Posted: August 31, 2006 at 9:19 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
AgriTech Analytics, Inc. (ATA) has a new General Manager and his name is Bill VerBoort. He’ll be working out of their Visalia, CA office.
ATA is a leader in dairy records, processing over 1,000,000 cow records per month to provide valuable management information to dairy producers and the dairy industry. VerBoort comes to AgriTech from California DHIA, where he had served as the General Manager since 1991. He has also served as the General Manager of Brown County DHIA in Wisconsin and Arizona DHIA. During VerBoort’s years of service to the DHI system, among other committees, he served as the Chair of the North American Managers Group and on the Board of Dairy Herd Improvement Association Services.
Posted: August 31, 2006 at 10:27 am
By Chuck Zimmerman
At the Farm Progress Show Monsanto has a huge display showcasing their current and new technology. Although it’s mostly about row crops when I interviewed their Chief Technology Officer, Rob Fraley, he talked about what Monsanto is doing in the dairy area.
I though it was interesting how he compares the way they handle the technology for dairy product development just like that of crops.
You can listen to Rob Fraley’s comment here: 
Rob Fraley Comment (1 min MP3)
Posted: August 30, 2006 at 9:28 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
Got milk bottles?
Old milk bottles are finding new life again in the hands of collectors. All across the country, people with fond memories of the milkman delivering, are scouring basements, attics and antique shops looking for discarded bottles. Here’s an AP story out of Decatur, Ill. about some hard core bottle collectors.
The dairy enthusiast group gathers every three months to swap stories about their collections of milk bottles and talk about the history of long-forgotten dairies in the city and county. The unique thing about Decatur is that milk bottles continue to be found in people’s basements. One collector recently paid $300 for a rare milk bottle found in a man’s garage.
Posted: August 30, 2006 at 9:18 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
This was a surprise to me. The largest population in the world, China, is only consuming one-fifth of the world’s milk. Maybe we should export the “Happy Cow” ads to encourage the Chinese to drink more milk! Here’s the story from the Hindu News Update Service.
China’s per capita milk consumption is only 21.7 litres or a fifth of the world average, resulting in slower growth of babies above one year old, the state media reported. “Chinese babies up to 12 months old are the same as Western babies in terms of health, but grow slower thereafter, especially during adolescence,” a survey by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture showed. Chinese experts have urged the public to “drink milk for a lifetime.”
Posted: August 30, 2006 at 9:10 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
Growing up, we always had milk at the table during meals. Soda was a special treat. At today’s tables though, it seems soda is replacing the traditional milk, with concerning results. In a recent survey of the New York State Dietetic Association (NYSDA), eighty-three percent of the 674 members cited calcium as the single nutrient most lacking in kids’ diets today. Almost 30% of boys and 10% of girls are consuming the recommended daily intake of calcium.
The general consensus among NYSDA members is that too much soda consumption has been partly responsible for the children’s calcium deficiency, with 96 percent citing soft drinks as the root cause of childhood obesity. Instead, they say, children should drink milk with their meals. This dietary change, away from milk products and towards fruit or soft drinks, is due to parents not drinking enough milk themselves, and so being poor role models, said the researchers.
Posted: August 30, 2006 at 1:08 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
Experts agree on the basics for believability in corn silage plot data. Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional services for Pioneer Hi-Bred, details credibility thresholds for confidence in that data. He also clarifies the seven most relevant categories of silage corn data, including which ones he believes are most revealing for comparison of genetics. Supported by university studies, Bill helps identify which numbers count.
Dr. Bill Mahanna on interpreting silage plot data (4 min MP3)
Posted: August 30, 2006 at 10:07 am
By Andy Vance
AgWired has been covering the Farm Progress Show all week, and intern/blogger Kelcy Shcroder posted an interview this morning that deals with the diary biz. Here are her comments:
Monsanto is not only working with corn and soybeans, but also working with dairy farmers.
Dairy farms keep growing in size and instead of always hearing about farmers trying to get the largest yield out of fields, the same happens for dairy farmers. Sometimes, trying to make cows produce large amounts of milk can be challenging and Monsanto is taking great efforts to accommodate those conditions. They have produced RoundUp Ready Alfalfa, which makes the alfalfa pure and weed free.
There have been substantial increases in milk production due to the types of alfalfa fed to the cows causing a high demand in RoundUp Ready Alfalfa. The outlook for next year is looking good; RoundUp Ready Alfalfa may be hard to get to if it is not purchased early!
Listen to Kelcy’s interview with Chris Peterson here: 
Interview with Chris Peterson (2 min. MP3)
AgWired’s Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Monsanto: 
Posted: August 30, 2006 at 5:02 am
By Andy Vance
According to the company:
Joel P. Hastings, president of DairyBusiness Communications and publisher of Western DairyBusiness magazine, announces Carolina M. Machado has joined the editorial staff as managing editor of the magazine.
