Michigan 2015 Milk
T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F M I C H I G A N M I L K P R O D U C E R S A S S O C I AT I O N
VOL. 100 | ISSUE 7 | JANUARY 2018
NAFTA: “MEND IT, NOT END IT”
COLLABORATION TAKES CENTER STAGE AT MMPA LEADERS’ CONFERENCE
mimilk.com
Register now for the 2018 Great Lakes Crop Summit www.GreatLakesCropSummit.com
2018 Featured Speakers Chris Barron, Ag View Solutions
Dr. Barry Flinchbaugh, Kansas State University
MARK GOLD, Top THird Ag Marketing
Barron has developed top-notch ag decision-making techniques by working with some of the best producers in the U.S. and Canada. From bridging the generational gap to helping individual farms become more profitable, Barron helps farmers size their family enterprise to be more competitive.
Dr. Flinchbaugh has brought his sage advice on agriculture policy to lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. He’s literally written the book on ag policy! His knowledge, experience, and “tell-it-like-it-is” humor will stretch your understanding of farm economics.
Gold is a regular guest analyst on U.S. Farm Report, Market To Market, and Ag Day TV and can be heard daily on Nebraska and Kansas radio and AgWeb. Gold was a floor trader at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, International Monetary Market, Sydney Futures Exchange, and the New Orleans Commodity Exchange where he served as vice chairman of the board.
This Year’s Highlights More than 25 speakers from 7 states will cover topics for everyone on the farm, including:
• Technology • Farm Family Communications • Financial Planning • Insect, Weed and Disease Control • Grain Marketing • Nutrients, Soils and Drainage
A tradeshow with more than 60 exhibitors. Plenty of time to network with farmers from around the state.
A detailed agenda and registration are available online at www.GreatLakesCropSummit.com. You may also register by phone at (888) 323-6601. Earn 10 RUP credits for full attendance, CCA credits for all sessions, and MAEAP Phase 1 credit. Lodging is not included in registration. A special group rate of $109 per night is available until Jan. 8. Call Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort at (877) 232-4532 and use code GLCS013018.
January 31-February 1, 2018 Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort | Mt. Pleasant, MI
JANUARY 2018 FEATURES
On the Cover
TAKES CENTER STAGE 14 | COLLABORATION AT THE MMPA LEADERS’ CONFERENCE
The Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron connects Michigan to the state’s largest trading partner, Canada. As the U.S., Canada and Mexico renegotiate the North American Free Trade
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP: 16 | FARM UNVEILING DAIRY’S GREENHOUSE GAS AND ENERGY STORY
Agreement, the dairy industry hopes to sustain the $43 billion agriculture export industry to the two countries.
Members heard about the collaboration of strategic partnerships with MMPA on issues facing the dairy industry. Attendees were privy to what the cooperative is doing for them both at the state level as well as federal level with the uncertain volatility of the milk markets.
What being sustainable really means is being a good steward. MMPA is working with a FARM program module to showcase members’ existing efforts toward environmental stewardship.
18 | NAFTA: “MEND IT, NOT END IT”
NAFTA has been tagged with being one of trade’s greatest success stories for U.S. food and agriculture. As renegotiation is underway, dairy groups hope to generate a positive outcome for the agriculture and dairy industry.
Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA), established in 1916, is a member owned and operated dairy cooperative serving approximately 1,700 dairy farmers in Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin and Ohio.
JANUARY 2018 | MESSENGER
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Early registration registration ends Early endsJanuary January21! 21!
Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference February 8–10, 2018 Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort Mount Pleasant, Michigan Take a break from the day-to-day dairying challenges, expand your knowledge and network with others at this year’s Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference. Learn new tools and strategies to move your farm forward. The program includes: • The latest in global trends, local markets and strategies to survive
the challenges facing the industry today from experts David Kohl and Gary Sipiorski
• All things milk: pricing, local challenges, marketing and quality, and LPC • An in-depth look at in vitro fertilization and its practical application on dairies across the U.S.
• The use of transition-cow behavior to improve cow care, cow health and overall productivity • Workshops that include “Milk Check Economics: What Can Dairy Farmers Do?” “Labor Regulations and Legal Requirements” and “Lean Management Strategies” as well as a robotics producer panel
www.glrdc.org 517-884-7089 •• honkemeg@msu.edu honkemeg@msu.edu www.glrdc.org•• 517-884-7089
CONTENTS 6
MMPA MATTERS MMPA’s collaboration efforts
in sustainability
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QUALITY WATCH
Congratulations to all 2017 MMPA Quality Award winners
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NEWS & VIEWS
12
LEGISLATIVE WATCH
— JESSE RAMER, 2017 TOP 10 OYDC (PAGE 22)
DEPARTMENTS Dairy Leaders Commend USDA for Expanding School Milk Options
20
“Keeping the passion for farming alive and seeing good cows everyday helps ease the stress and helps us to remain positive during these challenging times.”
MMPA QUALITY AWARD WINNERS
25
MERCHANDISE
26
QUALITY PREMIUMS
27 POLICIES 28 FREELINERS
23
TOP 10 OYDC SNAPSHOT: JESSE AND CHELSEA RAMER
29 CLASSIFIEDS 30
24
LOCAL MEETINGS
MARKET REPORT
31 STAFF
MMPA Core Values: » Quality » Integrity » Progress » Leadership » Community Managing Editor................................................ Sheila Burkhardt Editors.............................. Allison Stuby Miller, Krista Schrock Advertising Manager......................................Nancy Muszynski Circulation......................................................................................2,707 An Equal Opportunity Employer – F/M/V/D Michigan Milk Messenger (USPS 345-320) is the official publication of Michigan Milk Producers Association, published monthly since June 1919. Subscriptions: MMPA members, 50¢ per year; non-members, $5 per year.
41310 Bridge Street P.O. Box 8002 Novi, MI 48376-8002
p: 248-474-6672 f: 248-474-0924 w: mimilk.com
Periodical postage paid at Novi, MI and at additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Michigan Milk Messenger, PO Box 8002, Novi, MI 48376-8002. (ISSN 0026-2315)
JANUARY 2018 | MESSENGER
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MMPA MATTERS
MMPA’s collaboration efforts in sustainability BY KEN NOBIS, MMPA PRESIDENT
Dairy sustainability has been a focus in the last ten years. There are three main pillars of sustainability: social, economic and environmental. The pillars are often referred to as people, planet and profits. The emphasis for dairy producers changes with the conditions of the moment; today the biggest challenge for most is the profit angle. However, all three are important to the consumers of our product. MMPA has maintained from the outset that dairy farmers are by nature focused on sustainable practices. What was missing was the accounting for those practices. Establishing an accurate carbon footprint was one of the first projects that involved MMPA members. Reporting our farming practices through a survey was very important to establish a benchmark, and MMPA members responded to the challenge by completing the survey. MMPA has continued to help our members capture the kind of data our customers are seeking. The scope of sustainability will continue to evolve as new issues arise.
“…MMPA became involved with the Sustainability Alliance under the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy to help set the course that would be least intrusive to our members.”
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MESSENGER | JANUARY 2018
Because we recognized ten years ago that the sustainability discussion was not going to be a flash in the pan, MMPA became involved with the Sustainability Alliance under the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy to help set the course that would be least intrusive to our members. For the most part, I think it has been a successful venture. The Sustainability Alliance meets twice annually. In the spring, we meet as a dairy group of producers, processors, retailers and customers. In the fall it is the same group, but all agriculture commodity groups are also involved. The last meeting marked the third time the all-inclusive group (over 500 people) has met. Telling the complete story of field-to-fork is much more impactful when all of agriculture is involved in the discussion. Production agriculture hasn’t done a very good job of explaining what we do. We assume everybody knows, or should know, the practices we use to responsibly produce an abundant and safe food supply, when in fact the knowledge gap that results from the lack of connection between consumers and rural America can get in the way. The sustainability meetings provide an opportunity to talk one-on-one with our customers as we educate each other and recognize there is more than one side to every story. Our goal is to achieve more favorable outcomes for all. This is crucial as we fulfill our mission to “market our members’ milk to the greatest advantage possible.”
QUALITY WATCH
Congratulations to all Quality Award Winners BY DEAN LETTER, DIRECTOR OF MEMBER SERVICES
For almost two decades, MMPA has honored its members with three levels of quality awards: Bronze, Silver and Gold. This local meeting season, MMPA plans to honor its members with 351 Bronze awards, 125 Silver awards and 46 Gold awards. This year, almost 50 percent of our membership will be recognized for their high-quality milk during the local meeting season. Congratulations to those members who earned a quality award this year. It is only by following best practices day in and day out in sanitation and herd health that our members can routinely produce the milk quality we see today.
“This year, almost 50 percent of our membership will be recognized for their high-quality milk during the local meeting season.”
In addition to the local meetings, some MMPA members will be honored for the excellent milk quality at the national level. Late last summer, MMPA member representatives nominated their top tier members. Dairy producers from around the nation are judged on milk quality measures, udder health monitoring programs, milking routine, detection and treatment of both clinical and subclinical mastitis, and overall herd health and welfare monitoring programs. Based on these criteria, judges select platinum, gold, and silver quality award winners. The National Dairy Quality Award Platinum Level awardees will be recognized at the NMC 57th Annual Meeting in Tucson, Arizona.
MMPA Works Toward Telling Our Sustainability Story Over the past several years, MMPA had numerous inquiries regarding farming and processing practices used and MMPA has a team of individuals to provide customers meaningful and credible information. Everyone seems to be looking for more data. Much of the data that is widely available at an aggregate level is oftentimes several years old. More recently, we have seen increased interest from our customers to better understand the farms that provide them with either raw milk or dairy ingredients. Some customers prefer a “farm tour” facilitated by MMPA where they have an informal conversation with members about their farm and gives the customer an opportunity to talk about their business with the members. This has been a great information exchange between members and processors. Other customers may use a third party to visit with members to better understand their farming practices. Over the upcoming months and years, MMPA will be taking steps to flesh out its sustainability story; I believe we have a great story to tell. To that end, there are tools under development and being released that are designed to help co-ops like MMPA to collect information and aggregate it to assure customers and consumers that MMPA and its members continue to work to improve their impact on their communities, their livestock and their environment. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ONE OF MMPA’S SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES, I INVITE YOU TO READ THE ARTICLE WRITTEN BY DEB GINGRICH, A MEMBER OF MMPA’S SUSTAINABILITY TEAM, REGARDING THE NATIONAL DAIRY FARM ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM ON PAGE 16.
