Michigan Milk Messenger: January 2011

January 2011 Volume 93 Issue 7

Join us for the 2011 MIDWEST DAIRY CONFERENCE “Protein, Production, Profits…The Next Generation”

JBS United is excited to announce that we will be hosting our THIRD ANNUAL Technical Conference for Dairy Producers in the Midwest.

The two previous conferences have been great successes, providing the critical education that dairy producers need. Just as last year, there will be TWO LOCATIONS, making it easy and convenient for you to attend.

We have an outstanding list of speakers and presentations lined up, and there will be various industry professionals and suppliers on hand to discuss your needs.

Speakers and Presentations Include: Dr. Randy Shaver, Professor, University of Wisconsin “Getting the Most from Ration Carbos” Dr. Charles “Chuck” Schwab, Professor Emeritus of Animal Sciences, University of New Hampshire “Increasing Herd Profitability by Feeding for Higher Components”

Conference Details: Cost: FREE !

Dates and Time: March 2nd and 3rd 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (lunch included) Registration opens at 9:00 a.m.

March 2nd Location The James B. Henry Center for Executive Development (www.HenryCenter.org) Michigan State University 3535 Forest Road, Lansing, MI 48910 Ph: (517) 353-4350 or (800) 356-5705 Note: Lodging may be available at Candlewood Suites.

March 3rd Location Sauder Village (www.SauderVillage.org) 22611 State Route 2, Archbold, OH 43502 Ph: (419) 446-2541 or (800) 590-9755 Who Should Attend: Anyone in the Dairy Production industry with an interest in animal nutrition (dairy farmers, feed mill customers, industry professionals, etc.).

To Register or learn more: Visit www.MDC.JBSunited.com and/or contact Lisa Coverdale, Marketing Manager (Ph: 317-758-2664 or 800-382-9909, Email: Lisa.Coverdale@tektm.com).

January 2011

16

18

Contents

Volume 93 Issue 7 www.mimilk.com

Features 8

MMPA 2011 Direct Deposit Schedule

9

Environmental Management on the Farm: Painless and Profitable

10 Four Michigan Legislators Selected to

Chair Committees in Washington D.C. 12 MMPA Quality Award Winners 16 Welcome Home

– 2010 District 5 OYDC Trevor Bollinger 18 MMPA 2010 Leaders’ Conference

20

24

20 Low Cost Start-Up

– 2010 District 6 OYDC Rick and Terri Hawbaker 22 2011 GLRDC Topics Focus on Preparing

Dairy Producers for the Present and Future 24 Nobis Dairy Farm Hosts 12th Annual

MSU Dairy Challenge 26 Fuel Up to Play 60: Kids Lead the Way

to Better Health at School 28 400,000 SCC—Every Farm Can Beat It! 29 2011 Milker Training School Schedule 31 MMPA 2010-2011 Local Meetings

Departments

Managing Editor...................... Sheila Burkhardt Editors............................................ Mindy Pratt

Laura Moser Advertising Manager..................... Karla Macelli Circulation............................................... 4,200 An Equal Opportunity Employer – F/M/V/D Michigan Milk Messenger (USPS 345-320) is the official publication of Michigan Milk Producers Association, published monthly since June 1919.

Subscriptions: MMPA members, 50¢ per year; non-members, $5 per year.

41310 Bridge St. P.O. Box 8002 Novi, MI 48376-8002

Telephone: 248-474-6672 FAX: 248-474-0924 Periodical postage paid at Novi, MI and at additional offices.

MMPA Matters................................................ 5 Quality Watch.................................................. 6 News & Views.................................................. 8 Legislative Watch............................................ 10 Merchandise Memo........................................ 32 Freeliners........................................................ 34 Classifieds...................................................... 36 Policies........................................................... 37 Market Report................................................ 38 MMPA Lab Lines........................................... 39 MMPA Staff ................................................... 39 November 2009 Volume 92 Issue 5

On the Cover

Nobis Dairy Farm hosted MSU’s 12th annual MSU Dairy Challenge in December. See the story on page 24.

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

(ISSN 0026-2315) Michigan Milk Messenger 3

Michigan Milk Producers Association Michigan Milk Producers Association, established in 1916, is a member owned and operated dairy cooperative serving approximately 2,200 dairy farmers in Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin and Ohio.

Board of Directors Officers President: Ken Nobis Vice President: Bob Kran Treasurer: Velmar Green General Manager/Secretary: Clay Galarneau .

Ass’t. Treasurer: Joe Diglio General Counsel: David VanderHaagen Directors-At-Large Ken Nobis, St. Johns .........................989-224-6170

or 248-474-6672, ext. 201 Rodney Daniels, Whittemore.............989-756-4935 Mark Halbert, Battle Creek................269-964-0511 District Directors 1. Earl Horning, Manchester.............734-428-7641 2. Tim Hood, Paw Paw....................269-657-5771 4. Dan Javor, Hastings......................269-948-8345 5. Brent Wilson, Carson City............989-584-3481 6. Velmar Green, Elsie......................989-862-5020 7. James Reid, Jeddo........................810-327-6830 8. Leonard Brown, Sandusky............810-648-4505 10. Eric Frahm, Frankenmuth............989-652-3552 11. Bob Kran, FreeSoil.......................231-464-5889 12. John Kronemeyer, Pickford..........906-647-7638

Back row (l-r): Leonard Brown, Mark Halbert, Earl Horning, Dan Javor, Brent Wilson, Tim Hood, David VanderHaagen, John Kronemeyer, Clay Galarneau. Front row (l-r): Joe Diglio, James Reid, Velmar Green, Ken Nobis, Bob Kran, Rodney Daniels and Eric Frahm

Mission Statement

“To market our members’ milk to the greatest advantage possible.”

Advisory Committee District One Hank Choate, Cement City Danny Hart, Grass Lake Dennis Huehl, Chelsea Carlton Evans, Litchfield

517-529-9032 517-206-1966 734-475-1051 517-398-0629

District Six John Hufnagel, Westphalia Anthony Jandernoa, St. Johns Terry Nugent, Lowell David Reed, Owosso

989-593-2900 989-593-2224 616-691-8424 989-723-8635

District Two Donald Bever, Delton Francis Burr, Mendon Richard Thomas, Middlebury, IN Susan Troyer, Goshen, IN

269-671-5050 269-778-2697 574-825-5198 574-533-4506

District Four David Bivens, Bellevue Jeff Butler, Nashville Mark Crandall, Battle Creek David Lott, Mason

269-758-3980 517-852-1859 269-660-2229 517-676-4593

District Five Tom Jeppesen, Stanton Bill Jernstadt, Big Rapids Robert Lee, Marion Mike Rasmussen, Edmore

4 January 2011

989-762-5399 231-796-4650 231-743-6794 989-462-5380

District Ten John Bennett, Prescott Jim Judge, Mt. Pleasant Scott Kleinhardt, Clare Carl Daniels, Sterling

989-345-4264 989-866-2482 989-386-8037 989-654-2531

District Eleven District Seven Bill Blumerich, Berlin Pat Bolday, Emmett Scott Lamb, Jeddo Keith Wood, Kingston

810-395-2926 810-395-7139 810-327-6135 989-683-2070

Jim Good, Caledonia Frank Konkel, Hesperia David Pyle, Zeeland Bill Stakenas, Freesoil

616-891-1414 231-854-8041 616-772-1512 231-757-9340

District Twelve District Eight Mike Bender, Croswell 810-679-4782 Tim Kubacki, Sebewaing 989-883-3249 Dale Phillips, Marlette 989-635-7917 Steve Schulte, Harbor Beach 989-479-9339

Robert Barron, Gladstone John Bloniarz, Bark River Corby Werth, Alpena Jeremy Werth, Alpena

906-786-7027 906-466-5537 989-379-3772 989-464-4022

MMPA Matters

By Ken Nobis President

Stepping Up to the Challenge

N

obis Dairy Farms had the privilege of hosting the 12th Annual MSU Dairy Challenge last month. Dr. Miriam Weber-Nielsen, associate professor in Michigan State University’s Animal Science Department, started the MSU Dairy Challenge to provide practical application of the concepts learned in the classroom for her students.

Since then, the program has spread well beyond the banks of the Red Cedar to institutions across the U.S.A.

Interaction with MSU students and professors is an advantage of farming just 25 miles from their campus. Our farm was involved as a host for the MSU Dairy Challenge in the very early years when the participants carpooled or arrived in a small van, so we were pleasantly surprised when we saw two buses pull into the farm driveway on December 2. Eighty-two students participated, a 20 percent increase from 2009 (see story on page 24).

As the participation rate increased dramatically over the years, the quality of the students remained at a very high level. If you ever have the opportunity to host the Dairy Challenge, be prepared to answer tough, nitty-gritty questions about the management of your dairy operation. The time we spent with the students was well worth the investment. It caused us to step back and take a fresh look at some aspects of our management practices—always a good idea. It was also nice to see several sons and daughters of MMPA members among the group.

The enthusiasm of the students was encouraging, unlike the economic situation that challenges Michigan. Budget issues will force change on all universities and colleges, but since we in agriculture are most familiar with MSU, our focus tends to be centered there.

MMPA members have made quite an investment of time and money in MSU over the years. We recognize MSU’s contribution in making our members among the most competitive producers in the U.S., and we don’t want that investment to be squandered with the growing need to economize due to budget shortfalls. MSU prepares students for careers in agriculture, and it does much more. As long as the core values of teaching, research and outreach through Extension are kept in focus, any viable option presented to respond to the budget shortfall will have to be examined.

Budget shortfalls have happened in recessions of the past, but this one is different in that Michigan has lost the auto industry’s ability to bounce back far enough to make our economy whole again.

Agriculture and the dairy industry can help improve the economy, but bringing the economy back to where it was before is probably not going to happen. That’s realism, not defeatism.

We’ve experienced many changes through the years on our farms, as well as with Extension and on campus. One example of how MSU research changed our practices was the introduction of curtain-sided freestall barns. Who

could have imagined curtain-sided free stall barns 50 years ago? MSU, with the help of a few Michigan dairy farmers who built barns that were used as demonstration farms, started the practice that swept across the northern climates of this country. Millions of cows owe a more comfortable life due to research conducted at MSU.

Unnecessarily duplicating research, however, is a cost we can no longer afford. Several years ago, I was on a National Milk Producer’s Federation committee that helped set the guidelines for the dairy component of the National Air Emissions Monitoring Study (NAEMS). As areas for research surfaced, the producers on the committee insisted that before additional research was requested a search be made to ascertain whether or not the research had already been done some place in the world. In a similar manner, more research partnerships among universities will be established.

Extension has changed and will change more in the future. Today information is often just a key stroke away for most producers (it might be a slow delivery if you are like me and don’t have broadband available) and it can come from anywhere in the world. Agents will be more highly specialized as they help producers sift through and apply information to their practices.

Writing this column has brought back memories of the people at MSU that many of us have worked with in our careers.

I have to admit that even though I Continued on page 23 Michigan Milk Messenger 5

Quality Watch

By Gary DeanTrimner Letter By

MMPA Manager of Producer Testing Director of Member and Services/Quality Control Herd Health Programs

FDA to Increase Drug Residue Surveillance

T

he Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will step up tissue residue enforcement in January 2011. This enforcement may include visits to farms found to have tissue residues. MMPA Member Representatives are calling on our members with positive tissue residues to review the Milk and Dairy Beef Drug Residue Prevention Manual and discuss other possible actions the FDA may take. Because of the precautions

already taken by our members, very few will be affected by this.

On a more positive note, MMPA members have an excellent history of preventing drug residues in milk. Over the past couple of months, there have been no drug residues found in any delivery of milk in MMPA. If residues are found in a delivery of milk, it is diverted from the human food supply. Under no circumstances is this milk allowed to be used for human consumption.

As an added precaution, it is always a good idea for members to review their treatment protocols to be sure that all milk and meat withholding times are being followed.

Additionally, should milk, serum, or urine need to be tested, MMPA recommends that members have access to a suitable detection test for whatever drugs being used.

MMPA and the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) are committed to preventing

6 January 2011

residues in the milk and dairy beef supply. To this end, MMPA Member Representatives have been reviewing the Milk and Dairy Beef Drug Residue Prevention Manual with member farms. All farms will receive a visit from their member representative by March 2011. This manual provides a wealth of information to help prevent residues in meat and milk including available milk, serum, and urine screening tests. NMPF has recently released the 2011 edition of the Milk and Dairy Beef Drug Residue Prevention Manual. The manual is available online at www. nationaldairyfarm.com/residueprevention.html.

MMPA recommends that all its members understand and follow the label directions regarding dosage, route of administration and milk and meat withholding times. Extra-label drug use should only occur under the direction of a veterinarian. Understand that extra-label drug use may nullify the milk and meat withholding times so be sure new withholding times are included in the extra-label use directions. Members can call the Novi office for more information.

Reflections on MMPA Milk Quality for 2010

I would like to take this time to honor this year’s record number of MMPA quality award winners. This is a great achievement that can only be accomplished Continued on page 23

News & Views The latest dairy news

MMPA 2011 Direct Deposit Schedule November Class III Price Down $1.50

The Class III price for November is $15.44, down $1.50 from October, but up $1.36 from a year ago. The Class IV price for is $16.68, down 47 cents and up $3.43 from November 2009.

