DAIRY

This Thanksgiving Be Grateful for The Strength of Our Mothers

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 13:08:35 GMT

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the figures who have profoundly shaped our lives. This year, I find myself thinking about a striking statement from the legendary Coach Mike Krzyzewski, former Duke University and USA Basketball coach. He once advised, “Be as tough as your mothers.” This powerful message resonates deeply, especially with those of us who grew up as farm kids, where our mothers proved to be the unsung heroes of our upbringing.

The Unwavering Spirit of Farm Mothers
Mothers, if they are anything like mine, have faced the demanding realities of farm life with unyielding strength. These are women who fed calves in the sweltering heat of summer, irrigated pastures with children on their hips, and resolved marital differences amidst sorting cows. They managed household finances creatively, making ends meet even when the milk check was sparse, and they ensured that a family of eight was nourished from garden and freezer bounty.

My mother, in particular, embodies this strength. The oldest daughter of a U.S. Admiral, she once lived a life of luxury, familiar with Italian leather gloves, silk blouses, and fur coats. Yet, she embraced a new calling when she married my father, a devoted Oregon dairy farmer, and exchanged her glamorous wardrobe for rubber boots and ragged jeans. Despite this dramatic transformation, she never complained.

My late mother, Michelle getting ready to attend a formal event.

(Karen Bohnert)

Homemaker and More
After coming home from school to head to the barn to do farm chores, my sisters and I would race inside to a home-cooked meal prepared from scratch. Growing up with servants in a high-class setting, my mother learned to cook only after marrying my father, who humorously recalled losing 30 pounds in their first year of marriage. Yet she would remind him that he was doing ‘just fine now.’

Even when burdened by physical exhaustion or illness, my mom remained unwavering. She still managed to assist us with homework, ensuring that we not only comprehended the assignment but excelled at it, even if it meant staying up past midnight to solve complex algebra problems. She did this while nursing a sick newborn calf in the mudroom and baking pies for a 4-H banquet, lending yet another testament to a mother’s multitasking ability. Her ingenuity was a product of from being self-taught, reading the Merck Manual, learning from our veterinarian and her years of working in a hospital. Mom seemed to be able to do anything and everything.

My late mother feeding a flock of sheep in her Italian leather gloves and fur coat.

(Karen Bohnert)

Resilience in Adversity
My mother’s resilience manifested most profoundly when our family faced life’s harshest trials. When a house fire rendered us homeless overnight, she chose gratitude for the neighbors who welcomed us in. When one of her daughters nearly lost her leg in a farming accident, mom didn’t let her praying legs grow lazy, as she was grateful for medical advancements and her daughter’s recovery.

Values of Perseverance and Positivity
Among her most enduring gifts were the values she imparted—values characterized by a strong work ethic, kindness, gratitude and perspective. My mom never permitted self-pity to take root, a trait she exemplified in her own life. She instilled in us a perspective that transformed adversity into opportunity.

My three kids.

(Bohnert Farms)

Reflecting on the qualities I hope to impart to my own children, I wholeheartedly echo Coach K’s sentiment. I hope for my children to grow into individuals possessing the resilience and strength of their late grandmother. Her enduring legacy is one of tenacity, compassion and unwavering positivity—traits that are as essential on the farm as they are in life. This Thanksgiving, as you gather around the table, think of those that fill your heart with love, including your mother.

The Ultimate Gift: Dairy Farmer Becomes Lifesaving Hero by Donating Both His Liver and Kidney

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 14:58:23 GMT

When one thinks of a dairy farmer, the image often conjured is that of a hardworking individual, dedicated to the care of their cattle and land. Brian Forrest, who leads with a kind-hearted and giving spirit at his family farm, Maple Ridge Dairy near Stratford, Wisconsin, epitomizes this image and so much more.

Forrest works tirelessly alongside his wife, Elaine, and their five children, tending to roughly 2,000 cows and farming 4,000 acres. Although farming is undeniably a demanding job, Forrest thrives on the mixture of hard work and familial teamwork it entails.

Leadership Beyond Farming
Away from the hustle and bustle of farming, Forrest dedicates his time in boardrooms and volunteering on various committees and organizations. His contributions as a leader have not gone unnoticed as he was awarded the Dean Strauss Leadership Award at the Professional Dairy Producers (PDP) Annual Meeting earlier this year.

“Ask anyone who knows Brian and they’ll tell you he’d give you the shirt off his back without blinking, as his track record clearly shows,” Shelly Mayer, Executive Director of PDP, shares. “I’ve had the opportunity to work directly with Brian for several years and I can say firsthand that he is one of the most thoughtful, compassionate people one could ever hope to work with.”

Maple Ridge has earned recognition on state and national levels, including Focus on Energy’s 2022 Energy Efficiency Excellence Award and platinum-level recognition in 2020 from the National Mastitis Council for the dairy’s consistently low Somatic Cell Count. Forrest was also named a 2021 Wisconsin Agriculturist Master Agriculturist. Forrest serves as Board Chair of Dairy’s Foundation and also served on the PDP board of directors for six years, acting as treasurer for three years. He’s an FFA alumnus and regularly supports the FFA.

A Selfless Donor
Forrest’s generosity extends beyond his time and expertise. In July 2019, he served as a living liver donor for his cousin Richard Gillette, who was battling end-stage liver disease.

“Richard is one of five brothers who I had always looked up to when I was a kid,” Forrest fondly recalls. “When they were young, all five of them came up from Illinois during the summer to help out on my dad’s farm in Stratford.”

Two of the five brothers died in their 50s - and Forrest didn’t want to see a third Gillette brother die before his time. And, as sick as Richard was in the spring of 2019, he was unlikely to receive a new liver from a deceased donor in time to save his life. Too many patients were ahead of him on the transplant list - and most of them were even sicker. Forrest offered to see if he could be a match.

“I thought maybe I could be a donor. I’m older, but I have O-negative blood.” After discussing it with his wife and giving it careful thought, he decided to go through with the donation.

A football fan at heart, Forrest knows that when it’s game day, rivalries don’t matter. Or least this was the case for the fourth-generation dairy farmer.

“He’s a Bears fan. I’m a Packer fan. But we were united the morning that we both met with our incredible surgeons,” Forrest remembers back to the day of live transplant at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical Hospital. We joked together right before the surgery that after he gets part of my liver, he very well may come out a Packers fan! He beamingly shares that his cousin recovered well. “It was a tough road for a while, but it was all worthwhile.”

Four years later, Forrest donated a kidney to an anonymous recipient, demonstrating his willingness to help those in need yet again.

The kidney he donated went to a person in Virginia. The surgeon showed Forrest a picture of his kidney functioning perfectly inside the recipient the evening after his surgery.

“It was pink inside the recipient and doing its job,” Forrest shared emotionally. “It is all so remarkable.”

