Milk MattersM a y - J u n e
w w w. k y d a i r y. o r g
KENTUCKY
Supported by
Help Reduce Heat Stress
page 12
The Kentucky Value Added Conference
page 16
Dairy Revenue Protection
page 22
Tom Hastings
presents a new
fishing pole to
Maury Cox (right)
for his retirement.

May - June 2019 • KDDC • Page 2
KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
2019 KDDC Board of
Directors & Staff
Executive Committee
President: Richard Sparrow
Vice President: Charles Townsend, DVM
Sec./Treasurer: Tom Hastings
EC Member: Tony Cowherd
EC Member: Freeman Brundige
EC Past President: Bob Klingenfus
Board of Directors
District 1: Freeman Brundige 731.446.6248
District 2: Josh Duvall 270.535.6533
District 3: Keith Long 270.670.1388
District 4: Bill Crist Jr. 270.590.3185
District 5: Tony Compton 270.378.0525
District 6: Mark Williams 270.427.0796
District 7: Greg Goode 606.303.2150
District 8: Steve Weaver 270.475.3154
District 9: Jerry Gentry 606.875.2526
District 10: Richard Sparrow 502.370.6730
District 11: Stewart Jones 270.402.4805
District 12: John Kuegel 270.316.0351
Equipment: Tony Cowherd 270.469.0398
Milk Haulers: Alan Wilson 606.875.7281
Genetics: Dan Johnson 502.905.8221
Feed: Tom Hastings 270.748.9652
Nutrition: Dr. Ron Wendlandt 502.839.4222
Dairy Co-op: Justin Olson 765.499.4817
Veterinary: Dr. Charles Townsend 270.726.4041
Finance: Michael Smith 859.619.4995
Former Pres.: Bob Klingenfus 502.817.3165
Employee & Consultants
Executive Director: H.H. Barlow
859.516.1129
DC-Central: Beth Cox
859.516.1619 • 270-469-4278
DC-Western: Dave Roberts
859.516.1409
DC-Southern: Meredith Scales
859.516.1966
DC -Northern: Jennifer Hickerson
859.516.2458
KDDC
176 Pasadena Drive
Lexington, KY 40503
www.kydairy.org
KY Milk Matters produced by Carey Brown
President’s Corner
Richard Sparrow
A
ll milk marketing indicators are predicting much-
improved milk prices for the second half of 2019,
probably in the area of $2.00 CWT over the first half
of the year. While some would say this is not enough, it is
still a substantial improvement.
However, there are many factors outside our control that reverse these trends
before they become real in our milk checks. Dairy farmers have, or will have
very soon, some new tools to protect their milk price and margin. Dairy Margin
Coverage (DMC) program is a new, revamped version of the old Margin
Protection Program (MPP-Dairy). DMC is a federal program offered by USDA.
Once enrollment opens, you will have 90 days to make your margin selections
at your local FSA office. The Livestock Gross Margin for Dairy Cattle Program
(LGM-Dairy) is also still available as a margin coverage option.
Finally, there is the new Dairy Revenue Protection (Dairy –RP) Program, a
crop insurance program that protects minimum milk revenue for dairy producers.
So, while it looks like milk prices will improve, I urge you to learn as much
about these programs as you can. You can protect your operation and livelihood,
and still enjoy any upside that occurs.
.
Top Seller and Junior Champion of the Brown Swiss Show belonged to Fairdale
Thunderstruck Waggy at $9,000. Purchased by Attie Taylor, KY and Consigned by
Fairdale Farm, KY

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7HO12421 MILLINGTON +1,369 +113 99 +2697
7HO12659 PASSAT +1,634 +96 94 +2695
7HO12266 YODER +1,079 +103 99 +2682
7HO13334 PHANTOM +1,957 +108 95 +2670
7HO13253 VERTEX +2,149 +85 94 +2604
7HO12690 LOYALTY +1,664 +72 94 +2601
7HO12742 FOXHOLE +2,332 +96 94 +2600
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7BS897 BEACON + 126 + 297
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May - June 2019 • KDDC • Page 4
KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
Executive Director Comments
H H Barlow
I
am very excited to be
chosen as the new executive
director for KDDC. My entire
life has been wrapped up in
the dairy industry and I owe
the dairy cow a tremendous
amount. I am very passionate
about dairying and will give my
energy and effort to improve
conditions in our dairy industry.
Since KDDC’s inception
in 2005, the directors who have served on our board have
provided great leadership. Moreover, for the last 12 years, we
have seen great work by Maury Cox as executive director. I
salute Maury for his effort to better our industry and wish him
well in retirement.
KDDC has accomplished much in its brief history. At its
formation, there was a real need for improved production per
cow and higher quality milk. Through our programs, we have
been successful in positively changing our production and milk
quality significantly. With many herds in Kentucky enjoying
a 30,000 lb herd average, we don’t have to take a back seat to
any state in our quality of dairies. KDDC has truly become the
advocate for Kentucky’s dairy industry.
However, with our successes, we have seen many negative
changes to our dairy businesses in Kentucky. After the highest
pay prices in history in 2014, we have endured 4 years of
depressed prices. As a result, serious erosion in the financial
health of Kentucky dairy farmers has caused several hundred
dairymen to cease milking. This has not only affected every
individual farmer, but all of our allied industry has suffered
the loss of customers. Along with us as dairymen, just think
what the loss of dairy farms has done to our rural communities.
When each cow contributes $4,000 worth of sales off the farm,
it’s not hard to understand the impact it has had in our rural
counties. Dairy farmers spend all their money locally. It’s not
like a factory whose owners live in Japan, where profits go
overseas.
With these problems we have all experienced, now is the time
to unite as an industry, be positive in our attitude and actions,
and view our challenges as opportunities for the future.
I feel like our KDDC focus for the future has to concentrate
on stabilizing our dairy market. We should never again face
what happened a year ago, when 20 dairymen didn’t have a place
to sell their milk. Seventeen of those dairymen have liquidated
their herds. This is a personal, community, and industry tragedy.
My desire is to pursue programs and initiatives to improve
our markets, which will improve the profitability of Kentucky
dairymen and our industry partners. We will strive to work with
GOAP to create new programs that will benefit everyone. We
will pursue initiatives such as federal order reform by partnering
with all southern states to change the rules, whereby, more
value will be given to milk produced locally. For example, on
federal order reform, we believe that the touch-base requirements
and transportation credits are unfair and have harmed every
southern farmer’s milk check. We also plan to improve relations
with processors. Working with our processors, we can create
new products and new markets for Kentucky milk. Another
example, most flavorful coffee creamers are made with non-
dairy…That has large consumer potential. How does Kentucky
bourbon butter sound?? Obviously, KDDC will work with
our promotional organizations to get more product moved. In
addition, dairy labor is a challenge for almost every dairy farm.
We will lend our voice alongside other states to implement a
dairy guest worker program. This will be just one effort along
with other reforms we hope to address through legislation. These
initiatives may seem like big ideas and will take time, patience,
and a lot of work, but they are worth the effort for ALL of us.
In summation, better times are immediately ahead for our
Kentucky dairymen. The all milk price has climbed over $1.80
since this time last year and May’s Class III futures are $.70
higher than April. On June 17, all dairymen can sign up at your
local FSA for dairy margin coverage created by the 2018 Farm
Bill. It is imperative that all dairymen take advantage of this new
program. The payout for the first three months will more than
cover your premiums.
I’ve been on the job 30 days. As I have traveled around to
different meetings, events and farm visits, the feedback has
been positive, encouraging and motivating. The ideas listed
above are only a start. I need everyone’s ideas and suggestions
on how KDDC can better serve the total industry. It has been
great working on your behalf with our four dairy consultants.
They have a wealth of knowledge and experience that will be a
valuable asset as we move forward. Your KDDC team will strive
to put action to our collective ideas.
I hope to continue to bring good news to our Kentucky dairy
industry and I promise the KDDC team will work tirelessly to
improve the state of dairying in Kentucky.

