quilts, a hobby they came across somewhat by accident, after deciding to make two barn quilts for barns on their farm, in preparation for hosting their county’s dairy breakfast. Since then, the pair has honed the process to an art and enjoys making a variety of large and small quilts. This year, they were commissioned to create ďƒžve quilts for a new community building in a Platteville, Wis., park. Halversons focus on doing right by the land Preserving his land for future generations is something Dick Halverson is passionate about. This Manitowoc, Wisconsin dairy farmer has devoted the better part of his farming career to conservation practices like cover cropping and no tilling. As president of the Manitowoc County Forage Council, Halverson has spent years implementing new ideas on his own farm while also helping to educate area farmers about conservation.
SUPERIOR MIXING OF WET BYPRODUCTS AND DISTILLERS GRAINS
RC 200 SERIES HELIX REEL COMMERCIAL ÂŽ
REEL MIXERS
• Open-center Helix Reel eliminates obstructions resulting in faster mixing • Reel and auger design allows for low fuel consumption and more economical operation • Heavy-duty components and options for superior durability and long life • Improved slide tray promotes fast, consistent discharge INVEST IN QUALITY 500 – 950 cu. ft. mixing capacities • truck, trailer & stationary models Lindell Sales & Service Cannon Falls, MN
Lake Henry Implement 3D\QHVYLOOH 01
Scott Supply 0LWFKHOO 6'
Hammell Equipment &KDWĹľHOG 01 (LW]HQ 01
Minnesota Ag Group 3ODLQYLHZ 01
Grossenburg Implement Philip, SD :LQQHU 6'
Adkins Equipment 'HWURLW /DNHV 01 Isaacson Sales & Service /DID\HWWH 01 Blue Hilltop /DNH :LOVRQ 01 Schlauderaff Implement /LWFKžHOG 01 Fluegge’s Ag 0RUD 01 Northland Farm Systems Owatonna, MN
Diaryland Supply 6DXN &HQWUH 01 Werner Implement 9HUPLOOLRQ 01 UFC Farm Supply :DFRQLD 01 Anderson Bros. (GJHOH\ 1' Duppong's, Inc. *OHQ 8OOLQ 1' Enerbase Cooperative Minot, ND
Pfeifer Implement Sioux Falls, SD Mark's Machinery :DJQHU 6' <DQNWRQ 6' Van-Wall Equipment Albia, IA ,QGLDQROD ,$ .QR[YLOOH ,$ Roeder Bros. %HOOHYXH ,$
Vetter Equipment &ODULQGD ,$ 6KHQDQGRDK ,$ Kunau Implement 'H:LWW ,$ Bodensteiner Implement (ONDGHU ,$ J. P. Scherrman, Inc. )DUOH\ ,$ Nelson Farm Supply +DUODQ ,$ Burco Sales ,QGHSHQGHQFH ,$ Helmuth Repair Kalona, IA
www.kuhn.com
Graber Services /RFNULGJH ,$ Carroll Implement /X9HUQH ,$ Ag Land Implement 1HZ +DPSWRQ ,$ Kunau Implement 3UHVWRQ ,$ Engel Agri-Sales 6DF &LW\ ,$ Gordy’s Repair & Implement 6WDF\YLOOH ,$ Dee Implement of Waukon :DXNRQ ,$
Visit your local KUHN Knight dealer today!
ÂŽ
Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020 • Page 3
It’s all inside... Columnists Ag Insider
Pages 8-9 First Section
Bon Yankton Homme
Clay
Lyon
First Section: Page 39
Pottawattamie Cass
nt
mo
n Win
Kanabec
Washington
ms ey Ra
Worth
Mitchell Howard
Hancock Cerro Gordo
ldt
o
mb
Hu
Floyd
Houston
Bremer
Wright Franklin Butler
Guthrie
Boone
Dallas
Story
Polk
all
h ars
M
aw
as
ick
Ch
Black Hawk
Webster Hamilton Hardin Grundy
Greene
Tama
Jasper
Fayette
Maple Breeze Dairy preg rate jumps to 31% with ovsynch program
an
Benton
e war Dubuque
Dela
Jones
Linn
Iowa
First Section: Pages 18 , 20
Clayton
an
ch
Bu
Madison Warren Marion Mahaska Keokuk
Adair
ry ome Adams ntg
Mo
Page
Kossuth
n
lh Ca
go
eba
ou
Sac
Harrison Shelby
as
nt
ho
ca
Po
Crawford Carroll
Fre
Zone 2
e Buena Vista
Ida
Monona
Palo Alto
ke
ero
Ch
Mills
Zone 1
Clay
Mower
Plainview
n inso Emmet
Dick
O’Brien
Sioux
Woodbury
Dairy Prole: The Wilsons
Hubbard
Osceola
Plymouth
Paullina
Wadena
Wilkin ln
co
Lin
Faribault
Martin
e
Turner
Jackson
Winona
Fillimore
iek
Hutchinson
Nobles
Freeborn
ake
Charles Mix
Rock
Wabasha
Cottonwood Watonwan Blue Earth Waseca Steele Dodge Olmsted
sh
Douglas
Gregory
McCook Minnehaha
Murray
Goodhue
Rice
ne
Tripp
Moody
Nicollet
Brown
am
Todd
Ha
ns
on
Lake
Redwood
All
Brule Mellette
Miner
Lyon
Clinton on Cedar
s
hn
Jo
Jackson
Scott
Muscatine
n
Aurora
Sanborn
Brookings
Taylor
Union old
gg
Rin
Clarke
Lucas
Decatur Wayne
Bricelyn
Lorenz happy with past 10 years in organic production Second Section: Pages 6 - 8
Monroe Wapello e
oos
pan
Ap
Davis
gto
Lyman
Jerauld
Kingsbury
Dakota
Scott
Sibley
W in
Buffalo
Beadle
Hennepin Carver
hin
Bennett
Hand
McLeod
Renville
Yellow Medicine
First Section: Pages 10 - 11
Wa s
Jones
Hughes
Deuel
Hamlin
Anoka
Wright
Meeker
eu r
Stanley
Hyde
Lac Qui Parle
Codington
Clark
Kandiyohi
Chippewa
Isanti
Su
Sully
Swift
Sherburne
Spindler receives farm family award
sh iek
Shannon
Spink
Ziebach
Benton
Stearns
Pope
Owatonna
Pine
Mille Lacs
Morrison
Douglas
Stevens
Grant
Faulk
Potter
Todd Grant
Big Stone
Day
Carlton
we
Fall River
Edmunds
Aitkin
Crow Wing
Le
Dewey
Jackson
Roberts
Marshall
McPherson Brown
Walworth
Haakon
Sargent
Otter Tail
Po
Custer
Campbell
Corson
Dickey
McIntosh
Richland
Cass
on
Pages 8 - 9 Pennington Section Second
Ransom
LaMoure
Emmons Sioux
Becker
Clay
Tra ver se
Grant
Cass
Mah
ub
Lawrence
Bames
Lake
Itasca
go
The “Mielke” Market Meade Weekly
Stutsman
Logan
Page 33 Perkins First Section
Butte
Kidder
Cook
isa Ch
Harding
Burleigh
Morton
Dairy Good Life
en nom
Norman
Oliver
Adams
Polk
Trail
Steele
Lincoln
Page 32 First Section
Griggs
First Section: Pages 37 - 38
Second Section: Pages 23 - 24
St. Louis
Pipestone
Bowman
Foster
Lyseth bags rst bear
Koochiching
Au d
Sheridan Mercer
Beltrami
Red Lake
n
Slope
Wells
Hinckley
Lake of the Woods
Pennington
Grand Forks
Eddy
McLean
Roseau
Marshall
Benson Nelson
Just Stark Thinking OutHettinger Loud
Kittson
Walsh
Ramsey
McHenry
Ward
Pembina
io
Golden Valley
Cavalier
Towner
Da vi so n
Billings
Rolette Pierce
Something to Ruminate On Page 31 Dunn First Section
Bottineau
Donnays use diversied model to make living on small farm
Third Section: Pages 8 - 9
First Section: Pages 1, 5
Un
Page 30 First Section Mountrail
Williams
McKenzie
Renville
Kimball
Pundsack grows up with farm progression
Clearwater
First Section: Page 36
Dear County Burke Agent Guy
Freeport
Heinz advocates for mental health after losing partner to suicide
Women in Dairy: Becky Thyen
Page 26 First Section
Divide
Brooten
Waverly
FSA News & Notes
on
ers
f Jef
Van Buren
Louisa
Henry Des
Moines
Lee
Sherrill
Two women from India wrap up year on Iowa dairy farm Third Section: Pages 3 - 4
FROM OUR SIDE OF THE FENCE:
For additional stories from our other zone, log on to www.dairystar.com
What do you enjoy about hunting? First Section: Pages 15 - 16
Chosen 10,000 times for 10,000 good reasons Reason 9,378: innovation built into every single detail gea.com
Hull, IA Watertown, SD
(712) 439-2081 (605) 753-0300
www.automatedwastesystems.com
Page 4 • Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020
Gilly is prepared for Old man winter.. ARE YOU?
Time to take your cattle off pasture!
PROTEIN TUB SALE!
See us for a large selection of gates & cattle panels.
TIRES
WATERERS
Skid Loader & Implement (Mounting Available)
CHECK OUT OUR RENTAL SELECTION!
Meet Ali and Gloria.
WATERERS
Get your jobs done & save money at the same time!
“Originators of insulated poly waterers”
Short on Labor? Short on time? Automatic AGRi-Speed HITCH
• One person operation - eliminate the need for a second hand for hook-ups • Available for pick-ups, choppers, tractors, wagons, etc. “A real time saver” • “Easier to find help” • “Work smarter, not harder” “Eliminates anyone climbing on & off the tractor to lift the heavy wagon poles” We are the area’s exclusive dealer of the Agri Speed Hitch & we’re happy to send a set to you!
FIND OUT HOW ROASTING CAN BENEFIT YOUR RATIONS
Gilman Co-op Creamery
FEED & FARM SUPPLY STORE
Gilman, MN 320-387-2770
Open M-F 7:30-7, Sat. 7:30-5, Sun. 8:30-1 Good service - fair prices - every day
WWW.GILMANCREAMERY.COM
A Cold Weather Protocol that Works
Valiant® Pre Post works well when used in tandem with Recover™ when it’s COLD. Use Pre-Post the first two shifts and Recover™ on the third shift. Recover™ softens the teat and Valiant Pre Post exfoliates the dead skin!
WINTER TEAT DIP TEAT END ISSUES?
Get your cows’ teat ends in TOP CONDITION!
BEFORE
• Dual Germicide: Primary: Chlorine Dioxide promotes a quick kill. Secondary: LAS promotes a long-lasting kill.
Exfoliation
• Effective against ALL Mastitis-Causing Organisms • Contains Lactic Acid to promote Teat Exfoliation • Teat skin conditioning – 12.4% skin conditioning package • Green coloring for easy identification
AFTER
Exfoliation
78%
TRI-BLEND SKIN CONDITIONING PACKAGE! GERMICIDE: 1.5% HEPTANOIC ACID
FOR MORE INFO - CONTACT ONE OF THESE DEALERS... Advanced Dairy Systems
Athman Dairy Inc.
D&D Ag Supply
9 State Rd. 29 • Spring Valley, WI 54767 (715) 772-3201
238 Main Street North • Pierz, MN 56364 (320) 468-2494
133 Atlantic Ave. NE • Pennock, MN 56279 (320) 599-4466
Advanced Dairy Solutions
Bob’s Dairy Supply
East Central Dairy Supply
Professional Dairy Systems
Eastern Iowa Dairy Systems
278 W. Court St. • Richland Center, WI 53581 540 E. County Rd. A • Dorchester, WI 54425 (608) 647-4488 (715) 654-5252
Anderson Dairy Systems, Inc. 1312 13 1/2 Ave. • Barron, WI 54812 (715) 537-3300
1449 Homecrest Ave. • Wadena, MN 56482 (218) 632-5416
2195 Hwy. 23 • Mora, MN 55051 (320) 679-1029
105 3rd Ave. NW • Epworth, IA 52045 (563) 876-3087
Fuller’s Milker Center, Inc. 423 U.S. 61 • Lancaster, WI 53813 (608) 723-4634
Lang’s Dairy Equipment, Inc.
2337 Millennium Rd. • Decorah, IA 52101 (563) 382-8722 1467 West 5th Street • Winona, MN 55987 Gorter’s Clay & Dairy Equipment (507) 452-5532 1400- 7th St. SE • Pipestone, MN 56164 Leedstone (507) 825-3271 222 E Co Rd 173, Melrose, MN 56352 Tri-County Dairy Supply, Inc. (320) 256-3303 4107 N US HWY 51 • Janesville. WI 53545 24260 Cty. Rd. 27 • Plainview, MN 55964 608-757-2697 (507) 534-3161
Pre-Book with your Dealer Today!
Leedstone
1720 Freitag Dr. • Menomonie, WI 54751 (715) 231-8090
United Suckow Dairy
12687 Hwy 18 & 52 • Postville, IA 52162 (563) 864-7417 210 N. Industrial Pkwy • West Union, IA 52175 (563) 422-5355
Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020 • Page 5
ConƟnued from HEINZ | Page 1 “He loved cows. That was his life,” Heinz said. “We wanted to farm together, and we had similar goals. … Our stars on the wall. This is what we hoped to build for us and our family.” After spending a year remodeling the current farm, the couple began milking cows this past June. As the couple reveled in the life they were creating, Tangen fought an internal battle; one Heinz now readily sees. “I knew he had depression, but he never shared how bad it really was,” Heinz said. “There were things that really bogged him down, and I could see that depression unfolding. Now, putting the pieces together, there are things I can look back on and say maybe I should’ve taken that a little more seriously.” This summer, the couple spoke about seeking professional guidance. Yet, when Tangen reached out to his former counselor, they were not taking on more patients. “It was extremely difcult for him to make that rst phone call,” Heinz
“It was extremely difficult for him to make that rst phone call.” BECKY HEINZ, DAIRY FARMER
said. “Only a month before his passing, a person we knew of committed suicide and that really hit me. I told Casey I was afraid that was going to be him. He said he had things to live for – his kids, me. And then it was never spoke about again.” The moments that followed Tangen’s death remain a blur, yet the couple’s last conversation is clear in Heinz’s mind. “I was making dinner for all of us,” Heinz said. “(Tangen) came up behind me and said thank you for all you do for us, I really appreciate all you do. I told him I appreciate him too, but I didn’t even turn around to look at him.” To commemorate Tangen’s life, Heinz hosted a celebration of life event on their farm. The day was open for family, friends and anyone who knew Tangen to attend and share memories of the dairy farmer. The celebration was exactly what
Heinz envisioned with Tangen’s greatest features highlighted with stories from people Heinz knew as family and those she had only heard of in Tangen’s life. “It’s restored my faith in humanity, that God’s people are here,” Heinz said. “The number of people who have said (Tangen) helped them, whether it was when they had to sell the cows, when their dad passed away … he was there to talk. That speaks volumes for the type of person he was.” Throughout this time, Heinz has become close friends with one of Tangen’s best friends as they spend each day talking about their lost loved one. Heinz has also connected with Monica Kramer McConkey, a rural mental health specialist in Minnesota. “There’s a stigma that we have to be tough, that we can’t talk about it,” Heinz said. “I don’t know what my God-given duty is, but I know there’s purpose in my pain. If I can help one person with (Tangen’s) story, whether that’s someone going through depression, someone grieving a loss like I am, whatever that may be, if it’s just one person.” Heinz has also relied on her growing faith to help her through these trying times. And, she talks to Tangen often while doing chores and reecting on their life together. “I ask why he would do this? We were out of the woods and had so many things going right for us, but he couldn’t see that,” Heinz said. “Shortly after it happened, I was in the milk room and started crying; I couldn’t even stand. I could hear him screaming that he’d take it all back.” Milking cows has been a lifeline for Heinz as a way to keep some sense of normalcy. It has become a responsibility that connects her with her partner and given her time to reect on the impact Tangen’s presence had in their short time together. As the days go on and Tangen’s legacy lives on through organ donations and in the farm he and Heinz built, Heinz only wishes their story will help others. “I hope everyone has someone out there who would never judge you or speak about (depression) with another person,” Heinz said. “I’ve seen the aftermath, and it’s not worth it. You are worth it.”
Check Out our Selection of In-Stock
VERMEER EQUIP EQUIPMENT! 605N
1410 Mower M ower
Tedders ers ((715)) 285-5317
Ken Anibas • www.anibassilo.com N6423 Commerce Lane, Arkansaw, WI siloman@nelson-tel.net • kevinatanibassilo@yahoo.com
“Your Complete Farm Service Company” Serving You Since 1973
Trust the experts Future success starts with today’s nutrition At Famo Feeds, we strive to provide the best support for your operation and work to accommodate your specific needs.
Programs and support for every stage... from calf to cow and everything in between! Our full lines of feed include: •Complete feeds •Starter feeds •Supplements •Concentrates •Vitamins •Minerals •Pre-mixes •Base Mixes •Milk replacers •Animal Health •Preservatives/Inoculants •Tubs •Pet Foods •Specialty and custom feeds to meet your specific needs
320-836-2145 or 800-450-2145 Check out our website to ½nd a Famo Feeds dealer near you!
www.famofeeds.com
Page 6 • Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020
Willmar, MN • 320.231.1470
EXPANDING OR REMODELING YOUR LIVESTOCK OPERATION? LANGE AG SYSTEMS SPECIALIZES IN:
Ŷ NEW FACILITIES
_
NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL
Ŷ RETROFITTING & REMODELING Ŷ TURNKEY PROJECTS Ŷ BARN DESIGN Ŷ INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE & REPAIRS
ƋƵŝƉŵĞŶƚ tĞ KīĞƌ͗ ͻ sĞŶƟůĂƟŽŶ &ĂŶƐ ͻ sĞŶƟůĂƟŽŶ ŽŶƚƌŽůƐ ͻ WŽƐŝƟǀĞ WƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ dƵďĞƐ ͻ ƵƌƚĂŝŶ ^LJƐƚĞŵƐ ͻ DĂƩƌĞƐƐĞƐ ͻ tĂƚĞƌĞƌƐ ͻ ^ƚĂůů ƋƵŝƉŵĞŶƚ ͻ ,ĞĂĚůŽĐŬƐ ͻ DŝƐƟŶŐ ^LJƐƚĞŵƐ
Lange Ag Systems is proud to offer Grain Bags, Silage Bags & Bunker Covers from Up North Plastics and Feed Fresh Silage Covers & Custom Size Bunker Covers from Raven!
t ^ >> E t Θ h^ 'ͳ ' Θ < >>z Zz E '' Z^
www.LangeAgSystems.com PORTABLE WELDING
- SILO UNLOADER REPAIR Sales, Service, Rental
of manure handling and feeding equipment
Paul’s Welding & Repair St. Martin, MN
320-548-3300
“JETCRETE”
(pnuematically applied concrete)
• Reline your silo w/Jetcrete • Basement and Barnwall Resurfacing w/Jetcrete • Repair Concrete Storage Vats, Bunker Silos, Buildings, etc., w/Jetcrete
800-866-7327
From the makers that bring you GERMANIA all stainless steel parlors NOW BRINGING YOU ALL STAINLESS ROTARY PARLOR ®
MADERO DAIRY SYSTEMS
The Leader in Commercial Dairy Farm Rotary Systems
The most durable, cleanest and most silent heavy duty platform with the longest surface life in the market • The only all stainless steel platform • The cleanest milking • Silent operation • Heavy duty 24/7 • The lightest platform • The longest surface life • Specially designed to work with precision dairy integration systems in mind • 15 years warranty on platform deck • Protected equipment • Easy maintenance • Wide-open access and quick service
Easy to Service
New and improved cow friendly design
Light weight and extremely heavy duty Designed to work 24/7 Longest surface life
CALL US FOR MORE INFORMATION!
TechForAg
Paul (906) 364-0266 • Dr.Luke (715) 313-4768
Dairy product consumption grows throughout pandemic New eating trends spark double-digit growth for butter, cheese By Stacey Smart
stacey.s@dairystar.com
MADISON, Wis. – Despite the many challenges of 2020 brought on by the novel coronavirus pandemic, this year has seen dramatic growth in dairy product consumption. From specialty cheeses and single-serve snack size options to butter and milk, dairy categories are faring well at the supermarket. Consumer eating habits changed as a result of shutdowns. People began cooking more and eating the majority of their meals at home. Thus, more dairy found its way into shoppers’ carts, leading to a spike in butter, cheese, milk and other dairy products. On Oct. 7, the Dairy Signal, hosted by the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin, welcomed Chad Vincent, CEO of Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, and Brandon Scholz, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Grocers Association, to discuss product trends and challenges faced by grocery stores tryConƟnued from SECTION 179 | Page 1
In 2017, President Trump signed the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which became the most comprehensive overhaul to the United States’ tax code in more than 30 years. For dairy farmers, that act included an increase in Section 179 from $500,000 to $1 million and a $2.5 million threshold for purchases. While this change was made at the federal level and intended to accelerate depreciation, Minnesota retained an 80% addition to income in the rst year and a 20% subtraction for the ve years following the addback. The tax changes noted in Minnesota’s omnibus bill eliminates the state add-back for tax years beginning in 2020 and retroactively for like-kind purchases in tax years 2018 and 2019. “It was important that we made this retroactive because a lot of farmers made purchases not knowing this was going to change and how the state looked at like-kind purchases,” said Minnesota Rep. Paul Anderson. “Around the state, we were hearing of farmers getting big tax bills for purchases they made two years ago. This wasn’t right. … It was essentially phantom income, but farmers still had to pay income tax on it.” Anderson gave the example of one farm business that would have had to declare bankruptcy to try and satisfy the tax bill, although bankruptcy would not even satisfy the total amount. For Minnesota dairy farmers, the change is welcomed and long overdue. “This is a perfect example of the squeaky wheel getting greased,” Sjostrom said. “Farmers have wanted to trade in equipment, but the tax bills were huge. It got so bad that we all
ing to meet the change in consumer preferences and demand. “The transition of families having meals together as well as cooking at home has really changed the dynamic of the shopping experience,” Scholz said. “But it also challenges grocers to rethink their stocking and how they’re merchandising to their customers. The eat-athome component is going to remain strong.” Brandon Scholz From the time Wisconsin Grocers the pandemic Association emerged in the United States, Vincent said butter sales are up 37%, cheese is up 20% and milk is up 6%. Over the last eight weeks, dairy is seeing double-digit growth, and milk remains up 2%-3%. This historic jump in dairy consumption comes on the heels of a 40-year decline. Reports from DMI Research show that cereal consumption is up double Turn to CONSUMPTION | Page 7
agreed there’s a problem.” Steve Schlangen agreed. “This is huge for the state of Minnesota,” he said. “This allows more agriculture producers to purchase more machinery without being penalized. I actually didn’t think this would ever happen. We’ve been behind on the state level for a long time.” Schlangen is a dairy farmer in Stearns County near Albany. Not only should the tax relief come at the right time for dairy farmers but also the entirety of the agriculture industry. Section 179 includes any business that makes a capital purchase and trade-ins. “Other industries were hurting just the same,” Schlangen said. “When you can’t or don’t move equipment, that has a ripple effect for everyone.” Anderson agreed. “This will help anyone who deals with farmers,” he said. The tax conformity is a part of a unique legislative session where both a bonding bill and tax bill were one in the same vote. While the bill puts the state in further decit, the fast depreciation model of the tax allows both the state and federal laws to be aligned, and overtime, the cost of this change will be net zero, said Anderson. “The upfront cost is a couple million dollars, but you can only depreciate a dollar once,” Anderson said. “In a six-year period, this will be a neutral cost to the state.” Farmers are encouraged to connect with their accountants and develop a plan that retroactively attributes capital purchases and depreciation to tax years 2018 and 2019, and accounts for the conformity in the years to come.
Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020 • Page 7
ConƟnued from CONSUMPTION | Page 6 digits, and the occurrence of people eating together before dinner time is up 25%. Cheese of all kinds – prepackaged, sliced and specialty – is a staple on many grocery lists now more than ever as people turn to it for cooking and snacking. Specialty cheese, in particular, is ying off the shelves with sale numbers up by double digits. “We’re seeing massive growth in this area, and that’s great for Wisconsin because we make about half of the specialty cheese in this country, and 98% of grocery stores in the U.S. carry Wisconsin cheese,” Vincent said. “The vast majority of specialty cheese goes through grocery, so the processors that had specialty cheese and grocery distribution are doing great. A number of cheese companies are having record years.” In response to a rise in snacking, some processors are serving up cheese with convenience in mind. Belgioioso has come out with bags of 1-ounce servings of cheese, and Sartori is doing 8-ounce bags of pre-cubed cheese. “We can’t keep the prepacks and small-size cheese options on the shelf,” Vincent said. “This is great because the more cheese that gets sold, the more milk that gets sold out of Wisconsin.” Grocery stores remained open throughout the pandemic to keep food on peoples’ plates but not without facing challenges. “It has been a roller coaster ride in the grocery industry,” Scholz said. “Retailers, warehouses and the entire supply chain has struggled quite a bit at times while simultaneously keeping their doors open and trying to meet the needs of customers and employees. I rarely come across a grocery store that
has enough people on staff. One store said they have 200 openings they could ll tomorrow.” Scholz said he is astounded by the low numbers of COVID-19 cases in the grocery sector. “It’s amazing we’ve seen fewer cases of positive COVID-19 tests as well as sickness, hospitalization and death in this industry since these folks deal with the public Chad Vincent Dairy Farmers of every single day,” Wisconsin Scholz said. “This is testimony to the safety and sanitization procedures grocers have in place in their stores to protect their employees and customers.” Customer shopping patterns have changed, and their trips to the store have been reduced. They buy more but are also forced to substitute and buy things they are not used to buying – whether it be a different kind of meat or type of produce. Keeping shelves stocked has been a challenge for grocers, who often receive less than what they order. “Stores are not getting 100% of their orders in, which is why you might not see something on the shelf that was there last week,” Scholz said. “It’s a continuing problem grocers have to deal with. There’s consistency in our dairy industry, which is fantastic. But in canned goods and other things you see on the shelf, it’s not so consistent. Items are missing.” When groceries were forced to shut down salad bars and self-serve items, stores got creative and began catering towards pick-up-and-go options, re-
placing those slots with precut cheese and sandwich meats instead. “We’re certainly happy with the relationships we have with our dairy farmers in Wisconsin,” Scholz said. “That’s one of the categories throughout this challenge in which we’ve had good supply. Our relationships with dairy farmers have gotten even better. They’ve always been good, but they’ve been taken to a new level, which is very valuable.” The pandemic caused an explosion of online orders, pushing ecommerce to become a prominent part of the grocery business. Throughout the pandemic, online ordering skyrocketed, increasing by 350%. “The way we’re shopping has changed dramatically,” Vincent said. “The trend of people shopping electronically has grown to what was projected for ve years from now. Ecommerce purchases of milk are up 125% and up 114% for cheese. It’s amazing.” Scholz agreed. “Back in March, some stores might’ve had 2%-3% of their business online, and some stores had zero,” Scholz said. “It jumped to the point where it was 30% of their business. It scaled back to about half that but is now at a level where it’s going to stay.” Keeping food owing to families in need and children who are missing out on school lunches continues to be an important item on the to-do list for the state and Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin. “We’ve been working with some really great food bank partnerships as well as Google logistics,” Vincent said. “This is a way for cheese to get to where it needs to at a cost advantage. But it’s not donated; it’s purchased for
these markets. As long as these relationships are good for farmers, and processors can keep their nose above water on it, it’s a great plan for people who need food. It’s great for humanity. But a long-term donate product model is not sustainable.” Of uid milk, 6% goes into schools, which has not all been lost. “We’re working hard to gure out how to get meals and dairy products to kids to make up for the lost lunches,” Vincent said. “We have folks working with school districts, and instead of giving kids a carton of milk, they’ll give them a gallon to take home with a bunch of premade meals for the week.” Committed to moving dairy products, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin has seven people around the country whose job is to call on the major retailers and nd ways to get Wisconsin cheese and dairy into stores and moving through at an accelerated rate. Meetings between Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and cheese buyers have turned virtual – a change which has shortened the cheese-buying process and produced excellent outcomes. Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin ships cheese to buyers in advance, and during a virtual meeting, they bring on a dairy farmer who talks about and shows their farm. Buyers are making decisions on the spot and bringing in ve to six new Wisconsin cheeses at once. “We look forward to taking our relationships with dairy farmers to a new level, especially as they work with grocers to put merchandising plans into place at the retail level to grow sales,” Scholz said. “The experience has been great so far.”
FIRST LOAD ONLY $299 Offer valid for delivery on or before November 30, 2020 *Must be within 80 miles of the sawmill.
Maverick Wood Products LLC in Browerville is your area source for quality animal bedding. Our sawmill produces truckloads of fresh, green moisture content bedding g g every week - all year long.
• Increase the comfort of your animals R REGULARLY SCHEDULED • Rapid absorption - high volume DELIVERY AVAILABLE • Affordable bedding alternative Call or Text for pricing • Decrease your labor - we deliver direct & availability. Other terms may apply.
Shavings, SawoddBuedsdtin,g & Wo
33054 223rd Ave. Browerville, MN 56438
612-440-2028
Get it by the Truck Load
Farm bill change costs dairy farmers millions Page 8 • Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020
The 2018 farm bill adjusted milk pricing rules that ended Sept. 30. The budget gap totaled $984 to enhance risk management for milk processors, billion one year ago. The nonpartisan Congressional cooperatives and dairy farmers. American Farm Budget Ofce said that has widened to $3.1 trillion. Bureau Federation Chief Economist John Newton Federal debt in the 2020 scal year is expected to be said this change has unintended consequences for more than 100% of the gross national product. the dairy farmer. “It got rid of what was Ag Insider Dairy farmers encouraged to enroll in the higher-of, in the pricing formula, DMC and replaced it with a simple average Signup for the Dairy Margin of Class II and IV milk prices,” Newton Coverage program is underway. Farm said. Newton said that has resulted in Service Agency Administrator Richard $400 million in lost revenue for dairy Fordyce said 13,000 dairy farmers signed producers. “Since this didn’t proceed up for the 2020 program. “It wasn’t as through the normal rulemaking process high as we had in 2019; we do believe it to amend federal orders, farmers across is a great tool to provide risk management the country are likely to consider changes coverage for dairy operations,” Fordyce to the federal order program to improve said. There is an enhanced online tool milk prices,” he said. to help dairy farmers weigh the benets By Don Wick of DMC participation. “Producers will Peterson-Fischbach debate ag issues Columnist be able to put their own unique farm Farm policy was a major part of the production information through the Prairie Public Television debate between Rep. Collin Peterson and his challenger Michelle tool to make a good decision,” he said. Signup runs Fischbach. Fischbach touted her experience in the through Dec. 11. Minnesota Senate, representing a district that has agriculture. “I’ve started an ag advisory committee Deal with dairy labeling standards that I deal with weekly to make sure we hear what In an open letter to Food and Drug Administration is going on in the eld,” she said. “We have a farm Commissioner Stephen Hahn, National Milk bill coming up in 2023, and we need to start that Producers Federation President and CEO Jim conversation early and learn what is important to the Mulhern said the agency should take action farmers.” The 7th District is ranked fourth nationwide on its promise to deliver “clear, transparent and for its contribution to the ag economy. Peterson, who understandable labeling” on dairy products. During chairs the House Agriculture Committee, emphasized Hahn’s conrmation hearing, he promised to work the importance of that position. “That’s a big deal in on the issue of dairy labeling standards. The dairy terms of getting things done,” Peterson said. “Any industry opposes the use of dairy terms, like milk, for ag meeting in the House doesn’t start until I get into plant-based beverages. the room and it ends when I leave. The (agriculture) secretary calls all the time, and his people call and ask Support given to regulatory relief for my advice, that doesn’t happen with a rank and le Over 100 farm organizations have signed a member.” letter of support for a bill that would modernize the agricultural exemption for hours-of-service trucking Decit triples over the past year rules. This proposal would provide a 150-air-mile The U.S. budget decit tripled in the scal year exemption from the backend of hauls before the hours-
of-service rules apply. Animal welfare considerations are behind this bill. The groups supporting this bill include the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Milk Producers Federation and the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives.
Supply/demand numbers updated The outlook for U.S. milk production was raised from last month with a slight increase in cow numbers and a more rapid pace of growth in milk per cow. The Class III milk price forecast increased 75 cents to $18 per hundredweight. The recent uptick in milk prices is also leading to an increase in the milk production forecast for 2021. August export data released Compared to one year ago, U.S. dairy exports are up 14% in value for the January-August time period. Sales to China, Canada, Australia and Vietnam are responsible for much of the growth. Sales during the same time were up 12% in volume. “Year-to-date, we are on track to break $6 billion in U.S. dairy exports this year,” said Michael Dykes, president/CEO, International Dairy Foods Association. Japan cuts TRQ for butter Japan has cut its 2020 scal year tariff rate quota for butter by 30%. Japanese butter stocks were up more than 40% from one year ago. Japan has already tendered for 12,000 metric tons of butter. That leaves only 2,000 metric tons of prospective sales to Japan between now and March. Net Zero Initiative launched The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy has announced its Net Zero Initiative, an industry-wide effort to achieve carbon neutrality, optimum water usage and improved water quality by 2050. On-farm pilot projects and the development of new markets are being promoted to create incentives for dairy farmers Turn to AG INSIDER | Page 9
Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020 • Page 9
ConƟnued from AG INSIDER | Page 8 to adopt environmental stewardship goals. Ag and Food Summit Nov. 5 The Minnesota Ag and Food Summit, which is hosted by AgriGrowth, will be held Nov. 5. With it being held right after the election, the political panel assessing the results will be a highlight. CoBank Knowledge Exchange Division Manager Tanner Ehmke will offer a macro and agricultural economic outlook. There will also be a panel discussion about building agri-food resiliency featuring representatives from U.S. Dairy Foods, Land O’Lakes, Ecolab and Schwan’s. There are opportunities to register through AgriGrowth for the virtual meeting. New roles for Olander and Detloff Keith Olander has taken a new role as the executive director of AgCentric and Agricultural Partnerships. In
his position, Olander will work on a statewide basis on farm business management and ag education. Cory Detloff takes over as the new director of the Ag and Energy Center and Farm Business Management at Central Lakes College. Trivia challenge Dairy cows generally consume 30 to 50 pounds of water per day. That answers our last trivia question. For this week, what is the optimum temperature for serving milk? We will have the answer in the next edition of Dairy Star. Don Wick is owner/broadcaster for the Red River Farm Network, based in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Wick has been recognized as the National Farm Broadcaster of the Year and served as president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Don and his wife, Kolleen, have two adult sons, Tony and Sam, and ve grandchildren, Aiden, Piper, Adrienne, Aurora and Sterling.
Build a better milk check
“That has helped us set goals and work on improving the herd.” What are some of the DHIA tests you use?
Pregnancy testing, SCC, and MUN. Which test do you Ànd most beneÀcial? It’s hard to put one over the other, because they all deal with different aspects of herd health. For example, I need my MUN to be in a good range to have good reproduction. I think they all work great together. How does the DHIA data that you receive better your farm? Our tester, Dan, is great! He has helped make sure our records are accurate and is always available if we have questions. Our nutritionists can access all of our test data, and on a monthly basis they go over where we are doing well in all aspects, and areas that we need to improve. That has helped us set goals and work on improving the herd.
Alan Klejeski (Trinity Dairy) Sturgeon Lake, MN • 33 cows Testing with DHIA 6 yrs.
Tell us about your farm. My wife and I, along with our 5 children, milk 33 cows on our 60 acre farm, and rent an additional 140 acres. We have a mixed herd of Jerseys, Holsteins, Ayrshires, Brown Swiss, and Registered Guernseys. We chronicle our adventures of our small Dairy on our YouTube channel, Trinity Dairy.
307 Brighton Avenue South Buffalo, MN 55313 763.682.1091 www.mndhia.org
DHIA: Now MORE than ever
Building Protein and Butterfat is Our Specialty Make KLC Farms Roasted Soybeans the cornerstone of your components.
KLC Farms Roasting, Inc.
Preferred By Bovines Everywhere
1-877-738-2326 Visit www.roastedbeans.com
Quality
Consistency
WHICH BARN IS BEST FOR YOUR HERD?
Birds just love this barn. The webs in these trusses are easy nest areas for birds. They also restrict air flow which leads to poor ventilation and moisture buildup in the building.
Starwood Rafters Uses Pole Sheds • Free Stalls Riding Arenas Pavilion Shelters Machinery Storage
How well do you know your cows?
The arched rafters create a more open barn allowing better ventilation. Also since there are no open webs in the trusses, there are no places for birds to nest.
• Spans up to 72 ft. • Up to 12’ spacing depending on the load you desire • Bird nesting control • Better ventilation & visability • No feed alley post obstruction • Additional ceiling height
ALI
GLORIA
hƐĞ ŽƵƌ ŵŽŶŝƚŽƌŝŶŐ ƚĞĐŚŶŽůŽŐLJ ƚŽ ƉŝŶƉŽŝŶƚ ŽƉƟŵĂů ďƌĞĞĚŝŶŐ ƟŵĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŬŶŽǁ LJŽƵ͛ƌĞ ƵƐŝŶŐ ƚŽŽůƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŐĞƚ ƚŚĞ ũŽď ĚŽŶĞ͘ “After installing our first SCR system 10 years ago we noticed better herd health, drop in death loss, and increased pregnancy rate. I like being able to virtually monitor cow health and activity without having to be physically on the farm. We most recently upgraded our SCR collars a few summers ago and love how advanced and precise the technology is.” - Majestic View Dairy, Amanda Buschor
Starwood Rafters Lam-Ply Truss
ANOTHER QUALITY PRODUCT FROM STARWOOD RAFTERS
STARWOOD RAFTERS, INC. 715-985-3117
W24141 Starwood Ln. • Independence, WI 54747 Website: www.starwoodrafters.com
888-525-5878
ǁǁǁ͘ĂůůŇĞdž͘ŐůŽďĂůͬƵƐ ©2018 SCR Engineers Ltd. All rights reserved. The SCR logo is a registered trademark of SCR Engineers Ltd. Allflex is a registered trademark of Allflex USA, Inc. ALM001
Page 10 • Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020
Roast Your Beans
Be Your Own protein Supplier Quality Roasted and steeped for By-pass protein Value Stop paying trucking, elevator fees, grain
Work satisďƒžes his life’s calling
bank charges and excessive shrinks
Experience We’ve roasted millions of bushels Convenience Fully equipped with fuel, electricity, boom auger discharge and operator. It only takes minutes to set up and then we roast 10 tons per hour.
Quality portable roasting since 1989
800-366-3402
316709_9-28-05
midwestgrainroasters.com
Buyers & Feeders of damaged corn, soybeans, screenings, wet, hot, dry, ďŹ re and silo corn. Trucks available. Z BAR FEED YARDS - -
Buying? Selling? Check the classiďƒžeds.
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Dale Spindler stands in the Ć&#x;estall barn where he milks his herd of 44 cows on his dairy near Owatonna, Minnesota. Spindler received the 2020 Steele County Farm Family of the Year award.
Spindler receives farm family award By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
TUB SAVINGS
BUY 15 TUBS GET 16TH FREE
Now until Nov. 20, 2020! * No mix and match. Tubs must be on same invoice to apply discount.
Ask About pallet discounts!
GET YOUR SAVINGS TODAY ON: Omega Breeder Encompass Mineral Lic Bovine Stress Lic w/ Stealth 5ÂŽ Dry Cow Lic Calf BioPro w/Stealth 5 44-Magnum Lic w/Stealth 5 All-Purpose 14 Stalk Buster 30 Hi-Pro 21
OWATONNA, Minn. – Dale Spindler does not need a wall full of trophies to feel accomplished in his work. “I just like farming, doing the work and staying out of the limelight,� he said. However, the dairy farmer appreciated receiving the 2020 Steele County Farm Family award. Spindler milks 44 cows and has 160 acres where he raises corn, alfalfa and oats near Owatonna. “It’s an honor,� Spindler said. “I’m kind of shy about it. I just like living out in the country doing what I enjoy.� The family farm started when his parents, Eugene and Marian, began their agriculture enterprise in 1955. They raised their six kids on the farm along with a plethora of animals – cows, pigs, laying hens, broilers, ducks and geese. At one point, the siblings brought rabbits and turkeys into the mix for a few years. “As time went on, we started whittling that down,� Spindler said. The family focused on dairy, dairy-beef and hogs. The animals and a love for being able to make independent choices for the business drew Spindler to the full-time farming life after he graduated high school in 1976. At the time, he joined his parents and older brother, Jerome, on the farm. He liked the family aspect of his career choice.
* Promotion includes but is not limited to featured tubs.
CALL RANDY TODAY
Agron. Petro. Feed Feed: 320-468-6655 Toll Free: 877-468-6655 Agron./Petro: 320-468-2509 Toll Free: 877-438-3378
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
The Spindler family – (front row, from leĹŒ) Jerome, Marian, Dale, Eugene and Norman; (back row, from leĹŒ) the late Mona Meyer, Monica Kirlin and Lisa Karl – pose in a photo from 1995.
“Everyone had their own jobs,â€? he said. “If someone needed help, we were all there to step in.â€? Spindler specialized in hogs while Jerome took care of the dairy herd. Over the years, they made upgrades to the dairy, including putting in a pipeline for the milking herd in 1979. After a while, Jerome took an off-the-farm job. In 2000, the Spindlers’ hogs contracted porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, and at the same time, the hog price dropped below 90 cents per pound. “The combination was a challenge so we let the hogs go,â€? Spindler said. “After my brother left, it got to be too much for all of us as my parents were getting older.â€? Spindler’s parents have both slowly retired from farming. Until three years ago, Eugene, who was 84, and Marian, who was 81 at the time, helped with a large amount of ďƒželd work. Now, despite both of them ďƒžghting a different form of cancer, they maintain their raised gardens amongst the farm’s buildings. While Spindler is the only one in his family to do the farm work, his dairy encompasses the family aspect. With his parents living on the farm and needing care for their illnesses, there is a steady stream of people in and out of the driveway to help. Spindler’s sisters, Lisa and Monica, and his niece, Holly, help Marian and Eugene with medical appointments, medication schedules, grocery trips and running errands. Jerome helps Spindler with farm errands. “This takes a lot off my shoulders,â€? Spindler said. “But it gets to be quite a bit of farm work, especially now that I’m on my own. A full-time employee, Kyle Queens, has worked for Spindler for 15 years taking care of ďƒželd work, mechanical issues and feeding. “He’s got a lot of mechanical ability that I don’t have,â€? Spindler said. “That helps quite a bit.â€? Spindler takes care of feeding calves and milking, a job that takes over four hours each day. “I like milking,â€? he said. “It is a challenge at times, but it’s where I get to review my day. I slow down and get a chance to think. It’s relaxing.â€? The challenging part of milking comes in the form of health issues with his legs. More recently, he has had hip, ankle and knee problems, which makes getting around and bending more difďƒžcult. In the last few years, Spindler has employees to help with milking; however, he is currently looking for his next part-time employee after his previous one left at summer’s end. “Now that I’m alone, I don’t get the time for vacation like I should, whereas when family was here, if Turn to SPINDLER | Page 11
Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020 • Page 11
ConƟnued from SPINDLER | Page 10
ADDED PROTECTION FOR THE MUSTANGS IN YOUR STABLE Dale Spindler’s parents bought the family’s dairy in 1955. you wanted to go out and do stuff, you could,” Spindler said. While vacation does not always happen, Spindler is active in the county’s American Dairy Association and oversees the malt wagon. However, it means a lot to Spindler that he was able to take over his family’s farm. “I don’t have a family myself, but if my hired man is interested, he might take it over without the milking cows,” Spindler said. “It would be nice to keep it going. It doesn’t have to be family, but he’s put a lot of time and effort into it.”
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Spindler accepts the farm might change going into the future. “I’m hoping to keep up with the dairy, but in due time, I’ll probably have to face reality,” Spindler said. Despite what Spindler sees as the inevitable, he takes on the same philosophy every day his parents taught him – to keep a positive and patient attitude. “If it goes rough, don’t get excited, slow down, think through and work through it slowly,” Spindler said. “If you just work at it in a positive, slow and thorough way, you’ll get through it.”
M t bby M Mustang Manitou it Skid St Steers andd Track T k Loaders L d come standard t d d with ith the th right i ht power to tackle the biggest tasks. Purchase a new Skid Steer or Track Loader and receive a 2 year / 2,000 hour XPRT total (full machine) extended coverage plan at no additional cost. Offer subject to change, ask your local Mustang by Manitou dealer for more details. www.mustang-b y-manitou.com
Lake Henry Implement Lake Henry, MN
Northland Farm Systems Owatonna, MN
DO YOU HAVE AN UPCOMING AUCTION? A
DAIRY ST R
Advertise It In The Call (320) 352-6303 for more information. f ti
Flex-Hutch
Choice of 2-Unit or 3-Unit
The Next Step Forward in Calf Housing KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Dale Spindler’s 44-cow herd is housed in a Ɵestall barn on his farm near Owatonna, Minnesota.
