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Jeffrey Danz
Livingston, Wisconsin
Grant County
70 cows

How did you get into farming? I started farming with my parents straight out of high school.

What are your thoughts and concerns about the dairy industry for the next year? My biggest concern is the roller coaster milk prices. It makes it hard to plan ahead, and there have been a lot of dairies selling out locally due to price uncertainty.

What is the latest technology you implemented on your farm and the purpose for it? We installed six 24-inch basket fans in the mangers of the barn to improve ventilation. The mangers have always been a dead spot for air movement, and since installing the fans, the cows have been far more comfortable in the barn on humid days.

What is a management practice you changed in the past year that has benefited you? We went back to bull breeding our heifers last winter. We had been A.I. breeding our heifers since 2013, but we were having trouble catching heifers in heat last summer when they were on pasture.

What cost-saving steps have you implemented during the low milk price? We decided to feed out some of our heifers with the steers. It didn’t make sense to raise them all as replacements and cull good cows out of the herd to make room for them. With the price of springing heifers where they have been, it didn’t make sense to sell them as springers either.

How do you retain a good working relationship with your employees? We don’t have any employees.

Tell us about a skill you possess that makes dairy farming easier for you. I’m a fairly decent welder.

What do you enjoy most about dairy farming? I really enjoy working with the cows. There is nothing more relaxing than the sound of the pulsators while milking.

What advice would you give other dairy farmers? Keep your debt low.

What has been the best purchase you have ever made on your farm? Our loader tractor. Prior to having it, we just had one skidloader. It has made hauling bales from the field faster and easier to do with one person if needed.

What has been your biggest accomplishment while dairy farming? Just being able to farm with my parents and being a third generation dairy farmer.

What are your plans for your dairy in the next year and five years? We are trying to find a way to implement TMR into our setup. Aside from that, there really aren’t any major changes that we plan to make.

How do you or your family like to spend time when you are not doing chores? I enjoy going to auctions.

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