Thursday, August 07, 2008

by Gordon Wolf
A Charter Oak cattle producer's commitment to the industry was recognized earlier this year when Dean Bohlmann received the Service Award at the Crawford County Cattlemen's Association annual banquet.

Bohlmann has been active throughout his adult life as a member of the county cattlemen's association and this year will mark his 25th year as a member of the Iowa Cattlemen's Association.

Cattle production has always been a part of Bohlmann's life.

"My dad (Herbert) was always a cattle feeder, and because the farm place was set up for it, it was a natural thing for me to continue in the business," Bohlmann stated.

Bohlmann currently doesn't have any cattle. He sold them all April 3 at Denison Livestock Auction. Having his yards empty is not something new for Bohlmann.

"There have been other times I've been without cattle," he stated. "I always make a judgment based on my personal economic status and go from there.

"Not being involved with a cow herd, I consider myself very flexible," he added.

Bohlmann explained that grain prices and other factors will determine if he fills his yards again.

Pinpointing exactly what he enjoys about cattle feeding is difficult for Bohlmann.

"It's something in your blood. I enjoy watching the cattle grow and perform, and take pride when I bring to market a good looking, quality bunch of cattle that sells well," he stated.

"Being a self-employed farmer, you don't necessarily have anyone telling you that you are doing a good job. A good price for your cattle is a way of being acknowledged," Bohlmann added.

In past years, Bohlmann's cattle feeding operation didn't specialize in any particular breed. Recently it leaned more toward the black-hided cattle with an Angus influence.

"That's what people seem to want, from both a feedlot and packer perspective," he stated.

Feed prices present a challenge to the cattle feeding business right now, Bohlmann added.

He believes the biggest challenge for the industry's survival is maintaining a herd large enough to provide the consumer with an affordable product.

He added other challenges, as of late, are Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Agency standards for feedlot runoff for small feeders.

"I guess the lack of competitive markets is somewhat a challenge, as far as consolidation in the packing industry," Bohlmann continued.

During his years of membership with the Crawford County Cattlemen's Association, Bohlmann served a two-year term as president and a two-year term as secretary.

"It's been our policy on the board to serve one two-year term. Our local board has always been blessed with good people willing to step forward and do their part," he pointed out.

"We always get new people on the board. We're very fortunate in that regard."

Bohlmann also served on the committee that helped start the Cattlemen's Choice Program, an education program for young people in Crawford County. The program teaches young people issues involved in cattle feeding and production.

Randy Kuhlmann and his colleagues at Denison High School are the ones making the program a success because of their delivery of the information, Bohlmann stated.

For several years Bohlmann attended the state convention and was on the marketing committee, which works on developing policy that affects the cattle feeding industry.

Bohlmann is impressed with the variety of new cuts of beef that have been developed, a factor that he attributes to the Beef Checkoff Program.

Checkoff Program
"I guess there was a time I probably was not in favor of the Checkoff Program, but after seeing the new cuts developed, like the chuck eye steak and tender steaks, I changed my mind about the Checkoff," he stated.

"People should try these new cuts. For the money, they are good cuts of meat, very comparable to top cuts of steak," Bohlmann added. "Without the Checkoff dollars, those cuts probably never would have developed. I've had a change of heart as far as the value of the Checkoff Program."

Even though he currently does not have cattle in his yards, Bohlmann said it is important to belong to the Cattlemen's Association.

"A lot of people in our area have gotten out of the cattle business for various reasons. Even though there are times I haven't had any cattle, it is important to be a member, for the sake of having a market for grain, especially in times like these when we have the co-products from ethanol production. What they are able to do with these co-products affects the ethanol plants. Now is as important a time as any to keep that industry strong," Bohlmann stated.

According to figures from the Iowa Beef Industry Council, more than four million tons of distillers grain, a co-product of ethanol production, was produced in Iowa in 2006.

Bohlmann and his wife, Natalie, have two sons. Brett is an auto mechanic in Storm Lake, and Derek recently joined Dean in the farming operation. Natalie works as a R.N. at Family Practice & Surgical Specialists in Denison.