Milk Messenger

MAY / JUNE 2020

VOL. 102

16

AN UNWAVERING COMMON GOAL

/ NO. 6

24

JOINING FORCES THE VIRTUAL WAY milk messenger / MAY-JUN 2020

1

features

16 An Unwavering Common Goal

The dairy supply chain has been tormented by COVID-19, but united by a single goal, each moving part is coming together to adapt, to overcome and to keep producing top quality dairy.

22

CFI EXPERTS SAY MARKET RECOVERY WILL COME IN FITS AND STARTS

The Center for Food Integrity examines consumer demand for food products, predicting a “restart rollercoaster” as the nation emerges from COVID-19 restrictions.

24

JOINING FORCES THE VIRTUAL WAY

The dairy community is pivoting to adjust to the COVID-19 outbreak and the havoc it’s wreaking on the industry from the parlor to the store shelves. The allied industry has joined in lockstep, virtually, for the benefit of everyone. milk messenger / MAY-JUN 2020

3

contents

05

EDITOR’S NOTE

28

FIVE TAKES FROM OYDC FINALISTS

06

MILK MINUTE

YOUR DAIRY PROMOTION AT WORK

Navigating the Challenges of 2020 Together

30

08

QUALITY WATCH

What are a few energy saving tips?

10

IN MICHIGAN AND INDIANA

32

FREELINERS & CLASSIFIEDS

NEWS & VIEWS

33

FARM SUPPLY STORE

12

LEGISLATIVE WATCH

34 STAFF

15

MEET DISTRICT 3 DIRECTOR BILL STAKENAS

35

MEMBER MOMENT

“During tough times, good organizations and good people have to stretch their abilities to meet the challenge and when we come out of this, we will come out a stronger organization.”

KAYLAN KENNEL, MMPA DIRECTOR OF MANUFACTURING (PAGE 16)

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milk messenger / MAY-JUN 2020

VOL. 102

/ NO. 6

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 The catastrophe of COVID-19 continues to play out on a global scale, with no clear end in sight. Our hearts go out to the ever-growing number of people who are personally affected by the virus and we are indebted to the first responders risking their lives to save others.

Through this crisis, MMPA has been committed to protecting the health and well-being of our communities, while ensuring we continue to market members’ milk to the greatest advantage possible. As a critical infrastructure business, MMPA has continued to operate through the stay at home orders. However, we have made several modifications to do our part to slow the spread of the virus. We’re working together, but at least six feet apart.

COVID-19 has dealt a major blow to the dairy industry, and we are reeling from loss of market in the food service sector. We are grateful to all dairy farmers for being on the front lines and continuing to produce high quality milk, despite yet another economic setback. Things have changed day-by-day, and the future is unknown, but we have tried to keep the membership up to date to the best of our abilities.

Inside this issue This issue contains stories that showcase the resiliency and adaptability of the MMPA team and our communities. On page 16, we take a close look at how MMPA has come together to continue marketing member milk in the face of our biggest challenge yet. We also examine shifted consumer trends (pg. 22) and how the dairy community continues to engage online.

Please note the COVID-19 situation is fluid and subject to change at any time. All COVID-19 related stories in this issue are accurate at the time of writing in late April.

On the cover No one, including MMPA, knows what tomorrow brings. Nevertheless, little moments in life like a young calf and the dawn of a new day can bring us hope. The cover photo this month was submitted by Kyle Schafer from Westphalia, Michigan. We encourage all members to capture these moments as well and consider sharing your images with MMPA in the 2020 photo contest.

We hope that you and your family are safe, healthy and continue staying home as much as possible. Though things are incredibly uncertain right now, together, we can try to make it just a little bit better.

Editors Allison Stuby Miller, Communications Manager AMiller@mimilk.com Emily Kittendorf, Communications Coordinator EKittendorf@mimilk.com Advertising Manager Nancy Muszynski Muszynski@mimilk.com Publication Designer reZüberant! Inc., Stacy Love rezuberantdesign@gmail.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 w: mimilk.com Established in 1916, MMPA is a member owned and operated dairy cooperative serving dairy farmers in Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin and Ohio.

An Equal Opportunity Employer – F/M/V/D Subscriptions: MMPA members - 50¢ per year Non-members - $5 per year Circulation: 2,600 (ISSN 0026-2315)

milk messenger / MAY-JUN 2020

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MILK MINUTE

Navigating the Challenges of 2020 Together

BY DOUG CHAPIN, MMPA BOARD CHAIRMAN

I

n March, I was elected board chairman by my fellow members on the MMPA board of directors. The world has changed a great deal since our annual meeting, but when it comes to MMPA, our mission to “market members milk to the greatest advantage possible” remains steadfast. As the new board chairman, I intend to support this mission to the best of my abilities and further unite our cooperative.

DOUG CHAPIN, MMPA BOARD CHAIRMAN

Service and MMPA have always been important to my family and I am grateful for the opportunity to lead this co-op. I want to introduce myself to all of you in person when the time comes, but for now I want to share with you my family’s history with MMPA here. When I was elected to the MMPA board of directors in 2016, I was following in the footsteps of my father, Joel, who also served on the MMPA board. My involvement in our cooperative started like many of us, in the Outstanding Young Dairy Cooperator program. From there, I held several leadership positions in the Alma Local and District 5, serving as District 5 Director, Board Executive Committee member and Board Vice Chairperson. I am grateful for Kris Wardin’s leadership in the transition and want you to know that I am motivated to serve and help lead alongside the MMPA board of directors, President and CEO Joe Diglio and the rest of the team.

I am inspired by the next generation on the farm. My wife, Cheri, and I raised four kids and are now blessed with eight grandchildren. We operate Chapin Family Farms LLC with our son, Sam, and his wife, Micah. Our youngest son, Will, also works with us. Located outside of Remus, Michigan, in Mecosta County, we milk 700 Holsteins, raise our heifers and grow most of our feed. I have the honor of farming in the same location that my grandparents started their farming adventure in 1916. The dairy industry has been good to me and I want my children and grandchildren to have the same opportunities.

The world is experiencing very uncertain times as COVID-19 takes a toll on our communities.

Millions of people have become ill and the global and national economy took a sucker punch.

Our dairy industry wasn't spared in this crisis. We have seen disruptions in demand, all areas of logistics and processing. Just a short few weeks ago we were looking at a year of recovery and now we face a difficult year with many challenges. I know that the MMPA team is working with dedication to navigate this difficult landscape. We are increasing our communications to members and continuing to work with NMPF, Congress and USDA to find a path through this crisis. The contents of this magazine contain various updates on the pandemic as it relates to legislative issues (pg. 12), consumer trends (pg. 22) and supply chain impacts (pg. 16).

Even without the pandemic, 2020 was shaping up to be a busy year considering new CAFO regulations coming into place, FARM 4.0 beginning and our dairy processing capacity in the state of Michigan growing. The MMPA board also initiated a Farmer Sustainability Advisory Committee with the goal to bring value to the marketplace. With representation from a member in each district, the committee will have an opportunity to meet and discuss sustainability goals with customers to help formulate the best ways to move forward so that the customers can achieve their results in a practical process for our producers.

As members of the agriculture industry, we always rely on each other to move forward and to innovate, and today we do more than ever before. As we navigate the challenges to come, I pray for the health and wellbeing of all our families through this unprecedented era. I believe in the American people and their resilience to crisis and the drive to succeed. This crisis will be defeated. Most of all, I pray I can provide leadership to help MMPA stay strong, grow and serve our members.

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QUALITY WATCH

What are a few energy saving tips?

WE ASKED THE EXPERTS:

Ed Zuchnik

Mike Martin

Aluel Go

MMPA Member Representative and Energy Auditor

Wakiana Dairy Farm

MI Farm Energy Program, MSU BAE

Are you looking for ways to cut your energy bill and stay competitive? If you are, efficient energy use is critical to keeping your farm competitive in today’s environment. Keep in mind that not every efficiency measure is economically worthwhile on every farm, it is best to have your farm’s energy use carefully assessed before making changes.

However, there are a few ways you can reduce energy use without negatively impacting farm operations.

There are different management practices we use on our farm that save energy. One of them is intensive rotational grazing. The big energy savings of rotational grazing is that it requires less fuel. We no longer need to harvest, store or haul the feed because the cows graze it themselves.

