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A path to virus elimination
USDA implements National Milk Testing Strategy
By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
In a continued effort to battle highly pathogenic avian inuenza H5N1 in U.S. dairy herds, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a new federal order Dec. 6 — the National Milk Testing Strategy — that will grow surveillance efforts in an attempt to eradicate the virus.
As of Dec. 18, a total of 865 dairies in 16 states have had conrmed cases of H5N1 B3.13 strain of HPAI that has been affecting U.S. dairy farms since March. Nevada became the 16th state to conrm a case Dec. 6. California continues to experience the highest level of infection with 649 affected dairy farms, 313 of which have been conrmed in the past 30 days. A new case of H5N1 was reported in Texas Dec. 13, bringing the state’s total caseload to 27 dairies since March.
In a webinar Dec. 10 aimed at educating producers about the recently released federal order, Dr. Julie Gauthier, executive director of veterinary services eld operations at USDA’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, explained the NMTS.
“It is a very efcient way to screen a large number of herds using infrastructure that is already out there, with samplers collecting on a regular basis,” Gauthier said. “This will give us a quick snapshot of large numbers of herds, by focusing on milk at the processing facility. The test is extremely sensitive — we can identify a single infected cow contributing milk to a silo that might contain the milk of over 70,000 cows.”
Using the NMTS, the USDA will work with state regulatory agencies to collect samples in the 48 contiguous states.
“(They) are already sampling Grade A milk on a regular basis — at least four times every six months,”
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From cows to cafeterias
Ten Finns Creamery supplies milk to schools
By Sarah Middendorf sarah.m@star-pub.com
MENAHGA, Minn. — After an unplanned conversation and some hard work, Joel and Amanda Hendrickson have their Ten Finns Creamery milk on the menu at 10 local schools for the 2024-2025 school year.
“When you walk through the school you will notice that you see a lot of Ten Finns hoodies,” said Jay Kjos, Menahga Public Schools superintendent. “There is a lot of pride in the local people doing well.”
The Hendricksons milk around 145 cows and farm 440 acres with the help of their 13 children. They also own and operate an on-farm creamery — Ten Finns Creamery — where they process milk from the herd and bottle it in halfgallon and 8-ounce cartons. Hendrickson said 30%-35% of their milk goes to schools and grocery stores.
Turn to TEN FINNS | Page 2
An early Christmas Surprise
Emily Breth emily.b@star-pub.com
SHERRILL, Iowa — On Christmas Day, Olmar Rocket Surprise will turn 3-months-old at her new home with 3-year-old Gracie Dupont, the youngest of three kids. Gracie is the winner of this year’s Dairy Star’s Great Christmas Giveaway.
“She’s excited,” said Josh Dupont who is Gracie’s dad. “She is only 3 though, so she doesn’t exactly understand everything that is going on.”
Surprise’s dam is Olmar Helix Sansi, who comes from a line of Excellent and Very Good dams going back 11 generations. Surprise is sired by Terra-Linda Rocket-ET.
Gracie is the daughter of Josh and Ashley, who farm with Josh’s parents, Mark and Cathy. Mark was the one who registered all the kids — Brayden, Bryce and Gracie — for the heifer giveaway.
to CALF GIVEAWAY | Page 7
PHOTO BY MARK KLAPHAKE
Amanda and Joel Hendrickson hold cartons of milk Dec. 9 at Ten Finns Creamery near Menahga, Minnesota. Joel Hendrickson said 30%-35% of their milk goes to schools and stores.
DAN WACKER/DAIRY STAR
Gracie and Josh Dupont stand Dec. 18 near the calf Gracie won in the Dairy Star’s Great Christmas Giveaway on their farm near Sherrill, Iowa. The Duponts milk 150 cows.
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Before the Hendricksons started selling milk to Menahga Public Schools, Hendrickson had a conversation with Kjos at a volleyball game.
Hendrickson asked Kjos if he had tried their milk. Kjos said he could not drink milk. Hendrickson told him he might have better success with their milk because it is A2 for beta-casein and does not contain the A1 protein that some report having issues digesting. Ultimately Kjos tried the Ten Finns Creamery product and found that he could drink the milk.
“He was sold right away,” Hendrickson said. “Once people learn about
the whole A2 protein, that’s been a big seller.”
The rst step to getting Ten Finns Creamery milk in the school was to win the bid. The Hendricksons submitted their per-carton prices for each avor, then waited for staff to review the bid and submit it to the school board, which chooses the vendor.
To educate other superintendents about the A2 milk, Kjos invited Hendrickson to give a presentation about his products during an area conference for superintendents at the Menahga Public Schools.
“(Jay’s) been a huge help,” Hen-
drickson said.
The conference was held again this year. This time, Kjos brought all the superintendents to the farm for a tour of the facility.
Kjos has built a relationship with the Hendricksons through this venture.
“(Joel’s) been really good as he’s getting his business going,” Kjos said. “We worked out any of (the issues in) the processes because we have a good relationship. He has just been really (available).”
PHOTO BY MARK KLAPHAKE
Cayden Honga (from le�), Levi Davidson, Jay Kjos, Autumn Schmidt and Tate Makela sit together Dec. 9 in the cafeteria at Menahga Public Schools in Menahga, Minnesota. Ten Finns Creamery is distribu�ng milk to 10 different schools.
additional stories from our other zone, log on to www.dairystar.com
Heather Fuller
Hunter Kussmaul
Louie Freise
Bart Fuller
Tara Harper
Halayna Thousand
Jake Bradley Mike Thousand
Don Wallenhorst
Todd Mieden
Trevor Veech
Derek Van Wyk
Jim Houghton Tim Hickie
Mark Bahl
Pat Oyen
Delton Horst
Jason Zach Jodi Ames
Shawn Kirchhoff
Tonia Rackow
McKenzie Hromadka
Doug Garavalia
Michael Clay
Andy Mieden
Sean Nitka
Menahga was the rst school customer for Ten Finns Creamery, a relationship that began with the 2023-2024 school year. The Hendricksons have grown that number to 10 schools this year.
There have been learning curves along the way. Before the 2023-2024 school year, Hendrickson ew to Las Vegas to investigate a carton machine for 8-ounce cartons.
The machine was delivered right before school started, so the Hendricksons had little time to get the kinks worked out. Keith Hendrickson, owner of Dairyland Equipment of Menahga Inc., who is a friend and relative, helped them get everything running.
“He didn’t know this machine, but he’s learned it with me,” Hendrickson said. “I was ready to bring them half gallons of milk for the rst few days (if the vending option didn’t work).”
Ultimately, they found success. But with growth has come new challenges.
“This year, now that we are doing so much, there’s a bunch of learning again,” Hendrickson said. “I’ve lived off the least amount of sleep this fall ever.”
The machine has two lines and can ll about 9,400 cartons an hour, so in 3-4 hours they can ll 25,000 cartons, Hendrickson said. They are lling 40,000-50,000 cartons a week, a task that takes 8-10 hours. The creamery lls cartons for orders on Tuesdays and
Fridays or Saturdays.
Schools have the option of white, strawberry and chocolate milk. Roughly 70% of the milk going to schools is chocolate, Hendrickson said. All schools order white and chocolate. A small number of schools order strawberry milk as the creamery started producing this variety several weeks ago.
Monday through Thursday are delivery days, with each school visited twice per week. The creamery has one delivery truck that is used to bring the milk to the schools and grocery stores. Ten Finns Creamery milk has a 16-day shelf life.
Filling thousands of cartons per week requires teamwork for the Hendricksons. From milking and feeding to bottling and delivering, there are many hands in the process. Their oldest son, Zach, has learned the ropes of the creamery and can carton milk with little assistance. Jenna Pinoniemi, their niece, does all of the deliveries with help from some of Joel and Amanda’s daughters. Their daughters also help transfer cartons from the lling line to the crates and then to the cooler.
“It’s an interesting story to say the least,” Kjos said. “It’s also a story of determination, grit and success, and what better way to motivate my peers? I am proud of Joel and Amanda and what they have done out there and that (they are) part of our community.”
Merry
PHOTO BY MARK KLAPHAKE
Zach Hendrickson loads half gallon cartons into a machine Dec. 9 at Ten Finns Creamery near Menahga, Minnesota. Ten Finns Creamery lls 40,000-50,000 cartons a week.
PHOTO BY MARK KLAPHAKE
Lucy Hendrickson grabs half gallon cartons off the machine before placing them in crates Dec. 9 at Ten Finns Creamery near Menahga, Minnesota. Ten Finns Creamery’s milk has a 16-day shelf life.
Gauthier said. “We are asking them to collect additional samples at the time they are making visits to each plant.”
Processing facilities of any size that receive raw, Grade A cows’ milk intended for pasteurization will be the focus of the NMTS sampling efforts. According to Gauthier, plants that manufacture raw milk cheese and other raw milk products will not be sampled.
“Focusing on Grade A milk intended for pasteurization gives us the vast majority of dairy herds in the country,” Gauthier said. “This is an effort to identify and control an animal health problem, not a food safety issue. We are not screening milk for the purpose of safety.”
Samples collected by state dairy regulatory collectors will be identied only by bulk tank units before being submitted for testing at National Veterinary Services Laboratories. NVSL will analyze milk samples by polymerase chain reaction for the presence of Inuenza A virus genetic material and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, looking for the presence of antibodies.
Scientists will be able to conduct genome sequencing on detected virus genetic material, allowing them to compare it to previously identied strains.
“We’ll be able to match that up with viruses detected in herds in other states, or know if it’s something new,” Gauthier said. “Antibodies present will give us additional data, that while not actionable, will give us an overall picture across the country of the level of disease.”
Testing results will be delivered to state animal health ofcials associated with the BTU numbers contained in the silo. They will work with their state’s dairy regulatory agencies to identify herds included in a positive silo.
The NMTS is broken down into ve stages, the rst of which is silo monitoring, which will lead to stages two and three — determining a state’s status and the detection and response to the virus in affected states.
“We’ll reach stage four when we have done enough testing for states to be considered unaffected,” Gauthier said. “Once we get all the states to stage four unaffected status, we’ll continue to conduct testing for a period of time — at least 90 days — to demonstrate that the entire country is free of infection, which is stage ve.”
The goal of achieving virus elimination in the U.S. dairy herd is both achievable and necessary, according to Dr. Keith Poulsen, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.
“We certainly can get to be virus free,” Poulsen said. “Our trading partners may not be saying things out loud, but they have shown interest in making
sure this disease is not in products they import.”
Although Wisconsin has had no virus detected or reported in dairy herds, Poulsen is eager to begin surveillance for the virus using the NMTS.
“There is a lot we don’t know because the inability to do effective surveillance nine months ago has hampered the response,” Poulsen said. “Talking to dairy owners and veterinarians in the Texas panhandle area, Idaho, Colorado and California — they really want to do surveillance and eliminate the virus. They saw how damaging it really was and they want to make sure they have a farm to get to the next generation.”
The NMTS allows for exibility in its administration on a state-by-state basis, Poulsen said.
“We can’t use what we use for HPAI for this H5N1 in dairy cattle — the poultry and swine industries are much more consolidated,” Poulsen said. “Our industry is so decentralized, and each state’s industry is just a little different — with 27,000 farms, a onesize-ts-all approach doesn’t work. There is no codied or statutory regulation for H5N1 in dairy cattle, either.”
That exibility will allow for states to learn from the experiences of others.
“Some states are already doing this,” Poulson said. “We can learn from those and move it to other high-producing dairy states and eventually everywhere. The goal is to declare virus elimination and disease freedom for the World Organisation for Animal Health. That is the important one, especially for trade reasons.”
Poulsen said ramping up surveillance efforts will potentially lead to an increased number of conrmed cases. State animal health ofcials in Wisconsin are preparing for that possibility.
Biosecurity will remain paramount for producers, Poulsen said.
