Dairy Profile: Dave Fetters

Dave Fetters (pictured with his daughter, Kelly)
Milaca, Minnesota
Mille Lacs County
40 cows

How did you get into farming? This is the home place. When my parents, Millard and Edna, retired, me and my brother, Donnie, took over. He was 19, and I was 14 at that time. Our parents moved here from Hecla, South Dakota, in 1956.

What are your thoughts and concerns about the dairy industry for the next year? The price of everything. Everything is out of whack; inflation. The milk prices never keep up with inflation. Our motto has always been to take it a day at a time and get there.  

What is a recent change you made on your farm and the reason for it? Two years ago, we switched away from A.I. to bull breeding. We did this because we weren’t getting the genetics of the cows. They were looking too much like their dams. We kept getting the dam all over again. Our conception rate improved as well.

Tell us about a skill you possess that makes dairy farming easier for you. Heifer and calf raising. I switched over and increased our amount of milk we feed our calves to start. We also switched to rolled corn and not a calf starter.

What is the best decision you have made on your farm? My brother and I farmed together until 2007, and then, we sold out. I worked at a factory for a short time, and 2.5 months later, I was milking again. I was so used to being my own boss. I like being my own boss.

What are three things on the farm that you cannot live without? Our Milwaukee headlights; we are night owls here. The skid loader because you can do so much with them, and our Blue Heeler/German shepherd dog. We pasture, and they are good with cattle and good companions.  

What strategies do you use to withstand the volatile milk prices? We try to watch our costs to the best of our ability and live within our means. We also try to work with good people.

How do you retain a good working relationship with your employees? I am in a partnership with my daughter, Kelly, and we try to maintain open communication with our work on the farm.  

What do you enjoy most about dairy farming? I really enjoy the life of it. I like working outside and watching the cattle and the crops grow. I also like to be home. It’s a way of life.

What advice would you give other dairy farmers? Don’t be afraid to change if you need to. Be open- minded.

What are your plans for your dairy in the next year and five years? We would like to add a few cows and get our numbers back up in the barn. I would also like to continue to give more management duties to Kelly.  

How do you or your family like to spend time when you are not doing chores? We have lunch together, and we like to sit and visit with people.