Visit us at the Minnesota Milk Dairy Conference and Expo November 29th - December 1st in Booth #908
DAIRY ST R “All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 18, No. 19
November 26, 2016
A novel bedding system Dorrich Dairy installs new composting equipment By Missy Mussman missy@dairystar.com
MISSY MUSSMAN/DAIRY STAR
Brad Vold examines a sample of composted bedding. The Volds are using Minnesota’s rst composƟng machine on their 400cow dairy near Glenwood, Minn.
GLENWOOD, Minn. – Dorrich Dairy has a bedding system different from all other farms in Minnesota. “It’s very popular in Europe, Canada and the Northwestern United States,” Brad Vold said. “There are a few in Wisconsin and on the east coast, but it’s a new concept to the Upper Midwest.” Dorrich Dairy installed a composting machine on Sept. 14. Richard Vold, his sons, Brad and Greg, and Brad’s wife, Suzanne, milk 400 cows in a double-8 herringbone parlor near Glenwood, Minn. “It looks like a TMR mixer with a hopper and conveyors,” Greg said. The composter uses both manure solids and feed refusals from the 400-cow herd to create the composted bedding. Feed refusals are ground up in a hopper and the manure runs through the separator, which en-
sures solids are at nearly 60 percent moisture before entering the drum. “It’s different than a digester because the manure runs through the separator rst not last,” Brad said. “It’s also an aerobic system instead of the anaerobic system the digesters use.” The manure solids are then moved to the composting drum, along with small increments of feed refusals. “We trickle in the feed refusals because we don’t want to overload the manure with it,” Greg said. “That helps keep the compost consistent.” The mixture remains in the composter for nearly 25 hours and reaches 130 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. “The compost heats itself,” Suzanne said. “We don’t have to use any additional energy to heat it in the drum.” As it exits the drum, the composted solids are at 60 percent moisture and are stored in a pile at one end of the barn. The transition to the com-
Thankful to be alive
Lubitz recovering from head injuries By Missy Mussman missy@dairystar.com
PERHAM, Minn. – Jack and Janice Lubitz will be feeling extra thankful at this year’s Thanksgiving, who milk 35 cows on their farm near Perham, Minn. On Oct. 22, Jack was struck in the head by a 16-inch tree branch. The incident resulted in multiple fractures to the top of his head, a fracture at the base of his skull where the spine attaches, fractures to both jaws, a fractured nose and right eye socket, a brain injury and a shattered right side of his face. “I can’t remember anything that happened up until I woke up the next day in the hospital,” Jack said. That day, Jack, Janice, their daughter and son-in-law, Jessica and Mike Dupuis, and their children, Hunter, 10, and Mason, 7, were out in the woods cutting down a few trees for re wood
MISSY MUSSMAN/DAIRY STAR
Jack Lubitz, pictured with his wife, Janice, is recovering from mulƟple fractures to his skull, nose, right eye socket and both jaws, a brain injury and a shaƩered right side of his face he sustained while cuƫng wood on Oct. 22. The Lubitz family milks 35 cows near Perham, Minn.
poster started in February when the farm Dorrich Dairy was purchasing 80 semi loads of digested manure solids bedding from each year for the past eight years said they were going to discontinue selling their bedding in September. “We were forced to go this route,” Greg said. “They gave us a lot of lead time and offered to keep us lled until we were set up, but it goes quickly. We were in between a rock and a hard place.” The Volds researched other bedding options. After ruling out straw, shavings and green solids, the Volds looked closely at sand, but would have to redo their entire manure storage system. “With milk prices where they were, it was not going to work,” Suzanne said. “Our monthly costs would have more than doubled.” Finally, the Volds came across the composter.
Turn to DORRICH | Page 7
before Mike’s surprise birthday party later that afternoon. With only a tree or two left before nishing up at 3:45 p.m., Janice was bracing the tree they were cutting down with her tractor, while Jack was on another tractor. Soon, their carefully laid plans to nish on time came to a screeching halt. “I didn’t see the dead tree behind me,” Janice said. “My tractor tire nicked it and it fell just past my shoulder.” Meanwhile, Jack was in the process of dismounting his tractor when the 16inch branch hit him on the top of his head. “I tucked my shoulders in to miss the tree but it hit the throttle. The next thing I heard is Jessica yelling, ‘Daddy’s down. Daddy’s down,” Janice said. Janice quickly shut off the tractor and raced to Jack who lay unconscious. “He was out for four minutes, breathing but wasn’t responding at all,” Janice said with tears in her eyes. “He started gurgling. I thought he was dying.” Immediately, Janice rested Jack’s Turn to LUBITZ | Page 5
Page 2 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016
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 Amanda Thooft 320-352-6303 amanda.t@dairystar.com Consultant Jerry Jennissen 320-346-2292 Editorial Staff Andrea Borgerding - Managing Editor (320) 352-6303 • andrea.b@dairystar.com Krista Kuzma - Assistant Editor (507) 259-8159 • krista.k@dairystar.com Missy Mussman (320) 429-1084 missy@dairystar.com Ron Johnson (608) 874-4243 ron.j@dairystar.com Ruth Klossner (507) 240-0048 cowlady@centurylink.net Jennifer Coyne (320) 352-6303 jenn@dairystar.com Cassie Olson (715) 245-6848 cassie.o@dairystar.com Brittany Olson (320) 352-6303 brittany.o@dairystar.com Advertising Sales Main Ofďƒžce: 320-352-6303 Fax: 320-352-5647 Deadline is 5 p.m. of the Friday the week before publication
North America dealers. A glance at what’s inside
Dairy Proďƒžle brought to you by your
In this issue we have a variety of story topics starting out with one about inspection of robotic milking facilities. Since 2003, automated milking systems have had to follow regulations in accordance with the Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Read about how dairy farmers go about these regulations and how it has changed since robotic milkers have entered the dairy scene. The story can be found on pages 10-11 in ďƒžrst section. With this year’s ďƒželdwork done or nearing the end, By Mark Klaphake farmers may be looking at their options for next year. For many, this means renting cropland. During a recent Editor seminar in Melrose, Minn., a University of Minnesota extension educator talked about discussing fair rental agreements and how to set up a contract. Three options are a lease, a ďƒ&#x;exible lease or a ďƒ&#x;exible crop price. Read more about the workshop on pages 22-23 in ďƒžrst section. This issue’s Day in the Life feature followed the Hanson family on Nov. 12 on their 28-cow dairy near Clitherall, Minn. The day included both fall ďƒželdwork and deer hunting. Read about the family’s fall harvest and whether or not they ďƒžlled their tags for the season on pages 18, 20-21 in second section. Like many farmers, the Utechts are busy in the fall; however, in addition to regular chores on their 50-cow dairy and fall ďƒželdwork, Rick and JJ Utecht have to catch Friday night football games to watch their four sons – Nathan, Mitchell, Dylan and Derrick – play together on the Eden Valley-Watkins High School football team. Read about how they make it work and the success of this year’s football team on pages 3-5 in second section. The school year is a busy time for Dean Wargin, who milks 40 cows near Hermantown, Minn. Along with being a dairy farmer, Wargin is the Hermantown school district’s transportation director. Although it makes for a tight schedule, the off-farm job helps his income and gives him the satisfaction of helping kids get to and from school safely. Read his story on pages 16-17 in second section. In this issue’s Reproduction Leaders feature, the Read family’s 120-cow registered Brown Swiss herd had a 2015 average pregnancy rate of 31 percent. For the past three years, the Reads have used the SCR cow monitoring system to help them ďƒžnd animals that are in heat. Read on pages 18, 20 in ďƒžrst section about the protocols they use on their farm to get cows pregnant.
Favorite quotes from this issue:
“...we are literally farming among our consumers and I consider that a strength.�
- Jannes Maes (Second Section, Pages 14-15)
“We have to listen to what consumers want or we go out of business. The truth is, the facts don’t matter; it is very limited what one company can do to combat an image.� - Deb Arcoleo (Third Section, Pages 6-7)
By the Numbers
age of Marian Saemrow, who 89: The spends seven hours a day doing chores on her family’s dairy. (First Section, Page 12)
of experience Freddy Frickson 59: Years has as an auctioneer. (Second Section, Pages 30-31)
SPREADS TOUGH MATERIALS QUICKLY AND EVENLY
Sales Manager - Jeff Weyer (Northern MN, East Central MN) 320-260-8505 (cell) jeff.w@dairystar.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 Lori Menke (Eastern Iowa, Southern WI) 563-608-6477 • lori.m@dairystar.com Megan Stuessel (Western Wisconsin) 608-387-1202 • megan.s@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.
VertiSpreadÂŽ Vertical Beaters
PS 150 AND 160 PROSPREADŽ APRON BOX SPREADER • Horizontal, VertiSpreadŽ and AccuSpreadŽ discharge options • Variable discharge rate control for more precise nutrient placement • Sturdy construction and heavy-duty apron for long service life AccuSpreadŽ Spinner Discharge
Lindell Sales & Service Cannon Falls, MN
Hammell Equipment &KDWĹľHOG 01 (LW]HQ 01
Adkins Equipment 'HWURLW /DNHV 01
Northland Dairy Supply (DJOH %HQG 01
500 & 600 heaped cu. ft. capacities
KuhnNorthAmerica.com
Isaacson Sales & Service
Minnesota Ag Group
Blue Hilltop
Lake Henry Implement
Schlauderaff Implement
Dairyland Supply
Fluegge’s Ag
Werner Implement
Northland Farm Systems
United Farmers Cooperative
/DID\HWWH 01
/DNH :LOVRQ 01 /LWFKĹľHOG 01 0RUD 01
Owatonna, MN
INVEST IN QUALITY ÂŽ
3ODLQYLHZ 01
3D\QHVYLOOH 01
6DXN &HQWUH 01 9HUPLOOLRQ 01 :DFRQLD 01
Visit your local Kuhn Knight Dealer today!
Schuneman Equipment Co. %URRNLQJV 6' 0LOEDQN 6' :DWHUWRZQ 6'
Scott Supply 0LWFKHOO 6'
Pfeifer Implement Sioux Falls, SD
Mark's Machinery :DJQHU 6' <DQNWRQ 6'
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016 • Page 3
It’s all inside... FIRST SECTION
Perham
First Section: Pages 1, 5 - 6
Third Section: Pages 10 - 11
Roseau
Lake of the Woods
Marshall
Beltrami
Becker
Pages 6 - 7
PDPW food, consumer panels share viewpoints on agriculture
Douglas Charles Mix
n nso
Moody
McCook Minnehaha
Hutchinson
Lincoln
Wright Hennepin
McLeod
Carver Scott
Sibley Redwood
Nicollet Brown
Murray
Rock
Nobles
Second Section: Pages 22 - 23
Dakota Goodhue
Rice
Wabasha
Cottonwood Watonwan Blue Earth Waseca Steele Dodge Olmsted Jackson
Martin
Faribault
Freeborn
Mower
Winona
Fillimore
Lanesboro
Houston
Lincoln Clay
Frickson works as auctioneer for over half a century
First Section: Pages 30 - 31
Turner
Bon Yankton Homme
Pages 14, 16 Dairy Calendar
Union
Lyon
Osceola Dickinson Emmet
Sioux
O’Brien
Clay
Palo Alto
Kossuth
FROM OUR SIDE OF THE FENCE: What are you thankful for this harvest season? Pages 15-16
Pages 17 - 18 Some Udder Stuff Pages 19 - 23 Classieds
Lake
Meeker
Renville
Yellow Medicine Lyon
Isanti
Winona chapter to host 75th anniversary celebration Dec. 4
Ha
Da
vis
on
Sa nb
Miner
Brookings
Kandiyohi
Chippewa
Pipestone
or n
Kingsbury
Deuel
Winona
Anoka
Swift
First Section: Pages 18, 20
go
Moser family’s Christmas wish: a barn full of cows
Hamlin
Benton
Stearns
Pope
Sherburne
Lac Qui Parle
Codington
Mille Lacs
Morrison
Douglas
Stevens
Grant Clark
Pine
isa
Pages 2- 3
Roberts
Day
Big Sto Stone
Crow Wing
Todd Grant
Lyle
Cow monitoring system gives Reads 31 percent pregnancy rate
Carlton
r
Marshall
Aitkin
Ch
THIRD SECTION
Tra ve
Third Section: Page 5
rse
Wells announces $40 million expansion
Pages 14-15 Dairying Around the World Page 25 Mid-American Hay Auction Results
Page 33 Solutions to common farm transfer challenges Pages 34 - 35 Pechacek farms in city limits, has SCC of 56,000 Pages 30, 32 People in Dairy Pages 36 - 37 Sachs family named Olmsted County Farm Family of the Year Pages 30-31 Dairy Recipes
Ottertail
Wilkin
Le Mars
Cass
Wadena
SECOND SECTION
Pages 3 - 4 Four Utecht brothers part of EVW team playing for state title Pages 6-7 Bechtels working through another challenging year Pages 10-11 The “Mielke” Market Weekly Page 12 Dairy markets Page 13 Area hay auction results
Third Section: Page 9
sey
Clay
Itasca
Washinton
First Section: Pages 1, 7
en
nom
Mah
Dairy’s Star Youth: Nick Seitzer
Kanabec
Norman
Second Section: Pages 16 - 17
St. Peter
Hubbard
Polk
Dorrich Dairy installs new composting equipment
First Section: Pages 22 - 23
Durovecs expand herd, house cows outside
St. Louis
Red Lake
Glenwood
Hermantown
Koochiching
Pennington
Ra m
Kittson
Melrose
Van Nurden discusses fair rental agreements
Kids Corner: The Schleders
eu
Second Section: Pages 18, 20 - 21
Sebeka
Lubitz recovering from head injury
Su
A day in the life of the Hanson family
Le
Clitherall
Clearwater
Pages 10 - 11 How automated systems meet federal guidelines Pages 8 - 9 Ag Insider Page 26 FSA News & Notes Page 27 Dairy in the Suburbs Page 28 What if tomorrow never comes? Page 29 An attitude of gratitude this Thanksgiving season Page 30 Dear County Agent Guy Page 31 A grand World Dairy Expo Page 32 Just Thinking Out loud Page 33 Dairy Good Life Page 34 Breezy Hill Dairy welcomes two sets of triplets this year Page 35 Spraying dandelions in Roundup Ready alfalfa can pay /Be kind and thankful Page 36 Women in Jeans: Annie Jepsen
Plymouth
Morristown, Minn.
Zone 1
For additional stories from our other zone, log on to www.dairystar.com
Dairy Prole: Jake Golombeski Page 39
When they breathe easy, so do you No matter the weather outside, GEA keeps your cows comfortable, healthy and productive inside. Comfortable cows are the most productive. Just like
to provide ideal barn temperature, air quality and
you, they perform their best when they are cool, calm
humidity levels. With our total ventilation solutions,
and content. GEA’s industry-leading curtains and fan
your cows will breathe easier — and so will you. Contact
systems can be integrated with automation technology
your GEA barn equipment representative today.
Page 4 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016
NEW EQUIPMENT SAUK CENTRE
TRACTORS NH TS6.130, Cab, FWA, Pwr. Shuttle .......In Stock! NH Boomer 37 & 47 with Loader ...............In Stock! NH Workmaster 33 & 37 tractors...............In Stock! NH T4.100 & 110 Utility, Cab & Loader .......................... 4 to choose from! NH T6.165 Plus & T6.180 Plus..................In Stock! SKID LOADERS NH L218, L220, L228 ............................... In Stock! HAY TOOLS NH SpeedRower 220 & 260 ..................... In Stock! NH Procart 819, 1022, 1225 Rakes...........In Stock! NH Dura-Vee 1020, 1225, 1428 Rakes .....In Stock! Kemco Inline Bale Wrappers .....................In Stock! NH H7230 & DB313R Discbines ...............In Stock! NH ProRotor 3223 Rotary Rake, 23’ .........In Stock! BALERS NH RB450 Roto-Cut, RB560 Specialty Crop & Bale Slice ..............................................In Stock! TILLAGE Salford 8208 Plow, 8 Bottom .....................In Stock! Salford I-2218, 18’ Vertical Tillage.............In Stock! Salford 9809, HD Ripper, 9 Shank ............In Stock! GRAIN HANDLING Art’s Way 6530 Grinder Mixer, 165 Bu Tank ..........................................In Stock! Parker 505 Gravity Box...... .......................In Stock! FORAGE Miller Pro 5300 18’ Forage Box, 14T .........In Stock! NH FP240 & FR500 Forage Harvesters ....In Stock!
0% FINANCING OR CASH BACK! NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 31.
The end of 2016 is a perfect opportunity to save big. Take advantage of 0% FINANCING* or choose cash back on current-year New Holland tractors and equipment. Hurry in. It’s out with the old, in with the new during our Year-End Celebration. And it all ends December 31, 2016.
SAUK CENTRE, MN
320-352-6543 • Hwy. 71 South
PIERZ, MN
320-468-2161 • Hwy. 27 West
Store Hours: Monday-Friday 8-5, Saturday Seasonal
USED EQUIPMENT SAUK CENTRE
TRACTORS NH 8770, 2WD, 20.8x42 Duals ................... $49,000 NH T7000 Front PTO/3 Point Kit .................. $6,500 NH TV140, Loader, New Tires .................... $57,500 McCormick CT65U, Cab, Loader, Ag Tires .. Just In! SKID LOADERS NH L230, Cab Heat, A/C, Air Seat ............. .$36,900 NH L220, Cab, Heat, AC, 2 Speed .............. $31,500 HAY TOOLS NH 166, Extension, Dual Drive & Pickup Wheels........................................... $6,500 NH 1475, 14’ Haybine ................................. $13,500 BALERS NH BR7070, Crop Cutter ............................. $28,900 NH BR7090, Net Only, Wide P/U ................ $27,900 NH BR780A, Twine/Net, Wide P/U.............. $11,500 JD 568, Net/Twine, Wide P/U ...................... $19,000 TILLAGE Salford 8214 Plow, 14 Bottom ..................... $55,500 JD 3710, 10 Bottom Plow. ........................... $42,500 FORAGE Krone EC7500 ............................................. $29,500 NH 365W Hay Head, 15’, Off FX25. .............. $5,900 NH 919A4 CH, 4R-36�, Fits 1915 .................. $1,750 MANURE SPREADERS NH 195, Hydraulic Drive ................................ $8,900 MISCELLANEOUS Berti TA-220 Offset Flail Mower. ................... $4,500
PIERZ
www.modernfarmequipment.com
TRACTORS JD 4055, 2WD, 1650 Hrs., Sharp ................ $36,900 NH TC30, FWA, 9x3 Gear, 914A Mower..... $10,900
'PS $PNNFSDJBM VTF POMZ $VTUPNFS QBSUJDJQBUJPO TVCKFDU UP DSFEJU RVBMJmDBUJPO BOE BQQSPWBM CZ $/) *OEVTUSJBM $BQJUBM "NFSJDB --$ 4FF ZPVS QBSUJDJQBUJOH /FX )PMMBOE EFBMFS GPS EFUBJMT BOE FMJHJCJMJUZ SFRVJSFNFOUT %PXO QBZNFOU NBZ CF SFRVJSFE 0GGFS HPPE UISPVHI %FDFNCFS BU QBSUJDJQBUJOH /FX )PMMBOE EFBMFST JO UIF 6OJUFE 4UBUFT /PU BMM DVTUPNFST PS BQQMJDBOUT NBZ RVBMJGZ GPS UIJT SBUF PS UFSN $/) *OEVTUSJBM $BQJUBM "NFSJDB --$ TUBOEBSE UFSNT BOE DPOEJUJPOT BQQMZ 5BYFT GSFJHIU TFU VQ EFMJWFSZ BEEJUJPOBM PQUJPOT PS BUUBDINFOUT OPU JODMVEFE JO QSJDF 0GGFS TVCKFDU UP DIBOHF PS DBODFMMBUJPO XJUIPVU OPUJDF ÂŞ $/) *OEVTUSJBM $BQJUBM "NFSJDB --$ "MM SJHIUT SFTFS WFE /FX )PMMBOE "HSJDVMUVSF JT B USBEFNBSL SFHJTUFSFE J O UIF 6OJUFE 4UBUFT BOE NBOZ PUIFS DPVOUSJFT PXOFE CZ PS MJDFOTFE UP $/) *OEVTUSJBM / 7 JUT TVCTJEJBSJFT PS BGmMJBUFT $/) *OEVTUSJBM $BQJUBM BOE /FX )PMMBOE $POTUSVDUJPO BSF USBEFNBSLT JO UIF 6OJUFE 4UBUFT BOE NBOZ PUIFS DPVOUSJFT PXOFE CZ PS MJDFOTFE UP $/) *OEVTUSJBM / 7 JUT TVCTJEJBSJFT PS BGmMJBUFT
Sauk Centre, MN 320-352-6543 Pierz, MN 320-468-2161
Pierz, MN 320-468-2161
SKID LOADERS NH L230, Cab, Heat, A/C, Perf Pkg ............ $34,500 NH L225, Cab, Heat, AC ............................. $31,500 NH LS170, Cab, Heat, Hyd. Q-Tach ........... $19,700 HAY TOOLS NH 166 Inverter ............................................ Just In! NH 1411, 10’ 4� Discbine............................. $13,500 (2) NH 499, 12’ Haybines, 540 PTO ...................................Starting at $5,500 (2) NH 1475, 14’ Haybines ...........Starting at $3,500 M&W ER-10, 10 Wheel Carted Rake ............ $2,400 BALERS NH BR780, Net/Twine, Bale Command ..... $17,500 NH BR740a, Auto-Wrap, Wide P/U, Monitor$15,400 NH BR740, Bale Slice, Net/Twine ............... $17,500 NH BR7060, Roto Cut ................................. $22,800 NH 664, Auto-Wrap, Twine, 540 PTO ......... $11,900 JD 327, 30 Thrower, 540 PTO....................... $3,900 JD 469 Premium, Net, Mega Wide P/U ....... $34,500 JD 547, Twine, Bale Ramps, 540 PTO.......... $8,200 TILLAGE Krause 8200, 25’ Disc, Cush. Gang ............ $35,500 GRAIN HANDLING Sudenga 8�x61’, 540 PTO Drive.................... $2,900 FORAGE NH FP230, 27P HH, 3PN CH, KP ............... $39,500 Miller Pro 5200, 16’ Rear, 12T Tandem ........ $7,800 NH 824 Corn Head, 38�, FP Adapter............. $4,500 MANURE SPREADERS NH 155, Splash Guard, New Tire .................. $7,900 MISCELLANEOUS Hiniker 5610, RH Discharge Stalk Chopper .. $7,900 NH 918 Flail Mower ....................................... $2,600 Grouser Skid loader tracks ................................Call!
Store Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8-5, Sat. Seasonal
www.modernfarmequipment.com
Reinke is the ďŹ rst in the industry to offer a touch screen control panel that displays a variable rate irrigation prescription. Not only will you have custom prescriptions that match topography, soil types and crops, you’ll be able to see each prescription right at the panel and easily select a new Rx depending on changing needs. Bottom line, there’s never been a better way to efďŹ ciently apply water and maximize every plant’s potential.
Sauk Centre, MN 320-352-6543
PIERZ
TRACTORS NH TS6.120 & TS6.140 ............................In Stock! NH T7.230 Classic, Power Shift, Super Steer ...........................................In Stock! NH T4.90, T4.100 & T4.110 Utility’s ..........In Stock! NH T6.180 Plus & T6.165 Plus..................In Stock! SKID LOADERS NH L218, L220 ..........................................In Stock! HAY TOOLS NH SpeedRower 220 & 260 ......................In Stock! NH H7220 & H7330 Discbines ..................In Stock! NH ProCart 819 and 1022 Rakes ..............In Stock! NH Dura-Vee 1225 & 1428 Rakes ............In Stock! Kemco Inline Bale Wrappers .....................In Stock! NH ProRotor 3114 & 3226 Rotary Rakes ..In Stock! NH H7230 & DB313R Discbines ...............In Stock! NH ProTed 3417........................................In Stock! Krone KW5.52T Tedder.............................In Stock! BALERS NH RB450, RB460, RB560 .......................In Stock! NH BC5070 Small Sq, 72 Thrower ............In Stock! TILLAGE Salford I-4124, HD Vert. Tillage, 24’ ..........In Stock! GRAIN HANDLING Parker 605 Gravity Box .............................In Stock! FORAGE NH FP240, Crop Proc., Tandems..............In Stock! MANURE SPREADERS NH DT2600, M2080, 185 & 195 SpreadersIn Stock! BBI Endurance Litter Spreaders, 18’ & 20’ In Stock! MISCELLANEOUS Messer Attachments and Rock Wagons .................................................In Stock!
