LOOK INSIDE FOR OUR CENTRAL PLAINS DAIRY EXPO PREVIEW EDITION!
DAIRY ST R “All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 24, No. 2
March 12, 2022
Franck family back to milking after derecho Robots replaced parlor on Iowa dairy By Sherry Newell Contributing writer
NEWHALL, Iowa – The family farm where Ron and Joan Franck watched an Aug. 10, 2020, storm destroy their facilities is home to a milking herd again. After a year of recovering and rebuilding their freestall barn, parlor, heifer barn and silos, the Francks brought their
cows home to their farm near Newhall. They began milking with four robots Sept. 1, 2021. The Francks were among a handful of Iowa dairy farmers who experienced severe damage in a derecho, a widespread and fast-moving straight-line windstorm. The one that hit Iowa, and other Midwest states, recorded winds as high as 130 Turn to FRANCK | Page 6
PHOTO SUBMITTED
The Franck’s cows are housed in a freestall barn that was built using the footprint that remained from the barn destroyed in an Iowa storm in 2020. While the concrete and curbs remained in much of the barn, the Francks chose to install four robots to replace the parlor they previously used to milk 210 cows near Newhall, Iowa.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
The Franck family – (from leŌ) Ashley, Josh, Caleb, Ron and Joan Franck (right) – get ready to milk 190 cows through four robots Sept. 1, 2021 at their farm new Newhall, Iowa. It was just over one year aŌer a derecho storm destroyed their dairy near Newhall, Iowa. Not pictured are Ron and Joan’s daughter, Kelsey, and son, Nathan, both of whom are currently full Ɵme on the farm.
A bright future Farmland prices strengthen as for dairy key indicators raise demand Checkoff program enters into partnership with Mayo Clinic By Kate Rechtzigel kate.r@dairystar.com
ROCHESTER, Minn. − On Feb. 24, the National Research and Promotion Program, known as the Dairy Checkoff Program, announced it has entered into a veyear partnership with Mayo Clinic to explore research and increase consumer outreach efforts to improve public health and increase dairy’s benets. “Partnerships are such an important aspect of the checkoff business plan,” Barbara O’Brien said. “It gives farmers an ability to extend their messaging, extend their investment and ultimately have much greater reach locally, nationally and globally. This new partnership with Mayo Clinic, to me, is a natural evolution strategy in play. Working with an institution of this kind of authority and credibility is game changing for us.” Turn to MAYO CLINIC | Page 8
Dickhut provides tips for navigating market By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
After a period of extreme market swings in all sectors of agriculture mainly caused by the coronavirus pandemic, much of last year’s trends showed a sign of strength in the industry. Farmland was no exception. “The price trend on farmland, especially on good cropland, in 2021 strengthened as the year went along,” Randy Dickhut said. “Underlying factors supporting land values were hitting on all cylinders.” Dickhut is the senior vice president of real estate operations for Farmers National Company, which offers real estate sales and auctions across much of the United States. In 2021, the Federal Reserve and various universities reported cropland values rising 15%-30%. Of the Upper Midwest states, Iowa had the greatest average sale price of high-quality land at $14,500 per
acre, a 29% increase from 2020, according to a survey conducted by Farmers National Company. In Dairy Star’s coverage area, South Dakota’s top quality cropland followed at $10,500 per acre (23% increase); Minnesota at $9,700 per acre (26% increase); and Wisconsin at $7,700 per acre (10% increase). In terms of rental prices, the United States Department of Agriculture reported the average rental price for cropland in Minnesota was estimated at $177 per acre in 2021; $133 per acre in Wisconsin. These prices are all reective of market inuences that strengthened as the year progressed. “In the last part of the year, farm income became better and that was on top of 2020 where there was an extra inux of cash from government support,” Dickhut said. “A better nancial condition prompted many farmers to be more active and that drove prices.” Low interest rates were also supportive of land prices and drove a competitive group of individuals to look at farmland as an investment. Most of the buyers continued to be active farmers who had extra cash in their pockets.
Turn to FARMLAND PRICES | Page 8
Page 2 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 12, 2022
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 (ofce) 320-248-3196 (cell) 320-352-0062 (home) Ad Composition Nancy Powell 320-352-6303 nancy.p@dairystar.com Editorial Staff Jennifer Coyne - Assistant Editor (320) 352-6303 • jenn@dairystar.com Danielle Nauman - Staff Writer (608) 487-1101 • danielle.n@dairystar.com Stacey Smart - Staff Writer (262) 442-6666 • stacey.s@dairystar.com Abby Wiedmeyer - Staff Writer 608-487-4812 • abby.w@dairystar.com Kate Rechtzigel - Staff Writer 507-696-9213 • kate.r@dairystar.com Maria Bichler - Copy Editor 320-352-6303 Consultant Jerry Jennissen 320-346-2292 Advertising Sales Main Ofce: 320-352-6303 Fax: 320-352-5647 Deadline is 5 p.m. of the Friday the week before publication Sales Manager - Joyce Frericks 320-352-6303 • joyce@dairystar.com Bob Leukam (Northern MN, East Central MN) 320-260-1248 (cell) bob.l@star-pub.com Mark Klaphake (Western MN) 320-352-6303 (ofce) 320-248-3196 (cell) Laura Seljan (National Advertising, SE MN) 507-250-2217 fax: 507-634-4413 laura.s@dairystar.com Jerry Nelson (SW MN, NW Iowa, South Dakota) 605-690-6260 jerry.n@dairystar.com Mike Schafer (Central, South Central MN) 320-894-7825 mike.s@dairystar.com Amanda Hoeer (Eastern Iowa) 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 $40.00, outside the U.S. $200.00. Send check along with mailing address to Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378. Advertising Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an advertisement shall constitute nal acceptance of the advertiser's order. Letters Letters and articles of opinion are welcomed. Letters must be signed and include address and phone number. We reserve the right to edit lengthy letters. The views and opinions expressed by Dairy Star columnists and writers are not necessarily those of the Dairy Star / Star Publications LLC.
The Dairy Star is published semi-monthly by Star Publications LLC, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378-1246. Periodicals Postage Paid at Sauk Centre, MN and additional mailing ofces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378-1246.
Dairy le brought to by your No Pro satisfaction inyou dairy trade Canada is proposing changes to its dairy tariff rate quota system to end the dispute with the United States over market access. In January, the U.S. won the rst-ever United StatesMexico-Canada Agreement dispute settlement case on the dairy trade issue. However, the National Milk Producers Federation and U.S. Dairy Export Council are asking the Biden administration to reject this Canadian proposal. National Milk Producers President and CEO Jim Mulhern said U.S. dairy farmers “are sick and tired” of Canada’s effort to undercut its market access commitments.
US milk production declines, SD milk output surges higher While milk prices are trading in the $20 range, U.S. milk production is dropping. The United States Department of Agriculture said milk production nationwide declined 1.4% in January. South Dakota is one of the few states with increased production, up a whopping 18.3% from one year ago. The size of South Dakota’s cow herd increased by 28,000 head. Minnesota milk production dropped 1%. NFU delegates pass special orders of business The National Farmers Union convention wrapped up with the passage of ve special orders of business. That list includes the need for a fair, open and competitive marketplace; efforts to address the supply chain challenges and climate change. The NFU also implemented policy on the agricultural workforce and dairy policy reform. Kippley elected NFU vice president The NFU has elected South Dakota farmer Jeff Kippley as its new vice president. Kippley succeeds Patty Edelburg, who is from Wisconsin. Edelburg has been the vice president for the past four years. Stay engaged NFU President Rob Larew is urging his members to keep
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the pressure on Washington. “We are certainly pushing hard on the concentration issue, whether it is in meat markets or input costs,” Larew said. “That plus we continue to struggle domestically with the supply chain and globally with the current war in Ukraine.”
Ag Insider
Senate Ag Committee to start farm bill process in spring The Senate Agriculture Committee will begin its schedule of farm bill hearings this spring. By Don Wick “We’ll kick things off with Columnist eld hearings in Michigan and Arkansas,” said Debbie Stabenow, Senate Agriculture Committee chairwoman. “We’ll start title by title, and it will take several months to get through everything. We want to hear what’s working and what’s not.” Others want what the dairy industry has Recapping the past year, Associated Milk Producers Inc. chairman Steve Schlangen said the dairy cooperative has invested in new technology in its four major cheese plants. On the domestic front, AMPI and Crystal Farms came to terms on an agreement to sell cheese at the retail level. Regarding international sales, AMPI has secured markets in China and the Middle East. “They’re learning to love cheeseburgers, and that’s a good thing because there’s a lot of mouths to feed there,” Schlangen said. Schlangen said it is important to have a market for products. “If you look at what the beef industry is going through and
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Estaline, SD
Caledonia, MN
Banses sell cows after 47 years
Midwest dairy producers invest in leadership training
First Section: Pages 9, 11
Melrose, MN
Middendorf enjoys being high school referee
First Section: Pages 12 - 13
Hermosa, SD
Dawnwind Dairy Goats is home to an award-winning herd
First Section: Pages 18, 20
Women in Dairy: Leah Rajkowski
Carlson milking in northern Minnesota for 32 years
Second Section: Page 29
Second Section: Pages 26 - 27
Sauk Rapids MN
Wadena, MN
A day in the life of the Ackerman brothers
Second Section: Pages 6 - 7
Breeding Profile: Jacob and Brooke Carrow
Melrose, MN
Wannaska, MN
First Section: Pages 23, 25
Little Falls, MN
Dairy’s Working Youth: Dan Richter
Third Section: Pages 16, 18 - 19
Third Section: Page 7
FROM OUR SIDE OF THE FENCE:
For additional stories from our other zone, log on to www.dairystar.com
Former dairy princesses: How do you continue to promote dairy in your life? First Section: Pages 15 - 16
Zone 1
Zone 2
Columnists Ag Insider er Pages 2, 5 First F Section ion n
From My Perspective Page 34 First Section
Dea County Dear nty Ag Agent Guy y P Page 36 First Firs Section on
Veterinary Vet ary Wisdom W m Page 37 P Pa First Fir F irs Section tion
From the F Zwe Z Zweber Farm P Page 38 Fir Section First
Come Full Co Da Circle Dairy P Page 39 Fir Section First
The “Mielke” Market Weekly Pages 10 - 11 Second Section
Ju Thinking Just Out Loud Page 38 F First Section
Page 4 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 12, 2022
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Dairy Star • Saturday, March 12, 2022 • Page 5
ConƟnued from AG INSIDER | Page 2 even pork, they would love to have their are being overtaxed. own farmer-owned cooperative where they “The best way to address that is to could have the market for products, and provide permanent, ongoing tax relief,” that’s what we have in dairy and AMPI.” Miller said. Record sales for Land O’Lakes Land O’Lakes is reporting record net sales of $16 billion for 2021. Net income totals $295 million, up from $266 million one year earlier. The crop inputs division had signicant volume increases. Feed volumes were up, but earnings were down because of high supply chain costs. The supply chain bottlenecks also hurt the prot picture for the Land O’Lakes dairy business. Global food prices reach all-time high Global food prices were at an all-time high in February according to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization. The Food Price’s Index increased 3.9%, and the rise puts the index above its earlier record high in 2011. Vegetable oil prices led the increase and dairy prices also rallied. These numbers only partly cover the recent price spikes for wheat and other grains due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. $9B budget surplus for Minnesota Minnesota’s General Fund surplus is now forecast at $9.25 billion. That is up from the $7.7 billion surplus projection that was made in November 2021. “I am fully aware that we’re going to have to compromise together, but the good news is we can compromise on a whole lot of fronts to make life cheaper for Minnesotans now and into the future,” Gov. Tim Walz said. “We can continue to invest in things like health care and education, reducing costs and making them more accessible to folks and making sure we keep up with infrastructure.” Walz said there should be some caution, especially with the conict underway in Ukraine. Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller said a $9 billion surplus is “mind boggling.” At a time of record ination, Miller said Minnesotans
TRUST THE EXPERTS
Sundin is not running in 2022 Minnesota House Agriculture Committee chairman Mike Sundin is not seeking reelection. Sundin is from Esko in northeastern Minnesota and is serving is fth term in the Legislature. Hoffman joins AMPI ofcer team The ofcers for AMPI are Steve Schlangen of Albany, Minnesota, as chairman; Doug Temme of Wayne, Nebraska, as vice chairman; Dave Peterson of Boyd, Wisconsin, as treasurer; and Steve Hoffman of New Ulm, Minnesota, as secretary. Hoffman succeeds Bruce Maas of Walnut Grove, Minnesota, who retired. The coop does not publish its nancials, but a spokesperson said AMPI “had a good year and its balance sheet is the strongest it’s been in AMPI history.”
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The Franck family’s dairy is destroyed Aug. 10, 2020, when a severe storm crossed eastern Iowa. The freestall barn and parlor, along with the heifer barn and silos, were damaged beyond repair. Twelve months later, the Francks started up four robots in a barn built on the same footprint as this one. mph and traveled hundreds of miles before and after hitting eastern Iowa. In 1987, the Francks returned to the farm Ron’s father bought in 1972. Their 22-year-old son, Nathan, is now part of the operation, and their 26-yearold daughter, Kelsey, returned home in the aftermath of the devastation and continues to be involved. Three other children – Caleb, 17, Ashley, 15, and Josh, 13 – also play important roles. Ron participated in a robot tour 10 months before the derecho. “We pretty much decided within a week of the storm that we’d either do robots or get out (of dairying),” Ron Franck said. The family chose to remain dairy farmers. But, it would take many months for the decision to become a reality. From the day of the storm and for the next 12 months, seven farms milked the Francks’ cows at various times, which the family said they remain grateful for. A handful of cows were injured in the storm and a few others were sold, but 190 cows of the milking herd eventually came home. After the initial weeks following the storm, the Francks had one neighboring dairy farmer, Austin Schulte, milk half the herd. Schulte sent his pre-fresh cows and heifers to the Franck farm. The Franck family handled calving for both herds while moving forward on reconstructing the dairy. While the Francks had replacement insurance coverage on the dairy, it was restricted to certain terms. “We couldn’t go buy an 80 or put up a hog barn,” Franck said. “And, we had to submit a plan (to insurance) for approval.” The family also had to remove what was left of the farm’s buildings. “To tear the buildings down, there is quite a bit involved,” Franck said. Their insurance, nancing and plans were in place by mid-November 2020. The Francks then rebuilt on the concrete of the original freestall barn and kept the alleys and curbs. Four Lely A5 milking robots were installed. Two robots are side by side in a tollbooth style, and two others are set up in an L shape. A sort pen is located behind each. “We’re all up to speed on the robot area,” Franck said. “Other parts will
have to wait.” Scrapers are not installed, and fans and curtains are in place but waiting on controllers for automation. A pump was added for manure handling, replacing the previous gravity-ow system. The lost dry cow, pre-fresh and heifer barns have not been replaced. “We basically took most of the insurance money to put in the robot setup,” Franck said. No part of what the Francks did was easy. When storm cleanup, planning and nancing was completed, they faced the difcult days of startup with the robots. For four consecutive days, Franck said his phone app recorded 40,000 steps. But, he is happy with how the cows are performing now. “We’ve been able to get really good production right off the bat,” he said. “The cows are way more calm. They’re going to be cooler with the tunnel ventilation. There is LED lighting. It’s just a nice environment. This whole thing was stressful. We didn’t really have a clue what we were doing. We dealt with
“We had a great local base of support from family, church and community, and we needed one.” RON FRANCK, DAIRY FARMER
so many things we never had before.” He admits his family is trying to understand how the challenges of the past 18 months have affected them emotionally and mentally. But Franck and his wife said the ordeal strengthened their faith as well as that of their children, and showed them faith in others. For instance, people provided meals for the family for nearly a month after the storm. “We had a great local base of support from family, church and community, and we needed one,” Franck said. “It was even more remarkable when you think about the fact that, in this area, virtually everyone had at least some damage. There are aspects that are positive, but it’s hard to see in the middle of it all.”
