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DAIRY ST R
February 22, 2020
“All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 22, No. 1
“To me, it’s important that I’m making and selling the best quality milk.” – Rob Ruther
Ruthers maintain SCC at 83,000
All a part of the job
By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
PERHAM, Minn. – Rob and Amie Ruther do not take their job as dairy farmers lightly and with that is the responsibility to provide high quality milk. “It’s my job, as a dairy farmer, to produce milk that you and I can drink,” Rob said. “To me, it’s important that I’m making and selling the best quality milk. That goes with anything in life. I want to do my best job.” Rob and Amie milk 108 cows with their seven children – Eathan, 16, Jonah, 15, Clara, 13, Everett, 10, Mara, 6, Aleece, 4, and Sadie, 1 – in Otter Tail County near Perham. The couple’s niece, Cora Hoehne, also works full time on the farm. Minnesota Dairy Herd
JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR
The Ruthers – (from le�) Rob holding Aleece, 4, and Amie holding Sadie, 1 – and their niece Cora Hoehne milk 108 cows in O�er Tail County near Perham, Minnesota. In 2019, the Ruthers’ herd maintained an average soma�c cell count of 83,000.
Improvement Association recently recognized the family for their superior milk quality. In 2019, the Ruthers’ herd maintained an average somatic cell count of 83,000. “Honestly, we used to struggle a bit when we rst purchased this farm,” Rob said. “But we made some changes because milk quality has been something we’ve always focused on.” The Ruthers’ morning begins in the barn at 6. Rob brings the cows into the double-8 milking parlor as Amie or Hoehne scrapes the stalls of the 108-stall freestall barn. In the parlor, the Ruthers follow a consistent milking routine. Four cows are dipped with a sanitizer and wiped, stripped, and dipped and wiped again before the milking units are attached. The same procedure is then followed on the other side of the parlor. Turn to RUTHERS | Page 7
Producers’ interac�on with lawmakers making a difference
Bremers help introduce bill during MN Milk Dairy Day at the Capitol By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Last year, Hastings dairy farmers, John and Janet Bremer, attended Minnesota Milk Producers Association Dairy Day at the Capitol for the rst time where they talked with their state senator, Karla Bigham (D-54). This year, the Bremers were part of a press conference that introduced a bill sparked from their conversation one year prior. “It’s just another example of how important it is to talk to your lawmakers and get involved because you just never know what you can do until you try,” Janet said. The Bremers were two of the 57 dairy farmers and industry representatives to attend Minnesota Milk’s Dairy Day at the Capitol Feb. 18 in St. Paul.
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Janet Bremer talks during a press conference to introduce the Healthy Kids’ Meals Bill Feb. 19 during Dairy Day at the Capitol in St. Paul. Janet and her husband, John, who are dairy farmers from Has�ngs, Minnesota, came up with the idea for the bill one year ago. Bigham and Rep. Jeff Brand (D19A) authored the Healthy Kids’ Meals Bill, which would make milk the default
beverage in a children’s meal sold in Minnesota. The bill is not a mandate. “This bill will hopefully start ensur-
ing children have healthy habits when it comes to their decision making when it comes to their nutrition,” Bigham said. “More importantly, this is about our dairy farmers. Minnesota lost over 300 dairy farmers last year. That is an 11% reduction from the previous year. We believe this legislation will increase consumer demand for milk and help our dairy farmers.” The idea stemmed from John, who had read about a similar California bill designed because of an inux of diabetes cases in recent years. “We presented it to Karla (last year), and she loved the idea,” John said. “She just had to get someone across party lines to get on the bill with her.” After teaming up with Brand, Bigham garnered the support of health organizations such as the American Heart Association and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, among others. Along with Minnesota Milk, the Minnesota Farmers Union also backs this bill. Turn to DAIRY DAY | Page 5