June 26, 2021 Dairy Star - 1st section - Zone 1 by Dairy Star

Past,Present, Future. Read our Past, Present Future feature on page 11 of the 2nd section!

DAIRY ST R “All dairy, all the time”™

Volume 23, No. 9

Iowa dairy farmer tells his story on TikTok Venteicher uses social media app to share farm videos By Sherry Newell Contributiing Writer

June 26, 2021

Feed costs cause strain on producers Kohlman, Yurczyk make changes on their dairy to help them through By Krista Kuzma

krista.k@dairystar.com

CHILTON, Wis. – Growing crops has never been a big interest for Jeff Kohlman. “Tractors weren’t my thing,” he said. “I liked working with cows.” This is why the dairyman

purchases the large majority of his feed and focuses on managing his 500-cow dairy herd near Chilton. Although this started as a profitable way to dairy when he bought the farm in 2002, it has now turned into a reason he contemplated exiting the business last year. “It worked well at first,”

Kohlman said. “Even the bank said it was a good idea. After 2009, everything changed and it’s been pretty much downhill since. There have been times when it hasn’t been as bad but for the most part it’s been pretty much negative numbers.” Commodity prices have been steadily increasing since

Iowa – The person known as @IowaDairyFarmer on the social media app TikTok has amassed more than 4.2 million likes for his posts during the past four months. In real life, @IowaDairyFarmer is Dan Venteicher, who farms in northeast Iowa near Strawberry Point. His posts explain his family’s 180-cow robotic dairy and often debunk misinformation that frustrates dairy farmers everywhere. TikTok features videos 15 to 60 seconds long posted by users who have made it the fastest-growing social media platform in the world as of 2021, according to the blog “iconosquare.” The analyt-ics fi rm App Annie estimates MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR TikTok will reach 1.2 billion Aaron Yurczyk feeds hay to his heifers June 18 on the farm he rents near Holdingford, Minnemonthly active users this year. sota. Yurczyk purchases all the feed for his 50-cow herd. And while many dairy farmers have been using Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram to highlight their practices for some time, fewer have caught the TikTok wave. enteicher V firstsignedonin March 2020. “It was really just something to do during the pandemic. I set up an account but never posted,” Venteicher said. Read about dairy But a couple of things trigfarmers who have gered him to post his first video Feb. 27. dairied through the “I gave a tour to some coldecades beginning with lege students and one of them the 1950s through the had an account, so I saw our 2010s. barn on a TikTok page. I startSee pages 11 -21 in ed looking at the comments and was a little discouraged,” second section. he said. The comments led him to explain why he and his family MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR installed the feeding system the Dennis Noetzelman from student featured in the video. Parkers Prairie, Minnesota is one of the farmers featured in Turn to VENTEICHER | Page 5 dairying through the decades.

Dairying through the decades

the beginning of the year with corn seeing a high this year of $7.32 while soybeans have topped the market in 2021 so far at $16.43 according to macrotrends.net. It has caused additional strain on dairy farmers purchasing feed. “I think this caught everyone off guard,” said Spence Driver, dairy nutritionist for Ag Partners in Goodhue, Minnesota. “It’s not just protein or corn sources. Other ingredients in the diet are running high, too. Those you can’t contract or you’re a lot more limited with contracting … certain ingredients they are just having to pay more for. So, most people’s feed prices are going up.” Driver attributed the increased prices to a variety of market dynamics: yields in South America, a dry spring in the United States, an increasing export market and a shortened inventory supply on top of plant shutdowns due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, and now a driver shortage for trucking. “It’s like everything else. Look at all the markets and supply chains, imports, exports. Everything is just messed up right now and it’s been that way for not quite a year,” Driver said. “It’s throwing a monkey wrench into everything.” Aaron Yurczyk has felt the pinch in his checkbook lately. The young dairyman has been purchasing all his feed since he began dairying in 2016 on a rented farm near Holdingford, Minnesota. “I always talk to my nutritionist to find the cheapest substitute on anything we can, but everything seems to run with the price of beans or corn, protein level wise or energy wise, so changing is kind of difficult,” said Yurczyk, who milks 50 cows. Last year, Yurczyk paid an average of $3.50 per bushel of corn. The last few loads he has purchased this year, Yurczyk paid close to $8 per bushel. To cut down the amount of ground Turn to FEED COST | Page 5

Page 2 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021

DAIRY ST R www.dairystar.com

ISSN 020355 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave. Sauk Centre, MN 56378 Phone: (320) 352-6303 Fax: (320) 352-5647 Published by Dairy Star LLC General Manager/Editor Mark Klaphake - mark.k@dairystar.com 320-352-6303 (office) 320-248-3196 (cell) 320-352-0062 (home) Ad Composition Nancy Powell 320-352-6303 nancy.p@dairystar.com Consultant Jerry Jennissen 320-346-2292 Editorial Staff Krista Kuzma - Editor/Wisconsin (507) 259-8159 • krista.k@dairystar.com Jennifer Coyne - Assistant Editor (320) 352-6303 • jenn@dairystar.com Danielle Nauman (608) 487-1101 danielle.n@dairystar.com Stacey Smart - Staff Writer (262) 442-6666 • stacey.s@dairystar.com Maria Bichler - Copy Editor 320-352-6303 Andrea Borgerding - Layout/Design (320) 352-6303 • andrea.b@dairystar.com Advertising Sales Main Office: 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 (office) 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 Hoefler (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 $35.00, outside the U.S. $110.00. Send check along with mailing address to Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378. Advertising Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an advertisement shall constitute final 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 LLC.

The Dairy Star is published semi-monthly by Dairy Star, LLC, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378-1246. Periodicals Postage Paid at Sauk Centre, MN and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378-1246.

A glance at what’s inside Celebrating dairy’s past, present and future The dairy industry has changed a lot over the years and who better to explain those changes than the people doing the work – dairy producers. To share how these evolutions have made impacts at the farm level, we asked dairy farmers to answer a few questions. Each producer who answered these questions started their dairying journey in a different decade, beginning in the 1950s. Read about each of these farmers’ challenges, what they love most about their work and lessons they have learned over the years. Everyone’s story is a little different. And while we cannot go back to the past, we can reflect on it as we look into the future. To accompany these features of farmers throughout the decades, we also caught up with the Donnays who were recently recognized as a century farm in Minnesota. While Kevin and Erin are commemorated for the farm’s centennial, the honor would not have been achieved had it not been for the generations of Donnays before them. Both of these features are a part of our special, “Past, Present, Future” section found in Second Section. The special section also includes an assortment of advertisers who are celebrating milestone years in the industry. KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR We intended this section to be a way to celebrate Ma Andring started dairying in 2005 on his 140-cow the dairy industry of yesterday, today and tomorrow dairy in Olmsted County near Dover, Minnesota. He is as we come to the end of June Dairy Month. We hope one of the dairy farmers featured in this issue’s “Dairyyou enjoy it. ing through the decades” feature. Happy reading!

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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021 • Page 3

It’s all inside... Columnists Ag Insider

Brooten

Pages 8-9 First Section

Park Rapids

Kids Corner: The Radermacher family

A day in the life of the Malm family

Third Section: Pages 12 - 13

Second Section: Pages 24, 26 - 27

Albany

Kimball

Ohmann touts opportunities as Princess Kay finalist

Donnays honor ancestors as farm deemed 100 years old

First Section: Page 34

Second Section: Pages 11 - 13

Calf Chronicles Cavalier

Pembina

Pierce

Beltrami

Roberts

Marshall

Day

Lawrence

Hyde Stanley

Clark Deuel

Hamlin Hand Beadle

Hughes

Kingsbury

Brookings

Haakon Buffalo

Moody

Aurora

Douglas

Tripp Gregory

Charles Mix

McCook Minnehaha

Hutchinson

Turner

Bon Yankton Homme

Clay

Wright

Meeker

Chippewa Hennepin McLeod

Renville

Yellow Medicine

Carver

Lyon

Redwood

Nicollet Brown

Murray

Rock

Nobles

Lyon

Jackson

n inso Emmet

O’Brien

Clay

e Buena Vista

Ida

Monona

c Po

Sac

n Win

Palo Alto

ero

Woodbury

Wabasha

Freeborn

eba

Dick

Kossuth

Plymouth

Rice

Faribault

Martin

Worth

Mitchell Howard

ick

Greene

Boone

a rsh

Story

Fayette

Black Hawk

Tama

Jasper

e war Dubuque

Iowa

Dela

Jones

Linn

Jackson Clinton

n Cedar

Muscatine

Scott

Strawberry Point

Venteicher uses social media app to share farm videos First Section: Pages 1, 5

hin

Madison Warren Marion Mahaska Keokuk

Adair

Wa s

Pottawattamie Cass

gto

Polk

Dallas

Clayton

n na

Benton

n bo

Guthrie

Harrison Shelby

Houston

Bremer

Wright Franklin Butler

Grundy un Webster Hamilton Hardin

Crawford Carroll

Floyd

lho

Second Section: Pages 3 - 5

Winona

Fillimore

Mower

Hancock Cerro Gordo

old

Gilleses share paddock management for polled, crossbred herd

Goodhue

Cottonwood Watonwan Blue Earth Waseca Steele Dodge Olmsted

Osceola

Sioux

Houston

Dakota

Scott

Sibley

Lin

Brule Mellette

Todd

Lake

Lyman

Jackson

Shannon Pages 6 - 7 Bennett Second Section

Miner

Fall River

Sanborn

The “Mielke” Market Weekly

Custer

Jones

Jerauld

Da vi so n

Pennington

Kandiyohi Lac Qui Parle

Codington

Spink Sully

Page 33 Meade First Section

Anoka

Swift

Faulk

Potter

Isanti Sherburne

Grant

Ziebach

Stearns

Pope

Dairy Good Life

Benton

Stevens

Edmunds

Douglas

Big Stone

Dewey Butte

Pine Mille Lacs

Morrison

iek

McPherson Brown

Walworth

Carlton

Todd Grant

First Section: Pages 3 - 4

Aitkin Crow Wing

Sargent

Cass

isa Ch

Page 32 First Section Perkins

Campbell

Corson

Richland Dickey

McIntosh

Otter Tail

Wilkin

Emmons Sioux

Adams

Tra ver se

Grant

Ransom

LaMoure

Logan

Becker

Clay

Portner leaned on upbringing to achieve valedictorian title

iek

Cass

Sleepy Eye

ake

Bames

Morton

Just Thinking Out Loud Harding

Stutsman

Lincoln

Bowman

Kidder

Pipestone

Page 31 Hettinger Slope First Section

Burleigh

Oliver

Veterinary Wisdom Stark

Golden Valley

Mah

Lake

Itasca

Norman Billings

men

All

Polk

Trail

Steele

W in

Griggs

Washington

Foster

Mercer

Cook

Kanabec

Wells

Sheridan

St. Louis

Red Lake

Eddy

McLean

Koochiching

Pennington

Grand Forks

ms ey

Dunn

Marshall

Benson Nelson

Page 30 First Section

McKenzie

McHenry

Ward

Lake of the Woods

Walsh Ramsey

Wadena

Mountrail Dear County Agent Guy

Roseau

eu r

Williams

Kittson

Towner

Rolette

Bottineau

Hubbard

Renville

Clearwater

Page 23 Burke First Section

Divide

Watertown

Zone 1

Erickson announces retirement

Zone 2

M nt

Fre

y mer Adams

o ontg

Mills

Page

Taylor

Union ld

g Rin

Clarke

Lucas

Decatur Wayne

Monroe Wapello e

oos

n ppa

Davis

Louisa

n rso Henry Des

fe Jef

Van Buren

Moines

Lee

First Section: Pages 20 - 22

New Vienna

FROM OUR SIDE OF THE FENCE:

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

Dairying through the decades Second Section: Pages 15 - 21

What was your favorite aspect of your promotional event on the farm? First Section: Pages 15 - 16

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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021 • Page 5

Con nued from VENTEICHER | Page 1

Thank you Dairy Producers!

DAIRY STAR FILE PHOTO

The Venteicher family – (from le ) Don, Dan and Jamie – dairy farm in Iowa. Dan Venteicher has recently taken to the social media plat-form TikTok to share his dairy story. Now, he is a TikTok regular, with one of his videos earning him 1.3 million views. “It was just a joke; it was ‘Five ways dairy farmers abuse cows,’ and I put it to a music beat,” he said. The video showed him pointing to the numbers 1 through 5 on the screen, with nothing written behind any of them. Other videos, including some which required much more planning, have been less popular. “The secret to success must be to put in as little effort as possible,” Venteicher said, tongue-in-cheek. “Some I thought were awesome fell flat. When I try to be funny, I don’t get a lot of views.” The views are what attracted him to TikTok rather than other social media platforms. It does not require a user to have thousands of followers to have their videos seen. Videos pop up in a user’s feed according to the app’s algorithm. Popular videos or those related to previous views pop up on the user’s home screen. Venteicher has gotten what he calls countless messages from people who knew nothing about cows or dairies but started drinking milk again because of what they learned from his posts. “We are changing people’s minds,” he said of the app’s power for advocacy. But he also deals with plenty of negative comments. “When they are nasty, I highlight what they said and talk about it,” Ven-

teicher said. “It won’t change their perspective, but it can change others’ opinions. The negative comments, for me, are like water off a duck’s back.” He said he finds the videos which are viewed most often are those replying to an activist comment. Venteicher estimates he could do six or seven videos in a day and finds the app easy to use with a short learning curve. He spends about 20 or 30 minutes a day, at most, on the effort, except when he does a live video. Live TikToks can last 1.5 hours at times. The time does not bother him or his wife, Jamie, who also stars in a few of his posts. “I never had a hobby; I don’t fish or golf,” he said. “Now we might put the kids to bed and instead of watching a football game, I go to the barn and do a live TikTok.” The live videos address hot topic questions from viewers or might include comments about the family’s motivation to be dairy farmers. One live video peaked at 60,000 viewers, but his average audience is about 30,000. Using TikTok to highlight dairy farming fits Venteicher’s background. He has always enjoyed education and planned to be an agriculture teacher. He ended up on the family farm instead. “This kind of combines both worlds,” he said. But the quick success of @IowaDairyFarmer is a surprise to Venteicher. “It blows my mind,” he said.

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Con nued from FEED COST | Page 1 corn he’s using in his ration, Yurczyk bought a liquid feed tank and started feeding a liquid corn substitute. “It’s cheaper than buying ground corn right now and it helps keep the feed together so the cows can’t sort it as much,” Yurczyk said. “They eat it better.” Driver said ongoing conversations with a dairy’s nutritionist like what Yurczyk has been doing are critical at times like these. He likes to explain to his producers each item in the ration and what it is doing for the cows. If a farm does need to switch a ration because of cost, Driver likes to go through the scenarios of how that might affect production or reproduction. “Then they can make that decision – whether they need to cut costs and take that risk or they don’t want to take it out

because they know what might happen,” Driver said. “I think everybody’s running on pretty narrow margins when it comes from feed costs.” For Kohlman, there were not too many more changes he could make to his ration before he started giving up production. He had already cut out haylage in 2014. Since then, Kohlman has relied on three local dairies for corn silage and has dry hay trucked in from western states. “Corn silage is a much more consistent ration than haylage,” Kohlman said. “With haylage, you’re always changing the diet with first, second and third crops so bringing in hay from out West is really consistent.” Although Kohlman has not changed Turn to FEED COST | Page 7

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The Dairy Star is currently sent out free to all registered dairy farmers in the state of Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, UP Michigan and northern Illinois.

Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021 • Page 7

Con nued from FEED COST | Page 6 his herd’s ration recently, he did switch from threetimes-a-day milking to two times a day. “That helped a lot,” he said.” Initially, the cows dropped 7 pounds of milk per cow per day; however, within a month, they had gained 5 pounds back. Plus, Kohlman said the conception and pregnancy rates have improved. “The cows seemed happier,” Kohlman said. “They had time to rest. On 3X when you went in the barn, somebody’s always there moving cows here and there, and they never get a chance for total peace and quiet. Now cows have about six hours where no one bothers them. It’s so peaceful.”

