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DAIRY ST R
February 22, 2020
“All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 22, No. 1
Cows, cheese, conservation
Koepke Farms focuses on all three By Stacey Smart
stacey.s@dairystar.com
OCONOMOWOC, Wis. – John and Kim Koepke know good cheese starts with good soil. The Koepkes’ deep love of the land and
PHOTO SUBMITTED
LaBelle Cheese is made with milk from cows at Koepke Farms. Made in partnership with Clock Shadow Creamery in Milwaukee, LaBelle is a Gouda-style recipe available in six different avors.
commitment to exceptional cow care is reected in every package of LaBelle Cheese. Made with milk from cows at Koepke Farms, LaBelle is an artisan cheese handcrafted in small batches and carefully aged for a smooth, buttery avor. This Oconomowoc dairy farm thrives in an area bordered by urban development and abundant lakes. A fervent desire to protect nature is woven into this community known as Lake Country. And it is an ideal that Koepke Farms wholeheartedly supports. “Nature is a complex web of both plants and animals, and farming is easier when you work with nature versus against it,” John said. “We strive to work with nature the best that we can, mimicking the biology of the land while at the same time making a living and creating nutritious food.”
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Kim and John Koepke, along with John’s dad, James, and uncle, David (not pictured) run Koepke Farms near Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. They milk 320 cows and farm 1,200 acres, and also use a small percentage of their milk to make LaBelle Cheese, which the farm began selling in 2010. Given the farm’s location, diversification appeared more attractive than expansion, and in
2008, the family started looking into value-added options. “We wanted to diversify the
family business while adding an enterprise area the next generation could grow into,” Kim said. Five generations have conscientiously worked the land at this farm for 145 years since John’s great-great grandfather immigrated from Germany in 1875. And, a sixth generation is hoping to do the same. John and Kim farm with John’s dad, James, and John’s uncle, David. His other uncle, Alan, is retired. John and Kim have three children – Auggie, 18, Colton, 15, and Sam, 11. Auggie is studying agriculture at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. “Land and animal care are our top priorities every day not just some days,” Kim said. “We care very much about what we do and put all of our effort into making the best milk which is the foundation of our cheese.” Koepke Farms launched LaBelle Cheese in 2010, which is made in partnership with Clock Shadow Creamery in Milwaukee.
Turn to KOEPKES | Page 5
“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 100 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 Hoene, 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 Hoene 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
Page 2 • Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020
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 Consultant Jerry Jennissen 320-346-2292 Editorial Staff Krista Kuzma - Editor/Wisconsin (507) 259-8159 • krista.k@dairystar.com Andrea Borgerding - Associate Editor (320) 352-6303 • andrea.b@dairystar.com Jennifer Coyne - Assistant Editor (320) 352-6303 • jenn@dairystar.com Danielle Nauman (608) 487-1101 danielle.n@dairystar.com Stacey Smart - Staff Writer (262) 442-6666 • stacey.s@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 - Joyce Frericks 320-352-6303 • joyce@dairystar.com Bob Leukam (Northern MN, East Central MN) 320-260-1248 (cell) bob.l@star-pub.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 Amanda Hoeďƒ&#x;er (Eastern Iowa) 320-250-2884 • amanda.h@dairystar.com Julie Barnes (SE WI and Northern IL) julie.b@dairystar.com Megan Stuessel (Western Wisconsin) 608-387-1202 • megan.s@dairystar.com Ashley Curry (Northeast WI and Upper MI) 920-539-7268 • ashley.c@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.
A glance at the other side
Dairy Star likes to provide local stories, which is why we have two versions of the paper. Below are a few highlights from stories you will not ďƒžnd in this paper, but you can ďƒžnd online in zone 1. Find full editions on our website, www.dairystar.com, and click on the e-edition tab under the Dairy Star header. Froelichs convert poultry barn to tiestall facility Justin and Tracie Froelich found a way to dairy farm on their family’s farm site, despite it not having a structurally sound facility to house milking animals. The young couple renovated an old poultry barn into a 92-stall tiestall barn at their dairy in Morrison County near Lastrup, Minnesota. The structure has allowed the Froelichs to revitalize a central building on the farm but also assist the couple in forming their dairy career. Cows, courts: Keeping an Iowa dairy family busy Keith Koopmann calls the shots – on his dairy farm and on the court. Every basketball season, Koopmann ofďƒžciates more than 100 youth basketball games while also milking 90 cows on his dairy farm near Epworth, Iowa. Koopmann’s time refereeing is not only a way to generate extra income, but also share his passion for the game with his family. Koopmann’s wife, Katie, coaches their daughter’s basketball team. Scherpings treasure time spent milking cows Ken and MaryBeth Scherping have built their life around dairy farming. The couple has been milking cows on Ken’s family farm in Freeport, Minnesota, since they married in 1986. The couple splits the farm tasks – from milking the herd of 60 cows to feeding calves and doing ďƒželdwork. Dairy farming is not a lifestyle for the faint of heart, and the Scherpings are nothing short of pleased with the lifestyle they have created on the farm. Farmers participate in new Midwest Dairy leadership program Fifteen young dairy farmers from throughout the 9.5-state checkoff region managed by Midwest Dairy are a part of the inaugural Dairy Experience and Agricultural Leadership program. It targets dairy producers 40 years old and younger to help give them leadership skills so they can be active with promotion in their area and potentially take board member roles for the checkoff organization in the future. The group met Feb. 11-13 in San Antonio, Texas, and will gather two more times over the next 18 months.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020 • Page 3
It’s all inside... Columnists Ag Insider
Pages 8-9 First Section
Abbotsford
Junction City
The Oscar goes to
First Section: Page 34
First Section: Pages 22 - 23
Flaigs look outside the box for income diversication
Buffalo
Farmginton
Women in Dairy: Beth Wurst
Vernon
O Waushara
Richland
Dane
Jo Daviess
Zone 2
Carroll
Brownsville
on
ens
h tep
S
Rock
go
eba
n Win
Whiteside
First Section: Pages 36 - 38
Cows, cheese, conservation
First Section: Pages 1, 5-6
Kenosha
McHenry
Ogle DeKalb
Heart for Dairy
Oconomowoc
Racine
Walworth
e
Lafayette Green
First Section: Pages 12 - 13
on
Iowa
Grant
Jefferson Waukesha
Bo
Innovating infant formula with goat milk
Do or
Green Lake Fond Du Lac
Columbia Dodge
Sauk
aw Cr
Nekoosa
Zone 1
o ag Calumet
eb
nn Wi
for
d
Pages 10 - 11 Second Section
ie am Brown
Wa sh
The “Mielke” Market Weekly
Oconto
g uta
Adams Juneau
te
Shawano
Wood
Monroe La Crosse
First Section: Page 35
Menominee
Portage Waupaca Jackson
et
Ke w
Pepin
in
Langlade
Marathon
Clark
Eau Claire
ar
Menominee
ton S he bo Milwaukee Ozauk M yg ee an anito wo c
Pierce
Dunn
ce
M
Forest
Lincoln
Taylor
Chippewa
ren
Oneida
Rusk
Barron
St. Croix
Page 32 First Section
Page 33 First Section
Price
First Section: Page 39
Just Thinking Out Loud
Dairy Good Life
hb
Polk
Flo
Sawyer
Delta
Dickinson
Vilas
ing
Dairy Prole: Andy Hornick Jr.
Iron
aun ee
n ur
Clayton
First Section: Pages 25, 28
ett e
Page 31 First Section
Burnett
Trempealeau
Something to Ruminate On
Ashland
Wa s
Page 30 First Section
Third Section: Page 11
Sled dog racing favorite hobby of Van De Walle
Bayeld
Douglas
Ramblings from the Ridge
Peshtigo
Dairy’s Star Youth: Hannah Hockerman
qu
Page 27 First Section
Westeld
Ma r
A barn is an expensive tool in milk production
Lake Geneva
Vanderstappen brother-sister team gear up to take over dairy
Kane
Lee
First Section: Pages 10, 11
What programs do you use for bookkeeping? First Section: Pages 15 - 16
Mercer on
FROM OUR SIDE OF THE FENCE:
Hen ders
For additional stories from our other zone, log on to www.dairystar.com
Rock Island
n
re War
Delavan
Synchronization protocols key for reproduction at McClellan Farms Inc. First Section: Pages 18, 20
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Page 4 • Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020
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Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020 • Page 5
ConƟnued from KOEPKE | Page 1 The creamery’s owner and certied Master Cheesemaker, Bob Wills, partnered with the Koepkes to create the LaBelle brand. They developed a Gouda-style recipe perfect for aging which is made into 11 to 12-pound wheels at Clock Shadow. The Koepkes ship about 6,000 pounds of milk to the creamery each month to make the cheese. The Koepkes milk 320 cows three times a day in a double-10 herringbone parlor. Cows fresh up to 70 days in milk are milked four times a day. The farm’s rolling herd average is 31,800 pounds of milk with 4.1% butterfat and 3.2% protein content. “Prior to making cheese, we used rBST,” John said. “We had to quit in order to make cheese with Clock Shadow. It was the best thing we ever did. Milk production increased, somatic cell count dropped and conception rates improved. We saw so many benets by not using it. Before we stopped, our cell count was around 170,000. Within three weeks of quitting rBST, cell count decreased to 75,000 to 80,000.” Two weeks after the LaBelle wheels are made, the cheese is sent to the Koepkes’ aging facility located less than a mile from the farm. The Koepkes age the cheese for at least six months before being sold. “Working with Bob Wills gave us a way to build a branded product with our own family’s name on it without the high capital investment costs of building our own dairy plant infrastructure,” Kim said. “Bob and his cheesemakers bring the artisan cheese making expertise while the Koepkes bring the dairy farming expertise of ve generations into every crafted wheel of LaBelle.” Kim said the cheese’s mild avor appeals to many taste buds, including those of children, and has a longer shelf life than soft cheese. However, one must be patient while waiting for a return on investment as the cheese ages.
“Our cheese becomes better with time,” Kim said. “The downside is holding off on marketing the product until it ages.” The Koepkes offer six avors of Gouda – green olive, cracked black pepper, hickory smoked bacon, hickory smoked plain, original plain and fenugreek. “LaBelle Cheese is having a positive economic impact on our farm,” John said. “But it didn’t happen overnight. We fumbled around in the dark for quite some time.” Selling the cheese is the most challenging part. The Koepkes work with distributors and sell direct to grocery stores and other retailers. Their biggest partner is Sendik’s Food Market, which has more than 20 store locations in the Milwaukee area with each one carrying LaBelle Cheese. The cheese is also sold at stores in Madison, Oconomowoc and Fort Atkinson. “We got into quite a few of these by going direct to the store,” Kim said. “One of our employees, Elmo Wendorf, is our marketing point-of-sale person. He lives to do store demos and is driving customer sales of our cheese at the retail level. He’s a great ambassador for the farm who has a direct connection to the cows as he also milks for us a couple mornings a week.” The fact that LaBelle Cheese comes from a small, family-owned business has been helpful in getting it placed on store shelves, said Kim, who also sets up shop at farmers markets. The Koepkes market about 60 young, fresh cows each year from their registered Holstein herd and have had 15 cows set lifetime milk production records of 300,000 pounds. One of their cows, Granny, set a world record for lifetime milk production in 2003, giving 458,609 pounds of milk. She lived to be 20 years old. The Koepkes farm around 1,200 acres of
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Turn to KOEPKES | Page 6
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Page 6 • Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020
ConƟnued from KOEPKE | Page 5
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STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Jace Gehring milks cows at Koepke Farms Feb. 7 near Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Cows are milked three Ɵmes a day in a double-10 herringbone parlor. corn, alfalfa, soybean and wheat, practicing sustainable land conservation methods that protect and build healthy soils. The Koepkes began practicing no-till in the 1980s and stopped all tillage on the farm in 2004. To compensate, they use more cover crops. A seven-year crop rotation combined with a comprehensive nutrient management plan are also part of Koepkes’ long-term land stewardship priorities. Winners of the 2011 Leopold Conservation Award, the Koepkes’ approach to land management is holistic and uses both old and new technologies. “The better we take care of the land and cattle, the more successful we are,” John said. A longtime advocate for farmland protection, John helps head the watershed
initiative in Oconomowoc and has spent 14 years on the township board for Lake Country. “We started Farmers for Lake Country to promote good conversation and good nutrient planning,” John said. “We’re reducing phosphorous loads from farm elds through aerial seeding. We’ve planted 2,500 acres of cover crops in the area by helicopter resulting in lower phosphorus and less runoff.” Koepke Farms also participates in Tall Pines Conservancy Ride to the Barns – a fundraising bicycling event to benet land conservation. “We wouldn’t be here long if we chose to exploit our resources,” John said. “We’re trying to preserve the land and make it better for the next generation.”
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Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020 • Page 7
ConƟnued from RUTHERS | Page 1 Cows are carefully monitored so they are not over-milked. Following milking, the cows are dipped with an iodine solution. “Consistency,” Amie said. “With our milking procedure, everything.” Rob agreed. “I think double dipping before we milk really helps too,” he said. During milking, the Ruthers pay close attention to their herd. If an animal shows signs of mastitis, they will bucket her milk and let the infection run its course. Previously, they sent in cultures and waited for results before deciding which antibiotic to use, but now when a cow becomes infected, the Ruthers typically do not intervene. “We understand antibiotics are tools,” Rob said. “We give cows a chance to recover before we run for the bottle. Honestly, we haven’t treated a cow in a long time.” Amie agreed. “I think we’ve created a better immune system for the cows and that’s why our SCC is low,” she said. Calves are fed milk from the bucketed animals. Outside of the milking parlor, the Ruthers focus on cleanliness. They use a bedding mixture of one-third sawdust to two-thirds wood shavings. Stalls are bedded once a week and scraped frequently throughout the day. Rob also diligently tracks stray voltage, which he attributes to uctuations in SCC. “You can tell if stray voltage is affecting them,” Rob said. “It’s either one or two cows close by or the whole herd, and they dance. Testing for that can be as simple as nding a cord that was left plugged in.” Attention to detail and consistency
JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR
Cora Hoehne cleans stalls in the Ruthers’ freestall barn Feb. 7 at their dairy near Perham, Minnesota. have propelled the Ruthers’ milk quality, and it has paid off. The family receives a premium of 70 cents per hundredweight for a SCC under 100,000 from their cooperative, Lakes Area Cooperative in Perham. Rob estimated that the premium brings in an additional $1,500 each month. “ T h e r e ’s a n i c e s e n s e o f accomplishment to see our SCC where it’s at. The last two years have been really good,” Rob said. “We’ve just been able to control what we can control.” The Ruthers purchased their farm site in 2012.
In a short time, the couple addressed three areas they felt were contributing to a high SCC: the housing facility for milking cows, stray voltage and chronic cows. Initially, the cows were housed in a bedded pack barn. “But, the barn was designed for stalls,” Rob said. “The bank also encouraged us to change that right away.” The Ruthers then focused on confronting stray voltage throughout the farm. And, as Rob and Amie had heifers calving in, they aggressively culled cows from their herd.
“Between the free stalls and heifers calving in, we really saw a change in SCC,” Rob said. Amie agreed. “Although that helped us some, we still had cows freshening with a high SCC,” she said. So, the Ruthers reevaluated their management. They rst reviewed their dry cow protocol. The couple was dry treating every cow with antibiotics and an intramammary teat sealant. They toyed with selective dry cow therapy but chose to implement a no-treatment protocol. “I read a lot about treatments and why treat a cow if the infection could run its course,” Amie said. They also shied away from bedding with straw. While the straw worked well, Rob was bedding twice a day. When a different bedding type became available for purchase, it created a drier environment for the cows and eliminated some labor. For a short stint, the Ruthers milked any fresh cows and bucketed animals in the farm’s old tiestall barn. “I’d like to get back to that where everyone was all in one place and I didn’t have to sort out cows if they were treated or whatever,” said Rob, whose close-up cows are occupying the old facility. The last seven years have provided the Ruthers with opportunity to improve their work as dairy farmers and, in turn, be recognized for their milk quality. While the family is pleased with their progress, it is only a stepping-stone in their continual quest to do their job well. “It’s been a learning curve, but it never hurts to experiment and see what works,” Rob said. “I have to know I’m doing my best to give people quality milk.”
