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November 28, 2020 Dairy Star - Zone 1

Page 1

The Great Christmas “GRAND” PRIZE

GIVEAWAY

See pages 24 and 25 of this section for details!

DAIRY ST R

November 28, 2020

“All dairy, all the time”™

Volume 22, No. 19

“It is nice knowing the building is structurally sound.” – Brent Ziegler

A barn to stand up to Minnesota winters

Ziegler rebuilds freestall after excessive snow in 2019 causes roof to weaken By Krista Kuzma

krista.k@dairystar.com

GREEN ISLE, Minn. – As winter arrives in Minnesota, Brent Ziegler feels condent his cows will be safe and comfortable in his dairy’s freestall barn, even if there are snowstorms with high winds and several inches of snow. “It is nice knowing the building is structurally sound,” Ziegler said. “We don’t have to worry about it.” This will be the second winter Ziegler will go through with a newly-built freestall barn on his 280-cow dairy near

KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR

Brent Ziegler stands in front of the freestall barn he rebuilt a�er the previous barn’s roof was weakened during a snowstorm in March 2019. Ziegler milks 280 cows on his dairy near Green Isle, Minnesota.

Green Isle. His previous facility buckled March 10, 2019 from the weight of the snow on the roof after multiple winter storms. “It didn’t fall down,” Ziegler said. “We caught it just in time. But we had to completely rebuild the building because it was structurally unsound. We were lucky. We didn’t lose any cows.” The dimensions of the 62by-171 barn stayed the same as did the stalls, bedding, headlocks, bunk and waterers, because many of them had been replaced in the past ve years; however, Ziegler was able to rebuild the structure around it. “The posts were cut off right at the bottom of the truss, and they rebuilt it,” Ziegler said. “The posts are original, but everything up (above) is brand new.” The process allowed Turn to ZIEGLER | Page 7

Farm, family fit together

Rosenhammers receive Brown County award By Krista Kuzma

krista.k@dairystar.com

SLEEPY EYE, Minn. – Having their dairy be a family farm is the No. 1 goal for the Rosenhammers. “When I started out, I just felt lucky I could be part of the farm,” John Rosenhammer said. “It was a privilege. It was always a goal of mine to have the kids involved.” Now three generations of Rosenhammers take on different roles at the 200-cow dairy near Sleepy Eye. This family aspect of their operation is what earned the Rosenhammers the 2020 Brown County Farm Family of the Year Award. After Dennis and Mildred Rosenhammer were married in 1959, they started the dairy with seven cows, three of which were a wedding present from Mildred’s dad. “She liked the cows and Dad liked

the land so they kept growing it and growing it bit by bit,” John said. “And then the kids came along.” While John learned to love and appreciate bovines from working together with his family, he also grew his appreciation for dairy through 4-H and the friends or acquaintances he met because of it. “But as hard as I worked and tried, I only got to state fair two times,” John said of his 4-H dairy projects. After graduating from South Dakota State University in 1982, John joined his parents on the farm while his brother, Greg, started farming after graduating from high school in 1993. Dennis and Mildred, now in their 80s, take care of the landscaping, lawn mowing, errand running and other odd jobs that need to be done. John focuses on the livestock while Greg manages the crops and eldwork. John’s wife, Patty, works off the farm but lls in whenever she is needed on the dairy. John feels fortunate to have found a wife who also grew up on a dairy, and knew the ins and outs of the life-

KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR

Laura Scholtz and her dad, John Rosenhammer, reminisce about a cow in a picture in their barn office on their 200-cow dairy near Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. The Rosenhammer family is the 2020 Brown County Farm Family of the Year. style. “I wanted to raise our children on the farm to teach them responsibility, values, morals and everything that goes with it,” John said. “I’ve al-

ways thought chores will teach them responsibility and everything else will follow.” Turn to ROSENHAMMERS | Page 5


Page 2 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 28, 2020

DAIRY ST R www.dairystar.com

ISSN 020355 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave. Sauk Centre, MN 56378 Phone: (320) 352-6303 Fax: (320) 352-5647 Published by Dairy Star LLC General Manager/Editor Mark Klaphake - mark.k@dairystar.com 320-352-6303 (ofďƒžce) 320-248-3196 (cell) 320-352-0062 (home) Ad Composition Nancy Powell 320-352-6303 nancy.p@dairystar.com Consultant Jerry Jennissen 320-346-2292 Editorial Staff Krista Kuzma - Editor/Wisconsin (507) 259-8159 • krista.k@dairystar.com Andrea Borgerding - Associate Editor (320) 352-6303 • andrea.b@dairystar.com Jennifer Coyne - Assistant Editor (320) 352-6303 • jenn@dairystar.com Danielle Nauman (608) 487-1101 danielle.n@dairystar.com Stacey Smart - Staff Writer (262) 442-6666 • stacey.s@dairystar.com Maria Bichler - Copy Editor 320-352-6303 Advertising Sales Main Ofďƒžce: 320-352-6303 Fax: 320-352-5647 Deadline is 5 p.m. of the Friday the week before publication Sales Manager - Joyce Frericks 320-352-6303 • joyce@dairystar.com Bob Leukam (Northern MN, East Central MN) 320-260-1248 (cell) bob.l@star-pub.com Mark Klaphake (Western MN) 320-352-6303 (ofďƒžce) 320-248-3196 (cell) Laura Seljan (National Advertising, SE MN) 507-250-2217 fax: 507-634-4413 laura.s@dairystar.com Jerry Nelson (SW MN, NW Iowa, South Dakota) 605-690-6260 jerry.n@dairystar.com Mike Schafer (Central, South Central MN) 320-894-7825 mike.s@dairystar.com Amanda Hoeďƒ&#x;er (Eastern Iowa) 320-250-2884 • amanda.h@dairystar.com Julie Barnes (SE WI and Northern IL) julie.b@dairystar.com Megan Stuessel (Western Wisconsin) 608-387-1202 • megan.s@dairystar.com Ashley Curry (Northeast WI and Upper MI) 920-539-7268 • ashley.c@dairystar.com Deadlines The deadline for news and advertising in the Dairy Star is 5 p.m. Friday the week before publication. Subscriptions One year subscription $35.00, outside the U.S. $110.00. Send check along with mailing address to Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378. Advertising Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an advertisement shall constitute ďƒžnal acceptance of the advertiser's order. Letters Letters and articles of opinion are welcomed. Letters must be signed and include address and phone number. We reserve the right to edit lengthy letters. The views and opinions expressed by Dairy Star columnists and writers are not necessarily those of the Dairy Star LLC.

The Dairy Star is published semi-monthly by Dairy Star, LLC, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378-1246. Periodicals Postage Paid at Sauk Centre, MN and additional mailing ofďƒžces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378-1246.

A glance at the other side

The Great Christmas Giveaway It’s that time of year. Dairy Star is once again hosting The Great Christmas Giveaway for dairy farmers and their children in our coverage area. While adults have the opportunity to win one of two $1,000 cash prizes, children ages 17 and under could win a heifer calf. In our Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota and North Dakota circulation area, registrants could win Port-Haven Silvers Jordana, a 2-month-old Brown Swiss heifer calf from the Portner family in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. Make sure to enter your name to be eligible. Check out pages 24-25 for more information! Dairy Star likes to provide local stories, which is why we have two versions of the paper. Below are a few highlights from stories you will not ďƒžnd in this paper, but you can ďƒžnd online in zone 2. Find full editions on our website, www.dairystar.com, and click on the e-edition tab under the Dairy Star header. Maple Leaf Cheese Cooperative looks for temporary home for milk Members of Maple Leaf Cheese Cooperative in Green County, Wisconsin received heartbreaking news Oct. 8 when their cheesemaker announced it would no longer be taking their milk after Dec. 7. The farmers, who milk an average of 60-70 cows, began looking for new temporary homes for their milk. Working to preserve the small family farm, Maple Leaf Co-op plans to bring in a new cheesemaker to its cheese plant in Twin Grove within the next six months. Guernsey greatness For the ďƒžrst time since the North American International Livestock Exposition, held each November in Louisville, Kentucky, began selecting a Supreme Champion in 2009, the winner was the Guernsey cow. Valley Gem Atlas MaltET, bred and owned by the Grewe family of Valley Gem Farms in Cumberland, Wisconsin, was named the Supreme Champion of the show after being selected as the Senior and Grand Champion of the National Guernsey Show. Malt was the 2019 World Dairy Expo Grand Correction Champion Guernsey and Minnesota State Fair Supreme Champion. In the Nov. 14 issue, Dairy Star incorrectly printed information in the story, Hanke enjoys sharing bounty at holidays, throughout year “University creamery back in busiReaching out and helping others in need by providing meals is Melissa ness.â€? The following sentence in the Hanke’s love language. The Marshďƒželd, Wisconsin, farmer lives by the second paragraph should be omitted: philosophy of sharing what she has when she can because she will never know “Now the space houses the university’s when she might be the person in need. She provides holiday meals to shut-ins Department of Food Science and Huor anyone else in need. She does not limit her giving to the holidays, and has man Nutrition.â€? Dairy Star regrets the provided over 25 meals to others this year, not including the holiday meals she error. is making.

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Dairy Star • Saturday, November 28, 2020 • Page 3

It’s all inside... Columnists Ag Insider

Pages 8-9 First Section

Turner

Bon Yankton Homme

ln

co

Lin

Clay

Lyon

Repro Leaders: Drumgoon Dairy

Clay

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Ida

Monona

Palo Alto

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Woodbury

n inso Emmet

Dick

P

Sac

Pottawattamie Cass

t

n mo

Zone 1

Fre

Mon

Greene Guthrie

Adair

y mer Adams

Page

Kanabec

Washington

Ra

ms ey

Mitchell Howard

Hancock Cerro Gordo

t

old

mb

Hu

Worth

Floyd

Bremer

Wright Franklin Butler

Boone

Dallas

Dairy’s Working Youth

Black Hawk

Polk

ll

ha

Story

rs Ma

Tama

Jasper

Third Section: Page 11

Houston

aw

as

ick

Ch

Grundy un Webster Hamilton Hardin

tgo

Mills

n Win

lho

Ca

Crawford Carroll

Harrison Shelby

as

nt

ho

a oc

go

eba

Kossuth

Au

First Section: Pages 18, 20

Hubbard

O’Brien

Sioux Plymouth

Lake Norden

Wadena

Osceola

Fillimore

Mower

e

Hutchinson

Freeborn

Faribault

Martin

iek

Charles Mix

Jackson

ake

Douglas

Gregory

Nobles

sh

Tripp

Rock

Plainview

Winona

ne

Todd

McCook Minnehaha

Murray

Wabasha

Cottonwood Watonwan Blue Earth Waseca Steele Dodge Olmsted

am

Mellette

Ha

n

n so

Moody

Goodhue

Rice

All

Aurora

Miner

Lake

Nicollet

Brown

Fayette

Clayton

an

e war Dubuque

an

ch

Bu

Benton

Dela

Jones

Iowa

Linn

Clinton

hn

Jo

Taylor

Madison Warren Marion Mahaska Keokuk

Union g ing

old

R

Clarke

Lucas

Decatur Wayne

Zone 2

Monroe Wapello

A

n ppa

e oos

Davis

son

fer

Jef

Van Buren

Jackson

n Cedar so

Muscatine

n

Brule

Sanborn

Redwood

gto

Lyman

Jerauld

Brookings

Kingsbury

Dakota

Scott

Sibley

Lyon

W in

Buffalo

Beadle

Carver

hin

Hamlin

Hand

Hennepin

McLeod

Renville

Yellow Medicine

Wa s

Bennett

Hyde

Deuel

Anoka

Wright

Meeker

Chippewa

Lac Qui Parle

Codington

Clark

Kandiyohi

Isanti

iek

Jones

Hughes

Spink

Sherburne

Swift

Grant

Benton

Stearns

Pope

sh

Stanley

Day

Stevens

eu r

Sully

Big Stone

Morrison

Douglas

First Section: Pages 10-11

Pine

Mille Lacs

Su

Faulk

Potter

Ziebach

Todd Grant

Mallery family earns county outstanding conservationist award

Carlton

Crow Wing

we

Fall River

Shannon

Edmunds

Otter Tail

Shafer

Aitkin

Le

Dewey

Jackson

Roberts

Marshall

McPherson Brown

Walworth

Haakon

Richland

Sargent

Cass

Po

Custer

Campbell

Corson

Dickey

McIntosh

Becker

Clay

Ransom

LaMoure

Emmons Sioux

M

Wilkin

Grant

Cass

Itasca

n

Pages 8 - 9 Pennington Section Second

Bames

en

om ahn

Cook Lake

go

Lawrence

Stutsman

First Section: Pages 1, 7

isa Ch

The “Mielke” Market Meade Weekly

Kidder

Logan

Page 33 Perkins First Section

Butte

Burleigh

Morton

Dairy Good Life

Harding

Norman

Oliver

Adams

Polk

Trail

Steele

Tra ver se

Hettinger Page 32 First Section

Griggs

Ziegler rebuilds freestall after excessive snow in 2019 causes roof to weaken

Koochiching St. Louis

Red Lake

Lincoln

Bowman

Foster

Mercer

Beltrami

Pipestone

Slope

Wells

Sheridan

Green Isle

Middendorf families decide to farm organically

Lake of the Woods

Pennington

Grand Forks

Eddy

McLean

Roseau

Marshall

Benson Nelson

Just Stark Thinking Out Loud

Kittson

Walsh

Ramsey

McHenry

Ward

Pembina

n

Billings Golden Valley

Page 31 Dunn First Section

Cavalier

Towner

Pierce

Something to Ruminate On

McKenzie

Rolette

Second Section: Pages 6-8

io

Page 30 Williams First Section Mountrail

Bottineau

First Section: Pages 22-23

bo

Renville

Second Section: Pages 18-19

Da vi so n

Divide

Sauk Centre

Maus family has successful deer opening weekend

du

Third Section: Pages 2-3

Dear County Burke Agent Guy

Osakis

Un

Page 26 First Section

Thief River Falls

Grifns create calf project to help youth learn about dairy

AMPI cheese wins top award

Clearwater

New Ulm

FSA News & Notes

Louisa

Henry Des

Moines

Lee

Scott

Hawkeye

Country View Dairy expands yogurt business with dairy grant Second Section: Page 20

Sleepy Eye

Rosenhammers receive Brown County award First Section: Pages 1, 5-6

For additional stories from our other zone, log on to www.dairystar.com

FROM OUR SIDE OF THE FENCE:

What are you thankful for this year? First Section: Pages 15-16

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Dairy Star • Saturday, November 28, 2020 • Page 5

ConƟnued from ROSENHAMMERS | Page 1

Trust the experts Future success starts with today’s nutrition At Famo Feeds, we strive to provide the best support for your operation and work to accommodate your specific needs.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

The Rosenhammer family – (front row, from leŌ) Dennis, Mildred holding Morgan Scholtz and Becca holding Ava Fischer; (back row, from leŌ) Greg, Johnny, Joe, John, PaƩy, Mary Grace and Kyle Fischer, and Laura and Chris Scholtz – are awarded the 2020 Brown County Farm Family of the Year. The couple has ve adult children – Joey; Laura and her husband, Chris Scholtz, along with their daughter, Morgan, 2; Mary Grace and her husband, Kyle Fischer, along with their daughter, Ava, 3, and another child expected in May; Rebecca; and Johnny. “It’s very fullling,” Laura said about farming with family. “I think it’s pretty awesome all ve of us (siblings) live within 15 minutes of the farm.” After Laura worked for a dairy in southeast Minnesota for one year after graduating from the University of Minnesota in 2014, she returned home to the dairy for four years. “When she came back, it just gave my battery a boost,” John said. “I had an extra step in the morning knowing I didn’t have to do everything because she cares as much as I do.” For the past 1.5 years, Laura has had an off-farm job as a local ag lender; however, she is in charge of bookwork, tax preparation, bills, vaccines and record keeping for the dairy. “On Saturday mornings, I’m always here doing vaccines and printing off all the lists for the upcoming week,” Laura said. “I like the management side of it. I still get to make a lot of decisions, just not the everyday part of it anymore.” John hopes that can change. “I have the dream yet that some-

how she can come back again full time,” he said. Laura’s siblings also take part in farm tasks when needed. “When it’s time for harvest, some of us will take milking shifts, some will be in the combine or grain cart and someone else will be in the semi,” Laura said. “We can do it all family fun. That’s the most fullling – that we all want to still help.” John agreed. “Everyone here has something they’re good at, which makes the whole ball bounce better,” he said. “It’s not at in one spot.” While the family handles most of the farm chores, the Rosenhammers hire a few part-time employees, mostly high school students from the neighborhood, to help with evening milking. “I love working with all the neighbor kids, and I build good relationships with them,” John said. When it comes to farm work, John enjoys milking. “It’s like harvest,” he said. “That’s when you get the rewards for your labor.” John also likes watching a new life come into the world when a cow gives Turn to ROSENHAMMERS | Page 6

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ConƟnued from ROSENHAMMERS | Page 5

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THE KINGFISHER ADVANTAGE KingFisher won the Grand Champion of the conventional corn silage division of the Forage Super Bowl, three years in a row. Unprecedented. And five Grand Champions total in 2020, including the Quality Counts Division. Unparalleled. But, while trophies on a shelf are nice, what does it mean for you as a livestock producer?

KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR

A double-12 parallel parlor with a basement built in 2009 is used to milk the Rosenhammers’ 200-cow herd near Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. birth. It is part of his connection to his love for genetics. “It’s probably not the average dairyman’s focus, but I’ve always liked type,” John said. “It’s hard enough to get up in the morning, so I want to wake up and milk cows with good udders.” Attending dairy cattle shows to scope out sire daughters and discuss bulls with other farmers has always been a pastime of John’s. “I think a milestone for me was to get my kids to want to show at the state fair and (Minnesota Holstein Association) state show,” he said. “I’ve always kept records so Laura would dig and dig and dig to nd information to upgrade them so we could show in the registered ring. From when we started at the state show until we stopped showing, we made a lot of improvements.” And while showing was not the main focus of their dairy, it helps spark the family’s enthusiasm for the industry. In the infancy of his dairying career, John took on the philosophy that every cow has the genetics to get to 30,000 pounds of milk in a lactation. “You just have to gure out how to do it,” he said. So instead of breeding for milk, John focuses on components. He also emphasizes the importance of keeping a low somatic cell count. The Rosenhammers milk their cows in a double-12 parallel parlor with a basement they built in 2009. “It was our next big jump,” John said. “The grain prices were good so we could afford it. It cost more to put everything down there (in the base-

ment) but it doesn’t get rusty. Everything up here is simpler and a lot quieter when we’re milking.” It built upon their previous milestone of constructing a new freestall barn in 2002 and increasing cow numbers over time. “We were under one roof,” John said. “That was huge.” The Rosenhammers continued milking in the tiestall barn, switching ve shifts of cows each milking until they built their parlor. Another upgrade on the dairy came when the Rosenhammers needed to create more space for their silage bags. John took the unconventional route of using reject or used hog barn slats instead of concrete. “I don’t like to do what everyone else does,” John said. “I’m always looking at ways to improve. Other farmers shook their heads, but I said we were going to try the slats.” And it worked. Now the Rosenhammers have a 300-by-200 section of slats for the silage bags. “We can get feed and not mud for the cows,” John said. “That’s a big deal.” The slats are also a more exible option in case the Rosenhammers ever needed to add onto their barn. The slats could be moved and reused. “It has really caught on,” John said. “Slats at the time were almost given away because they were piled up. Now, there’s a use for them and are in demand.” Regardless of how the Rosenhammers upgrade items on their dairy, they value being able to do it together with family.

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KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR

Cows at Roseview Dairy are housed in a freestall barn the Rosenhammer family built in 2002.


Dairy Star • Saturday, November 28, 2020 • Page 7

Con�nued from ZIEGLER | Page 1

Ziegler to better accommodate his herd with upgrades, including the ventilation and lighting. “It ventilates very well,” he said. “And it’s really nice and bright.” The barn now has a raisedridge vent that runs the length of the roof. Ziegler also replaced 36 3-foot fans blowing the length of the barn from east to west with 11 60-inch fans that blow across the 3-row barn. “Before we switched the direction of the fans, they burned a lot of electricity,” Ziegler. Now during the peak summer months when all the fans run at the same time, the electricity bill has dropped $1,000 per month due to the efciency of the new ventilation system. New light-emitting diode lights, replacing older lights, have also been energy efcient. “The LED lights run so much cheaper,” Ziegler said. Other improvements included new curtains and doors. The biggest upgrade is the strength of the new roof. “All truss manufacturers and builders changed their specs awhile back and the trusses are built so much stronger than what they were before,” Ziegler said. Now the barn has trusses every 4 feet with 2-by-8 boards rather than the previous facility, which had trusses every 8 feet with 2-by-4 and 2-by-6 boards. While deciding what to

KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR

The freestall barn Brent Ziegler rebuilt on his dairy features stronger trusses placed every 4 feet, new LED lights, and be�er ven�la�on with larger and more efficient fans. do with the barn after nding buckling trusses, Ziegler was given the option to put up bracing instead of a new structure. “I didn’t feel that would last another winter,” he said. “We chose to do it right. It’s nice knowing it’s built strong.” He did not want to have to worry like he did the evening

of March 10 when he drove past his freestall barn and noticed the roof sagging. “I called my brother and dad, and the three of us went at putting bracing up because we had lumber from another project already on the farm,” Ziegler said. “If we wouldn’t have caught it, it would have

collapsed by morning because of how signicantly weakened the trusses were.” Putting in extra t-braces gave Ziegler extra time to gure out a more permanent solution to the problem. “It was creaking and moaning, and it was a little scary being in there,” he said. “But we

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were very fortunate compared to a lot of other people who had buildings collapse.” Within the two weeks prior to Ziegler nding his barn roof compromised, many other dairy farmers throughout the upper Midwest were dealing with building damage from a relentless winter season of tundra-like cold temperatures and heavy amounts of snowfall. “It was heavy, wet snow that just couldn’t go away,” Ziegler said. “It had been building up for every snowstorm.” The freestall barn built in 1996 could not handle the weight any longer. Ziegler saw it had popped gusset plates out of place on 20 of the 22 trusses. “It was dumb luck we found it,” Ziegler said. “I didn’t think it was that bad because it had rained. But it was a bad placement of the snow drift. And it was an older building.” During the six-week rebuild, cows were locked into one side of the barn while construction crews worked on the new facility. Although milk production decreased due to additional stress because of the changes, having a new barn at the end was worth it. “We took the opportunity to make it better, and we have a very nice building now,” Ziegler said. “And we’re all more aware of snow now.” Ziegler now has the peace of mind he needs during the coldest and snowiest months of the year.

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Biden to deliver small changes in ag policy agenda Page 8 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 28, 2020

With President-elect Joe Biden, Michael Torrey agriculture experience to the panel. Most of the other Associates owner Mike Torrey expects to see a different members of the transition team worked on nutrition approach to trade, and the agricultural agenda will programs. change slightly. “With a smaller margin of Democrats in the House and an expected RepublicanOne thing is certain after the election controlled Senate, it’s got to make it There will be new leadership for the Ag Insider difcult for a really progressive agenda,” House and Senate agriculture committees. Torrey said. “Climate change may be one of With Rep. Collin Peterson’s loss, the those issues. Ag groups have been working chairmanship for the House Agriculture together for some time trying to come up Committee is up for grabs. The ranking with a plan on climate change, rewarding member on committee, Texas Congressman farmers for their practices that the business Michael Conaway, did not seek reelection. community and consumers are expecting. I Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman don’t know what this looks like, but there’s Pat Roberts, of Kansas, did not seek less pressure for Congress to act on that reelection. That leaves Michigan Sen. right now.” Debbie Stabenow, the ranking Democrat on the Senate ag committee, as the only one in A Biden White House and GOP Senate leadership that has been through the farm could be a win for agriculture bill process. By Don Wick After the election, analysts are trying to Columnist read the tea leaves for any clues about the 85 years of experience no longer at the economy. CoBank Knowledge Exchange table Division Manager Tanner Ehmke offered his thoughts According to The Russell Group President Randy at the Minnesota Ag and Food Summit. “With a Biden Russell, the agriculture community is losing signicant administration and a Republican-controlled Senate, experience from the agriculture committees. “(Kansas people in the business community are saying this could Sen.) Pat Roberts was in ofce for 40 years and was be the best of both worlds,” Ehmke said. “We lose the only person to serve as both the House and Senate some of the uncertainty on trade and you have Mitch ag committees,” Russell said. “(Minnesota Rep.) McConnell putting the handcuffs on Biden and saying Collin Peterson was in for 30 years and (Texas Rep.) no to new taxes.” The government stepped in to help Mike Conaway was in for 15 years. That’s 85 years of farmers in the past two years with MFP payments, CFAP experience no longer sitting at the table.” Russell full payments and increased food purchases. Ehmke does expects the individuals that move into those leadership not expect that kind of intervention in the future. roles to do well, “but, that’s very big shoes to ll.” Limited production ag experience on Biden transition team Former United States Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Robert Bonnie is leading the Biden transition team and its review of USDA, the Farm Credit Administration and Farmer Mac. Bonnie currently leads the Bipartisan Policy Center at Duke University. There are 17 individuals on the transition team. More than 75% of this group previously worked at USDA during the Obama administration. Former Farm Service Agency Administrator Jonathan Coppess will bring production

Peterson backs Scott for ag committee chairmanship House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson is supporting Georgia Congressman David Scott to be his successor. Peterson wrote a letter to Scott, voicing his support for the seniority system. The Minnesota lawmaker followed the rst Hispanic chair of the House Agriculture Committee, Kika de la Garza, of Texas. Scott will be the rst African American in this role if selected for the chairmanship.

Institutional knowledge lost on Capitol Hill Policy Solutions President Jay Truitt cites Congressman Collin Peterson’s experience with very specic commodities, like the dairy program. “Peterson’s understanding of dairy policy and what really goes into that in the U.S. makes him one of a dozen people in Washington, D.C. that understand that,” Truitt said. Truitt said there is only a few members on the House Agriculture Committee that represent hard-core rural districts. “Almost everyone else on the committee will be more interested in SNAP programs and incidental conversations about promoting markets and those kind of things as opposed to fundamental production agriculture issues,” he said. Metro lawmakers are determining farm policy Farm policy resonates with a core agriculture audience; however, those issues did not break through to a larger audience on Election Day. “As we’ve made rural parts of our country more red and urban parts more blue, you have people in urban areas deciding ag policy,” said Blois Olson, a political analyst speaking at the Minnesota Ag and Food Summit in Minneapolis. The Election Day loss of Minnesota 7th District Congressman Collin Peterson and Minnesota House Agriculture Committee Chair Jeanne Poppe was part of the discussion. “Did voters in either of those districts ever understand what they were going to lose?”

A volatile dairy market November has been a rough month for the cheese market. In the last two weeks, there has not been an up day in cheese. Prices have been either even or down on the day. Total Farm Marketing Commodity Consultant Dustin Jonasson said cheese has moved below $2 a pound. “I think a portion of this has to do with the uncertainty of what a Biden win might mean for that (USDA) food box program that has led to a lot of government buying this past year,” he said. Jonasson reminds dairy farmers to take advantage of opportunities when they come up. “2020 has been a good reminder of that,” Jonasson said. “We had this rally in August that nobody saw coming and it was pretty counter-seasonal, but we had opportunity to lock in on feed.”

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Dairy Star â&#x20AC;˘ Saturday, November 28, 2020 â&#x20AC;˘ Page 9

ConĆ&#x;nued from AG INSIDER | Page 8

Europe targets U.S. dairy products for retaliatory tariffs In a dispute over subsidies paid to airplane manufacturers, the European Commission has released a list of agricultural products facing retaliatory tariffs. That list includes cheese and concentrated milk proteins. National Milk Producers Federation President and CEO Jim Mulhern said Europe already discriminates against U.S. dairy products and limits market access. NMPF is calling on the EU to meet the terms of the World Trade Organization. Dairy industry and EPA sign MOU The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Environmental Protection Agency. The MOU allows the EPA to be a member of the Dairy Sustainability Alliance. This group works together on sustainability goals and the long-term viability of the dairy industry. Thiesse recognized by AgriGrowth The Minnesota AgriGrowth Council has presented its Distinguished Service

Award to Kent Thiesse. Thiesse is a senior vice president at MinnStar Bank and a former University of Minnesota Extension educator. Thiesse coordinates the forums at Farmfest and has a leadership role in the Minnesota State Fair livestock shows and the Purple Ribbon Livestock Sale. Trivia challenge Adults are recommended in the American Dietary Guidelines to consume three servings of dairy products per day. That answers our last trivia question. For this week, what Christmas beverage is also known as milk punch? We will have the answer in the next edition of Dairy Star. Don Wick is owner/broadcaster for the Red River Farm Network, based in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Wick has been recognized as the National Farm Broadcaster of the Year and served as president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Don and his wife, Kolleen, have two adult sons, Tony and Sam, and ď&#x192;&#x17E;ve grandchildren, Aiden, Piper, Adrienne, Aurora and Sterling.

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The Mallery family – (front row, from le�) Tommy, Libbie and Eddie; (back row, from le�) Karla, Nancy and Jeff – operate Mallery Jerseys, a 250-cow dairy, near Shafer, Minnesota. The Mallerys were named the 2020 Chisago County Outstanding Conserva�onists.

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Cover crops start to pop through the soil on the Mallery family’s farm near Shafer, Minnesota.

for our board – Mallery Jerseys are the epitome of outstanding conservationists and people should know it,” said Craig Mell, district administrator for Chisago Soil and Water Conservation District. Mallery farms together with his mom, Nancy, and his wife, Karla, along with their three children – Eddie, 11, Tommy, 9, and Libbie, 8 – on their 250-cow dairy near Shafer. Mallery’s dad, Joe, also farmed with them until he passed away in July, as did his uncle, Bill, until he retired in December 2019. “I look at conservation as protecting what we have and protecting the soil,” Mallery said. While the Mallerys have always been conscious of the practices they use on their farm, they started looking more closely at their management in 2009 when contacted by the county Natural Resources Conservation Service along with the SWCD. “Our farm is adjacent to a lot of federal- and state-owned land because of the St. Croix River,” Mallery said. “There were washouts on their land, and they were worried about the effects of it so they came to us.” The St. Croix River is a National Scenic Riverway under the protection of the National Park Service. “Once we started working with them, we had more and more projects we wanted to x,” Mallery said. These projects included buffers, diversions, water and sediment control basins, and grade stabilizations to x gullies and reduce erosion. This led to even more changes in management practices. “I got into the whole cover crop craze and jumped on that bandwagon along with no-till,” Mallery said. “I had done a little before (2017) but nothing major.” Now, that is how he manages the farm’s 700 acres of corn, alfalfa and small grains. “We’ve already seen a big increase in organic matter and higher yields,” Mallery said. “That’s the main goal – higher yields and doing it cheaper by holding your soils together.” Since making the switch, Mallery has caught puzzled looks from other people. “They thought I was crazy,” he said. “I like to no till corn into my alfalfa elds. In the past people would have thought you were crazy if you don’t ip the soil completely over and make it black. Now we’re planting our corn into alfalfa when it’s 8 inches tall.” Manure management has also improved in recent years. While the manure from the milking cows has always gone into a pit, the Mallerys would need to haul manure from youngstock and dry cows during Turn to MALLERYS | Page 11


Dairy Star • Saturday, November 28, 2020 • Page 11

ConƟnued from MALLERYS | Page 10

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A manure stacking slab to hold manure from dry cows and youngstock is one of the Mallerys’ most recent improvement projects on their farm near Shafer, Minnesota.

the winter. Trying to avoid winter hauling, the Mallerys put in a stacking slab one year ago. This year, the farm also earned certication in the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certication Program. A farm that earns the certication if it scores 8 or higher on the 1-10 scale based on their farming practices and operations. In order to be certied, the farm had to have a nutrient management plan. “I’ve always done it but not to their specs (to be certied),” Mallery said. “It sounds like a big technical thing,

but it’s really managing where your nutrients from the manure goes, and rotation and everything else.” While Mallery does all this to help the preserve the earth, he also does it for the love of farming. “It’s very rewarding,” Mallery said. “I denitely don’t farm for the money. It’s for the pride and achieving your goals and dreams. And trying to get better every year.” The family’s conservation award shows that is exactly what they have been doing.

