June 12, 2021 Dairy Star - Zone 1 by Dairy Star

Seniors! CELEBRATING OUR

Pages 20 - 21 of the Second Section!

DAIRY ST R

Volume 23, No. 8

Deters clan embraces four generations on the dairy

June 12, 2021

“All dairy, all the time”™

A will to farm

By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com

SAUK CENTRE, Minn. – The humble work of the Deters family began 125 years ago, and with the will of today’s three generations, their legacy of milking cows and caring for the land continues. “I just love it because we’ve kept it in the family this long,” Bernard Deters said. Bernard is the patriarch of family farm in western Stearns County near Sauk Centre. Bernard’s son, Jeff, owns the 650-cow dairy, and his grandson, Shane, oversees the herd work and general management of the farm. Shane’s sons, Sawyer, 11, and Sylas, 6, are the fourth generation of Deters to grow up in the industry. The dairy business carries on with the expertise and experience of all the men. “It’s nice to see everyone working together,” Jeff said. “With four generations on the farm, it’s exciting to see that.” Turn to DETERS | Page 6

JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR

The Deters family – (from le�) Shane and his sons, Sylas, 6, and Sawyer, 11; Bernard; and Jeﬀ – has four genera�ons of Deters men dairy farming in Stearns County near Sauk Centre. They milk 650 cows.

More cheese, please Houston County ADA works with restaurant to offer free slices on burgers in June By Krista Kuzma

krista.k@dairystar.com

KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR

Hope Turner (le�) and Karyl Diersen sit in a booth displaying a cheeseburger at Elsie’s Bar and Grill in Caledonia, Minnesota. The two women are board members for the Houston County American Dairy Associa�on that worked with the local restaurant to pay for an extra slice of cheese on burgers throughout June.

CALEDONIA, Minn. – Summertime and burgers go handin-hand. The Houston County American Dairy Association wanted to give local people a chance to upgrade their burger when visiting a local restaurant. As a promotion for National Dairy Month in June, the organization worked with Elsie’s Bar and Grill in Caledonia to pay to add a slice of cheese to any burger or cheeseburger free of charge. “It’s a great promotion for cheese,” Karyl Diersen said. “We like to do anything to get more dairy to the consumer.” Diersen is a Houston County ADA board member and a dairy farmer who milks 150 cows on her family’s dairy near Caledonia. This is the rst year the board has done a promotion like this. “We’re piloting it this year,” Diersen said. “At rst, we thought Turn to HOUSTON COUNTY | Page 5

Page 2 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 12, 2021

DAIRY ST R www.dairystar.com

ISSN 020355 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave. Sauk Centre, MN 56378 Phone: (320) 352-6303 Fax: (320) 352-5647 Published by Dairy Star LLC General Manager/Editor Mark Klaphake - mark.k@dairystar.com 320-352-6303 (ofce) 320-248-3196 (cell) 320-352-0062 (home) Ad Composition Nancy Powell 320-352-6303 nancy.p@dairystar.com Consultant Jerry Jennissen 320-346-2292 Editorial Staff Krista Kuzma - Editor/Wisconsin (507) 259-8159 • krista.k@dairystar.com Jennifer Coyne - Assistant Editor (320) 352-6303 • jenn@dairystar.com Danielle Nauman (608) 487-1101 danielle.n@dairystar.com Stacey Smart - Staff Writer (262) 442-6666 • stacey.s@dairystar.com Maria Bichler - Copy Editor 320-352-6303 Andrea Borgerding - Layout/Design (320) 352-6303 • andrea.b@dairystar.com Advertising Sales Main Ofce: 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 Bob Leukam (Northern MN, East Central MN) 320-260-1248 (cell) bob.l@star-pub.com Mark Klaphake (Western MN) 320-352-6303 (ofce) 320-248-3196 (cell) Laura Seljan (National Advertising, SE MN) 507-250-2217 fax: 507-634-4413 laura.s@dairystar.com Jerry Nelson (SW MN, Western Iowa, SD & ND) 605-690-6260 jerry.n@dairystar.com Mike Schafer (Central, South Central MN) 320-894-7825 mike.s@dairystar.com Amanda Hoeer (Eastern Iowa, SW WI) 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 Deadlines The deadline for news and advertising in the Dairy Star is 5 p.m. Friday the week before publication. Subscriptions One year subscription $35.00, outside the U.S. $110.00. 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.

A glance at what’s inside

Happy June Dairy Month!

While we at Dairy Star love dairy farmers year-round, June gives us time to show our special appreciation for those who make this paper worthwhile. To all dairy farmers, thank you! Your hard work does not go unnoticed, and we appreciate being able to enjoy our delicious summer ice cream along with all the other tasty dairy products. For this year’s Summer Salute to Dairy, we asked people on our Facebook page to submit photos of family and/or friends on the farm, dairy animals or people enjoying dairy products to feature in the paper this month or on our social media. You will nd some of those pictures on pages 8-9 in second section. If you would like to submit any photos for our second June issue, please email Krista at krista.k@dairystar. com. PHOTO SUBMITTED Since dairy promotion is a big part of June, we asked Taylor Jerde, a 2020 Princess Kay of the people on their local promotion committees to answer this Milky Way nalist, and Chad Greenway, forissue’s questions for the “From our side of the fence” feature mer Minnesota Vikings player, give a milk on pages 15-16 in the rst section. From drive-thru dairy toast in honor of June Dairy Month last breakfasts, farm tours and partnerships with local businesses year on her family’s Castle View Farm near and schools, there are many great events and ways these Northeld, Minnesota. people share dairy with their community. For next issue’s “From our side of the fence,” we will be talking to people who hosted an on-farm dairy promotion event. If you or anyone you know has been a host, please let us know if you would like to answer our questions. Email Krista at krista.k@dairystar.com. We would love to hear from you! We hope you and your cows are staying cool, and happy reading!

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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 12, 2021 • Page 3

It’s all inside... Columnists

Bon Yankton Homme

Clay

Country Cooking

Lyon

Monona

n inso Emmet

Clay

Palo Alto

e Buena Vista

Ida

Crawford Carroll

Zone 1

Neuharth family wins conservation award

Zone 2

Mills m Fre

t on

Kanabec Ra

ms ey

Floyd

Houston

Boone

Story

Polk

all

Bremer Black Hawk

Tama

rsh

ick

Wright Franklin Butler

Dallas

Jasper

Fayette

Clayton

e war Dubuque

Benton

Dela

Jones

Linn

Iowa

Madison Warren Marion Mahaska Keokuk

Adair

Taylor

Second Section: Pages 3 - 5

Mitchell Howard

Webster Hamilton Hardin Grundy

Guthrie

y mer Adams

Page

Worth

Hancock Cerro Gordo

Greene

tgo

Mon

n Win

old

lh Ca

Pottawattamie Cass

Fort Pierre

Kossuth

Sac

Harrison Shelby

c Po

eba

Dick

ero

Woodbury

Washington

Hubbard

O’Brien

Sioux Plymouth

Page 30 Second Section

Wadena

Osceola

Fillimore

Mower

Lin

Freeborn

Faribault

Martin

iek

Turner

Jackson

ake

Hutchinson

Nobles

Second Section: Pages 28 - 29

Winona

Charles Mix

Rock

Wabasha

Cottonwood Watonwan Blue Earth Waseca Steele Dodge Olmsted

Douglas

Gregory

McCook Minnehaha

Murray

Rice

Tripp

Moody

Nicollet

Brown

Golombeski is dairy farmer, Morristown council member

Goodhue

All

Todd

Lake

Redwood

Houston County ADA works with restaurant to offer free slices on burgers in June

Clinton n Cedar

Caledonia

Jackson

Scott

Muscatine

First Section: Pages 1, 5 - 6

Aurora

Miner

Sibley

Lyon

gto

Brule Mellette

Sanborn

Brookings

W in

Lyman

Jerauld

Kingsbury

Union ld

Rin

o gg

Clarke

Lucas

Decatur Wayne

Monroe Wapello Ap

o pan

ose

Davis

hin

Buffalo

Beadle

Morristown

Dakota

Scott

Wa s

Shannon Pages 10 - 11 Bennett Second Section

Hand

Carver

sh iek

Jackson

Hyde

Hennepin

McLeod

Renville

Yellow Medicine

Anoka

Wright

Meeker

Jones

Hughes

Kandiyohi

Chippewa

Isanti

eu r

Stanley

Deuel

Hamlin

Sherburne

Swift

Lac Qui Parle

Codington

Clark

Benton

Stearns

Pope

Pine

Mille Lacs

Fall River

Spink

Ziebach Sully

Stevens

Grant

Faulk

Potter

Big Stone

Day

Carlton

Morrison

Douglas

Third Section: Pages 3 - 4

Aitkin

Todd Grant

Hamburg

Minnesota cow named Holstein USA’s Star of the Breed

Crow Wing

Dewey

Edmunds

Cass

The “Mielke” Market Weekly

Roberts

Marshall

McPherson Brown

Walworth

Haakon

Richland

Sargent

Tra ver se

Campbell

Corson

Dickey

McIntosh

Otter Tail

Wilkin

Emmons Sioux

Pennington

Custer

Ransom

Lake

Itasca

Becker

Clay

Cook

Lawrence

Cass

LaMoure

Koochiching

isa Ch

Meade Page 33 First Section

Bames

Mah

Lincoln

Grant

From the Zweber Farm

Come Full Dairy Circle

Stutsman

Logan

Perkins

Butte

Kidder

Morton

Adams

en nom

Pipestone

Burleigh

First Section: Pages 34 - 36

St. Louis

Polk

Trail

Steele

Norman

Oliver

Page 32 First Section

Harding

Griggs

Page 31 Hettinger Slope First Section

Bowman

Foster

Beltrami

Sheridan Mercer

Producers focus on milk quality

Lake of the Woods

Red Lake

Eddy Wells

Roseau

Pennington

Grand Forks

Rice

Reitsma follows parents’ footsteps in dairying career

Marshall

Benson

McLean

Veterinary Wisdom Stark

Kittson

Walsh

Nelson

Billings Golden Valley

Pembina

Ramsey

McHenry

Ward

Second Section: Pages 6 - 7

Dear County Agent Guy Dunn

Cavalier

Towner

Pierce

Mountrail

Page 30 First Section

Rolette

First Section: Pages 1, 6 - 7

McKenzie

Bottineau

vi so n

Williams

Renville

Burke27 Page First Section

Divide

Sauk Centre

Au d

First Section: Pages 23, 25

On the Road with Princess Kay

Sauk Centre

Deters clan embraces four generations on the dairy

Lubitzes named winner of rock picking contest

Perham

Pages 8-9 First Section

Clearwater

Ag Insider

son

fer

Jef

Van Buren

Louisa

Henry Des

Moines

Lee

Peosta

FROM OUR SIDE OF THE FENCE:

For additional stories from our other zone, log on to www.dairystar.com

Kids Corner: The

Elsinger family

Third Section: Pages 14 - 15

What promotions do you do personally and as a part of your dairy promotion group? First Section: Pages 15 - 16

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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 12, 2021 • Page 5

ConƟnued from HOUSTON COUNTY | Page 1

Thank you Dairy Producers!

We salute the dedicated farmers who produce the quality dairy products we enjoy.

KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR

Hope Turner (leŌ) and Karyl Diersen (second from leŌ), Houston County American Dairy AssociaƟon board members, stand with Elsie and Lee Babler outside their restaurant in Caledonia, Minnesota. we would do one in all four major towns in the county. Then we thought we don’t want it too complicated, and we don’t know how expensive it’s going to be. This could be a big thing.” The idea came from a dairy farmer in a neighboring county and from Midwest Dairy’s partnership with Pizza Ranch. “We have to work to do a promotion like it because we have no Pizza Ranch in our county or the two neighboring counties,” said Hope Turner, another Houston County ADA board member. Elsie’s Bar and Grill seemed like the most logical choice for the dairy group’s plan. “Our board meets here for meetings a lot, and she has a good business,” Turner said. “We know it’s going to be

a promotion that is used because she’s open a lot and has a good crowd here. Plus, she’s very community minded.” When board members approached Elsie Babler about the idea, the restaurant owner did not hesitate to participate. “I thought it was a great promotion,” Babler said. “We always like to help with the community, and farmers are a big part of our lives. We all need them to stay farming.” Babler thought it was such a good idea, she added an upgrade of her own. During June, the restaurant is offering free extra cheese on pizza and omelets. As of June 3, many customers had already taken advantage of the extra Turn to HOUSTON COUNTY | Page 6

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cheese promotion. “I think everyone likes to have a part in trying to help other people,” Babler said. Cheese on burgers is not the only promotion the Houston County ADA board is doing during June. This will be the second year the group has a cowbell scavenger hunt in four of the towns in

mufns. Royalty is also visiting farmers markets and nursing homes along with assisting with on-farm visits for daycares. For Caledonia’s Founder’s Day, the ADA has teamed up with the bakery, which is making donut cones. They will be lled with soft serve ice cream provided by the dairy group. Since the start of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the Houston County ADA has taken part in the Milk Matters promotion, which helps organizations get milk and dairy products into food shelves. Along with payHOPE TURNER, HOUSTON COUNTY ADA ing for the products given to the food shelves each week, the Houston County the county. ADA was able to purchase a refrigerator “We started it last year because of for the food shelf in Houston. COVID-19,” Turner said. “People were “It was huge for them,” Diersen looking for stuff to do. Last year it was said. “We wanted to get them the free really popular.” The ADA posts one clue each day milk like the rest in the county, but they on its Facebook page ve days in a row. didn’t have any place to put the milk. People use the clues to nd the cow- Now they do.” Regardless of the type of promobell hidden in the specied town. One tion, Diersen and Turner said people in town is featured each week of June. The the county are supportive and appreciander of the cowbell in each city wins a tive. cooler full of dairy products. “There is a lot of hometown feel in Other ways the ADA is sharing about dairy is through its Facebook our county,” Turner said. “People know page. County dairy royalty are featured dairy farming is important for the econin videos making dairy-lled recipes omy and everything else.” such as taco dip and banana yogurt

“People know dairy farming is important for the economy and everything else.”

ConƟnued from DETERS | Page 1 Jeff maintains the equipment and machinery and also does the eldwork. Shane works with the cows, while Sawyer is starting to learn the ropes of milking cows and calf care. Another one of Jeff’s sons, Colby, also works on the farm full time with calf and heifer management, equipment repairs and maintenance, manure handling and eld operations. “When Sawyer’s on the farm, he comes and hangs out in the barn with me,” Shane said. “We all started by feeding calves and that’s probably what our kids will start doing, hopefully.” At 87, Bernard considers himself the farm’s errand runner. “I love it because it gives me something to do,” he said. “This morning, I

watched the irrigator for Jeff to see if it was near the road or not.” Jeff agreed. “I hope when I’m his age, I can still help the boys like he’s helped me,” he said. Bernard purchased the farm from his parents in the late ‘50s. He and his wife, JoAnn, began by milking 30 cows and then built a larger tiestall barn to accommodate a herd of 50. As a young adult, Jeff spent every spare minute he had helping his dad on the farm. By the time he graduated high school, he was taking care of morning and evening milkings. In April 1982, Jeff purchased the Turn to DETERS | Page 7

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Con�nued from DETERS | Page 6 cows from his father. He acquired the land in the years to come. “I was always a cow nut,” Jeff said. “I couldn’t get enough of the cows. To me, farming was an attraction, an addiction.” As Jeff and his wife, Karen, grew the farm to its current size, they too had a son who was enthralled with the idea of farming. It was during their 2002 expansion of building a freestall barn on to the farm that the Deters couple saw Shane’s serious interest in the family business. “Ever since Shane was little, he would follow me and his grandpa around the farm,” Jeff said. “If he liked farming, the goal was to do like my grandpa did and my dad did, be able to pass it on to the next generation. We all want to see the farm keep on going.” Shane agreed. “A year after high school, I worked at other places and also helped my dad on the farm,” he said. “It was then that I knew what it was I was going to do, and it’s what I’m doing now.” Shane attended Ridgewater College for a degree in farm business management with a dairy management emphasis. With the Deters family’s herd a sufcient size to support multiple families, Jeff and Karen established an LLC in 2013, which allowed Shane to make the rst steps toward

JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR

Bernard Deters (le�) and his son, Jeﬀ, talk about eldwork June 7 at the Deters family farm near Sauk Centre, Minnesota. At 87 years old, Bernard s�ll helps on the farm where he is able. farm ownership. “Back when I bought the farm from Dad, it was easier,” Jeff said. “I could buy the cows, but he nanced the youngstock. Creating an LLC allowed us to help Shane get in to this.” When Shane returned to the family farm, he shared the same passion for the cows as his dad did, said Jeff. But the younger generation has had a different approach to farming.

