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2 5
Y E A R S
DAIRY ST R 25
December 23, 2023
“All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 25, No. 21
The land is their legacy Noll family recognized with 2023 Wisconsin Leopold Conservation Award By Abby Wiedmeyer abby.w@dairystar.com
ALMA, Wis. — On top of a 500-foot bluff with spectacular views of the Mississippi River, the Noll family manages their 100-cow dairy farm. Farming on a bluff is an art that has been passed down for generations and has now earned the family the 2023 Wisconsin Leopold Conservation Award. The award was presented Dec. 3 at Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s annual meeting in Wisconsin Dells. Scott Noll operates the dairy, while his dad, Curt, and uncle,
Mark, manage the cropland. The dairy is named Five-Star Dairy Farm LLC for Scott’s ve children: Axel, Finley, Nessa, Lincoln and Magnus. The farm was established in 1929 when Scott’s great-grandparents, Louis and Elizabeth, bought the rst acreage near Alma. The farm is now comprised of 735 acres, of which 400 is cropland. Scott said their family’s conservation efforts are part of a goal to keep the legacy of the farm alive. “The farm itself will be 100 years in our family in 2029,” Scott said. “I’m hoping that the next generation can carry on what we’ve done since 1929.” Contour strips were rst used on the farm in 1954. The 400 acres are divided into 121 elds, with the average eld Turn to NOLLS | Page 5
ABBY WIEDMEYER/DAIRY STAR
Axel (leŌ) and ScoƩ Noll take a break Dec. 8 at their dairy farm near Alma, Wisconsin. The Nolls were recognized with the 2023 Wisconsin Leopold ConservaƟon Award.
Santa drives a truck, trailer Borchardt wins calf in Dairy Star’s Christmas giveaway By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
Derek Breyer (front, from leŌ) and Abby Borchardt; (back, from leŌ) Dillon Breyer, Doug Breyer, Cindy Breyer and Mike Borchardt stand with Townlineacres Rosalie-Red-P Dec. 16 at the Breyers’ farm near Birnamwood, Wisconsin. Abby won Rosalie in Dairy Star’s Great Christmas Giveaway.
BIRNAMWOOD, Wis. — When Abby Borchardt’s father hooked up the truck and trailer the morning of Dec. 16, she did not realize she was climbing into her own version of Santa’s sleigh, heading off to a day she will not soon forget. Abby is the 17-year-old the daughter of Mike and Barbara Borchardt. Her name was drawn Dec. 13 as the winner of Dairy Star’s Great Christmas Giveaway’s top prize — a registered Red & White heifer calf named Townlineacres Rosalie-Red-P. The Borchardts milk 45 cows on their family’s Marathon County dairy farm in Edgar, where Rosalie will now reside. The herd is comprised primarily of Holsteins, with a few Milk-
ing Shorthorns that Abby enjoys showing. “My dad told me we were going to go look at some calves and see what we thought, and we should probably take the trailer in case we bought one,” Abby said, laughing after the surprise was revealed to her. “I didn’t even know my dad had signed me up.” Mike, who signed up his daughter for the contest at Brubacker Ag Equipment LLC in Curtiss, said he was uncertain how he kept the secret from Abby for four days. “I got a phone call from a Minnesota number that came up as ‘potential spam’ on my phone, so I ignored it,” Mike said. “The same number called back a few minutes later. I remembered thinking I’d signed up for a hunting trip and thought maybe I’d won that, so I answered.” Once he answered the call, Mike learned that it was his daughter who was the lucky one in their family, and he beTurn to CHRISTMAS CALF | Page 2
Page 2 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2023
ConƟnued from CHRISTMAS CALF | Page 1
DAIRY ST R www.dairystar.com
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522 Sinclair Lewis Ave. Sauk Centre, MN 56378 Phone: 320-352-6303 Fax: 320-352-5647 Published by Star Publications LLC General Manager/Editor Mark Klaphake - mark.k@dairystar.com 320-352-6303 (ofce) 320-248-3196 (cell) 320-352-0062 (home) Ad Composition - 320-352-6303 Nancy Powell • nancy.p@dairystar.com Karen Knoblach • karen.k@star-pub.com Annika Gunderson • annika@star-pub.com Editorial Staff Jan Lefebvre - Assistant Editor 320-290-5980 • jan.l@star-pub.com Maria Bichler - Assistant Editor maria.b@dairystar.com • 320-352-6303 Stacey Smart - Assistant Editor 262-442-6666 • stacey.s@dairystar.com Danielle Nauman - Staff Writer 608-487-1101 • danielle.n@dairystar.com Abby Wiedmeyer - Staff Writer 608-487-4812 • abby.w@dairystar.com Tiffany Klaphake - Staff Writer 320-352-6303 • tiffany.k@dairystar.com Amy Kyllo - Staff Writer amy.k@star-pub.com Emily Breth - Staff Writer emily.b@star-pub.com Consultant Jerry Jennissen 320-346-2292 Advertising Sales Main Ofce: 320-352-6303 Fax: 320-352-5647 Deadline is 5 p.m. of the Friday the week before publication Sales Manager - Joyce Frericks 320-352-6303 • joyce@dairystar.com National Sales Manager - Laura Seljan (National Advertising, SE MN) 507-250-2217 • fax: 507-634-4413 laura.s@dairystar.com Jerry Nelson (SW MN, NW Iowa, South Dakota) 605-690-6260 • jerry.n@dairystar.com Mike Schafer (Central, South Central MN) 320-894-7825 • mike.s@dairystar.com Amanda Hoeer (Eastern Iowa, Southwest Wisconsin) 320-250-2884 • amanda.h@dairystar.com Megan Stuessel (Western Wisconsin) 608-387-1202 • megan.s@dairystar.com Kati Kindschuh (Northeast WI and Upper MI) 920-979-5284 • kati.k@dairystar.com Julia Mullenbach (Southeast MN and Northeast IA) 507-438-7739 • julia.m@star-pub.com Bob Leukam (Northern MN, East Central MN) 320-260-1248 (cell) bob.l@star-pub.com Mark Klaphake (Western MN) 320-352-6303 (ofce) • 320-248-3196 (cell) Deadlines The deadline for news and advertising in the Dairy Star is 5 p.m. Friday the week before publication. Subscriptions One year subscription $40.00, outside the U.S. $200.00. Send check along with mailing address to Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378. Advertising Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an advertisement shall constitute nal acceptance of the advertiser's order. Letters Letters and articles of opinion are welcomed. Letters must be signed and include address and phone number. We reserve the right to edit lengthy letters. The views and opinions expressed by Dairy Star columnists and writers are not necessarily those of the Dairy Star / Star Publications LLC.
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gan making plans for how to spring the surprise on his daughter, making up the story about going to look at calves. A senior at Edgar High School, Abby has been showing dairy cattle for as long as she can remember. Her family shows at several shows each year. She is active in her school’s FFA chapter and is serving as the treasurer. She is also a past ofcer of her 4-H club and is involved in dairy judging. “I am just shocked; I have never won anything like this,” Abby said. “I am looking forward to showing her this next year.” Throughout her years in the dairy project, Abby said, her favorite memories stem from her experience showing, especially exhibiting her animals at World Dairy Expo. After she graduates high school in the spring, Abby plans to attend MidState Technical College to further her education. Rosalie, born Sept. 21, was bred by the Breyer family — Doug, Cindy, Dillon and Derek — of Townline Acres Holsteins in Birnamwood. A potential 10th generation Very Good or Excellent, she is a polled daughter of Aprilday Mcdonald-P-Red-ET, and her mother is a VG-88 early daughter of Riverdown Unstopabull-Red. Her second dam is an EX-90-2E Scientic Demello daughter from an EX-93 Goldwyn, a full sister to the 2013 All-American 5-year-old, Rosedale Lexington EX-95-2E.
Rosalie’s pedigree traces back to Stookey Elm Park Blackrose-ET EX96-3E-GMD-DOM, who was the alltime All-American junior 2- and junior 3-year-old and was the 1995 reserve AllAmerican aged cow. The Borchardt and Breyer families are friends and have been showing together at the local fair for many years. Providing a calf with the credentials Rosalie possesses — Red & White, polled and deep-pedigreed — was an easy choice for the Breyer family. “The dairy industry is a community we feel very fortunate to be a part of, and this is a way for us to give back to a community that has given us so much,” Derek Breyer said. “Both my brother and I have been lucky to have a lot of help learning and getting started along the way, and we’re glad to pay that forward to someone else.” The Breyers milk 120 cows with two Lely robotic milking systems, and they began their journey in registered Holstein genetics in 2005 as 4-H’ers who wanted to show registered calves at their county fair. “It’s important to help young people get started out with a good foundation animal,” Breyer said. “We wouldn’t be where we are, doing what we’re doing, if people hadn’t helped us out, and that is what this industry is about. It’s a cycle of each generation helping the next one.” Abby Borchardt was not the only lucky winner Dec. 13.
Kenny Mueller’s name was drawn from the box at Fuller’s Milker Center LLC in Richland Center to receive the $500 cash prize awarded to adults in Dairy Star’s giveaway. Mueller and his family — wife Valerie and children Andrew, Natasha and Lucas — milk 210 cows on their dairy farm near Hill Point. The Muellers own about 200 acres and farm a total of 500 tillable acres. Also working alongside the family are long-time employee Dale Blaha and Mueller’s father, Virgil, who at 80 years old continues to actively help on the farm. Mueller began his farming career in 1995, about two years after his father had sold his own milking herd. “I started with nothing but the barn, an old house and 25 cows I bought,” Mueller said. “I have no interest these days in getting bigger; if anything, I have an interest in getting smaller, maybe going back to about 110 cows or so.” Mueller said that, over the course of his dairying career, his philosophy has changed. “When I was younger, I pushed the cows for production,” he said. “These days, I enjoy not pushing them and just watching the cows be healthy. I’m not getting a lot of milk, but I am making a better prot, just letting them be cows.” As for plans for the prize money, Mueller said he has no denite plans, but with the current milk prices, it will come in handy as a Christmas bonus.
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Granton, WI
Marsheld, WI
Heeg family celebrates over 20 years of Christmas cookies First Section: Pages 12 - 13
Hutisford, WI
Alice in Dairyland shares tips for celebrating the season with Wisconsin dairy First Section: Pages 26 - 27
Prentice, WI
Boyceville, WI
Argyle, WI
Pine River, WI
Kevilus shares her Christmas spirit First Section: Pages 31 - 32
Women in Dairy: Kathleen Hafemeister First Section: Pages 29
Cuba City, WI
Organic market provides stability for Runde family Second Section: Pages 16 - 17
Juneau, WI
Jakobi wins national pedal pulling championship First Section: Pages 23, 25
Holmes takes the helm of family’s dairy Second Section: Pages 24 - 25
FROM OUR SIDE OF THE FENCE: Kids: What do you want for Christmas? First Section: Pages 15 -16
Dairy Prole: Ryan Richert Frist Section: Page 33
One-on-one with Willis Gunst Third Section: Pages 8 - 9
For additional stories from our other zone, log on to www.dairystar.com
Zone 1
Zone 2
Columnists Ag Insider Page P 10 First Fi s Section Fir
R Ramblings from the Ridge Page 34 First Fi Section
Something So to R Ruminate On Page P 35 First Firs Section
Farmer and d Columnistt Page 36 First Sectionn
Ju Thinking Just O Out Loud Page 38 F First Section
D Dairy Good Life Page 39 First Fi Section
The “Mielke” Market Weekly Pages 7 - 8 Second Section
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yū˻˻ y˃ʗɟǝū̲ yū˻˻ y˃ʗɟǝū̲ It’s the time of the year to reflect and thank the people who make a difference in our lives. We would like to thank you, our past and It’sfuture the time of the year support! to reflect From and thank who make clients for your all of the us atpeople Fuller’s Milker a difference in our lives. We would to thank you, our past and Center in Lancaster andlike Richland Center. future clients for your support! From all of us at Fuller’s Milker Center in Lancaster and Richland Center.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2023 • Page 5
ConƟnued from NOLLS | Page 1
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The Noll family’s farm stands ready for another busy day Dec. 8 near Alma, Wisconsin. The Nolls milk 100 cows and manage over 400 acres of cropland. measuring about 4 acres. The contour strips were considered progressive in the 1950s and have been an instrumental part of the farm’s conservation practices. The family raises corn, soybeans, oats and hay. Crops are rotated, and new alfalfa is established with the help of a planting of oats, which serve as a nurse crop. They started no-till farming in 1984 and only use it to establish the alfalfa. Because of the steep elevation of their land, the Nolls have built 20 earthen dams since 1964. The dams help to hold back the water when heavy rain falls and then release it slowly into the ground to regenerate the groundwater. Mark said that without the dams, the rain would run like a river down the bluff. “In a half a mile, the elevation drops 500 feet below our farm, and we never had a drought,” Mark said. “My dad was the one who understood the land we had.” The soil is what Scott’s grandpa called loess soil, where it is deposited by the wind. Although it has proven productive, it can be fragile, Mark said. No-till farming has helped preserve the stability of the ground and keep the production protable for the Nolls. Cover crops are also utilized to help with soil regeneration. Additionally, the eld borders are seeded on less productive ground. This helps increase pollination and provides wildlife habitat. The conservation efforts do not stop with the cropland. The 450 acres of woodland is managed to allow oak regeneration. To achieve this, clear cuts are implemented 20 acres at a time to allow the sunlight to nurture regrowth. Mark said this improves the habitat for wildlife. The Nolls also orchestrate controlled burns and work closely with their land
conservation department to effectively care for all the land, elds and woods alike. The dairy has been an instrumental part of the operation since its inception. A limited liability company was formed in 2004 to include Scott, Curt and Mark. For 26 years, Scott worked as a school teacher and farmed on either end of the work day. Two years ago, he retired from teaching to farm full time and also purchased the cattle, buildings and 28 acres. The dairy purchases feed from the LLC. Scott said that progress on the dairy took off after they started using calf huts to raise youngstock. This led to a heifer shed being built and eventually headlocks being installed to make breeding easier. The Nolls also added a freestall barn and parlor. “The calves all started surviving, and the herd was able to grow from there,” Scott said. “Then we built the freestall barn, and the sand bedding and the parlor has been great for all of us as humans.” With almost a century of being dairy producers behind them, Scott’s children are on their way to continuing the legacy that Scott has always hoped for. The oldest of Scott’s ve children, Axel, is attending Chippewa Valley Technical College and plans to return to farm once he graduates in 2024. Scott’s two daughters are FFA ofcers, and the youngest child plans to become a dairy farmer when he grows up, like the four generations before him. “I always talk about a legacy that when I’m gone I want to have, and he already gets it,” Scott said. “That right there epitomizes why I want to live here and why I want to have a farm and raise the kids in this spot.”