“Creating a line of separation, keeping unnecessary trafc off the farm and knowing who is coming and going from the farm, using boot covers or boots that can be and are sanitized when people move from the dirty side of the farm at the road to inside the farm, along with clean clothes and washing hands — those basic biosecurity practices are vital,” Poulsen said.
Poulsen said one of the biggest concerns he has heard from farmers in states that have not seen the virus yet is the worry of losing milk markets because of a conrmed positive.
“Everyone should still be able to market milk — not one single farm has ever not been able to market their milk,” Poulsen said. “Pasteurization kills the virus. That is a key point we can’t repeat enough.”
The family’s barn is currently lled with Holsteins, so Surprise will t right in. The Duponts milk 150 cows in a double-8 parlor.
Gracie’s parents both have off-thefarm jobs, but Josh works on the farm every morning and night. The family lives off the farm, but Dupont hopes to get his family more involved once they move onto the dairy.
“In the next ve years I’m guessing (we will be on the farm),” Dupont said. “I always enjoyed it when I was younger. It is always something different every day, always a challenge.”
The oldest Dupont children help with calf chores and milking when they are at the farm. Gracie also comes out to the farm.
“(Gracie) likes the calves,” Dupont said. “She doesn’t like to be in the parlor too much yet. She likes to be around the calves, cats and the dog.”
When the Dupont children found out Gracie had won the calf, they were all eager to meet the newest addition to the farm. Surprise was welcomed to the dairy Dec. 17.
“They (were) excited to see it,” Dupont said. “Brayden (was) probably the most excited.”
Surprise was introduced to the family and settled into her new home with the calves similar to her age in group housing. She will stay with this group until they reach 4-5 months old, and then she will join a group of 25-30 heifers.
The family is considering showing cattle in the future as the kids start to express interest. Jill Nelson, who bred and raised Surprise at her dairy, Olmar Farms near Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, said Surprise should be a productive cow in the herd and check the boxes as a show animal.
The adult cash prize of the Dairy Star’s Great Christmas Giveaway has also found a winner. Brittany Hellermann of Melrose, Minnesota, never had a lot of luck when it came to winning drawings. However, Hellermann’s luck changed this December when she was announced as the winner of the cash prize.
“I’m usually not very lucky,” Hellermann said. “My husband usually has the horseshoe.”
Hellermann registered for the drawing at Leedstone in Melrose after running some errands with her husband, Tony.
“The day I registered, my husband brought our old Christmas tree to (CURA of Melrose) for me to decorate for the residents to enjoy,” Hellermann said. “I went with him on my break … and while he was checking out, I saw the sign-up box and thought, ‘Why not?’”
Hellermann works full time at the care center but makes time to help out at the farm when she is not at work. Her role is to help with milking and chores. In the summer, she will also haul bales if extra help is needed.
On the farm, the Hellermanns can be found with their daughter, Madison Ainali, and Hellermann’s in-laws, Donnie and Debbie. Together the family milks 65 cows in a tiestall barn.
“Many family members come to help out with various tasks throughout the year,” Hellermann said. “(We) couldn’t do it without them. It is denitely a family affair.”
Hellermann said she is thankful that she won. She is not sure what she will do with the prize money yet.
“(I’m going to) take all ve of us out to eat one night for starters,” Hellerman said. “I wasn’t expecting to win.”
DAIRY ST R
Robots replace expansion
Reuters add technology to gather data, increase efciency
By Amy Kyllo amy.k@star-pub.com
HASTINGS, Minn. — With their back to critical habitat and surrounded by about 100 houses in a mile radius, the Reuters knew that expanding their dairy farm was not an option.
“You’re not building a big dairy in the middle of all that,” Dennis Reuter said. “Most of our neighbors we get along with. If we doubled or tripled the herd size, that would change drastically.”
Carl and Dennis Reuter own a 120-cow dairy farm with 650 acres of crops near Hastings. They farm with the assistance of Dennis’ son, Phil, who is the herdsman.
“We can’t really grow in size, so you have to make that up in efciency and production,” Phil said.
Much has changed since Carl and Dennis began dairy farming in 1977 and 1981, respectively. When they joined the farm there were 25 cows milked in a stanchion barn. Today the Reuters milk their herd with two Lely Astronaut A5 robotic milking units that they started using May 4, 2021.
Phil’s return to the dairy in 2017 spurred the Reuters towards robots. Phil was interested in data collection in the parlor such as cattle ID, milk weights and more.
However, when the Reuters priced adding this into their double-6 parallel parlor built in 1999, they found the cost prohibitive.
“‘You’re nuts,’ I said (to the salesmen), ‘If you think I’m going to spend $100,000 on this stuff and still have to milk the cows,’” Dennis said. “I might as well put that $100,000 into robots, I’ll get way more information, and I won’t have to milk them.”
With cows leaking milk in their stalls, Phil also wanted to milk three times a day, but Dennis discouraged this because of labor. Dennis said their farm is too small to support full-time workers and occasional help is unreliable.
The Reuters had been intrigued by robots since the late 2000s, when Dennis went to an open house for robotic milking units and came back excited.
“It’s like, ‘This is way cool,’” Dennis said. “‘This will work someday.’ But then the parlor was in good shape and we were younger.”
The rst robotic equipment arrived on their farm in 2012 in the shape of a Lely Juno automatic feed pusher. Previously, Dennis had pushed up feed at midnight or 2 a.m. The second robotic equipment was a Lely Discovery mobile barn cleaner which scrapes their slatted freestall barn oor hourly.
When it came to milking with robots, the K-formation entry and exit on past models of Lely robotic milking units had prohibited installation in their space. However, when the Lely Astronaut A5 came out with a straight entry and exit the Reuters could move forward.
On Black Friday 2020, the Reuters signed contracts to put in robotic milking units, and in February 2021, crews began retrotting two robotic milking units into their hospital space between the old stanchion barn and the freestall barn.
AMY KYLLO/DAIRY STAR
Phil (le ) and Dennis Reuter pause Nov. 26 on their dairy farm near Has ngs, Minnesota. The Reuters milk 120 cows with two Lely Astronaut A5 robo c milking units. Not pictured is Carl Reuter.
To prepare for a startup in May, the Reuters sent their late lactation cows to Square Deal Dairy LLC near Randolph. Phil said this decision was important.
“(Otherwise) you’re trying to teach cows to get milked that really don’t want to get milked,” Phil said. “You’re actually going to teach them the second time when they freshen.”
The Reuters were left with about 90 earlier lactation cows, full of milk and eager to be milked. The weekend before startup, the Reuters sent their herd through the robotic milking units to get grain.
On startup day, the Reuters kept labor to only their family and the Leedstone representative to help the cows feel relaxed.
“I don’t like outside help,” Dennis said. “Our cows are used to us. … It went pretty easy because the cows didn’t care.”
During the rst milking on that Tuesday, they nished with an hour and a half to spare. By Friday, they were down to 15-20 fetch cows.
In the robotic milking units, somatic cell count decreased, dropping from an average of about 130,000 to about 50,000. Phil said the robotic milking units and connected technology such as the activity and rumination collars have helped them improve herd health.
“We nd cows a lot faster that are sick,” Phil said. “We have somatic cell count down at the robots. It allows us to really have a tight, fast mastitis program to nd those cows quickly.”
He said the majority of their current mastitis is subclinical. The Reuters use supportive therapy to help their cows and culture milk to isolate mastitis for treatment.
The herd averages about 2.8 visits to the robotic milking units per day.
One thing the Reuters wished they
AMY KYLLO/DAIRY STAR
The barns at Reuter dairy stand sandwiched between the edge of the bluff and the road Nov. 26 near Has�ngs, Minnesota. The Reuters have cri�cal habitat on the edge of their building site, a road, and about 100 houses within a mile of their site, which prevents expansion.
had done differently is adding in-oor heating in their robot room. The cement surrounding the robotic milking units has in-oor heat, keeping the area from freezing, but inside the robot room there is only a supplemental radiant heater.
In cold weather the heat from the radiant heater rising towards the ceiling combined with wind blowing through the robot room causes icing in the robots which could have been prevented.
After the cows exit the robotic milking units, they are sent through a copper sulfate foot bath daily as they had previously done when leaving the parlor. Their hoof trimmer recommended the practice.
“You listen to the guy that trims the feet,” Dennis said.
With the robotic milking units, Carl, who had done a lot of milking since Dennis injured his hand over 20 years ago, has more exibility in his day. For all the Reuters, the change allows more exibility for other work such as forage production.
“Quality from start to nish is way better and more consistent,” Dennis
said.
Looking to the future, the Reuters plan to continue to improve their dairy within the connes they have.
“Instead of adding head of cows, we’ll probably make that 120 better cows,” Phil said. “The robots just make us more efcient.”
AMY KYLLO/DAIRY STAR
Dennis Reuter opens up the panel of one of his Lely A5 robots Nov. 26 at the Reuter family dairy near Has�ngs, Minnesota. The Reuters started milking with robo�c milking units May 4, 2021.
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Class III prices expected to rebound in next year
Prospects are good for dairy markets heading into 2025. “I think there’s going to be a chance to do more protein business with whey overseas, and I think butterfat remains a big component in terms of world trade,” said Dan Basse, AgResource Company. “We may bottom out here at $18 per hundredweight (on Class III milk), and we have a chance to make it up to $24-$26 (per hundredweight) for a high in 2025.” While other commodities are weak, Basse has optimism for dairy and beef markets.
Dairy supply and demand numbers updated
In the December U.S. Department of Agriculture’s supply/demand report, the 2024 milk production forecast was increased to 226.3 billion pounds. A bump in cow numbers was cited as the reason. For 2025, the forecast for milk production was also up from the previous estimate, totaling 228 billion pounds. USDA lowered its Class III price forecast for 2024 and 2025.
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Appeals court weighs in on Winona County dairy expansion
The Minnesota Court of Appeals has upheld a 2023 Winona County District Court decision dealing with a proposed expansion of a Lewiston dairy farm. Daley Farms applied for a waiver of the county’s 1,500 animal unit cap to expand its operation to 6,000 cows. The waiver request has been denied twice and has been in the courts since 2018.
National milk testing strategy announced
By Don Wick Columnist Ag Insider
U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a federal order requiring raw, unpasteurized milk samples to be collected nationwide and tested for H5N1. The rst testing will happen at dairy processing plants. Six states are included in the rst round of testing: California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon and Pennsylvania. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Executive Director for Field Operations Julie Gauthier said there is a simple goal.
“Ultimately, at the end of this process, we want to be able to declare the United States free of avian inuenza in dairy cows,” Gauthier said.
Keeping H5N1 at bay
The advancement of H5N1 in California’s dairy industry concerns Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “California has about 900 dairy farms; over 500 have them have avian inuenza in dairy, and we want to keep that at bay,” Petersen said. “We don’t want that in Minnesota because we have twice as many dairy farms as California. Fingers crossed that we can keep it controlled.” Raw milk has been part of the H5N1 story in California as well.
“As commissioner, I always remind people that pasteurized milk is safe,” Peterson said. “We’ve found the virus to survive in that.”
Announcements expected soon for sub-cabinet USDA posts
President-elect Donald Trump is moving quickly through the nomination process, naming members to his new administration. Brooke Rollins, who was a member of Trump’s Domestic Policy Council, will lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture. According to Agri-Pulse President Sara Wyant, more top-tier agriculture department ofcials will be named soon.
“They’re interviewing a lot of those folks as we speak; they may not all be announced here this week, but I do think that there’ll be a very good bench established before the inauguration,” Wyant said.
Benecial ownership requirement suspended
A federal court in Texas has issued a preliminary injunction blocking a new reporting requirement for businesses, including farms. The Corporate Transparency Act required businesses to disclose their benecial ownership to the treasury department by the end of the year. That reporting requirement is likely unconstitutional and has been suspended pending further action by the courts.