“I couldn’t get enough cows,” Jeff said. “Shane came in with enough cows. Now, he’s looking to get more out of the cows we have.” Farming has changed over the years – from the ways in which cows are housed and milked to the type of equipment used for eldwork. These changes have fascinated Bernard as he helps with harvest in the fall. “We started with a one-

row chopper and now we have a self-propelled 8-row chopper. With corn silage, we can get a load done in ve minutes,” Bernard said. For corn silage harvest, the Deters family and friends pitch in to get the work done. Everyone has a job, whether in a tractor or on the farm site. “It’s like a holiday for us,” Jeff said. “We’re just a large group of people who love doing it. When we’re done for the

night, we get together for a bit and then start again the next morning.” Despite the many advancements in the industry that have helped the Deters family, the men have found gratitude in one constant reason behind the farm’s success – a long line of dairy farmers. The drive to dairy farm is evident in Bernard, Jeff and Shane, and they credit each other for the ability to keep the family farm progressing through the generations. “Everyone has a different view on things, so it’s good to work together, and I can learn a lot from them,” Shane said. “Yes, it comes with its challenges but it’s not a bad thing. This makes you work for it.” As the third generation actively on the dairy farm, Shane embraces his role on the dairy and hopes to carry on the example of hard work and reward his grandpa and dad set before him. “Farming has its ups and downs, but everyone’s worked hard along the way to keep this farm going. They’ve made reasonable choices as operators, and I appreciate that and try to do the same,” Shane said. “You want to do things right to make your predecessors proud, and the farm viable and attractive for future generations.” Mark Klaphake contributed to this article.

From th the seed bed to tire tread, Minnesota soybean farmers are DRIVING SOY this summer by embarking on a statewide campaign to give back to their local communities by donating sets of soybased titires to their sheriffs’ department, all while driving further demand for soybeans grown right here in Minnesota. Now that’s treading new ground. Learn more at mnsoybean.org/driving-soy.

A risky feed market for dairy farmers Page 8 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 12, 2021

AgResource Company chief grains and dairy ana- that is expedited for perishable products. “There will lyst Ben Buckner said dairy and livestock producers be reviews, panels to provide oversight, and we could will want to cover their feed needs for the balance of have a decision by the end of the year,” she said. “This the year or longer. “To secure corn, dairy operations gives members a lot of hope we could get a solution in 2021.” are going to have to compete increasingly Ag Insider with ethanol plants and export terminals; FarmFirst applauds USMCA dispute that will be the big driver for price movsettlement case ing forward,” he said. Buckner said the FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative general corn, soybean and wheat markets are all manager Jeff Lyon is praising the Biden driven by weather. “There’s no room for administration’s decision to challenge error given that hay acres are at the lowCanada’s tariff rate quota system for est level since 1908, pasture ratings are dairy products. “Now is the time to make in decline, and we’re worried about the it very clear to Canada’s trade leaders that Western re season this year,” Buckner failure to meet their agriculture trade obsaid. Buckner said Midwest weather will ligations will have consequences,” Lyon need to be perfect to resolve the supply said. “Canada needs to stop building crunch. “The upside risk is very much in barriers in spite of the trade agreements place in the feed market,” he said. By Don Wick they’ve signed and participate as a good trading partner.” United States launches dispute settleColumnist ment case with Canada U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai has re- Food box program ends The United States Department of Agriculture’s quested a Dispute Settlement Panel be established to consider Canada’s non-compliance with the dairy tar- Farmers to Families Food Box Program was allowed iff rate quota provisions in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada to expire at the end of May. This program helped Agreement. Since mid-2020, Canada has maintained feed hungry families during the pandemic. The proa policy where Canadian processors are awarded the gram also helped farmers who faced a loss of demand majority of dairy TRQs and limiting market access for from the foodservice industry. Milk and dairy prodthe United States. A panel of judges will now review ucts were part of the temporary federal program. The Biden administration has a similar program called the situation. The Emergency Food Pandemic Assistance Program. U.S. dairy industry grateful for dairy dispute set- However, USDA said TEFAP does not replace the food box program but will apply “lessons learned” for tlement A U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement dispute set- future activities. tlement has been initiated by the U.S. Trade Representative. U.S. Dairy Export Council President and Antitrust allegations New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is calling for CEO Krysta Harden said the U.S. dairy industry is grateful USTR is taking this rst step. “Every single hearings, an investigation and possible legislation to pound of product that leaves our country represents deal with potential antitrust activity in the dairy inadditional income for dairy farmers, manufacturers dustry. “Ultimately, we need something like a 9/11 and it provides jobs,” Harden said. “I think this is also commission to investigate the dairy industry,” she a signal demonstrating to all of our trading partners said. Gillibrand said changes to the Class I milk price the willingness of the administration to enforce proce- formula have had a devastating effect on dairy farmdures in agreement.” This begins an advanced process ers. “I see this as a national security issue,” she said.

Pasteurization regulation in the courts A federal judge in Washington, D.C. has ruled in favor of the Food and Drug Administration and its authority to require pasteurization of butter. The Farmer-to-Consumer Defense Fund and raw milk advocate, Mark McAfee, sued the FDA claiming there was no scientic basis for the pasteurization requirement. MN ag policy bill signed, work continues on ag nance bill Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed the state omnibus agriculture policy bill into law. “Some of the important things were extending the Farmer-Lender Mediation Program another ve years; the program was due to sunset next year,” said Thom Petersen, Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner. “We have almost 1,000 farmers with mediation notices across the state. It’s a program that works in many cases.” Then, a working group made up of state lawmakers continue to negotiate the details of the omnibus ag nance bill. “We’re working with $10 million in new money to target into agriculture across the state,” Petersen said. “There’s a lot of different pieces, and it’s a matter of coming together for the budget to fund the agency another two years.” Dairy beverage available at Taco Bell For a limited time, Taco Bell is featuring a frozen dairy beverage called the Mountain Dew Baja Blast Colada Freeze. It features a dairy-based creamer made from real heavy cream and was developed with the assistance of the dairy checkoff program. Milk output continues to rise During April, U.S. milk production increased 3.5%. South Dakota added 18,000 cows to the state dairy herd and increased milk output 13.4%. Production was up nearly 7% in Minnesota. That compares to a 4.6% increase in Wisconsin and a 4.1% increase in California. Turn to AG INSIDER | Page 9

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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 12, 2021 • Page 9

ConƟnued from AG INSIDER | Page 8 Low SCC herds recognized The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has recognized the top herds with low somatic cell counts. In the latest data, the top ve state herds with the lowest SCC are Suzanne Jacobs of Otter Tail County, Dennis and Wayne Wolters of Morrison County, Harmony Hills LLC of Carver County, Braulick Farms of Brown County and Hoefs’ Dairy LLC of LeSueur County. Star of the Breed Holstein USA has named Eastriver Goldwyn Deb 176 as the 2020 Star of the Breed. This cow is owned by Andy Stuewe and Corey Feltmann of Norwood Young America. The Holstein scored EX-94 2E and produced more than 175,000 pounds of milk in her lifetime. Zenk named to USDA senior staff A Danube, Minnesota, native is the new chief of staff for USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs. For the past 3.5 years, Katie Zenk was part of the professional staff for the House Agriculture Committee. That includes time as the committee’s economist. Before that, Zenk was the government rela-

tions manager for Land O’Lakes. Zenk is also a past state FFA ofcer. Moore takes new job Brita Moore has left the staff of the Minnesota Farmers Union. Starting June 7, Moore became the communications specialist for the Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization. Moore was with MFU for four years. Trivia challenge A Holstein from Stone-Front Farm at Lancaster, Wisconsin, produced 460,000 pounds of milk in her lifetime, an all-time record. That answers our last trivia question. For this week’s trivia, what is the national record for milk production in a single lactation? We will have the answer in the next edition of Dairy Star.

Don Wick is owner/broadcaster for the Red River Farm Network, based in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Wick has been recognized as the National Farm Broadcaster of the Year and served as president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Don and his wife, Kolleen, have two adult sons, Tony and Sam, and ve grandchildren, Aiden, Piper, Adrienne, Aurora and Sterling.

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As likes, interests and values change for each generation so must the way information is communicated. That is why Dairy Management Inc. is turning to gaming and other online ventures to share about dairy products and dairy farms to Generation Z, which ranges in ages 10 to 23. During a webinar May 24, DMI explained its initiatives directed at Gen Z. “They have mostly grown up online,” said Barbara O’Brien, DMI president. “They have information at their ngertips. They’re digitally savvy, and they’re willing to share their data in exchange for a more personalized experience – personalized content and recommendations made just for them.” Barbara O’Brien Plus, this group has an estiDMI President mated spending power of $100 billion, said O’Brien. “From what we know about how this generation wants to change the world, they’re changing expectations of brands and how they’re willing to spend their money on brands that are doing good and doing right in their view,” she said. “It can have an enormous impact on dairy and on other categories.” This generation also likes balance when it comes to food. “Healthy eating to them means feeding their body what it needs but also what it craves which gives us an enormous opportunity to feature both nutrition and indulgence in the products we put in front of this generation,” O’Brien said. Sharing information with gamers is one of the initiatives DMI has implemented this year, said Anne Warden, executive vice president of strategic integration for DMI. “We are tapping into their love of video gaming to capture their attention and show them how dairy products t really well in that growing occasion in their days,” Warden said. A large majority – 90% – of Gen Z games. “They are less interested in the particulars of vitamins and Anne Warden minerals in a food or beverDMI, executive age and more interested in what vice president of that food is going to do for their strategic body and how it’s going to make integration them feel,” Warden said. “Our research has found that some of dairy’s biggest opportunities to win with Gen Z is by positioning as a food that will sustain their energy throughout the day or let them feel relaxed, recharged while doing the things they love.” That is how the new campaign called “Beat the lag” started. “It is about how dairy foods and beverages can give gamers an energy boost or a tasty pick-me-up during a long stretch of gaming,” Warden said. Lag is a gaming term for when a game slows down or graphics do not load. “We think human gamers can have their own lag going on and dairy is the way to help them beat that,” Warden said. DMI is partnering with two popular gaming inuencers, Jordan Maron and Rosanna Pansino, to talk about dairy foods and the benets they can give a per-

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Jordan Maron, a gaming inuencer known online as CaptainSparklez, puts cheese on a pizza during a promoƟon with Dairy Management Inc. son’s body. “They’re going to help us get millions of their fans coming up with their own ideas for what dairy snacks help them beat that human lag,” Warden said. “They’ve turned it into a contest where people would win gaming prizes.” The contest, which started and ended in May, had 3 million views by the third week of the month, which beat the industry average engagement rates. “We clearly have some amazing momentum on this front,” Warden said. Maron said working with Nevin Lemos DMI made sense for him because Lemos Jerseys of his love for cheese on his pizza and cream-based drinks. The popular Minecraft gamer, known online as CaptainSparklez, took a virtual tour of Nevin Lemos’ 400cow dairy near Waterford, California. “I’ve never been on a dairy farm before so I was going in blind and it was cool to see. (Lemos) is younger than me, and he manages this entire dairy farm,” Maron said. “It was nice to see the cows have a lot of room to live their lives. They were very excited to be milked. ... All in all, it looked like a nice place for the animals.” Lemos was happy to share his dairy farm with Maron. “I was very impressed with him wanting to understand the business as a system,” said Lemos, who started his dairy farm four years ago at the age of 20. “We focus so much on animals’ care and conveying that and the importance of it to the consumer but to see Jordan’s special interest in the business side was interesting. He was always a step ahead of me on his questions. I think it’s that gamer mentality. You level up and things are systematic.” As a part of Gen Z, Lemos thinks people in his generation want more authentic interaction. “Gen Z is straying away from the amount of inuence they would take from Hollywood celebrities, and they really value these YouTube personalities, these inuencers because it’s more on a real level with them,” he said. “They like to follow people who are real.” From these partnerships, DMI hopes to reach consumers in the ways they need. “It’s not a one-way street,” O’Brien said. “This allows for an authentic exchange and engagement with content. It’s today’s new form of advertising.”

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More reasons to love milk

Four essential nutrients added to the beverage’s label By Krista Kuzma

krista.k@dairystar.com

People have four more reasons to love milk. Earlier this year, the United States Department of Agriculture approved four essential nutrients to add to milk’s label. They include zinc, selenium, iodine and potassium. “Milk is still milk,” Julie Mattson Ostrow said. “It is still the same milk it was a few years ago. We just have lot more data and research.” Julie Mattson Mattson OsOstrow, Midwest trow, vice presiDairy vice dent of dairy expresident of dairy perience-wellness experience-wellat Midwest Dairy, ness said recent changes in food labeling is the reason for the addition of the four essential nutrients to the dairy product’s label. “There have been big changes in labeling in the daily values listed and changing thresholds on how much of a particular nutrient needed to be in a product in a food to claim it as a good or excellent source,” said Mattson Ostrow, a registered dietitian and

a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition Dietetics. Dairy Management Inc. has been working in coordination with the International Dairy Foods Association, MilkPEP, National Dairy Council and National Milk Producers Federation to gather information and research to bring to the USDA for approval. “I think that’s what sets dairy apart from other commodity groups – investment in research, continuing to learn more and continuing to nd new and better ways that it helps our bodies,” Mattson Ostrow said. Having more essential nutrients in milk makes it a marketable and great product option for consumers; however, people do not care about the number of nutrients in a product. “What we’ve learned in our insights and consumer marketing is that consumers want to know the benet and what that means to them. Not that we can just have a bigger list,” Mattson Ostrow said. Because of this, dairy farmers and others will not hear advertising or marketing about milk having 13 essential nutrients instead of only nine. “What you’re going to hear about is the messaging that we’re part of the wellness conversation, whether the healthy immune function, brain development or it’s athletic performance,” Mattson Ostrow said. “That’s where you’ll see those nutrients being woven in.” Health benets of zinc and selenium include being important for normal immune function. “What has everyone been con-

cerned about for the last year and a half? Their immune system,” Mattson Ostrow said. “From consumer polling and the research, that’s going to continue. The COVID-19 virus has made a relevance to many consumers in particular younger Gen Z audiences.” One cup of milk provides 10% of a person’s daily value of both nutrients. Potassium helps keep electrolyte balance in the body and helps with

“The more we can learn and understand is proving to be very positive for dairy.” JULIE MATTSON OSTROW, MIDWEST DAIRY

muscle performance. “For those individuals interested in athletics and sports and staying hydrated, potassium is a really important nutrient and dairy has a really cool story to help with that,” Mattson Ostrow said. In one 8-ounce serving of milk, there is 10% of a person’s daily value of potassium. Iodine helps with baby brain and cognitive development, making it an important nutrient for pregnant and lactating mothers. “I think that’s something we’re going to hear a lot more about,” Mattson Ostrow said. “In the 2020 dietary guidelines, iodine is mentioned as a nutrient of concern for pregnant

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Celebrating Dairy Month

Bridging the digital divide

By Julie Sweney Director of Marketing & Communications at FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative Well-maintained roads and bridges have always been a priority for agriculture when policymakers discuss investments in infrastructure. After all, it is how we get what we produce on our farms to consumers. But now, just as important for the vitality of our rural communities and farms is high-speed and affordable broadband. Improving rural broadband has been discussed for far too long, resulting in minor investments, but it was this past year that made it painstakingly obvious how deep the digital divide is across America. As a cooperative representing dairy farmers that are adopting technologies to improve their bottom line, we are advocating for better broadband because precision farming and operating robotic milkers require high-speed connections for data collection and analysis. Farmers are being asked to be more sustainable than they already are, but it is difcult to embrace new technology when lacking condence in internet service. Unfortunately, 25% of U.S. farms have no access to the internet according to the United States Department of Agriculture. And for many that do have access, the internet is painfully slow and costly to upgrade to higher speeds, making it a burden to use and not available to rural residents. According to the Federal Communications Commission, more than 30 million Americans live in areas where there is no broadband infrastructure that provides acceptable speeds, representing 35% of rural Americans. The time is now to expand rural broadband, and policymakers are stepping up to the task. Minnesota expanded their investment in their Border-to-Border Grant Program, from $40 million to $70 million, which is the largest infusion of state funding into their broadband infrastructure to date. Wisconsin also slated $200 million over the next two years to expand broadband access to its rural communities. While challenges exist in getting broadband access to remote parts of the state, this signicant nancial investment is essential to begin the process of connecting rural residents at more acceptable speeds. Expanding broadband will also improve the quality of life for all rural residents, by expanding services to health care, education and government programs, and allow small rural businesses to embrace e-commerce. And nancially-successful rural businesses provide for a more vibrant community. FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative will continue to advocate for expanding rural broadband, knowing rsthand how our farmers and dairy-related businesses are ready to embrace new, more sustainable practices if they had access to affordable, high-speed rural broadband to make it possible.

moms, meaning we’re concerned people are not getting enough of it.” Eight ounces of milk contains 60% of a person’s daily value of iodine. For Connie Seefeldt, these additions to milk’s label are a win for dairy. “This gave us more proof than what we knew before that milk is a nutrient dense package … and it’s natural,” said Seefeldt, a Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin board member and the vice chair of the National Dairy Board. The dairy farmer is happy to have more ways to talk about milk with health-conscious consumers. “I think it opens up windows and doors when we want to talk about nutrition and healthy food and why it is important to our bodies,” said Seefeldt, who milks 100 cows near Coleman, Wisconsin. “I think it’s very important that these foods are not only consumed by the younger generation to build their bones and muscles, but by the older generation for other needs they may have. It’s the whole package, no matter your age.” Mattson Ostrow agreed. She said it is because of the checkoff investment in research that has continued to nd evidence that milk is a healthy beverage. “It was always there. We’ve just been able to peel back pieces and learn more,” she said. “The more we can learn and understand is proving to be very positive for dairy.” And giving consumers more reasons to love milk.

