Benton Ag Plus - September 5, 2020

BENTON AG Plus

BY JENNIFER COYNE STAFF WRITER

Cooler temperatures and later morning sunrises are subtle signs of the seasons turning. For farmers, the more obvious indicator is forage availability for cattle.

As pastures near the end of their seasonal longevity, University of Minnesota experts spoke of options for improved feed management and efficiency as cattle grazers consider their feeding options for the fall and winter seasons.

“When we think about forages and supply, I encourage you all to think about the upcoming winter and all of the aspects that go into managing and caring for animals throughout the year,” said Troy Salzer, University of Minnesota Extension educator in St. Louis County. “Forages are vital to ruminant animals.

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Forages page 3B

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A harvest

Dalquists establish self-serve garden to supplement farm income

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BY JENNIFER COYNE STAFF WRITER

RANDALL – A sea of fruits and vegetables are surrounded by blooming flowers for passersby to enjoy, either visually or to pick and take to their homes.

The we-plant-you-pick concept at Little Elk Organic You Pick Garden has served the central Minnesota community well as it epitomizes what farmers Michael and Cora Dalquist were hoping to achieve this summer.

“This first started as an idea for extra income to our dairy farm, and it has since changed and evolved,” Michael said. “Our hope this year was to break even, and it has, so far, exceeded all of our expectations.”

The Dalquists and their children – Elsie, 3, and Christina, 18 months – manage

PHOTO BY JENNIFER COYNE

The Dalquists – Michael (from left), holding Elsie, 3, and Cora, holding Christina, 18 months – own Little Elk Organic You Pick Garden at their dairy farm near Randall. The family started the self-serve enterprise as a way to diversify their income.

At the garden, customers squash, sweet corn, cucumbers, a 1-acre fruit and vegetable garden on Michael’s family’s are welcome to pick and herbs, flowers and much more. dairy farm in Morrison County purchase an assortment of peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, Dalquists page 2B near Randall.

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BENTON AG

The 1-acre garden has a variety of fruits and vegetables for customers to pick at the Dalquists organic dairy farm near Randall. The family is planning to expand their produce options next year to include rutabagas, parsnips and more.

Dalquists from front

The Dalquists, who also have a personal garden, chose produce based on their preferences in hopes customers would have the same liking.

“We also reached out with our farm’s Facebook page to get a feeling for what seeds we should buy and grow, and we ended up growing quite a variety,” Cora said. “Next year, we’ll try parsnips, rutabagas and some other things too.”

The produce is strategically planted to maximize growth and quality of each fruit and vegetable with complimenting produce planted together and competing plants further away. Each row is marked indicating which produce is planted there as well as information about each plant.

Customers are

PHOTOS BY JENNIFER COYNE

Cora (from left), Michael and Elsie Dalquist look through boxes of tomatoes available for purchase at their family’s organic garden near Randall Aug. 24. The Dalquists encourage customers to pick their own produce.

welcome to peruse the garden, pick the produce of their choosing, and then deposit their payment in the money box at the garden barn. Produce is

sold either by weight or by the piece.

“Most of our customers are locals or people with cabins on nearby lakes,” Michael

said. “Nowadays, most people don’t have time to grow their own food.

Our garden gives people the opportunity to see where their food comes from and participate in the harvesting of it so they know it’s as fresh as it gets.”

Cora agreed.

“Because this is a you-pick garden, people have to do a little work and that’s satisfying for them,” she said.

Every morning, as Michael is milking the herd of 30 certified organic cows, Cora tends to the garden. Early on in the season, she spent this time weeding, planting and mulching. Now, the time is consumed by continued weeding and mulching as well as picking ripe produce.

“We planted purple tomatoes, but I’ve been

picking a lot of those because people are unfamiliar with them; they don’t know when they are ready,” Cora said.

In that case, the vegetables are available for purchase either in the garden barn or on the picnic table outside under the canopy. If produce gets too ripe, it is tossed into the on-site compost bin.

