Milk Messenger: January/February 2023

features

20 2022 MMPA QUALITY AWARDS

Local meetings this season included presentations of qualit y awards to 289 members for the production of outstanding quality milk over the last fiscal year. Bronze, silver and gold awards recognize members who met the established criteria for each award.

22 AG INDUSTRY RALLIES TO INVEST IN MSU DAIRY

With the 60-year-old MSU dairy facilities in desperate need of updating to accommodate learning, research and outreach, over 40 agricultural commodity groups rallied t o raise money for the infrastructure investment. With the majority of the funds secured, they continue to raise money to complete the state-of-the-art facility.

“Our

JUDY

Editor’s Note

BY EMILY KITTENDORF

As we enter 2023, the new year brings time to make big plans for the year ahead, while also relishing in last year’s success.

Advancing the Industry

Michigan State University’s (MSU’s) dairy program had a successful 2022 by securing initial funding for a new dairy facility. While the project has been underway behind the scenes for many years, plans are shaping up for the future of MSU’s dairy farm. Hear from those involved in the project on page 22.

MMPA member Frank Burkett, also had a successful year and as he moves into 2023, cybersecurity is top of mind. He’s done everything he can to prevent damaging effects of fraud and other digital attacks on his farm’s technology. Frank knows there is always room for improvement and looks to corporate organizations to bring his farm up to speed and keep his contribution to America’s milk supply safe and secure. Read more about his learnings in the cybersecurity space on page 16.

Also Inside

The best way to start the year is to remember last year’s success. MMPA members continue to produce high quality milk and our quality award winners are listed on page 24. In 2022, Jordan and Erin Booms were named MMPA Outstanding Young Dairy Cooperator finalists. Learn more about them on page 14. Finally, if you’re not sure where to start with setting goals for your farm in 2023, check out the Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference (GLRDC) (pg. 11). It may be the event for you!

VOL. 105 / NO. 3

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.

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President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Diglio

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A Strong Balance Sheet For A Strong Future

BY TOM DOWNEY, MMPA CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Fiscal year 2023 was my first full year with MMPA serving as chief financial officer and I am proud to report your cooperative continues to have a strong balance sheet poised for future growth. Working alongside the entire MMPA team, board of directors and independent auditors to market our members’ milk to the greatest advantage possible has been the most personally rewarding experience I have had in my career.

TOM DOWNEY

While acquiring Superior Dairy on January 1, 2022, was a significant milestone for MMPA, the hard work really started after the purchase was announced. Integrating two companies that are both over 100 years old is a complicated process that has required a significant amount of effort across both organizations. While those efforts will continue into the foreseeable future, I am excited about all that we have accomplished around the integration to date. We have made significant headway in combining the organizations across several teams (human resources, IT, accounting, quality, operations, etc.) and have prioritized ensuring our colleagues in Canton feel connected to MMPA and our member owners. We continued to see a tight milk market in fiscal year 2022, marketing 4.7 billion pounds of milk (flat to prior year). These tighter markets drove elevated milk pricing and product margin throughout the year but that was partially offset by elevated input costs which I know our member owners had to navigate at the farm level as well. Despite the current inflationary environment, I am pleased with the synergies we have achieved bringing Superior into our manufacturing footprint that helped negate some of those cost headwinds.

This year’s audit presented a unique challenge as Superior Dairy transitioned from an MMPA customer to being MMPA owned. Combining the books and records of two large organizations is a complex process and I’d like to thank everyone that was involved for ensuring that the audit was completed on time with an unqualified or “clean” audit opinion.

We had a lot of staff go above and beyond the normal call of duty to make that happen and their efforts are very much appreciated.

MMPA’s long-term debt to equity ratio, an industry standard used by lenders to determine the risk associated with lending to an entity, is extremely strong relative to other market participants. You can think of this value as how much of the cooperative’s assets are owned by our members, versus how much is owned by our lenders. While the membership percentage has decreased from the prior year, we are still well positioned to move forward on future growth opportunities based on our financial strength.

The example our member owners set with their tireless work ethic and unwavering commitment to doing the right thing is an inspiration to me and the MMPA team. Thank you to all MMPA members for the opportunity to work for and serve you. I am excited for what the future has in store.

What is the importance of MMPA’s sustainability survey?

WE ASKED THE EXPERTS:

Sarah Michalek MMPA Sustainability Supervisor

Sustainability has always been top of mind for MMPA member farms. That is evident in the many multi-generational farms that make up our membership. In recent years, we’ve seen our buyers and customers grow increasingly interested in our cooperative providing not only a consistent milk supply, but also sharing the sustainability practices our members have adopted to improve farm efficiencies and reduce GHG emissions.

To demonstrate how our farms are sustainable, we developed our initial sustainability survey to answer questions based on some specific customer requirements for a sustainable milk supply. In our second version of the survey launching in 2023, we broadened the scope of the survey to incorporate a wider variety of customer interests and allow us to better answer the questions our customers and buyers have today.

MMPA’s Sustainability Survey has been vetted by our Farmer Sustainability Advisory Committee (FSAC) and approved by MMPA’s Board of Directors. This survey follows that same roll out cycle of FARM Animal Care Evaluations, which means we complete these surveys on a three-year cycle. The data gathered from these surveys is reported aggregately to respond to customer surveys, generate conversation with potential milk buyers, and to contribute to MMPA emissions reduction reports.

Judy Lofgren Senior Director Sales & Supply Chain

Sustainability is very important to consumers and the companies that produce the goods they purchase. sustainability survey allows us to gather sustainability related information that our customers are requesting. Many customers require MMPA to complete their own company’s sustainability surveys and by having the information already on hand, aggregated from our members’ data, we can easily provide the information to them.

Our customers are pushing us to share more on what we are doing from a sustainability standpoint, and some consider supplier sustainability initiatives when making purchasing decisions. We need to be sure that we are seen as forward thinkers and embrace the sustainability platforms. The sustainability survey helps us do that.

Other than gathering information to meet customer requirements, the survey also has other benefits, including keeping sustainability top of mind for everyone in the supply chain. The information gathered in the survey also helps us benchmark our progress.

our co-op about our sustainability progress, and we know they will continue to ask these questions in the future. Rather than have numerous customers request answers to different types of surveys, we have fine tuned a single MMPA survey to answer the questions that a customer might have about our sustainability journey.

The Farmer Sustainability Advisory Committee (FSAC), comprised of members representing their districts, recently approved a revised survey to better answer the questions we are being asked by customers. All of the survey answers from individual farms are aggregated to provide a co-op wide answer. The survey allows for the data to be available for customers by request, efficiently and effectively.

We know we will face a growing number of questions about our co-op’s sustainability efforts and our measurements of progress in the near future. The sustainability survey is painless, other than some time to meet with a staff member, and there are no wrong answers to the survey. It serves as a way to allow us to share our story using metrics and proof, meet customer expectations and meet the public where they are to showcase the role that dairy farms play in making our community and our world a better place.

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:

Annual State Delegate Meeting

FARM Program Releases Everyday Biosecurity Manual

The National Dairy FARM program released Version 1 of the FARM Everyday Biosecurity manual, one of the key deliverables tied to 2020 National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response program funding to develop FARM Biosecurity.