Eastern Kentucky VS Tennessee State
University University
EKU Agriculture Day
at the EKU v TSU game
What: Farm On, Game On!
When: Saturday, September 28
Activites start at noon, Kick-off at 6
Petting Zoo
Drones
Tailgate (food, ice-cream, t-shirts!)
Agriculture Olympics
And More!
Mill Wheel
Dairy Show Clinic
Friday, June 28, 2019
Casey County Fairgrounds
Liberty, KY
9:15 Registration
9:30 Fitting Tips for the Show Ring
10:15 Showmanship Demonstration
10:30 Beginner Showmanship Coaching 1 on 1 with your heifer
11:00 Intermediate Showmanship Coaching 1 on 1 with your heifer
11:30 Advanced Showmanship Coaching 1 on 1 with your heifer
12:00 Lunch break
1:00 Washing demonstration
1:30 Weaver Product Give-Away!
Afternoon Extra help abailable for fitting and showing questions
For more information contact Skylar DeGroft at
sdegroftbscba@gmail.com
Mill Wheel Dairy Show Clinics:
your direction to the winners circle!
© 2019, Lely North America, Inc., All Rights Reserved. 0501_0619_US
www.lely.com 1-888-245-4684
The way to dairy.
TM
Dairy Express Services
2536 Campbellsville Rd
Columbia, KY 42728
270-384-9843
“One word to describe the robots and how
they can affect our lives really is flexibility.
Especially in summer months, when you’re
busy in the fields, it’s really nice to know if
you’re running late with field work you can
just push chores a little bit.”
- Hans, Langeweer Dairy, Ontario

May - June 2019 • KDDC • Page 6
KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
Food for Thought… What Does It Cost You to Raise a
Dairy Heifer from Birth Through Calving?
Donna M. Amaral-Phillips, Ph.D, University of Kentucky Extension Dairy Nutritionist
R
ecently, I asked a group of dairy farmers this very
question. Their immediate response was—a whole
bunch. After this ice breaker in the conversation, it
became very evident that some had calculated this investment
in the future productive units for their herds, whereas others
had not calculated the cost for raising heifers separately from
the entire milking operation, or not at all.
Raising replacement heifers represents a huge expense and
often times 15 to 20% of the cost to the entire dairy operation.
When calculated separately from lactating cows, recent estimates
have placed the cost to raise a heifer from birth through calving
at $1400 to $2000+. An individual farm’s cost estimate will
depend not only on costs associated with purchased feeds,
veterinary supplies, and breeding to name a few, but also whether
costs associated with housing and feeding facilities (depreciation
costs), manure management, home-grown forages, management
(unpaid or family) labor, and whether hired labor costs were
included or split out from the milking operation. Over the
years of cost tightening, most costs paid directly from the farm
checking account have been contained. The question now
becomes; how can costs associated with raising replacements be
kept in line for the greatest return? In other words, what are the
biggest drivers behind dairy heifer rearing costs?
Feed Cost Post-Weaning
Generally speaking, approximately half the cost for raising
heifers is associated with the cost of purchased and home-grown
feeds. It would stand to reason that a savings in this category
would reduce the cost associated with raising a heifer from birth
through 24 months of age. When evaluating feed costs of older
heifers, the largest cost per pound of feed is associated with grain
versus home-grown forages. If you could improve forage quality
or balance rations which results in a reduction of the amount
of grain being fed, a savings would be realized. For example,
assuming that forage quality improved for a two-year period and
you could feed 2 lbs less grain to heifers from 6 to 22 months of
age, a net savings of $83/heifer raised would result (Calculations
assume a savings of $122/heifer for grain purchased at $250/
ton and an additional cost of $39 associated with the additional
hay consumed when valued at $80/ton). Translating this to a
100-cow herd where 20 heifers are from 6 to 12 months of age
and another 40 heifers are from 1 to 2 years of age, the savings
would be $3104 yearly.
Costs Associated with Improved Growth as Baby Calves
Feeding additional milk or milk replacer results in additional
growth during a timeframe when calves use feeds efficiently
for growth; however, as expected, daily cost does increase.
For example, assuming the calf is fed double the amount of
reconstituted milk replacer or milk (2 vs 4 quarts twice daily)
with a higher protein content, total costs may increase by
approximately $110/calf. But, when more milk /milk replacer
is fed, weight gain may double or increase by almost 1 lb per
day. This improvement in weight gain has been correlated
with increased milk production later in life. The question then
becomes, how much more milk production is needed to generate
a return on this investment? Assuming a milk price of $18 and
she calves 0.5 months earlier, she would have to give 600 to
850 lbs more milk or approximately half of the improvement
in production seen in multiple research studies. With these
expected rates of gain, cost per pound of gain decrease from
around $4/lb gain daily to less than $3/lb gain. Thus, calves
fed more milk use your feed dollars more efficiently, resulting
in growth. The key is to not lose this additional gain at or after
weaning.
Watch Age at First Calving
Heifers that calve in older increase heifer raising costs. Daily
costs for older heifers are higher since total feed costs are
higher and have been estimated at approximately $2/day or an
additional $60/month past 24 months of age. For our example
100-cow herd calving 40 heifers yearly, that is $2400/additional
month-of-age when the average age of calving is greater than 24
months of age. Thus, from an economic standpoint, it behooves
one to get them bred in a timely manner so that they calve and
enter the milking herd by 24 months of age.
Although calving at 24 months of age saves daily maintenance
costs, other reasons exists for extending the age at first calving
past 23 to 24 months of age. Some milk markets penalize
farmers for overages from a base production or for a spring flush
of over production. Thus, depending on one’s situation, it may
make sense to redistribute the number of heifers calving each
month, thus holding back heifers to calve at an alternate time,
to better equalize production month to month as well as milk
income per month. The key is to understand that this practice is
not “free”, and have an appreciation as to what it is costing your
dairy operation.
Raise the Appropriate Number of Heifers
In order to maintain herd size, an adequate number of heifers
needs to be raised on farm, contracted or purchased. Heifers
represent an investment into the future productive units of the
herd and a sizable outlay of capital. For our 100-cow example
herd calving 40 heifers yearly, these heifers represent $56,000 to

May - June 2019 • KDDC • Page 7
KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
$80,000 investment and for each heifer raised over those needed
it costs an additional $1400 to $2000. Raising 5 more heifers
than needed increases rearing costs by an additional $7000 to
$10,000. When raising heifers, the key is to have enough, but
not more than needed which can easily occur with the use of
sexed semen. If you have already culled out the least profitable
mature cows, these extra heifers are using financial assets that
can be diverted elsewhere. In the past, extra heifers could be
sold for a profit, but in today’s market that profit may or may
not be realized. The key is to frequently review the number of
heifers being raised, future needs, and adjust the numbers to
reflect your projected future needs.
The Bottom Line
Heifers represent the future profit-generating assets for a
dairy business as well as a sizeable investment of capital. To
ensure that these financial assets are used wisely and heifers
are available to replace culled cows as needed, dairy business
managers need to review feed costs, weight gain, weight
gain per unit of feed intake, age at calving, and whether the
appropriate numbers of heifers are being raised to see if they
are on target for the goals of the dairy. With profit margins very
tight, evaluating dairy heifer rearing programs are as important
as reviewing costs and income generated by the dairy’s milking
herd.

