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Cherryland Empire DAIRYING IN THE CHERRY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD
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MMPA DAIRY COMMUNICATORS
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features
14 Cherryland Empire
MMPA member Terry Lautner and his son, Erich, farm 500 acres four miles outside of downtown Traverse City, the cherry capital of the world. With miles of beautiful sights, many tourists and sky high land prices, the Lautners remain relevant by being an integral piece of their booming community.
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DAIRY COMMUNICATORS: DECADES OF DEVOTION TO DAIRY PROMOTION
The MMPA Dairy Communicator program is an on-going effort of approximately 60 members in the Great Lakes region. Catch up with two Dairy Communicators who have served their local communities over the last 35 years.
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JUST SAY YES
Horning Farms, located in Manchester, Michigan, is a short 30-minute drive from the heart of Ann Arbor. Public facing and close to large urban communities, dairy promotion is at the heart of what they do.
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contents
MMPA’S HERITAGE RIDGE CREAMERY IS AMONG THE 10 CREAMERIES AND DAIRY FARMS FEATURED ON THE NEW INDIANA CHEESE TRAIL.
MMPA MEMBER FARMER, BRENT ROBINSON, IS IN THE SPOTLIGHT AS WE KICK OFF A NEW SUSTAINABILITY SERIES ON PAGE 18.
05 EDITOR’S NOTE 06 MILK MINUTE
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Front and Center with Dairy Promotion
08 QUALITY WATCH
What resources are available for animal care?
10 NEWS & VIEWS
26 YOUR DAIRY PROMOTION AT WORK IN MICHIGAN AND INDIANA
28 FREELINERS & CLASSIFIEDS 29 FARM SUPPLY STORE
12 LEGISLATIVE WATCH 13
SUSTAINABILITY SPOTLIGHT: BRENT ROBINSON
30 STAFF
NEW $3 MILLION INVESTMENT TO ADVANCE MICHIGAN ANIMAL AGRICULTURE RESEARCH
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MEMBER MOMENT
“The research and outreach we’ve been able to conduct through the M-AAA is a direct result of the support from our partners.” RON BATES, DIRECTOR OF THE AGRICULTURE AND AGRIBUSINESS INSTITUTE IN MSU EXTENSION (PAGE 13)
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Milk Messenger (USPS # 345-320) is published bimonthly by the Michigan Milk Producers Association, 41310 Bridge Street, Novi, MI 48376-8002. Periodicals postage paid at Novi and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Milk Messenger, PO Box 8002, Novi, MI 48376-8002. President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Diglio Managing Editor Sheila Burkhardt, Senior Director of Member and Government Relations
Editor’s Note BY EMILY KITTENDORF
Summer is finally here and with local restrictions easing up, it’s the perfect time to celebrate all the good things in life! From county fairs being in full swing to weather being perfect for an evening bonfire, a pure American summer is kicking off and there’s a lot of things to be grateful for as we move past last year.
On The Cover I had the chance to catch up with Terry Lautner and his son Erich on their farm in Traverse City, Michigan. Along with milking cows, they raise cherries and are politically active with Terry serving as a township trustee and Erich active with the Army Reserves. You really don’t get anything more quintessentially American than that! You can learn more about them on page 15.
Editors Allison Stuby Miller, Communications Manager Emily Kittendorf, Communications Coordinator Advertising Emily Kittendorf, messenger@mimilk.com, 248-474-6672, ext. 234 Publication Designer reZüberant! Inc., Stacy Love rezudesign.com Printing Foresight Group, Stacey Trzeciak staceyt@foresightgroup.net Publication Office MMPA Milk Messenger P.O. Box 8002, Novi, MI 48376-8002 p: 248-474-6672 f: 248-474-0924 e: messenger@mimilk.com w: mimilk.com
As Terry Lautner mentioned, cherries are a good product just like milk and MMPA
Established in 1916, MMPA is a member owned and operated dairy cooperative serving dairy farmers in Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin and Ohio.
members Horning Farms know all about it! They're passionate about bringing dairy
An Equal Opportunity Employer – F/M/V/D
In This Issue
education to the Ann Arbor area. You can learn more about their dedication to dairy promotion on page 22. Along with Horning Farms, MMPA Dairy Communicators have been busy sharing their dairy stories too. They recently participated in a virtual meeting where they received an MMPA update, learned more about UDIM’s efforts and joined in recognizing the 2021 service award winners. Allison caught up with the two 35-year service award winners and they shared their insight into dairy promotion on page 20. You can flip to page 18 to meet MMPA member Brent
Subscriptions: mimilk.com/subscribe MMPA members - 50¢ per year Non-members - $5 per year Circulation: 2,600 (ISSN 0026-2315)
Robinson and learn about his farm’s sustainability efforts. On page 10, you can learn more about MMPA scholarship offerings. milk messenger / JUL-AUG 2021
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MILK MINUTE
Front and Center with Dairy Promotion BY CORBY WERTH, MMPA DISTRICT 4 DIRECTOR AND PRESIDENT OF UDIM
A
s dairy farmers we do not always see dairy promotions, and that is okay! Your dairy checkoff was created by farmers for farmers to build consumer trust and demand for dairy foods. Your checkoff investment is targeting those who do not have a direct connection to dairy.
As the president of the United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM), I get to see firsthand how staff here in Michigan and at the national checkoff organization, Dairy Management, Inc. (DMI) learn about consumers’ needs and then implement programs to get dairy information to them. I would like to share about a few programs.
CORBY WERTH
U.S. milk production has been expanding at a faster rate than domestic demand, and customers around the world are purchasing more dairy foods every year. This means the international market is an important area of focus. According to the U.S. Dairy Export Council, which was created by the dairy checkoff, exports accounted for over 16 percent of total milk solids production in 2020. Since 2003, over half of all additional milk produced by U.S. farmers has gone to exports. Another checkoff priority is creating life-long consumers, especially Gen Z, those aged 10 23. Their spending power is estimated at $100 billion. To reach this digitally-savvy audience, DMI partnered with popular video gamers who use their channels and influence to help tell dairy’s story. UDIM has been reaching this age group for five years through our Conquer with Milk program. This program touches on every component of lifestyle wellness. The influencers that help deliver our positive dairy messages represent different backgrounds, including athletes, chefs/bakers, agriculture students, dietetics students and more. Did you know 81 percent of global consumers said that it is very or extremely important that companies implement programs to help the environment? As dairy farmers we have a great sustainability message to share as we are continuously improving our farming practices and the entire dairy community has made the commitment to be carbon neutral by 2050. Sustainability does not have to be shiny, new technology, you can share how your plate cooler reuses water or talk about the new energy saving lightbulbs you installed. According to Feeding America, 42 million people, including 13 million children, are at risk of hunger. UDIM’s goal is to keep milk as a necessary food for everyone, no matter their economic status. Our programs include raising awareness with consumers through retail milk drives and outreach initiatives, supporting our food bank partners building infrastructure to store and transport dairy and securing access to dairy in the food bank system. Early in the pandemic my family applied for a UDIM grant to provide a milk cooler to the food bank in our town. As we watched the cooler being filled with milk, I knew how much that will help families in my own community. I encourage you to learn about dairy promotion by signing up for the e-newsletter, joining the UDIM Board Mentor Program or attending a consumer event with UDIM staff. If you have questions call the office at (517) 349-8923 or call me at (989) 464-5436.