The idea for a selfserve garden was first came to mind over a year ago when Michael and Cora moved back to the family farm after living in North Dakota for 3.5 years.

“I’ve always wanted to take over my family’s farm, but when we first got married, it seemed like a better opportunity to be in North Dakota with Cora’s family,” Michael said. “Then, Dad had some health issues a couple summers in a row and I realized it was now or never.”

The Dalquists returned to Randall in June 2019. Over the course of the next several months, they became more involved in the dairy operation as Michael’s parents, Dale and Kathy, readied for retirement and built a new house.

Michael and Cora were already breeding and raising basset hounds for additional income, but due to the unstable situation of the dairy industry, it became clear the family needed to diversify further.

“Cora loves to garden, so that’s how this came to mind,” Michael said.

Cora agreed.

“My mom and both grandmas had gardens,” she said. “It’s something I grew up with.”

Both Cora and Michael wanted to garden in a way that complimented the farm’s already organic practices.

Last winter, they spent the time and resources to become certified organic vegetables producers, as well.

And, their practices reflect environmental conservation, such as using mulch as a way to decrease time spent weeding, hold moisture in the soil and improve soil health.

“We’re trying to follow the principles of a technique I learned about called farming God’s way,” Michael said.

“Among other things, that includes disturbing the soil as little as possible and keeping it covered at all times, using only natural fertilizers and seeking to improve the soil for future generations.”

While this first year of offering a self-serve garden has gone well for the Dalquists, it has not come without challenges.

“The timing is tough,” Michael said. “Planting and some harvesting in the garden happens at the same time as planting and harvesting in the fields.

That’s why this wouldn’t be possible without Cora.

I have to attribute this all to her. She’s the one who has been out there several times a day, every day.”

Dalquists page 3B

Elsie (from left) and Michael Dalquist look through their garden Aug. 24 at their dairy farm near Randall. The Dalquists spend time every day maintaining the garden.

BENTON AG

stockpiled forages – the diggers that burrow their nose through the snow in search of forages; the opportunists that stand nearby and grab the forages as they are uncovered; and the cleanup crew that collect the remaining forages.

“You have to watch your cattle very closely, especially the cleanup crew,” Salzer said. “It takes a lot of effort to capitalize on stockpiled forages. You’ll begin to see body conditions changing in the herd.”

Swath grazing (cutting and raking forages into rows), fencing standing crops and bale grazing are also options that extend the grazing season into winter but mimic rotational grazing systems.

“These are good ways to distribute manure,” Salzer said. “There is some loss but, in many cases, (losses) are returned as nutrients to the soil.”

Depending on weather experiences, utilization efficiencies of each of the aforementioned grazing options are vast.

Typically, cattle can use as little as 20% of crop residue or as much as 65%; cover crops 30%75%; stockpiled 10%80%; standing forages 30%-80%; swath 25%80%; and bale grazing 40%-90%.

Salzer gave the

example of a heavy snowstorm last October.

He lost about 30 days of feed for about 200 cows.

“That was substantial and required us to purchase a fair amount of forage,” he said.

“Sometimes, it plays hard into the decision-making process. Do I harvest mechanically or how do I manage that? Sometimes, you’ll make the right decision and sometimes you’ll make the wrong one.”

Before feeding these types of forages, farmers should consider conducting a forage sample test. The test will paint a clearer picture for formulating a wellbalanced diet.

“The more digestible forages pass through the rumen faster; that’s what we want,” Young said.

“Without knowing the quality of the forages, it’s difficult to balance rations to make sure animals are receiving the proper amount of nutrients.”

Salzer suggested strategically feeding lower quality feed shortly

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after calving and saving the higher quality forages for later in the cow’s lactation. Blending the forage qualities will also help maintain the nutritional needs of the cow.

When quality forages are in short supply, alternative forage options are a solution in the ration.

“I’ve helped develop rations with a lot of straws – oat, wheat, pea, soybeans – to implement them as a filler,” Salzer said. “We also see a lot of corn stalks, sweet corn silage, beep pulp, potatoes, wheat midds, pearl barley. These just have to help keep the cattle satisfied.”