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MESSENGER | JANUARY 2018
February 14 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Gerald & Rose King 7600 S 600 W, Topeka, IN
February 28 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Clarksville Research Station 9302 Portland Rd, Clarksville, MI
Milker Training Schools aim to help improve the marketability of MMPA members’ milk by providing milk quality and animal stockmanship knowledge, tools and training to members and their employees. Strategies to help members achieve this goal include: • Relay proper milking techniques and milk quality procedures. • Present the big-picture science of mastitis and milk quality. • Give members a chance to try-on and practice proper milking techniques and procedures. • Improve stockmanship and animal care while supporting National Dairy FARM requirements. Milker Training School classes can be taught in Spanish upon request.
Milker Training School Values Partnership, Quality, Animal Care Consistency, Education and Affirmation
To register, Marianne Gasiewski at 248-442-7597 or or To register,contact: contact: Marianne Gasiewski at 248-442-7597
gasiewski@mimilk.com. AA$10 $10per perperson personregistration registrationfee feewill willbe be gasiewski@mimilk.com. deducted from your milk check to cover lunch and material costs. deducted from your milk check to cover lunch and material costs.
March 13 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Eddie G’s 8484 W. Marlette Rd., Marlette, MI
March 28 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. The Shack 2263 W. 14th St., White Cloud, MI
April 12 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Clare Church of the Nazarene 10160 S Grant Ave., Clare, MI
April 24 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Whittemore Fire House 503 S. Bullock St., Whittemore, MI
NEWS & VIEWS
November Class Pricing Announced The USDA announced November’s Class III price was $16.88 per cwt., up 19 cents from October and 12 cents higher than 2016. The Class IV price was $13.99, 86 cents less than last month’s price, but 23 cents higher than November of last year.
Breakfast on the Farm attendance remains strong Since 2009, Breakfast on the Farm program has been providing the general public with a first hand look at modern farming. It is a free familyfriendly program that is successful because of willing host farms, generous local and statewide sponsors and enthusiastic and informed volunteers. On June 24th, 2,392 people visited J & J Dairy Farm in Marne, Michigan for a free breakfast and self-guided walking tour. In Middleton, Michigan on August 19, the De Saegher family hosted 1,848 people. After this year’s events, the total attendance to more than 85,000 visits to 38 Michigan farms over the last nine years. TO APPLY TO BECOME A HOST, VISIT WWW.BREAKFASTONTHEFARM.COM TO DOWNLOAD AND SUBMIT AN APPLICATION.
Upcoming Events January Local Meetings continue
Making More Profit from the Parlor Dairy farm owners and managers, and dairy industry professionals will learn about the latest research and strategies to improve parlor performance with employee education and animal behavior in mind. Topics include the impact of milking practices on bimodal and over milking, developing milking protocols, employee training, animal handling, parlor efficiency, holding pen design/ management, mastitis identification, and milk culturing and how these impact profit. All programs run from 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. with registration beginning at 9 a.m. February 13.........Ottawa County MSU Extension, West Olive, Michigan February 14.........Falmouth Community Center, Falmouth, Michigan February 20.........Franklin Inn, Bad Axe, Michigan February 21.........Forward Conference Center, West Branch, Michigan FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER, PLEASE VISIT: MSUE.ANR.MSU.EDU/EVENTS/MAKING_MORE_PROFIT_FROM_THE_PARLOR_2
2018 Direct Deposit Schedule The MMPA direct deposit program automatically deposits members’ net milk proceeds into their bank accounts using a secure electronic funds transfer system. This system assures the timely deposit of funds on the dates listed below and eliminates the need for monthly trips to the bank. To sign up for direct deposit, please contact MMPA member services at 248-474-6672. For the time being, all members receive a monthly check statement by mail. After the June milk check, members will need to opt-in to still receive the statement by mail. Current and past statements are available on the MMPA members-only website portal: producers.mimilk.com
January 31 Resolutions Committee Meeting, Novi
» January 17 and 26
» July 17 and 26
» February 16 and 26
» August 17 and 27
February District Meetings
» March 16 and 26
» September 17 and 26
» April 17 and 26
» October 17 and 26
» May 17 and 25
» November 19 and 26
» June 18 and 26
» December 17 and 26
February 8-10 Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference
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MSU EXTENSION TRAINING PROGRAM:
MESSENGER | JANUARY 2018
Chinese delegation visits MMPA Ovid plant A 19-member delegation from the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture visited both Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) and the MMPA plant in Ovid on Wednesday Nov. 15, 2017. It was part of a two-week visit to Michigan State University for a training course on agriculture emergency management. The delegation toured MMPA’s butter and dry milk operation, informed on what the products are used for, where they’re destined to go, along with aspects of food safety, from the testing of milk upon its arrival through the processing. “In regard to food safety, any products that MMPA makes, we’ve gone the extra mile on testing to verify we have the highest-quality product, the safest food made,” said Colt Johnson, MMPA plant manager in Ovid. “Today, we were very impressed with the quality control process at the dairy plant,” said Mao Dezhi, Director of Emergency Management with the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture. “It’s a well-defined process in producing milk, butter or any other dairy product, insuring the safety of the food.” The MMPA plant tour also showcased a component of the international trade relationship between the U.S. and China for agriculture commodities. “This facility in Ovid is part of the $15.7 billion dairy industry in the state of Michigan, the fifth largest in the United States. Exports to top five destinations, like China, help generate around $249 million in dairy exports, which support almost 4,000 jobs in Michigan. The dairy industry is increasingly influenced by the global market and building relationships with representatives from China and other countries is critical,” said Johnson.
Advisory Committee DISTRICT 1 Brad Hart, Clayton..................................517-445-2649 Josh Lott, Mason.....................................517-740-9981 Art Riske, Hanover..................................517-524-6015 Bruce Lewis, Jonesville ........................517-869-2877 Jeff Horning, Manchester....................734-428-8610
DISTRICT 2 Danny Ransler, Gobles..........................269-628-4218 Dan Ritter, Potterville............................517-645-7318 Richard Thomas, Middlebury, IN.......574-825-5198 Michael Oesch, Middlebury, IN.........574-825-2454 Mark Crandall, Battle Creek.................269-660-2229
DISTRICT 3 Bill Stakenas, Free Soil...........................231-425-6913 Burke Larsen, Scottville........................231-425-8988 Gary Nelsen, Grant.................................231-834-7610 Tim Butler, Sand Lake............................269-330-5538 Bill Gruppen, Zeeland...........................616-875-8162
DISTRICT 4 Dave Folkersma, Rudyard....................906-630-1957 Russ Tolan, Ossineke..............................989-471-2993 Ron Lucas, Posen....................................989-379-4694 Marvin Rubingh, Ellsworth.................231-588-6084 Jeremy Werth, Alpena...........................989-464-4022
DISTRICT 5 Tom Jeppesen, Stanton........................989-506-5287 Bruce Benthem, McBain.......................231-825-8182 Amy Martin, Leroy..................................231-388-0496 Mike Rasmussen, Edmore...................989-304-0233 Robert Lee, Marion................................231-743-6794
DISTRICT 6 Aaron Gasper, Lowell............................616-897-2747 Steve Thelen, Fowler.............................989-682-9064 Brad Ritter, Byron....................................586-405-4749 David Reed, Owosso..............................989-723-2023 Jamie Meyer, Ionia..................................989-640-3372
DISTRICT 7 Scott Kleinhardt, Clare..........................989-386-8037 Philip Gross, Weidman..........................989-289-0670 Jason Elenbaum, Mayville...................989-274-1974 John Bennett, Prescott.........................989-345-4264 James Weber, Vassar..............................989-297-1850
DISTRICT 8 Mike Noll, Croswell.................................810-404-4071 Mike Bender, Croswell..........................810-404-2140 Nick Leipprandt, Pigeon......................517-897-4155 Darwin Sneller, Sebewaing.................989-977-3718 Bill Blumerich, Berlin.............................810-706-2955 JILL FELDPAUSCH, MMPA QUALITY MANAGER, LED THE CHINESE DELEGATION ON A TOUR OF THE OVID PLANT.
JANUARY 2018 | MESSENGER
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LEGISLATIVE WATCH
Dairy Leaders Commend USDA for Expanding School Milk Options The nation’s two leading dairy organization applauded Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue recently for allowing school districts to offer low-fat (1%) flavored milk as part of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs. An interim final rule implementing the regulatory changes needed to reinstate low-fat flavored milk in schools was announced on November 29th on the Federal Register site and goes into effect for the 2018-2019 school year.
T
he regulation implements changes that Secretary Perdue proposed earlier this year to streamline the process by which schools can serve low-fat flavored milk without first obtaining a special exemption. In 2012, the U.S. Department of Agriculture eliminated low-fat flavored milk as an option in the school meal and a la carte programs, which resulted in a large drop in milk consumption in schools. Students consumed 288 million fewer half-pints of milk from 2012-2015, even though public school enrollment was growing. “We appreciate the Secretary’s understanding that the regulatory process needed to move quickly so schools may include low-fat favored milk in their menu planning and procurement processes,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA). “Today’s action will help reverse declining milk consumption by allowing schools to provide kids with access to a variety of milk options, including the flavored milks they enjoy.” “Secretary Perdue’s willingness to provide greater flexibility to schools recognizes that a variety of milks and other healthy dairy foods is critically important to improving the nutritional contributions of child
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MESSENGER | JANUARY 2018
nutrition programs in schools,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF). “The math here is quite simple: More milk consumption equals better nutrition for America’s kids.” Earlier this year, Congress passed the FY 2017 omnibus appropriations bill that included provisions to allow schools to offer low-fat flavored milk. In addition, Reps. Glenn Thompson (R-PA) and Joe Courtney (D-CT) have introduced legislation, the School Milk Nutrition Act, to expand the ability of schools to offer various milk options. Their ongoing efforts in Congress have led to a greater awareness of the milk
shortfall challenge in schools that today’s USDA action begins to address. In a joint letter last June, IDFA and NMPF urged Secretary Perdue to quickly finalize plans for low-fat flavored milk’s return to school menus for the 2018-2019 school year. The publication of the interim final rule will allow school districts to solicit bids for low-fat flavored milk next spring before the 2018-19 school year begins, giving milk processors time to formulate and produce a low-fat flavored milk that meets the specifications of a particular school district. The USDA action now allows schools to offer low-fat flavored milk during the next school year without requiring schools to demonstrate either a reduction in student milk consumption, or an increase in school milk waste. SOURCE: NMPF
“The math here is quite simple: More milk consumption equals better nutrition for America’s kids.”