Cows are very efficient at harvesting when they are accustomed to grazing and when the stocking rate is at the right level, it promotes a high utilization of the forage that is grown. The cows also spread a lot of their own manure which reduces the amount that is hauled by equipment.

When we renovate the pastures, we use a no till drill to further reduce our farm’s energy consumption.

Installing a Variable Speed Drive (VFD) on the vacuum pump is probably the single most valuable measure for a dairy farm, resulting in a reduction of up to 60 percent in energy use. You can add a pre-cooler to use cold well water in cooling milk, taking up to 30 degrees of heat from milk before it enters the refrigeration system and reducing energy used for cooling up to 20 percent. You can also use the heat from the refrigeration system to pre-heat the water going into the water heater for farm use, reducing energy used for water heating by as much as 30 percent.

Farms should also upgrade their lighting to higher efficiency lights to reduce energy use by as much as 20 percent and install high efficiency fans and temperature controls to reduce energy use by as much as 50 percent.

On farm energy assessments have found that regular building and equipment maintenance can reduce energy use by 10 to 20 percent.

To learn more about the impact implementing these recommendations would have on your operation, contact me at 269-967-7351 for an energy assessment.

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milk messenger / MAY-JUN 2020

Another energy-saving practice we use is unrolling hay with a bale unroller in the feed bunks instead of running it through a TMR mixer. When we switched to this practice, the fuel usage dropped significantly. We’ve also saved electricity in the milking parlor by installing variable speed vacuum pumps and LED lights.

Our farm continuously looks for ways to reduce energy because along with it being a big part of sustainability, it’s also an important part of operating a dairy operation now and into the future.

Lighting in agriculture is a major energy cost, about 22 percent for most Michigan dairy farms. LED lighting upgrades provides one of the largest energy savings that can result to a smaller greenhouse gas footprint. Selecting the right LED and light levels can also potentially improve production, worker safety and overall wellbeing of animals as well.

For dairy, operating conditions are a mixture of high moisture, excessive dirt/ dust, extreme temperature fluctuations, building vibration/shaking from machinery or animals and voltage fluctuations. In short, it is the worst scenario for LEDs. This can lead to an accelerated reduction in light output and lifespan. Commercial grade LED fixtures and lamps that can effectively operate under these harsh conditions should be used. Not all LEDs are the same or are suitable for agricultural operations.

Results from pilot installations at two dairy farms have not shown that implementing Long-Day-Lighting (LDL) and taking advantage of the true dimmable nature of LEDs with appropriate interactive control systems has resulted in a 7% to 9% increase in milk production with a twoyear payback. In the farm trials, uniformly increasing the light period and intensity also helped the herd evenly spread out, calm down, be more relaxed and stay cleaner.

MMPA member, Tom Wing completed an LDL trial on his farm and said, “We’ve seen the payback in our milk check, and we have noticed a real difference in our cows.”

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milk messenger / MAY-JUN 2020

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NEWS & VIEWS

Coronavirus (COVID-19) MMPA is committed to protecting the health and well-being of our communities, while ensuring we continue to market members’ milk to the greatest advantage possible.

As we continue to monitor the situation, MMPA is following recommendations from national and state government agencies, where applicable, to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The situation is fluid and

MMPA Dairy Communicator Program Service Awards

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 ranging from hosting farm tours, going to schools to present to classrooms and beyond engage with consumers of various social media platforms. While the annual spring meeting was canceled, the group has transitioned to engaging online in the midst of the ongoing health crisis.

Thank you to the following MMPA Dairy Communicators for their years of service to the dairy industry and their local communities.

20 YEARS

10 YEARS

Debra Krafft, Frankenmuth Local

Ramona Okkema, Alma Local

time. MMPA has sent

Doreen Slavik, Mid-Michigan Local

Carla Wardin, Mid-Michigan Local

regular email updates

Terri Stakenas, Muskegon Local

Joanmarie Weiss, Frankenmuth Local

information is subject to change at any

to members and will continue to during the COVID-19 crisis.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO THE EMAIL LIST, PLEASE CONTACT AMILLER@MIMILK.COM. FOR UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES ON MMPA’S RESPONSE TO THE ONGOING CRISIS, VISIT MIMILK.COM/COVID19.

PHOTO BY: CASSIE PACKARD

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milk messenger / MAY-JUN 2020

MMPA producers scoring 95 percent or higher on Grade A Surveys and Federal Check Ratings

MMPA Farm Supply Store Launches Ecommerce Platform

Folkersma Farm LLC

The MMPA Farm Supply Store, formerly known as the Merchandise Program, has launched a new website to accept online orders. The store has also reduced pricing on multiple products.

Depending on the product and customers’ preference, orders can be shipped via UPS or directly shipped by the MMPA delivery truck.

Thomas M Cook & Diane Cook

The website built upon previous program enhancements including cooperative stops and a reduced minimum order requirement for free direct delivery of $250. The Farm Supply Store supplies many of the needs of MMPA’s farms and the public. Started in the early 1970’s, the program was added to help member farms have a consistent and reliable source for cleaning supplies and parts. It has since grown to add many product lines and options for members to order. As an added benefit, the Farm Supply Store returns all profits back to member customers every February along with cash patronage refunds.

Krafft Farms LLC

Green Point Dairy LLC Harmonie Farms LLC

Karen R Curell Haubenstricker Dairy Farm LLC* Weber Family Dairy LLC* Weil Dairy Farm*

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO ORDER PRODUCTS, VISIT MIMILK.COM/FARM-SUPPLY-STORE.

Susan K Stewart* Muxlow Dairy Farm* *100

MMPA Photo Contest Entries Due July 1 The third annual MMPA member photo contest opened on May 1 with submissions due before July 1. Contest applicants are encouraged to submit photos that are reflective of what encompasses our cooperative and captures a wide variety of the dairy farm lifestyle. Entries will be judged on composition, quality and character of the image, suitability and/or creativity and overall impression of the photo. Photos not selected

DER OB NIE BY: JAC PHOTO

MAN

as winners in previous years’ contests can be resubmitted. Minimum resolution requirement for digital photos is 1080p or larger and photos must be saved as PNG, JPEG or TIF files. Low resolution submissions will not be included in the contest.

For more information, visit www.mimilk.com/photo-contest.

PHOTO BY: LIS A GILDNER

milk messenger / MAY-JUN 2020

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LEGISLATIVE WATCH

USDA steps up dairy aid, NMPF concerned about payment limits as need grows DAIRY WILL RECEIVE SIGNIFICANT ASSISTANCE FROM A FEDERAL PACKAGE FOR PRODUCERS USDA UNVEILED AFTER CONGRESS APPROVED A $2 TRILLION CORONAVIRUS STIMULUS BILL. BUT MORE WORK WILL NEED TO BE DONE TO MAKE SURE ALL PRODUCERS GAIN CRUCIAL AID AS DAIRY FARMERS FACE AN UNPRECEDENTED CRISIS.

T

he National Milk Producers Federation expressed appreciation to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue for including dairy in its $19 billion-dollar agriculture disaster assistance package released April 17.

The plan includes up to $2.9 billion of cash aid for producers and purchases of at least $100 million per month in dairy products for distribution to the public through October.

“Federal dairy assistance is critically needed as the nation’s dairy farmers face an unprecedented collapse of markets resulting from the shutdown of much of the economy,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF, the largest U.S. dairy-farmer organization. “Dairy’s fortunes have been especially grim, given the perishability of our product, its daily harvest and the fact that the virtual shutdown of the food service market has wiped out more than one-third of our product demand.”

The USDA plan included elements of an NMPF and International Dairy Foods Association joint plan of assistance to farmers and processors that had been sent to the department earlier this month. Still, as more information about the plan became available, some elements were of concern to NMPF: • Payment caps are too low for the dairies that produce more than half the nation’s milk; • USDA’s front-loaded its damages calculations toward the early months of 2020, which won’t match the timing of dairy’s deepest losses; • Those loss calculations don’t reflect the full damage dairy will feel going forward, which USDA’s own calculations in its April WASDE report peg at roughly $8.5 billion; and • A product-purchase program is unlikely to meet unprecedented food-bank demands.

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milk messenger / MAY-JUN 2020

On payment caps, NMPF expressed its concerns over the possible USDA response even before the department’s plan was released, writing in a letter to the White House on April 15 saying that “it is imperative that any program to provide relief to farmers accounts for the significant losses that all U.S. dairy farmers are facing.”

