Michigan Milk Messenger: April 2018

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 10 | APRIL 2018

102ND ANNUAL STATE DELEGATE MEETING Focus on CooperatioN

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APRIL 2018 FEATURES

VITRO FERTILIZATION: 14 | INDOES IT PAY OFF?

On the Cover Focused on Cooperation, MMPA members and guests gathered in Lansing for the 102nd Annual State Delegate meeting.

Speakers Steve Buschur, Tyler Boyd and Brent Wickstrom shared their expertise and experiences with IVF on their farms at the Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference.

ANNUAL STATE DELEGATE 16 | 102ND MEETING RECAP

Highlights from the 102nd Annual State Delegate Meeting held in Lansing, MI on March 15. MMPA leaders shared an update on activities, a new director was elected, members were honored with awards and resolutions were approved.

25 |

NATIONAL MILK PRODUCTION RESULTS RELEASED

2017 national milk production data by state was recently released. Our highlights from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service report include top ten milk production and milk per cow numbers.

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.

APRIL 2018 | MESSENGER

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“

After we lost our herdsman, we were stuck without the help and time needed to breed cows and administer our synchronization program. We interviewed, but didn’t find the right person; allthe-while our pregnancy rate began to decrease.

After talking to another dairy producer who was raving about the results of CowManager we decided it was time to give it a try.

CowManager has improved my daily routine significantly by freeing up the hours I used to spend checking for heats and administering our synchronization program. We receive alerts straight to our phones which tell us which animal is in heat and where in her cycle she is.

Month after month we keep hitting it out of the ball park on our pregnancy check. In fact, now our worst month for pregnancies is still better than what we were averaging before installing CowManager. The accuracy that CowManager has provided has allowed us to eliminate our synchronization program entirely.

We saved so much money with CowManager that we expanded it to include our heifers. CowManager has already proved its worth and has provided all of the advantages it promised.

“

~Jim Slavik, Ashley, Michigan

Talk to your NorthStar Rep or call 800.631.3510 to learn more about CowManager. ®CowManager is a registered trademark of Agis Automatisering.

CowManager_Slavik_MIlk Messenger_Full Page_2018.indd 1

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CONTENTS 6 8 10 12 20 21 22 23 27 28 29 34

MMPA MATTERS

“Our relationship with MMPA and its dairy farmer members, has spanned three decades and we look forward to our continued partnership.”

– L EPRINO FOODS COMPANY PRESIDENT,

QUALITY WATCH NEWS & VIEWS LEGISLATIVE WATCH

MIKE DURKIN (PAGE 20)

MMPA RECOGNIZES LEPRINO FOODS AS VALUED PARTNER 2018 DISTRICT OFFICERS ELECTED

DEPARTMENTS

MMPA RECOGNIZES 35- AND 50-YEAR MEMBERS

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MERCHANDISE

38

QUALITY PREMIUMS

FOREMOST FARMS AND MMPA EXPAND STRATEGIC ALLIANCE

39 POLICIES

OYDC SNAPSHOT: JASON ELENBAUM

40 FREELINERS

YOUR DAIRY PROMOTION AT WORK

41 CLASSIFIEDS

CURRENT RESOLUTIONS

42

STANDING RESOLUTIONS

43 STAFF

MARKET REPORT

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)

APRIL 2018 | MESSENGER

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MMPA MATTERS

Top Quality and Open Communication are Key to a Brighter Future for Dairy

BY KEN NOBIS, MMPA PRESIDENT

Communication is key to the success of the dairy industry. We see things on the internet and social media and through other methods. Face-to-face interaction is probably the most effective way that we build trust and relationships. TV, radio, newspaper and other print media are important, and the rumor mill is always out there. Many things, including the rumor mill, are not within our control.

Operating in a global market where government policies of our dairy competitors in other countries create a difficult playing field for U.S. dairy presents control challenges.

The economic policy of the European Union is a good example. We can’t control it, but at the same time we must adjust our course to deal with its challenges. The E.U. dairy production is about 1.6 times larger than ours, and the producers have had far more government assistance to develop export markets than we’ve experienced.

“Milk quality provides a prime example of something MMPA manages well.

Thirty-seven percent of all 2017 national awards went to MMPA members…”

Approximately 15 percent of the U.S. milk production is exported, and 95 percent of the world’s consumers are outside our borders. Trade negotiations directly affect our prices, but we have little or no control over the outcomes. We monitor and advocate for good trade deals for our industry, and we again adjust our course to meet the challenges.

Issues that fall somewhere between controllable and uncontrollable include the Margin Protection Plan as passed in the last Farm Bill. MMPA worked with the National Milk Producers Federation and Congress to formulate a viable safety net for dairy, and we were successful until changes happened at the last minute. However, none of us gave up. We kept the issue in front of Congress, who made some basic changes that should provide a much better safety net going forward.

We can never, of course, take our eye off issues that are difficult or impossible to manage; however, other more controllable projects deserve equal, or in some cases, more attention.

Milk quality provides a prime example of something MMPA manages well. Thirty-seven percent of all 2017 national awards went to MMPA members, including a Platinum Award won by Butterwerth Dairy. At the 2017 World Dairy Expo Champion Dairy Product Contest, MMPA unsalted butter captured first place. MMPA’s Heritage Ridge Creamery received the top 2017 Grand Champion Cheese award. MMPA’s quality has kept pace with consumers’ – and therefore our customers’ - quest for the best. Excellent quality starts on the farm.

MMPA has also reached 100 percent participation with the national dairy FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) program. This confirms to our customers that our producers are responsibly caring for their animals. Sustainability guidelines must also be followed in response to our customers’ requests. Here again, the natural question for us as producers to ask is, “Why do I need to put in writing something I’ve practiced forever?” The answer is that our consumers don’t see firsthand how we operate, so we need to provide reassurance.

Communicating our message accurately to our customers and consumers is a priority.

Communication helps us build great working relationships, and it maintains our integrity and reputation as we focus on adding value to our members’ milk. We will continue to reach out in many ways to make sure our message is heard.

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MESSENGER | APRIL 2018

QUALITY WATCH

Ventilation in your barns: How does it affect your cows?

BY LYNDSAY EARL, MEMBER REPRESENTATIVE

Adequate ventilation, whether natural or mechanical, is vital to the health of the animals on your farm. Proper ventilation can prevent respiratory issues and health concerns by removing water vapor, microbes, heat and odors from the air.

This article will focus on key components of adequate ventilation and how to address them.

“With proper ventilation and adequate air exchange, you will not only increase cow comfort, but also reduce the risk of debilitating respiratory issues and other health concerns.”

Proper air exchange in the barn is important to remove the stagnant air and replace it with fresh clean air. This process removes moisture and odors from the air and helps prevent respiratory issues in cattle. In facilities where sawdust or straw are used as bedding, moisture control is especially crucial. One way to determine if your bedding is too damp is by performing the “knee test.” Kneel in the stall, if your knees are wet when you stand up, the bedding is too wet.

Damp bedding may lead to higher bacteria counts in the stalls which could result in more mastitis cases, especially if udder preparation practices are less than ideal. Other signs of poor ventilation could include foul odors, animals coughing frequently or cows throwing sand on their backs due to large numbers of flies in freestall facilities.

The National Dairy FARM program recommends a minimum of four air exchanges per hour in the winter and 40-80 air exchanges per hour in the heat of the summer. Holding areas outside the parlor should also have proper ventilation and air movement during milking times. This is important during hot, humid weather because the cows are grouped tightly together during this time.

Your ventilation system should be easy to control and adjust based on the weather and/or time of year. During the summer months, more air movement may be required to help keep animals cool in the barns. Cows can start to feel the effects of heat stress when the temperature exceeds 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat stress may result in decreased dry matter intake, thus lowering milk production.

Ventilation is also important during winter months, to help keep air moving and remove the moisture that is produced by the animals.

Barns should be equipped with curtains that can be raised or lowered and/or fans that be adjusted as needed. Fans should be cleaned regularly to ensure that they function properly and are not circulating dust throughout the barn. Automatic controls, such as fans with moisture or temperature sensors, may be helpful to maintain ideal conditions in the barns as the weather changes throughout the day or season.

With proper ventilation and adequate air exchange, you will not only increase cow comfort, but also reduce the risk of debilitating respiratory issues and other health concerns.

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MESSENGER | APRIL 2018

Milker Training Schools aim to help improve the marketability Milker Milker Training Training Schools Schools aim aim to to help help improve improve the the marketability marketability of MMPA members’ milk by providing milk quality and animal of of MMPA MMPA members’ members’ milk milk by by providing providing milk milk quality quality and and animal animal stockmanship knowledge, tools and training to members and stockmanship stockmanship knowledge, knowledge, tools tools and and training training to to members members and and their employees. their employees. their employees.

Strategies to help members achieve this goal include: Strategies Strategies to to help help members members achieve achieve this this goal goal include: include: •• Relay proper milking techniques and milk quality Relay proper milking techniques and milk quality • Relay proper milking techniques and milk quality procedures. procedures. procedures.

•• Present the big-picture science of mastitis and milk quality.

• Present Present the the big-picture big-picture science science of of mastitis mastitis and and milk milk quality. quality.

•• Give members a chance to try-on and practice proper Give members a chance to try-on and practice proper • Give members a chance to try-on and practice proper milking techniques and procedures. milking milking techniques techniques and and procedures. procedures.

•• Improve stockmanship and animal care while supporting • Improve Improve stockmanship stockmanship and and animal animal care care while while supporting supporting National Dairy FARM requirements.

National National Dairy Dairy FARM FARM requirements. requirements.

Milker Training School classes can be taught in Spanish upon request.

Milker MilkerTraining TrainingSchool Schoolclasses classescan canbe betaught taughtin inSpanish Spanishupon uponrequest. request.

Milker Milker Training School Values Milker Training Training School School Values Values

Partnership, Quality, Animal Care Consistency, Partnership, Partnership, Quality, Quality, Animal Animal Care Care Consistency, Consistency, Education and Affirmation Education Education and and Affirmation Affirmation To register, contact: Marianne Gasiewski at 248-442-7597 or To Toregister, register,contact: contact:Marianne MarianneGasiewski Gasiewskiat at248-442-7597 248-442-7597or or To register, contact: Marianne Gasiewski at 248-422-7597 or gasiewski@mimilk.com.

A $10 per person registration fee will be gasiewski@mimilk.com. gasiewski@mimilk.com. AA$10 $10per perperson personregistration registrationfee feewill willbe be gasiewski@mimilk.com.

A $10 per person registration fee will be deducted from your milk check to cover lunch and material costs. deducted from your milk check to cover lunch and material costs. deducted from your milk check to cover lunch and material costs. deducted from your milk check to cover lunch and material costs.

April 12 April April 12 12

10:00 a.m. -- 3:00 p.m.

10:00 10:00a.m. a.m. -3:00 3:00p.m. p.m.

Clare Church of the Nazarene Clare ClareChurch Churchof ofthe theNazarene Nazarene 10160 S Grant Ave., Clare, MI 10160 10160SSGrant GrantAve., Ave.,Clare, Clare,MI MI

April 24 April April 24 24

10:00 a.m. -- 3:00 p.m.

10:00 10:00a.m. a.m. -3:00 3:00p.m. p.m.

Whittemore Fire House Whittemore WhittemoreFire FireHouse House 503 S. Bullock St., Whittemore, MI 503 503S. S.Bullock BullockSt., St.,Whittemore, Whittemore,MI MI

NEWS & VIEWS Producers Scoring 95 Percent or Higher on Grade A Surveys and Federal Check Ratings Michael Schwartz Menno Steury Car-Min-Vu Farm LLC* Choate's Belly Acres Halbert Dairy Farm LLC Cloverdale Farms LLC* Penney Farms* Timothy / Charles Hood Tamara Spicher *100 percent

February Milk Prices Announced The USDA announced the February Class III milk price is $13.40 per hundredweight, down 60 cents from January's price and $3.48 less than February 2017. The Class IV price was 26 cents less than the January price at $12.87 and was $2.72 lower than last February. The agency also said that the January Margin Protection Program margin was $8.12/cwt.

Upcoming Events APRIL 6 Young Cooperator Conference, Battle Creek

APRIL 10 Advisory Committee Meeting

APRIL 10 & 11 Indiana Milk Quality Conference, Ft. Wayne, IN

Michigan Alliance for Animal Agriculture increases support for research, outreach in 2018 Michigan’s animal agriculture industry will receive a boost in research and outreach for 2018 through a 4-year-old initiative called the Michigan Alliance for Animal Agriculture (M-AAA).

The partnership, now among Michigan State University (MSU), animal agriculture commodity organizations and the state of Michigan, has expanded from $600,000 in 2015 to $3.1 million this year.

The increased investment is helping researchers address some of animal agriculture’s most pressing problems, such as protecting the environment, combatting antibiotic resistance, managing infectious diseases and improving animal welfare.

“It’s crucial that as our support increases, we rise to the task of offering longterm solutions for the animal agriculture industry,” said George Smith, the associate director of MSU AgBioResearch and associate dean for research in the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. “The grant process remains extremely competitive and rigorous, ensuring that the quality of our work is paramount. This year’s projects represent a diverse collection of the issues we’re confronting every day.”

Grants are awarded in one of three categories: research, extension or seed funding. In 2018, 27 projects were chosen for funding.

For example, MSU researchers Paul Bartlett and Paul Coussens are furthering their efforts into mitigating the spread of bovine leukemia virus (BLV), a retrovirus that can weaken immune system function and lead to additional disease development in dairy and beef cattle.

Bartlett is examining the utility of removing infected cattle from herds to control transmission, while Coussens is looking at mucosal immune responses and the effect of routine immunizations on BLV-infected cattle.

Madonna Benjamin, an assistant professor in the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine, is focusing on the development of low-cost biometrics for sows to improve individual health and welfare.

Other projects include MSU Extension educator Jeannine Schweihofer creating workforce development training for the meat industry and MSU Extension specialist Richard Ehrhardt generating web-based, multimedia educational materials for the MSU small ruminant extension program.

For a complete list of 2018 projects, visit maaa.msu.edu/projects.