16TH ANNUAL
Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference SLATED FOR FEBRUARY IN MT. PLEASANT, MICHIGAN The 16th annual Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference Feb. 8-10, 2018 at the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, will shine the light on a variety of strategies producers can use to survive and thrive during one of the most critical periods in agriculture.
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
The conference kicks off Thursday, Feb. 8, with a pre-conference session in which Michigan producers and experts will examine the major drivers of the mailbox milk price and consider options that farmers have to influence or manage their milk check income.
The conference continues Friday morning, Feb. 9, with Peter Hansen of the University of Florida who will decode the data and share strategies to help producers make the most profitable decisions for the future of their farms in regard to understanding the science of genomics. This session will be followed by a panel of producers from across the U.S. who will share their IVF strategies.
Next, producers will hear from Gary Sipiorski of Vita Plus Inc. who will highlight the current status of the industry, and show producers where there is light and what they can do to guide their operations through the fog. Following the industry discussion, Mark Stephenson of the University of Wisconsin, will delve further into milk pricing and the challenges in the Midwest. Then Nate Donnay, director of dairy market insight at INTL FCStone, will break down current global and local factors affecting milk prices and discuss what producers should expect in the next 12 to 24 months. He will also talk about the continued challenges and possible opportunities for the Great Lakes Region. Late afternoon will feature Brandon Treichler, Select Milk Producers quality control veterinarian, explaining how labs test milk for quality parameters and how the results help identify opportunities to produce higher quality milk as well as basic troubleshooting strategies when bacteria counts rise. The focus will be on Lab Pasteurized Counts but other common bacteria counts will be discussed as well. The afternoon will wrap up with Sipiorski, Stephenson, Donnay and Treichler offering an “All Things Milk Q and A” where producers can fire questions at the experts. The evening will feature an Exhibitor Showcase and the Great Lakes Commercial Heifer Extravaganza XIII Sale.
Kathryn Proudfoot of Ohio State University will explore how you can use dairy cow behavior to help you make better management and housing decisions at calving. She will discuss practical ways to allow dairy cows to seek the seclusion they look for as they prepare to give birth that will help you bust the bulk tank down the line. The morning will wrap up with David Kohl, Virginia Tech professor emeritus, who will discuss how dairies can position themselves for success in the economic reset. This session will examine both the short-run and long-run economic and financial picture. What are the adjustments producers and lenders must make to position for success? Kohl will provide a new look at burn rate, not only on working capital, but also on core land equity, along with trends that will have an impact on the industry now and by 2030. Friday afternoon, attendees will have the choice of three educational workshops to attend: • Lean Farming - Susanne Pejstrup, Lean Farming Inc. • Labor Regulations and Legal Requirements - Karl W. Butterer, Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC • Robotics Producer Panel The Holstein Association will conduct their annual meeting on Saturday, Feb. 10, starting at 9 a.m.
Visit www.glrdc.org to get the complete conference schedule or to register online. Participants can also register by phone by calling 517-884-7089.
JANUARY 2018 | MESSENGER
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COLLABORATION TAKES CENTER STAGE AT THE
2017 MMPA Leaders’ Conference BY KRISTA SCHROCK
Eager to hear MMPA’s vision and strategy for the year ahead, local and district officers, delegates, OYDCs and dairy communicators gathered at the MSU Kellogg Center in East Lansing on November 20, 2017 for the Leaders’ Conference. The day was filled with information about the collaboration of strategic partnerships with MMPA on issues facing the dairy industry. Attendees were privy to what the cooperative is doing for them both at the state and federal level along with an overview of the evolving milk markets. Collaboration at the Federal and State level Keynote speaker Michael Dykes, President and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), shared what IDFA is doing to help dairy farmers through increased collaboration with other industry associations. MMPA joined IDFA this past year in part due to the direction and leadership of Dykes. “We have two worlds. We have a world where food is produced and a world where food is consumed,”
stated Dykes. “One hundred forty-four of the largest counties in the U.S have half of the population while roughly 3,000 counties divide up the other half. This is part of the reason why we are so polarized.” The 2018 Farm Bill is being reviewed in Washington, D.C., and IDFA is collaborating with the National Milk Producers Federation to bring positive results for dairy. There are three initiatives the IDFA is focusing their efforts on: support of improving the
Margin Protection Plan, supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) and dairy risk management provisions of the Farm Bill. Dykes noted SNAP is utilized by approximately 44 percent of families with occupants under the age of 18, representing a large opportunity to encourage dairy. IDFA is pushing discussions about offering incentives for purchasing milk and nutritious foods for families in food assistance programs. MMPA President Ken Nobis provided more information about how MMPA is advocating member needs regarding federal issues. He stressed how important trade agreements are to the dairy industry and covered the status of various programs such as the Farm Bill and the Dairy Pride Act. The Farm Bill talks have been moving slower than expected, however, progress is being made. The House Ag Committee has focused on making MPP buyup coverage more affordable for the first tier of covered production, maintaining free catastrophic coverage for all and better risk management options for higher levels of production in the Farm Bill talks. Nobis called for a collaborative effort of producers to encourage their Congress representatives to support the Dairy Pride Act-a food labeling bill. “In the past we have pushed it to eliminate consumer confusion, but have switched gears now to point out the differences in nutrition. There are people out there that really believe almond milk is dairy.”
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MESSENGER | JANUARY 2018
agencies and hunters. It really is about having healthy deer, healthy cattle and healthy people.” There has been a cooperative effort with producers, private landowners, DNR and MDARD staff to enhancing biosecurity measures in the Modified Accredited Zone (MAZ) to protect cattle herds and reduce interactions between herds and wildlife.
Collaboration at the Co-op level MICHAEL DYKES, PRESIDENT AND CEO, INTERNATIONAL DAIRY FOODS ASSOCIATION
A state level topic of consideration is the presence of Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) in northern Michigan. Under the leadership of State Veterinarian Dr. James Averill, collaboration on the control of TB in Michigan is moving forward. He reported on how MDARD is working to return and maintain Michigan’s TB status after the 2016 violation of the memorandum of understanding with the USDA Veterinarian Services. According to Dr. Averill, “we wouldn’t be where we are today without the collaboration of yourselves [farmers], federal and state
MMPA leaders discussed the Glanbia Cheese project, where plans are moving forward. Additionally, with Foremost Farms USA’s announcement to build a dairy campus in Greenville, Michigan, MMPA is working with the fellow cooperative to expand the current strategic alliance which includes the reverse osmosis system in Constantine. On the customer side of things, quality and sustainability are becoming more important as we collaborate with customers. General Manager Joe Digilo noted customers appreciate MMPA and its members’ ability to address and achieve the changing market demands.
To elaborate more on MMPA’s customer relationships, Digilo introduced the new senior director of sales, Jim Feeney, to briefly share his vision of strategic opportunities to bring added value to the marketplace. Feeney reported the MMPA team is further aligning segments of the business, like sales, operations, supply chain, quality and forecasting. Feeney explained how the team is taking note of consumer trends to capitalize on potential opportunities to supply different products. Digilo also highlighted what MMPA has accomplished in the last year including expanding customer relationships, our award-winning pepper jack cheese and expanding our plant’s processing capabilities. “Collaboration is what this industry needs,” he said. “Now that we are working together, we can achieve good things.”
2017 state OYDC winners Nate and Jenny Elzinga led the lunch banquet program where MMPA scholarship recipients attending MSU and Purdue University were honored and other Top 10 OYDC representatives were recognized. The couple shared how the program gave them the opportunity to collaborate with other young producers in the cooperative as well as at the NMPF conference and share ideas to take back to the farm.
MMPA DISTRICTS 7 AND 8 TIED FOR THE MOST CONTRIBUTIONS TO MMPAC DURING THE MMPAC CHALLENGE THIS YEAR. MMPA WILL MAKE A DONATION TO THE CHARITIES OF THEIR CHOICE. MMPA PRESIDENT KEN NOBIS (LEFT) PRESENTED DARWIN SNELLER (CENTER) AND MICHAEL O’FARRELL WITH CERTIFICATES DURING THE LEADERS’ CONFERENCE.
JANUARY 2018 | MESSENGER
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FARM ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP:
Unveiling Dairy’s Greenhouse Gas and Energy Story BY DEB GINGRICH
Dairy farmers by nature are concerned about the environment. Farmers have relied on their land to sustain their livelihood for many generations, with the hope that the next generation will have the same opportunity. Today, consumers and customers are more interested in hearing these stories on farm sustainability and environmental stewardship. What being sustainable really means is being a good steward. Good stewards of our animals, our employees, our environment and our communities--someone the modern-day producer already embodies.
Keeping in line with this, the MMPA board of directors defined the MMPA sustainability mission as: “To continually strive for a more sustainable future – for our community, our environment, our economy’s health, and for the lives and world around us.”
One arm of the MMPA mission is being good stewards of the environment, something the U.S. dairy industry has already been working toward in the last century through modernization and continuous improvement. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization found that dairy in North America had the lowest greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity compared to dairy throughout regions in rest of the world in a 2010 study.
advancements farmers naturally adopt and continue to do so – genetic improvements, nutrition, cow comfort, cropping advancements and equipment upgrades just to name a few,” noted Dean Letter, MMPA director of member services and a member of the FARM Environmental Stewardship Task Force. “Our farms continually care for their land in hope of a sustainable future for the next generation.”
“Dairy farmers have accomplished some pretty amazing things in the last 70 years through a significant reduction in the industry’s carbon footprint. Much of this advancement can be attributed to the technological
Looking ahead to the needs of that next generation, the dairy industry with the U.S. Department of Agriculture promised in 2013 to make even more leaps with a commitment to reduce GHG emissions 25 percent by 2020. To reach the industry’s future goals, we need the data to back up the good work of dairy farms, explains Letter. The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) has launched a third silo within the Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) program to help assess GHGs and energy usage across the country in a statistical manner. This silo joins the Antibiotic Stewardship silo and the Animal Care silo to round out the FARM program.
