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DAIRY ST R “All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 24, No. 4
Creating a lasting legacy McConkey discusses emotions in farm transitions By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
Transitioning a family farm from one generation to the next can be a stressful endeavor, full of questions that need to be answered and decisions that need to be made. OfMarcia Kramer ten times, McConkey those involved are so wrapped up in the what, when, why and how that they can lose sight of the who. Taking into consideration the feelings and emotions of both the older and younger generations was the focus of the Rural Resiliency Project’s March 23 webinar featuring Marcia Kramer McConkey’s presentation, “The Human Side of Farm Transitions.” McConkey encouraged families to use the ICR model – important, condent and ready – when beginning to look at the changes forthcoming during a farm transition. “Does the person think the change is important? Are they condent in their ability to make the change? Are they ready to make the change?” McConkey said. “When those stars align, we’ll see change happen. When one of the elements is not present, it will often look like resistance.” McConkey said that sometimes what might be construed by the younger generation in the transition as reluctance or unwillingTurn to TRANSITION | Page 7
April 9, 2022
Better before bigger Rotzes use automation to aid in herd improvement By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
PELICAN RAPIDS, Minn. – The Rotzes have long farmed with the philosophy that before they grow their herd and land base, they must rst become better with what they have. In keeping with that mindset, brothers Philip and Paul Rotz turned to an automated milking system for their dairy herd. “Dad has always said we can be small if we can be good at it,” Philip said. “We need to pay attention to details and be better before we can go bigger.” Philip and his wife, Stacey, and Paul and his wife, Carolin, are in partnership on the 66-cow dairy in Otter Tail County near Pelican Rapids. Over the last year and a half, the Rotzes updated their manure pit and built a cross-ventilated, slattedoor freestall barn that stands 82-feet by 133-feet. With that, they installed one DeLaval VMS V300 robot that became operational Sept. 7, 2021. “We were tired of watching the cows come in fresh and hoped they survive,” Paul said. “We wanted to build something that was nice and comfortable Turn to ROTZES | Page 6
JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR
The Rotzes – Carolin and Paul and Stacey and Philip – milk 66 cows with a DeLaval VMS V300 robot on their dairy farm in OƩer Tail County near Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. The robot became operaƟonal Sept. 7, 2021.
High stocking density is a solution for more profits
Doherty explains keys to maximizing solids per stall By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – High stocking density rates have long been frowned upon in the industry with university research suggesting high rates negatively impact milk production and cow health. But what if dairy farmers could stock their pens high without inuencing the herd’s overall performance other than to increase the amount of solids produced per stall per facility? “Think about your farm’s protability and think about the milk solids produced
per stall because ultimately that’s what you’re getting paid for,” Tim Doherty said. “Take the same facility you’re already paying on, … and I challenge you think about what you’re doing to produce more solids that you can ship down the road.” Doherty, a dairy business manager with Form-A-Feed, used real-life examples to speak on improving prots through higher stocking densities during his presentation, “Helpful tips for manJENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR aging high stocking density in dairy cows,” March 30 at Tom Doherty answers quesƟons during his presentaƟon, “Helpful Ɵps for managing high stocking density in dairy cows” Turn to DOHERTY | Page 8 March 30 at Central Plains Dairy Expo in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Page 2 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 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.
America dealers. Margins tight despite high milk North prices
Dairy Prole brought to you by your Class III milk prices are trading in the $23 to $25 per hundredweight range. “The dairy markets continue to see all-time strength,” said John Heinberg, market advisor, Total Farm Marketing. “The demand underneath these markets has some good support as we move into the summer months. With warmer weather, we can expect cheese demand to pick up.” Margins are still a concern for dairy producers. “There’s great opportunity with these historical price levels, but the biggest problem we’re dealing with is the margin side of it,” Heinberg said. “Prices are good, but are they where they need to be in terms of maintaining some prot?”
Redo cash ows With production expenses increasing, Gary Sipiorski, of Gary Sipiorski Consulting, said dairy farmers need a clear look at the year ahead. “I’m cautioning dairy producers to redo their cash ows and their projections,” Sipiorski said. “We’re probably looking at anywhere from a 10% to 20% bump in those expenses.” Dairy prices are good, but costs are also higher. “We could probably see that cost of production bumped by $2 to $3 per hundredweight so that’s going to melt away some of that milk price,” he said. Alfalfa hay production is trending lower Livestock Marketing Information Center director Katelyn McCullock said the hay market has been shaped by the drought and declining acres. Compared to one year ago, alfalfa hay prices are running about 20% higher this marketing year. McCullock said the forecast is for another 18% to 20% increase in the fall.
Organic dairy rule released The United States Department of Agriculture released the details of the Origin of Livestock rule for organic dairies. This nal rule changes USDA’s organic regulations that are meant to promote a fairer and more competitive market for dairy farmers. This new rule allows new organic operations to transition non-organic animals one time and stops organic dairies from sourcing any transitioned animals.
Ag Insider
By Don Wick Columnist
Trevino no longer nominee for U.S. Chief Ag Negotiator President Biden’s nominee for Chief Agriculture Negotiator, Elaine Trevino, decided to not move forward with the conrmation process. Trevino was nominated six months ago but had not gone through the Senate conrmation process. Trevino sent Biden a letter that said it now seems clear there is no timely path forward to gain Senate conrmation, and that she was excited to join the administration in another capacity working on ag supply chain issues. Trevino may still be appointed to a non-Senate conrmed post. Hold trade partners accountable U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai faced the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee to discuss trade agreements. Tai emphaTurn to AG INSIDER | Page 5
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Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 2022 • Page 3
Estelline, SD
Hoyers dairy farm for future while honoring the past First Section: Pages 12 - 13
Fountain, MN
Stewart, MN
Kurth family recognized by Minnesota PDCA
Leidings honored as Minnesota PDCA Distinguished Breeders
First Section: Pages 26 - 27
First Section: Pages 23, 25
Goodhue MN
Melrose, MN
Alton, IA
A day in the life of the Miller Family
Second Section: Pages 16, 18 - 19
Second Section: Pages 14 - 15
Second Section: Pages 3- 4
First Section: Page 30
Plainview, MN
Buck family gives barn tour, raises scholarship funds
Frerickses named Stearns County farm family
Korvers selected as AMPI’s young cooperator
Owatonna, MN
Pelican Rapids, MN
Tande passed away at 83, leaves behind a legacy in dairy
Rotzes use automation to aid in herd improvement
Third Section: Page 3
First Section: Pages 1, 6
FROM OUR SIDE OF THE FENCE:
For additional stories from our other zone, log on to www.dairystar.com
What was your biggest challenge and success? First Section: Pages 15 - 16
Zone 1
Zone 2
Columnists Ag Insider der Pages 2, 5 First F Section ction
On the Road with Princess Kay Page 34 First Section
Dea County Dear y Ag Agent Guy P Page 36 First Firs Section n
Veterinary Vet V ary W m Wisdom P Pa Page 37 Fir F irs Section tion First
From the F Zwe Z Zweber Farm P Page 38 Fir Section First
This is the front. We have what you need for what comes out the back.
Come Full Co Da Dairy Circle P Page 39 Fir Section First
Country C C Cooking Page 30 P S Second S Section
The “Mielke” Market Weekly Pages 8 - 9 Second Section
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Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 2022 • Page 5
ConƟnued from AG INSIDER | Page 2 sized the importance of holding trade partners accountable for implementing trade agreements. This includes the way Canada handled dairy market access in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. “I think there was a clear understanding on our side that dairy market access would be improved under the USMCA,” Tai said. “We haven’t seen that.” Tai said the U.S. will not give up and will continue to work with its stakeholders on this trade dispute.
Bongards releases 2021 nancials Bongards Creameries is reporting 2021 earnings of $35 million on sales of $755 million. Patronage earnings of $26 million resulted in a cash payment to members of $.235 per hundredweight. Bongards is also able to return an average of $.096 per hundredweight of New Market Tax Credit to members for milk shipments from 2015-2021 as a result of the investment in the Perham plant in 2015. Of this, 20% was paid in cash, and the balance will be revolved to the members in the coming years. Dairy product production on the rise According to the latest USDA Dairy Products Report, American cheese production increased over 18 million pounds from the previous year. The other-than-American cheese category increased 48 million pounds, a 7% improvement from one year ago. Butter production was down 4.6%, or 2.7 million pounds. Nonfat dry milk production declined 12.6 million pounds, and dry whey production dropped 325,000 pounds.
off program, Taco Bell has rolled out a dairy-based coffee creamer and coffee drink. The vanilla creamer replaces a non-dairy product and is being made available at more than 7,500 Taco Bell locations nationwide. This creamer is also being used in the Pineapple Whip Freeze and Island Berry Freeze beverages, which were created by the checkoff. Activist investor targets supermarket chain Activist investor Carl Icahn has nominated two directors for the Kroger supermarket chain’s board of directors. A similar move was made a month ago with McDonald’s. Icahn is using his nancial inuence to have an impact on corporate policies on animal welfare, the environment and other social issues. Thompson-Weeman gets promoted to CEO of Animal Ag Alliance Animal Agriculture Alliance Vice President Hannah Thompson-Weeman is getting a promotion to President and CEO. Thompson-Weeman will begin the role May 1. She succeeds longtime president and CEO Kay Johnson Smith, who left to become the new Chief Operating Ofcer of Dairy MAX, a regional dairy council.
Petersen recognized by safety and health council The Agricultural Safety and Health Council of America has presented Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen with its Outstanding Policymaker Award. Petersen was recognized for his advocacy for farm safeDietary guidelines should include a- ty and support for farmer well-being vored milk and stress reduction. The International Dairy Foods Association and the National Milk Trivia challenge Producers Federation have submitted Ben & Jerry’s is the ice cream comjoint comments to USDA regarding pany that is behind avors like Chunky the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Monkey, Phish Food and Cherry GarAmericans report. In 2020, a USDA ad- cia. That answers our last trivia quesvisory group found nearly 80% of 9- to tion. For this week’s trivia, what ice 13-year-olds are not getting the recom- cream company is known for offering mended amount of dairy foods. IDFA 31 avors? We will have the answer in and NMPF praised USDA’s decision to the next edition of Dairy Star. implement transitional school meal nuDon Wick is owner/broadcaster for the Red trition standards that allow schools to River Farm Network, based in Grand Forks, serve low-fat avored milk. The dairy North Dakota. Wick has been recognized as groups also encourage the availability the National Farm Broadcaster of the Year and served as president of the National Associaof avored yogurt in school meals. Dairy Checkoff partners with Taco Bell With the help of the Dairy Check-
tion of Farm Broadcasting. Don and his wife, Kolleen, have two adult sons, Tony and Sam, and ve grandchildren, Aiden, Piper, Adrienne, Aurora and Sterling.
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Page 6 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 2022
ConƟnued from ROTZES | Page 1
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The herd is housed in a cross-venƟlated, slaƩed-oor freestall barn at the Rotzes’ dairy farm near Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. The barn is a free-ow design with a drive-by feed alley and small hospital pen for cows in heat. for the cows. And now, we can see what the cows can do.” In the six months the family has used the robot and new barn, they have seen signicant herd improvements. The herd is housed on mattresses that are bedded with lime and wood shavings which has aided in a lower somatic cell count and greater production. “We were bedding with chopped straw,” Paul said. “We’re two weeks in now with this new approach and it seems to be working well.” Previously, the herd was averaging 65 pounds per cow per day but now its maintaining a 75-pound tank average with the cows visiting the robot about 2.5 times in 24 hours. And with adjusting the ration, the herd now boasts quality milk with a 4.5% butterfat and 3.5% protein content. “Economics-wise, we cut the pellets and saw a bit of a drop in milk but our components went up so we’re actually coming out ahead,” Paul said. The most surprising improvement came in reproduction. For example, the Rotzes have two cows that, in the old barn, were given two shots of prostaglandin to come into heat. Carolin said they came into the freestall barn as cull cows but have since increased milk production by 20 pounds and settled on the rst breeding. One came into heat right at 26 days. “We didn’t think we’d see that happen so quickly,” Carolin said. Stacey agreed. “Having our reproduction improve like that was a goal we didn’t think we’d see in the rst six months,” she said. The Rotzes’ parents, Les and Nancy, began milking cows in 1972. Les and Nancy formed a limited liability company in 2009. In 2017, they transferred full ownership to Paul and Carolin and Philip and Stacy. Each family member has an important role on the farm. Philip oversees the dairy herd and overall farm management. Stacey and Carolin work with the cows, too, and Paul focuses on the eldwork and feeding. They continue to milk their fresh cows in the farm’s original 44-stall stanchion barn which Paul and Carolin often take charge of. The brothers’ parents continue to be involved in the operation as they take care of the farm’s bookwork. Les also does eldwork for the farm. A couple years back, the family began exploring options to improve their dairy facilities. “At 74 years old, our dad has always been all for robots,” Philip said. “He knows the future of dairy is robotic.” The Rotzes penciled out plans for two automated milking systems and a freestall barn built to the north of their tiestall facility. In doing so, they realized
they had to rst update their manure pit which they completed in 2020. A year later, after touring several farming operations and attending trade shows for product information, the family used funding from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Livestock Investment Grant program to build the new housing facility and install the robot. They designed a free-ow barn with a drive-by feed alley and small hospital pen for cows in heat. “We looked at two robots but didn’t have the land base for it,” Philip said. “And after last year, I’m glad we didn’t try to make that work.” Concrete work on the barn began in spring of 2021 with hopes of construction beginning June 1, 2021. Unfortunately, it was delayed a month. “We ran into some roadblocks and then had a slug of cows come in mid-August,” Stacey said. “For that last month in the old barn, we were switching a lot of cows.” A week before the robot was up and running, the Rotzes moved the herd into the freestall barn to become acclimated to the stalls and headlocks. They also ran the cows through the robot with a small ration of pellets. “The girls and the kids pushed the cows through the robot while we nished chopping corn,” Paul said. “When it came time for that rst milking, we rolled through it in eight hours.” Stacey agreed. “That made a huge difference,” she said. “We were told it was the easiest startup our regional representative has ever seen. They couldn’t believe it.” Now six months in the new setup, the Rotzes are as pleased as ever. They have seen the benets in cow comfort, herd health and production and in their families as well. “Our youngest told us during Thanksgiving that he was thankful for the new barn because he now gets to spend more time with Mom and Dad,” Stacey said. Philip and Stacey have four children – William, 16, Wesley, 15, Molly, 12, and Walter, 9. Paul and Carolin also have four children – Lindsey, 16, Henry, 13, Cassidy, 10, and Tracey, 8. “Before, sometimes we’d hardly see the kids before bedtime,” Carolin said. Paul agreed. “I think this is great,” he said. “The kids are able to help, and it makes the chores so much more enjoyable.” While one robot is uncommon, in many ways it has been the perfect solution for the Rotzes to continue dairy farming while upholding their values as farmers. They have always stayed small and strive to do a good job. “We don’t t the mold of what most dairy farming looks like, but it ts our family,” he said.
Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 2022 • Page 7
ConƟnued from TRANSITION | Page 1
ness from the older generation actually goes much deeper. “Something that is often underestimated in terms of impact for the older generation is that their identity, purpose and really all of their feelings of youthfulness and belonging are often wrapped up in that farming operation,” McConkey said. “So they don’t necessarily see themselves and identify themselves apart from that.” McConkey said the feelings that might be wrapped up in a farm transition and departure from day-to-day management decisions can create what is called an existential crisis in the behavioral health eld. “That basically means they are left wondering, ‘Who am I if I am not farming? Who am I if I don’t maintain my relationships with the seed guy, the loan guy, the implement guy? That is my area of expertise and my comfort zone; it is all I know,’” McConkey said. “When faced with that change, it can really cause some emotions. What that might look like is an unwillingness to move forward, or that they are being resistant or controlling. But what is behind that is often just that unknown and an increasing reality of their own mortality.” McConkey said another consideration that can factor into a farm transition is that the older generation is typically facing both physical and cognitive decline. “Some of the farmers I work with are very aware of that,” McConkey said. “They realize they cannot do what they used to do physically with manual labor, and that they maybe cannot continue to make the decisions they used to make because of changes in their memory and processing. However, many are not aware of it, because it is not like we just wake up one day unable to do the things we used to do.” Financial concerns also tend to weigh on the minds of the outgoing generation, as they wonder how the farm can not only support them in retirement but also support the younger generation as well. “Sometimes the older generation sometimes even just holds on as they try to gure out how
to not place the negative nancial impact onto the younger generation,” McConkey said. “That can lead to what might start as a two- or three-year plan stretch out into ve years or more, which leads to a lot of frustration on the part of the younger generation.” Situations like that make the need for open and honest communication all the more important, McConkey said. On the other side of the equation, while the outgoing generation is struggling with a loss of identity, the incoming generation is eager to take over and begin making their mark on the farm. That manifests with a desire to make changes, such as increasing efciency, expanding or looking into new commodities. “The younger generation cites studies and research to support their ideas, and mom and dad just don’t want to hear it,” McConkey said. “Mom and dad don’t want to hear it because they are in a stage of life that is all about stability and consistency. They aren’t in a stage of life that is about risk and change.” Opening up the communication to facilitate that discussion might look like bringing parents back to remembering what their feelings were when they took over the farm, McConkey said. Having the older generation try to recall what their hopes and dreams were at the time, what the changes they wanted to make and how those discussions went might help to bring some understanding to the table. “Sometimes that discussion can be really eyeopening for both generations,” McConkey said. “It’s an understanding that you have both experienced similar things. It’s all communication.” Another difcult area to traverse in family farm transitions is sibling conict, which McConkey said is one of the toughest things a farm family might face during a transition. “There might be more (than one) child that is making up the incoming generation, with questions about roles and who has decision-making power, who has been working on the farm longer, who has the most investment, and on and on,” McConkey
said. “Another level of sibling conict is with offfarm siblings. How much, if any, say do they have? When do we communicate with them?” McConkey said people directly involved in the transition should have meetings and discussions. A separate meeting should be held to involve the offfarm children, focusing on things like wills, estates and potential inheritance. “Off-farm siblings sometimes don’t realize or acknowledge the changes that take place on a farm after a transition,” McConkey said. “Lots of conversations around roles and boundaries need to happen.” Open discussion of roles and expectations during the transition, and after, can help ease concerns of the incoming and outgoing stakeholders as well as potentially alleviating misunderstandings with non-stakeholder family members. “Post-transition roles on the farm need to be discussed and dened,” McConkey said. “The older generation often feels the need to have some type of involvement that gives them the feeling of identity, purpose and usefulness.” McConkey said communication is the key to allow all those involved to understand the point of view of others in the transition. “In agriculture, it is not like you are just leaving a job; this is all about the legacy, pouring your life into something and seeing it grow and thrive,” McConkey said.
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Page 8 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 2022
ConƟnued from DOHERTY | Page 1
the Central Plains Dairy Expo in Sioux Falls. By greatly increasing stocking density, and if managed well, opportunity to improve income over feed costs is almost inevitable. Doherty gave the example of a farm increasing stocking density on a 450-cow herd where facilities were at 100%. Milk production was respectable at 85 pounds per cow per day with a 4% butterfat and 3.2% protein content; the cost to feed the herd was $0.13 per pound of dry matter per cow per day and a feed efciency of 1.5. The income over feed cost was reported at $162,000 for the herd. Increasing cow numbers for a 145% stocking density, but maintaining milk production, resulted in a net income of $235,000. Maximizing the facilities at 160% stocking density provided the dairy farmer with nearly $1.1 million in potential net income. “This is happening right now,” Doherty said. “We met with dairymen and women who are overstocking successfully, and we want to learn from them.” Doherty briey proled ve Minnesota farms he and his team are working with. They have all increased stocking density – upward of 145% to 165% – to maximize their facilities while not sacricing milk production or quality and cow health. Of the farms proled in Doherty’s presentation, all had the following commonalities. When looking at factors of cow comfort, the dairies all use deep-bedded sand stalls that are cleaned and managed daily, and are milking three times a day where time away from the pen is about 30 to 45 minutes. Doherty also noted that pen design has inuenced cow comfort and the ability to increase stocking density. Two-row pens tend to outperform 3-row pens; the farms pushing 160% stocking density are likely 4-row facilities. “We know right up front that 3-row pens are overstocked with headlocks no matter how many
cows you have there,” he said. “It can still work to increase stocking density, but maybe you can’t push it as much.” Observations also reveal that newly-built barns include a little wider crossover alley to create less opportunity for negative social interaction in the pens as cows navigate through the stalls and feed bunk.
“Cows that eat rst are going to be full and have a nice big meal. As that second group comes up to eat, drop that second feeding.” TIM DOHERTY, DAIRY FARMER
Additionally, each farm has a distinct and prescribed hoof trimming schedule of at least twice per lactation. “Hoof trimming doesn’t happen by accident,” Doherty said. “You have to have a disciplined schedule because we’re asking a little bit more of these cows, and they’re standing more. They have to have good wheels on them.” In regards to feed management, Doherty encouraged dairy farmers to aim for 3% to 5% refusals by weight so that feed is always available when a cow approaches the feed space. He suggested refusals then be fed to a low-producing pen or youngstock. Feed should also be pushed up to these highly-stocked pens two hours post feeding the rst batch. A second feeding should also be considered at three to ve hours later to accommodate slug feeding tendencies. “That is very important and something I recommend,” Doherty said. “Cows that eat rst are going to be full and have a nice big meal. As that second group comes up to eat, drop that second
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feeding.” Doherty recommended splitting batches between pens so that a farmer is mixing the same number of batches but spreading it out among the pens to ensure all cows are receiving fresh, available feed. This approach will also accommodate a pen’s social tendencies where a group of cows feed at a certain time while the other group lies down after milking. Farmers will also have to work with their nutritionist to ensure the diet consists of highly digestible neutral detergent ber and physically effective NDF to maintain rumen pH. “Poor forage quality is not doomed to be a bad diet,” Doherty said. “It’s not necessarily a negative to the farm if you drop some forage out and feed more digestible NDF to get energy and good, healthy milk production through a high stocking density scenario.” Doherty suggested monitoring the de novo fats of the milk to measure the success of the ration. Other common successes of high stocking density farms include properly functioning equipment and facility design to maximize efciency in the parlor as well as a team member who manages and communicates with people in the barn and in the parlor. “Do not start increasing stocking density until you have a good team,” Doherty said. “Otherwise, it will be a train wreck. These people will make you or break you.” In today’s market, it makes sense to ll the barns and maximize the facilities’ efciencies to capture more solids per stall. Increasing stocking density can be a solution to this if done well with the right management. “Milking cows right now is a largely protable venture,” Doherty said. “There is not one silver bullet here, but when put together, it makes sense for what it takes to be protable with high stocking density.”
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Page 10 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 2022
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By Abby Wiedmeyer abby.w@dairystar.com
WESTBY, Wis. – The many avors of Nordic Creamery’s cheese and butter can now be found in a more convenient location. After operating for 14 years in the store adjoining the production facility next to their home, Al and Sarah Bekkum have opened a store front in the old Accelerated Genetics building in Westby. They also plan to add a petting zoo to the site. “We moved the store to town a year ago just because we were kind of in the middle of nowhere, and we hope to get more trafc there right in town,” Sarah Bekkum said. “We are working on building the petting zoo which we hope PHOTO SUBMITTED to open by May 1.” Al Bekkum makes cheese curds at his produc�on plant near WestThe Bekkums have four local pa- by, Wisconsin. Bekkum has been a cheesemaker for 35 years. trons, all who milk 30 cows or less. Bekkum said the cheese is made the old-fashioned way, with open vats and a hands-on ar- couple began by purchasing milk and renting plant tisan style process. Production is four days per week, space. A refrigerator truck in their driveway served as with each day yielding about 1,000 pounds of nished a storage facility. “It was an out of the house business at rst,” product. All of the cheese is pressed into the forms by Bekkum said. “We started our brand that way. After hand and nothing is automated. two or three years, we started building the processing “A lot of the big dairy plants these days are great, plant.” but they are all computerized; the vats are computerThe plant was built outside their home in 2011 ized,” Bekkum said. and has the original store attached. After building They also take in goat and sheep milk which adds their own creamery, the couple continued to purchase variety to the cheese they offer. The main varieties of cheese are cheddar, muen- milk and produce cheese. One year later, they started ster and feta. Bekkum said there are eight varieties of milking cows to avoid having to purchase so much goat cheese, with the Grumpy Goat cheese being the milk. “We milked 30 cows, … but it was too much bemost popular of the goat cheeses. tween the store and milking and the kids,” Bekkum “It’s aged a little bit so the aged avor with the said. “We were just burning the candle at both ends. goat tanginess just mixes together really well,” BekWe decided to sell our cows and bring on patrons. kum said. “Then we’ve got a really good Blazin’ Billy Now, we let them do what they love to do, and we’ll which has jalapeno peppers in it.” People can also nd raw sheep cheddar and a do what we want to do.” Bekkum said the dairy industry and its producers sheep feta cheese as well. are vital for their business, and the connection is vital “I almost like sheep cheese better than goat cheese for their local economy. nowadays because I’ve grown to love it more,” Bek“It’s all linked together,” Bekkum said. “People kum said. “It kind of nishes a little sweeter at the end don’t realize that most of these local dollars stay lowhere goat cheese is a little more tangy.” cal.” In the last couple years, Nordic Creamery has Bekkum said consumers’ dairy purchasing trends started to offer A2A2 cheese as well. have evolved since the start of their business. Although they began by producing cheese exclu“I think people are more adventurous these days sively, the Nordic Creamery started producing butter and more willing to try new things,” Bekkum said. a few years ago, and Bekkum said their butter has “They also see more of the value of local food rathevolved into a favorite among customers. er than just buying the commodity cheddar. Online “I would say butter is our top selling item these shopping has become a huge thing too. People love to days,” Bekkum said. “People are really embracing have things delivered to their door.” butter and it’s delicious; it’s probably my favorite Bekkum uses coolers and ice packs to ship dairy dairy product.” products to customers. She said shipping can be Leaning toward the appeal of variety, Nordic Creamery offers avored butter such as garlic and Turn to NORDIC CREAMERY | Page 11 basil, cinnamon sugar and red pepper. Their newest product is a cultured butter, which involves adding a live culture to the cream which incubates for a day while developing avor. The butter is then nished with sea salt. “People really love the avored butters,” Bekkum said. “They are really great for cooking something at home and adding to something delicious. We are working on adding more avors.” Bekkum said the dairy industry has always been a part of her and Al’s life. “I grew up with the dairy industry, and it’s been a part of our adult life,” Bekkum said. “Al has been a cheesemaker for 35 years, and there are not many butter makers in this state.” After working for different dairy ABBY WIEDMEYER/DAIRY STAR plants for a few years, the Bekkums Nordic Creamery offers many varie�es of cheese made from cow, branched out on their own in 2007. The goat and sheep milk near Westby, Wisconsin.
Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 2022 • Page 11
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
ConƟnued from NORDIC CREAMERY | Page 10
Thank you, elves
We, Steve, Lori and Tyler Dockendorf, Farm together on a 170-cow dairy that sits 2 miles north of Watkins, Minnesota on County Road 2. Many people travel on County Road 2 every day. Some are people we have never met and some are friends, neighbors or relatives. One day, about two weeks after Christmas, a stranger put a pretty gray and green bag with a green ribbon in our mailbox. We could tell it hadn’t been mailed and that someone had set it in there. We opened the bag to nd a wonderful heartfelt note from a young family of six. The note explained how grateful they are for the hard work we do to feed the world and how each gift came from every member in the family. We have no idea who did such a wonderful gesture and we have no way of letting them know how much we appreciate their thank you to us and all the agricultural community. The best we could do was a “thank you” sign at the end of our driveway. Please read their note below. To the farmers who live here, This letter is coming to you from a Mom of 4. My children are 15, 10, 7, and 5. We drive by your place every now and then and my kids have named your farm “the big barn farm”, since we can see the large dairy at the edge of your property from the road. You may be wondering why I’m telling you this, and I’m about to answer. A little before Thanksgiving we were explaining to my youngest where turkeys come from. This led us into a conversation about where all food comes from. Since then, he’s been obsessed with farming and farmers and wants to grow things. We got him a house plant that he has to keep alive for the whole winter before we let him try and have a garden (which is what he wanted for Christmas by the way). So one day maybe 2 weeks before Christmas we were driving past your place again. I had 3 of my 4 kids with me and the 5-year-old goes, “Thank you big farm for our turkey!”, which we then explained didn’t come from your farm, but things like milk and cheese do. When the conversation ended, I turned my eyes back to the road. It was quiet in the car for maybe 5 seconds, when my 10-year-old said, “We should say thank you though. They didn’t make our turkey but they make a lot of other food.” My other kids quickly agreed and immediately started brainstorming. I sat quietly for a few minutes and absorbed the moment, because they were right, we should say thank you, and it took a 10-year-old to show me that. We decided to be “elves” and bring you a special Christmas treat. However, the elves who can drive were very busy before the holidays and only managed to get away from the workshop once Christmas was over! So our “’elves” have brought you a belated Christmas present with a little something from everyone. The peanut butter M&Ms are from my 10-year-old. They’re his favorite treat, (Don’t ask me why the store had red, white, and blue ones, but my 10-year-old thinks it’s hilarious, so we went for it.) The magnet was my husband’s idea. He had a good laugh when we picked it out. The scratch offs were my 5- and 7-year old’s idea. They get to scratch them off with their grandpa whenever we go to grandpa’s house, so they’re special to them. They occasionally get to pick out their own scratch offs with grandpa at the gas station, and they had a blast picking out these ones. (Seriously, it was a tough decision for them! I was giggling over their attempted strategizing to pick a winner.) My 15-year-old picked out the trufes as they’re her favorite stocking stuffer at Christmas. And last but not least, the ornament is from me. My hope is that each year at Christmas you will hang it on your tree and be reminded of the gratitude this family of 6 has for you and the agriculture industry everywhere. There is no way we could do what you do, and I am so grateful that someone can. I’m sure I can’t even begin to comprehend the sacrice, time, and energy spent trying to make a farm functional, and sitting down right now thinking about it makes my head spin. I can hardly keep my 4 kids and husband in order, how on earth do you manage a whole farm?! Thank you again for everything you do. You are appreciated more than we can say. May the new year be lled with blessings to your family. We wish you good health, a happy home, and many smiles. The Elves
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Sarah Bekkum visits with customers at her producƟon plant near Westby, Wisconsin. Bekkum and her husband, Al, have been making cheese and buƩer for 15 years. tricky in the summer but so far has not had problems. The couple offers a large variety of gift boxes and other buying options on their website. Besides online purchasing, people can also nd Bekkum and the Nordic Creamery products at the Viroqua farmers market on Saturday mornings. They also promote their products by entering into contests when possible. “This year, we entered the World Champion Cheese Contest with our
butter and won a silver medal,” Bekkum said. “It’s really exciting.” Going forward, the couple will try to expand on their varieties and avors. One thing that will not change, however, is their tie to the dairy industry. “I guess it’s kind of in our blood,” Bekkum said. “I grew up on a dairy farm and was always really in to agriculture, and he was the cheesemaker so it was just a good t for us. Now, it’s just what we do.”