N14685 Copenhaver Ave., Stanley, WI 54768
• Simplifies daily chores • Easily sanitize & clean • Front hinged cover opens in one easy movement • Utilize available space more efficiently
(715) 644-0765 Fax: (715) 644-4931
Rear vents open and close in a single motion
BUY BUY DIRECT!! DIRECT!! We We Manufacture!! Manufacture !!!!
We specialize in complete post frame building packages. Call us for a quote or stop in and we will help you design. We rollform steel panels to exact length. • 26 ga. 16” Snap-Loc • 28 ga. G-100, 40 year • 29 ga. G-60, 30 year • Silverline Windows • CHI Overhead Doors • Plyco Service Doors
All our steel panels & custom trims are manufactured in Stanley, WI
Flex-Hutch can provide savings in your housing costs per calf as compared with individual hutches. Call or Visit Us Online Today
10.19.20am
Free Catalog 1-800-472-2341 www.loyal-roth.com
Rugged Equipment... Priced Right... Since 1956!
Page 12 • Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020
Minnesota organizations change district map Midwest Dairy, dairy promotion council reduce board members to 18 By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
With the number of dairy farms decreasing in the state, the Minnesota Dairy Promotion Council board of directors and Midwest Dairy Minnesota Division Board have redistricted the organizations, reducing the number from 22 to 18 starting with this fall’s election. “I have been on the board over 12 years and the districts have been the same since then, but the number of dairy farms has probably dropped by half,” said Charles Krause, MDPC board chair and a dairy farmer from Buffalo, Minnesota. “We really wanted to get equitable representation per director.” Along with the number of dairy farms reducing, the redistricting will allow a map that better represents the highly-populated dairy areas in the state. “Our staff members drew a lot of maps with a lot of lines trying to get as close to equal number of dairy farms as we could,” said Barb Liebenstein, MDPC board member and dairy farmer from Dundas, Minnesota. “It’s not perfect, but it is denitely needed as dairy farmers are nding other occupations or retiring.” The biggest changes will be seen in northern Minnesota where the districts will be larger. Another big change will be
GRAPHIC SUBMITTED
This map shows the 18 new districts for the Minnesota Dairy PromoƟon Council and the Midwest Dairy Minnesota Division Board. in Stearns County, which is divided into three districts. Before, the county was split into two districts with surrounding counties included. “I don’t think dairy farmers will see much difference,” Krause said. “The directors will still do a great job doing what they are elected to do.” The only change will be with the district meetings. “The areas have gotten bigger in some area of the state … so dairy farmers end up traveling further (to the district meetings),” Liebenstein said. “But
what we have learned with technology and through COVID-19 is that we’ll be able to do a lot more district meetings virtually than in person.” To fairly choose new board members, all districts will have an election this year with the odd numbered districts serving a one-year term and the even numbered districts having a typical two-year term. Although it was requested for people to express their desire to run for a district representative by Oct. 9, the deadline to complete and submit a candidate certication and biographical
form is due Oct. 30. Ballots will be mailed to all Minnesota dairy farmers in late December and ballots need to be postmarked by Jan. 14. Election results will be announced Feb. 2. The elected representative will serve both on the MDPC and the Midwest Dairy Minnesota Division Board. While the two work closely together, they are not the same. Money for the checkoff from dairy farmers rst goes to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and then is transferred to the MDPC. “We hire Midwest Dairy to help us promote,” Liebenstein said. “They’re like a marketing agency for dairy farmers. When the money comes in (from the MDA) and goes out (to Midwest Dairy), there needs to be oversight. That’s where the MDPC board comes in.” Krause said the set up stems from years ago. “Back before Midwest Dairy was formed, the MDPC was the organization that did everything in Minnesota for dairy promotion,” he said. “But now we’re part of a 10-state organization. The MDPC is an important governing structure, but it’s two boards working toward the same goal.” While the role of being an MDPC board member is mostly nancial oversight, the position on the Midwest Dairy Minnesota Division Board includes more. These board members have input about the Princess Kay of the Milky Way program, Fuel Up to Play 60 and other promotional opportunities throughout the state. Liebenstein has also been supportive of getting milk Turn to MDA | Page 13
LESS ERROR. To see the latest results near you, contact your local Pioneer sales professional or text HARVE ST to 94 3 5 3.
P03 0 6 Q™ brand
0.39
TONS/A YIELD ADVANTAGE
P07 20 Q™ brand
1.72
TONS/A YIELD ADVANTAGE
P 1 3 6 6 Q™ brand
2.12
TONS/A YIELD ADVANTAGE
SILAGE CRM
LBS/A MILK ADVANTAGE
SILAGE CRM
LBS/A MILK ADVANTAGE
SILAGE CRM
LBS/A MILK ADVANTAGE
108
530
112
1,992
114
2,213
COMPS
TONS/A
COMPS
TONS/A
COMPS
TONS/A
31
26.74 vs 26.35
17
29.51 vs 27.72
24
29.30 vs 27.18
Pioneer.com/harvest
Data is based on an average of 2019-2020 comparisons made in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa through October 8, 2020. Comparisons are against all competitors, unless otherwise stated, and within +/- 5 silage CRM of the competitive brand. Product responses are variable and subject to any number of environmental, disease and pest pressures. Individual results may vary. Multi-year and multi-location data are a better predictor of future performance. DO NOT USE THIS OR ANY OTHER DATA FROM A LIMITED NUMBER OF TRIALS AS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN PRODUCT SELECTION. Refer to www.pioneer.com or contact a Pioneer sales representative or authorized dealer for the latest and complete listing of traits and scores for each Pioneer® brand product. By texting HARVEST, you agree to receive recurring autodialed marketing text messages at the phone number you provide. Your consent is not a condition of purchase. Message and data rates may apply. pioneer.com/privacy Pioneer® brand products are provided subject to the terms and conditions of purchase which are part of the labeling and purchase documents. TM ® SM Trademarks and service marks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. © 2020 Corteva. PION0LOCL055_TP
Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020 • Page 13
ConƟnued from MDA | Page 12 into schools in a different way – through rellable glasses instead of milk cartons. The rst one launched in Waconia Public Schools last year. “It’s a very refreshing, wonderful way to drink milk, and it’s environmentally sound because you’re using glasses that get washed and used again,” Liebenstein said. “I perceive there will be a lot of changes toward
“I like to follow our money to market and have the opportunity to represent dairy farmers on trying to promote the dairy industry.” BARB LIEBENSTEIN, DAIRY FARMER
doing more like that.” Being a part of the Dairy Experience Forum has been one of Liebenstein’s recent favorite activities. Although she attended the forum as a board member, Liebenstein said all dairy farmers have the opportunity to attend.. She liked hearing the perspective of the consumer panel and the opportunity to gather with dairy cooperative processors and grocers among others in the dairy supply chain. “My husband, Paul, wants to keep his head down, do his work every day and not have to worry about what consumers are thinking,” Liebenstein said. “I think most of us feel that way, but getting a handle on some of this stuff will help us tell our story better and hopefully help people remember that milk is highpowered nutrient package that comes to them pretty much unchanged from the cow.” Being on the board for Krause has led to the insight and involvement at the
regional and national level. Krause has been able to see the development of the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy and hear about sustainability strategies since he joined. “When I rst got on the board and they were talking about sustainability, I thought, ‘What are we doing this for?’” Krause said. “Now it’s a hot topic issue with the consumer today that we started talking about over a decade ago. Dairy is ahead of the game and is driving the conversation with our own actions and not being told what to do.” Liebenstein and Krause hope rearranging the map for the organizations will help reinvigorate dairy promotion enthusiasts to step forward for future board positions. “I like to follow our money to market and have the opportunity to represent dairy farmers on trying to promote the dairy industry not only in sales, but in research too,” Liebenstein said. “This is an opportunity for all dairy farmers. This is a board that represents every dairy farmer in the state and has a say in where your money goes.” The board meets four times a year for a one-day meeting. “It’s not a huge time commitment off your farm,” Krause said. “And it’s only a two-year term so if it’s not for you, you don’t have to continue. It’s not a lifetime commitment.” Overall, Krause and Liebenstein want others to know these boards are made up of hard-working dairy farmers, and regardless of where the lines fall, they want a board to represent the producers of the state. “We want to be transparent with the people who are funding the checkoff and how their money is being is spent,” Krause said. “I’m paying into this, too, and I want to make sure we’re being good stewards of all the farmers’ money.”
BUILT WITH YOU IN MIND PRIMOR™ 2060 M & 4270 M
• Bunker Wall Restoration • Silo Restoration • Barn and house foundation restoration
www.premiergunitellc.com
ADVERTISEMENT
®
®
AM1 – Optimum® AcreMax® 1 insect protection system with an integrated corn rootworm refuge solution includes HXX,LL,RR2. Optimum AcreMax 1 products contain the LibertyLink® gene and can be sprayed with Liberty ® herbicide. The required corn borer refuge can be planted up to a half-mile away. AM – Optimum® AcreMax® insect protection system with YGCB,HX1,LL,RR2. Contains a single-bag integrated refuge solution for aboveground insects. In EPA-designated cotton-growing counties, a 20% separate corn borer refuge must be planted with Optimum AcreMax products. AMT – Optimum® AcreMax® TRIsect ® insect protection system with RW,YGCB,HX1,LL,RR2. Contains a single-bag refuge solution for aboveand below-ground insects. The major component contains the Agrisure ® RW trait, the YieldGard® Corn Borer gene and the Herculex® I gene. In EPA-designated cotton-growing counties, a 20% separate corn borer refuge must be planted with Optimum AcreMax TRIsect products. AMX – Optimum® AcreMax® Xtra insect protection system with YGCB,HXX,LL,RR2. Contains a single-bag integrated refuge solution for above- and below-ground insects. In EPA-designated cotton-growing counties, a 20% separate corn borer refuge must be planted with Optimum AcreMax Xtra products. AMXT (Optimum® AcreMax® XTreme) – Contains a single-bag integrated refuge solution for above- and below-ground insects. The major component contains the Agrisure® RW trait, the YieldGard® Corn Borer gene and the Herculex® XTRA gene. In EPA-designated cotton-growing counties, a 20% separate corn borer refuge must be planted with Optimum AcreMax XTreme products. Q (Qrome ®) – Contains a single-bag integrated refuge solution for above- and below-ground insects. The major component contains the Agrisure ® RW trait, the YieldGard® Corn Borer gene and the Herculex® XTRA gene. In EPA-designated cotton-growing counties, a 20% separate corn borer refuge must be planted with Qrome ® products. Qrome products are approved for cultivation in the U.S. and Canada. For additional information about the status of regulatory authorizations, visit http://www.biotradestatus.com/. YGCB,HX1,LL,RR2 (Optimum® Intrasect ®) – Contains the YieldGard® Corn Borer gene and Herculex® I gene for resistance to corn borer. YGCB,HXX,LL,RR2 (Optimum® Intrasect ® Xtra) – Contains the YieldGard® Corn Borer gene and the Herculex XTRA gene for resistance to corn borer and corn rootworm. RW,HX1,LL,RR2 (Optimum® TRIsect ®) – Contains the Herculex I gene for above-ground pests and the Agrisure ® RW trait for resistance to corn rootworm. AML – Optimum® AcreMax® Leptra® products with AVBL,YGCB,HX1,LL,RR2. Contains a single-bag integrated refuge solution for aboveground insects. In EPA-designated cotton-growing counties, a 20% separate corn borer refuge must be planted with Optimum AcreMax Leptra products. AVBL,YGCB,HX1,LL,RR2 (Optimum® Leptra®) – Contains the Agrisure Viptera® trait, the YieldGard® Corn Borer gene, the Herculex® I gene, the LibertyLink® gene and the Roundup Ready ® Corn 2 trait. HX1 – Contains the Herculex® I insect protection gene which provides protection against European corn borer, southwestern corn borer, black cutworm, fall armyworm, lesser cornstalk borer, southern cornstalk borer and sugarcane borer; and suppresses corn earworm. HXRW – The Herculex® RW rootworm protection trait contains proteins that provide enhanced resistance against western corn rootworm, northern corn rootworm and Mexican corn rootworm. HXX – Herculex® XTRA insect protection contains the Herculex I and Herculex RW genes. YGCB – The YieldGard® Corn Borer gene offers a high level of resistance to European corn borer, southwestern corn borer and southern cornstalk borer; moderate resistance to corn earworm and common stalk borer; and above-average resistance to fall armyworm. LL – Contains the LibertyLink® gene for resistance to Liberty ® herbicide. RR2 – Contains the Roundup Ready® Corn 2 trait that provides crop safety for over-the-top applications of labeled glyphosate herbicides when applied according to label directions. AQ – Optimum® AQUAmax® product. Product performance in water-limited environments is variable and depends on many factors, such as the severity and timing of moisture deficiency, heat stress, soil type, management practices and environmental stress, as well as disease and pest pressures. All products may exhibit reduced yield under water and heat stress. Individual results may vary. BMR – Brown MidRib Corn. Herculex® insect protection technology by Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer Hi-Bred. ® Trademark of Dow AgroSciences, DuPont or Pioneer, and their affiliated companies or their respective owners. YieldGard®, the YieldGard Corn Borer Design and Roundup Ready® are registered trademarks used under license from Monsanto Company. Liberty®, LibertyLink® and the Water Droplet Design are registered trademarks of BASF.
The KUHN Primor can process a wide variety of materials that can ® Invest in Quality be used in a multitude of ways. Both round and square bales of a wide range of sizes can be processed for both bedding materials or feed ingredients. Materials from corn stalks to wheat straw, and even to grassy hay can be processed using the multi-function rotor. Processed materials can then be dropped into a feed bunk, blown into a pile, or evenly spread throughout a pen.
Agrisure ® and Agrisure Viptera® are registered trademarks of, and used under license from, a Syngenta Group Company. Agrisure ® technology incorporated into these seeds is commercialized under a license from Syngenta Crop Protection AG.
Blue Hilltop, Inc.
Pioneer ® brand products are provided subject to the terms and conditions of purchase which are part of the labeling and purchase documents. TM ® SM Trademarks and service marks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. © 2020 Corteva. PION0LOCL055
507-879-3593 – 800-821-7092
Box Box 116, 116, Lake Lake Wilson, Wilson, MN MN 56151 56151 –– www.bluehilltop.com www.bluehilltop.com
Page 14 • Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020
Steerable Series Spreaders
SPREADERS LIQUID MANURE TANKS, PUMPS AND AGITATORS
SAVE TIME & MONEY!
Penta 4430
NEW TRAX OPTION! Less compaction and the unmatched durability
Available in Sizes from 320-1520 Cu. Ft.
Powerful PTO Pumps & Agitators To Handle Liquid Manure
Freestall Tilting Alley Scrapers
SUPERCART AGRI CHOPPER
Available In Sizes From 350 Cu. Ft. To 1,660 Cu Ft.
ar g sL
nd l Ha
ding and Man e e ur tF s e e
ou
h
H HYDRA-SPREAD
ion .
Minn
ing Dealer
If y
Vertical Mixers With More Management Versatility
Excellent maneuverability and control on all types of terrain.
l
ut
so wwave a a w.d barn, we have y.com airylandsuppl
Quality Built To Last Longer
• Process bales of hay, straw, cornstalks in the mixer as 1st step in mixing a TMR with other ingredients • Mix all pre-processed feedstuffs for feedlot Ànishing rations • Mix all the ration combinations in-between • No other mixing concept covers such a wide The new KUHN Knight range of PS 235 and 242 feedstuffs ProSpread® apron
Designed to Suit your Needs
Protwin® Side-Discharge Spreader
box spreaders are noncommercial spreaders that provide an affordable option for producers without sacriÀcing quality.
NEW MODEL!
Sizes Range From 285-550 Bu.
Manufactured by
The 600T Pull Type TMR has a maximum payload of 14,000 lbs, struck capacity of 549 ft³ or 641 ft³ with tub extension, and requires 100 horse power
SAUK CENTRE, OFF I-94 ON THE CORNER OF HWY. 28 & 71 SOUTH
From Our Side Of The Fence
Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020 • Page 15
What do you enjoy about hunting?
Brandon and Alysia Przybilla Pierz, Minn. Morrison County 250 cows How did you get into hunting? Through our family. I didn’t go out hunting until I got my gun safety and started hunting nine years ago. Brandon started hunting when he was younger and would go out with our dad, Brian. What seasons do you participate in? I just do deer, both riďƒ&#x;e and archery. My brother, does waterfowl and spring turkey as well as the two deer seasons I do. What do you enjoy about hunting? We love being outside – sitting and listening to everything and enjoying the peace and quiet. We also really enjoy hunting with the group we go with and listening to their stories. Also, we like to put up game cameras and watch the deer in the fall. Tell us your best hunting story. Alysia: Anytime I got to out with my grandpa, Terry, who passed away a couple years ago was special. We used to always go out together and he would tell me stories of when he was younger. One time we were sitting in the stand and he told me to take out a sandwich and eat it and that would get the deer to come out. I was two bites into the sandwich and one came out. My grandpa ended up getting that deer. Brandon: I just really enjoy seeing all the deer and don’t have a favorite story. How do you manage hunting with your farming schedule? Sometimes my aunt, who lives in Duluth, will do our chores for us but mainly if we all go out we pitch in together to get everything done when we get back. What do you do with the meat? We do all our own processing and generally make it into venison sausage. Recently we’ve been taking some meat and having it processed into jerky, venison sticks and summer sausage. Tell us about your farm. We milk around 180 cows on our parents’ home farm and another 70 at my grandparent’s place. I milk full-time at my grandparent’s place and my mom, Heidi, and brother or a hired hand will milk at the other farm. My dad feeds everything, does the outside cattle work and ďƒžxes everything. We farm around 800 acres and plant corn and alfalfa.
Bruce Haase Parker, South Dakota Turner County 580 cows How did you get into hunting? I started hunting as a boy with my grandpa. He taught me how to hunt for deer, antelope and pheasants. What seasons do you participate in? Antelope, West River and East River deer, pheasant, grouse, waterfowl, bear, wild boar, elk and doves. I participated in the 101-year-old tradition of the annual Turner County Crow Hunt. It’s a oneday event that involves 24 two-man teams. One of our team members has been part of the Turner County Crow Hunt for 60 years. What do you enjoy about hunting? The camaraderie. I see some of the people I hunt with only once a year during hunting season. Hunting is a good way to get away from the hustle and the bustle of everyday life, renew friendships and reďƒ&#x;ect on things. I also enjoy getting to spend time away from the farm. I have hunted elk in Canada, bear and wild boars in Texas, and doves in Argentina. Tell us your best hunting story. Some of my fondest memories were formed when I was sitting in the deer stand with our daughter, Jaime, and our son, Lance. We have had some good talks and have had a lot of fun while we were hunting. My brother, Dusty, is part of our dairy operation. It seems like Dusty and I are too busy to talk most of the time. We have made quite a few business decisions while we were sitting together in the deer stand. How do you manage hunting with your farming schedule? If the soybeans are harvested by opening weekend of pheasant hunting, we will take the whole weekend off. When the deer season comes, we will do whatever it takes to get out there and hunt deer. What do you do with the meat? We keep the loins and process much of the rest into deer jerky sticks. The deer jerky ďƒžnds its way into a lot of lunchboxes during the year. We also give venison to our employees. They appreciate it and look forward to receiving fresh venison every fall. Tell us about your farm. My wife, Rachelle, and I operate this farm with my brother, Dusty, and our son, Lance. We farm about 7,000 acres and have 150 beef cows. Dusty has two daughters and a son. His oldest, Natalie, 14, has taken charge of our embryo program. Dusty’s middle child, Paige, 12, cooks many of the meals for our crew. Dusty’s son, Neil, 10, is proving to be a big help around the farm. Lance and his wife, Jessica, got married last Thanksgiving and have announced they are expecting.
Wayne Houdek Caledonia, Minnesota Houston County 450 cows How did you get into hunting? I started hunting with my friends many years ago. There were about four of us. My dad never hunted so I started it for our family. What seasons do you participate in? We participate in the last weekend of deer shotgun season. What do you enjoy about hunting? It is so fun to see the rest of the family come with us. There are now three generations that hunt together. After I stopped going with my high school friends, I started hunting with my brother, Jim. Now I hunt with my brother and sister along with their families. My wife, Kris, does not hunt, but our four sons, Jacob, Eric, Andy and Aaron, do. This will also be the ďƒžrst year my granddaughter, Amelia, 7, will hunt. We go as a big group. We drive the deer and don’t sit in stands to wait for them. I don’t have the patience to sit. I like to be the one walking to drive the deer because if I don’t shoot one, then I don’t have to clean it. Tell us your best hunting story. There have been so many I can’t choose just one. It’s fun to see the little ones get their ďƒžrst deer. It’s especially fun now that the third generation is hunting with us. How do you manage hunting with your farming schedule? It’s tough, but we make it work. Years ago, I used to go between chores. Now, my four boys will go to the woods early, and I will join them after I ďƒžnish chores. They sometimes already have a few deer by the time I get there, and we do a few drives. After a full day of hunting, we go back home to hang the deer and have a big family supper. What do you do with the meat? We debone the meat and put it in the freezer until February or March. In the past, we would usually take it to a processor after storing it a few months, but last year, we decided to process it ourselves. With the shortage of available slots at meat processors, we will do it again this year. We make the meat into a lot of sausage and bologna. Tell us about your farm. Kris and I are the ďƒžrst generation on our farm. Two of our sons, Andy and Aaron, work full time on the farm with us. Eric works full time for ABS, but comes home on the weekend to help with chores and make genetic decisions for the herd. Along with our dairy cows, we raise 1,200 acres of alfalfa, corn and wheat. We also have a 60-cow beef herd. Turn to OUR SIDE | Page 16
Trusted People. Trusted Feed. Star Blends has been helping Midwest farm families by providing, high-quality feed, dairy nutrition, and commodity contracting for more than 20 years. Our state of the art mill can accurately blend anything from a custom SUH PL[ WR FRPSOHWH IHHG VSHFL¿F WR \RXU IDUPœV QHHGV 2XU H[SHULHQFHG VWDႇ DUH UHDG\ WR GHOLYHU WKH KLJKHVW TXDOLW\ IHHG at an economical price, assist in balancing diets, or work with your private nutritionist or dairy consultant. Contact Star Blends at: 800-462-4125 or StarBlends.com
Page 16 • Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020
ConƟnued from OUR SIDE | Page 15
Gene Sprank Bellevue, Iowa Jackson County 115 cows How did you get into hunting? There were two retired teachers from my high school that enjoyed hunting and wanted to pass it down to the younger generation. They taught a couple of my older cousins and wanted to teach me when I was 14. I started out on a .410 and now have a 12-gauge for ducks and geese. Jessie, my friend, introduced me to deer hunting, and I borrow his muzzleloader for the few days I go deer hunting. What seasons do you participate in? I usually go in the fall and winter for ducks, geese and deer, and in the spring, I will go turkey hunting. What do you enjoy about hunting? I enjoy everything about hunting. Sometimes, I don’t get the chance to shoot anything, but it’s nice to see everything else that is ying in the sky. The most memorable part about every hunting trip is the scenery. It’s a little break from the crazy world to look around to what nature has to offer. Whether it’s laying on the ground watching the fog rise off a pond or seeing the sun set off in the distance in a blind. It’s a wonderful time, and you never know what sounds you’ll hear. Most times it’s an owl or turkey waking up everything else in the timber. Tell us your best hunting story. The best time I had was when I shot my rst turkey four years ago. Jessie and I were going out to a hay eld where we thought turkeys had been coming. We set the blind and decoys up and waited for them. We could hear some close to us, but they never came close enough for us to see. It was about ve minutes past 8 a.m., and we were going to pack up and head home. All of a sudden, we saw three turkeys off in the distance. Within minutes, they were mixed in with the decoys. I put the barrel of the gun on the head of the largest one and pulled the trigger. When the shot went off, the other two birds ran away. He weighed 24 3/4 pounds with an 11-inch beard. How do you manage hunting with your farming schedule? It’s tough to manage hunting with farming. On the days I hunt, I’ll wake up earlier to get most of the chores done before I have to go. If no one is able to nish chores, I’ll nish them when I get back after a few hours of hunting. There have been numerous good hunting trip opportunities I’ve missed out on because of the farm, but hunting won’t pay the bills. Most of the days that I am able to go hunting are raining and muddy since they are easier days on the farm. What do you do with the meat? With deer meat, it’s ground up and made into jerky, bacon and deer sticks. With duck and geese, it gets put in a slow cooker with potatoes and cream of mushroom soup for most of the day. Turkey meat is cut up in small strips and placed in a smoker for a few hours. All the meat is soaked in salt water to get rid of the bacteria and germs to make it safe to eat. Tell us about your farm. It is a family farm. Someday I plan to take it over if the opportunity arises. My dad started milking at a young age and continued into his own operation. Everyone in the family is involved. My mom handles the calves, and I do the feeding with the tractor and feed wagon. On the weekends, my sisters come back to help with whatever needs to be done. We milk Holsteins in a double-8 parallel parlor with manual take-offs. The automatic take-offs were costing us too much to keep xing them. Generally, two people are milking while someone cleans buckets and bottles from feeding calves before milking. We have three part-time employees and have seasonal help for eldwork. All the hay, corn and soybean that we use are grown on 900 acres. This spring, I had the opportunity to rent a farm to put my own cows and calves on. Doug Servais Bangor, Wisconsin La Crosse County 35 cows How did you get into hunting? When I was a kid, we’d hunt squirrel, deer and grouse. What seasons do you participate in? I participate in gun season only. I was never a fan of bow hunting. What do you enjoy about hunting? I enjoy going through our woods during hunting and seeing where or what Mother Nature is doing. The last couple years, with all the ooding, there has been a lot of destruction of
WE SPECIALIZE IN USED DAIRY EQUIPMENT.
