MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR Trio of brothers help on the farm — Logan (from le ), Jaden and Owen Nie eld hang out in the barn July 23 on their parents’ farm near Greenwald, Minnesota. The three brothers help with chores when they can. They are the sons of Cory and Ashley who milk 47 cows with six units in a estall barn. The Nie elds have been milking at their current site since 2011.
Starwood
Machinery
Volunteer work off the farm — John Maxwell of Donahue, Iowa, par cipates in
a mee ng of the Sco County board of supervisors July 16 in Davenport, Iowa. Maxwell, a h-genera on dairyman, serves as the board’s vice-chair and also operates Cinnamon Ridge Farms with his family. The Maxwells also make cheese, raise beef and run an agritourism business on the farm.
PHOTO COURTESY OF DANIELLE BURKLE
Ge�ng chores done — Nathan Ronnebaum milks a cow July 19 at his farm near Edgewood, Iowa. Nathan and his wife, Rose, along with their son, Ethan, milk about 100 cows in a stanchion barn. Ethan has been farming with his parents for the past four years. The Ronnebaums farm about 380 acres on the edge of Edgewood, 38 of which are in the city limits. Nathan is a rst-genera on dairy farmer and has been farming since 1996.
SHERRY NEWELL/DAIRY STAR
Donahue, IA IA
Freeport, MN MN
Con nuing the parade tradi on — Dan Atkinson smiles at the crowd July 21 during the Sacred Heart Parish Fes val parade in Freeport, Minnesota. Atkinson milks 95 cows on his farm, Atkinson Acres, near Freeport. The theme for the parade this year was old tube TV shows. The Atkinson family used “Li le House on the Prairie” as a theme for their oat. Atkinson, along with his family, has been entering a oat in the annual parade for their church fes val for the majority of the past 29 years.
Rockville, MN MN
A moo-ving conga line — Maggie Molitor overlooks the milking cows July 22 as they cross the road from the pasture to the barn at her family’s dairy farm near Rockville, Minnesota. Each day, the ca le are put out on pasture a er morning and evening milkings. The ca le have been grazing for many years, even before the farm was cer ed organic in 2006. The Molitors milk 240 cows in a 30-swing parlor. The farm is owned by Molitor’s dad, Joe, and uncle, Tom.
TIFFANY KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR
EMILY BRETH/DAIRY STAR
The “Mielke” Market Weekly
Dairy prices continue recent strength
As reported last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture lowered its 2024 and 2025 milk production forecasts in the World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates, based on slower growth in milk per cow more than offsetting higher cow numbers.
Cheese is expected to average $1.82 per pound for 2024, up 3 cents from last month’s estimate, and compares to $1.7593 in 2023 and $2.1122 in 2022. The 2025 average was raised 6 cents to $1.8550 per pound.
The 2024 butter price average was raised to $3.0050 per pound, up 3.5 cents from last month’s projection, and compares to $2.6170 in 2023 and $2.8665 in 2022. The 2025 average was projected at $2.9650, up 2 cents from last month.
Nonfat dry milk is expected to average $1.1850 per pound in 2024, compared to $1.1856 in 2023 and $1.6851 in 2022. The 2025 average was projected at $1.19.
Dry whey is projected to average 44 cents per pound in 2024, up from 36.18 cents in 2023, but compares to 60.57 cents in 2022. The 2025 average was projected at 42.50 cents per pound.
Class III and IV milk price forecasts were raised on the higher product prices and tighter milk supplies. The stronger prices are expected to carry into 2025. The 2024 Class III was projected to average $18.25 per hundredweight, up 35 cents from last month’s estimate and compares to $17.02 in 2023 and $21.96 in 2022. The 2025 average was estimated at $18.45, up 75 cents from a month ago.
The Class IV projection for 2024 is $20.75, up 25 cents from last month’s estimate, and compares to $19.12 in 2023 and $24.47 in 2022. The 2025 average was pegged at $20.60, up 50 cents from last month’s estimate.
The corn outlook sees larger supplies, greater domestic use and exports, and slightly lower ending stocks. Corn production was forecast at 15.1 billion bushels, up 240 million, on greater planted and harvested area. The yield was unchanged at 181.0 bushels per acre. Total use was raised 100 million bushels on increases to feed and residual use and exports. Ending
stocks are down 5 million bushels. The season-average farm price was lowered 10 cents to $4.30 per bushel.