Dairy Star • Saturday, March 12, 2022 • Page 7
Congratulations Franck Family of Newhall, Iowa
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Page 8 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 12, 2022
ConƟnued from MAYO CLINIC | Page 1 O’Brien is the CEO at Dairy Management Inc. which worked in collaboration with the National Dairy Council and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy to set up the partnership with the health organization. The partnership will be incorporated at the Mayo Clinic campuses in Rochester; Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona; and Jacksonville, Florida. Teams made up of NDC scientists, Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy experts, registered dietitians, Mayo Clinic physicians and health professionals will focus on three areas − researching, communicating and exploring digital platforms. Merilyn Hershey farms with her family on their dairy in Pennsylvania. Hershey is also the chair of the DMI board. “It’s unique because it’s focusing on the health and wellness aspect,” Hershey said. “We know as farmers that we have a powerhouse nutritional product, but we don’t understand the depth of how that helps us.” Hershey said the partnership, through science and research, will help people understand what milk does for the immune system and a person’s overall health and wellness. “This is something consumers are asking and it’s information that we can provide them,” Hershey said. The rst area the partnership will focus on is research. Teams will discover how dairy foods and whole milk dairy impacts cardiovascular health and metabolic conditions as well as dairy’s role on the body and mind, sleep, digestive health and immunity. “It’s a two-way partnership,” Hershey said. “They’re looking at us for our science, and we’re looking at them for their credibility.” The second area of the partnership is communicating dairy’s strong body of evidence, new research and insights with the scientic community, health and wellness professionals and consumers. O’Brien said science is the foundation that the checkoff program was built on, but this partnership with Mayo Clinic takes science to a new level. “We’ve been based in university labs and
programs building credibility, but this is a science partnership of a different kind,” O’Brien said. “The Mayo (Clinic) has 5,000 scientists and physicians who work hand and glove, so you’ve got the bench science complemented by the practical physician input. It’s going to continue to validate the work we’re doing in chronic disease and fat, but it’s also going to explore some of the new areas − immunity, energy digestion and the molecules in milk.” The third area of the partnership is communicating via digital platforms on dairy’s role in managing people’s wellness. “Consumers, today, if they are not feeling well or if they get a question from a physician about a health situation, they’ll go online,” O’Brien said. “Mayo is one of those top names.” Hershey agreed. “If people are going to search there, then let’s meet them there,” she said. Both Hershey and O’Brien have a history with medical hospitals and know the important role the institutions play in everyday life. “My husband actually went to Mayo in his late 20s because of a health issue,” O’Brien said. “There are just so many families touched by this institution.” Hershey agreed. “We had a board meeting the other day and 95% of the hands went up,” she said. “I personally have not gone through Mayo Clinic, but we went through a medical facility when we were having issues with our son when he was younger, so I understand what it is like to count on a medical hospital at that level. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been affected or not, people know the name, what they can do and what they stand for.” Both O’Brien and Hershey are excited for the future this new partnership will bring and are excited to share the news with fellow dairy farmers. “It’s just exciting to have a new partnership at this level that can help us in this area of research, help us tell our story and help consumers to know the value and the incredible powerhouse we have in a glass of milk,” Hershey said.
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ConƟnued from FARMLAND PRICES | Page 1 Some sellers, mainly non-operating landowners were looking to sell before potential tax law changes. Dickhut noticed an inux of individual investors wanting to become active in the farmland market. This trend began with the pandemic when some individuals wanted to move out of the cities or others wanted to own a part of the food production system with land. “The demand was there,” Dickhut said. “Non-farmers wanted to buy farmland so they could hedge against the loss of value on another asset or to have a safe, long-term investment.” The demand from farmers and investors outpaced the land available for sale and ultimately drove prices and created a positive outlook for land prices in 2021. While the demand is strong, there seems to be a more normal amount of land on the market indicative of a calmer market climate, Dickhut said. “Land prices, due to the many unknowns in the world today, should be steady to stronger for the next six months,” he said. “It’s similar to the residential market in the sense that buyers have to be aggressive. They are having to step up to get anything bought.” The last time the markets peaked was between 2012 and 2014, Dickhut said. “Land values then softened because grain prices were down, farm incomes were average to below average after a few years of good income,” he said. “Farmers became more cautious to buying, prices plateaued and the land market was stable.” For sellers in this competitive reality, Dickhut said the most effective way to get the best price in an open market is through a traditional auction, online-only auction or simulcast where bids are taken in person and online simultaneously. In any given year, only 2% of the agricultural land in the U.S. changes ownership while less than 1% of that is traded in the open market, Dickhut said. “Only a very small percentage of land is sold each year,” Dickhut said. “If landowners are thinking about selling, don’t sell it quietly.” For buyers, competition remains stiff, especially for those less established in the industry. “Lenders are more conservative since the high inations in the 1980s,” Dickhut said. “They’ve been more cautious and require more money down. Luckily, there are some programs to assist beginning farmers to buy land, possibly a contract for deed to purchase, or control land through renting.” The year ahead faces many unknowns, especially with uncertainty rising in the markets overseas. In the United States, commodity prices have reached unseen values yet input costs are also higher than what has been seen in recent history. Interest rates continue to rise but probably at a slow pace. “Livestock and milk prices are strong, and farm incomes looks like it’ll be good,” Dickhut said. “But, there are worries of crop yields and droughts and other weather incidences.” Farmland remains a necessity for dairy farmers, and now there is more competition than ever before from outside the agriculture industry. “It’s all still playing out for this year ahead,” Dickhut said.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, March 12, 2022 • Page 9
Retiring from a life of farming
Banses sell cows after 47 years By Kate Rechtzigel kate.r@dairystar.com
CALEDONIA, Minn. – Lester and Donna Banse were married April 5, 1975. A week later, they started dairy farming and had been ever since for 47 years. “One thing we’re proud of is that we started out with nothing. He didn’t have a family farm, and I didn’t have a family farm,” Donna said. “Even though the family came and helped, we basically just did it on our own. There were times people didn’t think we were going to make it, but we did. We’re still here.” Donna and Lester milked 16 cows on their dairy in Houston County near Caledonia until Feb. 26 when they sold
KATE RECHTZIGEL/DAIRY STAR
Lester and Donna Banse stand in their milking parlor Feb. 24 on their farm near Caledonia, Minnesota. At the peak in the couple’s career, they were milking 160 cows.
the last of their herd. The family has milked up to 160 cows and most recently were milking 40 cows. The family also owns 100 tillable acres and rents 300 acres for corn, soybean and alfalfa. The Banses knew from a young age they wanted to farm. “When I was 14, my older brother got married and took over the family farm, and I had to move to town with my parents,” Lester said. “I hated it in town, and so I always knew I wanted to farm someday.” Donna agreed. “After high school, I went to tech school for one year to be a medical secretary, worked one year and decided I would rather farm so I quit shortly after we got married,” she said. After their wedding, the Banses rented a farm with a 30-stall tiestall barn by Ridgeway. They were on that farm from April 1975 to October 1976. “We rented it on shares,” Lester said. “Donna had an aunt and uncle who lived up there, and they knew of this farm that was for rent, so that’s how we found it.” A year and a half later, the Banses decided it was time to move home and found a farm for sale near Caledonia. The farm, however, was different than what the Banses were used to. “It was only set up for 18 cows, and it had a Grade B inaccessible milkhouse,” Turn to BANSEES | Page 11
“DHIA is a good management tool to use to keep track of our herd and make the best decisions with the individual cows to stay profitable as possible.” What are some of the DHIA tests you use?
I look at and use all of the reports that come after monthly tests. Herd summary, SCC Áex report, lactation, reproduction and calf management reports.
KATE RECHTZIGEL/DAIRY STAR
Lester and Donna Banse walk their 16 cows up for an evening milking on Feb. 24 at their farm near Caledonia, Minnesota. The Banses sold the remainder of their herd on Feb. 26th.
LED LIGHTING Sales & Installation
Which is your favorite test and why? The herd summary and SCC report are
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my favorite. The herd summary report gives me an overall look or a snapshot of the dairy on where we are today and which way we are going. The somatic cell count report can alert me to some potential mastitis or high SCC problem cows so that maybe we can do something to correct the problem before it gets worse.
How does testing with DHIA beneÀt your dairy operation? DHIA is
a good management tool to use to keep track of our herd and make the best decisions with the individual cows to stay proÀtable as possible. We also have to Ànd out who my favorite cow for the month is (the top producer on test day).
Tell us about your farm. We milk 50 cows in a tiestall
barn that my dad dad built in 1978. Our current herd average is 26,521 pounds of milk, 1,153 lbs. fat, and 846 pounds protein. We raise all our heifers and Ànish out the bull calves as well as buy some extra bull calves to Ànish out. We farm about 400 acres, which consist of corn, soybeans, alfalfa and wheat. We rely on all family, help from my wife, Theresa, when she is not busy working as a school nurse, as well as our four children; Isaac when he is not working at River Country Coop, Rachel who is Francis and Theresa Rynda attending college at UW River Falls, Ryndaranch Noah who is a sophomore at TCU High 50 cows • Montgomery, MN School and Levi who is a 3rd grader at Testingwith DHIA over 25 years Holy Redeemer Catholic School.
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Page 10 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 12, 2022
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Gayle Maye operates Corner Scoop Creamery in Coleman, Wisocnsin. The ice cream shop serves unique avors of homemade premium ice cream made with 12% cream.
Corner Scoop Creamery boasts premium product By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
COLEMAN, Wis. – Creating a business revolving around homemade ice cream was not something Gayle Maye and Peter Nasgovitz ever planned on. But, they are glad to have unleashed their creative side through a unique art form at the Corner Scoop Creamery in the northeastern Wisconsin town of Coleman. “It is one of those weird stories, how we got started with this,” Maye said. “We didn’t have anything to do with ice cream; we both worked full time.” Maye and Nasgovitz’s cousin, Steve Brye, owns a dairy farm in Coleman, and he had purchased ice cream equipment. Maye began experimenting with the equipment and then attended an ice cream training school in St. Louis, Missouri. Maye said Brye had thought of building a creamery and shop on the farm. But, the current location in Coleman was purchased in 2017, and the remodeling projects commenced. A limited liability company was formed for the Corner Scoop Creamery in 2017, but the shop itself was not open until July 7, 2019. “We really have never had a good year yet to be able to really base any business trends on,” Maye said. “We opened half way through 2019 and suffered through two storms that caused signicant damage shortly after opening. Then, we went through the shutdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020; and in 2021, we had to temporarily shut down a couple of times due to staff members contracting the virus. I am hopeful 2022 will be that rst good year.” Despite the challenges, Corner Scoop Creamery has been developing a steadfast following of local patrons and enjoying an inux in sales thanks to the vibrant tourism industry of northeastern Wisconsin, which also serves as the gateway to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. What draws people to Corner Scoop Creamery is the vast variety of homemade, hard-scoop ice cream, Maye said, along with a line of specialty coffee, varied lunch menu and homemade baked goods. The ice cream is made on site using 12% premium cream. “Most ice cream is made with an average of 6% to 8% cream,” Maye said. “We try to use premium ingredients across the board. … We bring in our pecans from Texas once a year, and we roast all our own nuts.” Maye purchases a cream-based mix because of the requirements for pasteurization. Being a certied kitchen allows Maye to make all of the baked goods that are used as add-ins in many of the avors at Corner Shop Creamery. “The brownies, the ooey gooey butter cake, any of those things that are add-ins are all made onsite,” Maye said. “We do buy our cookie dough add-in. It is very hard to get consistent, high-quality cookie dough
without using eggs.” The process to make the ice cream starts with the cream base, followed by mixing in the avoring such as strawberries. Then, that is churned in the ice cream maker. In many of the avors, add-ins are swirled in by hand as the ice cream comes out. The ice cream is frozen to 15 degrees below zero for at least one day. Before use, the ice cream is moved to a staging cooler to bring it to a temperature suitable for hand-scooping. The ice cream is made in 3-gallon batches and then is packaged in 1-gallon containers for in-store use and also in pint and quart containers for carryout purchases. On average, the shop has on hand 160 to 170 gallons of ice cream a day and typically has about 19 avors in the store at any given point. What makes Corner Scoop Creamery appealing is the long list of unique avors, Maye said. “We work really hard to create a premium product,” she said. “A lot of research and development goes into creating and developing recipes for new avors. We take suggestions from customers for new avors too. Our line of alcoholic ice creams has really made us unique as an ice cream maker.” Maye said creating the perfect recipe for a consistent product takes a lot of testing and repetition. “Getting the freezing point and consistency right can be difcult when working with fruit and with alcohol,” Maye said. “The added moisture of the fruit and the sugar content can make a big difference. The high cream percentage also makes things a little trickier.” Always in the ice cream coolers are alcoholic ice creams such as Wisconsin Old-Fashioned and Brandy Alexander. Other popular avors include Ooey Gooey Butter Cake, Mighty Mint Oreo, Eye-Opening Espresso and Sassy Strawberry. Maye also develops specialty seasonal avors such as Pot O’ Gold Pistachio for the month of March. “I enjoy meeting our customers,” Maye said. “And, it is amazing to be able to do something creative and turn it into a successful business opportunity.”
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
At any given Ɵme there are 19 avors of homemade premium ice cream available at Corner Scoop Creamery in Coleman, Wisconsin.