Later in the month, after research from Texas A&M indicated that dairy producers would face the steepest losses of any U.S. commodity group – with declines in net cash income outpacing the maximum federal payment available – NMPF again sounded the alarm.

“The COVID-19 crisis presents grave danger for all dairies, from small operations to the producers whose milk nourishes the majority of U.S. consumers and keep supply chains running,” Mulhern said. “We have raised our concerns over payment limits with both President Trump and USDA, and with the Administration making important decisions in how it allocates aid, it’s important to highlight the very real impacts that lower support levels will have on dairy producers and the communities they serve.”

NMPF and dairy allies anticipate that progress in addressing these concerns can be made in coming weeks, as Congress readies another round of stimulus and USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation receives funding for the next fiscal year in July.

Still, with a united dairy voice essential to prompt necessary change, NMPF is encouraging grass-roots activity in addition to its staff work on Capitol Hill. NMPF has set up a twitter hashtag, #dairyneverstops, to talk about farmer needs, and the NMPF webpage features calls-to-action items that encourage producers and their allies to contact lawmakers and urge more effective solutions for dairy in future stimulus.

SOURCE: NMPF

Advisory Committee Many of the phone numbers listed in the March/April issue of the Milk Messenger for Advisory Committee members were incorrect. We apologize for the errors.

The correct phone numbers are included below.

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 Dan Ritter, Potterville.........................517-645-7318 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 Max Carlson, Fremont.........................231-638-2183 Arlyn Walt, Coopersville......................616-837-8247

DISTRICT 4 Jeremy Werth, Alpena.........................989-464-4022 Marvin Rubingh, Ellsworth.................425-533-8106 William Pirman, Skandia.....................906-869-4515 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 Tom Jeppesen, Stanton.......................989-506-5287 Bruce Benthem, McBain......................231-920-1615 Amy Martin, Leroy..............................231-388-0496

DISTRICT 6 David Reed, Owosso............................989-274-8147 Mike Halfman, St. Johns......................989-640-1962 Jon Thelen, Westphalia.......................989-587-3951 Renee McCauley, Lowell......................616-283-6411 Steve Thelen, Fowler...........................989-640-1075

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

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13

Your cooperative farm supply source, now available online mimilk.com/farm-supply-store

ONLINE PRODUCTS INCLUDE Sanitation Chemicals

Udder Care & Milk Prep

Minerals & Milk Replacers

Hoses & Filters

Inflations & Rubber Parts

Testing Equipment & More

Shop the Farm Supply Store online!

•

Browse a wide variety of products available at competitive pricing and just a click away.

•

Free shipping on orders over $250 to Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.

•

The store is a cooperative resource, returning all profits back to member-owners every February along with cash patronage refunds.

1996 Gover Pkwy, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858 989-317-8370 » merch@mimilk.com www.mimilk.com/farm-supply-store 14

milk messenger / MAY-JUN 2020

Meet District 3 Director Bill Stakenas Delegates in District 3 recently elected Bill Stakenas to serve a three-year term on the MMPA board of directors. MMPA’s District 3 covers eight counties in West Michigan, along the lakeshore of Lake Michigan. Stakenas joins the 12 other dairy farmers on the MMPA board of directors, helping guide the direction of the cooperative and set strategic goals.

Stakenas owns Stakenas Farm Inc in Free Soil, Michigan, along with Carl Stakenas.

They milk around 550 cows and farm 1,500 acres. He is a member of the Muskegon Local in District 3. He and his wife, Terri, have four children: Hailee, Lyndsay, Kyle and Alec.

Prior to being elected to the MMPA board of directors, Stakenas has held various local and district leadership positions with MMPA since the 1980s. In the Muskegon Local, he is the current president and previously served as the local secretary/ treasurer. Stakenas has also represented District 3 on the MMPA Resolutions and Advisory Committees. In addition to MMPA, Stakenas is active in Michigan Farm Bureau, local Soil Conservation District and Acres Cooperative. He has an associate’s degree from West Shore Community College and took an agriculture short course at Michigan State University.

How has MMPA impacted your farm?

What do you value most about MMPA?

Since our farm joined MMPA in the 1950s, we have had a positive appreciation for the service MMPA provides, including our field staff, the Messenger and all the meetings. Even through bad times, being part of the co-op helps you keep your chin up and feel like you’re part of something bigger than yourself. Being part of the Local leadership, Advisory Committee and Resolutions Committee has helped me strengthen my skills as a manager of my own farm.

I value being able to get involved in the co-op. I know that in some small way I have contributed to MMPA and the industry. That’s a value to me.

Even if your impact is really, really small, it is something. You have to start somewhere.

Why did you want to join the MMPA board of directors?

I have always been active in MMPA. I started as a Local board member and have been part of other committees. I went as far as I could go and so the board became the next step and has been a lifelong ambition of mine. The past board members have done a good job. I have big shoes to fill. I don’t think I will come in and change the world, but I will try to make a small impact.

“

In recent years, the board has done a good job diversifying our product mix, including taking on Heritage Ridge Creamery.

I support what they’re doing, and I hope to continue going down that same road.

We need to be aggressive in the face of challenges.

BILL AND TERRI STAKENAS

What are your goals and vision while serving on the board of directors?

Survival. Not only for me as a farmer, but for the health of the co-op. In recent years, the board has done a good job diversifying our product mix, including taking on Heritage Ridge Creamery. I support what they’re doing, and I hope to continue going down that same road. We need to be aggressive in the face of challenges.

What would you tell your fellow members who want to influence the direction of the cooperative?

MMPA is cool in that it doesn’t matter if you milk 50 cows or milk 5,000 cows, if you choose to participate and have the mindset for it, you can make an impact. I encourage everyone to be involved. Some things we can change, some things we can’t change, but you need to be active to let your voice be heard. The world is run by people who show up.

milk messenger / MAY-JUN 2020

15

AN UNWAVERING COMMON GOAL

An Unwavering Common Goal THE DAIRY SUPPLY CHAIN HAS BEEN TORMENTED BY COVID-19, BUT UNITED

BY A SINGLE GOAL, EACH MOVING PART IS COMING TOGETHER TO ADAPT, TO OVERCOME AND TO KEEP PRODUCING TOP QUALITY DAIRY.

BY EMILY KITTENDORF

EDITOR’S NOTE: THE COVID-19 SITUATION IS CONTINUOUSLY EVOLVING AND WITH THAT THE IMPACT ON THE DAIRY SUPPLY CHAIN IS TOO. ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS STORY IS ACCURATE AS OF APRIL 28, 2020.

S

ince just a few months ago, the entire world has flipped on its end.

What seemed impossible the day before became the reality of the next day. The entire world slowed down, people stayed home and society ground to a halt. As the roads became less busy and the world quieted, those in the agriculture industry continued.

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milk messenger / MAY-JUN 2020

For the first time in a long time, consumers were searching for how their food was made after the grocery stores’ shelves that were always stocked became empty. Along with the panic, grew an overwhelming sense of generosity for the caretakers of our land and livestock, and for the people continuing to work as the world stood still.

In the Great Lakes region, March was the early days for the growing COVID-19 pandemic and as social interactions decreased and companies shuttered their buildings, everyone collectively began to feel the economic pressure a world at standstill was causing, the dairy industry included.

The situation at hand required that overnight, the dairy supply chain equip themselves to service unprecedented demand from

consumers for gallons of milk in the dairy case. Processors bottled as much milk as fast as they could, but the supply chain is complex.

After we successfully serviced retail customers, again, what felt like overnight, the demand for dairy was gone. Consumers were satisfied with the milk they had, and places of food service remained closed.

The rapid changing environment broke the dairy supply chain, and with a health crisis on top of it all, it pressured the minds and bodies of everyone declared essential. With the tides turned, the dairy industry rose to the challenge to meet the unified, unwavering goal of the entire supply chain.

We will adapt. We will overcome.

We will keep producing dairy.

Dairy Never Stops For farmers on the frontlines, that goal is an everyday reality. “Dairy farmers have planting to do, manure to haul, fields to get worked up,” Ben Chapin, MMPA field services manager, said.

“Regardless of COVID-19, cows need to be milked, they have to push through.”

To help prepare the dairy industry for the worse case scenarios to come, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) got to work preparing and releasing numerous resources to help dairy farmers prepare for the challenges at hand.

