LOOK INSIDE FOR OUR WORLD DAIRY EXPO PREVIEW EDITION!
DAIRY ST R “All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 19, No. 14
September 9, 2017
New facility a good deal for Fricksons
Young couple builds parlor with low-cost mentality By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
DAKOTA, Minn. – When it comes to upgrading products or equipment on their farm, Andy and Darienne Frickson always try to nd the best deal. “When it comes to input costs, I’m always shopping,” Andy said. This save-what-they-can and a do-it-themselves attitude during their dairy farming career has given the Fricksons the ability to get to where they are now – milking their 90-cow herd in a facility with a double-10 atbarn parlor, along with a maternity pen and freestalls they built last year on a farm they purchased four years ago. Andy and Darienne have two daughters, Paislee, 2, and Jolena, 1, and dairy near
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
The Fricksons – Darienne, holding Jolena, and Andy, holding Paislee – built a new double-10 at parlor milking facility and moved their herd out of a rented barn last September. The family milks 90 cows near Dakota, Minn.
Dakota, Minn. The building process for the Fricksons’ new facility started July 5 last year. By September, they were able to move in. The Fricksons hired a few area Amish men to do the construction and did of lot of other projects themselves, such as putting in the fencing, freestalls and fans. Another way they saved on the cost was buying used equipment from neighbors who no longer dairy farmed. “I went to all the empty barns around us and picked what I wanted,” Andy said. This included the double-10 air-operated stanchions for the at parlor. Instead of every cow being released individually out of the stanchion, the Fricksons can release every other cow as a group through the push of a button. This also allows them to continue milking while bringing in a new group of Turn to FRICKSON | Page 5
Developing a dairy, helping the community Paskewitzes named farm family of the year By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
STAPLES, Minn. – As Lee Paskewitz looks out from his front porch, his dairy barn is illuminated by the sun light. In that moment, Paskewitz knows he has chosen a career that, in its entirety, is immensely satisfying. For 25 years, Paskewitz and his wife, Laurie, have made a living milking cows at Solid Rock Dairy Farm near Staples, Minn. In that time, they have also become leaders in their church and community, and built lasting relationships with people from all over the world. The Paskewitzes’ commitment to their work in and out of the barn make them deserving recipients of the 2017 Todd County Farm Family of the Year – an award they accepted at Farmfest in Redwood Falls, Minn., Aug. 3. “This [award] is a validation of the choices we’ve made. We’ve lived a life where we value relationships with our community, with our employees and with our family,” Paskewitz said. “After all these years, I think we’ve done it the right way.” Paskewitz milks 250 cows in a double-6 step-up parlor and runs 320 acres with the help of 10 employees, while Laurie is a reading specialist in the local school district. Together, they raised three children – Lindsay, Alek and Colton. As Paskewitz oversees the dairy operation, he entrusts much of the day-to-day responsibilities to his four full-time employees and the remaining workers who are high school students and neighbors. Additionally, the Paskewitzes are hosting Stepan Strilchuk, an agricultural exchange student from Ukraine. “Stepan is our third agricultural exchange student,” Paskewitz said. “We enjoy learning about their cultures while they learn about ours and dairy farming. It’s an eye-opening experience.”
JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR
Agricultural exchange student Stepan Strilchuk, of Ukraine, and Minnesota dairy farmer Lee Paskewitz talk about the difference in farming methods between the two regions. Strilchuk is currently working for Paskewitz, who milks 250 cows in Todd County near Staples, Minn. Strilchuk agreed. “My main responsibilities are milking and feeding calves, but it’s much different here than back home,” he said. “I’m gaining new knowledge and improving my skills to take back and add to my own farm.” The Paskewitzes milk three times a day – a routine they implemented in the late ‘90s when they transformed the original tiestall barn into a milking parlor and increased their herd. Currently, the herd is maintaining a 27,996-pound rolling herd average. Calves are raised on the farm until about 300 pounds, when they are moved Turn to PASKEWITZ | Page 7
Page 2 • Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017
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 - Managing Editor (320) 352-6303 • andrea.b@dairystar.com Krista Kuzma - Assistant Editor (507) 259-8159 • krista.k@dairystar.com Ron Johnson (608) 874-4243 ron.j@dairystar.com Ruth Klossner (507) 240-0048 cowlady@centurylink.net Jennifer Coyne (320) 352-6303 jenn@dairystar.com Brittany Olson (320) 352-6303 brittany.o@dairystar.com Danielle Nauman (715) 245-6848 danielle.n@dairystar.com 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 Lori Menke (Eastern Iowa, Southern WI) 563-608-6477 • lori.m@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
Dairy Prole brought to you by your
Now that state fairs have wrapped up around the region, we talked to dairy farmers who participated at their state fair. From showing animals to volunteering in dairy educational booths, people talked about how they promoted dairy during the state fair and what kind of questions they were asked from visitors. Check out the full responses in the “From our side of the fence” feature on pages 15 and 16 in rst section. As farmers in the Midwest are preparing for fall harvest, Texas farmers and industry businesses are By Mark Klaphake sorting through the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Editor The category four storm arrived Aug. 25 and brought more than 30 inches of rain, which resulted in extensive ooding and damage to the Houston, Texas, area. Turn to page 10 in rst section to read how dairy farmer Grant Wilson and dairy processing plants withstood the storm and how their operations are doing now, weeks after Hurricane Harvey. Now that school is back in session, we looked at how agriculture classes at colleges across our region are teaching on-farm skills. Although animal and machinery skills are necessary, college classes have shifted in the past 10 years to also focus on the business aspect of taking over a dairy farm. Read on pages 12 and 13 in rst section about what college curriculums look like now and what colleges are looking at for the future. Oct. 14 cannot come soon enough for two young people in Gilman, Wis. Tristan Swartz, originally from Missouri, and Megan Herfel, of Mount Horeb, Wis., will exchange vows at a location dear to their hearts – the area sales barn. To read about how the couple met online, their joint dairy farming adventure and Swartz’s unique proposal, turn to pages 6 and 7 in second section. In the days leading up to Labor Day, Minnesotans had 12 opportunities to attend The Great Minnesota Get Together. Dairy farmers were part of record-breaking attendance for the Minnesota State Fair, which we featured throughout the paper. Read on pages 35 and 37 in rst section about how JerLindy Farms provided the showcase herd and about the 4-H Dairy Showcase winners on pages 3 and 8 in second section. Also check out the extra photos on pages 22 and 26.
Favorite quotes from this issue:
“We’re really trying to gure out how to cut down on our parlor time, because overall, it’s a long time in the barn.” - Aaron Ruther, Third Section Pages 3, 5
“Market access is important, but the United States has lagged behind the rest of the world in expanding trade agreements. Standing still is falling behind.” - Ryan Kuhns, First Section
Pages 22-23
By the Numbers
of water the Edstroms’ 750K: gallons farm consumes in a month and also the water allotment they are given for an entire year. (Second Section, Pages 14-15)
of weight gain at weaning 50: pounds for Westrich Farms’ calves in their new facility. (Second Section, Pages
20-21)
BURY EVERYTHING! Don’t use yesterday’s plows to meet today’s tillage needs.
MASTER, MANAGER, AND CHALLENGER ROLL-OVER PLOWS
INVEST IN QUALITY ®
If your tillage practices require burying all trash or cover crops, KUHN’s broad line of modern, high-capacity plows can help meet your plowing needs. Call your local dealer today to learn how a Kuhn roll-over plow can help you get the job done. 2 to 12 bottoms
Van’s Implement Hull, IA
Carroll Implement Lu Verne, IA
KuhnNorthAmerica.com
Arnold's
Glencoe, MN Kimball, MN Sauk Rapids, MN St. Martin, MN
Northland Farm Systems Owatonna, MN
Lake Henry Implement Paynesville, MN
Lindell Sales & Service
Dave’s Repair Hills, MN
Dairyland Supply
Beck Implement
Isaacson Sales & Service
Miller Sellner
Lafayette, MN
Slayton, MN
Fluegge’s Ag
Woller Equipment
Cannon Falls, MN Elgin, MN
Visit your local KUHN dealer today!
Mora, MN
Sauk Centre, MN
Swanville, MN
UFC Farm Supply Waconia, MN
Jaycox Implement Worthington, MN
Noteboom Implement Corsica, SD
Pfeifer Implement Sioux Falls, SD
Mark's Machinery Yankton, SD
Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017 • Page 3
It’s all inside...
FIRST SECTION
n nb or
Douglas Charles Mix
n nso
Lake
Moody
McCook Minnehaha
Hubbard Wadena
Carver Scott
Nicollet Brown
Murray
Rock
Nobles
Dakota
Fricksons build new parlor with low-cost mentality
sey
Dakota
r
Redwood
Washinton
Renville
Ra m
Hennepin McLeod Sibley
Lyon
Kanabec
Wright
Second Section: Pages 12 - 13
Rice
Goodhue Wabasha
Cottonwood Watonwan Blue Earth Waseca Steele Dodge Olmsted Jackson
Martin
Faribault
Freeborn
Mower
First Section: Pages 1, 5
Winona
Fillimore
Houston
Ha
Da
vis
on
Sa
Miner
Meeker
eu
Brookings
Kandiyohi
Chippewa
Yellow Medicine Lincoln
Kingsbury
Isanti
Kids Corner: The Rysavy Family
go
Hamlin
Deuel
Owatonna
Anoka
Swift Lac Qui Parle
Codington
Benton
Stearns
Sherburne
Grant Clark
Mille Lacs
isa
Roberts
Big Sto Stone
Second Section: Pages 3, 8
Pine Morrison
Pope
Benrud, Erf take rst, Carlton second in showcase at Minnesota State Fair
Crow Wing
Douglas
Stevens
St. Paul
Aitkin
Su
Marshall
Cass
Todd Grant
First Section: Pages 18, 20
Itasca
Le
rse
Third Section: Pages 8 - 9
Day
Ottertail
Wilkin
Dairy highlights from South Dakota State Fair
Page 29
Pages 6 Some Udder Stuff Pages 10 - 11 Hicks family hosts pasture walk on Aug. 24 Page 14 Dairy Calendar Pages 17 - 22 Classieds
Becker
Clay
Parker
en
nom
Mah
First Section: Page 36
Koochiching
Clearwater
Polk Norman
Women in Jeans: Vicki Herdering
St. Louis
Red Lake
Third Section: Pages 3, 5
Automatic feeder part of new calf management system Pages 24 - 25 Crop and weather reports
THIRD SECTION
Beltrami
Pennington
Pages 20 - 21
Summer salads Pages 30 - 31 Dairy Recipes
First Section: Pages 35, 37
Freeport
Lake of the Woods
Marshall
Ruther purchases family dairy farm
Roerview Dairy’s milk production increases with comforts of new facility
Ch
Pages 4 - 5 Happy cows live high on a Wisconsin hilltop Pages 6 - 7 Swartz, Herfel combine herds, become engaged Pages 10 - 11 The “Mielke” Market Weekly Page 12 Dairy markets Page 13 Area hay auction results Pages 14 - 15 Dairying Arcross America Pages 16, 18 - 19 A day in the life at WW Homestead Dairy
First Section: Pages 1, 7 Kittson Roseau
Perham
Upsala
Jer-Lindy Farms showcases Holsteins in the Minnesota State Fair moo booth
Paskewitzes named Todd County Farm Family of the Year
Pipestone
SECOND SECTION
Sauk Centre
Staples
Tra ve
Pages 8-9 Ag Insider Page 10 Hurricane Harvey halts dairy processing Pages 12 - 13 Education for an evolving industry Pages 22 - 23 Will 2017 be a turnaround for dairy farmers? Page 23 Bongards’ Creameries announces $35 million plant expansion Page 25 On the Road with Princess Kay Page 26 FSA News & Notes Page 27 The Transition Pen Page 28 Prepare now for silage harvest to prevent accidents later Page 29 Characteristics of successful farms Page 30 Dear County Agent Guy Page 31 Confessions of a cow show addict Page 32 Making Cents of Dairy Page 33 Dairy Good Life Page 34 Veterinary Wisdom
Hutchinson
Turner
Bon Yankton Homme
Lincoln Clay
Union
Lyon
Osceola Dickinson Emmet
Sioux
O’Brien
Clay
Palo Alto
Kossuth
FROM OUR SIDE OF THE FENCE: What is the importance of representing dairy at the state fair? Pages 15-16
Plymouth
Goodhue, Minn.
Zone 1
For additional stories from our other zone, log on to www.dairystar.com
Dairy Prole: Brian and Tiffany Clemenson Page 39
Give milk production a push GEA’s FRone works around the clock to keep feed at the bunk, maximizing your cows’ production. Could your bunk management routine use a little extra push? GEA’s FRone automated feed pusher provides consistent, high-quality feed available day and night to boost production results from your whole herd. It’s easy to use, charges fast and contains twin batteries for maximum run time. With the help of GEA’s FRone, you can push the limits on your feeding program.
Page 4 • Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017
NEW EQUIPMENT SAUK CENTRE TRACTORS NH T4.100 & 110 Utility, Cab & Loader ...3 in Stock! NH T6.180 Plus, Super Steer, 4 Rmts ........In Stock! NH Boomer 46D, Cab Heat, A/C, Loader ..In Stock! NH Boomer 40 ROPS, Boomer 45 Cab .....In Stock! SKID LOADERS NH L218, L220, L228 and C238 ................ In Stock! HAY TOOLS NH SpeedRower 220 & 260 ...................... In Stock! NH Procart 819, 1022, 1225 Rakes............In Stock! NH Dura-Vee 1020, 1225, 1428 Rakes ......In Stock! NH H7230 & DB313R Discbines ................In Stock! NH H6740, 7’ 10” Disc Mower, 3 Point ......In Stock! NH ProRotor 3114 & 3223 Rakes...............In Stock! NH ProTed 3417, 17’ 1” Working Width .....In Stock! BALERS NH RB450, RB460 and RB560...................In Stock! TILLAGE Salford 8208 Plow, 8 Bottom .....................In Stock! Salford I-2218, 18’ Vertical Tillage..............In Stock! Salford 9809, HD Ripper, 9 Shank..............In Stock! Salford I-4124, HD Vert. Tillage, 24’ ...........In Stock! FORAGE NH FR500 Chopper, Dual Drive..................In Stock! MANURE SPREADERS BBI Endurance, 22’ Litter Spreader ...........In Stock! MISCELLANEOUS Messer Attachments and Rock Wagons ....In Stock!
PIERZ TRACTORS NH T7.230 Classic, Power Shift, Super Steer .............................................In Stock! NH T4.90, T4.100 & T4.110 Utility’s ...........In Stock! NH T6.155 Plus, 2WD, 4 Rmts ...................In Stock! NH Boomer 37 with Loader........................In Stock! NH Boomer 40 ROPS, 45 Cab, 55 ROPS, 55 Cab ....................................................In Stock! NH Workmaster 60, FWA, Loader Ready ...In Stock! SKID LOADERS NH L218, L220, L228 and L234 .................In Stock! HAY TOOLS NH SpeedRower 220 & 260 .......................In Stock! NH ProCart 819, 1022 & 1225 Rakes .........In Stock! NH Dura-Vee 1225 & 1428 Rakes ..............In Stock! NH ProRotor 3114, 3223 & 3226 Rakes.....In Stock! NH ProTed 3417 .........................................In Stock! NH H7220, H7230 & H7330 Discbines.......In Stock! NH DB313R & DB316R Discbines .............In Stock! BALERS NH RB450, RB460, RB560.........................In Stock! FORAGE NH FP240, Crop Proc., Tandems ...............In Stock! MANURE SPREADERS NH DT2600, M2080, 185, 195’s .................In Stock! BBI Endurance, 18’ & 22’ Litter Spreader ..In Stock! MISCELLANEOUS Messer Attachments and Rock Wagons ....In Stock!
USED EQUIPMENT SAUK CENTRE TRACTORS NH T7000 Front PTO/3 Point Kit .................. $6,500 JD 3400 Telehandler, 22’ Lift, 6,000# .......... $32,500 SKID LOADERS NH L230, 850 hrs., Perf Package ................ $43,500 NH L230, Cab Heat, A/C, Air Seat ............. .$36,900 NH L218, Cab, Heat .................................... $24,900 HAY TOOLS NH 1475, 14’ Haybine ................................. $13,500 NH H7450, 13’ Disbine, Draw Bar Swivel ... $27,900 BALERS NH RB460, Roto-Cut, 4’x6’, 3500 bales ..... $33,900 NH BR780A, Twine/Net, Wide P/U .............. $11,500 TILLAGE Salford 8214 Plow, 14 Bottom .................... $55,500 FORAGE Krone EC7500 ............................................. $29,500 NH 919A4 CH, 4R-36”, Fits 1915.................. $1,750 NH FX25, 4WD, AutoLube, 360N6 CH, Consigned................................................ $52,500 MISCELLANEOUS Berti TA-220 Offset Flail Mower. .................... $4,500 PIERZ TRACTORS JD 4055, 2WD, 1650 Hrs., Sharp ................ $34,900 NH 8770, 2WD, 20.8x42 Duals.................... $47,000
NH TD5050, Cab, FWA, Mech. Shuttle ....... $29,700 SKID LOADERS NH L185, Cab, Heat, A/C ........................Coming In! NH L220, Cab, Heat, A/C, 2 Speed............. $32,700 HAY TOOLS NH 166 Inverter, Hyd Drive, RH Table Ext ..... $5,700 NH 1431, Nice Consigned ............................. $14,000 NH H7230, 10’ 4” Cut, Std. Hitch, Clean ...... $19,000 Gehl 2360, 9’ Cut Disc Mower/Conditioner ....Just In! Enorossi 10 Wheel, Carted Rake..................... $3,500 BALERS NH BR780, Auto-Wrap .................................. $9,700 NH BR780, Net-Twine, Bale Command ...... $17,500 NH BR7090, Net Only, Wide P/U ................ $27,900 JD 469 Premium, Net, Mega Wide P/U ....... $34,500 Vermeer 505I, 5x5 Bale, Electric Tie, Twine... $3,900 NH BR7060, Roto-Cut, Net/Twine, Bale Command ..........................................Just In! TILLAGE JD 3710, 10 Bottom Plow, Nice, 2013 Model. ............................................. $29,500 FORAGE NH FP230, 27P HH, 3PN CH, KP................ $39,500 MISCELLANEOUS JD 115, Stalk Chopper, 15’ ......................... $12,000 Hiniker 5610, 15’ RH Discharge Stalk Chopper ..................................................... $9,500
Best in High Capacity and Chop Quality Is your chopper ready for fall harvest? We carry the parts you need to make your harvest go smoothly. OEM parts keep your machine performing like new. Call or stop in today for all your parts needs.
WRAP YOU CAN TRUST
MAXIMIZE BALING PRODUCTIVITY Genuine New Holland twine or net wrap in your baler pays big dividends during the haying season. So when it comes to twine or net wrap you can use with assurance, depend on a name you know - New Holland.
• Maximizes productivity when making round or square bales. • Exact footage guaranteed in each and every ball. • Highest grade material for twine that is consistently strong, which means fewer tying problems and less broken knots. • Tested strength for sturdy, tight bales and excellent knotting performace. • UV protection holds up under harsh sun rays. • Long lasting quality resists mildew and rodent attacks.
PIERZ, MN 320-468-2161 Hwy. 27 West SAUK CENTRE, MN 320-352-6543 Hwy. 71 South
EQUIPPED FOR A NEW WORLD™
SAUK CENTRE, MN
320-352-6543 • Hwy. 71 South
PIERZ, MN
320-468-2161 • Hwy. 27 West
In Stock 18’ and Mechanical Drive ve 22’ Hydraulic Dri
©2016 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. “New Holland” is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or afÄliates. “Equipped For A New World” is a trademark in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or afÄliates.
Your Lowest “Cost In Use” Spreader • Extensive use of UHMW reduces corrosion issues and extends the life of the spreader. • Longer bearing life and fewer failures • 3/8” Fin - 33% thicker than traditional designs. • Dual Rack and Pinion gate prevents jams. • Flotation tires • Spinner Motor eliminates motor failure at the pressure seal. • Fuel and time to apply is reduced by 50% • Lower Maintenance Expense
Is Endurance Right For You? • Distribution of Litter, Shavings, Lime and Compost • Hydraulic or Manual • Tandem or Single Axle Pull Types
SAUK C SAUK CENTRE, ENTR EN TRE E M MN N 320-352-6543 • Hwy. 71 South
PIER PI PIERZ, ERZ Z M MN N 320-468-2161 • Hwy. 27 West
Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017 • Page 5
ConƟnued from FRICKSON | Page 1
A High-Producing Herd Starts with Herd Builder
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
The new facility includes a maternity pen on one end and sand-bedded freestalls for dry, close-up and post-fresh cows on the other end. animals. They also bought their 3-inch pipeline from a neighbor. “It was built so one person can do the work, but usually there are two people doing it,” Andy said. Although the Fricksons carry in the milking units for their two-time-a-day schedule, they would like to set up a clean-in-place system soon. “It’s something we wish we would have done from the beginning,” Andy said. While the parlor and holding area take up half of the 60- by 100-foot facility, the other half consists of a maternity pen, and freestalls for dry cows and a post fresh group. The rest of the herd is housed in a Quonset-turnedfreestall barn with two rows, 14-foot scrape alleys and sand bedding. “I was leery about making it into a freestall barn because I didn’t know what the air movement would be like, but it’s the nicest building and it saved us a lot of money,” Andy said. “We had to make do with what we have.” The Fricksons poured cement and installed used freestalls, along with 10 used fans. One side has curtains, while the other side is open with drive-by feeding. The new facility also has a 20by 50-foot lean-to for utilities and a milkhouse, and a new 30,000-gallon manure pit, which allows them to have
two weeks of storage. So far, the Fricksons have liked their new building. “It is fast,” Darienne said. “And it’s pretty simple.” Chores – including scraping the freestall barns, doing calf chores and milking – has now been cut down to from 3.5 hours to 1.5 hours. “If you have 100 cows or less, this [at barn parlor] is the way to go,” Andy said. “We didn’t want to build a bigger parlor anyway.” The new facility has also allowed the Fricksons to continue striving for quality. Their herd is milking about 90 pounds of milk per cow per day with an average somatic cell count that stays between 50,000 and 80,000. One challenge the Fricksons battled for the rst eight months was stray voltage caused by a cut wire close to the barn. It caused calving problems, gave the cows higher incidences of ketosis and dropped production. But since guring out the problem, the Fricksons have nothing but good things to say about their new set up. The Fricksons had contemplated robots right away, but quickly decided they did not want such a big debt load. “Right now, with the market and what the maintenance would be with Turn to FRICKSON | Page 7
Grow them right with Herd Builder Calf Starters and Milk Replacers
320-836-2145 or 800-450-2145 Check out our newly redesigned website to ½nd a Famo Feeds dealer near you!
www.famofeeds.com
JERRY MANNING
CLASSIFIED Doesn’t Always Mean Top Secret!
It’s no secret that a Dairy Star classied ad can help you eliminate those unwanted items!