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QUALITY WATCH
What resources are available for animal care? WE ASKED THE EXPERTS:
Deb Gingrich
Dr. Tim Eagan, DVM
Amy Martin
MMPA Member Representative
Northern Bovine Veterinary Service
MMPA Member
Now that FARM 4.0 has been out for a year and a half, several of our producers are working and preparing to meet the new standards. Though this may seem like a tall mountain to climb, there are many resources available to producers. A foundational piece of animal care is having designated protocols on the farm that are followed by everyone. To begin drafting protocols, producers can contact their dairy’s veterinarian to develop a written herd health plan (HHP) or MMPA also has an HHP template to help producers get started. The FARM website (www.nationaldairyfarm.com) also offers many templates for developing protocols. Another important aspect of animal care is employee training and continuing education, both for family and nonfamily employees. MMPA’s Dairy Care Academy offers training courses in all FARM 4.0 required areas of training and is available on-demand, linked in your producer portal. You can also look for training materials on the FARM website, www.dairycare365.com, YouTube and articles in industry publications. Members using these resources not only positively impact the wellbeing of the animals they care for, but improve their farm’s sustainability and customer perceptions of the dairy industry. For any questions implementing or finding any of the resources above, you can contact your member representative.
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A dairy operation—as any business or individual—is either improving or deteriorating, nothing is truly stagnant. The best way to improve care for the animals under our stewardship is creating a focused plan. Working with a veterinarian can help you develop a plan that includes state-of-the-art treatments and best practices for animal husbandry. These practices are helpful in themselves, but the greatest benefit to having a plan is making it come alive by a constant process of measurement, evaluation and refinement. Decide on a plan and what you will measure to determine its success. If evidence calls for changes, re-evaluate and make them without delay. Some things just don’t work everywhere, so stay vigilant for failings and address them. Use your plan to create written protocols for your animal caretakers. This sets clear expectations for cattle treatment and keeps caretakers out of situations requiring them to puzzle over decisions, which are often different from yours. Protocols reduce treatment variability and protect against violative residues. I encourage everyone to use these ideas to transform your herd health plan from a piece of paper into a driving force improving the lives of the animals entrusted to our care. They deserve it.
On our farm, we focus on our veterinary relationship and review of the cow health protocol manual. This allows us to make sure we talk about updated protocols and recommendations with our herd health team, and begins continuous, consistent and open communication with our veterinarians. For employee training, we use online videos and training courses provided by MMPA Dairy Care Academy and the FARM 4.0 program. The short and explanatory videos are a good training and review for both experienced and new employees. Our employees like the trainings and it stimulates conversation and questions that further improve our herd’s health. On our farm, we also use cameras that are located in nearly all animal handling areas so that we can monitor procedures and handling of cows, and also be confident that our employees are following the best practices that they learn in the training courses. We also attend extended learning workshops sponsored by Michigan State University Extension and other dairy industry partners. Along with these organized and scheduled training events, we hold regular meetings with our employees to address protocols, problems and goals of the farm. These informal employee meetings ensures that we are all on the same page on animal care expectations.
Dairy Care ACADEMY
Dairy Care Academy is ONLINE, ON DEMAND! Help your farm meet training requirements for the FARM program by accessing the on-demand, FARM program compliant online training platform. The curriculum covers six different topics and is available for unlimited use whenever a new employee is hired, retraining is necessary or simply to brush up on your skills. Watch videos, complete a quiz and receive a printable certificate for each of the following topics:
MILKING PRACTICES
DAIRY STOCKMANSHIP
FITNESS TO TRANSPORT
NON-AMBULATORY
ANIMAL MGMT
CALF CARE
EUTHANASIA
Access the online platform on the member portal at producers.mimilk.com or by contacting your member representative. milk messenger / JUL-AUG 2021
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NEWS & VIEWS
UPCOMING
EVENTS
MMPA Scholarship Opportunities MMPA members, children of members and employees of members attending Michigan State University (MSU) or Purdue University are eligible to apply for MMPA scholarships. Authorized by the MMPA Board of Directors, the scholarships encourage post high school study for careers in dairy management to continue the education and
August 10
implementation of innovation on member’s dairy farms.
Outstanding Young Dairy Cooperator Conference, Westphalia, Michigan
September 2 Young Cooperator Tour, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Students pursuing a dairy management certificate in the Institute of Agricultural Technology at MSU may apply for $1,750 per semester (for members or children of members) or $1,500 per semester (for employees of members) scholarship monies. MSU scholarship applications are due by September 1. At Purdue University, there is one $1,000 scholarship available for a student who is a member or child of a member enrolled in any agriculture-related major. TO APPLY ONLINE OR TO FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SCHOLARSHIPS, VISIT MIMILK.COM/SCHOLARSHIPS.
September 29 Advisory Committee Meeting
MMPA Welcomes New Leadership Staff MMPA has welcomed new staff members to the cooperative’s leadership team over the past couple months.
Chief Financial Officer » Tom Downey As CFO, Downey will direct strategic planning and oversee all financial activities of MMPA. Downey is a results-oriented professional with a proven track record of operational and financial acumen. Downey has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in accounting from Michigan State University.
Senior Director of Sales & Supply Chain » Judy Lofgren As the senior director of sales and supply chain, Judy Lofgren is responsible for developing and executing MMPA’s overall sales strategy to support our growth initiatives. Lofgren has over twenty-three years of sales, marketing and supply chain experience in consumer-packaged goods, with thre of those years being in dairy. She has a bachelor’s degree in business economics from the College of Wooster.
Senior Director of Operations » Darren Standorf As the senior director of operations, Darren Standorf oversees the development, execution and strategy of asset utilization to serve customer interests, optimize through-put, centralize equipment to match volume demands, and support expansion efforts. Standorf has twenty years of experience in dairy and nutritional supplement manufacturing. He has a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Michigan, a master’s degree in animal science and a bachelor’s degree in animal and plant systems from the University of Minnesota.
Ovid Plant Manager » Michael Hedlund Most recently, Mike was employed with Schreiber Foods in Grand Rapids, Michigan as production manager. Mike held previous positions with Nestlé Nutrition and has past experience as a plant manager.
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FAQ: COVID-19 Vaccinations and Dairy’s Safe Return to “Normal” COVID-19 vaccinations provide safe and effective protection from a pandemic that has taken the lives of over 600,000 Americans. See below for information about the vaccine, its availability and what to expect after you and your workforce are fully vaccinated.
Why should I get a COVID-19 vaccine? COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective at preventing COVID-19. Based on what the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) knows about vaccines for other diseases and early data from clinical trials, experts believe that getting a COVID-19 vaccine also helps keep you from getting seriously ill even if you do get COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. The development of the COVID-19 vaccines did not cut corners on testing for safety and efficacy. The vaccines were made using processes that have been developed and tested over many years, and which are designed to make — and thoroughly test — vaccines quickly in case of an infectious disease pandemic like COVID-19. Once you are fully vaccinated, you can start doing more. After you are fully vaccinated, you can start doing some things that you stopped doing because of the pandemic. Time is of the essence. Waiting too long to be vaccinated allows the coronavirus to continue spreading in the community, with new variants emerging. Severe COVID-19 can be very dangerous. The sooner you get vaccinated, the sooner you are protected.
How do I find a COVID-19 vaccine? Visit Vaccines.gov to find vaccination providers near you. You can also text your zip code to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233 to find vaccine locations near you.
MMPA producers scoring 95 percent or higher on Grade A Surveys and Federal Check Ratings ADKINSON FARM* VINCENT F MYERS
What safety measures are recommended once you have been fully vaccinated?
RIVERVIEW DAIRY LLC
Authorized vaccines are highly effective at protecting vaccinated people against symptomatic and severe COVID-19. According to the CDC, fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state and local rules, and regulations.
JOHN & NANCY GARITY
Employees should still watch out for symptoms of COVID-19, especially if they have been around someone who is sick. Employees with symptoms of COVID-19 should get tested and stay home and away from others.
How can I help my workforce get vaccinated? Employers can help employees who seek vaccination by removing barriers that may prevent them from doing so. They can also encourage vaccination by offering incentives. Ways to support employees include:
MERVIN MARTIN
MARLIN MARTIN STEPHEN BURKHOLDER LAVERNE & MARIBETH ZIMMERMAN THELMA DILLER & SYLVIA WEAVER BETTY TROYER* EZRA L BONTRAGER* JASON DETWEILER SAMUEL N HOCHSTETLER LEON HAMMING* GRINDSTONE FARMS LLC* MARK F DIEMER* MICHAEL L BOSSCHER ELI E & ELLA SHROCK DICK HAVEN FARMS LLC
• Leading by example.
