Past,Present, Future. Read our Past, Present Future feature startig on page 13 of the 2nd section!
DAIRY ST R
Volume 24, No. 9
“All dairy, all the time”™
June 25, 2022
“Together, we’re raising a standard in the industry, and consequently, we’re expected to do more. It’s like earning a batting title in baseball. You better keep hitting.” – Steve Schlangen
Exceptional efforts in everyday farming Schlangens honored as 2022 sustainability award winners By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
ALBANY, Minn. – Steve and Cheryl Schlangen have been humble leaders in the dairy industry, known for their forwardthinking decisions that have ensured the long-term viability of their farm for generations to come. Such decisions have not gone unnoticed as the couple was named one of four dairy farms receiving the 2022 U.S. Dairy Sustainability Award by the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. “One of the coolest parts about all of this is that we’re a small family farm,” Steve Schlangen said. “Almost everything we do can be replicated by other people.”
Minnesota woman triumphs at Special Olympics USA Games By Maggie Molitor Staff Writer
EDEN VALLEY, Minn. – On June 12, Sidney Kuechle returned to her family’s dairy farm with a new title, Olympic gold medalist, after competing in the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games June 5-12 in Orlando, Florida. She expressed how proud and grateful she was for the experience through a message she sent her sister, Shelby Borman, who was cheering for her with the crowd of fans. “I’m crying happy and sad tears,” said Sidney in the message. “I’m sad I can’t hug you right now but also happy because I am so proud of myself.” The 20-year-old Olympian received gold medals in the 400-meter dash and the shot put. Additionally, she competed in the 100 and took fourth place. Sidney is the daughter of Perry
The Schlangens milk 60 cows with one robot and farm 200 acres of farmland in Stearns County near Albany. Over time, the couple has implemented more than 30 conservation practices including cover cropping, establishing buffer strips, nutrient sampling and management using a manure stacking slab and manure injecting system as well as LED lighting in the barn. “It’s the right thing to do for our future, for us and our children and future generations,” said Schlangen referring to his young grandson. “You want the land to stay productive and the water to be safe and clean. If you can farm for good yields while making the land better year in and year out, it’s a win-win.” This year’s group of honorees display superior management in greenhouse gas reduction and water-use efciencies that align with the industry’s 2050 Environmental Stewardship Goals.
Turn to SCHLANGENS | Page 6
PHOTO SUBMITTED Steve and Cheryl Schlangen milk 60 cows and farm 200 acres near Albany, Minnesota. The couple were recognized as one of four dairy farms that received the 2022 U.S. Dairy Sustainability Award by the InnovaƟon Center for U.S. Dairy.
Kuechle wins gold
“I was kind of nervous a little bit, but mostly excited,” Sidney said. In the preliminary rounds, Sidney placed middle of the pack in the three events she competed in. When it was time to complete in the nal round for the 400, it was late morning and 90 degrees, and Sidney was ranked fourth in her heat. With all odds against her, Sidney ran her best time ever with a nishing time of 1 minute and 28 seconds, shaving off 20 seconds from her time in the preliminaries. “I told myself, ‘I’m going to get there,’” Sidney said. “I was just going with the ow. I was just going to keep going.” Finishing rst, Sidney received her rst gold. “Every time she competed, she did better than the last time,” Perry MAGGIE MOLITOR/DAIRY STAR said. “She never ceases to amaze me.” Sidney Kuechle stands with her parents, Sarah and Perry, in the freestall barn at In shot put, Sidney threw 6.09 her family’s farm June 13 near Eden Valley, Minnesota. Kuechle won two gold meters to secure her second gold medals at the 2022 Special Olympic USA Games. medal. Sidney began her journey to the and Sarah Kuechle and has three and Eden Valley. Special Olympics at Eden Valleysiblings – Shelby, Sawyer and Porter. The Special Olympics USA Watkins High School where she The family milks 250 cows and farms Games united more than 5,500 900 acres of land with Perry’s sisters athletes from across all 50 states and Turn to KUECHLE | Page 7 in Stearns County between Watkins the Caribbean to compete in 19 sports.
Page 2 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 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 - Co-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.
President Biden to signs theyour Ocean Dairy Prole brought you by President Joe Biden signed the Ocean Shipping Reform Act into law. This law addresses longstanding supply chain and shipping port issues. “We’ve come together to solve real problems, and I’m proud we made it happen,” Biden said. American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall attended the signing ceremony. “It’s a testament to what we can accomplish when Republicans and Democrats put their differences aside,” Duvall said. “Our farmers lost an estimated $25 billion of agricultural exports in the past six months due to ocean shipping problems. Because of congestion restricting imports and exports, many other companies suffered those losses too. Consumers are paying the price.”
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Act was cited. “At the same time, the administration can take steps to resume things like the USDA’s weekly Ag Insider container and availability snapshot,” Meshke said.
Vilsack meets with United Nations ofcials in NYC Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack traveled to New York City to discuss global food security at the United Nations. Vilsack said the world’s awareness of global food security is increasing due to supply chain disruptions, By Don Wick climate and Russia’s invasion Columnist of Ukraine. “I was heartened by the fact that much of what we’re doing in the United States seems to be in line with what the rest of the world is doing,” Vilsack said. Vilsack said it is important to get grain out of Ukraine relatively soon, because of the upcoming harvest. “We’d like to see the ports open, because it’s the most efcient way to transport the grain, but it will still take time if the port is opened,” he said.
US dairy industry applauds shipping reform National Milk Producers Federation and U.S. Dairy Export Council Executive Vice President of Policy and Strategy Jaime Castaneda said the ocean shipping reform provides a set of new rules for the Federal Maritime Commission. “The FMC will have authority to enforce more of the current resolutions they have, allowing for additional ag products to not be left behind,” Castaneda said. “That’s important because many of the carriers are canceling contracts and making different arrangements.” The U.S. dairy industry lost $1.5 billion this past year due to the shipping challenges. “It’s for two reasons: increased costs and lost opportunities,” Castaneda said. “These containers used to cost $500 per ton per container, and now, it costs Commodity prices partially offset high input costs $5,000 per ton per container or more.” The new quarterly report on the farm economy from the Farm Credit Administration states diesel prices have Supply chain addressed in Senate hearing been driven by high crude oil prices and rening issues. Associated Milk Producers Incorporated Co-CEO Sheryl Supply chain problems are limiting the availability of farm Meshke testied before a Senate agriculture subcommittee earlier this month, saying the U.S. government must Turn to AG INSIDER | Page 5 address supply chain issues. The Ocean Shipping Reform
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Maus lives out childhood desire to be Princess Kay nalist
Plainview, MN
Dieball loves dairy’s technology, product variety
Schumacher overcomes cancer, becomes dairy princess
First Section: Pages 25, 27
First Section: Pages 23, 27
Altura, MN
First Section: Pages 8 - 9
Manchester, IA
Orchard grass alfalfa hay mixture aids in transition cow health
New Ulm, MN
Dairy trailer becomes class project
Griebels dairy into fth generation
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Hinckley, Chateld softball team wins state, makes history First Section: Pages 14 - 15, 17
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FROM OUR SIDE OF THE FENCE:
For additional stories from our other zone, log on to www.dairystar.com
What are characteristics you admire about your dad as a father? First Section: Pages 15-16
Zone 1
Zone 2
Columnists Ag Insider Pages 2, 5 First F Section
Something S to Ruminate On Page 37 First Fi Section
Dea County Dear Ag Agent Guy P Page 36 First Firs Section
Jus Thinking Just Out Loud O Page 38 F First ir Section
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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 2022 • Page 5
ConƟnued from AG INSIDER| Page 2
machinery and parts. The Farm Credit System reports strong loan growth in the rst quarter.
Lower food and fuel costs act passes The House passed a bill designed to lower food and fuel costs. Provisions include year-round sales of 15% ethanol blends, a loan program to promote meatpacking capacity and funding to offset the cost of precision agriculture technology. This bill also calls on the United States Department of Agriculture to establish a supply chain task force and a special investigator to consider meatpacker competition. The bill now moves to the Senate. Legislation introduced to reduce input costs House Agriculture Committee ranking member Glenn “GT” Thompson introduced a bill that calls on the Biden administration to reverse regulatory barriers to farming. “American agriculture, if given the right tools and regulatory certainty, can serve a vital role in alleviating global food instability and costs to consumers,” Thompson said. Thompson held a press conference to talk about the new bill with other House Republicans, saying, “You can’t spend your way out of ination.” Feed costs are barriers to growth Record-high feed costs are directly inuencing margins for dairy farmers. In its quarterly dairy industry analysis, Rabobank said the dairy herd worldwide has “contracted or are facing barriers to grow, making it harder for milk output to rebound after the current slump.” Corn and soybean prices remain high. Rabobank said the Russian-Ukrainian conict is also adding pressure to the cost side of the ledger. SCOTUS schedules two ag-related hearings The U.S. Supreme Court will hear at least two agriculture-based cases in October. In the newly-released schedule, the court said it will start its new term by hearing Sackett v. the Environmental Protection Agency. This case includes two Idaho landowners challenging the
Clean Waters Act. The hearing will be Oct. 3. The following week, the Supreme Court will hear arguments challenging California’s Proposition 12. Ag committee reviews climate research The House Agriculture Committee continued its farm bill review process by discussing the role of climate research in supporting agriculture. California Rep. Jim Costa said it’s important to pursue sustainability in a way that makes sense to farmers and ranchers. “In the next farm bill, we need to look at how to enhance the efforts of this publicprivate partnership between educational institutions and our regional farming efforts,” Costa said. “I think what’s lacking is an overall plan on how this all ts together with attainable goals for the next ve to 10 years based on good, sound science.” Input sought on dairy board adjustment USDA is reopening the comment period for proposed revisions to the makeup of the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board. If adopted, Idaho will see representation increase from two to three members. Region 10, which includes numerous states in the Southeast, drops from two members to one. The total members on the board will remain at 36. Public comment will be accepted through July 25. Trivia challenge Freemartin is the term for a heifer who is twin to a bull and cannot reproduce. That answers our last trivia question. For this week’s trivia, how many pounds of dairy products does the average American consume per year? We will have the answer in the next edition of Dairy Star.
Don Wick is owner/broadcaster for the Red River Farm Network, based in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Wick has been recognized as the National Farm Broadcaster of the Year and served as president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Don and his wife, Kolleen, have two adult sons, Tony and Sam, and ve grandchildren, Aiden, Piper, Adrienne, Aurora and Sterling.
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ConƟnued from SCHLANGENS | Page 1
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The Schlangens host a tour for All Acres for Our Water at their dairy near Albany, Minnesota. Steve and Cheryl Schlangen are advocates of regeneraƟve farming pracƟces. “It’s important as a leader in the dairy industry to show our commitment to net zero by 2050,” Schlangen said. “That goal is achievable with everyone’s help. We can do our part at the farm level from the ground up.” The couple’s latest initiative has been establishing cover crops. “I’ve talked to guys from California where they get multiple crops off a eld in a year,” Schlangen said. “I always thought that couldn’t be done in Minnesota.” Two years ago, they planted 70 acres of winter rye. In the springtime, they terminated a portion of the cover crop, injected manure to provide the soil with the appropriate nutrients and then planted corn for a fall harvest of silage. Another portion of the land was harvested and baled for youngstock feed, then followed by no-tilled soybeans. A third section of the acreage was harvested as seedstock and the stubble used as bedding. This year, the Schlangens reduced their tillage a bit more and continued injecting manure before a crop of corn for silage or soybeans. “We’ve made minor changes and are nding ways to get good crops using less fuel, inputs and time,” Schlangen said. One of the latest changes the Schlangens applied to their farm was pattern tiling to improve soil and root structure. The farm is made up of heavy soil. Without pattern tiling it would have been challenging to get in an extra crop in the fall and harvested by spring before the main crop. “Having the soil where you can manage it well and be out there on a timely basis makes farming fun,” Schlangen said. “We’re always willing to try new practices for our farm.” Schlangen has long been a proponent for sustainability in the dairy industry and has led by example to encourage others to consider more sustainable efforts on their farms. “The best way to share what might work best for farmers is by doing it yourself, and then sharing the information with others,” Schlangen said. When the Headwaters Agriculture Sustainability Partnership under the statewide organization, Environmental Initiative, was formed, it was a way to nd solutions that benet the environment, farming economy
and vitality of rural communities. The Schlangens felt the need to be at that table. This partnership is one example of the couple learning from others and being a trusted source for fellow farmers. The Schlangens have been a part of HASP’s pilot project, ROI, which evaluates the return on investment of various sustainable farming practices that improve soil health, store carbon in the soils and reduce nutrient runoff. “Sustainability has really been a trend the last 10 years, but in reality, we’ve always been going in that direction,” Schlangen said. “We’re one of the few industries that can be a part of a solution for environment, and we should embrace that.” With each project, there are potential benets, but also uncertainty and risk. One of the Schlangens’ most successful efforts was improving their manure management with variable rate application. Recently, the Schlangens added a stacking slab for youngstock waste to store those nutrients before application. “We can put almost exactly how much liquid per acre is needed based on what the nutrient levels in the eld are,” Schlangen said. Another project was establishing buffer strips along the ditches, but in doing so, some of the farm’s nicest corn acres were sacriced, Schlangen said. “Every project is challenging in their own ways,” he said. “At rst, we weren’t sure how the buffer strips were going to work. We’ve ended up getting really good hay crops off those acres year after year without putting anything into it.” As the Schlangens reect on their regenerative farming practices and desire to do more, a larger purpose comes to mind. For this couple, an award of such prestige solidies their commitment to the industry and providing consumers with a quality, sustainably-produced product. “Together, we’re raising a standard in the industry, and consequently, we’re expected to do more,” Schlangen said. “It’s like earning a batting title in baseball. You better keep hitting.”