Farmers may also consider adding protein lick tubs or molasses tanks to the pasture to supplement nutrients in the ration.

“The question I pose is, ‘How do we meet nutritional requirements by products available to us?’” Salzer said. “In nearly all processes, if we increase management, we can do a better job.”

The Dalquists are also learning what produce grows well and which others are more difficult to start and maintain. Plus, they have figured out what their customers are looking for and are planning accordingly for next year.

Cora is also drumming up plans to make the garden more family friendly. She wants to create pole bean tepees and tunnels made from squash plants.

“Our girls love being out here, so I’m hoping to make this more children friendly,” Cora said. “The tepees and tunnels will pique the children’s interest in gardening.”

In an effort to increase and diversify the family’s income, the Dalquists have been pleased with their choice to produce and sell organic vegetables, and want to continue being an option for people looking for that farm-to-table connection.

“We’ve really been encouraged so far,” Cora said.

“And hope that people continue coming back.”

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And with ruminant animals, one of their key components is being able to convert forages into products we can market.”

Salzer and colleague Tarah Young of Carlton County presented “Managing Forages for Fall and Winter Feedings” as part of the University of Minnesota Beef Webinar series Aug. 18.

Grazing animals is an efficient practice to reduce or maintain a lower total cost of producing forages.

Yet, many producers find themselves in a predicament when this inexpensive feeding option runs low, said Salzer.

“So many times farmers tend to have not enough forage in the form of pasture for the number of animals they’re feeding,” he said. “Because of that, they end up short at the end of the year. Farmers can make this work with better forage utilization or growing more forage.”

In planning ahead, producers can extend their grazing season by harvesting crop residue, cover crops, stockpiled forages grown late in the season, standing forages like millet and swath grazing.

Grazing crop residue is the most efficient and cheapest way to feed beef cattle, said Salzer. However, farmers must be aware of their herd’s nutritional needs, particularly protein and energy, to know how the crop residue aids in meeting those requirements.

Likewise, cover crops are an effective option to provide quality forages in a ration.

“With cover crops, we need to strategically place them in the field rotation so they can provide other benefits as well,” Salzer said.

“These crops can produce upwards of 1 ton of dry matter, depending on the grazing season.”

Farmers may also consider stockpiled feed but need to be aware of the crop’s tendency to be high in moisture content when snow is covering the ground.

“Adding dry matter with hay can increase overall utilization of crops in certain circumstances,” Salzer said.

When feeding stockpiled forages, the herd’s body condition score is critical to monitor as cattle will use the forages differently.

Salzer described three types of cattle that graze

Dalquists from page 2B

Swath grazing (cutting and raking forages into rows), fencing standing crops and bale grazing are also options that extend the grazing season into winter but mimic rotational grazing systems.

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Sannerud states storm recovery, COVID-19 reasons for folding

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FOLEY – Like many farmers, Eric Sannerud has looked forward to the fall season as the culmination of all that goes into producing a bountiful harvest.

But after seven years growing, harvesting and processing hops, Sannerud will not be returning to the fields this fall. Sannerud and his business partners recently announced Mighty Axe Hops, of Foley, will be permanently closing before harvest.

“One of the things that makes me the saddest in my life is when I see a farm close or have to sell,” Sannerud said. “It’s not much better going through it yourself.”

Sannerud was the cofounder and CEO of the 80-acre hops farm.

A severe storm tore through Benton County in September 2019, leaving the hops farm in shambles. The business lost more than half the value of the crop that year as the storm left trellises broken and grounded hops unable to be harvested.

The business owners spent the following months seeking investors to help restore the farm.

“When we lost all those crops over Labor Day last year, that was a direct loss in business, and we did not have crop insurance,” Sannerud said.

“Overcoming that proved to be more difficult than we could handle. As a young farm, a startup business, we couldn’t weather that storm.”

