Milk Messenger: July/August 2019

JULY

/ AUGUST

2019

VOL. 102

/ NO. 1

The Best Milk Makes the Best Cheese MICHIGAN CHEESEMAKER MERGES EUROPEAN HERITAGE WITH LOCAL QUALITY

18

A HELPING HAND ON FARMS

MORE CHEESE PLUS ICE CREAM NEWS INSIDE!

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THE SUN WILL COME UP TOMORROW milk messenger / JUL-AUG 2019

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milk messenger / JUL-AUG 2019

features

22 A Helping Hand on Farms

After 28 years of service as an MMPA member representative and a lifetime career in the dairy industry, Dave Brady was recognized as the 2019 Michigan Dairy Industry Fieldperson of the Year in May.

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THE BEST MILK MAKES THE BEST CHEESE

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THE SUN WILL COME UP TOMORROW

Old Europe Cheese, Inc. in Benton Harbor, Michigan, creates quality cheese by partnering with MMPA to supply quality milk. Sold under the Reny Picot brand, Old Europe Cheese makes delicious, award-winning European-style cheeses sold across the nation.

Through untimely rains, flood watches and tornados, farms across the Midwest struggled through the spring of 2019. Two MMPA farmers talk about resiliency and commitment to the dairy farming lifestyle through yet another trial. milk messenger / JUL-AUG 2019

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contents

12 26 CREAM & SUGAR ICE CREAM COMPANY IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN THIS SUMMER IN BAY CITY.

MCDONALD’S BRAND AMBASSADORS AT THE JUNE DAIRY MONTH FARM TOUR.

05

EDITOR’S NOTE

20

MEET DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE, AARON GASPER

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MILK MINUTE

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Weathering the Storm

MMPA AND MICHIGAN SUGAR COMPANY PARTNER WITH CREAM & SUGAR ICE CREAM COMPANY

Freshly-churned ice cream made using Pioneer Sugar and dairy products produced by MMPA members.

QUALITY WATCH

What should be included when creating a biosecurity plan?

28

MEET MMPA’S INTERNS

10

NEWS & VIEWS

34

YOUR DAIRY PROMOTION AT WORK IN INDIANA

12

LEGISLATIVE WATCH

35

YOUR DAIRY PROMOTION AT WORK IN MICHIGAN

18

THE JOURNEY OF A MILK SAMPLE

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FREELINERS & CLASSIFIEDS

community that comes with being involved in the dairy industry.”

HAILEY SHARRARD, MSU FOOD SYSTEMS FELLOWSHIP INTERN (PAGE 28)

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“I love the sense of family and

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37 MERCHANDISE 38 STAFF 39

MEMBER MOMENT

VOL. 102

/ NO. 1

Milk Messenger (USPS # 345-320) is published bimonthly by the Michigan Milk Producers Association, 41310 Bridge Street, Novi, MI 48376-8002. Periodicals postage paid at Novi and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Milk Messenger, PO Box 8002, Novi, MI 48376-8002.

Chief Executive Officer Joe Diglio Managing Editor Sheila Burkhardt, Senior Director of Member and Government Relations

Refreshing!

BY ALLISON STUBY MILLER, MMPA COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Welcome to the first issue of Volume 102 of MMPA’s Milk Messenger. You may notice some changes! The design of the magazine has been refreshed to enhance its value and achieve efficiencies revealed through a recent member communication survey. With this transition, we are tailoring our communication efforts through the magazine to the engaging stories of our members and partners in the community in the Great Lakes region. If you have any feedback or story ideas, we encourage you to reach out to us at messenger@mimilk.com.

On our cover This month, the delectable Reny Picot cheeses made in Benton Harbor, Michigan are on display. The cheese on the cover is Brie, which has a buttery, creamy flavor. I met with the team at Old Europe Cheese to learn more about their products and loved hearing their appreciation for our dairy farmer members.

More stories inside This issue also introduces readers to one of MMPA’s member representatives, Dave Brady, who has been with the cooperative for almost three decades.

The weather this spring and summer have brought added challenges to MMPA members, so we talked to two members about resiliency in the face of this new obstacle. Finally, if that good-looking cheese on the cover wasn’t enough, turn to our story about the upcoming opening of Cream & Sugar Ice Cream Company to lust over their freshly-churned ice cream.

Editors Allison Stuby Miller, Communications Manager AMiller@mimilk.com Emily Kittendorf, Communications Coordinator EKittendorf@mimilk.com Advertising Manager Nancy Muszynski Muszynski@mimilk.com Publication Designer reZüberant! Inc., Stacy Love rezuberantdesign@gmail.com Printing Foresight Group, Stacey Trzciak staceyt@foresightgroup.net Publication Office MMPA Milk Messenger P.O. Box 8002, Novi, MI 48376-8002 p: 248-474-6672 f: 248-474-0924 w: mimilk.com Established in 1916, MMPA is a member owned and operated dairy cooperative serving dairy farmers in Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin and Ohio.

An Equal Opportunity Employer – F/M/V/D Subscriptions: MMPA members - 50¢ per year Non-members - $5 per year Circulation: 2,600 (ISSN 0026-2315)

milk messenger / JUL-AUG 2019

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MILK MINUTE

Weathering the Storm

BY KRIS WARDIN, MMPA PRESIDENT

“Predicting rain doesn’t count. Building arks does.” – Warren Buffett This financial guru was obviously referring to investing, but it got me thinking about parallels to farming. This spring, many of us felt like our time might be better spent building an ark than trying to farm. It has been decades since we’ve had to fight this hard to get crops in the ground or out of the field, at least on such a widespread basis.

In this issue, you’ll hear about a few of our members and how they weathered the recent storms.

Another thing this spring highlighted is the importance of risk management. Risk management is akin to building an ark. We might pay for crop insurance every year but hope to never collect. Unfortunately, this year many of us will have to hop in the insurance boat.

KRIS WARDIN, MMPA PRESIDENT

Dairy safety net programs in the recent past may have felt more like a life preserver than an ark. The old margin protection program (MPP) was rendered mostly ineffective after changes made to the feed formula pushed the safety net too low.

Upgrades made for 2018 improved on MPP and paved the way for the vastly improved Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program that we now have in the farm bill.

The DMC offers increased coverage under Tier I (up to 5M pounds of milk), higher margin coverage levels (up to $9.50) and an exciting late change to improve the hay quality value used in the feed formula. All these changes add up to improved risk management for farms of all sizes.

DMC signup started June 17, so for those that haven’t already signed up, I’d encourage you to take a good look at this program. Coverage is retroactive back to January 2019, and the first four months already have announced payments. DMC certainly looks more like an ark that will hold up through heavy storms in dairy prices.

The DMC program would not have been possible without the relationships that your dairy industry and co-op leaders have developed with legislators. Through hard work and communication, the shortcomings of MPP were acknowledged in Washington and we worked together to get a program that will truly benefit dairy farmers.

It is critical that we all stay engaged with legislators, both through the co-op and as farmers to let our voices be heard. These relationships are the foundation we can continue to build on to help us weather future storms.

This month’s Milk Messenger is the kickoff of our new format. As was communicated in June, we are refreshing a few of the features based on member communication survey results.

In the future, this column will also change as we look to share perspectives from other individuals within MMPA. We hope you enjoy the content of the Milk Messenger and Member Connection, and we appreciate your continued feedback as we strive to best serve our members.

Since the next Milk Messenger is two months away, I wish you all a great summer— and only enough storms to keep the crops growing!

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L-457HD+ Alfalfa AdvAntAges: More Milk produced per acre More Protein produced per acre More Forage produced per acre More Persistent stands

equals MORe PROFIt PeR ACRe on your alfalfa fields

Call DF Seeds, your Michigan distributor, for more information.

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milk messenger / JUL-AUG 2019

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QUALITY WATCH

What should a farm biosecurity plan include?

WE ASKED THE EXPERTS:

Lindsay Earl

Katelyn & Joe Packard

Dale Dick

MMPA Member Representative

Horning Farms

Haven Farms, LLC

For everyday security and in the rare event of a disease outbreak, it is important to be prepared with a biosecurity plan for your farm. This plan will help you focus on what you can control on your farm in the event of a crisis.

Our family’s farm frequently gives tours of our facility. From single families to Breakfast on the Farm and Dairy Challenge groups, we see an above-average amount of outside foot traffic on a regular basis.

While making sure everyone has a good time is our top priority, our second priority is biosecurity.

For over 30 years, our farm was a closed herd and our biosecurity plan was just to not purchase any cattle that had the potential to bring in diseases. Anybody who entered the farm, including the veterinarians, hoof trimmers and consultants, were also required to clean their equipment and boots before entering the barn, but there were no other practices besides that.

