Posted: June 29, 2007 at 7:31 pm
By News Editor
Here’s another new product: milk with cholesterol-reducing ability. Kroger Markets is marketing the line under its Active Lifestyle brand.
It adds to the company’s expanding lines for consumers of health-conscious and natural/organic foods and the in-house brands the company sees as an important part of its profit growth strategy.
“There’s a major trend toward health and wellness in the country,” said Linda Severin, Kroger’s vice president for corporate brands. “Managing cholesterol is just a key need for many of our customers. This is a way we can help our customers be proactive with their heart health.”
The milk uses an ingredient with plant sterols, found naturally in some vegetables, fruits, nuts, and other foods. The Food and Drug Administration has said plant sterols may reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels when used in recommended amounts as part of a healthy diet. The CoroWise plant sterols extract, from Cargill Inc., already is offered in a range of national brand products from orange juice to granola bars.
Posted: June 29, 2007 at 7:23 pm
By News Editor
Now you can get your yogurt with a fizz - the General Mills’ Yoplait line has introduced a carbonated yogurt called Fizzix.
“The fizzy taste appeals to older children,” said Bob Waldron, president of the Yoplait division. Plus, it’s aimed to generate bigger profits for General Mills–or as Waldron told stock analysts, Fizzix will “sell at a higher price point than our 6-ounce cups.”
Posted: June 29, 2007 at 11:48 am
By Chuck Zimmerman
Dairy Markets Week in Review
Cash block cheese closed the last week of June at $1.94 per pound, down 16 cents on the week, but 76 3/4-cents above a year ago. Barrel closed Friday at $1.91, down 13 3/4-cents on the week, but 74 1/2-cents above a year ago. Sixteen cars of block traded hands on the week and only one of barrel. The NASS U.S. block average hit $1.94, up 7.8 cents. Barrel averaged $1.9930, up 12 cents.
Butter closed at $1.4850, down a half cent on the week, but 33 1/2-cents above a year ago. Four cars were sold on the week. NASS butter averaged $1.4810, down 1.6 cents. NASS nonfat dry milk averaged $1.9915, up 7.7 cents. Dry whey averaged 76.44 cents, up 0.3 cent.
Provided courtesy of Dairyline.
Posted: June 28, 2007 at 5:44 pm
By News Editor
Dairy farmers in Pennsylvania was ship to Swiss Premium Dairy or Rutter’s Dairy will soon be required to provide milk without supplemental rbST.
Farmers say that Rutter’s and Swiss Premium have cited pressure from retailers as their reason for going rbST-free. Farmers also say they don’t expect to receive a premium for rbST-free milk. Officials at the two dairies were not eager to talk about the situation this week.
“Rutter’s is taking steps to ensure that we’re providing to consumers the products they want in order to keep ourselves in business,” said Todd Rutter, president of Rutter’s Dairy Division. He declined to give more details on the dairy’s plans.
Michael Eiceman, general manager at Swiss Premium, Lebanon, did not return phone calls from Lancaster Farming before press deadlines this week.
Those defending use of the hormone include Dr. Terry Etherton, head of Penn State’s Dairy Science Department and Dennis Wolff, Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture.
“I find this trend alarming,” Wolff said this week of dairies requiring rbST-free milk. “Advertising (milk as rbST-free) confuses consumers and puts milk’s image at risk.”
Wolff said the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is looking into the state’s milk marketing law and food code to see if any statutes could apply to the situation.
“They’re asking them to give up a management tool,” Wolff said. “I haven’t heard anyone talk about giving farmers a premium.” He recommended that farmers contact FDA, the federal agency that gives oversight to food labeling.
Posted: June 28, 2007 at 5:29 pm
By News Editor
Congratulations go out to LaVern Stencil for receiving the 2007 Wisconsin Dairy Products Association President’s Award. Stencil will be honored at a special awards dinner on Sunday, July 15 at the 2007 Dairy Symposium at The Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, WI.
Stencil has spent his entire 45 year career at Marathon Cheese Corporation. He began working at Marathon Cheese in 1961 in production. Over the years, he held the following positions at the company: Production Supervisor, Procurement, Purchasing, R&D, Vice President Scheduling, Vice President Sales, Vice President Sales and Marketing and Executive Vice President Marketing and Sales. Since 1997, Stencil has been President of the company.
Stencil has been an integral part of the success and growth of Marathon Cheese during the past 45 years. Currently, the company has two packaging operations in Wisconsin (Marathon and Medford), one in Booneville, Mississippi and one in Mountain Home, Idaho, making Marathon Cheese the largest custom cheese packager in the United States.
Stencil is a member of the Wisconsin Dairy Products Association’s board of directors, and also serves on the boards of the National Cheese Institute, the Dairy State Academy and Marathon County United Way.