The manual focuses on everyday steps dairy farmers should take to protect herd and employee health. Taking a building block approach, the manual outlines key focus areas that include:

• Animal health and disease monitoring

• Animal movements and contact

• Animal products, vehicles and equipment

• Personnel, cleaning and disinfection; and

• Line of separation.

Operations just getting started in biosecurity should focus on animal movements and contact, animal health and disease monitoring and personnel, the FARM Biosecurity task force recommends. FARM Biosecurity is the newest pillar of the FARM program and participation is voluntary. In addition to everyday biosecurity, enhanced biosecurity for the Secure Milk Supply Program focuses on the steps that need to be taken in the event of a Foot and Mouth disease outbreak.

Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference to focus on networking and expert engagemen t

February 2-3 | Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

The 21st annual Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference (GLRDC), featuring a new format, will offer a variety of topics and enhanced networking opportunities to help dairy producers thrive. Experts will share a variety of technical and strategic information to help producers improve their bottom line. The conference will take place Feb. 2-3, 2023, at the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.

The physical, economic, and social environment dairy producers are operating in is ever changing. This year’s GLRDC is designed to help producers expand their knowledge in all aspects of their operation to ensure they are producing milk decades from now.

This year’s conference will feature extended break times, mealtimes and an evening reception all incorporated into the exhibit area to allow ample networking between producers and industry representatives. The conference also features a small ignite stage where short presentations by industry experts will be followed by open dialogue with attendees. Thursday evening will also feature a free bilingual herdsperson session covering transition cows, calves, leadership, and so much more.

In addition to the enhanced networking time, producers will have the opportunity to learn about the following topics throughout the two-day conference:

• the state of the industry with Sarina Sharp

• practical tips and tactics from producers around the great lakes

• strategies for becoming a better, more effective leader no matter your role on the farm

• the future of farming both from a technology and social aspect

• new perspectives on corn silage; a discussion of the 2022 growing season, plant health, compaction, manure, fertility management, alternative forages and more to help producers excel in 2023 and beyond

• key factors to ensure successful transition cows from leading experts at Iowa State University, Elanco Animal Health and Michigan State University

• approaches to improve efficiency and profitability through data

• the ins and outs of using TN visas to increase your available labor pool

• ways to improve manure utilization, conservation practices, and recovering energy

• research supported methods to prevent and manage scours in calves

• silage management safety

• and so much more

The United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM) will be hosting an informal preconference session for producers (including those not registered for the conference) to learn more about the organization’s dairy promotional activities. The preconference session is free and open to all.

Adult, student and farm registration options are available. Register by Jan. 23, 2023, to receive a discount of up to $25 a day. Online registration closes at midnight on Jan. 29, 2023. On-site registration is subject to availability.

For more information or to register online, visit www.glrdc.org. To register by phone, call 989-666-3773.

NMPF and USDEC Salute USTR’S Pursuit of Canadian USMCA Compliance

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) commend the U.S. Trade Representative’s announcement in December that it is filing a new request for dispute settlement consultations with Canada in order to expand the scope of the second U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) dairy dispute to include additional elements necessary to ensure that Canada fully complies with its USMCA obligations

“It is deeply unfortunate that Canada simply refuses to honor the full terms of our agreement,” said Krysta Harden, president and CEO of USDEC. “USMCA is a fair deal that was thoroughly negotiated and agreed to by the Canadian government. The U.S. dairy community is thankful the administration and Congress have taken Canada’s violations seriously and are fighting for full export benefits that the American dairy industry earned.”

The initial USMCA dispute panel, launched by the United States in May 2021, found Canada in violation of USMCA’s tariff-rate quota (TRQ) provisions by reserving most of its preferential dairy TRQs for Canadian processors. In March 2022, Canada released its revised approach to USMCA TRQs, which still violated the USMCA, by providing inequitable advantages to Canadian dairy processors and failing to administer TRQs in a manner to ensure full use of TRQs as intended

by USMCA. This prompted USTR to request formal consultations with Canada over the measures, the first step in bringing a second case before a USMCA dispute settlement panel.

“We thank USTR and USDA for their diligence in working to ensure that American dairy producers have the market access promised under USMCA. NMPF is committed to doing everything it can to support the case,” stated Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF. “At the end of the day, if Canada continues to flagrantly flout its obligations, the U.S. government has to be ready with retaliatory measures that make the Canadian government reconsider its actions.”

Recent actions are the culmination of months of painstaking work to evaluate the strongest basis for the United States’ case and find the best approach to bring Canada into compliance given its persistent violations.

NMPF Lauds Bipartisan Ag Climate Measures in Appropriations Package

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) commended Congress for including the Growing Climate Solutions Act and the SUSTAINS Act in its final fiscal year 2023 budget package. These measures will help dairy farmers seek additional sustainability opportunities as they work to fulfill the dairy sector’s voluntary, producer-led goal of becoming greenhouse gas neutral or better by 2050.

“Environmental markets and conservation programs have the potential to meaningfully assist dairy producers as they work to meet their 2050 environmental stewardship goals,” said NMPF president and CEO Jim Mulhern. “The Growing Climate Solutions Act and the SUSTAINS Act will strengthen these important tools.”

The Growing Climate Solutions Act, authored by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie

Stabenow, D-MI, and Senator Mike Braun, R-IN, passed the Senate last June on a bipartisan vote of 92-8. The legislation would enable USDA to register technical service providers that help farmers implement stewardship practices that can generate credits on environmental markets. In turn, producers will be better positioned to participate in these important markets. Reps. Abigail Spanberger, D-VA, and Don Bacon, R-NE, have introduced companion legislation in the House.

The SUSTAINS Act, authored by House Agriculture Committee Chairman-elect Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, R-PA, passed the House Agriculture Committee in May on a bipartisan voice vote. The measure would allow private sector funds to supplement existing funding for farm bill conservation programs, which are continuously oversubscribed. The bill is an innovative approach to boosting funding for USDA conservation programs, which provide important technical assistance to dairy farmers for a variety of stewardship practices.

Advisory Committee

DISTRICT 1

Art Riske 517-524-6015

Clark Emmons 419-466-4471

Eric Bleich ......................................... 517-204-0677 Dan Minnis 517-719-5894

DISTRICT 2

Danny Ransler 269-998-3802

Josh Gamble 574-360-7828

Richard Thomas 574-202-5198

Mark Crandall 269-660-2229

Michael Oesch...................................574-825-2454

DISTRICT 3

Burke Larsen 231-425-8988

Jonathan Acker ................................. 616-648-7037

Max Carlson 231-638-2183

Arden Eadie 616-550-3875

Gary Nelsen 231-834-7610

DISTRICT 4

Ron Lucas ......................................... 989-379-4694

Dave Folkersma 906-630-1957

Jonathon Miller 906-287-0746

Marvin Rubingh ................................ 425-533-8106 Russ Tolan 989-471-2993

DISTRICT 5

Jack Jeppesen 989-330-1905

Trevor Bollinger 989-621-2981

Mark Bontekoe ................................. 231-510-0764

John Black 231-846-7252

Amy Martin 231-388-0496

DISTRICT 6

“Environmental markets and conservation programs have the potential to meaningfully assist dairy producers as they work to meet their 2050 environmental stewardship goals. The Growing Climate Solutions Act and the SUSTAINS Act will strengthen these important tools.”