Heat stress is a major challenge for dairy cows in many parts
of the world, especially where summer temperatures are
long- lasting. Cows begin to experience heat stress when the
temperature-humidity index (THI) rises above 70. Heat stress
can cause decreased productivity and fertility, which ultimately
translates to significant economic losses.
How heat stress affects animal physiology and performance
Cows are susceptible to heat stress because of the significant
heat increment (fermentation and metabolism) generated by
high feed consumption and milk production. This susceptibility
is exacerbated by the fact that cattle sweat at only 10 percent
of the rate humans do. A cow’s physiological adaptations to
heat stress include altered blood flow distribution toward the
peripheral tissues, an altered endocrine system and energy
metabolism, increased respiration rate, sweating, panting,
drooling, and reduced milk yield and reproductive performance.
Panting is important for cattle, as it helps dissipate the heat that
remains because of their limit ed capacity to sweat. Excessive
panting, however, may affect the acid- base balance and raise
blood pH, leading to respiratory alkalosis. Additionally, drooling
animals will losesaliva - and, along with it, its buffering capacity
- which can cause rumen acidosis. Behavioral adaptations to
heat stress include changes to drinking and feed intake levels,
increased standing time and decreased activity and movement.
Altogether, these changes can have implications for impaired
rumen function and hoof and udder health.
Lactating dairy cows are more sensitive to heat stress than dry
cows due to their higher metabolism, which helps them meet
lactation demands. However,dry cows and heifers are still
subject to the negative effects of heat stress. Low feed intake is
an immediate coping strategy, but this can result in lower milk
yield and components. The activation of the thermoregulatory
system further aggravates the energy balance and the decrease
in milk and reproductive performance. Depending on the
severity of the heat stress, milk yield can decrease by more than
25 percent (NRC, 19 89). Heat -stressed cows are also less likely
to become pregnant;fewer than 20 percent of inseminations
during these periods result in pregnancies (Rot h et al, 2000).
Management strategies for combatting heat stress
The first step to abating heat stress is to make the cow’s
environment more comfortable by providing shade, cooling,
ventilation, and ample, clean and accessible water. The primary
focus of the nutritional management of heat stress should
be sustaining rumen health and function. Adjusting feeding
schedules so they coincide wit h the times of th e day when
temperatures are the lowest should encourage cows to eat
more. Additionally, since feed intake is depressed, increasing
the density of the ration by feeding more grains or fats may be
advisable. Compared to forages, grains and fats are known to
create less heat during digestion.
These strategies should be implemented with caution, however,
as heat -stressed cowsare already at risk for rumen acidosis,
even at lowfeed intake levels. Rumen - protected fats should
be fed to avoid further depress ion of fiber digest ion and milk
fat. Feeding high -quality forages during times of heat stress is
another strategy for minimizing digestive heat. The digestion of
protein in the rumen results in heat production and, thus, should
be limited by providing good -quality bypass protein and slow-re
lease urea products. Buffers and minerals, such as potassium,
sodium, magnesium and chlorine, should be balanced so that
what is lost through saliva and sweat can be replenished.
Cows experiencing heat stress are more prone to subacute
ruminal acidosis because of changes in their feeding behavior
(e.g., fewer and larger meals, slug feeding) and because of the
tendency to feed a high-grain ration. Several feed additives
- such as fat-soluble vitamins, B-vitamin s, niacin, chromium,
selenium and direct-fed microbials like Aspergillus oryzae and
yeast - may imp rove immune and antioxidant systems, energy
utilization and rumen function during heat stress .
Yea-Sacc®1026
, a live yeast derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae,a
proprietary yeast strain from Alltech , has been proven to
stabilize rumen pH, stimulate microbial growth, enhance fiber
digestion and increase animal performance, all of which are
negatively impacted during heat stress. Yeast can effectively
increase rumen pH by stimulating fiber digestion and lactate
-utilizing bacteria, leading to regular feed consumption and
more efficient rumen fermentation. Supplementing Yea-
Sacc1026 to dairy cows year-round has result e d in higher fee
d intake and milk yield and protein and fat yield - and those
responses were even greater during the sum mer months
(Formigon i e t al., 2005;Kravale et al., 2005).
In conclusion, to minimize the effect s of heat stress on lactation
and reproduct ion performance, producers must take an
integrated approach that includes cooling, access to water and
adjustments to the ration. Utilizing a feed additive such as Yea-
Sacc1026 can be an effective tool for mitigating the negative
effects of heat stress on rumen function and productivity. Alltech
offers several products - including rumen-protected fats, slow
release urea, selenium and direct-fed microbials - that can help
alleviate the effects of heat stress in dairy cattle.
Find out more about Alltech and Alltech technologies at
www.alltech.com
Formgioni, A., P. Pezzil, M. Tassinari,G. Bertin and S. Andrieu, (2005). Effect of yeast culture (Yea-Sacc®l026) supplementation on Italian dairy cow performance.
Proceedings of the 21s t Annual Symposium Nutritional Biotechnology in the Feed and Food Industries, (Suppl.1), Lexington. KY, USA. pp. 125.
Kravale, D. G. Bertinand S. Andrieu (2005). Effect of yeast culture (Yea-Sacc®I026 supplementation on Latvian dairy herd performance and economic impact
Proceedings of the 21st Annual Symposium“Nutritional Biotechnology in the Feed and Food lndustries“, Lexington. KY, USA, May 23-25, pp. 126.
National Research Council. 1989. Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle, 6th rev. ed., Washington, DC:National Academy Press.
Roth Z, Meidan R, Braw- Tal R, Wolfonson D. Immediate and delayed effects of heat stress on follicular development and it s association with plasma FSM and
inhibin concentration in cows. . J Reprod. ln fertil. 2000;120(1):83- 90.
TECH TALK: NUTRITIONAL MANAGEMENT
FOR HEAT STRESS IN DAIRY COWS
Alltech.com AlltechNaturally @Alltech
©2019. Alltech, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Alltech.com AlltechNaturally @Alltech
©2019. Alltech, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Different Yeasts
Different Results
The difference is Yea-Sacc:
• Improves feed efficiency by up to 6%
• Healthy rumen pH
• Contributes to 5-7 fewer open days
Alltech’s proven research on Yea-Sacc can
drive your dairy’s efficiency to new limits.
Visit Alltech.com/on-farm-support
for more information on heat stress.
The most researched
yeast on the market.
Elizabeth Lunsford
Territory Sales Manager
elunsford@alltech.com
(859) 553-0072

May - June 2019 • KDDC • Page 10
KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
Farm Bill Programs, Market Facilitation, Trade & More: May 2019
P
roducers are dealing with multiple issues that can at
times be overwhelming. The impact the ongoing trade
tension between the US and China has on markets,
severe weather that continues to impact producers across
the country, along with financial issues and the day-to-day
challenges producers face has resulted in increased stress
levels for many.
Congress passed a new farm bill late last year, but the program
guidelines for administration of the various titles of the farm bill
have yet to be written. The 2018 Farm Bill authorized the Dairy
Margin Coverage (DMC) program, a voluntary risk management
program that offers financial protection to dairy producers when
the difference between the all milk price and the average feed
cost (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount selected by
the producer. It replaces the program previously known as the
Margin Protection Program for Dairy. Sign up for this USDA
Farm Service Agency (FSA) program is expected to open on
June 17. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced early
in May that the March 2019 income over feed cost margin was
$8.85 per hundredweight (cwt.), triggering the third payment
for dairy producers who purchase the appropriate level of
coverage under the new DMC program. FSA also announced
producers have access to a new DMC decision support tool
[wws.govdelivery.com] as well as repayment options [links.
govdelivery.com] for producers who were enrolled in MPP-
Dairy.
The Trump Administration recently announced a second round
of the market facilitation program is being developed to help
offset the impact of the trade battle between the US and China.
The $16 billion aid package is being developed to assist farmers
hurt by the retaliatory tariffs China has imposed, but it is unclear
exactly when the package will be ready to roll out. Details
should be coming soon.
On the trade front, President Trump kickstarted the process
for Congressional consideration of the US Mexico Canada
Agreement (USMCA). The move at the end of May starts a
30-day clock for the Administration and Capitol Hill to come
to an agreement on implementing legislation for the deal, after
which there will be another 30 days for the White House to
submit a bill to ratify the agreement. Canada and Mexico are
the two largest trade partners for the US, and ratification of the
trade agreement will be positive for agriculture. Ag groups are
pushing Congress to move forward and ratify the agreement.
A concern is the recent announcement President Trump made
that he would impose 5 percent tariffs on Mexican goods until
Mexico took steps to stem the flow of illegal immigration to
the US. This move could result in a response from Mexico that
would complicate ratification of the USMCA.
Several parts of the country have experienced significant
weather disasters this spring that are preventing planting,
resulted in ruined commodities and hampered transportation of
products. The US Senate recently passed a disaster assistance
bill that would help producers and rural communities recover
from the devastating weather events, but so far, the US House of
Representatives has not followed suit. For many farmers in the
mid-west, the recent weather has meant a near complete loss, and
many may not be able to plant, or repair damaged infrastructure
in time to have any production in 2019, let alone profitable
production.
Producers needing further information on any of the
issues discussed here can contact the Kentucky Farm Bureau
Commodity Division at (502) 495-7738.
Southland Dairy Farmers welcome Haley Fisher as the new Mobile
Dairy Classroom (MDC) Instructor for the state of Kentucky.
Haley graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture
from Murray State University and a Master’s Certification in
Organizational Leadership from Western Kentucky University. Her
dairy roots run deep, as she grew up on her family’s dairy farm in
Cave City, KY. During her free time, Haley enjoys volunteering with
her church and 4-H youth and showing dairy cattle. Haley is looking
forward to sharing the important message of dairy to the public.
Please help welcome Haley to the Southland Dairy Farmers Family
as we know she will be a great addition to our MDC staff.