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Page 12 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 28, 2020

Finding ways to save energy

Free farm audits can pinpoint cost-saving opportunities By Stacey Smart

stacey.s@dairystar.com

MADISON, Wis. – Learning how to be more energy efcient can save money while also preserving natural resources. Farms can uncover where potential savings might be hiding during an energy audit. These audits are performed in Wisconsin by FOCUS ON ENERGY® and participating utilities at no cost to the dairy farmer. “We want you to save energy and therefore, dollars, on your operation,” said Jessica Mlsna, energy advisor for Focus on Energy. “During an energy audit, an assessment provider will come out to your farm to learn more about your operation. They will compile a list of opportunities and work with you to prioritize. Following the audit, you will receive a written report, and an assessment provider will follow up in person to discuss the results.” During a recent Dairy Signal hosted by the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin, Mlsna highlighted what to expect during an energy audit while also offering tips for conserving energy on the farm. An energy audit will pinpoint the most cost-effective areas for targeting energy savings and paybacks. The audit is comprehensive, considering lighting, ventilation, milk refrigeration equipment, waterers, irrigation systems and more.

“Lighting is a very cost-effective upgrade that usually has a pretty quick payback,” Mlsna said. The lighting portion of the audit focuses on bulbs and xtures. Upgrading to energy-efcient lighting xtures, such as LED, is recommended. “LED is the most efcient technology we have,” Mlsna said. “If you switch to Jessica Mlsna LED, you might Energy advisor be able to change your layout a little or have fewer xtures, depending on the lighting level. LEDs provide instant, bright light and tend to distribute their light a little better than traditional lighting options. Something as simple as turning off the lights can also help save energy.” Perhaps the biggest energy user on a dairy farm is milk refrigeration equipment. If upgrading compressors, Mlsna recommends upgrading to scroll compressors which she said are more efcient than reciprocating compressors. “Make sure you’re getting your refrigeration equipment serviced in late spring or early summer,” Mlsna said. “This might save on a really expensive emergency service call. Get your refrigerant checked, make sure the heat exchange system is working correctly, and ensure everything is free of dust and debris.” Invest in the correct size plate cooler and identify the water to milk ow ratio to avoid having milk travel through too quickly. If the plate cooler is too

small, milk will not cool properly. Consider a plate cooler upgrade if the cooler is undersized. “It’s a waste of money if milk is not cooling to its full potential and efciency before it enters the bulk tank,” Mlsna said. “Pipe diameter and length of pipe might also affect ow rate.” For farms milking more than seven hours per day, a variable frequency drive on the vacuum pump might be a good option. Variable frequency drives on milk transfer pumps control the speed at which milk goes through the plate cooler to ensure the most efcient cooling. VFDs can also be installed on conveyors, augers and most anything with a motor that varies in speed, Mlsna said. Drives should be sized properly for the equipment, installed in the correct location and set correctly. Refrigeration heat recovery units can capture heat from compressors and use it to heat water needed for washing, for example. Correct sizing will depend on how many hours the compressor is running, number of milkings and how much hot water is being used. A larger farm may benet from multiple heat recovery units. “A heat recovery unit is a great piece of energy-saving equipment because it takes the heat off of your compressors as they’re cooling the milk,” Mlsna said. When it comes to ventilation, work with a ventilation specialist and make sure fans are properly sized for your building. Putting fans on a variable speed drive can help as fans ramp up and down according to temperature. Mlsna recommends replacing existing fans with a more efcient model upon

failure or when they reach their estimated useful life. Make sure nozzles are spaced properly on irrigation systems, and get uniformity testing on wells and pumps every couple years. “Maybe you can downsize your well pump by some horsepower and save energy that way,” Mlsna said. “Sometimes the older ones are way oversized. Putting a variable speed drive on your irrigation system is also something that can save energy. We often see that on a eld that has elevation changes, and the need for pressure might change throughout the eld.” To avoid leaving heaters on all day, engine block heater timers can be useful for tractors, skidloaders and other equipment that nd it difcult to operate in Wisconsin winters. Setting the timer so the heater turns on a couple hours before equipment is needed will help save energy. For example, a 1500watt heater used two hours a day versus 10 hours can produce an annual savings of $126. Savings can be more signicant if multiple heat blocks are in use. Throughout her talk, Mlsna stressed the importance of maintenance. Keeping equipment clean and in good working order increases efciency and can help prevent expensive repairs down the road. Mlsna said there is no limit to how often an audit can be done, but every ve years is a good rule of thumb. Farmers can get more information about saving energy from the Agriculture Energy Best Practices Guide, which details energy efcient best practices for agribusinesses. The guide is available at focusonenergy.com/guidebooks.


Dairy Star • Saturday, November 28, 2020 • Page 13

for Alfalfa Foliar-applied to aggressively managed alfalfa to maximize:

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Are you ready to unleash more of your alfalfa’s yield potential? Taking the first step might be easier and more cost effective than you may think. Start by applying alphajoule™ to first crop next spring and let it’s 50,000,000 CFU’s of friendly bacteria help your alfalfa deal with the stresses brought on by big equipment, weather and today’s aggressive harvest schedules. The above ground effects of alphajoule are seen and measured through the season as each crop is harvested as shown in the adjoining charts. While below ground effects remain hidden unless plants are dug and evaluated. The photos below show the below ground effects of untreated and alphajoule treated alfalfa. alphajoule won’t eliminate all stresses, but will unleash in-plant, above ground and below ground effects that make a difference to on-farm productivity. Check it out today!

Below Ground Effects of alphajoule Drive Above Ground Performance

This chart shows the effect of alphajoule when applied at green-up to each crop during the 2020 growing season to an aggressively managed field in Northeast, WI. Note the expanding yield advantage of the alphajoule treated acres versus the check strip as the season progressed.

More Seasonal Milk with alphajoule

The photos were taken after fourth crop. Pits were dug side-by-side for the untreated check and treated acres. The ten best plants from each dig were positioned for the photos. The alphajoule treated acres had a 12.1% yield and a 15.6% milk per acre seasonal advantage over the untreated check strip.

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This chart shows the effect of alphajoule when applied at green-up to each crop during the 2020 growing season to an aggressively managed field in Northeast, WI. Note the expanding milk per acre advantage of the alphajoule treated acres versus the untreated check strip as the season progressed.

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Page 14 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 28, 2020

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Dairy Star â&#x20AC;˘ Saturday, November 28, 2020 â&#x20AC;˘ Page 15

What are you thankful for?

Samantha Middendorf (pictured with her husband, Nathan, and son, Noah) Long Prairie, Minnesota County Todd 63 cows What are you thankful for this year, familywise and farmwise? Familywise, this year our family expanded with the birth of our son, Noah. I am thankful he is healthy, happy and growing well. I am thankful for the time we are able to spend together and watching Noah learn and interact with his cows and dog. Farmwise, I am thankful for the support from our families when it comes to needing advice and helping to get the big jobs done. I am thankful our farm updates have wrapped up for the year, and we can work to improve efď&#x192;&#x17E;ciency of our day-to-day chores. I am also thankful Noah is adjusting to chore time by napping through chores (most of the time). How do you show appreciation for the people you work with every day? I like baking to make sure Nathanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sweet tooth is satisď&#x192;&#x17E;ed. I also try to do what I can to get the extra tasks done so he can focus on larger jobs and helping his brothers with their farm. How do you and your family typically celebrate Thanksgiving? We like to get together for a big meal with our extended families. We typically ď&#x192;&#x17E;nish off the afternoon by playing cards and games together. Who is one person who reminds you to be thankful? Why? My mother, Roxanne, has always been a role model in showing thanks by being selď&#x192;&#x;ess and serving those around her with love. I am thankful for her love and support. Tell us about your farm. Nathan purchased this farm with his parents, started milking right after high school, and has been working to make it his dream farm. Together, we milk 63 cows, and raise replacement heifers and chickens. The ď&#x192;&#x17E;eldwork is done together with Nathanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family who have the home farm a few miles away. Together, we farm about 410 acres including alfalfa, oats, corn and soybeans.

Brian Peters West Bend, Wisconsin Washington County 55 cows What are you thankful for this year, familywise and farmwise? I am thankful for all the blessings the good Lord has given me, including the health of family and friends. On the farm side, I am thankful for the diverse farm operation Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve worked to develop and the ď&#x192;&#x17E;nancial stability it brings along with it. How do you show appreciation for the people you work with every day? I work with my family and try to take time to do things with them when we can, like go on vacations, etc. I also have two little girls I love spending time with. How do you and your family typically celebrate Thanksgiving? Being a dairy farmer, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to get away, but we try to take the afternoon off and spend it with extended family and have good meals. We usually have two Thanksgiving meals that day â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one with my side of the family and one with my wifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side of the family. Who is one person who reminds you to be thankful? I have two people who remind me â&#x20AC;&#x201C; my daughters, Vivian, 7, and Morgan, 5. They are both gifts from God. They remind me every day to be thankful for what Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been blessed with. Tell us about your farm. I am a ď&#x192;&#x17E;fth-generation dairy farmer. Maple Woods Dairy Farm has been in my family since 1888, and I bought the farm from my dad four years ago. Besides milking 55 cows, my wife, Elizabeth, and I ď&#x192;&#x17E;nish a few steers and pigs every year for private sale, sell horse hay, and run 300 acres of cropland consisting of corn, soybeans, hay, wheat and oats. Last, but not least, we also grow 8 acres of pumpkins to sell at a roadside stand

John and Lori Kokett Little Falls, Minnesota Morrison County 76 cows What are you thankful for this year, familywise and farmwise? Our son and daughter-in-law were married in October. We are also thankful that we have been blessed with good health and protection from any serious farm accidents over the years. We are also thankful we were blessed with a bountiful growing season. How do you show appreciation for the people you work with every day? By telling and showing them that whatever they do is important, even if it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem to be. How do you and your family typically celebrate Thanksgiving? We get chores done and then attend Thanksgiving Mass. We usually eat dinner around noon. Who is one person who reminds you to be thankful? We are thankful for our Lord Jesus Christ because of what he did on the cross for us. Tell us about your farm. Our farm consists of 254 acres. We operate our land on a ď&#x192;&#x17E;ve-year hay, pasture and corn silage rotation. We milk in a stanchion barn and rotationally graze during the growing season. We also run a small laying hen operation. The farm has been in our family for 115 years.

by our farm. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been doing that for 15 years and grow over 80 varieties of pumpkins in all kinds of colors â&#x20AC;&#x201C; white, yellow, pink, blue â&#x20AC;&#x201C; if you can ď&#x192;&#x17E;nd it, I usually try to grow it. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m almost like a kid in a candy store when it comes to that time of year. Growing pumpkins is something I really enjoy.

Joe Borgerding (pictured with his grandson, Brady) Elrosa, Minnesota Stearns County 185 cows What are you thankful for this year, familywise and farmwise? Toni and I enjoyed three weeks in Australia and New Zealand with friends just prior to COVID-19 restricting travel. The grandkids are all healthy, and we have been able to all work together, outdoors and in the ď&#x192;&#x17E;elds without many restrictions. Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help but feel blessed to be farmers in times like we are in. Thankful that consumers are buying more dairy for their home-bound families and the great fall harvest. How do you show appreciation for the people you work with every day? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to thank everyone and remind them how they help make up our great team, working for a clearly worthy cause. How do you and your family typically celebrate Thanksgiving? We have too many in-laws for our house, but try to make sure they are welcome to join our family for homegrown food at the farm if their family canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make it home to join them. Every person gets a piece of paper after dinner where they must write what they are thankful for this year. Starting with the youngest, they read it out loud, and it feels good to realize how blessed we are as a family. Who is one person who reminds you to be thankful? When I see the people in big cities faced with riots and lockdowns it reminds me why watching the grandkids romping around our farm is so special. All the work and worries seem like a fair price to pay. Tell us about your farm. We operate a very diverse dairy and crop farm that my parents bought in 1946 and are now transitioning again to keep it going into the future. We farm 1,200 acres and we plant corn, soybeans, barley, rye, winter triticale, a lot of grass, kernza and spelt. Turn to OUR SIDE | Page 16

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Page 16 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 28, 2020

ConƟnued from OUR SIDE | Page 15

Sandy and Don Van Eck Ruthton, Minnesota Murray County 60 cows What are you thankful for this year, familywise and farmwise? On Nov. 4, 2019, our farmhouse caught re. Within minutes, dozens of friends and neighbors were at our farm, helping to put out the re and assisting us with salvaging anything we could from the house. The next day, a group of neighborhood farmers nished our corn harvest. People donated supplies, clothing, food and money, and they volunteered to help us with anything we might need. We can never thank our friends, neighbors and members of our church enough for all they did to help us get through this difcult time. We are thankful we were able to move into our new farmhouse Aug. 25 after being homeless for 10 months. Familywise, we are grateful everyone in our family remains healthy and happy. We are happy our family grew by two during this past year when our son, Cody, and our daughter, Kiley, got married. How do you show appreciation for the people you work with every day? Cody works full time as a parts man at Kibble Equipment in Pipestone but comes to the farm after work every day to help. Don’s father, Corky, is 90 and helps during the growing season. We show our appreciation to them by making sure they have all the butter, cheese and meat they want. We also take our kids and their spouses out for supper. How do you and your family typically celebrate Thanksgiving? We would normally get together with each set of our kids’ grandparents. We would share the noon meal with one side of the family and the evening meal with the other side. We would eat so much food we would have to walk around in between meals. The size of these gatherings ranged from 2030 people, but they were often much larger. Who is one person who reminds you to be thankful? Carter DeRuyter, 9, is the son of family friends. This past summer, Carter set up a roadside stand and sold refreshments and candy to the workmen who were putting up wind turbines in the area. Carter recently asked his mom, Ashley, if he could have $10 of the money he made during the summer. Ashley asked Carter why and he said, “I missed the fundraiser for Don and Sandy, and I wanted to give them some money and some candy.” The zip lock bag Carter gave us contains 10 $1 bills we will never spend and Twizzlers we will never eat. Carter’s thoughtfulness brought us to tears. Tell us about your farm. We farm 450 acres and raise corn, soybean and alfalfa. This farm has been in our family since the 1930s. Corky grew up with nine siblings in the farmhouse that burned. Cory’s wife, Jade, comes to the farm and helps feed calves. Our daughters, Kaitlin and Kiley, along with their husbands, Justin Schaap and Eric Wiering, help when needed. The girls and their husbands do eld work and chores, and will help with milking in a pinch.