APRIL 19 Dairy Communicator Meeting, East Lansing

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MESSENGER | APRIL 2018

“Our partners representing commodity organizations and the state of Michigan have seen the value of M-AAA, and I want to thank them for their continued support,” said Ron Bates, MSU Extension agriculture and agribusiness director.

“I appreciate their recognition of the challenges facing animal agriculture and the desire to address them in a timely manner.”

MMPA Board Member Election Results During the annual and district meetings, MMPA delegates elected and re-elected board members.

During the district meetings in February, three district directors were re-elected to three-year terms: District 1: Hank Choate District 4: Corby Werth District 7: Eric Frahm At the 102nd Annual State Delegate Meeting on March 15, Carlton Evans was elected to the three-year director-at-large position.

At the reorganization board meeting following the 102nd Annual State Delegate Meeting, the following officers were elected: Ken Nobis, President; Kris Wardin, Vice President; Eric Frahm, Treasurer.

More information about the Annual Meeting can be found on page 16 of this issue of the Michigan Milk Messenger.

MMPA Returns $1.6 Million in Cash Patronage Refunds to Members MMPA recently paid $1.6 million in cash patronage refunds to its dairy farmer member-owners. This cash allocation represents 100 percent of the farm supply earnings and 25 percent of the milk marketing earnings.

All members who marketed milk through MMPA for fiscal year 2017 received a portion of the allocation.

Cash patronage funds and equity allocations are based on the amount of milk each individual member farm marketed and on the supplies purchased through the cooperative during the year in which the earnings were achieved. Under the current board policy, the non-cash balance of the equity allocation will be revolved back to the members in future years.

MMPA Advisory Committee DISTRICT 1

DISTRICT 4

Scott Ferry, Litchfield............................517-214-3298

Marvin Rubingh, Ellsworth.................425-533-8106

John Bennett, Prescott.........................989-345-4264

Jeff Horning, Manchester....................734-428-8610

Jeremy Werth, Alpena...........................989-464-4022

Rodney Fowler, Chesaning.................989-302-2299

Brad Hart, Clayton..................................517-445-2649

Dave Folkersma, Rudyard....................906-630-1957

Scott Kleinhardt, Clare..........................989-386-8037

Daniel Minnis, Dansville.......................517-521-3529

Russ Tolan, Ossineke..............................989-471-2993

Philip Gross, Weidman..........................989-289-0670

Art Riske, Hanover..................................517-524-6015

Ron Lucas, Posen....................................989-379-4694

Jason Elenbaum, Mayville...................989-274-1974

DISTRICT 2

DISTRICT 5

DISTRICT 8

Mark Crandall, Battle Creek.................269-660-2229

Robert Lee, Marion................................231-743-6794

Bill Blumerich, Berlin.............................810-706-2955

Michael Oesch, Middlebury, IN.........574-825-2454

Mike Rasmussen, Edmore...................989-304-0233

Darwin Sneller, Sebewaing.................989-977-3718

Danny Ransler, Gobles..........................269-998-3802

Tom Jeppesen, Stanton........................989-506-5287

Mike Noll, Croswell.................................810-404-4071

Dan Ritter, Potterville............................517-645-7318

Bruce Benthem, McBain.......................231-920-1615

Mike Bender, Croswell..........................810-404-2140

Richard Thomas, Middlebury, IN.......574-825-5198

Amy Martin, Leroy..................................231-388-0496

Nick Leipprandt, Pigeon......................517-897-4155

DISTRICT 3

DISTRICT 6

Tim Butler, Sand Lake............................269-330-5538

David Reed, Owosso..............................989-723-2023

Bill Gruppen, Zeeland...........................616-520-5143

Mike Halfman, St. Johns.......................989-640-1962

Bill Stakenas, Free Soil...........................231-425-6913

Aaron Gasper, Lowell............................616-897-2747

Burke Larsen, Scottville........................231-425-8988

Steve Thelen, Fowler.............................989-690-1075

Gary Nelsen, Grant.................................231-834-7610

Brad Ritter, Byron....................................586-405-4749

DISTRICT 7

APRIL 2018 | MESSENGER

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LEGISLATIVE WATCH

U.S.–Mexico Dairy Trade Generates Billions in Economic Activity, According to New Analysis THE CURRENT FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH MEXICO IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND $1.2 BILLION IN U.S. DAIRY EXPORTS TO OUR SOUTHERN NEIGHBOR, AS WELL AS BILLIONS MORE IN ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS, ACCORDING TO AN ANALYSIS RELEASED BY INFORMA ECONOMICS.

Mexico is the No. 1 market for U.S. dairy product exports, accounting for roughly one-fourth of total U.S. exports.

In 2016, the most recent year examined by Informa, the United States shipped $1.2 billion worth of dairy products to Mexico, up from $201 million in 2002. In 2016, Mexico accounted for 45 percent of total U.S. skim milk powder exports to all destinations, as well as 30 percent of cheese exports, 10 percent of butter exports and 8 percent of whey exports.

According to the analysis, total economic contributions (direct, indirect and induced) created by dairy sales to Mexico show the true importance of these exports to the overall U.S. economy. Including impacts to industries that are linked to U.S. dairy exports to Mexico, the aggregate 2012-2016 output value of $6.7 billion is magnified to $23.3 billion in economic output.

Informa’s analysis found that for every $1 of sales associated with dairy exports to Mexico, an additional $2.50 in output (industry sales) is supported elsewhere in the U.S. economy. U.S. dairy exports to Mexico also created 12

MESSENGER | APRIL 2018

16,492 full-time equivalent jobs while directly generating an aggregate GDP of $8.4 billion over that five-year period.

“This analysis not only illustrates the importance of preserving existing market access to Mexico under North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), but also demonstrates why we are urgently pursuing new opportunities via U.S. free trade agreements around the globe,” said U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) President and CEO Tom Vilsack. “Virtually every U.S. free trade agreement to date has yielded positive results for dairy, and current negotiations hold great potential for the industry.”

The authors of the analysis note that under NAFTA, U.S. exports of dairy products to Mexico are duty free.

This provides a significant advantage to the United States because export competitors shipping to Mexico are subject to MFN tariff rates of 20-45 percent on cheese, 45 percent on skim milk powder and 10 percent on whey products.

“Without NAFTA, the United States would be paying higher tariffs in terms of MFN tariff rates of 20 to 45 percent, or the same levels as its competitors,” the authors wrote.

Some competitors, including the European Union (EU), are already negotiating trade agreements with Mexico that could make their exports more competitive in the Mexican market.

“As this analysis shows, the relationship between the U.S. and Mexican dairy sectors is of great importance, not just to our producers, but to our economy as a whole,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF). “We are committed to working toward a modernized NAFTA agreement that preserves this open and dependable trade relationship with Mexico, while removing massive barriers to dairy trade with Canada that were not adequately addressed in the original agreement.”

The study also reviews the potential increase in competition through the renegotiation of the EUMexico free trade agreement and the implementation of the newly established Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for TransPacific Partnership (TPP-11) negotiations. Both negotiations could improve market access for competitor dairy product exports to Mexico.

SOURCE: NMPF

82ND ANNUAL

MMPA 4-H

MILK MARKETING TOUR

WHY ATTEND?

JUNE 27-28

» Meet other students interested in dairy

WHAT:

MMPA/4-H Milk Marketing Tour - two days of dairy & milk marketing tours, presentations and activities

WHO:

15 to 18-year-olds (as of Jan. 1, 2018) 4-H/FFA members or other students interested in dairy or milk marketing

WHEN:

June 27-28, 2018

WHERE:

MMPA Office, Novi, Michigan

» Take a tour of a dairy processing plant » Meet leaders in the Michigan dairy industry » Earn the chance to attend the National 4-H Dairy Conference in Madison, Wisconsin

SPACE IS LIMITED TO THE FIRST 30 STUDENTS Contact Jessica Welch at MMPA for more information at 248-474-6672 or jwelch@mimilk.com.

Students who have already participated in the Milk Marketing Tour are not eligible to attend.

REGISTRATION FORM - MMPA 4-H MILK MARKETING TOUR PARTICIPANT INFORMATION ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ NAME COUNTY ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ STREET ADDRESS ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CITY / STATE / ZIP ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ PHONE EMAIL

AFFILIATION:

4-H

FFA

Other

AGE: ______

GENDER:

Male

Female

ADULT CHAPERONE INFORMATION ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ NAME

DUE MAY 25 Mail completed form to: Melissa Elischer Michigan State University Anthony Hall 474 S. Shaw Lane Rm 1287H East Lansing, MI 48824

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ STREET ADDRESS ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CITY / STATE / ZIP ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ PHONE EMAIL

APRIL 2018 | MESSENGER

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Wickstrom handles the day to day management of it. They milk just over 2,400 cows and are also a satellite facility for Trans Ova Genetics and are members of JLS. The operation transfers around 600 embryos a year and average 15.2 oocytes per donor and 4.2 embryos per donor. Embryos are responsible for 15-20 percent of their breedings with about 70 percent of the embryos going into virgin heifers resulting in a 46 percent conception rate, the remainder go in first and second lactation cows with 49 percent conception.

In Vitro Fertilization: Does It Pay Off?

BY MELISSA HART

With the increased use of in vitro fertilization (IVF) on farms, Steve Buschur, Tyler Boyd and Brent Wickstrom offered their experience and expertise as they discussed its practical application on the dairy farm on a panel discussion held at the 2018 Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference in February.

Steve Buschur of Plain-Knoll Holsteins in New Weston, Ohio operates a family farm where they have approximately 680 Registered Holsteins with many uncommonly high-genomic cows.

The farm has focused for many years on using top genetics to breed wellbalanced, long-lasting cows capable of high production. As a result, the farm has been marketing 30-45 percent of their herd each year for the past 25 years. In August of 2017, they became a satellite location for Trans Ova Genetics IVF facility.

14

MESSENGER | APRIL 2018

Tyler Boyd is the general manager of Jerseyland Sires (JLS) in Hilmar, California, an AI company that works closely with the twelve dairy farm families who make up the organization. JLS, in partnership with Select Sires, provides elite Jersey bulls and has created the Primus program which focuses primarily on using IVF and some embryo transfer (ET) work to create bulls for stud.

Wickstrom Jersey Farms also in Hilmar, California started an IVF program on their farm and Brent

Selection of donors varied among the three panelists, Wickstrom said their focus is on making a better animal for their herd and they look at the basic Jersey Performance Index (JPI) numbers and then focus on the best milk, fat, protein and cheese merit numbers. Boyd also begins with analyzing the JPI among the twelve herds that make up JLS, looking for a marketable bull. They work with virgin heifers, pregnant heifers and cows, looking at their genetic potential and if they have a proven history of higher production of embryos.

Buschur said, “We will select off the top end of our herd based on GTPI (Genomic Total Performance Index) and we start working with young heifers at seven to eight months, testing them once a month for a month or two and then every two weeks until they are breeding age.” He added that those animals that produce a high number of embryos will stay in the program for a maximum of 150 days.

While they use mostly virgin heifers, they will also use high end cows that “There are a lot of things you need to be doing right to make an IVF program pay for itself. You need to have all the pieces in place before you [pursue IVF].”

are ranked in the top 10-20 of the breed and those that are contracted for embryos.

While the initial costs of starting an IVF program loomed large and overwhelming, the increase in production has paid off. Wickstrom commented, “Starting out was pretty tough, with not having anything happening for nine months or a year or two years. But now that we have those milk cows in the barn from the ET program, we’re averaging about 1,200 pounds over natural birth calves on 305 ME (Mature Equivalent) and about 12 points of fat and protein on the genomic side too.”

Buschur named the change in management of the heifers and the paperwork with the genetic program as two of his biggest challenges when he began their IVF program. Resiliency is also required, Buscher explained, “When you tell your wife at night that your best animal just died, you know,

would” Buschur continued, “I used to have a desire for beautiful high type cows but then it shifted and my ideal cow changed and we are now filling our barn up with the ideal cow. Cows that can make 40,000 pounds and do it easily and breed back and not get mastitis and so those are the kind of cows that we are trying to breed for.”

Buschur concluded, “There’s no doubt in my mind that the profitability of our herd is increasing, and we can confidently say we are running a profitable business with the genetic program.”

“There’s no doubt in my mind that the profitability of our herd is increasing, and we can confidently say we are running a profitable business with the genetic program.”

from her test results, she really is your best genetic animal of the herd and you have to be able to roll with it.”

Paying for an IVF program on increased milk sales alone is possible but it is a huge management task.

Buschur commented, “I’ve seen the numbers in our herd for genetic merit and those numbers have improved over the last eight to ten years and it’s very significant. But what I like more than anything is to be able to see with my own eyes how the kind of animal that I’m trying to breed for is now showing up in the barn, like I was hoping she

Boyd finished the discussion by explaining, “Be very realistic and honest with yourself about what your goals are for your herd and your genetic management.” He concluded, “There are a lot of things you need to be doing right to make an IVF program pay for itself. You need to have all the pieces in place before you try to pursue more aggressive reproductive technology like IVF.”

WE’VE MADE THE BEST EVEN BETTER

SILO-KING

® ®

Forage & Grain Treatment ON-FARM RESULTS

• 23,520 more calories • 75.9 more pounds of milk • ROI +6:1 *Per ton of forage fed

Temperature (oF)

Silo-King® treated forages were 9.8oF lower than the competition. At 40% dry matter, that means:

ALFALFA HAYLAGE TEMPERATURE (OF) vs DAYS ENSILED

95

90 85 80

Old Silo-King® Formula

SILO-KING

®

75

Forage & Grain Treatment

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Days

9

10

Competitor 11

12

13

14

15

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APRIL 2018 | MESSENGER

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102ND Annual State Delegate Meeting

Focus on CooperatioN Focusing on cooperation, approximately 400 members and guests gathered for the 102nd Annual State Delegate Meeting of the Michigan Milk Producers Association on March 15 at the Lansing Center in Lansing, Michigan.

