Digital Editor's Note: This issue is the first magazine issue that is also published on MFA-Inc.com as part of a transition to MFA's corporate page. Please follow this link to read the August/September issue's articles on MFA Incorporated's home page.

Print magazine subscriptions may be purchased HERE.

Features

COVER STORY - The Little River Lookout inclusive playground in Leon, Iowa, was constructed during a six-day, community-build process earlier this summer. MFA Incorporated’s Ag Experience interns assisted in the project, funded in part by a grant from the MFA Incorporated Charitable Foundation.
by Makenna Stundebeck, MFA Communications intern.

Four decades for cooperatives
Longevity of leadership earns MFA’s Rick Brune a place in the MIC Hall of Fame

Passing the test
MFA replicated trials advance new MorCorn hybrids, MorSoy varieties
by Garrett Imhoff, Hadlee Swope and Koby Charles

2024 MFA Foundation Scholarships
MFA replicated trials advance new MorCorn hybrids, MorSoy varieties

Faces of farming
Kristi Urich, co-owner/ operator of Urich Farms
by Allison Jenkins

Food for thought
Growing wildlife plots takes planning and preparation
Story and photos by Allison Jenkins

Opinions and Columns

COUNTRY CORNER
Asked to take an ag survey? Make it count.
by Allison Jenkins

UPFRONT / Blog
‘Summer’s Best Story’ begins Aug. 8 at the Missouri State Fair
Agriculture, autism and education
Annual survey offers critical insights into farmland value trends across Missouri

AGRONOMY
Don’t rush plans to control brush
By David Moore, MFA range and pasture specialist

LIVESTOCK
Handle calves with care to reduce weaning stress
By Dr. Jim White, MFA Director of Nutrition.

MARKETS
Crush margins have been bright. Will it continue?
Cattle prices continue to rise higher

RECIPES
Turn up the heat

VIEWPOINT
A focus on youth is a focus on the future
By Ernie Verslues, MFA President and CEO

Digital Editor's Note: This issue will be launched story by story on the website. Some of the articles will be hosted on the MFA Incorporated website so the links will launch a second window. The print issue of the Augus/September shipped the last week of July.

Growing wildlife plots takes planning and preparation

Food plots are an excellent way to attract and retain deer and other wildlife in a desired area, but success doesn’t happen without planning and preparation.

That’s the approach Tyler Busker, MFA crop consultant, takes when establishing forages to enhance wildlife viewing and hunting on his own property near Fayette, Mo. Just like the advice he gives growers for produc- ing a cash crop, Busker says factors such as location, timing, fertility and planting method lay the groundwork for an effective food plot.

“If you’re going to take the time and expense to put in a food plot, you might as well do it right,” Busker said. “I think a lot of food plots fail because there’s not enough consideration for the management practices it takes to make them successful.”

Choosing a suitable spot is a good starting point, he said. Areas near wildlife habitats that provide protective cover are ideal for food plots. How- ever, he cautions not to choose a location just because it’s where the deer population is most abundant. “You need to be sure the soil profile will allow your food plot to grow and be productive,” Busker said.

When a location is selected, the next step is to take a soil test. Adjusting the soil pH and nutrient needs according to test results can make a world of difference in crop performance, Busker said. “Before you plant anything, figure out what you need fertility-wise,” he said. “That’s the MFA way, and it’s a good thing. You want to get an idea of what nutrients you’ll need, especially since a lot of food plots tend to be placed on less-productive ground.”

New seedlings can’t compete with established plants, so Busker recom- mends killing existing weeds and other vegetation with herbicide. For his plots, he then burns the dead vegetation and disks the plot to reduce resi- due and allow for good seed-to-soil contact.

“If you terminate the stand with herbicide and then drill your seed, that will also work,” Busker said. “We don’t have a drill, so we’ve always sprayed the plot, burned it and then worked the ground. I try to spray about three weeks ahead of when I want to burn it so that grass is absolutely crispy.”

Dragging, raking or cultipacking can help further smooth the seedbed for planting. Busker’s family simply uses a chain link panel pulled behind an ATV.

Other establishment decisions, such as seeding rate and timing, will largely depend on the forage mix being planted. Busker typically uses a combination of purple-top turnips, Daikon radishes, clover and wheat.

“I like the variety because it gives me a better chance of attracting the deer through a wider window,” he said. “The deer may like one thing more than the others, or maybe there will be something that they like earlier or later in the season.”

