Michigan Milk Messenger: December 2013

Messenger Michigan Milk

The official publication of Michigan Milk Producers Association

Inside

Ovid Investment Update • Pour it Forward

www.mimilk.com Vol. 96 Issue 6 December 2013

contents Michigan Milk Messenger EDITOR’S LETTER

4 6

MMPA Matters

8

News & Views

Face-to-Face Still the Best

Quality Watch

Protect Your Cows’ Money Makers

NDB Appointment NMPF Awards

10 Legislative Watch

Farm Bill Conference Begins on Capitol Hill

FEATURES

12

14

Unprecedented Return on Investment

Ovid Plant Investment Earning its Keep

13 Realigning 14 Priorities

2013-14 MMPA Local Meetings

Messenger

December 2013

2013 District 7 OYDC David and Kathleen Knust

2

12

Managing Editor............................. Sheila Burkhardt Editors.............. Laura Moser, Alex Schnabelrauch Advertising Manager..................Nancy Muszynski 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.

18 41310 Bridge St. Telephone: 248-474-6672 P.O. Box 8002 FAX: 248-474-0924 Novi, MI 48376-8002 www.mimilk.com

Periodical postage paid at Novi, MI and at additional offices.

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

(ISSN 0026-2315)

22 16 18

Milk Quality Benefits from Monthly Meetings

24

Perpetual Transition, Constant Dedication

Departments

2013 District 10 OYDC Jeremy and Melissa Petzold

the Season of 22 ‘Tis Generosity

Pour it Forward with UDIM and Kroger

2013-2014 MMPA Local Officers

Cover Story 32 Merchandise 33 Quality Premiums 34 Freeliners 36 Classifieds 37 Policies 38 Market Report 39 Staff

As winter approaches and the holiday season nears, we wish all our members and friends a season filled with peace and happiness. Read how UDIM and Kroger are partnering to help others with the “Pour it Forward” program on page 22.

Michigan Milk Producers Association Michigan Milk Producers Association, established in 1916, is a member owned and operated dairy cooperative serving approximately 2,000 dairy farmers in Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin and Ohio.

District Directors 1. Hank Choate, Cement City 2. Tim Hood, Paw Paw 4. Dan Javor, Hastings 5. Brent Wilson, Carson City 6. Brad Ritter, Byron 7. James Reid, Jeddo 8. Leonard Brown, Sandusky 10. Eric Frahm, Frankenmuth 11. Bob Kran, Free Soil 12. John Kronemeyer, Pickford

517-529-9032 269-657-5771 269-948-8345 989-584-3481 810-266-4091 810-327-6830 810-648-4505 989-652-3552 231-464-5889 906-647-7638

For listing of other MMPA leaders visit mimilk.com

December 2013

Officers: President: Ken Nobis Vice President: Bob Kran Treasurer: Mark Halbert General Manager/Secretary: Clay Galarneau Assistant Treasurer: Joe Diglio General Counsel: Todd Hoppe

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

Messenger

Board of Directors

3

MMPA Matters Ken Nobis

by

President

Face-to-Face Meetings Still the Best We are at the beginning of the meeting season, and we want MMPA to be poised to make the most of it. How can we make your meeting a good one?

Messenger

December 2013

There are many, many ways to communicate today, and each has advantages and disadvantages.

We have land lines, mobile phones, text messaging, e-mail, videos, print and on-line newspapers and periodicals, and an ever-increasing array of social media avenues. How often have you been 10 minutes into drafting an email when it occurs to you that you could be more efficient with a phone call? How often have you thought to yourself that what you wanted to convey is best said out loud rather than in writing which can be quickly forwarded or shared across cyberspace with others? While effective communication choices are seemingly limitless and sometimes daunting, face-to-face communication continues to offer advantages that cannot be found anywhere else.

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I was reminded of the importance of face-to-face interaction recently while talking with someone who spends every working day promoting U.S. dairy products.

He explained to me the pitfalls of texting and emails (in particular) include: he receives no clues or information gained by observing body language that might indicate

whether the person at the other end truly agrees with him or instead is rejecting him, and no indication that he might even be royally offending the person. Yes, we can unknowingly offend each other in a face-to-face interaction, too, but at least body language gives us more indicators and opportunities to turn the situation around before it has gone too far.

Telephones are a step up because the other person can interrupt and ask for clarification while the conversation is in progress.

I appreciate the phone calls I receive from MMPA members.

Even though a good phone conversation can be fruitful, faceto-face is even better because all of our senses can be used to effectively communicate.

What’s interesting is that we have so many communication avenues, but we still have gaps left by our failure to communicate effectively.

Face-to-face exchanges are not always possible. Local meetings provide a once-a-year opportunity to meet and greet each other and exchange ideas, so I can only wonder why every member does not show up. It’s only a few hours out of your year.

We are now in the process of preparing for these meetings.

Tell us how we can make the local meeting an experience that adds value to your membership in MMPA. Tell us what you like; tell us what you don’t like. After all, each member is a part owner of this cooperative. Your board

of directors is willing to effect change, but we need your input on what that change should look like and how it will make our cooperative better.

Maybe the number one discussion item will vary from local to local. No problem – just let your interests be known to us before your meeting so that we can tailor the discussion and prepare some information for your local.

Each member of MMPA is a part owner, so each member has rights. But with rights come responsibilities. I think most, if not all, members want to see their cooperative grow and prosper.

Participation is the key to moving forward. Participation of each member helps fulfill our mission statement, “to market our members’ milk to the greatest advantage possible.”

Let me know what you think. A call or text to my mobile phone 248-996-3757, an email to nobis@ mimilk.com, or a note sent by U.S. mail to 1513 N. Lowell Road, Saint Johns, MI 48879 will result in a quick response.

Sheila Burkhardt, director of member relations and public affairs, is always looking for good ideas and would like to hear from you also. We look forward to communicating with you and, most importantly, seeing you face-to-face at your local meeting.

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BonnieMohr.com 320.864.6642 800.264.6647

QUALITY Watch Christy Dinsmoore

by

Mastitis Management Specialist

Protect Your Cows’ Money Makers: Don’t let Jack Frost Nip Cows’ Teats Cows’ teat skin is similar to human lips; both in sensitivity and texture.

When our lips begin to chap and dry out in cool, dry weather cows’ teats do too.

Messenger

December 2013

Rough, chapped teat skin is irritating and painful for cows, and it creates many micro-cracks and crevices for bacteria, especially Staph Aureus, to colonize. Then it’s just a matter of time before the bacteria break through the teat end barrier and cause a mastitis infection. It’s not uncommon for contagious mastitis outbreaks to occur on farms that quit postdipping in the winter months.

Midwestern winters are challenging for dairies, but with some planning, chapped or frostbitten teats can be prevented.

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Chose Post-Dips Wisely Product selection is important.

Post-dips containing at least 10 percent skin conditioning agents are recommended in the cool, dry months. Skin conditioners are designed to keep teat skin and teat ends smooth and supple through cold winters. Post-dip only works effectively if it covers the entire teat barrel and end.

Powder dips that contain a sanitizing agent may have a place in a farm’s post-dipping regimen, but they may prove difficult to effectively apply. You may consider using a powder dip for night milking (when temperatures drop)

and a conventional dip during the day milking; monitor for any chemical reaction between liquid and powder dips. Be wary of thick barrier dips in the winter; they may take as long as 20 minutes to dry.

When Jack Frost Bites When the wind chill drops below -25° F, avoid chapped or frozen teats by letting teat ends dry before turning cows out of the parlor or milking barn. Blotting the teat ends with a towel 30 seconds after the start of dip contact time can speed the drying process. It is the drip of dip on the teat end that (when it freezes) also damages teat skin. And just because you don’t dip doesn’t mean the teat is dry; even the thin film of milk left after milking may freeze if a cow is turned out into cold weather conditions.

Providing wind breaks can reduce the wind chapping factor greatly. Temperatures of -20° F can be tolerated under calm wind conditions.

Special care should be taken for first lactation cows and any cows with udder edema. These conditions reduce the blood flow to the udder and increase the cow’s chances of getting frostbitten or chapped teats.

Other concerns on a dairy include suckling heifers wetting teats on the heifers they suckle, wet bedding exposing teat skin to moisture and poor ventilation driving up humidity. All of these factors draw heat from the teat skin more quickly.

Monitor your cows’ teats often so you can take action as soon as there are observed changes in teat skin condition.

Limited Treatment Options Preventing chapped or frostbitten teats is much easier than treating them. If frostbite or chapping of teats occurs on your farm, supportive therapy with sparing use of salves or oils may be necessary to restore teat skin condition. But there is no specific treatment.

In fact, treatment methods can actually spread mastitis-causing bacteria from cow to cow via greasy milker hands. These bacteria are very difficult to remove before the milker is attached at the next milking. Studies show that salves and oils are no better at healing damaged teat skin than postdip with 1 percent iodine and 10 percent skin conditioners. And remember, already frostbitten teats are more susceptible to refreezing.

Cold Weather Can also Affect Your Teat Dip Don’t store teat dip containers in areas where they may freeze; freezing causes separation of ingredients resulting in higher concentrations of active ingredients near the bottom of the container. Stirring the product beforehand will help, but it is difficult to remix.

You cannot control the weather, but you can reduce its impact on the cows’ teats.