In addition to the sponsors of both bills, committee leaders Rep. David Scott, D-GA, and Sen. John Boozman, R-AR, also played important roles in finalizing the bipartisan package.

“We commend the leaders of the Agriculture Committees – Senators Debbie Stabenow and John Boozman and Reps. David Scott and GT Thompson – for working together to fashion this bipartisan agreement on agricultural climate legislation,” Mulhern said. “We look forward to working with them and their colleagues to build on this progress in the new year.”

Steve Thelen 989-640-1075

Renee McCauley................................616-283-6411

Ken Wieber 989-292-1187

David Reed 989-274-8147

Brad Ritter ........................................ 586-405-4749

DISTRICT 7

Chris Daniels 989-240-5031

Doug Stevens 989-330-1013

Jason Elenbaum 989-274-1974

James Weber .................................... 989-297-1850

Rodney Fowler 989-302-2299

DISTRICT 8

Mike Noll .......................................... 810-404-4071

Rob Rowley 810-305-2771

Gary Protzman 989-551-7490

Darwin Sneller 989-977-3718

Bill Blumerich 810-706-2955

“

JORDAN & ERIN BOOMS

Jordan and Erin Booms are do-gooders in their community. Along with farming on Booms Dairy LLC, Jordan is lieutenant of two area fire departments and Erin works full time off the farm as a nurse practitioner. Being the kind of people who run into fires, they take efficiency and profitability seriously, all while managing the ups and downs tha t come with the industry and raising their two kids Isaiah (7) and Edison (3) on the farm.

Q&A :

What’s your farms greatest achievement?

J: Weathering the hard years and still going strong

What’s the key to running a dairy farm?

J: Efficiency

E: Being flexible

How can someone easily improve their milk quality?

J: Consistency

What’s your favorite chore? Why?

J: Mowing hay.

E: Hauling hay. It’s enjoyable and the whole family can partake.

Why do you milk cows?

J: It’s in my blood

What’s one practice you’d try on your farm if you knew it was impossible to fail?

J: Robots

What does your farm look like in 30 years?

E: Jordan and our boys working together for the next generation.

ON THE FARM

If you visit their farm in Lake City, Michigan, you’ll directly see the impact of Jordan and Erin's mission to be as efficient as possible while remaining profitable. They recognize the challenges facing the dairy industry today and are proactively managing potential risks by working on their short comings and strategically growing over time.

PLAYING CYBER DEFENSE

BY EMILY KITTENDORF

Cyberattacks continue to appear in headlines every week across the world. From hospitals to retail giants, there aren’t many organizations or industries shielded from the effects of bad digital actors with criminal intent. MMPA member, Frank Burkett, recognizes the threat it plays to his farm and the agriculture industry as a whole.

“You've seen entire companies experience prolonged shutdowns because of cyberattacks,” Burkett said.“What’s the electrical grid’s sensitivity to cyberattacks? How does that impact everything from manufacturing to farms to all the other pieces. As we continue to digitalize, which we're not reversing from, then we’re going to have to continue to focus on how we protect and secure it.” Burkett is the fifth generation on Clardale Farms, operating 1,900 acres and milking 699 Holsteins in Canal Fulton, Ohio. In partnership with his uncles, Burkett manages employees, account receivables, account payables, project management, along with planting and spraying corn and soybeans.

“I actually wear a couple hats right now,” Burkett said. “I am manager and owner here on the farm. My second role is as an owner at Hills Supply which is a DeLaval dairy equipment dealership that covers the state of Ohio and parts of Michigan, Indiana and surrounding states. And then last April I stepped down as president of Ohio Farm Bureau and continue to be engaged in the community.”

Cybersecurity and online fraud have become huge from a business standpoint. It’s definitely changed how we do business – at Hills and everywhere.

His experiences off the farm, along with a couple bad encounters on the farm, is what guides the decisions he makes about keeping his farm’s digital presence secure.

Financial Security

“Cybersecurity and online fraud have become huge from a business standpoint. It’s definitely changed how we do business – at Hills and everywhere,” Burkett said. “On the farm, we're actually running on our third checking account since I returned here because of fraud.”

Surprisingly enough, despite farmrelated data starting in the milking parlor and in the fields, Burkett knows firsthand that some of the most critical information to protect can actually be what’s on paper.

“We’ve had three fraud related incidents at the farm in the last three

years, and they've been traced back to processing centers like power bills, electric bills, stuff that goes to a lock box where somebody's processing it,” Burkett said. “All it took was for somebody in a processing center to snap a picture of one of our checks and decide to start making checks off of it.”

As a consequence, Clardale Farms is transitioning to direct ACH payment to prevent putting checks in the mail. Burkett’s word of advice to anyone just starting to think about their farm’s security begins with simply keeping your checks locked up because “they’re an open door to your bank account and one of the highest risk areas on the farm.” Burkett’s other words of advice for financial security is to make reviewing your bank account part of your daily routine.

“A major advantage to us from a financial security standpoint is that almost every bank has an app for your phone that allows you to take five minutes every day and just scroll through what’s cleared the day before,” Burkett said. “Through that process is where I identified the fraud “

A major advantage to us from a financial security standpoint is that almost every bank has an app for your phone that allows you to take five minutes every day and just scroll through what’s cleared the day before.”

NEARLY ALL DATA COLLECTED ON CLARDALE FARMS CAN BE ACCESSED FROM A CELLPHONE. FROM AUTOMATIC CALF FEEDERS TO PARLOR DATA TO CAMERA SYSTEMS, BURKETT HAS HIS PHONE IN HAND TO MAKE DATA DRIVEN DECISIONS NO MATTER WHERE HE IS WORKING FROM.

on our farm at first, and that's when I contacted the bank right away because there was a substantial check in the tens of thousands of dollars that had cleared the bank. I did not write that check and when I pulled the image up, it clearly wasn't even our check. Somebody had just taken a check image and put our numbers on it.”

Border Security

Clardale Farms also maintains an extensive camera system that’s relied on by employees to help save time by allowing them to check on certain pens and areas of the farm without needing to walk there. Burkett reviews the footage regularly for employee training and farm security.

“Cameras are a recent addition within the past year, and it keeps expanding to more and more cameras,” Burkett said. “We keep finding more and more things we want to monitor, like the freshening and holding pens. The team here has a dozen more cameras that they want added yet.”

The addition of cameras is driven by employees because of Burkett’s approach to using them for training, rather than catching people in the act.

“We don't use the cameras as a gotcha type thing, but we do use it to look at procedures and then we will tailor our training to it,” Burkett explained. “For example, our cell count is a little higher right now than we want to see it and we've been looking at videos and we see some things we don't like, so we'll do some general training with everybody.”