Both surgeries required others to pick up the ‘slack’ from Forrest back at the dairy. He proudly shares that he is lucky to have such a great village that could help out while he took 6-8 weeks to fully recover from both surgeries.

“I would do this again in a heartbeat,” he shares. “There is no price tag for giving someone life and the whole experience brought my family closer together.”

A Farmer’s Faith
Forrest says the feeling of helping someone else is hard to describe but incredibly fulfilling.

“I know God is driving the way,” he says. “I’m not sure what direction we are heading, but I know he is in the driver’s seat and I’m in the backseat.”

When it comes to farming, Forrest—like most farmers—believes in a better tomorrow. Before his surgeries, Forrest had to undergo a mental health evaluation, ensuring he was prepared for all eventualities, even the possibility of the surgery not resulting in success.

“I go back to the highs and lows of farming. With milk prices and Mother Nature, you must be okay with not being in control,” he says.

Forrest’s mindset of focusing on what can go right instead of what could go wrong is just his natural way of thinking. This positive attitude has helped foster a healthy and positive culture at Maple Ridge Dairy, where 34 full-time employees work in harmony.

“Our mission and values are communicated, and we all work towards the same goal,” he shares.

In an industry full of challenges and unpredictability, this Wisconsin dairy farmer stands out not just for his farming practices but for his exemplary character and unwavering optimism. Whether on the farm, in the operating room, or during acts of heroism, Forrest truly embodies a spirit of selflessness and resilience.

“I try to make more deposits than withdrawals,” he says. “There are good days and bad days, but we really need to focus on the good. My hopes are that others who hear my story also consider organ donation. UW Madison is an incredible resource and I’d be happy to talk to anyone whose heart has tugged on them regarding organ donation. I have no regrets.”

Leap of Faith As Farmer Miraculously Escapes Burning Chopper

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 14:44:37 GMT

Burn in fire or die by electrocution? Stranded on the catwalk of a corn chopper engulfed in flames and wrapped in the deafening hum of 140,000 volts, J.P. Koop leaped into a crackling halo of current. Crashing into a smoking row of freshly cut stalks on super-heated ground, Koop’s body went to jelly on impact, electricity surging through his limbs. On hands and knees, the Michigan farmer made the crawl of his life—a bid to escape a deathtrap.

His incredible survival has no room for chance, Koop insists. Five hours prior, his crew sought protection: “We prayed for safety. We asked God to watch over us with full expectation that He’d meet our genuine need. That’s exactly what happened and I’m here to bear witness because there is no other explanation.”

Walk The Wire

On a Thursday morning, Sept. 12, 2024, Lucky 7 Dairy, helmed by Koop, approached harvest kickoff: corn was ready. Featuring 3,000 acres of light, fertile soil and 2,000 Holsteins set in the hilly topography of upper Michigan’s Missaukee County, Lucky 7 prepared for an ideal day of fieldwork: bright and breezy, low humidity, and a high expected in the upper 70s.

Just before tucking into a homemade breakfast, roughly 14 members of the harvest team—truck and tractor operators—gathered beside the Lucky 7 shop for a safety meeting and final emphasis on awareness. At the conclusion, Koop asked neighboring farmer Mike Bosscher to lead a safety prayer.

At the touch of chute to power line, 140,000 volts welded metal on metal and ignited a hail of sparks.

(Photo by Lucky 7 Dairy)

“We bowed our heads and Mike prayed in a sincere manner for God’s hand to be over all of us,” Koop recalls. “We asked in full expectation and we meant every word.”

A relative newcomer (six years) to the dairy industry after a lifetime spent around machinery as a long-hauling veteran and a 130-truck business carrying produce between California and Michigan, Koop had never experienced a major accident. He was about to walk a wire.

Ride Lightning

In work boots and Wranglers, Koop, 58, climbed the ladder of a forage harvester crowned by a distinctive, arched chute, and drove toward 80 acres of green corn to start the field opening process and cut enough space to ensure loading trucks had room to receive silage.

On its northern side, the field was rimmed by a main road and parallel power line suspended roughly 14’ high. “Every field is different,” Koop says, “but most everyone deals with frequent power poles and power lines, whether on the side or even in the middle of a field. You’ve got to stay alert to exactly where they’re at, but on this day, I reacted too late.”

“There was no rotating or getting away,” describes Koop. “I spun around and saw the chute sparking, and the heat just made it stick to the wire even more.”

(Photo by Lucky 7 Dairy)

Rolling at 5 miles per hour, Koop completed an outer pass of the field, and began a second revolution, with the power line directly to his left, and operator Denny Kamphouse driving a tractor and wagon to his right.

Koop’s two-way crackled: “Hey, you’re getting close to that line,” Kamphouse warned.

At roughly 16’ in the air alongside the low-lying power line, Koop’s chute bobbed like a crow’s nest. He tried to adjust. Too late.

Time to ride lightning.

Volts or Flames?

Supernova. At the touch of chute to power line, 140,000 volts welded metal on metal and ignited a hail of sparks, blowing the chute’s hydraulic cylinder and igniting the chopper tires.

“I should have died,” emphasizes Koop. “Cracking. Popping. Booming. Buzzing. The chopper was gone, burnt up.”

(Photo by Lucky 7 Dairy)

“There was no rotating or getting away. I spun around and saw the chute sparking, and the heat just made it stick to the wire even more.”

Koop shut off the chopper and took stock, his ears drowning under an overwhelming hum of surging electricity.

Seconds. Flashes. Family. Decisions. Calculations. Questions. Risk a step onto the steel catwalk? Dare to remain in the cab? Descend the ladder? Wait for the power line to short out?

As the back tires blew and the chopper rocked, Koop opened the cab door to his left and scrambled onto the platform, enveloped by smoke and the heat of expanding flames. “I didn’t know where to go or what to do, but I knew once those back rims were touching the ground, I’d be electrocuted. Think. Think. Think. Seconds were going by as I stood there and tried to gather my options. It was a major power line so it had no breaker and wasn’t going out. Also, I couldn’t go down the steps because sparks were flying out of them.”

Remains of a flames—Koop’s burnt-out YETI cup.

(Photo by Lucky 7 Dairy)

Looking down, Koop stared at cut corn rows belching smoke from pulsing current. Looking behind, Koop eyeballed a silage harvester in meltdown. Volts to the front; flames to the back.

Koop made his choice. He didn’t want to burn.

Dead Man Walking

In a frozen moment beyond the incessant buzzing and mounting heat, Koop found clarity. “Images were flashing across my mind and heart, but all of a sudden, in the middle of all that chaos, I hung on one clear thought. If I died, and no matter how I died, I knew where I was going because Jesus saved me from my sins and had given me the grace to stand before God.”

“That split second recognition came in a freeze frame that settled everything and took away my fear. I’ll jump. I’ll push out as far as my body will let me and maybe get far enough away from the current’s ripple effect to survive.”

