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SEE PAGE 20 OF THE FIRST SECTION FOR MORE INFOMATION
Volume 21, No. 9
“All dairy, all the time”™
June 22, 2019
Success in doing things differently
Majestic Crossing Dairy wins national sustainability award By Stacey Smart Contributing Writer
SHEBOYGAN FALLS, Wis. – Rather than following the crowd, Dean Strauss, co-owner of Majestic Crossing Dairy, has found success in doing things a little differently. When it comes to nding ways to be more sustainable, this dairy farmer is never afraid to ask, “what if?” “What if we tried something else or considered something new that’s out there are questions I’m always asking,” Strauss said. “We’re constantly looking for ways to save energy and labor and be more efcient with our time.” This type of mentality is what helped Majestic Crossing Dairy win a 2019 U.S. Outstanding Dairy Farm Sustainability award from the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, alongside Cinnamon Ridge Farms of Donahue, Iowa, and Philip Verwey Farms of Hanford, Calif., during a ceremony May 8 in Rosemont, Illinois. The 2,000-cow Majestic Crossing Turn to STRAUSS | Page 7
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Dean Strauss is the co-owner of Majes�c Crossing Dairy in Sheboygan Falls, Wis. The farm recently won a U.S. Outstanding Dairy Farm Sustainability award for its demonstrated excellence in efficiently caring for ca�le and crops.
Carlsons build first automated rotary parlor in MN Facility a part of farm remake following summer storm By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR
A group of cows are milked on the 60-stall robo�c rotary parlor June 13 at Carlson Dairy LLP near Pennock, Minn. The Carlson family began using the automated milking system in June 2018.
PENNOCK, Minn. – The storm that swept through Kandiyohi County June 11, 2017, shook the Carlson family; but such destruction provided opportunity for Carlson Dairy LLP. For one year, the family has operated the state’s rst automated rotary milking parlor – the GEA DairyProQ – on their 1,650-cow dairy near Pennock, Minn. “When we got into reconstruction mode, we saw the silver lining,” Kindra Carlson said. “We were already looking at changing our milking parlor and now we could change it how we wanted.” Kindra and her husband, Chad, farm in partnership with Chad’s brother and wife, Carl and Kellie Carlson, and parents, Curtney and Louise Carlson. The family hosted the nal stop on the Minnesota Milk Producer Association Summer Escape tour June 13. Turn to CARLSON | Page 5
Page 2 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019
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 (ofce) 320-248-3196 (cell) 320-352-0062 (home) Ad Composition Nancy Powell 320-352-6303 nancy.p@dairystar.com Amanda Thooft 320-352-6303 amanda.t@dairystar.com Consultant Jerry Jennissen 320-346-2292 Editorial Staff Andrea Borgerding - Associate Editor (320) 352-6303 • andrea.b@dairystar.com Krista Kuzma - Assistant Editor (507) 259-8159 • krista.k@dairystar.com Jennifer Coyne - Assistant Editor (320) 352-6303 • jenn@dairystar.com Ruth Klossner (507) 240-0048 cowlady@centurylink.net Danielle Nauman (608) 487-1101 danielle.n@dairystar.com Danna Sabolik - Staff Writer (320) 352-6303 • danna.s@dairystar.com Maria Bichler - Copy Editor 320-352-6303 Advertising Sales Main Ofce: 320-352-6303 Fax: 320-352-5647 Deadline is 5 p.m. of the Friday the week before publication Sales Manager - Jeff Weyer (Northern MN, East Central MN) 320-260-8505 (cell) jeff.w@dairystar.com Mark Klaphake (Western MN) 320-352-6303 (ofce) 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 Hoeer (Eastern Iowa) 320-250-2884 • amanda.h@dairystar.com Amos Denman (Southern WI) 563-608-6477 • amos.d@dairystar.com Megan Stuessel (Western Wisconsin) 608-387-1202 • megan.s@dairystar.com Deadlines The deadline for news and advertising in the Dairy Star is 5 p.m. Friday the week before publication. Subscriptions One year subscription $35.00, outside the U.S. $110.00. Send check along with mailing address to Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378. Advertising Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an advertisement shall constitute nal 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 ofces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378-1246.
North America dealers. A glance at what’s inside
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In the dairy industry, it is the season of on-farm events of all kinds – breakfasts on the farm, public tours and open houses featuring innovative technology. Wisconsin dairy farmer Tina Hinchley and her family are looking forward to welcoming guests to their farm Saturday, June 29 near Cambridge, Wis. The open house will provide visitors with a look at the Hinchleys’ new milking robots. Read about the farm and upcoming event on page 23 in rst section. Minnesota Milk Producers Association hosted their annual Summer Escape farm tour, where they visited dairies across west central Minnesota June 13. The group’s rst stop was at Shaina Kirckof’s dairy near Belgrade, Minn. Turn to page 3 in second section to read about how Kirckof’s facility improvements have kept her competitive in the dairy market. Also in second section on page 4, you will nd a story on the Adringa family, of Clear Lake, S.D. In March, the family began using 24 robots to milk their 1,800cow herd. They talk about why milking robots was the right Helplines choice for their farm and also the challenges of completing such a large project. The public is invited to an open house at the – Minnesota Farm & Rural Helpline, dairy Saturday, June 29. The Gierok family are veterans when it comes to hosting 833-600-2670 x1 large events. For the second time, they took on the Tremplealeau – Rural Mental Health Counselor County Dairy Breakfast June 8 at their dairy farm, High Hillside (MN), 320-266-2390 Acres in Independence, Wis. Read how the day went for the – Iowa Concern Hotline, 800-447-1985 Gierok family in the “Day in the life” feature found on pages 16 – Avera Farmer’s Stress Hotline (SD), 800-691-4336 and 18 in second section. While dairy farmers have been busy sharing their dairy sto- – Farm Center Helpline (WI), 800ries, we caught up with processors to help share theirs. In the 273-8255 “Our side of the fence” feature, representatives of dairy proces- – National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, sors answered questions about their business and how they are 800-273-8255 continually working to provide the best market for their patrons. – Farm Aid Hotline, 800-327-6243 Read those responses on pages 15-16 in rst section.
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It’s all inside... Columnists Ag Insider
Pages 8-9 First Section
The pain that comes with farming Page 27 First Section
Clear Lake
Stratford
First Section: Pages 37 - 38
Second Section: Pages 20 - 21
Crop and Weather Reports
Friendshuh Farms hosts eld day June 11
Ramblings from the Ridge Page 30 First Section
Sheboygen Falls
Something to Ruminate On
Bayeld
Douglas
Crossbreeding, robotic milking, GPS tracking help Majestic Crossing Dairy win sustainability award
Iron
Page 31 First Section
First Section: Pages 1, 7
Ashland
Dairy Good Life
Burnett
W as
Page 32 First Section
hb
ur
n
Just Thinking Out Loud
Polk
Barron
Sawyer
Price
Rusk Taylor
Fountain City
Brandts reap benets of organic production
The “Mielke” Market Weekly
Second Section: Pages 6 - 7
St. Croix Pierce
Pages 10 - 11 Second Section
Dunn
Pepin Buffalo
Chippewa
La Valle
Marathon
From Our Side of the Fence
Clark
Eau Claire Trempealeau
Page 33 First Section
First Section: Pages 15 - 16
Wood Jackson Adams
La Crosse Monroe
Juneau Vernon
Hillsboro
Mitchell earns top FFA dairy placement prociency
ford
Richland
Sauk
Craw
First Section: Pages 34 - 35
Iowa
Fond Du Lac Columbia
Dane
J
Lafayette
Green
Rock
Boscobel
For additional stories from our other zone, log on to www.dairystar.com
n
so
er eff
Grant
Zone 2
Dodge
Focus on fertility traits lead to 37 percent pregnancy rate at Latham Dairy
Cambridge
Robots have improved family life for Hinchleys First Section: Pages 23, 25
First Section: Pages 18, 20
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Page 4 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019
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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019 • Page 5
ConƟnued from CARLSON | Page 1
Thank You! JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR
Cows are milked three Ɵmes a day in individual roboƟc milking stalls on the 60-stall rotary parlor at Carlson Dairy LLP June 13 near Pennock, Minn. Each stall operates on its own. Cows are housed in a 10-row, crossventilated freestall barn and bedded with sand. The majority of the herd is milked in the rotary parlor three times a day – at 8 a.m., 4 p.m. and midnight. Of the 14 groups milked, two groups are fresh cows, and those animals are milked four times in 24 hours. The rotary parlor was built to the north of where the farm’s double-18 parlor stood; 18 stalls in the original parlor are still used for non-conforming and recently fresh cows. “We have a group of about 50 that don’t go in the rotary,” Carl said. “Some are claustrophobic or might have foot abscesses that make it difcult to get on and off the parlor, but most of them are just old cows.” In the rst-of-its-kind milking system, the automated parlor contains 60 individual robotic milking stalls. Cows step into the stalls and the unit attaches to the teats for a prep procedure followed by milking and then post dip; all occurring within the ination liner. The system uses a camera, creating a 3D image, to nd the teat and attach. It is setup to try attaching three times before kicking over to manual mode where an employee is notied and must attach the unit. “Because of that imaging, we don’t have to cull cows with poor udder conformations if they’re protable,”
Carl said. One revolution of the parlor takes eight minutes, meaning 300 cows can be milked in one hour with the entire herd milked in six hours. “We’ve found the faster it spins the better the cows load because the cows entering don’t have to wait in line for the cow ahead of her to enter the rotary,” Carl said. “They can walk at a steady pace.” The parlor has some downtime three times a day – two times of which are designated for a wash cycle. “There aren’t many xes we can’t do while it’s spinning,” Carl said. “If one of the units breaks, we can take out the service components and work on it without shutting down the parlor.” Every morning, Carl reviews data received from the parlor and individual robots. He then attends to robots as needed. The Carlsons all receive data about the parlor and milking herd on their phones. The parlor also includes two monitors, which simulate the parlor functions with color coordination. “I don’t need to be going back and forth around the rotary checking on the cows in the parlor, I can do it all on my own from here,” said Carl, showing his phone and the monitors. Turn to CARLSON | Page 6
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Page 6 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019
ConƟnued from CARLSON | Page 5
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The lactaƟng herd is housed in a 10-row, cross-venƟlated freestall barn on the farm near Pennock, Minn. From the monitors, Carl can then look at individual cows and stalls to see how many times the unit tried attaching, the milk yield, and pre- and post-dip supplies remaining, among other information. The automated system will serve the Carlsons well once the system is full optimized. It is currently helping them maintain a somatic cell count of 140,000. After a year in operation, the Carlsons all agreed one of the most challenging aspects of the new parlor was proper training for employees. “It takes a different person to learn how to work with all the technology,” Chad said. Kindra agreed. “People want to jump in and do it themselves, but instead we have to let the robot do the work,” she said. Along with the parlor, the Carlsons also built a calf barn with automated feeders in addition to an eight-row, 1,000-animal unit heifer facility. In the cross-ventilated calf barn, calves are grouped in pens of 24 calves with the two youngest groups only having 12 calves in the pen. The Carlsons have not noticed much difference in milk intake with the automated feeders, but have noticed a better social transition from calves to heifers and cows. “The capital investment is great, but at the end of the day, we feel we’re getting better calves because of it,” Chad said. Once calves reach 5 months of age, they are moved to the heifer facility until 22-23 months old. There, they are bedded with separated solids and wear
activity monitors to track heats. “At 5 months old, the heifers start making an S shape through the barn and through the 10 groups. We move them out 30 days before calving,” Chad said. “For managing 1,000 heifers this way, there’s nothing to it.” The facility mimics the barn the Carlsons built in 2012, with the addition of recessed bunks which help them feed to zero refusals while maintaining foot health. “We wanted to keep management in line with what we were doing so everything is identical as it was before,” Chad said. The timing of such upgrades was coincidental. Chad and Carl toured two similar parlor facilities in Canada prior to the 2017 storm. “They came back and were mulling over if the investment and timing of it was all worth it,” Kindra said. “When the storm came, it ended up being good timing to revamp our facilities.” The storm removed the roofs on the freestall barns and milking parlor, and caused other damage to the milk cow facilities. The special needs barn was attened, as was the 3-month-old heifer barn. With the state-of-the-art facilities, the Carlsons are pleased with how they were able to recover from devastation and invest in their dairy’s future. “We’re still learning and there are still challenges, but with new technology we’ve come a long way,” Kindra said. “We’re optimizing the system for production and what’s best for the cows.”
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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019 • Page 7
Con�nued from STRAUSS | Page 1 Dairy in Sheboygan Falls, Wis., is home to a colorful mix of crossbreeds that the Strausses began breeding 15 years ago. Derived from three breeds – Holstein, Viking Red and French Montbeliarde – the ProCross animal is moderate in size, and therefore, eats less and creates less manure. When it comes to milk production, the farm sacrices a bit of volume for better components to create highervalue milk. Producing milk that contains 4.1 percent butterfat and 3.4 percent protein, the unique breed is earning the dairy more money per hundredweight. “We’re producing a high-quality product that meets the demands of the consumer and the cheese producer,” Strauss said. “Cheese is the main driver of Wisconsin’s milk market, and we specically breed cows for this purpose. Our milk is ideal for making cheese.” Although they produce less milk than a Holstein, ProCross cows are recognized for greater feed efciency. “The ProCross breed has a 50-cent advantage in dairy income over feed cost compared to Holsteins,” Strauss said. “We don’t need to add a lot of extra energy to the ration, which also keeps costs down.” Majestic Crossing Dairy is a culmination of four families (Strauss, Radloff, Wedepohl and Herzog) and two farms that became one entity in 2010. Strauss, a sixth-generation farmer, farms with his father, Ed, his brother, Darin, and his brother-in-law, Rick Knoicek. In 2017, they installed a robotic milking system at one site, and the 13 Lely robots have proved to be a sustainable milking option, saving approximately 40% in labor hours and 30% in water usage. Milk production is up 3 pounds per cow since switching to robots, and the farm has also seen a positive change in cow health and an improvement in reproduction. “You have to ask yourself, who is go-
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Dean Strauss examines a corn eld at Majes�c Crossing Dairy near Shebyogan Falls, Wis. The dairy farms 3,600 acres of corn, alfalfa, wheat and soybeans using a real-�me kinema�cs global posi�oning system that helps save fuel, fer�lizer, pes�cide and seed by iden�fying efficiencies in seed distribu�on. ing to milk my cows and at what cost?” Strauss said. “The answer is constantly moving and that’s a major dilemma, but robots solve that problem. If nobody shows up, we know the cows are still going to get milked.” The farm’s milk is shipped to Sartori, which is just a seven-mile trip that results in optimal fuel efciency. The dairy also produces a higher nutrient concentration manure product with less water that saves $30,000-$40,000 in manure hauling costs. Majestic Crossing farms 3,600 acres of corn, alfalfa, wheat and soybeans using a real-time kinematics (RTK) global positioning system that helps save fuel, fertilizer, pesticide and seed. Acting as a beacon on tractors and other equipment, the guidance systems helps Strauss identify efciencies in seed distribution, streamlines loading and improves time management. Using features like row shutoff and variable rate seeding, the
technology makes it possible to get within one inch of accuracy when planting. “Saving 10 bags of seed at $250 per bag adds up to a couple thousand dollars,” Strauss said. “And when you save 10 minutes here and there, you can get another 30 acres planted.” Strauss looks for the opportunity to save every chance he gets. And not just the big bucks, but the dimes, nickels and pennies, too. “You have to look for that extra nickel,” Strauss said. “That’s what makes the difference. For the most part, the big things have already been done. Instead, ask where you can save on smaller stuff.” All of Majestic Crossing’s heifer and bull calves are raised in Kansas, and heifers come back to the farm about six to eight weeks before calving. Raising their youngstock in Kansas versus at home has helped the farm save substantial money. Furthermore, Strauss said the crossbreeds nish faster, making steer-
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raising more efcient. Strauss has learned from many people along the way how to do more with less, including farmers in California who became his mentors and friends. “There are a lot of great farms of all sizes all over the country,” Strauss said. “And we can learn from each other. We’re getting beaten down as an industry in terms of economics, weather, animal welfare, etc. We need to take advantage of any opportunity we have to do something smarter and more efciently.” To become more sustainable, a farm could start with something as simple as changing lighting xtures, said Strauss, who has installed energy-efcient longday lighting in his facilities. “Decide you want to do something and stick with it,” Strauss said. “When we rst started with the ProCross, people told us crossbreeding cows like that wouldn’t work, but they were wrong. I’m glad we had the gumption to ride it out. You might already be doing some things that are sustainable and not even know it. Also, don’t be afraid to put your own twist on another person’s idea.” Strauss’ well-rounded approach to sustainability ensures all practices and technologies implemented at Majestic Crossing Dairy are socially acceptable, environmentally friendly and economically smart. Strauss shoots for a 20 percent return on every dollar, although that has been more of a challenge recently. Wholly committed to running a sustainable farm, Strauss is devoted to using precious resources wisely and employing innovative practices that do right by his animals and his land. Executing bold ideas and technologies that are gentle on the environment yet kind to his bottom line has helped Strauss nd success in places where others might not have thought to look.