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MESSENGER | APRIL 2018

MMPA PRESIDENT KEN NOBIS PROVIDED AN UPDATE ON INDUSTRY AND MMPA ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING A DISCUSSION ON CONTROLLABLE VS. UNCONTROLLABLE ISSUES THE COOPERATIVE CONTENDS WITH

IN THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

2

GENERAL MANAGER JOE DIGLIO DESCRIBED HOW TRANSFORMATION IS PART OF THE MMPA STRATEGY: “WHAT WILL MAKE OUR ORGANIZATION SUCCESSFUL IS PREPARING FOR THE REALITIES OF TODAY AND THE UNKNOWN POSSIBILITIES OF TOMORROW.”

3

MMPA BOARD MEMBER GERTIE VAN DEN GOOR (CENTER) AND KEN NOBIS (RIGHT) INTRODUCED THE 2017 TOP 10 OUTSTANDING YOUNG DAIRY COOPERATORS (OYDC) AT THE MEETING, INCLUDING 2016 WINNERS DARRIN AND BARBARA SIEMEN (LEFT), OF HARBOR BEACH, MICHIGAN, AND 2017 WINNERS NATE AND JENNY ELZINGA (CENTER, RIGHT) OF ZEELAND, MICHIGAN.

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PEPPER-JACK CHEESE PRODUCED AT MMPA’S SUBSIDIARY, THE MIDDLEBURY CHEESE COMPANY, WON THE NMPF GRAND CHAMPION CHEESE AWARD AND ATTENDEES HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAMPLE THE PRODUCT.

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APRIL 2018 | MESSENGER

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MMPA TREASURER ERIC FRAHM PRESENTED MMPA DELEGATES WITH A REPORT ON THE CO-OP’S FINANCIALS RESULTS FROM FISCAL YEAR 2017. THE REPORT EMPHASIZED THE CONTINUATION OF MMPA’S STRONG FINANCIAL POSITION WHICH IS POISED FOR FUTURE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

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NATE AND JENNY ELZINGA, 2017 OYDCS, PASSIONATELY SPOKE ABOUT THEIR FARM AND FAMILY AFTER BEING INTRODUCED TO THE DELEGATE BODY. NATE ELZINGA OFFERED A PETITION TO FELLOW FARMERS TO PLAN FOR THEIR FUTURE AND SHARE GOALS WITH FAMILY.

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“Know the importance of having goals and working toward a certain direction.

Seeing the way that our co-op is going, I think that’s where we’re going to get strength. Because when we get good people in the room together and they work toward a certain direction, it’s not perfect, but it is progress.”

—NATE & JENNY ELZINGA

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MESSENGER | APRIL 2018

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MMPA PRESIDENT KEN NOBIS (LEFT), MEMBER REPRESENTATIVE DEB GINGRICH (SECOND FROM LEFT) AND NORTHWEST AREA SUPERVISOR SARAH MICHALEK (RIGHT) PRESENTED AARYN AND NATHAN GILDE (CENTER) OF LAKE CITY, MICHIGAN, WITH THE HIGHEST QUALITY MILK PRODUCTION AWARD.

8

MMPA PRESIDENT KEN NOBIS (RIGHT) HONORED FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (MDARD) JAMIE CLOVER ADAMS WITH THE CHAMPION OF DAIRY AWARD IN RECOGNITION OF HER WORK FOR THE INDUSTRY THROUGH HER TENURE AT MDARD. CLOVER ADAMS WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND SO CURRENT MDARD DIRECTOR GORDAN WENK (LEFT) ACCEPTED THE AWARD ON HER BEHALF.

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CARLTON EVANS OF LITCHFIELD WAS ELECTED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN A THREE-YEAR, DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE POSITION.

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APRIL 2018 | MESSENGER

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MMPA HONORS LEPRINO FOODS WITH VALUED PARTNER AWARD Leprino Foods to donate 4,300 pounds of Michigan-made cheese to food banks in conjunction with award

U

nderscoring the value of industry collaboration, the Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) today honored customer Leprino Foods with a Valued Partner award. The award was presented at the dairy farmerowned cooperative’s annual meeting, which carried a theme of “Focus on Cooperation.”

During the award presentation, Leprino Foods announced a donation of 4,300 pounds of mozzarella string cheese to the Food Bank Council of Michigan. The donation is an effort to support the one out of every seven Michigan residents struggling with hunger.

MMPA and Leprino Foods began an agreement over 30 years ago that has enabled the success of two Leprino cheese plants in the state of Michigan.

The plants in Allendale and Remus process a combined 3.5 million pounds of milk per day and support over 400 jobs.

“Through vision, MMPA and Leprino have remained steadfast ‘Partners in Progress’ through the years,” said President Ken Nobis, who presented the award with General Manager Joe Diglio on behalf of the cooperative.

The initial partnership, innovative for its time, brought Colorado-based Leprino Foods to Michigan in the late 1980s. Leprino is now the largest manufacturer of mozzarella cheese and supplies many of the world’s leading pizza companies.

Per capita consumption of mozzarella cheese has more than doubled in

America in the past 30 years. Thanks to the growing dominance of pizza, Americans now eat almost 12 pounds of cheese per year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“Our business success is based on one key ingredient – milk. Michigan’s healthy milk shed and its dedicated dairy farmers make it an excellent location for us to produce the highest quality cheese and dairy ingredients for our customers and consumers throughout the world,” Leprino Foods Company President Mike Durkin said.

“Our relationship with MMPA, and its dairy farmer members, has spanned three decades and we look forward to our continued partnership. We are honored to be acknowledged with this Valued Partner Award.”

“We are grateful for our mutuallybeneficial relationship with Leprino Foods. Together, our quality milk and Leprino Foods’s innovative technology creates value for the industry and MMPA dairy farmers. Our work with Leprino showcases the lasting power of collaboration,” Diglio added.

Leprino Food’s donated mozzarella cheese—produced locally in Remus, Michigan—will reach food banks in all 83 counties of Michigan after being distributed by the Food Bank Council of Michigan.

MMPA PRESIDENT KEN NOBIS (LEFT) AND GENERAL MANAGER JOE DIGLIO (RIGHT) PRESENTED THE VALUED PARTNER AWARD TO LEPRINO FOOD COMPANY. ACCEPTING THE AWARD FROM LEPRINO FOODS WERE (CENTER, L-R) ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF RAW DAIRY INGREDIENT SALES MELISSA BISCHOFF, VICE PRESIDENT OF SUPPLY CHAIN MARK BENSON, CEO MIKE DURKIN AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS MIKE REIDY.

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MESSENGER | APRIL 2018

The announcements today were part of MMPA’s 102nd Annual Meeting in Lansing, Michigan where approximately 400 dairy farmer members and guests gathered at the meeting today to discuss the current dairy industry, recognize members, adopt policy resolutions and elect board members.

*ELECTED DURING MMPA DISTRICT MEETINGS HELD IN FEBRUARY 2018.

DISTRICT 3

DISTRICT 6

Chairman: Glen Sparks, Fremont Vice Chairman: Bill Stakenas, Freesoil Secretary: Burke Larsen, Fremont State Credentials Committee: Glen Sparks, Fremont State Resolutions Committee: Gary Nelsen, Grant; Glen Sparks, Fremont; Tim Butler, Sand Lake; Ken Leseman, Grant

Chairman: Ken Wieber, Fowler Vice Chairman: David Reed, Owosso Secretary: Steven Thelen, Fowler State Credentials Committee: Jim Slavik, Ashley State Resolutions Committee: John Hufnagel, Westphalia; David Reed, Owosso; Jim Slavik, Ashley; Ken Wieber, Fowler

DISTRICT 1

DISTRICT 4

DISTRICT 7

Chairman: Scott Ferry, Litchfield Vice Chairman: Jim Marvin, Clayton Secretary: Art Riske, Hanover State Credentials Committee: Nick Scheurer, Mason State Resolutions Committee: Bruce Lewis, Jonesville; Carlton Evans, Litchfield; Glenn Preston, Quincy; Jim Marvin, Clayton

Chairman: Marvin Rubingh, Ellsworth Vice Chairman: Paul Ponik, Posen Secretary: Jeremy Werth, Herron State Credentials Committee: Paul Ponik, Posen State Resolutions Committee: Ron Lucas, Posen; Paul Ponik, Posen; Marvin Rubingh, Ellsworth; Jeremy Werth, Herron

DISTRICT 2

DISTRICT 5

Chairman: John Bennett, Prescott Vice Chairman: Chris Daniels, Whittemore Secretary: Rodney Fowler, Chesaning State Credentials Committee: John Bennett, Prescott State Resolutions Committee: John Bennett, Prescott; Leslie Daenzer, Frankenmuth; Rodney Fowler, Chesaning; James Weber, Vassar

Chairman: Jerry Koebel Jr., Three Oaks Vice Chairman: Mike Oesch, Middlebury, IN Secretary: Richard Ultz, Burr Oak State Credentials Committee: Richard Ultz, Burr Oak State Resolutions Committee: John Adam, Goshen, IN; Brad Crandall, Battle Creek; Mike Oesch, Middlebury, IN; Jesse Ramer, Goshen, IN

Chairman: Mike Rasmussen, Edmore Vice Chairman: John Black, Howard City Secretary: Gordon Dick, McBain State Credentials Committee: Tyler Wilson, Carson City State Resolutions Committee: Bruce Benthem, McBain; John Black, Howard City; Tom Jeppesen, Stanton; Tyler Wilson, Carson City

MMPA District Officers 2018*

DISTRICT 8 Chairman: Darwin Sneller, Sebawaing Vice Chairman: Mike Noll, Croswell Secretary: Mike Bender, Croswell State Credentials Committee: Dale Phillips, Marlette State Resolutions Committee: Mike Bender, Croswell; Bill Blumerich, Berlin; Brady Brown, Brown City; Mike Noll, Croswell

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MMPA Recognizes 35- and 50-year Members THIRTY-SIX MMPA MEMBERS WERE RECOGNIZED AT THE MMPA 102ND ANNUAL STATE

35-Year Members

DELEGATE MEETING HELD IN LANSING, MI ON MARCH 15, 2018. MMPA HAS TRADITIONALLY

Alma Local Doug Chapin Sally Hooks Douglas Hooks Steven Hooks

RECOGNIZED MEMBERS CELEBRATING 35 YEARS WITH THE COOPERATIVE AND ADDED THE 50-YEAR MILESTONE HONOR AT THE 100TH ANNUAL MEETING IN 2016.

MMPA President, Ken Nobis congratulated and praised the 35-year members for their dedication to the cooperative: “We commend you for your dedication and loyalty to MMPA and the dairy industry over the years.”

After the 35-year members were recognized, Nobis recognized the group of MMPA Milestone award winners who joined MMPA in the year 1968.

A video presentation featured some of the cooperative’s evolution through the years focusing on the years 1983 and 1968 when these members began farming.

In the 1983, there were 5,993 members who marketed a total of 5.53 billion pounds of milk, while in 1968 membership totaled 7,092 and marketed 2.52 billion pounds of milk. Today, MMPA has approximately 1,100 members and marketed over 4.9 billion pounds of milk in the 2017 fiscal year.

Blossomland Local Susan Gamble Chippewa Local Melvin Thorne Evart Local Dale Brinks Pete Bontekoe Hillman Local Ronald Lucas Kevin Richard Hillsdale-Litchfield Local Carol Redman Charles Redman Huron Local Douglas Clunis Sr. Ingham County Local Robert Marshall Kalamazoo Local Martin Wenger Lansing Local Jerry Lyon Mike Lyon Livingston Charter Local Roy Gramer Jr. Albert Gramer Sr. Mid-Michigan Local Gary Sanborn Mid-Sanilac Local Leonard Brown William Brown Kenneth Sharrard Joseph Sharrard Mid-Thumb Local Donald Small Steven Spencer Muskegon Local Gary Norris Upstate Local Thomas Eppler

50-Year Members THE HONORED 35 AND 50 YEAR MEMBERS WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE DELEGATE BODY.

Alma Local Chris Rasmussen Evart Local Gaylord Denslow Gerald Denslow Robert Morlock

“We commend you for your dedication and loyalty to MMPA and the dairy industry over the years.”

KEN NOBIS

Hillman Local Albert Styma Huron Local Henry Ziel Ingham County Local Larry Minnis Saline-Ann Arbor Local Marvin Marion

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MESSENGER | APRIL 2018

Foremost Farms and MMPA MMPA and Foremost Farms USA announced that the two cooperatives have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU). The MOU incorporates intense focus within the two cooperatives to drive mutual

ANNOUNCE EXPANSION TO THEIR CURRENT STRATEGIC ALLIANCE

production and milk solids processing capacity,” says Mike Doyle, President and CEO, Foremost Farms. “With our commitment of the first phase of the dairy campus at Greenville, MI planned to be operational Fall of 2018, we believe this arrangement will help satisfy that need and create valueadded processing growth.”

“The intent of this MOU is to further address the imbalance in supply and capacity limits we currently are experiencing in this part of the country. This further demonstrates the commitment that both cooperatives have in working together to benefit all dairy producers in our collective milk regions,” added Diglio.

investment to maximize members’ returns on their quality milk.

T

he MOU formalizes advanced discussions between the two cooperatives to pursue proposed co-investment opportunities which include, but are not limited to, the Middlebury Cheese Company and the recently announced dairy campus in Greenville, Michigan. It also incorporates expanding the current strategic alliance the two cooperatives have had in place since 2014 at the MMPA Constantine plant with the reverse osmosis investment.

“This commitment not only includes investments but also creates a marketing partnership that will mutually benefit both organizations.

By working cooperatively, we are utilizing each cooperative’s independent strengths,” says Joe Diglio, MMPA General Manager.

“Through collaborative efforts, we can avoid investing in redundant assets and allow us to fully optimize our members’ capital investments.”

“We collectively believe more immediate investment is needed to satisfy the imbalance between milk

PRESIDENT & CEO OF FOREMOST FARMS USA, MICHAEL DOYLE (LEFT), AND GENERAL MANAGER OF THE MICHIGAN MILK PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION, JOE DIGLIO (RIGHT), MET AT THE MMPA 102ND ANNUAL STATE DELEGATE MEETING ON MARCH 15, 2018.