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Page 12 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 12, 2021

Top Minnesota dairy farms honored for superior cow care

Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen released the annual list of top Minnesota dairy herds with low somatic cell counts. SCC is a key indicator of milk quality – a lower SCC count is better for cheese production and a longer shelf life for bottled milk. In honor of June Dairy Month, 96 Minnesota dairy farms are being recognized for superior herd management skills by achieving an average SCC of under 100,000. “I’m honored to be able to recognize these 96 dairies for their high level of excellence,” Petersen said. “These dairy farmers work hard 365 days a year to produce high-quality, wholesome dairy products for all of us to enjoy, and I thank them for their contributions to feed Minnesota and the world.”

The SCC list for Minnesota dairy farms includes: Suzanne Jacobs, Otter Tail County Dennis and Wayne Wolters, Morrison County Harmony Hills LLC, Carver County Braulick Farms, Brown County Hoefs’ Dairy LLC, LeSueur County Brandon and Jill Marshik, Benton County Keith Middendorf, Todd County Dean and Elizabeth Johnson, Cottonwood County Tony and Matt Berktold, Wabasha County Zweber Farms LLC, Scott County Nosbush Dairy, Renville County Christopher and Jessie Lee, Meeker County Edward Kauffman, Todd County Knisley Dairy Inc., Stearns County Bill Miller, Wabasha County Kent Happke, Benton County Denn-Mar Farm LLC, Benton County Alan and Jessica Klimek, Douglas County Robert and Terri Ketchum, Winona County Kevin Hanson, Polk County Valley Acre Dairy No. 1, Winona County Enchanted Dairy, Morrison County Riverview LLP – West Dublin, Swift County Barkeim Farms LLC, Winona County

Although somatic cells occur naturally and are not a food safety concern, dairy farmers monitor them because they can be used as a measure of the health of their cows. Processors also pay a premium for milk with low counts. A farmer whose herd has a very low count can receive a signicantly higher price per hundredweight compared to a farmer whose herd average is high. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture and University of Minnesota dairy experts have worked with the state’s dairy farmers to lower somatic cell counts. When the initiative began in 2003, the 100 herds honored that year included those with SCC averages as high as 144,000, compared to the current goal of obtaining a SCC under 100,000.

D & D Dairy Small Farm, Winona County Ryan Talberg, Stearns County Harlan and Jenny Poppler, Wright County Jeff Middendorf, Stearns County Scott and Michelle Herber, Winona County Charles and Mary Schornack, Otter Tail County Trevor and Lisa Dicke, Wabasha County Del and Cindy Euerle, Meeker County Cory and Jenna Middendorf, Stearns County High Point Dairy – Joe and Kim Engelmeyer, Stearns County Marshall and Melanie Korn, Kandiyohi County Randy H. and Kathleen J. Bauer, Rice County Valley Acres Dairy No. 2, Winona County Colleen Berscheit, Brown County Duckwitz Farm Partnership, Swift County James A. Olson, Winona County Burfeind Dairy Farm LLC, Goodhue County Russel Wirt, Winona County Duane Burke, Otter Tail County Peterson Dairy Farm, Kandiyohi County Schwab Farms Inc., Nicollet County Dev-Lin Holsteins LLC, Houston County Travis and Angela Scherping, Stearns County John Sauber, Dakota County

Paul and Bonnie Middendorf, Todd County Adam and Sarah Mellgren, Wabasha County Ackerman Farms, Benton County Jeremy and Amanda Wentland, Stearns County Kraig Krienke, McLeod County Lux-Ury Holsteins Inc., Meeker County Heim Family Farm, Winona County Chad Waltman, Morrison County Robert Hinsch, Goodhue County Maynard and Jeremiah Schumacher, Wabasha County Kuechle Dairy LLC, Stearns County Gregory Dairy LLC, Stearns County Dreier Farm LLC, Carver County O’Reilly Organic Dairy LLC, Goodhue County Peter Mark Hendrickson, Todd County Matt Andring, Olmsted County Mundt Dairy, Winona County Brian Libbesmeier, Meeker County Hammell Dairy Inc., Houston County Mark Ruegemer, Pope County Clear Crest Farm, Winona County Zabulls Holsteins, Wabasha County Turn to COW CARE | Page 13

Dairy Star • Saturday, June 12, 2021 • Page 13

ConƟnued from COW CARE | Page 12

Shawn and Sarah Winscher, Morrison County Robert and Ann Cremers, Stearns County Dave and Dan Bruder, Todd County Adam and Abby Popowski, Lincoln County Jon and Wendy Meyer, Wabasha County Stan and Bev Meyer, Houston County Avon Heights LLC, Dodge County Dollymount Dairy, Traverse County Youngren Dairy Farms Inc., Kandiyohi County Sunny Side Dairy, Hennepin County Jacob Mehr, Stearns County Greg Nicklay, Olmsted County Mark and Shari Chamberlain, Goodhue County Tim Bruder, Todd County Nathan Gibbs, Winona County Mitchell Mehrwerth, Benton County Schmit Family Dairy LLC, Winona County Steve and Lori Dockendorf, Stearns County Darin and Brierly Grimsgard, Meeker County Paul Mehr, Stearns County Bucks Unlimited LLC, Goodhue County Edgar Martin, Stearns County Autumn Breeze Dairy, Brown County Schumacher Farms of Elgin Inc., Wabasha County Pike Hills Dairy LLC, Morrison County Anthony Schefer, Goodhue County

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Kristin Schrimpf, Ann Buck, Shannon Dicke and Wendy Lexvold Goodhue, Minnesota Goodhue County Tell us about the promotions you do personally and as a part of your dairy promotion group. Our Goodhue County American Dairy Association and committees are promoting dairy through Goodhue County Breakfast on the Farm and the Udder Run at our Goodhue Volksfest celebration where participants receive root beer oats, yogurt, cheese sticks, and prizes for the 1- and 5-mile participants along with Udder Run T-shirts. We also supply milk for school banquets, dairy promotion nights at school athletic events and run the malt booth at the Goodhue County Fair in Zumbrota, Minnesota. Describe your favorite promotion and explain how it is or was effective. Breakfast on the Farm has become a positive, fun and educational event that many look forward to every year. It has connected consumers and community to the positive impact the dairy industry has in Goodhue County and Minnesota. We partner with our radio station, businesses and dairy farmers. It has grown from 35 people to over 1,700. It is on a weekday so we invite daycares. Last year, we were creative and did a drive-thru dairy experience that was a big hit. This year, we will do the same with an option for people to get out of their vehicles at the end for the petting zoo and to view cows being milked. If you could promote dairy products on a regional or national level, how would you do it? We would change the federal guidelines with our school lunch program to put whole milk and avored whole milk options back into schools. Also, we would encourage milk dispensers instead of cartons to improve avor, taste and nutrition. Our brains are made up of 60% fat. Kids need healthy dairy fats. If you could choose a celebrity or well-known person to represent the dairy industry, who would it be? We respect and admire celebrities and businesses that are not afraid to put their faith rst, and will stand up for their country, religion, morals and beliefs. Therefore, I would want them promoting our dairy industry. What is one dairy product that needs better promotion? Whole, full fat dairy. According to the May 4 edition of The Wall Street Journal, 94.3% of 14-18-year-old girls eat less than the recommended amount of dairy foods, which are leading sources of calcium and vitamin D. What do you think is the most important dairy message consumers need to hear right now? Our teens are not receiving critical vitamins and minerals they need for bone health. There’s no way to make up for the teenage years, if they don’t receive vitamins and minerals in those growing years. “Adolescent girls gain 40% to 60% of their bone mass between 11 to 14 years of age,” said Dr. Ellen Rome, who is head of the Center for Adolescent Medicine at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital. Whole dairy is the

Aaron Titterington Spencer, Iowa Clay County 1,100 cows Tell us about the promotions you do personally and as a part of your dairy promotion group. On our farm, we hold a breakfast on the farm every other year. The most effective part of the open house is getting a large number of people’s feet on the ground on a real, working farm. It can be an eye opener for those who have never been on a farm or have inaccurate ideas about how a large dairy looks and operates. It is an excellent way for families to get on a farm and have close interaction with the cows. The promotion is huge when people get to meet the owners and operators, and see our care and commitment. It is unreal how many comments we get about how clean and beautiful the cows and the facilities are. They feel the cows are content and well-cared for and will ideally share this with friends and family down the road when conversation turns to agriculture. Describe your favorite promotion and explain how it is or was effective. My favorite promotion is the Western Iowa Dairy Alliance open house held at a western Iowa dairy farm each year in June. This year it was June 9 at Perry Creek Dairy in Merrill, Iowa. If you could promote dairy products on a regional or national level, how would you do it? There is so much hype in the diet and tness world about eliminating dairy to be thinner and healthier, so I love it when I see the industry represented by successful athletes or role models in the tness world. If you could choose a celebrity or well-known person to represent the dairy industry, who would it be? I would choose Allyson Felix. She is such an amazing athlete. After a competition, she unwinds with a good steak and ice cream. What is one dairy product that needs better promotion? With a growing number of people having sensitivities to lactose, it is important to get the word out that our industry has some excellent products that are lactose free. What do you think is the most important dairy message consumers need to hear right now? The most important message to get to consumers is that milk from cows is healthy, clean and easy. It is a food that is high in protein and vitamins and is an essential part of being t and healthy. Tell us about yourself and your career. I farm with my family on our 1,100-cow Jersey dairy located near Spencer, Iowa. Our dairy operation is in its fth generation. We are constantly looking to the future with innovation for better, more efcient production. best option. Tell us about yourself and your dairy. Our Breakfast on the Farm committee of Shannon Dicke, Kristin Schrimpf, Wendy Lexvold and Ann Buck are all passionate about the dairy industry and promoting our product. We are involved in our family farms’ day-to-day operations and decisions. Our families are now transitioning to our children and enjoying our grandchildren on the farm too. We are a great dairy team along with many other dairy farmers that get it done.

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Nikki Schriever Harmony, Minnesota Fillmore County Tell us about the promotions you do personally and as part of your dairy promotion group. All four of our children have been dairy ambassadors for Fillmore County. Our family likes to wear shirts that support the dairy industry and others who farm. Even though we no longer milk cows on our farm, we continue to stay active in the industry by spreading the word of the importance of milk to others by word of mouth or social media. Our county ADA plans events and promotions through the summer. We start with our banquet where our dairy princesses are crowned and share their experience with the local dairy farmers. We participate in area town parades and throw cheese sticks. We offer scholarships to local schools for any senior who participates in the dairy industry and will be attending college in the fall. We offer an on-the-farm experience in June where a local farm volunteers to have the public come to their farm for a few hours one evening. We do advertising via the paper, social media and radio for our events. We serve ice cream shakes at our county fair as well as rent our ice cream stand to area businesses/consumers for their own events. Organizations or groups will come to us with an event, and we help fund their dairy products whether it is milk, cheese, ice cream, etc. Describe your favorite promotion and explain how it is or was effective. My favorite promotion is our Dairy Night on the Farm. This is where the public is able to come to a local dairy farm and participate in an on-the-farm experience. We serve a meal as well as ice cream shakes for dessert. We hand out promotional materials with dairy facts and some fun things for the kids too. Our dairy ambassadors and princesses help by interacting and helping us serve the public. We have a good crowd each year, and we hear many wonderful things that people learn both by reading materials and seeing things. The people are able to come up close to calves and cows. Most often they are able to see the milking process. I have found this experience to be the most effect way of teaching people about dairy. If you could promote dairy products on a regional or national level, how would you do it? I would love to see more billboard signs to promote dairy. I think we also need more promotional stuff in businesses year-round. Bringing dairy farming and the importance of dairy products go schools are a great way to get kids started early. Doing more on-farm tours, would be good, too. If you could choose a celebrity or well-known person to represent the dairy industry, who would it be? I don’t know that we need anyone well-known to get our message out there. I think the best people to advocate for the dairy industry are the dairy farmers. Having groups like Midwest Dairy Association play a huge role in spreading the importance of dairy products. If we get enough people together to help get that word out there, I think we’ll be doing just ne. What is one dairy product that needs better promotion? Yogurt needs more promotion. Yogurt is good for you Turn to SCHRIEVER | Page 16

Page 16 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 12, 2021

ConƟnued from OUR SIDE | Page 15 Megan Gronau Durango, Iowa Dubuque County Tell us about the promotions you do personally and as a part of your dairy promotion group. Through being the Dubuque County Dairy Princess, I attended classrooms and spoke with students ages preschool to sixth grade about the dairy industry. This was done by reading books, describing the milking process or demonstrating milking a cow. I also attended parades and had farm visits. I was able to promote the dairy industry and share my experiences. In the Dubuque County Dairy Promotion Association, we do a variety of promotions. The ones I listed above are included as well as donating roughly $10,000 to local food pantries and Resources United. Another promotion we did was handing out dairy boxes during the pandemic. We also have a Facebook page where we hold giveaways of dairy products based on dairy fun facts, trivia or photo contests. Describe your favorite promotion and explain how it is or was effective. School visits. Aside from bringing in cheese sticks and a goodie bag for each student, I also brought a couple rubber gloves lled with water to demonstrate milking a cow. Many of the students in this class had never been on a farm or seen a cow. This allowed them to learn about cows and the way we farm and milk, and gave them a hands-on experience. If you could promote dairy products on a regional or national level, how would you do it? Do virtual or drive-thru farm tours as well as virtual tours of processing and bottling plants. There are so many different operations, not only locally but state to state as well. Being able to bring them all together from coast to coast, even being able to do a bus tour coast-to-coast and stop at various operations, is a way to learn more about the way they represent the dairy industry. Another way to promote would be to use grocery store promotions. Many stores will send out a small sample with a coupon to get people to see what other products are out there and maybe buy it next time. Another idea would be to post facts and recipes for others to see and share on social media. If you could choose a celebrity or well-known person to represent the dairy industry, who would it be? Elle Purrier St. Pierre. She is an Olympic hopeful runner who holds the U.S. records for the womens indoor mile and 2-mile races. Purrier grew up on a 40-cow dairy farm in Vermont and lives on one with her husband. As she trains for her shot at the Tokyo Olympics, she has always been one to promote dairy in any way. She is someone who I would love to have represent the dairy industry because not only does she know the nutritional value and the importance to athletes, she has the background that allows her to have the inside experience as well. What is one dairy product that needs better promotion? Lactose-free milk. Many people go straight for almond, soy or oat beverages when they are lactose intolerant or have a milk allergy. Lactose-free milk or dairy products are a great alternative. What do you think is the most important dairy message consumers need to hear right now? Bridging the gap between what consumers perceive about the industry compared to the reality. A lot of people do not fully understand everything that goes on behind the scenes until they get a glimpse of it. Through ways of promoting dairy products that I mentioned earlier, the gap can be lessened. It is important to teach our consumers on why we do what we do.