Kentucky
Kentuckyishome
toabout
55,000
dairycows
AtypicalKentucky
dairyfarmhas
aherdofabout
102milkingcows
Thetotalamountof
milkproducedinthe
stateamountedto
117milliongallons
Eachdairycowin
Kentuckyprovides
anaverageof
2,133gallonsofmilk
peryear
89%ofallmilkproduced
in2018wasused
andconsumedinthe
formoffluidmilk
Theaveragevalueof
aday'smilkpercow
wasabout
$9.79
In2018,adairycowin
Kentuckycostabout
$1,180
BroughttoyoubythedairyfarmfamiliesofKentucky.
thedairyalliance.com
TM
Dairycowsproduced
anaverageof
7gallons
ofmilkperday
Kentuckyranked
27thinmilkproduction,
27thinnumberofmilkcows,
37thinmilkoutputpercow,and
14thinthenumberoflicenseddairy
operationsduring2018intheUnitedStates.
1.Barren
2.Logan
3.Adair
4.Christian
5.Warren
*Allfactsarebasedon2018USDAandAGIdataTolearnmorepleasevisitthedairyalliance.com
Kentuckyhas
540dairyfarms
Thetopfivemilk
producingcounties:

May - June 2019 • KDDC • Page 12
KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
T
he hot, humid months of the summer season can often
take a toll on dairy cattle. Heat abatement strategies
are important to plan for and implement in order to keep
your cows cool and productive.
Adequate ventilation or cooling systems help reduce heat
stress, increase or maintain milk yield, and improve the air
quality in the barn. It is clear that we need to think about and
understand air exchange rates, humidity, total gas dissolution,
heat index, etc. However, it is also known that heat abatement
needs have changed and have actually increased. The increased
requirement of high-producing cows to dissipate a much high-
er heat load to maintain the normal body temperature is well
recorded, and we need to pay more attention to those numbers
especially from the profitability point of view. As an example,
“cows producing 80 pounds of milk per day are producing
37,500 more kcal of heat (or 148,700 BTUs) per day than a
cow producing 30 pounds of milk”. (Collier for Progressive
Dairyman 02 April 2019). Failure to meet this need results in
increased body temperature and heat stress of high-producing
cows.
We now know that we need to address these requirements by
understanding new efficiencies that can generate more signifi-
cant cooling effects. We need to design our systems to work in
larger areas, we need to push fresh, clean air through longer dis-
tances, and all of this has to happen while using less energy than
conventional systems. So, how do we deal with this?
We understand the importance of monitoring the cow’s envi-
ronment, specifically temperature and humidity. There are good
ways to keep cows cool during the summer, such as including
water and forced ventilation (fans), air conditioning, foggers,
misters, and sprinklers in the barn. Plan protocols that include
mechanical and physical heat exchange and evaporation are
only one part of these scenarios. Therefore, our farm practices
and protocols have to be considered as part of the heat stress
mitigation plan.
In fast-paced dairies, cows rushed between pens or to the
parlor can often experience compound stress. It is important that
dairy producers include a section within their heat stress miti-
gation plan that takes into consideration compound stress. An
example could be allowing extra time to move pens and animals
at a lower speed while improving stockman skills. Holding pen
management must also be taken into account, knowing that this
is one of the maximum stress areas on a dairy farm, and can
drastically affect dairy performance.
We also know that based on cow ranking, submissive cows
use water troughs less frequently than their more aggressive
partners. These cows consume less water and feed, and produce
less milk with fewer components, especially milk fat. Social
interactions such as this may be necessary for producers who
group house their cattle and may have restricted watering areas
or space. It is a good idea to plan for up to 20 percent more
drinking water available during the hot summer months. It is
essential to know that chilled water does not provide any addi-
tional benefit, while water above 86 degrees Fahrenheit may
reduce consumption. Sometimes, having a different grouping
strategy or eliminating overcrowding can solve some of the
water consumption issues and improve the barn environment.
This is worth a second look.
As we gain a better understanding of cow behavior, produc-
ers are generally looking to enhance the cow’s environment.
Advanced air mixing systems, sensors, and even cow brushes
typically are considered as a luxury item. However, increas-
ing cow comfort is not just a luxury – start by keeping the
environment as clean as possible, think of water accessibility,
improve airflow by reducing “dead spots and understanding air
exchange”, and finally, consider adjustments to some or your
dairy protocols. It makes good business sense.
Help Reduce Heat Stress
Fabian Bernal M.S., P.A.S.
DeLaval Inc, DairyAdvisory Manager
Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP) Is Here!
This recently released USDA product (DRP) is designed to
protect dairy farmers from the decline in quarterly revenue
from milk sales. Contact us today for more information
about protecting one of the biggest risks to your operation.
In Business Since 1972
1-800-353-6108
www.shelbyinsuranceagency.com
sia@iglou.com
We are an equal opportunity provider

May - June 2019 • KDDC • Page 13
KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
KDDC Director and Allied Industry Corner
KDDC’s Board of Directors is comprised of 21 members, 13 dairy farmers and 8 allied industry representatives. Dairy farmer directors represent the dairy
producers within their respective districts. Allied industry members represent segments of the industry such as but not limited to, veterinarians, milk haul-
ers and feed companies. The officers of the KDDC board include: President, Vice-President, and Secretary-Treasurer. The Executive Committee consists
of the officers, the past president and an elected member at large. The president must always be a dairy farmer. When board meetings are held , there is
one purpose in mind; to do what is best for Kentucky’s dairy farmers and its industry.
VISION: To create a vibrant and
sustainable dairy industry in
Kentucky.
MISSION: To educate, promote
and represent dairy producers and
foster an environment for growth of
the Kentucky dairy industry.
GOALS:
• To increase Kentucky dairy
farmers’ profitability
• To improve Kentucky dairy
farmers’ competiveness
• To enhance Kentucky dairy farm
families’ quality of life
• To assist in the sustainability of
Kentucky’s dairy industry
John Kuegel Jr. is from Daviess County and
is married to Leigh Ann Kuegel. They have two
children; a daughter Johnna and son Josh. John
representing KDDC’s District 12, grew up on the
family dairy and has been involved in the dairy
business his entire life. Currently, John and his family
are milking 150 Registered Holsteins with the Old
Lyndane prefix. John also farms 1000 acres of corn,
soybeans and alfalfa, has been a delegate representing
Kentucky at the National Holstein Convention and
serves as a director to Farm Credit Mid America.
DISTRICT 12KDDC BOARD HIGHLIGHT
Classified Ads
Comprehensive Nutrient Management
Plans (CNMPs). Livestock manure
management and water quality BMPs.
Ky Division of Water permitting and
compliance. Ben Koostra - Professional
Engineer and NRCS Technical Service
Provider - Lexington - 859-559-4662
John Deere 5603- Ldr- 4wd- $39,000
Case 1845C- $15,000
John Deere 7410 2wd cab-$29,000
John Deere 6605 2wd Ldr- $21,000
Knight 1140 manure spreader $12,500
Knight 8118 manure spreader -$12,500
Stoltzfus Spreader-lime-5 ton $13,000
Farmco Feeder Wagons $3500
Great Plains Drills starting @ $10,000
Www.redbarnandasdociates.com
Call Charlie 8596089745