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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 2022 • Page 7
ConƟnued from KUECHLE | Page 1
competed in Special Olympics track and bowling. After graduating from high school in 2020, Sidney enrolled in the transition program at ROCORI and became more involved in other Special Olympics sports. “The ROCORI transition program teaches life skills and gives (students with special needs) job opportunities and experience,” Sarah said. “But the other really cool thing is the door opened for many more Special Olympics sports.” Through her time in the program, Sidney has participated in track and eld, golf, bowling and basketball. She looks forward to starting bocce ball this summer. To qualify for the Special Olympics games, an athlete must receive a gold medal in a regional or state level contest and then be nominated to compete at the international games. Nancy Schwindel, a paraprofessional and coach at ROCORI, nominated Sidney after she qualied last year because of her notable hard work and dedication to the program. “I knew that girl would shine and make small town America proud,” Schwindel said. “I have never seen an athlete prepare so hard. She had this coach in tears watching her.” Sidney was interviewed and chosen to represent Minnesota in the Special Olympics USA Games. In preparation for the games, Sidney and the 11 other track and eld athletes from across Minnesota met weekly to practice as a team at Bethal University in St. Paul. To help cheer her on, 13 members of Sidney’s family traveled down to watch her compete. They positioned themselves around the track to cheer Sidney on every step of the way. “It was incredibly inspiring the whole time,” Sarah said. “Her smile standing on the podium and seeing all the athletes cheer each other on was truly amazing. The last-place person was just as excited as the rstplace person to be up on that stage getting their award in front of a huge crowd of people. The sportsmanship and cheering for each other was incredible.” After receiving two gold medals, Sidney returned home to her family’s farm where she often helps with
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Sidney Kuechle receives a gold medal in shot-put June 10 at the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando, Florida. Sidney threw 6.09 meters to secure rst place.
chores after school and in the summer. “Sidney is a hard worker and one of the best milkers on the farm,” Perry said. “Her hard work clearly paid off.” Sidney credits the farm for helping her with her Olympic success. Picking rocks helped her gain strength for shot put, and waking up early helped create mental toughness that aided her in running, she said. The Olympic games have inspired Sidney to try more sports within Special Olympics and hopefully compete in the 2026 Special Olympic USA Games in Minnesota. Sidney is appreciative that this opportunity allowed her to be independent and make many friends. She encourages others to get more involved. “If you want to do it, I would go and do it,” she said. “It never hurts to try.”
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Sidney Kuechle (front, third from leŌ) is surrounded by her family – (front, from leŌ) Heidi, Marge and Sawyer Kuchle, Shelby Borman and Elan Kuechle; (back, from leŌ) Art, Porter, Perry, Sarah and Randy Kuechle, Jake Borman and Meryl and Steve Kuechle – at the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando, Florida. The family was able to go and cheer her on as she won two gold medals.
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Page 8 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 2022
A reward worth ghting for
Schumacher overcomes cancer, becomes dairy princess By Kate Rechtzigel kate.r@dairystar.com
P L A I N V I E W , Minn. − At the age of 19, Jordyn Schumacher used encouragement from her late grandfather, Gary, to overcome Hodgkin lymphoma this past year. “When I went under for my bone marrow biopsy, he appeared to me in a dream, and I felt a hand grab my hand and it was him,” Schumacher said. “He was talking and said, ‘You’ll be OK through this process. Don’t worry. You’ll be cured one day, and everything will work out. I’m right here, even though you can’t see me. I am always here with you.’” Schumacher’s grandfather passed away from complications of brain cancer in 2018. We were really close when I was growing up,” Schumacher said. “He had a huge passion for the dairy industry, and I learned my passion for the dairy community from him and always looked up to him. When he passed, I was very sad, and I told him that I would take over the dairy farm and continue on.” Schumacher’s family −
parents, Chad and Amy, and siblings, Ashlyn and Jace − milk 140 cows with two Lely robots in Wabasha County near Plainview. In 2021, Schumacher’s world changed. On the farm, Schumacher did everything from scraping the alleyways, cleaning and bedding stalls, feeding calves, and helping with hauling hay and manure. She was a rst-year student attending Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar, Iowa, studying dairy science and agriculture business, milking cows in a step-up parlor for another dairy farm and working at a gas station when she knew something was wrong. “That summer, I wasn’t feeling the best,” Schumacher said. “I was tired and rundown which is unusual for me because I was always really busy and working three jobs. Then, I went to school in the fall and wasn’t feeling myself. I had fevers, night sweats and a rash.” One morning while getting ready for school, she woke up
KATE RECHTZIGEL/DAIRY STAR
Jordyn Schumacher stands with a picture of her late grandpa, Gary, on her family’s farm June 16 near Plainview, Minnesota. Schumacher used her grandpa’s encouragement to overcome Hodgkin’s lymphoma this past year. to nd a golf ball-sized lymph node on her collarbone. “The doctors and nurses always told me that if I ever got a swollen lymph node that it was something serious,” Schumacher said. The next day, Schumacher went into Mayo Clinic in Rochester and had an ultrasound and a biopsy done.
A week later, at the beginning of November 2021, the hospital called and conrmed she had Hodgkin lymphoma stage 4, a cancer that affects the body’s lymphatic system. “I was nervous and scared because I didn’t know a whole lot about Hodgkin lymphoma at 18 years old,” Schumacher
said. “The doctors went through the process of explaining everything to me about what it was and that there was a 90% curable rate.” Then, the doctors took a PET scan to gure out where the cancer was and found it was Turn to SCHUMACHER | Page 9
Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 2022 • Page 9
ConƟnued from SCHUMACHER | Page 8 in both sides of her neck, parts of her chest and back, stomach and all over her spleen. “It wasn’t in my bone marrow which we were glad about, so I didn’t have to get a bone marrow transplant,” Schumacher said. However, Schumacher had to move home, distance herself and start chemotherapy treatments to reduce the cancer. “I was mostly scared of my classes because I love school and like going to school, so I was kind of disappointed to not be able to attend school in person,” Schumacher said. Luckily, Schumacher’s teachers worked with her from day one, and she was considered a full-time student and made the dean’s list all of her rst year. At the same time, she underwent 12 chemotherapy treatments from November 2021 to May. “I am a positive person, so this was mentally harder than anything because I was not living life like a normal 18-yearold,” Schumacher said. “I was losing my hair, doing chemotherapy, quarantining and staying alone. I am a ghter; I look at a challenge and I don’t let it back me down. I knew that I was going to get through this no matter what or how long it took.” After the rst chemotherapy treatment, the lymph node on her collarbone went away, and Schumacher continued to have treatments every other week. “They knew right away that my chemotherapy treatments were working and helping me,” Schumacher said. “I never got nauseous. I was blessed and handled it very well. I got some neuropathy or numbness in my ngertips, lost my hair and was tired. It took me about three to four days after
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Jordyn Schumacher stands with her parents, Chad and Amy Schumacher, shortly aŌer her last chemotherapy treatment in May. The family milks 140 cows near Plainview, Minnesota. I got chemotherapy treatments to feel back to normal.” Schumacher had to slow down the amount of physical work she did on the farm, while her dad and siblings picked up for her. Despite all that, she kept herself busy. “I lost my muscles really fast so I couldn’t move gates or scrape anymore, but I’ve been told I’m a really good cleaning lady,” Schumacher said. “So, I came to clean the barn and ofce. I like being busy; I am not one to sit around.” By middle of January, Schumacher’s scan showed no cancer, and come May, she had her last treatment. Then, Schumacher rang the bell.
“It was probably my hardest one because I had chemotherapy and two days after I had COVID-19 and was really sick,” Schumacher said. “But I was really excited to ring the bell, post it on Facebook and hear everyone’s comments about nishing up.” In the beginning of June, Schumacher had a scan which showed no sign of cancer. She will continue to have scans and blood tests every three months for the next two years. Once she is past two years in remission, she is considered cancer free. Schumacher was never alone on this journey as she had her community supporting her.
“We put one post on Facebook when I was diagnosed, and the comments ooded in and my phone was blowing up with calls and texts,” Schumacher said. The family hosted a benet in January and raised enough money to pay for all of her cancer treatments. “It was humbling because every person who walked through that door, I knew them and they knew me,” Schumacher said. “You don’t realize how many people you know and how many love and support you until they are all right there in one room.” On April 3, Schumacher made an even bigger impact on the community and became Wabasha County’s dairy princess after serving on the court for four years. “It was my dream to be county princess, and growing up, I worked really hard on my family’s dairy and in the dairy community to be involved,” Schumacher said. “It felt really cool this year to be crowned dairy princess after going through the hard things that I have the past couple months. It was cool to see that I can be dairy princess at the end of all this.” With her busy summer ahead, Schumacher looks forward to getting back to a normal life, working her internship at Northern Valley Livestock Services in Plainview, spending time with friends and sharing her story as a dairy princess. “Nowadays, it’s pretty cool because people come up to me and say, ‘Oh, you’re the farm girl that recovered from cancer and now you are our county dairy princess,’” Schumacher said. “I want to show others that you can keep ghting and pushing through hard times because you will have huge rewards at the end of all this.”
“The more information we know... will only help our chances at being successful.” What are some of the DHIA tests you use? SCC, MLM, fat and protein, pregnancy rate, services per conception and new mastitis infection rate. I am not as concerned about overall production numbers because every ounce of milk that each cow produces in her lifetime is recorded in the computer system for the robots. Which is your favorite and why? My favorite test is also my least favorite test, and that is SCC. I dread seeing which cows are the highest contributors to the bulk tank SCC, but it is so important we can identify these cows to see which cows are the problems and decide what the plan is for each individual case. How does testing with DHIA beneÀt your dairy operation? The more information we know about each cow’s production, milk quality and reproduction, will only help our chances at being successful.
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Tell us about your farm. My wife Vanessa and I farm with my parents, Tom and Tammy Mursu, who are owners of the farm. We currently have 170 Holstein cows and about 240 heifers. We milk our cows with two Lely A4 robots. We try to raise most of our forages; haylage, silage, oats and peas, grass hay and corn on about 500 acres.
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Page 10 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 2022
Dairy destination for decades
Weber’s Farm Store enjoys long history By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
MARSHFIELD, Wis. – When a store chock-full of dairy products becomes a destination for both locals and out-oftowners, that is a good thing. When that store is a family owned and operated business with nearly 120 years invested in dairy farming and distributing dairy products to consumers, that is an even better thing. Joellen Heiman, along with her husband, Ken, represent the sixth generation of her family to market dairy products through the Weber’s Farm Store in Marsheld. The couple also helps to run Ken’s family business, Nasonville Dairy. Weber’s Farm Store has been the family’s lifeblood. “There is a long history with this farm and business,” Heiman said . “I grew up here, working on our family dairy farm and in our farm store.” Since 1995, Heiman has been at the helm of the business and has taken pride in growing and developing the business into the version people ock to today. They retail more than 200
food items, all locally grown and produced, including about 150 cheese-related products. “Local is very important to me,” Heiman said. Milk is processed and packaged on-site, and the store markets a variety of milk, including chocolate, strawberry and mint. The milk is sold in plastic pouches, which consist of an inner pouch covered by a protective bag. Heiman’s father began using that packaging method in place of glass bottles in 1973. They also process and sell heavy whipping cream, and during the holiday season, they carry eggnog. One recent addition is ker. The Weber’s Farm Store ker has claimed several gold medals, Heiman said. “In 2013, Weber’s started working on creating our own recipe for ker,” Heiman said. “It took a while, about 11 different batches, to get what I wanted. It is highly digestible and has seven different natural probiotics in it.” What brings customers to the store in droves, though, is the ice cream. They have been selling ice cream for 35 years. Two years ago, the Heimans decided to begin adding more avors to the traditional vanilla, chocolate and twist cones that were available. “We start with a vanilla soft-serve mix and then create our own avors. The number of varieties has grown tremendously over the years,” Heiman said. “People will bring their kids in and remember coming to get ice cream when they were kids themselves.” In addition DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR to the traditional Joellen Heiman has been at the helm of her avors, ice cream family’s Weber’s Farm Store in Marsheld avors include since 1995. Weber’s Farm Store has sold o r a n g e s i c l e , birthday cake and milk in plas�c pouches since 1973. pumpkin.
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
Weber’s Farm Store carries more than 200 food items, including 150 different varie�es of cheese, in Marsheld, Wisconsin. In 2009, the Heimans realized they had outgrown the store that had been on the farm and increased the store’s size. “We wanted to build but not have to close or lose customers,” Heiman said. “We basically built the new store around the old store and then tore the old store down inside of the new one in sections. It was quite the project, but both our customers and our inspectors were great to work with.” By 2015, they had underestimated the growth of their business and built on again. One aspect of the Weber’s Farm Store that might not seem so unique any longer is the drivethru service. “My parents started the drive-thru about 1960,” Heiman said. “We had a drive-thru before McDonald’s had one. It was a big hit even back then for parents with small children and for the elderly or disabled.” When Joseph and Bernadine Weber, Heiman’s parents, purchased the family farm in 1951, Joseph’s dream was to expand on his family’s legacy of delivering milk to customers in town since 1904. Instead of the delivery routes, Joseph’s goal was to have an on-farm retail store. The family rst opened Weber’s Farm Store in 1955. “It was a true family
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business,” Heiman said. “We all worked on the farm and in the store.” Heiman’s brother purchased the business from their parents, and Heiman had never envisioned that one day she would be running the family business. She was employed as a surgical technician at Marsheld Clinic. In 1995, the opportunity to purchase the store from her brother presented itself. “Ken asked me if I would want to manage the retail store, if we were to buy the farm and store,” Heiman said. Heiman made the decision to leave her job working as a G.I. Technician at the Marsheld Clinic; and Ken, Kim and Kelvin Heiman and their families purchased Weber’s Farm Store. Heiman took on the task of managing the business, a role she held for 23 years before making the decision to step back from a hands-on on-site management role following a battle with breast cancer in 2013. “The cancer treatments really took a toll on me,” Heiman said. “I needed to get healthy, so we hired a manager to run the dayto-day operations of the store. That has allowed me to focus on marketing and dedicate myself to growing the business.” At the same time, the Heimans realized the milking
herd located at the farm site was outgrowing the land-locked facilities. “We are surrounded by an elementary school, a technical school, a college and a golf course,” Heiman said. “We wanted to keep up our good relationship with the community. If we were going to grow the herd, we needed to do it elsewhere.” The Heimans established Heiman Holsteins, a farm about 8 miles away from Weber’s Farm Store, where they milk 500 cows in a rotary parlor. Cows at Heiman Holsteins carry the A2A2 milk protein gene. “When Ken was serving on the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, he learned about this new thing in the industry called A2A2 protein,” Heiman said. “Milk produced by cows that had the gene would be easier for some people to digest. That interested him, and he began genetic testing and selecting for that.” The Heimans’ dedication to consistently creating products their consumers want has allowed the business to expand beyond what either had envisioned and beyond what Heiman’s father had envisioned in his dreams of operating an on-farm retail store.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 2022 • Page 11
Walking down memory lane
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Ron Mitchell (le�) and Richard Brown stand outside the DHIA office June 10 near Sparta, Wisconsin. The pair has a collec�ve 102 years of experience tes�ng milk in Monroe County.