Your biosecurity plan should designate a person to develop the plan and communicate the plan to all individuals who visit your facility. A key component of the biosecurity plan is knowing who is visiting your farm and designating specific traffic areas on the farm to separate visitors from the daily operations of the farm. Members are encouraged to provide visitors a footbath or disposable boots and request that if they have been on farms outside of the U.S. in the past two weeks to not enter the premise.

Other focus areas in your plan should include storage and handling of feed and manure as well as protocols regarding moving cattle on and off the farm. Control measures that minimize exposure between your herd and surrounding wildlife are also important. www.securmilksupply.org and www. nationaldairyfarm.com have great resources available for plan templates and posters to help you ensure proper biosecurity on your farm.

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milk messenger / JUL-AUG 2019

As soon as tour vehicles pull in the driveway, they are greeted by someone from Horning Farms’ family and shown where to park. If there are multiple cars in the group, everyone is asked to go to a pop-up tent to meet up. For single busses and cars, we start the tour right outside the vehicle.

We then request that everyone (even small children who might not be carried the entire way) put on single-service disposable boots over their shoes; tour leaders carry extra boots in case someone’s rip or tear during the tour.

We ask that everyone avoid touching the animals (calves especially), and try not to let any animals lick or suck on fingers, hair, etc., Our guides explain to the visitors that this is not only for our animals’ safety, but for theirs too, as well as any other animals they come into contact with off our farm.

This changed five years ago when we purchased a neighboring farm and more cattle. The cows were healthy overall, but we didn’t want to risk our biosecure farm, so we devised a plan with our veterinarian to use existing equipment and personnel to work with and manage the new herd while keeping both herds healthy.

We decided to keep the cattle on the separate properties and recognized that equipment and employees could transfer manure between locations, our biggest threat to biosecurity. To prevent this, we required employees to have separate boots for each location and made separate paths for equipment on both farms so that manure collected on tires was never transferred between farms.

This system of safeguards isn’t sophisticated, but it reduces the risk of disease transfer between our herds. As we work day-to-day on both farms, we are more mindful about biosecurity practices because of the unique situation we are in.

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NEWS & VIEWS

UPCOMING

EVENTS

Henricks & Krieger Dairy Host Fulton County Breakfast on the Farm Henricks & Krieger Dairy, an MMPA member farm in Fayette, Ohio, opened their doors to 3,529 visitors on June 15 during a Fulton County Breakfast on the Farm event. With the help of 500 volunteers, attendees enjoyed a pancake breakfast, toured the farm and learned more about the dairy industry.

July 11 Advisory Committee Meeting, Novi

July 15-19

BREAKFAST ON THE FARM VISITORS ENJOYED A FREE PANCAKE, SAUSAGE AND EGG BREAKFAST WITH DAIRY PRODUCTS LIKE BUTTER, YOGURT AND MILK ON DISPLAY.

Michigan Dairy Expo, East Lansing

July 17 Great Dairy Adventure, East Lansing

August 13-14 Outstanding Young Dairy Cooperator Conference, Novi

SHAWN AND KIM KRIEGER HAD BREAKFAST WITH OHIO SENATOR THERESA GAVARONE AND DISCUSSED ISSUES FACING THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

September 26 Advisory Committee Meeting, Novi FARM VISITORS FREELY TOURED THE FARM AND WERE WELCOME TO TAKE PICTURES AND SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

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“We think hosting an event like this is really important because so many people today are so far removed from life on a farm that they’ve maybe never stepped foot on a farm of any type,” Kim Krieger said.

“Some of our key messages are sharing that farmers do care about their animals, that we produce a safe and healthy and wholesome product for consumers, and that we care about the environment,” Krieger added.

Henricks & Krieger Dairy is a threefamily partnership founded 72 years ago in Fayette, Ohio. Along with caring for the 150-cow herd, four full-time family members and three part-time employees farm 900 acres of corn, soybeans, alfalfa and wheat. All facets of the farm’s dairy and crop production were on display in 20 educational stations scattered around the farm during the Breakfast on the Farm event.

Focus on Precision Technology that Pays at MSU Ag Innovation Day

MMPA Scholarship Opportunities MMPA members, children of members and employees of members attending Michigan State University (MSU) or Purdue University are eligible to apply for MMPA scholarships.

Authorized by the MMPA Board of Directors, the scholarships encourage post high school study for careers in dairy management to continue the education and implementation of innovation on member’s dairy farms.

Students pursuing a dairy management certificate in the Institute of Agricultural Technology at MSU may apply for $1,750 per semester (for members or children of members) or $1,500 per semester (for employees of members) scholarship monies. MSU scholarship applications are due by September 1.

At Purdue University, there is one $1,000 scholarship available for a student who is a member or child of a member enrolled in any agriculture-related major. MMPA is also working to arrange a similar scholarship program at The Ohio State University.

TO DOWNLOAD AN APPLICATION OR TO FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SCHOLARSHIPS, VISIT MIMILK.COM/ SCHOLARSHIPS.

The 2019 MSU Agriculture Innovation Day will focus on the implementation of precision technology on farms that aids decision-making processes and increases profit margins. The educational field day will deliver cuttingedge information on various precision technology available to farmers—from precision soil sampling to Michigan’s EnviroImpact Tool.

The free event features nine sessions and runs from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 26 at MSU University Farms in Lansing, Michigan. It is an opportunity to hear from science-based experts about innovative technologies that will help producers improve their bottom line while maintaining environmentally sound practices on their farms.

MORE INFORMATION AND A DETAILED LIST OF SESSION DESCRIPTIONS CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.CANR.MSU.EDU/MSU_ AGRICULTURE_INNOVATION_DAY.

Milk is one of the most requested food bank items in the Great Lakes region and nationwide

MMPA is donating 55,000 gallons of milk and 18,000 pounds of cheese to the Food Bank Council of Michigan this summer to fight hunger

Over $1,000 was donated to Feeding America’s Give a Gallon campaign

by MMPA employees and Heritage Ridge Creamery customers in June

MMPA producers scoring 95 percent or higher on Grade A Surveys and Federal Check Ratings David Nisley * Ezra Bontrager * Baese Family Farm LLC * Double Eagle Dairy Inc. *100 percent milk messenger / JUL-AUG 2019

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LEGISLATIVE WATCH

with our senators’ staff and our representative. We discussed issues of international trade, ag labor, school nutrition and the Dairy Pride Act. Everyone we met with was interested in hearing our perspective and willing to gather information on how to support our industry.

PAUL AND NANCY PYLE MET WITH CONGRESSMAN BILL HUIZENGA FROM WEST MICHIGAN WHILE ATTENDING THE NATIONAL MILK PRODUCERS FEDERATION YOUNG COOPERATORS LEGISLATIVE FLY-IN.

MMPA OYDCs visit Washington, D.C.

BY PAUL AND NANCY PYLE, 2018 MMPA OUTSTANDING YOUNG DAIRY COOPERATORS

At the beginning of June, we had the privilege of going to Washington, D.C., for the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) Young Cooperators (YCs) Legislative Fly-In. This was an exciting opportunity for us to connect with other YCs from around the country and also learn about NMPF’s lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill.

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O

n Monday afternoon, we met with the NMPF YC Council to plan the Annual YC Convention this coming November. We discussed various topics of interest to young farmers and speakers who could present on those topics. We followed that with an update on the work NMPF has been doing over the past few months.

Monday evening, all of the YCs participated in a bus tour of the National Monuments. We saw so many different sights and heard the history behind them all too. It was a great time of building relationships with others and getting to see our nation’s capitol.

Tuesday morning we had a briefing on how to lobby on Capitol Hill. In the afternoon, we attended meetings

Our last meeting of the day was with Congressman Bill Huizenga.

Congressman Huizenga is from our same town of Zeeland, and we have known him and his family for many years. We were excited that we were able to meet personally with him.

Through our meeting, he asked if we were flexible with our timing, and since we were, he offered for us to attend an event with him and then go with him to tour the Capitol building and attend the voting procedures in the House of Representatives that night. We had an amazing time learning more about what his daily life looks like as a Congressman and seeing the inner workings of the House of Representatives that not too many people see. We enjoyed deep conversation regarding voting with values and keeping God’s ways as the rock of our character and identity.

On Wednesday, we attended a Political Action Committee (PAC) Breakfast and heard from Congressman Jim Costa, who grew up on a dairy farm in California. Then we sat in on the final session of the NMPF Board Meeting and heard additional information and discussion about ongoing topics in the industry.

Throughout the other days we were in D.C., we visited several sights with other YCs. We continue to celebrate the relationships we are able to build with dairy farmers in different locations, climates and operations than we experience. It was an exciting few days in D.C. and we are grateful for the opportunity to represent MMPA once again.

MMPA helps bring dairy to the Michigan State Capitol

D

airy farmers, stakeholders and influencers gathered on the Capitol lawn in downtown Lansing on June 12 to celebrate Michigan Dairy Foods Awareness Day. The festivities recognized the hardworking dairy farmers that help feed the growing population and contribute to dairy’s sector of Michigan’s economy.

