Looking for a good deal?
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DAIRY ST R “All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 19, No. 21
December 23, 2017
Schmitts keep Nigons have long-standing nudging milk Christmas tradition production higher Several factors contribute to 33,250-pound average By Ron Johnson
ron.j@dairystar.com
FORT ATKINSON, Iowa – Cow management at Schmitt Dairy, Inc. is a lot like a total mixed ration (TMR): Many ingredients make it successful. But there’s another kind of TMR. This one is a total management recipe. Over the years, the Schmitts have developed their own. One measure is milk production. The Schmitts’ 550-cow farm near Fort Atkinson, Iowa, has a rolling herd average of 33,250 pounds of milk, according to Glen Schmitt, the milking herd manager and a farm owner. His brother, Greg, is another owner and manages the calves, along with taking care of the payroll and bills. Some 60 plaques adorn the walls of Greg’s ofce at the front of the milking center. Many are production awards bestowed by the Winneshiek County Dairy Herd Improvement Association. The awards show that the Schmitt herd hit the 25,000-pound milestone 17 years ago. Half a dozen years later, in 2006, the 30,000-pound mark was broken. “From 2000 to 2006, we jumped 5,000 pounds (or an average of 833 pounds a year),” Glen said. Just this past April, the Schmitt herd posted a 33,000-pound average, Glen said. But he is never quite satised with the mostrecent accomplishment. “You hit one goal, you start another one. You hit that one, you start another goal. My goal was to hit 35,000,” Glen said. Glen hinted that along with milk per cow, he would also like to nudge higher the milk’s component percentages. He said the fat test is 3.95 percent and the protein is at 3.1 percent. A good point to start tracking the farm’s production increases Turn to SCHMITTS | Page 5
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
The Nigons, Kathy and Marty, have a long-standing tradiƟon of a beauƟful holiday lights display on their farm, Nigon-View Dairy, where they milk 70 cows near Greenwood, Wis.
Thousands of lights adorn Greenwood farm each year By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
GREENWOOD, Wis. – For over 25 years, to the delight of neighbors and passers-by, Kathy and Marty Nigon have been adorning their farm with thousands of twinkling Christmas lights. Nigon-View Dairy is located along Highway 73, just south of Greenwood,
Wis. in Clark County, and is where Marty and Kathy have raised their now-grown family including their son, Luke, who is now married to Amy with a son, Dylan; and sons, Tyler, Brandon and Cyrus, and daughters, Kristyn and McKayla. The Nigons milk 70 head of registered Holsteins and crop 1,000 acres. They operate a custom cropping business,
doing an additional 1,000 acres each year. They have a pumpkin patch, which Luke and Amy have taken over, and also sell colored mulch. They also make about 150 gallons of maple syrup each year. “I like the lights,” said Kathy of her yearly tradition. “They look nice and it draws attention to our farm.” Turn to LIGHTS | Page 6
RON JOHNSON/DAIRY STAR
Glen SchmiƩ manages the 550 cow milking herd at SchmiƩ Farms, near Fort Atkinson, Iowa.
Nigon-View Dairy is lit up by Christmas lights near Greenwood, Wis.
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
Page 2 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017
DAIRY ST R www.dairystar.com
ISSN 020355 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave. Sauk Centre, MN 56378 Phone: (320) 352-6303 Fax: (320) 352-5647 Published by Dairy Star LLC General Manager/Editor Mark Klaphake - mark.k@dairystar.com 320-352-6303 (ofďƒžce) 320-248-3196 (cell) 320-352-0062 (home) Ad Composition Nancy Powell 320-352-6303 nancy.p@dairystar.com Amanda Thooft 320-352-6303 amanda.t@dairystar.com Consultant Jerry Jennissen 320-346-2292 Editorial Staff Andrea Borgerding - Associate Editor (320) 352-6303 • andrea.b@dairystar.com Krista Kuzma - Assistant Editor (507) 259-8159 • krista.k@dairystar.com Jennifer Coyne - Assistant Editor (320) 352-6303 • jenn@dairystar.com Ron Johnson (608) 874-4243 ron.j@dairystar.com Ruth Klossner (507) 240-0048 cowlady@centurylink.net Brittany Olson (320) 352-6303 brittany.o@dairystar.com Danielle Nauman (715) 245-6848 danielle.n@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 - Jeff Weyer (Northern MN, East Central MN) 320-260-8505 (cell) jeff.w@dairystar.com Mark Klaphake (Western MN) 320-352-6303 (ofďƒžce) 320-248-3196 (cell) Laura Seljan (National Advertising, SE MN) 507-250-2217 fax: 507-634-4413 laura.s@dairystar.com Jerry Nelson (SW MN, NW Iowa, South Dakota) 605-690-6260 jerry.n@dairystar.com Mike Schafer (Central, South Central MN) 320-894-7825 mike.s@dairystar.com Lori Menke (Eastern Iowa, Southern WI) 563-608-6477 • lori.m@dairystar.com Megan Stuessel (Western Wisconsin) 608-387-1202 megan.s@dairystar.com Deadlines The deadline for news and advertising in the Dairy Star is 5 p.m. Friday the week before publication. Subscriptions One year subscription $35.00, outside the U.S. $110.00. Send check along with mailing address to Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378. Advertising Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an advertisement shall constitute ďƒžnal acceptance of the advertiser's order. Letters Letters and articles of opinion are welcomed. Letters must be signed and include address and phone number. We reserve the right to edit lengthy letters. The views and opinions expressed by Dairy Star columnists and writers are not necessarily those of the Dairy Star LLC.
The Dairy Star is published semi-monthly by Dairy Star, LLC, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378-1246. Periodicals Postage Paid at Sauk Centre, MN and additional mailing ofďƒžces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378-1246.
North America dealers. A glance at what’s inside
Dairy Proďƒžle brought to you by your
Theresa Hosch, from Farley, Iowa, and Martin Primus from Sauk Centre will be taking a vacation to Nashville, Tenn., in the upcoming months, courtesy of Dairy Star. The two dairy farmers were the grand prize winners in this year’s Dairy Star Great Christmas Giveaway. They received a fourday, three-night stay for two people in Nashville, Tenn. The prize package also included cash to hire a relief milker while they are away. The youth grand prize, a heifer calf, went to 11-year-old Cole Remiger from Wood Lake, Minn. Two pedal tractors were given to the two runner up youth winners By Mark Klaphake – Ella Peterson, a soon-to-be 2-year-old from Black River Falls, Wis.; and 16-year-old Kendra Schweer from Milbank, Editor S.D. Read about the winners on pages 10 in ďƒžrst section. To continue the holiday spirit, we talked to young children about Christmas and Santa in this issue’s “From our side of the fence.â€? Hear what these young dairy farm kids have to say about their favorite way to spend winter break, what they like most about Christmas and what they do to please Santa near Christmas time. Read their responses on pages 15-16 in ďƒžrst section. Like many other organizations, The Great American Milk Drive beneďƒžts from the generosity of others during the holiday season. The drive collects money in order to purchase milk to give to food banks across the country. In our story about the drive on pages 12-13 in ďƒžrst section, we highlight the ways people were giving to the organization this time of year. We also talked to the Bremer family from Hastings, Minn., who turned their holiday lights display into a way to give perishable food items to the local food shelf as well as money to go towards The Great American Milk Drive. Both the Picknell and Martin families are thankful to be back in their own milking facilities after the same tornado ripped through their dairies in May of this year and caused extensive damage. The Picknells used the structure left of their tiestall barn to build it back up and continue milking their 60 cows on their dairy near Prairie Farm, Wis. The Martins built a new freestall barn and built a facility for a used parlor to milk their 120 cows on their dairy near Conrath, Wis. Read about how they recovered from the storm on pages 5 and 9 of third section. For many in the Upper Midwest, the harvest season lasted longer than many years past. This was true for Paul and Kevin Lubich, who milk 60 cows near River Falls. They ďƒžnished their corn harvest on Dec. 14, the second latest they have ever experienced. Read on pages 6-7 in third section about what lead to a late season for the Lubichs and many others in the area.
Favorite quotes from this issue: “Whenever you hear a marketing company say, ‘Our milk is antibiotic free,’ your hair should stand on end. [‌] Misinformation such as that can aect our social license to operate for the next quarter of a century. It will take real leadership from the ag community to counter these messages.â€? - Lucas Lentsch, page 23 in ďƒžrst section
“I just thought organic was a good niche we could ďƒžt into. [‌]. If we hadn’t gotten on the organic truck when we did, I couldn’t guarantee you there’d be cows in the barn today.â€? - Erik Swiggum, pages 6-7 in second section
By the Numbers
pregnancy rate for 35: Average Emerald Spring Dairy last year. (Pages 18, 20 in First Section)
number of farms in the 506: Current Butjadingen, Wesermarsch, Germany area. (Pages 14-16, Second Section)
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Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017 • Page 3
It’s all inside... Kids: What do you enjoy about Christmas? Pages 15-16
River Falls
Prairie Farm
Third Section: Pages 6 - 7
Third Section: Pages 1, 9
2017 crop year in Wisconsin behind historical average
Eau Claire
Children Museum of Eau Claire hosts June Dairy Shyanne Hammann Month activities
Martins, Picknells rebuild after farms hit by tornado
Bayeld
Douglas
Barron,Pages Wis.14 - 15 Second Section
n Kendall Anderson
Polk
Westby, Wis.
Sawyer
Barron
Price
Kids Corner: The Charrons Third Section: Pages 14 - 15
Rusk
Barron
Taylor St. Croix
Monroe, Wis.
Buffalo
Petersburg, Iowa
Dairy Prole: Cory Lein Page 39
Westby
Cerro Hancock Gordo
Floyd
Howard
ick
Ch
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a as
Bremer
Zone 2
Black Hawk
Fayette
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For additional stories from our other zone, log on to www.dairystar.com
Second Section: Pages 6 - 7
La Crosse Monroe
Madison
Producers gather for PDPW Food and Policy Summit
Richland
Allamakee
Mitchell
Winneshiek
Worth
Swiggums nd dairy niche with organic
Jackson
Vernon
Winnebago
First Section: Page 10
Clark
Eau Claire
Pepin
Tyler Davis
Withee
Fleckvieh breed draws buyers to rst-ever sale
Chippewa
Dunn
Pierce
Dairy Recipes
THIRD SECTION Pages 2 - 3 Pieper makes homemade gifts for family during the holidays Page 12 Milk quality specialist heading home to Michigan Pages 16 - 17 Some Udder Stuff Pages 18 - 20 Dairy Calendar Pages 22 - 26 Classieds
First Section: Page 10
ur hb
Burnett
Pages 23 - 24
Kling selected for state organizations’ distinguished award Page 25 Mid-American Hay Auction results Page 26 Time for new methods of application calculation Pages 27 - 28 RFA launches tax credit among funding opportunities Pages 30 - 31
Christmas giveaway winners
Iron Ashland
Trempealeau
SECOND SECTION Pages 3, 8 Portners named Brown County Farm Family of the Year Page 4 Jamison gives insight about marketing against agricultural opposition Pages 10 - 11 The “Mielke” Market Weekly Page 12 Hay Markets Pages 14 - 16 Dairying Around the World Pages 18 - 19 Byer continues wrestling, chores in farm accident’s wake
FROM OUR SIDE OF THE FENCE:
W as
FIRST SECTION Pages 1, 6 Nigons have long-standing Christmas tradition Pages 8-9 Ag Insider Page 11 2016 data provides benchmarks for farmers Pages 12 - 13 National campaign enourages consumption, pushes product Pages 18, 20 Double Ovsynch helps boost Emerald Spring Dairy’s repro program Pages 22 In appreciation for dairy farmers’ contributions in 2017 Page 23 Engaging with consumers Page 25 Midwest Dairy conducts rst local dairy board seminar Page 26 FSA News & Notes Page 27 The Transition Pen Page 28 Rural Roots Page 29 Making manure work for you Page 30 Ramblings from the Ridge Page 31 A Little Bit of Sunshine Page 32 Just Thinking Out Loud Page 33 Dairy Good Life Page 34 Something to Ruminate On Pages 35, 37 Scherbers install automated feeding system as part of expansion Page 36 Women in Jeans: Kristin Solum
Second Section: Page 20
ford
Craw
Iowa
Dane
Grant Clayton
la De
w
Linn
are
Lafayette Dubuque
Jones
Green
Fort Atkinson
Schmitts keep nudging milk production higher First Section: Pages 1, 5
Jackson
West Union
Dairy’s Star Youth: Megan Kueker Third Section: Page 13
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Page 4 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017
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Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017 • Page 5
ConƟnued from SCHMITTS | Page 1
PHOTO PROVIDED
Many factors go into the SchmiƩs’ conƟnually rising milk producƟon. Some, like more freestall barns and bunker silos, are visible in this aerial photograph. and the ingredients that go into them is 1994. The original farmland had been in the Schmitt family 78 years by then. Glen’s great-great grandfather bought the rst quarter-section in 1916. In 1977, Glen and Greg’s father built a freestall barn and milking parlor and expanded the herd to 120 cows. The 1994 project included a double-12 milking parlor and a freestall barn to accommodate 500 cows. That rst freestall barn brought sand bedding. “When we built the milking cow facility, we went right to sand,” Glen said. “The cows enjoy being comfortable when they lay down.” Sandbedded stalls provide cushy lying areas that promote cow resting and milk production, Glen said. But if the stalls are kept clean, they don’t provide a good environment for bacteria, like the kind that cause mastitis, to grow. A second ingredient in the Schmitts’ success is solid genetics. Glen said the herd has been bred using A.I. since at least the late 1970s. It was in 1980 that the Schmitts started using another tool that aided milk production. They bought a stationary mixer so they could feed a TMR. That machine has long since been replaced by a pull-type mixer, but the results are the same: Ration ingredients are carefully measured and blended, making sure the cows get the nutrients they need to ll the bulk tank. The fourth ingredient in their total management recipe is the use of a nutritionist to ne tune rations. Schmitt Dairy has seen the value in using the services of a professional nutritionist for close to 30 years, Glen said. “It takes away one headache,” he said. “And the nutritionist can ne tune everything to the gram to get the cows milking.” Having a nutritionist on the team frees Glen up for day-to-day management like making sure the parlor functions smoothly and snow gets removed. The Schmitts have used bovine somatotropin (BST) since 1993, but will be discontinued at the end of the year. “We’ll see how our production does when it’s no longer allowed,” Glen said. “We might have to see if we can get the nutrition a little better and work on cow comfort a little more.” Another key ingredient to the herd’s performance is milking three times a day for the past 20 years. “It increased milk production about 20 percent. Getting milked more times is easier on their udders, and the cows eat more,” Glen said.
Making better feed, including forages, has also helped. “You go to enough meetings and you nd out how to improve,” Glen said. “We try to chop for silage a little bit sooner (when plant quality is the highest.)” Having enough employees on board is yet another important ingredient. Schmitt Dairy has eight full-time employees and 11 part-time, including herdsman Gordon Dornink. A relatively new ingredient in the Schmitts’ management recipe is brown midrib corn. They planted a small amount of the more-digestible corn in 2015, liked the results and planted more the next year. “We saw a real good increase in milk production,” Glen said. “Within a week’s time, it increased six to 10 pounds a day. When we ran out of that silage, it dropped about ve pounds.” More acreage to brown midrib corn is planned in 2018. The seed costs more, but Glen gures the extra milk that results more than covers the higher price. Asked about the best management tool the farm has invested in, Glen said it was the new milking parlor. With two people, each milking takes about six hours. The parlor is showing its age and needs renovating or replacing in the near future. Another project might include enlarging the stalls in the milking cow barn. While doing so would boost cow comfort, it would also lower the barn’s capacity, Glen said. The stalls are four feet wide and seven feet long. But the useable lying space is only six feet long. “The cows have gotten bigger over the years,” Glen said. “We don’t have any moose, just hard producers. We have sold some that weighed 1,700 and 1,800 pounds. We haven’t had any ton animals lately, though.” From that original 160 acres, the Schmitt farm has grown to 1,400 acres of cropland. Its crops are corn for silage, alfalfa for haylage, oats for oatlage, sometimes soybeans and a cover crop of rye that’s chopped in the spring. Eight bunker silos store much of the feed. As far as adding cows, Glen doesn’t see that happening. “I don’t think we’ll expand any larger,” he said. “When we built the facility in ’94, we had an option to put in another freestall barn that would hold 250 cows. But 500 was enough of a headache. We decided to increase percow production instead.”
The Christmas season is a time to sow the seeds of peace and joy. May your harvest be bountiful this year and the years to come.
320-836-2145 or 800-450-2145
Check out our newly redesigned website to ½nd a Famo Feeds dealer near you!
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+ The Great Christmas DAIRY ST T R
G I V E A W A Y 2017
Congratulations to our Great Christmas Giveaway winners! GRAND PRIZE TRIP FOR 2 TO NASHVILLE Martin Primus, Sauk Centre, Minn.
He registered at Genex Farm Systems in Melrose, Minn.
GRAND PRIZE TRIP FOR 2 TO NASHVILLE Theresa Hosch, Farley, Iowa.
She registered at Eastern Iowa Dairy Systems in Epworth, Iowa.
HEIFER CALF, NEWALTA LIGHT MY FIRE 9945
Cole Remiger, son of Pat and Becky Remiger, Wood Lake, Minn. He registered at Equity Elevator in Wood Lake, Minn.