Dave Buck Goodhue, Minnesota Goodhue County 900 cows What are you thankful for this year, familywise and farmwise? I am thankful for a combination of having modern medicine and oldtime remedies. I am also thankful for sunny days after long periods of rain and vice versa. It’s reinvigorating to have the weather change on the farm. Rain is needed as much as the sun. I am thankful for our children who have given us our 18 grandchildren. I like having the day-to-day routine of the farm chores while also being able to have changing seasons. I am also thankful for the ability to look back and learn from the past while also looking forward to the future. How do you show appreciation for the people you work with every day? When our employees have a birthday, Ann likes to make them a pie. Or when they are all doing well with their work, we make them goodie bags. We also try to be exible with their time off along with showing them we are willing to do the fun and not-so-fun jobs right by their side. How do you and your family typically celebrate Thanksgiving? On Thanksgiving, we are together with both sides of the family – anyone who does not have a place to go for Thanksgiving is welcome. On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, we have an extended Buck family gathering. We make typical Thanksgiving Day food. Who is one person who reminds you to be thankful? I really can’t choose one because a lot of people in my life remind me how truly blessed I am. With the health issues I’ve had over the past year, it has shown me how many people care. Many people sent me messages wishing me well and saying prayers for me. People who don’t go to the same church as my family told me they prayed for me at their Sunday service. Stuff like that makes me more thankful than ever to live in a good community. Tell us about your farm. I farm together with my wife, Ann, and two of our sons, Chris and DJ. Chris focuses on the dairy along with raising steers while DJ specializes in the crop work and also has his own custom chopping and manure pumping business. We milk 900 cows between two farms. We are currently building a cross-ventilated freestall barn in order to bring all the milking cows to the home farm. We also nished putting in a new manure pit. I am thankful for the good weather we had this summer and fall to be able to work on these projects and get fall eldwork done.

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Josh Kelm Faribault, Minnesota Rice County 200 cows What are you thankful for this year, familywise and farmwise? Familywise, I am thankful our children are homeschooled instead of having to play the game of having them in and out of school in-person versus distance learning. It has been a blessing in our family. My wife, Brittney, and I have three kids: Ava, 7, Payton, 5, and Colton, 4. On the farm, I am thankful we are already done with eldwork. This is the rst time in some time we have been done with eldwork before Thanksgiving. I look forward to being able to sit down at the table for Thanksgiving and not have to worry about being out in the eld. I am also thankful the harvest year was a good one. We had plenty of rain, which made plenty of good hay and silage. We nished up our harvest the rst week of November. How do you show appreciation for the people you work with every day? I farm with my parents, Jerry and Colleen, and we don’t have any employees. To show appreciation to my parents and others who we do business with, I try to make sure they understand my appreciation by giving compliments on a specic task they did well. If I want to show a little extra appreciation, sometimes I will give them a bag of Snickers or another type of candy. How do you and your family typically celebrate Thanksgiving? For the past six years, we have celebrated with just our family of ve. We like doing things on a smaller scale to develop our own traditions with our kids. We make a traditional Thanksgiving meal and then will look through the Black Friday ads. At night, we will take the kids to get ice cream at McDonald’s and nd Santa somewhere in town. Then at Midnight, we will stop by Kohl’s to go shopping. It’s our secret to go at this time because hardly anyone is there and the panic shopping from earlier in the evening is done. The kids look forward to it every year. We are hoping to do it this year, but if not, we will have to improvise. Maybe we will nd a new tradition. Who is one person who reminds you to be thankful? My wife, Brittney. She is very caring, and she is constantly serving others – people at church, her friends and especially our children. She is the one who homeschools them so I appreciate all she does with that. It allows us to be able to be exible with our days. Without homeschooling, I would not be able to see my kids as much as I do. I am very thankful for her and that opportunity to be with family. Tell us about your farm. We installed robots at the end of 2015, which gives us the advantage to be able to manage our farm with just three of us. It also gives us exibility with our schedule. If I want to go look at Christmas lights with the kids at 7 p.m., I can. It allows us to pick our hours instead of having them dedicated at a certain time each day. While the majority of our cows are milked by the robots, my dad milks about 30 cows in the tiestall barn. These are cows that need section attention. This is also where cows calve. Along with the cows, we manage 600 acres of farmland.

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Dairy Star • Saturday, November 28, 2020 • Page 17

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Page 18 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 28, 2020

Repro Leaders

Breeding service, herd manager propel Drumgoon Dairy to a 35 percent pregnancy rate Drumgoon Dairy Lake Norden, South Dakota Hamlin County 5,100 cows, 4,633 currently in milk What was your average pregnancy rate last year? Our pregnancy rate was 34% last year, and it’s currently 35%. We haven’t had a bull on the farm for three years. What is your voluntary waiting period for cows? For heifers? The voluntary waiting period for cows is 76 days. We breed our heifers when they are 385 days old. What is your rst service conception rate? Our rst service conception rate is 52%. Our second service conception rate is also 52%. What is your reproduction program? Do you use a synchronization program? We use sexed semen on all of our heifers and the top 10% of our cows. The rest of our cows are bred to Angus sires. We use ovsynch on cows that haven’t shown signs of heat by 103 days in milk. How do you observe for heat? We use GEA CowScout collars to monitor cow activity and detect heats. How do you conrm pregnant or

JERRY NELSON/DAIRY STAR

The management team at Drumgoon Dairy, of Lake Norden, South Dakota, includes – (from leŌ) Rodney and Dorothy EllioƩ, herd manager Andy Weber and David EllioƩ. Drumgoon Dairy had a pregnancy rate of 34% last year, and it is currently at 35% for their herd of 5,100 cows. open cows? We conrm pregnancies ourselves with an ultrasound scanner. We check for pregnancies at 29-36 days after the last service.

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Dairy Star • Saturday, November 28, 2020 • Page 19

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Page 20 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 28, 2020

ConƟnued from DRUMGOON | Page 18

composition, good milk production and lasts a long time. We select about ve to six sires that we use for a few months. If a bull isn’t performing, we will switch to another sire. We look for higher genomic metric bulls that are minus in stature and have a low DPR. When we select Angus sires, we look for traits that the meatpacker will want. How are cows and heifers bred? Do you have a different philosophy for breeding both? We breed our cows and our heifers the same. We are currently using a crossbreeding rotation that involves Holstein and Jersey sires. We like the hybrid vigor of the F1 crossbreds.

What do you do to settle hard breeders? We don’t do anything different for hard breeders. We have a sufcient number of replacement animals, so we don’t have to fuss with hard breeders. How many times do you try to breed a cow before you sell her? We give her four chances to get pregnant. If she doesn’t settle by then, we will put her on the do not breed list and milk her until she isn’t protable anymore. Is there anything you have done or changed that brought about a signicant improvement in your reproductive program? In 2015, we decided to expand by purchasing

1,000 heifers. We knew this would stretch our work crew to the limit, so we looked for a way to take something off their plates. We decided to hire Alta Genetics to do our breeding for us on a six-month trial basis. This worked so well for us that we decided to continue with them. Hiring Andy Weber to be our herd manager brought another level of professionalism into our operation. Andy went through our records and found and eliminated all of the ghost cows in our system. Andy’s skills have proven to be a great asset for us. Tell us about your farm. Rodney and Dorothy Elliott and their son, David, along with three others, make up the manJERRY NELSON/DAIRY STAR

Andy Weber, Drumgoon Dairy’s herd manager, checks on cow acƟvity at the dairy near Lake Norden, South Dakota. Each cow wears a tracking collar to monitor acƟvity levels.

JERRY NELSON/DAIRY STAR

e t he p v l o s rofi ou y tp g in Research Commitment

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Drumgoon Dairy uses a program that rotates between Holstein and Jersey sires. They feel the hybrid caƩle are healthier, live longer and have higher ferƟlity.

agement team at Drumgoon Dairy. We are milking on two sites but are running the dairy like it’s one herd. We have 50 employees and try to milk 3X per day. We raise about 20% of our forages on the 1,000 acres of land that we farm. We buy the rest of our forages from local farmers. All of our youngstock are raised on a heifer farm that we have partnered with in southwest Kansas. The heifers leave here at 3 to 7 days

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old and come back when they are 6 to 7 months pregnant. About 18 months ago, we decided to stop using antibiotics on our milking herd. This eliminated the chance of antibiotics getting into the food chain, has resulted in reduced herd heath costs and has improved our reproduction. We are building a new facility that will feature 20 robotic milkers. We hope the robotic barn will up and running by next spring.


Dairy Star • Saturday, November 28, 2020 • Page 21

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(6) = SAUK CENTRE

78412 Co. Rd. 20

1140 Centre St.

(7) = ALEXANDRIA (9) = PRINCETON 320-763-4220 5005 Co. Rd. 82 SE

3708 Baptist Church Rd.

(8) = PAYNESVILLE

16069 Hwy. 27 E.

725 Lake Ave. S.

12 4 10 7 2 8 8 9 10 4 4 3 9 16 8 11 4 14 10 12 5 7 4 4 17 10 10 15 6 10 10 12 10 10 12 15 8 3 6 6 12

CALL TODAY! (320)365-1653 (12) = AITKIN 1120 2nd St. NW

(10) = LITTLE FALLS (13) = BAXTER (11) = WADENA 62505 US Hwy. 10

Bobcat S175, 2004, ROPS, Hand/Ft Ctrls, 66” Bkt, 705 hrs., #176127 .. $21,500 JD 320E, 2016, Cab, AC, Ft Ctrls, 2 Spd, 72” Bkt, 5180 hrs., #176157 ........21900 NH L220, 2011, Cab, AC, 2 Spd, 72” Bkt, 2233 hrs., #175312 ................ $26,500 Bobcat S590, 2015, Cab, AC, 2 Spd, 72” Bkt, 1800 hrs., #175757 ......... $28,900 Gehl R220, 2016, Cab w/o AC, EH Ctrls, 2 Spd, 2727 hrs., #174423 ...... $29500 JD 320G, 2018, Cab, AC, Ft Ctrls, 2 Spd, 72” Bkt, 2473 hrs., #174943 ..... $29900 JD 320E, 2016, Cab, AC, Ft Ctrls, 2 Spd, 72” Bkt, 1150 hrs., #175366 ..... $31900 JD 326E, 2016, Cab, AC, Joystick, 2 Spd, 84” Bucket, 517 hrs., #168499$37,900 JD 320G, 2018, Cab, AC, Joystick, 2 Spd, 72” Bkt, 1190 hrs., #175365 .. $39,500 JD 324G, 2019, Cab, AC, Foot Ctrls, 2 Spd, 491 hrs., #174448................ $43,900 JD 324G, 2018, Cab, AC, EH Ctrls, 2 Spd, 78” Bkt, 354 hrs., 162065 ....... $45,900 JD 324G, 2019, Cab, AC, Joystick, 2 Spd, 78” Bkt, 477 hrs., #172715..... $46,000 JD 324G, 2019, Cab, AC, A/C, 2 Spd, 78” Bkt, 377 hrs., #172714 ........... $46,500 JD 328E, 2014, Cab, AC, Joystick, 2 Spd, 84” Bkt, 415 hrs., #175287 ..... $46,500 JD 324G, 2019, Cab, AC, Joystick, 2 Spd, 78” Bkt, 391 hrs., #174445..... $47,000 JD 330G, 2018, Cab, AC, Joystick, 2 Spd, 84” Bkt, 575 hrs., #159949..... $48,900 JD 330G, 2019, Cab, AC, Joystick, 2 Spd, 84” Bkt, 642 hrs., #171330..... $53,400 UTILITY TRACTORS MF 2615, 2013, Syncro, MFWD, Loader, 1355 hrs., #175073................. $20,400 JD 5055E, 2018, Syncro, MFWD, Loader, 98 hrs., #140787 .................... $32,900 JD 5055E, 2018, Syncro, MFWD, Loader Ready, 10 hrs., #140896 ......... $32,900 Kubota M135, 2013, Cab, MFWD, Loader, 8010 hrs., #176009 ............. $36,900 JD 5090E, 2018, MFWD, Loader, 554 hrs., #171524............................... $49,900 JD 5090E, 2019, Cab, MFWD, Loader, 291 hrs., #155536 ....................... $52,900 JD 5100E, 2019, Cab, Partial PS, MFWD, 272 hrs., #153188 .................. $54,900 JD 6430 Premium, 2008, Cab, MFWD, Loader, 5832 hrs., #170886...... $56,400 JD 5100E, 2019, Cab, Partial PS, MFWD, 100 hrs., #153241 .................. $56,900 JD 6120E, 2019, Cab, MFWD, Loader, 200 hrs., #160859 ....................... $74,900 JD 6120E, 2019, Cab, MFWD, Loader, 200 hrs., #160857 ....................... $74,900 JD 6120E, 2019, Cab, MFWD, Loader, 281 hrs., #160865 ....................... $78,900 JD 6135E, 2019, Cab, Loader, 200 hrs., #153283 .................................... $78,900 JD 6135E, 2019, Cab, MFWD, Loader, 200 hrs., #153289 ....................... $78,900 JD 6135E, 2019, Cab, MFWD, Loader, 200 hrs., #153290 ....................... $78,900 JD 5100R, 2019, Cab, MFWD, 107 hrs., #153274 ..................................... 79,500 JD 5115R, 2019, Cab, MFWD, 100 hrs., #153281 .................................. $81,900 JD 6135E, 2020, Cab, MFWD, Loader, 200 hrs., #165528 ....................... $82,900 JD 6110M, 2018, Cab, MFWD, 280 hrs., #149246 .................................. $88,900 JD 6110M, 2019, MFWD, 200 hrs., #153314 .......................................... $89,500 JD 6110M, 2018, Cab, MFWD, 450 hrs., #149248 .................................. $89,500 JD 6110R, 2017, Cab, MFWD, 249 hrs., #145477 ................................... $98,900 JD 6130M, 2019, Cab, MFWD, 323 hrs., #152367 .................................. $99,500 JD 6120R, 2019, Cab, MFWD, Loader, 213 hrs., #153295 ....................$119,500

7045 Foley Rd.

(14) = ELBOW LAKE

(16) = BENSON

(15) = MORRIS

(17) = MADISON

110 2nd St. NE

23604 State Hwy. 9

380 Atlantic Ave. 516 1st St. E

SEE OUR COMPLETE INVENTORY WITH PICTURES AND DESCRIPTIONS AT: www.mmcjd.com


Page 22 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 28, 2020

Shop local for all your dairy needs

Three for three

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Lynnea Maus poses with her four-point buck she shot during Minnesota’s deer opener weekend Nov. 7 at her family’s farm near Osakis, Minnesota. This was Maus’ sixth deer season.