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Page 6 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2023
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Steve Case and his son, Craig, take a break Dec. 12 in the sunroom decorated for Christmas on their farm near Janesville, Wisconsin. The Cases farm with Steve’s wife, Liz, and grandson, Tyler, at Pineview Dairy where they milk 200 cows and farm 300 acres. Craig and his wife, Brittney, got Cases light up farm married on the farm last year, which prompted the purchase of a 30-foot lift in candy cane colors that was used to update the machine By Stacey Smart
stacey.s@dairystar.com
JANESVILLE, Wis. — When it comes to Christmas decorating, the Case family likes to leave no area unlit. Alternating trios of red and white lights line the roof of their house, garage, barn, machine shed and milking parlor. All the buildings match, with their lights casting a soft glow in the December night sky. “In the dark, it looks like a candy cane,” Steve Case said. Steve and his wife, Liz, farm with their son, Craig, and their grandson, Tyler, at Pineview Dairy near Janesville. The Cases milk 200 cows and farm 300 acres. Spreading Christmas joy is important to the family that does not let farm work prevent them from decorating for the holidays. “Even though I’m a busy farmer, I still nd time to do fun things,” Steve said. “I’ve learned the thing children enjoy most when they come home for the holidays is seeing everything look like it did when they were growing up, when they were kids. They like things the way they used to be. It means the world to them to see the decorations and presents underneath the tree.” The Cases’ house is lled with Christmas. Two large trees adorn the inside of their home while the festive sunroom is also decorated with a fullsize Christmas tree and several smaller trees complemented by snowman decor. Three trees illuminate the front porch along with a snowman, deer and sleigh. What started in the house has spilled outside.
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shed where the wedding reception was held. The piece of equipment has provided the ability for Steve and his son to get more lavish in their light displays. “That lift was the best money I ever spent,” Steve said. “It’s 35 feet to the top of the barn, and now, we can put up lights on the shed and barn.” Steve said the LED bulbs they use are expensive but last a long time. “I got the idea to alternate three whites and three reds from Craig who has his house decorated that same way,” Steve said. “We used 600 bulbs, and it took us about ve hours.” Wreaths adorn multiple buildings including one on the front of the parlor, which was purchased from the Boy Scouts. Case planned to also string green lights around the fans on the end of the barn. “My wife loves Christmas decorations,” Steve said. “But we’re both 68 years old, and it’s getting harder to do this every year.” Across the road lives Steve’s other son, Jeremy, and his wife, Tracy. Their woods shine bright with lights that line a trail Steve made for his daughter-inlaw last year. “For 20 years, my daughter-in-law waited for this trail in the woods,” Steve said. “One day, I took a skid loader up there and spent ve hours creating a trail. It didn’t take long to do. When I was done, I saw a person walking down the trail I just made. They were wiping their eyes. It was Tracy, and she was in tears. ‘I waited all my married life for this,’ she said. ‘I can’t believe you did it.’” Turn to CASES | Page 7
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Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2023 • Page 7
ConƟnued from CASES | Page 6 Steve is lled with yearround Christmas spirit, as his daughter-in-law can attest. “This man will do anything for you,” Tracy said. “He has a kind heart. Without even asking, he’s out there doing this for me because he heard me talking about it. The way he picks up on things, it’s like he reads my mind.” Steve worked with nature, carving a path through the trees before Thanksgiving. The ground was like clay, so he lled it with gravel one bucket at a time. When all was said and done, 180 buckets of gravel made for a walkable trail. He also trimmed tree limbs to provide plenty of space for strolling.
Walkers of the trail are immersed in lights, transported to a peaceful, Christmas world of quiet reection. The 1,000-foot trail is lit up with 1,300 white lights strung on 100 posts placed about every 12 feet. “We bought every string of lights from the hardware store that I could nd,” Steve said. Steve situated seven 12-gauge drop cords every 100 feet to allow Tracy to place various decorations along the trail, such as LED snowmen, lanterns and a Nativity display. The Nativity is set on a straw bale in an opening in the woods with a spotlight shining on it. Tracy would like to add speakers by the Nativity to play the part from “A Charlie Brown
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
A 1,000-foot trail is ready for the holidays Dec. 12 with 1,300 white lights and other Christmas decoraƟons adorning the site near Janesville, Wisconsin. Steve Case created the trail for his daughter-in-law, Tracy Case, in the woods behind her house across from his farm.
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AlternaƟng trios of red and white lights line the roof tops Dec. 12 of the Case family’s house, garage, barn, machine shed and milking parlor on their farm near Janesville, Wisconsin. The project required 600 LED bulbs and took ve hours to complete. Christmas” where Linus explains the true meaning of Christmas. She also wants to get a real reindeer and have someone dressed up as Santa Claus come walking down the path with the deer after listening to the story. “I have lots of ideas for the trail, but we’re taking it one year at a time,” Tracy said. “We have grandchildren now, and I’m excited to take them out there too. When it snows, I want to put them on sleds and pull them through it.” Before Steve blazed a trail, Tracy said it was just a patch of
woods that she could not walk through. She walks the path every morning in the summer now and has invited neighbors and friends to savor it as well. “I enjoy watching people be happy with what I did,” Steve said. “If you can put a smile on someone’s face for a little bit of labor, it’s worth it. We just kind of do those things. Now at night, I look at Tracy’s lights, and she looks at our lights.” The trail has proved to be a gift Tracy can appreciate all year long. At Christmas, it takes on an even deeper mean-
ing for a family that looks forward to this time of year. Making the farm glow bright with Christmas spirit is important to Steve, a busy farmer who always puts his family rst. “I feel so blessed,” Steve said. “Next year, my wife and I will be married 50 years. We have six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren and another grandchild on the way. One of the great-grandchildren was just born on my birthday. We’re all one big happy family, and I hope it stays that way forever.”
From all of us at Sunrise Ag Cooperative: Bruce Billmeyer Josh Boser Jerry Brenny Mike Brixius Ken Dorn Chad Fiedler Elijah Fleck Richard Geschwill Roger Grittner Tyler Gulden Sid Henagin Jacob Hoheisel Ron Kahl Daniel Kimman Joe Kippley
Tracie Lanners Ron Lanners Bob Matlock Chris Medek Steve Meyer Cindy Nielsen Steve Pekarek Tina Peschl Mike Pierzinski Chad Pietrzak Adam Rieman Luis Robles Jason Sadlovsky Monty Sieben Dion Smolik
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Page 8 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2023
Working toward his future
Brumm joins family dairy full time By Amy Kyllo
amy.k@star-pub.com
STACEYVILLE, Iowa — Caleb Brumm has been helping on the farm since he was getting off the bus as a kindergarten student. “He didn’t spend much time in the house,” said Steve Brumm, Caleb’s dad. Brumm Dairy is a partnership which began in 1997. The Brumms have 280 cows that they milk in a double-12 parallel parlor. They have 1,000 acres of cropland which they use to grow feed and cash crops. Their milk cows are housed in free stalls with sawdust on top of waterbeds. Caleb is working full time on Brumm Dairy alongside his dad and uncle, Dean Brumm. They are assisted by two employees as well as Caleb’s younger brother Nathan — who has worked alongside Caleb since they were young and is attending Iowa State University — and Dean’s son, Dylan Brumm. Caleb’s grandfather, Rick Brumm, lives on the main farm site and is retired. “It would be great if it could stay a family dairy,” Rick said. Caleb joined the farm in April 2022 after nishing college. He attended Northeast Iowa Community
AMY KYLLO/DAIRY STAR
Dean (from leŌ), Rick, Caleb and Steve Brumm stand in their freestall barn Dec. 6 on their dairy farm near Staceyville, Iowa. Caleb started dairy farming full Ɵme alongside his family in April 2022.
College in Calmar and received a degree in dairy science technology and agriculture business. During his nal year of college, Caleb lived near the farm and commuted more than an hour both ways
four days a week to class. After graduation, he transitioned his involvement to full time. “I’ve thought about doing other things, but it’s kind of what I’ve always wanted to do,” Caleb said.
Steve said Caleb coming on the farm full time coincided with a labor shortage. Turn to BRUMM | Page 9
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Brumm Dairy operates as usual Dec. 6 near Staceyville, Iowa. The Brumms milk 280 cows.
“When you have a son who ... knows what to do on a day-to-day basis, ... it has been kind of a huge relief,” Steve said. Currently, the farm is owned in partnership, so eventually if Caleb wants to own the farm, he will need to buy one or more of the shares in the business. Rick said the partnership was created in hopes that if someone was interested in farming, the partnership could hand the farm down. Steve said they have not yet talked through the specic details of bringing Caleb on. “We are getting his feet on the ground … seeing if this is what he really wants to do,” Steve said. It’s a huge commitment.” Caleb also has a cousin, Owen Bentley, who is a senior in high school and is interested in farming. Steve said that it is gratifying to have family members interested in the farm. Caleb said carrying on the farm is important to him. “I wouldn’t want to see it leave,” he said. Caleb’s role revolves around the calves and youngstock. Heifers are in loose housing at the farm site where Caleb lives. Milk calves are housed at the main farm site. Calves are fed pasteurized milk. This has been important for their farm, Steve said. “It seems like we get bigger calves,” Steve said. “They just per-
form a lot better.” Calf feeding has been part of Caleb’s role for a long time. When he was younger, he said, driving skid loader and feeding calves were his favorite chores. Caleb said one of the challenges of transitioning onto the farm has been relational aspects with family members. “You try to get along with both these two (his dad and uncle),” Caleb said. “Usually, most days are pretty good.” Steve said that Caleb brings ideas and fresh energy to the farm. However, being the youngest farm member, Caleb has not gained a full seat at the decision table yet. One new technology Caleb has brought to the farm is auto steer for two of their tractors and Haybine. Caleb is in charge of this because Steve said he does not know how to operate it. “He’s got friends that use it all the time,” Steve said. “We’re just out of that gap now.” The Brumms do not have plans to expand their dairy farm. When it comes to the future, Steve said, they are looking at viability after the last few years of low milk prices. Once Steve and Dean retire, there will be a labor void. “Labor is going to be huge for (Caleb),” Steve said. “That’s up to him what he decides to do ... (for what) this picture looks like.”
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In the December U.S. Department of Agriculture’s founded the Cadott Farmers Market. Dave Mickelsupply/demand report, 2023 milk production was son and Phil O’Leary received the Builder’s Award. estimated at 226.9 billion pounds. That’s down 200 Mickelson is an active WFU committee member and million pounds from the previous forecast. For 2024, participant in lobby day. O’Leary is a University of milk production is estimated to be 229 billion pounds, Wisconsin-Madison emeritus engineering professor down 100 million pounds from November. A drop in and led rural political messaging workshops. Dylan cow numbers and in the per-cow producBruce served as Vernon-Crawford CounAg Insider tion levels were cited as reasons. The allty Farmers Union president and received milk price forecast for 2023 is $20.60 per the Emerging Leader Award. Danielle hundredweight, and it is $2025 per hunEndvick was selected to receive the dredweight for 2024. Bruce Miller Award. Endvick was a journalist for Country Today newspaper, Whole milk bill advances served as WFU communications director Congress has passed legislation allowand is now the WFU director of developing schools to serve whole milk. That’s in ment. addition to the 2% milk that is now available. This bill now moves to the Senate Dairy leader moves to soybean checkwhere it has bipartisan support. off board The United Soybean Board will have Risk management options for dairy a new CEO on board at the beginning of By Don Wick farmers the new year. Former South Dakota AgColumnist The Dairy Revenue Protection proriculture Secretary Lucas Lentsch sucgram allows dairy farms to put a oor on ceeds Polly Ruhland, who is retiring. the milk price and capture any market upside. Purina Lentsch is now an executive vice president with Dairy risk management specialist Tim Patchin said there is Management Inc. Previously, Lentsch was the CEO more interest in managing risk with the current low for Midwest Dairy. milk prices. “We recognize that you should act proactively versus reactively,” Patchin said. “I think that’s UWRF dairy plant has new manager one of the advantages of sitting down with one of us Rueben Nilsson is the new Wuethrich Family/ and discussing options. What’s your risk management Grassland Dairy Center of Excellence manager at the comfort level? What’s your risk management knowl- University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Nilsson sucedge base? Let’s start from the beginning and build ceeds Michelle Farner, who left in November. Nilsout from there.” Approximately 25% of the milk pro- son helped operate the Lone Grazer Creamery and duced today is covered by DRP. previously worked at the Caves of Faribault. Ag pushes back on possible trade war Members of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party have issued a report on U.S.-China relations. According to Politico, farmstate lawmakers were able to reduce the most critical language about China. The concern is China would retaliate against U.S. agriculture. Fifteen farm groups, including the American Soybean Association and National Corn Growers Association, sent a letter to committee leadership emphasizing the importance of the Chinese market. Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley is a longtime advocate of a more protectionist policy against China. When asked about the potential impact to farmers, Hawley said the government would “take care of agriculture.” In 2018, the Trump administration provided federal assistance to farmers dealing with low prices due to a trade war with China. Hawley may be referring to a similar scenario. USDA to begin issuing pandemic assistance USDA has announced plans to issue more than $223 million in Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program payments. This money is to help farmers and ranchers who suffered a drop in gross revenues due to COVID-19 in 2020. The application process wrapped up in mid-July. There were more than 38,500 applications, triggering payments of nearly $7 billion. That is far above the available funding. As a result, a 9.5% payment factor has been applied to all payments to ensure equitable distribution.