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016 • Page 5
ConƟnued from LUBITZ | Page 1
Healthy Cows Start with
Healthy Calves Programs and support for every stage... from calf to cow and everything in between! MISSY MUSSMAN/DAIRY STAR
Jack Lubitz visits with Janice as she waters calves on Nov. 17. Jack is sƟll limited in what he can do aŌer his accident. head on her lap, and tried to control the bleeding with clothing and rags on hand, while Jessica was on the phone with 911. Not long after, Jack came to. “He kept ghting us trying to sit up,” Janice said. “It took everything in Jessica and I to hold him down.” Mike took Hunter and Mason to the house right as the ambulance arrived and drove the EMTs to Jack. They stabilized him and transported him to the Perham hospital. “When I got there, they’d done a CT scan and were preparing to y him to Fargo, N.D., due to brain trauma,” Janice said. “It was between 5 and 6 p.m., and I had no one lined up to milk cows. My entire chore crew was gone hunting. I didn’t feel comfortable sticking just anyone in the barn. The hardest decision I had to make was not going with him.” Thankfully, their daughter, Jamie Wepking, who lives in Moorhead, Minn., with her husband, Jon, and 3 month old daughter, Nora, stayed at the hospital with Jack.
“She was my eyes and ears when I couldn’t be there,” Janice said. Once Janice arrived home, she called Jack’s cousin, Dean Lubitz, and his wife, Ann. “Ann ew over here and helped me with chores,” Janice said. “She kept me talking and sane.” After chores, Ann and Janice drove to the Fargo hospital to see Jack. “Both of his eyelids were black from the brain injury,” Janice said. Eventually, the nurses gave Jack morphine so he could sleep. Janice and Ann left at midnight to go back to the farm so Janice could do chores the next morning before returning to Fargo. After four days in the intensive care unit, Jack was released Oct. 25 to go home. “Since the fractures were so close together, they didn’t need to do surgery,” Janice said. But Jack had a lot of restrictions including minimal TV, no reading, minimal visitation, no loud noises and low lights and lots of rest to minimize the stimulation of the brain for the rst Turn to LUBITZ | Page 6
FEED THEM FAMO!
• Milk Replacers • Starter Feeds • Protein Concentrates • Premixes • Minerals • Animal Health Products • Lick Tubs
320-836-2145 or 800-450-2145
Check out our newly redesigned website to ½nd a Famo Feeds dealer near you!
www.famofeeds.com
Blue Hilltop, Inc. Your Mixer, Spreader, Hay Processor Headquarters We carry:
www.rotomix.com
MANCHESTER Livestock Auction, Inc.
(40 miles west of Dubuque, Iowa on 4 lane Highway 20)
DAIRY SALES 2nd Fridays Monthly at 11:00 AM Selling 150 to 250 Head
LLC
Dana Berreau
Sheep and Goats sell at 9:30 AM
Box 116, Lake Wilson, MN 56151
www.manchesterauction.com
507-879-3593 / 800-821-7092
563-927-2540
COMPLETE BARN SOLUTIONS WHATEVER YOUR DAIRY NEEDS OLD
NEW
Skyview Dairy, Inc • Hutchinson, MN • 1400 cows Double 20 parlor remodel, new vertical lift stalls, cabinets, and DemaTron 70 detachers
Call us to find out how we can upgrade your parlor and make it more efficient.
www.midwestlivestock.com
PINE ISLAND, MN • 800-233-8937 BEATRICE, NE • 800-342-5657 SIOUX FALLS, SD • 800-705-1447 MENOMONIE, WI • 715-235-5144 OWEN, WI • 715-229-4740
Page 6 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016
ConĆ&#x;nued from LUBITZ | Page 5
You've got it!
SOMBODY WANTS IT!
MISSY MUSSMAN/DAIRY STAR
sell it in the
Jack Lubitz admires a get well poster along with numerous get well cards and giĹŒs he received aĹŒer returning from the hospital. three weeks. “We hung a sign on our door to notify our visitors,â€? Janice said. Shortly after, the help began to pour in from neighbors, family, friends, their church and so many others. “Those ďƒžrst two days, we had 19 people at any given time in and out of our driveway,â€? Janice said. Their neighbors, Steve Hoehne, and his family picked the rest of their corn for them and did noon feedings in the barn. Another neighbor, Robbie Ruther, chisel plowed, and Dean Lubitz helped ďƒžx the silo unloader cable. So many others brought food, helped clean calf pens, cleaned sheds, ďƒžxed doors, insulated their basement for winter and helped with daily chores
“It’s just been amazing and overwhelming. There are still people helping us.� JANICE LUBITZ, DAIRY PRODUCER
Shop for New Holland clothing, toys, gifts and holiday home dÊcor at our store. You’ll find everything on their wish list and nd more. Stop in today. It’s where Santa shops for true blue gift ideas.
SAUK CENTRE, MN
320-352-6543 • Hwy. 71 South
PIERZ, MN
320-468-2161 • Hwy. 27 West est
Store Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30 - 5:30, Saturday 8:00 - 1:30
Save %
15
til Christmas
www.modernfarmequipment.com m ÂĽ $/) *OEVTUSJBM "NFSJDB --$ "MM SJHIUT SFTFSWFE /FX )PMMBOE "HSJDVMUVSF JT B USBEFNBSL SFHJTUFSFE JO UIF 6OJUFE 4UBUFT BOE NBOZ PUIFS DPVOUSJFT PXOFE CZ PS MJDFOTFE UP $/) *OEVTUSJBM / 7 JUT TVCTJEJBSJFT PS BGĂ MJBUFT /FX )PMMBOE $POTUSVDUJ PO J T B USBEFNBSL JO UIF 6OJUFE 4UBUFT BOE NBOZ PUIFS DPVOUSJFT PXOFE CZ PS MJDFOTFE UP $/) *OEVTUSJBM / 7 JUT TVCTJEJBSJFT PS BGĂ MJBUFT
in the barn. “It’s just been amazing and overwhelming,â€? Janice said. “There are still people helping us.â€? Even the Perham FFA Chapter lent a hand. “I’d heard about what happened on Facebook since I knew their daughters,â€? said Shell Tumberg, Perham FFA Advisor. A few chapter ofďƒžcers, who had already been helping the Lubitzes, expressed they wanted to pitch in. They donated the Lubitzes’ fruit back to them, but it did not end there. “The students told me that wasn’t
enough, and they were right,â€? Tumberg said. So, the FFA chapter brought a group of members after school to wash the milkhouse and pipeline, clean the mangers, bed stalls, clean the heifer shed for winter, ďƒžx a door and reinstall a calf fence. “The Lubitzes have always supported FFA, and I was so proud of these kids for doing it without question,â€? Tumberg said. “I have some kids with big hearts.â€? Although they have had a lot of help, Jack has been itching to get back outside. “It’s been hard to sit back and watch,â€? he said. “I’m looking forward to getting back out there.â€? Janice noticed it, too. “He watches out the window, and calls me to tell me what to do,â€? Janice said. “I caught him three doors up on the silo when we were ďƒžxing it.â€? Jack has started doing light work and has been in the barn, but he is still unable to lift over 10 pounds, climb or drive. “He won’t be able to do much until he’s cleared by the neurologist,â€? Janice said. “We’re waiting until he gets stronger to do too much else.â€? Despite those limitations, Jack physically looks as good as new. “I feel pretty great, too,â€? he said. After everything that happened, the Lubitzes are very grateful. “We have some amazing family, friends and neighbors,â€? Janice said. “It was a freak accident, and we’re lucky things have turned out the way they did.â€? Jack agreed. “I can’t ďƒžnd enough words to thank everyone that helped us,â€? Jack said. “Most of all, I’m just thankful to be alive.â€?
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016 • Page 7
ConƟnued from DORRICH | Page 1 “It made sense to continue working with that type of bedding,” Greg said. “It was the easiest transition and seemed to be the most economical.” The equipment arrived Aug. 30 and was running by Sept. 14, with the rst compost coming out of the drum Sept. 21. Originally, the machine was running manually, but the Volds switched it to an automatic system Nov. 4. When the equipment has problems, the company is able to dial into the program remotely to help x the issue. “There was a learning curve with this,” Greg said. “We’re still tweaking things and changing out settings constantly.” The Volds carried on as usual with applying bedding to the cows, but what has changed is the amount of bedding they are able to use. “We’re not applying the bare
minimum to get by,” Greg said. “We’re able to use more bedding at no additional cost.” Brad agreed. “Cow comfort has gone up,” he said. Additionally, the bacteria count of their bedding is averaging 8,700 units per milliliter, which has allowed them to maintain a somatic cell count of 150,000. “That [the bacteria count] is much lower than what we were getting from our purchased bedding,” Brad said. “But it’s a different kill process with an aerobic system instead of the digester’s anaerobic system.” Even though they are using more bedding, the Volds still have more bedding than they need with 60 tons being produced each week. “We only use 35 tons each week,” Richard said. “We’re able to sell the rest.”
MISSY MUSSMAN/DAIRY STAR
The Vold family – (from leŌ) Greg, Richard, Suzanne and Brad – use manure and feed refusals from their 400-cow herd in their new composter machine to produce bedding for their freestall barn.
MISSY MUSSMAN/DAIRY STAR
The composter has a drum, which composts the separated manure and ground feed refusals for nearly 25 hours.
Some of that bedding is sold to another dairy producer, who was receiving bedding from the Volds’ previous supplier, at $200 per semi load. “We kept the same price both he and us were paying before,” Greg said. Besides the extra income, Dorrich Dairy has seen potential benets for installing the system. One benet is the decreased use of fresh water in the manure system and more capacity for the lagoon. “We added water to keep the manure wet enough for the lagoon,” Greg said. “We’re pre-
“The curtains are efÀcient, easy to use, sturdy and reliable. The service was good and the crew was efÀcient. We recommend Roll-O-Matic curtains.”
Top Deck Farms, Westgate, IA Custom Àt to your new or existing building Motorized or Manual Options
Highest UV inhibitor and lock stitch style sewing for longer curtain life Get the full value of air quality control curtains at the touch of a button
minutes
dicting we could save close to one million gallons of fresh water, which will help us with sustainability.” Because of the potential extra lagoon capacity, the Volds could expand their herd to produce more milk. “That’s the carrot dangling in front of us with these lower milk prices,” Brad said. Although it will take a little more energy to run the machine, it has six variable frequency drives, which, Greg said, could be an energy saving. Currently, it costs $1,000 in electricity per month to run
New calf barn with 472’ of curtain
the machine, but with all of the excess bedding they’re selling, they are predicting to earn nearly $800 per month. “It just about covers our electricity costs,” Suzanne said. Even though the system is only two months old, the Volds are optimistic for the future. “We’re still learning, but it’s been working for us,” Greg said. Brad agreed. “We’re providing ourselves with a source of good, clean bedding,” Brad said. “It was a viable option for us and was the best t for our farm.”
Page 8 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016
Vilsack champions MPP, other risk management efforts During his visit to the National Association of it is affordable for dairy farmers and other small Farm Broadcasting annual meeting, Agriculture business people.â€? The MMPA meeting will be held Secretary Tom Vilsack reviewed his eight years during the Minnesota Dairy Conference and Expo at USDA. Vilsack touted the Agriculture Depart- Nov. 29-Dec. 1. ment’s work in conservation, market Ag Insider development, risk management and the Milk production increases farm safety net. “The ARC and PLC In October, U.S. milk production programs are now available to 1.7 milincreased 2.7 percent from year earlion farming operations and that’s more lier levels. In Minnesota, milk producparticipation than in the direct payment tion increased nearly 2 percent. South program,â€? he said. Vilsack also said Dakota milk output is up more than 8 $11 million in payments to dairy farmpercent. Wisconsin production went up ers. “The interesting fact about that is it 2.2 percent and California was up 1.8 could have been $40 million if producpercent. ers had simply kept the same level of coverage they had under the dairy marWho will be the next ag secretary? gin protection program from the previPresident-Elect Donald Trump By Don Wick ous year. For whatever reason, dairy is beginning to ďƒžll his new cabinet. farmers decided to scale back their For the agriculture secretary post, nuColumnist commitment to that program and purmerous names have been circulating. chased the catastrophic coverage. Had they stayed Chuck Conner, who is the president and CEO of where they were in 2015, they would have received the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, is on four times what was actually paid out.â€? that short-list. Mike McCloskey, who founded Fair Oaks Farm in Indiana, is another possibility. ForPolicy issues on the MMPA agenda mer Kansas Congressman Tim Huelskamp, forDuring the Minnesota Milk Producers Associa- mer Texas Governor Rick Perry, former Indiana tion annual meeting, dairy policy will get attention. Farm Bureau President Don Villwock and Kansas MMPA President Pat Lunemann said the Margin Governor Sam Brownback have also been identiProtection Program will be discussed. The cost of ďƒžed as potential choices for the USDA job. health insurance is also on the agenda. “ One of our top resolutions is health care. Let’s get it ďƒžxed so Dairy has a great story to tell Former South Dakota Agriculture Secretary Lucas Lentsch now represents 8,000 dairy farmers as CEO of Midwest Dairy Association. Lentsch is no stranger to the dairy industry, having grown up on a dairy farm in northeast South Dakota and studying dairy science at South Dakota State University. “Butter is back! That’s a great story to tell.â€? Register daily at Lentsch said the dairy industry is successively partnering with foodservice companies. “Yum Brands participating businesses. has been a great domestic partner, and that’s KFC, See pages 24 & 25 in the first section for details. Pizza Hut, Taco Bell. That’s a really big deal for
The Great Christmas Heifer
G I V E A W A Y
America’s dairy farmers because they’re in 140 countries with 43,000 restaurants. That’s like one restaurant for every U.S. dairy farmer.� Lentsch said the partnership with McDonald’s has also been a staple for Midwest Dairy Association. “If you just look at the menu, you see dairy is all over it.�
Aussie dairy industry review The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has launched a year-long investigation into its dairy industry. This inquiry comes after a big drop in the price paid to farmers. The investigation will evaluate competition between milk processors, contracting and the availability of market information. A ďƒžnal report is due in November of next year. Dean Foods/CROPP joint venture announced Dean Foods has entered into a 50-50 joint venture with the farmer cooperative known as CROPP. CROPP, which operates under the Organic Valley brand name, will process milk at plants operated by Dean Foods. Organic Valley products will be added to the Dean Foods lineup of branded products and will be sold in supermarkets and convenience stores. AgCountry, United FCS Boards recommend merger The boards of AgCountry Farm Credit Services and United FCS have unanimously approved a merger. The plan now faces a review from AgriBank and regulatory scrutiny from the Farm Credit Administration. AgCountry senior vice president and general counsel Jessica Fyre said this merger brings together two healthy organizations. “Postmerger, the association will have a greater footprint and larger economies of scale. Having the larger geographic footprint helps diversify our business.â€? AgCountry serves 18 counties in eastern North Dakota and 25 counties in western Minnesota. The United trade area is in 22 counties of west-central Turn to AG INSIDER | Page 9
Think inside the box GEA’s Monobox is the all-in-one automated milking solution. 6SHHG (Ä’FLHQF\ 4XDOLW\ <RX FDQ KDYH LW DOO ZLWK *($Ă?V QHZ 0RQRER[ 7KH VWDWH RI WKH DUW DXWRPDWHG PLONLQJ V\VWHP LQFOXGHV *($Ă?V Ă&#x;LQ OLQHU HYHU\WKLQJ Ă :LWK WHDW SUHS PLONLQJ DQG SRVW GLSSLQJ DOO ZLWKLQ WKH OLQHU WKH PLONLQJ SURFHVV LV DOZD\V FRQVLVWHQW DQG H[FHSWLRQDOO\ VWUHDPOLQHG <RX ZDQW WKH XOWLPDWH LQ TXDOLW\ URERWLF PLON SURGXFWLRQ VR WKLQN LQVLGH WKH ER[ WKH *($ 0RQRER[ Your local GEA Dealer 86 +Z\ /DQFDVWHU :, ZZZ IXOOHUVPLONHUFHQWHU FRP
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016 • Page 9
ConƟnued from AG INSIDER | Page 8
Minnesota and north-central Wisconsin. A stockholder vote is tentatively planned for next spring with the merger likely taking place July 1. “At this point, it is anticipated that the association will keep the AgCountry Farm Credit Services name with the headquarters in Fargo, N.D.” The current chief executive ofcer of AgCountry, Bob Bahl, is expected to be the CEO of the new entity. A transition plan is in place with United FCS CEO Marc Knisely to take over as the head of the merged organization when Bahl retires. Dairyline has new ownership Farm Journal Media has acquired ‘Dairyline’ from HFW Communications. The radio broadcast is heard on nearly 60 radio stations nationwide. Mike Adams, who is the host of ‘AgriTalk,’ will take over as the host of ‘Dairyline.’ MDA Assistant Commissioner appointed Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson has named Susan Stokes as his assistant commissioner. Most recently, Stokes was a partner in the law rm Hellmuth and Johnson, practicing agricultural law. Previously, Stokes was the legal
director and executive director at the Farmers’ Legal Action Group. MN Legislative leaders selected In the Minnesota Legislature, House Speaker Kurt Daudt and Majority Leader Joyce Peppin retained their leadership positions for the next session. Representative Melissa Hortman of Brooklyn Park will take over as the Minority Leader, replacing Representative Paul Thissen, who did not seek reelection. The GOP won the majority in the Minnesota Senate. Senator Paul Gazelka of Nisswa is the new Senate majority leader. Senator Tom Baak of Cook will serve as the minority leader. Trivia Challenge Ghee is a claried butter that is popular in India. That answers our last trivia question. For this week’s trivia, how many dairy farms are there in the United States? We’ll have the answer in the next edition of Dairy Star.
Don Wick is a partner and 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.
DHIA would like to wish all our members a Happy Thanksgiving. We are very thankful for the opportunity to work with you and your herd. We are also very grateful for your commitment and dedication to the dairy industry.
Minnesota Dairy Herd Improvement Association 307 Brighton Avenue South Buffalo, MN 55313 1.800.827.3442 www.mndhia.org
ARE YOU HAVING TROUBLE WITH YOUR SILO? Let Osakis Silo Help! WE REPLACE:
• Silo pipes • Distributors • Silo unloaders • Roofs • Door replacement
We provide great service at reasonable cost!
WE ALSO DO SILO & BUNKER REPLASTERING!
Do the math when choosing roasted soybeans 1. Increases milk production 2. Maximizes milk components 3. Minimizes feed refusals 4. Properly roasted at the correct temperature 5. Soybeans are steeped for 30+ minutes 6. Soybeans are roasted to the core 7. Energy 8. Protein 9. Amino acids 10. Bypass protein
NEED REPAIRS?Call our specialists!
Add additional repair to your silo at the same time and
SAVE $$$!
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A GREAT SILO UNLOADER AT A GREAT PRICE?
0 1 t c e f The Per
TRY REBUILT HANSON® UNLOADERS
KL roasted soybeans ... KLC b bovines everywhere preferred by
KLC Farms Roasting, Inc.
“I had my silo relined and plastered in September. I liked the fact that they were out to my farm within a week. The quality of work looks excellent, and spot on. They went above and beyond to make sure we were satisfied. They were polite and very respectful. I go through Osakis Silo quite a bit.” - Adam Goelz, Maple Lake, MN Farmer
1-877-738-2326 Visit www.roastedbeans.com
Quality
Consistency
WE ALSO HAVE NEW & USED HANSON PARTS! The Best Service Crews, The Best Replacement Parts, The Best Service... That’s The Osakis Silo Advantage To You!!!
1-800-433-0581
24 Hours Call 7 Days e im t Any A Week Out Of Minnesota Call 320-859-5340 300 E Main St., Osakis, MN • 320-859-5340 • Fax: 320-859-5751
Visit us online at www.osakissilo.com
Page 10 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016
WHO WILL YOU FIND IN OUR
A closer look
Business Directory? by Jennifer Coyne
LOG ON TO: www.dairystar.com TO BE INCLUDED IN THE DAIRY STAR BUSINESS DIRECTORY CALL 320-352-6303
Don’t Fiddle Around With Your Advertising Dollars! 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave. • Sauk Centre, MN 56378 (320) 352-6303 • Fax: (320) 352-5647
is your area dealer for Kuhn Krause
DOMINATOR® 12’ model
KUHN Krause offers a line of primary tillage tools that promote the breakdown of crop residue and allow for excellent root development for the next crop. These sub-surface tillage tools break up compaction while preserving the soil surface, promote aeration, limit erosion and runoff, and improve water infiltration which helps the soil retain moisture. 800-642-4104 or 507-228-8224 • www.ufcmn.com Main Office/Ag Service Center 840 Pioneer Ave., Lafayette, MN Used Dryers & Augers
Good Selection of Used Dryers - Call! Feterl 12”x72’, swing drive .........$8,900 Sudenga 10”x31’, elec. ..............$3,495 Sudenga 10”x56’, elec ...............$4,995 WestÄeld 10”x31’, elec ...............$1,850 WestÄeld WR8026 EMD .............$1,895 WestÄeld WR8031 EMD .............$1,950 Sheyenne 13-70 Swing Dr.......... $12,995 Hutch 8”x62’ swing hopper auger .$6,495
Skid Loaders
Bobcat T650, heat & AC, 2 spd.....$38,900 Bobcat S630, 400 hr, heat, 2 spd..$34,800 Bobcat S590 heat 2-spd . (3) from $31,900 Bobcat S850, heat & A/C, JS ...$46,500 Bobcat S550, heat, 2014, 2 spd. $29,900 ‘15 Bobcat S205, heat/AC, 2 spd. $31,900 Bobcat S130, heat, ‘12............. $22,400 Gehl 5240, heat, 2 spd, 400 hrs, radio .......................................$29,975 Gehl V330, heat & A/C, ‘12, 2400 hrs..................................$34,600 ‘05 Gehl 5640, 2600 hrs. ..........$18,999 Gehl 4640, heat, single speed ....$15,500 ‘07 Gehl 4640, single spd., heat $15,500 Gehl 4400 w/rops .......................$3,999 Gehl 4240E w/heat (3) start @ $14,900 Gehl U330, heat, 2 spd. ...........$36,800 Case 430, ‘10 ...........................$24,900 Gehl R220, heat 2-speed, ‘13 ..$34,800 Gehl R190, heat, AC, ‘15, 2 spd. $36,800 Mustang 1750 2014 open cab .$37,900 JD 1025R loader tractor, mower deck, 60”, cab, snowblower, 23 hrs. ... $23,900 Bobcat 2200 UTV .......................$6,950
TMR’s
Knight 5073, tow ......................$17,199 Knight 3250, stationary ..............$3,899 Knight 3050 ..............................$11,499 Knight 3150, tow ......................$22,499 Knight 3042, reel auggie...........$12,499
Tillage
JD 2700, 9-24 ...........................$23,900 JD 985 49.5’, 3 Bar...................$18,900 JD 980, 44.5’ ............................$19,600 JD 980 44.5’, 3 Bar...................$17,500 JD 960 28.5 ft 3 bar ..................$16,900 JD 512, 7 shank, 2013...................$29,900 JD 230 disc, 26’...............................$4,750 CIH Tigermate II, 45.5 ft w/basket $34,900
How automated systems meet federal guidelines
Stoner explains evolution of robots, food safety regulations Steve Stoner can still recall when the rst automated milking system (AMS) was installed in Wisconsin. It was a time of potential for the dairy industry, but also uncertainty as regulating agencies formulated guidelines that would fullll to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “In the early 2000s, Wisconsin was one of the rst states to install robots,” Stoner said. “This technology was important to our dairy industry, but presented challenges in the development of standards for the installations to meet unknown federal guidelines.” For 20 years, Stoner – current food safety supervisor within the technical services section of Wisconsin’s Bureau of Food and Recreational Businesses – has immersed himself in dairy food quality standards. He oversees six technical specialists across the state that aid in equipment and plan review for automated milking installation (AMI) in accordance with the Wisconsin Administrative Code and FDA’s Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO). While it was not until 2003 that the FDA incorporated AMI regulations in the PMO, states now have the option to adopt PMO regulations or create their own that mirror national standards. “These regulations are in place to provide a baseline to ensure the equipment will properly milk the cows and be cleaned effectively,” Stoner said. Plan, prepare to pass inspections On. Nov. 18, two robots arrived at Byron Hendrickson’s 50-cow dairy near Estelline, S.D. Soon they will be installed and inspected. “We’ve been taking one day at a time and learn-
ing a lot,” Hendrickson said. For the past several months, Hendrickson and his family have worked with their local and state inspectors to ensure the new 115-stall freestall barn and milking facilities will comply with federal guidelines. “Inspectors have looked over my setup three or four times now,” Hendrickson said. “They want to make sure it’s progressing right. If they see something that’s not right, they let me know and we x it.” While the South Dakota dairyman openly welcomes inspectors onto his farm for review of the construction, preparing for the AMI and state and federal inspections began last spring. Steve Stoner Prior to ordering the equipWisconsin’s Bureau of ment or beginning construction, Food and Recreational dairy producers must undergo a Businesses plan review for the design of the facility and milking process. On behalf of the producer, the contracted installer submits this application to the state department of agriculture. “We walk through the PMO, and its Memorandum of Information (M-I) and Appendix Q to see that the plan and equipment will meet specic guidelines,” Stoner said. “This must be done upfront, prior to installation.” Each review is conducted differently, depending on the design specications, including auxiliary items such as water, heat and electrical sources. “It is important for dairy producers to have a good understanding of the human interface requirements with these automated systems. Does the system meet Turn to ROBOTIC MILKER | Page 11
CIH Tigermate II, 54.5’ .............$29,900 CIH 730B, 7 shank ...................$15,900 CIH 600PTX chisel plow, 38’, 3 bar harrow ...........................$29,800 2) CIH 370, 28’..........................$31,900 JD 2210 4-bar, 2006, 45.5 ft.....$39,900 JD 980, 36’ ...............................$13,700 JD 331 disc, 28’ .........................$6,850 DMI Tigermate II 36.5’, basket .$29,900 DMI 730 ripper..........................$10,900 DMI 730B .................................$15,900 DMI 527B .................................$14,900 Glencoe Soil Saver .....................$7,950 Wil-Rich 957, 9 shank ..............$29,900 Wil-Rich 957, 7 shank ..............$20,600 Wil-Rich 957, 5 shank ..............$16,500 Wil-Rich 513, 9-24....................$39,600 Wil-Rich 29’ chisel plow, ‘07 ........$22,800 2) Wil-Rich 60’ w/basket cults .............Call Wil-Rich QX2, 60’, basket ............$52,900 Great Plains Turbo Chisel, 11 shk $22,800 Krause Dominator, 12 ft. (2) from $29,900 Krause Dominator, 12 ft., 2015.$40,900 Krause 18’ w/reel.............from $33,000
Spreaders
Knight 8032, slinger ..................$14,499 Knight 8114, (A088) ....................$8,949 Knight 8132, (B0077)................$19,899 Knight 8132 ..............................$17,899 Meyer 3954, (1250) ....................$4,949 H&S 430 w/end gate.................$19,300
Miscellaneous
Loftness Chopper 20 ft...............$14,600 Valmetal 5600 RD bale chopper .$13,800 Used grain legs............................... Call Woods 3 pt. chopper, 20’ ...........$5,950 EZ Flow 300 bu. box ..................$1,950 Used Snowblowers ........................ Call Top Air 800 gal, 60’ boom ..........$6,950 Hardi 1,000 gal., 60’ boom .......$14,400 Demco 600 gal., 66’ bom .........$14,900 Century 750 gal., 60’ boom ........$6,950 Red Ball 670, 1200 gal., 66’ boom$13,800 Unverferth Cart 9200 1000 bu. $19,950 Fast Sprayer 1200 gal. 90 ft. boom$18,800 Red Ball 1200 gal, 90 ft. boom 570 $18,800 H&S 12 wheel Hi Cap rake .........$8,275 J&M 1151, scale & tarp ............$48,900 Rite-Way Roller, 60’ ..................$34,900 Vicon disc mower .......................$5,950
Check with us on grain bins, dryers, grain handling equipment & grain augers You’ll Ànd it at...