Dairy Star • Saturday, March 12, 2022 • Page 11
ConƟnued from BANSES | Page 9
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KATE RECHTZIGEL/DAIRY STAR
Lester Banse puts on a milker while and Donna Banse preps a cow on Feb. 24 near Caledonia, Minnesota. The Banses milked for 47 years. Lester said. So, shortly before moving to their current site in November 1976, the Banses remodeled the barn by adding 30 stalls. They milked in that setup until 1990. “This farm also had the house, the Quonset, a couple of corn cribs and a chicken house,” Donna said. Lester agreed. “When we moved here, we put in a barn cleaner and then along came the pipeline,” he said. They remodeled and improved the farm site over the years. They built a pole shed and put up silos in 1978. In 1990, the couple added 26 more tie stalls to the milking barn so it was a 56-stall facility, built a machine shed in 1994, put in a double-8 parallel parlor and a 135-stall freestall barn in 1999, a calf barn and a new house in 2006 and a shop in 2014. “Those rst couple years before we put in the silos, we put up thousands of small square bales,” Donna said. “Then when we switched from a tiestall to a
“When the milking prices weren’t great, the more milk you sold the better off you were and the easier it was to pay the bills,” Lester said. Donna agreed. “You used to be able to put an ad in the paper and get immediate responses but lately that hasn’t been the case,” she said of a shortage of labor. The family was able to nd some part-time help over the years, but the Banses wanted to spend more time with family. “It was fun to watch our kids grow up playing high school sports,” Lester said. “But we wanted to watch our grandkids and take them on shing and boating trips too.” So, on Nov. 23, 2020, the Banses sold 120 cows to a Mennonite family near Riceville, Iowa, whose barn burned down. “They were able to build back right on the same site,” Lester said. “It was a nice t.” Since then, the Banses milked 40 cows on their farm until the timing was right to sell the remainder of the herd. “We had feed we had to get fed and now that’s kind of dwindling down,” Lester said. “It’s just kind of time to get out.” Lester and Donna agreed that age is also a determining factor in their decision. “When you get to your upper 60s, you just don’t have as much energy as you did when you were in your 40s,” Lester said. However, for a young person in farming, the Banses have advice. “It’s hard for a young person, especially if they don’t have a family farm to get started or a family that can help them nancially,” Donna said. “It takes a lot of money nowadays.” Lester agreed. “You have to really be dedicated,” he said. “You have to be willing to farm without worrying about how much time off you are going to get.” After selling their cows in February, the Banses plan to travel more, go on more car cruises, spend time with their grandchildren and participate in tractor pulls. They will miss the responsibilities of dairy farming but are grateful for the experience they had in the industry. “I’d do it all over again,” Donna said.
“You have to really be dedicated. You have to be willing to farm without worrying about how much time off you are going to get.” LESTER BANSE, DAIRY FARMER
parlor and freestall barn, that was nice. It was much easier on the knees.” The Banses raised three kids on the farm – Matt, Melissa and Mitchell – who all helped when they were in high school. “Dairy is a good lifestyle for the family if you want to teach your kids how to work and have responsibility,” Donna said. One of the Banses’ biggest accomplishments was surviving the high interest rates of the 1980s. They worked with interest rates of 18%-20%. “When interest rates were high, I learned how to do my own rations, and I bought every ingredient as cheap as we could,” Lester said. “Since 2004, we have had a nutritionist do that, but now I know what he’s talking about.” Other challenges the farm went through were nding labor and low milk prices.
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Page 12 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 12, 2022
Midwest dairy producers invest in leadership training By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
ESTALINE, S.D. – Cole Hoyer grew up in a community where he proudly promoted his family’s lifestyle as dairy farmers near La Crosse, Wisconsin. But when he moved to South Dakota to pursue an education and settled on his wife’s family’s dairy farm, Hoyer felt the urge to reconnect with the industry.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Dairy farmers Stacy Rethman and James Goldsmith par�cipate in a workshop during phase one of the DEAL Program.
Time to engage
“It was something I was missing from my childhood,” Hoyer said. “I love to educate and connect with consumers, and now I’m getting reinvolved in a different way.” Hoyer, a dairy farmer from Estaline, is one of 15 dairy farmers in the region who are a part of Midwest Dairy’s Dairy Experience and Agricultural Leadership Program for 2022-23. “That quote, ‘Once you stop learning, you’re dying,’ is true,” Hoyer said. “That’s why I went for this. I enjoy participating in programs that continue to build my knowledge. Then, you add dairy and it’s the best of both worlds.” DEAL Program participants were selected from the 10-state region of Midwest Dairy to share their dairy story and become more involved in the industry. Hoyer’s classmates include Courtney Lintker and Ray Hildebrandt of Illinois; James Goldsmith, Dan Venteicher and Nicole Engelken of Iowa; Jennifer Klejeski, Paige Roberts, Kevin Borst, Lindsey Borst, Elle Tibor and Natalie Barka of Minnesota; Stacy Rethman of Kansas; and John Vanderpoel and Jessi Sayers of Nebraska. The group recently completed phase one, where they gained a greater understanding of the dairy checkoff program and discovered their personal strengths to become better leaders on their farms and in their communities. “It was only a three-day program, so far, but we got to meet dairymen within the whole region of Midwest Dairy,” Hoyer said. “We each had some type of connection, and it’s those ties and the community you’re going to build outside your region that are important.” Barka agreed. “This program offered refreshing
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Class members of Midwest Dairy’s Dairy Experience and Agricultural Leadership Program for 2022-23 listen to a presenta�on during their workshop in February in Denver, Colorado. The class gained a greater understanding of the checkoff program and learned ways of becoming a be�er leader on their farms and in their communi�es. training as a dairy farmer,” she said. “We can learn to more effectively promote our livelihood in a unifying, positive manner. We can all share our stories, however different they may be, but all have the same goal in mind. It was good to be reminded of that.” Hoyer and his wife, Katie, operate a 120-cow robotic dairy farm with Katie’s parents and grandpa near Estaline. Off the farm, Hoyer also serves on the Midwest Dairy South Dakota Division board.
Barka also has a history of working with the regional checkoff organization. As a college student, Barka was an ambassador for Midwest Dairy and also participated in the regional dairy princess program. Since graduating in December 2021, she now works with her parents and grandparents on their 350-cow dairy near Litcheld, Minnesota. “All of my involvement, especially in
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Midwest Dairy’s Dairy Experience and Agricultural Leadership Program parƟcipants include – (front, from leŌ) Nicole Engelken, Stacy Rethman, Jennifer Klejeski, James Goldsmith and Ray Hildebrandt; (back, from leŌ) Cole Hoyer, Elle Tibor, Lindsey Borst, Kevin Borst, Dan Venteicher, Natalie Barka, Paige Roberts and Courtney Lintker. The class members will parƟcipate in three phases of the program to be beƩer leaders in the dairy community. college, formed this idea that as a dairy farmer, I need to be involved and share the story about my dairy in my community and the larger dairy community,” Barka said. “I wanted to keep being a part of that.” Both Barka and Hoyer agreed it was most interesting to learn more about the national checkoff program and how dairy farmers’ dollars are being spent for promotion and education. “As a producer, I want to know where dollars are going, how they’re working and promoting dairy products in the best way,” Barka said. “As a producer, how can I help do that?” Hoyer agreed. “Just having the opportunity to learn more about it really improved my condence to talk about what the checkoff dollars are doing and what we are doing as an industry,” he said. In addition to the class gaining a better understanding of the checkoff program, they also reviewed their strengths as individuals to better serve their farms and communities. Over the next several months, the DEAL Program participants will have homework assignments that will allow the class members to put this knowledge and skills in to practice. On Barka’s farm, her father and grandfather long ago established the family’s mission statement, which included community engagement. As the family improves upon the mission statement, community engagement will stay the
same, and Barka is looking forward to her assignments through this leadership course to see that to be true. “That was a good testament to continue promoting dairy in a positive light, that that’s important and here to stay,” Barka said. Phases two and three, set for later in the year, will reconvene the class and focus on consumer engagement and media training. “Social media is daunting, but I’m excited to learn about it,” Barka said. Hoyer is eager to connect with consumers in an effective manner. “Industry wise, if we don’t do it, who is going to?” he said. “We have to step up as producers and promote our industry. And, there’s a role for everyone. We don’t all have to be in the spotlight to do that.” As young farmers in the industry, Barka and Hoyer are grateful for their involvement in the DEAL Program and its continued impact on their farms and in their communities to better the dairy industry. “No matter what type of person you are, it’s the community, networking and education that is key for continuous improvement on your farm and our industry,” Hoyer said. Barka agreed. “This has been a great opportunity to stay in tune with the everchanging consumer perspective; it drives where our product goes,” Barka said. “For young farmers, this would help work toward being more wellrounded, responsible producers.”
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Former dairy princesses: How do you continue to promote dairy in your life?
Betty Jax Cole Adams, Minnesota Mower County 1959 Princess Kay of the Milky Way
Audrey Souza Peschong Ames, Iowa Story County 2013 Grant County Dairy Princess
Why should young women get involved in their dairy princess programs? The dairy princess program provides a great opportunity to advocate for the dairy industry and to network. The program helps build public speaking skills and pushes women to learn to be adaptive to new situations. If you were the coordinator of a dairy princess program now, what event would you incorporate? I always enjoy the hands-on events that get the public involved such as the butter sculptures in the Princess Kay of the Milky Way program. It would be fun to incorporate cheese sculpting or ice cream making. This is something that can be fun and can bring out people’s personalities. What is the most important message people need to hear about the dairy community or dairy products today? If you want to learn more about the industry and products, our farms and plants are open. Just ask. How do you continue to promote dairy in your life? I continue to promote dairy through my family’s dairy farm, through my role as a veterinary student and through social media. My family is involved in 4-H and 4-H leasing programs. When I get home during the summers, I help the youth who have leased cattle from us. I also judge for various 4-H counties. I offer my knowledge of the industry to my vet school friends, and I share dairy knowledge on social media as much as possible. A fun way I promote dairy products is through ice cream dates with friends and bringing new cheeses from our hometown cheese factory, Valley Queen, back to school to share with friends. Tell us about yourself. I grew up in Milbank, South Dakota, on my family’s Jersey dairy farm, Victory Farms. I received a bachelor’s degree in dairy production and agriculture communications at South Dakota State University. I live in Ames, Iowa, with my husband, Brandon Peschong, where I attend Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. I will graduate in May and have accepted a veterinarian position with Midwest Veterinary Service of Miller, South Dakota. Outside of school and work, I enjoy golng and hiking.
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has become smaller with less farms but many operations have grown larger. This is a farmer’s investment and commitment to the public. The public needs to Why should young women get involved see the value of their time and in a dairy princess or ambassador prowhat they bring to your table gram? You are representing an important for your health benets. The industry of hard-working farmers who tend nutritional value needs to be to their cows for the benet of people’s emphasized. I always loved health. The near perfect food milk, from June Dairy Month promotions, which the dairy industry has come up with such slogans as, “Everything is many food products, appeals to consumers of all Better with Butter,” or “I Scream for Ice Cream.” ages. The dairy industry continues to add more each year for the dairy princess to promote. In 1959, How do you continue to promote dairy in your sour cream, which was unheard of, was added to life? I am a collector of recipes and like to cook. the list and promoted by me at cooking schools The more dairy in a recipe, the better. Don’t let and grocery stores. Look at the many uses for me loose in a cheese mart. I will leave with a sour cream now. This is an opportunity to educate variety of cheese. Cheese is great as an appetizer people of all ages in your appearances and talk with crackers or fruit, and I can never be without about your background and involvement with dairy ice cream or butter. I have been blessed with good farming. This will be a very rewarding year; one health and tell people it was because of the milk you will cherish for the rest of your life. You will I drank and the daily use of dairy products in my have lasting friendships with people in the dairy youth and now. community and the state of Minnesota. Tell us about yourself. As Princess Kay, I was If you were the coordinator of a dairy advocacy committed to a year of representing the dairy inprogram now, what event would you incorpo- dustry, making nearly 650 appearances, at times rate? School visits have become popular in recent three or four per day. That year was worth more years to educate young people especially those in than one year of college and completely changed larger towns. They have no idea that in order to my career path. Since then, most of my life has have milk, you need to milk a cow. I would like to been living in Minneapolis with the exception see cooking programs be a consideration whether of New York while with TWA Airlines. I took a live or online like the online school visits. Arrange love toward traveling and still travel. My love handing out samples in grocery stores accompa- for public relations grew from being Princess nied by a few recipes. I am amazed at the lack of Kay to 48 years as a real estate agent with Edina cooking skills of young people especially those Realty. I have two daughters, six grandchildren, who did not grow up on a farm. plus a 7-month-old great-granddaughter. I like to golf and play pickleball, do volunteer work and What is the most important message people spend time with family. I feel fortunate for what need to hear about the dairy community or I have received and now am giving back to others dairy products today? The dairy community including the dairy program. Leah (Schliep) Addington Cannon Falls, Minnesota Goodhue County 1998 Goodhue County Dairy Princess and Princess Kay nalist
other young people who they will likely encounter and work with throughout their life.
If you were the coordinator of a dairy advocacy program now, what event would you incorpoWhy should young women get rate? So much has changed since I involved in a dairy princess or was a dairy princess. Social media ambassador program? The dairy has allowed us to connect with a princess and ambassador programs broader audience and continue to are a great way for young women advocate for dairy farmers and dairy to build personal and professional skills in interviewing, speaking and advocating products on a larger scale. Social media is a great for an industry they believe in. This program place to work, but face-to-face engagement still builds condence and allows young women to creates a stronger connection. People are more learn and grow in leadership skills. It’s a great way to make connections and friendships with Turn to OUR SIDE | Page 16
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ConƟnued from OUR SIDE | Page 15 and more interested in where their food comes from. Farmers markets are a place people come to get local, fresh produce and products. I would encourage setting up a display or experience for consumers to meet with the dairy ambassadors and princesses and learn more about dairy farming and dairy products. What is the most important message people need to hear about the dairy community or dairy products today? Farmers have so much care and concern for their animals and land. They work hard to ensure their cows are well cared for so they can bring fresh, safe and quality products to consumers. How do you continue to promote dairy in your life? I have so much pride in being the daughter of dairy farmers. The lessons I learned growing up on our dairy farm have stayed with me and come through in my daily work and life. Hard work; responsibility; being honest, respectful and fair with people; caring for animals and the land – those are the lessons I use daily. Whether I speak of dairy or not every day, it’s always with me in who I am as a person. Tell us about yourself. I live in rural Cannon Falls with my husband, Matt, and my three children, Cameron, Emerson and Keaton. I work for Seed Plus in Goodhue selling Pioneer seed and enjoy working with farmers each day. I promote health and wellness with Plexus Worldwide and enjoy running, hiking and learning more about overall health.
