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See pages 24 and 25 of this section for details!
C E L E B R A T I N G
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DAIRY ST R 25
November 25, 2023
“All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 25, No. 19
Specialized Supporting the small family farm teaching From wheels to for farm blocks, Henning’s processes emergencies Cheese a niche from local milk
By Stacey Smart
stacey.s@dairystar.com
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
Agricultural Response Training par�cipants work to construct a cofferdam around the vic�m in a grain bin rescue simula�on Oct. 21 at Heiman Holsteins in Marsheld, Wisconsin. Nearly 60 emergency responders from departments and units in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri and Colorado took part in ART.
Agricultural Response Training increases call success By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
MARSHFIELD, Wis. — Until farm accidents stop happening, Pittsville Fire Chief Jerry Minor said he will continue to advocate for training emergency response personnel in how to deal with those situations without becoming part of the problem themselves. “Farm accidents are very different from the typical things we deal with,” Minor said. “We don’t see them as frequently, so we aren’t as well versed in how to deal with those situations. That is why this training is so important.” Minor works hand-in-hand with the National Farm Medicine Center and the Rural Fireghters Delivering Agriculture Safety and Health program to facilitate the Agricultural Rescue Training event, which is in its third year.
Turn to ART | Page 6
KIEL, Wis. — For more than a century, Henning’s Cheese has made awardwinning artisan and specialty cheese from the fresh milk of local, small family farms. Through their steadfast devotion to the dairy farmer, four generations of the Henning family have carved a niche in the industry. “We handcraft small batches of cheese using timehonored, traditional methods,” Kert Henning said. “We make a limited supply, allowing stores to order exactly what they need from us.” Henning’s Cheese near Kiel was the rst of three stops Oct. 26 on the Professional Dairy Producers Dairy Proces-
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
The Henning family — Zachary (from le�), Kerry, Mindy Ausloos, Joshua, Rebekah Henschel and Kert — operate Henning’s Cheese where they use the milk of local farms to make 85,000 pounds of cheese per week in Kiel, Wisconsin. Kerry, a Wisconsin master cheesemaker, and Kert are third-genera�on owners; Joshua and Zachary are fourth-genera�on licensed cheesemakers; Mindy oversees the retail store, billing and sales; and Rebekah oversees na�onal and local sales, marke�ng and promo�ons. sor Tours. The family owned and operated company is a place where family values and respect for employees are wo-
ven into a commitment to ensure a livelihood for the farms it buys milk from. Henning’s Cheese pays
above-market prices for milk. By ensuring a minimum price Turn to HENNING’S | Page 8
Farm-kid work ethic Michels siblings are three-sport athletes, active on dairy By Amy Kyllo
amy.k@star-pub.com
STACYVILLE, Iowa — Upon rst look at the Michels family’s haymow, everything seems pretty normal. Hay is stacked on one side, and across the way, a plywood structure blends into the scene. However, when the door of that plywood room opens, it reveals a lighted, nished wrestling area covered in mats. When the Michels children nish milking in the parlor below, they can go up to the haymow and practice. AMY KYLLO/DAIRY STAR
Mariah (from le�), Heidi, David, Korben and Chris�an Michel stand in their freestall barn Nov. 8 on their dairy farm near St. Ansgar, Iowa. The Michels milk 140 cows.
Turn to MICHELS| Page 7
Page 2 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023
North America dealers. Farm bill extension includes DMC funding
DAIRY ST R
Dairy Prole brought to you by your
ISSN Print: 2834-619X • Online: 2834-6203
The farm bill has been extended through Sept. 30, 2024. President Joe Biden signed a continuing resolution, which included the farm bill extension. With this action, the Dairy Margin Coverage program remains in place. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he heard from his dairy farmer constituents about farm bill uncertainty. “They came to me worried that this year we could be going over the dairy cliff,” Schumer said. “I immediately started ringing the cowbell and promised I would churn up support to ensure these payments wouldn’t lapse.”
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522 Sinclair Lewis Ave. Sauk Centre, MN 56378 Phone: 320-352-6303 Fax: 320-352-5647 Published by Star Publications LLC General Manager/Editor Mark Klaphake - mark.k@dairystar.com 320-352-6303 (ofce) 320-248-3196 (cell) 320-352-0062 (home) Ad Composition - 320-352-6303 Nancy Powell • nancy.p@dairystar.com Karen Knoblach • karen.k@star-pub.com Annika Gunderson • annika@star-pub.com Editorial Staff Jan Lefebvre - Assistant Editor 320-290-5980 • jan.l@star-pub.com Maria Bichler - Assistant Editor maria.b@dairystar.com • 320-352-6303 Stacey Smart - Assistant Editor 262-442-6666 • stacey.s@dairystar.com Danielle Nauman - Staff Writer 608-487-1101 • danielle.n@dairystar.com Abby Wiedmeyer - Staff Writer 608-487-4812 • abby.w@dairystar.com Tiffany Klaphake - Staff Writer 320-352-6303 • tiffany.k@dairystar.com Amy Kyllo - Staff Writer amy.k@star-pub.com Emily Breth - Staff Writer emily.b@star-pub.com Consultant Jerry Jennissen 320-346-2292 Advertising Sales Main Ofce: 320-352-6303 Fax: 320-352-5647 Deadline is 5 p.m. of the Friday the week before publication Sales Manager - Joyce Frericks 320-352-6303 • joyce@dairystar.com National Sales Manager - Laura Seljan (National Advertising, SE MN) 507-250-2217 • fax: 507-634-4413 laura.s@dairystar.com Jerry Nelson (SW MN, NW Iowa, South Dakota) 605-690-6260 • jerry.n@dairystar.com Mike Schafer (Central, South Central MN) 320-894-7825 • mike.s@dairystar.com Amanda Hoeer (Eastern Iowa, Southwest Wisconsin) 320-250-2884 • amanda.h@dairystar.com Megan Stuessel (Western Wisconsin) 608-387-1202 • megan.s@dairystar.com Kati Kindschuh (Northeast WI and Upper MI) 920-979-5284 • kati.k@dairystar.com Julia Mullenbach (Southeast MN and Northeast IA) 507-438-7739 • julia.m@star-pub.com Bob Leukam (Northern MN, East Central MN) 320-260-1248 (cell) bob.l@star-pub.com Mark Klaphake (Western MN) 320-352-6303 (ofce) • 320-248-3196 (cell) Deadlines The deadline for news and advertising in the Dairy Star is 5 p.m. Friday the week before publication. Subscriptions One year subscription $40.00, outside the U.S. $200.00. Send check along with mailing address to Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378. Advertising Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an advertisement shall constitute nal acceptance of the advertiser's order. Letters Letters and articles of opinion are welcomed. Letters must be signed and include address and phone number. We reserve the right to edit lengthy letters. The views and opinions expressed by Dairy Star columnists and writers are not necessarily those of the Dairy Star / Star Publications LLC.
The Dairy Star is published semi-monthly by Star Publications LLC, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378-1246. Periodicals Postage Paid at Sauk Centre, MN and additional mailing ofces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378-1246. © 2023 Star Publications LLC
Ag Committee leaders work together on farm bill extension The four corners, which is the term given to Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member John Boozman, House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson and Ranking Member David Scott, worked together to avoid a lapse in farm bill funding. In a joint statement, the lawmakers said, “This extension is in no way a substitute for passing a ve-year farm bill, and we remain committed to working together to get it done next year.” Milk Marketing Order hearing process to resume Testimony on the pricing formula for Federal Milk Marketing Order reform will resume Nov. 27. The hearings outside of Indianapolis were recessed Oct. 11. This process began in late August. The milk marketing orders have not seen signicant reform in more than 20 years. ‘Butter’ days ahead for the dairy industry A new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange said there is tremendous upset potential for domestic butter demand. That is on top of the signicant growth in domestic
butterfat production over the past ten years. While milk consumption is down, CoBank is seeing a bright future for premium butter and butter spreads. The report said more consumers are favoring full-fat dairy foods over reduced fat options.
Ag Insider
House task force seeks reform for H-2A program A U.S. House Committee on Agriculture task force is recommending changes to the H-2A visa program. Their By Don Wick interim report cites a rule imColumnist plemented by the U.S. Department of Labor in January that increased the minimum wage rates for these foreign workers. Nearly 80% of the employers surveyed said administrative delays prevented H-2A workers from starting on a timely basis. Adverse wage effect rule called ‘off target’ National Coalition of Agricultural Employers CEO Michael Marsh is working to turn back a U.S. Department of Labor ruling that requires an employee to be paid the base wage for the highest paying task they perform for the duration of their contract. The purpose of this rule is to encourage hiring of local and domestic labor before using the H-2A program. Marsh said low unemployment numbers make it Turn to AG INSIDER | Page 5
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Blair, WI
Louisville, Ky.
Loyal, WI
Platteville, WI
Osseo, WI
Stratford, WI
Auburndale, WI
Lodi, WI
Dairyman continues farming after health scare First Section: Pages 10 - 11
Wisconsin 4-H dominates NAILE youth contest First Section: Page 26 - 27
Managing pastures during a dry year Second Section: Page 6
Nodolf continues progress in dairy industry First Section: Pages 32 - 33
Farmhouse Bakery wholesales pies, pot pies, pasties Second Section: Pages 21 - 22
Women in Dairy: Ashley Kaiser First Section: Page 29
A day in the life of the Spindlers Second Section: Pages 15 - 17
Jazzy Jerseys built for success from the ground up Second Section: Pages 23 - 24
FROM OUR SIDE OF THE FENCE: What are you thankful for? First Section: Pages 15 -16
Colby, WI
Inside the Emblem: Colby FFA Third Section: Pages 8- 9
For additional stories from our other zone, log on to www.dairystar.com
Zone 1
Zone 2
Columnists Ag Insider Pages Pa 2, 5 First Fi s Section Fir
Something So R to Ruminate On P Page 34 Firs First Section
Ram Ramblings fro from the R Ridge Page Pa 35 First Section
d Farmer and Columnistt Page 36 n First Section
Ju Thinking Just O Loud Out Page 38 First F Section
D Dairy Good Life Page 39 First Fi Section
The “Mielke” Market Weekly Pages 7 - 8 Second Section
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Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023 • Page 5
ConƟnued from AG INSIDER | Page 2
Shapiro delivers a ‘big picture’ look at ag issues For decades, the United States was the sole global superpower. In the view of geopolitical analyst Jacob Shapiro, the shift has been made to multipolarity without a dominant global power. In this environment, Shapiro said, U.S. agriculture needs a more focused trade policy with countries who share its interests. “So, China is probably not a long-term partner for us on a trade or economic basis; our interests are just not in common,” said Shapiro. “Neither is a country like Mexico, which is already angry at us for a lot of different reasons, or Japan. We need to solidify relationships with those countries that we know are not hostile to American interests but still want to import American goods.” Shapiro, who is a partner with Cognitive Investments, has a mixed view regarding biofuels. “If we haven’t xed global hunger, why are we taking calories and putting them into fuel, especially when we’re awash in natural gas?” Shapiro said. “We could be building nuclear reactors, and there’s solar and wind. The idea of growing crops for energy when you have plenty of other energy sources, there’s cognitive disconnect there that I can’t work out.” Shapiro said he remains optimistic about the next ve to ten years. Shapiro spoke Thursday at the Ag and Food Summit in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Interest rate concerns The results of the annual Ag Lender Survey were released at the Agricultural Bankers Conference. Farmer Mac Chief Economist Jackson Takach said the survey showed a slight shift in the biggest concern for lenders. “Interest rate volatility became the No. 1 concern that ag lenders reported facing their institution,” Takach said. Lender competition and credit quality were found to be less important. According to lenders, liquid-
ity and farm income are the biggest concerns for producers. Senate bill addresses hauling capacity The Wisconsin State Senate has approved legislation to increase the capacity for milk haulers. It extends the current allowance for milk hauling of 98,000 pounds over six axles to all liquid dairy products. This bill would support the movement of whey, which is typically hauled from cheese plants for additional processing. The bill is now being heard in the assembly. Alma dairy farm honored with Leopold Award The Wisconsin Leopold Conservation Award has gone to Noll’s Dairy Farm of Alma. Curtis, Mark and Scott Noll and families will receive a $10,000 cash award and a crystal award in recognition of their management of soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat on working lands. The Nolls will be recognized during the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s annual meeting Dec. 3. Blobaum passes Organic activist Roger Blobaum, 94, has passed away. Blobaum worked for the Associated Press in Wisconsin and for former U.S. Senators Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin and Hubert Humphrey of Minnesota before taking a public relations role for the National Farmers Organization and National Farmers Union. Blobaum later became the director of Americans for Safe Food at the Centers for Science in the Public Interest. Trivia challenge India is the largest producer of butter worldwide. That answers our last trivia question. For this week’s trivia, what country consumes the most butter on a per-capita basis? We’ll have the answer in our next edition of Dairy Star. Don Wick is owner/broadcaster for the Red River Farm Network, based in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Wick has been recognized as the National Farm Broadcaster of the Year and served as president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Don and his wife, Kolleen, have two adult sons, Tony and Sam, and ve grandchildren, Aiden, Piper, Adrienne, Aurora and Sterling.