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Cheese trends Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin has released its cheese trends for 2024. Cooking and consuming cheese products at home has remained popular since the pandemic began and continues to draw strength. With a focus on health and wellness, the report said, consumers treat themselves with “mindful indulgence.” Local food is a growing trend. DFW said consumers also want more unique avors. WFU honors The Wisconsin Farmers Union presented awards at its recent convention. Inga Witscher and Jessica Ryba received the Friend of the Family Farmer Award. Witscher co-created the “Around the Farm Table” PBS television series and has a small Jersey herd at Osseo. Ryba is a former WFU staff member and
Agropur hires new president Maxime Devourdy is the new president of ingredients and corporate strategy for Agropur. Devourdy most recently was the vice president of corporate development and sustainable growth strategy for Agropur. Devourdy succeeds Dan LaMarche, who is retiring. Sonnentag promoted The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation has promoted Cassie Sonnentag. As its senior director of public relations, Sonnentag will continue to oversee WFBF’s media relations and work extensively with the Gather Wisconsin brand. Malcore named public relations specialist Rachel Malcore has been named the public relations specialist for Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative. Malcore’s experience has been in marketing and communications. She received her undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and is expected to earn her master’s degree in communications this summer at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Heusel moves to Edge Co-op Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative has added a eld services representative to its member services team, focusing on its members in Minnesota and South Dakota. Most recently, Kaitlin Heusel was a eld rep for Foremost Farms in northern Wisconsin. Heusel will also provide Edge services to members of the Minnesota Milk Producers Association. Trivia challenge Ghee, or claried butter, is the term for butter with the milk solids and water removed. That answers our last trivia question. For this week’s trivia, what is the highest grade for butter? We will have the answer in our next edition of 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.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2023 • Page 11
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Page 12 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2023
Better than a baker’s dozen
Heeg family celebrates over 20 years of Christmas cookies By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
MARSHFIELD, Wis. — Christmas baking has become a holiday tradition for the Heeg family of Marsheld, just as dairy farming is a family tradition. Over 20 years ago, Judy Heeg began hosting what has become the family’s annual cookie day. Judy and her husband, Roger, owned HeegView Holsteins, where Roger continues to raise crops. There the couple raised their children — Scott, Jeff, Tammy, Tim, Sandy and Kim. Both the dairying and baking traditions have continued across generations. Scott and his wife, Linda, operated Heeg Acres from 1978 until they sold the cows and farmstead to their son, Eric, and his wife, Emily, last March. Eric and Emily milk 60 cows, and Scott and Linda continue to farm 350 acres. “Agriculture, and dairy in particular, is an important part of our family’s heritage, and our baking day includes current and past dairy farmers,” Linda said. “Besides dairy farmers, we have three ag teachers in the family too.”
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Members of the Heeg family pose with the fruits of their labors at their annual cookie baking day Dec. 3 in Marsheld, Wisconsin. The Heegs have been gathering for Christmas baking for over 20 years.
Each year, generations of the family gather at Judy’s home to partake in the annual baking tradition that
includes Judy, her daughters and daughters-in-law, grandchildren and grandchildrenin-law. Eric and Emily’s son,
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Emily Heeg and her son, Oliver, pose by the varieƟes of Christmas cookies made at the Heeg family cookie day Dec. 3 in Marsheld, Wisconsin. The Heegs use over 12 pounds of buƩer at their annual baking day.
“The bigger the family has gotten, the bigger the cookie day has gotten,” Linda said. With so many baking enthusiasts, there is no shortage of people to take on the tasks at hand: mixing, rolling, baking, or decorating and dipping in chocolate. “We bake from about 8 a.m. until mid-afternoon,” Linda said. “We make 10 or 12 different kinds of cookies and some candies too. Many of the batches we make are doubled or even tripled. We have one or two mixers going almost all the time.” Not everyone in attendance is a baker at heart. This includes Emily. “I personally hate baking, so this gives me a chance to do it with others, which makes it so much more fun,” Emily said. “It divides the work up, so it’s not so much for one person to do everything.” The Heegs have tried-and-true favorite recipes they enjoy making each year. They have also started trying new recipes each year. The ones they like the best, they add to their annual repertoire. True dairy farmers, the Heeg family relies on butter to perfect their recipes, and Linda said that most years they use at least 12 pounds of butter while baking.
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A full day of large-group baking, Linda said, takes planning. “Judy makes a list of the cookies and what we’ll need,” Linda said. “Then we all bring different needed ingredients.” At the end of the day, the fruits of their labors are divided among those in attendance to be used for gifts and for entertaining. Emily has been attending the annual Heeg family event for the past six or seven years and has come to enjoy the camaraderie and sense of family. “I love how the women in our family can get together and have so much fun,” Emily said. “And now I love being able to bring Oliver along so that he can spend time and get to know his second cousins. Family time is the best time.” That sense of family combined with holiday spirit is what makes the tradition special for Linda as well. “It has denitely become a true holiday tradition for us,” Linda said. “We laugh, we chat, and we get a chance to catch up with everyone. Watching as each generation has become involved is great. Getting together like this keeps us close as a family.”
We hope the cherished traditions of this festive season fill your heart and home with joy. Thank you for your patronage and friendship over the year; we look forward to serving you in 2024. Best wishes to you and your loved ones this Christmas and always!
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Page 14 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2023
’Tis the season for rejoicing, reconnecting, reflecting, renewing faith and simply celebrating! As we welcome the Christmas season into our hearts and homes, we’re overjoyed and filled with gratitude for all of the blessings that have made our year so special, including the friendships we share here with all of you. At Christmas time and always, we wish each and every one of you good health, great prosperity and abundant happiness.
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from our side OF THE FENCE What do you want for Christmas?
Everett Leichtfuss 6 years old Parents: Mark and Vanna Leichtfuss Two Rivers, Wisconsin Manitowoc County 200 cows
Claire Elsbernd 10 years old Parents: Jay and Leslie Elsbernd Ridgeway, Iowa Winneshiek County 150 cows
What chores do you help with on the farm? I help with feeding the bottle calves, scraping up after milking, helping Dad with projects and getting the mail.
What chores do you help with on the farm? I help with giving hay to the calves, watching gates and rounding up the cows.
Tell us about your favorite animal. I like Airforce, Allstar and Oklahoma (my mom’s special cows) and our pony named Princess.
Tell us about your favorite animal. My favorite animal is dogs because I can play with them and they will play with me.
Tell us about your favorite animal. She is a Jersey calf named Friday because she was my birthday present when I turned 9.
What is your favorite food to enjoy at Christmastime? I love Aunt Carrie’s Oreo dessert and M&M cookies and chocolate chip cookies.
What is your favorite food to enjoy at Christmastime? Hot chocolate because I really like chocolate.
What is your favorite food to enjoy at Christmastime? Christmas cookies.
When does your family decorate for Christmas, and what is your favorite decoration? We decorate after Thanksgiving by getting a tree and putting up our lights. My favorite is our Christmas tree which we get from a tree farm near our home.
When does your family decorate for Christmas, and what is your favorite decoration? My family decorates after Dec. 1, and my favorite decoration is ornaments.
When does your family decorate for Christmas, and what is your favorite decoration? We dec-orate on the weekend after Thanksgiving. My favorite decoration is the ornament Grandma gave me for my rst Christmas. It is a little boy on a rocking horse, and it is blue. What do you want for Christmas? Football gloves, and peace, love and joy What is your favorite activity to do during Christmas break? My favorite activity during Christ-mas break is going to Christmas parties. Do you think you are on the naughty or nice list? I’m on the nice list because I help with feed-ing calves and scraping. If you could ride with Santa on his sleigh, where would you go and what song would you sing on the way there? We would sing “Jingle Bells” and go to everyone’s house, giving presents to kids on the nice list and coal to kids on the naughty list.
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What do you want for Christmas? I want camping supplies because I like being outdoors. What is your favorite activity to do during Christmas break? I like to go to the Cresco Fitness Center to play and swim in the indoor pool. Do you think you are on the naughty or nice list? I’m on the nice list because I’m fun and nice to my siblings. If you could ride with Santa on his sleigh, where would you go and what song would you sing on the way there? “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” because it is my favorite song. I’d like to go to a place where I could see the northern lights for Christmas.
Mason Primmer 9 years old Parents: Cody and Arlisa Clements; Bryce and Melissa Primmer Coon Valley, Wisconsin LaCrosse County 80 cows What chores do you help with on the farm? I help with feeding calves.
What do you want for Christmas? An Xbox. What is your favorite activity to do during Christmas break? Farming is my favorite activity. Do you think you are on the naughty or nice list? I am on the nice list because I am good at school. If you could ride with Santa on his sleigh, where would you go and what song would you sing on the way there? I would go to the North Pole where Santa works. I would sing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” on the way there.
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ConƟnued from OUR SIDE | Page 15 Britney Popp 11 years old Parents: Gary and Michelle Popp Unity, Wisconsin Clark County 30 cows What chores do you help with on the farm? I help move the pasture wire in the summer, sometimes feed the calves, sometimes unwrap the net wrap off bales and sometimes feed the cows grain. Tell us about your favorite animal. My alltime favorite animal was my cow Rosy. I liked to pet her and sit on her when she was lying down. Rosy was a very friendly cow. She got too old and is in heaven.
What is your favorite food to enjoy at Christmastime? My favorite Christmas food is gingerbread man cookies. When does your family decorate for Christmas, and what is your favorite decoration? When we get a real Christmas tree is when we start decorating. It isn’t the same time every year. My favorite decoration is all the Christmas lights. What do you want for Christmas? For Christmas, I would like more play horses and a pretend cow shed. What is your favorite activity to do during Christmas break? My favorite thing to do during Christmas break is playing in the snow and sledding. This year there might not be any snow. Do you think you are on the naughty or nice list? I would be on the nice list because I’m nice to others and sometimes do my chores and homework. If you could ride with Santa on his sleigh, where would you go and what song would you sing on the way there? If I could ride with Santa in his sleigh, I would get a ride to a football game in New York and sing “Jingle Bells” all the way there.
Adalyn Bedtke 8 years old Parents: Adam and Amanda Bedtke Plainview, Minnesota Winona County 70 cows
Meredith Webster 8 years old Parents: Austin and Ellie Webster Greenleaf, Wisconsin Brown County 300 cows
What chores do you help with on the farm? I help feed baby calves, our show cattle, the chickens and the cats. Sometimes I help prep cows during milking.
What chores do you help with on the farm? I help feed some of the calves and sheep.
Tell us about your favorite animal. Right now, my favorite animal to spend time with is my calf Stella. What is your favorite food to enjoy at Christmastime? Grasshoppers on Christmas Eve. When does your family decorate for Christmas, and what is your favorite decoration? We usually decorate the weekend after Thanksgiving, and my favorite decoration is the Christmas lights in my room.
Tell us about your favorite animal. I have two. One is my show heifer named Rosey. She is a Milking Shorthorn, and I love to pet her. She is nice. The other is a Jersey milking cow that I named Bestie because she is always my best friend when I see her in the parlor. She lets me pet her, and I love Jerseys. What is your favorite food to enjoy at Christmastime? Candy canes. When does your family decorate for Christmas, and what is your favorite decoration? In December. The Christmas tree is my favorite decoration.
What do you want for Christmas? A life-sized stuffed cow.
What do you want for Christmas? Paints.
What is your favorite activity to do during Christmas break? Our whole family goes to the movie theater to see a movie on Christmas break.
What is your favorite activity to do during Christmas break? Play in the snow.
Do you think you are on the naughty or nice list? I’m pretty sure I am on the nice list because I help a lot around the farm and in the house.
Do you think you are on the naughty or nice list? The nice list because I am nice to people and I try to solve problems.
If you could ride with Santa on his sleigh, where would you go and what song would you sing on the way there? I would sing “Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer” all the way to the North Pole to see the penguins.
If you could ride with Santa on his sleigh, where would you go and what song would you sing on the way there? I would go to Kentucky to visit family and sing “One More Sleep.”