This year’s winner was selected by the WDPA Board of Directors after they received a slate of nominees from the WDPA Presidents Advisory Committee. The nominees were chosen based on their contributions to the Wisconsin dairy industry and to the Wisconsin Dairy Products Assn. Past WDPA President Award winners were Mike Dean (1998), Bob Aschebrock (1999), Fran Cobian (2000), Bob Bradley (2001) Don Storhoff (2002), John Galloway (2003), George Cornell (2004), Jim Kasten (2005) and Bob Wagner (2006).
Posted: June 28, 2007 at 4:38 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
![USDEC]()
It may come as a surprise, but many nations in the Middle East offer growing markets for U.S. produced dairy products, especially cheese. In this report from the U.S. Dairy Export Council, you can hear from Nina Dakht who manages market development programs for the USCDEC in the middle east region. Brian Baxter has more on this U.S. dairy export market, in this report.
You can listen to the report here: 
USDEC Report (1 min MP3)
Posted: June 27, 2007 at 8:15 am
By Chuck Zimmerman
Among dairy nutritionists, grain particle size is of increasing interest, particularly for high-moisture corn. Intuition suggests the smaller the particles, the faster the starch digestion. Dr. Bill Mahanna, Pioneer Global Nutritional Sciences Manager, confirms this. In addition, he calls attention to the importance of particle hardness and distribution in processing for improved feed value. Bill also offers insight on what actually happens to starch in the rumen. This Pioneer Forage Forum segment is part of a series highlighting research on STRD.
Bill Mahanna on grain particle size (5 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.
Posted: June 26, 2007 at 8:34 pm
By News Editor
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have found that women who get most of their daily calcium from food have healthier bones than women whose calcium comes mainly from supplemental tablets.
Adequate calcium is important to prevent osteoporosis, which affects an estimated 8 million American women and 2 million American men. Another 34 million Americans have low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for osteoporosis. Calcium consumption can help maintain bone density by preventing the body from stealing the calcium it needs from the bones.
The researchers found that the women could be divided into three groups: one group, called the “supplement group,” got at least 70 percent of their daily calcium from tablets or pills; another, the “diet group,” got at least 70 percent of their calcium from dairy products and other foods; and a third, the “diet plus supplement group,” consisted of those whose calcium-source percentages fell somewhere in between these ranges.
The “diet group” took in the least calcium, an average of 830 milligrams per day. Yet this group had higher bone density in their spines and hipbones than women in the “supplement group,” who consumed about 1,030 milligrams per day. Women in the “diet plus supplement group” tended to have the highest bone mineral density as well as the highest calcium intake at 1,620 milligrams per day.
Calcium supplements differ in how well their calcium can be absorbed, and this also could play a role in the study’s findings, according to its authors. For example, calcium carbonate tablets need to be taken with a meal so that stomach acid can facilitate absorption, but calcium citrate tablets don’t have this limitation. If the study participants taking calcium carbonate weren’t conscientious about the timing of their supplements, they might not have received the highest benefit from them.
“Only about 35 percent of the calcium in most supplements ends up being absorbed by the body,” Armamento-Villareal says. “Calcium from the diet is generally better absorbed, and this could be another reason that women who got a high percentage of calcium in their food had higher bone densities.”
Posted: June 26, 2007 at 8:14 pm
By News Editor
The breakdown of negotiations on a final deal has brought the WTO Doha Round to a new crisis point said Mr. Osvaldo Cappellini, Chairman of the Global Dairy Alliance (GDA). The Global Dairy Alliance includes the dairy industries of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, New Zealand and Uruguay. The Alliance represents more than 1.5 million dairy farmers, 60 billion litres of milk production annually and a majority of world dairy trade.
Mr Cappellini said the failure of the G-4 meeting in Potsdam was a setback for world trade reform and the hopes and ambitions of dairy producers around the world.
“World dairy markets are buoyant at present but remain prone to large and rapid shifts. A successful Doha Round outcome is crucial to providing future stability, confidence and growth to dairy farmers.”
Mr Cappellini warned that the Doha Round remains the best avenue to deliver the real improvements in agricultural trade that farmers are seeking.
The Global Dairy Alliance has been concerned for some time at a lack of ambition in negotiations on key agricultural market access issues. Tariff levels for dairy products are generally so high that major reductions are necessary to generate significant progress in dairy trade.
“While recent talks appeared to have made some progress, the latest news means that the Doha Round is now at real risk. Therefore we urge all WTO members to work together to try to quickly establish a new pathway to agreement so that the negotiations can deliver the substantial improvement in agricultural market access that all countries committed to at the launch of the Round.
Posted: June 25, 2007 at 6:21 pm
By News Editor
This press release from Nestle Toll House came with the title “Raise Your Milk Glasses!”, and what better way to enjoy these tasty cookies than with a cold glass of milk.
As of June 2007, 89 percent of the Nestle Toll House Refrigerated Cookie Dough line will declare zero grams of trans fats per serving on the label. Also this June, Nestle Toll House is pleased to introduce three new varieties to its refrigerated cookie dough line: Mini Brownie Bites, Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, and a 40-ounce Family Size Tub of its famous Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.
