World Dairy Diary

Nutridense Silage From BASF Plant Science

At the recent National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention I got to meet and interview Diane Jones and Dr. Janet Snow, BASF Plant Science about their Nutridense silage hybrids.

They say these hybrids deliver more milk per acre for dairy producers. I’ll let them explain how in this interview.

You can listen to my interview with Diane and Janet here: Nutridense Interview (3 min MP3)

Select Sires Recieves USDA Grant for Sexed Semen

Select Sires earned a $300,000 Rural Business Cooperative Value Added Producer Grant from USDA this month, supporting Select’s efforts in commercializing Gender SELECTed sexed semen. Select will match the grant dollar for dollar in marketing and educational efforts promoting the product, highlighting the pros and cons of using sexed semen in production.

We’ve talked about Gender SELECTed semen before, noting how it can propel your heifer calf ratio above 90% on first calf heifers.

Help Recognize a Great Jersey Breeder

You have until January 15th to nominate a great Jersey breeder or breed backer for recognition at this year’s American Jersey Cattle Association Annual Meeting. Four awards are presented at the confab, held this year in Sioux Falls, SD. The awards include:

Master Breeder: Bestowed annually to a member who has bred outstanding animals for many years making a notable contribution to the advancement of the breed.

Distinguished Service: Bestowed upon members who have rendered outstanding and unselfish service for many years making a notable contribution to the advancement of the breed.

Meritorious Service: Bestowed upon an individual who has made a notable contribution to the advancement of the breed through research, education, development, marketing, or other significant activities of the allied dairy industry.

Young Jersey Breeder: Bestwoed upon members age 28-40 who merit recognition based upon expertise in dairy farming and Jersey breeding, participation in Association programs, and leadership in Jersey and other dairy and agriculture organizations.

Nomination forms and supporting materials must be submitted by January 15th.

Animal ID Program to Remain Voluntary

I know this news has been all over the papers, radio, tv and web. I also know it’s a very emotionally charged issues, so I won’t throw my personal opinion out there. Tell me what you think of national animal id - do you think it should be mandatory or voluntary and why?

USDA Secretary Mike Johanns says the voluntary national livestock identification system will not become a mandatory program. Johanns says the national livestock identification system will remain voluntary rather than mandatory. The notion of a required animal ID plan faced resistance from many producers concerned about privacy issues, extra government controls, and the task of giving each animal an extra ear tag.

The animal ID program is aimed at controlling disease among animals, especially bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). USDA says market demands will give farmers incentive to sign up for the animal ID program.

Dairy Cow Slaughter Numbers

Culling activity continues to surpass year-ago levels. During October, 218,000 dairy cows went to slaughter. That’s up 18,000 head versus a year ago and 12,000 head more than in September. Year-to-date slaughter through October is up 4.2 percent, or 78,000 head versus the same time last year.

Cheese For The Holidays

I know we’re not a recipe site but sometimes when something looks this good you’ve got to pass it along. This is from the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board and a good example of the way they’re working to provide people with great ideas to combine dairy in their diet. So get your holiday cheese plan in gear.

Pistachio Wisconsin Peppercorn Feta Crostini

Directions: Combine Wisconsin Feta and Cream cheeses and nuts; mix well. Set aside. Brush both sides of bread slices with olive oil. Preheat broiler and place oven rack at least 4 in. below heating element. Broil bread slices until lightly browned on both sides, turning once. Spread each slice with cheese mixture.

Biodiesel Milk Trucks

Oakhurst Dairy, based in Maine, announced the conversion of their delivery trucks to a biodiesel blend.

Oakhurst credited tax incentives for driving the decision to convert 90 percent of its vehicles, making it the largest private biodiesel fleet in New England. Biodiesel is produced in Maine from waste vegetable oil. Except in the coldest weather, the delivery trucks will use a blend that’s 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel. Officials say the ratio reduces air pollution without requiring engine modifications.

Cheese - What a Story

I wasn’t able to visit this cheese plant during my recent trip to South Dakota, but now you and I can learn all about the history of this plant in the new coffee table book, “Valley Queen Cheese: The Birth and Growth of An American Dream.”

The company employs 150 people from Milbank and surrounding areas and continues to grow, said Mark Leddy, CEO of the plant. It produces more than 80 million pounds of cheese products a year, and is a major supplier of natural cheese to Kraft Foods. The plant was founded by two Swiss immigrants, Alfred Gonzenbach and Alfred Nef.

“People should have patience with their endeavors. It’s a bit like cheese: it takes time to age, to come to its perfect state.”

Get Your SAMMY

Student athletes need to listen up and drink a little bit of milk while they’re at it. It’s time once again for the SAMMY competition.