Soybean production was projected at 4.4 billion bushels, down 15 million on lower harvested area, but still 6.5% more than a year ago. Harvested area, forecast at 85.3 million acres in the June Acreage report, is down slightly from last month. The soybean yield forecast was unchanged at 52.0 bushels per acre. Ending stocks were projected at 435 million bushels, down 20 million. The season-average soybean price was forecast at $11.10 per bushel, down a dime from last month’s estimate.
USDA’s Crop Production report showed 41% of the U.S. corn crop was silking as of the week ending July 14, up from 24% the previous week, 1% ahead of a year ago, and 9% ahead of the ve-year average. Sixtyeight percent was rated good to excellent, unchanged from the previous week and up from 57% a year ago.
Fifty-one percent of the soybeans are blooming, up from 34% the previous week, dead even with a year ago, but 7% ahead of the ve-year average. Eighteen percent were setting pods, up 1% from a year ago, and 6% ahead of the average. Sixty-eight percent were rated good to excellent, unchanged from the previous week, and up from 55% a year ago.
Dairy cow slaughter for the week ending July 6 totaled 40,200 head, down 6,300 from the previous week, and 10,400 or 20.6% below a year ago. Year to date, 1,428,900 have been culled, down 243,300 head or 14.5% from 2023.
The USDA’s Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook, issued July 18, mirrored milk price and production projections in the July 12 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report but added, “With higher all-milk prices and lower feed costs in the nearterm, dairy farm margins are expected to further improve through the second half of 2024, which could have a lagged positive impact on the number of cows in 2025. However, relatively tight supplies of dairy heifers may constrain the ability to expand rapidly. Consequently, the forecast for the average size of the dairy herd in 2025 is revised upward by 5,000 head to 9.375 million head. Conversely, the yield per cow is lowered 30 pounds to 24,440 pounds after adjusting for lower expected yields in 2024,” the Outlook reported.
Bird u in dairy cows continues to spread. Oklahoma became the 13th state. Some 156 dairy herds are affected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Human cases in the U.S. total nine since 2022. Four cases followed exposure to dairy cows, reported between April 1and July 3, and there has been ve cases following exposure to poultry in three states. The U.S. Food and Drug Association and the USDA continue to assure consumers that the commercial milk supply is safe because of the pasteurization process and the diversion or destruction of milk from sick cows.
Dairy product prices remain well above year ago
levels and HighGround Dairy’s Alyssa Badger credited limited milk production in the July 22 “Dairy Radio Now” broadcast. She blamed scorching high temperatures in the Midwest and West and said heat stresses cows a lot sooner than humans. University of Minnesota data shows stress begins at 72 degrees with 50% humidity. Per cow milk losses of 2.5 pounds of milk per day can be lost, she said, and as much as 10 pounds, depending on how hot it gets. It also takes time for the cows to return to their normal output.
This will likely show up in the June and July milk production, she said, and if you add that to losses from bird u, we could see U.S. milk output remain depressed. That points to dairy prices remaining strong, according to Badger, who also cited dairy disappearance data. Cheese utilization was up in May, for a third month in a row, and butter, which remains above $3 per pound even with production up considerably, saw domestic demand jump 18.2%. Domestic use accounts for 97% of total consumption, according to Badger, and this was the highest May number since this data became available in 2011.
Traders anticipating the June Milk Production report on July 23, took the Cheddar blocks to $1.86 per pound Monday, lowest since June 21, but closed Friday at $1.8650, down 2.50 cents on the week and 8.25 cents above a year ago when they jumped 30.25 cents. The barrels nished at $1.9125, up 6.25 cents on the week, 25.75 cents above a year ago when they advanced 26.25 cents, and 4.75 cents above the blocks. Sales totaled 23 of block on the week and 22 of barrel.
StoneX stated in its July 15 “Early Morning Update” that, “Slower export sales in June (not what will be reported for June but sales made in June) and perhaps a pause in domestic buy side activity may have a hand in this burst of additional available supply of fresh Cheddar on offer at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. We also believe the risk of strong cheese prices still exists. Besides the underwhelming overall milk production situation this year, present pockets of fresh milk tightness, and general lack of ability by producers to respond quickly to high-priced milk markets, we’ve just made less Cheddar so far this year. Cheddar production this year is down 8.2% after adjusting for leap year and that matters when it comes to persistent availability of fresh cheese to come to market.”
Midwest cheesemakers tell Dairy Market News that demand ranged from on par to quieter this week. Some suggest market price volatility was playing a part and buyers may be waiting for potential price dips. Cheese production is active and “the writing is on the wall regarding tightening milk supplies in the region,” says DMN. There were sub-class prices reported this week but others were $1.50 over Class and spot milk is being sought after.
