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MINNESOTA DAIRY PRODUCERS BOARD
Monday, April 28, 1997
Sauk Centre City Hall
Sauk Center, Minnesota
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Jeff Kunstleben, Violet Zimmer, Ken Christianson, Barb Hormann, Vern
Dahlheimer
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT
Michael Klisch, Bruce Zeidler, Frank Grimm, Ken Schefers, Howard Warmbold
Board President Jeff Kunstleben called the meeting to order. Because there was no quorum, no motions were made and acted upon. Violet Zimmer, Secretary, read the minutes.
California milk production costs were discussed and information was passed out.
Discussed the revelation of school milk bid rigging among some of the co-ops and processors. Recommended for Board approval that it issue a news release on this.
Bloc voting issue was discussed along with the need to educate the public on this.
Recommended for Board approval that it agree to a request by the Farmers Union Milk Marketing Co-op (FUMMC) to have the Board’s name added to a list of other farm organizations on a FUMMC letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman urging him to support providing dairy food assistance to the flood victims in the Red River Valley.
Meeting adjourned.
MINNESOTA DAIRY PRODUCERS BOARD
Monday, May 28, 1997, 12:30 pm
Sauk Centre City Hall
Sauk Centre, Minnesota
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Jeff Kunstleben, Michale Klisch, Frank Grimm, Violet Zimmer, Howard Warmbold
Barb Hormann, Vern Dahlheimer
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT
Bruce Zeidler, Ken Schefers, Ken Christianson
Board President Jeff Kunstleben called the meeting to order. Violet Zimmer, Secretary, read the minutes which were approved.
Jeff and Board Facilitator, Don Pylkkanen, reported on their testifying on the Board’s funding bill to the state legislative agriculture committees and said that funding had a better chance of being approved this year than last year. They mentioned where they thought some of the support and opposition was coming from. They also thanked the other Board and Advisory members who went to the capitol to testify for the bill.
Michael Klisch moved that the Board issue a public statement on the need for a milk price floor at cost of production in response to the continuing low milk prices and the effort to get the U.S. Agriculture Secretary to use his power to set an emergency floor.
Howard Warmbold seconded the motion which passed on a voice vote.
Discussed the pending merger of Mid-American Dairymen, Associated Milk Producers Inc., Western Dairymen Co-op Inc., and Milk Marketing Inc. which would process 25 percent of the nation’s milk and what the consequences of this might be to dairy farmers and consumers.
Reviewed for approval the draft of the Board’s letter supporting U.S. Senator Arlen Specter’s bills to set the farmers’ milk price at cost of production. Michael Klisch moved that the draft letter be approved for release which was seconded by Howard Warmbold and passed on a voice vote.
Discussed the Board’s work on its Johne’s Disease control project and heard comments
MINNESOTA DAIRY PRODUCERS BOARD
Monday, June 30, 1997, 12:30
Sauk Centre City Hall
Sauk Centre, Minnesota
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Jeff Kunstleben, Michael Klisch, Bruce Zeidler, Frank Grimm, Violet Zimmer
Ken Schefers, Ken Christianson, Barb Hormann, Vern Dahlheimer
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT
Howard Warmbold
Board President Jeff Kunstleben called the meeting to order. Secretary Violet Zimmer read the minutes which were approved by a voice vote.
The recently elected president of the Farmers Union Milk Marketing Co-op, David Livingston, attended the meeting and explained his new position. He said he is very pleased with the Board’s efforts and that it is doing a good job. Also attending as a guest was Jon Youngdahl, Executive Director of Minnesota COACT
Motion was made and passed to change the bylaws for the officers and that Jeff, Facilitator Don Pylkkanen, and COACT’s Executive Director Jon Youngdahl work out these changes for approval by the Board.
Ken Christianson, Minnesota Senior Federation consumer representative, was elected Board Treasurer to help oversee the Board’s $25,000 annual budget.
Jon Youngdahl, COACT Executive Director, wanted to know if any Board member would be interested in joining dairy farmers from other states at a July 15 meeting in Washington D.C. with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman to urge him to use his authority to set an emergency milk price floor for farmers at $14.50/cwt.
Discussed having a news conference at the state capitol on the milk price issue.
Discussed the California "make allowance" that is undercutting the farmers and processors in other states.
Barb Hormann and Ken Christianson volunteered to contribute $200 each toward the cost of the plane ticket for the Board member who wants to go to the Glickman meeting. Decided that Board members ask their respective organizations to contribute toward the plane ticket cost as well.
Update on the Johne’s Disease control project.