Call 320-352-6303
or e-mail nancy.p@dairystar.com
Hot Water High Pressure Washing All pipelines cleaned and covered before whitewashing Family business since 1982 Dairy Barns • Steel Barns Jerry Manning • (218) 346-3671 Serving Minnesota & Western Wisconsin
COMPLETE BARN SOLUTIONS WHATEVER YOUR DAIRY NEEDS
Valley Acres Lewiston, MN New Mueller 6700 gallon bulk tank with Mueller HiPerForm E-Star Condensing Units
Call us to help you make your dairy operation more efficient.
www.midwestlivestock.com
PINE ISLAND, MN • 800-233-8937 BEATRICE, NE • 800-342-5657 SIOUX FALLS, SD • 800-705-1447 MENOMONIE, WI • 715-235-5144 OWEN, WI • 715-229-4740
Page 6 • Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017
ConƟnued from FRICKSON | Page 5
Willmar, MN • 320.231.1470
EXPANDING OR REMODELING YOUR LIVESTOCK OPERATION? LANGE AG SYSTEMS SPECIALIZES IN:
Ŷ NEW FACILITIES
_
NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL
Ŷ RETROFITTING & REMODELING Ŷ TURNKEY PROJECTS Ŷ BARN DESIGN Ŷ INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE & REPAIRS
ƋƵŝƉŵĞŶƚ tĞ KīĞƌ͗ ͻ sĞŶƟůĂƟŽŶ &ĂŶƐ ͻ sĞŶƟůĂƟŽŶ ŽŶƚƌŽůƐ ͻ WŽƐŝƟǀĞ WƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ dƵďĞƐ ͻ ƵƌƚĂŝŶ ^LJƐƚĞŵƐ ͻ DĂƩƌĞƐƐĞƐ ͻ tĂƚĞƌĞƌƐ ͻ ^ƚĂůů ƋƵŝƉŵĞŶƚ ͻ ,ĞĂĚůŽĐŬƐ ͻ DŝƐƟŶŐ ^LJƐƚĞŵƐ
Lange Ag Systems is proud to offer Grain Bags, Silage Bags & Bunker Covers from Up North Plastics and Feed Fresh Silage Covers & Custom Size Bunker Covers from Raven!
t ^ >> E t Θ h^ 'ͳ ' Θ < >>z Zz E '' Z^
www.LangeAgSystems.com
Wood
MANCHESTER Livestock Auction, Inc.
Shavings BULK
OR
BAG
(40 miles west of Dubuque, Iowa on 4 lane Highway 20)
DAIRY SALES 2nd Fridays Monthly at 11:00 AM Selling 150 to 250 Head
S&S Wood Products
Sheep and Goats sell at 9:30 AM
800-234-5893 | 715-985-3122
www.manchesterauction.com
35335 Green Street | Independence, WI 54747
563-927-2540
Growing into strong and healthy dairy cows
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
The barn is 60 by 100 feet and has a 20- by 50-foot lean-to for uƟliƟes and the milkhouse. robots, we’re glad we didn’t go that route,” Andy said. “Plus, our tune has kind of changed. We want to pay off debt as fast as we can – with our rst goal to be to pay off our farm – and get as far ahead as we can.” With an over supply of milk in the nation and not as much processing capacity at the moment, coupled with fear of processors losing international markets, the Fricksons said they are not sure what the future holds for a dairy farm of their size. They are keeping their options open, including considering switching to organic. “I think cows need to be out on grass anyway, but with the market, it’s hard to get into the organic market. There’s a waiting list,” Andy said. Prior to building the new facility, the Fricksons rented a barn – a atbarn parlor with a freestall barn – a few miles away from their farmstead. Although it was always the Fricksons’ goal to build onsite, the switch came about quickly. They would not be able to renew their rental contract due to a change in ownership. “We didn’t have an option to stay. We had 12 months to gure out what we were going to do with our cows – if we wanted to farm or quit,” Andy said. But the Fricksons said everyone worked quickly to get things in line – from lending to permits. Their new facility, which penciled out to cost $2,200 per cow, was only $70 more than their rent, Andy said. Andy and Darienne started their dairy before they were married eight years ago on their previously rented farm. They raised steers, selling a few whenever they could and using that money to buy cows a few at a time. They started their herd with 10 cows, buying about 10 each year. They worked together with an older dairy
farming couple who was exiting the industry, slowly purchasing cows from them through milk check assignments over three years. “That’s how we built up our herd. We would pay for one cow per month through our milk check,” Darienne said. Andy liked it that way. “We kept the bank out of everything we could,” he said. The couple also bought milking equipment as they could afford it. Because of this, they were able to keep
“That’s how we built up our herd. We would pay for one cow per month through our milk check.” DARIENNE FRICKSON, DAIRY FARMER
out of debt and save up to buy Andy’s grandparents’ farm four years ago. That same year, they also put a house on the farm and got married. Since their second year of farming, they have been working with Farm Business Management instructor Jack LaValla. “That has helped a lot,” Darienne said. Plus, they follow a low-cost philosophy. “I like a good deal,” Andy said. “I love Craigslist.” And when it comes to their new set-up, the Fricksons feel they have a good deal going for them. “It has been smooth sailing,” Andy said.
LELY CALM
The Lely Calm can provide 50-60 calves with fresh milk or milk powder. In this way, calves receive precisely what they need to grow and develop into cows.
Coulee Ridge Robotics 24548 HWY 13 N •Elkader, IA
Fitzgeraldincdairy.com
563-245-2560
2401 S Black River St. • Sparta, WI aolerud@couleeridge.com
608-632-1688
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
The Fricksons turned a quonset shed into a freestall barn for the majority of the milking cows. They added sand-bedded freestalls, hung fans, installed curtains on one side and put in drive-by feeding on the other.
Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017 • Page 7
ConƟnued from PASKEWITZ | Page 1 to Paskewitz’s brother’s farm nearby. Then, at 700 pounds, they are transferred to another heifer grower before returning to the dairy prior to calving. In 1991, Paskewitz and his family fell back to their farming roots after Paskewitz served ve years as a pastor in southern Minnesota. With 12 cows and $5,000 to their name, the Paskewitzes purchased the property on a contract for deed and purchased an additional 40 cows. “This property was foreclosed, and we thought and prayed a lot about if [dairy farming] was the right thing to do. The opportunity fell into our laps and we’ve been working on it ever since,” Paskewitz said. “We’re only about ve miles from my home farm, where my brother farms.” Over the years, the
Paskewitzes grew the dairy, building a compost barn in 2005 and hiring employees to help share the workload, and Solid Rock Dairy Farm became what it is known for today. “Our kids were always a part of things here, and they appreciated the responsibility learned and hard work. We tried to create a fun environment where we could instill our Christian values. The farm’s name says a lot about our faith … and the number of rocks in our area,” said Paskewitz. Throughout the community, the Paskewitzes have followed the same mentality – creating a welcoming environment for all. Together, the couple is involved in their church and youth group, while Laurie volunteers with the local kinship and Friends of the
JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR
The Paskewitz family built a compost barn for their fresh and special needs cows in 2005.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
The Paskewitz family – (from leŌ) foreign exchange student, Stepan Strilchuk; Colton; Lindsay’s husband, Aaron Crye; Lindsay; Colton’s wife, Nikki; Lee; Laurie; and Alek; – are this year’s Todd County Farm Family of the Year. The family dairy farms near Staples, Minn. Library programs. Paskewitz, himself, has served on various township and dairy organization boards, such as being chairman of the local DHIA and extension committee. He also has volunteered with the school basketball and football programs, and served as the president of the booster club. “This is a team effort, though,” Paskewitz said. “Our employees have been a blessing, allowing us to be involved in the community and going to our kids’ concerts and school activities.” The farm’s structure has allowed Paskewitz to step away every Tuesday evening and play golf with his brother,
Bruce. While the moments off the farm are treasured, Paskewitz’s greatest memories are found on the farm, sharing the workload with his family. Last summer, Paskewitz had the opportunity to spend more time with his son, Colton. “All of my kids, and those who have worked on the farm with us, were taught practical life skills, responsibility and the importance of developing relationships. Farming is more than a job, and the values learned on the farm are just as important as the work,” Paskewitz said. “Dairying is something we’ve all shared and it’s been the best life.”
Although the Paskewitzes were aware they were nominated for the farm family award, they were surprised to have received the honor, knowing there are other families just as deserving. “I was hauling manure when our county commissioner came out and told me,” Paskewitz said. “It’s humbling to think we were selected, and we’re thankful to be thought of in our community this way.” For Paskewitz’s exchange student, he is not surprised. “They’re a beautiful, hospitable family and deserving of this,” Strilchuk said.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATRONAGE! Join us for our Customer Appreciation Day. Thurs., Sept. 21, 2017 6:30 pm-9:00 pm St. Louis Catholic Church Hall Foreston, MN
FALL FARMING NEEDS? WE CAN HELP!
BUNKERS/STORAGE
Ag Bags & Hay Preservative Net Wrap | Bale Wrap | Inoculants
SEED
Corn -
SAFETY
Think Safety, Think Safety Think Safety We want you as a customer!
Grilled Pork Chops, Potatoes, Rolls, Vegetables, Pickles, Cheese, Cake & Ice Cream Thank you First District, ADM and Terning Seeds to help sponsor this event.
ALWAYS WELCOMING NEW PATRONS!
FARMERS CO-OP CREAMERY
Celebrating over 100 years of servic e& still moving forward
MEETING YOUR ANIMAL FEED NEEDS & MORE! FORESTON, MN • 320-294-5711
Page 8 • Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017
NMPF welcomes MPP decision, but wants more done USDA is allowing dairy farmers to opt out of the 2018 Margin Protection Program. National Milk Producers Federation senior vice president Chris Galen said the dairy industry still needs this safety net program to be xed altogether. “This is really a temporary band-aid. The bigger picture, long-term x is making this program more robust so farmers don’t feel the need to pull the plug on it.” Galen said there is a proposal moving through Congress that would improve the effectiveness of the MPP program. “There is an effort in Senate, and hopefully, it will be joined by the House of Representatives, to x both the dairy and cotton programs simultaneously. When I say x, we mean appropriating more money to make the program more attractive. There’s a proposal that would greatly reduce the cost of the insurance premiums under MPP to make it more attractive to farmers.” Galen said adjustments will also be needed for dairy policy in the next farm bill, including the formula that calculates feed costs.
return to Washington D.C. after their August recess. With the damage from Hurricane Harvey, there will be a lot to accomplish in September. “We were looking at some time before the end of September to do the appropriation bills. We have 12 of them. None of them have passed the Senate. They’ll probably have to be rolled into one big appropriations bill. We’ll also hit the debt limit on September 29. That will have to be raised. We’ll probably be supporting help for Houston. There will also be a lot of conrmation sessions.” Thatcher also sees a possibility the farm bill will be debated in the House or Senate in October.
United States and Mexico unite on dairy trade policies The U.S. and Mexican dairy industries are calling out Canada and the European Union for trade-distorting policies. The U.S. Dairy Export Council and National Milk Producers Federation have joined with four major Mexican dairy groups in highlighting trade priorities. The United States and Mexico are upset with Canada’s new pricing system that unloads low-cost milk powder on the world market and impacts dairy exports. The EU is also attempting to prevent other countries from using common food names, like asiago and feta. The U.S.-Mexico Dairy Alliance said it is opposed to unjustied barriers to dairy trade.
Confusion in the marketplace The National Milk Producers Federation is urging the Food and Drug Administration to reject a petition led by a vegan organization that would allow plant-based beverages to use dairy industry terms, like milk. This is the latest battle over federal standards and food labeling. NMPF said the action sought by the Good Food Institute would further mislead consumers.
Congressional agenda unclear American Farm Bureau Federation senior director of congressional relations Mary Kay Thatcher said the agenda is unclear as lawmakers
Support for tax reform agenda Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue is voicing support for his boss’s tax reform proposal. In a statement, Perdue said, “President Trump has focused on the problem of onerous and burdensome taxes.” The estate tax was cited as one section of the tax code that hurts farmers.
Peel Back the Label The U.S. dairy industry has launched a new campaign called, “Peel Back the Label.” Jim Mulhern, president/CEO, National Milk Producers Federation, said food manufacturers are using fearbased food labeling, which is confusing consumers. GMO-free or hormone-free labels are examples. Mulhern said this campaign is designed to help consumers peel back the label on deceptive food marketing.
HSUS and others seek changes in California livestock/poultry production Animal rights groups, including the Humane Society of the United States, have led language with the California Attorney General’s ofce to begin the process to have an initiative on the state ballot in 2018. This proposal would mandate Ag Insider that any eggs, pork or veal sold in the state must come from cagefree farms. Chickens would need to be raised with a specic amount of space. Sow gestation stalls would also be outlawed if this ballot measure is approved. ABS Global introduces By Don Wick new sexed genetics Columnist technology The articial insemination rm ABS Global has launched a new technology for sexed semen in dairy cattle. Earlier this year, the federal courts ruled Sexing Technologies had a monopoly in the sexed semen market and a permanent injunction was granted. That opened the door for ABS Global to introduce its Sexcel Sexed Genetics. ABS ofcials said their technology helps farmers fast forward their genetic progress. Te Plate named GENEX COO Huub te Plate has been named the chief operating ofcer for the cattle genetics cooperative GENEX. For more than 15 years, Te Plate worked in international sales for GENEX’s parent company, Cooperative Resources International. Te Plate began his career at Holland Genetics. Turn to AG INSIDER | Page 9
PASTEURIZERS 20, 30, 40, 60 and 90 gallons FEATURES: • • • •
Pump Agitation and Dispense System Automated Pasteurization Cycles Re-Heat & Pre-Cool Options Standard Programs for Colostrum Pasteurization and Colostrum Thaw for Frozen Bags • Automatic C.I.P. System • Optional Peristaltic Chemical Pump • Large PLC Screen Provides Information Throughout Cycles • Electric Heating • 40 Gallon - 40 Amp 240 VAC 1 Phase 4-Wire • 60 Gallon - 50 Amp 240 VAC 1 Phase 4-Wire • 90 Gallon - 70 Amp 240 VAC 1 Phase 4-Wir
For larger dairies we offer 120,150, 250 or 250 gallon capacity.
Call for details!
www.fullersmilkercenter.com
Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017 • Page 9
ConƟnued from AG INSIDER | Page 8
Honorary degrees will be awarded to FFA supporters The National FFA Organization will present Honorary American FFA Degrees to more than 200 individuals at their annual meeting in Indianapolis. The recognition will go to Minnesota FFA leadership development coordinator Leah Addington, State Senator Gary Dahms, Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council executive director Sarah Doornink, Sunrise Banks brands manager Rebecca Hoeft and AgCentric executive director Keith Olander. 4-H dairy project members honored At the Minnesota State Fair, the top 25 4-H dairy project members from the state were recognized. More than $50,000 was awarded at the Minnesota 4-H Dairy Showcase. The top individual honored was Emily Benrud of Goodhue. A record auction Twelve new price records were set at the Minnesota 4-H Purple
Ribbon Auction. That includes the grand champion dairy steer shown by Emily Orban of Freeborn County. American Foods Group, Central Livestock Association and O & S Cattle Company came together for that record bid. Trivia challenge In an online Yahoo survey, ice cream was overwhelmingly named as the most popular dessert in the United States. That answers our last trivia question. For this week’s trivia, how many years has the World Dairy Expo been held? 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.
N10828 Cty Hwy O | Greenwood, WI 715.267.1416 | www.greenwoodsilo.com Email: sales@greenwoodsilo.com
“Sampling is easy, just grab a milk sample and that’s it.” How long have you been using the DHIA pregnancy test? We’ve been using the DHIA pregnancy test for about 4 months. Why did you choose to use it? I had talked to Muril Niebuhr from DHIA about it and gave it a try. What do you like about it? Sampling between DHI sample days is easy; just grab a milk sample and that’s it. You get results in 24 hours. Also, it eliminates sorting cows on herd check day. How long have you been testing with DHIA? We’ve been testing with DHIA for 33 years. What are some other tests you use through DHIA? We have used Johne’s and Leukosis tests too. Tell us about your farm. We run 170 acres of corn, 85 acres of alfalfa and 40 acres of grass hay.
Minnesota DHIA offers milk pregnancy testing between ofÀcial sample days. Samples are easily collected, shipped, and fast results sent to your email. Minnesota Dairy Herd Improvement Association 307 Brighton Avenue South Buffalo, MN 55313 1.800.827.3442 www.mndhia.org
SEALED SILO SERVICES: BOTTOM UNLOADERS: • CONSTRUCTION • MAINTENANCE • PRESSURE CHECKING • RESEALING • REPLACEMENT ROOFS
Paul, Sue and Dan Stuewe Cologne, MN • 94 cows
• GREENLINE UNLOADERS D-SERIES (FORAGE) B-SERIES (SNAPLAGE & GRAIN) • USED UNLOADERS • UNLOADER PARTS • FULLY EQUIPPED SERVICE CREW
SUPERIOR FEED VALUE THROUGH SEALED SILOS We are not affiliated with A.O. Smith Harvestore®, E.S.P.C. or C.S.T.
Target Your Customers!
The Dairy Star is sent only to DAIRY FARMERS!
If you would like to advertise in the DAIRY STAR, call 320-352-6303 for more information.
Thinking Of Roasted Soybeans? Fall is a great time to add value to your bean crop by having it roasted.
If you have been thinking about trying roasted soybeans, KLC Farms is your best choice.
Quality
Consistency
Feed Mixing… Vertical or Rotary? Your dairy’s performance depends on choosing the right feed mixer to improve your operation. Roto-Mix designs and manufactures strong, durable feed mixing equipment. Both Vertical and t ai tr ailler le er Rotary models are available in truck, trailer orr st o stat attio iona nary na ry. ry y. stationary.
The KLC roasting process will provide you with a low cost high bypass protein source that is high in energy. Our modern facility KLC Farms ensures quick Competitively turnaround Bids For Raw during Beans - Call For Price! this busy time of year.
KLC Farms Roasting, Inc. 1-877-738-2326 877 738 232 Visit www.roastedbeans.com
KLC Farms Roasted Soybeans...Always A Good Choice!
620.225.1142 www.rotomix.com Available at
Baker Iron Works Platteville, WI Blue Hilltop Lake Wilson, MN Dairyland Supply Sauk Centre, MN E&M Farms Ossian, IA
K&R Equipment Fountain, MN Mark’s Tractor Osage, IA R L S Vinyl & Farm Supply LLC Hager City, WI Steve Gehrke 608-778-3878
Page 10 • Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017
SE A E L • T N BUY • RE
MF 7724 Call for details
MF 2705 E Call for details
Hurricane Harvey halts dairy processing DFA shuts down plants in Houston area By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
MF 8735 Tractor Call for details
Sunflower 4213-11 Call for details
Sunflower 4511-15 Call for details
Sunflower 1436-33 Disc Special Price
Villard Implement Co. Villard, MN • (888)
554-3111
USED EQUIPMENT
AGCO DT-205B - $95,000 TRACTORS
Ford TW35, Series II ...........Just in MF GC1705 w/60” deck ....Just In MF 8690, FWA, loaded ......... Save MF 8650 CVT ................Coming In MF 8650 ........................... $120,000 MF 7497 ..............................$95,000 MF 7620 .................................Just In MF 7618 .........................Coming In MF 7616 .........................Coming In MF 7614 .........................Coming In MF 6614 CVT w/ldr.................. Call MF 5609 w/ldr...................$57,500 MF 5450 w/ldr...................$52,500 MF 1085 w/cab ................... $7,500 AGCO DT 220 ...............Coming In AGCO DT-200A .................$69,500 AGCO LT75A w/loader, only 175 hrs .....................$50,000 IH M Farmall......................... $1,950 White 6195 ...................Coming in White 6144, FWA .............$36,000 White 2-135 ......................... $8,950 JD 4630...........................Coming In U-Moline, runs good ........ $1,250
PLANTERS
White 9936-22 track planterJust In White 9108, low acres ...Coming In White 8222 12 row w/liquid Just In White 6100 12 row ..............$12,000 White 6100 12 row .................$5,900 White 5100 8 row 30” ............$3,500 JD 7200, 6 row, conser planter................Coming In JD 1750, 6 row w/dry fert.........................Coming In Case IH 900, 6 row w/dry fert., cross auger..............................$3,000 Kinze 3700, 24 row 30”................Call White 6180, 16 row ...............$7,500 White 8524-22 CFS planter .Coming In
SKID STEERS & SPREADERS
Gehl 7810E .................................$27,000 Gehl 5640E, 2 spd. ...................$17,000 Gehl 5640E, 2 pd. .....................$24,500 Gehl 4840 ...................................$12,500 Gehl 4640E ....................................Just In Gehl RT-175 track loader..........Just In Gehl R190 ......................................Just In
Vermeer 605N, Corn Stalk Special, low bales - Call
Sunflower 4511-13 - $24,500 Gehl 6640E, cab/heat .............$24,500 Gehl V-400, only 50 hrs ..........$50,000 Gehl V-330, 300 hrs. ...................Just In Bobcat S650...............................$21,500 Bobcat S185..................................Just In Bobcat 863 ................................$11,500 Meyers 7400 spreader ..............Just In
MISC. ITEMS
JD 2700 ripper ..........................$19,500 JD 2700 5-bottom ......................$4,950 JD 510, 7 shank disk chisel ...$10,500 Lorenz 100 grinder mixer .......Just in MF 9895 combine, only 438 sep hrs ..............................Call Case IH 870, 9 shank ripper...........Call Case IH 496, 21’ disc ................$10,000 Case 700, 8 bottom ............Coming In IH 490, 32’ ......................................Just In Sunflower 7200-28 Soil Cond. Just In Sunflower 4610 ripper ......Coming In Sunflower 4511-13 disc chisel ............................Coming In Sunflower 1435-26 disc ............Just In Krause 4900, 30’ disc..................$9,500 Gehl 700, 14 wheel rake ...........$6,500 Demco 650 gravity box ............Just In Demco 650 gravity box .........$15,500 Badger 950 forage box .............$2,500 MF 2270XD ...........................Coming In MF 2170XD baler ...................$100,000 MF 1375 mower cond ............$17,500 Vermeer 605N, only 500 balesJust In Vermeer 605M, low bales ..............Call NH 1475 mower cond. ..............$8,500 NH 499 ............................................$2,750 NH 340 3x3, 2015, only 4500 bales .................Coming in NI 5512 ...........................................Just In
HOUSTON, Texas – In the midst of a late summer storm, Hurricane Harvey arrived Aug. 25 and devastated the metropolitan area of Houston, Texas, and other communities along the state’s eastern inlet over the course of several days. While Texas is noted as the seventh largest dairy producing state in the nation, with annual milk production nearing 11 billion pounds, a mere handful of the state’s 393 dairy farmers were in the storm’s direct pathway. “Only 12 farmers still dairy in the south Texas area, and those farmers are seeing a small residual effect of the storm’s damage,” said Cale Rice, member services manager for Dairy Farmers of America’s (DFA) southern and central Texas regions. Grant Wilson, owner of Gramen Farm near Tomball, Texas, was one dairy farmer affected by the torrential rainfall. “On Saturday, I helped my employees prepare for the storm as much as possible and then went back to my house. I couldn’t get back to the farm for three days,” said Wilson, who milks 27 cows and operates a small organic processing facility. As heavy rain came down Sunday through Tuesday, Wilson’s cows could not be reached to be milked, and his on-farm store ooded. “We got at least 30 inches of rain,” Wilson said. The region overcome by the eye of the hurricane, and the two tropical storms that followed, is home to one DFA processing plant and two customers that provide food products to markets throughout the state. “These processing centers provide dairy products for 6 million people, and right now they’re shut down,” said Rice of the facilities located near Houston and Schulenburg, Texas. Before the storm approached land, all involved in the industry – from dairy farmers to processing plant employees – prepared for the impact. “We had hoped nobody would be impacted, and we thought the greater impact would be near San Antonio, Texas,” Rice said. “Then, the problem was it didn’t go its course and started heading towards Houston.” With only a few days prior to the storm’s landing in the state’s largest city, the milk cooperative adjusted orders and moved inventory to neighboring locations. “All of our plants in the Houston area were shut down, as were our customers,” Rice said. “Thankfully, because of our options, we were able to shufe milk around to help avoid milk being dumped.” Milk within the plants was relocated to afliated plants southwest, and milk picked up at the farms was driven to similar locations. Likewise, customers were able to do the same and utilize other facilities to produce their retail products, said Rice. Once the storm hit inland, cumulative rainfall in the Houston area reached upwards of 40 inches on Aug. 27 and Aug. 28, according to the National Weather Service. In total, the region received roughly 20 trillion gallons of rainfall throughout the course of the storm. “A state of emergency was issued by the governor and transportation was stopped … there was no place to go,” Rice said. “Luckily, we had no reported deaths of farmers, animals or plant employees, and the storm returned with less and less
power every day.” Within Harris County, the region most signicantly affected by Hurricane Harvey, there are three dairy farms, as noted by the Texas Association of Dairymen. A majority of the Texas dairy industry is positioned in the northern part of the state; however, lush pastures along the eastern coast make for favorable grazing land for some dairymen. “The pasture land is conducive for small operations and an open lot, grazing style of dairying with the climate and growing conditions resulting in some good forages,” Rice said. Rice briey spoke with farmers most affected by the wet conditions. “Before the storm came, we were able to reach each farm and pick up milk. Those haulers did a great job clearing product out and moving east,” he said. “As ooding has subsided, we don’t expect any farmer to lose production. But, they are concerned about the health of their animals.” After 30 inches of rainfall was recorded on the dairies, farmers were cognizant of a potential increase in lameness issues, bacteria count and death as a result of drowning. “They’ve been ushing out as much water as possible, but there’s still some standing,” Rice said. Wilson agreed.
