Mielke Market Weekly

This column was written for the market- week and 500 head or 0.9 percent above ing week ending Dec. 3. that week a year ago.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture n announced the November Federal order Omicron became the buzzword of “Black Class III milk price at $18.03 per hundred- Friday” and ever since, as another chapter weight. This is up 20 cents from October, is written in the ongoing Covid saga. $5.31 below November 2020, but the high- Growing concern unleashed widespread est Class III price since May. The 11-month commodity market selling for those open average stands at $16.96, down from $18.39 a year ago and compares to $16.74 in 2019. Late morning on Dec. 3 Class III MIELKE MARKET WEEKLY By Lee Mielke on that Friday, with crude oil taking the brunt, according to StoneX Dairy Group, as countries scrambled to formulate and institute travel bans in an effort to futures portended a December price at $18.43 which would result in a MARKETING contain Omicron. While several reports downplayed 2021 average of $17.09, down from the seriousness of the new variant, $18.16 in 2020 and compares to the President tried to ease the fear, promising there $16.96 in 2019. would be no new lockdowns.

The Class IV price is $18.79, up $1.75 from October, “It may be much ado about nothing,” said StoneX $5.49 above a year ago, and the highest Class IV broker Dave Kurzawski in the Dec. 6 “Dairy Radio price since October 2014. Its 11-month average Now” broadcast. “Dairy has taken the news in stride,” stands at $15.74, up from $13.50 a year ago and he said, but “One thing is for sure, Omicron doesn’t down from $16.26 in 2019. make more milk.”

Meanwhile, a sharply higher October All Milk Price That’s the issue we’re dealing with right now, he and sharply lower corn and soybean prices propelled said, and follows anemic growth and even negative the October milk feed ratio higher for the second milk growth in October. Year-to-date U.S. milk output month in a row. The USDA’s latest Ag Prices report is up 1.6 percent while domestic dairy demand is up has the ratio at 1.87, up from 1.69 in September, but 2.4 percent. Throw in exports, he said, and demand is still down from last year’s 2.49. up over 4 percent.

The index is based on the current milk price in “We don’t have as much milk,” Kurzawski rearelationship to feed prices for a ration consisting of soned, “And the cost of producing milk has gone 51 percent corn, 8 percent soybeans and 41 percent through the roof for a lot of producers — especially in alfalfa hay. In other words, one pound of milk would the last few months, so $18 milk isn’t what it used to purchase 1.87 pounds of dairy feed of that blend. be.”

The U.S. All Milk Price averaged $19.70 per cwt., That said, he quickly added, “The market doesn’t up $1.30 from September but 30 cents below October have to give you a profit. If demand slows down 2020. The California price climbed to $19.90, up because of Omicron or some other variant or some$1.10 from September and a dime above a year ago. thing else comes out of the woodwork, prices can sink Wisconsin, at $19.60, was up $1.30 from September back down.” but $2 below a year ago. Kurzawski says he doesn’t see people eating any

The national average corn price fell to $5.02 per less because of Omicron so he still sees a stable and bushel, down 45 cents per bushel from September, slightly bullish market as we head into the end of the after dropping 87 cents from the August level, but is year. When asked how high milk prices might go in still $1.41 per bushel above October 2020. 2022 he answered, “No one knows for sure; but the

Soybeans averaged $11.90 per bushel, down 30 reality is, I wouldn’t rule out $20.” cents from September, after dropping $1.50 from “We’re not out of the woods yet,” he said, “but I don’t August, but is $2.27 per bushel above October 2020. think milk production is going to turn on a dime

Alfalfa hay averaged $213 per ton, up $4 from here. After talking with dairy producers all day long, September, after gaining $3 from August, and is a every day, I don’t see the capital investment being whopping $44 per ton above a year ago. put back into dairy farming today and I don’t see

Looking at the cow side of the ledger, the October demand slowing down a tremendous amount.” cull price for beef and dairy combined averaged n $70.60 per cwt., down $2.30 from September, $10.60 Looking globally, we got a peek at New Zealand’s above October 2020, but $1 below the 2011 base aver- October dairy exports. Whole milk powder was off 1.3 age of $71.60 per cwt. percent from a year ago while skim milk powder was

Dairy Margin Coverage payments will be triggered up 12.9 percent. for the 10th month in a row. HighGround Dairy says, “October was not an all-

In the week ending Nov. 20, 59,200 dairy cows were time high for the month even as volume shipped to sent to slaughter. This is up 900 from the previous China, the top destination, did hit a record. Strong powder exports were recorded into the country despite rumors of high inventories.”