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Page 8 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019
No details on secret trade deal with Mexico After the United States and Mexico reached an Richard Fordyce said the program coverage is agreement to avoid new tariffs on Mexican products, retroactive to the beginning of the year. Dairy President Trump went to Twitter. Trump said Margin Coverage pays dairy farmers the difference “Mexico has agreed to immediately begin buying large between the all-milk price and the average feed cost quantities of agricultural product from our great patriot when it falls below a speciďƒžc dollar amount. House farmers.â€? When asked about it at a Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Ag Insider hearing, representatives of USDA and the Peterson said this program is designed U.S. Trade Representative’s Ofďƒžce had to provide an adequate safety net to no details. Wisconsin Representative Ron dairy farmers. Peterson is encouraging Kind indicates Congress is also in the dairy farms to sign up their ďƒžrst 5 million dark. “We have gotten zero information pounds of production history at the $9.50 about any details of a secret deal with coverage level. DMC sign-up is open Mexico.â€? Kind emphasized Mexico is through September 20. the No. 1 export market for U.S. dairy products and the United States-MexicoMFP payments to be front-loaded Canada Agreement needs to be resolved. House lawmakers want more information on the second round of Other trade deals may be at risk Market Facilitation Program payments. By Don Wick If the United States-Mexico-Canada They asked speciďƒžc questions of chief Columnist Agreement is not ratiďƒžed soon, trade ag negotiator Gregg Doud and USDA deals with other countries may be at risk. Undersecretary Ted McKinney during a U.S. Dairy Export Council President and CEO Tom House Agriculture Subcommittee hearing. Missouri Vilsack said there are trading partners concerned the Representative Vicki Hartzler asked McKinney about United States may not be able to strike a deal. That trade aid and tough planting conditions. McKinney was feedback from a recent trip to the European Dairy responded. “I think the ďƒžrst tranche of MFP payments Association in Scotland. “There is a concern about will be heavier, because of the immediate need. the use of tariffs to negotiate. Hopefully, at the end of Beyond that, I’m disallowed by law to get into the the day we get folks to the table and we reach some speciďƒžcs.â€? McKinney also told Hartzler he was not kind of consensus to move things forward.â€? Vilsack sure when farmers would know the county rates for said ratifying the USMCA is very important for MFP. making progress on other trade agreements like Japan and China. “It’s about saying to the world we are MFP details coming soon interested in free trade agreements. We are capable of The details of the new Market Facilitation reaching a bipartisan arrangement. It sends a message Program will be released within a matter of days. “I we want to compete in the world market as long as the believe people deserve an answer sooner rather than competition is fair.â€? In the meantime, U.S. agriculture later,â€? said Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. groups are going to keep pressing for the USMCA to Perdue emphasized the goals of the MFP payments be ratiďƒžed. differ from prevented plant coverage. “The Market Facilitation Program is designed for tariff disruptions DMC sign-up is underway and we have a safety net in insurance over prevented Enrollment for the new Dairy Margin Coverage plant.â€? The USDA legal team has determined crops program is now open. Farm Service Administrator must be planted to be eligible for MFP payments. With
the new trade assistance plan, farmers will receive payments based on a county rate and their eligible planted acres in 2019. The formula for the county rates has not been announced, but will be based on the trade impact for the crops grown in the county. Emergency haying sought on PP acres A multi-state coalition has submitted a request to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, asking for the ability to plant and harvest forages on prevented planting acres. The request came from the Farm Bureau groups in Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio due to feed and forage shortages. Severe alfalfa winter kill and record rainfall this spring inďƒ&#x;uenced the feed situation. The groups said they are not seeking a permanent change, but a one-time emergency request. H-2A amendment passes An amendment to the Homeland Security Appropriations bill includes year-round farm employees in the H-2A farm worker visa program. National Milk Producers Federation President/CEO Jim Mulhern said most dairy farmers have been unable to use H-2A visas because they can only be used for seasonal or temporary employees. “The current H-2A program simply isn’t an option for a commodity that harvests its product multiple times a day, every day.â€? More cows are culled With the ongoing struggles in the dairy business, more cows are going to slaughter. In the latest reporting week, more than 53,000 dairy cows were culled nationwide. That’s up 9 percent from last year at this time. Year to date, 1.4 million dairy cows have been culled. That is up nearly 70,000 cows or 5.2 percent from the same period in 2018.
Turn to AG INSIDER | Page 9
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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019 • Page 9
ConƟnued from AG INSIDER | Page 8 Whole milk in school Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson and Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey have proposed legislation that would allow school districts to serve avored and unavored whole milk and 2 percent milk. During the Obama Administration, restrictions were imposed on school districts and milk consumption has declined signicantly. USDA ag advisory committees named The USDA’s new agricultural advisory committee features some familiar names. That list includes National Farmers Union senior vice president Rob Larew and National Milk Producers Federation President/ CEO Jim Mulhern. New FFA ofcer team elected The new Wisconsin FFA president is Collin Weltzien of Arcadia. The other members of the ofcer team are vice president Ryan Erickson, Barron; vice president Lindsey Augustine, Ellsworth; treasurer Curtis Weltzien,
Arcadia; vice president Grace Morrissey, Shullsburg; sentinel Emily Sheehan, Parkview; secretary Jared Mack, Sauk Prairie; vice president Daniel Clark, Spencer; reporter Lydia Williams, Shawano; parliamentarian Joe Schlies, Denmark and vice president Michelle Stangler, Watertown. Trivia challenge June Dairy Month began in 1937. That answers our last trivia question. June Dairy Month actually had a different name when it began. What was it? We’ll have the answer in the next edition of Dairy Star. Don Wick is owner/broadcaster for the Red River Farm Network, based in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Wick has been recognized as the National Farm Broadcaster of the Year and served as president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Don and his wife, Kolleen, have two adult sons, Tony and Sam, and ve grandchildren, Aiden, Piper, Adrienne, Aurora and Sterling.
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Ken Bekius milks 75 cows on his family’s farm near Milaca, Minn. Bekius has withstood the depressed dairy economy by adapƟng various management pracƟces to his farm.
Editor’s note: In this series, “Dairying in tough times,” Dairy Star is catching up with dairy farmers who began milking cows in the last ve years. These farmers are sharing how they have been able to weather the market conditions and why they see promise in today’s changing industry. MILACA, Minn. – In the almost three years Ken Bekius has milked cows at his family’s farm site, he cannot think of one management technique that has remained the same. “I don’t feel one certain thing has stayed the same since I started,” Bekius said. “If I hear of a new idea, I try it, and if I don’t like it, I do something different.” An open-mind mentality has beneted Bekius as he continues his 75-cow dairy near Milaca, Minn. Within six months of his October 2016 start up date, Bekius reevaluated his reproduction. A local veterinarian recommended Bekius follow an ovsynch protocol. “I used to wait until the cows were 60-70 days in milk, and then if I didn’t catch a natural heat, I would synch them,” Bekius said. “But with not enough help on the dairy, the cows don’t always go outside every day and catching heats is hard.” When Bekius started dairying, he purchased a 42cow registered herd. In selecting bulls for high components, and structurally sound udder and feet and legs, Bekius has improved the quality of his herd. “Growing up, I always heard my dad say, ‘If you can keep good feet and legs under them, you can make them milk,’” Bekius said. Bekius admitted while functionality is important, he also looks at type. “One of the best things I’ve done to cut costs is stop attending dairy dispersals, otherwise I was nding ways to buy nice cattle,” he said. “I’ve always liked big, fancy cows, but big cows are not the most protable.” Instead, Bekius developed his herd from within, calving in 46 heifers over the course of the rst two winters. With a rapidly growing herd, Bekius has also taken a proactive approach to herd health. Calves are vaccinated against crypto and rotovirus within 12 hours of birth. “No one gets more or less care than the animal next to her,” Bekius said. “I don’t like getting a sick calf or cow, because if I have to cull her I feel like I failed.” To improve cow comfort and longevity, Bekius worked with an agriculture vendor to install new cow mattresses in the tiestall barn in 2017. The vendor nanced the project and created a payment plan Bekius could afford based on his milk check, and one he could pay off within a year.
“That was a project I was really dreading because of the cost, but my brother pushed me to get 10 mats replaced at a time,” Bekius said. “I’ve seen a bump in production, and the cows and me feel better standing on them. I should’ve done this when I rst started milking.” While Bekius has changed a lot in his farming practices, some tried and true practices have served the 24-year-old well. Bekius continues crop farming with his father, Curt, and three brothers, Shawn, Brad and Doug. Between the family members, they share equipment and labor, farming about 800 acres in Mille Lacs County. “We follow the great American barter system, and it’s worked really well for us,” Bekius said. Last year was the rst time the family experimented with double cropping, planting triticale and peas. This year, they strictly planted triticale and will be planting forage sorghum by the end of the month. Bekius’ mother, Jackie, also feeds the calves and his brothers relief milk. “I’ve never had any hired labor, so that means I’m sometimes burning the midnight oil,” Bekius said. “The key to all of this is the help I get from family.” The dairyman also gives credit to people in the industry who he works with and looks to for advice for managing through depressed milk prices, admitting it has not been an easy journey. “2018 was really tough,” Bekius said. “Last winter, things were really bad and I was second guessing everything. One farmer said what got him through the ‘80s was he had other farmers to lean on.” Aside from active and retired farmers, Bekius maintains a sound relationship with his farm business management instructor and banker. Together, they have worked to see Bekius’ dairy stays aoat. By seeing the business on paper, Bekius has managed his nances better and conscientiously makes smart business choices. At the beginning of this year, Bekius created a cash ow statement reective of his 2018 average milk price of $15.75. While the markets are more favorable, planning for less will further Bekius’ vision as a young dairy farmer. He looks online for hay for sale and has taken on custom planting. Last fall, Bekius also worked part time for a cattle exporter. “The secret to success is farming with your heart, but you have to farm with your checkbook rst,” he said. All of these decisions have carried Bekius through the economic slump and positioned him for a longer career in the industry – a goal he has as the third generation of dairy farmers. “There’s light at the end of the tunnel,” Bekius said. “Those of us who are still farming are the ultimate underdog story.”
Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019 • Page 11
Dairy youth excel at Wisconsin FFA Convention Wille, Mitchell claim top honors in respected contests By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
MADISON, Wis. – Over 3,700 FFA members, supporters and enthusiasts gathered June 10-13 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis., for the 90th Wisconsin FFA Convention. Collin Wille, 19, of the Rice Lake FFA Chapter, rose to the top of the Star Farmer competition. Wille is a dairy science student at Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar, Iowa and is the son of Jeff and Debbie Wille. The Wille family owns a small herd of registered Holsteins near Rice Lake, Wis. Wille’s dairy herd and passion began when he was given his rst registered Holstein at the age of 9. From that time on, there has been no looking back for this young man as he pursues his dream of a career in the dairy industry. He continued to grow and develop his herd with a specic interest in genetics and mating decisions. Wille focuses his mating decisions on breeding cows built for both type and production. He is involved in all aspects of the family’s dairy farm including mating decisions, nutrition and recordkeeping. Following his graduation from NICC, Wille plans to return to the farm, becoming the fourth generation of his family to operate the farm. He hopes to modernize the farm by building a freestall barn. Wille’s application will be judged at the national contest held in October at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind. Another highly-sought award for students involved in dairy related Supervised Agricultural Experience projects is the dairy placement prociency category, which was won by Hillsboro FFA member Brooks Mitchell. Mitchell, 18, is the son of Steve and Kelli Mitchell of Hillsboro, Wis., and recently graduated from Hillsboro High School. In his FFA chapter, Mitchell has held the ofces of president, vice president and parliamentarian and has earned his discovery, greenhand and chapter degrees. This year marks the third time Mitchell has submitted an application for the dairy placement prociency, and in the past he has received both gold and bronze ratings. His Supervised Agriculture Education project is based on his work on his family’s 800-cow, 1,000-acre Hillsprairie Dairy, which he has been an active member of since the age of 10. Mitchell is the seventh generation of his family to work on the family farm. The scope of his SAE has grown over the past eight years to include nearly all jobs on the farm. Mitchell is involved with the eld work and tractor driving, manure pumping, feed bunker work, milking, calf care, herd health work and general farm maintenance. As the state winner, Mitchell’s application will be forwarded on to the national contest, where he will have an opportunity to earn one of four spots as a national nalist to compete at the National FFA Convention. Ben Styer, 17, of Menomonie FFA topped both the dairy cattle evaluation contest held earlier this spring and the prepared public speaking competition held at the state convention. Styer is the son of David and Karen Styer, and lives on the family’s 2,100-cow dairy farm in Menomonie, Wis. He will be a senior at Menomonie High School this fall. The dairy cattle evaluation contest consists of placing six classes of dairy cattle, two sets of oral reasons and a written exam on dairy industry knowledge. The exam also includes a section on interpreting production data. “The test is the hardest part of the contest,” Styer said. “There is so much information you need to know in the dairy industry, and any of it could be on the test.” Styer qualied for the state contest with his judging team by winning a regional competition. This is the second year he has taken part in the contest and the rst year the team made it to the state competition.