Soil test results and seed choice should guide fertilizer decisions, including key nutrients of phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen. While he does follow soil test recommendations, Busker said he also believes in pushing nitrogen fertilization in his plots, especially when planting turnips, which respond well to the nutrient. He prefers to use SuperU, a granular nitrogen fertilizer with a stabilizer to protect from losses.    

“We’ll put on P and K as the soil test calls for, but regardless, we always put on nitrogen. I like at least 50 pounds of actual nitrogen fertilizer per acre,” he said. “The turnips love it.”                

As for timing, Busker said he’s found that early August to early September is the sweet spot for good plot establishment before killing frosts. However, the date isn’t as important as the weather forecast, he added.                      

“I always like to plant after Aug. 1 just ahead of the first really good rain chance we get,” he said. “I’m in central Missouri, so you might want to plant a little earlier or later, depending on your location, but try really hard to have it in before a rain. That moisture is key. We struggled with drought last fall, and our plots suffered because of it.”

The food plot size and equipment will dictate how the seed should be planted. For small tucked-away hunting plots, a hand-cranked spreader can work well. Larger plots may war- rant a vehicle-mounted spreader, planter or no-till drill. Busker uses a spinner broadcast spreader mounted to the back of a four-wheeler.                      

He also adds pelletized lime to the mix, not only to enrich the soil but also to help the tiny forage seeds to spread more easily and accurately.                  

“Because the seed is so small, it’s really hard to broadcast evenly over the course of an acre or two-acre plot,” he said. “I typically like to have a rate of 100 pounds per acre of pelletized lime in with my seed.”          

In any case, take the time to properly weigh the correct amount of seed for the space, according to the recommended rate for each species and mixture. If broadcasting, it’s OK to lean toward the heavy end of the rate, but in general, more is not better. Overcrowded seed will fail to establish and thrive. Aim for an even seed distribution pattern, and if broadcasting, crisscross both directions (north to south, and east to west).

After planting, cultipack, drag or roll the plots to press the seed firmly into the soil. Small seeds like clover and brassicas should be planted only 1⁄8 to 1⁄4 inch deep, and large seeds like cereals, peas and buckwheat should go 1⁄2 to 1 inch deep.

First-generation dairy farmer Dennis Schnell finds harmony with nature, milk and cows

Sunshine makes happy cows and happy dairy farmers.

In the warm light of late spring, the grass grows, the mud dries up and Holstein cows graze green pastures to the delight of Dennis Schnell, a first-generation dairy farmer in Sturgeon, Mo.

“This has always been my dream,” said Schnell, who grew up in the area. “My father was a schoolteacher, so I did not have a farming background, but it was some-
thing that I always wanted to do.”

Schnell started his career in the construction industry, but his thoughts kept returning to working with livestock. In 1992, he and his wife, Becki, purchased a farm and began to build what was needed to make that dream a reality.

“There was nothing here when we bought it,” Schnell said. “We built everything from scratch and started milking at the beginning of 2000.”
For the past 24 years, Schnell has been learning new lessons about farming and running a Grade A operation that meets Dairy Farmers of America’s “Gold Standard” program guidelines.

“I’ve got to be honest, that first year of milking, we learned a lot real quick. I was greener than green. It was a challenge,” Schnell said. “There’s a lot to running a dairy.”
Calving was one of those lessons, he said. “I had some experience with beef cows and knew they calve pretty easily,” Schnell said. “Well, these Holstein cows like to build big calves. You have to live with them when they are calving.”

Schnell established his dairy farm with two herds—one from Southwest Missouri and the other from Kansas.

“We started with 55 cows that we didn’t know. You learn quickly which one is your trouble cow, which one is the good milker and which one likes to kick,” Schnell said. “Cows are like people. Each one has a different personality. Some you click with. Some you wish would go on down the road, but if she is a good milker, you keep her.”

Building relationships
Today, the Schnell Dairy herd mainly consists of Holsteins raised from those first cows he purchased more than two decades ago. Settling into a modest business model that has proven successful for their farm, the Schnells are currently milking around 70 cows once a day.

“The most we’ve ever milked was 150, and that was way too much,” Schnell said. “Sometimes you think bigger is better. That is not always true. A good number of cows for us is 80 to 100 because of the acreage we have and the bunk space. Seventy just works nicely.”

Healthy pastures and quality hay supply the bulk of the herd’s diet, with Schnell using multiple paddocks for rotational grazing.