Maus family has successful deer opening weekend By Kayla Albers Staff Writer

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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

Joe’s Refrigeration Inc. Withee, WI 715-229-2321 Mlsna Dairy Supply Inc. Cashton, WI 608-654-5106 Professional Dairy Services Arlington, WI 608-635-0267 Redeker Dairy Equipment Brandon, WI 920-346-5579 The Scharine Group Inc. Whitewater, WI 800 472-2880 Mt Horeb, WI 800-872-3470

MINNESOTA & SOUTH DAKOTA D&D Ag Supply Pennock, MN 320-599-4466 East Central Dairy Supply Mora, MN 320-679-1029 Farm Systems Melrose, MN 320-256-3276 Watertown, SD 605-886-7401 Sioux Falls, SD 800-284-0015 Professional Dairy Systems Wadena, MN 218-632-5416

Ederer Dairy Supply Plain, WI 608-546-3713

is a registered trademark of Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. and “DeLaval” is a registered trade/servicemark of DeLaval Holding AB © 2020 DeLaval Inc. DeLaval, 11100 North Congress Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64153-1296. www.delaval.com

OSAKIS, Minn. – Justin, 11, and Lynnea Maus, 14, went hunting with their dad, James, for Minnesota’s deer opener Nov. 7, hoping to shoot a couple nice deer. They were not, however, expecting to all shoot a deer in the same day. By the end of the day, they had cleaned six deer between them and the rest of their hunting party of 11. “It was amazing,” Justin said. “I got to gut another deer.” The Maus family owns and operates an 88-cow dairy farm near Osakis. Lynnea helps feed the calves and prepare the parlor for milking, as well as manages her chickens, rabbits, ducks and cats. Justin helps scrape out the barn, milk cows and feed calves. The day they went hunting, the family started chores a half hour earlier in the morning. James got all the outside chores done and his wife, Jenn, nished up the milking and cleaned up the parlor so that James, Lynnea and Justin could go hunt. In the evening, they quit hunting by 4 p.m. so they could get chores started on time. They nished up chores by about 6:45 p.m. and were processing their deer by 7:15 p.m. James has hunted since he was 12 years old, the rst year he could hunt. His dad took him hunting, and he wanted to do the same with his kids. Now, the family hunts together every year since the kids are old enough. “It is fun to be hunting with them,” James said. “It makes a guy feel like a proud dad when they get their deer.” This was Lynnea’s sixth year hunting and Justin’s second year hunting with their dad, and it was the second time shooting a deer for both them. Justin got his rst deer, a seven-point buck, during the youth season this year, while Lynnea’s rst deer was a big doe she shot last year. Come deer opener, the three went out together and walked away with a doe shot by Justin, a four-point buck shot by Lynnea and two fawns shot by James. “This was my rst buck so it was really cool,” Lynnea said. Justin got his doe when they were pushing woods and his dad took a shot at it, but missed. James yelled to Justin to get the deer and he did. “The deer came running straight at me, and I shot it in the chest,” Justin said. Lynnea got her buck on another occasion when they were pushing woods. She was walking outside Turn to MAUS | Page 23


Dairy Star • Saturday, November 28, 2020 • Page 23

ConƟnued from MAUS | Page 22 the woods by the river bottom near her grandparents’ house, and the deer came running out of the woods. She shot at it, but it kept running so she continued to shoot. The deer eventually made its way up to her grandparents’ house where it left a large blood spot in front of their garage. It went between the buildings to the back corner of the lawn where they eventually found it. “We didn’t even know we got it

until my grandparents called,” Lynnea said. James got his two fawns when their group was pushing the woods on two separate occasions that day. He snuck up on them and shot them while they were laying down. “I had to ask my cousin across the river if it was cheating to shoot them while they were laying down,” James said.

KAYLA ALBERS/DAIRY STAR

The Maus family – (from leŌ) JusƟn, James and Lynnea – milk 88 cows in Douglas County near Osakis, Minnesota. The family members all shot deer during Minnesota’s opening weekend Nov. 7.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

JusƟn Maus is pictured with his seven-point buck that he shot during Minnesota’s youth hunƟng season this year near Osakis, Minnesota. This was Maus’ rst deer of the season.

After Justin, Lynnea and James shot their deer for the day, they went home for their chores. Because it was a warm day, they cut up all of their deer that night. They will use the backstraps for steaks and cube up the rest of the meat to grind and use for jerky or summer sausage. By the time they were done for the day, it was almost 10 p.m.

For James, Justin and Lynnea, the best part of hunting is being together and enjoying being outdoors with nature; but a day like that deer opener was one of a kind. “I just like getting out in the woods, exploring and seeing the deer run,” James said. “It is a time to get together with family and friends.”

Keep your cool. As this year has proven, unpredictable things can happen. Marsh & McLennan Agency’s dairy specialists understand your business, operating environment, and unique needs. When things get heated, we’ll be there to protect you. C O N TA C T U S

Allen Schlenker | Risk Management Consultant Allen.Schlenker@MarshMMA.com +1 605 339 3874

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Page 24 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 28, 2020

+

DAIRY ST R

The Great Christmas “GRAND” PRIZE

GIVEAWAY

Grand Prize Drawing Will Be Held Wednesday, December 16, 2020 THE WINNERS WILL BE POSTED ON WWW.DAIRYSTAR.COM, MILK BREAK NEWSLETTER AND ON FACEBOOK.

ADULT “GRAND” PRIZE:

2) $1,000 CASH GIFTS!

17 & UNDER “GRAND” PRIZE “Grand” Prize Brown Swiss Calf: PORT-HAVEN SILVERS JORDANA

Grand Priz e Calf come s Born: September 7, 2020 from The P o r tner famil Dam: Port-Haven Treasury Jodi VG 85 y of Sleepy E ye Sire: LA Rainbow Sweet Silver ET Minnesota , Granddam: Cie Port-Haven Payslis 1638 VG 87

Tom and Mary Portner pictured with Port-Haven Silvers Jordana heifer calf that will be given away in the Great Christmas Giveaway drawing.

REGISTER FREE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

Register at participating businesses, online at www.dairystar.com or Àll out the form below and mail to: Dairy Star 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378 ADULT REGISTRATION

17 & UNDER REGISTRATION

Name:

Name:

Address:

Parents Name(s): Address:

Phone:

# of Cows:

Mail to: Dairy Star • 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave. • Sauk Centre, MN 56378

Phone: # of Cows: Mail to: Dairy Star • 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave. • Sauk Centre, MN 56378


Dairy Star • Saturday, November 28, 2020 • Page 25

IOWA

REGISTER AT THESE PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES:

ALLAMAKEE COUNTY • Bodensteiner Implement Waukon • 563-568-3463 • Innovative Ag Services Waukon • 563-568-3455 • Waukon Veterinary Services Waukon • 563-568-2487 BREMER COUNTY • ViaÀeld Sumner • 563-578-3214 BUCHANAN COUNTY • Bodensteiner Implement Rowley • 319-938-2222 • ViaÀeld Winthrop • 319-935-3336 CHICKASAW COUNTY • Bodensteiner Implement New Hampton • 641-394-3061 CLAYTON COUNTY • Bodensteiner Implement Elkader • 563-245-2470 • Innovative Ag Services Elkader • 563-245-1230 Monona • 563-539-2001 DELAWARE COUNTY • Edgewood Feed Mill Edgewood • 563-928-6405 DUBUQUE COUNTY • Bodensteiner Implement Dyersville • 563-875-2724 • Brunkan Equipment Worthington • 563-855-2434 • CJ Beeps Equipment Farley • 563-744-5010 • Helle Farm Equipment Dyersville • 563-875-7154 • Innovative Ag Services Cascade • 563-852-7245 Farley • 563-744-3337 • New Vienna Ag Automation New Vienna • 563-921-2896 • Skip Breitbach Feeds Balltown • 563-552-2393 • Scherrmann’s Implement Dyersville • 563-875-2426 • Ungs Shopping Center (IAS) Luxemburg • 563-853-2455 FAYETTE COUNTY • Bodensteiner ImplemenT Clermont • 563-423-5206 Oelwein • 319-283-4371 • ViaÀeld Arlington • 563-633-3415 Elgin • 563-426-5566 Maynard • 563-637-2285 FLOYD COUNTY • Livestock Systems Charles City• 641-220-5257 HOWARD COUNTY • Bodensteiner Implement Cresco • 563-547-2152 • Farmers Win Coop Cresco West • 563-547-3660 JACKSON COUNTY • Innovative Ag Services Andrew • 563-672-3228 JONES COUNTY • Bodensteiner Implement Monticello • 319-465-3515 SIOUX COUNTY • Rock Valley Hay Auction Co. Rock Valley • 712-476-5541 • Sioux Dairy Equipment, Inc. Rock Valley • 712-476-5608 WINNESHIEK COUNTY • Bodensteiner Implement Decorah • 563-382-2961 • Brynsaas Sales & Service Decorah • 563-382-4484 • Farmers Win Coop Burr Oak • 563-735-5427 Ridgeway • 563-737-2244 • Franzen Sales & Service Fort Atkinson • 563-534-2724

MINNESOTA

• First National Bank of MilacaGilman OfÀce • 320-387-2233 • Gilman Co-op Creamery Gilman • 320-387-2770 BROWN COUNTY • New Ulm Regional Vet Clinic New Ulm • 507-233-2500 CARVER COUNTY • Bongards’ Bongards • 952-466-5521 • Lano Equipment of Norwood Norwood/Young America 952-467-2181 • Storms Welding Cologne • 952-466-3343 DAKOTA COUNTY • Werner Implement Vermillion • 651-437-4435 DOUGLAS COUNTY • Midwest Machinery Alexandria • 320-763-4220 • Nelson Creamery Nelson • 320-762-0115 • Osakis Creamery Assn. 320-859-2146 • Pro Ag Farmers Co-op GarÀeld • 320-834-2271 FILLMORE COUNTY • Farmers Win Coop Rushford • 507-864-2161 • Hammell Equipment Harmony • 507-886-2255 Rushford • 507-864-2845 GOODHUE COUNTY • Ag Partners - Grain Site Bellchester • 651-923-4453 Wanamingo-Grain Site • 507-824-2231 Wanamingo-Agronomy Location 507-824-2215 • Ag Partners Farm Store Cannon Falls • 507-263-4651 Goodhue • 800-732-1439 Pine Island • 507-356-8313 • GB Feed and Supply Bellchester • 651-923-4425 • Midwest Livestock Systems Zumbrota • 507-732-4673 HOUSTON COUNTY • Farmers Win Coop Caledonia • 507-725-3306 Houston • 507-896-3147 Spring Grove • 507-498-5321 • Hammell Equipment Eitzen • 507-495-3326 KANABEC COUNTY • East Central Dairy Supply Mora • 320-679-1029 • Fluegge’s Ag Mora • 320-679-2981 KANDIYOHI COUNTY • D&D Ag Supply & Construction Pennock • 320-599-4466 • Farm-Rite Equipment Willmar • 320-235-3672 LE SUEUR COUNTY • Ag Partners - Agronomy Le Center • 507-357-6868 MCLEOD COUNTY • Arnold’s of Glencoe Glencoe • 320-864-5531 • Leedstone Glencoe • 877-864-5575 • Mueller Sales & Service Dairy Equipment Glencoe • 888-205-0974 MEEKER COUNTY • Farm-Rite Equipment Dassel • 320-275-2737 • Schlauderaff Implement Co. LitchÀeld • 320-693-7277 MILLE LACS COUNTY • Foreston Co-op Creamery/ ADM Alliance Nutrition Foreston • 320-294-5711 • First National Bank of Milaca Milaca • 320-983-3101 MORRISON COUNTY • Central MN Credit Union Little Falls • 888-330-8482 • Lash’s Auto Pierz • 320-232-0537

• Litke’s Veterinary Service Pierz • 320-468-6666 • Midwest Machinery Little Falls • 320-632-5469 • 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 OLMSTED COUNTY • Hammell Equipment ChatÀeld • 507-867-4910 OTTER TAIL COUNTY • Bongards’ Perham • 218-346-4680 • Farmers Elevator of Fergus Falls & Henning 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 POPE COUNTY • Midwest Machinery Glenwood • 320-634-5151 RICE COUNTY • Ag Partners - Agronomy Morristown • 507-685-2700 SCOTT COUNTY • Ag Partners - Farm Store Belle Plaine • 952-873-3224 • Ag Partners - Coop Tire & Auto Belle Plaine • 952-873-3001 SHERBURNE COUNTY • Midwest Machinery Princeton • 763-389-3453 SIBLEY COUNTY • Gibbon Lumber Gibbon • 507-834-6366 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 • Central MN Credit Union Albany • 888-330-8482 Avon • 888-330-8482 Belgrade • 888-330-8482 Cold Spring • 888-330-8482 Freeport • 888-330-8482 Holdingford • 888-330-8482 Melrose • 888-330-8482 Paynesville • 888-330-8482 Sauk Centre • 888-330-8482 • Centre Dairy Equipment & Supply Inc. Sauk Centre • 320-352-5762 or 1-800-342-2697 • Coil’s Flags St Cloud • 320-253-8160 • Cold Spring Co-op & Country Store Cold Spring • 320-685-8651 • 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 • 320-837-5800 • Elrosa Grain & Feed Elrosa • 320-697-5515

• Elrosa Lumber Elrosa • 320-697-5591 • Farm Systems Melrose 1-800-636-5581 • 1-800-247-0012 • Feed Co. Paynesville • 320-243-3938 • Freeport State Bank Freeport • 1-800-252-9856 320-836-2126 Greenwald • 320-987-2265 New Munich • 320-837-5297 Melrose • 320-256-7208 • Hartung Sales & Service, Inc. Freeport • 320-836-2697 • Lake Henry Implement Lake Henry • 320-243-7411 • Leedstone Melrose • 800-996-3303 • Melrose Implement Inc. Melrose • 320-256-4253 • Midwest Machinery Sauk Centre • 320-352-6511 Sauk Rapids • 320-252-2010 • Modern Farm Equipment Sauk Centre • 320-352-6543 • Nutrien Ag Solutions 320-352-6564 STEELE COUNTY • Ag Partners - Agronomy Owatonna • 507-413-8000 • Northland Farm Systems Owatonna • 800-385-3911 TODD COUNTY • Central MN Credit Union Grey Eagle • 888-330-8482 Long Prairie • 888-330-8482 • Farm-Rite Long Prairie • 320-732-3715 • Olson’s Custom Farm Service Staples • 800-477-7059 • Pro-Ag Farmers Co-op in Browerville Browerville • 320-594-2415 • 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 • Leedstone Plainview • 800-548-2540 • Wingert Sales & Service Plainview • 507-534-2285 WADENA COUNTY • Dairyland Equipment of Menahga Menahga • 218-564-4958 • Olson’s Custom Farm Service Verndale • 218-445-5500 Sebeka • 218-837-5749 WINONA COUNTY • Benson Farm Service Lewiston • 507-523-2188 • Elba Coop Elba • 507-796-6571 • 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 • Farmward Cooperative Wood Lake • 507-485-3153

SOUTH DAKOTA BROOKINGS COUNTY • W.W. Tire Brookings • 605-696-7400 CODINGTON COUNTY • Midwest Ag Supply Watertown • 605-882-2497 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

BECKER COUNTY • Adkins Equipment Inc. Detroit Lakes • 218-847-3131 BENTON COUNTY • Arnold’s of St. Cloud Sauk Rapids • 320-251-2585 • Farm-Rite Equipment St. Cloud • 320 240 2085 *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 adult prize, or 17 years or younger and a son or

To view a complete list of participating businesses, log on to www.dairystar.com 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 28, 2020

FSA county committee elections underway

As November draws to a close and Thanksgiving is here, it may be difcult to nd things we are thankful for this year. For me, I am grateful to FSA News & Notes the Farm Service Agency staff who have been here and worked in all different circumstances to administer the programs FSA has to offer. It hasn’t been easy, but they have risen to every challenge and change thrown at them this year. I am also thankful for the ability By Ryan Brunn to serve our farmers and Stearns Co. Exec. Dir. ranchers that continually support and strengthen our local communities and a food source that never fails. Your perseverance is truly admirable, and I cannot thank you enough. We also appreciate your patience and exibility while working with us through all different circumstances this year. A reminder that Dec. 11 is the deadline to enroll in 2021 Dairy Margin Coverage and Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2. Please contact your ofce if you need to complete these tasks. The United States Department of Agriculture has mailed ballots for the FSA county committee elections to eligible farmers and ranchers across the country. To be counted, ballots must be returned to the local FSA county ofce or postmarked by Dec. 7. “FSA has over 7,000 county committee members nationwide who serve their communities by providing input on our programs at the local level,” said FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce. “We value their knowledge and judgment as decisions are made about the services we provide, including disaster and safety-net programs.” Each committee has three to 11 elected members who serve three-year terms of ofce, and at least one seat is up for election each year. Newly elected committee members will take ofce Jan. 1, 2021. County committee members help FSA make important decisions on its commodity support, conservation, indemnity and disaster, and emergency programs and eligibility. Producers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program to be eligible to vote in the county committee election. A cooperating producer is someone who has provided information about their farming or ranching operation(s) but may not have applied or received FSA program benets. Also, producers who supervise and conduct the farming operations of an entire farm but are not of legal voting age may be eligible to vote. Producers can nd out if their local administrative area is up for election and if they are eligible to vote by contacting their local FSA county ofce. Eligible voters who did not receive a ballot in the mail can request one from their local FSA county ofce. Visit www.fsa.usda.gov/elections for more information. 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.