“Thankfully, because of our options, we were able to shuffle milk around to help avoid milk being dumped.” � CALE RICE, DFA MEMBER SERVICES MANAGER
“My property is usually wet, but I have neighboring land where cows can go graze on through open gates,” he said. “The cows have learned to be self-sufcient and I think that helped them.” However, Wilson is currently working through a bout of mastitis as his cows went without routine milking for several days. “I did have two cows give birth during the storm, so we lost the calves, and then one heifer. But there was nothing we could do,” Wilson said. “Our biggest problem we can x is clearing up the mastitis.” As the storm clears, there is a small glimpse of hope. “We’re slowly seeing improvements in the way things are going,” Rice said. “The sun is out and the rain is breaking. For farmers, it looks promising that we’re seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.” The same is true for the processing plants, as the excess water drains into the bay. At the time of print, the facilities were operating as normal. While many farmers could return to their dairies and cows could be milked, rotational grazing pastures were reallocated as the storm left many elds saturated with rainwater. However, the nancial toll the storm had on the industry has yet to be determined. “We don’t know what the damage is yet, and we won’t know until we can get back into the plants and assess everything,” said Darren Turley, Texas Association of Dairymen Executive Director. “We’re just fortunate most of the industry is north and will not be impacted by this.” Rice agreed. “Here, we’re strapped,” he said. “The area is still in a state of emergency and there are rescue missions happening every day. We’re taking each day at a time and slowly making progress. But in the realm of what’s happened, [the dairy industry] is just a small piece in the big picture.”
Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017 • Page 11
Used Equipment Specials ls
USED HAY TOOLS Vermeer 504 Pro baleage baler, just in, BAU1702G.....................................................Call Vermeer 605 SM Cornstalk Special, like new, Just in!, BAU1701G ....................... $33,500 Vermeer 605 Super M with power windguard, 2013 model, BAU1608G.............. $32,500 Vermeer 605 Super J, twine only, BAU1605G ........................................................ $5,500 Vermeer 605 M Baler, approx. 17,000 bales, BAU1508G ......................................$ 18,500 JD 854 baler, 1 year old, approx. 5800 bales, BAU1502G, unbelievable price .....................................................$30,000 or best offer JD 569 baler, BAU1501G, 7200 bales, LIKE NEW, new pick up teeth ........................................................................$31,500 or best offer Gehl 1875 Baler, 5x6 bales, BAU1504G......................................................................CALL Massey Ferguson/2746A, 2007 model, 6x4 baler, BAU1609G .............................. $14,500 Vermeer R23A Basket rake, very nice, HYU1704G.................................................. $9,500 Tonutti V12 rake, some new teeth, HYU1515G ...................................................... $4,200 Vermeer MC1030 mower conditioner, very nice, HYU1703G ............................... $17,000 MacDon Hydra swing mower, HYU1601G ............................................................. $9,750 JIFFY 920 Bale Processor, HYU1701G ..................................................................... $7,250 Vermeer TE 330 Tedder, HYU1705G ..................................................................... $18,950 USED FORAGE BOXES Massey Ferguson Model 116 Forage box, left front unload, FWU1602G ................ $2,850 H&S LK500, Front unload silage box, FWU1603G .................................................. $1,250 John Deere 2 row wide chopper head, 36” rows, green, FWU1601G .........................CALL Used 16 ft Miller Pro model 5100 forage box, 4 wheel gear, FWU1511G................................................................................................ $9,500 each 4100 Miller Pro Silage Box, FWU1513G ................................................................. $3,775 H&S 20’ front unload forage box, FWU1514G ........................................................ $7,000 Badger BN950 forage box, very nice, FWU1515G .................................................. $4,500 2- Badger 1055 forage boxes, tandem axle, FWU1702G & FWU1703G......................CALL 3- Badger 1050 forage boxes, tandem axle, FWU1704G, FWU1705G, FWU1706G.....................................................................CALL Meyer 4118 rear unload forage box, excellent condition, FWU1707G, coming in soon .....................................................................................................CALL Used Badger Blower ........................................................................................Make Offer MANURE PUMPS Some used drag hose equipment, Call for more info. on what is available. Dayton Blower for Manure solids, used 2 months, #2C799, MEU1601G ................................................................................................Call for Price Used Houle 60” cable scraper drive, good shape.................................................... $3,000 8’x4” electric Houle Agi-pump w/twin 20 HP motors, USED, MPU1501G ............................................................................................... asking $4,300 8’x4” electric Houle Agi-pump w/30 HP motor, USED, MPU1505G.............. asking $4,000 10’x4” electric Houle Agi-pump with twin 20 HP motors, USED - MPU1507G ................................................................................. asking $4,300 8’x4” electric Houle Agi-pump w/no motors, set up for twin motors, USED- MPU1508G ............................................. asking $3,500 Oro Flex Hose, 1 mile, Brand new, never used, 6” supply with couplers, MEU1702G......................................................................CALL USED MIXERS Luck Now – model 300, 4 auger mixer, MWU1601G ........................................... $12,500 Knight 3300 Mixer Wagon, MWU1702G, Coming Soon ......................................... $8,500 Roorda feeder/mixer wagon, with scale, MWU1704G ........................................... $5,000 Knight 2450 mixer wagon, MWU1703G ................................................................ $9,250 3-used Patz 16-20 ft. Silo unloaders, model 98B, MWU1705G ..................................CALL NEW & USED DAIRY EQUIPMENT Used Mueller 600 gallon, model OH milk cooler, s/n 69630, DEU1705 .................. $1,800 Used Surge 2000 gal. milk cooler, model # 87121 from the year 2000, s/n 991009, w/2) 4hp compressors, All Stainless, jacket on tank, ARC wash controller, DEU1704 .............................................................................................................. CALL 1-used Lely A3 Next Robot with air compressor, buffer tank, sort gate, M4 use buckets, milk line and sampler, DEU1703G ...........................................................CALL 2-used Suterbilt 3M vacuum pumps .............................................................Call for price Double 10 Blue Diamond parallel parlor with SST2 detachers, 3” low line, single
“Where our passion pass for agriculture aand technology co come together to serve you!”
©2016 MAI Animal Health
Late La Afternoon After UPS Shipping Sh Available! Avail
STAFFED PARTS HOURS: 7-5 M-F
EE. H Hwy. 30 330, Pi Pipestone, t MN E-mail: gorters@iw.net
(507) 825-3271 • www.gortersclayanddairy.com
receiver, jetter trays, curb, gates, 10 hp Suterbilt vacuum pump,10hp Westfalia 2800 vacuum pump, 20 DeLaval milking units & pulsators .....................................CALL Used Calf Star pasteurizer, 5 gal. per minute model, DEU1501G ............................ $8,000 New 2 bath automated footbath assembly, stainless baths & control – ½ price – never used, DEN1402G .......................................... $7,000 Used Boumatic 3” stainless receiver group, receiver with trap, pump, mounting panel & probes .....................................................................................CALL 10 used Boumatic Companion detachers, #U3557554 ..................................... $415 each 5 used Boumatic Companion detachers with milk yield indicators, U3557820................................................................... $450 each Blue Diamond double 8 parlor, rapid exit herringbone stall, pre-assembled, DEU1410G ...........................................$12,950 Price Lowered $6,900 16 used Boumatic 4400 detachers, with new gaskets & diaphragms, U3557444 ............................................................................ $415 each Dayton Air Handler, like new, used only several weeks, 12000 CFM, 3C010 ....................................................................................Call for Price Used Mensch 2100 Sideshooter, Sawdust, Ready to Go, OTH1701G ....................... $3,250 Used HLA Sawdust Side Slinger, JUST IN!, OTH1702G ............................................ $2,250 Used Mensch M1050 Sand Side Shooter, Ready to Go, OTH1703G ......................... $2,250 MANURE SPREADERS Roorda model 416 manure spreader, single axle, top beater & endgate, MSU1410G ...................................................Reduced to $10,000 Knight 8040 side slinger, new chains, new flighting, excellent hammers, MSU1501G ..................................$24,500 Price Lowered $22,500 New Holland 190 spreader, very nice, MSU1602G ................................................. $8,000 Hagedorn 410 manure spreader, MSU1701G....................................................... $11,500 Meyers VB440 Vertical Beater Spreader, Excellent Condition,MSU1705G, Just In!......CALL Used Kuhn Knight 1159 Manure Spreader, MSU1703G ..............................................CALL Used Kuhn Knight 1159 Manure Spreader, MSU1704G, Coming Soon! ......................CALL LIQUID MANURE TANKS ‘97 Houle EL84, 6000 gal. spreader, new tires, new disks, good shape, MTU1505G .................................................................................. $24,000 USED TRACTORS JD 2630 with John Deere 245 loader ..................................................................... $8,000 NEW ON THE LOT Vermeer baler model 504 PRO, Awesome machine Vermeer baler model 604 PRO, Must see! Vermeer 605N Corn stalk special, Back In Stock CPX 9000 Vermeer Catapult Bale Processor, must see, Back In Stock BPX9000 Vermeer Bale Processor Vermeer Disc Mowers-6 ft & 7 ft. Vermeer VR1428 rake GEA Houle Tilting 3-pt. Super Slider pump, 8 ft. & 12 ft. deep pits with same pump, Must See ...................................................................................................CALL!
Less stress, less mess. Dr. Larson’s Dehorning Paste TM
<UPX\L Z`YPUNL HUK MVYT\SH WrV]PKL [OL ZHMLY HS[LrUH[P]L [V KLOVrU UL^IVrU HUPTHSZ
,HZ` TV <ZL 3LZZ 0U]HZP]L
Additional Calf Care Solutions
3LZZ :[rLZZ 5V ,X\PWTLU[
Calf Aspirator / Resuscitator Kit
Oral Calf Feeder Bags
HANDIGRIPTM
Milking Equipment • Manure Equipment • Feeding Equipment • Housing • Route Supplies
TRACTORS
JD 9560RT, 4WD, tracks, PS ..............$259,900 D ......................................$269,900 SOLPS JD 9560R, JD 9460R, 2013 ..................................$229,900 JD 8285R, IVT, 1333 hrs ....................$169,900 JD 8235R, 2013, 1650 hrs...................$149,900 JD 8235R, 2012, 2416 hrs...................$134,900 JD 8120, 10,000 hrs ..............................$69,900 JD 7210R, 2014, 2020 hrs...................$135,900 JD 6170R w/loader .............................$135,900 JD 6170R, IVT ....................................$109,900 JD 6140R w/loader ...............................$94,900 JD 4440 1982, PS..................................$22,900 JD 4010 W/loader, clean .........................$7,500 JD 4020 1966 ..........................................$9,900 JD 2750 W/loader, MFWD ...................$14,900 JD 2750, 2-wheel ..................................$13,900 JD 2040, MFWD w/loader....................$14,900 NH T8030, front duals ..........................$99,900 IH 966, cab, loader, 5560 hrs. ...............$10,900 LD Ford 8N SO...................................................$3,200
COMBINES
JD S670, 1018 hrs., 2013 ....................$249,900 JD S670, 1756 hrs., 2012 ....................$169,000 JD S660, 2014 .....................................$239,900 JD S660, 870 hrs., 2014 ......................$214,900 JD 9670, 999 hrs., 2011 ......................$169,900 JD 9660, 2006, RWA.............................$99,900 JD 9660, 2004, RWA.............................$99,900 JD 9660, 2WD, 2006 ............................$84,900
1947-2017 70 Years of Excellent Service!
Watkins, MN
320-764-5310
JD 9550, 2WD, walker, 2001 ................$59,900 Many heads to choose from ....................... Call
HAY EQUIPMENT
JD W235, 14’, rubber..........................$136,900 JD W235R, 16’, tri lobe, 160 hrs ........$139,900 MacDon R80, 13’, steel rolls ................$21,900 2) JD 569 Premium ........... Starting at $29,900 JD 569, 2013 .........................................$33,900 JD 569, 2013 .........................................$38,900 4) JD 568, twine ................ Starting at $16,900 JD 567M wrap.......................................$15,900 JD 556, twine ..........................................$7,900 JD 469 Premium, 2014 .........................$38,000 JD 469 Silage Special, 2016 .................$37,900 JD 459 w/wrap ......................................$28,900 JD 469 Silage Special, 2013 .................$34,900 JD 468 w/wrap ......................................$22,900 Vermeer 605SM , 2013 .........................$25,900 Gehl 2880, 5x6, 2004 ..............................$7,900 NH 330 big square, 2013 ......................$89,900 JD 3955, 2007 .......................................$12,900 New & Used heads to choose from............ Call
PLANTERS
JD 1760 NT, 2012, row shut off, Vari. ..$56,900 JD 1760, 2003, 12 row, VAC, Liq Fert .$42,900 JD 1760, 1996, 12 row, 2x2, Liq Fert ...$33,900 JD 1750, 1998, 8 row, Dry Fert ............$15,900 JD 1750, 8 row, dry, 2014 .....................$40,900 JD 1750, 1998, 8-row, dry fert ..............$15,900 JD 7200, 12 row, 3 bu., liq. fert ............$18,900 JD 7000, liq. fert, 8 row ..........................$5,900 JD 7000, 6 row, dry fert ..........................$6,900
Inventory changing daily at miesoutland.com 1-800-324-8269
Congratulations to the new Iowa Dairy Royalty
Rachel Grober & Josie Buddenberg Best Wishes to the 2017-18 Alternate Iowa Dairy Princess Joise Buddenberg. She is the daughter of Bruce and Julie Buddenberg of Decorah.
Congratulations to the new 2017-18 Iowa Dairy Princess Rachel Grober. She is the daughter of Todd and Sherry Grober of Iona.
THESE BUSINESSES WISH RACHEL AND JOSIE THE VERY BEST DURING THEIR REIGN... See our complete inventory at www.bodimp.com 2724 State Hwy 24 • Ft. Atkinson, IA
Congratulations!
BELLEVUE SAND & GRAVEL 563-872-3886 Bellevue, IA
563-534-2724
www.franzensales.com
Ag Land Implement Inc. Hwy 63 N • New Hampton, IA 50659
(641) 394-4226
2337 Millennium Rd • Decorah, IA
563-382-8722 • 563-875-2310 www.langsdairy.com
Page 12 • Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017
A closer look by Jennifer Coyne
Industry news addressed with help from your neighbors
Education for an evolving industry
How do colleges prepare students for dairying careers?
Colleges across the Midwest are delving into the rst semester of the new school year. With a new school year comes a new approach to learning. As the dairy industry incorporates more technology into the daily operations of a dairy farm, and farm transition and business planning are topics of greater importance, educational programs shift to prepare students for a seamless transition from classroom learning to on-farm application. “The dairy industry is changing at such a fast pace that Keith Olander we are constantly AgCentric learning, and our biggest concern is that the industry is falling behind with qualied workers. So how do we excel degree acquisitions without compromising quality of the education?” said Keith Olander, director or AgCentric, a Minnesota State Center of Excellence in Agriculture.
GRAPHIC PROVIDED
A graphic provided by AgCentric depicts the growing demand for educated students in an agricultural career, noƟng the most popular majors in all educaƟonal programs includes animal science.
Turn to EDUCATION | Page 13
Early Order Time Starts September 1st! Reserve your Award-Winning Byron, KingFisher® and Masters Choice Seeds for 2018 now! Contact your local Byron Seed Dealer or Rick Tamm @ 320-267-5021 or Brad DeBauche @ 920-660-7974
• Masters Choice Superbowl Champ Hybrids • New KingFisher® Hybrids • KingFisher® Alfalfa • KingFisher® Cool Season Grasses These products helped our customers win 35 Finalists and 6 Grand Champions at the 2016 World Dairy Expo’s Forage Analysis Superbowl. Burkholder Seeds
For more info or dealer Claremont, MN inquiries - please call: Dwight
Rick Tamm
NW Territory Manager
320-267-5021 Brad DeBauche
NC Territory Manager
920-660-7974 Larry Hawkins 608-516-0101
507-279-0292 Justin 507-456-0006
Gerard Becker
Long Prairie, MN (320) 290-9261
Hy View Feeds 507-493-5564 Mabel, MN
Valley View Ag Russ Funke Dyersville, IA (563) 590-6939
Schueler Farms
Greenwald Elevator
Sherman Schueler 330-987-3159 Willmar, MN John Dockendorf (320) 894-4808 Greenwald, MN (320) 290-1240 Cleeson Mill Travis Schlosser Altura, MN Miltona, MN (507) 458-5907 218-639-1727
Luxemburg Feed Service
Luxemburg, MN (320) 252-1513
Jack Stamschror Kellogg, MN (507) 259-0269
Timberline Dairy Service Joe Graber Kalona, IA (319) 656-3527
Dale Ommodt, CCA Crop & Livestock Nutrition Atwater, MN (320) 212-3190
Winscher Seeds Mike Winscher 320-282-6748 Shawn Winscher Royalton, MN (320) 420-4516
Lee Kurtenbach
Mechanicksville, IA (319) 241-5105
Peak Forage Products LLC
Benjamin Arlt
Natures Best
Tim Huffman 608-574-7918 Nelson Horst Adam Decker 608-988-6855 Canton S.D. Kevin Zimmerman (605) 359-0765 608-574-7918
Natures Best
Big Stone City S.D. (651) 331-8865
Jason Mickelson Frazee, MN 218-849-3137
Mervin Beachy St. Ansgar, IA (641) 381-0054
DJ Cattle Co.
Daryn Yoder Leon, IA (641) 344-6002
Chad Tesch Canton S.D. (605) 759-5622 Dan (Boone) Uphoff, Sioux Falls S.D. (605) 321-1862
Natures Best Roger TeSlaa
Inwood, IA
(605) 370-2249
Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017 • Page 13
ConƟnued from EDUCATION | Page 12 As recent as 10 years ago, classroom courses were oriented towards students who grew up on farms and had intentions of returning to the dairy business upon graduation. Although the curriculum varied between institutions, a common theme was found in all – students would graduate with the knowledge needed to milk cows and tend to the land. Today, dairy management programs introduce farming from a business perspective, while still ensuring students have the skills needed to enter into a leadership position on a dairy. “We started a case study course 20 years ago, and it was simply observing the farm. We didn’t get into farm records,” said Dr. Tony Seykora, University of Dr. Tony Seykora Minnesota. “Now, the industry is University of MN telling us that students have to be aware of nances if they want to be dairy managers.” Dr. Jeffrey Johnson, DVM, agreed. “Dairy management programs are more than just saying how you should handle cows,” he said. “These students are also learning soft skills, such as communication and teamwork. If you’re training to be a dairy herd manager, you have to start thinking like a manager.” Johnson is the dairy herd management instructor at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College in Rice Lake, Wis. Four years ago, Johnson saw a need for students to be more Dr. Jeffrey Johnson nancially aware if they wanted Wisconsin to be successful in farming. Now, Indianhead Technical students enrolled in the nineCollege month technical program create a business plan for themselves and the dairy they wish to operate. “Our goal is to not necessarily create a plan that you can take straight to the bank, but to get the students thinking of the farm as a business,” Johnson
said. Students then present their business plan to a loan ofcer, where they are critiqued based on real-life scenarios. “Financial literacy is only going to become more important because markets are becoming a bigger deal,” Johnson said. “Dairy farming used to be a way of life, but now, I think that idea is only something to be desired, and you have to think of farming as a business.” Together with business and communication skills, educational courses are also honing in on the technology used in the industry – and its quick progression. At Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) in Dave Lawstuen Calmar, Iowa, dairy professor Northeast Iowa Dave Lawstuen adapts his Community College curriculum to the facilities and technology available on campus. “The industry is demanding graduates with the experience for jobs that will be available in 10 years and don’t even exist today,” Lawstuen said. “When we can couple technology with our hands-on approach, we’re preparing students for the future.” For example, students are able to use the latest applications for common tasks on a farm, such as balancing a ration, improving reproduction and understanding herd genetics. However, the industry is not the only inuence in determining a program’s structure. Demographics are playing a larger role, as well. The need for young people in agriculture is greater than ever, but to meet that need, the industry must attract from non-traditional sources, Olander said. “We have to consider our programs and how we can adapt them to students who have no agricultural background,” he said. “In the agricultural industry, we’re about 10,000 employees short, and there’s not enough rural students to feed that pipeline. The percentage of students with a non-ag background has to grow – we have to entice those individuals.”
Johnson, a Twin Cities-native, understands that concept. “There are a lot of factors that draw students to dairy programs, and we have to do our best to continue feeding their passions,” Johnson said. “Young people in agriculture need to be encouraged.” Every year, Seykora works with urban students at the college’s dairy barn in St. Paul, Minn. “Many of our student employees come from the metro area,” Seykora said. “By working at our dairy, with the calves or in the parlor, or taking on on-farm internships, we’re helping them be prepared for transition into the industry.” Well-established technical, and associate and four-year bachelor degree dairy management programs across the region have adapted to the needs of an industry, and will continue doing so well into the future. “As technology becomes more prevalent, we’re going to see the need for more mechanically skilled workers who can x things when they go wrong,” Seykora said. Additional preparation for farm transition, open understandings of mental health and improved animal welfare practices will also become more prevalent in school programs, along with online options for learning, Olander said. As institutions further develop their programs, they will lean on the industry to provide the resources needed for students to enter the demanding workforce. “Preparing students for dairy farm management has to be a team effort between the industry and educational institutions,” Olander said. “That will continue to be our biggest obstacle, but also our greatest opportunity.” With collaboration between both parties, Lawstuen and his counterparts, envision a strong future for the next generation of dairy farmers. “Our graduates want to go back to the home farm and it’s our goal to help them, at the same time preserving a strong industry. When students return to the family dairy, that’s another generation of dairy farmers saved,” he said. “And we’re going to continue preparing bright young people for a career in agriculture.”
Page 14 • Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017
No Matter What the Conditions are
Dairyland Supply HAS WHAT YOU NEED
RAKES & TEDDERS
SPREADERS
In Stock!
TMR MIXERS
In Stock!
ding and Man e e ur tF s e e
l
ut
ou
ion .
Minnesota’s L If y
h
so wwave a a w.d barn, we have y.com airylandsuppl
In Stock!
We stock ck a large selection of PTOs, bearings, belts, chains, and sprockets to keep your operation going.
ing Dealer nd l Ha
ar g
PENTA In Stock! DUMP BOX
Mike, Warren, Lashana, Gordon Our service doesn’t end after the sale. We back our products with knowledgeable and friendly staff so that when you need parts and information,, you to go. y have onlyy one place p g
Outstanding Parts & Service Call C ll D ll Dairyland i l dS Supply l ttoll ll free f att 1-800-338-6455. 1 80 800 00 33 338 38 64 6455 455
SAUK C CENTRE
OFF I-94 ON THE CORNER OF HWY. 28 & 71 SOUTH
From Our Side Of The Fence
Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017 • Page 15
What is the importance of representing dairy at the state fair?
