Each year the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) recognizes the top Minnesota dairy herds with low somatic cell counts (SCC). Since 2003, MDA and University of Minnesota dairy experts have worked with the state’s dairy farmers to lower somatic cell counts. Somatic cell count is a key indicator of milk quality – a lower SCC is better for cheese production and shelf life of bottled milk. Somatic cells occur naturally and are not a food safety concern. Dairy farmers monitor SCC because it can be used as a way of measuring the health of their cows.
The dairy producers on this list have achieved the goal of having an average SCC of 100,000 or lower in the previous year. The names appear in the order of lowest to highest average SCC.
Minnesota Dairy Herds with Low Somatic Cell Counts (SCC)
June 2024
|
Producer Name |
County |
|---|---|
|
Harmony Hills Dairy, LLC |
Carver |
|
Kent Happke |
Benton |
|
Dennis and Wayne Wolters |
Morrison |
| Joe and Kim Engelmeyer |
Stearns |
| Hendel Farms |
Houston |
| Kimm's Dairy (Brian) |
Otter Tail |
| Hoefs' Dairy LLC |
LeSueur |
| Alan and Jessica Klimek |
Douglas |
| Selke Farms |
Winona |
| Robert, Terri, & Mike Ketchum |
Winona |
| Tim & Julie Bruder |
Todd |
| Magedanz-Foreview Dairy LLC |
Stearns |
| Maynard & Jeremiah Schumacher |
Wabasha |
| Lax-Pietig Dairy LLC |
Renville |
| Houdek Dairy LLC |
Houston |
| Mark and Marcus Klehr |
Scott |
| D & D Dairy LLP |
Winona |
| Hammell Dairy Inc. |
Houston |
| Pine-Vue Farms |
Winona |
| Matt & Tony Berktold |
Wabasha |
| Dean and Elizabeth Johnson |
Cottonwood |
| Edward and Mary Warmkagathje |
Olmsted |
| Kevin Hanson |
Polk |
| Mark Flicker |
Morrison |
| Youngren Dairy Farms Inc. |
Kandiyohi |
| Colleen Berscheit |
Brown |
| Schulte Farms of Caledonia LLC |
Houston |
| Eugene and JoAnn Hartung |
Stearns |
| Scott & Michelle Herber |
Winona |
| Randy H. and Kathleen J. Bauer |
Rice |
| Wirtland Holsteins |
Winona |
| Lloyd Blommel |
Todd |
| Reuter Farms |
Dakota |
| Bill Miller |
Wabasha |
| Paul and Bonnie Middendorf |
Todd |
| Barkeim Farms LLC |
Winona |
| Duane Burke |
Otter Tail |
| James & Mary Evans |
Pipestone |
| Sunny Side Dairy |
Hennepin |
| Knisley Dairy Inc. |
Stearns |
| Robert Hinsch |
Goodhue |
| Chad Waltman |
Morrison |
| Funks Midway Dairy |
Stearns |
| North Creek Dairy LLC |
Olmsted |
| Cory & Jenna Middendorf |
Stearns |
| Trailside Holsteins LLC |
Fillmore |
| Kraig and Rachelle Krienke |
McLeod |
| DNA Farms Inc. |
Chisago |
| Darin & Brierly Grimsgard |
Meeker |
| Steve and Lori Dockendorf |
Stearns |
| Valley Acres Dairy LLC |
Winona |
| Keith & Jennifer Middendorf |
Todd |
| Marshall and Melanie Korn |
Kandiyohi |
| Overdale Dairy Inc. |
Stearns |
| Nietfeld Family Farms LLC - Ashley & Cory Nietfeld |
Stearns |
| Tatge Dairy LLC |
Rice |
| Fussy Farm LLC |
Morrison |
| Naatz Dairy Farm |
Dodge |
| Michael Menze |
Otter Tail |
| Jeff Beckman |
Goodhue |
| Roger Aldinger |
Winona |
| Sandra Erickson |
Sherburne |
| Dev-Lin Holsteins LLC |
Houston |
| Robin Winscher |
Morrison |
| Bob & Kaylie Gruber |
Morrison |
| Schefers Bros. LLC |
Stearns |
| Ladies First Dairy |
Stearns |
| D & L Johnson Dairy Farm LLC |
Winona |
| Shawn & Sarah Winscher |
Morrison |
| Dollymount |
Traverse |
| Kelly Felling |
Stearns |
| Scott & Denise Gathje |
Stearns |
| Walter Bros Dairy Inc. |
Red Lake |
| Zweber Farms, LLC |
Scott |
| Bechtold Brothers LLC |
Stearns |
|
Francis Rynda |
LeSueur |
|
Christopher & Jessie Lee |
Meeker |
|
Peter Mark Hendrickson |
Todd |
|
Riverview LLP - West Dublin |
Swift |
|
Jeff & Austin Middendorf |
Stearns |
|
Rolling Ridge Acres Inc. |
Winona |
|
R and R Farms |
Scott |
|
Randal and LouAnn Wagner |
Rice |
|
Sorg Dairy LLC |
Dakota |
|
Barfnecht Farm LLC |
Carver |
|
Suzanne & Tim Jacobs |
Otter Tail |
|
Kevin Virchow |
Freeborn |
| New Heights Dairy LLC | Morrison |
| Waukon Dairy | Norman |
| D & D Dairy LLP | Winona |