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Page 6 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023
Con�nued from ART | Page 1
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
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Fireghters test equipment to cut through a sec�on of a grain bin during a grain bin rescue simula�on at the Agricultural Response Training event Oct. 21 at Heiman Holsteins in Marsheld, Wisconsin. The best method is to cut the biggest V-shaped opening possible, allowing grain to funnel out of the bin. “There has really been a high turnover in the demographics of many rural re departments,” Minor said. “There are a lot of younger people getting involved in the departments, so training them how to handle these issues is very important.” Minor said the training does not only benet those in attendance, but it is benecial to the entire community, both agricultural and non-agricultural. “When these incidents happen, they are usually traumatic to everyone because they are dangerous and not that frequent,” Minor said. “And unfortunately, they end too often as a fatality.” Those factors make the ART program crucial to every community, Minor said. The third annual ART was held Oct. 20-21, with a lecture series at the NFMC and an on-site training exercise held at nearby Heiman Holsteins, both in Marsheld. Included in the lecture series were presentations about working with agricultural chemicals and poisons on the farm, silo rescues and large animal technical rescues. There was also a demonstration of Farm MAPPER 2.0. Participants had the opportunity to attend additional training to learn how to take the information they gained back to their departments to train their colleagues. On the farm, emergency responders participated in hands-on learning simulations for tractor rollovers, silo rescues, grain bin rescues, equipment extrication and large animal technical rescues. “There are so many scenarios that might create an incident on the farm, but we try to hit the ones we see the most,” Minor said. The training does not vary much from year to year, but this year Minor said they did include a station dealing with working with large animals, taught by Dr. Howard Ketover and the Wisconsin Large Animal Emergency Response team. “Last year we had a lecture by Dr. Ketover, and the feedback was really strong asking for hands-on training, so
we added that for this year,” Minor said. “That station was really well received.” Nearly 60 emergency responders from departments and units in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri and Colorado took part in ART. In the past two years, 214 emergency responders from 89 departments have been trained through the program, including 17 who were trained to become instructors. With the knowledge that most rural rst responders are volunteers who give willingly of their time to not only respond, but to train for that response, departments with three or more personnel attending the training receive a free four-gas monitor. The monitors are provided through the Mike Biadasz Farm Safety and Education Memorial Fund, which was established in memory of the central Wisconsin farmer who was fatally overcome by hydrogen sulde gas while agitating a manure pit Aug. 15, 2016. Prior to this year, 23 departments have been given the monitors, which are not only intended to keep the emergency response teams safe, but they can also be loaned to farmers to use as a measure of prevention to keep similar accidents from occurring. While Minor said there are few repeat attendees, there are many departments that send personnel each year. “That is really encouraging,” Minor said. “That means the guys who came one year go back and tell the others in their department that the training is worthwhile.” Like the general population, most emergency response personnel have little or no experience being on the farm. “That lack of background means these trainings are paramount for ensuring safety of the responders and improving the odds for a successful rescue for the victim,” Minor said. “As long as there are farm accidents happening, we will keep training to help responders be procient in their response.”
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Emergency response personnel work to li� a tree off a vic�m in a rescue simula�on at the Agricultural Response Training event held Oct. 21 at Heiman Holsteins in Marsheld, Wisconsin. The tree was lodged under the tractor’s steering wheel, further complica�ng the extrica�on.
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023 • Page 7
ConƟnued from MICHELS | Page 1
The Michels family — David, Heidi and their children — have a 140-cow dairy farm on the outskirts of Stacyville. There, the family blends an active sports life with farming. Noah, the oldest child, is in college, while Christian, Mariah and Korben are a senior, junior and sophomore, respectively. Each of the younger trio is a three-sport athlete who has competed in a state tournament. Mariah also was instrumental in helping bring a girls wrestling program to St. Ansgar Community High School. Christian led as captain of the football team the past two years and has volunteered many years with the wrestling Youth Booster Club as an assistant teacher. What sets the siblings apart, according to their coaches, is their work ethic. “The biggest trait is they work hard,” said Barry Kittleson, St. Ansgar’s boys head wrestling coach. “You don’t have to tell them to; you don’t have to remind them. They’re there.” The Michelses are all wrestlers and on the track team. Christian and Korben also play football, and Mariah plays volleyball. Girls wrestling is in its second year as a sanctioned sport in the state of Iowa. Mariah started wrestling in middle school, and the boys started in booster club. During her freshman year, Mariah wrestled on the boys team under Kittleson and placed fourth at the girls state tournament. Last year, after Iowa sanctioned girls wrestling, Mariah was part of the North Central Trailblazers, a girls team from ve schools in the area, and she placed fourth at state again. This past spring, Mariah and senior Emma Hall worked to bring girls wrestling to St. Ansgar. Mariah and her mom spoke with the athletic director to know what steps and barriers there were to having their own program, gured out how many people were interested in being part of a team, helped nd a coach and presented before the school board, which
AMY KYLLO/DAIRY STAR
Korben (from leŌ), Mariah and ChrisƟan Michel gather on a beam next to their wrestling room Nov. 8 in the haymow of their barn near St. Ansgar, Iowa. All three of the Michels are wrestlers, and ChrisƟan and Mariah have both gone to state in wrestling. unanimously approved the request. “For the goals she sets for herself, “It’s really cool because when I rst she understands the amount of work started, there were only two of us (girls) that’s going to be put into them,” Walk wrestling at our school,” Mariah said. said. “She doesn’t ever just expect to be “Now that’s grown to be a lot more, and handed success.” it’s been the same for other schools.” Walk described Mariah as a “silent The St. Ansgar’s girls high school leader” who the other girls look up to. team has seven wrestlers, and a large One of the ways that Mariah, Chrisnumber of middle schoolers are inter- tian and Korben prepare for their sports ested in wrestling when they reach high is by lifting weights three times a week school. year-round. Mariah’s wrestling coach, Katie “Getting up in the morning to lift and Walk, coached against her last year and (do) agility (training) is pretty easy besaid Mariah’s work ethic and determina- cause you get up in the morning to milk tion were clear to her even then as a com- cows,” Christian said. “The cows aren’t peting coach. Now she said she sees the going to milk themselves. ... You have to behind-the-scenes effort Mariah puts in get up no matter what.” with nutrition, weight lifting and dedicaChristian’s and Korben’s favorite tion that brings her to 5:30 a.m. wrestling sport is football. Both brothers said that practice 10 minutes early. one of the things they enjoy is playing on
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the eld together. They both were starters this past fall on their team which advanced to the state quarternals. The football coach, Drew Clevenger, who also overlooks the lifting program, said the siblings are good workers. “The fact that they’re as effective as they are on both sides of the ball on offense and defense is just a testament to their work ethic and athletic ability,” Clevenger said. “They’re both just incredibly tough kids. I mean, in terms of pound for pound toughness, I’m not sure we’ve had a lot of kids in my 24 years here that are tougher pound for pound than they are.” He also said Christian is a good leader for the team. As the oldest, Christian wants to help his siblings become better. “(I want to) get them to be the best they can because it’s fun to play varsity with them,” Christian said. Not only are the siblings busy with athletics, they also are active on the dairy farm. They help with milking on the weekends, apply manure and do eldwork, especially forage harvesting. Christian cuts the hay and packs the pile, Korben merges, and Mariah rakes or hauls loads. The Michelses are also part of 4-H and FFA. Currently, Christian and Mariah are in FFA, and Mariah is the secretary of their chapter. Korben is in 4-H and FFA and is the vice president of the 4-H club. Heidi sees how dairy farm work has helped her children in sports. “Through the years, when we’re chopping and the rain is coming, you just keep going and going until it’s done,” Heidi said. “They really have built endurance over the years.” Korben’s motivation for sports is simple. “I have just always done it, and it is fun to be the best I can be,” Korben said. Christian agreed. “It’s just fun to do, and it’s fun to win,” he said.
Page 8 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023
Con�nued from HENNING’S | Page 1
for farmers, Henning said they have not lost any farms due to economic reasons, demonstrating the company’s long-term sustainability. Approximately 20 small family farms within a 30mile radius of the plant supply milk to Henning’s Cheese. The smallest dairy produces 1,500 pounds of milk per day while the largest produces 6,000 pounds daily. Henning’s Cheese manufactures cheese Monday through Friday and processes around 800,000 pounds of milk weekly. The majority of milk comes from Holsteins and contains 3.5% to 3.9% butterfat. “We make 85,000 pounds of cheese per week, which makes us very small in the dairy industry,” Henning said. “We make different sizes of wheels and blocks and a wide variety of avors. That’s what separates us from everyone else and makes us unique.” Henning and his brother, Kerry, are third-generation owners of the business started by their grandfather, Otto Henning, in 1914. From its humble beginnings in which farmers dropped off milk via horse and wagon, Henning’s Cheese grew with the times — expanding and updating to accommodate growth and meet changing state and U.S. Department of Agriculture standards for dairy plants. Kerry is a certied Wisconsin master cheesemaker, holding master’s degrees in colby, cheddar and Monterey
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
A�endees of the Professional Dairy Producers Dairy Processor Tours shop at Henning’s Cheese Oct. 26 near Kiel, Wisconsin. The store offers fresh, warm curds and a wide variety of cheese and cheese spreads as well as wine, sausage, and Wisconsin souvenirs and charcuterie items. Jack. Licensed cheesemakers from the fourth generation of the Henning family include Joshua and Zachary. Henning’s Cheese employs about 40 people in various areas of the plant. The company’s niche is wheel cheese, and every wheel is a special order. “Round wheels of cheese are labor intensive, and not many cheese factories do this,” Henning said. Henning said their mammoth wheels have been as large as 12,000 pounds, which
is 6.5 feet tall and 6.5 feet wide. They sell many wheels to Puerto Rico and Texas. Henning’s Cheese makes cheddar, colby, Monterey Jack, farmers, mozzarella and gouda cheese along with approximately 26 avors, such as apple, garlic dill, onion chive and tomato basil. Henning’s Cheese is not afraid to add heat to its cheese with avors like Mango Fire, Dragon’s Breath and Rattlesnake. Tequila blended with excessively hot habaneros makes Rattlesnake
suitable for only the bravest of cheese connoisseurs. “We make specic cheeses for specic customers,” Henning said. “The quality of our cheese and avor prole is one of those things that makes us unique. You may not agree with all of our avor proles, but that’s why we do so many to target different markets throughout the country.” The cheese manufacturer makes a blueberry cobbler fruit cheese, which Henning said is great on a grilled cheese sand-
wich dusted with powdered sugar. Henning’s Cheese also offers seasonal, limited-edition cheeses like maple bourbon and strawberry. “The way we make cheese is something like using a slow cooker at home to marinate avors,” Henning said. “We limit the amount of milk coming in so that we can put the brakes on and allow that cheese avor to come through. It makes a world of difference.” Henning’s Cheese has stood the test of time and is the last surviving cheese manufacturer in Manitowoc County — a county that was once home to 110 such manufacturers, according to Henning. “Wisconsin used to have 2,800 cheese factories,” Henning said. “Now, there are approximately 125 making more cheese and more varieties than ever before.” In addition to its manufacturing facility, Henning’s Cheese also includes a storefront and museum. The store offers fresh, warm curds and a wide variety of cheese and cheese spreads as well as breaded cheese curds for deep frying. In addition, Henning’s Cheese carries Wisconsin and California wines; brats, bacon and other sausages; along with Wisconsin souvenirs and charcuterie items.
Turn to HENNING’S | Page 9
To our farmers, milk haulers, and employees – we thank you for all that you do.
WWW.BONGARDS.COM
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023 • Page 9
ConƟnued from HENNING’S | Page 8
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An employee moves a cart of cheese to a drying room for curing Oct. 26 at Henning’s Cheese in Kiel, Wisconsin. Henning’s makes cheddar, colby, Monterey Jack, farmers, mozzarella and gouda cheese along with approximately 26 avors, such as apple, garlic dill, onion chive and tomato basil. “I’m proud of where we are and the decisions we’ve made along the way,” Henning said. “Could we make more cheese? Yes. But, do we want to make more cheese? No.” Labor is one reason for not growing bigger. Another reason is the family’s desire to spend time with loved ones while remaining dialed into quality.
“We are a fourth-generation family cheese company that prides itself on quality versus quantity,” Henning said. “Getting larger is not always the answer to everything. Focusing on what you do, and then doing it very well, makes a difference. What we do here is extremely unique.”
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PHOTO SUBMITTED
The Tjerstad family — Trevor (from le�), Dan, Tucker, Tara, Daisy, Daryl, Mary, David, Dwayne, Dwight, Marthea and Chris�na — stands by their pulling tractor in 2017 before David passed away. Daryl Tjerstad runs his family’s farm with the help of his brothers, who work full �me off the farm, near Blair, Wisconsin.
Tjerstad grew up helping his parents, David and Dairyman continues Mary, on the family’s dairy farm with his brothers. dad battled diabetes for 49 years while dairyfarming after health scare His ing, even receiving a donor kidney from Tjerstad’s
mom in 2005. His poor health nally led the family to sell their cows in 2013. By Abby Wiedmeyer Tjerstad was working construction at the time, abby.w@dairystar.com and when the youngstock started to calve in the next year, he took over the day-to-day operation. BLAIR, Wis. — Daryl Tjerstad was start- When he restarted milking, he had 15 fresh heifers ing chores on a Friday morning last year when he and continued to work construction off the farm. found himself short of breath. Before long, he was As the dairy herd grew back and his dad’s health wheezing for air and dragging milkers down the became worse, Tjerstad transitioned to farming full barn walk. After getting hold of his doctor, he went time. His dad has since passed away, in 2017, after to urgent care where he was three years of dialysis. Tjertold that tests indicated he had stad has continued farming in suffered a minor heart attack. “They said I had a heart his absence and said he plans He was promptly loaded into attack, and I thought, to stay at 50 cows indenitely. the ambulance and taken to “It’d be nice to have him Gundersen Lutheran Medical ‘Are you kidding me? here for advice sometimes, but Center in La Crosse. I guess you just have to move Tjerstad said he had chest They put me in the on,” Tjerstad said. “You really pain and shortness of breath have no choice, but it is differbut never imagined it was so ambulance, and I told ent.” severe. farm consists of 230 them to wait, that I acres,The owned “They said I had a heart atand rented. tack, and I thought, ‘Are you have to tell my brother Tjerstad raises hay, corn and kidding me?’” Tjerstad said. soybeans, which are all used “They put me in the ambu- there’s a treated cow.” for feed. The soybeans are lance, and I told them to wait, brought to the mill to use in that I have to tell my brother the cows’ protein mix. One DARYL TJERSTAD, DAIRY FARMER there’s a treated cow.” change he has made is storing Once at the hospital, his dry corn at the mill to also be veins were injected with dye as a way to search included in the protein mix, instead of storing highfor blood clots. This revealed that there had been a moisture corn at home. blood clot, but it had dissolved on its own, which is “It costs a little more to do that, but it’s handy,” rare. Tjerstad credits this to his continued activity. Tjerstad said. “It’s one less thing to do; otherwise, I “I think this (farming) saved me because if I had to top dress protein and corn.” would have lain down and slowed my heart rate, Cows are fed their grain and protein mix in the that clot might not have cleared on its own,” Tjer- barn and fed baleage, haylage, corn silage and dry stad said. “My heart was in overdrive; it was pump- hay in the bunk outside. During the summer, cows ing so fast that it must have gotten rid of it.” are grazed on a number of pastures surrounding He nally returned home the following Tues- the buildings. Milk is shipped by Dairy Farmers of day. His mom and brothers had kept the farm run- America but is currently being taken to Associated ning smoothly while he had been gone. Milk Producers Inc. in Blair. Tjerstad milks 50 cows in a stanchion barn near When Tjerstad gets a break from farming, he Blair. His mom is on the farm and feeds calves enjoys snowmobiling as well as truck and tractor while his brothers, Dwight, Dwayne and Dan, all work off the farm and help whenever they can. Turn to TJERSTAD | Page 11
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023 • Page 11
Con�nued from TJERSTAD | Page 10
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Daryl Tjerstad takes a break Nov. 2 at his farm near Blair, Wisconsin. Tjerstad milks 50 cows on his family’s farm and is back to farming a�er suffering a heart a�ack last year.
pulls. His family owns an International 1066 pulling tractor, and Tjerstad himself owns a Chevrolet Scottsdale pulling truck. “We started as kids pulling lawn mowers,” Tjerstad said. “It just kept progressing as we got older.” Tjerstad said he is able to keep the farm going for a third generation because his family works together to
help each other. He said his time in the hospital last year would have been a lot more stressful without their help. “If I had to hire help for everything, it would be a whole different ballgame,” Tjerstad said. “My brothers are really good mechanics, and if I need something xed, I can call one of them and they’ll show up.”