Styer is familiar with the process of dairy judging from his involvement in the 4-H dairy judging program, which he has participated in since third grade. “My years of 4-H judging are a denite advantage going into the FFA contest especially with the reasons,” Styer said. “I really enjoy the process of dairy judging, evaluating the animals. The skills I have learned have helped me to select animals I want to purchase and the ones I want to show.” Although he was the top individual in the state contest, Styer does not have the opportunity to advance to the national contest as an individual as only the top team advances. However, Styer will advance to the national contest in the prepared public speaking contest. He chose the topic of Crispr cas9 gene editing, which is a new gene editing technology to allow scientists to pinpoint certain spots on DNA to edit, insert or remove specic
genes. Styer spoke about how this technology could benet agriculture and the dairy industry in particular in the area of animal welfare. “The horn gene could be completely removed, ending the need for dehorning cattle,” Styer said. For the national competition, Styer is allowed to revise his speech as long as he stays with the same topic he presented at the state contest. Cuba City FFA member Payton Van Schyndle, 16, topped the dairy cattle handlers competition held earlier this spring. Van Schyndle will be a sophomore at Cuba City High School this fall and is the daughter of Mike and Jill Van Schyndle of Cuba City, Wis. Van Schyndle is no stranger to presenting dairy cattle to look their best. Although her family sold their Turn to FFA | Page 13
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Page 12 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019
Pick value added products to benet dairy
Diversied farms can be fullling, protable By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
FARMINGTON, Minn. – Diversifying a dairy farm can be done in multiple ways, each bringing a certain value to the business based on the market’s demand. “There are a lot of opportunities for value added,” Betty Berning said. “It could be as simple as diversifying your farm by adding a different crop or animal, or as complicated as making a food product that you sell at the grocery store.” Berning provides strategic insight for farmers to develop a value added niche with her business, Betty Berning Consulting. When deciding if value added is right for the farm, Berning suggested dairy farmers explore options. “Visit other dairies and talk to other people who have completed a value added investment on their farm,” Berning said. “Make a list of possibilities.” Aaron Brand was a recent college graduate when he returned to his family’s farm and established an apple orchard and chicken farm. Today, Brand milks 70 cows with his family – dad, John, uncle, Greg, and grandfather, Richard – grows 16 acres of apples and raises more than 2,500 laying hens
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Aaron and John Brand milk 70 cows on their farm in Dakota County near Farmington, Minn. Aaron also grows 16 acres of apples and raises more than 2,500 laying hens and meat birds. and meat birds at their farm in Dakota County near Farmington, Minn. The cows are housed in a 50-stall tiestall barn with 20 cows housed in a freestall barn. “When I came home from college in 2005, we were trying to gure out what we could do based on our location,” Brand said. “With housing less than 1 mile away, expanding the dairy was not feasible, so we decided this would be a better t.” The Brands have a traditional dairy farm and then sell their eggs, poultry
meat and apples in an on-farm store, at farmers markets and to area grocers. Brand always raised laying hens, but after college further developed that area of his family’s farm business. “I ordered 50 birds and gave them to family and sold them off the farm,” Brand said. “I grew the ock to 800900 hens and realized I needed to do this correctly or walk away.” The dairy farmer then built a facility that addressed animal health – reducing mortality to less than 1% in the entire lifetime of the ock – improved egg
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and shell quality, and facilitated steady production throughout the entire year. Brand’s apple orchard rst began as a 6-acre plot at a nearby business. With time, Brand has developed his orchard to t the needs of his family’s agriculture enterprise. “We’ve made a lot of changes, but they’ve all beneted the farm,” Brand said. There are ample possibilities for dairy farmers to create a value added business from their farm, whether it is directly related to the dairy or becomes an entirely different sector of the farm. Berning uses a scorecard when working with farmers. This diagram allows farmers to visualize and measure options for value added and what might be the best t for the farm business. Given the farmer’s resources and desires, criteria is established and weighed against possible value added ideas. “Don’t just go after the idea that has the greatest potential prot,” Berning said. “Pick something that ts with your appetite for risk and works well with your business and family.” For example, Berning might work with a farmer who is considering transitioning to organic, hosting day camps or making dairy products to sell to grocers, but is limited with their time and access to capital. The scorecard would help reveal converting to organic dairying is the best decision. “It’s very important to decide what you are capable and not capable of doing,” Berning said. “Make a list and compare. Most likely, none of [the Turn to VALUE ADDED | Page 13
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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019 • Page 13
Conďż˝nued from VALUE ADDED | Page 12 possibilities] will meet every criterion perfectly, but hopefully there will be a few ideas that meet most.â€? Brand Farms knew their fruit and poultry endeavors would complement the dairy well given the farm’s proximity to the Twin Cities and ability to reach consumers. “People and customers like to see where and how their food is made, and that has really beneďƒžted our family farm,â€? Brand said. Dairy farmers can work with government programs to ďƒžnd the right value added product. At the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the AGRI Value Added Feasibility Study Grant provides funding to research the best value added product for the farm. The United States Department of Agriculture and Agriculture Utilization Research Institute offers similar programs. Creating a value added product is not an easy feat. With trial and error, it can become a successful venture. “I jumped in head ďƒžrst, and I’ve
experienced my fair share of downfalls and also positives,â€? Brand said. “If you start small and do your research, you can always grow.â€? Berning agreed. “Do your homework and vet your ideas,â€? she said. After more than a decade of adding diversity to the family farm, Brand still runs into challenges with labor being the greatest obstacle. “By far that’s our top problem, and I know I’m not alone in saying that,â€? Brand said. “There are some new things I’d like to do or places I’d like to market our products, but without the man power we can’t do it.â€? But Brand does not deter anyone from pursuing a value added business. “Go for it, but do your research ďƒžrst,â€? he said. There is possibility in the industry for dairy farmers to ďƒžnd a niche market they enjoy being a part of and one that is also proďƒžtable.
Con�nued from FFA | Page 11
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Collin Wille (center), of Rice Lake, Wis., is honored with Wisconsin FFA’s top honor of Star Farmer at the state FFA Convenďż˝on in Madison, Wis. He is pictured with state FFA oďŹƒcer Jillian Tyler (from leďż˝), state FFA president Amelia Hayden, fourth-place ďƒžnisher Kevin Kitchen of Augusta FFA, runner-up Hailey Hendrickson of Randolph Cambria-Friesland FFA, third-place ďƒžnisher Brooke Welke of Osseo-Fairchild FFA, ďƒžďż˝h-place ďƒžnisher Jacquelyn Rosenbush of Spooner FFA, and state FFA oďŹƒcers Emily Kruse and Sarah Calaway. dairy cows, she has remained involved in the dairy industry by keeping a few show heifers to exhibit at shows and fairs. She began her showing career at the age of 3 and has been participating in showmanship contests at local, state and national levels for several years. The handler’s competition was held as part of the evaluation contest as the participants presented the animals to be evaluated. Following the showmanship portion of the contest, Van Schyndle was one of 10 ďƒžnalists selected to move forward to the written exam portion. “The exam was the hardest part of the contest,â€? Van Schyndle said. “I
thought it was just a showmanship contest, and I was kind of surprised when they said we had to take a test.� Van Schyndle said the exam covered the PDCA scorecards for conformation and showmanship as well as general knowledge about the dairy industry. “The thing I enjoyed the most was the opportunity to meet new people and learn new things,� Van Schyndle said. Van Schyndle is looking forward to her trip to the National FFA Convention to take part in the national contest in October.
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Page 14 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019
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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019 • Page 15
From Our Side Of The Fence Processors: How are you staying competitive?
Sheryl Meshke and Donn DeVelder Co-presidents and CEOs Associated Milk Producers Inc. New Ulm, Minn. Describe your processing company. AMPI’s dairy farmer-owners produce milk on family farms in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota. In 2018, 1,800 members marketed 5.7 billion pounds of milk. Through the cooperative, members know they have a market for their milk. Together, they own 10 manufacturing plants where nearly 10% of the nation’s American-type cheese and butter is produced. The co-op’s award-winning cheese, butter and powdered products are marketed to foodservice, retail and food ingredient customers. What are short- and long-term goals your company has to continue serving your patrons? We work to provide a solid return on our dairy farmerowners’ investment. Like a family farm, AMPI invests with a long-term view. We’re building customer relationships with our portfolio of great tasting dairy products. We are committed to staying relevant with the consumer and assuring markets for AMPI’s dairy farmer-owners. We recognize today’s consumer wants to know more about their food. To help tell AMPI’s story, we are introducing the trademarked term “co-op crafted.â€? This mark and accompanying Dinner Bell Creamery brand will better communicate how we source local products and market on a large scale. We know the dairy farmer who produces the milk, the cheesemaker who makes the cheese and the rural communities they call home. What business decisions have you made to remain competitive in the industry? AMPI completed a multi-year plan that represented the largest overall upgrade in internal processing capacity since the cooperative was formed. The plan achieved smart growth: balancing customer demand with manufacturing capabilities and milk produced on AMPI member farms. New cheesemaking equipment was installed at plants in Sanborn, Iowa, and Paynesville, Minn. The new technology helped increase the value of every hundredweight of milk processed at the plants. What makes your processing plants stand out amongst the rest? Our experienced team of cheese and butter makers is recognized among the industry’s best at national and international contests, tallying 19 top-three ďƒžnishes in 2018 and several already in 2019. The investments in technology further cement AMPI as a long-term player in the business. How have your dairy products changed over the years to meet consumer demands? AMPI products are on-trend with the rise in cheese snacking and butter consumption. AMPI makes award-winning butter, as well as Cheddar, Colby, Monterey Jack, Pasteurized Process American and a variety of pepper-style cheeses. We continue to expand our cheesemaking portfolio by developing innovative ďƒ&#x;avors. The new Dinner Bell Creamery brand provides an opportunity to share our farmer-owned, co-op crafted story. How are trade negotiations/tariffs affecting your business? The impact of retaliatory tariffs and slow moving trade negotiations has been profound. Following the announcement of the tariffs last June, the cheese market dropped nearly $0.30 in 30 days. It is estimated America’s dairy farmers have lost about $2 billion since the trade war began. The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement preserves important market access to the U.S. dairy industry’s No. 1 customer – Mexico. Sales to Mexico account for about 30% of U.S. cheese exports. What are you optimistic for in the dairy industry over the next year? Demand for cheese and butter is strong. United States per capita consumption is steadily growing 2%-3% each year and shows no signs of slowing. In addition, the new Dairy Margin Coverage program appears ready to provide a muchimproved safety net for dairy farmers. This support is critical as dairy farmers are enduring a lengthy economic drought that has been punctuated with punitive retaliatory trade tariffs.
Sid Cook Owner Carr Valley Cheese Co. La Valle, Mauston, Linden, Fennimore, Portage Describe your processing company. We have four cheese manufacturing plants in southern Wisconsin. Our Mauston location primarily crafts our brined cheeses. We make gouda and fontina there as well as specialty cheeses using different milk types, including sheep, goat and mixed milk varieties. Our La Valle plant is our ďƒ&#x;agship location and makes our cheddars and ďƒ&#x;ats. We make our curd in La Valle that is distributed fresh to all of our retail stores. Our Linden plant makes our blue cheeses which have become popular in recent years with varieties such as Wildďƒžre Blue and Penta Crème Blue. In Fennimore, we bake our famous Bread Cheese. La Valle, Mauston and Fennimore all have retail stores attached to the plant. You can’t get fresher cheese than that. Lastly, we have a large facility in Portage where we cut, package, age and smoke our cheeses. What are short and long term goals your company has to continue serving your patrons? We’re known for making innovative cheeses using traditional techniques so quality is really important to us. We have a variety of consumers from people who know us for our curd to renowned chefs looking for unique products they can’t get anywhere else. Our goals are to continue to have a variety of products that meet diverse consumer needs. What business decisions have you made to remain competitive in the industry? We’re always coming out with something new. I’ve been told I’m a bit of a mad scientist. I love coming up with ďƒ&#x;avors and techniques to produce something novel, and we usually have several new cheeses released a year. Consumers enjoy ďƒ&#x;avor and variety, which we specialize at. What makes your processing plant stand out amongst the rest? Our plants are located right where the farmers are. We have fresh milk delivered daily from a network of farmers – some of whom have supplied us for generations. The best milk makes the best cheese. Also, by having separate facilities for varieties, our cheesemakers are able to specialize and hone their skills. How have your dairy products changed over the years to meet consumer demands? Last year, we came out with individual specialty snack stix including Cranberry Chipotle, Native Sheep, Goat Cheddar, Fontina and Bread Cheese. There’s nothing else like it on the market. Consumers want quality products that are convenient, and our snack stix meet that demand. We also expanded into specialty butters that have been a hit nationwide. They come in milk types which impacts ďƒ&#x;avor – goat, sheep, mixed milk menage and cow milk butter are available in cup or beautiful foil pats. How are trade negotiations/tariffs affecting your business? Not applicable. What are you optimistic for in the dairy industry over the next year? I’m optimistic about the specialty cheese industry for the future because there is a real focus for consumers on knowing what is in their food and where it comes from. I’m a fourth generation cheesemaker and have a passion for the cheeses we make, so it’s great to have it appreciated on the user-end. We want them to taste the time and care we’ve put into making the cheese. Consumers are educated on what they purchase and sharing their experiences which is rewarding to our entire team.
Turn to OUR SIDE | Page 16
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Page 16 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019
ConƟnued from OUR SIDE | Page 15 Sam Metzger Plant manager Agropur Inc. Hull, Iowa Tell us about your processing plant. The Agropur Hull plant is the fth largest plant owned by Agropur. We intake 3 to 4.5 million pounds of milk daily. We have the capability of processing 2.8-3.2 million pounds of milk daily, and all other milk is concentrated via ultraltration and utilized in our cheese making or shipped to other Agropur locations. All our milk usually comes from a 100-mile radius of the plant. We have 25 patrons and source milk from AMPI, LOL and DFA. We have the ability to produce up to 20 types of cheese varying from American styles to hard Italians. We also produce whey protein concentrate, instantized whey protein concentrate and deproteinized whey powder from the plant’s whey stream. What are short and long term goals your company has to continue serving your patrons? Agropur has committed to growth in the I-29 corridor. We have insured our patrons have outlets for milk in Iowa, South Dakota, Minnesota, Idaho and Wisconsin. We have expanded our Lake Norden, S.D., plant to increase milk usage and continued to grow. What business decisions have you made to remain competitive in the industry? We have strived to run maximum capacity through the Agropur Hull plant over the past ve years. With continuing to grow as a company, we put ourselves in the best position by constantly improving efciency. What makes your processing plant stand out amongst the rest? One of the unique strengths of the Agropur Hull plant is the ability to produce such a wide variety of cheese. We have the ability to produce 20 cheese types and can change to suit customer needs. How have your dairy products changed over the years to meet consumer demands? The consumer demand for higher quality and increasingly tighter specications has been the largest changes. We strive to meet our customers’ brand promise, and with that, we have increased the scrutiny on all quality systems to rise to the higher standards. How are trade negotiations/tariffs affecting your business? The current situation with the export markets to Asia has had a negative impact on exporting volumes and prices of our byproducts. The export markets are cyclical in nature, but we do anticipate this to be a longer rebound with trade and demand in the Asia markets. What are you optimistic for in the dairy industry over the next year? Cheese consumption per capita is on the rise. Currently each person consumes roughly 33 pounds of cheese each year. This has more than doubled in the past 30 years. We will need to continue to adapt to the demands to insure we maintain the growth curve we are on.
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Darin Copeland Public relations manager for Prairie Farms Dairy Inc. Prairie Farms Dairy Inc. Edwardsville, Ill. Describe your processing company. Prairie Farms Dairy is one of the largest and most successful dairy cooperatives in the Midwest with over 800 farm families, 6,000 employees, 44 manufacturing plants, 100+ distribution facilities and annual sales of over $3 billion. We are a recognized leader in the dairy industry, known for setting the standard for milk avor innovations and producing award-winning milk, cheese and cultured dairy products. Our distribution footprint covers over 30% of the United States; products are available in grocery chains, mass merchandiser stores, club stores, convenience stores, dollar stores, drug stores, schools, food service outlets and warehouse distribution centers. What are short and long term goals your company has to continue serving your patrons? We plan to continue making key investments into plants that are making the products of our future. Our Dubuque, Iowa plant is constructing an $8 million 18,500 square foot addition that will expand production capabilities in 2019. Our Somerset, Ky., milk bottling plant is undergoing a $4 million expansion to increase efciency and add production capacity. Our Battle Creek, Mich., bottling plant underwent a $29 million expansion that allows it to make UHT single serve milks with longer shelf life. And, Prairie Farms’ Ft. Wayne plant added a new cultured products line. What business decisions have you made to remain competitive in the industry? We have to be versatile and innovative. Consumers have wide and ever-changing preferences for dairy, so we are investing in our plants that make new products to meet their needs. What makes your processing plants stand out amongst the rest? Our people and our quality. We are committed to producing the best dairy products in the world, and we couldn’t do that without the right people in our plants. Last year, our plants in Anderson, Quincy and Dubuque made top nishes at the 2018 Quality Chekd Leadership Awards Conference held in Austin, Texas. After the results were tallied, Prairie Farms’ Anderson, Ind., plant received the 2018 Production Excellence Award in the uid milk category and won Fluid Milk Plant of the Year. Prairie Farms’ Anderson Plant also won the Orange Juice Product Excellence Award, and the Quincy Plant was a nalist for the Cultured Plant of the Year Award. A total of 24 Prairie Farms and Hiland Dairy plants won Plant Assessment Excellence Awards for their effective implementation of quality in all areas. Prairie Farms’ Luana plant brought home awards from the World Championship Cheese Contest, American Cheese Society Annual Cheese Contest, National Milk Producers Federation Annual Cheese Contest, Wisconsin State Fair, Iowa State Fair Dairy Products Contest and Illinois State Fair. Our Schullsburg cheese plant was the recipient of awards from the National Milk Producers Federation Annual Cheese Contest and the Wisconsin State Fair. Prairie Farms’ Rochester plant was the recipient of awards from the World Championship Cheese Contest and National Milk Producers Federation Annual Cheese Contest. How have your dairy products changed over the years to meet consumer demands? We continue to listen to our consumers to understand what they want from both a product and packaging stand point. Recent health studies have suggested there are health benets to consuming whole fat dairy products. As a result, we’ve introduced new versions of our products like yogurts that emphasize whole fat to meet increased consumer demand. We also know consumers are interested in dairy products that are both delicious and convenient. We repackaged our single serve milks to offer more avors in a new bottle with grab and go convenience. Research shows consumers are looking for products with simple ingredients. We introduced a new line of premium small batch ice cream made with milk, cream and no articial colors. It also comes in 29 avors to keep our ice cream connoisseurs interested. How are trade negotiations/tariffs affecting your business? Dairy prices continue to be at historical lows. Keeping dairy farmers in business is a top priority for us. We have to nd ways to get our products into consumers’ hands. Getting nal passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada agreement with Mexico nished could help increase dairy demand and in turn raise prices. U.S. domestic uid milk demand is decreasing so we need trade markets to open up in North America and China to increase demand and prices for milk. What are you optimistic for in the dairy industry over the next year? I’m optimistic we’ll see consumers returning to dairy products. We’ve experienced a few years of consumers experimenting with dairy alternatives, but at the end of the day I think they are now seeing the great value and nutritional benets real dairy products have to offer. The sun has not set on dairy – we have to reinvent ourselves to be relevant to today’s consumers.