Milking machine equipment, bulk milk tanks and cooling equipment. Give us a call, we will be glad to help you with any of your milking machine or bulk tank needs.
We also BUY your used equipment and milk tanks.
SALVAGE HOUSE
424 Third Street, Fullerton, NE 68638 • 800-844-5427
JIM’S ELECTRIC SERVICE • JIM’S ELECTRIC SERVICE • JIM’S ELECTRIC J I M ’S E L E C T R I C S E RV I C E
used dairy equipment and milk tanks
woodlands. There are ditches that were maybe a couple feet deep and about 4 feet wide that are now a huge basin of rock. Tell us your best hunting story. My proudest hunts are when the kids are able to take something home, whether it be a big deer or a couple of squirrels. How do you manage hunting with your farming schedule? This year will be different with milking and working off the farm, but we’ll manage. Usually I let the kids do the sunrise hunt while I do chores. What do you do with the meat? My kids have become pretty good cooks with wild game. Tell us about your farm. We milk about 35 registered Jerseys, Guernsey, and both Red and White and Holsteins. The cows are on rotational grazing. For crops, we only did peas, oats and hay for forage.
Jim’s Electric Service
Serving Central Minnesota since 1977 Taking care of all your electrical needs fast and efÀciently.
Jim Schulzetenberg and crew are here to give you the best job!
The experienced crew - Jim Schulzetenberg along with Mike, Dennis, and Jared give you the best job.
320-987-3587
JIM’S ELECTRIC SERVICE
We BUY, SELL, TRADE
John Hanson Clitherall, Minnesota Ottertail County 27 cows How did you get into hunting? My dad took my two brothers and I as soon as we were able and legal to do so. What seasons do you participate in? The rearms rie season and sometimes the muzzleloaders season. What do you enjoy about hunting? I like to sit out there in the peacefulness and see all the different kinds of wildlife you don’t usually notice otherwise. Tell us your best hunting story. Four or ve years ago, when my daughter started hunting. She and I were sitting in the stand together, and it was literally getting down to the last minutes of the last day of the season. She was getting disappointed. All of a sudden a buck appeared. I told her to take careful aim and shoot. Shoot she did, and the deer dropped. Then there was laughing and crying all at the same time. Very exciting. How do you manage hunting with your farming schedule? We usually start chores a little earlier and go out for a few hours in the morning and then come back and do some more. We go back out later in the afternoon until dark. What do you do with the meat? We process the deer ourselves. We make steaks, chops and roasts, plus different sausages and sticks. Tell us about your farm. My wife and I milk about 27 cows, raise our replacement heifers and raise the steers to around 500 pounds. We also grow corn, oats and hay for feed for the cattle.
JIM’S ELECTRIC SERVICE • JIM’S ELECTRIC SERVICE • JIM’S ELECTRIC
Tom Lyle Perham, Minn. Otter Tail County 64 cows How did you get into hunting? I started hunting 34 years ago when I decided to go out with my uncles. I really enjoyed it and continue to do it. What seasons do you participate in? I just deer hunt. I used to pheasant hunt but don’t have time any more. What do you enjoy about hunting? I just really enjoy sitting in the stand, taking a nap and enjoying the peace and quiet. It’s great being out there and observing what’s going on. I like watching the animals, like the rabbits and wild turkeys. Tell us your best hunting story. During the Halloween snowstorm in 1991, I shot a 9-point buck. I shot him and tracked him for a half mile through the brush and waist deep snow. He ran into the neighbor’s corn eld. I had never shot a deer that big before. At that time it was the biggest deer I had ever seen. It really got my heart pumping. His bottom teeth were wore down and he had a lot of white. How do you manage hunting with your farming schedule? Now I milk earlier and as soon as I am done milking, I will sit out for a while then come back and nish chores. I will go back out until 3 or 4 p.m. when I start night chores. My wife will help me with chores on Saturday and Sunday. What do you do with the meat? I will cut it up myself and then take it somewhere to have it processed. We usually get summer sausage and ring sausage made. I really enjoy a summer sausage sandwich. Tell us about your farm. I farm here with my wife, Brenda, who works full-time off the farm. We have two kids, Emily and Joseph. We own 175 acres and rent another 66. We raise corn, alfalfa and oats. I started farming in Renville County then I rented a barn in Stearns County for four years. We moved up here in June of 2015. We milk in a barn that has both stanchions and tiestalls and bed the cows with wheat, oats or barley straw.
DRIVE-THRU ELECTRIC GATE SPRING LOADED GATE
Adjustable 13’ - 19’ Standard Adjustable 18’ - 24’ also available
Call for a FREE Catalog
Watertown, SD
1-800-658-3998
www.koehnmarketing.com
Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020 • Page 17
Hydraulic Doors
By the most trusted name in the industry Best Warranty in the Industry Zero Headroom Loss
855.368.9595
Page 18 • Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020
Repro Leaders
Maple Breeze Dairy preg rate jumps to 29% with ovsynch program Bruce and Natalie Wood Maple Breeze Dairy Plainview, Minnesota Wabasha County 138 cows
days. Heifers are bred at 13-14 months by our custom raiser.
What was your pregnancy rate average last year? Last year, the herd’s pregnancy rate average was 29%. In June, our herd reached 31%. What is your voluntary waiting period for cows? For heifers? For cows, the voluntary waiting period is 64-70
What is your rst service conception rate? For cows, it is 62%, and for heifers, it is 78%. What is your reproduction program? Do you use a synchronization program? We use a presynch/ovsynch program our veterinarian set up for us. We struggled a bit with our reproduction while using a modied ovsynch program.
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Natalie and Bruce Wood milk 138 cows on their dairy in Wabasha County near Plainview, Minnesota. Last year, their herd’s average pregnancy rate was 29%.
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
A bulle�n board in the Woods’ barn office helps them keep the herd’s presynch/ovsynch program on schedule.
Now our program starts with a progesterone shot at 29-35 days. Two weeks later, another progesterone shot is given followed by 10 days and a GnRH
shot. After seven days, cows are given a succession of one shot per day for three days – progesterone, progesterone and GnRH – followed by being
bred the next day. We keep the schedule straight by painting the day they are getting bred Turn to WOODS | Page 20
Bringing nutrient balance to the next level ... F
ollowing years of development, knowing that evaporation is key in nutrient management, Daritech introduces the ZND™ system. Utilizing evaporation technology, you can now remove water ter from manure with 100% pathogen kill utilizing no chemicals, filters, or membranes. Contact us to learn more about this incredible system!
Reduce your liquid manure hauling expenses up to 85%!
Optionally export nutrients as organic fertilizer crystals
O
with the Stage 2 optional dryer
SUPER ORGANIC FERTILIZER
™
www.daritech.com • 360-354-6900
Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020 • Page 19
Bring out the best in yorur investment
Dennis Thyen
Dealer Inquiries Welcome!
46310 164th Street Watertown, SD 57201 605.881.0647 Email: ddthyen@gmail.com
Shared values Celebrating women in dairy Women have always had key roles in dairy. Today, they are
redefining them. According to USDA’s 2017 Ag Census, women were key decision-makers on 56% of all U.S. farms, up 27% compared with the 2012 Ag Census. Female-operated farms accounted for 51% of the sales of livestock products, including dairy. Most female producers operate farms that have more than one producer, but USDA reports that 13% operated farms on which they were the only producer. Universities report a rising percentage of women pursuing large animal veterinary careers as well as other animal science and support roles throughout the industry. Women are vital in next generation transfers and bridging gaps by forging bonds with consumers. The Udder Comfort team is pleased to celebrate November Women-in-Dairy Month and appreciate participating among showcase vendors in the Dairy Girl Network biennial Forward TogetHER national conference, a 2020 Wisconsin-based virtual format after 2018 in Pennsylvania and 2016 in Minnesota. On the frontlines and behind the scenes, dairywomen are instrumental longstanding partners and leaders on dairy farms and among industry leaders in animal care, health, genetics, nutrition, technology and business management. Many work off-farm jobs in addition to on-farm responsibilities. They host farm tours and communicate with consumers. They are dairy princesses and ambassadors promoting dairy goodness. They are professionals in varied supporting areas. They are communicators, sharing images and stories about farm life with urban peers. They know a comfortable cow is a profitable cow. Dairywomen like Karen, Jeni, Candice and Erica tell us why they value Udder Comfort to start every fresh lactation. “This is all I ever wanted to do,” says Karen Hawbaker, Warm Spring Dairy, Chambersburg, Pa. about working with her 160 cows, seeing them reach their potential producing high quality milk, she attributes to the basics. “We don’t have a lot of cows with issues. Udder Comfort is a part of that,” she reports.
We are pleased to be a regional / national event supporter of Dairy Girl Network and a showcase vendor for the DGN Forward TogetHER virtual conference Nov. 3-5, 2020 visit dairygirlnetwork.com #dairygirl
uddercomfort.com Call 888.773.7153 to locate a distributor near you.
“We love it for fresh cows for a few days after calving, and for any type of swelling,” adds Karen, maintaining SCC of 40 to 50,000. “Udder Comfort gets quality back fast after calving. It’s awesome to see quick recovery,” says Jeni Malott. She does the herd health and repro at Misty Meadow Farm, Smithsburg, Md. The 130-cow herd averages 140,000 SCC. “For the mature cows that had elevated SCC at dry off, we make sure they get Udder Comfort for the first 8 to 10 milkings to start the new lactation, and all first-calf heifers as well,” she says. Candice White took the Udder Comfort fresh start challenge at her family’s 1000-cow Dotterer’s Dairy, Mill Hall, Pa., where she manages dairy operations. “This stuff is phenomenal,” Candice says about Udder Comfort. “It is easy to use and we see results. We use it regularly, spraying all fresh udders 3x/day for at least 2 days after calving (6 to 8 applications).” They maintain an SCC average of 100,000. Near Osseo, Wis., Erica Lundberg’s passion is genetics and working with the cows, including some of the industry’s top cow families. She transitioned from a teaching career back to Bert-Mar Farms. Her father Allan is energized by Erica’s enthusiasm rebuilding the 100-cow milking herd. “Of all the products we tried, nothing works like Udder Comfort. It’s our go-to. The biggest thing is what it does for fresh cows, especially first-calvers. We apply it 1x/day for 3 days before calving and 2x/day 3 to 4 days after calving. They freshen-in easier with better quality udders and consistently higher quality milk,” she says.
#WeLoveCows #ComfortMatters #CelebratingWomenInDairy
Page 20 • Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020
ConĆ&#x;nued from WOODS | Page 18
on their back hip. Different colors are used to differentiate months. We also keep the schedule on a board in the ofďƒžce. How do you observe for heat? We breed almost all cows from the timed shots. Breeding is done on Thursdays; however, our Genex technician, Dave Thisius, walks the barn every day. How do you conďƒžrm pregnant or open cows? We have our veterinarian come every two weeks to use ultrasound when cows are around 30-32 days. If a cow is open at the vet check, they are put through
a portion of the ovsynch program, starting with a GnRH shot. We wait seven days and then do the four-day succession of two progesterone shots, a shot of GnRH and being bred. What is your breeding philosophy? How do you select bulls? What traits do you focus on? Does fertility play a role in bull selection? Our herd is a mix of breeds with mostly Holsteins. The Holsteins are mated by our A.I. company, with our emphasis on conception rates, daughter pregnancy rates and milk. The other breeds we have – Brown Swiss, Ayrshire and Milking KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
A cow has a freshly wriƊen date painted on her rump to help know when she needs to be bred. Shorthorn – are mated on a per-cow basis. How are cows and heifers bred? Do you have a different philosophy for breeding both? Cows and heifers are bred using the same criteria. There is no difference. What do you do to settle hard breeders? We try using beef semen.
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Heifers that are conďƒžrmed pregnant return to the Woods’ farm aĹŒer spending Ć&#x;me at a custom heifer raiser.
Practice Safe Farming During this Harvest! CRYSTALYX & MINERAL
5
$
DISCOUNT
How many times do you try to breed a cow before you sell her? We breed a cow three times with a dairy bull before using a beef bull once. If a cow
is still not pregnant after four breedings, she is culled. Heifers are bred three times before being moved to the steer lot if they are not pregnant. Is there anything you have done or changed that brought about a signiďƒžcant improvement in your reproductive program? Starting to use the presynch/ovsynch program 1.5 years ago made our pregnancy rate jump. Just before making the switch, our pregnancy rate was about 23%. We kept trying to work on things until we found something that worked. We are glad we worked with
our vet to ďƒžgure out a program that works for us. Tell us about your farm. We are the sixth generation in the family to farm here. We took over from Bruce’s mom and dad in 2012. Along with the cows, we have 275 acres where we raise corn and alfalfa for feed for our herd. We raise the calves until they are 6 months old. After that, they go to a custom raiser until after they are pregnant. Bruce does all the feeding and breeding, Natalie takes care of calves, and three employees do the milking.
Let’s stay in touch.
SALE! 60
$
per Barrel
Per Ton
DISCOUNT
• Stockmaster • BluePrint • Min-Tech • Sunrise Ag Coop Brood Cow Mineral BioPlex Hi-Four R1600
FREE DELIVERY
Looking to boost milk production? TRY OUR
FINE ROLLED CORN AS LOW AS 400 MICRONS
More consistent than hammermills
Competitive Pricing on Grain Hauling & Bulk Feed!
ATTACHMENTS ATTACHM
LITTLE ROCK, K, MN 47 320-584-5147
PIERZ, MN 320-468-2168
LASTRUP, MN 320-468-2543
BUCKMAN, MN 320-468-6433
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK!
www.sunriseagcoop.com
8hile the coronavirus pandemic requires many things be on hold for the time being, ensuring you’re not overlooking risk exposures that may be detrimental to your dairy doesn’t need to be one of them. 8IFUIFS ZPVhSF DPNGPSUBCMF XJUI BO JO QFSTPO WJTJU PS XPVME QSFGFS UP DPOOFDU WJSUVBMMZ XF DBO NBLF TVSF ZPVhWF HPU UIF DPWFSBHF ZPV OFFE UP TUBZ QSPUFDUFE C O N TA C T U S
Allen Schlenker | Risk Management Consultant Allen.Schlenker@MarshMMA.com +1 605 339 3874
Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020 • Page 21
1.75% Financing for up to 72 months
Financing subject to pre-approval through JD Financial. Some restrictions apply. See dealer for details.
PLUS $10,000 Bonus on 7030 and 8030 Series Trade-ins
2018 JD 8400R $ 244 hrs., #148 4 29 2955 #148295
2020 JD 8370R $ 285 hrs., #172937
2011JD 8335R $ 5025 hrs., #173371
2014 JD 8320R $ 2238 hrs., #167228
314,900
134,00
319,500
179,500
2020 JD 8270R $ 295 hrs., #172927
259,500
2018 JD 8345R 1900 hrs., $ #172423
2020 JD 8295R $ 293 hrs., #172929
259,500
2018 JD 8245R $ 433 hrs., #148226
239,500
228,900
Over 1000 items with pictures updated daily • Go to www.mmcjd.com 2 4 15 5 16 14 4 10 15 9 16 5 11 8 2 7 7 6 15 16 16 16 5 5 14 14 3 3 14 14 14 3 3 4 9 2
COMBINES JD 9650 STS, 2001, 2WD, Duals, 3210 hrs., 2053 Sep Hrs., #171989 .... $52,000 JD 9770 STS, 2009, 2WD, Duals, 2604 hrs., 1878 Sep Hrs., #162933 .... $79,900 JD 9770 STS, 2009, 2WD, Duals, 3250 hrs., 2400 Sep Hrs., #174322 .... $81,400 JD 9770 STS, 2011, 2WD, Duals, 3674 hrs., 2848 Sep Hrs., #165662 .... #64,900 JD 9860 STS, 2007, PRWD, Duals, 3763 hrs., 2268 Sep Hrs., #172083 .. $69,500 JD 9860 STS, 2007, PRWD, 4061 hrs., 2823 Sep Hrs., #173786............. $75,900 JD 9870 STS, 2008, PRWD, Duals, 3295 hrs., #160885 .......................... $79,500 JD S670, 2013, PRWD, 2250 hrs., 1481 Sep Hrs., #172751..................$139,500 JD S670, 2014, PRWD, Duals, 1567 hrs., 1110 Sep Hrs., #173998.......$159,500 JD S670, 2014, PRWD, Duals, 1952 hrs., 1260 Sep Hrs., #153514....... $179,500 JD S670, 2015, 2WD, Duals, 1540 hrs., 1048 Sep Hrs., #173607 ......... $169,500 JD S670, 2013, PRWD, Duals, 1596 hrs., 1190 Sep Hrs., #161854....... $169,500 JD S670, 2012, PRWD, Duals, 3601 hrs., 2557 Sep Hrs., #172954....... $114,900 JD S670, 2014, PRWD, Duals, 1680 hrs., 1265 Sep Hrs., #155388....... $169,500 JD S680, 2015, PRWD, Duals, 1792 hrs., 1233 Sep Hrs., #167207....... $250,900 JD S680, 2014, 2WD, Duals, 2057 hrs., 1658 Sep Hrs., #172017 ......... $159,500 JD S680, 2013, PRWD, Duals, 2122 hrs., 1391 Sep Hrs., #162070....... $184,900 JD S680, 2015, PRWD, Duals, 2155 hrs., #169577 ............................... $169,500 JD S680, 2012, PRWD, Duals, 2612 hrs., 1958 Sep Hrs., #163765....... $159,400 JD S680, 2014, PRWD, Duals, 1683 hrs., 1157 Sep Hrs., #170663....... $179,500 JD S680, 2017, PRWD, 1270 hrs., 800 Sep Hrs., #173249....................$299,000 JD S680, 2014, PRWD, Duals, 2436 hrs., 1781 Sep Hrs., #159509.......... 149500 JD S680, 2013, PRWD, Duals, 2898 hrs., 1904 Sep Hrs., #161858.......... 159500 JD S680, 2017, PRWD, Duals, 990 hrs., 701 Sep Hrs., #168849 ........... $349,900 JD S680, 2013, PRWD, Duals, 1987 hrs., 1300 Sep Hrs., #174756.......... 174900 JD S680, 2013, PRWD, Duals, 2045 hrs., 1638 Sep Hrs., #166363.......... 185900 JD S680, 2016, PRWD, Duals, 1369 hrs., 929 Sep Hrs., #172496 ......... $295,000 JD S680, 2012, PRWD, Duals, 2387 hrs., 1739 Sep Hrs., #154637.......... 149500 JD S690, 2014, PRWD, Duals, 2150 hrs., 1563 Sep Hrs., #153332.......... 179500 JD S690, 2014, PRWD, Tracks, 2017 hrs., 1420 Sep Hrs., #174091 ......$169,500 JD S690, 2014, PRWD, 2228 hrs., 1638 Sep Hrs., #161532..................$189,500 JD S690, 2012, PRWD, Duals, 1802 hrs., 1395 Sep Hrs., #171923.......... 179000 JD S690, 2013, PRWD, Duals, 1635 hrs., 1161 Sep Hrs., #167773 ......... 199900 JD S760, 2018, 2WD, Duals, 646 hrs., 500 Sep Hrs., #163861 ............. $289,500 JD S760, 2018, PRWD, Duals, 422 hrs., 282 Sep Hrs., #171825 ........... $299,000 JD S770, 2018, PRWD, Duals, 984 hrs., 724 Sep Hrs., #173995 ........... $309,900
16 17 1 15 16 16 16 16 11 8 14 14 14 11 8 8 3 4 10 6 15 16 16 16 16 4 4 10 8 6
JD S770, 2018, PRWD, Duals, 1450 hrs., 945 Sep Hrs., #173398......... $274,900 JD S780, 2019, PRWD, Duals, 545 hrs., 388 Sep Hrs., #171379 ........... $435,900 JD S780, 2018, PRWD, Duals, 642 hrs., 324 Sep Hrs., #157910 ........... $399,500 JD S780, 2018, PRWD, Duals, 550 hrs., 383 Sep Hrs., #171851 ........$394,900 JD S780, 2019, PRWD, Duals, 422 hrs., 294 Sep Hrs., #169509 ........... $429,500 JD S780, 2019, PRWD, Duals, 355 hrs., 234 Sep Hrs., #171003 ......... $429,500 JD S780, 2019, PRWD, Duals, 473 hrs., 307 Sep Hrs., #169507 ........... $429,500 JD S780, 2019, PRWD, Duals, 446 hrs., 300 Sep Hrs., #169508 ........... $429,500 JD S780, 2018, PRWD, Duals, 577 hrs., 324 Sep Hrs., #154461 ........... $399,500 JD S780, 2018, PRWD, Duals, 681 hrs., 520 Sep Hrs., #171563 ........... $399,000 JD S780, 2018, PRWD, Duals, 826 hrs., 524 Sep Hrs., #171380 .............. 399400 JD S780, 2019, PRWD, Duals, 734 hrs., 533 Sep Hrs., #171103 ........... $404,400 JD S790, 2019, PRWD, Duals, 895 hrs., 405 Sep Hrs., #171378 ........... $441,400 ROW CROP TRACTORS JD 7210R, 2018, Cab, MFWD, 540/1000 pto, Duals, Loader, 945 hrs., #163862 .................................................................................................$179,500 JD 7210R, 2018, Cab, MFWD, 540/1000 pto, Duals, 1962 hrs., #172425 .................................................................................................$172,900 JD 7210R, 2018, Cab, MFWD, 540/1000 pto, 1524 hrs., #172431 ......$153,900 JD 7215R, 2013, Cab, MFWD, 540/1000 pto, Duals, 2878 hrs., #167434 .................................................................................................$114,900 JD 8245R, 2019, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 578 hrs., #171965...... $239,500 JD 8245R, 2018, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 434 hrs., #148226...... $228,900 JD 8245R, 2017, Cab, MFWD, PS, 1000 pto, Duals, 1882 hrs., # 165918 ...................................................................................................$163,900 JD 8245R, 2019, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 506 hrs., #171963...... $239,500 JD 8245R, 2019, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 395 hrs., #169249...... $239,500 JD 8245R, 2019, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 1349 hrs., #169246 ... $239,500 JD 8245R, 2019, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 874 hrs., #169247...... $239,500 JD 8245R, 2019, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 1336 hrs., #169248.... $239,500 JD 8270R, 2018, Cab, MFWD, PS, 540/1000 pto, Duals, 1131 hrs., #163841 .................................................................................................$209,500 JD 8270R, 2018, Cab, MFWD, PS, 540/1000 pto, Duals, 1308 hrs., #163842 .................................................................................................$179,500 JD 8270R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 295 hrs., #172927...... $259,500 JD 8270R, 2018, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 1013 hrs., #172426 ... $223,900 JD 8285R, 2013, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 2587 hrs., #167775.... $159,900