Colette Diers Thorson Waverly, Minnesota Wright County 1996-97 dairy princess for Region 7 Why should young women get involved in their dairy princess programs? Becoming a dairy princess is not about wearing a dress and crown. It is about being a woman of integrity, poise and humility who advocates and represents the dairy industry. The princess program provides young women with an opportunity to communicate directly with producers and consumers on a personal level as well as gain knowledge and insight into how to narrow the gap between the two. If you were the coordinator of a dairy princess program now, what event would you incorporate? I would amplify the parade experience by having all princesses and ambassadors hand out freeze-dried yogurt bites instead of riding a oat. What is the most important message people need to hear about the dairy community or dairy products today? As dairy producers, we can
relate as fellow consumers to the need to know that our food is being produced by animals that are loved and cared for. As a producer, I need to share my story and be available to address concerns when a consumer shares them. How do you continue to promote dairy in your life? I spend a lot of time visiting with consumers about the care that is taken when raising our animals and building trusting relationships so the consumers are comfortable asking me about the origin of the dairy they consume. I also share how I turn to the many dairy options when I need a snack between meals. Tell us about yourself. My husband, Andy, and I have been married and farming together for 24 years. We are milking 250 Holstein and crossbred dairy cattle and raise our youngstock. We farm 900 acres of corn, alfalfa, soybean and grass hay. I am blessed to be the mom of three beautiful daughters: Mikayla, 19, Malorie, 17, and Victoria, 14. My passion is to share my faith and farming story whenever possible both in person and on my blog.
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Annette Kyllo Byron, Minnesota Olmsted County 2011, 2016 Olmsted County dairy princess; 2016 Princess Kay nalist Why should young women get involved in a dairy princess or ambassador program? Being involved in a dairy princess or ambassador program is an excellent way for young women to get involved with the future of dairy farming and gives them an important role to play. Being a dairy princess or ambassador allows young women to go straight from working behind the scenes doing the day-to-day routine jobs to putting on a crown and making direct connections with the consumers in a way no one else involved in the dairy operation is capable of. Not only does being involved in the program give women a sense of ownership in the future of dairy, it also gives them opportunities to hone life skills that will help them no matter where their future leads them. Skills I learned or expanded on during my time as a dairy princess include gaining practice and condence learning to be an effective public speaker; learning to interact with children while sending them home with a key message; and having training on how to deal with media interviews be it on TV, for a print production or on the radio. If you were the coordinator of a dairy advocacy program now, what event would you incorporate? My county has always done a good job thinking of new and innovative ways to advocate for dairy. I would try to expand on some of those things that have already been done and try to come up with an event or program that would get more dairy products into womens shelters and the homes of the underprivileged. While I strongly believe dairy products are important for both children and adults to maintain healthy lifestyles, dairy is especially critical for children as they grow and develop both physically and mentally. We go around spouting numbers and facts about how dairy is the best bang for your buck with the nuSara (Glisczinski) Ruehling New Prague, Minnesota Scott and LeSueur counties 2012-13 dairy princess Why should young women get involved in their dairy princess programs? It’s an irreplaceable experience to learn, grow and be a part of. You create lifelong friendships, expand your social network and share real life experience and knowledge with the public. Most importantly, you get to represent all the hard-working individuals of the dairy industry. I look back and think how blessed I was to have had the opportunity to advocate for the very industry that has taught me so much. If you were the coordinator of a dairy princess program now, what event would you incorporate? Today’s society is so far removed from the working farm. It’s important for us to share how farms operate on a daily basis. I would incorporate virtual tours.
tritional package it boasts, but knowing that does absolutely no good if a parent doesn’t have the money to buy dairy products. My program would work to educate those who have a philanthropic mindset and give them a channel to get dairy foods to homes where children are at risk of going hungry so the children don’t just eat to survive, they thrive. What is the most important message people need to hear about the dairy community or dairy products today? Dairy is a local food. I have had numerous conversations with people who talk about the family farm like it is a thing of the past and speak disparagingly about modern farms because they believe if a farm has a lot of cows that automatically means they are owned by corporations. Now more than ever, people want to support local family businesses, but most have no idea that 95% of dairy farms in Minnesota are family owned and operated, and the degree of cow care and comfort doesn’t change if the farm has 100 cows or 1,000 cows. How do you continue to promote dairy in your life? My role in continued dairy promotion is through interpersonal relationships. Whether it is with friends, coworkers or conversations with people I interact with through my job, I work to encourage the consumption of dairy foods instead of alternatives, dispel some of the myths and misinformation people have heard and believe about dairy farms, and share my story to provide a personal connection between the farm and consumers. Tell us about yourself. I work for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources enforcement division as the Olmsted County Conservation Ofcer. I live in the second house on my home farm and love being able to be close to my family, live in the country and drive a tractor or skidloader occasionally to help my parents. My spare time is spent hunting, trapping, going on adventures with my dog, Scout, reading and cooking. I generally have a year’s worth of ideas and projects I want to do at any given time and not nearly enough time to do it all. What is the most important message people need to hear about the dairy community or dairy products today? Dairy is a key nutrient in a healthy diet. How do you continue to promote dairy in your life? A great example was Valentine’s Day. We handed out cheese sticks. Our family also promotes the dairy industry at our county fair during kids day and the dairy show. My dad always makes sure we have a couple cows there to milk. My personal favorite is the Miracle of Birth at the Scott County Fair that my parents started. Tell us about yourself. I grew up on our family dairy farm just outside of New Prague, Minnesota. I graduated from South Dakota State University and have been a livestock nutritionist for six years. My husband, Jackson, and I welcomed our rst child, Braxton, in November.
Dairy Star • Saturday, March 12, 2022 • Page 17
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Breeding Prole
Enchanted Dairy maintains 29% preg rate with tried, true practices Jacob and Brooke Carrow Enchanted Dairy LLC Little Falls, Minnesota 2,100 cows Describe your facilities and list your breeding management team. Enchanted Dairy has three different sites where we manage roughly 2,100 dry and milking cows. With that, we raise our own youngstock on the farm which adds roughly another 1,750 heifers. The cattle are housed in a variety of facilities that range from an open lot pen pack to naturally-ventilated freestall barns to cross-ventilated
barns. On the crop side, we raise roughly 4,800 acres of corn, soybeans, alfalfa and hay to keep the cows fed. We also work closly with our neighbors to supplement our forage needs on the farm. What is your current pregnancy rate? Our pregnancy rate is 29%. What is your reproduction program? Do you use a synchronization program? How do you get animals pregnant? We are a tail paint herd, so our cows are walked daily for heat detection. Our program is a three
JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR
Brent Betker, Brooke Carrow and Jacob Carrow are team members of Enchanted Dairy LLC near LiƩle Falls, Minnesota. The dairy maintains a pregnancy rate of 29%.
JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR
Breeder Brent Betker tail chalks a cow March 1 at Enchanted Dairy LLC near LiƩle Falls, Minnesota. The pens are walked daily to check for heats.
pre-synch Lutalyse shot followed by Ovsynch 54. All of the cows 44-50 days in milk will get a shot of Lutalyse, and none will be bred. All of the cows 58-64 DIM will get another shot, and 60% will be bred off this shot. And, 40% of the cows 72-79 DIM will get a shot, and 80% will be bred
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off this shot. The remaining 10% of cows 84-91 DIM will go into the Ovsynch 54 protocol. So, in summary, 80%-90% of our cows are bred off two to three Lutalyse shots, and the remainder is off Ovsynch.
Describe your breeding philosophy? Like the Enchanted Dairy saying goes, “The cows are our business partners.” We treat them good and breed them with quality genetics and they will treat us well. Turn to BREEDING PROFILE | Page 20
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Argall Dairy Systems, Inc.
Argall Dairy Systems, Inc. 171 Countryside Dr., Belleville, WI 53508 1415 Evergreen Rd., Platteville, WI, 53818 608-424-6110 www.argalldairy.com
If you have questions contact: Dan Bleifuss: 608-513- 6182 or Tanner Argall: 608-575-9878
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Dean Nelson • Central and Northern Minnesota • Grove City, MN • 320-857-2633, Cell 320-699-3297
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Dairy Star • Saturday, March 12, 2022 • Page 19
Dairy Equipment By
K & L Bobcat, Inc. Darlington,WI
Customer Appreciation Day March 31, 2022
Special on Bobcat Parts Only
10% Discount
Specializing In: • Hot Dipped Galvanized Gating • Fiberglass Gates • Crowd Gates • Parlor Stalls • Free Stalls • Parlor Floors• Parlor Remodels
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on Cash Purchases
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on Credit Card Purchases Authorized Bobcat Dealer
K & L Bobcat, Inc. Darlington,WI
13866 HIGHWAY F | DARLINGTON, WI | 608.776.4556 | www.klbobcat.com Bobcat® and the Bobcat logo are trademarks of Bobcat Company
“Heifers adjust to milking much faster, with better letdown.” - Britney Hill
•WI Farm Show, B4620 Oshkosh, Mar. 29-31 •Central Plains Dairy Expo AF110, Sioux Falls, SD Mar. 29-31 Sign up for a chance to win a gallon!
FOUR HILLS DAIRY, BRISTOL, VERMONT The Hill Family, Britney Hill, herd manager 2300 cows, 84 lbs/cow/day, SCC avg. 130,000 “We have been using Udder ComfortTM for a long time. Today, we use the Udder Comfort BatteryOperated Backpack Sprayer to apply it quickly and easily on all animals in our fresh groups daily,” says Britney Hill, herd manager and part of the next generation operating Four Hills Dairy, Bristol, Vermont. They milk 2300 cows, calve 10 animals a day and apply Udder Comfort 5 days to fresh groups. They also love it for their award-winning show cows.
“With the new Udder Comfort Battery-Operated Backpack, we can do all in our fresh groups without slowing parlor throughput. The Backpack is convenient, efficient, easy to maneuver, and the battery charge lasts,” Britney reports. “With Udder Comfort, our fresh cows are more comfortable and our fresh heifers adjust to milking much faster with better letdown. Doing our fresh groups year-round keeps our SCC around 130,000,” she adds.
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Page 20 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 12, 2022
ConƟnued from BREEDING PROFILE | Page 18 What guidelines do you follow to reach the goals for your breeding program? Every 60 days, we run a herd percentile ranking report through ABS. So, cows are ranked 1-99, and we use these numbers to determine cows that will get bred Sexcel and cows that will get bred beef InFocus. We use HPR and DIM to determine a threshold and what we bred Sexcel and InFocus to achieve our replacement heifer goal. What are the top traits you look for in breeding your dairy herd and how has this changed since you started farming? We use all A2A2 bulls, and from there, we look at high Net Merit bulls. On the production, we look for high percentage pounds of fat and protein and then daughter pregnancy rate and calving ease.
Then, as far as conrmation, we look for smaller stature cows the t the parlor and average on all other traits. What are certain traits you try to avoid? We try to avoid tall stature, poor fertility and poor conrmation. Describe the ideal cow for your herd. The ideal cow is one that comes in without any transition issues, milks good, stays healthy, breeds back well and is not oversized, over-conditioned and expensive to feed. What role does genetics have in reaching the goals of your farm? Good genetics are important. Not only do we use the HPR ranking for selecting which cows we breed our replacements
from, but the cows are also mated so we are using the right bull for the cow. What percentage of your herd is bred to sexed, conventional and beef semen? 25%-30% are bred to Sexcel and the rest are bred using InFocus. What is your conception rate? Our conception is currently at 44%. Sexcel and InFocus are both running 44%. What is the greatest lesson you have learned through your breeding program? One thing we learned is that the success of the breeding program is a team effort. Good, healthy cows that are fed good feed breed back quicker. Everyone is doing a good job in their areas. What is the age of your heifers at rst service? Heifers are bred at 375 days. How does your heifer inventory affect your breeding program? Our replacement heifer goal drives our breeding program to the point of how much Sexcel and beef InFocus we use.
Tell us about your farm. We are a family-owned operation that has a history of milking cows in central Minnesota for three generations and possibly a fourth generation with our boys, Asher and Carter. Brooke and I have JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR had a minor role with Enchanted Breeder Brent Betker reviews a list of cows March 1 at Enchant- Dairy over the past 10 years, and ed Dairy LLC near LiƩle Falls, Minnesota. on Jan. 1, 2021, we purchased the herd.
JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR
Brent Betker prepares to breed a cow March 1 at Enchanted Dairy LLC near LiƩle Falls, Minnesota. The herd is bred using sexed or beef semen.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, March 12, 2022 • Page 21
1.8% FINANCING FOR UP TO 60 MONTHS on Self-Propelled Forage Harvesters and Heads
JD 9600 2019, 820 hrs., $ #186948
424,500
JD 8600 2018, 775 hrs., $ #270859
379,900
JD 8800 2017, 1521 hrs., $ #524820
JD 8700 2017, 2083 hrs., $ #186945
JD 8500 2016, 1452 hrs. $ #151485
JD 8300 2016, 370 hrs. $ #270227
355,000
295,000
325,500
329,900
Financing subject to pre-approval through JD Financial. Some restrictions apply. See dealer for details.