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Dairy St r Milk Break Email andrea.b@dairystar.com
Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019 • Page 17
You’re invited to an
OPEN HOUSE!
Hinchley Dairy Open House Saturday, June 29th, 2019 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM 2844 State Rd 73 • Cambridge, WI 53523
COME LEARN ABOUT THE LELY WAY TO DAIRY! Our Lely team of certified professionals are excited to invite you to connect with other dairy producers and learn more about the new advantages offered by the Lely Astronaut A5 robotic milking system. Hinchley Dairy features four new Lely Astronaut A5 automatic milking systems, two Lely Juno automatic feed pushers two Lely Discovery mobile barn cleaners and four Lely Luna cow brushes.
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Page 18 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019
Repro Leaders
Focus on fertility traits lead to 37% pregnancy rate at Latham Dairy Latham Dairy Boscobel, Wis. Grant County 700 cows What was your average pregnancy rate last year? At the end of 2018, Latham Dairy was averaging a pregnancy rate of 37% for the year. We are averaging 40% for the last 12 months running average. What is your voluntary waiting period for cows? For heifers? The VWP for the milk cow herd is 80 days. We have had to further delay the VWP as we have achieved better reproduction success. We were being forced to dry up cows too early in their lactation. Heifers are not bred until they reach 13 months of age. What is your rst service conception rate? We are achieving 56% conception rate in the cow herd for rst services and two services per conception for the entire cow herd. For the purpose of calving ease, all virgin heifers are bred to sexed semen on their rst insemination. We achieve a 63% conception rate on these rst services. Any repeat services on heifers are using conventional
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
Veterinarian Clay Dean (from leŌ), heifer manager Ron Fossum, assistant herdsman Ashley Myers, CentralStar A.I. technician Dave Holzinger and herd manager Mark Winters are a part of the team at Latham Dairy in Boscobel, Wis. The dairy averaged a 37% pregnancy rate in 2018. semen. The average is 1.6 services per conception with our heifers. What is your reproduction program? Do you use a synchronization program? Our reproductive program starts with cow wellness: dry cow nutrition, lactating nutrition, cow comfort, fresh cow
management, heat abatement and foot heath are all critical aspects of cow wellness that affect reproductive performance. Accurate record keeping and accurate data entry are critical to the success of any breeding program. Signicant effort is also made to maintain easy visible identication on all animals. A team of people
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contribute to the total effort. Nutritional consulting and diets are formulated by Vicky Meinholz with Ag Consulting Team. Cows have to be able to transition well from the dry period into lactation. Vicky’s efforts make our jobs easier on the dairy. Weekly hoof trimming is provided by professional trimmer Roland
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Turn to LATHAM | Page 20
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How do you observe for heat? All employees are encouraged to watch for natural heats. Tail chalking and breeding services are contracted with CentralStar Breeding Cooperative. Dave Holzinger, the primary A.I. technician, is conscientious and is constantly communicating about individual cows or concerns to staff members of Latham Dairy. Approximately three years ago, we also began using the GEA heat detection
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Nelson from Viroqua, Wis., and cows routinely pass through a footbath to help ensure foot health. Lameness cannot be tolerated if you want a productive cow that is going to breed back timely. Herd manager Mark Winters relies heavily on assistant herdsperson Ashley Myers and herdsperson trainee Jennifer Boak to execute the synchronization programs. Cows are started on a weekly basis on the various protocols and pregnancy detection work is performed bi-weekly. We run a double pre-synch program during the VWP followed by the ovsynch-56 protocol. We also resynch cows prior to pregnancy determination.
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GREENWALD FARM CENTER Greenwald, MN • 320-987-3177
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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019 • Page 19
MILKING SHEEP – WHY IT MATTERS TO YOU See our latest video on our facebook page featuring a large herd of sheep being milked in a parlor. If you wonder why this matters to you and milking your herd of cows the answer is simple. Milking sheep is widely recognized as virtually impossible without “bumping” the udder to get it to milk out. Basically the udders have to be pushed and lifted to get the sheep to milk well. Sheep milked with CoPulsation™ do not require that and can actually be milked with auto-detachers.
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Jessica and her husband Dan operate a 150-cow dairy, Slaymaker Farms, Mansfield, Pa. Jessica works mainly on the cow side. She does relief milking, all herd health, heifer breeding, picking bulls, culling decisions. “Basically a herdsman that knows how to run a skidsteer,” she quips. “Dairy Girl Network has been a godsend. It is a lifeline to women who know what you are going through and deal with day to day. Being involved so heavily in the day to day activities on the farm can make a person feel isolated. However with Facebook, and the DGN page, I can go there while eating lunch, or milking a slow side of cows and interact with women all over the USA. It is amazing.”
-Candice White Candice is the dairy manager and part of the third generation at Dotterer’s Dairy, Mill Hall, Pa., where 1000 cows make 85 lbs/cow/day with SCC averaging 100,000. “I like being part of Dairy Girl Network,” she says, “because as women we can see things differently, communicate differently and think differently. It’s nice to be able to bounce ideas off each other and have the support of one another. Even though we live all around the USA, we have DGN to connect us!”
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We are amazed by our customers of all production sizes and management styles around the world. We are glad to be part of the journey and the joy, the competition and camaraderie, the independence and collaboration, pulling together through ups and downs.
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For external application to udder only, after milking, as an essential component of udder management. Wash and dry teats before milking.
(above) Luck-E Advent Asia-ET *RC EX-94 2E Bred by our longtime customer Luck-E Holsteins, Hampshire, Ill. She is now owned by our customer Bert-Mar Farms, Osseo, Wis. Photo credit Beth Herges
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Page 20 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019
ConƟnued from LATHAM | Page 18 pedometer. This has also helped with heat detection and insemination rate. Our heifer reproductive success is the result of dedication and diligence by our heifer manager, Ron Fossom. Over 90% of the virgin heifers are bred based on natural heats and sound heat detection. Only a limited amount of prostaglandin (Lutylase) is used on heifers that may not be showing heats well. How do you conrm pregnant or open cows? A close working relationship exists with herd veterinarian Clay Dean, of the Riverdale Veterinary Clinic. He determines a cow’s pregnancy status through the use of ultrasound. Most cows are checked at either 32 or 39 days after insemination. The shorter bred cows are rechecked two weeks later, and all cows are reconrmed pregnant after 100 days. 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 have a breeding philosophy of trying to breed the most functional and trouble free cow as possible. We like moderately sized cows that convert feed efciently and that are trouble free. Use of genomic testing on females and intense scrutiny of the genomic predictions of bulls has contributed greatly to the genetic merits of the herd. Sires are selected rst for improved milk components
economically not feasible. Is there anything you have done or changed that brought about a signicant improvement in your reproductive program? I rmly believe that using the genomic predictors for fertility and selecting bulls that transmit superior fertility traits to their offspring has been key to our reproductive success. Working with staff members to execute 100% compliance to the synchronization protocols is important also. Synch programs work well if you correctly administer the correct hormone to the correct cow in the correct amount on the correct day. DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
CentralStar A.I. technician Dave Holzinger prepares to breed cows at Latham Dairy on June 17 in Boscobel, Wis. followed by positive fertility traits, and nally by health and wellness traits. Close attention is also paid to sire conception rates, and calving ease for the heifer matings is of primary importance. How are cows and heifers bred? Do you have a different philosophy for breeding both? Replacement heifers should be superior to their dams and other older cows in herd because of improvement in genetic selection. I am willing to invest more in breeding virgin heifers because of this. A straw of semen is a relatively small part of the total cost of raising a replacement heifer. Spending a few more dollars
to utilize superior genetics only makes sense. Only using proven sires with calving ease data traditionally was how heifers were mated. With more time and experience with genomic prediction, a combination of proven and young sires are now being utilized in heifer matings. First lactation cows may be bred back to conventional or sexed semen depending on their performance. Most cows that are second lactation and greater are bred back to beef. It is important not to generate too many herd replacements thus having to force good productive cows out the back door to make room for new heifers. Mature cows out milk young heifers so heifer inventory has to be
managed. What do you do to settle hard breeders? I do not reward infertility. Cows need to work hard and be able to breed back timely. Cystic cows are typically enrolled into a CIDRsynch program, and normally most cows are not inseminated more than four times How many times do you try to breed a cow before you sell her? Most open cows over 200 DIM move to the DNB list. Exceptions are made for high production cows that are still milking over 100 pounds. Cows that become pregnant too late in lactation often end up dry for far too many days, and this is
Tell us about your farm. Latham Dairy is a secondgeneration family run 700cow commercial dairy herd. The farm is owned by John and Lori Latham. John serves as the general farm manager. Lori serves as the book keeper and secretary. They have two sons: Ryan, a recent graduate of University of WisconsinMadison and Jack, a sophomore at UW-Eau Claire. The rolling herd average is approximately 33,000 pounds and the somatic cell count is consistently under 200,000. The dairy employs approximately 20 people and operates approximately 1,200 acres with the goal of making the highest quality forages as they can to support high milk production.
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July is National Ice Cream Month. To celebrate, share a photo of you enjoying your favorite flavor of ice cream and tell us why the treat is so delicious! Email submissions to andrea.b@dairystar.com and share on your social media outlets, tagging Dairy Star and using the hashtags #SummerSalutetoDairy #EnjoyIceCream. Each submission will be considered for publication in the July 13 Dairy Star, and entered into a drawing for one of five $20 Dairy Queen gift cards DEADLINE IS JULY 8
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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019 • Page 21
See our complete inventory with pictures and descriptions at at:
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USED COMBINE SPECIALS GET MMC FLEX SPENDING OPTIONS WITH YOUR NEXT COMBINE EARN 10% OF YOUR TRADE DIFFERENCE GOOD TOWARDS: • EXTENDED WARRANTY • PARTS PURCHASES • SERVICE WORK • SPECIAL LEASE OPTIONS • INTEREST SAVINGS • CASH DISCOUNT ARTICULATED 4WD TRACTORS 1 JD 9570R, 2018, PS, duals, guidance-ready, HD Gudgeon, 29 hrs., #147766 .................................................................................... $37,4900 17 JD 9520R, 2015, PS, duals, guidance-ready, HDuty Gudgeon, 1285 hrs., #159511.................................................................... $273,000 16 JD 9460R, 2014, PS, Duals, PTO Guidance-ready, HD Gudgeon, 3113 hrs., #159507.................................................................... $175,900 14 JD 9630, 2009, PS, Triples, Guidance-ready, 3918 hrs., #151999$154,900 11 JD 9570R, ‘18, PS, duals, PTO, Guidance-ready, HD Gudgeon, 220 hrs., #147190...................................................................... $389,500 1 JD 9570R, 2018, PS, duals, Guidance-ready, HD Gudgeon, 3 hrs., #147767.......................................................................... $374,900 16 JD 9560R, 2014, PS, Duals, Guidance-ready, HD Gudgeon, 2514 hrs., #159510.................................................................... $217,400 16 JD 9460R, 2014, PS, Duals, PTO, Guidance-ready, HD Gudgeon, 3543 hrs., #159508.................................................................... $165,000 2 Case IH STX440, 2001, PS, Duals, 5949 hrs., #156666 ............... $89,500 17 JD 9520R, 2015, PS, Duals, PTO, Guidance-ready, HD Gudgeon, ................ 938 hrs., #158096...................................................................... $289,500 7 JD 9470R, 2016, PS, Duals, Guidance-ready, HD Gudgeon, 848 hrs., #158093...................................................................... $259,500 15 JD 9560R, 2014, PS, Duals, Hyd. Pump, Guidance-ready, HD Gudgeon, 4491 hrs., #158665 .............................................. $179,500 6 JD 9570R, 2017, PS, Duals, 889 hrs., #150670.......................... $355,900 17 JD 9370R, 2015, PS, Duals, Guidance-ready, 972 hrs., #154699$219,500 1 JD 9410R, 2014, PS, Duals, 1588 hrs., #146677........................ $219,500 15 JD 9560R, 2014, PS, Duals, Guidance-ready, HD Gudgeon, 5121 hrs., #158666.................................................................... $165,000 COMBINES 16 JD S670, 2014, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1333 hrs., 979 Sep Hrs., #151692 ............................................................... $209,500 5 JD S680, 2014, PRWD, Duals, 1839 hrs., 1248 Sep Hrs., #147716 .................................................................................... $209,500 3 JD S660, 2013, Corn/Bean, 2WD, Duals, 1254 hrs., 882 Sep Hrs., #141412 .................................................................................... $179,500 16 JD S680, 2015, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, Chopper, Yield Monitor, Header, 1769 hrs., 1133 Sep Hrs., #144328................................ $239,500 3 JD S680, 2012, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, Yield Monitor, Lateral Tilt Feederhouse, 2300 hrs., 1680 Sep Hrs, #154637........................ $184,000 14 JD S690, 2014, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1892 hrs., 1422 Sep Hrs., #153332 ............................................................. $194,000 15 JD S780, 2018, PRWD, Singles, Yield Monitor, Lateral Tilt Feederhouse, Fore/Aft, Active Yield, 326 hrs., 241 Sep Hrs., #157785 .............. $430,000 17 JD S660, 2015, Corn/Bean, 2WD, Duals, Chopper, Yield Monitor, Lateral Tilt Feederhouse, 784 hrs., 545 Sep Hours, #157075 ...... $229,500