MASTICARE WITH LSA TECHNOLOGY KILLS VIRTUALLY ON CONTACT AND KEEPS WORKING, MAKING IT BOTH AN EXCELLENT PRE- AND POST-DIP SOLUTION. LSA technology also gives you more powerful broad spectrum protection. It kills mastitis-causing pathogens, including bacteria, fungi and viruses. Even when exposed to high levels of organic contaminants, which can lower the effectiveness of other traditional non-iodine dips, MASTICARE stays as effective as iodine. It’s gentle too. You’ll see less irritation and smoother softer teats, in all kinds of weather. That means better teat sanitation, lower somatic cell counts and improved milkability throughout your herd.

www.AandL-Labs.com www.AandL-Labs.com • 800-225-3832 1001 Glenwood Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55405

NEWS & Views

October Class III up 8¢ The USDA announced that October’s Class III milk price is $18.22 per hundredweight, up eight cents from September, but down $2.80 from a year ago. The Class IV price is $20.17, 74 cents higher than September’s price, and $1.63 more than last year.

Producers scoring 95 percent or more on Grade A Surveys and Federal Check Rating MMPA SIMON NORTH CLINTON October 2013 Steenblik Dairy Inc. BMF Dairy LLC

MMPA ALLENDALE SOUTH October 2013 Pyle Dairy Farm Inc Dennis Raterink Norman Terhaar Nienhuis Dairy Farm LLC James Huggett Ladine Farms Daybreak Dairy LLC * Steven Hochstetler Country Corners Farms LLC Haveman Farms LLC William / Robert Gruppen Wayne / Marvin Hochstetler Ivan Mast *Scored 100 percent

Messenger

December 2013

Upcoming Events

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December 9 MMPA Advisory Committee

Novi, MI Local Meetings begin

MMPA Member Cheri Chapin Appointed to National Dairy Board Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the appointment of 14 members to the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board last month. “These appointees represent a cross section of the dairy industry and I am confident that the industry will be well served by them,” said Secretary Vilsack.

Newly appointed members are: Cheryl L. Chapin, Remus, Mich.; Carol L. Ahlem, Hilmar, Calif.; Christopher J. Brazil, Escalon, Calif.; Brian O. Medeiros, Hanford, Calif.; Lisa Vander Eyk, Pixley, Calif.; Eddie S. Schaap, Clovis, N.M.; Sarah E. Lloyd, Wisconsin Dells, Wis.; and Joseph M. Kelsay (term ending on October 31, 2015), Whiteland, Ind..

Reappointed to serve second terms were: Renae A. De Jager, Chowchilla, Calif.; Jeffrey A. Hardy, Brigham City, Utah; Zachary H. Myers, Jonesville, N.C.; David P. Crowl, Forest Hill, Md.; Sanford Stauffer, Nicholville, N. Y.; and Susan M. Troy, Wilmette, Ill..

The Dairy Board was established under the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983, as amended, to develop and administer a coordinated program of promotion, research, and nutrition education. The 38-member Dairy Board is authorized to design programs to strengthen the dairy industry’s position in domestic and foreign markets. The program is financed by a mandatory assessment on all milk marketed commercially and an assessment on milk and dairy products imported into the United States.

MMPA Members and Employees Earn Awards at NMPF Joint Annual Meeting MMPA was well represented and returned home with its fair share of accolades at the recent National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF)/National Dairy Board (NDB)/ United Dairy Industry Association (UDIA) Joint Annual Meeting held November 11-13 in Phoenix, Ariz.

The NDB honored former MMPA president of 26 years Elwood Kirkpatrick with the Richard E. Lyng Award for his dedication and service to dairy promotion. The award is named after former U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Richard E. Lyng, who played a key role in implementing policies that led to the establishment of the NDB 28 years ago. The Lyng Award honors dairy industry leaders who have made a significant contribution to dairy promotion that benefits the entire dairy industry.

NMPF also recognized MMPA member and past board member Velmar Green as an honorary director. Velmar was selected for this honor because of his exemplary service not only to NMPF, but also to the entire dairy industry.

MMPA Director of Member Services Dean Letter was also recognized as the second place entry in the column/editorial division of the Member Cooperative Communications Competition for his June 2013 Quality Watch article titled, “Recommended Farm Biosecurity Measures.”

NEWS & Views

Save the Date: MMPA Calf Training Schools The National Dairy FARM Program recommends farms document all employee training for new and existing employees on an annual basis. To help fulfill this recommendation, MMPA and Land O’Lakes Animal Milk Products Co. are offering calf training schools again this year Dec. 10-13 and Jan. 30-31 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The cost to attend is $10 per person. The classroom-style meeting is limited to 25 per date, so reserve your spot early!

2013/2014 Dates and Locations Gratiot-Isabella RESD (Ithaca) (FULL)

Dec. 10, 2013

Dec. 11, 2013 Ramada Inn (Grayling)

Dec. 12, 2013 MSUE Sanilac County (Sandusky) (FULL)

Dec. 13, 2013 Steaks Eatery (Jackson)

Jan. 30, 2014 Russo’s Mainstream Sports Bar & Grille (Hopkins)

Jan. 31, 2014

Van Buren Hotel (Shipshewana, Ind.)

To register, contact Marianne Gasiewski at the Novi office (800-572-5824 ext. 215). Please be ready to provide your farm information, desired school, phone number and the number of people attending.

MMPA Advisory Committee District Five 517-398-0629 517-445-2649 517-639-4182 517-524-6015

District Two

Donald Bever, Delton Richard Thomas, Middlebury, IN Michael Oesch, Middlebury, IN

Bruce Benthem, McBain 231-825-2814 Tom Jeppesen, Stanton 989-762-5399 Bill Jernstadt, Big Rapids 231-796-4650 Mike Rasmussen, Edmore 989-762-5380

District Six 269-671-5050 574-825-5198

574-825-2454

District Four David Bivens, Bellevue 269-758-3980 Mark Crandall, 269-660-2229 Battle Creek James Droscha, Charlotte 517-543-5577 David Lott, Mason 517-676-4593

Aaron Gasper, Lowell Anthony Jandernoa, St. Johns David Reed, Owosso Kris Wardin, St Johns District Seven Bill Blumerich, Berlin Pat Bolday, Emmett Scott Lamb, Jeddo Chuck White, Fowlerville District Eight Mike Bender, Croswell Tim Kubacki, Sebewaing Dale Phillips, Marlette Steve Schulte, Harbor Beach

616-897-2747 989-593-2224 989-723-8635 989-640-9420

810-395-2926 810-395-7139 810-327-6135 517-521-3564

810-679-4782 989-883-3249 989-635-7917 989-479-9339

District Ten John Bennett, Prescott Ken Daniels, Sterling Rod Fowler, Chesaning Scott Kleinhardt, Clare

989-345-4264 989-654-2546 989-845-6131 989-386-8037

District Eleven Jim Good, Caledonia 616-891-1414 Frank Konkel, Hesperia 231-854-8041 David Pyle, Zeeland 616-772-1512 Bill Stakenas, Free Soil 231-757-9340

District Twelve Robert Barron, Gladstone 906-786-7027 Dave Folkersma, Rudyard 906-478-3023 Corby Werth, Alpena 989-379-3772 Jeremy Werth, Alpena 989-464-4022

December 2013

Carlton Evans, Litchfield Brad Hart, Clayton Glenn Preston, Quincy Art Riske, Hanover

Messenger

District One

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Legislative

Farm Bill Conference Begins on Capitol Hill

T

he Farm Bill conference formally began last month on Capitol Hill, as the 41 House and Senate members of the joint conference committee outlined their priorities and pledged to finalize a compromise bill this fall.

NMPF issued a statement urging the lawmakers to include the Senate’s Dairy Security Act in the measure, and reject the House dairy language because it lacks the market stabilization component supported

by NMPF.

Messenger

December 2013

The principal leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture committees are now working informally to resolve the key points of contention between the two chambers’ respective versions. In addition to dairy policy, the lawmakers must reconcile differences including country of origin labeling for meat, the national implications of California’s egg production requirements, whether to require conservation compliance as part of crop insurance and most prominently, the level of funding reduction for food stamps.

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These issues will have to be addressed relatively quickly, given that holiday schedules will limit the amount of time for the House and Senate to pass a final bill prior to the end of the year.

NMPF is continuing its efforts to educate lawmakers about the importance of having a voluntary margin insurance program coupled with the market stabilization program, in order to make the overall dairy safety net as effective and affordable as possible. Dairy farmers can contact their members of Congress to urge that the Dairy Security Act be included in the farm bill by using NMPF’s Dairy GREAT system found at www.NMPF.org.

The comments are in response to USDA’s interim final rule establishing nutrition standards for foods sold outside of school meal programs. Because dairy products in those settings are competing against other foods and beverages, NMPF urged USDA to limit the time and place that non-dairy, non-juice lowercalorie and calorie-free beverages are available.

NMPF Urges USDA to Enhance Dairy Consumption Opportunities in Schools

In addition, NMPF also asked USDA to include low-fat flavored milk as an allowable beverage, extend the saturated fat exemption for reducedfat cheese to combination foods and clarify the final rule’s saturated fat standard.

In comments submitted to the USDA, NMPF urged the agency to make adjustments in a proposed rule affecting how dairy products are made available to school students beyond the lunch line. The NMPF comments single out as a point of concern the “favorable treatment afforded to competing beverages – which, in contrast to milk and juice, do not supply significant amounts of nutrients essential to students’ diets” and points out that the proposed regulation confers an unfair and inappropriate advantage to these products.