“If it wasn’t for the grass, we wouldn’t be in business,” he said. “We try to graze at least nine months out of the year because it makes for happy cows. They are out there eating and naturally spreading the manure, which lightens the load in the barn.”

To help balance out his cows’ forage-based diet, Schnell also feeds a total mixed ration (TMR) to deliver all the necessary proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals for nutritious, quality milk production.

“We don’t push our cows, so we sacrifice some on milk production,” Schnell said. “I’m happy if I get 4 to 5 gallons of milk (per cow, per day). There’s a fine line there. How much feed do you throw at them to make it work?”

Schnell works with MFA Agri Services in Centralia and Clark, Mo., for spraying, seed and fertilizer for his forages and some feed for his cows.

“I appreciate MFA, and they help us complete the circle with our business. Our schedule just doesn’t allow us the time to do the spraying,” Schnell said. “Plus, with 800 acres, it really doesn’t make sense for us to own the big machinery, so we depend on MFA for assistance.”

During challenging times in the industry, Schnell has worked to improve the quality of his pastures and find ways to keep his feed costs down. One way is by using spent grain from two local breweries, Logboat and Bur Oak, and grape pulp from Les Bourgeois Winery in his ration.

“These relationships have proven to be invaluable,” Schnell said. “We thank them for their spent grain and pulp which helps supplement our TMR. When you drink locally made wine and beer, it benefits our cows!”

Milking it
The milking process begins early each morning and takes about three hours. The Schnells have a double-five herringbone parlor, allowing 10 cows to be milked at once. Schnell and his son, Alex, work together in the pit, cleaning and disinfecting teats before attaching each milking claw. The father-son duo manages each milking with a steady, efficient synchronicity. The humming of the machines and country music playing in the background add to the harmony in the barn.

“It’s a pretty simple milking system,” Schnell said. “We bought all used equipment when we started to help keep our costs low. It’s still running for us today.”
Every two days, a hauler collects the milk, which is delivered to Central Dairy in Jefferson City. Those bulk sales account for about 85% of Schnell’s product. The other 15% is sold directly to consumers as farm-fresh milk by the half-gallon or gallon. In Missouri, raw milk can legally be sold from a producer to an individual for personal use.

“About 10 years ago, I had a lady call me and ask if she could buy real milk from my dairy,” Schnell said. “She bought 5 gallons of farm-fresh milk each week, and I still sell to her today. The direct sale to our clients has been a lifeline for us.”

All in the numbers
As the number of Missouri dairies dwindles, producers like Schnell look for new ways “to make it work.” According to the University of Missouri Extension, there were 2,182 permitted dairy farms in 2001. That number shrunk to 525 in 2022, with only 393 Grade A farms.

“It’s difficult to compete with the big guys,” Schnell said. “Little farmers definitely help feed America, too, and we do what we can to hang on. Small family farms can provide food and products to communities, something we all saw during COVID.”

Schnell’s fresh milk business has grown by word of mouth, and he estimates some 50 to 60 customers visit the farm to purchase milk weekly.

“We’ve been through many ups and downs—droughts, extreme rain, financial crisis, COVID—so that forces you to think outside the box,” Schnell said.

After several different ideas, Schnell decided to purchase a refrigerated van and designate a location to deliver his fresh milk to customers. “We put out a really good product, and there are a lot of people who want real milk,” he explained. “I’m providing quality food for families, and that makes me feel good.”

For the past few months, Schnell has been running a “milk route” to deliver his farm-fresh milk to consumers in Columbia twice a week and Harrisburg once a week and is looking to add Centralia and Mexico. He charges $5 a gallon with a $5 deposit on his half-gallon jars.

The venture is one way Schnell is hoping to preserve the family farm for the next generation. Alex is finishing his college degree while helping his father with farm chores as well as milking every day.

“I have worked really hard for the past 24 years, and I would love for my children to take over the farm,” Schnell said.

“My Dad is one of the hardest-working people I know,” Alex agreed. “He started everything from scratch, and I’ve seen the amount of work and effort he puts in every day. I would be proud to eventually take over the farm, and that is why I am doing what I can now to be a part of the operation.”

Schnell invites visitors to learn more about how the dairy farm operates, as long as they’re prepared for a little mud and muck and to be put to work bottle-feeding calves. For more information, visit Schnell Dairy Farm on Facebook at facebook.com/schnell.dairy.2000 or call 573-819-6122.

Read more of the June/July 2024 Today's Farmer Magazine HERE.