PEDAL TRACTOR
Kendra Schweer, daughter of Richard Schweer, Milbank, S.D. She registered at Valley Dairy Supply on Corona, SD
PEDAL TRACTOR
Ella Peterson, daughter of Derek Peterson, Black River Falls, Wis. She registered at Equity Livestock in Sparta, Wis.
Visit www.dairystar.com to watch videos of the winners!
Page 6 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017
ConƟnued from LIGHTS | Page 1
Willmar, MN • 320.231.1470
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Bring Home the Feeling of Christmas
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
This NaƟvity scene is a relaƟvely new addiƟon to the Nigon’s Christmas lights display, and is one of Kathy’s favorites, reminding people of the reason to celebrate. The lighting tradition started simple, with lights along the white fence facing the road. “It’s grown a little each year,” Kathy said. “As I’ve been able to, I’ve added more lights. It’s like a hobby, or maybe a sickness, I guess.” Marty smiled, thinking of all the time spent decorating the farm. “I call it her passion,” he said. “She enjoys doing it. I help with it, but it’s her baby.” Kathy has no idea how many lights go into the display around the farm. “I’ve never counted how many strings we use,” Kathy said. “Our big tree has at least 20 strings on it alone.” Both Kathy and Marty agree the pride and joy of their light display is the 30-foot Colorado Blue Spruce on the north end of their yard. “It’s a beautiful tree, denitely the highlight of the farm,” said Marty. “We gure it’s growing about three feet a year. Luke is a forester, and when it was little he shaped it every year.” Decorating a tree of that size is not a simple task and requires at least four people. The Nigons use two bucket
loader tractors to string the lights on their tree. “Luke and I were each in a bucket, and we each had a 12-foot stick with a ‘Y’ on the end,” Kathy said. “We use those to string the lights around the tree. It’s probably not exactly OSHA approved.” This year, different from past years, they started stringing lights on the tree at dusk. “That actually made it much easier,” Kathy said. “You could tell better where the lights needed to go. They are maybe more even than they have been other years.” As with most family projects, there are certain stories that will stick in their memories. The Nigons had one of those memories this year. “I felt like Clark Griswald,” Marty said. “We put the lights on the tree the Sunday it was warm (Dec. 3), then it rained on Monday. When she went to plug in the lights on Monday, they were sparking and blowing breakers.” Kathy wondered if she’d added Turn to LIGHTS | Page 7
May the spirit of Christmas fill your home with peace joy and contentment. Our thanks and best wishes for a happy holiday reside with you our customers and friends.
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DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
Another favorite part of the Nigons’s light display is this anƟque sled that belonged to a neighbor who has passed away. Each year the Nigons decorate the sleigh in remembrance of their friend.
Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017 • Page 7
ConƟnued from LIGHTS | Page 6 enough lights that she’d hit the point of overloading their electrical system. They discovered, however, that one cord had gotten moisture in the outlet, causing it to short out, burning the end. Once that was replaced, everything worked like clockwork. “I use cords with multiple ends. Usually I put plastic Zip-Lock bags over the ends of the extension cords to keep the moisture out, but I hadn’t gotten that done before it rained that day,” Kathy said. Another highlight is the lights and wreath placed on the large arch over the driveway. “That’s a ve-foot wreath,” Marty said. “We’ve actually got a bracket up there for the wreath, that’s a lot safer than it used to be.” Kathy said one of her newest additions is her favorite
part of the display. “I’ve only had it for about ve years, but I love my nativity scene,” Kathy said. “I want people to remember why we celebrate Christmas.” A sentimental touch for the Nigon family is an old sleigh that belonged to a neighbor who has passed away. They were given the sleigh, and each year they light and decorate the sleigh in remembrance of their friend. Typically, Kathy doesn’t start putting her lights up until after Thanksgiving, and the task takes her about two to three weeks. The extent of the lights often depends on the weather. “I don’t do it all at once. I work on it until I’m tired of it,” Kathy said. “If it’s cold, I maybe don’t put as many up. This year I might have went a
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
A 5-foot wreath encircles the Holstein cow on the arch over the Nigon’s driveway.
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
The fences are decorated in white lights, while the trees have mulƟ-colored lights, as part of Kathy Nigon’s lighƟng theme. little overboard because it was nice out.” Kathy likes to keep her lights simple and tasteful, and each year varies. “I don’t want it to look gaudy and have too much, but I like lights,” Kathy said. “I have a theme I keep to: the barns are done with red and green lights, the house has blue and white lights, the fences are all done in white and the trees are multicolored.” Most of the lights are now LEDs. “I’ve gotten rid of most of the old lights,” Kathy said. “The LEDs cost more, but they
last longer.” Kathy leaves the lights up until mid-January, and then works on taking them down on nice days, labeling everything as she puts it away so it’s ready for next year. “Wrapping the lights up the right way is really important so they go on easy next year,” Marty said. Most years, the lights go up and down without incidence. Aside from this year’s Griswold-like experience, the only other time the Nigons have had an issue was when their heifers decided to pull the lights off a fence.
“We learned from that not to put them out in that lot while the lights are up,” Kathy said. The Nigons’ neighbors show appreciation for their work. Neighbors have nominated them for Greenwood’s Christmas light contest again this year. The farm has been entered by neighbors several other times, and the Nigons have received top-placings. “We’re proud of our farm,” Kathy said. “This is a way to make it look nice. People seem to look forward to seeing it all lit up, and we get a lot of compliments on it.”
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Front Row (L to R): Shelly DePestel, Kristine Spadgenske, Marianne Peterson, Cassie Monger, Tom Sedgeman. Back Row (L to R): Dave Buck, Garrett Luthens, Pat Lunemann, Rick Smith, Rod Schultz, Bob Dombeck, Michael White. Not Pictured: Aaron Vogt, Kindra Carlson
Page 8 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017
MPP changes expected, but Peterson not optimistic
Minnesota Congressman Collin Peterson, who is the House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member, expects the Margin Protection Program will be revised to increase margin coverage and lower the cost. While tweaks will likely be made to MPP, Peterson is not optimistic about its success. “Frankly, I think that program has been so poisoned that people won’t buy it no matter what we do,� said Peterson.
Insurance product sought for dairy farmers There is consensus in Congress to make changes in the dairy program in the next farm bill. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Ranking Member Collin Peterson is looking for a change in USDA classiďƒžcation. “Right now milk is classiďƒžed as livestock, which obviously, it is not,â€? said Peterson. “If they would just make a change in classiďƒžcation, we could develop a crop insurance product under Risk
Management Agency authorization.� In this case, funds for the dairy insurance program would come out of the Commodity Credit Corporation. Peterson would like to see this dairy insurance program sold through crop insurance agents and not the government.
February or March. The Senate is moving at a slower pace. Peterson said there are Senate Democrats who want to drag their feet with hopes they will have the majority in 2019. Peterson described that as a really bad idea.
Peterson: Farm Bill timeline After the tax bill, House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson expects congressional leaders to look for a bill that can draw bipartisan support. In Peterson’s words, the farm bill would be the perfect legislation to tee-up next. “I had a meeting with the Chairman (Conaway). We agreed that we’re going to start marking this up in committee at the end of January or the ďƒžrst part of February. We need to move this sooner rather than later. After the farm bill moves through the Agriculture Committee, Peterson believes it will hit the House ďƒ&#x;oor in
USDA adjusts milk supply estimate In the supply/demand report, USDA lowered its milk production totals. Milk production was lowered for 2017 with slower growth in the amount of milk produced on a per-cow basis. That trend is expected to continue into 2018. By Don Wick USDA lowered its 2017 Columnist price forecast for cheese, butter and nonfat dry milk. With the lower product values, the Class III milk price forecast was also lowered.
Happy Holidays!
Little progress made, but Perdue not surprised Trade negotiators from the United States, Canada and Mexico were in Washington, D.C. this month for the latest round of NAFTA meetings. Little progress has been seen so far, but Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue is not surprised. “I think trade negotiations are a little bit like the way I do Christmas: I do my shopping on Dec. 24. That’s typically when these negotiations get done. Everyone works better with a Turn to AG INSIDER | Page 9
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Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017 • Page 9
ConƟnued from AG INSIDER | Page 8 timeline when it comes to negotiation.” Agricultural interests have been worried about the trade talks, especially with threats of withdrawal. “There will be anxious moments for agricultural producers across the country. At the end of the day, I think we’ll get an agreement over NAFTA.” NAFTA is good for dairy farmers Agriculture is concerned about the NAFTA negotiations. “I think many of us in the ag sector are starting to worry the administration is focused on things we make and exporting that, as opposed to things we produce,” said Jackie Klippenstein, senior vice president of industry and legislative affairs, Dairy Farmers of America. “We’re making sure we’re not lost in the shufe.” While there have been trade issues with Canada over its dairy policy Klippenstein said NAFTA has still been very good for dairy. “This is denitely a situation where we don’t want to throw the baby out with the bath water. NAFTA partners are critical to U.S. dairy. While we do have challenges with Canada’s dairy policy overall, the partnership has been good for U.S. dairy.” Competing for export markets A new CoBank report is forecasting aggressive competition for emerging global dairy markets. Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia are seen as developing markets for dairy products. CoBank economist Ben Laine believes the European Union has a head start in its ability to respond to this demand. Laine said the United States can compete for this new demand, but it must innovate and adopt a global focus. Massachusetts animal Housing Law is challenged The attorneys general from 12 states have led a lawsuit in the Supreme Court challenging a Massachusetts law. In 2016, voters in Massachusetts approved a ballot measure that banned the connement of farm animals and restricted the sale of animal products that were produced in connement. This would include the regulation of calf hutches. The attorneys argue any effort to regulate farming practices in other states violates the commerce clause in the U.S. Constitution.
Land O’Lakes promotes Ford, Oelmann Land O’Lakes has promoted Beth Ford and Brad Oelmann. Ford has been named the chief operating ofcer for Land O’Lakes Businesses. Her role expands to include responsibility for the WinField United business. Ford will continue to oversee the Purina Animal Nutrition and Land O’Lakes Dairy Foods businesses. Oelmann will take over as chief operating ofcer for Land O’Lakes Services. Oelmann was named executive vice president for member relations earlier this year. In addition to Member Services and Business Development, Oelmann will now have responsibility for SUSTAIN, Crop Nutrients, FLM Harvest and Government Relations. Pepin County Fair tradition will not continue The Pepin County Fair has been held every year since 1877, but won’t be held in 2018 and beyond. Due to a lack of volunteers and youth exhibitors, the fair board made the difcult decision to end the county fair. Pepin County youth have been invited to participate in the Buffalo County Fair. Plan to attend reunion Alumni of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Farm and Industry Shortcourse are invited to participate in the program’s annual reunion. Farm broadcaster Pam Jahnke will be the featured speaker for this year’s event, which will be held Jan. 27 in Madison. Registration can be done online at www.walsaa.org. Trivia challenge There are 206 bones in the human body. That answers our last trivia question. For this week, what is the normal temperature for an adult cow? We’ll 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 ve grandchildren, Aiden, Piper, Adrienne, Aurora and Sterling.
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Page 10 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017
Christmas giveaway winners announced
Hosch, Primus win trips to Nashville, Remiger wins calf By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
FARLEY, Iowa – Excited is how Theresa Hosch explained how she felt after she was told she won a trip to Nashville. “I think I might have blacked out,” Hosch said, laughing about what was going through her mind the moment she heard the news. “I was screaming and jumping up and down.” Hosch is one of the grand prize winners in Dairy Star’s Great Christmas Giveaway. Two dairy farmers – Hosch, from Farley, Iowa; and Martin Primus from Sauk Centre, Minn. – received a four-day, three-night stay for two people in Nashville, Tenn., along with cash to pay a relief milker while they are away. In the youth division of the giveaway, Cole Remiger from Wood Lake, Minn., won the grand prize of a heifer calf, Newalta Light My Fire 9945, from Newalta Dairy in Pipestone, Minn. Dairy Star also gave away two pedal tractors to two other winners – Ella Peterson of Black River Falls, Wis., and Kendra Schweer of Milbank, S.D. Nashville trip winners Going to Nashville has been a bucket list item for Hosch and her husband, Joe, who milk 75 cows near Farley, Iowa. Now, they have the opportunity to fulll that wish as one of the two grand prize winners in this year’s Dairy Star Christmas Giveaway. “We are big country music fans. It’s the only thing we listen to unless it’s oldies,” Hosch said. The Hosches try to take at least one overnight trip each year, usually around their anniversary. “When you’re dairy farming it doesn’t happen all that often,” Hosch said about vacations. “I always tell Joe, ‘I don’t care where we go. You could take me to the next town over to us, as long as the alarm does not go off to milk cows.” Hosch entered the contest at Eastern Iowa Dairy Systems in Epworth, Iowa. “I went up there to pay our bill. … I saw the box sitting there and I decided to sign up. Karen, my friend and the secretary, snickered and laughed at me as I put my name in. I just said you never know and it doesn’t hurt to try,” Hosch said. Because of that, Hosch’s name was drawn and will be on her way to Nashville. The couple hopes to travel to Music City in February. “I’ve been Googling everything under the sun since I found out,” Hosch said about what she wants to do when she gets there. So far, the Hosches would like to go on a pedal bar, take a guided tour of Nashville, visit Tootie’s Orchid Lounge and go to Alan Jackson’s bar. “But I’m not fussy. I’ll do whatever Joe wants to do,” she said. While they are away, Joe’s brother, along with their son, Dillon, who farms with them part time and also has a fulltime off-the-farm job, will do the chores. The Hosches also have two daughters, Rachael and Hannah. “We could not have done what we did farming if not for our children,” Hosch said. The other winning couple, Martin Primus, and his wife, Georgi, are still trying to wrap their head around the fact
JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR
Georgi and MarƟn Primus accept their prize from Dairy Star’s Great Christmas Giveaway. The couple milks 45 cows near Sauk Centre, Minn. that they won. “I was waiting in line [at Genex Farm Systems in Melrose, Minn.] and just threw my name in there. I thought I was signing up for a heifer,” said Martin, who milks 45 cows near Sauk Centre. But he won a trip to Nashville instead. “Now I have to get someone to do chores. It’s a lot of work to get that all done,” Martin said. Georgi is excited for her husband and is working on getting him prepared. But she knows how hard it is to leave the farm in someone else’s hands. “I think he’s onboard with trying to be excited, but he’s a tough one sometimes. He likes his home life. He likes the farm and hates to be away. He’s a one-man rodeo when it comes to milking,” she said. Although the Primuses nd time to get away, usually it is because of something related to the farm. “Marty’s idea is you can’t really take a vacation unless you can write it off. If there isn’t a farm meeting or something to that affect, then we don’t usually do it,” Georgi said. That’s why Georgi is looking forward to the pending vacation with her husband – the rst non-agriculture related trip they have taken away from the farm since the last time they visited Nashville 23 years ago. “This is a great Christmas present from me to Georgi,” Martin said with a laugh. Heifer calf winner Cole Remiger had a surprise waiting for him when he arrived home from school on Dec. 14. The 11-year-old fth grader came home to Newalta Light My Fire 9945, the grand prize in the youth division of the Dairy Star Christmas Giveaway he had won. Cole is the son of Pat and Becky, who milk 140 cows on their dairy near Wood Lake, Minn. “I wanted to keep it a secret until [Cole] saw the calf so I told him we had to go out and see baby kittens I had found. We went out there and I said, ‘Oops, I guess it was a calf I found,’” Pat said about the way he told his son he had won. “It’s something you never think is going to happen. We’ve signed up every year for years.” Cole said he was really surprised. “We don’t really get real showing heifers so she looks really nice,” he said. “We put her with the rest of the older calves. My dad takes care of them. She’s been eating very well. She looks more like a show calf than the rest of them.” This is the rst calf Cole has owned himself, and the rst registered animal on their farm. Next summer, Cole plans
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Theresa and Joe Hosch (center) are congratulated by Jim Siegert (leŌ) and Wayne Meyer, of Eastern Iowa Dairy Systems, for their trip to Nashville through the Christmas Giveaway contest. The Hosches milk 75 cows near Farley, Iowa.
JERRY NELSON/DAIRY STAR
Cole Remiger (second from leŌ) accepts his heifer calf prize as part of Dairy Star’s Christmas Giveaway Dec. 14. He is surrounded by family – brother Tate, and parents, Becky and Pat, and grandparents, Steve and Jane. to show his prize calf at the Yellow Medicine County Fair, where he has been showing dairy animals in 4-H for the past four years. “In the past, we always started [halter training animals] two weeks before the fair [in August], but that doesn’t always go well,” he said. “I plan to start in the spring this year.” Until then, Cole will continue to help on the farm feeding calves, milking cows and bringing the milking herd up to the double-6 parlor. Pedal tractor winners In addition to the Christmas and birthday presents Ella Peterson will receive on Dec. 25 to celebrate the holiday and her second birthday, she will also be able to play with her new pedal tractor she won through the Dairy Star Christmas Giveaway. The nearly 2-year-old is the daughter of Derek and Marcie Peterson who milk 80 cows near Black River Falls, Wis. “She likes riding in the tractor, but really loves the cows and calves,” Derek said. Although the family has an older pedal tractor, it has had its use from Ella’s three older brothers, Cooper, 13, Briar, 9, and Tucker, 6. “She’ll love it,” Derek said about the new toy. Kendra Schweer is the other winner of a pedal tractor. The 16-year-old daughter of Richard and Michelle, likes doing chores on her family’s 41-cow
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Ella Peterson takes a ride on the pedal tractor she won in Dairy Star’s Great Christmas Giveaway. She is the daughter of Derek and Marcie Peterson, who milk 80 cows near Black River Falls, Wis. dairy near Milbank, S.D. She does everything from feeding bottle calves and feeding cows to milking and any other chores that need to be done. She is also involved in showing dairy animals in 4-H and is a part of the dairy judging team in FFA. Although she is only a junior in high school, Schweer knows her future path. After graduating from Milbank High School, she would like to study agronomy or agriculture education.