DICK HAVEN FARMS LLC
• Helping to identify when and where workers can get vaccinated.
BEERENS DAIRY FARM
• Offering internet access or language support services to help employees schedule appointments.
HILLHAVEN FARMS INC LOUIS & RONALD BRECHT ELDRED FARMS
• Relieving concerns about vaccine costs.
PINE HILLS DAIRY LLC
• Providing paid time off to employees who get vaccinated.
SPRING LAKE FARMS LLC
• Providing transportation to and from vaccine appointments. • Partnering with a local public health department or other providers to offer on-site vaccinations to employees. • Considering providing small prizes, rewards or other modest financial incentives to employees who get vaccinated.
KOUTZ DAIRY LLC GRASSLEY FARMS INC CHAPIN FAMILY FARM LLC MANY BLESSINGS DAIRY INC BENTHEM BROTHERS INC
*100 percent
SOURCE: NMPF
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LEGISLATIVE WATCH
Growing Climate Solutions Act Passes U.S. Senate
T
he U.S. Senate passed the Growing Climate Solutions Act, legislation that will help farmers, ranchers and foresters understand and access carbon markets, helping the environment and boosting farm income at the same time. The legislation, introduced by U.S. Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) and Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), joined by U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and cosponsored by more than half the Senate, helps producers to generate and sell carbon credits by setting up a third-party certification process through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The bill also creates an online resource for farmers looking to connect with those experts and get more information and establishes an Advisory Council to provide input to USDA and ensure the program remains effective and works for farmers. “Farmers have always led the way on protecting our environment, and the Growing Climate Solutions Act helps them get paid for their sustainable practices through voluntary carbon credit markets,” said Senator Braun. “Hoosiers and Americans want real-world solutions, and Growing Climate Solutions is a bipartisan, common-sense, pro-jobs win that farmers, industry leaders and conservationists can all support.” “Addressing the climate crisis is one of the most urgent challenges we face, and our farmers and foresters are an important part of the solution,” said Senator Stabenow, Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry. “The bipartisan Growing Climate Solutions Act is a winwin for farmers, our economy and for our environment. Our bill is a perfect example of how we can work across the aisle and find common ground to address a critical issue affecting all of us and our future.” “We applaud the passage of the Growing Climate Solutions Act introduced by Senators Debbie Stabenow and Mike Braun,” said Sheila Burkhardt, MMPA senior director of member and government relations. “Dairy farmers utilize many conservation practices related to sequestering carbon in the soil. The proposed legislation would facilitate interaction with private entities looking for offsets to their carbon footprint. Dairy farmers look forward to being rewarded for their conservation efforts and continuing to play a role in environmental stewardship.” “NMPF commends the United States Senate for passing the bipartisan Growing Climate Solutions Act by an overwhelming margin,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. “This important legislation will enable USDA to informally endorse technical service providers that help farmers implement stewardship practices that can generate carbon and other environmental credits. The Growing Climate Solutions Act will encourage more farmers to participate in environmental markets, a crucial part of dairy’s Net Zero Initiative that helps dairy farmers of all sizes across the country meet our industry’s 2050 environmental stewardship goals.
“
“Hoosiers and Americans want real-world solutions, and Growing Climate Solutions is a bipartisan, common-sense, pro-jobs win that farmers, industry leaders and conservationists can all support.” 12
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Advisory Committee DISTRICT 1 Dan Minnis, Dansville...................517-719-5894 Scott Ferry, Litchfield....................517-214-3298 Art Riske, Hanover........................517-524-6015 Clark Emmons, Fayette, OH...........419-466-4471 Brian Preston, Quincy...................517-376-1350
DISTRICT 2 Mark Crandall, Battle Creek...........269-660-2229 Michael Oesch, Middlebury, IN......574-825-2454 Danny Ransler, Gobles...................269-998-3802 Josh Gamble, New Carlisle, IN.......574-360-7828 Richard Thomas, Middlebury, IN....574-202-5198
DISTRICT 3 Gary Nelsen, Grant........................231-834-7610 Bill Gruppen, Zeeland...................616-520-5143 Burke Larsen, Scottville................231-425-8988 Jonathon Acker, Sand Lake............616-648-7037 Arlyn Walt, Coopersville................616-837-8247
DISTRICT 4 Marvin Rubingh, Ellsworth...........425-533-8106 Ron Lucas, Posen..........................989-379-4694 Dave Folkersma, Rudyard..............906-630-1957 Paul Ponik, Posen..........................989-464-5924
DISTRICT 5 Robert Lee, Marion.......................231-743-6794 John Black, Howard City................231-846-7252 Jack Jeppesen, Stanton.................989-330-1905 Bruce Benthem, McBain................231-920-1615 Mark Bontekoe, Marion.................231-510-0764
DISTRICT 6 David Reed, Owosso......................989-274-8147 Mike Halfman, St. Johns................989-640-1962 Steve Thelen, Fowler.....................989-640-1075 Ken Wieber, Fowler.......................989-292-1187 Renee McCauley, Lowell................616-283-6411
DISTRICT 7 John Bennett, Prescott..................989-345-4264 Rodney Fowler, Chesaning............989-302-2299 Tracy House, Mt. Pleasant.............989-621-6610 Philip Gross, Weidman..................989-289-0670 Jason Elenbaum, Mayville.............989-274-1974
DISTRICT 8 Darwin Sneller, Sebewaing...........989-977-3718 Bill Blumerich, Berlin....................810-706-2955 Mike Noll, Croswell.......................810-404-4071 Jeremy Sharrard, Peck...................810-404-5076 Bryan Schulte, Ruth......................989-551-8200
New $3 Million Investment to Advance Michigan Animal Agriculture Research, Infrastructure The Michigan Alliance for Animal Agriculture (M-AAA) has received $3 million in new funding for research projects and infrastructure upgrades.
W
ith support from the Michigan Legislature and in partnership with animal agriculture industry organizations and Michigan State University, funding is included in the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) 2021 budget. “Part of MDARD’s core mission is to protect public health, as well as the health of domestic animals, livestock and pets,” said MDARD Director Gary McDowell. “These grants are critical as we continue to move the needle on these key initiatives, while also providing the necessary research and infrastructure needed to make sound decisions, improve operations and ensure an efficient and sustainable agriculture, which everybody can get behind.” Twenty-five new research and outreach projects are being supported with $2.28 million, and the remainder is being used for renovations to the MSU Swine Teaching and Research Center, a critical component to funded research. Established in 2014, the M-AAA supports research and outreach on behalf of Michigan animal agriculture industries, focusing on issues such as workforce development, environmental protection, animal welfare, infectious diseases, enhanced profitability and antibiotic resistance. Each project lasts one or two years and fits into one of three categories: applied research, extension or seed funding. Throughout the process, researchers and outreach specialists are required to submit progress reports and final summaries to M-AAA leaders.
Examples of 2021 M-AAA projects include: Srinand Sreevatsan, a professor in the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine, is working on more practical and rapid diagnostic tests to identify bovine tuberculosis (TB) in early stages. Bovine TB is an infectious disease that causes devastating losses for producers around the world. The current primary method of detection is culturing bacteria, which takes time and can limit the effectiveness of control measures if the disease spreads quickly within a herd. Sreevatsan will explore the effectiveness of actiphage rapid testing of blood samples, which delivers bacterial detection results within six hours. Jeannine Schweihofer, an MSU Extension senior meat quality educator, is characterizing the wastewater that comes from Michigan meat processing facilities. All meat processors will soon need a groundwater discharge permit from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. Little is known about the amount of wastewater created by these operations and what safety precautions may be needed for wastewater disposal, including what differences should be considered depending on the type of work each plant undertakes in their business. Schweihofer will work with small- to mediumsized processing facilities to determine what treatment to wastewater is being currently performed, as well as taking samples from the operations to evaluate. These results will be compared with existing industry data to develop recommendations for wastewater disposal that are both safe for the environment and economically feasible for the industry. Ángel Abuelo, an assistant professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine, is leading a workforce development effort to increase the skills and retention of dairy veterinarians in Michigan and beyond. There is a national shortage of food-animal veterinarians, with less than 50% of those who opted for farm animal practice at the time of graduation remaining in the field long term. The project increases accessibility to continuing education credits in the form of a two-year, post-graduate online certificate in dairy health management.