May - June 2019 • KDDC • Page 14
KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
Dixie Dairy Report
June 2019
Calvin Covington
ccovington5@cs.com (336) 766-7191
Demand for dairy products. First quarter demand for dairy products (domestic and
export), on a total solids basis, is almost the same as the first quarter of last year. However,
domestic demand is up a strong 2.4% while export demand is down 12.4%. First quarter
domestic demand is a new record high. Even though export demand is down compared to
last year, it is still higher than 2017, and is the third highest on record. Lower export demand
is primarily due to dry whey exports down 31% and whey protein concentrate exports down
43%. The African swine flu in China and now spreading to other parts of Asia is negatively
impacting the whey market. Whey is a major part of the swine ration.
Fluid Milk Sales. Total fluid milk
sales, for the first quarter of 2019,
are 2.4% lower compared to the first
quarter of 2018. Conventional sales,
alone, are down 2.2%, while organic
is 4.5% lower than a year earlier.
It appears plant based products are
having a greater impact on organic
milk sales. The decline in fluid sales
continues to be low fat and skim milk.
Whole milk sales are unchanged from
last year while flavored whole milk
sales are up 25%.
In the three southeastern orders
combined, fluid sales during the first
quarter of the year are 3.7% lower than
a year ago, as seen in the table. Even
though Florida sales are only down
0.9%, sales from plants regulated
under the Florida order are down about 2% while sales from plants outside of the order are up over 2.5%.
Milk production. April milk production is up 0.1% compared to last April. USDA reports 90,000 fewer cows this April versus last
April. April dairy cattle slaughter was 7.9% higher than last April. For the year to-date, dairy cow slaughter is up 5.7%. In the 23
reporting states, production was up in 11 states, down in 11 states, and no change in one state. Texas continues to lead the way with
higher milk production, up 6.7%. In the top two dairy production states, California and Wisconsin, April production was up 2.6% and
0.4%, respectively.
Southeast production. Of the 23 reporting states, Virginia continues to lead the way in declining production, down 11.0%
in April. Production continues to decline in Florida as well, with April production down 5.5%. Virginia reports 9,000 less cows
compared to last year, while Florida reports 7,000 fewer head.
Looking at federal order data, through the first four months of the year, total producer milk in the three southeastern federal orders is
6.8% lower than the same period last year. Most of the production decline is in the Appalachian and Southeast orders. Total producer
milk, utilized in Class I, is 4.7% lower than a year ago. Combined Class I utilization is 72.5% through April, compared to 70.8% last
year.
A number of factors point to milk production continuing to decline not only in the Southeast, but in many other parts of the country.
These factors include: low margins, less dairy cows as the result of more cows going to slaughter and more cows being bred to
beef bulls, historically high number of dairy farms exiting the business, and weather challenges impacting the feed supply. Lower
Southeast milk production resulted in a less challenging “flush” season this year. However, when August comes, due to less milk
production, expect the opposite; a greater challenge in procuring supplemental milk.
Dairy product prices. Butter, cheese, and nonfat dry milk powder (NFDM) continue to advance. May is the first time the nonfat
dry milk powder (NFDM) price has exceeded $1.00/lb. since January 2017. Reports indicate NFDM should continue to move higher.
Cheese is at its highest price since February 2017. Dairy Market News reports current cheese market tones as “wobbly”. The block to
barrel spread has increased to over $0.20/lb. First quarter American cheese and other cheese disappearance is down 0.5% and 1.1%,
respectively. Butter continues, as it has for over a year, trading in a narrow range. Butter imports, which are up 35% during the first
quarter, are holding back further butter price increases.
DAIRY DEMAND (1st quarter 2017, 2018, and 2019) – Total Solids Basis
2017 2018 2019 2019 vs 2018
(million lbs.)
Domestic Demand 5,914.4 5,986.6 6,129.1 2.4%
Export Demand 953.2 1,127.1 987.4 -12.4%
Total Demand 6.876.6 7,113.7 7,116.5 0.04%
Export % of Total 13.9% 15.8% 13.9%
SOUTHEASTERN ORDERS FLUID MILK SALES (1st quarter 2017, 2018, and 2019)
Order 2017 2018 2019 2019 vs 2018
(million lbs.)
Appalachian 816 827 795 -3.9%
Florida 716 705 699 -0.9%
Southeast 1,135 1,111 1,052 -5.3%
Total 2,667 2,643 2,546 -3.7%

May - June 2019 • KDDC • Page 15
KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
Milk Prices
FMMO 5
www.malouisville.com
May 2019
Class 1 Advanced Price
(@3.5%BF)
$19.82
June 2019
Class 1 Advanced Price
(@3.5%BF)
$20.47
FMMO 7
www.fmmmatlanta.com
May 2019
Class 1 Advanced Price
(@3.5%BF)
$20.22
June 2019
Class 1 Advanced Price
(3.5%BF)
$20.87
DAIRY PRODUCTS SALES REPORT PRICES and CLASS I MOVER
Product May 2019 April 2019 May 2018 May2017
($/lb)
Butter $2.2952 $2.2669 $2.3382 $2.1644
Cheese (block & barrel) $1.6974 $1.6468 $1.6353 $1.5390
Nonfat Dry Milk Powder $1.0149 $0.9641 $0.7937 $0.8704
Dry Whey $0.3784 $0.3923 $0.2711 $0.5094
June 2019 May 2019 June 2018 June 2017
($/cwt.)
Class I Mover (3.5% fat) $17.07 $16.42 $15.25 $15.31
Class I Mover (2.0% fat) $13.35 $12.74 $11.43 $11.89
PROJECTED BLEND PRICES–BASE ZONES – SOUTHEASTERN FEDERAL ORDERS
Month Appalachian Florida Southeast
($/cwt. 3.5% butterfat)
April (actual) 2019 $18.28 $20.46 $18.70
May $18.99 $21.04 $19.24
June $19.68 $21.54 $19.84
July $19.55 $21.50 $20.12
August $19.89 $21.85 $20.43
Blend prices. For the first time in 18 months the Class I Mover exceeded $17.00 in
June. Without the new Class I Mover calculation, the June Mover would have been
$0.80/cwt. lower. May blend prices are projected $0.50 to $0.60cwt.higher than April.
For all of 2019 we now project blend prices to average $1.75 to $2.00/cwt. higher than
2018.

May - June 2019 • KDDC • Page 16
KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
Others Attending
Kentucky Value-Added Conference
July 9-10, 2019
Warren County Extension Office, Bowling Green, Kentucky
Attendee
Company Name (optional)
Address
Phone
Email
Attendee Email
Attendee Email
Attendee Email
= $30/person x # attending = $100 table space – includes table space and (2) two-day registrations
Return registration & checks (checks written to: KDDC):
KY Dept of Ag - Eunice Schlappi
111 Corporate Drive
Frankfort, KY 40601
eunice.schlappi@ky.gov
Phone: (502) 782-4122
Cell: (502)545-0809