JD 8600 2016, 2079 hrs., $ #187538
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JD 8300 2021, 52 hrs., #191810
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Equipment and pictures added daily • Go to www.mmcjd.com
DISKS
JD 650, 1997, 32 ft, 3-Section Folding, #185256 ............................................$18,000 Krause 8200-28W, 2010, 28 ft, 3-Section Folding, 9”, #275204 ..................$22,900 JD 637, 2010, 37 ft, 3-Section Folding, 9”, #191801 .....................................$25,900 Case IH RMX340, 2009, 35 ft, 3-Section Folding, 9”, #181151 .....................$29,400 JD 637, 2011, 42 ft, 5-Section Folding, 9”, #523980 .....................................$29,500 JD 2625, 2013, 33 ft, 3-Section Folding, 11”, #275921 ...................................$39,900 Wishek 862nt, 2014, 26 ft, #276355 ...........................................................$39,900 JD 2623, 2015, 45 ft, 5-Section Folding, 9”, #525927 .....................................$45,900 JD 2623, 2012, 40 ft, 5-Section Folding, 9”, #523876 .....................................$49,900 Degelman PRO-TILL 40, 2016, #191161 ...................................................$95,995
FIELD CULTIVATORS
Case IH 4300, 2001, 38 ft, 3-Section Folding, #186653 ...............................$11,995 JD 980, 1998, 44 ft, 3-Section Folding, C-Shank, #276171 .............................$14,900 Wil-Rich Excel 42’, 1999, #276243 ..............................................................$14,900 JD 2200, 2002, 34 ft, 3-Section Folding, C-Shank, #185898.........................$19,000 Case IH TIGERMATE II, 2003, 50.5 ft, 5-Section Folding,#186586 ..............$19,000 Wil-Rich QUAD 5, 1998, 42 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #191850...........$19,500 Case IH TM14, 2005, 50.5 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #187546 .............$26,900 Case IH TIGERMATE II, 2004, 60.5 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #186585$28,000 JD 2210, 2005, 55.5 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #274609........................$29,900 JD 2210, 2010, 65 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #273967...........................$32,900 JD 2210, 2008, 42 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #531703...........................$39,900
PLANTERS
JD 7200, 1991, 16R30”, Vacuum, 1.6 Bushel Hopper, #275813.......................$12,900 Case IH 1200, 6R30”, Rigid, Vacuum, 1.6 Bushel Hopper, #531372 ...............$18,500 JD 7200, 1993, 12R30”, Wing Fold, Vacuum, 3.0 Bushel Hopper,#190107 ......$22,900 JD 1770, 1999, 16R30”, Flex Fold, Vacuum, 1.6 Bushel Hopper,#186432 ........$28,500 Wil-Rich willrich pt-2200, 2007, 24R22”, Wing Fold, #191659 .................$41,000 JD 1760, 2014, 12R30”, Wing Fold, Vacuum, 3.0 Bushel Hopper, #531820 .....$48,000 JD 1765NT, 2017, 8R30”, Rigid, Vacuum, 3.0 Bushel Hopper, #186495 ..........$51,900 JD 1770NT, 2013, 24R30”, Flex Fold, Vacuum, 1.6 Bushel Hopper, #273978 ..$79,900
JD 1765, 2020, 12R30”, Flex Fold, Vacuum, 3.0 Bushel Hopper, #531611 .......$85,000 JD DB90, 2006, 36R30”, Flex Fold, Vacuum, Central Fill, #531337..................$89,900 JD 1795, 2019, 24R20”, Flex Fold, Vacuum, Central Fill, #186466 ................ $169,900 JD DB60, 2014, 24R30”, Flex Fold, Vacuum, Central Fill , #186455 .............. $185,900 JD 1775NT, 2015 24R30”, Exact Emerge, Central Fill, #275625 ................... $224,900 JD 1775NT, 2020, 24R30”, Flex Fold, Vacuum, Central Fill, #186454 ........... $264,900 White 6700, 22”, Rigid, Vacuum, 1.6 Bushel Hopper, #186494 .....................$10,900 JD 1700, 2014 4R30”, Rigid, Vacuum, Mini Hopper, #275821 .........................$17,900 JD 1720 CCS, 2010, 12R38”, Wing Fold, Vacuum, Central Fill, #276333..........$29,900 JD DR24, 2020, 24R30”, Exact Emerge, Central Fill, #274275 ...................... $319,900
SELF-PROPELLED FORAGE HARVESTERS
JD 5830, 1992, PRWD 3928 hrs., cut. hd. hrs., #186284.................................$34,900 JD 6950, 2000, PRWD, 4622 hrs., 3153 cut. hd. hrs., #272295 .......................$54,900 JD 6850, 1998, No PRWD, 3841 hrs., 2790 Cut. hd. hrs., # 531752 .................$66,000 JD 7500, 2007, PRWD, 2900 hrs., 1921 cut. hd. hrs., #190442 .................... $103,000 JD 7550, 2008, PRWD, 7320 hrs., 2789 cut. hd. hrs., #275592 .................... $104,900 JD 7750, 2011, No PRWD, 4900 hrs., 3200 cut. hd. hrs., #191547 ............... $129,000 JD 7480, 2013, PRWD, 4866 hrs., 3695 cut. hd. hrs., #191845 .................... $134,000 JD 7980, 2015, PRWD, 2455 hrs., 1720 cut. hd. hrs., #527149 .................... $170,000 JD 7980, 2013, PRWD, 2114 hrs., 1413 cut. hd. hrs., #527155 .................... $175,000 JD 7580, 2014, PRWD, 2941 hrs., 1764 cut. hd. hrs., #182276 .................... $185,900 JD 7780, 2013, PRWD, 3231 hrs., 2109 cut. hd. hrs., #274502 .................... $189,900 CLAAS 960, 2014, PRWD, 2812 hrs., 2200 cut. hd. hrs., #271035 ............... $189,900 JD 7780, 2014, PRWD, 3035 hrs., 1973 cut. hd. hrs., #180600 .................... $190,400 NH FR850, 2013, PRWD, 2269 hrs., 1485 cut. hd. hrs., #188806 ................ $228,000 JD 8400, 2015, PRWD, 2103 hrs., 1158 cut. hd. hrs., #186943 .................... $238,750 JD 8600, 2016, PRWD, 2079 hrs., 1230 cut. hd. hrs., #187538 .................... $289,000 JD 8500, 2016, PRWD, 1452 hrs., 862 cut. hd. hrs., #151485 ...................... $295,000 JD 8600, 2016, PRWD, 1807 hrs., 1088 cut. hd. hrs., #187536 .................... $300,000 JD 8800, 2016, PRWD, 2579 hrs., 1679 cut. hd. hrs., #175182 .................... $304,900 JD 8600, 2016, PRWD, 1482 hrs., 995 cut. hd. hrs., #144025 ...................... $315,000 JD 8700, 2016, PRWD, 1590 hrs., 1103 cut. hd. hrs., #525709 .................... $324,000 JD 8600, 2018, PRWD, 1100 hrs., 545 cut. hd. hrs., #524926 ...................... $325,000
JD 8700, 2017, PRWD, 2083 hrs., 1237 cut. hd. hrs., #186945 .................... $325,500 JD 8300, 2016, PRWD, 370 hrs., 187 cut. hd. hrs., #270227 ........................ $329,900 JD 8600, 2018, PRWD, 1472 hrs., 660 cut. hd. hrs., #188792 ...................... $342,000 JD 8800, 2017, PRWD, 1521 hrs., 862 cut. hd. hrs., #524820 ...................... $355,000 JD 8700, 2018, PRWD, 1726 hrs., 991 cut. hd. hrs., #187542 ...................... $373,000 JD 8600, 2018, PRWD, 775 hrs., 381 cut. hd. hrs., #270859 ........................ $379,900 JD 8300, 2021, PRWD, 52 hrs, #191810 ...................................................... $409,000 JD 9600, 2019, PRWD, 820 hrs., 507 cut. hd. hrs., #186948 ....................... $424,500 CLAAS 960, 2021, PRWD, 95 hrs., 69 cut. hd. hrs., #275198 ....................... $629,900
SELF-PROPELLED SPRAYERS
ROGATOR 1184, 2010, 120-Foot, Stainless, 4610 hrs., #191681 ..................$53,500 JD 4920, 2006, 120-Foot, Stainless, 3688 hrs., #187626 ...............................$71,000 ROGATOR RG1100, 2013, 90-Foot, Stainless, 3250 hrs., #191700..............$97,000 JD 4830, 2013, 120-Foot, Stainless, 3997 hrs., #531608............................. $143,500 HAGIE STS12, 2012, 90-Foot, 4100 hrs., #276184 .................................... $149,900 CASE IH PATRIOT 4430, 2012, 120-Foot, 2770 hrs., #531726................. $159,000 JD 4630, 2013, 80-Foot, Poly, 1030 hrs., #275374 ...................................... $159,900 JD R4030, 2016, 120-Foot, Stainless, 1865 hrs., #531624 .......................... $179,900 JD R4038, 2016, 90-Foot, Stainless, 2400 hrs., #274783 ............................ $194,900 JD R4038, 2016, 120-Foot, Stainless, 3038 hrs., #275257 .......................... $199,900 JD R4038, 2016, 90-Foot, Stainless, 2200 hrs., #275266 ............................ $219,900 JD R4038, 2017, 90-Foot, Stainless, 2190 hrs., #275254 ............................ $219,900 JD R4045, 2017, 120-Foot, Stainless, 2950 hrs., #275252 .......................... $229,900 JD R4038, 2018, 120-Foot, Stainless, 2064 hrs., #531886 .......................... $272,900 JD R4038, 2020, 120-Foot, Stainless, 683 hrs., #275047 ............................ $359,900 JD R4045, 2018, 120-Foot, Stainless, 1175 hrs., #275627 .......................... $364,900 JD R4045, 2019, 120-Foot, Stainless, 1575 hrs., #421298 .......................... $399,500 JD R4045, 2020, 120-Foot, Stainless, 1332 hrs., #275782 .......................... $399,900 JD R4038, 2021, 120-Foot, Stainless, 200 hrs., #191080 ............................ $429,000 JD R4038, 2021, 132-Foot, Stainless, 235 hrs., #191060 ............................ $449,900 JD R4038, 2021, 132-Foot, Stainless, 380 hrs., #191034 ............................ $450,000 JD R4044, 2021, 132-Foot, Stainless, 367 hrs., #191061 ............................ $459,900 JD R4044, 2021, 132-Foot, Stainless, 261 hrs., #191079 ............................ $479,000
Locations throughout minnesota & western wisconsin! CALL TODAY! (320)365-1653 SEE OUR COMPLETE INVENTORY WITH PICTURES AND DESCRIPTIONS AT: www.mmcjd.com
Page 22 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 12, 2022
Could a retrofit be the right fit for you?
Retrofitting a dairy barn with a new DeLaval parlor milking system P500 has been a popular choice to make upgrades more affordable compared to building new.
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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 Advanced Dairy of Mora Mora, MN 320-679-1029 Farm Systems Melrose, MN 320-256-3276 Brookings, SD 800-636-5581 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 © 2022 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
Pride in my roots, dirt on these boots
A lot can change in a year, but nothing prepares you for what can change in a matter of weeks. Hello, I am Grace Jeurissen, and like my mother has told me, “You’re just a y by the seat of your pants kind of girl.” Well ying is great if there is a ticket to somewhere exotic, or they give out free snacks. My ight, however, took me on a layover to Sauk Centre and presented me the opportunity to grow myself professionally in an industry I love. As of February, I am By Grace Jeurissen a new writer for the Dairy Staff Writer Star. I will be picking up some different things in the next few months, but my rst hired writing experience has been with the newspaper in your hands right now. Other than the trusted papers they assigned in college about hard facts and rhetoric appeals, I have very limited experience in the profession of writing. I do, on the other hand, have a solid 21 years of living on my family dairy farm and a gift of gab, inherited from my father. Moving away from home and especially the farm is hard. Apparently, apartments don’t allow large dogs with hooves as pets. That was a rather disappointing realization of adulthood. After graduating high school in 2019, I spent my summer representing dairy in Minnesota as a McLeod County Dairy Princess and Princess Kay nalist. I remember an event that required the princesses to participate in a hand-milking competition. An older retired farmer shook my hand after I won my division and said, “I have to shake your hand because by golly, you’re the only girl I’ve seen get down and get into milking like a real farmer.” I took that compliment as he was glad to see someone who can represent the industry with hands-on experience. Here I am almost three years later sharing other farmers’ stories. For the last two years, I have been studying agribusiness at Ridgewater College in Willmar. I graduated in December and took a short mental break from the chaos of six college classes. I took my time to appreciate what my family farm had to offer me. I love working on the farm and learning from my dad every
I am grateful for the opportunity to milk during the week because it has become a stress reliever, believe it or not. day, but like most young people, I knew I needed to experience something else for the time being. Don’t think I’m stepping away because I got sick of pulling teats twice a day. In fact, my second week of working and living in Sauk Centre I got a second job doing relief milking for a local farm family. I am grateful for the opportunity to milk during the week because it has become a stress reliever, believe it or not. Farming has been such a large part of who I am. I don’t think I could ever fully remove farming from my life. One of my favorite memories was riding on the backs of cows while Dad milked in the tie stalls of our original farm. Being present and building those relationships with cattle, my family and other aspects of dairy farming have shaped me and given me a sense of respect for the people I am writing about. I look forward to each interview because every farm and every person is so unique. I am grateful to be working with Dairy Star. I can bring new ideas to the publication. Maybe it is my cut and dry way about things, but a graceful, tell them how it is type of writing is what I am going for. Farming is difcult and stressful, but there is an innocent goodness in dairy that pushes through every hardship. I am proud to be from a dairy farm. I am even more proud to be able to write about how incredible and unique every farm and family is.
Dairy Star • Saturday, March 12, 2022 • Page 23
Milking cows, calling fouls
Middendorf enjoys being high school referee By Grace Jeurissen grace.j@star-pub.com
MELROSE, Minn. – Just a few hours before donning his gray and black shirt and black pants to prepare for the tip-off of the game, Dennis Middendorf is wearing his red farm jacket, jeans and hat. The Melrose area farmer nishes up farm chores so he can enjoy an evening of being a high school basketball referee. Middendorf milks 120 cows near Melrose. Eight years ago, Middendorf took interest in being a referee and decided to sign up. He completed the test to become a certied basketball referee for the Minnesota State High School League. “I always thought I would like to referee, but with my parlor and having to milk two times a day, I couldn’t make time for it,” Middendorf said. “With my robots, I have so much more exibility to do things like refng.” Shortly after Middendorf installed robotic milking units, he decided to give refereeing basketball games a go. “I do it because for one, you get a stress relief; two, you get paid; three, you get exercise; and four, you get to see a basketball game,” Middendorf said. Middendorf has also played in a slow pitch softball league, goes
to bowling two times a week and umpires occasionally in the spring and summer. He said he has umpired for 25 years. Those few hours a couple evenings during the week between November and March is what Middendorf calls his mini vacations. He said being a referee and umpire is a way to relax and focus on something other than the tasks that go on at the farm. Middendorf’s son, Aaron, is looking at becoming a larger part of the farm in the next few years. Aaron he will often ll in and nish chores if Middendorf has to referee a game. Middendorf’s dad, Richard, also comes to the farm twice a day to feed cows and help nish chores. Being a referee was not Middendorf’s introduction to the game of basketball. In fact, in 1989, shortly after nishing a dairy management degree at what is today’s Ridgewater’s Hutchinson campus. Middendorf and a few friends started a Melrose adult basketball league. The league utilized the Melrose high school’s open gym Turn to MIDDENDORF | Page 25 GRACE JEURISSEN/DAIRY STAR
Dennis Middendorf operates a 120cow dairy near Melrose, Minnesota. He also has been refereeing high school basketball for about eight years.
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Page 24 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 12, 2022
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Dairy Star • Saturday, March 12, 2022 • Page 25
Con�nued from MIDDENDORF | Page 23
night. What started as six teams playing Wednesday nights turned into 11 and then grew more. “The rule was different teams would ref each game,” Middendorf said. “I ended up refng a lot, but I enjoyed it.” Middendorf is grateful to have had a good run with the league and to have met many people from around the area. “Some of the guys we used to play with have kids that I am refng games for, or they are coaching teams that I ref for,” Middendorf said. “When I see those people, we chat and reminisce on the good old days of playing in the league.” Now Middendorf stays in shape by running back and forth on the hardwood gymnasium oors of different schools two to four nights a week. “I have learned a lot, and I am still learning more,” Middendorf said. “We have great mentors, and you learn from everybody. We will come into a huddle during half time outside of the gym to discuss what we can do better, how the game is progressing, and we will discuss different calls.” Being a referee can be difcult, Middendorf said, because while trying to do the job every fan, player and coach has their opinion.