Visit one of our 17 locations in Central Minnesota! (1) = GLENCOE 4561 Hwy. 212
(4) = ST. CLOUD 1035 35th Ave. NE
(2) = HOWARD LAKE (5) = GLENWOOD 5845 Keats Ave. SW
1710 N. Franklin
(3) = STEWART
(6) = SAUK CENTRE
78412 Co. Rd. 20
1140 Centre St.
(7) = ALEXANDRIA (9) = PRINCETON 320-763-4220 5005 Co. Rd. 82 SE
3708 Baptist Church Rd.
(8) = PAYNESVILLE
16069 Hwy. 27 E.
725 Lake Ave. S.
2 8 8 8 3 7 1 15 15 15 16 3 3 7 6 5 11 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 16 16 16 16 1 1 1 16 7
CALL TODAY! (320)365-1653 (12) = AITKIN 1120 2nd St. NW
(10) = LITTLE FALLS (13) = BAXTER (11) = WADENA 62505 US Hwy. 10
JD 8295R, 2015, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 1428 hrs., #172975 ... $209,500 JD 8295R, 2018, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 162 hrs., #166651...... $274,900 JD 8295R, 2019, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 621 hrs., #172428...... $265,400 JD 8295R, 2019, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 730 hrs., #172427...... $264,900 JD 8295R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, PS, 1000 pto, Duals, 293 hrs.,#172929 $259,500 JD 8320R, 2014, Cab, MFWD, 540/1000 pto, 2251 hrs., #167228 ......$179,500 JD 8320R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 304 hrs., #172934...... $289,500 JD 8320R, 2019, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Singles, 552 hrs., #171964 ...$299,500 JD 8320R, 2017, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 2079 hrs., #172227 ... $224,900 JD 8320R, 2019, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 624 hrs., #171962...... $299,500 JD 8320R, 2015, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 652 hrs., #163735...... $229,500 JD 8320R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 299 hrs., #172932...... $289,500 JD 8335R, 2011, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 5025 hrs., #173371 ... $134,000 JD 8345R, 2015, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 2158 hrs., #171100 ... $220,000 JD 8345R, 2014, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 2012 hrs., #166297 ... $214,900 JD 8345R, 2018, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 300 hrs., #165247...... $299,500 JD 8345R, 2018, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 665 hrs., #147199...... $289,500 JD 8345R, 2018, Cab, MFWD, 1900 hrs., #172423 ...............................$239,500 JD 8370R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 256 hrs., #172944...... $319,500 JD 8370R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 250 hrs., #172946...... $324,900 JD 8370R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 251 hrs., #172938...... $319,500 JD 8370R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 250 hrs., #172947...... $324,900 JD 8370R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 280 hrs., #172943...... $319,500 JD 8370R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 265 hrs., #172942...... $319,500 JD 8370R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 285 hrs., #172940...... $319,500 JD 8370R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 285 hrs., #172937...... $319,500 JD 8370R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 276 hrs., #172945...... $319,500 JD 8370R, 2019, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 1001 hrs., #169242.... $319,500 JD 8370R, 2019, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 926 hrs., #169244...... $319,500 JD 8370R, 2019, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 716 hrs., #169243...... $319,500 JD 8370R, 2019, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 1679 hrs., #169241 ... $319,500 JD 8400R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 274 hrs., #172950...... $334,900 JD 8400R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 324 hrs., #172953...... $334,900 JD 8400R, 2020, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 250 hrs., #172949...... $334,900 JD 8400R, 2018, Cab, MFWD, 1000 pto, Duals, 269 hrs., #148295...... $314,900 New Holland T7.260 T4A, 2011, Cab, MFWD, 540/1000 hrs., Duals, 7700 hrs., #169557 ................................................................................. $74,900
7045 Foley Rd.
(14) = ELBOW LAKE
(16) = BENSON
(15) = MORRIS
(17) = MADISON
110 2nd St. NE
23604 State Hwy. 9
380 Atlantic Ave. 516 1st St. E
SEE OUR COMPLETE INVENTORY WITH PICTURES AND DESCRIPTIONS AT: www.mmcjd.com
Page 22 • Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020
Target Your Customers!
The Dairy Star is sent only to DAIRY FARMERS!
If you would like to advertise in the DAIRY STAR, call 320-352-6303 for more information.
Research examines the potential impact of various assumptions
DeLaval VMS V300 3X Promotion ™
Supports your robotic milking investment in 3 different ways
Robots at peak performance
Capital Investment
Removal of dairy cows may reduce essential nutrient supply
Healthy Herd
The U.S. dairy industry contributes roughly 1.58 percent of the total US greenhouse gas emissions; however, it also supplies the protein requirements of 169 million people, calcium requirements of 254 million people, and energy requirements of 71.2 million people. A suggested solution to increasing food production worldwide while reducing greenhouse gas emissions has been to eliminate or reduce animal production in favor of plant production. In an article appearing in the Journal of Dairy Science, scientists from Virginia Tech and the US Dairy Forage Research Center studied the effects of dairy product removal on greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient availability in US diets under various removal scenarios. The authors of this study assessed three removal scenarios—depopulation, current management (export dairy), and retirement. In depopulation, consumers would stop consuming dairy products, resulting in depopulation of the animals; in current management (export dairy), the cattle management would remain the same and milk produced would be used for products other than human food or exported for human consumption; in retirement, the cattle would be retired to a pasture-based system but reduced to numbers that could be supported by available pastureland.
“If dairy cattle are no longer present in U.S. agriculture, we must consider downstream effects.” ROBIN R. WHITE, PH.D.
ACT NOW! Promotion runs from July 1st - October 31st 2020
SCAN ME
www.delaval.com
Contact one of the following dealers to learn more: IOWA Prairie Land Ag Supply Inc. Rock Valley, IA 712-476-9290 United-Suckow Dairy Supply West Union, IA 563-422-5355 Postville, IA 563-864-7417 WISCONSIN Advanced Dairy/Bob’s Dairy Supply Spring Valley, WI 715-772-3201 Ederer Dairy Supply Plain, WI 608-546-3713 Joe’s Refrigeration Inc. Withee, WI 715-229-2321
Mlsna Dairy Supply Inc. Cashton, WI 608-654-5106 Mondovi Dairy Systems Inc. Mondovi, WI 715-926-5777 West Salem, WI 608-769-2113 Professional Dairy Services Arlington, WI 608-635-0267 Redeker Dairy Equipment Brandon, WI 920-346-5579 The Scharine Group Inc. Whitewater, WI 800 472-2880 Mt Horeb, WI 800-872-3470
MINNESOTA & SOUTH DAKOTA D&D Ag Supply Pennock, MN 320-599-4466 East Central Dairy Supply Mora, MN 320-679-1029 Farm Systems Melrose, MN 320-256-3276 Watertown, SD 605-886-7401 Sioux Falls, SD 800-284-0015 S&S Dairy System LLC St. Charles, MN 507-932-4288 Professional Dairy Systems Wadena, MN 218-632-5416
is a registered trademark of Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. and “DeLaval” is a registered trade/servicemark of DeLaval Holding AB © 2020 DeLaval Inc. DeLaval, 11100 North Congress Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64153-1296. Data collected at test and pilot farms. Results will vary from dairy to dairy. Nothing in this document shall constitute a warranty or guaranty of performance. www.delaval.com
“Land use was a focus in all animal removal scenarios because the assumptions surrounding how to use land made available if we remove dairy cattle greatly inuence results of the simulations,” said lead investigator Robin R. White, PhD, Department of Animal and Poultry Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA. “If dairy cattle are no longer present in U.S. agriculture, we must consider downstream effects such as handling of pasture and grain land previously used for producing dairy feed, disposition of byproduct feeds, and sourcing fertilizer.” Greenhouse gas emissions were unchanged in the current management (export dairy) scenario, with a decrease in nutrient supplies, as expected. Emissions declined 11.97 percent for the retired scenario and 7.2 percent for the depopulation scenario compared to current emissions. All 39 nutrients considered in human diet quality were decreased for the retired scenario, and although 30 of 39 nutrients increased for the depopulation scenario, several essential nutrients declined. The results of the study suggest that the removal of dairy cattle from U.S. agriculture would only reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 0.7 percent and lower the available supply of essential nutrients for the human population. Professor White added, “Production of some essential nutrients, such as calcium and many vitamins, decreased under all reallocation scenarios that decreased greenhouse gas emissions, making the dairy removal scenarios suboptimal for feeding the U.S. population.” This study illustrates the difculties in increasing supplies of critically limiting nutrients while decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.
Tell the advertisers you saw their ad in the Dairy Star!
Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020 • Page 23
A career with caprines Gehri looks toward future of goat herd By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
WONEWOC, Wis. – Seventeen-year-old Tessa Gehri rst entered the world of goats when she was gifted two as pets in 2014. From there, she developed a love for the inquisitive little ruminants; in return, they have presented opportunities for her and her future that she would not have otherwise had. “I still have those rst two pets,” Gehri said. “They are here forever. They are useless now, but they are important. They were the start of everything.” Gehri, the daughter of Rocky and Amanda Gehri, of Wonewoc, is in her senior year at Wonewoc-Center High School and an active member of the school’s FFA chapter. This summer, Gehri was named the winner of the state goat production prociency. Earlier this fall, she was selected as one of the top four nalists for the national prociency award and will learn the results of that competition Oct. 28 during a virtual version of the National FFA Convention. “I’ve never gone to national convention before and was excited to go this year, especially with my prociency competi-
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
Tessa Gehri has two dairy goats at her family’s farm near Wonewoc, Wisconsin. The 17-year-old was the winner of the Wisconsin state goat prociency and is one of the nal four candidates in the naƟonal FFA contest. tion,” Gehri said. “I was disappointed that the convention was shifted to a virtual version. I plan to apply for my American Degree in the future, so I am hopeful to receive that and be able to attend the convention then.” Although she will not turn 18 until next July, Gehri will graduate early from high school in January. She is uncertain of what direction her future will take following graduation, as she is exploring several options. “I know a big school is not
right for me,” Gehri said. “I haven’t ruled out the idea of a technical school, but I have my goat herd to think about. Going somewhere outside of commuting range is not feasible. Ideally, I would like to follow an entrepreneurial path and build and grow my own businesses.” Gehri works in the calf facility at Hillsprairie Dairy near Hillsboro where she is learning about caring for dairy cattle, an area she feels she has a great deal to learn in terms of live-
stock husbandry. “I have the goats, and I also have experience with horses and swine,” Gehri said. “Cattle and sheep are my weak points.” Gehri houses her goats at Stillbrooks Clydesdales, a farm near her home, where she is also involved in working with and showing Clydesdale horses. Soon after she was gifted the two goats, farm owner Merle Brooks acquired a dairy goat which he gave Gehri. That dairy goat ofcially became the foundation for
what would become a successful Supervised Agricultural Experience for Gehri’s FFA career. Although she has since sold the original dairy goat to a family in Oklahoma, Gehri has two of her daughters. Right now, those two Alpine dairy goats are the only milking females Gehri owns. She down-sized her dairy goat herd because she had no way to obtain a market for her milk. Gehri connected with an area dairy goat farmer who purchased the remainder of her milking herd last winter and also purchases her dairy kid does. “I would really like to nd a farm to rent after I graduate, a place with facilities that I could build a parlor and have a large enough herd of dairy goats to obtain a milk market, as well continue to grow my herd of Boer goats,” Gehri said. Due to the lack of a milk market, Gehri has turned her attention to raising registered Boer goats, a market she said is gaining in popularity and demand in her area. She focuses on breeding Boer goats and enjoys competing with her goats at regional and national shows. In addition to showing and marketing high-quality breeding stock, Gehri has found a local niche market for her Boer kid bucks, selling them to several Amish farmers who have found they like crossbreeding Boer and dairy goats, creating a more du-
Turn to GEHRI | Page 25
WE SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL HOOF TRIMMERS And the facts say you should too!
WHY USE A PROFESSIONAL TRIMMER?
Educated Experienced Efficient Effective Reliable Cost Effective Production Driven Loyal Dedicated
Appleton Steel Proudly Supports Professional Hoof Trimmers Worldwide
Don’t Let Lame Cows Slow You Down!
Use A Professional…
Contact your local professional trimmer today or us for a referral
(920) 830-0277
•
AppletonSteel.com
Page 24 • Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020
NEW EQUIPMENT DOUBLE ROLLS!
#017131 LX Anderson RB200 Bale Wrapper Call For Price
#012201 LX Anderson 800HS Bale Wrapper Call For Price
#016734 RC H&S LW1100 Bale Wrapper Call for Price
#008027 LX MF DM255P Disc Mower Call for Price
#008554 EY NH Roll Belt 450 Round Baler Call For Price
#006320 EY Kuhn GMD 240 3 PT Disc Mower $9,950 Blowout Priced!
#009238 LX Kuhn FC10030D Triple Mower Call For Price
#012019 RC Kuhn FC 3160 TLR Discbine Call For Price
#014354 NW MF 1393 Hay Conditioner Call For Price
#015485 RC CIH DC133 Discbine Call for Price
#012053 RC Kuhn 1300 Merge Maxx 42’ Merger Call For Price
#013882 RC Kuhn GF5202THA Tedder Call For Price
#012017 NW Kuhn GF7802T GII Tedder Call For Price
#014669 LX Geringhoff Truflex 40 40’ Flex Head Call For Price
#013651 LX Fendt 942 Vario Gen6 Call for Price
#014212
#014037
#009505 NW CIH Farmall 110U Call For Price
#015316 LX CIH Steiger 500 QuadTrac Call for Price
#009547 EY Kubota M7-151 Tractor w/Loader Call For Price
#014621 RC Simplicity Legacy XL33 Call For Price
#014632 LX MF 4710 w/MF931X Loader Call For Price
#014527 LX MF 1840MH w/FL2611 Loader Call for Price
#015358 EY NH T9.480HD Tractor Call For Price
#006754 NW Kuhn Krause 8005-20 20’ Excelerator Call For Price
#005648 EY NEW KUBOTA RTV-X900WL-A $11,900
#014350 EY Great Plains 1006NT Drill Call For Price
#016844 NW Diamond Mowers 72” Rotary Skid Steer Mower Call For Price
#015959 NW Bobcat MT100 Mini Track Loader Call For Price
#016651
#015475 LX Walinga 7614 Grain Vac Call For Price
LX CIH Magnum 250 Call For Price
LX CIH Magnum 200 Call For Price
#014984 LX MF GC1725M w/FL1805 Loader Call for Price DEMO
#013461 NW Bobcat E35 Mini Excavator Call For Price
#015559 LX New Holland L328 Skid Loader Call for Price
#008064 EY Kubota SSV75 Skid Loader $35,900
RC Hardi Ranger 550 Sprayer Call For Price
USED EQUIPMENT REDUCED PRICE!
#017446 LX ‘12 CIH Steiger 500 Quadtrac $184,500
#016301 LX ‘06 CIH STX530 Quad $119,000
#015738 LX 2011 CIH Magnum 315 $119,985
#015742 LX 2014 CIH Magnum 310 $149,985
#008883 LX 2014 CIH Magnum 190 REDUCED $104,985
#015745 LX 2015 CIH Maxxum 115 $64,985
#015699 LX ‘06 MF 5455 Tractor w/Bomford Boom Mower $55,900
HILLCO!
#013510 EY ‘12 NH T7.200 Tractor $89,900
#017639 EY ‘00 NH TC40 w/16LA Loader $10,900
#017678 EY ‘71 JD 2030 w/Buhler Loader $10,900
#016077 RC ‘16 Ferris IS 3200Z Mower $8,985
#016901 EY ‘13 JD X758 Lawn Tractor, 62” Deck $8,950
#015695 LX ‘16 CIH 6140 Combine, Hillco $235,000
#014471 LX ‘12 CIH 5130 Combine $179,000
ONLY 600 ACRES!
#014300 LX ‘99 CIH 2366 Combine $36,500
#017022 LX ‘04 MF 9790 Combine $59,000
#016017 RC ‘06 MF 9790 Combine $49,500
#016812 LX ‘15 CIH 3162 Draper Head w/ Slow Speed Transport $39,900
#015267 LX Geringhoff Folding 12 Row Corn head $49,500
#016920 EY ‘18 Kubota BV5160R Round Baler $24,900
#015303 LX ‘08 CIH 1220 6R30 Planter REDUCED $10,500
#017021 LX ‘01 Kinze 3600 12/24 Planter $49,900
#015767 ‘02 Kinze 3000 6R30 Planter $18,500
#015287 LX ‘15 Kuhn SLC 132 Spreader $34,900
#016557 LX ‘19 Bobcat S740 Skid Loader $47,379
#017479 EY Kubota SVL95-2S $50,900
#017680 EY Kubota SSV65 $31,000
#008064 EY ‘17 Kubota SSV75 Skid Loader $35,900
#016268 EY Case 860 Turbo Trencher $8,950
#015196 LX ‘18 Geringhoff Northstar 630 Corn Head $44,500
#017475 LX ‘12 Killbros 1175 Grain Cart $21,500
#017526 EY ‘14 NH Roll Belt 560 Baler $19,800
#011449 EY 2014 Kubota RTV-X1120DWL $10,900
#012732 NW ‘18 Bobcat 5600 Toolcat $47,900
#015524 LX 2018 NH L228 Skid Loader $35,985
#016374 LX ‘17 Hitachi ZX190 LC-6, Like New Machine! $119,985
#017264 RC ‘14 Roto Grind 760 Bale Processor $16,900
#016846 LX ‘18 Patz 620 TMR $29,800
WWW.STJOSEPHEQUIPMENT.COM
Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020 • Page 25
ConƟnued from GEHRI | Page 23
CUSTOM MANURE HAULING
• We offer full service or assisted loading/hauling • Hourly rate Newer reliable equipment: 2) Meyers 750 bu. Vertical Beaters • Skid loader Located in Sartell, MN Contact Alex for questions and scheduling
Cell: 320-333-6110
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
Will always call back!
Tessa Gehri also raises and shows registered Boer goats near Wonewoc, Wisconsin. Gehri hopes to develop her goat herd in the years to come. al-purpose animal. Gehri is inquisitive by nature and likes to learn new skills that will aid her in growing her herd and creating avenues for revenue in the future. At the age of 15, she attended classes to learn to articially inseminate her goats. “The rst class I went to was kind of intimidating,” Gehri said. “It was mostly all veterinarians and then me. They kind of looked at me funny, like why was I there wanting to learn to articially inseminate goats.” After honing her skills on her own animals, Gehri began inseminating goats for others in the area, giving rise to Gehri’s Caprine Articial Insemination Service. “I have had people tell me that if they could get their bucks collected, they would have me inseminate for them,” Gehri said. “That got me thinking there
aren’t a lot of people around collecting and freezing goat semen.” Gehri made connections with an Illinois-based company that collects and freezes semen. She has made arrangements to visit their facilities and begin learning how to collect goat semen to be able to create another arm in her growing business portfolio. She is also intrigued at the idea of using embryo transfer to grow and develop the genetics within her own herd. Keeping in line with her mindset, simply using the technology is not where Gehri plans to stop. She is eager to learn to do it for herself and to obtain the necessary credentials to offer the service to others. “I’m not sure where the future will lead me just yet, but I know that I want to be involved in working with livestock, particularly with my goats,” Gehri said.
Sign up for our Newsletter
Dairy St r Milk Break A weekly electronic e-mail with dairy tidbits from throughout the industry.
DAIRY ST R
Email andrea.b@dairystar.com to sign up.