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Page 12 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 2022
Making plans
Young newlyweds dairy farm for future while honoring the past By Jerry Nelson
jerry.n@dairystar.com
ESTELLINE, S.D. – It has been said that life is what happens when you have made other plans. This adage has proven true but has worked out extremely well for Katie and Cole Hoyer. Cole grew up on his family’s 140-cow dairy farm located in West Salem, Wisconsin. “My dad Michael, my grandpa Ron and my aunt Donna Olson operated our dairy,” Cole said. “We bred registered Holsteins with a focus on high genetic value. Growing up, I showed dairy cattle for 4-H, FFA and in open-class competitions.” Cole had always planned to attend college. He looked at several nearby universities when he read something that changed the course of his life. “Our (Associated Milk Producers Inc.) newsletter contained a ier for South Dakota State University,” Cole said. “SDSU was very competitive, plus they offered degrees in both dairy production and dairy manufacturing.” Cole enrolled at SDSU and began taking classes in July 2014. Another new student also began taking classes at SDSU later that year.
“I grew up milking cows in my family’s 56-cow tiestall barn,” Katie said. Katie’s parents, Byron and Mary Beth Hendrickson, dairy farm in the Estelline area. “I started taking animal science courses at SDSU in the fall of 2014 as a pre-veterinarian student with an emphasis on animal science,” Katie said. “But I found that I missed dairying too much, so in 2017 I decided to double major in pre-veterinarian courses and in dairy production.” Katie’s decision would lead to yet another change in plans. “One of the rst dairy production classes I took was dairy microbiology lab,” Katie said. “Howard Bonnemann, who taught the class, seated his students in alphabetical order. Hoyer and Hendrickson are close together, so Cole and I were seated next to each other. We also became lab partners.” Cole was president of the SDSU Dairy Club and soon recruited Katie to join. As they participated in club activities such as cheese box sales and attending dairy expos, Katie and Cole became part of a cadre of close friends who all had dairy farm backgrounds. “Most of our dairy farm friends graduated in the spring
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Cole and KaƟe Hoyer and KaƟe’s parents, Mary Beth and Byron Hendrickson, milk 120 head in their roboƟc facility on their farm located at Estelline, South Dakota.
of 2018,” Cole said. “Katie had another year of college left, and I still had another semester.” Katie and Cole’s friendship soon grew into something more. They began dating in 2019. It was not long before the couple
began to make wedding plans. In the meantime, changes were happening at Katie’s and Cole’s home farms. “Dad had always been very interested in robotic milkers,” Katie said. “He would talk about
them while we were milking and would show me videos of cows being milked with robots.” Byron and Mary Beth built
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Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 2022 • Page 13
ConƟnued from HOYERS | Page 12 a robotic milking facility in 2017. They started out with one milking robot and have since added a second. Things went in a different direction at Cole’s home farm in West Salem. “By April of 2021, my family had made the decision to stop milking cows,” Cole said. “They are now raising replacement heifers and beef cattle in our faciltiies with my brother, Bradley.” Katie and Cole were wed Aug. 7, 2021. “Most of the people in our wedding party were dairy farm friends who we met in college,” Katie said. Over the years, Cole had accumulated a herd of 53 dairy cows. They were mostly Holsteins, but he also owned a few Jersey and Brown Swiss cows. Part of Katie and Cole’s wedding preparations included moving Cole’s 40 lactating cows from West Salem, Wisconsin, to Estelline. “Dad was milking about 80 head at the time, and his two robots can handle about 120 head, so adding Cole’s cattle worked out really well,” Katie said. Cole and Katie’s hectic life has not slowed in the least since their wedding. They are in the midst of remodeling and adding onto a house they moved to an acreage located 3 miles from the Hendrickson farm. “We are doing all of the remodeling work ourselves with the help of family and friends,” Cole said. “We owe a lot to our local community. Dad took a job at a cabinet shop after he quit milking, so he’s going to make all of the doors for our cabinets.” The Hendrickson dairy operation involves three generations. Katie’s grandfather Dennis Hendrickson, 83, is in charge of mixing the feed for all of the animals on their farm. “My parents, Dennis and Louise, moved to this farm and started milking cows in 1944,” Byron said. “Some of
our farmland has been in the family since 1908. Mom passed away 16 years ago. Coming out to the farm and working with us is therapy for Dad.” Katie, too, enjoys the life dairy farming offers. “I grew up with dairy farming,” she said. “I enjoy being outdoors, working with baby calves and being around Cole and my family every day. You have to work hard, but you also have freedom.” Cole and Katie want to honor the past as they make plans for the future. “My great-grandfather, Norbert Nuttelman, had a herd of Guernsey cows and provided bottled milk for La Crosse, Wisconsin, until the 1930s,” Cole said. “We would like to do something similar. Maybe we will sell bottled Jersey milk or start making artisanal cheese or yogurt. We want to be different. We also want to give people the dairy products that they want. Our hope is to establish our own niche and create something outside of ourselves.” Cole works part-time at an off-farm job with hopes to transition to the farm full time. The Hoyers are actively involved with dairy promotion. One way Cole has done this has been by serving as a dairy judge for local 4-H achievement days. “I love showing dairy cattle and would like to get back into showing again someday,” Cole said. “We also want to get more young people involved in the dairy industry by holding workshops at our farm or by leasing dairy cattle to young people. We need to get the next generation involved to help keep the dairy industry healthy.” Other promotional opportunities have been offered to the Hoyers. “I was recently appointed to a spot on the board of Midwest Dairy Association,” Cole said. “We are both very excited about the MDA and all of the dairy promotion opportunities that it will present.”
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From Our Side Of The Fence Ron Durst Mantorville, Minnesota Dodge County
Describe the dairy farm you had and when you got out of dairy. I started in the dairy business in 1978 when my wife, Marsha, and I returned to Mantorville, Minnesota, and formed a partnership with by two brothers, Allen and Ken. Durst Bros. Partnership purchased the dairy farm owned by our parents, Victor and Hylah Durst. We started with 112 milk cows. Through the years, we went through many expansions. What was the home farm was not suited for expansion; so therefore, the next step was purchasing a neighboring dairy farm. This farm had a modern dairy setup, which allowed us to expand by another 300 cows. That lasted for about 10 years. Around 1995, we desired to further expand our dairy operation. However, neither dairy site was suitable for a 1,000-plus dairy herd. Therefore, we decided to build a green eld dairy. Construction was started in June 1996, and the rst cows were milked at that location in April 1997. This allowed us to combine the two previous dairies into one location. Eventually the dairy grew to approximately 1,500 cows, plus 1,200 replacement heifers. We sold the dairy farm in the fall of 2016. How did you transition out of dairying? From the beginning, we had always planned to sell the farm upon retirement. Therefore, we felt we needed to create something of value for a future buyer. As we all approached retirement age, it took about three years to reach a decision to sell the farm. At that point, we hired a realtor, and it took another three years to nd the right buyer. What have you done since selling your cows? Four months after selling the farm, my wife, Marsha, passed away from cancer. Her wish for me was that I not live my life looking in the rear-view mirror. I got involved in volunteer work and traveling. People are always asking me if I miss the dairy farm. My answer is no; I don’t. It was time for me to move on with my life. Three years later, I was fortunate to nd a new life partner, who had also grown up on a dairy farm. Lois Burdick and I were married in 2020. What was the main reason you exited the dairy industry? Retirement. What was the biggest challenge and success of your dairy career? There are challenges every day, but my biggest challenge was battling cancer, both myself and my wife, over a period of 10 years. What technology currently used in the dairy industry do you wish you would have had? We had the most up-to-date technology at the time to do what we needed to do. What advice do you have for the next generation of dairy farmers? First of all, you have to start with a vision of what you want to accomplish. Due to the volatility of dairy prices, you need to know your cost of production. You need to form a team who can assist you with making decisions about your farm. I was thankful I had the opportunity to work with my wife, who was also an employee of the dairy, and my brothers. We started with almost nothing and created a state-of-the-art dairy.
Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 2022 • Page 15
Retired dairy farmers: What was your biggest challenge and success?
Dan Deutz Lake Benton, Minnesota Lincoln County Describe the dairy farm you had and when you got out of dairy. We milked 75 cows in a stanchion barn and fed them with small square bales. We didn’t push the cows very hard but had a 20,000-pound rolling herd average. We got out of dairying in 2014. How did you transition out of dairying? We got out by selling our entire milking herd to someone. We have been raising dairy heifers ever since, which has worked well for us with our pastures. We have also added more land and have grown our herd of stock cows. What have you done since selling your cows? Our kids got into working as crop insurance adjustors. My wife and I travel a little more now, mostly to visit our daughter in Duluth and our son in Rochester. What was the main reason you exited the dairy industry? I was 64-years-old, and it seemed like we were losing money every year. One of our sons was interested in
What was the biggest challenge and success of your dairy career? The biggest challenge was getting started from scratch. I took over the dairy herd from Dad, but we had to buy all of the machinery that we needed to farm the land and feed our cows. Our biggest success was going to articial insemination to breed our cows. It really helped us improve our herd’s genetics. What technology currently used in the dairy industry do you wish you would have had? I wish that we’d had genomic testing. This would have helped us accelerate the improvement of our herd’s genetics. Robotic milkers are interesting, but we probably wouldn’t have gone that route. What advice do you have for the next generation of dairy farmers? Try to keep your costs down. You probably don’t need all of the new gadgets. Enjoy what you are doing every day. Don’t let yourself get down when times are tough.
What have you done since selling your cows? Since selling the cows, we continue to farm and feed out some cattle. Describe the dairy farm I have taken a part-time you had and when you job as a loss adjuster for got out of dairy. We were the U.S. Department of milking 58 cows in a tiestall Agriculture and seasonal barn. We fed out our steers. package driver for UPS. We had 150 acres of cropJane has taken a part-time land. job with Otter Tail Power, substitute teaches and beHow did you transition came the township clerk. out of dairying? We made She also helps with the a two-year plan to get out, farm when needed. We adjusting feed supplies with an end date in have been able to get away more often. We mind. We put the herd up for sale, and when have taken a trip West, to Finland to visit they hadn’t sold, we scheduled an auction at our daughter, to Texas to visit family and the sale barn. we sh more often. Brad Knorr Pelican Rapids, Minnesota Otter Tail County
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Page 16 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 2022
ConƟnued from OUR SIDE | Page 15 What was the main reason you exited the dairy industry? We decided to get out of milking cows. I was 62, and our facilities were 47-years-old and in need of major repairs or upgrades. What was the biggest challenge and success of your dairy career? The largest challenge we faced was the weather. It affects everything you do from haying, hauling manure and caring for cattle. Our successes were doing the best we could and getting respect from within the industry. What technology currently used in the dairy industry do you wish you would have had? Had I been younger, I would have looked at robotics with a greater interest.
What advice do you have for the next generation of dairy farmers? To the next generation in dairying, take care of your cattle, keep them clean, dry and out of the mud. Take care of your feed. A 10% savings in feed is cheaper than 10% more land. Adapt to new technology and new ideas. Listen to people who think differently than you. You may learn something. Take care of yourself and your family. They need you, and you need them. Get involved in your cooperatives and your community. You may not change the world, but you will gain an understanding of how it works. Let your mistakes be opportunities for learning. Good luck.
Describe the dairy farm you had and when you got out of dairy. We had a small dairy farm of 200 acres of land with around 155 tillable. We also had 50 milking head along with another 35 heifers and calves. How did you transition out of dairying? We sold most of the milk cows to my nephew and his wife, and the rest were sold on the open market. We then raised up the heifers and sold them as springers.
Scott and Jolene Tumberg New York Mills, Minnesota Otter Tail County
What have you done since selling your cows? I immediately started working mornings at my nephew›s farm feeding their cattle. It was kind of neat to still see some of our cows each morning at their place. Almost four years ago, I began to work for the Patton-Schad Funeral Home as an assistant. I enjoy having both of these jobs. I would hate just sitting around each day with nothing to do. I want to stay active and be around people.
Describe the dairy farm you had and when you got out of dairy. We milked 80 Holstein cows in a 67-cow tiestall barn. We raised our replacements. We planted corn for silage and alfalfa. We chopped all our forages. The labor was us and our seven kids. We sold out April 2, 2019. How did you transition out of dairying? A year before we sold out, we were looking to renance at another bank. The loan ofcer looked at our numbers and said, “You might want to think of selling out. You actually have something here. I’ve seen too many dairy farmers hang on for another ve years and walk away with nothing.” We hadn’t even considered getting out at that time. The milk prices were low, and the futures didn’t look any better. As annoyed as we were to hear what the banker said, it planted the seed. In August 2018, we looked at things from a business side and took the emotion out of it and made the hard decision. The kids didn’t show any interest in pursuing the dairy. Scott was also in need of a hip replacement. At that time, we called the auctioneer. We worked with them to prepare for the sale.
Dan and Char Meyer (not pictured) Meire Grove, Minnesota Stearns County
What was the main reason you exited the dairy industry? Health, low milk prices and high input costs. What was the biggest challenge and success of your dairy career? Our biggest challenge was being a small dairy trying to compete in an ever-advancing dairy industry (which is exciting to see). The biggest success is raising a family on the farm. Also, the feedback from those who bought cows and heifers off our sale prove that our hard work was not in vain.