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Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2023 • Page 17
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Page 18 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2023
TOP PERFORMERS Kurtis Ambrosius of Ambrosius Dairy Farms LLC | Seymour, Wisconsin | Outagamie County | 112 cows How many times a day do you milk, and what is your current herd average, butterfat and protein? We milk 112 cows and have about 130 cows in total. The herd is almost completely Holstein — we are milking one Jersey right now. The herd average is right around 33,500 pounds of milk at 4.2% butterfat and 3.3% protein. Describe your housing and milking facility. The cows are housed in tie stalls with Mayo Mattresses, and we bed every day with a bedding product from Alternative Animal Bedding. The cows go out for an hour and a half every morning. We milk with 12 units, with automatic takeoffs. Two people handle each milking. Who is part of your farm team, and what are their roles? Our farm team consists of me and my wife, Lisa, my parents, Jerry and Julie, one full-time employee and four part-time milkers, who are mostly high school kids. What is your herd health program? We do a herd check, which is primarily for pregnancy checks, every four weeks. Newborns are vaccinated with Tri-Shield and Inforce 3. At four months, and then twice a year, we vaccinate with Bovi-
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
KurƟs Ambrosius stands in his barn Dec. 6 where he milks 112 cows with a 33,500-pound herd average near Seymour, Wisconsin. Ambrosius operates Ambrosius Dairy Farm with his wife, Lisa, and parents, Jerry and Julie. Shield Gold FP 5 L5 HB. We have had a closed herd for the last eight years. What does your dry cow and transition program consist of? We have an average dry
period of about 50 days, and we dry treat, alternating Quartermaster and Tomorrow, every other lactation. Dry cows are housed in a freestall with access to outside and fed a negative D-CAD diet that con-
sists of corn silage, straw, a mineral mix and protein. They come back into the barn about 10 days to two weeks before calving. First-calf heifers are brought in about three weeks before to get used to the stalls
and the activity in the barn. Cows calve in the tie stalls — we have ve stalls that are Turn to TOP PERFORMER | Page 20
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Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2023 • Page 19
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Page 20 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2023
Con�nued from TOP PERFORMER | Page 18 segregated up next to the milkhouse — and that is where we calve cows. That makes them easy to monitor, and it is an easy area to clean. We power wash it daily. They stay in those stalls until their milk is clean. What is the composition of your ration, and how has that changed in recent years? We feed a total mixed ration that is corn-silage based, with haylage, ground corn and a protein mix. That has been an area we have changed in the last couple of years. We ran a high-corn-silage diet for about 15 years, and then a couple of years ago, I was looking to make a change because I was not happy with the incidences of ketosis and milk fever I was seeing. I switched nutritionists and ended up going with Amanda Williams at Barton Kiefer. That was the big change I was looking for and has been nothing but a great experience so far, changing to a high-ber, easily digestible diet. That was where our production went to the next level while maintaining good components. Tell us about the forages you plant and detail your harvest strategies. We make corn silage and haylage, and we do all the harvesting ourselves. We work with our agronomist to make the best decisions, based on growing degree days, but typically we go about every 28 days on our haylage. Our corn silage is non-brown midrib.
cows. Our cows are uniform as a group. All of the cows are bred with conventional semen, mostly based on natural heats. We use an ovsynch protocol for cows that come up open or cystic on herd check. Because of their location on the farm, it is harder to catch heifers in natural heats, so they are bred mostly on CIDR sync programs. We use sexed semen on them on the rst service and conventional semen after that.
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
Cows at Ambrosius Dairy Farm eat a total mixed ra�on during milking Dec. 6 in Seymour, Wisconsin. The cows are housed and milked in a �estall barn, with 12 units equipped with automa�c takeoffs. We tried BMR, but decided it required management that did not work in our system. We generally make our corn silage at about 60% moisture as it is stored in tower silos. We follow with oats behind winter wheat to make heifer forage. What is your average somatic cell count, and how does that affect your production? Our average SCC has been 70,000 for the past year. We cull with a high emphasis on SCC. We cull cows that get mastitis. We haven’t treated a cow for mastitis in 10 years. This practice has helped our herd average and herd health
grow. We started using a different bedding and quit bovine somatotropin about 10 to 12 years ago, which we believe helped our SCC. What change has created the biggest improvement in your herd average? Changing our feeding strategy has made an impact on our herd average. I have been thrilled with the increases that we have seen since changing. What technology do you use to monitor your herd? We DHI test monthly, and I use PCDART to monitor the herd. I use the app Pocket Dairy on
IF YOU HAVE COWS, YOU N�D...
my phone to sort lists, helping me know what is happening with each cow. What is your breeding program, and what role does genetics play in your production level? I try to take a balanced approach with everything on the farm. We’ve been mating our cows for about 15 years, and the people doing that know pretty well what I am looking for. The cows are mated by Select Sires, and the heifers are mated by CRI. We’ve worked on getting our components and production up. Now I would like to focus on breeding more moderate-sized
List three management strategies that have helped you attain your production and component level. The three management strategies that help us maintain our herd levels are feeding, genetics and the bedding material we use. Tell us about your farm and your plans for the dairy in the next year. This next year will be a year just to try and maintain things. We have zero interest in expanding our herd size; instead, we will continue to try and do better at everything we do to continue growing our success. We are located close to a busy high-way, close to the edge of town and near the Austin Straubel Airport. I work to keep the farm tourready. Frequently people will stop in and ask to see the farm. I try to stop what I’m doing and show them around. That is an important part of sharing the truth about dairy products and dairy farms.
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DAIRY ST R
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Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2023 • Page 21
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2021 John Deere S790 $ 1760 hrs., #572086
2022 John Deere S770 $ 318 hrs., #554014
20230 John Deere S760 $ 300 hrs., #572365
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COMBINES
Case IH 2166 1997, 2WD, Duals, 5685 hrs., 3705 Sep. hrs., #573600 .......$23,500 Case IH 2188 1997, 2WD, Duals, 4064 hrs., 2716 Sep. hrs., #573599 .......$24,500 Case IH 8240 2016, PRWD, Duals, 1289 hrs., 920 Sep. hrs., #572343.....$243,900 Case IH 8250 2022, 2WD, Duals, 1300 hrs., 801 Sep. hrs., #572186 .......$394,900 Case IH 8250 2022, PRWD, Duals, 1716 hrs., 1291 Sep. hrs., #572189...$409,900 Case IH 8250 2022, PRWD, Tracks, 1100 hrs., 864 Sep. hrs., #572187 ....$489,900 JD 9550 2001, 2WD, Singles, 4976 hrs., 3145 Sep. hrs., #572170 .............$52,500 JD 9560 STS 2004, 2WD, Duals, 4638 hrs., 2982 Sep. hrs., #567094.........$52,500 JD 9570 STS 2008, PRWD, Duals, 3464 hrs., 2237 Sep. hrs., #568406 ......$99,500 JD 9570 STS 2009, 2WD, Duals, 2367 hrs., 1597 Sep. hrs., #556547.......$104,900 JD 9570 STS 2009, 2WD, Duals, 2560 hrs., 1630 Sep. hrs., #571894.......$105,900 JD 9650W 2000, 2WD, Duals, 3680 hrs., 2665 Sep. hrs., #568122 ............$45,000 JD 9660 STS 2005, PRWD, Duals, 4255 hrs., 3155 Sep. hrs., #573421 ......$53,000 JD 9660 STS 2006, 2WD, Duals, 2903 hrs., 2086 Sep. hrs., #571131 .......$57,500 JD 9670 STS 2010, 2WD, Duals, 3365 hrs., 2454 Sep. hrs., #572908.........$81,000 JD 9750 STS 2002, PRWD, Duals, 2834 hrs., 1727 Sep. hrs., #573419 ......$47,500 JD 9760 STS 2005, 2WD, Singles, 4300 hrs., 2575 Sep. hrs., #571176 ......$79,900 JD 9760 STS 2007, PRWD, Duals, 2969 hrs., 2277 Sep. hrs., #573293 ......$82,500 JD 9770 STS 2010, PRWD, Duals, 3399 hrs., 2549 Sep. hrs., #572968 ....$104,500 JD 9870 STS 2010, PRWD, Duals, 3558 hrs., 2425 Sep. hrs., #568308 ......$94,500 JD 9870 STS 2008, PRWD, Duals, 3385 hrs., 2494 Sep. hrs., #566621 ......$97,500 JD 9870 STS 2010, PRWD, Duals, 3400 hrs., 2350 Sep. hrs., #573531 ....$102,400 JD 9870 STS 2011, 2WD, Duals, 3809 hrs., 1747 Sep. hrs., #567383.......$109,900 JD S680 2014, PRWD, Duals, 2700 hrs., 1950 Sep. hrs., #572388............$129,000 JD S680 2013, PRWD, Duals, 3520 hrs., 2287 Sep. hrs., #572095............$129,900 JD S680 2013, PRWD, Duals, 2729 hrs., 2010 Sep. hrs., #563909............$139,000 JD S680 2013, 2WD, Duals, 2188 hrs., 1720 Sep. hrs., #571079..............$146,500 JD S680 2017, PRWD, Duals, 2788 hrs., 1850 Sep. hrs., #572100............$197,900 JD S680 2017, PRWD, Duals, 2024 hrs., 1350 Sep. hrs., #570488............$239,500
JD S690 2017, PRWD, Duals, 2514 hrs., 1605 Sep. hrs., #568113............$239,000 JD S760 2023, 2WD, Duals, 327 hrs., 245 Sep. hrs., #573154..................$499,900 JD S770 2022, PRWD, Floaters, 60 hrs., 20 Sep. hrs., #563704 ................$546,000 JD S770 2022, PRWD, Duals, 371 hrs., 148 Sep. hrs., #567222................$564,900 JD S770 2022, PRWD, Duals, 284 hrs., 91 Sep. hrs., #567225..................$574,900 JD S770 2023, PRWD, Duals, 250 hrs., 176 Sep. hrs., #573071................$581,900 JD S780 2018, PRWD, Duals, 2835 hrs., 1901 Sep. hrs., #567178............$234,900 JD S780 2018, PRWD, Duals, 1735 hrs., 1200 Sep. hrs., #571593............$283,500 JD S780 2018, 2WD, Duals, 1225 hrs., 826 Sep. hrs., #555412................$319,000 JD S780 2020, PRWD, Singles, 1640 hrs., 1204 Sep. hrs., #531610 .........$349,000 JD S780 2020, PRWD, Duals, 1241 hrs., 1007 Sep. hrs., #573595............$349,900 JD S780 2022, PRWD, Duals, 933 hrs., 737 Sep. hrs., #571615................$489,900 JD S780 2021, PRWD, Duals, 520 hrs., 300 Sep. hrs., #567515................$519,900 JD S780 2021, PRWD, Floaters, 723 hrs., 360 Sep. hrs., #567882 ............$524,900 JD S780 2021, PRWD, Duals, 388 hrs., 285 Sep. hrs., #572205................$529,000 JD S780 2021, PRWD, Duals, 401 hrs., 305 Sep. hrs., #572206................$529,000 JD S780 2022, PRWD, Singles, 578 hrs., 400 Sep. hrs., #571886 .............$529,000 JD S780 2022, PRWD, Duals, 897 hrs., 420 Sep. hrs., #569414................$529,000 JD S780 2022, PRWD, Singles, 694 hrs., 424 Sep. hrs., #571725 .............$533,000 JD S780 2022, PRWD, Duals, 530 hrs., 347 Sep. hrs., #563635................$549,000 JD S780 2022, PRWD, Duals, 789 hrs., 595 Sep. hrs., #563633................$549,000 JD S780 2022, PRWD, Duals, 610 hrs., 353 Sep. hrs., #552362................$549,000 JD S780 2022, PRWD, Floaters, 572 hrs., 323 Sep. hrs., #553546 ............$549,900 JD S780 2022, PRWD, Duals, 254 hrs., 183 Sep. hrs., #554094................$565,000 JD S780 2022, PRWD, Floaters, 446 hrs., 170 Sep. hrs., #554623 ............$569,000 JD S780 2022, PRWD, Duals, 433 hrs., 262 Sep. hrs., #568072................$569,900 JD S780 2023, PRWD, Duals, 466 hrs., 358 Sep. hrs., #572927................$584,900 JD S780 2022, PRWD, Duals, 366 hrs., 165 Sep. hrs., #567271................$585,000 JD S780 2023, PRWD, Duals, 400 hrs., 318 Sep. hrs., #573365................$594,900 JD S780 2023, PRWD, Duals, 277 hrs., 166 Sep. hrs., #545327................$599,900
JD S780 2022, PRWD, Tracks, 245 hrs., 192 Sep. hrs., #563701 ...............$619,000 JD S780 2022, PRWD, Tracks, 366 hrs., 238 Sep. hrs., #554013 ...............$619,000 JD S780 2022, PRWD, Tracks, 300 hrs., 280 Sep. hrs., #561020 ...............$623,000 JD S780 2023, PRWD, Duals, 89 hrs., 30 Sep. hrs., #545523 ...................$629,900 JD S780 2023, PRWD, Tracks, 399 hrs., 284 Sep. hrs., #572364 ...............$656,000 JD S780 2023, PRWD, Tracks, 330 hrs., 238 Sep. hrs., #573052 ...............$674,900 JD S780 2023, PRWD, Tracks, 314 hrs., 234 Sep. hrs., #573043 ...............$674,900 JD S780 2023, PRWD, Tracks, 347 hrs., 259 Sep. hrs., #573054 ...............$674,900 JD S780 2023, PRWD, Tracks, 267 hrs., 198 Sep. hrs., #573053 ...............$681,900 JD S780 2023, PRWD, Tracks, 174 hrs., 118 Sep. hrs., #573055 ...............$684,900 JD S780 2023, PRWD, Tracks, 208 hrs., 148 Sep. hrs., #573044 ...............$689,000 JD S790 2018, PRWD, Duals, 2110 hrs., 1585 Sep. hrs., #573418............$269,500 JD S790 2021, PRWD, Duals, 1760 hrs., 1500 Sep. hrs., #572086............$364,900 JD S790 2021, PRWD, Singles, 1031 hrs., 829 Sep. hrs., #557277 ...........$479,000 JD S790 2020, PRWD, Floaters, 734 hrs., 485 Sep. hrs., #568213 ............$497,000 JD S790 2021, PRWD, Duals, 930 hrs., 613 Sep. hrs., #565421................$499,900 JD S790 2020, PRWD, Singles, 776 hrs., 474 Sep. hrs., #568212 .............$501,000 JD S790 2022, PRWD, Singles, 655 hrs., 438 Sep. hrs., #563815 .............$579,500 JD S790 2022, PRWD, Duals, 491 hrs., 323 Sep. hrs., #552839................$579,500 JD S790 2022, PRWD, Duals, 627 hrs., 430 Sep. hrs., #566694................$579,900 JD S790 2023, PRWD, Duals, 495 hrs., 390 Sep. hrs., #573286................$585,900 JD S790 2023, PRWD, Duals, 395 hrs., 290 Sep. hrs., #573285................$599,900 JD S790 2023, PRWD, Duals, 473 hrs., 330 Sep. hrs., #573278................$599,900 JD S790 2022, PRWD, Duals, 299 hrs., 194 Sep. hrs., #563325................$599,900 JD S790 2022, PRWD, Duals, 497 hrs., 368 Sep. hrs., #566460................$624,900 JD S790 2022, PRWD, Singles, 266 hrs., 159 Sep. hrs., #557140 .............$629,900 JD X9 1000 2022, PRWD, Duals, 950 hrs., 680 Sep. hrs., #572277 ..........$659,900 JD X9 1100 2021, PRWD, Tracks, 1101 hrs., 735 Sep. hrs., #552917........$749,000 JD X9 1100 2021, PRWD, Tracks, 1082 hrs., 715 Sep. hrs., #552921........$769,000
Locations throughout minnesota & western wisconsin! CALL TODAY! (320)365-1653 SEE OUR COMPLETE INVENTORY WITH PICTURES AND DESCRIPTIONS AT: www.mmcjd.com
Page 22 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2023
Mac America Ag Finance wants to help Ag producers with (30 year- Fixed Rate) Ag Financing. Real Estate, Refinancing, Purchases and Operating Loans from $50,000 to $50 million.
