Michigan Milk Messenger: January 2012

Michigan Milk Messenger 1

January 2012Volume 94 Issue 7

2 January 2012


Contents

Managing Editor ..................... Sheila BurkhardtEditor ........................................... Laura MoserAdvertising Manager ....................Karla MacelliCirculation .............................................. 4,200

An Equal Opportunity Employer – F/M/V/D

Michigan Milk Messenger (USPS 345-320) is the official publication of Michigan Milk Producers Association, published monthly since June 1919. Subscriptions: MMPA members, 50¢ per year; non-members, $5 per year.

41310 Bridge St. P.O. Box 8002

Novi, MI 48376-8002 Telephone: 248-474-6672 FAX: 248-474-0924

Periodical postage paid at Novi, MI and at additional offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Michigan Milk Messenger, PO Box 8002, Novi, MI 48376-8002.

(ISSN 0026-2315)

MMPA Matters ............................................... 5Quality Watch ................................................. 6News & Views ................................................. 8Legislative Watch ........................................... 10Merchandise Memo ....................................... 32Freeliners ....................................................... 34Classifieds...................................................... 36Policies .......................................................... 37Market Report ............................................... 38MMPA Lab Lines .......................................... 39MMPA Staff .................................................. 39

On the Cover

Volume 94 Issue 7www.mimilk.com

Departments

FeaturesJanuary 2012

MMPA board member Earl Horning was awarded the Richard E. Lyng award for his promotional efforts.

9 MMPA 2011-2012 Local Meetings

10 10th Annual Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference Takes Place Feb. 9–11 in Mt. Pleasant

12 District 1 OYDC ~ Jeremy & Jenelle Brenner

14 On Target with Promotion

17 2012 MMPA Milker Training Schools

18 District 4 OYDC ~ Dan and Sarah Minnis

20 Leaders’ Conference 2011

22 MMPA Quality Award Winners

26 NMPF/NDB/UDIA Annual Meeting

28 Milk is Local Campaign Connects Public with Dairy Producers

30 Navigating a New Course — NMPF Young Cooperator Meeting

14

November 2009Volume 92 Issue 5


January 2012Volume 94 Issue 7

30

20

4 January 2012

Officers President: Ken NobisVice President: Bob KranTreasurer: Mark Halbert General Manager/Secretary: Clay Galarneau Ass’t. Treasurer: Joe DiglioGeneral Counsel: David VanderHaagen

Directors-At-LargeKen Nobis, St. Johns ........................989-224-6170 or 248-474-6672, ext. 201Rodney Daniels, Whittemore ............989-756-4935Mark Halbert, Battle Creek ...............269-964-0511

Michigan Milk Producers Association, established in 1916, is a member owned and operated dairy cooperative serving approximately 2,200 dairy farmers in Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin and Ohio.

Mission Statement“To market our members’ milk to the

greatest advantage possible.”

District SixJohn Hufnagel, Westphalia 989-640-1394Anthony Jandernoa, 989-593-2224 St. Johns Aaron Gasper, Lowell 616-897-2747 David Reed, Owosso 989-723-8635

District SevenBill Blumerich, Berlin 810-395-2926Pat Bolday, Emmett 810-395-7139 Scott Lamb, Jeddo 810-327-6135Keith Wood, Kingston 989-683-2070

District EightMike Bender, Croswell 810-679-4782Tim Kubacki, Sebewaing 989-883-3249Dale Phillips, Marlette 989-635-7917Steve Schulte, Harbor Beach 989-479-9339

District TenJohn Bennett, Prescott 989-345-4264Rod Fowler, Chesaning 989-845-6131Scott Kleinhardt, Clare 989-386-8037Ken Daniels, Sterling 989-654-2546

District ElevenJim Good, Caledonia 616-891-1414Frank Konkel, Hesperia 231-854-8041 David Pyle, Zeeland 616-772-1512Bill Stakenas, Free Soil 231-757-9340

District TwelveRobert Barron, Gladstone 906-786-7027Ron Lucas, Posen 989-379-4694Corby Werth, Alpena 989-379-3772Jeremy Werth, Alpena 989-464-4022

District OneHank Choate, Cement City 517-529-9032Perry Cisco, Hudson 517-547-3231Carlton Evans, Litchfield 517-398-0629Glenn Preston, Quincy 517-639-4182

District TwoDonald Bever, Delton 269-671-5050Francis Burr, Mendon 269-778-3552Richard Thomas, 574-825-5198 Middlebury, IN Susan Troyer, Goshen, IN 574-533-4506

District FourDavid Bivens, Bellevue 269-758-3980Jeff Butler, Nashville 517-852-1859 Mark Crandall, 269-660-2229 Battle CreekDavid Lott, Mason 517-676-4593

District FiveTom Jeppesen, Stanton 989-762-5399Bill Jernstadt, Big Rapids 231-796-4650 Robert Lee, Marion 231-743-6794 Mike Rasmussen, Edmore 989-462-5380

Michigan Milk Producers Association

Advisory Committee

Board of DirectorsDistrict Directors 1. Earl Horning, Manchester ............734-428-7641 2. Tim Hood, Paw Paw ...................269-657-5771 4. Dan Javor, Hastings .....................269-948-8345 5. Brent Wilson, Carson City ...........989-584-3481 6. Brad Ritter, Byron .......................810-266-4091 7. James Reid, Jeddo .......................810-327-6830 8. Leonard Brown, Sandusky ...........810-648-450510. Eric Frahm, Frankenmuth ...........989-652-355211. Bob Kran, Free Soil .....................231-464-588912. John Kronemeyer, Pickford .........906-647-7638


MMPA MattersBy Ken Nobis

President

As we make our plans for the year 2012, we look forward

to the extra day that comes with a Leap Year. The added day that comes every fourth year keeps our annual calendars in sync with the astronomical, or seasonal, year. Spring, summer, fall, and winter would eventually drift away from their current months if this correction was not in place. With 2012 being a Presidential election year, that means one extra day of campaign advertising. Now that I’ve made this connection I’m beginning to wonder whether leap year is necessary to keep our calendars in sync or instead to keep Madison Avenue more profitable as a result of having one more day to fill with political ads.

Whatever the reason, 2012 has an extra day in it, and we all have enough leftover projects from 2011 that we can use that day to our advantage. One project that will move into the new year (but will require more than one extra day to finish) is the Farm Bill. We were hoping that a new Farm Bill could be enacted through the actions of the Super Committee that was created by Congress to come up with a plan to cut the deficit spending running rampant in the U.S. All of the committees in both the House and Senate were asked to submit plans outlining cuts that could be made in the areas under their control. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen; in fact, the only plan that was submitted came from the united Senate and House Agricultural Committees. They submitted a plan to cut about 20% of the cost in their version of the 2012 Farm Bill. With only Ag weighing in, the Super Committee

failed, which pushes the Farm Bill process into 2012.

What happens next is open for speculation. Since there was agreement from both the Senate and House Ag leadership on the 2012 Farm Bill, one possibility is to attach that version to some other piece of legislation. The Farm Bill could then be enacted with that legislation. If no agreement that results in comprehensive spending cuts is reached before January 1, 2013, mandatory across-the-board cuts are scheduled to become law.

Another possibility would be to start over using the traditional methods to formulate a Farm Bill. Some feel, though, that since we have satisfied many people with the current version, why start over? Whatever scenario develops, if it doesn’t happen early in 2012 it probably will not happen until after the November election.

One project that was completed in 2011 but took effect on January 1, 2012 is the continuation of the CWT program for 2012 and 2013. Over 70% of the nation’s milk supply is agreeing to contribute to the voluntary self help program. The contribution rate, two cents per hundredweight, will be used exclusively for export enhancement. CWT should raise approximately 28 million dollars each year to help export dairy products.

Exports are the fastest growing market that the U.S. dairy industry has available, but sometimes we need a little help to keep the exports flowing smoothly out of our country into other countries. Sometimes our prices are a little high, and that may

not reflect our pay price but could instead result from factors like freight rates, tariffs, or a lack of familiarity in a particular country with the nature and value of our product. Whatever the reason, CWT has proven to help grow exports. With so many economic uncertainties, including the not-so-safe safety net inherent in our current dairy policy, we should all feel better knowing CWT will be around for at least two more years.

Many projects at the state and local levels have moved into 2012 too. As you already know, the MMPA Board of Directors has accepted the recommendations of the Structure Committee and is in the process of informing our members about the details. If the proposals are accepted by the delegates at the Annual Meeting in March, they will go into effect at the beginning of MMPA’s new fiscal year on October 1, 2012. The Board is confident that the recommendations make sense in order to accommodate the realities of the 21st century.

I’ve just scratched the surface on the many issues facing all of us in the new year. We all have multiple issues facing us daily as we operate our dairy farms safely, profitably and responsibly. MMPA will continue its commitment “to market our members’ milk to the greatest advantage possible,” and I’m happy that we have one extra day in 2012 to commit to that promise.

2012 Could Be A Pivotal Year in Dairy Industry

6 January 2012

MMPA members have an excellent track record of

maintaining low SCC averages. The weighted SCC average for all MMPA members was under 200,000 in 2010 and will be even lower in 2011. This is good news since after January 1, 2012, the raw milk used to make certain food products needs to meet the raw milk quality criteria for the European Union (EU) at the farm level. Specifically, the standard plate count (commonly known by MMPA members as the raw bacteria count) cannot exceed 100,000 cfu/ml and the somatic cell count (SCC) cannot exceed 400,000 cells/ml.

MMPA and other milk handlers have complied with European Union (EU) SCC requirements for years as it applied to tanker loads of milk. A few years ago, USDA was approached by the EU to adjust the milk quality requirement so that it applied directly to the farm rather than the tanker. In late November 2011, USDA released the details of the new program which takes effect January 1, 2012.

Farm SCC compliance with the EU standard will be based on a rolling three month mean or average. For example, farm compliance for the month of April will be based on averaging the SCC from January, February and March. MMPA will start collecting SCC data this January through March to establish each member’s April SCC average. To maintain market access, it is critically important for all MMPA member farms to maintain their SCC below 400,000.

MMPA member representatives typically call on farms with SCC over 400,000 and will continue to call on these farms to review EU program

details at this time. Members wishing to reduce their SCC have access to a host of MMPA services through their member representative or the Novi office.

The services offered to MMPA members can be tailored to individual farms to create a plan that fits the farms management style, facilities and goal in mind. Changes in the EU requirement makes lowering SCCs to below 400,000 a top priority for our members and our field staff.

Tom Herremans, MMPA Mastitis Management Specialist, offers these pointers for those looking to improve their SCC, regardless of their current level.

Bulk Tank SCC Goal – 300,000 or 200,000 or 100,000 or 50,000?

If the bulk tank SCC is higher than desired, the effort to lower the bulk tank SCC must include two separate action plans: a plan to deal with already infected cows and a plan to prevent new infections.

While prevention is the only really effective plan that can assure long-term success, it does not reduce the bulk tank SCC immediately. An action plan for infected cows is needed for immediate reduction.

Reduce New Infections – The Plan that Works.

Successful plans to reduce new infections need to address three specific aspects of a cow’s production cycle. Three distinct phases of her production cycle—dry off, calving and every milking— present risk of new infections for very different reasons.

Milking time as the greatest opportunity to reduce the rate of new infections. A new infection rate of 7%

to 10% per month is not uncommon. Most of these infections occur while the cow is being milked. The bacteria that enter the gland to cause a new infection gain access while the milking unit is on the cow.

Effective Milking Routine – Reduces New Infection Rates.

An extensive review of management practices used by MMPA members with cell counts under 100,000, revealed only two characteristics really in common for those farms: The cows were clean and the milking crew prepped the cows very well to clean cows’ teats.

In an excellent milking routine, the technique used results in clean teat barrels and teat ends. Correct timing (stimulation time and lag time that properly utilizes oxytocin) can significantly reduce unit ‘on time’. This combination of good technique and timing can significantly reduce the rate of new infections.

MMPA Milker Training Schools – Great Opportunity for Members

The Milker Training Schools are a unique opportunity offered exclusively to MMPA members. The day-long training sessions are a combination of classroom instruction and ‘hands on’ training. While the instruction focuses strongly on the dynamics of an excellent routine, the message is tailored to benefit both the farm owner/manager and the employees. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to become one of the over 3,000 people who have attended an MMPA Milker Training School. The dates, locations and registration forms are found in this issue of the Milk Messenger.

The European Union Somatic Cell Standard Will Apply Directly to MMPA Member Farms.

By Gary TrimnerDirector of Member Services/Quality Control

Quality WatchBy Dean Letter

MMPA Manager of Producer Testing and Herd Health Programs


Make labor the most productive enterprise on your farm. Managing employees can be one of the most challenging areas yet critical for the success of the operation. Learn how to manage people and build a dynamic team through this interactive training at three locations across the state.