“With many challenges facing Michigan animal agriculture, we’re honored to work on meeting the needs of the industry in conjunction with MDARD and our partners,” said George Smith, the associate director of MSU AgBioResearch and associate dean for research in the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. “We have a strong and competitive grants process that ensures the most relevant and applicable projects are funded, and a history of funding programs and enabling discoveries positively impacting animal agriculture in Michigan.”
“The research and outreach we’ve been able to conduct through the M-AAA is a direct result of the support from our partners,” said Ron Bates, the director of the Agriculture and Agribusiness Institute in MSU Extension. “I appreciate that they share our passion for addressing a number of challenges on behalf of the processing, livestock and poultry industries.” For a complete list of 2021 projects, visit maaa.msu.edu/projects. SOURCE: M-AAA
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
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BY EMILY KITTENDORF
S
urrounded by rolling hills of cherry trees in bloom that look like cotton balls on sticks, it’s a scene straight from a mythical novel. The story wouldn’t be complete without a main character who’s built an empire there. Just like every good king – and local farmer
and involved community leader – Terry Lautner knows that the best way to guarantee a promising future is to invest in the right land, resources and relationships today and to pray for a little luck along the way.
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Terry and his son, Erich Lautner, farm 500 acres four miles outside of downtown Traverse City, the cherry capital of the world. With miles of beautiful sights, many tourists and sky high land prices, the Lautners remain relevant by being an integral piece of their booming community.
The Right Land Terry grew up dairying with his dad down the road from where he is now, but bought his own property two years after he married his wife, Cathy. A local doctor put 50 acres up for sale and Terry wanted it, but he also wanted the 36 acres across the road that he knew the same doctor owned but didn’t include in the sale. “I always looked at the land as a kid on the school bus when I was driving by here and thought that that would be a nice place to farm,” Terry said about the 36 acres across the road. “That wasn’t for sale at the time, but I negotiated to get that in with the 50 acres and gave him a little bit more money and I got that too.” As if farming the land that you dreamed about as a kid wasn’t cool enough, Terry and Erich have continued to grow their land mass through strategic investments and a little bit of luck. In 1996, Terry purchased another 80-acre piece of land across the road as part of a “fluky deal.” He had never met the person who owned the land, but he cold called the landowner and asked if they’d be willing to sell.
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“It turned out that the week before I called her, she talked to a realtor out here,” Terry said. “It was a fluke deal because if I hadn’t called her then, the realtor would have got the listing and they would have bought the property themselves. They ended up selling it to me.” Today, Terry and Erich are the fourth largest landowners in Leelanau County’s Elmwood Township and the only dairy farm in the area. Despite having neighbors on one side of their main farm, “they want this to be a farm,” Terry said. “If I wanted to build a subdivision on this old place, they’d all have a cow.” And that comes down to having the right relationships.
The Right Relationships As longtime locals with generations of their families living and growing up in the area, Terry and Erich are dedicated to giving back to their community while making sure their operation stays relevant in the booming tourist town. “I’m a township trustee and the only one on the township board in farm country or with any land to speak of, so I try and protect the farmer,” Terry said. “I have to have a voice in there to let them know what our thoughts are too in order to
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“I’m a township trustee and the only one on the township board in farm country or with any land to speak of, so I try and protect the farmer.” protect the property owners. That’s why I originally ran for the seat.” Being involved in the legislation and decision-making within the township allows Terry to ensure that his farming peers and himself are represented fairly. He is also a Cherryland Electric Cooperative Board Trustee and Chairman of Wolverine Power Cooperative for similar reasons. “Electricity is huge for us. Our cows need to drink water all the time,” Terry said. “In the summer, cherry farmers have to use water to cool their cherries and they have to use water to spray their cherries. We need a reliable electric system and I'm pretty proud of what we have at Cherryland.” In Erich’s words, “We want reliable electricity at
the cheapest cost possible and being on the board is one way to protect it.” Their shared responsibility and forwardthinking attitude doesn’t end there though. Along with his full-time job as a journeyman electrician, Erich is an active member of the Army Reserves and the Lautners will always go out of the way to help a neighbor in need. “If your neighbor needs help, you help them out. They’ll return the favor someday,” Erich said. “We haul quite a bit of grain out of Leelanau County for other people. Not to make a living any more or less, just to help them out. If you make a buck, great. If you break even, you’re doing good.” With their hectic schedules representing the rural voice in a variety of leadership positions, Terry and Erich rarely get a break. “It's a lot of coordinating with me and him,” Erich said. “If he has to be in Cadillac for a meeting, leaving at 8 in the morning. I make sure that we are out here at 3:30 or 3:45 milking.”
breed while attending Michigan State University pursuing his bachelor’s degree in dairy science. “In college we went out to Iowa and toured farms on our senior trip and we visited a Brown Swiss farm out there with really good Brown Swiss cows,” Terry said. “Those things were just some of the most beautiful animals I’ve ever seen.” While Erich agrees that they’re beautiful, he emphasizes that they’re also obstinate with no concept of personal space. Yet, he is quick to add that his future goals after he takes over the farm is to “slowly increase in size,” but Terry is just as quick to add, “not too many though!” The flexibility they have with their current herd of 65 cows is something that they don’t take for granted because along with producing milk, they also recently began farming 10 acres of cherries. “The longer I raise cherries, the more I like dairy,” Terry said.
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“Cherries are pretty stressful, but there’s no better place to be in Leelanau County than standing at a cooling pad, raking your hands through cold cherries, plucking out the biggest one and plopping it in your mouth.” high grade and a low-grade crop, which means 10 cents a pound or 20 cents a pound difference.” Terry added that “cherries are pretty stressful, but there’s no better place to be in Leelanau County than standing at a cooling pad, raking your hands through cold cherries, plucking out the biggest one and plopping it in your mouth.That's the best place to be during the summer in the county.” The high stress crop adds variety to the Lautner farm and despite the high stakes and pressure, the recent venture is all for good reason. “I’m on the Cherryland Electric Co-Op board and I live in the cherry capital of the world. I felt a little obligated to grow cherries!” Terry said, speaking about how he got started raising cherries. “I also figured that when I get closer to retirement, I could have something to rely on besides milking cows that wouldn’t require me to work every day of the year.”
THE LAUTNER’S PARLOR WAS CONSTRUCTED SUMMER OF 2020 BY A NEIGHBOR WHO USED TO MILK COWS. IT WAS A MAJOR UPGRADE FOR TERRY AND ERICH WHO WERE MILKING IN A DOUBLE-FOUR BEFORE CONSTRUCTING THE DOUBLE-EIGHT.