Producers scoring 95 percent or more on Grade A Surveys and Federal Check Ratings MMPA Flint November 2010 Roger Markey* Sheldon & Janita Zimmerman* Richard & Susan Noake* Duane Wagner* Kenneth & Helen Smolek* Larry & Karen Adams* Meadow Muth Farms LLC* Pine Grove Farm LLC* Scharrer Dairy LLC Carl Sanford Ridley Dairy Farm Lester, Barbara & Susan Knust JW, Frances & Lonnie Ward Dennis Hetzer Weber Dairy Farms * Scored 100 percent

8 January 2011

The MMPA direct deposit program provides for the direct deposit of your net milk proceeds to your bank account through the use of an electronic funds transfer system.

This system assures the deposit of funds on the dates listed below.

The direct deposit service is free to MMPA members. Members on direct deposit receive their check statement by mail. The statement

is the same as the one attached to the milk check. The direct deposit stub of the statement indicates the amount transferred into the member’s bank account.

If you are interested in signing up for direct deposit or desire more information, please contact the MMPA Member Services Department at 800-572-5824.

Settlement Dates Processed Through JP Morgan Chase Calendar Year 2011 January 18 January 26

February 17 February 25

March 17 March 25

April 18 April 26

May 17 May 26

June 17 June 27

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Thursday Friday Monday Tuesday Tuesday Thursday Friday Monday

July 18 July 26

August 17 August 26

September 16 September 26

October 17 October 26

November 17 November 25

December 16 December 27

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Friday Friday Monday Monday Wednesday Thursday Friday Friday Tuesday

Upcoming Events January MMPA Local Meetings 27 Agricultures Conference on the Envrionment – Lansing 28 MMPA Resolutions and Nominating Committees – Novi

February 3-5 Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference – Frankenmuth MMPA District Meetings 24 UDIM Annual Meeting

Environmental Management on the Farm: Painless and Profitable

As commodity prices keep livestock producers in a quandary, environmental issues continue to be challenging. That’s why Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) is presenting “Environmental Management on the Farm: Painless and Profitable.”

The one-day program will provide a solid overview of issues related to soil, air, water and profitable farming.

The program will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will be offered at these locations throughout the state: Feb. 22

Howard Miller Library

Zeeland

Feb. 23

Franklin Inn

Bad Axe

March 1

Hillsdale ISD

Hillsdale

March 2

RESD

Ithaca

March 2

Wexford Co. MSUE office Cadillac

March 9

Bay de Noc Comm. College Escanaba

Sessions Include:

• Evaluating Your Carbon Footprint. Measuring your carbon footprint can uncover cost savings and be good for the environment. Discover new management practices that can maintain yields while cutting energy use. Marty Matlock, University of Arkansas.

• Update on air emissions from livestock production. Recent data from monitoring activities to determining livestock emissions and what it suggests for the future and a discussion on what is emitted and why some things are regulated and some are not.

• Stacking manure or compost in the field. Best management practices for economic usefulness and air and water quality.

• Rethinking windows of opportunity for land application of manure. Calculated nutrient management.

• Neighbor relations. Yes, the need still exists and many are finding out how useful it can be.

• National to local media—bringing info into your homes and offices.

• Manure topdressed onto wheat—How does it compare to fertilizer?

Topics will be developed and presented by MSUE professionals including: Wendy Powers, Dale Rozeboom, Darrin Karcher, Jerry May, Roberta Osborne, Faith Cullens, Marilyn Thelen, Charles Gould, Emily Sneller, Jeannine Schweihofer, Jerry Lindquist, Kathy Lee, Frank Wardynski and more.

Visit www.animalagteam.msu.edu for your exact location’s topics and presenters, and for registration information. MAEAP Phase I and CCA credits are available.

Registration fee is $40 for the first farm/family member, and $20 for additional, $5 more for walk-ins.

A complementary lunch will be provided. Registration will be available on line and by mail. Contact Natalie Rector rector@msu.edu, 269-967-6608 or Faith Cullens cullensf@msu.edu for more details.

Early registration ends January 21!

Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference February 3–5 Bavarian Inn Lodge and Conference Center • Frankenmuth, MI

Here’s a sampling of what you’ll hear: • Discover how partnerships formed through the dairy checkoff program drive growth in dairy sales.

• Speaker line-up includes: Jolene Brown, C.S.P.; Gary Sipiorski, Dairy Development Manager, Vita Plus Corporation; MSU animal health experts Drs. Ron Erskine and Dan Grooms; and Jim Tillison, Senior Vice President, National Milk Producers Federation.

Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference serving the dairy industry since 2003

www.glrdc.msu.edu

• Learn tips for improving milk quality, the newest techniques for managing leucosis and Johne’s Disease, and best management practices for caring for newborn calves from a panel of veterinarians, fellow producers and researchers.

• Five half-day workshops to choose from: discovering the steps to vertically integrating your dairy operation (panel), creatively managing family and business relationships, implementing proven calf and heifer management strategies, managing milk marketing risk, and learning how to use the new Spartan Dairy 3 ration program.

• Hear the latest on the direction federal dairy policy is headed as 2012 Farm Bill discussions start heating up.

Michigan Milk Messenger 9

Legislative Watch Issues important to today’s dairy farmers

Four Michigan Legislators Selected to Chair Committees in Washington D.C.

W

hen Congress convenes for its 112th session in January 2011, four Michigan legislators will chair committees important to agriculture. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) will serve as chair of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee, Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI) will chair the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Congressman Dave Camp (RMI) will chair the House Ways and Means Committee and Mike Rogers (R-MI) will Chair the House Intelligence Committee.

Sen. Stabenow to Chair the Senate Ag Committee

MMPA, along with other Michigan agriculture groups applauded the selection of Senator Debbie Stabenow as Chair of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee.

As chair, Stabenow will be a leader in developing policies that affect U.S. agriculture, a $1.5 trilliona-year industry. Those national policies, including the upcoming 2012 Farm Bill directly influence Michigan’s dairy farmers and the overall agriculture industry.

Michigan’s dairy industry is the number one sector of the state’s agriculture industry, with a $5.9 billion impact on the state’s economy.

“Senator Stabenow has been a true supporter of Michigan’s dairy industry, tackling the issues that are important to the success of our 2,000 dairy farm families,” says MMPA President Ken Nobis.

“Senator Stabenow’s commitment to agriculture and the dairy industry shows her understanding of the

10 January 2011

important role agriculture plays in our economy and our communities.

We look forward to continuing to work with the Senator in her new leadership position.”

Upton to Chair House Energy and Commerce

Congressman Fred Upton (RMI) was selected as the Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee in the 112th Congress. The Committee writes legislation about interstate and foreign commerce, energy generation and conservation, travel and tourism, and consumer protection. Congressman Upton has served on the Energy and Commerce Committee since 1991. He has served southwest Michigan in the U.S. House of Representatives for 24 years.

“Congressman Upton is in a unique position as chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee to help move the Michigan economy in a new direction,” says Ken Nobis. “The issues brought before the Energy and Commerce Committee have a direct impact on the agriculture industry and all of Michigan as we work to rebuild Michigan. Congressman Upton has always been aware of the issues impacting our industry and has worked to reduce unnecessary restraints and limitations.”

Camp to Chair House Ways and Means Committee

Congressman Dave Camp (RMI) was selected as the Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee in the 112th Congress.

“Congressman Camp has been a strong advocate for dairy and agriculture issues during his 20 years in the U.S. House of Representative,” says Ken Nobis.

“As chairman of one of the most powerful committees in the House, Congressman Camp will have significant influence on many tough issues facing Michigan and the agriculture industry.”

The Ways and Means Committee is the chief tax-writing body for the house, and as chair of that committee, Camp will have influence on issues that affect business and the overall economy.

In his announcement, Camp pledged to focus on a job-creating agenda and reducing out-of-control spending.

Rogers to Chair the House Intelligence Committee

Congressman Mike Rogers (RMI) was selected to Chair of the House Intelligence Committee in the 112th Congress.

“We look forward to the leadership Congressman Rogers will provide to this committee,” says Ken Nobis. “The Congressman’s experience in FBI and law enforcement make him a logical choice for the position. We have appreciated his professional approach to tough issues here in Michigan and I am confident we will see that same effective leadership has he assumes his new role.”

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MMPA Quality Award Winners

D

uring the local meetings, MMPA presented quality awards to 387 member farms in recognition of their outstanding quality milk production. Bronze, silver and gold quality awards were presented to those members who met the established criteria for each award.

Bronze quality awards were presented to MMPA members who met both quality premium categories (10,000 or less raw bacteria and 20,000 or less PI count) and maintained a somatic cell count of 250,000 or less for nine or more months out of the previous fiscal year.

Adrian Local Silver

Silver quality awards were presented to those members who met the same criteria as in the bronze award category for 12 months out of the previous fiscal year.

Members who qualified to receive a Gold award met the same criteria as in the silver award category and averaged a somatic cell count of 100,000 or less during the previous fiscal year.

Star Awards were presented to those members who have received a quality award for five (one star), ten (two stars) and fifteen (three stars) consecutive years.

Bronze

Highland Dairy LLC

Battle Creek-Homer Local

Bebow Dairy Inc.

Neal Laeder

N Randy & Eric Bleich

Gordon H. Behrenwald

William C. Mazure *

Gold

Perry Cisco & Arturo Delgado

Kevin Bollinger

Crandall Dairy Farms LLC

Lad & Agnes Doolittle

Paramount Enterprises Dairy LLC

Silver

Double-B Dairy

Prime Land Farm

Miller Farms

Dragt Farms

Theodore, Valentine, Antionette, Rosemary & Donald Rice

Bronze

Hartland Farms Inc. Matthew Smith Bronze Tim & Lisa Brasher Marvin Farms Inc.

Cindy Eldred Joel & Edwin Ensz

Gary K. Roggenbuck

Halbert Dairy Farm Daniel L. Williams

S & M Dairy Inc.

Joseph & Jeffrey Willson

William Hough Dairy Inc.

John and Diane Seidl & Family

Blossomland Local

Douglas B. Kamer *

Te Voortwis Dairy LLC

Silver

Alma Local

Koutz Dairy Farm

Dian Volmering

Gamble Family *

Gold

Ryan J. Litwiller

De Grins Oer Dairy

Oberlin Farms

Kent L. Inniger **

Doeke & Melissa Prins

Peters & Peters Dairy Farm

TLC Dairy ***

Silver

Vanderploeg Holsteins LLC

Scott D. Norden Shadland Dairy Farms LLC

Chapin Family Farm LLC Double Eagle Dairy Inc. Edward J. Haynes Ronald & Kevin Litwiller Brian & Jacqueline McAlvey * Pine Hills Dairy LLC Dale Rowland S & T Farms PTP Spring Lake Farms LLC

12 January 2011

Friesen Farms Inc. Hooks Farms

Barry-Eaton Local Silver Endsley Dairy Farms LLC

Bronze Jerry, Terry & Jerry Jr. Koebel

Hammond Dairy Farm LLC

Brown City-Marlette Local

Thomas & Heather Wing

Silver

Bronze

Muxlow Dairy Farm

Bad Axe Local

Burdock Hills Dairy LLC

Silver

Chase Crest Hill Farms *

Bob, Jeffrey, Daniel, & Andrew Parr

Joseph & Valerie Kubacki

Jonathan G. Hochstetler

Dwight Radloff

Richard A. Miller

Bronze

Greg & Shelly Messing

Leonard, Kevin, Andrew & Maxine Pixley

Peggy & Patricia Bachschmidt

Schuurmans Dairy Farm

John David Boegner ***

A G Wiles

Fred Wisneski Bronze Five Star Dairy LLC

Cumper Dairy Farms ***

Goma Dairy Farms LLC

Wayne S. Kaufman

Deckerville Local

Bronze

Wiegert Dairy Farms LLC

Harley H. Lambright

Silver

Benthem Bros. Inc.

Ervin J. Lehman

James M. Adler

Steve Benthem

Ernest L. Mast

Edward Joe Lawler

Maynard J. Mast

Bronze

Robert, Harold, Michael & Matthew Cnossen

Calvin F. Miller

Bradley & Brian Booms

Cletus H. Miller

Dallas Family Farms

Clyde S. Miller

Erdman Farms

Paul W. Miller

Timothy Mater

Mary & Robert Lee

Deford/CliffordMayville Local

Jerry J. Mitchell

Chippewa County Local Gold Jason W. Hoornstra Bronze Doe Creek Farm David A. Lamb

Clare Local

Gaylord & Gerald Denslow Eisenga Bros. Dairy Gilde Farms *** Many Blessings Dairy Inc.

Verlin R. Miller Vernon E. Miller

Silver

Lavern C. Nissley

Jack Evans

Lewis Schmucker

Donald Kuehl Sr. & Family

Dorvin Shaum

Bronze

Jerry C. Slabach

Le Var Farms LLC

Michael R. Stoltzfus Allen Troyer

Silver

Rudvan Family Farms LLC

Meadow Muth Farms LLC

Jonathan & Mary Taylor

Alice Zajac

Kenneth & Carol Tebos

Bronze

Van Polen Farms

Calvin J. Bodeis

Flint Local

Mohr Valley Dairy Farm Inc.