Succession planning challenges seen for rural businesses
A new report from Minnesota’s Center for Rural Policy and Development identied unique challenges for rural business transitions. Fifty-three percent of Minnesota business owners are over the age of 55, and only 19% have a written succession plan. The report found rural areas have limited access to advisory services, a lack of awareness about succession options and difculty in attracting buyers for their business.
A focus on leadership
Over 600 FFA members participated in the Minnesota FFA Leadership Conference in St. Cloud. This program is normally held during the State FFA Convention in the Twin Cities. However, renovations at the State Fair’s Warner Coliseum triggered the move to a new format and location. State FFA ofcer Cole Sundeen is pleased with the inaugural event. “This is denitely a new and exciting opportunity for students to get more handson learning about leadership and opportunities within FFA,” Sundeen said. The leadership development events include public speaking, creed and conduct of meetings. This leadership conference will be held in St. Cloud again in 2025, but commitments have not been made beyond that.
AgriGrowth adds new members to its board
During the AgriGrowth annual meeting, board members were elected. These board members are Santo Cruz of CentraCare, Brady Janzen of Riverview LLP, Joe Lerman of Ellingson Companies, Andy Martin of AgCountry Farm Credit Services, Tom Ryan of R.D. Offutt Farms, Karin Schaefer of Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation, Marc Schober of Bremer Bank, Lydia Underdahl of BNSF Railway and Michael Yost of Yost Farms.
Monson to wrap up his Compeer career
As of Jan. 2, John Monson will retire from Compeer Financial. Monson has been with Compeer for the past 18 years, primarily, as its chief mission ofcer. Previously, Monson was the Minnesota Farm Service Agency state director.
Corcoran takes on foundation role
Erin Corcoran is the new program coordinator for the Minnesota Foundation for Agriculture. This organization was previously known as the Minnesota Farm Bureau Foundation. Corcoran has been with the University of Minnesota Extension for the past two years.
Trivia challenge
Abomasum is the last compartment of a cow’s stomach. That answers our last trivia question. For this week’s trivia, when did the U.S. tradition of leaving cookies and milk for Santa begin? We’ll have the answer in our next edition of the Dairy Star.
Don Wick is owner/broadcaster for the Red River Farm Network of 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 sons, Tony and Sam, and ve grandchildren, Aiden, Piper, Adrienne, Aurora and Sterling.
Monitoring parlor performance
Evaluate metrics to improve efciency
By Stacey Smart stacey.s@dairystar.com
Sometimes, a simple tweak in the parlor can make a big difference in performance. Curtis Horsens knows this to be true from personal experience operating a high-producing herd in northeastern Wisconsin.
In a webinar Dec. 4 entitled, “Leveraging Milk Monitoring and Parlor Performance Information to Boost Employee Compliance,” Horsens shared tips for evaluating parlor performance via reports generated by a milk monitoring system.
Their veterinarian evaluated the problem and made two small, lowcost recommendations: use a different ination and slightly reduce the system vacuum.
“Within weeks or months, all fresh heifers that calved in had a much more pleasant milking experience, which made the workers’ days easier,” Horsens said.
Establishing trustworthy identication and reliable milk weights through a milk monitoring solution is the rst step in improving parlor performance, Horsens said. From there, information produced by the system in customizable graphs and reports can be used to make decisions for improving a dairy’s efciency.
Curtis Horsens Merck Animal Health
Horsens is the North American senior training and development specialist for Merck Animal Health’s SenseHub Dairy portfolio and has experience managing high-producing herds.
An adjustment was needed in the parlor at the farm Horsens was managing when it became evident some of their rst-lactation cows did not enjoy being milked.
“There were a lot of cow-assisted takeoffs and a lot of dancing and inching,” Horsens said.
Horsens began by touching on key performance indicators, such as milk per stall per hour.
“For many years, 150 pounds per stall was the target,” he said. “Today, we see farms approaching 200 pounds per stall per hour.”
To achieve that number, excellent preparation, which includes good tactile stimulation of each teat, is critical. Proper timing of unit attachment is also important.
Turn to PARLOR PERFORMANCE | Page 12
Our hearts are filled with gratitude for the fellowship and support of our good friends, neighbors and customers. We are honored by your trust in us, and we consider it a privilege to serve you.
“Waiting 60-90 seconds after good stimulation gives the pituitary gland time to release oxytocin and make its way to the udder … to get that milk secreted,” Horsens said. “Then we can have that good letdown and minimal unit on-time.”
Milk ow rate during the rst 15 seconds should be greater than 2.2 pounds. At 30 seconds, ow rate should be 5 pounds or more, and at 60 seconds, 7 pounds or higher is desired.
“Some farms might be closer to 3.8 or 4.2 at 30 seconds, but as long as you don’t have bi-modal letdowns, it’s not the worst of things to come up short,” Horsens said. “But, we do see a lot of farms hitting these targets.”
The percent of milk produced in the rst two minutes should be 55% or more.
“That’s a good indication of employee routine, milkability of cows and their experience and comfort level in the parlor,” Horsens said.
Time in low ow, dened as less than 2 pounds per minute, should be less than 20 seconds per shift or less than 60 seconds per day, Horsens said. The peak milk ow rate should be greater than 8 pounds per minute.
“We’re going to see farms that blow this out of the water, but this is a good number to start setting your sights on,” he said.
The frequency of reattachments should be under 2%, and the frequency of manual mode should be less than 2%. Horsens said a distrust of the automatic takeoff is likely the motivation for an employee putting a cow in manual mode.
“They think cows aren’t com-
This graph shows ow rate by unit on- me during the dura on of milking. The gray shaded area is the performance average of the past week while the black line is the performance of the current milking shi , and the red dashed line is the average unit on- me of the current milking shi .
pletely milked out and don’t understand that a little residual milk is OK and actually a good thing by design,” he said.
A poor preparation routine could also be to blame, which leads to bimodal letdowns where milk is coming out of the teat cistern but not yet out of the udder.
“Teaching and training workers and setting standards that are measurable and insightful is a great way to understand trends on your dairy and start moving things in the right direction,” Horsens said.
Reattachments can be caused by a bad pulsator or a split liner that results in a quarter or two not being milked
out correctly. Furthermore, debris such as a rag in the vacuum line can create lower claw vacuum on end stalls.
“Reattachments are an important metric to understand if it’s happening at a particular stall or for particular shifts of workers,” Horsens said.
Turn to PARLOR PERFORMANCE
| Page 13
As we tie up another year, we’re reminded of just how fortunate we are to do business in this warm and welcoming community. Thank you for your
When evaluating metrics and making changes to improve efciency, the number of kickoffs is a good metric to analyze, Horsens said. Adjusting the system vacuum or changing ination might be the answer to creating a more positive milking experience for cows.
In an evaluation of ow rates over time of attachment, Horsens shared examples of a farm doing particularly well and a farm with room for improvement. The farm doing well reached peak milk by one minute and 20 seconds.
“There is no hint of bi-modal letdowns,” Horsens said. “They’re doing an excellent job with preparation. The people, machines and environment are working together to create a good milking experience for these cattle.”
The second farm exhibited bimodal letdown. Cows were getting milked out in the rst 15-30 seconds, but then a high proportion of cows did not reach peak milk ow until about 2.5 minutes after attachment.
“That bumps out average unit ontime and probably reduces milk production overall,” Horsens said. “We can zero in and nd out if this is happening on a particular milking shift or happening across the board.”
Flow rate at removal is another area Horsens focused on. A high ow rate indicates premature takeoffs, and in one example, 616 out of 5,303 or 12% of cows had removal with a ow rate greater than 3 pounds per minute. To be more efcient in a rotary parlor in this situation Horsens said cows could be grouped by milking speed to align takeoff more appropriately.
“Some groups will have average on-time of 3.5 minutes, while the two slower groups will be on 5.5 minutes,” he said. “You can spin the rotary at a different rate for those two slow groups and maximize efciency.”
In a second example, 36 out of 2,087 or 1.7% of cows had removal with a ow rate greater than 3 pounds per minute. He said anything under 5% is considered acceptable.
Information garnered from the milk monitoring system can help farm managers and owners view employee performance in measurable and objective ways. Horsens recommends creating a fun competition among shifts to improve milking performance by picking a few easy-to-understand key performance indicators to focus on. Examples include percent of milk in the rst two minutes, bi-modal letdowns, seconds of on-time and low ow.
“Teach and train your farm staff on a few metrics, quietly post those in the break room or parlor at the end of each shift and highlight what they should look at on that report,” Horsens said. “See if some friendly competition can enhance the output of your particular shifts. It’s a lot better than griping and saying, ‘We have to do better.’”
Horsens recommends setting aside a routine time each week to evaluate parlor performance metrics. “This allows you to reinforce successes and provide actionable improvements for the weak spots,” he said. “Once you have this information, you have a benchmark you can start to improve upon.”
Land Improvements
from our side our side OF THE FENCE THE
What is your favorite Christmas tradition?
William Wiechman
8 years old
Parents: Peter and Samantha Wiechman
Freeport, Minnesota
Stearns County
54 cows
What are you and your family doing for Christmas? Going to church and then opening presents and eating lots of candy.
What is on your Christmas list this year? Walkie-talkies, an Xbox and a drone.
If you could give an animal on your farm a present, what would it be? I would give Brownie, the calf, a pan of brownies as a Christmas gift because she is named after a brownie, and I love chocolate.
What is your favorite Christmas tradition? Find the top half of Grandpa and Grandma’s Christmas tree with my cousins.
If you had your own Christmas tree, tell us how you would decorate it. With lots of lights and ornaments.
Tell us about your most memorable Christmas present. A tent and ashlight. They are my favorites because I get to camp with my cousins from North Dakota.
What do you enjoy doing on the farm during Christmas break? If there is snow, building a fort and sledding.
9 years old
Parents:
Atwater, Minnesota
Kandiyohi County
60 cows
What are you and your family doing for Christmas? We are having dinner and opening presents with family.
What is on your Christmas list this year? A toy robot, lights for my bike and a tractor.
If you could give an animal on your farm a present, what would it be? I would give it to my favorite cow, Chip. I’d give her a cow coat so she would stay warm.
What is your favorite Christmas tradition? Having family come over.
If you had your own Christmas tree, tell us how you would decorate it. It would have a lot of lights and memories on it.
Tell us about your most memorable Christmas present. Last Christmas, I got a Nintendo Switch.
What do you enjoy doing on the farm during Christmas break? I enjoy playing with all of my cousins.
Mila Middendorf
8 years old
Parents: Cory and Jenna Middendorf
Melrose, Minnesota
Stearns County
60 cows
What are you and your family doing for Christmas? Going to Christmas mass and enjoying the gifts that I get.
What is on your Christmas list this year? Owala water bottle.
If you could give an animal on your farm a present, what would it be? My cat, and I would give it a cat toy.
What is your favorite Christmas tradition? Spending time with my family.
If you had your own Christmas tree, tell us how you would decorate it. Pink lights, silver star and make my own ornaments.
Tell us about your most memorable Christmas present. A cat pillow from Santa. I like it because I like being around cats.
What do you enjoy doing on the farm during Christmas break? Making snow forts in the yard.
Eli Korn
Marshall and Melanie Korn
Dorothy Elsenpeter
11 years old
Parents: Dan and Erica Elsenpeter Maple Lake, Minnesota Wright County 200 cows
What are you and your family doing for Christmas?
This year, on the Saturday before Christmas, we will celebrate with my dad's family at my aunt's house. We will go to my grandpa's house on Christmas Eve to celebrate with my mom's family. On Christmas Day, we are going to mass in the morning. We will come home, open presents, and, if there's snow, we'll go outside and enjoy the snow.
What is on your Christmas list this year? For Christmas, I would like a pair of cowgirl boots, a blue Owala water bottle and my family has a happy, healthy baby due in March.