What technology currently used in the dairy industry do you wish you would have had? The two technologies we wish we would have had are heat-deWhat have you done since selling your cows? We tection monitoring and a sand-bedded freestall barn. kept our bull calves and steers. We fed the forages we had left. We took a few months to deal with ev- What advice do you have for the next generation erything and look for jobs. Scott got his hip replaced of dairy farmers? The best advice we have is to raise three months after the sale. In the fall of 2019, we the best quality forages you possibly can. Watch your both started working for the local Walmart. With the bottom line. Don’t try to keep up with the next guy. Do work ethic of a farmer, we were able to advance in the what is best for your farm. Take care of the cows. As we have seen, there is life outside of dairy. It’s a difcompany fairly quickly. ferent life, but a good life.
What was the main reason you exited the dairy industry? The uctuating milk prices and the continuing rise of feed costs. Mostly, I just got burnt out of it all. What was the biggest challenge and success of your dairy career? Our greatest joy came from being able to raise our children on the farm. We wouldn›t change that for anything. I would also say that we had a pretty nice herd of cows too. What technology currently used in the dairy industry do you wish you would have had? Maybe having a parlor with automatic takeoffs. What advice do you have for the next generation of dairy farmers? Know what you are getting into. It won’t be easy nancially, with a lot of ups and downs, but the rewards of raising your family on your farm far outweigh any negatives.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 2022 • Page 17
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Page 18 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 2022
Breeding Prole
Bredl-Lueck breeds for well-balanced cows Martine Bredl-Lueck of Harmony Ho Dairy Stratford, Wisconsin Marathon County 600 cows Describe your facilities and list your breeding management team. We milk 500 registered Holsteins which are housed in a 4-row freestall barn with sand bedding. They are milked in a newly installed double-12 parallel parlor, updating our original parlor from 1997. The breeding management team consists of myself (Martine), Genex technician Jamie Weisenberger and Jill Colloton, our reproductive veterinarian, who provides us with ultrasound pregnancy detection biweekly.
breed). Heat detection is done with timed articial insemination or pedometers. Any cows that show heat after rst breeding are bred; all others will be presynchronized with GnRH as we do pregnancy checks every other week. Ultrasound is utilized for pregnancy detection, calf sexing, identifying twins or other abnormalities. The voluntary waiting period is 75 DIM. All cows are bred rst service with sexed semen, rst lactation will be bred with sexed semen on second service and all other cows second service are bred using conventional or beef semen at my discretion.
What is your current pregnancy rate? Our pregnancy rate is 32%.
Describe your breeding philosophy. Our breeding goals are to breed well-balanced cows with well-attached udders and correct feet and legs that will produce milk without any healthy issues.
What is your reproduction program? Do you use a synchronization program? How do you get animals pregnant? All cows enroll in a presynch program at 36 days in milk. We ultrasound before breeding to ensure proper stage of cycle at which time they are enrolled in an Ovsynch program (day 1 GnRH; day 7 Lutalyse; day 8 Lutalyse; day 9 GnRH; day 10
What guidelines do you follow to reach the goals for your breeding program? It is an interesting time in bull selection. The genetic level available in all young bulls is so extreme that you can select any bull in a company’s line up and still make genetic gains in your own herd. I try to select bulls that meet my criteria and are within a reasonable price range.
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
MarƟne Bredel-Lueck milks 600 cows with her family on their Harmony-Ho Dairy in Straƞord, Wisconsin. The family has a 32% pregnancy rate. What are the top traits you look for in breeding your dairy herd, and how has this changed since you started farming? The goals have remained the same throughout time. The goal has always been
to breed a well-balanced cow that can produce milk efciently. The major difference has happened with the onset of genomics and the information this has provided us. I like to focus on several key areas to create
my ideal cow: GPTI and Net Merit both as high as I can nd within a reasonable price range, PTAT greater than 1.5, Pounds
Turn to BREEDING | Page 20
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Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 2022 • Page 19
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Page 20 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 2022
ConƟnued from BREEDING | Page 18 of Fat and Protein, DPR and Legs Side View (as an industry, legs have become extremely posty, and I am hoping to correct this). Sire stack is also important as many bulls are related. I am trying hard to minimize inbreeding as much as possible. Of all bulls we use, 90% are genomic youngsires with a small handful being proven bulls or beef. What are certain traits you try to avoid? No specic traits are avoided; all traits are evaluated at the time of bull selection and bulls are eliminated from the list based on the above criteria. Describe the ideal cow for your herd. My cows must be functional, productive, healthy and eye appealing. I prefer a cow who is angular, silky-hided, with correct feet and legs, high and wide rear udder, snug fore udder, correct teat placement, wide rump, sweeping ribs and moderate stature. I enjoy watching the 2-year-olds calve and mature to see the results of our bull selection in milking form. What role does genetics have in reaching the goals of your farm? Part of our farms business plan has always been to sell high-quality dairy replacements. We have always been able to generate a surplus of females. The genetics side of the business is important because we can utilize all the tools to breed high-quality cattle with
great genetic potentional.
What percentage of your herd is bred to sexed, conventional and beef semen? Most of the milking herd is bred to sexed semen on the rst service, rst lactation will be bred with sexed semen on second service, and all other cows will be bred with either conventional or beef semen. All mating decisions are done by myself. I utilize a sire mating program which aligns specic bulls to specic cows based on a few parameters (i.e. herd genetic goals and percent inbreeding). We do dabble with embryo transfer work if we have an animal that merits the expense. Our heifers have been utilized as recipients for other dairies who do a lot of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer work which has been a nice addition to our program. What is the greatest lesson you have learned through your breeding program? To decide what is important to you, set goals, follow a plan, be patient, and have skilled and knowledgeable people on your team to help you make the best decisions for your farm. What is the age of your heifers at rst service? Heifers enter the breeding group at 13 months of age with a target breeding by 14 months and calving at 22.523 months of age. How does your heifer inventory affect your breeding program? We try to generate
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
Close-up cows wait for their calves to arrive in the maternity pen at Harmony-Ho Dairy near Straƞord, Wisconsin. a consistent heifer inventory throughout the year, but by nature we have ebbs and ows in the inventory. Theoretically, the heifer population is genetically superior to the mature cow population, so we have always bred the best bulls to the heifers. We also try to generate the largest percentage of heifer calves from the heifer population. The greatest herd inventory controls happen with the mature cows not the heifers.
Tell us about your farm. Harmony-Ho Holsteins was established near Stratford Wisconsin, the heart of Marathon County, in 1989 by fourth-generation dairy producers Ralph and Sharon Bredl and daughter Martine Bredl-Lueck. Today, HarmonyHo Holsteins is home to 600 high genetic merit registered Holsteins whose milk is processed into cheese at the family-owned Harmony Specialty Dairy Foods located in Athens, Wisconsin. Duties on the farm
have shifted as Ralph and Sharon approached the retirement years allowing Martine to move into a roll of more ownership along with daily responsibilities to keep the farm plugging along. The farm employs 10 key full-time employees with four part-time employees, two of which are local high school students.
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Equipment and pictures added daily • Go to www.mmcjd.com DISKS Summers DIAMOND DISK, 1996, 28’, 3-Section Folding, #532112 ..........................$13,000 JD 637, 2006, 29’, 3-Section Folding, #532550 ..........................................................$15,500 JD 650, 1997, 32’, 3-Section Folding, #185256 ..........................................................$18,000 Krause 8200-28W, 2010, 28 ft, 3-Section Folding, #275204....................................$22,900 JD 637, 2004, 23’, 3-Section Folding, #532542 .........................................................$23,500 JD 637, 2010, 37’, 3-Section Folding, #191801 .........................................................$25,900 JD 637, 2011, 35’, 3-Section Folding, #532530 ..........................................................$26,000 Case IH RMX340, 2009, 35’, 3-Section Folding, #181151..........................................$29,400 JD 637, 2011, 42’ 5-Section Folding, #523980 ..........................................................$29,500 Landoll 6230-26, 2012, 26’, 3-Section Folding, #532374 .........................................$32,500 JD 2680H, 2021, 10’, Rigid, #532352 .........................................................................$39,900 JD 2625, 2013, 33’, 3-Section Folding, #275921 ........................................................$39,900 Wishek 862nt, 2014, 26’, #276355 ...........................................................................$39,900 JD 2625, 2014, 40’, 5-Section Folding, #532507 ........................................................$44,000 JD 2623, 2012, 4’, 5-Section Folding, #523876 ..........................................................$49,900 Degelman PRO-TILL 40, 2016, #191161 .................................................................$95,995 FIELD CULTIVATORS JD 980, 1998, 36’, 3-Section Folding, #532504 ..........................................................$11,500 Wil-Rich Quad 5, 47’, 5-Section Folding, #532076....................................................$11,500 Case IH 4300, 2001, 38’, 3-Section Folding, #186653 ...............................................$11,995 Wil-Rich Excel 42’, 1999, 42’, #276243 .....................................................................$14,900 JD 2200, 2002, 34’, 3-Section Folding, #185898 ........................................................$19,000 Case IH TIGERMATE II, 2003, 50.5’, 5-Section Folding, #186586 ..............................$19,000 Case IH TIGERMATE II, 60’, 5-Section Folding, #532083...........................................$21,900 Case IH TM14, 2005, 50.5’, 5-Section Folding, #187546 ...........................................$26,900 Wil-Rich QUAD 5, 2012, 36’, 3-Section Folding, #531719 .........................................$33,900 JD 2210, 2004, 35’, 3-Section Folding, #532437 ........................................................$34,900 JD 2210, 2008, 42’, 5-Section Folding, #531703 ........................................................$39,900 JD 2210, 2014, 38’, 3-Section Folding, #532138 ........................................................$43,900 JD 2230, 2018, 60.5 ft, 5-Section Folding, #532409 ................................................$144,900 HAY MERGERS Kuhn 1300, 2021, #524031 ....................................................................................$135,000 MOWER CONDITIONERS KUHN FC4000RG, 2012, #273847............................................................................$12,900 NH 1432, 2007, #531654 ..........................................................................................$14,000 JD 535, 2006, #531226 .............................................................................................$14,900 JD 946, 2001, #531949 .............................................................................................$17,500 CASE IH DCX131, 2008, #275006.............................................................................$17,900 NH 512, 2012, #272184 ............................................................................................$17,900 NH H7230, 2015, #176984......................................................................................$22,400 JD 946, 2016, #532531 .............................................................................................$24,999 JD 956, 2016, #177925 .............................................................................................$28,900 JD 956, 2015, #180948 .............................................................................................$35,900 JD C400, 2021, #531334 ...........................................................................................$41,500
LARGE SQUARE BALERS KRONE BP890, 2008, 38000 Bales, #185784 ...........................................................$41,900 NH BB940PT, 45000 Bales, #189397......................................................................$39,000 NH 330, 2013, 18741 Bales, #524006......................................................................$64,900 ROUND BALERS KRONE BP890, 2008, 38000 Bales., #185784 ..........................................................$41,900 JD 566, 1998, Reg. PU, 540 PTO, 5’ Bale, 14000 Bales, #181621..................................$9,400 JD 567, 2001, Mega Tooth PU, Twine Wr., 540 PTO, 5’ Bale, 15000 Bales, #191170 ......$9,500 JD 435, 1991, Reg. PU, Twine & Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 4’ Bale, #532055 ....................$9,950 JD 466, 1997, Reg. PU, Twine Wr., 540 PTO, 4’ Bale, 20000 Bales, #531378..................$9,950 JD 567, 2002, Mega Tooth PU, Twine Wr., 540 PTO, 5’ Bale, 8486 Bales, #189795 ......$10,250 JD 568, 2009, Mega Tooth PU, Surface Wr., 540 PTO, 5’ Bale, 21016 Bales, #276166..$10,900 NH BR780, 2003, Mega Wide PU, Twine & Surface Wr., 540 PTO, 5’ Bale, 5979 Bales, #189190 ..................................................................................................$13,500 JD 566, 2000, Mega Tooth PU, Twine& Surface Wr. 540 PTO, 5’ Bale, 9000 Bales, #185847 ..................................................................................................$14,900 NH BR7060, 2012, Mega Wide PU, Twine Wr., 540 PTO, 4’ Bale, #191972..................$15,500 JD 468, 2007, Mega Wide PU, Twine Wr., 1000 PTO, 4’ Bale, 14630 Bales, #532080 ...$16,900 NH BR7090, 2008, Reg. PU, Twine Wr., 540 PTO, 5’ Bale, 4500 Bales, #187234 .........$17,500 JD 568, 2010, Mega Wide PU, Twine & Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale, 22500 Bales, #185782 ................................................................................................$19,950 JD 568, 2010, Mega Wide PU, Twin & Surface Wr., 540 PTO, 5’ Bale, 17000 Bales, #191921 ................................................................................................$20,500 JD 459, 2015, Mega Wide PU, Twine Wr., 1000 PTO, 4’ Bale, 12000 Bales, #185719 ...$20,900 JD 568, 2011, Mega Wide PU, Twine & Surface Wr., 540 PTO, 5’ Bale, 17869 Bales, #273365 ................................................................................................$20,900 JD 568, 2012, Mega Wide PU, Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale, 16000 Bales, #190535 $21,500 NH Rollbelt 460, 2016, Mega Wide PU, Twine & Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 4’ Bale, 12800 Bales, #185645 ....................................................................................$23,900 JD 568, 2011, Mega Wide PU, Twine & Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale, 12814 Bales, #532159 ................................................................................................$24,500 JD 569 Silage Special, 2016, Mega Wide PU, Twine & Surface Wr., 540 PTO, 5’ Bale, 13738 Bales, #189642 .....................................................................$24,500 JD 568, 2012, Mega Wide PU, Twine & Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale, 11000 Bales, #532300 ................................................................................................$25,500 JD 569, 2014, Mega Wide PU, Twine & Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale, 15560 Bales, #179194 ................................................................................................$25,900 JD 569, 2014, Mega Wide PU, Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale, 16639 Bales, #275377 $25,900 JD 568, 2011, Mega Wide PU, Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale, 6804 Bales, #531240 ..$27,900 JD 450E, 2021, Reg. PU, Twine & Surface Wr., 540 PTO, 4’ Bale, 1600 Bales, #190086$27,900 JD 568, 2008, Mega Wide PU, Twine & Surface Wr., 540 PTO, 5’ Bale, 11500 Bales, #274734 ................................................................................................$27,900 JD 854 Silage Special, 2011, Mega Wide PU, Twine & Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 4’ Bale, Precut Knives, 10500 Bales, #191935 .............................................................$28,000