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Livestock facility siting bill introduced Page 8 • Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020
With the end of the special session in sight, that’s beyond normal. It doesn’t allow them to get legislation to modify the regulations for livestock out of the purchases, just temporarily pull back on facility siting was introduced. The Republican bill some of the purchases.” Another important part of the would give the state more control over the process. agreement is enforcement. “President Trump sent a The bill also calls for a panel of nine stakeholders to signal he’s willing to reduce tariffs as long as China approve or reject future siting decisions makes signicant changes on intellectual Ag Insider with ve of those panelists chosen by state property rights, foreign investments and farm groups. Wisconsin Farm Bureau currency manipulations. Whether people President Joe Bragger supported the agree with it or not, Trump has used tariffs action, saying, “farmers need certainty as a means to an end. That’s why we’ve and predictability for future growth.” ended up with a strong agreement.”
handful of advocacy groups in a disagreement over large-scale animal agriculture operations. The lawsuit claims the FSA has delayed and overly redacted Freedom of Information Act requests. The Public Justice Foundation, Animal Legal Defense Fund, the Center for Biological Diversity, the Center for Food Safety and Food & Water Watch are behind this lawsuit. These groups are looking for nancial records to determine if tax dollars are beneting the large-scale farms at the expense of small family-based farms.
Bills advance to support WI dairy Canada’s USMCA ratication vote industry delayed The Assembly Agriculture The Canadian Parliament may not Committee has passed a special session vote to ratify the U.S.-Mexico-Canada bill designed to boost dairy product Agreement until April. Canadian Prime exports. This proposal would invest $1 Minister Justin Trudeau hoped to wrap million to encourage more dairy exports. up the trade deal this month, but the issue By Don Wick An amendment was also offered to has been bogged down at the committee Columnist expand that investment to $5 million. level. Trudeau’s Liberal Party lost its Another bill would expand Wisconsin’s majority in the October elections, giving dairy processor grant program, giving special priority opposition parties the leverage to delay the process. to smaller processing facilities. FCA CEO testies about farm economy Work continues on U.S.-China trade relations The House Appropriations Subcommittee The phase one trade deal between the United on Agriculture took testimony from Farm Credit States and China is now ofcially in place. All eyes Administration CEO Glen Smith. Smith told are on the exports to China with the commitment lawmakers the U.S. farm sector continues to face to signicantly increase their agricultural purchases challenges. “High operating costs for labor, farm from the United States in the next two years. Work inputs and other expenses are still putting stress on continues on other parts of the agreement. China must farm cash ows. Farm subsidy payments help, notably sign paperwork acknowledging the safety standards crop insurance and the Market Facilitation Program for U.S. dairy products. By mid-March, China has payments. Those were, in many cases, the difference agreed to eliminate the cattle age requirements for between net operating loss or prot.” Smith said imports of U.S. beef and beef products. there are some positives that should help improve the 2020 outlook. “One year ago we had almost no Could Chinese imports be inuenced by trade agreements in place. This year, we have the coronavirus? U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, bilateral trade The phase one trade agreement became effective agreements with Japan, South Korea and the phase in mid-February. The Russell Group President Randy one deal with China. It may take patience, but at least Russell said no one anticipated the coronavirus to the groundwork has been laid for trade normalization impact China’s purchases. “There is an Act of God and improved farm prices.” provision in the agreement, which would allow them to postpone some of the purchases if there was a Advocacy groups sue FSA over CAFOs signicant ood, drought or some type of situation The Farm Service Agency is being sued by a
Developing a system for sustainability payments Sustainability is a buzzword today, but it can be difcult coming to terms with what that means. Bruce Knight, who leads Strategic Conservation Solutions, believes sustainability must evolve as relationships between food companies and farmers, rather than from policy and regulatory forces. Knight is part of the Ecosystem Services Market Consortium. “We’re trying to build a mechanism of voluntary incentive payments from companies and transfer that into carbon payments, water quality payments or water quantity payments.” Knight is a South Dakota farmer who served as the NRCS chief and USDA undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs during the George W. Bush administration. Land O’Lakes adopts ‘Farmer Owned’ brand Land O’Lakes has new packaging for its butter that features its farmer members. The phrase ‘Farmer Owned” will be above the brand on the front of the packaging. Products, like stick butter, will also include photos of Land O’Lakes farmers and co-op members. This is the 100th anniversary for the coop and Land O’Lakes President and CEO Beth Ford said it is important to connect the men and women who grow the food with those who consume it. WI farms recognized for milk quality The National Mastitis Council has honored six dairy farms for outstanding production, including two Wisconsin farms. Fischer-Clark Dairy Farm of Hatley and Maple Ridge Dairy of Stratford received Turn to AG INSIDER | Page 9
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ConĆ&#x;nued from AG INSIDER | Page 8
the platinum quality award at the NMC annual meeting in Orlando.
Olson to serve another four years as NFO President The National Farmers Organization has reelected Paul Olson as its president. The Wisconsin dairy farmer has been in that role for the past 20 years. Bruce Schultz of Montana was elected vice president of the organization. Trivia challenge Dairy Queen has the menu item
called the Blizzard. That answers our last trivia question. For this week, the Borden Dairy Company had a cartoon cow as a mascot. What was the name of that 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 ďƒžve grandchildren, Aiden, Piper, Adrienne, Aurora and Sterling.
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The Vanderstappens – (from leŌ) Marty, Mart and Adrianna – run Dutch-Made LLC near Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. The Vanderstappens milk 580 cows and farm 700 acres.
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LAKE GENEVA, Wis. – Following in his father’s footsteps and becoming a dairy farmer is all Marty Vanderstappen ever wanted to do. He had no intentions of obtaining any kind of further education after high school. His plans were to farm full time once he graduated. So, when his mom and dad insisted he go to college, Marty was not happy. The last thing he wanted was to spend four years away from the farm. “I saw how successful my dad was without college and thought, ‘Why do I need to go?’” Marty said. “I didn’t like school and didn’t plan to go until my parents gave me an ultimatum. They said, ‘If you don’t go to college, you’ll be our employee and have to pay rent, buy your own food, etc.’ I thought I was going to call my parents’ bluff, but by February of my senior year, I realized they were for real and not about to back down, so I began applying to colleges.” Marty is one of seven children and the brother of six sisters. Marty and his siblings grew up working on the farm – feeding calves and milking cows as soon as they could reach the pipeline. “It was instilled in us from a young age that work is part of growing up on a farm,” Marty said. He and his sister, Adrianna, now farm together with their father, Martin “Mart.” Their mother, Nancy, takes care of the farm’s bookkeeping. Marty heads up herd management, and Adrianna is in charge of calves. These third-generation farmers were expected to get a college education if they wanted to run the family farm someday. Marty ended up at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, and Adrianna went to the University of WisconsinPlatteville. “I purposely picked the option that was farthest away thinking my parents would be calling me back home before long,” Marty said. “But that never happened.” Marty liked the social aspect of school but did not care for the academics. Still, whenever he came home to visit, he shared with his dad the things he had learned. “My dad would say, ‘Yeah, I know,’” Marty said. “I kept telling him the latest and greatest and his response was always the same. I questioned why I was even going to school if he already knew it all. I’ll never forget what he said in response: ‘Marty, what took me 40 years to learn, you’re learning in four.’ Those words put me back in my place.” After earning a degree in agriculture studies and a minor in dairy science, Marty returned to the farm in December 2011 and hit the ground running. “I thought I was going to set the world on re,” Marty said. “But my dad told me, ‘This is no sprint, it’s a marathon.’”
Marty jumped into cow health and herd management and never looked back. He took on reproductive work, and his dad taught him how to breed. He followed specic breeding protocols and instituted an ovsynch program which was the rst big change the college graduate made on the farm. Marty also got into eldwork and planting. “I was in it all,” Marty said. “I followed my dad around learning every aspect of the farm. I’m still learning every day. If you’re not learning, you’re not being progressive.” Adrianna came back to the farm in the spring of 2013 after earning a dairy science degree. She chose calf care and management as her specialty. Before a calf even hits the ground, she is involved, watching and moving dry cows and getting ready to welcome new calves. The old stanchion barn was converted into calf housing, and in 2014, the family shifted from individual calf pens to mob feeding with milk bars. Calves are housed individually for the rst week of life and then moved to pens where they are housed in groups of eight. The new feeding style increased capacity from 48 calves to 60-plus. The change was a positive for calf health and also made cleaning a cinch as the barn can now be cleaned with a skidsteer. Adrianna cares for calves until 10 months of age at which point Marty and Mart take over. “Adrianna has a huge heart for animals,” Marty said. “She has a motherly instinct and the gift of patience with calves. God bless her for that. I can handle feeding calves for a couple days, but that’s about it. Thankfully, she’s rarely gone. I don’t know how she does it. She provides really consistent care.” The Vanderstappens were milking 400 cows when Marty and Adrianna returned from college. “Adrianna and I wanted to stay at 400,” Marty said. “But Dad wanted to get bigger, so we got overruled. Within a month, we went from 400 to 525 cows. It was not Dad’s rst expansion, but for me, it was overwhelming.” The expansion was necessary to support Marty’s and Adrianna’s return to the farm. “At the time, I didn’t think it was a good decision,” Marty said. “But now that we’re here, I love it. Right now, we’re milking 580 cows which is the most we’ve ever had. It’s exciting to me how we’ve built this herd up. Dad had quite a vision for this farm.” The Vanderstappens run 700 acres of land of which they own 500 acres and rent 200. Cows are milked three times a day in a double-10 herringbone parlor that was built in 2008 – the same year Marty went off to college. “I was mad,” Marty said. “I wanted to be there for that.” In 2017, the family added what Adrianna named the NICU – a facility for newborn calf care, which includes calving pens and a warming room attached to the barn Turn to VANDERSTAPPENS | Page 11
Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020 • Page 11
ConƟnued from VANDERSTAPPENS | Page 10
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Marty Vanderstappen pets Penelope, a farm favorite at Dutch-Made. Marty spends a lot of Ɵme with the cows as the farm’s herd manager. that houses dry cows and breeding heifers. Newborns spend the rst 24 hours of life in the warming room until completely dry before moving to the calf barn. Marty said they took their herd to the next level three years ago when they began using rumination and activity monitors. “It’s been nothing but a real treat,” Marty said. “It makes it so much easier to manage cows. I feel a little disconnect not walking in the pens every day, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I think the world of this system.” Marty no longer relies on ovsynch protocols and instead breeds according to a good, natural standing heat. “We hardly give any repro shots anymore,” Marty said. “Instead, we let the cows tell us when they’re ready. We never skipped a beat when we switched to this system. Actually, we skipped a beat forward and jumped ahead by using it. Cow health has been fantastic, too. Now it’s about preventative treatment versus playing catchup.” Barns are full at the Vanderstappen farm, and Marty said they are using beef semen heavily. They also use some sexed semen and a little bit of conventional on cows that stand the test of time. “There will be no more expansion here,” Marty said. “We’re landlocked. Our goal is to be as progressive and efcient as we can with the animals that we have. The well-being of our animals is No. 1. We always try to do the absolute best we can for them. We also make sure our employees are happy. We have 12 full-time and part-time employees, and we couldn’t do any of this without them.” Marty is looking to do bigger and better things to move the farm further ahead. He would like to expand his horizons and
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transition into the agronomy side of things on the dairy and currently works with his dad on nutrient management, planting and eld work. “I love what I do with the cows,” Marty said. “And I’m proud of where I brought this herd to, but I don’t like being stuck in the barn all day. We xed problems we saw with cows to the point we don’t have to do very much to get big changes anymore. Now I see where we are lacking – the elds, soils, planting and stewardship of the land, which is where I would like to focus all my energy. I want to x other areas of the farm so we can re on all cylinders.” A generational transition from Mart to Marty and Adrianna is the next big step for this farm as the brother and sister duo look to take over their father’s legacy. Two years ago, the dairy changed its name from DutchMade Holsteins to Dutch-Made LLC – a move which Marty said put the transition in motion. He and his sister have also become more independent in their decision-making, looking less to their father for answers. “The freestall barn is now a well-oiled machine,” Marty said. “Do we put someone in here to replace me? Do we replace Dad with someone eventually? These are questions we’ll need to answer in the near future.” The Vanderstappens have made improvements along the way and continue to look for opportunities to better the operation. Marty is hopeful that after surviving the last few years, the outlook for 2020 will be brighter. “Farming is a struggle at times, but we still have the willpower to get up the next day even if we had a bad day yesterday,” Marty said. “We live and die for this, and the family support to keep going is incredible.”
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Page 12 • Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020
Innovating infant formula with goat milk Wisconsin company manufactures rst in US
primary background was in internal medicine and pediatrics. In May 2019, He partnered NEKOOSA, Wis. – Tom with James Esselman, DDS, to Freston, a co-founder of MTV, found the Bêne Baby Company once said that innovation is to produce the goat milk infant taking two things that exist and formula which is the rst of its putting them together in a new kind manufactured in the United States. way. For their efforts, the pair was That is exactly what Nikos Linardakis did when he devel- awarded designation as a semioped Bêne Baby infant formula nalist in the 2020 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge using goat milk. Linardakis’, MD and presi- which recognizes entrepreneurs dent of the Bêne Baby Company, developing innovative farming and agricultural products with a regional emphasis. “These hardworking entrepreneurs demonstrated their commitment to take on some of the biggest challenges in agriculture. Their innovation will help American farmers continue to grow healthy, affordable products for consumPHOTO SUBMITTED ers,” said Zippy Bêne Baby infant formula, made from Wis- Duvall, AFBF consin-produced goat milk, is the rst of its president. “It’s a pleasure to reckind to be produced in the United States. By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
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James Esselman, D.D.S., is one of the founding partners of the Bêne Baby Company in Nekoosa, Wisconsin. ognize and award these outstanding businesses to help them deliver solutions that will drive U.S. agriculture forward.” The $10,000 prize will help Bêne Baby Company launch their new product and assist them in developing relationships with the dairy farmers who provide the goat milk for their product. “I have wanted to do this for the last few years, but the availability of goat milk and the cost of production had challenges,”
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formula,” Linardakis said. Linardakis spoke on the differences between free sugars, such as corn syrup, and naturally occurring sugars found in fruits, vegetables and also in milk. “The naturally occurring sugars are healthier and enter the blood stream more slowly,” he said. “Over consumption of high fructose corn syrup and other free sugars cause spikes in blood glucose levels which is linked to a host of reactions in the body, like hyperactivity, sleep issues and obesity. Introducing free sugars into the body during infancy can set a child up for health problems later on in life, including childhood obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes and potential addiction problems.” Goat milk became the perfect vehicle for Linardakis to pursue making a healthier, more natural infant formula because of the protein structure of the milk. “Cow milk and also soy are considered highly allergenic when introduced to infants under a year old,” Linardakis said. “The main reason they are allergenic is because of the types of protein. The casein protein creates a reaction in the infant, causing them to spit up, bloat and have other problems. When infants are unable to properly digest, they won’t absorb the necessary nutrients.” Turn to FORMULA | Page 13
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ConĆ&#x;nued from FORMULA | Page 12 Linardakis said goat milk has low alpha S-1 and low A-1 beta casein, the two most allergenic casein proteins, and is high in beneďƒžcial alpha 2 and A-2 beta casein. “If you start a baby on cow’s milk formula, they may have an allergy or reaction because their immune system recognizes that as an allergen,â€? Linardakis said. “That is why we say you should start with the goat milk formula.â€? Linardakis said with the increased popularity of selecting for A2A2 genetics in cows, A2A2 milk can be a good option, but that the proteins in cow’s milk are longer and require more enzymes to digest. Also, the fats in goat’s milk are small and medium chain triglycerides, and are structurally different from those in cow’s milk. “Structurally, the lipids are different because they are amphiphilic which is unique for goat milk and means you do not necessarily need to homogenize the milk,â€? Linardakis said. “It mixes with the water and disperses evenly instead of separating. That is a beneďƒžt for the infant. The smaller and medium chain triglycerides are very good for brain, skin and heart health.â€? Linardakis said infants beneďƒžt from consumption of formula derived from goat’s milk from birth to 12 months because their digestive systems lack the ability to process the longer proteins and larger lipid molecules; however, as they become toddlers, their digestive systems have matured enough to be able to digest the proteins and lipids in cow’s milk without the allergic responses. “This is the ďƒžrst formula with goat milk made in
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Nikos Linardakis, M.D., specializes in family pracĆ&#x;ce and pediatrics, and developed a healthier infant formula using goat milk. BĂŞne Baby Company was a semi-ďƒžnalist in the 2020 Farm Bureau Ag InnovaĆ&#x;on Challenge. the United States,â€? Linardakis said. “It meets all (Food and Drug Administration) nutrient requirements, and the ingredient traceability goes back to the farmer. This insures quality, biosecurity and the control of shipping conditions. Parents can feel good they are giving their
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Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020 • Page 15
What is a beneficial change you made to bookkeeping?