Mitchell, Brown testing milk for over a century collectively By Abby Wiedmeyer abby.w@dairystar.com
SPARTA, Wis. – The walk down memory lane is a long one for Ron Mitchell and Richard Brown, who have been testing milk in Monroe County for 54 and 48 years, respectively. The pair has seen a lot of changes in the dairy industry throughout their combined experience of 102 years. “I think it’s a good profession because you get to know so many people,” Mitchell said. “And that’s what the world is, people.” Brown agreed. “Every day is different,” he said. “It’s not like going to a factory and sitting at the same machine all day long.” When Mitchell took the job as manager for Monroe County Dairy Herd Improvement Association in June 1968, the milk testing process was very different from what farmers experience today. Milk was collected in buckets and weighed with a scale. Mitchell brought the
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scale, paper and pencil and a rack of test bottles. Each farm had their own barn sheet. Weights were recorded by hand, and samples were brought back to the DHIA ofce in Sparta. Once at the ofce, Mitchell used a glass pipette to put a portion of each sample into glass test tubes which were then loaded into a centrifuge. Mitchell spun the centrifuge to separate the cream. Each test tube had to have the exact same amount of milk in them so they were perfectly balanced while spinning, or the tubes would break and the process would have to start again. Once the centrifuge was nished, the milk and cream would be separated in the tube. The cream was then measured to calculate the butterfat in the sample. “We recorded everything by hand,” Mitchell said. “We multiplied the butterfat by the production and the pounds of milk by the number of days. I don’t know how we got it all done.” Milk was only tested for production, butterfat and somatic cell count. Turn to DHIA | Page 12
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Page 12 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 2022
Con�nued from DHIA | Page 11
“When I rst started in 1974, everybody was trying to hit 600 pounds of fat for a rolling herd average,” Brown said. “If you had a rolling herd average of 600 for butterfat, then you had a terric herd. A top herd average for milk was probably 16,000 pounds.” Herd sizes in the 1960s and ‘70s were much smaller than today as well. Brown said most farms had around 30 cows, and if someone was milking 65 cows, then they were considered a large farm. Mitchell and Brown tested two milkings in a row at each farm in the early days of the job. Farmers were not allowed to be given more than 10 hours of notice before milking, and they could not refuse unless they had a very good reason. It was all done to keep accurate records. “We tested every morning and every night and a lot of days I did seven days a week,” Mitchell said. The pair saw growth in the 1970s and ‘80s when farms expanded their herds and added pipelines and silos. The milk testing industry grew with them and switched from the MilkO-Meter scale to the Surge True Test, which was an
ABBY WIEDMEYER/DAIRY STAR
Ron Mitchell shows the old centrifuge that has not been used in ve decades June 10 at the DHIA office near Sparta, Wisconsin. Mitchell has been tes�ng milk for 54 years.
electric testing unit. When milk is tested today, the pair brings the bottles to the ofce and stores them in refrigerators until the laboratory company picks them up. Although they are able to test more cows today, the pair agreed testing milk has not gotten any easier since
they started. “Before, you would go to a herd and you might spend an hour or two in the barn milking and it wasn’t that stressful,” Brown said. “You took the sample and went in for breakfast. Now, you go to work in a big parlor with up to 20 units, and you could be in there for eight hours.
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It’s not any easier.” Technology has allowed farms to gain more information from testing milk. One sample can communicate protein content, somatic cell count, milk urea nitrogen content, pregnancy, Johne’s Disease and mastitis cultures. “They can do numerous
tests in seconds,” Brown said. Mitchell said the milk test results are like a report card for the farm. In Mitchell’s early career, he said the newsletter created friendly competition among neighbors because everyone’s results were shared. “They were all trying to get their herd average better than their neighbors’,” Brown said. While the career has proven to be a lot of work, both testers said they have enjoyed it. Brown said his favorite time during his career was when there were more small farms. “I liked when you could go down the road and see cows at every farm,” Brown said. “Now, you have to drive for miles just to nd a herd because they’re so far apart.” Mitchell said his favorite part about the job was watching families grow. “We might have started testing with grandma and grandpa, and now we’re down to the kids,” Mitchell said. “I have probably seen four generations come up in my time. When I think back to all the people I have gotten to know, it’s a blessing.”
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Walking the tightrope Plourd talks nding balance in volatile marketplace By Abby Wiedmeyer abby.w@dairystar.com
WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. – Finding balance in the volatile marketplace can be challenging. What does the current market look like, what does the future hold, and how do these markets impact a milk check? “Despite what you may have heard, dairy consumption is in pretty good shape,” Phil Plourd said. “We’ve had a few hiccups over the years, but we’ve been on the comeback trail. And, the reports of dairy demise are not only premature but they are also inaccurate.” Phil Plourd Plourd, President of Blimling president of Blimling and & Associates Associates, provided a view on global markets, consumer behaviors and the demand for dairy products at the Vita Plus Midwest Dairy Conference June 15 in Wisconsin Dells. He also spoke of critical items to watch in the months ahead from a market and risk management perspective. Plourd said that, per capita, cheese consumption has carried the dairy industry in the last few years. Cheese consumption had a little hiccup in 2020 but only because of the coronavirus pandemic. Butter consumption is back from the depths, and yogurt has generally been a good news story for the past 15 years. “Grocery stores seem to love dairy promotions,” Plourd said. “Dairy brings people to the stores. The major grocery stores use dairy to get people to come in.” However, the beverage landscape has changed over the last 50 years. In the 1970s, milk, coffee, juice and soft drinks were staples in consumers’ market. Now, there are hundreds of choices that include sports drinks, teas, fusion drinks and more. “Milk’s best friend got into trouble,” Plourd said. “Cereal sales declined right with uid milk sales.” Plourd believes that general farm nance is in an OK place right now. Farm income from sales should be at record high levels in 2022. There is less government support but probably enough to push overall income to new records. “We do volatility very well,” Plourd said. “When you have less milk, there’s only so much you can do in a hurry.” Plourd said it takes a long time to add milk when demand is high, and it takes a long time to decrease supply when milk is not needed. The reality of today’s market is that milk is still being taken away from the market with last year’s prices being lower, even though there is a higher demand for milk today. Plourd explained some critical factors to where markets are today and where they are going. First and foremost, the nation’s milk production
has been negative for seven out of the past eight months. “My rule of thumb is if milk production is growing at less than 1%, we have good potential for upside,” he said. “Once we get milk production to 1.5% to 2%, we are veering into it too much. Last year at times we had too much.” Farm margins are pretty good, according to Plourd. Class II and IV milk futures average $23-$24 per hundredweight for the next 12 months, and the Dairy Margin Coverage margin for 2022 is projecting to be the second highest level ever as milk futures prices have been outpacing the grain markets. “We are slaughtering less cows, but replacement numbers are down,” Plourd said. “We’ve done a pretty good job of right sizing and maybe even over correcting on heifers.” When looking at the cost of production, Plourd offered a global perspective by pointing out that Ukraine ships upward of 12% of the world’s corn exports. “We were already kind of skating toward the edge on the balance sheets before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but then we put the pedal to the metal in some of these markets,” Plourd said. “Not only are we saying things are tight today, but they are going to be tight tomorrow. … We have tight balance sheets, there’s just no avoiding it.” Weather was a factor when looking at crop markets this year. After a late start to planting season, American farmers planted more than 60% of the corn crop in just three weeks, Plourd said. Grain farmers are expected to have a good year because Plourd does not see their input costs rising too high, but next year may be a different story. The cost to purchase anhydrous ammonia is up 130% versus year prior levels and four times the 2020 lows, said Plourd. “The impact is potentially bigger for 2023 than in 2022,” Plourd said. “I just don’t see the road back to cheap corn and cheap soybeans in the next 12-18 months.” Plourd said this all leads to a fragile economy and consumer environment. “Consumers don’t like going to the store and seeing empty shelves,” Plourd said. “A negative economic environment is not constructive. It does hurt demand on the margins.” Ination is a major concern for everyone right now. Plourd said consumers are dipping into savings and using more credit as opposed to going without certain luxuries. “We are burning through the COVID-19 money, and you’re starting to see credit numbers go up,” Plourd said. “That doesn’t mean we’re giving anything up. We’re kicking the bill down the road, but we can’t do this for 24 months. At some point, we will tap out the credit and drain the savings.” Plourd said labor markets remain tight. The number of job openings are leveling off, but in April, the number of vacancies of 11.4 million exceeded the number of unemployed persons by a wide margin. Employers looking to replace labor needs are looking into robotics instead of hiring more people. Since the pandemic, people started getting used to working from home, and Plourd said that trend is not going away. Ultimately, Plourd said that dairy demand is on the rise. Despite a tight balance sheet, dairy farming should fare well.
Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 2022 • Page 13
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From Our Side Of The Fence Scott Balzer Father: Rick Balzer Owatonna, Minnesota 120 cows How many years have you been farming with your dad? I’ve farmed with my dad since I can remember, but I’ve been full time since I returned home from college in 2009. What are characteristics you admire about your dad as a father? He’s always taken care of me and my three brothers throughout our childhood and as adults. What is one thing you learned from your dad that has made you a better farmer? He taught me my work ethic. When I was young, I was working more than the average kid. Since you started farming with your dad, what has been a great accomplishment you’ve achieved on the farm. I took over breeding cows in 2012 and put them on a synchronized program and increased our pregnancy rate. One year later, we had a lot of calves coming and better milk production followed. Now in the robot barn, I’ve been able to maintain a higher pregnancy rate easier even with the use of sexed semen. When you are not farming, what do you and your dad like to do together? My parents usually come to some of my softball games in the summer, and we go out to eat every now and then. Tell us about your dairy and your plans for the rest of the year. We farm 500 acres and milk 120 cows with two Lely robots. We raise our own replacements and nish most of our steers. We’re hoping to make some upgrades this year to our transition cow areas to make better cow comfort.
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What is one thing you learned from your dad?
Dillon Gratz Father: Brad Gratz Atwater, Minnesota 70 cows How many years have you been farming with your dad? This will be my second year farming with my dad. What are characteristics you admire about your dad as a father? A few characteristics I admire about my dad are that he is very determined, focused and hardworking. This has had a huge impact on me as well as my brothers. What is one thing you learned from your dad that has made you a better farmer? One thing my dad has taught me is that doing things the easy way isn’t always the best, and at the same time, just because we’ve always done something the same way doesn’t mean it’s the right way. Since you started farming with your dad, what has been a great accomplishment you’ve achieved on the farm? We’ve improved the barn ventilation system. We switched from basket fans and alley fans to large exhaust fans. This has made a huge improvement in cow comfort. When you are not farming, what do you and your dad like to do together? Dad and I enjoy deer hunting and shing together outside of farming. Tell us about your dairy and your plans for the rest of the year. We milk 70 Holstein cows in a tiestall barn as well as crop farm. My grandpa, uncle, mom, dad and I farm together. Right now, we are really busy playing catch up with the row crops due to spring weather as well as making hay when the weather and scheduling cooperates.
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Trevin Youngren Father: Mike Youngren Pennock, Minnesota 450 cows How many years have you been farming with your dad? 16 years What are characteristics you admire about your dad as a father? My dad is fair, personable and driven. He is not afraid to take on big tasks and doesn’t quit until the job is done. He will always follow through. What is one thing you learned from your dad that has made you a better farmer? My dad taught me to pay close attention to detail and showed me how important it is to keep going until the job is nished. He also taught me the importance of being honest and fair when dealing with people. Since you started farming with your dad, what has been a great accomplishment you’ve achieved on the farm. Our biggest accomplishment has been putting in our milking robots and updating our bin site. It has made doing chores more efcient, faster and easier. When you are not farming, what do you and your dad like to do together? My dad and I enjoy riding our Harleys together. We used to go on many longer motorcycle rides, which is how I met my wife, but now we stick to shorter rides because I have small children. Tell us about your dairy and your plans for the rest of the year. My wife, Katie, and I have four kids – Kendra, 10, Drew, 8, April, 5, and Ethan, 2. I farm with my dad, Mike, and my uncle, Dean. We milk about 450 cows with seven robots and raise all of our replacements. We grow our own feed and sell some cash crops – alfalfa, corn, soybeans and sugar beets. For the rest of the year, I hope to put up a good crop. Turn to OUR SIDE | Page 16
Page 16 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 2022
ConƟnued from OUR SIDE | Page 15 Megan Landkammer Father: Shawn Hollermann Burtrum, Minnesota 700 cows
Since you started farming with your dad, what has been a great accomplishment you’ve achieved on the farm? There isn’t just one great accomplishment that I can specically speak on. We have had many small victories that, when you add them all together, it makes this way of life even more worth it.
How many years have you been farming with your dad? We have been ofcially farming together full- time for four years and many more years prior while I was in school.
Bob Citterman Father: Dan Citterman Canby, Minnesota 120 cows How many years have you been farming with your dad? I have been farming with Dad for about 20 years. What are characteristics you admire about your dad as a father? Commitment, loyalty, perseverance and patience. You have to be pretty patient with everything on a dairy farm because there are so many things you can’t control. Dad was extremely loyal to the farm and our family when he took over the operation from his father. What is one thing you learned from your dad that has made you a better farmer? How to manage money. He taught me that you don’t need the shiniest equipment to get things done. Since you started farming with your dad, what has been a great accomplishment you’ve achieved on the farm. One of my biggest achievements has been my growth in equity. This has enabled us to build a new dairy barn this year. Everything for the new barn is all set, we are just waiting for the nal permits. When you are not farming, what do you and your dad like to do together? We get together every Sunday morning after church and have a big meal together. We pass our Sundays resting and spending time with family. Tell us about your dairy and your plans for the rest of the year. This farm has been in the Citterman family for well over 100 years, and I’m the third generation to dairy farm here. We are hoping to expand to 160 head by the end of the year by building a new freestall barn and a double-12 milking parlor. We have designed the barn so that it can easily be doubled. This will give my kids the opportunity to join the operation if they so choose. I just got back from a shing trip to Upper Red Lake. I went with my two oldest sons, Jacob, 8, and Jackson, 5, along with my brother-in-law Devin Schulze and his two boys. We caught our limit of walleyes and had a really good time.
What are characteristics you admire about your dad as a father? He is a very hard worker, but above all, he has a textbook of knowledge up in his head. Whenever I need something he has a reason and a solution that works time after time. What is one thing you learned from your dad that has made you a better farmer? Animals don’t care if you’re tired, run down or exhausted. They rely on us every day to care for them. They don’t ask to be neglected or forgotten, just to be given the best you can give. Jenifer Zimmerman Father: Jeff Zimmerman Deereld, Wisconsin 45 cows
Tell us about your dairy and your plans for the rest of the year. We currently operate a 700-cow dairy farm with 200 of them milking twice a day, 100 milking three times a day and 350 milking four times a day. Our biggest goal for this year is starting with doing all of our own eldwork. We are also building our own feedlot where we will raise out steers and crossbreed beef cattle.