How does your farm compare? 2016 data provides benchmarks for farmers By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
RED WING, Minn. – As the dairy industry enters what is expected to be another challenging year, there are farms that have turned a prot in the last 24 months and could do the same in 2018. In looking at data from dairy herds across the state, Nate Converse and his colleagues at the Center for Agriculture Excellence nd opportunities and strengths in every farm structure. During the Minnesota Milk Dairy Conference and Expo Nov. 29, Converse presented data from nearly 400 dairy herds as part of the Farm Business Management system in 2016 in his presentation, “Can You Make as much as Your Neighbors?” Data for the past year will not be available until March 2018. “I look at benchmarking as a way to dene numbers on the farm and do some evaluation,” said Converse, a farm business management instructor with Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. “For me, I look at it as a tool to compare it to our peers and see where that farm ranks.” Of the farms that participated in the 2016 data summary, they were divided into groups of protability – low-income of 77 farms and an average herd size of 162; mid-income of 77 farms and an average herd size of 174; and high-income of 78 farms with an average herd size of 260. The average of all farms (388) was also recorded, with the average herd size being roughly 200 cows. Converse did note the income groups contained herds of all sizes, but the means were used to put a well-rounded value on the data entries and hypothesize about Minnesota’s industry structure. “In 2009, on average, we lost money on cows. In theory, the more cows we had, the worse we did,” Converse said. “However, in every other year, we see those larger farms show protability – but not excessive protability.” The trend was proven true in the 2016 data with the average of all farms surveyed capturing a net return of $108.61 per cow, but the high-income group showing a net return of $577.31. “From 1997 to 2008, the average net returns were about $500 per cow,” Converse said. “Since then, we’ve been incredibly variable in terms of return per cow. It’s a lot more risky at this point in the game than what it was back then.” When determining protability from individual cows or on a production per hundredweight (cwt.) basis, there are several components to look at in calculating a net return – feed costs, and direct and overhead expenses, as well as gross margin. In reviewing feed costs per cwt. of milk, the average cost of the collected data was $7.72, with the mid-income noting $7.76 but the high-income group performing at $7.17. Then, in adding direct costs on a per unit basis, such as breeding, veterinary supplies and other costs associated with cow health and management, averaging $12.19 for the entire dataset, $12 for the mid-income group and $10.84 for the high-income group, the high-income group continuously shows fewer costs
when compared to the other groups of farms. “The high-income farms are a little more efcient in their cost structure,” Converse said. When farms were evaluated on overhead expenses – such as utilities, building leases and real estate taxes – in addition to direct costs, the high-income group reported $14.20, the mid-income group noted $14.65 and the average was $14.87. “Another thing we need to look at is gross margin, which includes milk sales, bull calf sales, government payments … any other income stream that comes in,” said Converse, noting that the net cost of replacement heifers is included. In this scenario, the gross margin of the high-income group was $16.41, while the mid-income group was at $14.88. The average was listed at $15.31. “This is where you see the big difference,” Converse said. “The high-income farms are maintaining more gross margin.” The net return of high-income farms in 2016 was $2.21, $1.98 more than midincome farms. In this particular dataset, $0.45 of the difference came from expenses and then the remainder was a part of gross margin. Converse also shared another dataset of 407 farms, but data was grouped based on farm size rather than income level. In 2016, there were 30 farms in the 500-cow range; 73 farms with 201-500 cows; 115 farms with 101-200 cows; 143 farms with 51-100 cows; and 46 farms with fewer than 50 cows. Feed costs, as well as direct and overhead expenses, are shown with a steady decline as the farms grew larger. Gross margin showed a similar trend. Overall, net return, including labor and management costs, was -$345.04 for herds with fewer than 50 cows; -$163.33 for herds with 51-100 cows; -$54.84 for herds with 101-200 cows; -$129.56 for herds with 201-500 cows; and $66.55 for herds with more than 500 cows. “Large herds are getting the advantage of scale,” Converse said. “Especially when we look at labor, in terms of the 200-500-cow range, we still have the cost structure as the other herd sizes, but we’re not quite as efcient as the larger herds.” Lastly, Converse briey evaluated farms in 2016 based on management structure – robotic, non-robotic traditional including 3X milking, non-robotic traditional excluding 3X milking, organic, and herds in the Dairy Initiative program. Reviewing net returns, all of the farms averaged $136.99 per cow; -$119.92 per cow for robotic dairies; $129.66 for non-robotic traditional dairies excluding 3X milking; $65.78 for non-robotic traditional dairies including 3X milking; $1,680.45 for organic dairies; and $184.88 for those in the state program. “For whatever reason, last year robotic herds received about $1 less per cwt. than non-robotic herds. That is why the net return came in negative,” Converse said. “If we corrected that, [the net return] would come in similar to the other farms. Other than that, the cost structure is relatively the same.” As farmers prepare for 2018, Converse encourages each farm to evaluate their own expenses and compare to other farms in similar structures using FINBIN. “We can look at benchmark reports, drill this data down, and use this as a tool to identify potential problems as we get into next year,” Converse said.
Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017 • Page 11
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Page 12 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017
A closer look
Industry news addressed with help from your neighbors
Servings of milk for all
by Jennifer Coyne
National campaign enourages consumption, pushes product HASTINGS, Minn. – Children and their parents arrived at Sara Bremer’s family’s dairy farm Dec. 9 with envelopes in hand. As the visitors made their way through a magnicent light display, they were encouraged to donate whatever they could to The Great American Milk Drive. “By the end of the night, the milk can was full of envelopes and change from kids and their families,” Bremer said. For the past 12 years, Bremer and her family – grandparents, Roy and Karen; parents, John and Janet; and brother, Mike – have decorated their 130-cow dairy farm near Hasting, Minn., with lights and Christmas displays for the public to enjoy. Last year, Bremer enhanced the experience by asking community members to contribute to the milk campaign for others in need. “Hastings is naturally a give-back community,” Bremer said. “There are events every month that support the local food shelf. I wanted to extend that giving to a larger area.” Every year, families and children across the nation seek wholesome
PHOTO SUBMITTED
A milk can full of monetary donaƟons is surrounded by non-perishable food donaƟons at Sara Bremer’s dairy farm near HasƟngs, Minn. The monetary donaƟons will be put towards The Great American Milk Drive. food options to ll their nutrient needs through food banks and shelves. While dry goods can be in abundance, milk is seldom offered because of its perishable quality. “On average, clients receive the equivalent of less than one gallon per person, per year,” said Victor Zaborsky, vice president of marketing
at Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP). “Even though milk is one of the most requested items at food banks, it’s also one of the least donated.” Three years ago, Zaborsky and his colleagues joined dairy farmers and milk brands in collaboration with the nation’s largest hunger-relief network, Feeding America, in a two-part effort
– to provide families with the essential nutrients milk offers, as well as further distribute product through consumers. The partnership became known as The Great American Milk Drive. “The goal of this unique program is to deliver highly-desired gallons of milk to the children and families who need it most, while also doing good for the industry,” Zaborsky said. “Together, the dairy industry has made solving hunger in its communities a core and collaborative mission.” Through its partnership with Feeding America – which serves more than 46 million Americans, including 12 million children – the program has donated more than 1.4 million gallons of milk, which is the equivalent of more than 22 million individual servings of milk, to local food banks. Within the Midwest, the campaign has delivered more than 2 million servings of milk to food banks that serve Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota, according to Zaborsky. “The Great American Milk Drive makes an impact, not only providing milk to our food banks across the nation, but also driving sales at retail,” Zaborsky said. “These are signicant milestones, and ones that we, as an industry, are proud to celebrate.” Throughout the Christmas season, Turn to MILK | Page 13
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Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017 • Page 13
ConĆ&#x;nued from MILK | Page 12 the milk campaign worked with large retailers, CVS Health and Walmart, and food brands, OREO and M&M’s, to capitalize on the purchasing trends present during the holidays. From Dec. 10-17, consumers earned more CVS Health points when they purchased one gallon of milk with two packages of OREO cookies. In addition to this promotion, the two brands donated $25,000 to the milk campaign. Additionally, Walmart teamed up with M&M’s for a promotion that runs through Christmas Day, Dec. 25. In more than 2,000 locations across the nation,
“Even when it’s not December, we need to be thinking about what we can do to get people excited about donating milk.â€? Čƒ SARA BREMER, DAIRY FARMER
when consumers purchase M&M’s, milk is donated to the local Feeding America food bank on behalf of The Great American Milk Drive. Through the end of December, consumers can purchase a Cheryl’s Great American Milk Drive Cookie Gift, with 15 percent of the proceeds going towards the milk campaign. Bremer also encouraged those who visited her family’s farm to donate online. “Last year, I spoke with the community and explained how the campaign could help other families in the Midwest,� Bremer said. “By going online, people can choose where their donations go.� As Bremer’s farm quickly became a holiday attraction over the years, she worked with Midwest Dairy Association to provide materials, such as coloring books and dairy promotion items, to all visitors. “That was actually how I found out about
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contributing to The Great American Milk Drive,â€? Bremer said. “From there, I worked with local radio stations and newspapers to get the word out. “People always think about donating, but they don’t think about donating milk to families in need,â€? Bremer said. “There are so many beneďƒžts to getting people real milk.â€? Bremer is a middle school teacher and also helps with calf chores and evening milking on the farm. With nearly 200 people attending Bremer’s family event last year, she collected $400 for the milk campaign, in addition to tables-full of non-perishable items. This year, attendance was more than double that of 2016, and Bremer expects a greater value of monetary donations to the campaign, although, the value was not available at the time of print. Bremer’s efforts are an example of how the dairying community can help provide milk to families in need, as well as further distribute their product. “Dairy farmers have an incredible opportunity to raise awareness for the [Great American Milk Drive] and share with others how they can donate,â€? said Patrick Geoghegan, senior vice president of industry relations and marketing at the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. “Farmers are producing highquality milk, more than ever before, so we are very proud that it can go back in to the community.â€? Geoghegan noted that in Wisconsin, dairy farmers have donated 411,380 servings of milk to The Great American Milk Drive. While dairy promotions run high during the winter months, the milk campaign is operable year-round as consumers can make donations at their grocery store checkout counter or online at milklife.com/give. Furthermore, dairy farmers are encouraged to work with MilkPEP in obtaining promotional materials that can be used for local marketing, community events and social media to help spread awareness of the campaign. “It’s been really fun,â€? said Bremer of her campaign efforts. “Even when it’s not December, we need to be thinking about what we can do to get people excited about donating milk.â€?
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Page 14 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017
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Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017 • Page 15
Kids: What do you enjoy about Christmas?
Eli Rinde 7 years old Jeff and Lindsey Rinde Browerville, Minn. Todd County 230 cows How do you help on the farm? I help scrape barns and get the cows to the parlor. Tell us about your favorite animal. Hank is our big black and white cat. He is nice and calm. What do you enjoy most about Christmas? That every year we go to Hawley, Minn., for Christmas and stay in a hotel that night. I also like the presents. What is your favorite thing to do during the Christmas break? Go to the farm with Dad and to help Mom at home. What are some good things you try to do around Christmas to please Santa? I try to be good, to help Mom and Dad, and thank Santa for the presents. If you could ride with Santa on his sleigh, where would you want to go and what song would you sing on the way there? Antarctica because there are polar bears and orcas, and I like them. I would sing, “Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas.” What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be a farmer with my Dad. Shyanne Hammann 6 years old Scot and Becky Hammann Barron, Wis. Barron County 66 cows
brother with their chores.
How do you help on the farm? I take care of the rabbits and sometimes help Mama milk. I also help my sisters and
Tell us about your favorite animal. My favorite animal is my cow, Nicki. She is a Jersey. What do you enjoy most about Christmas? Getting presents. What is your favorite thing to do during the Christmas break? I like to play outside. If my brother gets a snowball maker from Santa, it will be easier to have snowball ghts. What are some good things you try to do around Christmas to please Santa? I help Mama and be nice to other people. If you could ride with Santa on his sleigh, where would you want to go and what song would you sing on the way there? I would go to my Aunt Erin’s house in Alaska (where she’s stationed with the Air Force). We would sing “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.” What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be a farmer because my daddy’s a farmer.
Ethan Hartung 9 years old Randy and Amanda Freeport, Minn. Stearns County 76 cows How do you help on the farm? After school, I help feed cows. I like to drive the skid loader and help milk cows. Tell us about your favorite animal. My favorite animal is a cow. It is fun to milk cows. They give us milk so we can have cheese. What do you enjoy most about Christmas? I enjoy getting presents the most. What is your favorite thing to do during the Christmas break? My favorite thing to do is go sledding with the four-wheeler. What are some good things you try to do around Christmas to please Santa? I try to be good. If you could ride with Santa on his sleigh, where would you want to go and what song would you sing on the way there? I would sing “Over the River and through the Woods” on my way to my best friend’s house. What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be a farmer.
Tyler Davis 6 years old Carrie Ritschard and Jeremy Davis Monroe, Wis. Green County 80 cows How do you help on the farm? I help by feeding calves and feeding cows grain and hay. Tell us about your favorite animal. My favorite animal is my dog, Abby. She is black with white paws and loves to play with me. What do you enjoy most about Christmas? Presents. What is your favorite thing to do during the Christmas break? I like playing on my iPad, and with my farm toys and tractors. What are some good things you try to do around Christmas to please Santa? I help Mom so Santa brings me more presents. If you could ride with Santa on his sleigh where would you want to go and what song would you sing on the way there? I’d go to the North Pole and sing “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree.” What do you want to be when you grow up? A teacher.
Ava, 10, Ivy, 6, and Ela, 8, holding Liv, Hebgen Nicki and Adam Hebgen Deforest, Wis. Columbia County Numbers of cows: 600 (Kessenich Farms LLC) How do you help on the farm? Ava: I help with all calf chores, check maternity pens regularly, help test milk every month, vaccinate calves, move heifers, administer new born calf meds and help enter Dairy Comp information. Ela: I also help with all calf chores, check maternity pens, test milk, feed show barn and prepare new born calf meds. Ivy: I water and grain calves, wash pails, kick up feed, pull weeds for Grammie and entertain everyone on the farm with my jokes. Tell us about your favorite animal. Ava: My favorite animal is a Jersey cow, Nic-Nat Frontrunner Rapunzel. She is my favorite because I won the Wisconsin Jersey Futurity with her this year, and she is scored EX 90. Ela: My favorite is a Jersey cow named Dutchy. I love her because I won junior grand with her at the Parish 2 show. She is gentle cow and leads really good for me. Ivy: My favorite animal is a giraffe. What do you enjoy most about Christmas? Ava: I love opening gifts and playing games with my family. I love all the food we eat, and the stories and laughing my family does when we get together. Ela: Being with my family and playing with all my new toys. Ivy: Opening presents and being with my family. What is your favorite thing to do during the Christmas break? Ava: My favorite thing in the world to do is chores on the farm. I like Christmas break because I don’t have to go to school and can do more chores. Ela: My favorite thing about Christmas break is doing chores and spending time with my family. Ivy: Playing with my new toys and not going to school. What are some good things you try to do around Christmas to please Santa? Ava: I try not to ght with my sisters or make messes, and I listen extra good to my parents. Ela: I try not to be mean to my sisters and make sure my room is clean. Ivy: I’m always good, so what’s the difference? If you could ride with Santa on his sleigh where would you want to go and what song would you sing on the way there? Ava: I would want to go to Milk Source again and to Arethusa Farms. The song I would sing is “Jingle Bells.” Ela: I would want to go to the Kalahari with my cousins, and I would sing “Thunder” by Magic Dragons. Ivy: I would want to go Paris to see the Eifel Towel. I would sing “Thunder” by Magic Dragons, too. What do you want to be when you grow up? Ava: I want to be a large animal vet who specializes in IVF and ushing cows, and I want to own Jerseys and show them. Ela: I want to be a cheerleader in college, but a farmer and work for Washa Construction (Dad’s company) when I’m older. Ivy: I want to be a Legos builder and mermaid actress.
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Page 16 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017
ConƟnued from FENCE | Page 15
Nathan Stalboerger pictured with sister Mallory 5 years old Nick and Annie Stalboerger Lake Henry, Minn. Stearns County 55 cows
Roger Dunn 8 years old Parents: Levi and Darla Dunn Osakis, Minn. Douglas County 70 cows
Kendall Anderson 5 years old Rob and Kari Anderson Westby, Wis. Vernon County 26 cows
How do you help on the farm? Driving the skid How do you help on the farm? I sometimes help feed calves. I do like chasing the cats. loader with Dad. Tell us about your favorite animal. My kitten, Tiger, Tell us about your favorite animal. My Jersey calf, is my favorite because it has spots and looks like a Blossum. Tiger. What do you enjoy most about Christmas? The What do you enjoy most about Christmas? Getting sparkling lights and the presents. presents from Santa. What is your favorite thing to do during the What is your favorite thing to do during the Christmas break? Sled. Christmas break? Drive around and look at ChristWhat are some good things you try to do around mas lights. Christmas to please Santa? Being a good friend and What are some good things you try to do around sister. Christmas to please Santa? Help Mommy and Daddy, and be nice to my sister, Mallory, and play with If you could ride with Santa on his sleigh, where would you want to go and what song would you her. sing on the way there? A ride to Aunt Sara’s and sing If you could ride with Santa on his sleigh, where “Jingle Bells.” would you want to go and what song would you sing on the way there? I would want to go to the What do you want to be when you grow up? An artist. park, and sing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. What do you want to be when you grow up? A farmer, just like my Dad.