224,900
JD S680, 2014, $ 1839 hrs., 1248 Sep Hrs., #147716
15 JD S670, 2017, PRWD, Duals, 970 hrs., 624 Sep Hrs., #146347 . $294,500 14 JD S670, 2014, PRWD, Duals, Chopper, 963 hrs., 435 Sep hrs., #144312 .................................................................................... $239,500 16 JD S780, 2018, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, Spreader, Yield Monitor, Lateral Tilt Feederhouse, 346 hrs., 235 Sep Hrs., #157910 ......... $425,000 14 JD S770, ‘18, 244 hrs., 190 Sep Hrs., #155380 .......................... $389,500 16 JD S780, 2018, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, Spreader, Yield Monitor, Active Yield, Advisor Package, 400 hrs., 327 Sep Hrs., #154560 . $425,250 15 JD S680, 2016, PRWD, Duals, 1167 hrs., 816 Sep Hrs., #148149 $279,500 10 JD 9770 STS, 2009, Corn/Bean, 2WD, Duals, Chopper, Yield Monitor, Lateral Tilt Feederhouse, 2153 hrs., 1649 Sep Hrs., #144243 ..... $117,900 17 JD S690, 2013, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1407 hrs., 998 Sep Hrs., #144337 .................................................................................... $223,900 16 JD S780, 2018, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, Active Yield, 337 hrs., 279 Sep Hrs., #154461 ............................................................... $425,000 4 JD 9500, 1991, Corn/Bean, 2WD, Singles, 4719 hrs., 3234 Sep Hrs., #150229 ............................................................... $24,900 17 JD S770, 2018, Corn/Bean, 2WD, Duals, Chopper, Yield Monitor, Lateral Tilt Feederhouse, 296 hrs., 228 Sep Hrs., #156063 ......... $329,500 7 JD S780, 2018, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, Chopper, Yield Monitor, Lateral Tilt Feederhouse, Fore/Aft, Active Yield, 385 hrs., 268 Sep Hrs, #159539 ................................................................ $421,900 5 JD S680, 2013, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, Chopper, Lateral Tilt Feederhouse, 1680 hrs., 1187 Sep Hrs., #154421....................... $224,900 17 JD S680, 2013, PRWD, Dls, 1425 hrs., 1013 Sep Hrs., #144322 . $214,900 14 JD S670, 2012, PRWD, Duals, 1622 hrs., 900 Sep Hrs., #145813 $169,500 15 JD S680, 2016, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, Chopper, Yield Monitor, 1323 hrs., 989 Sep Hrs., #157714 .............................................. $246,750 5 JD S660, 2013, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1230 hrs., 811 Sep Hrs., #151693 .................................................................................... $199,500 16 JD S780, 2018, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, Spreader, Yield Monitor, Fore/Aft, Active Yield, 400 hrs., 283 Sep Hrs., #157911 .............. $420,000 2 JD S670, 2012, PRWD, Duals, 2295 hrs., 1834 Sep Hrs., #143860 $149,500 9 JD S670, 2017, PRWD, Duals, 426 hrs., 250 Sep Hours, #142208 $359,500 8 JD S780, 2018, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, Spreader, Active Yield, 336 hrs., 259 Sep Hrs., #153997 ................................................ $439,500 7 JD 9600, 1990, 6778 hrs., 4605 Sep Hrs., #155273 ..................... $29,500 16 JD S680, 2015, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Chopper, Header, 1235 hrs., 859 Sep Hrs., #144326 ............................................................... $259,500 3 JD S690, 2014, PRWD, Duals, 1732 hrs., 1303 Sep Hrs., #145222 $224,900 7 JD S660, 2014, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, Chopper, Yield Monitor, Lateral Tilt Feederhouse, Fore/Aft, Advisor Package, 986 hrs., 769 Sep Hrs., #155826 ............................................................... $230,500 6 JD S660, 2014, PRWD, Duals, 670 hrs., 381 Sep Hrs., #142203 . $239,500 2 JD S660, 2013, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 986 hrs., 688 Sep Hrs., #154698 .................................................................................... $209,500 15 JD 9660 STS, 2005, 3435 hrs., 2551 Sep Hrs., #155302 .............. $56,750 1 JD 9770 STS, 2011, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, Lateral Tilt Feederhouse, 1283 hrs., 903 Sep Hrs., #143429......................... $165,900 15 JD S670, 2016, 2WD, Duals, 361 hrs., 265 Sep Hrs., #144309 .......294000 15 JD S680, 2014, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, Chopper, Yield Monitor, 1701 hrs., 1341 Sep Hrs., #156460 ............................................ $205,500 7 JD S670, 2013, 2WD, Duals, 1456 hrs., 998 Sep Hrs., #145812 . $189,500 5 JD S680, 2014, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, Chopper, Yield Monitor, Lateral Tilt Feederhouse, Fore/Aft, 1796 hrs., 1212 Sep Hrs., #158103 .. $219,500 6 JD 9600, 1996, Corn/Bean, 2WD, 4989 hrs., 3341 Sep Hrs., #151078 ...................................................................................... $24,000 11 JD S670, 2014, PRWD, Duals, 1755 hrs., 1218 Sep Hrs., #144313 $189,500 7 JD 6620, 1981, 4500 hrs., 4500 Sep Hrs., #156979 .......................$8,500 17 JD S660, 2012, 1342 hrs., 1025 Sep Hrs., #155239 ................... $178,000 11 JD S670, 2017, 2WD, Duals, 770 hrs., 496 Sep Hrs., #146349 ... $299,500 4 Pickett Twin Master (Double Cylinder), 2013, Specialty, 2WD, Singles, Spreader, Header, #159263 ................................. $139,500 4 JD S660, 2016, 2WD, Duals, 635 hrs., 473 Sep Hrs., #143510 ... $249,500 14 JD 9870 STS, 2010, PRWD, Duals, Chopper, 1818 hrs., 1421 Sep Hrs, #150772 .............................................................. $142,000 8 JD 9760 STS, 2007, 2WD, Duals, 2100 hrs., 1452 Sep Hrs, #142194 ...................................................................................... $89,500
209,500
JD S690, 2014, 1733 hrs.,1156 Sep $ Hrs., #144335
16 3 5 15 16 4 16 14 4 16 5 10 3 3 15 14 15 17 8 8 7 15 17 5 3 6 17 8 7 1 5 9 10 5 10 10 7 4 2 7 15 10 15 16 8 4 14 10
219,500
JD S670, 2017, 2WD, Duals, 256 hrs., 186 Sep Hrs, #146346 ...... 349,500 JD 9670 STS, 2009, 1884 hrs., 1405 Sep Hrs., #154636 ............. $149500 JD 9600, 1997, 4608 hrs., 3124 Sep Hrs., #156039 ..................... $30,900 JD S660, 2014, 1047 Hrs., #155345 .......................................... $189,500 JD S690, 2014, PRWD, Duals, 1442 hrs., 982 Sep Hrs., #144333 $234,900 JD S670, 2015, PRWD, Duals, 1302 hrs., 1014 Sep Hrs, #143718$234,900 JD S680, 2014, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, Spreader, 2419 hrs., 1781 Sep Hrs., #159509 ............................................................. $187,400 JD 9750 STS, 2000, 7685 hrs., 5021 Sep Hrs., #155851 .............. $39,500 JD 9570 STS, 2011, Corn/Bean, 2WD, Duals, Chopper, Lateral Tilt Feederhouse, 1333 hrs., 971 Sep Hrs., #154420......................... $139,500 JD S680, 2015, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Chopper, Yield Monitor, 1723 hrs. 1235 Sep Hrs., #144329 ............................................. $224,900 JD S680, 2017, PRWD, Duals, 898 hrs., 580 Sep Hrs., #146345 . $329,500 Pickett Twin Master, 2014, Specialty, Chopper, #159226 ...... $148,500 JD S680, 2013, PRWD, Duals, 1303 hrs., 967 Sep Hrs., #140845 $224,900 JD S680, 2017, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 727 hrs., 515 Sep Hrs., #153999 .................................................................................... $360,000 JD S690, 2014, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, Chopper, 1733 hrs., 1156 Sep Hrs., #144335 ............................................................. $219,500 JD S680, 2012, PRWD, Singles, 1677 hrs., 1278 Sep Hrs., #145287 $167,900 JD S780, 2018, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Singles, Spreader, Yield Monitor, Lateral Tilt Feederhouse, Fore/Aft, Active Yield, Harvest Mobile, 403 hrs., 304 Sep Hrs., #157784 ................................................................ $425000 JD 9660 STS, 2005, Corn/Bean, 2WD, Duals, Lateral Tilt Feederhouse, 3538 hrs., 2331 Sep Hrs., #151601 .............................................. $64,900 JD S670, 2016, 2WD, Duals, 524 hrs., 372 Sep Hrs., #148148 ... $279,500 JD S670, 2014, 1646 hrs., 1265 Sep Hrs., #155388 ................... $210,000 JD S680, 2012, Corn/Bean, 2WD, Duals, Yield Monitor, 2267 hrs., 1529 Sep Hrs., #152167 ............................................................. $149,500 JD S680, 2016, PRWD, Duals, 986 hrs., 718 Sep Hrs., #148150 . $294,000 JD 9660 STS, 2004, 2WD, Duals, 3731 hrs., 2670 Sep Hrs., #150873 ...................................................................................... $64,900 JD 9770 STS, 2010, 2984 hrs., 2312 Sep Hrs., #156917 ............ $104,900 JD 9870 STS, 2008, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, Yield Monitor, Lateral Tilt Feederhouse, 2662 hrs., 1842 Sep Hrs., #143756 ..... $117,900 JD S670, 2014, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1897 hrs., 1260 Sep Hrs., #153514 ............................................................. $192,900 JD S680, 2013, PRWD, Duals, 1497 hrs., 987 Sep Hrs., #144323$209,500 JD 9770 STS, 2008, PRWD, Duals, 2570 hrs., 1508 Sep Hrs., #146342 ................................................................................... $114,900 JD 9400, 1989, 6761 hrs., 4175 Sep Hrs., #156978 .................... $18,995 PULL-TYPE SPRAYERS Fast 9613, 2016, #157612 ......................................................... $29,900 Top Air TA1200, 2008, #155358 ............................................... $16,650 Fast 9518, #158292 .................................................................. $25,900 Redball 580, 2006, #151074 ..................................................... $18,900 Hardi Commander 1200, 2002, #150043 ................................ $14,900 Blum 750, 1979, #158936 ............................................................$4,900 Miller Pro 750, #159603 ..............................................................$6,500 Top Air TA1600, 2012, #159709 ................................................ $52,400 Hardi Navigator 4000, 2010, #158476.................................... $17,900 Hardi Ranger 2000, 2014, #155294 ......................................... $20,500 Summers Ultimate, 2001, #159606 ......................................... $13,400 Wil-Rich Blumha, #148336 .........................................................$5,500 Blum 750, #158936 ........................................................................... Call Redball 570, #159261 ............................................................... $12,900 SELF-PROPELLED SPRAYERS Case IH 4430, 2013, Boom Leveling, Stainless Tank, Narrow Tire, Guidance-ready, 2655 hrs., #154198 ......................................... $209,500 JD R4038, 2018, 120’ Boom, 20 in. Nozzle Spacing, 495 hrs., #150887...................................................................... $339,000 AgChem 1074, 2009, 100’ boom Width, Stainless Tank, 3650 hrs., #158291 .............................................. $56,900 JD R4038, 2017, Hyd. Tread Adjust, Guidance-ready, 508 hrs., #143961...................................................................... $346,500 JD 4920, 2004, 4600 hrs., #157917 ............................................ $69,500
JD S780, 2018, $ 337 hrs., 279 Sep Hrs., #154461
425,000
Page 22 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019
Holy Cow it’s Dairy Month! Proudly supporting our dairy producers!
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Dairy celebrations for June Dairy Month Fond du Lac County Breakfast on the Farm, June 23 From 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on June 23 Fond du Lac County will host their Breakfast on the Farm at Loehr Farms, W1851 Mushroom Road, Eden, Wis. Enjoy a delicious breakfast while cheering on the children in the Alliant Energy Kiddie Pedal Tractor Pull, laugh with the clowns, take a farm tour, and stroll through the petting zoo. Call 920-921-9500 for more information. Colby Dairy Breakfast, June 23 The Colby Dairy Breakfast will be hosted at Heeg Brothers Dairy, F2181 County Road N, Colby, Wis., from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. The cost is $6 for adults, $4 for children 6-12, and children 5 and under are free. For more information, visit clark. uwex.edu. This event is sponsored by Clark County Dairy Promotion, Abby/Colby Chamber, and the Colby FFA Alumni. Winona County Family Night on the Farm, June 26 Winona County will host the Family Night on the Farm on June 26 from 4–8 p.m. at Aldinger Family Dairy, Winona, Minn. A parking shuttle will leave from MN State College SE (1250 Homer Road). Shuttle buses will leave every 20 minutes starting at 4 p.m. Hotdogs, pulled pork sandwiches, beans, chips, string cheese, root beer oats, and milk will be served. Adults cost $8, children under 10 $4, and $25 for family (2 adults, up to 4 children). Activities such as farm machinery displays, games, a petting zoo, children’s train wagon, a bounce house, tractor drawn hay wagon rides, and live entertainment will be available. For questions contact, Winona Chamber at 507-452-2272 or info@winonachamber.com. Winona Chamber sponsors this event along with other listings on winonachamber.com. Juneau County Dairy Breakfast, June 30 Juneau County will host a Dairy Breakfast from 7–11 a.m. on June 30 at Elroy Fair, N2435 Wisconsin Highway 82, Elroy, Wis. The cost is $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 6-12, and ages 5 and under free. Greenwood Dairy Breakfast, June 30 Greenwood will host their dairy breakfast from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Stieglitz Dairy, LLC, N8280 River Avenue, Greenwood, Wis. The cost will be $7 for adults, $4 for children 5-12, and children 4 and under are free. Visit clark.uwex.edu for more information. The event is sponsored by Clark County Dairy Promotion, Greenwood FFA Alumni and Greenwood Chamber of Commerce.
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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 Professional Dairy Services Waunakee, WI 608-849-5043
Mondovi Dairy Systems Inc. Mondovi, WI 715-926-5777 West Salem, WI 608-769-2113 The Scharine Group Inc. Whitewater, WI 800 472-2880 Mt Horeb, WI 800-872-3470 MINNESOTA & SOUTH DAKOTA D&D Ag Supply Pennock, MN 320-599-4466
East Central Dairy Supply Mora, MN 320-679-1029 Farm Systems Melrose, MN 320-256-3276 Watertown, MN 605-886-7401 Sioux Falls, SD 800-284-0015 S&S Dairy System LLC St. Charles, MN 507-932-4288 Professional Dairy Systems Wadena, MN 218-632-5416
is a registered trademark of Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. and “DeLaval” is a registered trade/servicemark of DeLaval Holding AB © 2019 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
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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019 • Page 23
Robots have improved family life for Hinchleys Cambridge farm invites public to open house June 29 By Stacey Smart Contributing Writer
CAMBRIDGE, Wis. – Liberating farmers from the daily rigors of milking cows, robots are revolutionizing the way traditional family farms operate. On Saturday, June 29, dairy farmers interested in robotic milking are invited to tour the new, state-of-the-art robot-
ic milking facility owned by Tina and Duane Hinchley. The Hinchleys will be hosting an open house from 12 – 4 p.m. at their farm in Cambridge, Wis., where visitors will have frontrow viewing of robots milking the farm’s 240 Holstein cows. The 260-stall barn is the size of a football eld and is a showcase of automation, featuring the newest robotic technology available from Lely. The highlight of the facility
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Tina Hinchley and her family recently installed four milking robots on their 240-cow dairy near Cambridge, Wis. The family will host an open house Saturday, June 29 to showcase the new automated facility.
