May 25, 2019 - Zone 1

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Volume 21, No. 7

May 25, 2019

Trade causes ripple effect in ag community

Allens, Glessings talk USMCA with Vice President Pence By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Seena and Dan Glessing talk with Vice President Mike Pence at a Minnesota Farm Bureau event May 9 in Glyndon, Minn. The Glessings shared their story as dairy farmers and the importance of raƟfying the U.S.Mexico-Canada trade agreement.

GLYNDON, Minn. – Ratifying the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement is crucial for the dairy industry. In 2018, $40 billion worth of agriculture goods were exported to Canada and Mexico with dairy products contributing $2 billion, according to the United States Dairy Export Council. “American farmers are very good at producing quality, safe and consistent food; food that is highly sought after,” Keith Allen said. “With USMCA, we can step up to the plate and meet the demands of the world.” Keith and Morgan Allen and Dan and Seena Glessing expressed their concerns for fair trade between the United States’ neighbors with Vice President Mike Pence at a Minnesota Farm Bureau event May 9 in Glyndon, Minn. The couples were invited to the meeting because of their involvement in the farm bureau organization, Dan serving as vice president and Keith as representative of District I. Turn to TRADE | Page 5

A new beginning

Opsahl gets life on track with dairy By Danna Sabolik

danna.s@dairystar.com

HINCKLEY, Minn. – Ryan Opsahl knows all too well the vicious cycle of addiction. But after spending nearly two years in prison on drug-related charges, Opsahl is ready to start anew – and as a dairy farmer. “I was a really bad drug addict for a few years and went through a lot of different treatment programs. They all say you have to create a better life – one that’s worth living without drugs,” Opsahl said. “I needed to live a life worth living, and for me, that was dairy farming.” After serving a 37-month sentence from July 2015 to August 2018, Opsahl began his dairying career. He now milks 50 cows on the farm owned by his grandparents, David and Mary Williams, near Hinckley, Minn. “I always wanted to be a dairy farmer when I grew up; it was the only thing I wanted to be. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else but farming,” said Opsahl who was raised on his grandparents’ farm. Every morning, Opsahl and his grandfather begin the day in the dairy barn. “He will help me with morning feeding just to keep me moving along,” Opsahl said. “I usually start milking around 6:30 a.m. and I have to be done by 8:10 a.m. when the milk truck comes.” Turn to OPSAHL | Page 6

DANNA SABOLIK/DAIRY STAR

Ryan Opsahl milks 50 cows on his grandparents’ farm near Hinckley, Minn. Opsahl began milking in the vacant dairy barn last October, six weeks aŌer geƫng out of prison.


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