COW SAVER! Cows Can Be Safe On Concrete

HELP!

Call Smith’s before I break my leg or something!

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REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

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Serving the Midwest over 30 yrs.

1-800-525-9364


Showing Generation Z around the farm

Dairy Star • Saturday, November 28, 2020 • Page 27

Roller-Grinder

More milk less feed with uniform Àne-grind Solid cast rolls All belt-electric drive Single or double mills USA & International sales Replacement rolls available for most mills Used mills and tumble mixers on hand Hammer Mills

Phone: (319) 634-3849 • Toll Free: (800) 426-0261 web: www.ifamill.com • email: ifamill@netins.net

Cow #125

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Decreased Rumination

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Alise Sjostrom speaks with inuencer MaƩ Smith during a Zoom call in October.

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I F A

visit when I told him we’re just regular people trying to make an honest living, he said it brought a tear to his eye. Dairy farmers have great stories to tell, and if we’re not the ones telling them, someone else will ll in the narrative, and it might not be accurate. Meet them where they are. The virtual world is here to stay, and we don’t need to be hesitant about it. These are amazing tools where we can connect with consumers and share our stories. Have fun. Gen Z is serious about important topics, but they also know how to have fun. When you have fun, they’ll have fun. Someday, I hope to meet Matt in person to continue learning more about him. In the meantime, I’m sending him fresh cheese curds to keep our farm’s story top of mind and provide him with an excellent dairy experience.

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At our farm and creamery – Jer-Lindy Farms and Redhead Creamery in Brooten, Minnesota – we are always thinking about how to share our story and connect with consumers. And we know that if we want to continue farming and making cheese for years to come, we must reach both today’s consumers and the next emerging consumer group: Generation Z. While I don’t like to characterize one entire group of people based on their By Alise Sjostrom generation, I know it’s important understand consumers’ Jer-Lindy Farms to & Redhead interests and behaviors. In Creamery learning about this group – one that will have huge buying power in the coming years – I found many are interested in sustainability and understanding where their food comes from. Also, 90% of Gen Z consumers classify themselves as gamers, playing online games such as Minecraft and participating in interactive challenges created by gaming inuencers. This combination provides an innovative opportunity for dairy farmers to connect with them over shared values and build trust. So, when I was approached by Dairy Management Inc. about virtually hosting a young inuencer on our farm and sharing our sustainability story, I jumped at the chance to hear more from someone who uses social media to reach millions of young viewers. I virtually hosted inuencer Matt Smith (@ DangMattSmith) who is in his early 20s and has more than 1.3 million Instagram followers and 12 million YouTube subscribers. As part of DMI’s initiative, our tour was one of several happening across the country between dairy farmers and popular social media and gaming inuencers. These inuencers then integrate what they learned on the farms into their gaming and video worlds, sharing with their millions of followers the story of where dairy food comes from and how it’s responsibility produced. On a chilly Friday in October, I hosted Matt via Zoom from my cell phone. Matt joined from his home in sunny California. I greeted him with one of our cows behind me which he enjoyed. I led him around the farm and cheese plant and showed him cows being milked. I was impressed by his journalistic questions and genuine interest in dairy farming and how dairy gets to his plate. He posed questions I’m sure all farmers have heard on tours, such as, “Does it hurt when you milk the cows?” He loved that all our cows are named. We ended by sharing more about life on the farm, including our focus on sustainability and animal care. It was an authentic, engaging dialogue and an opportunity to not only share our story, but also learn what’s important to Matt and others who have similar interests and questions. Next, Matt will take what he learned during his visit and create a video to share with his followers, set to be released in early 2021. You can check out his rst teaser video that was posted Oct. 28 on his Instagram page. For other dairy farmers looking to connect with younger consumers, here’s some advice: Be open. Just because people may get their information in a way that’s different from us, that doesn’t make it wrong. Listen to what they have to say, and be open to new ways of thinking. Make the connection. Matt and I found ourselves connecting about many things, and at the end of the

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Page 28 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 28, 2020 Joe Armstrong armst225@umn.edu 612.624.3610 Luciano Caixeta lcaixeta@umn.edu 612-625-3130 Hugh Chester-Jones chest001@umn.edu 507-835-3622 Gerard Cramer gcramer@umn.edu 612-625-8184 Marcia Endres miendres@umn.edu 612-624-5391 Sandra Godden godde002@umn.edu 612-625-8177 Joleen Hadrich jhadrich@umn.edu 612-626-5620 Les Hansen hanse009@umn.edu 612-624-2277 Brad Heins hein0106@umn.edu 320-589-1711 Nathan Hulinsky huli0013@umn.edu 320-203-6104 Kevin Janni kjanni@umn.edu 612-625-3108 Karen Johnson ande9495@umn.edu 320-484-4334 Emily Krekelberg krek0033@umn.edu 507-280-2863 Claire LaCanne lacanne@umn.edu 507-332-6109 Brenda Miller nels4220@umn.edu 320-732-4435 Erin Royster royster@umn.edu Jim Salfer salfe001@umn.edu 320-203-6093 Mike Schutz mschutz@umn.edu 612-624-1205 M. Scott Wells mswells@umn.edu 612-625-3747

www.extension.umn.edu/dairy

What the heck is self-care? We are all feeling the impacts of living in a world gripped by a pandemic. Nothing feels normal or right anymore. We stumble through days of distance learning, social distancing and more bad news. How is this happening? It can feel like a lot. It is a lot. It is OK to feel overwhelmed by it all. It is OK to feel like you are barely making it. Each of us handles stress and anxiety differently, but it should all circle back to the same thing: self-care. I have long been an advocate for selfcare. Now, with the unique challenges the COVID-19 outbreak has brought us, it is more important than ever. You may be wondering, “What is self-care, anyways?” By Emily Self-care is any activity we do deliberately Krekelberg to take care of our physical, mental and U of M Extension emotional health. Sleeping is self-care. Talking to a friend on the phone is selfcare. Sounds easy, right? Self-care is, in fact, easy, and it can improve your mood and reduce anxiety. Self-care is more than a singular event; it is a set of practices you do routinely. Think of you and your overall wellbeing as a three-legged stool. The seat represents you and the legs represent your physical, mental and emotional health. We need to attend to all three legs equally to ensure we are properly supported. How do we do this? Self-care. The cool thing about self-care is that a single action can positively impact all three areas of your health. For me, that is running. It is good for my body, it allows me to clear my mind, and as a result I can express myself properly. Here are some self-care strategies I encourage you to try; hopefully, you’re already doing some of them. – Sleep 7-9 hours every night. – Eat well-balanced meals and snacks (carbs, protein and fats). – Be physically active for at least 10 minutes a day. – Hobbies (cooking, hunting, reading, writing, etc.). – Connect with your social network. – Deep breathing. – Reection: good things that happened today, three things you’re grateful for, etc. – Positive mindset – Talk to a trusted friend, member of your faith community or a mental health professional. Are you feeling like you cannot do this? I often hear the excuse, “I don’t have time for that kind of stuff.” With all due

respect, I disagree. Here are ve quick swaps you can make to integrate self-care easily into your busy schedule. – Instead of bringing pop and a candy bar along for a snack, try water or chocolate milk and a protein bar. – Instead of losing your temper when something goes wrong, try taking three deep breaths. – Instead of staying up late looking at the weather radar, try being screen-free when you get in the house and getting

Th most iimportant thing The hi to remember b is that self-care is not selfish. some extra sleep. – Instead of sitting during your lunch break, try going for a quick walk. – Instead of spending the entire day alone, try inviting a friend or family member to join you for a few hours. The most important thing to remember is that self-care is not selsh. Taking time to take care of yourself is crucial to your wellbeing. You can’t pour from an empty cup; you aren’t able to give 100% to others if you are at zero. Make yourself a priority. Create a great day. Stay positive and test negative.

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How does your veterinarian think about vaccines?

As many of you have probably noticed, veterinarians love vaccines. This is not a weekend ing either, but a long-nurtured and deep-seated love. Producer after producer has been caught in a trap sitting on the tailgate listening to their veterinarian talk about the ideal vaccine protocol and has had the thought, “Who would have time to do all that?” I won’t deny it, I love vaccines, and yes, sometimes we get carried away thinking about all of their uses and where everything could t. The vaccine protocol is the perfect embodiment of preventive medicine combined with a logic puzzle that most bovine veterinarians genuinely adore. So what are we thinking? How do we come to our conclusions? What is the most important? What is truly the end goal? Hopefully, I can answer some of these questions to ll in the gaps created when you (understandably) zoned out sitting on the tailgate. By Joe Armstrong, Vaccines will never replace management. There is no DVM substitute for management, no technology, no drug, nothing U of M Extension can replace basic husbandry, correct nutrition and low-stress handling. Vaccines can aid in these efforts, but a solid base must be there before you can expect real success from a vaccine protocol. The immune system can be overwhelmed even if a vaccine is in place. If cattle become immune-compromised or exposed to an extremely high number of pathogens (disease-causing organisms), the vaccine may fail to protect from clinical disease. The goal of any protocol starts with you. There is a set of core diseases that most veterinarians agree all cattle should have protection against, but there is no cookie-cutter protocol to t every cattle operation. The most important aspect of a vaccine protocol is your operation’s goals and the logistics of how you operate. Your risk tolerance, the level of protection you need for your style of operation and your farm’s disease history determine what pieces need to be included. Some of what you read in this section could be dangerous because I am trying to explain how I think, a task no one would envy. The key is, some vaccines are more important than others. I start with including what I believe is the most important and work from there, knowing I am willing to compromise on certain vaccines and timings more than others. Most important For most operations, the modied live viral vaccine (IBR, PI3, BRSV, BVDV) given pre-breeding to replacement heifers is the most crucial vaccine on the dairy. I will ght tooth and nail to keep this vaccine in the protocol, and if you are not giving this vaccine, I will incessantly pester until it is included. This vaccine protects you from diseases that put people out of business. Least important I have to be careful here; I am not saying don’t vaccinate. I am saying that if I am forced to compromise, this is where I look rst. Vaccines given to calves before 6 weeks of age are the least essential vaccines on the dairy. The correct colostrum management and nutrition can protect these calves better than any vaccine. Return on investment versus insurance These might not be the correct terms to use, but they are what oat in my head. Some vaccines are a given because the risk of exposure is high, and the vaccine is effective and inexpensive. They provide a no-brainer return on investment. Other vaccines protect against diseases that have a lower risk of exposure, but unprotected exposure is devastating (insurance). No-brainer return on investment vaccines: Clostridial protection for calves and annual booster to cows (Blackleg, Tetanus, Redwater); core modied live viral respiratory to calves (IBR, PI3, BRSV, BVDV); core viral respiratory annual booster cows (IBR, PI3, BRSV, BVDV); and E. coli mastitis protection for cows. Necessary insurance vaccines: Core modied live viral reproduction to calves (IBR, PI3, BRSV, BVDV); and core viral reproduction annual booster to cows (IBR, PI3, BRSV, BVDV). Timing This is where the logic puzzle starts, and I don’t know the best way to go about this section other than listing rules to follow: – Killed vaccines must be boosted when given for the rst time. – No more than two gram-negative components can be given at the same time. – Vaccines given before 6 months of age do not count toward long-term protection due to maternal interference. – Maternal protection from colostrum fades around 4 months of age. – Avoid giving modied live vaccines in the four weeks before breeding. – Avoid giving any vaccines in the three weeks before calving. – Vaccines inuencing colostrum quality should be given between 16 and eight weeks before calving. – Avoid giving injectable vaccines in the rst 30 days fresh. Dr. Joe’s steps/rules for vaccine protocols Build a relationship based on trust between the producer and the veterinarian. Listen to the producer’s goals, logistics, time constraints and budgetary considerations. Start with the most important vaccine and work out from there. Whenever possible, put vaccines in places where the cattle are already being handled. Add the no-brainer return on investment and necessary insurance vaccines. Adjust as needed to cover operation-specic challenges and add operation-specic diseases. The rules about timing should be followed as much as possible. But remember, you work in the real world, and sometimes rules should bend. Less is often more. Look for management solutions before using a needle. Review the implementation of the protocol periodically to check for protocol drift. Your veterinarian The next time your veterinarian starts to drone on about vaccines, keep in mind that all of the above bounces around in their head. Please develop a relationship with your veterinarian to a point where you can discuss this in-depth with condence and trust. You won’t be disappointed by their involvement in your operation.

Dairy Star • Saturday, November 28, 2020 • Page 29

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Thanksgiving tribulations Page 30 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 28, 2020

Thanksgiving, that all-American face-stufng festival, is here, and you know what that means. All across this great land of ours, people will turn to one another and repeat those sacred words rst uttered four centuries ago by Miles Standish to his Native American hosts: “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing.” We Americans have a time-honored tradition of overeating on Thanksgiving. I for one plan to avoid all digestive discomfort this Holiday season. How? Instead of my old system of securing large supplies of Pepto-Bismol, I’m going to get in shape. I’m not signing up for a yoga class or buying a Peloton; I’m much too old to waste my time on such frivolity. Rather, I have developed a cunning new strategy which involves eating larger and larger meals every day. When Thanksgiving rolls around and our

family gathers at a table that groans under the weight of a full metric ton of yummies, I will be able to say in all truthfulness, “Gee, looks like there’s only enough for me. I hope you guys aren’t hungry too.” I am descended from a long line of eaters. My parents ate and my grandparents ate. For as far back as anyone in our family can remember, everyone ate. This is what caused my wife to endure untold amounts of anxiety when we were newlyweds and she decided to host Thanksgiving dinner for my large clan of enthusiastic eaters. Our family had gathered at my grandparents’ house on the previous Thanksgiving to celebrate the holiday and to break the speed record for turning a roasted turkey into a bone-white skeleton. Grandma was a genius in the kitchen. She was the kind of cook who could take whatever was handy –

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be it old shoe leather or even dried cod that had been soaked in lye – smother it in a rich brown gravy, and voila! A feast t for a horde of starving Vikings or, in this case, my relatives. Given the size of my family and our Norse heritage, it’s often difcult to tell Dear County Agent Guy the difference. There is a disorder known as the Martha Stewart Syndrome that strikes a number of unfortunate individuals during the holidays. The hallmarks of this condition include ts of obsessive house cleaning punctuated by bouts of frenetic redecorating. By Jerry Nelson The aficted can often Columnist be seen outside their homes, scrubbing the cracks in the sidewalk with a toothbrush and muttering, “I just want everything to be perfect.” My wife was overcome by this malady during the run-up to our rst Thanksgiving. It got so that I dare not stand still for fear that I might be summarily reupholstered or steam cleaned with the Rug Doctor. Thanksgiving dawned crisp and cold, much like the humungous frost-encrusted monstrosity that my wife hauled out of the freezer. “What in the world is that?” I asked. “It’s the turkey, you doofus. What did you think?” “I was thinking that you were starting a new tradition by serving roast ostrich this year. Also that you probably should have started thawing it before this morning.” A whirlwind of frenzied activity followed, all of it focused on thawing an alleged turkey that was the size of the iceberg that sank the Titanic. After wasting several hundred gallons of hot water on this effort, I suggested that if we were to increase the oven temperature, perhaps the roasting time would be decreased proportionally. Faced with no other choice, my wife reluctantly agreed. Some hours later, our farmhouse had lled with guests. The prospect of consuming massive amounts of victuals was on everyone’s mind. My wife, still in the Martha Stewart mode, chose that moment to take her rst stab at making gravy. Her efforts produced more lumps than gravy. Undaunted, she poured the steaming mixture into the blender and pressed the button labeled Warp 10. A fountain of gravy erupted from the blender, giving the kitchen ceiling an interesting new color and texture. My wife told me to carve the turkey while she sponged the mess into a gravy boat. As I sliced into the giant beast, my knife encountered a mysterious hardness. Prying open the incision, I discovered that our gambit had failed: the interior of the bird was still entombed in permafrost. That year, we began a new tradition called “Let’s run to the KFC and pick up 50 pounds of fried chicken and several gallons of gravy.” As Grandma left our house that day, she slipped a small package into my wife’s hand. “Here, Honey,” she whispered. “I never set foot in the kitchen without one of these.” It was a packet of instant gravy. Jerry is a recovering dairy farmer from Volga, South Dakota. He and his wife, Julie, have two grown sons and live on the farm where Jerry’s great-grandfather homesteaded over 110 years ago. Jerry currently works full time for the Dairy Star as a staff writer/ad salesman. Feel free to E-mail him at: jerry.n@dairystar.com.