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Page 12 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023
A closer look at hypocalcemia Not all milk fever is the same By Abby Wiedmeyer abby.w@dairystar.com
JUNEAU, Wis. — Fresh cows are at a vulnerable stage in their lactation, with a lot of potential for health problems. Dr. Luciano Caixeta, Ph.D., associate professor of dairy production medicine, University of Minnesota, is studying the age-old condition in fresh cows that most farmers unfortunately have dealt with more than they would like to — hypocalcemia, or milk fever. Caixeta spoke on a Nov. 1 The Dairy Signal through Professional Dairy Producers. Having grown up as the son of a veterinarian and later practicing veterinary medicine himself, Caixeta felt it was important to take a closer look at hypocalcemia and studied the condition during his Ph.D. training. “As a veterinarian practitioner, I was tired of getting called in the middle of the night over something that denitely could be prevented,” Caixeta said. “We have come a long way since beginning clinical practice.”
Caixeta said it is important to remember that all cows experience some level of hypocalcemia during the calving process and beginning days of postpartum. Hypocalcemia by denition simply means low blood calcium concentrations. Earlylactation cows have an elevated calcium demand that is not matched by the capacity they have to absorb calcium through their gut or to mobilize calcium in their bones to reabsorb it. Because they cannot meet this demand of calcium, they go into a hypocalcemic state. “If the cow has clinical signs, so she’s down and cannot get up — all those classic signs of milk fever — that’s what I call clinical hypocalcemia or milk fever,” Caixeta said. “All the other (signs) — the cow that’s a little bit unstable, maybe has cold ears, you can tell that she’s not fully all right, there is something going on — if it’s not any of the other diseases, it’s likely low blood calcium. Then that’s what I consider subclinical.” Caixeta said there are physiological differences between those cows and a physiological reason for those treatments to be different. Subclinical hypocalcemia is seen more in cows that are in their third or greater lactation. This is because they have a
greater concentration of calcium to make up due to the larger volume of colostrum and milk production. On average, the older cows are still experiencing a lower calcium concentration on the second day after calving.
the herd. The treatment for clinical cases where the cow is down is still a bottle of calcium administered intravenously. For a subclinical case where the cow is still standing, a calcium bolus administered orally re-
“When I started practice 15 years ago, we used to see way more clinical cases. We think with the improved nutrition, we have decreased the number of hypocalcemic cows so that it is common to have less than 1% of clinical cases on a farm.” DR. LUCIANO CAIXETA, PH.D.,
Caixeta said this information was not readily available until 2017. “We have reports of milk fever for 200 years, so something that is seven years old is new,” Caixeta said. “Cows that drop and stay low for longer are what I have coined the term (as being) persistent hypocalcemic, where they drop and don’t come up.” He said that persistent hypocalcemic cows are 4.1 times more likely to develop further diseases and eventually exit
mains the answer. Caixeta does not recommend two bottles given in an IV at the same time because the calcium levels will reach a fatal concentration. Also, an oral bolus should not be given to a down cow since the lack of calcium will not allow her muscles to ex normally and the possibility of choking is greater. Caixeta has focused on nutritional strategies as a preventative measure in reducing the amount of hypocalcemic cases on farms.
One effective way to prevent milk fever nutritionally is with the use of anionic salts. By including these in the diet, the cow is getting acidied in the prepartum period, leading her to mobilize more calcium already. Then, as she mobilizes more calcium that she does not need, it gets excreted. The difference is shown in the pH of urine; the calcium is being mobilized. By the time the cow produces colostrum or milk, she is already primed to mobilize the calcium she needs. That is when, instead of excreting calcium into the urine, the cow mobilizes it into the milk and avoids having such low calcium and becoming clinically ill. Another nutritional strategy is the use of Zeolite, which is a mineral binder. This is like a rock material that will bind to minerals. Using it will decrease the amount of minerals in circulation, the main ones being calcium and phosphorus. This enables the cow to mobilize more calcium effectively. “When I started practice 15 years ago, we used to see way more clinical cases,” Caixeta said. “We think with the improved nutrition, we have decreased the number of hypocalcemic cows so that it is common to have less than 1% of clinical cases on a farm.”
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Page 14 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023
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Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023 • Page 15
from our side OF THE FENCE What are you thankful for this year?
Laura Orth Lancaster, Wisconsin Grant County 288 cows
John Kraus Malone, Wisconsin Fond du Lac County 300 cows What are you thankful for this year? I am thankful for all of our crops and the wonderful harvest we had this year. Also, our dairy production is increasing and that’s always a good thing. I am also thankful for my family’s support, good health and well-being, and their willingness to help on the farm. What are you most grateful for, besides your family? I am grateful for my employees. I have ve part-time people who always show up for work and help get everything done. They are an important part of the farm. On a daily basis, what are you thankful for? Day to day, I am thankful to be working with my family. I am thankful for their help, and we tend to try to make each day fun. How do you show appreciation for the people you work with? I give them lots of thanks and lots of treats, such as candy bars and cookies. We also have a lot of fruit trees and share peaches, pears and apples with the employees. We sometimes give them beef as well. I like to show appreciation for my family’s help by taking them out to eat or taking them for ice cream. What is your Thanksgiving Day tradition? We usually get together as a family on both sides of the family — mine and my wife’s, Brooke. We are with my side of the family at noon, and at night, we are with her family. We have a big meal at both places. We’ll also put up outside Christmas lights by my parents’ house, weather permitting. Otherwise, we just hang out with everyone and maybe play some games. Tell us about your farm. Our farm, K&K Homestead, has been in the Kraus family since 1872, and I am the sixth generation to farm here. Brooke and I have six children, and we all work together on the farm with our employees. My mom and dad also help us. We milk twice a day in a double-8 parlor, and we ship our milk to Sargento/Baker Cheese. We farm around 300 acres of corn and alfalfa that we use as feed for the dairy.
What are you thankful for this year? Randy and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary this summer. We were able to get away with our four children and their families for ve days. We were very thankful for the wonderful weather and our great employees. What are you most grateful for, besides your family? I am so thankful that education was important to our parents. Some of my rst memories are of Dad reading the Family Circus comics to me on Sunday mornings and Mom teaching me how to care for and ride horses. I was learning how to ride my pony when I was only 4 years old. I still love to read and care for animals. On a daily basis, what are you thankful for? I will forever be grateful for my experiences in 4-H — learning by doing. In addition to my parents and grandparents, so many leaders shared their skills with me regarding gardening, sewing, foods and nutrition, and the list goes on and on. As a lifelong learner, I am still thankful every day for my curiosity. How do you show appreciation for the people you work with? Smiles and treats — and sincerely listening to each person's stories. Everyone wants to be heard. What is your Thanksgiving Day tradition? Getting together with family for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Tell us about your farm. I was raised with Holsteins, Randy was raised with Guernseys, and now we milk Jerseys. We have a freestall barn with a swing-12 parlor. We farm with our son, Derek, and his wife, Charisse, and family. The grandkids are getting old enough that they help feed bottle calves after school. Our daughter, Julie, and her husband, Joel, also help with morning chores. We ship our milk to Rolling Hills Dairy Producers Cooperative.
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Jared Bradt Black River Falls, Wisconsin Jackson County 40 cows What are you thankful for this year? We had a pretty good year. It was dry, but we had rains when we needed them, and the crop yields were still pretty good for a dry year. The cows did really well this year too. For our family, it’s been a good, healthy year for us. Our two babies are getting older, so it’s been fun watching them learn the ropes of doing chores and learning how to live on the farm. What are you most grateful for, besides your family? God and his faithfulness. I am grateful to be able to keep farming. It seems like everything is always provided to us when we need it. On a daily basis, what are you thankful for? The skid loader. I don’t know if I could farm without one. I mainly use it for bringing up feed for the cows and bringing it in the barn, but it comes in handy at other times. Even if I would quit farming, I would still have one around if I could swing it. How do you show appreciation for the people you work with? I try to be fun to be around and fun to work with and keep a positive attitude about everything. I work with my wife and kids on a daily basis at the farm. I drive semi, hauling treated railroad ties during the day, and I try to give 110% and work together with my coworkers. What is your Thanksgiving Day tradition? To have a big meal at my parents’ house with all my family. My parents live about ve minutes away, and my siblings mostly live close. One sibling is a couple hours away, so we all get together. And, of course we milk cows. Tell us about your farm. We milk 40 Holsteins in a tiestall barn and ship to the Lynn Dairy cheese plant in Granton, Wisconsin. I grow 70 acres of alfalfa and 30 acres of corn. My wife’s name is Jessa, and my kids are Isla and Troy. Turn to OUR SIDE | Page 16
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Page 16 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023
ConƟnued from OUR SIDE | Page 15
Rosemary Adelmeyer Adelmeyer Farms Theresa, Wisconsin Dodge County 190 cows What are you thankful for this year? I am thankful for still being here on the farm and working with my family. We had a good harvest this year, and the cows are milking well. What are you most grateful for, besides your family? I am grateful for the summer we had as well as the fall. Both seasons brought good weather for us. We got rain this summer when we needed it, most of the time, and were fortunate to get more rain than some people did. On a daily basis, what are you thankful for? Every day, I am thankful for my ve children, my 13 grandchildren and my three great-grandchildren. All of them live near the farm, and I get to see them a lot. I am thankful for my entire family. My great-grandchildren live next to me on the farm, and my Jenelle and Morris Medlang Kensett, Iowa Worth County 30 cows What are you thankful for this year? We are really thankful for our farm and for the life we have had on our farm. We raised six kids on it. We are thankful for our crops. Even though we were in a drought, we were able to put up enough feed to feed the cows for another year. We also have a nice bunch of heifer calves this year. Also, we nally did get some rain this fall to help ease the drought conditions we were in. We are very grateful to our family and friends who all pitched in to help when Morris had surgery last spring. He is all healed up now. We are also expecting another grand-baby next April. What are you most grateful for, besides your family? We are grateful for our church and pastor, who helped us through a struggle. We have been blessed with good friends, who are always there for us and are happy for us in good times and help us in tough times. On a daily basis, what are you thankful for? We are thankful for our farm and that we were able to raise our family on the farm and are able to keep farming. It’s been a good life. We are thankful for the little things that farm life provides us, such as the smell of fresh-cut hay, silage or a load of corn coming out of the eld. We are thankful for each healthy calf and that we haven’t had any major breakdowns this year. Also, we are grateful for our friends through the years, who have helped us and given us advice. One of the biggest things we are most thankful for is when our 2-year-old granddaughter said, “I help feed the cows.” We often take the little things in life for granted. How do you show appreciation for the people you work with? We mostly tell them thank you. Sometimes we give them a plate of goodies. We will also try to help them when they need it.
son said they make me 20 years younger. I am also thankful for my faith, and I pray to God always. How do you show appreciation for the people you work with? I do as much cooking and baking as I can, so whoever wants to eat here can. I make bars, cookies and all kinds of different meals to keep everyone fed. What is your Thanksgiving Day tradition? I go by one of my daughters’ houses who is hosting Thanksgiving. We enjoy a big meal of turkey, potatoes and all the xings. I make a few things as well to bring along. It is nice to eat and visit with everyone. Tell us about your farm. I farm with my sons, Brian and Dean, and my grandsons, Josh, Joe and Jake. I’m 80 years old and don’t work in the barn anymore, but I spent many years in the barn when I was younger. However, I still look over the farm on a regular basis. I love to be out there, checking on the calves, etc. I am also in charge of the bookkeeping and have been since I was 21. We have been milking with robots for almost 10 years, and we ship our milk to Family Dairies USA. We farm around 1,800 acres of corn, soybeans, alfalfa and winter wheat for feeding our cattle and for cash cropping. We also do custom work. What is your Thanksgiving Day tradition? We get to have a house full of our six kids, their spouses and our 18 grandchildren. They don’t all live nearby, but everyone always comes home to the farm for Thanksgiving. So, we have good food, good conversation and good people to share it with. The cousins get to play together, and having our family together under one roof means a lot. This is the one holiday that we do all get together for. Tell us about your farm. We live on the farm that Morris’ grandparents started with in 1920. We have been farming here since we got married 41 years ago. We still milk in the tiestall barn that was built in 1926. We milk 30 Holstein and Brown Swiss cows, and we farm 160 acres. We raise corn, soybeans, oats and alfalfa and have pasture. Our daughter, Sarah, and her son, Zach, help a few days a week, and our neighbor, Aaron Thomas, helps a few nights a week too. Our milk is shipped to Agropur in Le Sueur, Minnesota.
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Page 18 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023
TOP PERFORMERS Brent and Jake Stelling of Stelling Farms Inc. | Millville, Minnesota | Wabasha County | 300 cows
How many times a day do you milk, and what is your current herd average, butterfat and protein? We milk three times daily. Our herd average is 32,491 pounds of milk, with 1,404 pounds of butterfat and 1,029 pounds of protein. This equals 4.4% fat and 3.2% protein.
corn silage and 25%-30% dry matter of haylage for a total of 59%-70% forage. We also feed high-moisture ground shelled corn, a small amount of soy hulls, linseed meal, custom mineral mix and palm fat. We have increased the amount of corn silage somewhat but not signicantly.
Describe your housing and milking facility. We have a double-8 parallel parlor and a 6-row sand-bedded freestall barn.
Tell us about the forages you plant and detail your harvest strategies. We plant low-lignin alfalfa and try to harvest the rst cutting at 28 inches pre-bud. The rest of the cuttings are taken every 24-28 days depending on weather and plant maturity. We plant regular corn varieties for silage and high moisture. Silage is harvested at 65%-68% moisture, and corn is harvested at 27%-30% moisture.