Topics Featured:

Farm business success in turbulent times Learn what dairy managers must become to succeed today and into the future as family farm owners.

Employee involvement in the business Hear how two progressive producers have involved employees in their business.

Quality control through employees Develop the practical aspects of consistency and quality in herd management.

Labor management on the expanding enterprise As a farm expands, it is important for the managers to grow and change the leadership, supervision and coaching of employees for success.

Supervisory skills for exceptional employee performance Learn effective tools for supervising and leading your workforce from cutting-edge research, participant activities and examples.

To register: Go to http://bit.ly/dairylabormgt or contact ANR Event Management at [email protected] or (517)-353-3175, ext. 229.

For more information contact: Phil Durst

989-387-5346 or [email protected]

Stan Moore 231-533-8818 or [email protected]

Keep your management skills growing The MSU Extension dairy team has numerous resources available to help owners and managers learn new skills. Other Featured Speakers: Charles, P. Contreras, PeopleFirst, Human

Capital Services of Pfizer Animal Health Ron Erskine, Michigan State University Richard Pursley, Michigan State University Herb Bucholtz, Michigan State University

Calling all dairy farm owners, operators and managers

Michigan State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.

Acquire the skills to balance: urgency with importance well-established concepts

with innovation business financial health

with learning and growth investments

Learn management techniques and tips from nationally renowned labor management consultant Robert Milligan, Ph.D., from Dairy Strategies.

Three Dates and Locations

February 20-21, 2012 Amway Grand Plaza Hotel Grand Rapids, Michigan Monday Evening Session: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Tuesday Session: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

February 22, 2012 Great Wolf Lodge Traverse City, Michigan Day Session: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Evening Session: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

February 23-24, 2012 Bavarian Inn and Conference Center Frankenmuth, Michigan Thursday Evening Session: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Friday Session: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Registration Pricing $125 per person

$210 per management team (two people from same farm)

Special Evening Session: In addition to the daylong training, the program will feature an evening session to foster discussion about family teamwork in management.

Make labor the most productive enterprise on your farm. Managing employees can be one of the most challenging areas yet critical for the success of the operation. Learn how to manage people and build a dynamic team through this interactive training at three locations across the state.

Topics Featured:

Farm business success in turbulent times Learn what dairy managers must become to succeed today and into the future as family farm owners.

Employee involvement in the business Hear how two progressive producers have involved employees in their business.

Quality control through employees Develop the practical aspects of consistency and quality in herd management.

Labor management on the expanding enterprise As a farm expands, it is important for the managers to grow and change the leadership, supervision and coaching of employees for success.

Supervisory skills for exceptional employee performance Learn effective tools for supervising and leading your workforce from cutting-edge research, participant activities and examples.

To register: Go to http://bit.ly/dairylabormgt or contact ANR Event Management at [email protected] or (517)-353-3175, ext. 229.

For more information contact: Phil Durst

989-387-5346 or [email protected]

Stan Moore 231-533-8818 or [email protected]

Keep your management skills growing The MSU Extension dairy team has numerous resources available to help owners and managers learn new skills. Other Featured Speakers: Charles, P. Contreras, PeopleFirst, Human

Capital Services of Pfizer Animal Health Ron Erskine, Michigan State University Richard Pursley, Michigan State University Herb Bucholtz, Michigan State University

Calling all dairy farm owners, operators and managers

Michigan State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.

Acquire the skills to balance: urgency with importance well-established concepts

with innovation business financial health

with learning and growth investments

Learn management techniques and tips from nationally renowned labor management consultant Robert Milligan, Ph.D., from Dairy Strategies.

Three Dates and Locations

February 20-21, 2012 Amway Grand Plaza Hotel Grand Rapids, Michigan Monday Evening Session: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Tuesday Session: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

February 22, 2012 Great Wolf Lodge Traverse City, Michigan Day Session: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Evening Session: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

February 23-24, 2012 Bavarian Inn and Conference Center Frankenmuth, Michigan Thursday Evening Session: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Friday Session: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Registration Pricing $125 per person

$210 per management team (two people from same farm)

Special Evening Session: In addition to the daylong training, the program will feature an evening session to foster discussion about family teamwork in management.

8 January 2012

News & ViewsThe latest dairy news

November Class III up $1.04 The November Class III price is $19.07, up $1.04 from October. The November Class IV is $17.87, down 54¢.

Upcoming Events

JanuaryLocal meetings continue - see listing on page 9

25 MMPA Resolutions and Nominating Committees - Novi

February9-11 Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference, Mt. Pleasant

District Meetings

23 UDIM Annual Meeting

Dairy cooperatives and individual farmers representing 70.1% of the nation’s milk have committed two cents per hundred pounds of milk to Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) for 2012 and 2013. As a result of reaching the minimum participation level that the CWT Committee established, the Export Assistance program will carry on with assisting member cooperatives in selling U.S. cheese to key markets around the world. The two-cent investment will begin with milk marketed in January 2012, and continue on member milk marketings through December 2013.

Meanwhile, CWT members continued to aggressively sell American cheeses to key markets in November. A total of 9.5 million pounds of Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese, scheduled for shipment through April 2012, will receive assistance from CWT. This brings the total export sales assisted so far in 2011 to 88.3 million pounds going to 25 countries on four continents.

CWT Export Assistance Program Extended

January 17 TuesdayJanuary 26 Thursday February 17 FridayFebruary 27 Monday March 16 FridayMarch 26 Monday April 17 TuesdayApril 26 Thursday May 17 ThursdayMay 25 Friday June 18 MondayJune 26 Tuesday

July 17 TuesdayJuly 26 Thursday August 17 FridayAugust 27 Monday September 17 MondaySeptember 26 Wednesday October 17 WednesdayOctober 26 Friday November 16 FridayNovember 26 Monday December 17 MondayDecember 26 Wednesday

Settlement Dates Processed Through JP Morgan Chase Calendar Year 2012

The MMPA direct deposit pro-gram provides for the direct deposit of your net milk proceeds to your bank account through the use of an electronic funds transfer system. This system assures the deposit of funds on the dates listed below.

The direct deposit service is free to MMPA members. Members on direct deposit receive their check statement by mail. The statement

is the same as the one attached to the milk check. The direct deposit stub of the statement indicates the amount transferred into the mem-ber’s bank account.

If you are interested in signing up for direct deposit or desire more information, please contact the MMPA Member Services Depart-ment at 800-572-5824.

MMPA 2012 Direct Deposit Schedule


Our strength...

is in our Members!

MMPA 2011-2012 Local Meetings

Local Date Place Location Time Speaker

Frankenmuth Tuesday, Jan. 3 Sullivan’s Black Forest Frankenmuth 12:00 noon Clay Galarneau

Mid-Michigan Tuesday, Jan. 3 Clinton County RESA St. Johns 11:30 a.m. Ken Nobis

Bad Axe Thursday, Jan. 5 Franklin Inn Bad Axe 11:30 a.m. Ken Nobis

Dairyland Thursday, Jan. 5 Bloomer Township Hall Carson City 12:00 noon Clay Galarneau

Adrian Friday, Jan. 6 Rome Grange Hall 12:00 noon Clay Galarneau

Alma Friday, Jan. 6 Maxfield’s Restaurant Blanchard 11:30 a.m. Ken Nobis

Constantine Saturday, Jan. 7 Siloam Fellowship Hall Goshen 10:30 a.m. Clay Galarneau

West Huron Saturday, Jan. 7 Immanuel Lutheran Church Sebewaing 12:00 noon Ken Nobis

Deford/Clifford-Mayville Monday, Jan. 9 Liz’s American Diner Caro 12:00 noon Sheila Burkhardt

Owosso Monday, Jan. 9 Drew’s Steakhouse Owosso 12:00 noon Dean Letter

Flint and Livingston Charter

Tuesday, Jan. 10 Janelle’s Family Restaurant Byron 12:00 noon Clay Galarneau

Grand Rapids Wednesday, Jan. 11 Fire Mountain Comstock Park 11:45 a.m. Ken Nobis

Ingham County Wednesday, Jan. 11 Alaiedon Township Hall Mason 11:00 a.m. Clay Galarneau

St. Clair-Macomb Wednesday, Jan. 11 Holly Meadows Golf Course

Capac 11:30 a.m. Joe Diglio

Evart Thursday, Jan. 12 Rehoboth Reformed Church

McBain 11:00 a.m. Ken Nobis

Muskegon Thursday, Jan. 12 Russ’ Banquet Room Muskegon 11:30 a.m. Clay Galarneau

Hillman Friday, Jan. 13 Hillman Community Center Hillman 11:30 a.m. Ken Nobis

West Michigan Friday, Jan. 13 Zeeland Township Hall Vriesland 11:30 a.m. Clay Galarneau

Deckerville Saturday, Jan. 14 St. John’s Lutheran Church Palms 12:00 noon Clay Galarneau

Lapeer County Plus Monday, Jan. 16 Nino’s Tavern Imlay City 12:00 noon Sheila Burkhardt

Saline-Ann Arbor Tuesday, Jan. 17 Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds

Ann Arbor 12:00 noon Ken Nobis

Jackson County Plus Wednesday, Jan. 18 Gene Davis & Sons Jackson 12:00 noon Joe Diglio

Sandusky/Southern Sanilac Wednesday, Jan. 18 Liberty Lanes Sandusky 12:00 noon Ken Nobis

Clare Thursday, Jan. 19 Church of Nazarene Clare 11:00 a.m. Joe Diglio

Hillsdale-Litchfield Thursday, Jan. 19 Hillsdale County Fairgrounds

Hillsdale 12:00 noon Carl Rasch

Blossomland Friday, Jan. 20 Zeke’s Restaurant Dowagiac 12:30 p.m. Sheila Burkhardt

Mt. Pleasant Friday, Jan. 20 Riverwood Mt. Pleasant 11:30 a.m. Carl Rasch

Brown City-Marlette Saturday, Jan. 21 Eddie G’s Marlette 12:00 noon Clay Galarneau

10 January 2012

Legislative WatchIssues important to today’s dairy farmers

Even though the congressional Super Committee process failed

to reach an agreement on how to make $1.2 trillion in spending cuts, the leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture committees did agree last month to a 2012 Farm Bill framework that includes the NMPF-backed Dairy Security Act.

The top Democrats and Republicans on the House and Senate panels had been negotiating throughout the autumn on the outlines of a new Farm Bill, in an effort to reduce overall agriculture spending by $23 billion. That

effort paralleled the larger Super Committee process that targeted farm programs as part of its package of trillion-dollar cuts. Because the Dairy Security Act provides a budget savings compared to current policies – and because it offers farmers a better safety net – the Ag committee negotiators included the DSA as part of the overall package.

Specifically, both the Dairy Margin Protection Program and the Dairy Market Stabilization Program were featured in the Farm Bill draft, while the Dairy Product Price Support Program, the Milk

Income Loss Contract Program and the Dairy Export Incentive Program were eliminated.

Although the demise of the Super Committee process has now pushed consideration of the next Farm Bill into 2012, NMPF is confident that the Dairy Security Act remains the foundation of dairy policy reform as the next Farm Bill is refined. NMPF will continue working with its members to urge House and Senate members to build on the agreement achieved last month, so that dairy policy reform can be finalized next year.

Farm Bill Agreement Contains Dairy Reform Proposal

Dairy producers attending the 10th annual Great Lakes

Regional Dairy Conference (GLRDC) Feb. 9–11 at the Soaring Eagle Resort, Casino and Conference Center in Mount Pleasant should come prepared to find out the latest information available on managing the challenges of dairy farming. From achieving the biggest bang for your buck when making facility improvements to increasing service rates and determining how developing mentoring and training programs can benefit the bottom line on your dairy operation, this conference is the place to be.

The first day of the conference will feature Matt McKnight, senior vice president for market access,

regulatory and industry affairs, U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC). He will talk about capitalizing on the growing global demand for dairy products.

Other speakers on the first day of the conference include Dr. Greg Bethard, assistant director for dairy technology for Dairy Records Management System (DRMS), who will challenge conference attendees in determining if they are efficiently replacing animals in their herd, and Paul Anderson, chief credit officer for GreenStone Farm Credit Services, who will lay out how to achieve the biggest bang for your buck when improving facilities. Jennifer Garrett, president of JG Consulting Service LLC, will deliver tips on closing

the knowledge gap between food producers and consumers, and Hall of Fame speaker David Okerlund will discuss the positive aspects of change.

Attendees will also hear from United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM) dietitians, school food service directors and former Detroit Lions defensive tackle and Pro Bowler Luther Ellis about Fuel Up to Play 60 (FUTP60).