The Right Resources The Lautners milk 65 Brown Swiss and Holstein cows in a newly built double-8 parlor. “I like the Brown Swiss cows,” Terry said. “They’re not as profitable as Holsteins, but I was never going to make a lot of money anyways.” Terry first became acquainted with the
“You're on cherry’s time when it’s cherries’ time. Whereas, when you’re milking cows, you’re on your own time,” Erich said. “When trees need to be sprayed, they have to be sprayed right away. When fruit’s ready to come off, it has to be off right away. There's no waiting a couple of days because that can be the difference between a
While cherries are stressful during the spring and summer months, they’re relatively maintenance free over the winter and fulfills Terry’s long-term goals. “I love farming and I want to do it as long as I can,” Terry said. “I have a passion for farming, just like I have a passion for electric co-ops. The farm community is the best people in the world and you can see that all over the country. You don’t find that just anywhere. I thank God every day that I’m able to farm.” milk messenger / JUL-AUG 2021
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SUSTAINABILITY SPOTLIGHT
Brent Robinson BY ALLISON STUBY MILLER
MMPA IS COMMITTED TO COOPERATIVE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS PRACTICES THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE SUPPLY CHAIN. AT THE FARM LEVEL, MMPA MEMBERS ARE ALSO ON A SUSTAINABILITY JOURNEY. WE’RE
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or Brent Robinson (Mid-Sanilac Local, District 8) sustainability is simply “something you can continue to do.” A dairy farmer in Michigan’s Thumb region, he’s
rethinking many of the traditional systems and approaches to farming to ensure his farm is viable for years to come.
CHECKING IN WITH A HANDFUL OF MEMBER
“We need to come up with a new system to generate long term
FARMERS LEADING THE CHARGE WITH THIS
agriculture sustainable production, only way to do that is with
SUSTAINABILITY SPOTLIGHT SERIES.
regenerative agriculture practices,” Robinson said.
FARM
HERD
CROPS
Green Point Dairy Caro and Marlette, Michigan
5,800 total, 5,200 milking
corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, sugar beets and dry beans
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A first-generation farmer, Robinson started with 35 cows in 2004, eventually growing in size and teaming up with Brent Moyer and later Gert and Gertie van den Goor. Today, Robinson is one of four partners in Green Point Dairy, which features two locations and a total of 5,800 cows.
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Robinson has also implemented various systems to ensure soil health, biodiversity and nutrient retention including crop rotation, buffer zones and cover crops. Through MMPA’s sustainability survey, these practices have been recorded and a Biodiversity Action Plan was also developed to document the management of 100 acres of woodland.
of the people who are here.”
The farm also fosters biodiversity through a precise cover crop program that helps with nutrient cycling and nitrogen recovery on their fields. “I custom mix cover crop blends for each field so if I think this field needs ‘this,’ it gets ‘that,’” he said. “We make specific blends for every field for the planting day.”
“We have a three-pronged approach: effect on environment, life of the animal and well-being of the people who are here,” Robinson said. “We provide workable, livable incomes for people here. We don’t want adverse environmental impacts, known or unknown. And we are constantly improving the life of the cow.”
In another trial, Robinson tested planting soybeans between the rows of corn in the same field. He started with 60 acres last year and found their best silage came from the corn interplanted with beans. This year, they scaled the program to 600 acres and are encouraged by the results. “What we’re hoping is to still have soil biodiversity in a monoculture system,” he said.
“We have a three-pronged approach: effect on environment, life of the animal and well-being
Sustainability is interwoven across the farm’s operations, from energy efficiency to water usage to soil health. Robinson says their farm has implemented several energy efficiency solutions available, including their plate cooler, LED lights and automatic thermostats on their cooling fans for the cows. They recycle their water, are cognizant of run off and erosion with the implementation of a no till system of their fields. A new pilot project for 2021 is a subsoil moisture monitoring system to reduce the amount of electricity required to irrigate their crops. “It is teaching me something and we are definitely using less water than we would have traditionally,” he says.
The farm is in a building process and Robinson is hoping for continuous improvement in their land year-overyear. “These fields aren’t going to be mine forever. Someday I’m not going to
be here. It really is a natural resource, the land is. In our system we have in the U.S. and most countries, we have private property, so they say, ‘Oh that’s Brent’s farm,’ but it actually is the country’s farm and it’s everybody’s farm. I just get to use it for right now.” Robinson is continually looking to learn from other farmers and share knowledge across the industry. His advice for other farmers is to be aware of new ways of doing things. “I’m not going to tell anyone that it’s perfect, that it’s a straight-line path to success, but I can tell you without a doubt, that these people are not crazy talking about regenerative agriculture and sustainability. It can be done. And I definitely don’t have the answers to it, but I have seen the difference in my farm, and it didn’t take long.”
KEYWORDS Regenerative agriculture: The regeneration, or restoration, of renewable resources, including soil, within an agriculture system to achieve a sustainable form of agriculture. Biodiversity: Biodiversity is the sum total of all the plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms in the world, or in a particular area; all of their individual variation; and all the interactions between them. Agrobiodiversity therefore includes not only a wide variety of species, but also the many ways in which farmers can exploit biological diversity to produce and manage crops, land, water, insects and biota. SOURCE: USDA NATIONAL AGRICULTURE LIBRARY
VERIFICATIONS
MMPA SUSTAINABILITY MISSION
• • • • •
To continually strive for a more sustainable future for our community, our environment, our economy’s health, and for the lives and world around us.
MMPA Sustainability Survey Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program Certified Nutrient Management Plan Biodiversity Action Plan Farmers Assuring Responsible Management Animal Care
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DAIRY COMMUNICATORS
Dairy Communicators DECADES OF DEVOTION TO DAIRY PROMOTION
Cheri Chapin
T
he MMPA Dairy Communicator program is an on-going effort of approximately 60 members in the Great Lakes region. Elected members of a Local work diligently to speak out and communicate on behalf of dairy farmers in their Local area. Dairy Communicators are involved in a wide variety of Local promotion activities including farm tours, engaging with local schools and engaging with consumers in person and online. The Dairy Communicators recently met for a virtual meeting on June 15 to swap promotion ideas and recognize service award winners.
CHERI & DOUG CHAPIN CHAPIN FAMILY FARMS, REMUS, MICHIGAN
Became involved in dairy farming: 1979 Became a Dairy Communicator: 1986 What do you enjoy most about being part of the dairy community? I love being a part of the dairy community. Farmers are the most honest, genuine and compassionate people. We produce, in my opinion, the most wholesome and nutritious product in the world.
How has the MMPA Dairy Communicator program helped you promote dairy? Being an MMPA Dairy Communicator has given me access to educational and promotional materials, but more importantly, the ability to contact the right people when I have questions. It has helped me become a more confident advocate for dairy.
What is your favorite dairy promotion memory? Farm tours for school children have been my favorite promotion. Though aimed at children, I know the adults enjoyed it as well, and learned a lot!
What advice would you share with someone starting their dairy promotion journey? There is no such thing as a small promotion; it is all worthwhile. 20
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Became involved in dairy farming: 1962 Became a Dairy Communicator: 1986 What do you enjoy most about being part of the dairy community? The community is very close. There’s a dairy family.
How has the MMPA Dairy Communicator program helped you promote dairy? Through the yearly meeting I would always get new promotion ideas. MMPA has provided promotion material and helped with my projects.
2021 DAIRY COMMUNICATOR SERVICE AWARDS 35 YEARS CHERI CHAPIN, ALMA LOCAL
What is your favorite dairy promotion memory? Breakfast on the Farm Fulton County was my favorite event. I was able to move a lot of promotion material. Other projects I have worked on are Give a Pint, Get a Pint with the Red Cross, Ag Awareness Days at the Adrian Mall and promotions at my Local meeting.
GERALDINE EMMONS, ADRIAN LOCAL
20 YEARS CONNIE LUCAS, HILLMAN LOCAL
What advice would you share with someone starting their dairy promotion journey? Get some help. The first year at the mall, I had the display, and needed to be there the whole time. From then on, I had signup sheets, so I didn’t have to stay the whole time.