Those changes – particularly allowing the reintroduction of lowfat flavored milk, which was removed from federal school nutrition regulations three years ago – will “further enhance dairy consumption in order to close the gap between current dietary recommendations and consumption of milk and dairy products.” NMPF pointed out that actual average consumption of milk is “barely half the USDA’s recommended amount and, after early childhood, all age groups continue to fall further short of recommended amounts.”

December 2013 Messenger

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forages

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COVER STORY

By Alex Schnabelrauch

Unprecedented Return on Investment Ovid Plant Investment Earning its Keep The average savings account accumulated roughly .06 percent interest last year. Roth IRAs returned around .1 percent annual interest.

Even long-term U.S. stocks have averaged a 7 percent return over the past century. But MMPA’s investment in the Ovid plant expansion has, even according to conservative estimates, blown those ROIs out of the water.

Messenger

December 2013

“Over a four-year period, since the Ovid plant expansion was completed, we’ve generated 150 percent return on the expansion investment back to members,” Joe Diglio, MMPA director of finance and controller, explains.

“Members have invested 10 cents per hundredweight in the form of equity capital retains into their

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cooperative since April 2008, while the co-op has returned an annual average of 15 cents in realized value between 2010 and 2013. Where else could we have achieved such stellar returns?”

Outperforming Expectations The $62 million investment in MMPA’s Ovid Plant, endorsed by delegates in 2008, was not taken lightly nor made without thoughtful consideration and countless calculations. But, even projecting an annual 3 percent growth in the MMPA member milk supply, no one could have predicted the growth and change in the dairy marketplace that has occurred over the past four years.

“With the ability to process the additional milk produced by our members – which grew 5 percent in 2012 and nearly 5 percent again in 2013 – and the capacity to nimbly navigate markets to capitalize on surplus milk available at market prices, the value of return projected by our original models has grown exponentially. Bottom line,

we’re realizing stronger returns than our most optimistic expectations,” Joe elaborates.

In 2009, MMPA and other Michigan dairy plants were filled to capacity, translating into a shortage of customers for extra MMPA milk.

Excess milk produced by MMPA members had to be shipped to distant markets at a distressed price, taking a destructive toll on the MMPA pay price. Consequently, the goal of adding capacity to the Ovid plant was to prevent recent history from repeating itself and keeps MMPA milk closer to home.

Currently, rather than being forced to sell member milk at a reduced price to other buyers, MMPA can process and produce quality products Continued on page 20

2013-2014 Local Meetings Note: Information listed was available at press time. All members will receive complete meeting details in the invitation for their local meeting.

Place

Location

Time

Barry-Eaton/Lansing

Saturday, Dec. 7

Grace Community Church

Nashville

12 noon

Kalamazoo

Tuesday, Dec. 10

Old Country Buffet

Kalamazoo

11 a.m.

Upstate

Tuesday, Dec. 10

Menominee/ Vacationland/ Western U.P.

Wednesday, Dec. 11

Sunrise

Wednesday, Dec. 11 K of C Hall

Standish

11:30 a.m.

Chippewa

Thursday, Dec. 12

Rudyard Christian Reformed Church

Rudyard

12 noon

Deford/CliffordMayville

Monday, Jan. 6

Liz’s American Diner

Caro

12 noon

Adrian

Tuesday, Jan. 7

Rome Grange Hall

Adrian

12 noon

Frankenmuth

Tuesday, Jan. 7

DaVinci’s Restaurant

Frankenmuth

12 noon

Flint/Livingston Charter/Owosso

Wednesday, Jan. 8

Gigi’s Banquet Center

Corunna

12 noon

Grand Rapids

Wednesday, Jan. 8

Golden Corral Buffet

Walker

12 noon

Dairyland

Thursday, Jan. 9

Bloomer Twp. Hall

Carson City

12 noon

Mid-Michigan

Thursday, Jan. 9

Clinton Co. RESA Building St Johns

11:45 a.m.

Alma

Friday, Jan. 10

Maxfield’s Retaurant

Wyman

11:30 a.m.

Hillman

Friday, Jan. 10

Hillman Community Center

Hillman

11:30 a.m.

Constantine

Saturday, Jan. 11

Siloam Fellowship

Goshen, IN

10:30 a.m.

Huron

Saturday, Jan. 11

Franklin Inn

Bad Axe

11:30 a.m.

Ingham County

Wednesday, Jan. 15

Mid-Thumb

Wednesday, Jan. 15

Holly Meadows Golf Course

Capac

11:30 a.m.

Evart

Thursday, Jan. 16

Rehoboth Reformed Church

McBain

11 a.m.

Muskegon

Thursday, Jan. 16

Russ’ Banquet Room

Muskegon

11:30 a.m.

Clare/Mt. Pleasant

Friday, Jan. 17

Clare Church of Nazarene

Clare

11 a.m.

Deckerville

Saturday, Jan. 18

D’ville Diner

Deckerville

12 noon

Saline-Ann Arbor

Tuesday, Jan. 21

Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds

Ann Arbor

12 noon

Jackson Co. Plus

Wednesday, Jan. 22

Gene Davis & Sons

Jackson

12 noon

Mid-Sanilac

Wednesday, Jan. 22

Liberty Lanes

Sandusky

12 noon

Hillsdale-Litchfield

Thursday, Jan. 23

Hillsdale County Fairgrounds

Hillsdale

12 noon

Blossomland

Friday, Jan. 24

Zeke’s Restaurant

Dowagiac

12 noon

Brown City-Marlette

Saturday, Jan. 25

Eddie-G’s

Marlette

12 noon

December 2013

Date

Messenger

Local

13

By Alex Schnabelrauch

Realigning Priorities 2013 District 7 OYDC David and Kathleen Knust

D

avid and Kathleen Knust look like the typical early 20-somethings, fresh out of college and just beginning adult jobs. But age can be deceiving.

At 23, David has more than a decade of hands-on farm experience. “I always wished the school bus would drop me off at the farm instead of at home,” David smiles. “Every day I walked to the farm after school and wouldn’t leave until dark. I loved it then, and I still love it now.”

Now employees of LBDSK Farms – owned by David’s grandparents, Lester and Barbara, and his mother, Susan – David and Kathleen are exactly where they want to be.

Messenger

December 2013

Facing Challenges, Realigning Priorities The story of going back to the family farm seems familiar enough.

However, the Knusts’ circumstances are anything but typical.

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In the midst of drafting transition plans, David’s father passed away in a farm accident. As the only surviving child and intended heir to the business, the loss was a hard, devastating blow to the close-knit family. The future seemed vague, even well-laid plans were uprooted and the Knusts felt lost.

“Thankfully, dairy people are more like family than coworkers. They know what you’re going through.

When you’re hurting, they hurt too. And when your neighbor

Top: David and Kathleen Knust work on David’s family farm and split herd and field work to best suit their individual interests and skills. Bottom: David, charged with planting, harvesting and managing the farm’s 980 operated acres, takes a look at the corn crop before its carried up to the silos.

needs it, you help,” Kathleen elaborates.

The Ankley family, MMPA members from Imlay City, covered milking shifts during the visitation and funeral.

David’s other grandpa, Michael Fleming, took charge of the farm’s planting and harvesting. A new employee was hired to balance work load. And David, just a junior in high school, took on more responsibility to keep the operation afloat.

“The one positive thing about my dad’s accident is it changed how we approach farming. In the words of my Grandpa Fleming, ‘We farm to live; we don’t live to farm.’ We’ve realized certain things can wait. If the alley scrapper breaks Christmas morning, we can take care of it later. Family comes first,” David explains.

Years in the Making One of the constants amongst the family’s struggles, David and Kathleen have been joined at the hip for eight years. Meeting as high schoolers, David was Kathleen’s ride home every Thursday from night FFA meetings.

“I had horses and was in 4-H; a friend roped me into joining FFA. After I met David, I started working on the farm and fell in love with the cows… and David of course,” Kathleen laughs.

It wasn’t long before David scrolled “Will you marry me?” on the side of Kathleen’s favorite Brown Swiss cow.

She said yes, and they were married in July of 2012.

Now the farm’s herdswoman, Kathleen manages herd health, takes half of the milking shifts, feeds cows and calves and breeds and vaccinates the herd. Taking a team approach, David focuses on the other side of the operation, managing the field work and equipment maintenance as well as taking the evening milking and feeding shifts. In tandem with David’s grandparents, Grandpa Fleming and three employees, the couple has helped improve milk quality to an average 107,000 cells/ mL SCC.

Yet the farm still struggles with the long-time challenge of transition planning. “Since my dad passed, there’s such an experience gap between the owner generation (my grandparents) and the next generation. With just a few years of adult, full-time farm experience under my belt, it’s hard to start the conversation of transitioning the family business,” David says. “But, in the end, we wouldn’t be as happy anywhere else doing anything else with anyone else.”

District 7 OYDC

Mid-Thumb Local

Herd Size: 101 milking, 12 dry Replacements: 110 Acres Farmed: 980 Crops Grown: corn, alfalfa, soybeans, oats and wheat Milking Regiment: two-a-day milking in a double-6 herringbone parlor Sustainable Practices: reclaimed plate cooler water, biodiesel usage to fuel equipment Breeding Program: AI, clean-up bull with heifers Education: David graduated from Almont High School in 2008 and received a two-year certificate double majoring in agriculture and diesel mechanics from the University of Northwestern Ohio in 2010. Kathleen graduated from Imlay City High School in 2009 and earned a two-year certificate from the Michigan State University Dairy Herd Management program in 2011.