JoAnn and Brad Gratz Atwater, Minn. Kandiyohi County 70 cows Number of years you have attended your state fair: Brad: Over 20 years; JoAnn: Less than 15 years What state fair are you involved in and what is your role? This year we attended the Minnesota State Fair to support our son, Dillon, who was showing a 4-year-old cow in the Junior Holstein Show. How do you promote dairy to fairgoers while you are there? While we were in the cattle barn with the kids and the dairy cattle, we had friendly conversations with fairgoers. What is the importance of representing dairy at the state fair? We like to connect with consumers by putting real faces of dairy producers and real cows in front of our consumers. This helps us have a connection with consumers, and allows them to see and ask questions. Hopefully we can connect with the public, one by one. What types of questions do you get while you are there? Can I pet her? Is she a bull? Can I have a picture with her? How old is she? What is the biggest misunderstanding about the dairy industry you have had to address while promoting at the state fair? This year, we had a very quick trip to the state fair and only watched the dairy show, but we remember a discussion in the past about the use of antibiotics and medication on animals. Some feel it is wrong to administer medication to animals, but we truly care about our animals, and we make choices to use the proper medication and best management practices for our animals so they have a comfortable life. Tell us about your farm. We are raising our three sons, Dillon, Elliot and Wilson, on our dairy and crop farm. We farm with my (Brad) parents, Bernard and Charlotte Gratz and my brother, Chuck.
DAIRY STAR E-EDITION FREE
www.dairystar.com
Francis and Theresa Rynda Montgomery, Minn. Le Sueur County 50 cows Number of years you have attended your state fair: About 15 What state fair are you involved in and what is your role? We volunteer at the Moo Booth at the Minnesota State Fair. How do you promote dairy to fairgoers while you are there? We answer questions and educate people about dairy. We usually are stationed next to the milking parlor, so we answer a lot of questions about the milking process. We are not afraid to talk to people, so we ask the people watching the milking process if they have any questions. Some people want to talk and some do not, but we give them the opportunity to ask questions if they have them. What is the importance of representing dairy at the state fair? There are so many people who have no clue where their milk comes from. We want to be able to share with them about our farm and how we treat our cows well. Lots of people hear negative things about dairy, but we want to tell them what is true and all the good things. What types of questions do you get while you are there? Do you milk the boy cows? How long does it take to milk a cow? How long do cows live? How does the milk come out? Where does the milk go? What is the biggest misunderstanding about the dairy industry you have had to address while promoting at the state fair? Some people think dairy farmers steal the milk from cows or are forcing them to produce, but that is not true. God created cows to reproduce and the natural hormones to give and let down their milk. It feels good to let their milk down. We sometimes ask people if they have children and relate it to their own experiences. Other people sometimes mistake dairy cows’ ne bones for malnutrition. This is also not true. We explain that dairy cows do not look like beef cows and it is OK to see their bones. But we also tell people not all cows look the same or are the perfect super model like the ones seen at the state fair. Tell us about your farm. We have four children – Isaac, 16, Rachel, 14, Noah, 11, and Levi, 4 – who all help us on the farm. We do not have any employees. Along with our dairy herd, we have 350 acres of crops – corn, soybeans, alfalfa and wheat. We raise our own replacements and buy a few extra bull calves to nish as steers.
Shirley Hulinsky Burtrum, Minn. Todd County 60 cows Number of years you have attended your state fair: 18 years attending MN State Fair What state fair are you involved in and what is your role? Most of the 18 years I have attended the Minnesota State Fair, I have helped with the Moo Booth. My family has also worked at the All You Can Drink Milk Stand several years. How do you promote dairy to fairgoers while you are there? While my children showed dairy cattle at the fair, we encouraged them to visit with fair goers, offer to let the public pet or take pictures of the cattle, and have a positive presence for the general public to see. While working in the Moo Booth and the milk stand it is important to talk to the people walking through to answer any questions they have. By continuing to wear the T-shirts we received, we advertise the dairy events. What is the importance of representing dairy at the state fair? We need to put a positive light on dairy for the public to see. Being willing to talk and asking the public if they have any questions or stories about what they know about dairy, we encourage understanding and positive views of farm life. By having delicious dairy products easily accessible, we encourage its use in large groups instead of less healthy alternatives. The public needs to hear our story of hard work and struggles to provide a good product. What types of questions do you get while you are there? Doesn’t milk make you fat? Doesn’t that hurt the cows? Where does milk come from? Many people come to the fair to learn, so we need to be ready to talk to them and present a positive presence to offset misunderstandings they may have. What is the biggest misunderstanding about the dairy industry you have had to address while promoting at the state fair? Some people do not drink milk or eat dairy because they hear buzz words such as antibiotics, hormones and GMOs. The dairy industry needs to reassure the public of the safety and nutrition in dairy products. Tell us about your farm. David and I raised our four children on our 332-acre 60-cow dairy farm that he and his family started in the 1970s. We raise our own heifers and crops to feed the cattle, and hopefully have some crops to sell as well. It is a family farm with the grown children coming back to help often on the farm. We welcome nieces and nephews to come visit, help on the farm, and enjoy the rural lifestyle and fresh air. The farm will continue with our oldest son, Greg, working at taking over the farm.
Bongards’ Creameries
Has been a quality market for MN dairy farmers for over 100 years. MN producers provide one of the country’s most distinctive brands of cheese that is still made using the same Old World craftsmanship and has been combined with cutting-edge technology to produce cheese that delivers unforgettable taste with unparalleled quality. MN Dairy farmers and Bongards, quality that stands the test of time. We offer a competitive base price, premiums, and the best Àeld representatives in the industry. 13200 Co. Rd. 51 Bongards, MN 55368 (952) 466-5521 Fax (952) 466-5556 110 3rd Ave. NE Perham, MN 56573 (218) 346-4680 Fax (218) 346-4684
CLINIC OPEN Monday – Friday 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. Emergency service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Dr. Tom Czeck | Dr. Lee Michels | Dr. Steve Baldwin
320-836-2788
121 1st Ave. | P.O. Box 67 | Freeport, MN 56331 Servicing Benton, Morrison, Stearns and Todd counties
After hour emergency calls are made directly to the veterinarian on call, not through an answering service
Visit us at www.freeportvetservice.com or Freeport Vet Service on Facebook
Page 16 • Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017
ConƟnued from FENCE | Page 15 Ryan Salzer Freeport, Minn. Stearns County 65 cows Number of years you have attended your state fair: I have been going to the fair for about 25 years, but I have worked in the Moo Booth for the last six years. What state fair are you involved in and what is your role? I volunteer at the Moo Booth at the Minnesota State Fair. How do you promote dairy to fairgoers while you are there? I work in different areas of the Moo Booth explaining different things regarding the dairy industry. I talk about the health of our dairy cows, how and what we feed our dairy animals, how they are housed and cared for, and different ways they are milked – tiestall barns, freestall barns with milking parlors or robotic milkers. What is the importance of representing dairy at the state fair? To educate the consumers about the dairy industry, how we care for our animals, and, most of all, the nutritious dairy product we produce. What types of questions do you get while you are there? Here are the two most common questions I get: What needs to happen to a cow before she can produce milk? When the cow is milked where does the milk go from the cow and how is it stored before it is processed and placed on your grocery shelf? What is the biggest misunderstanding about the dairy industry you have had to address while promoting at the state fair? The biggest misunderstanding is the use of antibiotics in dairy animals and if the milk is safe to drink. Once I tell people that all milk from animals treated with antibiotics never reaches the bulk tank, processing plant or grocery store, they feel more condent and are more likely to purchase that wholesome dairy product. Tell us about your farm. I farm along with my parents, Art and Sharon. We have approximately 172 acres where we grow corn and alfalfa. I milk about 65 Holstein cows and have 80 head of youngstock.
Sign up for our New Newsletter
Dairy St r Milk Break
Leif Johnson Upsala, Minn. Morrison County 76 cows Number of years you have attended your state fair: 27 years, served 9 years What state fair are you involved in and what is your role? I go to the Minnesota State Fair to pour milk in the All-YouCan-Drink milkstand. My family has been doing it for nine years and we make a day of it. We serve milk for one shift and then spend the rest of the time exploring the fair. Usually there are about six to 10 of us here, but this year there are only ve because my twin daughters both just had babies. We love it. It is fun. How do you promote dairy to fairgoers while you are there? I talk to the people as they come up to get milk. I like to brag about how good of a deal the milk is. It costs $2 for all the milk you can drink. I try to be friendly and answer people’s questions. What is the importance of representing dairy at the state fair? People just do not know much about dairy farming and about dairy. It is good to promote dairy as a nutritional product. It is a good way to keep dairy in a positive light and a place for people to talk to a farmer. I like interacting with people because I do not normally see many people on a day-to-day basis. What types of questions do you get while you are there? Usually, I get questions about organic versus nonorganic milk. People also ask me where I am from and how often I have to milk the cows. They are also surprised to hear that I have to milk the cows on the weekend. What is the biggest misunderstanding about the dairy industry you have had to address while promoting at the state fair? Many people do not understand how much work is involved to put milk on the shelf, especially since they ask if I have to work on the weekends and what time I get up in the morning. The farm is hard work and on our farm we still do a lot of manual labor. We still bale hay and do not have robots or anything. I am not resentful because it is the profession I chose, but I think people are surprised at how much work there is. Tell us about your farm. I farm together with my brother, Phil. We have two farms. On my farm, we raise our youngstock and his farm is where we milk the herd in a tiestall barn. We are pretty conventional. We do not have TMR and we do component feeding. When we rst started dairying, Phil and I each had our own dairy farms before we decided to combine them 24 years ago. My barn was shot, so we added onto his barn for the milking herd and built heifer facilities on my farm.
Email andrea.b@dairystar.com
Becky Thyen Waverly, S.D. Codington County 120 cows Number of years you have attended your state fair: 50 years What state fair are you involved in and what is your role? We attend the South Dakota State Fair where we exhibit dairy cattle. I have shown dairy cattle at the South Dakota State Fair for more than 40 years. Our family exhibits Holsteins, Brown Swiss, Jerseys and Milking Shorthorns. How do you promote dairy to fairgoers while you are there? We try to get kids’ attention and let them pet a calf or a cow, and tell them this is where their milk comes from. It is really great to see that wow factor in the youngster’s faces when they connect with the cattle. Some people of the older generation like to stop and reminisce about how they milked cows when they were growing up. The adults ask us questions about such things as butterfat content and the weight of the cows. What is the importance of representing dairy at the state fair? Today’s consumers are getting so far away from the source of their food that they do not realize all the steps and hard work it takes to bring dairy products to their table. We need to constantly educate and inform the public about the dairy industry. What types of questions do you get while you are there? We are asked if cows bite or kick. People want to know what a cow eats and how much milk she gives. We are often asked if brown cows give chocolate milk. Folks like it when they learn that we are exhibiting mothers and their daughters. They are gratied to discover that cows have families similar to those of humans. What is the biggest misunderstanding about the dairy industry you have had to address while promoting at the state fair? Many folks are totally ignorant about production agriculture. People are so far removed from the farm that they no longer understand how modern farms operate. Some years ago, one of our cows gave birth amidst a thunderstorm at the state fair. The area near the cow soon lled with people who watched the process in reverential silence. A great cheer went up when the calf was born. We named her Lightning. Tell us about your farm. I farm with my husband, Dan, and his brother, Jim, along with Jim’s son, Jason. Our sons, Nathan and Andrew, also work with us. Andrew recently earned a degree in ag engineering, but he would rather work on the farm. We farm about 2,000 acres and do custom silage chopping for farmers in about a 30-mile radius. In addition to our herd of registered dairy cows, we have 350 beef cows. We feed out all our beef calves and raise our own replacements. We are excited because our daughter, former South Dakota Dairy Princess Natalie Arendsee, is expecting the birth of a baby boy any day now.
025( 237,216
12: :,7+ Kuhn Knight VT144 vertical TMR mixer - $27,000
Cloverdale Super Carrier 14 Bale Accumulator - Call
THAN EVER!
Patz 810 vertical TMR mixer - $43,000
Lester Buildings Dealer
■ Dairy Buildings
Artex SBX600 Manure Spreader - Call
Trioliet Solomix 1-1000L Vertical TMR Mixer - $11,500
Patz 500 vertical TMR mixer on new Peterbuilt Truck- Call
LOTS OF USED MANURE TANKS AND MIXERS COMING IN
USED MIXERS:
• Used 510 truck mount • 6) Patz 615 • NDE 1402
MANURE PUMPS:
• 2) 42’ 6” Houle Lagoon pumps • 52’ 8” Lagoon pump • 2) 52’ 6” Lagoon pumps
TANKS:
• 3) ‘08 Houle 7300 • ‘10 GEA 7300 • 2) ‘11 GEA 7300
See us for your FarmStar drag hose equipment needs!
■ Dairy Buildings
563-382-4484
We specilize in a variety of dairy projects, and have built facilities that ranged in size from small to large.
Give Us A Call Today And Let Us Bid Your New Expansion Dairy Facility! ■ Confinements
1660 Jordan West Rd., Decorah, IA
www.brynsaas.com
■ Cattle Sheds
We now offer more options with both wood frame and now steel frame buildings.
■ Hog Buildings
514 Main St. • Hull, IA 51239 www.hoksdsconst.com HOKSBERG Phone 712-439-1101 & DE STIGT Dennis:712-470-3147 HOKSBERGEN Fax: 712-439-1116 CONSTRUCTIO & DE STIGTER hoksdsconst@yahoo.com CONSTRUCTION, INC.
Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017 • Page 17
MANURE CHALLENGES ARE NO MATCH FOR SEPARATOR
can make your manure handling easier and more proÅtable!
“BIG JOHN” PSS3.3-780HD
BEDDING SEPARATOR 36 - 40% DRY MATTER • SMART control panel technology • Automatic weight control arms • New HD basket with screen • Reduce bedding costs • Increase liquid storage capacity • Environmentally friendly • Readily available bedding materials on a daily basis • Improved cow comfort & cow health Systems from 90 cows to 6,000 cows
Over 80 local installations Over 4,000 working installations worldwide
CF1000A Calf Feeders Having full control of your calf feeding can reduce health issues and increase feed intakes creating bigger, framier replacements for your future herd.
XC260 Screen cost 63% less than original HD260
Automatic Weight Control Arms
THE EFFICIENCY YOU NEED FOR YOUR REMODEL OR NEW CONSTRUCTION DeLaval Voluntary Milking System - VMS
DeLaval calf feeder CF1000A features the most powerful computer available for calf feeding - the ALPRO® computer.
DeLaval Swinging Cow Brush & Mini Swinging Brush MSB Designed to improve cow & calf health, comfort and welfare – and delivers even more!
FARM SYSTEMS
A Part of Cooperative Resources International
Milking
™
1-800-636-5581 Farmstead
1-800-247-0012
What sets VMS apart from the others:
• Most advanced robotic arm • No compromise in hygiene • You have full control • Designed without compromise • Integrated management software Montgomery, MN Melrose, MN Sioux Falls, SD
When you really stop and think – We’re selling EfÀciency
Page 18 • Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017
Top Performers
Roerview Dairy’s milk production increases with comforts of new facility ensure proďƒžt margins.
Roerview Dairy, LLC Roger, Craig and Stephen Roerick Upsala, Minn. Morrison County 210 cows
Describe your housing and milking facility. We have a six-row cross-ventilated freestall with dual outside feed lanes. Cows are bedded using sawdust on top of dual chamber waterbeds. Since December 2015, cows have been milked using three Lely robotic milkers.
What is your current herd average, butterfat and protein? 32,707 pounds milk, 1,196 pounds butterfat and 1,018 pounds protein.
What is the composition of your ration? What has been one of your most recent changes that has been successful for you? Our bunk PMR consist of haylage, silage, earlage, custom protein base mix and a small amount of straw. At the robots, cows have access to as many as three different feed sources depending on stage of lactation and daily production. One thing we feel has helped production is the ability to individualize rations for cows using the three feed types at the robots depending on cow production and lactation stage. We essentially have as many different rations as we do cows in the barn. We like to call it our precision farming for cows.
How many times a day do you milk? If you don’t milk 3X a day, have you tried it in the past? We have a robotic milking system averaging three visits per day. In this system, we think of it as a different three times a day milking system. With our system, high cows and fresh cows are allowed to milk close to ďƒžve times a day and low cows aren’t allowed to milk as often. Do you contract your milk? Has it been successful for you? We have contracted a couple times. One time, we missed out on the top of the market, but still maintained proďƒžtable margins. Our current contracts are highly successful, but we are starting to use this as a risk management tool to
JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR
The Roericks – (front, from leĹŒ) Bryce and Isaac; (back, from leĹŒ) Craig, Roger and Stephen – milk 210 cows near Upsala, Minn. The Roericks credit their high milk producĆ&#x;on to cow comfort, feed management and cow care beginning at birth. Through the years you’ve been farming what change has created the biggest jump in your herd average? Moving the cows into the robotic facility, which was designed around cow comfort, has helped with production. Our facility has better ventilation,
wider and longer stalls, along What is your herd health with new mattresses. From program? Pregnancy checks the milkers to the Juno feed are completed every two weeks pusher and activity monitoring using an ultrasound. Cows system, we have experienced and heifers are wormed and many advantages and our vaccinated on an annual basis in facility allows us to access the fall using our veterinarian’s data points to help manage our recommendation. We also herd. Turn to ROERVIEW | Page 20
Your Forage Harvester Headquarters Trained and Experienced Forage Harvester Parts and Service Professionals to keep you rolling Used Self-Propelled Forage Harvesters
Used Row Independent Forage Heads
Year
Brand
Model
Horse-Power
Machine Hours
Engine Hours
Tag #
Price
Year
Brand
Model
Width Ft / Rows
Tag #
Price
2007
Claas
900
623
1731
2178
2288360
$164,900
2007
Claas
RU600 X
8
2288407
$45,000
2005
JD
7500
570
2133
3285
2258787
$100,580
2006
JD
688
8
$27,360
NH
FR850
824
506
7
$307,400
2012
NH
490FI
SOLD
2258749
2014
12
2279942
$78,200
2012
NH
FR9090
822
1289
15349618
$233,200
2011
NH
480FI
10
2211634
$50,000
2009
NH
FR9090
1888
2882
2042565
$180,730
2009
NH
470FI
10
2312155
$50,600
2012
NH
FR9080
685
1505
19
2211626
$222,600
2001
NH
RI450
6
2288411
$25,100
2014
NH
FR600
591
408
5
2268288
$305,015
2004
NH
FX60
571
2231
3790
2288353
$65,400
824 SOLD 824 SOLD
0% FINANCING FOR 3 YEARS
on select models!
New Holland FR Forage Cruiser Self-Propelled Forage Harvesters
To learn more about our New or Used Forage Harvesters &DOO
Model Year 2016/2017 FR780’s & FR850’s currently in stock!
Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017 • Page 19
Dairy Equipment By
THE NO COMPROMISE FABRIC STRUCTURE DAIRY, MACHINERY & HAY STORAGE
Commercial Agri Buildings
Specializing In: • Hot Dipped Galvanized Gating • Fiberglass Gates • Crowd Gates • Parlor Stalls • Free Stalls • Parlor Floors• Parlor Remodels
www.stormsweldingmfg.com 952-466-3343 • 513 W. Lake St., Cologne, MN
WE ALSO SELL REPLACEMENT TARPS!
Single and Truss Arch available from 20’-120’ wide Flo-Coat® Galvanized Steel Tubing Supplied by Allied Tube & Conduit Heaviest gauge steel in the industry Pre-engineered truss buildings
NELSON’S AGRI STRUCTURES
Dean Nelson • Central and Northern Minnesota • Grove City, MN • 320-857-2633, Cell 320-699-3297
RIVERSIDE HOOP BARNS, INC.
US Hwy. 75 At IA/MN Stateline • Steen, MN • 507-392-2870 • Fred A. Tilstra & Sons
LANGE CONSTRUCTION & CONCRETE
Duke Lange • Swanville, MN • 320-290-0859
LAKESIDE HOOP STRUCTURES, LLC
Eastern Minnesota and Wisconsin • Harris, MN • 651-248-6302 • Craig Moline
ASK US ABOUT GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR HAY STORAGE
“Nothing works like this product. It’s our #1 go-to...” — Erica Lundberg
BERT-MAR HOLSTEINS, OSSEO, WISCONSIN Allan and Erica Lundberg, 100 cows, BAA 107 RHA 27,000, SCC consistently below 200,000 Home of 2014 WDE R&W Champion “Kandie” Matt Engle (left) delivered “Kandie” (center) to join former Luck-E herdmates Atlanta and Asia at Bert-Mar Farms. “Two years ago, we switched to Udder Comfort™ and absolutely love the results. Of all the products we’ve tried, nothing works like this one. It’s our #1 go-to for a hard quarter or elevated SCC. But the biggest thing is what it does for fresh cows, especially first-calvers,” says 5th generation dairywoman Erica Lundberg. She does all the milking and breeding at Bert-Mar Farms, Osseo, Wis. Her father Allan does the feeding, and her boyfriend Graham Giese helps with the fieldwork. Her mom and sisters work off the farm. Bert-Mar is making a comeback with 8 EX cows, some of them homebred. The best is ahead via embryo work and 70 calves coming from top cow families including Luck-E Advent Kandie-Red EX-95 97-MS, Advent Asia EX-94 and Advent Atlanta EX-94 2E. “We love the results using Udder Comfort before and after calving. We apply it 1x or 2x/day for 3 days before they calve and 2x/day for 3 to 4 days after calving. They freshen-in much easier with better udder quality and more consistent milk quality.”
Quality Udders Make Quality Milk
Keep the milk in the system 1.888.773.7153 1.613.652.9086 uddercomfort.com Call to locate a distributor near you. For external application to the udder only after milking, as an essential component of udder management. Always wash and dry teats thoroughly before milking.
Page 20 • Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017
ConƟnued from ROERVIEW | Page 18
use J-5 vaccination on cows and heifers for mastitis prevention. Our calves are given Calf-Guard and a First Defense pill prior to being placed in hutches. Weaned calves are given Enforce 3 before being moved to the group housing. Hoof trimming occurs every six weeks. What does your dry cow and transition program consist of? Cows are dried off approximately 60 days prior to calving and are given a J-5 vaccine, along with Tomorrow and Orbeseal treatments. Dry cows are fed a low energy diet until 21 days prior to calving
JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR
A freestall barn, built in 2015, opƟmizes cow comfort with adequate stall space, waterbeds and brushes. where they are moved to a pre-fresh diet. Cows that are pregnant with twins, along with rst lactation heifers, are moved to the pre-fresh diet 28 days prior to calving date. What role does genetics play in your production level and what is your breeding program? Our herd is pedigree mated twice a year using selected bulls. We select bulls deemed robot compatible from various sire companies. Udder conformation has always been important to us and is now more than ever with the robotic milking system. We also are focusing on milk production and SCC score at this time. What type of improvements would you like to make that would increase your rolling herd average even higher? Our feed storage system. We store all JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR feedstuffs in bags and feel that going to piles could Individual raƟons, made up of three feed types, are help manage our feed consistency. With the robots, provided to cows as they are milked in the roboƟc starch and moisture of silage is a big deal, and we see variability in samples. We are also exploring an system. updated dry cow and calf facility.
BIO-BARRELS • Made from a proprietary blend of ground cereal straw and wood fiber, and made of 100% renewable materials. • No chemicals or adhesives used to make the container, and is designed to degrade as livestock consume the low-moisture block.
What would you say are the three most important factors for you that helped you attain your current herd average? Focusing on animal genetics, health and comfort. We are a strong believer that taking care of animals from the day they are born until they come into the milking facility helps with cow production. Putting up high quality forages to minimize purchased feeds. Working with the right team of dairy professionals. Without our nutritionist, veterinarian, banker, FBM advisor, agronomists, equipment service team and breeding program specialist our current production wouldn’t be attainable. Tell us about your farm. Roerview Dairy is a secondgeneration dairy farm started by Roger and Diane Roerick in 1983. The farm is operated by Roger, Craig, Stephen and their families. We milk 210 cows using our robotic milking facility, along with cropping 500 acres of corn and alfalfa. We also operate a Gold’n Plump broiler chicken barn.