HighGround Dairy says the strongest increase by volume into the rest of the world was on cheese, at 69.6 million pounds, up 20.1 percent from a year ago, strongest for the month in five years. China’s market share reached 26 percent as it remained the numberone destination; but gains over prior year were strongest to Japan. Year-to-date, cheese exports were up17.1 percent.

Butter totaled 41.8 million pounds, down 17.7 percent, though year-to-date is up 2.1 percent. n

In politics, Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced legislation this week which calls on the Agriculture Secretary to begin a national hearing process on Federal Milk Market Orders within six months of its passage. The hearings will consider the Class I mover, but may also address other issues as well.

A task force from six Midwest dairy groups gave the measure a thumbs up and stated, “The Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act leaves the door open to considering various proposals, such as the Class III Plus proposal put forth early this year, and the ability to address other areas of the system that are just as urgent, such as increasing price transparency.”

The task force also supports creation of an academic dairy pricing study that would aid in the discussion and called on lawmakers to “support this research effort to help inform whatever emerges from the hearing process. We look forward to working with the Senate and USDA to find a lasting solution for our dairy farmers.”

The National Milk Producers Federation says the legislation “adds bipartisan momentum to a range of critical milk pricing discussions that dairy farmers are having through NMPF’s Economic Policy Committee. NMPF is continuing to work with USDA and Congress on how best to remedy deficiencies in the Class I mover formula and fully recoup $750 million in unintended losses felt by farmers of all sizes.”

The International Dairy Foods Association recognized six individuals this week at the annual Celebration of Dairy, “whose work in federal legislation and food and agricultural policy has helped to advance the economic impact of the U.S. dairy industry.”

IDFA President and CEO Michael Dykes, recognized Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Rep. David Scott of Georgia, Rep. Sanford Bishop of Georgia, Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho, and Jason Hafemeister and Bruce Summers of the USDA with the IDFA Leadership Award.

Lee Mielke is a syndicated columnist who resides in Everson, Wash. His weekly column is featured in newspapers across the country and he may be reached at lkmielke@juno.com. v

By RICHARD SIEMERS

The Land Correspondent

God moves in mysterious ways, and Marv Chickering thinks that can be seen in a nativity scene which annually draws 1,500 people to Algona, Iowa each December. It was built by Eduard Kaib and five other German prisoners of war and donated to the community at the war’s conclusion.

During World War II, over 400,000 prisoners of war were housed in the United States — most of them German — and many of them captured in North Africa. Non-commissioned officer Eduard Kaib was never near North Africa. He was wounded at the battle of Stalingrad. He was taken to a hospital in France and nursed back to health, then sent to a holding camp in Italy before being transported to the United States and sent to Algona, Iowa.

What are the odds, mused Chickering, that this particular German prisoner, captured in Russia, would end up in Algona? Because “without him, we have no story,” Chickering said.

Camp Algona was one of the 155 base camps for prisoners of war around the United States. were used to replace the men who were Camp Algona had 34 branch camps in Minnesota overseas fighting. They worked on farms, in (20), Iowa (10), and the Dakotas (4). The prisoners canning factories, and lumber camps. Following the Geneva Convention, they were paid 10 cents an hour (80 cents a day). Being an officer, Kaib was not required to work; but when he arrived he was physically unable anyway, suffering from a gastric ulcer. Kaib was an architect by trade, and a good artist. As Christmas 1944 approached, Kaib dealt with his loneliness (he had a wife and daughter back in

Photos by Richard Siemers Eduard Kaib’s lifesize nativity scene in Algona, Iowa is made up of 65 figures – including 30 sheep. ON THE COVER: The holy family in the manger is guarded by volunteers in two-hour shifts throughout the month of December. There are 97 volunteers who erect, dismantle and watch the display which draws 1,500 viewers every year. A photo of Eduard Kaib hangs in the lobby. Germany) by building nativity scene figures out of the loamy soil. He dried them on the stove and painted them. He set up the 12-foot scene in the mess hall with a Christmas tree to help lift the spirits of other prisoners. The Camp Commander, Lt. Col. Arthur Lobdell, was impressed and encouraged Kaib to build a larger one for the following Christmas.