In addition, the cameras serve the obvious benefit of giving Burkett and his team the ability to monitor the farm for security purposes. Living in a densely populated area and with the farm being a staple in the community, they often receive a lot of visitors both scheduled and unscheduled. The camera system that Clardale Farms uses allows Burkett and the team to view the live video feeds and replay

clips from them to monitor what’s happening on the farm from anywhere and at any time.

Digital Improvements

As for what’s next, Burkett is always reviewing current best practices that he experiences in leadership roles off the farm and his next project is setting up emails for his farm employees.

“Right now, ever ybody’s just using their personal email for farm business, but now we’re transitioning to an Outlook account with an administrator,” Burkett said. “From a liability standpoint, it makes a lot of sense that if your business, even as a dairy farm, if your employees are doing farm related business, they’re using farm emails.”

The step is in response to realizing Hills made the transition to Outlook a long time ago, and now recently even added multifactor authentication, where a secondary pin must be entered to prove your identity before logging in. Burkett recognizes that when it comes to multifactor authentication, “I use it everywhere else now. This is the only place I don’t use it.” And while it can be annoying to get the pin sent via email or text and to enter it in, a farm is a business too and Burkett is playing a game of chess with bad actors in the cyberspace.

“There's always somebody trying to disrupt your business, whether it's for financial reasons or they just think it's

fun, and then there's always somebody trying to prevent that disruption. How are those two interacting and ultimately who's winning? I think in our business, whether it’s Hills Supply or Clardale Farms, at some point you ask, what level of disruption am I comfortable with? I personally like to manage it.”

ABOVE: CLARDALE FARMS’ CAMERA SYSTEM CURRENTLY RETAINS 14 DAYS OF FOOTAGE. THIS YEAR, BURKETT IS PLANNING ON EXTENDING THE RETENTION TIME TO 30 DAYS TO BETTER AID EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND FARM MONITORING.

“We don't use the cameras as a gotcha type thing, but we do use it to look at procedures and then we will tailor our training to it.”

TOP: MODELED AFTER WHAT HE SAW IN CORPORATE SETTINGS, BURKETT’S DESKS IN EACH OF HIS OFFICES IS SET UP WITH MONITORS AND A DOCKING STATION FOR HIS LAPTOP WHICH ALLOWS HIM TO SEAMLESSLY MOVE BETWEEN LOCATIONS WHILE PROVIDING THE SAME ACCESS TO INFORMATION REGARDLESS OF WHERE HE’S WORKING FROM.

MMPA Quality Award Winners

Local meetings this season included presentations of quality awards to 289 members for the production of outstanding quality milk over the last fiscal year. Bronze, silver and gold awards recognize members who met the established criteria for each award.

Bronze quality awards are presented to MMPA members who met both quality premium categories (10,000 or less raw bacteria and 20,000 or less PI count) and maintained a somatic cell count of 250,000 or less for nine or more months out of the previous fiscal year.

Silver quality awards are presented to those members who met the same criteria as in the bronze award category for 12 months out of the previous fiscal year.

Gold quality awards are presented to members who met the same criteria as in the silver award category and averaged a somatic cell count of 100,000 or less during the previous fiscal year.

Star awards will be presented to those members who have received a quality award for five (one star), 10 (two star s), 15 (three stars), 20 (four stars) or 25 (five stars) consecutive years.

Adrian Local

BRONZE

De Vries Dairy LTD

Marvin Farms Inc

Eric R Bleich

Matthew Smith (15)

Alma Local GOLD

Tjerk Okkema (5)

SILVER

Spring Lake Farms LLC

Louis & Ronald Brecht

Oberlin Farms LLC (20)

Vanderploeg Holsteins LLC

Central Michigan Milk Production LLC

BRONZE

Troy Haynes

Albern Olson

Chapin Family Farm LLC

Pine Hills Dairy LLC

Jeff & Larry Nielsen

Wilson Centennial Farm LLC

Ryan J Litwiller

Double Eagle Dairy Inc

Chad Peters

TLC Dairy

Gary Nielsen (10)

Kevin & Carol Litwiller

William Hough Dairy Inc

Bruce A Litwiller

Titus & Lois Zimmerman

Ephraim & Esther Martin

Vanderploeg Holsteins II LLC (10) Mervin Martin

Barry-Eaton Local GOLD

Chase Crest Hill Farms LLC

Crandall Dairy Farm LLC

Hammond Dairy Farm LLC

SILVER

Ladine Dairy Farm LLP

Kevin & Lane Pixley

Burdock Hills Dairy LLC

BRONZE

Steven G Hochstetler

Samuel N Hochstetler

Glenn G Hochstetler

Blossomland Local

BRONZE

J & A Koebel Farm LLC

Mike & David Van Wanzeele

Chippewa County Local

BRONZE

Taylor Creek Farm LLC

Hoolsema Dairy Inc

Clare-Mt. Pleasant Local

SILVER

Robert S Millard

BRONZE

Jack Evans

Stevens Dairy Farm LLC

Gross Dairy Farms Inc

Michael Yoder

John Koch

Tara Anthon Cattle & Management LLC

Norman & Sarann Byler

Marvin Hershberger

Constantine Local

GOLD

David H Miller (5)

SILVER

Milton D Bontrager

Maynard & Laura Lehman

LaVern D Miller

Ernest & Erma Wengerd (10)

Matthew D Miller (10)

Floyd O Bontrager (5)

Martin Yoder Jr

Nathan E Miller

Maynard F Miller

Marcus & Julia Troyer

Garold D Yoder

David L Nisley

BRONZE

Carl Zook

Alva Lengacher

James & Sarah Delagrange (5) Willie Yoder Jr

Sunrise Acres LLC

Devon Ray Yoder

Jerry D Lehman

Marvin E Eash

Vernon & Amanda Miller

Alvin D Bontrager

Raymond D Yoder

Dorvin Shaum

Marlin R Miller

Rufus B Zimmerman

Andrew E Mast

Verlin J Yoder (5)

Samuel Jay Bontrager

Daniel A Bontrager

Jacob W Weaver

Paul W Miller (5)

Verlin R Miller

Richard O Lambright

John R Weaver

Henry J Mullett

Elmer L Schrock

Wakiana Dairy Inc

Larry M Hershberger

Willis E Miller

Ferman J Yoder

David E Hochstetler

DeWayne E Mishler

Marion L Miller

Jonathan J Yoder

Joseph E Miller

The Graber Family Levi E Miller

Daniel M Martin

David N Miller

Lamar J Miller

Lavon R Hochstetler

Neal L Borkholder

Deford/ CliffordMayville Local

BRONZE

Keith & Jane Wood

Evart

GOLD

Local

Bode Valley Farm Inc (10)

Bon-Dale Farm Tacoma Dairy Inc (10)

Gilde Farms LLC

SILVER

Leon Hamming (15)

Buning Dairy Farm LLC Marlin & Ida Gingerich

BRONZE

Beerens Dairy Farm

Van Polen Farms

Robert Morlock, Jeffrey Morlock & Tamara Jones

Yonkman Dairy Farm LLC (10)

Benson Dairy LLC

Michael L Bosscher

Ronald J Brinks (10)