JOY MARVIN, ADRIAN LOCAL
15 YEARS VIRGINIA ANKLEY, MID THUMB LOCAL SHELLY MESSING, HURON LOCAL
10 YEARS AMY MARTIN, EVART LOCAL MARIA MARVIN, ADRIAN LOCAL JODY SHARRARD, MID-SANILAC LOCAL
5 YEARS CYNTHIA ADAM, CONSTANTINE LOCAL ASHLEY MESSING KENNEDY, HURON LOCAL MICHELLE LUCAS, HILLMAN LOCAL DIANE MILLER, CHIPPEWA LOCAL KATELYN PACKARD, SALINE-ANN ARBOR LOCAL
Geraldine Emmons
GERALDINE & NEREE EMMONS
EMMONS FARMS, FAYETTE, OH
THANK YOU, MMPA DAIRY COMMUNICATORS, FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE DAIRY INDUSTRY AND THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. milk messenger / JUL-AUG 2021
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JUST SAY YES
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HORNING FARMS, LOCATED IN MANCHESTER, MICHIGAN, IS A SHORT 30-MINUTE DRIVE FROM THE HEART OF ANN ARBOR.
Just Say BY EMILY KITTENDORF
Community is something never taken for granted in the dairy industry. During times of crisis, everyone shows up in support and ready to extend a helping hand.
L
YES
ikewise, members of the agriculture community are often the first to serve as a volunteer firefighter, take an open seat on the township board, be involved in their local Farm Bureau or be active at their county fair. This “say yes” mentality to stepping up and filling leadership roles necessary to keep the rural community alive is how the Horning family approaches dairy promotion on their farm.
Dairy Promotion at Horning Farms Horning Farms, located in Manchester, Michigan, is a short 30-minute drive from the heart of Ann Arbor. Public facing and close to large urban communities, dairy promotion is at the heart of what they do. The Hornings love dairy promotion enough to dedicate themselves to hosting monthly Fun on the Farm events. They invite anybody who is interested in learning more about dairy farming and agriculture to stop by and enjoy everything their farm has to offer. Their turnout is phenomenal with hundreds of guests visiting the farm each month. Along with monthly Fun on the Farm events, Katelyn and her family organize annual neighborhood events. They invite anybody who they pass by with large equipment on the road, people who live next to their fields or those who regularly pass by their farm. These regular events are all about sharing the goodness of dairy with others. “When we started these neighborhood events, it was to try and get in front of the people that say negative comments about dairy and to really show them the farm in general,” Katelyn said. “To show them that we’re not doing anything bad.” Along with that, with the Hornings living so close to large communities of people, the community events have also been a way for them to manage a crisis before it begins. “We started the open houses because then we know our neighbors have been here and have a good impression of our farm,” Katelyn said. “So, if something were ever to happen, they know what goes on here and we have a good relationship with at least some people.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 24
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JUST SAY YES
THE HORNINGS HOST MONTHLY “FUN ON THE FARM” EVENTS AND INVITE ANYBODY WHO IS INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT DAIRY FARMING AND AGRICULTURE TO STOP BY AND ENJOY EVERYTHING THEIR FARM HAS TO OFFER. LYNDA AND KATELYN ARE LONG-TIME MMPA DAIRY COMMUNICATORS, WITH KATELYN JUST RECEIVING HER 5 YEAR SERVICE AWARD THIS YEAR. PHOTOS PROVIDED BY: HORNING FARMS
The entire family of Hornings, from Katelyn’s grandparents Earl and Diane to Katelyn’s parents Jeff and Lynda and to Katelyn’s brother Mason, all agree on the biggest challenge facing the dairy industry. Mason said it’s consumer perception, Earl said it’s communicating with people, and Katelyn said it’s exactly what their farm is trying to solve by opening their farm gates to consumers. While in-person events were a challenge last year, it wasn’t too big of a challenge for Katelyn, Mason and the rest of their family to tackle. Along with a few COVID safe in-person events, they also learned how to host a virtual farm tour with the help of UDIM. This experience geared them up and got the ball rolling on what the possibilities are for reaching an even larger audience than just their local community. “My cousin teaches AP human geography in Chicago, so she’s used videos from our farm before, but last year we actually got to do a live virtual tour and her students were so engaged and so excited,” Katelyn said. “Then she posted about it in a Facebook group and then we had another teacher contact us and since then, we’ve done a couple of different virtual tours.” Katelyn and Mason’s efforts and the modern technology it takes to host a farm tour today have humble beginnings on Horning Farms. Dairy promotion has always been a valued piece of producing milk. “My grandpa has always been doing promotion,” Katelyn said. “They were doing promotion long before I showed up and I just kept it going.”
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Earl, Katelyn’s grandfather, inherently values connecting with consumers. He served on the boards of Dairy Management Inc, UDIM and MMPA. He credits those organizations for the success that the farm has had reaching consumers and influencing the future of dairy. “People from all over the world have visited our farm,” Earl said. “I’m most proud of watching these guys promote dairy today though. We were good, but these guys are much better!” The entire Horning family has been instrumental in many of the promotions that happen on Michigan dairies today. From being the first host of a Breakfast on the Farm event with MSU Extension to Mason writing the first blog for Day in the Life of Dairy Farming through UDIM, the Horning family has a lot of history and experience in promoting dairy. “When I started there wasn’t any Facebook,” Earl said. “The communications system didn’t work. You had to communicate,
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“We’ve had neighbors call and say that they have friends visiting and ask if they can come over. Just say yes! If you open your doors to something like that, I think you’ll see that you enjoy it. It doesn’t have to be some big fancy event.”
communicate, communicate directly with people.” But Katelyn is quick to point out, “It’s a double-edged sword because you also didn’t have the antianimal agriculture groups on a Facebook page either. As opportunities for us as farmers to communicate grow, they’re also growing for anti-animal agriculture groups too.” For that reason, Katelyn and her family have a lot of encouragement and advice to share with any fellow dairy farmers considering inviting people on their own operations. “We’ve had neighbors call and say that they have friends visiting and ask if they can come over,” Katelyn said. “Just say yes. If you open your doors to something like that, I think you’ll see that you enjoy it. It doesn’t have to be some big fancy event. It can just be something simple like that.” As for where to start, they recommend contacting UDIM. “Even if you just say, ’Hey, I’m interested in doing something,’ they will call you and say, ’Oh, there’s a school that wants a tour.’” Katelyn said. “They will find stuff for you to do and are just as okay if you’re not interested. They will find somebody else.” The Hornings are the first to recognize that they do a lot on their farm for dairy promotion, but they are just as supportive and encouraging to a fellow dairy farmer who simply wants to post on Facebook a photo of cows once a week. Afterall, that is dairy promotion and the only way to get the ball rolling on your own farm is to, “Just say yes.”
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milk messenger / JUL-AUG 2021
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YOUR DAIRY PROMOTION AT WORK
YOUR DAIRY CHECKOFF AT WORK Crisis Content Corner You know the farm like the back of your hand, but do your local first responders? If you are called away for an emergency, would your neighbors know where to look for the farm essentials? Having a clear map of your farm, auxiliary buildings and chemical storage is essential to prepare for the unexpected. For further information, or to set up a planning meeting for your farm, contact your state promotion staff below. 1. Draw a map or use Google Earth to get a birdseye view of your farm. 2. Mark and label the various buildings, fire extinguishers, hazardous chemical containers, electrical shut-offs, medical storage, etc. on the map. 3. Keep several copies of the map posted in important locations, like the office or commodity barn. 4. If you have multiple farm sites for heifers, calves, or dry cows, make sure to complete a map for each location. Michigan: Jolene Griffin jolene@milkmeansmore.org 224-567-1894 Indiana: Allie Rieth rieth@winnersdrinkmilk.com 317-443-2296
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Your Dairy Checkoff Podcast National and local checkoff organizations have launched a monthly “Your Dairy Checkoff” podcast to showcase how checkoff programs across the country are collaborating to build dairy sales and trust in today’s changing marketplace. Each episode will be hosted by dairy farmers or industry experts. Listeners will hear conversations focused on local, national and global dairy promotion, including consumer research, dairy nutrition, science and issues updates. Farmers will help guide the selection of topics through their feedback. You can subscribe to the Your Dairy Checkoff podcast on platforms, including Stitcher, Spotify and iTunes. For information or to provide feedback about the episodes, please visit dairycheckoffpodcast.com. Dairy Farmers and Olympians Share the Spotlight Indiana Dairy Farmer, Jill Houin, partnered up with U.S. Olympian Amy Cozad-Magaña to share milk stories. This partnership with MilkPEP brings milk into the spotlight during the Olympic season with Team Milk, tying star athletes to the dairy foods that prepare them to be champions. Check out the video on Indiana Dairy’s YouTube page and see how the hard work and dedication of dairy farmers and Olympic athletes makes them more similar than you may think! Winners Drink (Pink) Milk! Helio Castroneves, four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, selected 2% milk during the driver poll. After taking the traditional drink of white milk, he added strawberry powder to his bottle to match his pink car and colors! His choice created conversations and excitement in school lunchrooms across the nation.