Kaib accepted the challenge. He and five friends worked on it when it fit their schedules. For the sheep, small logs were cut, legs were screwed on, and the form was covered with cement, textured to look like wool. For other figures, wooden frames with wire were covered with cement, then coated with plaster for a smooth surface which could be carved and painted. By December 1945, the nativity scene of one-half life-sized figures included the Holy Family, shepherds, magi, townspeople, an angel, camels, and a flock of 30 sheep — 65 figures in all.

“It’s a miracle in itself that six men built this in less than a year,” Chickering said.

The scene was part of the 1945 Camp Christmas service, with carols sung in English and German.

During a tour some years ago, a woman told Chickering her remembrance of being at that service. When she was four years old, her family lived across the street from the family of the camp commander. On that Christmas evening, the Lobdells invited her family to come out to the service at the

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camp, which was not open to the public.

Chickering recalled her memory: “They were introduced to Kaib, and she was persuaded to sit on his lap. She was very frightened. And years later she was told that while she sat there he was crying his eyes out, thinking of his own daughter back in Germany.”

After Christmas the public was invited to view the creation, and Chickering said about 3,000 people from different states stopped at the camp during the next six weeks.

When Camp Algona was closed in February 1946 and the prisoners were returned to Europe, the community asked if they might keep the nativity scene. Kaib agreed with three conditions: that it never be sold; that it be open to visitors during the holiday season; and that they never charge admission for people to see it.

Prisoners helped move and reassemble it (the camels alone weigh 500 pounds) and it was set up in a building at the Kossuth County fairgrounds in Algona. The Junior Chamber of Commerce took responsibility, and when that organization disbanded, the Men’s Club of the United Methodist Church took over. Today it is the congregation that sponsors the nativity scene.

In 1963, a new building was constructed to house

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One sheep from the display is sectioned to show how they were built of wood, sticks and concrete. The camels weigh about 500 pounds each.

It takes 97 volunteers to have the display open every day during December. They each take a twohour shift “babysitting the baby Jesus,” as they refer to it.

Marv Chickering chairs the Nativity Scene Committee and continues to be moved by the stories and responses the scene elicits from visitors. One of his favorites happened just before it closed one of those years.

“I always sign up for the last time slot — we close New Year’s Eve at 6:00 p.m. — and just before closing in walked a WWII veteran with two great-granddaughters — around ages 7 and 10. He started sharing war stories, and I could tell that the girls were not enamored with this.” Marv Chickering

Chickering suggested, as a diversion, that they go back into the nativity scene and count how many sheep there were. At that time there were 31 sheep. When they came out, he asked the oldest girl how many she had counted, and she said 32. He was puzzled and asked her how she came up with 32. “Well, she said, there are 30 adult sheep, there is the lamb in the shepherd’s arms, and there is the Christ child, the Lamb of God.” In a 1985 letter written to grade school children and displayed at the Camp Algona POW Museum in Algona, Kaib wrote: “I never intended to create a piece of art. The only intention when making the nativity scene was to help to bring the joy of Christmas to our camp. And you can imagine that I am very glad that the nativity scene … helps to heal the wounds of war.”

As it continues to bring wonder and healing to visitors, Chickering is convinced it was not just coincidence that an artistic German soldier was captured in Russia, sent to Algona, Iowa, had a camp commander who encouraged his work, and left the community a one-of-a-kind nativity scene which has inspired thousands through the years. He senses divine guidance that brought about a creation which continues to have an impact on people

The only thing that might top the Algona POW Nativity Scene is the wonder and mystery of the story it depicts.

Scheduled hours for visiting from Dec. 1-31 are Sundays and Christmas Day 12-8 p.m.; Monday through Saturday 2-8 p.m.; and New Year’s Eve 2-6 p.m. For appointments at other times, contact Marv Chickering at (515) 395-8373; or the First United Methodist Church office at (515) 295-7241. Find more information on location at https://www.pwcampalgona.org/nativity. v