Dick Haven Farm LLC (15)

Benthem Brothers Inc

David L DeZeeuw (20)

Prosperous Farms LLC

Garlomar Farms Inc

Dodde Dale Farms LLC Wirth Farms LLC

Booms Dairy LLC

Edward & Darlene Gingerich Gingrich Meadows Inc Carol A Hochstetler

Frankenmuth Local GOLD

Richard R Wardin (25)

SILVER

Weber Family Dairy LLC

Haubenstricker Dairy Farm LLC

Petzold Dairy Farms LLC (30)

BRONZE

Roger M Weiss

Krafft Farms LLC

K & K Kern Farms LLC Eric J Frahm

Hillman Local

SILVER

Werth Dairy LLC

Chippewa Dairy LLC (15)

BRONZE

Risky Endeavor Dairy LLC

Godfrey Farms Inc

Kevin, Karen & Travis Zybtowski Christensen Farms

Joseph P Zbytowski

Butterwerth Dairy Farm LLC

Vernon D Yoder

Hillsdale-Litchfield

SILVER

Pleasant View Dairy

Drakeland Farms LLC

Donald Lindsey (10)

BRONZE

Ferris Farms

Huron Local

GOLD

Starward Farm

SILVER

David J Leavine

Rose Valley Dairy LLC (5)

BRONZE

Hornbacher Farms

Nugent's Farm Dairy

William C Mazure

Oak River Dairy LLC Albert J Gusa Highland Dairy LLC

Jackson County Plus Local

SILVER

Grand Valley Farms (15)

Williams Family Farm LLC

BRONZE

Bienz Double View Farm

Riske Farms Zenz Farms

Kalamazoo Local

SILVER

Webers Meadow LLC

Clearview Dairy Farm LLC Vandenberg and Vandenberg Melvin T Puschel

BRONZE

Victor Puschel

Wamhoff Family Dairy Farm LLC

Timothy & Charles Hood & Tamara Spicher Craig & Linda Jo Newland

Livingston Charter Local

SILVER

Bon-Tek Operations LLC Donal Farm LLC

BRONZE

Clarinda Farms LLC White Dairy LLC

Mid-Michigan Local

SILVER

Adkinson Farm Andrew J Feldpausch

LeRoy & Stephanie Schafer Sanborn & Sons LLC

Berlyn Acres III LLC

Lew-Max LLC (20)

Laverne & Maribeth Zimmerman & Sons

BRONZE

Tumbleweed Dairy LLC (5)

Cook Dairy Farm Wieber Dairy LLC

Jon & Tina Thelen

Simon Dairy Farm LLC

Nobis Dairy Farms

Evergreen Dairy Farm LLC

Heyboer Farms Inc

Thelen Dairy Inc

Oak View Dairy LLC

Fogle Farms

MSU Dairy Cattle Teaching & Research Center

T & H Dairy II

Leroy & Ella Zimmerman

Baese Family Farm LLC

Diller Farms

Steenblik Dairy Inc (5)

Maple Glaze Dairy LLC

Mid-Sanilac Local

SILVER

Sharrard Farms LLC Cumper Dairy Farms MK Farms LLC

Timothy Mater

BRONZE

Welter Dairy Farms LLC

Schultz Dairy LLC Lawler Dairy Farm Noll Dairy Farm Inc Goma Dairy Farms Goma Dairy #2

Mid-Thumb Local BRONZE

Lamb Dairy Farm Reid Dairy Farm LLC Susan K Stewart (10) Ankley Family Farm Hudzinski Dairy Farm Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority

Owosso Local GOLD

Ritter Farms LLC

BRONZE

Weil Dairy Farm Braid Farms Inc Vergin Farms Sonray Acres (5)

Saline-Ann Arbor Local BRONZE

Edward, Jane & Samantha Mamarow Max C Finkbeiner Lambarth Farms LLC Breuninger Farms LLC Horning Farms LLC

Sunrise Local

GOLD

Cedar Lane Dairy Farms Gallagher Dairy Farm Inc (10)

SILVER

Lemajru Dairy Farm LLC Anschuetz Dairy Farm (15) Derek Brewer (20) Keith & Emily Martin (5) W-R-L Daniels Farm LLC

BRONZE

Barry Troyer Bennett Dairy Farm LLC RDJ Dairy J & B Dairy LLC Mark R Ramer Naaman Martin Lavon Hoover

U.P. West Central Local

SILVER

Robert & Scott Paidl

BRONZE

Drayton Family Dairy LLC

Wieciech Farms Daniel Olson

Dale & Wendy Fisk

Upstate Local GOLD

Rubingh's Dairyland LLC Alfred & Susan Gingerich

BRONZE

Terry K Lautner

Norwood Centennial Farm LLC Boss Dairy Farms Inc Stanek Farm

West Michigan Local

GOLD

Timothy Baker (5)

SILVER

Fisk Farms

Raterink Farms LLC Norris Dairy Farm Inc

Nienhuis Dairy Farm LLC Robert & William Gruppen Klamer Farms Inc (10)

J-Max LLC

BRONZE

Donald A Beattie Slater Farms LLC

Sueann M Higgins

Byma Dairy LLC

Sunglow Dairy LLC (20)

Koppenol Dairy Farms Inc Kelly Moored Stroven Farms

Beuschel Fruit & Dairy LLC

Robert T Wackernagel Stakenas Farms Inc

Larsen Farms

Robert & Donna Pepper Dan Mauer Dairy LLC Mark Hilaski

Carson Acres LLC Kuperus Dairy LLC (5)

Dewey Farm LLC (15)

Byma Farms LLC Welchkin Acres LLC

Troyer Farm Slater Farms 88th LLC

Slater Farms Baseline LLC

Lakeside Dairy LLC

Hershberger Farm LLC

Local

Dutch Meadows Dairy LLC Joel & Samuel Bruebaker (5)

Gerald M Martin

AG RALLIES TO LEAD INVESTMENT into MSU Dairy

Research, Teaching and Outreach

BY MELISSA HART | PHOTO BY MIKAYLA BOWEN

In a state where dairy ranks No. 1 in farm receipts among state agricultural commodities, accounts for nearly 5 percent of the state's gross domestic product, supports 111,000-plus jobs and generates $24 billion in revenue annually, it makes sense that Michigan’s land-grant university would have state-of-the-art dairy research and teaching facilities. That was the consensus of Michigan State University and more than 40 commodity groups when they rallied to raise $30 million to date for a new dairy facility - toward the goal of raising an additional $15-20 million.

When a fire broke out in the feed facility on MSU’s dairy in May 2021, the need for a new facility was accelerated, not to mention the 60-year-old setup fails to support the long list of desired research projects, veterinary school needs and basic education of current dairy trends and technologies. A big team of supporters began to brainstorm and put feet to the project.

“Leadership at Michigan State organized a planning committee with faculty from several departments in early 2021. Our aim was to determine what research, teaching and outreach infrastructure needs our program would have over the next 20 years,” explained Dr. Barry Bradford, MSU professor in dairy management and nutrition. “The work of this committee was accelerated in May 2021, when a major fire at the dairy facility made it clear that we couldn’t continue to play the long game.”