“I’m blessed with my wife, Suzanne, who took such good care of me,” says Koop. “I have seven wonderful kids. I have a story to tell about how God protected me.”

(Photo by Lucky 7 Dairy)

Koop climbed on the handrail, balanced on the metal bar almost 10’ high, bent his legs, and pushed off with the kick of every muscle fiber in his 58-year-old body.

“I hit the ground, fell forward, and felt my body getting electrified. I couldn’t stand up or control my legs, but I could move on 100% adrenaline and I started crawling, trying to get out of the ripple effect before it killed me. It was such a weird sensation to feel the current blowing through me. I could feel it especially in my hands and knees, but it wasn’t painful.”

Roughly 20’ later, Koop crawled out of the ripples to safety. He stood up, ran around the chopper to get away from the power lines, and collapsed in an adjacent ditch, from where he was carried by Lucky 7 crew members to a neighbor’s yard.

No wounds or burns from electricity or flames. Miraculous, Koop insists. “I should have died. Cracking. Popping. Booming. Buzzing. The chopper was gone, burnt up. All the liquids superheated. All the aluminum melted and pooled on the ground. The cab exploded and blew glass everywhere. Tires gone. Steel was the only thing left behind.”

With a heart rate pumping off the charts and a heel sore from the jump impact, Koop was taken to a hospital. “The power company guys wanted to meet me before we left. They said they’d never seen anyone walk away from this kind of accident.”

“We prayed for safety,” says Koop. “We asked God to watch over us with full expectation that He’d meet our genuine need.”

(Photo by Lucky 7 Dairy)

Four hours after arriving, Koop was released from the hospital. He used the next day to rest and ease muscles sore from intense flexing during voltage conductivity. Two days after tapping 140,000 volts, he was back in a chopper (Thursday to Saturday).

Lucky 7 notwithstanding, Koop does not believe in luck. “There was nothing random about my survival. If chance was involved, I’d be a dead man right now.”

The Witness

Koop’s near-death accident has elevated safety concerns to the top rung of daily farm activity. “See something, speak up, and question it, regardless of your role. We all feel the fragility of life on a farm, and my mistake has increased our awareness to the highest level where it has to stay. I can say it simply, ‘I now know where all power lines are at all times.’”

Koop attributes his survival to Providence: “I’m here to bear witness because there is no other explanation.”

(Photo by Lucky 7 Dairy)

Why was Koop spared?

“I only know I’m supposed to bear witness. For the rest of my life, I’ll use this to talk about God’s Providence,” he adds. “I’m blessed with my wife, Suzanne, who took such good care of me. I have seven wonderful kids. I have a story to tell about how God protected me.”

For more from Chris Bennett (@ChrisBennettMS or cbennett@farmjournal.com or 662-592-1106), see:

Corn and Cocaine: Roger Reaves and the Most Incredible Farm Story Never Told

Cottonmouth Farmer: The Insane Tale of a Buck-Wild Scheme to Corner the Snake Venom Market

Bagging the Tomato King: The Insane Hunt for Agriculture’s Wildest Con Man

Ghost in the House: A Forgotten American Farming Tragedy

Priceless Pistol Found After Decades Lost in Farmhouse Attic

Bizarre Mystery of Mummified Coon Dog Solved After 40 Years

American Gothic: Farm Couple Nailed In Massive $9M Crop Insurance Fraud

Evil Grain: The Wild Tale of History’s Biggest Crop Insurance Scam

Fleecing the Farm: How a Fake Crop Fueled a Bizarre $25 Million Ag Scam

The Arrowhead Whisperer: Stunning Indian Artifact Collection Found on Farmland

Skeleton In the Walls: Mysterious Arkansas Farmhouse Hides Civil War History

Kansas State University Partners with Farm Journal Foundation to Address Rural Veterinary Shortage

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 12:52:57 GMT

Kansas State University is joining a new pilot program from Farm Journal Foundation to support veterinary students in their career development and address the national shortage of rural, food-systems veterinarians.

The university is one of nine schools participating in the Veterinary Workforce Solutions Program, which seeks to address structural challenges facing the food animal veterinary industry. The program, backed by support from the Zoetis Foundation, supports veterinary students across a number of areas, including tackling student debt and financial planning, developing business management skills, and learning how to engage with rural communities.

“This program was designed to aid students to advance their careers, and in turn, students also provide key insights of how to make the educational components of this program better,” said Clint Neill, PhD, Veterinary Program Manager at Farm Journal Foundation. “We are excited to see this resource evolve with student feedback, and we look forward to continuing to help them build robust future careers.”

The U.S. is currently facing a nationwide shortage of veterinarians to treat livestock and poultry in rural areas, threatening public health, food safety, and economic growth in communities that depend on agriculture, according to a recent report commissioned by Farm Journal Foundation.

More than 900 counties across the U.S. currently face shortages of veterinarians, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Only 3% to 4% of new veterinary school graduates pursue livestock or other food animal practice areas, a stark decline from 40 years ago when about 40 percent of graduates specialized in this area.

Expanding the role of universities and partners increases the opportunities for students and early career professionals to support a strong pipeline of industry professionals as the need grows. Through the program, participants will also get advice from Farm Journal Foundation’s Veterinary Ambassadors, a group of experienced veterinarians and educators who serve as mentors and champions of workforce development.

“A robust supply of food-systems veterinarians is critical to rural agricultural production,” said Dr. Brad White, DVM, Kansas State University professor and Farm Journal Foundation Veterinary Ambassador. “The Veterinary Workforce Solutions program is bringing together expertise from a variety of areas to address current challenges and identify opportunities to promote rural veterinary services. I think this program will be beneficial to current and future rural veterinary practitioners.”

To date, the pilot program has reached 450 students and early career professionals. Feedback from students shows more than 50 percent know where they want to practice and 70 percent know they want to start their own business in the future. Sixty percent of students say they would like mentorship after graduation.

Your Next Reads:
USDA Approves New H5N1 Vaccine Trial for Dairy Cattle
How One Veterinarian Offers Support on Transition Planning to His Clients
Hog Health: When Pre-Weaning Diarrhea Strikes: 3 Things You Can Do to Slow it Down
Beef Cattle: Body Condition Scoring and Paying Attention to the Seven Percent

5 Feats for the Record Book

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 03:52:35 GMT

Downtime is scarce this time of year, but if you need to pass the minutes while waiting at the elevator or wind down after a long day, check out these videos. Former competitive swimmer and record-holder Mark Spitz once said: “Life is true to form; records are meant to be broken.” That’s exactly what these feats accomplished.

A new Guinness World Record was set near Winkler, Manitoba, Canada, on Aug. 4, when 303 combines harvested the same crop of winter wheat continuously for five minutes. The Children’s Camps International event raised close to $5 million, enough to send 1 million kids to camp in developing countries. The new record far surpasses the 2012 total of 244 combines set in Dalmeny, Saskatchewan.