Dairy Foods Awareness Day is hosted by the Michigan Dairy Foods Association, United Dairy Industry of Michigan and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) on the Capitol lawn, with free locally produced dairy foods provided by dairy processors and retailers. This year’s event also included a special appearance by Earl Cureton, former NBA player, WNBA assistant coach and current community ambassador for the Detroit Pistons.

State Senator Ed McBroom (R–District 38) and State Representative Julie Alexander (R–District 64)—who are current and former dairy farmers, respectively—also spoke at the event.

“Michigan’s dairy industry is one of the largest agricultural industries in our state with an annual economic impact of $15.7 billion,” said Governor Whitmer. “Ninety-seven percent of Michigan’s dairy farms are family owned, many by multiple generations of the same family, and our farmers take pride in producing safe, wholesome, nutritious and delicious products for Michigan residents and dairy lovers across the nation and world.”

Dairy is the leading segment of Michigan’s agriculture economy contributing 27 percent of the total cash receipts.

Representatives from Michigan businesses and the dairy industry offered free dairy product samples, ranging from cheese and sour cream dips, to pizza, yogurt, milk and ice cream. MMPA handed out butter cookies and Heritage Ridge cheese.

Advisory Committee DISTRICT 1

Art Riske, Hanover..............................517-524-6015 Clark Emmons, Fayette, OH.................419-466-4471 Brian Preston, Quincy.........................517-376-1350 Scott Ferry, Litchfield..........................517-214-3298 Jeff Horning, Manchester....................734-428-8610

DISTRICT 2

Danny Ransler, Gobles.........................269-628-4218 Dan Ritter, Potterville.........................517-645-7318 Richard Thomas, Middlebury, IN..........574-202-5198 Mark Crandall, Battle Creek.................269-660-2229 Michael Oesch, Middlebury, IN ...........574-825-2454

DISTRICT 3

Bill Stakenas, Free Soil........................231-425-6913 Burke Larsen, Scottville......................231-425-8988 Arlyn Walt, Coopersville......................616-837-8247 Tim Butler, Sand Lake.........................269-330-5538 Bill Gruppen, Zeeland.........................616-520-5143

DISTRICT 4

William Pirman, Skandia.....................906-869-4515 Dave Folkersma, Rudyard....................906-630-1957 Paul Ponik, Posen ...............................989-464-5924 Marvin Rubingh, Ellsworth.................425-533-8106 Jeremy Werth, Alpena.........................989-464-4022

DISTRICT 5

Tom Jeppesen, Stanton.......................989-506-5287 Bruce Benthem, McBain......................231-825-8182 Amy Martin, Leroy..............................231-388-0496 Robert Lee, Marion.............................231-743-6794 Mike Rasmussen, Edmore....................989-379-4694

DISTRICT 6

John Thelen, Westphalia.....................989-587-3951 Renee McCauley, Lowell......................616-283-6411 Steve Thelen, Fowler...........................989-682-9064 David Reed, Owosso............................989-723-2023 Mike Halfman, St. Johns......................989-640-1963

DISTRICT 7

Scott Kleinhardt, Clare........................989-386-8037 Philip Gross, Weidman........................989-289-0670 Jason Elenbaum, Mayville...................989-274-1974 John Bennett, Prescott........................989-345-4264 Rodney Fowler, Chesaning..................989-302-2299

DISTRICT 8

Mike Noll, Croswell.............................810-404-4071 Jeremy Sharrard, Peck.........................810-404-5076 Bryan Schulte, Ruth............................989-551-8200 Bill Blumerich, Berlin..........................810-706-2955 Darwin Sneller, Sebewaing.................989-977-3718 DAIRY DAY AT THE CAPITOL

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POWERFUL PARTNERSHIPS

The Best Milk Makes the Best Cheese OLD EUROPE CHEESE & RENY PICOT MERGE EUROPEAN HERITAGE WITH LOCAL QUALITY

BY ALLISON STUBY MILLER

W

e breeze through curing cellars lined with

cheeses waiting to graduate to retail dairy cases. We move past the cheese vats—both open air and contained—while snaking through a plant that churns out some seriously good cheese. In one room, the Edam, with its “mellow salty, nutty flavor,” momentarily plunges into a pool of red wax before popping back above the surface.

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The Edam is just one of many cheeses crafted within these walls. There’s Gouda and Fontina and a unique Mantoro. Plus Brie and Camembert.

Buttery and creamy or sweet and salty, the award-winning stars of Old Europe Cheese, Inc. are made in Benton Harbor, Michigan and sold under the Reny Picot brand. MMPA partners with Old Europe Cheese, supplying the milk and cream to make these European-style cheeses.

International name, local craftmanship The Reny Picot brand originated in northern Spain and is managed by Old Europe Cheese’s parent company, Industrias Lácteas Asturianas (ILAS).

The multinational dairy company is extended into all dairy categories and owns facilities in five different countries.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

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POWERFUL PARTNERSHIPS BEST MILK BEST CHEESE — CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

Albano Navarro recently took the helm of the Benton Harbor location, with dual responsibilities over the ILAS facility in Poland. “The company will soon be 60 years old and has been owned by one family since the very beginning,” he said.

As ILAS expanded and Americans developed an appetite for Europeanstyle, ILAS opened Old Europe Cheese as their U.S. subsidiary in 1987.

The location, “nestled between the pristine waters of Lake Michigan and the rolling hills of the Michigan wine country,” was carefully selected.

The location, “nestled between the pristine waters of Lake Michigan and the rolling hills of the Michigan wine country,” was carefully selected. A former MMPA plant, the facility had the “rudimentary infrastructure” in place before it was converted to a cheese plant. François Capt, recently retired general manager, emigrated from France as a fourth generation cheese maker and set to work bringing European-style cheese making to southwest Michigan.

Old Europe Cheese imported special open cheese making vats from France, which “allowed for the tried and true method of hand cutting the cheese curd.” Meanwhile, experts from across the pond constructed brining systems and curing cellars, plus the best cutting and packaging equipment “to ensure the perfect wrap on the perfect cheeses.”

According to Old Europe Cheese, a unique feature of their cheese comes from their propriety cheese cultures.

“The cheese makers at Old Europe Cheese harvest exclusive starter cultures from carefully nurtured vats right at the plant.”

Old Europe Cheese sees their cheesemaking process as an “art form” and take pride in the craftmanship in each piece of Michigan-made cheese.

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OLD EUROPE CHEESE CREATES A VARIETY OF CHEESES SOLD AT STORES ACROSS THE NATION UNDER THE RENY PICOT BRAND.

Quality makes the cheese Michael Balane, national sales director, makes it his mission to bring Old Europe’s gourmet cheese to stores both down the road and across the country.

The Reny Picot cheese made in Benton Harbor can be found in small markets as well as larger grocery store chains like Kroger, Meijer and Busch’s Fresh Food Market.

Balane credits their award winning cheese to starting with quality milk from MMPA farms. “You can’t make a great bottle of wine with bad grapes nor can you make a good piece of cheese with bad milk,” he said.

“

“You can’t make a great bottle of wine with bad grapes nor can you make a good piece of cheese with bad milk.”

Navarro’s experience in dairy across the globe adds a new appreciation for MMPA farms’ ability to produce milk to meet their needs. “It is really amazing the quality of the milk we are receiving.

It is so fresh,” Navarro added.

Plant Manager Scott Ness says the awards lining their conference room are a testament to their quality. From the World Championship Cheese Contest to the American Cheese Society, their cheeses are commonly stacked up against cheesemakers from across the U.S. and the world.

GOUDA

BAKED APPLE BRIE

“We are fortunate in that when we place something into a contest, we win some kind of award,” Ness said.

“At these contests, it’s not one or two cheesemakers anymore, it’s thousands of cheesemakers in categories, so that speaks highly of the quality of the milk and our cheese.”

“We have won a lot of awards, but we’re always improving,” Balane added. “You can’t stop or, just like on a highway, you’ll get run over.”

More to come The facility is keeping up with ever changing food safety standards and consumer-driven desires. The plant is Safe Quality Foods (SQF) certified at the highest level. SQF is a globally trusted, recognized and accepted food safety and quality program. Sustainability is another focus area and they continue to look at

their footprint and explore new ways to reduce waste.

Since the plant was originally converted to cheese production, Old Europe Cheese has undergone several expansions and keeps their product offerings up to date with current demands. A recent addition was a bakery option so they can produce baked brie, packaged and ready for consumers to serve.

European-style cheeses continue to gain popularity in the United States, so the company sees continued growth ahead.

“One of the exciting things is the American cheese palette is becoming more sophisticated,” Balane said. “A lot of our growth is the consumers have gotten smarter and more attune to it.”