Western cheese output is steady to weaker but demand for Class III milk is strong as milk output throughout the region is seasonally weakening. Cheese is widely available. Domestic demand is stronger, says DMN, but export demand is moderate as U.S. prices become less competitive. Butter crept to $3.1375 per pound Tuesday but closed Friday at $3.0750, down 2.50 cents on the week but still 49.25 cents above a year ago. There were 69 sales on the week, the highest weekly total since August 2023.
Butter makers note demand began to soften the past two weeks and the price fell to $3.10 per pound the previous week. Customers may have sensed some potential weakness albeit relatively slight. Cream availability made a somewhat rare move for this time of year, as it increased in the Midwest. Churns are running atypically strong for this time of the year but are far from capacity. Cream is arriving from both the West and Central regions, says DMN.
Western butter production is weaker. Fat components are decreasing in the Southwest. Cream volumes are tighter throughout the region. Ongoing churn maintenance is taking place while milk volumes are seasonally lower. Domestic demand is steady to lighter. Exports are moderate, according to DMN.
Grade A nonfat dry milk closed Friday at $1.1975 per pound, up 1.75 cents on the week, the highest since June 21, and 7.75 cents a year ago, with 10 sales.
CME dry whey ended up at 51.75 cents per pound, 0.75 cents higher, the highest since Feb. 23, and 26.50 cents above a year ago, with only two sales reported.
The Daily Dairy Report’s Monica Ganley, the principal of Quarterra, wrote on the July 12 Milk Producers Council newsletter “Manufacturers continue to show a distinct preference for value-added products like whey protein isolates and high protein whey protein concentrates. As a result, the portion of the whey stream routed to dry whey remains limited and is likely to keep prices supported in the near term.”
Fluid milk sales continue to impress, registering gains in January and February of 2.4% and 2.5% respectively. They dropped 4.1% in March but were up 5.9% in April and up 0.3% in May, according to USDA’s latest data.
Packaged sales totaled 3.6 billion pounds, up 0.3% from May 2023. Conventional product sales totaled 3.3 billion, down 0.4% from a year ago. Organic products, at 263 million pounds, were up 10.2%, and represented 7.3% of May’s sales. Whole milk sales totaled 1.3 billion pounds, up 1.8% from a year ago, up 3.1% year to date, and represented 35.1% of total sales for the month. Packaged uid sales in the ve-month period totaled 18.1 billion pounds, up 1.3% from 2023. Conventional product sales totaled 16.9 billion pounds, up 0.9%. Organic products, at 1.3 billion pounds, were up 6.3%, and represented 7.0% of total milk sales in the ve months, according to the USDA.
The Agriculture Department announced the August Federal order Class I base milk price at $21.32 per hundredweight, up 21 cents from July and $4.70 above August 2023, the highest Class I since January 2023. It equates to $1.83 per gallon, up from $1.43 a year ago. The eight-month Class I average stands at $19.43, up from $19.07 a year ago, but compares to $23.87 in 2022.
Dairy margins were largely at over the rst half
of July with milk prices and feed costs holding steady, according to the latest Margin Watch from Chicagobased Commodity & Ingredient Hedging LLC.
The MW stated; “USDA’s July WASDE estimated new-crop corn production in line with analysts’ expectations at 15.1 billion bushels, up 240 million based on larger planted and harvested area.”
“Usage was also increased for both the old and new-crop balance sheets such that projected 2024-25 ending stocks were down 5 million bushels from June at 2.097 billion. Soybean ending stocks declined 20 million bushels from June to 435 million, but within the range of estimates.”
“Milk prices continue to be supported by limited spot supply availability and strong demand for cheese. The combination of heat stress, avian inuenza and limited heifer supply has constrained milk output with USDA reporting that ‘multiple cheesemakers relayed receiving zero spot offers for milk, almost unheard of during a holiday week,” the MW stated.
The MW detailed the latest Dairy Products report and cited highlights from U.S. dairy export data, stating; “May cheese exports increased 46.6% from the prior year to 105.9 million pounds, the highest volume ever recorded for the month with record-high cheese exports to Mexico of 40.4 million pounds. Also, U.S. cheese exports have set a record for seven straight months after adjusting for seasonal trends, and domestic demand has been record-large in 10 of the past 17 months,” the MW concluded. For details log on to www.cihmarginwatch.com.