Friday morning Dr. Albert DeVries, associate professor at the University of Florida, will start the morning program by defining the value of a (cow’s) pregnancy. Dr. Ray Nebel, senior reproduction and dairy herd management specialist for Select Sires Inc., will conclude

10th Annual Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference Takes Place Feb. 9–11 in Mt. Pleasant


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the reproduction section with a talk about improving service rates. Dr. Nebel will then facilitate a producer panel highlighting how three farms have been able to achieve higher service rates in their herds: Goma Dairy (Van Den Goor), Marlette; Double Eagle Dairy (Weller), Middleton; and Sturgis Dairy (VanderHulst), Sturgis.

Friday afternoon, Feb. 10, attendees will have the choice of attending two of the four in-depth workshops offered:

• “Your Employee Hiring Process: Can You Pass Inspection?” with Craig Anderson, Michigan Farm Bureau

• “Connect with Your Community: Every Relationship Counts” with Jane Hillstrom, Hillstrom Communications Inc. (offered one time at 1:15 p.m.)

• “Leading the Conversation: How to Answer Difficult Questions from Curious Consumers” with Hillstrom (offered one time at 3:15 p.m.)

• “The Economics of Getting Cows Pregnant” with Dr. Albert DeVries, University of Florida.

The Michigan Brown Swiss and Holstein associations will conduct their annual meetings on Saturday, the third and final day of the conference, starting at 10 a.m. A group lunch and statewide Purebred Dairy Cattle Association (PDCA) update occurs at noon following the meetings. The Michigan Jersey Cattle Club will conduct its annual meeting and Holstein Association USA will hold its regional member meeting starting at 1 p.m.

Individual (adult), student and farm registration options are available. Registrations received before Jan. 20 will receive a $50 discount. Online registration closes Jan. 27 at midnight. On-site registrations are subject to availability.

Visit www.glrdc.msu.edu for the complete conference schedule or to register online. Participants can also register by phone by calling Michigan State University agriculture and natural resources events coordinator Megghan Honke at 517-353-3175.

12 January 2012

District 1 OYDCJeremy & Jenelle Brenner

The year 2009 will undoubtedly be etched in the memories of dairy

farmers for a long time. Historically low prices coupled with increasing input costs challenged even the most seasoned dairy farmers. For young farmers it was an eye-opening experience that in many cases changed the way they manage their farm.

For Jeremy and Jenelle Brenner 2009 was a year of tough decisions and fine-tuning management practices. The Brenners, the District 1 OYDC, were relatively new in the business having joined Jeremy’s parents Chris and Beth in 2002 after Jeremy finished the Ag Tech Dairy Management.

“We looked at everything we did in 2009 with a real close eye,” Jeremy says. “There were things we had done

for years that we discontinued. We started paying attention to everything and that made us better managers today because we look carefully at what we do and why we do it.”

While they worked to trim excess and tighten their spending, the Brenners continued to keep focus on two major areas of management: breeding and milk quality. Jeremy uses a synchronized breeding program and the NorthStar Select Mating Service. By changing his breeding protocol he has seen big improvements in the replacement heifers coming into the herd.

“We switched from sexed semen to lower cost semen in 2009 and 2010 but we continued to synchronized the cows and use good quality bulls – just

not the most expensive ones. We have used A-I on our farm for over 35 years, and we plan to continue,” Jeremy says.

Milk quality is one area that Jeremy will not cut corners. “I am a real stickler about milking procedures,” he says. “All our employees go to the MMPA Milker Training Schools and we expect them to follow that procedure here.”

The Brenners have been MMPA Bronze or Silver Quality Award winners for 15 years – but their goal is the Gold level.

“We are really working to get our Somatic Cell Count down, but it is really hard to hold it down month to month,” he says. “We have gotten under 100,000 for a time but it then shoots back to 120,000 or so. I am


impressed by the people that can win the national quality awards – I always look forward to reading about them so I can see how they do it.”

Currently the Brenners are milking 240 cows through a double-four parlor. The limited parlor size and aging equipment create hurdles for the Brenners in achieving top quality numbers. They call on their MMPA member representative to perform system checks and their equipment dealer also makes routine checks.

“When you milk as many cows as we do through a double four parlor, you really have to pay attention to details. We would like to build a new parlor, but for now we do the best that we can.”

To offset some of their expansion pressures, Jeremy moves the calves after they are weaned to a contract heifer grower. He brings them back to his farm to be bred and then once they are confirmed pregnant they go back to the heifer raiser until they are close to calving.

“Using a heifer raiser saves on labor costs and frees up space for the milk cows,” he says.

Through the number-crunching in 2009, the Brenners determined that it was more cost-efficient to pasteurize waste milk or even fresh milk for the calves, than to buy milk replacer. So they installed a pasteurizer and switched to feeding whole milk to the calves.

While much of the changes on the Brenners farm have taken place in areas of herd management and farm expenses; one of the most notable changes among the young couple is their change in attitude and sense of responsibility as dairy farmers.

“It used to be if you said you were a dairy farmer, everyone knew what that meant and for the most part people liked you. But now it seems you have to explain everything you do and why you do it. It has been a big change in thinking for us, but we are thinking a lot about how our neighbors view us,” Jeremy says.

Jenelle, who worked at a local medical center, saw first hand how little people know about farming.

“I used to get into a lot of conversations with people about what it is like to be a dairy farmer,” she says. “I try to explain to them that we

really do care about our farm and our animals.”

To help convey that message the Brenners have participated in the FARM program, and are close to being MAEAP verified. They also helped at the Washtenaw County Breakfast on the Farm in 2010. This summer the Brenners are hosting an Ice Cream Social for their neighbors.

“When there is so much bad stuff out there about farming we need to do what we can to let people know that the majority of farmers are good people and it is not all the bad stuff they see on the Internet.”

The Brenners also have three good reasons to help protect dairy’s image for the future – their children: Robert, 11, Kaylyn, 4, and Annaleigh, 2.

“We are much more optimistic about the future today, than we were two years ago,” Jeremy says. “In 2009 we did what we did to get by without thinking about the future – just getting through this tough time. We learned a lot during that time and it gives us confidence going forward.”

Early registration ends January 26!

Great Lakes Regional Dairy ConferenceFebruary 9–11 Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort • Mt. Pleasant, MI

Here’s a sampling of what you’ll hear:• Learn techniques for improving consumers’ understanding of modern-day food production

practices

• Meet former Detroit Lions defensive tackle and two-time Pro Bowl player Luther Elliss and find out how Michigan schools are creatively implementing Fuel Up to Play 60 to increase dairy consumption in their districts

• Find out the latest trends in global dairy production from Tom Suber, President of the U.S. Dairy Export Council

• Examine the latest in facility designs and improvements from experts Paul Anderson and Curt Gooch and hear from several Michigan producers about what they’re doing

• Learn how to determine the value of a pregnancy from University of Florida reproduction and economics expert Albert DeVries

• Discover why managing labor is the cornerstone of a dairy operation from two Colorado dairy industry labor management experts

• Attend your choice of Friday afternoon workshops: labor management, connecting with the public, and determining the economics of a pregnancy

Great LakesRegional Dairy Conference

serving the dairy industry since 2003

www.glrdc.msu.edu

14 January 2012

Although his name was on the plaque for the Richard E. Lyng

Promotion Award, Earl Horning was quick to deflect the lime light and splash it back on the people in Michigan who have spent years promoting dairy products saying, “I’m extremely grateful to be honored but it wasn’t just Earl Horning who brought this award to Michigan.”

In November, Earl Horning of Horning Farms, Manchester, traveled to San Diego for the Joint National Dairy Board/National Milk Producers Federation/United Dairy Industry Association (UDIA) Annual Meeting. With humility, Earl accepted the award that puts promotion on a pedestal, the Richard E. Lying Award. This prestigious honor is named

for former U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Richard E. Lyng, who played a key role in implementing policies that led to the establishment of the National Dairy Board (NDB) more than 25 years ago. The Lyng Award honors dairy industry leaders who have made a significant contribution to dairy promotion that benefits the entire dairy industry.

“I’m deeply appreciative to be honored with this award and all the team work of those at United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM). But we also need to applaud all those promoting milk and for creating the programs that we do here in Michigan.”

As the fourth generation to milk cows on their centennial

farm, Earl and his wife Diane got started early with dairy promotion as the Outstanding Young Dairy Cooperators for MMPA. Having the opportunity to serve as the young cooperators for MMPA, the Hornings took full advantage to promote dairy and haven’t stopped since.

Although Earl says promotion is a moving target and changing all the time, the schools have been a fertile environment to promote milk. Earl was involved with getting milk vending machines into schools throughout the state of Michigan and is now working with UDIM to get chocolate milk as the official drink of the Michigan High School Athletic Association for every sport, not just basketball as in the past.

Providing chocolate milk to the student athletes may be a little easier in the future with the new program UDIM is developing. “There are a handful of schools who applied for a grant for a pilot program to have chocolate milk available in training rooms for student athletes to regenerate after practices and workouts. These grants were snatched up fast because schools want good nutrition programs for their students,” Earl commented. He added, “U of M, MSU and several other universities around the state have milk in their training rooms for their athletes to refresh after practices.”

Earl also touted UDIM’s work on the school breakfast program where students start their day with a free breakfast which includes milk. And with an excitement in his voice, Earl was elated to explain that McDonalds will automatically be offering milk with every kid’s meal they serve unless the customer asks for something else. “This is huge for our industry to have McDonald’s cooperation on this.”

While Earl gets excited about the programs like Fuel Up to Play 60, offered and promoted by UDIM and Dairy Management Inc., he doesn’t leave it all up to the experts. “We hosted Breakfast on the Farm in 2010 and that was a lot of work but it was great to have 2,000 people come to the farm and learn about the dairy industry.” He added, “It took a lot of volunteers to pull that off and it

MMPA member Earl Horning recoginzed for promotional effortsOn Target with Promotion

By Melissa Hart

“We also need to applaud all those promoting milk and for creating the programs that we do here in Michigan.”


was great to see so many in our industry come together to make it work.”

The Horning Family Farm, with most of the daily operations managed by Earl’s son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Lynda, are also a feature family on another UDIM Internet project; Michigan Dairy News Bureau (Michigandairynewsbureau.org). This website is the center for science-based information about Michigan dairy farming including cow care, environmental/sustainability practices and dairy food safety.

Packed with information about dairy farming, the Michigan Dairy News Bureau also includes a veterinarian’s perspective, a place to ask the experts, health information and profiles on several farm families that include a blog for each family.

The Horning Family blog is kept by Earl’s grandson, Mason, an 8th grader at Manchester Middle School.

“Mason knows everybody and everybody knows Mason,” laughed Earl. “We had some media experts come to the farm to give us training on how to best answer questions from the public and during a break in the action, I told Mason to take the people on a tour of the farm. When they got done with the tour, they said, ‘we gotta have Mason doing promotion’ and he’s been doing it ever since.”

Most recently Earl was interviewed by Annarbor.com about the job opportunities in agriculture. Earl commented about doing media interviews, “I’ve gotten caught in traffic a few times, but I take every opportunity to visit with these people because it keeps you on your toes.”

Looking to the future of promotion, Earl is excited about the relationships Dairy Management Inc., has developed with restaurant chains and how this will increase the demand of dairy products. And as long as UDIM keeps coming up with new promotion programs, Earl will be involved.

“Promoting milk is what we do and to have others recognize what you’re doing, then that’s just great.”

As part of the Richard E. Lyng Award, the NDB will make a $2,500 contribution to the Michigan Dairy Memorial and Scholarship Foundation at Michigan State University.

Earl and Diane Horning at the UDIA Award Banquet

800.451.9275 www.accelgen.com [email protected]

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16 January 2012


2012 Milker Training School Locations and Dates

Registration: 9:30 a.m. Program: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Lunch is provided

February 1 Topeka, IN Cletus and Marilyn Yoder February 15 Litchfield Ferry Farms

March 1 (Spanish) Greenville Greenville Community Center March 2 Greenville Greenville Community Center March 6 Fremont Fremont United Methodist Church March 13 Caro Brentwood April 5 Clare Church of Nazarene

Milker Training Registration

Name

Address

Telephone

Producer Permit Number

Date and location of session you will attend:

Number of people attending:

English

Hispanic

Send this form to: MMPA Milker Training School P.O. Box 8002 Novi, MI 48376-8002

Don’t Miss a Great Opportunity to Help Lower SCC Rising to the challenge of lower SCC requirements is no easy task but additional SCC quality premiums and increased milk production per cow are only a few of the rewards waiting to be claimed. The importance of proper udder prep and milking procedure for mastitis control and milk quality is indisputable. MMPA Milker Training Schools provide an opportunity for members and their employees to improve their udder prep and milking procedure through a combination of classroom instruction and hands on training conducted by Tom Herremans, Christy Dinsmoore, Katie Pierson, Lyndsay Stakenas and Kendra Stieg.