Olivia Eipers
11 years old
Parents: Ryan and Nicki Eipers Dodge Center, Minnesota Dodge County 150 cows
What are you and your family doing for Christmas? We are going to my grandma’s house just down the road to celebrate with my aunt and uncle.
What is on your Christmas list this year? Roller blades, a lava lamp and some cowthemed room decor.
If you could give an animal on your farm a present, what would it be? I would get a gift for my dog, Scrappy. It probably would be a giant bouncy ball because he and his brothers like to play with balls.
If you could give an animal on your farm a present, what would it be? I would give Freckles, my little orange cat, a sweater and big hunk of roast beef.
What is your favorite Christmas tradition? I love sitting around our Christmas tree and sipping a cup of eggnog sprinkled with nutmeg. I also love going to cut down our Christmas tree with my family.
If you had your own Christmas tree, tell us how you would decorate it. I would decorate my tree with owers, poinsettias and very pretty gold, green and red bulbs. I would hang white lights and nish it off with a popcorn/cranberry garland. I saw a tree like this last year when my grandma took me to see a tree display at the Wright County Historical Society. The tree was titled "Botanical Bliss."
Tell us about your most memorable Christmas present. My most memorable present was a hoverboard that I got from my godfather, Uncle Zach. I have since made many memories with it and my best friend, June. We like to give commands like, "come forward" and "stop" and "spin for ve seconds." Sometimes, we would fall and make mistakes, but we would laugh anyway.
What do you enjoy doing on the farm during Christmas break? During Christmas break, I love to visit and cuddle with fuzzy calves. This year, I hope we get a lot of snow. When that happens, we turn our driveway into a sledding hill. It is great because it is very fast.
What is your favorite Christmas tradition? Opening presents on Christmas night. It is always after milking, and we will watch a Christmas movie while we do it. We go from the oldest to the youngest. We each open a gift and then go back to the rst person.
If you had your own Christmas tree, tell us how you would decorate it. I would probably decorate with a bunch of homemade decorations and farm decorations like cows and tractors. It would be a real tree.
Tell us about your most memorable Christmas present. A radio from my mom. I always wanted my own because I would always steal my dads to use. I like to listen to my favorite stations — country music and stuff.
What do you enjoy doing on the farm during Christmas break? I like to sled with my siblings. It is something fun that we have always done. Sometimes, my mom will try to teach me how to milk cows. I enjoy it because someday I want to take over the farm.
You've got it! SOMEBODY WANTS IT!
How many times a day do you milk, and what is your current herd average, butterfat and protein? We milk three times a day. We have a rolling herd average of 29,927 pounds milk, with 4.5% fat and 3.3 protein on the year. We uctuate a little bit with the weather, but we are trending up right now in those two components as we are taking advantage of good feed quality and time of year.
Describe your housing and milking facility. We started investing in cow comfort heavily in 2019. In 2020, we nished a tunnel-ventilated barn that houses 400 of our milk cows. We tore down the previous structure to just cement and doubled the size of it. In 2021, we renovated our hospital/fresh cow pen to tunnel ventilation and updated the holding area and parlor. In fall 2023, we renovated and added on to the last barn left on the farm to be updated. That is a natural ventilated barn with chimney fans to allow fresh air exchange in the winter.
The whole farm was built in 1997, and now we have renovated all the facilities in the past three years. The barns were shot. Previously, we never had insulation in the roof and the manure gasses were rotting everything.
Who is part of your farm team, and what are their roles? Blake and Chicky are both full time.
TOP PERFORMERS
Otte Family: Blake and Chicky, Tyler and Kelsey, Bret and Kayla, Eric and Laura Banner Square Deal Dairy LLC | Randolph, Minnesota | Dakota County 660 cows, milking and dry
Blake feeds cows every morning and is in charge of the crops. Chicky is in charge of the calves and nancials. She feeds calves every morning and most afternoons. Tyler is the herdsperson as well as in charge of the employees who milk the cows. Eric
is on the farm full time and does day-to-day feeding, bedding and health on the young stock. He is also the crop guy. Bret is off the farm as a nutritionist. He helps out with youngstock and feeding cows on weekends and any other time needed as a ll in.
We have eight full-time employees, four part-time employees and six seasonal employees for our harvest because we do some custom chopping.
What is your herd health program? Every Monday the vet
comes. We pregnancy check milk cows, walk fresh cows and walk calves just to make sure we are all on the same page. We pregnancy check heifers every 2-3 weeks. We vaccinate all year long with a protocol built into DairyComp. We use DairyComp pretty heavily to build protocols for our yearly vaccines to the cows as well as dry-off vaccines. We vaccinate calves at birth, 45 days, weaning, six months, seven months and a year old.
What does your dry cow and transition program consist of? Our cows get dried off about 60 days prior to calving. We move them off the farm for ve weeks and then they get moved back here to a pre-fresh facility for the remainder of pregnancy. They are dry-treated, and given some vaccines at the time of dry-off. When we move them back to the home farm, we give them their booster of ScourGuard. We operate both farms so they are under our care the entire pregnancy. The pre-fresh cows on the home farm are walked every hour and our employees are trained to help with calving. The fresh cow pen has about 40 cows. They are there for 14-20 days post calving.
Wishing all of you
Happy Holidays
PHOTO SUBMTTED
The O e family — Brynley (front row, from le ), Emmet and Jaxson; (second row, from le ) Kelsey, Chicky, Blake and Kayla; (third row, from le ) Hudson and Kinsley; (back row, from le ) Tyler holding Brooks, Eric, Laura and Bret — gather this autumn at the end of harvest near Randolph, Minnesota. The O e family has a herd of 660 cows on their dairy.
The barn on Christmas Eve, A quiet, patient place to walk. For we imagine on that night, As legends say... even the animals talk. You can hear them if you listen, And let the world be still.
To the birth of the Son, The Father’s will... on earth. As dawn clothes Morn In golden rays, Sighs of a weary world Give way to songs of praise. May the reason for the season Warm your celebrations. And may knowing The Gift Born in lowly manger, Bring peace and joy to your life.
Off the farm, their ration is corn silage based with triticale added and a custom dry cow mineral mix. At the home farm, the diet is similar except the triticale is switched out for longstem dry hay and they receive a different mineral mix.
What is the composition of your ration, and how has that changed in recent years? Our forage ration consists of 2/3 corn silage and 1/3 haylage that we grow. In addition, we add purchased dry hay, distillers grain, corn gluten, soybean meal, delactosed whey and a protein/ mineral/vitamin mix. Our challenge is to accommodate our ration to the market value and the availability of byproducts.
Tell us about the forages you plant and detail your harvest strategies. We raise all our haylage and corn silage and purchase additional dry hay. Our biggest push is focusing on making the best forage we can. We plant 50% Enogen with the remainder being silage corn varieties. Enogen silage has shown us to be more digestible. All forage is stored in piles except some alfalfa that is put up as baleage.
What is your average somatic cell count and how does that affect your production? This is a work in progress. Yearly it averages about 250,000. We bed with green manure solids. Manure solids work great nine months out of the year, but during the summer they are harder to manage. You have to demand excellence from cows, equipment and employees to get the SCC through the tough times.
We work as hard as we can to get it lower.
We don’t think SCC affects our milk production directly, but it does affect the immune system of a cow, so there are secondary advantages that you can gain from a lower SCC.
What change has created the biggest improvement in your herd average? By renovating our facilities, we have greatly improved our cow comfort. We have big cows and to expect a lot of fat, protein and milk production out of Holstein cows, they have to be comfortable all day long. We are able to deep bed in our solids. All of our feed alleys are under cover. Our feed is consistent and cows want consistency. We are able to provide quality feed with the environ-
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ment-controlled barns. The cows are never uncomfortable because we blow so much air through the barns.
What technology do you use to monitor your herd? We use Dairy Herd Improvement Association monthly testing, and we have worked with Minnesota Dairy Initiative since 1997. Last year we got SenseHub, a Merck Animal Health collar system that gives health, rumination and heat detection information on all cows. We have used Feed Supervisor for over 20 years. Our parlor uses RFIDs to identify the cows and meters to monitor daily milk weights.
What is your breeding program, and what role does genetics play in your production
level? We love genetics. We have used a lot of beef on dairy for the past three years. Across the herd, we are 80% beef bred. We use sexed semen on all our heifers and sexed on about 10% of the cows. Our goal is to produce good cows with the sexed semen being used on our highest genetic valued animals and production animals using DairyComp. We use the parent average net merit as well as our relative value of the cows based on herd mates to pick out our top cows. We credit much of our fat and protein levels to our breeding program. Since 2016, we have been focusing on shipping solids.
List three management strategies that have helped you attain your production and component level. Our nutritionist,
vet and MDI team. You have to have a good relationship with all three to get out of the cow what you want. You can breed the cows the best you can, but you have to feed them correctly. You can only use the feed that you make, so it is trying to rst make the highest quality feed and then feed it in the right way to get the most production as well as performance out of that feed. From our vet, it is healthy cows. Healthy cows make milk. Cow comfort and health have always been a big focus for us, and we don’t struggle with that. We are very preventative so we can keep cows rolling and doing what they are supposed to do. With MDI, it is the team management. They help us so that we are all on the same page to accomplish whatever we implement.
Tell us about your farm and your plans for the dairy in the next year. Tyler, Bret and Eric are the fth generation to milk on the farm. Our parents are the fourth generation. They started in 1997 with 250 cows. We have done three expansions since then. We milk in a double-11 parallel parlor. We ship our milk to Plainview Milk Products Cooperative and also supply the milk for CannonBelles Cheese. In the coming year we have no big plans. We are wrapping up the building projects by getting dirt moved, etc. There is always a project list. We want to maintain, keep the barn working for us and continue working on management. We are only a few years into the expansion so there are always changes.
Whether you are cooling milk or produce, Paul Mueller Company offers an array of chillers designed for a variety of industrial dairy applications. Utilizing our Accu-Therm® plate coolers, our chillers provide a superior source of chilled water which allows for rapid cooling of your product. This rapid cooling is beneficial as it inhibits bacteria growth and lowers energy costs. We have various models of chillers and can help you find one that is just right for your specific application.
AMY KYLLO/DAIRY STAR
Tyler O e walks the alley in the pre-fresh area Dec. 10 at Square Deal Dairy LLC near Randolph, Minnesota. The pre-fresh area is walked hourly.
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Bright and merry nights
Haskamps light up family farm for Christmas
By Ben Sonnek Staff Writer
SAUK CENTRE, Minn. —
There is a bright spot in central Minnesota, southeast of the spot where Highway 71 crosses Interstate 94.
For years, with the help of Scott and Mary Peterson, Mark Haskamp has decorated his nearly century-old family farm south of Sauk Centre with an extensive Christmas lights display, and anyone in need of the holiday spirit is welcome to drive through.
“People have been good to us, and we want to share with them,” Scott said. “It affects them all.”
The Haskamp farm has been in the family since Henry Haskamp, Mark’s grandfather, bought it in 1925 for $150 an acre. His son and Mark’s father, Julian Haskamp, bought it in 1967 and expanded the property to 270 acres. Here he milked cows for 49 years until he retired in 1996 and sold the milk cows.
Now, the farm has 23 acres, a couple of cats, and, around this time of year, a myriad of decorations.
The tradition started with the Christmas lights Julian hung on the house each year the night before Thanksgiving. His wife, Mae, handled the inside decorations, watched
the family through the window, and, when people had to go, made the outside light icker as her way of saying goodbye.
The decorations kicked into high gear when Mark and Mary worked together at Coborn’s Inc. in Sauk Centre. They made many large displays, including a dancing Santa and a semitrailer made from produce bins to display truckload sales. Mary gardened at the Haskamp’s, and they started bringing their decorating skills to the farm.