“As the magnitude of what was happening came into focus, we identified some immediate needs, which at that time were: what do farmers need to know about coronavirus and how its transmitted, and how can we prevent farmers and their workforce from getting infected,” Theresa Sweeney, NMPF communications manager, said.

As a member of NMPF, MMPA shared their resources as they were released with members in weekly email blasts, but despite all the help in preparing farms for a health crisis, at times, the impacts of COVID-19 still seem insurmountable to many.

“You come to the beginning of the year and you start getting excited about the promising looking prices and then this just took the whole sail right away. It even took the pole that the sail is on right off the boat,” Aaron Gasper, MMPA member from Lowell, Michigan, said.

“You try to stay excited, but we’re back down to crunch mode. We’re still in crunch mode.”

The challenges caused by this crisis are difficult to prepare for. Nobody wants to think of what happens when they get sick and nobody wants to talk about the emotions these decisions cause.

“What if COVID-19 goes through my crew, or myself and the crew, all the sudden? Who’s milking tonight? Who’s feeding tomorrow? Who’s feeding calves?

Are we going down to 2X?” Gasper asked. “If something were to happen what would we do? I really don’t know.”

Along with trying to prepare for the unknowns on his farm, Lew-Max Dairy, and handle the responsibilities of being a director-at-large of the MMPA board, Gasper was tasked with trying to find different sources of feed, like the distiller grains he uses in his feed ration now that his local distillery is producing hand sanitizer instead of brewing. He also had to have his sawdust trucked in from further away due to the local furniture shop also being closed.

“

“The world today is different.

Everything has slowed down and done via telephone and via conference call and via Zoom.

It’s not shaking hands.”

“The world today is different,” Gasper said. “Everything has slowed down and done via telephone and via conference call and via Zoom. It’s not shaking hands.”

There are a lot of reasons to worry these days, and for Gasper, his biggest concerns are, “my employees, my milkman and where my milk is going.”

Despite it all, Gasper is prepared to manage through it because, “this is unexpected and extraordinary times need extraordinary people to conquer them.”

Along with the challenges Gasper is facing, he’s taking advantage of the low diesel and feed prices, locking them in now to reap the twisted benefits of crashing markets. He encourages his fellow dairymen to look for positives in the situation and take advantage of opportunities like that, because “while this isn’t our fault, it seems like we are going to get the brunt end of it again.”

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AN UNWAVERING COMMON GOAL

Social Distancing Haul Over Gasper’s worries about the milkman are founded in the reality of the high-risk occupation for a pandemic like COVID-19. Milk haulers travel from farm to farm to farm and then to processing plants, coming in contact with numerous highly touched surfaces.

“Haulers can’t pick milk up at the farm if they’re being exposed when they come to the plant,” Therese Tierney, MMPA director of supply chain, said.

“There aren’t a lot of people out there who drive for dairy and they’re just as important as every single dairy farmer and processing plant employee.

Precautions have to be taken at every level of the supply chain to ensure that we can continue to market milk for our producers.”

Josh Salisbury recognized the risk in his milk hauling operation.

With the help of his wife, Heidi, a registered nurse, he was able to rise to the challenge and implement safety precautions for his drivers, his mechanics and his office staff. Their first move was to construct a highly ventilated shed outside of the main

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shop as a safer solution for his drivers to drop of paperwork and pickup supplies needed for their routes.

thought to business continuity in the event that COVID-19 impacts the health of their drivers.

“One at a time, the drivers can go into the shed, get their paperwork, drop off their paperwork and grab sample bottles. We also provide supplements for their immune system there,” Heidi said. “In the shed, we also have masks, gloves, alcohol wipes and all sorts of other supplies so that they can continue meeting the needs of the farmers and be able to do their job effectively every day.”

“So far, we’ve been fortunate that we’ve been able to keep everyone healthy,” Josh said. “In a situation that we had a bunch of people test positive, we haven’t had to cross that bridge yet, but we’ve tried to plan ahead for that as much as possible with crosstraining. I don’t think you can plan for everything, you just try to do the best you can and try to have as many things in place as you can.”

Josh and Heidi require their drivers to wear masks while on the job, air their truck out 10 minutes before they begin to drive and wipe down high touch surfaces in their vehicle regularly with alcohol wipes. They also have given

When on the farm, Josh and Heidi encourage farm workers to keep their distance from their drivers and to not enter the milk house if the driver is in there. Adjustments like these are challenging when the milkman is a welcome sight on the farm, especially in difficult times like these.

“

“I don’t think you can plan for everything, you just try to do the best you can and try to have as many things in place as you can.”

Josh believes that “communication is key” to keep the strength of the dairy supply chain and to adapt to the necessary changes. “If any of our producers were to have any problems on the farm, if they would communicate with us, we can work through it with them,” Josh said.

A State of Preparation Along with good communication, preparation is key in the environment caused by COVID-19, yet at the same time, preparing for a pandemic seems incredibly extreme. Fortunately, due to their nature and the market they operate in, MMPA’s processing plants were ready to face the crisis at hand.

“Being an SQF certified organization, we understand microbial risks and always follow good management practices of handwashing, using hair nets and wearing clean uniforms,” Kaylan Kennel, director of MMPA Manufacturing, said.

MMPA was also prepared for the need to be flexible when demand for raw milk surged over night and then rapidly declined a week later. MMPA plants have the ability to accommodate 50 percent of the cooperative’s raw milk. When needed, MMPA is able to fluctuate the amount of raw milk sent into their plants to meet customer demand for the product.

The ability to rapidly react to what customers are asking for is because of the assets MMPA’s members have invested into MMPA. Tierney believes that those investments are what is allowing MMPA

to market the vast majority of member milk during these challenging times.

“When emergencies like this come up, Middlebury uses more milk by running more cheese vats on the barrel line. We put a UF line in Constantine so that it can process a lot more volume. Members invested in that large dryer at Ovid that is running at capacity right now and the churn investment has allowed MMPA to utilize more of the cream within our own plants,” Tierney said.

“We are putting our members’ assets to a maximum utilization right now and it’s because they made those investments that we have homes for their milk.”

“

“We are putting our members’ assets to a maximum utilization right now and it’s because they made those investments that we have homes for their milk.”

Plant Manager recognizes that “the greatest concern is the employees and their health.” Without labor on the frontlines, milk can’t be processed.

MMPA is also at an advantage due to previous experiences with an over-supply of milk. “Although it was not a benefit at the time, when Michigan over produced four or five years ago, we learned a lot,” Tierney said. “We worked together to determine how to get the most benefit from our producers’ milk and it prepared us for another crisis like COVID-19.”

For that reason, MMPA plants have provided face masks for all employees and have made changes to daily workflow processes to encourage social distancing and increase sanitation of high touch surfaces. Kennel assures that “we are doing everything possible to make sure that we process our members’ milk while managing within this crisis. We have the members on our mind every day when we come to work at MMPA.”

Today, the plants are implementing the lessons they learned from that to assist with the situation today, all while effectively managing the health portion of the crisis as it impacts plant employees. Bela Sandor, Middlebury

The future is also a bright spot for Kennel because “during tough times, good organizations and good people have to stretch their abilities to meet the challenge and when we come out of this, we will come out a stronger organization.”

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AN UNWAVERING COMMON GOAL

Going Back to our Values The tough challenges to come became a realization as stay at home orders were put in place across the nation and consumers rushed to the grocery store causing an unprecedented spike in demand for milk at the retail level. As MMPA’s customers turned to us saying that they needed more milk, “MMPA never said no,” Tierney explained. “We were able to fill the increased orders during the time of short-lived demand.”

same as well. The same coordinated effort across MMPA is happening. It’s much bigger than customers, it’s supply chain, operations, finance, communications, our members, everyone.”

“When our customers came to us, asking to increase their milk order and we were able to accomplish that, they were appreciative,” Tierney said. “We were also able to assist other customers where their suppliers could not. This excellence in service solidifies the reason customers work with MMPA.”

“Our customers are metered in how they’re ordering,” Feeney said. “Ultimately, there is less than normal demand right now.” The current situation has resulted in uncertainty and unpredictability surrounding consumer demand and what may lie ahead. Feeney said within the industry, there is “concern about producing too much too quickly, challenges within distribution and products reaching expiration dates before they get sold.”

Meeting customers’ needs in times like these strengthen relationships.