MMPA Milker Training School is a daylong session offered free of charge to MMPA members and their employees. Farm managers are encouraged to attend with their employees so they are able to reinforce new techniques that may be implemented on their farm. A schedule and registration form is listed below. Each school is limited to 30 people, however, a second session may be held to meet demand. Early registration is a must to determine if a second day is needed at some locations. Contact your MMPA Member Representative or Member Services Department in the Novi office with any questions or registration information.

Hispanic Milker Training Schools Some Michigan dairy farms employ Hispanic milkers. They are often enthusiastic, cooperative employees; however, the language barrier often makes communication between milker and owner difficult. For this reason, MMPA offers Hispanic Milker Training Schools. The presentation is taught in Spanish and allows time for discussion on specific milking routine questions. A concurrent but separate session is offered in English for employers and milking supervisors of the Hispanic employees so they will have an overview of the techniques the employees are taught.

Schools at Additional Locations The locations for the 2012 Milker Training Schools were selected based on MMPA producer responses to the Milker Training School survey sent to members in the October milk check. Schools were located in any area where 25 or more members requested a school.

If members would like a school offered in an area other than the locations already selected, and know that 20-30 people would attend from that area, we can still schedule a school for that area. To request a school at a location not listed below, contact Christy Dinsmoore at (989) 528-9102 or [email protected] or the Member Services Department at the Novi office.

2012 MMPA Milker Training Schools

18 January 2012

District 4 OYDCDan and Sarah Minnis

Taking over the operations of a multi-generational family dairy

farm can be a humbling experience for the current owners. Knowing the history, the challenges and the successes spanning their farm’s 150-year history helps keep things in perspective for Dan and Sarah Minnis.

“I never think of this as ‘my farm’,” Dan says. “I’m just in charge of it for this generation.”

Dan’s mother, Kathi, is a history and genealogy buff that has strung together the generations and legacies of the farm, creating a story of how the Minnis Farm weathered wars, the depression and the constant changes of the dairy industry. Dan knows the stories and understands the legacy of the farm. His understanding of the past gives

him patience in making the changes and advancements in the farm.

“We want to expand and maybe build a new milking facility but we are not willing to take on a lot of debt to do it,” Dan says. “We are adding barns as the herd grows and hope to eventually put in a new parlor. I don’t want to put in a new parlor and barns and then have to buy a bunch of cows to make it cash flow.”

Dan started working with his father, Larry, on a regular basis during his senior year of high school. He continued to work on the farm while he attended MSU. After completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science in 2000, Dan became a full-time employee. Shortly after that he and his parents formed an LLC for the farm.

“My dad has been good about letting me try new things and make some changes, but he still holds veto power,” Dan says.

Since 2000 the herd has grown from 80 cows to 200 and they have added several new buildings. They have been able to maintain a steady growth rate by improving their breeding program and using sexed semen. They have also made changes in their feeding program swapping baylage for haylage and incorporating BMR corn.

A major focus for Dan has been improving over all cow health and milk quality. Moving the cattle from a tie-stall barn to a freestall barn with sand bedding was the first step in improving cow comfort.

“With better barns we are seeing better cow health, especially with the fresh cows,” Dan says.


In addition to the freestall barns, they also built a transition barn for the young stock. The varying locations of the Minnis barns reflect the stages of growth the family has gone through. The “main farm” is only 40 acres and holds the milking facility and freestall barn. The young stock are on two other pieces of property they own nearby.

“We have cattle in four different townships,” Dan says. “But its all we have ever known so it doesn’t bother us. We are used to driving between places.”

The next step for the Minnises will be a new manure management system, currently they are using a daily haul program, but as the herd grows it will be more difficult to use only daily hauling.

“We are always changing something. We seem to pick a problem and start working on it,” Dan says. “But it usually happens that fixing one problem creates a new one, so there is always something we are working on. But that’s what keeps it interesting. Dairy farming isn’t always easy – if it was everyone would do it!”

The Minnis farm is part of a small pocket of dairy farms in the Dansville area. Having dairy farm neighbors, including family members, is something Dan and Sarah really appreciate.

“We are always helping each other out in the fields, or with the cows. It is good to have people around to work with.”

Dan’s sister, Erin Graf is married to a dairy farmer and Sarah also grew up on a dairy farm in Dansville. “I guess dairy farmers like to stick together,” Dan says.

Sarah also helps with her father’s farm books and works at a local hospital. Her dad, Kevin Cavanaugh, is a four-time winner of the MMPA Top Quality Award.

“I think our quality went up just having Sarah here,” Dan jokes.

Dan and Sarah are the parents of two young girls, Cassa, 16 months and Raegan, 6 weeks.

The Minnises are members of the MMPA Ingham County Local and District 4. Dan is a delegate for the local.

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Preserve & Protect

20 January 2012

enator Stabenow started the morning with dairy policy updates, a Boll Weevil ended the afternoon with a plea to get active and updates galore filled an information packed day as the MMPA leadership met for their annual, day-long Leaders’ Conference on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing.

After a welcome from MMPA Vice President, Bob Kran, Michigan’s own Senator Debbie Stabenow (D), the chair of the U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee took time from her busy schedule to update the group about the status of budget cuts and the progress of the U.S. House and Senate Ag Committees.

Getting the dairy policy right was the senator’s focus as she said she was deeply involved in the current policy discussions. The day of the conference, Nov. 21, was the deadline for the U.S. Congressional Super Committee given the task of reducing the national deficit by $1.2 trillion. Subsequently they failed to meet that deadline.

While the deficit reduction solutions were not found by the Super Committee, the Senate and House Ag committees did their work and met their expectations in bi-partisan fashion. Stabenow explained that while every committee was asked to come up with a cost reduction plan, the Ag committees of both the Senate and House were the only committees who found $23 billion in cuts.

More specific to dairy policy, Stabenow discussed her goals to create a new dairy policy for a new dairy

landscape, “One that allows us to make the most of our strengths and to access global markets and to build export relationships,” she said.

Stabenow went on to outline what she supported in the dairy policy arena; replacing the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) Program with a new safety net with two main components; the Dairy Producer Margin

Protection Program and a Dairy Market Stabilization Program.

The margin protection program would be a new voluntary risk management program that would guarantee the protection of all dairy farmers during market downturns. Any producer enrolled in that program would be automatically enrolled in the Dairy Market Stabilization Program with the goal of reducing volatility and increasing demand by giving producers a clear signal when they are over supplying the markets thus preventing plummeting milk prices.

She also communicated her support of the continuation of conservation programs and would like to see more incentives for young people to enter production agriculture.

Providing an update on MMPA and the dairy markets was MMPA General Manger Clay Galarneau. He opened by telling producers that MMPA marketed 4.1 billion pounds for the 2011 Fiscal Year while realizing a budgeted net savings of $6.3 million. He also showed the premiums paid to producers and walked them through the trends from prior years. In FY 2010 the Farm Blend Price was $15.44 while in 2011 the price was $19.78, estimating that the price will remain around the $19 mark through the end of the year and may average just above the $18 for the FY 2012.

Butter exports, cheese production, nonfat dry milk and cow numbers were covered by Galarneau in addition to milk production per cow adding that Michigan currently has 369,000 cows, up 9,000 cows over last year. He congratulated the producers on the quality of milk as the SCC continues to go down and well below what is needed to sell to the European market.

Galarneau also shined the spotlight on the Constantine plant congratulating them on their two 1st place awards for their outstanding butter from the World Dairy Expo Dairy Product Competition.

MMPALeaders’ Conference 2011

SMMPA President Ken Nobis meets with Senator Debbie Stabenow prior to the meeting.

MMPA General Manager Clay Galar-neau presents information on the Cooperative’s financial standing.

By Melissa Hart


Highlighting that farms representing 25 percent of MMPA milk production have participated in the FARM program, Farmers Assuring Responsible Management, he said the goal is to have 100 percent of the farms enrolled. He also commented on the Breakfast on the Farm events that were held throughout the state and expressed appreciation to those who opened their farm to the public and urged others to participate. MMPA President Ken Nobis was introduced and congratulated for being elected the first vice chairman of the board of directors for the National Milk Producers Federation. Nobis quickly turned the spotlight on Earl Horning of Manchester for receiving the Richard E. Lyng Award for his dedication and distinguished service to dairy promotion.

Nobis covered the details of HR 3062, the Dairy Security Act of 2011 and Foundation for the Future. He also gave updates on the 2011 year to date export activities on the Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) program.

The MMPA Structure Review Committee activity was also presented by Nobis. This committee of 24 was appointed the task of reviewing the voting structure of the MMPA districts. Details of the committee’s recommendations will be discussed during the local meetings and then voted on at the State Annual Meeting in 2012.

Nobis announced the Battle Creek-Homer local as the winner of the 2011 MMPAC Challenge and the morning session concluded with a question and answer period with Nobis and Galarneau.

The 2011 District Outstanding Young Dairy Cooperators were honored during lunch just before MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon took the podium to offer the latest highlights and updates on MSU. She stated that the effects of the state budget cuts are now being felt in production agriculture. Looking in the rearview mirror, Simon said they did some things right but admitted in other areas they should have done things differently. She

said now they are looking for ways to partner with others to get trustworthy information to those in the industry so they can be profitable. They are also looking to leverage federal dollars to support Extension. Although she stated in 2011, the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources hit the 700 mark in graduates with a 4 percent increase in enrollment she commented there is work to be done to generate more student interest in the college. She cited possible improvements were better internships, better partnerships with community colleges and the need to find more scholarships.

The day concluded with a Capitol Hill Perspective from a farmer’s daughter, a Boll Weevil and a lobbyist. Dana Brooks, Senior Vice President of Government Relations for National Milk Producers Federation spoke of her farming background, her alma mater, the University of Arkansas- known as the Boll Weevils and her current position in Washington D.C as a lobbyist on dairy producers’ behalf. Brooks stressed the importance of dairy farmers telling their story and being proactive in contacting their congressional representatives letting them know how they feel on issues concerning agriculture.

MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon met with the MMPA mem-bers during the recognition luncheon.

Congratulations to the Battle Creek-Homer Local for winning this year’s “MMPAC Challenge.” For the third year in a row, the Battle Creek-Homer Local had the highest percentage of members contribute to the Michigan Milk Political Action Committee during the recent fundraising campaign. The winner of the “MMPAC Challenge” was announced at Leaders’ Conference. The Battle Creek-Homer Local will receive a matching gift of up to $1,000 to the local’s choice of one of five charity organizations or youth foundations. Thank you to all members who have contributed to the MMPAC.

Brad Crandall, president of the Battle Creek-Homer Local accepts the MMPAC Challenge Award from Ken Nobis

Battle Creek-Homer Local Wins MMPAC Challenge

22 January 2012

Our strength...

is in our Members!

Adrian Local Silver N. Randy & Eric Bleich Hartland Farms Inc. Marvin Farms Inc. * Bronze James Benner Perry & Arturo Cisco Emmons Farms LLC Fred Feight & Sons Long Haven Farms Inc. Scott D. Norden Terry L. Norden Matthew Smith

Alma Local Gold Kent L. Inniger Ronald & Kevin Litwiller Silver Bebow Dairy Inc. Chapin Family Farm LLC ** Lad & Agnes Doolittle * Edward J. Haynes Hooks Farms Oberlin Farms Paulen Farms Inc. Spring Lake Farms LLC Vanderploeg Holsteins LLC A. G. Wiles William Hough Dairy Inc.

Bronze Allen D. Beachy Bollinger Farms LLC Keith & Wendy Bott De Grins Oer Dairy Double-B Dairy Double Eagle Dairy Inc. * Dragt Farms Robert F. Durham Cindy Eldred Joel & Edwin Ensz * Basil Ervin Jr. Friesen Farms Inc. Richard D. Hyde Koutz Dairy LLC Ryan J. Litwiller Brian & Jacqueline Mc Alvey Charles & Jeffory Misenhelder Jeff & Larry Nielsen Peters & Peters Dairy Farm Pine Hills Dairy LLC Doeke & Melissa Prins Dale Rowland S & T Farms PTP Robert Schmid TLC Dairy Newlyn Toews Bad Axe Local Gold Rose Valley Dairy LLC ** Silver Te Voortwis Dairy LLC

Bronze Highland Dairy LLC J&M Block Farms LLC Joseph & Valerie Kubacki * Neal Laeder William C. Mazure Gregory & Shelly Messing *** Nugent’s Farm Dairy Paramount Enterprises Dairy LLC Peyerk Brothers Dairy LLC Jeffrey J. Phillips Prime Land Farm S & M Dairy Inc. Bryce Schave Richard Schroeder Daniel Van Erp Fred Wisneski Zielland Farms Barry-Eaton Local Silver Endsley Dairy Farms LLC * Hammond Dairy Farm LLC Bronze Burdock Hills Dairy LLC Brent & Nina Butler Steven G. Hochstetler Ladine Farms Schuurmans Dairy Farm Thomas & Heather Wing Battle Creek-Homer Local Bronze Cary Dairy Farms Inc.