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MESSENGER | JANUARY 2018
“The module asks a set of questions to assess a farm’s carbon and energy footprint – reducing the burden on farmers while still providing reliable, statistically robust estimates,” the FARM Program states about the Environmental Stewardship (ES) module. “This tool is based on a life-cycle assessment (LCA) of fluid milk conducted by the Applied Sustainability Center at the University of Arkansas, incorporating data from more than 500 dairy farms across the United States” “The ES module will allow us to gather statistically relevant data MMPA and NMPF can use to report improvements within the co-op and the dairy industry. Just like the FARM AC evaluation, no individual farm data will be shared, and all data will be reported on an aggregate level,” added Letter. Unlike the AC evaluation, not all farms will be selected to participate in the ED module, according to the program guidelines. NMPF recommends using a stratified random sampling protocol to identify 10 percent of farms to participate in the program concurrently with the versions of the AC program. Using the sampling protocol also opens the door for MMPA to claim continuous improvement for our co-op in the future since results will be statistically relevant. Research has shown the majority of GHGs and energy use on a farm comes from five areas: production, energy, feed, crops and manure management. The ES module will focus on these five areas to give an accurate calculation of GHGs, while minimizing the number of questions in the evaluation with only the previous year’s records are needed to complete the module. “The module should take no more than an hour to complete. Yet the best way to prepare for the ES evaluation is for a farm to compile their records on herd demographics, culling, rations, grazing, electricity and fuel consumption, and manure management systems prior to sitting down with the field staff member,” explained Letter.
At the end of the evaluation, a report will be generated to be given to the producer and a copy will be saved within the FARM database, just like the AC evaluation. According to the FARM program, this report will compare that farm’s GHG emissions and energy use to both the regional and national average. As more FARM ES evaluations are completed, the more accurate the regional and national averages will become.
Not all members will be selected to participate in the FARM Environmental Stewardship module. If you have been chosen to participate, you will be contacted by your member representative and a member of the Sustainability Integration Team.
MMPA’s sustainability mission—which is being fulfilled in part by this FARM ES module—is helping communicate the good work of our farmers to build a more sustainable future.
REPRESENTATIVE. IT CAN ALSO BE FOUND
TM
THE “GETTING READY” DOCUMENT CREATED BY NMPF CAN BE USEFUL WHEN GATHERING THESE RECORDS AND YOU CAN GET A COPY FROM YOUR MEMBER UNDER THE “ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP” TAB AT WWW.NATIONALDAIRYFARM.COM OR ON OUR WEBSITE, WWW.MIMILK.COM.
ady rdship User Guide e R g n i t t e G tewa nmental S iro FARM Env
t necessarily at does no used h period th nt o should be -m ) 12 a February 28 to tent year – ould is 1 sh ns ch ns co ar io a M at m r example, ation, oper es data fro (fo rm us d e fo io ul in er d p o ng ES m re enteri 12-month The FARM odule. Befo . The same FARM ES m lendar year e ca th a to ct in fle a re ters dat the farm en each time in and fat g: in w erage prote av follo as e l th el w er ry th ga duction as or other dai ing total pro HIA report D ud e cl in th s, ilk in rd m n reco rmatio to provide production duction info so be able Obtain milk can find pro e would al iv ns at io er at p er o p co O . farm’s percentages stems. The agement sy dry cows, record man ating cows, data. r mber of lact nu heifers ove production e t ag en er m r uding the av and replace o ) cl rt in rm o , fa p ze ffre si o IA rd d oth on- an le in the DH average he months (b be availab Assess the rs under 2 ation may ife rm he fo t in en is Th replacem d off-farm). oth on- an s. ent system 2 months (b em ag production. an record m ld for beef other dairy d calves so an f ee b r trate fo d ing concen cows culle cows, includ on mature g s in rd at co ct re la Collect ration for erage feed to obtain av st ni io it s. tr e nu atter basi adsheets. Contact th on a dry m ement spre , preferably ure manag st pa r o s and forage ing record ion. consult graz e informat operation, e th ntain pastur to co s so lie al r ay m If it app n la P t be useful fo y bills may Managemen e found in b A Nutrient ption. Utilit ay um m ns s el co d fuel on other fu ectricity an formation ments on el s usage. In ga l ra tu Collect docu na y and g electricit ent Plan determinin t Managem age logs. us r o s rd co rm’s Nutrien re fa e ement. e as ag Th ch an s. ur p ent system n manure m o em ls ag ai an et d m n ai manure n may cont rmation on ement Pla r operates Obtain info ent Manag ri ut N installed o e iv hens mpany that co tricity e or Compre ec th t el f ac o e nt e percentag digesters, co th ic d b an ro y ae on efficienc ions with an on conversi For operat formation in r fo r te the diges zed. or heat utili
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NAFTA: “Mend it, not end it” THE FIFTH ROUND OF THE NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (NAFTA) NEGOTIATIONS ARE FINISHED AND THE PHRASE THAT RINGS OUT OVER THE FRAY IS “LET’S MEND NAFTA, NOT END IT.” BY MELISSA HART
.
N
ational Milk Producers Federation President and CEO Jim Mulhern finished with the recent meeting in Mexico City feeling ‘cautiously optimistic’ about NAFTA 2.0. In a recent letter he said, “There is reason for some optimism because, despite concern over the huge differences between the United States and our most important trading partners on some very big, difficult issues, we started to see signs in Mexico City of incremental progress. Additionally, while President Trump’s threat of withdrawal from NAFTA cast a pall over previous negotiating rounds, there was less focus on that threat as negotiators tried to move forward on some of the less controversial issues.” NAFTA has been tagged with being one of trade’s greatest success stories for U.S. food and agriculture. The agreement is credited with removing many tariff and non-tariff barriers with our closest neighbors, Mexico and Canada and quadrupling our
18
MESSENGER | JANUARY 2018
U.S. agricultural exports to these two countries, from $11 billion in 1993 to $43 billion in 2016. According to the NMPF, the trade agreement has helped U.S. dairy become a major exporter. Since its passage, U.S. dairy exports just to Mexico have increased 558 percent to $1.2 billion last year, making Mexico our number one customer.
dairy imports, U.S. officials claim Canadian dairy farmers are contributing to depressed world prices by overproducing milk. While New York and Wisconsin producers suffered specifically, this new pricing structure has implications of a ripple effect throughout the industry harming U.S. farmers, processors and taxpayers.
While NAFTA has been good for agriculture, tweaking the agreement was put on the front burner earlier this year by President Trump when dairy producers in Wisconsin and New York began losing their milk market after Canada implemented their new Canadian National Ingredient Strategy. Dairy groups including NMPF and the U.S. Dairy Export Council came out against this new pricing scheme that provides monetary incentives to Canadian processers to use Canadian dairy ingredients instead of imported U.S. Ultra-Filtered milk. Not only did this decrease American
Mulhern stated, “We’ve repeatedly stressed that for NAFTA to generate a positive outcome for the U.S. dairy sector, the agreement must end Canada’s new Class 7 pricing scheme and provide U.S. dairy access to customers and markets north of our border.” Geographical indications (GIs) are also a concern in the agreement with Mexico and simply cannot be tolerated. GIs recognize the unique nature of specialty foods products identified with a specific geographic area. They restrict the use of the names of these products only to those that originate in the designated
area. Mulhern said, “We are very pleased that the U.S. government has communicated clearly to Mexico that any loss of market access into Mexico by sanctioning the EU’s attempted confiscation of common names such as asiago, gorgonzola and many other cheeses is unacceptable.” Beyond the dairy industry, Mexico has become a huge asset for U.S. agriculture and if tariff-free access were changed, it would have a major economic impact on American agriculture and consumers in general. NMPF stressed to Wilber Ross, the Commerce Secretary, if the U.S. withdrew from NAFTA it would interrupt supply chains, close markets, eliminate jobs and increase prices for many basic goods purchased by American consumers. Farmers across the country were encouraged to cultivate a grassroots effort in December to mend NAFTA 2.0, not end it. They called the White House and stated their concerns on the important trade agreement.
They urged President Trump to keep negotiating and let him know how important exports are, not only to the dairy industry but to agriculture as a whole. They flooded social media to get their point across with the hashtag #farmers4NAFTA. And when it was over, Washington D.C. heard from the people who keep them fed and clothed. Maddy Berner, communications manager with NMPF commented, “Preliminary Twitter analytics show that users shared hundreds of posts that contained personal stories and thoughts on the importance of keeping NAFTA in place. We’ve since reached over 1.2 million unique users in the process – likely more with Facebook.” Berner continued, “From influential
farm groups to news outlets and policymakers, it’s clear that the ag world’s message to ‘mend it, not end it’ really resonated online.” Producers are urged to continue with this effort to keep NAFTA on the front burner until an agreement is reached. Mulhern stressed the importance of coming to an agreement by March, before the presidential elections in Mexico in June. He said the longer this process drags on, the greater the likelihood that an impasse could derail negotiations. With a long way to go, Mulhern is still optimistic they can gain momentum but emphasized that now is the time to pick up the pace.
“FROM INFLUENTIAL FARM GROUPS TO NEWS OUTLETS AND POLICYMAKERS, IT’S CLEAR THAT THE AG WORLD’S MESSAGE TO “MEND IT, NOT END IT” REALLY RESONATED ONLINE. JANUARY 2018 | MESSENGER
19
2017 MMPA Quality Awards
L
ocal meetings this season will include presentations of quality awards to 522 members for the production of outstanding quality milk over the last fiscal year (October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017). Bronze, silver and gold awards will be presented to those members who met the established criteria for each award.
Bronze quality awards are presented to MMPA
members who met both quality premium categories (10,000 or less raw bacteria and 20,000 or less PI count) and maintained a somatic cell count of 250,000 or less for nine or more months out of the previous fiscal year. Silver quality awards are presented to those members who met the same criteria as in the bronze award category for 12 months out of the previous fiscal year. Gold quality awards are presented to members who
met the same criteria as in the silver award category and averaged a somatic cell count of 100,000 or less during the previous fiscal year. Star awards will be presented to those members who have
received a quality award for five (one star), 10 (two stars), 15 (three stars) or 20 (four stars) consecutive years.