High school seniors who drink milk may find that their healthy nutrition habits can help them pay for college. Today, the National Milk Mustache “got milk?” Campaign, in partnership with USA Today, launched the Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year (SAMMY) awards, which recognizes 25 high school senior student athletes who have excelled in academics, athletics, community service and leadership with college scholarships.

The contest, celebrating its 10th year, educates teens on the impact of what they drink — along with staying active and eating right — by rewarding 25 extraordinary students who are succeeding both in the classroom and on the field while staying healthy with milk. Applications are now available at http://www.bodybymilk.com/ . Winners will receive a $7,500 scholarship, attend a special awards ceremony at The Milk House at Disney’s Wide World of Sports, and appear in a special milk mustache ad in USA Today.

Recognize The Best

You always see the awards at the show but there’s work to do long before we get there. Let’s start with nominations. It’s time to think about who should be nominated for the World Dairy Expo recognition awards.

Outstanding leaders from across the international dairy industry are being sought for World Dairy Expo’s annual recognition awards. “We’re encouraging people to nominate someone who has demonstrated exceptional leadership,” says general manager, Tom McKittrick. “Recognizing these individuals during World Dairy Expo showcases the leadership present in the dairy industry and adds to the excitement of Expo.” Nominations will be accepted through February 1, 2007 in the four following categories:

Industry Person of the Year, Dairyman of the Year, Dairy Woman of the Year, International Person of the Year

Individuals will be honored at the Dinner with the Stars during World Dairy Expo, October 2-6, 2007, in Madison, Wisconsin, USA. Nominations are due February 1, 2007. Official applications are available online at www.worlddairyexpo.com , through the World Dairy Expo office by calling 608-224-6455 or via email at wde@wdexpo.com.

Finding Dairy on the Blogs

You may be familiar with a Google news search. If not, then when you Google next click on the “News” link above the box you type your key words in for your search.

I’ve been noticing that Google is putting blog results in their news searches lately. So today I typed “Dairy” into the Google keywords box and clicked on “News.” At the bottom of the page of results it offers a suggestion, “New More ways to find the latest on Dairy.” One of the choices is “Search Blogs.” When you click on that it gives you a list of blogs that write about dairy and number 3 on the list of “related blogs” is World Dairy Diary!

Here’s the link to the search I did. Check it out.

Dairy Producers to be Surveyed

Dairy Producers will soon have the chance to help determine how management practices affect the health of their animals.

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will be conducting a survey of dairy producers throughout January to determine the relationship between dairy management practices and health attributes of milk cows. The National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) Dairy 2007 project will take a closer look into food safety, environment, and disease prevention, all of which are matters of great importance to today’s dairy producer. This study will benefit all dairy enthusiasts as the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) studies the results of the factors that may cause or reduce infectious disease and injury within our animals.

A national perspective will be derived by sampling approximately 3,554 respondents in the 17 participating states.

New Manager at Dean Foods

Milk and dairy producer, Dean Foods Co. on Tuesday, November 21, named Harrald Kroeker senior vice president and chief operating officer of its dairy group. Kroeker, 49 was previously vice president and general manager at Pepsi Bottling Group Inc.’s Great West business unit. At Dean Foods, he will report to Alan Bernon, president of the Dairy Group. Dean Foods sells milk and dairy products under 50 local and regional brands and other private labels. Its WhiteWave Foods subsidiary markets Silk soymilk and other products.

Dairy Australia General Meeting News

Here’s some news from Dairy Australia which is holding its annual general meeting.

As of this posting their website looks like it’s temporarily offline. Give it a try later if you don’t see it.

• Dairy Australia will not recommend an increase to the Dairy Service Levy it was announced today. The Dairy Service Levy poll will be conducted from February 12 until March 16 next year when dairy farmers will be able to vote for three levy options – zero, current and an increase of 15 per cent – in their order of preference.

  Dairy Australia’s managing director Mike Ginnivan told the company’s Annual General Meeting that the company arrived at its ‘hold’ recommendation after extensive consultation and feedback from industry. “Nevertheless, this is ultimately a Dairy Australia recommendation based on the growing conviction that our future is inextricably linked with that of dairy farmers,” he said. “Our recommendation is not only recognition of the circumstances facing many dairy farmers but also a fulfilment of one of the tenets under which the company was created i.e. our ability to respond to industry’s needs.” Dairy Australia’s recommendation is that the levy be held at the current rate that is, approximately 0.315 cents per litre or 1 per cent of the value of the estimated future farmgate milk price.

