Last Chance e a ls
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See page 7 in the second section for end of the year specials!
DAIRY ST R
Volume 18, No. 20
Ready or not, change is here FARM 3.0 begins rst of year
“All dairy, all the time”™
December 10, 2016
Ottes keep faith in their farm
By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – In a few short weeks, most dairy producers across the country will see a requested change to their on-farm management practices as noted in the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program’s latest version (3.0), which becomes effective Jan. 1, 2017. On Nov. 30, Ryan Bennett, senior director of industry and environmental affairs with the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), explained FARM 3.0’s revisions during the 2016 Minnesota Milk Conference and Expo in St. Cloud, Minn. “We were worried about [the dairy industry’s] image in 2009, that’s why the program started,” Bennett said about FARM. “We continue improving the program because we’re still worried.” At the beginning of the new year, dairy producers enrolled in FARM – who account for 98 percent of the nation’s total milk production – will have to abide by new rules that further promote the well being and safety of animals and employees on Ryan Bennett the farm. NMPF “Every three years, FARM is re-evaluated and revised,” Bennett said. “We need to defend the defensible. If the science is not there, what needs to change so that we’re a viable business and industry?” FARM 3.0’s notable improvements are categorized into two priority areas – phase one and phase two. “The big points we’re trying to hit are pain management and employee training,” Bennett said. Phase one is a short list of three matters that require mandatory correction – veterinarian-client-patientrelationship (VCPR); dairy cattle ethics and training agreement; and no tail docking after Jan. 1, 2017. “The rst two are forms that document a working relationship with your Turn to FARM | Page 5
MISSY MUSSMAN/DAIRY STAR
The OƩe family – (from leŌ) Eric, Kelsey, Kayla Volkeit, Tyler, Chicky, Bret and Blake – received the Minnesota Milk Producer AssociaƟon’s Producer of the Year award. They milk 425 cows at Square Deal Dairy near Randolph, Minn.
Square Deal Dairy named MMPA Producer of the Year By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
RANDOLPH, Minn. – For the Ottes, life consists of faith, family and farming. “It’s the rst two that make the third successful,” Blake Otte said. All three of these aspects have helped the Otte family’s farm, Square Deal Dairy, earn the Minnesota Milk Producers Association’s Producer of the Year Award, which they received Nov. 30 during a banquet at the Minnesota Milk Dairy Conference and Expo in St. Cloud, Minn. Blake and Chicky Otte together with their children, Tyler and his wife, Kelsey, Bret and his ancé, Kayla, and Eric, milk 425 cows near Randolph, Minn. “It was an honor to even be nominated. It shocked us, but in all reality we’re very appreciative,” Blake said. Blake is the overall manager of the farm, while Chicky takes care of the books while still working off the farm at a local sale barn. After graduating from college and working on another dairy as a herdsman, Tyler has returned and joined the farm in June of this year, overseeing the milking herd. Although Bret graduated from college
and works off the farm, he plans to return to the dairy full-time in the future to be in charge of the youngstock. Eric is in his rst year at Ridgewater College and also plans to return to Square
Deal Dairy to manage the crops. In addition to their family, the Ottes employ 12 people. Turn to OTTES | Page 6
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Tyler (leŌ) and Blake OƩe look over a list of cows in the their parlor. Tyler recently returned home to the farm in June and manages the milking herd.