JILL HOUIN OF HOMESTEAD DAIRY
Spring Virtual Farm Tours Both ADAI and UDIM continued hosting virtual farm tours this spring, they have proven to be a great way to connect with lots of students and consumers at once.
James Weber of Weber Family Dairy took students on a tour of his farm to show them how dairy farmers celebrate Earth Day every day. He talked through some of the ways he strives to keep his farm sustainable and ready for the next generation.
Kris and Carla Wardin of Evergreen Dairy hosted World Champion soccer player Lindsay Tarpley and her two children during a virtual farm tour. They toured the calf barn to learn how the Wardin family take care of their calves and prepare them to join the milking herd. Lindsay shared the important role nutrition played in her success as an Olympic athlete and how important it is for her growing children.
Jill Houin of Homestead Dairy shared Indy 500 history and excitement with students. She was joined by special guests from the 500 Festival Princess Program, influential young women that used their platform to show sustainable farming practices to the public during and after the tour. As they toured the calf barn, the Princesses and classrooms learned about the technology and innovation that keeps cows healthy and produces high quality milk.
UNITED DAIRY INDUSTRY OF MICHIGAN
Indiana Cheese Trail is LIVE! The highly anticipated Indiana Cheese Trail kicked off in June for National Dairy Month, designed to give visitors an immersive experience and education. This year-round trail will bring travelers to the Hoosier state to see where the best Indiana cheeses are made while opening the doors to Indiana creameries and stops along the way. MMPA’s Heritage Ridge Creamery is among the 10 dairy farms and creameries featured across Indiana. With a rise in agritourism, travelers are stepping off the beaten track and treading new paths to embrace local culture.
“The Indiana Cheese Trail is an engaging way of telling the dairy farm family’s story while shining a light on those responsible for bringing world class cheese to the Hoosier state. We created this experience as a fun way for our community to meet the faces behind their farmer’s market favorites and their grocery store selections,” said Jenni Browning, ADAI CEO. Learn more at IndianaCheeseTrail.com and start your tasty journey down the “cheddar brick road” today!
Chocolate Milk Nature’s Sports Drink Grants Winter sports continued to feel the challenges of COVID, but coaches and athletes continued their dedication to their sport, team nutrition and giving back to their communities. During this past school year, we awarded over 280 Chocolate Milk Nature’s Sports Drink grants. While sports changed from day to day and week to week, student athletes could depend on a chocolate milk after practice or games. We’re now taking applications for the 2021-2022 school sports, visit www.milkmeansmore.org for more information.
Recognizing Michigan’s School Food Heroes The eight-week MI Food Heroes Contest wrapped up May 7th in celebration of School Food Hero Day. UDIM received over 130 nominations for school food service workers across the state. Our guest judging panel selected 4 nominations, and awarded each a $500 gift card for personal use and a $2500 equipment grant for their school to support their meal program. Each nominee received a small school food hero recognition package including a certificate of appreciation and dairy-riffic swag to energize them for their school year home stretch. For more information about the MI Food Hero contest winners, visit www.mifoodheroes.com/features.
Health Professional Virtual Dairy Experience UDIM staff hosted Dietetic students and instructors from Central Michigan University and Grand Valley State University for a dairy-filled workshop, including a live dairy farm tour hosted by Kristi Keilen of K & K Dairy Farm.
The group was particularly interested in Kristi’s role as a Dairy Nutritionist and were impressed with how carefully the cow ration is formulated, leading to cow health and milk quality. Veterinarian Dr. Jerry Kehr talked about his role in maintaining a healthy herd, emphasizing the proactive protocols used to ensure that milk is safe.
Grocery Store Tour Training Expands to University of Michigan Doctors UDIM continues to deepen healthcare professional relationships with a new project partnering with the UM Culinary Medicine program for Pediatric and Adult Endocrinology Physicians and Residents. These physicians provide guidance for patients in diabetes and obesity clinics where food choices are closely linked to patient outcomes. We taught physicians how to make healthier food choices, the importance of real dairy in the diet for health and disease prevention, and how to effectively share these messages with patients.
Detroit Pistons Update The Pistons’ “Milk Means More Three-Point Score” concluded at the final home game on May 16th. The Pistons hit 832 buckets from beyond the 3-point line to rack up 8,320 gallons of milk donated to Gleaners. Saddiq Bey broke the Detroit Pistons 3-point rookie record with 106, doing so in a shortened season. To recognize this achievement, we donated an additional truckload of milk to his favorite charity. In addition, Saddiq and the Pistons will each donate $3,500 to Gleaners. Our combined “Saddiq” donations will sponsor a mobile pantry at a Detroit-area school for an entire year. milk messenger / JUL-AUG 2021
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FREELINERS AND CLASSIFIEDS
TO SUBMIT FREELINERS AND CLASSIFIED ADS, CONTACT MMPA VIA EMAIL AT MESSENGER@MIMILK.COM OR VISIT MIMILK.COM/FREELINER-CLASSIFIED.
freeliners
FOR SALE: Cube cooler & Cal-Restore tank.
12 ROW 28 PERCENT TOOLBAR APPLICATOR on
Freeliners Policy
Call 810-724-8825.
wheels - $2,500. Call Bill at 231-425-6913.
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 rate. • Freeliners must be received by the 10th of the month preceding desired month of publication.
SPRINGING DAIRY HEIFERS – DHIA records available. Call 810-724-8825.
WIND POWER 80/50 KILOWATT THOUSAND RPM
Concrete Grooving and Texturing Call: 716-353-1137 Jeff Brisky - Owner
2019 SV280 CASE SKID STEER with a cab, HVAC,
GENERATOR single phase on a stand - $3,000. Call Bill at 231-425-6913.
500 hours, EH controls, high flow package, heavy
55 KILOWATT KATOLIGHT GENERATOR three phase
duty rear door, new tires, four-year inclusive
on a stand, 277 480 volt, 1,000 RPM - $2,500.
warranty. $39,000 or $607 monthly lease payment.
Call Bill at 231-425-6913.
Call 989-493-1663. WANTED: DELAVAL SINGLE PULSATION PULSATOR 2009 NEW HOLLAND H7450 DISCBINE, drawbar
bodies for pipeline system. Call 616-406-5611.
swivel hitch, good rolls, one owner, $15,300. Call 989-305-2659. WEAVER DOUBLE 8 HERRINGBONE STAINLESS STEEL STALLS - Like new condition, $3,000. Call Dan at 810-241-8999.
Classifieds Classifieds Policy
FOR SALE: LELY A3 NEXT ROBOT - $55,000. Chisel Plow 9 shanks $4,000. Milk Compressors 5 horse 2012 models 1,000 each. Call 989-313-7323.
Cost for classifieds is $25 for the first 35 words and then $5 for each additional word. Payment due with order. All ads must be received by the 10th of the month preceding desired month of publication. MMPA neither sponsors nor endorses products or services advertised in the Milk Messenger.
HIGH MOISTURE CORN RUN THROUGH ROLLER MILL. 7000 bu. 20% moisture. $160/ton. Ovid area. Call 989-277-7741.