Referees study the rule books and take time to go through seminars and trainings each year to prime themselves for the season to do a better job than the last. “With anything, you get better the more you do it,” Middendorf said. “One of my favorite things about refng is watching these kids progress and become better each year. I’ve watched kids go from eighth grade tournaments to being juniors or seniors starting on varsity.” Referees usually gain skills from refng in youth tournaments, continuing to do more games and going up another grade level until they feel comfortable enough to ref junior varsity and varsity games. Middendorf, with his eight years of experience, is refng JV and varsity basketball games. He will, on some occasions, travel an hour and a half to ref games. “Starting out that rst few games are tough, because you don’t know all the calls, and you have to watch everything,” Middendorf said. “We usually tell new refs that if it looks weird, they probably did something wrong.” Middendorf said there are three teams on the court, the home team, guest and the referees. Referees have to work together, stay in their zones and support each
MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR
Dennis Middendorf referees the Sauk Centre versus Holdingford boys basketball game Dec. 10, 2021, in Holdingford, Minnesota. Middendorf has been reffing basketball for several years and enjoys being part of the game.
other’s calls. “It can be tough making calls, but you need to make sure you’re condent, because once you blow the whistle, you can’t take it back,” Middendorf said. Traveling is one of the
calls Middendorf said can be challenging to make because of all of the footwork involved in basketball. He will often view recordings of games and determine if he should have made a different call. He also looks to ways to improve on
his own signals. “You get out what you put into it,” Middendorf said. “Do something in the community, and don’t complain. Get involved. The farm will be there when you get home.”
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Page 26 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 12, 2022
Life is better in the barn
Carlson milking in northern Minnesota for 32 years By Grace Jeurissen grace.j@star-pub.com
WANNASKA, Minn. – Near a town 25 miles south of the Canadian border lies a farmer who nds solitude in himself for the farm he runs and the characteristics that make the farm unique. “My wife gave me a sign for Christmas that says, ‘Life is better in the barn,’” Kevin Carlson said. “I really like the solitude of being out there with the cows and working with my herd. My favorite part of the day is milking.” Carlson milks 45 cows and runs 30 acres in Wannaska. At 6 a.m., Carlson eats a quick breakfast and then heads out to spend the next seven hours taking care of his herd of Holsteins. Then, he has a quick break to rest. Around 5 p.m., he heads out to milk again and nishes chores by 9 p.m. Carlson has not missed a day of milking in four years. Carlson grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin. In 1978, his family moved to Roseau County. He then started helping on his grandpa’s farm to keep developing his interest in dairy. After high school, Carlson raised hogs and worked for beef and turkey farmers in the area. Then in the 1990s, Carlson bought the farm site he and his wife, Delores, reside on today. The farm is equipped with a house, hay shed and tiestall barn t for 80 cows. Carlson keeps his milking herd and youngstock in the barn. Living in northern Minnesota and dairy farming can have its challenges. At one point, wolves chased his dry cows around the pasture. Being he works alone, Carlson decided to keep the herd in the barn. His cows stay
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Kevin Carlson feeds his cows alfalfa hay March 3 on his farm near Wannaska, Minnesota. Kevin milks 45 cows in Roseau County.
warm and dry as well as out of harm’s way. To help with cow comfort, he beds with straw on rubber mats. Additionally, the outlet for Carlson’s milk has decreased over the years. Roseau County used to have a milk plant. When that plant closed down, Carlson started sending his milk to Thief River Falls and now sends to a plant in Perham. “I calculated this out a few days ago,” Carlson said. “It costs me $2 per hundredweight to ship my milk.” Despite the rise in trucking costs for Carlson,
his overhead costs are low which have been part of the reason he has succeeded in farming with limited infrastructure. “On years where the milk price uctuates a lot, I try to feed less grain and cut back on some other things too,” Carlson said. All feed for the milking herd and youngstock is purchased. Carlson’s hay comes from a retired dairyman in Goodrich, and the corn comes from an elevator in Greenbush. Turn to CARLSON | Page 27
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Dairy Star • Saturday, March 12, 2022 • Page 27
ConƟnued from CARLSON | Page 26
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Kevin and his wife, Delores, stand in their farmyard March 3 near Wannaska Minnnesota. Kevin does all of the farm work, while Delores covers the bookwork for the dairy. Carlson feeds his cattle twice per excessive snowfall. Carlson said day. a snow drift in his yard reaches If there is any veterinary work halfway up his lilac tree; the tree that needs to be done, Carlson has itself is roughly 8 feet tall. When the veterinarian take care of most of snow falls, Carlson spends extra the tedious things, like pregnancy time removing snow so the milk checking and dehorning, on the same trip. For equipment, Carlson has a skidloader for feeding, cleaning bedding, snow removal and everything else on the farm. The skidloader is his only piece of farm machinery. “I don’t need a lot because I don’t do my own crops,” Carlson said. “I make do with what I have, and I try to keep things running from the inside.” Other than feed, bedding and trucking, Carlson minimizes costs by doing most of the work and repairs KEVIN CARLSON, DAIRY FARMER himself. He articially inseminsates his heifers and breeding problem cows with beef semen. The rest of the herd truck can drive in the yard, and so he is bred with Holstein semen. All of can open his barn doors to bring feed his breeding is done in the evening. to the cows. Carlson remembers a time when He sells the beef crossbred calves off Roseau County was plentiful with the farm. dairy farms, but as his career has When Carlson makes breeding progressed, he has seen numbers decisions, he focuses on the northern climate his herd must live in and dwindle to a mere four dairy farms selects traits that will help him left in the county. Carlson said he succeed as a dairy farmer. He focuses would like to continue dairy farming on traits like longevity, components for as long as he is able. “By no means is this a get-rich and milk quality. Typically, his scheme,” Carlson said. “I do this somatic cell count ranges from because I love working with my 120,000 to 140,000. cows. I’m a lot more comfortable in Carlson works with a neighboring grain farmer for his manure removal. a barn full of cows than a room full This year has been a challenge of people.” with the uctuating weather and
“By no means is this a get-rich scheme. I do this because I love working with my cows. I’m a lot more comfortable in a barn full of cows than a room full of people.”
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Page 28 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 12, 2022
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Dairy Star • Saturday, March 12, 2022 • Page 29
Women In Dairy Leah Rajkowski Sauk Rapids, Minnesota Benton County 59 cows Family: Husband, Ryan, and almost 7-month-old son, Logan. Tell us about your farm. My husband and I farm with Ryan’s parents, Mike and Sue Rajkowski. We keep our heifers and bull calves and run a 50-cow beef herd. All the crops go toward feeding the cattle. What is a typical day like for you on the dairy? I am a full-time farmer, full-time mom. I help with morning and night chores and anywhere else I’m needed and take care of Logan. I get up at 5:30 a.m., and Ryan and I milk. After breakfast, we go back out and clean the barn, feed the youngstock and make sure everything is bedded well. We milk together at 5:30 p.m. I do other chores in the afternoon if needed. What decision have you made in the last year that has beneted your farm? Getting a mixer wagon last March beneted us. The cows are not wasting any feed, and it was a big time and back saver. We previously fed by wheel barrow. Tell us about your most memorable experience working on the farm. My most memorable experience on the farm would probably be milking cows the night before going into labor. We got done about 8 p.m., I was having contractions during milking and went in the next morning. I had Logan at 7:30 p.m. I was three days overdue. What have you enjoyed most about dairy farming or your tie to the dairy industry? The thing I enjoy most about dairy farming is being able to raise Logan the same way Ryan and I grew up. We both did chores as kids. What is your biggest accomplishment in your dairy career? My biggest accomplishment would be when I used to milk cows for my parents, Jeff and Judy Montag, and I got low somatic cell count awards for a number of years. I was even able to get rst place two years in a row through our cooperative.
What advice would you give another woman in the dairy industry? My advice to women in the dairy industry would be don’t ever let anyone tell you can’t do something. When you get a spare moment, what do you do? In my spare time, which is seldom, I try to catch up on sleep or watch a good TV show.
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Page 30 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 12, 2022
An emergency forages for ruminants
Study shows buckwheat serves as alternative feed source By Abby Wiedmeyer abby.w@dairystar.com
WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. – Having an ample supply of feed is necessary for raising livestock. Among the common forages used to feed cattle, buckwheat offers benets as an emergency feed source. “Buckwheat has an extremely short growing season,” said Dr. Silvia Abel-Caines. “This means if it is a late spring, maybe there is still water in the eld and you are running late with your spring cropping, buckwheat can give you a solution.” Abel-Caines is a nutritionist with Organic Valley.
The benets of utilizing the buckwheat plant for a cover crop and an emergency forage solution were outlined by Abel-Caines at the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service Conference Feb. 25 in Wisconsin Dells. Abel-Caines conducted a eld trial with a local farm to show how buckwheat served as an emergency forage. The trial started in 2020. The goal with the eld trial was to replace 25% of the farm’s ration with buckwheat. Twenty acres of buckwheat was planted June 2, 2020. The trial also monitored when the best time to harvest the buckwheat was to maximize the yield while not sacricing quality. Samples were taken every week until the plant reached 5 inches in height. Then, sampling increased to twice a week to help determine the best time to harvest. During the trial, Abel-Caines said the eld conditions
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were dry; the area had not seen any rain for two weeks prior to planting. The eld received rain one week after planting. The crop was 2 inches tall by June 14, 2020. “It started out slowly, but the good thing was once we got a little bit of rain, these plants took off,” AbelCaines said. The appearance of the ower on the plant indicates a change in nutrient density, which happened in the eld trial July 5, 2020. Abel-Caines recommended 25%-50% owering at harvest for buckwheat. Abel-Caines said the eld trial suffered hail damage which affected the yield. She said the buckwheat yielded 2 tons to the acre. The moisture content was 65%-70%. Abel-Caines said there are strengths to the buckwheat plant, including the short growing season. “I was amazed at how fast it went from one stage of the plant to the next one,” Abel-Caines said. Abel-Caines was also impressed with the crop’s ability to thrive in wet or dry conditions. “There are conditions where you have too much moisture in the soil and buckwheat will do ne,” AbelCaines said. “Now if the seed remains completely wet and soaked for more than ve days, then you might have a problem.” Abel-Caines said many people use buckwheat as a cover crop because the roots, which are ne and not very deep, have the ability to use available nutrients. “It is very interesting to see how this plant is able to increase the availability of phosphorus and magnesium,” Abel-Caines said. “These are minerals that are feed components for dairy production.” Buckwheat can negatively impact soil and animal health. For example, buckwheat will not tolerate soil hardpan due to the ne roots that poorly penetrate compacted soil and it has a tendency to volunteer in the following crop if seeds are left to mature before harvesting. Abel-Caines said this is not a problem if the crop is harvested for forage. Abel-Caines also said when buckwheat was fed to cattle, light-colored cattle developed a skin rash after being exposed to the sun. Abel-Caines said this was not a problem if the inclusion was kept to 30% or less of the diet. This is also why Abel-Caines stressed the importance of using buckwheat as a supplemental forage. “I am not suggesting that we feed 100% buckwheat,” Abel-Caines said. “This is supplemental and emergency forage that is better used at the end of the winter season if we need something quick.” When putting together a ration with buckwheat for the trial farm, Abel-Caines supplemented buckwheat as a baleage with the farm’s existing baleage and 16% grain. The farm was also grazing the cows in a pasture. During the rst week, 12 pounds of buckwheat was added to the ration. “As with any new forage, it needs to be introduced slowly into the ration especially if you are transitioning between the winter ration and a grazing season,” AbelCaines said. Milk production was monitored throughout the trial and stayed the same throughout the presence of buckwheat in the ration. Abel-Caines intends to continue the eld trial and follow up with the effects of buckwheat on the soil. Ultimately, Abel-Caines said the eld trial has so far proven buckwheat to be an effective emergency forage. “It is very palatable,” she said. “It tastes good, has high sugar content and is very digestible.”
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Dairy Star • Saturday, March 12, 2022 • Page 31
Richard and Wanda Van Buren and family Waupun, Wisconsin Dodge County 35 milk cows How did you get into farming? I was born and raised on the farm. My parents bought the farm in 1968. In 1999, my wife, Wanda, and I partnered with my parents for the farm, and we bought full ownership in 2013. It’s something I’ve been passionate about my whole life. What are your thoughts and concerns about the dairy industry for the next year? The amount of small dairies that are going out of business. It’s hard to see people you know with similar operations selling their herds. Another concern is the milk and commodity prices. What is a recent change you made on your farm and the reason for it? Starting a partnership with my son, Alex, where he raises steers with me. He helps with milking and other farm chores when he’s not at the nearby dairy he works at. My daughter, Tiffany, would be part of it as well, but she’s currently at South Dakota State University studying dairy production and agricultural communication. It’s important to me that my kids are involved in our operation and have a way to be part of production agriculture. Tell us about a skill you possess that makes dairy farming easier for you. I’m passionate about what I do. There’s a lot of people who can’t say they are passionate about what they do. I can’t say I’m happy with everything that happens every day, but at the end of the day, I enjoy being involved in the dairy industry and don’t see myself doing anything else.
my daughter helps when she’s home, and my dad comes to help when none of them are available. Having strong, reliable communication is important to us as well as allowing each other time off. Everyone knows how to do almost everything, so if someone needs a break or can’t be there, someone else is able to do it. What do you enjoy most about dairy farming? While I milk cows twice a day every day, I can do something different every day too. It’s never the same day to day between milking. Sometimes we’re doing eld work. Sometimes we’re xing equipment. Sometimes, if we’re not busy, we take the day to go on the snowmobiles or the boat. It’s a freedom that a lot of other people don’t have in their day-to-day jobs.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
The Van Buren family – (from le�) Rich, Wanda, Alex and Tiffany – milk 35 cows and raise 65 head of youngstock and steers near Waupun, Wisconsin. What is the best decision you have made on your farm? The best decision we have made is switching to using big bales from small square bales for all outside feeding for our animals. It has made making hay a lot less time consuming. We used to need people to move wagons from the eld to the barn along with several people to help unload and stack bales in the barn. With the big bales, we can load and unload them with the skidloader. What are three things on the farm that you cannot live without? A skidloader makes it easier to feed animals, makes cleaning and bedding pens easier, and we use it for rock picking and tree brush removal for the crop side of our operation. We use ATVs to round up cattle because our cows go on the pasture in the summer months. We use them to pull feed wagons
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around and for faster checking of fence lines and crops around the farm. We purchased a feed grinder in 2019, and it has helped cut down on processing and delivery costs from the feed mill and allows us to make different feed batches for our animal groups. What strategies do you use to withstand the volatile milk prices? I focus on making and feeding quality feed to keep production up, keeping my animals healthy to limit vet visits and culling poor cows. We also raise and sell steers and sell any crops we aren’t using for feed so that helps too. How do you maintain family relationships while also working together? All of our employees are family. My wife and son help out daily,
What advice would you give other dairy farmers? Do your best to mentor youth and get young people involved. They are the future of our industry, and we all had someone cheering us on when we were getting started. Also, have something you are passionate about that isn’t the farm. It’s good to have something to get your mind off of the farm and have a way to relax. What are your plans for your dairy in the next year and ve years? I don’t plan to get any larger in the dairy area. I hope to keep Alex involved in the steers and cropping side of our operation. My daughter wants to recreate our logo and start social media pages for us. How do you or your family like to spend time when you are not doing chores? Our family enjoys snowmobiling, riding ATVs and pontoon boating. I’m currently president of the Waupun Drift Jumpers snowmobile club, and my wife and I are active in the Waupun Area FFA Alumni Chapter.