May - June 2019 • KDDC • Page 17
KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
Tuesday, July 9
8:30 - 9:00 Registration
9:00 - 9:15 Warren Beeler / Welcome & Moderator
9:15 -10:00
Warren Beeler / Governor’s Office of Agriculture Policy
Bill McCloskey / loans, energy grants, etc
10:00 - 10:30 Brent Lackey / KCard - business plans, products, market studies, etc
10:30 - 10:45 Break
10:45 - 11:15 Lewis Ramsey / Milk Safety - Kentucky Milk Safety regulations
11:15 - 12:00 Roger Snell / KDA Mktg - opportunities, cost share, marketing, etc
12:00 - 1:00 Lunch on site
1:00 - 1:30 Carl Chaney / Chaney’s Dairy Barn – agritourism
1:30 - 2:00 Elizabeth Lunsford / J R Chaney Bottling Co. – bottling milk
2:00 - 3:30
Producer panel:
10 minutes each “about our operation” / things we wish we had known from the beginning!
Kenny Mattingly Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese
Rachel Wade Ed Mar Cheese
Willis Schrock J D Country Milk
Gary Beu WKU Creamery
3:30 – 3:45 Break
3:45 – 4:45 Ricky Gulley / cheese consultant – question and answer
4:45 Dismiss/dinner on your own / Optional tour of J D Country Milk - Russellville
Wednesday, July 10
8:15 Joe Cain / Welcome and Moderator / Kentucky Farm Bureau
8:30 - 9:15 Eric Goan / Bluegrass Dairy/Foods / getting started, food safety, SOP’s, CCP’s, etc
9:15 – 10:45
Producer panel:
10 minutes each “about our operation” / successes, stepping stones and pitfalls!
Bob & Angie Klingenfus Harvest Home Dairy
Matthew Wade Middle TN State University
Tim Mast Sunrise Dairy
11:15-12:15 Tour WKU Creamery
12:30-1:15 Lunch at Chaney’s Dairy Barn – on your own
1:15 Tour of Chaney’s dairy farm and milk bottling facility
Hotel for Monday/Tuesday: Holiday Inn, Bowling Green (Wilkerson Blvd) – no room block
Registration fee: $30
Sponsor tables in lobby: $100 (w/ 2 free registrations)
Co-sponsored by: KDDC, KADF and KDA

May - June 2019 • KDDC • Page 18
KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
Strategies To Avoid Summertime Milk Fat Depression
Jay Garmon, MSc, PAS
I
n today’s challenging milk markets the income from milk fat
can be a big chunk of the total dollars coming into the farm.
There are certain seasonal fluctuations that play into it that
cannot be totally eliminated, but we need to look at what we
can control. As we head into the heat and humidity of summer
in the mid south there are several influencers we can control.
Looking at causes of Milk Fat Depression (MFD) there are two
major contributors:
1. Polyunsaturated fats(PUFA) in the diet (vegetable oils)
2. Rumen pH
The polyunsaturated fats in the ration are a normal component
of dairy rations. The best approach is to try to keep these fats
as low as possible. Most of the MFD prevention I will cover is
directed toward maintaining rumen health and pH during heat
stress. Lower pH will cause a microbial die off of bacteria in the
rumen and can alter milk fat synthesis pathways. Lowering the pH
or as sometimes referred to as Sub Acute Rumen Acidosis (SARA)
can be addressed through several nutritional and management
strategies.
So how do we keep the rumen and its population of microbes
healthy and happy when it’s 99 degrees and 100 % humidity?
Cow comfort and cooling are critical parts to maximize dry
matter intakes. Dry matter intakes are crucial to keeping the
rumen working properly. I also want plenty of CLEAN quality
water sources as this is the most over looked nutrient in the diet
on many farms. I do suggest testing the water for both quality
(i.e.coliforms) and mineral content. Ample space for cows to
drink is very important in that 3-4 linear inches are available for
each cow. Keep an eye on how quick these refill. I have seen low
pressure systems that were a problem.
Use of good quality forages is always important, but it gains a
new level of importance in the hot weather. Lower digestibility
forages can have a huge negative impact on dry matter intakes.
Monitor quality closely to avoid molds that can have negative
effects on health and productivity. Molds (seen or unseen)
can affect rumen health and total health of the animal from a
suppressed immune system.
Feed bunk management is another key part of the rumen health
puzzle. Make sure you have enough bunk space available for
all cows to eat without over competition enhancing problems.
Adequate physical effective fiber should be monitored
routinely and can be done with a Penn State Particle separator.
Understanding physically effective NDF fiber or “peNDF” and its
role in rumen function is a good conversation to have with your
nutrition professional. Cows need feed available a minimum of 22
hours a day.
TMR moisture should be in the 45-50% range. Remember with
the use of fans that the moisture will change in the bunk and it can
become drier and more easily sorted throughout the day. When
cows sort out the smaller particles it will have a negative effect on
rumen pH as with sorting the diet loses its “total mix” concept.
When it comes to feed additives we always look for “magic
bullets” to offset some of the negatives of heat stress milk fat
depression. There are things that help but won’t totally offset the
problem without good management practices. I always look for
those with university data and field proven studies that have a
solid return on investment.
Adequate levels of buffer from both sodium bicarbonate and
potassium carbonate sources are important to help keep SARA
and even full blown acidosis at bay. Make sure they are from high
quality sources as some cheaper and less bioavailable ones have
shown up in various markets.
Direct Fed Microbials (DFM’s) have shown proven responses in
maintaining rumen health during periods of stress. Yeast Cultures
are one of the most proven feed additives on the market with a
very solid return on investment. There is more than sufficient data
and field experiences to support their usage.
Essential oils have shown some benefits in improving blood
flow. As a cow gets hotter the blood vessels tend to constrict and
these products aid in offsetting that problem and keeping her core
body temp lower.
High Palmitic (C16) Bypass Fats have shown some promise
in pushing fat production up. When entertaining using these look
at digestibility of the fat as well as looking at cost and return on
investment closely. Dr. Adam Lock at Michigan State University
has done quite a bit of work in this area.
Good management is very important to keeping the rumen
healthy and can’t be stressed enough. There are other tools we can
use but we have to keep her cool, comfortable and maintaining dry
matter intake to sustain desired milk fat production goals.

May - June 2019 • KDDC • Page 19
KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
USDA Announces March Income over Feed Cost Margin
Triggers Third 2019 Dairy Safety Net Payment
Dairy Margin Coverage Program Sign-Up Begins June 17
U
SDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced this
week that the March 2019 income over feed cost margin
was $8.85 per hundredweight (cwt.), triggering the third
payment for dairy producers who purchase the appropriate
level of coverage under the new Dairy Margin Coverage
(DMC) program.
DMC, which replaces the Margin Protection Program for
Dairy (MPP-Dairy), offers protection to dairy producers when the
difference between the all milk price and the average feed cost
(the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the
producer.
The signup period for DMC opens June 17, 2019. Dairy
producers who elect a DMC coverage level between $9 and $9.50
would be eligible for a payment for January, February and March
2019.
For example, a dairy operation that chooses to enroll an
established production history of 3 million pounds (30,000 cwt.)
and elects the $9.50 coverage level on 95 percent of production
would receive $1,543.75 for March.
Sample calculation:
• $9.50 - $8.85 margin = $0.65 difference
• $0.65 x 95 percent of production x 2,500 cwt. (30,000 cwt./12)
= $1,543.75
DMC premiums are paid annually. The calculated annual
premium for coverage at $9.50 on 95 percent of a 3-million-pound
production history for this example would be $4,275
Sample calculation:
• 3,000,000 x 95 percent = 2,850,000/100 = 28,500 cwt. x 0.150
premium fee = $4,275
The dairy operation in the example calculation will pay $4,275
in total premium payments for all of 2019 and receive $8,170
in DMC payments for January, February and March combined.
Additional payments will be made if calculated margins remain
below the $9.50/cwt level.
All participants are also required to pay an annual $100
administrative fee in addition to any premium, and payments
will be subject to a 6.2 percent reduction to account for federal
sequestration.
Operations making a one-time election to participate in DMC
through 2023 are eligible to receive a 25 percent discount on their
premium for the existing margin coverage rates. For the example
above, this would reduce the annual premium by $1,068.75.
About DMC
On December 20, 2018, President Trump signed into law the
2018 Farm Bill, which provides support, certainty and stability
to our nation’s farmers, ranchers and land stewards by enhancing
farm support programs, improving crop insurance, maintaining
disaster programs and promoting and supporting voluntary
conservation. FSA is committed to implementing these changes as
quickly and effectively as possible, and today’s updates are part of
meeting that goal.
USDA Announces New Decision Tool for New Dairy Margin Coverage Program
U
SDA announced the availability of a new web-based
tool – developed in partnership with the University of
Wisconsin – to help dairy producers evaluate various
scenarios using different coverage levels through the new
Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program.
The 2018 Farm Bill authorized DMC, a voluntary risk
management program that offers financial protection to dairy
producers when the difference between the all milk price and the
average feed cost (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount
selected by the producer. It replaces the program previously
known as the Margin Protection Program for Dairy. Sign up for
this USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) program opens on June
17.
The University of Wisconsin launched the decision support
tool in cooperation with FSA and funded through a cooperative
agreement with the USDA Office of the Chief Economist. The
tool was designed to help producers determine the level of
coverage under a variety of conditions that will provide them with
the strongest financial safety net. It allows farmers to simplify
their coverage level selection by combining operation data and
other key variables to calculate coverage needs based on price
projections.
The decision tool assists producers with calculating total
premiums costs and administrative fees associated with
participation in DMC. It also forecasts payments that will be made
during the coverage year.
For more information, access the tool at fsa.usda.gov/dmc-tool.
For DMC sign up, eligibility and related program information,
visit fsa.usda.gov or contact your local USDA Service Center.
Information pulled from Kentucky FSA Newsletter May 2019