A Colorado farmer teamed up with Claas to set a new Guinness World Record for most hay cut in eight hours. While attending Agritechnica in Germany, Tate Mesbergen learned a Polish company had set a record by mowing 243 acres of alfalfa in eight hours. He knew he could beat it. Mesbergen cut 35' wide passes at 19 mph for a new record of 348.67 acres in eight hours using a Class Disco 1100 RC.

Forgetting the traditional limits, Nokian Tyres and Valtra have set the world record for snow removal with an autonomous tractor. The speed record was set in March 2018 using an unmanned Valtra T254 Versu tractor equipped with Nokian Hakkapeliitta TRI tyres. Operated without a driver, the tractor plowed snow on a closed road in southern Finland at 45.466 mph.

Pearson Farm in Fort Valley, Ga., harvested a 1.8-lb. peach, surpassing the former record of 1.75 lb. One of the farm’s workers is always on the lookout for large peaches, which typically weigh from one-third to half a pound. Pearson Farm’s massive peach grew naturally, but the particular tree didn’t have a full crop. Owner Al Pearson says he plans to make a mold of the peach to display.

Weighing in at 4,437 lb. and 63 oz., the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin set a new Guinness World Record for the largest cheeseboard. Featuring 145 varieties and styles of Wisconsin’s cheeses, more than 60 people worked to accomplish the feat. A 2,000-lb. cheddar wheel accounted for nearly half the board’s weight. The custom-made 35’x7' board was digitally fabricated to represent a barn.

Adopt An Attitude Of Gratitude

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 18:20:24 GMT

How can you keep your chin up this growing season, which will likely be sprinkled or slammed with stress?

Take a gratitude walk, suggests Dave Gordon, an author and motivational coach. For five minutes each day, walk around your farm and clear your mind of everything stressing you out.

“I started this practice 15 years ago, and it changed my life,” he explains. “Say out loud what you are thankful for. This will set you up for a positive day.”

Gratitude is like a muscle, Gordon says, the more you exercise it the stronger it becomes. Build your muscle by reading uplifting books, spending time with positive people and thanking important people in your life.

“We know people who reﬂect on gratitude are happier, feel valued and experience fewer health issues,” says Mary Kelly, CEO of Productive Leaders. Use Kelly’s tool below to inventory your blessings.

Monitor Your Personal Check Engine Light

Research shows people who work in agriculture tend to have a higher rate of mental and physical health concerns, explains Sean Brotherson, family science specialist for North Dakota State University.

You owe it to your family and team to monitor and manage your stress signals.

“Signs of stress are like the warning signs on your vehicle dashboard,” Brotherson explains. “They indicate there’s a problem with your engine. So, you need to take steps to remedy what’s going on.”

Unhealthy patterns such as headaches, increased irritability, sleep difficulty, increased use of alcohol or drugs, communication difficulties and isolation are all signals to slow down and focus on wellness.

“Health is the most important asset to any operation. If it is the most important asset, it also needs to be the most important priority,” he says.

Brotherson and Karen Funkenbusch, University of Missouri Extension farm health and safety specialist, offer these suggestions for farmers, ranchers and their families:

Know the warning signs of stress.
During stressful times, do a stress self-inventory.
Slow down and prioritize sleep.
Eat a healthy diet.
Get a physical checkup.
Seek local resources, including clergy and medical professionals. Talk with other farm families and neighbors.
Exercise daily. Take regular breaks throughout the day.

For more strategies to cope with stress and a tool to assess your stress zone, visit AgWeb.com/farm-stress

Restaurant Animal Welfare Marketing Is Ineffective

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:51:23 GMT

Despite growing pressure on American restaurants from animal activists, linking animal welfare to marketing programs has thus far been ineffective for restaurants.

A new study by the University of Missouri suggests that while the restaurant industry is often criticized for not doing more to push animal welfare reforms, but even when they do their marketing efforts miss the mark.

“Restaurants have faced a lot of criticism for how they source their food, and it is logical to think that social cause marketing could mitigate that criticism the way it has for issues in other industries,” says Dae-Young Kim, lead author on the study and an associate professor of hospitality management in MU’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.

“We found that this kind of marketing does improve trust in restaurants on a variety of issues when the ads include engaging visuals, but when it comes to animal welfare, it doesn’t matter how the message is delivered. Customers don’t care.”

The research team surveyed 433 participants who viewed marketing messages from fictional restaurants. Each message versions with text only, and text with visual elements such as illustrations and certification seals. Each message also embraced one of four social causes: health, human services, environmental concern and animal welfare.

Unsurprisingly for the researchers, the majority of causes elicited improved trust and reputation for the restaurant when presented in a visually engaging message, as opposed to a generic message with plain text. But for the cause of animal welfare, consumer trust remained unchanged regardless of the type of message, indicating apathy on the part of customers.

“We have seen that visually appealing cause marketing works in a variety of contexts across many different industries,” Dae-Young Kim says. “So when we see this marketing fall flat for restaurants addressing animal welfare, it tells us that the style of message isn’t the problem. People are simply ignoring restaurants when they discuss that particular cause.”

Kim says the problem is probably not that people don’t care about animal welfare. One possible explanation is that not enough restaurants have taken a stand regarding animal welfare for customers to pay attention. Conversely, people might be more receptive to an animal welfare message in a pet food advertisement because pet food companies have been incorporating that message into their marketing for several years. In that case, more marketing from restaurants addressing animal welfare could prompt more customers to start listening, Kim says.

Elanco Agrees To Buy Bayer Animal Health

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:50:54 GMT

Elanco Animal Health has agree to buy Bayer’s veterinary drugs unit in a cash and stock deal valued at $7.6 billion. Subject to regulatory approval, the deal would create the second largest maker of medicines for pets and livestock and expand Elanco’s reach online.

“This combination will join two complementary animal health-focused entities previously under the human pharma umbrella into a dedicated company focused on delivering for farmers, veterinarians and pet owners,” said Jeffrey Simmons, president and chief executive officer of Elanco. “It creates increased speed, attention and investment to bring customers greater access and options at a variety of price points to make a difference in the lives of animals.”

The deal adds to the list of assets sold by Bayer, as the German company seeks to slash debt from its $63 billion takeover of Monsanto last year and inherited the potential settlement of lawsuits over an alleged cancer-causing effect of the weedkiller Roundup.

The two companies said Bayer would receive $5.3 billion in cash and $2.3 billion worth of Elanco stock based on a price of $33.60 per share, the 30-day average price as of Aug. 6.

The Manure Challenge Adds Sponsors and Advisors

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:50:07 GMT

The Yield Lab Institute is pleased to announce the addition of a number of diverse advisors to the Manure Challenge, as well as a successful application cycle.