“We were untangling Christmas lights in this box,” Mary said. “They did the fence and the house and the nativity set. … (I said,) ‘Mark, can we do a display out here?’ and then we just grew it. Every year, we’ve added more pieces to it.”
Setup for the Haskamp display typically begins in early October so it is ready to be lit the day after Thanks-
giving. This year’s nice weather gave them plenty of time to get everything just right they said. Mark and the Petersons make the decorations out of strings of lights and different controllers to create pieces that look like they are moving.
“This wouldn’t happen if it was just me,” Mark said. “I’m appreciative we have a friendship to do this because that’s what it takes. … We’re using our God-given talents.”
One of the newest light-based additions is a snow-covered cabin with a smoking chimney and a nearby re where a pair of people are roasting marshmallows.
“On a cold night, you almost want to go in that house and warm up,” Mark said.
Scott helps maintain the decorations, from replacing bulbs to repairing squirrel-chewed wires. They said they have become particular in the lights they use on their display.
A nativity scene is always part of the setup. The one the Haskamps have belonged to Julian’s brother, Othmar Haskamp, who lived in Waite Park. After he passed away, Julian got the whole display — with the exception of one of the three wise men, which disappeared years before it came to the farm.
BEN SONNEK/DAIRY STAR
Mary (from le ) and Sco Peterson and Mark Haskamp stand amid the lights setup on the Haskamp farm Dec. 11 near Sauk Centre, Minnesota. Haskamp and the Petersons set up the lights every year so people can drive through and enjoy them.
partly a reference to the song “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.”
“Hope”
had a pair of folded hands. Additionally, because Scott needed to use a walker for a time, they incorporated another piece that resembled a grandmother with a walker,
The Haskamp farm does not advertise its display, but it welcomes anyone who wants to come off Highway 71 and have a look around. Some days, they also open their garage to family and friends so they can come in and warm up with hot chocolate and other treats. This year, they also featured a visit from Santa.
“We love the families who come
out and take their time,” Mary said. “They come from quite a distance and look at the lights.”
The Haskamps estimate they had about 400 cars drive in to see the display last year. Local assisted living facilities also bus out residents so they can have a tour.
The Haskamp family never knows who will be the next to drop by. Last year, they were doing a light test with their decorations in the middle of November when a delivery driver pulled in and got out of his truck.
“Seeing his face gave us motivation,” Mary said. “I don’t know where he was from, … and (the lights) weren’t even on yet, and he was like, ‘Do you mind if I bring my family?’ That really inspires us to keep going.”
In 2020 during the coronavirus
pandemic, it was especially important to Peterson and the Haskamps to put out the display, considering how most of the usual holiday events had been put on hold that year.
“We got a lot of comments,” Mary said. “(Visiting the lights) was all they could do.”
The display remains up until midJanuary, provided the snow is shallow enough for removal.
The main reason Mark and the Petersons continue their Christmas lights tradition they said is to give joy to everyone who passes through. But they do not deny its benet for them as well.
“I love the peacefulness when you come down the driveway,” Mary said. “It brings you back to your childhood.”
Day 1: Lee Martinek
Day 2: Harlan Selander
Day 3: Tom Meyer
Day 4: Pam Geier
Day 5: Jason Raths
Day 6: Jennifer Schmelzer
DAIRY ST R
Day 7: Scott Reideman
Day 8: Joe Hollinger
Day 9: Katie England
Day 10: Rodney Laabs
Day 11: Emily Pankratz
BEN SONNEK/DAIRY STAR
The front-yard lights at the Haskamp farm come on as the sun sets Dec. 11 near Sauk Centre, Minnesota. The ligh ng tradi on started when Mark Haskamp and Mary Peterson worked together in Sauk Centre and combined their decora ng skills.
BEN SONNEK/DAIRY STAR
A lit “Hope” sign is placed alongside the na vity scene Dec. 11 at the Haskamp farm near Sauk Centre, Minnesota. The sign was made when Sco Peterson and a local bus driver were ba ling cancer.
Johnson bags trophy buck four years after rst sighting
By Amy Kyllo amy.k@star-pub.com
LA CRESCENT, Minn. — On Nov. 19, 20 and 21, Paul Johnson saw a vaguely familiar buck in his eld each evening while mixing feed on his dairy farm.
Johnson milks 100 Holstein, Jersey and Swiss cows with his family on Pine Creek Farms near La Crescent. He also enjoys hunting.
Knowing the wind was supposed to be from the west in the following days, he moved his ground blind to a more advantageous position to see if he could catch the buck coming out.
On Nov. 22, he was sitting in the blind with his bow. Six bucks came out, but not the buck he had set his sights on.
The next day, which was the opening morning of deer rearm season B, Johnson was once again in his ground blind. This time, the buck was one of the rst deer out at a little after 7 a.m. Two shots from 175 yards with a scoped 12-gauge, and Johnson had his trophy.
“He was a really big dude,” Johnson said. “His nose was super long. He’s denitely the oldest one I’ve ever shot.”
Johnson said the buck is at least 8.5 years old, well above the 4.5-year age minimum the Johnson family has given themselves for harvesting bucks. The buck has 11 scorable points with a little
Long time, no see
Paul Johnson holds his buck Nov. 23 next to the farm sign at Pine Creek Farms near La Crescent, Minnesota. Johnson, who milks 100 cows, had harvested the 11-point buck that weighed 210 pounds eld dressed earlier that day.
over a 20-inch antler spread measured from the inside. Johnson plans to have the rack professionally scored but estimates its net score will be in the low 150s. The buck weighed 210 pounds eld dressed.
Knowing his brothers were still
hunting, Johnson decided to go back to the farm, mix feed and do chores and retrieve the deer later alongside them and his 2-year-old son, Emmett.
“It was pretty cool to see Emmett’s reaction,” Johnson said.
This year was Emmett’s rst year
experiencing deer hunting. Johnson had taken him out bow hunting earlier in the fall, and they had seen a fawn.
“He had his head out of the blind yelling at the deer,” Johnson said. “(He
Turn to JOHNSON | Page 27
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was saying) ‘Oh, hey, big buck.’”
Emmett’s interest continued after his rst hunting excursion.
“Every time I would go out when I’d come back in, he’d always ask, ‘Dad you got a big buck?’” Johnson said.
Johnson said he was curious if they had trail camera footage of the deer. The family found footage from 2019 and 2020, but nothing since then.
“I don’t know where he’s been the last four years,” Johnson said.
Johnson and his family have around 1620 trail cameras out all year.
“We watch the deer as they grow up,” Johnson said. “You know which deer is which and you’re trying to gure out where their pattern is and when they’re going to come out.”
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Game camera footage shows Paul Johnson’s buck out in the woods Nov. 10, 2019, on Pine Creek Farms near La Crescent, Minnesota. Johnson had trail camera footage of the buck from 2019 and 2020, but he had not been spo ed again un l this November when Johnson harvested him.
Johnson said archery hunting in September is his favorite. Most years Johnson does more archery hunting than rearms hunting because rearms season conicts with eld work. This year, however, he was done with eldwork and his high school hired help was more available because they had completed soccer season and had yet to start having basketball games.
Johnson is the main day-to-day person at Pine Creek Farms. His dad, Richard, feeds calves daily and his brothers, Ryan and Luke, do accounting and mechanical repairs, respectively.
Three high school girls Johnson employs all lease dairy cattle from him.
“They’ve already actually had their calves out for the last four weeks,” Johnson said. “Every time they come to work, they come early and they walk their calves around.”
Johnson has been deer hunting since he was 12 years old with his older brother Ryan. Ryan, who is an avid hunter, has 28 shoulder mount bucks at his home, two of which have scored in the 180s. Over the years, Ryan has started to manage the farm’s deer population.
The Johnsons have about 10 acres of food plots for deer with each plot
about 1-2 acres in size. They plant clover, brassicas, buckwheat and more. They also cut trails.
This buck will be the seventh Johnson has had mounted. The largest buck he shot was a 9-point deer that scored 158 points, which he harvested with his bow in 2020.
Johnson has this 2020 hunt on video and has taken a camera hunting with him for the past 5-6 years.
“That’s kind of a little extra fun ... trying to self-lm all these hunts, especially bow hunting,” Johnson said.
This year, he had his camera with him, but it all happened too quickly for him to capture it via camera.
Johnson said wind is the biggest factor he pays attention to when he hunts.
“If they can smell you, they’re going to know what you are,” Johnson said. “If they see you, they’re not going to know, they might spook, but they’ll come back. If they smell you, they are going to be gone … especially those mature deer.”
Johnson was not the only member of his family to see success this year.
The Johnsons’ party of eight harvested ve bucks and three does total.
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Warmth during the winter
“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Jingle Bells,” “Here Comes Santa Claus” and “Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer” are some of the classic Christmas songs most of us know well. Personally, I think these are best played when decorating the Christmas tree or when accompanied by a light show.
For several years, my mom and I drove around looking at Christmas lights in the area. It was by far one of my favorite things to do. We would go a block out of our way if we saw lights in the distance. From year to year, this looked different, but there were commonalities: it was an opportunity to take in the beauty of the lights and spend quality time with my mom.
Having four other siblings, we were guaranteed to have our fair share of mischief passed from sibling to sibling. Being the youngest, I learned a lot of tricks from them.
By Sarah Middendorf Staff Writer
During chores, we would bring snowballs into the barn and throw them at whoever was milking cows — and, of course, try not to hit my mom or any of the cows in the process. We knew they would get revenge on us by the time winter or chores were over, but it was fun to do regardless.
Happy Holidays
Some years, we would only look at the lights on the 8-mile drive home, while other years, we would take time to drive through various streets, admiring all the hard work everyone put in. Luckily, some houses do an amazing job year after year. These are my all-time favorites to drive past.
Growing up, I always appreciated the changing of weather. As the leaves turned, the ground began to freeze and snow covered everything, I always thought this was the most wonderful time of the year. Being able to look out the window to a white blanket laid across everything made “walking in a winter wonderland” a reality. It also meant the snow in the yard would be pushed onto what looked like the biggest snow pile ever.
My siblings and I would use it to sled down, attempt to carve tunnels through it or use it as a shield during snowball ghts. Now, when I see the snow pile, I remember all the memories we made and wonder how I didn’t freeze while doing that.
Nowadays, winter looks a little different. I don’t sled down the big pile and have not made nearly as many snowballs. I do, however, look forward to the holidays so I can sit down, relax and spend time with those that mean the most to me.
Coming from a big family, our holiday gatherings — even if they are just with my immediate family — are loud and crazy. Every year, we get together with my extended family on my mom’s side, which is roughly 60 people. We eat lots of food and have endless laughter. We spend the day catching up, playing games and opening presents. It is loud and can be crazy, but it is well worth being able to see all my relatives around the holidays.
Regardless of if there are 10 or 50 family members gathered together, some may have to speak louder or shout while having a conversation with the person next to them. All I can say is that I wouldn’t trade that for anything. I feel fortunate that I get to spend time with my family around the holidays because there are some not as fortunate. Christmas for some may be a time to get presents, but for me, it is a time to reminisce, make new memories and appreciate those around me who mean the most.
Bring on the cold
Winters in Minnesota are infamous for their unpredictable swings between “rather chilly” and “bitter cold.” For livestock managers, the work does not stop when temperatures plunge. Chores must go on, whether it is a mild 61 degrees or a frigid 16 degrees. Those who live in cold climates often have vivid memories of bone-chilling days that left them miserable. While many farmers have established effective cold-weather habits, there is always room to improve safety and comfort. This article aims to provide practical tips on preparing for and managing the challenges of working outdoors during the colder months.
bluish skin, as reduced blood ow leaves these areas vulnerable.