JD 568, 2012, Mega Wide PU, Twine & Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale, 9000 Bales, #275245 ..................................................................................................$29,900 JD 459 Silage Special, 2014, Mega Wide PU, Twine & Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 4’ Bale, 5775 Bales, #531345 .....................................................................$30,500 JD 569 Premium, 2016, Mega Wide PU, Twine & Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale, 11000 Bales, #531225 ....................................................................................$30,900 Claas 480RC, 2017, Mega Wide PU, Surface Wra, 540 PTO, 4’ Bale, Precut Knives, 5165 Bales, #179187 ...........................................................................$31,500 JD 569, 2014, Mega Wide PU, Twine & Surface Wr., 540 PTO, 5’ Bale, 10866 Bales, #185783 ................................................................................................$31,900 JD 569, 2014, Mega Wide PU, Twine & Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale, 12950 Bales, #274282 ................................................................................................$31,900 JD 459 Silage Special, 2017, Mega Wide PU, Twine & Surface Wr., 540 PTO, 4’ Bale, 5355 Bales, #532355 ......................................................................................$34,500 JD 569, 2015, Mega Wide PU, Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale, 8000 Bales, #275564 ..$34,775 JD 459 Silage Special, 2016, Mega Wide PU, Twine & Surface Wr., 540 PTO, 4’ Bale, 4700 Bales, #531823 ......................................................................................$35,500 JD 460M, 2018, Mega Wide PU, Twine & Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 4’ Bale, 9694 Bales, #185644 ..................................................................................................$35,900 JD 569, 2017, Mega Wide PU, Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale, 7400 Bales, #531256 ..$36,500 JD 560M, 2019, Mega Wide PU, Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale, 12500 Bales, #191873 ................................................................................................$36,900 JD 569, 2014, Mega Wide PU, Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale, 7500 Bales, #275820 ..$37,900 JD 569, 2015, Mega Wide PU, Twine & Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale, 5720 Bales, #531335 ..................................................................................................$40,000 JD 460M, 2018, Mega Wide PU, Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 4’ Bale, 7000 Bales, #187682$40,000 JD 560M, 2018, Mega Wide PU, Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale, 7600 Bales, #181057$41,500 Krone Comprima V180XC T, 2016, Mega Wide PU, Twine & Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 4’ Bale, Precut Knives, 7450 Bales, #182694...............................................$41,900 JD 560M, 2018, Mega Wide PU, Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale, 4000 Bales, #531241$45,900 NH Rollbelt 460, 2020, Mega Wide PU, Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 4’ Bale, 173 Bales, #531262 ....................................................................................................$46,000 JD 560M, 2019, Mega Wide PU, Twine & Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale, 3576 Bales, #531213 ..................................................................................................$46,900 JD 450M, 2018, Mega Wide PU, Twine & Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 4’ Bale, Precut Knives, 5200 Bales, #191843 ...........................................................................$47,000 JD 560M, 2019, Mega Wide PU, Twine & Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale, 5430 Bales, #276358 ..................................................................................................$47,900 JD 450M, 2019, Mega Wide PU, Surface Wr., 540 PTO, 4’ Bale, Precut Knives, 1000 Bales, #531693 ..................................................................................................$48,500 JD 560M, 2021, Mega Wide PU, Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale, 5900 Bales, #531233$49,500 JD 560M, 2019, Mega Wide PU, Twine & Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale, 4174 Bales, #275819 ..................................................................................................$49,900 JD460M, 2020, Mega Wide PU, Twine & Surface Wr., 1000 PTO, 5’ Bale, Precut Knives, 3277 Bales, #275937 ...........................................................................$59,900
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Page 22 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 2022
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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
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Hooray for farm cats
I love cats. My favorite animal second only to cows, I’ve known hundreds of cats in my lifetime. Growing up, our farm was home to countless cats of every color and personality. The feline was a big part of my childhood, and most of our cats offered as much unconditional love as any dog. There was a time when I thought that playing with cats was actually one of my jobs on the farm. When I was too young to pick rocks with the rest of the family, my dad gave me kittens to play with in the truck that he parked at the edge of the eld. When I was little, I also had picnics with the kittens on our front lawn, wrapping them in diapers I By Stacey Smart made out of paper towels. Staff Writer Farm cats do not always get enough credit, but I feel they are an important xture on any dairy. They work behind the scenes, keeping those pesky rodent and bird populations in check. They drink up extra milk so it does not go to waste. They eat the leftover turkey from Thanksgiving, cleaning up every last bone. Cats know how to cheer a person up with their entertaining antics. And, what could possibly be cuter than a kitten? Our cats lived all over the farm – in the tiestall barn, the pig barn, the machine shed, the granary and the old milkhouse. At one point, my mom fed cats in ve different places. She sometimes pretended to be annoyed, but she really had a soft spot in her heart for these furry felines. We had the great mousers who could live independently to the mediocre hunters to those cats who said they’d take their nine lives with a big helping of table scraps on the side. Oh, and please don’t forget a serving of warm milk. Cats on the farm have a way of multiplying faster than rabbits. There were times we had up to 30 cats roaming the farm. There always seemed to be a cat that was pregnant, and we also welcomed a lot of strays. Some found our farm on their own; others were dropped off when no one was looking. When a bundle of black and white came bounding across the eld behind our house one afternoon, my mom told us to get inside because she thought it was a skunk. However, it was a cat we eventually named Barbara who is remembered as being one of our best hunters. This long-haired beauty would line up rat heads outside the barn door to earn my dad’s approval. Ginger was another top-notch hunter. She and Barbara had more offspring than we could count but both could have won mother of the year awards for their strong maternal instincts. Mr. Cuddles was a big, black tomcat that was allowed to come into the house to play and take naps with me on my bed. Thomas – a stunning white and orange cat – was given to us by our priest after someone dropped him off on the church doorstep. He was a big ball of friendliness that easily stole our hearts. Another favorite cat was Stacey. Yes, I had to name one after myself. She was a beautiful Calico with a charming personality to match. She unfortunately met her fate in the barn cleaner one dreadfully sad day. Then there was Janet, a three-and-a-half-legged cat who survived being hit by a car. She hobbled around the farm but did not let the loss of part of one limb slow her down much. The cats’ favorite holiday was Christmas. We always had a tree in the barn but soon realized ornaments had no place on a tree cats could climb in. The cats thought the little red balls hanging from the branches were toys put there just for them. Each morning, we would nd ornaments all over the oor or in the gutter. Over the years, I have loved and lost many a farm cat. But, they all live on in my memories, and I’m reminded of all the great times we had together when I walk in a barn to do a story interview and nd a cat, or many cats, waiting to greet me. I nd that most farm cats are friendlier than the average house cat. They love to be pet by anyone and do not disappear when a stranger rings the barn doorbell. They say that dogs come when they are called, but cats take a message and get back to you. I’ve known this to be true, but I thought no less of the cat who preferred to do things on her own timetable. Although sometimes viewed as unimportant farm creatures, cats often provide a lot of joy and happiness to the farms they inhabit. If you’re a cat lover like myself, I’m sure you can relate.
Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 2022 • Page 23
Accumulation of good genetics, youth involvement Leidings honored as Minnesota PDCA Distinguished Breeders By Kate Rechtzigel kate.r@dairystar.com
Editor’s note: This is the rst of a series of articles highlighting the 2021 and 2022 Minnesota Purebred Dairy Cattle Associations’ Distinguished Breeders. FOUNTAIN, Minn. − March 11 was an exciting day for Todd and Stacy Leiding as they were recognized as one of Minnesota Purebred Dairy Cattle Association’s Distinguished Breeders for 2021. “We are humbled, honored and proud to receive this award,” Stacy said. Stacy and her husband, Todd, milk 40 registered Holsteins in a tiestall barn and farm 350 acres of alfalfa, corn and soybean on their farm, ShirMan Registered Holsteins, near Fountain. The Leidings named a Minnesota PDCA’s Distinguished Breeder along with Clover Glen Farms from Claremont, Kimm’s Dairy from Pelican Rapids and Wayne and Kris Houdek from Caledonia at the Minnesota PDCA’s luncheon during the Minnesota All-Breeds Convention March 11 in Willmar. The Leidings breed for a high standard of genetics, have been involved in their local
communities and have made an impact with local dairy youth. “I was overcome with emotions while thinking of my dad,” Stacy said. “I think he would have been proud. I am very proud to continue the tradition of registered Holsteins that my parents started.” The Leidings’ current rolling herd average is 25,000 pounds. “We like to have cows that milk well and look good while doing it,” Stacy said. In the fall of 1995, Stacy and Todd joined the operation and purchased the herd from Stacy’s parents in 2008. “There have been registered cattle on the farm ever since Stacy’s parents bought them in the early part of their career,” Todd said. Todd’s daily tasks consist of scraping, mixing feed, calf chores and eldwork while Stacy milks the cows, does calf chores, registers cattle and does all of the matings. “My mom, Shirley, is no longer involved with daily tasks on the farm, but she does enjoy keeping up with the day-to-day operations,” Stacy said. The Leidings’ twin daughters, Kayla Sexton and Haely Leiding, help on the farm outside of their off-farm jobs. Hae-
ly is an agriculture education teacher and FFA advisor at the Academy for Sciences and Agriculture High School in Vadnais Heights, and Kayla works as an equipment coordinator at Minnesota Ag Group, Case IH. Kayla and her husband, Lance Sexton, also farm with his family in Millville. The Leidings have long been involved in showing registered Holsteins at the local, state and national levels such as the Minnesota State Holstein Show and the Midwest Fall National. “Many of the cows that are special have been project animals that have become barn and family favorites,” Stacy said. One cow that made a lasting impact on their herd was Shir-Man Dundee Kay. “She was Haely’s rst 4-H heifer,” Stacy said. Shir-Man Dundee Kay was an EX-92, had eight daughters during her time on the farm and has over 25 offspring that can be connected to her in the herd consisting of daughters, granddaughters and great-granddaughters. “Her two offspring, ShiMan Durham Kandy and ShirMan Sanchez Kit-Kat, are very notable in our herd,” Stacy said. “They are stylish, well balanced, have really good udders, milk well, have a low somatic cell count and are a nice t into our herd.” Shir-Man Durham Kandy was an EX-91, a member of the
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Todd and Stacy Leiding are pictured with the 2021 PDCA disƟnguished breeder award they received during the Minnesota All-Breeds ConvenƟon March 11 in Willmar. The Leidings milk 40 registered Holsteins in Fillmore County. 2007 all-Minnesota junior best three and a junior all-Minnesota junior 2-year-old 2011. “She was shown by Kayla,” Stacy said. Shir-Man Sanchez Kit-Kat was an EX-91, reserve junior all-Minnesota spring calf, a sec-
ond-place junior 2-year-old at the Midwest Fall National and a junior all-Minnesota junior 3-year-old. “She was shown by Haely,” Turn to LEIDINGS | Page 25
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Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 2022 • Page 25
ConƟnued from LEIDINGS| Page 23 Stacy said. “The girls both had their senior pictures taken with those cows.” Another barn favorite is Shir-Man Capt Licorice. “She was shown in 4-H, FFA and open class by Kayla,” Stacy said. “She is straight lined, has a beautiful udder and nice feet and legs. She also has a red December heifer that we’re really excited about and hope to show this summer.” Shir-Man Capt Licorice scored a VG-86, was second place Red and White spring calf at the Midwest Fall National in 2017, was second place Red and White spring yearling at Midwest Fall National in 2018 and was shown at World Dairy Expo in 2017 and 2018. Shir-Man Capt Licorice is in her third lactation and milking 140 pounds per day, said Stacy. When selecting sires, the Leidings focus on high type, udders, feet and legs, positive milk and health traits. “Cows with good udders and feet and legs last and continue on in your herd,” Stacy said. Some bulls that have worked well in the Leidings’ herd are Damion, Dundee,
Durham and Sanchez. “Through these bulls and our breeding traits, a combined longevity can be passed on through the pedigree,” Stacy said. Stacy is also impressed with her Ammo, Crush and Attorney daughters and likes her calves by Altitude, Warrior and Admiral. In addition to the farm, Stacy and Todd are also involved with the Fillmore County Dairy Herd Improvement Association and Fillmore County American Dairy Association. They were Rochester Area Holstein Club board members for several years. Stacy has been one of the main coaches of the Fillmore County dairy project bowl team for 10 years, has served as the ofcial judge for multiple county dairy shows and showmanship contents, is one of the founding committee members for the Southeast Minnesota Youth Dairy Show, an organizer of the Fillmore County Open Class Dairy Show and has also coached the Fillmore County 4-H dairy judging team for 20plus years.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Members of the University of Minnesota Dairy Judging Team look over cows on the Leidings’ farm near Fountain, Minnesota. The Leidings have hosted pracƟce for the judging team since 1984.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
The Leidings – (from leŌ) Stacy, Kayla Sexton, Haely and Todd – are pictured with a trio of cows aŌer a show. The Leidings have shown at the local, state and naƟonal levels. “In my time as coach, we have had many state-winning and national-qualifying teams for dairy judging, and the quiz bowl team has won the state title multiple times,” Stacy said. “It’s fun to see youth develop and improve year after year and being able to work with kids that enjoy the dairy industry as much as I do. It was also fun to be able to coach my own daughters.” Todd has been involved in a different side of the industry serving as an Associated Milk Producers Inc. division director for ve years and an AMPI elected ofcial for the past 16 years. The farm has also hosted practice for the University of Minnesota dairy judging team since 1984. “We take a lot of pride in hosting youth on our farm,” Stacy said. The Leidings have also won the Fillmore County DHIA lowest SCC award
for multiple years and received the Milk Quality Award from AMPI since 2008. They have been on the list of Minnesota dairy herds with a low SCC awarded by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and were Fillmore County’s Farm Family of the Year in 2009 as a member of the Fingerson family. Stacy and Todd won the Lanesboro FFA honorary degree, and Stacy was honored as an outstanding 4-H alum. Whether in their breeding success or involvement in their communities, the Leidings have made an impact in Minnesota’s dairy industry. “We hope to be remembered as dairy farmers who were involved in the industry as a family,” Stacy said. “We hope we are also viewed as hardworking people who gave back to area communities after working with Minnesota dairy youth for many years.”