Victor and Ann Uphoff, pictured with grandkids, Madelyn and Makena Lubben Melrose, Minnesota Stearns County 54 cows Tell us about the promotions you do personally and as a part of your dairy promotion group. Personally, if someone in line at the grocery store has purchased dairy products, thank them for supporting dairy farmers. As the Stearns County ADA Board, we have our dairy princess go to local businesses, schools, parades, the Stearns County Fair and Breakfast on the Farm, and conduct radio interviews. Describe your favorite promotion and explain how it is or was effective. We like having the dairy princesses/ambassadors in parades and the fair. It is where you can reach a larger audience. You never really know if they will consume dairy or go buy your dairy products. If you could promote dairy products on a regional or national level, how would you do it? With a Super Bowl ad. If you could choose a celebrity or well-known person to represent the dairy industry, who would it be? Motley Crue, because we listen to rock music while we’re in the barn or in the elds. What is one dairy product that needs better promotion? Milk. At fast food restaurants, they should have a milk dispenser machine offering free rells like they do with soda. What do you think is the most important dairy message consumers need to hear right now? All dairy farms are state and federally inspected yearly. Dairy is safe and naturally produced, containing the 13 essential nutrients. Tell us about yourself and your career. My wife, Ann, and I milk 54 cows in a tiestall barn. We also grow corn, alfalfa, oats, pea-barley and soybeans. We have four grown children. Morgan (Princess Kay nalist 2015) and her husband, Chad, and two daughters dairy farm in southwest Minnesota. Dylan, of Melrose, and Derek and Mitchell are at home with full-time offthe-farm jobs. I have been dairy farming for 38 years, 26 years of those have been together. Ann and I served on the Stearns County ADA Board for seven years (three years as chairs). I also serve on the AMPI district board and am president of the New Munich Mutual Insurance board. Ann is the youth director and treasurer of the local Catholic Order of Foresters court. Tell us about yourself and your career. I am the 22-year-old daughter of Todd and Karen Gronau of Durango, Iowa. I spent my summers on my grandparents’ dairy farm. I have held the titles on Dubuque County 4-H Queen, Dubuque County Fair Queen, Dubuque County Dairy Princess, Dubuque County Miss United States Agriculture and current Dubuque County Ms. United States Agriculture. I am an associate director for the Dubuque County Fair Board, the chairperson for Youth Action Committee and the social media chair for the Dubuque County Dairy Association. I graduated from Loras College with a degree in biology. I am working as the assistant aisle online manager at Hy-Vee while also working on Breezy Ridge Dairy in Epworth, Iowa. We milk 180 cows twice a day. We also have 40 calves on the bottle that are fed at each milking. The farm was started in 1994 and is 160 acres.

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ConƟnued from SCHRIEVER | Page 15 and tastes yummy but barely has any promotions next to milk and cheese. There are more ads out for drinking milk and adding that extra cheese to a pizza to support the dairy industry while I rarely see any ads for yogurt. What do you think is the most important dairy message consumers need to hear right now? Dairy farmers care for their animals like they are their pets. So many times, social media makes farmers out to be horrible people who abuse their cows and treat them unfairly. Most farmers treat their cows with the greatest of care and with the most respect. They feed them well-balanced diets, cow comfort is a top priority, and they make sure they have the best vet care they can. Tell us about yourself and your career. I am a wife and mother of four kids: one son and three daughters. I am the administrative assistant and wine club manager at Four Daughters Vineyard and Winery in Spring Valley, Minnesota. I am the chairperson for the Fillmore County American Dairy Association Board and have served two six-year terms on the board. We live outside of Harmony on a farm where we raise dairy heifers and pigs, as well as goats, cats and a puppy. My husband works for a dairy farm outside of Fountain, Minnesota. My husband and I also volunteer with our 4-H group.

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Cindy Welle Little Falls, Minnesota Morrison County 53 cows Tell us about the promotions you do personally and as a part of your dairy promotion group. Personally, I received a grant for 200 thermal sippy cups that we distributed to daycares and well-baby check-ups at the local clinic and to all of our babies born in the month of June. As a group, we do a Christmas Dairy Basket promotion with local stores, Coborn’s Dairy Day Cook-out, First June Baby Basket and a breakfast of the farm. Describe your favorite promotion and explain how it is or was effective. My favorite promotion is the June baby promotion because we give the rst June baby a basket full of baby clothes, blankets, cups, stuffed animal, etc. The families are always appreciative of the basket, and to see the baby is always a bonus. If you could promote dairy products on a regional or national level, how would you do it? I would like to see more breakfasts on the farm, or something similar, to spread the knowledge of a farming background and to see where store products come from. If you could choose a celebrity or well-known person to represent the dairy industry, who would it be? Blake Shelton because he is a farm boy at heart. What is one dairy product that needs better promotion? Cheese because there are so many varieties, and it can be used in so many ways. What do you think is the most important dairy message consumers need to hear right now? Consuming dairy products provides many health benets. They are packed with calcium, protein and a lot of other essential nutrients. Tell us about yourself and your career. My husband and I have been farming for 38 years on his family farm near Little Falls, Minnesota. We milk 53 dairy cows, raise steers and grow 200 acres of corn and 90 acres of alfalfa. We have four children and eight grandkids.

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Breeding Focus

Luckwaldt Agriculture Inc. emphasizes health traits in breeding protocol Dan and Mary Luckwaldt Luckwaldt Agriculture Inc. Woodville, Wisconsin 1,275 cows Describe your facilities and list your breeding management team. We milk in a double-20 parallel parlor. Twothirds of the cows live in a crossventilated barn, and one-third live in a naturally-ventilated barn. Our herdsmen are Patrick Kuselik and Derek Fenner; Tom Mahoney is our technician from Select Sires; and Dr. Veronica Schommer is our vet. Dr. Marv Johnson has done a lot of embryo transfer work for us also. What is your reproduction program? Do you use a synchronization program? How do you get animals pregnant? We use double ovsync/double Lutalyse with some visual heat detection. Our vet uses ultrasound to examine the corpus luteum to determine where a cow is at in her cycle. Describe your breeding philosophy. We place our emphasis on health. What guidelines do you follow to reach the goals for your breeding program? I believe the cow today is different than what we had six to eight years ago. We rarely culled pregnant cows, and now we do with some regularity. Our hospital pen used to be full

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H&S XL 16’ silage boxes.................$2,600 ea. Sitrex QR12, QR10, QRS rakes ................ New Many sizes of rakes available All Sizes of Sitrex Rakes .....................On Hand Brent Grain cart.................................... $9,500 Brent 544 box w/roll tarp & fender..... $12,900 Brent 440 box ...................................... $8,900 Demco 365 .......................................... $6,500 Demco 365 w/tarp ............................. $10,500 Many Used Gravity Boxes - Demco, J&M, Brent

MISCELLANEOUS

NH 680 manure spreader ..................... $5,500 NH 185 spreader ................................ $11,500 Hagedorn 275 spreader ..................... $14,000 CIH 5300 grain drill w/grass .............. $10,900 Brillion PD16 16’ packer ...................... $1,000 Harms 40’ land roller, like new ........... $14,000 Midsota 5510 & F610 rock trailers .... In Stock Midsota F8216 rock trailer ........................ Call New Red Devil & Agro Trend Snowblowers

GREENWALD FARM CENTER Greenwald, MN • 320-987-3177 WWW.GREENWALDFARMCENTER.COM

Dairy Star • Saturday, June 12, 2021 • Page 19

The dairymen of our area are hard-working individuals with a sense of spirit and commitment. Viafield is proud to be the feed supplier to northeast Iowa dairy farmers.

FARM INFORMATION STATION Joe Gill • Farm Director

SERVING CENTRAL MINNESOTA FOR OVER 50 YEARS Catch the Dairy Star’s Mark Klaphake with Joe Gill at 6:45 a.m. the 2nd & 4th Fridays of the month on KASM!

Find your nearest location at viafield.com Serving your Agronomy, Energy, Feed, and Grain needs

PO Box 160, Albany, MN • (320) 845-2184 • Fax (320) 845-2187

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“No disruption, battery lasts, and we’re mobile. We can use it ... anywhere.” — Chad Fredd

GRAPEVIEW DAIRY, Chad Fredd, Westfield, NY 240 cows, over 80 lbs/cow/day SCC consistently below 150,000 “There’s no disruption, the battery lasts, and we’re mobile, no air cord or handle in the way. With the Udder Comfort™ Battery-Operated Backpack Sprayer, we can go right out in the middle of the barn and spray udders at the feed bunk or in the stalls and away from the robots. We can use it in the fresh or hospital pen, springer pen, anywhere. We use the Backpack every day for 2 groups: post-calving and high-conductivity. We also use it some in the prefresh pen,” says Chad Fredd, Grapeview Dairy, Westfield, New York, with 4 robots milking 240 cows making over 80 pounds with SCC below 150,000. “Since it came out, Udder Comfort is a tool helping us achieve better quality and reduce mastitis by 75%. We have not used intramammary treatments on lactating cows in 15 years. It’s a great product. I like how they keep innovating with an efficient spray delivery system. “The secret is getting Udder Comfort on the first 3 to 5 days fresh. We find 2x/day 3 days is optimal for fresh cows, 5 to 7 days for heifers. Now it’s easy to start every lactation with Udder Comfort, so they’re more comfortable, train faster and use the robot more frequently.”

Quality Udders Make Quality Milk

Maximum Results Minimal Cost uddercomfort.com 1.888.773.7153 Works with our Yellow Spray and our NEW Backpack Sprayer Mix. For external application to the udder only, after milking, as an essential component of udder management. Wash and dry teats thoroughly before milking.

See video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNChT2olsjg

Page 20 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 12, 2021

Con�nued from LUCKWALDTS | Page 18

farming? We probably emphasize Dairy Wellness Prot Index more than the industry. Again, avoiding health events is good for business and animal welfare. The biggest genetic change in my lifetime is that we have so many more health traits we can select for. What are certain traits you try to avoid? We avoid -1 on legs side view; monitor teat length and placement; avoid negative daughter pregrancy rate bulls; and place a lot of emphasis on productive life. Describe the ideal cow for your herd. A 10-year-old cow that nobody remembers because she never caused problems and has produced a lot of high-quality milk.

What role does genetics have in reaching the goals of your farm? As commercial producers, our genetic program used to be just to use good bulls. A higher pregnancy rate and genomics have changed all that. Genetic improvement basics, such as generation interval and selection intensity, have all been taken to a much higher level in the last eight years. Genomics has also allowed us to monitor our progress much better. What percentage of your herd is bred to sexed, conventional and beef semen? Our milking cows are probably bred 70% beef. Heifers and high-genomic cows are bred to high-index sexed semen or conventional Holstein. We

DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR

Luckwaldt Agriculture herdsman Patrick Kuselik walks a pen of cows looking for signs of estrus. have also gotten a fair number of high-index embryos from local producers that we have incorporated into our herd. What is your conception rate? How does this differ with different types of semen? It seems to stay around 60% for everything. The most fertile cattle get sexed semen, and other cattle get conventional.

DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR

The Luckwaldts use genomics to help increase the eﬃciency and performance of their herd, emphasisizing selec�on of health and produc�on traits.

What is the greatest lesson you have learned through your breeding program? Semen selection is when you make your genetic improvement. Genetic audits have shown us the consequences

of those selections. Genetic improvement opportunities are more available than ever before. You better accurately identify the traits that will be economically important to you in the future and aggressively incorporate those traits in your herd if you hope to continue milking cows in the future. What is the age of your heifers at rst service? 410 days. How does your heifer inventory affect your breeding program? We monitor it closely. Our heifers are at a grower in Kansas. Raising replacements is a real cost for us, so we don’t like to raise too many extras or

low genetic merit animals. Tell us about our farm. My wife Mary pays the bills. In addition to my two herdsmen, I have Bob Donahoe, who is my operations manager, and Hispanics round out my milk harvest staff. We have sandbedded free stalls and a sand separation system. We crop about 2,200 acres, mostly alfalfa, BMR corn silage and some grain corn. All our crop harvests and most of our manure pumping is handled by custom operators. We raise replacement calves to 5 months of age which are then sent to southwest Kansas until 45 days prefreshening.

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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 12, 2021 • Page 21

2-Year Interest Waiver

Financing subject to pre-approval through JD Financial. Some restrictions apply. See dealer for details.

followed by 2.4% interest on all preowned combines and heads, over 100 units to choose from

JD S790, 2018, $ ##179097 17909 0977

315,400

JD S780, 2018, $ #183439

337,500

JD S770, 2018, $ #181147

JD S690, 2013, $ #175026

162,900

JD S680, $ 2012 #154637

149,500

JD S680 2013, $ #161858

245,000

149,500

JD S690, 2012, $ #179929

160,000

JD S670, $ 2012, #172954

114,900

Equipment and pictures added daily • Go to www.mmcjd.com 3 9 2 3 10 1 3 7 14 9 2 15 14 7 17 6 16 16 16 16 8 14 16 14

COMBINE PLATFORMS

JD 635F 2008, 35 ft., Flexible, #184004 ............................................................$10,000 JD 630F 2004, 30 ft., Flexible , #181625 ...........................................................$11,000 JD 635F 2010, 35 ft., Flexible, #179149 ............................................................$12,900 JD 630F 2006, 30 ft., Flexible, #180603 ............................................................$13,900 JD 620F 2009, 20 ft., Flexible, #162055 ............................................................$14,900 JD 630F 2011, 30 ft., Flexible, #182970 ............................................................$15,900 JD 635F 2009, 35 ft., Flexible, #168276 ............................................................$16,900 JD 630F 2011, 30 ft., Flexible, #183618 ............................................................$18,900 JD 635F 2009, 35 ft., Flexible, #183382 ............................................................$19,900 JD 625F 2009, 25 ft., Flexible, #178163 ............................................................$22,500 JD 625F 2012, 25 ft., Flexible, #173628 ............................................................$22,900 JD 635F 2012, 35 ft., Flexible, #183567 ............................................................$24,900 JD 635F 2013, 35 ft., Flexible, #181007 ............................................................$27,900 JD 635F 2013, 35 ft., Flexible, #173287 ............................................................$30,400 MacDon FD75-35 2013, 35 ft., Flex/Draper, Flip Over Reel, #183219 ...........$46,500 JD 640FD 2013, 40 ft., Flex/Draper, #162071...................................................$49,500 JD 645FD 2017, 45 ft., Flex/Draper, #182969...................................................$74,900 JD 640FD 2018, 40 ft., Flex/Draper, #173387...................................................$79,500 JD 645FD 2017, 45 ft., Flex/Draper, #162936 ...................................................$79,500 JD 740FD 2019, 40 ft., Flex/Draper, Flip Over Reel, #178988...........................$85,900 JD 740FD 2019, 40 ft., Flex/Draper, Flip Over Reel, #179193...........................$85,900 JD 745FD 2019, 45 ft., Flex/Draper, Flip Over Reel, #183001...........................$93,400 JD 745FD 2019, 45 ft., Flex/Draper, Flip Over Reel, #169235...........................$94,500 JD 745FD 2020, 45 ft., Flex/Draper, Flip Over Reel, #183000...........................$96,400