SHE’S GOING TO GIVE YOU THE BEST YEARS OF HER LIFE. GIVE HER SOMETHING SIMPLE TO START. Many productive days lie ahead. Optimal gut health, immunity and lifetime performance all start with just one gram per day. Learn more at: DiamondV.com/SmartCare
SmartCare
Page 26 • Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020
USDA announces Oct. 30 deadline for WHIP+ applications The United States Department of Agriculture announced Oct. 30 as the deadline to submit applications for the Wildre and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+) for 2018 and FSA News & Notes 2019 losses. USDA did not originally specify a deadline when the program was announced. “The physical and nancial loss experienced by farmers and ranchers impacted by natural disaster events in 2018 and 2019 was widespread and catastrophic,” By Ryan Brunn said Richard Fordyce, Stearns Co. Exec. Dir. administrator of the USDA Farm Service Agency. “Fortunately, in addition to our already extensive suite of disaster assistance programs for crop and livestock producers, we were able to provide additional support through WHIP+. If you have not yet submitted your application for assistance, please don’t miss your chance.” WHIP+ compensates producers for losses due to hurricanes, oods, snowstorms, tornadoes, typhoons, volcanic activity, drought, excessive moisture and wildres occurring in calendar years 2018 and 2019. Drought and excessive moisture were added as eligible losses for the program in March 2020. To date, FSA has received more than 133,000 applications for WHIP+ disaster assistance and paid out nearly $1.4 billion in WHIP+ benets. Next week, FSA will launch a new tool on the WHIP+ webpage to help producers understand eligibility for the program and whether they had possible losses in 2018 and 2019. The tool will also allow producers an opportunity to provide information for FSA staff to reach out to them. FSA will announce soon the details for producers who experienced quality loss from 2018 and 2019 natural disaster events authorized in appropriations legislation. There will be a
Th There will ill b be a separate signup period for producers reporting quality loss. separate signup period for producers reporting quality loss. For more information or application assistance, visit www.farmers.gov/recover/whipplus or contact a USDA Service Center. To locate a local FSA ofce, visit www.farmers.gov/servicecenter-locator. Farm Service Agency is an Equal Opportunity Lender. Complaints about discrimination should be sent to: Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250. Visit the Farm Service Agency Web site at: www.fsa.usda.gov/ for necessary application forms and updates on USDA programs.
• Vertical beater manure spreaders • Tanks
(320) 249-7579 brandonstang23@gmail.com
• We offer full service or assisted loading/hauling • Newer reliable equipment Call for questions and scheduling
• Track skidloader • Front and rear open roof box
New sustainability goals an opportunity for farmers Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020 • Page 27
On our farm near Albany, Minnesota, we recently began measuring the environmental impact of some of our conservation practices. We are doing so to help determine which practices make the most sense for us to continue and for fellow farmers to consider adopting. We participate in several programs through the Headwaters Agriculture Sustainability Partnership, a collaboration of farmers and organizations By Steve including Midwest Dairy and Schlangen, AMPI Minnesota Milk Producers chairman of the Association. The program is board committed to helping farmers identify practices that provide the most environmental and economic benets for their farms and communities. An industry-wide effort was recently announced to help the U.S. dairy community become carbon neutral or better by the year 2050 — the Net Zero Initiative. Why the new program? Because research shows it’s crucial for consumers to know their food is being produced sustainably. In addition to carbon neutrality, key on-farm targets within the initiative include reducing water usage and improving water quality by optimizing manure and soil nutrient use. With the help of funding from HASP, we’re able to measure the return on investment for specic processes, helping to show which efforts are truly benecial. We chose to participate to ensure dairy farmers have a voice in the changes that are being asked of us. We’re advocating for decisions and creating practices that work for us all while also working to reach the NZI goals. Doing the right thing doesn’t need to put a burden on farmers if the whole supply chain pitches in. Many feed production, cow care, energy efciency and manure management practices that will help reach the industry’s goals are already being implemented across the country. With the use of onfarm pilot programs and other initiatives, we can help make these practices more widely accessible and affordable while also improving the industry’s
A h way to fi Another find d out what’s working – and what could work for you – is to talk to other farmers. i viability. i bili economic So, what are we doing on our farm? In addition to a crop rotation plan that includes alfalfa, recycling the water used to cool milk, installing a variable speed vacuum pump and switching to LED lighting, we’re planting cover crops to improve soil health and increase yields, grid sampling to ensure we’re applying nutrients only where needed, and improving manure management. With the HASP, we’ll be able to quantify the ROI for these efforts and learn what’s impactful. We will also closely document our specic practices to showcase how they can be replicated. Another way to nd out what’s working – and what could work for you – is to talk to other farmers. Ask why someone in the area is doing something different. Learn more about it. Share successes. Share failures. Most farmers love to visit and share tips that might inspire others to try incorporating a more sustainable practice. Every farm is different,
but there is something for everyone. Improvements don’t always mean expenses – some actually save money or time while making us more productive. Fortunately, as farmers, we’re not alone in our quest. Processors have also committed to reaching these goals, and ours, Associated Milk Producers Inc., has implemented production efciencies that improve the environment and economics of dairy. As of October, 27 dairy companies – including AMPI – representing 70% of the nation’s milk production have voluntarily adopted the U.S. Dairy Stewardship Commitment and contribute to U.S. dairy’s ability to track progress in environment, animal care, food safety/traceability and community contributions. A step in the right direction, and a story we should all tell. Ask your processor or your local soil and water conservation district representatives what practices
are being implemented in your area to help reduce dairy’s environmental footprint. Dairy farmers have always been great stewards of the land and natural resources, so the NZI won’t require much more effort from us. We just need to continue seeking opportunities to tell others what we are doing and track our progress along the way. This is an incredible opportunity for our industry. The truth is consumers have choices about what they eat, and they often make decisions for reasons other than price, nutrition and avor. They want to feel good about what they’re buying, knowing it’s responsibly produced and environmentally sustainable. Let’s work together to tell our sustainability stories and give consumers the condence they need to ll their carts with dairy.
(Ɵijƕ Qȑď
OPEN HOUSE – REIN DAIRY FARM October 30, 2020 10 a.m. til 2 p.m.
LOCATION: Rein Dairy 38568 County 10 Lanesboro, MN 55949
Dairy snacks provided!
Self-Guided Tours
Ben and Amber Rein invite you to see their Calf-Star and Lely equipment in action! » Calf-Star Instant Calf Feeding Facility
» Calf-Star alf-Star Hygiene Stations
» CalfExpert Automatic Calf Feeder
» Lely ely A4 milking robots
» Calf-Star First Nurse Colostrum Pasteurizer/Warmer
» Lely ely Vector automatic feeder
Drawing—Win a First Nurse Colostrum Pasteurizer! Register for this drawing at the event!
I F A
Roller-Grinder
More milk less feed with uniform Àne-grind Solid cast rolls All belt-electric drive Single or double mills USA & International sales Replacement rolls available for most mills Used mills and tumble mixers on hand Hammer Mills
Phone: (319) 634-3849 • Toll Free: (800) 426-0261 web: www.ifamill.com • email: ifamill@netins.net
Contact any of us for details: Calf-Star 920.680.5976 Info@calfstar.com
Leedstone Gregg: 507.696.5518 gluebke@Leedstone.com
Randy: 320.267.3235 0.267.3235 eedstone.com rarnhalt@Leedstone.com
We’re looking forward to seeing you there!
Page 28 • Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020 Joe Armstrong armst225@umn.edu 612.624.3610 Luciano Caixeta lcaixeta@umn.edu 612-625-3130 Hugh Chester-Jones chest001@umn.edu 507-835-3622 Gerard Cramer gcramer@umn.edu 612-625-8184 Marcia Endres miendres@umn.edu 612-624-5391 Sandra Godden godde002@umn.edu 612-625-8177 Joleen Hadrich jhadrich@umn.edu 612-626-5620 Les Hansen hanse009@umn.edu 612-624-2277 Brad Heins hein0106@umn.edu 320-589-1711 Nathan Hulinsky huli0013@umn.edu 320-203-6104 Kevin Janni kjanni@umn.edu 612-625-3108 Karen Johnson ande9495@umn.edu 320-484-4334 Emily Krekelberg krek0033@umn.edu 507-280-2863 Claire LaCanne lacanne@umn.edu 507-332-6109 Brenda Miller nels4220@umn.edu 320-732-4435 Erin Royster royster@umn.edu Jim Salfer salfe001@umn.edu 320-203-6093 Mike Schutz mschutz@umn.edu 612-624-1205 M. Scott Wells mswells@umn.edu 612-625-3747
www.extension.umn.edu/dairy
Pair housing sets calves up for weaning success By Whitney Knauer University of Minnesota
Social housing of dairy calves during the pre-weaning period has benets for the calf in terms of performance and calf welfare. Many producers are transitioning to group housing for their pre-weaned dairy calves. Pair housing is an alternative to large group housing and can be achieved with minimal nancial input or drastic changes to calf management. This article will describe the results of a study from the University of Minnesota investigating the effects of pair versus individual housing during the pre-weaning period on health, performance and behavior. This study was conducted at the St. Paul campus teaching dairy during the winter of 2019. We enrolled 24 calves, 12 housed individually and 12 housed in pairs, in a modied hutch from about 4 days of age. Pair calves had about twice the space of individual calves (two hutches and an outdoor run). All calves received 1 gallon of milk twice a day, free choice starter and water, and were weaned at 50 days of age. They were then moved to weaned calf housing about one-quarter mile from the dairy where they were followed by researchers for an additional 60 days. We took a variety of measurements during the study period, two of which will be discussed below. Paired calves weighed more at weaning and at 4 months of age. All calves were weighed at birth, weaning and at 4 months of age (study exit). Pair calves weighed 15 pounds more at weaning and 17 pounds more at 4 months of age compared to calves housed individually during the pre-weaning period. Although we did not measure starter intake in this particular study, other researchers have shown that calves housed in a pair start eating grain earlier and eat more grain (especially during weaning) as compared to calves housed individually. Calves housed together are probably learning to eat grain from each other, contributing to improved starter intakes. We suspect that these behaviors carry over after calves are weaned, which could be contributing to the difference in weight at 4 months. Paired calves lay down more after weaning. All 24 calves wore pedometers for the duration of the study which measured
lying time and steps. In general, all calves lay down for about 18 hours per day during the pre-weaning period. The differences we observed were immediately after movement to the weaned calf pen. All calves were more active when they entered a larger group and unfamiliar pen, but pair calves lay down three hours more on the day they were moved as compared to previously individually housed calves. Beyond exploring their new environment and nding the feed bunk and waterer, the previously individually housed calves were also rapidly developing their social skills as this was the rst time they were given the opportunity to interact directly with other calves. We have a student looking at this question (What are these calves doing when they enter the weaned calf pen?) with recorded video and are excited to see what she nds. Taken together, the improved body weight and increased lying time at weaning suggest that pair calves are better prepared for success through the weaning transition. Calves experience social and nutritional stress at weaning as we are asking them to develop social skills when we group them, and transition from a primarily milk-based to a grain- and foragebased diet. Pair housing during the pre-weaning period can help buffer these stressors. Calves that are aggressively eating starter grain prior to weaning have an advantage, as they can better transition to a solid feed diet and are less likely to have a post-weaning slump in growth which can be associated with reduced immune function and higher risk of disease. Socially adapted calves experience less social stress when they are grouped (or re-grouped) at weaning, potentially leading to reduced risk of disease in the post-weaned barn. We did not nd health differences in our study but did not have enough calves in our treatment groups to nd a meaningful difference. Socially housing calves has real advantages for the calf and for consumer perception of our management practices as an industry. Though there is much to be learned about successful implementation on both a small and large scale, pair housing is a logical transition from individual housing of calves during the milk fed period. If you have questions about this calf housing strategy, work with your veterinarian and university extension specialists to help facilitate success for your calf rearing program.
Powerful PTO Pumps To Handle Liquid Manure
*3M a an and nd T Thinsulate hinsula ate at ate te a ar are re ttrademarks rad ra adem ad ema e ma m arrks rk kss o k off 3 3M M
Waterprooff Workwear W Wat W Machine wash & dry
uddertechinc.com
888.438.8683
608-437-5561
FIELD’S Your Material Handling Source Trusted sales and service since 1966
Mt. Horeb, WI
Tanks Spread All Types Of Liquid Manure
More on precision dairy technology
In the last University of Minnesota Dairy Connection column, Dr. Mike Schutz dened some terminology used in precision dairy farming, and he indicated that it involves the use of technologies to measure physiological, behavioral and production indicators on individual animals. Schutz said precision dairy farming becomes valuable when using data and analytical tools to drive decisions that improve management and farm performance. Other technologies that automate tasks such as feeding cows and calves, milking, delivering shots, cleaning alleys or pushing up feed; monitoring and controlling the barn environment; and optimizing manure management are also under the precision dairy farming umbrella. During World Dairy Expo week in early October, I participated in a virtual event endorsed by WDE entitled the Global Dairy Tech Start-up Spotlight. The event was organized and moderated by Aidan Connolly, president of AgBy Marcia Endres riTech Capital, and it had about 700 people in attendance. U of M To watch the recorded event, you can go to www.dairystartupspotlight.com. Ten dairy tech start-up companies shared information about their technology along with a short question and answer session, followed by a roundtable discussion on the farm of the future with a panel of experts (Joao Costa, University of Kentucky; Jeffrey Bewley, Holstein Association; and myself) moderated by Connolly. The technologies were quite broad in scope and approach, and presented a range of possibilities for where technology is going now and into the future. – Computer vision, cameras and articial intelligence for improved feeding management. This technology can monitor feed delivery, feed push-ups and clean-outs to track how well these actions relate to a desired schedule. Deviations are detected by the system which operates 24/7 and provides alerts to the manager, so corrections can be implemented quickly. A new feature for this technology that monitors cow behavior will be released soon. It will be able to monitor lying time, time out of the pen and a cow comfort index to help producers achieve high milk production, improved animal welfare and greater revenue. – Mastitis prevention and detection. Different options highlighted at the event included a rapid on-farm test kit, a multispectral sensor installed at the entrance of the parlor for capturing an image of the udder and a mobile spectroscopy device. Early detection of mastitis on farm allows for better decision making on a day-to-day basis and prevents more serious mastitis cases, improving protability and animal welfare. – Employee training. One of the big challenges on dairy farms today is employee management. One of the technologies demonstrated at the event was an employee training platform that stores, delivers and tracks all the training of farm employees. It made me think of the requirements for the FARM program – this technology would be helpful for that. It could help with employee retention. The same company also has technology for monitoring feed use, milking unit pulsation and sensor data. All their technologies can be integrated into one to help better manage the farm. – Automated injection. This company demonstrated a robotic arm injection system for delivering vaccines or reproductive products in an accurate way achieving 100% compliance r rate. As cows exit the parlor, IIt iis iimportant to llearn ffrom they are identied, restrained if needed, injected with the other producers as to what products they are scheduled works and what does not for the day, and the information is automatically rework. corded into the dairy farm m management system. This technology can reduce labor costs and improve animal health and reproductive efciency. – Water recycling and manure management. This technology uses mechanical and chemical treatments to remove manure contaminants, separate manure solids and results in clean water that can be reused in the barns. The technology can recycle up to 75% of the water in the manure. Other technologies highlighted during the event included a system for automated production and harvesting of aquatic plants for feed, an app to determine a farm’s nancial future and an interesting new way to detect pregnancy by using inline milk sensors. The panel suggested that successful dairy producers today and into the future are the ones adopting and looking for new technologies and processes that optimize their operations. It is important to learn from other producers as to what works and what does not work. Producers can also learn from others involved in dairy technology, such as consultants, universities and established technology companies. Technology should be validated by third-party research and provide a return on investment. Technology and automation will not replace the human. It is a partnership, with technology helping to improve efciency and labor exibility. It is also important that reliable and nearby support and service is available from suppliers to help producers with making the technology work on their farm. A survey was placed on Twitter during the event: What do you think the dairy farm of the future looks like? The answers: Fully automated (12.5%); partly automated (87.5%) and not automated (0%). Automation is seen as the future in dairy farming.
Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020 • Page 29
n s e, Common Se It ’s a P h o n e C a ll A w a y.
As aAsdairyman, are are youyou looking to improve the the wayway youryour freshfresh cows a dairyman, looking to improve transition, take off, peak breed LookingLooking to improve rumen cows transition, take off,and peak and back? breed back? to improve health, rumen function, overall health, digestion, efficiency rumen health, rumen function, overall health,feed digestion, feed and efficiency, and YOUR BOTTOM If so, then… YOUR BOTTOM LINE???LINE??? If so, then...
RECALIBRATE WITH RECAL The RECAL line of probioƟcs is NOT just another probioƟc on the market. RECAL is a probioƟc heavily weighted towards beƩer digesƟon and utilizaƟon, primarily FIBER DIGESTION. There are a lot of nutrients in your forages that can be uƟlized by improving digesƟon. RECAL is also a probioƟc that produces more B-vitamins in the rumen of that cow, mainly vitamin B12. B-vitamins are well known to aide in sƟmulaƟng appeƟte, stress, immune system, reproducƟon and also very important in rumen digesƟon.
FEED EFFICIENCY With feed prices on the rise and limited forage supplies, it’s Ɵme to opƟmize dry maƩer intake instead of maximizing dry maƩer intake. Improved digesƟon and rumen health will always lead to improved feed eĸciency!!!
Stop and Think!!!
If you can improve digesƟon, what should happen??? Either the cows should eat the same and produce more, or produce the same and eat less. Cows really eat to their energy requirements. So, by improving digesƟon and uƟlizaƟon, cows meet their energy requirements sooner and don’t need to eat as much dry maƩer. This will also allow the cows more Ɵme to lay in their stall, chew their cud, relax and be comfortable.
Our main focus with RECAL probiotics and YOUR cows!!! 1
To improve rumen health. What is the most important part of that cow??? The RUMEN!!!
2
To improve the overall immune system of your cow. The immune system starts in the RUMEN!!!
3
To improve digesƟonand andutilization uƟlizaƟon of the the improve digestion of the feedfeed that that the cows cows are eaƟ ng.feed If the feed isingoing in one end ofand the cow are eating. If the is going one end of the cow and coming outother the end other of the cow without being coming out the of end the cow without being digested digested andwhat uƟlized, good is it??? AYou WASTE!!! and utilized, goodwhat is it??? A WASTE!!! are not in the
# #
#
business to produce manure, you are in the business to g g produce milk, butterfat and protein.
4
To improve reproducƟon. Let’s face it, you don’t make money milking cows unless you are milking FRESH cows!!!
5
To improve YOUR BOTTOM LINE!!! It’s not about how much milk can we make. It’s about how much MONEY can we make!!!
# #
Go by what the cows say, they don’t lie!!! For less than $0.08/cow/day, you will see a difference. CALL TODAY... IT’S ONLY COMMON SENSE!!! FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
RECAL Microbials, LLC • Jamie Troxel 330-601-2142 • www.RECALmicrobials.com
We offer 30-day free trials.
Fieldstone follies Page 30 • Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020
Of all the tasks a farmer must perform, perhaps none is more odious than picking rocks. For good reason. Rocks are not very pleasant company. They are also extremely rude. They never express their gratitude after you relocate them to a nice, quiet rock community where they can mingle with other stones and never again be disturbed by farm implements. And, let’s face it, rocks simply are not very smart. This explains why the adage “dumber than a box of rocks” rings so true. All of this came to mind one hot summer afternoon when I was moving large round bales of hay from my alfalfa eld. I was not just moving bales, though; I was also tossing whatever eldstones I happened across into the loader’s bucket. And cursing the heat. And the rocks. And wishing I had a cold beer. That was my frame of mind when, as I scouted
for new recruits for the rock pile, I espied an unusual stone. It was grainy, mostly at, of a dark reddish color and peppered with elongated, otherworldlylooking little divots. I puzzled over the thing for several minutes. The rock was so totally out of character from its brethren, with its ruddy hue and those funky little craters. My mind soon made a giant leap. What if it is a meteorite? What if it came from Mars? Just my luck. Eons ago, an asteroid slammed into Mars with such force that rocky material was ejected into interplanetary space. In the fullness of time, a chunk of Mars tumbled into Earth’s gravity well, streaked through the atmosphere and landed in my alfalfa eld. And all for the expressed purpose of breaking my mower. Stupid rock. “Wait a minute,” I thought. “Aren’t Martian meteorites valuable? Didn’t I read somewhere
that they’re worth approximately as much as Judy Garland’s ruby slippers? Hot dang!” I could see the headline already: “Farmer nds Martian mineral, collects cash.” Visions of cosmic riches danced in my head. We would pay off the farm, buy a luxury Dear County Agent Guy condo and lead a life of ease. I would be highly sought after for TV appearances. “Well, sure, Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, I suppose an ordinary guy might have simply chucked that rock onto the pile. But I could see there was something special about that stone, By Jerry Nelson so I …” Columnist But I was getting ahead of myself. First, I had to conrm that this rock was indeed Martian, so I took it to our local university’s geography department. I found a geography professor and showed him the rock. He took a keen interest in the thing and examined it with a small magnifying glass. “Hmm,” he murmured. “This is keenly interesting. But I would guess that it isn’t a meteorite. I think that it could be of volcanic origin. It was probably carried down here from Canada by glacial action.” There goes my ticket to Easy Street. Just for fun, I asked how old the rock might be. “It would have to have come from the Precambrian shield. That would make it well over a billion years old.” It may not be a piece of Mars, but owning something that’s older than William Shatner was a nice consolation prize. At the geography professor’s behest, I took the rock across the campus and showed it to a geology guy. The geology guy, an older man with a chalky complexion, inty eyes and a gravelly voice scrutinized the stone. “This is keenly interesting,” he said. “Let’s examine it under the microscope.” He plunked the rock onto the table of a large microscope and ddled with the focus knob. I was as anxious as a father whose wife is expecting triplets. “Think it might be a meteorite?” I asked. “The geography guy said that it could be volcanic.” “He’s full of schist.” “I don’t know. He seemed knowledgeable enough to me.” “No, I mean this rock. I’m seeing particles of schist and feldspar and quartz.” He unceremoniously handed back my precious rock. “What you have here,” he pronounced, “is a piece of ordinary sandstone.” “Why haven’t I ever seen anything like this before in my eld?” I protested. “And what about those weird divots?” The old geology guy launched into a lecture regarding how these things happen, delving into plate tectonics, subduction and the physics of erosion. I went home knowing way more about that stupid rock than I ever wanted. And so, I have this bona de, could-have-been-aMartian-meteorite rock for sale. Cheap. Heck, I’d be happy to trade it for a cold beer. Jerry is a recovering dairy farmer from Volga, South Dakota. He and his wife, Julie, have two grown sons and live on the farm where Jerry’s great-grandfather homesteaded over 110 years ago. Jerry currently works full time for the Dairy Star as a staff writer/ad salesman. Feel free to E-mail him at: jerry.n@ dairystar.com.
Keep your cows on their feet!
Get your concrete scabbled and prevent an accident!
Scabbling makes grooves in your concrete 2” wide and 3/16” deep so your cows ALWAYS have traction.
Phone: 800-795-1233
X
www.selectsires.com
REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
Smith’s of Wisconsin Serving the Midwest over 30 yrs.