Throughout the entirety of this crisis, MMPA has banded together, from a distance, to communicate with customers, meet their needs and fill their orders.

“The whole team, the staff, the plants, the entire co-op did an excellent job, responding to when demand spiked in terms of moving milk where milk needed to be in that third week of March,” Jim Feeney, MMPA senior director of sales, said. “We didn’t miss a beat. It was a coordinated effort. And then, when the demand just kind of stopped, I say the

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Just as the rest of the dairy industry, MMPA was impacted by the loss of the food service outlets. Even orders for products that are used mostly outside the food service channel, like yogurt, are different in the new COVID-19 era.

There is no solid reasoning as to why orders are down, other than the unknown.

Feeney knows that within the industry, there is “concern about producing too much too quickly, challenges within distribution and products reaching expiration dates before they get sold.”

The uncertainties of everything right now are impacting all areas of the supply chain, yet customers are turning to MMPA for the same reasons they always have. According to Feeney, they’re

“

“First and foremost, we always have fresh, high-quality milk quickly. That’s a standard.

We don’t compromise on that.” “looking to us for consistency, for reliability and for assurances that our products are going to be available as they need them.”

Tierney echoes the same, “First and foremost, we always have fresh, highquality milk quickly. That’s a standard.

We don’t compromise on that.”

In addition to servicing the needs of customers, MMPA has made several donations of milk, cheese and butter to food banks in Michigan and Indiana.

MMPA’s donations helped support the surge in demand at local food banks during a time when milk was at surplus in many parts of the country.

As the supply chain works together in this broken state, know that we are united. Feeney says it best, “We are working on solutions to find a market for milk, all of us. There is a singular focus from everybody. It’s what is driving everyone. There is an unwavering common goal throughout the supply chain.”

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Resources COVID-19 has continued to bring new challenges and uncertainty for everyone involved in the dairy industry. The situations farms are facing today were something that never had to be prepared for in the past but is now crucial to give thought to in today’s environment. The resources below are available at mimilk.com/covid19 to help your farm, your employees and your family through this crisis.

SilagePro

®

Farm Resources: • Dairy Farmer Handbook on COVID-19 Prevention and Management • Posters: Proper Udder Prep • Posters: What You Need to Know Now about Coronavirus on Your Dairy • Recommended Protocols for Dairy Farms When an Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19 • What Farm Employers Need to Know about Sick Leave Requirements • FARM Emergency Action Plan • Maintaining Cattle Biosecurity in the Midst of COVID-19

Wellness and Stress Resources: Being in the dairy business can be demanding and stressful at any time, but right now dairy farmers and those involved in the industry are facing uniquely stressful times. If you or someone you know is struggling with stress, anxiety or depression, know that you aren’t alone. The resources below may be helpful for you, for your employees, for your friends or for your family.

MSU Extension is now connecting farmers experiencing stress, anxiety or depression with online counseling.

Contact Eric Karbowski at 989-317-4079 or email karbows8@msu.edu to sign up for the pilot program.

The Center for Dairy Excellence has also compiled resources to help farmers through this difficult time.

Visit their Stress & Wellness Resources page on centerfordairyexcellence.org to find more information about how you can find relief for yourself and others.

American Farm Bureau has numerous programs designed to encourage resilience and address the mental health of those residing in rural areas.

Visit fb.org/programs/rural-resilience/ to learn more.

Michigan Milk Producers Association 1996 Grover Parkway Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858 mimilk.com

American Farm Products Inc. Arlin Koglin, Sales 989-553-3370 info@afpltd.net

American Farm Products Inc.

Increasing Farm Profits for Nearly 40 Years!

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CONSUMER TRENDS

The Center for Food Integrity Experts Say

MARKET RECOVERY WILL COME IN FITS AND STARTS

BY SUSAN WALLACE, CENTER FOR FOOD INTEGRITY

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AS THE NATION SLOWLY EMERGES FROM COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, DEMAND FOR FOOD PRODUCTS IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE. IT WON’T BE A SMOOTH RIDE TO RECOVERY, WARNS SUSAN SCHWALLIE, A MEMBER OF THE CENTER FOR FOOD INTEGRITY’S CONSUMER TRUST INSIGHTS COUNCIL. “I’m calling this the restart roller coaster,” she said during a recent CFI NOW webcast. Schwallie is the executive director of food and beverage consumption for the NPD Group, a market research and consumer insights company.

She and other members of CFI’s Trust Insights Council have shared weekly updates through a Friday webcast by The Center for Food Integrity (CFI).

Michigan Milk Producers Association is a member of CFI, a non-profit organization which works to build trust in today’s food system.

“There’s fits and starts going on,” Schwallie said. “There’s a couple of states that are reopening but expect this to be a roller coaster. Openings will be up and down and restrictions will be different in every state.”

The weekly webcast has tracked the impact of COVID-19 on consumer food trends. The unprecedented circumstances have caused disruption, but there are signs that demand is starting to recover. The greatest challenge now for the food system is the closure of meat packing plants because of workers infected with COVID-19.

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“We now know there’s going to be a lot of hurt for the livestock industry and some drastic measures to be taken there as the supply chain continues to be challenged.”

“We now know there’s going to be a lot of hurt for the livestock industry and some drastic measures to be taken there as the supply chain continues to be challenged,” Schwallie said.

As stay-at-home restrictions are lifted, demand will increase, but with wide variations in state and local rules, expect a patchwork recovery.

“There’s fits and starts going on,” Schwallie said. “There’s a couple of states that are reopening but expect this to be a roller coaster. Openings will be up and down and restrictions will be different in every state.”

THE CENTER FOR FOOD INTEGRITY HAS HOSTED WEEKLY WEBCASTS WITH SPEAKERS LIKE CHARLIE ARNOT (TOP LEFT), UJWAL ARKALGUD (TOP RIGHT) AND SUSAN SCHALLIE (BOTTOM) THROUGH THE COVID-19 CRISIS.

She pointed to recent information from China, which is emerging from COVID-19 restrictions, that shows that the first sectors of the food system to show significant improvement were in beverage and coffee shop sales. She said this was likely because as people are returning to their routine, which may include stopping for a beverage or snack. Getting a cup of coffee would also be perceived as lower risk than eating at a restaurant.

New knowledge leads to new behavior, said Ujwal Arkalgud, a cultural anthropologist and member of CFI’s Consumer Trust Council. During the CFI NOW webcast, he reports he is seeing at least two new behaviors emerging from the crisis. One is that consumers are very interested in foods that can boost their immunity. The other is greater awareness of gut health and connecting the dots between food, immunity and gut health.

As shoppers have stopped stockpiling food, some degree of normalcy has returned to stores shelves. Some changes, however, are expected to be more long-lasting. Online ordering of groceries and restaurant meals has increased significantly and the fastest growing group of those ordering online is customers age 75 and above, Schwallie said, and many can be expected to continue to do so.

Because of the disruption caused by COVID-19, Arkalgud sees opportunity for the food system. Consumers will be very interested in labeling and considering what foods they can trust.

“Americans are really thinking about what’s essential and what’s necessary,” she said.

“In terms of the food system, the biggest thing we’re seeing is things that are related to health and wellbeing are being brought back into focus. We actually think there’s a lot of innovation opportunity, but it’s going to have to come at an economic price given the economic environment,” he said.

LEARN MORE FROM THE CENTER FOR FOOD INTEGRITY AT FOODINTEGRITY.ORG milk messenger / MAY-JUN 2020

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BUILDING VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES

JOINING FORCES The Virtual Way

BY MELISSA HART

05:06 / 20:20

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Where there is a will, there is a way.

DAIRY PRODUCERS HAVE MADE A LIFESTYLE OUT OF MANAGING THE OBSTACLES OR AS SOME WOULD SAY, MAKING THE PIVOT.

M

ilk prices too low, they pivot.

Feed prices skyrocket, they pivot.

TB hits the Michigan dairy

industry, they pivot. And each time they make those adjustments to maintain their livelihood, they discover another layer of resiliency they had no idea existed.

Today they are pivoting to adjust to the COVID-19 outbreak and the havoc it’s wreaking on the industry from the parlor to the store shelves. While producers cannot control what happens at the processing and retail level, they are pivoting to the pandemic as it reaches the farm level. And the allied industry has joined in lockstep, virtually, for the benefit of everyone.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

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BUILDING VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES

Dairy Farming with Kip Siegler “I think I can do that!”