Certifications/Training: FARM certified, milkers attend MMPA Milker Training School Ag, Dairy and Community Involvement: David and Kathleen have worked together to conduct various agriculture outreach events and activities including hosting a 2007 fall farm tour, presenting dairy facts during Project RED, volunteering at Breakfast on the Farm events and serving on the Lapeer County Farm Bureau Membership Drive Committee.

September December 2013 2013

Kathleen adds, “We’re also a Johne’sfree herd. Every cow is tested before drying up, and positive animals are removed from the herd before the next calving cycle. It’s our goal to prevent Johne’s from hampering our herd’s production potential.”

David and Kathleen Knust

Messenger Messenger

Little Things Make a Big Difference Looking beneath the surface, the Knusts invest time and effort into a couple unique management strategies to add to the operation’s profitability. “Times are tight. So to help add to our margins, we’re a Hubbard Feed Dealer serving 30 customers ranging in size and scope.

Plus, this helps us save money on our feed costs,” David relays.

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By Lyndsay Earl

Milk Quality Benefits from Monthly Meetings

W

A new survey, released

by Dr. Rebecca Schewe assistant professor at Mississippi State University, found that almost 45 percent of owners believe they have an issue with mastitis on their farms. While the majority of these • Are employees practicing good producers do not believe udder prep techniques?

Source: “Meeting With Employees to Discuss Milk there are issues with • Have employees experienced Quality” by Dr. Rebecca Schewe of Mississippi State employees following procedural drift from the farm’s University. proper milking procedures, established milking procedure? they do believe their employees • How often are milking Holding meetings with employees play an important role in mastitis procedures reviewed and to discuss milk quality helps management. employees retrained? bridge the communication gap and reinforce farm management The survey also discovered that Sending employees to MTS is a expectations in the parlor. These farms that hold employee meetings, meetings can be used to set SCC great way to teach or reinforce the at least on an annual basis, to importance of good udder prep goals, reemphasize udder prep techniques; but it doesn’t stop there! discuss milk quality have lower bulk techniques and discuss other milk tank somatic cell quality issues that may be occurring counts (SCC) than on the farm. farms that don’t.

This is thought to It is also important that all be the result of a employees helping in the parlor communication attend these meetings. This leads gap between to uniformity between shifts which farm owners may, in turn, help reduce the and employees. incidence of mastitis. As a bonus, Often times holding meetings at least on an when discussing annual basis helps meet training mastitis issues criteria for the National Dairy FARM with farm owners, Program. it is discovered that the udder MMPA member Rich Byma holds prep techniques employee meetings monthly to they taught their discuss SCC goals and udder prep employees are not techniques and cover other issues being practiced in that might be occurring on his Source: “Meeting With Employees to Discuss Milk Quality” by the parlor. farm. All employees are required to Dr. Rebecca Schewe of Mississippi State University.

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December 2013

ith the Milker Training School (MTS) season fast approaching and customer milk quality standards continuing to rise, we encourage members to review their milking procedures.

16

“

Milk quality never improves once it leaves the cow.” ­­ —Lyndsay Earl

He also believes the meetings have helped improve his farm’s milk quality.

attend these meetings to avoid miscommunication between shifts.

He stated that since starting the monthly meetings, communication has greatly improved on his farm.

Remember: milk quality never improves once it leaves the cow.

Therefore, the job farm owners and employees do in the parlor greatly affects the quality of the milk leaving the farm.

Whether you would like to improve your SCC or just foster effective communication on the farm, employee meetings may be a good place to start. And don’t forget to check out the MTS schedule below!

2014 Milker Training School Locations and Dates Registration: 9:30 a.m.

Program: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (lunch is provided) February 12 Shipshewana Shipshewana Event Center February 26 Litchfield Ferry Farms March 6 Bad Axe Huron County Expo Center March 18 St. Johns Agro-Culture Liquid Headquarters (English) March 19 St. Johns Agro-Culture Liquid Headquarters (Spanish) April 9 Newaygo Cronk’s Oakridge Restaurant April 23 Alpena A-Plex May 1 Clare Clare Church of Nazarene

Milker Training School Registration Name: Address: Telephone: Producer Permit Number: Date and Location of Session You Will be Attending:

Or call/email Marianne Gasiewski with this information at 248-474-6672 or Gasiewski@mimilk.com.

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Send this form to: MMPA Milker Training School Member Services Dept.

P.O. Box 8002 Novi, MI 48376-8802

December 2013

Number of people attending:

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By Alex Schnabelrauch

Perpetual Transition, Constant Dedication

2013 District 10 OYDC Jeremy and Melissa Petzold

J

eremy and Melissa Petzold don’t have to consult history books to understand recent dairy farm trends and technology upgrades. They’ve had front row seats, experiencing the transitions firsthand.

When Jeremy returned to the farm after college, his parents were milking 38 cows in a stanchion barn and operating 300 acres. To make room for Jeremy and his brother, the operation expanded to 150 cows and 700 acres, adding a freestall barn and parlor.

Yet, that was just the first transition the Petzolds took in stride. Another came 20 years later accompanied by a much larger price tag.

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December 2013

A Fork in the Road “In 2012 we really had two options: invest substantial money to update the parlor or look at other options.

It was a kick in the pants that really made us look at the long-term farm and succession plan,” Jeremy recalls.

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At the time, Jeremy’s parents, Chester and Shirley, were beginning to talk about transitioning off the milking crew. Jeremy’s brother, John, had already settled into his role heading up the field work.

That left Jeremy, a self-proclaimed cow man, as the only milker for the future operation. Even so, he was the most skeptical when someone brought up the word “robots.”

Melissa and Jeremy Petzold have weathered the family farm’s many changes, updates and transitions over the past two decades, installing robotic milkers in 2012.

“He was very careful about every detail – if robots would be good for the cows, if they would pay themselves off, if they would work with our barns. We visited different robotic dairies, multiple times, and he crunched every number possible before he was finally sold on the idea,” Melissa elaborates.

the transition to robots has exceeded the family’s expectations.

Productivity has gone up an average of 10 pounds per day. Somatic cell counts have dropped 20 percent.

Breeding rates are through the roof. And economically, the robots are slowly, but surely, paying for themselves.

Breaking ground in July 2012, the Petzolds constructed an addition to the barn and retrofitted their facilities to accommodate three robots. While balancing harvest, the project was completed in just five months. On Dec. 6, 2012, the Petzolds’ farm officially became a robotic dairy, and they haven’t looked back.

Looking passed the balance sheets, everyone has noticed the cows are calmer and, in the Petzolds’ opinion, happier. Jeremy adds, “They can get up to eat, drink and be milked whenever they want. The cows pick their own schedule. That makes for a more efficient herd.”

Heavy Metal Employees Just considering the numbers,

Family life has changed as well, giving Jeremy the flexibility to make it to kids’ sporting events and school activities. “Everyone asks us what

we do with all our free time, but we really don’t have any. Our time is just more flexible; we are still finding things we can do and do better to benefit the farm,” Jeremy affirms.

Reassigning roles after the latest transition, Jeremy still heads up the cow side of the business, serving as herdsman and the primary robot mechanic. John takes the lead on field work and also handles some of the daily barn chores. Melissa is in charge of feeding, treating and taking care of the calves. Jeremy’s parents help fetch cows, handle the accounting and fill in wherever and whenever necessary.

With three kids and two nephews who may one day be interested in taking over the family farm, the Petzolds have intentionally left the door open for future additions and adaptations to the dairy, including room to add another robot. “We’ve seen the farm through some large transitions over the past 25 years – both physical and personal – and we want to make sure that it’s ready for more if need be,” Jeremy closes.

Children: Landon (17), Serena (14) and Asher (12) Herd Size: 155 milking, 30 dry Replacements: 150 Acres Farmed: 700 Crops Grown: corn, alfalfa, soybeans and wheat Milking Regiment: 24-hour milking capabilities with three Lely A4 robotic milkers Sustainable Practices: reclaimed plate cooler water, reuse of grey water for cleaning, soil sampling Breeding Program: cows are AI’ed, heifers are bred natural service Education: Jeremy graduated from Millington High School in 1991 and took one year of pre-veterinary and Ag Tech classes (with a dairy focus) at Michigan State University. Melissa graduated from Vassar High School in 1994, was a licensed EMT and is currently a licensed agent in property and casualty insurance and works for Farm Bureau Insurance.

Ag, Dairy and Community Involvement: Jeremy and Melissa have both served as 4-H volunteers and enjoy hosting informal farm tours for their friends, family and neighbors.

September December 2013 2013

Planning for the Future Farm transitions weren’t the only changes Melissa has had to adapt to since saying “I do” in 1995. She did not grow up on a farm, but her love for animals helped get her through the tough transition to the long hours and lack of free time that come with farm life. And her love, respect, and admiration for Jeremy has seen her through all the adjustments since. She smiles, “Jeremy is such a hard worker, but he’d never tell you that. He has poured his heart into this business and it shows.”

Jeremy and Melissa Petzold District 10 OYDC Frankenmuth Local

Messenger Messenger

Roles have changed. Milkers have too. But the Petzolds’ dedication to doing things right, no matter the size or scope, remains.