With new leadership, the company is optimistic about the future and envisioning new plans to further combine Old Europe Cheese’s legacy with new technology and consumer demands.

Stepping out of Old Europe Cheese, it’s easy to appreciate the commitment and craftmanship behind each piece of cheese. Room after room, cellar after cellar, they care about making “the best cheese from the best milk.”

MANTORO

CHEESEMAKERS AT OLD EUROPE CHEESE’S FACILITY IN BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN, BUILD ON THE LEGACY OF EUROPEAN CHEESEMAKING. THE AGING CELLARS WERE BUILT BY FRENCH TECHNICIANS WHEN THE PLANT WAS CONVERTED TO CHEESEMAKING.

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INFOGRAPHIC

Everyday, thousands of milk samples from MMPA members’ farms are transferred across the region to MMPA’s milk quality testing laboratory in Novi, Mich. At the lab, samples are tested for a variety of indicators that are used to ensure quality and safety along with determining milk premiums and milk component levels for member payment.

The MMPA laboratory is equipped to handle a variety of tests. Along with testing to meet state and federal regulations, members can request additional testing to closely monitor their milk quality. This desire to produce the most wholesome and safe product requires that a sample is collected from every farm shipment to assure compliance with not only food safety regulations, but also to meet or exceed the milk quality standards of MMPA’s various customers.

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COLLECTION AT THE FARM

ICE BATH TO REFRIGERATOR

DELIVERY TO LABORATORY

A milk sample is collected from each tank at the farm by a licensed hauler to be used for payment testing.

The samples are kept in an ice bath inside the truck and then placed in a refrigerator at a processing plant.

Vans pick up the milk samples and deliver them to the laboratory overnight. For farms outside of driving distance, samples are shipped via mail carriers to Novi for testing.

milk messenger / JUL-AUG 2019

MMPA’s Novi laboratory also offers several other testing services such as: • Quality “specials” that include RBC, PIC, lab pasteurized count (LPC), and Coliform bacteria testing • Cow tests that include SCC and culturing • Water testing showing Coliform bacteria for state and federal regulations For other testing services, please contact your member representative or the Novi office.

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EVALUATION OF SAMPLES

THE TESTING PROCESS

NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS

In the morning, milk samples are evaluated to ensure that they meet testing requirements. If the quality criteria are met, they are sorted based on test type.

Payment samples are tested for: 1) components – butterfat (BF), protein (PRO), other solids (OS) and somatic cell count (SCC) 2) quality – pre-incubated bacteria count (PIC), raw bacteria count (RBC) and somatic cell count (SCC).

Once the test results are available, producers receive them instantaneously on the member portal or via text or email alerts. The results may also be mailed for a small fee.

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BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Meet Director-at-Large, Aaron Gasper Delegates recently elected Aaron Gasper to serve a three-year term on the MMPA board of directors. He joins the 12 other dairy farmers on the MMPA board of directors, helping guide the direction of the cooperative and setting strategic goals.

Prior to being elected to the MMPA board of directors, Gasper served on the MMPA advisory committee, as the Mid-Michigan Local vice president, MMPA nominating committee and the MMPA resolutions committee. In 2007, Gasper and his wife, Andrea, were named MMPA Outstanding Young Dairy Cooperators. He has also earned an MMPA 20-year milk quality award and a Dairy Shrine award in 2001.

AARON GASPER MMPA BOARD MEMBER

“

“The cooperative is made stronger through friendship and fellowship.

What keeps me going

Gasper owns Lew Max Holsteins, a 550 cow dairy in Lowell, Michigan. He earned a dairy management certificate from Michigan State University and graduated from California Polytechnic State University with a bachelor’s degree in dairy science and a minor in agribusiness. He and Andrea have two children.

How has MMPA impacted your farm?

I take advantage of all the services MMPA provides our farms. Our member representative, Brittni Tucker, is a great asset. She keeps a close eye on the farm and helps us meet quality goals. If my counts start getting out of whack, she is the first to roll in.

is my fellow dairymen

What do you value most about MMPA?

who help keep things

During the tough times, especially, I value the input of the people who are positive about where we’re going. The cooperative is made stronger through friendship and fellowship. What keeps me going is my fellow dairymen who help keep things positive and are optimistic about the future.

positive and are optimistic about the future.”

Why did you want to join the board of directors?

For me, it was just the next step of continuing my leadership with the co-op. I started my involvement at the local and district level and have been active on various committees.

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What are your goals and vision while serving on the board of directors?

We need to push forward and continue to be on the cutting edge. We can’t be the same old same old. I want to be part of the decision making as we continue to make our co-op one of the best in the nation. I believe we are the best co-op.

What would you tell members looking to become more active within the cooperative?

Start at your local. Go to your local meetings, your district meetings and tell us what you think. The members are the bread and butter, they’re the backbone. They are the people that make us go. We want to hear your input and your decisions.

4-H TOUR

MMPA 4-H Milk Marketing Tour EVENT INTRODUCES 4-H AND FFA YOUTH TO CAREERS IN THE DAIRY INDUSTRY For over 80 years, the MMPA 4-H Milk Marketing Tour has provided youth interested in the dairy industry two days of dairy and milk marketing tours, presentations and activities. The packed schedule includes visiting M M PA’s Novi office and laboratory and touring Michigan Dairy, a dairy processing plant in Livonia, Michigan.

This year, 21 4-H and FFA students met with leaders in the Michigan dairy industry and explored careers in milk marketing as they completed scavenger hunts, team challenges, a milk tasting and more. Youth had the opportunity to have lunch with MMPA staff where they asked career-related questions to better understand the variety of careers involved in marketing milk. The event was hosted by past 4-H Tour participants, Rebecca Dunn and Addy Battel.

Five participants from the tour will be selected to attend a sponsored trip to the National 4-H Dairy Conference and World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin this fall.

2019 Participants Kendra Rubingh, Ellsworth, Michigan Gerl Pish, Quincy, Michigan Autumn Dunn, Quincy, Michigan Hope Shilling, Reading, Michigan Hayley Wineland, Coldwater, Michigan Kaylee Kriser, Quincy, Michigan Creo Smith, Bronson, Michigan Aricin Smith, Bronson, Michigan Madison Halfman, St. Johns, Michigan Adalee Thelen, St. Johns, Michigan Ian Black, Eagle, Michigan Kassidy Thelen, Westphalia, Michigan McKayla Clymer, Wauseon, Ohio Corbin Redman, Alma, Michigan Jason Kushmaul, Pittsford, Michigan Emily Wilson, Blanchard, Michigan McKenzie Bradley, Blanchard, Michigan Madelynn Webster, Barryton, Michigan Joshua Tripp, Dorr, Michigan Megan Marion, Saline, Michigan

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FIELDPERSON OF THE YEAR

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DAVE BRADY RECOGNIZED AS 2019 MICHIGAN DAIRY INDUSTRY FIELDPERSON OF THE YEAR

A Helping Hand onFarms

BY EMILY KITTENDORF

After 28 years of pulling up farms’ driveways, putting it in park, popping open the trunk, sloshing sanitizer into a bucket, scrubbing your boots and making your way into the heart of the dairy farm – the parlor – you know a lot about the dairy industry and you’re especially acquainted with hardworking farmers.

S

erving as MMPA member representative south area supervisor, Dave Brady understands the effort required to produce high quality milk and is always willing to give a helping hand to MMPA’s producers.

Often working early mornings, late nights and occasional weekends, the culmination of Brady’s dedication and service to the industry was represented in being awarded the 2019 Michigan Dairy Industry Fieldperson of the Year in May. Presented annually at the Michigan Dairy Industry Conference (MDIC), the award serves as recognition for Brady’s outstanding service and as a thank you in an often underrecognized career.

“Dave has served the dairy farmer members in the southeast Michigan area and northern Ohio very, very well,” Gary Trimner, retired director of member services, said. “He has provided the feedback they needed for their operations and has kept farm ratings at a passing level.”

On farms, Brady serves as jack of all trades: cleaning milking systems, writing herd health plans, completing inspections and helping in whatever way possible.

Recently, the changing demands from consumers have led to updates of policies and changes in requirements in the dairy industry. Assisting with implementing these changes has kept Brady busy and his extensive history with MMPA has helped him better understand the needs of the producers he works with.

“We are asking farms to do a lot more now than what they used to,” Brady said.

“But instead of saying just do it, we are there to show them how to get to that point.

If they need to improve their milk quality, we have services to do that: herds tests, CONTINUED ON PAGE 24 milk messenger / JUL-AUG 2019

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FIELDPERSON OF THE YEAR

“

“Instead of saying ‘just do it,’ we are there to show them HOW to get to that point.

If they need to improve their milk quality, we have services to do that: herds tests, inspections and wash checks. We aren’t asking them to do anything that we can’t help them with.”