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
A milking robot aƩaches to a cow in the Hinchleys’ 260-stallfreestall barn on the dairy near Cambridge, Wis.
is four Lely Astronaut robotic milkers set up in a toll booth style design, which enables one person to work solo if necessary. The barn also features automatic feed pushers that run every two hours and automatic manure scrapers, scraping it through the barn’s slatted oors into the pit beneath. All of these labor-saving inventions are making life easier for the Hinchleys. Placing great emphasis on cow comfort, the barn also features a ventilation system that
includes high-pressure fogging for cooling cows with a ne mist, waterbeds which have reduced the number of hock abrasions, rubber ooring to protect cows’ hooves and brushes for grooming and itch relief. Prior to moving into their new facility last December, the Hinchleys milked 130 cows twice a day in a tiestall barn where Tina spent nine hours milking each day. Some cows had a hard time adjusting to the robots at rst because they missed Hinchley and preferred
her over the robots. Things started to get easier after several days, and by week three, most cows had fully adapted to their new form of milking. Tina is now enjoying her newfound freedom and more exible work schedule. “The robots are incredible,” Tina said. “There are so many benets, including less stress and more exibility. But most importantly, we have Turn to HINCHLEYS | Page 25
Page 24 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019
SECOND ANNUAL
July 16 - 18, 2019 |
Saint Paul RiverCentre in Downtown St. Paul, MN
Join us for a unique forum to learn about disruptive, forward thinking trends. The entire supply chain will be present to offer insight, knowledge and feedback. Farmers, processors, cooperatives, dietitians, retailers, dairy ambassadors, consumers and legislative representatives will participate in two days of thought-provoking discussion. SUSTAINABILITY MARKETING Leaders from the National Pork Board, Taco Bell and Ben & Jerry’s will discuss corporate social responsibility best practices
CONSUMER MINDSETS
Youth marketing and trends expert Jeff From will share how generational differences are changing buying habits and present these changes through a new mindset
ONLINE FOOD SALES How do we capitalize on a 15-20 percent increase in online food sales within the next three years
UNDERSTANDING YOUTH CULTURE Gen Z Consumer Focus Group What drives their eating choices and buying /purchasing decisions
INTERNATIONAL CONSUMERS Former U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will share how USDEC is addressing ways to meet the needs and preferences of international consumers
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION Former Google Exec Steve Lerch will highlight the digital impact on consumers’ food and health decisions
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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019 • Page 25
ConƟnued from HINCHLEYS | Page 23 more family time. We can go out to dinner now on a Friday night at 5 p.m. and even see a movie afterwards because we don’t have to plan our evening around milking. It’s really the rst time we could feel like a regular family. Robots have without a doubt improved our family life and my relationships with my husband and children.” The Hinchleys’ twin daughters, Anna and Catherine, also help on the farm. Anna will be a senior at UWMadison this fall majoring in dairy science, while Catherine is taking time off to determine her career path. The Hinchleys’ son, Curtis, is an astrophysicist in the state of Washington, and
their son, Spencer, is a machinist in the Cambridge area. Tina said cows are milked anywhere from two to six times per day, depending on their stage of lactation and are averaging 82 pounds of milk per cow. The farm also has less mastitis than before. “Although we’re not doing as much physical work, more monitoring is required,” Tina said. “You manage differently with robots, and I feel like I’m a much better manager now.” The Hinchleys are used to having visitors on their farm. For more than 20 years, they have hosted farm tours, annually welcoming thousands of people, including many international visitors. School
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
A cow on the Hinchley family’s farm is milked by one of four roboƟc milking units on the dairy near Cambridge, Wis. groups and senior groups are particularly popular. The farm accommodates groups of all sizes – from one or two people up to 50 people and has even hosted 65 2- and 3-year-olds at one time. Everyone on the tour gets to milk a cow if they so desire. The Hinchleys also rent out their farm for birthday parties, company picnics and famSTACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR ily reunions. Visitors to the open house Tina Hinchley examines data provided by the robot, poinƟng are welcome to explore the out the amount of milk coming from each quarter on her dairy farm, including the Hinchleys’ farm near Cambridge, Wis.
tour facility, for those interested in agritourism. “We need more people opening their doors and sharing their livelihood with consumers,” Hinchley said. “It’s important to send positive messages to the public.” Hinchley said anyone curious about robotic milking technology should plan to attend the open house June 29. “We had many people tell us we were crazy for building a new dairy barn, with the
dairy economy so depressed,” Hinchley said. “But we certainly don’t regret it. Robotic milking is truly amazing, and we invite people to come see that for themselves. It’s changed our lives.”
HINCHLEY OPEN HOUSE
June 29, 12-4 p.m. 2844 State Road 73 Cambridge, Wis. 53523.
Page 26 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019
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“Dairy Risk Management Strategiesâ€? is a short workshop conducted jointly by the Farm Service Agency and University of Minnesota Extension, comparing the new farm bill’s Dairy Margin Coverage and other risk management strategies of Risk Management Agency’s Dairy Revenue Protection FSA News & Notes and Dairy Livestock Gross Margin. This two-hour workshop will use spreadsheets and other tools to analyze how the new DMC compares with the old Margin Protection Program. Prices for the coverage levels and the pounds of coverage will By Ryan Brunn be examined. In addition, the new Dairy Revenue Stearns Co. Exec. Dir. Protection program, which works similar to a crop insurance product that provided quarterly coverage, will be compared with Dairy Livestock Gross Margin. Knowing your cost of production is important; tools to help calculate your cost of production will be shown. Please note there is no registration required. For questions on the workshops, contact your local extension agent. For DMC signup, eligibility and related dairy program information, visit the DMC webpage or contact a United States Department of Agriculture service center - July 2, 10 a.m. to noon. Library basement. 200 W. Maple Ave., Mora. - July 9, 1-3 p.m. Extension ofďƒžce. Room H1403 at Heintz Center, Rochester. - July 10, 10 a.m. to noon. Extension ofďƒžce. 1961 Premier Drive, Sakatah Trail Room, Mankato. - July 16, 1-3 p.m. Southwest Central Service Coop. 1420 E. College Drive, Marshall. - July 17, 10 a.m. to noon. Extension ofďƒžce. 46352 State Hwy. 329, AgCountry Auditorium, Morris. - July 18, 10 a.m. to noon. Government services center. 520 Fur Ave. W., Fergus Falls. - July 23, 10 a.m. to noon. City hall. 225 First St. N.E., Melrose. - July 24, 1-3 p.m. City hall. 615 Lake St. S., Long Prairie. - July 25, 1-3 p.m. AmericInn. 150 Commerce Drive, Wabasha. 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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Cleaning up, out We have crammed a lot in the month of June. Between end of school farm tours, weekends going to dairy breakfasts, family tours, board meetings, our son’s wedding in Seattle June 22, and then the grand ďƒžnale, our dairy farm open house June 29. Our calendar is so full, I have had to add notes to some of the dates so I do not forget all that needs to get done before the day is gone. Just the idea of having many people here looking at our new robotic dairy barn has us jumping By Tina Hinchley with excitement, but also Farmer & Columnist we are reviewing other areas of our farm that need attention. Our daughter Anna has motivated everyone to take a look around and see what we do not need. She likes to make to-do lists and is persistent to accomplish what she sets out to do. Picking up, sorting, organizing and deciding what we can get rid of. Recycling, tossing, scrapping or putting in boxes to donate to St. Vinny’s. Her motto is, “Cleaning up and cleaning out.â€? Since we have been out of the tiestall barn for six months, Anna and her boyfriend, Kevin, have been working on taking down the pipeline, airline, waterlines, chains, trainers and drinking cups. They have been posting stuff on Craigslist or Facebook to empty out the barn so we can make plans for group housing for our calves in the near future. It is refreshing to go into the barn and see the progress they have made removing all of the things that had made it an efďƒžcient dairy barn. It has made it easier to visualize the plans to have gates and panels installed later for the calves to live where the cows used to be milked. She even went to our oldest machinery shed and started digging through the items that were put in the shed. Organizing, moving and rearranging to make it easier to see what is there and get rid of the items we will never use again. She posted the stanchions for sale that were removed from the dairy barn in 1993. They were stacked up in the shed collecting dust for years. Why did we save old cow mattresses? They were piled up in the shed next to the rubber padding that is crumbling apart waiting for an empty dumpster. Moving around the pallets of calf grower, dry cow mineral and supplies we use daily to get at the stuff we do not need behind it. Bent t-posts stand in the corner with many that are not. Sort out the bent ones and on to the scrap metal pile. Easy enough. The trailer will be full of scrap that will be sold for cash. It feels good to go through and let these things go. Anna got Duane excited about cleaning up his shop, too. It has been swept, reorganized and rearranged so
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Grandpa’s old 55 Ford truck can be easily taken for a drive. The counters are empty and wiped off. All tools are put away, nuts and bolts sorted, and ďƒžx-it projects put away until time will allow them to be completed. I think she even vacuumed all the dead ďƒ&#x;ies out of the windows. Another check on her to-do list of projects to get done before June 29. Like a tornado, she has gone through the house. Putting all of her dorm stuff away that has been piled up at the bottom of the stairs. She has gone through the pantry/laundry room and tossed all of the chore clothes we do not wear any longer. She boxed up my binders and folders from the boards I am on so I can get them into storage instead of a pile under my desk. She has even sorted all of our clothes in our own baskets so we can get them put away instead of piled on the folding table. This surge of energy to tidy up the house, barn and shop has kept me pumped up about getting the mulch
Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019 • Page 27
into the gardens, planting more perennials, dividing up over grown plants, ďƒžlling the pots and planters with bright, happy ďƒ&#x;owers and keeping the gardens weed free. It feels good to accomplish all that and check it off Anna’s list. As we get ready to leave for Seattle for my son’s wedding this week, it will be so much easier to enjoy our time at their event without having to worry about returning home to ďƒžnish up these projects. They are nearly all complete. We will be ďƒžnishing cleaning up and cleaning out before we leave so it can be checked off Anna’s lists of to dos. We want to be ready for our open farm event when everyone can come and see our farm. We hope to see you all then. 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.
Page 28 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019
Luciano Caixeta lcaixeta@umn.edu 612-625-3130 Hugh Chester-Jones chest001@umn.edu 507-835-3622 Gerard Cramer gcramer@umn.edu 612-625-8184 Marcia Endres miendres@umn.edu 612-624-5391 Sandra Godden godde002@umn.edu 612-625-8177 Joleen Hadrich jhadrich@umn.edu 612-626-5620 Les Hansen hanse009@umn.edu 612-624-2277 Brad Heins hein0106@umn.edu 320-589-1711 Nathan Hulinsky huli0013@umn.edu 320-203-6104 Kevin Janni kjanni@umn.edu 612-625-3108 Karen Johnson ande9495@umn.edu 320-484-4334 Claire LaCanne lacanne@umn.edu 507-332-6109 Brenda Miller nels4220@umn.edu 320-732-4435 Kota Minegishi kota@umn.edu 612-624-7455 Erin Royster royster@umn.edu Jim Salfer salfe001@umn.edu 320-203-6093 Mike Schutz mschutz@umn.edu 612-624-1205 M. Scott Wells mswells@umn.edu 612-625-3747 Emily Wilmes krek0033@umn.edu 320-255-6169
www.extension.umn.edu/dairy
ProCROSS crossbreds had 10.5% higher daily prot than Holstein herdmates Results from a 10-year eld study that compared ProCROSS crossbred cows to their Holstein herdmates in seven high performance Minnesota dairies are now available to share. The researchers were Dr. Amy Hazel, Dr. Brad Heins and myself. Ten years is a long time for a cooperative project between dairy producers and a university, but a lot of time was needed for multiple generation research on dairy cattle genetics. The dairies were well-managed, because the Holstein herdmates of the threeBy Dr. Les Hensen breed ProCROSS crossbreds had University of MN 305-day actual (not M.E.) production (pounds) for rst lactation of 26,021 milk, 963 fat and 790 protein; second lactation of 29,875 milk, 1,084 fat and 914 protein; and third lactation of 31,515 milk, 1,141 fat and 959 protein – indeed high production. For the study, each dairy offered foundation Holstein yearling heifers and young cows which were randomly assigned to either remain pure Holstein over generations or to become the rst generation of the three-breed rotational crossbreeding program. ProCROSS uses the three breeds of Holstein, Montbeliarde and Viking Red. Of the foundation Holsteins assigned to have ProCROSS descendants, one-half were bred to Montbeliarde A.I. bulls and the other half were bred to Viking Red A.I. bulls. Viking Red is the name of the combined breeding program of the previously separate Swedish Red, Finnish Ayrshire and Danish Red breeds. The Montbeliarde breed has 427,000 cows on DHI in France, and that is more than the 337,000 Jersey cows on DHI in the United States. More of the foundation Holsteins offered for the study by the dairies were assigned to the ProCROSS rotational program than to remain Holstein across generations. There were 1,039 Holstein and 1,269 ProCROSS descendants of foundation Holsteins in the dairies in 2011. By 2018, however, there were 1,292 pure Holstein versus 2,139 ProCROSS descendants of foundation Holsteins in the dairies. In other words, the crossbreds left more descendants in the dairies than did their Holstein herdmates.
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The study had a solid number of cows for comparison because well over 1,000 each of crossbreds and Holsteins were compared for rst lactation production. Results for fertility were noteworthy because the two-breed crossbreds (Montbeliarde x Holstein and Viking Red x Holstein) had days open (time from calving to pregnancy) that averaged 12 days less than their Holstein herdmates. The three-breed crossbreds had 16.5 days (2.4 weeks) less Lifetime prot and daily prot for VR×HO and MO×HO two-breed and VR×MO/HO and MO×VR/HO three-breed crossbreds compared to Holstein cows. Holstein Cows (number)
640
Two-breed difference from Holstein VR×HO MO×HO 376
358
Lifetime prot $2,842 Percentage difference from Holstein
+$498* +18%
+$1,638* +58%
Daily prot $3.74 Percentage difference from Holstein
+$.22* +6%
+$.72* +19%
Holstein Cows (number)
250
Three-breed difference from Holstein VR×MO/HO MO×VR/HO 109
117
+$902* +32%
+$938* +33%
Daily prot $3.95 +$.17* Percentage difference from Holstein +4% * Statistical signicant difference from Holstein.
+$.51* +13%
Lifetime prot $2,823 Percentage difference from Holstein
days open than their Holstein herdmates. For rst service conception rate, the two-breed crossbreds were 7% higher and the three-breed crossbreds were 9% higher than their respective Holstein herdmates. Improved fertility is one of the major advantages from hybrid vigor for all farm animals. Health treatment costs were 20% lower for the combined two-breed and three-breed crossbreds than their Holstein herdmates. Also, the crossbred cows survived about 150 days longer than their Holstein herdmates and calved more frequently during their time in the dairies. The 305-day production of fat and protein solids (pounds) was very similar for the crossbreds and Holsteins. The two-breed crossbreds had 1% higher average daily fat and protein production than their Holstein herdmates, and the three-breed crossbreds had 1% lower average daily fat and protein production than their Holstein herdmates. Income and expense were added for the lifetime of each cow. Income included value of all production, value of all calves and nal cull value. Expense included feed cost, replacement cost, health treatment cost, breeding cost, overhead cost and carcass disposal. At least 20 cows were required per breed type (VRxHO, MOxHO and Holstein for the two-breed comparison, and VRxMO/HO, MOxVR/HO and Holstein for the three-breed comparison) for each dairy in order to be included in the analysis of lifetime prot. The 20-cow requirement assured fair comparisons that were not biased by a small number of abnormal cows within a dairy. The accompanying table shows average lifetime prot (income minus expense); lifetime prot was much higher for all four types of crossbreds compared to their Holstein herdmates. This was expected because the crossbreds had longer average lifetimes in the dairies. However, what matters most for dairy producers is daily prot because dairies have a limited capacity for cows (stalls in most cases). Therefore, daily prot from cows reects prot per stall per day. Daily prot increased from $3.74 for the Holstein herdmates of the two-breed crossbreds to $3.95 for the Holstein herdmates of the three-breed crossbreds, which were later in time. However, all four types of crossbreds had higher daily prot than their Holstein herdmates over similar time frames. The four types of crossbreds had an average advantage over their Holstein herdmates of $0.405 daily profit which was 10.5% higher daily prot every day of their lifetime in the herd. All other species of livestock (pigs, beef cattle, turkeys and chickens) have embraced hybrid vigor from the crossing of breeds or inbred lines for more than 30 years for the commercial production. In recent years, the Jerseys and crossbreds have had similar growth in number of cows in U.S. dairy herds at the expense of Holsteins.
Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019 • Page 29
Research update: Alfalfa cutting management Balancing alfalfa trade-offs between yield, quality and persistence reminds me of the good, fast and cheap paradigm where only two can be selected (Figure 1; Dev. 2018). Cheap and fast typically corresponds to lower quality work whereas fast and good tends to be expensive. From my experience, good and cheap are seldom in alignment. Substituting good, fast and cheap with alfalfa the characteristics yield, quality and persistence (Figure 1), it is easy to see how alfalfa management priorities also t the project management paradigm with a few caveats. In the management paradigm, we are assured any two priorities are selectable; however, in alfalfa, there may be a way to pick all three pairs. Before we explore the pick-three option, let us discuss the pick two options. Alfalfa yield and persistence is a logical pairing since delaying harvest does increase forage yields By M. Scott Wells while potentially lessening the year-to-year stress thus increasing persistence. Yield and quality, another pick two pairing, are University of MN related, where both must be fully optimized (Figure 2). Historically, the last pairing, quality and persistence, are contradictory much like the good and cheap. For example, if a farmer needs high-quality alfalfa and plans to reseed the alfalfa after four production years, the alfalfa stand needs to deliver high-quality alfalfa each year for the four year duration consistently. The dilemma is when the farmer increases the cutting frequency to harvest less mature plants to reduce lignin which improves quality, the alfalfa stands are less able to build up root reserves and are at a higher risk of reduced persistence (Brink and Marten, 1989). The pick three option is not apparent, but recent advances in alfalfa breeding suggest emerging opportunities to attenuate these trade-offs and allow for simultaneous improvements to quality, yield and persistence (i.e., the pick three). Modern alfalfa cultivars regrowth potential (i.e., fall dormancy rating) has been primarily decoupled from winter hardiness, which may allow for both higher yields and persistence. Also, new alfalfa traits have directly improved alfalfa forage quality through the lignin reduction which may accumulate greater yield while limiting reductions in relative feed value (Lamb et al., 2012; Grev et al., 2017). Can modern alfalfa cultivars along with intensive management provide farmers with a pick three solution? To address the question, a recent study evaluated eight modern cultivars with a range of fall dormancies (only two shown for brevity) for forage yield, Figure 1. Project management dilemma quality and persistence across four, ve of picking two priorities (left) and alfal- and six annual harvest corresponding to fa trade-off priorities (right). Adapted 21, 28 and 45-day cutting intervals in from the Developer Society (April 5, Minnesota. The experiment began in spring 2018). of 2014 at the Minnesota Research and Outreach centers located at Becker, Minn., and St. Paul, Minn. The project continued until spring 2017 at both locations. Alfalfa cultivars with fall dormancy (FD) ratings 2.1 (FD2.1) and 5.0 (FD5.0) were established into prepared seedbeds at 13 pound live seed ac-1. Raptor and Poast were applied for broadleaf and grass control respectively, and Arctic 3.2 EC was applied when potato leafhoppers exceeded thresholds. In the spring of each year, plant densities were measured in two locations within Figure 2. Trade-offs between alfalfa each plot using a frequency grid. yield and quality as impacted by alfalfa Alfalfa total season-long yields maturity stage. Adapted from the Al- were impacted by cultivar and harvest falfa Management Guide. intervals. On average, the FD5.0 cultivar produced 9% more biomass dry matter than the FD2.1, and increasing harvest intervals increased alfalfa dry matter yield (Figure 3). The 21-day harvest interval (5.0 ± 0.82 tons ac-1) produced less alfalfa dry matter than both the 28 and 45-day treatment (6.3 and 6.2 ± 0.82 tons ac-1) respectively. Both the cultivar and harvest interval impact on alfalfa dry matter yield production are not surprising. The FD5.0 has a fall dormancy rating ve, which may have contributed to greater regrowth potential when compared to the FD2.1. Unlike forage dry matter yield, alfalfa relative forage quality (RFQ) was not impacted by alfalfa cultivar with the average RFQ of 167.3 ± 7.6 Figure 3. Total season alfalfa forage for FD5.0 and FD2.1. Although cultiyield as inuenced by alfalfa fall dor- vars did not differ, RFQ was inversely proportional to harvest intervals. For mancy rating and harvest intervals. each day increase in harvest interval, there was a -2.9 point decrease in RFQ. Although increasing the harvest intervals (e.g., 21 to 45-day harvest intervals) did improve alfalfa dry matter yield (Figure 3), the delay in harvest negatively impacted RFQ with nearly a 40% reduction in RFQ between the 21 and the 45-day harvest intervals. The decrease in RFQ associated with harvesting older plants was no surprise nor was the impact of higher quality alfalfa on milk production (Figure 4). Both alfalfa cultivar and harvest interval impacted milk production where the FD2.1 cultivar produced slightly more (approx. 1.6%) milk per ton of alfalfa than the
FD5.0 cultivar (Figure 3). The forage quality reductions as a consequence of delaying harvest or increasing the interval between harvest did impact milk production at every level with nearly a 17% reduction in milk production between the 21 and 45-day harvest intervals (Figure 3). Cutting alfalfa more frequently may reduce yield but does improve forage quality which can directly result in more milk production. But, what about the pick three option? The pick three option was persistence, yield and quality. Fortunately, neither alfalfa fall dormancy rating or alfalfa harvest interval inuenced the alfalfa persistence in the third production year. There was a visible trend of increasing persistence with an a widening of the harvest intervals; however, the variation across the treatments was relatively high preventing detection of differences. Based on this snapshot, Figure 4. Milk production (pounds of picking all three is possible in alfalfa milk per ton of alfalfa) as determined production. There are several resources to by alfalfa fall dormancy rating and help decide if there is sufcient highharvest intervals. quality alfalfa to met production goals. Visit https://www.extension.umn.edu/ for more information. Additional Contributors: James Eckberg, Jake Jungers and Craig Sheaffer.
Page 30 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019
Birthday
As I sit to write this article today, I note that it is minutes before I ofcially turn 39. Ah, birthdays. That day that comes rolling around on the calendar once a year. It’s a day to eat cake, pie, ice cream, or all of the above. A day to do what makes you happy, even if it’s just for a moment because you are now an adult and the world doesn’t stop for your birthday. For me, I promised myself I would pick a bouquet of peonies and eat my cereal in peace and quiet prior to the chaos of four children shaking the house. If I sneak in time to pull weeds (I know, I’m a nut) I’ll count this day successful. Milking cows and pulling weeds give one plenty of time for quiet reection on how they got to where they are in life. As soon as the calendar ips to June, it seems my brain begins more pondering sessions when it’s not otherwise engaged. I mentally scan my memories, thinking about how I’m in many ways still the same girl I was all those years ago, but in many others, not.
I hesitate to admit that as a young teenager I would disappear into our big white shed with my Walkman pumping some Trisha Yearwood tunes. I would sing as loud as I could – the shed has some incredible acoustics. I was certain for a time I could be a singer, though I doubt I conded that dream in anyone but the kittens. Yet, give me a hot summer day and some good ‘90s country music, and my arm will be ailing out of the minivan (as I pretend it’s a farm truck) belting out the words that have cemented themselves in my mind. I’m sure for a moment that I could be a voice double, I’m really hitting it out of the park—then I look around and make sure I’m actually alone in my reverie. I come back to reality. Then decide I don’t care, and sing just as loud. Knowing full well that my kids think I’m crazy when I sing like a star, and the cows are a biased audience. At the time my parents divorced, I couldn’t boil water. No joke. I vividly remember thinking I was going
to make macaroni and cheese for supper and putting the nice ceramic white bowl with a blue ribbon around the top on the stovetop to boil. In case this is a new experiment for you, the result is the bottom of the bowl cracking out in a perfect circle. Twenty plus years later, I can report with the Ramblings from the Ridge utmost condence that I can boil water. I can also whip out a pie crust, have replaced my distaste for rhubarb with a healthy obsession, can concoct a meal to feed eight or more daily, and make a mean meringue. I’m becoming my mother. I say this with sheer pride, not disdain. By Jacqui Davison Before the cancer started Columnist gnawing at her brain, she was an incredible woman. I’ve been perusing her old gardening books, thankful that I have them, and nd myself daydreaming about new ower bed construction as I clean out waterers. I’ve always loved playing (how can it be termed work if I enjoy it so immensely?) in the owers, and I’m trying to up my game this year. More owers – less weeds, more hummingbirds, monarchs, and fewer pests. I quit highlighting my hair three years ago, and the sparkles that have popped up cause those taller than me to comment. I have quite the chrome streak in the front that draws attention, not to mention the smattering of gray that has placed itself all over my head. I embrace it for the most part. There are days when I wonder if the world sees me as ‘old’ because of my hair, but then in the next breath, I’m ne with it. Some people pay to have a streak of a different color, mine is all-natural. My fondness for all things old has only increased with my number of birthday candles. I bought dresses at an estate sale that have lived lives I’ll only read about in books. They are handmade treasures from decades ago, and I dearly wish they could tell me what they’ve seen. As I slip one over my head, and tie on an apron, I pretend I have an alter ego that doesn’t have to hurry to get kids to places, and life is a smidgen slower paced. These dresses transport me back in time, and I imagine feeding my chickens, scraping cream off of a pitcher of fresh milk, scooping up garden produce, and cooking for my brood. I have enamelware as decorations and for their functionality in the kitchen. I appreciate all of these wonders as a connection to my ancestors, and use them with knowledge that the old things last the longest. It took me until my 30th birthday to nd the comfort in my own skin that I had been waiting for. Granted the skin may be a bit rearranged after four children, even still, I’m much more at ease with who I am in this world. I have fewer and fewer moments of questioning myself as I age. My condence has become more stable, and I embrace my quirks as part of who I really am. I still see hints of the wild girl in my eyes as I look in the mirror. The one that would go out dancing and to concerts with her girlfriends isn’t far away. I see her come to life as I muster up the energy to go out after a long day of working and parenting. I hope she stays around, despite the approaching wrinkles that threaten her ‘let’s do it’ attitude. This next decade could be the best yet. 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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Choose the best alternative forages for your dairy
Extensive alfalfa winterkill pushed many dairy producers to explore alternative forage crops the past couple months. Spring planting delays due to excessive moisture have further fueled these conversations. Numerous acres across the Midwest will likely be enrolled into prevented plant programs. Final details of these programs are pending, but they have historically been less benecial to Something to Ruminate On livestock producers. Another group of producers seeking alternative forage crops (not necessarily unique to this year) is made up of those looking to maximize yield potential of less-nutrientdense forage options, typically for heifer or dry cow feed. Regardless of your reason for By Barry Visser choosing alternative Nutritionist forage crops, many of the agronomic and nutritional considerations are similar. The decision of which alternative forage crop to plant begins with addressing the forage needs of your operation. If a dairy is short on forages for milk cows, corn silage and alfalfa are still the best choices for harvesting the maximum tonnage of digestible nutrients and available protein per acre. Most farms with winter damaged alfalfa have already established emergency cropping acres for this spring. For acres still not planted, corn for silage may still be your best choice through the month of June. The most common use of alternative forages is to harvest these moderate- to lower-energy feeds for non-lactating cows. Some alternative crops have a higher propensity for nutrient uptake that may be challenging to certain groups of livestock. An example is potassium levels in oatlage harvested and fed to dry cows. Forages can be classied as warm season annual forages, cool season annual forages, and perennial legumes and grasses. Deciding which alternative forage to plant depends on factors such as time of year, soil temperatures, moisture potential and harvest goals. In a spring like 2019, seed availability of a desired crop is also a consideration. Spring planting options generally favor cereal grains, such as oat, wheat, rye, triticale or barley. It is common to see the addition of pea with oat or triticale to boost crude protein 3% to 5%. Small grains should be harvested at boot stage for best quality. Often, we move into head development to maximize tonnage for heifers. The challenge with small grain forage harvest is that it matures quickly when dairies are often pressed for time and weather is unpredictable. Forage sorghum, sudangrass and sorghum-sudangrass are common warm season alternative crops planted to maximize tonnage and generally fed to non-lactating animals. Harvest strategies are either a single cut in the fall to maximize tonnage or multiple cuttings (generally two) for improved quality. Brown mid-rib (BMR) varieties will result in great ber digestibility and higher quality. Other summer annual options include millet and teff grass. For many readers, the idea of double-cropping to maximize forage yields per acre is nothing new, especially those in the southern regions. The most common strategies include winter rye or winter triticale planted on corn silage acres. These winter crops are typically harvested in late May to early June, allowing another option for manure application. Sorghum sudangrass frequently follows on these acres using the harvest schedule mentioned above. Oat can also work well in the fall; early August is generally the ideal time to plant across most of the Midwest. Fall oat maintains high quality with shorter day lengths, resulting in highly digestible carbohydrates, lower lignin and modest ber levels. Alternative forage crops and double-cropping strategies can be key components in providing feed for your herd, but they require strategic seasonal timing. Work with your agronomist and nutritionist to develop the best management practices for your dairy. Barry Visser is a nutritionist for Vita Plus.
Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019 • Page 31
Page 32 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019
Minnesota goodbyes In Minnesota, our goodbyes tend to linger like notice the signs that the end of her days is fast apa perpetual conversation; while at other times, the proaching as she struggles to lunge forward with goodbye can abruptly come to a close. Imagine re- enough momentum to hoist her hind end up in a moving a bandage. You can take your time and re- smooth and graceful motion. Then, in a different move it step by step, or you can let it rip to get it moment, she appears to have found new strength over with in one swift moand vigor. When does the ment. goodbye nally come? Minnesota, our goodbyes db Some cows take for- IIn Mi Did you know a ever to say goodbye. We tend to linger like a Minnesota goodbye is a know they need to head real thing? Real enough out the barn door, but we perpetual conversation. to be found in a Google keep postponing their send search. I have always nooff until we absolutely ticed how the goodbye need the stall or their production has nally slipped conversation can last longer than the original visit. enough to justify culling her. It can be hard to say We say we need to get going, and yet we start a goodbye when you have watched this cow grow topic of discussion delaying our departure. It seems older along with you every day. Then you start to these goodbyes take on a life and language all of its
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own. Here is what I have noticed about a Minnesota goodbye. Step 1: Start early with a warning shot. “Look at the time. We really need to start heading out soon.” This is kind of like the 30 minute warning Just Thinking Out Loud buzzer round. Step 2: Repeat your statement. “We really need to leave. It’s time to go.” Keep the conversation going. Step 3: Hug everyone goodbye around you and say goodbye. Step 4: Walk to the door while continuing By Natalie Schmitt the conversation. Columnist Step 5: Start to put on your shoes while you chat some more. “Which reminds me, did you hear?” Step 6: Rapid re conversation. This is where you suddenly recall new information to share with the group and questions will be asked which will delay your departure. This is all done while you are putting on your coat. Step 7: Hand is on the door knob. This signals the nal send off and well wishes. “See you soon. Drive safe.” A nal round of hugs. For the past 10 weeks, we have had the chance to say goodbye to Mark’s dad, Ralph. It was a continuously owing conversation as we all came to grips with the meaning of this nal goodbye. Just after his 93rd birthday, Ralph ended up in the hospital, and it was determined there was nothing medically left they could do to treat his cancer. He moved into a hospice home, and we started this long procedure. He had his hand on the door knob several times ready to go but not quite yet. There was still a story to tell, a memory to share, advice to give and parting words of wisdom to leave. Everyone made the extra effort to make lasting memories with Ralph. I always teased him about being the healthiest person in hospice. He did not have any pain. He pushed himself to walk to the dining room for every meal. He kept up with the latest news and current events. He was showing us all how to live when you know you are dying. He was making memories for us to carry. At the rate he was going, I had it all arranged of how to get him to the church for Michael’s wedding next weekend. But sadly, the conversation came to a close. His hand was on the door knob, and he said his nal goodbye. I think our long Minnesota goodbyes are an attempt to stop time and linger in the moment to say all the things we need to say, to leave a lasting mark, to relish the hugs and connections we have made with others. But, goodbyes are not forever. They are another way of saying … until we meet again. We could use our Minnesota goodbyes in a new state advertising campaign. Minnesota: Come for the kindness. Stay because it takes too long to say goodbye. You betcha. 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
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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019 • Page 33
The barn dance
When most people hear the phrase ‘barn dance’, they think of old timers gliding around haymow oors. These dance oors are like no other, with their wooden planks polished smooth by the friction of thousands of bales of hay and straw. I think, fondly, of the dance oor at Larson’s Barn, where we would dance with Grandpa. One hand clasped in his and the other resting on his worn-out shoulder, the one that creaked and clicked from years of hard work in both the mill and on his dairy farm. Dairy Good Life Through those early dance oor lessons with Grandpa and my parents, we learned the polka, waltz, schottische, jitterbug, and more. I still love to dance, but there are fewer opportunities now. Community dances just aren’t as popular in this part of Minnesota as they were up north and most wedding dances these days only play hip-hop or country songs. I’ll happily dance to modern music, but freestyle bopping doesn’t compare to the natural choreography of a polka or waltz. Lately, I’ve been thinking about a different kind of barn dance. Every time we milk our cows, we do a sort of By Sadie Frericks dance. One or two (or more) people move around the Columnist barn, stepping in between cows and back out onto the aisle. If you watch the steps dairy farmers take while milking their cows, they would look much like the pattern of steps dancers take while waltzing around a ballroom. Like dancing with a partner, we move in sequence with each other. And every farm or pair of milkers has its own dance. On some farms, milkers take sides of the barn or move only certain milking units. On other farms, one milker preps and one milker attaches. When Glen and I milk together, our dance is much less rigid. We prep and attach whichever cow is next, working ahead to allow adequate prep time. There are no assigned sides or units or jobs, so the steps of our dance take us all around the barn. And just like dance partners who have been dancing together forever, there’s no need for verbal directions. We just know where each other is moving next. I noticed while teaching a new employee to milk that teaching someone how to milk cows is a lot like teaching someone to dance. Until they gure out the steps and the rhythm of which unit will be ready to move and which cow needs to be prepped next, there’s a need for a lot of direction. Just like a new dancer needing to know which foot moves where next and how to time the movements. Not everyone milks cows in a stall barn, though. Parlor milkers have a much different dance. When we milked in a parlor, our movement looked more like the electric slide or a country line dance. ... teaching hi someone h how to dairy farmers with milk cows is a lot like teaching robotsAnd have no dance at all. There are several other someone to dance. similarities between milking and dancing: There’s music involved. At least here, the radio is always on in the barn. And even in the back of the barn where we can’t hear the radio, the swishing of the pulsators keeps a steady beat. Sometimes there’s conversation between partners; sometimes there’s not. Some milkers – and some dancers – simply lose themselves in the movement, allowing their thoughts to drift. And, often, one generation teaches the next how to milk or dance. This summer is Dan’s rst season as an ofcial milker. Dan has known how to milk a cow for years, but now he’s learning the ow and sequence of moving units around the barn. I’ve enjoyed teaching him and watching him develop the observation skills required for efcient cow milking in a stall barn. Soon he’ll be gliding around the barn like a pro. Now I just need to nd a nice dance oor, so I can teach him how to polka and waltz. Sadie and her husband, Glen, milk 100 cows near Melrose, Minn. They have three children – Dan, 11, Monika, 8, and Daphne, 5. Sadie also writes a blog at www. dairygoodlife.com. She can be reached at sadiefrericks@gmail.com
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Page 34 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019
Farming runs in his blood
Mitchell earns top FFA dairy placement prociency By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
HILLSBORO, Wis. – Growing up on his family’s dairy farm, there is nowhere else in the world Brooks Mitchell can imagine living or working. He was able to parlay that love for the dairy farm and the strong work ethic he has learned into earning the top honors in the dairy placement prociency contest at the Wisconsin FFA Convention June 10-13 in Madison, Wis. Mitchell, 18, is the son of Steve and Kelli Mitchell of Hillsboro, Wis., and is a recent graduate of Hillsboro High School. He plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Richland to obtain his general education credits and transfer to the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse to obtain a degree in early childhood education through adolescent education. Following graduation, Mitchell intends to come back to the farm as the seventh generation of the Mitchell family to operate the 164-year-old farm. “I love farming,” he said. “I enjoy it, being out in the country. I really can’t imagine doing anything else. Farming DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR is in my blood.” Brooks Mitchell is the winner of the Dairy Placement Prociency at the Wisconsin FFA ConvenƟon June 10-13 in Madison, Turn to MITCHELL | Page 35 Wis. Mitchell, 18, is the son of Steve and Kelli Mitchell and is a recent graduate of Hillsboro High School.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019 • Page 35
ConƟnued from MITCHELL | Page 35
Thank you Dairy Farmers! During Dairy Month, we’d like to thank the men and women of our dairy industry for their hard work and commitment to quality and sustainability. We appreciate all that you bring to the table! DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
Brooks Mitchell preps a cow for milking on his family’s 800-cow Hillsprairie Dairy outside of Hillsboro, Wis. Mitchell is the seventh generaƟon of his family working on the farm.