MINNESOTA DAIRY PRODUCERS BOARD
Monday, July 28, 1997, 12:30
Sauk Centre City Hall
Sauk Centre, Minnesota
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Jeff Kunstleben, Violet Zimmer
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT
Michael Klisch, Bruce Zeidler, Frank Grimm, Ken Schefers, Howard Warmbold
Ken Christianson, Barb Hormann, Vern Dahlheimer
Board President Jeff Kunstleben called the meeting to order. Because there was not a quorum, no motions were made or acted upon. Items, however, were discussed for recommendations at the next meeting. Secretary Violet Zimmer read the minutes.
Jeff, who volunteered to represent the Board at the July meeting with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman., reported on the meeting. He said the Secretary seemed to personally care about the crisis by saying he sensed the pain on the farms and main streets, but was afraid of the Department being sued by the large processors if he enacted an emergency price floor at $14.50/cwt. The Board had already established a relationship with the Secretary and his staff on the issues prior to the July meeting.
The news conference at the state capitol prior to Jeff’s departure to the Glickman received good media coverage.
Discussed the state legislative mandate requiring the Commissioner of Agriculture to investigate alleged discrimination in pricing by dairy wholesalers and distributors toward large, medium, and small retailers. Questioned the effectiveness of the investigation due to apparently limited staff conducting it.
Discussed the annual suspension of the Dairy Trade Practices Act and questioned the effectiveness of the effort made by the Department of Agriculture to inform all retailers statewide about the opportunity to use the loss leader for three months this summer because many retailers reported being unaware of the suspension.
Discussed how the Board should use its annual $25,000 funding including operating expenses such as a separate Board phone line installed in the Central Minnesota COACT office, stamps, copying, and printing; and how much per diem and mileage should Board and Advisory Committee take in relation to having enough money for publishing the milk pricing manual, publishing and distributing a newsletter, etc.
Discussed Johne’s Disease control project and decided to have a sub-committee meet to start drafting the Board’s recommendation to fund a realistic program.
Discussed the Board conducting a news conference on the effects of the California "make allowance".
MINNESOTA DAIRY PRODUCERS BOARD
Monday, August 25, 1997, 12:30
Sauk Centre City Hall
Sauk Centre, Minnesota
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Jeff Kunstleben, Michael Klisch, Bruce Zeidler, Frank Grimm, Violet Zimmer
Ken Schefers, Howard Warmbold, Ken Christianson, Barb Hormann
Vern Dahlheimer, Holly Harges
Board President Jeff Kunstleben called the meeting to order. Violet Zimmer, Secretary, read the minutes. Ken Schefers moved to approve the minutes which was seconded by Ken Christianson. Passed by a voice vote.
New Board Member Holly Harges, representing the Minnesota Food Association, was introduced to the Board by Jeff.
The revised bylaws were read. Howard Warmbold moved to approve them which was seconded by Barb Hormann. Passed unanimously by a voice vote.
Jeff reported on his meeting with U. S. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman on the low milk prices paid to farmers. Farm leaders from the other dairy states attended. Jeff said $10 and $11 milk is unacceptable because farmers need higher prices to survive. Even some larger California farmers are filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Secretary Glickman said small family farms need to exist for the sake of rural America. Jeff also reported on meetings with U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone and the aides to Senator Rod Grams and Representative David Minge.
Discussed again the July 10 meeting with Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson on the suspension of the Dairy Trade Practices Act and the investigation of wholesale and distributor pricing practices towards small, medium, and large retailers. Questioned how realistic it is for a single Department staff person to be able to effectively conduct a survey of all the state’s retailers in the designated time period. Discussed the Board commenting on this in a letter to Commissioner Hugoson.
Discussed for approval the following Board budget items: Members limit their per diem vouchers to $25 rather than the full $55 in order have more funding for Board projects; allow funding for a separate Minnesota Dairy Producers Board telephone line in the Central Minnesota COACT office; allow funding for stamps for Board mailings and for copying Board correspondence, news releases, etc. Motion made by Ken Schefers to approve and seconded by Barb Hormann. Passed on a voice vote.
Discussed Board’s Johne’s Disease control project. Selected sub-committee of Jeff Kunstleben, Advisory Committee Member Judy Kaiser, Facilitator Don Pylkkanen to formulate a draft of the Board’s recommended control program.
Meeting adjourned at 3 pm.