“Let’s not just focus on the diet. Let’s focus on the overall management strategy of the dairy.” SPENCER DRIVER, DAIRY NUTRITIONIST

Driver said he likes to talk with his producers about examining management strategies like this that affect the cost of production or the ration. He suggested looking at feed shrink, which can cost a farm up to $0.50 per hundredweight due to rain, wind, spoilage or other factors. “Focus on the big dollar items,” Driver said. “Shrink can tend to be huge on farms if they’re not paying attention.” Grouping strategies can also be a way to try to lower feed cost. “Most people from a convenience standpoint feed a one-group TMR,” Driver said. “A lot of the ingredients in the diet are most beneficial in the highest producing cows … with a two-group system, later lactation cows wouldn’t get all the goodies so they can be cut out of the diet and save feed costs that way.” Looking at other stressors such as overcrowding or culling are also areas to examine, Driver said. “Those are the type of things I have conversations with my client,” he said. “Let’s not just focus on the

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Aaron Yurczyk feeds TMR to his milking herd June 18 on his 50-cow dairy near Holdingford, Minnesota. Yurczyk cut back on the amount of corn in his ra on because of the high cost. diet. Let’s focus on the overall management strategy of the dairy.” Going forward, Yurczyk hopes to buy his own farm with enough acres to grow his own corn for silage. Kohlman is uncertain of what his future holds. While the government payments helped him survive last year, he is not sure he can sustain the current feed prices. At 51 years old, Kohlman is not ready to retire, but does not have another generation that wants to take over.

“Even with the price of land, I think the trend is you can still make money growing your own crops than buying feed,” Kohlman said. “But for me now to go out and pay $10,000 per acre for land in my area, I don’t have the collateral or equity to do it. I’ve got myself in a catch-22.” Until Kohlman makes a decision about his future or Yurczyk finds a farm, the two dairymen will continue to weather the markets and evaluate their farm to best sustain the high feed prices.

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Page 8 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021

Vilsack announces additional assistance for dairy farmers

The United States Department of Agriculture well above the domestic price levels. “The biggest Pandemic Assistance for Producers includes addi- outlier right now is the cheddar market with CME tional support for dairy farmers. That includes $400 prices just above $1.50 per pound while global pricmillion for the new Dairy Donation Program, ad- es are above $2,” said Naomi Blohm, market anaditional payments for dairy farmers not covered by lyst, Total Farm Marketing. Blohm said Midwestern cheese manufacturers are active. “Some previous pandemic relief and $580 milAg Insider processing plants are at max capacity as lion in Supplemental Dairy Margin Covspot milk loads are plentiful,” Blohm erage for small and medium sized farms. said. “We have more work to do to build back a better food system, strengthen our supDairy farmers face impact of shipping ply chains and make sure American agdelays riculture gives our farm families every A House transportation subcomopportunity to earn a good living,” said mittee took testimony at a hearing this Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “As month regarding the impact of shipping the economy continues to bounce back, container shortages and delays in the USDA will ensure American agriculture food supply chain. The U.S. Dairy Exis ready to seize the moment.” port Council and National Milk ProducBy Don Wick ers Federation issued a joint statement, Fair access Columnist thanking the lawmakers for taking this The U.S. Trade Representative’s Ofstep. “Dairy producers throughout the fice has established a dispute settlement panel under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement to country are feeling the consequences of port congesreview Canada’s tariff rate quota system for dairy tion as delays in loading U.S. dairy exports onto carproducts imported form the United States. Senate riers creates a chilling effect on farm-gate milk pricAgriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow is es,” said Jim Mulhern, president/CEO, NMPF. The pleased with this news. “This is another step toward dairy groups want Congress to provide the resources ensuring Canada upholds their commitment to pro- necessary for the Federal Maritime Commission to vide fair market access to our dairy farmers,” Stabe- expedite their investigations into shipping carriers that are engaging in unfair trade practices. now said.

WASDE: 2021 milk production rises USDA’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates forecast in June increased the 2021 milk production forecast 600 million pounds to 228.5 billion pounds. The increase was due to an expected increase in cow numbers. The 2020 milk production forecast is for 231.1 billion pounds. With large cheese inventories, the projections for Class III milk prices were lowered.

An active cheese market Global dairy prices are trending lower but are

Food system remains vulnerable to cyberterrorism John Hoffman, who is with the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Food Protection and Defense Institute, said digital systems are embedded into nearly every aspect of food production and safety. This dependence puts the U.S. food system at enormous risk. Hoffman said that risk can be reduced by monitoring for any anomalies and properly training employees. Educating the government and law enforcement about specific cyber security issues in the

How well do you know your cows?

Majestic View Dairy “After installing our first SCR system 10 years ago we noticed better herd health, drop in death loss, and increased pregnancy rate. I like being able to virtually monitor cow health and activity without having to be physically on the farm. We most recently upgraded our SCR collars a few summers ago and love how advanced and precise the technology is.” - Majestic View Dairy, Amanda Buschor Copyright© 2021 Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ USA, and its affiliates. All rights reserved. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for Allflex’s products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. Allflex Livestock Intelligence shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.

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USDA’s socially disadvantaged loan forgiveness program on hold A federal judge in Green Bay, Wisconsin, issued a temporary restraining order, suspending a USDA loan forgiveness program for socially disadvantaged farmers. The American Rescue Plan pays off up to 120% of direct and guaranteed USDA loans. The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of the program, saying federal payments should not be based on race. One of the lawyers working on the case, Luke Berg, said the preliminary order only halts the USDA program two to three weeks while the court can rule on the injunction. “This is a strong signal the program is likely to be found unconstitutional at that stage as well, given the government hasn’t provided a compelling basis for relying solely on the race of farmers to forgive loans,” Berg said. This is one of at least five lawsuits pending on the USDA program.

IDFA highlights dairy industry’s economic influence The U.S. dairy industry has a $753 billion economic impact and supports 3.3 million jobs. Cheese is the biggest dairy product in the Upper Midwest, and the International Dairy Foods Association’s study found cheese has a $55 billion direct economic impact. This annual research also said the U.S. dairy industry is responsible for $6.5 billion in exports.

DFA to close Indiana plant Dairy Farmers of America plans to close its Decatur, Indiana, ice cream plant in September. DFA said options were considered to make the Decatur plant profitable, but the financial challenges for the plant were too big.

Turn to AG INSIDER | Page 9

Allflex Livestock Intelligence monitoring and milking equipment means dairy done better

Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021 • Page 9

Con nued from AG INSIDER | Page 8

A CCA honor for AMPI co-CEOs Associated Milk Producers Inc. co-CEOs Donn DeVelder and Sheryl Meshke have been honored with the Cooperative Communicators Association’s CEO Outstanding Communicator Award. In his nomination, AMPI chairman Steve Schlangen said DeVelder and Meshke are “completely selfless and fully focused on making the decisions that set the co-op up for success.”

Molgaard to lead UMN veterinary college Pending approval by the Board of Regents, Dr. Laura Molgaard will be the new dean for the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Molgaard has been part of the department since 1997 and was appointed interim dean in August 2019.

Erickson retires South Dakota State University Extension dairy field specialist Tracey

Erickson has retired. Erickson served in that role for the past 31 years. Trivia challenge Selz-Pralle Aftershock 3918 from Humbird, Wisconsin, holds the record for milk production in a single lactation. The cow produced 78,170 pounds of milk over 365 days. Scott Pralle and Pam Selz-Pralle owned this Holstein. That answers our last trivia question. For this week’s trivia, which country leads the world in per capita ice cream consumption? We’ll 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 five grandchildren, Aiden, Piper, Adrienne, Aurora and Sterling.

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Page 10 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021

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Prevent accidents near bunkers during harvest, feed out By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com

DURAND, Wis. – Safety has always been a priority at Weiss Family Farms Inc.; however during the current haylage season and with corn silage harvest on the horizon, taking precautions in the feed out area and encouraging open communication between all employees is more important than ever for the Weisses. “During harvest sometimes things go too fast,” Nathan Weiss said. “Having a plan and knowing how we can provide as much safety as possible during the crunch times of haylage and corn silage harvest is so important. It is a dangerous, yet essential task to our farm.” Every year, Weiss Family Farms fill forage bunkers that are built with 16-foot walls for their 1,000-cow milking herd in Pepin County near Durand. “For us, it was important that we built our bunkers large enough so we wouldn’t have to overfill them,” Weiss said. While feed storage and subsequent feed out are vital parts of farm operations, the tasks are also highly dangerous. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that every day, about 100 agriculture workers suffer a lost-work-time injury, and in 2017, the fatality rate of farmers and farm workers from a work-related-injury was a soaring 20.4 deaths per 100,000 people. “The feed storage areas are really important areas on the farm, but they can also be a pretty high hazard,” Megan Schossow said. “With bunkers, in particular, injuries are fairly common.” Schossow is the outreach director and center coordinator for the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center. There are three areas of concern with bunkers and human safety: harvesting and building the pile, the defacing and feeding processes, and silo gas. Every farm collects and stores feed differently, but regardless of size or method, a hauling and unloading pattern should be established. “It’s a chaotic time,” Schossow said. “Find ways to make things more predictable.” At Weiss Family Farms, the harvest plan begins well before a tractor hits the field. Weiss Family Farms look over their equipment for notable operational hazards and then also develops a plan for the incoming forage with the farm’s harvest team. Typically, the family has three to six dump trucks hauling feed, two people filling the bunker with pushing and packing tractors and once the bunker is full, approximately eight people help to cover the feed with plastic to seal the pile. “With each harvest being unique with different employees, different fields, and the use of dif-

ferent bunkers we need to communicate with our silage team to make sure that everyone understands and follows through the specific protocols of our farm,” Weiss said. During the harvest and storage process, Weiss Family Farms uses radios to stay in constant communication, everyone also wears reflective gear and keeps a safe space between pieces of equipment. The family knows what can happen when precautions are not taken. “Over the years, we have had accidents that could have been avoided with better preparations. Most of the time these accidents occurred because we were in too big of a hurry and fatigued,” Weiss said. “Everyone’s in a rush and it’s a traffic jam, but with the use of radios it really helps to always let people know where everyone is and any situations that are developing.” The crew uses vertical dump boxes, so those trucks deliver feed to the bunker and then the tractors push the feed onto the pile. They only fill to the 15-foot range of the bunker and leave a slight crown at the top to allow for water runoff. After the pile is made, sidewall plastic is used to cover the bunker. “We’ve invested in a special bunker wall plastic unroller to hook to our payloader so that the roll of plastic can be lifted up and the plastic rolls and falls down on both sides,” Weiss said. “It eliminates the need for people to be in an unsafe position on the sidewalls at that time.” While the timing of harvest is out of their control, Weiss Family Farms is aware of the dangers of chopping late into the night. It can cause negative effects on their crew’s health. At night, people’s alertness and reaction time is low, which increases the chance of accidents on the field, road or bunker. “It’s harder to stay awake, and if it is dark outside, there’s just a better chance of falling off the bunker pile or having the chance of an equipment rollover,” Weiss said. To reduce the risk of a rollover, the safest tractors include a rollover bar and seatbelt. This machinery can also be backloaded to provide more stability, Schossow said. When building the pile, farmers should also consider how it will be fed out and take steps to mitigate the risk of injury during that process. “When filling the bunker, pack it tight to prevent avalanches during feed out,” Schossow said. “The pile should be no higher than your defacer, and when unloading with a defacer, always go top, down. Overhangs can present a unique hazard as well.” Schossow said that feed bunkers should be Turn to BUNKER SAFETY | Page 11

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Feed bunkers are covered at Weiss Family Farms near Durand, Wisconsin. Every year, the Weiss family fills forage bunkers that are built with 16-foot walls for their 1,000-cow milking herd in Pepin County.

Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021 • Page 11

Con nued from BUNKER SAFETY | Page 10

built with a 3-to-1 rule of thumb; for every 1 foot of vertical height, there should be 3 feet of horizontal height to the pile. Also, when on the bunker whether during feed out or in covering it, never get any closer than three times the height away from the edge. “It can be funky to remember that, but really stay away from the edge because that’s where avalanches happen,” Schossow said. “The pile comes apart and comes down. We’ve seen that happen on piles as small as 10 feet, and there are still fatalities.” In using a defacer, a farmer and employees should not get any closer than three times the height of the bunker. “It’s really less about the exact measurements and more about the rule of thumbs,” Schossow said. Weiss agreed. “When removing spoilage, we reach it with a payloader or telehandler so we are not on the pile shoveling and at more risk if there is an avalanche,” he said. “Safety has always been our biggest priority while working on the top of the feed piles.” Weiss and one farm employee oversee the bunker management. They talk weekly about safety protocols and being able to get the job done efficiently and effectively. A few years ago, Weiss and his employee went through a bunker safety training for the employee to establish a baseline of good practices. How the bunker is structured and how the equipment is operated around that space are critical in preventing on-farm injuries or fatalities. Being aware of the presence of silo gas is also a good measure.

“Silo gas is present in all kinds of feed storage areas,” Schossow said. “It can be immediately deadly, or people can develop chronic issues with small exposures. And, farmers can see it hanging out in plastic or on the surface of the pile.” Although not confined in bunkers, silo gas is most prevalent within the first 12-16 hours of building the pile. Farm incidents at the bunker are fairly common whether with equipment or because of an avalanche, and can be more serious than other onfarm related incidences, often falling into the same category as confined spaces. To be prepared for an accident, farmers should work with their local first responders to evaluate potential hazards on the property. They may also consider providing phone numbers and addresses for the first responders to keep on file in the case of an emergency. Schossow suggested building an on-farm first aid kit, which may include a tourniquet, to help in an accident before professional personnel can arrive. Above all, take precautions when harvesting and feeding out forages to keep everyone involved safe during the busiest time of the year. “Stop, think and act,” Schossow said. “We really hear time and time again that incidences happen when people are in a rush, tired and looking to save 10 seconds. The health and safety of the people on your farm is its most valuable aspect.”

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Page 12 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021

Dangers of long hours in the sun Schossow describes ways to reduce skin cancer risk By Krista Kuzma

krista.k@dairystar.com

While sunshine is often welcomed in the agricultural world, sun exposure also comes with risks when considering farmers’ health. “The rule of thumb is ag and construction workers are at an increased risk for skin cancer due to the high levels of UV radiation exposure they experience as part of their job,” said Megan Schossow, outreach director and center coordinator for the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center. “They are outside a lot so they have really high sun exposure.” According to the Skin Cancer Foundation website, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, with one out of five Americans developing skin cancer by the time they are 70 years old. Working in agriculture creates an increased risk, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. The sun is beneficial to our health, Schossow said. “It’s good for our moods and it’s part of the vitamin D process,” she said. But too much sun can have negative consequences. “Your probability goes up of having skin cancer when you have chronic or continued exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation, which is a known carcinogen,” Schossow said. While there are many types of skin cancers, the most invasive one is malignant melanoma and accounts for 75% of skin cancer related deaths, Schossow

said. “This is the type of skin cancer that people really perk up and pay attention to, but we shouldn’t overlook other ones,” she said. UV radiation can be present yearround and any day regardless of weather. “Even on cloudy days there is an opportunity for sun exposure,” Schossow said. Thankfully, there are many prevention methods. “The more you can reduce any kind of exposure throughout your lifetime the better off you’ll be,” Schossow said. “This matters for families because if you have kids, keeping exposure low when they’re kids is important but it’s also important when you’re an adult.” For farmers, Schossow said try to create flexible hours for certain tasks. While not all jobs are flexible, the UV index is highest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the peak around noon. “If there is a way to do a job like mowing, for example, in the morning or the evening that’s a great way to at least reduce the exposure,” Schossow said. If jobs cannot be rescheduled, having shade is a good alternative. An example would be using a cabbed tractor during the peak hours. Protective clothing is another option. While there are brands that create items that protect from UV radiation, Schossow said any type of clothing will help. “Tons of farmers have tons of old cotton button ups that are really breathable and light colors,” she said. However, Schossow also wants people to be mindful of the heat while also protecting their skin from the sun. “Wearing layers is phenomenal when you can, but I would rather not

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people overheat if that is going to be a risk,” she said. “I like to think about the areas you want to protect the most – shoulders, nose, forehead and ears.” Bucket or other wide-brimmed hats that cover all the way around the head are also a better option than a baseball hat. Sunglasses are also important to protect eyes and skin around the eyes from the sun. Sunscreen is another prevention method. Schossow said sunscreen needs to have UVA/UVB radiation prevention. “A lot of sunscreens have both,” she said. “We’ve come a long way in the sunscreen industry.” Then look at the sun protection factor number. “The numbers can be super confusing because you’ll see anything from 15 to 100,” Schossow said. Try to get a sunscreen with an SPF between 30-50. “From a cost and protection standpoint, these are the best,” Schossow said. A tablespoon per body part – arms or legs – are needed, and the sunscreen must be reapplied. “We don’t want people to only use sunscreen,” Schossow said. “It’s the same conversation we have with personal protective equipment. Typically, you would try to keep people away from some hazard instead of putting protective equipment on.” Instead, Schossow suggests using a combination of these protective measures – sunscreen, long sleeves, alternate scheduling and taking breaks. “All the things together is the best scenario,” she said. “All things in moderation.” When checking for skin cancer, Schossow said to remember the ABCDE’s of abnormalities. A stands for

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asymmetry. Moles or freckles that are asymmetric is a red flag. B is for border. Any spot or mole that has a scalloped edge or is not round should be checked. C is color. Typically, moles are brown. If there are several shades or the colors are black, white, red or blue means it could be concerning. D stands for diameter. Melanoma is usually 6 millimeters in diameter or bigger, or the size of a pencil eraser. E is for evolving. Any freckle or mole that changes need to be checked by a medical professional. “They can pop up anywhere, even not in your most highly exposed area so it’s important to check out your whole body,” Schossow said. “But in particular pay attention to the high exposure areas – shoulders, chest, face, ears and neck.” While Schossow suggests being checked by a primary care provider, she also said there are certain opportunities for free skin care checks. “Farm shows and trade shows are seeing free health screenings pop in more,” she said. “At the 2019 Farm Fest, there was an area where dermatology residents did skin cancer screenings. I know it can be a barrier if you don’t have health insurance. Even if you do have health insurance, it can be a train wreck. Watch for these opportunities at these shows.” Regardless of what a person’s previous sun exposure has been, Schossow said it is never too late to start taking precautions from skin cancer. “Even if you’re 75 and spent your whole life in the sun, to start doing this today is still going to be good for you,” she said. “The most important asset on the farm is always the people. If you don’t have your health, it’s really hard to farm.”