In the agriculture industry, when bad

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Eric Sannerud stands near a hops at Mighty Axe Hops near Foley. Sannerud and his business partners closed the farm after struggling to recover from a devastating storm last fall and the continued challenges of COVID-19 on the industry.

weather strikes, there are policies in place to protect farmers’ bottom line.

“It’s really bad when you lose a corn crop, but there are programs in place to live to farm another season,” Sannerud said.

Unlike traditional agriculture commodities, like corn and soybean, hops are not covered under any sort of insurance program that farmers may receive from the government or can purchase from a private vendor.

This is likely because of the crop’s relative newness and lack of developed place in the industry, said Sannerud.

“On a broad scale, the day to day stuff of growing hops or raising cattle are not widely different,” he said. “Your tractor breaks never at the right time. Rains come at not the right time, all down the list. We all farm at the end of the day. But, if you really get into it, the (enterprises) are widely different. And, if we get the same storm, there’s no insurance options for hops. If programs do exist, they tend not to be robust enough.”

A detriment to Sannerud’s business was the scale of the operation.

When Sannerud first

started Mighty Axe Hops, he went through another fall storm that damaged the crop. But at the time, he was managing a 3-acre plot of land in Ham Lake.

“If we get the same storm as someone who grows 10 hops plants in their backyard, the damage might be the same, but it’s harder for us to recover from that,” Sannerud said.

Then, in the same time period Sannerud was trying to recoup the losses from the fall storm, COVID-19 arrived.

The hops business – which raised 13 varieties and sold to hundreds of breweries across the country – lost customers as breweries were not able to readily make and sell product.

“Whatever hope we had after the storm was lost,” Sannerud said. “Despite various (COVID-19) programs and aid packages state or federal governments put together, they weren’t applicable (to hops farmers).”

The severe fall storm and onset of the global pandemic became unbearable for the hops farm and were ultimately the reasons for Mighty Axe Hops folding.

The business is selling inventory and field equipment as they

prepare for permanent closure in the coming weeks.

“I don’t believe we should ever expect a type of insurance program that is the same as other traditional crops,” Sannerud said. “But I do hope that in the future, people have an easier time getting basic needs in case something happened to them what happened to us. It gives myself a piece of mind to know if that was available, we would have lived to see another spring.”

When Mighty Axe Hops was founded by Sannerud and his college classmate, Ben Boo, in 2013, the duo never imagined the enterprise would have grown as large and as quickly it did. And along the way, Sannerud learned more about production agriculture and business management than he could have ever imagined.

While Sannerud will be leaving the hops industry for the time being, he hopes to one day return to the agriculture sector that has brought him great joy.

“When I started, it was just a thing that sounded really neat and I knew nothing about,” he said. “I’ve gone through this curve of learning to push through the challenges no matter how daunting they were. I first started drinking from the firehose, and now I’m leaving feeling like I have some mastery over it.”

As Sannerud closes this chapter in his life, he remains grateful for the time spent in the community, the knowledge gained and people met in the hops industry.

“I’m thankful to all of our staff, our breweries and local community,” Sannerud said. “We had a lot of great staff who live and farm in the Foley area. And, to get to know some of our neighbor farmers, it was a great experience.”

SAUK RAPIDS HERALD | SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2020 | Page 5B

Behind the scenes

All hands on deck for Schmitts to picture cows

BY JENNIFER COYNE STAFF WRITER

RICE – The finished product of a professional photo shoot

of a dairy cow is pristine.

The animal is featured on a background that highlights her best features and eliminates distractions that would

Photographer Andrew Hetke pictures a Holstein cow at Schmitt Dairy Aug. 20 near Rice. Hetke is also a family friend of the Schmitts.

take away from the subject of the picture.

Yet, reaching that final photograph is a collaborative effort between the farmers, photographer and others who were on site the day of the shoot.

“We’ve been taking professional pictures of our cattle for over 40 years,” Mark Schmitt said. “We started with rolls of film not knowing how things would turn out until the photo mailer arrived. … Now, with digital, we know instantly if we have the right picture.”