“We are pleased to have Carolina as part of our Western editorial team,” said Hastings. “The addition of the managing editor position will allow the company to continue expanding our coverage and services to dairy producers and the industry at large in the 14 Western states.”
Machado, a 2005 graduate of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, was the outstanding dairy science senior. She comes to the magazine from Agritech Analytics in Visalia, Calif., where she was responsible for all communications, marketing and advertising. At Western DairyBusiness, Machado will write and edit western stories. She will also coordinate editorial layouts working with the graphics production staff for the dairy magazine, as well as for the three World Ag Expo publications that DairyBusiness Communications produces.
Machado has a rich dairy heritage. She is a daughter of Tony and Lorraine Machado, who operate the Tony J. Machado Dairy in Merced, Calif. She grew up on the dairy with a first-hand look at the business. She showed dairy cattle in 4-H and FFA and was a member of the National Champion Dairy Products judging team while at Cal Poly.
Some of her dairy industry internship experience included working with: California Milk Advisory Board; California Department of Food and Agriculture; Haagen Daz Ice Cream; Three Sisters Farmstead Cheese; California Farm Bureau Federation; Western United Dairymen; Fleishman Hillard (Public Relations); Foster Farms Dairy; Dairy Council of California; and University of California, Davis Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center. She is a member of California Women for Agriculture and California Holstein Association.
Founded in 1922, Western DairyBusiness is a monthly magazine serving milk producers and industry personnel in the 14 Western states. DairyBusiness Communications publishes magazines… Midwest DairyBusiness, Northeast DairyBusiness and Holstein World, a weekly newsletter… Dairy Profit Weekly, and produces a syndicated daily radio show… DairyLine. It is affiliated with the nation’s leading independent agricultural database… Farm Market iD, as part of Multi Ag Media, LLC, with headquarters in East Syracuse, NY.
Posted: August 30, 2006 at 4:53 am
By Andy Vance
I’ve been a big fan of Hoard’s Dairyman since I started writing about the industry, quickly adding a three-year subscription to my list of must-read publications. I’ve also always thought it is perhaps the coolest farm publication in the business because it’s the only one I’m aware of that has its own working farm! The latest word from Hoard’s is that the farm itself is growing:
Our plans are to build a new milking center and free stall facility for 250 head beginning this fall. Later, more housing will be added so we can continue to grow as many of our readers grow. The new facilities will be near the existing ones, and we will fill them with Guernseys.
Planning for our new facilities started more than a year ago. Our objectives were clear to everyone involved right from the start. We want an attractive, practical, labor-efficient, environmentally friendly operation that provides
the best possible animal care and biosecurity.
It is very important for us to continue to be a good neighbor to Fort Atkinson and to the community. Finally, we wanted the operation to be large enough that our own dairying experiences relate to the majority of our
readers.
On the 100th anniversary of the farm in 1999, we stated that the farm is as important to this magazine as presses, paper, and ink. Its role remains simply to deepen our understanding of the problems, challenges, and decisions that our readers, face.
We are confident that having the farm makes Hoard’s Dairyman a better magazine. As the farm grows along with the industry, it will continue to help us keep our feet on the ground. By the way, our farm radio network broadcasts directly from my wife’s family farm homestead… I don’t have any dairy cows, but some of Grandpa Hill’s Belgians are still here, and they don’t expect to see me twice a day…
Posted: August 29, 2006 at 8:45 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced $780 million in drought assistance for farmers and ranchers in 20 states.
This funding includes a new $50 million program for livestock producers impacted by drought, focusing nearly $30 million in unused conservation funds on drought, and accelerating the delivery of an estimated $700 million in counter-cyclical payments.
The new $50 million program for livestock producers, called the Livestock Assistance Grant Program, will provide $50 million in Section 32 to states in block grant form. States will distribute to livestock producers in counties that were designated as D3 or D4 on the Drought Monitor anytime between March 7 and August 31, 2006. The grants will help livestock producers restore their purchasing power.
Posted: August 29, 2006 at 8:38 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
To help dairy farmers make decisions that are in their economic best interest, Monsanto is providing customers with a producer decision guide titled Dairying Equals Choices. The guide outlines important questions for dairy producers to ask if approached with requests to supply milk from cows not supplemented with POSILAC bovine somatotropin.
According to Kevin Holloway, president of Monsanto Dairy Business, “If dairy producers are asked by processors to produce milk without using Posilac, they should be paid a premium for giving up the valuable technology.” Holloway says there’s no difference between milk from cows treated with Posilac bovine somatotropin and those not treated, except that producers give up an average of 10 pounds of milk a day per cow by not using it.
Dairy producers who wish to receive a copy of “Dairying Equals Choices” can click on the link above to download one, contact a Monsanto Dairy Business representative - or call Monsanto’s Customer Care Center at 1-800-233-2999.