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How many years have you been farming with your dad? I grew up on our family’s dairy farm, and I’m 24 now, so basically my whole life. I have very fond memories being around all the animals, helping with chores and riding along in the tractor cab hauling corn to the local co-op when I was younger. What are characteristics you admire about your dad as a father? I admire how kind, hardworking and smart my dad is. He has a strong work ethic and never seems to let things get in his way. His dedication to the farm and his family is like no other. He has taught me that if you want something in life, you must put in the work, and you can’t be afraid to try new things. He is also always willing to lend a helping hand. Whether it be a neighboring farmer in need of help during harvest or simply a family friend looking for help, you can count on him to be there. He is the biggest role model in my life, and I wouldn’t be half the person I am without his guidance. What is one thing you learned from your dad that has made you a better farmer? I’ve learned a lot of life lessons from my dad, but the one thing he’s showed me that has made me a better farmer and individual is that it’s important to have fun. More days than not, farming tests your limits – whether it be a piece of equipment that breaks down and needs repairs or an animal that gets sick unexpectedly and you try every possible solution to help. Having an optimistic outlook goes a long way in life, especially in farming. He’s always one to crack a joke to lighten the mood, and it serves
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When you are not farming, what do you and your dad like to do together? We enjoy sitting at the lake lot drinking brandy together and celebrating all we have as a family. He also loves spending time with his granddaughter (my daughter) doing whatever she is doing at the time.
Since you started farming with your dad, what has been a great accomplishment you’ve achieved on the farm? As I got older, I began to take on more responsibilities around the farm. I am in charge of raising and caring for all our calves right from birth up to replacements or steers for butcher. I am proud of the system I’ve developed and changes I’ve made to the nutrition, housing and vaccination protocols here. I know I’m providing only the best quality care for the calves to grow up to be healthy producing animals. When you are not farming, what do you and your dad like to do together? When we are not farming, my dad, two sisters and I enjoy family card games, puzzles, watching Packers and Brewers games, and having campres. Tell us about your dairy and your plans for the rest of the year. We milk 45 head of cattle in our stanchion barn on our family farm. My dad and I handle the animal side of things, and I have a few uncles who help us with eldwork as well. Along with that, we have roughly 50 head of youngstock that we raise ourselves. In addition to the cows and calves, I also have some goats, ponies and chickens of my own that I raise. We plant and grow crops including corn, soybean, oat, wheat and alfalfa. Throughout the rest of the year, we will continue milking and raising up our replacement heifers to grow into the herd. Fingers crossed, we have some good growing conditions for our crops and are able to have a safe and successful harvest.
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Page 18 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 2022
Harvesting Quality Forages
Orchard grass alfalfa hay mixture aids in transition cow health The Greden family: Larry and Nancy; and Ross and Victoria, along with their children, Josie, Lydia, Megan and Ethan. Greden Farms LLC Altura, Minnesota Winona County 550 cows Describe your farm and facilities. We are a sixthgeneration dairy farm, have been in business since 1866 and have a double-12 parallel parlor which was built in 1995. We also raise our own heifers on three sites. We also work together on a daily basis with three generations of family at all levels, and it is very challenging but also rewarding. The communication has to be magnied in order to achieve this successfully. What forages do you harvest? We harvest alfalfa haylage, corn silage, winter rye (we call it ryelage), dry grass hay, alfalfa hay and oatlage. We plant oat as a companion or nurse crop in the spring with alfalfa, and then on the most erodible elds, we allow it to mature. In early July, we harvest the forage when the oats are headed out, and we chop that for heifer feed. If we have a fourth-year alfalfa eld that is petering out, or the yield is not as good as the rst couple years, we’ll take two cuttings of the alfalfa, and then we will apply or inject manure mid-to-late July into those acres.
From Aug. 1 to 15, depending on the weather, we will direct seed oats only into the alfalfa which was just injected with manure, and then the oats gives us an October forage crop that we can chop in early October. Our winter rye is a cover crop, but we like the benets of it as a forage because it gives us a lot of tonnage early in the year when our forage supplies start dwindling. It’s a nice tool in the toolbox. We also plant an August planting, or summer fallow, of alfalfa which is direct seeded following the harvest of peas. We have a contract with Lakeside in Plainview to plant peas which we plant June 1 and harvest the end of July. We have had very good success with those alfalfa plantings because the soil temperature is much higher and the weed pressure is much lower. How many acres of crops do you raise? We have 70 acres of pasture ground for rotational grazing, 500 acres of corn and 300 acres of alfalfa, and on a selected portion of those same acres, we plant winter rye on our corn silage acres. This year, we planted 120 acres of winter rye which was harvested for forage. After the forage harvest in May, we planted corn, some of which we no tilled directly into the rye stubble, some of which we injected manure and then nished the eld and planted
KATE RECHTZIGEL/DAIRY STAR
Ross (leŌ) and Ethan Greden hold their orchard grass alfalfa hay mixture June 16 at their farm near Altura, Minnesota. Ross’s dad, Larry, submiƩed the mixture which took eighth at 2021 World Forage Superbowl. corn, and then some of it we used a vertical tillage machine which used a light tillage to plant 30-inch corn. Our corn planter allows us the option of 15- or 30-inch spacings, and we’ve had better yield with our 15-inch when it comes to corn silage tonnage. So, we use the 30-inch for high moisture corn and 100% of our 30-inch corn goes to high moisture corn. Describe the rations for your livestock. Two-thirds corn
silage and one-third haylage for forages. We also add in high moisture corn, a protein product we purchase from the local coop, dry corn, whole cottonseed and corn gluten pellets. What quality and quantity do you harvest of each crop? Our goal for the relative feed value on our haylage is 200+, and we monitor the quality. We want a very high-quality forage. We use the HarvXtra alfalfa brand and low lectin varieties to get a
higher quality product. We also use the aerial fungicide which is applied via helicopter in the spring on our better alfalfa elds. We get a little higher RFV because it promotes leaf retention in the lower portion of the stem. It’s been an expensive investment, but an investment that has paid off. We like to harvest 3,000 tons of haylage, 7,000 tons of corn silage and try to harvest our corn silage at 60% moisture.
Turn to FORAGE | Page 20
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ConƟnued from FORAGE | Page 18
Describe your harvesting techniques for alfalfa and corn silage. For the alfalfa, we try to have the cutting interval of 28 to 30 days and keep that quality very, very high. We are blessed with our own self-propelled chopper, self-propelled Discbine and a merger. Thankfully, all four children participate in the alfalfa harvest. My youngest daughter, Megan, runs the Discbine and cuts the hay. The older two daughters, Josie and Lydia, take turns on the merger and hauling loads. My son, Ethan, operates the chopper or the packing tractor on the pile. My dad, Larry, hauls loads or runs a packing tractor on the pile. I take turns on the chopper or the packing tractor on the pile. The windows of harvest opportunity are very small, we are forced to do four days of work in three days and go all night long to harvest the forage because the rain is coming. It’s been challenging to get the high-
quality forages because you really have to get lucky on good weather. We have to do whatever it takes for that cow to make her as efcient and productive as we can make her, and sometimes we have to sacrice a good night’s sleep to do that. What techniques do you use to store, manage and feed your forages? Everything is in a at storage, bunker or silo of some type. We have side walls on the majority of storage facilities, and we also have at black top pads for our corn silage. We normally use a top dress inoculate product on our haylage piles as well as an oxygen barrier product. We ll the bunker, pack it very well, apply the inoculate product to the top of the pile, apply an oxygen barrier, put a black and white thicker plastic over the top and then tires as the last step. We’re very particular about maintaining a clean face on the bunker pile and try to remove at
KATE RECHTZIGEL/DAIRY STAR
Ethan Greden sprays a top dress inoculate over a haylage pile. The inoculate as well as an oxygen barrier product, black and white plasƟc and Ɵres help to store the haylage.
least 6 inches per day off each face. And, we use the Kostar Moisture Test at least on a weekly basis to monitor changes as we go through the pile. Describe a challenge you overcame in reaching your forage quality goals. Historically, our chopper did not come with the ability to monitor and measure the moisture, so two years ago we added a harvest lab technology to our chopper and can now do a better job of getting a more consistent pile of forage because we know exactly what we are working with as we move across the eld. And, if we get into a eld that’s too wet, we just put a time out on it and move to a different eld and come back when the moisture is right. We also had a challenge with the feed samples showing too high of an ash count and invested in a 32-foot Brillion roller and added it as a step to our alfalfa management. We soil nish the eld, roll the eld to rm it up, and then we direct seed with our alfalfa Brillion direct seeder. There are also times when we go back for a nal rolling over the top to make it as rm as we can get it. The roller helps to eliminate the ridges, make it smooth and reduce the ash content in the forage and has really paid off. How do quality forages play a part in the production goals for your herd? The higher the quality, the better the milk production. Larry also submitted the orchard grass alfalfa hay mixture which got eighth at the
KATE RECHTZIGEL/DAIRY STAR
Ethan Greden examines a porƟon of haylage June 16 at his family’s farm near Altura, Minnesota. Their relaƟve feed value is 200-plus; they strive for a high quality forage. 2021 World Forage Superbowl. We grow the orchard grass alfalfa mixture on 60 acres and use it for our transition group. It has helped us reduce our displaced abomasum’s signicantly and improve butterfat. It’s going on its eighth year and is very long lasting and high quality. We feed it to all of our transition cows from closeup to lactating. What are management or harvesting techniques you have changed that have made a notable difference in forage quality? Variable rate technology application of lime which corresponds with the grid
sampling of storage samples. The grid sampling of data calls for an aggressive amount of lime to raise the pH in one corner of the eld. The balance of the eld requires a lower application rate instead of going and managing per eld. The VRT allows you to apply those little pockets that really need a lot more. It’s more efcient and cost effective. We’ve done that with fertility and pot ash especially. The harvest lab technology on the chopper also gives us more information to make better management decisions to achieve the higher quality feed. And, the roller lowers the ash count.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 2022 • Page 21
1-YEAR INTEREST WAIVER ON PLANTERS
2017 John Deere 1775NT, 16R30”, #532571
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2013 John Deere 1770NT 24R30”, #273978
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1999 John Deere 1770 16R30”, #186432
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PLANTERS
JD DB60, 2012, 24R30”, Flex Fold, Row Command, #535120 .....................$194,900 JD 1770NT, 2013, 24R30”, Flex Fold, 1.6 Bu. Hopper, Row Command, #273978 ...........................................................................$79,900 JD DB60, 2014, 24R30”, Flex Fold, Row Command, #186455.....................$185,900 JD 7200, 1989, 12R30”, Flex Fold, 1.6 Bu Hopper, #532545 ........................$1,1500 JD 1750, 2006, 6R30”, 1.6 Bu. Hopper, #276309..........................................$25,900 JD 1770NT CCS, 2010, 24R30”, Flex Fold, #532533.....................................$94,500 JD 1770NT CCS, 2010, 16R30”, Flex Fold, Row Command, #533005............$83,999 JD 7200, 1990, 4R38”, 1.6 Bu. Hopper, #533127..........................................$10,900 JD 1770, 1999, 16R30”, Flex Fold, 1.6 Bu. Hopper, #186432 ........................$28,500 Case IH 1200, 6R30”, 1.6 Bu. Hopper, #531372 ..........................................$18,500 JD 1750, 2009, 6R30”, 1.6 Bu. Hopper, #532469..........................................$24,000 JD 1790, 2003, 16/31 Row 15/30”, Flex Fold, #532534 ...............................$53,000 JD 7200, 1993, 12R30”, Wing Fold, 3.0 Bu. Hopper, #190107 .....................$22,900 JD 1775NT, 2017, 16R30”, Flex Fold, Row Command, Electric Drive, #532571 .............................................................................$183,000 JD 7200, 1991, 16R30”, 1.6 Bu. Hopper, #275813........................................$12,900 JD 1760, 2006, 8R38”, Flex Fold, 1.6 Bu. Hopper, #532944 ..........................$19,900 JD 1770NT CCS, 2008, 16R30”, #532331 ....................................................$59,500 JD 1770NT, 2009, 24R30”, Flex Fold, 3.0 Bu. Hopper, #532536....................$69,000 JD 7200, 1988, 12R30”, Flex Fold; 1.6 Bu. Hopper, #532919 .......................$11,000 JD 1770NT, 2009, 16R30”, Flex Fold, 3.0 Bu. Hopper, #275635....................$53,500 JD DB60, 2009, 24R30”, Wing Fold, Row Command, #532035 .....................$95,500 JD 1760, 1996, 12R30”, Flex Fold, 1.6 Bu Hopper, #533185 ........................$24,500 JD 7000, 4R36”, 1.6 Bu. Hopper, #535874.....................................................$4,900 JD 1700, 2014, 4R30”, #275821..................................................................$15,900 JD DR24, 2020, 24R30”, Row Command, #274275 ....................................$319,900 JD 1720 CCS, 2010, 12R38”, Wing Fold, #276333 .......................................$29,900 White 6700, 22” Row Spacing, 1.6 Bushel, #186494 .................................$10,900 JD 7300, 1992, 12R30”, Wing Fold, 3.0 Bu. Hopper, #535296 ......................$10,900
DISKS
JD 2680H, 2021, 40 ft, #535842................................................................$144,900 Frontier DH1180, 2015, 6 ft, Rigid, #535890...............................................$2,900 JD 230, 24 ft, 3-Section Folding, Spacing: 9”, #532915 ..................................$2,950 Case IH RMX340, 2009, 35 ft, 3-Section Folding, Spacing: 9”, #181151 .....$29,400 JD 2680H, 2021, 40 ft, 3-Section Folding, #532802 ..................................$147,000 JD 630, 20 ft, 3-Section Folding, Spacing: 9”, #535135 ..................................$5,950 JD 2623, 2012, 40 ft, 5-Section Folding, Spacing: 9”, #523876 ....................$49,900 JD 2625, 2013, 33 ft, 3-Section Folding, Spacing: 11”, #275921 ..................$39,900 JD 637, 2011, 42 ft, 5-Section Folding, Spacing: 9”, #523980 ......................$29,500 JD 235, 26 ft, 3-Section Folding, Spacing: 9”, #532913 ..................................$5,650 Wishek 862nt, 2014, 26 ft, #276355..........................................................$39,900 JD 2680H, 2019, 35 ft, 3-Section Folding, Spacing: 9”, #535875 ...............$122,500 JD 2625, 2014, 40 ft, 5-Section Folding, Spacing: 11”, #532507 ..................$44,000 JD 235, 2000, S23 ft, 3-Section Folding, #533463 .........................................$5,250 Landoll 6230-36, 2013, 35 ft, 3-Section Folding, Spacing: 9”, #532829 .....$32,000 JD 2680H, 2019, 24 ft, 3-Section Folding, #534969 ....................................$82,900 Krause 8200-28W, 2010, 28 ft, 3-Section Folding, Spacing: 9”, #275204...$22,900