COMBINES

2 JD 9650 STS 2001, Corn/Bean, 2WD, Duals, 3211 hrs., 2053 Sep. hrs, #171989 ...............................................................................................................$37,210 8 JD 9550 1999, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 4900 hrs., 3450 Sep. hrs., #178638$43,900 5 JD 9650W 2001, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 4495 hrs., 3314 Sep. hrs., #183897 ...............................................................................................................$54,000 7 JD 9660 STS 2005, Corn/Bean, 2WD, Duals, 3090 hrs., 2030 Sep. hrs., #183617 ...............................................................................................................$59,500 1 JD 9870 STS 2008, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 3105 hrs., 2500 Sep. hrs., #175945 ............................................................................................................$109,000 11 JD S670 2012, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 3625 hrs., 2557 Sep. hrs., #172954 ............................................................................................................$114,900 15 JD S680 2012, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2930 hrs., 2043 Sep. hrs., #175550 ............................................................................................................$129,000 17 NH CR8090 2012, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2405 hrs., 1810 Sep. hrs., #183218 ............................................................................................................$136,500 7 JD S680 2014, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2959 hrs., 2063 Sep. hrs., #182070 ............................................................................................................$144,900 17 JD S680 2014, Corn/Bean, 2WD, Duals, 2351 hrs., 1703 Sep. hrs., #178114$147,900 5 JD S680 2013, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2906 hrs., 1904 Sep. hrs., #161858 ............................................................................................................$149,500

3 JD S680 2012, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2365 hrs., 1642 Sep. hrs., #176788 ............................................................................................................$149,500 3 JD S680 2012, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2472 hrs., 1739 Sep. hrs., #154637 ............................................................................................................$149,500 15 JD S680 2013, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Singles, 2506 hrs., 1900 Sep. hrs., #183520 ............................................................................................................$153,900 7 JD S680 2014, Corn/Bean, 2WD, Duals, 2060 hrs., 1658 Sep. hrs., #172017$159,500 15 JD S690 2013, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2237 hrs., 1588 Sep. hrs., #177562 ............................................................................................................$159,500 3 JD S690 2012, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2203 hrs., 1400 Sep. hrs., #179929 ............................................................................................................$160,000 1 JD S690 2013, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2101 hrs., 1505 Sep. hrs., #175026 ............................................................................................................$162,900 5 JD S670 2013, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2002 hrs., 1379 Sep. hrs., #182044 ............................................................................................................$165,000 6 JD S680 2015, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2200 hrs., #169577 .....................$169,500 1 JD S680 2013, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2729 hrs., 1800 Sep. hrs., #176089 ............................................................................................................$169,900 14 JD S680, 2013, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1992 hrs., 1300 Sep. hrs., #174756 ............................................................................................................$174,900 3 JD S690 2012, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1983 hrs., 1530 Sep. hrs., #171923 ............................................................................................................$179,000 10 JD S680 2013, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2047 hrs., 1638 Sep. hrs., #166363 ............................................................................................................$185,900 2 JD S670 2016, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2288 hrs., 1453 Sep. hrs., #176660 ............................................................................................................$199,500 3 JD S690 2013, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1645 hrs., 1161 Sep. hrs., #167773 ............................................................................................................$199,900 2 JD S680 2015, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1793 hrs., 1233 Sep. hrs., #167207 ............................................................................................................$219,500 3 JD S690 2016, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2110 hrs., #176735 ......................$219,500 16 JD S770 2018, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2199 hrs., 1587 Sep. hrs., #181147 ............................................................................................................$245,000 3 JD S690 2016, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1766 hrs., 1248 Sep. hrs., #176733 ............................................................................................................$250,000 2 JD S770 2018, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 992 hrs., 724 Sep. hrs., #173995 .$299,500 3 JD S790 2018, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1535 hrs., 1058 Sep. hrs., #179097 ............................................................................................................$315,400 16 JD S780 2018, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1155 hrs., 800 Sep. hrs., #175318$319,500 5 JD S780 2018, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1178 hrs., 850 Sep. hrs., #183439$337,500 5 JD S780 2018, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1097 hrs., 755 Sep. hrs., #183533$355,000 17 JD S780 2018, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1007 hrs., 690 Sep. hrs., #177549$364,400 11 JD S780 2018, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 685 hrs., 475 Sep. hrs., #154461 .$379,500 14 JD S780 2019, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 888 hrs., 653 Sep. hrs., #171103 .$385,000

14 1 16 16 14 14 14 16 16 16 14 14

JD S790 2019, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 963 hrs., 683 Sep. hrs., #171378 .$389,500 JD S780 2019, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 487 hrs., 294 Sep. hrs., #169509 .$409,500 JD S780 2019, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 482 hrs., 307 Sep. hrs., #169507 .$409,500 JD S780 2019, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 360 hrs., 234 Sep. hrs., #171003 .$419,500 JD S780 2020, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 517 hrs., 397 Sep. hrs., #183792 .$425,400 JD S780 2020, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 508 hrs., 373 Sep. hrs., #181757 .$429,900 JD S780 2020, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 407 hrs., 315 Sep. hrs., #179653 .$435,900 JD S780 2020, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Tracks, 317 hrs., 226 Sep. hrs., #182068.$509,900 JD S780 2020, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Tracks, 318 hrs., 241 Sep. hrs., #182069.$509,900 JD S780 2020, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Tracks, 315 hrs., 240 Sep. hrs., #182067.$509,900 JD S790 2020, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Tracks, 519 hrs., 392 Sep. hrs., #181663.$514,900 JD S790 2020, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Tracks, 378 hrs., 285 Sep. hrs., #181664.$524,900

5 2 5 6 6 17 2 9 9 3 10 3 3 7 16 7 16 5 8 17 7 10 10 7 17 15 15 2 3 14 15 14

JD 893 1999, 8 Row, 30” Spacing, #175754 ......................................................$10,900 Geringhoff RD820, 8 Row, 20” Spacing, StalkMaster, #181342 ...................$13,900 JD 893 2005, 8 Row, 30” Spacing, #183619 ......................................................$15,900 Geringhoff RD630 2000, 6 Row, 30” Spacing, StalkMaster, #181118 ..........$16,900 JD 1293 1996, #156056.....................................................................................$17,500 Geringhoff RD630 2010, 6 Row, 30” Spacing, StalkMaster, #177393 ..........$22,400 Harvestec 5308C 2012, 8 Row, 30” Spacing, StalkMaster, #173992.............$27,900 JD 608C StalkMaster 2010, 8 Row, 30” Spacing, StalkMaster, #174639 .....$31,000 JD 608C StalkMaster 2011, 8 Row, 30” Spacing, StalkMaster, #182813 .....$33,900 JD 608C StalkMaster 2011, 8 Row, 30” Spacing, StalkMaster, #169171 .....$37,500 JD 612C StalkMaster 2009, 12 Row, 30” Spacing, StalkMaster, #175440 ...$38,000 Geringhoff 16R22 2011, 16 Row, 22” Spacing, StalkMaster, #176736 ........$42,900 Geringhoff 16R22 2012, 16 Row, 22” Spacing, StalkMaster, #176737 ........$49,000 JD 612C 2013, 12 Row, 30” Spacing, StalkMaster, #151998 ............................$52,800 JD 612C StalkMaster 2013, 12 Row, 30” Spacing, StalkMaster, #177920 ...$54,500 JD 608C 2013, 8 Row, 30” Spacing, StalkMaster, #176721...............................$55,900 JD 612C 2013, 12 Row, 30” Spacing, StalkMaster, #177777 ............................$57,500 JD 612C 2013, 12 Row, 22” Spacing, StalkMaster, #166362 ............................$58,900 JD 612C 2013, 12 Row, 30” Spacing, StalkMaster, #177625 ............................$61,900 Geringhoff RD1230F 2013, 12 Row, 30” Spacing, StalkMaster, #183220 ...$64,900 JD 612C 2013, 12 Row, 22” Spacing, StalkMaster, #178166 ............................$64,900 JD 706C 2018, 6 Row, 30” Spacing, StalkMaster, #165801...............................$65,500 JD 616C 2012, 16 Row, 30” Spacing, StalkMaster, #179657 ............................$67,400 JD 612C 2014, 12 Row, 22” Spacing, StalkMaster, #153843 ............................$67,900 JD 608C 2017, 8 Row, 30” Spacing, StalkMaster, #183100...............................$69,500 JD 612C 2014, 12 Row, 30” Spacing, StalkMaster, #151308 ............................$69,500 JD 612C 2017, 12 Row, 30” Spacing, StalkMaster, #183609 ............................$76,000 JD 708C 2018, 8 Row, 30” Spacing, StalkMaster, #176217...............................$78,500 JD 618C 2012, 18 Row, 22” Spacing, StalkMaster, #176931 ............................$79,500 JD 618C 2013, 18 Row, 22” Spacing, StalkMaster, #174646 ............................$89,500 JD 618C 2012, 18 Row, 22” Spacing, StalkMaster, #175201 ............................$89,900 JD 716C 2019, 16 Row, 30” Spacing, StalkMaster, #179403 .....................$1,395,000

Visit one of our 17 locations in Central Minnesota! CALL (7) = ALEXANDRIA (9) = PRINCETON (12) = AITKIN (4) = ST. CLOUD (1) = GLENCOE 4561 Hwy. 212

1035 35th Ave. NE

(2) = HOWARD LAKE (5) = GLENWOOD 5845 Keats Ave. SW

1710 N. Franklin

(3) = STEWART

(6) = SAUK CENTRE

78412 Co. Rd. 20

1140 Centre St.

320-763-4220 5005 Co. Rd. 82 SE

3708 Baptist Church Rd.

(8) = PAYNESVILLE

16069 Hwy. 27 E.

725 Lake Ave. S.

1120 2nd St. NW

(10) = LITTLE FALLS (13) = BAXTER (11) = WADENA 62505 US Hwy. 10

7045 Foley Rd.

CORN AND ROW CROP HEADERS

TODAY! (320)365-1653 (14) = ELBOW LAKE

(16) = BENSON

(15) = MORRIS

(17) = MADISON

110 2nd St. NE

23604 State Hwy. 9

380 Atlantic Ave. 516 1st St. E

SEE OUR COMPLETE INVENTORY WITH PICTURES AND DESCRIPTIONS AT: www.mmcjd.com

Page 22 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 12, 2021

Could a retroﬁt be the right ﬁt for you?

Dairies host breakfasts on the farm Country Breakfast on the Farm, June 19 This summer’s Country Breakfast on the Farm will be the rst Saturday of Rochesterfest, June 19 at Sheeknoll Dairy Farm, located at 3603 65th St. SE, Rochester, Minnesota. Pancakes will be served from 6:30 to 11:30 a.m. There will be free bus rides from the Mayo High School South parking lot and also on-site parking with wagon rides to teh eating area. Kids under 5 eat free. Kids 5-12 are $4, and 13 and older are $7. Royalwood Farms Breakfast on the Farm, June 19 The Ode family welcomes you to join them at the Royalwood Dairy to learn and have fun. The event begins at 9 a.m. and goes until 1 p.m. Parking is located 1 1/4 miles east of the dairy at the intersection of 266th and 483rd. Shuttles will be running between parking and the dairy. Look for signs. Limited handicap accessible pakring is located at the farm, 48170 266th St. Brandon, South Dakota. Mower County Breakfast on the Farm, June 19 Jim and Connie Sathre are hosting the 14th annual Mower County Breakfast on the Farm, sponsored by Mower County Farm Bureau. The event will be located at 17513 680th Avenue Adams, Minnesota. Breakfast will be available from 7:30-11:30 a.m. $4 per person, ages 6 and under eat free. There is a family rate of $12.

Retrofitting a dairy barn for a new parlor has been a popular choice to make upgrades more affordable than they would be when building new.

Find out today! SCAN HERE

Connect with a DeLaval representative today to see if a retroﬁt is the right ﬁt for you.

www.delaval.com

Contact one of the following dealers to learn more: IOWA Kramer Bros. Monticello, IA 319-465-5931 Prairie Land Ag Supply Inc. Rock Valley, IA 712-476-9290 United Dairy Systems, Inc. West Union, IA 563-422-5355 WISCONSIN Advanced Dairy/Bob’s Dairy Supply Spring Valley, WI 715-772-3201 Ederer Dairy Supply Plain, WI 608-546-3713

DeLaval Dairy Service Kaukauna, WI 866-335-2825 Joe’s Refrigeration Inc. Withee, WI 715-229-2321 Mlsna Dairy Supply Inc. Cashton, WI 608-654-5106 Professional Dairy Services Arlington, WI 608-635-0267 Redeker Dairy Equipment Brandon, WI 920-346-5579 The Scharine Group Inc. Whitewater, WI 800 472-2880 Mt Horeb, WI 800-872-3470

MINNESOTA & SOUTH DAKOTA East Central Dairy Supply Mora, MN 320-679-1029 Farm Systems Melrose, MN 320-256-3276 Watertown, SD 605-886-7401 Sioux Falls, SD 800-284-0015 S&S Dairy System LLC St. Charles, MN 507-932-4288 Professional Dairy Systems Wadena, MN 218-632-5416

is a registered trademark of Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. and “DeLaval” is a registered trade/servicemark of DeLaval Holding AB © 2021 DeLaval Inc. DeLaval, 11100 North Congress Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64153-1296. Nothing in this document shall constitute a warranty or guaranty of performance. www.delaval.com

Goodhue County Drive Thru Dairy Experience, June 25 The Goodhue County Drive Thru Dairy Experience is a fun yet educational event to explain how milk is produced and to educate consumers and community on the positive impact the dairy industry has in Goodhue County and Minnesota. Everyone is welcome to Lexvold Dairy, 34645 190th Avenue Goodhue, Minnesota, from 7-11 a.m. Breakfast on the Farm, June 26 Join the Northeast Iowa Dairy Foundation for the 11th annual Breakfast on the Farm Saturday, June 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Iowa’s Dairy Center located south of Calmar. We’ll be serving up a wholesome breakfast complete with Dad’s Belgian Wafes, sausage and of course delicious dairy products including milk, cheese, yogurt and ice cream that’s all been locally produced and processed. There will be plenty of activities to keep you busy on the farm. This outdoor event will follow current CDC guidelines and guests are encouraged to wear masks and maintain social distance. Handwashing and sanitation stations will be available on-site. Breakfast on the Farm will be held rain or shine. Donations are accepted the day of and parking is available on-site. Visit our Facebook event for more information.

D ROUNRS BALE

2019 Vermeer 605N CSS 11623 bales 2019 Vermeer 605N 2041 bales 2015 Vermeer 605N CSS Vermeer 605XL 4100 bales New Holland 560 5240 bales New Holland 7090 4608 bales Vermeer CPX9000 bale processor

Osage, IA Dumont, IA 641-732-5044 641-857-3216

www.markstractor.com

Dairy Star • Saturday, June 12, 2021 • Page 23

Rock pickers help on Lubitz farm

Crew picks oat, corn elds for Perham farmers By Andrea Borgerding andrea.b@dairystar.com

PERHAM, Minn. – Jack and Janice Lubitz are no stranger to walking their elds and picking rocks. They have been picking that way since they took over the farm more than 40 years ago. It is an annual tradition in the spring. This year, they had a oneyear hiatus from the rigorous work when they won the rock picking contest sponsored by the Central Minnesota Credit Union and Dairy Star. “I thought it would be cool but didn’t think we would win,” Janice said.

“I threw Jack’s name in on my way out the door.” Janice registered at the Central Minnesota Credit Union Perham branch. Jack’s name was drawn as the winner of the contest in late May. The Lubitzes milk 30 cows in Ottertail County near Perham. They also run 397 acres of cropland growing alfalfa, oat and corn. The couple has two adult daughters and four grandchildren. Janice was surprised when Jack’s name was MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR

Janice and Jack Lubitz (front) are shown with a picking crew May 21 from Dairy Star and Central Minnesota Credit Union (from le�) Kevin Uphoﬀ, Evan Welle, Dale Job and Mike Vacek; (back, from le�) Corey Sand, Bob Leukam, Brad Herkenhoﬀ and Andrea Borgerding. Not pictured is Mark Klaphake.

MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR

Janice and Jack Lubitz relax on their farm a�er spending four hours of driving tractor for the rock picking crew May 21 on their farm near Perham, Minnesota.

drawn as the winner of the contest. “I forgot that I registered,” Janice said. But the Lubitzes welcomed the extra help to complete the tenuous task. “It used to be something good to do with Jack’s folks because his mom or I would drive,” Janice said. “It was a good family activity, it just

had to be done, and we did it together. Even the grandkids have helped pick in the past.” Janice took the day off from her job as postmaster when the rock picking crew of 10 was scheduled to come May 21. The Lubitzes borrowed a rock picking trailer from their neighbor and arranged for a meal to feed the crew once picking

was nished. The crew arrived at the Lubitz farm at 11 a.m. Jack and Janice knew exactly which elds they wanted help with – starting with an oat eld. “That was the worst eld we had for rocks,” Jack said. Both Jack and Janice Turn to LUBITZES | Page 25

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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 12, 2021 • Page 25

Con�nued from LUBITZES | Page 23

drove a tractor with a wagon and started at opposite ends of the eld. “It was weird,” Janice said of watching the rock pickers. “I felt guilty at rst, but that feeling gradually went away.”

“I thought it would be cool but I didn’t think we would win.” JANICE LUBITZ, DAIRY FARMER

Jack, on the other hand, had a harder time not pitching in to help. “I knew it wouldn’t take him long,” Janice said. “It wasn’t more than a couple minutes and he was off

ANDREA BORGERDING/DAIRY STAR

Dale Job and Corey Sand pick rock in an oats eld while Janice and Jack Lubitz each drive a tractor and wagon.

ANDREA BORGERDING/DAIRY STAR

Kevin Uphoﬀ dumps a bucket of rock onto a wagon while picking rock May 21 near Perham, Minnesota. Uphoﬀ was part of a crew of 11 who picked rock for four hours at Jack and Janice Lubitz’s farm.

his tractor in the eld helping pick rocks.” After 1.5 hours on the oat eld, the crew moved on to two corn elds. Almost half way through the picking, the crew endured a blazing afternoon sun and a dry south breeze. By the end of the four hours of picking rock, the crew had lled several wagons full of rocks on almost 50 acres.

“It was amazing to have the extra help,” Janice said. The crew enjoyed an afternoon lunch of sandwiches, chips, pop and homemade brownies. That evening after milking, Jack and Janice said they could not believe they nished a job that would normally take them a week to

complete. Now they had just 10 acres to nish for another day. “We were tired, but it was an amazing feeling to have it done,” Janice said. “We are so thankful to everyone who came out and helped us do this.” Jack agreed. “We appreciated the help,” Jack said.

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Farmgirl at heart

Hello Dairy Star readers. My name is Stacey Smart, and I am one of the staff writers here at the paper. I have been with the paper for almost three years, starting as a freelancer before becoming a full-time writer in September 2019. I cover stories in the eastern half of Wisconsin, northern Illinois and the upper peninsula of Michigan. This job combines two of my biggest loves – writing and the dairy industry – and I feel fortunate to be a part of this publication. The people I have met on this journey are amazing. It hardly seems like work when I get to tour farms and have conversations with the dairy farmBy Stacey Smart ers throughout my territory. Everyone is always so Staff Writer welcoming and interesting to learn about. Many times, I feel like I’m talking to a longtime friend. If I haven’t already met you, I hope to some day. I grew up on a dairy farm in Custer, Wisconsin, which is about 10 miles east of Stevens Point. The farm has been in my family since 1945. We milked between 90 to 100 cows in a tiestall barn. Most of our all-Holstein herd was registered, and every gal had a name. We also raised pigs and had around 10 sows as well as a boar for breeding and raised piglets to 40 pounds before selling. The animals were by far my favorite thing about growing up on a farm. I loved all the cows, cats, dogs and pigs I befriended throughout my childhood. I owned a small herd of registered cattle within my parents’ herd, which included my favorite cow, Hopscotch (stay tuned to learn more about her in a future column). My cattle were a big part of my life and also helped pay my way through college. Early mornings were my least favorite part of farming. To this day, I am not a morning person. Our days started at 4:30 a.m. no matter what. If you were out late the night before and only got a few hours of sleep, that was too bad. We had to do our barn chores, and if we were lucky, we snuck in a nap during the day before afternoon chores. I am the youngest of ve children, and working on the farm was mandatory for me, my brother and sisters. I gravitated toward the barn from a young age before I was even a useful helper. As I got a little older, my jobs were many and included milking cows, feeding calves, cleaning and bedding stalls, watching for heats, helping my dad with mating decisions, moving cattle, registering animals, and occasionally feeding cows and pigs. I did registrations back when you had to draw the markings on each side of the animal by hand. It was a relief when we nally graduated to taking photos instead. Hours of time were saved. Picking rocks was my least favorite job. It was always hot, dusty and miserable. I was a member of 4-H and the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association. I enjoyed showing cattle and judging cattle. I started leading calves around when I was 4 years old and couldn’t wait until I was nally old enough to show at the county fair. My parents sold the milk cows 20 years ago in May in an on-farm dispersal the week before my wedding. It was heartbreaking to say goodbye to the girls, but the time for change had come. It was a whirlwind holding an auction and a wedding so close together, but everything turned out well. My husband, Chris, and I just celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary. We have two children – our daughter, Felicity, is 17 and our son, Elijah, is 14. This time of year, we are busy attending their softball and baseball games. I’m thankful for the work ethic instilled in me while growing up on a dairy farm, which helped prepare me for the real world. Looking back, those days spent on the farm were some of the best days of my life, even if I didn’t always know it at the time. I now live in the city, but I’m grateful I had the opportunity to grow up on a farm. They say you can take the girl off the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the girl. I will forever be a farmgirl at heart, and I’m thankful I can continue to be a part of the wonderful dairy farming community through my work at the Dairy Star.

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form. This can be found at https://www.midwestdairy. com/sustainability/farm-life/request-a-visit-by-a-dairyprincess/. I look forward to seeing you at events around the state all summer long. Princess Kay of the Milky Way, Brenna Connelly serves as the Minnesota dairy community’s goodwill ambassador. Throughout the year, Princess Kay helps people understand the dedication of dairy farmers to wholesome and nutritious food, and the way milk is produced. Princess Kay does many school presentations, represents dairy farmers at the Fuel Up To Play 60 events that are held in conjunction with the Minnesota Vikings, and is very active during June Dairy Month sharing the importance of dairy farming and dairy foods. Brenna grew up in Byron, Minnesota, working on her cousin’s dairy farm. She is a sophomore at the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities, studying Agricultural Communication and Marketing. When she is not showing cattle or participating in dairy judging, she loves to read and travel.

ly,

Les Kuehl

table. All of the excitement in the past few weeks has me eager for what is in store for the remainder of the summer. As we enter June, it is important to show people just how much dairy means to us and why they should choose to incorporate dairy into their diets each and every day. I encourage you to share your dairy story with everyone around you this month. Whether you are hosting people at your farm, sharing your favorite recipes, posting pictures of your favorite dairy foods or life on the farm, or engaging in conversations with consumers, we all have an important role in advocating for dairy all month long. We know advocating is important year-round, but June brings special attention to our dairy stories and our favorite dairy foods. Encourage those around you to grab an extra gallon of milk, add cheese to their next meal, and eat an extra scoop of ice cream to support dairy. If you have a community event, dairy day, festival, parade, county fair, or more that you would like Princess Kay of the Milky Way to attend, please ll out a request

G e nt

Happy National Dairy Month! For many of us, this is our favorite time of year. It is a time where people around the country bring attention to dairy and celebrate its goodness. As Princess Kay of the Milky Way, I am beyond excited to spend the On the Road with month of June traveling our state to promote dairy Princess Kay at various events. I will be busy attending breakfasts on the farm, dairy days, daycare visits and more. To follow along with my journey, follow Minnesota Princess Kay on Instagram and Facebook. May brought a busy month and many miles traveled. I attended a wide variety of events that alBy Brenna Connelly 67th Princess Kay of the lowed me to interact with people of all ages. It was Milky Way so good to be back out on the road and getting to interact with and meet people across the state. At the beginning of the month, I had the awesome opportunity to lm a milk science experiment at the Science Museum of Minnesota. I worked alongside a past Princess Kay of the Milky Way nalist to put together the video. Kids will be able to view the video and perform the experiment from home alongside their families. The video will be completed and ready to share in early June. Be on the lookout for it to be posted on Facebook. My rst in-person classroom visit was at New York Mills Elementary School. During my time there, I talked to eight classes of kindergarten and rst grade students. We had so much fun talking about dairy farming and dairy foods. The students were very eager to ask questions and loved sharing what their favorite dairy food was. It was so great to see their excitement and curiosity. I also made my rst parade appearance in May. I was the grand marshal in the Twin Cities Auto Show parade. After the parade, I explored the show that took place on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. They also had a wide variety of food stands to enjoy. I found some of my favorite fair foods including cheese curds and Sweet Martha’s cookies with a glass of milk. I am sure you all have a favorite fair food you are missing right now. Virtually, I joined the Fuel Up to Play 60 Virtual Field Day put on by Midwest Dairy and the Minnesota Vikings. During the event, I talked to classrooms about dairy nutrition including what cows eat, how farmers grow crops, and why dairy is important in our diets. Additionally, we played a nutrition game to sort cow feed ingredients and MyPlate items. We were even joined by Minnesota Vikings player Stephen Weatherly. During this event, I talked to 621 students from 27 classrooms. It amazes me how many people I can connect with at one time. May is also an exciting month every year as the new nalists for Princess Kay of the Milky Way are announced. I enjoyed attending the in-person judging this year and getting to meet the amazing dairy princesses from across our state. A special congratulations to the newly selected 10 nalists. I cannot wait to watch your journey, and I encourage you to enjoy every moment and seize every opportunity that comes with it. To wrap up the month, I attended another classroom visit in Spring Valley and traveled to Mora for Kindergarten Day on the Farm. On social media, I also began sharing the “Dairy Takes a Team” spotlight to show the incredible team it takes to get milk from the farm to the

Dairy Star • Saturday, June 12, 2021 • Page 27

. Co m p a

Page 28 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 12, 2021 Dana Adams, adam1744@umn.edu 320-204-2968 Joe Armstrong armst225@umn.edu 612.624.3610 Luciano Caixeta lcaixeta@umn.edu 612-625-3130 Gerard Cramer gcramer@umn.edu 612-625-8184 Marcia Endres miendres@umn.edu 612-624-5391 Joleen Hadrich jhadrich@umn.edu 612-626-5620 Les Hansen hanse009@umn.edu 612-624-2277 Brad Heins hein0106@umn.edu 320-589-1711 Nathan Hulinsky huli0013@umn.edu 320-203-6104 Kevin Janni kjanni@umn.edu 612-625-3108 Karen Johnson ande9495@umn.edu 320-484-4334 Emily Krekelberg krek0033@umn.edu 507-280-2863 Claire LaCanne lacanne@umn.edu 507-332-6109 Brenda Miller nels4220@umn.edu 320-732-4435 Erin Royster royster@umn.edu Isaac Salfer ijsalfer@umn.edu 320-296-1357 Jim Salfer salfe001@umn.edu 320-203-6093 Mike Schutz mschutz@umn.edu 612-624-1205 Emma Severns sever575@umn.edu 507-934-7828 Melissa Wison mlw@umn.edu 612-625-4276

www.extension.umn.edu/dairy

Maximizing quality forages to reduce feed cost By Emma Severns

University of Minnesota

When livestock feed prices increase, ruminant animals have the advantage of being able to use some feedstuffs, such as forages, and convert them into valuable products. These feedstuffs are not able to be used in human diets and are not in high demand for bio-fuels, thus making them an alternative feed product for dairy cattle. With increasing feed costs and lower milk prices, incorporating high-quality forages into feed rations can be benecial. Here is a reminder of key topics related to forage quality. Forage quality Including more quality forages in dairy rations not only helps to reduce feed costs, it may also promote cow health and high milk production. Quality forages are a great source of protein and additional nutrients, thus lessening the need for concentrate to be fed to meet requirements for milk production. Quality should be dened in terms relative to how the animal can use the forage to meet the nutrient requirements for maintenance, growth, production and reproduction. To determine the quality of any forage, a representative forage sample must be sent into a laboratory for analysis. The lab results will then show the nutrient content of the forages and be used to create a balanced ration at the least cost for the herd. The quality of forages varies from year to year as well as eld to eld which is why it is important to do separate forage samples representing different cuttings to be analyzed. There are a few factors that have the greatest impact on forage quality which include forage species, variety differences, stage of maturity at harvest and growing conditions such as temperature, rainfall and overall fertility. Factors affecting forage quality Management strategies can control fertility as needed for growth of specic crops; however, changes in environmental temperature and rainfall are factors beyond our control. Varietal differences may impact the quality of forages, especially as they relate to neutral detergent ber digestibility or the leaness of the plant. The stage of maturity at which the plants are harvested greatly impacts the quality of forages. This is one of the management factors that producers can control. As grass and legume plants mature, the percentage of leaves in the total plant decreases while the percentage of stems increases, therefore, resulting in the digestibility or energy value of the crop to decrease with the advancing stage of maturity. Knowing this, it is recommended to harvest grasses and small grains at the late boot stage of maturity or just before the seed head emerges from the stem. Harvesting

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forages earlier may cause a slight yield decrease but can positively impact milk production and heifer growth and the amount of forage that can be used in the diet because of levels of digestible nutrients.

Harvest and storage of forages Primary methods of harvesting and preserving forage crops include silage making, hay making, green chopping and pasturing. Operations may use each of these methods at varying times, depending on the availability of resources. It is advantageous for producers to review each management practice and evaluate their own production situation to determine which method to use to gain the maximum economic return. The way forages are stored can have a big effect on forage quality and quality losses, so it is worth investing in additional resources such as labor and equipment in forage storage. This preserves the value of hay and ensures a good return on the initial investment. Hay is preserved because its low water content prevents excessive growth of microbes. If it is baled with too much moisture, microbial growth is not controlled. It is recommended to bale at 15%-20% moisture, which is low enough to prevent mold activity. Baling at lower than 15% moisture will result in greater harvesting losses, especially for alfalfa, because leaf loss increases as moisture decreases. After baling, hay should continue to be stored at a moisture of 20% or less to prevent molding, heating, and dry matter and nutrient loss. To prevent excessive storage losses, hay should be stored under cover. Forage stored as silage can also experience extreme losses in quality and yield if ensiled incorrectly. Some ways to minimize storage losses in silage are to chop the silage at the correct length, ll the silo rapidly, use a structurally sound silo and cover silage between cuttings. Similar to hay, the most important factor affecting storage losses is dry matter content of the silage. If the silage is ensiled too wet, it can undergo a poor fermentation and seepage from the silo can occur. This seepage reduces the nutritive value of silage since many soluble nutrients, such as proteins and sugars, are lost. On the other hand, forages that contain too little water at ensiling undergo a very limited fermentation which can cause mold growth and can result in heat damage. To prevent storage losses in silage, the dry matter content should be between 35%-55%. Developing a strategy to include high levels of quality forages in dairy rations can be benecial for a farm because it may control feed costs and increase milk yield. Decide which forages best suit the needs of cows and work within the limitations of the farm.