Geoff Gerrits Breeze Dairy Group LLC Pine River, Wisconsin Waushara County 8,600 cows Describe your bookkeeping within a week’s time. Our routine accounting workflow involves several people, including an ofďƒžce manager, the site or herd manager, our accountant and controller. We have six main steps involved in accounts payable: receive invoice, distribute for approval, verify, approve, make notes and forward. We do bi-weekly payroll in-house. What programs do you use for bookkeeping? We utilize QuickBooks desktop in multi-user mode. We practice full PC backups daily along with separate ďƒžle backups and also off-site backups. We also utilize Excel for other detailed monthly reports. What outside resources do you use to help you with this role? We believe keeping services in-house allows for more control. Making the best hiring and management decisions allows for us to do this. What is one change you made to bookkeeping that has beneďƒžted the farm? Benchmarking against yourself is important. You need to connect ďƒžnancial information, other data and management information. Putting them all together will beneďƒžt a farm. One simple example is something I do annually. I break down 100 percent of our expenses in parlor chemicals and dips. This report lists each chemical we purchased throughout the year, the total cost, total gallons, cost per gallon, cost per cow, gallons per cow and cost per hundredweight. I list each farm side-by-side along with showing previous years’ data. This report takes over ďƒžve hours to go through all the data and ensure accuracy, but it is one example that will bring important information and data into the spotlight. It’s easy to make management decisions when you have excellent data in a form that’s easy for management to understand. What was the learning curve for this position, and what training have you done to help you? The learning curve is never ending. The same goes for training. Our accounting team is learning new things every week. Those who believe in continuous learning will continue to excel at their career. What is the most important piece of advice you would give about bookkeeping? Bookkeeping should not be considered as a task that comes after-the-fact. Too many times I’ve heard about farms that have a part-time person do their books once per week within a few hours. It’s no wonder they have difďƒžculties merging ďƒžnancial data with management decisions. Don’t be afraid of increasing salary for your farm to include someone to not only do your bookkeeping but also to create additional operating data in graphical form. This will have a huge payoff for your farm. Tell us about your farm. Breeze Dairy Group LLC started in 2002 with Lake Breeze Dairy in Fond du Lac County. Five Wisconsin farming families came together to do this. Our purpose was, and is, to ensure future generations have the opportunity to continue our family legacies in farming. Ten years later, we added
Paul Fischer Owen, Wisconsin Clark County 80 cows Describe your bookkeeping within a week’s time. On a weekly basis, into our computer, I enter the bills that have come in along with any weekly expenses we had. What programs do you use for bookkeeping? In 2009, after we bought the farm from my folks, we started using QuickBooks by Intuit. This program has helped us track all income and expenses in categorized accounts receivable and payable. It has also helped us to monitor different trends with reports. What outside resources do you use to help you with this role? Our main resource is our tax accountant. She has helped with the startup of the program and has answered questions whenever we have them. What is one change you made to bookkeeping that has beneďƒžted the farm? Before we took over the farm in 2009, the farm’s ďƒžnancial records where done by hand. Once we purchased the farm, we started to keep them in the computer. We have unlimited access to many ďƒžnancial reports that help us when looking for trends and evaluating the ďƒžnancial standing of the farm. What was the learning curve for this position, and what training have you done to help you? It took us about a year to get used to the new computer program. It was the part of getting used to entering new information into the computer instead of hand writing it all. When we started the program initially, we sat down with our accountant for a four-hour training session to help us start learning the program. Since the start up over 11 years ago, our accountant has been available to answer questions at any time. What is the most important piece of advice you would give about bookkeeping? Keep your records up to date and easy to go into. It will make ďƒžnancial decisions easier. Tell us about your farm. Our farm is a small family operation in central Wisconsin north of Owen. We are milking 80 registered Holsteins and Jerseys. I run the farm with my wife, Sara, and my two sons, Matthew and Jacob. Each of us specializes in certain areas. Sara cares for the newborn to 8-week-old calves. Matthew manages the heifer stock. I run the feeding operations. Jacob helps out where he is needed. We also run crop approximately 300 acres of fertile soil. We raise corn and alfalfa along with winter cover crops. The farm is a family operation and could not be run without them. We work with industry professionals that help guide use in ďƒžnancial, veterinary and nutritional decisions for our operation. Pine Breeze Dairy in Waushara County. At that time, we started working on our central ofďƒžce. In 2015, we added Spring Breeze Dairy to our family of farms. Today we have 110 employees and eight people in our central ofďƒžce.
Jim Reisinger Spring Green, Wisconsin Sauk County 70 cows Describe your bookkeeping within a week’s time. My bookkeeping is very simple in a week’s time because I keep on top of paying bills and entering it into the programs of QuickBooks Pro. It takes about two hours a week to pay bills, do payroll and enter it into QuickBooks. What programs do you use for bookkeeping? I use QuickBooks Pro which is simple and easy to maneuver through headings. When entering bills you can be more precise on the item that you bought, so you can keep track of expenses for each piece of machinery for future reference. We have used it when we owned a hotel, too, and could get the cost of towels bought 10 months ago in less than ďƒžve minutes. What outside resources do you use to help you with this role? My outside resource was a bookkeeper who came to our hotel that we hired to help me with setting up headings, payroll reports, etc. From his experience, I learned how to set up my own farm reports. I have always cut our own payroll and 1099’s and any other reports. What is one change you made to bookkeeping that has beneďƒžted the farm? The change that we made was we had the AAIMS farm program that wasn’t giving me the reports I needed. It took more time and was not user-friendly. Our children all use QuickBooks Pro and operate it off their phones with their businesses. What was the learning curve for this position, and what training have you done to help you? My learning curve was to just keep at it and to keep learning by studying the program. If you made a mistake, you could erase it. You just need to be careful and remember what you erased. What is the most important piece of advice you would give about bookkeeping? My advice to any programs out there would be to back up your work every time. If you would be upset if you lost it, back it up, because you never know when that computer of yours will quit. I know I found out the hard way. Then you have to try and ďƒžgure out from the last time you backed up your program, and good luck with that. Tell us about your farm. We own 320 acres of hilly clay ground in the Spring Green-Plain area. We also rent 80 acres of ground from neighbors. We raise 100 acres of corn, 100 acres of hay and 60 acres of soybeans. Everything we raise goes back into the animals. We put all our haylage into 9-by-150 silo bags and the corn silage into three 9-by-150 silo bags and a 20-by-80 Harvestore. All the shelled corn goes into a 20-by-33 high moisture unit that holds 7,800 bushels. The soybeans go into storage and then comes back as roasted beans for the milk cows as protein. Our Holstein cows are milked twice a day in a stanchion barn with Surge automatic take-offs. They are let out in a sandbedded freestall barn where they are fed a TMR. Our other heifers and calves are in pens in a loaďƒžng shed with bedding packs of corn stalks and soybean stubble.
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Page 16 • Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020
ConƟnued from OUR SIDE | Page 15 Nathan Kling Taylor, Wisconsin Jackson County 500 cows Describe your bookkeeping within a week’s time. With milk checks coming bi-weekly, we usually cut checks for the bills after a milk check comes. Payroll is done biweekly on our farm also. What programs do you use for bookkeeping? We use the AAIMS accounting program that is supported through the University of Wisconsin Center for Dairy Protability. We have used this for about 20 years, and it has served us well. It does all of our accounting including payroll for our employees. We can easily export les to our accountant for tax work. What outside resources do you use to help you with this role? I do all the computer data entry and payroll for our farm as I like to know what is being spent in different areas. By doing this myself, I am better informed of what is being spent where and can react quicker when something looks abnormal. My wife does most of the check writing for us. What is one change you made to bookkeeping that has beneted the farm? Having a computer program that can generate cash ows and balance sheets that are up to date. Our lender and accountant like to have these reports readily available when needed. What was the learning curve for this position, and what training have you done to help you? The learning curve is not bad. It was something that needed to be done and information we wanted to track, so I started doing it when I started on my own. It’s not complicated, just a lot of basic math. What is the most important piece of advice you would give about bookkeeping? Keep records current. It’s much easier and enjoyable to do a little more often than a lot infrequently. Tell us about your farm. My wife and I have two farms: one is a 250cow organic dairy and one is a 250cow robotic conventional dairy. We farm about 1,400 acres of crops. The organic dairy is rotationally grazed on about 300 acres of pasture. We raise our heifers at both dairies and also raise some feeder steers. We also do custom harvesting and manure hauling for a few neighbors.
Tammy Fahey Edgar, Wisconsin Marathon County 38 cows Describe your bookkeeping within a week’s time. I usually do my bookkeeping for the farm two times per month when the milk check is put into the bank from Organic Valley. I collect the bills that come in and disperse when funds are available. What programs do you use for bookkeeping? I have been using the Agricultural Accounting and Information Management Systems program through the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I have been using this program for 20-22 years. What outside resources do you use to help you with this role? I can contact the instructor who taught the class back in the late 90s. He was also our tax accountant. It worked out well for the both of us. He has retired, but our new accountant is versed in the AAIMS program. What is one change you made to bookkeeping that has beneted the farm? Going from a paper ledger to the computer program has been a super transition. You can print reports for the tax accountant, bank, our organic certier and end-of-month reports. What was the learning curve for this position, and what training have you done to help you? I was glad I was able to take a class to learn this program. Once you do it a few years, you know what to look for such as if you have programed a tax code incorrectly or if you have a lopsided number. You can look back and see what you did wrong. What is the most important piece of advice you would give about bookkeeping? My most important advice is to enter your checks and deposits as soon as you can. It goes so much faster, and you are more accurate. If you wait, you forget items. Tell us about your farm. My husband, Jim, and I have a 230-acre organic dairy farm called Ji-mmy Dairy Farm. We ship with Organic Valley Co-op. We started milking in 1996 and purchased our current farm in 2001. In 2008, we were able to get on the Organic Valley milk truck. We have two children, Hailey, 17, and Austin, 16. Both are very active on the farm and in our FFA chapter. Jim and I are active in our FFA alumni and will be hosting the FFA alumni June dairy breakfast. This is the second time we have hosted.
Kevin Krentz Berlin, Wisconsin Waushara County 600 cows Describe your bookkeeping within a week’s time. My biggest responsibility is nancial. Not only writing the checks out but maintaining individual accounts in order to make educated decisions about marketing and asset investments. I also update rations and maintain feed usage records compared to production. Weekly, I also update records of manure applications to elds. What programs do you use for bookkeeping? I use Centerpoint from RedWing software for our nancial records. This is an agricultural-based software that helps track cost of production. Our feed software is TMR tracker in order to track inventories and control shrink. I also use Excel for its versatility of calculations. What outside resources do you use to help you with this role? We utilize a number of consultants and advisors. RedWing software offers training to help maximize the ability of their programs. Organizations such as Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin offer continued training on a number of aspects including record keeping. What is one change you made to bookkeeping that has beneted the farm? I look for continued improvement. Every year I try to improve on what I’m doing. Some are big and some are small. Last year, I moved to scanning receipts versus ling them. What was the learning curve for this position, and what training have you done to help you? Financial entry is one thing, but getting to managerial accounting and knowing cost of production of enterprises would take knowledge of accounting. I have taken accounting courses through Fox Valley Tech, attended the DairyExec program through Cornell and nancial training through PDPW. What is the most important piece of advice you would give about bookkeeping? Keep it up to date. Once you get behind, it becomes harder. Financial bookkeeping and understanding are the most important things a business owner can do. Tell us about your farm. We have 600 cows and operate 1,300 acres of corn, alfalfa and wheat which we use on the farm. We also raise 500 heifers for our replacements.
Keith and Heather Behounek Hayeld, Minnesota Dodge County 300 cows Describe your bookkeeping within a week’s time. My mom, Rhonda, still does the bulk of the bookwork, spending between 12-16 hours each week entering information; I oversee the overall process and work together with her to get it done. I spend about two hours each week doing any additional entering that needs to get done. I also do payroll every other week. My wife, Heather, also helps with bookkeeping if we need it. What programs do you use for bookkeeping? We have been using PcMars Farm Accounting software for the past 20 years. Before this, we used paper and pencil. What outside resources do you use to help you with this role? We work regularly with an accountant who does our payroll deposits. We also have a farm business management instructor. Any time we have a question with bookkeeping, we can call one or the other and nd the answer. What is one change you made to bookkeeping that has beneted the farm? Although it was a long time ago, going to PcMars was a huge step. We can do so much with it, look up information easily and categorize items. What used to take us days with pencil and paper for our farm business management analysis now takes us hours. The next step we would like to take is to go to direct deposit. What was the learning curve for this position, and what training have you done to help you? We trained as we went. For the rst few years, we kept written records along with the computer until we felt comfortable with the program. The software is farm friendly and not hard to use. We also rely on our farm business management instructor and accountant if we have questions. What is the most important piece of advice you would give about bookkeeping? Keep up with bookkeeping. Do it on a regular basis. It is a lot easier to input the information every week than to leave it for later. Tell us about your farm. My wife, Heather, and I have three kids – Kutter, 4, and Kolt and Willow, 2 months. I farm in partnership with my parents, Ron and Rhonda, and brother, Kyle. Heather works full time on the farm. We crop 650 acres for the cows and raise 300 youngstock.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020 • Page 17
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Page 18 • Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020
Repro Leaders
Synchronization protocols key for reproduction at McClellan Farms Inc.
McClellan Farms Inc. Delavan, Wisconsin Walworth County 500 cows
What was your average pregnancy rate last year? 32% on DC305, 30% on DHI for the cows. 48% for heifers on DC305. What is your voluntary waiting period for cows? For heifers? For cows, 80 days and 12.5 months for heifers. What is your rst service conception rate? For cows, 51% and 66% for heifers. What is your reproduction program? Do you use a synchronization program? We have SCR ear tags for heat and health monitoring. If a cow is actively cycling, we monitor heat cycles and breed off of natural heat. If a cow has not shown any heat activity via observation, SCR or vet check by 45 DIM, she is enrolled in a 2-G Presynch program. Our heifers are observed for heat. If they have not been bred by 13 months of age, they are given prostaglandin to induce estrus. Average age of rst calving is 22.5-23 months. How do you observe for heat? Cows are observed throughout the day and when moving to the holding area for milking. The SCR system is also used extensively.
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
The McClellan Farms repro team – (from leŌ) herd manager Bill Manseld, Gumaro Perez and assistant manager Hector Mendoza – help maintain the farm’s average pregnancy rate of 32% – on their 500 cow dairy near Delavan, Wisconsin.
Turn to MCLELLAN | Page 20
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Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020 • Page 19
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“First lactation robot fetch time was cut by 70%-from 2 to 3 weeks to under a week. That’s huge,” says Josh.
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Bob Keefer (right) was already impressed with Udder Comfort results in the past 2 years. His 700 cows near Shippensburg, Pennsylvania make 90 pounds of milk with 135,000 SCC. “Then I did prefresh heifer groups 1x/day for a week before calving. We averaged more milk, and I could see the benefits,” Bob reports. “But what impressed me was zero mastitis. That’s big. Now, we start everything prefresh with Udder Comfort. I am so pleased with this.”
Bruce VandeHey milks 490 cows making 91 pounds with 130,000 SCC near Wrightstown, Wisconsin. He says: “It’s a no-brainer.” Bruce (left) has been using Udder Comfort 10 years, and for the past 7, all cows in the fresh group get it for the first 6 to 8 days in milk.
At Lingen Dairy, Balaton, Minnesota, 240 cows milk robotically and 100 through the parlor, making 87 pounds of high component milk. For 5 years, Josh Lingen (above) saw great results with routine use of Udder Comfort on all fresh cows after calving, but he wanted to see what it would do for prefresh 2-year-olds calving into robots. “The Udder Comfort heifers came in with udders full of milk, but so soft, no edema, and faster robot attachments.
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“But we start our 2-year-olds prefresh,” he says. “We put baleage down, lock them in, and spray udders with Udder Comfort 1x/day for a week before calving. They also get it in the fresh group.