Constantine Local

Mervin & Susan Troyer

Silver

Andrew M. Wenger

Gerald D. Bontrager

David L. Yoder

Evart Local

Ira L. Hochstetler

Enos H. Yoder

Gold

Glen F. Miller

Maynard Yoder

Michael L. Bosscher

Merle F. Miller *

Norman L. Yoder

Dick Haven Farms LLC

David & Carolyn Nissley

Rufus B. Zimmerman

Mark F. Diemer

Jacob W. Weaver

Carl Zook

Silver

Frankenmuth Local

William A. Benson

Silver

Alvin D. Bontrager

Dairyland Local

Buning Dairy Farm LLC *

Elva A. Bontrager

Gold

BWT Farms LLC

Eric Frahm & Teresa Crook **

Glen E. Bontrager

Roger Copeland

Keith A. Deruiter *

Petzold Dairy Farms LLC

Milton D. Bontrager

Silver

David L. DeZeeuw

Schiefer Farms LLC

Philip D. Bontrager

D & J Dairy LLC

Harold & Ruth Ann Dodde

Wardin Brothers

Neal L. Borkholder

Bronze

End Road Farm

Bronze

Detweiler Farms

Mervin G. Dailey

Kerwin J. Hamming

Ervin L. Eash

David Kraft

Leon Hamming

Haubenstricker Dairy Farm LLC *

Lamar & Erma Eash

Ammon R. Martin

Star City Farm

Delmar J. Fry

Ephraim & Esther Martin

William Stein

Olen J. Fry

Wilson Centennial Farm

Wirth Dairy Farm **

Bronze

Vernon & Vernon Jr. Hochstetler

Silver Smolek Farms Bronze Corner Oak Farm K&K Kern Farms Weil Dairy Farm

Larry Niec Farms LLC Richard R Wardin Weber Farms Inc. Roger & Joanmarie Weiss

Michigan Milk Messenger 13

Grand Rapids Local

Ferry Farms LLC

K & W Dairy

Mid-Michigan Local

Silver

Herman’s Holsteins LLC

MSU Kellogg Farm

Silver

Cressbrook Farms

Bronze

Penney Farms

Berlyn Acres II LLC

Fisk Farms

Denningsons Farms

Rodney & Claude Pillars

John & Kelly Carter

Albert Frandsen

Ferris Farms

Ransler Farms *

Cornerstone II Dairy LLC

Klamer Farms Inc. *

Richard & Patricia Hawkins

Scales Prairie Farm *

Green Meadow Farms Inc.

Stephen & Denise Knox

Pleasant View Dairy

Tim & Sandy Ver Hage

H & K Dairy LLC

Ingham County Local

Lansing Local

Potgeter Farms *** James Schaendorf Bronze Franklin S. Bowman James A. Brower Med-O-Bloom Farms LLC T & G Dairy LLC

Hillman Local Silver Jamey Allen Melvin Mullet Larry, Paulette, Jeremy & Paul Werth Ervin Lee Yoder

Gold

Gold

Kevin Cavanaugh **

MSU Dairy - Dept. of Animal Science

Silver Clona Farms LLC Bronze Dusk ‘Til Dawn Farm Fogle Farms Ron Launstein David Lyon Larry L. Steffey

Jackson County Plus Local

Bronze

Silver Hillside Dairy Farms

Brian Centala

Bronze

Chippewa Dairy

Grand Valley Farms

Ryan & Charina Dellar

Riske Farms

Crist Miller

Williams Family Farm LLC

Risky Endeavor Dairy

Tom A. Zenz

Hillsdale-Litchfield Local Gold Ron Rayba Silver Christopher & Beth Brenner Drakeland Farms LLC Jonathan Dunks

14 January 2011

Heyboer Farms Inc. Chris, Kristina, Hans & Patricia Langmaack Reeder Farms

Lapeer County Plus Local Bronze Gleason Dairy Farm Siegler Dairy Farm

McCormack Enterprises Inc. Nobis Dairy Farms James J. Pohl Sanborn & Sons LLC Leroy & Stephanie Schafer Brett & Jennifer Stump Wadell Dairy Farm LLC Aron W. Whitaker Wieber Dairy LLC Bronze Clintonia Road Dairy LLC George Grecu III

Livingston Charter Local

Green Meadow Farms Inc.

Silver

Lew-Max Holstein LLC

Donal Farm LLC *

Alan J. Miller

Bronze

P & H Farms

Clarinda Farms LLC *

Melvin & Pamela Pohl *

George & Hope Fyrciak

Steven C. Roth Gene L. Schneider

Silver

MenomineeVacationland Local

Francis L. Burr

Silver

Larry A. Simon

Lavern & Douglas DeMann

Waucedah Hill Farm LLC

Steven H. Simon

Skudlarek Dairy Farm Fred, Corby & Cody Werth

Bronze

George & Shirley Hazle

Kalamazoo Local

DeMann Farm LLC Paul DeMann Melvin T. Puschel ** Webers Meadow LLC * Bronze Louis Fifelski James C. Jackson

Bronze Rivard Farms Sandahl Dairy Farm Karen Ann & John Strohl Sherwin Wilson

Michael T. Hogan

Gordon & David Schrader

Robert & Richard Skriba Steenblik Dairy Inc. Stony Creek Dairy LLC Stout Dairy * T & H Dairy II Cliff & Kent Thelen

Mt. Pleasant Local

Slater Farm LLC

Silver

Slater Farms 88 LLC

Bernard, Louis & Ronald Brecht Clark Dairy Farm LLC Elton F. Dubois Gross Farms Inc. House Farms Judge Dairy Farm Inc.

th

Stroven Dairy Farm Sunglow Dairy LLC Albert Lee Tiles * Udder Pressure David Vanderzanden

West Huron Local

Gold Lester, Barbara & Susan Knust

Alvin L. Gnagey

Bronze

Bronze

Hornbacher Farms Timothy & Debra Kubacki Paul G. Leipprandt & Son Inc.

James Reid

Starward Farm

Diane, Gary & Karen Wolford

Sunrise Local

Owosso Local

Jeremy & Deseriee Beebe

Bronze Martin C. Fox

St. Clair - Macomb Local

Gold

West Michigan Local Silver

Silver

Circle K Farms Inc.

Robert S. Millard

Jason Szakal

Silver

Bronze

Muskegon Local

Ritter Farms LLC

Anschuetz Dairy Farm LLC

Gold

David Sovis

Derek Brewer

Saline-Ann Arbor Local

W-R-L Daniels Farm LLC **

Silver

Bronze

John M. Bodbyl

Edward Keezer

Cedar Lane Dairy Farms

Wayne Dekleine *

Stanley & Patricia Lambarth

Clemens Dairy Farm Inc. *

Heritage Farms LLC

Curry Farms

John & Philips Kuyers

Bronze

Joseph E. Kauffman

Melridge Farms

Breuninger Farms LLC

Lemajru Dairy Farm

Nienhuis Dairy Farm LLC

Marcus S. Bristle

Poirier Farms

Dennis Raterink

Gene & Gary Girbach

Victor Daniels & Sons

Arlyn J. Walt

Horning Farms LLC *

Joseph & Lana Vohwinkle

Delwyn Wedeven

Brian D. Sweetland

Weber Dairy Farms

Dale Welch

Gross Dairy Farms Inc. **

Donald A. Beattie Sueann M. Higgins ** Silver Dewey Farm LLC Larsen Farms Gail A. Olsen Silver Sky Dairy LLC Slowpoke Farm LLC Stakenas Farms Inc. Udderside Dairy LLC Bronze Beuschel Fruit & Dairy LLC * Thomas, Shirley & Eric Carson Brian A. Guikema Higgins Livestock Inc. Howe Farms Inc.

Sandusky Local

Daybreak Dairy William & Robert Gruppen Woodbridge Dairy Farm Bronze Al Ott Farm LLC

Timothy Salgat

Alflen Dairy Farms Inc. Timothy Baker

West End Dairy Inc.

Western U.P. Local

Bronze

Upstate Local

Gold

Frederick & Candice Inbody

Bronze

Jacob and Elaine Jahfetson & Family

Koppenol Dairy Farms Inc. **

Southern Sanilac Local

Menno J. Lambright

Silver

Daniel J. Lombard

Noll Dairy Farm Inc.

Evelyn & Joseph May

Bronze

Jerry & Sharron Powers

John Nunn

Dean & Victoria Edgecomb Richard J. Fettig Marvin J. Rubingh * Stanek Farm

Bronze Iho Farms MSU U.P. Experiment Station

Michigan Milk Messenger 15

Welcome Home

D

2010 MMPA District 5 OYDC Trevor Bollinger, Vestaburg, Mich.

airy farming is one of the few industries where parents send their children off to college actually hoping they will return home. In Michigan, many young dairy farmers attend Michigan State University’s two-year Ag Tech Dairy Program to learn practical skills they can bring back and put to work on their family farms.

Not long after Trevor completed the dairy program at MSU, the Bollingers received the DHI Most Improved Herd award for Montcalm County. With Trevor back on the farm, he and Kevin were able to split the cows and heifers into their own groups, and were able to pay more attention to details such as harvesting forages at their peak instead of just harvesting when there was time.

Trevor Bollinger says his experiences in the MSU Dairy Tech program have proved very helpful to the dairy farm he operates with his father, Kevin. For instance, a farm he interned on tail chalked their heifers for heats. The Bollingers now use that practice as a helpful management tool.

“It’s good to have him back,” Kevin says. “He does an excellent job with reproduction.”

“It’s (college) a chance to get away from the farm and see how other people do things,” Trevor says.

“The best part was the internship where I spent 3 months on a 1,000 cow dairy in California. That’s where I learned the most.”

That’s also where Trevor learned he did not ever want a 1,000 cow dairy.

“I couldn’t manage the people well enough,” Trevor says. “Cows I can deal with. I’m not a good people manager. I like being around cows and being my own boss.”

Trevor handles most of the breeding, which is mainly done via A.I. While they were expanding from 60 to 120 cows, the Bollingers introduced a clean-up bull to help expand from within. Now that herd numbers are where they would like, the Bollingers are back to using A.I. only.

“In 2004, we had 60 cows,” Trevor says. “We are up to 120 now that we’re both here. We need to be around that number of cows in order to support two families.

Our plan is to stay around that number for the time being.”

Milk production dipped during the expansion, which was only a year or two after the Bollingers received the county DHI award. Kevin and Trevor attribute the production drop to several factors, such as overcrowding and keeping older cows in the herd as long as they could carry a calf, even if their production was low.

A new freestall barn built in 2007 solved the crowding issue. By that time, herd numbers were getting close to the Bollingers’ goal of around 100 cows.

“Now that the cow numbers are where we want them, we are at the point we can get rid of the low producing cows because we have replacements coming in,” Trevor says.

Though he’s not a full partner yet, Trevor helps Kevin make farm business decisions, both of them sitting down and discussing their options to come up with a plan that will work best for their particular situation.

“Our expansion is for Trevor’s future,” Kevin says.

“We are going to move farm assets and interests to him the same way the farm was handed down to me. Trevor is the third generation on this farm.”

The Bollingers are in the process of meeting with a lawyer to work toward creating an LLC for the farm.

Their goal is to have the LLC in place prior to making any major improvements, such as building a parlor, which is planned for this spring.

16 January 2011

Photos, clockwise, from left: Trevor Bollinger; Trevor and his father, Kevin Bollinger; cows on the Bollinger Dairy Farm.

“This is just the next step in our farm’s progression,” Trevor says.

“Eventually I’d like to take it over when dad retires so making the farm an LLC is just part of the process.”

Even though Trevor and Kevin are the sole employees on the farm, the two recognize the importance of time off and try to rotate weekends off during the slower times of the year.

“Once in awhile it’s nice to get away and get a little break to refresh,” Trevor says. “That makes a lot of work for the person who is still here, but it’s usually only a couple of days and we don’t go away during planting or harvesting.”

Another advantage to the farm owners being the only employees is their attention to detail, particularly while milking the cows. Trevor milks at night and Kevin milks in the morning. While one person is milking, the other takes care of feeding.

“Producing good quality milk is a price that’s in our control if we do a good job,” Trevor says. “It’s a chance to make a little more money so it needs to be a priority. If you can get an extra 35 cents per hundredweight for your milk, it’s worth it. With only the two of us milking, we know what we are doing and that seems to work well to keep SCC low.”

“For 2-3 months, we couldn’t figure out what was going on,” Trevor says. “We checked all the cows, checked all the equipment and couldn’t find it. Finally, our vacuum pump quit one day. While that was being fixed, they found a plug in the line that was causing the problem.”

Now that the vacuum problem is fixed, the herd’s average SCC generally runs around 150,000, earning the Bollingers a Bronze Quality Award from MMPA this past year.

About a year ago, the herd’s SCC spiked from around 150,000 to 300,000. The Bollingers were perplexed as to how the levels could spike so quickly and spent a few months searching for the problem.

Bollinger Dairy Farm Facts: MMPA Members

of: District 5 and the Alma Local Herd size: 120 milk Acres farmed: 400 ing and dry; 155 re placements Milking set-up: 42 tie stall stanchion wi th 5 milking units Ag and community involvement: Trev or is a member of the Montcalm Coun ty Farm Bureau.