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SLEEPY EYE, Minn. – Whether in the barn or classroom, Sophie Portner is used to working hard in order to achieve a goal. “As a family, we like to do everything with our whole effort and do our best to succeed. That’s a lesson that was instilled in me at a young age,” Portner said. “Back in sophomore year, I learned I was ranked first in my class so I decided then that it was going to be a goal of mine to become valedictorian. I was committed and going to give it my best to reach my full potential.” Portner, the daughter of Tom and Mary, was recognized for her cumulative grade point average of 4.02 as valedictorian for the 2021 graduating class of St. Mary’s Catholic School in Sleepy Eye. For Portner, achieving academic excellence began in her early years of high school, taking on challenging coursework that would further advance her when it came time to apply for colleges. “I always looked to take on advanced placement classes because I thought getting those college credits would be worth it,” Portner said. “In doing that, I realized you don’t have to be a genius to get good grades and succeed in school. I just put my best effort forward in learning and understanding the content.” That philosophy came from the barn on her family’s Brown County farm, where they milk 280 Brown Swiss with Portner’s uncle, Mark. On the dairy, Portner is responsible for milking the herd and feeding the calves. She also helps breed, vaccinate and move cattle from pen to pen. “(Dairy farming) was the first thing in my life to teach me work ethic,” Portner said. “I quickly learned that not everything comes easy, and I had to ask questions and get through the grind to get the job done.” The high school graduate’s fondest memories of understanding commitment and accountability came in the form of show animals. Portner grew up exhibiting animals in 4-H and FFA with her sisters. “There’s always that one crazy heifer that you have to get ready for a show but she’s just difficult to work with,” Portner said. “I’d complain to Dad, and he always told me that I signed up to show her, and I was going to take her one way or another.” Many hours have been spent preparing difficult animals for the showring. “We’d fight to get those heifers to lead, but I’d always feel better once I brought her to the show,” Portner said. “I put in the work to get her ready, and it usually worked out fine and they behaved.” Exhibiting dairy cattle has not been the only way Portner realized her potential and gave her the confidence she needed in achieving academic success. For most of her childhood, Portner was involved in dairy judging. Her commitment to the activity paid off

Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021 • Page 13

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Sophie Portner is the valedictorian of her 2021 gradua ng class of St. Mary’s Catholic School in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. Portner and her family milk 280 Brown Swiss cows in Brown County. when she claimed first place at the state FFA contest this spring. “Dairy judging always came so easy to my sisters, but it really took me a long time to figure it out,” Portner said. “There were a lot of times I wanted to quit. But, it’s fulfilling to achieve what you’ve pushed for.” When Portner thinks about her high school career, she was most challenged in her college Spanish course which she completed sophomore year. The course was eight credits to put toward post-secondary education. “That was a very long year trying to figure out what we were doing,” Portner said. “I went into it with a good Spanish basis and wanted to continue the language while it was still fresh in my mind. Plus, I knew Spanish will help me along the way in my future.” Aside from conquering an impressive course load, Portner found time to participate in high school basketball and track and field, and was a leader in her school’s National Honor Society. She also was involved in the school’s environmental club and related programs. Being named valedictorian was an honor for Portner as she reflected on her years balancing academics, activities and responsibilities on the farm. “That was a goal of mine; the one thing I wanted,” Portner said. “All the hard work I’ve done in high school paid off. I was kind of relieved when I found out.” While Portner’s journey is certainly unique to her, the accomplishment is common in the Portner family. Many of the high school graduate’s sisters were also given the honor in their respective graduating classes – a true testament to the family’s values. “We all have this drive and it reflects how we value hard work,” Portner said. “It’s been nice to have such good examples ahead of me. I’ve seen them push themselves and that lets me know I can push myself too.” With the valedictorian title in her name, Portner is looking ahead to her next achievement. In the fall, she will attend North Dakota State University to study environmental sustainability with a minor in agriculture. “I want to find ways we can better use our resources and how we can better recycle,” Portner said. “And, I want to do that within the agriculture industry.”

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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021 • Page 15

From Our Side Of The Fence How did you prepare for your on-farm dairy event? Ellen Sheehan Rochester, Minnesota Olmsted County 300 cows

Brent Stelling Millville, Minnesota Wabasha County 300 cows

When did you host your promotional dairy event on the farm? How many people attended? We hosted the Olmsted County Country Breakfast on the Farm June 19. There were around 2,200 people who

When did you host your promotional dairy event on the farm? How many people attended? We hosted the Wabasha County Family Night on the Farm June 2019 and approximately 1,100 people attended.

Why did you host the event? It was an opportunity to share our farm with the community. The last time our family hosted breakfast on the farm was in 1991, so we wanted to show how our farm has grown since then.

Why did you host the event? We wanted to promote the dairy industry along with dairy products. We also wanted to show how well the animals are cared for as this is one of the most important aspects of farming to us.

attended.

What is the process of preparing to host the promotional event? We met with the planning committee once a month for four months leading up to the event. There, we discussed how the event would go and what we needed to do to make it run smoothly. The week of the event, we spent time getting things in order and doing extra cleaning because we wanted everything to look its best. What area or attraction on the farm drew the most interest from attendees? The two biggest attractions were the calf being born and the horse drawn wagon rides. People were able to watch a cow have her calf from start to finish, and everyone was very excited when the bull calf was born. We had three teams of horses that pulled wagons through one of our hay fields, and they could see the whole farm. What was your favorite aspect of your promotional event on the farm? My favorite aspect was watching families come and to see the kids’ excitement to see the animals and be on the farm. For the majority of attendees, it was their first time seeing what goes on at a farm. It was fun to share what we do and how we care for our cows. What was the most unique question you had from a visitor and how did you address it? It isn’t a very unique question, but the most asked question was, “Why do you take the calves away from their mothers?” I would explain that dairy cows produce too much milk for one calf to drink which could lead to the cow and the calf ending up sick. By taking care of the calves ourselves, we are able to ensure they are getting enough milk and staying healthy. What tips would you give to someone who will host in the future? I would recommend starting early on getting ready for the day and don’t wait until the last minute. Also talk with your veterinarian, nutritionist and other people you work with and ask them to volunteer or have a display. The more people who can talk with the public about dairy farming the better. Tell us about your farm. Our farm is a partnership of my dad, Jerome, his brothers, Jim and Robert, and my cousins, Steve and Ben. I am a full-time employee. We milk 250 cows in a parlor and 55 cows in a tiestall barn. We grow corn and alfalfa for feed.

What is the process of preparing to host the promotional event? We started preparing a few years before the actual event by first making the decision to host the event so we could work on some big projects before hosting. Then in February 2019, we met with the Wabasha County Family Night on the Farm committee and started making plans for the event. There are many preparations that need to be made for a large event such as this. What area or attraction on the farm drew the most interest from attendees? Calf feeding and cow milking were the biggest attractions. The calf feeding was hands on for anyone who wanted to participate. People could also come into the parlor to view the cows being milked. What was your favorite aspect of your promotional event on the farm? Seeing all of the people who were interested in learning more about the dairy industry and dairy products. Also seeing the children’s smiles on their faces when the calves were being fed. What was the most unique question you had from a visitor and how did you address it? I got asked if the cows had to be milked every day. I thought that was funny because they have to be milked at least twice a day, and we milk ours three times a day. What tips would you give to someone who will host in the future? Preparing in advance is the key to a successful event. We worked on projects a couple years ahead of time. Always take the extra help when it is offered as well. We couldn’t have hosted this event without our family and friends. Tell us about your farm. We are a family farm and milk about 300 registered Holsteins. We raise our own heifers and steers which total around 900 cattle. We raise 900 acres of alfalfa, corn and winter rye.

Sue and Jim Steinmetz Mahnomen, Minnesota Mahnomen County 200 cows

When did you host your promotional dairy event on the farm? How many people attended? June 19. Approximately 1,000 people attended.

Why did you host the event? To promote our industry locally and provide an opportunity for young people to get in touch with agriculture and learn where food comes from.

What is the process of preparing to host the promotional event? Clearing space in the shop, cleaning up, making room for parking, radio interviews for promotion, contacting sponsors, gathering supplies and door prizes, and making informational signs for public information.

What area or attraction on the farm drew the most interest from attendees? The animals, technology and delicious free food.

What was your favorite aspect of your promotional event on the farm? Community education and involvement, and family, friends and neighbors, including local FFA and 4-H members, all came together to make the event a huge success.

What was the most unique question you had from a visitor and how did you address it? A young child asked, “Why is that cow drinking from that bath tub; should we get her a cup?” I told them that each cow can drink about 50 gallons of water each day, which would be 800 cups of water. We would get very tired of filling all those cups for just one cow.

What tips would you give to someone who will host in the future? Make sure you have enough help so your only responsibility is hosting. Everyone wants to greet and thank you, and ask questions.

Tell us about your farm. We currently have 210 cows. Our daughter and her family own one-third of the cows. We started dairy farming in 1980 and put in Lely robots in 2009. We farm about 1,700 acres of corn, alfalfa, oat, soybeans and fescue grass along with our youngest son. Our grandchildren are all involved in some way with the farm.

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Page 16 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021

Con nued from OUR SIDE | Page 15

Thomas and Kristin Duden pictured with their children, Cordell, Madelynn and Marilyn, and Richard and Margaret Princeton, Minnesota Mille Lacs County 40 cows

When did you host your promotional dairy event on the farm? How many people attended? June 12 for around 350-450 people.

Why did you host the event? Princeton Chamber of Commerce approached us about doing one last year to tie in with the city’s festival. Last year was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic so they asked us if we were still interested in doing it. We agreed.

What is the process of preparing to host the promotional event? Find help. We reached out to 4-H, FFA, Corn Growers, Farm Bureau and the service industry to spitball ideas.

What area or attraction on the farm drew the most interest from attendees? Several aspects. We did food trucks, as we initially were going to contract some catering but honestly had no idea what to aim for let alone trying to find someone who wasn’t already booked with graduations. We had one company tell us they’re not catering events yet due to COVID-19. What was your favorite aspect of your promotional event on the farm? The food trucks. It was a unique set up. Everyone is aware of breakfasts and lunch on the farm, but this pulled in a different crowd. We had people literally drive in just for the food trucks event. What was the most unique question you had from a visitor and how did you address it? We had someone ask about the white plastic bag behind that entrance table (silage bag) and had to explain what it was. What tips would you give to someone who will host in the future? Be flexible. I cannot stress this enough. I had everything lined up the week before. I had six food trucks lined up. By Wednesday the week of, I had three cancel. I rebooked a different food truck and ended up having four in total. Also, the horse drawn wagon rides were canceled due to the heat. When people asked about it, we explained and they understood. The layout of everything was completely changed the morning of when everyone started setting up. It all worked. Tell us about your farm. We are a fifth-generation family farm. Richard’s grandfather and mother established the farm in 1933. In the late 1970s, Richard and Margaret purchased the farm from his parents. In 2018, Kristin and Thomas purchased the farm from Richard and Margaret. Madelynn, Cordell and Marilyn are the fifth generation.

Scott and Jessica Hingtgen and their children, Cameron, Grace and Gabby Bellevue, Iowa Jackson County 125 cows When did you host your promotional dairy event on the farm? June 2019 Why did you host the event? We love to promote dairy and our farming lifestyle. Agriculture is an important part of our lives from raising our children and helping out with 4-H. Jessica: I promote ag in my classroom. Scott and Cameron also have a large following on Instagram (@hingtgenfarms, @hinch680). Scott: It’s also great motivation to clean up the farm. What is the process of preparing to host the promotional event? Jessica: A lot of clean up on the farm. Our dairy board (which we are active members, I’m secretary) helps with logistics, and we raise money for the free meal by requesting sponsorships. Scott: We are very fortunate the businesses donate to help us. It’s amazing that the people we do business with help out. We greatly appreciate it. What area or attraction on the farm drew the most interest from attendees? Jessica: The ice cream machine along with the cows and our Lely robots. Our cows are pretty friendly and a lot are past 4-H calves and cows so they love attention from people. Scott: The petting zoo, our horses and the calves. What was your favorite aspect of your promotional event on the farm? Jessica: Seeing all of the people enjoying what we love, our farm. It makes all the hard work and long hours we put in worth it. Scott: Visiting with people about where they are from and how we take care of our animals. There was a gentleman from the Quad Cities who said, “Thank you. I wanted to show my kids where food comes from.” What was the most unique question you had from a visitor and how did you address it? Jessica: We really haven’t had any unique or weird questions. A lot of it is what we feed the cows and how we take care of them from people who have never been on a farm. Scott: We are usually asked if all the cows are trained to go to the robots on their own, so we explain how it works with fresh cows and new heifers.

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Why did you host the event? We wanted to showcase our families and our dairy herd. This includes the families of our 35 employees.

What is the process of preparing to host the promotional event? We coordinated with Ag United for South Dakota to organize our event. Heidi Zwinger, the outreach director for Ag United, worked with Sherry, our secretary. Sherry has helped with our open houses for several years, so she has a wealth of knowledge. Heidi said Ag United received generous donations from a variety of businesses to help fund our open house.

What area or attraction on the farm drew the most interest from attendees? The milking cows and the milking parlor received the most interest. We had trailers for people to sit on as we took them on tours of the dairy barn. The trailers enabled the people to sit up high and see how healthy and happy our cows are.

What was your favorite aspect of your promotional event on the farm? We were pleased to see the large number of kids who attended. We liked to hear all of the questions they had. At the beginning of the tour, we gave each child a card that had questions on it such as how much feed does a cow eat, how much water does a cow drink, and how much milk is in the bulk tank. If the child answered a question correctly, he or she was given a clue for our scavenger hunt.

What was the most unique question you had from a visitor and how did you address it? We were asked, “Why do the cows have to be pregnant all the time?” We related this to humans, that in order to increase milk flow, a mother has to go through the pregnancy cycle again. Many of the kids were fascinated to learn cows and people both have nine-month gestation periods.