19 19

Continued from page 12 that are sought after by our customers. This adds value to members in two ways. One: the co-op captures additional margins by balancing the local milk supply and converting it into marketable dairy ingredients. Two: member milk growth can be balanced internally instead of selling excess milk at reduced prices to outside customers.

(The average member returns and total realized value of the investment were calculated using these two variables.)

As member production surpassed everyone’s expectations, these two value generators have returned exponentially more to member pay prices – an average 15 cents per year since commissioning the new assets – than originally expected.

The Perfect Storm When MMPA secured the $62 million loan back in 2008, the co-op had no idea its timing couldn’t have been better.

“

Over a four-year period, since the Ovid plant expansion was completed, we’ve generated 150 percent return on the expansion investment back to members.” - Joe Diglio

“We embarked on the expansion at a time when interest rates were low and volumes coming into the plant were at an all-time high. Not only were we borrowing money at a favorably low rate, we were able to take advantage of market conditions that favored MMPA’s manufacturing operations,” Joe relays. “We benefitted from the stability of a long-term, low-fixed-rate lease working in tandem with a floating interest rate loan which allowed us to capitalize on the unprecedented low interest rates created by the financial crisis. It was the perfect storm, and our members have reaped the benefits.”

In fact, after four years, more than one-third of the total borrowings has

paid for itself in the form of member pay price returns. Not to mention, the combination of the lease and loan has further enhanced the co-op’s financial position, setting MMPA up for its next step – whatever that may be – with a strong working capital position.

“It’s important to have financial institutions in our corner. Our lenders (JP Morgan Chase and CoBank) are committed partners helping MMPA successfully achieve strategic initiatives that continue to add value to our members. With their help, no matter what our next steps might be, MMPA is financially sound and agile enough to adapt to our members’ growing production needs while still offering very competitive pay prices,” Joe concludes.

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Messenger

December 2013

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Great Lakes Crop Summit

Farmer led, Farmer Focused

The inaugural Great Lakes Crop Summit is a twoday event that will highlight the latest argonomic and business information to help in your farm's success! n Expert

speakers 014 from around January 22 - 23, 2 the Midwest will & Casino FireKeepers Hotel hold concurrent Battle Creek, MI sessions I-94 at Exit 104 addressing corn, soy and wheat issues as well as general production techniques. n 12 Restricted Use Pesticide Credits n 10 Certified Crop Advisor Credits n Ag Leadership Roundtable n Farm Trade Show

The Summit is a convention and trade show brought to you by: n Michigan Wheat Program n Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee n Corn Marketing Program of Michigan

CONCURRENT SESSIONS m

jan. 22: 9 a.M. - 5 p.M.

Bring your farm partners to attend a variety of these concurrent sessions.

CORN

corn pLanter adjustMent For top yieLds MiSSy BaUer, B&M CoNSUltiNg

m

m

m

m

corn nitroGen: GettinG it in the pLant Dr. BoB NielSeN, PUrDUe UNiverSity

m

decidinG Factors For soybean yieLd

Dr. BoB NielSeN, PUrDUe UNiverSity

m

soybean disease preVention / ManaGeMent

MiSSy BaUer, B&M CoNSUltiNg Dr. laUra liNDSey, ohio State

corn crop stress and yieLds: tiMinG is eVerythinG hiGh yieLd wheat systeMs

nitroGen & hiGh QuaLity wheat yieLds

WHEAT

preVention and controL oF wheat diseases

GENERAL

a yieLd Map to success uaVs and robotics m bees, coLony coLLapse disorder m cLiMate chanGe - what FarMers can expect m MichiGan’s water resources m is irriGation the answer? m FieLd MappinG apps m usinG Facebook For your FarM m

soybeans: VariabLe rate pLantinG

Dr. KUrt SteiNKe, MiChigaN State UNiverSity

Dr. MartiN ChilverS, MSU; Dr. KierSteN WiSe, PUrDUe

m

SOYBEAN

Dr. Seth Naeve, UNiverSity of MiNNeSota

corn aFter corn: ManaGinG downside risks

Dr. KUrt SteiNKe, MiChigaN State UNiverSity

m

Great Lakes soybean seed QuaLity report

m

m

MiSSy BaUer, B&M CoNSUltiNg

m

jan. 23: 7:30 a.M. - 11:30 a.M.

Dr. MartiN ChilverS, MSU; Dr. KierSteN WiSe, PUrDUe

m

soybean systeMs: a nationaL approach Dr. Seth Naeve, UNiverSity of MiNNeSota

JOIN US! HERE’S HOW...

Register Online: www.GreatLakesCropSummit.com Give Us A Call: (517) 668-2676 or (888) 323-6601 Questions?

Email: tsisung@micorn.org Phone: (888) 323-6601 Registration: $125 before January 8 $100 additional attendees

By Alex Schnabelrauch

‘Tis the Season of Generosity Michigan Dairy Farmers and Kroger “Pour it Forward,” Giving Milk to Those in Need

F

our cups.

That’s the amount of milk the average food bank client has access to each year. A far cry from the USDA’s suggested three servings a day, Michigan dairy farmers and the Kroger Co. of Michigan were appalled. But instead of dwelling on the problem, they started fixing it.

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December 2013

One gallon at a time, thousands of Kroger customers helped give fresh, nutritious milk to families in need throughout the Metro Detroit and Flint areas during the month of November.

The campaign, aptly named “Pour it Forward,” united dairy farmers, Kroger, food banks and consumers to feed the hungry.

“The United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM) approached Kroger with the idea in the spring and has been involved in the planning and execution of the program from the very beginning. The collaboration directly aligns with the National Dairy Council’s Feeding America partnership, fighting to eliminate hunger and promote healthy food choices.

Michigan dairy farmers care about the people struggling in their communities, so it’s a nobrainer for UDIM to be involved in filling food banks with the healthy, nutrient-powerhouse that is milk,” UDIM CEO Sharon Toth explains.

Donating four million meals to food banks last year, Kroger and its Manager of Integrated Communications Dale Hollandsworth couldn’t be happier with the partnership, saying, “As a grocery store, we feel a strong responsibility to feed the hungry.

The need is enormous as one in every six Michiganders, and one in every four Michigan children, doesn’t know where they’ll be getting their next meal. Milk is a good, nutrient-rich way to fill

people’s stomachs, and we’re proud to give back during the holiday season and beyond.”

UDIM and Kroger partnered with the goal of donating 25,000 gallons of Pure Michigan Kroger milk, supplied by MMPA member farms, to families served by two Michigan food bank distribution systems – Forgotten Harvest in Metro Detroit and the Eastern Michigan Food Bank in Flint. As of November 10, over 8,500 paper milk gallons were

1 gal

A GL lon = A MILK SS OF FOR 16 CHIL DREN

pour it

Forward.

A gift for the body, from the heart.

choice Always a good

When you purchase a special gallon milk scan card, available in the dairy department or at any register, 100% of your donation will help provide Pure Michigan® Kroger Milk to Forgotten Harvest. Give a gift of milk today!

22 IS09333_FH_channel_12x13_vFIN.indd 1

10/22/13 11:34 AM

“

There’s nothing closer to farmers’ hearts than feeding people.”

— MMPA Member Katie Dellar

Kroger covered the transportation costs to deliver milk to the food banks (at times and locations and in quantities according to each facility’s needs) as well as advertisements in its paper ads, in-store broadcasting network, dairy case and registers.

In total, 102 Kroger stores – close in proximity to the Forgotten Harvest and Eastern Michigan Food Bank coverage zones – participated in the program.

The Southeastern Michigan Dietetic Association (SMDA) responded to UDIM’s request to extend the reach of “Pour it Forward” by having its registered dieticians use workplace displays and social media contacts to encourage further participation.

The effort was part of SMDA’s commitment through an Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics partnership with the National Dairy Council to bring more nutrient-rich foods to food banks to ensure children receive adequate nutrition.

“There’s nothing closer to farmers’ hearts than feeding people.

Everyone, especially those facing food insecurity, need the nutrients

“Pour it Forward” partners during the campaign’s kickoff. Pictured from left to right: UDIM CEO Sharon Toth, MMPA member Jason Dellar, Joan Sycko of the Southeastern Michigan Dietetic Association, MMPA member and Dairy Communicator Katie Dellar, The Kroger Co. of Michigan Division President Jane Homco and Forgotten Harvest Executive Director Susan Goodell.

MMPA member Katie Dellar speaks to a crowd of Forgotten Harvest volunteers and representatives from UDIM and Kroger during the “Pour it Forward” kickoff in November.

and protein offered by milk and dairy products. Michigan dairy farmers are proud to be part of this program and take pride in producing safe, healthy and delicious food for all people,” MMPA member Katie Dellar remarks.

Currently, on a pounds basis, dairy products make up only 5.3 percent of the food available at food banks. The partnerships forged through ‘Pour it Forward’ helped distribute milk to more than 260 local food agencies (community food pantries, churches, outreaches, etc.) in four counties.

Addressing Michigan dairy farmers and Kroger, Forgotten Harvest Executive Director Susan Goodell recognizes, “Your gift means so much to the thousands of kids who come home after school with the reassurance that a tall glass of milk awaits them, milk that their mother and father might not have been able to afford that week. This is a gift of health and by our measure a gift of the heart. Thank you.”

December 2013

But customers weren’t the only ones rallying behind the campaign. “Our employees really got behind and were excited about the program.

Stores were competing with stores.