Halbert Dairy Farm Miller Farms Daniel L. Williams Jeffrey & Joseph Willson Blossomland Local Bronze Gamble Family Jerry A., Terry & Jerry Jr. Koebel Milton G. Preston Brown City-Marlette Local Silver Cumper Dairy Farms Dwight Radloff Bronze Peggy & Patricia Bachschmidt John David Boegner D & P Dairy Fischer Dairy Farm Goma Dairy Farms LLC * Muxlow Dairy Farm Bob, Jeffrey, Daniel & Andrew Parr Rick L. Sutton Chippewa County Local Silver Jason W. Hoornstra

Bronze Taylor Creek Farm LLC

During the local meetings, MMPA presented quality awards to 443 member farms in recognition of their

outstanding quality milk production. Bronze, silver and gold quality awards were presented to those members who met the established criteria for each award. Bronze quality awards were presented to MMPA members who met both quality premium categories (10,000 or less raw bacteria and 20,000 or less PI count) and maintained a somatic cell count of 250,000 or less for nine or more months out of the previous fiscal year. Silver

quality awards were presented to those members who met the same criteria as in the bronze award category for 12 months out of the previous fiscal year. Members who qualified to receive a Gold award met the same criteria as in the silver award category and averaged a somatic cell count of 100,000 or less during the previous fiscal year. Star Awards were presented to those members who have received a quality award for five (one star), ten (two stars) and fifteen (three stars) consecutive years.

MMPA Quality Award Winners


Clare Local Silver Donald Kuehl Sr. & Family Bronze Jack Evans Le Var Farms LLC Packard Farms LLC Constantine Local Gold Carl Zook Silver Jonathon Bontrager Milton D. Bontrager Ervin L. Eash Delmar J. Fry Olen J. FryVernon A. & Vernon V. Hochstetler Glen F. Miller David and Carolyn Nissley Perkins Twin Creek Farm Inc. Jerry C. Slabach Toby E. Yoder

Bronze David J. Beechy Abe L. Bontrager Alvin D. Bontrager Daniel A. Bontrager (I424) Daniel A. Bontrager (I438) Daniel Jay Bontrager David L. Bontrager Gerald D. Bontrager John D. Bontrager Philip D. Bontrager Samuel Bontrager Jr. Neal L. Borkholder Ira L. Hochstetler Lavern J. Kurtz Harley H. Lambright Leland H. Lambright Ervin J. Lehman Jerry D. Lehman

Maynard F. Lehman Alva Lengacher Enos Lengacher David R. Mast Ernest L. Mast Jay H. Mast Clyde S. Miller David H. Miller Ervin O. Miller Leroy E. Miller Marlin R. Miller Merle F. Miller Paul W. Miller Raymond L. Miller Lavern C. Nissley Dorvin Shaum Michael R. Stoltzfus Allen Troyer Jacob W. Weaver Darrel D. Yoder Lyle D. Yoder Phillip, Esther & Nathan Yoder Virgil D. Yoder Rufus B. Zimmerman Dairyland Local Gold Wilson Centennial Farm Silver D & J Dairy LLC Ephraim & Esther Martin Bronze Roger Copeland Mervin G. Dailey David Kraft Ronald & Lucille Schafer Leroy O. and Ella M. Zimmerman Deckerville Local Silver James M. Adler Brian & Bradley Booms

Bronze Dallas Family Farms Erdman Farms Edward Joe Lawler Deford/Clifford-Mayville Local Silver Calvin J. Bodeis Keith & Jane Wood Bronze Meadow Muth Farms LLC Mohr Valley Dairy Farm Inc. Alice Zajac Evart Local Gold Michael L. Bosscher Daniel DeZeeuw Mark F. Diemer Harold & Ruth Ann Dodde End Road Farm Gilde Farms Silver Benthem Brothers Inc. Robert, Matthew, Harold & Michael Cnossen Keith A. DeRuiter David L. DeZeeuw Kerwin J. Hamming * Jerry J. Mitchell Rudvan Family Farms LLC Star City Farm Jonathan & Mary Taylor * Kenneth & Carol Tebos Wirth Dairy Farm Bronze William A. Benson Steve Benthem Dale A. Brinks Buning Dairy Farm LLC BWT Farms LLC Gaylord & Gerald Denslow *

Dick Haven Farms LLC Gingrich Meadows Inc. Leon Hamming Robert & Mary Lee Many Blessings Dairy Inc. William Stein * Touchdown Dairy Kenneth Van Polen *** Zuiderveen Farms Flint Local Silver Smolek Farms Bronze Apple Dairy Corp. Thomas F. Atherton Cole Riverview Farms Inc. Corner Oak Farm Frankenmuth Local Gold Haubenstricker Dairy Farm LLC Schiefer Farms LLC Silver Petzold Dairy Farms LLC Wardin Brothers Bronze Eric Frahm & Teresa Crook Knoll Dairy Farm Inc. Larry Niec Farms LLC Richard R. Wardin Roger Weiss & Family Grand Rapids Local Gold Albert Frandsen Mark & Cheryl Richmond Silver Sharlene & Marten Brower Kenneth Leseman Potgeter Farms James Schaendorf

24 January 2012

Our strength...

is in our Members!

Bronze Cressbrook Farms Fisk Farms Klamer Farms Inc. Stephen & Denise Knox ** Med-O-Bloom Farms LLC * Leona & Daniel Moll Lance Robinson Stoney Hill Farm Inc. Hillman Local Gold Ryan & Charina Dellar Silver Chippewa Dairy Crist Miller Ervin Lee Yoder Bronze Brian Centala Todd Hemmingson J & D Dairy Inc. ** Jerome & Glenda Larson Ronald, Connie & Brentt Lucas Melvin Mullet Richard & June Oliver Sauer Dairy Farms Inc. Myron Siegert Emil & Julianne Soik Sweet Farms Larry, Paulette, Jeremy & Paul Werth Hillsdale-Litchfield Local Silver Christopher & Beth Brenner Drakeland Farms LLC

Bronze Dale & Carol Baker Jonathan Dunks William, Daniel & Marlin Easterday

Ferris Farms Herman’s Holsteins LLC Pleasant View Dairy Poling Dairy Farm Ingham County Local Gold Kevin Cavanaugh Silver Fogle Farms Bronze Clona Farms LLC Chuck and Linda Grettenberger Kubiak Family Farms Ron Launstein Mar Jo Lo Farms Casey Moore Risch Farms Larry L. Steffey * Jackson County Plus Local Silver Danny, Sandra, Darrell, James, & Patricia Hart Grand Valley Farms Williams Family Farm LLC Bronze Choates Belly Acres Riske Farms John & Andrew Sweet Kalamazoo Local Gold Tim & Sandy Ver Hage

Silver Louis Fifelski Victor Puschel

Scales Prairie Farm Webers Meadow LLC Bronze Francis L. Burr Betty, Paul & Steve DeMann DeMann Farms LLC Gary Fifelski James C. Jackson Andrew W. Johnson K & W Dairy Craig & Linda Jo Newland Penney Farms Rodney & Claude Pillars Melvin T. Puschel Ransler Farms Lansing Local Gold MSU Dairy - Dept. of Animal Science ** Silver Chris, Kristina, Hans & Patricia Langmaack Bronze Heyboer Farms Inc. Wayne & Marvin Hochstetler Lapeer County Plus Local Gold Gleason Dairy Farm Bronze Perry & Marilyn Heckman Richard, Robert & Michael Kaufman Livingston Charter Local Silver Donal Farm LLC

Bronze Larry & Karen Adams George & Hope Fyrciak Charles & Janet White Menominee-Vacationland Local Silver Waucedah Hill Farm LLC Bronze Robert Paidl Rivard Farms James & Connie Seefeldt Karen Ann & John Strohl * Mid-Michigan Local Gold Steven C. Roth Silver Berlyn Acres II LLC * Clintonia Road Dairy LLC Cornerstone II Dairy LLC Andrew & John Feldpausch Green Meadow Farms Inc. George & Shirley Hazle * Lew-Max Holstein LLC Nobis Dairy Farms Sanborn & Sons LLC Leroy & Stephanie Schafer Larry A. Simon Robert & Richard Skriba Aron W. Whitaker Bronze Howard C. Andersen II John & Kelly Carter Cook Dairy Farm Green Meadow Farms Inc. H & K Dairy LLC Michael T. Hogan Houska Farms Inc. James J. Pohl


Melvin & Pamela Pohl Gene L. Schneider * Gordon & David Schrader Chris J. Simon Steenblik Dairy Inc. Stony Creek Dairy LLC Stout Dairy Brett & Jennifer Stump Stump Bros. T & H Dairy II Cliff & Kent Thelen Gary T. Thelen Jeffry & Patricia Thelen Jon & Tina Thelen Wadell Dairy Farm LLC Wieber Dairy LLC ** Lisa M. Wilson Mt. Pleasant Local Silver Bernard Brecht ** Gross Dairy Farms Inc. House Farms Bronze Clark Dairy Farm LLC Martin C. Fox Gross Farms Inc. Judge Dairy Farm Inc. Robert S. Millard Pohl Dairy Farm Inc. Muskegon Local Gold Donald A. Beattie Sueann M. Higgins Stakenas Farms Inc. Diane, Gary & Karen Wolford Silver Roger J. Deters Dewey Farm LLC Larsen Farms * Silver Sky Dairy LLC

Bronze Thomas, Shirley & Eric Carson Doug & Shelly Ekkel and Family Wayne Hecksel Koppenol Dairy Farms Inc. Norris Dairy Farm Inc. ** Bruce A. Majeske Gail A. Olsen Richard Papes Jerry & Sharron Powers Riverside Dairy LLC Slater Farms 88th LLC Slowpoke Farm LLC Glen, Andrew & Casey Sparks Stroven Dairy Farm Roger Studer Sunglow Dairy LLC David VanderZanden Windy Acres Dairy Farm Owosso Local Silver Ritter Farms LLC *** David Sovis Bronze Bruce Seidel Braid Farms Inc. Reed Dairy Farm Saline-Ann Arbor Local Silver Marcus S. Bristle Bronze Breuninger Farms LLC ** Max C. Finkbeiner Horning Farms LLC Stanley & Patricia Lambarth * Sandusky Local Bronze David & James Heberling Roger Markey Timothy Mater Gale, David & Harland Schultz

Southern Sanilac Local Bronze Steven & Lisa Alexander Noll Dairy Farm Inc. John and Jill Welter St. Clair-Macomb Local Silver Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority Bronze Lester, Barbara & Susan Knust Sunrise Local Gold Circle K Farms Inc. Victor Daniels & Sons ** Silver Anschuetz Dairy Farm Curry Farms W-R-L Daniels Farm LLC Bronze Jeremy & Deseriee Beebe Derek Brewer Cedar Lane Dairy Farms * Gallagher Dairy Farm Inc. J Hil Acres LLC Lemajru Dairy Farm / Charles & Julie Nelkie Poirier Farms Samuel Schmucker Jr. Barry Troyer Weber Dairy Farms LLC Upstate Local Silver Dean & Victoria Edgecomb Marvin J. Rubingh Bronze Stanek Farm

West Huron Local Silver Michael, Lorene & Andy Zagata

Bronze Delcath Farms Alvin L. Gnagey Timothy & Debra Kubacki Darrin Lutz Farms Inc. West Michigan Local Silver Timothy Baker Daybreak Dairy Nienhuis Dairy Farm LLC Dennis Raterink Welchkin Acres * Woodbridge Dairy Farm Bronze Al Ott Farm LLC John M. Bodbyl Country Corners Farms LLC Wayne DeKleine William & Robert Gruppen Heritage Farms LLC Melridge Farms Robert & Donna Pepper James VanderZwaag Arlyn J. Walt Western U.P. Local Silver Jacob and Elaine Jahfetson & Family ** Gary & Teresa Palosaari Bronze Herioux Farms LLC Iho Farms

26 January 2012

NMPF/NDB/UDIA Joint Annual Meeting

Every fall, the National Milk Producers Federation, the National Dairy Board, and the

United Dairy Industry Association host a joint annual meeting bringing together a host of leaders, managers and members of the three groups as well as others interested in the activities of the dairy industry. While the three entities each play a different role in the dairy industry – their goals point in the same direction: creating and sustaining a vibrant dairy industry.