The Manure Challenge—organized by Yield Lab Institute with guidance from the World Wildlife Fund, Newtrient, and the Dairy Farmers of America—brings together the expertise of many eminent public, for profit, and non-for-profit leaders from a wide variety of backgrounds to support interest and investment in the manure management sector. The following organizations have been added as sponsors: Cargill, The Maschhoffs, and WeWork FoodLabs.

The advisory and mentorship network includes: Joseph Ziobro with the U.S. E.P.A., Rod Larkins with AURI (Agricultural Utilization Research Institute), Kraig Westerbeek with Smithfield, Jonathan Hua with Thrive Accelerator, Aaron Ratner with Ultra Capital LLC, Evan Fraser with the Arrell Food Institute, Ben Gaddy with the Clean Energy Trust, and Fidan Karimova with the Water Research Foundation.

“We are excited to team up with The Yield Lab Institute on the Manure Challenge to help drive innovation and spur investment to address this critical challenge.” Heather Tansey, sustainability lead for Cargill’s global animal nutrition and protein groups. “Together we can deliver meaningful solutions that improve productivity and profitability while minimizing our environmental footprint.”

“Innovative financing mechanisms and technologies are bringing industrial-scale solutions to commercial livestock manure management. These circular economy strategies, which efficiently upcycle otherwise wasted energy and potentially environmentally harmful nutrients, will support an industry-wide transition to a more sustainable and profitable business model,” explained Aaron Ratner, managing director for Ultra Capital LLC.

A total of 63 applications were collected in May; those applications are now in review by a committee of advisors drawn from stakeholders, experts, and partners to evaluate the potential impact and scope of each applicant’s offering. In late August, 6-10 companies will be selected to participate in the challenge.

The challenge will support selected companies in commercializing their products through mentorship, commercial strategy guidance, and network access over the course of six months. Upon conclusion of the programming phase, the selected companies will compete in a pitch competition for a cash prize.

Programming for the selected companies will kick off in early September in Manhattan, Kansas, adjacent to the annual meeting of the Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock.

One advisor and the Director of Dairy at the World Wildlife Fund, Sandra Vijn, outlines the importance of the manure challenge, “WWF’s goal is to drive sustainable food systems to conserve nature and feed humanity. Closing nutrient loops on farms can help reduce environmental impacts. More innovation, research, development and investment is needed to advance manure management solutions.”

A full and up-to-date list of partners, sponsors, advisors, and mentors is visible here . If you or your organization would like to be involved, reach out to Connie Bowen at connie@theyieldlab.com

Mental Health Issues on the Rise with Younger Farmers

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:49:27 GMT

Younger rural adults reported experiencing more mental health challenges now than a year ago, according to an April 2019 rural stress poll conducted for the American Farm Bureau Federation. Here’s a closer look at farmers’ opinions about mental health:

What’s keeping you up at night?

Lots of us aren’t sleeping as well as we used to, whether it’s continued dairy consolidation, milk prices or family finances that are at the core of the knot in our collective stomachs. See what’s causing your fellow farmers to lose sleep at DairyHerd.com/upatnight

Overhe(a)rd: Fair Oaks Farms, Meat the Millennial and Shrinking Farms

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:49:27 GMT

Listen up, folks! For your listening pleasure, we’re excited to introduce episode 1 of Overhe(a)rd, the Farm Journal Livestock podcast that connects the hearts and minds of producers and consumers to preserve our sustainable resources and provide high-quality food. Here’s a quick summary of what you’ll hear:

Have you he(a)rd: The latest news in livestock

Farm Journal dairy editorial director Mike Opperman gives a quick summary of the undercover filming that occurred on Fair Oaks Farms.

“You know, unfortunately, if somebody wants to capture undercover video of your dairy, and that someone is really dedicated and passionate about doing that, they’re probably going to find a way,” he says. Want to hear his recommendations? Listen below.

Meat the millennial

We love to talk to millennial consumers to glean their thoughts on food: what they eat, why they eat it, where they shop and how they make purchasing decisions. In this episode millennial meat eater Brooke shares her feelings about meat and dairy—her favorites, guilty pleasures and more.

“I couldn’t live my life without meat,” Brooke says. Listen to her tips to cook steak below.

The main dish

Every episode we interview a thought leader connected to agriculture and conservation. This week John Piotti of American Farmland Trust discusses ranchers’, farmers’ and consumers’ roles in preserving our vanishing farmland.

“American Farm Land Trust has been used in the tagline ‘no farms, no food’ for a long time now, I think well over 20 years, and it resonates with a lot of people,” Piotti says. “But we do think that part of thinking about the future of agriculture is recognizing that as essential as fundamental as it is for us to have farmland to grow our food, we really need to get members of the public in particular aware of the fact that farms and ranches do so much more for us—whether it’s vibrant rural communities or outdoor recreation or wildlife habitat, or perhaps most importantly, plants and soil that naturally purify our water and air, and agricultural processes that capture carbon and can help combat climate change. These are things that we need the public to understand our benefits that our farms and ranches can provide.”

Listen to the full episode here:

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Also check out these related articles:

Our Incredible Vanishing Farmland

Q&A: How to Handle a Crisis on Your Dairy

Farm and Food Industry Groups Oppose EPA Decision on Corn-Based Ethanol

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:32:04 GMT

Source: National Meat Association news release

WASHINGTON – October 13, 2010 – A coalition of farm and food industry trade associations representing every step of the food chain from meat and poultry producers, restaurants, bakers to other food manufacturers today issued the following statement in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s announcement that it would allow the sale of gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol (“E15”) for cars manufactured in the 2007 model year or later.

E15 – which would be a 50 percent increase from the currently permitted level of 10 percent ethanol in gasoline – will result in dramatic increases in the portion of the U.S. corn crop used to make fuel rather than food and, when fully implemented, could result in more than 40 percent of the nation’s corn crop being diverted to ethanol production. The corn ethanol industry has received over $30 billion in federal subsidies over the last three decades.

These farm and food industry groups criticized the decision, noting that it is certain to accelerate the recent dramatic rise in corn prices, and questioned whether the EPA decision is legally sound.

Members of the Coalition include the American Meat Institute, the Grocery Manufacturers Association, the National Council of Chain Restaurants, the National Chicken Council, the American Frozen Food Institute, the American Bakers Association, the National Meat Association and the National Turkey Federation.

The Coalition commented: “The EPA’s decision will have an impact on American farmers, food manufacturers and, most importantly, American consumers, who will face price increases at the grocery store and when they go out to eat in a restaurant. EPA took this step without sufficient regard for the inevitable effect on the price of food and feed.”

The Coalition continued: “After decades of federal subsidies and fuel mandates, the corn-based ethanol industry should stand on its own two feet and stop depending on the United States taxpayer for unneeded and unwarranted support. Enough is enough.”