351
BRONZE
125
46
SILVER
GOLD
Almost 1/2 of all members earned a quality award 20
MESSENGER | JANUARY 2018
Adrian
Dragt Farms
Silver Matthew Smith** Hartland Farms Inc Scott D Norden
William Hough Dairy Inc**
Bronze Henricks and Krieger LLC Rodney L Imbrock Stoutcrest Farms Fred Feight And Sons Marvin Farms Inc Gary A Middleton* N Randy & Eric Bleich Wilbert, Todd, Kurtis & Brent Sieler Dwight Mansfield* Timothy D Brasher Gier Dairy Alma Gold Spring Lake Farms LLC Carter Farms LLC Ronald & Kevin Litwiller Ephraim & Esther Martin Silver Paulen Farms Inc Koutz Dairy LLC Judge Dairy Farm Inc*** Louis & Ronald Brecht Pine Hills Dairy LLC Oberlin Farms LLC*** Bollinger Farms LLC Chad Peters Gary & Cory Nielsen* Kent L Inniger Vanderploeg Holsteins LLC Ammon R Martin Bebow Dairy Inc** Vanderploeg Holsteins II LLC* Bronze Grassley Farms Korte Dairy Farm Charles D Storms Alvin Borntrager Mervin Martin Friesen Legacy Farm LLC Albern Olson Chapin Family Farm LLC Jeff & Larry Nielsen Mark Wiles Wilson Centennial Farm LLC Ryan J Litwiller Double Eagle Dairy Inc Jered Litwiller Gordon H Behrenwald TLC Dairy
Kenneth Vredenburg Newlyn Toews Bruce A Litwiller Marlin Martin Bebow Dairy Inc Double-B Dairy Titus B Zimmerman Cindy Eldred* Hooks Farms Glen H Miller* Central Michigan Milk Production
Barry-Eaton Gold Chase Crest Hill Farms LLC Crandall Dairy Farm LLC Ladine Farms Silver Thomas & Heather Wing FFHR LLC B & K Farms LLC* Bronze Kevin & Mark Klingaman Glenn G Hochstetler Cary Dairy Farms Inc Hammond Dairy Farm LLC Halbert Dairy Farm LLC Pixley Dairy Farm LLC Burdock Hills Dairy LLC Endsley Dairy Farms LLC Brent & Nina Butler Blossomland Bronze Gamble Dairy Farm LLC Jerry, Jerry & Terry Koebel Chippewa County Bronze David & Tammy Bell Taylor Creek Farm LLC Clare-Mt Pleasant Gold Gross Farms Inc Silver Gross Dairy Farms Inc Norman & Sarann Byler Elton F Dubois Bronze Clark Dairy Farm LLC Pohl Dairy Farm Inc Stough Farms LLC H Brushaber Sons Farm LLC
Martin C Fox
Milton D Bontrager
Gilde Farms LLC
Jack Evans
Olen J Fry
Harley & Marietta Lambright
Le Var Farms LLC
Andrew E Mast
Stevens Farms
Daniel Lee Mishler
House Dairy LLC
David E Miller
Rick Lee Newman*
David L Mast
Raymond Buchholz
Daniel A Bontrager
John Koch
Devon J Miller*
Tara Anthon Cattle & Management LLC
David E Yoder
Uriel & Christina Miller
Ervin J Lehman
Raymond & Miriam Kuhr Garrett Beef Farm
Constantine Gold Jacob W Weaver Larry M Hershberger Silver Levi E Miller Brent & Joan High Michael M Graber Wakiana Dairy Inc Freeman E Yutzy Dorvin Shaum Daniel D Yoder Vernon R Miller Rufus B Zimmerman Samuel Jay Bontrager Lavern J Kurtz Maynard J Mast Thaddaeus Coning* Glen R Mast* Mervin A Bontrager Jesse & Chelsea Ramer Gerald M Martin Jonathan J Yoder Herman F Mast Vernon A & Vernon V Hochstetler Bronze Dean Kronk Lonnie D Beachy Lamar H Hochstetler Ben J Herschberger Daniel M Martin Nathan E Miller Alva Lengacher Willie Yoder Jr Sunrise Acres LLC Devon Ray Yoder Ervin D Mast David K Fisher Jerry D Lehman Mybrook Farms Alvin D Bontrager Raymond D Yoder Perkins Twin Creek Farm Inc
Lamar J Eash* Harley H Lambright Maynard & Laura Lehman John R Weaver Lavern D Miller Wakiana Dairy Inc II Ernest & Erma Wengerd* David M Bontrager Matthew D Miller* Karl M Bontrager* Martin Yoder Jr John W Yoder Orva & Naomi Hershberger Dewayne E Mishler John H Bontrager Joseph E Miller The Graber Family Joe D Stutzman Stanley Yoder Family Calvin F Miller Clyde S Miller Marion Nisley Carl Zook Yoder Dairy Joni Borkholder Virgil D Yoder Steven D Post
Deford/ Clifford-Mayville Gold Meadow Muth Farms LLC Silver Calvin J Bodeis Bronze Keith & Jane Wood Evart Gold Mark F Diemer Michael L Bosscher James A Oudman Benthem Brothers Inc End Road Farm Buning Dairy Farm LLC Matthew & Kimberly Deruiter Tacoma Dairy Inc* Doddedale Farms
Silver Kenneth & Carol Tebos Edward & Darlene Gingerich Leon Hamming** Jernstadt Dairy Farm LLC William A Benson David L Dezeeuw*** Zuiderveen Farms** Wirth Farms LLC Bronze Gingrich Meadows Inc Carol A Hochstetler Dick Haven Farms LLC II Robert & Anna Miller Grindstone Farms LLC Lee's Woodland Farm LLC Van Polen Farms Bode Valley Farm Inc* Dennis & Eliza Anderson Jerry Mitchell & Christina Carmichael Yonkman Dairy* Many Blessings Dairy Inc Dale A Brinks Ronald J Brinks* Dick Haven Farms LLC** Kevin P Ardis Kerwin J Hamming Zuiderveen Farms Harold, Matthew, Michael & Robert Cnossen*** Glenn A Cotherman Aris Dairy Farm LLC Star City Farm Inc** Booms Dairy LLC Schooley Farm LLC* Nathan Webster Touchdown Dairy Eddie & Arlene Keim Flint Silver Weil Dairy Farm Cole Riverview Farms Inc K & K Kern Farms LLC Bronze Corner Oak Farm Frankenmuth Silver Thistle Dew Dairy Elkhorn Farms Inc Petzold Dairy Farms LLC Eric J Frahm
Bronze Chester J Petzold Roger M Weiss Dennis W Hetzner* Wardin Brothers Dairy LLC Richard R Wardin**** Weber Family Dairy LLC Larry, Ronald & John Keinath Krafft Farms LLC Haubenstricker Dairy Farm LLC Grand Rapids Silver Klamer Farms Inc* Fisk Farms**
Huron Silver Loren J Mazure Eric & Ashley Kennedy Kundinger Farms Inc Albert J Gusa*
Bronze L & E Robinson Farms LLC Mark & Cheryl Richmond T & G Dairy LLC James Schaendorf ** John Byma & Team Swift Dairy Farm Inc Hillman Silver Skudlarek Dairy Farm LLC Joseph P Zbytowski Todd Hemmingson Bronze Christensen Farms Chippewa Dairy LLC** Hardies And Sons Harvey & Rosa Nissley Sauer Dairy Farms Inc Galen Schalk Matthew & Taylor Noffze Risky Endeavor Dairy LLC Grams Farms Robert Hemmingson Kevin, Karen & Travis Zbytowski Fred, Corby & Cody Werth Lucas Dairy Farms LLC Butterwerth Dairy Farm LLC J & D Dairy Inc Ervin Lee Yoder** Brian Centala Vernon D Yoder Robert Troy Farms Nathan & Jodie Mitchell* Hillsdale-Litchfield Gold Jeremy & Jenelle Brenner*** Donald Lindsey* Silver Margro Farms Richard & Patricia Hawkins
Bronze Herman's Holsteins LLC* Drakeland Farms LLC Easterday Dairy Farm William L Bowerman Jeffrey & Marilyn Willson Wildt Farms David, Cecelia, Carlton & Carol Evans Daniel L Williams* Gordon, Joy & Justin Porter Ferris Farms Ted & Jonathan Keenan Chris Hassenzahl
Bronze Te Voortwis Dairy LLC Paul G Leipprandt & Son Inc Dian Volmering Starward Farm Nugent's Farm Dairy* Dynasty Dairy LLC Zielland Farms William C Mazure R L S Dairy Inc Oak River Dairy LLC Daniel Van Erp David J Leavine Prime Land Farm Ingham County Silver Fogle Farms MSU Dairy - Dept Of Animal Science Kubiak Family Farms Bronze Ri-Val-Re Farms Risch Farms Graf Acres LLC* Ron Launstein Casey Moore Marten Family Dairy LLC Jackson County Plus Silver Grand Valley Farms** Howe Farms Bronze Williams Family Farm LLC Choate's Belly Acres Riske Farms Zenz Farms CONTINUED ON PG. 22
JANUARY 2018 | MESSENGER
21
2017 MMPA QUALITY AWARDS – CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21 Kalamazoo Gold Verhage Dairy Farm Andrew W Johnson** Silver Wamhoff Family Dairy Farm LLC Rodney Pillars Melvin T Puschel Craig & Linda Jo Newland Bronze Cloverdale Farms LLC Webers Meadow LLC Clearview Dairy Farm LLC Bernard Baker Victor Puschel Martin & Sheri Wenger Vandenberg And Vandenberg Penney Farms Kevin Dykstra Lansing Silver Marvin J Hochstetler Bronze Clark & Danon Reeder Chris, Kristina, Hans & Patricia Langmaack Lyon Farm LLC Livingston Charter Silver Donal Farm LLC Charles & Janet White Bronze Gramer Farms LLC Bon-Tek Operations LLC Larry & Karen Adams* Clarinda Farms LLC Mid-Michigan Gold Steven H Simon Houska Farms Inc Lew-Max LLC*** Silver Berlyn Acres II LLC Wadell Dairy Farm LLC Cornerstone II Dairy LLC Wieber Dairy LLC Jon & Tina Thelen Green Meadow Farms Inc Green Meadow Farms Inc II Diller Farms
22
Bronze T & H Dairy II 1 Goodman Dairy Farm LLC Maple Glaze Dairy LLC Dutch Meadows Dairy LLC Adkinson Farm Steven C Roth ** Cook Dairy Farm Moriarty Farms Hogan Dairy Farms LLC H & H Dairy LLC Robert & Richard Skriba Dutch Meadows Dairy LLC II Stony Creek Dairy LLC Jeffry & Patricia Thelen Andrew J Feldpausch Kent Thelen Leroy & Stephanie Schafer Simon Dairy Farm LLC Brett & Jennifer Stump Sanborn & Sons LLC Stout Dairy Slavik Farms* Kenneth & Sandra Wyrick Thelen Dairy Inc William C Platte James J Pohl D & M Schrader Dairy LLC Riverview Dairy LLC Samuel I Ramer Leroy O Zimmerman T & H Dairy II 2 Anson K Martin Double A Dairy LLC Stephen Burkholder Mid-Sanilac Gold Timothy Mater Silver Frederick & Candice Inbody Timothy P Demaray Welter Dairy Farms LLC Edward Joe Lawler Goma Dairy Farms LLC Bronze Sharrard Farms LLC Shell Farms Inc Bradley R Booms David Shoemaker Radloff Dairy LLC Schultz Dairy LLC Thomas C Schultz Parr Dairy Farm LLC** Muxlow Dairy Farm Cumper Dairy Farms
MESSENGER | JANUARY 2018
MK Farms LLC*
Richard Papes
U.P West Central
David & James Heberling
Powers Dairy Farm LLC
Noll Dairy Farm Inc
Dan Mauer Dairy LLC
Gold Pirman Corner Farm Inc
Roger Markey*
Andrew, Casey & Glen Sparks*
Glen & Dale Phillips Farms
Robert & Betty Troyer
Reba Zimmerman & Sons
Riverside Dairy LLC
Weaverland Farms
Slater Farms 88th LLC
Steven & Lisa Alexander