May - June 2019 • KDDC • Page 20
KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
The 4 F’s: Bear Grylls On Failure,
Fear, Fire And Faith
Cait Brown, Alltech
B
ear Grylls has remarked that “life is an adventure that
is best lived boldly.” As a former British Special Forces
serviceman, a well-known TV adventurer, a survival
expert and an accomplished author, Grylls is clearly embracing
his own advice. He took the stage at ONE: The Alltech Ideas
Conference (ONE19) to outline the four things that have forged
him into the success he is today.
Accepting failure
Grylls noted that failure was likely the most important force
behind his accomplishments, revealing that the first time he
attempted to become a member of the elite Special Air Service
(SAS), he failed and was sent back to his unit. At the time, he
thought not making it meant he wasn’t fast enough, smart enough
or simply good enough, but nevertheless, he decided to try again.
Grylls remarked that he felt completely out of place among the
huge, muscle-bound soldiers also attempting to join the special
forces unit, and he began to worry he’d volunteered for something
that was beyond his capabilities. He soon realized, however,
that SAS selection was about both physical capacity and mental
resilience and that, although he might be average in stature, he
was mighty in spirit.
“My failures far outweigh my successes,” said Grylls. “The
failed expeditions, projects and near-death moments still haunt me
in the night sometimes.”
Grylls went on to say that it was actually these failures that
eventually helped him to grow stronger, both inside and out:
“There is no shortcut to avoid failure,” he said. “Failure is a
doorway to success.”
Facing your fears
The second pillar Grylls addressed was fear, noting that “life is
scary sometimes, and all of us face battles, even if (they’re just)
battles of confidence and nerves.” He added that it’s a universal
truth that life will test us, no matter who we are.
“Life doesn’t always just reward the brilliant or the talented,” he
said. “Life doesn’t really care about the exam results or good looks
or the letters after someone’s name. Life rewards the dogged, the
determined — those who can walk toward their goals despite their
fears.”
When it comes to facing fears, Grylls speaks from experience.
In 1996, at the age of 21, his celebrity — and life as he knew
it — was almost impeded when a skydiving adventure went
terribly wrong. After jumping out of a plane with a few friends
over Zimbabwe, his parachute became tangled and failed to
inflate properly. Grylls desperately tried to remedy the problem by
pulling on his steering toggles, but to no avail. He was descending
so rapidly that, by the time he realized what terrible trouble he
was in, he was too close to the ground to use his reserve chute. He
ended up plunging toward the earth in a freefall, landing on his
reserve parachute pack and breaking his back in three places.
Though his spinal cord was very nearly severed, it remained
intact. He spent the next year as an invalid, undergoing grueling
rehabilitation and enduring night terrors about falling and being
out of control. Still, he remained unfailingly determined and, a
mere 18 months later, Grylls accomplished a lifelong dream by
becoming the youngest British person ever to reach the summit of
Mount Everest.
“You might wonder if I’ve ever jumped again,” he said, “and
the answer is: all of the time.”
While he admitted that he dreads jumping, Grylls also said that
he knows that the answer to fear is to face it head-on.
“Life has repeatedly shown that, when we edge toward our
fears, they often melt away,” he said. “I really struggle with rooms
full of strangers. I think this is because I know I’m not actually as
strong as people might expect, but that’s okay, because we all have
our stuff — fears are just part of life, part of what makes us real
and relatable.
“In life, those cracks we all have are really our stories; like
wrinkles, each one is a story, an adventure,” Grylls continued.
“The big moments in all of our lives really leave marks and, if I’m
being honest, I’m completely covered in marks.”
Finding the fire
When outlining how we can keep moving forward against the
odds, Grylls said that it comes down to learning how to access our
inner fire.

May - June 2019 • KDDC • Page 21
KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
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“You must first understand that no one is really brilliant or brave
all of the time,” he argued, recalling an encouraging quote from
one of his commanding officers in the military: “When not one
ounce of you thinks you can, you’re the one that turns around and
gives that little bit extra.”
According to Grylls, inner fire is simply a trigger to “give more
when most people want to give up.”
“If you dig, you will find it,” he added. “The fire is always there.
Sometimes in life, the fire gets a little hidden; in fact, sometimes
it’s just a little ember — but it’s always there, and it can change
everything.”
In the course of his trek up Mount Everest, Grylls said the
mountain claimed four people’s lives; two died from exposure and
the others fell to their demise. They’d been climbing for more than
55 days, in negative-40-degree temperatures, with the peak of the
mountain looming above. Grylls was completely exhausted and
felt that every step forward was followed by a backward slide. He
was no longer sure he could reach the summit, and he admits there
was a voice in his head that kept telling him, “You don’t belong
here. Give up.” However, instead of slowly bowing to that voice as
he was initially inclined to do, Grylls found his inner fire and kept
going.
“This fire has been (my) most valuable weapon — not talent,
not skills,” he said. “Know the power of unrelenting, unwavering
resilience. The storms of life, ironically, make us strong. As
with all dark nights, sometimes you’ve just got to hang in there,
doggedly. The dawn will always come. The light will always win.”
Keeping the faith
While on Mount Everest, Grylls also found the voice of doubt
in his head being silenced and drowned out by a stronger one, one
that was difficult to describe but that said: “I’m with you. Lean
on me. You can do this.” This was when he realized that faith in
oneself and in others is the universal force of goodness.
“We all face our mountain,” said Grylls. “Everest really is just a
state of mind.”
Achieving your dreams, Grylls continued, will mean embracing
your failures along the way.
“I am no hero, and I’m no stranger to crippling doubt and fear,
but I know the weapons that serve me best,” he said. “They come
from within, not without.”
In closing, Grylls argued that the final element to success is
about finding true wealth, which stems from being both grateful
and kind.
“I’ve climbed mountains with men who have lost their legs in
war, but yet, they still smile and are grateful — (they say) look at
all we have and all we’ve done,” said Grylls, who added that we
must seek humility and understand our place in the universe.
“Our real wealth is always going to be found in our
relationships,” Grylls continued. “It’s about the simple things that
keep us moving through the dark nights that we all face from time
to time.”
Grylls’ final remarks served as a simple note of inspiration,
“Remember: you are made amazing. Stand tall, and never give
up.”