Responses from Members of the Coalition

American Meat Institute President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle said: “USDA’s recent estimate that corn production for this year was going to be 3.4 percent less than 2009 has sent corn prices higher. This will put pressure on the meat and poultry supply which will lead to higher food prices for consumers. For those consumers worried about climbing food prices, this decision will increase the amount of corn being diverted to our gas tanks and away from meat and poultry production. It’s unfortunate that EPA acted hastily and approved the use of E15, and now the American consumer will pay for it at the grocery store.”

Grocery Manufacturers Association Vice President for Federal Affairs Scott Faber said: “We are disappointed in the Administration’s decision to allow more ethanol in gasoline before truly sustainable advanced biofuels are commercially available. Not only will this decision adversely affect millions of consumers who don’t drive brand new cars, but also countless Americans who are struggling to feed their families in a slowly recovering economy. Recent spikes in corn prices due to supply concerns will only be exacerbated by this decision.”

National Council of Chain Restaurants Vice President Scott Vinson said: “Economists were already forecasting higher food prices over the coming year, and today’s decision by the EPA is sure to make the situation even worse. The restaurant industry’s small business franchisees are already struggling to make it as the economy tries to recover, and more piling on by the federal government is the last thing they need.”

National Chicken Council President George Watts said: “Rising grain prices driven by the voracious demand for feedstock from the heavily subsidized ethanol industry caused an increase of six percent in the retail price of fresh whole broiler chickens from 2008 to 2010. Channeling even more corn into ethanol will, in time, only drive up the cost of chicken even more. Consumers will end up paying for the ethanol industry’s demands. It is time to put an end to government mandates and interference in the market that raise the price of corn.”

American Bakers Association President and CEO Robb MacKie said: “EPA’s decision to increase the ethanol blend to E15 will further increase volatility in the grain markets. Other grains, including wheat, may increasingly be in shorter supply; potentially this may impact food prices in the future as the nation continues to lose wheat acreage. ABA strongly opposes this ill advised decision and calls on EPA to consult with relevant government agencies to carefully study how this would impact market volatility, to review the science behind the decision and analyze the economic impact on the already weakened economy.”

National Meat Association CEO Barry Carpenter said: “EPA’s action regarding the E15 waiver barely puts a band-aid on the oil dependency it is intended to alleviate, yet negatively impacts food security by further raising food and feed prices. Higher feed prices will eventually be passed on to consumers in higher meat and poultry prices. This is not a good decision for either consumers or U.S. agriculture.”

National Turkey Federation President Joel Brandenberger said: “Feed accounts for 70 percent of the total cost of raising a turkey, and corn is the single-largest ingredient in turkey feed. The spike in corn prices caused by the expansion of corn-based ethanol could be crippling at a time when the turkey industry is just starting to recover. This dramatic increase in feed prices has led most turkey processors to cut production. Increasing the ethanol blend to 15 percent would destroy any chance our industry has of recovery in the near future.”

Livestock Productivity Soars Over Past 25 Years

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:25:39 GMT

Since 1993, the productivity gains in U.S. agriculture have been, well, pretty astounding. Hog productivity has shot up 68% while gains in dairy and broilers have risen 44% and 43%, respectively.

Beef production has jumped 17% and egg production, 13%, reports Carl Zulauf, an economist with Ohio State University.

“At its simplest, productivity increases when more output is produced using the same foundation herd or when the same output is produced with a smaller foundation herd,” says Zulauf. “Dairy illustrates the former as more production is coming from a foundation herd that has changed little. Beef illustrates the latter as about the same production is coming from a smaller foundation herd.”

He notes that between 1993-1997 and 2014-2018, the U.S. dairy herd has shrunk 4% but production has climbed 38%. According to USDA data, in 1993, there were 9.7 million dairy cows producing an average of 15,554 lb of milk. In 2018, there were 9.4 million cows producing an average of 23,173 lb of milk.

Hog producers have also had a similar ascent in productivity. In 1993, they were saving 8.25 pigs per litter. Last year, that number had climbed to 10.7, a 30% increase in pig numbers alone.

You can read the full report here .

Suicide Prevention Project Aims to Help Distressed Farmers

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:21:10 GMT

Financial struggles led Leon Statz to sell his 50 dairy cows, causing the third-generation farmer to become depressed.

Then land next to his 200-acre farm near Loganville went up for sale — land his late father had said he should buy. Statz, who didn’t have the money, became hopeless.

On Oct. 8, the day the adjacent property hit the market; Statz killed himself on his farm. He was 57.

“He said, ‘How am I going to afford this?’” Brenda Statz, his wife of 34 years, told the Wisconsin State Journal. “He would panic about everything when it got to finances.”

Wisconsin, which had a record 915 suicides in 2017, may be seeing a surge in suicides and suicidal thoughts among farmers, who are facing some of the worst economic challenges in years, experts say.

Exact numbers of suicides among farmers aren’t available, and authorities say some deaths reported as farm accidents are actually suicides.

But calls to the Wisconsin Farm Center, which helps distressed farmers, were up last year, including a 33 percent increase in November and December compared to the same two months the previous year.

“We definitely have seen an increase in folks who are closer to being that desperate,” said Angie Sullivan, supervisor of the farm center, part of the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. “There’s a major increase in their stress level.”

The anguish is approaching that of the 1980s farm crisis, though interest rates today aren’t as high, said Frank Friar, an economic specialist at the farm center who has done similar work for decades.

“There’s so much volatility out there and so much unknown, it makes people think negative,” Friar said.

John Peck, executive director of Family Farm Defenders, an advocacy group in Madison, said he believes farmer suicides are up in Wisconsin from what he’s heard.

Several years of low milk prices, the high cost of farm equipment, trade wars and other pressures contributed to the closure of 691 dairy farms in the state last year, the highest number of closures since 2011.

About 8,100 dairy farms remain, down from about 15,900 in 2004. The number of cows milked has remained steady at nearly 1.3 million, as many surviving farms have expanded.

In 2017, the Western District of Wisconsin had the highest number of Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies in the country, according to federal court data . The district that year had 28 bankruptcies, which represent only a fraction of total liquidations. Similar figures for 2018 are not yet available.

Talking About Suicide

Though the forces working against farmers can seem insurmountable, a growing effort based in Dodgeville aims to help farmers cope with stress and avoid suicide.

Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program started a farmer suicide prevention project recently. The effort, funded by a $50,000 grant from the UW School of Medicine and Public Health’s Wisconsin Partnership Program, was prompted by an increase in stories about suicides or suicidal thoughts among farmers, said Wally Orzechowski, executive director.

“Farmers tend to be pretty isolated and pretty independent,” Orzechowski said. “When issues of mental health arise, they tend to just deal with it by themselves.”

The project, which also involves the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Iowa County, plans to develop a mobile crisis service, conduct suicide prevention training sessions and establish networks to address suicide in a region stretching from Eau Claire to the state border with Dubuque, Iowa.