DAVE BRADY WAS AWARDED THE 2019 MICHIGAN DAIRY INDUSTRY FIELDPERSON OF THE YEAR AT THE MICHIGAN DAIRY INDUSTRY CONFERENCE IN MAY 2019.

HELPING HAND — CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

inspections and wash checks. We aren’t asking them to do anything that we can’t help them with.”

Prior to working with MMPA, Brady worked at Southern Milk Sales, a cooperative in Indiana that had Brady completing many of the tasks he does daily now. This experience, along with knowledge gained working at Hygeia Dairy Company, a bottling plant in Corpus Christi, Texas, let him see the “other side of cooperatives”.

The well-rounded experience paired with his dairy science degree from Michigan State University allows Brady to be any farm’s hands-on investigator – able to diagnose problems and present solutions all in the name of improving milk quality and helping the farmer’s bottom line. Brady is most often called on by farmers asking for help decreasing their somatic cell count, a key milk

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quality indicator that correlates with levels of infection and can impact the amount of milk premiums they receive.

“If I visit somebody that really wants help getting their somatic cell count down, and we identify and correct something in their operation so that they get it down, they are so happy that they can earn premiums and that they corrected the problems,” Brady said. “There is a lot of enjoyment in knowing that because we were out there and we helped them, now they’re doing better than they were before. And right now, if they are not making all their premiums, with the price where it’s at, they need to be.”

when milk prices are low, and the industry is rapidly changing to meet the demands of consumers.

MMPA calls on member representatives to build relationships with members to better serve them during the challenging times the dairy industry has experienced. Brady recognizes the importance of his job and his fellow member representatives, especially

As of 2016, MMPA members have been required to enroll in the FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) animal care program, a national thirdparty verified animal care and welfare program. Prior to that, the MAEAP (Michigan Agriculture Environmental

CAPTURED IN 2010 INSPECTING MILKING EQUIPMENT, BRADY CONTINUES TO BE AN ASSET ON MMPA’S FARMS.

Previous MMPA member representatives awarded the Michigan Dairy Industry Fieldperson of the Year Christina Dinsmoore (2012) Jack Stickler (2011) Gary Hughes (2010) Michael Marvin (2008) Dean Letter (2007) Gerry Volz (2006) Gary Mills (2004) Steve Beroza (2003) Richard Fluegge (2002) Steven Lehman (1999) Thomas Herremans (1997) Gibson “GIB” Strickling (1996) Preston Cole (1995) Robert Schaifle (1993) Egbert Machiela (1992) Robert Smith (1990) Dale Thompson (1989) Neil Wright (1987) Mel Newton (1986) Duane Crouch (1985) Roy Chapin (1984) Dean Hewitt (1983) Robert Dewey (1980) John Davis (1978) Spencer Wilson (1976) WHEN COMPLETING INSPECTIONS, BRADY ANALYZES ALL AREAS OF THE PARLOR TO ENSURE THAT PROTOCOLS ARE FOLLOWED AND THAT RECOMMENDATIONS MADE DURING THE LAST INSPECTION WERE CONSIDERED.

Assurance Program) became a voluntary certification that farms could obtain to implement agricultural pollution prevention practices.

standards are met, and occasionally as shoulders to cry on and a person to vent to when everything gets to be too much.

In response to new programs and a change in members’ needs, MMPA member representatives serve as teachers during interactive trainings like Dairy Care Academy, as motivators to ensure that MMPA’s customers’

“Sometimes, we are the bartender,” Brady said. “We hear the problems, and there’s not a whole lot we can do about it. I can help them get their premiums, but I can’t do a thing about the price.”

The tremendous role member representatives play on members’ farms and in the dairy industry as a whole makes them a valuable part of the team.

Although recognition is often scarce, the Michigan Dairy Industry Field Person of the Year award serves as a thorough thank you for the time, the effort and the helping hand they provide in an industry that is the backbone of Michigan.

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CREAM & SUGAR

MMPA AND MICHIGAN SUGAR COMPANY PARTNER WITH NEW ICE CREAM COMPANY

Cream & Sugar M

ichigan Sugar Company and MMPA are proud to announce their involvement with the start-up of Cream & Sugar Ice Cream Company, a new, locally-sourced ice cream company located at 122 Uptown Drive in Bay City, Michigan.

The development of Cream & Sugar stemmed from a collaboration of ideas between Shaheen Development, Michigan Sugar Company and MMPA. The Cream & Sugar Ice Cream Company will be owned and operated

by HORIZONS Conference Center.

All the ice cream will be made using all-natural Pioneer Sugar and dairy products produced by MMPA members.

Scheduled to open this summer, Cream & Sugar’s 16 hand dipped gourmet flavors will be produced on site in a peanut-free environment and sold in three forms – cones, cups and ice cream sandwiches that feature a scoop placed on or between one or two fresh-baked cookies.

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“We are looking forward to serving our gourmet, freshly churned ice cream to the Great Lakes Bay Region. Working with Michigan Sugar Company & MMPA has been a team effort from the beginning and we will continue to bring the best ingredients and unique flavors to Uptown Bay City,” said Krista Scott, Operations Manager, Cream & Sugar Ice Cream Company.

“

“Cooperation with a fellow ag cooperative, Michigan Sugar Company, and the union of two great ingredients, cream and sugar, complement each other with every scoop of locallymade ice cream.”

“Cream & Sugar Ice Cream Company provides an invaluable platform for two cooperatives, Michigan Sugar and MMPA, to share their ‘Made in Michigan’ stories,” said Mark Flegenheimer, President and CEO of Michigan Sugar Company. “As we look at new ways to advertise and market Michigan Sugar Company, this endeavor checks all the boxes – our product is at the forefront of the entire operation, our storyline about being ‘Locally Grown. Locally Owned.’ is woven into the DNA of the business, and it creates a strategic partnership with two other world-class operations.”

“MMPA continues to seek innovative relationships that create value for our members and our communities,” MMPA CEO Joe Diglio said. “Cooperation with a fellow ag cooperative, Michigan Sugar Company, and the union of two great ingredients, cream and sugar, complement each other with every scoop of locally-made ice cream.”

All parties have been involved in the planning process for Cream & Sugar Ice Cream Company, providing input on its look, feel and offerings. The new store joins the lineup of restaurant and retail stores already located within the Galleria at Uptown Place and will feature indoor and outdoor seating options with picturesque views of the Saginaw River and convenient access to the Riverwalk and Downtown Bay City.

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MEET MMPA’S INTERNS

Haley Horiski

Michael Iacobelli

Internship: Human Resources

Internship: Supply Chain & Sales

College: Western Michigan University

College: Michigan State University

Year in School: Senior

Year in School: Senior

Major: Human Resource Management

Major: Supply Chain Management

Dream Job: Human Resources Director

Dream Job: Procurement or Logistics Manager at StockX

What previous experiences do you have that have helped prepare you for your internship?

What are you most excited about doing during your time as an MMPA intern?

At school I am in multiple clubs and organizations, I’m the Vice President of Communications for the Society of Excellence for Human Resource. Along with in my sorority Chi Omega, I have held positions as the Risk Manager and currently the Career and Personnel Development Director.

As an MMPA intern, I am most excited to gain my first experience in the field of supply chain and learn about the milk industry, an area completely foreign to me. This internship aligns with my future goals and will build a foundation that will become stronger as my career continues.

How does this MMPA internship experience fit into your future career goals?

What do you like most about working in the dairy industry?

This internship is something that will help me grow in multiple ways. I hope to someday be a human resource director and right now I am getting the hands-on experience I need. Being able to see how a real HR team operates and being able to help them in anyway I can will be very beneficial for me in my future HR career.

I am also very lucky to have Kelly teaching me something new every day!

The thing I like most about working in the dairy industry is that it provides new challenges and outlooks. These challenges arise from rudimentary understanding of the industry and I look forward to overcoming them and broadening my views.

White Lake, MI

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Northville, MI

Alex Arnst

Hailey Sharrard

Internship: Finance/Accounting

Internship: MSU Food Systems Fellowship

College: Northwood University

College: Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Year in School: Junior

Year in Vet School: 2nd Year

Major: Business Finance

Major: Veterinary Medicine Undergraduate Major: Animal Science

Dream Job: Detroit Pistons Owner

Dream Job: Dairy-focused large animal practitioner in Michigan’s thumb

What are you most excited about doing during your time as an MMPA intern?

What previous experiences do you have that have helped prepare you for your internship?

I am most excited about gaining valuable experience that will transfer well to future careers in many industries.

Specifically, I am working to expand my skills in financial programs and also beginning to understand the details about how cooperatives operate. I am also excited about the connections that I have developed so far and the extremely knowledgeable team that I get to shadow and learn from each day.

My family farm has been a long-time MMPA member. Being involved on the dairy growing up helped me to understand the dairy industry (both the struggles and the positives) as well as a little bit about what MMPA was all about.