FIELD CUTLIVATORS
JD 2210, 2008, 45.5 ft, 3-Section Folding, C-Shank, #189582 .....................$39,900 Wil-Rich Quad X, 49 ft, 5-Section Folding, #533469...................................$29,000 JD 2210, 2009, 50.5 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #276172 .....................$49,900 Case IH 4900, 30 ft, 3-Section Folding, C-Shank, #532912 ...........................$3,650 JD 980, 1998, 27 ft, 3-Section Folding, C-Shank, #533020 ..........................$11,900 JD 2200, 2002, 34 ft, 3-Section Folding, C-Shank, #185898 ........................$19,000 JD 2210, 2009, 55.5 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #531369 .....................$44,900 Wil-Rich Excel 42’, 1999, #276243 ............................................................$14,900 JD 2210, 2012, 58 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #533062 ........................$47,900 Wil-Rich QUAD 5, 1998, 42 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #191850 .........$19,500 JD 2210, 2009, 50.5 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #535118 .....................$34,900 JD 2210, 2012, 45 ft, 5-Section Folding, #275591 .......................................$44,900
JD 2210, 2004, 27 ft, 3-Section Folding, C-Shank, #531751 ........................$29,900 JD 2230, 2018, 60.5 ft, 5-Section Folding, #532409 ..................................$144,900 JD 2210, 2017, 55 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #531861 ........................$79,900 JD 2210, 2006, 57 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #181942 ........................$32,500 JD 2210, 2005, 60 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #533969 ........................$41,000 JD 2230, 2021, 60.5 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #190850 ...................$129,000 JD 2210, 2012, 50.5 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #532028 .....................$46,500 Wil-Rich Quad 5, 47 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #532076....................$11,500 JD 2210, 2014, 65.5 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #275557 .....................$65,900 JD 980, 1997, 41 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #533970 ............................$8,900 JD 960, 1991, 37 ft, 3-Section Folding, #533457 ...........................................$5,750 JD 2210, 2016, 60.5 ft, 5-Section Folding, #190843 ....................................$74,500 JD 980, 1999, 18 ft, 3-Section Folding, C-Shank, #535084 ..........................$10,900 JD 985, 1995, 56 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #533106 ..........................$14,500 Case TM 14, 55 ft, 5-Section Folding, #532837 ...........................................$23,000 JD 1010, 30 ft, 3-Section Folding, C-Shank, #184934....................................$3,900 Wil-Rich QX-2, 2016, 60 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #185704 ..............$78,000 Case IH 4300, 2001, 38 ft, 3-Section Folding, C-Shank, #186653 ...............$11,995 JD 985, 2000, 50.5 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #535303 .......................$15,500 JD 980, 1998, 36 ft, 3-Section Folding, C-Shank, #532504 ..........................$11,500 Case IH Tigermate 200, 2011, 50.5 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #185702 ......................................................................................$46,000 Case IH TM14, 2005, 50.5 ft, 5-Section Folding, C-Shank, #187546 ...........$26,900 JD 980, 1994, 32 ft, 3-Section Folding, C-Shank, #532854 ............................$7,500 JD 2210, 2005, 38 ft, 3-Section Folding, C-Shank, #191986 ........................$28,000
MULCH FINISHERS
JD 2310, 2013, 45 ft, 5-Section Folding, #535073 .......................................$64,900 JD 200, 2002, 45 ft, #533971 ........................................................................$9,900 JD 724, 1992, 30 ft, 3-Section Folding, #536000 ...........................................$9,900 Kuhn Krause 6200-45, 2013, 45 ft, 5-Section Folding, #275588 ...............$59,900 Glencoe 6000, 22 ft, 3-Section Folding, #536113.........................................$7,450
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Page 22 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 2022
Lessons from my grandfather
DeLaval Parlor P500 milking system
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”
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For more than 70 years, the Johnsons have been milking cows at Highland Dairy in Glade Spring, Virginia. Third-generation dairywoman, Rena Johnson, decided to upgrade the dairy so she can milk cows for decades to come. The DeLaval P500 parlor was the key to helping her do just that.
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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
is a registered trademark of Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. and “DeLaval” is a registered trade/servicemark of DeLaval Holding AB © 2022 DeLaval Inc. DeLaval, 11100 North Congress Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64153-1296. All facts and figures are the result of data collected on test farms and pilot farms. Data compared to DeLaval Champion. Results may vary and are not guaranteed. www.delaval.com
Exactly one year ago this month, my grandfather passed away. It felt like he had been gone a long time before that because with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, he had already forgotten who most of us grandkids were a couple years ago. But somehow, maybe it was all those years spent working side-by-side in the barn milking cows or something else entirely, he remembered my dad. We would come in to visit, and my grandmother would try and get him to remember each of our names. But, he couldn’t. He would look at my dad and start talking about random stories that us grandkids had never heard of. So, with the help of our dad, my brothers and I were left to process them for many days after the fact. But long before he passed, By Kate Rechtzigel my grandfather taught me Staff Writer some good lessons in life. My brothers and I had each spent many days working alongside of him. Now, my brothers may have different memories and lessons they have learned over the years, but these are the ones I learned and will cherish for the rest of my life. One was to always protect your hair and never let a boy, or barber, cut it. It was the end of fth grade, and my grandmother took me in to get my regular bob haircut at the local salon in town. Unfortunately, I told the hairstylist I wanted my hair cut thick instead of thin. So, I got home, and my grandmother did not like how the hair cut turned out. She kept complaining about it until nally my grandfather said he had an idea. He took me in to his local barber, Jim, and told him I would like my hair cut. Jim, having never cut a woman’s hair before, decided he would shave all the hair off. I was left with a man’s haircut all of sixth grade, so much so that my grandfather started introducing me as his fourth grandson. I was embarrassed, and ever since that day, I have grown out my hair and decided I would never let a boy, or barber, cut my hair ever again. So, ladies, always go to a salon and get your hair cut how you want it. My grandfather also taught me to always work hard no matter what. He often doubted I could do some of the barn tasks such as milking the cows, cleaning the pipeline, bedding the barn or putting up small square bales. And me, being the competitive person that I am, decided that I was going to prove him wrong and started to do not one but each and every one of these chores. My grandfather was amazed and eventually landed on giving me the nickname, George, because I was the girl who could work just as hard if not harder than all the boys. This transferred to later in life, because when I was working at the cheese plant, I was one of the hardest working people there. All of my male coworkers were amazed that even though I was a girl, I could work just as hard as them. Lastly, I learned that it’s OK to be the only girl in the group. Growing up, I spent many days in the barn surrounded by my two brothers, dad and grandfather. I learned I liked working with men, so when I went to college, I got a job at the meat lab on campus which once again was male dominated. I thrived in this work space and learned it was one of my favorite jobs. So, a couple weeks ago, when my boyfriend asked me to go on a shing trip with him and his guy friends, I thought long and hard about it and decided I would go because my grandfather would have wanted me to. And believe it or not, I had one of the best times of my life in the middle of nowhere, shing with a bunch of guys, all because my grandfather taught me long ago that it’s OK to be the only girl in a eld dominated by guys. So even though my grandfather is gone now and I never said a proper goodbye or even a thank you before he passed, I am thankful I knew him and feel honored to have learned the lessons I did. Hug your grandparents tight because you never know when it is their time to go, and if you are a girl in agriculture, never be afraid to work just as hard if not harder than all the boys.
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PRINCESS KAY FINALISTS
Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 2022 • Page 23
Fullling a dream Maus lives out childhood desire to be Princess Kay nalist By Maggie Molitor Staff Writer
FREEPORT, Minn. – Ever since she attended her rst Princess Kay of the Milky Way coronation at the age of 8, Briana Maus made it her goal to become one of the young women on stage contending to be Min-
nesota’s ofcial goodwill dairy ambassador. “I remember their beautiful dresses and waves,” Maus said “But the way they spoke so condently about something they truly love really stuck out to me. I had a feeling that one day I would be there up on stage.” This August, Maus will have the opportunity fulll her childhood dream of gracing the bandshell stage the eve of the Minnesota State Fair. She will be competing against nine other women from across the state of Minnesota for the title of 69th Princess Kay of the Milky Way.
MAGGIE MOLITOR/DAIRY STAR
Briana Maus is represenƟng Stearns County as a 69th Princess Kay of the Milky Way Finalist. Maus and her family dairy farm near Freeport, Minnesota.
MAGGIE MOLITOR/DAIRY STAR
Briana Maus feeds hay to heifers June 16 on her family’s farm near Freeport, Minnesota. Maus is in charge of mixing feed and feeding livestock on her parent’s, Darrel and Lisa, farm.
Maus, the daughter of Darrel and Lisa Maus, grew up on her family’s 60-cow dairy farm in Stearns County near Freeport. The 18-year-old has been helping on her family’s dairy for as long as she can remember
and now takes on the responsibility of mixing the total mixed ration and feeding all of the livestock daily. “I take care of feeding every animal on the farm,” Maus said. “I enjoy being active on the farm because it allows to
know pretty much everything that is going on.” The recent high school graduate has been following the dairy princess program for many years. Her mom serves as
Turn to MAUS | Page 23
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Page 24 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 2022
I Spy
AMPI IT’S CONTEST TIME!
Find the AMPI logo and enter for your chance to WIN 10 pounds of AMPI’s Dinner Bell Creamery cheese and butter. Here’s how it works: 1. Count the AMPI logos throughout this issue (excluding this page).
actual size to look for
2. Complete the entry form. 3. Send entries to: Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378, Attn: Dairy Contest 4. Entries must be received by July 15. 5. Winners will be drawn at random from the correct entry blanks received. Five winners will each receive five pounds of butter and five pounds of cheese.
I Spy AMPI | Dairy Star Contest Name _____________________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________________ City ______________________________________________________ State, Zip __________________________________________________ Phone ____________________________________________________ I found _______ AMPI logos.
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PRINCESS KAY FINALISTS
Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 2022 • Page 25
An advocate for the industry
Dieball loves dairy’s technology, product variety By Grace Jeurissen grace.j@star-pub.com
GREEN ISLE, Minn. – Starting about 19 years ago, a little girl in a stroller would sit in her parents’ parlor watching the cows walk in one at a time. Her eyes would follow each cow as they positioned themselves to be milked. Now she is walking, talking and breathing the dairy industry every day of her life.
Aly Dieball, 19, daughter of Jim and Wendy Dieball of Green Isle, is a top 10 nalist for Princess Kay of the Milky Way. Her family milks 220 cows with three robots in Sibley County. “There was so much anticipation while watching the Facebook live feed,” Dieball said. “I had all but given up when I heard my name called as nalist No. 10.” Sibley County has not had a Princess Kay nalist in seven years. Following her selection as a nalist, Dieball said she has received an unparalleled amount of support from her community. Many local farms
GRACE JEURISSEN/DAIRY STAR
Aly Dieball looks at a cow’s producƟon records on one of her family’s robots June 3 at her farm near Green Isle, Minnesota. Dieball loves sharing her farm’s technology with consumers while out in the community as a Sibley County Dairy Princess.
and businesses have donated to pay for buses to haul Dieball’s fan section to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds on the eve of coronation. To receive such grandiose support from her community, Dieball said, makes her realize just how important her family farm is to the communities around them. “When we moved our cows in 2018 to the new robot barn, my dad and I paused for a few moments and just hugged,” she said. “I knew I had to share our story, because through a tight hug and some joyful tears with my dad, we knew we had nally made it as a family farm. All of our hard work had brought us to this point.” Her favorite memories have been made at the farm, and Dieball said she hopes to give others a farm experience worth remembering. Dieball is always open to giving barn tours to curious consumers. She has brought children and nursing home residents to see her family’s robotic milking system. “As farm numbers have decreased, many people have started to become removed from where their food is sourced,” she said. “Our robots are fascinating, and anyone that has seen them asks great questions and
Turn to DIEBALL | Page 27
GRACE JEURISSEN/DAIRY STAR
Aly Dieball holds McKinley, a calf out of her favorite cow, Hammie, June 3 at her farm near Green Isle, Minnesota. Dieball is a nalist for Princess Kay of the Milky Way.
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Brad Herickhoff, Owner 320-351-4872
Page 26 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 2022
Yotters reveal new parlor at open house
LAKE CITY, Minn. – The Wabasha County Family Night on the Farm welcomed more than 1,000 people June 16 to Scotch Prairie Farms. Event goers learned how dairy farmers strive to take care of their animals and the land they farm, and how farmers, milk haulers and milk processors work to provide quality milk found at their local grocery store. They visited the freestall barn and outdoor exhibits to learn about what cows eat and how farmers take care of cows and calves. They also visited the rotary parlor and learned how cows are milked. Kids interacted with calves and goats,
dug in a sand pile for prizes and rode pedal tractors. Families were also able to enjoy walking tacos, cheese curds, milk and ice cream treats thanks to generous sponsors. Scotch Prairie Farms has been in the Yotter family since 1946, starting with Brian’s great-grandparents, Leslie and Alice, who began milking 25 cows in a tiestall barn. Brian is now the fourth generation to own and operate the farm. In 2004, the family began milking in a parallel parlor, and now, the 2,000 cows are milked in a 60-cow rotary parlor three times per day. KATE RECHTZIGEL/DAIRY STAR
This year’s Wabasha County Family Night on the Farm featured Scotch Prairie Farms’ new 60-cow rotary parlor near Lake City, Minnesota. It takes cows 10 minutes to go around the carousel.
KATE RECHTZIGEL/DAIRY STAR
KATE RECHTZIGEL/DAIRY STAR
Kids dig for prizes in a sand pile at the Wabasha County Family Night on the Farm June 16 near Lake City, Minnesota.
AƩendees enjoy walking tacos at Scotch Prairie Farms June 16 near Lake City, Minnesota. There was also freshly deep fried Ellsworth cheese curds on site.