Industry news addressed with help from your neighbors
UFC
United Farmers Cooperative
Check With Us For Your New & Used Grain Dryers & Augers Bobcat • GSI • Brock • Sudenga • Gehl • Farm Fans • Wilrich
DAIRY STAR FILE PHOTO
A cow is milked by a roboƟc milking system on the Moulton family’s 330-cow dairy near Rush City, Minn.
HOOF TRIMMING
Call today to get your cows tuned up for more milk production! • I use the 5 Step Functional Hoof Trimming, which is the Gold Standard. 10 ft. Foot • Gentle with cows Baths For Sale • Large Dairy Experience • Over 100,000 cows trimmed in the last 10 years! • Professional Hoof Care in the Midwest since 2003 • Lifetime of dairy knowledge • Graduate of Dairyland Hoof Care Institute Drink Milk We offer foot bath systems with a money back guarantee! Drink Milk
JUSTIN ADDY’S BOVINE HOOF CARE Avon, MN Covering MN, SD, IA, & WI
320-200-1221
SPECIALIZING IN JD CABS Over 120 JD Sound Guard parts cabs and an unmatched supply of new & used replacement parts available. From a simple upholstery recondition, to a complete cab rebuild, we have what you need!
KIESTER IMPLEMENT • 507-294-3387 www.midwestfarmsales.com
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016 • Page 11
ConƟnued from ROBOTIC MILKER | Page 10 your management practices and goals for milk production, along with being able to be inspected to meet the regulatory requirements?” Stoner said. “It’s important to understand any shortcomings of the system and address them.” If the milk lter, for example, will be located in the same room as the robot, then a producer is required to wash their hands prior to handling the lter, Stoner said. For producers to best prepare for the installation process, Stoner suggests obtaining a copy of the PMO, M-I and Appendix Q from the FDA, and ask questions. “It’s not easily understandable and we get that,” Stoner said. “The big question that producers need to ask is, ‘Is their system in compliance with state and federal rules?’” Hendrickson has kept in contact with his dealership representative to ensure standards are being met – from the equipment to the construction to the nal installation. “Good communication means a good relationship,” Hendrickson said. “Everybody knows what’s going on and I trust [the dealership] to know what they’re doing.” After Hendrickson’s barn construction is completed, the robots will be inspected. If the inspection meets criteria, producers are granted a grade B license and grade A permit. If criteria are not met, but the issues do not directly impact food safety, producers are given a grade B license with no grade A permit. “Worst case, if the setup holds a risk for food safety, producers are denied a license, must x the issues and go through the process again,” Stoner said. “That’s pretty rare.”
DAIRY STAR FILE PHOTO
Craig Moulton manages his family’s 330-cow dairy near Rush City, Minn. In speaking with inspectors and other roboƟc dairy producers, the Moultons have kept their robots up to code. Robots, regulations in the future Once an AMI meets state and federal requirements, the robots are reviewed as part of the dairy’s routine inspections. However, every two years, PMO is revised to incorporate new technologies that better meet FDA regulations on food safety. With that, standards for an AMS may be heightened. “As the PMO is updated, we’ll look at adjusting our regulations based on what we know and what we’re able to regulate with new technology,” Stoner said. For Craig Moulton, working with
state and federal inspectors, as well as his local dealership, has kept his robots up to code. “If we ever have any questions, we call to make sure it’s OK,” Moulton said. “It’s important to keep in contact with other robot users so that when things change you can get on top of it.” Moulton manages his dad, Jon’s, 330-cow dairy near Rush City, Minn. In January 2010, the Moultons installed six robots. The Moultons have since installed an additional one with plans to expand in the future. “When we built the barn, we built it with enough room for eight robots,”
Moulton said. When Moulton installed the seventh robot in 2013, although the same equipment as the previous six, a safety valve was required. “The worry is that water will get into the milk during the sanitation cycle,” Moulton said. “It’s the same robot, but because technology has changed we had to add a safety valve to meet regulations.” Valves that were accepted 10 years ago are no longer accepted based on FDA regulations and the technology that is available. “We’re asking producers to upgrade their systems within their routine dairy inspections,” Stoner said. “They will not be grandfathered in.” These improvements are not uncommon. In supervising the inspections, Stoner works with manufacturers to understand the systems’ faults and strengthen them in the process. “We’re all learning,” Stoner said. When looking at how robotic inspections have changed over the years, technology has adapted to the regulations. “It’s not so much that regulations haven’t changed with technology, but that technology has improved to better meet the regulations,” Stoner said. “Technology can meet the rules in a way we didn’t think of before.” In the future, Stoner envisions automated systems will continue to progress to better meet FDA guidelines. “It’s like an ebb and ow system. As we gain a better understanding of technology’s capabilities, we typically broaden the scope of the regulations,” Stoner said. “As technology moves forward, both industry and regulatory, we’ll continue getting better.”
Raising The Bar of Excellence! !
0%
Interest for 36 months through December 31, 2016!
FutureCow® ComfortBrushTM Lasting comfort for your cows and calves
W NE
The SINGLE SUSPENSION ACTION Rake is available in 8, 10, & 12 wheel models! HP Manure Spreaders are available in 425 and 550 bushel sizes with your choice of vertical or horizontal beaters.
UNIQUE FEATURES • Softer bristles • Vertical and horizontal swing • Automatic start • Stationary motor and gear box
Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back!
For More Information Contact Your FutureCow Dealer Call: 855-388-7269 | Email: info@futurecow.com Visit: futurecow.com
© FutureCow All rights Reserved.
The 135 bushel GM 170 features a self-contained hydraulic system that controls the intake auger and the unload auger. Top Shot Manure Spreaders are available in 1286, 1500, 2000, 2600, 3400, & 4200 gallon models.
H&S Manufacturing 715.387.3414 Web: www.hsmfgco.com
Page 12 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016
Age doesn’t diminish her dedication Saemrow still caring for youngstock at 89 years old By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
WATERVILLE, Minn. – To Marian Saemrow, age is only a number. It doesn’t affect her dedication to her family’s farm. At 89 years old, the matriarch of the Saemrow family still plays an important part on the farm as one of the caretakers of the calves on the Saemrows’ 750-cow dairy near Waterville, Minn. “It’s just the satisfaction of seeing them get started in life,” Marian said about her favorite part of caring for calves. Marian works together with her sons, Wayne, Ron, Keith and Gordon; daughter, Ruth Pfeifer; daughter-in-law, Abbie; and grandson, Tyler. Aside from having Sunday morning off to go to church, Marian is out in the barn for both morning and evening calf chores. Her daily routine includes going out to the calf barn at 7:30 each morning to get the bottles and pails ready while the milk for the calves is pasteurized. While Keith and Tyler feed and bed the majority of the calves, Marian will tend to the youngest of the group, taking the time to bottle feed the newborns. Marian doesn’t feel like there’s too big of a secret to getting the newest calves to drink. “I don’t know. I guess I hold the bottle just right,” she said. When the calves are done with the bottles, Marian is in charge of washing all of them. She repeats this schedule for evening chores, starting at 4:30. “I put in six to seven hours in the barn every day. Not that I’m working hard all the time, but I’m here,” she said. Her family appreciates all the work she still does, using words like patient, consistent, reliable and nurturing to describe the qualities that make her a good calf caretaker. But for Marian, feeding the youngstock means more than getting a job done. “It keeps her mind sharp,” Keith said. Marian’s children also said working every day keeps her in shape. “Physically, there are days where her knees or hips hurt, but she’s still out here because she feels she has to be. If she would sit in the house all day she wouldn’t last long. Physically it keeps her going and it gives her a reason to get up and get going,” Ron said. Ruth agreed. “Especially now that she’s getting older, it’s nice to keep track of her to make sure she’s doing OK, that she’s getting out here to get her exercise and staying active,” she said. “That’s important for her to stay
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Marian Saemrow feeds a calf on her family’s 750-cow dairy farm near Waterville, Minn. At the age of 89, Saemrow sƟll does calf chores twice a day. active and be needed.” Over the years, Marian said the qualities needed to care for young animals haven’t changed. “A calf is a calf,” she said. But, the management style in order to care for the calf has changed many times in the years since she assumed her role. “We used to tie the calves along the wall in the barn,” Marian said about her early years of dairy farming. While Marian was growing up on her family’s farm, chickens were her area of expertise.
It wasn’t until she married her husband, Herb, in 1950 that cows became her species of choice. At that time, the Saemrows milked 30 cows. Over time, Marian’s children learned the ropes of dairying. “As we were growing up, we were all involved on the farm in every way shape and form. Our dad was sick, so we all started helping out and taking over at a young age. We just became fully immersed in the farm. It’s just what we did,”
Wayne said. As the farm grew, so did the number of calves. Eventually, the Saemrows upgraded to hutches, but after awhile, they needed a bigger facility. For awhile, calves were put into two or three barns that had space. “We had calves everywhere – a few here, a few in there, everywhere,” Wayne said. To put all the calves under one roof, the Saemrows built their calf barn in 2012. It has room for up to 200 calves. The family currently has 145 calves
on milk. Caring for a much larger amount of animals compared to her rst years has been one of the biggest changes for Marian. “It takes a lot of time to feed them,” she said. However, Marian likes the comfort of the new heated building. “That’s nice,” she said. “I don’t have to stand out in the snow and hold the bottle.” The Saemrows feel the barn has been a good investment. “As our cow numbers increased, our calf numbers increased. [With the new barn] our death loss went down. A lot more calves stay alive now,” Ron said. It’s also a more efcient way to feed calves. “We cut our labor in half from what we were doing just because the calves were spread out in different spots on the farm,” Ron said. “The barn has been really nice to have.” A pasteurizer, which they started using in 2009, has also been a good investment. “That did seem to help make an improvement in calf health and overall herd health. Previous to that, we had been using milk replacer and dumping our waste milk down the drain. Now, we use all our waste milk and supplement with milk replacer,” Ron said. Throughout all these changes, Marian has remained a constant. “It’s nice to be able to say I saw Mom today. Some people only see their mom once a month or even once a year. We get to see Mom every day. That’s the way we grew up. It’s been special to us,” Ron said. For Marian, the feelings are mutual. “The main reason I like working out here is that I get to work with my family,” Marian said. “If they were all doing something else I don’t know what I would do.”
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
The Saemrow family – (front row, from leŌ) Jobb, Marian, Ruth Pfeifer and Abbie; (back row, from leŌ) Gordon, Keith, Ron, Tyler and Wayne – work together on their family’s dairy farm near Waterville, Minn.
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016 • Page 13
November 29 - December 1, 2016 River’s Edge Convention Center | St. Cloud, MN MnMilk.org/Expo Join hundreds of other Minnesota dairy farmers at this year’s Dairy Conference & Expo First-ever St. Cloud Brewery Crawl World-renowned experts like Peter Krawczel, Mary Ledman, Jeffrey Bewley, and Gordie Jones Town Hall Breakfast with Marin Bozic on Margin Protection Program for Dairy On-site child care Over 100 exhibitors in the dairy trade show FREE trade show for everyone! CONFERENCE REGISTRATION: $30/$50 (member/non-member) for one day and $50/$80 for two days.
Page 14 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016
HYDRA-SPREAD
Put Some Real Muscle Into Your Spreading
DELIVERS PERFORMANCE
0 $2,000 TRADE IN BONUS GOING ON NOW!
With
eading r p S r e t t Be of the e r o M s Utilize rients t u N e r u Man
Factory Rebates e! Availabl
Choice of Heavy Duty Vertical or Horizontal Beaters
CE OI A ND
www.dairyl supply.com www.dairylandsupply.com SAUK CENTRE ENTRE
SLC 141 Protwin® S Side-Discharge Spreader
FA S
E BL
T
SE
OFF I-94 I 94 O ON THE E CORNER HW W 28 8 & 71 OF HWY. SOUTH SO H S
Manufactured by M
RV IC E
M
OR
E
320-352-3987 • 1-800-338-6455 800-338-6455
PE
DE
THE WORLD’S BEST TMR PROCESSOR
DAIRYLAND SUPPLY INC.
TS
Built in Redwood Falls, MN
• Choice of Heavy Duty Vertical or Horizontal Beaters • Dual Endgate Cylinders • Replaceabl Replaceable Bang Boards • Poly Floo Floor/Sides Won’t Rot or Rust • InÀnite Speed Adjustment • Hea Heaviest Frame In The Business •T Two Bolts Remove Beater Assembly • Replaceable 3/8” Beater Paddles
R PA
CH
E
•P Plastic lastiic Áoo oorr • Inset guillotine guiillotiine gate gu gat ate e with wiith h lift-up lififtt-up t-up door doo oor • 5/8” thick ighting thick ÁÁighti ting ng on vertical vertica al beater • Horizontal or vertical beaters • 3/8” thick tube construction on reach • Remote grease banks • Underslung spring suspension • Inset and angled vertical beater with bottom pan
OR M
S
HYDRA-SPREAD IS THE RECOGNIZED LEADER IN HYDRAULIC PUSHOFF TECHNOLOGY
FACTORY TS DISCOUN The redesigned ed K Kuhn uh hn Kn K Knig Knight night h SSLC ht LLC C 1100 00 SSeries 00 e ProTwin Slinger Commercial manure spreaders set the standard for fast, efficient spreading to give you maximum return for your equipment dollars.
900T EACH SUPREME MIXER IS CUSTOM DESIGNED AND BUILT TO ORDER!
CHECK OUT OUR USED!
Designed to Suit your Needs
www.dairylandsupply.com
From Our Side Of The Fence
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016 • Page 15
What are you thankful for this harvest season?
Jim McNally, Chris and Jason Lynch Winona, Minn. Winona County 110 cows How many acres do you farm, what do you plant and what was this year’s harvest like with each crop? We farm 500 acres consisting of 280 acres of corn, 145 acres of alfalfa, 50 acres of oats and 25 acres of soybeans. All the crops this year were excellent. We took ve cuttings of alfalfa. The rst crop was the best, but the quality went down throughout the year. The yields were better this year than in the last couple years. We chopped most of it, but made some into round bales. For our corn, we chop 70 acres that is put into bunkers, use 40 acres for high moisture and use the rest for dry corn. It was an excellent crop, averaging 200 bushels per acre with a high test weight. It was dry this year. We chopped at 70 percent moisture and harvested a bit early before all the rain came. This was our rst year back to growing soybeans after going without them for several years. They did really well – 72 bushels per acre average. We sell all the soybeans we grow. We chop the oats for the heifers. What was the most challenging aspect of raising crops this year? The weather. It always seemed to rain when we needed to cut alfalfa. That’s why the quality went down throughout the summer. We also had quite a few equipment breakdowns, which made harvest challenging. What are you most thankful for this harvest season? Denitely family. Three family members passed away within a three-month period. That was hard, especially having to t harvest in between all of it. But, we stuck together as a family to get through the hard time and to get all the harvesting done. How will this year’s crop affect the planning for your 2017 season? We won’t change much. We will try to do even better than we did this year. We will try to keep our harvesting schedule on time. This year’s plentiful harvest allows us to feed more, and we might even be able to increase our herd a bit, which is one of our farm’s goals. What’s been a recent crop strategy you’ve tried or are thinking of trying? We’ve really tried to work on working together to get the harvest done rather than relying on two people. This year, we also took a chance on planting soybeans and it worked out well for us. We thought since we have the equipment we might as well try it. The price of soybeans has been good for us; it loosens up the ground and puts fertilizer back into the land. We plan to increase the amount of soybeans we plant next year. Tell us about your farm. The farm consists of Jim and his daughters, Nicole, 19, and Amanda, 17, along with Jim’s cousin and his wife, Jason and Chris Lynch, and their kids James, 16, and
Kevin Rybinski Hendricks, Minn. Lincoln County 140 cows How many acres do you farm, what do you plant and what was this year’s harvest like with each crop? We farm 800 acres and raise wheat, soybeans, corn and alfalfa. It has been a good year all around for all of the crops. It’s probably been one of the best years we’ve ever had. What was the most challenging aspect of raising crops this year? It was a tough year for putting up dry alfalfa hay. We ended up chopping the majority of our alfalfa. Other than that, there weren’t many struggles. It seems like we got the rains whenever we needed them. What are you most thankful for this harvest season? The good crops and good weather to get them out. This fall started out much too wet, but it’s been warm and dry. Field conditions are getting better every day. How will this year’s crop affect the planning for your 2017 season? We have more hay and corn on hand than we had planned, so we may plant more soybeans next year to help boost our cash crop income. What’s been a recent crop strategy you’ve tried or are thinking of trying? I went to variable rate fertilizing and variable rate planting this year. It has really helped with the yields of my crops by putting the fertilizer where it’s needed and adjusting the seeding rates according to soil types. I think it worked extremely well. I’m a real believer. Tell us about your farm. My wife, Lisa, and I have three children, Ryker, 5, Ryanna, 3, and Rylisa, 1 1/2. My brother, Kenny, crop farms with us. We have two part-time hired men to help on the dairy and run our herd of 150 stock cows. This fall, we are going to add onto our dairy barn and make room for another 40 freestalls. We are also going to switch the barn over to tunnel ventilation. We have been using sand bedding for the past several years and think that it has really helped with our somatic cell count and overall herd health. Josh, 7. Jim’s grandpa bought the farm in 1942. His parents, Ray and Wanda, bought it in 1971, and Jim bought the farm in 2012. Jason also has a full-time job in addition to working on the dairy. Chris’ mom comes on the weekends to help, especially to keep the crew well fed. Although we spend a lot of time farming, we try to make it enjoyable. And we try to take time for breaks. We like to have bonres at night or hook up the wagon for a family wagon ride on Sunday afternoons when the weather is nice. We’ve realized, especially this year after losing three family members, you have to stop and smell the roses sometimes.
Brian Schneider New Ulm, Minn. Brown County 140 cows How many acres do you farm, what do you plant and what was this year’s harvest like with each crop? I farm 150 acres with 110 acres in corn, which we use 90 acres of for corn silage, 30 acres in alfalfa and 10 acres in oats. The corn yielded 218 bushels an acre. I have sandier soils, so this year was a good year on those soils with the amount of rain we received. We got four cuttings on our alfalfa, which is pretty normal for us. Our oats yielded 90 bushels per acre, which is nothing to complain about, but I thought it wasn’t as good as it could’ve been. For the most part though, we had really nice yields all around. I also help my dad, Myron, with his 240 acres of corn and alfalfa, and my brother, Parry, with his 250 acres of land. What was the most challenging aspect of raising crops this year? Harvesting was the most challenging because it was so wet out there. It seemed like it rained almost every day. We got stuck a few times, but we pushed through to get it done by Nov. 8, when I had surgery scheduled. What are you most thankful for this harvest season? I’m thankful for the good yields and how everything went. We didn’t have any breakdowns. How will this year’s crop affect the planning for your 2017 season? I’m not planning to change anything. I don’t have a lot of ground, so I’m sticking with what I have. What’s been a recent crop strategy you’ve tried or are thinking of trying? I haven’t really changed anything or have looked at anything different. There’s nothing on that horizon right now. Tell us about your farm. I farm with my son, Brad, 30, and my parents, Myron and Bernadette. We milk our 140 cows twice a day in a double-6 herringbone parlor. The cows are housed in a freestall barn with clay bedded stalls topped with straw. We raise all of our own replacements, and we just put up a hoop barn for our calves from weaning to 400 pounds. We’re looking forward to the next few months in that because we nally have a decent place for them. I run 150 acres of my own land, but also rent some hay ground from my dad.
David and Brian Names Ottertail Lake, Minn. Ottertail County 80 cows How many acres do you farm, what do you plant and what was this year’s harvest like with each crop? We farm 700 acres of land. On those acres, we grow corn, soybeans and alfalfa. This year, we averaged 52 bushels per acre on the soybeans and 209 bushels per acre with the corn. We also were able to get four cuttings on our alfalfa. Looking at this, it was better than I thought it was going to be. What was the most challenging aspect of raising crops this year? At the beginning of the growing season, it was pretty dry. At rst, I thought we weren’t going to get much out of it, but by July, it started to rain. However, at the end, it started to get pretty wet and took us a little longer to get stuff out, especially hay. What are you most thankful for this harvest season? We’re really grateful we had such a nice fall. Even though we had wet conditions this fall, we were able to get the beans done before the rains and got the corn done before the snow hit. It all happened at the right time. How will this year’s crop affect the planning for your 2017 season? We have a crop rotation in place of corn on beans, and every four years, we turn over the alfalfa elds and plant corn in its place. We’re just going to stick with that again. What’s been a recent crop strategy you’ve tried or are thinking of trying? As of right now, we haven’t tried anything nor are we looking at anything new yet. But we would like to see what options for crops we could grow that would maximize our prot and minimize our costs. Tell us about your farm. David and I (Brian) farm with our mother, Joyce. We milk our 80 cows twice a day in our swing-8 herringbone parlor. The cows are kept in a shed with a bedded pack, which uses three big square bales of straw each day, and have access to the outdoors. During the growing season, the cows are able to graze the pasture, but are fed a TMR mixture of corn, dry hay, haylage, corn silage and a mineral mix daily in feeder wagons outside. Turn to FROM OUR SIDE OF THE FENCE | Page 16
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.