Check out our new website and blog to learn more! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @UdderComfort
&Žƌ ĞdžƚĞƌŶĂů ĂƉƉůŝĐĂƟ ŽŶ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƵĚĚĞƌ ŽŶůLJ͕ ĂŌ Ğƌ ŵŝůŬŝŶŐ͕ ĂƐ ĂŶ ĞƐƐĞŶƟ Ăů ĐŽŵƉŽŶĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƵĚĚĞƌ ŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ͘ tĂƐŚ ĂŶĚ ĚƌLJ ƚĞĂƚƐ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ŵŝůŬŝŶŐ͘
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For questions and to locate a distributor, call 1.888.773.7153
Page 20 • Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020
ConƟnued from MCLELLAN | Page 18
Heifers are observed around 7:30 a.m. when feed is pushed up. They are observed later in the morning when alleys are scraped and again in the afternoon when feed is pushed up again. How do you conrm pregnant or open cows? Cows and heifers are checked by ultrasound after 25 days bred and conrmed by ultrasound after 40 days bred. What is your breeding philosophy? How do you select bulls? What traits do you focus on? Does fertility play a role in bull selection? We want to breed a sound, trouble-free cow with good components and productive life. We place a little more
emphasis on calving ease for heifers. We have been genomics testing for over three years and are using that information for mating and sexed semen decisions with more sexed semen use in the heifers. How are cows and heifers bred? Do you have a different philosophy for breeding both? Everything is bred using A.I. in-house. We try to follow the morning/evening timing rule as much as possible on both cows and heifers. What do you do to settle hard breeders? Perhaps a little more synchronization protocols and/ or use of a CIDR protocol. STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Cows at McClellan Farms wear a blue RFID tag in their ear which monitors cows’ heat acƟvity and ruminaƟon levels. Sometimes they settle better to Angus. Being a hard breeder is not a successful long-term strategy in our herd. How many times do you try to breed a cow before you sell her? It depends on the cow. Her production, age, history and health all factor into the decision, but we usually do not continue breeding after 250 DIM. STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Bill Manseld, herd manager at McClellan Farms near Delavan, Wisconsin, checks cows’ heat acƟvity levels on the dairy’s SCR system.
Is there anything you have done or changed that brought about a signicant improvement in your reproductive
program? There is no one huge change that we have made. We have an increasing trust in and dependency on our SCR system. With our vet’s advice, we have been rening our synchronization protocols. Most recently, we have adopted a two-shot prostaglandin for all cows in the second or later lactation. Tell us about your farm. We have been a parlor/freestall herd for over 50 years, expanding from 100 to 500 head, mostly internally. We have always placed an emphasis on quality,
home-grown feed and nutrition for herd health and production. Selling our milk to Grande Cheese for over 25 years has led us to produce high quality milk with an emphasis on components. We have been using sand bedding for about the same amount of time. After a brief irtation with custom raising our heifers 20 years ago, we raise them in-house for the benets of a closed herd. Recently, through the use of genomics testing, we are culling excess calves at 4 months of age.
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JD 8320R, 2015, 1538 hrs., $ #1 143 4351 517 17 #143517
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JD 8335R, 2011, 4937 hrs. $ #165966
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ARTCULATED 4WD TRACTORS
15 5 8 14 14 3
JD 9570R, 2019, p. shift, duals, hyd. pump, PTO, guidance, HD Gudgeon, HydraCushion axle, 138 hrs., #166628 ..........................................................................$409,500 JD 9570R, 2019, p. shift, duals, hyd. pump, PTO, guidance, HD Gudgeon, HydraCushion axle, 3108 hrs., #166629 ........................................................................$399,500 JD 9560R, 2014, p. shift, duals, HD Gudgeon, 28538 hrs., #159510 .........................$199,500 JD 9530, 2007, p. shift, duals, 42668 hrs., #165656...................................................$139,900 JD 9560R, 2014, p. shift, duals, HD Gudgeon, 51428 hrs., #158666 .........................$159,500 JD 9620R, 2016, p. shift, duals, HD Gudgeon, HydraCushion axle, 26358 hrs., #161527 ......................................................................................................$269,500 JD 8760, 1991, syncro;, duals, 94838 hrs., #166573 .................................................... $29,900 JD 9620R, 2015, e18; duals, guidance, HydraCushion axle, 14158 hrs., #166166 ...$315,500 JD 9530, 2011, p. shift, duals, 32808 hrs., #166213...................................................$154,900 Ford Versatile 9680, 1995, syncro; duals, 68738 hrs., #161602.............................. $49,400 JD 9420, 2007, partial p. shift, triples, 54008 hrs., #166008........................................ $94,900 JD 9560R, 2012, e18; duals, hyd. pump, HD Gudgeon, 25098 hrs., #166191 ..........$205,000
10 10 1 5 11 11 8
JD 8300, end wheel, 13’, 6” spacing, #158233 ...............................................................$5,700 Melroe 202, 1985, 12’, 6” spacing, #161328 .................................................................$1,700 JD 455, 1996, folding, 30’, 10” spacing, #166982...........................................................$8,800 JD 455, 2016, folding, 25’, 7.5” spacing, #160567....................................................... $44,900 JD 9400, no till, 10’, 6” spacing, #164959 .......................................................................$4,750 JD 9400, no till, 10’, 6” spacing, #164960........................................................................$4,750 JD 455, 2019, folding, 25’, 6” spacing, #164918.......................................................... $61,900
4 10 17 15 15 15 9 16 5 11 8 14 14 14 14 14 10 1 9 8 14 3
JD 2210, 2009, 53’, 5-section folding, C-shank, #154393........................................... $42,900 JD 960, 1998, 27, 3-section folding, C-shank, #159473 ................................................$6,900 Wil-Rich QUAD X, 2005, 50.5’, 5-section folding, C-shank, #166741....................... $23,400 Case IH TIGERMATE 200, 2014, 60’, 5-section folding, C-shank, #154509 ............ $51,900 JD 2210, 2007, 65’, 5-section folding, C-shank, #166478........................................... $43,900 JD 2210, 2008, 65’, 5-section folding, C-shank, #166479........................................... $45,900 JD 2230fh, 2018, 60.5’, 5-section folding, C-shank, #166421 ................................... $89,900 Case IH TIGERMATE 200, 2014, 60’, 5-section folding, C-shank, #154510 ............ $51,900 JD 2210, 2012, 55.5’, 5-section folding, C-shank, #162453........................................ $51,900 JD 960, 1989, 25.5’, 3-section folding, C-shank, #158920 .............................................$4,399 JD 2210, 2014, 55.5’, 5-section folding, C-shank, #154394........................................ $58,500 JD 980, 1998, #156455 .................................................................................................. $14,430 JD 2210, 2013, 50.5’, 5-section folding, C-shank, #160879........................................ $48,900 Krause 5635, 2009, 28’, 3-section folding, #160777 ................................................. $19,400 JD 2200, 2002, 47’, 5-section folding, C-shank, #161487........................................... $25,400 JD 960, 1989, 42’, 5-section folding, C-shank, #165959 ................................................$9,900 JD 726, 1997, 30’, 3-section folding, #148851............................................................. $18,900 JD 200, 2008, 45’, 5-section folding, #165958............................................................. $10,500 JD 726, 2004, 38’, 3-section folding, #160491............................................................. $20,900 JD 2310, 2014, 39’, 5-section folding, #159691 .......................................................... $39,900 JD 200, 2002, 45’, 5-section folding, #160980............................................................. $11,400 JD 200, 2004, 45’, 5-section folding, #166554............................................................. $10,500
4 4 2 10 17 17
JD 1775NT, 2018, 16”R30”, flex fold, central fill, Row Command, #150736 .............$169,000 JD 1760, 2013, 12”R30”, flex fold, 3.0 bu., #156200 .................................................... $52,500 JD DB60, 2014, 24”R30”, flex fold, central fill system, #156907 ................................$159,000 JD 1750, 2000, 6”R30”, rigid, finger pickup, 1.6 bu., #166057 .................................... $14,500 JD 1765, 2015, 12”R30”, flex fold, 1.6 bu., Row Command, #155243........................ $54,500 JD 1760, 2012, 12”R30”, flex fold, 3.0 bu., #166557 .................................................... $35,000
7 6 1 15 15
BOX DRILLS
FIELD CULTIVATORS
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PLANTERS
3
White 6322, #156848 .................................................................................................. $18,900 JD 7000, 6”R30”, rigid, finger pickup, 1.6 bu., #161201..................................................$4,900 JD DB66, 2018, 36”R22”, flex fold, Exact Emerge, central fill, Row Command, elect. drive, #161533...........................................................................$315,400 JD 1770NT, 2010, 12”R30”, flex fold, central fill, #166423 .......................................... $71,900 JD DB60, 2013, 24”R30”, flex fold, central fill, Row Command, #161245 .................$154,000 JD 7200, 1993, 12”R30”, wing fold, 1.6 bu., #166682 ................................................. $13,900 JD 7200, 1990, 6”R30”, rigid; finger pickup, 1.6 bu., #166352 .......................................$6,900 JD DB60, 2014, 24”R30”, flex fold, central fill, Row Command, #160470 .................$169,500 JD 1775NT, 2017, 24”R30”, wing fold, Exact Emerge, central fill, #160204..............$262,900 JD 1770, 1998, 16”R30”, flex fold, 1.6 bu., #159037 .................................................... $20,900 JD 1790, 2012, 31”R15”, flex fold, central fill, #161182 ............................................... $89,000 JD 1765, 2018, 12”R30”, flex fold, 3.0 bu., Row Command, #161082......................... $75,900 JD DB66, 2005, 36”R22”, flex fold, central fill, Row Command, #166985 .................$128,400 JD 1780, 1999, 24”R22”, flex fold, 3.0 bu., #155446 .................................................... $33,500 JD DB66, 2018, 36”R22”, flex fold, central fill, Row Command, elect. drive, #161783.$279,500 JD DB66, 2012, 36”R22”, flex fold, central fill, Row Command, #166296 .................$199,900 White 6722, 16”R22”, wing fold, 1.6 bu., #157535 .................................................... $11,900 Moore Built, 24”R22”, 3.0 bu., #159607 .................................................................... $27,900 JD 7200, 24”R22”, #159126........................................................................................... $14,900 JD 1725, 2018, 16”R30”, wing fold, Exact Emerge, central fill, Row Command, elect. drive, #164717...........................................................................$184,000 JD 1710, 24”R22”, wing fold, 1.6 bu., Row Command, elect. drive, #164780............. $42,900
2 10 10 7 1 15 9 5
Hardi RANGER 2000, 2014, #155294........................................................................ $20,500 Blum 750, 1979, #158936 ...............................................................................................$4,900 Miller Pro 750, #159603 ................................................................................................$6,500 Summers ULTIMATE, 2001, #159606........................................................................ $13,400 Hardi 4000, 2011, #166560 ......................................................................................... $19,500 Hardi RANGER 2000, 2014, #163524........................................................................ $17,900 Fast 9518, #158292 ...................................................................................................... $25,900 Top Air TA1200, 2008, #155358 ................................................................................. $16,650
4 10 7 7
Ag-Chem 1074, 2009, 100’, stainless tank, 3650 hrs., #158291................................ $56,900 JD 4920, 2004, 4600 hrs., #157917 .............................................................................. $69,500 Melroe 216, 1985, poly tank, 20” nozzle spacing, #165990 .........................................$5,650 JD R4038, 2017, 120’, boom leveling, stainless tank, hyd. tread adjust, guidance, traction control, 20” nozzle spacing, 216 hrs., #166646...............................$336,900 JD R4038, 2019, 120’, boom leveling, stainless tank, hyd. tread adjust, guidance, traction control, 20” nozzle spacing, 97 hrs., #165472.................................$327,900 JD R4038, 2018, 120’, 20” nozzle spacing, 511 hrs., #150887 ...................................$314,900 JD R4038, 2018, 120’, boom leveling, stainless tank, hyd. tread adjust, traction control, 20” nozzle spacing, ExactApply, 316 hrs., #157823 ...........................$329,500 JD 4940, 2013, 120’, boom leveling, stainless tank, hyd. tread adjust, guidance, 20” nozzle spacing, 2741 hrs., #163551 ........................................................................$132,000 JD R4038, 2017, hyd. tread adjust, 510 hrs., #143961 ..............................................$299,500 Melroe 220, 1985, 60’, 20” nozzle spacing, 1233 hrs., #160062....................................$8,450 Melroe 218, 1988, 60’, 20” nozzle spacing, 924 hrs., #160063................................... $10,900
7 1 1 9 16 16 5 5 8 8 14 14 14 16 14 14 14
6 1 16 8 14 14 14 4 4 4 4
PULL-TYPE SPRAYERS
SELF-PROPELLED SPRAYERS
UTILITY TRACTORS
JD 5115M, 2018, cab, p. reverser, MFWD, 540 PTO, mid tire, loader, 913 hrs., #143690 $69,500 JD 5075M, 2018, p. reverser, MFWD, 540/1000 PTO, mid tire, 250 hrs., #163843 ..... $42,900 JD 5045E, 2018, syncro, MFWD, 540 PTO, mid tire, 250 hrs., #163844 ....................... $23,900 JD 6110M, 2017, cab, partial p. shift, MFWD, 540/1000 PTO, mid tire, loader, 178 hrs., #145468................................................................................................. $97,900
Visit one of our 17 locations in Central Minnesota! (7) = ALEXANDRIA (9) = PRINCETON (4) = ST. CLOUD 1035 35th Ave. NE
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JD 6110M, 2018, cab, partial p. shift, MFWD, 540/1000 PTO, mid tire, 418 hrs., #149248 .............................................................................................. $89,500 JD 6130M, 2019, cab, partial p. shift, MFWD, 540/1000 PTO, mid tire, 150 hrs., #152367 .............................................................................................. $99,500 JD 6135E, 2019, cab, p. reverser, MFWD, 540 PTO, narrow tire, loader, 154 hrs., #152152................................................................................................. $82,900 JD 5100M, 2018, cab, p. reverser, MFWD, 540/1000 PTO, mid tire, 300 hrs., #152371$61,900 JD 6105E, 2019, cab, p. reverser, MFWD, 540/1000 PTO, mid tire, 43 hrs., #151983 . $71,900 JD 6130R, 2017, cab, partial p. shift, MFWD, 540/1000 PTO, wide tire, 311 hrs., #144503 ............................................................................................ $99,500 JD 5075M, 2019, p. reverser, MFWD, 540/1000 PTO, mid tire, loader, 35 hrs., #165471 ................................................................................................... $59,500 Allis - Chalmers WD45, 1955, syncro, 2WD, 540 PTO, mid tire, #163019 ..................$1,750 JD 3020, 1969, cab, syncro, 2WD, 540/1000 PTO,; mid tire, loader, 9222 hrs., #163540 ..$7,900 JD 6110M, 2018, cab, partial p. shift, MFWD, 540/1000 PTO, narrow tire, 221 hrs., #149246......................................................................................... $94,900 JD 6110M, 2018, cab, partial p. shift, MFWD, Rear PTO: 540, 540/1000; mid tire, loader, 146 hrs., #149250 .................................................................................. $89,500 JD 6110R, 2017, cab, partial p. shift, MFWD, 540/1000 PTO, wide tire, 196 hrs., #145477 ............................................................................................ $98,900 JD 6110R, 2017, cab, IVT; MFWD, 540/1000 PTO, mid tire, 271 hrs., #145469 .......$106,900 JD 5090R, 2018, cab, partial p. shift, MFWD, 540/1000 PTO, mid tire, 13 hrs., #147006 ................................................................................................ $71,900 JD 5055E, 2018, syncro, MFWD, 540 PTO, mid tire, 98 hrs., #140787 ......................... $32,900 JD 5055E, 2018, syncro, MFWD, 540 PTO, mid tire, 7 hrs., #140896 ........................... $32,900 JD 5075E, 2018, syncro, MFWD, 540 PTO, mid tire, 4 hrs., #140875 ........................... $36,900 JD 5065E, 2018, syncro, MFWD, 540 PTO, mid tire, 37 hrs., #140790 ......................... $33,900 JD 6130R, 2017, cab, partial p. shift, MFWD, 540/1000 PTO, loader, 294 hrs., #147778...............................................................................................$109,500 JD 3020, 1964, 2WD, p. shift, 540 PTO, singles, wide tire, 12989 hrs., #165991............$7,900 JD 6110R, 2016, cab, IVT, MFWD, 518 hrs., #144500 .................................................. $95,900 JD 6135E, 2016, cab, partial p. shift, MFWD, wide tire, 99 hrs., #142599 ................... $71,900 JD 6120E, 2018, 482 hrs., #143694 .............................................................................. $79,500 JD 2040, 1979, 2WD, 540 PTO, mid tire, #157048........................................................ $11,900 JD 5090E/540M, 2019 cab, p. reverser, MFWD, loader, 540 PTO, mid tire, 101 hrs., #153273 .............................................................................................. $61,900 JD 5090E/540M, 2019 cab, p. reverser, MFWD, loader, 540 PTO, mid tire, 100 hrs., #153019 .............................................................................................. $61,900 JD 5065E, 2018, syncro, MFWD, 540 PTO, mid tire, 16 hrs., #147837 ......................... $33,900 JD 5075E, 2018, cab, p. reverser, MFWD, 540 PTO, mid tire, 110 hrs., #147838 ......... $41,900 Ford 8N, syncro, 2WD; 540 PTO, #165474 .......................................................................$1,700 JD 6120E, 2018, cab, p. reverser, MFWD, 540 PTO, mid tire, loader, 233 hrs., #143692 . $79,500 Case IH Farmall 110C, 2015, partial p. shift, MFWD, 540/1000 PTO, mid tire, loader, 694 hrs., #161390 .................................................................................. $49,900 Case IH 585, 1985, syncro, 2WD; 540 PTO, wide tire, loader, 3515 hrs., #162344 ..... $12,995 JD 6110M, 2018, cab, partial p. shift, MFWD, 540/1000 PTO, narrow tire, 97 hrs., #149242 ........................................................................................... $87,900 JD 6120M, 2018, cab, partial p. shift, MFWD, 540/1000 PTO, mid tire, 169 hrs., #141903 .............................................................................................. $92,900 JD 6130R, 2016, cab, partial p. shift, MFWD, 540/1000 PTO, mid tire, 420 hrs., #142596 .............................................................................................. $99,500 JD 6135E, 2018, 476 hrs., #143698 .............................................................................. $84,900 JD 6430, 2008, cab, p. reverser, 2WD, 540 PTO, mid tire, 1050 hrs., #161657............. $49,500 JD 6430, 2008, cab, p. reverser, 2WD, 540 PTO, mid tire, 1050 hrs., #161657............. $49,500
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(14) = ELBOW LAKE
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110 2nd St. NE
23604 State Hwy. 9
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SEE OUR COMPLETE INVENTORY WITH PICTURES AND DESCRIPTIONS AT: www.mmcjd.com
Page 22 • Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020
DeLaval Parlor P500 milking system
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max ceiling height requirement for DeLaval SynchroArc™
Up to
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reduction in exit cycle time with DeLaval SynchroSweep™
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Contact one of the following dealers to learn more: IOWA Kramer Bros. Monticello, IA 319-465-5931 Prairie Land Ag Supply Inc. Rock Valley, IA 712-476-9290 United-Suckow Dairy Supply West Union, IA 563-422-5355 Postville, IA 563-864-7417 WISCONSIN Advanced Dairy/Bob’s Dairy Supply Spring Valley, WI 715-772-3201 Ederer Dairy Supply Plain, WI 608-546-3713
Joe’s Refrigeration Inc. Withee, WI 715-229-2321 Mlsna Dairy Supply Inc. Cashton, WI 608-654-5106 Mondovi Dairy Systems Inc. Mondovi, WI 715-926-5777
MINNESOTA & SOUTH DAKOTA D&D Ag Supply Pennock, MN 320-599-4466 East Central Dairy Supply Mora, MN 320-679-1029
Professional Dairy Services Arlington, WI 608-635-0267
Farm Systems Melrose, MN 320-256-3276 Watertown, SD 605-886-7401 Sioux Falls, SD 800-284-0015
Redeker Dairy Equipment Brandon, WI 920-346-5579
S&S Dairy System LLC St. Charles, MN 507-932-4288
The Scharine Group Inc. Whitewater, WI 800 472-2880 Mt Horeb, WI 800-872-3470
Professional Dairy Systems Wadena, MN 218-632-5416
West Salem, WI 608-769-2113
Finding ways to keep farming
is a registered trademark of Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. and “DeLaval” is a registered trade/servicemark of DeLaval Holding AB © 2020 DeLaval Inc. DeLaval, 11100 North Congress Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64153-1296. All facts and figures are the result of data collected on test farms and pilot farms. Data compared to DeLaval Champion. Results may vary and are not guaranteed. www.delaval.com
Holden and Craig Flaig stand in front of their hemp produce at their dairy farm near JuncƟon City, Wisconsin. The Flaigs have diversied their farm to supplement the dairy income.