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Evaluate nutrition strategies with higher feed costs

Dairy Star â&#x20AC;˘ Saturday, November 28, 2020 â&#x20AC;˘ Page 31

Dairy economics in 2020 have been ď&#x192;&#x17E;lled with volatility and uncertainty. The recent surge in feed costs is just one more example. Soybean and corn markets climbed at harvest time fueled by lower carryover Something to Ruminate On stocks, higher export demands and South American weather concerns. Protein and energy sources quickly followed suit. Common protein sources â&#x20AC;&#x201C; such as soybean meal, canola meal and corn distillers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; have seen 15% to 20% increases the By Barry Visser past few weeks. Nutritionist As proď&#x192;&#x17E;t margins tighten, it is critical to evaluate on-farm nutrition strategies to determine if any potential changes can improve the dairyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cash ď&#x192;&#x;ow. Milk production is the income generator for your dairy business, so saving 10 cents in feed cost, but losing 20 cents in productivity, is not a good economic decision. Consider several key nutrition and management strategies to help maximize income over feed costs. High-quality forage reduces supplemental feed costs. Current forage inventory is established, but the value of harvesting high-quality forages this next season may be greater than ever. Harvesting forages at the correct moisture and maturity is a critical component. Hybrid selection can be part of the solution to improved forage quality but needs to be balanced against input costs. Feed shrink can be deď&#x192;&#x17E;ned as any ingredient that enters the dairy but is not consumed by the cow.

F d efficiency Feed ffi i iis an important economic measure used to evaluate the amount of milk produced per unit of feed. With current prices, going from 15% to 5% feed shrink accounts for savings of greater than 50 cents per head daily. Some shrink to forages in inevitable, but with proper packing and storage practices, these losses can be minimized. Evaluate ingredient handling and storage as well. Byproducts can be a great buy but may lend themselves to double-digit shrink values under certain conditions. Maximize dry matter intake to maximize milk production. One pound of additional DM can lead to 2 pounds increase in milk production. In some cases, the percentage of leftovers may be reduced below 5%. Feed distribution, push-up frequency and overall bunk management need to be excellent to make this happen. Feed efď&#x192;&#x17E;ciency is an important economic measure used to evaluate the amount of milk produced per unit of feed. Using energy corrected milk will give credit to the milk component contribution. Several factors will impact feed efď&#x192;&#x17E;ciency: â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Multiple groups of milk cows versus one group; multiple groups allow for better targeting

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of nutrients and additives designed to improve feed efď&#x192;&#x17E;ciency. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Overcrowding to the point where performance is negatively affected. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Cow comfort and heat abatement for milk and dry cows. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Culling strategies to remove low-end producers. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Aggressive reproduction strategies to have more cows in peak lactation. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Proper particle size and moisture in the TMR. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Adequate water access. Two common non-productive assets related to nutrition expenditures are forage inventory and heifer replacements. If a farm is sitting on eight to 12 months of carryover on a given forage, managers may consider harvesting fewer acres to remove some crop input expenses. With heifer

replacements, take a hard look at the number needed versus inventory. In addition, recognize the feed costs associated with calving heifers less than 24 months of age on most farms. Work with your nutrition consultant to review and ď&#x192;&#x17E;ne-tune your feeding program. Any feeding changes that potentially jeopardize milk production or future cow health need to be carefully evaluated; do not sacriď&#x192;&#x17E;ce long-term gains for short-term savings. Develop your list of potential changes, evaluate the positives and negatives of each potential change and prioritize which nutrition changes will have the largest effects on your cash ď&#x192;&#x;ow. In some cases, no changes will be made. In other cases, signiď&#x192;&#x17E;cant changes can be made, resulting in greater income over feed costs. Barry Visser is a nutritionist for Vita Plus.


Divinely driven Page 32 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 28, 2020

When we welcomed in the New Year eleven months ago, there was a sense of optimism for a new decade, a new direction for our farm and our lives. The view ahead of me was wide open with possibilities, as it is every year. I can honestly say I didn’t really see what was coming down the road. Our view was from the windshield looking forward, and the road was wide open. Now when I glance in the rear view mirror, I see every jog, turn and pothole we’ve been through on this journey and realize I wasn’t driving this bus. Carrie Underwood’s rst big hit was “Jesus Take the Wheel” where she cries out for help as she loses control on the icy roads and in her life. I think sometimes God takes control when we don’t realize we need help. As I look in my rearview mirror, I see how this year has been divinely driven. There is no way we could have organized and planned everything that put us in the right place to sell the milking herd

and hit pause on dairying. The view is so clear looking back. When the repair man never had time to x the stall mattresses this past spring, it turned out to be a good thing. Now we can x them while the barn is empty if we move forward. When our regular classication schedule fell in August, we were able to have the girls scored without paying extra fees. When World Dairy Expo was postponed, Katie was available to use her job skills in designing our sale catalog and advertising campaign. When the pandemic changed how business is conducted, we were able to have the sale online. Even when it snowed on the morning of the sale, it was like a hall pass from eld work for dairymen to take a skip day and come to the sale, to bid, to see the cows or just to be here for us. There is no way we could have maneuvered through all those detours without help. I didn’t realize I needed extra help but my friends

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did. Neighbors dropped off cookies and bars to help feed the kids as they spent days in the barn clipping cattle. Some sent maroon and gold mums to brighten my day in the house. In a way, it was like a funeral as friends reached out to support us as we Just Thinking Out Loud closed a chapter in our story. I even had three college friends from Indianapolis and northern Illinois travel to help me. They showed up on my doorstep the night before the sale announcing they were here to help. I gave Beth a paintbrush to cover chipped spots on a feed By Natalie Schmitt door. I handed Lauren a scrub brush to clean the Columnist front barn wall by the barn cleaner, and I left Jane in charge of the dishes in my sink. They knew I really didn’t need their help with jobs, but what I did need was their support, laughter and hugs. Mark is slowly weaning off of milking. He has a handful of cows to milk every morning and night. At least he is sleeping in in the morning. It is nice to start milking at 7 but on the back side, 7 at night for a handful of cows feels like overkill. The paperwork on the cows heading to Canada is almost complete. The cow going to Michigan to be a lawn ornament is ready to be dried off and shipped out too. We fed the last of the cow concentrate, so it is time for them to go. As the temperatures start to drop and stay cold, we need to get the barn ready for winter. We need to blow out the water lines in the drinking cups, run the barn cleaner one last time, park the feed cart, shut off the radio and lights and close the door until next spring. Then we can start to take a break for a few months. Mark has already found some perks in a lighter work load. When we were rst married, he would milk crazy hours just to be able to go deer hunting in our woods. That drive to provide meat for the family faded as the kids got older and they wanted to go hunting. Mark would stay in the barn and let the boys trounce through the woods. All three of them were able to shoot a young buck. Now it was their dad’s turn. As we pushed to nish up fall eldwork, Mark never had the time to sight in his gun before deer season. He hadn’t hunted in years. Mark was excited to go out. He was heading to his deer stand at the far edge of the alfalfa eld when he noticed something moving in the ditch line heading toward his deer stand. He thought he missed his chance at a deer. If he had headed out 10 minutes earlier he would have been in position. He pulled up his gun to see what he was missing. As he focused his scope on the animal, he got excited. It was the biggest rack he had ever seen, yet he was standing out in the open hay eld, one movement away from spooking the deer. The buck slipped back in the ditch, and Mark kept walking until he spotted him again. This time Mark slowly dropped to one knee, took aim … missed. The deer took off to the woods. Mark continued walking to his stand in the woods. As he got closer, a deer popped up, wobbled and stumbled back down. It was the deer. He had hit it. It turned out to be a nine-point buck with a score of 162. I guess that is good. I know Mark has provided meat for the table and a new wall decoration to the house. Right place. Right time. Divinely driven.

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The coronavirus, cardamom, and milk The last thing I want to write about right now is the coronavirus. Like all of you, I wish this pandemic was over. But the coronavirus is touching Dairy Good Life every part of our lives, so there aren’t many stories to tell without s o m e mention of this wretched virus. In the By Sadie Frericks beginning Columnist of the pandemic, the virus seemed very far away and was hard to fathom. For the past couple months, though, we’ve watched the virus get closer and closer. We now have parents, friends and neighbors who have been infected, all with drastically different symptoms and severities. The full impact of COVID-19 hit hard earlier this month when our neighbor lost his battle with the disease after a six-week ght. As the virus has come closer, we talk more and more, as a family, about the inevitability of us contracting the virus. We’ve explained to the kids that pandemic viruses continue to spread until they can’t anymore. Without vaccination, most people get infected. We’ve also explained that while we might not be able to prevent infection, we can take steps to make our immune systems as strong as possible, with the hope that our infections are on the milder end of the range. Eating well, getting enough movement, and getting adequate sleep are the best ways to ensure strong immune system function. We’re taking extra Vitamin D, too, because we drink unfortied milk. We can also increase our chances of having a mild case by taking steps to reduce the amount of virus we’re infected with. Wearing masks around non-family members and avoiding crowds are the best proven ways to reduce viral load. While I tend to think that, as farmers, we have robust immune systems, I am not naïve enough to think we aren’t vulnerable. The neighbor who lost his life was an active, healthy farmer too. As I mentioned above, COVID-19 is touching every part of our lives. Even the food magazines I read are laced with mentions of the disease. While reading a recent article about foods that support our immune systems, I came across an ingredient I never expected: cardamom. The article stated that, while more research is needed, some studies show cardamom helps activate natural killer cells, the white blood cells that kill tumor- and virus-infected cells in our bodies. I don’t need to wait for more research to convince me to consume

more cardamom. Cardamom is one of my favorite spices, likely due to my early exposure to the cardamom bread made by all the Finnish grandmothers in our community. After reading the article, I tried adding cardamom to my nightly cup of hot milk. It was delicious. The taste reminded me of a chai tea latte, which makes sense because cardamom is one of the spices in traditional chai tea. When it comes to spices, I follow the more is better philosophy, so I tried adding a few more chai spices to my mug of hot milk. My new favorite blend, which includes cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, turmeric and black pepper, is even more delicious than the original. It tastes like a chai tea latte or a pumpkin spice latte but without the tea or coffee. It also reminds me a bit of the homemade, not-supersweet eggnog my dad used to make when I was a kid. And, the additional spices add even more nutritional power. Ginger helps digestion. Cinnamon stabilizes blood sugar. Turmeric reduces inammation, especially when combined with black pepper. In addition to the warming spices, I also add unavored gelatin for an extra boost of protein. Most folks think gelatin contributes to strong hair, nails and connective tissue, which it does, but gelatin also helps maintain gut health, which is important for a strong immune system. Plus, don’t forget about the milk. A full cup of whole milk provides protein, healthy fat, and low-glycemicload carbohydrates. When combined with gelatin, the protein and fat in milk improve absorption of the gelatin. All in all, this hot spiced milk is one of those win-win recipes – tastes good and good for you – that become everyday staples. I’ll keep sipping a mug long after the pandemic is over.

Hot spiced milk 1 cup whole milk, divided 1 tablespoon unavored gelatin 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric Pinch of ground black pepper Optional: a bit of honey Pour 1/4 cup of the milk into a mug. Stir in gelatin and spices until gelatin absorbs milk. Heat remaining 3/4 cup milk (in microwave or on the stove). Pour hot milk into gelatin mixture and stir until gelatin is dissolved. I like this drink without any honey, but some palates might prefer a bit of additional sweetness. Sadie and her husband, Glen, milk 100 cows near Melrose, Minnesota. They have three children – Dan, 13, Monika, 11, and Daphne, 7. Sadie also writes a blog at www.dairygoodlife.com. She can be reached at sadiefrericks@gmail.com.

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Page 34 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 28, 2020

Jerseys cow of choice for Schmidt family Three generations run Door County’s largest dairy By Stacey Smart

stacey.s@dairystar.com

STURGEON BAY, Wis. – Jerseyland Dairy may only be eight years old, but those at the helm of the operation are not new to dairying. Over the years, the Schmidts went from milking cows to raising heifers and then back to milking cows – switching breeds from Holstein to Jersey. A re in 1996 pointed the Schmidt family in a new direction that would later encourage a conversion to

Jerseys. “Jerseys are efcient,” said Tanner Schmidt, the farm’s dairy manager. “They’re a smaller animal that eats a lot less than other breeds, and they have a smaller carbon footprint. Jerseys also have better feet and reproductive capabilities.” The Schmidts milk 4,000 Jerseys between two sites – milking around 3,000 head at Jerseyland and nearly 1,000 at another farm they bought in 2007 known as Peninsula Dairy. The family farms close to 10,000 acres of land, which includes winter wheat, alfalfa, corn, soybeans, triticale, sorghum, rye and barley. Keeping a family tradition STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR

Dairy manager Tanner Schmidt stands in one of the barns at Jerseyland Dairy near Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Schmidt and his family milk 3,000 Jerseys.

STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR

Cows are milked three Ɵmes a day in this 70-stall rotary parlor that was built in 2012 at Jerseyland Dairy near Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

alive, three generations farm alongside each other at Jerseyland Dairy near Sturgeon Bay. Schmidt and his brothers are the fth generation on the farm which was established in 1902. Schmidt returned to the farm to run the dairy side of things at age 20 after graduating from Fox Valley Technical College with an associate degree in agricultural business and science technology. Schmidt farms with his younger brother, Devin, and his older

brother, Derek Schopf; his parents, Randy and Dena; and his grandparents, Adrian (Ace) and Kay. The farm also employs 70 people. Devin handles planting, manure hauling and harvesting while Derek works in the farm’s shop doing repairs and working on equipment as well as helping with harvest. Randy oversees the entire operation while Dena manages the ofce and payroll with help from ofce assistant, Bonnie Hale. Ace

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can often be found in the elds, running tillage equipment, cutting hay and much more. Kay is the farm’s groundskeeper, working hard to keep the dairy looking nice at all times and especially festive during the holidays. “I love working with my family,” Schmidt said. “It’s great. We all have certain roles, but we ll in wherever help is needed.” Turn to SCHMIDT | Page 35

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Data is based on an average of 2019-2020 comparisons made in Minnesota and Wisconsin through December 11, 2020. Comparisons are against all competitors, unless otherwise stated, and within +/- 5 silage CRM of the competitive brand. Product responses are variable and subject to any number of environmental, disease and pest pressures. Individual results may vary. Multi-year and multi-location data are a better predictor of future performance. DO NOT USE THIS OR ANY OTHER DATA FROM A LIMITED NUMBER OF TRIALS AS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN PRODUCT SELECTION. Refer to www.pioneer.com or contact a Pioneer sales representative or authorized dealer for the latest and complete listing of traits and scores for each Pioneer ® brand product. By texting HARVEST, you agree to receive recurring autodialed marketing text messages at the phone number you provide. Your consent is not a condition of purchase. Message and data rates may apply. pioneer.com/privacy Pioneer® brand products are provided subject to the terms and conditions of purchase which are part of the labeling and purchase documents. TM ® SM Trademarks and service marks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. © 2020 Corteva. PION0LOCL055_TP


Dairy Star • Saturday, November 28, 2020 • Page 35

ConƟnued from SCHMIDT | Page 34 The Schmidts were milking around 70 Holsteins when a re took down their milking barn, resulting in a decision to sell the cows and take a break from milking. Pursuing a new business model, the Schmidts began raising heifers for neighboring dairies in 1997. In addition to farming, Randy and Dena also worked off the farm full time. The Schmidts continued to expand their heifer operation, building freestall barns and taking on more clients, ultimately reaching 7,000 head of Holstein heifers under their care. In 2001, Randy returned to the farm full time, and Dena came back in 2004. The purchase of Peninsula Dairy triggered interest in the Jersey breed. Facilities at the dairy were too small for Holsteins, so the Schmidts lled the barn with Jerseys instead. In 2012, S&S Ag Enterprises became S&S Jerseyland Dairy when the Schmidts’ custom heifer raising operation was transformed into a milking operation. Cows returned to the Schmidt homestead that November and the Schmidts began milking there as well once again. The farm’s 42-inchwide stalls, which were made for Holstein heifers, were the perfect t for a smaller cow like the Jersey. “My family loved the Jerseys,” said Schmidt, who manages both dairies. “They t well, and we didn’t have to revamp our facilities.” To prepare for the transition, the Schmidts put up a new freestall barn with maternity area that year along with a 70-stall rotary milking parlor and ofce space. The last of their seven freestall barns was built in 2014. Peninsula Dairy focuses solely on milking and houses only lactating animals. Dry cow, maternity and hospital facilities are located at Jerseyland with all calving taking place at the larger dairy. “With this setup, we don’t need a

maternity/hospital crew at each farm, and throughput in the parlor is easier at Peninsula where we milk in a double-12 parallel,” Schmidt said. Cows are milked three times a day at both facilities. The rotary can milk 450 cows per hour but is currently not at capacity. In 2015, the Schmidts built a new calf facility about a mile from the main farm and began raising their own heifers. Previously, calves were custom raised from birth to 6 months. Under this arrangement, death loss and pneumonia rates were higher than the Schmidts liked. Therefore, they brought heifer raising inhouse to place tighter quality control on calf care. “It was a great investment,” Schmidt said. “Jersey calves are so little, and we struggled with custom calf growers over the years to raise a good quality calf, so we decided to raise them ourselves. It’s a very efcient setup with three full-time employees for 1,200 calves.” Calves on milk are housed in temperature-controlled, all-in, all-out calf barns for around nine weeks. From November through March, calves enjoy a comfortable 70-degree environment. “During the winter months, a 55to 60-pound Jersey can’t withstand the cold,” Schmidt said. “You can’t feed enough to keep their calories up. This is the only way to raise Jerseys in a cold climate.” The modular buildings mimic a double-wide trailer with each one containing 74 stalls. Seven individual barns are connected by one central hallway under one roof. “This is a very unique, one-of-akind facility,” Schmidt said. “There are only a few others like it in the state. The Turn to SCHMIDT | Page 37

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Page 36 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 28, 2020

Women In Dairy

Tell us your most memorable experience working on the farm. I’ve been working on farms my whole life so I have many great experiences, but seeing our children grow up on the farm is like reliving all of the wonderful times I remember as a child. Also, when we are classifying cows and have cows score Excellent, those days are pretty cool.

Vanna Leichtfuss Two Rivers, Wisconsin Manitowoc County 220 cows Family: My husband, Mark, and I have four children – Emerson, 5, Everett, 3, Loretta, 2, Excalibur, 8 months. Tell us about your farm. Mark and I started farming in Green Bay in 2010 and moved to our current location in June 2019. We milk 190 registered Holsteins in a swing-8 parallel parlor. We grow the majority of our crops on rented land, and they are custom harvested. Mark handles all of the feeding, breeding, bookkeeping and maintenance on the farm. I do majority of the milking, along with feeding calves and heifers. Heifers are raised here until just before breeding. They are then sent to a heifer raiser and return home a few weeks before calving. I milk by myself in the mornings. Mark brings the pens of cows to the holding area between mixing batches of feed for the cows. We have three part-time employees. One or two of them help milk in the evenings. What is the busiest time of day for you? Denitely mornings. The day starts at 2:45 a.m. Excalibur comes out to the barn with me so he doesn’t wake up the other kids. I check for fresh cows before setting up for milking. I try to get milking done before taking Emerson to school. Then the other kids are awake. We have a quick breakfast before going back out to the barn for feeding calves, scraping barns, vaccinating, taking care of newborn calves, catching up on paperwork, etc. I milk some evenings (while trying to keep the kids occupied too) with one of our employees, and the other evenings we have two milkers so I stay busy with other chores and feeding calves. When you get a spare moment what do you do? I love to bake. Most of the time it’s cookies, cakes and cupcakes. I’m always up for trying new recipes. I enjoy being with the kids and having them help on the farm. I have a passion for showing cows and try to go to two or more shows each year. I enjoy attending cattle sales and love searching for farming antiques in old barns.

What have you enjoyed most about dairy farming? Watching our children grow up on the farm is truly awesome. We also love working with good cow families. How do you stay connected with others in the industry? The majority of our friends are dairy farmers or are in the dairy industry, so it’s not hard to stay connected with them, as we see or at least talk to many of them on a regular basis. Many are often involved in the same organizations Mark and I are involved in. I currently serve as secretary for our county Holstein Association, and it’s great to be with others who are so passionate about registered Holsteins and showing cows. Who is someone in the industry who has inspired you? My oldest brother, who was managing my parents’ farm back in the day, fueled my passion for cattle at a young age. I always tagged along as he did chores, and it was then that I realized at a young age I wanted to have a farm of my own one day. But none of what we have today would be possible without the help of my husband. It’s all a team effort. Every single day, it’s about working toward our goals. If you could give a tour to a prominent woman in today’s society, who would it be? I’d rather take a tour of a successfully ran dairy, regardless if it is operated by a man or a woman. We have given tours to the local technical college’s dairy herd management class, and I do enjoy talking to people who are just getting started farming and are optimistic about the industry, because we started from scratch. What is the best vacation you have ever taken? We don’t get away too often, but we do love to go to weddings that are a bit too far away to drive home late at night. We nd a babysitter and ask our employees to cover the next morning shift. We stay at a hotel and sleep in. It’s a chance to reset. Going to cattle shows, although it’s a very busy time, is also time away from the daily chores. The past two years Mark and I have attended the Wisconsin Holstein Association Adult Convention. It’s always a great time away from the farm, and we get to see many great cow people.

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What are some words you like to live by? “Children do not grow up too fast. If you truly enjoy it, you will nd they grow up at just the right speed.” “Find your passion and fuel it.” “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life.” “The frosting-to-cake ratio should always be 1:1.”

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ConĆ&#x;nued from SCHMIDT | Page 35

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Calves are housed in modular buildings at Jerseyland Dairy near Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Each temperature-controlled calf barn contains 74 stalls and is set to a comfortable 70 degrees from November through March. barn is great for both employees and calves.â&#x20AC;? At 30 days of age, temperature is decreased by 1 to 2 degrees per day to help ease calves into a cooler environment before weaning. This ramping feature cools the building down to 45 degrees in the winter before calves are moved out. Weaned animals are sent to a bedded pack barn, and at 4 months, heifers transition to a freestall barn before returning to the home farm at 7 months. Calves are fed a half-pasteurized, half-milk replacer mix via bottles, and individual waterers are provided for each stall. Cooling cells and fans ensure adequate airď&#x192;&#x;ow in the summer months. The Schmidts use a slatted hard rubber surface that requires no bedding in the calf stalls. Urine and manure drain into a 2-foot pit beneath the ď&#x192;&#x;oor, which is sloped to send all waste to storage. As the largest dairy farm in Door County and the countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only concentrated animal feeding operation, Jerseyland Dairy places special emphasis on conservation. Protecting land and water is a priority for the Schmidts, who continually adopt new conservation practices. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It can be a challenge dealing with

new rules and regulations,â&#x20AC;? Schmidt said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This has forced us to continually explore and implement leading-edge technologies in order to maintain and improve soil health to ensure we are protecting our ground water. We do a lot of no-till, minimal disturbance tillage and cover cropping to safeguard the soil from erosion. We have also installed many waterways in the past few years. My brothers regularly attend meetings to get new ideas about land, soil and water conservation. We do everything we can to protect these resources.â&#x20AC;? The Schmidts have not yet hit their peak, as expansion and future growth are imminent. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The plan is to build another barn in the future,â&#x20AC;? Schmidt said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want us to keep expanding and growing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whether here or in other states. Starting a farm in South Dakota is a dream of mine.â&#x20AC;? Schmidt and his wife, Lauren, who is a nurse, have a 16-month-old son named Koen. Derek is married to Kayla, who is also a nurse, and the couple is expecting their ď&#x192;&#x17E;rst child â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a boy â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in February. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We hope to keep rolling and bring in the next generation someday,â&#x20AC;? Schmidt said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I hope that one day my son will want to farm.â&#x20AC;?

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Page 38 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 28, 2020

Adams lls educator position for central Minnesota

East coast native to serve area livestock producers By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Dana Adams’ career, which has taken her throughout the country and across international waters, has now brought her to the heart of Minnesota. Adams was hired as the livestock extension educator for Benton, Morrison and Stearns counties with the University of Minnesota. She started her position Nov. 2. “This is a very strong t with what I had been working towards,” Adams said. “Since grad school, my goal had been to be a livestock educator in a county that has a lot of ruminant animal producers.” In her position, Adams will provide education and outreach to livestock producers in the tri-county area. While Adams’ formal training has been in dairy nutrition, she recognizes how an animal performs and its ability to provide for the farm business is far more complex. She is looking forward to connecting and building relationships with farmers of all backgrounds and being a point-person for the agriculture community. “That really is the power of extension,” Adams said. “Yes, I can talk about nutrition, but the farmer

also wants information about transition planning, new facilities. Extension can bring those things to the table and really support that farmer.” The new hire grew up in Alexandria, Virginia, where her father was stationed as a member of the United States Air Force and family currently lives. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree from the Dana Adams University of U of M Extension Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia – an hour south of her hometown. Then, furthered her education with a master’s in dairy nutrition from South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. There, Adams’ studies focused on forages and forage digestibility. Adams’ exposure to agriculture stems from her father who is from Nebraska. “Growing up, we’d go out every year and visit with friends and family,” Adams said. “You see agriculture there more than in northern Virginia.” While Adams’ childhood had a small inuence on her choice in careers, it was a study abroad experience in Holland during her time as an undergraduate that solidied her desire to work in production agriculture. “I did a short vet course and worked with veterinarians who were nishing

up their degrees,” Adams said. “We worked with cows and pigs. That was the light bulb moment, the moment I learned more about how our food is developed. It was fascinating.” During her time in South Dakota, Adams participated in many public engagement events where she educated children about ruminant animals, in one instance using a cannulated cow. “Those experiences started my enthusiasm for teaching about agriculture,” Adams said. In that same period, Adams conducted on-farm research trials to collect information that was useful for the livestock producer and their operation. After receiving her master’s degree, Adams sought to use her education in an applicable way. She spent the following six months on a 1,200-cow dairy farm in New Zealand. In returning to the states, Adams accepted a position as an agricultural and natural resource educator with Purdue University in Terre Haute, Indiana. During her nearly ve-year tenure as a Boilmaker, Adams worked closely with corn and soybean growers. “My time with Purdue gave me more experience with the big picture,” Adams said. “How does that row-crop side segue with what the cow is eating, how we manage our animals, and how that applies to her lifespan? It approved my exibility and thinking to look at multiple avenues.” As Adams delves into her responsibilities in central Minnesota, she is looking toward her past for

guidance. “Experience is a huge asset I have,” Adams said. “I’ve seen farming in Holland, Canada, New Zealand, Indiana, South Dakota and Virginia. I have seen problems attacked on different fronts yet was always looking for an opportunity to get back into livestock and found it here.” She is also relying on her personal skillset to be a helpful asset to the community and build strong relationships with the area’s farmers. “I’ve got positive feedback about how I make research and facts relevant, and I take a lot of pride in that,” Adams said. “I want farmers to come to me because they know I can do that as an educator and we have that relationship. These are people I care about.” However, Adams’ rst month on the job has looked quite different from what she hoped it would be. With the presence of COVID-19, connecting and forming relationships with farmers has not been an easy task. Adams is working with county commissioners and others in the community to connect with farmers. She also encourages the agriculture community to reach out and introduce themselves and participate in programming offered virtually. “We’re still working hard,” Adams said. “And, hopefully, one day I’ll be able to swing out to people’s farms. I’m excited to get to know farmers, their history, their families, what they take pride in.”

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Dairy Star • Saturday, November 28, 2020 • Page 39

sponsored by

Dale and Mariah McCullick III Wauzeka, Wisconsin Crawford County 40 cows

What do you enjoy most about dairy farming? I enjoy the cows. I could spend all day in the barn, but I hate driving tractor.

How did you get into farming? I didn’t grow up on a dairy farm, but Mariah did. I worked on my relatives’ dairy farms growing up, and in high school I worked for a hoof trimmer in the summers. In 2014, I bought a group of springing Holstein heifers and made an arrangement to keep them at and work for Chad Sime. He really helped me get my start.

What advice would you give other dairy farmers? I would advise other dairy farmers to maintain good foot health. The cows perform a lot better with four good wheels. What has been the best purchase you have ever made on your farm? We have a lot of water that will run in the one side of the barn when it rains and ll the gutter. I bought a highpowered sewage pump. It helps make the bad days not quite so bad.

What are your thoughts and concerns about the dairy industry for the next year? I worry about the rollercoaster ride we are on with prices. I also worry about all the empty barns you see around that will probably never have cows in them again. That makes it really hard for a young guy like me to get started. What is the latest technology you implemented on your farm and the purpose for it? We just started on our own about a year ago in a rented barn, so we haven’t implemented any real technology updates. In the future, I would like to get good automatic take-offs. What is a management practice you changed in the past year that has beneted you? Anything that is over 100 days in milk and hasn’t shown a good natural heat, we ovsynch; if they

What has been your biggest accomplishment while dairy farming? Paying off my rst group of cows.

don’t have a CL, we use a CIDR. That has been working well for us. We’ve been having good success with it. What cost-saving steps have you implemented during the low milk price? I quit feeding milk replacer and started feeding whole milk. It pencils out at $80 a bag for milk replacer versus $14 milk. How do you retain a good working relationship with your employees?

We are small enough we do not have any employees. Tell us about a skill you possess that makes dairy farming easier for you. I have a lot of patience with the animals, even when they are being difcult to work with. I am very observant and can notice little things that might be off. I also have a pretty good memory for remembering due dates, calving dates, etc.

What are your plans for your dairy in the next year and ve years? I would hope to be able to purchase a place or to nd a place with a longterm lease. We are losing the lease one our current farm in the spring. I just really want to be able to stay in the game and keep dairy farming. How do you or your family like to spend time when you are not doing chores? We spend a lot of time doing chores and at the barn, but we enjoy hanging out with friends, and sometimes trying to get out for a nice supper somewhere.

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Page 40 â&#x20AC;˘ Dairy Star â&#x20AC;˘ Saturday, November 28, 2020

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