By Dana Adams University of Minnesota
Understanding hypothermia and frostbite
When most people think of hypothermia, they imagine a stranded movie character, shivering in the snow with blue lips. However, hypothermia can set in during everyday activities when the body loses heat faster than it can generate. Symptoms start subtly with shivering, fatigue and a loss of coordination. If ignored, they progress to more severe signs like dilated pupils, blue lips, and slowed pulse and breathing.
Frostbite is another cold-weather hazard, often affecting extremities such as ngers, toes and noses. Early indicators include tingling, numbness and pale or
A less commonly discussed condition is immersion hypothermia, which can occur in milder temperatures, around 40 degrees, especially when people are exposed to rain, sweat or cold water. Symptoms mirror those of hypothermia and can develop quickly. Recognizing these dangers is vital, as pushing through discomfort or ignoring body signals can have long-term consequences.
Dressing for success: layering on the warmth
The cornerstone of safe and comfortable winter work is wearing the right clothing, and layering is the key. Each layer serves a specic purpose:
— Base layer: This inner layer should be loose and made of moisturewicking materials like wool or synthetic fabrics. These materials help keep your core dry by pulling sweat away from the skin. The loose characteristic of base layers allows for better air circulation and for individuals to heat the air next to their body, simply adding another layer of warmth.
— Outer layer: The nal barrier should be wind and water-resistant to protect against harsh weather conditions. Covering exposed areas is equally crucial. Be sure to keep your nose, ears,
cheeks, chin, neck, ngers and toes warm and dry. Wet gloves or boots can lead to frostbite. Always start with dry gear. Avoid tight footwear, as it restricts blood ow, increasing the risk of frostbite. Store boots in a warm, ventilated area overnight to ensure they are ready for the next day.
Preparing for a long day in the cold
Planning ahead can make outdoor workdays less burdensome and more efcient. Start the day with a nutritious meal to fuel your body and stay hydrated to maintain energy levels. Bringing a warm beverage and snacks for breaks can help sustain energy and improve mood throughout the day.
Employers play a signicant role in creating a safer and more comfortable work environment. Here are some practical ways employers can support their teams:
Education: Train employees to recognize the signs of cold stress, hypothermia and frostbite. Encourage open discussions about proper clothing choices and preventative measures.
Medical preparedness: Ensure prompt access to medical attention for workers showing signs of cold-related illnesses or injuries.
Scheduled breaks: Provide warm shelters or designated break areas to allow employees to recharge and prevent cold stress.
Dana Adams adam1744@umn.edu 320-204-2968
Luciano Caixeta lcaixeta@umn.edu 612-625-3130
Gerard Cramer gcramer@umn.edu 612-625-8184
Marcia Endres miendres@umn.edu 612-624-5391
Brad Heins hein0106@umn.edu 320-589-1711
Nathan Hulinsky huli0013@umn.edu 320-203-6104
Karen Johnson ande9495@umn.edu 320-484-4334
Emily Krekelberg krek0033@umn.edu 507-280-2863
Claire LaCanne lacanne@umn.edu 507-332-6109
Brenda Miller nels4220@umn.edu 320-732-4435
These measures not only enhance safety but also foster goodwill and improve overall team performance.
Practical tips for winter efciency
Be weather-wise: Monitor the forecast and adjust plans as needed to prioritize safety.
Gear up: Invest in high-quality, durable winter clothing and boots. Dry, warm gear can make a signicant difference.
Hydration and nutrition: Cold weather can be deceptive; staying hydrated is just as important in winter as in summer. Pair hydration with nutrient-rich snacks and meals to keep energy levels high.
Building a culture of cold-weather safety
Winter brings its unique set of challenges, but it is also an opportunity to reinforce a culture of preparedness and teamwork. Recognizing the signs of hypothermia and frostbite, investing in proper apparel and fostering a supportive work environment can make all the difference. For farmers and their teams, winter does not have to be a season of dread. By adopting these strategies, they can not only improve safety but also enhance efciency, ensuring the work gets done without unnecessary risks. Let’s face the cold head-on — together.
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
Michael Boland boland@umn.edu 612-625-3013
Sabrina Florentino slpore@umn.edu 507-441-1765
Scott Wells wells023@umn.edu 612-625-8166
Erin Cortus ecortus@umn.edu 612-625-8288
Melissa Runck mkrunck@umn.edu 507-836-1143
Dairy science symposium, New Zealand dairy industry highlights
Recently I was asked to speak at the Australasian Dairy Science Symposium in New Zealand. Organizers described this conference as, “the largest technical meeting of dairy scientists in the southern hemisphere and the largest technical meeting focused on pastoral dairy production in the world.” It is held alternatively in New Zealand and Australia.
It was interesting to see that there were many talks on greenhouse gas emission mitigation (especially methane), reducing nitrogen losses (high nitrate in aquifers) and climate change. I learned about and saw a plant on a pasture that they refer to as plantain, which basically increases urination and reduces nitrogen content in cows’ urine and is being used as a nitrogen reduction strategy. No, it does not look like a banana plant. DairyNZ describes it as, “an herb with a brous and coarse root system that grows throughout New Zealand and is highly palatable to animals. Plantain is one of the few species that can be managed on a similar rotation length as perennial ryegrass, making it a good t for the majority of farm mixes.”
a small number of robotic milking operations (less than 40 farms in New Zealand), and a few other technologies.
Other major topics included heat stress, youngstock management and cow-calf contact systems, farm systems, well-being of dairy farm employees and other labor issues, and future opportunities.
By Marcia Endres University of Minnesota
Most dairies in New Zealand focus on labor efciency, with only one operator in a rotary parlor, as they do not prep teats for milking. They just put units on as cows enter the parlor, and many rotary parlor farms use automatic post-dip teat spray systems at the end of milking. Some herds hire a person to come once a week to check for mastitis. I looked at statistics on somatic cell counts, and interestingly enough, they average 169,000 cells/mL across the country. Cows must come in quite clean from pastures. Most herds (76%) and cows (81%) are tested by one of two service providers (LIC or CRV).
Megan Verdon (University of Tasmania) spoke on the ve domains of animal welfare: nutrition, health, environment, behavior and mental state. They conducted a literature review of studies on pasture-based systems from 2000 to 2024, and she indicated that 78% of past and 74% of more recent research (last four years) related to the cow, not youngstock. Most studies addressed the health domain (57% of calf studies, 47% of weaned heifer studies and 43% of cow studies). The environmental domain was the least prevalent (relating to 4% of calf, 14% of heifer and 17% of cow research). She suggested that more research is needed to address the environmental challenges, such as heat stress, of large pasture-based dairying in an increasingly changing climate.
Callum Eastwood (DairyNZ) presented on the topic of people, technology and decision making in New Zealand. Challenges with labor availability and employee retention are common there, too, with about 40% employee turnover. They depend on an immigrant labor force on larger dairies as we do in the U.S. In terms of common technologies used in New Zealand’s dairy industry, he pointed out wearables for heat detection and health monitoring (on about 20% of dairy farms), virtual fencing and herding, automatic cup removers, automatic teat spraying, computerized feeding systems in the parlor,
The New Zealand dairy industry is primarily pasture-based, with seasonal milk production and 95% of production exported. The average production is 393 kg of milk solids per cow per year. This is the more common metric for dairy production rather than kilograms of milk per cow. There are 4.7 million dairy cows and 10,600 farms in New Zealand, with an average herd size of about 450 cows. Fifty-ve percent of herds have fewer than 400 cows, 32% of herds have 500 or more cows, 14% have 750 or more cows, and 5% have 1,000 cows or more. The average stocking density is 2.7 cows/hectare, with greater stocking density in the South Island (3.3 cows/ha) where more irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer is commonly used. Most of the herds are Holstein Friesian-Jersey crossbreds (60%), followed by Holstein Friesian (24.5%), then Jersey (8%).
There are larger herds in the South Island (43% of cows are there) compared to the North Island (72% of herds are there). We had a tour on the rst day of the conference, which was held in the South Island. On one of the farms, we saw 650 cows moving from the pasture to the milk shed. The cow pusher was using a motorcycle to bring them into the parlor. Apparently, that is the most common way to do it in New Zealand, another new thing to see. One of the researchers told me that using this option had to do with economics, but also worker safety, as there were more serious accidents or deaths involving 4-wheelers in the past.
Educating through leadership
Menze family named 2024
Ottertail County Farm Family of the Year
By Emily Breth emily.b@star-pub.com
OTTERTAIL,
Minn.
Being active in their community is something Mike and Denise Menze have always valued. This attitude was rewarded when they were named the 2024 Ottertail County Farm Family of the Year.
“People know if they call us, we will help out as much as we can,” Denise said.
Mike is the fourth generation on the Menze family’s dairy, which is operated by the couple, their children, Jacob and Makayla, their nephew, Jared Menze, and their hired hand of 14 years, Taylor Sweazey. The farm consists of 75 milking cows, around 15 beef animals, three goats and a ock of laying hens. The family milks in a double-4 herringbone parlor.
Denise has helped at the extension ofce in the past and now volunteers with the East Ottertail County 4-H. She is
also becoming a master gardener and serves as a youth group leader at church. Mike serves on the Dairy Herd Improvement Association board and is an elder at church.
Denise’s favorite place to help others is through 4-H.
“I like helping the next generation because there are so many kids that just don’t know (about the farm),” Denise said.
“Are they going to know how
to raise their own food? Are they going to know where their food comes from?”
Within the Henning school district, there is one other dairy farm family enrolled at the public school. Because of this, Denise said there is a lot that kids do not know about dairy farming.
“They think a brown cow makes chocolate milk, and if there is purple milk, it comes
from a purple cow,” Denise said. “That’s seriously what they talk about. Many kids need to realize ag isn’t a job. It’s how you eat. If you don’t have ag you don’t eat.”
Mike said he volunteers to give back to the community that has helped them over the years.
“You do it because you want to do it,” Mike said.
“That’s the way it’s supposed
to be. You help somebody and don’t expect anything back from it.”
The couple said it was never their goal to be awarded for their dedication to farming and the community. They spent their years doing what was best for their family, farm, land and community.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHAD KOENEN, CITIZEN’S ADVOCATE
Jared Menze (from le ), Shai and Taylor Sweazey, Mike, Jacob, Denise and Makayla Menze stand by the Menze Family Farm sign in the summer at their farm near O ertail, Minnesota. The Menze family was named the 2024 O ertail County Farm Family of the Year.
Turn to
“Taylor, his family, Jared and our kids all work together very well,” Denise said. “Community service is only possible for us on the farm with all of us working together. We have great friends and neighbors that come and help us to make everything possible.”
Helping educate people is a big part of the Menze farm the couple said. This ranges from informing about farming to being a good leader in the community.
“You lead by example and when you get to be a certain age you automatically become a leader,” Denise said. “If you don’t show up, you’re not showing others what a good leader is.”
Not all their volunteer efforts are tied to education. Mike said there are times they do so simply because they feel it is the right thing to do.
“It is gratifying to see the progress you are making with others,” Mike said. “Sometimes you do things and it makes people smile.”
The Menze family has also been active in the day-to-day work of their farm. Denise said farm owners have to put in their share of work to be successful.
“The prices some people pay to have someone come work for them can be too much,” Denise said. “You have to gure out what you can af-
ford to pay for and what you can do yourself. We are always learning, xing and changing if something is broken or not working.”
She added that there are a lot of hands-on parts to farming that have to stay that way.”
Mike enjoys working on the farm, with harvest heading the list of his favorite tasks. He likes to see the work put in during the spring and summer pay off. The farm as a whole means a lot to Mike.
“I am very proud to be the
fourth generation doing this,” Mike said. “There are not a lot of people who are farming; a lot of them are gone. We are a small farm trying to survive.”
Denise grew up with farming in her life as well. Both her parents came from generational farms.
“Generational farming is ingrained in us,” Denise said. “It is really important to my husband and it’s all he’s ever known and all he’s ever wanted to do. Here we are living his dream.”