APRIL 2018 | MESSENGER

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2017 MILK PRODUCTION DATA RELEASED

T

2017 Milk Production (in millions of pounds) State

Production

Change

1

California

39,798 -1.7%

2

Wisconsin

30,320 +0.7%

3

New York

14,912

4

Idaho

14,627 -0.3%

5

Texas

12,054 +11.9%

6

Michigan

11,231 +3.3%

7

Pennsylvania 10,938 +1.1%

8

Minnesota

9,864 +2.0%

Milk per cow average in the United States for 2017 was 22,941 pounds, 163 pounds over 2016. In 2008, the average rate of milk production per cow was 20,397 which totals a 12 percent increase over the last ten years.

9

New Mexico

8,212

In the United States, the average number of cows on farms has increased 0.7 percent in 2017 with 9.39 million head. The average annual number of milk cows has increased 1 percent from 2008. In Michigan, the number of milk cows was 427,000 for 2017, an increase of 8,000 head from 2016.

11 Ohio

5,591 +0.8%

15 Indiana

4,264 +2.7%

he USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service recently released annual milk production data by state. Michigan moved to the top of the production per cow ranking, placing first with an annual production of over 26,000 pounds per year. Michigan grew by 3.3 percent over 2016 and ranks sixth nationally in terms of total milk production.

Wisconsin remains at number two in milk production for 2017 behind California. Ohio stayed in 11th place again this year with 5.6 billion pounds while Indiana fell from 14th in rank to 15th with 4.3 billion pounds for 2017.

The annual milk production in 2017 for the United States totaled 215 billion pounds of milk, up 1.4 percent from last year. Annual total milk production in the U.S. has increased 13 percent from 2008.

+0.9%

+6.5%

10 Washington 6,526 -1.9%

2017 Milk per cow

#2 Wisconsin #6 Michigan

#15

#11

Indiana

Ohio

Rank

State

Milk per cow

1

Michigan

26,302 pounds

2

Colorado

26,181 pounds

3

New Mexico

24,960 pounds

4

Arizona

24,680 pounds

5

Idaho

24,378 pounds

6

Nebraska

24,067 pounds

7

New York

23,936 pounds

8

Washington

23,818 pounds

9

Iowa

23,725 pounds

10

Wisconsin

23,725 pounds

15

Indiana

22,802 pounds

24

Ohio

21,259 pounds

APRIL 2018 | MESSENGER

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MESSENGER | APRIL 2018

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OYDC 2017 Jason Elenbaum ABOUT ME… Herd: 70 milking with 150 total including dry and replacements

Land: 250 acres of hay, corn and soybeans

Milking facility: Milking two times a day in a stanchion barn

Local: Deford/Clifford-Mayville District 7

Jason Elenbuam is currently transferring the farm partnership between himself and his father to a sole proprietorship. He makes the sixth generation in his family to farm. Elenbaum enjoys centering his efforts on raising quality forages and making the day to day decisions.

“Although staying positive can be hard during the challenging years, I choose to focus on the benefits of being my own boss and the strong community relationships around me. It is a great feeling to achieve my personal goals for the farm with the help of family, friends and neighbors,” said Elenbaum.

Currently, Jason is working on his milk components to extract the most value out of the milk and keeping a low somatic cell count level in his bulk tank. Future goals for Jason include installing robots to make his operation more efficient.

APRIL 2018 | MESSENGER

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YOUR DAIRY PROMOTION AT WORK

United Dairy Industry of Michigan Announces Board Mentor Program Participants

At the United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM) annual meeting on March 2, the first class of the Board Mentor Program was announced. Participants include Jason Griffin of Hastings, Kent Inniger of Middleton, Abigail O’Farrell of West Branch, Katelyn Packard of Manchester, and Sanne Van Loon of Saint Louis.

UDIM launched the Board Mentor Program to develop and identify future dairy leaders, increase knowledge and understanding of UDIM programs, and spread the word about dairy promotion programs.

“UDIM offers many great programs to help dairy farmers better promote their agriculture story within their communities. I want to learn more about UDIM and their programs,” said Packard about her participation in the program.

“UDIM’s work promoting dairy foods keeps milk, cheese and yogurt top-ofmind with consumers and builds confidence in dairy farmers’ on-farm practice.”

Current UDIM board members will be actively involved with the program through sharing organization and program information with the group.

Participants will be tasked with sharing this information with their peers and fellow dairy producers who have questions about checkoff.

Communications workshops will help participants fine-tune their leadership skills by the end of the program.

“UDIM’s work promoting dairy foods keeps milk, cheese and yogurt top-of-mind with consumers and builds confidence in dairy farmers’ on-farm practices,” said Jim Reid, UDIM president and Jeddo, MI dairy farmer. “It’s important for the future of Michigan’s dairy community that we also attract new ideas and develop future dairy farmer leaders.”

PICTURED FROM LEFT: JASON GRIFFIN, ABIGAIL O’FARRELL AND KATELYN PACKARD. NOT PICTURED: SANNE VAN LOON AND KENT INNIGER.

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MESSENGER | APRIL 2018

Board Mentor Program participants will attend two of the four 2018 UDIM board meetings, learn about dairy promotion program updates and UDIM history, develop leadership and communication skills, and participate in dairy promotion events to see how UDIM’s programs connect to consumers.

Current Resolutions Approved at the 102nd MMPA Annual State Delegate Meeting on March 15, 2018

Milk Pricing and Market Regulation C-1. U.S. DAIRY POLICY The Margin Protection Program-Dairy (MPP) contained in the 2014 Farm Bill was developed by National Milk Producers Federation through a deliberative, grassroots process to replace outdated dairy policy. When the Farm Bill was enacted in 2014, the Margin Protection Program for Dairy had been changed and diluted to the extent that it fell short of providing the protection required of an effective farm safety net. We applaud Congress for including improvements to the dairy safety net in the Bipartisan Budget Act passed in February 2018.

Enhancements to the Margin Protection Program and expansion of additional risk management options were included in the bill and will serve as a basis for additional changes in the upcoming Farm Bill.

C-2. OVER-ORDER PRICING We continue our firm commitment to maximizing returns to dairy farmers and ensuring stability of the milk market. We believe in the pooling concept of over-order pricing and acknowledge its effectiveness when accompanied with equitable sharing of proceeds among all dairy farmers.

We urge MMPA to promote the concept of over-order pricing and equitable sharing of over-order proceeds among all dairy farmers in the region.

We urge cooperatives and all others involved in the dairy industry across the country to work together in a manner that promotes market stability. We encourage our leaders, when possible, to work with dairy organizations to solve problems to the benefit of all dairy farmers.

C-3. COOPERATIVES WORKING TOGETHER We support the industry-led Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) program developed to help strengthen farm milk prices. The CWT program demonstrates the ability of farmers to work together to enhance their industry. We commend the program’s success and we support CWT’s current efforts to focus exclusively on an Export Assistance Program. CWT’s Export Assistance Program has demonstrated its effectiveness in enhancing dairy farmer revenue by expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products. We urge all dairy farmers across the U.S. to participate in the CWT program.

Furthermore, we urge NMPF to renew and utilize the program to its fullest potential to help provide long-term stability for the dairy industry. We are in favor of the possibility of increasing our financial support to the CWT program.

Advertising, Research, Education and Public Relations C-4. DAIRY PRODUCT PROMOTION PROGRAMS We support the continuation of joint programs between Dairy Management Incorporated (DMI) and the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board designed to promote the consumption of fluid milk. We urge further collaboration to identify and break through barriers to fluid milk marketing. We further urge DMI to focus on its primary mission: to increase sales and demand for dairy products and maximize value returned to dairy farmers.

We are pleased with the recent increased consumer demand for milkfat. With medical journals touting the health benefits of milkfat, sales of whole milk have grown on a year over year basis in 2015 and demand for butter has been steadily increasing.

We urge continued focus and outreach in this area.

We further support the promotional and nutrition education efforts of United Dairy Industry of Michigan and its work within the state to promote the consumption of dairy products.

C-5. MSU EXTENSION We urge MSU Extension to be mindful of the important role production agriculture plays in our state’s economy when making any changes to the structure and focus of MSU Extension.

We urge the leadership within MSU Extension to carefully examine ways to best meet the needs of the agriculture community and to bolster the industry’s growth as a vital contributor to our state’s economy.

We applaud the establishment of the Agriculture Stakeholder Advisory Committee to provide input and future direction to academic and research programs affecting the agriculture industry.

C-7. MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES We urge the CANR and University leadership to maintain the agricultural focus that has been so vital to the university, the State of Michigan and its citizens. We urge continued emphasis on the Land Grant mission of the University.

We strongly support having the Directors of Ag BioResearch and MSU Extension be under the direction of the Dean of the CANR. Furthermore, we urge the college to engage in the dialogue surrounding the use of safe, approved and scientifically-sound technology used in production of food. We rely on the university to make their research findings available to not only those involved in agriculture, but to the general public when modern farming practices are challenged.

We further support reviving the ability for students to earn a degree in Agricultural and Natural Resources Communications and Agriculture Education. With the increasing need to enhance the public understanding of the agriculture industry and to communicate to a variety of audiences, having students properly educated in this area is a key component to the continued growth of the agriculture industry.

C-8. FOOD ANIMAL PRODUCTION MEDICINE

We urge state lawmakers to provide adequate funding to keep MSU Extension effective and viable. We further urge county governments to continue their support for MSU Extension.

We support the Summer Food Systems Fellowship Program established by the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2006.

The program provides opportunities for veterinary students to broaden their exposure and understanding of the food industry. MMPA has served as a partner in the program since its inception.

C-6. MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

C-9. SUSTAINABILITY ON DAIRY FARMS

We continue our support for Michigan State University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the College of Veterinary Medicine and programs of Extension and Research. We support continued legislative funding for these two colleges and their facilities at appropriate levels.

We recognize the tremendous efforts dairy farmers have made over the years to protect and preserve our environment. We also know that our members work diligently to provide the best possible care for their animals. These factors illustrate the sustainable practices that take place on today’s dairy farms.

We also recognize the growing consumer quest for information concerning food production in our country. We understand the need to fill the information gap with correct information concerning the sustainability efforts on today’s dairy farms.

Therefore, we encourage our members to share their stories and let neighbors know of the sustainability efforts taking place on their farms every day. We also encourage the MMPA board of directors and management to monitor the sustainability studies underway through the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy to ensure reliable sustainability indicators for the areas of energy, environment and animal care are developed.

We urge the MSU Administration and Board of Trustees to continue the focus on improving agricultural education, research and extension programs. We support the continuation and strengthening of the Agricultural Technology program at MSU. We acknowledge the importance of a working partnership between the dairy industry and the university. We expect to achieve cooperative efforts from the college faculty, providing partnership and collaboration between the university and the agriculture industry. We further encourage the university to conduct research programs that support the mainstay of the agriculture industry.

What ARE resolutions?

EVERY YEAR, MMPA ADOPTS CURRENT AND STANDING RESOLUTIONS APPROVED BY MMPA DELEGATES AT THE ANNUAL STATE DELEGATE MEETING IN MARCH. THE POLICY RESOLUTIONS SERVE AS A FRAMEWORK TO MMPA MANAGEMENT AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR DECISION MAKING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE POLICIES ARE ALSO SHARED WITH LEGISLATORS TO COMMUNICATE THE POSITION OF MMPA MEMBERSHIP ON A VARIETY OF ISSUES.

APRIL 2018 | MESSENGER

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CURRENT RESOLUTIONS CONTINUED

C-10. K-12 AGRICULTURE EDUCATION Knowledge is the key to understanding and the vast majority of our formative knowledge comes through the educational process at a school. Today, the majority of consumers are more than a generation removed from the farming sector of society. Be it resolved that through working with local community schools that an agricultural component be recommended as part of the K-12 curriculum. This includes teaching about agriculture, both plant and animal, from farm to plate with as much as possible taught in a hands-on method. We further urge all MMPA members to support and become involved with current agriculture education initiatives.

Legislative and Regulatory Issues C-11. INTERNATIONAL TRADE We direct the MMPA board of directors to closely monitor international trade discussions to ensure the interests of U.S. dairy farmers are preserved and advanced. MMPA encourages the pursuit of carefully-negotiated trade agreements offering the prospect of net benefits to U.S. dairy producers.

We applaud Congress for reauthorizing the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) which helps facilitate the negotiation and implementation of U.S. trade agreements. We encourage the administration to maintain fair trade policies when negotiating with any country to ensure the preservation of the U.S. dairy industry.

We urge the MMPA board of directors and management to closely monitor significant multilateral and bilateral trade negotiations and the effect the negotiations have on U.S. dairy policy. It is important that international trade agreements do not hinder the ability to provide an effective safety net for the U.S. dairy industry.

We are disappointed that the United States was formally withdrawn from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement. The negotiated TPP made significant progress in breaking down barriers and provided new market access for the dairy industry. We are concerned about the competitive disadvantage the TPP withdrawal puts the U.S. dairy industry in with other countries who have been negotiating trade agreements over the last several years. We urge the current Administration to ensure future trade agreements provide reasonable and balanced market access for U.S. dairy producers.

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has played a tremendous role in expanding dairy trade to Mexico. Mexico is the largest export market for U.S. dairy products, and accounts for over 3 percent of U.S. milk production. We urge any negotiations involving NAFTA must preserve what is working well such as U.S.- Mexico dairy trade and focus on areas that need improvement such as U.S.Canada dairy trade.

We endorse the dairy industry’s challenges to countries we believe to be in violation of WTO policies and urge continual monitoring of those areas.

We support the Consortium for Common Food Names in their efforts associated with specialized foods from regions throughout the world.

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MESSENGER | APRIL 2018

In addition, because various countries within the WTO are working to increase access to world markets, we ask the FDA and USDA to inspect all dairy imports to ensure they meet U.S. health and quality standards. We further support enforcement action which ensures that imported dairy foods meet the same compositional requirements as domestically-produced standardized dairy foods.

We encourage all producers to develop a comprehensive nutrient management plan (CNMP) as outlined under the MAEAP for their farming operation. A CNMP addresses manure handling and storage, land application of manure, farm specific conservation practices, feed management, record keeping and other aspects of waste and nutrient management.

C-12. FARMLAND AND OPEN SPACE PRESERVATION ACT

C-15. MICHIGAN AGRICULTURE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSURANCE PROGRAM

We reaffirm our support of the Farmland and Open Space Preservation Act, 1974 PA 116, (now Part 361 of the Michigan Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act) as an effective, voluntary method to preserve essential farmland and open space while providing farmers needed tax relief. We further urge the Treasury Department to process PA 116 refunds in a timely manner.