Throughout my time as an undergraduate in animal science at MSU, as well as my first year of vet school, my eyes were opened to the fact that there are a lot of different ways to milk a cow and that there are many different ways to approach opportunities on a farm to achieve the same goals.

Bannister, MI

How does this MMPA internship experience fit into your future career goals?

This position allows me to perform tasks in many different areas of finance and accounting. It has already provided me with an insight into what it could be like on a daily basis of working in one of these fields. No matter where I end up in the future, I will be able to use this experience to grow and further develop my skills.

Peck, MI

What do you like most about working in the dairy industry?

I love the sense of family and community that comes with being involved in the dairy industry. Everybody knows each other, and even in tough times, there is always a hand nearby to offer help. It’s not just a job we have to do, it’s a way of life, and one that I’m proud to be a part of.

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FEATURE

THE SUN WILL COME UP TOMORROW

BY MELISSA HART

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Extension resources for farmers struggling during planting season Michigan State University Extension and Purdue University Extension have developed resources for farmers who are facing financial and emotional challenges. Educators throughout the state have created programming and resources designed to help farmers deal with the logistical, financial and personal implications of these difficult circumstances.

MSU Extension: extension.msu.edu/delayedplanting Purdue University Extension: extension.purdue.edu/article/34667

MEMBER FARMS RESILIENT THROUGH UNPRECEDENTED WEATHER CONDITIONS

T

he spring of 2019 will be remembered as one of the toughest on record to get crops planted and first cutting hay harvested. Farms across the Midwest struggled with untimely rains, flood watches and tornados and even the shrewdest of operators found themselves facing the close of planting season with half of their crop in the ground and wondering what the future would hold. Add this to a struggling dairy economy and the future looks bleak for anyone who is producing milk for a living.

“When things are difficult and it’s one of those tough days or weeks, there are two things that keep me focused; faith and family,” Darwin Sneller, MMPA member from Sebawaing, Michigan, said. “I believe that the Good Lord chose us to be dairymen and farmers.

We are a special group of people who deal with more uncertainty than any other occupation and yet are relied upon to feed the world.”

Darwin and Kathy Sneller own and operate Starward Farms, in partnership with Kathy’s brother, Walter Gremel, and son and daughter-in-law Eric and Cassie Sneller. CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

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FEATURE THE SUN WILL COME UP TOMORROW — CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

“The simple things are the most therapeutic and satisfying.

“There have been plenty of tough times but never this length of time and every commodity we deal with, in the dumps, all at once,” Sneller said. “Now this spring we have been dealt the toughest planting season, being drawn out over three months and still there is a lot of ground which did not get planted.

What does this hold for a poor dairy economy? Stay tuned because I don’t think anyone knows.”

That new heifer calf, that cow scoring excellent . . . all things

On June 9, only 3.5 days had provided proper conditions for fieldwork in Michigan since the beginning of the year. About 63% of the state’s corn crop was planted, down from 88 percent on the same date in 2018. Less than half of the soybean crop was planted.

Richard and Trula Thomas milk 100 cows in Middlebury, Indiana, with their son Sheldon. They purchased the farm and have been producing milk for 40 years.

“I’m committed to this lifestyle. I knew it was going to be bad at times and maybe I’m too much of an optimist, but I’m hoping things will turn around quickly,” he said.

Thomas flat out admits that he enjoys milking cows and that’s what has kept him rising every morning to take care of his Registered Holstein herd.

that give pride and accomplishment in your work.”

“I keep thinking that things are going to turn around and it has turned around somewhat, but it needs to get a lot higher and stay there.”

Hindsight is 20/20 and Thomas thinks that he should have sold out in 2008 when the cows were worth more and before the dairy prices went south in 2009. Now ten years later the dairy economy stifles his ability to make updates on the farm.

Both Sneller and Thomas have a keen focus on improving the genetics in their Registered Holstein herds. Both have bred and developed cows through the years that have garnered awards and banners in the show ring and the bulk tank. This focus has given them a spark to wait out the down markets and keep moving forward. Sneller commented, “The simple things are the most therapeutic and satisfying. That new heifer calf, that cow scoring excellent, placing high at the shows, are all things that give pride and accomplishment in your work.”

Family is paramount in tough times, Sneller explained. “On those tough

New flexibility for farmers available after groups urged USDA to help farms that have been unable to plant due to wet weather The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on June 20 it would permit farmers to use their unplanted land to plant cover crops and use them for livestock grazing, hay, or silage starting on September 1 and still maintain eligibility for crop insurance. This is typically not allowed until November 1, but the date change will allow farmers to get more out of their land before the winter, while also addressing shortages in livestock feed caused by extreme weather.

USDA is currently finalizing funding requirements for $3 billion in agricultural disaster assistance due to flooding in 2019, recently approved by Congress.

In June, MMPA was among a multi-state coalition of agricultural organizations seeking approval for emergency provisions allowing the planting and harvesting of forages on prevented planting acres without date restrictions. In addition, Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow from Michigan and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer all wrote letters to USDA for disaster assistance.

Lawmakers in Michigan allocated $15 million to a low-interest loan program to help farmers who face financial losses because wet weather made it hard to plant crops.

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days, it’s the little things that pick me up. My wife can give me a hug and a kiss on the cheek and say, ‘it will be okay.’ Your kids or parents are there to help and give a kind word. And of course, there are the grandkids,” Sneller said. “It can be a tough day and the grandkids in Maine call and just make you forget the problems. Or the 2-yearold who jumps out of his moms’ arms to get a ride with grandpa in the tractor, always brings a smile.”

Thomas believes that resiliency to stay in the dairy business is a must, but not everyone has it. When asked what advice he has for any young person jumping into the dairy business he replied with a chuckle, “Make sure you have a rich uncle.” He looks forward to the dairy economy picking up while he continues to develop their herd and market their elite genetics.

In the foreseeable future, Sneller says their farm is solid, “We have been able to do what we need to, in order to stay progressive. There are changes we have talked about, but we need for prices to pick up to make them feasible.”

Sneller also offered his two cents worth of advice for the younger generation, “A young person wanting to get into dairy farming needs to be connected with their family or as a valued herdsperson on an existing dairy. They have to have cow sense and financial smarts, unless they have won the lottery.”

Resilience is required to survive in this business, according to Sneller, “As far as being resilient, you have to be. Stuff always happens. You just deal with it, learn from it and move on. The sun will come up tomorrow.”

Sneller concluded, “I don’t have any magic answers in these difficult times, but keep a positive attitude and find ways to keep things light. Smile and laugh, it is contagious.”

y r i a D revenue protection

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YOUR DAIRY PROMOTION AT WORK

The American Dairy

EVENT SPOTLIGHT: JUNE DAIRY MONTH

Association Indiana (ADAI)

Each year to celebrate June Dairy Month, ADAI hosts a dairy open house at a different farm around the state. This year, the Goltstein family opened the doors of their farm in Winchester County to hundreds of eager community members. Tony and Yvonne Goltstein started Union Go Dairy in 2003 after moving from the Netherlands to pursue growth opportunities in the United States. They care for 1,650 cows along with their children Rob, Maike and Sanne, who is now raising the third generation on the farm. The free event helped folks to connect with farmers and ask questions. Tours were held throughout the day to show visitors every aspect of dairy farming, given by the family, dairy nutritionist, veterinarian and others involved in the farm. Attendees were very interested to see the environmental stewardship that dairy farmers focus on every day, reducing, reusing and recycling many of the resources on the farm. Almost half of the visitors had never been on a dairy farm before, and 100 percent of visitors said they left feeling more positively about dairy farming.

is excited to work on behalf of dairy farmers to connect the public with dairy.

Thanks to partnerships, events and conversations, ADAI piques an interest in those consumers hungry for information. We are proud to show the public the real story of dairy thanks to our farmers producing a safe, nutritious product every day of the year. Check out some of our programs and people below and connect with us

CONNECT WITH US: IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN HOSTING A FARM TOUR, WE OFFER ON-SITE SUPPORT, RESOURCES AND MORE. PLEASE CONTACT ALLIE RIETH (RIETH@WINNERSDRINKMILK.COM) TO LEARN ABOUT FARM TOUR PLANNING AND INFORMATION.

at any time through social media, @INDairy!

PARTNERSHIP UPDATE: DOMINO’S PIZZA, MCDONALD’S, WICK’S PIES During June Dairy Month and the Union Go farm tour, we worked with our partners that promote dairy products throughout the year, including McDonald’s, Domino’s Pizza and Wick’s Pies. These and many other partners came together to share the story of dairy with the public, and to build trust with consumers.