“The biggest part is to spread awareness, to say, ‘It is OK to talk about it,’” said Sue Springer Judd, who runs the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Iowa County , which also serves six nearby counties.

Judd spoke to a group of farmers recently in Loganville, about 50 miles northwest of Madison. Her brother, Donald Springer, killed himself in 2012 at age 41, leaving behind three children ages 10 to 15. He owned a plumbing business and had a hobby farm next to his father’s beef farm near Mineral Point.

“We had no idea he was suicidal; we just thought he was depressed,” Judd told more than 40 farmers and others gathered at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Loganville to discuss farmer stress and suicide awareness. “We didn’t know he was going bankrupt and losing his plumbing business.”

Suffering Alone

Randy Roecker, 54, a dairy farmer in Loganville, said he became suicidal a decade ago when the Great Recession hit shortly after he invested millions to expand the farm started by his grandfather.

Medications and hospitalizations didn’t help much, but counseling brought some relief, he said.

“I’m doing better, but I’m still struggling every day,” said Roecker, whose farm milks about 325 cows on 800 acres. “We suffer alone in silence, is what we do.”

Roecker — who attends St. Peter’s, as does Brenda Statz — helped organize the church gathering. He wanted to do something to help after he couldn’t bring himself to attend Leon Statz’s funeral because the suicide brought back his feelings of despair.

“You feel like you’re in this pit, and you’re climbing to try to get out of it,” Roecker said. “We are all struggling so bad. My friends in the city, they have no idea what we’re going through. ... Every load of milk that goes out, we’re losing money.”

When Roecker thought about ending his life, he pictured his two children, minors at the time and now adults, standing by his casket. That prevented him from following through, he said.

Stress on the Farm

For Keith Henneman, from near Boscobel, an outbreak of Johne’s disease, a fatal intestinal infection in cows, appeared to be one reason he killed himself in 2006 at age 29, his parents said.

“It’s very difficult losing cattle like that,” said his mother, Julie Henneman, who with her husband, Phil, sold the 60 cows on their dairy farm, along with the equipment, to their son after he graduated from high school.

“You work so hard to raise the calves and bring them up into the herd, and then a year or two years later, they go downhill,” Julie Henneman said. “There’s a lot of stress on the farm.”

The Hennemans continue to live on the 215-acre farm with two other sons, but they aren’t farming. The couple have other jobs — Julie, 62, at Lands’ End in Dodgeville, and Phil, 63, as a correctional officer at the prison in Boscobel, about 75 miles west of Madison.

They help lead a Dodgeville chapter of The Compassionate Friends, a support group for parents who have lost children for any reason. They also provide training in QPR — or Question, Persuade, Refer — a CPR-like program that helps people recognize signs of suicide and ways to help.

QPR training sessions are one component of the new farmer suicide prevention project.

“No matter how dark a day it is, there is always light someplace, and you can continue on,” Phil Henneman said, sharing some of what he discusses at the training sessions. If people say they’re suicidal, he added, “ask them open-ended questions and let them talk.”

Tried to Get Help

Brenda Statz, 55, was no stranger to signs of suicide by the time her husband took his life in October. He had struggled with depression for years and attempted suicide twice last year after they got rid of their dairy cows in December 2017.

“When we sold the cows, (his depression) came back full bore, and the medications didn’t work,” she said. “Nothing did.”

It wasn’t from a lack of trying. Leon Statz stayed in UW Hospital’s psychiatry unit four times last year and was admitted to Winnebago Mental Health Institute. He saw a counselor in Sauk City and had outpatient treatment at Rogers Behavioral Health in Madison.

Brenda Statz, who works at Lands’ End in its Reedsburg location, said she is disappointed with the mental health care system. Doctors didn’t return her calls or tell her and her three adult children how to help Leon when he was at home, she said.

“I didn’t know what to do with him when his anxiety was through the roof,” she said. “The whole family is affected. That’s where so many places miss the boat.”

Leon Statz agonized about money, so Brenda Statz brought friends and financial experts over to look at their records. Despite some challenges, the farm was paid for and the family was doing OK, they would tell him. The plan was to switch to beef cattle and plant more crops.

But Leon Statz kept saying he was going to lose the farm, Brenda Statz said.

“He couldn’t see the future,” she said. “All he saw was failure.”

Get Lame, Stay Lame

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 03:07:08 GMT

It’s one of those nasty problems that plague dairy farmers everywhere: Once a cow becomes lame, she tends to become a chronically lame cow.

She might get a bit better with hoof trimming and isolation, but the conditions that caused her to go lame initially often persist in facilities in how cows are handled and managed.

“Poor cow comfort and increased standing on hard surfaces was [in the past] recognized as a secondary factor increasing lameness severity,” says Nigel Cook, a dairy veterinarian specializing in cow comfort with the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Wisconsin. Cook participated in the recent 4-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference held virtually in early June.

“It is now becoming increasingly probable that standing alone could be the primary cause of claw horn disruption pathogenesis…not just a secondary factor,” he says. “Increased load bearing from insufficient rest is the most likely cause of inflammation!”

It works like this: Decreased lying time means hoof overload which causes lameness. Once cows become lame, they have abnormal resting behavior which doesn’t allow for proper hoof healing. That, in turn, means continued lameness. And the cycle becomes an endless loop of chronic lameness. Once a cow becomes lame, she frequently remains lame. In other words, ‘get lame, stay lame.’

Foot inflammation is the likely cause of lameness. And increased load bearing from insufficient rest is the most likely cause of inflammation. “Sole ulcers is short for standing up disease,” says Cook. “Cow comfort is the most important thing we do in preventing lameness.”

What that means is that pretty much all aspects of how cows are fed, housed and managed can play a role in their susceptibility to lameness. Over-stocking can create access problems to feed and time at the bunk, restricting lying time. Poor stall design can result in poor stall usage and reduced lying time. Poor pen design and barn ventilation can result in bunching, increased standing time and less lying time.

“Heat stress can have a massive effect on the cow,” says Cook. Heat stress in July means lameness in September.”

Cook says lameness is all about the micro-environment where the cow lives and spends her time. One study showed that cows had 3 ½ hours less lying time per day when the temperature humidity index rose from 68 to 79. “That insult alone can be linked to lameness,” he says.

Bedding material in stalls also plays a roll. Deeply bedded sand stalls are often regarded as the gold standard. “[But] there is equal pressure for new cases of lameness between mattresses and sand herds,” Cook says. “There are mattress herds with low levels of lameness.”

The impact of sand is really on reducing the chronicity of lameness, because it allows a more comfortable bed which encourages use and time to heal.

Mattress herd owners can control lameness if:

• They have excellent stall design.

• Identify new cases of lameness and treat effectively.

• Allow lame cows to recover on a bedded pack.