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Page 32 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 12, 2022
www.extension.umn.edu/dairy
Job descriptions: Finding, keeping farm employees By Dana Adams
University of Minnesota
“We just can’t nd people.” This phrase is said over hamburgers in the local restaurant, at the dinner table and even chatting with friends at extension events. Many operations struggle nding and retaining quality employees. This doesn’t just pertain to those outside the family either. Many producers are frustrated with family members in the day-to-day interactions on the farm. Though it is easy to point ngers and dodge possible confrontational situations, farm managers can strengthen these relationships by increasing clarity. As is usually the case, a good place to start is at the beginning. When looking for positions using a job platform, most begin by describing the organization, detailing the required experience and expectations for that position. On many farms, this guidance and a list of detailed expectations are not written down. There are so many roles that are constantly uctuating, and often, the only guidance is to expect the unexpected. When job candidates apply, do they know what is expected of them? Do current employees know specically where they t in the organization? Vague roles can make communication and achieving expectations difcult. To resolve this, operations can create job descriptions. This can be done at any time of the year, no matter the size of the farm, to clarify relationships and help guide conversations. Creating a written job
description can be something an operation can rally around, making an operation stronger. This can be an empowering team-building activity and allows those involved in the farm to have a say in priorities, as well as wants and needs of the operation. There are many ways to build a job description, but a popular choice is starting with a template. When using templates, the power comes from the employer focusing on unique or unusual expectations and clearly conveying them and how they t into the overall operation. Before jumping into writing a job description, take a day or two to reect on the knowledge and skills needed (or even helpful characteristics of those who have historically done the position well). After thinking through the components of an appropriate candidate, an effective job description can be developed. Title: Start by creating a job title. Aim for simplicity and accuracy. Is their sole role milking? Their title can be a milker. Do they mix and deliver feed? Their title can be feeder. Simple and accurate is a good goal. Summary: Here we are looking for a clear and to-the-point description of what this job does. What are the major responsibilities throughout the day and year? This summary can easily be morphed into a help wanted advertisement. Qualications: Let’s now state the training, education and experience necessary to meet the expectations for this job. This section is also the point where physical abilities needed should be
expressed (be able to lift 50 pounds, etc.). Avoid statements about race, gender or age. Duties and tasks: The summary category concisely shared big-picture responsibilities of the position. The next evolution is the duties and tasks category, shining a spotlight on the routine duties the person performs. This can be a bullet point list as simple as “follows the written Standard Operating Procedure for milk collection in a timely manner” and “perform routine cleaning of parlor and milking equipment.” Naturally, as the position increases in management responsibilities around the farm, this list of duties also increases. Position: All current and potential employees are curious who they manage and to whom they report. In this part of the job description, precisely state supervisor, those who are supervised and relationships with others. Furthermore, each employee should only have one supervisor to prevent miscommunication. The clearer positions are on the farm, the better.
Our goal is to create details about the puzzle piece and indicate where it ts in the puzzle. Clarity at this point can prevent squabbles over authority, income and privileges. Additional parts of a job description can also include performance review timelines, compensation and benets as well as weekly schedules. Job descriptions are living and changing documents. Job descriptions can have a positive impact on the farm if routinely acknowledged and not simply shoved in a folder on the farm computer and forgotten. Its value comes with modication as the farm changes over time, as roles surface and consolidate. Outside of being the contents of a help wanted ad, this document can act as the bedrock for much more. It can be the framework for onboarding new employees or an annual performance review over cookies and milk. The work used to assemble these documents is the foundation for strengthening a team through benecial human resources practices now and in the future.
Dana Adams, adam1744@umn.edu 320-204-2968
Brad Heins hein0106@umn.edu 320-589-1711
Joe Armstrong armst225@umn.edu 612.624.3610
Nathan Hulinsky huli0013@umn.edu 320-203-6104
Luciano Caixeta lcaixeta@umn.edu 612-625-3130
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BW change is associated with production in AMS farms By Marcia Endres
University of Minnesota
The number of dairy farms using robotic milking systems in the U.S. is growing relatively rapidly. These systems can automatically, and in a consistent manner, complete all necessary milkingrelated tasks performed by human labor in conventional milking systems, including cow preparation, milking machine attachment and post-milk teat disinfection. One advantage of RMS is the information collected on each cow by the robot software each time a cow enters the robot box, which allows dairy producers (and researchers) to have individual cow information for cows housed together in pens of usually over 100 animals. As an example, using individual cow data from RMS farms in Minnesota and Wisconsin, we have recently investigated the relationship between the change in body weight in early lactation and milk production of dairy cows. This study was a chapter of graduate student Mateus Peiter’s Ph.D. thesis. The early lactation represents a challenging period for dairy cows, as they are faced with calving and the sudden onset of a new lactation. The feed intake of cows in the early post calving period rarely meets the rapid increase of nutrient requirements for milk production, resulting in a negative energy balance. To meet the energy demand for milk production, adipose and muscle tissues are mobilized leading to losses in body condition and weight. However, this tissue mobilization can vary in magnitude among cows. Retrospective daily cow body weight and milk production data were collected from the RMS software on 33 farms. We chose total 90-day milk production as a productivity measurement for being post lactation peak for most cows on RMS farms (based on one of our previous studies) and therefore capturing the period when cows are most productive. In addition, 90-day milk yield had a Pearson’s correlation coefcient of 0.95, 0.99 and 0.99 with total milk yield over the rst 30, 60 and 120 days in milk, respectively. On average, cows in all three parity groups lost body weight during the rst
21 days in milk. As shown in Figure 1, the seven-day BW change was not associated with 90-day milk production for rst lactation cows (P1); however, the association was negatively quadratic for cows in second lactation (P2) and cows in third or greater lactation (P3+). Cows in P2 and P3+ that maintained BW over the rst seven days in milk had greater 90-day milk yield. The 21-day BW change had a negative quadratic relationship with 90-day milk yield for all parity groups. First lactation cows with a 21-day BW change of −8.2% (lost BW) and P2 and P3+ cows with 21day BW change of about −4% (lost BW) were more productive over 90 days in milk. Based on these ndings, it seems that cows with the ability to maintain their BW or lose less than 10% of their rst day in milk BW over the rst 21 days in milk are more productive during early lactation. However, cows with excessive BW loss in the transition period may be the ones that experience severe negative energy balance and potentially other transition cow issues, which end up having a negative impact in their productivity. The curve turning point (i.e., greatest 90-day milk yield) decreased along with parity number. First lactation cows who lost an average of 8.2% of their rst day in milk BW produced an estimated 6,839 pounds over the rst 90 DIM; P2 cows achieved the greatest average production at 9,409 pounds when 21-day BW change averaged at −4.2%. Lastly, the turning point for cows in P3+ (10,075 pounds) was achieved when 21-day BW change averaged at −3.6% of their rst day in milk BW. Cows that maintained (over the rst seven days in milk) or lost up to 3.6%-8.2% of BW (over the rst 21 days in milk) were more productive during the rst 90 days in milk. Findings of this study highlight the importance of closely monitoring BW of dairy cows during the challenging early lactation period. In addition, these ndings may help improve existing algorithms for the identication of animals at risk for health disorders and for the prediction of future milk production of dairy cows in herds using RMS.
Dairy Star • Saturday, March 12, 2022 • Page 33
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Page 34 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 12, 2022
Let us pursue excellence
Last month, I talked about the concept of how we get better. I suggested establishing a team of select individuals (family members, lender, agronomist, breeding representative, etc.) to provide input to your discussions. Remember, these folks are there to help, offer input and From My Perspective make suggestions. They are not there to make decisions but perhaps to challenge you. Do not be offended if they don’t agree with what you thought was your plan. We all need to have an open mind and a willingness to improve our operation and a desire to keep up with the industry. We live in a new world today than 10 years ago and, in fact, very different By Tom Anderson Columnist than two weeks ago. The world is now a place most of us have not seen in our lifetime and likely thought we would never see in the 21 century. Years ago, I traveled to Germany prior to the destruction of the Berlin Wall. The vast depression, the disappointed looks of sadness on everyone’s face, the imposed anxiety and the military sharp shooters on the top of the buildings on every street corner surely provided a reason for the lackluster society I was familiar with. Once you have experienced that, your viewpoint of what we complain about in this country seems a bit selsh. We have a country which is concerned about our economy, environment, personal health and safety, and the education of our children. Yes, we likely disagree on the means to which we set those standards, but let’s be real. Where have you been in that discussion? Have you been a positive inuence or always nding the negative? Have you shared positive or negative views on your favorite social media device? The future of a democracy lies in the ethics and integrity of its citizens and leaders. Back to farming. Is your farm operation a positive or negative environment? Do your employees have rapid turnover, or have they been with you for a long time? Do you consider them family, as one farm suggested to me this week, or someone you wish would just do their job? As we prepare for spring planting and crop season, perhaps we can consider some of the following items for an agenda: Is my farm a positive workplace for all? If not, how do I create that environment? Consider areas of production, nancial aspects, business relationships and employee relationships, etc. Have you set goals? Are you comparing to the average producer, or are you comparing your benchmarks to the producers in the top 25%? Are your goals written down, and have they been discussed with farm and family members? Do you have the right insurance for your operation, and does it include replacement cost? Does your farm have re extinguishers in every building? Do you have your crop insurance in place for 2022? Do you have an updated will or trust? Do your family members know what the documents say and where the documents are located? Who is your trustee or personal representative, or power of attorney? Do you have a health care directive? Is there a safe deposit box at the bank, and where is the key? Who is listed on the safe deposit box? Remember, it takes a court order and a lot of time to get into this box if it does not include a family member’s name. Do you have a list of the safe deposit box contents? Do you have life Insurance and are the beneciaries up to date? I have witnessed several situations where documents were not changed after a death or divorce. That did not create a positive environment. Is life insurance a part of your estate and transition plan? As you can see, there are a lot of essential items to have in place. To have a healthy farm and business, all of these should be reviewed on a regular basis. I saw a shirt yesterday that caught my eye. It said, “Pursue excellence and success will follow.” Wow, what a goal. We need strive for excellence in every facet of our farming operations, in our families and in our society. Excellence is a continuously moving target, which will require us to always monitor and implement steps for continuous improvement. Tom Anderson is a Farm Business Management faculty member at Riverland Community College.
Goodbye winter, hello spring As winter hopefully begins to wind down and we look ahead to spring, we can all agree to think warm thoughts. Hopefully rest is on the horizon for many of us before spring planting begins. I’m looking forward to my spring break which is fast approaching. Until then, there has been no break On the Road with in my appearances, Princess Kay including some very unique ones this past month. I started the month of February with the Winter Carnival Parade where, as always, I was joined by Minnesota State Fair mascots Fairborne and Fairchild. This was the torchlight parade, so we all wore fun lights and By Anna Euerle 68th Princess Kay of the spent the evening waving at all of those who were Milky Way there to watch. Having never participated in a night parade before, I enjoyed being able to have this experience. Later in the month, I was part of the Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Farm and Food Book Week. Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom invited a series of celebrity book readers including those who play for professional and college sports, as well as other individuals who are well known in Minnesota. I read to more than 500 students in kindergarten through fth grade. We had a question and answer session where we talked about cows, our favorite dairy foods and our favorite books along with any other pressing questions the students had. This was so much fun for me, and I hope this
Regardless if you are a student or haven’t been a student in years, take time for yourself this month. event continues. I also made butter with young students at Immanuel Lutheran School in Hamburg, Minnesota. We tested out a new method, in which the heavy cream was placed in a milk test vial. This made for less spills, and each student had their own container. They also thought the vial was a fun souvenir from my visit with them. I also shared a book with them while they enjoyed their fresh butter on crackers. Though everyone was tired by the end, they agreed the work was worth it. I ended the month speaking at the Peanut Butter and Milk Festival banquet, celebrating 50 years of their exchange with students from an FFA chapter in Minnesota and students from an FFA chapter in Alabama. During the exchange, the Alabama delegates experience a Minnesota winter, winter activities and tour organizations that are involved in agriculture. I enjoyed hearing what the favorite part of each delegate’s week was as well as amazing them by showing some pictures of my butter sculpture.
March for so many college students like myself means spring break is near. This gives students time to reset before the craziness of nals picks up in May, and for many students, the break is an opportunity to travel. In most farming student’s case, spring break is a time to go home and help on the farm. This year, it is especially important for everyone to take their own spring break even if it’s just for an hour or two. Whether that means spending time with your family, getting coffee or taking a well-deserved nap, we all need a break sometimes. Regardless if you are a student or haven’t been a student in years, take time for yourself this month. Before the warm weather comes and we all have a million things on our todo list, recharge. This will help to welcome the spring season in better spirit with sufcient rest and maybe even an additional helping hand if you
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have a college student coming home on break to help. As we near another busy season in our lives, it’s important to not only prepare our farm and equipment but also our minds and bodies as well. So, goodbye winter. Hello spring. Princess Kay of the Milky Way Anna Euerle serves as the Minnesota dairy community’s goodwill ambassador. Princess Kay is very active doing school visits, representing dairy farmers at the Fuel Up To Play 60 activities in conjunction with the Minnesota Vikings, and sharing the importance of dairy farming and dairy foods at appearances across Minnesota. Euerle grew up in Litcheld, Minnesota, working on her family’s dairy farm. She will soon graduate from Ridgewater College in Agribusiness with a dairy emphasis. In her free time she enjoys cooking, baking and being outdoors.