“One th

ing that makes a diffe rence on our farm is… is important that we teamwork. With my work together to mak dad and I as the only e things run as efficien employees on the farm tly as we possibly can. it

Michigan Milk Messenger 17

MMPA Leaders’Conference 2010

W

hat a difference a year makes—low milk prices overshadowed 2009, setting a rather somber tone during last year’s MMPA Leaders’ Conference. A year later, milk prices are predicted to finish out 2010 nearly $4 higher than last year’s all-milk price. For the cooperative, 2009 was the year MMPA members took a giant step to increase MMPA’s ability to market members’ milk to the greatest advantage possible through a $62 million expansion to the cooperative’s Ovid manufacturing plant. Today, the expanded plant is running smoothly, along with the addition of a $27 million dryer project.

This year’s Leaders’ Conference was held in East Lansing on November 22. The meeting kicked

off MMPA’s annual meeting season, and all MMPA members holding leadership positions at state, district or local levels, were invited to attend the daylong information session.

MMPA General Manager Clay Galarneau noted that 2010 was “the best year in a long time,” citing strong milk prices due in part to strong exports, which were up approximately 40 percent from 2009, representing nearly 13 percent of total U.S. milk production. For 2010, USDA’s all-milk price is projected at $16.35 per cwt., with MMPA’s all-milk price estimated to be about 50 cents higher than the USDA price.

MMPA all-milk prices for 2011 are predicted to be similar to 2010.

Clay said for farmers who expect to receive the full amount of MILC payments offered, the payments are estimated to average about 41 cents for the year. The MILC payments are not based on low milk prices but rather the feed price adjuster, as feed prices are expected

Battle Creek-Homer Local Wins MMPAC Challenge

Congratulations to the Battle Creek- Homer Local for winning this year’s “MMPAC Challenge.”

For the second year in a row, the Battle CreekHomer Local had the highest percentage of members contribute to the Michigan Milk Political Action Committee during the recent fundraising campaign. The winner of the “MMPAC Challenge” was announced at Leaders’ Conference. The Battle Creek-Homer Local will receive a matching gift of up to $1,000 to the local’s choice of one of five charity organizations or youth foundations. Thank you to all members who have contributed to the MMPAC.

18 January 2011

to be much higher in the next year.

MMPA’s Ovid plant expansion, dryer project and additional warehouse storage were completed in 2010. From April to July, the Ovid plant processed 47.5 percent more (or 163 million pounds) milk over 2009. Efficiencies built into the expansion have the plant running more smoothly than ever before.

“The Ovid plant is processing more milk more efficiently than we have in the past,” Clay said.

MMPA President Ken Nobis gave an overview of the revamped Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) program that costs only 2 cents per cwt., ends the herd retirement option and focuses solely on export assistance. Ken reiterated Clay’s statements on the importance of exports to all-milk prices.

“Exports are becoming more and more critical to this industry,” Ken said. “Growth in commercial exports contributes about twice as much new market growth for U.S. products as domestic consumption.

The world market as a whole returned more to dairy farmers than domestic markets did.”

While the CWT Committee voted to move forward with the new program, Ken cautioned that

From left: MMPA President Ken Nobis, MMPA General Manager Clay Galarneau, MSU Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Dr. Jeff Armstrong and Dr. Chris Brown of the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine presented during the morning session of Leaders’ Conference. After their presentations, the four answered questions from MMPA leaders.

it would only move forward if 75 percent of U.S. milk production agrees to contribute the 2 cents per cwt. He was optimistic that would occur, noting that much of the opposition by those not contributing to the original CWT was due to the herd retirement portion of the program.

He discussed the various aspects of NMPF’s Foundation for the Future, which encompasses a multi-faceted approach to ensure the livelihood of dairy farmers in the future despite shrinking federal dairy programs. One of the sticking points for many farmers is why Foundation for the Future calls for the discontinuation of the Dairy Price Support Program.

Ken explained how the support program disadvantages U.S. dairy by supporting dairy farmers throughout the world by reducing demand for U.S. dairy products and creating disincentives to product innovation.

Ken commended the members for their contributions to the MMPA Political Action Committee, noting that of the 105 candidates endorsed

by MMPA in the election, 96 candidates, representing 91 percent endorsement, were elected. He presented a plaque to this year’s winner of the MMPAC Challenge, MMPA’s Battle Creek-Homer Local.

Dr. Jeff Armstrong, Dean of the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, talked about the potential changes taking place within the college’s departments, such as combining Animal Science and Food Science to become one department. In all, the plan is to reduce the number of departments from 13 to 8, but Jeff dispelled rumors that any college majors would be cut.

“We’ve been charged with becoming as efficient as possible,” Jeff said. “Any dollar we can take out of administration and put into

faculty and staff program dollars, that’s what we want to do.”

Dr. Armstrong also explained why MSU redesigned its Extension program, saying that they are going back to the core of Extension—to educate.

Dr. Chris Brown with the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine discussed the importance of research partnerships with other universities, as well as partnerships within the Animal Science department of MSU. He explained how the partnerships work, noting that they were “looking for more ways to cooperate and utilize our mutual resources.”

MMPA 2010 OYDC Burke and Lisa Larsen chaired the luncheon honoring all of the 2010 District OYDCs. The MMPA scholarship winners were also recognized during the lunch.

During lunch, Nell Kuhnmuench, Director for Governmental Consulting Services discussed the political make up of Michigan’s newly elected House and Senate, noting a 20 person reversal in the House to give the Republicans the majority, which is something that hasn’t happened in about 40 years. At 26 members, the Senate Republicans will have a super majority, meaning they can override a Gubernatorial veto if they so choose.

“Out of 110 members of Michigan’s legislature, 92 have two years or less experience in state legislature, and 62 of those have no experience at all,” she said.

2010 OYDC Burke and Lisa Larsen chaired the OYDC Luncheon where all the 2010 OYDCs and MMPA scholarship winners were recognized.

Leprino Foods President Larry Jensen, left, and VP of Marketing and New Business Development Derek Freidman discussed Leprino Foods future outlook.

Nell Kuhnmuench discussed how the upcoming political atmosphere in Michigan will consist of a Republican House, Senate and Governor when legislators begin their session in January.

With that much inexperience in the legislature, Nell urged MMPA members to get in front of their individual legislators to help educate them about issues facing dairy.

The senior division 2010 Michigan Dairy Ambassador Melissa Erdman, daughter of MMPA members Mike and Vicki Erdman, gave an overview of her Continued on page 30

The senior division 2010 Michigan Dairy Ambassador Melissa Erdman, daughter of MMPA members Mike and Vicki Erdman, gave an overview of her experiences as ambassador.

Michigan Milk Messenger 19

Low Cost Start-Up

M

2010 MMPA District 6 OYDC Rick and Terri Hawbaker, Pewamo, Mich.

ost dairy farmers who rotationally graze in Michigan didn’t start out that way. Many switched from conventional dairying to grazing for various reasons, be it cow health, lower input and labor costs or a combination of other factors. Those same reasons are also being cited by today’s younger dairy farmers who have created start-up dairy farms on grass-based systems.

For Rick and Terri Hawbaker, the decision to start their farm as a grass-based dairy was simple. Terri grew up on a dairy farm. Her parents, Howard and Mary Jo Straub, farm about 7 miles away from the Hawbakers’ farm. When Terri was 13, her family decided to make the switch to rotational grazing, giving Terri the unique perspective of what it was like to live on both a conventional and a grass-based dairy.

“By growing up that way, I was able to see the benefits of grazing,” Terri says.

Rick grew up in Pennsylvania and worked for about 5 years on a grass-based dairy farm there. With their experiences in grass-based dairy management and a mutual love for dairy farming, the Hawbakers found a

farm with most of its acreage planted in alfalfa and began the process of transitioning it to fit their needs.

“The low input cost grazing model allows us to both work on the farm and still keep the farm size small, around 100 cows,” Rick says. “We were able to start the farm in our early 20s without cosigners and built the farm from scratch.”

While the Hawbakers were looking for a farm and then getting their farm set up to graze and milk cows, they had begun to establish their herd and kept them at Terri’s family farm. Once Grazeway Dairy was ready to graze cows, the Hawbakers had 48 cows and 11 heifers that were already accustomed to grass-based living.

“It’s easier for young dairy farmers to get started with a grass-based system because the input costs are lower,” Terri says. “All we started with was one tractor, a parlor, fence and the cows.”

Selecting a farm with acerage that consisted mainly of a hayfield allowed the Hawbakers to focus on installing fencing right away. They were able to offset nearly half of the cost of the fencing and watering projects by following NRCS specifications, which enabled them to receive EQIP funds. Taking the time to follow NRCS guidelines to help pay for fencing needs is a management decision the Hawbakers highly recommend to anyone starting a grazing operation.

During the farm’s first year, cows at Grazeway Dairy grazed on the forages that were present when Rick and Terri purchased the farm. By the following year, a mix of grasses, forages and brassicas were planted in 9 acre stages of three paddocks each. It took some time for the Hawbakers to find the best seed mix for their farm and say they are pleased with what they are currently using.

“For us, it’s finding what works,” Terri says. “Each year we reseed a different 9 acres, which was the winter lot for the previous year.”

The paddocks are planted with a variety of forages including: perennial rye grass, alfalfa, red clover, timothy hay, orchard grass and one brassica—Pasja turnips. The Pasja turnips are specific to grazing in that they do not form a bulb in the ground nor do they flavor the milk in any way.

By the end of April, the cows are on full grass in the paddock system, which consists of 35 paddocks of about 3 acres each. In the spring, when the grass is really growing well, cows are given half a paddock every 12 hours. Once the cows have grazed that paddock, the paddock is given a 30 day rest period as part of the Grazeway Dairy’s rotational grazing plan.

During the winter, dry cows are kept in “renovation lots” which consist of 3 paddocks each (9 acres total) and

20 January 2011

Photos, clockwise, from left: Rick and Terri Hawbaker; the Hawbaker family: Rick holding George, 4 months, Terri holding Ruby, 2, Clyde, 7 and Eli, 6; Grazeway Dairy’s cows on pasture.

are rotated yearly. These are the lots that will be replanted with the Hawbaker’s grass/forage/brassica mix in the spring. Once planted, the lots must be well established before the Hawbakers will allow the cows to graze the new lots.

“The seasonality goes hand and hand with grass production,” Terri explains. “We want the cows to be at their peak production when the grass is at its peak production. That is the ideal and it is our goal.”

All cows are dried off early to mid February for about 6 weeks so they calve in April. During that time, the Hawbakers go on vacation, do all parlor maintenance and get the barn set up for calving season. About 80 percent of the Hawbakers’ cows calve in April.

“During calving season we have about 2 months where calves are being born every day,” Rick says. “We have at least one each day, and average four per day. The most we had was eight in one day. “

All calves kept are born in April so they are strong and healthy going into winter.

“Each year, we only keep the first 25-30 heifer calves and sell the rest,” Rick says. “Our cull rates are low. We have some cows that are 15 years old. We either have to milk more cows or sell some.”

Rick and Terri credit the herds’ longevity to the cows’ grazing lifestyle, noting that the cows are out in open air, get more exercise, eat a simple diet and have low stress.

The Hawbakers also say they don’t push the cows for production.

“We have very low vet costs,” Rick says. “This year the vet only came out one time for a preg check. Even the hoof trimmer comes out only once a year.”

Drying off all cows at once means a break from milking, but it also means the Hawbakers don’t receive a milk check while the cows are not producing milk. The couple sets a budget for what expenses will be incurred when the cows are dried off. During the months they receive milk checks, Rick and Terri pay out monthly expenses and put what’s left in a separate “dry time” bank account.

“At the end of the year we do projects and try to pay for everything in cash,” Rick says. “This year we were able to pour a concrete lane to the barn and purchased a bale grinder.”

The Hawbakers’ low cost grazing system coupled with their pay for what they can afford financial plan served them well through the most recent period of low milk prices.

“We didn’t take a loss when prices were low in 2009, we fared well,” Terri says. “It did take us an extra month to get our “dry time” fund put away, but we still fared well for the year.”

Grazeway Dairy Facts: MMPA Members

of: District 6 and th e Mid-Michigan Lo Herd size: 105 milk cal Acres farmed: 216 ing and dry; 61 repl acements Milking set-up: N ew Zealand Style Sw Ag and community ing line 18 involvement: Terri serves on the Amer and Rick have hoste ican Forage and G d numerous forage rassland Council bo tours at their farm practices and farm ard of directors. Sh and both have been structure at universi e fea tured nationally as tie s and national fora United Methodist speakers on grazin ge programs. They Church and are ac g attend and voluntee tive in the Clinton County 4-H progra r at the Carson City “One thing that mak m. es a differe

and the bottom line.”

nce on our farm is…

we only implement th

e ideas or improvemen

ts that honor God, fa

Michigan Milk Messenger 21

mily

From Marketing to Health, 2011 GLRDC Topics Focus on Preparing Dairy Producers for the Present and Future

T

he ninth annual Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference (GLRDC) will usher in a strong line-up of keynote speakers, workshops, producer panels and other activities to help dairy producers plan for the future, both on and off the farm. Whether digging into issues that surround working with family members or focusing on optimizing animal health, the two-day educational program is sure to provide attendees with take-home information that will help guide their farming decisions.

“The purpose of the GLRDC is to provide timely information for the dairy industry in the Midwest,” said Faith Cullens, chair of the 2011 GLRDC planning committee and Michigan State University (MSU) Extension dairy educator. “It’s also a great opportunity for producers to network with one another.”