Schmitt and his family – wife, Natalie, brother, Al, daughter, Katie, and son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Sara – pictured three Holstein cows Aug. 20 at their farm near Rice.

They were joined by friend Nicholas Achen and photographer Andrew Hetke.

“While the cows

PHOTOS BY ANNA HINKEMEYER

Sara and Michael Schmitt stand with Ralma Willpower Twix, EX-94, 2E at Schmitt Dairy Aug. 20 near Rice. Twix is one of Sara’s favorite cows, and was featured in the couple’s engagement photos two years ago.

looked great, which is always a benefit, the best part of the day was the crew assembled to make it all happen,” Schmitt said. “The whole day was a lot of joking and having fun.”

Three cows were pictured that afternoon, including Ralma Willpower Twix, EX-94 2E; Ralma Pety Suds, EX-92; and Ralma High Octane Deluxe, EX-90. The purpose of highlighting these three animals of the dairy’s 100-cow registered herd was to showcase the farm’s rich breeding

milestones and to promote the family’s upcoming sale.

“Cows are professionally pictured to market genetics and offspring,” Schmitt said. “Natalie has teased me that we have more professional pictures taken of our cows than our children.”

To prepare for the photoshoot, each cow was clipped two days prior and washed the day before and day of. They were also milked at a different time to ensure the udder would be full of milk for the shoot at 1

p.m.

“The process to prepare these cows for picturing is a daily task that starts the day they were mated and continues with outstanding daily care,” Schmitt said.

On the afternoon of the shoot, everyone helped to keep the cows attentive and ready for the camera. When Hetke was ready to take a shot, everyone remained near the cow to be sure she stood in the correct position.

Schmitts page 7B

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Corn silage season is upon us As we start to see choppers going in the corn fields, we need to make sure we are transitioning into new crop properly so our dairy cows do not miss a beat. Inclusion of corn silage into dairy rations is more complex than other feed ingredients because corn silage is really two University of MN Extension different feedstuffs: high

by Stacey Caughey moisture corn grain and grass silage. The nutritional value of corn silage can vary based on crop growing conditions, harvest moisture and the type of fermentation that occurred in the silo, bunker or pile. When we transition from old crop to new crop silage, the potential for nutritional variation in feed value is potentially great. We will need to conduct a feed analysis before making any ration changes.

Your biggest differences will be in moisture, starch content and neutral detergent fiber digestion. You will want to continue testing throughout feedout, as well, to ensure rations stay consistent to maximize rumen health and production.

Well fermented silage should include no visible signs of spoilage. Silage surfaces that heat up during feedout and get even hotter in the ration at the feedbunk are indicators of spoilage microbial activity that can lead to palatability issues. To prevent spoilage, it starts at harvest. When you are putting up your silage this fall, make sure that you are chopping at the correct moisture so it packs well. Use an inoculant to help aid in fermentation to get pH levels to drop quickly. Packing and covering the silage bunker or pile will also aid in less spoilage.

It is best to let your pile, bunker or silo sit and ferment for at least 30 days (longer is even better) before you open it up and start feeding out of it.

Managing last year’s crop to have a month carry over will help with keeping the silage consistent going to the cows.

BENTON AG

A recessed ag economy

Agriculture is now in a recessionary to grow more aggressive. economic zone. That’s the new term used in Earlier this month, the Farmed Animal the Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Conference E-Summit hosted a virtual Index to describe the sixth straight month conference organized by the Californiaof stalled or receding growth in the ag based animal sanctuary, Animal Place, economy. which also advocates for a vegan, crueltyAccording to the monthly survey of free lifestyle. bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region The Animal Agriculture Alliance dependent on agriculture and/or energy, the monitored the event and reported some of August index increased slightly from July the comments made by animal rights groups.

The Business but is well below growth neutral.