WANTED: 100-gallon bulk milk cooler. Call 765-455-8664. BARN WHITE WASHING AND CLEANING WITH HIGH PRESSURE AIR: Serving all Michigan and Indiana. Miller Spray Service, Inc. 574-825-9776.
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
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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. 3 operators will travel Michigan and other states. No interest payment terms. Est. since 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 and old concrete, fast service. Call for your below pricing 989-635-1494.
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. Special on 2000 gal. Muellers for $13,900 & up. 2700 & 4000 gal. Muellers call for quote. 800-558-0112. STRAW & DRY HAY (large & small bales). Feed Oats, Feed Barley and Corn Silage. Delivery Available. Call 989-723-1886 or 989-277-1414. ALFALFA 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.
Clearance Items The MMPA Farm Supply Store has stocked Milk Check filters by Kleen Test for several years. Due to low sales volume, we will be discontinuing these items. Milk Check filters are made of a polyester fabric and offer good filtration and flow rates. These items will be discounted by 50 percent until our remaining inventory is depleted. Please call the warehouse or order these items through our website. STOCK #
DESCRIPTION
QUANTITY/BOX
DISCOUNTED PRICE
3110
2” X 24” MILK CHECK SOCK
200
$14.35
3106
4 7/8” X 17” MILK CHECK TUBE
150
$16.79
3108
4 7/8” X 33” MILK CHECK SOCK
150
$26.88
3109
4 7/8” X 33” MILK CHECK TUBE
150
$21.88
We also have one used Boumatic Wide Body barrel claw from E-Zee Milking
SEED CORN - "Minnesota 13" Open Pollinated 85 Day Yellow Field Corn Seed. High Protein, High Yield, High Fat, Fast Drydown. Great Digestibility! 80,000 graded seeds $100. JanksSeeds.com. Call 989-284-5052.
available for half price. It was thoroughly cleaned, and new gaskets installed by E-Zee Milking’s used parts division. It is in excellent condition! Call us to order. STOCK #
DESCRIPTION
DISCOUNTED PRICE
7916
BOUMATIC WIDE BODY CLAW USED
$31.82
THREE WAYS TO ORDER MMPA MERCHANDISE FROM THE FARM SUPPLY STORE 1 Order online at www.mimilk.com/farm-supply-store 2 Call in your order: Main Line: 989-317-8370 Toll Free: 877-367-6455 Orders (Novi): 800-572-5824 then dial 2 3 Fax in your order: 989-317-8372
CHEMICAL, SANITIZER AND TEAT DIP CONTACTS These are SERVICE personnel only. Order your supplies through your hauler.
PTO and Automatic Start Generators 1-800-248-8070 M-40 South Hamilton, MI 49419 www.hamiltondist.com
ECOLAB 24-Hour Medical Emergency Hotline: 1-800-328-0026 Service Message Center: 1-800-392-3392 Service Representatives: » Pat Mitchell – 517-403-0928 - 7273 N. Rollin Hwy., Addison, MI 49220 » Jason Wolfe – 540-553-5755 - 1890 Canter Drive, Riner, VA 24149
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29
MMPA STAFF
MMPA Field Staff
Novi Headquarters
Dean Letter, Newaygo, Member Services Director.................. 231-679-0337 Sarah Michalek, Dewitt, Sustainability Supervisor...................248-305-0537
Main Office Local line..............................................................................248-474-6672 Toll free................................................................................800-572-5824
Ben Chapin, Remus, Field Services Manager........................... 989-289-0731
President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Diglio.......................................................................................ext. 202
Steve Lehman, Ithaca, Raw Milk Compliance.............................989-330-1638
Lindsay Green, East Lansing, Animal Care /Sustainability ......989-488-8159 Christy Dinsmoore, Vassar, Supervisor....................................248-513-7920 Frank Brazeau, Oconto, WI......................................................... 906-250-0337 Lyndsay Earl, Ludington, Animal Care.......................................231-519-2455 Deb Gingrich, Leroy, Animal Care/Sustainability......................248-520-3580 Courtney Gordon, Mt. Pleasant...................................................248-756-2062 Laura Gucwa, Bad Axe.................................................................248-826-6294 Ashley Herriman, Herron............................................................269-245-6632 Dave Brady, Grass Lake, Supervisor.........................................517-937-9061 Rachel Brown, Charlotte............................................................. 248-826-7243 Alyssa DeWitt, Elkhart, IN...........................................................269-967-7351 Brandon Ewers, Coldwater, Sustainability.................................231-414-4539 Joe Packard, Manchester, Animal Care......................................248-520-3481
Member and Government Relations Sheila Burkhardt...........................................................................ext. 208 Management Information Systems Andrew Caldwell...........................................................................ext. 304 Chief Financial Officer Tom Downey..................................................................................ext. 240 Laboratory Supervisor Patti Huttula.................................................................................. ext. 219 Quality Sudeep Jain...................................................................................ext. 249 Member Services Emily Keranen...............................................................................ext. 203 Human Resources Kelly Kerrigan................................................................................ ext. 301
Brittni Tucker, Eagle.....................................................................248-880-3785
Sales and Supply Chain Judy Lofgren................................................................................. ext. 301
MMPA Labs
Credit/Insurance Cheryl Schmandt........................................................................... ext. 333
Novi (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.)
Operations Darren Standorf....................................................................248-321-3656
In Michigan...........................................................................800-572-5824 Toll Free............................................................................... 800-233-2405 Ovid (Daily, 6 a.m.-10 p.m.)............................................. 989-834-2515
Communications Allison Stuby Miller.......................................................................ext. 296 Emily Kittendorf............................................................................ext. 234
Constantine (Daily, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.)..................................800-391-7560
Corporate Controller Jeannie Strain................................................................................ext. 312
Farm Supply - Mt. Pleasant
Accounting Therese Tierney..............................................................................ext. 217
Supervisor: Duane Farmer, Mt. Pleasant
Member Relations Jessica Welch................................................................................ext. 303
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, Mt. Pleasant................................................. 989-289-9686 Farm Supply Sales Representative
Jake Riley, Mt. Pleasant....................................................... 248-912-5070 John Lehman, Elsie, Bulk Tank Calibration................................248-444-6775
Manufacturing Plants Constantine, Michigan Dave Davis, Plant Manager...................................................269-435-2835
Ovid, Michigan Mike Hedlund, Plant Manager............................................... 989-834-2221 Middlebury Cheese Company, Middlebury, Indiana Bela Sandor, Plant Manager...................................................574-825-9511
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.
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milk messenger
/ JUL-AUG 2021
Board of Directors Officers Doug Chapin, Board Chairman Tony Jandernoa Board Vice Chairman Eric Frahm, Treasurer Tom Downey, Assistant Treasurer Joe Diglio, President and CEO Sheila Burkhardt, Secretary Todd Hoppe, General Counsel Directors-At-Large Carlton Evans, Litchfield 517-398-0629 Aaron Gasper, Lowell 616-291-4092 Bruce Lewis, Jonesville 517-869-2877 Gertie van den Goor, Marlette 989-550-8453 Kris Wardin, St. Johns 989-640-9420 District Directors 1 Hank Choate Cement City 517-529-9032 2 Tim Hood Paw Paw 269-657-5771 3 Bill Stakenas Freesoil 231-425-6913 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
MEMBER MOMENT
Submit your Member Moment to messenger@mimilk.com
The kids are home, the days are long There’s land to roam with fields of corn. Summer is here it’s all good fun, living the life of a farm dog. PHOTO BY: STEPHANIE WEIL, GOODRICH WORDS BY: EMILY KITTENDORF
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P.O. Box 8002 Novi, MI 48376
MMPA Member Farm Sign MMPA member farm signs are now available for sale on the MMPA Farm Supply website. This 24” x 36” reinforced fiberglass sign comes personalized
Shop online at www.mimilk.com/farm-supply-store.
with your name or farm name on both sides. Resists moisture and other forms of weathering.