1-800-525-9364
Reducing cold stress on calves
Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020 • Page 31
This past weekend, during the Minnesota youth deer hunting season, I found myself sitting in a deer stand with my three daughters pondering a Something to Ruminate On few thoughts. First, a lesson in patience. Any parents who have taken their kids hunting can appreciate this. In addition, Saturday morning brought measurable snowfall in northwest Minnesota followed by a plummet in temperatures. I could not help but think By Barry Visser about the cold stress Nutritionist on dairy calves in the months ahead. In sub-freezing temperatures, calves (and all mammals) are motivated to maintain internal body temperature. Thermal stress can increase calf morbidity and mortality and reduce growth rates. Focusing on the increased needs of calves in the winter months can provide the best opportunity for success. – Maternity and newborn calf housing. Combatting cold stress in calves starts in the calving pens. Calves are born with minimal body fat reserves. In addition, the calf’s small body mass relative to external surface area results in rapid loss of body heat. Clean, deepbedded straw helps, but wet calves lose heat quickly to the environment. Towel drying a newborn calf aids in ďƒ&#x;ufďƒžng its hair coat, which works as an insulator for the calf by creating a boundary between the body and the chilly ambient air. Pay attention to drying the ears as this will help reduce the risk of frost damage. Warming boxes work well to ďƒžnish the drying process and keep
I iis b It best practice i to sanitize ii these warming boxes between calves as their warmer temperatures provide a good environment for pathogen growth. calves warm during the ďƒžrst 12 hours after birth. It is important to note that calves receiving supportive warming therapy after birth will have less stress and, as a result, will likely have greater efďƒžciency of immunoglobulin absorption from colostrum feeding. A calf’s ability to absorb antibodies from colostrum diminishes as its body temperature becomes colder. Calves should be moved out of the warming box by 24 hours of age and into the next calf facility. It is best practice to sanitize these warming boxes between calves as their warmer temperatures provide a good environment for pathogen growth. Once calves are moved, deep-bedded straw is a great option for its insulating effects. Calves placed into hutches and cold barns should be furnished with calf jackets for approximately the ďƒžrst 3 weeks of age. – Nutritional considerations. The ďƒžrst goal for calf nutrition is to satisfy maintenance requirements. Increasing the plane of nutrition to combat cold stress is of primary importance. Caloric demand for maintenance increases as the temperature decreases below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. This leaves the calf with
Wood
Shavings BULK
OR
BAG
S&S Wood Products
35335 Green Street | Independence, WI 54747
800-234-5893 | 715-985-3122
few calories available for growth and more susceptible to mobilizing body fat reserves and amino acids. Additionally, energy is pulled away from the immune system, making calves more prone to diseases. Strategies to increase energy intake during cold stress include altering the amounts and timing of milk feeding. Milk volume is often increased by about onethird. Shifting from two to three times daily feeding will also increase milk intake. Supplemental fat can also be added to the milk feeding. Work with your calf nutritionist and advisors to decide which strategies ďƒžt your operation best. Water intake is critical to starter consumption and rumen development. Offer warm water to calves after the milk feeding. Pails may need to be dumped prior to the next feeding in extreme cold conditions. – Additional management considerations.
Excessive calf handling should be avoided during really cold days. Consider holding off on pen moves or vaccinations if possible. Another consequence of cold weather is greater ďƒ&#x;uctuation in milk feeding temperatures. The ideal feeding temperature is about 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Precautions may need to be taken to prevent a signiďƒžcant decline. As we enter winter, make sure the calves have adequate nutrition to support both maintenance needs and growth. Make sure their housing conditions do not increase maintenance needs with drafts and wet bedding. Monitor and track calf growth and health. This will help identify bottlenecks and troubleshoot challenges. Excellent management during winter will allow calves to overcome cold stress and continue to grow at target rates. Barry Visser is a nutritionist for Vita Plus.
We have the right hut to fit your needs from the Mini Dome to the Mega Hut.
M INI D OME for smaller breeds or goats
W ARM C LIMATE H UT super ventilated
C ONVERTIBLE H UT for indoor or outdoor use
H IGH D OOR P OLY D OME for use with fence panels
O NE -P IECE H UNTING B LIND a completely customizable do-it-yourself blind
P OLY D OME the Nursery that ingnited an industry
M EGA H UT Expandable for large animals
P OLY S QUARE has multiple feeder options
All PolyDome shelters are made from high-impact UV stabilized polyethylene making them light enough to move easily, yet sturdy enough to withstand the elements.
& 91-03" t% 0.& the aordable backyard observatory
Now you can sit inside a true observatory sheltered from the wind and annoying neighbor's porch lights. Made from virtually indestructible, UV stabilized polethylene.
"TL GPS PVS DPNQMFUF DBUBMPHT GPS "HSJDVMUVSBM 1SPEVDUT "RVBDVMUVSF &YQMPSBt%PNF PS )VOUJOH #MJOET
Many other farm products available. Visit www.polydome.com for more.
1-800-328-7659 • AG VENTURE FEED & SEED Watkins, MN • 320-764-9910 • LINDELL SALES & SERVICE Cannon Falls, MN • 651-258-4311 • MCINTOSH DAIRY McIntosh, MN • 218-563-3740 • ADKINS EQUIPMENT Detroit Lakes, MN • 218-847-2079 • GALEN FICK Boyden, IA • 712-439-1359 • INWOOD HATCHERY Inwood, IA • 712-753-4736
• DAIRYLAND SUPPLY Sauk Centre, MN • 1-800-338-6455 • STEARNS VETERINARY OUTLET Melrose, MN • 1-800-996-3303 • FLOODWOOD FARM & FEED Floodwood, MN • 218-476-2233 • GERTKEN’S SALES Richmond, MN • 320-597-2207 • TESKE FARM SERVICE Avon, MN • 320-356-7211 • BJERGA FEED Motley, MN • 218-352-6383 or 6379
www.polydome.com • FARMERS CO-OP OF LAFAYETTE Lafayette, MN • 507-228-8224 • SIOUX NATION VET SUPPLY Marshall, MN • 507-532-3716 • FEDERATED CO-OPS Princeton, MN • 763-389-1567 • NEW ULM FEED STORE New Ulm, MN • 507-359-7500 • PIERZ CO-OP Pierz, MN • 320-468-6655 (Randy) • MICHAEL MACK Watertown, SD • 605-881-0365
• GORTER’S CLAY & DAIRY EQUIPMENT, INC. Pipestone, MN • 507-825-3271 • STEVE’S FEED Sleepy Eye, MN • 507-794-3831 • ROBERT FAUST Strawberry Point, IA • 563-933-6561 • SE MN SILO EQUIPMENT St. Charles, MN • 507-932-4560 • SHELDON FARMERS MARKET Sheldon, IA • 712-324-3721
Never alone
Page 32 • Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020
Farmers are a ercely independent and We have been busy washing, painting, clipping individualistic group of people. We brag about and cleaning to get ready for our sale. It feels like working for ourselves. Being our own boss. party prep work on steroids. Between the daily Our success and failure rests squarely on our chores, harvest season and sale prep, our plate is own shoulders. You have p pretty full. But we were not seen the image. A strong, ttoo busy to drop everything l iis pretty ffull. ll B But the moment we got the call ruggedly handsome man ... our plate standing out in the middle we were not too busy to drop from a neighbor. of a lush green eld of Greg had just nished his soybeans reaching up to everything the moment we morning milking when he his waist. His arms crossed got the call from a neighbor. received a call from the in front of his chest daring emergency room doctor the world to try and knock ttelling him his son had been him down. You would think by the image that he in a work accident with possible brain trauma. is standing alone in that eld, but as farmers, we The hospital was three hours away. It felt as if he know we are not standing alone. That has been had been suckered punched. Once he could catch evident around our place this last week. his breath he called his neighbors in the valley.
This year more than ever we salute and honor America’s Dairy Farmers ARE YOUR DAIRY SUPPLIES HARDER TO GET? Check out “The Country Store” in Howard Lake!
INTRODUCING:
MLN ELITE KAFF HIGH PERFORMANCE CALF STARTER Designed specifically to accelerate growth, health, and performance in your calf program. MLN Elite Kaff is an enhanced with the latest technologies that support gut health and dry matter intake.
“Quality Feed & Merchandise for Country Lifestyles”
601 6th Street Howard Lake, MN (320) 543-3517
OUR MISSION Some things never change – even after 80+ years! The values that shaped our heritage will remain. Munson Lakes Nutrition will continue to: • Manufacture a great product at a fair price • Give great customer service • Base every decision on fairness and decency
“Working To Serve You Better”
Doug Jeff Sawatzke Thorpe
Austin Davis
Nate Dressel
Ray Munson
Charles Peterson
Ted Radintz
Howard Lake, MN www.munsonlakes.com
(320) 543-2561 800-245-7717
Within minutes, we were up to Greg’s place taking a crash course in how chores went around his farm. Greg had written a quick check list of how to mix feed and which cow to watch out for. We shooed him out of the barn and nished up Just Thinking Out Loud the morning routine as they headed west. Despite all the craziness that is our life right now, it was kind of nice to escape to Greg’s and milk his 20 cows. In the blink of an eye, we had the cows milked, fed and the barn cleaned. Flipped a few switches By Natalie Schmitt and the springers and calf chores were done Columnist too. I began to wonder if this was a glimpse into what our future would be like in March if we decided to start back up milking. Dropping everything to help a neighbor in need is not a novel idea, so why are people surprised when farmers pull out of their elds during harvest to help a neighbor in trouble? Are people so disconnected to one another that they do not know it is just what you do? When I was in the hospital in a coma during planting season, Dale and Al stood in our yard waiting until Mark told them which eld they could seed down in alfalfa for us. They knew we needed help, even if we did not say so. As we put the nishing touches on our sale event, we realize we are not alone. We are surrounded by friends and neighbors who are reaching out to help. Our kids have taken personal work days off to help clip and clean. Neighbors are volunteering to provide pick up service between the parking lot and the farm yard. Friends have been dropping off sweets and treats to help us keep the work crew fed. It almost feels like a death has occurred in the family, and in a way it has as we hit pause with our milking operation. Despite the image of the farmer standing alone in his eld, we know we are never alone when we have neighbors who have our backs when we do not know which way to turn. It’s just what we do. Natalie, Mark and his brother Al, farm together near Rice, Minnesota. They milk 100 registered Holsteins under the RALMA prex. Their four children are grown up and all involved in agriculture with hopes of someone returning to the farm. For questions or comments, please e-mail Natalie at mnschmitt@jetup.net.
Sign up for our Newsletter
DairySt r Milk Break Email andrea.b@dairystar.com
Blue Hilltop, Inc. Your Mixer, Spreader, Hay Processor Headquarters We carry:
www.rotomix.com LLC
Dana Berreau
507-879-3593 / 800-821-7092 Box 116, Lake Wilson, MN 56151
Into the woods
Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020 • Page 33
Two winters ago, Glen took me on a snowmobile ride through the Birch Lake State Forest. Despite visiting the state forest’s swimming beach on countless occasions, I had never been on the trails in the forest. The forest won me over instantly, and I vowed to come back in my hiking boots once the snow had melted. I made good on my vow a couple months later and began exploring this hidden gem with my friend, Summer. For a girl who grew up in the woods of northern Minnesota, an hour or so traipsing through the forest is pure catharsis. Dairy Good Life I had hoped to continue my sojourns into the woods last winter on cross country skis, but my limited shoulder mobility made skiing impossible. But soon after the snow melted and the temperatures moderated, Summer and I and our girls returned to the state forest. It was the perfect place to gather in person while also staying six feet apart. The combination of people time and forest time was much needed – especially for our kids – after weeks of isolation. For you fellow science junkies, the benets of forest time are not just psychological. In a column last By Sadie Frericks year, I mentioned phytoncides, the active chemical substances given off by plants. When we breathe in Columnist these phytoncides, our bodies respond by increasing our natural killer cells, a type of white blood cell. These cells kill tumor- and virusinfected cells in our bodies. Even more reason why spending time in the forest is the best way to survive a pandemic. (Grasses and shrubs also release phytoncides, so really, any time interacting with plants improves immunity.) It turns out that the green light in forests – from sunlight reecting off the greenery – is also good for us. Looking at green light increases the body’s production of natural painkillers and reduces inammation. I explored another Minnesota state forest this fall: Pillsbury State Forest. But this time, my explorations were mostly on horseback. My sister invited me to join her trail-riding group for a weekend of camping and trail rides. Despite not having been in a saddle for 20-some years, I accepted the invitation. I gured it wouldn’t be any more physically challenging than riding a bike. Our weekend at Pillsbury fell right in the middle of peak fall leaf season, which for me is when half of the trees have turned brilliant red, orange, and yellow and the other half are still green. I nd the contrasting colors at this halfway point of transition to be the most beautiful. And, truly, the miles we traversed in the woods were stunningly beautiful. The gorgeous views helped make up for my horse’s inclination to trot instead of walk. I ended up with a few sore muscles afterwards, but I think I was most sore from all the laughing we did around the campre at night. The trail-riding weekend reinforced, for me, the advantage of human interaction while exploring the forest. Whether it’s hiking on foot, riding on a horse, or sitting around a campre, being in the forest with others seems to encourage rich conversation and feelings of togetherness. I assume this fellowship is similar to the camaraderie guys experience on hunting trips and why hunting excursions are sacred annual events for many families. Glen and Dan made their rst trip into the woods in search of whitetail deer this past weekend. Dan was participating in Minnesota’s early youth hunt and Glen was taking advantage of our zone’s early antlerless season. Glen’s hope was that they’d ll their tags while it was relatively warm and thus avoid the colder weather of the regular November season. Each morning and each evening after returning from the hunt, they indulged me with their reports from the woods. One morning, the only animal they saw was the blue jay itting raucously around the tree branches above their stand. Another morning, a woodpecker sprinkled them with wood dust. One afternoon, they watched a falcon glide slowly back and forth over the eld before suddenly swooping down to pursue some small animal. On the falcon’s third try, it came up with a mouse. Glen’s comment after the falcon story was that patience is so clearly one of the natural world’s greatest virtues. That patience transfers to those who partake of nature. There’s no hurrying when you’re in the woods. On their second afternoon out, Glen and Dan watched as a small group of does cautiously and patiently crossed in front of their stand. Dan opted to wait for a buck; Glen took one of the does with his muzzleloader. They didn’t see another deer after that, but it sounds like they enjoyed their time in the woods together all the same. Maybe they’ll return in search of a buck for Dan; maybe they won’t. Now that we have snow – and it’s here to stay – I think their thoughts have turned to exploring the woods on snowmobile. I’m hoping for a couple more hikes in the forest before the snow on the trails gets too deep. Then, I’ll dust off my skis and enjoy the woods that way. Sadie and her husband, Glen, milk 100 cows near Melrose, Minn. They have three children – Dan, 13, Monika, 11, and Daphne, 7. Sadie also writes a blog at www.dairygoodlife.com. She can be reached at sadiefrericks@gmail.com.
Stray Voltage Consulting Concerned your operation has stray voltage? Is your herd performance not where it should be? Are your livestock lapping water? Are your livestock having excess health issues? Give us a call today – we will give your operation a thorough stray voltage checkup!!
320-220-1342
712-722-3626
SERVICE AFTER THE SALE
End to End Expertise for Sealed Silos SILO SERVICES ` ` ` ` `
consulting YLDELOLW\ DQG ǦQDQFLQJ construction maintenance and pressure checks resealing and roof replacements
BOTTOM UNLOADERS ` ` ` ` `
unloaders for all feed types maintenance plans after hours service reliable operation modern controls
Ask Marvin and his crew about helping you with your needs.
Repair vs. Replace
Electronic Dairy Board Repair Service
Specializing in: WestfaliaSurge, BouMatic, & DeLaval pulsators & Takeoffs, circuit boards, Mueller milk tank circuit boards. Call: (c) 406-590-7764
www.circuitÀxer.wixsite.com/ boumaticboardrepair
715.267.1416
sales@greenwoodsilo.com N10828 County Highway O • Greenwood, WI 54437
www.greenwoodsilo.com/goodasnew
Page 34 • Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020
Koehl Farm celebrates centennial
Dairy builds parlor after milking in stanchion barn for 100 years By Stacey Smart
stacey.s@dairystar.com
DARIEN, Wis. – A century’s worth of a fond family tradition has cycled through multiple generations at Koehl Farm. Celebrating its centennial this year, the farm was purchased by the Koehl family in 1920. Today, Koehl Farm near Darien is run by brothers, Mike and George “Butch” Koehl, and Mike’s son, Shane, who is the fourth generation on the dairy. Moving forward while keeping one foot in the past, the Koehls update and improve their farm while preserving its heritage. While many things have changed on this century farm, some things never change – like the size of the milking herd, which consistently stays around 50 head. Currently milking 53 cows twice a day, the Koehls put in a milking parlor this summer after 100 years of milking in a stanchion barn. “The parlor saves us close to three hours of labor per day,” said Shane, who has
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
The Koehls – (from leŌ) Mike, Shane and George – own and operate Koehl Farm near Darien, Wisconsin. The Koehls milk 53 cows and farm over 300 acres. been on the farm full time for six years after spending 14 years as a teacher. The DeLaval double-6 parlor is a used model the Koehls eyed up 15 years ago when looking at freestall barns. They installed the parlor in their existing 50-stanchion barn built in 1953. The Koehls transformed the barn
to accommodate a parlor setup, removing one side of stalls to make a return alley and creating a holding area out of the middle aisle. The plan is to remove the remaining stalls in the future and put in calf pens, leaving a couple stalls intact for treating cows. “Except for pouring the concrete, we did all the work
Headlocks & Feed Bunk
Signature Series Cow Size
ourselves to save time and money,” Butch said. “We rebuilt the milking systems and used a lot of stuff we already had. This is the parlor’s third install, but it was only used for a total of two years.” Featuring in-oor heat, the parlor is a work in progress as the Koehls nish insulating walls, closing off old
hay mow chutes and framing up everything. “Every year we do a farmimprovement project,” Mike said. “The parlor was this year’s project.” Mike and Butch’s grandfather, Fred Koehl, along with his brothers, Ferdinand and Louis, came from France in 1915 and purchased the 240acre farm in 1920. In 1946, after returning from World War II where he served in the Navy Armed Guards as a gunner, Mike and Butch’s father, George Sr., bought his uncle’s share of the farm. Mike farmed in partnership with his dad for seven years before Butch came on board in 1980. The brothers then formed a corporation with their parents. Mike and Butch bought the land from their mother, Lorraine, in 2005 – four years after their father passed away. “When my dad and I started farming together, we were milking 75 cows,” Mike said. “We got it down to 60, but we were always switching about 10 cows. By the time my brother came on board, we got it close to 50 cows, and that’s where we like it. Our goal is to keep cow numbers between 50 and 60. We only have so much land, and we don’t want to expand.” These do-it-yourselfers Turn to KOEHLS | Page 35
Massey Ferguson 1329 3-pt Disc Mower, 9’ cut, 2013 AGCO 3312 Disc 12’ Mower Conditioner, Flail New Holland BR7070, 2014, round baler, 14,059 bales, Crop Cutter New Holland RB560, 2017, Round Baler 1,176 bales, like new Krone BP4X4XC 4X4 Large Square Baler, 2012 with 19,000 bales Art’s way 240C Stalk Chopper, 2015, 20’ Width, Low Acres Teagle Tomahawk 6060 3-pt Bale Chopper
T BES UES VAL
TRACTORS
Allis Chalmers D17 w/ AC loader & snow bucket, 3 pt hitch Case IH MX 270 FWA, 16.9R30 Fr Dls, 20.8R42 R Dls. 5,615 hrs NH TS6.140, 2016, FWA, 2,910 hrs., 18.4-38 & 14.9-28
COMBINES & HEADS
Gleaner S67 Combine, 2011, 1451 sep, 2263 eng. Gleaner S67 Combine, ‘11, duals , 1187 sep, 1558 eng, nice Gleaner S77 Combine, 2012, duals, 1,777 sep, 2,325 E. Gleaner R75 Combine, 2004, Duals, 1982 Sep, 2719 E, very nice Gleaner 8000-20 Flex Head Lateral Tilt, 2005 Gleaner 500-20 Flex Head, R mounts, needs work, sold as is Gleaner 3000 630R Corn Head, 2008 Gleaner 3000 830R Corn Head, 2004 Gleaner 313 w/Renn 5 belt pickup header, will ðt newer LTL combines Case IH 1640 Combine 4,435 hours, 28L-26 singles Harvestec 4306C Cutter Corn Head 6R30” Gl Mounts, Low Acres Harvestec 4308C Cutter Corn Head 8 Row 30” GL Mounts Harvestec 4308C Cutter Corn Head 8 Row 30” JD Mount Harvestec 4308C Cutter Corn Head 8 Row 30” NH/Case IH Mount ‘08
SKID STEERS
ROW CROP, DRILLS & SPRAYERS
Brillion SSB12 Seeder with small seeds box, very nice Hardi Navigator 4000, 2012, 90’ Boom,120” Axle, 5500 rate controler Hardi Navigator 3000, 60’ Boom, adjustable axle Hardi Ranger 2200 w/45’ boom, triplet nozzle, hz boom, 540 pto 1303 Hardi Navigator 1000M w/60’ boom, foam, ñush N rinse, chem. inductor Great Plains 1520P Drill 15’ w/GP CPH Coulter Caddy, 15” Spacing, Markers White 8816 Planter w/Ind. Boxes, 500 gal. liquid fert., 2011
GRAIN CARTS & WAGONS
Gehl BU960 Forage Box H&S Twin Auger 16’ box, 614 tandem gear, 12.5-15 tires H&S Twin Auger 16’ box, 614 tandem gear, 12.5-15 tires Notch 10-ton running gear & 9X16 wood ñat rack, 9.5L-15 tires Maywes 25’ head hauler J&M 875 Grain Cart, red, 2010, 30.5 lug tires, new roll tarp Brent 610 Grain Cart Demco 1102 Cart Red, 1250 Tires, Roll Tarp, ‘17, Rented 1 Season Demco 365 Gravity Box w/385-22.5 Truck Tires, Red EZ-Flow 300 Gravity Box w/EZ-Trail 1074 Gear. 12.5-15 Tires
MANURE SPREADERS
H&S 550 Hydra-Push Manure VB Spreader, 425x22.5 Truck Tires H&s 425 Hydra-Push Manure Spreader, 19Lx16.1 Tires H&S 5126 Topshot, 19LX16.1 tires, 2011 New Holland 3110 Manure Spreader, 16.5X16.1 Tires
• Wide open design • Precise mechanism
Case SR220 Skid Steer, Cab, Heat, A/C, 2 Speed, 3200 hrs. Mustang 1750RT, ‘18 track loader, pilot controls, 2 speed, 76 hrs Mustang 2076, ‘12 1200 hrs., H/F ctrls, cab, w/heat, 2 spd. Mustang 2041 3,700 hrs, cab/heat, H/F controls, universal mount GRAIN EQUIPMENT Good Selection Of Used Augers NH L228 Skid Steer, 410 hrs, H/F Controls, 2 speed, cab
• Adjustable head width
TILLAGE/FIELD CULTIVATORS
Functionality & Flexibility:
• Cow, heifer and calf sizes • Automatic down-cow release is standard • Poly cushioned for quieter everyday operation
Strength: • Heavy duty galvanized construction, will withstand years of feed bunk stress Paragon Series i - Calf lf Size i
Request
FREE EQUIPMENT GUIDES on our Entire Product Line!