The 2011 GLRDC takes place February 3–5 at the Bavarian Inn Lodge and Conference Center in Frankenmuth. The conference includes two days of educational sessions, one half-day of breed association and youth meetings and an industry-wide awards banquet honoring a host of industry winners including the MSU Dairy Farmer of the Year.

The first day of the conference will feature a series of speakers addressing the overarching topics of dairy marketing and animal health.

First on the agenda are Diane Leonard, vice president of strategic initiatives for Dairy Management Inc., and Rachel Weber, DMI Dairy Scientist for McDonald’s partnership, who will talk to producers about her role in helping

22 January 2011

develop new food and beverage items on the McDonald’s menu.

“As the profit margin in the dairy industry continues getting smaller, it’s important for producers to look at new ways of generating income,” Cullens said. “For some, that might mean buying more cows, while for others, the answer might lie in diversifying their operations by direct-marketing their products.

These sessions will walk producers through some of those possibilities.”

Dairy farmer and world champion hot rod racecar driver Mark Thomas will commence the series on animal health with his presentation titled “Team Work Spells Success in Racing—and in Farming.” Other speakers who will be discussing specific dairy health issues include Drs. Ron Erskine and Dan Grooms, both from the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine, and Dr. Sam Leadley, calf and heifer specialist with Attica Veterinary Associates, P.C. Following their presentations, all speakers will gather on a panel facilitated by Dr. Mark Fox of the Deckerville Veterinary Clinic to field questions from the audience.

Producers will also enjoy hearing from Iowa farm native Jolene Brown, a family business consultant that understands agriculture and the families that live it every day. Her dinner program titled “Normal Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” occurs Thursday night, and she will head up a Friday afternoon workshop, “The Facts of Life: When Family and Business Collide.” She’s bound to have conference attendees laughing while they learn valuable, realistic tools to help them balance family and

business.

Other speakers featured on the 2011 GLRDC program include:

• Jim Tillison, NMPF Senior Vice President, Marketing and Economic Research/Chief Operating Officer, Cooperatives Working Together (CWT)

• Jeffrey Stevenson, Kansas State University

• Dan Undersander, University of Wisconsin

• Gary Sipiorski, Vita Plus Corporation

• George Crave, Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese

Five in-depth workshops take place Friday afternoon, Feb. 4:

• The Facts of Life: When Family and Business Collide with Jolene Brown

• Calf and Heifer Management Strategies with Dr. Sam Leadley

• Vertical Integration of Dairy Farms, a producer/retailer panel with Dr. John Partridge, MSU Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition as facilitator, and panel participants Doug Westendorp, Mooville Creamery; George Crave, Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese; Jon Plummer, Moomers Ice Cream; and Wendell Van Gunst, Country Dairy

• Milk Marketing Risk Management and Positioning Your Dairy Farm for the Future with Dr. Chris Wolf, MSU Department of Agriculture, Food, and Resource Economics

• Spartan 3 Dairy Training with program architect Dr. Mike VandeHaar, MSU Department of Animal Science Continued on next page

Cullens thinks the best thing about this year’s conference is the effort the planning committee has taken to make sure workshops, panels and speakers are relevant to what dairy producers are dealing with today.

“This year we sought out producers for input on putting together the program, so it truly is a producerdriven conference,” she said.

Other conference highlights include the sixth annual Great Lakes Commercial Heifer Extravaganza Sale, an industry trade show, purebred dairy breed association meetings and the Michigan Dairy Ambassador Scholarship and Leadership Program interviews.

Registration forms and a complete program schedule are available online at www.glrdc.msu. edu. Participants can also register and receive more information on the conference by calling MSU events coordinator Megghan Honke at 517-353-3175 ext.

229. Registrations received before Jan. 21 qualify for a $50 early bird discount. Online registration closes Jan. 28. On-site registrations are subject to availability.

MMPA Matters – Continued from page 5 place a lot of value on MSU, I had forgotten many of the contributions made by the MSU family over the years. The writing process also helps me recognize the expansion of issues dairy farmers face today. Would anybody have thought 50 years ago that having an animal care specialist on the faculty at MSU would be essential? It is, and MSU has it covered with one of the best in the country. Who would have thought air quality would be a concern for dairy farmers—well, ok maybe the odor part, but the methane produced in the digestion process? Got that one covered, too, with one of the most highly respected air quality experts in the country.

I could name other areas of emphasis, but my point here is that the number of issues has expanded as the dollars have decreased and tough decisions will have to be made to best utilize the money available. We all need to understand that our success as dairy farmers includes more than the person staring back at us in the mirror. Stay tuned.

Quality Watch – Continued from page 6 through daily attention to detail and hard work!

In 2010, MMPA has also realized its lowest average somatic cell count. As of this writing, we do not know the 12 month average but based on how the SCC is trending, we expect the co-op 12 month average SCC to fall below 200,000!

If this happens, it will be the first time in MMPA history. This is a reflection of the hard work and great animal care that occurs on our member farms day in and day out.

MMPA members saw stricter SCC marketing requirements in 2010. Some members in southern Michigan and the Thumb ship their milk to a market that began requiring all tanker loads of milk to be below 250,000. To meet this requirement, some members had to adjust aspects of their herd management program. MMPA members rose to the occasion and are now substantially meeting or

exceeding the requirements of that market. Making changes is not easy; I appreciate everyone’s effort toward continued milk quality improvement.

As a reminder, MMPA will begin its new SCC premium program January 1, 2011. The new program is outlined below.

SCC Level 50,000 and below

Current Rate +55¢/cwt

New Rate on 1-1-11 +55¢/cwt

51,000 – 75,000

+50¢/cwt

+50¢/cwt

76,000 – 100,000

+45¢/cwt

+45¢/cwt

101,000 – 125,000

+40¢/cwt

+40¢/cwt

126,000 – 150,000

+35¢/cwt

+35¢/cwt

151,000 – 175,000

+30¢/cwt

+30¢/cwt

176,000 – 200,000

+25¢/cwt

+25¢/cwt

201,000 – 225,000

+20¢/cwt

+20¢/cwt

226,000 – 250,000

+10¢/cwt

+15¢/cwt

251,000 – 275,000

+10¢/cwt

–

276,000 – 400,000

–

–

401,000 – 500,000

–

-15¢/cwt

501,000 – 600,000

-10¢/cwt

-30¢/cwt

601,000 – 750,000

-50¢/cwt

- $1.00/cwt

Over 750,000

- $1.50/cwt

- $1.50/cwt

Michigan Milk Messenger 23

Nobis Dairy Farm Hosts 12th Annual MSU Dairy Challenge

M

ore than 80 Michigan State University (MSU) students pursuing careers in the dairy industry competed in the annual MSU Dairy Challenge hosted by Larry and Ken Nobis of St. Johns. The contest is open to all university students. There were four student divisions: novice, advanced, agricultural technology and veterinary.

“This year’s MSU Dairy Challenge was the largest in its 11year history, with over 80 students and 4 divisions,” Miriam Weber Nielsen, coordinator of the MSU Dairy Challenge program says. “The steady increase in student numbers

over the years reflects greater enrollment in our two advanced dairy courses and also growing interest by our younger students in learning what is all involved in evaluating a dairy farm.”

The Dairy Challenge is a way for students to practice the skills they’re learning in the classroom by applying them to a real-life setting, ultimately providing students with increased employment opportunities through networking and skill building, and the chance to put their skills to the test.

“I was very impressed with the number and quality of the students involved in the Dairy Challenge

project,” MMPA President and farm tour host Ken Nobis says. “They were well prepared to assess our dairy operation.”

The contest is separated into two portions, each held on a separate day—an on-farm evaluation the first day, followed by presentations to judges a week later.

Students work together in teams of four to complete each section and the top three teams in each division were awarded cash prizes.

“I think that we forget the valuable role the judges play in the overall success of the Dairy Challenge and the future

24 January 2011

success of the students,” Ken says.

“Judges represent a variety of dairy professionals including academics, veterinarians, nutritionist and business management. Their on-job experiences provide positive reinforcement of the students’ academic experience.”

“We at MSU are grateful to Nobis Dairy Farms and to our sponsors and judges for coming together to provide this real-world educational experience for our students,” Miriam says. “The efforts of our Michigan dairy producers, companies and organizations who help make this event possible show our industry’s commitment to developing the skills of Michigan’s future dairy producers and industry professionals.”

Cooperatives Working Together 2011 Membership Drive

C

ooperatives Working Together (CWT) has initiated a membership drive to boost participation in the self-help program during the next two years, with the goal of signing up at least 75 percent of the nation’s milk in order to fully fund a robust Export Assistance program.

“Focusing CWT’s efforts exclusively on helping sell U.S.made dairy products into foreign markets will have a positive impact on all dairy farmers,” said Jerry Kozak, President and CEO of NMPF, which manages CWT. “With the investment in CWT at two cents per hundredweight by all dairy farmers, we believe the Export Assistance program will be extremely effective in enhancing and maintaining producer’s margins.”

An analysis by the National Milk Producers Federation’s Vice President of Market and Economic Research, Dr. Peter Vitaliano,

demonstrates the effectiveness of the Export Assistance program in enhancing dairy farmer revenue, and the value and importance of continuing the program in the future. Over the life of the program, every dollar spent helping members export dairy products has returned $15.53.

CWT is expected to carry over $30 million from its 20092010 budget. These monies will provide the basic funding for the program in 2011 and 2012, and will be supplemented by the revenue generated from a two-year commitment by cooperative and individual producers marketing a minimum of 75 percent of the eligible milk production. Kozak said CWT needs a commitment from at least 75 percent of the nation’s milk supply to the two-cent (2¢) per hundredweight level in order for the assessment to go into effect.

A narrated copy of Dr. Vitaliano’s presentation is available for downloading from the CWT website www.cwt.coop. A brochure that describes the benefit to all producers of the Export Assistance program and a membership form is also available on the website. A CD of the presentation, copies of the brochure and membership forms are also available by emailing a request to info@cwt.coop or by calling toll free 1-888-463-6298.

Cooperatives Working Together is being funded by dairy cooperatives and individual dairy farmers, who are contributing 10 cents per hundredweight assessment on their milk production through December 2010. For more on CWT’s activities, visit www.cwt. coop.

Michigan Milk Messenger 25

Fuel Up to Play 60:

KidsLeadtheWaytoBetterHealthatSchool

by Karen Giles-Smith, United Dairy Industry of Michigan

I

t takes creativity and energy to improve student health habits at school—and Michigan students are up to the challenge.

Student involvement is the heart of Fuel Up to Play 60, an inschool wellness program created in partnership by the National Dairy Council and the National Football League. What makes student involvement so vital? Students know what works: They know which nutrition and fitness activities will be engaging and fun for students. And, students who help create initiatives are more likely to participate, get other students involved, and become invested in the outcome.

The ultimate goal of Fuel Up to Play 60 is to ensure changes made at school are sustainable, making it possible for children to have more opportunities to be physically active and to eat tastier options of nutrient-rich foods like low-fat and fat-free milk, whole grains and fruits and vegetables. A healthy school environment makes it more likely for students to meet government recommendations for nutrition and physical activity.

“Through Fuel Up to Play 60, youth are empowered to take action at their schools and develop their own road maps to better fitness and nutrition,” says Mike Flanagan, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Michigan Department of Education.

The components of Fuel Up to Play 60 include:

• A free wellness activation kit for schools that includes healthy eating and physical activity programs, promotion materials, “playbook” activities,

26 January 2011

and educational tools.

These resources help adult advisors and students co-create and implement customized Fuel Up to Play 60 initiatives.

• Grants to help schools make lasting improvements in the health of the school environment.

• FuelUpToPlay60. com, an interactive website where students can enroll, take the pledge, play educational games and track healthy behaviors.

To fuel excitement for Fuel Up to Play 60 and provide Michigan schools with additional resources and ideas, United Dairy Industry of Michigan partnered with the Michigan Department of Education and the Michigan Department of Community Health to host a statewide Fuel Up to Play 60 Kick Off to School Health at Ford Field in Detroit this September.

“Students and staff who attended the Kick Off learned ways to implement these lessons in their own schools by participating in hands-on activities, which we hope will inspire them to eat right, remain active, and encourage others to do so as well,” Flanagan says.

More than 400 people attended the event, including principals, teachers and more than 150 students from 31 Michigan schools. The day began with a well-balanced breakfast of egg and cheese burritos, fruit and milk. After the participants were powered up, they discovered the impact nutrition and exercise has on learning during an interactive session with Jean Blaydes

Madigan, an international expert on action-based learning.

Next, the students took the field with Detroit Lions’ Defensive End Kyle Vanden Bosch, Former Pro Bowler Luther Elliss, and the Detroit Lions’ trainers. For about an hour, students ran sprint relays and practiced footwork, blocking, tackling, passing, catching, and jumping. During the huddle at the end of the session, a trainer shouted, “Who’s going to Fuel Up to Play 60 today and every day?”

The students replied in unison, “We are!” This mini training camp was the best part of the day for many students.

“I had lots of fun on the field and got a lot of exercise,” says Joey Fortino from Hayes Middle School.

“My favorite part was tackling the dummies.”

At halftime, a “Try It, You’ll Like It” lunch activity allowed participants to taste and rate new healthy menu selections including Greek yogurt; red beans with whole grain rice; whole grain chips with peach salsa or guacamole; and grilled chicken with honey mustard,

barbeque, or sweet chili dipping sauce. The crowd favorite was grilled chicken with honey mustard dipping sauce.