GENERATORS for small to large dairies.
• Thicker and stronger than cardboard or fiber containers and will maintain its integrity in prolonged storage.
Reddy and Ross always have bio barrels on hand: • Mineralyx/Clarifly • Brigade • HE 30%
Booking tubs now (regular and bio-barrel) for September delivery to include: • Mineralyx/ Clarifly • Brigade
• HE 30% • Breed up Max*
• Buffer-Lyx* • Dry cow* • Stable-lyx*
(*Minimum order of 12 for bio barrel)
Promotional pricing and pallet pricing! Call today for more information!
Over 200 units currently on hand … 30kw up to 1000kw.
PEAK LOAD SHAVING COMPLIANT UNITS 712-348-7119 AVAILABLE.
Call Jay for your generator needs.
“We have had the generator for about 1 year and so far it has been trouble free! It is important that it is reliable and so far it has been just that!” - Jeremy VanEss
HoÁand Enterprises Inc.
3189 Silver Ave., Sanborn, IA 51248 • corner of Hwy.18 and 59 South
Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017 • Page 21
24 month interest waiver on qualiÀed self-propelled forage harvesters* See our complete inventory with pictures and descriptions at:
www.mmcjd.com
Visit one of our 13 locations in Central Minnesota!
(1) = GLENCOE 320-864-5571 4561 Hwy. 212
(2) = HOWARD LAKE 320-543-2170 5845 Keats Ave. SW
(3) = STEWART 320-562-2630 78412 Co. Rd. 20
(4) = ST. CLOUD 320-252-2010 1035 35th Ave. NE
(5) = GLENWOOD 320-634-5151 1710 N. Franklin
(6) = SAUK CENTRE 320-352-6511 1140 Centre St.
(7) = ALEXANDRIA 320-763-4220 5005 State Hwy. 27 E
(8) = PAYNESVILLE 320-243-7474 725 Lake Ave. S.
(9) = PRINCETON 763-389-3453 3708 Baptist Church Rd.
(10) = LITTLE FALLS 320-632-5469 16069 Hwy. 27 E.
(11) = WADENA 218-631-2311 62505 US Hwy. 10
(12) = AITKIN 218-927-2140 1120 2nd St. NW
(13) = BAXTER 218-829-5356 7045 Foley Rd.
JD S670, 2013, $ 847 hrs., #134914
*Followed by standard qualified rate, approval through John Deere Financial, some restrictions apply, see dealer for details. Offer ends August 31, 2017.
ONLY 639 HOURS! JD 8400, 1998, 639 hrs., #139348
129,000
$
53,900
JD 606C $ 2013, #132993
JD 635F, 2009, #131606
24,500
$
Over 1200 items with pictures updated daily • Go to www.mmcjd.com ARTICULATED 4WD TRACTORS 10 JD 8430, 1975, 200 hp., 1893 hrs., #138881 .................................$15,500 7 JD 8640, 1987, 275 hp., 10435 hrs., #137151 .................................$20,350 2 JD 8770, 1996, 350 hp., 7970 hrs., #138494 .................................$32,900 1 JD 8560, 1991, 235 hp., 6305 hrs., #140759 .................................$33,900 8 JD 8960, 1992, 7694 hrs., #137900 .................................$41,900 11 Versatile 1156, 1988, 470 hp., 6000 hrs., #139641 .............$51,900 7 JD 8870, 1995 ...350 hp., 4370 hrs., #138377 .................................$60,900 6 JD 9200, 1994 ...310 hp., 6844 hrs., #138865 .................................$67,500 8 JD 9400, 1996, 425 hp., 6221 hrs., #134367 .................................$79,000 7 JD 9620, 2006, 500 hp., 6120 hrs., #138706 ...............................$114,490 3 Challenger MT965B, 2009, 510 hp., 3800 hrs., #137356 ...........$135,000 3 JD 9330, 2010, 1260 hrs., #140493 ...............................$185,000 7 JD 9360R, 2013, 360 hp., 1289 hrs., #139202 ...........$195,900 1 JD 9560R, 2013, 560 hp., 2344 hrs., #127914 ...........$219,000 5 JD 9510R, 2013, 510 hp., 2054 hrs., #140937 ...........$228,000 7 JD 9560R, 2012, 560 hp., 1751 hrs., #133796 ...............................$239,000 3 JD 9470R, 2015 .. 470 hp., 214 hrs., #139203 ...............................$269,000 5 JD 9620R, 2015, 463 hrs., #137678 ...............................$365,000 4 JD 9620R, 2015, . 620 hp., 514 hrs., #125913 ...............................$365,000 COMBINE PLATFORMS 6 JD 635F, 2007, #135115 ...$18,500 5 JD 635F, 2006, #140683 ...$18,700 7 JD 635F, 2009, #140297 ...$19,900 5 JD 635F, 2010, #140551 ...$22,900 5 JD 635F, 2009, #131606 ...$24,500 4 JD 635F, 2008, #132156 ...$25,000 4 JD 630F, 2011, #113753 ...$25,900 8 JD 615P, 2016, #133555 ...$26,000 1 JD 635F, 2011, #140574 ...$26,950 7 JD 630F, 2012, #126623 ...$27,900 3 JD 635F, 2011, #134729 ...$29,800
227,900
JD 9550, 2001, $ 3340 hrs., #134900
7 4 5 5 6 12 2 5 11 2 6 10 10 7 7 8 3 9 1 7 8 4 6 9 5 4 7 9
JD 630F, 2013, #136713 ...$29,900 JD 635F, 2012, #118150 ...$33,900 JD 640FD, 2013, #140857 $55,900 JD 640FD, 2014, #139826 $69,500 COMBINES JD 9500, 1995, 5104 hrs., 3524 sep., #140342 ............$25,900 JD 9500, 1989, 4400 hrs., 3300 sep., #132034 ............$27,900 JD 9600, 1995, 5000 hrs., 190 sep., #133728 .................................$34,900 JD 9500, 1992, 5306 hrs., 3502 sep., #140474 ............$35,900 JD 9500, 1995, 2588 hrs., 1747 sep., #140676 ............$38,900 JD 9550, 2001, 3367 hrs., 2352 sep., #134900 ............$71,900 JD 9760 STS, 2004, 2642 hrs., 1763 sep., #107702 ............$98,900 CIH 8010, 2006, 2125 hrs., 1506 sep., #132086 ............$99,000 JD 9760 STS, 2004, 2354 hrs., 1558 sep., #132810 ..........$118,000 JD 9770 STS, 2008, 2845 hrs., 2021 sep., #139325 ..........$119,840 JD 9770 STS, 2009, 2597 hrs., 1919 sep., #124372 ..........$127,900 JD 9770 STS, 2010, 2427 hrs., 1776 sep., #135046 ..........$132,900 JD 9870 STS, 2009, 3239 hrs., #134942 ...............................$139,000 JD 9570 STS, 2008, 1563 hrs., 1084 sep., #115868 ..........$139,500 JD S670, 2012, 2368 hrs., 1711 sep., #128689 ..........$159,500 JD 9570 STS, 2010, 910 hrs., 682 sep., #122037 ............$169,500 JD S660, 2012, 1812 hrs. 1385 sep., #133738 ...............................$175,000 JD S660, 2013, 1598 hrs., 1027 sep., #135180 ...............................$196,000 JD S550, 2012, 1105 hrs., 720 sep., #134811 ...............................$210,000 JD S680, 2012, 1910 hrs. 1275 sep., #134377 ...............................$224,000 JD S680, 2013, 1883 hrs., 1318 sep., #134536 ...............................$224,900 JD S670, 2013, 847 hrs., #134914 ...............................$227,900 JD S690, 2013, 1255 hrs., 855 sep., #119306 ...............................$259,500 JD S660, 2014, 547 hrs., 450 sep.,
71,900
#132631 ...............................$260,000 9 JD S660, 2014, 418 hrs., 253 sep., #116531 ..........................$265,000 4 JD S680, 2013, 1162 hrs., 881 sep., #140845 ...............................$265,000 7 JD S660, 2015, 583 hrs., 384 sep., #117457 ...............................$269,000 5 JD S670, 2014, 662 hrs., 488 sep., #133494 ...............................$285,000 2 JD S660, 2015, 401 hrs., 245 sep., #125946 ...............................$295,000 8 JD S670, 2015, 419 hrs., 308 sep., #124831 ...............................$299,500 8 JD S670, 2016, 334 hrs., 258 sep., #138933 ...............................$315,000 3 JD S680, 2014, 743 hrs., 553 sep., #135928 ...............................$315,000 8 JD S670, 2015, 290 hrs., 168 sep., #125750 ...............................$325,000 3 JD S680, 2015, 500 hrs., 380 sep., #134530 ...............................$359,000 CORN AND ROW CROP HEADERS 10 JD 643, #124401 .................$14,900 10 JD 893, 1998, #138934 .....$16,500 6 JD 893, 1993, #133956 .....$18,900 1 Geringhoff RD830B, 2004 #132061 .................................$18,900 4 JD 893, 1996, #134171 .....$19,000 5 JD 893, 2004, #134018 .....$20,900 1 Harvestec 4308C, 2006, #133685 .................................$22,500 1 JD 893, 2005, #134909 .....$22,900 7 JD 893, 2004, #134970 .....$24,900 7 Fantini 6R30, 2010, #133739 .................................$25,900 6 Drago 1230, 2008, #139217 .................................$29,500 5 JD 608C, 2011, #140815 ..$41,900 7 Geringhoff 1622, 2007, #132675 .................................$47,900 6 JD 612C, 2008, #127007 ..$49,500 7 JD 612C, 2009, #126839 ..$52,900 4 JD 606C, 2013, #116470 ..$53,900 2 JD 612C, 2010, #135623 ..$57,500 7 JD 608C, 2014, #134969 ..$67,500 4 JD 608C, 2015, #140472 ..$69,900 7 JD 612C, 2012, #106737 ..$74,900 2 JD 612C, 2014, #134078 ..$85,000 8 JD 612C, 2014, #126047 ..$95,900 3 JD 612C, 2014, #126845 ..$98,900
Case IH 8010, 2006, $ 2125 hrs., #132086
99,000
8 JD 612C, 2015, #126164 ..$99,500 8 JD 612C, 2016, #134111 ...............................$109,000 DISKS 6 Wishek 824NT-24, 2009, #139775 .................................$29,900 1 Krause 8200, 2013, #131061 .................................$34,900 10 JD 2623, 2013, #126300 ..$36,900 3 Case IH 370, 2014, #137899 .................................$37,900 4 JD 2623, 2014, #134863 ..$41,900 11 JD 2623, 2014, #126286 ..$43,900 10 JD 2623, 2012, #135075 ..$46,900 10 JD 2620, 2013, #139728 ..$49,000 4 JD 2623, 2015, #134716 ..$53,900 11 Summers 9K4727, 2015, #129015 .................................$79,500 RIPPERS 4 JD 2700, 2002, #133806 ..$14,900 2 JD 2700, 2006, #130972 ..$14,900 1 JD 2700, 2004, #140687 ..$15,900 3 JD 2700, 2005, #139398 ..$22,000 6 JD 2700, 2009, #118932 ..$27,900 8 CIH 730C, 2011, #135148 .................................$30,000 5 JD 2700, 2013, #135020 ..$30,900 8 JD 2700, 2013, #134946 ..$33,900 8 Kuhn 4855, 2015, #138368 .................................$59,900 TRACK TRACTORS 2 Challenger MT865, 2003, 510 hp., 5791 hrs., #138939 ...........$120,000 1 Case STX425, 2002, 425 hp., 3168 hrs., #136012 ...........$126,900 9 Caterpillar MT765C, 2012, 320 hp., 1779 hrs., #136810 ...........$163,000 5 CIH 600 QUADTRAC, 2013, 600 hp., 2467 hrs., #140246 ..........................$229,500 3 JD 9560RT, 2012560 hp., 1918 hrs., #140934 ...............................$240,000 4 JD 9460RT, 2012, 460 hp., 1130 hrs., #125925 ...........$249,000 2 CIH QUADTRAC 550, 2013, 550 hp., 1199 hrs., #138936 ...............................$250,000 5 CIH 540 QUADTRAC, 2015, 540 hp., 937 hrs., #140245 ...............................$309,500
JD 9570 STS, $ 2010, 910 hrs., #122037
169,500
Page 22 • Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017
(%)&%20,53¸
,OWER COST THAN SORTED SEMEN HEIFER CALVES
Sex the bull of your choice! .OW AVAILABLE IN SINGLE AND MULTI DOSE VIALS
"OOSTS FERTILITY *UST MIX INSEMINATE
HTTP YOUTU BE . :S1Y XUK
Mfg. by EMLAB GENETICS WWW EMLABGENETICS COM
I F A
Roller-Grinder
More milk less feed with uniform Àne-grind Solid cast rolls All belt-electric drive Single or double mills USA & International sales Replacement rolls available for most mills Used mills and tumble mixers on hand Hammer Mills
Phone: (319) 634-3849 • Toll Free: (800) 426-0261 web: www.ifamill.com • email: ifamill@netins.net
Will 2017 be a turnaround for farmers? Farmer Mac economist points to silver linings in dairy sector, cautions trends By Brittany Olson
brittany.o@dairystar.com
Put the PLUS+ in your farm
™
with milk quality, herd health and productivity
+ +
™
OceanBlu™ Pre-post & Barrier Teat Dips Activity Monitoring System
Your partners in dairy production We offer a complete range of products to our customers. We service what we sell to help keep your farm in top shape. Our goal is to make you more profitable and more efficient through innovative equipment, aftermarket solutions, scheduled maintenance and 24 hour emergency services.
www.delaval.com
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 Genex 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 Š 2017 DeLaval Inc. DeLaval, 11100 North Congress Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64153-1296. www.delaval.com
TILDEN, Wis. – After the rollercoaster ride that began in the wake of tumbling milk prices in light of record highs in 2014, many dairy farmers are looking for any sign of having breathing room in their milk checks. Fortunately, there may be signs of a reprieve on the horizon, according to agricultural economist Ryan Kuhns of Farmer Mac, who spoke at a dairy management and marketing seminar in Tilden, Wis., Aug. 29. “According to analyses, 2017 might be a correction year,â€? Kuhns said. “Most commodity prices are expected to rebound somewhat over the next 18 months, but not back to record highs.â€? On another note, there are still gaps between net cash income, which Kuhns prefers to use as an indicator of farm proďƒžtability and net farm income. “Global supplies are just higher,â€? Kuhns said. Kuhns did point out that inďƒ&#x;ation-adjusted cash income is stabilizing; net farm income continues to decline at a slower rate, but is no longer in complete freefall. “Keeping things in a historical context, when adjusted for inďƒ&#x;ation we’re still doing better than in the early 1980s and late 1990s,â€? Kuhns said. Compared to steers, broilers and hogs, dairy appears to be the only bright spot in the livestock sector in terms of commodity prices with a 14 percent change for the better compared to last year. Broilers and hogs may only see a 5 and 4 percent jump compared to 2016 levels, respectively, with steers on a 4 percent decline from a year ago. A weakening U.S. dollar and skyrocketing butter prices in the European Union bode well for American dairymen, who are able to offer a quality product at a more reasonable price in the global marketplace for developing nations with an appetite for affordable animal proteins, particularly in the Middle East and southeast Asia. “World dairy demand will be driven by a mix of developed and developing countries,â€? Kuhns said. “However, a slowdown in Chinese growth could negatively impact world agricultural prices.â€? Butter is not the only dairy product being sold at a lower price by the United States, with milk and whey powders and cheddar cheese also commanding prices lower than what Europe and Oceania (Australia and New Zealand) can offer. “The United States is lower priced, which puts us in a more competitive position,â€? Kuhns said. Fluid milk consumption continues to decline as a result of generational effect and families with fewer children. “In the past, you had milk with breakfast, lunch and dinner, but that has dwindled, beginning in the 1930s,â€? Kuhns said. “Children are also declining as a share of the population, and kids just tend to drink more milk.â€? However, changes in consumer preferences have driven the rise in milk fat consumption with more people eating yogurt and cheese than ever before. “For yogurt, there is a trend toward products perceived as ‘healthy’ as well as portable and easy to consume,â€? Kuhns said. “As for cheese, there is continued demand for cheese-centric cuisine like Italian and Mexican food, where cheese is an integral part of many recipes.â€? However, there are other things that dairy farmers should watch in the months and years to come on both the national and world stages. Kuhns noted that farm bill talks have begun on Capitol Hill, and politicians are motivated to pass a farm bill in a more timely manner compared to bills of years past. “There has been pushback by the House ag committee over elimination of crop insurance subsidies,â€? Turn to TURNAROUND | Page 23
Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017 • Page 23
ConƟnued from TURNAROUND | Page 22
Bongards’ Creameries announces $35 million plant expansion Minnesota co-op’s sales growth drives 80,000-square-foot addition
BRITTANY OLSON/DAIRY STAR
Agricultural economist Ryan Kuhns speaks about what the future may hold for the dairy industry during his presentaƟon at a dairy management and markeƟng seminar Aug. 29 in Tilden, Wis. Kuhns said. Among other things, NAFTA is being renegotiated, and the United States withdrew from the Trans-Pacic Partnership several months ago. According to the World Trade Organization, the United States made up for a small percentage of total global trade agreements implemented since 1958. “Market access is important, but the United States has
Steer Feeder
lagged behind the rest of the world in expanding trade agreements,” Kuhns said. “Standing still is falling behind.” The Federal Reserve is also raising interest rates, with new debt more likely to be nanced at higher interest rates. Kuhns stated that 28 percent of farm sector debt has a variable interest rate. “Rates are now projected to rise more slowly, providing
producers additional opportunity to manage their interest rate sensitivity by locking in lower rates,” Kuhns said. In short, data suggests that the overall farm economy will stabilize this year, with prices expected to increase over the medium-term, and changing customer preferences will continue to drive demand for dairy products.
Keith Grove, CEO of Minnesota-based Bongards Creameries, announced this week that the company will nearly double the size of one of its three production facilities, expanding its Humboldt, Tenn., plant from 110,000 square feet to 190,000 square feet and adding 95 new jobs. Renovations and updates on the existing facility will also be conducted. “This expansion will allow us to increase our overall production, packaging and processing capabilities and better serve our growing customer base in the Southeastern United States,” said Grove. Construction begins Aug. 1 and is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2018. Bongards Creameries, a farmer-owned co-op founded in 1908 in Bongards, Minn., is one of the largest global suppliers of cheese. In addition to the Humboldt plant expansion, Grove announced the fall KEITH GROVE, BONGARDS CEO 2017 expansion of the company’s corporate ofces in Chanhassen, Minn., after just six months in the new ofce space. The 12,000-square-foot addition is slated to be completed by year end. This work comes on the heels of a $45 million expansion to the company’s Perham, Minn., plant, which was completed in 2015. This expansion represented a complete plant rebuild and increased capacity. “This is an exciting time for our company and represents the commitment to quality that our farmers, employees and partners have shared for more than a century,” said Chris Freeman, chief nancial ofcer, Bongards Creameries. The company has experienced signicant growth in cheese sales over the past 5 years, doubling in volume during that time. Bongards currently employs over 450 people in its three plants and corporate headquarters.
“This expansion will allow us to increase our overall production, packaging and processing...”
Hydraulic Chute
• 200 bushel • Ground opening lid
$9,450
$2,395
Portable Calf Chute
Deluxe Chute
$875 Complete
$3,979
Spanier Welding and Metal Fabrication Paynesville, MN • 320-243-7552
A N E W W O R L D D E M A N D S N E W H O L L A N D.
DOON SAWMILL & FENCING LLC • Custom Sawing • RR Ties • Feed Bunks • Flat Beds • Guardrail • I-Beam Post • Oil Well Pipe • Sucker Rod
Call today to learn more!
©2017 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. “New Holland” is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. “Equipped For A New World” is a trademark in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates.
New ‘17 Meyer 4518-RT 18.5’ Forage box - $21,970
Our Guardrail feed bunks are the best!
2641 Garfield Ave. • P.O. Box 297 • Doon, IA 51235
(712) 726-3562
Your farm is an ever-changing landscape filled with ever-changing demands. Count on the versatility of a 200 Series Skid Steer Loader to get any job done. An easy hydraulic hookup lets you quickly change attachments. The Super Boom® provides maximum reach when lifting, stacking or loading hay. And one of the widest cabs available makes getting in and out safer than ever. Learn more at EquippedForANewWorld.com
Gehl 865 forage harvester w/ 2 row corn & hay pickup heads - $8,995
(2) New ‘17 Meyer RTX224 24’ Forage Box - $37,980 ea.
NEW ‘17 NH L228-T4, 2 spd, H/F ctrls, C/H/A 78” low-profile ext. bucket
Call for price & Financing
Meyer 4618 18’ forage box, 3 augers, extension, 18-ton tandem - $12,950
‘07 NH BB940A
w/100 gal appl., new poly pickup bands - $37,850
New ‘17 Lorenz 1600, 130-bu,
‘13 NH BR 7090
Specialty Crop, 4,510 bales
$29,950
18” grinder, 32 4-sided hammers, concentrate hopper - $19,875
‘14 NH T8.410,
18 spd, 344 hrs - $167,550
WERNER IMPLEMENT
VERMILLION, MN • 651-437-4435 • WWW . WERNERIMPLEMENT . COM
Page 24 • Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017
Congratulations Emily!
CONGRATS EMILY!
W are honored We h d to hhave EEmily il A Annexstad represent Nicollet County and the entire dairy industry in Minnesota.
Congratulations Emily! 719 North Main St. Le Sueur, MN 56058-1403
Congratulations Emily!
220 S 3rd St, St Peter, MN 56082
(507) 931-3310
www.nicolletcountybank.com
Congratulations Emily! We are proud of you!
507-665-3353 CHEESE & WHEY PRODUCTS
Congratulations Emily!
Agronomy | Energy | Grain | Feed Farm Equipment & Construction Consumer Goods & Services www.UFCmn.com
B & R Dairy Equipment Inc.
Kimball Willmar Glencoe St. Martin 320-398-3800 320-235-4898 320-864-5531 320-548-3285 Mankato Alden St. Cloud 507-387-5515 507-874-3400 320-251-2585
507-647-7000 or 877-852-5510 108 North Renville St. • Winthrop, MN 55396
Congratulations Emily!
A dairy tale
Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017 • Page 25
Once upon a time, on a farm near St. Peter Minn., there was a young girl who loved feeding calves with her grandma and following her dad around the farm. One day, that girl took a trip to her local grocery store with her mom and two younger brothers. The girl followed her mom throughout the store, talking as she went along, most likely about the kind of yogurt she was going to be rewarded with for behaving at the store. The store manager stopped this girl’s mom to say, “Wow, your daughter is loquacious.” Her mom, tired from farm chores and three young children asked, “What does loquacious mean?” The answer? “Talkative.” This began my journey to Princess Kay. Growing up on my family’s dairy farm, I could be found talking By Emily Annexstad to whoever was around to listen. I loved hearing stories 64th Princess Kay of the from my grandparents, veterinarian, nutritionist or Milky Way hoof trimmer. Living on a farm also gave me a sense of community. As I became involved in the 4-H dairy project, FFA and Minnesota Junior Holstein Association, I continued to make connections and friendships within the dairy community. These activities also
On the Road with Princess Kay
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Princess Kay Emily Annexstad (center), along with nalists Quinci Scherber (leŌ) and Ashley Warren, promote dairy in front of the All You Can Drink Milk Stand during the state fair.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Princess Kay Emily Annexstad poses with her likeness carved out of buƩer during the opening day of the Minnesota State Fair. allowed me to see rsthand the hard work Minnesota’s dairy farmers put into producing wholesome dairy foods we enjoy. Throughout these activities, I continued to nd my voice. Whether I was participating in the speech competition in high school or giving a 4-H livestock demonstration, one thing remained constant – I was usually talking about dairy. Being a dairy princess was a way for me to combine my love for speaking and for the dairy community. My passion for these two things also led me to the University of Minnesota, where I am studying animal science and agricultural communication and marketing. When I started my journey as a Princess Kay nalist, I didn’t know where it would take me. I am extremely humbled that I have been blessed with the opportunity to represent the dairy community. No matter where I have gone or who I have come across within Minnesota’s dairy community, I have always felt welcomed. There is no group of people I would rather represent. During my reign as Princess Kay of the Milky Way, I hope to share my story of our dairy community throughout Minnesota. I began with 12 fun-lled days at the Minnesota State Fair. During my time at the fair, the other nalists and I were given countless opportunities to share dairy farmers’ story. While the state fair presents an awesome opportunity to interact with those outside of the agricultural community, I am extremely excited to spend the next year continuing this interaction throughout Minnesota. The past 12 days have been another chapter in my “dairy tale,” and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year will bring. My journey is just beginning. Thank you, to Minnesota’s dairy farmers, for this incredible opportunity. The care and dedication you have for your cows and your community truly inspires me to do my best every day. I look forward to hearing your dairy stories throughout the year.