J-Max LLC
Rick L Sutton Paramount Enterprises Dairy LLC D & P Dairy LLC
Mid-Thumb Gold Andrew A Brown Silver Reid Dairy Farm LLC Gleason Dairy Farm Alfred, Doris & Duane Stuever * Tracy & Theresa Sohn* Bronze Hudzinski Dairy Farm Delong Dairy Farm Perry W Heckman II Richard Noake* Steven & David Spencer Blumerich Farms William & Virginia Ankley*
Owosso Silver Ritter Farms LLC David Sovis Bronze Sandhill Dairy LLC Saline-Ann Arbor Gold Lambarth Farms LLC Bronze Breuninger Farms LLC Horning Farms LLC Huehl Acres Sunrise Gold Cedar Lane Dairy Farms
Upstate Gold Rubingh's Dairyland LLC Silver Joseph & Mary Gingerich Richard J Fettig Denis L Garvin Stanek Farm Bronze Douglas K Warner Boss Dairy Farms Inc
Circle K Farms Inc
West Michigan
W-R-L Daniels Farm LLC
Silver John & Philip Kuyers Arlyn J Walt Arlene & Matthew Terhaar Heritage Farms LLC Daybreak Dairy LLC*** Welchkin Acres Woodbridge Dairy Farm LLC Seth Ponstein
Timothy Hagley
Gold Donald A Beattie Sueann M Higgins Stroven Dairy Farm** Dewey Farm LLC**
Anschuetz Dairy Farm** Clemens Dairy Farm Inc* Brad & Nicole Wren
Silver Wenkel Farms Derek Brewer***
Bronze Slowpoke Farm LLC Albert Lee Tiles Slater Farms Baseline LLC Sunglow Dairy LLC*** Koppenol Dairy Farms Inc Wayne Hecksel Norris Dairy Farm Inc Davey Dairy Farm LLC Stakenas Farms Inc
Bronze Getz-Milk Dairy LLC Gary & Teresa Palosaari Drayton Family Dairy LLC Brad Pellegrini Robert Paidl* Milton A Patz
Lemajru Dairy Farm LLC
Muskegon
Silver Beuschel Fruit & Dairy LLC Larsen Farms David J Marsh Ackerberg Farms Tri-R Farms LLC Doug & Shelly Ekkel & Family
Silver Wieciech Farms James & Connie Seefeldt
Ron Diehl Twin Dairy
Bronze Double B Dairy* County Line Dairy LLC Sheppard Farms LLC Owen & Laura Hostetler & Henry Troyer Mark R Ramer Weber Dairy Farms LLC Barry Troyer Pine Grove Farm LLC Bennett Dairy Farm LLC Gallagher Dairy Farm Inc* Col-Shee Family Farm Nicholas Clark Alan Jantzi J & B Dairy LLC
Bronze Sherwin & Sherman Moored Pyle Dairy Farm Inc Dennis Raterink Robert & Donna Pepper Nienhuis Dairy Farm LLC Country Corners Farms LLC Robert & William Gruppen Mark & Elizabeth Ponstein
OYDC SNAPSHOT
TOP 10
OYDC 2017 Jesse & Chelsea Ramer
Jesse and Chelsea are first generation farmers. While working at a local dairy farm, Jesse had the opportunity to purchase a herd of cows and start his own operation. He and Chelsea currently rent the facilities where they milk and have hopes to purchase their own facilities soon. They split the milking duties as they both have off the farm jobs. Jesse focuses on feeding, breeding and herd heath and Chelsea cares for the dry cows and calves.
ABOUT US…
“Keeping the passion for farming alive and seeing good cows everyday helps ease the stress and helps us to remain positive during these challenging times,” said Jesse. “The miracle of life never gets old.” The couple appreciates being in control of the day to day decisions and seeing the results of running their farm.
Cows: 60 milking and dry
Land: 15 acres of pasture and hay
Milking facility: milking two times a day in a stanchion barn
Members of: Constantine Local, District 2
Ramer’s management tools include using DHIA, keeping detailed records on the cows and following their culturing protocol to ensure quality milk and healthy cows. They have also participated in the MMPA Milker Training program and calf care school.
JANUARY 2018 | MESSENGER
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2017-2018
LOCAL MEETINGS
The information listed below was available at press time. All members will receive complete meeting details in the invitation from their local. LOCAL DATE LOCATION CITY
TIME
Sunrise
1/3/2018
Klacking Township Hall
West Branch
12:00 p.m.
Muskegon
1/4/2018
Russ’ Banquet Room
Muskegon
11:30 a.m.
Deford/Clifford-Mayville
1/8/2018
Spring of Life Church
Mayville
12:00 p.m.
Frankenmuth
1/9/2018
DaVinci’s Italian Restaurant
Frankenmuth
12:00 p.m.
Alma
1/10/2018
Maxfield’s
Blanchard
11:30 a.m.
Ingham County
1/10/2018
Old Chicago
Okemos
6:30 p.m.
Flint/Livingston Charter/Owosso
1/10/2018
Durand VFW
Durand
12:00 p.m.
Grand Rapids
1/10/2018
Golden Corral
Walker
11:45 a.m.
Evart
1/11/2018
Rehoboth Reformed Church
McBain
11:00 a.m.
Mid-Michigan
1/11/2018
AgroLiquid Headquarters
St. Johns
11:45 a.m.
Hillman
1/12/2018
Ramada Inn
Alpena
11:30 a.m.
Huron
1/13/2018
Franklin Inn
Bad Axe
12:00 p.m.
Constantine
1/13/2018
Siloam Fellowship
Goshen, Ind.
10:30 a.m.
Saline-Ann Arbor
1/16/2018
Freedom Township Hall
Manchester
12:00 p.m.
Jackson County Plus
1/17/2018
Gene Davis & Sons Catering
Jackson
12:00 p.m.
Mid-Thumb
1/17/2018
Holly Meadows Golf Course
Capac
11:30 a.m.
West Michigan
1/17/2018
Denthe Grove
Zeeland
11:30 a.m.
Hillsdale-Litchfield
1/18/2018
Olivia’s Chophouse
Jonesville
12:00 p.m.
Mid-Sanilac
1/18/2018
Woodland Hills Country Club
Sandusky
11:00 a.m.
Adrian
1/19/2018
UAW Hall
Adrian
12:00 p.m
Blossomland
1/19/2018
Zeke’s Restaurant
Dowagiac
12:00 p.m.
Clare-Mt. Pleasant
1/19/2018
Clare Church of the Nazarene
Clare
11:00 a.m.
District 1
Adrian Local, Hillsdale-Litchfield Local, Jackson County Plus Local, Saline-Ann Arbor Local, Ingham County Local
District 2
What district is your mmpa local in?
Blossomland Local, Constantine Local, Kalamazoo Local, Barry-Eaton Local, Lansing Local
4
District 3
Grand Rapids Local, West Michigan Local, Muskegon Local
District 4
Hillman Local, Chippewa County Local, U.P. West Central Local, Upstate Local
District 5
Alma Local, Evart Local
3
5
7
District 6
Mid-Michigan Local, Owosso Local, Flint Local, Livingston Charter Local
6
District 7
Frankenmuth Local, Sunrise Local, Clare-Mt Pleasant Local, Deford/Clifford-Mayville Local
District 8
Huron Local, Mid-Sanilac Local, Mid-Thumb Local
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MESSENGER | JANUARY 2018
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1
8
MERCHANDISE
Winter Teat Dip January and February are typically the coldest months of the year. The combination of freezing temperatures and low humidity can cause teat ends to become chapped and damaged. The warehouse has products that can help maintain good teat end conditions.
Artec Ecolab’s Artec is a blue post-dip that is effective against mastitis-forming bacteria with the use of 1.5% heptanoic acid. It was proven to work very quickly in only 15 seconds of kill time. Artec also contains a triple blend of emollients for superior teat conditioning (78% system including glycerin and lanolin). The dip can be used during cold weather as skin protection reducing the need for teat salves or creams. Once again, during extreme cold, teat end blotting may be required after dipping. Item
Artec – 5 gallon Artec – 15 gallon Artec – 55 gallon
Stock #
Member Price
6064 6981 6077
$95.19 $246.56 $828.08
Udder Cream For those cows that do experience chapped or damaged teats, Ken Ag’s Udder Cream can help. This product can be used in cold or warm weather. Udder Cream softens and soothes chapped teats and udders in wintertime and aids in the prevention of dryness during sunny and windy summer conditions. Caution: To avoid contamination of milk, thoroughly wash and dry udder and teats before each milking using an individual clean towel. Item
Udder Cream 14 oz. tub
Stock #
5710
Member Price
$4.69
Chemical, Sanitizer and Teat Dip Contact Information These are service personnel only. Order your Member Merchandise supplies through your hauler.
ECOLAB 24 -Hour Medical Emergency Hotline: 1-800-328-0026 For Service, call the Ecolab Service Message Center 1-800-392-3392 or one of the following service representatives: Ben Johnson 4461 Cambridge Dr. Port Huron, MI 48060 810-824-0636 Pat Mitchell 7273 N. Rollin Hwy. Addison, MI 49220 517-403-0928 Jason Wolfe 1890 Canter Dr. Riner, VA 24149 540-553-5755
1 Place order through your milk hauler 2 Call in your order:
THREE WAYS TO ORDER YOUR MMPA MERCHANDISE
Duane Farmer, Supervisor...........................................................989-317-8370
Toll Free.............................................................................................877-367-6455
Orders (Novi).......................................................... 800-572-5824 then dial 2
3. Fax in your order:
MMPA Merchandise fax................................................................ 989-317-8372
JANUARY 2018 | MESSENGER
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MERCHANDISE PREMIUMS
MMPA Quality Premium Program Somatic Cell Count premiums and deductions (in addition to Federal Order SCC Adjustments computed in the producer pay price) will be paid at the following levels:
MMPA Member Testing Fees Payment for testing will be made through an automatic milk check deduction. All costs are listed per individual sample.
50,000 or below.............................................................................. +55¢/cwt.
Cow Tests: $1
51,000-75,000....................................................................................... +50¢/cwt.