During the second half of the Kick Off event, Go Comedy!, a professional improvisational group, performed skits about nutrition and physical activity. To bring the messages home, Ellis and Detroit Lions’ Kicker, Jason Hanson answered audience questions about how professional athletes eat healthy and play hard for optimal performance—emphasizing the need to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat/fat-free dairy for energy to exercise and “reach for the stars.”

“[The Kick Off] was so motivational for kids,” says Taggert Doll, nutritionist, Michigan Department of Community Health.

“It’s a unique program—it brings the boring parts of nutrition and physical activity to life. This way, it sinks in.”

A sampling of how student teams in Michigan schools are “running with” Fuel Up to Play 60: Taste and Tell: The Power Middle School Fuel Up to Play 60 team in Farmington found a way to keep pizza, the most served and loved entrée, on the menu.

They organized a school-wide taste test to sample a variety of pizzas and voted for whole grain crust, a lower sodium sauce, and a lower fat cheese topping.

As a result of the brainstorming sessions during the Kick Off, school staff members and students left with activity ideas to promote tasty, healthful eating and fun physical fitness in their own schools. “I was very impressed by the kids’ involvement in brainstorming new ideas and processing what was taught yesterday—not just our school’s kids, but all the kids,” says Martha Powelson, Food Service Director, Alma Public Schools, “What wonderful, creative projects they’ve either come up with in the past or are contemplating now!”

Power Up with Breakfast: Students at Gerald R. Ford Middle School in Grand Rapids were entered into a drawing every time they ate breakfast. A weekly drawing was held the last three weeks of school when breakfast participation is usually low. Prizes included a leather basketball, iPod and Wii.

Dan Droski, gym and health teacher at City Middle/High School in Grand Rapids says his team plans to implement graband-go breakfast since many students aren’t currently eating breakfast. Houghton Lake Middle School wants to have a teacher-student basketball tournament and also involve students in evaluating lunch options. Lakeview Middle School would like to hold a taste test for students and ask the principal to broadcast “brain breaks”—short activity breaks to boost brain power—over the intercom at the start of each school day.

Hula to Health: Students at Freeland Middle School participated in a workshop where they learned how hula-hooping improves fitness. They made their own hula hoops and either donated them back to the school or took them home.

“I truly believe students now understand the connection between healthy eating, physical exercise, and brain power and that, without a good foundation, they can’t expect to achieve their highest potential or realize their dreams,” says Powelson.

“Fuel Up to Play 60 is an exciting opportunity for kids to lead other kids, and for our younger generation to make positive changes now that will positively impact their lives.”

Take a Health Break: Charged with the task of getting their classmates physically active in a fun way, the Oxford Middle School Fuel Up To Play 60 team created TEXT Time (Talking and EXercising while listening to Tunes). Once a week during home room, all students walk the track in the gym for half an hour. While walking, students can talk with their friends and listen to music they’ve selected or choose from various activities in the center of the gym, such as badminton.

Healthy Body, Healthy Planet: Since John Page Middle School switched to offering 8-ounce milk in plastic bottles, the team wanted to expand on that success.

They designed and launched a milk drinking contest. Students deposited milk bottle twist caps into “bone banks”. At the end of each day, the Fuel Up to Play 60 team counted all the caps and posted the results. For the contest period, sixth graders banked the most caps and drank the most milk for bone health.

Michigan Milk Messenger 27

400,000 SCC—Every Farm Can Beat It!

By Tom Herremans, MMPA Mastitis Management Supervisor

T

he European Union (EU) announced this past year that every farm supplying milk to any plant making products that will be offered for sale in the European Union must meet the 400,000 Somatic Cell Count (SCC) limit used in the EU.

Reactions from dairy producers in Michigan and around the country varied. Comments ranged from “This is impossible and impractical” to “It’s about time.” Adding to the concern of some producers is the fact that processors are putting more and more emphasis on low SCC milk as their best way to insure the quality of their products.

The time has arrived that an SCC of less than 400,000 will soon be required simply to make milk eligible for sale regardless of the legal limit in the United States.

Some markets already require lower SCC for the milk they purchase.

More than ever before, SCC is viewed as the best overall predictor of milk quality.

While the milk produced

by MMPA members last month averaged below 200,000 SCC, there are some members whose bulk tank still tests above 400,000. A couple of questions frequently asked this past year are “Can I keep my SCC below 400,000?” and “What do I have to do to get my SCC below 400,000?” The answer to the first question is YES. The answer to the second question requires an action plan specific to each farm.

SCC Reduction Plan— specific to each farm

The path to lower SCC is different for every farm. Every basic SCC reduction plan must address several key issues and be tailored for an individual farm’s needs to be successful. The action points listed below are not new, but the need to take action on these issues has never been greater. Some more conventional approaches to dealing

with high SCC cows may have to be revisited to satisfy the expectations of milk buyers. Your success in keeping SCC below 400,000 to even below 200,000 is directly related to your commitment to a SCC reduction plan for your farm. Key action points that must be included in an SCC reduction plan include: • A plan to identify all infected cows • A plan to identify the mastitis pathogens involved • A plan to deal with cows already infected (subclinical too) • A plan to prevent new infections

Most Infections are Subclinical—Early detection is critical

You can’t even begin to reduce SCC until you know which cows have high SCC’s. Any cow that has a SCC of over 200,000 should be considered infected. Most of these infected cows (80 to 90 percent) are subclinical infections with no visible symptoms.

If an infected cow does not self-cure, her SCC contribution to the bulk tank often becomes greater with each passing month. The infected cow also presents a risk of infection to every cow that is milked with that same milking unit. In most herds, subclinical infections are the greatest source of somatic cells in the bulk tank.

If you are serious about reducing SCC, you have to start with knowing which cows are infected. Remember that cows with high SCC often exhibit no symptoms and their milk appears “normal” to the eye. Relying on clinical symptoms alone to identify high SCC cows may never make progress in reducing bulk tank SCC.

Tools that detect SCC levels are plentiful today. From the cow side CMT test, to testing with sophisticated laboratory equipment, to monthly DHIA testing, there is a test that can work for you to identify

high SCC cows. Your MMPA Member Representative can explain more about testing options that are available to you.

Know the Enemy—which pathogens are in your herd?

Formulating a good battle plan to reduce SCC requires knowing the mastitis pathogens in the herd. Some mastitis pathogens are contagious, some do not respond to treatment, some are both contagious and untreatable. Some pathogens are always in the environment, some are found mostly on skin and tissue, and some are passed from cow to cow. Mastitis pathogen populations are often different on different farms. You need to know the enemy in order to establish a practical treatment plan and even more important, to establish effective prevention practices. Until you take steps to identify the mastitis pathogens in your cows, both your prevention and treatment plans will be at risk of failure.

Culturing opportunities to identify mastitis pathogens are available through the MMPA laboratory, diagnostic labs such as at MSU, through your veterinarian or through on-farm culturing. Sometimes whole herd culturing is appropriate and other times individual cow cultures are most appropriate. The method of pathogen identification most appropriate for your farm depends on the pathogens in your herd. Your MMPA Member Representative can assist you with an approach to culturing that fits your situation.

Being able to identify all high SCC cows soon after they are infected and knowing which mastitis pathogens are involved is a great starting point in the battle to keep your bulk tank SCC below 400,000 then below 150,000 or even lower. A good plan does not stop at 400,000; it will eventually take your SCC as low as you want it to be.

Continued on page 30

28 January 2011

2011 MMPA Milker Training Schools Don’t miss a great opportunity to help lower SCC

Rising to the challenge of lower SCC requirements is no easy task but additional SCC quality premiums and increased milk production per cow are only a few of the rewards waiting to be claimed. The importance of proper udder prep and milking procedure for mastitis control and milk quality is indisputable. MMPA Milker Training Schools provide an opportunity for members and their employees to improve their udder prep and milking procedure through a combination of classroom instruction and hands on training conducted by Tom Herremans, Christy Dinsmoore and Katie Pierson.

MMPA Milker Training School is a daylong session offered free of charge to MMPA members and their employees. Farm managers are encouraged to attend with their employees so they are able to reinforce new techniques that may be implemented on their farm. A schedule and registration form is listed below. Each school is limited to 30 people, however, a second session may be held to meet demand. Early registration is a must to determine if a second day is needed at some locations. Contact your MMPA Member Representative or Member Services Department in the Novi office with any questions or registration information.

2011 Milker Training School Locations and Dates Registration: 9:30 a.m.

Program: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Lunch is provided Shipshewana, IN Farmstead Inn

March 1

Hispanic Milker Training Schools

Some Michigan dairy farms employee Hispanic milkers. They are often enthusiastic, cooperative employees; however, the language barrier often makes communication between milker and owner difficult. For this reason, MMPA offers Hispanic Milker Training Schools. The presentation is taught in Spanish and allows time for discussion on specific milking routine questions. A concurrent but separate session is offered in English for employers and milking supervisors of the Hispanic employees so they will have an overview of the techniques the employees are taught.

Schools at Additional Locations

The locations for the 2011 Milker Training Schools were selected based on MMPA producer responses to the Milker Training School survey sent to members in the October milk check. Schools were located in any area where 25 or more members requested a school.

If members would like a school offered in an area other than the locations already selected, and know that 20-30 people would attend from that area, we can still schedule a school for that area. To request a school at a location not listed below, contact Christy Dinsmoore at (989) 528-9102 or Dinsmoore@mimilk.com or the Member Services Department at the Novi office.

Milker Training Registration Name Address Telephone Producer Permit Number Date and location of session you will attend:

Greenville March 8 Greenville Community Center Lansing March 17– Spanish Greenstone Farm Credit Service

Number of people attending: English Hispanic

Cass City March 23 Gillian’s Alpena March 29 19th Hole Restaurant

Send this form to:

MMPA Milker Training School

P.O. Box 8002

Novi, MI 48376-8002

Michigan Milk Messenger 29

Leaders’ Conference– Continued from page 19

400,000 SCC– Continued from page 28

experiences as ambassador, encouraging the group to recommend the program to other young dairy farmers.

BUT early identification of infected cows and pathogen identification are only the starting point.

A trio of Leprino Foods representatives—President Larry Jensen, Senior VP Michael Reidy and VP of Marketing and New Business Development Derek Freidman—gave the MMPA leaders an update on Leprino Foods operations in Michigan.

Prevention—the only plan that really works

Larry gave a brief history of Leprino Foods, discussing their exclusive supply agreements with the “big three” pizza chains.

“Our vision is to be the best in the world at what we do and that’s to be the best dairy ingredient provider,” Larry said. “Our goal is to grow at roughly 10 percent per year. We will win that business with quality and service.”

Derek discussed how when the pizza business declined (resulting in lower sales for Leprino as well), Leprino Foods helped their customers make a better pizza so the customers could win with pizza again.

“We partnered with one customer to make it work in their system by building a great pizza without adding new complexities,” Derek said.

Leprino is also working on new technologies to “save taste in a low sodium world,” that will reduce sodium in cheese without impacting taste.

Mike Reidy discussed Leprino Foods new plant in Greely, Colorado, which will help the company match production capacity with sales volume growth and optimize the supply chain network. He also mentioned the need for change in the pricing structure to reduce volatility in the cheese markets, noting “it needs to happen to make our lives more comfortable.”

What can dairy farmers do to help keep Leprino Foods bottom line healthy, thus creating a larger market for MMPA members’ milk? It’s simple, say the Leprino Foods folks—eat more pizza.

“Keep supporting pizza,” Derek said. “It’s working.

It’s driving your business and it’s driving the mozzarella category. Growing pizza business is an extremely efficient way to grow the cheese business.”

Prevention of new infections is the ultimate goal for permanent SCC reduction. An excellent prevention plan is inexpensive and is the best investment a dairy producer can make for the future. Next month I will discuss some new approaches to dealing with high SCC subclinical cows and prevention practices that work.

Milking procedures are always an important part of that prevention plan.

Milker Training Schools­—14 years and going strong

Milking routine is a great opportunity to really make a difference in reducing the rate of new infections. Members that have really focused on excellence in their milking routines have been rewarded with Somatic Cell Counts as low as 50,000 to 100,000 on a consistent basis. It sounds too simple, but it works!

Schedule and Registration in this Issue

The Milker Training Schools are a unique opportunity offered exclusively to MMPA members.

The dates, locations and registration forms are found in this issue of the Milk Messenger.

The day long training sessions are a combination of classroom instruction and ‘hands on’ training. While the instruction focuses strongly on the dynamics of an excellent routine, the message is tailored to benefit both the farm owner/manager and the milking employees.

Don’t miss your opportunity to be one of the over 3,000 people who have attended an MMPA Milker Training School.

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30 January 2011

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

MMPA 2010-2011 Local Meetings Local

Date

Place

Location

Time

Speaker

Frankenmuth

Monday, Jan. 3

Black Forest Restaurant

Frankenmuth

12:00 noon

Joe Diglio

Flint and Livingston Charter

Wednesday, Jan. 5

Janelle’s Family Restaurant

Byron

12:00 noon

Ken Nobis

Hillman

Wednesday, Jan. 5

Hillman Community Center

Hillman

11:30 a.m.

Clay Galarneau

West Michigan

Wednesday, Jan. 5

Zeeland Township Hall

Vriesland

11:30 a.m.

