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Benthem chosen as MMPA OYDC winner

A Michigan dairy farmer says 2022’s record milk prices have helped sustain his business this year.

Ryan Benthem milks nearly 3,500 cows and farms 4,500 acres with his family in McBain.

“We were able to take some record prices last year and help push it into this year, we try to average the good years and the bad years,” he shares.

He tells Brownfield his generation of the family has been focused on improving technologies and quality of life for family and employees.

“We’ve built a 60-cell rotary in 2016 and that’s been a big improvement for us,” he says. “Just the overall quality of life and just the way we do things has been a lot more efficient. Last year we bought a neighbor dairy and we milk 600 cows there as well.”

Benthem has been named this year’s Michigan Milk Producers Association Outstanding Young Dairy Cooperator.

The farm was previously named Michigan State University’s Dairy Farm of the Year in 2021.

Photo courtesy of MMPA.