What tips would you give someone who will host in the future? Jessica: Make sure you start farm clean up early enough. Scott: Be ready for a lot of questions and just enjoy the day. Tell us about your farm. We farm 1,200 acres and have 125 cows milked with Lely robots. We also raise feeder cattle, crops, horses, chickens, peacocks and two wonderful farm dogs. Our son has started his own cow/ calf herd the last couple of years and has rented his first farm at age 16. We are so proud of how hard our kids work. We have a full-time employee, Brad Till, who farms just down the road and has three great kids. We are so lucky to have him. He has worked for us for 20 years.

Tell us about your farm. This farm has been in our family for five generations and 127 years. This year marks 30 years since Greg and Jim purchased the operation from their parents and formed Modak Dairy. Greg’s son, Jacob, and Jim’s son, Matthew, have joined the operation. The 35 families who work here make the farm run smoothly. We have assembled all of the equipment and the cattle that enables everyone involved with our farm to make a living.

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When did you host your promotional dairy event on the farm? How many people attended? We held an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 12. More than 900 people attended.

What tips would you give to someone who will host in the future? Get everybody in the community and the farm involved. Prior to our open house, we sent postcard invitations to our local community. The postcard also had a coupon on it that was good for one gallon of free milk at Modak Dairy.

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Page 18 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021

Harvesting Quality Forages

Herricks tries to harvest in optimum conditions Jack Herricks Cashton, Wisconsin Monroe County 620 cows Describe your farm and facilities. Our cows are milked through a front-exit double-8 herringbone parlor. The lactating and close-up dry cows are housed at the home farm in freestall barns with sand bedding. The calf barn is at an off-site location on the home farm and the 6- to 22-month-old heifers and far-off dry cows are housed at separate rented facilities. What forages do you harvest? We harvest BMR corn silage, Harvextra alfalfa haylage, oatlage and rye for forage. How many acres of crops do you raise? We raise 1,400 acres of crops. The number of acres of any given crop varies from year to year according to rotations. On average, we raise 500 acres for corn silage, 350 of alfalfa, 450 of grain corn and 100 for oatlage which is also a cover for newly seeded alfalfa. We grow rye for a cover crop on the corn silage acres and harvest 60-70 acres of it for forage. After rye harvest, those acres are planted to corn for silage. Describe the rations for your livestock. Our rations are de-

duction slump. Now we usually feed old crop corn silage into mid- to late-February.

signed to provide for all of the growth, maintenance and production needs of the different groups. Corn silage and haylage are the foundation of all the rations. For the lactating rations, the percentage of corn silage to haylage is about 3.5-to-1 or 79to-23 pounds on an as-fed basis. In the last few years, we have discontinued feeding cottonseed, corn gluten pellets and wet brewers grain. During this time, lactating rations have migrated from 61% to 82% home-grown feed. Oatlage and ryelage are used in heifer and dry cow rations to provide additional fiber and aid in controlling body condition. What quality and quantity do you harvest of each crop? Our goal is to do the best that conditions allow. To achieve high intakes, the forages have to be high quality and low in indigestible fiber. We have also discovered that tweaking the length of cut will increase intakes in high forage rations. We strive to harvest 12,000 to 12,500 tons of corn silage and 3,500 to 4,000 tons of haylage. Describe your harvesting techniques for alfalfa and corn silage. We do all of our own harvesting. Alfalfa is usually a three-day run with the first day and part of the second for cut-

How do quality forages play a part in the production goals for your herd? The No. 1 goal for our dairy is profitability. If we are profitable, we can pay our people well, provide high-level cow care, pay our vendors and create happiness. Purchased feed is our single largest expense. Quality forages play a huge role in managing that aspect.

DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR

Jack Herricks milks 650 cows with his family on their dairy farm in Monroe County near Cashton, Wisconsin. ting and merging and part of the second day and the third day for chopping. Our goal for moisture is 55% to 60%. At this point, we are continuing to cut at 30day intervals. Corn silage is a much longer siege, and we have learned how to pace ourselves. There are many variables, but 1,500-2,000 tons a day is what we try to do. The moisture goal is 67% to 70%. Our nutritionist monitors the processing, length of cut and moisture during harvest. All of our harvesting and planting is done in a joint venture with another dairy that has 700 cows and similar crop acres.

What techniques do you use to store, manage and feed your forages? All of the forages are stored in bunkers. Packing and covering are given very high priority. We face fronts that are going to be open for more than a couple of days and divide the corn silage bunker into segments to keep the fronts smaller. Describe a challenge you overcame in reaching your forage quality goals. The single biggest challenge we had to overcome was having adequate storage capacity. We fed green corn silage and went through a massive pro-

What are management or harvesting techniques you have changed that have made a notable difference in forage quality? We have had to increase our harvesting capacity as it seems that often times the harvest windows are very tight. In harvesting alfalfa in particular, cutting, merging, chopping and hauling have to complement each other. It took a lot of trial and error to evolve to the level that we now do.

Tell us about your farm. We are a multi-generational family farm. Harmony, patience and sustainability are three key words to describe how we interact with each other, our cows and all of the resources we are caretakers for.

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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021 • Page 19

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Page 20 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021

Erickson says goodbye to extension Educator caps oﬀ a career that spans three decades By Jerry Nelson

jerry.n@dairystar.com

WATERTOWN, S.D. – Tracey Erickson, South Dakota State University dairy field specialist, has announced her retirement. Erickson has been an Extension educator for 31 years. Erickson grew up on a diversified livestock and dairy farm located south of Arlington. “My parents milked cows until 1983,” Erickson said. “They sold their dairy herd when the mid-1980s farm crisis hit. I was a junior in high school when the cows left, but I knew that I wanted to stay involved with farming. After high school, I enrolled at South Dakota State University where I double majored in dairy production and dairy manufacturing.” Erickson started her career as an Extension agent at Milbank in 1989. “Computers were just coming onto the scene back then,” she said. “I didn’t even have an email address when I first started working for the Extension Service.” Erickson has had many memorable experiences over the past three decades. “One of the experiences that really stands out for me is the horrific winter of 1996-97,” Erickson said. “We endured blizzard after blizzard that winter. The adverse weather had a huge impact on our farmers and on the lives of everyone throughout the region. But people and agencies banded together, and we got through it. I will never forget going out to tally livestock losses after each successive winter storm.” Erickson has witnessed the impact the internet has had on the dairy industry. “One of the biggest changes I’ve seen is how technology has transformed the way that people in the dairy industry perform their daily jobs and how they do business,” she said. “Technology has made dairy farmers better managers and has made them more Turn to ERICKSON | Page 22

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Tracey Erickson talks to producers about alfalfa quality issues at a recent forage days event. Erickson has re red from the South Dakota State University Extension Service a er a career that spanned more than three decades.

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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021 • Page 21

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COMBINE PLATFORMS

10 9 2 9 3 1 7 3 3 2 3 3 14 15 14 2 15 6 9 17 16 15 16 16 16 8 1 14 14 16 14 15 17

JD 620F 2009, 20 ft., Flexible ..............................................................$14,900 JD+C76 625F 2009, 25 ft., Flexible .....................................................$22,500 JD 625F 2012, 25 ft., Flexible ..............................................................$22,900 JD 630F 2004, 30 ft., Flexible ..............................................................$11,000 JD 630F 2006, 30 ft., Flexible ..............................................................$13,900 JD 630F 2011, 30 ft., Flexible ..............................................................$15,900 JD 630F 2011, 30 ft., Flexible ..............................................................$18,900 JD 635F 2008, 35 ft., Flexible ..............................................................$10,000 JD 635F 2009, 35 ft., Flexible ..............................................................$11,900 JD 635F 2010, 35 ft., Flexible ..............................................................$12,900 JD 635F 2009, 35 ft., Flexible ..............................................................$14,500 JD 635F 2014, 35 ft., Flexible ..............................................................$18,500 JD 635F 2009, 35 ft., Flexible ..............................................................$19,900 JD 635F 2012, 35 ft., Flexible ..............................................................$24,900 JD 635F 2013, 35 ft., Flexible ..............................................................$26,900 JD 635F 2016, 35 ft., Flexible ..............................................................$35,900 JD 635FD 2018, 35 ft., Flex/Draper .....................................................$74,900 JD 640FD 2013, 40 ft., Flex/Draper .....................................................$40,900 JD 640FD 2013, 40 ft., Flex/Draper .....................................................$52,900 JD 640FD 2016, 40 ft. ..........................................................................$62,000 JD 640FD 2018, 40 ft., Flex/Draper .....................................................$79,500 JD 640FD 2018, 40 ft., Flexible............................................................$83,900 JD 645FD 2017, 45 ft., Flex/Draper .....................................................$73,900 JD 645FD 2017, 45 ft., Flex/Draper .....................................................$74,900 JD 740FD 2019, 40 ft., Flex/Draper, Flip Over Reel .............................$85,900 JD 740FD 2019, 40 ft., Flex/Draper, Flip Over Reel .............................$85,900 JD 745FD 2019, 45 ft., Flex/Draper .....................................................$89,900 JD 745FD 2019, 45 ft., Flex/Draper, Flip Over Reel .............................$93,400 JD 745FD 2019, 45 ft., Flex/Draper, Flip Over Reel ............................$94,000 JD 745FD 2019, 45 ft., Flex/Draper, Flip Over Reel .............................$94,500 JD 745FD 2020, 45 ft., Flex/Draper, Flip Over Reel .............................$96,400 JD 745FD 2020, 45 ft., Flex/Draper; Flip Over Reel.............................$97,900 MacDon FD75-35 2013, 35 ft., Flex/Draper, Flip Over Reel .............$46,500

10 2 7 8 10

JD 6620 1987, Corn/Bean, 2WD, Singles, 3903 hrs. ...........................$15,900 JD 9500 1995, Corn/Bean, 2WD, Duals, 5392 hrs., 3503 Sep. hrs. ....$14,900 JD 9500 1997, Corn/Bean, 2WD, Duals, 4534 hrs., 3153 Sep. hrs. ....$20,000 JD 9550 1999, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 4982 hrs., 3450 Sep. hrs. ..$43,900 JD 9600 1996, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Singles, 4718 hrs., 3171 Sep. hrs. $29,000

COMBINES

1 JD 9610 1998, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 6160 hrs., ..........................$29,900 5 JD 9650W 2001, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 4495 hrs., 3314 Sep. hrs. ........................................................................................ $54,000 1 JD 9870 STS 2008, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 3105 hrs., 2500 Sep. hrs. .......................................................................................$109,000 17 NH CR8090 2012, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2405 hrs., 1810 Sep. hrs. .......................................................................................$136,500 11 JD S670 2012, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 3625 hrs., 2557 Sep. hrs. ..$92,900 5 JD S670 2013, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2002 hrs., 1379 Sep. hrs. $165,000 2 JD S670 2016, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2288 hrs., 1453 Sep. hrs. $199,500 15 JD S680 2012, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2930 hrs., 2043 Sep. hrs. $112,900 3 JD S680 2012, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2472 hrs., 1739 Sep. hrs. $124,900 5 JD S680 2013, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2906 hrs., 1904 Sep. hrs. $129,500 7 JD S680 2014, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2959 hrs., 2063 Sep. hrs. $144,900 17 JD S680 2014, Corn/Bean, 2WD, Duals, 2352 hrs., 1703 Sep. hrs....$147,900 3 JD S680 2012, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2365 hrs., 1642 Sep. hrs. $149,500 15 JD S680 2013, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Singles, 2506 hrs., 1900 Sep. hrs. .......................................................................................$153,900 7 JD S680 2014, Corn/Bean, 2WD, Duals, 2060 hrs., 1658 Sep. hrs....$159,500 6 JD S680 2015, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2201 hrs. .........................$169,500 1 JD S680 2013, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2729 hrs., 1800 Sep. hrs. $169,900 14 JD S680 2013, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1992 hrs., 1300 Sep. hrs. $174,900 10 JD S680 2013, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2047 hrs., 1638 Sep. hrs. $185,900 2 JD S680 2015, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1793 hrs., 1233 Sep. hrs. $219,500 15 JD S680 2016, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1608 hrs., 1107 Sep. hrs. $249,900 15 JD S690 2013, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2237 hrs., 1588 Sep. hrs. $159,500 3 JD S690 2012, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2203 hrs., 1400 Sep. hrs. $160,000 1 JD S690 2013, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2101 hrs., 1505 Sep. hrs. $162,900 3 JD S690 2012, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1983 hrs., 1530 Sep. hrs. $179,000 3 JD S690 2013, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1646 hrs., 1161 Sep. hrs. $199,900 3 JD S690 2016, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2112 hrs. .........................$219,500 3 JD S690 2016, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1766 hrs., 1248 Sep. hrs. $250,000 16 JD S770 2018, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 2199 hrs., 1587 Sep. hrs. $245,000 2 JD S770 2018, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 994 hrs., 724 Sep. hrs. . ...$299,500 16 JD S780 2018, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1155 hrs., 800 Sep. hrs. ..$319,500 5 JD S780 2018, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1179 hrs., 850 Sep. hrs. ..$337,500 5 JD S780 2018, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1098 hrs., 755 Sep. hrs. ..$355,000 11 JD S780 2018, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 685 hrs., 475 Sep. hrs. . ...$359,000 17 JD S780 2018, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1009 hrs., 690 Sep. hrs. ..$364,400 14 JD S780 2019, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 893 hrs., 653 Sep. hrs. . ...$385,000 1 JD S780 2019, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 487 hrs., 294 Sep. hrs. . ...$409,500

16 14 14 14 16 3 14 14 14

JD S780 2019, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 361 hrs., 234 Sep. hrs. . ...$419,500 JD S780 2020, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 518 hrs., 397 Sep. hrs. . ...$425,400 JD S780 2020, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 508 hrs., 373 Sep. hrs. ....$429,900 JD S780 2020, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 411 hrs., 315 Sep. hrs. ....$435,900 JD S780 2020, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Tracks, 315 hrs., 240 Sep. hrs. ....$509,900 JD S790 2018, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 1535 hrs., 1058 Sep. hrs. $315,400 JD S790 2019, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Duals, 965 hrs., 683 Sep. hrs. ....$389,500 JD S790 2020, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Tracks, 519 hrs., 392 Sep. hrs. ....$514,900 JD S790 2020, Corn/Bean, PRWD, Tracks, 378 hrs., 285 Sep. hrs. ....$524,900

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

Geringhoff 16R22 2011, 16 Row, 22” Spacing, Stalkmaster ......... $42,900 Geringhoff 16R22 2012, 16 Row, 22” Spacing, Stalkmaster ..........$49,000 Harvestec 5308C 2012, 8 Row, 30” Spacing, Stalkmaster ..............$27,900 JD 608C 2013, 8 Row, 30” Spacing, Stalkmaster ................................$55,900 JD 608C 2017, 8 Row, 30” Spacing, Stalkmaster ................................$69,500 JD 608C StalkMaster 2010, 8 Row, 30” Spacing, Stalkmaster ............$31,000 JD 608C StalkMaster 2011, 8 Row, 30” Spacing, Stalkmaster ............$33,900 JD 608C StalkMaster 2011, 8 Row, 30” Spacing, Stalkmaster ............$37,500 JD 612C 2013, 12 Row, 30” Spacing, Stalkmaster ..............................$52,800 JD 612C 2013, 12 Row, 30” Spacing, Stalkmaster ..............................$57,500 JD 612C 2013, 12 Row, 22” Spacing, Stalkmaster ..............................$58,900 JD 612C 2013, 12 Row, 30” Spacing, Stalkmaster ..............................$61,900 JD 612C 2013, 12 Row, 22” Spacing, Stalkmaster ..............................$64,900 JD 612C 2014, 12 Row, 30” Spacing, Stalkmaster ..............................$69,500 JD 612C 2017, 12 Row, 30” Spacing, Stalkmaster ..............................$76,000 JD 612C StalkMaster 2009, 12 Row, 30” Spacing, Stalkmaster ..........$38,000 JD 612C StalkMaster 2013, 12 Row, 30” Spacing, Stalkmaster ..........$54,500 JD 616C 2012, 16 Row, 30” Spacing, Stalkmaster ..............................$67,400 JD 618C 2012, 18 Row, 22” Spacing, Stalkmaster ..............................$79,500 JD 618C 2013, 18 Row, 22” Spacing, Stalkmaster ..............................$85,900 JD 618C 2013, 18 Row, 22” Spacing, Stalkmaster ..............................$89,500 JD 618C 2012, 18 Row, 22” Spacing, Stalkmaster ..............................$89,900 JD 618C 2014, 18 Row, 22” Spacing, Stalkmaster ..............................$99,500 JD 706C 2018, 6 Row, 30” Spacing, Stalkmaster ................................$65,500 JD 708C 2018, 8 Row, 30” Spacing, Stalkmaster ................................$78,500 JD 716C 2019, 16 Row, 30” Spacing, Stalkmaster ............................$139,500 Geringhoff RD1230F 2013, 12 Row, 30” Spacing, Stalkmaster .....$64,900 Geringhoff RD630 2000, 6 Row, 30” Spacing, Stalkmaster ............$16,900 Geringhoff RD630 2010, 6 Row, 30” Spacing, Stalkmaster ............$22,400 Geringhoff RD820 8 Row, 20” Spacing, Stalkmaster ......................$13,900

