DAIRY

Famo Feeds Inc., of Freeport, Minnesota, is an unusual livestock feed maker for Minnesota because an independent, family-owned manufacturer has its own brand of feed. The company’s colorful logo is a curiosity for the thousands of motorists and customers traveling along Interstate 94, en route to and from the Twin Cities.

Quaal Dairy in Otter Tail County sold off most of its herd in April. Vernon Quaal says the 2021 drought drastically cut into its feed supply and the rising prices for feed made maintaining the 300 cow herd unstainable. Quaal says many dairies are suffering. But he is determined to build back up, with a crop of bred heifers ready to calve in September.

Dave Thompson, a retired dairy farmer from Starbuck, was inducted March 10 into the Minnesota Livestock Breeders' Association Hall of Fame.

A Litchfield woman recently graduated from Ridgewater College and is on her way to earning a four-year degree at University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She's doing it while an official ambassador of the state's dairy industry with possibly the best title ever — Princess Kay of the Milky Way.

Grace Dairy, in the township of the same town, is permitted for 10,500 animal units. It will be the sixth large dairy to be constructed in the area west of Willmar in Chippewa and Swift counties.

Zweber Family Farms of Elko, Minnesota, and Buck Dairy Farm of Goodhue, Minnesota, have been with Organic Valley since the start of a boom for the entire organic industry.

Life-size fiberglass cows and calves that were painted in brilliant colors and wild designs earlier this summer by non-profit organizations — and then placed in Litchfield parks, on street corners and in front of businesses — will be auctioned off Thursday (Aug. 26) during a community fundraising celebration at Central Park. The “Downtown Cowtown” project is part of the 100th anniversary of the First District Association, which is completing a massive expansion of its milk processing facility in Litchfield. A “cow parade” will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at Central Park and the auction begins at 5:30, with proceeds going to the non-profit organizations that painted the cows. The event also includes food and music.

Mike and Joan Gilles, who milk about 110 cows and have 100 acres of open ground for pasture grass with another 150 acres of land they rent for growing forages, hosted a pasture walk on June 15 sponsored by the Sustainable Farming Association and the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship.

In celebration of its 100th anniversary and a two-year major expansion project of the milk processing facility in Litchfield, the First District Association sponsored a community project involving nonprofit organizations painting life-size statues of cows and calves that are now located outdoors at public and business venues. The Downtown Cowtown project culminates Aug. 26 when the statues will be auctioned off, with proceeds going to the nonprofit organizations.