Tuesday’s weighted average in the Global Dairy Trade auction, event number 360, inched up 0.4%, following a 6.9% drop on July 2 and a 0.5% slip June 18. Volume fell to 50.6 million pounds, down from 53.2 million on July 2, and the average metric ton price rose to $3,837 U.S., up from $3,782.
GDT Cheddar led the gains, up 6.2%, after dropping 6.9% on July 2. Mozzarella was off 0.8%. After leading the declines on July 2 with a 10.7% drop, anhydrous milkfat was up 4% Tuesday, while butter was up 0.8% after plunging 10.2% last time. Whole milk powder was down 1.6%, after a 4.3% loss, and skim milk powder was off 1.1%, after dropping 6.1% on July 2. Lactose was off 0.6%.
StoneX says the GDT 80% butterfat butter price equates to $2.9234 per pound U.S., up 2.6 cents from July 2 when it plunged 35.6 cents, and compares to CME butter which closed Friday at $3.0750. GDT Cheddar, at $1.9127, was up 10.7 cents, and compares to Friday’s CME block Cheddar at a bargain $1.8650. GDT skim milk powder averaged $1.1638 per pound, down from $1.1731, and whole milk powder averaged $1.4253 per pound, down from $1.4598. CME Grade A nonfat dry milk closed Friday at $1.1975 per pound.
In other global news, a heads up to producers; the July 16 “Daily Dairy Report” warned; “Denmark will begin taxing farmers for greenhouse gas emissions from livestock in 2030, pending approval by parliament. Livestock, particularly cattle, create methane and the United Nations estimates they contribute 32% of human-caused methane emissions.”
In a world already falling behind in feeding its inhabitants, it’s hard to believe steps are being taken that will lessen food production even more.
Everything is genomic tested and all but one are A2/A2. 30+ years of paying close attention to detail on their breeding program shows through on these heifers. Owners have sold their herd and are selling their heifers as they come close. Viroqua WI Early Consignments Dairy Cows (5) Registered Holsteins. All cows have
with Bovi- Shield Gold, Eprinex, and One Shot. Herd code id 35-23-1514. All recently fresh 2 and 3 year olds milking 70 to 92 lbs. Outstanding quality!!
Machinery Consignment Auctions
and we’re
$2,200-2,900 with top of $3,600, $2,900, $2,800, $2,600 Adam Borchert, Auburndale. $2,800, $2,700 Jonathan Horst, Loyal. $2,750, $2,650, $2,650, $2,600, Klark Dairy, Bloomer. $2,700 Jason Brubaker, Thorp. $2,600 Keith and Stephanie Abts, New Franken. Light test on heifers today. Top sellers were 3 Registered Brown Swiss $3,400, $3,400, $3,200 David Vosberg. $2,650 Daryl Oberholtzer. Short-bred heifers $1,800-2,225. 32 bulls today. (Special bull sale 3rd Thursday of every month). Cow size bulls sold $2,400-2,975. 2 Angus bulls 965lbs.@ $2,550 ea. Heifer size Holstein bulls mostly $1,500-2,000. Guernsey bull 950 lbs.@ $1,600. Jersey bull 800 lbs.@ $1,500. Market bulls $1.57-1.64. Feeder cattle light test. 5 Hol.strs 260 @ $3.00. 2 Hereford strs 653 @ $2.45. 5 Hereford strs 816 @ $2.22. Beef cross calves $810-900. Holstein bull calves $520-600. Single birth her calves $400-650. Fed cattle very strong on exceptional quality! 4 Angus cross strs 1858 @ $1.87. 10 Hol. strs 1,550-1,995 sold @ $1.77-184.50. Top per head was $3,551 on a Holstein steer. Market cows sold mostly $1.14-1.36. Doubtful health and light weight cows $1.00 and down. Nice selection of hay on offer again.Western alfalfa 3x4 $120-165. 3x4 2nd grass $240-260. Rounds 1st crop $65. 3x3 squares 1st crop $20-70. If you bring new crop in make sure to let us know if it was baled dry or better yet store for 2 weeks minimum. Quality hay still has pretty good demand. Potentially hot and moldy hay very minimal value. Thanks again all our consigners,buyers,truckers and people in general who support what we do!! 7-17-24 ( Thorp) Market Report Beef calves $830-950. Holstein Bull calves $550-685. Holstein heifer calves $400-450. Choice Holstein strs $1.76 to 180.50. Market cows top $140.50. Mostly $1.12-1.38. 7-15-24 (Thorp) Market Report
Area Hay Auction Results
Waverly, MN MN
Celebra ng Independence Day — Pat Bakeberg ba�ers cheese curds July 3 on his farm near Waverly, Minnesota. The Bakeberg family has hosted a Fourth of July celebra�on for the last 24 years. Pat and his wife, Joanna, milk 120 cows in a double-6 parlor. The Bakebergs took over the farm in January 2022 from Pat’s mother, Faye, and her late husband, Greg. Pat and Joanna are farming and raising their children on the same land Pat’s great-great-grandfather bought 151 years ago. The couple has three daughters — Harper, Olivia and Ha�e.
