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Volume 21, No. 11
Summer storm ravages Wisconsin farms
Families relocate cows, sort through devastation
July 27, 2019
Dairy funding part of new state budget
On-farm picnic highlights industryrelated state, federal policies By Stacey Smart Contributing Writer
PHOTO SUBMITTED
A porƟon of a freestall barn is destroyed on the Jensens’ dairy farm near Turtle Lake, Wis. The Jensens were one of many who had storm damage July 19. By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
TURTLE LAKE, Wis. – Neil Jensen is still in shock as he recalls the happenings of July 19. One minute, he was feeding cows and the next minute he was in his basement, listening as the storm barreled through. “We were in the house, and it sounded like a train was right above us,” Jensen said. Jensen and his wife, Janice, and oldest daughter, Laura, took shelter as a severe summer storm ravaged their 135-cow dairy farm near Turtle Lake, Wis. The early evening storm completely destroyed one of two freestall barns on the Jensens’ farm, as well as injuring several animals; one cow was put down. The family is one of many in western Wisconsin sifting through debris on their farm. The storm arrived shortly after 5:30 p.m. “I was in the barn feeding TMR when the radio said they were evacuating the Barron County Fairgrounds because a tornado was spotted 26 miles to the west. That’s us,” Jensen said. Jensen immediately looked outside and was overcome by the turquoise green sky. He went back into the barn to nd Janice and Laura taking shelter. “I told them we couldn’t be in the barn, so let’s go hide under the bulk tank,” Jensen said. “We decided to take our chances and run to the house.” The Jensen were in their basement less than a minute when they heard the storm arrive. Kurt Wohlk knew bad weather was coming, so he and his dad, Glen, and brother, Clayton, began milking early that evening. The Wohlks milked their 60cow herd in an hour on their farm near Almena, Wis. Turn to STORM | Page 6
MARSHALL, Wis. – Wisconsin’s dairy industry scored two major victories when it received funding for a Dairy Innovation Hub and funding for farmer-led conservation groups as part of the new state budget. The Hub is a longterm investment in dairy research occurring at UWMadison, UW-Platteville and UW-River Falls that will focus on such areas as animal health and nutrition and the development of new dairy products. A total of $8.8 million in funding was awarded for the Dairy Innovation Hub
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Nick Woldt (leŌ) and his wife, Maria, visit with nutriƟonist Dan Davis during a policy picnic July 17 on the Woldts’ farm near Marshall, Wis. – $1 million for the rst year and $7.8 million for the second year. “This is a huge win for dairy,” said Chad Zuleger, associate director of government affairs at Dairy Business Association (DBA),
during a policy picnic hosted by DBA and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative on July 17 at the farm of Nick and Maria Woldt in Marshall, Wis. Approximately 50 attendees, including dairy farmers and other members
of the dairy industry, came to the picnic to learn about the latest on dairy policy. The free, two-hour event was one of four such picnics held throughout the state over the course of Turn to BUDGET | Page 7
Hoeses turn to automation for reduced labor
Feeding system installed with help from MDA grant By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
MAYER, Minn. – The Hoeses are always looking for ways to remain viable in the ever-changing industry. To maintain their herd size without additional labor, the family installed the Lely Vector – a fully automated feeding system – in January on their 125-cow herd in Carver County near Mayer, Minn. “We wanted to become more labor efcient,” Eric said. “In four JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR years’ time, we’ll see a return on this Eric Hoese explains the Lely Vector feeding system to aƩendees of investment. We’ve already noticed it the Carver County Farmer to Farmer Tour July 11 at the family’s in our time and energy, feed savings dairy in Mayer, Minn. Turn to HOESE | Page 4