Your Cow Comfort and Barn Equipment Specialists
www.dccwaterbeds.com SINCE 2003
Page 26 • Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017
NEW ‘17 KUBOTA M7.151 SALE!
$115,000 A lot of horsepower for the price!
ACT NOW
before sale ends!
151 HP (new heavy frame tractor), 3 hyd outlets, 18.4 X 42’s, powershift 0% for 84 months!
HURKES IMPLEMENT COMPANY Sales: 605-886-3817 • Parts: 605-882-3420 North Hwy. 20, Watertown, SD
CORN SILAGE CHOPPING SEASON IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER... Will you be ready?
BLUE LAKE PLASTICS
IS YOUR COMPLETE FORAGE PROTECTION HEADQUARTERS! Silage Sheeting -24 ft. wide poly up to 132 ft. wide Underlay Sheeting - 40 ft. wide up to 66 ft. wide Silage Bags - 6.5 ft. up to 14 ft. 2-in-1 Combo/Silage sheeting and Underlay wrapped in 1
Margin protection program for dairy
This fall is the time to nalize your 2017 MPP premiums and start to register for 2018 coverage. The 2017 premium was due Sept. 1, if you have not already paid it and you registered for coverage greater than catastrophic. Letters will be mailed to those that have an outstanding premium amount due. It was announced that dairy producers can enroll FSA News & Notes for 2018 coverage for MPP-Dairy starting Sept. 1. The voluntary program, established by the 2014 Farm Bill, provides nancial assistance to participating dairy producers when the margin – the difference between the price of milk and feed costs – falls below the coverage level selected by the producer. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has utilized additional exibility this year by providing dairy producers the option of opting out of the program for 2018. “Secretary Perdue is using his authority to allow By Ryan Brunn producers to withdraw from the MPP-Dairy program Stearns Co. Exec. Dir. and not pay the annual administrative fee for 2018,” said acting deputy undersecretary for farm production and conservation Rob Johansson. “The decision is in response to requests by the dairy industry and a number of MPP-Dairy program participants.” To opt out, a producer should not sign up during the annual registration period. By opting out, a producer would not receive any MPP-Dairy benets if payments are triggered for 2018. Full details will be included in a subsequent federal register notice. The decision would be for 2018 only and is not retroactive. The MPP gives participating dairy producers the exibility to select coverage levels best suited for their operation. Enrollment began Sept. 1 and ends on Dec. 15 for coverage in calendar year 2018. Participating farmers will remain in the program through 2018 and pay a minimum $100 administrative fee each year. Producers have the option of selecting a different coverage level during open enrollment each year. USDA has a web tool to help producers determine the level of coverage that will provide them with the strongest safety net under a variety of conditions. The online resource, www.fsa.usda.gov/mpptool, allows dairy farmers to quickly and easily combine unique operation data and other key variables to calculate their coverage needs based on price projections. Producers can also review historical data or estimate future coverage needs, based on data projections. To complete enrollment, producers must make coverage elections during the enrollment period and pay the annual $100 administrative fee that provides basic catastrophic protection that covers 90 percent of milk production at a $4 margin coverage level. For additional premiums, operations can protect 25 to 90 percent of production history with margin coverage levels from $4.50 to $8, in 50 cent increments. Once enrolled, dairy operations are required to participate through 2018 by making coverage elections each year. Producers can mail the appropriate form to the producer’s administrative county FSA ofce, along with applicable fees without necessitating a trip to the FSA ofce. If electing higher coverage for 2018, dairy producers can either pay the premium in full at the time of enrollment or pay 100 percent of the premium by Sept. 1, 2018. Premium fees may be paid directly to FSA or producers can work with their milk handlers to remit premiums on their behalf. Dairy operations enrolling in the new program must meet conservation compliance provisions and cannot participate in the Livestock Gross MarginDairy insurance program. Any dairy operation that has dissolved or producer that has retired from the dairy industry must complete a CCC-783 form in the county ofce and provide the date the operation dissolved or retired. Please do this as soon as possible if you have not completed it already. For more information, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/dairy or stop by a FSA ofce to learn more about the MPP. 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.
Cow Scout
ACTIVITY MONITORING SYSTEM ACT
EZ Roll Stands
3 Reduce Labor 3 Increase Pregnancy 3Decrease Days Open 3Limit Need For Hormones
Innoculants Fortress Covers
www.bluelakeplastics.com
320-333-9255
1010 Hoeschler Dr. • Sparta, WI 54656
Sauk Centre, MN
DAIRY EQUIPMENT INC.
We accept Visa & MasterCard
Celebrating 35 Years in Business
DEALERS WELCOME!
Phone: 608-269-3830 Toll Free: 1-888-863-0227 Email: prestonde@prestonde.com
The great get together The Transition Pen
By Laura Scholtz & John Rosenhammer Father/Daughter Farming Duo What event brings more people together all at one time, regardless of their busy schedules, to achieve a common goal? For some that may mean a ballgame, an open house or a wedding celebration. On our farm, this great get together is making hay. And it doesn’t happen just once, it happens at least four times every summer under some very hot, humid and testy conditions. In our area, rst and second cutting was harvested during a time featuring unusually dry air with no humidity. Yields, conditions and quality were all great. That wasn’t so hard. Third crop seemed like a blur when you have a wedding that you are working around. Then came fourth crop; we usually harvest on a 28-day schedule, but that’s hard to do when it has rained seven days prior to your cutting date and already four days past. Even the weather forecast on those so-called smart phones had a hard time putting sunshine two days in a row. My brother, Greg, and I agreed to start cutting our 100 acres Wednesday morning. During milking that morning, I think we changed our plans at least ve times. Eventually, I started at 10 a.m., mowing hay with our 12-foot mid pivot John Deere haybine and my 4020. This has been a favorite job of mine my whole life. I love the smell of fresh cut hay, the potential it has to make our cows produce milk and the freedom of experiencing God’s creation. I started with an 80 percent chance of rain Thursday night so there was no room for break downs. By 5 p.m., I had nished the rst eld and started the second despite our plan to wait and see. Things were going so well that I cut until dark, surpassing my goal for the day. After repairing a sickle section, I got an even earlier start the next morning. The sun came out for one round and clouds came for the next two. This pattern repeated itself until mid-afternoon when the sun nally won the battle. My plan was to be done by milking time, but I was a half hour late. Words cannot express how happy and satised I was to see Laura and Patty milking. Their only goal was to cover all the chores so I might be able to haul loads home from the eld. Greg usually runs the chopper, but we have trained in a neighbor, Nick, who loves to operate machinery and does a very good job doing so. As it seems to always go, we get rolling well and then its chore time. But, Laura’s husband, Chris, came to the rescue. Chris loves to operate machinery and is a mechanic at the John Deere dealership in town. What a catch, Laura.
BARN CAMERAS
Watch what you’ve been missing in your barn! Closed circuit video monitoring for your barn, ofÀce and parlor.
Wireless System for metal, Stone or Block barns.
Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017 • Page 27
Whenever I need a break to service a cow, my holds the second best time for unloading a wagon, but father, Dennis, is anxiously waiting his turn to haul is working hard to outdo his brother, Joe. So God spared us, despite the weatherman’s 80 loads in from the eld. At 83 years old, he likes to get in on the action from the seat of the tractor. To keep percent chance of rain. By 8 p.m. Friday, we had three wagons moving we need another man hauling brought in the last load, the chopper was in the shed, loads. That is usually my uncle, Mike, a retired 3M and the engines were shut off. Now, it was my employee. mother Mildred’s turn. For To make chopping So G God d spared d us, d despite i the last hour she had been easier, we merge three S grilling hamburgers and windrows into one. That the weatherman’s 80 percent hotdogs. As we sat on the is Mary’s job. Mary insists picnic table watching the that is her job and that no chance of rain. lightning dance through the one can do it better. Rebecca sky, we enjoyed tasty food delivers meals on wheels. Her specialty is bringing me an ice cream treat or root and reminisced on the completion of another great get beer oat to the eld and making a few rounds with together. John Rosenhammer farms with her daughter, me, taking seles as we are driving. She also lls in Laura, on Roseview Dairy near Sleepy Eye, Minn. with merging and at chore time. Johnny gets home from work and is capable of They milk 200 Holsteins and run 580 acres of lling in any position that needs help. Currently, he cropland.
Bio-Cal: Research Backed, Field Proven In 2016, we partnered with an independent research farm to demonstrate the impact Bio-Cal can have when added to alfalfa fertility programs often used in the Midwest (0-0-60 and DAP). The result: A 10.7 percent yield increase, or almost a 1/2 ton more hay per acre, in the seeding year. We’ve recommended applying calcium to forages for over 30 years to support high-yielding forages with outstanding nutritional value. With over 32 percent calcium in both soluble and slow-release forms, Bio-Cal has helped farms across the Midwest make big improvements to crop yields and feed efficiency. If you’re looking for a proven forage product with positive ROI, consider adding Bio-Cal to your program.
Increase your forage yields. We’ll show you how. 800.327.6012 MidwesternBioAg.com Results may vary. ©2017. Midwestern BioAg, Inc.
Page 28 • Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017
www.extension.umn.edu/dairy
Prepare now for silage harvest to prevent accidents later
Betty Berning bberning@umn.edu 320-203-6104 Rafael Bisinotto rbisinot@umn.edu 612-625-3130 Hugh Chester-Jones chest001@umn.edu (507) 835-3622 Gerard Cramer gcramer@umn.edu 612-625-8184
Summer has own by and September is here; corn silage harvest is right around the corner. While there are many components that go into the planning and preparing for corn silage harvest, an important one should not be overlooked: safety. Safety for corn silage harvest includes everything from equipment checks to personal care. It is no secret that harvest season is a dangerous time on any farm. Help prevent your farm from becoming another statistic by following these easy—and potentially lifesaving— safety tips.
Marcia Endres miendres@umn.edu (612) 624-5391 Sandra Godden godde002@umn.edu 612-625-8177 Les Hansen hanse009@umn.edu 612-624-2277
Equipment checks Regular maintenance checks on equipment and implements should be a part By Emily Wilmes of the farm routine. Inspect all equipment for U of M Extension loose or broken parts and proper placement. If any safety equipment needs to be removed for maintenance, be sure to reattach that equipment when the work is completed. Preparing equipment now can reduce stress and save time during the peak of harvest time. If maintenance or repairs need to happen during harvest time, remember to completely shut off power sources and do not approach the equipment until all moving parts have come to a stop.
Brad Heins hein0106@umn.edu (320) 589-1711 Kevin Janni kjanni@umn.edu (612) 625-3108 Karen Johnson ande9495@umn.edu 320-484-4334 Brenda Miller nels4220@umn.edu (320) 732-4435 Kota Minegishi kota@umn.edu 612-624-7455
Storage facilities Ensuring storage facilities are ready now will prevent needing to enter them when they are being lled, which is a dangerous situation. Old silage should be cleaned out before adding this year’s crop. Check storage facility surfaces for cracks and holes; check water drains to make sure they are opened and draining properly. Upright silos should be inspected for proper door seals, ladders and safety cages. Silos older than 10 years should be checked for structural integrity.
Randy Pepin pepin019@umn.edu (320) 333-1369 Erin Royster royster@umn.edu Jim Salfer salfe001@umn.edu (320) 203-6093
Road safety Moving from elds to the farm site for unloading will likely include some travel on public roadways. During equipment maintenance, check lights and ashers to make sure they are in working order so it is easier for drivers to see you on the road. It is Minnesota law for all vehicles travelling under 30 miles per hour to have a slow-moving emblem on tractors and equipment. Replace missing or damaged slow-moving vehicle emblems. You may also want to consider using a following vehicle when moving large pieces of equipment. Remind anyone who may be helping you to be mindful while on the road and to respect trafc laws.
M. Scott Wells mswells@umn.edu 612-625-3747 Emily Wilmes krek0033@umn.edu (320) 255-6169
Best prices on Hay making supplies
25-101 HP Call for your local dealer or ask about direct to the farm deliveries.
Fall is right around the corner, and it kicks off with corn silage harvest. Taking the time to prepare now will save time when harvest rolls around. Taking safety precautions and training helpers will reduce the likelihood of accidents and keep everyone out of harm’s way and working hard. While preparing for silage harvest, complete equipment maintenance, inspect storage facilities for repairs, ensure equipment is ready for road travel, and create a plan for worker safety. Getting ready now will help the harvest season go smoothly and safely for you and your farm.
All Extras/Features/Options come standard for One Price!
2 in 1 Combi film silage covers Baler Twine Net wrap Tire Side Walls
LARGE selection of sizes and brands in stock and ready to ship.
Self-care Spending time on yourself during a busy time of year is likely the last thing on your mind. However, it is crucial to your well-being and the safety of you and the people around you. It is important to not only attend to your own self-care but to encourage others to practice it, as well. Self-care involves taking simple steps to ensure physical and mental health. A major component of self-care is getting enough sleep. It is a busy time and most likely normal chores are squeezed in around harvesting times. However, the body has an absolute need for rest, so strive to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night. Diet is also an important part of self-care; making an effort to eat full meals with protein and complex carbohydrates can help prevent sugar crashes or feeling overly hungry. Taking time to take care of yourself will keep you more alert and can help prevent mistakes from being made.
MORE TRACTOR for Your Money!
IN THE MIDWEST
Silage bale wrap Silage bags Silage covers Oxygen barrier film
Protect your people Many types of accidents can happen during any part of the silage harvesting process. Having protocols in place can help keep the people on your harvest team safe. Equipment use is the cause of many harvest-time accidents. Be sure people operating the equipment are comfortable doing so and have been properly trained. Setting an example of safety expectations when using equipment will encourage a culture of safety. Taking shortcuts could lead to unsafe behaviors and accidents. Another major area of concern during this busy time is people visibility, especially while piles are being unloaded and packed. A quick and affordable solution is to provide the whole team with safety vests. I had a farmer who took this tip and now requires everyone wear safety vests during eld work. They indicated it has helped them avoid many close calls. In addition, consider providing safety glasses to prevent ying silage from getting into peoples’ eyes. Items like vests and glasses involve a minimal investment and can be used year-round for various tasks.
0
Financing
%
• Every LS Tractor comes with a five-year warranty: • Two year bumper-to-bumper protection for Plus an additional three years of Powertrain Coverage to 72 up to Month • 5 Year Warranty that includes Parts or free loader sin lieu of financing and Labor, with No Deductible.
Test Drive Your Next Tractor At
Jordan Ag Supply Inc.
W6174 County RD P | Monroe WI 53566
1-800-726-0401
www.jordanagsupply.com
DEALER INQUIRES WELCOME
WOLLER EQUIPMENT, INC.
320-573-2341 • www.wollerequipment.com 1 Mile NE of Upsala on Hwy. 238
Characteristics of successful farms
Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017 • Page 29
A few weeks ago we had our last 2017 Extension summer dairy eld day. These on-farm eld days highlight well-managed farms that may have unique facilities and business strategies. This year we had a wide variety of farms, including farms employing the latest technologies, farms making excellent use of existing facilities, and organic or By Jim Salfer transitioning U of M Extension farms, and a goat farm that are taking advantage of higher milk prices. Even though these farms have very different business strategies, there are some common characteristics among most successful businesses. Below are some of the common practices these successful businesses implement. 1. These producers have a passion for their work and a positive attitude of the future. This can be challenging during extended periods of low milk prices. They understand that businesses run in cycles. They believe that farming can be a good business and provide them with the lifestyle they desire. 2. Top dairy producers have a vision of their long- and short-range goals. These farms develop business strategies based on their values, skills, interests, resources and vision for the future. Successful producers analyze industry trends and develop a strategy that capitalizes on their unique strengths. In the short term, they take advantage of opportunities as they arise. This might include such opportunities as forward contracting feed and/or milk, or stashing cash during periods of protability. No one can predict the future. These plans are living breathing documents to review annually to allow the business to adapt and change. 3. Top dairies execute their plan. Plans need not be complicated
to be successful. It is better to have a simple, well-thought out business strategy that is well executed than to have an elaborate business plan that sits on a shelf.
4. Top producers develop a strong business network. Every successful business has a group of trusted advisors that they periodically meet with to share their business strategy. This could include agribusiness personnel and others in the industry. They annually review progress and share their vision for the future. In addition, they often choose to join a peer group of dairy producers, nding members that will provide honest feedback and constructive criticism. They challenge these groups to provide suggestions to improve the business. 5. Successful farms have very good cow skills. Each cow on the farm is a potential prot center. Dairy producers need to allow each cow to maximize her genetic potential and make the most lifetime prot for the farm. Clean, dry and comfortable healthy cows will be higher producing cows. Successful farms keep all animals on the farm clean and well bedded. Buildings are well ventilated. Waterers and mangers are clean. The top producers realize that dry cow management is the key to a protable subsequent lactation. Transition cows (three weeks before calving to a month after calving) are special cows with very special needs. The majority of health problems occur during this period of time. Good dairy producers observe these cows closely and intervene at the rst sign of trouble – before cows are extremely ill. 6. Top dairy producers consistently procure or produce a lot of high quality forage. The basis of our dairy cow diets is high quality forage. Protable farms work hard to procure high quality forage for their cows. They also do
Good cow comfort is a key to high producƟvity.
an excellent job of managing forage inventory to minimize ration changes throughout the year. 7. Top producers keep good records. Production and nancial records are crucial to make management decisions. Records, used in conjunction with goals and an action plan, can set a course for improved protability. They use monthly records to monitor progress against goals and annually use records to benchmark their farm against past performance and other dairies. 8. Work/life balance. Successful producers recognize the importance of off-farm activities. This can include professional
innovators in agriculture
Used Leeson 1.5 HP motor, instant reversing ....................... $250 Baldor 3 HP, 3450rpm ................ $200 Baldor 5 HP ................................$350 Baldor 10 HP .............................. $650 Century 7.5 HP ........................... $450
In 1992, Lely introduced the Astronaut milking robot, 25 years later there are 30,000 of them installed worldwide. It’s an important milestone in our company’s history and
WE ARE CELEBRATING WITH SPECIAL OFFERS ON THE ASTRONAUT A4 AND THE VECTOR FEEDING SYSTEM.
NOW, THROUGH DEC. 31, 2017 RECEIVE VECTOR
MOTOR REPAIR • quick • dependable • nearly 40 years experience
We Sell and Service Generators! USED GENERATORS
Each WINCO PTO generator is designed using the highest quality components and the best workmanship available.
improvement conferences where they can network and develop an outside perspective of their industry. Some people volunteer in their church or other civic organizations. It is also important to spend some time away from the farm to refresh. They will come back with a new perspective and renewed appreciation of their business. These common characteristics are size and business strategy neutral. The good news is that there are no magic feeds, pills, shots or other secrets that successful producers have in their management toolbox. Most producers can implement these practices and many of them do not require high amounts of capital outlay.
Celebrating 25 years of dairy automation
A4 ROBOT WE STOCK FRACTIONAL TO 10 HP SINGLE AND 3-PHASE MOTORS!
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Onan 15 KW w/powershaft ............................. $900 Niagra 15 KW w/powershaft ........................... $900 Pincor 16 KW w/trailer & powershaft ........... $1,300 Winpower 12 PT2 generator w/powershaft .... $700 Winpower 35/20 PT3J 20KW cont. w/PTO & trailer .......................................... $1,800 Winco 35KW PTO alternator w/PTO & trailer .......................................... $2,900 Honda EB5000X gas portable generator..... $1,100 Parmac 5500 Watt portable diesel generator . $800
We also have Hanson Silo Replacement Parts Available!
AMPS, INC. 105 County Rd. 10, Albany, MN • 320-845-4690
$3,000
FACTORY REBATE
on the purchase of an Astronaut A4 automated milking system
$5,000
FACTORY REBATE
on the purchase of a Vector Automated Feeding System. See us for additional rebates
Dairyland Equipment Services, Inc. Plainview, MN
Montgomery, MN
800-548-2540
Dairyland Services, LLC Woodville, WI
866-467-4717
Driving the A
Page 30 • Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017
I recently needed to move some large round bales of hay, which gave me an excuse to drive my 1949 John Deere A tractor. Certainly there are easier ways to move bales other than with a two-cylinder tractor and a two-wheel cart. But I’m Norwegian, so doing things the easy way is against my nature. If one doesn’t do it all the time, one forgets what it’s like to trot down the road on an open-platform tractor. Grit ies up into your face, your hair becomes saturated with the smell of exhaust fumes and you run the risk of being soaked by a sudden cloudburst. And there are many other pleasures in addition to these. The feeling of raw power thrumming beneath your feet, the freedom of the open road and the shifting tableau of scents that tickle your nose – silking corn, blooming sweet clover, the sensuous aroma of curing alfalfa – as you move through ever-changing
plumes of air. I realize these are some of the same reasons motorcyclists enjoy riding. The difference is that on a tractor, you are moving at a stately pace and thus have more time to luxuriate in these hedonistic pleasures. This wasn’t the case when I was an adolescent and was forced – forced, I tell you – to drive the A. Like many teenagers, I felt put-upon by my lot in life. What sort of miserable luck had landed me on a stodgy South Dakota dairy farm? Why had the fates chosen me to putt-putt across the stark prairie on this wretched open-platform tractor? Like many teenagers, I yearned for a life of adventure and grandeur. There are very few things less grand and adventuresome than driving a pokey old tractor that’s hitched to a manure spreader full of cow poop. My sense of afiction was intensied by the fact
NOTHING IS MORE PRECIOUS THAN LIFE, AND THAT’S THE PHILOSOPHY THAT DRIVES PHILEO. As global population continues to increase, the world faces a growing demand for food and greater sustainability challenges. Working at the crossroads of nutrition and health, we are committed to delivering future evidence-based solutions that enhance ruminant health and performance. In each and every country, our team’s progress is led by the most advanced scientific outcomes as well as the field input of experience farmers.