Flaigs look outside the box for income diversication By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
JUNCTION CITY, Wis. – With the tightening margins that seem to have become a way of life in the dairy industry, those looking to continue living their dairy dream often need to think outside of the box for ways to diversify income streams. Carl and Holden Flaig are perfecting the art of diversied income for their organic Milk Crystal Dairy located near Junction City in central Wisconsin’s Portage County where they milk 25 cows which are housed in a freestall barn and milked twice a day in a parlor. The Flaigs have been certied organic since 2015 and are now certied grass-fed organic. “This has been one of my most challenging years farming,” Carl said. “I have to be very careful with how much hay I feed, and it isn’t as high quality as other years. We do supplement with a pound a day of organic molasses and their minerals. We feed a lot of sea kelp and Redmond salts.” Typically, the Flaigs have about 80 cows on the farm, and at this time of the year, would be milking 45 cows. This year, however, after two years of grass and hay shortages in their area, feed inventories were low, and the Flaigs made the decision to sell half their herd. “It was tough last year because spring didn’t come here until about May 15,” Carl said. “I lost a whole cutting of hay. Typically, we are out grazing the rst of May, but last year it was the middle of the month. But it extended pretty well, and we still got our grazing days in.” Selling the cows not only ensured the Flaigs would have enough feed but it also allowed Carl to seek employment off the farm for the rst time in his life in order to supplement his income. In seeking off-farm employment, Carl worked with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. “I worked with a job coach, and she helped me write my rst resume of my life and my rst cover letter,” Carl said. “That was quite an experience. I had some human resource people call me and ask where my work history was, and I told them I had been self-employed my entire life.” Carl began submitting applications for jobs in late October 2019. After submitting about ve applications, he was invited to a group interview at the United Parcel
Turn to FLAIGS | Page 23
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ConƟnued from FLAIGS | Page 22 Service and was hired as a personal vehicle delivery person. “I expressed interest in that and told them where I was from and there was a high demand for my area,” Carl said. “I was given a driver’s test and my car was inspected; my rst job interview and I was hired on the spot.” The work schedule worked well with his schedule for the dairy farm, and he was able to complete his deliveries before the evening milking. “I got up at 4 and did my chores,” Carl said. “Then the truck would usually deliver my packages around 9. I would sort the packages and bring up my manifest, which was on an app on my smart phone, to set up my
routes for the day. My rst route would usually end near home so I could load for my second route.” Carl’s position was short term and ended in mid-January. He has accepted a position loading and unloading trucks at UPS and will be starting in mid-February. His new position, which will run from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m., will require a little adjusting and tweaking to his schedule. But, Carl feels ready and is looking forward to the challenge. “I would tell other farmers who are looking at outside employment to just go take a look at what is available in your area,” Carl said. “There is nothing not worth looking at, and you can’t be afraid to tell them what it is
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
LeƩuce, kale and hemp grow in an aquaponic growing room at the Flaigs’ farm near JuncƟon City, Wisconsin. The family renovated their old dairy barn to accomodate the diversied products.
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
Hemp plants are raised in an aquaponic growing room at the Flaigs’ farm near JuncƟon City, Wisconsin. Holden Flaig is entering his second season as a permiƩed hemp grower and processor.
you have done all your life on the farm.” Carl’s son, Holden, works on the farm. Holden previously worked off the farm as a solar panel installer and has created Farm Time Out Aquaponics, growing lettuce and kale in the renovated tiestall barn. “I rst learned about and became interested in aquaponics in high school,” Holden said. “It has helped diversify the farm so not all our eggs are in one basket. That diversication has allowed me to stay on the farm.” Holden obtained a growers and processors permit for hemp
which he starts in the growing room. He makes and markets his own cold-pressed CBD tinctures, salves and lip balms under the name Lost Mountain Cannabis. Holden is working on setting up an online store for his products and is selling them at farmers markets and stores along with his produce. “Holden wasn’t interested in the cows like I am,” Carl said. “We had the building to repurpose, so it’s worked out well. It is a whole collective process, and everything is operated under a different entity.” The Flaigs also sell grass-fed beef, marketed as Prairie Pastured
beef, which is harvested from the bull calves born on their farm. They sell a variety of specialty meats. They also have plans for a mobile restaurant with an Italian brick oven that they are looking forward to getting on the road this summer. “I’m the last dairy on our road,” Carl said of the changing times in the dairy industry. “There used to be eight (dairies) just on our road. Years ago, there was a cheese plant on the corner. Nothing in the industry is like it used to be. You have to gure out how to change with it in order to be able to keep doing it.”
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Page 24 • Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020
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Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020 • Page 25
Making time for extreme sports
Sled dog racing favorite hobby of Van De Walle By Stacey Smart
stacey.s@dairystar.com
PESHTIGO, Wis. – For dairy farmer, Jamie Van De Walle of Peshtigo, there is no greater thrill than racing sled dogs. Flying down the trail at high speed delivers the ultimate adrenaline rush to both Van De Walle and her Siberian Huskies. Van De Walle started running dogs recreationally 24 years ago in high school and
began racing competitively in 2006 after moving to Wisconsin. Growing up in New York, this die-hard animal lover’s infatuation with sled dogs began when she was in the eighth grade after learning about the Iditarod – the 1,000mile sled dog race held in Alaska every March. “We read books about the race and wrote letters to the mushers which are what the drivers are called,” Van De Walle said. “It was then that I fell in love with the whole idea of sled dogs.” That spring, Van De Walle talked her mom into letting her get a Siberian Husky. What she did not tell her mom was that
Jamie Van De Walle races with her sled dogs in Vita, Manitoba Canada.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Jamie Van De Walle uses her lead sled dog, Rickie, to race. Van De Walle and her family milk 130 cows near PeshƟgo, Wisconsin.
the day they went to pick up her rst Husky, Van De Walle actually had two dogs lined up to bring home. By the time she graduated from high school, Van De Walle had 21 dogs. “I just kept collecting them,” she said. “My sister ran with me, too, and even my mom got into it a little. We had enough dogs for each of us to have a small team and race against each other.” Van De Walle and her husband, Eric, farm with Eric’s parents, Dan and Sue. The Van De Walles milk 130 Holsteins
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and farm 450 acres. Van De Walle is also a full-time independent dairy nutritionist serving clients across the state. She earned an animal science degree with an emphasis in dairy production from Michigan State University. “I worked at a feed mill in high school and got to know a lot of farmers,” said Van De Walle, who did not grow up on a farm. “That’s when I fell in love with dairy farming.” Van De Walle became inspired to race sled dogs competitively after attending
PHOTO SUBMITTED
a Wisconsin Trailblazers Sled Dog Club meeting. At the encouragement of fellow sled dog enthusiasts, she competed in a dry land race in 2006. “They said, ‘If you can do that, you should come race on the snow,’ and I’ve been hooked ever since,” Van De Walle said. Van De Walle is the owner of 11 Siberian Huskies with names like Ricky, Mojito, Crunchie and Twister. Her Turn to VAN DE WALLE | Page 28
Page 26 • Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020
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Deadlines for ARC, PLC approaching The signup deadline for the United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency Agricultural Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs is March 16. Do not delay, and contact the FSA as soon as you know your election. You can choose to sign a multi-year contract. However, if you decide down the road to make a change to your FSA News & Notes election, you can do so for 2021 through 2023 crop years. The Livestock Indemnity Program provides assistance to eligible producers for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by adverse weather, disease By Ryan Brunn and attacks by animals Stearns Co. Exec. Dir. reintroduced into the wild by the federal government or protected by federal law. LIP compensates livestock owners and contract growers for livestock death losses in excess of normal mortality due to adverse weather, including losses due to hurricanes, ďƒ&#x;oods, blizzards, wildďƒžres, extreme heat or extreme cold. For disease losses, FSA county committees can accept veterinarian certiďƒžcations that livestock deaths were directly related to adverse weather and unpreventable through good animal husbandry and management. For 2019 and 2020 livestock losses, eligible livestock owners must ďƒžle a notice within 30 calendar days of when the loss is ďƒžrst apparent. Participants must provide the following supporting documentation to their FSA ofďƒžce no later than 60 calendar days after the end of the calendar year in which the eligible loss condition occurred. Producers are reminded to keep updated livestock inventory records. These records are necessary in the event of a natural disaster. - Proof of death documentation. - Copy of grower’s contracts. - Proof of normal mortality documentation. The USDA has established normal mortality rates for each type and weight range of eligible livestock, i.e. adult beef cow 1.5% and non-adult beef cattle (less than 400 pounds) 5%. These established percentages reďƒ&#x;ect losses that are considered expected or typical under normal conditions. In addition to ďƒžling a notice of loss, producers must also submit an application for payment by March 1 for 2019 losses and March 1, 2021, for losses that occur in 2020. Additional Information about LIP is available at a FSA ofďƒžce or at: http://www.fsa.usda. gov. 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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the possibility of them getting hurt or sick in a pen with cows. We will forever hear accusing tones from those who have been inuenced by others. They are without the comprehension we have grown up with that has been passed down from generations. As farmers, we have all learned, witnessed and seen what happens when the calf is stepped on or dies from the illness that comes from dirty bedding. The passion we feel about our livelihoods will not always be understood. I try to not feel ashamed or angry because I know they have not been told by someone with our knowledge. But for the sake of what we do, the questions need to be answered. Our stories must be told. If not by us, then by who? Tina Hinchley, her husband, Duane, and their daughters, Anna and Catherine, milk 240 registered Holsteins with robots. They also farm 2,300 acres of crops near Cambridge, Wisconsin. They have been hosting farm tours for over 20 years.
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did when he said he was dairy free, or when Oprah Winfrey said she does not eat beef. These celebrities use their platform to convince others that they know best. We must educate those who will listen to us, give them the facts, show them our cows and calves, and help them make their own opinion. There will always be people, many of them famous, who choose not to eat meat or drink milk. That is their choice, and we can agree to disagree with those choices. Obviously, they are not so hungry and impoverished that they need to consider the choices that were made over 10,000 years ago when most people were starving. We all have different farms, and our practices may not all be the same. We must stand rm or the activists will force change in our agricultural practices. As farmers, we must use our voices at every opportunity to share how much we love our cows and take time to explain why it is important that we take the calves to feed and house in a safe place away from
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I had nished feeding calves Monday morning and was heading to the house when my phone rang. It was Rick Barrett from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. After the usual pleasantries, he asked me if I watched the Oscars. I laughed, and said that I was in the barn during the award program. He asked if I had seen any media posts or heard about what Joaquin Phoenix said during his acceptance speech Sunday night. Once again, I answered no. Rick read what was said by this famous actor when he accepted his rst Oscar for best actor for his performance in “Joker.” Joaquin Phoenix said, “We By Tina Hinchley entitled to articially Farmer & Columnist feel inseminate a cow and steal her baby even though her cries of anguish are unmistakable. Then we take her milk that’s intended for her calf, and we put it in our coffee and our cereal.” Using this platform, he clearly was intending to give a message to the viewers that dairy farmers are part of the view that one species has the right to dominate and control another with impunity. We are disconnected from the natural world, he continued. Joaquin Phoenix was using this opportunity to lash out towards farmers because he is an activist for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. And like so many activists, he is not educated on what and why farmers do what we do. I made my comments to Rick. He took a portion of my comments and also included some of Carrie Mess’ statements from her blog, Dairy Carrie. Mr. Barrett wrote up a nice article, and I saw it later on Facebook and other social media. Dairy farmers liked it and many made comments, too. This is one of the hurtful things that will bring dairy farmers together. The next day, I was contacted by a reporter from CBS in Milwaukee. He also asked what I thought about Joaquin’s comments, but then he asked me to explain to him why a cow is articially inseminated? What happens when a calf is born? I went into the details of why the word bully means aggressive and hurtful; it comes from the word bull. I explained that bulls are not only dangerous for farmers, but that a 2,000 pound bull can be aggressive to a cow. I explained that articial insemination allows for the use of the most desirable genetics for each cow, so that the calves are the best in type and quality. I went on and on, talking how a cow wants to get bred. Explaining a standing heat in a cow, comparing it to dogs and cats, and even myself. I wanted to have a baby, and the cows do, too. We are all mammals. Cattle were domesticated over 10,000 years ago from water buffalo. Farmers have always used the most effective means to provide food for families by raising animals and crops. Dairy cattle have been helping nourish people with the wholesome, nutritious milk and meat. With the help from science and technology, we have made these incredible animals into a great source of protein and calcium and helped ght hunger around the world. In both interviews, I invited Joaquin Phoenix to my farm, knowing full well he would never visit a farm. Joaquin’s voice will carry with others who visit our farm. I have seen it before. Just like Aaron Rodgers
Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020 • Page 27
. Co m p a
Page 28 • Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020
Turn to VAN DE WALLE | Page 25 high-spirited, beloved dogs are true competitors that love nothing more than to compete and are happiest when racing. “The dogs love their jobs,” Van De Walle said. “They denitely like to have something to do, and they love to pull. They live for this.” Van De Walle starts training her dogs in mid-September. She trains four days a week alternating between speed and strength training. “The dogs are athletes, and just like a human athlete, they have to condition,” Van De Walle said. “We have to build up their cardio systems and muscles.” During strength training, dogs pull a four-wheeler around the farm. During speed training, dogs run alongside the four-wheeler as fast as they can. The dogs are fed a special formula of food made specically for sled dogs. This well-balanced, high-protein, high-fat diet is complete with essential minerals and vitamins. Her dogs do not eat
as much as people often think, as Van De Walle said she goes through only 45 pounds of food a week for the entire pack. “Sled dogs are a yearround commitment,” Van De Walle said. “You have to clean up after them, feed them and
through March, and Van De Walle races in Wisconsin, Michigan and Canada. Van De Walle’s 11-year-old daughter, Riley, also competes. Dogs race with high-tech, lightweight, metal sleds and may wear booties to protect
“We put a lot of effort into training the dogs. Seeing the results of that training proven in competition is very rewarding.” JAMIE VAN DE WALLE, DAIRY FARMER
water them just like cows or goats. We also give the dogs a lot of mental stimulation offseason. For example, they are my daughter’s 4-H projects during the summer.” Van De Walle’s racing season starts in mid-October on dry land. She runs in several dry races in Wisconsin and one in Illinois as well as another dry race in Michigan in April. Snow races take place January
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Riley Van De Walle sits next to her dog, Gotham. The 11-yearold races sled dogs like her mother, Jamie.