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ABOVE: VISITORS GET A “TASTE” OF A DAIRY COW’S DIET, AS DEMONSTRATED BY NUTRITIONISTS AT CARGILL RIGHT: GETTING UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THE COWS WAS A HIGHLIGHT FOR FARM TOUR VISITORS

HANNA KELLEY

STAFF FEATURE: HANNA KELLEY, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS When she started at ADAI, Hanna Kelley served as Health & Wellness Manager, providing sciencebased dairy nutrition information to healthcare providers, schools and the community. She now leads these efforts and more as the Director of Health & Wellness. In this role, she will continue to oversee nutrition communications and assume supervision of youth wellness initiatives including the Fuel Up to Play 60 program. Hanna, a registered dietitian, is a Ball State University graduate. She is the former Executive Director for the Indiana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and in 2010 was recipient of their Emerging Dietetic Leader Award. She currently serves as chairperson for the Cardiovascular, Diabetes (and Stroke) Coalition of Indiana, and co-chairs the Healthy Schools Action Team for the Indiana Healthy Weight Initiative. She lives in Muncie with husband Trevor.

UNITED DAIRY INDUSTRY OF MICHIGAN

Practice. And be prepared.

It started with a phone call from a neighbor farmer, “Have you heard what’s going on at X farm? The state vet is there and lots of camera crews are in the area.”

Social media is lighting up with stories and personal perceptions about what may or may not be taking place, who is involved and what will happen in the future.

The media shares a story, some of the details are correct, some are not and some are unknown.

This is a fictional scenario that was practiced recently at a dairy industry crisis drill. A group of 70 dairy farmers, cooperative and processor representatives, extension and dairy promotion staff spent an intense day practicing their response to a fictional dairy crisis. Michigan was well represented at the recent crisis drill by three dairy farmers, two cooperative staff, three processors, an MSU Dairy Educator, the State Veterinarian and United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM) staff.

UDIM co-hosted the hand’s-on crisis drill with the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy and our peers at

American Dairy Association Indiana and American Dairy Association Mideast.

The first day of the drill included breakout sessions where participants started on-farm crisis plans, honed their media skills or practiced their social media response.

UDIM has resources to help you create an on-farm crisis plan and introduce the resources to help your farm and family prepare for a potential crisis. We can also help during a crisis.

An on-farm crisis could affect not only your farm, but your family, the families of your employees, your community and others in the industry.

QUOTES FROM CRISIS DRILL PARTICIPANTS: “I have a better understanding of the proportions of a crisis and different perspectives within one. Each of us is an important link and I was pleased to be a part of the team from Michigan. At our MSU Extension Dairy Team meeting, I shared some things that I learned in the process and look forward to continued discussions about this important topic. Protecting the dairy industry is not the job of one, it is the job of all.”

– PHIL DURST, MSU DAIRY EXTENSION EDUCATOR

“My impression of the drill was that it was as close to a real life situation as it could have been! I cannot imagine living in one of these scenarios for weeks or months at a time while trying to keep an operation going.

We have taken the steps at our farm to prepare a list of the agencies we can utilize if we had a crisis. We have identified key partners and have their contacts documented.

If I could convey one thing to my fellow dairy friends, it would be to utilize the organizations and agencies around you and ask for HELP! Bring it to the attention of your partners at UDIM and your cooperative. I cannot overemphasize the importance of developing a crisis management team and adding the numbers of key individuals at the local, state, and national levels to your crisis management list.”

– CAMI EVANS, MICHIGAN DAIRY FARMER

Many of you have seen the recent undercover videos; if you are receiving questions and need talking points, please let us know. Below are a few steps you can take.

•

Be vigilant on your farm, take inventory of the training practices and use this time to revisit those protocols or host another training. On their websites, the FARM program and the See It. Stop It. program have materials you can share with employees.

•

Look for the July Dairy Promotion e-newsletter where we will focus on crisis preparedness and provide steps you can take.

If you know other farmers or dairy community members who should receive these updates, please let us know.

Preparation can’t prevent a crisis from happening, but it can help you recover.

If you’re interested in the materials to create a crisis plan, contact Jolene Griffin at jolene@milkmeansmore.org or 517-349-8923.

milk messenger / JUL-AUG 2019

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FREELINERS AND CLASSIFIEDS

TO SUBMIT ADS, CONTACT MMPA VIA EMAIL AT MESSENGER@MIMILK.COM OR FAX 248-426-3412 OR VISIT MIMILK.COM/FREELINER-CLASSIFIED.

freeliners Freeliners Policy The Freeliners column is open to current MMPA members who wish to advertise—at no charge— goods or services relating directly to their dairy farm operations.

• An item submitted will be published for no more than two consecutive months (one month, unless otherwise requested). After that, it will be withdrawn.

• It will be published again for no more than two consecutive months only if the member resubmits the item by writing or calling the Novi office.

• Reference to a name of a firm or other commercial enterprise with which a member is involved will be deleted, with permission of the member.

• If the member does not wish such deletion, he/ she may choose to have the item published as a Classified Ad at the regular per-line rate.

• Freeliners must be received by the 10th of the month preceding desired month of publication.

Bulls

Equipment

Service age Holstein bulls. Call Steve Alexander, 810-622-8548 evenings or 810-404-8548.

Forage Harvester IH 830 w/two row narrow $2000.00.

Forage box Knight 16 ft. w/tandem $3500.00. Forage box Badger 16 ft. w/tandem $2500.00. Only filled 20x60 not used for 5 years. All equipment stored inside and in EXCELLENT condition. Call 616-681-9668.

Service age Holstein bulls: B&W, R&W and polled.

These sires are bred for calving and components.

Call Wardin Bros. 989-642-3262.

92% Registered bull, Gifian x Supersire, 17 months old, $1500. Call 810-724-8825.

Milking Equipment 320-gal. Bulk Tank, small surge pipeline with four milkers and vacuum pump, receiver jar, automatic pipeline washer. Best offer. Call 616-754-3064.

Concrete Grooving and Texturing Call: Jeff Brisky - Owner Toll Free: 1-800-294-1202

IH silo blower 540 pto $600 obo. VanDale 20’ ground drive silo unloader rebuilt gear box $500obo. John Deere 315 16’ disk, 9” spacing, 22” blades $2800 obo.

Call 989-307-0669.

Complete flat barn parlor, 20 headlocks, 10 MU480 milk meters with takeoff and Delpro software, 3-in milk and vacuum line, 2-in wash line plate cooler and vacuum pump. Call 269-317-8425.

Calf-tel calf hutches, 10 small, 2 large, buckets, bottles, gates and calf blankets Delaval swinging cow brush.

Call 269-317-8425.

800 gal muller new compressor $1200, 38-plate plate cooler $1000, 3950 JD chopper 2 row corn head 7 ft hay head nice shape $3500, rebuilt 7.5 hp electric motor $325.

Call 989-310-3850.

Cell: 1-716-353-1137

LEGENDAIRY. No bull.

Co-Products Menu

Soybean meal, canola meal, hominy, oat hulls, wheat midds, citrus pulp, malt sprouts, beet pulp, soybean hulls, cereal feed, cottonseed, distillers, gluten feed, wet feeds and more!

Non-GMO

products available

Contact merchandisers at ZFS, Inc: MI/IN/OH: 866.888.7082 WI: 800-523-6760 www.zfsinc.com/divisions/ingredients

PTO and Automatic Start Generators 1-800-248-8070 M-40 South Hamilton, MI 49419 www.hamiltondist.com

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milk messenger / JUL-AUG 2019

MERCHANDISE

classifieds Classifieds Policy Cost for classifieds is $25 for the first 35 words and then $5 for each additional word. Payment due with order. All ads must be received by the 10th of the month preceding desired month of publication. MMPA neither sponsors nor endorses products or services advertised in the Milk Messenger.

OPPERMAN GROOVING: We can fix your scabbled floors.

Diamond sawed grooves, no hammering or cracking of concrete. No hoof damage. Call Opperman Grooving Inc., Portland. 517-647-7381.

DAVIDSON CEMENT GROOVING, INC: NO water needed.

Wider, rougher grooves for better traction. We also offer texturing for your previously grooved floors. 3 operators will travel Michigan and other states. No interest payment terms. Est. since 1987. Call 1-800-365-3361.

CONCRETE GROOVING BY TRI-STATE SCABBLING, home of the 2” wide groove. Best traction, lowest prices. 800-554-2288. www.tristatescabbling.com A SURE WAY TO KEEP YOUR COWS UPRIGHT! Concrete grooving/texturing provides high quality traction in new & old concrete, fast service. Call for your below pricing 989635-1494. BLUE RIBBON HOOF TRIMMING, LLC. FOR SALE: NEW & USED MILK TANKS. We stock all sizes, makes, models. Special prices to co-op members, corporate & private farms. Contact us anytime day or night. Special on 2000 gal. Muellers for $13,900 & up. 2700 & 4000 gal.

Muellers call for quote. 800-558-0112.

