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8 201 2019
DAIRY ST R
Volume 20, No. 20
New farm bill passes by a landslide Includes muchneeded reforms to help dairy farmers By Stacey Smart Contributing Writer
The recent passing of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, or farm bill, may bring a ray of hope to America’s dairy farmers. The legislation allocates subsidies to farmers and expands programs specically aimed to help dairy producers. The bill gives dairy operations more risk management options, makes it easier for farmers to secure loans and offers increased margin protection to compensate for low milk prices while allowing more dairy farmers to take advantage of the dairy price support. “This bill is a strong start to addressing the issues our producers are facing right now, particularly our dairy farmers,” said House Agriculture Committee ranking member Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN), in a farm bill conference report released Dec. 10. “The bill’s new provisions will offer more exible coverage for lower cost when dairy farmers need it most, and provide producers more tools to manage their risk.” The $867 billion bill replaces the Agricultural Act of 2014 which expired Sept. 30 and offers greater protection than the previous bill. “The economic downturn in farm country is hitting dairy hardest of all,” Peterson said. “In my home state of Minnesota and in neighboring Wisconsin, an average of two dairies are going out of business every day. The provisions in this bill will provide expanded, Turn to FARM BILL | Page 5
“All dairy, all the time”™
December 22, 2018
Heart-filled holidays
Holst receives long awaited transplant By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
ZUMBROTA, Minn. – This holiday season has quite literally been heart-lled for the Holst family. After waiting nearly two years, Tyler Holst received a heart transplant Sept. 24 and arrived home Nov. 20, just in time for the holidays. Tyler’s family – parents, Shane and Casey, and sister, Kelsey, 13 – are thankful they could spend this time of year together at home on their 200-cow dairy near Zumbrota, Minn. “Thanksgiving was special,” Shane said. “It was nice for everyone to be home.” Tyler was also able to be home for his 10th birthday on Nov. 25 and is looking forward to Christmas at home, too. “We’re relieved it’s done,” Casey said about the transplant. Shane agreed. “We don’t have to wait for the call or think about when we’re going to get a call,” he said. Turn to HOLST | Page 6
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Tyler Holst, pictured with his parents, Shane and Casey, received a heart transplant Sept. 24. He was able to return home Nov. 20, just in Ɵme for the holidays. The Holsts milk 200 cows on their dairy farm near Zumbrota, Minn.
Dear Mr. Trump Olson writes to president on milk price By Danna Sabolik
danna.s@dairystar.com
DANNA SABOLIK/DAIRY STAR
Hannah Olson holds the leƩer President Trump wrote her in response to her concern over current milk prices. Her parents, Carl and Heather, milk 55 cows near Hanover, Minn.
HANOVER, Minn. – Most people can say a letter penned by the president is not what awaits them in their mailbox. But, for one 12-year-old girl, a letter from President Donald Trump was awaiting her in the mailbox on her family’s dairy farm near Hanover, Minn. Hannah Olson came home from school in midSeptember with an idea for her writing class assignment. The assignment was to write a letter to a famous person about a concerning issue. Hannah decided to write a letter to President Trump about milk prices. Hannah and her family – parents, Carl and Heather, and siblings Haylie, 10, and Charlie, 4 – milk 55 cows and
farm 300 acres. With the help and advice of her parents, proofreading from her teacher, Mrs. Bohlmann, and inspiration from her favorite cow, Paris, Hannah had the ingredients she needed for a letter. The letter was sent and Hannah was satised. In late November, her teacher, Mr.Randall, gave Hannah something she never expected: a reply from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave in Washington, D.C. “She was really excited,” Heather said. “She didn’t think the president was going to write back.” In her letter, Hannah addressed issues she feels are threatening her future on the family farm. Turn to TRUMP | Page 7