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Page 26 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 2022
A haven near the county line
Kurth family recognized by Minnesota PDCA By Grace Jeurissen grace.j@star-pub.com
STEWART, Minn. – It is not uncommon for KurthHaven Farms to be full of life. Ever since he was young, Michael Kurth remembers the dinner table being full of mouths to feed and the barn full of the Holstein breed. Now just eight years after Michael and his wife, Kacie, ofcially stepped up to run the farm as their own, they have been recognized for having a herd that performs and produces. Michael and Kacie, along with his parents, LeRoy and Susan Kurth, were recognized as a 2022 Minnesota Purebred Dairy Cattle Association Distinguished Breeder March 12 at the AllBreeds Convention in Willmar. “It is an honor to be recognized for the work we have done,” Kacie said. Michael agreed. “I felt proud of my family and of our cows, because everyone here is invested in, or enjoys helping, around the farm,” he said. The state board of directors for the Minnesota Holstein Association nominated the Kurths for the award after looking over records and establishing that the herd has improved and is classifying well under breed standards. Michael and Kacie milk 85 cows in a tiestall barn and farm 800 acres. “We have started focusing more on herd health and livability of our cows, and it seems like we are headed in the right direction,” Michael said. The Kurth family has a history in the Holstein breed. LeRoy and Susan began milking in 1969 on the family farm. They have passed down a love
GRACE JEURISSEN/DAIRY STAR
The Kurth family – (front, from leŌ) LeRoy and Susan; (middle, from leŌ) Shelby Swanson, Kari Swanson, Kacie and Rachel; (back, from leŌ) Sierra Swanson, Michael and Chandler – are one of the 2022 Minnesota Purebred Dairy CaƩle AssociaƟon’s DisƟnguished Breeder. The Kurths milk 85 cows near Stewart, Minnesota. Not pictured are ChrisƟan Kurth, Brianna Kurth and Mackenzie Swanson.
for Holsteins from one generation to the next. “I knew from the time I was probably 6 years old that I wanted to farm just like my dad,” Michael said. “We had a great foundation for a good herd from my parents, but when we took over the farm, our efforts have helped really get the herd to
the next level.” Kacie said she remembers watching Michael work with his dad for many years, and they shared similar opinions when it came to genetics and breeding decisions. Turn to KURTHS | Page 27
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ConƟnued from KURTHS | Page 25
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GRACE JEURISSEN/DAIRY STAR
Cows at KurthHaven relax in the barn during classifying April 1 at the Kurth family’s farm near Stewart, Minnesota. The Kurths milk 85 cows.
All of the cattle at KurthHaven Farms are bred with articial insemination. They breed heifers with sexed semen and have begun crossbreeding cows with beef semen if cows have a harder time settling. The Kurth family utilizes embryo transfer from four to ve of their top cows each year as a way to quickly improve the genetics on their farm. The Kurth family has been working and showing cattle together for many years. A cow family that has given KurthHaven Farms much success is
ing production without sacricing components. Michael and Kacie work full time on the farm. They spend much of their quality time together in the barn. “We often times start on opposite ends of the barn and meet in the middle,” Michael said. Over the years, Kacie said it was not uncommon for the Kurth family dinner table to be lled with not only Michael and Kacie’s children but also nieces. “It was almost every day of the week our dinner table had “We had a great foundation 12 to 13 people at it,” Kafor a good herd from my cie said. The family gatherings are still regular at Kurthparents, but when we took Haven Farms, with Miand Kacie’s children, over the farm, our efforts chael Chandler, and his wife, RaChristian and Brianhave helped really get the chel, na, making efforts to help herd to the next level.” when they can. LeRoy and Susan, now in retirement, MICHAEL KURTH, DAIRY FARMER help on busy days. Michael and Kacie are grateful to their family for from the now-deceased cow, Kurth- participating in the farm. Even MiHaven KacieDurham, who reached chael’s sister, Kari Swanson, helps 93 points during her classication. with calves regularly. “Something we are proud of is “Some days it feels like we never our Breed Age Average reaching get off the farm, but there is always 108.9%,” Michael said. “I breed for someone here to lighten the work high type traits and feed for produc- load or make your day,” Kacie said. tion while considering animal health Michael and Kacie both rememtraits along with it.” ber a time when their children were Sixty-two cows are Michael and little and the best babysitter was the Kacie’s while the other 23 cows are cows. their nieces’, Sierra, Mackenzie and “We would put the kids in a playShelby Swanson. The Swanson sis- pen during milking or let them swing ters own Three Sisters Dairy and in the walk way,” Kacie said. manage their herd at the KurthHaven There is potential for the next Farms farm site. generation of Kurths to start farming Sierra works closely with the as they show interest in the farm. Kurths every day because the two “You have to be in it for the long herds are raised together. Sierra said haul,” Michael said of farming. some of the goals they are working Kacie agreed. together on is to continue increasing “Farming is an uphill battle,” she the BAA of both herds and increas- said.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 2022 • Page 29
Women In Dairy Kayla Mensendike Elizabeth, Illinois Jo Daviess County 45 cows Family: My husband and I reside in Elizabeth, Illinois. I milk cows with my parents, Greg and Kim Moret, who reside in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Richard is a dairy nutritionist for Purina. Tell us about your farm. My personal farm is 40 acres located right outside the small town of Elizabeth. My husband and I crop hay and house beef and some dairy including my new venture of Jerseys. We also occasionally custom raise dairy show heifers for others. The majority of my dairy herd resides in Prairie du Chien at my parents’ farm, GBM Holsteins. The farm is 160 acres with some additional crop and pasture ground rented. We milk 45 Holsteins. What is a typical day like for you on the dairy? My situation can be quite stressful at times. I drive up to the Prairie du Chien farm about four days per week. When I am there, I typically do all the milking by myself and am in charge of taking care of youngstock and milking cows. I do most of the feeding, bedding and cleaning pens. Most of my days are spent in the skid loader. My time in Prairie du Chien allows my dad to get caught up with eld work, manure hauling, errands and small projects that need to get done around the farm. My mom works off the farm. So, the days I am not there, Dad is doing chores by himself. It gets to be stressful during the busy times of the year to coordinate getting crops done between both farms. What decision have you made in the last year that has beneted your farm? On my personal farm in Elizabeth, my husband and I were able to purchase the ground and buildings we had been renting from his family. It’s a nice feeling to say we own that now. A decision I made on my parent’s farm was the downsizing of the herd. My parents are nearing the end of their dairy career, and milking fewer cows has eased the stress on people and the animals. It has also eased the stress of me needing to be there as often, and I can be home, staying caught up at my own place. Tell us about your most memorable experience working on the farm. I can’t narrow it down to one, but denitely the last few years some of the success in the show ring with junior champions, top-end nishers at national shows and a premier breeder banner have been memorable. In the barn, I would say it’s the fact we have bred more than 150 Excellent cows. That has been something we have been very proud of. What have you enjoyed most about dairy farming or your tie to the dairy industry? The network of people I have met and the overall opportunities. When I was younger, I spent a lot of time traveling the United States and Canada working shows and elite cattle sales. Those opportunities led to me meeting some of my closest friends. Four of my bridesmaids were ladies I met through the dairy industry. These ladies have been great at motivating me to stay involved and keep the re going. What is your biggest accomplishment in your dairy career? Being married for 10 years (in August) and going strong. I have been doing this commute between farms for more than eight years, and it denitely hasn’t been easy on my marriage. Without the support and patience of my husband, I denitely wouldn’t have seen any success in this industry. What are things you do to promote your farm or the dairy industry? Like a lot of dairy producers, the use of social media has been helpful in the sale of cattle. Getting youth involved in the dairy industry is crucial. I am always open to allowing youth to show calves from our farm for summer projects. I also want these kids to have the same opportunities I had at their age and either hire them to go to other shows with me or get them employed with other show strings. On the dairy promotion side, keeping an open dialog with consumers is important. Many of my friends and family in Illinois are not
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Page 30 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 2022
New connections come with creamery program
Korvers selected as AMPI’s young cooperator By Grace Jeurissen grace.j@star-pub.com
ALTON, Iowa – An evening that started with dinner and the buzz of dairy farmers chatting ended with a new set of responsibilities for Brad and Janora Korver of Alton. The Korvers were selected as the Associated Milk Producers Inc. Young Cooperator of the Year in which they serve as the chairpersons for the young cooperator steering committee. For the next year, the Korvers will work with other committee members to connect dairy farmers in their creamery with each other.
Brad and Janora along with their four children – Autumn, Emma, Cassidy and Dustin – milk 150 cows in a double-9 parabone parlor, custom raise heifers and farm 350 acres in Sioux County. To be selected as a young cooperator, one must be a member or afliate of the cooperative and under the age of 45. The Korvers were the vice chairpersons in 2021. “We were excited to be selected,” Janora said. “We did know that we would be presidents this year, but it is still exciting to continue being involved.” Brad agreed. “I’d say we are looking forward to it, because we really enjoyed being a part of it last year,” he said. The Korvers will help organize and run each event with their fellow YC committee members as well as attend planning meetings throughout the year. The MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR Korvers will also report to the cooperative’s corporate Janora and Brad Korver, pictured with their son, DusƟn, aƩend the Central Plains Dairy Expo for an AMPI Young Cooperator networking event March 30 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
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board regarding each event the committee organized. The Korvers said their purpose as YCs is to provide education and networking opportunities for fellow member-owners. One of the rst events they planned was a networking event at the Central Plains Dairy Expo in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. In June, the group will partake in a summer tour in River Falls, Wisconsin. The tour will feature dairy manufacturing education at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Dairy Pilot Plant and AMPI farms in the area. The steering committee is putting together another networking opportunity for member-owners during World Dairy Expo. “We are going to work to keep the program going as well as we can,” Brad said. “We want to help allow opportunities for other YCs to get involved, learn and network.” The Korvers value their cooperative’s YC program because it allows them to learn more about the cooperative and engage with other member-owners. “There are a lot of things that can take your time, but you have to prioritize what is important to your operation,” Janora said. “It is worth it.” Brad agreed. “The YC program is great to learn about your creamery and meet people your age doing the same thing you are day in and day out,” he said. The Korvers said they continue to educate themselves by attending YC events, listening to seminars, reading agricultural publications and talking with other farmers. While the Korvers are engaged in the industry, their ultimate goal is to do their best as dairy farmers. “Farming has a lot of factors,” Brad said. “We try to do our best every day, control what we can and hope for the best possible outcome. If we take care of the cows, the cows will take care of us, and I stand by that.” Outside of being YCs, the Korvers work hard to provide the best for their animals. They focus on a balanced diet for their livestock. Brad’s brother, Tim, does the feeding on the farm, so there is consistency in their feeding program. While Brad’s dad, Don, focuses his efforts on quality crop production. On top of nutrition management, the Korvers emphasize the importance of keeping cows and calves healthy and comfortable. Janora takes care of calves and when needed receives help from Heather, Brad’s sister-in-law. Brad grew up on the farm and took over the dairy from his father in 2014. He does a lot of the herdsman work like breeding, milking and cow care. The Korvers are involved in their church, partake in their children’s school activities and were on their county dairy promotion board. In their spare time, they enjoy getting away with their children to go biking, hiking and canoeing. As Brad and Janora embark on their year ahead, they are humbled to serve as young cooperators for AMPI. “We think it is important to get out and talk with other farmers, and the YC program has been a good way for us to do that,” Janora said. “Now we get to continue helping farmers make those connections within our creamery.”
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Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 2022 • Page 31
Ben Kraft (pictured with his son, Wesley) Barron, Wisconsin Barron County 54 cows How did you get into farming? I’ve always had an interest in dairy farming. Being born and raised on a dairy farm, it was in my blood. When I was in high school in the late 1990s, I worked off the farm for other farmers, and I would take heifer calves as payment for my labor. That worked out well for me. It was a cheap and easy way to start adding onto Dad’s small herd. I chose to stay home and help keep the family farm going full time when I was in high school. In 2000, my parents and I entered into a partnership, with me receiving a percentage of milk for my wages. My parents thought it was a good teaching moment about the volatility of the milk market. I had a second job off the farm as a school bus driver for 15 years. I hated it, but it helped me get where I’m at today. On Jan. 2, 2017, I signed the papers taking over ownership of my family dairy farm that my parents bought in 1982. What are your thoughts and concerns about the dairy industry for the next year? The price of everything concerns me. Prices go up, and prices go down. I hope everything follows with it when prices change. What is a recent change you made on your farm and the reason for it? I started chopping hay and bagging it instead of round baling wet and wrapping bales or dry hay. It is easier to chop and bag everything, and I’m able to keep up with feeding it. Tell us about a skill you possess that makes dairy farming easier for you. I keep things simple. I’m kind of old school with my farming practices. I don’t like
to be done, and then, I have to walk away. I’ve learned that is the best way. As long as the job gets done, it gets done. I’m set in my ways, so it’s best I don’t see how it’s done. There’s a reason you never see my wife in the barn. We’ve done that a couple of time in our 16 years of marriage. What do you enjoy most about dairy farming? I enjoy the challenges of the job. You never know what is going to happen from one day to the next. I do a lot of my thinking while I’m milking cows or doing eldwork. It’s not just manual labor; there’s a lot of thinking and planning that goes into it.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
The KraŌs – (from leŌ) Wesley and Ben – milk 54 cows near Barron, Wisconsin. anything too complicated, so that if I had to leave and be gone for a milking or two, someone can come in and gure everything out quite easily. I like the pen and paper method over computers any day. What is the best decision you have made on your farm? One of the best was going to bagging haylage. The next best thing was putting plastic liners in the feed mangers. That is the best money I ever spent. It allows for easy cleanup and increased feed intake right away. What are three things on the farm that you cannot live without? The skid loader is the big one. It goes every day. From feeding, cleaning up manure or moving equipment around, I can’t imagine farming without it. Battery-operated tools are becoming
a favorite now too. I started with a grease gun and now have impact wrenches too. They are nice. A side-by-side has to be the last thing. My wife and I bought one last spring, and we are starting to nd many uses for it. What strategies do you use to withstand the volatile milk prices? I work to keep the debt load as low as possible. When things are good, pay up bills or save. When things go the other way, you are not completely lost trying to make ends meet. How do you maintain family relationships while also working together? I don’t have any employees. I’m small enough that one man can do it. My boys help me a lot, and I’ve got a brother who comes over to help with eldwork. I tell them what needs
What advice would you give other dairy farmers? Keep your debt load as low as you can, and don’t get too big unless you like dealing with hired help and the problems that go along with that. Look at diversication also; having money coming from different areas helps a lot, whether it’s from cash crops, meat, milk or off-farm income. It all helps. What are your plans for your dairy in the next year and ve years? I would like a new barn cleaner. I started nding out this winter how bad my chain is. A new feed room or bulk bin for ground feed and protein would be nice as well. Other than those, I wouldn’t change too much. How do you or your family like to spend time when you are not doing chores? My wife and I like to travel some now that the boys are old enough to take care of chores when we are gone. I like Vegas and tractor shows. Sandee and I like trail riding on our side-by-side. We like going out to eat and going to the mall. In the nice weather, Sandee and I enjoy going for drives and seeing what we see.
