BENTON AG
Although the top of the wheat in Mark Czech’s field looks green and healthy as of June 16, Czech said the crop normally would be a foot higher at this point in the growing season. Czech said he will likely lose between 20%-30% of his wheat yield this year.
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Sauk Rapids Herald | Saturday, June 19, 2021
Herds with lowest somatic cell count recognized ST. PAUL – The annual list of top Minnesota dairy herds with low somatic cell counts has been released. SCC is a key indicator of milk quality – a lower SCC count is better for cheese production and a longer shelf life for milk. In honor of June Dairy Month, 96 Minnesota dairy farms are being recognized for superior herd management skills by achieving an average SCC of under 100,000. “I’m honored to be able to recognize these 96 dairies for their high level of excellence,” said Commissioner Thom Petersen, of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. “These dairy farmers work hard 365 days a year to produce high-quality, wholesome dairy products for all of us to enjoy, and I thank them for their contributions to feed Minnesota and the world.” Although somatic cells occur naturally and are not a food safety concern, dairy farmers monitor them because they can be used as a measure of the health of their cows. Processors also pay a premium for milk with low counts.
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SCC page 2B
Farmers in battle
with hot, dry weather
Could impact crops yields, livestock
“The biggest thing is it’s hot, dry, and we need water. That’s it, and we don’t have to worry as much.”
BY JAKOB KOUNKEL STAFF WRITER
FOLEY – Whether the weather is too dry, too wet, too cold or too warm, as Mark Czech of Czech’s Roadside Acres in Gilman said, “It’s always something.” This year, farmers in Benton County are experiencing drought-like conditions they fear will negatively impact crop yields. A minor portion of northwest Benton County is in a moderate drought, according to information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The rest of the county is considered abnormally dry. In the month of May, the county experienced 1.42 inches less rain than in a normal year – a historically dry month. “The biggest concern I have right now is that we’re not getting any water,” said Nathan Drewitz, University of Minnesota Extension Educator for crops in Benton, Stearns and Morrison counties. … “If we don’t get water here soon, we might run into some issues with
– Nathan Drewitz,
University of Minnesota Extension Educator
PHOTOS BY JAKOB KOUNKEL
Standing in a field of wheat, Mark Czech assesses a field a few miles away from his farm June 16 in Gilman. Czech said his wheat crop is his main concern.
yield hits.” There are a multitude of reasons why dry weather can negatively impact crop yields other than plant hydration, Drewitz said, like the fact that drought-resistant weeds thrive under dry conditions. Additionally, without rain, chemicals and fertilizers are not absorbed
properly into the soil. “I worry about our weed control working properly,” Czech said. “One thing I did notice this spring is my nitrogen did not get rained into the soil. I saw corn that looked nitrogen deficient and it shouldn’t have been.” Workers on Czech’s farm
are broadcasting nitrogen in the meantime, giving the farm a 10-day window until the area, hopefully, receives rain. “Herbicides need to be activated and worked into the soil to work,” Drewitz said. Dry weather page 2B
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Page 2B | SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 2021| SAUK RAPIDS HERALD
Dry weather
“It was probably the nicest planting season we’ve ever had,” Czech said. “From start to finish, we basically had no rain delays with corn or beans. … But right now, my wheat and alfalfa are suffering the worst for the same reason – no rain.” Corn and soybean seem to have the ability to extract moisture from deeper in the ground, Czech said, whereas wheat and alfalfa are more surface level, though he is surprised that his alfalfa looks to be in good condition. “The wheat is heading out right now, and it needs rain like, this week, otherwise we’re going to be going backward pretty quickly,” Czech said.