Who is part of your farm team, and what are their roles? Our family and employees exhibit a strong work ethic, and we work together as a team in all aspects of our farming operation. We all take care of the animals in the best way possible and take pride in doing so. What is your herd health program? Our veterinarian comes every other Friday morning to do ultrasound pregnancy checks on our cows and heifers. Vaccination occurs on a weekly and monthly schedule. What does your dry cow and transition program consist of? The cows are dry
AMY KYLLO/DAIRY STAR
Jake and Brent Stelling stand in their freestall barn Nov. 8 on their dairy near Millville, Minnesota. The Stellings use genomics to make breeding and culling decisions on their farm.
for an average of 60 days. They are dried up and hauled to our other farm to a loosehousing shed. The cows are fed a total mixed ration consisting of grass hay, straw, rye/oats silage, haylage, corn silage and mineral. One week prior to their calving date, the
cows are brought home to the milking freestall barn where they are put in the pre-fresh bed pack pen. This feed ration consists of straw, haylage, corn silage and mineral. After calving, the fresh cows are milked and put into the fresh pen where they are monitored
for an average of 10 days before they go in with the rest of the herd. What is the composition of your ration, and how has that changed in recent years? Our ration consists of 33%-40% dry matter of
What is your average somatic cell count and how does that affect your production? Our somatic cell count averages around 100,000. Having a low somatic cell count indicates your cows are healthy which coincides with high production. Turn to TOP PERFORMERS | Page 20
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Page 20 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023
ConƟnued from TOP PERFORMERS | Page 18
What change has created the biggest improvement in your herd average? Genomics. We genomic test all of our heifers which has guided us to make important decisions on breeding and culling. High indexing heifers are ushed, and the embryos are placed into lower genetic recipient heifers and cows. We also utilize beef semen on the lower indexing animals. What technology do you use to monitor your herd? None.
What is your breeding program, and what role does genetics play in your production level? We start watching and recording heats on the cows after calving. First breeding starts around 90 days in milk. If cows are showing heat irregularly than 21 days, they are given GnRH or checked by our veterinarian. Cows that have not shown a heat prior to 90 days in milk are checked by the veterinarian and possibly placed on an ovsynch program or brought into heat. Genetics play an important role in our herd’s high production. We have been using A.I. for 65 years using bulls with high milk, fat and protein, along with high type and great health traits. We strive to breed the best cow for our herd.
AMY KYLLO/DAIRY STAR
Cows rest in free stalls Nov. 8 at Stelling Farms Inc. near Millville, Minnesota. The Stellings have a herd average of 32,491 pounds of milk, with 4.4% buƩerfat and 3.2% protein.
List three management strategies that have helped you attain your production and component level. Cow comfort, genetics and highquality forage production. Tell us about your farm and your plans for the dairy in the next year. Our farm has been in our family for over
100 years. We aim to take the best care of our animals and land. We have 300 milk cows, 300 heifers and 200 steers. Our crops consist of 900 acres of corn, alfalfa and winter rye. In the next year, we are looking into purchasing an activity/rumination monitoring system.
AMY KYLLO/DAIRY STAR
Cows stand in free stalls Nov. 8 at Stelling Farms Inc. near Millville, Minnesota. The Stellings’ total mixed raƟon is approximately 59%-70% forage and consists of corn silage, haylage, high-moisture ground shelled corn, soy hulls, linseed meal, custom mineral mix and palm fat.
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023 • Page 21
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ARTICULATED 4WD TRACTORS
JD 8450 1983, Partial Power Shift, Duals, 8634 hrs., #567179..................$22,100 JD 8770 1996, Partial Power Shift, Duals, 5085 hrs., #572385..................$54,500 JD 9200 1997, Syncro, Duals, 7740 hrs., #566576.....................................$65,900 JD 9400 2001, Partial Power Shift, Duals, 11,459 hrs., #572520...............$65,900 JD 9520 2006, Power Shift, Duals, 8173 hrs., #572633 .............................$92,500 JD 9620 2004, Power Shift, Duals, 4395 hrs., #572345 ...........................$162,500 JD 9360R 2013, Power Shift, Duals, 6889 hrs., #567725 ........................$176,800 JD 9460R 2012, Power Shift, Duals, 6809 hrs., #561026 ........................$180,900 JD 9510R 2012, Power Shift, Duals, 2892 hrs., #560922 ........................$274,500 JD 9520R 2021, e18, Duals, 772 hrs., #548238.......................................$507,000 JD 9560R 2012, Power Shift, Duals, 3779 hrs., #572530 ........................$259,900 JD 9570R 2021, e18, Duals, 633 hrs., #274704.......................................$556,500 JD 9620R 2022, Power Shift, Duals, 1098 hrs., #557073 ........................$529,000 JD 9R 490 2023, e18, Duals, 200 hrs., #540248......................................$569,900 JD 9R 540 2022, e18, Duals, 270 hrs., #570622......................................$549,900 JD 9R 540 2022, e18, Duals, 195 hrs., #570620......................................$549,900 JD 9R 590 2023, e18, Duals, 300 hrs., #565781......................................$630,900 JD 9R 590 2022, e18, Duals, 597 hrs., #570618......................................$569,900 JD 9R 590 2022,Partial Power Shift, Duals, 452 hrs., #554280 ...............$582,500 JD 9R 640 2022, e18, Duals, 496 hrs., #570615......................................$609,900 JD 9R 640 2022, e18, Duals, 371 hrs., #567239......................................$609,900 Case IH STX375 2001, Power Shift, Duals, 8121 hrs., #572621 ................$69,500 NH T9.480 2018, IVT, Duals, 2500 hrs., #558801....................................$299,000
COMBINES
Case IH 8240 2016, PRWD, Duals, 1289 hrs., 920 Sep. hrs., #572343.....$243,900 Case IH 8250 2022, 2WD, Duals, 1300 hrs., 1000 Sep. hrs., #572186 .....$394,900 Case IH 8250 2022, PRWD, Duals, 1300 hrs., 1000 Sep. hrs., #572189...$409,900 Case IH 8250 2022, PRWD, Tracks, 1100 hrs., 800 Sep. hrs., #572187 ....$489,900 JD 8820 1980, PRWD, Duals, 3900 hrs., #570003 ....................................... $9,900 JD 9500 1990, 2WD, Singles, 5623 hrs., 3908 Sep. hrs., #571471 .............$18,800
JD 9500 1990, 2WD, Singles, 5448 hrs., 3588 Sep. hrs., #571381 .............$21,000 JD 9500 1989, PRWD, Singles, 2675 hrs., 1586 Sep. hrs., #572387 ...........$21,900 JD 9550 2001, 2WD, Singles, 4976 hrs., 3145 Sep. hrs., #572170 .............$52,500 JD 9600 1995, 2WD, Singles, 4000 hrs., #568110 .....................................$28,900 JD 9560 STS 2004, 2WD, Duals, 4638 hrs., 2982 Sep. hrs., #567094.........$52,500 JD 9570 STS 2008, PRWD, Duals, 3464 hrs., 2237 Sep. hrs., #568406 ......$99,500 JD 9570 STS 2009, 2WD, Duals, 2367 hrs., 1597 Sep. hrs., #556547.......$104,900 JD 9570 STS 2009, 2WD, Duals, 2560 hrs., 1630 Sep. hrs., #571894.......$105,900 JD 9650W 2000, 2WD, Duals, 3680 hrs., 2665 Sep. hrs., #568122 ............$45,000 JD 9670 STS 2009, PRWD, Duals, 4140 hrs., 2980 Sep. hrs., #568814 ......$78,400 JD 9750 STS 2001, PRWD, Duals, 5100 hrs., 4800 Sep. hrs., #571375 ......$38,500 JD 9760 STS 2005, 2WD, Singles, 4300 hrs., 2575 Sep. hrs., #571176 ......$79,900 JD 9770 STS 2008, PRWD, Singles, 3480 hrs., 2448 Sep. hrs., #569958 ....$99,900 JD 9870 STS 2010, PRWD, Duals, 3558 hrs., 2425 Sep. hrs., #568308 ......$94,500 JD 9870 STS 2008, PRWD, Duals, 3385 hrs., 2494 Sep. hrs., #566621 ......$97,500 JD 9870 STS 2011, 2WD, Duals, 3809 hrs., 1747 Sep. hrs., #567383.......$109,900 JD S680 2012, 2WD, Duals, 2756 hrs., 2032 Sep. hrs., #552659..............$119,900 JD S680 2014, PRWD, Duals, 2700 hrs., 1950 Sep. hrs., #572388............$129,000 JD S680 2013, 2WD, Duals, 2186 hrs., 1720 Sep. hrs., #571079..............$146,500 JD S680 2013, PRWD, Duals, 2728 hrs., 2010 Sep. hrs., #563909............$160,000 JD S680 2014, PRWD, Duals, 2515 hrs., 1668 Sep. hrs., #531966............$195,000 JD S680 2017, PRWD, Duals, 2787 hrs., 1850 Sep. hrs., #572100............$197,900 JD S690 2017, PRWD, Duals, 2514 hrs., 1605 Sep. hrs., #568113............$239,000 JD S760 2021, 2WD, Duals, 539 hrs., 240 Sep. hrs., #572601..................$369,900 JD S760 2023, 2WD, Duals, 300 hrs., 180 Sep. hrs., #572365..................$499,900 JD S770 2018, PRWD, Duals, 2439 hrs., 1652 Sep. hrs., #549678............$259,900 JD S770 2022, PRWD, Floaters, 58 hrs., 20 Sep. hrs., #563704 ................$546,000 JD S770 2022, PRWD, Duals, 365 hrs., 148 Sep. hrs., #567222................$564,900 JD S770 2022, PRWD, Duals, 284 hrs., 91 Sep. hrs., #567225..................$574,900 JD S780 2018, PRWD, Duals, 2835 hrs., 1901 Sep. hrs., #567178............$234,900 JD S780 2018, PRWD, Duals, 1735 hrs., 1200 Sep. hrs., #571593............$283,500 JD S780 2018, 2WD, Duals, 1224 hrs., 826 Sep. hrs., #555412................$319,000
JD S780 2020, PRWD, Singles, 1640 hrs., 1204 Sep. hrs., #531610 .........$349,000 JD S780 2022, PRWD, Duals, 932 hrs., 750 Sep. hrs., #571615................$489,900 JD S780 2021, PRWD, Duals, 520 hrs., 300 Sep. hrs., #567515................$519,900 JD S780 2021, PRWD, Floaters, 720 hrs., 360 Sep. hrs., #567882 ............$524,900 JD S780 2022, PRWD, Duals, 896 hrs., 420 Sep. hrs., #569414................$529,000 JD S780 2022, PRWD, Singles, 693 hrs., 424 Sep. hrs., #571725 .............$533,000 JD S780 2022, PRWD, Duals, 530 hrs., 347 Sep. hrs., #563635................$549,000 JD S780 2022, PRWD, Floaters, 568 hrs., 323 Sep. hrs., #553546 ............$549,900 JD S780 2022, PRWD, Duals, 254 hrs., 183 Sep. hrs., #554094................$565,000 JD S780 2022, PRWD, Floaters, 432 hrs., 170 Sep. hrs., #554623 ............$569,000 JD S780 2022, PRWD, Duals, 433 hrs., 262 Sep. hrs., #568072................$569,900 JD S780 2022, PRWD, Duals, 316 hrs., 165 Sep. hrs., #567271................$585,000 JD S780 2023, PRWD, Duals, 275 hrs., #545327 .....................................$619,000 JD S780 2022, PRWD, Tracks, 300 hrs., 280 Sep. hrs., #561020 ...............$623,000 JD S780 2023, PRWD, Duals, 88 hrs., 30 Sep. hrs., #545523 ...................$629,900 JD S780 2023, PRWD, Tracks, 400 hrs., 300 Sep. hrs., #572364 ...............$656,000 JD S790 2019, PRWD, Duals, 2003 hrs., 1426 Sep. hrs., #532032............$299,000 JD S790 2018, PRWD, Duals, 1710 hrs., 1218 Sep. hrs., #549845............$309,000 JD S790 2018, PRWD, Duals, 1597 hrs., 1055 Sep. hrs., #549846............$329,000 JD S790 2021, PRWD, Duals, 1758 hrs., 1500 Sep. hrs., #572086............$364,900 JD S790 2021, PRWD, Singles, 1029 hrs., 770 Sep. hrs., #557277 ...........$479,000 JD S790 2020, PRWD, Floaters, 734 hrs., 485 Sep. hrs., #568213 ............$497,000 JD S790 2021, PRWD, Duals, 929 hrs., 551 Sep. hrs., #565421................$499,900 JD S790 2020, PRWD, Singles, 740 hrs., 425 Sep. hrs., #568212 .............$501,000 JD S790 2021, PRWD, Tracks, 1040 hrs., 530 Sep. hrs., #191075 .............$549,500 JD S790 2022, PRWD, Singles, 655 hrs., 438 Sep. hrs., #563815 .............$579,500 JD S790 2022, PRWD, Duals, 627 hrs., 316 Sep. hrs., #566694................$579,900 JD S790 2022, PRWD, Duals, 298 hrs., 155 Sep. hrs., #563325................$599,900 JD S790 2022, PRWD, Duals, 497 hrs., 368 Sep. hrs., #566460................$624,900 JD S790 2022, PRWD, Singles, 264 hrs., 90 Sep. hrs., #557140 ...............$629,900 JD S790 2023, PRWD, Duals, 178 hrs., 100 Sep. hrs., #545821.................$649500
Locations throughout minnesota & western wisconsin! CALL TODAY! (320)365-1653 SEE OUR COMPLETE INVENTORY WITH PICTURES AND DESCRIPTIONS AT: www.mmcjd.com
Page 22 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023
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Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023 • Page 23