Page 16 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016
ConƟnued from FROM OUR SIDE OF THE FENCE | Page 15 Zach Tietz Frederic, Wis. Polk County 130 cows How many acres do you farm, what do you plant and what was this year’s harvest like with each crop? We farmed 650 acres this year. We planted 90 acres of sorghum sudangrass, which turned out really well, along with 375 acres of corn and the rest being hay. Once our elds dried out, everything went fast. What was the most challenging aspect of raising crops this year? Waiting for everything to dry out was tough, and we had to work around the rain. What are you most thankful for this harvest season? I’m thankful for a good crop, especially with prices being so low. We didn’t use as much fertilizer and still got one heck of a nice crop. How will this year’s crop affect the planning for your 2017 season? We had to wait for our sorghum before we could get to chopping corn silage, so I think we’ll convert our sorghum acres to hay. What’s been a recent crop strategy you’ve tried or are thinking of trying? I want to get into planting fall cover crops. We have a lot of sandy ground, and cover crops would act as a soil builder and help hold manure better. Tell us about your farm. I farm with my parents, Joe and Donna, and my brother, Sawyer. We milk 130 cows. My younger brothers, Heath and Teddy, are in school but help out as much as they can.
REGISTER FOR
The Great Christmas Heifer
G I V E A W A Y See pages 24 & 25 of the first section for details!
Norman Zacharias Hinckley, Minn. Pine County 120 cows How many acres do you farm, what do you plant and what was this year’s harvest like with each crop? The number of acres we farm varies from year to year since we rent land. This year, between our rented and owned land, we farmed 250 acres and planted corn for corn silage and alfalfa we mostly wrap for baleage. We usually plant a cover crop of barley or oats when we have a new seeding of alfalfa. We had an exceptionally good crop of alfalfa this year. We were able to get four cuttings and had close to 20 percent more than normal. Our corn silage crop was good, too. We harvested 26 tons per acre on the heavier ground and 20 tons per acre on the lighter ground. What was the most challenging aspect of raising crops this year? We had a lot of rain this year. It was the worst ooding we’ve had since I’ve lived here. All three roads to our farm were underwater or washed out. Our third crop of alfalfa was not dairy quality because of the rain. It rained a lot when it was time to cut. Once it quit raining, there was so much standing water in the eld, we couldn’t do anything. By the time the water was gone, the alfalfa was too rank. It was frustrating because we had a beautiful crop out there and couldn’t do anything with it. What are you most thankful for this harvest season? My No. 1 priority is God and my family. But in terms of crops, I’m thankful we had an excellent rst, second and fourth alfalfa crop providing us with quality forage. I’m also thankful our silage crop was good, too. We had above normal levels of protein and digestibility. How will this year’s crop affect the planning for your 2017 season? We put in a new seeding of alfalfa that looks really good. I think we’re going to have more hay ground next year. What’s been a recent crop strategy you’ve tried or are thinking of trying? We tried a different way of rotating alfalfa to corn. Instead of plowing the alfalfa, we spray it to kill the plant and no-till corn into the sod. It saved us time and fuel costs. We liked it. Tell us about your farm. I farm with my wife, Camille, and our two sons, Jared, 22, and Caleb, 19. Our sons work here part-time. We milk our 120-cow herd twice a day in a double-6 parallel parlor that we built 10 years ago. We have two freestall barns consisting of stalls using recessed mattresses with covers and bedded with two inches of bedding lime. It’s like sand bedding, but it’s not deep and never gets compacted. The lime stays soft and the cows love it. Our freestall barns are parallel to each other with an outdoor feed lane in between them. All of our feeding is done outside. We raise most of our replacements on the farm and purchase a few, too.
GRAND CHAMPION
Overall Forage of the Forage Superbowl!
BYRON SEED DOES IT AGAIN at World Dairy Expo 2016
• Grand Champ First Time Entrant and Runner-Up to the Grand Champ Over-all! - And guess what? Both are nearly PURE GRASS! • Byron had the over-all 3 top Milk per Ton (MPT) in the hay crop categories and the MPT in both Corn Silage categories. • Byron had 7 of the Top Ten Standard Corn Silages (SCS) including 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, & 9. Three of these and 5 in the SCS were ranked higher than the best BMR! • Grand Champ Baleage and Nos. 1, 2, 3 & 5 Great Forage Means Healthy Cows! • Grand Champ Grass Hay and Nos. 1, 2, 3, & 5 See your Byron Dealer for your • In Dairy Hay, Byron had Nos. 2, 3 & 5
Great Forage.
Burkholder Seeds
For more info or dealer inquiries - please call:
Rick Tamm
NW Territory Manager
320-267-5021
Larry Hawkins
NC Territory Manager
608-516-0101
Claremont, MN Dwight 507-279-0292 Justin 507-456-0006
Gerard Becker
Long Prairie, MN (320) 290-9261
Hy View Feeds 507-493-5564 Mabel, MN
Valley View Ag Russ Funke Dyersville, IA (563) 590-6939
Schueler Farms
Greenwald Elevator
Sherman Schueler 330-987-3159 Willmar, MN John Dockendorf (320) 894-4808 Greenwald, MN (320) 290-1240
Jack Stamschror
Altura, MN
Crop & Livestock Nutrition Atwater, MN (320) 212-3190
Cleeson Mill
(507) 458-5907 Luxemburg Feed Service
Luxemburg, MN (320) 252-1513
Winscher Seeds Mike Winscher 320-282-6748 Shawn Winscher Royalton, MN (320) 420-4516
Timberline Dairy Service Joe Graber Kalona, IA (319) 656-3527
Kellogg, MN (507) 259-0269
Dale Ommodt, CCA
Jason Mickelson Frazee, MN 218-849-3137
Lee Kurtenbach
Mechanicksville, IA (319) 241-5105
Peak Forage Products LLC
Benjamin Arlt
Natures Best
Tim Huffman 608-574-7918 Nelson Horst Adam Decker 608-988-6855 Canton S.D. Kevin Zimmerman (605) 359-0765 608-574-7918
Natures Best
Mervin Beachy St. Ansgar, IA (641) 381-0054
Big Stone City S.D. (651) 331-8865
DJ Cattle Co.
Daryn Yoder Leon, IA (641) 344-6002
Chad Tesch Canton S.D. (605) 759-5622 Dan (Boone) Uphoff, Sioux Falls S.D. (605) 321-1862
Natures Best Roger TeSlaa
Inwood, IA
(605) 370-2249
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016 • Page 17
1.9% for up to
60 MONTHS
on 70-Series & S-Series combines
See our complete inventory with pictures and descriptions at:
www.mmcjd.com
Visit one of our 13 locations in Central Minnesota!
Price Reduced
269,000
2012 JD 9460 RT $ # 125925
(1) = GLENCOE 800-558-3759 4561 Hwy. 212
2013 JD 9560R # 123386
Price Reduced
279,000
$
289,000
2012 CIH Steiger 550 $ Quadtrac, #132994
Over 1200 items with pictures updated daily • Go to www.mmcjd.com
(2) = HOWARD LAKE 866-875-5093 5845 Keats Ave. SW
(3) = STEWART 800-827-7933 78412 Co. Rd. 20
(4) = ST. CLOUD 800-645-5531 1035 35th Ave. NE
(5) = GLENWOOD 888-7999-1495 1710 N. Franklin
(6) = SAUK CENTRE 888-320-2936 1140 Centre St.
(7) = ALEXANDRIA 888-799-1490 5005 State Hwy. 27 E
(8) = PAYNESVILLE 866-784-5535 725 Lake Ave. S.
(9) = PRINCETON 800-570-3453 3708 Baptist Church Rd.
(10) = LITTLE FALLS 800-655-5469 16069 Hwy. 27 E.
(11) = WADENA 888-631-2311 62505 US Hwy. 10
(12) = AITKIN 800-732-1129 1120 2nd St. NW
(13) = BAXTER 800-568-4338 7045 Foley Rd.
Price Reduced
ARTICULATED 4WD TRACTORS JD 8450, 1984, 12344 hrs., #125922 ................................................ $22,900 4 JD 8560, 1989, 9900 hrs., #127263 ................................................ $26,500 6 JD 8760, 1990, 8737 hrs., #121544 ................................................ $43,500 10 JD 8770, 1995, 7638 hrs., #119125 ................................................ $64,500 5 JD 9300, 1997, 4445 hrs., #132726 ................................................ $79,000 1 JD 9300, 2000, 3045 hrs., #124837 ................................................ $85,900 2 JD 9520, 2006, 5016, #110315 ..............................................$141,500 6 JD 9630, 2010, 1746 hrs., #123341 ..............................................$209,000 1 JD 9560R, 2013, 2211 hrs., #127914 ..............................................$235,000 7 JD 9460R, 2014, 600 hrs., #125963 ..............................................$249,000 6 JD 9560R, 2012, 1661, #133796 ..............................................$269,000 3 JD 9560R, 2013, 780 hrs., #127237 ..............................................$275,000 1 JD 9560R, 2013, 153 hrs., #123386 ..............................................$279,000 11 JD 9520R, 2015, 211 hrs., #124593 ..............................................$329,000 2 JD 9620R, 2015, 148 hrs., #133711 ..............................................$395,000 2 JD 9620R, 2015, 455 hrs., #125913 ..............................................$399,000 COMBINE PLATFORMS 3 JD 635F, 2008, #124215.................. $15,995 9 JD 630F, 2004, #134110 ................. $16,500 11 JD 630F, 2006, #133946 ................. $18,000 6 JD 630F, 2009, #132322 ................. $19,500 5 JD 635F, 2009, #131606.................. $24,500 4 JD 635F, 2008, #132156 ................. $25,000 5 JD 635F, 2011, #125837 ................. $25,000 4 JD 630F, 2011, #113753 ................. $25,900 6 JD 630F, 2011, #133185 ................. $25,900 2 JD 615P, 2016, #133554 ................. $26,000 2 JD 615P, 2016, #133555 ................. $26,000 7 JD 630F, 2012, #126623 ................. $27,900 4 JD 635F, 2012, #118150 ................. $33,900 8 JD 635F, 2013, #133692 ................. $37,500 3 JD 640FD, 2013, #127499 .............. $64,000 1 JD 640FD, 2013, #125673 .............. $75,000 2 JD 640FD, 2016, #133622 .............. $88,000 COMBINES 4 JD 9500, 1989, 4400 hrs., 3300 sep., #132034 ................................................ $32,500 9 JD 9500, 1990, 4636 hrs., 3005 sep., #126219 ............................................... $32,900 2 JD 9600, 1995, 210 hrs., 190 sep., #133728 ................................................ $39,500 2 Case 2388, 1999, 4446 hrs., 3233 sep., #133693 ................................................ $49,500 3 JD 9650 STS, 2000, 3293 hrs., 2189 sep., #126187 ............................................... $58,500 2 JD 9610, 1998, 3600 hrs., 2400 sep., #133475 ............................................... $60,000 1 JD 9550, 2003, 3115 hrs., 2153 sep., #132427 ............................................... $69,000 5 JD 9660 STS, 2004, 2242 hrs.,1525 sep., #132570 ................................................ $89,000 6 JD 9760 STS, 2004, 2642 hrs., 1763 sep., #107702 ................................................ $98,900 2 JD 9560 STS, 2005, 2645 hrs., 1771 sep., #132194 ..............................................$105,000 4
CIH 8010, 2006, 2117 hrs., 1506 sep., #132086 $
109,900
10 CIH 8010, 2006, 2117 hrs., 1506 sep., #132086 ..............................................$109,900 3 JD 9560 STS, 2005, 1481 hrs., 907 sep., #130053 ..............................................$125,000 6 JD 9770 STS, 2009, 2597 hrs., 1919 sep., #124372 ..............................................$130,000 9 JD 9570 STS, 2008, 1563 hrs., 1084 sep., #115868 ..............................................$145,000 11 JD 9870 STS, 2009, 1600 hrs., 1230 sep., #106732 ..............................................$160,000 1 JD S670, 2012, 2239 hrs., 1628 sep., #128689 ..............................................$165,000 4 JD 9770 STS, 2009, 1861 hrs., 1289 sep., #117362 ..............................................$165,000 8 JD S660, 2012, 1765 hrs., 1385 sep., #133738 ..............................................$175,000 7 JD 9570 STS, 2010, 908 hrs., 682 sep., #122037 ..............................................$179,000 2 JD 9770 STS, 2010, 1466 hrs., 1080 sep., #118492 ..............................................$180,000 3 JD 9670 STS, 2010, 1161 hrs., 811 sep., #132428 ..............................................$182,500 6 JD S660, 2012, 421 hrs., 221 sep., #96947 .................................................$229,000 4 JD S660, 2014, 350 hrs., 182 sep., #107228 ..............................................$249,000 9 JD S660, 2014, 339 hrs., 450 sep., #132631 ..............................................$260,000 9 JD S660, 2014, 297 hrs., 89 sep., #116531 ..............................................$265,000 7 JD S690, 2013, 1148 hrs., ................799 sep., #119306 ..............................................$265,000 11 JD S660, 2015, 578 hrs., 196 sep., #117457 ..............................................$269,000 5 JD S670, 2014, 662 hrs., 488 sep., #133494 .............................................$285,000 2 JD S660, 2015, 330 hrs., 147 sep., #125946 ..............................................$295,000 8 JD S670, 2015, 383 hrs., 290 sep., #124831 ..............................................$305,000 8 JD S670, 2015, 280 hrs., 140 sep., #125750 ..............................................$325,000 2 JD S660, 2016, 245 hrs., #134019 ..............................................$340,000 2 JD S670, 2016, 185 hrs., 150 sep., #133717 ..............................................$369,000 2 JD S680, 2016, 172 hrs., #133715 ..............................................$389,000 COMPACT TRACK LOADERS 5 JD CT322, 2006, 3609 hrs., #126268 ................................................ $24,900 13 JD CT322, 2006, 2100 hrs., #133832 ................................................ $24,995 12 JD CT322, 2006, 3290 hrs., #131411 ................................................ $26,900 4 NH C227, 2011, 900 hrs., #133181 ................................................ $27,900 12 JD 319D, 2010, 463 hrs., #130278 ................................................ $36,900 12 CIH TR270, 2016, 17 hrs., #132330 ................................................ $47,000 6 JD 317G, 2016, 147 hrs., #133454 ................................................ $47,900 6 JD 333E, 2013, 1731 hrs., #128299 ................................................ $48,000 8 JD 333D, 2013, 1279 hrs., #124961 ................................................ $49,500 9 JD 323E, 2014, 506 hrs., #123205 ................................................ $51,900 4 JD 333D, 2012, 690 hrs., #130565 ................................................ $51,900 13 JD 333D, 2013, 932 hrs.,
‘12 JD S660 , 421 hrs., 221 sep., #96947 $
229,000
2 8 4 13 10 8 5 7 7 1 13 4 13 6 13 11 10 1 4 6 1 9 6 5 6 1 10 2 6 4 7 6 8 7 5 6 4 6 4 8 2 8 1 3 7 7 8 6
#125901 ................................................ $51,900 JD 323E, 2015, 282 hrs., #129368 ................................................ $52,900 JD 323E, 2014, 332 hrs., #125605 ................................................ $55,900 JD 323E, 2015, 165 hrs., #130570 ................................................ $57,000 JD 329E, 2013, 405 hrs., #121156 ............................................... $57,900 JD 329E, 2014, 730 hrs., #126548 ................................................ $57,900 JD 329E, 2014, 419 hrs., #128337 ................................................ $59,500 JD 329E, 2014, 240 hrs., #131459 ................................................ $61,900 JD 333E, 2014, 550 hrs., #133945 ................................................ $63,900 JD 333E, 2014, 576 hrs., #120261 ................................................ $64,900 JD 333E, 2015, 558 hrs., #125621 ................................................ $67,500 JD 333E, 2015, 328 hrs., #131502 ................................................ $68,000 JD 333E, 2015, 387 hrs., #125622 ................................................ $68,000 JD 333E, 2015, 216 hrs., #129971 ................................................ $69,900 JD 333E, 2015, 176 hrs., #130057 ................................................ $70,500 JD 333E, 2015, 192 hrs., #130058 ................................................ $70,500 CORN AND ROW CROP HEADERS JD 693, 1996, #131820 ................... $15,900 Drago N8TR, 2003, #132087 ......... $18,400 JD 693, 2005, #134028 ................... $18,900 JD 893, 1996, #126995 ................... $18,900 JD 1293, 2007, #132423 ................. $18,900 Geringhoff RD830B, 2004, #132061 ................................................ $18,900 JD 893, 2001, #127232 ................... $19,500 JD 893, 1998, #133187 ................... $20,000 JD 893, 2004, #134018 ................... $20,900 JD 1293, 2005, #116503 ................. $21,900 Harvestec 4308C, 2006, #133685 ................................................ $22,500 Geringhoff ROTA-DISC 1200B, #127038 ................................................ $23,000 Drago N6TR, 2010, #133807 ......... $23,000 JD 893, 1993, #133956 ................... $23,500 JD 893, 2003, #131470 ................... $25,000 Fantini 6R30, 2010, #133739......... $25,900 Geringhoff ROTA-DISC 830B, 2006, #107701 ................................................ $27,500 Harvestec 4112C, 2009, #127253 ................................................ $35,000 Geringhoff 1622, 2007, #132675 ................................................ $47,900 Geringhoff ROTA-DISC 1222, 2007, #118082 ................................................ $48,900 JD 612C, 2008, #127007................. $49,500 JD 612C, 2009, #126839................. $52,900 JD 606C, 2013, #115136................. $53,900 JD 606C, 2013, #116470................. $53,900 JD 606C, 2013, #132413................. $53,900 JD 606C, 2013, #132993................. $53,900 JD 608C, 2012, #118668................. $54,900 JD 608C, 2012, #131793................. $54,900 JD 612C, 2009, #128688................. $55,000 JD 612C, 2009, #133911................. $57,500 JD 612C, 2009, #103694................. $58,000 JD 606C, 2014, #125557................. $58,900 JD 612C, 2013, #122102................. $59,500
JD S670, 2015, 230 hrs., 140 sep., #125750 $
325,000
1 9 10 7 1 2 2 5 8 3 2 5 3 10 2 2 1 7 10 11 1 10 6 7 10 5 5 11 5 4 2 11 11 4 8 12 10 10 11 2 11 1 1 10 5 7 9 2 6 7 5 5 4 5 10 7 8 8
JD 608C, 2013, JD 608C, 2013, JD 608C, 2013, JD 612C, 2012, JD 612C, 2013, JD 612C, 2014, JD 612C, 2014, JD 612C, 2014, JD 612C, 2014, JD 612C, 2014, JD 612C, 2016, JD 618C, 2013,
#126457................. $59,900 #132632................. $59,900 #125707................. $60,900 #106737................. $74,900 #125221................. $79,900 #134078................. $85,000 #125736................. $92,900 #125927................. $92,900 #126047................. $95,900 #126845................. $98,900 #134111...............$109,000 #107764...............$119,000 DISKS JD 650, 1999, #126844 ................... $18,000 JD 637, 2000, #130806 ................... $20,900 Wishek 842T, #126450 ..................... $21,000 Wishek 842T, #126451 ..................... $23,900 JD 637, 2005, #131583 ................... $29,000 EZEE-ON 4600, 2009, #126167..... $31,900 JD 637, 2011, #126287 ................... $33,500 SunÁower 1444-40, #118477 ......... $34,900 Krause 8200, 2013, #131061 ........ $36,000 JD 2623, 2013, #126300 ................. $38,900 JD 2623, 2014, #126778 ................. $39,900 Salford 570RTS, #131148 ................ $43,900 JD 2623, 2014, #126286 ................. $45,900 JD 2623, 2013, #111788 ................. $46,900 JD 637, 2012, #116113 ................... $49,500 JD 2623, 2013, #108452 ................. $49,500 JD 2623, 2015, #121336 ................. $49,500 JD 2623, 2013, #108855 ................. $51,900 JD 2623, 2014, #107046 ................. $76,900 JD 2623, 2016, #118461 ................. $83,900 Summers 9K4727, 2015, #129015 ................................................ $89,500 LARGE SQUARE BALERS JD L330, 2016, #125537 ...............$125,900 ROUND BALERS JD 568, 2007, #131030 ................... $17,500 JD 468 SILAGE SPECIAL, 2007, #131448 ................................................ $17,900 JD 582 SILAGE SPECIAL, 2006, #132056 ................................................ $18,500 JD 458, 2009, #131244 ................... $18,900 JD 568, 2007, #131763 ................... $18,900 JD 458 SILAGE SPECIAL, 2010, #132415 ................................................ $19,500 New Holland BR7090, 2008, #123046 ................................................ $21,900 Case IH RB564, 2008, #129522..... $23,000 JD 568, 2007, #122377 ................... $25,900 New Holland BR7090, 2012, #133944 ................................................ $27,500 JD 568, 2012, #121286 ................... $27,900 JD 568, 2011, #132345 ................... $29,900 JD 568, 2008, #119918 ................... $30,000 JD 468 SILAGE SPECIAL, 2011, #126398 ................................................ $30,900 JD 469, 2013, #131787 ................... $30,900 JD 469, 2014, #121911 ................... $30,900 JD 468 SILAGE SPECIAL, 2012, #132115 ................................................ $31,900 JD 568, 2011, #126221.................... $32,900 JD 568, 2012, #123505.................... $34,900 JD 569, 2014, #121188.................... $37,900 JD 569, 2013, #126055.................... $38,900 JD 569, 2014, #123810.................... $38,900 JD 569, 2014, #124210.................... $38,900 JD 569, 2015, #134021.................... $40,500
‘14 JD S660, 253 hrs., $
#107228
260,000
Page 18 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016
Repro Leaders
Cow monitoring system gives Reads 31 percent pregnancy rate Reads Brown Swiss Roger and Lori Read; Greg, Heather and Jennifer (5 months) Read Lyle, Minn. Mower County 120 registered Brown Swiss What is your herd’s pregnancy rate average for last year?
31 percent. What is your herd’s reproduction program? How do you get cows pregnant? We have been using the SCR activity monitor for monitoring our cows for three years. Two months ago we added it to monitor our heifers that are housed at another farm.
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
The Reads – (from leŌ) Roger, Lori, Greg, holding Jennifer, and Heather – milk 120 registered Brown Swiss cows near Lyle, Minn. The herd’s 2015 average pregnancy rate was 31 percent.
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Cows wear transponders that monitor acƟvity to help the Reads beƩer access when a cow is in heat and should be bred.
We also use PC Dart for herd data management. The two network our data for real-time response to heats. By monitoring, we get daily activity per cow along with rumination. This allows us to use a minimum 60day waiting period, and then we A.I. the cow based on her activity. If a cow is open after ultrasounding, we follow up with Ovsynch and a timed second breeding.
Do you use seasonal breeding or avoid certain months? We breed year round. How often do you do pregnancy checks? At least monthly. What is your breeding philosophy? How do you select bulls? What traits do you focus on? Does fertility play a role in bull selection? We research young sires with a high net merit and
Progressive Performance Ranking (PPR, the Brown Swiss version of GTPI for other breeds), but also look for bulls with good production and protein. Then we look at the heritability traits for type such as feet and legs. Finally, the choice comes down to what meets these qualications and stays away from inbreeding. Turn to READS | Page 20
The Bobcat® S185 was the best selling loader in North America for more than a decade. And now, we're excited to announce that this model and six others have been completely redesigned to increase performance, reliability and comfort. Bobcat® and the Bobcat logo are trademarks of Bobcat Company.