May - June 2019 • KDDC • Page 22
KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
Dairy Revenue Protection
New Risk Management Tool for Kentucky Dairy Farmers
Todd Gibbs, Agency Relationship Manager, AFBIS, Inc., Lexington, KY
W
hen Mr. Zippy Duvall was elected President of the
American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) in January
2016, a top priority was to review how 2014 Farm Bill
programs were working and identify potential improvements
for the next Farm Bill. This effort was spurred by the poor farm
economy and led to the creation of AFBF’s farm bill working
group. The working group identified that dairy farmers needed
a new and more effective risk management tool. Within the
structure of the current federal crop insurance program the
group sought to protect the revenue of milk sales from dairy
farms and put more emphasis on the value of a farm’s milk.
With the assistance of American Farm Bureau Insurance
Services (AFBIS) and Dr. John Newton, Chief Economist at
AFBF, Dairy Revenue Protection was introduced to the dairy
community on August 8, 2018, and the first endorsement
was sold on October 9th, 2018 (the first day endorsement
sales were allowed). As we fast forward seven months, 7400
endorsements have been purchased by dairy farmers and
nearly 24 billion pounds of milk have been insured. Let’s take a
closer look at the policy itself..
There are two options when purchasing an endorsement. The
first is Class Pricing whereby we utilize a three-month average
of Class III or Class IV milk (or a mix of the two) directly from
the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. An endorsement is one quarter
in length and a producer can purchase an endorsement(s) for five
consecutive quarters – up to 15 months out. As an example, XYZ
dairy farm typically produces 1,000,000 lbs. of Grade A milk
over a three-month time period. Utilizing real-time data, the next
quarter for purchase is July – September with sales available daily
until June 15th, which would be the final day coverage can be
purchased for that quarter. On Tuesday, May 21st, Class III and
Class IV milk, closed at $16.90 and $17.11 per cwt on the CME
(as an average for July, August, and September futures). Utilizing
the DRP quoting tool with a 50/50 mix between the two, we can
build a cost and coverage quote for this Kentucky dairy farm.
Under this scenario on this day, the Class Pricing endorsement
yielded an expected revenue insurance guarantee (for 1,000,000
lbs. of milk covered) of $161,548 at 95% coverage ($161,548 =
$17×1,000,000×95%÷100). The total premium is $751 but being a
federal crop insurance program, it is subsidized by 44% bringing
the actual producer cost to $421 or 4.2 cents per cwt of milk
covered.
The second endorsement option is called Component Pricing
and the coverage and quoting mechanics are like the Class Pricing
endorsement with the difference being we are now focused upon
CME butter (butterfat) and CME cheese (protein) futures. The
third part is called “other solids,” but that is a fixed number within
the endorsement. To quote this endorsement, the producer shares
both the butterfat and protein levels he/she expects from their
dairy in the quarter attached to the endorsement. Utilizing the
same dairy characteristics from above, we are going to quote a
Component Pricing endorsement utilizing CME data from May
21st. We are going to once again assume we are purchasing an
endorsement for the July – September quarter for 1,000,000
lbs. of milk and that the producer has provided butterfat and
protein numbers (representative of their dairy) of 4.2% and
3.3%, respectively. Under this scenario, the Component Pricing
endorsement yielded an expected revenue insurance guarantee (for
1,000,000 lbs. of milk covered) of $185,118 at 95% coverage. The
total premium is $1,427, but it is subsidized by 44% bringing the
actual producer cost to $799 or 7.9 cents per cwt of milk covered.
Some more important characteristics of DRP are:
1. In order to purchase an endorsement, a separate application
must first be on file with an Approved Insurance Provider (ex.
AFBIS).
2. Billing for an endorsement will be no earlier than 25 days
after the quarter that was purchased. In our above example,
October 25th will be the earliest billing date for the July –
September quarter.
3. If a dairy typically produces 1,000,000 lbs. of milk per
quarter, he/she is not obligated to allocate the entire amount
to just one endorsement. They could purchase multiple
endorsement within the same quarter on different dates if they
are not covering the same milk.
4. For loss purposes, we will compare your expected guaranteed
revenue (when the endorsement is purchased) to your actual
revenue (after the quarter is over). If there is a revenue loss,
we will ask for your milk marketing records as verification of
lbs. of milk delivered and actual butterfat and protein levels
(if your endorsement was Component Pricing).
If you have questions, please contact me at the email provided
below. In addition, the following Kentucky Farm Bureau
Insurance agents are Dairy Revenue certified and can assist you
with an application and/or endorsement.
John Delong, Mt Olivet, 606-724-5812
Nathan Franklin, Shelbyville, 502-633-2310
Josh Harden, Glasgow, 270-629-5555
Charles Monin, Lebanon, 270-692-3281
Gavin Roberts, Owensboro, 270-926-9600

May - June 2019 • KDDC • Page 23
KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
S
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Allied Sponsors
PLATINUM
Ag Central
Alltech
Cowherd Equipment
CPC Commodities
Bluegrass Dairy & Food
Burkmann Feeds
Dairy Farmers of America
Farm Credit Mid-America
Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Kentucky Farm Bureau
Kentucky Soybean Board
Zoetis
GOLD
Arm & Hammer Animal Nutrition
Chaney’s Dairy Farm
Dairy Express Services
Dairy Products Association of KY
Elanco
IDEXX
Kentucky Nutrition Service
Land O’Lakes
Mid-South Dairy Records
Owen Transport
Select Sires MidAmerica (KABA)
Todd Co. Animal Clinic
Trenton Farm Supply
SILVER
Afi Milk
DCC Water Beds
Grain Processing Corp.
KVMA
Luttrull Feeds
Prairie Farms
Purina
RSI Calf Systems
Southland Dairy Farmers
BRONZE
ABS Global
Advantage Hoof Care
Bagdad Roller Mills
Central Farmers Supply
Double “S” Liquid Feed
Genetics Plus
H J Baker
Hinton Mills
Kentucky Corn Growers
Lallemand
Limestone & Cooper
Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers
Provimi
Smith Creek, Inc
Wilson Trucking

176 Pasadena Drive
Lexington, KY 40503
859.516.1129 ph
www.kydairy.org
Non-Profit
US Postage
PAID
JUN 20 Tri - County Farm Day, Trenton Farm Store, Todd Co.
JUN 21-22
Western Rivers Kentucky Jr, Livestock Expo.
William “Bill” Cherry AG/Expo, Murray, KY
JUN 22
Marion Co. Dairy Show and June Dairy Day,
Lebanon, KY, 10:00 A.M.
JUN 25
Organic Association of Kentucky Field Day,
Durham Farms, Crofton KY 9:30 CDT
JUN 28
Kentucky Showmanship Clinic, Casey Co.
Fairgrounds, 9:15 A.M.EDT
JUN 29
Liberty District Dairy Show, Casey Co. Fair-
grounds,8:00 A.M. EDT
JUL 02
Shelby Co. District Dairy Show, Shelby Co. Fair-
grounds 8:00 A.M.EDT
JUL 7-11 Southeast Dairy Retreat, Virginia
JUL 9-10
Dairy Value - Added Conference, Warren Co.
Extension Office
JUL 10 Kentucky State Fair Livestock Entry Deadline
JUL 11
Mammoth Cave Area Dairy Day, Jelly Stone Park,
Cave City KY 10:00 A.M.CDT
JUL 11
Horse Cave District Dairy Show, Burley Fields
Livestock Center, 9:30 A.M. CDT
Calendar of Events
JUL 17
Tollesboro District Dairy Show, Tollesboro Fair-
grounds
JUL 19
KDDC Board Meeting, Nelson Co. Extension
Office, 10:00 A.M. EDT
JUL 22
Prairie Farms Ice Cream Social, Adair Co. Exten-
sion office, 7:00 P.M. CDT
JUL 26-27
Kentucky Junior Livestock Expo., L.D. Brown Ag.
Center, Bowling Green, KY
AUG 14
KY State Fair Youth Pizza Party, KFEC, 7:00 P.M.
EDT
AUG 15-18
KY State Fair 4-H, FFA and Open Dairy Shows,
KFEC
AUG 16 Dairy Youth Cheese Auction, KFEC
AUG 22
Kentucky Farm Bureau Ham Breakfast State Fair
South Wing 7:00 A.M. EDT
AUG 27-29
Kentucky Milk Conference, Lake Barkley State
Park, Cadiz KY
SEP 6
CPC Fall Field Day Fountain Run, KY 9:00 A.M.
CDT
SEP 17
PA. All – American Invitational 4-H Dairy Judging
Contest, Harrisburg, PA.
SEP 28
Eastern Kentucky University Agriculture Day at
the EKU v. TSU Football Game, 6:00 P.M.