Badgers top NAILE collegiate judging contest Roe, Konyn lead teammates as top individuals By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s collegiate dairy judging team celebrated a 36-point victory over the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities at the North American International Livestock Exposition’s Collegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest in Louisville. The team, coached by Brian Kelroy and Trent Olson, was led by the pairing of Natalie Roe and Kylie Konyn. Roe and Konyn placed rst and second in the contest, with a tying score of 708 points, broken by a greatest difference in points on reasons and placings scores. Gracie Krahn placed seventh, and Emma Dorshorst turned in a solid performance, missing the top 10 by one point and placing 11th. Roe and Konyn tied again in oral reasons, at 236 points. Roe placed second in the contest with Konyn placing third. Dorshorst added a sixth-place nish while Krahn placed tenth. Those solid performances led Wisconsin to a ninepoint win over Minnesota. The team topped the Ayrshire, Brown Swiss and Holstein breeds, while placing second in Guernseys and third in Jerseys. “Our team was really consistent throughout the day with our placings,” Roe said. “That consistency helped calm our nerves a little. We knew we’d either win together or bomb together.” Roe, a junior double majoring in dairy science and life sciences communications, topped the Holstein breed and placed fth in Brown Swiss and sixth in Guernseys. Waiting overnight for the ofcial placings and awards, presented the next morning, was a nerve-wracking experience for Roe and her teammates, she said. “As the day went on, I started feeling like it was one of the best contests I had had — and it turned out to be,” Roe said. “I felt like my reasons were some of the best sets I had given, and that was a good condence booster for me leaving the day.” Roe has been judging since her earliest days in 4-H. She credits her various coaches as fostering her love of judging. As she became more ingrained in the dairy project, Roe said, Bryan Voegeli became one of her greatest mentors. “The prospect of earning a spot on the team really kept me focused,” Roe said. “The UW-Madison dairy judging legacy is something I have always wanted to be a part of.” For Roe, judging is much more than evaluating groups of four cows and giving those reasons — it is about developing life skills. “Reasons might be challenging, but it is an important life skill to have,” Roe said. “It’s about learning to be decisive about what you might say in an interview or how you present yourself when you meet new people; it’s about having that condence to carry you through those situations.” Konyn is a junior majoring in dairy science and minoring in life science communications and ag business. She said her team’s performance at the NAILE contest
PHOTO SUBMITTED
The University of Wisconsin-Madison dairy judging team — coach Brian Kelroy (from leŌ), Kylie Konyn, Gracie Krahn, Natalie Roe, Emma Dorshorst and coach Trent Olson — pose with the awards they earned at the North American InternaƟonal Livestock ExposiƟon Collegiate Dairy CaƩle Judging Contest Nov. 5 in Louisville, Kentucky. The team scored a 36-point victory over the University of Minnesota-Twin CiƟes. has her excited for next year. Three of the four team members will return next fall. Konyn placed second in Ayrshires and Brown Swiss, third in Holsteins and 10th in Guernseys. Growing up on a dairy farm in southern California, Konyn’s opportunities for dairy judging were limited. Instead, she had to nd her own opportunities to develop her skills, competing as an individual. “I started judging when I was 10, relying on older youth that I met at different dairy events I went to (and) listening to Cal-Poly’s reasons at our state judging contest,” Konyn said. Konyn credits Holstein Association USA classier Willis Gunst for connecting her with coaches Kelroy and Olson, laying the foundation for her involvement in the judging team. “Judging became the way I met people at school,” Konyn said. “The skillset that judging requires — the vocabulary, thinking on your feet, being able to defend your thoughts and decisions — applies to so many areas of life.” Krahn, the team’s lone senior, is a life sciences communication major with plans of pursing a master’s degree in the same department. Growing up on her family’s Oregon dairy farm, Krahn became immersed in judging early in life. “Judging has always been held in high regard in our family — my parents were both members of the Oregon State University’s judging team, and my dad and grandfather both coached there as well,” Krahn said. “I’m grateful for the impact it has had on my life.” In the contest, Krahn placed seventh in both the Holstein and Jersey breeds. Krahn said the skills she has developed through judging will follow her throughout life. “Judging teaches young people to be decisive, to condently defend their decisions,” Krahn said. “It has rened my public speaking abilities, strengthened my network of industry professionals and allowed me to create long-lasting friendships.” Dorshorst is a junior majoring in dairy science, with hopes of being admit-
ted into the UW’s School of Veterinary Medicine. In the contest, she placed third in the Brown Swiss breed and seventh in Holsteins. For Dorshorst, having her sister competing in the youth division of the same contest, along with her dad serving as Wisconsin’s 4-H coach, made her team’s victory in the contest more special. “This is probably the last time my sister and I will judge in the same contest,” Dorshorst said. “And being able to talk the classes with my dad after the contest — I love talking classes with him. That is probably my favorite part of the day.” Dorshorst’s judging career began early, and she has developed an appreciation for the process of judging. “I remember going to judging practices with my dad, before he was even a coach, sitting on the sidelines, listening and watching,” Dorshorst said. “I love
the analytical part of judging. I love looking at cows and putting an analytical part to it.” As she has gained experience, Dorshorst said, she has learned how to keep her focus throughout the long contest days. “Focus on each class; take it one step at a time,” Dorshorst said. “When you’ve gotten to that eighth or ninth class, dig a little a deeper and nd that drive and strength.” She also advised, when it comes to taking notes throughout the contest, to be as complete and accurate as possible. “Sometimes I nd my notes for my fth reasons class might not have all the identiers written down,” Dorshorst said. “I have to remind myself that I don’t know what order I’ll be presenting my reasons in. It’s really important to have those precise notes to help you recall that class when the time comes.”
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Page 24 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023
+
DAIRY ST R
THE GREAT
2023 Grand Prize Drawing Will Be Held Wednesday, December 13, 2023 ADULT
THE WINNERS WILL BE POSTED ON WWW.DAIRYSTAR.COM, MILK BREAK NEWSLETTER AND ON FACEBOOK.
“GRAND” PRIZE
2) $500 CASH GIFTS! 17 & UNDER “GRAND” PRIZE
2) HEIFER CALVES!
PLUS: 11 DAYS OF
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FOR ADULTS LEADING UP TO GRAND PRIZE DRAWINGS
Gr Calf o and Prize “Grand” Prize Heifer Calf: Breye wned by the r fam ily co from T o wnlin mes Acres e Birna Holsteins mwo od, W in is.
TOWNLINEACRES ROSALIE-RED-P
Born: September 12, 2023
Sire: Aprilday Mcdonald-P-Red-ET Dam: MS Booth-Haven Risky-Red-ET VG-87 Derek Breyer is pictured with Townlineacres Rosalie-Red-P, the heifer calf that will be given away in the Great Christmas Giveaway drawing.
REGISTER FREE AT ANY OF THE PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023 • Page 25
REGISTER AT THESE PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES: WISCONSIN CALUMET COUNTY • D&D Equipment Chilton • 920-849-9304
CHIPPEWA COUNTY
• Chippewa Farm Service, LLC Chippewa Falls • 715-382-5400 • Chippewa Valley Dairy Supply Stanley • 715-644-2350
CLARK COUNTY
• Cloverdale Equipment Curtiss • 715-223-3361 • Premier Livestock Withee • 715-229-2500 • Silver Star Metals Withee • 715-229-4879
DODGE COUNTY
• Central Ag Supply Juneau • 920-386-2611
DUNN COUNTY
• Leedstone Menomonie • 866-467-4717 • MAC Contractors Menomonie • 715-232-8228 • Midwest Livestock Systems Menomonie • 715-235-5144
GRANT COUNTY
• Dickeyville Feed Dickeyville • 608-568-7982 • Fuller’s Milker Center, LLC Lancaster • 608-723-4634 • J. Gile Dairy Equipment Inc. Cuba City • 608-744-2661 • Premier Co-op Lancaster • 608-723-7023 • Scott Implement Platteville • 608-348-6565
GREEN COUNTY
• Lely Center Monroe Monroe • 888-927-4450 • Monroe WestfaliaSurge/Koehn, Inc. Monroe • 608-325-2772 • Top Notch Feed & Supply New Glarus • 608-527-3333
IOWA COUNTY
• Farmer’s Implement Store Mineral Point • 608-987-3331 • Premier Co-op Mineral Point • 608-987-3100
JACKSON COUNTY • W.H. Lien, Inc. Hixton • 715-963-4211
LAFAYETTE COUNTY
• Center Hill Veterinary Clinic Darlington • 608-776-4083 • Darlington Feed LLC Darlington • 608-776-3862
MANITOWOC COUNTY • EIS Implement Two Rivers • 920-684-0301
MARATHON COUNTY
• Brubacker Ag Equipment, LLC Edgar • 715-613-7308
MONROE COUNTY
• Preston Dairy Equipment Sparta • 608-269-3830
PEPIN COUNTY
• Anibas Silo & Repair Arkansaw • 715-285-5317
PIERCE COUNTY
• Ag Partners Ellsworth • 715-273-5066
POLK COUNTY
• Midwest Machinery Osceola • 715-220-4256
RICHLAND COUNTY
• Fuller’s Milker Center, LLC Richland Center • 608-647-4488 • Premier Co-op Richland Center • 608-647-6171
SAUK COUNTY
• Central Ag Supply Baraboo • 608-356-8384
VERNON COUNTY
• Koon Kreek Feeds Coon Valley • 608-452-3838 • Premier Co-op Westby • 608-634-3184
IOWA
ALLAMAKEE COUNTY • Waukon Veterinary Service Waukon • 563-534-7513
DUBUQUE COUNTY
• Brunkan Equipment Worthington • 563-855-2434 • CJ Beeps Equipment Farley • 563-744-5010 • Eastern Iowa Dairy Epworth • 563-876-3087 • Helle Farm Equipment Dyersville • 563-875-7154 • New Vienna Ag Automation New Vienna • 563-921-2896 • Rexco Equipment Farley • 563-744-3393 • Roeder Implement Dubuque • 563-557-1184 • Scherrmann’s Implement Dyersville • 563-875-2426 • Skip Breitbach Feeds Balltown • 563-552-2393 • Ungs Shopping Center (IAS) Luxemburg • 563-853-2455
HOWARD COUNTY
• Farmers Win Co-op Cresco West • 563-547-3660 • Windridge Implement Cresco • 563-547-3688
WINNESHIEK COUNTY
• Brynsaas Sales & Service Decorah • 563-382-4484 • Franzen Sales & Service Fort Atkinson • 563-534-2724 • Lang’s Dairy Service Decorah • 563-382-8722 • Windridge Implement Decorah • 563-382-3614
MINNESOTA DAKOTA COUNTY • Midwest Machinery
NorthÀeld • 507-645-4886 • Werner Implement Vermillion • 651-437-4435
HOUSTON COUNTY
• Caledonia Implement Company Caledonia • 507-725-3386 • Farmers Win Co-op Caledonia • 507-725-3306 Houston • 507-896-3147 • Hammell Equipment Eitzen • 507-495-3326 • Midwest Machinery Caledonia • 507-725-7000
GOODHUE COUNTY
• Ag Partners Farm Store Cannon Falls • 507-263-4651 Goodhue • 651-923-4496 Pine Island • 507-356-8313 • Central Livestock Zumbrota • 507-732-7305 • Midwest Livestock Systems, LLC Zumbrota • 507-732-4673 • Midwest Machinery Cannon Falls • 507-263-4238 Wanamingo • 507-824-2256 • Zumbrota Stockman’s Supply Zumbrota • 507-732-7860
WABASHA COUNTY
• Ag Partners Farm Store Plainview • 507-534-2531 • Beck Implement Elgin • 507-876-2122 • Leedstone Plainview • 800-548-2540 • Midwest Machinery Plainview • 507-534-3116 • Wingert Sales & Service Plainview • 507-534-2285
WINONA COUNTY
• Ag Partners Lewiston • 507-523-2188 • Ag Specialists St. Charles • 507-932-4800 • Elba Co-op Creamery Elba • 507-796-6571 • Kalmes Implement Altura • 507-796-6741 • Lang’s Dairy Equipment Lewiston • 507-452-5532 • Lewiston Rentals and Repairs Lewiston • 507-523-3564 • Midwest Machinery St. Charles • 507-932-4030
To view a complete list of participating businesses, log on to www.dairystar.com
*Enter as often as you like. One entry per store visit, please. Winners must be 18 years or older and a Grade A or B dairy farmer for adult prize, or 17 years or younger and a son or daughter of a Grade A or B dairy farmer for heifer calf. Winners must also live in the Dairy Star circulation area to be eligible and are responsible for transport of animal.
Page 26 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023
Wisconsin 4-H dominates NAILE youth contest Hebgen, Searls named top individuals By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Four young women representing Wisconsin 4-H took the North American International Livestock Exposition’s Youth Dairy Cattle Judging Contest by storm, winning the contest by a whopping 64-point margin over the second-place team from Ohio. The team was led by Ava Hebgen, of DeForest, Wisconsin, who topped the contest, followed by teammate Julia Searls, of Cobb, Wisconsin, who placed second overall. The team was rounded out by Ella Raatz, of Colby, Wisconsin and Sara Dorshorst, of Marsheld, Wisconsin. They were coached by Matt Dorshorst, of Marsheld, Wisconsin. “The classes were incredible, and we were on the money that day,” Sara Dorshorst said. “I felt so fortunate to be able to see the quality of cattle we saw
PHOTO COURTESY OF LAURA DANIELS
The Wisconsin 4-H dairy judging team — coach MaƩ Dorshorst (from leŌ), Julia Searls, Ava Hebgen, Sara Dorshorst and Ella Raatz — celebrates their wins as the top overall team and the top oral reasons team at the North American InternaƟonal Livestock ExposiƟon Youth Dairy CaƩle Judging Contest Nov. 5 in Louisville, Kentucky. that day. It was so incredible to see some really good colored breeds. We don’t always get to see all those breeds in central Wisconsin.” In the oral reasons portion of the contest, Searls claimed the individual title, while He-
bgen placed fourth. The group was the top-ranked team in oral reasons. As a team, the group of young evaluators topped the Ayrshire, Brown Swiss and Jersey breeds. They placed third in the Guernseys and
sixth in Holsteins. A sophomore at DeForest High School, Hebgen won the contest by 14 points, topping the Brown Swiss breed and placing second in Ayrshires, third in Guernseys and fourth in Jerseys.
