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8 201 2019
DAIRY ST R “All dairy, all the time”™
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
December 22, 2018
Country boy at heart
Easter Seals FARM program keeps Krautkramer farming By Cassie Olson Contributing Writer
MARATHON CITY, Wis. – Jerome Krautkramer was meant to dairy farm. When the effects of an early-age car accident caught up to his body, however, the 65-year-old farmer knew he needed to do something if he was going to make it to retirement. Thanks to the help of Easter Seals Wisconsin, Krautkramer feels blessed to have nearly reached his goal of retirement after milking his herd of 135 cows for the last 33 years near Marathon City, Wis. At the age of 18, Krautkramer was one week away from beginning his rst semester of college when his life was changed forever. While driving into work one foggy August morning, the vehicle he was riding in was struck by a gravel truck. “There were three of us riding together into work that morning,” Krautkramer said. “Visibility was very poor, and we were t-boned by a gravel truck making a turn.” Turn to KRAUTKRAMER | Page 6
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Jerome Krautkramer has been able to dairy farm with a degeneraƟve herniated disk because of modicaƟons throughout the farm thanks to Easter Seals Wisconsin. Krautkramer milks 135 cows with his brother, Paul, on their farm near Marathon City, Wis.
Dear Mr. Trump Olson writes to president on milk prices By Danna Sabolik
danna.s@dairystar.com
DANNA SABOLIK/DAIRY STAR
Hannah Olson, daughter of Carl and Heather Olson, holds the leƩer President Trump wrote her in response to her concern over current milk prices. The Olsons 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