Pregnant or open? — Paul Schwanke fetches ca�le to be pregnancy checked July 18 at the farm he operates with Tom Tesch near Watertown, South Dakota. Every Thursday, a veterinarian visits the farm to pregnancy check recently bred cows and heifers. The veterinarian also conrms that cows to be dried off are s�ll pregnant. Every Friday, cows due to calve in two months are dried off. Cows are milked in a double-16 parallel parlor two or three �mes daily depending on the number of calvings, stage of lacta�on and produc�on. They milk around 400 cows.
EMILY BRETH/DAIRY STAR
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
Surveying his work — Levi Ulrich stands June 30 in the pasture among his Jersey cows near Ogema, Wisconsin. Ulrich milks nine cows while working full �me off the farm. He is in the process of rebuilding his herd a�er cu�ng back. He plans to be milking 15 cows later this fall and up to 24 within the next year.
ABBY WIEDMEYER/DAIRY STAR
Hazy summer days — Sam Radke cuts hay July 3 on the hill above his family’s dairy farm near Wilton, Wisconsin. Sam milks 80 cows with his dad, Keith, and his uncle, Kurt. The Radkes grow around 120 acres of hay each year. This is late for them to be cu�ng rst crop, but the rainy weather has made it hard to get into the elds and plan�ng has been their priority. Sam said he would much prefer a dry year like 2023, since their hay did well. Also, their corn is on low ground that tends to hold moisture even in drought.
AMY KYLLO/DAIRY STAR
Rescued from disposal — Charlie Dicke unloads boxes of food July 3 at the Red Wing Area Food Shelf in Red Wing, Minnesota. Dicke picks up food from the Walmart located in Red Wing every other Wednesday and transports it in his truck to the food shelf. This food is being used rather than disposed of. The food shelf also receives food rescue dona ons from ALDI, Bimbo Bakeries USA and Kwik Trip Inc. Dicke, and his parents, Lyle and Shannon, milk 200 cows and farm 800 acres near Goodhue. Dicke has been picking up food for two years.
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DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR Campaigning for ac on Trine Spindler hands out yard signs at the Fourth of July Parade July 4 in Pi sville, Wisconsin. Spindler is running in the August 13 primary to represent Assembly District 86 because she is concerned about what she feels is a lack of protec on for landowners in the face of pressure from the wind and solar industries in her area. Trine and her husband, Kobe, milk 130 cows with two robo c milking machines on their dairy farm near Stra ord.
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MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR
wife, Rose, near Osakis, Minnesota.
son,
Age is just a number — Merle Pearson talks about the Farmall H tractor that has been in the family since 1944 July 18 at his farm near Clarkeld, Minnesota. The 84-year-old milks around 50 cows in a estall barn and credits his First District Associa on eldman and his milk hauler for his con nued enjoyment of dairy farming. Pearson began milking with his mom when he was ve years old. When Pearson started, he rented land for many years and then bought his current farm in 1970.
Waterloo, WI WI
A buying visit — Pete Riesterer (from le ), Philip Ba st and Jodie Bobolz discuss bulls for sale July 15 at Ba st Farms near Waterloo, Wisconsin. Along with their parents, Jim and Karen Ba st, Philip and Jodie milk 200 cows and sell about 100 breeder bulls per year. The family has been raising bulls for breeding since 1967. Riesterer, who is a long- me customer, milks 250 cows near Milton with his brothers and nephews. Riesterer purchased three bulls that day.
EMILY BRETH/DAIRY STAR
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
STACEYSMART/DAIRYSTAR
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Wilton, WI WI
JASON WIEDMEYER/DAIRY STAR
The journey to the consumer — Milk is pumped from the tank to the truck July 11 at Ken and Mary Cook’s farm near Wilton, Wisconsin. Their son, Alan, also farms full �me. The Cook family milks 200 cows in a double-8 parlor that is retro�ed in the original dairy barn. Ken has been farming since 1968 when he started with 113 acres. The family now farms around 1,000 acres in Monroe County.