Sheila Burkhardt

Bad Axe

Thursday, Jan. 6

Huron County Expo Center

Bad Axe

11:30 a.m.

Ken Nobis

Mid-Michigan

Thursday, Jan. 6

Clinton County RESA

St. Johns

11:30 a.m.

Clay Galarneau

Adrian

Friday, Jan. 7

Rome Grange Hall

12:00 noon

Ken Nobis

Alma

Friday, Jan. 7

Maxfield’s Restaurant

11:30 a.m.

Clay Galarneau

Wyman

Constantine

Saturday, Jan. 8

Siloam Fellowship Hall

Goshen, IN

10:30 a.m.

Ken Nobis

West Huron

Saturday, Jan. 8

Immanuel Lutheran Church

Sebewaing

12:00 noon

Clay Galarneau

Deford/Clifford-Mayville

Monday, Jan. 10

Liz’s American Diner

Caro

12:00 noon

Ken Nobis

Owosso

Monday, Jan. 10

Drew’s Steakhouse

Owosso

12:00 noon

Carl Rasch

Dairyland

Tuesday, Jan. 11

Bloomer Township Hall

Carson City

12:00 noon

Joe Diglio

Grand Rapids

Wednesday, Jan. 12

Fire Mountain

Comstock Park

11:45 a.m.

Clay Galarneau

Ingham County

Wednesday, Jan. 12

Wooden Nickel

Dansville

11:00 a.m.

Joe Diglio

St. Clair-Macomb

Wednesday, Jan. 12

Holly Meadows Golf Course

Capac

11:30 a.m.

Dean Letter

Evart

Thursday, Jan. 13

McGuire’s Resort

Cadillac

11:00 a.m.

Clay Galarneau

Muskegon

Thursday, Jan. 13

Russ’ Banquet Room

Muskegon

11:30 a.m.

Ken Nobis

Deckerville

Saturday, Jan. 15

St. John’s Lutheran Church

Palms

12:00 noon

Ken Nobis

Lansing

Saturday, Jan. 15

Saites Brothers Catering

Potterville

11:00 a.m.

Carl Rasch

Lapeer County Plus

Monday, Jan. 17

Tietz’s Restaurant

Imlay City

11:30 a.m.

Dean Letter

Saline-Ann Arbor

Tuesday, Jan. 18

Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds

Ann Arbor

12:00 noon

Clay Galarneau

Clare

Wednesday, Jan. 19

Church of the Nazarene

Clare

10:00 a.m.

Sheila Burkhardt

Jackson County Plus

Wednesday, Jan. 19

Gene Davis & Sons

Jackson

12:00 noon

Ken Nobis

Sandusky

Sandusky/Southern Sanilac

Wednesday, Jan. 19

Liberty Lanes

Hillsdale-Litchfield

Thursday, Jan. 20

Hillsdale County Fairgrounds

12:00 noon

Clay Galarneau

12:00 noon

Ken Nobis

Blossomland

Friday, Jan. 21

Zeke’s Restaurant

Dowagiac

12:30 p.m.

Dean Letter

Mt. Pleasant

Friday, Jan. 21

Riverwood

Mt. Pleasant

11:30 a.m.

Ken Nobis

Brown City-Marlette

Saturday, Jan. 22

Eddie G’s

Marlette

12:00 noon

Clay Galarneau

Michigan Milk Messenger 31

Merchandise Memo To order call: 1-800-572-5824 then dial 2

New Glove Items, HC-10 Change New Glove Items

The St. Louis warehouse now carries two different kinds of leather gloves. We have some nice heavyduty deerskin gloves for sale as well as some lighter-duty goatskin gloves. Both of these types of gloves provide excellent dexterity with the deerskin type having heavier-duty leather. Both styles are described as unlined with a shirred wrist and a keystone thumb (conforms to natural hand contours for best comfort). Following are the stock numbers, sizes available and glove prices.

HC-10 Change

For many years, dairy farms and milk haulers have used a product called HC-10 to manually clean their equipment. Ecolab has recently decided to change the packaging of this manual cleaning soap. Up until now, the cleaning compound was packaged in a 24 lb. box comprised of eight 3 lb. bags.

The same product will now be sold in a 10 lb. pail with lid. For those farms and milk haulers on direct delivery, HC-10 will need to be ordered by the case (four 10 lb. pails per case). Dairy farms that purchase HC-10 from their haulers can order it by the 10 lb. pail. HC-10 in the 10 lb. pail will have a new stock number of 6005, and the member price per pail will be $15.38.

32 January 2011

Stock #

MMPA Gloves

5054

Goatskin Leather Gloves – XL

Member Price $ 5.81

5055

Goatskin Leather Gloves –L

$ 5.81

5056

Goatskin Leather Gloves – M

$ 5.81

5070

Deerskin Leather Gloves – XL

$11.88

5071

Deerskin Leather Gloves – L

$11.88

How can 550 farmers like you find real advice?

Register to attend today at www.maeap.org/ACE

Agricultures Conference on the Environment provides expert insight on real world issues facing farmers today. Join hundreds from Michigan’s agricultural community at this valuable event.

January 27, 2011

gram o r P sed Revi Effective 011 2 ry 1, a u n Ja MMPA Quality Premium Program

S

omatic Cell Count premiums and deductions (in addition to Federal Order SCC Adjustments computed in the producer pay price) will be paid at the following levels: • 50,000 or below +55¢/cwt.

• 51,000 - 75,000 +50¢/cwt.

• 76,000 - 100,000 +45¢/cwt.

• 101,000 - 125,000 +40¢/cwt.

• 126,000 - 150,000 +35¢/cwt.

• 151,000 - 175,000 +30¢/cwt.

• 176,000 - 200,000 +25¢/cwt.

• 201,000 - 225,000 +20¢/cwt.

• 226,000 - 250,000 +15¢/cwt.

• 251,000 - 400,000 00¢/cwt.

• 401,000 - 500,000 -15¢/cwt.

• 501,000 - 600,000 -30¢/cwt.

• 601,000 - 750,000 -$1.00/cwt.

• Over 750,000 -$1.50/cwt.

A payment of 5¢/cwt. will be added for each of the following, if the count is equal to or below: • 10,000 Raw Bacteria Count • 20,000 Pre-Incubated (PI) Count There will be a deduction of 10¢/cwt. for: • Greater than 100,000 Raw Bacteria Count

A high raw count deduction will be waived if the producer has received the quality premium the previous three months for raw bacteria count.

To qualify for Raw and PI Bacteria Count premiums there must not be any of the following during the month: • Positive drug residue • Abnormal freeze points • High load count shipment or rejected load shipment • #3 or #4 sediment • Raw Bacteria count over 100,000 The count levels for raw and PI will be determined on one test run per month.

For Service, call the Ecolab Service Message Center 1-800-392-3392 or

To qualify for MMPA SCC premiums there must be: • No abnormal freeze points during the month

Stan Palmer 5303 E. Swan Drive #3 Port Clinton, OH 43452 419-797-2101

To qualify for MMPA volume premiums there must be: • No abnormal freeze points during the month • An average somatic cell count of 750,000 or less.

Rick Schoenhofen W5389 North Shore Dr. Shawano, WI 54166 715-524-2928

MMPA Member Testing Fees

P

ayment for testing will be made through an automatic milk check deduction. All costs are listed per individual sample.

• Scheduled Herd Tests $1

Scheduled Herd Test samples are tested for: Culture for Streptococcus agalactiae, Strep non ag, Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase negative staph, coliform and SCC.

Additional testing can be coordinated through your MMPA Member Representative to include: Raw bacteria count and components.

All herd tests must be scheduled with the laboratory through your MMPA Member Representative.

Chemical, Sanitizer & Teat Dip Contact Information

Members who choose to receive their lab test results via U.S. postal service: $2/month

These are service personnel only.

Order your Member Merchandise supplies through your hauler.

ECOLAB 24 -Hour Medical Emergency Hotline: 1-800-328-0026

Jason Koerth 7509 Aborcrest Dr. Portage, MI 49024 269-207-3773 Pat Mitchell 7273 N. Rollin Hwy. Addison, MI 49220 517-403-0928

Additional Tests Available: All costs are listed per individual sample.

• Mycoplasma Cultures $ 8 • Bacteriology Cultures $12

– Includes identification of bacteria and drug susceptibility.

• Bovine Viral Diarrhea

- PCR

- ELISA • Johne’s Milk Test

- PCR

- ELISA – cows - ELISA – tank • Bovine Leukosis Test

- ELISA – cows - ELISA – tank

$40 $ 6 $40 $ 6 $10 $ 6 $10

A & L Laboratories 24 -Hour Medical Emergency Hotline: 1-800-424-9300 Kurt Fiene 8356 C.R. 115 Kenton, OH 43326 612-889-1063 Jeff Timm NW 8665 C.R. M Shawano, WI 54166 612-840-0555

All tests must be scheduled through your MMPA Member Representative or the laboratory for proper sample submission protocol.

Michigan Milk Messenger 33

Freeliners Call 1-800-572-5824 ext. 224 to place your ad

Bulls Registered Holstein Bulls: We now have a nice selection of service age bulls, sired by top AI sires. Green Meadow Farms, Elsie, MI. 989-862-4291 or see our website at www.greenmeadowfarms.com.

Registered Holstein breeding bulls, all AI sired from top bulls, b&w, red, red carrier and some polled, high production, low SCC herd. Bulls are priced to sell. Ver Hage Holsteins, 269-673-4886 or 269-217-6076, ask for Tim. www. verhageholsteins.com.

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

Freeliner 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 contacting their MMPA Member Representative or 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 may choose to have the item published as a Classified Ad at the regular perline Classified Ad rate.

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

Example: to be included in the January issue, the freeliner must be at the MMPA office by December 10.

34 January 2011

Reg. Holstein bulls from many generations of VG and EXC dams w/ high production records made while grazing. Jenesis Genetics, 231-9246163 or 231-225-8615.

Red & white and black & white Holstein breeding bulls. Also, Jersey-Holstein and Swedish Red-Holstein crossbred bulls. High fat and protein testing dams, guaranteed breeders and free delivery.

Jerry Good 616-262-6904.

Bulls for sale: by service sires Shottle, Million, Bogart, and Lawnboy. We have B&W, R&W and RC, w/ exc. components. Available for pick up or delivery. Call Wardin Bros. 989-642-3262.

Cows & Heifers Springing heifers, 10 Jerseys 7 mo. pregnant, 15 Jersey-Holstein crossbred 5 ½ - 7 mo. pregnant. Larry and Jeremy Werth, 989-464-4022 and 989-727-4754.

Small Red & White Holstein Dairy herd for sale: 35 - Dairy cows, milking and dry $1,300.00 ea. Milked in parlor, housed in free stalls. 10 - Bred heifers, due February thru May, $1,300.00 ea.

10 - Short bred heifers, due June thru Sept, $1,000.00 ea. All are AI and bred AI. Dan & Cindy Lombard, New Era 231-861-4430.

8 – Jersey/Holstein cross cows, from a grazing dairy. 260-894-7413.

Equipment Jamesway 500 barn cleaner, 220 ft. of chain, best offer. 810-376-4624.

4305 Patz TMR mixer, good cond., new sliding and knives on bottom auger, $7,500.

260-768-4378 ext. 2.

Improve bottom-line $$. Lower feed costs. Maximize production.

Ingredients from your trusted source.

Zeeland Farm Services, Inc.® MI: 866.888.7082 Fax: 616.772.7067 www.zfsinc.com

Low Fat Hominy 7% minimum protein 7% maximum fiber 4% minimum fat

Citrus Pulp

16% maximum fiber 6% minimum protein 2.1% maximum calcium 2% minimum fat

Valero Meal

34% minimum protein 13% maximum crude fiber 4% minimum fat

Traditional ZFS® Menu Soybean meal, soybean hulls, cereal feed, cottonseed, distillers, gluten, canola meal, beet pulp, wet feeds, and more!

1999 Case 1840 skidloader, 4,400 hrs., nice shape, good tires, $5,800. 231-2067922.

Enhanced fiber digestibility Cooler silage Increased dry matter recovery More milk

J.D. 1219 mower conditioner, 9 ft., VG cond., 260-705-8185.

3- Gehl self-unloading wagons, all on tandem gears, BU910, BU940, BU960 for $1,500, $1,800, $3,500, or make offer. May part out BU940, call if interested. 2-110 gal. Raven spray tanks, $150 OBO. Auger from NH 308 spreader, $350 OBO. 20-Jamesway stanchions, $5 each. Harvestore weight dump box $50 OBO. Call 810-404-0468.

1999 Gehl 2412 disc bine, 12 ft. cut, exc. cond., stored inside, $7,500 obo, 231-834-5776.

International 20 ft. wheel drag, always housed, exc. cond., extra set of new Danish tines, $1,250 obo. 616-6819668.

Dairy Equipment Boumatic pipeline, approx. 230 ft. of 2 ½ in. pipeline w/ 8 milking units. Also, 800 gal. Mueller bulk tank w/ compressor and 80 gal. free heater. All in good condition. 989658-8341.

Feed Big straw bales, $80/ton plus delivery.

810-384-6538 and 810-841-5405.

Wanted 170 C7B Superior silo staves. 269659-5971.

H bunks in good condition. 989862-4421.