How do you help on the farm? I help feed calves, feed chickens, collect the eggs, and scrape the alley way and stalls. Tell us about your favorite animal. I have three favorite animals – baby calves, kittens and my dog, Sugar. What do you enjoy most about Christmas? Baking cookies and opening presents. What is your favorite thing to do during the Christmas break? I like going ice shing, so hopefully there’s enough ice by then. What are some good things you try to do around Christmas to please Santa? I just try to be good. If you could ride with Santa on his sleigh, where would you want to go and what song would you sing on the way there? I would want to go to the rainforest because I want to see all the animals, and I would want to bring my shing rod because there are big sh there. I would sing “Silent Night.” What do you want to be when you grow up? I would like to either be a vet, a country singer or a farmer.
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2018 7’6� x 26’ & 7’6� x 28’
3 Compartment w/Sliders, slam lock gates & endgate, 2 w/ black skin, 2 w/natural skin, both have 2-8K Dexter torsion axles w/3 3/8 inch brakes, 5-17.5 Goodyear 16 ply tires, front air vents, full length running boards. 26’ - Was $35,660 - Special
20,475
$
28’ - Was $36,630 - Special
21,100
$
2-10K’s axles w/17.5-16 ply Goodyear radials, 3 compartments w/sliders on every gate, front air vents, rear slam latch, 54� wide escape door, running boards. Retail: $35,805 - Special
22,300
$
3-7K’s axles Retail: $36,715 - Special
23,200
$
2018 7’6� x 34’
8’6� x 33’ 10’ Dovetail, low pro, pierced beam, w/2 hyd. jack, on board solar charger w/110 volt charger, w/wireless remote, deep chain box in front between jacks, 2 hi-quality side tool boxes, screened in neck, winch plate with receiver hitch. 2 batteries+2 traction strips. Other sizes available.
$13,850 Also in Stock, 37’: $14,050
Was $16,800 SPECIAL
$BMM 3BOEZ 6/#&"5"#-&
20% Down
2018 7’x24’
2018 7’6� x 30’
Special
Upon Approval
2018 7’ x 24’
2018 Exiss 7’x24’
Unbeatable-Wholesale
UNCLE SAM!
3-8K’s w/16 ply Goodyear radials, 3 compartments w/sliders on every gate, front air vents, rear slam latch, 54� wide escape door, running boards. 34’ - Was $40,490 - Special
25,350
$
West Hwy. 212 Watertown, SD 605-886-5694
800-526-0078
$500 REBATE
Factory will send you $500
8JUI 'BDUPSZ Rebate
2018 SAVINGS ON NEW DELTA HD FLATBED TRAILERS
20% DOWN PAYMENT
PRICES BELOW REFLECT A $600 REDUCTION 102� x 25’, 7K’s, single tires ....... $6,685 102� x 26’ TD ............................... $9,085 102� x 28’ TD ................................ $9,285 102� x 30’ TD ................................ $9,485 102� x 32’ TD ....................................... $9,685 102� x 34’ TD ....................................... $9,885 102� x 36’ TD ..................................... $10,085 102� x 37’ TD w/12K axle.................. $12,350 23,400 lb. GVW, tandem duals, 12� I-beam, DexterŽ oil bath axles, all wheel brakes, 10 ply 16� radials, US Steel, extra tall neck, adjustable hitch, screened in neck, Bulldog spring loaded jack, front step w/grab handle, pressure treated à oor, outside stake pockets w/rubrail, 5’ self cleaning dove tail, 2 à ipover ramps w/kickers. All made in America since 1971, double jacks w/2 speed, anti-à ex torque tube frame, center pop up dovetail or mega ramps, drop legs on dovetail, diamond plate steel decking for bottom of ramps and top of pop up to give you a full platform on dovetail. Log on web-site for detailed pictures of fully optioned trailer. Commercial optioned trailer in stock and ready for immediate delivery w/mega ramps.
CHEAP 3 4 5
INTEREST RATES! years 2.75% years 3.25% years 3.50%
ANNUALLY OR MONTHLY Upon Approval
After Hours: Randy: 605-886-8008 After Hours: Lance: 605-520-0491 After Hours: Roy: 605-881-6559
Page 18 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017
Repro Leaders
Double Ovsynch helps boost Emerald Spring Dairy’s repro program Emerald Spring Dairy Maurie, Rita and Darrin Young Plainview, Minn. Winona County 1,300 cows What was your pregnancy rate average last year? Last year, the herd’s pregnancy rate was 35 percent. What is your voluntary waiting period for cows? For
heifers? Our VWP for cows is 70 days in milk. Heifers are usually bred around 13 months. They are customraised and taken care of by another farmer. What is your rst service conception rate? First service conception rate is 55 percent. What is your reproduction program? Do you use a
KRISTA KUZMA/ DAIRY STAR
Part of the crew at Emerald Spring Dairy – (from leŌ) two owners, Maurie and Darrin Young; herdsman, Javier Prieto; and Select Sires technician, Brian Dick – helped the dairy’s herd acheive a pregnancy rate of 35 percent last year. The Youngs milk 1,300 cows near Plainview, Minn.
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
A.I. technician Brian Dick puts chalk on a cow’s tailhead during a daily walkthrough in the freestall barn.
synchronization program? We use Double Ovsynch for all rst services. After that, we visually heat detect with tail paint. Our regular technician, Brian Dick, from Select Sires, comes every day to detect heat. On the day we have to give shots for our synch program,
I (Darrin) help breed the cows so it gets done faster. How do you observe for heat? After rst service we visually detect heat with tail paint.
How do you conrm pregnant or open cows? Cows are pregnancy checked via ultrasound at 32-38 days after breeding. They are rechecked again around 60 days and once again before dry off.
Turn to EMERALD SPRING | Page 20
Byron Does It Again! 3 Grand Champions at the 2017 Forage Analysis Superbowl • Grand Champion Haylage • Grand Champion Corn Silage
- Both of these classes had their highest amount of entries ever!
• Grand Champion Organic Hay • And 33 Finalists out of 100 possible (and with 82 total entries!) One competitor had over 500 entries with only 22 Finalists and another had well over 200 entries and only 5 Finalists! Great Forage, Healthy Cows
– See your local Byron Dealer so you can have great forage too! Rick Tamm @ 320-267-5021 or Brad DeBauche @ 920-660-7974 Burkholder Seeds
For more info or dealer Claremont, MN inquiries - please call: Dwight
Rick Tamm
NW Territory Manager
320-267-5021 Brad DeBauche
NC Territory Manager
920-660-7974 Larry Hawkins 608-516-0101
507-279-0292 Justin 507-456-0006
Gerard Becker
Long Prairie, MN (320) 290-9261
Hy View Feeds 507-493-5564 Mabel, MN
Valley View Ag Russ Funke Dyersville, IA (563) 590-6939
Schueler Farms
Greenwald Elevator
Sherman Schueler 330-987-3159 Willmar, MN John Dockendorf (320) 894-4808 Greenwald, MN (320) 290-1240 Cleeson Mill Travis Schlosser Altura, MN Miltona, MN (507) 458-5907 218-639-1727
Luxemburg Feed Service
Luxemburg, MN (320) 252-1513
Jack Stamschror Kellogg, MN (507) 259-0269
Timberline Dairy Service Joe Graber Kalona, IA (319) 656-3527
Dale Ommodt, CCA Crop & Livestock Nutrition Atwater, MN (320) 212-3190
Winscher Seeds Mike Winscher 320-282-6748 Shawn Winscher Royalton, MN (320) 420-4516
Lee Kurtenbach
Mechanicksville, IA (319) 241-5105
Peak Forage Products LLC
Benjamin Arlt
Natures Best
Tim Huffman 608-574-7918 Nelson Horst Adam Decker 608-988-6855 Canton S.D. Kevin Zimmerman (605) 359-0765 608-574-7918
Natures Best
Big Stone City S.D. (651) 331-8865
Jason Mickelson Frazee, MN 218-849-3137
Mervin Beachy St. Ansgar, IA (641) 381-0054
DJ Cattle Co.
Daryn Yoder Leon, IA (641) 344-6002
Chad Tesch Canton S.D. (605) 759-5622 Dan (Boone) Uphoff, Sioux Falls S.D. (605) 321-1862
Natures Best Roger TeSlaa
Inwood, IA
(605) 370-2249
Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017 • Page 19
THE NO COMPROMISE FABRIC STRUCTURE DAIRY, MACHINERY & HAY STORAGE
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NELSON’S AGRI STRUCTURES
Dean Nelson • Central and Northern Minnesota • Grove City, MN • 320-857-2633, Cell 320-699-3297
RIVERSIDE HOOP BARNS, INC.
US Hwy. 75 At IA/MN Stateline • Steen, MN • 507-392-2870 • Fred A. Tilstra & Sons
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Eastern Minnesota and Wisconsin • Harris, MN • 651-248-6302 • Craig Moline
Steer Feeder
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Portable Handling Chute
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ASK US ABOUT GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR HAY STORAGE
Merry Christmas May you know the Gift of Love, of Peace, of Joy from humble stable to all mankind.
For fresh cow performance in her future, put Udder Comfort in her stocking! ‘cause comfort matters!
We thank you, our customers, for sharing with us your stories and fresh cow challenge results in 2017, and we look forward to seeing you at these upcoming 2018 shows and others throughout the year. World Ag Expo Tulare, CA Feb. 13-15, 2018 Central Plains Dairy Expo, Sioux Falls, SD March 27-29, 2018
Wisconsin Public Service Farm Show Oshkosh, WI March 27-29 2018
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Page 20 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017
ConƟnued from EMERALD SPRING | Page 18 What is your breeding philosophy? How do you select bulls? What traits do you focus on? Does fertility play a role in bull selection? I usually focus on the following traits: combined fat and protein (CFP), productive life (PL), daughter pregnancy rate (DPR) and somatic cell score (SCS). I also select for certain type traits, such as smaller stature and wider rear teat placement. We usually use a mix of proven and genomic bulls. First calf heifers are scored on linear traits and are then mated to selected bulls.
of the cows with beef semen. The cows are usually older and low producers. Since our reproduction has gotten better over the years, we have had an increase in the number of replacement heifers we have on hand. Breeding the bottom 25 percent of our herd to beef means we can limit our calves. We have also stopped crossbreeding our cows.
How are cows and heifers bred? Do you have a different philosophy for breeding both? Less than one year ago, I started breeding 25 percent
How many times do you try to breed a cow before you sell her? Cows are not bred over 200 days in milk. After that time, she will stay in the
What do you do to settle hard breeders? Cows found to be non-cycling are given a CIDR implant when they are pregnancy checked.
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Fans line one wall of the cross-venƟlated freestall barn the Youngs started using in April 2016. Having more space and beƩer cow comfort in the barn has helped with reproducƟon. herd until her production drops below 50 pounds per day or has any health issues.
Tell us about your farm. I farm with my parents, Maurie
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and Rita. Most of our milking animals are on one site with the transition cows housed on another site just down the road. I manage the dairy side of the operation. My brother, Brandon, helps with the cropping enterprise. My brother, Ed, runs a trucking company and hauls our milk. We raise 2,000 acres of corn, alfalfa and soybeans, and harvest all of the dairy’s forages and grain.
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KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
This cow is an example of the type and health traits the Youngs strive to breed for in their reproducƟon program.
Is there anything you have done or changed that brought about a signicant improvement in your reproductive program? We built a cross-ventilated freestall barn with sand bedding at the end of 2015 and moved cows in during April 2016. This enabled us to give our cows more bunk space and a better
overall environment yearround. We also implemented a Double Ovsynch program for rst services around the same time, which has drastically improved our rst service conception rate. The Double Ovsynch program seems like a lot of shots, but cows are also getting pregnant the rst time around, which means less time for shots and rebreeding later.
Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017 • Page 21
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Visit one of our 13 locations in Central Minnesota! JD 9460R, 2014, 2656 hrs., #141947
(1) = GLENCOE 320-864-5571 4561 Hwy. 212
(2) = HOWARD LAKE 320-543-2170 5845 Keats Ave. SW
(3) = STEWART 320-562-2630 78412 Co. Rd. 20
(4) = ST. CLOUD 320-252-2010 1035 35th Ave. NE
(5) = GLENWOOD 320-634-5151 1710 N. Franklin
(6) = SAUK CENTRE 320-352-6511 1140 Centre St.
(7) = ALEXANDRIA 320-763-4220 5005 Co. Rd. 82 SE
(8) = PAYNESVILLE 320-243-7474 725 Lake Ave. S.
(9) = PRINCETON 763-389-3453 3708 Baptist Church Rd.
(10) = LITTLE FALLS 320-632-5469 16069 Hwy. 27 E.
(11) = WADENA 218-631-2311 62505 US Hwy. 10
(12) = AITKIN 218-927-2140 1120 2nd St. NW
(13) = BAXTER 218-829-5356 7045 Foley Rd.