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Page 22 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021 Cleaning Drain Tiles, Manure Systems, Sewers and Frozen Lines

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Con nued from ERICKSON | Page 20

efficient. Data management is a big part of precision farming. But in the end, you still have to know your cows.” One of Erickson’s most rewarding experiences was being part of the group who helped create the Central Plains Dairy Expo. “It was exciting to be involved with the expo from the very beginning and seeing it grow into what it has become today,” Erickson said. “It was gratifying to see various parts of the dairy industry come together to support the expo.” Another feather in Erickson’s cap was being involved with the launch of an educational effort that came to be known as I-29 Moo University. “Dairy extension people from the five states that include the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska had been meeting on an annual basis,” Erickson said. “In 2015, we decided to take it to the next level by forming a consortium that would hold educational workshops. We wanted to draw on each other’s skills to meet the needs of our farmers. It began with winter workshops, but we now hold workshops that address various topics throughout the year. As with most things in the Extension Service, it was a team effort.” Technology has played a role in the continuing success of I-29 Moo University. “We now have emails that go out on a regular basis along with webinars and podcasts,” Erickson said. “The podcasts have proven to be extremely popular. I-29 Moo University has been a great way to utilize our resources and call on each other’s strengths. Last year, during the pandemic, we got really good at holding virtual meetings.” While many things about Erickson’s job have changed, there are some things that have remained the same. “We still have to deal with the ups and the downs of the milk and the commodity markets,” Erickson said. “And, my job has always involved writing reports and telling the story regarding how we spent taxpayers’ dollars. There is still a constant fight to get funding for programs.” Being an extension educator means wearing an assortment of hats. There were times when Erickson’s job was to simply listen to producers as they struggled with making tough decisions.

“The most gratifying part of my job has been working with the people.” TRACEY ERICKSON, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY DAIRY FIELD SPECIALIST

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“Over the years, I have often been a shoulder to cry on or someone who would listen with a sympathetic ear,” she said. “Sometimes my job was to hear what people were saying, ask them some questions and help them make their way from point A to point B.” Erickson sees retirement from the Extension Service as a bittersweet point in her life. “The most gratifying part of my job has been working with the people,” Erickson said. “Some of the 4-H kids who I worked with in my early years now have kids of their own in 4-H. It has been a wonderful to know that I helped people grow and flourish. I will never forget all of the folks I have met over the years and all of the friendships I have made. It has been a wonderful two-way street. I am going to miss working with my colleagues, all of whom I consider to be friends.” June 21 was Erickson’s last official day as an extension agent. But, she will continue to stay very much involved with agriculture. “Farming is a wonderful occupation, and farming is what I plan to do in the second leg of my journey,” Erickson said. “My husband, Brian, and his parents run a 2,500-acre cropping operation in the Arlington area. I am going to work with them and remain a part of the industry that I have always loved.”

Independence from scours July 4 is almost here. It’s one of my bacteria loads can double every 20 favorite holidays. I love the celebration minutes when colostrum is left at room of freedom combined with all things temperature (about 70 degrees). red, white and blue. Let’s see if I can Whether heading to the park or tie some of my favorite things about retreating to the backyard, getting Fourth of July celebrations with ways friends and family together is often a to battle scours and improve your calf memorable part of the July 4 holiday. operation. For newborns, this one Just like barbeque is the exact opposite. Calf Chronicles is a requirement at most Social gatherings are July 4 picnics, colostrum frowned upon. Many is the most important scours pathogens are and required meal for transferred through the maximizing calf health consumption of manure and performance. Calves particles. It is important should receive 4 liters to calve newborns in within one hour of birth, a clean maternity pen striving for a total of 50 and then remove them g/L or 200 g/feeding of quickly before the calf immunoglobulins. You can do a nose-dive into can’t see IgG. The color a pile of manure or gain or thickness of colostrum By Bobbi Brockmann exposure to pathogens has nothing to do with lingering in the pen. In Columnist antibody levels. Use a addition, newborn calves Brix refractometer to shouldn’t cross the path verify the quality and secure a reading of older animals, which may be serving of 22% or higher. A colostrometer is as a host and shedding high levels of another practical, reliable instrument pathogens. Don’t use the same trailer or to measure the specific gravity of equipment to move newborns, weaned colostrum. Tested at room temperature, calves, springers and cull cows. This is the green segment indicates high- a solid no-no. quality colostrum. Because a trace of rain can ruin Along with quality, the correct outdoor plans, most people prefer the feeding temperature is crucial. sun for their July 4 festivities. July Colostrum should be fed close to a often means a lot of sun and that can be calf’s body temperature, which is a good thing for calf health. Ultraviolet about 102 degrees. If using frozen rays are a powerful disinfectant, helping colostrum, heat it up quickly but be dry surface areas and kill several careful not to overheat it. Temperatures pathogens. Before switching out calves, above 140 degrees can damage some tip hutches up on end, remove the old of the immunoglobulins and functional bedding and let the sun’s rays go to bioactive ingredients. Also, don’t work on the ground or slab. Leaving a let colostrum sit out too long. After row of hutches empty like this for about collection and when not feeding, two weeks can help disinfectant the quickly refrigerate colostrum because environment.

Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021 • Page 23

It’s also important to sanitize the hutches. Remove visible organic matter and then use a sodium hypochlorite or chlorine dioxide disinfectant to break down the invisible biofilm layer on surfaces. Be diligent and patient as sanitizers need about 15 minutes to work. Calves usually get infected with E. coli due to poor sanitation. Coronavirus and rotavirus infections are a little trickier to pinpoint. Those infections can be caused by a number of factors, including stress, cold or wet weather, a dirty environment or poor sanitation. When in doubt, clean it out. Marching bands, classic cars and roaring firetrucks are just a few things I love about a parade. Let’s compare a parade’s route to a calf’s umbilical cord. Most people prefer a front-row seat to see a parade up close and catch the candy, just like bacteria want a direct path into a calf’s bloodstream. A calf’s navel acts like a parade route between the outside world and the bloodstream. Experts recommend dipping a calf’s navel as soon as possible after birth to disinfect and prevent bacteria from infecting the newborn calf. Iodine is the most common antiseptic; however, tinctures have become difficult to obtain. Iowa State University research concluded that chlorhexidine, chlorine and ZuraLac are also effective. The key is to completely cover the umbilicus with the disinfectant. Fireworks is tougher to tie to freedom from scours. But I’m going to go with immunity, that moment when – boom – your unprotected calf is fully protected. Farmers, for years, have entrusted pre-calving scours vaccines to prevent scours. However, studies show vaccinated cows don’t always generate

an effective immune response. Vaccination is not the same as immunization. Just because a cow has been vaccinated does not mean she is protected, said Dr. Chris Chase, immunology expert and professor at South Dakota State University. “You often hear the two words vaccination and immunization used synonymously, and they’re not the same thing,” Chase said. “If the animal doesn’t respond to the vaccine, she’s not immunized.” To ensure immunization, farmers and veterinarians have begun using preformed antibodies, developed through technology similar to that used in human health. These preformed antibodies mimic naturally occurring antibodies, conveying immediate immunity (the boom) with levels of protection against specific diseases without having to stimulate an immune response. Every year, this holiday reminds me of the many challenges we faced in becoming an independent country. It wasn’t easy. Raising calves is full of ongoing challenges. It can be difficult to win the battles. When you focus on calf care efforts, review your management program and incorporate additional techniques where needed, and work with your veterinarian on maximizing immunity, you can give your calves the ability to fight pathogens and secure independence from scours. Guest columnist Bobbi Brockmann is the First Defense vice president of sales and marketing. She’s passionate about helping producers keep their calves and their bottom lines healthy. Brockmann can be reached at bbrockmann@immucell.com.

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

Page 24 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021

Seniors! CELEBRATING OUR

Honoring the next generation of our dairy industry

Seniors: 1. What is your favorite memory? 2. Describe a great experience you’ve had working on a dairy farm. 3. What are lessons you’ve learned from working or living on a dairy farm?

Megan Meyer

Aly Dieball

Rollingstone, Minnesota Winona County Parents: John and Connie Meyer Quarry Hill Dairy owned by John and Connie Meyer, a 900-cow, third-generation farm. Lewiston-Altura High School 1. When my basketball team won a big game on a buzzer beater in 10th grade. 2. A great experience I got to have was spending time with my dad while treating fresh cows. I learned a lot from him, and he taught me a lot about medicine and treating cows. 3. I have learned that hard work is very important when going after what you want in life. I have also learned it is important to fall in love with your work and have a passion for what you do, like my dad. Work ethic and passion will help me to succeed in the next chapter of my life. 4. I am attending Iowa State University and am undecided about my major. I plan to get at least a four-year degree.

Green Isle, Minnesota Sibley County Parents: Jim and Wendy Dieball My family owns Dieball Dairy. I own some of my own animals as well. We milk 205 cows with three Lely robots. 1. My favorite memory is my school’s FFA program. My advisor, Stephanie Brandt, is amazing. My favorite FFA memory is winning the state dairy production-entrepreneurship proÀciency this year. 2. My favorite experience has been going through the process of building and starting a robotic facility. To me, this has been my favorite memory because seeing all the hard work pay off for the cows is so rewarding. 3. A lesson I learned that will help me through life is to never give up when things get tough. 4. In the fall, I will be attending South Dakota State University to study dairy production and dairy manufacturing with a minor in food safety.

Carter Kruse

Blake Malone Ottertail, Minnesota East Otter Tail County Parents: Justin and Marea Malone Malone Dairy; we milk 320 cows 1. My favorite memory is winning the overall Red and White cow 4-H award at the 2019 Minnesota State Fair. 2. I am thankful to have been able to start my own herd of dairy cattle. 3. Living and working on our family’s dairy farm has taught me to be disciplined and work hard at whatever I am doing. 4. My plan is to continue to farm on our family’s dairy farm while I continue to build my herd of registered dairy cattle and registered Red Angus beef cattle. I will also continue to take classes in the Farm Business Management program through Central Lakes College.

Elizabeth Katzman

Dyersville, Iowa Delaware County Parents: Tom and Sara Kruse KCCK Genetics-Kruse Family, 100 cows; Deutmeyer Farms, 100 cows Maquoketa Valley High School 1. My favorite high school memory is wrestling and FFA Farm Safety Day. 2. I have grown to have an appreciation for the dairy industry, and it has developed my work ethic. I have learned about every aspect of a dairy farm from crops to milking to herd health and animal care. 3. I have learned to keep learning and keep working for my goals, to be smart in dealings and spend money wisely. 4.After graduation, I started working for Dave Schmitt Construction, and I will continue to farm with my family and milk at Deutmeyer Farms on the weekends.

Whitewater, Wisconsin Walworth County Parents: Wes and Katy Katzman Dairy you work for and number of cows they milk: Katzman Farms milks 3,000 cows. 1. Some of my best high school memories were made through my involvement in sports, FFA and 4-H. 2. I spent a lot of time milking cows last spring because all school activities came to a halt. I felt helpless watching other farmers dump their milk due to the shift in demand when schools and restaurants were forced to close. To rally support for Wisconsin’s dairy industry, I launched a “Support Wisconsin Dairy” yard sign campaign. Through the sale of the signs, I hoped to show support for the community’s dairy farmers and create awareness for the vital role Wisconsin’s dairy industry plays in feeding our hungry world. Over the course of a month, I sold and delivered close to 1,000 signs and raised $10,000. Since last July, I have been using the proceeds to purchase dairy products for our two food pantries. It is humbling to know what a difference I was able to make in our community and beyond as a 16-year-old farm girl with a plan that was fueled by passion. 3. I learned about work ethic, responsibility, time management, respect, patience and passion. I learned the importance of being Áexible and how to creatively solve problems. I learned how to be an effective communicator and grow my network. From a young age, I was taught the value of a dollar and how to manage money. Every day I watch my parents adapt to a growing list of challenges. As a result, I have learned to be resilient. 4. I will attend Northeast Technical College in Green Bay to pursue a degree in entrepreneurship. Down the road, I plan to help my family develop and launch a product line that can add value to the dairy and beef we produce on our farm.

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Lexi Klimek Alexandria, Minnesota Douglas County Parents: Alan and Jessica Klimek Jassel Holsteins milks 80 cows 1. My favorite high school memory is going to football and hockey games with my friends. 2. Working on a dairy farm has given me the opportunity to show heifers at our county fair. My favorite experience has been going to the state fair. 3. Working on a dairy farm has taught me life skills like a good work ethic, responsibility and kindness. I will use these in the future as I am going to school to be a nurse. 4. I will be attending North Dakota State University in the fall for my bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Makayla Ramberg Stoughton, Wisconsin Dane County Parents: Aaron Ramberg and Erin Kelly-Ramberg I help out at my grandparents’ farm a few times a week, Le-Ann Farm in Deerfield, Wisconsin. My grandparents, Dan and Jane Kelly, are the owners. Stoughton High School 1. My favorite high school memory was my freshman year of softball when I made the varsity team. One month into the season, I hit my Àrst home run. I was proud and excited. 2. One of the greatest experiences I had on my grandparents’ farm is when one of the cows was struggling to give birth to her heifer calf, so my grandpa and I went into her pen and helped pull the calf out. Heifer calves mean a lot to us because we show them in the summer at the fairs; therefore, helping this cow was important to us. Witnessing a calf being born is amazing, but when you are actually involved in the process, it is such a rewarding experience 3. In the next chapter of my life, I will be successful due to my dairy farm life experience. I have learned what it is like to work long, tiring days with the appreciation that your animals’ needs have been met and they are happy. I am reliable because my cows depend on me to get up early in the morning to be milked and fed. Another big lesson is time management. I have learned when to go work in the Àelds and be able to come back in time for milking as well as getting projects done in time for the unexpected weather Wisconsin brings. 4. After high school, I will be attending the University of Wisconsin-Platteville to double major in agribusiness and dairy science in hopes of becoming a calf and heifer specialist.

Sydney Taylor

Zach Radermacher

Lanesboro, Minnesota Fillmore County Parents: Ben and Darla Taylor Dairy you work for and number of cows they milk: Duschee Hills Dairy milks 240 cows and is owned by my family. 1. My favorite high school memory is our class trip. We went to Florida after our other trip to Washington, D.C. was canceled. The highlight of the trip was spending a day at the beach swimming and playing games. 2. Last summer, I learned how to drive a tractor and merge hay. This was a special experience because my grandma also enjoyed driving tractors and helping on the farm, so I knew she would be proud of me. 3. Living on a dairy farm has taught me how to be dedicated. Sometimes with farming you can’t always go to events you want to because work needs to be done. The same thing can be applied for me as I go off to college. I will have to be dedicated to classes and my volleyball team. 4. I will be attending Riverland Community College in Austin, Minnesota. I will be studying biotechnology and playing volleyball.

Brooten, Minnesota Pope County Parents: Joe and Angie Radermacher I work for Radermacher Dairy, and we milk around 200 cows. 1. My favorite high school memory would be hanging out with friends. 2. I don’t really have just one great experience, but harvest time every fall would be at the top. 3. One lesson I have learned from working on the farm would be that nothing in this world comes easy. I’ve also learned that every day is different, but you have to make the most of each day. 4. My plan after graduation is to go to Ridgewater College in Willmar, Minnesota, and major in dairy management.

