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DAIRY ST R “All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 19, No. 12
August 12, 2017
“Production is really driven by reproduction.” – Nick Meyer
Three major pieces in production puzzle production, pregnant, fresh and dry. The high production cows are bedded with straw, while the others are on deep-bedded manure solids. Cows are milked three times a day – at 3 a.m., 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. As part of the tour, the Meyers demonstrated how they are able to maintain a rolling herd average of 30,000 pounds, with the careful management of reproduction and forages, and teamwork. “If you don’t do one right and lack quality, then the others don’t fall into place,” said Nick, who purchased the farm from his parents, Gerald and Joyce, in 2003.
Meyers focus on repro, forages, teamwork By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
SAUK CENTRE, Minn. – From the elds to the parlor, Nick Meyer admittedly knows his farm does things well; but it is how the different aspects of the farm work together that really demonstrates the dairy’s achievements. “Reproduction is really our strong point on the dairy, and that coincides with milk production,” Nick said. On Aug. 2, Nick and his wife, Tara, and their two children – Tyler, 7, and Maddie, 5 – welcomed dairy farmers to their 240-cow dairy near Sauk Centre, Minn., as part of the University of Minnesota Extension’s Summer Dairy Field Days. At Meyer Dairy, cows are housed in four groups – high
JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR
The Meyers – Nick and Tara, and their two children, Maddie and Tyler – milk 240 cows near Sauk Centre, Minn. The family hosted a eld day Aug. 2 as part of the University of Minnesota Extension’s Summer Dairy Field Days.
Perdue visits MN on ‘Back to Our Roots’ tour
Secretary of Ag gathers input for 2018 Farm Bill By Ruth Klossner Staff Writer
GARDEN CITY, Minn. — The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue visited a farm Aug. 4 near Garden City, Minn. Perdue’s Minnesota stop was part of a vestate RV tour in the rst of two “Back to Our Roots” tours to ag-heavy states. Perdue is making the trips to gather input RUTH KLOSSNER/DAIRY STAR for the 2018 Farm Bill. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny In announcing the Perdue speaks to media Aug. 4 at the tour, Perdue stated, “It’s Paap Farm near Garden City, Minn. important to look at past practices to see what has worked and what has not Turn to PERDUE | Page 10
Double ovsynch boosts reproduction The Meyers give first credit for high milk production to their reproduction regime, emphasizing its crucial role in overall herd performance. Turn to MEYERS | Page 5
Alive to tell his farm safety message
Schmitt spends 46 days in hospital after being run over by tractor By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
FORT ATKINSON, Iowa – Although he has spent over a month and a half in the hospital this summer and is now relearning how to walk, Steve Schmitt tries to keep a smile on his face and a happy attitude. “I overheard my doctors say, ‘Look at this guy. He just got run over by a tractor and he’s still smiling.’ I said, ‘I think it’s because I am alive,’” Schmitt said. On June 6, Schmitt tried to stop a runaway tractor, but instead was run over on his 130cow dairy near Fort Atkinson, Turn to SCHMITT | Page 7
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Steve SchmiƩ puts a sock on his foot while in his wheel chair at his home near Fort Atkinson, Iowa. SchmiƩ was run over by a tractor, fracturing his pelvis on his 130-cow dairy.