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IOWA Prairie Land Ag Supply Inc. Rock Valley, IA 712-476-9290 United Dairy Systems, Inc. West Union, IA 563-422-5355 Monticello, IA 319-465-5931 WISCONSIN Advanced Dairy Spring Valley, WI 715-772-3201 Bob’s Dairy Supply Dorchester, WI 715-654-5252 Ederer Dairy Supply Plain, WI 608-546-3713 DeLaval Dairy Service Kaukauna, WI 866-335-2825
Joe Gill • Farm Director
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Contact: Darrell Crapp
Contact one of the following dealers to learn more:
FARM INFORMATION STATION Catch the Dairy Star’s Mark Klaphake with Joe Gill at 6:45 a.m. the 2nd & 4th Fridays of the month on KASM!
PO Box 160, Albany, MN • (320) 845-2184 • Fax (320) 845-2187
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To find out more about how VMS™ V310 can work your way, visit delaval.com or call your local DeLaval representative.
is a registered trademark of Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. and “DeLaval” is a registered trade/servicemark of DeLaval Holding AB © 2023 DeLaval Inc. DeLaval, 11100 North Congress Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64153-1296. Dairy producer testimonials reflect their real-life experience using DeLaval products. Results in testimonials have not been independently verified and DeLaval does not claim the results are typical. Actual performance and improvement will depend on a number of factors, including prior milking practices, type of cows, farm and herd maintenance practices. Testimonials do not constitute warranties or guaranties of service or performance. www.delaval.com
Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2023 • Page 23
Driven by competition
Jakobi wins national pedal pulling championship By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
GRANTON, Wis. — Power, speed and the thrill of accomplishment are what drive 12-year-old Kelcy Jakobi. Since the age of 4, the Clark County youth has found all those things while competing in pedal tractor pulling. “It makes you stronger,” Kelcy said. “I like working hard, trying to do better every time.” For her efforts, Kelcy is a national champion pedal puller. In September, she won her nal pedal pulling title at the National Kids Pedal Pull held at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota, topping the 11-year-old girls division when she pulled 660 pounds over a distance of 29 feet. Her winning pull was over 6 feet longer than her nearest competitor. The eld in her age group started with 27 pullers. “It was the rst time this year that I didn’t make a full pull,” Kelcy said. A full pull is usually considered to be 45-50 feet, depending on who is running the pull.
“They said, ‘We nally stopped her,’” Kelcy said. A sixth grader at Loyal Middle School, Kelcy lives on her family’s 75-cow dairy farm near Granton with her parents, Denny and Tracy; brothers, Brandon and Isaac; and sister, Mallory. Like many children who grow up the youngest in their family, Kelcy was initiated into the sport of pedal pulling by watching her older siblings compete. The family came to pedal pulling naturally. Denny is an avid tractor puller himself, making pedal pulling a natural extension for his family. Competing at the highest level is nothing new to Kelcy. Her rst year competing, as a 4-year-old, Kelcy qualied for the national contest and pedaled her way to a second-place nish. “I have made it to nationals every year and have placed in the top three every time except two,” Kelcy said. The path to qualifying for the national pedal pulling championships starts with participating at the local level in a sanctioned pedal pull, earning a top-three nish to qualify for
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Kelcy Jakobi stands next to the awards she has amassed as a compeƟƟve pedal puller. Jakobi has been compeƟng in pedal pulls since she was 4 years old. Her parents, Denny and Tracy, milk 75 cows near Granton, Wisconsin. the state contest, which is held each year in early September. At the state contest, the top four nishers in each age division earn the opportunity to head to the Corn Palace with the prospect of coming home a national champion.
Denny said that, at the local contests, boys and girls compete against each other, but at the state and national contests, each gender has its own division. “The weights go up the older the kids get,” Denny said.
“They start out with maybe 30 or 40 pounds for the 4-yearolds and get progressively heavier.”
Turn to JAKOBI | Page 25
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Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2023 • Page 25
ConƟnued from JAKOBI | Page 23
Kelcy regularly competes in several local pulls, including those held annually at the Loyal Corn Fest and the Clark County Fair, and the family often travels to other sanctioned pedal pulls held in the area. “We hosted the Granton Dairy Breakfast in 2015 and had a sanctioned pedal pull as part of the activities,” Denny said. “That was Kelcy’s rst pedal pull.” One of the aspects of the sport of pedal pulling the Jakobi family enjoys most is the relationships that they have built with the people who organize and run the pulls, as well as the other families and competitors they have met. “I have pulled against a lot of the same kids over the years; you get to know them, and that is pretty neat,” Kelcy said. “We also see the people who run the pulls a lot, and they know me, and that sometimes makes it more fun too.” While she is eligible to compete on the local level next year, Kelcy’s reign as a topranking national pedal puller must come to an end. “They go by your age on the day of the contest, and next year my birthday is two days before, so I’ll be too old,” Kelcy said. A family wedding will preclude her from participating in next year’s state pull as well. Growing up the youngest of four kids helped foster a competitive nature in Kelcy, and that is where she said her
PHOTO SUBMITTED
(Below) Kelcy Jakobi poses with her trophy aŌer winning the 11-year-old girls division of the NaƟonal Kids Pedal Pull Sept. 23 at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota. Jakobi has qualied for the naƟonal pull every year since she was 4 years old.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Kelcy Jakobi pedals hard at the NaƟonal Kids Pedal Pull Sept. 23 in Mitchell, South Dakota. Jakobi pulled 660 pounds for a total of 29 feet to claim the naƟonal Ɵtle. determination to be the best at whatever task or activity she takes on comes from. Kelcy works hard throughout the year to prepare for her pulling season. “I ride my bike up the hill from the farm every day,” Kelcy said. “I actually pretty much wear out a bike every single year.” Kelcy said riding her bike helps build both her leg muscles and her endurance. She lamented that her worst performance at the national contest found her placing 10th. She said that was the year she learned how to drive a utility
vehicle, and her bike riding time decreased. “I didn’t like placing that low,” Kelcy said. “I learned my lesson; you don’t build your leg muscles driving the gator. I started riding my bike again.” The best advice Kelcy said she could give an up-andcoming pedal puller would be to put the work in to build strength. “You need to be able to start out hard and fast and build momentum, and keep your elbows up and your knees up,” Kelcy said. “It really does take a lot of practice at home.” While she is nearing the
end of her pedal pulling career, she said she will continue to nd avenues to be competitive, including the sport of lawnmower pulling and competing as a threeseason athlete, playing softball, volleyball and basketball. “I’m going to keep riding my bike, getting stronger and keep playing sports,” Kelcy said. “Those are the things that make me happy.”
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Page 26 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2023
Making dairy the star of the holidays Alice in Dairyland shares tips for celebrating the season with Wisconsin dairy products By Stacey Smart
stacey.s@dairystar.com
JUNEAU, Wis. — Incorporating cheese and other dairy products into holiday parties is a tasty way to celebrate the season. Adding delicious, festive fun can be done in a variety of ways through charcuterie boards, avorful butter logs, cheesy breads and more. In a Professional Dairy Producers Dairy Signal Dec. 14, Ashley Hagenow, 76th Alice in Dairyland, offered tips for using Wisconsin cheese and butter to celebrate with family and friends. “What better way is there to connect with loved ones than over food?” Hagenow said. “That might include Wisconsin dairy products like cheese. Wisconsin is home to over 600 styles, varieties and types of cheeses. They make great additions to recipes and are also delicious snacks. Cheese makes a great gift idea during the holidays as well.” On behalf of Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, Hagenow shared three rec-
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Alice in Dairyland Ashley Hagenow shares ideas for using dairy products when making charcuterie boards Dec. 14 during a Professional Dairy Producers Dairy Signal. Hagenow reminded her audience that cheese makes a great giŌ idea during the holidays.
ipes during her presentation, starting with homemade artisan pizza that included Wisconsin cheeses, pepperoni, sausage and marinara sauce. “This is such an easy and fun recipe to make at home with family or friends,” Hagenow said. She began by putting sauce on the
pizza crust. Next, she added pepperoni and sausage. “Start by spreading out pepperoni around the crust and feel free to add as many as you like,” Hagenow said. “Then, sprinkle on sausage. You can also add mushrooms. Mushrooms and sausage go hand in hand when it
comes to pizza. We have our base, and now comes the fun part with adding in some delicious dairy with Wisconsin cheeses.” Just like she did with the sausage, Hagenow sprinkled Odyssey Feta cheese onto the pizza to round off the toppings and said it makes a great topping on homemade artisan pizza. “You can’t go wrong with any amount of cheese,” Hagenow said. “I always put a lot of cheese on my pizza because it bakes so well together and incorporates all of those delicious ingredients to any type of pizza you might be enjoying with family and friends.” Last but not least, Hagenow topped off the pizza with one of her favorite ingredients — fresh mozzarella — from Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese. “Mozzarella is a classic topping on any type of pizza that you enjoy any time of year,” she said. “I love eating fresh mozzarella as a snack as well. Sometimes I have it with basil and tomatoes to make a delicious treat during the summer.” Hagenow recommended experimenting with avors when making pizza. “Sometimes, I like more of an alfredo sauce as the base,” she said. “I also like adding in chicken and veggies. You can add any type of ingredients you want to your pizza.” Next, Hagenow provided ideas for making a cheese board. Turn to CHEESE | Page 27
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ConƟnued from CHEESE | Page 26 “You can’t go wrong with a cheese board during the holidays or any time of year,” she said. Her cheese board included specialty cheeses like Sartori’s Merlot BellaVitano. “This cheese is absolutely delicious and complements some of the chocolates and berries on our cheese plate,” Hagenow said. “We also have some Hoard’s Dairyman cheese — another great local dairy here in Wisconsin as they have delved into the cheesemaking business.” Other specialty cheeses like Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese mozzarella and a variety from Alpinage Cheese were also featured on Hagenow’s charcuterie board. In addition, she added citrus avors, raspberries and dried fruit along with a bit of crunch in the form of crackers and candied pecans. “We have made it an exceptional savory experience, focusing on mindful indulgence,” Hagenow said. “This is just one example of ways that you can spruce up cheese boards, especially during the holiday season. This makes for a great appetizer or snack to enjoy with family, friends and other loved ones.” Hagenow said a cheese board can highlight local products. “The Proudly Wisconsin badge helps you identify cheese, butter and other dairy products that are made and processed here in Wisconsin,” she said. Hagenow shared a recipe for cranberry chipotle cheddar butter featuring Carr Valley chipotle cheddar cheese. “This recipe is so easy to make; it’s absolutely delicious and really versatile,” she said. To make this compound butter, Hagenow said she nely shreds the cheese and then mixes in softened butter, dried cranberries, honey, a little bit
Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2023 • Page 27
of ground chili powder, and salt and pepper. “You could put it all in a mixer, mix it together and get a good consistency going and then shape into a log form and place in the refrigerator for about two hours,” Hagenow said. “Enjoy with bread or add to holiday side dishes like green beans, sweet potatoes, or other potato dishes, or even warm up some corn bread to spread it on. The possibilities are endless.” Hagenow said any brand of cranberry chipotle cheddar cheese can be used in the recipe. “Other avors you might want to try include dill and citrus,” she said. “That’s a super unique avor to try with compound butters. You can also try pear and blue cheese.” This recipe can be found on Wisconsincheese.com/butter — a Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin website that features hundreds of recipes for incorporating Wisconsin dairy products into your meals or special occasions. The website also includes a tab for holiday recipes. “I’m eager to experiment with different themes for a holiday charcuterie board this season, such as fruity avors and savory avors that use dill and bacon,” Hagenow said. “I’d also like to do one that is chocolate focused. You can make a fun or unique charcuterie board stand on its own just by tying in some chocolate and caramel avors.” Hagenow enjoys adding milk, cream, butter, sour cream, cheese and other dairy products to her recipes, whether it be a potato dish, green bean casserole or other holiday cuisine. “Food is something to be savored and enjoyed, and it brings all of us together,” Hagenow said. “I’m excited to add Wisconsin dairy wherever I can this holiday season.”