Kaelyn Weigel Platteville, Wisconsin Grant County Parents: Ryan and Traci Weigel Dairy you work for and number of cows they milk. I work for Weigland Registered Holsteins owned by my grandparents, Rodney and Chris Weigel of Platteville, Wisconsin. Platteville High School 1. My favorite memory is when my FFA chapter attended World Dairy Expo and watched as my heifer, Alexandra, and I won junior champion of the Junior Holstein Show. The look of excitement on all of their faces and the many hugs and congratulations I received from them afterward is something I will never forget. 2. While most kids may experience the death of a pet, a dairy farm kid gets to experience the complete circle of life, from birth through raising to death. On any given day, I can experience the highs of welcoming a newborn calf, or the lows of a favorite cow getting hurt and having to be culled. 3. My dairy background has taught me to toughen up, that there is no such thing as an excuse, and hard work and discipline are appreciated. I’ve learned to value where I come from and respect the land. I’ve learned the true meaning of family and how important it is to stay true to my roots. 4. I plan to attend the University of Dubuque and major in nursing. I aspire to become a physician assistant and work in either the family medicine or pediatrics department at a health care facility.

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Cuba City, Wisconsin Grant County Parents: Gary and Donna Augustin Cuba City High SchoolDairy you work for and number of cows they milk: Tashner Farms, 130 cows, owned by Marty and Kenzie Tashner; Kunkel Farms, 230 cows, owned by Tom Kunkel and his daughter, Abby Meyer; Pitzen Farms LLC, 130 cows, owned by Gerald Pitzen and his son Timothy Pitzen. 1. My favorite high school memory would be all the events – things like sports, homecoming, FFA and Àeld trips. 2. The best experience is the bonds I made with my coworkers. I have a great bond with my boss, Gerald Pitzen. He treats me like I am one of his grandchildren. Some mornings I am walking to my car to leave and there will be things under my car’s gas cap cover. I never know what I am going to Ànd. It varies every time, but it always brings a smile to my face. I have found all kinds of things including: rocks, grass, used milking gloves, plastic water bottles, packaged food, a dollar bill and bale strings. 3. I have learned that even if chores are done the work never is. I have learned to manage my time better to be able to get my work load done in a timely manner. Also I have learned to be on time because the cows don’t milk themselves and they are on a schedule. 4. My plan after graduation is to continue working where I am employed and attend Southwest Wisconsin Technical College for a degree in agribusiness management.

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Page 26 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021

CRP changes requires resubmission of offers By Steve Frericks

County Executive Director Stearns County FSA Oﬃce

June is National Dairy Month. The Farm Service Agency extends our sincere appreciation to all the hard-working dairy farmers and those in the dairy industry. We are hopeful Mother Nature provides some rain. Be proud of what you have accomplished this spring; we certainly are proud of you. Minnesota producers reminded to file crop acreage reports Agricultural producers who have not yet completed their crop acreage reports after planting should make an appointment with the U.S. Department of Agriculture FSA office before the applicable deadline. “Many USDA programs require producers to

file an accurate crop acreage report by the applicable deadline,” said Michelle Page, acting state executive director in Minnesota. “Our FSA staff can assist producers in completing acreage reports, including providing maps.” An acreage report documents a crop grown on a farm or ranch and its intended uses. 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 benefits. The deadline to certify spring seeded crops, hemp and Conservation Reserve Program acres is July 15. Livestock producers are reminded that with the current dry conditions we are experiencing, it is more important to make sure all your acres are reported and certified to FSA including pasture acres. There are FSA programs that can trigger when the dry conditions persist for a period. To benefit from these potential programs and assistance, all pasture acres should be certified to FSA. By

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CRP updates Recent changes in the expansion and renewal of CRP with higher payment rates, new incentives and a focus on the program’s role in climate change mitigation resulted in the need for producers to resubmit offers they had previously made for continuous CRP sign-up 55 or general CRP sign-up 56. Resubmitting offers ensures a producer’s offer reflects the changes made to the program. Producers are encouraged to contact the FSA office to discuss details related to the recent changes and to schedule an appointment to resubmit or make a new offer. The following CRP options are available:

CRP SHIPP The Soil Health and Income Protection Program provides a short-term option to plant cover on less productive agricultural lands while improving soil health and carbon sequestration. SHIPP pays farmers to take their most unprofitable land out of annual crop production, while at the same time improving soil health, providing wildlife habitat and supporting livestock producers by allowing appropriate haying and grazing. The deadline for SHIPP in South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota and Montana is July 16.

CRP general Through CRP, producers and landowners establish long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees, to control soil erosion, improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitat on cropland. FSA opened the general sign-up in January and extended the original deadline to July 23 to enable producers to consider FSA’s new improvements to the program.

CRP continuous Under continuous CRP sign-up, environmentally sensitive land devoted to certain conservation practices can be enrolled in CRP at any time. Offers are automatically accepted provided the land and producer meet certain eligibility requirements and the enrollment levels do not exceed the statutory cap. The deadline to submit a continuous CRP offer for sign-up 55 offer requesting an Oct. 1 effective date is Aug. 6.

CRP CLEAR30 CLEAR30 was created by the 2018 farm bill to better address water quality concerns. Eligible producers must have certain water quality benefitting practices currently enrolled under continuous CRP or through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, under contracts that are expiring Sept. 30. These long-term contracts will help ensure that conservation impacts and benefits remain in place for 30 years, reducing sediment and nutrient runoff and, ultimately, algal blooms. Conservation in riparian areas also provides important carbon sequestration benefits. Traditional CRP contracts run from 10 to 15 years. Annual rental payments for landowners who enroll in CLEAR30 will be equal to the current continuous CRP annual payment rate plus a 20% water quality incentive and annual rate adjustment of 27.5%. To sign up for CLEAR30, contact a USDA Service Center by Aug. 6.

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CRP grasslands CRP grasslands helps landowners and operators protect grassland, including rangeland, and pastureland and certain other lands, while maintaining the areas as grazing lands. Protecting grasslands contributes positively to the economy of many regions, provides biodiversity of plant and animal populations, and improves environmental quality. FSA has updated the grasslands sign-up to establish a minimum rental rate of $15 per acre, as well as new National Grassland Priority Zones. FSA will accept applications for CRP grasslands from July 12 to Aug. 20. To enroll in CRP, contact a local USDA Service Center. For more information on CRP, visit fsa.usda. gov/crp.

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.

Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021 • Page 27

Young dairy farmers are key to building trust

With younger consumers being a critical audience for the dairy community to reach, National Dairy Month is the perfect time for farmers to share their stories and the sustainable nutrition story of dairy, setting the stage to continue these important conversations throughout the year. Younger generations often don’t realize dairy farmers are a lot like them, but we are. As a millennial, female farmer with two young daughters, it’s crucial to help consumers see themselves in me along with how they can feel good about putting dairy in By Shaina Kirckof their shopping carts. Dairy Producer Although I’m in the earlier part of my career, I’ve been farming full time for more than 10 years. And I’m as dedicated as ever to dairy farming and investing in the future of my farm. Because this is a life-long commitment, I’m passionate about sharing my story – and the story of dairy farming – with everyone I meet. Especially people my age who may have pre-conceived ideas of what it is like to live on a dairy farm or how dairy is produced. My excitement for dairy farming and pride in what I do each day has always been something I’ve enjoyed sharing with others. Whether that’s at my volleyball league games, with my snowmobile racing friends, by inviting friends to visit or by sharing on social media, this is where my advocacy work began. And now, I’ve expanded my outreach to host virtual and in-person farm tours with classrooms and also advocate for dairy on local boards. I plan to continue being involved to help our dairy community. Why do I get excited to connect with others about dairy farming? Because there are so many people who don’t get to experience this lifestyle and connect with where their food comes from. I often find people have questions about what dairy farming is like. This is especially true for millennials (born 1981-1996) and members of Generation Z (born 1997-2012). These consumers are increasingly important for us to connect with since millennials have recently overtaken the Baby Boomer generation as the largest consumer demographic, and Gen Z is not far behind. I like to connect with others over shared values – animal care, our families, our life experiences and passions outside of our careers – to showcase who I am and who the next generation of dairy farmers are. This allows me to share dairy’s story in a way that is authentic and builds trust for the entire industry and ultimately

drives dairy sales today and tomorrow. Knowing that videos are the No. 1 way Gen Z likes to receive their information, another way I’ve been sharing my story this June is through a video developed by national checkoff. Midwest Dairy connected me to this opportunity to highlight my love of farming along with my love of snowmobile racing. The “I Am a Dairy Farmer” video features myself, and many others from across the country, sharing our surprising hobbies. The goal of this high-energy video is to reach millennial and Gen Z consumers and show that dairy farmers are like them in many ways and are people who are working hard to provide for the world and care for their animals and the land. Since this video launched, I’ve shared it on a worldwide snowmobile website and generated a wonderful dialogue about dairy farming with people from all walks

of life. When it comes to connecting with consumers, Midwest Dairy is doing a lot to help too. From creative partnerships – including with retailers, museums and schools – that share dairy’s sustainability story, to providing consumer-facing resources to dairy farmers, they are working on our behalf to build trust and drive sales across our 10-state region. As farmers, starting small can have a big payoff, and using Midwest Dairy tools – such as ENGAGE communications workshops, an activation guide and more – can make it easier to reach consumers. If you’d like to learn more about how you can get involved, visit midwestdairy.com or contact your farmer relations representative. I hope you’ll join me and build a strong connection with consumers to ensure a promising outlook for dairy today and in the future.

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Page 28 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021 Dana Adams, adam1744@umn.edu 320-204-2968 Joe Armstrong armst225@umn.edu 612.624.3610

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

Feed cost options By Nathan J. Hulinsky University of MN Extension

Feed cost is the most important and expensive input cost on a dairy farm. For a combination of reasons, feed costs have risen sharply since the fall of 2020. At Central Grain in Sauk Centre, Minnesota, corn prices in June are around $6.70 with a positive $0.10 basis, with higher positive basis for late summer. Soybeans are around $15 with a negative $0.40 basis. These are very competitive bids. Futures prices this fall are several dollars per bushel lower than nearby contracts. If you have any excess grain, consider contracting it for sale this summer. However, if you own livestock and are buying crops for feed at these prices, things do not look as rosy. For a historical reference, Table 1 shows the feed cost per hundredweight according to FINBIN data from the Minnesota dairy farms over the past 12 years. This is the yearlong average, so the monthly highs and lows are not captured, but we can see the increase from 2009 and 2010 into the high commodity prices of 2011-14, and the decrease after that. The Dairy Margin Coverage program with the United States Department of Agriculture is designed to cover the margin between milk prices and feed costs. This program has paid out in 2021 due to the higher feed costs. Table 2 shows the final feed costs significantly higher than the past few years in Table 1. At the highest coverage level of $9.50 for DMC, January paid out $9.50 - $7.14 = $2.36 per cwt. covered. The payments were $3.28, $3.04 and $2.56 for February, March and April, respectively. Not all dairy farmers can cover all their milk production, and DMC is not a cure-all but a safety net program. However, in times of quickly rising feed costs, the benefits of participating in DMC can become more evident. Some dairy farmers must buy additional feed before the new crop of hay and silage becomes available. Historical trends have corn and soybean prices declining after July 1 and hay prices peeking in November and December which should help farmers who need to purchase additional feed. Will this happen in 2021? The answer depends on what happens with the weather. If by July the crops look good and good fall yields are likely, grain prices will likely decline. If a drought ap-

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pears, grain and hay prices will rise. If you are buying feed now, what can you do to help relieve the extra expense? Ed Usset, grain marketing specialist with the University of Minnesota, said, “If you expect me to pull a rabbit out of the hat, I am not a magician. When markets are inverted (nearby prices higher than deferred) and at eight-year highs, I would tell people to go ‘hand-to-mouth.’ Buy what you need to get through the next week and no more. This is not the right time to swing for the fences with an aggressive long position. It does not sound like a very active strategy. It is more of a ‘grit your teeth and hope for a break’ with good weather and crops in the weeks ahead.” This may not be the reassuring thing to do here but locking in some future prices to purchase may not be beneficial. An alternative for dairy farmers who need to purchase corn or corn silage in fall would be to buy call options. Often the corn silage price per ton is based on 10 multiplied by the corn price. On June 4, December corn futures were trading at $5.81 and a $5.80 call option cost 63 cents. If a farmer were concerned about higher fall feed costs, they could purchase a call to have a price insurance at today’s lower fall prices. But unlike futures positions which face margin calls and more unpredictable loss potential, a call option acts more like an insurance policy with known costs: the premium. If the corn market declines, the loss would simply be the costs to buy the call (in the example above 63 cents premium). If corn prices continue to increase, the premium cost of the call is still incurred, and the call can be exercised at the strike price (in the example above, $5.80 per bushel). Planting season is mostly wrapped-up. Do you have enough acreage to harvest adequate tonnage of hay and corn silage for your herd, so you do not have to buy as much? Most farmers do buy minerals, supplements and other feed inputs. Thus, reducing all feed inputs to grown crops is difficult. Managing feed costs is an important aspect to your farm. Growing enough of your own crops is one way to help control feed costs. Looking at other options to buy feed such as neighboring farmers, buying one cutting of hay or part of a corn crop, or watching the markets closely is another way to help control costs.

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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021 • Page 29

Four-State Dairy Nutrition and Management learnings

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Our Four-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference, organized by Extension specialists from Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin, was held virtually again this year. All speakers pre-recorded their presentation, and the live portion was an hour of discussion between participants and session speakers. This conference is geared toward nutritionists’ interests, but some veterinarians and farmers also attend. One session focused on guidelines for feeding cows in the future. Later this year, a new Nutrient Requirements for Dairy Cattle will be released. The last update was in 2001. A national committee of experts reviews the most recent research and updates the NRC recommendations which will provide guidelines for feeding cows for the next several years. Three of the NRC committee members and a panel of nutritionists shared their thoughts and insights about how we might be feeding cows in the upcoming years. We also had sesBy Jim Salfer University of MN sions focusing on hypocalcemia and highly digestible forages. There were also 12 pre-recorded breakout sessions on topics related to nutrition, management and housing. For program details, visit www.fourstatedairy.org. Here are some highlights from a few of the conference presentations.

Nutrient requirement of dairy cattle Bill Weiss, Ohio State University, and Mark Hanigan, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, discussed energy and amino acid supply for lactating cows while Jim Drackley, University of Illinois, talked about the nutrient requirements for young calves. Research over the past 20 years has discovered flaws to the current NRC recommendations, and these will be updated to better reflect today’s higher producing cows. Key findings and take-home messages are: – Milk production has increased dramatically over the past 20 years. There was a lack of data on modern high-producing cows 20 years ago; therefore, the current NRC overestimates how much digestibility decreases as intake increases. This will be adjusted. – Currently, the maintenance requirement of cows is likely underestimated by about 25%. Modern cows are leaner and internal organs are larger because of the increased energy required to make more milk. Some adjustments will be made in this area improving the accuracy of energy requirements. – Currently, labs routinely measure starch in feeds. The new feed energy equations will include starch level and starch digestibility. This will increase the accuracy of energy predictions. – Amino acid requirements are complicated with some amino acids able to substitute for other amino acids that are in short supply. There is no single limiting amino acid. Because of this, the new NRC will have a new net protein requirement comparable to the metabolizable protein requirement. This will allow nutritionists to better balance for amino acids to optimize milk and component production without overfeeding protein. – The current calf model overestimates the growth rates of young calves on a milk and starter diet. This will be adjusted to improve the accuracy of predicting calf growth. Nutritionist panel key findings and take-home messages – There has been a tremendous improvement in the ability to accurately balance rations and predict performance. Ration balancing has progressed from simple least cost ration balancing to modeling software and improved analysis of feeds, allowing nutritionists to balance diets more accurately. – There is an increased emphasis on high-quality forages and rumen function. The nutritionists indicated that high-producing herds consistently produce high-quality highly digestibility forages allowing them to feed higher forage diets. – There are more measures of fiber used to fine tune diets. In addition to just testing for neutral detergent fiber, nutritionists are now testing for NDF digestibility, uNDF240 (undigestible NDF) and physically effective NDF. As more research becomes available, these measures will be used to better characterize fiber digestion, predict rumen function and the effect on milk and components. – There is an increased feeding of specific amino acids to increase production and components. – Nutritionists are using more tools to evaluate herd performance including rumination, manure evaluation, feed management software, activity, shaker box and fermentation tests. – There is a belief that processors from time to time will have restrictions on production and components. This will result in nutritionists increasingly balancing diets specifically to manipulate milk production and components independently of each other. This will mean a greater emphasis on increasing the fat and protein percentage in the milk. – There will be an increased concern about how feeding affects nutrients in manure.