A COMPLETE RANGE OF INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS
PROBIOTICS YEAST FRACTIONS SPECIFIC ACTIVE INGREDIENTS FORMULATED INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS
7475 West Main Street, Milwaukee, WI 53214, USA Tel.: 1-877-677-7000 www.phileo.lesaffre.com
that the A lacked a radio. Being a sensitive person, my spirit was nurtured by music, especially from groups with such uplifting names as The Animals, The Zombies and Badnger. One day, I attempted to alleviate Dear County Agent Guy my musical deprivation by carrying a small transistor radio in my shirt pocket. I drove the A out to the eld, cranked up the radio and was instantly disappointed. The A has a magneto, a device that uses some sort of voodoo magnetism magic to By Jerry Nelson create a spark. This Columnist might seem unbelievable – until you accidentally touch a spark plug wire while the tractor is running. The jillion-volt jolt can put a permanent curl in your toes. Magnetos also create interference in the AM spectrum. My radio’s speaker crackled with a rhythmic “thup, thup, thup” whenever the A was running. It wouldn’t be bad, but the thups never fell in with the beat of the music. The radio was more of an annoyance than a source of pleasure. At about this time, astronomers had pointed their gargantuan umbrella-shaped radio telescopes at the heavens. From the vast emptiness of space there came an unbelievably precise “thup, thup, thup” through their telescope’s speakers. I found this extremely interesting, so I absorbed everything I could about the topic. The astronomers at rst thought they had stumbled across a signal from an alien civilization. They even gave it the provisional name LGM-1, an allusion to little green men. They had discovered a new celestial object called a pulsar. A pulsar can form when a big star explodes and leaves behind a dense, rapidly spinning core. In other words, it’s very similar to what happened with Charlie Sheen. If things work out just right, the magnetic pole of a pulsar can align with our planet. As the star’s magnetic pole rotates, its beam of electromagnetic energy will sweep across the earth like the light from a lighthouse. I found this somewhat disappointing. I had been secretly rooting for the little green men. My teenaged brain ruminated upon all of this as I jostled across our elds on the seat of the A. Maybe the explanation regarding how the magneto works was a bunch of hooey. Maybe there was actually a tiny chunk of pulsar attached to a rotating shaft inside the mag. This theory was much more adventuresome and a lot grander than some nonsense involving a spinning coil of copper wire and a humdrum horseshoe magnet. These days, I am no longer forced to drive the A; I get to drive it. As I jostle along, I marvel at the mystery of its magnetic induction ignition system and extract a scandalous amount of pleasure from the earth’s ever-changing aromas. And meanwhile, up in the heavens, the distant pulsars continue to pirouette as they count the beat of the universe. Jerry Nelson is a recovering dairy farmer from Volga, S.D. He and his wife, Julie, have two grown sons and live on the farm where Jerry’s great-grandfather homesteaded over 110 years ago. Jerry currently works full time for the Dairy Star as a staff writer/ad salesman. Feel free to E-mail him at: jerry.n@dairystar.com.
Sales & Installation of HiTensile Fence
ELECTRIC • WOVEN • RAIL (320) 360-6308 Browerville, MN The Right Fence... Built RIGHT
Confessions of a cow show addict
It’s September, and we are entering the most magical time of year. I don’t mean autumn’s fall colors, and I have no idea how many shopping days there are until Christmas. I mean cow shows. Spectacular parades of bovine beauties, eye candy for people like me. I am a cow show addict. They say the rst step is admitting there is a problem. I’m still in the denial phase. I don’t consider it to be a problem. I know people who are much worse than I am, people who have started countdowns to the next World Dairy Expo before their trailer turns onto Rimrock Road leaving the Alliant Energy Center. What draws people like me to cattle shows? I know people outside of the business, and even some inside, do not understand our need to be in certain off-thebeaten-path locales at odd times of the year. I mean, who doesn’t love Louisville in November, Madison in October or Syracuse and Columbus in April? I am only able to use my own experiences to speculate about my afiction. My trouble might be genetic. My parents met at the Wisconsin State Holstein Show, while their fam- By Danielle Naumen Staff Writer ilies were tied across the walk from each other. I’m actually pretty lucky to be here because by the end of that week, neither was particularly enamored with the other. My dad called my mom stupid, and I think she had a few other choice words for him. Lucky for me, Dad and my uncle were friends, so their paths did cross again with a bit less animosity. My trouble might be a complication of birth. My mom was on the wash rack while in labor. This may also explain why I would still rather be on the wash rack rather than doing the pack, even in Madison when ice crystals are forming on my scrub brush. Surely, the cows factor into my addiction. I love cows, plain and simple. That love of good cows was my connection with my dad. I was the kid who shared his passion for the cows. If there is a genetic component in my addiction, I inherited it from my dad. From the time I was little he taught me everything he knew about showing cows (Except for clipping. I simply refused to grasp that.). We plotted our showstrings and planned strategies for success. Growing up, Dad and I poured over breed magazines and sire catalogs together. We spent lots of time in the truck going to shows. I even developed a game to help keep him awake: “I went to a show and I took…” naming famous show cows, going down the alphabet. A few of the letters were a little more difcult than others! My parents sold their cows before my son was born, but my dad passed that love of cows down to Austin, too. Austin grew up sitting on Grandpa’s lap, reading the sire catalogs and breed magazines. In 2008, they started a new herd together with the purchase of three Jersey heifers. That rst year, they experienced great successes – from showmanship wins to a youth show reserve junior champion at World Dairy Expo, top six nishes at the national shows, culminating with two All-American nominations. It was a great year that fanned the ames of a brilliant re, and another generation of cow show addicts was born. Fast forward to 2010. Austin and my dad took their own small string to the North American Livestock Exposition in Louisville that year, and spent the trip home making plans for exhibiting our rst Jersey Jug entry the next year. Then, the day after Christmas, my dad died suddenly. Christmas Day was the last day Austin and I spent with him, discussing Norman Nabholz’s book, “Millionaires in the Cornelds,” about the National Cattle Congress glory days. From that point on, Austin’s mission to succeed in the show ring took on the purpose of simply making Grandpa proud. For the past seven years, I have worked in jobs that fed my addiction, covering cow shows, posting photos and results on the Internet for those who weren’t as lucky as I was to be there. I can’t even begin to count how many shows I’ve attended. I’ve covered shows all over the United States and some in Canada. There is nothing better than seeing who looks good and how they stack up. And I love how the cows know and are truly professionals. I love seeing them in the pack, soaking up the attention while getting down to the business of lling and making milk. I love seeing them in their wedding clothes parading in the ring. Nothing can compare to the sight of a cow who knows she’s good, and just oats around the ring with her head up, ears icked forward, daring the person in the center of the ring to deny her. This year, for the rst time in a long time, I’m the person who isn’t at all the shows. I’m the person relying on my former colleagues to be speedy and accurate with their coverage. I’m the person sitting at the computer, hitting the refresh button. My rst real experience with missing a show was the Minnesota State Fair. Next up is the All-American Dairy Show in Harrisburg, Pa. I know that will be a difcult week for me. I will probably act a lot like a couple of our old show cows used to when they got left home. I never witnessed it, but Mom assures me it wasn’t pleasant. My World Dairy Expo experience this year will be very different from the past 10. Instead of hoong miles upon miles around the colored shavings, dressed in black, taking photos of cows I love, I’ll be doing something else. As part of the Dairy Star staff, I’ll be working to help create the Expo Daily Edition, and spending time in our booth, hopefully meeting many of you for the rst time. As the magic gets ready to start this fall, I think about the reason people from around the globe ock to Madison in October, or wish they could. World Dairy Expo is simply the greatest dairy show on Earth, celebrating the greatest cows, the most wonderful people, the most exciting sales, and the most amazing advancements in our industry. You don’t even have to be a cow show addict to take a page from Dorothy’s playbook, close your eyes, click your boots together and whisper, “There’s no place like World Dairy Expo…”
Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017 • Page 31
HARVEST SEASON IS HERE!
We have a great selection of gravity boxes USED TRACTORS CIH MX200, 2WD........................................$62,000 CIH 7230, 2WD, 4200 hrs ...........................$53,000 CIH 7230, 3500 hrs., new rubber, nice........$72,000 ‘96 CIH 7220, 2WD, 540/1000 PTO, 6000 hrs, nice ..................................................Call CIH 7220, 2WD, 2300 hrs, 18.4x42 ............$71,000 CIH 7150, FWA, new motor.........................$58,000 CIH 7120, 3600 hrs., FWA ...................... Coming In CIH 5240 Maxxum, FWA w/loader ..............$48,000 CIH Maxxum 125 Pro, FWA, 950 hrs, very nice, coming in ................................$68,000 IH 5288, 2WD, 540/1000 pto, sharp ...........$24,000 IH 5088, 2WD, new motor, nice ..................$21,000 IH 3088, cab, nice .......................................$17,500 IH 766, new motor, cab ...............................$12,500 IH 856 ........................................................$13,000 TILLAGE CIH Tigermate II, 28’ ...................................$18,000 CIH 4800, 28’ & 26’ ......................................$8,500 CIH 4800, 28’ w/IH mulcher..........................$8,500 CIH 4300, 36’ ..............................................$10,500 CIH 4300, 30’ ................................................$9,500 CIH 3950, 25’, nice shape ...........................$17,500 CIH 530B ripper w/lead shanks ...................$17,000 CIH 530C.....................................................$28,000 CIH 496 21’ cushion disc ...................................Call CIH 496 cushion gang w/mulcher ...............$13,500 CIH 496, 25’ cushion gang, no mulcher ......$11,000 CIH 3900 19’ cushion gang disc ................$13,500
White 435, 11 shank .....................................$8,500 JD 712, 11 shank disc chisel ........................$8,500 Wilrich 24’ 3400 field cultivator ....................$5,500 HAYING & FORAGE EQUIP. Vermeer R2800, 28’ basket rake .................$23,500 Sitrex QR12 rake ...............................................New NH 1465 haybine ..........................................$9,500 Many sizes of rakes available CIH 600 blower .............................................$3,500 Gehl 99 blower ..............................................$1,000 GRAVITY BOXES VARIOUS SIZES OF GRAVITY BOXES ON HAND 2) Demco 550 .............................................$11,500 2) Demco 450 .................................. $9,500-10,500 4) Demco 365 .................................... $4,500-5,500 New Demco 365............................................$7,200 Parker 2600 w/ 16’ belt conveyor .................$5,500 Unverferth 430 ..............................................$9,500 All sizes of used Demco gravity boxes avail. GRINDERS Gehl 170 grinder .........................................$18,000 Gehl 135 .......................................................$7,500 MISCELLANEOUS Midsota 5510 rock trailers ......................... In Stock Various sizes of New Agrotrend snowblowers ...Call
NEW MANDAKO LAND ROLLERS IN STOCK
FARM OYL PRODUCTS AVAILABLE
GREENWALD FARM CENTER Greenwald, MN • 320-987-3177
WWW.GREENWALDFARMCENTER.COM
Your Work. Your legacy. There’s a sense of pride in doing the job right. We’ve been treating our customers like family for over 100 years and we’re ready to do the same for you!
For equipment or farm financing, call us today at 1-800-247-1922.
Chad Primus
Craig Kern
s t e a r n s b a n k. c o m | f o l l o w u s
- Est. 1912 -
| Member FDIC
Let’s talk manure spreaders Page 32 • Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017
The county fair is over. I missed the state fair could slide the manure down the gutters through a again. I went to the Minnesota Gopher football opener. trap door into the spreader. Kia and Aaron just had a baby girl last night, and the When I built the 80-cow tiestall barn, it had the boys are in South Dakota chopping corn silage. What barn cleaner chute elevating out of the end of the better time is there to talk about manure spreaders? barn. The manure was sloppy, so I decided a used My rst memory of a tub slinger style spreader manure spreader is riding would be a good idea. Dairy One off the h craziest i spreaders d between my dad’s legs on O farmers should never buy an 8N Ford tractor pulling we ever owned was a sand used manure spreaders; that a Kelly Ryan spreader that thing would throw broken held each day’s excrement manure dump spreader. hammer chains 100 feet from 20 cows. With an 8N, sideways. It was difcult we had to be careful where to empty in cold weather we drove in the snow or mud because it seemed to be and even more difcult when the chains froze to the almost the smallest tractor ever made. But, my dad bottom of the tank. Within a year, I installed a clay designed a concrete ramp under the stanchion barn lined manure lagoon with an underground manure that that tractor and spreader could back into, and we line from the barn cleaner.
TRACTORS
HARVEST HEADQUARTERS
JD 9600 combine, 4WD, Duals - $18,900
Case IH 1020 Flex Head, 20’ w/field tracker- $10,900
CIH MX240 ‘01, MFD, 200+ PTO HP, full power shift Very good rear tires and duals! $49,000
JD 5100E FWD, CHA, 540 PTO, mid-mount joystick control for loader $46,995
JD 893 corn Head, Knife Rolls - $12,900
JD 930, 30’, Full Finger PU, Flexhead - $10,900
NH T7.250 Beautiful lease return! Only 344 hours! $98,750
NH T8.275 Tires at 95%, 19-speed power shift, both PTOs, fast transmission $112,000
J&M 540 gravity box w/Tarp on J&M gear, #17233 - $10,500
JD 893 corn head w/Oxbo Knife Rolls, Single Pt, Hyd Deck Plates (Set for Snap ledge) - $18,900
MF 8650 4900 hrs, cab suspension, tires, pretty much new dyna VT transmission - $103,995
MF 8680, New tires, front 3-point and PTO Ready to triple-cut! $159,000
Claas Jaguar 900 w/Processor, Ru 600 - 8 row Corn and 380FP Hay Heads, Package Priced $169,500
Harvestec 4308 8 row chopping head, Elect Deck Plates - Call
IH 3788 2+2, 3 Hyd remotes, 1000 PTO - $12,995
Farmall 560 Gas, Fast hitch, rear hyd, fenders, rubber at 80%, nice old tractor - $5,695
‘14 NH FR600, 2014, 4x4, 1129 engine hours, 637 cutter hours, air compressor, 4x4, 380 HD hay head and 600B 8-row corn head, lateral float, #C16419 - Call For pricing 2.9% Financing available!!
Now all I needed a spreader for was outside heifer lots. I got smart and bought a local-made spreader called a Roorda. It was not fancy, but it was wellbuilt. The parts for it were inexpensive because there was no middleman; we went right to the local Making Cents of Dairy factory. The parts lady was the old maid sister of the owner, and if you asked her for a new shaft bearing, she would sell you the $2 part while chewing you out for not greasing the bearing enough. When we rented my cousins 80-cow By Dave Vander Kooi tiestall barn, in addition to running our own, I Columnist bought their used New Holland 680 tandem wheel spreader. It made sense because we didn’t have to run the spreader back and forth ve miles every time we wanted to clean heifer lots. I violated my own rule about never buying a used spreader, but it was well taken care of and the price was right. The spreader was easy to load with a skid loader, and the belt drive on it was smooth as can be. We hauled for years with that rig until the beater literally wore down to nothing. Then, I welded some homemade paddles on the beater and gave it to my daughter, Anna, for her calf operation. She still uses it and says it works great. One of the craziest spreaders we ever owned was a sand manure dump spreader. When we moved into our new sand-bedded freestall barn, we used all new sand because sand lanes and sand recovery systems hadn’t been invented yet. We had a huge concrete lagoon that we pushed all the sand-laden manure into. Then, we tried every imaginable kind of spreader to haul it out. The sand always won and the spreaders always lost. We found a hydraulic dump box spreader with only a single rotating beater on the back. In theory, you raised the box while driving through the eld, and the manure would gently move towards the beater. Well, sand is heavy, so when that box went even a little over center, the back wheels of the tractor would leave the ground, and the whole frozen load would hit the beater at once. The company responsible soon quit making them, and we sold ours and took quite a loss on it. We now have one of those big box vertical twin beater spreaders. It is not perfect and it breaks now and then, but it spreads a beautiful 40-foot pattern from beginning to end. Joe needs it more at his heifer lot than I do at my heifer lot because he has more heifers. And, his are pregnant heifers and mine is a breeding lot. I’m thinking about xing up the second -generation machine shop spreader we have sitting around so I don’t have to run 5 miles to get the big spreader. I better get the grease gun out. Dave Vander Kooi operates a 1,200-cow, 3,000 acre farm with his son, Joe, and daughter-in-law, Rita, near Worthington, Minn. Send him feedback at davevkooi@hotmail.com. Follow him on Instagram, @ davevanderkooi.
Les Kuehl NH T6.165 FWD, suspended cab, only 500 hours, 40 KPH, mid-mounted valve w/ joystick - $76,500
“Models * Years and Hours Shown on All Equipment are Estimated”
IH 1586, CHA, only 5673 hrs, 12 front weights, 20 8 x 38 rear tires, axle duals, 75%, runs great $13,495
This is just a small portion of our used inventory. Visit our website
www.swiderskiequipment.com/thorp to view the complete list.
715.669.5255 • THORP, WI
“WILL TRADE ANYTHING, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE” Store Hours: 8-5 M-F / 8-4 Sat.
Box 530 • 201 S Financial St., Thorp, WI 54771 • Doosan • Kioti • New Holland • H&S • Meyer • Meyer’s • Kelly Ryan • Agco (Hwy. 29, North on 73 5 Blocks to Cty X, East 1/2 Mile) • Hesston • Haybuster • Brillion • Agco Massey • Sunflower • Leon • Loyal • Woods
Repair Service 20+ Years Experience
• Sealed silo parts & service • Stainless steel roofs • Feeders & conveyors • Stainless steel conveyor chains • Best chains on the market • Early maintenance service checks • Used and rebuilt unloaders Not afÀliated with the Harvestore brand
320-760-2909
Eve. 320-762-1827 No Emergency Charges--Ever!
tfn
What can we learn from a ring?
I wanted a mother’s ring long before I ever became a mother. I fondly remember sitting next to my grandmother while she pointed out the six stones on her mother’s ring. I probably asked her a hundred times to appease my fascination with the birthstones. Glen knew this, so when we went to the city to certify our acres this spring, he said, “Let’s stop at the jeweler and order you a mother’s ring.” It wasn’t near the surprise that gifting a mother’s ring could be, but Glen knows me well. He knew I’d already scoped out a Dairy Good Life ring and would want to make sure it was exactly what I wanted. So, we stopped at the jeweler’s. This was the same jeweler who had repaired my wedding ring this winter and did an excellent job. I pulled the slip of paper out of my wallet on which I had scribbled the notes about which mother’s ring I wanted. I wanted a low-prole ring with stones set between bars – something elegant, yet practical; something durable that I could wear every day. I know some farmers don’t wear their rings while farming, but I’ve always worn my wedding ring. I wanted my mother’s ring to always be on, too. By Sadie Frericks We ordered the ring and I picked it up in June. Columnist With three blue birthstones – for December, March, and December – the ring is incredibly pretty and everything I had hoped for. Unfortunately, less than a week later, the unthinkable happened. I was dgeting with my ring, like I always do, while eating supper and something felt funny. I looked at my ring and discovered that one of the December birthstones was missing. Back to the jeweler I went. I wasn’t nearly as peeved as Glen, but I was certainly disappointed. I had, however, purchased the lifetime insurance on the ring when I picked it up, so I suspected the replacement would be covered. I brought the ring in. The associate at the jeweler apologized profusely, saying that it’s incredibly rare to lose a gem from a bar setting like mine. She wrote up the repair ticket to replace the December birthstone and ordered an inspection as well, to check the security of the other settings. Two weeks later, the jeweler called to say my ring was in. I stopped to pick it up. The error in the repair was obvious at rst glance: the missing stone had been replaced with blue topaz instead of tanzanite. Both stones can be used as December birthstones, but they are different hues of blue. So now the December stones in my ring didn’t match – and worse, the colors clashed. I pointed out the error. The associate apologized and wrote up another repair ticket, reemphasizing that the outside stones needed to match. Two weeks later, an associate called to tell me that December birthstones were on backorder and it would be at least another week before my ring was ready. The next day a different associate called to tell me my ring was ready to pick up. I questioned how they were able to remedy the backorder so quickly, but the associate didn’t know. When I stopped two days later to get my ring, the remedy was clear. The jeweler who xed my ring had moved the December birthstone to the middle setting and anked it with two aquamarines (March’s birthstone). I pointed the error out to the associate. He apologized, again, and wrote up another repair ticket, this time telling me they’d have my ring back in one week instead of two. I was really starting to question the workmanship of the folks working at the service center. But, two weeks later when I stopped to ask if my ring was in, lo and behold, my mother’s ring was there and it looked exactly like it was supposed to. With my ring safely back on my nger, it took a fair bit of self-restraint not to tell the jeweler what I was really thinking. As a dairy farmer, I don’t have the luxury of making as many mistakes as our jeweler did. Multiple mistakes in this business result in injury, illness or loss of life – not just inconvenience and irritation. But, instead of remaining disgruntled, I decided to focus on what I can learn from this experience. And even though jewelry making and dairy farming are as different as diamonds and sapphires, I believe there are several good reminders here. What can we learn from a ring? 1. Make clear communication a priority. The last associate who helped me with my ring took time to draw an actual picture of what the ring should look like. He even colored it in with two different blue markers. I believe that diagram made all the difference in nally getting my ring back. What do you need to clearly communicate with your co-workers and employees? 2. Cultivate a culture of pride in workmanship. I’m convinced that the jewelers at the repair center are either overburdened (see Point No. 3) or they don’t give a damn about their job. One of Dan and Monika’s main responsibilities on our farm is cleaning the walk and stalls. There’s nothing fun about scraping manure – and, at rst, their attitude and performance reected that. But after I helped them understand that the cows’ health and safety depended upon the walk and stalls being clean and dry, their attitudes and performance improved considerably. Does everyone working on your farm understand why their job is important? 3. Allow enough time to do the job right. After watching the associates at the jewelry store arbitrarily assign two weeks to each work order, I began to wonder if the jewelers at the repair center (which provides service for all of the chain’s retail locations) simply don’t have enough time to do the job right given the deadlines. We have a sign hanging in our barn ofce that reads: “There’s never enough time to do it right, but there’s always enough time to do it over.” Does everyone on your team have the time (and resources) to do the job right? 4. Insure against mistakes. We all make mistakes. Accidents happen. Buy the insurance. I like to think that our jeweler would have covered the mistakes made after I lost my stone, but I never asked. The lifetime insurance plan I purchased covered all of the repairs. Is your farm adequately insured? Sadie and her husband, Glen, milk 75 cows near Melrose, Minn. They have three children – Dan, 10, Monika, 7, and Daphne, 4. Sadie also writes a blog at www.dairygoodlife.com. She can be reached at sadiefrericks@gmail.com.
Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017 • Page 33
Express Pressure Washers, Inc. 15880 SE 74th Ave. Blooming Prairie, MN 55917 507-583-2703
Check out our Used Equipment at
www.expresspressurewashers.com PARTS * ACCESSORIES * SOAP REPAIR * ON-SITE SERVICE
ALL OUR MACHINES CARRY OUR 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE Open Monday to Friday 8:00 to 5:00 Saturday 8:30 to 12:00 / Fax: 507-583-2060 Email: service@expresspressurewashers.com Join us on Facebook!
Custom High Moisture Corn Grinding
Are your cows utilizing the starch in your high moisture corn? Modern corn genetics have been engineered to dry down faster, resulting in harder kernels. This reduces starch availability in the rumen and increases the amount of starch found in your manure which is costing you money.
Rugged Rock processes your high moisture corn as fine as you want using a horizontal grinding system. Fine grinding results in greater starch digestibility in your animals compared to rolled or coarsely ground high moisture corn, increasing your herds milk production and decreasing your feeding cost.
We grind at your site and are now taking bookings for the fall custom grinding season! Call John or Kyle today!
RUGGED ROCK, INC.
113 West 1st Street • Minneota, MN
507-872-5940 John: 507-829-5500 Kyle: 507-829-8822
ASK ABOUT THE RESULTS OF OUR ON-FARM FEEDING TRIALS!