EMILY BRETH/DAIRY
(Le ) Mike Menze feeds his dry cows grain Dec. 13 at his farm near O ertail, Minnesota. Menze serves on the Dairy Herd Improvement Associaon board and is an elder at church.
(Below) Taylor Sweazey lls pails with grain for the dry cows Dec. 13 at the Menze family’s farm near O ertail, Minnesota. Sweazey has helped on the Menze farm for 14 years.
Year-end review
As the checkoff staff begins to wrap up the busy year of 2024, I take a moment to reect on my time with Midwest Dairy. I feel immense pride in the partnerships we have developed to foster trust and increase sales in dairy. Additionally, I am proud of the research conducted to continually advance the dairy sector in a positive direction. Your checkoff dollars were hard at work this year, making a measurable difference in the marketplace.
When I think about impactful partners, names like Freddy’s, Walmart and Dollar General come to mind. However, I am particularly excited about our partnership with Instacart. Shopping online for groceries continues to increase in popularity with consumers. Over 70% of Americans purchase groceries online, and by 2026, it is projected that one in three dollars will be spent on the online grocery channel. Knowing this, checkoff has worked to engage with online shoppers through Instacart. Instacart is an online grocery shopping service where we aim to keep dairy products top of mind for consumers and encourage them to add more dairy to their virtual cart through compelling dairy messaging. This messaging includes special deals on dairy products, targeted advertisements, recipe sharing and more.
In 2024, Midwest Dairy attracted shoppers through the Instacart platform during the back-to-school months with the message, “Power Your Kids’ Day with Dairy!” along with the Undeniably Dairy logo reinforcing the nutritional benet of dairy. This campaign generated 3.2 million impres-
sions and complimented in-store activations at some of our largest retailers in the Midwest Dairy region, which, in total, drove over 10 million incremental pounds of milk. We also leveraged Instacart during the holiday season, rst with a fall-themed campaign and again during December, promoting products such as cheese, butter, cream, sour cream and yogurt for the busy baking season. This campaign inspires increased dairy usage during the holidays in conjunction with other retail partner activations.
As dairy sales grow, I’m proud of our research efforts at Midwest Dairy. We fund initiatives that tackle industry challenges and collaborate with partners to boost dairy demand. Our incubator programs, including the Hatchery in Chicago, Illinois, and No More Empty Pots in Omaha, Nebraska, have successfully discovered and supported food and beverage entrepreneurs who prioritize dairy. In 2024, we celebrated the launch of the No More Empty Pots pitch competition, which awarded two winners a $10,000 prize, kitchen rental for six months and other business development opportunities, all fostering local entrepreneurship and innovation in the dairy sector.
By Corey Scott Midwest Dairy, Chief Executive Ofcer
of the pitch competition highlights the entrepreneurial spirit of our participants and the potential for innovation in the dairy industry, motivating us to keep supporting these ventures. Building on the growth and success of the previous pitch contests, I am excited to announce we are further expanding this initiative by partnering with VentureFuel. Their customized approach focuses on identifying and accelerating innovative products with startups to unlock new growth opportunities for Midwest Dairy. Since VentureFuel collaborates with some of the best public, private and non-prot organizations across various industries and functional areas, I’m optimistic that these pitch contests will expand to more states across the Midwest. This partnership is exciting and will continue to help checkoff boost dairy demand in creative ways.
Our ultimate goal is to help food vendors establish sustainable businesses that can grow into their own spaces while continuing to sell and promote dairy products. The success
As you can see, the ball is moving fast, and the checkoff continues to move with it. Industry research drives our decisions as we partner with those who can help us promote an excellent dairy experience. I am excited for you to learn more about our 2024 partners in the annual report, which will be available to you in the new year as we conclude another year of checkoff achievements. I appreciate your support this year and wish you a happy and healthy holiday season.
Minimize bird challenges on your dairy farm
Winter weather has descended across much of the Midwest over the past few weeks. With colder temperatures, we are seeing a signicant increase in bird pressure on dairy farms.
Something to Ruminate On
Birds have always been a concern on dairy farms, but the onset of avian inuenza virus type A (H5N1) has brought a greater spotlight to the issue. Birds are drawn to livestock operations’ continuous supply of available fresh feed. They feed at forage bunkers, piles and feed bunks, consuming the energydense components of the feedstuffs or ration. Birds also increase disease risk by contaminating livestock feed.
By Barry Visser Nutritionist
European starling
The most common invasive bird migrating to dairy farms in the winter is the European starling. Adult starlings are about 8.5 inches in length and weigh 3.2 ounces. Like most other birds, starlings consume about half their body weight in grain daily. It is not unusual for ocks numbering in the tens of thousands to migrate to a farm, leading to feed consumption well above 1,000 pounds per day.
Starlings consume high-dollar feed ingredients, such as grains and concentrates. Estimates of bird damage on commercial dairies in Wisconsin, New York and Pennsylvania suggest that starling damage resulted in $64,000 of feed loss annually per farm when the bird population reached 10,000 birds or more per day.
Furthermore, dairy nutritionists formulate rations to optimize animal performance and health. This loss of nutrients consumed by birds can greatly impact the nutrients available to cattle, directly impacting animal performance and the bottom line. In 2018, Colorado researchers reported an average of 5.5% reduction in dietary net energy levels in commercial total mixed rations consumed by starlings compared to those with no bird presence.
Relationship between disease and bird abundance
Birds have been implicated in the transmission of pathogens due to their close contact with animals. The most common way pathogens are spread from birds to livestock is through the excretion of feces into cattle feed and water sources. Starlings can y at speeds up to 45 mph and travel 20-30 miles each day between roosting and feeding sites, thus transporting pathogens between livestock facilities.
The presence of high-density bird ocks at livestock facilities creates conditions ideal for the transmission of pathogens between birds and cattle. Birds can acquire and recirculate pathogens, including H5N1 bird u and salmonella, on dairy farms. Starlings may also contribute to pathogen transmission by physically moving cattle feces containing salmonella, E. coli, or other pathogens into feed and water troughs, thereby disseminating pathogens throughout livestock facilities.
Solutions
for
starlings
The best defense is to make the farm less inviting and deter birds from coming in the rst place. Clean up waste feed from outside and around bunkers so it is not as easily accessible to birds. Seal any holes or gaps birds may use to gain access to buildings where food is plentiful.
Strategies that deter perching in rafters or inside buildings can be used as well. Install netting in open spaces to block access to the rafters. The use of a simple mechanical device, such as sharp wire or barbs on rafters, or chemical agents that make roosting sites sticky or slippery, are common practices used on-farm
to deter birds from roosting in barns. However, each of these methods can take time and money to maintain over long periods.
Solutions to control bird populations by lethal methods have been under scrutiny due to the slow death of affected birds and the effects it can have on non-target species that may consume it, such as songbirds. Most of the nuisance species of birds (sparrows, pigeons and starlings) are not protected under federal law. Thus, shooting and trapping are available methods to help control bird populations. While both can be time-consuming and have safety concerns, several dairies have found success in exterminating large numbers of starlings after dark with night vision and air guns.
Harassment devices are another way to deter birds from staying on a farm for an extended period. Sophisticated laser devices, propane exploders, hawk kites, ultrasonic sounds, pyrotechnics and others have been used extensively on farms. However, if not used at the right time of the year, effectiveness drops dramatically, and they are not long-term solutions. These devices also require a focus on safety.
For now, the best defense against birds is to make sure food and water are not easily accessible to them. This takes a combination of cleaning, maintenance and due diligence to remove opportunities for our feathered foes to make a “home” on the farm and protect the health of cattle and the dairy’s bottom line.
Barry Visser is a nutritionist for Vita Plus.
As we close another year, we at Leedstone send you our deepest gratitude.
We are honored to work with so many farms and families. Thank you for allowing us to support you in caring for your herd, maintaining and upgrading your equipment, and creating a more productive atmosphere for your herd and your crew.
It is our privilege to serve you and collaborate on your goals. We look forward to working further with each of you and connecting with more farms in 2025.
Here’s to a New Year of opportunities, continued partnerships, and success for our entire agricultural community!
‘Tis the yule season
‘Tis the yule season, which is vastly different than the mule season, mainly because nobody has ever been kicked by a yule. I don’t think anyone has actually seen a yule, for that matter.
Tradition holds that the yule log — a humungous hunk of wood cut just for the occasion — would warm the house during the Christmas season. Said log would often be too hefty for humans to haul by themselves, necessitating the use of draft animals. So, maybe mules and yule are connected, after all.
This is the season when we traditionally observe traditional customs. It says something about our culture when many of these customs include particular TV shows.
For instance, it isn’t Christmas until I’ve watched “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” This is probably because I’ve always deeply empathized with sad sack Charlie and his woebegone little Christmas tree. He reminds me of me.
Another must-see is “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer.” I hate to admit this, but I’m old enough to remember when this traditional Christmas classic rst made its debut.
The narrator of Rudolph’s story is Sam the Snowman. I won’t say that I was slow on the uptake, but I was well into my teens before I gured out that Sam was not speaking for himself and was, in fact, lipsyncing.
Sam the Snowman was given voice by the appropriately-named Burl Ives. Appropriate because he was somewhat burly, and he often wore clothing that invoked images of Currier and Ives.
Without a doubt, the scariest character in the Rudolph story is the Abominable Snowman. We all cowered and covered our eyes whenever the hairy leviathan lurched into view, which is pretty much the same reaction I got as a teenager whenever I approached a girl.
My tradition of watching “Rudolph The RedNosed Reindeer” would prove to have repercussions decades later. This is because both of our sons were exposed to the show at an early age.
We took our two boys to Disneyland when they were 4 and 6 years old. One of the rides I took with them was the Matterhorn, a rollercoaster that winds its way through a fake mountain. The “fake” part is a bit redundant. Saying something is fake at Disneyland is like saying ice is cold.
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The journey through the Matterhorn involves zipping downwards at high velocity, causing passengers to experience emesis-inducing levels of g-forces. Without warning, the rollercoaster hurls past a furry animatron of the Abominable Snowman. This snowman was much more abominable than the one on TV, with glowing red eyes and a thunderous, blood-curdling yowl.
This deeply impressed our youngest son, who, for days afterward, would tell anyone who would listen that he had seen the “bottomless snowman.” We then had to explain that the lad meant “abominable” and not “pantless.”
Now that I think of it, Sam the Snowman also seems to have forgotten to don his drawers. The same could be said about Donald and Daisy Duck.
One of the best parts of the Christmas season is anticipation. We look forward to seeing family and friends and enjoying mass quantities of holiday food. It’s common to over-consume during the holidays. Many of us do this to the point where we begin to have a silhouette that causes people to mistake us for Santa Claus.
My wife is among those who can’t wait for Christmas. As soon as she can — I have convinced her that federal law stipulates she must wait until the day after Thanksgiving — she begins to put up the Christmas decorations. Before long, our house looks like a miniature version of Rockefeller Plaza.
It should come as no surprise that one of her favorite holiday tunes is “We Need A Little Christmas.” The “right this very minute” part of that song rings especially true.
Her sons seem to have inherited her yuletide impatience. This became quite clear the year our boys were 8 and 10 years old.
Before we rushed off to observe Christmas with our extended family, we had our own little celebration that involved just the four of us. My wife and I sat and watched as the boys opened their presents. We couldn’t help but notice the markedly glum expressions they wore as they tore open their packages.
When asked about this, they confessed that they had sneakily peeked at their presents and knew exactly what they were about to receive.
“We’ll never do that again,” they promised. “Knowing what our presents were going to be spoiled Christmas.”
As far as I know, they have continued to honor that pledge — which is as good a yuletide tradition as any.
Jerry Nelson is a recovering dairy farmer from Volga, South Dakota. He and his wife, Julie, have two sons and live on the farm where Jerry’s great-grandfather homesteaded over 110 years ago. Feel free to email him at jerry.n@dairystar.com.