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ment. He placed 14th in the gold category his sophomore year, but his junior year his application received a bronze recognition. “I tried to use last year’s placing as a learning tool and to consider my application from the judges’ viewpoint,” Mitchell said. “I reworded some things and took a different perspective on some areas.” The increased effort paid off for Mitchell when he received the email that he had been selected as one of the nalists in the competition, earning him a prestigious spot on stage during the convention. “When they announced my name as the winner, I just stood there and thought, ‘Wow, I did this,’” Mitchell said. Mitchell is now in the process of preparing his application to be submitted for consideration in the national contest. He will learn later this summer if he is selected as one of four national nalists, earning the opportunity to compete at the National FFA Convention held in October in Indianapolis, Ind. While it is a mainstay in his life, dairy farming is not the only thing that keeps Mitchell busy. While he was in high school, he was involved in choir, FBLA, forensics, student council, the ‘H’ Letterman’s club, serving as a class ofcer and playing basketball and football. “I look at some of the kids in school and think maybe they aren’t enjoying high school to the fullest because they don’t get involved in things,” Mitchell said. “But high school is the only time you have to do a lot of these things. The chance doesn’t come around again.” Mitchell’s understanding of life and the world around him has been fostered by his family, and he looks up to his parents and his grandfather, Papa Ed, who recently passed away. “My dad has taught me everything there is used dairy equipment and milk tanks to know about farming,” Mitchell said. “He and my WE SPECIALIZE IN USED DAIRY EQUIPMENT. mom have raised me to be Milking machine equipment, bulk milk tanks and cooling a good Christian. And, my equipment. Give us a call, we will be glad to help you with Papa Ed taught me to be a any of your milking machine or bulk tank needs. better person and to live We also BUY your used equipment and milk tanks. life with a little bit of humor.”
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Hillsprairie Dairy is home to 800 milking cows. The Mitchells crop 1,000 acres to produce feed and forages for the herd. “I was about 10 years old when I started helping on the farm,” Mitchell said. “I have learned a lot of things about running the farm since then.” Mitchell’s Supervised Agricultural Experience project has been built around his work experiences on the farm. “Everything I’ve done and learned over the years is included in the application,” Mitchell said. “The hours I’ve worked and what I’ve been paid. I had to describe what I’ve learned and how my knowledge of each task has increased. For example, when I rst started, I didn’t know a lot about how to treat cows; how to administer, what to give them and how much. Now I know how to do all of that.” The tasks included in Mitchell’s SAE include tractor driving and eld work, milking, feeding calves, working in the farm’s vet room, pumping manure, taking care of the feed bunkers and general maintenance. Mitchell has enjoyed every one of his six years of involvement in the FFA. He has held the ofces of president, vice president and parliamentarian in his chapter. He has earned his discovery, greenhand and chapter degrees, and plans to make an application for his State FFA Degree next year. “FFA is such a fun group to be in,” Mitchell said. “It’s such a different activity, not what kids might expect to do in school.” Hillsboro FFA instructor Mollie Biermeier played an instrumental role in encouraging Mitchell to ll out the sometimes daunting prociency application. This is the third year he has submitted an application in dairy place-
In Southern Wisconsin & Northern Illinois Call: Amos Denman 563-608-6477
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Page 36 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019
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Women In Dairy Nancy Middendorf Sauk Centre, Minn. Stearns County 60 cows
Family: My husband, Randy, and I have been married for 21 years. We have ve daughters and two sons – Kendra, 20; Molly, 19; Samantha, 18; Matthew, 15; Luke, 13; Macey, 6; and Cassie, 2. We both grew up on dairy farms. Tell us about your farm. We are a third generation dairy farm. We’ve been certied organic since last August. We started rotationally grazing last fall. What’s the busiest time of day for you? It all depends on the day and time of year. When we’re freshening in the fall and spring, feeding calves is a busy chore. Now, we’re not so busy with chores but the day-to-day stuff like running kids to their activities, doing farm work and keeping up with the lawn. When you get a spare moment what do you do? We like to go visit family or simply stay home and watch a movie together. Or, we like having a bonre with s’mores. Tell us about your most memorable experience working on the farm. The excitement in the kids every time a cow calves.
Your hopes and dreams. BIG AND SMALL.
What have you enjoyed about dairy farming or your tie to the dairy industry? Being able to work side by side with my husband, as well as being able to be home with the kids. I also like being able to talk and laugh with the family during chores. It makes the time y by.
Agriculture isn’t just a market we serve. It’s what we’re founded on. It’s who we are. Whether you have a 50-head operation or 5,000, our team members from Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin share an unwavering commitment to making your hopes and dreams very, very real. Let’s get started today.
How do you stay connected with others in the industry? We work together a lot with my husband’s brothers and their families. We also attend some meetings and conferences.
Proud supporters of June Dairy Month
If you could give a tour of your farm to a prominent woman in today’s society, who would it be and why? I’d like to invite a lawmaker out to our farm. Over the years there are fewer small family farms and I think it’s important we bring these people back to our home roots and where it all began. They could see the small, rural towns and see how it’s all changed.
Who is someone in the industry who has inspired you? Why? My parents, because they taught me to take each farming day one step at a time and day by day.
What is the best vacation you’ve every taken? Explain. The trips out to Cody, Wyo. We have traveled out west twice, now, along with my husband’s brother and his wife and family. There is so much to see and it’s simply beautiful. Learn more at compeer.com.
What are words you like to live by? Cherish every moment. (844) 426-6733 | #CHAMPIONRURAL
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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019 • Page 37
Studying no till, cover crop relationship to water Friendshuh Farms hosts ďƒželd day By Brittany Olson Contributing Writer
CLEAR LAKE, Wis. – When Greg Friendshuh decided to pursue conservation farming methods by incorporating cover crops and no till, he had the future in mind. “We’ve got lots of erodible land, and one of the kids running around here today might want to farm here someday, too,â€? said Friendshuh, who milks 800 cows near Clear Lake, Wis. Friendshuh, along with several dozen farmers in the St. Croix Valley, is a member and director of the Western Wisconsin Conservation Council, a farmer-led water quality coalition. The organization, which held a ďƒželd day June 11 on some of Friendshuh Farms’ ďƒželds, was formed in early 2018 after a failed CAFO moratorium in St. Croix County forced farmers to take a closer look at nitrate levels in groundwater. Attendees rotated through four educational stations to study visual impacts of water inďƒžltration and soil structure with no till and cover crops
in both corn and soybean acreage, as well as manure injection and research WWCC members are conducting with student researchers from University of Wisconsin-River Falls. One station, presented by Natural Resource Conservation Service conservationist Jason Barrick and crop farmers Jerry Emmert and Andy Bensend, demonstrated water inďƒžltration in no till soybean planted into a rye cover and no cover in addition to soybean planted into a medium till rye cover and no cover on Antigo silt loam. Even in the no till ground without a cover crop, water inďƒžltration demonstrated by septic system dye was limited by the top layer of soil. “A lot of little roots do a lot of good,â€? Barrick said regarding water inďƒžltration. Barrick also demonstrated water inďƒžltration aided by worm channels by pouring water mixed with ground mustard onto the no till soil with a rye cover. Mustard, a mild irritant to worms, sent the creatures rushing to the surface to get away. Within the 30 minutes of the session, the water that had been poured had almost completely soaked into the ground. Turn to FIELD DAY | Page 38
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Page 38 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019
ConƟnued from FIELD DAY | Page 37 Bensend, who farms near Dallas, Wis., and operates a crop consulting and custom harvesting business, explained the need to have the correct carbon-nitrogen ratios which can be aided by planting legumes before grasses. “I’m experimenting by broadcasting Balansa clover with herbicide this year,” Bensend said. “Balansa is an annual so it will be followed by corn.” In a third eld, manure injection logistics in a no till situation were demonstrated by Sundstrom Pit Pumping of Colfax, Wis., and dairy farmer Tom Zwald of Hammond, Wis. Sundstrom said the eld had been in alfalfa until it was all winterkilled this spring. Manure was injected at a rate of 16,000 gallons per acre, and Friendshuh rolled the eld to smooth it out before planting corn which was much like planting corn into soybean stubble. Zwald, who also injects manure, said he preferred injection over surface application for numerous reasons, particularly in the fall. He said the spring freezes and thaws close the ridges created by the injection process, and injection puts manure in the root zone right where the plants need it. “I also like it because I have neighbors, and they can’t smell it when it’s injected,” Zwald said. “If we’re behind their houses at night injecting, they don’t know what’s going on because they can’t smell the manure. Also, if I can smell it, that’s nitrogen I’m losing to the atmosphere. The air doesn’t need more nitrogen, and it’s money I’m losing, too.” UWRF student researchers Kayla Johnson and Leslie Ludtke were available to talk about the groundwater research they are working on with WWCC and invited new members
to become part of their study free of charge as well as the cost sharing benets of joining the organization. The student/council collaboration provides nitrate and chloride well testing, soil analysis and installation of lysimeters to draw water out of the soil to analyze leaching nitrate. Their study has found that 43% of WWCC members’ wells are in excess of 10 parts per million of nitrates, which is considered to be the safe legal limit. Another local farmer, Pete Arcand, was one of the presenters and, like Friendshuh, was motivated by his kids to pursue no till and cover crops. Arcand, who raises poultry and cash crops near Clear Lake, Wis., was losing two weeks of each growing season by picking rocks before going no till. “My last rock picker – my youngest kid – was going off to college, and I was losing too much time with rock picking,” Arcand said. Arcand, who presented with NRCS conservationist Keith Zygowicz, said because of root channels and worm tunnels, the water has greater opportunity to inltrate the soil compared to conventionally tilled soil and even no till ground without a cover crop. The eld they were presenting in was no till corn planted into terminated rye for three years in a row. The soil structure of the cover crop ground was also crumblier as demonstrated by Zygowicz compared to the acres without a cover crop that broke off in plates. “Because the inltration is much better, I can get back in the eld much sooner after a rainfall event,” Arcand BRITTANY OLSON/DAIRY STAR said. “I’m in my 19th year of being no AƩendees at the Western Wisconsin ConservaƟon Council eld day walk till now. There was an initial yield loss through a soil pit to study soil structure on no Ɵll corn acreage planted into a the rst three years, but it turned around rye cover crop on June 11 near Clear Lake, Wis. in years four and ve.”
Dairy prole Jacob Holst Kellogg, Minn. Wabasha County 120 cows How did you get into farming? I was born into it, and I stayed with it. After graduating high school in 2011, I went to Northeast Iowa Community College and returned to my family’s dairy in the fall of 2012. I dairy farm with my parents, Jary and Celene. I own about 30 cows in the herd. I also crop farm with my brother, Isaac, and help him with his custom hauling business when I have time. I also have a beef herd of 25 cows along with 60 steers. My girlfriend, Brittany Nelson, also has about 20 sheep. What are your thoughts and concerns about the dairy industry for the next year? The milk price is concerning. Hopefully the futures turn around. We don’t have any plans to sell out, but it’s tough. The prices have to come around sometime. What is the latest technology you implemented on your farm and the purpose for it? We started using the SCOUT program about two years ago. It helps keep better track of the cows. We like it for our ovsynch lists and it’s nice to be able to look up a cow. We are not big enough for Dairy Comp, but it’s better than paper and pencil. What is a management practice you changed in the past year that has beneted you? We added wheat straw to our ration. It has helped when the cows freshen. The herd hasn’t had as many DAs and ketosis. And, there haven’t been as many ups and downs in milk. What cost-saving steps have you implemented during the low milk price? We changed teat dip. That helped us reduce our somatic cell count which gives us a better premium. Now our SCC runs under 200,000.
Dairy Star • Saturday, June 22, 2019 • Page 39
with Jacob Holst of Kellogg, Minn.
How do you retain a good working relationship with your employees? We don’t have any employees. Family members run the dairy. In order for everything to run smoothly, everyone needs to communicate about what they will be getting done each day. Everyone pitches in. Tell us about a skill you possess that makes dairy farming easier for you. I am versatile. I can be milking, driving semi or in the eld all in the same day. My whole family can do any job on the farm. We are diversied. What do you enjoy most about dairy farming? I like being around the cows and working at home. I like that I’m my own boss, and my dad and I get to make the decisions for our herd. What advice would you give other dairy farmers? Stick with it. Things are going to turn around. What has been the best purchase you have ever made on your farm? SCOUT has been benecial. So has the bale chopper we bought three years ago. It helps us save on bedding because it does a nicer job with bedding than shaking the straw with a skidloader. It also chops the hay and makes it go through the mixer better. What has been your biggest accomplishment while dairy farming? Getting a good start on my own herd. It has allowed me to crop farm on the side and have steers.
What are your plans for your dairy in the next year and ve years? We don’t have any big plans, but within the next year we would like to build a commodity shed. We also need to create a better place for our silage piles. It would be nice to get them on gravel. Right now they’re on dirt. How do you or your family like to spend time when you are not doing chores? I like to spend time with my girlfriend. We like to get away when we can. The past two years, we have taken trips to Duluth. This year, we would like to check out Nebraska. I also like to go for drives after chores at night. I take my own truck and cruise the gravel looking at the crops.
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