Zumbrota, MN MN
Marke ng mindset — Some of the a�endees of the Goodhue County American Dairy Associa�on board mee�ng — Phyllis Clemenson, (clockwise from bo�om le�), Kris�n Schrimpf, Alexis Betcher, Tiffany Betcher, Roxanne Sauter and Charlie Dicke — visit July 9 at Jerry and Phyllis Clemenson’s farm near Zumbrota, Minnesota. The Goodhue County ADA meets 2-3 �mes a year. On July 9, the ADA discussed the price of malts at the fair, and how much they plan to donate to the Minnesota 4-H Dairy Showcase. They also signed up for shi�s for the malt stand at the Goodhue County Fair. Other agenda items included an update on the local and state princess programs. The board is comprised of former and current dair y farmers: Tiffany Betcher, Jerry and Phyllis Clemenson, Mark and Roxanne Sauter, Charlie Dicke, Kris�n Schrimpf, Mike and Casey Veiseth, and Brad and Jessica Anderson.
AMY KYLLO/DAIRY STAR
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
Bedding down at the Amherst Fair — Kari Parker (le�) and Tania Groen shake straw July 18 at the Portage County Fair in Amherst, Wisconsin. Groen and her husband, Corby, milk 60 cows on their organic dairy farm near Amherst Junc�on. Both Parker and Groen’s children exhibited dairy ca�le from the Groen farm.
Waterloo, WI WI
Beau fying the farm — Joe Spoke spreads new mulch next to the daylilies by his farm sign July 15 near Waterloo, Wisconsin. Spoke and his son, Tim, milk 64 cows and farm 283 acres at Twin Valley Dairy Farm. Joe enjoys working on landscaping projects in his spare me. In addi on, he likes to plant owers and tend to his garden and fruit orchard.
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
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Repair work underway — Duane Blaubach blades the driveway June 25 on his dairy farm near Athens, Wisconsin. The night before, the farm was hit by torrenal rains that were part of a large storm system that swept across northern Wisconsin. Blaubach and his family milk 160 cows on their Marathon County dairy farm.
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Loganville, WI WI
ABBY
Growing nature’s bounty — Ryanne Hiner, holding Robert, helps her children, Julie and Evelyn, pull weeds in the garden July 9 at their farm near Loganville, Wisconsin. Hiner and her husband, James, both work on their family’s farm, Roecker’s Rolling Acres LLC, where they milk 250 cows with her family. The couple have lived next door to the dairy for three years and have had a garden for 10 years. Hiner said the kids enjoy being involved in the garden. The family cans much of their harvest.
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WIEDMEYER/DAIRY STAR
Mid-American Hay Auction results for July 11, 2024
Rensselaer County Buskirk, New York
It’s shaping up to be a good year for corn. The third-crop grass and alfalfa is done. My neighbor’s soybeans don’t look as lush and abundant as other years. We combined some rye which was above average and got a lot of round bales of straw for the calves. We are in a good spot here and are working on summer maintenance. The recent rain storms have brought us an abundance of water.
This last week (July 16-23) has been very humid, which made it difficult to get our second-crop hay made. I was finally able to get it baled Saturday, July 20, with an average between 2-2.5 bales per acre. We started swathing our oats July 22 and looks like it should be a good yield. My earliest corn planted is starting to tassel, but my latest corn is about waist high. The conventional corn around me is about 75% tasseled. I have not heard anything from the neighbors about the soybeans blossoming but they look like they are coming along nicely.
I think we will try to get the oats later this week. We use the oats for grain and bale the straw. The oats height really varies across the field. Hopefully, we can do the wheat after the oats. A neighbor took his wheat field out Friday (July 19) and it yielded well. There are corn fields around here that are 1-3 feet tall, which is on fields that were pattern tiled. There is a lot of bad fields in the area. I would say 50% of the corn is tasseled and the height varies a lot. The soybeans are really growing even more than the corn. The new seeding is coming along nice, but has been damaged by the chopper and wagons.
We made second-crop hay July 18. We chopped it all and it was a really good crop. We put the second-crop on a pile. The third-crop is coming back nicely. Everybody is making grass hay and meadows now. The corn is uneven. It’s not going to be a good year to grow corn around here. The soybeans look okay. Some of them planted on narrow rows are canopied. The fields are the driest they have been since April. Sobieski, MN
Heron Lake, MN
Our corn is starting to tassel and some are starting to get silks on them. The people who applied nitrogen this spring seem to have the best-looking crop since the rain made it difficult for the plant to take it in. The soybeans we sowed into our rye cover crop are nice and even. Soon we will start taking off our rye as seed. We got done with second-crop alfalfa around July 16. We made half of it into haylage and into half baleage with an average of 1.75 tons of dry hay per acre.