Jon Henry, a Foley area farmer who planted about 500 acres of corn from page 1B and soybean this season, agreed that the area needs rain soon. “To get residuals to work “The corn is showproperly, they need to be ing signs of drought right rained on to work them now,” Henry said. “It’s into the soil where seeds starting to curl.” are germinating. If we Like Czech, Henry don’t get rain, it sits on depends on rainfall rather top of the soil.” than an irrigation system Czech, who does not because, normally, the utilize an irrigation syschallenge is getting too tem, said he relies on much moisture, not too Mother Nature to water little. his fields. At this point in Henry has not been the season, his main conable to fertilize his apcern is his wheat crop. He proximately 215 acres of said he will likely lose corn yet this season be20%-30% of his wheat cause of the drought-like yield due to the recent PHOTO BY JAKOB KOUNKEL conditions. The fertilizer Mark Czech looks to the clear blue sky June 16 at Czech’s Roadside Acres in Gilman. A weather conditions. If the dairy and crop producer, Czech is hoping for rain. he uses requires water. absence of precipitation “Right now, the corn persists, so will his loss is in much more dire need of rain than soybean be- ful alfalfa or wheat yields, sources. percentage. Czech, Henry and cause of the amount of which Czech grows mostDrewitz will keep a close water the corn is taking ly to feed his herd. and the root structure,” Czech is unsure he eye on the forecast for the Henry said. would be able to buy next week, hoping dry Henry also said he is everything he needs for weather challenges come lucky he does not have cattle, noting that corn, to a close. After all, they livestock to care for. soybean and hay prices said, all they need is some Czech, however, is a dairy are higher than usual. On rain. “The biggest thing is farmer. top of that, prices will Not only does the dry, become more competi- it’s hot, dry, and we need hot weather leave less wa- tive as more farmers find water,” Drewitz said. June Dairy ter available for his cows themselves going through “That’s it, and we don’t Month to drink, but it also means every avenue they can to have to worry as much.” to all the area dairy farmers and their families Specials on there will not be as plenti- purchase remaining refor their dedication to the dairy industry!
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SCC
from page 1B A farmer whose herd has a very low count can receive a significantly higher price per hundredweight compared to a farmer whose herd average is high. The MDA and University of Minnesota dairy experts have worked with the state’s dairy farmers to lower somatic cell counts.
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When the initiative began in 2003, the 100 herds honored that year included those with SCC averages as high as 144,000, compared to the current goal of obtaining a SCC under 100,000. The SCC list of Minnesota dairy farms is online at www.mda.state.mn.us/ lowscc. Producers on the list in the Benton Ag Plus coverage area are listed below. Read more about managing SCC on pages 6B and 7B. Morrison County – Enchanted Dairy – Pike Hills Dairy LLC – Chad Waltman – Shawn and Sarah Winscher – Dennis and Wayne Wolters
Benton County – Ackerman Farms – Denn-Mar Farm LLC – Kent Happke – Brandon and Jill Marshik – Mitchell Mehrwerth Stearns County – Robert and Ann Cremers – Steve and Lori Dockendorf – Edgar Martin – Gregory Dairy LLC – High Point Dairy-Joe and Kim Engelmeyer – Knisley Dairy Inc. – Kuechle Dairy LLC – Jacob Mehr – Paul Mehr – Cory and Jenna Middendorf – Jeff Middendorf – Travis and Angela Scherping – Ryan Talberg – Jeremy and Amanda Wentland
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Page 6B | SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 2021| SAUK RAPIDS HERALD
June is...
DAIRY MONTH WE SALUTE AMERICA’S DAIRY FARMERS
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Happke Holsteins es e spons ored by th
Family’s keen herd management keeps cows healthy BY JENNIFER COYNE | STAFF WRITER
PIERZ – Kent Happke knows the value of a healthy herd. “The cows are healthier, and when they’re healthier, they give more milk,” said Happke of the importance of maintaining superior milk quality. Happke and his family milk 100 cows in Morrison County near Pierz. The family was recently recognized by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture for sustaining a somatic cell count below 100,000 in 2020 with an average SCC of 66,000. “Being on the list is not at the top of my list, but it’s still nice,” Happke said. “It means we’re doing something right.” In milk production, SCC is a key indicator of milk quality. Although somatic cells occur naturally
and are not a concern for food safety, a lower SCC is better for cheese production and the shelf life of fluid milk. Dairy farmers also use SCC to monitor the health of their herd. “We started monitoring it 20 years ago when our co-op paid big premiums for a low SCC,” Happke said. “Now, the premium is much smaller, but SCC is still something we manage for.” The Happkes credit three herd management tactics that keep their cows healthy and SCC well below the 100,000 threshold – dry cow treatments, fresh cow care and a consistent milking routine. “It all begins with a good dry cow treatment,” Happke said. In the months leading up to a cow calving, the Happkes transition the animal from the lactation herd to the dry cow group. With this transition, each cow receives an internal teat sealant which protects the
ap pk e
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tH n e Stacy and K
mammary system from infection when she comes back into lactation. “I firmly believe you have to use a good sealant,” Happke said. “There are some bad ones out there. I’ve used them.” Last summer, the Happkes battled through a couple months with a high herd SCC. “We were over 150,000,” Happke said. “That was because of a poor teat sealant. It didn’t stay in the cows and then we had trouble when they calved in.” When an animal comes down with mastitis, Happke treats with antibiotics. “Some of the really bad mastitis cases we get are the ones in the summer heat, otherwise we don’t have much,” he said. “I quarter milk those cows and get it cleared up.” Happkes page 7B
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