C-13. RIGHT TO FARM

The Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) was developed over a decade ago as a way for producers to exhibit sound environmental practices on their farms. We encourage the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) to keep the integrity of the MAEAP as an environmental assurance program and to carefully monitor and divert any efforts to evolve the program into one of market access.

Knowing the importance of protecting our environmental resources, we strongly encourage dairy farmers to maintain high standards of environmental practices.

We applaud efforts in 2015 to pass legislation that extended the MAEAP through 2021, expanded its funding base and broadened the certifications for MAEAP from three years to five years.

We acknowledge and support the Michigan Commission of Agriculture’s role in developing and reviewing Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices (GAAMPs). Practices dealing with livestock manure management and utilization, nutrient utilization, pesticide utilization and pest control, care of farm animals, irrigation water use and site selection and odor control for new and expanding animal livestock facilities are reviewed and approved by the commission on an annual basis.

We strongly support a key component of the legislation that created a tiered recognition program to highlight a farmer’s efforts as they implement environmental practices. We further support efforts for continued development and completion of a process that provides regular updates to producers on the impact of their environmental risk mitigation practices. This information will be helpful in highlighting the steps producers are taking to protect the environment.

We encourage the continued development of other GAAMPs that will provide protection for other segments of agriculture.

We urge awareness among the Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development, Michigan State University and others involved in developing the guidelines that there is an opportunity to preserve the quality of our environment while maintaining an efficient agriculture community.

We are opposed to any efforts to define the production of wind or solar energy as a farming practice under Michigan’s Right-toFarm Act.

C-14. NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT We acknowledge that it is the responsibility of all livestock producers to follow proper nutrient management guidelines to prevent any contamination of our environment.

We strongly encourage producers to follow the Michigan Right to Farm Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices (GAAMPs) for Manure Management and Utilization and Site Selection.

We endorse the efforts of the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) to help producers assess and reduce environmental risks on farms.

We encourage all producers, regardless of farm size, to seek environmental assurance through MAEAP verification in Michigan or similar programs in other states.

C-16. METHANE DIGESTERS ON DAIRY FARMS The growing interest for renewable energy in this country has created an increased emphasis on the use of methane digesters on dairy farms. While we acknowledge the role digesters can play on some farms, we are concerned that Dairy Management Incorporated (DMI) and outside interests such as power companies and equipment dealers may present unrealistic expectations of the role digesters can have on dairy farms. These unrealistic expectations are embraced by our customers, which in turn, leads them to expect our farms to use digesters to meet sustainability indicators. We encourage the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy to carefully monitor these expectations and more accurately gauge the role digesters can play on dairy farms.

C-17. CAFO REGULATIONS We urge the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to not adopt any rules or regulations that exceed those established by the EPA. Furthermore, we urge the MMPA Board of Directors and management to closely monitor actions of the EPA, MDEQ and all other agencies in an effort to protect the interests of livestock producers.

C-18. WATER USE We understand that water used in agricultural production is in the public interest and represents an essential and necessary use of water for the production of food and fiber.

We urge the MMPA Board of Directors and management to closely monitor the implementation of any water use legislation or regulation that would create additional water quantity related fees or rules.

Furthermore, we are aware that since 1972, the Clean Water Act has regulated “navigable waters” to improve the quality of the nation’s waters. We oppose any legislative or regulatory efforts to expand the authority of the Clean Water Act (CWA) by granting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unlimited regulatory authority over all “intrastate waters,” rather than specifically “navigable” waters. We are deeply concerned that expanding the CWA beyond protecting wetlands and waterways would transform it into a vehicle for regulating virtually every wet area in the nation, including ditches, gutters and possibly even groundwater. Expanded federal jurisdiction would preempt traditional state and local government authority over land and water use decisions and alter the balance of federal and state authority. Dairy farmers are committed to conserving and restoring the nation’s water resources and believe this can be achieved without a dramatic expansion of the CWA.

C-19. AIR QUALITY We understand that data from the National Air Emissions Study has been released and will be utilized by the Environmental Protection Agency to develop emission standards for different types and sizes of livestock feeding operations. Lawsuits driven by environmental groups continue to force the development of regulation and law in the absence of sound science. We strongly urge that any government air quality standards be based on sound science and take into consideration the economic impact in our agricultural industry.

We are concerned about the April 2017 U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. decision to vacate the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2008 rule that exempted livestock operations from reporting ammonia emissions to the air through the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). When Congress enacted CERCLA and EPCRA, it did not intend for family farms to be treated as hazardous waste cleanup sites. We support efforts by animal agriculture groups, the Environmental Protection Agency and members of Congress to find a long-term solution which will preclude the need to file air emission reports stemming from the decomposition of manure.

C-20. TAX RELIEF MEASURES

• changes depreciation of farm machinery from seven to five years; • doubles estate tax exemption to $11 million per individual, indexed to inflation (through 2025); • maintains the stepped up tax basis • continues cash method of accounting for farm businesses.

We further support: • the reduction of the capital gains tax • keeping the stepped up tax basis now in effect on the assets heirs receive from estates.

• the elimination of the Alternative Minimum Tax. • that any Michigan tax change be broad based and that business to business transactions be exempt from tax, including sales tax.

• eliminating the estate tax or maintaining the permanent extension of the current estate tax exemption indexed for inflation. The estate tax exemption assists farm families in passing the farm from one generation to the next.

C-23. MICHIGAN ALLIANCE FOR ANIMAL AGRICULTURE We support the Michigan Alliance for Animal Agriculture (M-AAA) and their efforts developing a proposal to establish a state-funded animal ag research program modeled after the successful Project GREEEN that addresses plant-based research programs. The M-AAA consists of representatives from various animal agriculture stakeholder organizations, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, MSU Extension, MSU College of Veterinary Medicine, MSU Department of Animal Science, MSU AgBio Research and MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

The group has developed the Michigan Animal Agriculture Innovation and Workforce Development Initiative, which focuses on ensuring the sustainability of the state’s animal agriculture sector through a targeted annual investment in research, extension and workforce development. We applaud state legislators for including $2.5 million in the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development 2017-18 fiscal year budget in support of the M-AAA efforts. We encourage continued funding support of the proposed program.

• expanding the state agriculture sales tax exemption to include farm structures.

We oppose: • any effort to increase the state estate tax.

• any new or increased permits or fees imposed by the state, which result in an inequitable burden on the agricultural community.

• any increase in the state income tax rate and any changes to the current property tax system that would adversely affect farmers without a vote of the affected property owners.

• a tax or fee that negatively affects agriculture such as a tax on gross receipts, personal property or assets.

C-21. MICHIGAN DAIRY INDUSTRY RESEARCH FUND We support efforts to explore the development of a Michigan dairy industry checkoff program to address environmental, animal research and animal welfare issues and help fund other applied dairy research programs.

C-22. APPLIED RESEARCH FUNDING In 2007, MMPA delegates initiated an applied research fund in an amount equal to $.01/cwt. on MMPA members’ September milk production. In 2011, delegates approved increasing the amount to

We encourage a thorough review of the provisions contained in the recently passed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and their impact on farmers and cooperatives. We applaud efforts to secure a compromise provision to replace the Section 199 Domestic Production Activities Deduction which was eliminated in the Tax Cut and Jobs Act.

$.02/cwt. We fully understand that applied research is important

The comprehensive tax reform legislation includes several provisions which will go into effect in 2018, including:

of September. This fund is to be managed by the MMPA board of

• 21 percent corporate tax rate,

We also encourage MMPA to work with other cooperatives and dairy

• increases and makes permanent Section 179 small-business expensing from $500,000 to $1 million;

industry groups to get all milk in the state participating in a similar

to the advancement of the dairy industry, and traditional research funding sources have become limited. We therefore support the continuation of funding for the applied research fund in the amount equal to $.02/cwt. produced by MMPA members for the month directors or delegated committee.

C-24. IMMIGRATION REFORM We urge Congress to carefully consider immigration reform proposals and the impact they may have on the agriculture and dairy industry.

Due to the importance of immigrant labor to the dairy industry, we believe that any final piece of legislation concerning immigration reform must contain the following components: An affordable and efficient guest worker program that ensures continued availability of immigrant labor for all of agriculture, understanding that dairy farming requires year-round skilled workers.

A provision that allows those currently employed, or with recent history in the U.S., to earn the right to work here legally.

A provision that specifies that responsibility for ultimate verification of the legal status of a worker lies with the government, not with the employer.

C-25. MILK LABELING REQUIREMENTS We urge the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Indiana Board of Animal Health, Ohio Department of Agriculture, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection, and the Food and Drug Administration to continue to strictly enforce label claims on packages of all milk and dairy products. We further urge these agencies to take action to prevent misleading and false in-store promotions of milk and dairy products.

C-26. INTEGRITY OF MILK LABELING We strongly oppose the use of the label “milk” on products made from plants or juice. The use of “milk” on these types of products confuses the consumer. We urge National Milk Producers Federation, United Dairy Industry Association, and the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board to defend and promote the integrity of the milk label and limit its use as defined in the Federal Standards of Identity.

manner.

APRIL 2018 | MESSENGER

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CURRENT RESOLUTIONS CONTINUED

C-27. DAIRY PRIDE ACT Dairy farmers produce a nutritionally consistent, safe and highquality product long recognized for its important contributions to human health; and this product – milk – is clearly defined as a product of animal agriculture under the product’s federal standard of identity found in Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 131.110.

Therefore, we strongly endorse Congressional passage of the DAIRY PRIDE Act (S. 130 and H.R. 778), which would protect the integrity of milk and other federally standardized dairy products by requiring plant-based imitation foods that make an inaccurate or misleading label claim about the attributes of the food and its nomenclature to be considered “misbranded” and subject to enforcement.

The DAIRY PRIDE Act would require the FDA to issue guidance for nationwide enforcement of mislabeled imitation dairy products within 90 days and require the FDA to report to Congress two years after enactment to hold the agency accountable for enforcement obligations.

C-30. TERM LIMITS FOR STATE LEGISLATORS In 1992 Michigan voters approved term limits for members of the Michigan House of Representatives, and Michigan Senate. We recommend that the term limits be changed to six, two-year terms for the Michigan House of Representatives and three, four-year terms for the Michigan Senate.

C-35. BEEF PRODUCTION RESEARCH We support efforts to initiate funding for beef production research through the reinstatement of the Michigan Beef Industry Commission Act 291. The MBIC Act 291 of 1972 was suspended in 1986 due to the passage of the 1985 Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Act (National Beef Checkoff). The MBIC Act 291 allows for the collection of funds to support beef production research.

C-36. FEDERAL TRUCK WEIGHT LEGISLATION We support federal truck weight legislation that would allow for an increase to 97,000 pounds on interstates, provided that trucks which utilize the higher weight limit add an additional sixth axle in order to maintain the same stopping distance and weight distribution as trucks

C-31. MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

currently operating on interstate highways. The legislation will increase

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

for interstate shipment therefore decreasing fuel costs and helping to

(MDARD) provides beneficial services to all people in the state

make the U.S. dairy industry more competitive worldwide.

of Michigan. MDARD plays a key role in ensuring the safety of our food supply and protects the well-being of the plant and animal industries to make sure our state is a reputable and reliable supplier

transportation efficiencies by reducing the number of trucks needed

We applaud Congress for passing bipartisan legislation in 2015 that gives states the option to issue permits allowing milk haulers to increase their truck weights beyond Interstate Highway System limits.

C-28. BIOENGINEERED CROPS

of products to food processors and international markets.

Farmers have been using selective breeding to alter crops for taste, yield and disease resistance for hundreds of years. However, since the 1990s bioengineered crops have become more prevalent. These crops offer tremendous benefits to society, including the ability to increase production while reducing the need for pesticides and preserving scarce natural resources.

The continued growth of the agriculture industry has a significant

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are now among the most extensively studied scientific subjects in history. The conclusions of these studies are unequivocal: there is no credible evidence that GMOs pose any unique threat to the environment or the public’s health.

role in our state’s economy and will allow our industry to continue

We therefore urge all companies and government agencies recognize the numerous studies, including those by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, the World Health Organization, the International Council of Science Union, the AMA, the FDA, and the USDA, which show unequivocally that GMO crops and the products taken from animals fed GMO crops are as safe and healthy as those from non-GMO crops.

any other government agency or department.

C-38. ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

C-32. REGULATORY FEES

The modern dairy industry is electricity intensive. Consider:

Because the function of state regulatory agencies benefits all citizens, we believe that any costs imposed on dairy farmers by state regulatory agencies should come from a state’s General Fund, understanding that significant funding currently is provided by the industry.

“…electricity itself accounts for 2 to 5% of a dairy farm’s

We support active involvement by the United States in the development of a uniform scientifically-based international approval process for biotechnology.

We oppose all attempts to limit the production or use of genetically modified crops based upon unproven statements and unsubstantiated fears. With the potential advancements in bioengineered crops, any limitations on some or all farmers will only serve to place them at a competitive disadvantage.

C-29. PEEL BACK THE LABEL We applaud National Milk Producers Federation for launching the Peel Back the Label campaign to expose deceptive food labeling and fear-based marketing. As food manufacturers increasingly utilize

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“free-from” labels such as “GMO free” or “hormone-free” to play on consumers food safety fears or misconceptions, the campaign aims to stress the need for truth and transparency in food marketing.

Furthermore, we urge NMPF to partner with other like-minded organizations in truth for food marketing.

MESSENGER | APRIL 2018

positive effect on the state’s economy. It is important that the funding for MDARD continue at a level that will protect our state’s food supply and protect animal health. Having a properly funded Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will enable the agriculture and dairy industry to continue to play a vital to grow and remain competitive on the national level.

We further support the continued existence of the MDARD as a distinct Department within state government. We oppose any attempt to dilute the effectiveness of the MDARD by merging it with

C-33. STATE FUNDING FOR AGRICULTURE We support efforts to discuss state funding opportunities that will help continue to grow Michigan’s agriculture and dairy industry.