As good as it gets Page 34 • Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017
Over a farm-fresh breakfast, we discussed the farm’s recent DHIA reports, building plans for a calf barn, and ways to improve production and prot. I had nished the scheduled reproductive visit for this farm, a longtime client of our practice. One of our veterinarians normally did the scheduled herd work here, but she was not available on this ne summer day. Thus, I found myself sitting in front of the parlor with two generations of farmers and a bright young veterinary student at my side. Two strong 20-something sons represented the future of this farm, and as I cleaned up in the parlor I saw a portable playpen, a bouncy chair and more supplies that indicated a third generation was on the way, perhaps someday, to manage the farm in the far off future. For me, a cow doctor in the nal quarter of my career, this is as good as it gets. I am fond of saying I have the best job in the
world. Perhaps the thing that most makes my job the best is seeing new generations of farmers taking over and thriving in the dairy industry. Most farms where I live that once had cows no longer have cows. This is true most places in the United States. So when I see a farm with cows that is working toward a future with cows, I know this did not happen without hard work and planning, and the farmers had to buck larger trends in the industry to make it so. Furthermore, I take great pride in whatever tiny part I might have had in helping the farmers get there. Some veterinarians take pride in healthy cows, or high pregnancy rates or delivering a live calf. Those are all important, and I like them, too; but nothing beats seeing a new generation taking up where the last one left off and thriving. Nothing beats young enthusiastic people looking for information and recommendations on how to do better; be they farmers or veterinary students. Of course, nothing
really beats a lawn chair on a beautiful summer day either. So, this was perfect. How many heifers should our farm raise? How many do we need? When should we sell them? What is a good number for new Veterinary Wisdom infection rates? How is that calculated, and what can we do to keep it low? What can we learn from the 305 mature equivalents of our various age groups of cows? What is a typical conception rate for similar dairy herds? Is our herd death rate too high, just right By Jim Bennett or low? How about early culling rates? What can Columnist we do to increase milk production? Can we prevent more transition diseases, and how much will that help our milk production? Do other herds have higher components, and how do we increase butterfat and protein? Can we improve our cow cooling? Has our purchase of a TMR wagon helped fresh cow health? What do you think about the pen size in the new barn plan? How many calves should we put in there? Will it be too cold in the winter for just-weaned calves? Are we transitioning them from milk to dry feed in an optimal way? How was the y control today? Are the stall beds lled with sand? Do we need to ll more often? Are we treating mastitis cows correctly? When should we consider no longer treating a chronic cow? Should we dry up low producing cows early? Or, is it better to keep milking them if we have room, even if production is below the breakeven point? Music to my ears. I think most dairy veterinarians feel the same way. We know the dairy business is tough and competitive. We know dairy farmers will
P h Perhaps the h thing hi that h most makes my job the best is seeing new generations of farmers taking over and thriving... continue to retire or sell their cows, and farm sites will be without cows. Most of us believe the dairy business is a great business; full of great, hardworking people, and that many of those people will do remarkable things to achieve success during their tenure as dairymen and women. And, we love to be there to watch it all happen. If we can offer a tidbit or two of good advice along the way, all the better. So thank you, dairy farmers, for letting me come along for the ride and making my job the best in the world. Breakfast after a herd visit is an unusual thing in the dairy veterinary business these days. Apparently this particular farm had been doing this for a number of years, unbeknownst to the rest of us in the clinic. Now that the secret is out, I may have to shufe my schedule around to see if I can get back there again sooner rather than later. Jim Bennett is a dairy veterinarian at Northern Valley Dairy Production Medicine Center in Plainview, Minn. He and his wife, Pam, have four children. Jim can be reached at bennettnvac@gmail. com with comments or questions.
M BAGGING O T S U C AND WRAPPING • 9’ Kelly-Ryan Bagger • In-Line Round Bale Wrapping
Call Zak Kuehndorf
715-764-0457
440 6th Ave. • Clear Lake, WI 54005
Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017 • Page 35
A temporary moo-ve to the metro Jer-Lindy Farms showcases Holsteins in the Minnesota State Fair moo booth By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Towards the end of August, cows from Jer-Lindy Farms made a moo-ve to the metro, making The Great Minnesota Get Together a temporary home for 13 days. The Jennissen and Sjostrom families brought 16 cows and one calf from their Stearns County Holstein herd to the Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul, Minn., to be showcased in the Moo Booth, a dairy educational center in the corner of the fair’s dairy barn. Jerry and Linda Jennissen, their daughter, Maggie, and their daughter and sonin-law, Alise and Lucas Sjostrom, who have two children, Lucy, 4, and Henry, 1, milk 200 cows and operate an onfarm cheese plant, Redhead Creamery, on their dairy near Sauk Centre, Minn. About one year ago, the families expressed interest in bringing their cows as the showcase herd three or four years into the future. So, they were surprised when they received a call in June asking if they could ll in this year for a herd that had to drop out. “They needed an answer within 24 hours, but we stretched it to 48,” Jerry said. They immediately made a call to their nutritionist, Kevin Ratka, whose kids lease animals for 4-H from JerLindy Farms.
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Jer-Lindy Farms, owned by Jerry and Linda Jennissen (leŌ) and their family, provided the cows for the showcase herd at the Moo Booth at the Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul, Minn. Pictured with the Jennissens are Tim Struwve and Rob Sexton (right), two of the 30 people who helped the family during the 12 days of the fair. The Jennissens and their family milk 205 cows and operate an on-farm creamery, Redhead Creamery, near Sauk Centre, Minn. “He’s very passionate about tting and showing,” Jerry said. “If he didn’t want to help us do the showcase, we were out.” Ratka gave them an enthusiastic yes. With Ratka onboard, the Jennissens and the Sjostroms made the decision to take the showcase opportunity. “We started planning that night,” Linda said. That rst planning session consisted of a gathering of family, employees
and friends who were interested in helping to let them know the basics and developing a budget. “We had some really good people working for us. They were really excited,” Linda said. The next day, their herdswoman, Paige Roberts, went to work guring out which of their 200-plus cows would be included in the 16 cows that needed to be showcased at the fair. She put together a list of cows already halter
broke, also taking into consideration cows that had a calm demeanor, were the right stage of lactation and looked the part, Jerry said. “She was amazing,” Linda said about Roberts. “She made a master list of which cows had been worked with each day, which ones needed more work and which ones should come off the list. It was a lot of work, but it helped.” Along with training the cows to Turn to JER-LINDY | Page 37
Buy Direct From The Manufacturer and Save! The Toughest Freestalls on the Market Guaranteed Not to Bend
• 10 gauge tubing; 2 3/8” outside diameter, Hi Tensil Galvanized Steel • Heavy 1.9” - 9 gauge top rail with extra heavy 1/4” thick clamp, 6 1/4 lbs • 2 - 40” Extra Heavy galvanized angle iron brackets, drilled for 8 lags or bolts • Variety of lengths & sizes can also be custom made Our stalls are to Àt your stall unmatched in • 30” - 34” wide opening, easy for cows to get quality, durability, up (custom sizes too) and workmanship • Various types of mounting like the Elevated Dual Rail System available • Thousands in use; stronger than poor imitations • Brisket Board Adapter Clamps available, fastens to bottom of Freestall Loop
One Piece Polythylene Construction
LEGEND SOFT BED MAT
• Simple low maintenance • No thin top cover to break down and tear • Specialized urethane foam underlay which does not pack over time like crumb filled beds • Fully molded and reinforced top mat for stability and added hygiene • Simple and fast installation • 5 year warranty
LEGEND GROOVED ROLL • Proven for extreme durability • 5mm stainless cable inlay • Guaranteed NEVER to stretch • Grooved top for traction • Can be used with automatic & skid steer scrapers • 10 year warranty
Heaviest In The Industry
CS-60 Comfort Stall
WE BUILD OUR STALLS RIGHT!
Take a look at our tubing with unequaled corrosion protection! Clear Organic Coating Chromate Conversion Coating Hot-Dipped Uniform Zinc Galvanizing
Interior Coating
Cold Formed Steel Providing High Tensile-Yield Strength
Freudenthal Tubing has been engineered for your speciÀc requirements where strength and corrosion resistance are critical design factors.
GREAT Corrosion Protection!
Diagonal Feed Thru Panel Made to Order
We Carry A Complete Line Of Stall & Stanchion Clamps At Low Prices. CALL FOR THE ONES YOU NEED!
Poly Square Calf Huts
5’ Wide x 6’6” long
AUTO RELEASE PANELS
Complete Line Of Ritchie Watering Fountains • Top Quality Materials • Smart Design • Built to Last COMPLETE WATERER PARTS ON HAND
Fresh Water On Demand 24 Hours a Day
Heaviest, Strongest, Custom Cattle Gate on the Market!
• 2-3/8” 10-gauge O.D. Hi-tensile galv. • 2-3/8” curb post reinforced with a 3”x18” 5 gauge steel rust guard • HD 6-1/2 lb. top rail clamp • Easy installation • Weight per stall - 100 lbs.
UNMATCHED BY ANY OF OUR COMPETITORS.
THE HEAVIEST BUILT IN THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.
Freudenthal MANUFACTURING 715-748-4132 • 1-800-688-0104 • W. 6322 CTH O • MEDFORD, WI 5445
Visit our website: www.freudenthalmfg.com
Page 36 • Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017
Women In Jeans Vicki Herdering Freeport, Minn. Stearns County 95 Holstein cows
Family: My husband, Wayne, and I have two children, Kally, 17, and Ryan, 11. Tell us about your farm. We live on the farm my husband’s grandfather farmed. Wayne’s parents also live on the farm and help us in the day-today farming activities. We raise oats, alfalfa, soybeans and corn on 600 acres. We raise all our own replacement heifers and raise our bull calves for steers. What’s the busiest time of day for you? I help with milking, so denitely mornings and evenings. In the mornings, I make sure the kids get to school with what they need. I also work in town a couple days a week, so I need to get going to work. The evenings consist of chores, helping with homework, after school activities, and getting supper on the table. When you get a spare moment what do you do? I like to read and do yard work. Tell us about your most memorable experience working on the farm. What I remember most is while growing up on a dairy farm, I milked cows with my dad. It was during that time I learned the most about my dad. I learned what things were like when he grew up, his likes and dislikes, and how to work smarter not harder. I also had time to just be silly with him and enjoy his company. What have you enjoyed most about dairy farming or your tie to the dairy industry? I enjoy helping my husband improve and maintain our operation.
How do you stay connected with others in the industry? Many of our friends are farmers, so we get to talk to them. We read many dairy and farming magazines and newspapers, and converse with our nutritionist, veterinarian, milk eldman and other industry representatives. We also attend meetings. In your opinion, what’s the importance of women in today’s dairy industry and how have you seen that change over the years? Today you see women everywhere in the industry – from milking cows and caring for cattle to industry representatives, such as nutritionists, agronomists, veterinarians, A.I. technicians, and sales and marketing representatives. They are great advocates for the industry. With a decreasing numbers of farms, women are an essential part of keeping the industry going strong. What is the best vacation you’ve ever taken? My parents took our family and my sister’s family to Cozumel this past winter. During the trip, we did some fun things, like a Jeep tour of the island, snorkeling and playing on inatables in the ocean, but we had time to just relax, too. We also got to celebrate my daughter’s 17th birthday there. Maybe, it was also knowing that my kids are growing up and the opportunity for going on trips like this are numbered and that made me enjoy every minute. During most of our vacations, we try to cram in as much as possible in the shortest amount of time since we do not get away from the farm often. Often times, we need a vacation from our vacation when we get back. What are some words you like to live by? “Any job worth doing is worth doing well,” and “There are no bad mistakes unless you haven’t learned anything from them.” Ask my kids. They hear them all the time.
FARM INFORMATION STATION Joe Gill • Farm Director
SERVING CENTRAL MINNESOTA FOR OVER 50 YEARS Catch the Dairy Star’s Mark Klaphake with Joe Gill at 6:45 a.m. the 2nd & 4th Fridays of the month on KASM!
PO Box 160, Albany, MN • (320) 845-2184 • Fax (320) 845-2187
tfn
OMNIFOUNT SERIES O • Easy to maintain and clean • Large access panel for ease in maintenance • Heating elements are located directly under the stainless steel trough for exceptional performance and overall heat coverage • Cable heater provides extra valve and supply line protection • Durable insulated with energy efficient
Powerful PTO Pumps To Handle Liquid Manure
polyurethane foam • 304 Stainless steel trough for guaranteed long life • Built in anchor pocket, mounts securely to concrete pad • UL/CUL approved
608-437-5561
FIELD’S Your Material Handling Source Trusted sales and service since 1966
Mt. Horeb, WI
Tanks Spread All Types Of Liquid Manure
See us at Booths 82-83
V&M Distributing 800-648-6507
Visit us on the web:
www.vandminc.com
E-mail: ritchieinfo@vandminc.com • See us on Facebook!
Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017 • Page 37
ConĆ&#x;nued from JER-LINDY | Page 35 lead, they needed to be clipped, washed and prepared for their state fair debut. Linda and Maggie also helped Roberts with the process along with employees Christine Leonard and Lauren Libbesmeier, and others who had the time. “We also had to change the cows’ ration, so having our nutritionist on our team was really important,â€? Jerry said. “We took them off TMR, so Kevin helped us adjust the ration to keep them on track with production.â€? Another instrumental planning aspect was scheduling shifts at the fair along with ďƒžguring out who would be working at the farm and the creamery. Maggie took care of this task. “We asked people who had done the showcase herd in the past for advice and they told us to get more help than you think you need,â€? Linda said. Maggie scheduled 30 people to work either at the fair, on the farm or in the creamery for the state fair’s duration. The Jennissens and Sjostroms liked to have four to ďƒžve people with the showcase herd at the fair at all times. Their days started at 3:30 a.m. with milking, washing the cows and freshening up the pack. Morning chores needed to be done by 6 a.m., when the fair opened. Throughout the days, there were ďƒžve milking demonstrations with four cows each time. That meant
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Tim Struwve, who is an employee for Jer-Lindy Farms and Redhead Creamery, talks with a fairgoer while working a shiĹŒ at the showcase herd display on Aug. 30 during the Minnesota State Fair. some of the cows were milked three times a day while others were milked four times. The moo booth also featured milking contests and other demonstrations with the cows. They also had several media appearances, including a short segment with Al Roker on the Today Show, a brief chat with Joe Soucheray on his 1500AM Garage Logic radio show, and a milking contest with two of the Minnesota Twins players that many media outlets covered.
Each day ended with another milking at 10:30 and wrapped up around 11 p.m. In addition to the Jer-Lindy Farms crew, state fair staff also helped with the logistics of the showcase herd while at the fair. “They really did a lot to make our experience better,� Linda said. “Doris [Mold] does a great job with this educational opportunity.� Visiting with consumers was one of the best parts of having their cows present for
SAUK CENTRE, MN www.mmcjd.com
Phone 320-352-6511 Ask for Ralph or Steve
8600, 2015, 549 Hrs, RWA, Warranty .......... $349,500 8600, 2016, 154 Hrs, RWA, Warranty .......... $409,500 8600, 2016, 148 Hrs, RWA, Warranty .......... $409,500 8100, 2016, 250 Hrs, RWA, Warranty........... $259,000 7780, 2014, 510 Hrs, RWA, Warranty .......... $259,500 7580, 2013, 610 Hrs, RWA, Warranty ............$274,900 7180, 2015, 333 Hrs, RWA, Warranty ........... $245,000 7950, 2012, 694 Hrs, RWA............................$274,900 7450, 2012, 370 Hrs, RWA ........................... $229,000 7850, 2008, 1600 Hrs, RWA .........................$179,500 7550, 2012, 1825 Hrs, RWA ......................... $205,000 7550, 2010, 1344 Hrs, RWA ......................... $209,500 7550, 2008, 1359 Hrs, RWA .........................$189,500 7450, 2009, 1550 Hrs, RWA ........................ $189,500 7450, 2010, 2985 Hrs, RWA ........................ $139,000 7350, 2010, 1100 Hrs, RWA ..........................$199,000 7350, 2008, 2950 Hrs, RWA .........................$149,000 7250, 2012, 423 Hrs, RWA............................$195,000 7800, 2007, 1885 Hrs, RWA ..........................$159,500 7700, 2007, 1570 Hrs, RWA ..........................$169,500 7500, 2005, 2423 Hrs, RWA .........................$135,000 7400, 2004, 2918 Hrs, RWA ..........................$124,900 7300, 2003,3637 Hrs, RWA ............................ $79,000 6950, 1999, 2328 Hrs, RWA ........................... $89,000 6850, 1999, 3120 Hrs, RWA ............................ $79,500
the duration of the fair, Linda said. “We get so bombarded with negative things in the dairy industry ‌ if we use this position as a tool to interact with people it becomes a positive experience and is really valuable to the dairy industry,â€? she said. Along with being able to provide an educational opportunity for the hundreds of thousands of people who attended the state fair, bringing
the showcase herd also created a marketing opportunity for the Jennissens and Sjostroms’ farm and creamery. On their Facebook pages during the fair, they featured a cow-ofthe-day. “People were looking for the cows they liked and were taking their pictures with them,â€? Jerry said. Alison is 6 years old and is the mother of 4-year-old Amira, who stood next to her in the pack. Jangle was the matriarch of the group at 7 years old. Plus there was a pair of sisters in the showcase. “People really enjoy the story of each cow, so having a story is a big deal,â€? Jerry said. Many members of the Jer-Lindy Farms team at the state fair had meaningful conversations with people about dairy. They also answered many questions including the ages of the cows, when cows have their ďƒžrst calf and when do cows start giving milk. “One of my favorite facts to tell people is that cows take something we can’t eat and turn it into something healthy for us to eat,â€? Linda said. Although it was a lot of work with many short nights, the Jennissens and Sjostroms are happy they took this opportunity to show other people their cows. “It has been a great experience and a great memory,â€? Jerry said.
CUSTOM HEIFER RAISING
6850, 1998, 3100 Hrs, 2WD.............................$74,500 6710, 1995, 2908 Hrs, RWA ............................ $68,500 5830, 1991, 4167 Hrs, RWA..............................$37,500 5730, 1986, 4980 Hrs, RWA............................ $35,900 Claas 970, 2008, 3000 Hrs, RWA ...............$175,000 Claas 900, 2005, 2848 Hrs. ....................... $115,000 Claas 890, 2002, 2290 Hrs, RWA ...............$129,000 All hours listed are “cutter hours�
• Over 50 years in the dairy heifer industry dustry riiority • Animal health and comfort is our priority • Proven performance
Competitive all inclusive daily rates
7950
2012, 694 Hrs, RWA
$274,900
Call today for details on our Easy-Lease financing! *Subject to credit approval. Other machines also available for lease. Call for details.
or we can oɈer you the opportunity to free up capital but retain your genetics with our sell/buy back program.
BOERDERY INC. Orange City, IA • 712-541-2765 1-2765
Page 38 • Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017
“DEPENDABLE
PEOPLE AND CONSISTENT YIELDS. THAT’S WHAT WE NEED. THAT’S WHAT WE GET.”
Emily Carolan DuPont Pioneer Account Manager
Brent Fetzer Dairy Producer
Kevin Niebur Pioneer Sales Professional
Wade Crosby DuPont Pioneer Area Manager
The Silage Zone® resource combines proven products, unmatched support and forage management solutions to help you achieve success. See more at pioneer.com/silagestories.
Dairy prole
Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017 • Page 39
sponsored by
Brian and Tiffany Clemenson with their kids, Natalie, 12, Troy, 9, and Grant, 5 Goodhue, Minn. Goodhue County 85 cows
What do you enjoy most about dairy farming? Brian: I like being my own boss and the variety of chores to do everyday. I get to do anything from cows to eldwork. It has been great to raise our kids here. Tiffany: I like the amount of time we get to spend together as a family. The kids learn good life skills. They know about hard work, and they learn about life lessons at a young age, such as losing a cow or seeing a cow give birth.
How did you get into farming? Brian: After I graduated from high school in 1998, I started working for my parents full time. I went into partnership in 2000. Tiffany: I grew up on a beef farm and told my dad I never wanted to marry a farmer, but here we are. We met cruising Broadway in Rochester, Minn. I was 19 and he was 21. Along with helping on the farm, I am a paraprofessional during the school year.
What advice would you give other dairy farmers? Brian: Stick through the bad times because they should get better. Also, it does not hurt to be diversied. Along with our dairy herd, we raise dairy steers and raise extra crops as cash crops. We have 550 acres and grow alfalfa, corn and soybeans. Tiffany: Certain things are out of your hands so you have to go with the ow. But get through it and each day is a new day. I really like the motto of faith, family and farming.
What are your thoughts and concerns about the dairy industry for the next year? Price and oversupply. It is getting scary and a few of our dairy farming friends have had to sell their herds. We do everything to keep debt load low. What is the latest technology you implemented on your farm and the purpose for it? We started using low lignin alfalfa. We seeded this spring
and have gotten two cuttings with the hope to take one more. The quality has been good. It allows for a big-
ger harvest window without losing quality. What is a management practice you changed in the past year that has beneted you? We put in a wireless camera for our maternity pen two years ago. It has helped for both people and cows. We can check on the pen on a screen in our house and can check it on our phone. It is nice to have in the winter so we do not have to get bundled up and so we know if a calf has been born. We can get it in from the freezing cold as soon as possible. We rst started using it the month of January, and we saved two to three calves because they were born during really cold nights. It paid for itself quickly. How do you retain a good working relationship with your employee or employees? We do not have employees. Tell us about a skill you possess that makes dairy farming easier for you. Brian: I am able to do construction. We built all the sheds and our freestall barn. We can save money that way. Tiffany: I am willing to learn. Since I did not grow up on a dairy, I had no clue how everything worked. Now I can do a lot of things myself. Plus, I am patient. I have to be to be married to a dairy farmer.
What has been the best purchase you’ve ever made on your farm? Our heated shop that we built. In the winter, it is nice to have a place to x things and do maintenance out of the cold and snow. In the summer, it is nice to be in the shade and out of the rain. We also use it to get calves ready for the fair. It has lots of light and electricity to make clipping easier. What has been your biggest accomplishment while dairy farming? We are third generation farmers and our kids are the fourth. And, we do it all without hired help. Retrotting a double-8 parallel parlor into our old tiestall barn in 2005 was also an accomplishment. We added a freestall barn in 2001. What are your plans for your dairy in the next year and ve years? We plan to stay the same size, but would like to try to work on production. We have also been buying a few registered animals for the kids to show. They are at the age where they are getting more excited about it. How do you or your family like to spend time when you are not doing chores? In the summer we like to take our boat to the Mississippi River and swim at the sand bars. In the winter, we go snowmobiling. Usually we will also take a short snowmobiling trip with friends.
Star Blends is a full service feed manufacturing facility. We provide custom complete feeds, supplements and minerals. We utilize modern technology to produce your needed products on demand with the highest quality feeds at the best cost. We also offer a wide selection of commodities, ingredients and additives. We are focused on dairy, efficiently delivering to farms in Western Wisconsin. Give us a call, we’d be happy to discuss our commodities or custom products and services with you and your nutritionist.
1919 Riley Road Sparta, WI 54656 | 800.462.4125
Page 40 • Dairy Star • Saturday, September 9, 2017
Trade-Out & Trade-Up!
BIG
Save on new GEA milking equipment Trade-out your old milking units and liners and immediately benefit by trading-up to a better milking performance, at substantial savings. Choose from the GEA IQ Milking Unit or Classic 300E Milking Unit - both available with the ClassicPro GQ silicone liner package. Ask your local GEA milking equipment dealer for the configuration that best fits your farm and take advantage of this special offer today!
Your Local GEA Milking Equipment Dealers
Call us for more information: Advanced Dairy Solutions Richland Center, WI 608-647-4488 • 800-772-4770 Centre Dairy Equipment Sauk Centre, MN 320-352-5762 • 800-342-2697 Eastern Iowa Dairy Systems Epworth, IA • 563-876-3087 Fitzgerald, Inc. Elkader, IA • 563-245-2560
Fuller's Milker Center, Inc. Lancaster, WI • 800-887-4634 www.fullersmilkercenter.com Hobert Sales Inc. Cokato, MN • 320-286-6284 Leedstone Melrose, MN 320-256-3303 • 800-996-3303 Glencoe, MN 320-864-5575 • 877-864-5575 www.leedstone.com
Midwest Livestock Systems Menomonie, WI • 715-235-5144 Owen, WI 715-229-4740 Pine Island, MN • 800-233-8937 Sioux Falls, SD • 800-705-1447 Beatrice, NE • 800-742-5748 Monroe Westfalia Surge Monroe, Wisconsin 608-325-2772 jcraigo@tds.net
Preston Dairy Equipment, Inc. Sparta, Wisconsin 608-269-3830 • 888-863-0227 www.prestonde.com Sioux Dairy Equipment, Inc. Rock Valley, IA 712-476-5608 • 800-962-4346 Colton, SD Service 800-944-1217 Edgerton, MN Chemical Sales 507-920-8626