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Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2023 • Page 29
women
IN DAIRY
Tell us about your farm and family. My husband, Dave, and I have two children. Our daughter, Alayna, will be turning 11, and our son, Ethan, just turned 9. This was Dave’s parents’ farm. He grew up here and bought the farm the same day that he proposed to me — New Year’s Eve in 2009. We have made changes to the farm since we were married. We built a heifer barn and dry cow barn and added onto our freestall barn twice. Our cows are milked by two Lely robotic milking systems that we installed in 2014. The robots were a great decision for us. Last year, we built a machine shed. We farm 300 acres and have one full-time employee. Dave’s parents help when needed. His mom likes to drive tractor, and his dad likes to work in the shop. What is a typical day like for you on the dairy? I am usually the rst one up. I take care of the calves so that I can get back to the house and get the kids off to school. I’ll do additional barn chores after that and treat sick cows if needed. I also pay bills in the morning and do any accounting or bookwork that needs to be done. I will then run errands or get parts. With two kids active in sports, my afternoon consists of a lot of driving to get them where they need to be. I start calves again around 4:30-5 p.m. to be done in time to attend the kids’ activities at night and make dinner. I also work as a relief employee a few times per month at Country Veterinary Clinic in Rubicon, after having worked as a veterinary technician at Cedarburg Veterinary Clinic for 19 years be-fore deciding to work on the farm full time. My vet tech skills, such as giving IVs, come in handy on the farm, and we try to do a lot of the treating of calves and cows ourselves. What decision have you made in the last year that has beneted your farm? We renished our old milk barn for housing calves, which has made calf raising more efcient. Previously, we were housing calves in multiple spots. It’s nice in winter because I don’t have
Kathleen Hafemeister
Hustisford, Wisconsin Dodge County 120 cows
to carry water to a building that has no running water. I like the Calf-Tel pens, and we have added more since moving the calves into one barn. I pride myself on having very few calf losses. I try to catch things early and feed top-quality milk replacer and grains. Tell us about your most memorable experience working on the farm. I have a good memory and a bad memory. The good one is the day we started up the robots. It was crazy with the inspectors here and all the people helping push cows through and a newborn baby at my side. My son was just 7 days old. The bad memory happened on Valentine’s Day this year when a cow charged me in the freestall barn and knocked me down. I knew right away that I hurt my knee. Luckily, Dave and our employee, Mike, were there to get her off of me. Also, it was cold so I was wearing heavy clothes, which offered protection. I had a torn ACL, a damaged meniscus and severe bone bruising and had to have knee surgery in April. I had to take a couple weeks off after the injury and a couple weeks off after the surgery. During my recovery, a neighbor girl fed the calves, and we were grateful to have her help. This accident changed my outlook on how I work with cows. Now, I won’t walk in by cows without someone else being around, and I won’t go in by any cows with new calves. What have you enjoyed most about dairy farming or your tie to the dairy industry? I enjoy watching the calves grow up and seeing their individual personalities. They each have their quirks in how they act. I also enjoy the health aspect of raising calves. Being a veterinary technician, I like knowing the whys of sickness and medicine and am always trying to investigate ways of keeping the veterinary interest in me alive. What is your biggest accomplishment in your dairy career? The decision to get robotic milkers is our biggest ac-
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complishment. Our interest was piqued at a workshop about 12 years ago on a small farm that had put in robots. This was early on, and there were very few robots in this part of the state. We had to travel quite the distances to look at robots because it was new technology at the time. That year at World Dairy Expo, we started looking at brands. We knew what milk price we needed in order to make it work and were able to get a loan. People tried to tell us not to do it, but we thought it would be good for us, and it is. It’s not less work. It’s just different work and gives us exibility with our kids’ schedules. The downside of robots is that you are always on call.
What advice would you give another woman in the dairy industry? I am still looking for advice myself, but one thing I have learned is that it is better not to plan. It’s OK to be spontaneous. I can have my whole day planned out, but then the vet clinic calls asking if I can work, and there goes the whole day. I have found that the best trips and unexpected outings happened as a result of a last-minute decision. I would also recommend having two washing machines side by side — one for barn clothes and one for good clothes. When my husband comes in with sandy, dirty clothes, I’m so glad I can put them in the old washer.
What are things you do to promote your farm or the dairy industry? We like to give tours. I love when people come to our farm and we can show them what we do. We also tell friends of ours who have never been to a farm to visit. There were a lot of people who wanted to see our robots initially, and a couple of farms that saw them did put in robots afterward, so that is a good feeling. We have also been a part of Farm City Day for Dodge County, welcoming fourthgrade students to our farm. Next summer, we are hosting the Dodge County Dairy Brunch.
When you get a spare moment, what do you do? We like to get out on the lake as a family. Dave grew up water skiing, and I grew up wake boarding, so we like to do that. I also attend the kids’ sporting events, and I’ve been trying to do more volunteering at school as well as be a part of various school functions and groups. We also go snowmobiling in the winter. I used to play volleyball, but I’ve had to put that on hold after hurting my knee. As the kids get older, I will maybe take up volleyball again. I like to stay active.
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Page 30 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2023
www.extension.umn.edu/dairy
What can rumination tell us? Late November, I gave two talks intake. Rumination also helps increase and attended a conference organized saliva secretion, which improves ruby the national DHI and forage test- men buffering. ing company in Hungary. This was my Dairy cows ruminate, on average, third invitation to speak at this excel- seven to eight hours per day, which lent event with many dairy producers mostly occurs at night, when there are and consultants in attendance. fewer disruptive management Trevor DeVries, Univertasks being performed, or in sity of Guelph, was also on the the afternoon. During rumiprogram and gave a couple of nation, cows appear to be reexcellent talks, one focusing laxed, with heads down and on considerations in designeyelids lowered. It appears ing diets for robotic milking that cows prefer to rest in farms and one on optimizing sternal recumbency with left cow comfort to improve beside preference. The left side havior, health and production. laterality and upright posture He mentioned rumination By Marcia Endres may optimize positioning of during his cow comfort talk. the rumen within the body University of I also presented results of a for most efcient rumination. Minnesota study we did at the University Cows increase rumination of Minnesota (Peiter et al.) where we time as they get older as they also ininvestigated the relationship between crease time spent chewing each bolus. rumination time and milk production. Rumination time decreases on Rumination is unique to ruminant average by 70% of the average rumianimals such as cows, buffalo, deer nation time observed during the dry and giraffes. Yes, giraffes are rumi- period on the day of calving, reaching nants, in spite of their very long neck a minimum daily average of approxi— I nd it amazing. mately four hours. In our study, we During rumination, cows regur- found that second- and greater-lactagitate feed from the rumen, chew it tion cows had an increase of 5 pounds again and reswallow it. This process in peak milk yield for each 100-minute improves digestion, reduces particle increase in average rumination time size and promotes passage from the over the rst six days in milk. rumen, so it can inuence dry matter Ensuring that transition cows are
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healthy and have quality feed available at all times may increase rumination time in the early postpartum period and improve productivity and protability on dairy farms. Early postpartum rumination behavior indicators could help producers make management decisions related to animal health or early removal of cows from the herd. Rumination has been used as a proxy for health, and many producers have technology that measures rumination time and have been using this metric to manage their transition cows. Numerous previous studies reported an association between decreased rumination time and metabolic or digestive disorders, such as subclinical ketosis, displaced abomasum, indigestion and ruminal acidosis. Similarly, other studies reported that rumination time decreased during lameness and pneumonia. The topic of rumination during the conference got me thinking (or ruminating a bit). One of the studies that
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DeVries presented showed that cows that ruminated while lying down compared to cows that ruminated while standing had greater total rumination time, consumed more dry matter and produced milk with greater fat and protein content. Are those cows less stressed? Could rumination time be an indicator of cow contentment? I would suggest that rumination is a relaxation behavior in cows. Researchers have not investigated this very much, but it is something to consider. There are now easier ways of measuring rumination than visual observation with all the sensors we have in the market. It seems that a combination of having a comfortable resting space and ruminating at the same time is benecial for cow productivity (and it might be an indicator of good health). Food companies are focusing more on the ve domains framework of animal welfare with mental health of animals as the fth domain. Is rumination something that can help us better understand the mental health of cows?
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Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2023 • Page 31
Spreading joy one light at a time Kevilus shares her Christmas spirit By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
PRENTICE, Wis. — When her family moved to their small Price County farm three years ago, Pam Kevilus saw that the place was made for Christmas lights, and she was anxious to share it with others. “I love Christmas,” Kevilus said. “The lights bring me joy, and I enjoy sharing that. They help brighten the darkest part of the year, and it feels like maybe they help make the transition to winter a little bit easier. Our rst Christmas here, I told my husband I was putting lights on everything.” That is precisely what she set out to do. Kevilus and her husband, Ryan, along with their children Ryan Jr., Emily, Lane and Colter, are just beginning their life’s adventure of dairy farming near Prentice. Earlier this fall, the Keviluses started shipping milk from their 12-cow dairy. By February 2024, their herd will
PHOTO SUBMITTED
The Kevilus family — Emily (front, from leŌ), Ryan Jr., Lane and Colter; (back, from leŌ) Ryan and Pam — stand at their farm near PrenƟce, Wisconsin. The Keviluses decorate their farm with Christmas lights.
double. Their goal is to milk around 30 cows while Kevilus continues to work full time off the farm. “We both grew up on dairy farms,” Kevilus said. “My parents sold our cows when I was 9 or 10, and Ryan’s family sold theirs when
he was in high school. Dairy farming is something each of us has always wanted to do.” Kevilus said she has lost count of exactly how many lights she puts up around the farm each year in her pursuit of sharing her own brand of Christmas cheer. She strings
lights along the barn, fence and shed. “There are over 300 feet of lights put up on just the barn,” Kevilus said. The lights are turned on the weekend following Thanksgiving and typically stay on into the new year.
Kevilus said she keeps the lights turned on all through the night, each night. “Things change a little each year, and we did cut back a little this year,” Kevilus said. “As a rule, the barn is always done in white lights, and I have red and green lights along the fence.” When it comes to decorating the farm, Kevilus said she is happy to receive help from her family. “I am terried of heights; without my oldest son stepping up to help me, I probably wouldn’t have the lights on the barn,” Kevilus said. “I bought him a special ladder so that he could do it.” Because decking the barn in lights is such an arduous task, Kevilus said she leaves those lights up year-round but removes the others at the end of each season. She said she is not looking forward to the day the lights on the barn will requiring replacing. “The big set on the barn will stay up until they quit working, but I am guessing, at some point, I will need to replace those lights,” Kevilus said. “I’m hoping I can still talk my oldest son into doing it, or maybe my younger kids will be ready to tackle the job for me.” Turn to KEVILUS | Page 32
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Christmas memories
Page 32 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2023
ConƟnued from KEVILUS | Page 31
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Pam Kevilus adorns her family’s farm with Christmas lights near PrenƟce, Wisconsin. She began the tradiƟon three years ago when the family rst moved to the farm.