C-34. LOCAL ROAD FUNDING AND MAINTENANCE We support Public Act 51’s distribution formula for allocating state restricted transportation revenue between MDOT and local road agencies. We further support routing additional revenue designated for roads and bridges through the PA 51 formula to ensure proper distribution and prioritization of fund usage. We support adequate funding of local road agencies to assist in the necessary maintenance and construction of rural infrastructure.

This will allow milk trucks in some states to carry more product without being forced to offload portions of it at other state borders, reducing transportation costs and creating greater efficiencies.

C-37. ELECTRONIC LOGGING We oppose electronic logging requirements for truck drivers that may adversely impact milk or cattle hauling. Given that milk is a perishable product, the transportation of the raw product to processing facilities must be completed in a timely manner to ensure quality. Further, electronic logging requirements may adversely impact cattle hauling routes.

production costs… which is equivalent to 700-900 kWh per cow or 3.5-4.5 kWh per hundredweight (cwt) of milk produced, annually…”

—Farm Energy Management Handbook, DATCP

Whether on the farm or in our production facilities, the dairy industry is wholly dependent on a reliable source of electricity. Unlike other industries in the state, ours is not concentrated in industrial zones.

Our farms are scattered throughout the state, many at the very ends of the electric grid.

Dairy farmers’ demand for electricity is relentless and persists throughout the 24-hour day. Like all industry, Michigan dairy farmers need access to low cost electricity that can give local producers a regionally competitive advantage.

We believe their efforts, including the adoption of Wildlife Risk Mitigation Plans, helped expedite our TB-Free status in other areas of the state and that Wildlife Risk Mitigation practices should be implemented by all cattle producers in northern Michigan.

Furthermore, we encourage farmers in the four county area around DMU-452 to adopt the Enhanced Wildlife Risk Mitigation Plans to further reduce the chance of disease transference from the wild animal population to the domestic animal population.

C-41. ANTLER POINT RESTRICTIONS

Animal Health and Milk Quality

We also encourage all landowners in northern Michigan be active in the legal control of the deer population.

C-39. ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM

We strongly urge MDARD to only create, implement, or enforce rules or regulations that are required by USDA’s published rules regarding Bovine TB except for electronic identification (EID) for livestock.

In an effort to control the deer population it is imperative to allow a larger number of doe permits to be issued at a reduced rate, especially in higher population areas of the state. We encourage the DNR to reduce the costs of deer licenses by half of current levels.

We therefore urge the MPSC, the state Legislature and the Office of the Governor to promote energy policy that favors the lowest cost sources of dispatchable generation with the highest capacity value.

We further urge all suppliers of electrical energy to pursue a defensive structure of the power grid from an electromagnetic pulse event (EMP) whether from nature, a solar flare, terrorist event or nuclear explosion.

We applaud Michigan’s efforts to require mandatory cattle identification.

The mandatory requirement is important to help Michigan achieve Bovine Tuberculosis (TB)-free status for all Michigan counties while helping to maintain the TB-Free status for the 79 counties and Upper Peninsula that have been designated as Bovine TB-free. We urge strict enforcement of the mandatory cattle identification requirement and strong penalties for those who violate the requirement.

We urge the USDA to implement a mandatory RFID animal identification program. We also urge that the identification database system be maintained under the control of USDA to expedite the traceback of animals. The system should protect farmers’ privacy, while also allowing for immediate access of relevant information by government authorities in the event of an animal disease crisis. We therefore urge that the information in the animal identification database be exempt from the Freedom of Information Act. Furthermore, we urge slaughter houses to utilize electronic ID readers in conjunction with back tags to identify all animals.

C-40. BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS We commend Michigan dairy and livestock producers, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and its partners for their efforts over the years to restore the Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) Free status to seventy-nine Michigan counties. This designation allows for more effective use of limited resources to help eradicate Bovine TB from the state completely.

We understand that the number of TB infected herds in 2016 exceeded the permitted number in the Memorandum of Understanding with the United States Department of Agriculture and that USDA will be considering options to address Michigan’s Bovine TB status.

We strongly urge USDA to target resources in the high risk Modified Accredited area to prevent infection of cattle herds and remove deer in the area. We urge that efforts be undertaken to restore Michigan’s TB-Free status and reduce bTB to the point of nondetection in both the wild and domesticated animal populations in northern Michigan.

We recognize the stringent management practices many of our members have put in place in order to minimize the transmission of this disease.

We commend our MMPA field staff, management and others that have helped educate producers and others about controlling this disease.

We urge the MDNR to increase their efforts in managing deer and wildlife, to help further eliminate Bovine TB. We strongly urge USDA to include controlling and depopulating the deer herd in DMU area 452 as a component of any future Memorandum of Understanding.

We urge the MDNR to make disease control permits available to any livestock producer that shows evidence of deer to cattle or deer to feed interaction and to farmers where TB has been detected in the deer herd in the past.

We also believe that the changes necessary to reduce Bovine TB to the point of non-detection in the wild and domestic animal populations must be permanent changes in order to prevent resurgence of the disease.

We encourage USDA to seek additional funding so that eradication goals can be achieved. We also support: 1. Payment of fair market value for animals that need to be destroyed.

2. State funding of all required testing.

3. An appeals process as part of the federal indemnity program that includes specifics of what constitutes a valid appeal, defined timeframes for filing and responding to an appeal and opportunity for an onsite appraisal.

4. A limit on maximum federal indemnity allowable by animal and by herd, but also a provision that allows the state to provide additional payment to reach the full appraised value of an animal without penalty.

5. Increased research toward the control and prevention of Bovine TB. 6. Collaborative efforts between state and federal regulatory agencies, educational institutions and agriculture industry organizations in working toward the eradication of Bovine TB.

We strongly oppose the use of mandatory antler point restrictions (APR) that would only allow you to shoot anterlered deer if it has the minimum number of points on one side. We are very concerned with the adverse effects of an APR by allowing deer numbers to increase, which could negatively impact the agriculture industry.

C-42. ANTERLESS (DOE) DEER PERMITS

C-43. ANIMAL CARE We believe in and support the humane treatment of animals. We recognize the importance of maintaining a sound animal care program on our farms.

We support the National Dairy FARM Program: Farmers Assuring Responsible Management developed to bolster consumer trust and confidence in the U.S. dairy industry and demonstrate the industry’s commitment to the highest levels of animal care and quality assurance. The National Dairy FARM program demonstrates the dairy industry’s awareness of the need to communicate its commitment to animal well-being to customers and consumers.

C-44. EMPLOYEE IDENTIFICATION We urge all employees of the milk cooperatives, state and federal inspection divisions and any dairy plant or farm compliance individuals be required to have visible ID on their person at all times while on a members’ farm.

Association Issues C-45. POLITICAL ACTION We reaffirm our belief in the need to actively support the Michigan Milk Political Action Committee (MMPAC) as a legitimate means for organized involvement in areas of government legislation and regulation that affect dairy farmers and agriculture. To ensure that the dairy industry’s needs are addressed in state and national lawmaking and policy-making circles, we strongly recommend a voluntary milk check deduction by each member at the rate of $1 per cow per year.

C-46. MILK DONATION We applaud MMPA’s involvement in milk donation activities. We recognize milk plays an important role in providing much needed nutrients in our diets and also understand that milk is one of the most requested food bank items.

We encourage the MMPA Board of Directors to continue to seek ways to assist local food banks and families in need.

7. We support a voluntary herd buyout plan as a tool of achieving Bovine TB-Free status.

APRIL 2018 | MESSENGER

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Standing Resolutions Approved at the MMPA State Annual Delegate Meeting on March 15, 2018

S-1. FARMER COOPERATIVES

S-5. MMPA LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL

We believe that the concept of farmer cooperatives and family farms, upon which this nation relies for providing high-quality agricultural products at reasonable prices, is of immeasurable value.

We urge the administration to be guided by that fact as it formulates and carries out policies and programs pertaining to farming.

We recognize the importance of programs that help ensure MMPA’s future strength and effectiveness, and we continue our endorsement of programs that identify and build future leadership for this cooperative. We urge young cooperators to attend association meetings, share ideas and concerns, discuss solutions to common problems, and become involved in activities which lead to development of abilities needed to provide sound, foresighted operation of agricultural cooperatives.

We will continue to strongly resist efforts in private or government sectors to weaken or destroy farmer cooperatives.

We are determined that present tax regulations, which result in a single taxing of farmer cooperatives’ overages allocated to members, must be maintained.

S-2. DAIRY PRODUCT IDENTITY We pledge continued support for the work of the National Milk Producers Federation, United Dairy Industry Association, National Dairy Promotion & Research Board, and other responsible groups that defend and promote the integrity of “Real” dairy products.

S-3. AGRICULTURAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS — DAIRY COMMUNICATORS We commend the corps of the MMPA Dairy Communicators for their efforts to improve the position of dairy farmers. We recognize the growing need for regular communication with legislators, and news media; for local promotion and consumer education activities geared to the milk consuming public. We re-emphasize our continuing belief that all news media must be made aware of, and have access to, up-to-date information regarding our views on a wide range of agriculture-related issues. We encourage the participation of all designated Dairy Communicators and local officers in events that allow communication about dairying and other agricultural issues to the general public.

We acknowledge the increased importance of marketing services and programs of such dairy farmer cooperatives as MMPA in our complex marketplace. We, therefore, pledge continued support to the activities of the following organizations, allies working to extend the effectiveness of MMPA members and all other dairy farmers: National Milk Producers Federation in representing dairy farmers and their cooperatives in Washington, D.C.; National Council of Farmer Cooperatives in conveying the farmer cooperative story to elected officials and federal agencies.

WRITES THE resolutions?

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We direct the MMPA board of directors to work with leaders of other farm groups to enhance the image that farmers and agriculture project to the general public.

S-7. QUALITY PREMIUM PROGRAM We commend the MMPA board of directors and management for their continuing vigil over the quality of milk produced on our farms. We commend them for developing and implementing the Quality Premium Program, which provides to MMPA members financial incentive to produce superior quality milk. We direct the MMPA board and management to monitor the progress of this important program and to make adjustments, as needed, to ensure its effective continuation.

S-8. MICHIGAN DAIRY MARKET PROGRAM We continue our solid endorsement of the Michigan Dairy Market Program, which funds dairy product promotion and market-building activities of the United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM) and United Dairy Industry Association (UDIA) at a rate of $.10/cwt. through dairy farmer investment.

S-9. EXPANDING MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES

S-4. ALLIED ORGANIZATIONS

WHO

S-6. IMAGE ENHANCEMENT

We direct MMPA management to continue to aggressively seek new customers for milk-derived products made at the MMPA manufacturing plants. We support MMPA’s expansion of its marketing activities into that segment of the food industry, in addition to the broad range of traditional products. We endorse continuation of that practice, as a way to capitalize upon milk marketing opportunities that enable MMPA to market its members’ milk to their best advantage.

RESOLUTIONS ARE WRITTEN AND/OR REVIEWED BY THE MMPA RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE, WHICH IS A GROUP OF 32 MEMBERS ELECTED AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL BY LOCAL DELEGATES. THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS MEET TWICE EACH YEAR, ONCE BETWEEN LOCAL AND DISTRICT MEETINGS AND THEN AGAIN THE DAY BEFORE THE ANNUAL STATE DELEGATE MEETING. AT THESE MEETINGS, THE COMMITTEE REVIEWS THE RESOLUTIONS AS WELL AS ANY PROPOSED AMENDMENTS OR NEW RESOLUTIONS APPROVED AT THE DISTRICT MEETINGS.

MESSENGER | APRIL 2018

S-10. INVOLVEMENT: THE COMMUNITY OF AGRICULTURE We urge each MMPA member to seek and/or accept the responsibility for involvement in local government. We urge each member to enter into this continuing vigil in the spirit of responsible citizens as his or her livelihood and way of living depends on it. We suggest strongly that the areas to be closely monitored — with an eye to potential impact on the agriculture community — include issues related to: livestock management, environmental integrity, equitable taxation, planning commission and zoning ordinance board.

S-11. MICHIGAN BEEF INDUSTRY COMMISSION We support the Michigan Beef Industry Commission and the National Beef Check-off Program of which over 40 percent of the Michigan funds come from dairy beef and veal in Michigan. Therefore, we support the Michigan Beef Industry Commission in directing dairy farmers’ check-off dollars to promote beef through its consumer education, industry information, and a more aggressive beef promotion program.

S-12. INDUSTRY RELATIONS With the declining number of producers in the agricultural community, it behooves all producers to stand together when confronting agricultural issues. We are encouraged by recent movement to work toward common goals and encourage further cooperation and unity in dealing with future beef and dairy legislation.

S-13. MICHIGAN AGRICULTURE COMMISSION We recognize the value of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development having its operating policy determined by the Michigan Agriculture Commission. We urge the Governor to ensure that animal agriculture interests are adequately represented and to seek input from the agriculture industry when opportunities arise to fill vacancies on the Michigan Agriculture Commission. Recognizing that the dairy industry represents 25 percent of Michigan’s agricultural income, and is a major user of Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development services, we encourage the appointment of an individual directly involved in the dairy industry. Further, we strongly urge that steps be taken to allow the Commission to approve the rules and regulations promulgated by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD).

S-14. NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION We encourage the Governor to maintain a person with an agricultural background on the Natural Resources Commission.

S-15. SPONSORING OF EVENTS Many times MMPA is asked to sponsor many events such as dinners, special events, etc. We support such sponsorship, however, when MMPA sponsors these events, one stipulation must be made to the group that wants our sponsorship. The group that wants our sponsorship must agree to serve “Real” dairy products at the event.

S-16. RESIDUE PREVENTION QUALITY ASSURANCE/ HAACP PROGRAMS

S-22. NATIONAL DAIRY PROMOTION/MARKETBUILDING PROGRAMS

Recognizing the importance of producing a safe, residue-free product, we encourage participation in the Milk and Dairy Beef Quality Assurance Program or a similar HAACP-based program by every MMPA member. These programs enable producers to carefully evaluate their production and management practices to enhance production of residue-free milk and meat.

We reaffirm our support for market-building programs financed by producer investment. We endorse funding of these programs which include the National Dairy Board (NDB) and United Dairy Industry Association (UDIA), at levels that ensure continued effectiveness.