Jerry Nelson Columnist
Dear County Agent Guy
Establish livestock inventory
By Steve Frericks Stearns County FSA executive director
Are you a livestock producer? Are you prepared for extreme winter weather? In the event of extreme winter weather, is your livestock paperwork in order? The Farm Service Agency administers the Livestock Indemnity Program to help compensate eligible livestock producers in the event they lose livestock due to a natural disaster event. This could be a blizzard as dened by the National Weather Service. It also could be prolonged extreme cold that is abnormal for a particular time of the year. One of the major components of this program is having an accurate starting year livestock inventory from a reliable or veriable source. A few simple ways to accomplish this is to have a vet count noses during their next farm visit. A nutritionist or adult farm business management instructor can do the same. Now is the time to prepare. Let’s all hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Please call your local ofce if you have any questions about this program or any other programs that FSA administers.
Marketing assistance loans
FSA offers a 9-month commodity loan to provide interim nancing after harvest to help meet cash ow needs without having to sell your commodities when market prices are typically at harvest-time lows. Producers self-certify their current year bushels which are veried against the acres reported to FSA in the spring. Producers can take out a loan against the bushels in their bins. When they are ready to market the grain, they simply notify FSA, and we provide a marketing authorization to the elevator. When you are done hauling, the elevator sends the applicable amount owed to FSA and the balance to the producer. It is a very simple process. Remember this is a loan that carries an interest rate for December of
5.250%. Applicants are responsible for maintaining the quality of the grain under loan. If you are still looking to get a Marketing Assistance Loan in 2024, please contact the ofce now. This process can take time. If you are thinking about a 2025 MAL loan, you certainly can start the process now and we will be ready to proceed ASAP in January.
Marketing assistance for specialty crops program
This program aims to help specialty crop producers expand markets and manage higher costs. It is accepting applications from Dec. 10, 2024, through Jan. 8, 2025. Funded by the Commodity Credit Corporation, MASC was announced in November alongside the $140 million Commodity Storage Assistance Program for facilities impacted by 2024 natural disasters. Eligible established specialty crop producers can apply for MASC benets by completing the FSA-1140, MASC Program Application, and submitting the form to any FSA county ofce by Jan. 8, 2025. When applying, eligible specialty crop producers must certify their specialty crop sales for the calendar year 2023 or 2024. For MASC program participation, eligible specialty crop sales only include sales of commercially marketed raw specialty crops grown in the U.S. by the producer. The portion of sales derived from adding value to a specialty crop (such as sorting, processing, or packaging) is not included when determining eligible sales. Further explanation of what is considered by FSA for specialty crop sales as well as an online MASC decision tool and applicable program forms, are available on the MASC program webpage.
Farm stress
We know there is a lot of stress in the ag community right now. If you recognize this stress in your family members or friends, do not hesitate to seek the appropriate help. The Minnesota Farm and
Rural Helpline is a free, condential service that provides support for people struggling with stress, anxiety, depression or suicidal thoughts related to farm and rural life. The helpline is available 24/7 and can be reached by calling (833) 600-2670, texting FARMSTRESS to (898) 211, or emailing farmstress@state.mn.us.
Farm loan manager, Jerry Hurrle
As the year comes to a close and we look forward to the New Year, we need to begin planning for 2025. Each year brings new changes and new challenges as we review our progress. A good place to start is to update your balance sheet and review your 2024 income, expenses and production information. What problems or challenges occurred? With the current crop prices, the prot margins and cash ow planning are much more difcult. Review your nancial position and ratios. Is your working capital adequate? Can you repay your annual operating loan? Will you have income taxes due? What will your cash ow be for the new year, and what adjustments need to be made? Sometimes there are more questions than answers. If you maintain accurate and up-to-date records, the review process and ability to answer these questions can be much easier and faster to complete. It is recommended that you meet with your lenders sooner rather than later to review your cash ow, debt structure and nancing needs.
The staff at FSA would like to wish you and your family a blessed holiday season. FSA is here to help you be successful in the business of agriculture. We are honored to be part of an industry that is so important. Happy Holidays, Steve. Farm Service Agency is an equal opportunity lender. Complaints about discrimination should be sent to: Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D.C., 20250. Visit www.fsa.usda.gov for application forms and updates on USDA programs
9600 2019, Kernel Processor, PRWD, 1756 hrs., 1130 CH hrs., #553763 .......
9700
The gift of joy
We are running out of room in our “inn” this holiday season. Forget an Advent calendar counting down the days to Christmas — it seems every day there is a new gift delivered, sometimes even two.
I have been calculating and coordinating where to put all our December calves. I only have ve open domes left and 10 animals still to calve this month. Hopefully, there will be a few bull calves coming in this group or we will have to nd room in an open pen in the back of the old barn. This is not an ideal place but one that can house our special gifts. Sounds like a familiar story of long ago.
The Christmas season has been a time of calculating and coordinating — squeezing in holiday concerts, baking holiday treats, nding the “perfect” gift and still managing the daily routine on the farm. Some years, I would stress winning the battle, and other years, I would wave a white ag as I let go of
the stress. Yet, the holiday season always seemed to work out just ne regardless of what I did or did not do.
When the kids were younger, we would rack our brains trying to discover the “perfect” gift for each child’s interest and personality. One year, the boys received their own Red Rider BB guns. The squeals of joy still echo in my heart as they ripped off the wrapping paper, anticipating their greatest wish. It was the “perfect” gift that lasted for a few years, then the gift faded with childhood. The guns stood silent, bumping around the gun rack as bigger guns captured their attention. The “perfect” gift has been abandoned until this past Thanksgiving, when Jonathon rediscovered his gift from long ago. His son was now old enough to squeal with delight as they restored the gun with a fresh cleaning and a rub down of gun oil. It was the “perfect” gift of joy for a
little boy at Christmas time. I thought we had done pretty well over the years in our search for the best Christmas presents. That is, until Austin and Joelle were talking about their childhood Christmas gifts. Austin said he couldn’t recall a single gift he received as a kid. He remembered the experiences shared, like ice shing with Mark and his godfather, or his rst airplane ight to Texas over break to visit my parents. He didn’t remember the red travel backpack he received just for that trip. Looks like I need to pull out his photo album to jog his memories of the gifts he received. It wasn’t like he didn’t receive any.
By Natalie Schmitt
In the homily in church this past week, Rev. Sauer focused on the anticipation of joy to be found in his childhood Christmas gifts. Like Austin, he couldn’t recall exactly what presents he opened, but he did remember feeling short-changed. He received everything he wanted but struggled to nd the joy of Christmas. That set me to thinking — and missing a chunk of his sermon.
What is the “perfect” gift? Where does joy come from? Simple questions, yet complex answers. I can only speak for myself, but here is what’s rolling around in my head. The “perfect” gift is given out of love. The gift can be anything. It can be a homemade decoration from innocent little hands. It can be a treasured moment on an ordinary day. It can be a few simple words or a well-timed hug. It can be in the cry of a newborn baby or the tears of wisdom trickling down your cheek at the discovery of a simple truth. It is fun to unwrap a gift, anticipating what someone special wants to share with you. But as we’ve gotten older, it’s not about the physical gift. The real gift is time. Time to be together. Time to share laughter and hugs. Time to be present in each other’s lives.
Now that our kids are all adults and living in different states, we treasure our time together over the holiday season. That’s not to say we still don’t throw a present under the tree for our version of the “White Elephant” game. It has to be something to eat or drink from your local area. My present always seems to contain Red Head Creamery cheese, Thielen Meats country sausage and a bottle of spirits. I wouldn’t mind getting that one back, but I’m always curious to see what’s coming from Kansas or Wisconsin, too. There isn’t a bad present in the bunch. What would be my “perfect” Christmas present? What would bring me joy? The gift of words. I treasure words. They are a gift that I can unwrap any day I need to hear the whisper of love to lighten my path or ease my heart. I hear the words in the voice of loved ones long gone. I hear the love, the respect earned and the parent’s pride as my dad “introduced” his daughter to his friends. They were the last words I heard him say. A perfect gift.
As Mary treasured the angel’s words and the kings’ gifts, may we also nd joy in receiving the perfect gift of love.
As their four children pursue dairy careers off the family farm, Natalie and Mark Schmitt started an adventure of milking registered Holsteins just because they like good cows on their farm north of Rice, Minnesota.
Columnist
Just Thinking Out Loud
The gift of bilateral movement
This time of year, most mentions of gifts invoke mental images of colorfully wrapped boxes adorned with ribbons and nestled under Christmas trees. But the gift I’ve been thinking about most this past month doesn’t come in a box. Nor is it a gift you can receive. Bilateral movement is a gift you can only give yourself.
What is bilateral movement? Biomechanists dene bilateral movement as any movement that moves both arms or both legs at the same time, like pulling with both hands or squatting. I prefer to think of bilateral movement as moving — and using — both sets of limbs equally.
hand. When we clean refusal out of the manger, we use a shovel to throw it over the stalls into the gutters. When I started cleaning mangers bilaterally, it took me a while to gure out the mechanics of ipping the shovel over the stall with my left hand forward on the shovel handle. For thirty-some years, I had only operated a shovel with my right hand forward.
By Sadie Frericks Columnist Dairy Good Life
The goal of bilateral movement is to maintain (or develop) strength equally on both sides of the body.
I began bilateral movement in farming several years ago when a hand injury forced me to learn how to prep teats, attach units, and carry milkers with my left hand. After my right hand healed, I committed to using both hands/arms equally while doing chores. I now alternate prepping and attaching with both hands, using my left hand when milking a cow on her left side and my right hand when milking on a cow’s right side. I alternate carrying milkers with each hand. I make a gure-8 in the barn while cleaning stalls so that I can switch hand positions on the shovel. And I push up feed on both sides of the barn going from east to west so that I can switch arms.
I don’t worry about my legs as much, because I squat to prep and attach. But, if I kneeled on one knee to attach like some farmers do, I would switch legs each time I kneeled. Dan learned the hard way in wrestling last year what happens when you only use one side of your body for a specic movement. Wrestlers usually only shoot from one leg or the other. (Shooting is a lunging motion that involves dropping one knee to the mat and driving into the opponent.) Dan shoots with his right leg. After he injured his right knee, it became apparent that his right leg had become signicantly stronger than his left leg from all of the shooting he was doing. He’s now more conscious about maintaining equal strength in both legs.
I’ve found that bilateral movement also helps maintain and develop coordination in your non-dominant
Maintaining strength and coordination in both hands has proven to be invaluable. Six weeks ago, I slipped, fell, landed on my elbow, and injured my right shoulder. The impact of the fall ruptured one my rotator cuff tendons and tore my biceps tendon. I’ve been farming with one arm since I fell, which was way easier to adapt to because I had already been using my left hand for just about everything. I will admit, though, that attaching nipples to bottles with one hand is something I should have been practicing more.
I’ve also had to switch to using my left hand for eating and brushing my teeth – and a million other little things, it seems. Again, I’m certain becoming left-handed would have been way worse if I had’t already been using my left hand as much as I was.
By this time next week, I’ll be sporting some new titanium shoulder parts. The good news: My doctor said that because I insisted on early diagnosis, the retracted tendon hasn’t started to scar, and I can expect to regain full strength and range of motion after surgery. The bad news: It will take six months of physical therapy before I regain enough strength and range of motion to farm with both arms.
I’m fully prepared for the challenge. After rehabbing my left shoulder ve years ago, I know how frustrating and painful the process will be. But I also know what it takes to fully recover. And, by the time I’m done, I expect I will be pretty darn close to being completely ambidextrous.
Merry Christmas to you and yours. If you don’t already, I would encourage you to consider giving yourself the gift of bilateral movement. You never know when you’ll need that strength and coordination.
Sadie Frericks 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.