Bradford explained from there, the stakeholders were essential. “We had conversations with many agricultural groups, as well as environmental groups, to explain the need for a new dairy facility and the problems we could address with an investment by the state. Our friends in agriculture came through in a big way, advocating with elected officials about the importance of the dairy for Michigan agriculture and rural economies. Achieving state funding in July 2022 was a result of all of those conversations, and we are extremely grateful to our stakeholders and legislators who saw the value proposition.”

He singled out Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) and its staff as an extremely important cog in the wheel of progress on funding. “MMPA was one of our strongest allies, with Doug Chapin and Sheila Burkhardt spending a lot of time helping with meetings and getting feedback on the project.”

Interim Michigan State University President Teresa K. Woodruff pointed to the importance of the ag community in securing the funding, "Michigan’s agricultural community is unique in its willingness to advocate for common goals with one voice, and we saw that sense of shared purpose play out with the dairy facility funding. Every phone call, every email, and every endorsement truly mattered in securing this transformational investment, and Michigan State University is so grateful for the support of our partners. This new facility will have a tremendous impact on Michigan agriculture – and

we are proud that it is happening on our MSU campus.”

MSU AgBioResearch Director George Smith agreed it was a collaborative effort in the true sense of the word, involving the College of Agriculture and Natural Resource’s Department of Animal Science and Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, MSU AgBioResearch, Extension, the state’s dairy industry, the

efforts that make a difference for the Michigan dairy industry now and into the future,” Smith noted. “Our hope would be this project would help lead to growth in and a better trained dairy workforce in the future, increased rate of research progress in addressing issues of importance to the dairy industry (e.g. nutrition, genetics, reproduction, animal health and welfare, and management) and in solving problems of the future related to environmental sustainability.”

Michigan’s agricultural community is unique in its willingness to advocate for c ommon goals with one voice and we saw that sense of shared purpos play out with the dairy facility funding.”

TERESA K. WOODRUFF

entire Michigan agricultural community and state government. Smith added that Bradford, Dr. Annette O’Connor and Dr. Wei Liao were the faculty leads and played an indispensable role in developing the vision and justification for the new facility.

“The vision for this project epitomizes the land-grant mission of Michigan State University and our goal to provide teaching, research and Extension

“The current trend of undergraduate students from non-farm backgrounds underscores the need for state-ofthe-art facilities. He said, “A quality educational experience at a dairy facility that more closely mimics the modern dairy industry versus the industry of the 1960s and 1970s will provide a more positive experience. Increased herd size linked to the new facility and accompanying infrastructure will increase throughput on research linked to industry needs and provide further opportunities for long-term research linked to environmental sustainability, such as anaerobic digestion and nutrient recovery.”

“This investment in the state is also essential to helping CVM fulfill their mission to train the veterinary medicine workforce (DVM and veterinary nurses), who are able to meet the needs of the modern dairy industry,” said Dr. Annette O’Connor, Chairperson of the Department of Large Animal Clinical

PHOTO BY HANNAH SHEATHELM

Sciences. “This facility will be one where students will have full access to the physical spaces, technologies, and access to data associated with the modern dairy industry. In addition to workforce development, our research teams will have access to facilities to answer questions about maintaining the health, welfare, and production of dairy cattle as part of sustainable dairy production.”

The present farm provides access to 200 cows in a tie-stall barn for teaching and research, and that’s not adequate for the research projects on the docket. While all the specifics have not been pinpointed, the new facility will be built directly south of the present dairy and will likely accommodate 500 milking cows, with 700 head total. This will allow researchers to perform their projects and still facilitate educational opportunities for vet students and animal science majors.

Both a robotic milking system and a parallel parlor are being planned for the new project. The robots would provide training and research on new milking systems, while the parallel parlor would be beneficial for research that includes milking at fixed intervals.

Additionally, Bradford said, “We have a great deal of mastitis expertise here, and it makes sense to keep the parlor simple and have the cows more accessible and available for individual quarter sampling or infusions.” He pointed to environmental challenges in dairy and the need for cutting-edge research to provide solutions for nutrient management and emissions reduction.

Having a new facility with modern

I can’t begin to express how much this means to MSU and, even more importantly how much the transformational research made possible by this infrastructure investment will benefit Michigan farmers, their futures and livelihoods.”

GEORGE SMITH

housing will also bolster valuable information for Michigan dairy producers. “The new facility will allow us to actually do controlled nutrition research in free-housed cows by using technology that detects what cow is there and basically open access to feed if it’s the right cow, and that will provide meaningful data for the industry,” Bradford explained.

Improving the economics for dairy producers in Michigan is of vital importance to MSU, and he noted this improvement in the three pillars of sustainability: economic, environmental and social. “A lot of the work we’ve done for many decades has helped producers with economic sustainability, like making the best decisions with reproduction and nutritional programs. But we haven’t been able to help as much with environmental decisions like capturing carbon and separating phosphorous from manure or other nutrient management decisions. And we would like to be able to chase some of these challenges in the new facility, particularly when we can do so in a way that generates new revenue streams for dairies.”

“MSU has already been a leader in optimizing anaerobic digestion on dairy farms. The MSU Anaerobic Digestion Research and Education Center (ADREC) has been working on value-added utilization of dairy manure and other wastes streams to enable a carbon neutral and zerodischarging dairy industry. Dr. Wei Liao, the director of MSU ADREC, explained: “Numerous research studies have been done on manure utilization, particularly anaerobic digestion of manure for renewable electricity and natural gas production. However, the

current economics do not make them viable for small and medium-sized dairies in the U.S. In addition, nutrient (phosphorus and nitrogen) management of dairies needs to be further advanced to realize environmental sustainability for dairies.” With the new facility, plans are in place to integrate anaerobic digestion with electric vehicle charging stations to enable profitable systems to be implemented on smaller farms. Furthermore, MSU will work on finding cost-effective solutions to make phosphorus and ammonia removal from manure commercially viable.

Bradford described the third pillar of social sustainability with the goal of hosting consumers to give them an honest picture of the dairy industry and allowing them to see things for themselves. “But just as important, we think we can attract more students into the industry with a modern facility that has some cool technology, and help pipeline some students in that maybe that’s their calling - but they wouldn’t even give it a shot if they didn’t have something to draw their attention to it.”

“I can’t begin to express how much this means to MSU and, even more importantly, how much the transformational research made possible by this infrastructure investment will benefit Michigan farmers, their futures and livelihoods.” Smith said. “It’s been a collaborative approach, and one that we could never have endeavored on our own. Much appreciation is extended to the Governor’s office, Michigan legislature, commodity and farm organizations and our agricultural partners for assisting and providing support for these much-needed new research facilities, upgrades and improvements.”

With $30 million from the state, MSU will move forward with raising the remaining funds to complete the project. “We are excited for the future and grateful for what we have so far. We will continue to look for ways to raise the rest of the funds and to move the project forward,” Bradford concluded.