S-17. PUBLIC NUTRITION PROGRAMS We recognize the importance of public nutrition programs that help maintain the nation’s health and provide stable markets for agricultural commodities. We urge Congress to take the necessary steps to maintain child feeding, school breakfast and lunch programs, and other public nutrition programs that include REAL dairy products. We further urge Congress to ensure these programs are adequately funded, regulated, and administered.

In addition, we urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ensure that adequate funds are made available to states for distribution of dairy products to needy families.

S-18. GREEEN We support the partnership efforts of Michigan State University, the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, Michigan State University Extension, state government, the state’s commodity groups and food processors and consumers in structuring the GREEEN program (Generating Research and Extension to meet Economic and Environmental Needs). The GREEEN proposal seeks to boost the state’s economy by expanding Michigan’s plant-based agriculture and processing systems through research and educational programs while protecting and preserving the quality of the environment and the safety of our food supply.

S-19. PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS We believe that property owners have the constitutional right to be duly compensated for any use by the government that in any way diminishes the property owners use of the property. Any action taken by the government that lessens an owner's right to use his property constitutes a taking of that owner's property and should be appropriately compensated to the owner. Compensation should be paid from the budget of the agency responsible for the action and must be of fair market value.

S-20. FOOD SAFETY We acknowledge that the public perception of food safety may have adverse public policy and market-related impacts upon dairy farmers. MMPA and NMPF have taken and will continue to take proactive positions to protect the nation’s milk and dairy beef supply from violative animal drug residues and other potential contaminates.

S-21. FEDERAL ORDERS We strongly endorse the continuation of the Federal Milk Marketing Order system, established by the Agriculture Marketing Agreement Act of 1937. The Federal Order system has a long history and timetested record of changing individual order rules and regulations to meet changing market conditions and consumers’ needs. The formal hearing process used to amend Federal Orders has served the industry well. We endorse the use of the recently revised hearing and decision making process.

S-23. TRUCK WEIGHTS We oppose any efforts by the state legislature to reduce Michigan’s gross vehicle weight limits. Lowering truck weights would result in higher energy, environmental and transportation costs, negatively affecting the income of dairy farmers and ultimately impacting the prices consumers pay for dairy products. Studies have shown that individual axle loads and speed are more important than total gross vehicle weight when determining factors that affect road damage.

S-24. MICHIGAN DAIRY EXPO We applaud the efforts of the Michigan State University 4-H program at the Michigan Dairy Expo. The development of this event has revitalized the Dairy 4-H program in Michigan. We support the educational and promotional activities associated with the Michigan Dairy Expo and encourage participation in this event.

Furthermore, we extend our appreciation to the numerous 4-H volunteers and leaders and MMPA members who had the vision to make the Michigan Dairy Expo a reality. Without their continuing commitment to our youth, the programs and activities at Michigan Dairy Expo would not be possible.

S-25. 4-H, FFA AND AGRISCIENCE EDUCATION We reaffirm our belief in the value of youth-directed programs and activities of the Michigan 4-H Clubs, FFA, and Agriscience Education — all of which are vital to the future of America. We recognize that most MMPA members benefited from taking part in these programs and we recommend that each dairy farm family accept the challenge of personal involvement to help perpetuate these valuable programs and activities.

We support the establishment of standards for ethical behavior in exhibiting livestock at fairs and expositions. Furthermore, we support youth livestock ethics education and awareness.

Further, in view of the vital investment that vocational agriscience programs represent in the future well-being of the state’s economy, we urge that these programs be fully funded, on a continuing basis, at levels to ensure their effectiveness and state accreditation. That is particularly important in small rural school districts located in areas that often must compete for funds with large urban school districts.

S-26. UNITED STATES DAIRY EXPORT COUNCIL We support and encourage further development of the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) to increase net exports of U.S. dairy products.

With the continued productivity of U.S. dairy farms, we will have an even greater reliance on world markets for our products.

We therefore need to continue to effectively work to develop international markets through the USDEC.

S-27. LOW VOLTAGE (BROWN OUTS) We urge all electrical utility companies maintain and improve their delivery systems to ensure that the expensive problem of low voltage (brown outs) ceases to exist.

S-28. CLONED ANIMAL PRODUCTS We are reassured that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review finds no health or safety issues with food from cloned animals. We endorse the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s request that cloning technology providers, and the owners of existing cloned livestock continue to observe the moratorium on the commercial marketing of cloned animal products. This will allow a further review of the economic and trade issues regarding the new technology. We further oppose labeling which would differentiate between milk and meat from cloned and conventionally bred animals.

S-29. STRAY VOLTAGE Stray voltage, sometimes known as neutral to earth voltage, is an electrical problem that can affect livestock operations. Stray voltage can be attributed to a number of potential sources.

We applaud the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) for the adoption of stray voltage rules formally known as “Rules and Regulations Governing Animal Contact Current Mitigation.” The rules outline realistic stray voltage standards and the process for investigations when necessary by neutral third parties to resolve disputes between utilities and producers.

By following the steps outlined in the rules, producers have the opportunity to address stray voltage concerns in a consistent, fair and systematic manner.

We also encourage the MPSC to routinely evaluate the rules and procedures of stray voltage standards and the best management practices that coincide with them.

We encourage the commission to also review research conducted on the impact stray voltage has on livestock.

We will continue to work with electric suppliers and the Public Service Commission to resolve problems with stray voltage on farms to ensure that problems are resolved in a fair and equitable manner for all involved.

We further encourage and support research on the effects of stray voltage on livestock.

Furthermore, we encourage the MMPA board of directors and management to monitor individual farm situations to determine if the current standards and regulations are still applicable to on-farm situations.

We strongly urge utility companies to fully fund their Agricultural Service Departments so there are enough personnel to routinely visit dairy farms and identify and solve stray voltage problems.

S-30. APPROVED TECHNOLOGY We urge the MMPA board of directors and management to continue monitoring the existing and potential impact of advances in technologies on our farming operations. We are concerned about the growing scrutiny surrounding approved technology and management practices used in production agriculture. We believe it is the responsibility of the entire agriculture community, including government agencies and universities, to protect our industry by informing consumers of the safety and efficacy of modern farming practices in producing an abundant, safe and affordable food for the consumer. Without proper education we will continue to lose our ability to use FDA approved technologies on our farms due to consumers' lack of understanding of our industry.

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STANDING RESOLUTIONS CONTINUED

S-31. DIAGNOSTIC CENTER FOR POPULATION AND ANIMAL HEALTH The Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health in East Lansing, Mich. plays a critical role in protecting the health and safety of humans and animals throughout our state and nation. With new and improved technology and increased bio-security including threats of bio-terrorism, we support full funding for the effective operation of the lab.

S-32. LIVESTOCK SEIZURE We understand that in any group of livestock, condition may exist where some animals will appear to be in better health and body condition than others due to weather and other external factors.

We believe that people not familiar with standard livestock animal care do not have the right—because they think the animal is being abused—to confiscate or have confiscated another person’s livestock from the owner’s property without a judicial review and determination, including notification of the owner, prior to the seizure of animals.

Law enforcement agencies (including animal control authorities) should obtain the opinion of two unbiased local livestock professionals and a large animal veterinarian prior to the seizure of a person’s livestock. The accuser should pay for costs associated with the resulting investigation if no abuse is found.

S-33. ANIMAL DISEASES Animal diseases continue to reduce profitability for dairy producers and may impede exports and international market development.

Diseases such as Tuberculosis, Brucellosis, and Johne’s Disease and others can significantly increase costs to dairy producers in terms of decreased milk production, loss of animals, and replacement of animals. In an effort to protect the entire livestock industry in the United States from possible occurrence of animal diseases, we recommend a very aggressive enforcement of regulations to limit all imports of livestock and animal by-products. We encourage the continued and increased financial support of research to determine the causative agent, life cycle and possible control of these diseases.

We urge MSU, MDARD and USDA to provide sufficient funding and programs for animal health education, disease monitoring, border inspections and disease eradication that protect the United States livestock industry and ensure continued market access.

We further oppose importation of livestock that does not meet import testing requirements as deemed appropriate by the Director of Agriculture and Rural Development, have appropriate quarantine protocols in place, and have an animal I.D. system to track the movement of livestock to prevent the possible spread of disease.

S-34. CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a fatal brain disease that attacks the nervous systems of deer and elk, causing chronic weight loss that eventually leads to death. It is not known to be contagious to humans, livestock or other animals. We encourage Federal and State agencies to study, monitor, control and eventually eradicate CWD from the nation’s deer and elk population.

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MESSENGER | APRIL 2018

S-35. RAW MILK CONSUMPTION

S-41. NEW INTERNATIONAL TRADE CROSSING

We know that according to the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control, consumption of raw milk poses a health risk to humans. We therefore support Michigan’s legal requirement that prohibits the sale of unpasteurized (raw) milk to consumers. All milk intended for direct consumption should be pasteurized as a matter of food safety. Since its introduction over a century ago, pasteurization has been recognized around the world as an essential tool for ensuring that milk and dairy products are safe.

We support the New International Trade Crossing (NITC) project that will construct a second bridge crossing between Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario. Being able to connect more efficiently to the East Coast through the NITC will help increase the market options available to Michigan’s dairy and agriculture industry.

S-36. MICHIGAN AG COUNCIL

We encourage the Michigan State University (MSU) Animal Science Department, MSU College of Veterinary Medicine, departments of Large Animal Clinical Sciences and the Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory, MSU Extension, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to work cooperatively to develop control and prevention guidelines to assist producers in managing Johne’s disease.

We support the collective efforts of the Michigan Ag Council as a way to bring awareness and education to the role of animal agriculture in Michigan. The collaborative efforts of the Ag Council partners serve as an effective tool in bringing unity among agricultural organizations to promote a positive image for the agriculture industry. The Michigan Ag Council takes an assertive, proactive approach in telling the story of modern agriculture practices and advancements.

S-37. CAPPER-VOLSTEAD PROTECTIONS We strongly support the protections provided by the CapperVolstead Act’s limited antitrust immunity for farmers and their cooperatives. The Capper-Volstead Act gives agricultural producer organizations limited antitrust immunity “in collectively processing, preparing for market, handling and marketing” their products. We urge Congress to support and maintain the protections provided by the Capper-Volstead Act. These protections are as important to farmers and cooperatives today as they were when originally passed in 1922.

S-38. FERAL ANIMALS Many farmers and rural residents are very concerned about the increasing population of feral hogs and other destructive wild animals. We need to have every tool or means available to help control these animals. We strongly support the state order that went into effect on October 8, 2011 that declares wild hogs an invasive and prohibited species. The state order is essential to protect Michigan’s agriculture industry from the destructive animals.

S-39. STARLING CONTROL MEASURES Starling populations continue to pose a threat to livestock health and production in dairy herds. Their droppings in feed and bedding areas have known negative effects on livestock health. Starlings glean the expensive, high protein components of dairy feed, reducing herd protein intake and adversely affect milk production. Since birds can travel easily from farm to farm, there is also the potential for disease transmission. We approve USDA’s program for starling control and urge the continuation and expansion of the program. We encourage producers to participate in the program.

S-40. REAL SEAL We applaud National Milk Producers Federation for taking over the management of the REAL Seal program. The revitalization of the REAL Seal places a renewed emphasis on highlighting the importance and value of American-made dairy foods. The program will help educate new generations of dairy consumers about the significance of the REAL Seal and promote the good taste, nutritional value and wholesomeness associated with dairy foods and dairy food ingredients made from milk produced in the United States.

S-42. JOHNE’S DISEASE We are concerned about the significant animal health problems and economic impact on dairy farms from Johne’s disease.

We oppose the classification of Johne’s disease as a reportable disease.

In addition, we urge that all imported cattle be tested negative for Johne’s.

S-43. LAND USE POLICIES We support positive land use policies, including urban redevelopment and higher density suburban growth.

S-44. GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS CONCERNS We understand there are conflicting arguments within the scientific and political community surrounding the existence and causation of global warming and climate change. There is some belief that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activities are contributing to an increase in average global temperatures and adverse changes in the world’s climate and weather. GHG emissions include carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane. While we do not accept the responsibility for the increase in GHG emissions, the dairy industry is poised to play a unique role in the climate change debate.

We urge the MMPA board of directors and management staff to closely monitor any climate change legislation or greenhouse gas reporting that may adversely impact the dairy industry’s ability to provide a safe and abundant milk supply. Furthermore, we oppose any efforts to regulate livestock operations’ GHG emissions through the Clean Air Act. It is important to recognize the great strides that have been made in lowering the carbon footprint and greenhouse gases (GHG) of the U.S. dairy industry. Today’s U.S. dairy industry is supplying consumers’ needs for dairy products with about one-third of the GHG emissions generated by the system in 1944 per pound of milk produced. The imposition of GHG standards could stifle the further success and ongoing innovations in the dairy and agriculture industry.

S-45. CUSTOMER SUPPORTED DAIRY PROMOTIONS We applaud the efforts of MMPA fluid milk and dairy ingredient customers promoting dairy products and our family farms in their advertising and marketing efforts. It is beneficial to the industry as a whole when more companies promote the consumption of dairy products.

MERCHANDISE

Electrolytes Prevention Calf scours are a concern for every dairy farm. The merchandise program stocks several products that can aid in the prevention of scours and speed up the recovery from them. Listed below are new additions to our electrolyte product lineup that will aid in the battle against scours. A complete list of available electrolyte products can be found in our merchandise catalog.

Land O’ Lakes Electrolyte System Land O’ Lakes electrolyte system provides electrolytes and essential fluids when young calves are dehydrated, exposed to heat or cold stress or experience electrolyte loss. The LOL system is composed of two parts, Base and Add Pack. The Base provides needed electrolytes and essential fluids. The Add Pack, combined with the Base assists with electrolyte transport and helps maintain proper body fluid levels.

These items are sold separately. The Base can be used alone, but the Add Pack must be used in conjunction with the Base.

Base- prevention Composed of high dextrose for quick energy and Vitamin B complex, the Base provides beneficial electrolytes through a superior suspension technology. This is a useful tool at the first sign of scours, before visible signs of dehydration. The Base is available in a 25# bag. It contains approximately 155- 2qt doses per bag. This is a maintenance dose, heat or cold stress may require a larger dose.