Those were the words that began a new virtual community for MMPA Member Kip Siegler of Imlay City as he contemplated starting a YouTube channel. With the help of wife, Rochelle he launched “Dairy Farming with Kip Siegler” and over the past eight months he has gained nearly 12,000 subscribers to the platform and a million total views.

As Siegler hauls manure, milks the cows, shows the feeding process or starts his spring planting, he takes his audience along for the ride. While he is considerate of telling the responsible story of dairy farming, “I just go and it is, what it is. People like you raw.” Siegler, an MMPA Dairy Communicator, said. “If you’re funny, do that. If you’re serious, be yourself, because there is only one you out

there. And there are so many people on YouTube watching every day, your people will find you.”

As a former member of the military, Siegler enjoys a large following from fellow veterans. Retired farmers also find their way to Siegler’s channel.

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“It’s really rewarding to hear what the retired guys say, they tell me I bring back a lot of memories from their earlier years in farming with their grandfathers. I also have guys who sold their farms and watch the channel with their kids to show them what farming is like.”

Having followers from over fifty countries and hearing from viewers from coast to coast spurs Siegler to

keep showing his day to day activities on the farm. Encouraging others, especially during difficult times is something Siegler specializes in, “People are looking for positivity.

And they are looking for a solution to their problems. I know I’ve reached someone when I hear someone say, ‘I came on here to learn about farming but what I’m really doing is learning about life.’” He added, “It’s pretty cool when I can touch someone like that.”

With a recent family emergency, Siegler discovered the dedication level of his followers. His niece was in a bad accident and he asked for prayer.

“Hundreds and hundreds of people were saying they are praying for my niece and then they wanted updates.

People get emotionally attached and I didn’t mean to do that, but they just want to know what’s going on and that’s really neat,” Siegler said.

KIP SIEGLER, AN MMPA MEMBER FROM IMLAY CITY, MICHIGAN, RUNS THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL, "DAIRY FARMING WITH KIP SIEGLER."

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Virtual Farm Tours Dairy Farming with Kip Siegler videos have been used in several public schools but they aren’t the only dairyfriendly videos showing up when the bell rings. United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM) continues to provide virtual farm tours (VFT) for students of every age. In 2019 they hosted, for the first time, four live VFT’s for classrooms that had signed up previously. During the live broadcast schools could submit questions about what they were watching.

When COVID-19 hit, UDIM decided to tap into the technology that people are using to bring the farm to those who’s education has been interrupted by the pandemic. Using the combined talents of the UDIM team, UDIM Director of Industry Relations Jolene Griffin took everyone to her family’s farm and showed the viewers how they care for calves and cows and the feed they prepare for the cows each day.

During the tour, Griffin talked about the nutritious and delicious dairy foods created from the milk the cows produce.

Supporting the VFT’s are a library of resource materials for schoolteachers and parents to download and use during instruction time at home. A scavenger hunt to use while watching the VFT’s and FAQ’s that are often asked during the farm tours are available along with other Milk Means More educational resources.

“This is such a dire situation and kids are having their lives uprooted and everything is changing. I feel for parents trying to do their job while maintaining the home and teaching their kids, it’s just so hard right now and we wanted to provide resources to help families and share about dairy,” Griffin said.

UDIM is also helping spread the word about where families can get free meals in their area that will include a serving of milk for each student for every meal.

UNITED DAIRY INDUSTRY OF MICHIGAN VIRTUAL FARM TOUR

05:06 / 20:20

05:06 / 20:20

THE UNITED DAIRY INDUSTRY OF MICHIGAN HOSTED A VIRTUAL FARM TOUR ON FACEBOOK LIVE IN APRIL. MODERATED BY UDIM YOUTH WELLNESS MANAGER AMIEE VONDRASEK, THE VIDEO HAS SINCE RACKED UP NEARLY 10,000 VIEWS.

VIRTUAL COFFEE BREAK MSUE DAIRY TEAM

05:06 / 20:20

05:06 / 20:20

THE MSU EXTENSION DAIRY TEAM OFFERS WEEKLY VIRTUAL COFFEE BREAKS. THE TOPIC “IMPROVING THE TARGETING OF YOUR ANTIBIOTIC USE,” INVOLVED A DISCUSSION WITH ANIMAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT CHAIR DR. PAM RUEGG (LEFT) HOSTED BY MSU EXTENSION DAIRY EDUCATOR MARIANNE BUZA (RIGHT).

“The UDIM website is a one stop shop for fun, education and nourishment for families,” Griffin added.

Virtual Coffee Breaks While daily dairy is essential for everyone, some consider coffee to be an essential part of their day and the MSU Extension Dairy Team is hosting Virtual Coffee Breaks on several platforms.

MSU Extension Specialist Phil Durst said they started brainstorming about the idea last year. “We were simply looking for new ways to reach farmers with information, so we planned this series of coffee breaks and it turned out to be very timely.”

The coffee breaks took place live each Wednesday morning in March and April and are conversations lasting less than a half hour. They are available on YouTube on the MSU Extension Dairy

Team YouTube channel along with other audio platforms like Spotify.

Covering everything from building consumer ag literacy and employee team building to producing quality milk and recommendations for 2020 corn silage planting, the coffee breaks provide another layer of programming from MSU Extension.

“MSU Extension really cares about dairy farmers and we want to help producers any way we can. We know it’s a very difficult time and yet we want farmers to know that they are incredibly important to us,” Durst concluded. “We praise them for their work, day in and day out, to produce healthy food products and we thank them for their work. So, we want to be a good partner with them as they produce quality food for our state, our nation and our world.”

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OUTSTANDING YOUNG DAIRY COOPERATORS

THE FIVE: How do you improve your farm’s sustainability?

1. Buying more cows We are increasing our herd size to maximize our parlor without adding more employees. This will make our farm more efficient through utilizing the assets we currently have on hand.

2. Raising our own feed We try and raise as much of our own feed as possible. We work closely with our nutritionist to help maximize our supplements and implement new feed stuffs to help keep our costs down.

2019

OYDC FINALIST Darren & Regina Coffey HOMEFIELD: Allegan, Michigan

THE FACTS:

Darren & Regina have a positive mindset and a passion for dairy. They are active within their community, sharing the dairy story and supporting the future of agriculture. Darren helps FFA youth restore tractors and is treasurer and secretary of the MMPA West Michigan Local. Regina holds a variety of positions within their community including 4-H volunteer, FFA Dairy Foods coach and MMPA Dairy Communicator.

THE FARM: Darren & Regina milk 980 cows on their 1,600-acre farm, Rolling Acres Dairy Farm LLC. They strive to keep their animals, employees and families as happy and healthy as possible by working together and moving forward on the farm. They are members of the West Michigan Local in District 3.

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3. Monitoring our soils We soil test and keep a close eye on our farm’s soils. We use our manure to the best of our ability and try to only add the nutrients that the soil needs to produce a good crop.

4. Maintaining our equipment Our tractor and equipment repair is all done on the farm which helps us save on repair bills. We also do all our own preventative maintenance to help reduce down time on equipment, improving our overall efficiency.

5. Capitalizing on generational differences We have multiple generations on the farm all working together. We believe that it’s good to have older ideas mixed in with fresh ideas and technology, especially as the farm grows.

THE FIVE: What do you love about dairy?

1. The animals I just love the animals themselves.

They provide this world with something for us to eat and drink, and who doesn’t love cheese and ice cream?

2. The family I love that a lot of dairy operations, including mine, are family operations. Growing up, it gave me more time with my family and allowed us to bond over so much.

2019

OYDC FINALIST Marie Marion HOMEFIELD: Saline, Michigan

3. Cows’ curiosity From the moment that someone is going down the road to the new hay bale getting pulled out, I love the curiosity that cows have. I especially enjoy the first time they are sent to pasture in the spring and they run kicking with their back legs up.

THE FACTS:

Marie works as veterinary technician and is an FFA alumni, having received the Outstanding Junior Degree, State Degree and American FFA Degree. Her involvement within FFA has allowed her to recognize that the prevalence of misinformation about dairy is the biggest challenge facing the dairy industry today.

Consumers enjoy all things dairy, but Marie sees the disconnect from the farm being the reason that they lack trust in how farmers care for their animals.

4. The calves I love that feeling of a newborn calf sucking your hand waiting for milk.

At a young age, it’s the coolest feeling in the world.