Besides the work decorating the ever been lit up before we moved barn, Kevilus said each of her kids here,” Kevilus said. “We noticed a lot enjoys helping. of people driv“They all ing by that rst “People were so look forward to year. People it, and they each still enjoy but surprised there were the noveltyit,isn’t have a part of the farm they have lights up on this farm; it quite there like claimed to help the rst year.” with,” she said. During the hadn’t ever been lit up Kevilus said holiday season, she has goals for before we moved here. Kevilus said her festive disshe notices a We noticed a lot of play. slight uptick “I told my in the electric people driving by that bill but not husband I wanted a big star for enough to deter rst year.” the silo or on the her from sharbarn,” Kevilus ing her passion PAM KEVILUS, DAIRY FARMER said. “I have a with passersby. smaller star on “There is the shed, but I want one with the wow so much negativity in the world these factor.” days, but I refuse to let that steal the Kevilus said their farm is in close joy I feel during the holidays,” Kevproximity to the town of Prentice, and ilus said. “Putting lights up around the rst year having lights created a the farm is something I can do to help stir. combat that negativity we face every “People were so surprised there day.” were lights up on this farm; it hadn’t
Christmas has always been a big Eve, so in the morning, Mom would deal in our family, starting with the milk cows and then go in the house and gifts. make a giant dinner. As we got older, Growing up, Mom would give someone else would do morning milkme $3 for each member of the family ing for Mom so that she could get a to help buy Christmas head start on her smorgifts. It was a wondergasbord. ful idea because I did At the feast, there not have much money would be green bean besides what I received casserole — the only at birthdays, from the hotdish allowed to tooth fairy or from be called a casserole Grandpa for eggs. — homemade buns, A few days before mashed potatoes, stuffChristmas, my mom, ing, pickles and olives, sisters and I would do Jell-O salad and some a Christmas shopping main course meat, ofextravaganza. Mom ten ham or a roasted attempted to get most chicken. By Amy Kyllo of her Christmas shopIn the afternoon, Staff Writer ping done in that one we sisters would put on a program with the day, which never quite worked, but the time crunch added story of the rst Christmas for Dad and to the intensity and efciency of our Mom, and afterward, we would open gifts. search. In the evening — still somewhat Shopping all together made for a delightful number of secrets. You would full — we would skip supper and go sneak around the store, trying to keep outside and do chores. Inside the house, stuff covered in the cart without look- my sister would spend the evening making like you were shoplifting, while si- ing hors d’ oeuvres. With chores commultaneously trying not to betray what plete, we would come inside and enjoy department you had just been in. a decadent meal while we watched a The decision-making was intense. movie or show. One had to budget carefully. I rememThere is always a meal or more ber sitting and looking at a throw blan- worth of leftovers from each meal eatket that cost $4 or $5 while debating en, so on Christmas Day, we would just and debating because it was over my $3 eat leftovers, relax and enjoy our gifts. Now as adults, many of the tradibudget. At the checkout, double-bagging tions are the same. There is the excitehelped keep the newly purchased trea- ment of gifts and good food. Instead of shopping together, there is an extensive sures cloaked in secrecy. As the day wore on, shopping number of group chats, each excluding would always go late with one last store certain members of the family to talk we would sneak into for that nal gift or about their gifts. More happiness has been added to two. That night, milking would be late. One year, the minivan broke down our celebrations lately by the new little in the country on the way home with people in the family who bring a child’s all the gifts. This was before any of us joy of Christmas to us. Since I am safehad cell phones, so Mom and one of ly single with no kids, I can get my sibmy sisters walked to a house and called lings’ children any obnoxious, fun toys Dad who came for us in a little Sat- I want without worrying about instant urn. Somehow the six of us and all the retaliation. Now, I can even begin making my Christmas presents piled into that veown memories. Buying a rst Christseat, compact vehicle. I am blessed that my siblings al- mas tree of my very own and nding ways came home for the holidays, even Christmas decor for my apartment has during the four years when my sister brought fresh excitement to me this lived overseas. I counted down the days holiday season. No matter what stage of life you are for weeks as I looked forward to her making the 24 hours’ worth of travel in or what memories of Christmas you have, I hope this season brings little home. Our family celebrated on Christmas moments that give you joy.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2023 • Page 33
DAIRY PROFILE
Ryan Richert of Lyndon Station, Wisconsin | Sauk County | 400 cows What do you enjoy most about dairy farming? When you get a beautiful fresh cow and you go to see if it’s a bull or a heifer. That is my favorite thing. We have 13 breeds of cows here because when I started, I didn’t care about color, just that they were bred.
How did you get into farming? My dad milked cows near Reedsburg when I was growing up. He sold the farm when I was in high school. I started milking in a rented barn in 1996 with 12 cows. In 1997, I rented a second barn and milked in two barns. By then, I had 67 cows. In the spring of 1998, I bought the farm we have now. My dad helped a lot in the early years besides working other jobs. We put the parlor in the old tiestall barn in 2003. We had 135 cows then and have grown slowly to 400 today. What are your thoughts and concerns about the dairy industry for the next year? Having companies available that we want to work with. I was 18 when I started farming, and there was a lot more proprietorship then. Now I wonder if the infrastructure and market will remain. The things we worry about we cannot control, like the milk price. What is a recent change you made on your farm and the reason for it? We enrolled in the Cows First program at Scenic Central. We already followed most of the requirements anyway, so it was an easy transition. We did that to eliminate the chances of having to dump our milk and to secure our market. It pays a dollar per hundredweight premium, which was the icing on the cake. Tell us about a skill you possess that makes dairy farming easier for you. I have always really liked my cattle. I have always been around cows. Herd health requires minimal vet calls because I understand cattle and have good attention to detail. What is the best decision you have made on your farm? The location. We have good neighbors and have been able to rent and buy land. We are central to a lot of things.
What advice would you give other dairy farmers? Do it the way you want to do it. Give it all you got. Mistakes are inevitable and you can learn from them. At the end of the day, the rolling herd average and days in milk don’t really matter. What matters is the number in your checkbook, and nobody puts that in the paper.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
The Richert family — Rachel (from leŌ), Ryan, KaƟe, Rayha and Ross — milk 400 cows near Lyndon StaƟon, Wisconsin. Moving here has allowed our farm to expand and us to do everything we have done. What are three things on the farm that you cannot live without? Hired help, which includes my dad, Rich. All of our kids helped when they were home, but now our youngest, Ross, is the last one home, and he helps a lot too. The companies we work with such as the nutritionist, the milk haulers, the veterinarians, etc. We have worked with a lot of folks for a long time, and we couldn’t do it without them. Finally, the support from my wife. She goes along with my crazy ideas and sometimes talks me out of them. We make a good team. What strategies do you use to withstand the volatile milk prices? We like the highs, and we hate the lows. We just ride the rollercoaster. Previously, we tried contracting milk and we have contracted fuel in the
past, but we didn’t feel that it worked out to our advantage. It is more important to keep good relationships with the people we are working with. We tighten our belt and get by with the lows, and we don’t go wild when things are good. It took me years to get to the point where I didn’t owe money to anyone except the bank, and now we are careful to keep it that way. How do you retain a good working relationship with your employees? We have a combination of employees and family help. We have been lucky to have people work here for long periods of time. We offer exibility in a job that is not normally exible. We require two people to be here per milking, and there are ve people who work that schedule out among themselves. They get paid per milking, and they show up.
What are your plans for your dairy in the next year and ve years? We are at a crossroads with a 20-year-old parlor and not all of our kids out of high school. We will continue as we are for the next year and reevaluate in ve years. How do you or your family like to spend time when you are not doing chores? We are involved in rodeo. I did rodeo in middle and high school. I took 18 years off until my daughter took an interest in it, and I got sucked right back into it. There are times during the summer where we will attend a rodeo every night from Wednesday through Sunday. There have been times on a Wednesday that we drive to Nebraska for a rodeo and get back in time for morning chores on Thursday. My wife does a lot of driving or covering chores to make it happen. We have been gone more than a lot of farmers, but that time with your kids you never get back. It’s a family sport. The people we have met are like family. All of our kids enjoy it. Ross is in high school rodeo. Rachel attends University of WisconsinWhitewater. Rayha attends South Dakota State University on a rodeo scholarship.
Page 34 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2023
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The family vacation
We are getting close to Christmas, and I have yet to get an answer from my kids about what we can get for them. They are all on their own, with their own homes, and they say they don’t need anything. If they need anything, they get it or save for it. The years of me sending out good socks and having them choose some really warm boots or clothes didn’t seem to make sense. I would spend money on things they already had or didn’t need. Last year, we sent money to Curtis and Meeya for their delayed honeymoon to New Zealand. They had been saving and this added to make the trip a bit more fun. We liked knowing that the cash was not going to be used for bills, and it was exciting to hear that they were so happy By Tina Hinchley to get money ... instead of Farmer & Columnist fancy socks and boots. I have tried to get Anna and Catherine to plan an escape outing with some of the womens organizations that they both have been a part of. Fishing trips, whitewater rafting or camping in the mountains seem like fantastic ideas for them to do something together again. They have already done sturgeon shing and bowshing together, and they had a great time, but they said it would be better if we could all do something together. They analyzed the cost of such a trip and decided it would be better to plan our own family getaway where we all could be comfortable around the campre. Family understands how we are, and we don’t need to candy-coat our conversations. With that being the case, Christmas Day will be like all the Christmases before. We will do chores and gather together later for a meal. Everyone will make their favorite holiday dish to pass and then take time to relax and digest until we go out again to do chores. We will not be passing out gifts, but we will be sharing time together and making sure to call others and wish them merry Christmas and peace for the new year. There is a likelihood that a plan for the family vacation will come from the conversations while we are preparing the food, setting the table or enjoying the meal. Perhaps we can discuss if we could all meet and go through Yosemite to hike or camp, or visit Alaska, or maybe all travel to Vancouver and escape the States for a few days. The planning will be part of the fun to see where we all want to go, and then coordinating the timing between cutting hay after planting is completed. We will be happy to help with buying the plane tickets and renting the cabin for all of us to stay in together. In 2019, Curtis and Meeya planned their wedding around our farming schedule. Everyone was able to attend their wedding on Crystal Mountain, with Mount Rainier showing up for the photos. That was seven days without a robot alarm. Well, maybe not — in Washington, we were in the mountains where some areas didn’t have cell phone service. I do know we had a great crew on the farm, and they knew what to do if a situation came up. We never heard about anything, so it must have been ne. We have part of that crew still working, along with a few other great employees. I am looking forward to Christmas Day and the time that we will spend together. Perhaps, this could be the start of a new tradition, planning the family vacation. Tina Hinchley, her husband Duane and daughter Anna milk 240 registered Holsteins with robots. They also farm 2,300 acres near Cambridge, Wisconsin. The Hinchleys have been hosting farm tours for over 25 years.
Group cows to maximize protability
Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2023 • Page 35
Grouping cows on a dairy can have many benets, including maximizing efciencies, increasing income over feed costs and minimizing stress. Grouping strategies generally fall into two categories — nutritional groups and management groups. Often these strategies overlap and complement each other. In nutritional groups, each pen of cows is often fed a separate ration that matches their specic nutritional needs. With management groups, cows are split based on their parity (rst-lactation versus older cows), body condition, stage of lactation or gestation. Herd size and Something to Ruminate On physical facilities often limit the number of possible groups. Multiple groups often require additional labor to move and manage the different groups and to mix and feed multiple rations. We’ve all heard the phrase, “No two dairy farms are alike.” While this is true, farms may consider some By Barry Visser common grouping stratNutritionist egies to maximize efciencies, animal wellbeing and performance. Grouping by parity If animal numbers and facilities allow, it is advantageous to group cows by parity with rst-lactation cows (primiparous) in one group and mature cows (multiparous) in another group. Grouping by parity should be a high priority even if rations are not different. Grouping by parity has the greatest benet for primiparous cows. Heifers take smaller bites and spend more time feeding than mature cows. Since mature cows are usually more dominant and can push heifers away from feeding spaces, grouping them separately may ensure that heifers have enough time to feed throughout the day. Research from Spain found that heifers grouped separately ruminate more and drink more. A companion study published by Dr. Alex Bach showed that housing heifers separately also provided the added benets of increased efciency of fat-corrected milk production and less bodyweight loss in the rst month of lactation. The improvement in milk fat production might be associated with both the increase in rumination and the greater number of meals per day observed in heifer-only groups. While this article is focused primarily on lactating grouping strategies, separating pre-fresh dry cows into these same parity groups (if facilities and management allow) can provide health and production benets. Grouping by stage of lactation Fresh cow groups allow for diet modications to accommodate their low intakes, enhance milk production and reduce metabolic issues. We can target specic feed additives to fresh cows in the rst few weeks of lactation. Separating fresh cows has secondary benets, including a smaller group size to allow for more intensive individual cow observations and implementation of health-monitoring protocols. In most cases, understocking may be easier to obtain in a smaller group providing plenty of bunk space. A separate fresh cow group also allows the implementation of greater milking frequency such as four-timesper-day milking if so desired. Cows will partition nutrients differently depending on their stage of lactation and gestation. If size permits, multiple lactating ration groups will allow for more precise targeting of nutrients and additives designed to improve feed efciency and productivity. Early lactation cows will respond protably to a higher-quality diet balanced for amino acids, higher levels
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of fat and fermentable carbohydrates. Late-lactation cows can maintain their production while controlling body condition on a more basic diet with feedstuffs such as fermentable ber sources. These late-lactation groups can also be a logical place to utilize some of the lactating total mixed ration refusals for operations that may not have heifers on-site. Forage quality plays a key role in performance on any dairy. The wide range of planting, harvesting and storing goals depends on several factors, including for which groups of animals specic forages are targeted. A good example is hybrids with lower lignin and higher ber digestibility such as brown midrib corn silage. The tradeoff between yields and quality often results in partial acres planted with BMR corn
and some with conventional corn. Grouping cows by stage of lactation can allow a dairy to target their highest-quality forages to fresh and early lactation cows, which are most limited by rumen ll, to see the greatest benet from the increase in ber digestibility. If your herd size and facilities allow for multiple groups, consider a fresh cow group and separating younger cows from mature cows to maximize performance and protability. Additional benets can be seen by grouping cows based on stage of lactation and production. Work with your nutritionist to determine the best grouping strategies to maximize income over feed cost. Barry Visser is a nutritionist for Vita Plus.
Editorial disclaimer: The views expressed by our columnists are the opinions and thoughts of the author and do not reect the opinions and views of Dairy Star staff and ownership.
The weeks before Christmas Page 36 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2023
‘Twas the weeks before Christmas, when all ‘cross the farm There was many a reason to sound an alarm The creatures were indeed stirring, causing quite a tizzy The chaos that ensued has rendered me dizzy Mrs. Rochester, the sow, should have been nestled in her crate The boys welded it tight, but, alas, it was too late She farrowed out right on the old milkhouse oor What followed was much more than we had bargained for ter
I headed to milk early, when Ira called all a us-
“Cows are out again. Bring all the help you can muster!”
Milkers pulled off and away to the barn door Henry and I ew “You go this way; I’ll go that. See what we can do.” The layer of fresh snow added a new scare Slippery and dangerous, one must run with care When what to our straining eyes should appear in the dark But two Holsteins, stuck in the pit. Hark! 60 cows put in, and Ira ran to the loader quick We got Zorro up the ramp, even though it was slick The loader, the pile shaver, a log chain or three Kindness, the heifer, was rescued; all were safe, thankfully
TIME TO TRADE IN UPGRADE YOUR GEHL!