“I felt like I saw the cows well, and I felt pretty condent about my placings and my reasons as the day went on,” Hebgen said. The contest at NAILE marked the end of Hebgen’s 4-H judging career, as she has won the state contest as an individual earlier this year and was a member of a winning team in 2022. “Even though I can’t compete in 4-H anymore, I want to continue working on developing my reasons and continue to work on my judging skills,” Hebgen said, adding that she will be able to compete on her FFA chapter’s judging team. “There is always something to improve, and I want to keep consistent on that.” Hebgen began her 4-H judging career at the age of 9 and said her interest in showing has kept her engaged in judging. “It is cool to me that you can go out and be a judge, make decisions and give reasons to defend your thoughts,” Hebgen said. “I idolize a lot of the people judging shows, and my dream is to judge on the colored shavings at World Dairy Expo someday.” Turn to NAILE | Page 27
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Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023 • Page 27
ConƟnued from NAILE | Page 26 Hebgen credits her coaches and past teammates for having pushed her to be the best she can be, and she looks forward to becoming that role model for other young judges. “My mom and Craig Carncross have been great coaches, and I have always looked up to other teammates, like Ashley and Sarah Hagenow, listening to them give reasons,” Hebgen said. “Judging can be emotional. It is hard if you don’t have a good day or screw up a set of reasons. It can be hard to stay motivated, but you just have to keep your focus.” A freshman majoring in animal science and food science at Kansas State University, Searls placed second in the Brown Swiss and Guernsey breeds, third in the Jerseys and sixth in Ayrshires. Searls has been attending judging practices in Iowa County with her mom before she was old enough to compete. “I have been fortunate to have great coaches — my mom and Ashley Yager,” Searls said. “They have been supportive of me along the way, listening to little 11-year-old Julia’s reasons behind the cows. They have helped me build the skills over the years.” Searls has one more year of 4-H eligibility, which she will utilize before competing with the Kansas State University judging team. “Dairy judging is competitive, and I enjoy that it is another way to use that competitive muscle,” Searls said. “There is so much you can take out of dairy judging beyond judging cows. It really builds decision-making skills and makes you work to become good under pressure. You get 12 minutes to put your thoughts together and make a decision about a class, and that can be a pressure situation.” Searls said defending her choices through oral reasons is the aspect of judging she most enjoys, and that made winning the oral reasons portion of the contest that much more meaningful. “I feel strongly about my placings; I did it that way for a reason,” Searls said. “I enjoy the opportunity to explain my reasoning to the judges and let them know my view on the class.” Overall, her rst experience judging in a national contest was one she enjoyed, Searls said. “You’re judging a national contest,
so nerves are high, but we all thought it was a fun contest,” Searls said. Raatz is a junior at Colby High School and placed third in the Ayrshire breed. She started judging early in her 4-H career but drifted away for a few years before becoming involved again through FFA and eventually re-engaging with the 4-H dairy judging program. “I enjoy getting to see so many different animals and learning what we’re looking for in a good dairy cow,” Raatz said. Raatz credits her mom with helping build her foundation in dairy cattle evaluation, and she credits the team’s coach with helping to dramatically improve her oral reasons since the state 4-H contest held in July. “I have learned how important it is to keep trying and to not give up,” Raatz said. “That is the best advice I could share with someone. Stick with it, no matter how tough some of it might seem.” Dorshorst , a freshman majoring in animal science on the pre-vet course at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, has been evaluating dairy cattle since before she can really remember. She will be using her nal year of 4-H judging eligibility in 2024 before moving on to earn a spot on her collegiate judging team. “My judging career really just started in the barn with my dad talking to me about our animals, discussing traits and asking me what I thought,” Dorshorst said. “I’m a very competitive person, and that is what draws me to judging. There was a time where I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue to compete. Competing with my siblings and my closest friends, that is the best activity you can do.” Like many others competing in national contests, Dorshorst said the reasons portion is what really sparks her passion. “I like giving my side of the story and how I saw the class,” she said. “You learn so many skills doing reasons. You learn how to be poised; if you make a mistake, you speak up for yourself and make the correction. Judging teaches you that it’s OK to have a bad day, but what matters is that you keep working to move forward; it teaches you a lot of good skills to have, going forward professionally.”
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Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023 • Page 29
women
IN DAIRY
Tell us about your farm and family. My husband, Eric, and I have two daughters, Rylie and Jordyn. The farm was purchased by my husband’s grandfather, Bernard Kaiser, in 1952. Bernard and his wife, Marie, farmed here until their retirement. My father-in-law, Pat, and mother-in-law, Annette, farm here, milking out of their 80-cow tiestall barn. In 2018, my husband, Michael, and his brother, Eric, built a robotic freestall barn on the farm with two DeLaval robotic milking systems. The robot barn is on the same property but operates separately as Kaiser Farms LLC. In the spring of 2018, shortly after the robot barn was built, I purchased my rst two registered Holstein heifers to grow my registered herd and show at local shows. The rest of the herd is comprised of grade Holsteins. I have worked off the farm my entire life, but in 2021, I went down to part time after having our second child. My role on the farm has changed from doing simple chores after work, such as scraping down and helping push fetch cows into the robot, to now taking care of our children so that everyone else can get the chores done. This spring, we added two robotic milking systems and now have approximately 150 milking cows in the robot barn, with a goal of 180 milking in 2024. What is a typical day like for you on the dairy? I work off the farm as a physician assistant. I am a primary care provider at a rural health clinic in Colby, Wisconsin. Three days per week, I serve as a medical professional performing preventative visits, management of chronic health conditions and acute problem visits. The other four days of the week I spend taking care of our two daughters. We are expecting our third child in February 2024. I also take care of registering the calves and purchased animals with Holstein Association USA. I manage the classication of those registered animals, including clipping before classication day. I make breeding decisions of A.I. sires for my registered animals, with help from my dad who loves dairy genetics. I also select animals to show at local shows such as the county fair, district show and state fair junior sh ow. What decision have you made in the last year that has beneted your farm?
Ashley Kaiser
Loyal, Wisconsin Clark County 33 cows
I have been in the processes of working with Holstein Association USA to incorporate TriStar Automated Milk Records into our registered herd to get milk production records, as we currently do not DHI test. This will benet our farm in the future, especially if we are looking at selling any of our registered herd or offspring. Tell us about your most memorable experience working on the farm. We were able to host my daughter’s 4K class this fall for a farm eld trip. It was very rewarding to see those young children learn about farming. We shared information about farm equipment, feeding the calves, heifers and cows, and milking with a robot, and we also enjoyed dairy snacks. What have you enjoyed most about dairy farming or your tie to the dairy industry? I enjoy being able to connect with patients in my medical ofce who farm or have ties to agriculture. I also love being able to raise my children on the farm so that they can grow up with a good work ethic and core values, be close to family and know where their food comes from. I enjoy being part of the Clark County Holstein Breeders Association as I was formerly a member of 4-H, FFA and the Clark County Junior Holstein Association. Classifying animals and showing my registered herd at local shows is always exciting, just to see how good of a job I am doing with my purchasing and breeding selection. What is your biggest accomplishment in your dairy career? Of my rst two original heifers purchased in 2018, one is now an EX-92 2E cow with a 93-point mammary system, and she is still milking great in our robot barn. What are things you do to promote your farm or the dairy industry? I am a board member of the Clark County Holstein Breeders Association. We plan and execute dairy promotion, fundraisers, scholarships and events around the county. Our farm has also sponsored awards at the Clark County Fair and district dairy shows. As already mentioned, we have also hosted a farm eld trip for the local elementary school to learn about farming and agriculture.
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Ashley Kaiser smiles with one of her original registered Holstein cows, MS Ziems Gold Chip Melonia EX-92 2E, at her family’s dairy farm in Loyal, Wisconsin. Kaiser began building her now-registered herd in 2018 within her family’s roboƟc dairy. What advice would you give another woman in the dairy industry? You do not have to be a full-time manual laborer on the farm to contribute to the success of the farm or agricultural community. Everyone has a role, no matter how big or how small, and one person’s role can change over time. What is a challenge in the dairy industry you have faced and how did you overcome it? It is a challenge to watch the markets and balance your prots and
expenses, especially at times when milk prices are low. Fortunately, I am able to also have a career off the farm that provides for our family nancially, to help balance some of the uctuations that come with the farming career. When you get a spare moment, what do you do? I love to spend time with my family — my husband and children. I also enjoy playing in several volleyball leagues, boating, hunting, going to concerts and traveling.
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Page 30 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023
www.extension.umn.edu/dairy
Breed progress drives improvement in dairy crossbreds
Dairy crossbreeding continues to tween Alpine cattle breeds (for example, gain popularity in the United States, Brown Swiss and Montbeliarde) and including the Upper Midwest. Exact U.S. Holsteins generally range from 2% numbers of crossbred animals are dif- to 7% with higher heterosis estimates cult to determine, but we can begin to generally occurring for tness traits. scratch the surface by looking at Dairy To illustrate this, let us compare rst Herd Information Association lactation 305-day milk production of Holsteins, Montbedata. Holsteins still represent liarde and F1 Montbeliarde x the bulk of animals that particiHolstein crosses. This data is pate in DHIA testing, approxifrom U.S. dairy herds that had mately 80%. This is followed Holsteins, Montbeliarde and by Jerseys at 12.3%. However, F1 crosses. Holsteins averaged crossbred animals now make 29,396 pounds, and Montbeup 6.5% of animals that particliarde averaged 26,827 pounds. ipate in DHIA testing, and this Without heterosis, we would proportion continues to grow year over year. It is important By Isaac Haagen expect the crosses to average University of 28,112 pounds of milk, which to recognize that many herds Minnesota is the average of the two parent do not participate in DHIA testing. In fact, less than 50% of herds breeds. However, the F1 crosses actually and cows are represented in national produced 29,532 pounds of milk, which DHIA testing. However, this does illus- is 1,421 pounds more than expected and trate that crossbred animals continue to represents 5% heterosis. While heterosis explains improved gain popularity on dairy operations. The benets of crossbreeding are performance of crossbred offspring well documented, especially related to compared to purebred parent breed avhealth and reproduction. These benets erages, it is the within-breed genetic are mainly attributed to heterosis, which progress that is the driving force behind refers to crossbred offspring performing improved performance across generabetter than expected when compared to tions of a well-managed crossbreeding their purebred parent average. Most es- program. This is why breed selection in timates of the heterosis for dairy cattle a crossbreeding program is important. It are around 5%, depending on the trait. is essential to choose breeds that have In fact, estimates of the heterosis be- high within-breed genetic gains.
Common breeds used in the United States, such as Holstein and Jersey, are making rapid progress. For instance, publicly available data from the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding suggests that over the last 10 years, Holsteins and Jerseys have made $746 and $409 of progress in net merit dollars, respectively. But what about European breeds that are often used in crossbreeding programs, such as Montbeliarde, Normande or Viking Red? The great news is that these breeds are making steady progress as well for important economic traits such as component yield, reproduction and health. In France, the home location of the Montbeliarde and Normande breeds, selection is based upon ISU, which is a selection index like NM$ or TPI. Every selection index differs by how much weight it puts on various traits, and ISU and NM$ are no different. For instance, ISU places more emphasis on udder health and carcass traits. Studies conducted in France suggest that the Mont-
beliarde breed is improving about 4.4% per year in the ISU index while Normande cattle are progressing at about 5% per year. Remember that any genetic program is a long-term goal. If you are choosing breeds that are making genetic progress, then you should expect your herd to continue to make progress across generations. If breeds and bulls are chosen carefully, you should not be concerned about giving up genetic progress when compared to a single breed of selection. Finally, all inputs and outputs should be compared when evaluating the performance of a crossbreeding program. Many of the economic advantages to crossbreeding come from decreased reproductive costs, lower health treatment cost and increased longevity. In conclusion, if the purebred breeds utilized in a crossbreeding program are steadily making genetic progress, you can expect this progress to be realized across generations of crossbred cattle.
Dana Adams, adam1744@umn.edu 320-204-2968
Les Hansen hanse009@umn.edu 612-624-2277
Brenda Miller nels4220@umn.edu 320-732-4435
Joe Armstrong armst225@umn.edu 612.624.3610
Brad Heins hein0106@umn.edu 320-589-1711
Erin Royster royster@umn.edu
Luciano Caixeta lcaixeta@umn.edu 612-625-3130
Nathan Hulinsky huli0013@umn.edu 320-203-6104
Gerard Cramer gcramer@umn.edu 612-625-8184
Karen Johnson ande9495@umn.edu 320-484-4334
Marcia Endres miendres@umn.edu 612-624-5391
Emily Krekelberg krek0033@umn.edu 507-280-2863
Joleen Hadrich jhadrich@umn.edu 612-626-5620
Claire LaCanne lacanne@umn.edu 507-332-6109
Isaac Salfer ijsalfer@umn.edu 320-296-1357 Jim Salfer salfe001@umn.edu 320-203-6093 Mike Schutz mschutz@umn.edu 612-624-1205 Melissa Wilson mlw@umn.edu 612-625-4276 Isaac Haagen hagge041@umn.edu 612-624-7455
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Blood, milk pregnancy diagnosis
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023 • Page 31
A recent conversation I had with quences or benets of a given decimy colleague, Brad Heins, revolved sion. That is the value of a veterinararound on-farm blood pregnancy test- ian. That is what makes you money ing. Brad has used on-farm kits for and makes you more efcient when pregnancy diagnosis, either a single you seek veterinary advice. If you see kit or the capability of up to 96 ani- your veterinarian as just an arm and mals at once. a pregnancy diagnosis tool, I could absolutely do I encourage you to talk to without the physical act of your veterinarian and engage pregnancy checking cows; it them in a conversation about is hard on your body and, afall the other things that they ter thousands and thousands can bring to your farm. of cows, it is boring. Blood A veterinarian could and milk pregnancy testing bring employee training, proare excellent technologies. I tocol development, developam happy that they are being ment of standard operating used by producers. By Joe Armstrong, procedures, problem-solving DVM skills on a weekly basis, reThese technologies have University of cord analysis, biosecurity been coming for a long time. Minnesota management, vaccine schedIt should not be a surprise ules and more. Hopefully, that farmers are looking for more exibility and to potentially cut you have a relationship with your vetcosts and still get the same informa- erinarian already and you have recogtion. The veterinary profession should nized some of those things. Let us get back to the issue at have been preparing for this moment when it comes to not pregnancy hand. We were talking about blood checking cows with an arm anymore. and milk pregnancy diagnosis. The However, there is still value in big thing we need to talk about is what manual or ultrasound pregnancy diag- you are not getting out of that test that nosis. Producers need to think about you might be getting from an ultrawhat information they are missing sound, especially early in pregnancy when they consider moving to a blood from a veterinarian. When I check an animal, especially when they are or milk pregnancy diagnosis. There are not a whole lot of peo- early in gestation at that 30- to 40-day ple who are trained the way a veteri- mark, even all the way up to 60 days, narian is and have the ability to com- I have a lot of information at my nment on your whole system, how it gertips (literally). When we are looking at blood operates, how all the moving pieces t together, and the potential conse-
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or milk, the test does not assess calf viability. With an ultrasound, I can answer the question, “Does that calf look viable? Does it have a heartbeat? Is there something wrong with the uid in the uterus or in the embryo itself?” I can tell you if she is likely to slough that calf or if it is going to be resorbed. I can give you that information with an ultrasound, and you cannot get that information from a blood or milk test. Something that happens frequently and probably more frequently than we would like to admit is that things are written down incorrectly and breeding dates are off. With the tests, you are not going to know the age of the calf. With an ultrasound, I can make sure the recorded breeding date is correct. One thing many people want to know ahead of time that I can give you with the ultrasound is the presence of twins or multiple calves. The test is going to tell if the cow is pregnant or not. The test is not going to tell you if there is one calf, two, three or more. Some farms manage cows (or especially heifers) having multiple calves differently and want to be prepared. If we check in the correct window (55- to 75-day-old fetus), I can give you the sex of the fetus. At this point, we are not able to do that with on-farm testing. That may change in the future, but right now, that is an ad-
vantage to the ultrasound. An ultrasound can evaluate the ovaries of the cow while the test cannot give you that information. Is the cow cystic? Is the cow cycling at all? Is there a big corpus luteum there? That is important when we are talking about syncing programs and where we start in that process. It is not something you can get from a blood or milk test. An ultrasound can evaluate uterine health and if the cow is likely to become pregnant. Adhesions, abscesses and pyometra are great examples of information you will get from an ultrasound that a blood or milk test will not give you. You can breed an animal with one of these problems repeatedly and the blood and milk test will just read open, while an ultrasound will tell you why she remains open. Hopefully, you get the sense that I value blood and milk pregnancy diagnosis tools. The technology is becoming more accessible and more affordable. I hope you also learned a little bit about the value of a veterinarian manually pregnancy checking with an ultrasound. Each farm is different and each situation is different. Likely, there are many farms where a combination of blood or milk pregnancy diagnosis and manual pregnancy checking are a perfect match. Talk with your veterinarian about the possibilities.