JD S660, 2012, 1812 hrs., $ #133738
233,000
209,500
459,000
JD 9620RX, 2017, $ 255 hrs., #135324
$
JD 9410R, 2013, $ 1760 hrs., #143197
Over 1200 items with pictures updated daily • Go to www.mmcjd.com ARTICULATED 4WD TRACTORS
5 11 7 6 3 6 1 7 7 10 6 5 8 7 5 3 3 7
Versatile 485, ‘11, 1825 hrs., #143384..................$134,900 Versatile 1156, ‘88, 6534 hrs., #139641 .................$44,900 JD 8640, ‘87, 10,435 hrs., #137151 .........................$20,350 JD 9200, ‘97, 6844 hrs., #138865 .............................$59,500 JD 9330, ‘10, 1336 hrs., #140493 ...........................$174,900 JD 9400, ‘96, 6221 hrs., #134367 .............................$79,000 JD 9400, ‘01, 3140 hrs., #143423 .............................$89,900 JD 9620, ‘06, 6120 hrs., #138706 .............................$99,500 JD 9360R, ‘13, 1289 hrs., #139202 ........................$195,900 JD 9410R, ‘13, 1760 hrs., #143197 ........................$209,500 JD 9460R, ‘14, 2656 hrs., #141947 ........................$233,000 JD 9510R, ‘13, 2169 hrs., #140937 ........................$219,500 JD 9520R, ‘17, 350 hrs., #142212...........................$329,500 JD 9560R, ‘12, 1857 hrs., #133796 ........................$239,000 JD 9620R, ‘15, 561 hrs., #137678...........................$365,000 JD 9620R, ‘15, 562 hrs., #125913 ..........................$365,000 Challenger MT965B, ‘09, 3800 hrs., #137356 .....$135,000 New Holland T9020, ‘09, 2700 hrs., #142873 ....$129,000
8 1 6 12 1 5 3 2 7 9 6 2 6 8 7 5 10 1 6 6 6 4 8 5 8 1 4 1 8 3 8 9 3 3
Case 1660, ‘91, 4275 hrs., #142751 ........................$26,500 JD 9450, ‘02, 1725 hrs., 1235 sep, #143409 .........$84,900 JD 9500, ‘92, 5694 hrs., 4030 sep, #142681 .........$23,500 JD 9500, ‘89, 4400 hrs., 3300 sep, #132034 .........$27,900 JD 9500, ‘90, 3950 hrs., #141093 .............................$27,900 JD 9500, ‘92, 5306 hrs., 3502 sep, #140474 .........$35,900 JD 9550, ‘00, 3049 hrs., 1864 sep, #143381 .........$63,000 JD 9550, ‘03, 3155 hrs., 2101 sep, #142192 .........$72,900 JD 9600, ‘95, 5262 hrs., #142247 .............................$27,500 JD 9570 STS, ‘08, 1629 hrs., 1109 sep, #115868$139,500 JD 9650 STS, ‘01, 3720 hrs., 2515 sep, #142385..$78,500 JD 9670 STS, ‘10, 1250 hrs., 940 sep, #142154 ..$159,500 JD 9760 STS, ‘04, 2692 hrs., 1780 sep, #107702..$98,900 JD 9760 STS, ‘07, 2095 hrs., 1452 sep, #142194$115,000 JD 9770 STS, ‘08, 2908 hrs., 2053 sep, #139325$119,840 JD 9770 STS, ‘09, 2644 hrs., 1941 sep, #124372$127,900 JD 9770 STS, ‘10, 2427 hrs., 1776 sep, #135046$132,900 JD 9770 STS, ‘11, 1280 hrs., 903 sep, #143429 ..$175,900 JD 9870 STS, ‘09, 2428 hrs., 1677 sep, #141914$169,500 JD S550, ‘12, 1105 hrs., 720 sep, #134811 ..........$179,500 JD S660, ‘12, 1812 hrs., 1385 sep, #133738 .......$175,000 JD S660, ‘13, 1607 hrs., 1027 sep, #135180 .......$196,000 JD S660, ‘13, 1184 hrs., 875 sep, #141412 ..........$215,000 JD S660, ‘14, 598 hrs., 379 sep, #142203 ............$269,500 JD S660, ‘17, 250 hrs., #142206..............................$345,000 JD S670, ‘12, 2368 hrs., 1722 sep, #128689 .......$159,500 JD S670, ‘13, 968 hrs., 721 sep, #134914 ............$227,900 JD S670, ‘15, 598 hrs., 430 sep, #124831 ............$299,500 JD S670, ‘16, 341 hrs., 258 sep, #138933 ............$315,000 JD S670, ‘15, 412 hrs., 239 sep, #125750 ............$325,000 JD S670, ‘17, 250 hrs., #142208..............................$385,000 JD S680, ‘12, 1935 hrs., 1275 sep, #134377 .......$224,000 JD S680, ‘14, 1250 hrs., 1000 sep, #141509 .......$260,000 JD S680, ‘13, 1290 hrs., 956 sep, #140845 ..........$265,000
13 9 5 13 8
JD 317G, ‘16, 211 hrs., #142210 ...............................$47,900 JD 323D, ‘10, 1920 hrs., #140019.............................$26,900 JD 323D, ‘13, 1780 hrs., #143416.............................$27,500 JD 323E, ‘16, 152 hrs., #137785................................$54,900 JD 323E, ‘17, 317 hrs., #140018................................$56,500
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175,000
COMPACT TRACK LOADERS
JD 9670, $ 2010, 1250 hrs., #142154
4 7 2 13 7 2 10 9 13 8
JD 329E, ‘14, 313 hrs., #131459................................$56,900 JD 333E, ‘14, 894 hrs., #133945................................$54,900 JD 333E, ‘14, 942 hrs., #135021................................$59,900 JD 333E, ‘15, 352 hrs., #134320................................$68,900 JD 333E, ‘16, 327 hrs., #134167................................$68,900 JD 333G, ‘16, 198 hrs., #143181 ...............................$71,000 JD 333G, ‘16, 429 hrs., #142414 ...............................$71,900 JD 333G, ‘17, 322 hrs., #142768 ...............................$71,900 JD 333G, ‘17, 429 hrs., #142769 ...............................$71,900 New Holland C227, ‘11, 1000 hrs., #140112 ........$27,500
EXCAVATORS
2 Melroe 337, ‘99, 1650 hrs., #142416 .......................$26,500
ROW CROP TRACTORS
3 4 1 10 11 2 4 7 6 11 7 11 8 2 8 4 7 8 11 8 4 8 8 6 6 3 5 8 4 8 11 8 5 7 4 8
JD 4430, ‘76, 6250 hrs., #143382 .............................$18,000 JD 4555, ‘90, 8384 hrs., #140253 .............................$47,000 JD 4640, ‘81, 6540 hrs., #143422 .............................$20,900 JD 4955, ‘90, 13645 hrs., #142214 ..........................$34,500 JD 4960, ‘93, 10115 hrs., #141012 ..........................$43,900 JD 7330, ‘12, 985 hrs., #143027 .............................$101,500 JD 7420, ‘07, 5301 hrs., #134042 .............................$58,900 JD 7810, ‘97, 6801 hrs., #137231 .............................$59,500 JD 7830, ‘08, 3461 hrs., #135361 ...........................$105,900 JD 7920, ‘03, 4910 hrs., #134912 .............................$89,500 JD 6140R, ‘13, 2059 hrs., #139642 ..........................$91,900 JD 6145R, ‘15, 426 hrs., #120191...........................$122,900 JD 6150M, ‘14, 1044 hrs., #135969 .........................$98,500 JD 6155R, ‘15, 242 hrs., #134317...........................$129,900 JD 6155R, ‘17, 138 hrs., #143353...........................$131,000 JD 6155R, ‘16, 236 hrs., #127619...........................$142,900 JD 6170R, ‘13, 1165 hrs., #139818 ........................$134,900 JD 7210R, ‘15, 445 hrs., #141371...........................$169,500 JD 7215R, ‘13, 1639 hrs., #137258 ........................$135,900 JD 7215R, ‘12, 1992 hrs., #142529 ........................$139,500 JD 7230R, ‘15, 195 hrs., #125073...........................$189,500 JD 7230R, ‘17, 81 hrs., #143268 .............................$203,000 JD 7230R, ‘17, 130 hrs., #143269...........................$209,000 JD 7430 Premium, ‘10, 3710 hrs., #142442.........$101,000 JD 8245R, ‘10, 2086 hrs., #140015 ........................$136,900 JD 8245R, ‘17, 534 hrs., #142213...........................$209,500 JD 8270R, ‘10, 5140 hrs., #140901 ........................$114,900 JD 8270R, ‘17, 85 hrs., #143239 .............................$249,000 JD 8285R, ‘13, 453 hrs., #137303...........................$206,000 JD 8295R, ‘17, 440 hrs., #141853...........................$239,500 JD 8295R, ‘17, 263 hrs., #133820...........................$249,500 JD 8310R, ‘12, 1595 hrs., #142757 ........................$210,000 JD 8320R, ‘14, 2305 hrs., #127013 ........................$219,000 JD 8345R, ‘15, 809 hrs., #136799...........................$239,500 JD 8345R, ‘15, 652 hrs., #137679...........................$249,500 JD 8345R, ‘17, 564 hrs., #141850 ..........................$279,500
10 9 13 9 6 10 8 8 11 7
JD 320, ‘07, 1045 hrs., #142698 ...............................$22,500 JD 320, ‘07, 1131 hrs., #142533 ...............................$22,500 JD 325, ‘08, 3136 hrs., #138043 ...............................$19,900 JD 318D, ‘13, 890 hrs., #135024 ...............................$29,500 JD 318E, ‘15, 2811 hrs., #140525 .............................$25,900 JD 318E, ‘15, 2297 hrs., #135979 .............................$26,500 JD 318E, ‘15, 478 hrs., #136780................................$33,500 JD 318E, ‘15, 335 hrs., #142491................................$34,000 JD 320D, ‘13, 1023 hrs., #133492.............................$28,900 JD 320E, ‘15, 1734 hrs., #134169 .............................$30,900
159,500
SKID STEER LOADERS
JD 9550, $ 2003, 3155 hrs., #142192
72,900
5 5 8 4 6 4 11 3 7 6 1 10 4 12 12 4 1 6 10 7 11 6 8 11 7 9 11 4
JD 320E, ‘14, 1101 hrs., #135139 .............................$34,900 JD 320E, ‘14, 470 hrs., #142118................................$35,900 JD 320E, ‘15, 645 hrs., #138375................................$37,600 JD 320E, ‘15, 145 hrs., #142683................................$38,500 JD 320E, ‘16, 79 hrs., #140280 ..................................$39,900 JD 320E, ‘15, 260 hrs., #143386................................$42,900 JD 324E, ‘16, 104 hrs., #137786 ..............................$45,000 JD 326D, ‘12, 250 hrs., #135015 ...............................$38,500 JD 326D, ‘12, 210 hrs., #135673 ...............................$40,500 JD 326E, ‘16, 1105 hrs., #141601 .............................$38,900 JD 326E, ‘15, 537 hrs., #134033................................$39,500 JD 326E, ‘15, 99 hrs., #141604 ..................................$39,999 JD 326E, ‘16, 347 hrs., #138363................................$42,000 JD 326E, ‘15, 136 hrs., #118578................................$44,900 JD 326E, ‘16, 65 hrs., #126370 ..................................$45,900 JD 326E, ‘16, 120 hrs., #142477................................$46,000 JD 328D, ‘10, 410 hrs., #141011 ...............................$38,900 JD 330G, ‘16, 600 hrs., #140027 ...............................$53,000 JD 332D, ‘12, 812 hrs., #127231 ...............................$41,900 JD 332E, ‘14, 1359 hrs., #132664 .............................$38,900 JD 332E, ‘15, 122 hrs., #135560................................$49,500 JD 332E, ‘15, 511 hrs., #138924................................$51,900 JD 332E, ‘16, 390 hrs., #139118................................$54,500 New Holland L230, ‘11, 3300 hrs., #139121 .........$27,300 Bobcat S185, ‘03, 1550 hrs., #141064 .....................$18,900 Bobcat S300, ‘04, 3050 hrs., #142625 ....................$20,900 Bobcat S650, ‘13, 859 hrs., #140188........................$37,500 Bobcat S850, ‘13, 550 hrs., #140039........................$48,900
8 1 6 3 5 11 9 2
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11 10 5 4 11 6 10 10 4 2 10 9 10 6 4 4 11 4 8 4 10
JD 5400, ‘92, 5917 hrs., #143385 .............................$18,500 JD 6200, ‘97, 9911 hrs., #141979 .............................$28,600 JD 6420, ‘02, 7718 hrs., #143373 .............................$37,900 Case IH 115C, ‘14, 425 hrs., #142395 .....................$63,800 JD 5085M, ‘17, 97 hrs., #133821 ..............................$52,900 JD 5100E, ‘16, 542 hrs., #124826 .............................$54,900 JD 6105E, ‘15, 185 hrs., #124312 .............................$65,900 JD 6105E, ‘16, 313 hrs., #124869 ............................$65,900 JD 6105M, ‘14, 396 hrs., #132099............................$66,900 JD 6105R, ‘13, 454 hrs., #135169.............................$91,500 JD 6110R, ‘17, 294 hrs., #132075.............................$98,900 JD 6110R, ‘15, 176 hrs., #119898.............................$99,500 JD 6110R, ‘17, 198 hrs., #132074.............................$99,500 JD 6110R, ‘16, 193 hrs., #133619...........................$112,000 JD 6110R, ‘17, 140 hrs., #142813...........................$116,000 JD 6120R, ‘15, 280 hrs., #124875...........................$106,900 JD 6125R, ‘14, 1527 hrs., #142739 ..........................$94,500 JD 6125R, ‘13, 600 hrs., #134131 .........................$103,000 JD 6130M, ‘16, 217 hrs., #127623 ..........................$94,900 JD 6130R, ‘16, 170 hrs., #138428...........................$110,000 Case IH Maxxum 140, ‘14, 914 hrs., #140549 ..... $78,500
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As we wrap up the year, I want to take time to be grateful for so many good things that have taken place within the Midwest dairy community thanks to the commitment and investment of dairy farmers in the region. One of the most exciting contributions to increasing dairy sales was emerging research, funded by dairy farmers, that continues to support the neutral to positive health attributes associated with enjoying full-fat dairy products, including butter, By Lucas Lentsch in the diet. Sales of full-fat dairy CEO, Midwest Dairy products, including whole milk Association and butter, continue to grow thanks to this research, along with collaborations with some of our key partners like McDonald’s, who has switched from margarine to butter in their 14,000-plus stores, which means roughly 700 million pounds of milk equivalent annually. Not only did the switch to butter contribute to an 8 percent increase in McDonald’s dairy sales last year, it inďƒ&#x;uenced other chains to follow, such as Burger King and Bob Evans. I also am excited by the impact of Midwest Dairy’s partnership and support of the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee’s 52 Weeks of Giving – a celebration leading up to the Super Bowl to be played in Minneapolis in a few short weeks. Minnesota dairy farm families have contributed $250,000 to the Super Bowl committee’s Legacy fund to provide school breakfast grants to more than 50 Minnesota schools across the state. Schools used the money to purchase Fuel Up to Play 60-branded equipment to enhance
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their school breakfast program and ensure kids can begin their day right with a healthy breakfast. What a great way to build excitement for the upcoming big game and to showcase dairy farmers’ ongoing support of youth wellness. Speaking of youth wellness, we continue to expand involvement in the Fuel Up to Play 60 program in schools throughout the Midwest. Thanks to the engagement and creativity of our student ambassadors and program managers, students throughout the region enjoy nutritious dairy foods as part of school lunch and breakfast programs, while focusing on fun ways to increase their activity levels throughout the day – both important foundations of a healthy lifestyle. There’s no way I can reďƒ&#x;ect on this year without expressing my gratitude to the growing group of dairy farmers who have been active dairy champions – many joining in the Undeniably Dairy campaign – with the goal of being loud and proud about dairy, and sharing personal examples of how it is a responsibly produced local food that contributes nutrition and so much enjoyment to daily life. You’ve opened your farms for tours, hosted breakfasts, visited classrooms in your communities, and shared your stories throughout the community. Your commitment is appreciated and making an impact. I’m proud of the accomplishments of the dairy industry and look forward to an even more actionpacked 2018. None of this progress would be possible without the investment and commitment of each dairy farmer in the Midwest, and I thank you for your support and collaboration.
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Engaging with consumers Midwest Dairy CEO encourages farmers to be agriculture advocates By Jerry Nelson
jerry.n@dairystar.com
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Ag United for South Dakota held its annual luncheon Dec. 13 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center in Sioux Falls, S.D. More than 200 farmers and ag industry representatives were in attendance. Roger Scheibe was honored as Ag United’s 2017 Agvocate of the Year. Scheibe, who serves on the board of directors of Ag United, is retiring from his position as Midwest Dairy Association Industry Relations Manager at the end of this month. As a token of appreciation, Scheibe was presented with a special commemorative milk bottle, a nod to his hobby of collecting milk bottles. Lucas Lentsch, CEO of Midwest Dairy Association, addressed the gathering. He spoke about the importance of the dairy industry in South Dakota and the need for collaboration to maintain a strong future for agriculture. Lentsch grew up on a dairy farm near Veblen, S.D. He is a graduate of South Dakota State University and served as the South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture under South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard for three years. He also served as Director of Agricultural Development for the State
“Consumers may have the wrong information. But they are not wrong about how they feel.” ȃ LUCAS LENTSCH, CEO, MIDWEST DAIRY ASSOCIATION
of South Dakota from 2011-12. As CEO of Midwest Dairy Association, Lentsch works on behalf of 8,000 dairy farm families in 10 Midwestern states to increase dairy sales, foster dairy innovation and inspire consumer condence in dairy food and farmers. Recalling his boyhood on his family’s dairy farm, Lentsch said, “Nothing brings a family together like chore time. I am always mindful of the values that I learned as I worked alongside my family on our farm.” Lentsch said he has had the opportunity to meet many new people over the past several months. One of his more notable introductions was to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “Our current national climate is extremely volatile,” Lentsch said. “Because of the Fuel Up to Play 60 program, dairy farmers have a special relationship with the NFL. Some of our dairy farmer representatives recently met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to make sure that the players are representing our values.” Lentsch continued. “There are lots of conversations coming at us,” he said, “Change is happening. Chief among these changes
are shifting consumer demands.” Lentsch told of a ight he took on Southwest Airlines. “I didn’t realize that there are no seat assignments on Southwest,” he said. “I walked up and down the aisle, looking for an empty seat. Finally a young lady said that I could sit next to her.” During the ight, Lentsch struck up a conversation with the young lady. “At one point during our conversation, I asked her if we could talk about milk,” Lentsch said. “I told her about the dairy industry and how dairy farmers work hard to provide our consumers with safe, nutritious products. She started to ask me questions. I should have been better suited than anyone in the world to provide her with the answers. But she began to challenge my answers in ways that I didn’t know how to respond to. It was a real eye-opening experience for me.” One of the things Lentsch learned during that ight is that consumers are often exposed to deceptive marketing practices. “Whenever you hear a marketing company say, ‘Our milk is antibiotic free,’ your hair should stand on end,” Lentsch said. “We need to tell everyone that all milk is antibiotic free. It has gotten to the point where we need to say that enough is enough. Misinformation such as that can affect our social license to operate for the next quarter of a century. It will take real leadership from the ag community to counter these messages.” Lentsch pointed out that land stewardship and sustainability are key to the future of the dairy industry. Stewardship and sustainability should also be part of the message the dairy industry communicates to its consumers. “Our way of agriculture is environmentally friendly. But we need to be transparent about our motives and the way that we do things. How do we communicate that to our consumers? Part of the answer is that we all have to join in and be part of the conversation.” Lentsch emphasized that the future is here and consumer preferences are rapidly changing. “We have to tell our story, but we must also be mindful of how we tell it,” he said. “It’s very important to have conversations with people who don’t think the same way that we do.” Lentsch said he learned an important lesson during his chat with the young lady on the Southwest ight. “Consumers may have the wrong information,” he said. “But they are not wrong about how they feel. I hope we can see this current moment as an opportunity for the entire ag community to ght side by side. It can’t be dairy versus beef versus pork. And our ght is not against the consumer. It’s a mistake to attack the people who are your customers. We can meet these new challenges if we work together. We have to ask ourselves, ‘How can we engage with our consumers?’ We need to build consumer condence and put our consumers rst in a consumercentric way.” Lentsch ended his talk on a note of thankfulness. “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be serving on behalf of our more than 8,000 dairy farmer families,” he said.
Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017 • Page 23
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Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017 • Page 25
One giant brainstorm Midwest Dairy conducts rst local dairy board seminar By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
RED WING, Minn. – On Nov. 30, county American Dairy Association (ADA) board members in Minnesota had the chance to gather for “The local dairy board seminar” put on by Midwest Dairy Association. “It was the rst meeting of its kind, bringing together ADA board leaders from across Minnesota,” said Alyssa Olson, program manager in industry relations at Midwest Dairy. Of the 74 county boards that participate with Midwest Dairy in Minnesota, 20 counties were represented with 45 people in attendance. Olson said there were more counties that could not attend, but wanted the meeting materials. The goal of the meeting was to share ideas and present information about Midwest Dairy, while also allowing county board members to share their promotion ideas with each other. “With current consumers’ opinions about all food including dairy, I think it is incredibly important for us to make sure our ADAs are on the same page as us. Being able to be in one room together to collaborate on ideas and build off of them is powerful,” Olson said. Throughout the ve-hour meeting, areas of discussion included local princess programs, fundraising, how checkoff dollars are used for national advertisements, local activation ideas,
crisis planning, and administration work on the local level. One example of an idea shared to encourage more local promotion was to use the activation kits Midwest Dairy provides. “We have a lot of resources like a virtual dairy farm tour to be used in classrooms where they can explore a dairy farm on their computer. There are also key messages, images, design resources and social media tools. We don’t want our ADAs to think they have to come up with all these ideas on their own,” Olson said. Ottertail County ADA board member, Philip Rotz said he felt the meeting was valuable and gained new ideas to take back to the rest of his county board. “It was interesting hearing what other counties do. Some of them have the same struggles we do. [For example] getting a dairy princess every year isn’t the easiest thing to do,” said Rotz, who milks 53 cows with his wife, Stacey, on their dairy near Pelican Rapids, Minn. Rotz said he wants to discuss with his county board the possibility of having younger dairy princesses. “We just follow state [age] guidelines for our dairy princesses. I realized [from the meeting] if we want to have a younger girl do it, that’s ne at the county level. She just can’t compete for (Princess Kay),” Rotz said. Promoting more in local schools using the Fuel Up to Play 60 program is another hope Rotz has for his county. “Promoting used to be about just selling milk, but now its about selling an image,” Rotz said. “I liked the meeting a lot. I learned quite a bit. I think it was a very good experience, and I think it should be done more often
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Alyssa Olson, program manager in industry relaƟons at Midwest Dairy AssociaƟon, presents during “The local dairy board seminar” Nov. 30 in Red Wing, Minn. in the future.” Prior to this meeting, ADAs would gather information at county or regional meetings held January through March, Olson said. “This meeting was different in the fact that we were able to bring together people from all across the state who wouldn’t normally be together in the same room discussing these ideas and needs. It spurs ideas and innovation when we are able to come together and share those ideas.” Olson said. One idea from a county ADA Olson really liked was a dairy night at high school sports events. The ADA handed out cheese sticks and chocolate milk,
and had a fun competition at half time where the winner took home a cooler full of dairy products. Sharing ideas like this is what the meeting was all about, Olson said. “It was one giant brainstorm. It was a very interactive discussion,” she said. Overall, Olson thought the meeting was extremely valuable for Midwest Dairy. “We, as a staff, can better serve our farmers and our ADA leaders because we understand their concerns and needs at the local level,” Olson said. “I was very thankful for this opportunity to hear their thoughts and ideas.”
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Programs available in weather-related disasters
Although we have not yet experienced extreme cold or blizzards this winter, we all know that there is a still a long way to go. I wanted to give you a reminder about our disaster programs that could come into play if weatherrelated disasters do occur to FSA News & Notes farming operations. If these events lead to livestock deaths, honeybee losses or loss of trees and vines, FSA has programs to assist. • Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP): offers payments to eligible producers for livestock death losses in excess of normal mortality due to By Ryan Brunn adverse weather. Eligible Stearns Co. Exec. Dir. losses may include those determined by FSA to have been caused by oods, blizzards, tornados, lightning and extreme cold. Producers will be required to provide veriable documentation of death losses resulting from an eligible adverse weather event and must submit a notice of loss to their local FSA ofce within 30 calendar days of when the loss of livestock is apparent. Now would be a good time to take a beginning inventory of your herd and have it documented in case you need proof. The inventory should separate the cattle by kind (beef or dairy), type (bull, cow or non-adult) and size of the animal (less than 400 pounds, between 400 and 799, or 800 pounds or more). • Tree Assistance Program (TAP): provides assistance to eligible orchardists and nursery tree growers for qualifying tree, shrub and vine losses due to natural disaster. Producers must submit a notice of loss to their local FSA ofce within 90 days of the disaster event or the date when the loss is apparent. • Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP): provides emergency relief for losses due to feed or water shortages, disease, adverse weather or other conditions, which are not adequately addressed by other disaster programs. ELAP covers physically damaged or destroyed livestock feed that was purchased, or mechanically harvested forage or feedstuffs intended for use as feed for the producer’s eligible livestock. To be considered eligible, harvested forage must be baled; forage that is only cut, raked or windrowed is not eligible. Producers must submit a notice of loss to their local FSA ofce within 30 calendar days of when the loss is apparent. ELAP also covers up to 150 lost grazing days in instances when a producer has been forced to remove livestock from a grazing pasture due to oodwaters. For beekeepers, ELAP covers beehive losses (the physical structure) in instances where the hive has been destroyed by a natural disaster including ooding, high winds, tornadoes and extreme cold. As always, we hope to avoid all bad weather, but we know it happens. Contact your FSA ofce if you think we can be of assistance if you’re facing any of these adversities. Lastly, I want to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and have a safe, healthy and happy New Year. 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.
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Looking back at 2017 The Transition Pen
By Laura Scholtz & John Rosenhammer Father/Daughter Farming Duo As the glow of Christmas lights illuminates the scenery on my drive home each night and the cheerful sounds of Christmas music play on the radio, I am lled with excitement for the holidays. Baking is complete, with dozens of scrumptious cookies lling up my freezer, packages from Amazon arriving daily with gifts I ordered, and our yard looking like a winter wonderland with colorful lights and winter décor. It’s certainly a feeling of accomplishment to check off tasks on December’s to-do list – until I reach the bottom and realize I am running out of time to procrastinate nishing up the year’s nancial record keeping details. With fast approaching meetings with my farm business management instructor and our accountant, its time to review how 2017 played out. In January, we set goals for our herd. Less calf mortality, less cow deaths, and maintaining our low SCC and high production were top priorities. We reached these goals by prevention. My responsibility involved making sure cows were vaccinated on time, and detecting sick cows and calves that needed treatment. Each time we lost a calf or cow, I kept a record of the symptoms and treatments. Using my records as a reference and continuing to search for answers from our veterinarian, I’ve been able to make changes that have improved our survival of both calves and cows. Another factor is the newly installed grooved rubber ooring along our feed alleys to prevents cows from slipping and provide more comfort during their many hours spent eating each day. The ooring improvements led to less cows
Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017 • Page 27
my sister and I hauling wagons back and forth, my uncle taking grain to the elevator, my mom starting milking, my grandma delivering lunches, and my grandpa eager for someone to take a break so he can get in the tractor, too. The past 12 months presented many challenges, some I handled with grace while others I need improvement. I gained condence in my decisions, whether it be what medication to use or which cow to cull. I made several changes to our farm meetings, which helped improve their effectiveness, but I admit I need outside guidance and am looking forward to working with consultants to help me address our need for better communication and decide which path to take next so we can keep progressing. I’ve learned a few lessons, as well. Several times I’ve had or seen issues with another coworker or employee and haven’t been brave enough to walk up to them and address the issue because I didn’t want to deal with them getting defensive. I’ve found I always regret not
doing this because the issue doesn’t simply go away, it always comes up again and again. Looking ahead to the coming year, my mind is full of ideas and I am working hard to sort through them. Whether to try something new, such as a different brand of electrolytes for calves, switching to using a pile for our silage, or to stick with what we have been using is a constant debate inside my brain. I’m curious to see how managing my herd without BST will affect my herd turnover. I’m brainstorming ways we can manage our excess numbers: Should we keep selling heifers as springers or should we try selling at a younger age? I’ve got a lot of research and thinking to do, but that’s what I enjoy about being a dairy farmer – the challenge to keep learning and adapting to our ever changing industry. Laura Scholtz farms with her father, John Rosenhammer, and uncle, Greg, on Roseview Dairy near Sleepy Eye, Minn. They milk 200 Holsteins and run 580 acres of cropland.
Th past 12 months The h presented d many challenges, some I handled with grace while others I need improvement. getting injured, less severe lameness, and ultimately keeping more cows in the herd; therefore freedom to cull more cows with a high SCC or low production, rather than putting up with them. In March, I reluctantly attended my rst annual meeting for our creamery. With the poor milk prices, my expectations were low. However, I admit attending that meeting was one of the highlights of my year. I listened to inspiring speakers and networked with many other young ambitious farmers. During the formal meeting, I was in awe of our creamery’s board of directors and leaders’ understanding of issues for us dairy farmers and their commitment to making decisions that prioritized us, such as expanding their processing plants to accommodate the increasing milk production. Soon after this meeting, our farm hosted AMPI’s summer tour, a chance to showcase our farm to over 100 other dairy farmers across the Midwest. That day also stands out as a highlight of 2017. With my younger brother gone off to college, it was nally my turn to learn how to run more equipment in the eld during harvest. With the threat of rain always lurking, we put in many long afternoons, pushing evening chores back. There were many late nights nishing combining a eld after chores were nished. I feel a great sense of pride knowing I’m able to contribute to the crop enterprise of our operation, as well as the dairy. Learning new skills, such as running the grain cart and using autosteer for tillage work, drive me to keep learning more and more. It is truly an amazing feeling to see our entire family involved in harvesting; my dad running the combine,
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Snowy Iowa drive revives memories of stories past Page 28 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017
Sleet smacked the windshield. Snow swirled in A few days later, I contacted a farm family in the December wind. Seeing the highway became Marathon County to arrange a time to visit for a a game of blind man’s bluff. Thank heaven for feature story. That assignment stands out because of occasional glimpses of the yellow line that divided the topic: the rst dairy farm in Wisconsin to achieve the two lanes. and maintain a 20,000-pound herd That scene is from a recent drive average. Rural Roots home to southwest Wisconsin from a That was an accomplishment for its farm in northeast Iowa. The drive got time. Forty years ago, you just didn’t me to thinking as I guided the Minnesota nd those numbers in every barn. Moose, my Dairy Star car, through a I clearly remember the family’s universe of icy precipitation. last name. Three or four brothers were The farm I’d visited has quite an involved in the business. Maybe I’ll try admirable herd average: north of 33,000 to contact them sometime, and collect pounds. With a couple of hours to think, information about how the family and my mind drifted to another farm that farm have fared for the past 40 years. had admirable milk production. My recent drive back from that farm It was 1977. I’d graduated six in Iowa took a couple of hours, thanks months earlier from the University of in part to the snow squalls. With plenty By Ron Johnson Wisconsin-Madison with my bachelor more time to think, my mind moved of science degree in agricultural ahead from 1977. Staff Writer journalism. Sometime in the next year or two, I’d just signed on with a weekly I drew the unenviable assignment of farm newspaper in central Wisconsin. I chomped at interviewing and writing about a rural snowplow the bit to conduct my rst farmer interview for the driver. Now, I have nothing against snowplows or paper and to write my rst feature story for it. their drivers, but this particular assignment reeked of But that rst farm feature was not my rst trouble from the start. assignment for that ne publication. Indeed, it was For one thing, it was January or February. For my second. another, we’d gotten plenty of the white stuff and My rst stab came with an article for a now- were immersed waist deep in an old-fashioned winter. defunct group: The Committee for Individual Land Apparently, Mother Nature had not heard of terms Rights. As I discovered, that organization was vocal in like “global warming” and “climate change.” So, she its belief that just about anything a landowner wanted clobbered us in ways that only she can. to do with his property was ne and dandy. The The third potential pitfall was that I had no snowgroup also did not hide its disdain for the Wisconsin worthy vehicle. So, I borrowed one of the big Ford Department of Natural Resources and many more sedans that the paper’s owners were leasing and set government agencies. forth. I’d signed on to start work on Aug. 1. Instead, I I left town around 2 a.m., as I recall. I needed got hornswoggled into covering that meeting on July to get into the vast expanse that was eastern Clark 31 – a Sunday. County. I also needed to navigate the myriad gravel That bait-and-switch tactic should have made me roads and nd the snowplow driver as he cleared wonder what I was getting into. the way so milk trucks, pickups and mail delivery Things turned out all right. I learned a good bit vehicles could get through. about human nature from that incident. And I began Making matters more interesting was that this was to learn about politics. long before the days of cell phones. But I did have a
set of vague directions. Somehow, the Great White Ford and I found our way to the general continent of where the snowplow driver labored. Mr. Sun had not yet fully risen, but he did provide a faint glow as he stretched and yawned in the eastern sky. Far away to the west, I nally caught a glimpse of my target. A snowplow – a yellow road grader – crawling along, barely discernible in a world gone white. I mentally charted a course toward it. Needing to stick to the drifting roads that intersected every mile or so complicated my endeavor. By the time I reached the place where the snowplow was, it was gone. I stepped out of the Great White Ford for another round of reconnoitering. “Oh. There it is!” I must have proclaimed to no one, for there was no one there to hear. Off I drove to the north this time. Twenty minutes later: the same result. No snowplow, no snowplow driver. Just the Clark County landscape. I half expected to nd polar bears or penguins marching toward me. After two or three more attempts at nding the ghost snowplow, I nally succeeded. After I did, I rode in the cozy cab of the plow for an hour or more, snapping too many pictures of the driver, the inside of the plow, the outside of the plow, the ying snow and whatever else I hoped would please my hard-boiled editor and newspaper part-owner. The crowning irony of the whole adventure was that the snowplow driver, who raised feeder pigs, had little to say. He was a friendly enough fellow, and he did speak a bit about his farm and how he got into the snow removal business. But he offered no wise words about the loneliness of plowing snow and how it could be considered a metaphor for much of the rest of life. In the end, I stitched together several hundred poetic words about the experience and the paper ran ve or six black-and-white photographs that turned out remarkably well, I must say. And I led the entire event away. And, I found it again on a snowy drive home from Iowa.
International Cheese Technology Expo announces 2018 seminar plans Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) and Center for Dairy Research (CDR) ofcials today announced new partnerships with the U.S. Dairy Export Council, Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, and Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board to deliver greater diversity and depth of programming than ever before at the 2018 International Cheese Technology Expo (ICTE), set for April 17-19 at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee, Wis. ICTE 2018 seminars explore ve main themes: challenges in global trade, pathogen control and food safety, cheese quality issues and solutions, growth opportunities in specialty cheese, and a focus on whey and dairy proteins. “The ICTE’s reputation is grounded in its technical programming, offering educational opportunities for everyone in the industry,” said John Umhoefer, WCMA Executive Director. “We’ll have timely information for industry leaders and marketers, safety professionals and cheesemakers, and HR professionals and supervisors.” ICTE 2018 also features two workshop tracks with limited attendance. The Artisan Track offers specialty cheesemakers talks on Food Safety Modernization Act regulations, milk analytics, and the unique opportunity to make fresh cheeses with Wisconsin Master Cheesemakers® and CDR experts at Clock Shadow Creamery. The Workforce Track addresses pressing labor concerns, with speakers focused on performance feedback and talent development, the management of generational diversity, and an industry-specic wage and benets analysis. Beyond the seminars, ICTE 2018 will showcase the latest technology and services
from 295 companies in its largest-ever exhibit hall. As always, dairy manufacturers and processors enjoy free access to exhibits, and complimentary lunches and receptions. Attendees can also watch as students from across the United States compete in the Collegiate Dairy Products Evaluation Contest. Networking is a key element of ICTE 2018. WCMA’s Young Professionals gather April 17 and all are welcome at Tetra Pak’s opening reception later that evening. The Chr. Hansen Reception and Auction of Championship Cheeses on April 18 is a highlight beneting WCMA scholarship and education programs, and the next morning WCMA’s Recognition Breakfast honors the leaders that have made this industry great. The event ends with the Champions Awards Banquet April 19 for the World Championship Cheese Contest and closing reception courtesy of Millerbernd Systems. “ICTE 2018 connects you with the people you need to know to create better products, streamline your business processes, maximize your workforce, and reach new consumers,” said Judy Keller, WCMA Events Director. It’s more seminars and more exhibits than ever, at a price that’s a tremendous value.” Act now to take advantage of early bird rates. Sign up before Jan. 15 and save 20 percent off the cost of a full or single-day registration. Dairy manufacturers and processors always enjoy free access to the exhibits, lunches, and receptions at ICTE. For more information, visit www.CheeseExpo.org.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017 • Page 29
Making manure work for you Radatz presents on waste handling practices By Brittany Olson
brittany.o@dairystar.com
WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. – Manure handling is one thing on any given farm that sets it a part from the rest. “It’s difcult to deal with, it’s stinky,” said Amber Radatz. “It’s one of those things that determines your license for future farming.” Radatz’s presentation, “Managing Manure for the Future,” was held Dec. 12 at the University of Wisconsin Discovery Farms (UWDF) annual conference in Wisconsin Dells, Wis. UWDF is a farmer-led water quality and research educational program that collects water as it moves through the farm and sends real-time data to researchers. “Every farm and management system has an area where environmental impact can be improved,” said Radatz, who serves as co-director of UWDF. “Management tools don’t come in a ready-made package, so we need to adapt and adopt.” Runoff happens every year in Wisconsin, but Radatz said good management can control it. UWDF data suggests that ve months out of the calendar year are responsible for 92 percent of runoff. “March is the month that dictates annual phosphorus runoff,” Radatz said. “Dissolved phosphorus runoff happens most commonly in February and March, and particulate phosphorus runoff happens in April, May and June.” Because dissolved phosphorus runoff is most likely in February and March, winter manure application during those months can be particularly risky.