5. Everything I love all the things that come from dairy: the milk, the ice cream, the butter, all the necessary items to one’s life.

THE FARM: Marie has been farming since 1995 on her family-owned operation milking around 70 cows. She’s a jack of all trades and pitches in wherever help is needed, especially helping finishing milking. She’s passionate about the importance of small farms within the dairy industry makeup and is hopeful that the farm can continue to operate for many years to come. milk messenger / MAY-JUN 2020

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YOUR DAIRY PROMOTION AT WORK

Navigating COVID 19 with the Michigan and Indiana Dairy Checkoff Organizations

BY AMERICAN DAIRY ASSOCIATION OF INDIANA AND UNITED DAIRY INDUSTRY OF MICHIGAN

T

he coronavirus crisis is impacting every sector of life and is hitting the agriculture industry dramatically.

During this crisis, consumers and others are asking why dairy and other commodities are being dumped or not utilized in places where there is need.

The checkoff staff is laser-focused on priority areas that will divert and redistribute the milk supply to crucial areas: ensuring access to school meals, helping food banks meet growing need, convening partners within foodservice and focusing on the retail channel.

Like you, our hearts sink as we watch the markets. While schools and restaurants are still feeding people, it’s a decrease from pre-crisis levels.

Below you’ll learn more about action taken by local and national dairy promotion groups, and the rest of the dairy community, to keep dairy moving from farm to table.

Please know, your dairy checkoff staff at United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM) and American Dairy Association Indiana (ADAI) continue to work hard on your behalf and alongside you during this pandemic.

Retail Food consumption changed in early March as consumers began social distancing and spending more time at home. Total store retail sales patterns reflect this shift, with the retail dairy sales view continuing to be positive for 2020 year to date (YTD), due in part to increased cooking and baking along with the staple nature of dairy products in consumers’ diets. Products

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complementary to dairy or containing dairy ingredients also helped to fuel dairy sales, like cereal and frozen pizza due to their easy, family-pleasing and affordable options. While the retail picture is very positive, it is important to note that definite downturns are expected across every foodservice commercial segment and most noncommercial ones. The large sales lifts we are reporting for retail will not overcome losses in other sectors. Cheese and butter in particular rely on foodservice for at least half of their volume.

Initially, there were some capacity issues as the industry shifted quickly from restaurants and schools where the majority of dairy is served, to retail sales. As plants get caught up from the initial influx of consumers hoarding milk and other essentials, please know the processors and stores are working together to fill orders and dairy cases and stores are being encouraged to remove any limitations on milk purchases.

When we first learned of stores limiting milk, dairy promotion organizations in Michigan and Indiana connected with local processors to ensure the milk supply was secure and there were no disruptions.

Schools Our top priority is working with state and local partners to support programs that feed children during school closures. USDA rules for feeding school children are similar to the Summer Food Service Program and available to every child 18 and younger, which means milk must be provided.

All schools are strongly encouraged to participate, and most districts are setting up hubs for meal pick up or using school buses to deliver meals to normal bus stops. Additionally, some schools are working to provide meals that will last multiple days, allowing families to stay home longer and make fewer trips. By providing shelf-stable milk or gallon and half-gallon options, schools ensure food safety remains top priority as meals are delivered.

GENYOUth set up a national campaign, “For Schools’ Sake” to provide grants to schools. The grants help purchase supplies for meal distribution and delivery to serve local families better.

The grants will provide resources and equipment to ensure youth continue to receive the nutritious meals they need, including milk.

We worked with local grocers associations who then alerted their members to remove limit signs in the dairy case, while fielding information from consumers to target contacts with stores who continued to post limits.

UDIM contributed funds to award grants to 12 Michigan schools.

Due to the combined efforts of local and national promotion organizations, Aldi, Target and WalMart headquarters made the decision to remove the signs from their stores on April 13.

In close communication with the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and school districts around the state, the UDIM team provided over 12 crate milk coolers and 460 milk cooler

ADAI is working through over 200 applications for grant assistance to be awarded this spring.

UNITED DAIRY INDUSTRY OF MICHIGAN

bags to schools who are transporting meals via bus routes to keep milk and meals cold. UDIM is running a digital campaign on MLive.com to raise awareness about the MDE program providing school meals. The digital ad directs parents to the Milk Means More blog for more information.

ADAI partnered with the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) to connect schools with cooperatives to adjust the type of milk they were getting from cartons to gallons to send home with students. Hundreds of insulated bags were donated to schools without effective cooler transport around the state.

Through this partnership, ADAI is also hosting a series of weekly webinars focused on Food Service Directors to provide information, education and a place to share successes and ask for help online. Supported by the IDOE, hundreds of directors have participated and applied useful advice in their communities to better serve students and families.

Hunger Initiatives As unemployment continues to increase, food banks are experiencing increased demand. Your checkoff teams connected with the food banking systems to identify unmet needs we can assist as they feed families across our states.

Based on conversations with the food banks, to assist with immediate needs, UDIM allocated our matching grants for 2020 funds as follows: • Forgotten Harvest, matching the Detroit Pistons donation. This includes the money typically used as incentive for Busch’s milk drive.

Partnering with the Pistons garnered over 4.2M media impressions to date.

• Gleaners toward a refrigerated truck to be better able to support programs for the long term.

• Food Gatherers to procure dairy products other than fluid milk.

• The Food Bank Council of Michigan to provide matching milk funds for the other 4 food banks (Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, Food Bank Of Western Michigan, South Michigan Food Bank and Greater Lansing food bank).

Daycares need extra help when filling their dairy needs. With limits on milk purchases, going to multiple stores for milk wasn’t an option. The solution?

ADAI has partnered with Prairie Farms, Dean Foods and Indiana Child Adult Care Feed Programs (CACFP) to make milk available, without question and without restrictions. We kicked off our weekly service on March 25th in Indianapolis at the State Fair Dairy Bar, and expanded to South Bend with over 1,500 gallons of milk donated as of April 15th.

UDIM and GenYouth worked to connect Dominos Flint franchisee with the East MI Foodbank to bring pizza to Flint area families in need. The week of April 6, 300 pizzas were provided by Dominos to three food bank locations in Flint to surprise families with a comforting cheesy pizza when they pick up supplies from the foodbank.

ADAI is responding to increased need at food banks in the Great Lakes region with dairy product donations.

Through our partnership with MMPA, Heritage Ridge Creamery donated 1600 pounds of cheese to Second Helpings, an organization focused on providing meals to individuals and families in need. Additional cheese is also being donated to the Food Bank of Northern Indiana, an organization that provides food assistance in a six-county area in Northern Indiana.

UDIM and ADAI have both launched pilot programs to offer dairy farmers

the opportunity to apply for a one-time grant to provide a food pantry in their area with a cooler to keep milk and dairy foods cold. The UDIM grant will also provide funds for the food pantry to fill the cooler with milk at the time the cooler is delivered.

Resources On the National Milk Producers Federation website, you will find updates about COVID-19 as it relates to dairy, including resources for your employees.

MilkPEP launched new videos on TV and digital platforms that focus on the industry’s commitment to getting much needed milk to Americans and the emotional role milk plays in people’s lives.

Virtual Farm Tours connect consumers to dairy farmers and life on a dairy farm – without having to leave their home!

Both Indiana and Michigan hosted and shared virtual farm tours through social media, and can be found: • Indiana: www.winnersdrinkmilk.com/ virtual-farm-tour/ • Michigan: www.milkmeansmore.org/ virtual-farm-tour/ THE PRECEDING INFORMATION IS AN UPDATE AS OF APRIL 23.

To get current information from your checkoff organization, contact your staff to be included on email updates and visit your state checkoff websites:

INDIANA Allie Rieth Email: rieth@winnersdrinkmilk.com Visit: www.WinnersDrinkMilk.com

MICHIGAN Jolene Griffin Email: jolene@milkmeansmore.org Visit: www.milkmeansmore.org

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FREELINERS AND CLASSIFIEDS

TO SUBMIT ADS, CONTACT MMPA VIA EMAIL AT MESSENGER@MIMILK.COM OR FAX 248-426-3412 OR VISIT MIMILK.COM/FREELINER-CLASSIFIED.

freeliners Freeliners Policy

classifieds FOR SALE: SERVICE AGE HOLSTEIN BULLS. Call Steve Alexander, 810-622-8548 evenings or 810-404-8548.

