Mystic Valley Dairy: A genetics journey

It began with Toystory. That’s the bull that started Mitch and Jacquie Breunig down the path to outstanding genetics at their 450-cow farm, Mystic Valley Dairy, in Sauk City, Wis.

The Breunigs leveraged that into different genetics that are relevant across many types of dairy systems.

“It is quite humbling to have farmers from around the world stop at your farm to see your cows,” Mitch says.

DBA: Tell us about the history of your farm.

Breunigs Mitch’s parents, Louis and Jeannette Breunig, started the farm in 1961 with 120 acres and 35 cows. It grew to around 80-100 cows with 400 acres by the late 1980s. After Mitch graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and worked in feed sales for a year, he returned to the farm. In 1998, the current milking parlor and free stall barn were built and Mystic Valley Dairy LLC was formed. Mitch is now the sole owner.

DBA: What advice would you offer young farmers?

Breunigs: Find a mentor. Get involved in organizations off the farm. Find a way to make your farm unique, but remember it must cash flow. Never stop learning.

DBA: What sustainable practices are you using and what benefits have you seen?

Breunigs: We use no-till and cover crops. We focus on improving soil health and protecting our natural resources. We are using LED lights and try to be as energy efficient as possible. We also believe high production per cow allows us to minimize our carbon footprint.

DBA: How do you engage the non-farming public about dairy farming?

Breunigs: We have as many tours as possible. We also make our farm available for media interviews.  Sometimes the topics are hard like immigration, but someone needs to speak on those topics for the good of agriculture. We also have a Twitter account to show the good side of dairy.

DBA: What do you see as challenges and opportunities facing the dairy community?

Breunigs: Some farmers feel their voice isn’t being heard and we need to be able to speak with one voice as much as possible. When our industry is fractured, it gives our opponents outside of agriculture a way to gain traction. The opportunity is we are just scratching the surface on technologies and implementation on the farm.

DBA: What would you want people with no ties to agriculture to know about your farm?

Breunigs: We are a third-generation farm that has the privilege and commitment to work with animals to produce wholesome and nutritious food for our community and people around the world. We do this while at the same time leaving our resources abundantly available for future generations.

DBA: You have been a member since 2002. What benefit do you find most helpful?

Breunigs: The ability to collaborate with fellow dairy farmers and allied industries to improve the dairy community in Wisconsin and have a voice with the rulemakers to enact common-sense regulations.