Regional managers were competing with regional managers. Michigan is truly a very giving state. From employees to customers, everyone bought into ‘Pour it Forward’ because it hit so close to home,” Kroger Marketing Media Manager Brandon Barrow relays.

UDIM, in partnership with Kroger and Forgotten Harvest, supported promotion efforts aimed at enhancing the program’s success through traditional and social media outreach. Ongoing commitment to quality nutrition and solid relationships with state and national dietetics organizations allowed UDIM to enlist yet other partners to increase the promotion’s support.

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purchased by Kroger customers, signifying 8,500 donated gallons of milk destined for families in need.

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2013-2014 MMPA Local Officers Adrian Local

Constantine Local

Hillman Local

Alma Local

Dairyland Local

Hillsdale-Litchfield Local

President: Clark Emmons V. President: Jim Marvin Sec/Treas: Gary Stout Dairy Communicators: Geraldine Emmons, Joy Marvin, Maria Marvin President: Doug Chapin V. President: Mike Rasmussen Sec/Treas: Missy Prins Dairy Communicators: Cheri Chapin, Ramona Okkema, Missy Prins

Barry-Eaton Local

President: Jeff Butler V. President: Tim Slocum Sec/Treas: Sally Bivens Dairy Communicators: Michelle Klingaman, Heather Wing, Sally Bivens

Blossomland Local

President: Jerry Koebel, Jr. Sec/Treas: Joshua Gamble Dairy Communicator: Heather Carpenter

Brown City-Marlette Local

President: Dale Phillips V. President: Dan Parr Sec/Treas: Dale Phillips Dairy Communicators: Rita Phillips, Barb Radloff, Gertie van den Goor

Messenger Messenger

December 2013 2013 December

Chippewa County Local

24 24

President: David Folkersma V. President: David Bell Sec/Treas: Loren Hoolsema Dairy Communicator: Ann Folkersma

Clare-Mt. Pleasant Local President: William Stough V. President: Douglas Stevens Sec/Treas: Bertha Mae Stough Dairy Communicators: Michelle Stough, Bertha Mae Stough

President: Richard Ultz V. President: Clyde Miller Sec/Treas: Richard Thomas Dairy Communicator: Judy Oesch, Richard Ultz President: Del Christensen Sec/Treas: Brent Wilson

Deckerville Local

President: John Szymanski, Sr. V. President: Michael Erdman Sec/Treas: Dennis Lee Dairy Communicator: Sara Lee

Deford/Clifford-Mayville Local

President: Ray Wolak V. President: Calvin Bodeis Sec/Treas: Alice Zajac Dairy Communicators: Diane Foley, Jane Wood

Evart Local

President: Gordon Dick V. President: William Jernstadt Sec/Treas: Larry Buning Dairy Communicators: Ken DeZeeuw, Amy Martin

Flint Local

President: Roger Bloss V. President: Peter Juengel Sec/Treas: Daniel Weil

Frankenmuth Local

President: Larry Schumacher V. President: Dennis Hetzner Sec/Treas: Roger Weiss Dairy Communicators: Bethany Weiss, Barbara Wardin, Joanmarie Weiss, Margie Weiss, Eleanor Bruse, Debra Kraft, Amy Bergdolt

Grand Rapids Local

President: Jim Good V. President: Ken Leseman Sec/Treas: Gary Potgeter Dairy Communicator: Kay Willcome

President: Corby Werth V. President: Jeremy Werth Sec/Treas: Ron Lucas Dairy Communicators: Katie Dellar, Connie Lucas, Janel Woodward President: Scott Ferry V. President: Bruce Lewis Sec/Treas: Carlton Evans Dairy Communicators: Jennifer Lewis, Cami Marz-Evans

Huron Local

President: Mark Ziel V. President: Tim Kubacki Secretary: Shelly Messing Treasurer: Darwin Sneller Dairy Communicators: Debbie Kubacki, Lorelei Lutz, Shelly Messing

Ingham County Local President: Josh Lott V. President: John Powell Sec/Treas: Lynn Powell Dairy Communicator: Evelyn Minnis

Jackson County Plus Local

President: Jeffrey Alexander V. President: Rick Surbrook Sec/Treas: Arthur Riske Dairy Communicator: Kathy Heisler

Kalamazoo Local

President: Don Bever V. President: Charles Wamhoff Dairy Communicator: Tammy Spicher

Lansing Local

President: Jim Droscha V. President: Daniel Ritter Sec/Treas: Kristina Langmaack Dairy Communicators: Stacey Edick, Kristina Langmaack

Livingston Charter Local

Muskegon Local

Menominee-Vacationland Local

Owosso Local

Mid-Michigan Local

President: John Hufnagel V. President: Aaron Gasper Sec/Treas: Kris Wardin Dairy Communicators: Doreen Slavik, Carla Wardin, Patti Jandernoa

Mid-Sanilac Local

President: James Herberling V. President: Steven Alexander Sec/Treas: Mike Bender Dairy Communicator: Jody Sharrard

Mid-Thumb Local

President: Scott Lamb V. President: Robert J. Rowley II Sec/Treas. William Blumerich Dairy Communicators: Melissa Sullivan, Robin Falker, Kristie Lamb, Doris Stuever, Virginia Ankley, Kathleen Clinton

President: Matt Dutcher V. President: David Reed Sec/Treas: David Reed Dairy Communicator: Penny Reed

Saline-Ann Arbor Local President: Jeff Horning V. President: Stan Lambarth Sec/Treas: Keith Weidmayer Dairy Communicators: Arlene DeForest, Lynda Horning

West Michigan Local

President: Paul Elzinga V. President: Norm Ter Haar Secretary: William Gruppen Treasurer: David Pyle Dairy Communicators: Jenny Elzinga, Arlene Ter Haar

Western U.P. Local

President: Gary Polosaari V. President: Steve Cotey Sec/Treas: Benny Herioux Dairy Communicators: Barbara Cotey, Gerald Miron, Karen Palosaari, Audrey Herioux

Sunrise Local

President: Kenneth Daniels V. President: John Bennett Secretary: Daniel Fisk Treasurer: Jeffrey Jakubik Dairy Communicators: Leona Daniels

Upstate Local

President: Glen Rubingh V. President: Richard Fettig Sec/Treas: Gail Rubingh Dairy Communicator: Sylvia Verville, Gail Rubingh

December 2013

President: Robert Barron V. President: Scott Mellgren Sec/Treas: Eleanore Bloniarz Dairy Communicator: Eleanore Bloniarz

President: Bill Stakenas V. President: Glen Sparks Sec/Treas: Sharon Powers Dairy Communicators: Nancy Johnson, Terri Stakenas

Messenger

President: Scott Bontekoe V. President: Chuck White Sec/Treas: Janet White Dairy Communicator: Jodi Hill

25 25

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our beef is consistently safe and of the highest quality. Your beef checkoff investment helps educate consumers about beef’s role in a healthful diet and how the 29 lean cuts of beef can provide a safe, wholesome, nutritious source of protein. These confident consumers are critical to building long-term demand for our product.

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Early registration ends January 17!

Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference February 6–8 Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Here’s just a sampling of what you’ll experience: • Hear Dr. Normand St-Pierre of The Ohio State University forecast the future of dairying in the Midwest.

• Listen as experts from Rabobank discuss the world’s dairy economy and hear real-world examples for boosting your bottom line.

• Explore topics that will prove beneficial to not only producers but also to farm owners, employee managers, financial managers and businesses that work directly with farms. Sessions will answer questions critical to the success of farming today and in the future:

• Heifers can make or break your operation. Join Dr. Robert James of Virginia Tech University to learn what gives your operation the best return.

– Are you following the new labor laws?

• Learn to improve your farm’s meat and milk quality as Dr. Ron Erskine of Michigan State University walks you through ways to reduce risk of drug residue.

– What does the Affordable Care Act mean as it applies to your farm?

• Learn how to get the most out of your parlor when you join Dr. Tom Fuhrmann, owner of DairyWorks, as he shares ways to improve your parlor’s efficiency through cow flow, milking procedures and a focus on cow health.

– Are you prepared for your next financial or human resources audit?

– How can you prepare and protect your farm from a crisis such as pressure from animal activists, a manure spill or an accident?

– Are there ways you can manage your risk through milk and grain marketing?

• Check out the Great Lakes Commercial Heifer Extravaganza IX Sale and the Exhibitor Showcase.

www.glrdc.msu.edu • 517-884-7089 • honkemeg@msu.edu

2 June 2012

tHIS year’S DaIry ConferenCe IS foCUSeD on…

Bridging the Gap: Optimizing Nutrition Throughout the Dairy Life Cycle

2014 M iDwesT D AiRY

CONfeReNCe

JANUARY 14 & 15 JBS United is excited to announce that we will

be hosting our 6th Annual FREE Technical Conference for Dairy Producers in the Midwest.

wHo SHoUlD attenD?

2014 will again have TWO DATES and LOCATIONS, making it easy and convenient for you to attend, so start planning now! In addition to our educational presentations, there will be various industry professionals and suppliers on hand to answer your dairy questions.

Anyone in the Dairy Production industry with an interest in animal nutrition (dairy farmers, feed mill customers, industry professionals, etc.).

ConferenCe CoSt: free

DateS & loCatIonS:

SpeakerS & topICS:

The James B. Henry Center for Executive Development (www.bus.msu.edu/edc/home.cfm) Michigan State University, 3535 Forest Rd., Lansing, MI 48910, Ph: (517) 353-4350 or (800) 356-5705

These conferences are free, but we do ask you to register.

