YOUR PC CONTAINS VALUABLE INFORMATION. DON'T LOSE IT.
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* Are you prepared right now for a disk drive failure?
* Do you have a good, reliable backup system?
* Do you regularly scan your disk drive for viruses?
* Have you ever taken the cover off your PC and cleaned the inside?

If you answered "No" to any of these questions, PC Clean may be a service that
will benefit you.

Trained technicians will visit your farm and perform a comprehensive cleaning
and diagnostic routine. PC Clean can alert you of many possible problems BEFORE
they occur. We can't guarantee you will never experience a PC crash. However,
a regular maintenance plan is the best way to protect yourself from sudden loss
of data and hours of frustration.

PC CLEAN SERVICES INCLUDE:

* Cleaning Services: We will vacuum and clean your CPU, printer,
keyboard and immediate working area.

* Diagnostic Services: We will check the hard disk and floppy drive, board, and
communication ports. Print status report on all system components, and perform
a virus scan.

* Dairy Comp 305 and Scout Service: We examine program for proper functioning and
settings, check backup routine for completeness, and test recent backup disks
for defects.

Cost is just $99 for a one-time visit or $180 for 2 visits per year. For more
information on PC Clean Services, contact Minnesota DHIA at 1-800-827-3442.

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COMPUTERS AND PALM PILOTS AVAILABLE THROUGH MINNESOTA DHIA
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Looking for a new computer or the latest technological wonder -- the Palm Pilot?

Minnesota DHIA has both available for sale.

COMPUTER: Desktop PC with 62 MB SDRAM, 10 GB Hard Disk Drive, 48 X DC ROM, 56K
V.90 Modem, Monitor and Printer. Each PC can be set up to your individual
specifications.

PALM PILOT: Palm m100. Price, including the Dairy Comp setup is $290. If you
already own a Palm Pilot and just want the Dairy Comp interface software, the
cost is $140. This includes installation and training.

For more information, please call Andy or Joyce at 1-800-827-3442.

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SCOUT & DAIRY COMP 305 UPDATES ON THE WEB & LOOP
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The Windows version of SCOUT and Dairy Comp 305 are being updated on a regular
basis. To get the most out of your program you should be downloading and
installing all updates as they become available. If you have internet access,
you can quickly and easily download updates via the web. For without internet
access, you can still download updates directly from Minnesota DHIA via the
LOOP system. You may want to check every 4 weeks or so to see if a new update
has been released. For instructions on downloading, please refer to the January
issue of our Software Users Newsletter now available at www.mndhia.org.

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YOU MAY BE A FARMER IF...
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You convince your wife that an overnight, out-of-state trip for parts is a vacation.

You've never thrown away a 5 gallon bucket.

You have used baling wire to attach a license plate.

You know cow pies aren't made of beef.

You have used a tractor with a loader as scaffolding for painting.

Your wife agrees to observe Mother's Day after the beans are planted.

You wave at every vehicle whether you know them or not.

You have used something other than paper as toilet paper.

You refer to farms by who owned them 50 or more years ago.

You have animals living in buildings more expensive than your house.

You give directions to your farm by using area landmarks, not road names or numbers.

Your excuse for getting out of school is that the cows got out.

The meaning of true love is that you'll pose for a picture with both him and
his favorite cow.

Family weddings and special events are planned around spring planting and
fall harvesting.

Your "other" vehicle is a tractor.

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WIN THE FIGHT AGAINST MASTITIS
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Mastitis costs producers money in more ways than one. Studies have shown that a
high Somatic Cell Count (SCC) reduces a cow's milk production, adversely affects
milk flavor and shortens the shelf life of fluid milk. Cows that have clinical
mastitis in early lactation also have a significant increase in the average
number of days open.

Would you like to win the fight against this silent profit robber and improve
your bottom line? Minnesota DHIA, in conjunction with the University of
Minnesota, is now offering Bulk Tank Culturing and Individual Cow Culturing
for mastitis-causing agents.

The University of Minnesota is a nationally renowned leader in the diagnosis and
prevention of bovine mastitis. Our field personnel have received training in
sampling techniques developed by the U of MN and are proficient in both Bulk
Tank Culturing and Individual Cow Culturing.

BULK TANK CULTURING is a useful technique for determining the general types of
mastitis-causing bacteria present in cows within a herd, as well as the amount
of exposure to environmental bacteria. If Staph aureus is present in the bulk
tank, the dairyman should follow up with INDIVIDUAL COW CULTURES so those
infected cows can be managed to help prevent the spread of the organism. If
Strep agalactiae (Strep ag) is identified, cows should also be individually
cultured because they can be successfully treated. High levels of environmental
bacteria in the bulk tank usually indicates the need to focus attention on
bedding management and proper milking procedure, particularly cow preparation.

BULK TANK CULTURING:

Samples are taken for 5 days to give accurate results regarding contagious
agents (Staph aureus and Strep ag.). Our DHIA field personnel will provide a
sampling kit and review sampling instructions with the producer prior to
sampling. The herdowner will usually be responsible for taking samples.

INDIVIDUAL COW CULTURING:

The best time for taking individual cow samples is during milking, right after
the cow has been prepped and before the unit is attached. DHIA personnel will
do the sampling and will have the supplies they need from the University to
ensure that high quality samples are being taken. Arrangements will need to be
made about a week in advance of the sampling date to allow the University time
to send the right number of sample vials and alcohol swabs to the person doing
the sampling.

Culture results for Bulk Tank Sampling and Individual Cow Sampling will be sent
to you and your veterinarian. If you desire, you may also get information on
the interpretation of culture results from the University. Individual cow
culture results can be recorded in DC 305 and Scout herd management programs.

For more information on our culturing services, call Gabe Gieske at 1-800-996-1571.

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Field Reps Certified for Masitis Culturing
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The following Field Reps have been certified for Bulk Tank Mastitis Culturing:

If you are interested in our Culturing Services please call the Field Rep
nearest you or contact our office at 1-800-827-3442.

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COWS FOR SALE
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For Sale - Complete Holstein Dairy Herd. 95 cows, no BST, young herd, DHIA
records. Please call Roger & Teri Hommerding at 320-764-7726.

David Kanopik of Morrison County is selling 22 Holstein cows, several are
registered. For more information, please call him at 320-547-2476.

John & Robert Huelskamp of Nicollet County are selling 8 Holstein heifers. If
you would like more information, please call them at 507-359-9166.

Reg & Liz Vinkemeier of Carver County would like to sell their entire herd of
Holstein cattle. Total of 143 animals, 61 cows in milk. All Select Sires -
Select Mated for 20 years. For more information, please call 952-955-2330.

Bruce Carlson of Rush City is selling his entire herd of 80 Grade Holstein
cows and heifers. For more information, please call him at 320-358-4225.

For Sale - Holstein Dairy Herd. 24 head, no BST, 30 years of AI, DHI records.
Please call John Timm of Yellow Medicine County at 507-768-3588.

Cows For Sale is a service of Minnesota DHIA. Members can advertise for just
$2.50 per animal with a maximum of $50 per herd (good for 60 days). For more
information, talk to your Field Rep on sample day or call us at 800-827-3442.