their feet in the snow. Van De Walle said sled dog racing is an extreme sport in which the racers wear helmets. “Some teams are going 18 to 22 mph, and you can fall off if you’re not careful,” Van De Walle said. “The dogs just keep running.” The Van De Walles compete in eight races during each sport season. Riley runs two-dog or four-dog teams while her mom runs six-dog or eight-dog teams. They both participate in sprint racing, running short distances of anywhere from 2.5 miles to 12 miles as fast as possible. Riley has run a 4.5-mile race in 25 minutes, and Van De Walle has run an 8-mile race in 34 minutes. Both mushers do well and have placed in their classes. “I stepped off a ledge in the last couple years and did some things to make my racing better,” Van De Walle said. “I checked something off my bucket list when I raced in Vita, Manitoba.” What makes this six-dog team, 10-mile race unique is the start line. Unlike most races which start one team at a time, the race in Manitoba is a mass start, meaning 18 teams totaling over 100 dogs take off at once. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” Van De
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Jamie Van De Walle and her dog team race Feb. 3 in Land O’ Lakes, Wisconsin. Walle said. “It took a lot of work, and I had to train extra hard. I drove my family nuts. But I sunk every ounce of sled dog energy I had into that race, and we did well. It was the pinnacle in my dog sled racing career.” Van De Walle ts training and racing into an alreadypacked schedule. In addition to her full-time job as a nutritionist, Van De Walle has an active role on the farm. She milks morning and night with her husband, feeds calves and keeps records. Van De Walle’s father-in-law feeds cows and cleans barns, and her motherin law helps with milking and accounting. The Van De Walles raise their youngstock, including steers and heifers and have about 30 calves on milk at all times. Van De Walle’s day begins at 3:30 a.m. in the parlor. Morning chores are wrapped
up by 7, and from there, Van De Walle goes to her day job. When she nishes work around 3 p.m., she returns to chores on the farm. Van De Walle trains her dogs on the weekends and also two days during the week – either in the morning or afternoon. This busy dairy farmer, nutritionist and sled dog racer has little time to spare, but her days are lled with doing the things she loves. “We put a lot of effort into training the dogs,” Van De Walle said. “Seeing the results of that training proven in competition is very rewarding. The other thing that keeps me coming back for more is the community in the sprint racing world. We are a family who leans on one another, helps each other, enjoys spending time together and genuinely love one another.”
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Several tragic farming accidents this fall in Minnesota serve as a reminder that farming is a dangerous occupation. These accidents rattle local communities and have many people asking why. This includes the accidental deaths of three people from silo gas. This incident was unusual because it happened so late in the year. Silo gas is dangerous even in small amounts. It is important all family members, employees and others on the farm understand the dangers associated with silo gas. What causes silo gas formation? During normal silage fermentation, the major gas produced is carbon dioxide. Although produced in smaller amounts, nitrogen dioxide is also a naturally occurring gas during fermentation. Certain bacteria produce nitric oxide By Jim Salfer U of M Extension from nitrates in the crop. Even though nitric oxide is not lethal, it quickly converts to silo gas (nitrogen dioxide) when exposed to the air. All crops contain some nitrates, and higher levels of nitrates increase the potential for higher levels of silo gas. Nitrogen dioxide is a yellowish, brown gas and tends to smell like bleach. Nevertheless, smell is not a reliable indicator of silo gas. Silo gas can potentially be produced anytime there is fermentation in the presence of nitrates. This is usually a few hours up to a few weeks after harvest. Problematic weather conditions can affect silo gas formation. If the crop is harvested during cold weather, fermentation can be slow or delayed. When the weather warms up or the feed reheats, a secondary fermentation can occur. In these conditions, silo gas can be produced several weeks or even months after harvest. What makes silo gas so dangerous? Inhaling even small amounts of silo gas can result in serious, permanent lung damage. When inhaled, the silo gas combines with moisture in the lungs and forms nitric acid. This corrosive acid causes chemical burns of the airways and lungs and may lead to complete asphyxiation. Silo gas acts fast – exposure to high concentrations can make a person helpless in two to three minutes. Symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, chills, fever and nausea. Even low-level exposures can be dangerous. Over a period of a few hours to days, a slow inammation in the lungs can develop. This may result in uid buildup in the lungs that can be potentially deadly. Another unique characteristic of exposure to silo gas poisoning is the risk of relapse up to six weeks after the original exposure. The effects of the uid in the lungs can lead to pneumonia several weeks after the exposure. The greatest risk is during the rst three weeks after harvest. Any weather condition that promotes higher nitrates in the plant will lead to greater production of silo gas. In dry growing years, if it rains right before harvest, the plants will take up nitrates from the soil increasing the risk of higher silo gas production. Plants damaged by hail or frost also can be potentially higher in nitrates. Beware of unique weather or growing conditions that might lead to unusual patterns in the production of silo gas. If harvesting during very cold weather, the crop may not ferment completely. When the crop mass warms up, there is potential for a secondary fermentation. If nitrates are still present in the feed, silo gas will be produced. Since nitrogen dioxide is heavier than air, it will stay near the ground and not dissipate without ventilation or wind. In upright silos, it will ow down the chutes and into buildings or feed rooms. Be aware of any bleach like odor and vacate the area immediately. Silo gas can even be a risk with bunkers or piles. Because the silo gas is heavier than air, if the air is still, silo gas may drift from these structures and collect in lowlying areas. Alternatively, it may blow into buildings or other structures. If there is even a slight bleach like smell, stay away. If you experience any throat irritation, coughing, headaches or nausea, get to fresh air immediately. See a doctor immediately if you believe you have been exposed to silo gas. It is tragic when farm accidents occur. Some happen in spite of everyone’s best efforts. However, using extra precaution can help prevent some accidents. Check http://z.umn.edu/silogas for checklists and other safety tips on silage storage safety.
Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020 • Page 29
Time
Page 30 • Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020
“You will never nd time for anything. If you want time, you must make it.” – Charles Bruxton. I am busy body – if you take that denition literally. I am usually busy, moving around doing something or working on a new project. It makes me uncomfortable when people ask me how I nd time for the things I do. Sometimes I feel the undercurrent of resentment, as if somehow they think I have more time in the day than they do. Sometimes I detect an edge of jealousy; they wish they could get more things done. There are also the times where there is a genuine tone of wonder in their voice, as if I know a secret to life that they don’t. These feelings are what draw me to the quote above. One of my answers to this has been that my mom left Stacy and me with all of her leftover energy so we could best use it up. While I like to envision this leftover energy kept in sparkly bottles that I can go sneak a sip of, it is more likely that I just make time for the things that make me happy. This is precisely why you would be more
inclined to nd me knee-deep in a creative project instead of scrubbing the shower. This past week, Stacy and I made some time for a very special group of ladies and hosted a Valentine dinner at my house. Our invite list included those that help us ll a bit of ‘the mom gap’ in our lives. They do this by listening to our problems; by offering praise and encouragement for the mundane things that generally only a mom knows best how to do and when exactly you need to hear it; by offering their tender grandma love to more children; and by really just being themselves: the women that we adore and appreciate. The wonderful women seated around my table came from all walks of life, yet they all ll in pieces of ours. They make us think. They help us learn. They offer guidance and wisdom. They listen to our deepest concerns and encourage us to move forward when we are stuck in the quicksand of our own doubts. They are immeasurably important to us, each in a different
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way. Some of them have known us for years and years; others for only a short time, but they have connected in a way that makes it seem like much longer. Over cups of Hot-Buttered Cranberry Punch, steaming bowls of Tomato Soup with Two Fennels, plates full of Stuffed Mushrooms, Marsala and Rice, Frozen Fruit Salad, and Harvest Coleslaw… Ramblings from the Ridge we laughed. Hearty, belly-busting, red-faced, morale-boosting laughter rose up from our eloquent table settings. We had intelligent conversations, talked about books, life, how each of them came to know Stacy and I. However, it was the laughter and the appreciative grins and By Jacqui Davison hugs that sent me to bed with a smile on my Columnist face and a happy heart that night. Even when our meal was wrapped up over gold-edged plates of Winning Hearts and Minds Chocolate Cake topped with fresh whipping cream, the camaraderie didn’t stop. As two of them toiled away at the dishes, the laughter and hen cackles (as my husband lovingly calls them) continued as we all kept multiple conversations owing. We discussed this business of ‘making time’ over our meal. We are all too aware that the world appears to be moving at a faster pace, the advent of so much technology has done nothing to slow it down. Yet, if one searches hard enough for the pause button on life only to nd it may be stuck from underuse, just press a little harder. It’s worth it. It can be something as quick as a ve-minute phone call, a monthly breakfast date with a friend to catch up and compare tales of children’s antics, or a fancy dinner prepared with love and served on ne china. From personal experience, I can tell you that when you put forth the effort to make time for important things or important people – be they your family or friends – it helps rejuvenate and revitalize you. Occasionally enough to go do the mundane jobs that don’t bring you joy…like scrubbing the shower. I leave you with the recipe for Hot-Buttered Cranberry Punch. This is so easy and delightful to share with others. Enjoy! Hot-Buttered Cranberry Punch 3/4 cup brown sugar 1 cup water 1/4 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. each of nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and cloves 2 cans jellied cranberry sauce 3 cup water 1 qt. canned pineapple juice butter, for serving In saucepan, combine sugar, 1 cup water, salt, and spices and bring to a boil. In large kettle, crush cranberry sauce with fork and add 3 cups water. Beat with hand mixer to smooth. Add juice and hot syrup mixture. Simmer 5 minutes. Heat punch for party time over low heat. Ladle into mugs and add dots of butter. Serve with cinnamon sticks for stirrers. Makes 2.5 quarts of punch. Jacqui and her family milk 800 cows and run 1,200 acres of crops in the northeastern corner of Vernon County, Wis. Her children, Ira (12), Dane (10), Henry (5) and Cora (toddler), 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 ones, 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.
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Grow your heifer before calving, not after
Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020 • Page 31
The goal of most heifer replacement programs is to raise high-quality, healthy heifers in an efďƒžcient and economical manner. These heifers have the genetics, frame, body condition and management background to conceive in a timely manner, reach their potential for high ďƒžrst-lactation Something to Ruminate On milk yield and become proďƒžtable replacements to the herd. I recently participated in a series of producer discussions with Dr. Michael Overton, Elanco Animal Health, to discuss the dynamics of heifer rearing and the costs associated By Barry Visser with inadequate heifer Nutritionist growth. The age at ďƒžrst calving has been trending downward the past decade. Today, many herds bring heifers into the milking herd at 22 months or even younger. Early calving has been promoted because it gets heifers in the milking string faster, decreases heifer numbers, and reduces heifer feed and rearing costs. For some dairies, this reduction has been positive for lifetime milk production, but, for many, it has not. The primary difference is bodyweight at ďƒžrst calving. There is a philosophical disconnect between age at ďƒžrst calving and average daily gain on many dairies. Bodyweight of a heifer at the time of ďƒžrst calving is a proxy for growth and size. If heifers have not reached the desired size at calving, they will continue to grow during lactation. This is much less efďƒžcient and happens at the expense of milk production. Overton estimates that 1 pound of growth during lactation cost 7 pounds of milk. Dr. Gavin Staley, a technical service veterinarian with Diamond V, uses a rule of thumb that 60 pounds heavier weight at calving equates to 3 to 4 pounds more milk production per day across the whole herd. How big should heifers be at the time of calving? To answer this question, a farm must know the average weight of mature cows in the herd. Cows typically do not reach their mature size until their third to fourth lactation. A subset of these cows between 80 and 120 days in milk should be used as the predictor for mature size. Overton cautions not to use the last load of cull cows that were long DIM with excess body condition. Overton shares that fresh heifers need to weigh 85% of the mature bodyweight post-calving. If springing heifers are easier to weigh, they should be closer to 95% of this mature bodyweight shortly before calving. Assuming the average mature bodyweight in your herd is 1,500 pounds, a springing heifer should weigh approximately 1,425 pounds. To reach these goals, farms must maintain an ambitious daily rate of gain during the rearing process. The chart below shows the average daily growth rate needed to achieve an average Holstein springer weight of 1,425 pounds. Calf birth weight of 85 pounds was subtracted to determine a desired weight gain of 1,340 pounds from birth to calving. Average daily gain 2.09 lbs. 2 lbs. 1.91 lbs. 1.84 lbs. 1.76 lbs.
Age at calving 21 months 22 months 23 months 24 months 25 months
Striving to reach these growth rates all year round is a challenge in many heifer rearing systems. However, if we can get heifers weighing close to 85% of their mature bodyweight at calving, much less growth is required in ďƒžrst lactation. Weight at calving not only determines ďƒžrstlactation performance, it has a profound impact on the lifetime performance and your overall herd performance. In an extensive record analysis, Staley concluded that ďƒžrst-lactation milk production determines the upper limit for the whole herd. He stated, “A herd cannot outperform the production set by ďƒžrst-lactation animals.â€? Staley established four guidelines after reviewing trends in nearly a half-million records: - First-lactation production at 10 weeks (approximate peak production) will be very near the herd production average across all lactations.
- At ďƒžve weeks post-calving, second-lactation cows will produce 30 pounds more milk than ďƒžrstlactation heifers. - At ďƒžve weeks post-calving, third-lactation cows will produce 8 to 10 pounds more milk than secondlactation cows. - The above differences appear to be independent of milking frequency and level of production. If your ďƒžrst lactation heifers do not meet production expectations, it may be time to implement a more intensive program to measure bodyweight. If you are not meeting growth goals, an evaluation of your heifer-rearing program may identify bottlenecks. In the meantime, delayed breeding can be a short-term solution so that heifers are reaching their weight goals at calving. Barry Visser is a nutritionist for Vita Plus.