During the meeting, industry leaders give a recap of the past year, but more importantly addressed the challenges facing the industry while proposing solutions going forward.

As the leader in policy development, National Milk Producers Fedeation focuses heavily on issues in Washington D.C. They keep a vigilant eye on proposed rules and regulations as well as dairy policy reform. This past year the NMPF staff and board members have worked on new dairy policy under the Foundation for the Future (FFTF) framework. Much of the discussion in the sessions and in meetings revolved around the need for milk marketing reform.

MMPA members were well represented in the structure and planning of the FFTF program. MMPA President Ken Nobis

chaired the committee that put forth the original proposal for the Dairy Producer Margin Protection Program.

NMPF Chairman Randy Mooney, along with President & CEO Jerry Kozak, gave a joint

presentation by discussing NMPF’s most prominent initiative to reform U.S. dairy policy through Foundation for the Future (FFTF), which this fall evolved into the Dairy Security Act (DSA) of 2011 (HR 3062). FFTF began in June 2009 with the creation

of a Strategic Task Force instructed to come up with a better safety net for dairy farmers.

Mooney and Kozak stressed that although NMPF has come a long way toward achieving its goal of better dairy policy, there is still more work to be done. “Success is coming up with a better, more innovative way of preventing an economic crisis down on the farm,” Mooney stated. “Ultimately, success in dairy policy reform is working together to get something better than before.”

The initial FFTF provisions were refined after NMPF staff went on the road during the summer of 2011 and presented the proposal to dairy farmers in 12 cities and 11 states across the country. Kozak explained that although the primary purpose of the tour was to speak directly to farmers about the need for dairy reform, it also allowed NMPF staff to

listen to farmers’ perspectives. “This gave us an unfiltered insight into the producer community’s view of FFTF,” Kozak said.

The changes that resulted from the summer tour were incorporated into the DSA under the leadership of Congressman Collin Peterson (D-MN), with support from co-sponsor Congressman Mike Simpson (R-ID). Mooney thanked both congressmen for their hard work on the bill and urged all producers to rally behind it.

Although dairy reform was the most visible initiative in 2011, NMPF was busy throughout the year working on other priority issues, which Mooney and Kozak also discussed in their presentation.

The organization worked on several regulatory efforts in 2011, including advocating for a reduction

NMPF President and CEO Jerry Kozak

MMPA Board Members are involved in serveral committees and serve as delegates to the meeting. Pictured above: MMPA Treasurer Mark Halbert.


in somatic cell count levels to 400,000 and grappling with the Food and Drug Administration on drug residue violations in dairy animals. A significant regulatory victory came from the Environmental Protection Agency’s final exemption of milk storage from its Spill, Prevention, Control and Countermeasure regulation.

“Reforming immigration policies to address the labor needs of farmers remains a paramount concern for NMPF,” Mooney continued. Although there had not been any significant progress made on immigration in 2011, the issue was getting the attention of Congress through a Senate hearing, the H-2A visa program, and E-Verify.

Mooney and Kozak noted various successes on Capitol Hill, such as minimizing the impact of the estate tax, overturning the proposed tax reporting requirement known as the IRS form 1099, passing three Free Trade Agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea, and resolving the trucking dispute that was negatively impacting U.S. cheese exports to Mexico.

NMPF also was pleased to see the final implementation of the promotion checkoff on imported dairy products. “Ultimately, the outcome of this issue is not about equity, but justice for America’s farmers,” Kozak explained.

Annual meeting attendees learned that Cooperatives Working Together will continue in 2012 and 2013 after the

program reached its 70% membership goal this year.

The joint presentation concluded with Mooney and Kozak affirming that NMPF will continue to work on the issues important to its membership. “We won’t settle for mediocrity…We will never settle on anything less than what our members expect,” they said.

Partnerships Key to Checkoff Success

The dairy checkoff is driving more dairy sales than ever by working through the power of partnerships, said Tom Gallagher, chief executive officer of Dairy Management Inc., speaking at the joint annual meeting of United Dairy Industry Association and the

DMI Chief Operating Officer Tom Gallagher

Continued on page 29

28 January 2012

Milk is Local Campaign Connects Public with Dairy Producers

In an effort to educate the public, increase understanding of Michigan’s on-farm practices, and reconnect people with their

food, the Michigan Dairy News Bureau recently launched the Milk is Local campaign.

Michigan Dairy News Bureau network members — and MMPA members — Monica Crandall, Aaron Gasper, Mason Horning (son of Jeff and Lynda Horning, grandson of Earl and Diane), along with veterinarians Dr. Lisa Sanford and Dr. Steve Edwards, are featured. These members were selected to talk about topics that consumers are curious about – ranging from how cows are cared for, to milk quality and life on the farm.

Billboard advertising in areas of high population, sixty-second radio spots in major metropolitan areas, and online banner ads on MLive.com feature the members’ photos and voices. The campaign targeted Detroit, Saginaw/Flint, Traverse City, Lansing, Kalamazoo, and Grand Rapids.

Throughout the campaign, Michigan consumers are directed to a newly designed website, www.milkislocal.com, to hear firsthand reports about modern dairy practices.

The Milk is Local campaign is funded by the dairy checkoff through the United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM). For more information contact Staci Garcia at UDIM at 800-241-MILK.

“Not many people grow up wanting to be a dairy farmer, but I do! Every day, I work side-by-side with my dad and my grandpa on our family’s dairy farm.” — Mason Horning

“I work hand-in-hand with dairy families to ensure you receive safe, high-quality milk. Watch our video on the Journey of Milk to learn about the all the things Michigan dairy farmers and their veterinarians do to make sure the milk you enjoy is safe and nutritious.”

— Dr. Steve EdwardsThe United Dairy Industry of Michigan

will hold its 83rd Annual Meeting of the Dairy Council of Michigan

and the 69th Annual Meeting of the

American Dairy Association of Michigan on Thursday, February 23, 2012

For more information call 1-800-241-MILK (6455)

“I’ve worked with hundreds of Michigan dairy farm families to help them provide the best care possible for their cows including a nutritious diet, good medical care and healthy living conditions so you and your family can enjoy high-quality milk.”

— Dr. Lisa Sanford


National Dairy Promotion and Research Board in San Diego.

Joining Gallagher onstage were some of the checkoff leading dairy marketing partners, including: Larry Jensen, President of Leprino Foods, and chairman of the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy; Chris Policinski, President and CEO of Land O Lakes, Inc., and chair of the Innovation Center’s Consumer Confidence Committee; Kevin Burke, Senior Vice President of Global Business Development for Leprino; John Jeter, President and CEO of Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc.; and Keith Murfield, CEO of United Dairymen of Arizona cooperative. These executives shared how working through the dairy checkoff and its Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy helps drive dairy sales and protect dairy’s image on behalf of the entire industry. George Martin, president and executive director of the NFL Alumni, also joined Gallagher onstage to discuss a new partnership with National Dairy Council related to increased nutrition and physical activity in our nation’s schools.

The dairy marketers’ message of dairy producer promotion leaders, who reported that the dairy checkoff has directly contributed to more than 7 billion additional pounds of milk sales since January 2010.

Dairy Checkoff’s New Role

The checkoff ’s role has changed greatly over the past five years, Gallagher said. It no longer funds generic advertising or retail promotions. Rather, it works to directly drive sales through partnerships, he stressed.

“The checkoff is the voice of the farmer once your milk leaves the farm,” Gallagher said. “The only way to do that successfully is by working with

co-ops, processors and manufacturers -- those who actually turn your milk into products that people may or may not want. We help make it so those products are the ones people want to buy.”

To that end, the checkoff has been able to corral roughly $800 million in outside resources to advance producer goals in selling

more dairy. The result, Gallagher said, has been an increase of 4.2 billion pounds of dairy sold through the first seven months of 2011 (compared to the same period a year earlier). This includes more dairy sales through quick-serve restaurant chains such as McDonald’s and the pizza category, as well as increased dairy export sales.

Continued from page 27

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30 January 2012

Navigating a New Course — NMPF Young Cooperator Meeting

As we started the descent into San Diego, our host city for the

NMPF Joint Meeting, Jeremy and I got a birds’ eye view of the city. Granted it was 10:30 p.m., but there were lights as far as one could see out both sides of the airplane. A short cab ride took us to our hotel. After checking in, the clerk told us where our room was located and that it was about a five minute walk. As we walked to our room, we could smell the many roses planted throughout the hotel property. Early the next morning (we were still on Michigan time); we got our first real glimpse of the hotel. It was beautiful with exceptional landscaping.

Sunday night was the kick-off/welcome dinner for the Young Cooperators (YC) annual meeting. After checking in and getting our name badges, Joan Horbiak and her cameraman immediately came up to Jeremy and I and started asking us questions about the dairy industry and issues relating to animal welfare

and public perception of farms in general. It was a little intimidating having a complete stranger stick a microphone and camera in your face and start asking questions about sensitive issues. Little did we know, but our answers were going to be used the next day for part of our media training seminar. After a wonderful dinner, we heard from Jerry Kozak, NMPF President/CEO and Tom Gallagher, CEO, Dairy Management Inc., (DMI). We also had the customary get-to-know each other mixers.

The next morning started early with breakfast and guest speakers. Phil Plourd started the day with an interesting look at the dairy markets today. He started with saying in early 2002 the U.S. dairy industry was mainly concerned with supplying the United States. Today, the world markets are our focus. The U.S. exporters are watching China and India in particular. Their growing middle class is demanding more dairy products, in particular, whole milk powder.

Mr. Plourd went on to describe his impression of the consumer demand landscape in the U.S. Consumers are trading national name brands for the private labels and purchasing items in smaller sizes. However, we are still eating out as much as ever.

He finished with saying we as consumers and producers, need to manage income and risk in a sensible manner. Also, risk management will be very important over the next 3-5 years. The United States is in an excellent position in the world. Opportunities are great in the U.S., but we don’t sell ourselves enough. His parting statement was, “show me a timid salesman, and I’ll show you a man with skinny kids.”

By Jeremy and Jody Sharrard2011 MMPA OYDCs

MMPA 2011 OYDCs Jeremy and Jody Sharrard

MMPA OYDC Runners-up Chris and Michele Daniels pose with NFL star John Lynch following Lynch’s luncheon speech.


Following Mr. Plourd, Tom Fuhrmann DVM, spoke with us about leading and managing our employees. Dr. Fuhrmann stated there are good leaders that are poor managers and good managers that are poor leaders. He went on to say that there are 2 kinds of bosses, good and bad. Good bosses are good leaders that use management principles. Bad bosses are either poor leaders or good leaders who don’t know or use proven management principles.

He then described the characteristics of leaders and managers. Leaders have a relationship with others. Their relationships are based on trust. And those others choose to follow your example. Leaders have several core characteristics. They know what they need to do, can organize, prioritize and delegate the work that needs to be done. Leaders also talk simply and listen to what others say.

Managers are the people that organize workers and their work. Managers do the training and monitoring. As a result, they usually are the ones that get paid for results. Managers are usually the person/persons between the owners and the workers. Dr. Fuhrmann concluded by

stating, “Dairying as a way of life equals poor business. Dairying as a business equals a way of life.”

Following Dr. Fuhrmann, we had a producer panel. Dino Giacomazzi from Giacomazzi Dairy (Hanford, CA), Mary Kraft from Badger Creek Farm/Quail Ridge Dairy (Fort Morgan,

CO), Brad Vold from Dorrich Dairy (Glennwood, MN), Jim Jacquier from Laurelbrook Farm (East Canaan, CT), and Zach Myers from Myers Dairy, Inc. (Jonesville, NC) were our panel members. Each producer explained a little bit about their operation and the challenges they face in their region.

During lunch, we heard from the popular Matt Booth – Mattitude, LLC. Matt challenged the YC’s to make a list of 10 goals (short or long-term), write them down, and then keep the list in our phone, wallet, computer, etc. He said we need to look at the list at least once a month. This will help keep you focused to achieve those goals.

After lunch, we had our media training with Joan Horbiak. We were told that the Dairy Industry’s responsibilities are:

• Humanize our industry. Put a face with a dairy farm.

• Increase community understanding. Have an open house at our farms.

• Increase consumer confidence.

Ms. Horbiak also gave the YC’s the 6 C’s of telling our story. 1.