Hail French Fry! Now, Tinsel! Now, Bramble and Bean! Onto Orpah! And Bunco! And, just when it may seem … The calves may slow down, they keep coming at this pace Elf, Claus and Kiwi are added to the background space It is a sight to walk into the barn in the morning All maternity pens full, cows bellowing their warning So into the milkhouse I move at full tilt Thankful for the extra calving areas we had Ramblings from the Ridge built A moment of quiet comes over; then what do I hear? I roll my eyes knowingly, my dread and my fear Here comes a new delivery, born down in transition Thrown on a sled, swoosh, another addition
CALL YOUR LOCAL GEHL DEALER TODAY! By Jacqui Davison
tail
Columnist
She was covered in the poo from her head to her
Shivering and slimy, her momma following without fail A quick warm shower and into the warmer she goes Months with 130 calves due keep us on our toes Zoe was stuck in a stall, the second time this week Her back was all scraped; her energy looked meek She walked with a limp, a sad little hop Into the straw pack, she lands with a op Back to our sow, she lies at on her side The piglets squeak and run and often collide With curled tails, and each a little round belly They plump when they eat and aren’t too very smelly The chickens have long been on break from their work I have bribed, cajoled, but not threatened — I’m not a jerk The sheep are in need of a boyfriend to visit soon At this rate, I probably won’t have a lamb until June I write this to tell you of all our trials and our fun When you read it, our year will be close to being done Merry Christmas to all and a happy New Year, as well Next year I’ve no doubt I will have more stories to tell! Jacqui Davison and her family milk 800 cows and farm 1,200 acres in northeastern Vernon County, Wisconsin. Her children, Ira, Dane, Henry and Cora, help on the farm while her husband, Keith, works on a grain farm. If she’s not in the barn, she’s probably in the kitchen, trailing after little ones or sharing her passion of reading with someone. Her life is best described as organized chaos, and if it wasn’t, she’d be bored.
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Changes to USDA’s notice of loss requirements
Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2023 • Page 37
By Steve Frericks
Stearns County FSA executive director
Livestock producers are grateful for the mild weather. The start of the winter has presented a much milder approach than in years past. It truly is apparent that no two years are the same. The extended fall allowed for extra fall livestock bedding and the opportunity to tackle those extra projects. Our farm bill was extended for one year. Watch for forthcoming announcements regarding when and if programs will be available. The Farm Service Agency staff would like to wish the agriculture community a happy holiday season. USDA makes change to notice of loss requirements for two livestock disaster assistance programs The U.S. Department of Agriculture has waived certain notice of loss requirements for 2023 for the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish as well as for the Livestock Indemnity Program. In an effort to streamline assistance to support access to critical 2023 natural disaster recovery assistance, FSA is waiving the requirement to submit ELAP or LIP notices of loss within a predetermined number of days for 2023. Instead, producers have the exibility to submit notices of loss as soon as possible, once losses are realized, following a natural disaster event or no later than the established annual program application for payment deadlines for each program. FSA county committees are also being asked to re-evaluate 2023 ELAP and LIP late-led notices of loss to determine if the waiver applies. ELAP provides recovery assistance to eligible producers of livestock, honeybee and farm-raised sh losses due to an
eligible adverse weather or loss condition, including blizzards, disease, water shortages and wildres. ELAP covers grazing and feed losses, transportation of water and feed to livestock and hauling livestock to grazing acres. ELAP also covers certain mortality losses for livestock including honeybees and farm-raised sh as well as honeybee hive losses. ELAP is designed to address losses not covered by other FSA disaster assistance programs. For 2023, FSA is waiving the regulatory requirement for producers who are eligible for ELAP to le a notice of loss with FSA within 30 calendar days from when the loss rst became apparent for livestock and farm-raised sh and 15 calendar days for honeybees. Under this waiver, notices of loss are to be completed by the eligible producer and submitted to FSA no later than the annual program application deadline of Jan. 30 following the program year in which the loss occurred. Therefore, producers who incurred ELAP-eligible losses in 2023 will need to submit a notice of loss by Jan. 30, 2024. LIP provides disaster recovery assistance to livestock owners and contract growers who experience livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by eligible loss conditions including adverse weather, disease and attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by the federal government or protected by federal law, including wolves and avian predators. LIP also helps livestock owners who must sell livestock at a reduced price because of an injury from certain loss conditions. For 2023, FSA is waiving the regulatory requirement for producers who are eligible for LIP to le a notice of loss within 30 calendar days from when the loss rst became apparent. Under this waiver, producers are still required to complete and submit the notice of loss to FSA no later than the annual program
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payment application date, which is 60 calendar days following the program year in which the loss occurred. The LIP payment application and notice of loss deadline is Feb. 29, 2024, for the 2023 program year. FSA county committees will review all notices of loss for both ELAP and LIP that were previously disapproved for the 2023 program year due to late ling and re-evaluate them to determine if the waiver applies. To receive ELAP and LIP benets, producers will need to le an application for payment by the established program deadline for the 2023 program year. Producers who are unsure about the status of their notice of loss or application for payment should contact their local FSA county ofce as soon as possible. Accurate records and loss documentation are critical following disaster events and are required when ling notices of loss with FSA. Acceptable loss documentation includes: — Documentation of the number, kind, type and weight range of livestock that have died supplemented, if possible, by photographs or video records of ownership and losses. — Rendering truck receipts by kind, type and weight — important to document prior to disposal. — Beginning inventory supported by birth recordings or purchase receipts. — Documentation from Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Department of Natural Resources or other sources to substantiate eligible death losses due to an eligible loss condition. — Documentation that livestock were removed from grazing pastures due to an eligible adverse weather or loss condition. — Costs of transporting livestock feed to eligible livestock, such as receipts for equipment rental fees for hay lifts and snow removal. — Feed purchase receipts if feed sup-
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plies or grazing pastures are destroyed. — Number of gallons of water transported to livestock due to water shortages. A message from Jerry Hurrle, farm loan manager As the year comes to a close and we look forward to the New Year, we need to begin planning for 2024. Each year brings changes and challenges. A year ago, we had a lot of snow by midDecember, and this year we have 50-plus degrees. Most of the commodity prices have softened considerably compared to the past two years, which will create tight prot margins and challenges with developing feasible cash ows. A good place to start is to update your balance sheet and review your 2023 income, expenses and production information. What problems or challenges occurred? 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 than later to review your cash ow, debt structure and nancing needs. If capital purchases are needed, be sure to plan carefully. 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.
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Christmas games Page 38 • Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2023
Every year during the holiday season, the ghosts of Christmas past sneak into our consciousness as we recall special moments with family and friends. One of my favorite holiday memories is from the 1970s. My grandmother decided to invite all of the Adair and McConnell relatives to her house for Christmas. Three generations from both sides lled every room of their two-story farm house. Once all the dishes were washed and the food moved out to the cold porch for snacking, it was time to break out the games. On one corner of the dining room table, my great uncles set up their game of cut-throat Monopoly. Booming voices shouted in distress as someone landed on the “wrong” piece of property owned by a brotherin-law. As kids, we shied away from this game. The only thing we could have learned by watching were a few new vocabulary words from the back of the
barn. In the back nook of the kitchen, my mom, aunts and Uncle Dan would whoop it up in celebration as they nessed a missing trump trick in an intense game of Bridge. It was the next generation’s cut-throat game between family members. The hanging light over the kitchen table illuminated the smoky haze created by overlled ashtrays. (It was the 1970s). Those arriving too late to get in the game huddled around the table as they peered over the players’ shoulders, assessing the cards and potential plays. I would dream of the day I was old enough and good enough to play Bridge at this table. My generation of youngsters set up our own games. There was Hi-Ho the Cherry-O, Trouble and our own version of cut-throat Go Fish. We may have lacked the booming voices and the hazy lighting, but
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we could still squeal with delight when we told someone to, “Go sh.” Many card and board games were originally created as teaching tools for life lessons. A simple deck of cards taught many kids mathematics and memory Just Thinking Out Loud skills. The 52 cards could also teach biblical lessons according to an old country song. Monopoly was created in the early 1900s to illustrate an economic theory of how rents make the rich richer and keep the poor poorer. I think many games could have rst been envisioned by events on the farm. Just By Natalie Schmitt think about the number of Columnist different games we “play” each day. As seed salesmen come around to book next year’s orders, we need to make sure to compare Apples to Apples in data so that we can collect a big Pay Day at the end of a growing season. The Word on the Street is that farmers need Wits and Wagers along with a bit of Diplomacy so that the banker doesn’t say Sorry! The future price of milk feels like we’re living on a Chutes and Ladders game board as we navigate the Risk. The Trouble with planning on the perfect conditions is that it can fall like a line of Dominos with just a tap. Of course, Operation is a game many older farmers play with hips, knees and shoulders. Before cell phones with cameras, there was only Pictionary to illustrate the location of the broken part in the chopper head. Not always the most accurate drawing but enough to get the point across. It may seem like a game of Trivial Pursuit as you try to track down the part off of an old piece of machinery. The strategies used to discover the Battleship are the same Mark and the boys use when trying to nd the pocket gopher tunnels in the hayelds, searching for the perfect spot to trap the gopher and sink his career. The Game of Life was never one of my favorites. It was hard to relate to — until they revamped it to Life on the Farm. Now I know exactly what it means or costs when the cows are out or the baler breaks. It speaks my language. Probably my all-time favorite game to play is the classic Candyland … because every day on the farm can be lled with sweet surprises. May your holiday games bring a smile across your face and give a hug to your heart as we cherish this special time with our family and friends. 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.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, December 23, 2023 • Page 39
What makes a Christmas gift special? Is it special because you hoped for it? Is it special because it surprised you? Is it special because it reects the giver’s love and thoughtfulness? Is it more special because it was handmade and not store-bought? We got a couple special Christmas
Dairy Good Life
By Sadie Frericks Columnist
Grandma Jeanie’s spritz cookies 1 pound butter, softened 2 cups sugar 4 egg yolks 2 tablespoons heavy cream 1 teaspoon almond extract 5 cups our In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar for 7 minutes. Add egg yolks, cream, and extract; then mix for another 5 minutes. Gently fold in our with spatula. Let dough rest for 15 minutes while preheating oven. Heat oven to 400 degrees. If coloring spritzes, divide dough and atten each section into a disc; then add a couple drops of food coloring and gently knead dough to mix color in. Put dough in cookie press. Using a quick stroke of the trigger, turn gun slightly and lift, depositing cookies on baking sheet. Clean, aluminum baking sheets work best. Do not use parchment paper and do not grease pans. If you have trouble with cookies sticking to the pan, chill pans in freezer before pressing cookies; this also keeps bottoms from browning too much. If decorating spritzes with colored sugar, sprinkle on before baking. Bake for 6-7 minutes or until edges of cookies are light gold, but not brown. Watch the rst pan of cookies carefully; every oven bakes differently. Different spritz shapes bake differently, as well. Let cookies cool slightly, but not completely, before removing from pan with sturdy metal spatula. Makes 8 dozen cookies. 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.
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gifts in the barn earlier this month. Both Sunlight and Galadriel, two of Monika’s favorite cows, delivered beautiful heifer calves. Both calves were very much hoped for. Sunlight’s calf last year was born with the wrong parts — drat! Galadriel’s 2022 calf was a beautiful heifer, but something was wrong with her, and, sadly, she died shortly after birth. So, getting two healthy heifer calves this winter was one of the best gifts ever. We also got a clutch of baby chicks. This was denitely a surprise gift. One of Daphne’s 4-H hens had been sitting on a nest in the bales and Daphne had been checking on her daily. Several weeks passed with no chicks, so I gured it had been too cold and they weren’t going to hatch. Then, one night Daphne came running in and announced that there was a chick. We moved the hen, her chick, and the rest of the nest to a stock tank in the barn. Six more eggs hatched, and now we’ve got baby chicks to distract us from our chores. They’re even cuter when they’re out of season. Just like our new calves and chicks might top any store-bought gift, here are a few other special Christmas gifts that come from the heart and not from a store. One of the gifts I try to give my family each year is a collection of photographs. I take hundreds of pictures each year with my phone’s camera. For many years, those photos only existed on my phone or, after transferring, on my computer. About the only time any of those photos were ever printed was when one of the kids needed pictures for a student-of-the-week board at school. A couple years ago, I made one of those trendy photo books with a selection of the year’s best photos. It was a lovely book, but it took forever to compile. The following year, I simply ordered 4- by 6-inch prints of all the best photos and purchased a nice photo album to keep them in. It was much easier, much faster, and much less expensive than a photo book. The best part of gifting photos is watching the kids sit together on the couch, looking through the photos, laughing and commenting on all the moments they never knew I captured in pixels.
Another special gift is a handwritten note. Nothing says, “I was thinking of you,” more than a handwritten note or letter. Plus, you’re sharing the gift of your penmanship. Glen’s mom writes a short letter to each grandchild each year. I love watching the kids decipher her cursive writing. They might not appreciate it now, but someday they will be thankful to have a collection of those handwritten words. Following her example, I wrote short notes to each of our kids this year, too. My halfcursive, half-print penmanship isn’t nearly as beautiful, but it is uniquely mine. I have a little print hanging in my house that says, “Cookies are made of butter and love.” For me, making my family’s most-requested holiday treats is a gift of love. And my heart is lled, in return, when I see faces light up upon presentation of the cookie tray. Several years ago, I was gifted my grandmother’s cookie press and her recipe for spritzes. Every time I bake them, the aroma awakens the best childhood memories. I often make a special batch of spritz cookies just for my dad, too. The most special Christmas gift of all, though, is time together. Whether it’s doing chores together, looking through photos together, baking together, or some other family tradition, I hope you enjoy time together with your loved ones this Christmas.
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