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Page 32 • Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020
Winter surprises
You never know what is going to happen during a winter season. You prepare for the worst and hope for the best. You try to maintain tractors and feeding equipment to prevent major breakdowns. You provide the best care, feed and shelter for the animals. You plan ahead. Every April and May, we try to avoid breeding heifers to calve the following winter. Sometimes things do not line up right, and we have a few that decide they want some extra attention. We do not like calving heifers in the winter because swollen, leaking teats lead to frozen Just Thinking Out Loud teats and a short production life span for the heifer not to mention the stress on her calf. We will calve some cows during these months because it works for us with housing. Regardless, calves born during these months end up with some very unique life stories and names. We keep a close eye on all our expecting mothersBy Natalie Schmitt to-be. Mark and Austin have Columnist developed an eye to know when a calf will arrive. There are the obvious signs of bagging up, restless, off by herself and a tail that just will not go down. With a quick feel just below her tail head, as she slips past them, they feel the muscles loosen and relax for the impending calf. They can generally guess within a couple of hours. Then there are those who blow the whole theory out of the water and you end up with a winter surprise. One very cold sub-zero January morning, Mark came to the house carrying a black block of ice. I grabbed old towels and started rubbing her down, trying to keep her blood circulating. The kids grabbed my blow dryer to help warm her up. (I think my blow dryer has been used on more calves and cows toplines than my own hair.) Once we warmed her up, she could start to prance around the back porch. We needed to come up with a great name. Since she had a chilly start to life, we named her Chilly. We could spot her anywhere in the lot. While we were able to warm her up, we were not able to save all of her ears. I do not even know if she had enough nubbins left to put a tag in. Luckily ears do not contribute to classication scores as she went on to be EX-93 2-E. Chilly went on to have daughters named Icicle and Freezee. Her most notable calf came during a weather event, as well. Chilly decided to have a calf outside during an overnight rainstorm. The next morning, we discovered a very wet black calf. She had a single drop of white on her face, hence the name Raindrop. She went on to have Dewdrop and Mist. Last month, when we were testing cows, the DHIA tester was talking about a farmer who found a calf in his shed overnight. The calf was not moving, and he thought
A nice i winter i suprise i we get this year is an extra day. it was dead. A while later, the son noticed the calf moved and realized it was still alive. They do not know how but it was. They brought her to the milkhouse and hosed her down with warm water to thaw her out. She became a milking cow in their herd known as Survivor. Mark said they had a similar calf born on the farm when he was a young kid. They literally had to chip her of out an ice block from the ground. She survived, and they named her Iceberg. I do not know if she had a calf named Lettuce or not. It was before my time on the farm. A nice winter surprise we get this year is an extra day. An extra day of milk. An extra day to have some fun. There is a myth that we are too busy. We just do not have the time. We all have the same 24 hours. It is how you use those hours. We make time for the things that are important to us. With our extra 24 hours, we are heading north for a family friend’s wedding, weather permitting. What will your winter surprise be with your extra day? Have fun. Natalie, Mark and his brother Al, farm together near Rice, Minn. They milk 100 registered Holsteins under the RALMA prex. Their four children are grown up and all involved in agriculture with hopes of someone returning to the farm. For questions or comments, please e-mail Natalie at mnschmitt@ jetup.net.
The brightest Star
Eight years ago, Monika fell in love with Star, the little, chocolate-colored Jersey calf that she showed at our county fair. Three years ago, I wrote about Star, Monika, and Monika’s growing herd of Jerseys – all descended from Star. In that column, I said, “I can’t help but think that Monika sure struck gold when she picked Star for a show calf ve years ago.” But gold mines don’t last forever and neither Dairy Good Life do cows. Two weeks ago, Monika said goodbye to Star. Just before Star calved, she lost a front teat – either she stepped on it herself or another cow in the bedded pack did. Given what we’ve learned from previous stepped-off teats, this was more than a minor injury. When Lucy lost her teat a couple years ago, she developed a systemic infection within 12 hours and we couldn’t save her. When Amore stepped off her teat last fall a week before calving, she severed an artery; we managed to stop the hemorrhaging by stitching it up, but not soon enough. By Sadie Frericks We lost both Amore and her unborn calf. Columnist So it’s somewhat of a miracle that Star held on long enough to deliver a live heifer calf and produce enough perfect colostrum to give her calf a good start. But shortly after she calved, the teat-less quarter became infected. Star still looked OK, but her lack of appetite told us that she didn’t feel very good – either due to the infection, the pain, or both. (As a fellow mammal, I cannot even imagine the pain level in a situation like that.) We made the gut-wrenching decision that Star should go before her condition got any worse. Twelve hours later, we said our nal goodbyes. It was heartbreaking. For Monika and for the rest of us. We all loved Star. Through the tears that continue to ow when I think about Star and her exceptional life, I can see all of the gifts she gave Monika. She gave Monika the gift of friendship. Star was Monika’s best fur-friend for eight years. That’s longer than any other friend Monika has ever had – animal or human. She was the kind of best friend every mom wants for her daughSStar’s ’ li light h will ill continue i to ter: gentle, affectionate, and shine in those daughters, stable. She was always there for Monika. granddaughters, and greatWhenever Monika granddaughters. But there needed a giggle, she would bring Star jellybeans and will never be another Star. watch her sort them out of the TMR. When we told Monika that Star wasn’t feeling good, she brought Star some gummy bears. When Star wouldn’t eat the candy, Monika began to understand just how unwell Star was feeling. She gave Monika so many opportunities for rst-time experiences. Glen called her the teacher cow. She helped Monika earn her rst purple ribbons. She was the rst cow Monika milked all by herself. She was the rst cow Monika palpated – when Glen saw that Star was in labor this last time, he brought her in and showed Monika how to check the calf’s presentation. She helped Monika learn about genetics: Star’s rst two heifer calves were chocolate-brown like she was. Her next three heifer calves were the morecommon Jersey-fawn. At rst Monika was confused and, to be honest, a little disappointed that Star had delivered light-colored Jerseys. We explained that sometimes calves look like their dams and sometimes they look like their sires. Monika came to accept – and love – the new-colored calves in her herd. Perhaps Star’s greatest gift is the rather impressive herd of Jerseys she gave Monika. As brood cows go, Star was incredible. All of Star’s daughters, grand-daughters, and great-granddaughters have been as calm and friendly as Star. They come up to us in the pasture for chin and poll scratches. They let the kids lay on them in the barn. And they’ve all taken to the halter like they were born to show. Star’s light will continue to shine in those daughters, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters. But there will never be another Star.
Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020 • Page 33
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Page 34 • Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020
A barn is an expensive tool in milk production Housing design can ensure use of robotics is successful By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
ABBOTSFORD, Wis. – In the most simplistic terminology, a barn is a tool for milk production and a great deal of thought is required when a new facility is being planned and designed, given the expense and the advancements in technology seen in recent years. According to Jouni Pitkäranta, an architect with 4dBarn, a design company that focuses on building robotic facilities, Jouni Pitkäranta dairy the main priorities Architect to consider when building a dairy facility should be optimal cow comfort and health, and functionality, allowing for efďƒžcient work ďƒ&#x;ow throughout the facility. “You need to look at cow ďƒ&#x;ow and cow trafďƒžc,â€? Pitkäranta said. “You need cows to be healthy. Then you can get higher production.â€? Since its inception in 2016, 4dBarn has provided functional barn designs for herds ranging from 60 to 1,500 cows throughout Europe, the United States and Canada and has been working with projects in Japan.
Pitkäranta said labor issues are the primary reason for dairy farmers to choose robotic milking systems. “Really, it’s labor,â€? Pitkäranta said. “(Robots) makes the work less physically demanding and allows for more ďƒ&#x;exible working routines and needs less people to do it.â€? Pitkäranta said robotic systems allow for more milkings per cow per day, allowing for increased production per cow. He also said the wealth of information provided by the robots is something many farmers appreciate. “You need to think about the way you want to manage your farm and have the tools that will help you do that,â€? Pitkäranta said. “A tool only works well if you use it in the right way. Barns are very expensive to build, so you want to make sure you make it the best tool it can be for you and your management style.â€? A barn must allow for cow comfort in order to be a useful tool for dairy producers. Pitkäranta recommends comfortable, sand-bedded stalls designed to ďƒžt the cows that will be using them. Ample space at feed bunks and water troughs is important for cows to reach maximum milk production. Per cow, Pitkäranta recommends 24 inches of bunk space and 3.5 inches of accessible perimeter at the water trough. “You need to think of the barn as a machine,â€? Pitkäranta said. “The robot is just one component in that machine. The robot will not solve any of your issues itself. It is all about the barn design and management surrounding the robot.â€?
Ideally, Pitkäranta recommends pens with two or three rows of stalls with wide, grooved alleys. He recommends 12 feet of alley space in the stalls and 14 feet of alley space at the feed bunk and in the crossover areas. Having plenty of open space in front of the robots is important, particularly in barns with multiple robots in each pen. Pitkäranta maintains that if a cow’s pathway is not crowded, the distance a cow has to walk to the robot will not
“You need to think of the barn as a machine. The robot is just one component in that machine.â€? JOUNI PITKĂ„RANTA, ARCHITECT
matter. “If it is an easy walk, she will do it often,â€? Pitkäranta said. “That is why the free stall design and alley width are so important.â€? In an ideal situation, Pitkäranta recommends having a fresh pen with 24-hour access to a dedicated robot to provide a good transition for fresh cows. Pitkäranta said, with all the data provided by robots, some dairymen only keep their cows in the fresh pen for about 10 days instead of the traditional three-week time period. Pitkäranta also advised farmers to use training gates for ďƒžrst-calf heifers. Pitkäranta said many robotic dairy farmers separate their more timid
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cows or heifers to keep close to the management area of the barn. Keeping cows in socially stable groups decreases stress among the cows and the incidence of antagonistic or aggressive behavior by some cows. Pitkäranta encourages robotic dairy farmers not to have too many cows per robot. “More is not better,â€? Pitkäranta said. “More cows are often less milk and almost always more work.â€? Pitkäranta said the average number of cows per robot is about 55 in Europe, and that with more cows the number of fetch cows usually increases while the number of visits goes down along with milk production. He said often times an increase in somatic cell count will occur. Most of the barns Pitkäranta has worked with designing have been free trafďƒžc as compared to guided trafďƒžc barns, and it is a system he prefers from a cow comfort perspective. Another aspect to consider in a robotic facility is access to grazing or an exercise yard, something that may be dictated by consumer demands and future legislation. Pitkäranta recommends all new construction to have the option for grazing at least some of the animals. The most important design principle, Pitkäranta said, is that the facility is made to suit the robotic milking system to allow the robot to be the best tool for the dairy farmer. “Robots are too often just dropped in to a retroďƒžt,â€? Pitkäranta said. “The barn should be designed around the robot for best usage and functionality.â€?
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Women In Dairy
Beth Wurst Farmington, Wisconsin Polk County 50 cows Family: My husband, David, has lived his entire life on our farm. He took over the operation right after his high school graduation. I am a city girl turned country. I have a master’s degree and taught in two Lutheran schools before getting married. The ďƒžrst was a oneroom school where I taught all grades through eighth grade. At the other school, I taught third grade. Kevin Zeitler, a starting guard on the New York Giants football team, and a former Badger, was one of my last third grade students. We have three children. Michael, 18, attends Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College in New Richmond in the agricultural mechanics program. He is handy with equipment repairs and ďƒželdwork. Katie, 17, is a junior in high school. She loves cows and helps with ďƒželdwork. Sarah, 9, our bubbly fourth grader, is good at moving cattle and does a lot of chores including milking. Tell us about your farm. Established in 1852, our family farm turns 168 years old this year. We milk 50 cows in a 1962 tiestall barn. Feed is stored in Harvestore silos. Cows are fed with a computerized robot. We own 630 acres and rent a few more. We grow alfalfa, corn and soybeans. What is the busiest time of day for you? The afternoon is most challenging. There are chores to be done, I oftentimes run carpool and also prepare supper all within a short amount of time. I have learned over the years to juggle these tasks without feeding burnt offerings to my family. When you get spare moment, what do you do? My husband said Hallmark Channel. But what I do enjoy is hanging out at our cabin on a small lake only 12 minutes from our farm. I love to entertain company there. It’s like a mini retreat. Tell us about your most memorable experience working on the farm. I think the planning, clearing of the land and building our machine shop is one of my favorite memories. Before we built it there was no proper place for Dave to work on repairing machinery. Now that it is built, it serves a multipurpose. The guys now have plenty of room to work on equipment, and there is room for many of our favorite farm antiques. There is much needed room for ďƒželd equipment and to play basketball. It also serves as a great place to host graduation parties. What have you enjoyed most about dairy farming or your tie to the dairy industry? I remember before I was married, I was talking to my father about being worried that I would not be a good farm wife. He had great conďƒždence and reassured me that I would be a good farm wife. I have embraced this life and want no other. I have been blessed with a wonderful family and farm. Dairy farming has its ups and downs, but I have never wanted our farming career to end. It is sad to hear of so many family farms shutting down. I would like to encourage my fellow farmers to be proud of this lifestyle
and to look ahead to better things to come. For me, we have been very blessed, but farming isn’t about becoming rich. It’s about being content and thankful for the opportunity to be a steward of this small piece of our world. How do you stay connected with others in the industry? We have many close friends who are also dairy farmers or have had a connection to dairy. We have a common bond and help each other whenever possible. We also like to attend as many farm shows as we can to gain knowledge in our industry. Who is someone in the industry who has inspired you? My mother-in-law, Phyllis. I only got to spend a short 10 years with her before she passed away, but she taught me so many things about being a farm wife. I felt a strong bond with her. I learned how to cook, can, raise a vegetable garden and so much more. She was kind, gentle and was always willing to help me and offer wise advice. We shared some tears and a great deal of laughter. She was the epitome of a farm wife up until the very day she died. If you could give a tour of your farm to a prominent woman in today’s society, who would it be? I cannot think of a particular prominent woman. Instead I would like to invite anyone with little farm experience to come and see what a day of farming is really all about. Many people are misinformed and are given a negative image of farming. I am amazed at the knowledge a farmer must retain and the work ethic one must possess to be a successful farmer. I think the phrase, “jack of all trades and master of none,â€? sums it up well. I would like people to see the incredible amount of work and care that goes into farming day after day. What is the best vacation you have ever taken? It is not easy to line up help or plan a family vacation. Our trip West was my favorite. It was a surprise for our children. We made it to Owatonna, Minnesota, on our way to the Black Hills when, to our surprise, we discovered it was the 75th anniversary of Sturgis, and we were headed right into the middle of it. We continued on since we had our farm work covered, and we wanted our family to experience the beauty of the Black Hills. Even though we had a difďƒžcult search for a hotel room each night, we had a fantastic time. However, after three days of being surrounded by millions of bikers, we decided to get out of Dodge and drive further west to get away from all the congestion. We continued to Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota. We visited battleďƒželds, museums and the awesome Theodore Roosevelt National Park. What a great adventure. What are some words you like to live by? Everything will be all right. God’s got it handled.
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Page 36 • Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020
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Dairy farming for
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Mark Mueller (center) milks 425 cows in Dodge County near Brownsville, Wisconsin.
Tell us about your farm. I started farming in 1980 with 25 cows. I used to carry the milk to the milk cooler before switching to a pipeline. My mom was killed in a car accident in 1993, and that is when my dad and I decided to combine our herds. Together, we had 100 cows. My dad retired in 1998, which is when my son, Lee, joined the operation. In 2008, we put up a freestall barn and swing-16 milking parlor. In 2012, my other son, Scott, came back to the operation as well. We then added onto the freestall barn, building a special needs facility that includes calving pens, calf warming facilities, etc. We also added a manure pit at this time. We bought some cows when we built our freestall barn but have grown mostly from within to our current size of 425 cows. We also farm 1,100 acres. Tell us about your family. My wife, Tina, and I have four children – Scott, married to Natasha, Lee, married to Emma, Brittany, married to Michael, and Kelly. We also have ve grandchildren and two on the way – Aiden, 8, Vadda, 6, Dekker, 4, Jaxon, 2, and Ivy, 1.5. What has been the highlight of your dairying career? Bringing my boys back into the operation. Lee is the cattle guy, and Scott is our numbers man and in charge of eld operations. What do you love about dairy farming? There’s always something new and different to do. From technology to the work we do, dairy farming is always changing and giving me something new to look forward to. What has been the biggest obstacle you have faced in your dairying career, and how did you overcome it? From low prices to tornadoes, when you’re delivered a blow, you nd ways to pull yourself out of it and move on. We had a tornado in 2004 that cost us $250,000 worth of damage to equipment, buildings and silos. It was terrible, but we worked through it and came out OK on the other side. What has been the best decision you have made on your farm? Modernizing and working smarter not harder. Who has been an inspiration to you during your dairying career? I have learned a lot from some of the larger dairies. Learning how they cope with public image and adapting to new rules and regulations has been helpful to me. I try to bring their ideas down to a smaller level and apply them on our farm.