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Page 32 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 2022
www.extension.umn.edu/dairy
What can fatty acids in milk do for your dairy? By Brad Heins
University of Minnesota
Consumers are becoming more concerned about the origins of food, and increasing benecial fatty acids in milk has the potential to provide new dairy products for consumers. Health food stores have high omega-3s in milk as an emerging trend based on consumer interest. Because of the growing trend, cattle producers may capitalize on it, which may represent a potential new resource for dairy production in the United States. Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are essential human nutrients yet consuming too much omega-6 and too little omega-3 can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes. Today, Americans consume 10 to 15 grams of omega-6 for every gram of omega-3. Previous research with organic dairies has shown that consuming dairy products lowers dietary intakes of omega-6, while increasing intakes of omega-3 and conjugated linoleic acid, a heart-healthy fatty acid. So, how do we measure these milk fatty acids? Milk fatty acids can be used to monitor dairy herds and explore situations where they may have milk fat depression. On farm milk samples can be measured for fatty acids that include de novo, mixed and preformed fatty acids groups. The fatty acids are determined by mid-infrared spectroscopy, which is fast and inexpensive with milk samples. Dairy Herd Improvement Associations are able to provide this information to farmers through milk testing, just as they can do with milk pregnancy testing and Johne’s disease and Leucosis testing. De novo fatty acids are short and medium chain (C4 to C14) and are synthesized in the mammary gland from substrates like butyrate and acetate, which are produced in the rumen from forage fermentation. Preformed fatty
acids are long chain (≥ C18) from the diet or mobilized body fat early in lactation. Mixed fatty acids (C16, C16:1) are both de novo and preformed. A goal for a well-managed Holstein herd is preformed 1.5 grams per 100 grams; mixed 1.4 grams per 100 grams; and de novo 0.87 gram per 100 grams. There is limited fatty acid research with breeds. Our University of Minnesota dairy herd in Morris, Minnesota, has been working with Minnesota DHIA to evaluate our dairy breeds and our two herds (organic and conventional) for fatty acid proles to evaluate these proles and what we can do to improve our herd. For our study, we compared fatty acid proles of Holstein cows; Grazecross crossbred cows composed of the Normande, Jersey and Viking Red breeds; and ProCROSS crossbred cows composed of the Montbéliarde, Viking Red and Holstein breeds from monthly DHIA test days. The University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center in Morris has a dairy herd that is managed separately as an organic and a low-input conventional herd. Total fatty acid, de novo fatty acid (C4:0 to C14:1), mixed fatty acid (C16 and C16:1) and preformed fatty acid (C18 to C18:2) concentrations were provided by Minnesota DHIA (Buffalo, Minnesota) from the morning milking from monthly DHIA test day data. The table below has fatty acid proles for cow breeds groups from our dairy herd in Morris. There were no differences for fatty acids concentration for the organic and conventional herd. For total fatty acid, Holstein cows had lower concentrations than Grazecross and ProCROSS cows. Furthermore, Grazecross cows had higher concentrations of de novo fatty acids than Holstein and ProCROSS cows. The Grazecross cows had higher concentrations of mixed fatty acids than Holstein and ProCROSS cows.
Grazecross cows had higher concentrations of preformed fatty acids than Holstein and ProCROSS cows. Milk fat from Grazecross cows had 13.1% more total fatty acids than Holstein cows and 7.7% more total fatty acids than ProCROSS cows. For the Holstein cows in our herd, we are right at the goals for mixed and de novo fatty acids, but we are a little low for preformed. Therefore, we want to monitor body condition score of our Holstein cows as they are mobilizing more body fat than our cross-
breds. Based on our early results, dairy producers interested in marketing milk with higher fatty acid concentrations may consider a three-breed rotational crossbreeding system of the Normande, Jersey and Viking Red breeds. Milk fatty acid testing along with fat and protein test, milk urea nitrogen and milk production from DHIA will provide farms with new information on farm and feed management practices that will ultimately help improve dairy farm protability.
Holstein ProCROSS Grazecross Total fatty acid (g/100 g milk) 3.59 3.77 4.06 Preformed fatty acid (g/100 g milk) 1.32 1.38 1.49 Mixed fatty acid (g/100 g milk) 1.39 1.45 1.55 De novo fatty acid (g/100 g milk) 0.91 0.96 1.04 Fatty acid proles from January 2021 to February 2022 Dana Adams, adam1744@umn.edu 320-204-2968
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Managing ventilating rates as seasons change By Kevin Janni
University of Minnesota
Warm weather is on the horizon. As the weather goes from mild to warm to hot, ventilating rates need to be adjusted for lactating cows. Cold weather ventilating rates are managed to avoid manure freezing, high humidity levels and condensation on cold surfaces. This article is about ventilating rates for mild to hot weather when rates are adjusted to manage barn temperatures and avoid heat stress. Minimum recommended ventilating rates for lactating cows in the Dairy Freestall Housing Equipment Handbook (MWPS-7), in cubic feet per minute per 1,400-pound cow, are 50 CFM/cow in cold weather, 170 CFM/cow in mild weather and 470 CFM/cow in hot weather. These recommended ventilating rates give a sense of how rates change with weather. But with only three rates (i.e., cold, mild and hot), there are gaps in our understanding of how ventilating rates need to be adjusted to manage barn temperatures with changing outside temperatures. Figure 1 shows ventilating rates (CFM per 1,450-pound cow) for a dairy barn housing lactating cows as outside temperatures go from 30 degrees below zero to 100 degrees. The triangles show ventilating rates needed to manage barn moisture levels. The dots are ventilating rates selected to manage the indoor barn temperatures as shown in Figure 2. Figure 1 is an example. All barns will perform differently. Ventilation may be at other rates and successfully manage barn moisture and temperatures. Ventilation rates may move more or less than 750 CFM per cow in hot weather. The results in Figure 1 show that when the outside temperature is zero degrees or colder, the ventilating rate needs to be based on moisture because the triangles are above the dots. When the outside temperature is 10 degrees to 100 degrees, the ventilating rate needs to be based on temperature control because the dots are higher than the triangles. Figure 2 shows the indoor barn temperature at the ventilating rates given by the dots in Figure 1. Barn temperatures go from 23 degrees to 103 degrees as outside temperatures go from 30 degrees below zero to 100 degrees. As discussed in a previous Dairy Star article, the cold ventilating rates used were selected to keep the barn temperature around 23 degrees to avoid noticeable milk yield declines due to cold temperatures. Manure freezing is also avoided. The ventilating rates used ranged from 41 CFM/cow at 30 degrees below zero to 160 CFM/cow at zero degrees. These rates include the 50 CFM/ cow cold weather rate recommended in
MWPS-7. During this cold weather, high humidity and condensation would be expected in the barn. As the average outside temperature increased from 10 degrees to 50 degrees, the ventilating rate increased from 170 to 250 CFM/cow, and the barn temperature increased from 32 degrees to 60 degrees. This range includes the recommended 170 CFM/cow mild weather rate in MWPS-7. The temperature difference between outside and inside decreased from roughly 22 degrees to 10 degrees. You may manage your barn differently. If you ventilate at a lower rate, your barn temperature will be higher. During this mild outdoor temperature range, cow ventilating rates between 150 to 300 CFM/cow can be used to manage the barn temperature between 30 degrees and 60 degrees. As outside temperatures increase from 50 degrees to 65 degrees, ventilating rates needed to increase from 250 CFM/cow to the hot weather rate of 470 CFM/cow or higher. This ventilating rate jump is needed to avoid barn temperatures above 68 degrees when high-producing cows can begin to experience heat stress. If the maximum ventilating rate is 470 CFM/cow, which is the recommended hot weather rate in MWPS-7, the indoor barn temperature will be about 5 degrees higher than the outside temperature (not shown). Using 750 CFM/cow, as used in Figure 1, the barn temperature is roughly 3 degrees higher than outside. If a 1,100 CFM/cow rate is used, the indoor barn temperature will be around 2.5 degrees higher than the outside temperature (not shown). To keep barn temperature rises as low as possible, without any cooling, the maximum ventilating rate needs to be used when outside temperatures are above 65 degrees. The take-home messages are: – Ventilating rates need to change rapidly as the outside temperatures approach 65 degrees to avoid barn temperatures reaching heat stress levels for highproducing cows. – The maximum ventilating rate needs to be used when outside temperatures are 65 degrees or higher to avoid heat-stressful barn temperatures. – The maximum ventilating rate available impacts the barn temperature rise when evaporative or other cooling is not used. – Ventilating rates need to increase as outside temperatures increase from 10 degrees to 50 degrees to manage barn temperatures. The ventilating rate increase needed will depend on each barn’s temperature goals. Ventilating rates needed vary with barn, animal and weather conditions. Be prepared to manage a barn’s ventilating system to manage barn temperatures as outside temperatures warm up this year.
Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 2022 • Page 33
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Page 34 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 2022
Think hoppy thoughts
This past month has own by, and before we know it Easter, planting and, of course, summer will be here so soon. But, until then, we can focus on what is in the present and how we can all be intentional with our families as the next holiday approaches. I am happy to share what I’ve been doing this past month. I started the month with some exuberant fourth graders at Glen Lake Elementary in Minnetonka. They have On the Road with been studying regions of agPrincess Kay riculture in the Midwest and were happy to learn about the dairy side of agriculture with me. They all had wonderful questions and were so excited to meet a real princess that day. They went on a virtual tour of a dairy farm and learned about a day in the life of a dairy cow: what they eat, where they are milked and, the fan favorite, where the calves are. By Anna Euerle Next, I attended the 68th Princess Kay of the Minnesota All Breeds ConMilky Way vention and spoke about the importance of having a good mentor. I was overjoyed to be surrounded with so many familiar faces that were excited to talk about the future of the dairy community. We honored some of the instrumental members of the dairy community who have passed and the impact they left, and continue to leave, on us today. The foundation of my speech was having a good mentor, and the individuals honored that afternoon were just that for so many across our state and beyond. I also spent time with the Meeker County (my home county) dairy royalty at their annual banquet. My butter sculpture and I tagged along for an evening full of passion in speaking and bumping elbows with the new royalty for the year. I was able to share some words about the impact of Minnesota’s Dairy Princess Program, what I’ve done so far throughout my reign and the gratitude I have for some of the very people who got me to where I am today. My last appearance of the month was at the Minnesota Farm Bureau Foundation’s inaugural Ag Day Gala. We shared stories about agriculture, read the state proclamation declaring Agriculture Day a holiday in Minnesota and recognized some of the key individuals who are able to make the Farm Bureau organization what it is today. Our meal was entirely sourced from farms in Minnesota, all the way down to the caramel sauce on the cheesecake. As Easter is coming in the next few weeks, ideally with a warm up in the forecast as well, we are slowly inching toward spring planting. Whether you choose to celebrate Easter or not, I encourage you all to take one day to spend around loved ones and those who are important in your life. As farmers, our busy season is rapidly approaching, if it isn’t already here. To kick off into warm weather eldwork and all that comes with being a part of agriculture, it’s important we do so on the right foot. There will be trials and tribulations in every aspect of our lives, inside and out of farming. But, conding in those around you, making an effort to spend time with them before your time is spent on the farm or in a tractor seat, can make a huge difference in the mindset you have as we embark into the next season of our lives. I hope you all have a safe and enjoyable Easter, and may you soon spend time with those you value and love. 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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Payments to be available for farmers impacted by drought
New Emergency Livestock Relief benets to be delivered through two-phased approach; compensation for 2021 forage losses
The U.S Department of Agriculture announced that ranchers who have approved applications through the 2021 Livestock Forage Disaster Program for forage losses due to severe drought or wildre in 2021 will soon begin receiving emergency relief payments. The payments are for increases in supplemental feed costs in 2021 through the Farm Service Agency’s new Emergency Livestock Relief Program. Background On Sept. 30, 2021, President Biden signed into law the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 117-43). This act includes $10 billion in assistance to agricultural producers impacted by wildres, droughts, hurricanes, winter storms and other eligible disasters experienced during calendar years 2020 and 2021. Additionally, the act specically targets $750 million to provide assistance to livestock producers for losses incurred due to drought or wildres in calendar year 2021. ELRP is part of FSA’s implementation of the act. For impacted ranchers, USDA will leverage LFP data to deliver immediate relief for increases in supplemental feed costs in 2021. LFP is an important tool that provides up to 60% of the estimated replacement feed cost when an eligible drought adversely impacts grazing lands or 50% of the monthly feed cost for the number of days the producer is prohibited from grazing the managed rangeland because of a qualifying wildre. FSA received more than 100,000 applications totaling nearly $670 million in payments to livestock producers under LFP for the 2021 program year. Congress recognized requests for assistance beyond this existing program and provided specic funding for disaster-impacted livestock producers in 2021.
grams, including the Pasture, Rangeland, Forage Rainfall Index Crop Insurance Program, as Congress intended. The second phase of the crop program will be intended to ll additional assistance gaps and cover eligible producers who did not participate in existing risk management programs. Through proactive communication and outreach, USDA will keep producers and stakeholders informed as ERP implementation details are made available. Additional livestock drought assistance Due to the persistent drought conditions in the Great Plains and West, FSA will be offering additional relief through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish Program to help ranchers cover above normal costs of hauling livestock to forage. This policy enhancement complements previously announced ELAP compensation for hauling feed to livestock. Soon
after FSA announced the assistance for hauling feed to livestock, stakeholders were quick to point out that producers also were hauling the livestock to the feed source as well and encouraged this additional exibility. It is important to note that, unlike ELRP emergency relief benets which are only applicable for eligible losses incurred in the 2021 calendar year, this ELAP livestock and feed hauling compensation will not only be retroactive for 2021 but will also be available for losses in 2022 and subsequent years. To calculate ELAP program benets, an online tool is available to help producers document and estimate payments to cover feed transportation cost increases caused by drought and will soon be updated to assist producers with calculations associated with drought-related costs incurred for hauling livestock to forage. USDA disaster assistance information can be found on farmers.gov.