USED SKID STEERS ON HAND
‘15 Bobcat S650, 680 hrs, A71 pkg.............................................................. $39,500 ‘14 Bobcat S650, 421 hrs., A51 pkg, 2 spd .................................................. $39,500 ‘14 Bobcat S590, 1811 hrs., 2 spd, A71....................................................... $28,900 ‘12 Bobcat S750, 3279 hrs., A71, CHA, 2 spd .............................................. $35,500 ‘07 Bobcat S300, 4193 hrs., CHA, 2 spd ...................................................... $29,900 ‘06 Bobcat S205, 4800 hrs., A51 pkg........................................................... $24,500 ‘08 Bobcat S185, 1428 hrs., CHA, A71, 2 spd .............................................. $28,500 ‘12 Bobcat S185, 1499 hrs., C/H .................................................................. $26,500 ‘08 Bobcat S185, 1758 hrs., H51 pkg, 2 spd ................................................ $23,500 Bobcat T190, 2589 hrs., Gold pkg, CHA, 12” tracks ..................................... $28,500 Bobcat V723 Versa Handler, 3049 hrs, CHA ................................................ $34,500
Authorized Bobcat Dealer
563.928.6445 www.delclayfarmequipment.com/default.htm 1003 210th Ave • Edgewood, IA 52042
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016 • Page 19
“The one to get the job done...” — Carley Krull
Carley Krull, 2015 R&W Queen with EX-90 ‘Dirty Girl’ and the Queens of Krull Farms on 2016 Classification Day.
“We have been using Udder Comfort™ for 10 years. We absolutely love what it does to help our herd! We use it for just about everything. Every fresh animal gets it after milking, morning and night, for 3-4 days to speed healing and remove swelling in half the time,” says Carley Krull, freshman at Iowa State. Carley, Cassy, Bryce and their mother Cindy operate Krull Farms, Lake Mills, Wis., home to some top Holsteins, with up to 9 generations EX and AA nominees like Krull Goldwyn Entrust-ET 3E-94. Homebred Dirty Girl out of Dreamy was 2014 Champion of WDE R&W Jr. Show Recently, Rosedale 2 Hot 2 Handle-Red was top R&W at WI State Fair Jr. Show. Carley appreciates membership in the Dairy Girl Network as a place to share and gain advice. She sees “a large need for women in the dairy industry, which provides great opportunities,” but says that, “A major challenge for any young dairy farmer is staying afloat right now. “Recently, we tried other products but realized we weren’t saving any money. The one to get the job done is Udder Comfort!
KRULL FARMS, LAKE MILLS, WISCONSIN Cindy, Cassy, Carley and Bryce Krull 35 Registered Holsteins (many 2-3 yr-olds) RHA 20,900, BAA 112.1, SCC 110,000 “We make sure it is in the show box too, applying it before loading to prevent swelling from trucking. We reapply if there seems to be any discomfort at the show. We reapply if we see a start to swelling while bagging and always after milkout, post-show.”
Quality Udders Make Quality Milk
Keep the milk in the system 1.888.773.7153 1.613.652.9086 uddercomfort.com Call to locate a distributor near you. For external application to the udder only after milking, as an essential component of udder management. Always wash and dry teats thoroughly before milking.
Page 20 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016
ConƟnued from READS | Page 18 What percentage of your herd is bred through A.I. or a bull? About 98 percent of our herd is A.I. bred. We have a bull that runs with our bred heifers in the summer on pasture. If you use A.I., who breeds your cattle? Roger or our son, Greg, do the majority of our A.I. work. We breed most cows after morning milking; however, we have a small group we breed in the evening. Do you have a different philosophy when breeding heifers
vs. cows? No, we use the same philosophy. What do you do to settle hard breeders? How many times do you try to breed a cow before you sell her? We do have some Swiss/Holstein crossbreds in the herd. Sometimes, we will use a highly fertile Holstein bull just to settle the cow. This really depends on the cow. It is a weakness for us. We don’t like to give up on a good cow, so we will breed her up to six times. It’s probably not the right thing to do, but it is what we do.
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Roger navigates the SCR sytem on the computer in the barn. The Reads have been using the system for three years. What is your target size/ weight/age for breeding heifers? Since we have Brown Swiss, we target breeding age at 12-14 months and hopefully at a minimum of 750 pounds.
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
This 2-year-old exemplies the type of cow the Reads try to breed for in their herd.
Is there anything you have done or changed that brought about a signicant improvement in your reproductive program? We believe our advancement in noticing heats came from the SCR cow monitoring system/PC Dart integration. About 75 percent of activity occurs between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m., with most true heats taking
place around 2 a.m. Since we are usually in bed during this time, we would be missing them without our monitoring system. It also works well for our employees who can monitor the dashboard every day. Our system is easy to use. It has also made us more aware of our cows, and allows us to get cows bred more quickly. Greg can also monitor the cows using an app on his phone while at his off-the-farm job. Tell us about your farm. We farm 320 acres, where most commodities produced are fed to the cows. The cows are man-
aged in two groups – the fresh cows on a bedded pack and the longer lactation cows in freestalls with waterbeds. Cow comfort is really important, and we believe that the recent addition of the JOZ robotic feed pusher has made the cows more content and increased their resting time, which makes heats more noticeable. We have used the SCR system for three years, and in recent discussions with some team members from Israel, will look forward to the improvements in the collars and technologies that give us a heads-up on our cows’ health.
USED EQUIPMENT FROM A NAME YOU CAN TRUST!
2008 N-H 185 Spreader - $7,950.00
2013 T-770, Glass Cab with A/C, Hi Flow Aux, 1340 Hrs. - $49,000
USED TRACTORS
2013 N-H T9.615, 775 Hours, Auto Steer, Cab Suspension ...................................... $260,000.00 1996 N-H 9682, 4646 Hours, Reman engine at 425HP ................................................ $79,500.00 2009 N-H TV-6070, 750 Hours, Loader, 3 point both ends ........................................... $99,900.00 2012 N-H T7.185, MFD, 785 Hours...... $99,500.00 2013 N-H 40 Workmaster, MFD, Loader, 245 Hours........................................... $18,900.00 2001 N-H TC-25, MFD, Loder, 850 Hours, Soft Cab ............................................... $9,750.00 1955 Ford 900 ........................................ $4,000.00 1973 Oliver 1465, 6141 Hours................ $5,500.00 1972 A-C 180, Diesel, Loader ................ $6,000.00 1954 A-C D-14 ....................................... $2,950.00 2012 Bobcat CT-235, MFD, Loader, 61 Hours............................................. $11,900.00 2013 J-D 6140M, MFD, Cab, 1980 Hours......................................... $69,500.00
2012 N-H T7.185, MFD, 785 Hours - $99,500
2010 J-D 5075M, MFD, Cab, Loader, 1150 Hours ........................................ $35,000.00 I-H Super C with Woods 59 Belly mower .. $2,450.00 1966 M-F 150, Gas ................................ $3,950.00
Used Tillage
(2) 2014 W-R Quad X2, 60’ with Rolling Baskets .............................Starting at $43,600.00 2014 W-R Quad X2, 40’ with Rolling Basket ................................................ $55,000.00 2015 W-R XL2 34’, 4 bar harrow .......... $36,500.00 1997 W-R Quad 5 32’, 4 bar harrow .... $14,950.00 2009 W-R 957 Ripper, 5 shank, Harrow .. $17,500.00 2001 DMI 730B, Levelers ..................... $10,900.00 J-D 2800 Plow, 6 Bottom, Onland Hitch .. $5,950.00 Oliver 548 Plow, 4 Bottom ..................... $1,250.00 2010 Wishek 862NT, 16’ Disk, 30” blades................................................. $23,000.00
USED MISC
2006 N-H 195 Spreader ......................... $9,500.00 2008 N-H 185 Spreader ......................... $7,950.00
Equipment of Norwood LANO A family business since 1946 with the Lanos: Jack, Paul, Bob and Andy 952-467-2181
USED SKIDSTEERS
2013 T-770, Glass Cab with A/C, Hi Flow Aux, 1340 Hrs .......................................$49,000.00 2014 T-650, 1 Million Ed, SJC Controls, 900 Hours ............................................$47,000.00 2013 T-590, Glass Cab with A/C, 917 Hours .....................................$38,500.00 (2) 2012 S-750 Glass Cab with A/C, 730 hours and up ........................ Starting at $30,900.00 2006 S-250, Glass Cab with A/C, Hi Åow Aux, 3500 Hours ...................................$23,500.00 (2) 2007 S-220, Glass Cab with A/C, .. Starting at $13,900.00 (3) 2012 S-650, Glass Cab with A/C, ... Starting at $31,900.00
(2) 2014 S-590, Glass Cab With A/C, 2 speed . Starting at $28,900.00 (2) 2011 S-175, Glass Cab & Heater, 2 Speed, 610 Hrs & Up .............. Starting at $18,500.00 (2) 2008 N-H L-175, Glass Cab with A/C, 2 Speed ......................... Starting at $18,000.00 2011 J-D 326D, Glass Cab with A/C, 2 Speed, 1700 Hours ...................................$27,000.00 2004 Case 85XT, 3215 Hours .........$14,000.00 2010 Cat 262C, Glass Cab with A/C, 2025 Hours ............................................$28,900.00
LANO EQUIPMENT OF NORWOOD 952-467-2181 One Tough Animal
www.bobcat.com
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016 • Page 21
FREE Calf Housing Video!
WHO SAYS THEY HAVE 140 LUMENS PER WATT?
WE DO!
See what JanAire curtains can do for your calf housing!
THE LEADER IN LED LIGHTING!
See 10 different barns housing 14 to 200 calves, featuring individual and group penning and automatic calf feeding. Dealer Inquiries Welcome North¿eld, MN
HB/C80-150WLED HB/C80-200W LED
150 Watt & 200 Watt High Bays are DLC Approved
HB69/PB-430WLED HB69/PB-630WLED
NEW
2’
Call 800-246-5387 for a FREE Dairy Video or email: sales@janaire.com
140 Lumen/ watt
CBM’s work horse. Ideal for 18’-35’ heights. 5 year warranty on LEDs. 5 Year warranty on drivers.
HB67-6-18LED HB67-4-18LED
140 1 40 Lumen/ watt
DLC Approved
Powerful up to 24,000 lumens. Cleanable at 2000 psi or steam up to 200ºF. New LED Boards.
HB67/PB-430LED HB67/PB-630LED HB67/PB-830LED
4’
4’ DLC Approved
Big light with lots of lumen!
160 Lumen/ watt
3, 4 and 6 tubes. 18 watt high lumen LED tubes.
FL/WP80-50WLED FL/WP80-30WLED
NEW COMMERCIAL NAUTICAL/ MARINE INDUSTRIAL LIGHTING FIXTURE High Bay, spot, and flood light. Ideal for 30’+ heights
FRE-HEATERS
• Save energy - recover warm water for feeding and cleaning. • Decrease cooling costs. • Pays for itself in as little as two years!
“Get my return back in less than two years.” “Saving $250/month on my electricity.”
32,000 lumens. 5 year warranty on LED BARS. 5 year warranty on driver. >140 Lumen/ watt
140 Lumen/ watt
Farmer’s choice for outside security light, as well as feed lane entrances.
SCR/OC-9W-LED SCR/OC-16W-LED
SCR/OB/9W-REG
JELLY JAR BULB
NEW 140 Lumen/ watt
120 Lumen/ watt
Pure Lexan
Ideal LED bulbs for home, farm and shop. 5 year warranty on LED bulbs.
IP65 LED SCREWING 9 WATTS DIMMABLE AND COOLING BULB Especially designed bulb for jelly jars in hog barn and poultry houses. Can be dimmed. 5 year warranty.
Visit us at the Minnesota Milk Expo, booths 221 & 223
Call Jon today to Ànd a fre-heater for your operation. Jon Stein 320-352-5762 • 1-800-342-2697 Henning Area 218-849-0211
DAIRY EQUIPMENT CENTRE AND SUPPLY INC.
40625 State Hwy. 28 • Just West of Hwy. 71 • Sauk Centre, MN
www.cbmlighting.com
LARRY TRISSEL Phone: 540-433-1840 Fax: 510-433-1842 info@agsolutionsplus.com www. agsolutionsplus.com
JIM HEHENBERGER (WI) 608-544-2421 (office) • 608-963-9485 (cell) RICH PEDERSON (MN) 320-995-6403 (office) • 320-905-3725 (cell)
Page 22 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016
Protect against slips & falls Traction in all directions Reduce animal stress Aids in heat detection Cost effective & practical
We offer grooving & scarifying
BEST FOOTING CONCRETE GROOVING
Strum, WI
715-579-0531
www.panningbrothers.com
Used Parts • Replacement Parts
FREE NATIONWIDE PARTS LOCATING We Buy Salvage Tractors 25060 651 Ave., Gibbon, MN Toll Free: 1-800-635-0993
Creating a win-win situation
Van Nurden discusses fair rental agreements By Missy Mussman missy@dairystar.com
Put the PLUS+ in your herd productivity
™
Save time to milk additional cows per day and increase milk production
Potential to save water and energy
More milk per cow
Impact on feed cost and downtime
Greater labor efficiency Products in concentrated forms that use less packages, formulated to your needs
www.delaval-us.com
Contact one of the following dealers to learn more: IOWA Kramer Bros. Monticello, IA 319-465-5931 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 Professional Dairy Services Waunakee, WI 608-849-5043
Mondovi Dairy Systems Inc. Mondovi, WI 715-926-5777 West Salem, WI 608-769-2113 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 Genex Farm Systems Melrose, MN 320-256-3276 Watertown, MN 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. © 2016 DeLaval Inc. DeLaval, 11100 North Congress Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64153-1296
MELROSE, Minn. – With high crop yields and land values staying elevated, knowing which direction land rental rates will go for 2017 is not black or white. “There’s no magic number,” said Pauline Van Nurden, an agricultural business management extension educator with the University of Minnesota. “Everyone’s situation is unique.” Van Nurden shared ideas for working through negotiations to determine a fair land rental agreement on Nov. 14 during the 2016 Fair Land Rental Workshop in Melrose, Minn. “Both parties have to come to a conclusion that’s right for their situation,” Van Nurden said. The Farm Financial Database (FINBIN) showed land rental rates per acre had increased between 2011 and 2014, but most regions in the state saw a decrease in average land rental rates between 2014 and 2015. The National Ag Statistics Service (NASS) had average land rent prices for 2016 currently lower than last year. “These are just a guide to show farmers what the trend has been and a great way to benchmark your farm,” Van Nurden said. “This isn’t a denitive number. There are many factors that affect rental rate.” Size and shape, drainage, fertility and quality, crop rotation history and location of the land are all factors. “If it’s close to the tenant’s farm and they’re using it for corn silage, the tenant may be willing to pay a little extra for it,” Van Nurden said. “On the other hand, if the eld is odd shaped, making it more challenging to farm, the landowner might have to reduce the rate.” Other factors include which farm bill program the land is enrolled in, payment due dates, the reputation and personal history of both parties, and special considerations like storage facilities being a part of the rental agreement or other unique circumstances. “If a landowner wants only no-till practices on the eld being rented, they may get more per acre because it’s what the tenant wants to do, but they could also have a lower rate because it’s not the tenant’s typical practice,” Van Nurden said. To determine a fair land rental price, Van Nurden said both parties should look at the upcoming year’s crop budgets using projected income and expenses to determine what would be available for rent and what their breakeven rental rate would be. The average future cost of production base for crops in 2017 are projected to be $3.90 for corn, $9.20 for soybeans and $7.40 for wheat. But, the future market bids outlook for 2017 shows corn could average between $3 and $3.60, soybeans between $8.45 and $9.95 and wheat between $3.50 and $3.90. “Crop budgets aren’t the rosiest,” Van Nurden said. “It’ll be a challenge this coming year. But it allows producers to look at budgets a little differently. Check your local markets and run a budget sheet to see what your breakeven price might be.” For landowners, Van Nurden suggested calculating a desired rent per acre, which takes the desired return on the land at a 3 percent rate added to the real estate taxes on those acres, any liability insurance costs and other cash costs divided by the number of acres. There are several other items landowners and tenants can use to decide cash rent, like the market value, landowner’s ownership cost, landowner’s net-share, operator’s net return to land, percent of the land value, percent of gross income, xed Turn to FARM LAND RENT | Page 23
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016 • Page 23
ConƟnued from FARM LAND RENT | Page 22 bushel rent or dollars per bushel of production. “These are all viable options,” Van Nurden said. “It’s some food for thought.” Besides a fair rental price, landowners and tenants need to establish a fair contract agreement. One option is a lease. Each lease should include the name and address of both parties, the legal description of the land, a beginning and end date of the lease, rent amount, due date, payment type, late payment considerations, who insures the property and crops, partnership and legal statement, termination details, farming practices allowed or prohibited, who is responsible for improvements, property map, landowner’s rights, federal farm program the land is enrolled in, management participation, and how amendments and disputes are handled. A lease must be signed by both parties. “All leases should be written,” Van Nurden said. “There are farmers who’ve rented land for 10 years with no written leases. Not that people aren’t trustworthy, but this ensures everything is out there and on the up and up.” Van Nurden shared some online tools to help writing leases, including www. aglease101.org. “They have sample lease agreements and help you get the right start,” Van Nurden said.
MISSY MUSSMAN/DAIRY STAR
Pauline Van Nurden discusses ideas for working through negoƟaƟons to determine a fair land rental agreement on Nov. 14 during the 2016 Fair Land Rental Workshop in Melrose, Minn. Flexible lease arrangements are another option. These have a base rent set through negotiations, which is typically lower than a simple cash rent payment. But the nal rent is determined by the nal grain market prices, yield on the acres, crop revenue or protability of the acres. “I’ve seen these but they’re
not as popular,” Van Nurden said. “Both parties benet from an exceptional year and the risk is more evenly shared, but it takes more management, the producer shares the additional prots and the landowner may receive a lower rent payment in a year.” A exible crop price contract would have a bonus paid
OPTIONS YOU ASKED FOR...
FEATURES YOU NEED!
if the actual market price is higher than the base criteria. On the same note, a exible yield contract would pay a bonus if it were higher than the base value. “The aw is you’re only looking at one factor,” Van Nurden said. However, the exible gross revenue contract pays a
bonus if the actual yield and price values are greater than the base values. The same goes for the exible prot sharing contract paying a bonus if the nal protability was greater than expected. “These are my preference because they factor in more,” Van Nurden said. Farmers can also do a lien, which must be led within 30 days of the crops beginning to grow. “Landowners should seek legal assistance and communicate with their renter,” Van Nurden said. Tenants and landowners need to focus on the interests of what each other wants, not in terms of a certain dollar value per acre but instead to think of options for mutual gain. They have to also consider income generating possibilities for the operation, the quality of the land versus the rental rate and the quality of care being given to the land. But Van Nurden said the biggest factor is nances. “If either party can’t cover their direct cost, it’s going to be hard to make a prot,” she said. “Know your walk away point.” Overall, Van Nurden said the goal is to make it benecial to both parties. “You need to look at your criteria to know what works for you,” Van Nurden said. “You both want to win in this, so make it a win-win outcome.”
Square Cut Auger
Higher quality mix, faster, using 20% less HP
Mixer Level Ensures the mixer is parked at level
Shaker Box Test to achieve maximum digestion and reduce sorting
Discharge Undercarriage 5 configurations for every application
Processing Knives
Designed for maximum cutting efficiency and uniform processing
Over 14 configurations for fast, even unloading
The New 5000 Series • Schedule a demo today! VISIT YOUR LOCAL DEALER FOR MORE INFO
K&R Equipment - Fountain, MN Phone (608) 524-9958 www.forwardfarmlines.com
Bag Man, LLC - Hammond, WI
www.JAYLOR.com
Page 24 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016
The Dairy Star presents
The Great Christmas Heifer
G I V E A W A Y THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS Grand Prize Drawing Will Be Held Thursday, December 15, 2016 Drawings every business day December 1 until December 15, 2016 for other prizes. THE WINNERS WILL BE POSTED ON WWW.DAIRYSTAR.COM AND ON FACEBOOK.
Grand Prize Heifer: SHEEKNOLL KINDBOY 2615 (AKA HENNY) (HOLSTEIN) Born: Dec. 15, 2015
Sheeknoll 2615 com Kindboy the Sheeh es from a Rochester,n family Minn.
Sire: 7HO12198 Morningview MCC Kinboy-ET Dam: D Sheeknoll Man-O-Man Dora Dam’s Sire: 14HO06429 Long-Langs Oman Oman 2-ETN D Grand Dam: Sheeknoll Alexander April G Granddam’s Sire: 7HO8221 Golden-Oaks St Alexander-ET G
The Sheehans – (from left) Steve, Ben, Jerome, Andrew, Jeannette and Robert – are providing the heifer for the Great Christmas Heifer Giveaway. The family milks 300 registered Holsteins near Rochester, Minn.
Grand Prize Heifer Calf: EACHIBON JESSA R JAMAICA (BROWN SWISS) Born: August 31, 2016
Sire: Jo Dee Nemo Richard Dam: Eachibon Jessalyn Double Dare Jessa Dam’s sire: 54BS92 Fjel-Mar Joel DOUBLE DARE-ET Granddam: Eachibon Jessica Dally Jessalyn Granddam’s sire: Kulp Gen Pronto Dally-ET
Eachibon Jes R Jamaica sa comes F Jason Weihrom r Melrose, Wouch is. Jason Weihrouch is pictured with the prize heiferr calf, Eachibon Jessa R Jamaica. Weihrouch milks 35 registered Brown Swiss cows on his farm near Melrose, Wis.
PLUS
11 DAILY ADULT PRIZES LEADING UP TO GRAND PRIZE HEIFER
2ND PLACE TOY PEDAL TRACTOR YOUTH PRIZE & 10 DAILY YOUTH PRIZES LEADING UP TO GRAND PRIZE Register free at one of the participating businesses for your chance to win!