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Managing hypocalcemia to improve cow performance Jesse Goff, Iowa State University, and Laura Hernandez, University of Wisconsin, discussed calcium metabolism of transition cows. There is a tremendous increase in the demand for calcium as cows move from the dry to the lactating state. Providing this calcium requires a rapid coordinated metabolic adaption that results in low blood calcium if not successful. Some key findings and take-home messages from their research: – Laura’s research seeks to determine how much of a blood calcium drop at calving is normal and required to activate the cow’s metabolic system in order to increase blood calcium without causing disease. – It has been proven that lowering the blood pH affects the tissue responsiveness which will activate the metabolic system to improve calcium status. – It is important to manage close-up cows to ensure their metabolic system can respond to the normal drop in blood calcium. Farmers should select and implement one of several proven strategies. Improving lactation performance using highly digestible forage Ken Kalscheur, USDA Forage Research Center, and Luiz Ferraretto, University of Wisconsin, presented about how feeding highly digestible forages affects milk production. Some key take-home messages: – A one percentage unit increase in NDF digestibility resulted in 0.55 pound per cow per day increase in milk production. – USDA Forage Center research showed that high milk production can be achieved (94-96 pounds per cow per day) and was similar for diets from 50% to 68% forage with high-quality forage. Feed efficiency and fat test was higher for the high forage diets.

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Five kinds As any sodbuster worth his moldboard will tell act of faith that is somewhat akin to a skydiver leapyou, there are only five kinds of weather: it is either ing out of an airplane. Enduring a spate of unfavortoo cold or too hot, too wet or too dry, or too good to able weather is similar to discovering you forgot to pack your parachute. As you plummet toward an unlast. I’ll admit that we farmers tend to gripe a bit about certain fate, you go for your reserve parachute only to realize you forgot to pack the weather. But before you that stupid thing too. write us off as a bunch of For a ffarmer, putting i iin a crop Long before modern whiners, bear in mind we F science came along with its are not talking about some each spring is an act of faith computer-generated, algominor inconveniences here. rithmic weather forecasts It’s not like we say such that is somewhat akin to a skythings as: “Stupid rain. Now diver leaping out of an airplaine. – forecasts that enable meteorologists to be wrong at my wife will never believe ever-increasing speeds – and my story about the country before anyone had heard of club forcing me to play golf all weekend.” “This dry weather is such a bother. If it El Niño or La Ninny, we farmers had to figure out the doesn’t rain soon, I might have to use my smartphone weather for ourselves. We often sought insight from to adjust the timing of our automatic lawn sprinklers.” certain wizened old farmers who lived in our vicinity, For a farmer, putting in a crop each spring is an guys whom I guess you could say were the contempo-

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rary equivalent of soothsayers. Martin, a bachelor farmer who lived east of us, was our neighborhood’s self-proclaimed soothsayer. His long-range forecasts were always the same. “Gonna be a dry one this year,” he would invariably declare each spring Dear County Agent Guy as he and I scooped seed oats into his fanning mill amidst the choking clouds of grain dust. The trouble is, Martin was right often enough to maintain his reputation as an astute soothsayer. When the dry years came (as they inevitably will), Martin reveled in By Jerry Nelson his oracular success. He claimed we would soon Columnist be afflicted by a series of plagues, including swarms of grasshoppers the size of horses. It’s all there in the Bible, he said. I never told anyone, but I often thought Martin was full of sooth. As a lad, I saw how an extended dry spell could weigh upon farmers’ spirits. I remember the contempt as the word drought was spat out like so much dustriddled phlegm. I did what I could, watching the sky for the tiniest sign of showers, using my mind waves to steer budding rain clouds toward our farm. Martin, who had a knack for showing up at our dairy farm every morning right at coffee time, would see me staring at the ether, shake his head and mutter that we needed an east wind to blow up a rain. Often on a warm summer’s evening, I would ride my bicycle on the gravel road that runs past our farm. Upon reaching the top of the hill to the south, I would perch on the bike’s seat and study the sky. Sometimes, off in the distant haze, I would see a fleet of towering thunderheads drifting silently eastward. It was easy to imagine that the clouds were gigantic ships. Their billowy popcorn tops were sails pregnant with a fresh breeze; their dark underbellies were mighty prows slicing effortlessly through the roiling waves of a translucent sea. Some lucky ducks somewhere would be getting their crops watered tonight. Our turn would eventually come, and I would be awakened by the booms of a midnight thunderstorm. Hearing voices downstairs, I would quietly sneak down the steps and watch from the doorway as my parents sat at the kitchen table in the dark, sharing a cigarette, watching and listening as the storm vented its sodden fury. To this day, I feel a sense of comfort whenever I hear the sound of rolling thunder. And there’s something ineffably wondrous about the way the world looks and smells and feels after a good soaker. For a farmer whose crops have been thirsty, it’s as if the gods have smiled down and have seen fit to mete out a tiny portion of a cosmic jackpot. All of this was running through my mind the other night as an evening thundershower rumbled over our farm. I was standing in the open doorway, watching nature’s fireworks display and enjoying the refreshing aroma of the rain when my wife came up behind me. “How’s the weather?” she asked. “Right now,” I replied, “it’s too good to last.” Jerry is a recovering dairy farmer from Volga, South Dakota. He and his wife, Julie, have two grown sons and live on the farm where Jerry’s great-grandfather homesteaded over 110 years ago. Jerry currently works full time for the Dairy Star as a staff writer/ad salesman. Feel free to E-mail him at: jerry.n@dairystar.com.

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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021 • Page 31

Strategies to help calves beat the heat

The first half of June was a scorcher. Minnesota statistics put it as the hottest first half of June on record. In comparison to adult animals, calves may be better able to cope with warmer temSomething to Ruminate On peratures because they have a large surface area relative to bodyweight. Cows also generate much more heat due to the digestion of fibrous feedstuffs and the metabolic activity required to support high levels of milk production. Although it may not be to the same degree as adult cattle, youngBy Barry Visser stock do experience heat stress, potentially imNutritionist pacting their health and growth. It is critical to keep a good eye on calves in times of high temperatures and humidity. Calves attempt to maintain a constant body temperature regardless of the outside temperature. They can accomplish this without expending extra energy when the ambient temperature falls within their thermoneutral zone. University of Minnesota experts suggest a calf’s optimal thermal environment is between 55 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. The boundaries of the thermoneutral zone are not constant or determined by the outside temperature alone. They are influenced greatly by the effective ambient temperature experienced by the calf, which depends on air movement, moisture, hair coat, sunlight, bedding and rumination. Many of these factors can be influenced by the housing and environment in which the calf is placed. When we think of effects of the environment on calves, cold stress is often the more common concern, especially in our Midwest climate. But, similar to the milking herd, soaring summer temperatures, sunlight and high humidity can cause heat stress in calves. Signs of heat stress include reduced movement, increased respiration rate, open-mouth panting, decreased milk and starter intake, and increased water consumption. Studies have shown providing shade reduces the temperature inside hutches and lowers calf body temperature and respiration rate. Calves confined to hutches may be at greater risk of heat stress than calves that are able to choose where they lie. Hutches may be turned to face east in the summer to maximize air movement and minimize solar heating. Placing hutches 4 feet apart with 10 feet between rows allows air to circulate freely, eliminates calf-to-calf contact and provides easy access for feeding and cleaning. Air movement can be enhanced by opening vents on hutches and/or placing a block under the back wall (be sure to maintain this opening as bedding builds up inside the hutch). Washington State University researchers demonstrated that placing 7.9inch concrete blocks under the back wall of hutches significantly reduced the temperature and carbon dioxide levels inside the hutch as well as calf respiratory rates. Calf housing should be positioned to use prevailing winds and incorporate as many openings as possible to take advantage of natural air movement. Typically, open-faced buildings should face southeast. Mechanical ventilation can effectively cool calves in closed barns. Focus on achieving 40 to 60 air exchanges per hour in the summertime. Calves housed in barns with solid roofs have builtin shade, but depending on the layout, some pens may experience more direct sunlight than others. If calves cannot move out of direct sunlight, shade curtains may provide some relief. Research has shown, in greenhouse-style barns, clear plastic covered with shade cloth or white plastic have been found to be equally effective in blocking solar radiation. Supplying calves with shade that doesn’t restrict airflow will be greatly beneficial in keeping calves cool. “Water, always an essential nutrient, is most important for calves living outside their critical temperature range,” said Dr. Sheila McGuirk with the University

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of Wisconsin. As calves attempt to maintain body temperature, water is lost through increased respiration and evaporative cooling (sweating). Calves must increase their water consumption to replenish the water lost to cooling functions. Water should be presented to calves at warm temperatures (60 to 65 degrees) for maximum consumption during the pre-weaned period. Buckets should be kept clean and rinsed daily. Calves will eat less grain during heat stress, so efforts to encourage starter intake take on added importance. Offer only small handfuls at each feeding until calves begin to eat starter. Remove uneaten, wet and moldy feed daily to maintain freshness. A divider between the grain and water buckets can help keep starter fresh longer by limiting the amount of transfer between the two. When starter intake stalls, calves have less energy to support their increased maintenance requirements. However, healthy calves are unlikely to refuse milk, so you may increase the energy provided to calves by in-

creasing the amount of liquid feed offered. Inorganic bedding is preferred by some calf raisers as it helps keep calves cooler by absorbing and dissipating body heat rather than retaining it. Sand is cooler and can be an effective bedding source in calf hutches. As with all cattle, handle calves in the morning so that stressful activities, such as dehorning, vaccinations, pen moves or transportation, can be completed when both calf body temperatures and environmental temperatures are at their lowest point for the day. Minimizing heat stress in calves is important to the future performance and production of these animals. Reduced feed intake and increased maintenance energy needs in addition to lowered immunity can lead to poor growth, higher susceptibility to disease and, in extreme cases, death. Work with your nutritionist and calf advisors to determine what management and nutritional practices are right for your calves. Barry Visser is a nutritionist for Vita Plus.

Page 32 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021

A farmer’s hands

They say the eyes are the windows to a person’s soul. If that is the case, then the hands are the doorway to a person’s character. Hands are like an extension of our inner personality. Who we are comes through with how we use our hands. Have you ever looked closely at a farmer’s hands? A fortune teller would get lost trying to follow the signs with detours around all the calluses. The deep cracks and rough edges create a feel of sandpaper. The colorful fingernails remind of battles lost with a hammer. Knuckles swollen with arthritis. Despite all the wear and tear, there is a tenderness to a farmer’s hand as he wipes away the tears of a broken heart. He gently holds the hand of an elderly parent, connecting their souls for a final goodbye. Holly Dunn sang a great song called “Daddy’s Hands.” “I remember Daddy’s hands folded in prayer and reaching out to hold me when I had a nightmare. You could read quite a story in the calluses and lines; years of work and worry had left their mark behind. I remem-

ber Daddy’s hands working till they bled. Sacrificed unselfishly just to keep us fed. If I could do things over, I’d live my life again and never take for granted the love in Daddy’s hands.” At a hospice facility in our area, they capture a glimpse of their clients’ lives by photographing their hands. It is a black and white photo but tells a colorful story of love and family. The hands of a loving couple in a wedding pose but after all the struggles. A father’s hand surrounded by the hands of his children. A picture of frail hands that can no longer lift heavy loads but now lift heavy loads of concerns in folded hands of prayer. Every hand has a story to tell. A young man was interviewing for his first job out of college. All was going well until the director of hiring asked him a strange question. He asked to see his hands. The young man’s hands were soft and perfect. The interviewer asked if the young man had ever helped with his parents at their jobs. The young man said he had not.

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“My parents always wanted me to study and read more books. Besides, my dad can do the job better than me.” The director said, “I have a request. When you go home, go and wash your father’s hands. Then Just Thinking Out Loud come back and see me tomorrow.” The young man felt his chances of getting the job were high. When he got home, he asked to wash his father’s hands. Now the father was puzzled, yet he held out his hands to his son. The young man washed his father’s hands little By Natalie Schmitt by little. It was the first Columnist time he really noticed the wrinkles and scars. There were bruises so painful that his skin shuddered under his touch. The work his father’s hands had done over the years dawned on him. He recognized what it meant for this pair of hands to work every day to be able to pay for his studies. The bruises were the price he was willing to pay for his son’s future. After he had washed his father’s hands, the young man silently started to clean up the workshop. That night the father and son talked and listened to one another. The next morning, the young man returned to office to finish his interview. The interviewer noticed the eyes of the young man were moist and filled with compassion. “Can you tell me what you did when you got home and what you learned?” he asked. “I washed my father’s hands, and when I finished, I stuck around and cleaned his workshop. It dawned on me that I wouldn’t be who I am today without my parents. By helping my father, I now realize how difficult and hard it is to do something on my own. I have come to appreciate the importance and the value of helping my family.” The director smiled. “That is what I’m looking for in my people. I want to hire someone who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the hardship others go through to accomplish things, and a person who realizes that money is not his only goal in life. You’re hired.” I have struggled looking back on our children’s younger years. We gave them everything they needed but not always everything they wanted. We expected them to work with us as a family to provide for one another. Sometimes their hands showed signs of hard work and sacrifice. Did we cheat them out of a special childhood filled with sunshine and no worries? As I watch them live their lives today, I can breathe and know we did right by them. They know what it takes to get a job done. They also appreciate the special times away from work where they can celebrate the joy of being with family and friends. Children need to learn to appreciate the amount of effort it takes to do a job right. They need to experience difficulties in life that people must overcome to be successful. Most importantly, they need to learn about failure to be able to succeed. We can’t always coddle them and protect them from the harder side of life. Life is about giving and serving, qualities which are taught at home on our farms. Don’t be afraid to share the stories your hands can tell with your children. Let them read your story as they wash your hands and discover the priceless gifts you have given them. 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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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021 • Page 33

Summer TMR

When explaining TMR to people who don’t farm, dairy farmers often compare it to a great big salad. This summer, I turned the analogy around to describe my summer lunches. Instead of making salads, I’ve been making TMR. But unlike the cows, who usually eat the same TMR every day, with minor adjustments each week to accommodate changes in pasture quality, my TMR changes every day depending upon what leftovers need to be used up, how hungry I am, and what I’m in the mood for. We’ve been grilling a lot this summer, since it’s Dairy Good Life been too hot to start the oven or – even some days – use the stove. So, for my salad, I usually chop up leftover grilled steak or chicken, add diced veggies or fruit, mix everything into dressing and call it TMR. About that dressing. Here’s the thing: I don’t like regular salad dressing – the kind that comes in a bottle or jar from the store. It’s usually too thick, too slimy or has too many crazy ingredients. Plus, it’s most often made with vegetable oils I try to avoid. But you can’t have salad with dressing, because that really would be like eating bovine TMR. So I By Sadie Frericks make my own dressings using either yogurt or cotColumnist tage cheese for a base. There are two big benefits of making salad dressing from cultured dairy. One, the dressings are fresh and delicious. Two, you get extra protein, healthy fat, probiotics, and all of the other nutrients dairy provides. Those extra nutrients are extra important for me. Many folks might think of a salad as a light lunch, but I’m not looking for a small meal. I want a fresh, cool, delicious, satisfying lunch that will keep me full until supper. In addition to chores, I also swim, bike, or run most days, so fueling up with high-quality nutrients is essential. The other reason I like making my own salad dressing is that it’s easy to adjust ingredients and play around with flavors. If I need a little more protein, I’ll add more cottage cheese or yogurt. If I need a little more fat, I’ll add extra cream or oil. We had leftover chicken breasts from a spatchcocked chicken that ended up being a little bland, so I added smoked paprika and chipotle chili powder to my salad dressing to bump up the flavor. The resulting TMR was amazing. Here are a few examples of my summer TMR combinations: Summer TMR No. 1 – yogurt salad dressing, leftover grilled chicken or pork chops, chopped up and reheated, diced celery, diced apples, roasted peanuts or almonds Summer TMR No. 2 – cottage cheese salad dressing, leftover grilled steak or hamburger, chopped up and reheated, shredded baby spinach, diced red pepper, leftover grilled onions, heated up I start by mixing all of the dressing ingredients together in a large salad bowl. Then, I throw in the meat, veggies, and other salad fixings. Mix everything together, just like TMR, and enjoy! Last, here are the ingredients I use for the dressings. I included quantities, so you have an idea of how much to use, but the amounts are completely adjustable. I don’t like dry TMR, so these both make enough dressing for one large batch of well-dressed TMR. Yogurt salad dressing 1/2 cup whole milk yogurt 1 Tablespoon liquid coconut or avocado oil 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar Dash salt Dash black pepper Optional: other herbs, as desired Cottage cheese salad dressing 1/2 cup whole milk cottage cheese 2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese 2 Tablespoons heavy cream 1 Tablespoon rice vinegar 1-2 Tablespoons water, if needed to thin dressing 1 teaspoon dried chives Couple dashes black pepper Optional: other herbs or spices, as desired I hope you give these a try and enjoy them as much as I do. Happy summer! Sadie and her husband, Glen, milk 100 cows near Melrose, Minnesota. They have three children – Dan, 14, Monika, 12, and Daphne, 8. Sadie also writes a blog at www.dairygoodlife.com. She can be reached at sadiefrericks@gmail.com.