MINNESOTA DAIRY PRODUCERS BOARD
Monday, September 29, 1997, 12:30 PM
Sauk Centre City Hall
Sauk Centre, Minnesota
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
Jeff Kunstleben, Ken Christianson , Howard Warmbold, Barb Hormann
Holly Harjes, Vern Dahlheimer, Ken Schefers, Violet Zimmer
OTHERS PRESENT:
Chuck Winkels, MFU
Judy Kaiser, Dairy Farmer, Advisory Committee
Judy Buhl, Dairy Farmer, Advisory Committee
Don Pylkkanen, Facilitator
Board President Jeff Kunstleben called the meeting to order. Violet Zimmer, Secretary, read the minutes. Howard Warmbold moved and Holly Harjes seconded the motion to approve the minutes which passed on a voice vote.
Copies of the Board’s bylaws were passed out to the members.
Don Pylkkanen, Facilitator, gave an update on the funding and said a separate Board phone and phone line were ready to be installed in the COACT office by the phone company. He also reported that Carolyn Drinkman, Accounting Officer at the Minnesota Department Agriculture, advised him to hold off on vouchering for any more Board expenses, except members’ mileage and per diem, until Bill Coleman, Director of the Dairy Division, checked with Assistant State Attorney General Paul Strandberg on the legality of using the Board’s funding for other expenses. This occurred after Mr. Coleman gave the OK for the phone and other operational expenses. Meanwhile, it was advised that the Board ask Senator Steve Morse to help get the funding directly to the Board for its own budget management.
The new bulk tank temperature requirement was discussed as an added and unnecessary burden on dairy farmers, and FUMMC was thanked for initiating opposition to it. Ken Schefers moved and Howard seconded the motion for the Board to issue a news release on its position.
State funding to help farmers test for Johne’s Disease was discussed. Ken moved and Vern Dahlheimer seconded the motion for the Board to request help from farm legislators to legislate funding and to forward our information on the Disease to them.
Discussed the availability of the futures market farmers for farmers to use to set longer term price stability. Ken moved and Barb Hormann seconded the motion for the Board to look more into it.
Jeff Kunstleben reported on the California make allowance and how it defies the law of supply and demand by subsidizing the processors regardless of surplus milk production which depresses the farmers’ pay price.
The recommendation by several farm organizations for Congress and USDA to enact a $14.50/cwt floor price was discussed. Howard moved and Holly Harjes seconded the motion for the Board to send a letter of support for this recommendation to Congressman Collin Peterson.
The Board discussed the effort of townships, such as Grey Eagle in Todd County, to use their right of local control to develop and enact their own feedlot ordinances to protect their public health and environment and to keep their communities from being torn apart over the issue of large-scale feedlots. Ken moved and Barb seconded the motion to support the right of local control over large-scale feedlots.
The meeting adjourned at 3:15 PM.
Respectfully submitted, Violet Zimmer, Secretary.
MINNESOTA DAIRY PRODUCERS BOARD
Monday, October 27, 1997, 12:30 PM
Sauk Centre City Hall
Sauk Centre, Minnesota
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
Vern Dahlheimer, Barb Hormann, Ken Christianson, Holly Harjes, Howard
Warmbold
Jeff Kunstleben, Violet Zimmer
OTHERS PRESENT:
Elenor Warmbold, Dairy Farmer
Don Pylkkanen, Facilitator
Board President Jeff Kunstleben called the meeting to order. Violet Zimmer, Secretary, read the minutes. Vern Dahlheimer moved and Howard Warmbold seconded the motion to approve the minutes which passed on a voice vote.
Board members reviewed the draft news release on its opposition to USDA’s proposal to incorporate a California-style make allowance into the revised federal milk pricing system. Copy to also be sent to Jim Potts of the National Family Farm Coalition in Washington, D.C. for possible suggestions and added information from him and Jeff Kunstleben should make follow-up call. Furthermore, letters requesting support of the Board’s position be sent to Minnesota’s congressional delegation. Howard moved and Holly Harjes seconded the motion to follow this procedure.
Update was presented on the Congressional Resolution for the $14.50/cwt. emergency price floor. Board received no response from Congressman Collin Peterson on its letter requesting his support for the emergency price floor. Howard said he will call Peterson to inform him of FUMMC’s meeting on its support of the emergency measure and recommended that the Board support National Farmers Union’s recommendation for it in a news release.
Discussed whether or not the Board should take a position on the issues involved in the Dairy Trade Practices Act.
Update was presented on the Board’s planned summit meeting on Johne’s Disease.
The Board’s funding was discussed along with using a bank in Little Falls for its checking account.