Here’s a little insight into their thinking. of Farming Farm commodity prices are down by The event started with a session aimed at

by Roger Strom 10.4% over the last 12 months and despite convincing people that animal agriculture the $32 billion in United States Department was the largest contributor to climate change. of Agriculture farm support payments, only 8% of the One speaker said, “The consumption of animals and bankers reported their area economy had improved animal agriculture is the leading destruction force on compared to July, while over 18% said economic our planet today. … It’s the thing that’s killing us the conditions had worsened. most – eating of animal products. It’s hurting the planet Nearly 46% of the bank CEOs with ethanol plants in the most and by the way, it’s responsible for the current their area reported temporary shutdowns with the other pandemic.”

54% reporting a slow recovery in ethanol production.

They even attacked ag-based youth organizations The August farm equipment sales index was down with a speaker saying, “So many children are devastated again for the 83rd straight month as layoffs outpaced by the whole 4-H, FFA program(s) that is clearly meant new hiring and farmers put off big ticket purchases. to desensitize them to farmed animals.”

Borrowing by farmers expanded in August but at Several sessions described animals as sentient a slower rate than in July. Bankers predict farm loan beings and therefore should have the same status defaults will go up 5.3% in the next year, up slightly as humans. And animals have no unconscious like from their July estimate. humans, meaning they cannot hide their emotions. Not On another subject, the world may be dealing to be sarcastic here, but maybe animals need counseling with a pandemic but that has not stopped animal rights to learn how to better deal with those hidden emotions? extremists from targeting farms, processing facilities … just sayin’. and retailers as the animal rights movement continues

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Grain bin safety has been the subject of much discussion during the past few years and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture is leading an effort to make safety more affordable. A new cost share program is available for farms looking to install safety equipment on grain bins and silos.

Minnesota farmers who want to add safety equipment to their on-

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BENTON AG

SAUK RAPIDS HERALD | SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2020 | Page 7B

Schmitts from page 5B

PHOTO BY ANDREW HETKE

Ralma Pety Suds, EX-92 is pictured for the Schmitt family of Rice. Suds is one of three cows the Schmitts pictured Aug. 20.

PHOTO BY ANDREW HETKE

Ralma High Octane Deluxe, EX-90 is shown after editing the original photograph. Picturing cows allows for farmers to highlight their animals’ best features.

This way of picturing cattle was not possible before digital photography and editing became available.

The Schmitts could still recall one of their first picturing opportunities in the 1980s where all whom were involved had to slowly, yet quickly step away from the cow before the photographer could shoot.

“Now, we only have one person who has to move out of the picture,” Schmitt said. “The rest all stay in place, keeping their hands on the cow to hold her in place.”

While picturing cattle is a part of the Schmitts’ business structure to market and promote their genetics, it is also a testament to how milking cows is more than a career for the family.

“Dairying is more than just milking cows,” Schmitt said. “Sure, there are long days and stretches when we don’t

get away from the farm, but it is the people we are connected with that make dairy farming an extended family and community.”

PHOTO BY ANDREW HETKE

Ralma Willpower Twix, EX-94, 2E is a cow that represents the Schmitt family’s milestones in dairy cattle breeding.

IT’S HARVEST TIME!

Be careful out there at all times B

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ECOSYL:

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Short on Labor? Short on time?

PHOTO BY ANNA HINKEMEYER

Andrew Hetke (front left) pictures Ralma High Octane Deluxe, EX-90 Aug. 20 at Schmitt Dairy near Rice. The cows were pictured in preparation for the family’s upcoming sale.

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Page 8B | SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2020 | SAUK RAPIDS HERALD

BENTON AG

BENTON AG

Fall harvest begins in central Minnesota

Plus

To advertise in Benton Ag Plus contact your marketing specialist below

Missy Traeger missy@saukherald.com 320-291-9899

TUB SAVINGS BUY 15 TUBS GET 16TH FREE Now until Nov. 20, 2020! * No mix and match. Tubs must be on same invoice to apply discount.

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BA36-1B-BL

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David Czech chops silage corn Sept. 2 while his son, Joe, drives alongside and catches the forage near Little Falls.

The Czechs plan to chop about 260 acres this year and store it on a pile for their 215-cow dairy.