• Control infectious causes of lameness through effective foot bathing.

• Use sufficient bedding over mattresses to reduce hock injury.

Routine footbath use is critical to reduce pathogens which can cause lameness, says Cook. Footbaths should be used 4 times per week when first introduced to maintain control of these pathogens. Frequency can be reduced as control improves, with some herds using foot baths just once weekly.

Cook also recommends using an antibacterial agent that has evidence of efficacy against digital dermatitis and foot rot. These compounds should have no higher than 5 percent copper sulfate, no higher than 4 percent formalin (avoid formalin use in cold weather because it has activity issues at lower temperatures), and use of an acidifier with a pH no lower than 3.0.

“Use the bath as long as it is effective, about 150 to 300-plus cow passes,” he says. And don’t forget to treat all life stages of the cow, including dry cows. Longer foot baths, 10’ versus 12’, are preferred because they ensure each hoof will be treated at least twice.

Cows hooves also need to be trimmed twice per year, unless wear is an issue in your facility. “Good trimming should be done every 4 to 6 months,” Cook says. Most herds trim at mid-lactation and at dry off. But some herds, if they are seeing more lesions, will do their first trim at 80 to 120 days post-calving to head off problems.

Finally, here are the factors to reduce the risk of lameness:

• Less time standing on concrete.

• Less restrictive neck rail locations in freestalls, low rear curb heights and absence of lunge obstructions in stalls to encourage stall use.

• Wider stalls.

• Use of manure removal systems other than automatic scrapers to reduce surges of manure that contaminate hooves.

• Use of non-slippery, non-traumatic floor surfaces rather than slats.

• Access to pasture or an outside exercise lot.

• Wider feed alleys.

• Access to a trim chute for routine treatment and use of effective foot baths.

• Prompt recognition and treatment of lameness.

You can view Cook’s entire presentation on lameness here .

SIDEBAR: Lameness Can Start In Heifers

Over the past few years, veterinarians and hoof care specialists have noticed an increasing rate of lameness in first-calf heifers, particularly if those heifers are raised in sand-bedded freestalls with headlocks.

Heifers front claws are being permanently and irreversibly damaged in what has become known as corkscrew hoof damage, says Nigel Cook, a dairy veterinarian specializing in cow comfort with the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Wisconsin.. It’s caused by heifers placing stress on their front feet as they strain to reach for feed through headlocks.

To avoid this syndrome, consider:

• Raise heifers on bedded packs at least up to breeding age.

• If you use freestalls, consider using organic bedding. Avoid using recycled sand.

• Reduce use of headlocks to the breeding pen only, and use slant bars or post/rail restraints in grower pens and post-breeding pens.

• Use floors designed specifically for heifers, including micro-grooving floors.

• Provide access to outdoor pens and pastures.

Undercover Video Shows Abuse At Fair Oaks Farms

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:08:48 GMT

An undercover video was released yesterday showing employees at Fair Oaks Farms abusing calves at one of its calf raising facilities.

According to Mike McCloskey, an owner of Fair Oaks, five individuals were involved in the abuse activity. Of the five, four were employees and one was a contract truck driver. Even prior to the video being released, McCloskey says three of the employees were released due to abuse allegations. The employment of a fourth employee was terminated once the video was released, and the company employing the contract driver was told that the person was not allowed on Fair Oaks Farms again.

“It is a shock and an eye-opener for us to discover that under our watch, we had employees who showed disregard for our animals, our processes and for the rule of law,” McCloskey said in a statement following the video’s release. “The video shines a light on an area that, despite our thorough training, employee onboarding procedures and overall commitment to animal welfare, needs improvement.”

The management at Fair Oaks was notified several months ago that the undercover videos were produced, and at that time McCloskey and his wife Sue issued a response in advance of the video release. In addition, a third-party review was conducted and subsequent retraining of employees was done.

Regardless of the outcome, McCloskey said he takes full responsibility for the actions depicted in the footage.

“It goes against everything that we stand for in regards to responsible cow care and comfort,” he said. “The employees featured in the video exercised a complete and total disregard for the documented training that all employees go through to ensure the comfort, safety and well-being of our animals.”

Fair Oaks Farms operates dairies in northern Indiana, including a popular tourist destination that offers tours to tens of thousands of consumers each year.

The activist group is calling for CocaCola to sever ties with Fair Oaks Farms. Together they produce fairlife milk.

For the full official statement from Fair Oaks, click here .

For additional information on responses to undercover videos, see below:

Florida Producer Survives Undercover Video Attack

Avoid Becoming A Victim Of An Undercover Activist Video

A Contingency Plan Can Guide You Through A Crisis

4 Reasons Your Farm Is a Bad Place to Work

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 01:54:40 GMT

The following commentary does not necessarily reflect the views of AgWeb or Farm Journal. The opinions expressed below are the author’s own.

One of the biggest challenges for farmers today is finding and keeping good help. Farms need sophisticated, engaged, dedicated and hard-working employees. Not to mention, these job opportunities typically require candidates to live in rather remote corners of rural America.

No, recruiting and retaining top talent is not easy. Yet, some farm operations boast employees with decades of service. How do they do it?

In a recent blog post, ( You Might Be Struggling to Find and Keep Good People If... ) Richard Hadden, a leadership consultant at Contented Cow Partners headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., offered some insights. Do any of these apply to you?

You wish all your employees were Baby Boomers. “This just in: They’re not making any more Baby Boomers!” Hadden says. “While more experienced workers are a tremendous (and too often overlooked) resource, the truth is you’re going to need to stop whining about Millennials (and the generations yet to come) and figure out how to create an organization that gets the most productivity from the available resources.”
Your job description is focuses only on technical skills. Don’t get hung up on specific experience and skills, Hadden advises. Instead, ask the question: Is this person a good match for our organization and this team? “Be honest,” he says. “How many times have you hired someone for skills and experience, but then they left (voluntarily or otherwise) because they simply weren’t a good fit?”
“Thank you” and “good job” are rare in your vocabulary. Don’t miss opportunities to tell the people you work with how much you appreciate them for what they do, Hadden coaches.
People just don’t want to work for you. Have you confused high standards with being obnoxious? “Find someone you trust—someone who has the courage and character to tell you what you need to know, but may not want to hear,” Hadden says.

Read five other reasons you could be scaring away good help: You Might Be Struggling to Find and Keep Good People If...

Hadden spoke at the 2017 Top Producer Seminar. He shared many great insights, but one has really stuck with me:

“Your best recruiting tool is your reputation as an employer. But it is the reality of your workplace that will retain and engage people for the long-term. Your reputation recruits and reality retains.”

Act now to build that reputation of an employer of choice. Small (and inexpensive) actions go a long ways.

We’ve published some other great advice from Hadden:

4 Hiring Mistakes to Avoid

How One New Mexico Dairy Implemented A Strict Hiring Process