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DAIRY Randy & Barb Muenzenberger 37
Dairy farming for Years
Barb and Randy Muenzenberger milk 50 cows in La Crosse County near Coon Valley, Wisconsin.
Tell us about your farm. We are a third-generation family farm. We own 343 acres with 100 acres open which we raise alfalfa, corn and oats to feed our 50-cow dairy herd. Our herd, when we rst started farming, was all Holsteins, and in 1985, we started adding Brown Swiss. And now our herd is mostly registered Brown Swiss with a few registered Holsteins that the kids won through dairy judging in La Crosse County. Tell us about your family. We have ve children: Charlotte (Jake) Berner, Shannon (Andrew) Steinmetz, Cassie (Steve) Styer, Robin (Kaylee) Muenzenberger and Brooke Muenzenberger and three beautiful grandchildren, Annabelle, Deidra and Korben. What has been the highlight of your dairying career? Building our Brown Swiss herd has been a highlight. And having our cow, Spice, classify 4-E92. She was also supreme champion at our county fair for two consecutive years. Her daughter, Spree, followed in her footsteps and classied 3E-93. What do you love about dairy farming? We love working with our cows and being our own boss. We just enjoy farm life. What has been the biggest obstacle you have faced in your dairying career, and how did you overcome it? Surviving three consecutive years of major ooding, especially the ood of 2018 in which the dam broke above our farm. We were very thankful we did not lose any animals. We reached out to the programs that were available at the county level and applied for grants to help us with the recovery process. It was the biggest challenge we have faced and then had to deal with low milk prices during that same time period. What has been the best decision you have made on your farm? About 15 years ago, we switched to sand bedding. The lower somatic cell counts and the health of the cows have paid off with the move. The cows love it. Who has been an inspiration to you during your dairying career? Our inspiration was our parents. We both grew up working with our parents on the farm and realize there is no better place to raise a family. Turn to HEART | Page 37
Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020 • Page 37
Con�nued from HEART | Page 36
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HEART
DAIRY
DAIRY Pat Borchardt
Mark and Linda Wright Dairy farming for
31 Years
35
Dairy farming for Years
Mark and Linda Wright milk 105 cows in Jeerson County near Johnson Creek, Wisconsin.
Tell us about your farm. In 1989, we started farming with Philip Klug (Linda’s father) on his second-generation 300-acre farm. Mark achieved a degree from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and had a full-time job at Landmark Genetics. Seventy-ďƒžve cows were milked in the new dairy barn which was constructed in 1989. An agreement to own all the new heifer calves born from his herd was our way to start our own herd which we registered as Mar-Linda-K Holsteins. In 1992, Mark and I purchased the entire herd of cows from my father on a land contract which is when Mark terminated his job to stay home and farm full time. Over the years, a heifer shed, machine shed and silos were constructed, and in 2017, we installed a step-up parlor and converted some old machine sheds into freestalls for the milk cows. New calf housing and a pasteurizer were installed. Total remodel of the farmhouse and rental house was constructed between 2015 to 2019. We switched cows in our 50-stall barn for several years. Today, we milk 105 registered Holsteins with about 120 youngstock housed on the main farm and another farm down the road. We run about 300 acres of corn and alfalfa which is harvested for the dairy herd. Tell us about your family. Mark saw my picture in an FFA article of the local newspaper and wrote me a letter. He was a city boy who worked on a farm and saw a cute little farm girl he wanted to meet. We met at the Jefferson County Fair and then went on our ďƒžrst date to the Elkhorn Fair in 1984. In 1989, we were married in the Farmington Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church. We have two daughters, Kayla, 28, and Nicole, 24. Both girls have careers in the agriculture industry and own registered cattle with us. Watching our family grow up and be active and successful in 4-H, FFA, junior breed associations and the farm has been the proudest moments of being on the farm. In 2010, we showed a junior 2-year-old which was purchased by another Holstein breeder and went on to be a junior all-American cow. This is always a goal to breed a cow or heifer that could achieve this honor. We also have bred over 20 Excellent homebred cows and have a fourth-generation homebred Excellent cow. Mar-Linda-K Holsteins have shown at the Wisconsin Holstein Futurity for the past six years, winning in 2014 with Mar-Linda-K Damion Jilette. What has been the highlight of your dairying career? Mark and I have earned 10 Progressive Breeder awards, milk quality awards and forage awards at the Forage Superbowl. In 1999, we were the Outstanding Young Farmer runner-up in the Watertown area, and we have worked hard together to improve our management skills to increase our herd average of milk, butterfat and protein to earn production awards. What do you love about dairy farming? We love the family togetherness. We complement each other on the farm as Mark does the crop and feeding management, and I do the detailed work of breeding, vaccinations, calf care, herd health and showing of the cattle. As hard as it is, we are proud to produce a wholesome product for the consumer. We think we have a unique career to most people, especially when we are at the state fair and can tell our story about how we produce milk and care for the beautiful bovine. Mark and I are the third generation on my (Linda’s) family dairy farm. I truly love being the farmer’s daughter who found a loving husband to share the family heritage of managing a registered herd of cows and harvest crops from land that my grandfather started with. What has been the biggest obstacle you have faced in your dairying career, and how did you overcome it? Our biggest obstacle was not having our independence to manage or live on the family farm for over 20 years. As appreciative as we are towards my parents for what they have done for us, it wasn’t the most comfortable situation for Mark and I to set up our future. A very strong will and love for the cows and for what we achieved held us to it. We kept a strong physical work ethic and managed the best we could to have the patience to wait until we had our independence. What has been the best decision you have made on your farm? The best Turn to WRIGHTS | Page 38
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Pat Borchardt (center) milks 170 cows in Boone County near Caledonia, Illinois.
Tell us about your farm. Our farm name is Family Af-Ayr Farm. We named it this because all our family has been involved in making it what it has become. We rented a 19-stanchion barn to start in and built our herd up slowly. In 1988, we moved to our current location. We remodeled before we brought our cows here. It held 34 cows then. We added 20 more tiestalls to the barn three years later. By 1991, we were milking 54 cows. Our one son became a partner with us. We now milk about 150 cows so our barn is used like a big parlor. We turn it three times each milking, taking about 2.5 to 3 hours. We have all become more efďƒžcient in our way of feeding. We feed on a rail with a TMR mixer. In 2016, we built a heifer barn, and the guys won an award for its design to keep it cleaner and dryer for the heifers. Tell us about your family. We have two girls and three boys. We have nine grandchildren ranging in age from 12 years to 1 year old. They all live close by so they can all be called in to help when needed. What has been the highlight of your dairying career? We were awarded master breeders for Ayrshires. We have hosted two dairy breakfasts for our county on the farm. We have had two homebred animals be grand at World Dairy Expo: Family Af-Ayr AJ Julia and Family Af-Ayr Cornelius Daisy. What do you love about dairy farming? No two days are the same. You never know what you are going to be doing next. What has been the biggest obstacle you have faced in your dairying career, and how did you overcome it? Not having a farm to inherit. We are building ours one cow at a time for the next generation. You just have to keep believing you can do it. What has been the best decision you have made on your farm? Building the compost barns for cow comfort and less injuries to the cows. They can lay wherever they want. They love the heat from the pack in the winter time. They only are cleaned out twice a year, in spring and fall. Who has been an inspiration to you during your dairying career? Gregg’s aunt Vera Kamholz. She had eight kids and helped with their dairy farm. To follow in her footsteps is great. All our kids grew up in the barn, and now our grandkids get to also; to keep passing the love of dairy onto the next generation. Turn to HEART | Page 38
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Page 38 • Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020
ConƟnued from HEART | Page 37
HEART
HEART
DAIRY
DAIRY Gene P. Nehls
Jerry Smith
46
Dairy farming for Years
49
Dairy farming for Years
Gene P. Nehls, shown with his wife, Janet, milks 225 cows in Dodge County near HusƟsford, Wisconsin.
Tell us about your farm. My parents bought this farm in 1959 as well as another farm in 1973. When I came on board in 1974, we had 50 cows. The business switched into my name in 1996 when I bought 80 acres and the buildings on the home farm and rented additional land from my father. I had 60 cows and started growing from there. I put up our rst freestall barn in 1998 – a 46-stall barn for dry cows and breeding heifers. We own 270 acres and rent 100 to 150 acres. We milk in a 60-cow stanchion/tiestall barn and have two small freestall barns to house additional cows. Cows are rotated for milking, taking about 3 1/3 shifts to complete. Tell us about your family. My wife, Janet, and I got married in 1983. We have four sons. Bradley is a teacher in Minnesota and is married to Melissa. They have two children, Micah, 6, and Mia, 3, and a third child on the way. Our other three sons, Brandon (also known as BJ), Shawn and Seth, work on the farm. Seth handles cropping decisions while BJ and Shawn are the cow guys. What has been the highlight of your dairying career? Working side by side my best friend – my father – and now farming alongside my other best friends – my sons. What do you love about dairy farming? Genetics and breeding. I like making sire selections and breeding for the next generation. I have bred approximately 170 Excellent Holstein cows. In 1993, BJ started a Jersey herd within our herd and has around 45 head. He has bred over 80 Excellent Jersey cows, including seven Jerseys scored EX-95. Seth has a small herd of Brown Swiss on the farm also. We used to show in as many as 17 shows each year but have now scaled way back. Last year at World Dairy Expo, we had the intermediate champion and rst place junior 3-year-old in the Holstein breed – Floydholm MC Emoji. She also won her class at the Royal Winter Fair and was named honorable mention intermediate champion. Bred by David Sarbacher, she is owned in partnership with MilkSource Genetics. What has been the biggest obstacle you have faced in your dairying career, and how did you overcome it? The biggest obstacle has been the low margins we’ve had in the last ve years due to low milk prices. We’re trying to do a good job of marketing our top-end genetics to overcome it. What has been the best decision you have made on your farm? Marrying my wife. The biggest blessing in my life was when she accepted my proposal. We worked alongside each other on the farm for 15 years, and now she works off the farm full time in a surgery unit but still does all the bookkeeping for the farm. Who has been an inspiration to you during your dairying career? My father. He was a community-minded man who helped me reach my dream of breeding registered dairy cows. I bought my rst animal when I was 10 years old and started making mating decisions at age 16. My dad let me run with picking bulls for the herd. When you’re given that opportunity at such a young age, you fall in love with it pretty easily. It was really neat having my father trust in the things I was doing and my ability at that age. I’m trying to do that with all of my sons as well. They work with me, not for me.
ConƟnued from WRIGHTS | Page 37 decision made over the years is the installation of our step-up parlor, sand-bedded freestalls, pasteurized milk for the calves, tiled ground for better drainage, TMR and improved genetics. All of these have saved time, improved herd health and milk production, and provided more efcient use of land. Who has been an inspiration to you during your dairying career? Fellow Holstein breeders, successful farmers, our children and my dad have inspired us the most. Either by watching and wanting to walk on the colored shavings like the breeders at Expo or admiring the farmers who can harvest bumper crops efciently is the challenge we like to work towards. Our children have kept us growing in spirit as they pursue their dreams in the agriculture industry with us. And most of all, my father, who helped us the best he could for the short time he could help us. He never complained about farming.
Jerry Smith, pictured with grandchildren Lila Sloan and Macklen Litow, milks 84 cows in Stephenson County near Davis, Illinois.
Tell us about your farm. I started farming Cleareld Farm with my parents, Wilmer and Doris Smith, who have both now passed, on a rented tiestall barn in Chadwick. In March 1977, we moved to the current farm in Davis. My wife, Sharon, and I run the operations with help from our granddaughter, Lila, and occasional part-time help. We milk about 75 registered Holsteins and three Jerseys in a double-4 herringbone parlor and freestall set up. We also have four box stalls for sick or special show cow housing. I have an average of 26,779 pounds of milk, 1,033 pounds of butterfat and 835 pounds of protein on 84 cows. We also farm a little over 800 acres in soybeans, corn, wheat and alfalfa. We use hutches and bottles for our calves until weaning, and they are then moved to group housing. Not a lot has changed around the farm other than the location and using bottles instead of buckets. Tell us about your family. Sharon and I have been married 24 years this February and have three children. Andrew (Ashley) Smith is in governmental banking for U.S. Bank where Ashley also works. Angela (Tim) Litow lives a quarter-mile down the road on the heifer farm and helps out when needed. Tim is a correctional ofcer, and Stephanie works at Green Co. and Swirl Station. Andrew and Ashley have three boys, Douglas, 14, Owen, 8, and Henry, 4. Angi and Tim have two children, Lila, 16, and Macklen, 4. They can be frequently found on the farm and in the showring. I am, and have been for 20 years, on the Illinois State Holstein Association executive committee; Mid-America Select Sires board of directors; former Illinois State Holstein president, junior and senior breeder, and service award winner; and am running for National Holstein Association director. What has been the highlight of your dairying career? Either my cow, Goldfawn Ramona Diana, placing fth and rst junior, and reserve grand champion of the junior show at the 2002 World Dairy Expo and then going on to being named all-American two times and winning senior champion and reserve grand champion at the 2003 Midwest Spring Holstein Show. Or, I’m also proud to say I’m one of three generations to win grand champion at the state Holstein show. I don’t think too many can say that. What do you love about dairy farming? Working every day with good cows and trying to make them better. Breeding to make better cows. It doesn’t always work, but it is sure nice when it does. And, feeding America. What has been the biggest obstacle you have faced in your dairying career, and how did you overcome it? Finding good and qualied help, and dealing with the rules and regulations enforced on us. You have to nd a way to make it work for you and your farm and try to improve where and when you can. As far as help goes, I don’t think I’ve solved that problem yet other than I got lucky that my granddaughter shares my passion for dairy cows. It didn’t used to be this hard to nd help. What has been the best decision you have made on your farm? Twentyve years ago, I tore the sides off my freestall barn and put in curtains. This made a huge difference in free ow and clean air and cow comfort. Who has been an inspiration to you during your dairying career? Louie Porter. When he was at Carrousel Farm, not too far from us, he encouraged me to get involved more at the state level. He helped me get stuff done and made me believe I should be involved instead of being another northern Illinois dairy farmer. Orville Goodenough was another one. He was a really nice guy who had a good herd of cows in Morrison.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, February 22, 2020 • Page 39
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Andy Hornick Jr. Clayton, Wisconsin Barron County 110 cows How did you get into farming? I purchased it from my parents, Andrew and Catherine, in 1974. I graduated from high school in 1968, and then I farmed with them for six years. What are your thoughts and concerns about the dairy industry for the next year? I hope the prices stay where they are at. It’s always the big thing with dairy. What is the latest technology you implemented on your farm and the purpose for it? We haven’t done much lately. A while back we put in headlocks. The cattle are easier to handle because they are used to being locked up. Plus, the A.I. guy doesn’t have to corral them. What is a management practice you changed in the past year that has beneted you? Everything has been pretty constant with breeding and feeding. We haven’t changed much. What cost-saving steps have you implemented during the low milk price? Last fall, we installed an extra bulk tank, 1,500 gallons, and a small building to the side of the barn to help with hauling costs. How do you retain a good working relationship with your employees? I try to go over the milking protocol with them while milking. We usually talk about the extra work outside (like hauling manure) during that time. I have two full time and three part time helpers, so we get every other weekend off. Tell us about a skill you possess that makes dairy farming easier for you. Knowing the cows. I can tell when a cow has a touch of pneumonia or is down on her milk when I’m milking. Just by milking and prepping, I know what’s going on with a cow.
What do you enjoy most about dairy farming? Seeing the cows milk makes me happy. I wouldn’t be here if they weren’t doing good. What advice would you give other dairy farmers? Be willing to work a lot of hours. That’s what I did when I was young. What has been the best purchase you have ever made on your farm? The skidloader and TMR. They make life so much easier. What has been your biggest accomplishment while dairy farming? Surviving dairying. I was told in 1995 I should le for bankruptcy. I kept working hard
and making the payments. The help of my two sons, Jeremy and Corey, was a big difference. What are your plans for your dairy in the next year and ve years? Try to hang in there and hopefully retire before ve years is up. I want to enjoy myself on the farm. How do you or your family like to spend time when you are not doing chores? I enjoy watching sports. That’s my getaway. It takes my mind away from the farm.
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