Connect. As a dairy farmer, we need to show our passion for farming. Tell your personal story why you are a dairy farmer. If the non-farm public can put a face with a dairy farm, the negative messages will have a much smaller impact. 2. Consistent. When speaking with the public, we need to keep a professional opinion and remember that we are speaking for the entire dairy industry. 3. Clear. Joan suggested we use language a 4th-5th grade student would understand. The general public doesn’t know what some of our words/phrases mean (cwt., SCC, LDA, etc.), therefore, we shouldn’t use that jargon. Also, we should limit our message points to 3 items. 4. Compelling. Show what we are doing on the farm. Visuals will always outweigh words. 5. Control. Know how to handle any question, negative, general and those outside your expertise area. Part of that is to never repeat any negative wording. 6. Call to action. If there are no practical actions to take, send people to dairyfarmingtoday.com for more information.

That night, U.S. Dairy Export Council sponsored a dinner for the YC’s. This was a chance for us to get to know some of the other YC’s a little bit better.

Ed Gallagher from Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. (DFA) and Pete Kappelman from Land O’ Lakes, Inc, were the final presenters for the YC portion of the Joint Annual Meeting. Both gentlemen spoke about risk management and the tools that are available to producers to help control the market volatility.

At the opening lunch of the general sessions, we heard from former Denver Bronco, John Lynch.

MMPA 2010 OYDCs Lisa and Burke Larsen were recognized for their time on the NMPF YC Advisory Council. Pictured with the Larsens is NMPF YC Coordinator Sarah Olson (left).

32 January 2012

Merchandise MemoTo order call: 1-800-572-5824 then dial 2

Order Your MMPA Merchandise

through your milk hauler or call:Supervisor:

Duane Farmer 989-681-2334

Fax: 989-681-3988

Toll Free: 877-367-6455Orders (Novi) 800-572-5824

then dial 2

With January comes cold weather and this is a good time to think about the use of a “winter dip.” MMPA has two such products in our warehouse: A&L’s Wintercare and Ecolab’s Artec. Both products can be used year round,

but they are designed specifically for cold weather application.

WintercareWintercare is a very gentle, orange post-dip with 74% skin conditioners, moisturizers, and emollients that provides excellent skin care. It is formulated with a 1% Capric/Caprylic acid combination which provides excellent bacteria kill and mastitis prevention. The unique skin conditioners form a film on the teat surface that helps seal the orifice. Extreme weather conditions and cold wind chill may require cow’s teat ends to be blotted after dipping.

Item Stock# Member Price

Wintercare – 5 gallon 3535 $87.06

Wintercare – 15 gallon 3536 $250.31

ArtecEcolab’s Artec is a blue post-dip that is effective against mastitis-forming bacteria with the use of 1.5% heptanoic acid. It was proven to work very quickly in only 15 seconds of kill time. Artec also contains a triple blend of emollients for superior teat conditioning (78% system including glycerin and lanolin). The dip can be used very well during cold weather as skin protection reducing the need for teat salves or creams. Once again, during extreme cold, teat end blotting may be required after dipping.

Item Stock # Member Price

Artec – 5 gallon 6064 $95.00

Artec – 15 gallon 6981 $273.75

Artec – 55 gallon 6077 $919.88

Udder CreamFor those of you that do experience some teat chapping or freezing, Ken Ag’s Udder Cream can help. This product can be used in cold or warm weather. Udder Cream softens and soothes chapped teats and udders in wintertime and aids in the prevention of dryness during sunny and windy summer conditions. Caution: To avoid contamination of milk, thoroughly wash and dry udder and teats before each milking using an individual clean towel.

Item Stock # Member Price

Udder Cream 14 oz. tub 5710 $4.59

Winter Teat Dips


These are service personnel only. Order your Member Merchandise

supplies through your hauler.

ECOLAB24 -Hour Medical Emergency

Hotline: 1-800-328-0026

For Service, call the Ecolab Service Message Center

1-800-392-3392 or

Stan Palmer5303 E. Swan Drive #3Port Clinton, OH 43452

419-797-2101

Ben Johnson4461 Cambridge Dr.

Port Huron, MI 48060810-824-0636

Jason Koerth7509 Aborcrest Dr.Portage, MI 49024

269-207-3773

Pat Mitchell7273 N. Rollin Hwy.Addison, MI 49220

517-403-0928

A & L Laboratories24 -Hour Medical Emergency

Hotline: 1-800-424-9300

Kurt Fiene8356 C.R. 115

Kenton, OH 43326612-889-1063

Jeff TimmNW 8665 C.R. M

Shawano, WI 54166612-840-0555

P ayment for testing will be made through an automatic milk

check deduction. All costs are listed per individual sample.

• Scheduled Herd Tests $1

Scheduled Herd Test samples are tested for: Culture for Streptococcus agalactiae, Strep non ag, Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase negative staph, coliform and SCC.

Additional testing can be coordinated through your MMPA Member Representative to include: Raw bacteria count and components.

All herd tests must be scheduled with the laboratory through your MMPA Member Representative.

Members who choose to receive their lab test results via U.S. postal service: $2/month

Additional Tests Available: All costs are listed per individual sample.

• Mycoplasma Cultures $ 8

• Bacteriology Cultures $12 – Includes identification of bacteria

and drug susceptibility.

• Bovine Viral Diarrhea - PCR $40 - ELISA $ 6

• Johne’s Milk Test - PCR $40 - ELISA – cows $ 6 - ELISA – tank $10

• Bovine Leukosis Test - ELISA – cows $ 6 - ELISA – tank $10

All tests must be scheduled through your MMPA Member Representative or the laboratory for proper sample submission protocol.

Somatic Cell Count premiums and deductions (in addition to

Federal Order SCC Adjustments computed in the producer pay price) will be paid at the following levels:• 50,000 or below +55¢/cwt.• 51,000 - 75,000 +50¢/cwt.• 76,000 - 100,000 +45¢/cwt.• 101,000 - 125,000 +40¢/cwt.• 126,000 - 150,000 +35¢/cwt.• 151,000 - 175,000 +30¢/cwt.• 176,000 - 200,000 +25¢/cwt.• 201,000 - 225,000 +20¢/cwt.• 226,000 - 250,000 +15¢/cwt.• 251,000 - 400,000 00¢/cwt.• 401,000 - 500,000 -15¢/cwt.• 501,000 - 600,000 -30¢/cwt.• 601,000 - 750,000 -$1.00/cwt.• Over 750,000 -$1.50/cwt.

A payment of 5¢/cwt. will be added for each of the following, if the count is equal to or below:• 10,000 Raw Bacteria Count• 20,000 Pre-Incubated (PI) Count

There will be a deduction of 10¢/cwt. for:• Greater than 100,000 Raw Bacteria Count

A high raw count deduction will be waived if the producer has received the quality premium the previous three months for raw bacteria count.

To qualify for Raw and PI Bacteria Count premiums there must not be any of the following during the month:• Positive drug residue • Abnormal freeze points• High load count shipment or rejected load shipment• #3 or #4 sediment• Raw Bacteria count over 100,000The count levels for raw and PI will be determined on one test run per month.

To qualify for MMPA SCC premiums there must be:• No abnormal freeze points during the month

To qualify for MMPA volume premiums there must be:• No abnormal freeze points during the month• An average somatic cell count of 750,000 or less.

MMPA Quality Premium Program

MMPA Member Testing Fees

Chemical, Sanitizer & Teat Dip Contact

Information

34 January 2012

Freeliner PolicyThe Freeliners column is open to current MMPA members who wish to advertise—at no charge—goods or services relating directly to their dairy farm operations.

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

• After that, it will be withdrawn.

• It will be published again for no more than two consecutive months only if the member resubmits the item by contacting their MMPA Member Representative or by writing or calling the Novi office.

• 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 may choose to have the item published as a Classified Ad at the regular per-line Classified Ad rate.

• Freeliners must be received by the 10th of the month preceding the desired month of publication. Example: to be included in the January issue, the freeliner must be at the MMPA office by December 10.

BullsRegistered Holstein Bulls: We now have a nice selection of service age bulls, sired by top AI sires. Green Meadow Farms, Elsie, MI. 989-862-4291 or see our website at www.greenmeadowfarms.com.

Service age Holstein bulls. Call Steve Alexander, 810-622-8548 evenings or 810-404-8548.

Registered Holstein breeding bulls, all AI sired from top bulls, b&w, red, red carrier and some polled, high production, low SCC herd. Bulls are priced to sell. Ver Hage Holsteins, 269-673-4886 or 269-217-6076, ask for Tim. www.verhageholsteins.com.

Service age Reg. Holstein bulls, deep pedigrees, some red carriers. Jenesis Genetics, 231-924-6163 or 231-225-8615.

Crossbred bulls, Jersey, Brown Swiss, Holstein and Scandinavian Red, 100 AI, 810-724-8825.

Cows & HeifersYour choice of cows for sale from well maintained herd, 734-776-0285.

Equipment2005 J.D. 730 discbine w/ impellers, always housed, very nice. 12 ft. Starline surface drive silo unloader, very nice. 2 – 20 ft. Vandale silo unloaders, 1 surface drive – 1 center drive. 810-404-3717.

J.D. 6600 and 7700 combines, 216 flex head, 444 corn head, 269-673-5135.

1993 Chore Time, 4 ½ ton bulk feed bin, $500. 2008 Patz 25 ft. chain conveyor, used 3 yrs., $4,000. Contact John at Stoney Creek Dairy, 989-640-1394.

12 CalfTel and 10 Polysquare hutches plus fencing. CalfTel are $200 ea. Polysquare are $175 ea. 989-255-6016.

Milking EquipmentUniversal vacuum pump, 7.5 hp single phase, $1,200. Universal double 8 parlor equip., milk line, receiver jar w/ pump, etc., $1,900. Approx. 80 single bend free stalls w/neck rail and clamps, $3,000. 989-312-0020 or leave message at 989-345-1501.

Feed4x5 round hay bales, roto cut, from grass hay to good alfalfa, $25 and up, 989-464-7364.

Wanted12 electronic pulsators, good used condition, 260-768-8238.

Milking equipment for double 12 parallel parlor. Also, large bulk tank in good working condition, 810-614-0147.

Freestalls for adult cows, willing to remove from barn, 260-768-4550 ext. 2.

FreelinersCall 1-800-572-5824 ext. 224 to place your ad

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Citrus PulpLow Fat Hominy7% minimum protein7% maximum fiber4% minimum fat

Improve bottom-line $$. Lower feed costs. Maximize production.Ingredients from your trusted source.

Soybean meal, soybean hulls, cereal feed, cottonseed, distillers, gluten, canola meal, beet pulp, wet feeds, and more!

Traditional ZFS® Menu

Zeeland Farm Services, Inc.® MI: 866.888.7082 Fax: 616.772.7067 www.zfsinc.com


KLNZ362-ARTEC AD 11/9/11 1:14 PM Page 1

Composite

C M Y CM MY CY CMY K

Ecolab Inc.370 Wabasha St. N.St. Paul, MN 55102©2011 EcolabAll rights reserved

Artec Sanitizing/Conditioning Teat Dip:A new and better way to protect your herd when the weather gets harsh.Artec creates a powerful layer of protection between your cow’s teats andthe elements. The patent-pending formula features a unique antimicrobialthat dramatically reduces the occurrence of mastitis-causing organisms.The 78% emollient tri-blend provides excellent teat conditioning that

reduces the need for teat salves or creams. This highly effective combinationof ingredients helps reduce mastitis and protect against the elements.

Artec Sanitizing/Conditioning Teat Dip:• Convenient• Faster and less messy than salves and creams• Soothes and protects• One of the highest levels of glycerin

in the industry

Jack Frost does morethan nip at your nose.

#30898/0300/1000

call 1-800-392-3392

36 January 2012

Call 1-800-572-5824 ext. 224

Mail ads, preferably typewritten, to: Classified Ads, Michigan Milk Messenger, PO BOX 8002, Novi, MI 48376-8002. Ads must be received by the 10th of the month before the month of desired publication. Send check or money order for $20 for up to 6 lines with your order. MMPA neither sponsors nor endorses products or services advertised in the Messenger.

Classified Ads ($5.65 per line)

OPPERMAN GROOVING: Diamond sawed grooves, no hammering or cracking of concrete. No hoof damage. Call Opperman Grooving Inc., Portland. 517-647-7381.______________________________________DAVIDSON CEMENT GROOVING, INC:NO water needed. Wider, rougher grooves for better traction. We also offer texturing for your previously grooved floors. 3 operators will travel Michigan and other states. No interest payment terms. Est. since 1987. Call 1-800-365-3361.______________________________________CONCRETE GROOVING BY TRI-STATE SCABBLING, home of the 2” wide groove. Best traction, lowest prices. (800) 554-2288. www.tristatescabbling.com______________________________________CONCRETE GROOVING/FLOOR TEXTURING: Bring existing grooves back to 100% efficiency/new construction. Blue Ribbon Hoof Trimming, LLC. 989-635-1494. ______________________________________

FOR SALE: 5000-4000-3000-2500-2000-1500 OH MUELLER LATE MODEL BULK TANK MILK TANKS, complete, will trade. 1-800-558-0112.______________________________________WANTED TO BUY: USED BULK MILK TANKS, 200 gallons & larger, Sunset & Mueller, 1-800-558-0112.______________________________________24 LARGE HOLSTEIN HEIFERS, due Jan.-May, TB tested, pregnancy checked, all shots and wormed. 231-347-9290.