MISCELLANEOUS
Sand Shooter Becker Woodchuck 68” Very Nice Virnig 96” Hydraulic Angle Broom. New Brushes. Westendorf WL-42 All-Matic loader with White tractor mounts Consign Bush Hog HTDH5 3-pt Finish Mower w/anti scalp roller, 2020, 15 hrs. Use Bush Hog 5’ SQ600 3-pt Rotary Cutter Bush Hog 7’ 3-pt Rotary Cutter King Cutter Cat1 3-Point Middle Buster HAY & FORAGE, STALK CHOPPERS Mahindra 60” Mid-Mount Mower Deck (Came oσ Max 26 XLT), like new John Deere 582 Silage Special Round Baler 4X5, 19,434 bales Berlon Square And Round Bale Squeezer, Opens To 7’ Skid Steer Mount McHale V660 Round Baler, 4X6, Cutter Baler, 8,600 bales Art’s Way 7’ 3-Point Rotary Cutter Case IH 6500 Conser-Till 9-shank chisel plow with frame ext. DMI Ecolo-Tiger 730B, 7 shank, Straight Front Coulters, Closing Disc Sunñower 5034-24’ ðeld cultivator w/3-row coil time & basket Sunñower 4511-11 shank disc chisel, 2014, low acres Wilrich 657 11 Shank Chisel/ Ripper Combo, 2014
Call 866-543-5116 sales@sturdybuiltmfg.net
260 S. Muddy Creek Rd. Denver, PA 17517
38241 County 6 Blvd. Goodhue, MN 55027
(651) 923-4441
Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020 • Page 35
ConƟnued from KOEHLS | Page 34
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
The Koehls put in a used double-6 milking parlor this summer aŌer 100 years of cows being milked in a stanchion barn. The new setup is saving three hours of labor per day. enjoy projects that drive efciency and keep work manageable without racking up debt. Rather than tear down and build new, the Koehls like to repurpose buildings whenever they can and retain the farm’s original structures. For example, the farm’s rst milking barn built in the 1800s now houses heifers. Recently, the Koehls xed some of the beams in the barn, put in concrete and added headlocks to one of the pens. In 1985, they converted a machine shed to a freestall barn for bred heifers and dry cows. The roof of the barn is made with boards from a wooden silo. “We do a lot of refurbishing,” Shane said. “There’s no waste here.” In 2008, the Koehls put up a silo and lean-to for feeding and mixing, and in 2012, they built a workshop with heated oors. In 2017, the Koehls built a new 65-stall, 3-row freestall barn for the milking herd and heifers, which replaced the loang shed built in 1960 that had been converted to freestall housing in 1979. “We never buy anything unless we have the money,” Butch said. “We paid off our parlor and freestall barn as quick as we could.” The Koehls do not have a craving for the new and shiny. They are content with used items in need of a little tender loving care. “We have a lot of old equipment and like to x things,” Mike said. “For example, we recently bought a John Deere self-propelled chopper that we’re xing up. We like going to auctions and looking for deals online. We just bought our rst four-wheel drive
tractor, and we bought it on the internet.” The Koehls grow 110 acres of corn, 80 acres of hay, 60 acres of soybean and 20 acres of winter wheat. Feed is stored in four silos and a 200foot corn silage bag. Mike handles planting – a task he plans to soon hand over to Shane, who milks cows and oversees the herd. Butch takes care of feeding, breeding, hauling manure and feeding calves. Mike is slowly backing out of the farm, and Shane is taking over. These self-sufcient farmers do their own hoof trimming and try to minimize vet bills by doing IVs and other veterinary work. “We didn’t put in the parlor so we could add more cows which is a question we often get,” Shane said. “We did it to be efcient and have more time. Adding more cows means adding more feed, land and storage, and we don’t want to do that. We want to remain debt-free.” To keep cow numbers where they like them, the Koehls sell cows in groups of six to 10 several times each year. As a second century begins at Koehl Farm, Mike, Butch and Shane continue to uphold the farm’s historical integrity while modernizing to meet demands of the current day. Tying the past into the present, the Koehls have pushed the farm into the 21st century without growing bigger. “There are not a lot of small farms like this around here anymore,” Shane said. “We’re still milking 50-some cows, and we plan to stay that way.”
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
The Koehls use a 1985 refurbished machine shed as a freestall barn for bred heifers and dry cows. The roof of the barn is made with boards from a wooden silo.
Page 36 • Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020
Women In Dairy Becky Thyen Waverly, South Dakota Codington County 120 cows Family: My husband, Dan, and I have four children, Nathan, Natalie, Andrew and Alex. Tell us about your farm. Dan, Nathan and Andrew farm along with Dan’s brother and his son. We operate a dairy, beef and grain farm. Grandma Clarice lives on this farm, so we have four generations on the farm with Nathan’s kids helping. We milk 120 registered Holsteins, Milking Shorthorns, Brown Swiss and a few Jerseys. Our variety of cows comes from the children and their 4-H projects. What is the busiest time of day for you? I do not have a time of day that is busier than the rest. I start off in the morning with chores, then hurry off to work at Lake Area Veterinary Clinic, then hurry home to do chores again. Then, start over the next day with the same schedule. When you get a spare moment, what do you do? I like to garden, mow lawns, sew and read. I also get the cattle ready for show season. Tell us about your most memorable experience working on the farm. My most memorable experiences have to deal with working alongside our kids and grandkids. Training and working with our show calves, getting ready for 4-H achievement days and the state fair. We’ve even been to the World Dairy Expo a few times with our cattle. Watching the kids’ growth and experience as they work with the cattle makes me so proud. This year, we will be starting 4-H again as the grandkids are old enough to join. Another proud moment was the year Natalie was crowned South Dakota Dairy Princess, following in my footsteps 27 years later.
What have you enjoyed most about dairy farming or your tie to the dairy industry? I enjoy the cows and knowing that we are producing a safe, high-quality, natural product that benets all no matter what age you are. Working side by side with the cattle from day one and that rst bottle of colostrum. Watching her grow until she becomes a productive member of the herd. Of course, we have our favorites, but we love them all. How do you stay connected with others in the industry? Talking to producers when they come into the vet clinic and learning from our company reps is about the only time I get to visit with others. Reading dairy magazines and different internet articles and talking with other dairy producers at the state fair are some other contacts. Who is someone in the industry who has inspired you? Andy Clawson was the dairy superintendent at the South Dakota State Fair for many years. He knew cattle and the dairy business. He was a hard worker and a good friend. Andy always made everyone feel important. If you could give a tour of your farm to a prominent woman in today’s society, who would it be? I would invite South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to tour our farm. Keeping her informed about life on a small-sized family dairy farm would help to get our views across. She is well-versed and would be a great ally in the eld. Showing her day-to-day life on our farm and how we have diversied over the years to be sustainable and yet continue the way of life we have chosen.
FARM INFORMATION STATION Joe Gill • Farm Director
What is the best vacation you have ever taken? Attending national Holstein conventions with our kids competing in dairy jeopardy and dairy quiz bowl have been very enjoyable and a great experience for all of us.
SERVING CENTRAL MINNESOTA FOR OVER 50 YEARS Catch the Dairy Star’s Mark Klaphake with Joe Gill at 6:45 a.m. the 2nd & 4th Fridays of the month on KASM!
PO Box 160, Albany, MN • (320) 845-2184 • Fax (320) 845-2187
tfn
What are some words you like to live by? Always keep trying. Strive every day to do your best. Don’t settle for ne, be great.
NOW AVAILABLE AT KBS
HEADLOCK BOTTLE FEEDING
Perfect Solution for Group Calf Feeding Applications
• • • • •
All galvanized heavy duty components Completely adjustable Simple to install Universal bottle holder, accommodates 2 qt, 3 qt and 4 qt bottles Adjustable face shield limits face to face contact while drinking
(507) 534-3855 WWW.KBSCOMPANIES.COM
Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020 • Page 37
Lyseth bags ďƒžrst bear
6$8. &(175( 01 3KRQH
ZZZ PPFMG FRP
2017, 640 Hrs, RWA, 900R42 Tires, Active Fill Control, Harvest Lab and Guidance Ready, Tier 2 Engine, Scherer Kernel Processor, Leather, Dual Header Drive
$
PHOTO SUBMITTED
KayĆ&#x; Lyseth poses with the bear she shot Oct. 3 near Hinckley, Minn. This was Lyseth’s ďƒžrst season hunĆ&#x;ng bear. She owns 15 cows.
Hinckley family farm proves good hunting ground By Andrea Borgerding andrea.b@dairystar.com
HINCKLEY, Minn. – It was not the same bear she had her eye on earlier in the season, but Kayti Lyseth is pleased with the black bear she harvested Oct. 3 on her family’s farm near Hinckley. “I’ve been bear hunting full time the past two years,â€? Lyseth said. “This year was the ďƒžrst time I got one.â€? Lyseth, a regional calf and heifer nutrition specialist and owner of 15 registered Jersey cows, spent three weekends during Minnesota’s bear hunting season sitting in one of her family’s ďƒžve bear stands placed throughout their woods. “I hunted in the evenings on Friday, Saturday and Sunday,â€? Lyseth said. “It is really relaxing for me to go out and sit in the woods.â€? Lyseth grew up hunting with her family, having shot her ďƒžrst deer at 11 years old. She has gone deer hunting every year since. Shooting a bear was on her to-do list for several years. On the weekends, Lyseth went out
to the bear stand late in the afternoons at about 3 p.m. and stayed until about 7:30 p.m. In her location, Lyseth is able to bait bears but cannot use dogs to hunt bears. The Lyseths use 50-gallon barrels of non-food grade cereal or cookie dough to bait bears. They have been doing this for 15 years. But for Lyseth to see a bear, ďƒžrst the weather had to cool down. “Bears don’t like to move when it’s warm outside,â€? Lyseth said. “It cooled down the weekend I shot my bear. All the leaves were falling, and it was prefect fall weather for hunting.â€? The ďƒžrst weekend of bear season, Lyseth was sitting in her favorite stand when a good size bear came into sight. The bear did not make it all the way to the bait before he caught Lyseth’s scent. “He kind of looked up at me, gave me a couple sniffs and then slowly walked away,â€? Lyseth said. “He never turned broadside for me that I could get a shot on him.â€? Lyseth was disappointed but resolved to continue hunting the following weekend. On Oct. 3, Lyseth spotted another bear. This bear, about a 2-year-old male, went right up to the bait. Lyseth said she could hear him coming as he stepped on the crunchy leaves. “I watched him through my scope Turn to LYSETH | Page 38
Does your milking equipment need maintenance? We service all dairy equipment! Give us a call to schedule a visit. 1010 Hoeschler Dr. • Sparta, WI 54656
DAIRY EQUIPMENT INC. Celebrating over 40 Years in Business
Phone: 608-269-3830 Toll Free: 1-888-863-0227 Email: prestonde@prestonde.com
408,900
8700, 2017, 640 Hrs, RWA ........................$408,900 8600, 2016, 785 Hrs, RWA ........................$359,000 8600, 2017, 792 Hrs, RWA ........................$325,900 8600, 2015, 1197 Hrs, RWA ......................$262,500 8600, 2015, 1531 Hrs, RWA ......................$236,400 8500, 2016, 665 Hrs, RWA ........................$329,000 8500, 2016, 588 Hrs, RWA ....................... $315,000 8300, 2017, 350 Hrs, RWA ........................$336,400 7780, 2014, 1301 Hrs, RWA ......................$239,000 6810, 1996, 4925 Hrs, 2WD ........................$29,500 NH FR9090, 2008,1998 Hrs ..................... $139,000 All hours listed are “cutter hours�.
Call today for details on our Easy-Lease financing!
Other machines available for lease also. Subject to credit approval. Call for details.
Page 38 • Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020
ConƟnued from LYSETH | Page 37
for about a minute until he turned broadside so I could get a good shot,” Lyseth said. “I never want to shoot an animal until I know I have a good shot for an effective kill.” Lyseth shot him with her .243 rie. “I knew I had a clean shot on him so it was just a matter of tracking him,” Lyseth said. She called her dad, Joe, and went to get a fourwheeler. After waiting about 40 minutes, Lyseth tracked the bear about 75 yards from the bait. “You denitely get a rush after you pull the trigger,” Lyseth said. “It’s so exciting. I get that same feeling of satisfaction that farmers do of providing food for your family.” Lyseth and her dad brought the bear back to the farmsite where Lyseth gutted him. They did not
“The thrill of the hunt and anticipating the bear is something I like.” KAYTI LYSETH, HUNTER
weigh the bear. Lyseth took the bear to a local butcher shop to be processed. She will have about 70 pounds of packaged meat including steaks, hamburger, backstraps and snack sticks. The backstraps are the most tender and Lyseth’s favorite cut off a bear. “The meat is a little more gamey and greasy,” Lyseth said. “The marbling is pretty nice as there is more fat on a bear.” Lyseth will be sharing her bounty of bear meat with family and neighbors. The joy of harvesting wildlife for her family is just one of the reasons Lyseth returns to the woods to hunt every year. “The thrill of the hunt and anticipating the bear is something I like,” Lyseth said. “Some nights you go without seeing anything but squirrels and chipmunks, but I still enjoy that. Just being out in the woods is something I’ve enjoyed since I was younger.”
SDSU’s Dairy Research and Training Facility leads top breeding program A Brown Swiss heifer from the SDSU Dairy Herd, Campanile Sax 536 NP, was the top seller at the recent 74th Annual Minnesota Brown Swiss Association Sale. The SDSU Dairy Research and Training Facility leads a top breeding program for its herd, in addition to providing unique learning opportunities for students. “SDSU is one of only a few universities in the United States to have Brown Swiss,” said Danielle Tews, Dairy Research and Training Facility assistant manager. “The Brown Swiss are used in classes and labs to highlight the differences between colored breeds, which are less popular in the United States, and Holsteins.” Through teaching, research and hands-on work experience in the Dairy and Food Science Department, students gain skills needed for tomorrow’s dairy industry. “The Dairy Research and Training Facility allows undergraduate and graduate students to learn and apply skills essential for the dairy industry,” Tews explained. “We also conduct high-quality research on nutrition and herd management practices. By conducting research trials, we not only give students opportunities for hands-on experiments and demonstrations, but we also help improve the protability of dairy herds in the United States.” The Dairy Research and Training Facility employs about 20 students who are responsible for almost every aspect of running the dairy farm, including feeding, milking, calf care, reproduction and more. “This provides students with real-life experiences that cannot be taught in the classroom,” Tews said. “Students can take these experiences and apply them to their future careers after graduation.” The herd at SDSU consists of 50 Brown Swiss cattle and 260 Holstein cattle, including Red and White Holsteins. “We have two main goals for our Brown Swiss herd: genomics and showing,” Tews said. “For genomics, we evaluate each cow’s genetic potential utilizing the Progressive Performance Ranking (PPR).”
The PPR is the ranking system used by the Brown Swiss Cattle Breeders’ Association to compare all animals in the breed. SDSU’s goal is to breed cows with strong genetic potential, which includes but is not limited to, strong udder traits, milk production and reproductive performance. “We are using embryo transfer and in vitro fertilization to expand on high-quality genetics. We can quickly multiply the genetics from the top females, allowing our herd’s genetics to improve more efciently,” Tews said. One highlight was when Campanile Silver 513ET, a heifer from the SDSU Brown Swiss herd, ranked in the top 20 in the nation for PPR in 2019. “Our goal for showing cattle is to compete at the national level. There are several universities that exhibit cattle at local shows and even fewer that compete at the national level. We want to promote SDSU and the Dairy and Food Science Department as well as recruit students from other states,” Tews explained. At the 2019 World Dairy Expo National Brown Swiss Show, SDSU exhibited Cutting Edge D NadineET, who placed eighth in the Fall Yearling class. The Dairy Research and Training Facility has similar goals for its Holstein herd. Utilizing the Total Performance Index (TPI), SDSU strives for strong genetic potential for its Holsteins in milk production, reproductive performance, feed efciency and longevity. An extensive embryo transfer and in vitro fertilization program is implemented in the Holstein herd as well. Campanile Dfnt 7481-Red ET was the champion junior two-year-old at the 2019 Minnesota State Red and White Holstein show and was named AllMinnesota junior two-year-old. A unique aspect of the Dairy and Food Science program at SDSU is the ability for students to experience the complete dairy journey, from farm to table. Thus, milk produced at the Dairy Research and Training Facility by students is processed at the Davis Dairy Plant on campus by students.
CALL YOUR LOCAL GEHL DEALER TODAY!
WE GREW UP ON
THE FARM
MINNESOTA • A&C Farm Service Inc. Paynesville, MN • Mid-Central Equipment Henning, MN • Northland Farm Systems Inc. Owatonna, MN
WISCONSIN • Lindstrom Equipment Mondovi & Menomonie,WI • Luxemburg Motor Company Luxemburg, WI
SOUTH DAKOTA • Westside Implement, Inc. Clark, SD
SINCE 1859, GEHL HAS CREATED INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR EQUIPMENT OWNERS AND USERS.
IOWA
Today, Gehl carries the tradition forward with a complete line of skid loaders, track ORDGHUV DQG DUWLFXODWHG ORDGHUV GHVLJQHG ZLWK SURGXFWLYLW\ DQG HI¿FLHQF\ LQ PLQG
• Baumler Implement West Union, IA
Plus a full line of EDGE attachments are available to add more versatility around WKH MREVLWH ZLWK \RXU *HKO HTXLSPHQW
• Reiser Implement Waukon, IA • Van’s Implement Hull, IA
CHOOSE G E N U I N E
™
P A R T S
FOR YOUR GEHL EQUIPMENT
Dairy prole
Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020 • Page 39
sponsored by
Wilson Organic Dairy Erin and Torray Wilson and their children, Lewis, 3, James, 4, Nora, 7, and Audrey, 9. Paullina, Iowa O’Brien County 110 cows
What do you enjoy most about dairy farming? Taking care of the animals and watching them grow. Tracking the cow family lines in our herd and seeing how they improve. We enjoy simply watching the cattle graze, and seeing how they heal and improve the land.
How did you get into farming? Erin grew up on a dairy farm in northeastern Iowa, but Torray was raised on a crop and hog operation. After Torray read the book “Paddock Shift” in junior high, he got interested in grazing and started grazing a ock of sheep. We met when Torray did a college internship at Erin’s parents’ farm. We got married in 2009 and rented a former hog farm from Torray’s family. We built a milking parlor in 2011 and started milking in 2012. We began to sell our milk to Organic Valley in 2016.
What advice would you give other dairy farmers? If you want to do something alternative, make sure you have a market for it rst. Be humble enough to listen to your team of advisors.
What are your thoughts and concerns about the dairy industry in the next year? We are concerned about changes in restaurant and supermarket sales and all of the market volatility we’ve seen lately. Unstable milk prices hurt the entire industry. We are also concerned about rising hauling costs. What is the latest technology you have implemented on your farm and the purpose for it? This past spring, Torray built his own GPS RTK auto steer system. He uses it for hauling manure and keeping track of when and where we have applied manure. What is a management change you have made in the past year that has benetted you? We started using PC
What has been the best purchase you have made on your farm? I like my Gallagher fencing reel, but I would have to say the best purchase has been our skidloader. I like that I no longer get cold in the winter.
The Wilson family – Erin, James, 4, Nora, 7, Audrey, 9, and Torray holding Lewis, 3 – milks 110 cows on their organic dairy near Paullina, Iowa.
What has been your biggest accomplishment while dairy farming? Creating a dairy farm where there wasn’t one before.
How do you retain a good working relationship with your employees? We pay them well and make sure they get time off when they want it. We treat them like family. We do fall freshening, so the work is somewhat seasonal. August and September are pretty intense.
What are your plans for your dairy in the next year and the next ve years? Organic Valley has increased our quota, so we will be adding 15 or so cows to our herd during the next year. This should help us with our hauling charges. Over the next ve years, we plan to improve our winter housing and continue to improve our pastures.
JERRY NELSON/DAIRY STAR
Dart. The management reports are useful. We found that the reports are a great tool for helping us select the bulls we will use for cleanup. What cost-saving steps have you implemented? We cut back on the population of our silage corn and drilled forage sorghum into the corn right after it was planted. The sorghum grew so fast that it outcompeted the weeds. We did not have to do any cultivation. Our silage corn/forage sorghum combination yielded 28.5 tons per acre.
Tell us about a skill you possess that makes dairy farming easier for you. We can move a paddock in 5 to 15 minutes. All of our ATVs are equipped to put up an electric fence in one pass.
What do you and your family like to do when you are not doing chores? Our family likes to do cycling, go camping, canoeing and kayaking. During the wintertime, we read aloud to the kids.
Call about our leafy corn hybrid to make great corn silage! Make extra money and become a dealer! Looking for new dealers across the Midwest.
NEW & USED EQUIPMENT
Mt. Hope, WI
608-988-4568
www.kussmaulseeds.com
A floor that works as hard as you do! EASY TO CLEAN!
(3) Used V660 - One has 13,000 bales; 2,100 bales; and 4,500 bales McHale 5500 with 2,600 bales
IMPERVIOUS TO MILK AND WATER!
WE ALL KNOW T THE CONCRETE IS BAD!!
WE CAN REFURBISH IT! PARLORS, FEED BUNKS, MILKING AREAS, VET AREAS, NEW OR OLD FACILITIES
New Artex spreaders in stock!
Book now to receive winter discounts. Call Us At (715) 223-3361
Or visit us on-line at www.cloverdaleequip.com N13835 County Rd. E - Curtiss, WI 54422
JOHN BECKNER
320-808-3284 john@creativecoatingsllc.com
Page 40 • Dairy Star • Saturday, October 24, 2020
A better mixed feed ration, in less time, using less fuel.
Salesmen: Shawn Martin (608) 778-4554 or Joe Ryan (608) 778-2900
4116 Hwy. 80 S. Platteville, WI
Office: (608) 348-9401 or Toll Free: 1(888) BUY-Patz www.steinhartsfarmservice.com
4116 Hwy. 80 S. Platteville, WI