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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 2022 • Page 27
ConƟnued from MAUS | Page 23 the Stearns County Princess Coordinator and her two older sisters, Ashley and Katie, are past Princess Kay nalists. Maus is looking forward to taking part in the program herself. “I am so excited for the experience,” Maus said. “Being that it is my rst year as a county princess, I never expected to be announced as a nalist this year. I am so grateful and can’t wait to see my butter sculpture in the freezer alongside Ashley’s and Katie’s.” Her sister, Ashley, was a nalist in 2018 and Katie was one in 2020. They have helped support and coach their sister as she prepares for the upcoming competition. “It’s really nice to have help so close,” Maus said. “They are always willing to answer any questions I have.” Maus found her passion advocating for dairy through her involvement in 4-H and FFA. Showing dairy animals at the county and state fair has given Maus the opportunity to share about her project to fairgoers and expand her knowledge on the industry. She also participated on the Melrose FFA Chapter’s milk quality career and leadership development event team where she learned about the quality of dairy foods. Having experience in both the production and manufacturing sides of dairy, Maus is condent in her ability to ensure consumers they are receiving a responsibly produced product from farm to table.
“I am able to connect with consumers by sharing my knowledge in not only farming but also what happens to the milk after it leaves the farm,” Maus said. Maus’ interest in manufacturing has led her to South Dakota State University where she will start her freshman year studying dairy manufacturing this fall. Along with advocating for dairy, Maus has a passion for musical theatre. Maus credits her involvement in musicals and acting throughout her childhood in helping her gain skills of public speaking, condence and composure, all of which help her communicate with consumers as a dairy advocate. “When I started theatre, I was a little bit shy,” Maus said. “But as I did it more and more, I came out of my shell. It has taught me so much like going with the ow and staying calm and collected if someone has made a mistake.” This summer, Maus is in her local theatre’s production of “Footloose” where she will be playing supporting character Wendy Jo. As Maus prepares for the Princess Kay of the Milky way interviews and coronation later this summer, she has a few goals for herself as an advocate. “I hope to share my unique story with consumers,” Maus said. “I also want to let them know that even though all farmers do things differently, they all strive to have the same outcome. And, that is to produce a healthy nutritious glass of milk.”
ConƟnued from DIEBALL | Page 25 walks away having learned something cool.” The technology Dieball has at her ngertips with the robots and cow monitors gives her an interesting aspect of the dairy industry to share with consumers. Dieball wants to make connections as a dairy advocate so people can learn about the hard work her family and many others put in on a daily basis. She uses her farm and other outlets to nd people to talk to about dairy. “My favorite thing is to deliver my ice cream machine to people not from around us,” Dieball said. “So many of them ask questions, and it’s the perfect icebreaker to talk about the dairy community and dairy products.” Dieball invested in an ice cream machine a few years ago and rents it to people for weddings, graduation parties and other events. Dieball also takes the ice cream machine to various dairy princess events. “Being a dairy princess has widened the spectrum of people I can reach,” she said. “It is always fun to visit with people and watch as the lightbulb goes off in their heads when I discuss how milk from the farm gets to the table.” Dieball said she has passion and condence in the progression that is being made within the dairy community. Her farm was what helped her decide on a major in dairy science at South Dakota State University. Whether she is in class at SDSU, on the farm or in the community as a dairy princess, Dieball uses her life experiences to bring dairy to consumers. “My favorite point to share is that there are so many different options in dairy, and farmers work hard every day to care for their cows to ensure the product we receive in stores was responsibly produced,” she said.
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Page 28 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 2022
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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 2022 • Page 29
Women In Dairy Tiffany Kohlmann Clarks Mills, Wisconsin Manitowoc County 250 cows Family: My family includes my parents, Tony and Bonnie, my brother, Jarod and me. Tell us about your farm. Misty Moon Dairy is a family owned and operated farm between my parents, Jarod and I. All the daily chores are divided up between the four owners – from feeding the cows, to feeding the calves, to scraping and everything in between to care for the animals. In 2019, we put in our rst two Lely robots and completed the project in April 2020 with the last two robots. Crops are brought in with all family hands on deck. Extra help is provided from my boyfriend, Brady, my sister and brother-in-law, Nicole and Carl, and also my uncle, Chuck – all after their full-time jobs. Even my nephews get in on the help, and soon my niece will be out there too. What is a typical day like for you on the dairy? I get to the farm around 7 a.m. I collect my data on the cows, fetch the cows that need to be milked and scrape stalls. I feed the background calves before they are on the feeder and make sure all calves on feeders drank. After lunch, I’m able to do odds and ends jobs like vaccinations, herd health or gardening before doing night chores of fetching cows and feeding calves. What decision have you made in the last year that has beneted your farm? Putting in automatic calf feeders. We completed the project over the winter
and started calves on them Jan. 5. All non-salable milk gets pushed directly from the robots to the pasteurizer. From the pasteurizer, it gets pumped to the calf feeder. By using whole milk, we are hoping to see better rate of gains and overall healthier calves while decreasing the labor of individually feeding them. Building a heifer barn this summer will also help bring all the heifers home under one roof for more control over their growing conditions. That will also free up room to raise wholesale beef to connect the consumer directly to the grower. Tell us about your most memorable experience working on the farm. The afternoon of July 13, 2004, started normally. I looked north and saw a funnel cloud split into two tornados. We knew it was bad when afterward my dad went upstairs and said the silos are gone. Over the next few days, we had to make a life-altering decision to rebuild or sell. My brother, a seventh grader, and I, a freshman, wanted to farm. That fall, we built a freestall barn and doubled our 60-cow herd. What have you enjoyed most about dairy farming or your tie to the dairy industry? I have enjoyed watching and teaching my nephews about the agriculture industry, including the importance of responsibility and work ethic in general on the farm. If you work hard for something in life, you will get to play harder after. The other day, my 4-year-old nephew watched us assist in a tough calving. We had to resuscitate a white calf. He proudly told his mom, “They had to help the baby breathe, but it will be OK. When will it grow into its black spots?” We were able to teach him that unlike Dal-
matians, this calf will always be all white. What is your biggest accomplishment in your dairy career? Getting to where we are today by doing most of the building, electrical and plumbing ourselves. Technology has come a long way on our farm too. In 1996, we had a double-6 herringbone parlor. In 2010, we had a double-10 swing parallel parlor before switching to robots in 2019 and installing calf feeders in 2022. What are things you do to promote your farm or the dairy industry? I like to talk to people one on one any chance I get to tell our story. I then invite them to take a personal tour of the farm to see for themselves how things are done on our dairy. I am also active on the Manitowoc County Farm Bureau board and help with
events like hosting Manitowoc County Breakfast on the Farm in 2009. Social media presence is a big factor in reaching the next generation. What advice would you give another woman in the dairy industry? A quote I nd tting for me is, “In a world that tells you women are more valuable when they are less – skinnier, quieter, delicate, complacent … be more. Be bold. Be strong. Be opinionated. Ask for what you want. Show up authentically,” Dr. Hake. When someone tells you, “You can’t,” accept that challenge and tell them, “I will.” When you get a spare moment, what do you do? I enjoy a good beer with family and friends around a table or at Hodag. In the winter months, I like to play volleyball.
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Page 30 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 2022
Lessons learned on the farm pay off
Hinckley, Chateld softball team wins state, makes history CHATFIELD, Minn. – Alexis Hinckley and the Chateld High School softball team made history June 10 when they defeated Proctor High School 3-2 and became state champions. “It felt really good, and all of our hard work and time spent practicing meant something and paid off,” Hinckley said. “We were the rst softball team in our school’s history to win state.” Hinckley is the only sophomore on the team and lives on her famAlexis Hinckley ily’s 500-cow dairy near Chateld.
She is the daughter of Matt and Alicia Hinckley who also farm 5,000 acres of corn, soybean and alfalfa. On the farm, Hinckley helps give family members rides to and from equipment, brings food to family members who are in the eld and feeds calves ages 5 days to 6 months old. Calves are then moved to a local heifer raiser. “I feed them in the summer, winter or whenever I am available,” Hinckley said. On the eld, she plays rst base and has been playing softball for six years. The head softball coach is Jerry Chase. “To win, we needed players who played well, and she was one of them,” Chase said. “She is left-handed and very talented. She had no errors this whole season, threw four hits and was fth in our lineup.” The 28-2 team defeated Mounds Park Academy 8-5, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 3-1 and Proctor High School to win the state softball championship at the Caswell Park in North Mankato.
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Alexis Hinckley catches a ball during the Class AA state championship game against Proctor June 10. Hinckley plays rst base for the team. Hinckley said the team worked hard and was dedicated. “I was surprised and excited because the seniors had wanted to get this for a while,” Hinckley said. “I know the whole town is proud of us.” The team practiced year-round by using local football domes in the winter. “We are never not touching a softball, so we never lost the game,” she said. “We’re always working hard and practicing together.” Hinckley was even able to open up her dad’s shop two days a week in the winter for the team to practice hitting and pitching. Her coach said it made a difference. “She had seven or eight girls practicing in that shop, and I believe that is what helped them do well,” Chase said. Practice was essential but so were pre-game rituals for this state-champion team. Before each game, Hinckley said the team put on the same eye black and prayed with their assistant coach, Kelsey Lueck. “It brought us closer, put our minds into the game and calmed our nerves so we were ready,” Hinckley said. Hinckley’s favorite play of the championship game was when their pitcher, Claire Springer, struck out the last batter for the nal out. “We all just ran together and celebrated,” she said. “It was relieving, and we were all crying because we were so happy.” Her personal highlight this season was being a starter on the team as a sophomore and receiving all-conference and all-section. Last year, she was a starter as a freshman and also received all-conference. “I’ve worked really hard both off and on season to play with these girls,” Hinckley said. “All the girls on the team are like my best friends, and the game is a lot more fun to play when you are playing with your friends.” Hinckley is thankful for her parents, who put their money and time into her love for softball and decorating the bus, as well as the hitting coach. Chase, on the other hand, is thankful to have Hinckley on his team. “She works hard in school and on the team, and is one of our key kids,” he said. “Hinckley is very dedicated and not one to miss a practice. It’s not often you have a girl like that around.” Hinckley credits her work ethic on the softball team to what she has learned from being involved on her family’s farm. “Working on the farm has taught me to work hard, dedicate myself to something and never give up,” she said. The team lost ve seniors this year but has already started practices and games for the summer season. “We have a completely new team, and it’ll be different,” Hinckley said. “But if we all work hard, we’ll be just ne.”
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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 2022 • Page 31
Nick Heinen Kimball, Minnesota Stearns County 60 cows How did you get into farming? My parents raised me on the farm. I started helping at a young age, and my interest in farming stayed with me over the years. What are your thoughts and concerns about the dairy industry for the next year? My concern is how the prices of everything will affect the bottom line for my farm.
What is a recent change you made on your farm and the reason for it? We have recently added automatic takeoffs. It makes it better for the cow and human.
Tell us about a skill you possess that makes dairy farming easier for you. Welding is a skill of mine. It’s something I enjoy doing and is very helpful at times when something needs repairing or fabrication. What is the best decision you have made on your farm? Getting married to my wife.
What are three things on the farm that you cannot live without? The good ole 5-gallon feed pail, rubber overshoes and machinery to get the job done.
What strategies do you use to withstand the volatile milk prices? I try to manage inputs wisely. How do you maintain family relationships while also working together? I work to try to understand others’ point of view. What do you enjoy most about dairy farming? I enjoy being able to produce a great product for a bunch of people who probably don’t know the work involved in the product they are consuming. What advice would you give other dairy farmers? Bigger isn’t always better. What are your plans for your dairy in the next year and ve years? Keep on keeping on.
MAGGIE MOLITOR/DAIRY STAR
Nick Heinen feeds heifers hay June 19 on his farm near Kimball, Minnesota. Heinen raises his replacement youngstock and feeds out his bull calves as steers.
How do you or your family like to spend time when you are not doing chores? I like to do some of my hobbies like shing and hunting, or I like to simply just get away for an afternoon.
MAGGIE MOLITOR/DAIRY STAR
Nick Heinen milks 60 cows with his parents, Joe and Brenda Heinen, near Kimball, Minnesota.
July 12–14, 2022
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Page 32 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 2022
www.extension.umn.edu/dairy
Update on latest transition cow research By Jim Salfer
University of Minnesota
We recently held the Four-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference (organized by extension specialists from Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin) in Dubuque, Iowa. This conference is geared toward nutritionists’ interests, but some veterinarians and farmers also attend. Several presentations focused on the latest research in nutrition and management of transition cows. If you are interested in seeing the presentations and papers, visit www. fourstatedairy.org and look under the proceedings tab. Here are some highlights and take-home messages from the transition cow related presentations. Tom Overton, Cornell University, discussed feeding the fresh cow and transition cow, and management strategies and outcomes in Northeast dairy herds. Tom shared that the ideal fresh cow feeding strategies are evolving and are not just tweaks to the high cow diet. A limited number of studies comparing high starch or low starch diets in fresh cows have shown inconsistent results. Higher starch diets worked best when the total diet contained higher levels of physically effective ber that stimulated cud chewing. However, feeding these higher ber diets can limit feed intake and milk production if cows are on this diet for too many days. His suggestion is that healthy fresh cows that are eating and milking well be moved to the high lactation diet from 10 to 14 days after calving. Non-feed factors are as important as the diet for health and performance. Their on-farm research discovered that adequate bunk space, lower stocking density, feeding more than one time per day and cows that were kept in the calving pen less than eight hours all were associated with improved health outcomes and higher milk production.