Conferences run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with lunch included.

James Drackley, ph.D., Professor of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois.

“Setting the Stage: Nutritional Management of the Dry Cow and Young Calf” - Dr. James Drackley

Note: Lodging may be available at Candlewood Suites.

James

Drackley, Ph.D.

Mike

Hutjens, Ph.D.

Mike Hutjens, ph.D., Animal Sciences Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

“Broadening the Scope of Profitability: Maximizing Longevity and Lifetime Productivity in the Dairy Herd” - Dr. Mike Hutjens

JanUary 14 ConferenCe

JanUary 15 ConferenCe

Sauder Village (www.SauderVillage.org) 22611 State Route 2, Archbold, OH 43502, Ph: (419) 446-2541 or (800) 590-9755

regISter onlIne & More InforMatIon: Visit www.MDC.JBSunited.com, or contact Lisa Coverdale, Marketing Manager, by calling either (317) 758-2664 or (800) 382-9909, or email at Lisa.Coverdale@tektm.com.

Register at MDC.JBSunited.com

MMPAMember Member Farm MMPA FarmSign Sign

Your Name This x 36” fiberglassfiberglass sign comes sign personalized your name orwith farm name both sides.

This24”24” x reinforced 36” reinforced comeswith personalized your on name Resists moisture and other forms of weathering. The cost is $40 per sign.

or farm name on both sides. It resists moisture and other forms of weathering.

The is $40 per sign.

You receive a $25 program rebate toward member You cancost receive a $25 rebate toward thecan member merchandise by taking the a picture of your sign installed on your farm. merchandise program by taking a picture of your sign installed on your farm.

Mail order form and picture for the rebate to: MMPA Member Sign, Michigan Milk Producers Association, PO Box 8002, Novi, MI 48376.

Order Yours Today!

Please allow 4-5 weeks for delivery.

Farm Name should appear as follows

Print clearly in capital letters. One square for each letter, number, punctuation mark or space between

Order Yours Today! words. (Try not to use more than 22 squares.)

My name (or farm name) should appear as follows: Example Print clearly in capital letters. One square for each letter, number, punctuation mark or space between words.

C O L N S O N S (Try not to use squares.)

Amore than L I22 N &

Example: My Sign: A

L

I

N

C

O L N

&

S

O N

S

My Sign: Send Sign To: ______________________________________________ _______ (Name) _________________________________________________________________

Send Sign To: _____________________________________________________________________ (Address, including house number and road name) (Name) _________________________________________________________________

Mail order form and picture for the rebate to: (Address, including house number and road name) MMPA Member Sign ______________________________________________________________________ Method of Payment ($40 per sign): MMPA (City, or State and Ziporder Code) for _______as payment for ____ MMPA PO Box 8002 Enclosed is my check money member sign(s).

Novi, MI 48376.

Method of Payment ($40 per sign): Please allow 4-5 weeks for Please deduct the cost of the farm sign from my milk check.

Enclosed is my check or money order for _______as payment for ____ MMPA member sign(s). delivery.

Permit Number ___________ Location ________________ Hauler __________ Please deduct the cost of the farm sign from my milk check.

Number ___________ Location ________________ Hauler _______________ SignaturePermit _________________________________________________________

Messenger

Signature_________________________________________________________

December 2013

(City, State and Zip Code) ______________________________________________________________________

31

MERCHANDISE

Calf Blankets and Feeding Equipment

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

L

ike it or not, winter is back. Let the teeth chattering and shivering begin! Staying warm in the winter can also be a challenge for baby calves. To keep their teeth from chattering, the warehouse stocks calf blankets by Udder Tech. These blankets are made of water-resistant nylon and feature a single layer of Thinsulate insulation. This single layer has an R-value of 1.67.

down firmly around the bottle top. This is made easier by warming the nipple with hot water first.

These unique blankets are designed to stay on the calf, are easy to put on and take off and can be machine washed and dried. They feature quick release buckles, no Velcro to get matted, an extra strap length for growth and a belly strap to keep the blanket snug when lying down. Double layer insulated blankets and a smaller size blanket for Jersey and twin calves are available on a special order basis.

2qt Snap Bottle Stock number: #8251 Member Price: $2.75

Metal Whisk We are also stocking a new and improved metal whisk.

The whisk is longer and heavier than our previous model. It is a stainless steel 18 inch whisk from Land O’ Lakes and features more robust whips and a thicker handle for a more secure grip.

3qt Snap Bottle Stock number: #8250 Member Price: $3.56 Snap Nipple Only Stock number: #8252 Member Price: $1.44

Calf Blanket- Regular Stock number: #5636 Member price: $33.61

Mixing Whisk Stock number: #8254 Member Price: $10.00

Snap Cap Bottles The warehouse also stocks 2 and 3 quart Snap Cap bottles and Snap Cap nipples made by the E-Z Nurse Company. These bottles feature pint graduations for easy measurement. The Snap Cap nipple is easy to attach. Simply turn the base up and snap the edges

These items can be ordered by calling the warehouse or by placing an order with your milk hauler.

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

Messenger

December 2013

Valero Meal

32

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!

Order Your MMPA Merchandise through your milk hauler or call: Supervisor: Duane Farmer 989-681-2334 Fax: 989-681-3988 Toll Free: 877-367-6455 Orders (Novi) 800-572-5824 then dial 2

• 50,000 or below • 51,000 - 75,000 • 76,000 - 100,000 • 101,000 - 125,000 • 126,000 - 150,000 • 151,000 - 175,000 • 176,000 - 200,000 • 201,000 - 225,000 • 226,000 - 250,000 • 251,000 - 400,000 • 401,000 - 500,000 • 501,000 - 600,000 • 601,000 - 750,000 • Over 750,000

+55¢/cwt. +50¢/cwt. +45¢/cwt. +40¢/cwt. +35¢/cwt. +30¢/cwt. +25¢/cwt. +20¢/cwt. +15¢/cwt.

00¢/cwt.

-15¢/cwt.

-30¢/cwt.

-$1.00/cwt.

-$1.50/cwt.

A payment of 5¢/cwt. will be added for each of the following, if the count is equal to or below:

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.

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

• 10,000 Raw Bacteria Count • 20,000 Pre-Incubated (PI) Count

To qualify for MMPA volume premiums there must be:

There will be a deduction of 10¢/cwt. for:

• No abnormal freeze points during the month • An average somatic cell count of 750,000 or less

• Greater than 100,000 Raw Bacteria Count

MMPA Member Testing Fees Payment 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.

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

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

• Mycoplasma Cultures $12 • Bacteriology Cultures $13 – 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 • Milk Pregnancy ELISA

$40 $ 6 $40 $ 6 $10 $ 6 $10 $4.50

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

Chemical, Sanitizer & Teat Dip Contact Information

These are service personnel only.

Order your Member Merchandise supplies through your hauler.

ECOLAB

24 - Hour Medical Emergency Hotline: 1-800-328-0026 For Service, call the Ecolab Service Message Center 1-800-392-3392 or Stan Palmer 5303 E. Swan Drive #3 Port Clinton, OH 43452 419-797-2101 Ben Johnson 4461 Cambridge Dr. Port Huron, MI 48060 810-824-0636 Jason Koerth 7509 Aborcrest Dr. Portage, MI 49024 269-207-3773 Pat Mitchell 7273 N. Rollin Hwy. Addison, MI 49220 517-403-0928

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 December 2013

Somatic 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:

Messenger

MMPA Quality Premium Program

33

FREELINERS

Call 1-800-572-5824 ext. 202 to place your ad or email to: Muszynski@mimilk.com or fax 248-426-3412.

Bulls

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, 269673-4886 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.

Equipment

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.

Service age Reg. Holstein bulls, deep pedigrees, some red carriers. Jenesis Genetics, 231-924-6163 or 231-225-8615.

“Roto Grind” bale chopper, model 760, 1,000 RPM. Chops and size bale, eliminates cows sorting feed. New 12-611, perfect condition, and is stored under cover. Selling because we bought a JD silage baler. $14,500. Cheboygan, Mich.

231-625-2036.

Harvestore Silo Unloader, Alliance 2400 20-ft. single phase with 10-hp motor, also Oiler with auto arm advance controller, $7,500 OBO. Call Bill 810-648-2379.

Messenger

December 2013

Freeliner Policy

34

Harvestore Roller Mill, 1 excellent shape - 1 for parts, $800 OBO. Call Bill 810-648-2379.

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.

A pair of 3-hp.HP. Scrule compressors, $1,200. IH truck cab and chassis single axle gas and 3500 NH tub grinder $4,500.

269-209-7960 or 269-721-8302.

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

White 2-105 Cab Tractor, approx. 5,000 hours, well maintained. Also, various skid loader bucket attachments.

Call 574-214-8185.

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

Dairy Equipment

• 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.

Poly Square Big Foot Calf Hutch/ Nursery with chain and necklace kit (nylon collars). 5’ wide X 7’6” long; Weighs approx. 130 pounds; Stackable; Easy cleaning; Easy access bottle holder.

Bucket holder with (2) 5-quart buckets; fence brackets; rear vent; center flow adjustable vent. Approximately 25 available, $250 each. Some brand new.

231-499-2911 or riversidedairyllc@ gmail.com. (Ludington, MI) http://www. polydome.com/big_foot_calf_nursery. html

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

Delaval Auto Wash 3000 pipeline washer. Removed and complete. $100.

