Opinion ID: 692298
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Walter and Frieda Schwieterman

Text: 32 Prior to 1978, the Schwietermans had never used silos in their dairy operation but had fed baled hay and ground ear corn. In 1978, however, the Schwietermans were looking to expand their operations, and they bought their first Harvestore silo to store haylage for their herd. They bought a second silo to store high-moisture corn in July 1980. Milk production did not increase when the Timmermans began feeding their herd haylage from the first unit in 1978, and a nutritionist eventually recommended that they add protein supplements to the feed. Although the need for supplements was inconsistent with what they had been told in purchasing their first silo, the Schwietermans did not complain to the dealer when they purchased their second unit in 1980. In 1981, when the Schwietermans were using both the haylage and corn units to feed a total mixed ration, they noticed that the overall health of their herd was deteriorating, in that the cows were losing body weight and milk production was declining. At one point in 1981, the Schwietermans realized that one of the breather bags in their haylage unit was defective and that this had caused the feed in that unit to lose its nutritional value. Once they replaced the breather bag, the Schwietermans added supplements to the ensiled feed to restore the nutrients that had been lost. They consistently added supplements to their feed after that point, and by 1984, the Schwietermans realized that their overall feed costs would be consistently higher than the dealer had projected in their farm plan. Yet, despite these problems, the Schwietermans never consulted with their Harvestore dealer or with anyone else associated with AOSHPI after 1981. 33 In addition to their production problems, the Schwietermans also observed mold in the haylage unit as early as 1979. They did not complain to their dealer, however, because they had been forewarned that a white penicillin mold might appear in the haylage but that this mold grows in the absence of oxygen and actually is beneficial to the herd. Walter Schwieterman also observed mold in the corn unit in 1981 or 1982, but he never asked the dealer about it because he apparently assumed the mold was similar to the penicillin mold he had seen in the haylage unit. Yet, Walter Schwieterman knew when mold appeared in the corn that something was wrong, and he thus had the door to the corn unit resealed in 1982. Mold appeared again in 1984, however, and Walter Schwieterman knew that something still was not right, but after consulting a nutritionist, he continued to use the affected corn to feed a total mixed ration. 34 The Schwietermans also employed veterinarians to treat various health problems, including loss of body weight, liver problems, dysentery, and sore feet, that appeared once they began using the Harvestore silos. Indeed, the Schwietermans observed that their veterinarian bills were significantly higher after they purchased the silos. However, the Schwietermans' veterinarians never indicated that any of the herd's health problems were feed-related. 35 The Schwietermans maintain that before December 1991, they did not associate any of their herd's problems with the Harvestore silos. When milk production did not increase or the cows experienced health ailments, the Schweitermans believed either that they were doing something wrong or that the cows were diseased. They never blamed their problems on the Harvestore silos. 36 From what we have said about the Horns, Dues, and Timmermans, it should be clear that the Schwietermans' fraud claim also is time-barred. Like the Horns and Timmermans, the Schwietermans never questioned their Harvestore dealer about any of their problems, not even in purchasing a second silo in 1980. At that point, the Schwietermans already knew that unsupplemented haylage from the first silo had failed to produce the production levels they were expecting. Moreover, when mold appeared in the corn unit in 1982 and then again in 1984, Walter Schwieterman knew something was wrong but continued to feed the moldy corn to his herd without raising the issue with his dealer. Finally, although the Schwietermans utilized veterinarians and nutritionists over the years, there is no evidence that they ever asked these consultants about the Harvestore silos. We thus agree with the district court that the evidence permits but one conclusion--that the Schwietermans' cause of action accrued some time prior to 1985 and that AOSHPI and its agents did nothing to toll the limitations period.