• Dairy Australia needs to reprioritise its programs and services to reflect both a lower income and the redirection of funds towards its drought response, the company’s Annual General Meeting was told in Melbourne today. The company’s managing director Mike Ginnivan said that although the company had a major levy vote looming in February this year, the significance of it would be temporarily overshadowed by industry concerns about the drought. “Six months ago, the company had forecast at least 10 billion litres of milk for the year and we budgeted accordingly. Our early forecast is for a drop of about seven per cent but it is difficult to estimate,” Dr Ginnivan said.
• Dairy industry icon Pat Rowley has stepped down as chairman of Dairy Australia but will continue to advise the company on a part-time basis until after it has conducted its first Dairy Service Levy poll in February. The company’s new chairman Max Roberts said Mr Rowley was asked to maintain his association with Dairy Australia because his experience included the development of the company and spanned many decades of practical farming and wider industry development.

  Generally regarded as having played an integral role during dairy’s deregulation, Mr Rowley was responsible for leading the push for one of agriculture’s most successful deregulation packages. During his stewardship a almost $2 billion dairy adjustment program was created for distribution to dairy farmers affected by deregulation. Mr Rowley has been Dairy Australia’s inaugural chairman for three years.

• A dairy farmer from Bega on the NSW south coast has been elected Chairman of Dairy Australia following its Annual General Meeting in Melbourne today. Max Roberts was elected Chairman by the Board after Pat Rowley, who has now retired, stepped down from the board after three years as its inaugural chairman. Mr Roberts said it was an honour to be elected as chairman of an industry owned organisation that provided the critical services needed for it to remain internationally competitive, innovative and sustainable.

Dairyline Markets In Review

Dairy Markets Week in Review
The dairy markets viewed the Milk Production report as bearish. Block cheese closed the Thanksgiving holiday shortened week at $1.3825 per pound, down 4 1/2-cents on the week, and dead even with a year ago.

Butter closed Wednesday at $1.28, down 1 3/4-cents on the week, and 12 cents below a year ago. Only six cars were sold all week.

Provided courtesy of Dairyline.

A Great Appetizer Before Your Turkey Meal

Brie being one of my favorite cheeses, I thought this recipe winner from the Wisconsin Cranberry Discory Center’s website sounded delish!

The first-place winner is Karen Kirkland of Aledo, Texas, for with her Cranberry Brie Bundles recipe which combines two of Wisconsin’s best-known agricultural products: cranberries and cheese. “These warm bundles are always a favorite during the holidays at my home,” Kirkland said. “The aroma of cranberry sauce and cheese remind everyone of the upcoming holidays and special times with family and friends.”

Wisconsin Representative Honored

The Dairy Business Association of Wisconsin has awarded Assembly Representative Samatha Kerkman the ‘Friend of the Wisconsin Dairy Industry’ award. It’s great to see our leaders getting honored for supporting the dairy industry!

The Randall Republican was selected for the honor for her continual support of the industry and her 100-percent support of the issues that matter most to the dairy producers in Wisconsin.

The Dairy Business Association of Wisconsin is a statewide organization, of dairy producers, vendors, allied industry partners, and professionals actively working to assure that dairy producers remain an active part of Wisconsin’s economy.

Why’s and What-For’s of VFA Profiles

Why has interest increased in testing for volatile fatty acid (VFA) profiles in silages? Because nutritionists are looking for ways to better fine-tune rations, and because laboratories have responded with advanced technologies in testing for VFA’s. Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer Hi-Bred, provides a brief refresher on VFA’s. Citing Pioneer research, he offers observations on the challenges in conducting accurate testing, due largely to variability, to help nutritionists and producers determine reasonable expectations for profiling

Dr. Bill Mahanna on volatile fatty acid profiles (4:30 min MP3)

To see all archived Pioneer Forage Forum podcasts, click here.
Previous Forage Forum podcasts are also archived at the Pioneer GrowingPoint website. To access them, go to www.pioneer.com/growingpoint and click “Livestock Nutrition” and “Forage Blog.” Those not registered for Pioneer GrowingPoint website can call 800-233-7333 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT for assistance.

Thanksgiving Pancakes

3 A Day has a good sounding recipe for Pumpkin Pancakes.

If you look at the recipe you’ll find out how dairy gets involved.

Rise and shine to a true taste of fall with Pumpkin Pancakes. Topped with our yummy yogurt-raisin sauce and packed with nutrients, this meal will please the whole family.

Robo-Milker Coming to Market

This may not be the first robotic milker to hit the parlor, but nonetheless, AgriMarketing is reporting that a new model from Lely will have several new features.

For more than 50 years, Lely has been a global frontrunner in the development of advancements in farm equipment. In 1992, Lely first introduced its Astronaut robotic milking system with the goal of enhancing productivity, reducing overall operational costs and providing dairy farmers with the necessary tools to increase herd productivity through better herd management. With more than 3,700 Astronaut robotic milking system installations worldwide, Lely has secured its position as the world leader in robotic milking systems.

Lely has a wide variety of brochures about automatic milking on their website for your perusal.