The Freeliners column is open to current MMPA members who wish to advertise—at no charge—goods or services

FOR SALE: 18 REGISTERED HEIFERS starting to calve

relating directly to their dairy farm operations.

end of December. 989-467-0330.

• An item submitted will be published for no more than two consecutive months (one month, unless otherwise requested). After that, it will be withdrawn.

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

FOR SALE: HOLSTEIN AND JERSEY HOLSTEIN CROSS HEIFERS all sizes. All Select sire bulls, nice heifers.

260-705-8185.

desired month of publication. MMPA neither sponsors nor endorses products or services advertised in the Milk Messenger.

• It will be published again for no more than two consecutive months only if the member resubmits the

FOR SALE: 1250 MUELLER BULK TANK with washer and

OPPERMAN GROOVING: We can fix your scabbled floors.

item by writing or calling the Novi office.

newer 5 hp. compressor with two fans; 2 in. lowline

Diamond sawed grooves, no hammering or cracking of

receiver stainless steel and 12 Delaval units and

concrete. No hoof damage. Call Opperman Grooving Inc.,

pulsator and a plate cooler. 810-404-8548.

Portland. 517-647-7381.

FOR SALE: 2013 POTTINGER 7210 SELF LOADING

DAVIDSON CEMENT GROOVING, INC: NO water needed.

WAGON/FORAGE WAGON, works well! $42,000. Call

Wider, rougher grooves for better traction. We also offer

Theo at 989-550-0755.

texturing for your previously grooved floors. 3 operators will

• 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.

FOR SALE: 2017 KRONE EASY CUT F360 works also well. $14,000. Call Theo at 989-550-0755.

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

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!

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

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milk messenger / MAY-JUN 2020

Non-GMO

products available

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

FARM SUPPLY STORE CLASSIFIEDS - CONTINUED 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

New look to Premium Calf Milk Replacer

FOR SALE: NEW & USED MILK TANKS. We stock all sizes,

While the bag’s appearance may have changed, the product inside is the same high-quality calf milk replacer our members have come to expect. The MMPA logo is no longer featured prominently on the bag, allowing more flexibility with our vendor. The logo still appears on the ingredient tag and the ingredient list has not changed.

makes, models. Special prices to co-op members, corporate

STOCK NUMBER

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

1007

PREMIUM CALF MILK REPLACER

989-635-1494. BLUE RIBBON HOOF TRIMMING, LLC.

& 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.

989-723-1886 or 989-277-1414.

ALFALFA HAYLAGE (excellent & fair grades) & CORN SILAGE. 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.

Introducing EcoFlex RTU! EcoFlex RTU, the new and improved formula for Ultimate PD, now reformulated for even better efficacy. This teat dip is iodine free, effective and affordable. It promotes udder health and hygiene with a swift 15 second kill across 99.999% of environmental and contagious dairy mastitis organisms. Its excellent detergency provides quick, thorough udder prepping.

It is equally effective against both infectious mastitis organisms and environmental types such as E. Coli. EcoFlex RTU delivers 4% emollients and .5% lactic acid, ingredients known to promote healthy skin. The germicidal system combines lactic acid, pelargonic acid and dodecyl benzenesulfonic acid (DDBSA) and is gentle on the skin.

EcoFlex RTU is a ready-to-use product. There is no need to go through the mixing process on the farm, we do it for you at the MMPA Farm Supply Store. It is available in 15- and 55-gallon containers.

STOCK NUMBER

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

5927

ECOFLEX RTU

5928

ECOFLEX RTU

SIZE

MEMBER PRICE

15 GALLON 55 GALLON

$45.54

$131.55

If you have any questions about these or other products, please call 989-317-8370.

HOOF TRIMMING - 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. Also doing fly control and cement grooving.

Gibson Hoof Care (Tom) 989-239-6843.

PREVENT FLIES – The Best Fly is a Dead Fly –

THREE WAYS TO ORDER MMPA MERCHANDISE FROM THE FARM SUPPLY STORE

Better Yet is No Fly. Potina Fly Parasite Plan.

1 Place your order through your milk hauler

www.dairyflyparasites.com. 888-771-3276

PRESSURE AIR: Serving all Michigan and Indiana.

2 Call in your order: Duane Farmer, Supervisor: 989-317-8370 Toll Free: 877-367-6455 Orders (Novi): 800-572-5824 then dial 2

Miller Spray Service, Inc. 574-825-9776.

3 Fax in your order: 989-317-8372

BARN WHITE WASHING AND CLEANING WITH HIGH

CHEMICAL, SANITIZER AND TEAT DIP CONTACTS These are SERVICE personnel only. Order your supplies through your hauler.

Concrete Grooving and Texturing

ECOLAB

Call: Jeff Brisky - Owner

Service Message Center: 1-800-392-3392

Toll Free: 1-800-294-1202 Cell: 1-716-353-1137

24-Hour Medical Emergency Hotline: 1-800-328-0026 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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MMPA STAFF

MMPA Field Staff

Novi Headquarters

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

Main Office Local line..............................................................................248-474-6672 Toll free................................................................................800-572-5824

Steve Lehman, Ithaca, Raw Milk Compliance.............................989-330-1638 Ben Chapin, Remus, Field Services Manager........................... 989-289-0731 Christy Dinsmoore, Vassar, Supervisor.....................................248-513-7920 Frank Brazeau, Oconto, WI......................................................... 906-250-0337 Ashley Herriman, Herron............................................................269-245-6632

President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Diglio.......................................................................................ext. 202 Chief Financial Officer Josep Barenys...............................................................................ext. 240

Laura Gucwa, Bad Axe................................................................ 248-826-6294

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

Sarah Michalek, Dewitt, Supervisor.........................................248-305-0537

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

Lyndsay Earl, Ludington, Animal Care.........................................231-519-2455 Deb Gingrich, Leroy, Animal Care/Sustainability......................248-520-3580 Emily Peacock, Morley, Animal Care.......................................... 248-826-7243 Brandon Ewers, Coldwater, Sustainability.................................. 231-414-4539 Lindsay Green, East Lansing, Animal Care /Sustainability ......989-488-8159 Dave Brady, Grass Lake, Supervisor...........................................517-937-9061 Ed Zuchnik, Three Rivers.............................................................. 269-967-7351 Brittni Tucker, Eagle.....................................................................248-880-3785 Joe Packard, Manchester, Animal Care.......................................248-520-3481 John Lehman, Elsie, Bulk Tank Calibration................................248-444-6775

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

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

Farm Supply - Mt. Pleasant Supervisor: Duane Farmer, Mt. Pleasant

Sales James Feeney................................................................................ ext. 258 Laboratory Supervisor Patti Huttula.................................................................................. ext. 219 Quality Sudeep Jain...................................................................................ext. 249 Manufacturing Kaylan Kennel......................................................................248-880-5413 Member Services Emily Keranen...............................................................................ext. 203 Human Resources Kelly Kerrigan................................................................................ ext. 301 Credit/Insurance Cheryl Schmandt........................................................................... ext. 210 Communications Allison Stuby Miller.......................................................................ext. 296 Emily Kittendorf............................................................................ext. 234 Corporate Controller Jeannie Strain................................................................................ ext. 311 Supply Chain Therese Tierney..............................................................................ext. 217 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

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

Ovid, Michigan Kaylan Kennel....................................................................... 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 / MAY-JUN 2020

Board of Directors Officers Doug Chapin, Board Chairman Tony Jandernoa Board Vice Chairman Eric Frahm, Treasurer Joe Diglio, President and CEO Josep Barenys, Asst. Board Treasurer 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

Rays of golden sunshine making the world aglow this herd of happy Holsteins taking the front row.

With hours of storms behind them they enjoy the sun’s show.

No worries about tomorrow, just enjoying the evening’s glow.

PHOTO BY: AARON GASPER, LOWELL, MICHIGAN WORDS BY: EMILY KITTENDORF

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P.O. Box 8002 Novi, MI 48376

MMPA Photo Contest Across the stunning landscapes of the Great Lakes region, MMPA members have the unique opportunity to capture beautiful scenes like the morning fog rolling across corn fields, a newborn calf ’s big eyes taking in new wonders of the world or memorable moments of farmers caring for their cows. MMPA offers a photo contest to showcase members’ photos.

For details, visit www.mimilk.com/photo-contest