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A taxing time Page 36 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 12, 2022
We have a bizarre income tax system in this country. It’s not torturous enough that you’re required to make a full and truthful accounting of your cash ow. You’re also obliged to speculate on the amount of income tax owed using mind-numbing schedules and those so-called user friendly tax guides which are so bewildering that they could just as well be written in Swahili. My wife and I hire a professional tax guy to prepare our income tax returns. Doing our own taxes would be akin to performing do-it-yourself brain surgery. The relationship many folks have with their tax preparers is similar to that which they might have with their dentist: you don’t really want to deal with this person, but you have come to the realization that it’s a necessity. The main difference is that a dentist
won’t coerce you into assisting with your own root canal, then instruct you to write a check that’s based on the amount of pain you inicted upon yourself. My wife and I always do our best to truthfully report all of our income and expenses. Some years ago, we discovered I had gained a new category of income called miscellaneous. It wasn’t that I raked in big bucks by selling gobs of miscellany. This new income category came about due to me getting paid for some freelance writing. I was pleased to learn I nally had an enterprise that didn’t turn in a net operating loss. This stood in sharp contrast to our farming operation. You’re probably thinking, “It must be nice to just type a few words and rake in all those fat paychecks.” Here’s what I have to say regarding that notion: Ha! Trying to make a living as a freelance writer is like trying to make money by printing $1 bills with a
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crayon. Very few writers make a living as a wordsmith unless your last name happens to be King or Rowling. Our tax guy called me a few days after we turned our nancial stuff over to him. “Where are your expenses?” he asked. I told him all of our farm expenses were scattered about somewhere in the hodgepodge of papers Dear County Agent Guy we had given him. “No, I mean your writing expenses. Without any writing expenses, you might have to pay tax.” Yikes. He’d said pay tax, words that can instantly transform even the meekest, mildest citizen into a taxdeduction demon. After hours of By Jerry Nelson adrenaline-driven, Columnist superhuman effort, I met with our tax guy to discuss my situation. “Here you go,” I proclaimed proudly as I plopped a pile of expenses onto his desk. “This ought to wipe out every last ounce of prot from my little writing venture.” He sifted through the papers. “It says here that you purchased some software. How does the video game Attack of the Zombie Space Vampires pertain to writing?” “Um … it’s just that I sometimes get stuck on a particular word or phrase and blasting some zombie space vampires helps me get things moving.” “I see. I think we can claim that as the purchase of a motivational video. Now, what about all of these expenses from the supermarket?” “That’s mostly for Skittles and Twinkies. And diet pop and potato chips.” He leaned back in his swivel chair and regarded me dubiously. “Explain how any of that relates to your writing.” “It’s all pretty straightforward. I’ve found that I can concentrate better if I have something to munch on. Since my wife usually isn’t around when I write, I naturally eat mostly Skittles and Twinkies. Then I drink some diet pop to cancel out all of those sugar calories. But the pop has caffeine in it, which causes me to lose uids, so I have to eat some salty potato chips to keep my electrolytes in balance.” “Good Lord,” he thundered. “You can’t claim all of that. Those are nothing more than ordinary living expenses.” “I see. So, keeping yourself alive for the purpose of writing isn’t deductible?” “Not according to our current tax codes. You can only claim those expenses that are directly related to your writing business. Now, what’s with all these receipts from the Chinese restaurant?” “Fortune cookies often give me inspiration for my writing. A good example would be, ‘You must count your wealth in friends, not money.’” “Hmm. OK, I guess we can claim that as a deduction seeing as how that you’ve now used it in a column.” “In that case, here’s something that’s going to be a huge write-off.” “What in thunderation is this?” “The dentist’s bill for my root canal.” 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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A lot of Cs SCC, BTSCC, BTC, SPC, PIC, LPC and CC are all tests that reect the quality of the milk a farmer sells. Let’s look at them in more detail. SCC means somatic cell count. Somatic refers to the body, so these are cells coming from the body. Most of the somatic cells found in milk are white cells, Veterinary Wisdom blood which are there in response to an infection. It is reasonable to assume that cows with a high SCC did, at one time, likely have one or more quarters infected with By Jim Bennett a pathogen, Columnist but cows can have elevated somatic cell counts at any time without having any detectable infectious organisms in the udder. BTSCC is the bulk tank SCC. This is not the same measurement as a Dairy Herd Improvement Association SCC, which is the weighted average of the SCCs of all the cows in the herd. However, the two are usually pretty close in magnitude. BTC, or bulk tank count/culture, is a count and speciation of all the organisms present in a known quantity of bulk tank milk. It is usually reported as CFUs (colony forming units) per cc of milk. One CFU will normally have thousands to many millions of bacteria within. A typical BTC report will quantify the numbers of Staph aureus, coagulase-negative Staph,
Strep ag, non-ag Streps, coliforms and non-coliform gram negatives. The report may or may not include Prototheca and Mycoplasma counts. BTC can be used as kind of a report card on cow and milking time hygiene. Most of the environmental organisms, which are typically non-ag Strep, coagulase negative Staph and coliforms, get in the milk from the teat skin. Proper cleaning and drying will reduce contamination of bulk tank milk by these organisms. For the contagious organisms, including Staph aureus, Strep ag and Prototheca, most of the organisms in bulk tank milk come from the milk in the udders, so you can use the BTC to help determine if you have cows infected with these organisms. Note that there is crossover between contagious and environmental organisms. For example, Strep ag only grows in milk, so it is never an environmental, but non-ag Streps can grow in fairly high levels in some udders and is wildly found in cow manure, so the actual source of infection could be either another cow or the environment. Because of the high levels in the environment though, it is much more likely that the source is from there than from a cow. Prototheca is found in the environment, but it seems to behave as a contagious organism, meaning the more common source of infection is another cow. SPC, or standard plate count, is the required count you get from the ofcial lab once a month. It is simply a count of the total CFUs of all organisms present on an agar plate at 48 hours and represents the number of CFUs per ml of milk. In theory, your SPC should roughly equal the total count on your BTC, because they are counting the same organisms. The regulatory limit is 100,000, while industry standards are
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Dairy Star • Saturday, March 12, 2022 • Page 37
below 10,000, and samples from clean farms can be in the hundreds or low thousands. High SPCs typically arise from cleaning or incubation problems. Bacteria can double in numbers in 20 minutes at room temperature, so even a short failure of refrigeration can result in an elevated SPC, for example. While it is possible to have a high SPC caused by excess shedding from udders, this almost never happens. LPC, lab pasteurized count or thermoduric count, counts the number of colonies that survive pasteurization. LPCs are often required by cheese manufacturers. Normal counts are usually below 200. Pasteurization kills most mastitis causing organisms, so high LPCs are also not normally caused by shedding from udders. A variety of organisms may cause high LPCs; most are organisms found in the environment of the cow. Some organisms may form biolms, which are thin, slimy lms that protect the organism from disinfectants. It may be possible to see or feel biolms in tanks, lines or other equipment. LPCs are usually elevated because of cleaning problems or chronic buildup of biolms or bacterial growth in milking systems. PIC, or preincubation counts, are performed by incubating milk at 55 degrees Fahrenheit for 18 hours and then counting the CFUs using SPC methods. This process selects for psychotropic, or cold-loving bacteria. PI counts should be below 10,000 and are important for ensuring good shelf life and reducing off avors of milk. High PICs are often caused by Pseudomonas bacteria. Pseudomonas are notoriously difcult to kill with disinfectants. They are also commonly found in stored water, like cisterns or plastic holding tanks, for
example. So, while high PICs are often associated with cleaning problems, contaminated water supplies can be part of the problem. CC, or coliform counts, are just a count of coliform CFUs on an agar plate and are part of the BTC procedure. By themselves, CCs represent bacteria that were on the teats when the units were attached, and high counts usually mean dirty cows, poor prep procedure or both. CCs should normally be below about 50. All of the Cs count bacterial CFUs, except SCC and BTSCC. This is an important distinction. Your SCC does not immediately rise because someone did a poor job of prepping cows. Your BTC, SPC and CC will rise, though the SPC will not usually go beyond regulatory limits. SCC is not the appropriate monitor to compare parlor prep between shifts, for example. BTC, or just CC, are more appropriate tests for this situation. SCC looks for infected cows. Of all the Cs, the only other test that reliably indicates infected cows are the contagious part of the BTC. While sometimes it may seem that all of these Cs are a pain in the neck when a farmer just wants to sell milk, each one has a specic purpose. Understanding what they look for and what they mean can help keep those Cs low. That understanding may also help manage udder health on the farm. Bennett is one of four dairy veterinarians at Northern Valley Dairy Production Medicine Center in Plainview, Minnesota. He also consults on dairy farms in other states. He and his wife, Pam, have four children. Jim can be reached at bennettnvac@gmail.com with comments or questions.
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Towing tanks Page 38 • Dairy Star • Saturday, March 12, 2022
I spend some time each morning reading the news highlights and guessing the day’s Wordle on my phone. Usually, it’s while having my typical before-chores breakfast consisting of a glass of milk and preferably a cookie. If there are no cookies to be had then something similarly sweet and, according to my wife, questionably nutritious. After reading through the news which was dominated by updates on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, I scrolled Facebook to see if any of my friends were up to anything interesting. They weren’t, or at least not the previous night nor at 5 a.m. that morning. But, I saw a video a friend shared of a farmer in Ukraine supposedly stealing a Russian missile launcher and towing it down the road with a tractor. I’m no expert in Russian military equipment, so I had to take the person’s word on what the camo green tank looking thing was that was being towed down the road behind a Claas tractor. That video surprised me and made me laugh at the absurdity of someone towing a tank like a hay wagon down the road. Just imagine
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if the Canadians decided to invade Minnesota because the shing is so much better down here and they wanted our many lakes as their own to sh when they pleased. To hook up to a tank with a big maple leaf on the turret and drive off while the soldiers were busy trying to gure out whether to take Interstate 494, I-394 or I-694 to get where they wanted to be would be a pretty daring undertaking. Granted, if we painted over all our road signs like the Ukrainians have, there’s a good chance the Canadians would get lost as soon as they got to the Twin Cities and would nd themselves out of fuel before reaching whatever destination they were headed to, making it considerably easier to steal their vehicle while they took a walk of shame to the nearest gas station. Hopefully our polite neighbors to the north never feel the need to acquire our lakes, and I sincerely hope the Russian army quickly fails in their attempt to conquer Ukraine. If there is anything I’ve learned from studying history and reading soldiers memoirs, it’s that there is nothing glamorous or noble about wars. It’s a messy business that upends the lives of both the aggressors and defenders. When people die and infrastructure is destroyed all in the name of redrawing an imaginary line on a map, no one wins. It will likely take decades for the damages done to structures and land to be repaired and generations for some families to recover after losing loved ones and their businesses. What started as a lighthearted column seems to have gotten rather somber as I think not just about the small victories one can score with a couple log chains and a tractor but also the losses that can occur in a conict. I’ve had the chance
to chat with a few farmers from Ukraine. I found out it’s pretty similar to here in climate, land type and farming practices. Their dairy barns are a bit different than ours, but the cows didn’t From the Zweber Farm look much different. I once chatted with an agronomist on Twitter who shared a picture of a line of landmines through one of the elds he was scouting for insects because they were prepping for a possible invasion By Tim Zweber by Russia. That must have been around Farmer & Columnist 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea. I thought it the strangest thing to have a beautiful wheat eld with a bunch of ags in it where you best not drive because those aren’t marking rocks. Throughout the world, farmers are some of the most resourceful folks I know of. I’ll be thinking of them and all the people of Ukraine this week as news of their ght for their country makes its way to us. Hopefully the Russians have so many of their tanks stolen by Ukraine’s farmers that they give up and head back home to their families. It is an unlikely way for the war to end, but I’m not sure what else to hope for. Until next time, keep living the dream in a country where you don’t have to swerve around landmines to apply fungicide to the wheat. Tim Zweber farms with his wife Emily, their three children and his parents Jon and Lisa by Elko, Minnesota.
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Mind expansion in person Being in the same room while talking with friends and listening to speakers in person has not happened very often over the last two years. The past couple of weeks have been different. It has been fun to attend meetings, a college dairy club banquet and farm seminars. While virtual opportunities are handy for those of Come Full Dairy Circle us who need to keep up with on-farm demands, nothing beats interacting with people in the same place. A fun February event was the University of Minnesota Gopher Dairy Club Recognition Banquet. At the midday gathering, friends were honored, mentors attended and spoke, and our three kids were all in the same room for a couple of hours at the same time. Rolf, my brother-in-law, Eric, and I attended. We arrived early to visit with folks before the banquet started. At our table were our daughter, Emily, her boyfriend, Anthony, and three dairy club members. It By Jean Annexstad was refreshing to hear about their lives and experiences Columnist as we enjoyed the meal, speakers and scholarship award presentations. Many nuggets of wisdom and advice were given, including keynote speaker dairy pioneer, farmer and educator Bonnie Ayars telling the students to always make their beds, among other sage advice she gave for living life well. A second event was the very next day. I wavered about attending the Carver County Dairy Day, but I am so glad I took the time to hear more speakers and visit with friends and experts in the trade show area. Apparently, I wasn’t ready to stop talking after the banquet the day before. Dairy Day was time well spent with interesting speakers and conversations. I picked up materials to take back with me and made a screenshot to share with Mike and Rolf of salient points from University of Minnesota Extension dairy specialist Jim Salfer’s speech on strategic advantages for smaller dairies. I jotted some good notes from the keynote speech from Corey Geiger, who spoke about dairy as an economic engine. Geiger is well-versed in dairy trends as the managing editor of Hoard’s Dairyman. Some of his key takeaways were that in the U.S., dairy cows spend ve-to-six days per month producing milk for the export market, of which Mexico is the No. 1 customer and China is the No. 1 importer of our products. The dairy industry in California accounts for 443,000 jobs, and the dairy industry accounts for $45.6 billion in economic activity in Wisconsin, he said. Iowa data shows each cow is a $25,000 economic engine. Geiger said the level of domestic dairy product consumption has been increasing steadily since 1960. U.S. consumers eat 655 pounds of cheese per capita today, on a steady upswing since 1994. Fluid milk, conversely, is in a 62-year tailspin, Geiger said. He then delved into interesting trends of milk component changes, semen sale changes, genomics testing and the need for database collection and analysis. Next was renewable energy and how it relates to dairy digesters and renewable energy. There was a lot to think about when I returned home to do chores that day. Next on my agenda, I was asked to take part in a market research Zoom call to probe, “How do you make buying decisions?” Not in person but still fun. From that, I learned that other dairy farmers put a lot of thought into, and can articulate, their decision-making process really well. Purchasing trends include using Google to research products. We talk to our fellow dairy farmers about what works for them, and we also consider cost. We consider how to further our goals, and support and service for the product are all still important. A nal meeting last week was a further peek into continuous living cover crops and cropping systems being developed by the University of Minnesota Forever Green Initiative. It was held a few miles from our farm and included an update on Kernza, the rst commercially-viable perennial grain in the U.S. This grain, with a long, dense root system, can greatly reduce nitrate-nitrogen leaching and can deliver other environmental benets to soil, water and climate, according to Ben Penner, farmer and vice president of Perennial Promise Growers Cooperative. The cooperative is now interfacing with General Mills to develop and market products made with Kernza. The cooperative is developing grower planning resources, including planting, growing, harvesting and marketing expertise for area farmers. Learning about the potential of a new crop and all of the steps involved was a think-outside-the-box experience for me. It could also be something to consider as a dual-use grain and forage crop for those with interest in crops in the early-adopter phase. Hopefully, there will be other events to attend and nuggets of information to learn in the coming weeks and months. Take advantage of what you can. 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, March 12, 2022 • Page 39
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