PHOTO BY HANNAH SHEATHELM

YOUR DAIRY CHECKOFF AT WORK

NATIONAL UPDATE School Smoothies Score With Kids

The hottest beverage trend among Gen Z consumers, those age 11-25, isn’t energy drinks, flavored water or soft drinks, but fruit smoothies. Knowing dairy and smoothies are made for one another, Dairy Management, Inc (DMI) developed a pilot concept partnership with Chartwells K12, a food management company that serves over 4,500 schools representing 665 districts across the country. National Dairy Council also provided grant funding and checkoff partners General Mills and Hubert, a food service equipment manufacturer, to provide training and equipment. The pilot schools in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri and Arizona will provide a business case that includes measurable results, which Chartwells K12 can take to its other districts for implementation. U.S. dairy export growth streak hits seven months in October

October U.S. dairy exports rose 9% on a milk solids equivalent (MSE) basis, marking the seventh consecutive month of growth for U.S. suppliers. Most product categories posted gains, including nonfat dry milk/skim milk powder (NFDM/SMP), which recorded its first year-over-year increase since November 2021. October U.S. gains were widespread across most major products, including NFDM/SMP, whey, cheese and butter. U.S. cheese exports continued to impress in October, climbing 4% year-over-year (+1,589 MT), which marks the 16th straight month of growing cheese exports.

LOCAL UPDATES

Chocolate

Milk: A Delicious and Effective Post-Workout Beverage

UDIM spent the year distributing chocolate milk to the top race organizations across Michigan. More than 22,000 bottles of milk reached athletes in Traverse City, Charlevoix, Metro Detroit, Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. We also attended race expos to share with runners about the recovery benefits of drinking chocolate milk. Many runners have shared that their number #1 refuel beverage is chocolate milk. Many races are hitting record-high attendance rates as runners are back in action post-COVID.

UDIM Reached Health Professionals

UDIM attended the National Association for Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) conference. There was great interest in the educational handouts and many nurse practitioners said they will be reaching out to UDIM for additional science-based dairy materials to give to their patients in the future.

UDIM also attended the Michigan chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (MiAAP) conference. UDIM hosted a table to generate more personal conversations with health professional attendees.

UDIM visited the University of Michigan to host a Lunch and Learn for the school’s dental students. Over 50 future doctors attended and learned about dairy’s role in dental health. One student approached us after the event to get a deeper clarification about whole milk vs. 1% milk. We were able to discuss the differences, and which would be the best choice for the individual.

UDIM hosted virtual Dairy Experiences for dietetic students from Eastern Michigan University and Madonna University. During each Dairy Experience, students received an overview of Michigan’s dairy community and a presentation of human dairy nutrition. The highlight of both events was a virtual farm tour and in-depth discussion with dairy nutritionists! When asked what they would say to someone who asked about the dairy industry the students replied, “I would encourage them to visit a dairy. Dairy farmers are probably the hardest working people on the planet. They care about the health of their animals and product” and, “The dairy industry does an excellent job at keeping their cows comfortable and healthy on farms to produce the safest milk products for their customers without hormones or antibiotics”.

Podcasts Reach Farther in 2022

Podcasts continue to be a popular approach to discover new information in a fun and engaging way. This year, American Dairy Association Indiana (ADAI) partnered with the American Dairy Association Mideast and the Dairy Alliance to sponsor two sessions of Sounds Bites® by Melissa Joy Dobbins, podcaster and Registered Dietitian, in order to focus on two hot topics: Picky Eating and Digestive Health. Each episode featured physicians and dietitians who specialize in either pediatric care or digestive health, discussing the impact and importance of dairy foods in our diet.

UNITED DAIRY INDUSTRY OF MICHIGAN

Future Dietitians Experience

Dairy from Farm to Table

ADAI’s yearly Intern Farm Tour continues to be one of the most popular events with university students and professors, allowing future professionals to experience the dairy sustainability story from the very beginning: on the farm. This year, we upped the game, taking students from Purdue, Ball State, University of Indianapolis, St. Francis, IUPUI, and university scientists to both the farm and an Indiana cheese processor and retailer. By including both stops during the tour, attendees connected the food they eat with a farm where it all starts. Neu Hope Dairy in Bluffton explained the sustainable farming practices and environmental measurements taken on the farm, while Golfo di Napoli in Warren showed the steps of traditional Italian cheese making at their processing plant.

Dairy Farmers Give Back

Indiana dairy farmers nominated food banks and pantries in their area to receive a new milk cooler for dairy donations. Many of the pantries did not have the ability to provide dairy for those in need due to the lack of refrigeration. During the holiday season, these donations are especially important, as dairy is the most requested and least donated item. ADAI was able to secure 12 milk coolers through a relationship with Hubert food service equipment, providing dairy foods for an estimated 8,800 people each month. Dairy farmers were invited to attend the delivery of the cooler and see the appreciation.

Promoting Ohio Cheese

ADA Mideast developed a new website, ShopOhioCheese.com, to encourage consumers to give the gift of Ohio cheese this holiday season. The site featured a curated list of Ohio cheeses from all over the state, making it even easier for people to browse and purchase Ohio-made cheese to send to friends and family!

How Did it Work?

ADA Mideast asked Ohio’s cheesemakers with online ordering capability to participate in this promotion and provide their holiday best sellers, gift boxes and gift baskets to feature. These items were listed on ShopOhioCheese.com and when clicked upon, users were directed to the product on the cheesemaker’s website to buy. Fulfillment and shipping were handled by the individual cheesemakers.

During November and December 2022, ADA Mideast promoted ShopOhioCheese. com with a targeted online advertising campaign, search marketing and social media for the holiday season. All of Ohio’s cheesemakers can be found in a blog linked at the bottom of the website and will continue to be promoted throughout the year.

CRISIS CORNER

Animal Handling 101 for First Responders

UDIM participated in a recent full-day MSU Extension training, “Emergency Response to Accidents Involving Livestock” (ERAIL). The event helped increase the animal handling skills of first responders. More than 80 people from sheriff’s offices, fire departments and animal control teams came ready to learn.

The ERAIL program also has emergency trailers deployed in Branch, Jackson and Otsego counties that are ready to respond to accidents. Additional readiness trailers are in the works.

If you’d like to create a crisis plan for your farm, contact:

INDIANA: ALLIE REITH - RIETH@ WINNERSDRINKMILK.COM 317-443-2296

MICHIGAN: JOLENE GRIFFIN JOLENE@MILKMEANSMORE.ORG 224-567-1894

OHIO: ERIN BROWN ERIN.BROWN@DRINK-MILK.COM 740-487-6816

TO SUBMIT FREELINERS AND CLASSIFIED ADS, CONTACT MMPA VIA EMAIL AT MESSENGER@MIMILK.COM OR VISIT MIMILK.COM/FREELINER-CLASSIFIED.

Freeliners

Freeliners 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 submit ted will be published for no more than two consecutive issues (one issue, 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 offi ce.

• Ref erence 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.

FOR SALE: POLLED HOLSTEIN, JERSEY AND NORWEGIAN RED BULLS. AI bred from very functional dams. Thirty to choose from of various ages. Hardy and healthy with strong feet and legs, raised on pasture. Compe titively priced. For pictures and pedigrees call or text 906-287-0746.