Pioneer® brand inoculants

provide the benefits and choices you want. Our inoculants can help provide increased dry matter intake, more stable silage and enhanced fiber digestibility.

Plus the knowledge of our dairy specialists adds innovation across our whole product line — all to help you make more milk.

See your Pioneer sales professional for the right inoculant for your operation. Treat your silage right and your herd will reward you.

CalfTel Superhutch, 616-634-2958.

Used pup trailer, 5,000-6,000 gal.

574-202-4879.

www.pioneer.com/forage

Small square bale straw chopper. 260-499-3311 ext. 9 – leave message, Abe Bontrager.

400 cu. ft. auger mixer, cash or can trade Knight 3042 mixer, 989-658-2373.

, , Trademarks and service marks of Pioneer Hi-Bred.

All purchases are subject to the terms of labeling and purchase documents. © 2010 PHII ADTVS017215P360MVAR1

® TM SM

Michigan Milk Messenger 35

Classifieds Call 1-800-572-5824 ext. 224

Classified Ads ($5.65 per line) Mail ads, preferably typewritten, to: Classified Ads, Michigan Milk Messenger, PO BOX 8002, Novi, MI 48376-8002. Ads must be received by the 10th of the month before the month of desired publication. Send check or money order for $11.30 (two lines) with your order. MMPA neither sponsors nor endorses products or services advertised in the Messenger.

OPPERMAN GROOVING: 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 ______________________________________ Concrete Grooving/Floor Texturing: Bring existing grooves back to 100% efficiency/new construction. Blue Ribbon Hoof Trimming, LLC. 989-635-1494. ______________________________________ For sale: 5000-4000-3000-2500-2000-1500 OH Mueller late model bulk tank milk tanks, complete, will trade.

1-800-558-0112. ____________________________________

More milk from every acre The right seed choices are critical to success today and will impact your operation for the entire feeding season.

Pioneer has the right corn silage hybrid selections to help you maximize your milk-per-ton as well as yield-per-acre.

Pioneer conducts worldwide forage research, developing corn silage hybrids with higher yield potential and better digestibility to help you produce more milk-per-acre.

See your local Pioneer sales professional to get the right corn silage product on the right acre. www.pioneer.com/forage

Generators Winpower & Katolight

Stocking up to 100 KW 24 Hour Emergency Service serving Michigan for the past 30 years 800-345-1887 Midwest Power Systems , , Trademarks and service marks of Pioneer Hi-Bred.

All purchases are subject to the terms of labeling and purchase documents. © 2010 PHII CRNSL017214P360MVA

® TM SM

36 January 2011

Policies MMPA Policy on Drug Residue in Milk: MILK ON FARM – DRUG RESIDUE SUSPECTED

MILK SHIPPED — POSITIVE drugs CONFIRMED

If a member suspects milk in the farm bulk tank contains drug residue:

If a member ships milk from the farm and testing by approved laboratory methods show that the milk contained drug residue, the member will be assessed the penalties imposed by the state regulatory agency and be disqualified for raw and PI bacteria count premiums.

1. Call a MMPA Member Representative to have the milk in the tank tested. A “hold” must be placed on the tank contents until the test results are known. - OR 2. The member can test the milk on the farm. If dumped, the member must be sure to take the stick reading, record the number of pounds of milk, and report the information to their membership representative.

• If the tank tests negative (no drugs present), the milk may be released and shipped.

• If the tank tests positive (drugs present), the membership representative will authorize the member to dump the tank of milk.

The member will be paid 75% of the value of the tank of milk involved.*

• If for any reason MMPA personnel must pick up samples at the farm for testing three or more times within 12 consecutive months, the member involved will be charged $25 per trip.

If a loss is incurred by MMPA due to the disposal and/or nonmarketability of a load of milk or milk products containing drug residue, then the member responsible will be provided an invoice for the entire value of the loss plus transportation and disposal costs as required by the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance. This invoice may be submitted to the member’s insurance carrier. MMPA must receive settlement on the invoice within 90 days of issuance. If settlement is not made within 90 days, the full amount of the invoice will be deducted from the next milk check unless other settlement arrangements are made.

Milk from that member’s farm tank must be tested and found clear of drugs before the next tank of milk can be picked up.

A hauler whose entire load sample shows the presence of drugs will be charged the amount of an average shipment on that load if the individual member samples all show negative.

ALL POSITIVE DRUG RESIDUE SHIPMENTS MUST BE REPORTED TO THE ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

MMPA Policy on Milk Quality QUALITY QUESTIONABLE

REJECTED LOAD SHIPMENT

When a member suspects that the milk in the farm bulk tank is of poor quality they should call a MMPA Member Representative who will authorize milk in the tank to be dumped. If the member dumps the milk on their own, they must be sure to take the stick reading and record the number of pounds of milk, and report the information to the Member Representative.

If:

If the milk is dumped, the member will be paid 75% of the value of the tank of milk involved.

In order to receive payment for an added water voluntary dump, the member must install a Swingline Safety Switch. The Swingline Safety Switch can be ordered from the St. Louis warehouse. The MMPA Member Representative will verify the switch has been installed. Reimbursement for the Swingline Safety Switch and the voluntary dump will then be made to the member.

The member assumes all liability for losses incurred as a result of shipping poor quality or contaminated milk.

MILK SHIPPED – HIGH BACTERIA COUNT If:

1. A load of milk is received (unloaded) at a dairy processing plant and,

2. a sample from the load has a bacteria count of 300,000 or more and,

3. testing of the individual member samples on that load identifies the member or members having a bacteria count of 300,000 or more, then the member or members involved will be charged the value of one-half of one day’s production** and will be disqualified for raw and PI bacteria count premiums. **For members using more than one bulk tank, the assessment will be based on the value of milk in the tank or tanks in violation of the MMPA quality policy.

1. A load of milk is rejected (not unloaded) at a dairy processing plant and,

2. the milk cannot be sold through normal Grade A channels for reasons of quality which results in the load being sold or disposed of at a loss to MMPA, and,

3. testing of the individual member samples on that load identifies the member or members that caused the contamination or rejection of the load, then, the member or members responsible will be charged the full value of the loss to MMPA plus transportation and disposal costs, and be disqualified for raw and PI bacteria count premiums except for loads rejected for temperature.

4. MMPA will provide an invoice to the member for the amount of the loss, to be submitted to the member’s insurance carrier. MMPA must receive settlement on the invoice within 90 days of issuance. If settlement is not made within 90 days, the full amount of the invoice will be deducted from the next milk check unless other settlement arrangements are made.

If a member has a third occurrence or more within 12 consecutive months, that member must appear before the MMPA board of directors to review steps taken on the farm to correct the quality problem which will enable MMPA to continue to market the milk for this member.

HAULER

A hauler whose entire load sample exceeds 300,000 per mL bacteria count will be charged the amount of an average shipment on that load if the individual member samples all are less than 100,000.

A hauler will be responsible for all costs incurred by MMPA for loads rejected for temperature.

Charges and assessments made under this program will be withheld from milk checks of members or haulers involved.

* The member will only be paid for two (2) voluntary dumps in a 12 month period.

Michigan Milk Messenger 37

Market Report For Milk Marketed in October 2010

MARKET STATISTICS Mideast Federal Order #33 (pounds)

This Month

Year Ago

% Change

Total Class 1 Sales

546,616,502

618,054,033

-11.56

Total Class 2 Sales

245,975,328

258,891,071

-4.99

Total Class 3 Sales

501,293,510

391,352,926

+28.09

Total Class 4 Sales

64,859,739

67,754,053

-4.27

1,358,745,079 1,336,052,083

+1.70

Total Production Class 1 Utilization

40.2%

46.3%

Mideast Federal Order #33

Current Month Total Producers 6,906 Average Daily Production per Farm 6,347 Average Protein Test 3.14% Average Butterfat Test 3.74% Average Other Solids Test 5.69% Average SCC Count (MMPA) 188,000

NATIONAL TRENDS (million pounds)

Production California

2010

2009 % Change

3,346

3,207 +4.3

Wisconsin

2,124

2,107

+0.8

Idaho

1,091

1,021

+6.9

New York

1,054

1,007

+4.7

Pennsylvania

887

862

+2.9

Minnesota

740

741

-0.1

Texas

737

710

+3.8

Michigan

682

660

+3.3

New Mexico

653

640

+2.0

Washington

499

466

+7.1

Ohio

427

425

+0.5

Indiana

289

282

+2.5

14,784

14,306

+3.3

149,578 146,701

+2.0

* Total U.S.

COMPONENT PRICING INFORMATION Mideast Federal Order #33 Protein Price/lb.

$2.4739

Butterfat Price/lb.

$2.4436

Other Solids Price/lb.

$0.1736

Class III Price @ 3.5%

$ 16.94

Prod. Price Diff/cwt. (Mich. Mkt.) Uniform Price @ 3.5% SCC Adjustment/cwt./1000

$0.42 $ 17.36 $0.00088

NASS Survey Prices

Monthly Avg.

Cheese/lb. 1.7666 Butter/lb. 2.1893 Nonfat Dry Milk/lb.

1.1674

Dry Whey/lb.

0.3676

38 January 2011

* U.S. Y-T-D * For 23 states

COMMODITY CREDIT CORP. (CCC) PURCHASES (million pounds)

Butter Cheese Nonfat Dry Milk Total Solids

This Year Month Ago 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 +0.13 0.00 +0.92

MMPA Staff NOVI (Headquarters) 248-474-6672

800-572-5824 General Manager Clay Galarneau, ext. 200 Member Services/Quality Control Milk Sales/Dispatch Finance/Controller Gary Trimner, ext. 213 Carl Rasch, ext. 244 Joseph M. Diglio, ext. 240 Producer Testing/Herd Health Programs Manufactured Sales Credit/Insurance

Dean Letter, ext. 217 Jim Dodson, ext. 229 Cheryl Schmandt, ext. 210 Laboratory Supervisor Member Relations/Public Affairs Data Processing

Patti Huttula, ext. 219 Sheila Burkhardt, ext. 208 Gregory Schulkey, ext. 237 Human Resources Member Communications

Cindy Tilden, ext. 220 Mindy Pratt, ext. 211

Laura Moser

MANUFACTURING PLANTS

Constantine 269-435-2835 Plant Manager Thomas Carpenter

Ovid 989-834-2221 Plant Manager/Plant Operations David Wittkop

MMPA FIELD STAFF MASTITIS MANAGEMENT

EAST AREA

Supervisor: Tom Herremans.....................231-853-8008.

Ravenna................. mobile 269-967-0890

Supervisor: Michael Marvin Marlette Office....................989-635-3650

Gerry Volz..............................989-848-5996 Fairview mobile 989-289-9219 NORTH AREA Supervisor: Jack Stickler St. Louis Office....................989-681-5183 Frank Brazeau.......................920-834-4059 Oconto, Wis. mobile 906-250-0337 Ben Chapin....................................................

Haslett mobile 989-289-0731

Gary Best................................810-664-4984 Lapeer mobile 586-484-9279 Bulk Tank Calibration Christy Dinsmoore........................................

Fairgrove mobile 989-528-9102 Richard Fluegge............................................

Cass City mobile 248-709-0283 Michael Marvin.............................................

Marlette mobile 989-670-4864 Jody Bugaiski................................................

North Street mobile 989-289-8610 SOUTH AREA

Preston Cole............................231-584-2587 Mancelona mobile 989-289-9301

Supervisor: Dale Ledebuhr Battle Creek Office.............269-962-5550

Duane Farmer....................... 517-552-3976 Howell mobile 586-484-9278

Steve Beroza...........................269-623-8178 Delton mobile 269-986-6792

Steven Lehman.......................989-875-3441 Ithaca mobile 989-330-1638 Katie Pierson.................................................

Coleman mobile 989-289-9686 Kristin Rawlings...........................................

Crystal mobile 231-414-4539 Lyndsay Stakenas..........................................

Fremont mobile 231-519-2455 Jack Stickler...........................989-561-5022 Remus mobile 989-289-9075

If you are unable to reach your assigned member representative, contact any one of the representatives listed in your area.

David Brady............................517-522-5965 Grass Lake mobile 517-937-9061 Dale Ledebuhr.......................269-965-2474 Battle Creek mobile 269-986-6791 Andrew Rupprecht.......................................

Reading mobile 269-986-6793 Kendra Stieg..................................................

Caledonia mobile 269-245-6632 Ed Zuchnik....................................................

Three Rivers mobile 269-967-7351

MMPA Labs Novi: 800-572-5824 (in MI)

800-233-2405 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. Mon-Fri Ovid: 989-834-2515 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. Daily Constantine: 800-391-7560 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. Daily Merchandise—St. Louis Supervisor: Joe Mishler.......989-681-2334 Fax........................................989-681-3988 Toll Free...............................877-367-6455 Orders (Novi)...800-572-5824 then dial 2

Michigan Milk Messenger 39

Precision Reproductive Management

™

Monitors cow activity around the clock so you don’t have to Identifies a high percentage of cows in heat Reduces the need for timed A.I., saving you time and money Can be fully customized to every dairy’s unique environment Replaceable battery adds to the life of the transponder Can aid in identifying lame or sick cows Identifies non-cycling cows quickly Backed by professionally trained, local service representatives

Talk to your area NorthStar representative to learn more.

800.631.3510 northstarcooperative.com

Photo by Jenny Thomas, Cybil Fisher Photography