Stock#: 1117

Member price: $44.28

Add Pack- treatment Formulated to only be fed with the Base, the Add Pack should be mixed in the Base and administered 2 to 3 times per day. Glycine assists with electrolyte transport, and an alkalinizing agent to maintain proper body fluid pH levels. This is a 3# jar.

Stock#: 1012

Member price: $ 42.35

UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT MILK OR MILK REPLACER FEEDING BE CONTINUED WHEN CALVES SCOUR AS BOTH THE LIQUID AND NUTRIENTS ARE NEEDED FROM THE NORMAL DIET. VERY FEW ELECTROLYTE FORMULATIONS CONTAIN ENOUGH CALORIES TO SUPPORT MAINTENANCE AND GROWTH. IF CALVES ARE SEVERELY DEHYDRATED, BE SURE TO CONSULT YOUR VETERINARIAN.

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

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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: 50,000 or below.............................................................................. +55¢/cwt.

51,000-75,000....................................................................................... +50¢/cwt.

76,000-100,000.............................................................................. +45¢/cwt.

101,000-125,000....................................................................................+40¢/cwt.

126,000-150,000............................................................................. +35¢/cwt.

151,000-175,000.................................................................................... +30¢/cwt.

176,000-200,000............................................................................ +25¢/cwt.

201,000-225,000.................................................................................. +20¢/cwt.

226,000-250,000............................................................................ +15¢/cwt.

251,000-300,000.................................................................................+00¢/cwt.

301,000-400,000.......................................................................... - 30¢/cwt.

401,000-500,000.............................................................................. -$1.00/cwt.

501,000-600,000......................................................................... -$1.50/cwt.

MMPA Member Testing Fees Payment for testing will be made through an automatic milk check deduction. All costs are listed per individual sample.

Cow Tests: $1 Cow samples may be tested for: Culture for Streptococcus agalactiae, Strep non ag, Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase negative staph, gram negative and/or SCC. Additional testing can be coordinated through your MMPA member representative to include: Raw bacteria count and components.

All herd tests must be scheduled with the laboratory through your MMPA member representative.

Additional Tests Available: All costs are listed per individual sample.

601,000 and greater........................................................................ -$2.00/cwt.

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 There will be a deduction of 10¢/cwt. for: • Greater than 100,000 Raw Bacteria Count 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 EU SCC Requirement All MMPA member milk must meet the requirements of European Union certification for SCC which is an average of 400,000 or less calculated by a rolling geometric mean.

• Mycoplasma Cultures...........................................................................$13 • Bacteriology Cultures...........................................................................$15 – Includes identification of bacteria and drug susceptibility.

• Bovine Viral Diarrhea - PCR.........................................................................................................$40 - ELISA........................................................................................................$6 • Johne’s Milk Test - PCR.........................................................................................................$40 - 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.

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MESSENGER | APRIL 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.

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FREELINERS

TO SUBMIT ADS VISIT WWW.MIMILK.COM/MICHIGAN-MILK-MESSENGER/ADVERTISE/FREELINER-AND-CLASSIFIED-ADS

Bulls Service age Holstein bulls.

Call Steve Alexander, 810-622-8548 evenings or 810-404-8548.

Equipment Versatile Tractor 936, 310 hp., 5500 hours, bareback, good runner, $2,150.

Tank spreader, 5,300 gal. new tank & pump 3 years ago, used very little, $20,500, Kuhn hay merger, MM300, like new, $11,000. John Deere 3970 chopper with 7 ft. hay head, very good, always housed, $4,000. Surge auto flow double five parlor, $5,000. 50 plate coolers, $1,100. Crowd gate, $750. (2) hay saver round bale feeders, $600 each.

Country Corners Farms 616-218-9350 or 616-218-7125 Holland, Mich.

6710 Penta mixer. Tanco bale wrapper "slightly used". Bale squeezer for skid steer and rolls of wrap available. Call 810-516-6867.

New Holland 195 spreader, hydraulic end gate, single heavy apron chain, big float tires, rope pull control, bought new, good condition, $10,500.

Call 810-338-5265.

12 row Case is 955 planter vertical fold new Holland 570 with 72 thrower new knitters and belts 8-30 in. Row corn head off 2188 new row kits in. 2 Orth man 8 row folding singer sweep big disk shields low Ayers model 610-530 all field ready.

Call 989-977-4676.

20' Van Dale silo unloader, new gear box $1000 /obo. 80' Patz belt feeder w/plow, 12" belt $1000 /obo. IH 540 pto silo blower $1200 /obo. John Deere 215 disk 16' wide, 9" spacing, 19" blades $3000. John Deere 2600 5-18 plow $1500. 989-307-0669.

2006 Jaylor 4650 twin screw mixer, $8500. Brillion 9 shank chisel plow, $1850. 517-420-5042.

Milking Equipment 858 gal. Mueller bulk tank, new compressor 2 years ago, $1250.

Complete Surge 2” pipeline with 6 Surge milkers, vacuum pump motor just replaced, $500. 616-403-0363 or 616-403-1645.

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 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 published as a Classified Ad at the regular per-line Classified Ad rate.

• Freeliners must be received by the 10th of the month preceding desired month of publication.

Misc.

4 x 5 Round Hay Bales. Dry cow hay. $25 bale. 989-464-7364.

LEGENDAIRY. No bull.

Co-Products Menu

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!

Non-GMO

products available

Contact merchandisers at ZFS, Inc: MI/IN/OH: 866.888.7082 WI: 800-523-6760 www.zfsinc.com/divisions/ingredients

PTO and Automatic Start Generators 1-800-248-8070 M-40 South Hamilton, MI 49419 www.hamiltondist.com

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MESSENGER | APRIL 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

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.

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.

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. 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.

DRY HAY & STRAW (large & small bales) & BARLEY FOR FEED. 989-723-1886 or 989-277-1414.

ALPHALFA HAYLAGE (excellent & fair grades) & CORN SILAGE. Call 989-723-1886 or 989-277-1414.

NEW KATOLIGHT PTO GENERATOR, 60 KW, keep everyone warm and producing if there is a power outage. Call Brent at 248-770-5122.

HOOF TRIMMING - 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. Also doing fly control and cement grooving. Gibson Hoof Care (Tom) 989-239-6843.

FOR SALE: 2nd, 3rd and 4th cutting good quality haylage.

I also have beet pulp and corn silage. All stored under two layers of plastic with tire sidewalls touching each other. Aron Whitaker, Elsie, MI. 989-666-6565 OPEN POLLINATED CORN SEED. Early varieties Green Haven Open Pollinated Seed Group Call 607-566-9253. www.openpollinated.com.

MICHIGAN CERTIFIED OAT SEED. Spring Barley Seed and Medium Red June Clover Seed. Roundup Ready II, Liberty Link and MCIA 2323 Soybean Seed. 989-723-1886 or 989-277-1414.

FOR SALE: 35 ft. IH field cultivator. Good condition. $1,800.

Call 989-593-2488.

1250 gal. DELAVAL BULK TANK - washer - 2 compressor units 120 gal. free heater. $4500. Dale Hackney, Durand, MI 810-962-0184.

New Holland 900 pull type chopper $6000. New Holland 990 hay head $1000. New Holland 790 hay head $500. New Holland 824 2-row corn head $1500. New Holland 28 blower $400. New Holland 25 blower needs band $200. New Holland 40 blower $100. Gehl 18’ 970 tandem chopper wgn $2000. Gehl 18’ 980 tandem chopper wgn, needs work $800. Gehl 16” 940 single chopper wgn $1600.

H & S 16’ single chopper wgn $1600.

Meyer 500 16’ tandem chopper wgn $1600. Brent CPC 5 shank disc ripper $5500. Brent CPC 7 shank disc ripper $2500. Harvestore single phase control box with motor $500.

Harvestore three phase control box with motor $500. WIC pull type bale chopper $1000. White 6100 6-row planter with OV $7000. Separate White 6900 7-row splitter plants $7200. New Holland 425 skid steer $2500. Kuhn tedder rake $150. Kilbros 385 gravity wgn $3500. J&M 300 bu Gravity wgn $1500. ZF 300 bu gravity wgn $1500. McCurdy 300 bu gravity wgn $1500. 6 -row crop cultivator $600. All with best offer or package offer. Minden City. 989-551-5522

Concrete Grooving and Texturing Call: Jeff Brisky - Owner Toll Free: 1-800-294-1202 Cell: 1-716-353-1137

REGISTERED HOLSTEIN BULLS OVER 100 SERVICE AGE BULLS FOR YOUR SELECTION! 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

GREEN MEADOW FARMS 6400 Hollister Road, Elsie, MI 48831 Phone: 989-862-4291

www.greenmeadowfarms.com

APRIL 2018 | MESSENGER

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MARKET REPORT

Statistical Summary

| FOR MILK MARKETED IN FEBRUARY 2018

AMS Survey Prices

Market Statistics - Mideast Federal Order #33 # This Month # Year Ago % Change

(monthly average, per pound)

Cheese 1.4727 / LB

Total Class 1 Sales

498,901,853

510,602,744

-2.29

Total Class 2 Sales

320,108,735

325,641,402

-1.70

Total Class 3 Sales

512,703,355

475,931,394

+7.73

Total Class 4 Sales

273,540,132

297,504,707

-8.06

1,605,254,075

1,609,680,247

-0.27

31.1%

31.7%

Total Production Class 1 Utilization

Mideast Federal Order #33 Total Producers...............................................................................4,657 Avg. Daily Production per farm....................................................12,311 Avg. Protein Test...........................................................................3.17%

Butter 2.1112 / LB

Avg. Butterfat Test.........................................................................3.90% Avg. Other Solids Test...................................................................5.78% Avg. SCC - MMPA......................................................................164,000

Component Pricing Information Mideast Federal Order #33 Protein Price /lb.......................................................................... $1.6265

Milk Powders

Other Solids Price /lb................................................................. $0.0550

Nonfat Dry Milk

Class III Price @ 3.5%.................................................................... $13.40

0.7084 / LB

Prod. Price Diff /cwt. - Mich Mkt..................................................... $0.41

Dry Whey

Uniform Price @ 3.5%................................................................... $13.81

0.2525 / LB

SCC Adjustment /cwt /1000..................................................... $0.00074

National Trends* (production in millions of pounds)

*For 23 States 42

Butterfat Price /lb....................................................................... $2.3490

MESSENGER | APRIL 2018

California Wisconsin New York Idaho Pennsylvania Michigan Texas Minnesota New Mexico Washington Ohio Indiana Total U.S. U.S Y-T-D

2018

2017

% Change

3,233 2,333 1,128 1,125 861 871 979 760 658 511 427 333 15,934 33,236

3,124 2,330 1,155 1,073 858 863 928 764 637 492 430 331 15,645 32,638

+3.5 +0.1 -2.3 +4.8 +0.3 +0.9 +5.5 -0.5 +3.3 +3.9 -0.7 +0.6 +1.8 +1.8

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

East 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 Joe Packard, Manchester...................................248-520-3481 Emily Peacock, Otisville......................................248-826-7243

General Manager Joe Diglio................................................................ ext. 202 Chief Financial Officer Josep Barenys......................................................... ext. 240 Hedging and Business Development Aaron Beak............................................................. ext. 256 Controller Shelly Bonnici.......................................................... ext. 249

Josep Barenys, Asst. Treasurer

Quality Amandeep Dhillon.................................................. ext. 305 Sales James Feeney.......................................................... ext. 258 Manufacturing Kaylan Kennel............................................... 248-880-5413

Member Services Dean Letter................................................... 989-289-9251

Energy Auditor Ed Zuchnik, Three Rivers....................................269-967-7351

Credit/Insurance Cheryl Schmandt.................................................... ext. 210

Brittni Tucker, Wyoming....................................248-880-3785 Rachel Botta, Findlay, OH...................................248-533-2288 Steve Post, White Pigeon...................................248-938-1555

Communications Allison Stuby Miller................................................. ext. 296 Krista Schrock............................................... 269-986-6792

Other Member Services

Supply Chain Therese Tierney....................................................... ext. 217

MMPA Labs Novi (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.)

In Michigan....................................................800-572-5824 Toll Free 800-233-2405 Ovid (Daily, 6 a.m.-10 p.m.)..................... 989-834-2515 Constantine (Daily, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.).........800-391-7560

Member Relations Jessica Welch.......................................................... ext. 303 Human Resources Bill Zoli.................................................................... ext. 301

Manufacturing Plants Constantine, Michigan Dave Davis, Plant Manager............................ 269-435-2835 Ovid, Michigan Ron Steinhorst, 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

Kris Wardin, Vice President

Management Information Systems Andrew Caldwell.....................................................ext. 304

Supervisor Dave Brady, Grass Lake......................................517-937-9061

Raw Milk Compliance Manager Steve Lehman, Ithaca........................................989-330-1638

Ken Nobis, President

Eric Frahm, Treasurer

South Area

Sustainability Coordinator Kendra Kissane, Byron Center...........................248-880-4234

Officers

Member and Government Relations Sheila Burkhardt..................................................... ext. 208

Laboratory Supervisor Patti Huttula........................................................... ext. 219

Bulk Tank Calibration John Lehman, Elsie............................................248-444-6775

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.

Joe Diglio, GM / Secretary

Todd Hoppe, General Counsel Directors-At-Large Ken Nobis, St. Johns 989-224-6170 or 248-474-6672, ext. 202 Kris Wardin, St. Johns 989-640-9420 Gertie van den Goor, Marlette 989-550-8453 Carlton Evans, Litchfield 517-398-0629 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

APRIL 2018 | MESSENGER

43

Our aseptic port, sterile collection units and peristaltic pump continually draw samples throughout the milking process, delivering truly representative samples.

And, the QualiTru TruStream Sampling System™ can be retrofitted to any direct load system in just minutes. With QualiTru Sampling Systems, there are never any questions about the milk quality of any load.

Get a better look at all the QualiTru advantages at qualitru.com.

qualitru.com

3-A Sanitary Standard Certified

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 10 | APRIL 2018

102ND ANNUAL STATE DELEGATE MEETING Focus on CooperatioN

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