STRAW & DRY HAY (large & small bales). Feed Oats, Feed Barley and Corn Silage. Delivery Available. 989-723-1886 or 989-277-1414.

ALFALFA HAYLAGE (excellent & fair grades) & CORN SILAGE. 989-723-1886 or 989-277-1414.

NEW KATOLIGHT PTO GENERATOR, 60 KW, keep everyone warm and producing if there is a power outage. Call Brent at 248-770-5122.

HOOF TRIMMING - 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. Also doing fly control and cement grooving. Gibson Hoof Care (Tom) 989-239-6843.

Discontinued Products THE FOLLOWING LONG-STANDING PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN DISCONTINUED:

BLUE RIBBON DRIED BOVINE COLOSTRUM This is a colostrum supplement not a true colostrum replacer. This product had been manufactured by Merrick’s for many years. They recently sold the rights for this product to another company. Following the sale, the cost increased substantially, and the product has proven difficult if not impossible to obtain. Due to these issues, we have decided to discontinue this product. The replacement for this product is the Land O’ Lakes Colostrum replacer. This is a true replacer not just a supplement.

ULTRACLEAN MILK HOSE We have also had to discontinue Ultraclean Hose in both 5/8” and 3/4” sizes.

Milk-Rite informed us of their decision to discontinue selling this product due to quality concerns related to the manufacturing process at their source’s facility.

This product is not available from any of our other vendors and we have been led to understand that it is no longer being manufactured. We will continue to search for a suitable replacement. Milk hose is also available in Tygon, black rubber and silicone in a variety of sizes.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING THESE PRODUCTS OR ANY OTHER MERCHANDISE CONCERNS, PLEASE CONTACT US AT THE MT. PLEASANT WAREHOUSE.

Chemical, Sanitizer and Teat Dip Contact Information These are service personnel only.

Order your Member Merchandise supplies through your hauler.

THREE WAYS TO ORDER YOUR MMPA MERCHANDISE

ECOLAB 24-Hour Medical Emergency Hotline: 1-800-328-0026 Service Message Center: 1-800-392-3392 Service Representatives:

SEED CORN - 85 Day “Minnesota 13” open pollinated, heirloom yellow field corn seed. Non-GMO, 80,000 viable seeds per bag. $95. High yield, high protein, fast dry down, great stalk strength. Free delivery available.

Visit JanksSeeds.com 989-284-5052.

» Pat Mitchell 517-403-0928 7273 N. Rollin Highway Addison, MI 49220

BARN WHITE WASHING AND CLEANING WITH HIGH PRESSURE AIR: Serving all Michigan and Indiana. Miller Spray Service, Inc. 574-825-9776.

» Jason Wolfe 540-553-5755 1890 Canter Drive Riner, VA 24149

1 Place your order through your milk hauler 2 Call in your order: Duane Farmer, Supervisor 989-317-8370

Toll Free: 877-367-6455

Orders (Novi): 800-572-5824 then dial 2

3. Fax in your order: MMPA Merchandise fax 989-317-8372

FOR SALE: Dry cow hay 989-464-7364. milk messenger / JUL-AUG 2019

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MMPA STAFF

MMPA Field Staff

Novi Headquarters

Manager of Field Services Ben Chapin, Blanchard.................................................989-289-0731

Main Office Local line......................................................................248-474-6672 Toll free....................................................................... 800-572-5824

Northwest Area Supervisor Sarah Michalek, Dewitt................................................248-305-0537 Animal Care Coordinator Deb Gingrich, Leroy..................................................... 248-520-3580 Frank Brazeau, Oconto, WI.......................................... 906-250-0337 Lyndsay Earl, Ludington...............................................231-519-2455 Elyse Martin, Charlotte................................................. 810-701-6460 Dirk Okkema, Blanchard.............................................. 248-756-2062 Brittni Tucker, Eagle.....................................................248-880-3785

East Area Supervisor & Mastitis Management Specialist Christy Dinsmoore, Vassar........................................... 248-513-7920 Animal Care Coordinator Lindsay Green, East Lansing........................................989-488-8159 Ashley Herriman, Herron............................................ 269-245-6632 Laura Gucwa, Bad Axe................................................. 248-826-6294 Emily Peacock, Otisville...............................................248-826-7243

South Area Supervisor Dave Brady, Grass Lake................................................. 517-937-9061 Joe Packard, Manchester.............................................. 248-520-3481 Anna Tucker, Mt. Gilead, OH.........................................248-533-2288 Brandon Ewers, Coldwater............................................231-414-4539

Other Member Services Energy Auditor Ed Zuchnik, Three Rivers...............................................269-967-7351 Bulk Tank Calibration John Lehman, Elsie..................................................... 248-444-6775 Sustainability Coordinator Kendra Kissane, Byron Center..................................... 248-880-4234 Raw Milk Compliance Manager Steve Lehman, Ithaca................................................... 989-330-1638

MMPA Labs Novi (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.)

In Michigan.................................................................. 800-572-5824 Toll Free....................................................................... 800-233-2405 Ovid (Daily, 6 a.m.-10 p.m.)...................................... 989-834-2515 Constantine (Daily, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.)..........................800-391-7560

Merchandise - Mt. Pleasant Supervisor: Duane Farmer Main Line...................................................................... 989-317-8370 Toll Free........................................................................ 877-367-6455 Orders (Novi)............................................ 800-572-5824, then dial 2 Fax.................................................................................989-317-8372 Merchandise Coordinator, Energy Auditor Katie Pierson...............................................................989-289-9686

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milk messenger / JUL-AUG 2019

Chief Executive Officer Joe Diglio...............................................................................ext. 202 Chief Financial Officer Josep Barenys.......................................................................ext. 240

Board of Directors

Hedging and Business Development Aaron Beak............................................................................ext. 256

Officers

Quality Sudeep Jain...........................................................................ext. 249

Doug Chapin, Vice President

Member and Government Relations Sheila Burkhardt...................................................................ext. 208

Joe Diglio, CEO / Secretary

Management Information Systems Andrew Caldwell...................................................................ext. 304

Todd Hoppe, General Counsel

Sales James Feeney........................................................................ext. 258

Directors-At-Large

Laboratory Supervisor Patti Huttula.......................................................................... ext. 219 Manufacturing Kaylan Kennel..............................................................248-880-5413 Human Resources Kelly Kerrigan........................................................................ ext. 301 Member Services Dean Letter...................................................................989-289-9251 Credit/Insurance Cheryl Schmandt................................................................... ext. 210 Communications Allison Stuby Miller...............................................................est. 296 Emily Kittendorf....................................................................ext. 234 Controller Shelly Sowers........................................................................ext. 259 Supply Chain Therese Tierney......................................................................ext. 217

Kris Wardin, President Eric Frahm, Treasurer Josep Barenys, Asst. Treasurer

Kris Wardin, St. Johns 989-640-9420 Gertie van den Goor, Marlette 989-550-8453 Carlton Evans, Litchfield 517-398-0629 Mark Iciek, Gladwin 989-387-4767 Aaron Gasper, Lowell 616-291-4092 District Directors 1 Hank Choate Cement City 517-529-9032 2 Tim Hood Paw Paw 269-657-5771

Member Relations Jessica Welch........................................................................ext. 303

3 David Pyle Zeeland 616-772-1512

Manufacturing Plants

4 Corby Werth Alpena 989-464-5436

Constantine, Michigan Dave Davis, Plant Manager..........................................269-435-2835

Ovid, Michigan Ron Steinhorst, Plant Manager....................................989-834-2221 Middlebury Cheese Company, Middlebury, Indiana Bela Sandor, Plant Manager......................................... 574-825-9511 If you are unable to reach your assigned member representative, please contact the representatives listed in your area. Your assigned member representative is listed on your quality statements or can be found by visiting mimilk.com/contact/field-staff and searching by your producer number.

5 Doug Chapin Remus 231-349-4059 6 Tony Jandernoa Fowler 989-593-2224 7 Eric Frahm Frankenmuth 989-652-3552 8 Scott Lamb Jeddo 810-327-6135

MEMBER MOMENT

MORNING FOG As the fog lifts from the farm this early spring morning, the cows are waking to enjoy a fresh pasture on Thistle Dew Dairy.

PHOTO BY: BETH RUPPRECHT, THISTLE DEW DAIRY, VASSAR, MICHIGAN

Submit your Member Moment to messenger@mimilk.com milk messenger / JUL-AUG 2019 39

P.O. Box 8002 Novi, MI 48376

MMPA Outstanding Young Dairy Cooperator (OYDC) Program “I see the OYDC program, as well as the Young Cooperator (YC) Conference, as the groundwork for networking with other members and MMPA employees to improve my leadership abilities and gain better understanding of the dairy business to advance my opportunity for future leadership within the co-op,� said Jeremy Beebe, 2018 OYDC runner-up from Alger, Michigan.

Learn more at mimilk.com/young-cooperators