Meeting adjourned at 2:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted, Violet Zimmer, Secretary
MINNESOTA DAIRY PRODUCERS BOARD
Monday, November 24, 1997, 12:30 PM
Sauk Centre City Hall
Sauk Centre, Minnesota
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
Jeff Kunstleben, Bruce Zeidler, Vern Dahlheimer, Barb Hormann
Steve Koering, Michael Klisch, Howard Warmbold, Ken Schefers
Frank Grimm, Holly Harjes, Violet Zimmer, Ken Christianson
OTHERS PRESENT:
Judy Kaiser, Dairy Farmer, Advisory Committee
Roger Harjes, Dairy Farmer (retired)
Eleanor Warmbold, Dairy Farmer
Board President Jeff Kunstleben called the meeting to order. Violet Zimmer, Secretary, read the minutes. Steve Koering moved and Barb Hormann seconded the motion to approve the minutes.
New Board member Steve Koering, representing NFO, was introduced. Steve replaces Melvin Schlangen who will be greatly missed.
Treasurer Ken Christianson reported that the Board’s checking account was opened at the First National Bank, Little Falls, although it had not as yet received its $25,000 check from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. He advised Board members not to cash their per diem and mileage checks until notified by him.
Discussed the court ruling on the Class I price differential and the Board’s position. Ken Schefers reviewed the position of Minnesota Milk Producers from its news release and commended Minnesota Milk Producers for pursuing the suit against the unfair differentials. The milk pricing resolutions from Minnesota Farmers Union annual convention were read.
Ken Schefers moved and Ken Christianson seconded the motion for the Board to issue its position on the overall milk pricing problem of which the unfair Class I differentials is only a part.
Discussed suggestion of the California Dairy Campaign for the Board to explore with other of the nation’s dairy organizations the idea of filing a class action law suit against the California make allowance. Decided to get more information on the make allowance issue from Jim Potts, research staff at the National Family Farm Coalition, and Francis Pacheco of the California Dairy Campaign.
Updates were given on Congress’s Emergency Floor Price Resolution, the Dairy Trade Practices issue and investigation, put options on the futures market, Johne’s Disease funding legislation, and upcoming ARMPPA meetings.
Meeting with Senator Dallas Sams and Rep. Mary Ellen Otremba on the large-scale feedlot issue was announced for December 22 at the Grey Eagle library.
Announced the upcoming Minnesota Dairy Leaders Roundtable meeting December 9 to which Jeff was invited to explain the Dairy Producers Board. Registration feed is $25.
Howard commented that most of the milk coming up from New Mexico is going to Kraft for processing.
Meeting adjourned at 3:10 PM.
Respectfully submitted, Violet Zimmer, Secretary
MINNESOTA DAIRY PRODUCERS BOARD
Monday, December 29, 1997, 12:30
Sauk Centre City Hall
Sauk Centre, Minnesota
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
Violet Zimmer, Ken Schefers, Vern Dahlheimer, Michael Klisch, Judy Kaiser
Howard Warmbold, Bruce Zeidler, Holly Harges, Ken Christianson
Jeff Kunstleben, Steve Koering
OTHERS PRESENT:
Don Pylkkanen, Facilitator
Judy Kaiser, Advisory Committee Member
Judy Buhl, Advisory Committee Member
Don Zimmer
Laura Kunstleben
Jan O’Donnell, Director, Minnesota Food Association
Trish McCann, Project Staff, Minnesota Food Association
Board President Jeff Kunstleben called the meeting to order. Violet Zimmer, Secretary, read the minutes. Ken Schefers moved to approve the minutes which was seconded by Holly Harges. Passed by a voice vote.
Board Treasurer Ken Christianson gave the budget report. Ken Schefers moved to approve the report which was seconded by Howard Warmbold. Passed by a voice vote.
Jeff and Don Pylkkanen reported on the December 1997 meeting of the Dairy Round Table which cost $100 in mileage and per diem. Because the Board should have a presence at the quarterly Round Table meetings and learn industry concerns, Ken Schefers moved and Howard Warmbold seconded the motion that one or two Board members be present at every Round Table meeting. The motion passed on a voice vote.
The Johne’s Disease summit meeting was discussed and announced for January 12.
Ken Schefers moved to pay board members per diem for attending Board meetings and other meetings and activities relating to the Board’s mandated duties which was seconded by Holly Harges. Motion passed on a voice vote.
Guests who participated at the meeting were Jan O’Donnell and Trish McCann of the Minnesota Food Association. They conducted a discussion to learn how deregulation of agriculture policies and prices are affecting Minnesota’s rural economy and culture. This is one of several discussions they are conducting to assess the effects of agricultural deregulation on the state.
Steve Koering moved and Michael Klisch seconded to adjourn the meeting at 2:50 PM.
Motion passed by voice vote.