Cow samples may be tested for:
76,000-100,000.............................................................................. +45¢/cwt.
Culture for Streptococcus agalactiae, Strep non ag, Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase negative staph, gram negative and/or SCC.
101,000-125,000....................................................................................+40¢/cwt. 126,000-150,000............................................................................. +35¢/cwt. 151,000-175,000.................................................................................... +30¢/cwt.
Additional testing can be coordinated through your MMPA member representative to include:
176,000-200,000............................................................................ +25¢/cwt.
Raw bacteria count and components.
201,000-225,000.................................................................................. +20¢/cwt.
All herd tests must be scheduled with the laboratory through your MMPA member
226,000-250,000............................................................................ +15¢/cwt. 251,000-300,000.................................................................................+00¢/cwt. 301,000-400,000.......................................................................... - 30¢/cwt.
representative.
Additional Tests Available: All costs are listed per individual sample.
401,000-500,000.............................................................................. -$1.00/cwt.
• Mycoplasma Cultures...........................................................................$13
501,000-600,000......................................................................... -$1.50/cwt.
• Bacteriology Cultures...........................................................................$15
601,000 and greater........................................................................ -$2.00/cwt.
– Includes identification of bacteria and drug susceptibility.
A payment of 5¢/cwt. will be added for each of the following, if the count is equal to or below: • 10,000 Raw Bacteria Count • 20,000 Pre-Incubated (PI) Count
• Bovine Viral Diarrhea
There will be a deduction of 10¢/cwt. for: • Greater than 100,000 Raw Bacteria Count
• Johne’s Milk Test
- PCR.........................................................................................................$40 - ELISA........................................................................................................$6
- PCR.........................................................................................................$40
A high raw count deduction will be waived if the producer has received the quality premium the previous three months for raw bacteria count.
To qualify for Raw and PI Bacteria Count premiums there must not be any of the following during the month: • Positive drug residue • Abnormal freeze points • High load count shipment or rejected load shipment • #3 or #4 sediment • Raw Bacteria count over 100,000 The count levels for raw and PI will be determined on one test run per month.
To qualify for MMPA SCC premiums there must be: • No abnormal freeze points during the month
- ELISA – cows.........................................................................................$6 - ELISA – tank......................................................................................... $10 • Bovine Leukosis Test - ELISA – cows.........................................................................................$6 - ELISA – tank......................................................................................... $10 • Milk Pregnancy ELISA.................................................................... $4.50
Lab test results by mail: $2/month All tests must be scheduled through your MMPA member representative or the laboratory for proper sample submission protocol. Lab form provided below for your convenience.
NORTHSTAR MI LABORATORIES Loc/Hlr/Producer #___________________________________________ Sample Date_____________________ Member name________________________________________________ Sample ID________________________ BLV ELISA _________
Johne’s ELISA _________
Johne’s PCR _________
Pregnancy _________
Refer to fee schedule above for current pricing. The cost of testing is the responsibility of the producer. To avoid potential service charges, this card MUST be filled out completely when sending samples to be tested by NorthStar Labs.
26
MESSENGER | JANUARY 2018
POLICIES MERCHANDISE
MMPA Policy on Drug Residue in Milk MILK ON FARM – DRUG RESIDUE SUSPECTED
MILK SHIPPED — POSITIVE DRUGS CONFIRMED
If a member suspects milk in the farm bulk tank contains drug residue:
If a member ships milk from the farm and testing by approved laboratory methods show that the milk contained drug residue, the member will be assessed the penalties imposed by the state regulatory agency and be disqualified for raw and PI bacteria count premiums.
1 Call a MMPA member representative to have the milk in the tank tested. A “hold” must be placed on the tank contents until the test results are known.
OR 2 The member can test the milk on the farm. If dumped, the member must be sure to take the stick reading, record the number of pounds of milk and report the information to their member representative. • If the tank tests negative (no drugs present), the milk may be released and shipped. • If the tank tests positive (drugs present), the member representative will authorize the member to dump the tank of milk. The member will be paid 75% of the value of the tank of milk involved.* • If for any reason MMPA personnel must pick up samples at the farm for testing three or more times within 12 consecutive months, the member involved will be charged $25 per trip.
If a loss is incurred by MMPA due to the disposal and/or non-marketability of a load of milk or milk products containing drug residue, then the member responsible will be provided an invoice for the entire value of the loss plus transportation and disposal costs as required by the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance. This invoice may be submitted to the member’s insurance carrier. MMPA must receive settlement on the invoice within 90 days of issuance. If settlement is not made within 90 days, the full amount of the invoice will be deducted from the next milk check unless other settlement arrangements are made. Milk from that member’s farm tank must be tested and found clear of drugs before the next tank of milk can be picked up. A hauler whose entire load sample shows the presence of drugs will be charged the amount of an average shipment on that load if the individual member samples all show negative.
ALL POSITIVE DRUG RESIDUE SHIPMENTS MUST BE REPORTED TO THE ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.
MMPA Milk Quality Policy QUALITY QUESTIONABLE
REJECTED LOAD SHIPMENT
When a member suspects that the milk in the farm bulk tank is of poor quality they should call a MMPA member representative who will authorize milk in the tank to be dumped. If the member dumps the milk on their own, they must be sure to take the stick reading and record the number of pounds of milk, and report the information to the member representative.
If…
If the milk is dumped, the member will be paid 75% of the value of the tank of milk involved.* In order to receive payment for an added water voluntary dump, the member must install a Swingline Safety Switch. The Swingline Safety Switch can be ordered from the Mt. Pleasant warehouse. The MMPA member representative will verify the switch has been installed. Reimbursement for the Swingline Safety Switch and the voluntary dump will then be made to the member. The member assumes all liability for losses incurred as a result of shipping poor quality or contaminated milk.
MILK SHIPPED – HIGH BACTERIA COUNT
If… 1 a load of milk is received (unloaded) at a dairy processing plant and, 2 a sample from the load has a bacteria count of 300,000 or more and, 3 testing of the individual member samples on that load identifies the member or members having a bacteria count of 300,000 or more, then the member or members involved will be charged the value of one-half of one day’s production** and will be disqualified for raw and PI bacteria count premiums. * The member will only be paid for two (2) voluntary dumps in a rolling 12 month period. ** For members using more than one bulk tank, the assessment will be based on the value of milk in the tank or tanks in violation of the MMPA quality policy
1 a load of milk is rejected (not unloaded) at a dairy processing plant and, 2 the milk cannot be sold through normal Grade A channels for reasons of quality which results in the load being sold or disposed of at a loss to MMPA, and, 3 testing of the individual member samples on that load identifies the member or members that caused the contamination or rejection of the load, then, the member or members responsible will be charged the full value of the loss to MMPA plus transportation and disposal costs, and be disqualified for raw and PI bacteria count premiums except for loads rejected for temperature. 4 MMPA will provide an invoice to the member for the amount of the loss, to be submitted to the member’s insurance carrier. MMPA must receive settlement on the invoice within 90 days of issuance. If settlement is not made within 90 days, the full amount of the invoice will be deducted from the next milk check unless other settlement arrangements are made. If a member has three or more occurrences within 12 consecutive months, that member must appear before the MMPA board of directors to review steps taken on the farm to correct the quality problem which will enable MMPA to continue to market the milk for this member.
HAULER A hauler whose entire load sample exceeds 300,000 cells per mL bacteria count will be charged the amount of an average shipment on that load if the individual member samples all are less than 100,000. A hauler will be responsible for all costs incurred by MMPA for loads rejected for temperature. Charges and assessments made under this program will be withheld from milk checks of members or haulers involved.
JANUARY 2018 | MESSENGER
27
FREELINERS
Freeliners and Classifieds can now be submitted online. Visit www.mimilk.com/michigan-milk-messenger/advertise/freeliner-and-classified-ads
Freeliner Policy The Freeliners column is open to current MMPA members who wish to advertise—at no charge— goods or services relating directly to their dairy farm operations. • An item submitted will be published for no more than two consecutive months (one month, unless otherwise requested). After that, it will be withdrawn. • It will be published again for no more than two consecutive months only if the member resubmits the item by writing or calling the Novi office. • Reference to a name of a firm
Bulls
Cows
Registered Holstein Bulls: We now have a nice selection of service age bulls, sired by top AI sires. Green Meadow Farms, Elsie, MI. 989-862-4291 or visit www.greenmeadowfarms.com.
Big Holstein AI Springing heifers.
Service age Holstein bulls. Call Steve Alexander, 810-622-8548 evenings or 810-404-8548.
$1,600 each. Your choice. 989-330-6416. Breeding age heifers and Holstein bred heifers due in March and April. Call 231-869-5233.
Equipment New Holland, model 892 forage
Registered Holstein breeding bulls, all AI sired from top bulls, b&w, red, red carrier and some polled, high production, low SCC herd. Bulls are priced to sell. Ver Hage Holsteins, 269-673-4886 or 269-217-6076, ask for Tim. www.verhageholsteins.com. Big Holstein AI Springing heifers. $1,600 each. Your
harvester with electric controls, hay head, #824 2-row corn head, screen used for snaplage, nearly new knives and shear bar, good condition, $4,800. 989-574-7229. 2017 Corn Silage, bunker, packed and covered. Sample available Ionia County. 616-893-8756.
choice. 989-330-6416.
or other commercial enterprise with which a member is involved will be deleted, with permission of the member. • If the member does not wish such deletion, he/she may choose to have the item
LEGENDAIRY.
published as a Classified Ad at the regular per-line Classified
No bull.
Ad rate.
Co-Products Menu
• Freeliners must be received
Soybean meal, canola meal, hominy, oat hulls, wheat midds, citrus pulp, malt sprouts, beet pulp, soybean hulls, cereal feed, cottonseed, distillers, gluten feed, wet feeds and more!
by the 10th of the month preceding desired month of publication.
Non-GMO
products available
Contact merchandisers at ZFS, Inc: MI/IN/OH: 866.888.7082 WI: 800-523-6760 www.zfsinc.com/divisions/ingredients
28
MESSENGER | JANUARY 2018
CLASSIFIED ADS
Cost for classifieds is $20 per ad, up to six lines. All ads must be received by the 10th of the month before the month of desired publication. Send check or money order for $20 for up to 6 lines with your order. MMPA neither sponsors nor endorses products or services advertised in the Messenger. You may submit your ads by: MAIL:
Classified Ads Michigan Milk Messenger P.O. BOX 800 Novi, MI 48376-8002
EMAIL: Muszynski@mimilk.com FAX: 248-426-3412
Concrete Grooving and Texturing Call: Jeff Brisky - Owner Toll Free: 1-800-294-1202 Cell: 1-716-353-1137
OPPERMAN GROOVING: We can fix your scabbled floors. Diamond sawed grooves, no hammering or cracking of concrete. No hoof damage. Call Opperman Grooving Inc., Portland. 517-647-7381.