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Page 34 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021

PRINCESS KAY FINALIST

An industry of giving Ohmann touts opportunities as finalist By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com

ALBANY, Minn. – Jessica Ohmann would not be a Princess Kay of the Milky Way finalist if it were not for the generosity of the dairy industry. “We moved out this way when I was younger and my mom encouraged us to join 4-H, and I’ve fallen in love with dairy since then,” Ohmann said. “This is my chance to share my dairy story and represent the industry beyond my community.” Ohmann, the daughter of Ron and Ami, is representing Stearns County as a finalist for the title of the 68th Princess Kay of the Milky Way. The 20-year-old leases dairy cattle and raises heifers on her family’s hobby farm near Albany. Throughout the summer, Ohmann has many events scheduled to connect with consumers and promote the dairy industry. To date, her favorite event has been the county’s breakfast on the farm which took place the first weekend in June. Although the event was a drivethru, it still gave people the opportunity to visit a working dairy farm. “I got to talk with people about how calves are cared for, how the feed is mixed and what it takes to milk cows,” Ohmann said. “That morning gave people really great insight into the industry.” From parades to breakfast on the farm, Ohmann is most looking forward to the county fair; an event that was canceled last year because of the coronavirus pandemic. At the end of July, Ohmann will exhibit her dairy cattle and represent the industry to a community less familiar with agriculture. “I’m really excited to be at the fair again,” Ohmann said. “Kids will walk through the barn, and I like talking to those younger ones.”

JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR

Jessica Ohmann represents Stearns County as a finalist for the 68th Princess Kay of the Milky Way. Ohmann is the daughter of Ron and Ami of Albany, Minnesota. She will also interact with consumers while serving at the county’s American Dairy Association ice cream stand during the fair. “Both the county fair and the state fair will allow me to reach out to community members about what we do as dairy farmers and the nutritious products we make,” Ohmann said. The young enthusiast wants to share a simple message with the consumers she meets. “We all need three servings of dairy every day,” Ohmann said. “I want to encourage that, whether that’s having a glass of milk or yogurt, or even going beyond that to add cheese to a meal. My family loves lasagna.” While Ohmann has grand plans to share dairy’s story with consumers, she is humbled in knowing her summer would not look like it does if it were not for the opportunities she was given in the industry. She began showing cattle at the age of 12. Now, Ohmann and her younger sisters, Alissa and Isabella, lease from Ma-

ple Lake farmer Elinor Opitz, owner of New-Vue Ayrshires. “(Opitz) didn’t grow up on a farm but she wanted to be a farmer, so she built it,” Ohmann said. “It’s such an honor to represent people like her and all dairy farmers across the state.” During high school, Ohmann also worked on a nearby robotic dairy. The Stearns County royal-

ty is familiar with the Princess Kay of the Milky Way program. Her mother was named a region princess in 1991. Two of Ohmann’s aunts and her first cousin are also past butterheads. “It’s really fun to hear my mom’s memories and the traditions of the community back then,” Ohmann said. “Now, there will be four butterheads in the family.”

JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR

Jessica Ohmann helps her younger sister, Isabella, feed a show heifer June 16 at their hobby farm near Albany, Minnesota.

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Ohmann was surrounded by her parents and sisters when she was named a finalist May 16. The contest took place in the Twin Cities, but the announcement of the 10 finalists was made on Facebook. As the description of the finalist was read, Ohmann listened carefully for clues to know if the woman being named was her. “They said this next person was a sophomore, and I thought, ‘OK, that could be me,’” Ohmann said. “Then, they read that this person enjoyed showing Ayrshires with her sisters. We all started hugging and crying.” This was Ohmann’s third year competing for a finalist position. “I was really excited,” Ohmann said. “I’ve worked really hard to show how I can best represent the dairy community. This is something I’ve wanted for a long time.” Ohmann’s dad attested to his daughter’s commitment to the industry. “She’s aware of her upbringing and how dairy farmers built this community, and she’s aware of what they’re doing now,” he said. “They’re a part of the future of our rural communities.” Ohmann will compete for the Princess Kay of the Milky Way title in August and then have her likeness carved in 90 pounds of butter at the Minnesota State Fair. She hopes to have a corn roast or pancake feed using the butter as a way to say thank you to the Stearns County dairy community. No matter what the end of summer brings, Ohmann is taking this time to be grateful for the opportunities the dairy industry has provided her. And in time, she hopes to give back. The college junior is attending the University of St. Thomas studying accounting and finance. Upon graduation, she plans to further her involvement in agriculture. “Dairy farmers work so hard to care for their animals and produce a healthy product,” Ohmann said. “I’m proud to represent that community of farmers.”

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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021 • Page 35

PRINCESS KAY FINALIST

A platform to share dairy’s story Euerle looks forward to opportunities as finalist By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com

LITCHFIELD, Minn. – The Euerle family living room has been the center point of major milestones since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, and the announcement of the 10 Princess Kay of the Milky Way finalists was no exception. “We had a watch party in the room, and I was sitting in the rocking chair; the same chair I sat in when I was named a state officer for Minnesota FFA a year ago,” Anna Euerle said. “That chair has seen some pretty big accomplishments.” Euerle, the daughter of Vaughn and Joan, was named a finalist for 68th Princess Kay of the Milky Way during a virtual announcement May 16. The 19-year-old is taking this opportunity of representing the state’s industry to share the goodness of dairy with a plethora of audiences. “I’ve come a long way from being a dairy ambassador

JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR

Anna Euerle and her family milk 80 cows on their dairy farm near Litchfield, Minnesota. Euerle is one of 10 finalists for this year’s Princess Kay of the Milky Way. in sixth grade,” Euerle said. “As a finalist, this gives me another platform to share our dairy story.” Euerle grew up on her family’s 80-cow Holstein and Jersey dairy in Meeker County near Litchfield. She is spend-

ing the summer interning at Ru-Be Dairy near Grove City, and leases and owns Milking Shorthorns for the showring with Corstar Farm near Litchfield. The Ridgewater College student has taken these farm

experiences to expand her knowledge of the dairy industry. At her internship, Euerle is taking care of calves, sorting cows and learning more about dry cow protocols, among other responsibilities. “I’m learning a lot about

how other people farm, especially those who operate bigger farms than my family’s,” Euerle said. “And too, showing has allowed me to diversify the breeds of cattle I work with.” When Euerle is at home, she helps with milking and caring for the calves. This year, she helped with spring tillage, taking the knowledge she gained at school and applying it to her family’s farm. It was the mention of that fieldwork when Euerle knew she had been named a Princess Kay finalist. “We were all listening to who they were describing and it was all pretty general information,” Euerle said. “Then, they said, ‘This woman more recently started doing fieldwork,’ and I knew.” While Euerle realized the script was about her, it was not until her career goals of being a milk inspector or agriculture lender were mentioned that Euerle’s family caught on to the announcement. “We were all really excited and shocked. My dad cried,” Euerle said. “My sister, Melissa, was a butterhead and runner up for Princess Kay. I’m excited, but I have some big shoes to fill.”

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Anna Euerle feeds a calf during morning chores June 17 at her family’s dairy in Meeker County near Litchfield, Minnesota. Euerle also has a summer internship at a nearby dairy farm. Throughout the summer, Euerle has many events to participate in as part of her county dairy princess program. With each one, she is focused on sharing two messages: the nutritional value of dairy foods and the commitment dairy farmers have in producing a safe, healthy product. “Dairy farmers are a really special group of people,” Euerle said. “I’m humbled to represent such a hard-working group that puts their heart into everything for their cows.” One of the events Euerle is looking forward to most is the county fair later this summer.

“There’s so much joy in seeing other people excited about dairy advocacy. I have a lot of support to share dairy’s story.” ANNE EUERLE, PRINCESS KAY FINALIST

“There will be the two of us princesses, and we’ll spend hours in the malt booth,” Euerle said. As part of a Meeker County tradition, the princesses choose a malt flavor to feature at the fair. Euerle will encourage fair-goers to try her frosted lemonade malt. “It sounds different, but it’s really good,” she said. “It’s like lemonade with ice cream.”

The interaction with consumers is invaluable as a dairy princess, Euerle said. In her role as a Princess Kay finalist, she wants to have more conversations with people unfamiliar with dairy farming and share the positive story of the industry. “I’m doing this for them, this community,” said Euerle of dairy farmers. “Dairy is such a nutritious option, and I really want to get that point across to everyone I talk to. It’s healthy and easy to enjoy.” While the summer is at the forefront of Euerle’s mind, she has also thought about how being a finalist will facilitate growth in a career with the industry. “I’d like to be a state milk inspector and foster those positive relationships with farmers,” Euerle said. “For now, I love communicating and telling people how every dairy farm is inspected for quality. That helps people put their trust in us.” To honor both the dairy farmers she is representing and all the community members who have and will support her as a finalist, Euerle wants to give back in a unique way. After she has her likeness carved in butter at the Minnesota State Fair, the young woman wants to create a butterhead tour of Litchfield. In this tour, she will take her butterhead throughout the community, thanking those who have stood alongside her as she champions for dairy. “There’s so much joy in seeing other people excited about dairy advocacy,” Euerle said. “I have a lot of support to share dairy’s story.”

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is published the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. Advertising and news deadline is 5 p.m. the Friday before publication. 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378 • Fax (320) 352-5647

Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021 • Page 37

Women In Dairy Teresa Schladweiler Kewaskum, Wisconsin Sheboygan County 100 cows Family: My husband, Jeff, and I have been married for 39 years. We have three sons – Josh, Adam and Michael. Josh is married to Jennifer, and they have three boys – Tyson, 9, Noah, 5, and Evan, 2. Adam is married to Hannah, and they have two children – Estelle, 7, and Ezra, 22 months. Tell us about your farm. We purchased our farm 37 years ago. We have free stalls and milk 90 cows in a 34-stanchion barn. We have been transitioning out of heifers and are strictly breeding with Angus. We are raising all of the Angus to market weight. Our sons have off-the-farm jobs but help with cropping, harvesting and day-to-day chores. What is the busiest time of day for you? Mornings and evenings. I feed the calves and some of the steers and then milk cows. There is always something to do between milkings as well. When you get a spare moment, what do you do? I like to garden and do crafts. I also try to bake something at least once a week. Tell us about your most memorable experience working on the farm. Our son got married in our barn in 2012. We had so many family, neighbors and friends come on the Fourth of July to help set up for the wedding July 7. It meant a lot to us that everyone pitched in to make their day special. Then, one month later, we were packing hay bales in that same barn and the floor collapsed. My son had drove out with the skidloader, and I finished feeding there. We lost five animals. We were able to fix most of it ourselves with the help of the same family and neighbors. What have you enjoyed most about dairy farming or your tie to the dairy industry? I would say being able to raise our sons on the dairy farm is what I have enjoyed most. I see how they have grown to be responsible men. How do you stay connected with others in the industry? I belong to a Facebook group – Dairy Moms – that consists of women in the dairy industry. If you have any questions or concerns about animals or anything on the farm,

someone has an answer or suggestion. Who is someone in the industry who has inspired you? My husband. I didn’t grow up on a farm, so everything I have learned over the years, he has mostly taught me. If you could give a tour of your farm to a prominent woman in today’s society, who would it be? There isn’t any single woman in today’s society that sticks out. Everyone should experience what is involved in the process of a dairy farm. From what it takes to put a crop in, to harvesting, to raising a calf, to milking a cow. What is the best vacation you have ever taken? We don’t take a vacation, but we do try to take a day away from the farm. When the kids were young, we would take them to Noah’s Ark for the day. What are some words you like to live by? Just let it go. You can’t change what is in the past.

Page 38 • Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021

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).

AMPI Locations: Blair, Wis. .................... 608-989-2535 Freeman, S.D. .............. 605-925-4234 Hoven, S.D. .................. 605-948-2211

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Jim Falls, Wis. ............. 715-382-4113 New Ulm, Minn. ........... 507-233-4600 Paynesville, Minn. ....... 320-243-3794

2. Complete the entry form. 3. Send entries to: Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378, Attn: Dairy Contest

Prairie du Chien, Wis. .. 608-326-6666 Sanborn, Iowa............... 712-729-3255

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Dairy Star • Saturday, June 26, 2021 • Page 39

Dairy profile Brad Dorshorst Arpin, Wisconsin Wood County 100 cows How did you get into farming? I started raising a few animals when I was growing up and housed them with my parents’ cattle. After my junior year of high school, I began renting our neighbor’s barn and started milking with 17 cows in 2015. My parents farm right next door with 150 Red and White Holsteins. We do our field work together to save on equipment costs and labor. What are your thoughts and concerns about the dairy industry for the next year? I am concerned about the markets with prices going up and down, causing unpredictability for everyone in agriculture and other industries. What is the latest technology you implemented on your farm and the purpose for it? We upgraded planters last fall. We went from a six-row basic planter to a 12-row with improvements for fertilizer application and seed placement. What is a management practice you changed in the past year that has benefited you? We started feeding our heifers exceller meal to enhance growth. It helped them transition better between barns. What cost-saving steps have you implemented during the low milk price? I purchased my own round baler to save on the cost of custom work and also to be able to do our own work when we want to. Due to the volume of bales we were doing, it made sense to make the purchase in our situation. How do you retain a good working relationship with your employees? We allow them to work in areas they prefer and allow them to experience other ar-

eas of work around the farm.

develop.

Tell us about a skill you possess that makes dairy farming easier for you. Computer and technology skills. Over the last year, we have dealt more with technology for communicating with our agronomist, feed consultant, FSA paper work and many other people. By having experience with it, I was able to help some neighbors with filling paperwork out online because they had limited experience with technology.

What advice would you give other dairy farmers? Don’t be afraid of change, but also don’t start changing everything on your farm at once. Make a change in small steps to see how it will affect the farm first.

What do you enjoy most about dairy farming? I enjoy working with the cattle on a daily basis and watching them

What has been your biggest accomplishment while dairy farming? My

What has been the best purchase you have ever made on your farm? So far, my best purchase has been land as I used to have to buy a large amount of feed.

biggest accomplishment was getting the barn full and purchasing my own land.

What are your plans for your dairy in the next year and five years? Our plans are to incorporate some no-till practices into our crop rotation and add a few additional acres of land to ensure we always have enough feed for the cattle.

How do you or your family like to spend time when you are not doing chores? I enjoy collecting 1/64 toy John Deere tractors and building farm replicas.

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