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Page 32 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023
Welcoming change
BELMONT, Wis. — From a at barn parlor to a tiestall barn and now a compost barn and swing-12 pit parlor, Dan Nodolf has farmed in a few different setups in his dairy career. He has also grown his land base and made changes to his cropping program and breeding philosophy. The changes keep coming, and Nodolf continues adapting. “There’s always a better way to do things,” Nodolf said. “I like the challenges and the way technology has changed.” Nodolf milks 120 cows near Belmont with the help of two hired hands, his 79- and 80-year-old parents, and relief help from his grown son, Shane. His partner, Joan, helps as well along with their two daughters, Kinzie and Torie, who help between school and sports. Nodolf built the compost barn and swing-12 pit parlor in 2012 in an effort to improve efciency. The compost pack is bedded with sawdust. There has been a learning curve on how to best manage the pack, Nodolf
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ment for the compost to continue to break down. “There’s an art to this that you’re always learning,” Nodolf said. “But it ts our big show cows, our little Jersey, our old cows and our heifers.” Somatic cell count is something Nodolf keeps a close eye on and is typically between 250,000-300,000 although he credits some of that to the older age of his cows. When he moved into the compost barn and parlor, he began feeding with a total mixed ration. A few years later, he built bunker silos to store corn silage and haylage. He uses bags for his hay and makes big squares of hay for calves. Crops are grown on 900 acres of owned and rented land. Nodolf said he is grateful to be on productive ground that typically yields up to 285 bushels to the acre of corn. He ABBY WIEDMEYER/DAIRY STAR Dan Nodolf and his father, Dave, take a break Nov. 7 at their farm near Belmont, has experimented with cover crops Wisconsin. The Nodolfs built a compost barn 12 years ago to enhance cow com- and rye in the past but now grows a longer-day variety of corn silage. This fort and labor efficiency. ensures that the ground has a crop on it for a longer period of time, Nordolf said. hard to provide adequate comfort to said, and allows more grace when Initially, he turned the pack every the cows. Ideally, the pack will have harvesting. milking with a six-row cultivator. He uneven ridges and allow the cows to “It’s just a couple less trips across discovered that it made the surface sink down a few inches, enough to get the eld,” Nodolf said. “I’m trying to too soft for the cows to comfortably good traction and to sink into while get more efcient with my labor.” walk on without sinking. Now, he lying down, but not so much that it is Changes in the breeding program only turns the pack once in a while. difcult to walk. are also a part of the goal to be more Nodolf said the type of sawdust The barn is cleaned out twice a efcient. Nodolf has been using about makes a difference in the manage- year and is emptied down to the last 50% beef semen when breeding in the ment of the pack and how often it 12 inches. Nodolf said it is important last few years. This results in a shortneeds to be turned. If it is not turned to leave compost remaining to proTurn to NODOLF | Page 33 soon enough, the pack will get too vide heat, traction and an environ-
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Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023 • Page 33
ConƟnued from NODOLF | Page 32
ABBY WIEDMEYER/DAIRY STAR
Cows relax on the bedded pack Nov. 2 at Dan Nodolf’s farm near Belmont, Wisconsin. The compost barn was built 12 years ago as part of a model of progress.
age of replacement heifers, a void he lls with purchased cows. He said he nds it easier to manage the herd with fewer fresh heifers coming in and has better control of calving times. “I have my pets that I like, and I have some that are a lot easier to get rid of,” Nodolf said. “If milk prices don’t warrant milking as many cows, then I just don’t buy as many.” This last year provided good prices for this business model, Nodolf said, because he could replace cows with only a $200 margin. Next on the horizon of changes for Nodolf is the addition of activity collars for the cows. A CowManager system was recently delivered and will be installed as soon as it can be arranged. Nodolf hopes to improve his breeding success and keep a closer eye on the cows’ rumination score. “There’s technology that excites me, and I have to make it practical,” Nodolf said. “There’s one thing to have technology and another for it to be useful.”
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I can remember sitting at the counter in Grandma market price in order to get Classy. Dad would have and Grandpa Kroning’s kitchen when I was a little pretty much done about anything to get Classy, probgirl, talking with my grandpa. Those days are some of ably including giving up his rst-born child (me), so my earliest memories, and, for certain, they are some he agreed. of my favorite memories. Cinnamon was 12 or 13 years old, 57 inches tall Grandpa and I would sit there and a three-quartered swing-bag. amid copies of the recent issues of She never walked anywhere. She alWisconsin Holstein News or Holways ran. She was bred and due that stein World, with a smattering of fall, so we thought maybe we would sale catalogs mixed in. And we’d get a heifer calf and then could ship talk cows. We would look though her. She did have a heifer calf, but those publications and talk about it turned out Cinnamon was not an the cows pictured in the ads and the easy cow to ship. She was like havcows selling in sales. That was the ing your crazy old aunt living with start of my dairy judging career and you — you just smiled at her antics. some of my rst lessons in breedPlus, Cinnamon knew how to put ing dairy cattle, talking about what milk in the bucket. We calved her in made certain cows good and what two more times. you could improve on other cows. That day we went to get Classy, By Danielle Nauman I remember sitting at that counGrandpa told Dad to have a seat at Staff Writer ter, talking about my cow Lass. Lass the counter. There he mandated that was given to me as a calf when I Classy could not leave unless we was 3. Lass lived at Grandpa Kronbought her worthless daughter too. ing’s farm and had aborted her rst calf at about six or Grandpa was not very happy about a cow like Classy seven months. She came into milk — kind of — and leaving the herd. Dad relented and Princess, a big, wouldn’t breed back. At the counter, Grandpa told me lumbering wood-ox of a 2-year-old, got on the trailer that Lass was going to go live at the veterinarian’s too. farm; he would try to get her bred. Princess went on to score EX-91 and made milk I waited and waited for Lass to come back, but records that won county production awards as an oldshe never did. I eventually realized — when I was in er cow — apparently she was just a late bloomer. I college — that she had probably been shipped. Imag- think that drove Grandpa crazy until the day he died. ine my surprise when, a few years ago, I was procrasMy mom knew we were bringing Classy home. tinating at another task and randomly searched her Just one cow. Princess was dry, so Dad told me to take name on the Holstein Association USA website, just her down around the barn and put her out in the pasto nd that she had indeed been transferred to the vet. ture. Surely Mom wouldn’t notice a ginormous speckCuriosity has always ruled my life, so I set out to led wood-ox out in the pasture, right? Cinnamon was track down the vet and sadly learned he passed away still milking, so Dad had to take her in the barn where about two months before my discovery. For the rest Mom had started milking. I can still remember hearof my life, I will wonder if he ever got Lass bred back ing my mom say, “What in the heck is that?” as I went and if she ever had any daughters for him. around the corner of the barn to hide Princess in the One year early in my 4-H career, we had not had pasture. It should be noted, this was not my rst exa single heifer calf born, so I had nothing to show that perience in trying to hide cows from my mom, and I year. Grandpa told me to bring my piggy bank when I admit I have done it in recent years as well. came to visit. At that counter, we struck a deal. GrandMy grandpa passed away in 1996 when I was 21. pa said I could go to the barn and pick out any calf I’m so glad that I was able to grow up with him in my to show, for whatever was in my piggy bank. I had life and to have the memories I do of him. I never see $43.06. (I’m guessing my parents might have supple- an orange tractor that I don’t smile – and shed a tear mented my piggy bank.) Grandpa and I went down to – thinking of Marclif-Ridge and that counter in the the barn, and I found a September calf named Marie kitchen. I can still hear Grandpa’s booming voice and Sue. cackling laugh. A few years later, my uncle had to leave the farm Grandpa Kroning taught me so many things sitfor health reasons and was selling some of the cows ting at that counter, about cows and about life in genhe owned. One of those cows was an EX-92 Roy- eral. I wouldn’t trade those days or those memories brook Tempo daughter named Classy. My dad really for anything, but I would do just about anything to wanted that cow and had tried a couple of other times have those days back — just shy of trading my rstto buy her. The day we brought Classy home, my un- born child. cle said we would have to take her grandmother for
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Feed efciency drives protabilityy Page 34 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023
As dairy farm prot margins tighten, it is critical to evaluate on-farm nutrition strategies to determine if any potential changes can improve the dairy’s cash ow. Feed efciency is an important economic measure used to evaluate the amount of milk produced per unit of feed. Utilizing energy-corrected milk will give credit to the milk component contribution. Protability must be considered alongside feed efciency. High feed efciency does not always equate to high protability. One dairy might have higher milk production than another, but that doesn’t mean that it is more protable. If that dairy is spending more money on feed to produce more milk, that will erode its protability. Likewise, higher feed ef-
ciency doesn’t guarantee higher milk production. A farm may maintain milk production at a consistent level, spend less on feed to do so, and thus be more protable. Long story short, a high feed efciency means little if a farm is not protable because of it. With that in mind, let’s explore some of the factors that can help improve feed efciency. Fresh cow performance Transition cows must maintain adequate dry matter intake through the prefresh period and freshen with minimal metabolic issues. This will not only improve productivity throughout the lactation but also result in improved feed efciency. Beware that fresh cow feed
Editorial disclaimer: The views expressed by our columnists are the opinions and thoughts of the author and do not reect the opinions and views of Dairy Star staff and ownership.
efciency that is too high could indicate excessive fat mobilization in early lactation. This can have longterm negative consequences.
Forage quality, corn processing Harvesting at the correct moisture and maturity is a critical component to making high-quality forages. Hybrid selection can be part of the solution to improved forage quality but needs to be balanced against input costs. High-quality forage allows the cow to maximize forage ber digestibility, resulting Something to Ruminate On in reduced grain fed, improved rumen health and reduced purchased feed costs. The result is greater feed efciency driven by higher DMI and improved milk production. Adequate kernel processing of corn silage and corn grain is also valuable to imBy Barry Visser proving starch digestNutritionist ibility and feed efciency. Having sufcient inventory carryover on wet corn sources, such as corn silage, will improve starch digestibility, resulting in less starch in the manure and improved efciency. Nutrition, grouping strategies Feeding cows to maximize rumen microbial protein will result in maximum efciency. To achieve the best microbial growth, the availability of carbohydrates and protein to the microbes should be matched using blends of rapidly and slowly degradable feeds. If too much protein is supplied without an available source of carbohydrates, the microbes will use the protein as a source of energy and waste the nitrogen in the protein. This may be indicative of higher milk urea nitrogen levels in the bulk tank. Cows will partition nutrients differently depending on their stage of lactation and gestation. The number of pens or groups is often dictated by facility and herd dynamics. If size permits, multiple lactating groups will allow for more precise targeting of nutrients and additives designed to improve feed efciency. Early lactation cows will respond protably to a higher-quality diet balanced for amino acids, higher levels of fat and fermentable carbohydrates. Latelactation cows can maintain their production while controlling body condition on a more basic diet with feedstuffs such as fermentable ber sources. Bunk management, refusals Maximizing DMI to increase milk production will improve feed efciency. One pound of additional dry matter can lead to a 2-pound increase in milk production. In some cases, the percentage of refusals may be reduced below 3%. Feed distribution, push-up frequency and overall bunk management need to be excellent to make this happen.
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Other management factors Cow comfort and heat abatement for both milk cows and dry cows will result in greater productivity and feed efciency. Aggressive and effective reproduction strategies will result in more cows at peak lactation (a timepoint of improved efciency). A strong heifer-rearing program to freshen rst-lactation cows at 85% of mature body weight will also help maximize feed efciency. Evaluate culling strategies to remove low-end producers with the poorest feed efciency. Work with your nutrition consultant to review feed efciency in your herd. Barry Visser is a nutritionist for Vita Plus.
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Lately I ponder how it would be If each child had come with a handbook It could be delivered after their birth I would surely take more than a quick look
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Ira’s book would warn of the trials of being 17 Able to work, drive and play football Attached to his phone more than I like Likes to remind me that he’s quite tall
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When he is frustrated, he will clam right up And I should be calm and not lose my cool Be patient and kind, being a teenager is tough Bite my tongue before I say something cruel
It would have a chapter on deer and tractors And it would warn me early on of his passions It would tell me to take great comfort For this boy is ignorant of most popular fashions The book about my dear 14-year-old Dane Would be colorful and thick Notes about his need to have something in his hands From yarn to work with, or magnets that form and stick A page or two about his temper that will are When sleep has run short and he’s overtired Sometimes this mom forgets to show compassion Sometimes this mom thinks she should be red
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It would have a chapter listed with bullet points He will need to know the plans for the day It is imperative to know for certain what’s scheduled From that list we must try not to stray Henry, an operator of equipment already at 10 His book would read of his love for tools, wheels and gears Tell me to be expecting much worry He will be driving big things in his young years It will note that he will be an angry door-slammer He harbors a stubborn streak and can be silent for hours But, on the ip side, his hugs are the best, given freely These are the things that hold magical mom-calming powers There will be pages on his uncanny drawing ability Sketching entire scenes from memory, just like he saw He is third in the lineup and will want to be Ira His looks favor Uncle Tony, personality favors his Pa The handbook on Cora will be owery and pink Written in large letters it will say: Be prepared, she is you, she is wild And she will wear ve dresses in one day She will possess the need to care for all creatures She will observe and ask questions, seeking to know This girl will surprise you with her ideas It will be amazing watching her mind grow She will be a bright spot, a whirlwind When she gets frustrated, oh, beware In a matter of mere seconds She will ip her lid without care I haven’t found these books yet in my reading stash I suppose I’ll continue to muddle my way through Winning, failing, trying to do better each day Telling myself to do the best I can do
Jacqui and her family milk 800 cows and farm 1,200 acres of crops in the northeastern corner of Vernon County, Wisconsin. Her children, Ira, Dane, Henry and Cora, help her on the farm while her husband, Keith, works on a grain farm. If she’s not in the barn, she’s probably in the kitchen, trailing after little ones or sharing her passion of reading with someone. Her life is best described as organized chaos, and if it wasn’t, she’d be bored.
