Finalists for the Top Producer of the Year award represent the best in the business of farming, specifically entrepreneurial originality; financial and business progress; and industry and community leadership. This is not an award about size or scope. Instead, it focuses on professionalism, sophistication and innovation. Congratulations to MoDak Dairy, a 2023 Top Producer of the Year award finalist. The Moes family was recognized at a ceremony held Feb. 24 during Top Producer Summit in Nashville.
MoDak Dairy of Goodwin, S.D., enjoys a rich history that dates back to 1894. What started as 30 cows and a tie-stall barn grew to 300 head and then to 2,000 head in 2008. Two years ago, the family added a first-of-its-kind calf and heifer facility.
The Moes pride themselves in producing high-quality milk with a total milk solid content of 8.6% used for cheese manufacturing.
“Our rolling herd average right now is short of 30,000 pounds,” says Greg Moes. “We’re running 4.3 [fat] and 3.5 [protein]. We’re shooting for solids for our milk.”
Greg’s brother Jim oversees crop production, which provides nearly all the feed for the dairy. “We farm around 4,000 acres – 1,800 in corn and then we run about 1,200 acres of alfalfa,” Greg says.
Crops are produced sustainably using GPS and prescription farm data. The dairy recycles their liquid manure and injects it into the soil to cut input costs.
“We don’t buy a lot of commercial fertilizer,” Jim says. “We spend $50,000 a year on commercial fertilizer; the rest is all from the cattle, which is a good product for the land.”
They also plant cover crops to improve soil health and provide additional feed for younger stock.
Facilities and People Investment
The fifth generation is represented by Greg and Julie’s son, Jacob. He manages the state-of-the-art calf and heifer facility, which condensed 17 production sites into one location.
“We have a new age, new concept calf barn with group housing, ventilation and a rail system for feeding,” Jacob explains. “At eight weeks, they leave that barn and go into our cross-ventilation barn, it’s 950x250 with 12 pens, and move across that barn basically their whole young lifespan.”
MoDak uses sexed semen and DNA testing to elevate their dairy herd and takes advantage of the beef-on-dairy market by crossbreeding a portion of their herd to be sold for a premium in the Wagyu market.
While the Moes continue to innovate their enterprises and company structure, they give the real credit for their success to their people.
“There’s 40-some families, that’s what I like to say, they’re family to us,” Greg says. “We have people who are husbands, wives, kids, daughters, uncles and aunts. They’re all working here on this operation.”
Multiple consulting companies also provide training and coaching for team members and vendors to help build longevity.
“We have vendors, even our hoof trimmers and our breeders, and employees who have been here almost 40 years. There’s something to be said about that,” Jacob says. “We try and take care of them and give them the lifestyle we have.”
A big part of MoDak’s legacy is to provide agricultural growth for their community and opportunities for their family, including the sixth generation who’s already learning to walk in their footsteps.
Congratulations to MoDak Dairy, a finalist for this year’s Top Producer of the Year.
Get to know the other 2023 Top Producer award winners:
Silent Shade Planting Company, Top Producer of the Year
Engel Family Farms, Top Producer of the Year finalist
Marcia Ruff, Executive Women in Agriculture Trailblazer Award