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ELRP phase one To be eligible for an ELRP payment under phase one of program delivery, livestock producers must have suffered grazing losses in a county rated by the U.S. Drought Monitor as having a D2 (severe drought) for eight consecutive weeks or a D3 (extreme drought) or higher level of drought intensity during the 2021 calendar year, and have applied and been approved for 2021 LFP. Additionally, producers whose permitted grazing on federally-managed lands was disallowed due to wildre are also eligible for ELRP payments, if they applied and were approved for 2021 LFP. As part of FSA’s efforts to streamline and simplify the delivery of ELRP phase one benets, producers are not required to submit an application for payment; however, they must have the appropriate forms on le with FSA. ELRP payment calculation To further expedite payments to eligible livestock producers, determine eligibility and calculate an ELRP phase one payment, FSA will utilize livestock inventories and drought-affected forage acreage or restricted animal units and grazing days due to wildre already reported by the producer when they submitted a 2021 Livestock Forage Disaster Program Application form. Phase one ELRP payments will be equal to the eligible livestock producer’s gross 2021 LFP calculated payment multiplied by a payment percentage to reach a reasonable approximation of increased supplemental feed costs for eligible livestock producers in 2021. The ELRP payment percentage will be 90% for historically underserved producers, including beginning, limited resource and veteran farmers and ranchers, and 75% for all other producers. These payments will be subject to a payment limitation. To qualify for the higher payment percentage, eligible producers must have a Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource, Beginning and Veteran Farmer or Rancher Certication form on le with FSA for the 2021 program year. Payments to eligible producers through phase one of ELRP are estimated to total more than $577 million. Emergency Relief Program assistance for crop producers FSA is developing a two-phased process to help diversied, row crop and specialty crop operations that were impacted by an eligible natural disaster event in calendar years 2020 or 2021. This program will aid crop producers and will follow a two-phased process similar to that of the livestock assistance with implementation of the rst phase in the coming weeks. Phase one of the crop assistance program delivery will leverage existing federal crop insurance or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program data as the basis for calculating initial payments. Making the initial payments using existing safety net and risk management data will both speed implementation and further encourage participation in these permanent pro-
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Character tests Page 36 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 2022
Another election is looming on the horizon. This means we will soon be plagued by a plethora of political prattle that the candidates will spread around like the organic waste from a bull shed. It seems that character is a hot political topic nowadays. “I would like to say that my opponent has the moral ber of a snake except that such a statement would be an insult to snakes all across this great land of ours.” In my opinion, a good way to separate the bafement from the brilliance, character-wise, would be to observe how the candidates behave in stressful situations. Something such as a visit to an old-fashioned dentist like Doc Shefte would be one way to accomplish this. Back when I was young, the mere mention of old Doc Shefte’s name was enough to make a kid shiver involuntarily and swear off of Halloween candy for the rest of his life. And for good reason. Doc Shefte was the kind of dentist who believed that a little pain never hurt anyone.
I was about 10-years-old when I was aficted by my very rst toothache. When Mom said she had made an appointment for me with Doc Shefte, I was glad. I was blissfully ignorant regarding the implications of this news. The rst thing I noticed when I entered Doc’s dungeon-like operatory was the smell. There was a medicine odor, but there was also something else, something more ominous and visceral. As I was about to learn, it was the stench of fear. Doc motioned at an ancient leather chair and ordered me to sit. As I climbed aboard the chair, I noticed that its armrests had an awful lot of wear. Doc peered into my maw and announced that the tooth had to go. He went to a cabinet to ddle with something, so I took the opportunity to observe my surroundings. Next to the chair was a small porcelain basin; its function was a total mystery to me. I was admiring Doc’s drilling rig when I happened to spy a small table nearby. I craned my neck to take a peek and was instantly lled with terror.
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A collection of medieval torture instruments littered the tabletop. Tools whose main purpose were obviously to dismember and inict pain. I decided I could live with the toothache and began to leave. But it was too late. Doc returned just then, brandishing an enormous syringe that was tipped with a sharpened knitting needle. As the needle glinted wickedly in the baleful light, Doc admonished, “Hold Dear County Agent Guy still and open wide.” I squirmed mightily as he gripped me with his icy ngers and injected Novocaine into my inamed gums. I suddenly understood why the armrests were so worn. “Almost done,” Doc declared, trying his best to sound cheery. He went By Jerry Nelson over to the table and reColumnist turned with ... a humungous stainless steel vice grip. There followed a urry of grunting and whimpering. It was over in mere seconds but felt like an eternity. Doc didn’t just cure my toothache that day; he also caused me to reevaluate my obsession with Sugar Daddy candy bars. Fast forward a dozen years or so. I was once again in the dentist’s chair, this time for troublesome wisdom teeth. How is it that a guy can be in his early 20s and still be teething? Much had changed in the world of dentistry. My new dentist didn’t ask me to call him Doctor or even Doc, but just plain Dan. Instead of a creaky old leather chair, Dan seated me in a space-age electric recliner that felt downright luxurious. The operatory’s walls were painted with soft pastels and relaxing music played gently in the background. Gone was that stomach-churning medicine aroma. Then came the moment of truth. Dan approached me with a hand behind his back, hiding something. Aw, man. Not another needle. I hate needles. Dan addressed me in a soothing tone, sounding much like the maître d’ at a classy restaurant. “Would you like some gas today?” he asked. “We have an excellent nitrous oxide available.” To make a long story short, what happened next is why I can’t ever run for elected ofce. Because on that fateful day, sitting in that cushy dentist’s chair, I totally unked the character test. As a result, should anyone ever ask, “Did you inhale?” I would be obliged to reply, “You’re darn tooting I did.” 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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Straight is not always good One of my father’s colloquiums was describing something, or occasionally someone, that was not straight as “crooked as a dog’s hind leg.” I am not sure why he chose the dog as the example spebeVeterinary Wisdom cies, cause many other species stand with exion in their stie and hock joints, like the bovine, for example. But, I suspect he learned it By Jim Bennett from someColumnist one else. Cows do stand with considerable set in the stie and somewhat less of an angle in the hock. When I rst started practice years ago, more cows had too much hock angle, making them subject to lameness and mobility problems that often led to early culling. Dairy genetics and farmers have done a great job correcting that problem and I almost never see it anymore. However, starting 10 or 15 years ago, I started seeing something else that is now common and an even more serious problem: legs that are too straight. Typically, the picture is like this: The farm has beautiful, sound cows and does a great job raising heifers, typically calving in well-grown animals that are more than 85% of their adult weight at 22 or 23 months of age. Heifer calves look great, and there is no evidence of straight hocks. However, around the time of rst breeding, some animals begin to show lack of angle in their hocks, and usually a month of two later, the straight legs become obvious. Often, the animals eventually stand with one leg off the ground and held backward. Many will make it through rst calving, but often get culled early in their rst lactation. Some get culled before they calve because they have so much difculty walking. Occasionally, there seems to be problems with the stie joint; these animals push their knees outward and have a very stiff-legged walk. We used to see just an occasional animal, but now we see herd outbreaks where a signicant number of animals,
perhaps 10% or more of the annual replacements, are culled due to straight rear legs. This is a signicant problem because raising heifers is expensive and farmers now typically try to raise only about as many as they need. What causes this? I asked just about everyone I know who might have some knowledge, and the consensus was genetics. Apparently, there is nothing in genetic evaluations that penalize a cow for having legs that are too straight, only too soft. I do not doubt this to be true, but I do not believe this is the ultimate cause. In other species, including dogs, horses and humans, rapid growth is thought to result in abnormalities of bone that can result in limb deformities. For example, in pigs and horses there is a condition called osteochondrosis, or osteochondrosis dissecans. According to the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, it is a “relatively common developmental disease that affects the cartilage and bones in the joints of horses” and is caused by: rapid growth and large body size; nutrition: diets very high in energy or with low copper levels; genetics: risk may be partially inherited; hormonal imbalances: insulin and thyroid hormones; and trauma and (normal) exercise. In a recent conversation with Dr. Nigel Cook, of the University of Wisconsin College of Veterinary Medicine, he indicated that he too has seen a signicant increase in straight-legged dairy heifers, and he is convinced that while “we should not let the geneticists completely off the hook yet,” the major cause is probably rapid growth rate. He suggested that the mechanism may be premature growth plate closure in the long bones of affected animals. His theory bears merit because dairy producers have been successful and growing heifers to adequate calving weights much faster than in the past. Rapid growth is thought to be a primary cause of similar problems in other species. The actual mechanism is unknown in those species but probably involves failure of cartilage to grow correctly and eventually to ossify or become bone. Sometimes loose aps of cartilage appear in the joints. So, most likely, rapid growth is involved in the condition we observe in dairy heifers. Unfortunately, this condition has received little attention in the dairy industry, so no research is being done. As
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more producers do a better job of growing heifers, more cases will probably be reported, and hopefully, efforts will be made to nd causes and ways to prevent this problem. For now, we do not have an answer. However, I am interested in obtaining any observations from farmers or veterinarians regarding this condition, not so much if you have an occasional heifer with the problem but if you have seen signicant numbers of affected animals within your herd. If you have such ex-
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Joyous mediocrity Page 38 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 2022
I was half listening to a podcast not long ago while mixing cow chow and thinking of something else. I was not really paying attention to what the interviewee was talking about until the words joyous mediocrity caught my attention. There are times when I’m a perfectionist, or at least much of the time. I operate on the idea that if a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing correctly the rst time. That said, my favorite advice to give students headed to college is that the difference between getting As or Bs is putting in a lot more effort for very little additional return. Sometimes in life you have to draw a line at good enough. Life is full of things a person could be doing or striving to acquire while there is only so much time to do so. I doubt I need to tell anyone in the dairy business that it’s full of tradeoffs. Seems like every day we must make decisions of what thing to let slide for now to take care of some other thing needing immediate attention. You can’t tell a cow down with milk fever to wait an hour while we nish hauling a pile of manure out of the heifer lot. There’s
also the juggling of personal relationships and responsibilities beyond the farm in addition to that endless list of farm tasks. No one could get all the things they expect of themselves much less what others expect of them done in 10 lifetimes or more. If we were cats and lived nine lives, we’d just up the expectations of how much we should accomplish. Although, looking at how my barn cats spend their day, maybe not. They seem to have life gured out. Laying around with friends in a sunny patch of straw then going out for a hunt before taking another nap doesn’t seem like a bad way of living. Society is full of pressure to be the best and exceed all expectations. No one gives rewards for doing an adequate job at everything even though that’s probably the ultimate win in life. It’s good to be motivated to try hard. Often, in the process, I’ve found new ways of doing things that both make the job easier and yield better results but not always. Sometimes I just nd myself putting in a lot of extra effort to gain very little extra return.
I’m no expert in telling you how to spend your time. Sometimes being the very best you know at something can be worth the time and effort. Respect of others and a sense of pride in a job well done are things that are hard to place a value on. Often the value of those things diminishes with time, unfortunately. Ask a star athlete. They can spend years working toward a goal, and when they nally accomplish it, the question that often follows From the Zweber Farm the congratulations is, “What next?” Some folks thrive on the ever-higher bar, achieving even more over and over while others are crushed by the pressure to exceed expectations and nd themselves performing ever more poorly despite trying harder and harder. If you nd yourself By Tim Zweber being crushed by expectations, try nding some joy Farmer & Columnist in mediocrity. I looked up the meaning of mediocre, and it means of moderate quality. Not good, not bad. To nd joy in moderation is to be pleased with a job adequately done. Sometimes adequate is all there is time for with all the other things going on. It took me a while to learn this, but it’s better to have a thing done adequately than not done at all while waiting for perfection. In fact, I am probably doing a mediocre job on this article because I’m also nishing up our organic paperwork to start the yearly certication process, and I still need to clean and bed heifers before milking. Sorry if there are a few sentences that could have been worded better, but today I’m embracing mediocrity to get it all done. Until next time, keep living the dream. But, maybe dial back your expectations if you nd yourself stressing too much. There’s also procrastination if joyous mediocrity isn’t your style. Tim Zweber farms with his wife Emily, their three children and his parents Jon and Lisa by Elko, Minnesota.
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8
Mentors make life easier
Cheese is my cow, and I am her person. She and her twin sister, Cream, (from Bagel, of course) were standouts from day one. They were alert little calves, good eaters and always around each other during heiferhood and in the lactating cow pen. Then, Cream got sick after calving last lactation and didn’t make it. Cheese acted lost as she seemed to be without a lot of other cow buddies. That’s when she started looking for me in the holding pen and parlor. Cheese usually tries to get into the rst parlor stall and moos until I come out from the calf feeding room to give her a pat or a neck scratch. She Come Full Dairy Circle wants the extra attention. If I am milking, she waits in the holding pen until I go up the steps and give her some words of encouragement. So in a way, I mentor Cheese, giving her that little spark she needs to go on her bovine way. Likewise, the people in our lives can mentor us and make life easier to gure out, showing us direction. From our earliest days, parents, grandparents, siblings and other relatives and friends are our mentors who show, tell and put useful ideas in front of us for our consideration. As we go through our childhood, we have faith leaders, teachers, coaches and volunteers in By Jean Annexstad 4-H and FFA who will guide our ways and help us nd Columnist our skills, talents and passions in life. As we reect back on how we got to where we are now, it is interesting to think about those who have mentored us. In my case, there were so many people within the dairy industry who helped me, guided me and took an interest in my path. I was reecting on this when Minnesota dairy icon Larry Tande passed away in late March. I did not grow up in Tande’s Steele County to be actively mentored by him, but many of the 4-H kids who were the leaders I admired were, and they in turn mentored me. Much of his work as an extension agent, and later as he took on the role of state livestock coordinator and regional specialist, touched my years in 4-H. The judging term sheets, the letters of what to expect at the Minnesota State Fair with my dairy trips and the shows I participated in had Tande’s excellence in leadership and dedication intact. He led by example and was a special light in many people’s lives. Many others had a hand at shaping my interest and pursuit of the dairy industry as a 4-H’er, college student, writer for dairy publications and dairy farmer. These days, as I dairy farm and volunteer, I am surprisingly in the role of mentoring others. When some of the kids who lease dairy animals from our farm call me their mentor, it gives me a pause. “Who, me?” I think to myself. I just tell them what I think is best or might be helpful and then let them learn for themselves. Sure, maybe I try to educate a little bit about animal care, why we do things a certain way and point out the nutritional qualities of milk when I can, but it is not really making a difference. Or, maybe it is. I recently watched a Dairy Girl Network seminar on being a mentor, sponsor or ally to others. Some of a mentor’s functions are listed: – Shares wisdom and perspective with the mentee who has less experience. – Imparts knowledge and shares insight and experience. – Serves as a role model. – Helps to expand network. – Increases mentees sense of competence and self-worth. – Provides support and feedback on how to improve. For another way to look at mentoring, here is a recent Facebook post to think about: “When a ashlight grows dim or quits working, you don’t throw it away. You change the batteries. When a person messes up and nds themselves in a dark place, do you cast them aside? Of course not. You help them change their batteries. Some need AA – attention and affection. Some need AAA – attention, affection and acceptance. Some need C – compassion. Some need D – direction. And if they still don’t seem to shine, simply sit with them quietly and share your light.” I really like these helpful ideas. Not every way of mentoring works for every person (or in Cheese’s case, for every cow). You need to adapt to meet the needs of the person and where they are in their journey. Serve as a mentor when you can and seek out those who can mentor you. When someone is willing to give you this kind of encouragement and support in your life, be sure to say thank you. Jean dairy farms with her husband, Rolf, and brother-in-law, Mike, and children Emily, Matthias and Leif. They farm near Get your concrete scabbled St. Peter, Minnesota, in Norseland, where she is and prevent an accident! still trying to t in with Scabbling makes grooves in your the Norwegians and concrete 2” wide and 3/16” deep so your cows ALWAYS have traction. Swedes. They milk 200 cows and farm 650 acres. Smith’s of Wisconsin She can be reached at ES NC RE FE RE Serving the Midwest over 30 yrs. jeanannexstad@gmail. AVAILABLE T ES com. QU RE ON UP 1-800-525-9364
Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 2022 • Page 39
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Page 40 • Dairy Star • Saturday, April 9, 2022
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