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016 • Page 25
IOWA
REGISTER AT THESE PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES:
ALLAMAKEE COUNTY • Bodensteiner Implement Waukon • 563-568-3463 • Equity Livestock Waukon • 563-568-4501 • Innovative Ag Services Waukon • 563-568-3455 • Waukon Veterinary Services Waukon • 563-568-2487
HOWARD COUNTY
• Clet Koshatka Farm Equipment Protivin • 563-569-8636 • Bodensteiner Implement Cresco • 563-547-2152
WINNESHIEK COUNTY
• Bodensteiner Implement Decorah • 563-382-2961 • Brynsaas Sales & Service Decorah • 563-382-4484 • Franzen Sales & Service Fort Atkinson • 563-534-2724
MINNESOTA
KANDIYOHI COUNTY
• Arnold’s of Willmar Willmar • 320-235-4898 • D&D Ag Supply & Construction Pennock • 320-599-4466 • Farm-Rite Equipment Willmar • 320 235 3672 • Haug Implement Co. Willmar • 320-235-8115
LYON COUNTY
• Midwest Ag Marshall • 507-532-2279
MCLEOD COUNTY
• Mueller Sales & Service Dairy Equipment Glencoe • 888-205-0974
MEEKER COUNTY
• Farm-Rite Equipment Dassel • 1-888-679-4857 • Mies Equipment Watkins • 1-800-324-8269
MILLE LACS COUNTY
• Adkins Equipment Inc. Detroit Lakes • 218-847-3131
• Farmers Co-op Creamery/ ADM Alliance Nutrition Foreston • 320-294-5711 • First National Bank of Milaca Milaca • 320-983-1333
BENTON COUNTY
MORRISON COUNTY
BECKER COUNTY
• Arnold’s of St. Cloud Sauk Rapids • 320-251-2585 • First National Bank of MilacaGilman OfÀce • 320-387-2233
BROWN COUNTY
• Associated Milk Producers Inc. New Ulm • 507-233-4600 • New Ulm Regional Vet Clinic New Ulm • 507-233-2520
CARVER COUNTY
• Lano Equipment of Norwood Norwood/Young America 952-467-2181 • Bongards’ Bongards • 952-466-5521 • Storms Welding Cologne • 952-466-3343
DAKOTA COUNTY
• Werner Implement Vermillion • 651-437-4435
DOUGLAS COUNTY • Nelson Creamery Nelson • 320-762-0115 • Osakis Creamery Assn. 1-800-584-9236 • Pro Ag Farmers Co-op GarÀeld • 320-834-2271
FILLMORE COUNTY • Farmer’s Co-op Elevator Rushford • 507-864-7733
GOODHUE COUNTY
• Ag Partners Bellchester • 651-923-4453 Goodhue • 800-732-1439 Wanamingo-Agronomy Location 507-824-2215 • Ag Partners Farm Store Cannon Falls • 507-263-4651 Pine Island • 507-356-8313 Wanamingo • 507-824-2231 • GB Feed and Supply Bellechester • 651-923-4425 • Midwest Livestock Systems Pine Island • 507-356-8349
HOUSTON COUNTY
• Farmer’s Co-op Elevator Caledonia • 507-725-3306 Houston • 507-896-3147 Spring Grove • 507-498-5321
KANABEC COUNTY
• East Central Dairy Supply Mora • 320-679-1029 • Fluegge’s Ag Mora • 320-679-2981
• Centra Sota - Feed Division Little Falls • 320-632-3631 • Centra Sota Upsala • 320-573-2186 • Central Minnesota Credit Union Little Falls • 320-414-0500 • Elmdale Creamery and Locker Elmdale • 320-573-2607 • F & M State Bank Pierz • 320-468-6422 • Gilman Co-op Creamery Gilman • 320-387-2770 • Modern Farm Equipment Pierz • 320-468-2161 • Pierz Co-op Pierz • 320-468-6655 • Sunrise Ag Cooperative Buckman • 320-468-6433 Lastrup • 320-468-2543 Little Rock • 320-584-5147 Pierz • 320-468-2168
MURRAY COUNTY • Miller Sellner - Slayton Slayton • 507-836-8571
OLMSTED COUNTY
• Associated Milk Producers Inc. Rochester • 507-282-7401 • St. Joseph Equipment Eyota • 507-545-2000
OTTERTAIL COUNTY
• Bongards’ Perham • 218-346-4680 • Central Minnesota Credit Union New York Mills • 218-385-2070 • Farmer’s Elevator Fergus Falls, MN • 218-736-3301 • PCCA-Country Store Perham • 218-346-7075 • Perham Stockyards Perham • 218-346-3415 • Pro Ag Farmers Co-op in Henning 218-583-2947 • Pro Ag Farmers Co-op in Urbank 218-267-2401
PIPESTONE COUNTY
• Gorter’s Clay & Dairy Equipment Pipestone • 507-825-3271 • Pipestone Building Materials Pipestone • 507-825-6358 • Pipestone Livestock Auction Pipestone • 507-825-3306
STEARNS COUNTY
• A&C Farm Service Paynesville • 320-243-3736 • Ag Venture Feed & Seed, Inc. Watkins • 320-764-9910, 800-779-8910
• Albany Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Albany • 320-845-2801 • Arnold’s of Kimball Kimball • 320-398-3800 • Arnold’s of St. Martin St. Martin • 320-548-3285 • Arnzen Construction/St. Rosa Lumber Freeport, In St. Rosa 320-836-2284 or 1-888-276-1751 • Associated Milk Producers Inc. Paynesville • 320-243-3794 • Centra Sota St. Martin • 320-548-3245 • Central Minnesota Credit Union Melrose • 320-256-4269 Albany • 320-845-4784 Freeport • 320-836-2791 Paynesville • 320-243-7022 Sauk Centre • 320-351-2274 St. Joseph • 320-271-0274 Cold Spring • 320-685-4007 Avon • 320-356-7136 Belgrade • 320-633-0007 • Centre Dairy Equipment & Supply Inc. Sauk Centre • 320-352-5763 or 1-800-342-2697 • Crop Production Services Sauk Centre • 320-352-6564 • Dairy Star Sauk Centre • 320-352-6303 • Dairyland Supply Sauk Centre 320-352-3987 or 1-800-338-6455 • DHIA Sauk Centre 320-352-2028 or 1-800-369-2697 • Ecker Feed Service, LLC New Munich • 320-837-5249 • Elrosa Grain & Feed Elrosa • 320-697-5515 • Farm-Rite Equipment St. Cloud • 320 240 2085 • Feed Co. Belgrade • 320-254-8294 • Freeport State Bank Freeport •1-800-252-9856 320-836-2126 Greenwald • 320-987-2265 New Munich • 320-837-5297 Melrose • 320-256-7208 • Genex Farm Systems Melrose 1-800-636-5581 • 1-800-247-0012 • Hartung Sales & Service Freeport • 320-836-2697 or 320-267-8568 • Lake Henry Implement Lake Henry • 320-243-7411 • Leedstone Melrose • 1-877-608-3877 • Melrose Implement Inc. Melrose • 320-256-4253 • Modern Farm Equipment Sauk Centre • 320-352-6543 • Sauk Centre Country Store Sauk Centre • 320-351-2227
STEELE COUNTY
• Northland Farm Systems Owatonna • 800-385-3911
TODD COUNTY
• Central Minnesota Credit Union Grey Eagle • 320-285-2256 Long Prairie • 320-732-6662 • Long Prairie Machinery, Inc. Long Prairie • 320-732-3715 • Olson’s Custom Farm Service Staples • 800-477-7059 • Pro-Ag Farmers Co-op in Clarissa Clarissa • 218-756-2112 • Pro-Ag Farmers Co-op in Eagle Bend Eagle Bend • 218-738-2552
WABASHA COUNTY
• Ag Partners Farm Store Lake City • 651-345-3328 Plainview • 507-534-2531 • Beck Implement Elgin • 507-876-2122 • Dairyland Equipment Service Plainview • 507-534-3161 • Wingert Sales & Service Plainview • 507-534-2285
WADENA COUNTY
• Aldrich Tractor Inc. Aldrich • 218-445-5430 • Central Minnesota Credit Union Wadena • 218-632-5200 • Olson’s Custom Farm Service Verndale • 218-445-5500 Sebeka • 218-837-5749 • Pro Dairy Systems Wadena • 218-632-5416
WINONA COUNTY
• Benson Farm Service Lewiston • 507-523-2188 • S&S Dairy Systems St. Charles • 507-932-4288
WRIGHT COUNTY
• Hobert Sales Inc. Cokato • 320-286-6284, 1-800-820-6455 • The Country Store/Munson Lakes Nutrition Howard Lake • 320-543-3517, 800-663-9177
YELLOW MEDICINE COUNTY
• Equity Elevator Wood Lake • 507-485-3153, 800-248-5427
SOUTH DAKOTA BROOKINGS COUNTY • W.W. Tire Brookings • 605-696-7400
CODINGTON COUNTY • Midwest Ag Supply Watertown • 605-882-2497
HUTCHINSON COUNTY
• Associated Milk Producers Inc. Freeman • 605-925-4234
MINNEHAHA COUNTY • Central Valley Dairy Supply Brandon • 605-467-0812 • Midwest Livestock Systems Sioux Falls • 800-705-1447
ROBERTS COUNTY • Valley Dairy Supply Corona • 605-432-5224
WISCONSIN BUFFALO COUNTY
• Badgerland Financial Mondovi • 715-926-5055
LA CROSSE COUNTY • St. Joseph Equipment LaCrosse • 608-788-1775
PEPIN COUNTY
• Anibas Silo & Equipment Durand • 715-285-5317 • Jerry Baier & Sons Durand • 715-672-4363
PIERCE COUNTY
• Western Wisconsin Farm Store Ellsworth • 715-273-5066 • Ag Partners Grange Hall • 715-647-5002
ST. CROIX COUNTY
• Dairyland Farm System Woodville • 866-467-4717
TREMPEALEAU COUNTY • Badgerland Financial Arcadia • 608-323-3325 • Centerville Cooperative Trempealeau • 608-536-3311 • Hegg Mill Ettrick • 608-525-4545
VERNON COUNTY
• Badgerland Financial Viroqua • 608-637-2188 • Premier Cooperative Cashton • 608-654-5416 • Koon Kreek Feeds Coon Valley • 608-452-3838
To view a complete list of participating businesses, log on to www.dairystar.com *Enter as often as you like. One entry per store visit, please. Winners must be 18 years or older and a Grade A or B dairy farmer for heifer, or 17 years or younger and a son or daughter of a Grade A or B dairy farmer for heifer calf. Winners must also live in the Dairy Star circulation area to be eligible and are responsible for transport of animal.
Page 26 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016
USED EQUIPMENT SPECIALS
Tractors
‘01 NH TM150, MFD, 5200 hours ...................... $49,000 ‘15 CIH Farmall 85C, MFD, new...............Call for pricing ‘99 CIH MX220, 4037 Hours .............................. $69,000 ‘06 CIH MX285 w/Front Duals, 3 Pt Hitch & PTO, 5000 hrs........................................................... $86,000 ‘93 CIH 9250, 4WD, 6700 hrs, very nice ............ $59,000 ‘94 CIH 9250, 4WD, 7300 hrs, very nice ............ $49,000 ‘09 CIH STX485 Quadtrac, 2850 hrs ................ $219,000 ‘11 CIH STX535 Quadtrac, 2924 hrs ................ $229,000 ‘13 CIH Steiger 500 Quadtrac, 900 hrs ............. $295,000 ‘12 CIH Steiger 550 Quadtrac w/guidance, 3200 hrs......................................................... $239,000 ‘12 CIH Steiger 550 Quadtrac, 2650 hrs ........... $259,000 ‘13 CIH Steiger 550 Quadtrac w/ PTO, 1380 hrs$279,000 ‘12 CIH Steiger 600 Quadtrac w/PTO, 1700 hrs $285,000 Case 75XT Skidsteer .......................................... $18,000
‘07 CIH Tigermate-200, 47’ Field Cultivator ....... $39,500 ‘15 McFarlane Incite 5032, 32’ Vertical Universal Tillage Machine, New Demo Unit ..................... $72,500 ‘11 JD Plow 10 Bottom...................................... $34,000 Sunflower 4411, 12’ Disk Chisel ........................ $10,500 CIH 730B Ecolotiger w/leads.............................. $14,000 CIH 730B Ecolotiger w/leads.............................. $15,000 ‘10 Case-IH 870 - 22’ w/o Drag, nice ................ $42,000 ‘13 Case-IH 870-22’ w/ Spike Harrow, Nice ...... $59,000 CIH MRX 690 Ripper (7 Shank) ......................... $17,000 ‘13 Summers 2510 DT 38’ Diamond Tillage Disk w/baskets & Caster Hitch S/N: M1574 Rental Unit ...................................................... $89,000 ‘14 McFarlane Reel Disk 4135, 36’ w/ Baskets, New Demo Unit ................................................ $68,500
Combines
CIH 2166 combine, 2692E/2123R...................... $55,000 ‘03 CIH 2388 combine, 3113E/2294R ................ $79,500 CIH 4300, 35’ Field Cultivator ............................ $11,500 ‘09 CIH 7088 combine, 987E/715R .................. $190,000 CIH 4700, 30’ Field Cultivator w/3 Bar Mulcher ... $5,900 ‘08 CIH 8010 combine ..................................... $149,000 CIH 4700, 36’ Field Cultivator w/3 Bar Mulcher ... $7,900 ‘11 CIH 8120 combine w/tracks,1207E/908R ... $269,000
Tillage
WE ALSO RENT SKIDSTEERS, SHREDDERS & RIPPERS
PEDERSON’S AGRI-SERVICE, INC. 320-677-2255 • 101 3rd St. E, Herman, MN
E-mail: pedersonsag@runestone.net • Web site www.pedersonsag.com
We stock parts for older model IH tractors
© 2015 2007 CNH America LLC. All rights reserved. Case IH is a registered trademark of CNH America LLC. CNH Capital is a trademark of CNH America LLC. www.caseih.com
Growth shouldn’t stop when the temperature drops. Give them the energy they need, when they y need It.
Ballots are out for FSA elections
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday, and we at the Farm Service Agency (FSA) are thankful for all the hard-working farmers we get to serve every day. We are also thankful for those who have made the choice to serve on our local county committees and be the connection between our agency and the farmers. USDA encourages farmers and ranchers to make their voices heard by voting in the current FSA County FSA News & Notes Committee elections. On Nov. 7, USDA began mailing ballots to eligible farmers and ranchers across the country. Producers must return ballots to their local FSA ofces by Dec. 5 to ensure their vote is counted. Nearly 7,700 FSA county committee members serve FSA ofces nationwide. Each committee has three to 11 elected members who serve three-year terms of ofce. One-third of county committee seats are up for election each year. County committee members apply their knowledge and judgment to help FSA make important decisions on its commodity support By Ryan Brunn programs, conservation programs, indemnity and diStearns Co. Exec. Dir. saster programs, and emergency programs and eligibility. Producers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program to be eligible to vote in the county committee election. Farmers and ranchers who supervise and conduct the farming operations of an entire farm, but are not of legal voting age, also may be eligible to vote. Ballots include the names of candidates running for the local committee election. FSA has modied the ballot, making it easily identiable and less likely to be overlooked. Voters in the local administrative area up for election who do not receive ballots in the coming week can pick one up at their FSA ofce. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than Dec. 5. Newly elected committee members will take ofce Jan. 1, 2017. For more information, visit the FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections. 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.
COOL WEATHER STARTER Now generating greater results than Conventional calf starters and earlier AMPLI-Calf Starter formulas. - Increased Feed Intake AVAILABLE IN 20 AND 22% - Early Weight Gains PROTEIN - Supports Immunity - Decreased Antibiotic Use/Cost
ColdFront™
FARM INFORMATION STATION Joe Gill • Farm Director
SERVING CENTRAL MINNESOTA FOR OVER 50 YEARS
Full Potential milk replacer with the weather in mind.
26% all-milk protein 20% fat with enhanced fatty acid
includes Digestarom for optimum protein digestion
L-carnitine
(Exclusively supplemented at beneficial levels in all Land O’Lakes milk replacers) Colder temperatures present the risk of environmental stress.
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
WHICH BARN IS BEST FOR YOUR HERD?
For calves less than 3 weeks, temperatures below 60 degrees create cold stress. For calves older than 21 days temperatures below 42 degrees make them more susceptible to cold stress.
Cow’s Match® ColdFront™ Calf Milk Replacer delivers what calves need. Ask your CentraSota rep how Ampli-Calf® and ColdFront™ Can give your calves the needed edge in cold weather.
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 Wayne Holck 320-250-6828
Jos Melse
218-639-5993
Alan Peterson 320-250-8268
Kayla Blake
612-308-7266
Jordon Przybilla 320-360-1809
Centra Sota Feed Division
Sauk Centre Country Store | 320-351-2227 Centra Sota - Little Falls, MN | 320-632-3631 Centra Sota - St. Martin, MN | 320-548-3245 Centra Sota - Upsala, MN | 320-573-2186 Centra Sota Feed & Grain - Albany, MN | 320-845-4086
Pole Sheds • Free Stalls Riding Arenas Pavilion Shelters Machinery Storage
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
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
A patchy harvest
We’ve never had a harvest season quite like this just west of our house to inspect the situation. Apone. proaching a particularly muddy spot, Our elds never fully recovered Dairy in the Suburbs he’d pushed his luck a little too far. after receiving six inches of rain in one With Gemma safely buckled-in on the day in the second half of September. Ranger and Tate buckled in the comThe ground was fully saturated then, bine, I helped Kurt hook up a heavy and every rain we’ve received since chain between the combine and trachas kept it waterlogged. At one point tor, and then (after going over the inearly in the season Kurt was worried structions multiple times), freed him we wouldn’t get our beans out of the from the mud. eld. It’s been a long harvest season, but We did, though. Well, most of we’ve had a good yield and even manthem. Like other area farmers, we aged to bale up corn stalks. started in on the high ground, harWhen Kurt nished in the last eld By Susan Steinke vesting what we could in elds that earlier this week, I joyfully asked him, Columnist had areas of standing water. Kurt’s “Is that it? Is harvest nally nished?” method of harvesting what he could He shrugged and said, “Well, as was to drive into questionable muddy spots until the combine started to slide sideways, and then quickly shift to reverse and hope he could back out. We did as much of our beans as we could, but there were scattered patches we were forced to leave behind in our elds. The combine sat idle for many days at the end of our best attempt at a bean harvest. Rain and wet conditions had us biding our time, hitting us with the reality that this would be one of those harvest seasons that dragged on and on. But then we were granted a blessed reprieve in the form of unbelievably beautiful weather in
I’ h It’s hard d ffor a ffarmer to say harvest is done when there are still patches of crops in the field mocking him. November, the kind that harvesting farmers dream about. Kurt started to venture into our corn elds, again sticking to the high ground and avoiding the wet spots, risking a push into muddy patches as much as he dared. “I’d better be careful,” he warned me. “The neighbor got stuck with their big combine today. When they couldn’t get it out with a small bulldozer, they had to bring in a bigger dozer.” “You’d better not get stuck.” I agreed. “We don’t have a dozer to pull you out!” The very next day, arriving home after a day spent in the eld, Kurt pulled out his phone to show me a picture before he started evening chores. It featured Tate standing in ruts as tall as his shoulders. “What’s this?” I asked suspiciously. “I got the combine stuck. These are the ruts left behind after Kevin pulled me out with the fourwheel drive White.” Thank goodness we didn’t have to hire a dozer. It wasn’t the only time he got stuck. The second time his dad was able to pull him out. The third time I came home from grocery shopping with the kids to nd him waiting impatiently. “Want to pull me out?” he sheepishly asked me. He was stuck again, and with his dad working up a eld at the other farm site, I was his only option. The kids and I drove out with him to the eld
Your Place or Mine? Portable Welding Silo Unloader Repair
PAUL’S WELDING & REPAIR
St. Martin, MN 320-548-3300 or Cell 320-249-1498
Sales, Service, Rental of manure handling and feeding equipment
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016 • Page 27
much as I can do.” It’s hard for a farmer to say harvest is done when there are still patches of crops in the eld, mocking him. But, along with those patches are deep ruts, a reminder of why those patches still stand. The beans we’ve plowed under; we had to give them up as a loss. But the corn we’ll leave yet. Let’s see what the next few weeks bring in terms of freezing temps and snow. This harvest season might not be over yet. Susan and her husband, Kurt, milk 40 cows in Greeneld, Minn. They have three little farmhands: Lily, 8, Tate, 4, and Gemma, 2. Just two miles east of their farm, on a clear day you can see the Minneapolis skyline. Susan can be reached at kurt.susan@hotmail.com.
Page 28 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016
Betty Berning bberning@umn.edu 320-203-6104 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 Les Hansen hanse009@umn.edu 612-624-2277 Brad Heins hein0106@umn.edu (320) 589-1711 Kevin Janni kjanni@umn.edu (612) 625-3108 Karen Johnson ande9495@umn.edu 320-484-4334 Brenda Miller nels4220@umn.edu (320) 732-4435 Kota Minegishi kota@umn.edu 612-624-7455 Jim Paulson jcp@umn.edu (320) 234-0438 Randy Pepin pepin019@umn.edu (320) 333-1369 Erin Royster royster@umn.edu Jim Salfer salfe001@umn.edu (320) 203-6093 M. Scott Wells mswells@umn.edu 612-625-3747 Emily Wilmes krek0033@umn.edu (320) 255-6169
www.extension.umn.edu/dairy
What if tomorrow never comes?
No one knows what tomorrow will bring but what if tomorrow never comes? It is a million dollar question and then some. Farm transition and estate planning may not always be fun to talk about but it is essential to the future of your family and farm in the event of your death. Do you have a will and health care directive? Are they up-todate? Do the personal representative and beneciaries know what to do when that time comes? Agriculture is the most dangerous industry in the United States. Depending upon which source you refer, agriculture workers (including owner/operators, family and hired workers) are ve to eight times more likely to suffer a fatal injury By Brenda Miller than all other industries combined. EvU of M Extension eryone knows someone who has been in a farm accident or has been in one themselves. As owners of livestock, machinery, commodities and property, farmers have huge nancial responsibilities and need to be prepared. Every adult needs to have a will and health care directive regardless of their assets, marital status or family status. A will is a legal document which lists instructions regarding the distribution and management of your assets and is usually the rst step in the estate planning process. You can draft your own will but an attorney will be able to help make sure you cover all estate law provisions. In addition, a husband and wife should each have their own separate wills as they can be individually tailored. Some items you should have in your will may include: naming a guardian for your minor children and naming a personal representative to carry out your wishes and procedures for distributing personal property. If there are family heirlooms at stake, you may want to distribute them now while you are living or name the inheritor in your will. For example: Sarah gets great grandma’s silver tea set and Dave is to receive grandpa’s Minneapolis Moline tractor. Your will needs to be signed and notarized and kept in a secure place such as a safe or safe deposit box. It may be a good idea to give a copy of your will to each of your adult children and/or your personal representative. It is also good to review your will once in a while as it may need to be updated due to births, deaths, marital or property changes, etc.
We probably all can think of an individual who passed away and did not have a will or their wishes written down. Then, the family had to deal with the consequences, or in some cases, have disputes over family heirlooms, money or property. Do not let this happen to you or one of your family members. There is no reason a family needs to be broken up over an heirloom glass bowl or nancial assets. People can be extremely greedy when it comes to money on the table and family relations can be devastated by it. Be proactive, specic in certain cases and get your will done. A health care directive tells others, in writing, your health care wishes if you can’t tell them because of illness or injury. Some items included in a directive: a person you trust to act as your agent, your goals, values and preferences about health care, where and what kind of care you wish to receive, instructions about articial nutrition and hydration, organ donation and funeral arrangements. What do you want done with your body upon your death: organ donation? Buried or cremated? Where do you want to be buried or have your ashes spread? Who do you want to be your casket bearers? Do you have money set aside to cover funeral expenses? Funerals are not cheap. Funeral expenses may include: cremation, embalming, funeral home fees, gravestone marker, casket, urn, owers, transportation, funeral/graveside service, obituary and death certicate. It is extremely important to have a plan as to how those expenses will be paid. These are all important questions to ask yourself and get input from your family members. When you have the directive form completed, it needs to either be notarized or signed by two witnesses to be a legal document. Inform others of your health care directive and give appropriate people copies of it. It should also be kept in a safe place where it can be easily found when that time comes. If you don’t have your will and/or health care directive done, do it now. If you have them completed, please review them and make updates if necessary. No one knows if tomorrow will come. “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift; that’s why it is called the present.” For more information about farm transition and estate planning, visit the University of Minnesota Ag Business Management Team’s website at http://www.extension.umn. edu/agriculture/business/.
Ask us about
SINCE 2003
®
ISO
Dual Chamber Cow Waterbeds
Isolated chambers. Ultimate comfort.
Custom Fit. Every Cow. Every Time.
LABOR Let DCC Waterbeds do the work.
• • • • •
Surface moves with the cow, excellent hock protection Minimizes amount of bedding and labor Repels liquids, helps keep cows dry The bed resets to form for the next cow No leveling required
Contact one of these dealers to learn more!
Dairyland Equipment Services - Plainview, MN Eastern Iowa Dairy Systems - Epworth, IA Field Silo & Equipment - Mount Horeb, WI Fuller’s Milker Center, Inc - Lancaster, WI K&R Equipment - Fountain, MN
Komro Sales & Service - Durand, WI Leedstone - Melrose, MN & Glencoe, MN Livestock Systems - Charles City, IA Midwest Livestock Systems Pine Island, MN • Sioux Falls, SD
Northland Farm Systems - Owatonna, MN Preston Dairy Equipment - Sparta, WI Ross Equipment Company - Lonsdale, MN The Scharine Group - Whitewater, WI United Development LLC- Brookings, SD
(608) 709-2693 | www.DCCWaterbeds.com
An attitude of gratitude this Thanksgiving season Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016 • Page 29
tell them you are a farmer or work in agriculture and thank them for purchasing your products. My guess is they will be surprised and you will gain a customer for life. • Community members: Clergy, teachers, elected ofcials and others work hard to improve our communities. Their efforts make our lives more fullling. • Employees: Most employees understand that margins have been tight the last couple of years. They are concerned and want to see your business succeed. Employees report that being appreciated by Many off us fface personall and M d employers increases their business challenges. But, even commitment and fosters a more trusting environment. in good times we take our • Employees’ families: Many employees’ families good fortunes for granted. also sacrice during seasonally busy times. Many of us face personal and business challenges. But, even in good times we take our good fortunes for granted. We often say thanks, but do we truly reect on all the blessings we have in our life? Gratitude helps us to focus on the good parts of life instead of focusing on the things we don’t have. Practicing gratitude requires little effort and is free. We all have the ability to practice gratitude. Take a few minutes every day to focus on all the good parts of life – instead of complaining about all the things we think we deserve.
