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DAIRY ST R
Volume 20, No. 9
“All dairy, all the time”™
June 23, 2018
Solutions sought for the dairy crisis Osendorfs host MFU discussion on rural economy By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
ABBY HOPP/DAIRY STAR
Minnesota State RepresentaƟve Paul Anderson shares his opinion on the farm crisis at a Minnesota Farmers Union discussion held June 12 at Mike and Krista Osendorf’s 40-cow dairy near Paynesville, Minn.
Youngrens focus on animals with barn, robots
PAYNESVILLE, Minn. – All across the nation, dairy farmers are at the end of their wits waiting for the economy to turn around from what has been several years of low milk prices. In an effort to nd solutions, dairy farmers, industry professionals and government representatives gathered for a rural dairy discussion June 12 at Mike and Krista Osendorf’s 40-cow dairy farm near Paynesville, Minn. The event was put on by the Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) as part of their rural dairy discussion series in Stearns and Wabasha counties. “Farmers’ voices are not being heard,” said Gary Wertish, MFU President. “We want to hear your ideas and suggestions on the dairy situation, and report back to senators, congressmen and state ofcials.” Andrea Vaubel, Minnesota Department of Agriculture Assistant Commissioner, and Patty Edelburg, National Farmers
A cow’s world
Turn to CRISIS | Page 5
By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
PENNOCK, Minn. – Every dairy farmer develops a way to best manage their herd through facilities, technology and the execution of responsibilities. For the Youngrens, they have found an ideal model with new housing and automation. “This is a cow’s world,” said Mike Youngren, looking down the feed lane of his family’s six-row freestall barn. Mike and his brother, Dean, and son, Trevin, built a 148- by 648-foot freestall barn, equipped with seven milking robots, for their 430-cow dairy herd in Kandiyohi County near Pennock, Minn. The cross-ventilated barn has three milking pens – two for mature cows and one for rst-calf heifers – in addition to a fourth pen for dry cows and close-up heifers. Turn to YOUNGRENS | Page 6
JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR
The Youngrens – (front, from leŌ) Drew and Kendra; (back, from leŌ) Dean, Mike, Trevin holding April and KaƟe – milk 430 cows with seven robots on their farm in Kandiyohi County near Pennock, Minn.