Posted: August 27, 2006 at 5:19 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
As we get closer to World Dairy Expo I’m sure we’ll be seeing more announcements like this one in Merial’s most recent SHARE Newsletter.
Dairy producers are invited to learn why skinny cows aren’t so sexy. Dr. Chad Dechow, assistant professor at Penn State University, will explore how genetic selection for milk yield has been very successful, but reproductive efficiency and overall cow health have suffered. (more…)
Posted: August 27, 2006 at 8:53 am
By Chuck Zimmerman
This picture is too good to pass up. It’s from Typically Spanish. You don’t often see a flying cow!
According to the story, the recent tightening of security in England didn’t stop this cow from flying first class from her vacation. After being stuck in a ditch in Madrid, the cow was rescued by a helicopter and flown back to her home. Jet lag didn’t seem to keep this girl down, she is reported to be in perfect condition and grazing normally.
Posted: August 27, 2006 at 8:48 am
By Chuck Zimmerman
There’s a lot of competition for this year’s NMR/RABDF Gold Cup which will be presented September 20th at the Dairy Event in Stoneleigh.
More than 800 milk-recorded herds have met the criteria required to enter this year’s Gold Cup. This means that their milking herd has more than 50 animals with an average cell count for the year ending September 2005 of no more than 200,000/ml and a genetic merit above the level set for the breed.
According to a story in the Stackyard, “Eight British dairy herds have made it to the final stage in this year’s NMR/RABDF Gold Cup out of a qualifying 800 herds.”
Posted: August 26, 2006 at 10:34 am
By Chuck Zimmerman
Thanks to the Iowa State Dairy Association I just got a picture of the Bolins receiving the 2006 Ralph Keeling Award.
The award was presented to Dave and Pam Bolin who operate Beaver Creek Farm, on Friday, August 11 in the Livestock Show Pavilion during the Iowa State Fair.
Posted: August 26, 2006 at 10:26 am
By Chuck Zimmerman
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency reported a new case of BSE in a mature beef cow from Alberta. The animal is believed to be between eight and ten years of age.
The Agency also announced the confirmation of BSE in a 50-month-old dairy cow from Alberta. First reported on July 13, 2006, the investigation concluded on August 24.
Posted: August 26, 2006 at 10:18 am
By Chuck Zimmerman
Enen though I just ate breakfast (I had cheese on my eggs!), this still looks good to me. It looks easy and I’m sure it’s good. We’ll have to give it a try here at home.
Start your day with a Scrambled Egg and Mozzarella Breakfast Pizza and you’ll get a delicious serving of dairy, one serving of whole grains and 17 grams of lean protein in return!
This is from the latest National Dairy Council Update and you can find the full recipe on 3-A-Day.org.
Posted: August 25, 2006 at 4:53 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
A new Princess Kay of the Milky Way was crowned this week. She’s Audrey Mohr, New Ulm, representing Brown County. Mohr will serve as the official goodwill ambassador for Minnesota’s dairy industry representing approximately 5,400 dairy farmers. Mohr is the daughter of Ron and Penny Mohr, and will attend the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, majoring in communications and public relations.
Twelve county dairy princesses competed for the Princess Kay of the Milky Way title. DiDi Christopherson, Worthington, representing Nobles County, and Amanda Thoe, Hayfield, representing Dodge County, were selected as runners-up. Thoe also was named Miss Congeniality.
Posted: August 25, 2006 at 4:27 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
Here’s the latest announcements from Cooperatives Working Together:
Cooperatives Working Together announced Friday that it has accepted two export assistance bid for the sale of cheddar cheese to Indonesia and mozzarella cheese to Korea. The first bid is from Darigold , Seattle, WA for the export of 25 metric tons (55,000 pounds) of cheddar cheese to Indonesia. The second is from Foremost Farms USA, Baraboo, WI for the export of 40 metric tons (88,000 pounds) of mozzarella cheese to Korea. CWT will pay an export bonus to the bidders, once completion of the cheese shipments is verified.
Posted: August 25, 2006 at 4:24 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
Dairy Markets Week in Review
The cash dairy markets continued to strengthen the week of August 21. Block cheese closed Friday at the highest level since late January, $1.2950 per pound, up 5 1/2-cents on the week, but 17 1/2-cents below that week a year ago. Barrel closed at $1.29, up 4 3/4-cents on the week, but 19 cents below a year ago. 13 cars of block traded hands and 3 of barrel. The NASS U.S. average block price gained a penny, hitting $1.1717, while barrel averaged $1.1712, up 2.2 cents.
Butter closed at $1.3550, up 7 cents on the week, but 34 1/2-cents below a year ago. 61 cars were sold on the week. NASS butter averaged $1.2212, up 0.2 cent.
Provided courtesy of Dairyline.
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