DI EN NG ! ON
SO
We can easily question if there is anything to be thankful for this holiday season. This may be particularly true for farmers and their service providers. The past couple of years have been challenging. Prices for most commodities are low and are below the cost of production for many. Net farm income is predicted to drop for the third straight year. Cost of living, especially the cost of health insurance, is skyrocketing. On top of that, we just nished a contentious election season with a very negative tone. This could cause anyone to have a sour attitude. Some surveys show that depression and frustration levels are high for people in the United States. In spite of all of these challenges, most of us have many reasons to be grateful during this Thanksgiving season. I nd that even on my worst days, there are many By Jim Salfer reasons to be thankful. In fact, research shows having an U of M Extension attitude of gratitude may be good for business and for your health. Having an attitude of gratitude is a key trait associated with happiness and well-being. People with a habit of expressing gratitude have higher levels of joy and optimism and even have better health and less stress in their lives. Other research has shown being grateful can actually have a positive effect on business performance. Researchers at the Wharton Business School at University of Pennsylvania showed the performance of employees whose managers thanked them had higher performance than employees of managers that did not. Many groups of people are working hard to help us succeed. During this holiday season we should consider all the people that help make our lives better and sincerely thank them. • Family members: Most of us would not be nearly as successful without our family’s support. We often work with them on a daily basis and yet do not appreciate all their help and sacrices. Even family members not directly involved in the daily labor and management of the farm often sacrice for the business success. Many children and spouses are as committed to the farm’s success as the managers. • Service providers: Milk truck drivers, veterinarians and others work many nights and weekends to provide the services we need to be successful. • Neighbors: Many farm and non-farming neighbors contribute to our success. They come to our rescue when we need help, when equipment breaks or maybe they are chauffeurs for our children during our busy times. • Consumers: Most farmers are far removed from the end consumers. In fact, we are often frustrated they want to dictate many of our production practices and products that we can use. This can be a source of frustration but they continue to spend their hard earned money on our products. Next time you are in a grocery store and see someone consuming your products,
Portable Calf Chute
Feeder Wagon 24’ long
$875 Complete Spanier Welding and Metal Fabrication
$3,795
R
O
F
O
$2,395
!
ASK
• 200 bushel • Ground opening lid
UTH IS IN E TR TH
E TH
Steer Feeder
EM A M IX E R D
For 68 years, Patz has been producing Proven Performers for our customers. Over this time, we have gained valuable insights and experience in the industry, which has both improved our products and helped us create new ones. We look forward to using our knowledge to provide many more years of service for you.
Paynesville, MN • 320-243-7552
• Save money on energy costs by using Mueller® tap or well water to precool milk. Accu-Therm® plate • Durable Type 304 stainless steel end frames heat exchangers are available for any and stainless steel compression bolts. size dairy - large • Type 316 stainless steel plate material or small! for sanitary milk contact surface. • Clean-in-place system helps keep maintenance low. • Cool milk down to 37°F (2.8°C) in less time. • Use a multi-duty Accu-therm for chiller applications. Now That’s Cool!
Glencoe, MN • 320-864-3556 OR 888-205-0974
ANIBAS SILO & EQUIPMENT, INC Arkansaw 715-285-5317
Russ Pierson
Mixer Dealer today: BINDL SALES & SERVICE, INC Reedsburg 608-524-6339
STEINHART FARM SERVICE, INC.
SALES & SERVICE
Platteville 608-348-9401
ZERO DOWN & NO PAYMENTS FOR 90 DAYS
by
Offer expires 11/30/2016 ©2016 Patz Corporation
HWY 48 FARM SERVICE, INC Rice Lake 715-234-6788
TRI-COUNTY EQUIPMENT CO., INC. Withee 715-229-2000
A POWERSHIFT
IN ACTION
MUELLER SALES & SERVICE
Call your local
CHECK OUT
SAVE MONEY AND ENERGY WHILE ENHANCING YOUR MILK QUALITY!
www.patzcorp.com
Mouse wars
Page 30 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016
Life out here in the country is simply chock-full it’s more like tolerate and in some cases, it’s be terrorof hidden advantages. ized by. For instance, I could theoretically strip down, go This is because wildlife has little or no respect for outside and run around buck naked without anyone property lines. Wild animals often mosey right onto saying so much as “boo.” With my luck, though, I our place as if we were the ones living in their backwould step on a thistle and yard and not the other way have to hop around on one around. And sometimes, foot, whooping and cursing D wildlife will even move Due to my wife’s if ’ strong antii as I struggle to remove the right into our house and offending sticker. My wife mouse feelings, I’ve had to ounce around the place as would then open the door conduct a war on rodent-kind. if they were the landowners, and tell me to pipe down beand we were mere squatters. cause I’m scaring the cattle. At least that’s how it But really, I could do is with mice. that. Theoretically. My wife – who puts up with me and is therefore Another advantage to country living is that we get quite possibly the nicest person on earth now that to enjoy a year-round cornucopia of wildlife. Well, Mother Teresa is gone – absolutely hates mice. Her maybe enjoy is a bit too strong of a term. Sometimes distaste for them borders on pathological. In fact, she
uses the words “yucky old” to describe any and all things rodent, no matter what their true size and appearance might happen to be. For instance, she will say things like, “I was watching TV when a yucky old mouse ran under the couch!” or, “And there in the closet, in my Dear County Agent Guy new box of Christmas cards, was a nest of yucky old baby mice!” or, “My computer was acting up today. It got so bad that the only thing that worked anymore was the yucky old mouse!” Due to my wife’s strong anti-mouse feelings, I’ve had to conBy Jerry Nelson duct a war on rodentkind. This war has Columnist been long and costly, and has ground on for decades. Everything I’ve tried has had its drawbacks. Poison does the job, but sooner or later some mouse will get a gut full of the stuff and crawl into the deepest recesses of the piano to expire. It’s like he’s sneering a nal “up yours!” at me by forcing me to extricate his carcass from the depths of a two-ton stringed instrument amidst the nauseating odor of rotting rodent. And then there are traps. The spring-loaded kind are satisfying in that they deliver a quick and violent death. But their main downside is the act of setting the traps. Most of the time the trap snaps just as I’m putting it down, scaring the bejeebers out of me and making me twitchy as an espresso addict. My wife favors glue traps. The problem there is if you catch a mouse, you have to watch all that writhing and squeaking as the little varmint is carted off to the garbage can. It’s tough to watch a grown woman writhe and squeak like that, so I had to take over glue trap mouse disposal duties at our house. I decided to bring the forces of modern technology to bear in my war on mice. I did a web search and came across a doohickey called the rat zapper, a device that lures in politicians with promises of access to a Super PAC. But instead of receiving money, the pol is introduced to the business end of a cattle prod. No, wait. That was just daydream I had recently. I fantasized over how a real rat zapper might work: a mouse saunters into the tunnel-like device, thinking that it might be a good place to leave one of his disgusting calling cards. The mouse is quickly nabbed, strapped into a tiny chair and hooked up to a set of electrodes. He is asked if he has any last words. “I’m innocent!” he blubbers. “It wasn’t me! It was my cousin Vinny! He’s the one who left those tracks in the birthday cake frosting! He’s the one who said we should use your sock drawer as a toilet! He’s the one who ...” ZAP! So I ordered a rat zapper. When it arrived, I showed the doodad to my wife. “This is it?” she said. “Yup.” “And it only uses double-A batteries?” “Yup.” And then my wife – who really, truly is one of the nicest people on the entire planet – asked, “Is there any way you could hook it up to 220 volts? I don’t want to take any chances with those yucky old mice!” Jerry is a recovering dairy farmer from Volga, S.D. 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.
Lindell Sales & Service 37236 County 56 Blvd., Cannon Falls, MN
651-258-4311 • Mark’s Cell 651-764-4084
We carry... HOULE
A grand World Dairy Expo
I remember what it was like watching my rst supreme champion selection at World Dairy Expo. Arriving close to the start time, the ability to nd a good seat in the coliseum proved to be a difcult task as many WDE attendees gathered to watch the nal event of the show. As my friends and I sat down in one of the top rows, the lights lowered and the spotlights A Little Bit of Sunshine came on. I didn’t realize the grandeur of the event. I could feel the excitement and the emotion gathering in the circular venue as people excitedly waited for the next honored cow. Each cow and leadsperson took their turn, slowly making their way around the outside of the ring as the spotlight made the pair the sole focus of the event. Music played – in this particular instance, the soundtrack from Forrest Gump – while the announcer shared highlights about the cow and a short history behind the breeder and farm. I could see the pride in each leadsperson as he or she By Krista Kuzma soaked in the moment of having a grand champion cow at Assistant Editor World Dairy Expo. As I listened about each cow’s achievements while the music played, I couldn’t help but get a bit teary eyed. The breeders and farmers who owned those cows had all worked so hard to get to that moment. It spanned more than just getting a cow ready for a show. It goes back to the farm – breeding that animal, raising her and giving her the best quality care in order to help her thrive into a show cow that could parade around the ring at one of the biggest shows in North America. “It would be cool if that could be one of our cows someday,” I thought to myself. I didn’t think too much more about the idea since these cows are primed for showing and Sheeknoll Farms rarely made an appearance on the colored shavings at World Dairy Expo. My family also had the same thought. And over the past few years, we have occasionally exhibited an animal when she has done well at local and regional shows. This year, our 6-year-old Holstein, Sheeknoll Durham Arrow also known as Thomas, was having a great summer show season. My family decided to see how she would do at Expo. While the rest of family took care of the cows back home, my brother, Andrew, and mom, Jeannette, took turns caring for Thomas in Madison. Although we like to show during the season, we don’t have a big set up like many other strings. And our crew is made up friends and young dairy enthusiasts. When show day arrived, Mom took the halter and proudly lead Thomas past the judge as well as she could. Thomas didn’t want to cooperate in class that day. She was being stubborn and wouldn’t move well. Regardless of how she lead, the judge saw her potential and pointed her to the top of the aged cow class. The crowd erupted in cheers, and Dad and I each jumped out of our seats cheering and clapping. We couldn’t believe our farm had just won a class at World Dairy Expo. Our goal was to simply claim a medal by getting into the top 10. With the excitement of winning the class, it didn’t even dawn on us that we had potential to win the whole show. But when the moment came for grand champion selection, the judge made a big circle around the lineup of beautiful bovines and walked right up to Thomas and Mom to give her a high ve, and name our cow as Holstein grand champion at World Dairy Expo. What a thrill. We were shocked, excited and so happy. Could this really be happening to us? I think the moment is perfectly captured in a picture of Mom. The judge is giving her a high ve while her eyes are closed tight with a huge smile on a face. It was a look of both joy and disbelief. Following the Holstein show, Mom had the honor of leading Thomas in the supreme champion selection. Just like the rst time I watched it, the lights turned down and the spotlights came out. The emcee shared the story of Thomas and our family while the duo elegantly walked atop the colored shaving. Thomas must have known this was a big deal. She didn’t act up like in the Aged Cow class. Although she stopped once or twice, Thomas lead perfectly, showing off the attributes that earned her grand champion of the Holstein show. I got a little teary eyed. Although I still like to claim to be a part of Sheeknoll Farms, I can’t take credit for any of the work. It made me so proud of my family to watch my mom and Thomas. It was one way to recognize all the hours, dedication and challenges they overcame while dairy farming. During the ceremony, Thomas was named reserve supreme champion of World Dairy Expo – the cherry on top of an already spectacular day. My family has always been an inspiration to me, but this year’s World Dairy Expo makes them even more so. It makes me want to push myself further in projects I work on. It is possible to achieve dreams. My family showed me that during their grand day at World Dairy Expo.
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016 • Page 31
ATTENTION FARMERS... Are rocks, re-rod or holes showing in your bunker silo?
WE CAN RESTORE YOUR BUNKER TO LIKE NEW CONDITION! BUNKER SILO RESTORATION/REPAIR WITH JETCRETE • High pressure water blasting of walls for excellent bonding. • Reinforced heavy duty wire mesh installed. • Jetcrete -phnuematically applied concrete.
SILO RELINING WITH “JETCRETE”
BARN WALL & BASEMENT RESTORATION WITH “JETCRETE” B (Limestone, rock, block & concrete wall)
SERVING IA, MN, WI
CONTACT: WISCONSIN: 608-375-4888 MINNESOTA/SOUTH DAKOTA:
507-932-4560 • IOWA/ILLINOIS: 800-866-7327
Hoop Barn Super Sale! www.silverstreamshelters.com 30’ X 72’ single Galvanized Gatorshield Pipe and Ratchet
$5,790 Limit 5
38’ X 100’ Black Truss Pipe and Ratchet
$11,900 Limit 2
42’ X 100’ Black Truss Pipe and Ratchet
$14,250
Limit 1
SILVER STREAM SHELTERS
1-877-547-4738 • WWW.SILVERSTREAMSHELTERS.COM
CONGRATULATIONS Mike Scott Family
“I didn’t even think we had stray voltage!” Roger Lange milks 100 head on his family dairy at Crofton, Nebraska. Until recently he was often forced to sell his fresh heifers because they wouldn t let down their milk. “We called Stray Voltage Consulting, and Jerry found the problem within half an hour.” Roger said. “I was very impressed with Jerry. He’s a former REA guy, so he understands both the farmer and the electric company. Being able to work with both sides is a key component to his success.” “I haven’t had a single problem with our fresh heifers since Jerry corrected our stray voltage problem. I would highly recommend Stray Voltage Consulting to anyone who thinks they might have stray voltage!”
STOP THE SHOCKS
Stray Voltage Consulting Over 30 years of experience
605-695-3328 •
www.strayvoltageconsulting.org
Installed Two New A4 Robots Westgate, IA
Contact Fitzgerald Inc. for more information.
24548 HWY 13 N, Elkader, IA 563-245-2560 | Fitzgeraldincdairy.com
Ready or not
Page 32 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016
Winter seems to have been playing hide and living on borrowed time. Winter was going to come seek the past couple of weeks. To be honest, I out of hiding with a vengeance, and we better be wasn’t trying very hard to nd it, either. I counted ready. the warm fall days as one less day of winter or one The forecasters had been calling for a major day closer to spring. I was weather system to come enjoying the clear moon- Th across our way by the end The fforecasters h had db been lit November nights as we of the week. We’ve heard walked switch cows across calling for a major weather this story before. Somethe yard wearing just system to come across our times they’re right and sweatshirts and ball caps. sometimes they’re wrong. It just made me want to way by the end of the week. It all depends upon where dance across the yard with the pressure systems travel. joy. The warm sunny days We might be on the edge of felt more like September than mid-November. It a little or a lot depending which way it swung. We was strange turning on the tractor’s air conditioner were hoping it wasn’t going to be as bad as they as I chopped corn stalks for baling. There were so predicted. They got this forecast right. Apparently many fun things I wanted to do, but I knew we were winter was tired of playing hide and seek and called
Introducing the most powerful skid steer loader in the New Holland Line-up Units Arriving Daily at your New Holland Dealers Performance
Operating Weight .............. 8,900 lbs. ROC - 50% of Tipping Load .. 3,400 lbs. Tipping Load ..................... 6,800 lbs. Bucket Breakout Force ....... 9,323 lbs. Lift Arm Breakout Force...... 6,918 lbs.
L 234
Check out these big features • 90 horsepower engine allows for increased 3,400 rated operating capacity • Patented Super Boom® technology delivers superior reach and height • The L234 is the most powerful skid steer loader in the New Holland line-up • Controls and electronics are all ergonomically placed • Unmatched rear visibility
• Superior to all others in the area of stability • Wheelbase, low center of gravity, and weight distribution across the wheels • Newly designed boom stop prevents steel-on-steel contact and wear during digging, carrying, and other operations. • Flip forward cabs allow for easier access for cleaning and maintenance.
Check out the new L234 at your New Holland dealer and at shows throughout the midwest.
out, “Ready or not, here I come!” Luckily, we were almost ready. These past 48 hours have been lled with nishing up summer projects, washing equipment and winterizing cattle sheds. Every morning after milking and chores, Mark and I would com- Just Thinking Out Loud pare lists as to what needed to get done. I had to nish getting the leaves off the yard. The garden had to be cleared for tillage work and strawberries needed to be tucked in for the winter. Of course, there were still windows to wash. Mark needed By Natalie Schmitt help nishing his repair job on the cable fence Columnist behind the shed. He had already jackhammered out the cement around the old rusted posts and replaced them. I had to help him string and tighten the cable fencing once the new cement had hardened. Then we needed to nish cleaning up the heifer sheds and bedding them down. The nal touch was to close up the windows and anchor down the plastic walls to keep the north winds from whistling through the sheds. Fall eld work has gone very well here on the sand plains of central Minnesota. All the low spots have been worked and ready for spring rains. The summer manure piles have been spread and worked down across chopped corn elds. Large round bales of corn stalks have been stacked and tarped in a very long pyramid. Because the tractors have been in the elds so much this fall, I haven’t been able to clean off the mud splatters, dust and grime blocking the view out the windows. You don’t really notice how dirty the windows are until the afternoon sun hits the windows at a perfect angle and you are suddenly driving blind. No matter how much you squint your eyes or shade your face, you can’t see where you’re going as you bring another load of bales in the yard for unloading. You just hope you’re driving straight between the fuel tanks and the short row of calf domes. That was enough of that. Before I headed back out for another load, I grabbed my window cleaner spray bottle, a wash rag and a pile of newspapers. While the guys placed bales on the racks, I started washing windows in the eld. I’ve only been able to get a couple of tractors clean and a few of the barn windows cleared off, but at least I have the living room and dining room windows in the house polished up for winter. Now we can watch the winds whip snow across the yard from the comfort of a warm house and clean windows. We have made it through another growing year with no major incidents. The barns are full of cattle, the grain bins are over owing. We have much to be thankful for as we head into the holiday season. Ready or not, here they come! Natalie, Mark and his brother, Al, Schmitt farm together near Rice, Minn. They milk 100 registered Holsteins under the RALMA prex. Their four children are great help around the farm and are pushing Natalie out of several jobs. Therefore she is thankful to have something else to do. For questions or comments please email Natalie at mnschmitt@jetup.net.
Stop By One Of These New Holland Dealers For Details...
ADKINS EQUIPMENT INC. DETROIT LAKES, MN
MODERN FARM EQUIPMENT
218-847-4587
SAUK CENTRE, MN 320-352-6543 PIERZ, MN 320-468-2161
SCHLAUDERAFF IMPLEMENT
TRUEMAN-WELTERS INC.
WERNER IMPLEMENT
320-693-7277
763-682-2200
651-437-4435
LITCHFIELD, MN
BUFFALO, MN
VERMILLION, MN
700-1100 Head Springing, Bred, Open Heifers On Hand At All Times. Excellen type Excellent LINUS KUENNEN LI
30842 P Avenue Fort Atkinson, IA 52144 For
Phone 563-534-7754 Ph Mo Mobile 507-261-1703
Fax 563-534-3042 F www. www.kuennendairycattle.com
Health insurance, part four
There has been no shortage of health insurance drama here in Minnesota these past couple months – both in the media and in my own house. First came the announcement that health insurance premiums could increase another 59 percent and that health insurance companies would be allowed to cap enrollment. Then, our governor made national headlines when he criticized the affordability of the Affordable Care Dairy Good Life Act. Here at home, we were getting letters and phone calls from our health insurance agent warning us to enroll early. If we didn’t hurry, we risked not getting into a plan before insurance companies reached their enrollment limits. Then, our cooperative rolled out a new health insurance agency for patrons. I attended the informational meeting and left thinking it sounded too good to be true. Despite the drama, I am pleased to write that we have a health insurance solution for the curBy Sadie Frericks rent enrollment period. It turned out that our coColumnist operative’s health insurance solution wasn’t too good to be true. We were able to use the new agency to nd a traditional health insurance policy. I was surprised to see there were actually three health insurance companies still selling policies in our area. I know other areas of the state are more limited. I was also surprised by how easy the process was. Our agency’s health insurance marketplace was accessible online, so I was able to compare multiple companies and multiple policies on the same screen. I liken the experience to picking a ight using Travelocity. I answered some questions about my preferences and the marketplace gave me a list of matching options from all three health insurance companies. We ended up picking a policy with Health Partners. The deductible and out-of-pocket maximum are similar to our old policy with Blue Cross and Blue Shield, but this time, the agency helped us apply for tax credits through MNSure. We qualied for the credits, which make our premiums much more affordLLong story short, h we h have a (In the past when I tried decent policy with much more able. to look into options through reasonable premiums. MNSure, I spent hours on the exchange website and didn’t get anywhere.) Long story short, we have a decent policy with much more reasonable premiums. However, if those tax credits go away, then we will go a different direction. Our Plan B is to switch to coverage with a health care sharing organization like Christian Health Ministries or Good Samaritan. After being recommended by several friends and other dairy farmers, I looked into those plans very carefully. We have very few visits to the clinic for reasons other than wellness exams, so our health insurance needs basically amount to catastrophic coverage. A health share plan would have been our rst option if our cooperative’s insurance agency hadn’t helped us obtain the tax credits through MNSure. A health share plan would have saved us as much money as our tax credits will now. The main concern I had with the health share plans was the extra step involved of submitting health care receipts myself. We are also creating a separate savings account for health expenses. Our plan is to accumulate enough to cover our out-of-pocket maximum in the event of a serious health situation. This is not a Health Savings Account – we don’t have enough medical expenses to justify creating an HSA. (We created a similar savings account, making deposits through a milk check assignment, to supplement our Margin Protection Plan. That account has come in very handy.) For the rst time in a long time, I am content with our health insurance. The system overall is still broken, but at least our situation is better. I would like to end by writing that our health insurance challenges are over. But, I’m sure that’s wishful thinking. With Republicans now in charge in the White House, Senate and House of Representatives, changes to national health caw laws are all but guaranteed. I sat in on a post-election debrieng yesterday with a political analyst from Washington, D.C. There’s currently a lot of speculation about whether the Affordable Care Act will be repealed and replaced or amended. It sounds like some pieces of the ACA will be kept – namely, the provision that prevents insurers from denying coverage to people with preexisting medical conditions and the provision that allows young adults to remain on their parents’ policies until age 26. Regardless of what’s to come, any major changes to the health care law will require an act of congress. We all know those don’t happen overnight. Let’s just hope that any new health care laws result in less drama and fewer challenges. Sadie and her husband, Glen, milk 75 cows near Melrose, Minn. They have three children – Dan, 9, Monika, 6, and Daphne, 3. Sadie also writes a blog at www.dairygoodlife.com. She can be reached at gsfrericks@meltel.net.
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016 • Page 33
Got Baleage? Kidd Can Shred It! • Feed silage, shred forage and bed free stalls with one machine! • Discharge rotates 320 degrees with a blow capacity up to 75 feet • Kidd bale shredders can easily handle straw, wet corn stalks, even baleage! • Low horsepower requirements and high capacity!
Call today to learn mored about the Kidr! bale shredde
Blue Hilltop, Inc.
507-879-3593 / 800-821-7092 • Lake Wilson, MN
www.bluehilltop.com
Page 34 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016
A double triple treat Breezy Hill Dairy welcomes two sets of triplets this year By Brittany Olson
brittany.o@dairystar.com
DALLAS, Wis. – What appeared to be a difcult rst calving on Aug. 8 turned out to be even more unusual for Alex and Mary Olson. Their Red and White rst-calf heifer had not one, not two, but three little surprises under wraps for her keepers. The Olsons own and operate Breezy Hill Dairy, a 625cow dairy near Dallas, Wis.
“To have two sets of triplets in one year, especially live and healthy triplets, is unbelievable,” she said. While maneuvering what felt like a very small rst calf, another set of legs – and then a third set – were discovered when assisting the cow in delivering her triplets. The 2-year-old cow delivered three healthy, although tiny, black
“To have two sets of triplets in one year, especially live and healthy triplets, is unbelievable.” BRITTANY OLSON/DAIRY STAR
MARY OLSON, DAIRY PRODUCER
Oddly enough, the set of triplets born in August would be joined by yet another trio of calves just two months later. “We’d had triplets born before, but they were either stillborn or the mother aborted them halfway to term,” Alex said. Mary echoed her husband’s sentiments.
and white heifer calves. “It took an hour to untangle all the calves,” Alex said. “The second one came fairly easy after the rst one was born, but the third calf had more difculties being born.” Chelsey Gerke, calf manager at Breezy Hill Dairy, immediately jumped into action to give the three little ladies the
Ryan Zerbian, operaƟons assistant at Breezy Hill Dairy, spends Ɵme with America, Rio and Olympia, a set of triplet heifers born on Aug. 8. Breezy Hill Dairy milks 625 cows near Dallas, Wis. extra care they needed given their unique situation. “It was a more sensitive deal given that they were all heifers, and because of their small size,” Gerke said. “After feeding them smaller amounts more frequently than other calves their age, they began to
take off.” Making the rst set of triplets even more special is that they were born on Mary’s birthday. “It was one of the best birthday presents I’ve ever received,” Mary said. Alex, Mary and Gerke had
a hard time coming up with names for the three sisters. It took a while before they found names that stuck. “We were all coming up with these weird names that just didn’t t,” Alex said. “It was during the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, and I happened Turn to TRIPLETS | Page 37
Take the CHILL out of calf chores! Call for your customized quote today.
