Frankenmuth, MI--MSU Dairy Farmer of the Year and a visit from Senator Debbie
Stabenow (D-MI) put the finishing touches on Friday at the Great Lakes Regional Dairy
Conference held in Frankenmuth, Michigan.
As dairy producers spent a full day learning and listening
to a slate of speakers, the day ended with a recognition banquet of the best in
Michigan’s dairy industry after they had a surprise visit from the ranking Democrat
of the Senate Ag committee, Debbie Stabenow.
Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
“We work so closely with dairy producers and after the success
we’ve had with the farm bill I just wanted to come and connect and see how they
were doing. After the government shutdown, we are behind
in implementation of the farm bill and I understand that it’s critically
important with lenders to know the details on the farm bill so they will factor
that in when the go see their banker,” Stabenow stated.
Noting that dairy producers are some of the hardest working
in agriculture, Stabenow wanted to affirm her appreciation for them and let
them know she is working to get the word out to farm lenders that the
implementation of the Margin Protection Program was delayed because of the
government shutdown and her office is working hard to communicate with farm
lenders.
From Left: Sharon Toth (UDIM), Ramona Okkema and James Reid (UDIM)
Ramona Okkema of Shepherd was awarded the Excellence in
Dairy Promotion Award from the United Dairy Industry in Michigan (UDIM) for her
continued efforts to spread the good news of dairy in the diet.
Dr. Pam Ruegg, Chair of the MSU Department of Animal Science
presented the MSU Dairy Farmer of the Year to Blaine and Kim Baker of Clayton,
Michigan.
Blaine and Kim Baker received the 2019 MSU Dairy Farmer of
the Year Award. Bakerlad Farms is the brothers’ fifth-generation farm in
Lenawee County, Clayton, Michigan, which has been in operation since the 1870s.
The award is given by the Department of Animal Science at Michigan State
University and will be presented during the Dairy Industry Banquet on Friday
Feb. 8, 2019, at the Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference in Frankenmuth,
Mich.
Bakerlads Farms includes a dairy herd of 540 Holsteins and
607 replacements, as well as acreage for crops, including corn, soybeans and
alfalfa. The farm is Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program
(MEAEP) verified in livestock, farmstead and cropping systems, and evaluated
under the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) program
for animal care.
Kim and Blaine formed their partnership in 1984 to continue
the family dairy operation. They share responsibilities managing the milking
herd and replacements. Kim has primary responsibility for employee management
and machine maintenance, while Kim’s wife Donna does the accounting. Blaine has
primary responsibility for managing the cropping enterprise and record keeping.
The dairy has Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA)
rolling herd averages reaching nearly 30,000 lb., currently at 27,410 lb. of
milk, 951 lb. of 3.5 percent fat and 805 lb. of 2.9 percent protein, with an
average somatic cell count of 115,000. In 2016 a new double 14 parallel milking
parlor was installed, improving milking efficiency and employee environment.
The Bakers emphasize soil and water conservation in their
dairy and crop operations. They are involved with the USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS). In addition to erosion control practices and
updated waste storage facilities, no-till methods have been part of the
operation since 2008. The Bakers were key supporters in organizing the Lenawee
County Center for Excellence. The Center for Excellence’s annual field day has
been held at Bakerlads for 22 years, allowing producer research and development
on new methods of production, with an eye on conservation. Area farmers benefit
by learning from the results.
Blaine Baker noted, as part of the National Association of
Conservation Districts’ Soil Health Champions Network, “As far as our
operation, we are committed to no-till, so when we purchase a new piece of
ground, it gets no-tilled.” Cover crops are used for nutrient retention, soil
conservation and soil organic matter.
“The Bakerlads Farm is just one example of how integrating
conservation practices throughout the farming system, and attention to detail
in on-farm nutrient management can keep crop nutrients in the root zone and out
of waterways” noted Tim Harrigan, professor and Extension specialist in MSU’s
Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, in a 2015 MSU Extension
article highlighting Bakerlads.
Water management, water quality and effective drainage
practices are key aspects of the Bakerlads operation. The farm incorporates two
stage ditches, blind inlets, buffers along ditches and closed-loop nutrient
recycling and does edge of field water sampling and applies fertilizer using
variable rate technology.
Blaine and Kim’s commitment to their farm, as well as their
community and state, is exemplified by their service on various
agriculture-related boards and committees, including the state Farm Services
Agency Board which Blaine currently serves on; he is chair of the Soil and
Water Conservation District Board, and Kim serves on the Lenawee County
Holstein Board and the MSU Extension Dairy Advisory Team. They have been
recognized as Tel-Farm Managers of the year and as Lenawee County Conservation
Farmers of the year and have received the Michigan Farm Bureau Ecology
Leadership Award and a number of milk quality awards from Dairy Farmers of
America.
Blaine and his wife Barbara have a 29-year-old daughter, and
Kim and his wife Donna have 5 children ranging from 23 to 15 years of age.
“Bakerlads Farm is a well-respected farm that leads by
example,” Pam Ruegg, chair of the Department of Animal Science, said. “It is
with great pleasure that the MSU Department of Animal Science recognizes Baine
and Kim Baker as the 2019 MSU Dairy Farmers of the Year.”