Member Stockowner News

CentralStar member-stockowners recently completed board of director elections and the virtual annual meeting. Congratulations to Jeff Horning, Manchester, Mich.; Ken Carnahan, Butler, Ind.; Lee Jensen, Elk Mound, Wis.; and Lyle Ott, Brillion, Wis. on their re-election. Also, welcome to new board member, Timothy Servais, Stoddard, Wis., who replaced retiring-board member, Dorothy Harms, Reedsburg, Wis. “We appreciate Dorothy’s contributions to CentralStar, and previously East Central, as well as her service on the Select Sires Board of Directors,” shared CentralStar Board President Paul Trierweiler.

Patronage and dividends

Patronage and class-C-preferred-stock dividends were recently distributed to CentralStar member-stockowners. The board approved a patronage distribution of $1,014,300, of which 50% was paid in cash with the balance allocated to members, which is converted dollar for dollar to class-C preferred stock after eight years. Additionally, the board of directors approved a $7-per-share dividend on all shares of class-C preferred stock, which totaled $264,880. In March, in accordance with the CentralStar capital plan and current board policies, retained patronage from 2014 of current common stockowners was converted to class-C preferred stock.

Scholarship applications due June 1

CentralStar is, again, offering multiple $1,000 scholarships to member-owners or their children. To be eligible for consideration, applicants must presently be enrolled in a four-year college or a one- or two-year technical college or short-course program in an agricultural-related field OR be a high school senior admitted into one of the aforementioned programs. Get details and apply here: centralstar.info/scholarship.

CentralStar DHI Advisory Committee established

Approximately one year ago, former Dairy Lab Services customers transitioned to CentralStar for DHI services. With the addition of more than 500 dairies in Iowa, Illinois, and surrounding states, it expanded CentralStar’s on-farm service beyond the cooperative's “traditional” area. As a member-owner of Select Sires, CentralStar is limited to providing genetic and reproductive services to Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin; other Select Sires Federation members provide those specific services in Iowa, Illinois, and surrounding states.

As the cooperative’s DHI footprint grows, the board directed that a CentralStar DHI Advisory Committee, comprised of dairy producers from across the service area, be established to help guide the future of the cooperative's DHI and diagnostic services. Thank you to Matt Berning, East Dubuque, Ill.; Ethan Haywood, Hastings, Mich.; Adam Preston, Quincy, Mich.; Rick Roden, West Bend, Wis.; Arren Rusch, Pound, Wis.; Ron Snodgrass, Oregon, Ill.; and Mark Ulness, Valders, Wis., for participating on the committee.

Who can be a CentralStar member-stockowner?

As a stock-based cooperative, it is a choice to be a memberstockowner. To become a member-stockowner, producers must own a farming operation in Michigan, Wisconsin, or Indiana, meet an annual purchase-level requirement, and make a one-time investment of $200, which helps fund new products and services. The annual purchase requirement is established by member-owners and is currently set at $1,000.

Producers who become a member-stockowner provide an important voice in the direction of the cooperative. Additionally, investment is paid through patronage (cash and equity), based on CentralStar’s profitability and amount of business a stockowner conducts during the fiscal year. https://helpx.adobe.com/content/ dam/help/en/indesign/using/hyperlinks/_jcr_content/main-pars/image_0/ Hyperlinks-panel-details.png.img.png

Be proactive and protect your herd from mastitis mayhem.

The incidence rate for mastitis is 24.8% and most cows with a mastitis event are treated with antibiotics. Holstein sires that carry the Mastitis ResistantPRO® designation will reduce mastitis cases by 2.3%. Talk to your CentralStar team or scan the QR code for a complete list of Mastitis ResistantPRO sires.

Are you raising the optimum number of heifers?

Is your heiferbreeding program netting the results it should?