Keep ‘em warm. Keep em productive!
Whether it’s people or calves-everyone works harder when they are comfortable. Check out all our cold weather accessories to make your job easier!
634 County Rd T Hammond, WI 54015 800-796-5333 | www.afsBagMan.com | info@afsBagMan.com
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016 • Page 35
Spraying dandelions in Roundup Ready alfalfa can pay By Ron Johnson
ron.j@dairystar.com
BELMONT, Wis. – They’re a pretty yellow, but too many dandelions can lower alfalfa yields. It can be cost effective to spray dandelions in alfalfa, according to University of Wisconsin-Extension Weed Specialist Mark Renz. He discussed the impact of dandelions on yields the spring after treatment during a pest management update meeting Nov. 9 in Belmont, Wis. In an experiment conducted at the Arlington Agricultural Research Station in Arlington, Wis., Roundup Ready alfalfa was sprayed with the broad-spectrum herbicide glyphosate. The alfalfa stands were 4 and 5 years old, Renz said. The elds contained from four to six alfalfa plants per square foot, and down to fewer than four plants per square foot. Meanwhile, the elds also contained large populations of dandelions. In the fall, the yellow weeds made up 25 to 35 percent of the cover,
while in the spring, they made sate was pegged at $8.50 per up 18 to 45 percent of the cov- acre. Second, the cost of aper. plying the herbicide was $8.50 Glyphosate was sprayed per acre, for a total per-acre in the fall and in the treatment cost of $17. spring. Fall applicaThen, the valtions, Renz said, were ue of prime alfalfa made in late October hay in mid-May was to early November. taken into account. Spring applications In 2015, the hay was were made in mid-tovalued at $130 to late April. $200 a ton as large, Here’s what the square bales, Renz researchers found. said. For elds sprayed in Mark Renz In 2016, 2014 and 2015, and UW-Extension Weed the hay was valued cut in May, 0.7 ton Specialist higher – at $150 to of plant biomass was $210 per ton as large, lost if glyphosate was applied square bales. in late April instead of in early Renz also talked about November. research involving Warrant’s The same trend was found use in alfalfa. Warrant is a for elds sprayed in 2015 and pre-emergence and post-emer2016. There, elds sprayed in gence herbicide used to gain late April yielded 0.5 ton less residual control of Palmer biomass per acre compared to pigweed, waterhemp, lamb’s elds sprayed in late October. quarters, nightshade, foxtail, “It could be worth it to and other small-seeded grasses treat in the fall versus the and broadleaf weeds. spring,” Renz said. Researchers evaluated the Renz said that conclusion herbicide at the Arlington Agwas reached by using several ricultural Research Station and numbers. at the Lancaster Agricultural First, the cost of glypho- Research Station in Lancaster,
Wis. Renz said the herbicide was used three ways – as a pre-plant herbicide, pre-emergence, and post-emergence. Renz said the herbicide’s effectiveness and crop tolerance was good. When it was applied alone, and before weeds emerged, it controlled 85 percent of the weeds. It also rarely injured the alfalfa, Renz said. And when it did, the injury was similar to that caused by Raptor and Pursuit. The herbicide was also studied when alfalfa was coplanted with corn. In that situation, said Renz, when applied pre-emergence it achieved 85 to 95 percent weed control. For comparison, glyphosate applied post-emergence achieved more than 95 percent weed control, Renz said.. Researchers did nd a small decrease in the yield of corn silage when using the herbicide. Renz said the reduction amounted to less than 5 percent. This research also looked at alfalfa re-establishment after the herbicide was used.
Renz said establishment was successful, and the fall cover of alfalfa was 25 to 50 percent. The next year, the alfalfa yield was typical of a secondyear eld, Renz said. It yielded 5.9 to 6.3 tons per acre, or double what would be expected in the stand’s establishment year. Renz touched on reduced seeding rates for Roundup Ready alfalfa. He said the seeds can cost $125 for a 50-pound bag. What’s more, seeds of HarvXtra – a Roundup Ready alfalfa that’s lower in lignin – can run $300 for 50 pounds. But some farmers might be seeding at rates that are too high. Renz said the seeding rate recommended in the industry is 15 to 20 pounds per acre. However, said Renz, “Research shows little benet to seeding more than 10 pounds of pure, live seed (PLS) per acre.” In Wisconsin, he said, the recommended PLS rate is 12 pounds per acre, unless growing conditions are poor.
Be kind and thankful This is, without a doubt, my favorite time of year. As I await the rst snowfall here in West Central Wisconsin, I am getting so excited to enter the holiday season. Harvest is complete, the table is set and it is time to celebrate the greatest blessings in our lives. Thanksgiving always has been and always will be my favorite holiday. While growing up on my family’s farm, I remember hastily completing chores with my dad so we could go inside my grandma’s house to warm up. Once inside, we were blasted with the rich aroma of a proud Norwegian kitchen: mashed potatoes with an unmeasurable amount of butter, bowls of rich stufng and piles of lefsa making my mouth water. Except for the pungent stink of Dad’s lutesk, the smells of Thanksgiving are some of my favorite. But Thanksgiving is about much more than the food; it’s about the company as well. While hosting a large meal can be a headache, everyone comes By Cassie Olson together with thankful hearts. While in college, my Staff Writer sorority always hosted a large Thanksgiving feast the Monday before the break. Preparing the meal was an all-hands-on-deck adventure. Someone would wake up in the wee hours of the morning to start roasting the multiple turkeys and hams. Groups of sisters would spend B Beyond d the h ffood d and d even hours baking pies, preparing roles and mixing casseroles. Usually by the company, though, midday, a breaker would go out Thanksgiving is about from all the roasters going, but that was always a part of the ad- appreciation. venture and are some of the holiday memories I will cherish for a lifetime. Preparing the Thanksgiving feast always concluded with the meal itself. I will never forget my sophomore year when some 110 guests quite literally lled our house. To see that many of my peers come together under one roof to enjoy a meal and each other’s company was incredible. Beyond the food and even the company, though, Thanksgiving is about appreciation. It is recognizing the things we sometimes take for granted and appreciating the value they hold in our lives. Whether that is family you don’t always get to see, having a place to call home or your health, even on the toughest of days, there are so many things for which we should be thankful for. I’m an avid shopper and, yes, I love taking advantage of Black Friday deals. But it’s also frightening how fast we all move past our one dedicated day of thankfulness to start making purchases. While many individuals are
shopping in hopes of nding the perfect gift for a loved one, it is easy to get wrapped up in the hunt for a deal and soon forget the spirit of Thanksgiving. While doing an interview for one of my stories this issue, Stacy Sosinsky told me about another opportunity to give thanks while impacting the lives of others. Following the Thanksgiving holiday and major shopping events such as Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving to harness the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations for the common purpose of celebrating and encouraging giving. Giving Tuesday is about ordinary people coming together to achieve extraordinary things. Donating to a charity, volunteering at a shelter or simply conducting one random act of kindness are just a few ways to make Giving Tuesday a part of your Thanksgiving season. While we all have much to be thankful for, the holiday season is equally a time to show our kindness to one another. We are moving into a beautiful time of year; be kind and be thankful.
Express Pressure Washers, Inc. 15880 SE 74th Ave. Blooming Prairie, MN 55917 507-583-2703
Check out our Used Equipment at
www.expresspressurewashers.com PARTS * ACCESSORIES * SOAP REPAIR * ON-SITE SERVICE
ALL OUR MACHINES CARRY OUR 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE Open Monday to Friday 8:00 to 5:00 Saturday 8:30 to 12:00 / Fax: 507-583-2060 Email: service@expresspressurewashers.com Join us on Facebook!
Page 36 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016
Women In Jeans Amanda Becker Kensington, Minn. Douglas County 52 cows
Family: My husband, Allan, and I have been married for 16 years. We have four kids. Hailee, 14, Lily, 11, Cole, 9, and Levi, 3. Tell us about your farm. We bought our farm in 2003, and in 2007, we started raising a herd of almost 200 goats. The dairy goat market wasn’t strong at that time, so we switched over to cattle in 2008. We still have a few goats for the kids as well as pigs, chickens, ducks and guineas. We currently own and rent 160 acres of hay, corn and oats. We farm together as a family, so I do the morning milking and my husband does the evening milking. Our kids feed all the youngstock and other animals while my husband mixes feed for the milk cows and dry cows and does all the bedding. What’s the busiest time of day for you? Mornings, since I do the milking while he feeds the cows and the kids do their chores. When you get a spare moment what do you do? I don’t seem to ever have a spare moment with nothing to do. After milking, we do schoolwork since I homeschool our kids. I also own a photography business, and I have a studio in town where I work many days a week. On the days I’m not at my studio, I like to do things with the kids like play games or just goof around. We get pretty crazy in our house, so we like to just hang out and have fun. Tell us about your most memorable experience working on the farm. I have a lot of great memories from when I was a kid. Helping my dad bale hay and then having to unload it into the hay barn were two things I dreaded, but when we did it as a family it was always fun. Here on our farm, one of our most memorable days involved having the vet out at 2 a.m. to x a prolapsed uterus for a young heifer. The kids were very interested so they stayed up and came out to watch and help. It was a great learning experience for them. What have you enjoyed most about dairy farming and your tie to the dairy industry? I think the best thing is raising my kids on a farm; teaching them to work together and be responsible. They are happy and healthy and nothing beats that. And for me, the best part of farming is having animals. Taking care of them and bonding with them so they look for your attention is so awesome. We have cows that enjoy hugs, and my daughter hand-raised pigs that would jump up on her like puppies. I enjoy seeing my kid’s passion for animals and agriculture grow. How do you stay connected with others in the industry? We talk to our neighbors often. We also go to our annual creamery meetings and talk to other farmers. I use social media as a way to meet others and educate the public on agriculture. I love sharing our farm life through my Facebook page, Shut the Barn Door. I follow quite a few other farmers, and it’s fun to see how alike and different every farm can be. In your opinion, what’s the importance of women in today’s dairy industry and how have you seen that change over the years? Women are just as important as men. When I was growing up, the dairy moms I knew did the lesser of the farm chores while keeping the family fed and making sure
USED 2016 ANDERSON HYBRID-X
Farm King Combo
$25,900
the house work was done. But over the years, I have seen more women take an active role in starting their own dairies or becoming herdswomen on large dairy farms. I think women have the extra compassion for animals and a drive to achieve their dreams. My 14-year-old daughter is well on her way to doing that as well. She’s always checking the cattle records and keeping us informed of anything concerning on the farm. If you could give a tour of your farm to a prominent woman in today’s society, who would it be and why? There are so many people who need to experience a farm and learn where their food comes from. Many people get their information on the internet, and they believe everything to be true. Nothing gets me more worked up than hearing false information about dairy farming and the bad treatment of animals. I will always stand up for our industry and make sure everyone knows what really goes on. I would be open to hosting anyone that believes the lies they read and see online. I’d like to show them what really goes on from day to day. What is the best vacation you’ve ever taken? I haven’t done much traveling, but I enjoy camping trips with my family. Before we had cows, we took a trip each summer to South Dakota. Since we started milking, we really haven’t gotten away. What are some words you like to live by? My motto has always been, “Follow Your Arrow.” It’s tattooed on my arm for many reasons. I have always been one to believe you have to live your life for you. I will always do what’s best for me and my family no matter what other people believe. We were married when I was 18, started a dairy farm from square one with no help from family, started a thriving photo business, and we took a leap of faith and started homeschooling our kids last year. Nothing has been easy but everything has been well worth it. You need to live your life to be happy and follow your arrow.
• • • • •
Lagoon Pumps Vertical Pumps Agitators Electric Pumps Barn Cleaners
STEERABLE SERIES SPREADERS FUTURO The Futuro enables sand laden liquid manure from a freestall barn to be transferred underground to long term storage.
CALL US AT
(715) 223-3361 OR VISIT US ON-LINE AT
N13835 County Rd. E - Curtiss, WI 54422
www.cloverdaleequip.com
FIELD SILO & EQUIPMENT Mt. Horeb, WI • 608-437-5561 “Sales with Service Since 1966”
ConĆ&#x;nued from TRIPLETS | Page 34
to be at the sale barn in Barron, Wis., when someone was talking about the Olympics on the radio.â€? While the idea of naming them Gold, Silver and Bronze was more ďƒžtting, it still didn’t seem quite right. However, America, Rio and Olympia ďƒžt the three calves perfectly. Gerke had more than her fair share of shenanigans with her three newest charges, who have just been weaned and are thriving. “They used to escape their hutches all the time, and America is the ringleader of the three. She still is even though
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016 • Page 37
they’re in a group pen now,� Gerke said. Mary went on to add that, even as they grow older the trio still eats at the feeder together and lies down together. “It makes you wonder if they’ll always be like that,� Mary said. Alex chalked it up to having spent nine months in very close quarters. “They were together from the very beginning,� he said. A little over two months later, Ernesto Javier Castellanos Azuara, herdsman at Breezy Hill, and operations assistant, Ryan Zerbian, went to
check on a 7-year-old cow in the calving pen who was giving birth ďƒžve days early and hadn’t seemed quite right. “After the ďƒžrst calf was born, Ernesto reached inside and felt two more,â€? Alex said. “After the third one was born, all unassisted, and alive, we started checking between legs to see what we had.â€? The cow had delivered two heifer calves and a bull calf, alive and healthy like the set of triplets born two months prior. However, the stress of delivering three calves was too much and the cow died two days after calving.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Alex and Mary Olson (leĹŒ) and calf manager Chelsey Gerke were surprised with two sets of live and healthy triplets this year. The Olsons own and operate Breezy Hill Dairy, a 625-cow dairy near Dallas, Wis.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Calf manager Chelsey Gerke cares for one of the two sets of triplet calves at Breezy Hill Dairy. “In the week or week and a half leading up to calving, she wasn’t quite at 100 percent,â€? Alex said. “That calving probably took too much out of her.â€? The October triplets are in hutches beside each other and doing well. The two heifer calves were found to be freemartins, but are thriving nonetheless. “It’ll be interesting to see how they grow up,â€? Alex said. As for triplet births in dairy cattle, it was hard for the Olsons to ďƒžnd statistics that ďƒžt the two unique births at Breezy Hill, especially the August threesome. “Mary found a general statistic that said triplets are one in a million,â€? Alex said. “But to have all heifer calves out of a ďƒžrst calf heifer, particularly a red heifer, seems like steeper
odds yet to me.� As for America, Rio and Olympia, their futures are looking particularly bright. Even though they are black and white from a red heifer, they’ll be tested to see if they carry the red gene. “I love the red ones,� Mary said. “I really do.� To have one batch of triplets, like Alex said, is a one-ina-million chance. Two batches of triplets, especially alive and healthy like the ones born at Breezy Hill Dairy, might be more than purely happenstance. Either way, everyone is still in a happy sort of disbelief at all six little wonders. “I catch myself looking at them and thinking, ‘Did this actually happen?’� Alex said, incredulously. “It’s incredible.�
Mastitis Rates: What ever happened to 2%??? The goal for monthly new infection (mastitis) rates used to be under 2%. Dr. David Reid (past Director of Milk Harvest at BouMatic) stated in a recent Progressive Dairyman issue “I tell people 7 percent or lessâ€?. It was further noted that the mastitis proďŹ le at the featured dairy was consistently 6 to 7 percent with Reid stating “that’s a good thingâ€?. CoPulsation™ customers routinely enjoy new infection rates under 1%. Our customers understand that the key to success is to maintain low SCC with low infection rates with healthy cows that milk quickly and efďŹ ciently. While 7% may be a great accomplishment for BouMatic, DeLaval, GEA and Dairymaster we believe that real progress is beating 2% - not in accepting 7%.
University research proven to achieve a 94% reduction in new infections!
Need to see it to believe it? Try our demo unit at your farm today! CoPulsation™ Milking System LR Gehm, LLC 607-849-3880 Dealers Wanted!
www.CoPulsation.com www.Facebook.com/CoPulsation twitter @CoPulsation
SAUK CENTRE, MN www.mmcjd.com
Phone 320-352-6511 Ask for Ralph or Steve
Allllll h A hou hour ho hours ouurrs aar our ou are re cutt cut ccu cutter utt uut tttteerr h hours oours urrrss uurs
Large Selection of Used Self-Propelled Forage Harvesters 8700, RWA, 2016 .................................Coming In 8600, 2015, 330 Cutter Hours, RWA ...... $399,000 8600, 2016, RWA, Prodrive ..................Coming In 8100, 2015, 150 Cutter Hours, RWA ...... $279,000 7780, 2014, 259 Cutter Hours, RWA ...... $369,000 7780, 2014, 425 Cutter Hours, RWA ...... $349,000 7780, 2014, 845 Cutter Hours,RWA ....... $319,000 7780, 2013, 1126 Cutter Hours, RWA .... $299,000 7580, 2013, 610 Cutter Hours, RWA ...... $299,000 7580, 2013, 1009 Cutter Hours, RWA .... $265,000 7380, 2014, 590 Cutter Hours, RWA.......... $260,000 7950, 2012, 694 Cutter Hours, RWA ...... $299,000 7850, 2008, 1600 Cutter Hours, RWA .... $210,000 7750, 2012, 1019 Cutter Hours, RWA ... $265,000 7550, 2010, 1344 Cutter Hours, RWA .... $249,000 7550, 2008, 1359 Cutter Hours, RWA .... $219,000 7450, 2009, 1550 Cutter Hours, RWA .... $195,000 7350, 2010, 1100 Cutter Hours, RWA .... $219,000 7350, 2009, 1025 Cutter Hours, RWA .... $209,000 7250, 2009, 560 Cutter Hours, RWA ...... $196,500 7800, 2007, 1885 Cutter Hours, RWA .... $179,000 7700, 2007, 1570 Cutter Hours, RWA .... $185,000
7500, 2003, 2406 Cutter Hours, 2WD .... $149,000 7400, 2004, 2918 Cutter Hours, RWA .... $144,500 6950, 1999, 2328 Cutter Hours, RWA ...... $98,500 6850, 1998, 3120 Cutter Hours, RWA ...... $98,500 6850, 1998, 3100 Cutter Hours, 2WD ...... $78,500 6710, 1995, 2908 Cutter Hours, RWA ...... $78,500 5730, 1986, 4980 Hours, RWA................. $43,900 Claas 970, 2008, 4000 Hours, RWA ...... $199,000 Claas 960, 2013, 1312 Cutter Hours, RWA ............................................... $275,000.00 Claas 890, RWA...................................Coming In
7350
2009, 1025 Cutter Hours, Kernel Processor, HID Lights, RWA ................................ $209,000
Call today for details on C
New! o u Easy-Lease financing! our
Page 38 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016
Which came first, the adult lice or the eggs?
Who cares? Kill both with one dose of Clean-Up™ II. Effective lice control shouldn’t be a riddle. The only pour-on with an added insect growth regulator (IGR), one application of Clean-Up™ II on cattle kills both adult lice and their eggs. Finally, a simple answer for lice.
©2016 Bayer, Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201. Bayer (reg’d), the Bayer Cross (reg’d) and Clean-Up™ are trademarks of Bayer.
Clean-Up II ™
Pour-On Insecticide with IGR
I161661
Dairy prole
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016 • Page 39
sponsored by
Jake Golombeski Morristown, Minn. Rice County 35 cows How did you get into farming? I grew up on a dairy farm, but my dad sold out in 2000. After I graduated from high school that year, I started dairy farming on my own at a different farm. I sold my herd in 2005 because I couldn’t handle the pressure of $9 milk and high input costs. After that I was ready to be done, but then my dad had a second heart attack. To get my dad out of the house, we (my brother and I) thought we should get him cows. So, we bought him nine cows in July 2011. When my dad was well enough, he started working at another dairy, so my brother and I took over the herd. I now farm in partnership with my brother, Greg, who works as a nutritionist. He’s not here during the week, but he comes to do chores on the weekends. Along with dairy farming, I also work off the farm as a licensed contractor doing mostly agriculture work. What are your thoughts and concerns about the dairy industry for the next year? The price is my biggest concern. When it goes up, everyone wants a piece of the pie, but when it goes down the other costs don’t always go back down. What do you enjoy most about dairy farming? I like having registered ani-
mals. I like mating a cow to a certain bull to see what kind of calf we get. People ask why we have mostly Jerseys, since I grew up with grade Holsteins. We like the components. Components and milk quality carry us here. Because of these two factors, our milk price only recently dipped under $20 per hundredweight. Our herd usually runs at 5.2 percent fat and 4.0 percent for fat with an average of about 80,000 for somatic cell count.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? A friend once told me if you take care of the cows, the cows will take care of you. We follow that philosophy here. What has been the best purchase you’ve ever made on your farm? Our most recent TMR mixer we bought three years ago. It’s used, but it mixes a lot better than the one we had before. What has been your biggest accomplishment while dairy farming? How did you achieve this? We currently have three cows that are scored Excellent 90. Our highest scored cow, Excellent 93, recently passed away. We were able to achieve this through our breeding and mating selections. We only use the top 10 Jersey Performance Index (JPI) bulls from four breeding companies. We try to breed for a balanced cow, one that will milk well, but also excels in type. What are your plans for your dairy in the next ve years? We would like to purchase our own farm. We are renting this barn. We don’t need to expand because we don’t plan on being the biggest, but we want to be the best. What is your favorite thing to do on the farm? I like feeding calves. A friend once told me, “A Jersey calf is looking to die when it’s born. It’s
your job to keep it alive.” I take pride in my cattle. I don’t come to the barn just to go through the motions. What is your favorite dairy product? Chocolate milk. I have a bottle of it every morning. What is your favorite tool? The barn cleaner. I have to pitch six stalls in the barn every day so I’m thankful for the barn cleaner in the rest of the barn. How do you like to spend time when you are not doing chores? I like working on vehicles to participate in demo derbies. I also like to sh. What is your favorite technology? My smartphone. My brother and I can stay in touch easily about what is going on at the farm even when he’s not here. Tell us about a skill you possess that makes dairy farming easier for you. My knowledge in the construction business. I can pour my own cement and x things without having to call someone to do it for me. If you could have a celebrity help you with chores for a day who would it be? Toby Keith. I remember listening to his music in the barn when I was growing up so it would be fun to have him on the farm for a day.
Star Blends is a full service feed manufacturing facility. We provide custom complete feeds, supplements and minerals. We utilize modern technology to produce your needed products on demand with the highest quality feeds at the best cost. We also offer a wide selection of commodities, ingredients and additives. We are focused on dairy, efficiently delivering to farms in Western Wisconsin. Give us a call, we’d be happy to discuss our commodities or custom products and services with you and your nutritionist.
1919 Riley Road Sparta, WI 54656 | 800.462.4125
Page 40 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 26, 2016
Warm Wishes
From Our Family to Yours at Thanksgiving As we gather around with family and friends this holiday, we offer up thanks for the many blessings that make life meaningful. Gifts like friendship, love, health and prosperity make us especially grateful, and we hope you enjoy these same blessings in abundance at this special time of year and always. To our valued friends, neighbors and customers here in the community, go our heartfelt best wishes for a joyous and healthy season. We deeply appreciate your kindness and support. Happy Thanksgiving!
New Patz 620 #3169 - Call
New Patz V350 #3373 - Call
New Patz V500 #3574 - Call
New Patz V420 #3479 - Call
New Patz V420 #3583 - Call
New Patz V500 #3577 - Call
New Patz V950 #3433 - Call
New Patz V950 #3594 - Call
New Patz V950TK Call
New Roto-Mix VX-415, #2710 - Call
Salesmen: Tony Steinhart (608) 778-3491 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