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DAIRY ST R “All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 21, No. 4
Hopeful for higher prices
April 13, 2019
Kelleys keep families happy scoop by scoop
Fond du Lac farmstead Sharp outlines predictions in the creamery makes over 350 ice dairy market cream avors By Krista Kuzma krista.k@dairystar.com
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Sarina Sharp gave dairy farmers a glimmer of hope during her presentation, “Better Times Ahead?” March 27 at the Central Plains Dairy Expo in Sioux Falls, S.D. “I am as optimistic about prices as I have been in years. I think we are through the worst of it and will see much better times ahead,” said Sharp, dairy market analyst for Daily Dairy Report. During her presentation, Sharp addressed international and domestic dairy markets along with feed markets. On the domestic market side, Sharp said she needed to look back before looking ahead. “It’s been a pretty rough four years,” she said. “You are not alone, and we’re setting the stage for a recovery.” Within the last year, there has been a reduction in the country’s dairy herd by about 79,000 head, Sharp said. “Dairy cow slaughter is at unprecedented highs. We are setting new records every week,” Sharp said. Despite the shrinking dairy herd in the United States, milk production has not decreased yet. “I think we will start to see those numbers change a little bit. Culling is going to remain high even as milk and springer prices start to recover,” Sharp said. Dairies across the country are shutting their doors, she said. The most trouble is in areas with extremely hot weather conditions and where producers are losing their premiums. “The pain is widespread. It is not limited to one area,” Sharp said.
Turn to SHARP | Page 6
By Stacey Smart Staff Writer
FOND DU LAC, Wis. – Ice cream is often a food that brings families together. Karen Kelley can attest to this as owner of Kelley Country Creamery in Fond du Lac, Wis. Kelley serves the popular frozen treat to hundreds of thousands of customers every year. Seeing how ice cream helps people take a break from busy lives to reconnect with their families is one of the greatest joys of her occupation. Turn to KELLEY | Page 5
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
The Kelley women – (from leŌ) Molly, Karen and Betsy – work at the Kelley Country Creamery in Fond du Lac, Wis. Karen is the owner of the family farmstead and her daughters are full-Ɵme employees. Not pictured is daughter Amie, who works part Ɵme as the creamery’s weddings and events manager.
Farmers ghting res Lomira dairy producers serve community on volunteer department By Stacey Smart Staff Writer
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Knowles re chief, Jason Kuehl (second from leŌ), and dairy farmers – (from leŌ) Bob ChrisƟan, Bob Belling, Mark Mueller and Jason Belling – are volunteers for the re department in Knowles, Wis.
LOMIRA, Wis. – Dairy farmers have a long list of duties, including caring for their land, cattle and families. But, the responsibilities do not stop there for a group of dairymen who are part of the volunteer re department in Knowles, Wis. The department has at least half a dozen active dairy farmers on its roster, including Mark Mueller, Bob Belling and his sons, Jason and Justin, Bob Christian, and Dan and Kyle Hesprich. All are from Lomira and live minutes from the re department. As if these men do not work hard enough already, they still nd time to ght res and respond to other emergencies in their roles of volunteer reghter and in some cases rst responder. “I like helping people in crisis and giving back to the community,” Mueller said. “I want to be there when disaster strikes.” Mueller, who milks 300 cows and farms with his Turn to FIRES | Page 7