“Winter application can increase total phosphorus loss due to snowmelt. If you’re going to spread during those months, you had better be on top of your game.” ȃ AMBER RADATZ, COǧDIRECTOR OF UWDF
Additionally, a buildup of phosphorus at the soil surface has a similar risk factor for phosphorus loss compared to early winter application in December or January. No till eliminates soil loss, Radatz said, but the phosphorus loss is similar compared to other tillage methods because dissolved phosphorus is a subtle balance. “Winter manure application can increase total phosphorus loss due to snowmelt. If you’re going to spread during those months, you had better be on top of your game,” Radatz said. “However, we cannot focus solely on practices addressing dissolved or particulate loss.” As far as application and rates are concerned, Radatz recommended placing manure beneath the soil surface via kning or injecting, but not with so much soil disturbance that soil loss becomes an issue.
Data has also showed that as nitrogen rates increase, yield does not. The percentage of nitrogen removed during harvest decreases, as well. “If this isn’t agronomical or environmentally benecial, then who is it benecial for?” Radatz said. Radatz also discussed using manure for nutrient crediting, as opposed to side dressing or topdressing nitrogen and phosphorus. She likened it to Amazon Prime, where you order a product and wait for it to arrive. “The opportunity is there for manure users to take another look at crediting and save on fertilizer purchases,” Radatz said. Radatz recommended verifying and using nutrient crediting for all sources, testing and developing realistic yield goals, and adjusting nutrient applications. “Variation in nutrient availability is not a reason to lack condence in crediting, but rather a reason to
verify specics for your farm,” Radatz said. Radatz also examined the possibility of farmers creating a valuable end product from manure, such as composting or manure solids via separation and treatment, to manufacture a product that is not only more nutrient dense, but less likely to offend neighbors. “Consider whether a change in manure product might be the answer,” Radatz said. Overall, no matter a farm’s size, scale or system, there are boxes any operation can check at any level of investment to cover all of its bases as far as environmental impact is concerned. “Take care in deciding when to apply and realize tradeoffs with different systems,” Radatz said. “Use your own farm’s records and nutrient management planning tools to take accurate credits and increase efciency. Do we want to box ourselves in or give ourselves elbow room?”
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Christmas jingles Page 30 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017
Christmas Smells Looking through the books, A new recipe each day To the cupboards I go Searching all the way; Lids on tins go pop Making spirits bright What fun it is to bake and chop A Christmas treat tonight.
Ramblings from the Ridge
Christmas smells, Christmas smells Baking every day Oh such fun it is to make A new treat to share each day, hey!
By Jacqui Davison Columnist
But you can mix replacer I’ve been told.
Freshly Bedded Pen Gate chains ring Are you listening? In the lane Ice is glistening A slippery sight We’re busy tonight Calving in a freshly bedded pen.
Later on We’ll all shudder As we milk cows with no udder No milk for the fridge To feed calves a smidge Mother’s milk is the way to go.
Gone away is the green stuff Here for now is the straw ďƒ&#x;uff She gives a bellow As she pushes low Calving in a freshly bedded pen. In the parlor we get milkers ready Colostrum is our liquid gold She’ll say, “She have any?â€? We’ll say, “No ma’amâ€?
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Merry Christmas to all of you! May the magic of the season ďƒžnd you wherever you celebrate! Jacqui and her family milk 700 cows and run 1,200 acres of crops in the northeastern corner of Vernon County, Wis. Her children, Ira (10), Dane (8), Henry (3) and newborn, Cora, help her on the farm while her husband, Keith, works on a grain farm. If she’s not in the barn, she’s probably in the kitchen, trailing after little boys, or sharing her passion of reading with someone. Her life is best described as organized chaos-and if it wasn’t, she’d be bored.
Nominate an industry leader for a World Dairy Expo recognition award World Dairy ExpoÂŽ is accepting nominations for the 2018 Expo Recognition Awards now through Feb. 1, 2018. Producers, organizations, academic staff and others involved in the dairy industry are encouraged to nominate individuals to recognize their outstanding work and dedication to the dairy industry. Expo Recognition Awards will be presented in the following categories: Dairy Woman and Dairyman of the Year: These two awards, the Dairyman of the Year and the Dairy Woman of the Year, are presented to active dairy producers whose primary source of income is derived from their dairy farm. The producers selected to receive these honors excel in efďƒžcient production and the breeding of quality dairy animals while incorporating progressive management practices. Award recipients’ community, government, marketing and World Dairy Expo involvement will also be considered. Industry Person of the Year: This award is presented to an individual in recognition of excellence in research, development, education, marketing, manufacturing or other ďƒželds, which are a part of an industry or institution that provides goods or services to the dairy industry. International Person of the Year: Living primarily outside of the United States, the individual who receives this award will be recognized for their contribution to improved international relations or the development of the dairy industry internationally. The nomination form, along with lists of past winners, is available at worlddairyexpo.com or by contacting the Expo ofďƒžce at 608-224-6455 or wde@wdexpo.com. Nominations are due Feb. 1, 2018. The four individuals selected to receive the awards will be recognized at Dinner with the Stars on Wednesday, Oct. 3 during World Dairy Expo 2018 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis.
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Farming through FaceTime Dairy farming holds a special place in my heart. It’s important to me that Eleanor also has opportunities to see and experience farm life during her childhood. We try to make that happen, but living in town and both Jordan and I working full time doesn’t always afford us the convenience of being able to drop in at my parents’ farm whenever we want in order to help A Little Bit of Sunshine with chores, especially on a toddler schedule. So, we improvise. Every morning while milking the cows, my dad makes sure to listen closely for his cell phone to ring around 7:20. When he hears the cadence of his iPhone and pushes the button to accept the FaceTime call, he usually sees my daughter, Eleanor, and I through the screen. Typically, we are sitting on our couch at home with Eleanor eating a snack of dry cereal before I take her to daycare. Most mornings, the sight of Papa in the barn brings By Krista Kuzma a smile and waves from Eleanor in between eating Assistant Editor handfuls of Cheerios; however, some mornings she is still waking up and needs a moment before taking on her normally cheery attitude. What always makes Eleanor beam is when Papa shows Eleanor some of the cows he’s milking. She has her favorites, Thomas and Charlotte; but Eleanor loves it when any of the cows turn their face around in the tiestall and put their muzzle up to the phone as if to give Eleanor a kiss. I usually hear a little squeal of delight and see Eleanor’s eyes light up with happiness. Sometimes when Papa has enough help in the morning, he is in the calf barn helping Grammie feed the calves. Eleanor loves it when Papa shows her the calves as they bounce and jump in their pens or swing their tails as they drink milk. Louie, one of our two farm cats, also lives in the calf barn. When he gets the chance, Papa puts the screen right up to Louie’s face for a close up. We hear giggles from Eleanor every time. Occasionally, we get to say hi to my cousin, Tom, when he’s helping my dad in the morning before working his full-time position as a chiropractor. Throughout the rest of December and into the rst part of January, we get to say hi to Sanne, the farm’s summer intern who returned from South Dakota State University to work for my parents over her winter break. It has become our daily routine, one that was similar to my routine growing up. My parents were adamant about making sure we made our education (and therefore our sleep) a priority, which meant they never made us get up in the morning to do chores before school. (I am very thankful to What always Wh l makes k El Eleanor my parents for this because I am not a morning person.) beam is when Papa shows before school we Eleanor some of the cows he’s However, would always stop in the barn. milking. In our grade school days, we would stop at the barn door and chat with my dad while we waited for the school bus. Once we would see the bus pick up my cousins at the farm stop before ours, we would say goodbye and book it to the end of the driveway. In high school, we would back our vehicle up to the barn and our dad would come say goodbye for the day. I made sure to continue this even when I became the lone child in my last two years at high school while my sister and brother were off to college. Now with Eleanor, I’m glad I can continue that tradition. It’s something I look forward to every morning. Our FaceTime call is only a few minutes long, but it gives both Eleanor and I a chance to see what is going on at my family’s farm for the day. It’s our way of staying connected to the dairy and keeps Eleanor excited for our next trip to the farm – farming through FaceTime.
Cow Scout
Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017 • Page 31
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Waiting and watching Page 32 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017
We’ve heard the call in the Gospel readings during this Advent season to watch. Be ready. For you know not the hour of His coming. As Mary and Joseph waited in the barn with nervous anticipation for the arrival of their special baby, we are also awaiting the arrival of a special calf with the same apprehensions. While we don’t have the Bethlehem star marking the spot, the glow of the super moon slips through clouds to light our path to the barn. A soft southerly breeze keeps the winter chill at bay for now. It is the 4th of December. This could possibly be a new winter show calf. The potential excitement is tempered by the sudden reminder that all of our kids have grown up. Their show harnesses and show halters are hung with care in the show box waiting for the next generation of 4-H’ers. There are no more trips to the county 4-H or junior Holstein shows, yet we are excited for the
possibility of a show age heifer. Emmy Lou is starting to calve and the watch begins. She is Austin’s big white show cow. I swear she and Austin never stop growing. They both stand out above a crowd. When I hug Austin, all I see is chest. When I stand at Emmy’s hips, all I see are hip bones. But when you put them together, they ďƒžt. Emmy has already had two heifer calves and now she is a few days past her due date. This could mark the end of a wonderful gift. Christmas arrived early on the farm with a heifer streak. We’ve had seven in a row, even with a set of twins in the mix from Music. Everyone will have to come up with something cute and unique for these darling pair of girls this holiday season. Will Emmy add to the streak or will it come to a screeching halt? Mark and I take a tag team approach to calving
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through the night. He took the ďƒžrst shift. When I realized he wasn’t in bed yet, I stumbled out to ďƒžnd him cuddled up on the couch with the rebroadcast of the 10 o’clock news. I sent him to bed, and I Just Thinking Out Loud took over the watch and waited for Emmy Lou to calve. I thought to myself, “Calving cameras need to move to the top of my wish list.â€? Slipping in and out of coveralls and muck boots, I make my way to the loaďƒžng shed to check on the progress or lack of progress. I could see she By Natalie Schmitt was in the early stages Columnist of labor. It could take a while or it could come quickly. I would have to wait. It was going to take time and patience. Watch and be ready. Every 15 minutes I made the run to the shed. There sure isn’t much on TV at this time of day. As the clocked ticked closer to morning chores, I ďƒžgured I would get a head start. I couldn’t do anything in the house because it would wake Mark up. He needed to sleep. So out to the barn I went to start the morning routine a wee bit early. In between jobs, I popped over to check on Emmy Lou. She was still standing and searching for something. I hope she was looking for the perfect spot to lie down and not that she was having problems. I had to keep watching and be ready to spring into action when the time came. Still nothing. Al arrived for the morning milking and off we went. Between slow sets, I would walk across the yard to the shed to check on Emmy. Finally, she had settled on a spot to lie down. Still nothing. I kept milking. I kept checking. A pair of front feet make an appearance pointing in the right direction. This is a good sign. Very big ankles. Not a good sign. It is going to take a while before she can push this big calf out. Back to milking. The rest of the crew started to appear for the daily routine. The relief milkier covers for me as I start to walk across the yard once again. I notice the lights in the house go out. Mark is recharged and heading out the door. I know the ďƒžrst place he will go is to the loaďƒžng shed to check on Emmy, so I turn around to start the next job. As I’m ďƒžlling up the feed cart, Mark makes his way to the back of the barn to join the crew. I ask Mark, “How’s Emmy doing? When I last checked she was just starting to push the front feet out.â€? Mark said all four feet were out. No one was there to help deliver the calf. After all that time of checking, waiting and watching, she had it all by herself in the 15 minutes between checks. “Well ‌ what is it? Is it alive? Is it OK?â€? “It’s big and white like Emmy and the streak moved to eight,â€? Mark grinned as he saw the relief and joy in my face at the news of a new winter show calf. During this holiday season, be prepared to wait and watch with not only your eyes, but with your heart as well, to see the daily miracles that surround you. Merry Christmas from our farm to yours. The heifer streak ended with nine out of 10. Needless to say, the bull run is back. Natalie, Mark and his brother, Al, Schmitt farm together near Rice, Minn. They milk 100 registered Holsteins under the RALMA preďƒžx. Their four children are great help around the farm and are pushing Natalie out of several jobs. Therefore she is thankful to have something else to do. For questions or comments please e-mail Natalie at mnschmitt@jetup.net.
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Memories are the greatest gifts When you think back upon all of the Christmases you’ve celebrated, what do you remember? Do you remember the faces and places; the sights, smells and tastes? How about the presents? When I think back, I remember a few special presents, but most of all I remember the experiences of Christmas. Memories of gathering at Grandpa’s house; the smell of oyster soup simmering on the stove; cringing upon biting into a peppermint cookie by accident (I have a serious aversion to peppermint); laughter as we sat around the table playing board games with aunts and uncles and cousins. Dairy Good Life This year, we’re approaching Christmas with a much different perspective than in years past. Our hearts are still mourning the loss of loved ones and our hearts ache with concern for friends and family with their own ongoing challenges. And, on top of that, our hearts are still recovering from the fear and worry that lled them during Daphne’s illnesses. In November, Daphne’s appendix ruptured. She had urgent surgery and was hospitalized. Then, after a week at home she got sick again and was diagnosed with three post-operative By Sadie Frericks abdominal abscesses. She had surgery again to Columnist remove the abscesses and spent another four days in the hospital. (If you’d like to read the whole story, there are two posts on my blog about the experiences.) What matters most to us this year is celebrating the gifts of family, love and health. We really don’t need anything else. And so, we decided to focus more on spending time together as a family and less on buying stuff. We’ve already added one experience to our list. Last weekend, during Glen’s family’s Christmas gathering, we participated in the National Remembrance Ceremony at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery at Camp Ripley. As part of the ceremony organized by Wreaths For The Fallen, we helped place wreaths on veterans’ gravestones. The sight when all of the gravestones were adorned with wreaths was breathtaking. And I believe I wasn’t the only one who was humbly reminded of the freedoms we enjoy because of the sacrices made by the men and women of the armed services. After Christmas vacation starts, we’re planning to make and decorate Christmas cookies together, play some chess and take in a movie at the local theater. The movie is partly for Christmas and partly because Dan and Daphne celebrated their birthdays this past week. They are both over-the-top excited to see the new Star Wars movie. One new experience we’re going to try this year centers around our family’s love for reading. Instead of picking out books for Dan, Monika and Daphne like we usually do, we got each a gift card for our What matters most to us this Wh hi them favorite bookstore. We have year is celebrating the gifts of a date scheduled to go out for lunch at a Chinese restaurant family, love and health. and then spend the afternoon at the bookstore. This way, the kids can explore to their hearts’ content and hopefully discover a few new titles. (The hidden lesson in the outing will be learning to budget and choose wisely.) Following our visit to the bookstore, we’ll have dessert at our favorite ice cream shoppe. (If you happen to see our children in the next couple days – shhhhh! – they haven’t opened their presents yet.) I know a shopping trip together might not sound like much to some people, but Glen and I used to spend hours together at the bookstore before we started farming. We are endlessly delighted (and proud) that our children have become book lovers themselves. Finding creative ways to spend quality time together requires tapping into mutual interests. We’re quite excited about this idea and hope that everyone enjoys it enough to make it an annual tradition. There will be a few other presents under the Christmas tree for the kids to open on Christmas morning, but I hope this year they’ll remember the experiences of Christmas more than the gifts. Sadie and her husband, Glen, milk 100 cows near Melrose, Minn. They have three children – Dan, 11, Monika, 8, and Daphne, 5. Sadie also writes a blog at www.dairygoodlife.com. She can be reached at sadiefrericks@gmail. com.
Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017 • Page 33
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Page 34 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017
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I want to start by wishing all the readers a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! I realize this month’s topic may not apply to all dairy farms. However, for many Midwest dairy producers, we are entering a time when bovine somatotropin (BST) will no longer be available as a management tool. Well- Something to Ruminate On managed herds with strong reproductive programs and plenty of replacements will make this transition with less disruption. Just as we discussed 20 years ago when herds started using BST, there are nutritional considerations as herds move away from this By Barry Visser practice. Nutritionist Administering BST to dairy cows typically resulted in a direct increase in milk production and an increase in persistency of lactation. Research trials over the course of a lactation show about 10 pounds per cow per day when administering BST beginning day 50 to 60 postpartum. Within several weeks after starting BST, a 6- to 8-percent increase in dry matter intake (DMI) usually occurred. For the normal cow, this intake response was a predictable function of increased milk yield; the more milk in the bucket, the more feed in the manger. The ability to keep sufcient amounts of highquality feed available at all times often dictated the success or failure of BST use. Herds that have been off BST for more than a few weeks have likely seen a reduction in DMI. Some herds are noticing more DMI consistency since stopping BST, particularly if they were on a full interval duration. Most herds have always strived to maximize DMI and feed efciency. This becomes even more critical in a post-BST era. To capture lost milk, efforts to increase DMI are necessary. Forage quality may be improved by focusing on variety selection, harvest timing and practices. Evaluate feed bunk management for opportunities to enhance DMI, as well. This may range from stocking density to feed pushup to number of times per day cows are fed. A single group lactating ration has worked well for many farms as BST allowed for greater production persistency. In the absence of BST, it may be time to evaluate ration grouping strategies. Dr. Mike Allen from Michigan State University shared his hepatic oxidation theory (HOT) several years ago, which aimed to minimize body condition gain in late-lactation cows as their natural somatotropin levels decrease. The concept behind Allen’s theory is that cows partition nutrients differently depending on their stage of lactation and gestation. Consideration may be given to replace rapidly available carbohydrates with starch or sugar sources that are more slowly degraded. Another option is to implement fermentable ber sources to reduce propionate production. Supplemental fat sources may also be evaluated and partitioned respectively. Work with your nutrition advisor to consider feeding strategies to mitigate production losses and changes in body condition of the herd. Several nonnutritional management factors may be implemented to try to capture some of the milk lost from BST removal. Examples include heat abatement, longday lighting or multiple milking of fresh cows. Wellmanaged farms that focus on sound nutrition and cow comfort will nd new ways to achieve outstanding production in a post-BST era. Barry Visser is a nutritionist for Vita Plus.
Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017 • Page 35
A path towards automation Scherbers install automated feeding system as part of expansion By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
ROGERS, Minn. – When John and Staci Scherber were reviewing their options for the future of their dairy farm, there were several ideas but one important commonality – automation. “Robots can allow us to farm into our 70s and the kids don’t have to feel like they have to take it over. But if they want to come back, then this is here for them and the farm can continue,” said John Scherber, who milks 100 cows with his family in Hennepin County near Rogers, Minn. Last fall, the Scherbers took the rst step towards complete onfarm automation by incorporating an automated feeding system – the Lely Vector. The system is in addition to a 122-stall freestall barn that has the space needed for two milking robots to be installed in the future. Unlike other automated feeding systems with new equipment and facilities, the Scherbers’ is retrotted into their old feed room, where the TMR mixer was once housed. Inside the room, Alice – as the Scherbers have named their feeding robot – is stationed in a charging area where ingredients for the milking
JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR
John Scherber and his family installed an automated feeding system November 2016 on their 100-cow dairy near Rogers, Minn. The system is the Scherbers’ rst step towards automaƟng their farm setup. and dry cow rations are delivered by conveyor belts and a pipeline system. Corn silage, ground corn and a protein supplement are stored in separate bins located near the feed room, whereas dry hay is delivered from the haymow above the original
tiestall barn. “Ever since I was young, we’ve always made small square bales and put them above the barn,” Scherber said. “I think it’s really neat to use the old conveyor with the new equipment.” Rations are created throughout the
day, depending on the amount of feed at the bunks. In a typical day, the milking cows are fed about six times, according to Scherber’s computer system that monitors Alice’s movements. Turn to SCHERBERS | Page 37
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Page 36 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017
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Women In Jeans Kristin Solum Deer Park, Wis. Polk County 800 cows
Family: I farm with my parents, Kevin and Roxie, and my younger brother, Ryan. Tell us about your farm. My family has farmed here since 1893, when they started with six cows. We lost most of our 70-cow herd to a barn re in 1992, and decided to build a new barn for 300 cows in 1993. In 1999, we expanded to 600 cows and to 750 in 2001. We’ve slowly grown from there. What’s the busiest time of day for you? Mornings are always busy. It seems like everything and anything is going on when the day starts. When you get a spare moment what do you do? That’s a good question. In the summer, we go tractor pulling and in the winter, we go snowmobiling. I also like to do some crafting when I can. Tell us about your most memorable experience working on the farm. I was 9 years old, and the vet had to come at 9 p.m. to do a C-section on a cow. I was determined to do whatever I could to help the vet get that calf out, and I didn’t care that it was late at night. What have you enjoyed most about dairy farming or your tie to the dairy industry? I just enjoy the cows. There’s nothing better than welcoming a calf into the world and watching her grow into a healthy, productive cow that will help feed the world. That is humbling for me.
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How do you stay connected with others in the industry? Social media, attending conferences, and making a point to get together with farm friends even if it’s just for dinner at one of our houses.
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DID W We are in our third generation of raising and selling alfalfa. I’ve seen a lot T ! U Y S a bus e’ve KNO OU GE akot YO ? R of people jump in and out of the hay business... our family has been doing this our D A W D ine be DI OW the L outh ? ss en entire lives.We know what it takes to make hay in South Dakota and we know how to KN ne of in S s i n i n treat a customer. When you buy alfalfa from us either you are 100% satisfied or we’ll make it right. o rs re duce a We a Pro alf Alf
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Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017 • Page 37
ConĆ&#x;nued from SCHERBERS | Page 35
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The automated feeding system moves back to its charging staĆ&#x;on. Daily, the robot delivers feed from the feed room in the Ć&#x;estall barn to the cows in the new freestall barn, following a path outdoors in between the two barns. “Of all the options for this type of feeding system, they were not that far apart, ďƒžnancially,â€? Scherber said. “We went with this one because of the intelligence. She can just feed when the cows need it and not be timed.â€? Every 45 minutes, Alice leaves the charging station and takes a short jaunt outside towards the freestall barn to push up feed. Using a laser, the system is able to determine if the feed pile is below 3 inches. If so, Alice returns to the charging station and mixes a fresh ration. The rations are predetermined by Scherber’s nutritionist and inputted into the system in an as-fed basis. Alice continues mixings small batches of the ration until the entire feed bunk reaches the 3-inch threshold. “That was really weird to get used to,â€? Scherber said. “We’d be milking and then all of a sudden things would start up in the feed room.â€? Scherber and his family continue to milk in the 46-stall tiestall barn every 10 hours. Previously, the Scherbers were milking three times a day. “Three times a day was good for the cows, but wearing us out. Switching to milking every 10 hours seemed like a good compromise for us and the cows,â€? Scherber said. On one day, the herd is milked at 6 a.m. and 4 p.m., and then the following day, the herd is milked around 1 a.m., 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. In wanting to nearly double the herd size from 55 to 100 cows, a new barn had to be built. Scherber worked with construction personnel to build a barn that would meet all of the family’s dairying needs, but also not cause troubles with the farm’s current layout. “We never wanted to tear down the 100-year-old barn, the slurry storage wasn’t going to move, and the road wasn’t going to move,â€? Scherber said. “When we were done, we only had about 15 feet on each side of the barn between the old barn and the manure storage.â€? The freestall barn sits 118 feet wide and 192 feet long, with only a 12-foot feed alley. Each stalled pen contains automatic alley scrapers. On the south side of the barn, the milking herd is housed in one pen, with
a special needs pen to the west of where the robots could be placed. The special needs pen is strategically placed for cows to enter the robots and circle back into their pen, said Scherber. Across the feed alley are three pens for dry and fresh cows – far-off, closeup and a maternity area. “The cows are always in the barn. So, when it’s just Staci and I moving cows around, it’s a fun way to farm,â€? Scherber said. While the Scherbers did not have the equity at the time to install milking robots, using the detailed barn design, they were able to lessen the building costs and reinvest in the feeding system. In their search for an efďƒžcient system, the Scherbers toured quite a few farms with different automated feeding equipment. With each design and the farmers’ reasoning for their purchases, the Scherbers became conďƒždent in the direction they were heading. “We knew we wanted to go automated. ‌ It didn’t seem necessary to drive a tractor from [the feed room] to [the new barn],â€? Scherber said. Additionally, Scherber felt the automated system was a safer option for his children who are still home at the farm. This way, he does not have to worry about them being in the way of a moving tractor. “If we were always going to have kids and grandkids running around, we didn’t want a tractor backing up in here,â€? said Scherber of the feed room. “Or, if I were gone, Staci could get everything done.â€? With the new system, Scherber estimates he and his family save about four hours a day by not feeding the cows. “I think all farmers are like this, you get busy making hay or doing something and the cows should’ve been fed a while ago. With this, I’d be doing something and realize it’s nice that the cows were taken care of and I didn’t have to stop what I was doing,â€? Scherber said. “I think mentally, that’s easier on the mind.â€? In the coming year, the Scherbers plan to continue their herd expansion to a number that would allow milking robots to cash ďƒ&#x;ow. For now, though, they are one step closer to automating their farm with the help of Alice.
8600, 2016, 148 Hrs, RWA, Warranty ......$409,500 8600, 2015, 436 Hrs, RWA ................... Coming In! 8500, 2016, 248 Hrs, RWA ................... Coming In! 8100, 2016, 250 Hrs, RWA, Warranty ......$259,000 7780, 2014, 1301 Hrs, RWA .....................$239,000 7580, 2013, 610 Hrs, RWA, Warranty ......$274,900 7950, 2012, 694 Hrs, RWA .......................$274,900 7850, 2008, 1600 Hrs, RWA .....................$179,500 7550, 2012, 1825 Hrs, RWA .....................$205,000 7550, 2010, 1344 Hrs, RWA .....................$209,500 7550, 2008, 1359 Hrs, RWA .....................$189,500 7450, 2009, 1550 Hrs, RWA .....................$189,500 7450, 2010, 2985 Hrs, RWA .....................$139,000 7350, 2008, 2950 Hrs, RWA .....................$149,000 7800, 2007, 1885 Hrs, RWA .....................$159,500 7700, 2007, 1570 Hrs, RWA .....................$169,500 7500, 2005, 2423 Hrs, RWA .....................$135,000 7500, 2003, 3100 Hrs, RWA .....................$128,000 7400, 2004, 2918 Hrs, RWA .....................$124,900 7400, 2005, 1516 Hrs, 2WD .......................$98,000 7300, 2003,3637 Hrs, RWA ........................$79,000 6850, 1999, 3120 Hrs, RWA .......................$79,500
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Cost: $50 for producers and industry before 12/29 • $65 after 12/29 $25 for students before 12/29 • $30 after 12/29 Register at: iGrow.org/Events/I-29-moo-university-2018/
WORKSHOP AGENDA
I29MooUniversity 9:30 am – Registration and Refreshments 10:00 a.m. – New Forage Genetic Lines and How They Impact the Dairy Industry – Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist 10:45 a.m. – Cover Crops – Incorporating Them into Your Forage Production System – Sara Berg, SDSU Extension Agronomy Field Specialist 11:30 a.m. – Break 11:45 a.m. – Incorporating Cover Crops into Dairy Rations – Jim Paulson, Associate Professor Forage Specialist and Nutritionist 12:30 p.m. – Lunch 1:30 p.m. – Sponsor Recognition 2:00 p.m. – Silage Pile Safety Training for you and Your Employees – Keith Bolsen, PhD., Professor Emeritus, KSU, “The Silage Man� 2:45 p.m. – Evaluating Dairy Diets from the Nutritionist to the Employee, to the Cow – Authored by Fernando Diaz, DVM, PhD., -Dairy Nutrition & Management Consultiant, Rosecrans Dairy Consulting; Co-presented by Jim Salfer, U of M Regional Dairy Extension Educator & Tracey Erickson, SDSU Dairy Field Specialist 3:45 p.m. – Evaluation & Adjourn
Questions? Contact Tracey Erickson 605-882-5140 Tracey.Erickson@sdstate.edu or Kim Clark 402-472-6065 KimClark@unl.edu South Dakota State University, South Dakota counties, and U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. South Dakota State University is an AfďŹ rmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and offers all beneďŹ ts, services, education, and employment opportunities without regard for race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or Vietnam Era veteran status.
Page 38 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017
BECAUSE THE COWS
WON’T WAIT SECTION 179
2017 DEDUCTIONS ON EQUIPMENT 2017 DEDUCTION LIMIT = $500,000 Good on new and used equipment
2017 SPENDING CAP ON EQUIPMENT PURCHASES = $2,000,000 BONUS DEPRECIATION: 50% FOR 2017 Available for new equipment only.
Visit www.section179.org to learn more OR call your local Bobcat dealer today! *NOTE: This information is provided as a courtesy to equipment buyers and should not be constructed as tax advice or as a promise or potential tax savings or reduced tax liability. Please contact your own CPA or tax attorney to see how this may apply to your situation.
You never know when a heavy snowfall will require fast action. That’s why Bobcat offers winter-ready machines and the widest selection of snow removal attachments in the industry. With the versatility and power to remove snow quickly and efficiently, as well as comfortable cabs that battle the elements, Bobcat® equipment can help you increase productivity and profit.
0% APR
FOR UP TO 48 MONTHS*
Purchase a new Bobcat skid-steer loader from a participating dealer and receive 0% APR for up to 48 months or in lieu of financing rebates up to $2,600*.
3-YEAR, 3,000-HOUR DRIVELINE WARRANTY*
For a limited time, receive a 3-year/3,000-hour driveline warranty* when you purchase a new Bobcat skid-steer loader from participating dealers.
AUTHORIZED BOBCAT DEALERS
IOWA
Reiser Implement, Inc. Waukon • 563-568-4526 JP Scherrman, Inc. Farley • 563-744-3393
MINNESOTA
Aldrich Tractor, Inc. Verndale • 218-445-5430 Bobcat of Mankato Mankato • 507-625-4511 Bobcat of Otter Tail County Fergus Falls • 218-739-4505
Bobcat of Rochester Rochester • 507-285-0753
Lano Equipment of Norwood Norwood Young America • 952-467-2181
Farm-Rite Equipment, Inc. Dassel • 320-275-2737
Lund Implement Company Madison • 320-598-3150
Farm-Rite Equipment, Inc. St. Cloud • 320-240-2085
Miller Sellner Slayton Slayton • 507-836-8571
Farm-Rite Equipment, Inc. Willmar • 320-235-3672
Sanco Equipment Albert Lea • 507-373-4490
Lano Equipment, Inc. Anoka • 763-323-1720
Tri-State Bobcat Burnsville • 952-894-0894
Lano Equipment, Inc. Loretto • 763-472-8200
Tri-State Bobcat Little Canada • 651-407-3727
Lano Equipment, Inc. Shakopee • 952-445-6310
United Farmers Cooperative Lafayette • 507-228-8224
Visit Bobcat.com/Offers or stop by today for details. *Offer ends 12/31/2017. Available at participating and eligible dealers only. Offer may vary by product type, series, model and select units in dealer inventory. Offers available on new equipment in US and Canada only. Some restrictions apply. Length of contract may vary. See dealer for details. Financing provided on approval of credit by authorized Bobcat finance providers to well-qualified buyers. Administrative fees may apply. Offer not available to government accounts, national accounts and municipal/utility bid customers. Non-commercial customers may not be eligible for low rate financing. Bobcat Company reserves the right to extend or discontinue any of these programs at any time without prior notice. Bobcat®, the Bobcat logo and the colors of the Bobcat machine are registered trademarks of Bobcat Company in the United States and various other countries.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Bobcat of Brookings, Inc. Brookings • 605-697-5544 Pfeifer’s Implement Sioux Falls • 605-338-6351
WISCONSIN
Bobcat of Janesville Janesville • 608-756-0000 Bobcat of Madison Madison • 608-221-3360 Tri-State Bobcat Hudson •715-531-0801
Dairy prole
Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017 • Page 39
sponsored by
Cory Lein Brooklyn, Wis. Dane County 40 Cows How did you get into farming? I started in 4-H and began studying pedigrees and showing at local, state and national level shows. I started milking and farming when I got out of high school and have been ever since. What are your thoughts and concerns about the dairy industry for the next year? The huge problem for small family farms is having a market for their milk and receiving a fair price. If this isn’t changed in the near future it could bring devastation to many local communities. There are increasing numbers of large mega-dairies ooding the market and this has all come at the expense of hard-working, small family farms that have provided safe and nutritious food for decades. In America’s Dairyland, there have been many people I personally know who have not been able to nd a home for their milk, yet if you build a 5,000-cow dairy, you have no problem. We are headed down the same path as hogs did. The ones who will be hurt the most are the next generation.
How do you retain a good working relationship with your employee(s)? Being a small farm and having clean cows makes a better working environment on our farm. Tell us about a skill you possess that makes dairy farming easier for you. I am able to mate my cows to produce trouble-free, long-lasting cows.
What is the latest technology you implemented on your farm and the purpose for it? Using social media as a way to stay connected with fellow What do you enjoy most about dairyman. dairy farming? I enjoy getting What is a management to know so many good friends practice you changed in the from all over the U.S. I also past year that has beneted enjoy seeing the cows go out you? I’ve been using a more to pasture each spring. aggressive rotation on my hay elds recently and that has What advice would you give other dairy farmers? You need impacted yield positively.
to be aware of what is going on in the industry, and you need to focus on doing what works best for you, not what works for someone else. What has been the best purchase you’ve ever made on your farm? I purchased a cow, B-Unique Scarlet-Red, that has made a great impact on our herd as a foundation cow. What has been your biggest accomplishment while dairy farming? Breeding 37 allAmerican and/or junior allAmerican nominations in ve breeds. This is all from a 40cow herd fed all home-raised feed. We’ve also had many national show winners.
What are your plans for your dairy in the next year and ve years? I’m considering having a sale in the near future to market some of the extra animals on the farm and give other breeders the chance to continue to develop exciting cows. I’m also looking into direct-marketing opportunities. How do you or your family like to spend time when you are not doing chores? I enjoy taking my kids camping, watching movies and going on trips with them when I can get away.
Star Blends is a full service feed manufacturing facility. We provide custom complete feeds, supplements and minerals. We utilize modern technology to produce your needed products on demand with the highest quality feeds at the best cost. We also offer a wide selection of commodities, ingredients and additives. We are focused on dairy, efficiently delivering to farms in Western Wisconsin. Give us a call, we’d be happy to discuss our commodities or custom products and services with you and your nutritionist.
1919 Riley Road Sparta, WI 54656 | 800.462.4125
Page 40 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2017
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New Patz 5800 Manure Tanker
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New Patz Loadstand Lagoon Pump, #3955
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4116 Hwy. 80 S. Platteville, WI
Office: (608) 348-9401 or Toll Free: 1(888) BUY-Patz www.steinhartsfarmservice.com
4116 Hwy. 80 S. Platteville, WI