Lance Baumgard, Iowa State University, talked about transition cow myths and how these myths affect herd management. He challenged the group that some of our long-held beliefs about fresh cow health might be incorrect. Research shows that most high producing protable cows have elevated levels of ketones and reduced blood calcium. If these cows are eating well and milking well, with no other health events such as mastitis or metritis, these changes should just be considered normal metabolic uctuations associated with starting a lactation. Lance argued that much of the changes we see are normal effects of calving. An increase in immune system activation is normal as cows go through calving. However, cows that have higher than normal and more prolonged levels of inammation and immune activation is what causes sickness and the cascade of transition cow disease. This high and prolonged inammation can be caused by infectious diseases such as metritis, mastitis, acidosis and lameness. Additional stressors such as overcrowding and lack of bunk space in the close-up and fresh cow pens contribute to these poorer outcomes. It’s a little like a chicken and egg scenario. Does high inammation cause disease or does disease cause high inammation? Jim Drackley, University of Illinois, discussed the new nutrient requirements for transition cows. Recently the eighth edition of “Nutrient Requirements for Dairy Cattle” was released. The last update was in 2001. There were some slight changes in protein, energy and vitamin requirements for transition cows. These are likely already incorporated into most software ration balancing programs. Heather White, University of Wisconsin, discussed her research results of supplementing rumen protected choline to transition cows. She found that choline in-
creased energy-corrected milk yield in early lactation. Another interesting result was that choline improved calf growth, immune function and metabolic health. Take home messages from these presentations and discussion: – All transition cows go through tremendous hormon-
Turn to TRANSITION COW | Page 33 Dana Adams, Brad Heins Erin Royster adam1744@umn.edu hein0106@umn.edu royster@umn.edu 320-204-2968 320-589-1711 Isaac Salfer Joe Armstrong Nathan Hulinsky ijsalfer@umn.edu armst225@umn.edu huli0013@umn.edu 320-296-1357 612.624.3610 320-203-6104 Jim Salfer Luciano Caixeta Kevin Janni salfe001@umn.edu lcaixeta@umn.edu kjanni@umn.edu 320-203-6093 612-625-3130 612-625-3108 Mike Schutz Gerard Cramer Karen Johnson mschutz@umn.edu gcramer@umn.edu ande9495@umn.edu 612-624-1205 612-625-8184 320-484-4334 Emma Severns Marcia Endres Emily Krekelberg sever575@umn.edu miendres@umn.edu krek0033@umn.edu 507-934-7828 612-624-5391 507-280-2863 Melissa Wison Joleen Hadrich Claire LaCanne mlw@umn.edu jhadrich@umn.edu lacanne@umn.edu 612-625-4276 612-626-5620 507-332-6109 Les Hansen Brenda Miller hanse009@umn.edu nels4220@umn.edu 612-624-2277 320-732-4435
July 12–14, 2022
Employee management By Nathan J. Hulinsky University of Minnesota
Having employees in your business may be a necessity, as they can help accomplish goals, expand your business, and get more done than you could by yourself. However, properly managing and retaining employees can be challenging in any business, but especially in the current tight labor market. In March, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the unemployment rate in Minnesota was 2.5%. This low unemployment rate has led to an increase in wages nationwide and the opportunity for employees to be more selective in their job search. To combat this, employers need to stay competitive with the market and be clear in their communication and expectations of employees. Employees have two main questions about their role as an employee. What performance is expected of them (what is the employee supposed to be doing) and are they meeting those expectations (does the boss approve of their job). To answer these questions, it is important all employees have a job description and timely and high-quality feedback from the employer. Most employees want to do a good job. Job descriptions are crucial for identifying the roles of the employee. Most often the job description is only viewed during the hiring process, and while that is an important use of the job description, business owners should continually review and adjust the job description and expectations as necessary. Job descriptions should be limited to one page with two or three major responsibilities and should be reviewed annually, as an employee’s role in the business can change over time. Is it written down somewhere to see who oversees feeding, planting or milking the herd? As well as having a job description for the employees in the business, there should be a job description for owners and family members, and yes that means you. What are the owner’s roles in the business? What should the employees expect of you? The other question that employees have requires timely and high-quality feedback. What does this all entail? More than an annual review. Employees should be getting regular feedback on what they are doing well and things they can improve on. If an employee is doing a task improperly, you do not want to wait until it becomes a bad habit. The same should apply to when they do something right. Let them know they did a good job and that you value them as an employee. Saying thank you is not overrated. Employees also want to know they
are completing their assigned tasks timely and thoroughly. What is the recommended time to nish a project (how long to milk the herd)? If there is a problem with employees skipping over certain steps for a task, then some ways to x it is to explain the why behind the task. Why, when checking on the youngstock, is it important to clean out the waterers? Explaining why the youngstock need adequate clean water access for growth is important. Allowing the employee the opportunity to ask questions and provide input is important as well. Having a standard operating procedure for the different tasks is a great idea; this should enable the employees to answer their own questions via the employee handbook and not always direct them to the owner or boss. Business owners need to stay competitive in their wages and benets to maintain good employees. Employees expect benets, such as paid time off, healthcare and retirement, as part of their wage for working. We are currently experiencing low unemployment rates in our economy, which is leading to an increase in wages paid nationwide. With the low unemployment rates, employees can be more selective in their career choice. Business owners need to stay competitive and know who their competing industries are. Do you know what your competition for employees is? Is there a warehouse in the nearby town that starts hourly pay at $18 per hour with paid time off or a local convenience store that has starting pay at $16 with a 401(k) package? Employees expect benets as part of their wage for working. How much paid time off a year does your business offer its employees? Do they get it all at the start of the year or accrue one or two days per month over the course of the year? In data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of March 2021, 61% of employees after one year of service were getting at least 10 days of paid time off per year. That number jumps to 85% for employees after ve years of service. What about retirement or health care benets? Business owners need to stay competitive in their wages and benets to maintain good employees. To be competitive in today’s labor market to obtain and maintain good employees at your farm, an employer needs to provide more than just good wages. Businesses need to be clear on employee expectations and feedback and provide benets that are competitive with the competition. A well written and continuously updated job description for everyone is important and so is timely and high-quality feedback. Pay and benets cannot be overlooked. Paid time off is an often forgotten benet that farm businesses need to consider to be competitive in today’s labor market.
ConƟnued from TRANSITION COW | Page 32 al and metabolic changes around calving. This causes some degree of inammation and immune activation. Anything that causes stress and over activates the immune system contributes to the cascade of transition cow diseases and poor performance. – Fresh cows have special dietary needs that are slightly different from high producing cows. If possible, have a separate fresh cow group. – Fresh cows will benet from feed nutrients and feed additives that support healthy rumen function, metabolism, health and performance. – Rations free from mycotoxins, soil and manure contamination are important to minimize the risk of inammation and increased immune activation. – Well bedded, clean calving pens will reduce the risk of metritis and mastitis resulting in better performance. – Cooling fresh cows in the summer will increase performance and minimize the risk of transition cow diseases. – Low stocking of pre-fresh and fresh cows is often overlooked but is important to minimize fresh cow disease. – Adequate bunk space (30-36 inches) in both the close-up and post-fresh group will decrease the incidence of transition cow disorders. – For cows that are healthy, eating well and milking well, limit their stay in the postfresh group to 10-14 days. – Manage cows so they do not become over conditioned. – Although not always practical, separate fresh heifers and cows if possible. If you can’t separate cows by lactation, adequate bunk space and low stocking density are even more important. – Keep pen moves of pre-fresh and post fresh cows to a minimum (less than three). – Pay attention to appetite, rumen ll, rumination and milk yield to evaluate fresh cow health.
Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 2022 • Page 33
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Complete acreage reports by July 15 Page 34 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 2022
By Steve Frericks
Farm Service Agency Executive Director
Farm Service Agency ofces are busy certifying crops and processing Emergency Relief Program phase one applications for payment. There are many questions related to this program. Producers are reminded that phase one of this program is related to crop insurance indemnities. This means your crop insurance agent is your go-to resource for the basis of eligibility for the phase one program applications. FSA is processing these applications, but your crop insurance agent is your resource for how payments are derived or why a payment is or is not generated. Agricultural producers who have not yet completed their crop acreage reports after spring planting should make an appointment with the FSA before the reporting deadline of July 15. An acreage report documents a crop grown on a farm or ranch and its intended use. Filing an accurate and timely acreage report for all crops and land uses, including failed acreage and prevented planted acreage, can prevent the loss of benets. To le a crop acreage report, you will need to provide crop and crop type or variety; intended use of the crop;
number of acres of the crop; map with approximate boundaries for the crop; planting date; planting pattern, when applicable; producer shares; irrigation practices; acreage prevented from planting, when applicable; and other information as required. Producers should also report crop acreage they intended to plant but due to natural disaster were unable to plant. Prevented planting acreage must be reported no later than 15 calendar days after the nal planting date as established by FSA and the United States Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency. Due to the late spring planting conditions, the FSA appointment schedule for most all counties is heavily booked. It is advisable to call the local ofce to schedule an appointment to allow the ofce to prepare for you. Our goal is exceptional customer service. You can help with this by scheduling that appointment. Producers can hay, graze and chop cover crops and receive full prevented planting payment Agricultural producers with crop insurance can hay, graze or chop cover crops for silage, haylage or baleage at any time and still receive 100% of the prevented planting payment. Previously, cover crops could only be hayed, grazed or chopped after Nov. 1; otherwise, the prevented
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planting payment was reduced by 65%. The RMA added this exibility as part of a broader effort to encourage producers to use cover crops, an important conservation and good farming practice. Cover crops are especially important on elds prevented from planting as they help reduce soil erosion and boost soil health. RMA recognizes that cover crops are not planted as an agricultural commodity but rather with the primary purpose for conservation benets. For the 2021 crop year and beyond, RMA will not consider a cover crop planted following a prevented planting claim to be a second crop. But, RMA will continue to consider a cover crop harvested for grain or seed to be a second crop, and it remains subject to a reduction in the prevented planting indemnity in accordance with the policy. This decision to allow exibility for the 2021 crop year and to make the change permanent for future years builds on the advanced research and identied benets cover crops have supporting healthy soils and cropland sustainability efforts. To learn more about this policy change, visit RMA’s prevented planting webpage. The webpage also has the latest cover crop termination guidelines, which USDA updated in 2019 as a result of greater exibilities provided in the 2018 farm bill. Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA agent locator. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at rma.usda.gov. Low interest emergency physical loss loans available for producers Agricultural producers in several Minnesota counties who lost property due to recent natural disasters are eligible for physical loss loans from the USDA. FSA offers these loans for losses caused by a tornado, high winds, ooding, ash ooding, excessive rain, hail and lightning that occurred between April 5 and May 13. FSA is offering these low-interest emergency loans to producers with a qualifying loss. Approval is limited to applicants who suffered severe physical losses only, including the loss of buildings and livestock. The deadline for producers in designated primary and contiguous counties to apply for loans for physical losses is Jan. 24, 2023. Physical loss loans can help producers repair or replace damaged or destroyed physical property essential to the success of the agricultural operation, including livestock losses. Examples of property commonly affected include essential farm buildings, xtures to real estate, equipment, livestock, perennial crops, fruit and nut bearing trees, and harvested or stored crops and hay. Contact your local FSA for more information on loan eligibility and the application process. FSA ofce information is available at http:// ofces.usda.gov. Additional FSA disaster assistance program information is available at disaster.fsa.usda.gov. Farm Service Agency is an Equal Opportunity Lender. Complaints about discrimination should be sent to: Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250. Visit the Farm Service Agency Web site at: www.fsa.usda.gov/ for necessary application forms and updates on USDA programs.
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Dairy checkoff enters collaboration with Mayo Clinic Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 2022 • Page 35
Midwest Dairy and the National Dairy Checkoff Program have been building research for more than 100 years about dairy’s unique role in nutrition and health. It’s because of that research we continue to develop new collaborations with organizations who can truly make an impact in the health eld. I am proud to report Checkoff has recently entered a ve-year collaboration with Mayo Clinic to explore research and consumer outreach efforts that improve public health and advance dairy’s benets. The collaboration will be incorporated across Mayo Clinic’s campuses, including right here in the Midwest in Rochester, Minnesota, as well as Arizona and Florida. This collaboration illustrates the checkoff’s consumer-rst focus and our commitment to leading with credible science. Mayo Clinic physicians and health professionals will lead initiatives focused on three arBy Julie Mattson Ostrow, MS, RD, FAND eas: – Research to discover how dairy foods, particularVice President, Dairy ly whole milk dairy, impact cardiovascular health and Experience – Wellness metabolic conditions. Other potential research areas include dairy’s role on calm, sleep, digestive health and immunity. – Communicating dairy’s strong body of evidence, new research and insights with the scientic community, health and wellness professionals and consumers. – Exploring dairy’s role through digital platforms to propel people into a new way of precisely managing their wellness. In addition, co-created content will help debunk dairy myths and help consumers maintain condence in dairy foods, farms and businesses. The National Dairy Council was founded in 1915. Now and then, dairy farmers believed in investing in science to discover the health and wellness benets of dairy foods and educating the public about them. The NDC even supported Dr. E.V. McCollum’s groundbreaking research that discovered vitamin D around 1917. It was Dr. McCollum who suggested milk be fortied with vitamin D, which helped to eradicate the childhood bone disease, rickets. Over the years, dairy farmer investment in research has advanced our understanding of public health issues. For example, emerging research indicates that whole milk, regular cheese and whole milk yogurt can be part of calorie-balanced, healthy
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eating patterns that are linked to neutral or positive health outcomes. We also know from consumer data that in addition to taste, cost and convenience, consumers are increasingly looking for foods that support functional wellness benets – immunity, digestive health, inammation and cognition. Dairy Checkoff has research investments in these areas as well. It’s our job as dairy’s credentialed health professionals to communicate the science through education and outreach with fellow health professionals. We work closely with groups like the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the School Nutrition Association and Feeding America to help improve public health, wellness and nutrition security. As you can see, this is a true milestone moment for dairy farmers who have had a century-long commitment to research and dairy nutrition. As a registered dietitian, my background in food, health and wellness draws me to Mayo Clinic, but I also proudly grew up in Rochester, Minnesota. I have fond memories from the John Marshall High School Class of 1977 and even worked as a Mayowood tour guide during my high school and college days. This collaboration is one I am excited about as I have always appreciated the view from the top oor of the Mayo Clinic building, where you see countless acres of farmland, including many great dairy operations. Editorial disclaimer: The views expressed by our columnists are the opinions and thoughts of the author and do not reect the opinions and views of Dairy Star staff and ownership.