Wykoff, , MN
BRIAN BOETTCHER
300 cows, 1,000 acres
We have been working on hay and are almost done with second-crop. We only have two fields left to cut. Corn is tasseling nicely. In the area, everyone’s corn and soybeans are looking good. A lot of hay has been made recently. Pretty much all of the spraying is done in the area. Once we finish our hay, we will start doing our oats for grain. We have cut a little bit of our oats for silage already. So, the rest we will grind and put into the silo. We feel that the ground oats help the cows hold their butterfat.
Frederic, WI
Earlville, IA
We have half of our third-crop hay done and we will do the rest next week. We were able to dry bale it. It has been comparable to second-crop. The fields are still soft. We had to be careful where we loaded the wagons of hay. They are spraying fungicide on the corn that is tasseling around here. They said they would be doing it for three weeks. Our corn is behind so we haven’t done ours yet. Our corn is uneven. I did the second pass on herbicide on the soybeans last week. I got good response with that and the soybeans really stretched out.
JACE DEN HOED
DEN HOED DAIRY
500 cows, 1,250 acres
Up until yesterday (July 22) when we got 2 inches of rain, we were actually getting dry. We’ve had a total of 2.3 inches in the past two weeks. The corn was starting to wilt before yesterday, so we were irrigating. It is starting to tassel. We grow a longer day corn than a lot of others around us. The hay looks good and we’ll probably be starting third-crop in another week. It’s getting tall enough and is actually starting to lodge on me in some places. The beans around here look mostly good. I drill them in so they don’t stress quite as easily. Everything on the lighter soil still looks better than what is on the heavier soil.
DILLON BREYER
TOWNLINE ACRES
120 cows, 480 acres
We had 0.8 inches yesterday (July 22), and a total of 2.3 inches in the past two weeks. We are doing pretty well making hay. We have some first cutting grass we are finishing up for dry cows and heifers. We are also finishing up second-crop this week and will be starting third-crop next week. We have lots of feed on hand. The corn is tasseling and looks beautiful. We’ll probably be starting to harvest small grains the second week in August. The beans around here look really good, too.
Fitchburg, WI Dane County
CLAYTON HAGEMAN
120 cows, 800 acres
I have two small fields that have been sitting in water for 2 months. On the home farm, Daryl cut 210 acres of second-crop hay and we started baling big squares July 12. We had 248 big squares stuffed in every building by the next night. We have four to five days of second-crop to green feed and then we might have to start green feeding third-crop. Our corn is tasseled and looks really nice except for the low ground. It ranges from 2-6 feet tall. It grew so fast the stalks are skinny and the roots are more on the surface than in the ground. Our neighbors are trying to do wheat. One farmer gave up because it was flattened to the ground.
Ellsworth, WI Pierce County
We have had 1.8 inches in the past two weeks. We have finished up our second-crop hay. Some guys will be starting third-crop shortly. The corn is looking a lot better. There has been some heat and dry weather, so things have really taken off. We have finished some side-dressing. Some spots are still bare where it’s drowned out. The earlier planted stuff is tasseling and looks pretty good. The beans around here are still not looking great. It looks like they are struggling with nodulation, especially the later planted ones.
Rosendale, WI Fond
We started harvesting wheat July 13 and finished July 18. Our yields were really good even though our test weight was pretty light. We made all our bales and have a little straw to chop yet. We started cutting third-crop hay July 23. The hills look really good, but the valleys are in rough shape. There is only so much alfalfa can take, and it kind of hit its breaking point. We finished spraying our soybeans with fungicide, but we did not put any fungicide on corn this year. Our neighbors are harvesting wheat, picking up their straw bales and working on third-crop hay.
Taco bake
2 pounds taco meat 1/2 cup salsa con queso 3+ (8-inch) our tortillas, soft taco size
4 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend, divided use
Once the taco meat is ready, turn off heat and add in 1/2 cup salsa con queso. Stir until thoroughly combined. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8-inch round baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Layer the bottom of the pan with one of the our tortillas. Add about 1/3 of the ground beef taco lling on the rst layer. Then, add 1/3 of the shredded Mexican cheese blend. Continue until you are done with all the layers: another tortilla, more taco mixture, more cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15-20 minutes until cheese is melted and edges are slightly golden brown. Allow to cool for a couple minutes. Slice and serve. Top with desired toppings.