Do genetics control ies on cows? By Brad Heins, Bailey Basiel, Lydia Hardie and Chad Dechow University of Minnesota

Fly control is always a hot topic with organic dairy producers because there are not a lot of viable options to alleviate y pressure. Three important blood sucking pest ies on grazing cattle in the Upper Midwest are the stable y, horn y and face y. Stable ies develop as maggots in a wide array of decomposing organic matter, including soiled animal bedding and soiled feed debris that accumulates wherever cattle are conned. The horn y and the face y develop in fresh cattle dung pats and nowhere else, so they are troublesome to organic herds when pastured. Horn, stable and face ies on organic cows can cause a 10% to 30% reduction in milk production. Furthermore, these ies can reduce pasture feed intake, cause pinkeye and may spread disease from one animal to another. Horn ies can cause major economic losses and are a particular issue on organic dairy farms. Previous research at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center dairy evaluated the Spalding Cow-Vac™ for controlling pasture ies. We found horn y numbers on cows were reduced by 44% on the farm in the presence of a Cow-Vac compared to the absence of a Cow-Vac. However, we wanted to determine if resistance to horn ies is a heritable trait in organic Holstein cattle, if y resistance is associated with milk production and evaluate coat color related to y infestation. Observations of y load were recorded from 1,167 pastured Holstein cows from 13 organic dairies across the United States. Horn y resistance is a moderately heritable trait in Holstein cattle that may be inuenced by genetic selection. Study results showed that a greater y load was associHorn fl H fly resistant i cattle l would ld ated with reduced milk and fat production after accountespecially benefit organic and ing for genetic merit of the pasture-based operations by Holstein cows. This indicates that continued selection for preventing production losses higher yield may increase associated with infestation and y susceptibility of pastured reducing disease spread educ g d sease sp ead byy flies. es. cattle over time. The magnitude of variation in y infestation is similar to other traits included in selection programs, suggesting that producers can select for resistance to horn ies. Coat coloration appears to inuence susceptibility to horn y infestation, and Holstein cows with greater proportions of white coloration attracted fewer horn ies than those that were mostly black. The relationship between horn y infestation and coat coloration supports the KIT gene, which is known to be associated with coloration in cattle, as a candidate gene for horn y resistance. Horn y resistant cattle would especially benet organic and pasture-based operations by preventing production losses associated with infestation and reducing disease spread by ies. Both organic and conventional producers could reduce costs and labor associated with horn y control by selecting for horn y resistance in their herds. Additionally, y resistance further has positive implications toward animal welfare. Products from y resistant cattle could be more desirable to consumers. Sanitation should be the primary control option on any dairy. Proper sanitation is of the utmost importance because synthetic pesticides are not allowed on organic dairies. Manure and feed provide the ideal habitat for house and stable y production. Manure and old feed should be removed daily, or at least twice a week, from calf pens, holding areas, feed areas and milking areas. To ensure success on a dairy, producers need to properly identify key pests, understand their biology and habitat, monitor their populations and then reduce the y population through mechanical or biological management techniques. Ultimately, there are many tactics you can try on your own farm. Take notes and evaluate how well things worked, what didn’t work, and where you can nd additional answers to improve the wellbeing of cattle and reduce pests.

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A teenaged fairytale Page 30 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 12, 2021

I know from exasperating experience that raising teenagers can be a challenge. As a parent, you encourage the budding proto humans to make good choices. You tell them about some of the dumb things you did at their age in the hopes they will benet from your mistakes. The tricky part is doing this without conceding that you – the supposed adult – were ever that stupid. I circumvented this problem by using a fairytale format to share such experiences with our two sons. Here is an example: Once upon a time there was a dashing young knight. The knight had a faithful squire who was his constant companion and best friend. One summer day, the knight and his squire were cruising around in the squire’s 1964 Impala when they learned of an all-nighter slated to be held at their local drive-in theater. They instantly agreed the all-nighter was a must-see.

The knight expressed a wish for fermented malt beverages to enhance this experience. But alas. Such beverages were taboo for the young heroes. This only caused them to desire the beverages even more. The quick-witted squire sprang into action. He spurred his tawny Impala, and our intrepid heroes soon found themselves at a grungy roadside saloon. Its parking lot bristled with hulking hotrods and menacing motorcycles. An unsavory collection of roughish young toughs loafed about, laughing and drinking from long-necked brown bottles. The squire bravely approached one of the largest thugs, an immense, grimy fellow who looked like a sasquatch. The knight opted to stay in the Impala and lock the doors. After a brief conversation, the squire handed some cash to the sasquatch. The hairy creature lumbered into the roadhouse and presently returned with a brown paper sack that he gave to the squire.

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The knight and his squire sped off, jubilant. As you may have surmised, the sack contained two sixpacks of fermented malt beverages and the hairy behemoth was, in fact, the squire’s cousin. But there was a y Dear County Agent Guy in the ointment. The all-nighter was several days hence, and the malt beverages would certainly lose its coldness during the interim. The gallant young heroes knew keeping their malt beverages in the royal refrigerator was not an option as they would be summarily conscated By Jerry Nelson by the authorities. Columnist The young knight soon hit upon a solution. Why not store the fermented malt beverages in the stock tank that sits out in yon pasture? The beverages would be vouchsafed from prying eyes and, hopefully, the cows would drink enough well water to chill the beverages. On the evening of the all-nighter, the plucky heroes retrieved their booty only to discover the cows had failed to accomplish their assigned task. The malt beverages were lukewarm. Undaunted, the knight and the squire rinsed the off the algae and motored to the drive-in. Once there, they began to consume the tepid brew despite the dire warnings they had heard regarding this practice. The heroes had each consumed two cans of warm malt beverages when the knight’s kidneys leaped into overdrive. He was thus forced to make several urgent pilgrimages to the men’s room. The knight discovered his painful shyness had diminished to the point where he was able to engage young maidens in conversation. All of the maidens quickly excused themselves, but the knight eventually found a fair damsel who smiled and listened as he prattled on and on. The knight was deeply embarrassed when he realized he had been talking to a movie poster. The third movie was well underway when the knight nally returned to the Impala. During the knight’s absence, the squire had consumed much of the remaining fermented malt beverages. The squire slurred that he felt like Hades and asked to be taken home forthwith. The squire writhed and moaned in the Impala’s backseat as the knight motored from the drive-in. They had traveled but a short distance when the squire demanded they stop. The squire bolted from the backseat and dropped to his knees at the roadside. The knight assumed the squire had espied an acquaintance as he heard him call out several times for someone named Ralph. The next day, the two young heroes suffered mightily as they stacked hay bales under a merciless summer sun. The knight teased the squire about what must have been the mother of all hangovers. The squire growled that the knight should hold his tongue, that his turn would surely come. The knight chuckled, saying he had learned from the foolish squire’s bad example. And lo, it came to pass just as the squire had foreseen. Or so goes the fairytale. Jerry is a recovering dairy farmer from Volga, South Dakota. He and his wife, Julie, have two grown sons and live on the farm where Jerry’s great-grandfather homesteaded over 110 years ago. Jerry currently works full time for the Dairy Star as a staff writer/ad salesman. Feel free to E-mail him at: jerry.n@ dairystar.com.

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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 12, 2021 • Page 31

A while back, I ran into a dairy’s nutritionist as I nished palpating cows. I had done quite a few exams, so I was covered with cow manure. This prompted a discussion about the quality of the manure on the dairy. I was concerned the cows were too loose. He was concerned the cows were less efcient than desired, and was on his way to examine cows and their I explained that Veterinary Wisdom manure. the manure was sometimes bubbly, had a granular feel to it on my sleeve and often had signicantly large pieces of undigested forage. He listened attentively and began to talk about the proper depth of a cow patty, and how good quality manure sounds when it hits the oor, more of a popping By Jim Bennett sound than a continuous Columnist running sound. We probably talked for 20 minutes. Back in the car, it struck me that most normal people could not, and would not, talk about the intricacies of cow manure for that long. But cow nerds can, and we do. It is OK to be a cow nerd. Cow nerds appreciate things in life others do not. We nd pleasure in different places. Ever walk into a freestall pen and see 100% of cows lying down, eating or drinking, and then, involuntarily break into a big grin? I have. Cow nerds love to see cows doing the things we want them to do, especially lying down and chewing their cud. How about a bunch of big burly calves popping out of the hutches, eager for milk when the feeder comes by? It’s a pretty scene to cow nerds. The other day I was on a farm where calves are raised in pens of two, using two hutches. In most pens, calves tended to lie together with their buddy in one hutch. Fun to see. Cow nerds love to watch cows eat. Cows are enthusiastic eaters. When the mixer comes by, they pull themselves up from drowsiness and mosey over to the bunk, but when the mouth hits that fresh feed, they are fully awake and attack the mix. Some are a bit too

enthusiastic and throw feed up and over their backs, we know better. which is frustrating but still fun to watch. How about Cow nerds know when a cow does not feel well. their ability to sort? In just a few minutes, those big It is the look in her eyes, the ll of the udder, the size noses and tongues have pushed all the way to the con- of her belly, the droop of the ears, the way she moves crete and consumed most of the tasty, small particles. or where she is in the pen at any particular time of day. They may look up at you with a look asking for more. When we try to explain this to normal people, their Of course, we do not like it when they sort and do eyes glaze over, and they start to look away uncomeverything we can to stop it, but they are experts. fortably. But, we just know. Watching cows go to the parlor can be fun. Cow Cow nerds love to see a healthy newborn calf. nerds know the order in Even after seeing thousands which they travel is mostly of the darn things, we love Cow nerds d are not smarter the same for every milk- C to see the bright eyes, the ing. I was doing a milking or more stupid than normal shaking heads and the hilartime analysis and noticed ious rst attempts to stand. that the rst cow into the folks. However, we know and We cannot get enough. holding pen for the next appreciate things they miss. Maybe it is because we group would not allow any know the new calf repreother cows near the parlor sents the future or the circle entrance until the gate was of life going around. open and she was entering. I bet she does that every Cow nerds are not smarter or more stupid than milking. Most likely she is a boss cow and gets her normal folks. However, we know and appreciate way in most things. Sometimes cows like to kick up things they miss. It is a secret, and we know our lives their heels and frolic on the way to the parlor, espe- are better because of it. Yes, it is more than OK to be cially heifers. While cow nerds might nd that fun a cow nerd. to watch, there is always the feeling something bad Bennett is one of four dairy veterinarians at might happen, because cow nerds know cows moving Northern Valley Dairy Production Medicine Center fast on wet concrete is a recipe for disaster in more in Plainview, Minnesota. He also consults on dairy than one way. farms in other states. He and his wife, Pam, have four Some cow nerds wax eloquently and profusely children. Jim can be reached at bennettnvac@gmail. about the placement of the teats, the straightness of com with comments or questions. the topline, or the set of the hocks and so forth. Most of these nerds can recite entire family histories with commentary on the various qualities of all the ancestors at the same time. They knew how to do this long before genomics was a thing. When two of these types of cow nerds get together, time just plain stops. If you are waiting for one of them to do something, like go Get your concrete scabbled with you to get something to eat, for example, you and prevent an accident! had better forget about it and do it yourself. Maybe Scabbling makes grooves in your plan on having one extra beer with that meal too. concrete 2” wide and 3/16” deep so Cow nerds can tell when a cow is in heat. “See your cows ALWAYS have traction. how her hair is messed up?” “See how her tail head is dirty?” Normal folks stare when you say this. They REFERENCES Smith’s of Wisconsin are thinking, “What the heck is he talking about? She Serving the Midwest over 30 yrs. AVAILABLE looks just like the other 100 cows in this pen.” But, UPON REQUEST 1-800-525-9364

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Cows of grazings past Page 32 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 12, 2021

The other day I was out in the pasture getting and center if anyone else had one. Whether this was cows in for evening milking, and out of the corner because she was naturally curious or was hoping of my eye, I swore I saw Hollywood. Not the Los to land herself in a Kemps commercial, the world Angeles neighborhood with the dorky letters on a will never know as she didn’t speak much or at all hill, but the cow. Let me explain. really. Just the occasional moo for the camera and About the time camera probably also the patented phones, social media and cow party trick of picking Every li livestock k ffarm h has the like were getting popu- E her nose with her tongue. lar, we had a cow on our animals they remember long I’ve mentioned before we farm simply known as 657. after they’re gone. have a retail meat business She was a pleasant enough at our farm which means cow but hadn’t shown any we have customers stopparticular trait of personping regularly to pick up ality to get her a name anyone remembered long their orders. A pretty popular question, if the cows enough for it to stick. That changed though when were in a pasture by the house, was whether people she found a love for photography. could get a sele with the cows. 657 made sure she 657 never did acquire a camera herself, but she was always in those seles and soon earned her had an uncanny knack for positioning herself front name, Hollywood. It was a sad day when I took her

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on her nal trailer ride, hugged her and said goodbye. She had lived a mediocre life milk production wise, but a huge life as a social media personality and generally as a lovable cow who liked to steal shop towels from pockets and eat them. Over the years, we’ve had so many From the Zweber Farm cows that stood out for either being wonderful coworkers that made the day a little better just by being around and a few we’ll never forget because of all the trouble they caused. Now and then, like that day in the pasture, I nd myself reminded By Tim Zweber of cows from the past Farmer & Columnist who have been gone for years but live on in one way or another. Some lines of cows in our herd all look nearly identical from generation to generation. I could walk in the pasture and pick out with reasonable certainty which sleek, mostly black cows are great-great-great-granddaughters of the cow who won me my rst trip to the state fair. Other cows are remembered when someone tries to clear a gate but can’t jump as high as that white heifer we had who could clear 6-foot fences without touching the boards. Not even the tip of a toe. I’m sure we all least enjoy being reminded of the great kickers of yesteryear and fence duckers. Every livestock farm has animals they remember long after they’re gone, but I don’t know if any other species of animal leaves behind quite the memories a dairy cow does. There’s just so much interaction with cows as you have to see them a minimum of twice daily for milking and a few more times to feed them. It’s no wonder when you talk to an older farmer they don’t recall any of the chickens they raised but can tell stories for hours about all the interesting cows they had the pleasure or frustration of knowing. Thank you all for the reason to sit in front of my computer and take a trip back in time with all the cows I’ve loved over the years. Hopefully this article got you thinking of all your favorite moos too. Until next time, keep living the dream and making wonderful memories with those bovines. Tim Zweber farms with his wife, Emily, their three children and his parents, Jon and Lisa, by Elko, Minnesota.

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How many dairy steers are born in the United States every year? None. This is a trick question. You may have heard it used during a round-robin youth show Q&A with the participants. How many purebred dairy bull calves are born in the United States every year? A lot fewer than there used to be. The reason why is the emphasis on beef-on-dairy crossbreds to market for beef. We have been using beef semen in our herd for about three years, and after starting cautiously, we have stepped up the pace in the past Come Full Dairy Circle several months. I checked our farm’s DHIA inventory records for May of 2019, 2020 and 2021. From two years ago, our heifer inventory has decreased by 30%. It is noticeable in our calf barn, our heifer pens and in the trailer loads we send to and have returned from our heifer raiser’s farm. On our operation, we have found some pluses of having fewer replacements. We are not presently expanding our herd as our facilities are maxed out. So that means we no longer have a surplus of replacement heifers to sell when we choose the heifers we wish to freshen and keep in our closed herd. Selling the excess heifers had been a fairly positive By Jean Annexstad money-maker for our dairy in years past. In recent times, howColumnist ever, selling replacements after the time, labor and dollars invested in them has not been a plus for our farm. The numbers show a loss, not even counting in full for our own labor costs. Having too many animals in our facilities also isn’t good for their health and well-being in times of weather (such as the awful hot and dry spell we are going through right now) or other stresses. Another plus, in my strictly selsh view, has been a reduced number of baby calves to raise in our 33-pen calf barn. Rather than having a full barn almost every day of the year, I now have the luxury of getting pens cleaned, scrubbed, sanitized and the window of opportunity to let them sit empty for a few days or weeks. I don’t like to use the row of pens in the center of the calf barn in the summer months, so having fewer calves to keep in the barn until 12 weeks or older allows me to let this row sit empty or to use them for bulls I will sell soon. Marketing the cross-bred bulls has been a fun and interesting experience for me. At rst, I wondered how to approach the topic of the crossbred bulls and heifers with my regular buyers, who were accustomed to Holstein bull calves, to raise on their farms to market weight. I have a handful of regular buyers. One buyer prefers to buy mostly Holstein bulls, because that is the animal most of his meat customers have grown used to over the years. Another buyer prefers the crossbred calves, because he can move them to market sooner in groups of all-black cattle and generally receive a better price while getting a higher feed efciency. Recent market analysis by Dan Schaefer, professor emeritus at the University of WisconsinMadison, showed a $75 premium per hundredweight for a crossbred beef-on-dairy bull calf. After help from consultants in analyzing genomic testing results from our heifers, we are able to decide which of those to breed to sexed semen. In this way, we can more quickly make improvements in protable characteristics in the both milk components and physical attributes that contribute to health and productivity. These ideas are not new or rare in U.S. dairy herds, of course. But, I have been thinking about them lately, because they seem to have a big impact as we look for ways to curtail some of our work load, reduce our costs of raising replacements or nd ways to make prot besides a high component, high volume of milk that we sell as a commodity without a lot of options to seek a higher price. The crossbred beef seems to have a place, and I learned a lot more about it from watching a webinar where Schaefer discussed the difference in growth and carcass characteristics of crossbred cattle, leading to pricing variability. Schaefer concluded “that while the nishing program for crossbreds is predictable, challenges for the beef-on-dairy system reside in genetic selection of beef sires for these matings.” My take-aways from Schaefer’s presentation were that my calf buyers will continue to place a high priority on knowing I’ve done a good job with colostrum feeding. We should also continue to use genetics yielding specic traits for cattle that our buyers can market for a premium depending on their chosen market. Marketing the beef-on-dairy calves is most protable when they are very young or by selling them as nished cattle. In light of those choices, I am hoping to raise them well to 7-14 days and move them out for others to benet from. Jean dairy farms with her husband, Rolf, and brother-in-law, Mike, and children Emily, Matthias and Leif. They farm near St. Peter, Minnesota, in Norseland, where she is still trying to t in with the Norwegians and Swedes. They milk 200 cows and farm 650 acres. She can be reached at jeanannexstad@gmail.com.