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Call it what it is: Food security bill Page 36 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023
Name the item, the product or the government term for what it is so people understand. The perfect example is milk. Oh my, that isn’t so perfect. We have had the label washed out and debated. When I think we might be on the right path, I continue to see products that get me confused. Milk as a noun is an opaque white uid rich in fat and protein, secreted by female mammals for nourishment of their young. This is the denition of milk, and we should be able to eliminate the plant-based products from the market, forcing them to not use the word milk, right? Wrong. There is still oat milk, chia and ax milk, soymilk and hemp milk. Now I see a product that is named Not Milk, with a red cow with a black line crossing her out. It is a whole plant-based milk, shelf-stable, lactose-free, vegan and non-GMO. Flip the container around and what is in it? Water, sunower oil, contains less than 2% of pea protein, sugar, soluble corn ber, pineapple juice,
concentrate, dipotassium phosphate, calcium carbonate, gellan gum, acacia gum, salt, natural avor, cabbage juice concentrate, vitamin D2 and vitamin B12. We can all agree this is not milk, and that is labeled correctly. Product lines that have the label reading no antibiotics or no hormones added are clearly implying that the other similar products do have antibiotics and hormones added. I don’t know if that helped at all. It would be easier for everyone if things were named what they are. This is leading me to go into a conversation that is a hot topic right now, the farm bill. Yes, it is called the farm bill, but really only 18% of the bill is for farms. Depending on where you are getting your information, that percentage varies by 1% or 2%. Yes, that 18% is very important to all of us farmers because of the programs such as crop insurance, incentive-based conservation programs, income support programs such as Agriculture Risk Coverage, Price Loss Coverage, Dairy Margin
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Coverage and livestock disaster programs. The nutrition part of the farm bill is around 82%. Title IV of the farm bill provides nutrition assistance for low-income households through programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; Women, Infants, and Children; and the National School Lunch Program. These programs are in every community. Hunger doesn’t just go away. We need to recognize that it is beyond just young families. Hunger is in our senior communities and our homeless and sheltered individuals. It takes money and people to help and serve those in critical areas. Grants are awarded to nonprots with specialized staff to personally meet with and give assistance so that these people can get food, clothing and housing. This farm bill is $1.5 By Tina Hinchley trillion. It is not all for us farmers. I have to explain to Farmer & Columnist many people who visit our farm who wonder if all farmers are getting rich from the government payments. I explain why we need to have the ARC, PLC, DMC and the livestock disaster program when the climate is unpredictable. I explain the thin margins that all farmers deal with and how every year we gamble with our livelihoods. Who knows if we will make it from one year to the next? This is exactly why the farming industry is only 1% that takes this risk to feed the rest of the 99% of the population. The memory of the pandemic is still fresh in the minds of most visitors. We can candidly discuss the food shortages and the lack of milk, meat and even toilet paper. The past cannot be forgotten because there are many families that are unable to get all that they need. Families’ wages are not able to cover the added cost that ination has impacted on food, housing and medical costs, etc. Many people who are on assistance work full time but cannot make rent let alone pay for childcare and feed their families. This is not really a farm bill; it is a food security bill. It needs to be passed with added consideration to the citizens who will be impacted by the delays, including some who may be forced into homelessness this winter and the many waiting for help from their elected ofcials. The farm bill needs to be passed to secure our communities, feed the future of this country and also take care of those who have had better days — those who are facing difculties with nding and keeping a job due to illness, age or other hardships. All of these people are in the districts that are represented by our lawmakers in Washington, D.C. They are voters, and they are citizens of the United States of America. They are why the farm bill needs to be passed.
Tina Hinchley, her husband Duane and daughter Anna milk 240 registered Holsteins with robots. They also farm 2,300 acres of crops near Cambridge, Wisconsin. The Hinchleys have been hosting farm tours for over 25 years.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023 • Page 37
By Steve Frericks
Stearns County FSA executive director
Mother Nature has blessed us with a nice extended fall to get in as much fall cropping activity as possible. Reports coming into the ofce suggest yields are much better than expected for most producers, but not all. We await new farm bill actions, and this has delayed Farm Service Agency activities like Dairy Margin Coverage signups along with other program rollouts. If you are a livestock producer, reach out to your local FSA ofce to see what might be available for you. Most of the eastern half of Minnesota is eligible for livestock disaster programs. FSA staff await notication of Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program payment eligibility for those who applied and were approved. The FSA county committee elections began Nov. 6 when ballots were mailed to eligible voters. The deadline to return ballots to local FSA ofces or to be postmarked is Dec. 4. Below are a few options to consider if you are in an eligible area of the state that suffered drought-related conditions. As you take stock of your year-end nancials, remember that the FSA credit teams are a valuable asset if things did not work as expected or planned. Are you looking for options to start farming or a beginning farmer looking for assistance to begin a farm operation?
Are you a farmer planning to retire and looking for options to transfer the farm or an existing farmer having nancial difculties? It can be a challenge trying to determine where to start or how to learn about options. FSA may have a loan option to assist you. An excellent place to start is the FSA Farm Loan Discovery Tool. This can be found at farmers.gov. You can also contact your local FSA ofce to review the programs or discuss any questions that you may have. Change to policy on ling a notice of loss for grazed forage producers with NAP coverage For the 2023 crop year, Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program forage producers with the intended use of grazing who elect to use independent assessments or other approved alternative loss percentage methods to establish their loss are no longer required to le a CCC-576 Notice of Loss with FSA. However, a CCC-576 Application for Payment form must be submitted to FSA no later than 60 calendar days after the coverage period ends. If an independent assessment is used to determine the loss, producers have 180 days to le an application for payment. Producers who elect to have the grazing loss determined using similar mechanically harvested units still must timely le a CCC-576 Notice of Loss within 15 days of the disaster event or damage to the crop rst becomes appar-
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Disaster assistance for 2023 livestock forage losses Producers in many Minnesota counties are eligible to apply for 2023 Livestock Forage Disaster Program benets on pasture acres. Call your specic county ofce to verify if your county is eligible. LFP provides compensation if you suffer grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privatelyowned or cash-leased land or re on federally managed land. County committees can only accept LFP applications after notication is received by the national ofce of qualifying drought or if a federal agency prohibits producers from grazing normally permitted livestock on federally managed lands due to qualifying re. You must complete a CCC-853 and the required supporting documentation. For additional information about LFP, including eligible livestock and re criteria, contact your local U.S. Department of Agriculture Service Center or visit fsa.usda.gov. Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybee, and Farm-Raised Fish Program ELAP provides emergency assistance to eligible livestock, honeybee and farm-raised sh producers who have losses due to disease, adverse weather or other conditions, such as
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Second chance Page 38 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023
Some would call our recent turn of weather an Indian summer in November. I like to think of our warmer and drier weather as a second chance, kind of like a snooze alarm for winter. Unfortunately, we can’t keep hitting the snooze until we feel we are ready to start the new day or the new season. We were facing a philosophical dilemma as October came to a sudden close with frigid temperatures and our rst inch of snowfall. We weren’t ready for fall to end. We still had cornstalks to chop and bale as well as other fall eldwork. I had neglected yard projects which had to be done before the ground was frozen solid. We needed a second chance at fall to get everything done, but things weren’t looking very promising. ★
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We were down to our last bales of cornstalk bedding. The looming question was if we should bale right behind the combine as it took out the last acres of corn. The standing stalks would be drier than the ones already combined and covered with snow, but they would still be considered wet. Should we wait and hope the weather in November would give us a second chance? With over 50 fall harvest seasons under his belt, Mark was hesitant to wait. He knew November weather could be cloudy, damp and ckle. Winter could be here to stay. There didn’t seem to be much wiggle room to hedge our bets of getting up dry bedding. Austin, on the other hand, is in the early years of his fall seasons. With little experience on which to
base his decision, he looked at the extended forecast calling for a stretch of above-average temperatures in mid-November. He trusted the science to give us a second chance at baling dry bales despite the current weather conditions. I guess the real ques- Just Thinking Out Loud tion is who do you trust — your past experiences or a weather forecaster? We compromised and baled a portion of the stalks we needed and hoped for the forecast to give us a second chance to nish the job of baling dry stalks. Paul Huttner wrote that Minnesota has reBy Natalie Schmitt corded a string of six Columnist straight warmer than average months starting in May of this year. He thinks we may make seven. Huttner said the upper air patterns strongly favor a run of unseasonably mild days with highs in the 50s and 60s, which is 10-20 degrees warmer than average. Even though we closed out October with an earlier than average rst inch of snowfall, a second chance looked possible. Clouds hung over our area for the rst week of November as temperatures kept us chilled. We had put blankets on the new calves because we were only hitting highs in the 30s. Things were not drying out, and patience was wearing thin. Then the clouds blew out of the area, the sun appeared, and the blankets were removed. We were getting our second chance. The forecasters were right.
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Things were not drying out, and patience was wearing thin. Then the clouds blew out of the area, the sun appeared, and the blankets were removed. We were getting our second chance. We have been scrambling to nish up our projects with the second chance of fall weather. All the elds have been chopped. Stalks are raked and ready for the baler to nish baling dry bedding for the coming year. A young friend has staked out a portion of my garden to create a ower garden with spring bulbs. I’m planting the extra bulbs throughout my ower beds. I just hope the squirrels are satised with the dropped ears of corn at the edge of the elds for their winter snacks instead of searching for the buried bulbs. I still need to dig up dahlia bulbs and carrots from the garden as I start to tuck in my plants for the winter. There are other projects on my list (washing windows, cleaning out storage sheds and garages) which may have to wait until next year, unless we get to hit the snooze button again and have a third chance at a late fall season. As their four children pursue dairy careers off the family farm, Natalie and Mark are starting a new adventure of milking registered Holsteins just because they like good cows on their farm north of Rice, Minnesota.
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Full-spectrum fall We have experienced the full spectrum of fall weather so far this season: rain, snow, wind, clouds, and sun. Our cool, sunny, lovely fall turned cold and winter-like just in time for Halloween. We closed the pasture gate and brought the cows inside, for what I
Dairy Good Life
By Sadie Frericks Columnist thought would be the remainder of the year. Then, like the ip of a coin, the weather switched back to something September-like. So, we turned the cows back out to pasture. We did decide to keep the tiestall group separate from the sand barn group by sending each group to its own paddock. It took us almost as long as the cows had been inside to ne tune the groups; undoing all of that sorting would have been pointless. We have also experienced a full spectrum of emotions this fall, often wavering between sorrow and joy as fast as the temperature rose and fell: Resigned, which I always feel when the pasture gate is closed for the year. Sorrow, as we mourned the passing of a dear family friend. Nancy was a true fairy godmother, lled with magic and energy. She made everyone feel welcome, loved, and cared for as she hemmed, altered, and transformed everything from business suits to princess dresses to musical costumes. Hope, which came with the addition of a couple young people to our team. After Dan, Monika, and Daphne went back to school, we were more than a little shorthanded for a while, and it felt like we were falling a little more behind each day. The young women and men who joined us are wonderful to work with, and we are catching up on all of our should-do and could-do tasks. Utter disappointment, when Shine, one of our favorite cows of all time, delivered a set of stillborn twin heifer calves to start her ninth lactation. We were really looking forward to another heifer calf from Shine. Thankfully, she cleaned right away and her transition is going well. Heart-pounding excitement, with Dan’s rst successful white-tailed deer hunting season. The well-grown, 9- or 10-point buck — depending upon whether you count the nubbin on his antlers as a point — showed up less than 20 yards from Dan’s stand. He said it felt like his heart was trying to break out of his chest while he waited for the buck to turn. One shot stocked our freezer with venison for the coming year.
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Sadness and disappointment, again, as we said goodbye to Justice, the young Jersey cow who helped Daphne earn reserve champion junior showman at our county fair last summer. Justice, or perhaps a neighboring cow, stepped on her teat and she developed mastitis in that quarter. We’ve learned the hard way that it is difcult to cure mastitis in a quarter with a badly damaged teat end. Happiness, with each showing of the musical that Monika performed in. Our high school has a fantastic theater department, and each fall they ll the auditorium for ve performances over ve days. This year’s show was “Matilda the Musical,” and it was both heartwarming and laugh-out-loud funny. I loved watching Monika’s energy as she sang and danced across the stage. Panic, fear, worry, and relief: Norbert, Daphne’s beloved black-and-white cat, is truly the most personable cat I’ve ever known. Daphne might claim him, but we all love him. Norbert lives in our house and sleeps at my feet, but he also enjoys hunting in the grove and hay shed. He was hit by a car last weekend while out hunting. When I rst found him, his breathing sounded so horrible that I wasn’t sure he was going to make it. He stabilized, though, and it turned out he sustained only some broken ribs and a bruised lung. After a couple days of lying around and not eating, Norbert is now acting more like himself. It seems cats truly do have nine lives. Joy, from seeing the cows on pasture again. These bonus grazing days are gifts. Dismay, with the loss of another great cow. Steam was one of the highestranked cows in our herd and had several purple ribbons to her name as well, with our nephew on the halter. She developed a case of coliform mastitis, and the endotoxin load was just too much for her body. It was a solemn reminder that, despite all of the remedies that have worked in the past — and our darnedest efforts — we can’t save them all. Surprise and delight, when Jon from Boehringer-Ingelheim stopped in to introduce himself as the territory manager for our area. This was the rst time in 16 years of farming here that a representative from an animal health company has visited our farm. I fully understand why most companies who serve dairies often focus on farms much larger than ours, so it was especially nice for our small farm to be acknowledged by Jon. We had an enjoyable conversation, and, even better, Jon brought cinnamon rolls — just in time for Glen’s birthday. It’s good to know that B-I has great people behind their products. Gratitude, most of all, because, through the many ups and downs that come our way, we have a beautiful family, a beautiful farm, and beautiful cows. We’re lucky to be doing what we love. Sadie and her husband, Glen, milk 100 cows near Melrose, Minnesota. They have three children – Dan, Monika, and Daphne. Sadie also writes a blog at www. dairygoodlife.com. She can be reached at sadiefrericks@gmail.com
Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023 • Page 39
Call 320-352-6303 to place your classied or mail to: Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378.
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Page 40 • Dairy Star • Saturday, November 25, 2023
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