Lemon blueberry lasagna
For crust:
36 Oreo cookies, Golden or Lemon 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
Blueberry cheesecake layer:
2 1/2 cups frozen blueberries, thawed 1/4 cup Greek yogurt, blueberry or plain
5 teaspoons gelatin powder 1/3 cup cold water
16 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups Cool Whip
Lemon pudding layer:
2 (3.4-ounce) packages lemon instant pudding
2 1/2 cups cold milk
1 cup Cool Whip
Topping:
2 1/2-3 cups Cool Whip
6 ounces white or regular chocolate bar, for curls
To make the crust, grind Oreo cookies in a food processor to make ne crumbs. In a bowl, stir together 1/2 cup melted butter with crumbs until evenly moistened. Then, press the mixture in the bottom of a 9-by-13 deep dish. Set in the freezer to rm while making the next layer. Dissolve gelatin in 1/3 cup cold water and set aside to bloom. In a food processor, placed thawed blueberries (do not drain excess liquid.) and Greek yogurt. Pulse and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Beat in vanilla extract and powdered sugar. Add blueberry mixture and mix to combine. Microwave gelatin and stir to dissolve. Slowly pour into the cream cheese mixture while mixing on medium speed. Finally, add Cool Whip and mix to combine. Scrape the bottom of the bowl to combine evenly. Spread over chilled crust and place in the freezer 15-20 minutes. In a mixing bowl, combine instant pudding mix with 2 1/2 cups milk and whisk. Add 1 cup Cool Whip and whisk until everything is combined. Spread over blueberry layer and place in the freezer to set for 5-10 minutes. Spread 2-3 cups of Cool Whip over pudding layer and place in the fridge for at least four hours. To make chocolate curls, draw a vegetable peeler across the broad surface of a bar of white chocolate at room temperature. Sprinkle curls on top. Store covered in the fridge up to 5-6 days.
DAIRY CATTLE AUCTION
Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 11:00 am See our website for updates! www.premierlivesockandauctions.com
RETIREMENT HERD DISPERSAL 27 Dairy Cows. (20) Registered Brown Swiss and (7)Grade Holstein Dairy Cows. Cows are housed in freestalls, milked in stanchions. Cows will sell on of cial test. Not pushed, 2x milking averaging 80# 4.2BF 3.2P 100scc. Over 30 years of AI breeding through Central Star and New Generations. Some sires include Dynamite, Legacy, Glenwood, Famous, Secret Weapon and more. Monthly herd health and regular hoof trimming. Vaccination program. Cows in all stages of lactation, herd includes (4)springing dry cows. *** Herd will be tested for the HPA1/ H5N1 Avian In uenza *** Coming from Jim Busch, Cuba City, WI REPUTATION CONSIGNMENTS
CALL WITH YOUR CONSIGNMENTS
Always a great selection of dairy cattle at Premier Livestock and Auctions! DRIVE-INS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME! PLEASE HAVE IN BY 9:30 AM TO BE INCLUDED IN THE DAIRY CATALOG
quality and blemished cows, $1,975 and down. Top loads dairy cows averaging $2,850-3,205. Top springing heifers, 2,850-3,650. Top beef steers $201. Top Holstein steers $187. Top market cows $159. See our website for more market report updates and early consignments! We appreciate all of our bidders, buyers, consignors, and livestock truckers.
Meyers VB750, 600 Bu, 482 Cu Ft Struck, Vert Beaters, 5 Pt Digi Star Scale, Nutra Tracker NT Scale Head, No GPS Puck Included .....................................$46,500
Kuhn Knight 8124, 19L X 16.1 Flotation Tires, 2400 Gals, 500 Bu, Frt & Rear Splash Guards, Low Usage$34,500
‘11 H&S 5126, 2600 Gallons, 347 Cu Ft .....................................$8,900
‘13 H&S 430,11L X 22.5 Truck Tires, Upper Beater, Endgate, T-67 Chain, 1000 And 540 PTO Options ...............$12,700
‘15 Hagedorn Hydra-Spread Extravert 5440, 684 Cu Ft Heaped, 440 Cu Ft Struck, Sequence Valve Flow Control, Wood Rails, Stone Guard, Endgate .....................................$41,500
‘12 Hagedorn Hydra-Spread Extravert 5440, 684 Cu Ft Heaped, 440 Cu Ft Struck, Sequence Valve Flow Control, Wood Rails, Stone Guard, Endgate.$39,500