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Remembering George
Page 36 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 2022
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When you live your entire life in a small farming community, you weave a mental tapestry of your neighborhood. People are the threads of this tapestry; some are dull, some are showy, and some are ... well, unique. One of the most unique threads of my mental tapestry unraveled a few years back when George Dear County Agent Guy Pander went to his nal reward. I want to take a moment to honor his memory. George was a farmer who lived a few miles from our place. A topnotch self-taught mechanic, George owned the township’s largest collection of junked cars, a mishmash of automotive squalor that occupied several acres in and around his farmstead. Perhaps the most memorable thing about George was his painful shyness and how it manifested itself in his speech. To say that George was taciturn would be a gross understatement. He By Jerry Nelson used mostly monosyllabic sentences, employing a Columnist unique style of enunciation that could best be described as hybrid cross of muttering and grunting. Even those who knew George well often longed for an interpreter. George ran a thriving repair business for many years, mainly due to the fact that he was an undisputed master of low-cost farm machinery xing. He was also a good friend of Dad’s, so I saw a lot of George as I was growing up. For instance, when I was a teenager, our rickety old swather decided one day that it wouldn’t start. I fancied myself a highly skilled mechanic by then, so it was a jolt to my ego when Dad decreed that we had best summon George. When George arrived, I gave him a detailed description of the swather’s symptoms. I exuded an overbearing, put-upon attitude, as if I were a worldfamous brain surgeon who was being forced to consult with a janitor. George simply nodded and proceeded to remove the distributor cap. Irritated, I growled that I had already checked the points. George then said that maybe the carburetor wasn’t getting any gas. “Well, how do you check that?” I snarled in my snarky teenaged manner. George replied that I should remove the cap from the gas tank. Mystied, I did as was told. George then instructed me to put my mouth against the opening of the tank. “What should I do now?” I demanded, secretly hoping that some occult mechanic’s secret was about to be revealed. “Blow,” said George. I blew into the gas tank with all my might. When I looked up, George was shaking with silent giggles and hiding a smirk with his hand. I’d been thoroughly had. It began to dawn on me that those perpetually grimy hands and that grungy seed corn cap pulled low over the eyes belied a sharp mind and a quick wit. I had numerous opportunities to witness George’s whimsy over the years. There was the time when Dad and I took a tractor to George’s place for his mechanical ministrations. Dad was chatting with George when he noticed that a rangy Hereford bull was lounging in a corral that George had constructed of wrecked cars. George said that he had loaned the bull to a neighbor but that when the bovine was returned he was so skinny that he could have slipped between the slats of a picket fence. “Hunh,” said Dad. “Not enough feed?” “Too much breeding,” George deadpanned in his trademark mumble. Dad noted that George had installed a rooftop satellite dish. He asked George about the programs that were available from the dish. George replied that he mostly watched the History Channel. “What sort of shows do they have?” Dad asked. “‘The Flintstones,’” George muttered with a sly grin. A few years before he passed, George began to pay more attention to his personal appearance. He often wore clean striped bib overalls, something that had previously been as rare as a visit from Halley’s comet. He tidied his farmstead a bit and planted owers next to his house. These omens didn’t prepare me for the stunning news that followed. I learned that George – a guy who had been a bachelor all of his 70-odd years and lived in an actual junkyard – had acquired a lady friend. And therein lies the lessons of George’s life. That none of us is beyond redemption. That outward appearances tell only a tiny fraction of the story. That happiness shouldn’t be measured by what you have but by how you live. And most importantly, that a good joke well told can make up for a ton of shortcomings. And now if you’ll excuse me, I have a sudden urge to tell my wife that new knock-knock joke I just heard. 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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Circadian rhythm of dairy cows
Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 2022 • Page 37
Dr. Kevin Harvatine, Penn State University, and Dr. Isaac Salfer, University of Minnesota, have focused research and emphasis the past few years on dening circadian rhythms of dairy cattle. Salfer shared a presentation at the Four-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference. Harvatine shared the same at a roundtable discussion with several nutritionists a couple weeks ago. The goal of this article is to bring the research to a practical level.
Dening circadian rhythms A circadian rhythm is a biological process that occurs in a 24-hour period and alternates between awaken and sleeping phases. The primary role of circadian rhythms is to maximize survival of animals and their offspring by allowing them to predict and prepare for regularly occurring environmental changes. Cows’ daily circadian cycles control several physiological functions, including feed intake, nutrient metabolism and milk synthesis. Maximum feed intake occurs in the morning and afternoon. Maximum milk yield typically occurs in the morning while maximum milk components occur in the evening. Daily rhythms and feeding Dairy cows typically spend three to ve hours per day eating and consume most their feed in eight to 14 meals throughout the day. Naturally, the feeding pattern of cows on pasture occurs primarily near the time of sunrise and sunset with minimal feed intake overnight. It is likely this pattern of intake evolved to help protect wild cattle against nocturnal predators, such as wolves and coyotes, and to potentially help them select for higher energy forage. In connement systems where cows are fed a total mixed ration, the daily pattern of feed intake
is altered by management decisions. For example, the delivery of fresh feed and returning to the parlor after milking both stimulate feed intake. However, the underlying daily pattern of feed intake persists even in TMR-fed cattle. While working toward his Ph.D. at Penn State a few years ago, Salfer and his advisor, Harventine, did controlled feeding experiments proving this point. In theory, a TMR is fed so that cows have steady feed intake. However, the daily pattern of feed intake and feed sorting leads to variations in the amount of nutrients entering the rumen throughout the day. This reality stands in contrast with many nutrition models, which assume steady-state rumen condition. For example, rumen pH follows a daily pattern that typically peaks immediately before feeding time and reaching a minimum 10 to 12 hours later. One strategy farms use to battle summer heat stress is to feed cows at night to encourage intakes. However, both Salfer and Harvatine caution that the strategy misses the opportunity to have fresh feed during the mid-afternoon when cows have a natural tendency to eat. This can lead to slug-feeding after evening feed delivery, causing an excessive drop in rumen pH, and exacerbate heat stress. Their recommendation is to feed twice daily or feed in the heat of the afternoon to stimulate additional meals. Daily rhythms and milk composition Milk production follows a daily rhythm with total milk volume typically peaking in the morning, and milk fat and protein percentage peaking in the evening on most dairy farms. This adaptation likely developed in wild ruminants to provide nursing offspring with nutrient-dense milk at night when activity of the dam and the calf is reduced. Farms that see the opposite effects on milk production and components are likely impact-
ed by feeding times and frequencies. Salfer and Harvatine successfully manipulated these results through feeding experiments as well.
Seasonal rhythms In addition to dai- Something to Ruminate On ly rhythms, seasonal rhythms are part of the dairy cow’s biology. While regulated by the same molecular system as circadian rhythms, these patterns are mostly driven by the actual day length and the change in day length. By Barry Visser A common example Nutritionist of this is the seasonality farms see in milk fat and protein percentages. While daily changes in dairy cow production and behavior have long been appreciated by dairy farmers, experts are only beginning to understand the impact that circadian rhythms have in regulating dairy cow metabolism. Recent work has characterized biological rhythms of feed intake, milk production and systemic metabolism in cattle. The daily pattern of feed intake results in differences in absorbed nutrients across the day. Furthermore, the mammary gland has a daily pattern that may or may not be synchronized with the daily pattern of intake. Improving the synchrony between absorbed nutrients and mammary gland rhythms provides opportunities to improve the efciency of milk production. Barry Visser is a nutritionist for Vita Plus.
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A June love affair Page 38 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 2022
When I moved to Minnesota several decades ago, I had never heard of June Dairy Month. For me, June was a month for fragrant peonies, beautiful brides and wedding bells. I have since learned it also means breakfast on the farm, dairy day shows and registered cows. Back in 1937, a grocers association started June Dairy Month as a way to promote and sell extra milk during the warm summer months. By 1939, June ofcially became known as Dairy Month. Over the years dairy farmers, with the help of check-off dollars, have created unique ways of promoting the industry and the nutritional products it produces. Probably one of the most successful programs is breakfast or dinner on the farm. Farmers will welcome hundreds of people to wander around and take a peek at what is behind the barn doors. Dairy princesses scoop gallons of ice cream or manage a teaching station about how we care for our calves. Many may
come for the meal, but all will leave with a slightly better understanding of what we do down on the farm. Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic has taken a toll on this program. It has become harder to open the barn doors of our farms, but some people are thinking outside the box. They are creating clever ways to connect with our neighbors and consumers. Some farmers have created virtual tours of their farms to share on social media. The Houston County American Dairy Association teamed up with the cattlemen’s association to host a cheeseburger and shake drive-thru to spread the news about the benets of eating real food. Too bad they are just a little bit out of range to make a trip as a former beef queen and a dairy princess mom. I love the idea. Thinking outside the box is exactly how dairy producers created one of the most memorable dairy promotions. I met Conrad Kvamme during my rst June
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Dairy Month celebration. He told the tale of Memory’s March for Milk with such zeal and enthusiasm. In 1978, Conrad, a crew of helpers and a big black crow named Memory traveled from Canada to Mexico and back to Minneapolis during June. They covered 7,700 miles and stopped in 18 states, all to promote milk and a Just Thinking Out Loud new product coming out, yogurt. This promotional sensation was straight out of P.T. Barnum’s playbook. Conrad has never stopped promoting and educating people with passion and enthusiasm. Another passion of Conrad’s is registered Holsteins. He was instrumental in helping Mark By Natalie Schmitt achieve his goal of breeding registered Holsteins. Columnist Mark started showing in the grade cattle ring in 4-H and dairy day shows. He and Lighting made a great team walking the show ring, but he wanted to compete in the registered ring. They had a purebred family line in the herd, but they were not registered in the association herd book. In the mid ‘70s, the Holstein Association opened the herd book to capture these types of purebred animals. Conrad came over to help the Schmitt family identify their “lost” animals. He sat around the kitchen table pouring over breeding receipts and Dairy Herd Improvement Association records to gather the information needed to register these animals. The rst purebred animal Mark’s dad, Ralph, had bred was still milking in the herd at 13 years old. Conrad was excited as this made his job easier; however, there was a problem. Mark and his family had always called the cow Dud because Grandpa Preusser thought she wasn’t going to be much of a milk cow. She went on to have daughters who would be the top milk producing cows in the country. In true dazzling style, he registered her with the name Dudacious. Sometimes I think Conrad and P.T. Barnum shared DNA. The Schmitts continued to call her Dud. Mark competed in the youth shows for as long as he was eligible and then put away his show whites to help run the family farm. A couple years later, he noticed a yearling with show potential. The District 8 Holstein Show was going to be at the local fairgrounds that June. He gured he could t the show in between milkings. Here was his chance to compete in the registered ring. Now he had to hope he could t into his show whites. So, how does all this have to with a June love affair? Everything. I always knew I would meet my husband in the show ring. I didn’t realize it would be part of June Dairy Month celebrations. I was broadcasting our noon farm show live from the district show. My boss, Sherry Newell, was announcing the show. She told me about a dairy farmer she wanted to introduce to me. He had won June Dairy Month tickets from our station to go to Dairy Night at the Dome to watch the Twins play baseball. While Sherry was scouring the fairgrounds to make the introduction, we both happened to sit down to talk to mutual friends, Don and Sharon Beehler. Mark recognized my voice from the radio, and we introduced ourselves. Our rst date was a couple days later with a busload of dairy people attending Dairy Night at the Dome. Now, I celebrate the month of June with love and dairy in a June love affair. As their four children pursue dairy careers off the family farm, Natalie and Mark are starting a new adventure of milking registered Holsteins just because they like good cows on their farm north of Rice, Minnesota.
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Ozzy: one awesome dog “Having a dog will bless you with many of the happiest days of your life, and one of the worst.” – Unknown Ozzy, our beloved Australian Shepherd, passed away May 31 at the age of 16 years. We sat with him while he slipped away, telling him it was OK to go and thanking him for all of the wonderful years we had together. As hard as it was to let him go, we knew the day was coming. Over the past several years, Ozzy gradually slowed down, his congestive heart failure stealing a little more of his energy. But his death was still a Dairy Good Life surprise. In the days prior, he had kept his routine of accompanying us to the barn by day and barking at coyotes by night. As we said good-bye, we admitted that if Ozzy could have picked a time to go, this would have been it. Summer was Ozzy’s least favorite season. He would have been miserable during these past couple days of 100-degree heat. As much as he disliked summer, he loved winter. I’ve never seen a dog more excited for falling snow. He would zoom around in the snowakes and seal dive into piles of freshly fallen snow. Ozzy By Sadie Frericks had a major health hiccup last fall and I thought we Columnist might lose him then, but he recovered. Which meant he got to enjoy one more Minnesota winter. Ozzy became part of our family in 2013, after his rst family decided he needed a different home. We picked him up on my birthday. It didn’t take long for me to decide that adopting Ozzy was one of the best birthday gifts ever. As I wrote in a blog post about his adoption: “I almost felt like Ozzy was too good to be true. “We picked him up on Saturday and, so far, everything his previous family said about him is true. “Ozzy has been through both obedience and agility training. (He actually sits and stays when asked. I can’t even get my kids to sit and stay when asked.) He has house and vehicle and kennel manners. (I won’t say anything about my kids’ house and vehicle and kennel manners.) And, at 6-years-old, he’s mellowed out, o which will save us lots of training time and, hopefully, t I never iimagined i d that h O Ozzy lots of boots and chickens.” He really was almost too would be with us for nine good. He was good with the whole years. I’ve never had a kids, good with the chickens, and good with the barn cats. dog live such a long life. He went from being scared of o cows to loving time in the barn. He never took to herding, but he was quick to let us know if there was a cow out. He also enjoyed farm dog cuisine – placenta and other such delicacies – which contributed to his 75-pound size. Although he was initially miffed, Ozzy became an even more awesome dog when we adopted a second Aussie in 2017. Although – or, perhaps, because – Murky is a Mini-Aussie, Ozzy and Murky became great friends. Ozzy started playing more, zooming around the yard with Murky. He seemed to relish teaching Murky the dos and don’ts of farm life. And Ozzy started barking. For real, Ozzy never barked once until after we got Murky. We think he might have been trained to not bark and didn’t realize it was permitted (encouraged, even) until he saw that Murky was allowed to bark. I never imagined that Ozzy would be with us for nine whole years. I’ve never had a dog live such a long life. Daphne was 3-months-old when we got Ozzy; she has never known life without him. In fact, Daphne was really the reason we adopted Ozzy. We had decided that a baby and a puppy at the same time would be too much to handle, so we sought out an adult dog. Monika doesn’t remember life without him, either. We miss Ozzy terribly. He was part of our family and our farm for so long, it feels like there’s a piece missing without him here. Murky seems to miss Ozzy, too. He’s just been moping around. We’ve been trying to play with Murky more, but zoomies with people just aren’t the same. We recently started searching for another Australian Shepherd or MiniAustralian Shepherd. In the years before we adopted Murky, I thought one dog was enough. But after having two dogs and witnessing their companionship, I believe now that some dogs live life more fully with a fellow canine. Ozzy was one of them. Murky still is. So, if you happen to hear of an adult Aussie or Mini-Aussie who needs a new home and a buddy, we would love to be his or her second family. Sadie and her husband, Glen, milk 100 cows near Melrose, Minnesota. They have three children – Dan, 15, Monika, 12, and Daphne, 9. Sadie also writes a blog at www.dairygoodlife.com. She can be reached at sadiefrericks@gmail. com
Dairy Star • Saturday, June 25, 2022 • Page 39
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