DRY HAY & STRAW (large & small bales) & BARLEY FOR FEED. 989-723-1886 or 989-277-1414.
DAVIDSON CEMENT GROOVING, INC: NO water needed. Wider, rougher grooves for better traction. We also offer texturing for your previously grooved floors. Three operators will travel Michigan and other states. No interest payment terms. Est. 1987. Call 1-800-365-3361.
NEW KATOLIGHT PTO GENERATOR, 60 KW, keep everyone warm and producing if there is a power outage. Call Brent at 248-770-5122.
CONCRETE GROOVING BY TRI-STATE SCABBLING, home of the 2” wide groove. Best traction, lowest prices. (800) 554-2288. www.tristatescabbling.com. A SURE WAY TO KEEP YOUR COWS UPRIGHT! Concrete grooving/ texturing provides high quality traction in new & old concrete, fast service. Call for your below pricing 989-635-1494. BLUE RIBBON HOOF TRIMMING, LLC.
ALPHALFA HAYLAGE (excellent & fair grades) & CORN SILAGE. Call 989-723-1886 or 989-277-1414.
HOOF TRIMMING - 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. Also doing fly control and cement grooving. Gibson Hoof Care (Tom) 989-239-6843. FOR SALE: NEW & USED MILK TANKS. We stock all sizes, makes, models. Special prices to co-op members, corporate & private farms. Contact us anytime day or night. Spring special 2000 gal. Muellers for $13,900 & up. 2700 & 4000 gal. Muellers call for quote. 800-558-0112. FOR SALE: SPRINGING HEIFERS out of an AI bred herd. Aron Whitaker, Elsie, MI. 989-666-6565. HEIFERS FOR SALE! Nearly 100 AI bred Holstein Heifers, all pregnant due February-September from a herd with a RHA of 29,000. 231-631-1620.
Thinking about installing solar panels? Get valuable, practical guidance January and February 2018 featuring Extension expertise from • Michigan State University • The Ohio State University • • University of Nebraska • University of Wyoming • during six 60-minute sessions Agricultural Solar Electric Investment Analysis webinars Learn more and register https://events.anr.msu.edu/SolarAnalysisWebinar/ Questions? Contact Charles Gould at 616-994-4547 or gouldm@msu.edu
REGISTERED HOLSTEIN BULLS OVER 100 SERVICE AGE BULLS FOR YOUR SELECTION!
PTO and Automatic Start Generators
A special herd sire or a truck load of breeder bulls. Ready to go to work on your farm!
• Sired by the top sires from the U.S. and Canada • From our top production cows
1-800-248-8070 M-40 South Hamilton, MI 49419
GREEN MEADOW FARMS
www.hamiltondist.com
www.greenmeadowfarms.com
6400 Hollister Road, Elsie, MI 48831 Phone: 989-862-4291
JANUARY 2018 | MESSENGER
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MARKET REPORT
Statistical Summary | FOR MILK MARKETED IN NOVEMBER 2017 AMS Survey Prices (monthly average, per pound)
Cheese 1.7617 / LB
Market Statistics - Mideast Federal Order #33 # This Month # Year Ago % Change Total Class 1 Sales
560,193,884
562,430,320
-0.40
Total Class 2 Sales
270,971,188
305,557,778
-11.32
Total Class 3 Sales
378,484,580
300,934,556
+25.77
Total Class 4 Sales
276,632,335
275,457,091
+0.43
1,486,281,987
1,444,379,745
+2.90
37.7%
38.9%
Total Production Class 1 Utilization
Mideast Federal Order #33 Total Producers...............................................................................4,819 Avg. Daily Production per farm....................................................10,281 Avg. Protein Test...........................................................................3.21%
Butter 2.2810 / LB
Avg. Butterfat Test.........................................................................3.92% Avg. Oth Solids Test......................................................................5.75% Avg. SCC - MMPA......................................................................186,000
Component Pricing Information Mideast Federal Order #33 Protein Price /lb.......................................................................... $2.3412
Milk Powders
Other Solids Price /lb................................................................. $0.1644
NonfatDry Milk
Class III Price @ 3.5%.................................................................... $16.88
0.7553 / LB
Prod. Price Diff /cwt. - Mich Mkt................................................... ($0.84)
Dry Whey
Uniform Price @ 3.5%................................................................... $16.04
0.3587 / LB
SCC Adjustment /cwt /1000..................................................... $0.00088
National Trends* (production in millions of pounds)
*For 23 States 30
Butterfat Price /lb....................................................................... $2.5546
MESSENGER | JANUARY 2018
California Wisconsin New York Idaho Pennsylvania Michigan Texas Minnesota New Mexico Washington Ohio Indiana Total U.S. U.S Y-T-D
2017
3,181 2,445 1,191 1,173 879 901 973 791 653 523 442 347 16,247 185,438
2016
3,215 2,422 1,194 1,180 861 882 919 779 640 527 438 336 16,066 182,585
% Change
-1.1 +0.9 -0.3 -0.6 +2.1 +2.2 +5.9 +1.5 +2.0 -0.8 +0.9 +3.3 +1.1 +1.6
MMPA STAFF MERCHANDISE
MMPA Field Staff
Novi Headquarters
Manager of Field Services Ben Chapin, Blanchard......................................989-289-0731
Main Office Local line...................................................... 248-474-6672 Toll free......................................................... 800-572-5824
Northwest Area Supervisor Sarah Michalek, Dewitt.....................................248-305-0537 Animal Care Coordinator Deb Gingrich, Leroy...........................................248-520-3580 Frank Brazeau, Oconto, WI................................906-250-0337 Lyndsay Earl, Ludington.....................................231-519-2455 Elyse Martin, Charlotte......................................810-701-6460 Bridget Moore, Perrinton...................................231-414-4539 Dirk Okkema, Blanchard.................................. 248-756-2062
Northeast Area Supervisor & Mastitis Management Specialist Christy Dinsmoore, Vassar.................................248-513-7920 Animal Care Coordinator Lindsay Green, East Lansing...............................989-488-8159 Ashley Herriman, Herron...................................269-245-6632 Laura Lubeski, Bad Axe......................................248-826-6294 Emily Peacock, Imlay City...................................248-826-7243
Southwest Area Supervisor Dave Brady, Grass Lake......................................517-937-9061 Energy Auditor Ed Zuchnik, Three Rivers....................................269-967-7351 Brittni Tucker, Wyoming....................................248-880-3785 Steve Post, White Pigeon...................................248-938-1555
Southeast Area Supervisor & Mastitis Management Specialist Steve Lehman, Ithaca........................................989-330-1638 Rachel Botta, Findlay, OH...................................248-533-2288 Joe Packard, Manchester...................................248-520-3481
Other Member Services
General Manager Joe Diglio................................................................ ext. 202 Chief Financial Officer Josep Barenys......................................................... ext. 240 Hedging and Business Development Aaron Beak............................................................. ext. 256
Officers
Member and Government Relations Sheila Burkhardt..................................................... ext. 208
Mark Halbert, Vice President
Management Information Systems Andrew Caldwell.....................................................ext. 304
Joe Diglio, GM / Secretary
Quality Amandeep Dhillon.................................................. ext. 305
Todd Hoppe, General Counsel
Sales James Feeney.......................................................... ext. 258
Directors-At-Large
Kris Wardin, St. Johns 989-640-9420
Member Services Dean Letter................................................... 989-289-9251 Credit/Insurance Cheryl Schmandt.................................................... ext. 210 Communications Allison Stuby Miller................................................. ext. 296 Krista Schrock............................................... 269-986-6792 Supply Chain Therese Tierney....................................................... ext. 217 Member Relations Jessica Welch.......................................................... ext. 303
Manufacturing Plants
MMPA Labs
Constantine, Michigan Dave Davis, Plant Manager............................ 269-435-2835 Ovid, Michigan Colt Johnson, Plant Manager........................ 989-834-2221 Middlebury Cheese Co., Middlebury, Indiana Henry England, Plant Manager...................... 574-825-9511
Merchandise - Mt. Pleasant Supervisor: Duane Farmer Main Line......................................................... 989-317-8370 Toll Free............................................................ 877-367-6455 Orders (Novi)..................................800-572-5824, then dial 2 Fax................................................................... 989-317-8372 Merchandise Coordinator, Energy Auditor Katie Pierson.....................................................989-289-9686
Josep Barenys, Asst. Treasurer
Operations Ed Jaquay............................................................... ext. 248
Sustainability Coordinator Kendra Kissane, Grand Rapids...........................248-880-4234
Constantine (Daily, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.).........800-391-7560
Eric Frahm, Treasurer
Ken Nobis, St. Johns 989-224-6170 or 248-474-6672, ext. 202
Human Resources Bill Zoli.................................................................... ext. 301
Ovid (Daily, 6 a.m.-10 p.m.)..................... 989-834-2515
Ken Nobis, President
Laboratory Supervisor Patti Huttula........................................................... ext. 219
Bulk Tank Calibration John Lehman, Elsie............................................248-444-6775
Novi (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) In Michigan....................................................800-572-5824 Toll Free 800-233-2405
Board of Directors
If you are unable to reach your assigned member representative, please contact the representatives listed in your area. Your assigned member representative is listed on your quality statements or can be found by visiting mimilk.com/contact/ field-staff and searching by your producer number.
Gertie van den Goor, Marlette 989-550-8453 Mark Halbert, Battle Creek 269-964-0511 Mark Iciek, Gladwin 989-387-4767 District Directors 1 Hank Choate Cement City 517-529-9032 2 Tim Hood Paw Paw 269-657-5771 3 David Pyle Zeeland 616-772-1512 4 Corby Werth Alpena 989-464-5436 5 Doug Chapin Remus 231-349-4059 6 Tony Jandernoa Fowler 989-593-2224 7 Eric Frahm Frankenmuth 989-652-3552 8 Scott Lamb Jeddo 810-327-6135
JANUARY 2018 | MESSENGER
31
is what the Michigan Milk Producers Association is all about. We’re working together for our farm families and the communities we serve. MMPA IS A DAIRY COOPERATIVE AND MILK PROCESSOR SERVING DAIRY FARMERS IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION SINCE 1916.
MMPA
41310 BRIDGE STREET, NOVI, MI 48375
(248) 474-6672
MIMILK.COM