NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

Contact:     Susan Ruland
Marci Cleary (202)737-4332

Si-Ellen Farms Named 2002 Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year
Dairy Producer from Jerome, Idaho, Accepts Award at 2002 Dairy Forum

The annual Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year Award recognizes U.S. dairy producers that apply creativity, excellence and forward thinking to achieve greater farm productivity and improved milk marketing. IDFA received more than a dozen excellent nominations for this year's competition. Winner Si-Ellen Farms was nominated by its processor, Glanbia Foods of Twin Falls, Idaho. The panel of judges included leading agricultural economists and dairy trade editors: Robert Schwart of Texas A&M University; Bill Thomas of the University of Georgia; Ed Clark of Dairy Profit Weekly; Steve Larson of Hoard's Dairyman; IDFA Chief Economist Bob Yonkers; and two of the previous winners of this award: John Vrieze of Baldwin Dairy/Emerald Dairy in Emerald, Wis., and Dick Clauss of Clauss Dairy Farms in Hilmar, Calif.

This impressive dairy operation in Jerome, Idaho, was started in 1941 by Roth's parents, Simon and Mary Ellen. Si-Ellen now encompasses more than 3,300 acres, with nearly 5,000 milking and dry cows plus 5,000 heifers.

The operation has 70 full-time employees, who abide by the Si-Ellen Farms mission statement: "To deliver high quality milk to our customer Glanbia, and to foster an environment of teamwork, which will create both personal and financial success for family and employees." Judges were impressed with the extent to which employees are included in the farm's goal-setting process, and how often these workers are rewarded when objectives are met.

Si-Ellen's herd average is about 26,000 pounds of milk per cow per year, an amount that is above the state average (20,816 pounds) and well above the national average (18,204 pounds). Si-Ellen believes its emphasis on herd health with balanced nutrition has led to its profitability. Up to 50% of its input costs are feed-related. With so much at stake, this farm adopted technology two years ago that allows them to measure and monitor total feed usage on an hourly, daily, monthly and annual basis, and feeder staff are now held accountable at weekly meetings. The farm has been able to significantly reduce feed waste (up to 2%) using this system. Daily feed to the milking herd includes: 100,000 pounds of hay, 150,000 pounds of corn silage and 170,000 pounds of grain.

Judges were also intrigued with Si-Ellen's use of another innovative technology, a "cull cow monitor." An on-farm team, which included their veterinarian, nutritionist and herdmen, developed categories as to why cows left the herd. With this system, the farm identifies, measures, monitors and ultimately acts upon the information coming in from these categories. For instance, this information once picked up on new cases of mastitis, and the Si-Ellen team was quickly aware of the problem. They now culture all fresh cows and heifers in an attempt to eliminate contagious mastitis in the herd. Their raw bacteria counts are now so low that Si-Ellen has received quality producer awards from Glanbia for five years in a row.

The farm also recently purchased a pasteurizer for milk for its newborn calves because of concerns that pathogens from its hospital barn could be passed to the calves. Not only are the calves expected to be healthier and require less medication, but also at calving Si-Ellen hopes to see reduced cases of contagious diseases.

In 2001, there were 4,700 births at Si-Ellen with a survival rate at birth of over 95%. Si-Ellen has practiced artificial insemination for over 30 years. Precise records are kept on each cow, and production and reproduction records are an essential barometer for the farm. Si-Ellen carefully charts conception rates and produces a report, which indicates the farm's best technicians.

Si-Ellen Farms has a comprehensive plan to utilize and contain its cow manure. First, Si-Ellen purchased a manure composter last spring, which is now fully operational. The amount of bulk is reduced, thereby requiring fewer loads hauled back to crop ground to use as fertilizer. Commercial fertilizer costs have been significantly reduced.

The farm also has a robust conservation plan for the environment. Si-Ellen recently purchased nearby land to secure a base for the future. On 15 acres of that land, Si-Ellen planted a fast growing variety of Poplar trees that would take up some of the liquid manure, as well as provide a natural windbreak and animal habitat. There is also the potential to harvest these trees in eight years for pulpwood. In 2000, the farm constructed a lake for the purpose of catching excess canal water and storing it for future use for its crops, which are primarily corn and alfalfa. Fish and natural plants now inhabit the lake.

In the areas of milk marketing, Si-Ellen has made big strides in the past five years, taking advantage of new opportunities in the market. With its processor, Glanbia, Si-Ellen now forward-contracts its milk. They constantly monitor the daily cash cheese trading, and butter and milk futures trading, at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME). Si-Ellen employees are ardent proponents of portraying the dairy farm as a wholesome, important part of the American agriculture economy. They conduct frequent public tours, and Si-Ellen has an open door policy for other producers and dairy professionals. As CEO, Roth is active in numerous agriculture organizations, and he serves as a current board member of Farming and the Environment, a nonprofit organization whose goal is to return profits to farmers that enhance the environment. Si-Ellen is also a proud part of the Idaho farming community, and Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne recently signed the state's odor management law at Si-Ellen Farms.

IDFA Chair John Jeter, president and CEO, Hilmar Cheese Co., awarded the 2002 title to Si-Ellen Farms. Previous winners include Mason Dixon Farms, Gettysburg, Penn. (1999), Clauss Dairy Farms, Hilmar, Calif. (2000), and Baldwin Dairy/Emerald Dairy, in Emerald, Wis. (2001). IDFA will call for nominations for the 2003 Innovative Dairy Farmer Award this fall.