3500 GAL MUELLER TANK FOR SALE WITH 2 COMPRESSING UNITS. $24,000 or best. Will be in use until beginning of November. Call 734-776-0285.

FOR SALE: DELAVAL LVP 3000 OIL-LESS VACUUM PUMP , 24 surge pulsators, all have been cleaned and work, make offer. Call 810-657-9087.

H&S 9’ MERGER. Field ready, stored inside, must go - $6,500. Call 810-728-6237.

MEYER 500 SELF-UNLOADING FORAGE WAGON , excellent shape, field ready, and stored inside. $5,800. Call 810-728-6237.

3 NH 890 CHOPPERS in excellent condition with hay, corn or snapping heads. Call 810-728-6237 for details.

FOR SALE: SUNSET MILK TANK , 1575 gallon with wash pump, two compressors and a controller. $9,800 OBO. Call 810-728-6237.

FOR SALE: DOUBLE FOUR AUTOFLOW MILKING PARLOR . Best offer. Call 810-728-6237.

FOR SALE: 1 CASE OF BOUMATIC MAGNUM 400 VENTED INFLATIONS. PN 8510895. QTY. 100. Best offer. Call 810-728-6237.

FOR SALE: STRAW CHOPPER for a 7700 John Deere combine. $200 or best offer. Call 810-404-0468.

FOR SALE: 4-TON COMMODITY BIN WITH FLEX AUGER. Call 810-404-0468.

DOUBLE 16 SURGE MAG 40, HERRINGBONE

PARLOR WITH ALL EQUIPMENT. Vac pumps, air compressors, GEA wash/milking system, Dematron 70 take offs. Parting out or take all. Midland, MI 989-980-0793.

SPRINGING HOLSTEIN HEIFERS. 43 years Select Sires. Sold the cows. Dan & Kay VanErp, 989-551-1130.

Classifieds

Classifieds Policy

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

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 1-800365-3361.

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. NIENOW GROOVING. Call Cliff at 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. Please 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.

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 $100.00 JanksSeeds.com or 989-284-5052

Calf Blankets

Keep your calves warm and comfortable with calf blankets by Udder Tech. These high-quality blankets are designed to stay on the calf and are easy to put on and take off. When compared to other insulation, inch for inch, no other insulation is warmer than 3M Thinsulate insulation and its performance remains virtually unchanged after repeated cleanings. Features of these blankets include:

• Single blanket has 150 grams insulation

• Double blanket has 300 grams insulation

• Belly strap to keep blanket secured in place and snuggly wrap the calf when laying down

• Durable water-resistant nylon

• Extra strap length to accommodate growth

• Machine wash and dry (ver y important!)

• Quick release buckles with no Velcro to prevent getting matted

The warehouse carries four versions of Udder Tech blankets

STOCK # DESCRIPTION PRICE 5636

REGULAR/MEDIUM SINGLE INSULATION $33.60 (BLUE WITH BLACK TRIM) 563 SMALL DOUBLE INSULATION (PINK) $35.27 5680 REGULAR DOUBLE INSULATION $42.40 5728 LARGE DOUBLE INSULATION $53.66

order: 989-317-8372

MMPA Field Staff Novi Headquarters

Dean Letter, Newaygo, Member Services Director 231-679-0337

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

Ben Chapin, Remus, Field Services Manager 989-289-0731

Doug Soehnlen, Member/Superior Supply Representative 330-575-4643

Christy Dinsmoore, Vassar, Supervisor 248-513-7920

Frank Brazeau, Oconto, WI 906-250-0337

Brandon Ewers, Coldwater ......................................................... 231-4 14-4539

Laura Gucwa, Bad Axe 248-826-6294

Ashley Herriman, Herron 269-245-6632

Brittni Tucker, Eagle 248-880-3785

Sarah Michalek, Lansing, Sustainability Supervisor 248-305-0537

Rachel Brown, Charlotte, Sustainability Coordinator .............. 248-826-7243

Alyssa DeWitt, Elkhart, IN, Animal Care/Sustainability 2 69-967-7351

Lyndsay Earl, Ludington, Animal Care 231-5 19-2455

Deb Gingrich, Leroy, Animal Care/Sustainability 248-520-3580

Lindsay Green, East Lansing, Animal Care /Sustainability 989-488-8159

Joe Packard, Manchester, Animal Care 248-520-3481

MMPA Labs

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

In Michigan 800-57 2-5824 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

Farm Supply - Mt. Pleasant

Supervisor: Duane Farmer, Mt. Pleasant

Main Line ............................................................................. 989- 317-8370 Toll Free 8 77-367-6455

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

Main Office

Local line 248-474-6672

Toll free ................................................................................800-572-5824

President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Diglio ext. 202

Member and Government Relations Sheila Burkhardt ext. 208

Chief Financial Officer Tom Downey ................................................................................. ext. 240

Chief Operations and Business Development Officer Greg Soehnlen ext. 341

Director of Business Development Brad Parks ext. 341

Laboratory Supervisor

Patti Huttula ext. 219

Quality Sudeep Jain ext. 305

Member Services Emily Keranen ext. 203

Human Resources Kelly Kerrigan ext. 301 Sales and Supply Chain Judy Lofgren ext. 333

Credit/Insurance

Cheryl Schmandt ext. 210 Communications Emily Kittendorf ext. 234

Corporate Controller Jeannie Strain ext. 312

Member Relations Jessica Welch ext. 303

Manufacturing Plants

Canton, Ohio

Chris Soehnlen, Plant Manager 330-477-4515

Constantine, Michigan Dave Davis, Plant Manager 269-435-2835

Ovid, Michigan

Cliff Merritt, Plant Manager ..................................................989-834-2221

Middlebury Cheese Company, Middlebury, Indiana Plant Manager ........................................................................574-825-9511

Board of Directors

Officers

Doug Chapin, Board Chairman

Tony Jandernoa Board Vic e Chairman Eric Frahm, Treasurer Joe Diglio, Presiden t and CEO

Sheila Burkhardt, Secretary

Tom Downey, Assistan t Treasurer Greg Soehnlen, COO Todd Hoppe , General C ounsel

Directors-At-Large

Carlton Evans, Litchfield 517-398-0629

Aaron Gasper, Lowell 616-291-4092

Bruce Lewis, Jonesville 517-869-2877

Bruce Benthem, McBain 231-920-1615

Kris Wardin, St. Johns 989-640-9420

District Directors

1 Brian Preston Quincy 517-376-1350

2 Tim Hood Paw Paw 269-657-5771

3 Bill Stakenas Free Soil 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 989-65 2-3552

8 Scot t Lamb Jeddo 810-3 27-6135

Winter has arrived, a bitter cold wind blows, and farmers are prepared for the ice and snow. It's part of the craft, passed time and time ago, tested through generations, now well known.

Wool mittens on hands and snug jackets on calves, warmer with memories that come with each snag. Farmers stand ready, they always will and have caring for their cattle, despite winters’ jab.

Photo by: Josh Gamble, New Carlisle, IN

107TH ANNUAL MEETING