Dairy Star • Saturday, June 12, 2021 • Page 33

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Producers focus on milk quality

Minnesota herds share strategies for keeping their somatic cell count low

Tim and Sue Jacobs Sebeka, Minnesota; Wadena County 28 cows

Matt Berktold Lake City, Minnesota; Wabasha County 150 cows

Brandon and Jill Marshik Rice, Minnesota; Benton County 107 cows

What was your 2020 average somatic cell count?

Marshik: For housing, we have sand-bedded free stalls and milk in an old 28-stall station barn.

Berktold: 59,000. Hoefs’ Dairy: 59,000. Jacobs: 48,000. Kauffman: 64,000. Marshik: 56,800.

What are the preventive measures you take to keep your SCC low?

Describe your housing and milking facilities, including type of bedding used. Hoefs’ Dairy LLC; Jim and Donna Hoefs; Jimmy and Lisa Hoefs; Jason and Emily Hoefs; Joel Hoefs; and Julie Kalina New Prague, Minnesota; Le Sueur County 260 cows

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Berktold: We have two sand-bedded freestall barns – one built in 1999 and the other in 2002. In 2005, we retrotted our stanchion barn with a double-9 herringbone parlor. The sand is washed masonry sand. Hoefs’ Dairy: Cows are milked in a double-8 herringbone parlor. Housing is one freestall barn with two pens and a total of 144 stalls along with a hoop barn with 45 free stalls. All stalls are dual chamber waterbeds topped with kiln dried sawdust. The parlor and freestall barn were built in 2002. We put the waterbeds in two years ago after having mattresses. The waterbeds are much better for cow comfort. The freestall barn has a slatted oor that is also scraped twice a day during milking. Jacobs: We have a New York style tiestall barn with stall mats. We use oat straw bedding. Our milking facilities are a universal system with interpuls and DeLaval claws.

Edward Kauffman Browerville, Minnesota; Todd County 25 cows

Kauffman: We have a stanchion and tiestall barn. The cows are bedded with oat straw.

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Berktold: At dry off, we treat each quarter and then use a teat barrier called OptiShield. We also are adamant and particular about keeping everything clean. The barns are scraped twice a day during milking, and at this time, the backs of the stalls are also scraped off. Sand is added to the free stalls twice each week. I am also always in the parlor so I know the cows are getting clean the way they should. Hoefs’ Dairy: We cull cows with really high SCC, especially ones that are chronic mastitis cases. We also use high SCC and treated milk to pasteurize and feed to our calves. Any cow that comes back with a SCC over 1 million will be used for calves. If we do not have any treated cows or no cows over 1 million, we will take the milk from the cows with the highest SCC to feed the calves. Jacobs: We CMT once monthly unless there is a rise in SCC, then we check more. We check fresh cows before they go in the tank. We also quarter milk bad quarters. Also, we have a closed herd. Kauffman: We use quality teat dips and a dry cow treatment. We also put down barn lime in the stalls daily. Turn to MILK QUALITY | Page 35

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What is the most important management decision that you have made that assisted you in achieving a low SCC? Berktold: Sand bedding. Before when the cows were the stanchion barn, we couldn’t keep them as clean or as dry. Ever since then, our SCC has always trended down and has stayed consistently low for the past 10 or 12 years. Having enough replacements to cull a little harder also helps us keep SCC low. If a cow has three tests over 500,000, I usually think about culling her. Hoefs’ Dairy: Cleanliness is very important to us, whether it is the stalls, barn or milking in the parlor. But culling and using high SCC milk for calves has also helped. Jacobs: Throw the bad milk away. Quarter milk if we have to. If a cow is severe, we sell the cow. Wash udders before milking with separate towels and dry the udder with separate towels. We post dip and always follow the same routine.

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Kauffman: We strip before pre-dipping, then wait 30-60 seconds before dry wiping the teats. We also upgraded to better quality teat dips. Marshik: Automatic take offs. The cows are milked the same each time, and it shows in the milking pounds and time milked. Also, our prepping procedure and making sure the cows are post-dipped right after the milker comes off. What type of analysis do you use to monitor milk quality? Berktold: I look at a combination of items – bulk tank SCC, DHIA reports, visual mastitis during milking and individual tests we send to the creamery for suspect cows.

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Marshik: DHIA testing. What does your milking procedure consist of? Berktold: We milk twice a day. We rst wipe each teat clean with a dry paper towel. After all eight cows on one side have been wiped off, we go back to the beginning to strip out each quarter four times before attaching the unit and moving on to the next cow. The post dip is a 0.5% iodine. We have two people milking. We use DeLaval round liners, which are replaced every other month. Each milking takes about three hours. Hoefs’ Dairy: Since there are eight cows in each side of the parlor, each side is split into two groups while milking. The rst four’s udders are wiped and then the teats are dipped with a 0.5% iodine foaming pre-dip in the

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Page 36 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 12, 2021

ConƟnued from MILK QUALITY | Page 35

same pass. I will never go back to liquid dip. The foaming dip really gets the cows clean and ready. After dipping all four, the milker goes back to the rst cows to strip two to three times out of each teat before wiping and applying the milking unit. We use micro ber towels. They seem to be more durable and stay softer than cloth towels. Once this is done for all four cows, the milker moves on to the next four with the same process. Lag time from when the process starts until the unit goes on is about 1 minute, 30 seconds. When the milking unit comes off, the teats are dipped with a 1% iodine post-dip before being let out. We usually have two people in the parlor. I’m a stickler about cleanliness when I’m in there. Inations are the Vision inations from IBA. They are the triangle ones, and we change them once each year. We milk twice a day. Jacobs: We milk at 7 a.m. Our liners are milkrite. We use sanitizer from Fleet Farm. Our wash, lters, acid and gloves are from Dairyland Equipment of Menagha. Tim and I are the only ones who do the chores. That also makes it consistent. Cows like the same people and habits all the time. They don’t like change.

over 100,000 consistently, we don’t like it. Hoefs’ Dairy: I do not remember the last time our SCC was over 100,000. If it does reach 100,000, usually the cows are stressed from summer heat. There isn’t much we can do about that other than keep them as comfortable and cool as possible until the weather breaks. We focus on prevention rather than treatment. We have a heavyduty vaccination protocol so we do not have to deal with antibiotics if they were to come down with mastitis. That just means more time in the barn and more money. We like healthy cows. Jacobs: Our SCC rose to 420. We quickly went through all with CMT. We couldn’t nd the cow because it only takes one quarter on one cow to make your SCC rise above 100. So, we CMT the next milking and found her then. We took the quarter out, and the SCC went back down. Kauffman: If our SCC goes high, we test every cow with the CMT. Then, we treat the affected cow with Spectramast, using the extended duration therapy if needed. If they don’t respond to treatment, they are usually culled out.

Kauffman: We milk by hand with usually six or seven people milking.

Marshik: We check our problem cows rst to see if there are any are ups to treat.

Marshik: We milk at 5 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. We use IBA square D liners. As for products, it depends on the udder health and time of year. We only have four people who milk.

Why is it important for you to have a low SCC?

Describe a scenario when your SCC rose higher than you would have liked and how did you manage that? Berktold: One time we tried a different source for our sand. It wasn’t good and made our SCC go up for a while. We decided to go back to the washed masonry sand we had been using. If our SCC gets

Jacobs: Our No. 1 reason is when SCC is low, the cows are healthy which, in turn, means the milk is healthy. We would like to thank our milk haulers for their job of hauling milk. Without them, this wouldn’t mean anything. Kauffman: The importance of a low SCC is that a low SCC cow is a healthy cow. And, for a premium from the milk company. Also, the satisfaction of knowing we are producing a quality product. Marshik: To make high-quality products, we keep our cows healthy and cut the cost of treatment.

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Berktold: We get a quality premium, and we know we are selling a good product. Hoefs’ Dairy: It is something we can pretty adequately control with cleanliness, vaccinations and cow management. It also means healthier cows. We have had an average SCC around 60,000 since 2013. From 2005 until 2012, we had a yearly average SCC around 100,000. Everything is ingrained in us on what to do, and we do it consistently.

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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 12, 2021 • Page 37

Women In Dairy

bring an extra sense of respect and understanding of one another. I try to stay connected by attending seminars and classes. I really liked the classes geared to agriculture and women, such as the Ridgewater College’s Annie Project. Social media it makes it easier to stay connected to the agricultural industry including ag inuencers, online ag, women in agriculture and moms in agriculture.

Lisa Moscho Freeport, Minnesota Stearns County 75 cows

Family: I grew up on a dairy farm near Eden Valley, Minnesota, and we also had a beef and hog farm near St. Nicholas, Minnesota. I now live on a farm near Freeport, Minnesota, with my husband Mike. We have ve boys, Brady (25), Alex and Bryce (12), Mason (6) and Henry (3). Tell us about your farm. We farm on Mike’s family’s century farm. We milk cows and have a steer nishing operation. We also raise corn, soybeans and alfalfa. What’s the busiest time of day for you? The mornings are my busiest time of the day for me. I start my morning doing chores and then work to get our kids ready for school and drop them off. After morning drop off, I nish the morning chores with the help of my youngest. When you have a spare moment what do you do? I am blessed to have so many amazing people in my life to spend time with. Our kids go to a small, Catholic school and I enjoy be able to be involved in their school and the great community surrounding it. I love volunteering and being a part of the school committees. I also have a true love for horses and enjoy spending as much time as I can with them. Now that my boys have horses of their own it has become even more fullling. I love being able to share our love of animals, being outside, and watching my kids develop new talents and passions. We also have a great group of friends with horses and we enjoy going camping and trail riding together. Tell us about your most memorable experience working on the farm. Spending my entire life on a farm there are many amazing memorable experiences. I loved growing up on a farm and spending everyday with my family and our animals. Although, now I would say my most memorable experiences is watching my own children on the farm. As babies we pushed them in the stroller as we milked cows and then they had bikes, scooters and toys in the barn to keep them entertained. I love watching them take on more responsibilities, learn new skills and develop problem solving skills while building a strong work ethic. What have you enjoyed most about dairy farming or your ties to the industry? I enjoy the time it has given us to spend with our families. We sometimes feel like we never really have a day off but there is also exibility in our schedule which allows us to be a part of our children’s school, sports, 4-H and other activities. I also enjoy the community that farming had given us. Agriculture is an amazing industry with so many wonderful people with similar goals while still being supportive to each other. How do you stay connected with others in the industry? Living in a rural area, there are a lot of people involved with agriculture in one way or another and that leads to a sense of connectiveness and community. Most of our friends that farm also dairy farm, so they

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Who is someone in the industry who has inspired you? Why? My biggest inspiration in the dairy industry and life would easily to be my mother. She is one of the most amazing people in the world. She is always hardworking, loving and attentive. She can drive a tractor, milk cows, feed calves, stack hay and care for sick animals. No matter how busy she was, she always took the time to listen to us and teach us, and she could always make any job on the farm a little more fun. With everything she did working on farm, managing the house and four kids while still having a job off the farm, she still attended all our sports games and activities. My mom is my best friend and if I become half the mother and women she is I would be very happy. If you could give a tour of your farm to a prominent woman in today’s society, who would it be and why? I would like to give a tour to Ellen DeGeneres. I believe that ignorance is in need of education. So many people are unaware of where their food comes from and the hard-working, honest people behind it. She has been given the power of inuence and it is sad to see her use it to inuence other non-educated consumers on what she believes is wrong. What is the best vacation you have ever taken? I went to Montana with my dad and stayed with a friend and ranching family. I was able to ride horse in the beautul hills of Montana with some amazing people. We were able to help with spring branding which has always been on my bucket list. Most of the work was done with by hand or with horses. They roped the calf and set them for branding and vaccinating. We helped out several ranches and they all had their own unique way of doing things. Dairying is very rare in their area so they had a lot of questions for us. What are some words you try to live by? I try to live by the words, “God has a plan.” Life can be stressful, crazy and hectic. We will have our good times and our bad, but I try to trust God and His plan for us and there is a reason for everything. When things are tough, I ask myself what God is trying to teach me and how can I improve from this. When things are going well, I try to thank God for all His blessings.

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sponsored by What do you enjoy most about dairy farming? The opportunity to make my own schedule and spend a lot of quality time with family.

Justin and Kotti Hintz Ogdensburg, Wisconsin Waupaca County 90 registered Holsteins and 475 acres

What advice would you give other dairy farmers? Take good care of your animals – focus on breeding, health and diet. Animals with good genetics, good food and good health will produce good milk with good components.

How did you get into farming? Justin worked for his family operation as a child and in his teens started working with Kotti’s family. He worked for 20 years with Kotti’s parents, Tom and Sharie. In 2014, Kotti returned to the farm, and they were married in 2015. Two children followed – Audrey, 4.5, and Andy, 3. Kotti was raised on the farm they now own.

What has been the best purchase you made on your farm? All investments into no-till farming. We have been 90% no till for 10-plus years. We have increased yields on all cropping and know it improves moisture retention. The traditional planting methods are too time consuming. We wouldn’t be able to farm as much land without no till. Secondly, we built a fenced playground area for our kids to play while outside. It’s safe for them and provides an extreme amount of peace of mind for all people moving equipment near the buildings.

What are your thoughts and concerns about the dairy industry for the next year? The availability of land and capital for small and medium-sized farms. Lenders seem to want to write a loan for seven digits or higher. What is the latest technology you implemented on your farm and the purpose for it? New computer and bookkeeping software to improve budgeting, analyze expenses and improve accuracy. We can link directly with our accountant. In the end, it was a huge time savings when tax time came around. Another technology we implemented was GPS technology for spreading fertilizer and spraying. What is a management practice you changed in the past year that has beneted you? Purchasing a portable TMR mixer and bulk feed handling equipment. We were using an outdated conveyor system that was time consuming. The portable mixer has decreased feeding time, and labor and feed cost as we can more accurately weigh commodities. What cost-saving steps have you implemented during the low milk price? We stayed true to our A.I. breeding philosophy. In the short term, it is not a cost savings as we continue to invest in high-quality semen. In the recent low milk prices, selective breeding has netted large premiums for better components and

What has been your biggest accomplishment while dairy farming? The success of purchasing our farm and herd. The herd will be paid for in the coming year. Also, achieving one of our herd production goals has been a big accomplishment for us. low somatic cell count. We were also cautious with feed additives and our ration. How do you retain a good working relationship with your employees? We treat them like family with respect and kindness. It’s important to include staff in our success and show them their contribution is valuable. Tell us a skill you possess that makes dairy farming easier? Patience. Justin is patient with crops, cattle and family.

What are your plans for your dairy in the next year and ve years? The next year will be focused on continuing our reduction of debt, staying on track with budget and continuing to breed strong genetic lines in our herd. We plan to keep our focus on A.I. technology and breeding for dairy character, milk production and high components. The ve-year plans include increasing our land base and continuing the development of custom raising beef to diversify our income channels. How do you and your family like to spend time when you are not doing chores? We enjoy dining out, visiting family and friends, and relaxing.

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