______________________________________WHEAT STRAW FOR SALE, $2 per bale, 989-386-4250._____________________________________LARGE SQUARE BALES CLEAN, bright straw. Will deliver. 989-723-1886._____________________________________

ClassifiedsCall 1-800-572-5824 ext. 224

GENERATORSWinpower & KatolightStocking up to 100 KW

24 HOUREMERGENCY SERVICE

serving Michiganfor the past 30 years800-345-1887

MIDWEST POWER SYSTEMS

REGISTERED HOLSTEIN BULLS

A SPECIAL HERD SIRE OR A TRUCK LOAD OF BREEDER BULLS. READY TO GO TO WORK ON YOUR FARM!

GREEN MEADOW FARMS

• SIRED BY THE TOP SIRES FROM THE U.S. AND CANADA

• FROM OUR TOP PRODUCTION COWS.

WWW.GREENMEADOWFARMS.COM

6400 HOLLISTER RD.

ELSIE, MI 48831

PH: 989-862-4291

OVER 100 SERVICE AGE BULLS FOR YOUR SELECTION!

Supervisor: Joe Mishler 989-681-2334 Fax: 989-681-3988 Toll Free: 877-367-6455

Orders (Novi): 800-572-5824 then dial 2

Order Your MMPA Merchandise

through your milk hauler or call:

1-800-248-8070

M-40 South

Hamilton, MI 49419

PTO and Automatic

Start Generators


MILK ON FARM – DRUG RESIDUE SUSPECTED

If a member suspects milk in the farm bulk tank contains drug residue:

1. Call a MMPA Member Representative to have the milk in the tank tested. A “hold” must be placed on the tank contents until the test results are known. - OR -

2. The member can test the milk on the farm. If dumped, the member must be sure to take the stick reading, record the number of pounds of milk, and report the information to their membership representative.

• If the tank tests negative (no drugs present), the milk may be released and shipped.

• If the tank tests positive (drugs present), the membership representative will authorize the member to dump the tank of milk. The member will be paid 75% of the value of the tank of milk involved.*

• If for any reason MMPA personnel must pick up samples at the farm for testing three or more times within 12 consecutive months, the member involved will be charged $25 per trip.

MILK SHIPPED — POSITIVE DRUGS CONFIRMED

If a member ships milk from the farm and testing by approved laboratory methods show that the milk contained drug residue, the member will be assessed the penalties imposed by the state regulatory agency and be disqualified for raw and PI bacteria count premiums.

If a loss is incurred by MMPA due to the disposal and/or non-marketability of a load of milk or milk products containing drug residue, then the member responsible will be provided an invoice for the entire value of the loss plus transportation and disposal costs as required by the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance. This invoice may be submitted to the member’s insurance carrier. MMPA must receive settlement on the invoice within 90 days of issuance. If settlement is not made within 90 days, the full amount of the invoice will be deducted from the next milk check unless other settlement arrangements are made.

Milk from that member’s farm tank must be tested and found clear of drugs before the next tank of milk can be picked up.

A hauler whose entire load sample shows the presence of drugs will be charged the amount of an average shipment on that load if the individual member samples all show negative.

ALL POSITIVE DRUG RESIDUE SHIPMENTS MUST BE REPORTED TO THE ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

MMPA Policy on Drug Residue in Milk:

MMPA Policy on Milk QualityQUALITY QUESTIONABLE

When a member suspects that the milk in the farm bulk tank is of poor quality they should call a MMPA Member Representative who will authorize milk in the tank to be dumped. If the member dumps the milk on their own, they must be sure to take the stick reading and record the number of pounds of milk, and report the information to the Member Representative.

If the milk is dumped, the member will be paid 75% of the value of the tank of milk involved.

In order to receive payment for an added water voluntary dump, the member must install a Swingline Safety Switch. The Swingline Safety Switch can be ordered from the St. Louis warehouse. The MMPA Member Representative will verify the switch has been installed. Reimbursement for the Swingline Safety Switch and the voluntary dump will then be made to the member.

The member assumes all liability for losses incurred as a result of shipping poor quality or contaminated milk.

MILK SHIPPED – HIGH BACTERIA COUNT

If:

1. A load of milk is received (unloaded) at a dairy processing plant and,

2. a sample from the load has a bacteria count of 300,000 or more and,

3. testing of the individual member samples on that load identifies the member or members having a bacteria count of 300,000 or more, then the member or members involved will be charged the value of one-half of one day’s production** and will be disqualified for raw and PI bacteria count premiums.

**For members using more than one bulk tank, the assessment will be based on the value of milk in the tank or tanks in violation of the MMPA quality policy.

* The member will only be paid for two (2) voluntary dumps in a 12 month period.

REJECTED LOAD SHIPMENT

If:

1. A load of milk is rejected (not unloaded) at a dairy processing plant and,

2. the milk cannot be sold through normal Grade A channels for reasons of quality which results in the load being sold or disposed of at a loss to MMPA, and,

3. testing of the individual member samples on that load identifies the member or members that caused the contamination or rejection of the load, then, the member or members responsible will be charged the full value of the loss to MMPA plus transportation and disposal costs, and be disqualified for raw and PI bacteria count premiums except for loads rejected for temperature.

4. MMPA will provide an invoice to the member for the amount of the loss, to be submitted to the member’s insurance carrier. MMPA must receive settlement on the invoice within 90 days of issuance. If settlement is not made within 90 days, the full amount of the invoice will be deducted from the next milk check unless other settlement arrangements are made.

If a member has a third occurrence or more within 12 consecutive months, that member must appear before the MMPA board of directors to review steps taken on the farm to correct the quality problem which will enable MMPA to continue to market the milk for this member.

HAULER

A hauler whose entire load sample exceeds 300,000 per mL bacteria count will be charged the amount of an average shipment on that load if the individual member samples all are less than 100,000. A hauler will be responsible for all costs incurred by MMPA for loads rejected for temperature. Charges and assessments made under this program will be withheld from milk checks of members or haulers involved.

Policies

38 January 2012

MARKET STATISTICSMideast Federal Order #33

(pounds)

COMMODITY CREDIT CORP.(CCC) PURCHASES (million pounds)

Mideast Federal Order #33

COMPONENT PRICING INFORMATIONMideast Federal Order #33

NATIONAL TRENDS(million pounds)

This Month Year Ago % Change

Total Class 1 Sales 540,401,400 557,114,011 -3.00

Total Class 2 Sales 206,230,504 145,418,560 +41.82



Total Production 1,344,979,476 1,225,999,304 +9.70

Class 1 Utilization 40.2% 45.4%

Current Month

Total Producers 6,605

Average Daily Production per Farm 6,788

Average Protein Test 3.19%

Average Butterfat Test 3.80%

Average Other Solids Test 5.70%

Average SCC Count (MMPA) 174,000

Protein Price/lb. $3.2341

Butterfat Price/lb. $1.9508

Other Solids Price/lb. $0.4521

Class III Price @ 3.5% $ 19.07

Prod. Price Diff/cwt. (Mich. Mkt.) ($0.09)

Uniform Price @ 3.5% $ 18.98

SCC Adjustment/cwt./1000 $0.00092 This Year Month Ago

Butter 0.00 0.00Cheese 0.00 0.00Nonfat Dry Milk 0.00 0.00Total Solids 0.00 0.00

2011 2010 % Change Production California 3,343 3,266 +2.4

Wisconsin 2,094 2,062 +1.6

Idaho 1,065 1,047 +1.7

New York 1,013 1,026 -1.3

Pennsylvania 850 867 -2.0

Texas 787 726 +8.4

Minnesota 716 717 -0.1

Michigan 688 662 +3.9

New Mexico 673 633 +6.3

Washington 494 473 +4.4

Ohio 420 421 -0.2

Indiana 289 281 +2.8

* Total U.S. 14,736 14,421 +2.2

* U.S. Y-T-D 167,275 164,113 +1.9

* For 23 states

NASS Survey Prices

Monthly Avg.Cheese/lb. 1.8415

Butter/lb. 1.7824

Nonfat Dry Milk/lb. 1.4522

Dry Whey/lb. 0.6380

Market ReportFor Milk Marketed in November 2011


MMPA FIELD STAFF

NOVI (Headquarters)248-474-6672

800-572-5824General Manager

Clay Galarneau, ext. 200

Member Services/Quality Control Milk Sales/Dispatch Finance/Controller Gary Trimner, ext. 213 Carl Rasch, ext. 244 Joseph M. Diglio, ext. 240 Producer Testing/Herd Health Programs Manufactured Sales Credit/Insurance Dean Letter, ext. 217 Jim Dodson, ext. 229 Cheryl Schmandt, ext. 210 Laboratory Supervisor Member Relations/Public Affairs Data Processing Patti Huttula, ext. 219 Sheila Burkhardt, ext. 208 Gregory Schulkey, ext. 237Human Resources Member Communications Cindy Tilden, ext. 220 Laura Moser, ext 211

MANUFACTURING PLANTS Constantine Ovid 269-435-2835 989-834-2221 Plant Manager Plant Manager/Plant Operations Dave Davis David Wittkop

Novi: 800-572-5824 (in MI) 800-233-2405 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. Mon-Fri

Ovid: 989-834-2515 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. Daily

Constantine: 800-391-7560 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. Daily

MMPA LABS

If you are unable to reach your assigned member representative, contact any one of the representatives listed in your area.

NORTH AREA

Supervisor: Gerry Volz St. Louis Office ..............989-289-9219

Frank Brazeau ..................920-834-4059 Oconto, Wis. mobile 906-250-0337Ben Chapin ............................................. Big Rapids mobile 989-289-0731

Preston Cole .....................231-584-2587 Mancelona mobile 989-289-9301

Steven Lehman ................989-875-3441 Ithaca mobile 989-330-1638

Katie Pierson .......................................... Coleman mobile 989-289-9686

Kendra Stieg ........................................... Kentwood mobile 269-245-6632

Gerry Volz.........................989-848-5996 Fairview mobile 989-289-9219

MMPA Staff

EAST AREA

Supervisor: Michael Marvin Marlette Office ...............989-635-3650

Gary Best..........................810-664-4984 Lapeer mobile 586-484-9279 Bulk Tank Calibration

Christy Dinsmoore .................................. Fairgrove mobile 989-528-9102

Michael Marvin ....................................... Marlette mobile 989-670-4864

Kristin Rawlings ...................................... Deckerville mobile 231-414-4539 Andrew Rupprecht .................................. Clio mobile 269-986-6793

SOUTH AREA

Supervisor: Lyndsay Stakenas Coldwater Office .............. 231-519-2455

Krista Beeker .......................................... Howe, IN mobile 269-986-6792

David Brady ......................517-522-5965 Grass Lake mobile 517-937-9061

Lyndsay Stakenas .................................. Coldwater mobile 231-519-2455

Ed Zuchnik.............................................. Three Rivers mobile 269-967-7351

MERCHANDISE—ST. LOUISSupervisor: Duane Farmer 989-681-2334 Fax.................................989-681-3988 Toll Free ........................877-367-6455 Orders (Novi) 800-572-5824 then dial 2

MASTITIS MANAGEMENT

Tom Herremans................231-853-8008 Ravenna mobile 269-967-0890

Steven Lehman ................989-875-3441 Ithaca mobile 989-330-1638

Christy Dinsmoore .................................. Fairgrove mobile 989-528-9102 Environmental SpecialistDale Ledebuhr.......................269-965-2474 Battle Creek mobile 269-986-6791

This Year Month Ago

Butter 0.00 0.00Cheese 0.00 0.00Nonfat Dry Milk 0.00 0.00Total Solids 0.00 0.00

40 January 2012

Our strength

MEMBERS!is in our

MMPA embodies the cooperative spirit — a network of

individuals working together to enrich the quality of life

for every dairy farmer member. MMPA members are

the owners, the operators and the strength of the cooperative.

From participation at the local level to representation on

national issues, MMPA members are the strength of the co-op.

Find out more about MMPA membership by

calling (248) 474-6672.

www.mimilk.comThe Sharrard FamilyPeck, MI

Documents

Michigan Milk Messenger: January 2012