616-681-9668.

Dairy Farm

Dairy Farm, Cheboygan, Mich. 367.11 acres. 25x56 double parallel parlor put in 3 yrs. ago, 2,000-gal. bulk tank, 400 free-stall barn, 48x100 calf barn, 80x80 commodity barn, 64x280’ hay barn, 32x56 maternity barn, 44x100 tool pole barn. 45 acre pasture by barn. 7-bedroom L shaped brick home, built 1976. Can send packet with more info & appraisal if interested. Turn key operation if you want cows & equipment, or will sell farm separate. We also rent 670 acres paying $40 ac. most acres, Less amt. David Brown, Cheboygan, Mich. 231-625-2036.

Silver Sky Dairy, LLC. and its RE, Hesperia (Newaygo Co.) MI. 928 acres owned (670 tillable); 150 rented. Rolling hills, managed woodlands, scenic, a mile from village/school, no development nearby. Double-10 herringbone DeLaval Blue Diamond parlor, 96x312’ free stall barn, 285 stalls, 5000-gal tank, 80x120’ heifer barn, 32x108’ sunroof calf barn; several outbuildings for hay/equipment storage, bulk commodity bins, silos.

4 houses on property. 300 mostly registered Holstein herd and 300 heifers, all AI w/top TPI/$NM bulls, DHIA RHA 25,000#milk, 960#fat, 100,000SCC, culled hard. 3 seasons graze dry and midlactation cows. Equipment available for purchase as well. No young generation to take over. Frank & Shari Konkel, Lance & Nancy Johnson. Barn ph. 231-8544602. E-mail for more info: shari_konkel@ frontier.com

Misc.

Herdsman for 500 cow dairy. Call 810577-3894, ask for Everett.

Wanted

30 or 40 cows on milk consignment.

989-588-9854.

Vertical, stationary TMR mixer, must be able to handle hay. Joseph Mishler, Howe, IN. 260-499-4228 ext. 5.

310 or 311 New Holland baler.

Farmhand grinder mixer. 260-768-4550 ext. 2.

Guernseys to purchase for a 4-H showman. Virginia Ankley 810-724-8077.

CLASSIFIEDS

Classified Ads ($20 per ad up to 6 lines)

Mail ads to: Classified Ads, Michigan Milk Messenger, PO BOX 8002, Novi, MI 48376-8002. Email to Muszynski@mimilk.com or fax 248-426-3412. Ads must be received by the 10th of the month before the month of desired publication. Send check or money order for $20 for up to 6 lines with your order. MMPA neither sponsors nor endorses products or services advertised in the Messenger.

OPPERMAN GROOVING: We can fix your scabbled floors. Diamond sawed grooves, no hammering or cracking of concrete. No hoof damage. Call Opperman Grooving Inc., Portland.

517-647-7381.

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

CONCRETE GROOVING BY TRI-STATE SCABBLING, home of the 2” wide groove. Best traction, lowest prices.

(800) 554-2288. www.tristatescabbling. com

A SURE WAY TO KEEP YOUR COWS UPRIGHT! Concrete grooving/ texturing brings existing grooves back to 100% efficiency & provides high quality traction in new & old concrete, fast service. BLUE RIBBON HOOF TRIMMING, LLC. 989-635-1494.

FOR SALE: 5000-4000-3000-25002000-1500 OH MUELLER LATE MODEL BULK TANK MILK TANKS, complete, will trade. 1-800-558-0112.

WANTED TO BUY: USED BULK MILK TANKS, 200 gallons & larger, Sunset & Mueller, 1-800-558-0112.

Concrete Grooving and Texturing Call: Jeff Brisky - Owner Toll Free: 1-800-294-1202 Cell: 1-716-353-1137 Concrete Services Company

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

Messenger

December 2013

REGISTERED HOLSTEIN BULLS

36

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

Over 100 service age bulls for your selection! a special herd sire or a truck load of breeder bulls. Ready to go to work on your farm!

• SIRED BY THE TOP SIRES FROM THE U.S. AND CANADA

GREEN MEADOW FARMS

• FROM OUR TOP PRODUCTION COWS.

6400 HOLLISTER RD. ELSIE, MI 48831 PH: 989-862-4291

www.greenmeadowfarms.com

Policies

MMPA Policy on Drug Residue in Milk:

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.

MMPA Policy on Milk Quality QUALITY QUESTIONABLE 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 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. * The member will only be paid for two (2) voluntary dumps in a rolling 12 month period.

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. REJECTED LOAD SHIPMENT If: 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 cells 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.

December 2013

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 -

MILK SHIPPED — POSITIVE drugs CONFIRMED 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.

Messenger

MILK ON FARM – DRUG RESIDUE SUSPECTED If a member suspects milk in the farm bulk tank contains drug residue:

37

MARKET REPORT

October 2013 MARKET STATISTICS Mideast Federal Order #33 (pounds) This Month

NATIONAL TRENDS (million pounds) Year Ago

% Change

2013

2012

% Change

Production California

3,339

3,307

+1.0

+135.32

Wisconsin

2,277

2,256

+0.9

144,369,141

-40.45

New York

1,113

1,083

+2.8

1,328,478,859

1,215,015,408

+9.34

Idaho

1,106

1,137

-2.7

43.4%

47.4%

Pennsylvania

865

863

+0.2

Texas

801

772

+3.8

Michigan

764

744

+2.7

Minnesota

744

746

-0.3

New Mexico

652

656

-0.6

Washington

524

512

+2.3

Ohio

438

446

-1.8

Indiana

315

298

+5.7

* Total U.S.

15,356

15,172

+1.2

* U.S. Y-T-D

156,988

156,026

+0.6

Total Class 1 Sales

576,503,103

575,999,263

+0.09

Total Class 2 Sales

179,282,869

287,817,111

-37.71

Total Class 3 Sales

486,718,967

206,829,893

Total Class 4 Sales

85,973,920

Total Production Class 1 Utilization

Mideast Federal Order #33 Current Month Total Producers 6,227 Average Daily Production per Farm 6,882 Average Protein Test 3.15% Average Butterfat Test 3.79% Average Other Solids Test 5.72% Average SCC Count (MMPA) 171,000

* For 23 states

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

$3.4107

Butterfat Price/lb.

$1.6638

Other Solids Price/lb.

$0.3852

Class III Price @ 3.5%

$ 18.22

Prod. Price Diff/cwt. (Mich. Mkt.)

Messenger

December 2013

Uniform Price @ 3.5%

38

SCC Adjustment/cwt./1000

$1.35 $ 19.57 $0.00090

NASS Survey Prices Monthly Avg Cheese /lb

1.8025

Butter /lb

1.5454

Nonfat Dry Milk /lb

1.8366

Dry Whey /lb

0.5731

MMPA

STAFF

NOVI (Headquarters) 248-474-6672 • 800-572-5824 General Manager Clay Galarneau, ext. 200

Laboratory Supervisor Patti Huttula, ext. 219

Member Services Dean Letter, ext. 213

Manufactured Product Sales Jim Dodson, ext. 229

Milk Sales/Dispatch Carl Rasch, ext. 244

Credit/Insurance Cheryl Schmandt, ext. 210

Finance/Controller Joseph M. Diglio, ext. 240

Human Resources Cindy Tilden, ext. 220

Member Relations/Public Affairs Sheila Burkhardt, ext. 208 Data Processing Gregory Schulkey, ext. 237 Member Communications Laura Moser, ext. 296 Alex Schnabelrauch, ext. 211

MANUFACTURING PLANTS Constantine 269-435-2835 Plant Manager Dave Davis Ovid 989-834-2221 Plant Manager/Plant Operations David Wittkop

MMPA FIELD STAFF NORTH AREA

SOUTH AREA

Supervisor: Gerry Volz St. Louis Office 989-289-9219

Supervisor: Ed Zuchnik Coldwater Office 269-967-7351

Frank Brazeau 920-834-4059 Oconto, Wis., cell: 906-250-0337

Krista Beeker Howe, IN 269-986-6792

Ben Chapin Blanchard 989-289-0731

David Brady 517-522-5965 Grass Lake cell: 517-937-9061

Lyndsay Earl Ludington 231-519-2455

Emily Butcher Middlebury, IN

269-535-0822

Angelee Kirsch Harbor Beach 231-414-4539

Kendra Kissane Grand Rapids

269-245-6632

Violet Lombard Hubbard Lake

Andrew Rupprecht Clio 269-986-6793

Deborah Navarre Leroy 248-520-3580

Elyse Martin Eaton Rapids

810-701-6460

Lindsay Green Dewitt

Ed Zuchnik Three Rivers

269-967-7351

Gerry Volz 989-848-5996 Fairview 989-289-9219

Other Services:

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

Gary Best 810-664-4984 Lapeer cell: 586-484-9279 Bulk Tank Calibration

Steven Lehman 989-875-3441 Ithaca cell: 989-330-1638 Mastitis Management

Katie Pierson Coleman 989-289-9686 Merchandise Coordinator, Energy Auditor

Christy Dinsmoore Fairgrove 248-513-7920 Mastitis Management

Merchandise—St. Louis

Duane Farmer, Supervisor

989-681-2334 Fax 989-681-3988 Toll Free 877-367-6455 Orders (Novi) 800-572-5824

then dial 2

December 2013

989-488-8159

MMPA Labs

Messenger

248-520-3481

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

39