Posted: June 25, 2007 at 6:16 pm
By News Editor
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) recently awarded $12,000 in scholarships to four Ph.D and graduate level student conducting research in areas that will benefit dairy cooperatives and producers.
This year the Murray Hintz Memorial Scholarship, which is given to the top candidate, was awarded to Marcus Hollmann. Hollmann is pursuing his Ph.D. in animal science at Michigan State University. His research addresses the mitigation of methane emissions for both pre- and post- excretion in the cow. This timely research will provide feed management strategies to reduce and quantify the reduction of methane emissions from dairy animals.
The three other scholarship recipients are as follows:
* Gregory Golombeski, a student from the University of Minnesota who is pursuing his Ph.D. in animal science. Golombeski’s research is focused on enhancing the trace mineral status of replacement heifers through transition cow management.
* Jessica Wheelock, a Ph.D. student from the University of Arizona, who is researching the effects of heat stress on liver glucose production in lactating Holstein cows.
* Nicole Olynk, who is pursuing her master’s degree in agriculture economics at Michigan State. Olynk’s research aims to help producers make reproductive management decisions by developing a user-friendly computer program.
Posted: June 25, 2007 at 10:37 am
By Chuck Zimmerman
Here’s the latest announcement from Cooperatives Working Together:
Cooperatives Working Together accepted eight export assistance bids last week for the sale of butter and cheese.
The first bid was from Michigan Milk Producers Association for 190 MT (418,000 lbs) of butter to Egypt.
The second bid was from Darigold for the export of 300 MT (660,000 lbs) of butter to Saudi Arabia.
The other six bids were from Land O’Lakes for: 400 MT (880,000 lbs) of butter to the Netherlands, along with another 100 MT (220,000 lbs) of butter also destined for the Netherlands; two bids for 11.3 MT each (24,860 lbs) for Parmesan cheese to South Korea; 8.3 MT (18,260 lbs) of retail-packaged cheese to the United Arab Emirates; and .54 MT (1,188 lbs) of retail-packaged cheese to Egypt.
These accepted bids increase CWT’s total 2007 export obligations for cheese to 5,307 MT (11.7 million lbs); its YTD export obligations for butter to 7,994 MT (17.6 million lbs) and its YTD anhydrous milkfat exports to 2,180 MT (4.8 million lbs).
Posted: June 22, 2007 at 8:42 pm
By News Editor
Dublin, Ireland sounds like a wonderful place to visit in the fall. So why not register for the World Dairy Summit, September 29 - October 4, 2007? Early bird registration is closing soon - don’t miss out!
Over 100 speakers, 3 symposia running in parallel each day, and technical tours that include infant milk formula manufacture, food research, cattle breeding and dairy farms are on offer. Dairying - can it manage change?
All eyes will focus on the Dairy Leaders Forum involving CEO’s from a number of leading dairy companies worldwide for their words of wisdom on future market prospects. In the first part of the symposium, the views of dairy farmers from around the world (UK, US, DK, E. Europe, CN, IE, AU) will be aired during the course of a Dairy Farm Leaders Forum. The second half of the symposium will explore enterprise structure, role of genetics, impact of animal welfare and the dairy production research supports appropriate to meet the needs and increase the production efficiencies of future dairy farmers.
A panel of leading international speakers has been assembled to address key nutrition issues from a dairy product perspective under four themes:
1. Metabolic Syndrome and Dairy Products: focus on overweight and cardiovascular disease
2. Fats Revisited: Update on latest research based on epidemiological and physiological studies on certain key positive components
3. New insights into the health benefits of calcium
4. New insights into Probiotics and Prebiotics Functional Foods Forum
Posted: June 22, 2007 at 8:28 pm
By News Editor
After reading the information below, you may choose to use the following contact information. Bill Gates, Chairman, Microsoft, 1 Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052; phone 425-882-8080; or fax 425-936-7329. Find a sample letter here provided by the Animal Agriculture Alliance.
According to the Animal Agriculture Alliance, Microsoft will soon be making donations to the Humane Society of the United States. Microsoft has launched a program called the “i’m Initiative.”
Through the new program, whenever a Windows Live Messenger user has a conversation using i’m, Microsoft will give a portion of the program’s advertising revenue to one of 10 organizations selected by the user. HSUS is one of the choices, and there is no limit to the amount of money that can be donated.
HSUS, which is not to be confused with the American Humane Society which runs animal shelters, is a radical animal rights group led by vegan Wayne Pacelle. HSUS opposes animal use, and one of its biggest targets is animal agriculture.
The Animal Agriculture Alliance, a broad-based coalition of producers, producer organizations, suppliers, packers-processors and retailers, is urging everyone involved in agriculture to contact Microsoft and its founder Bill Gates to demand that it terminate its financial support for HSUS. One is left to wonder how the Gates Foundation can fight world hunger while simultaneously funding an organization that seeks to end animal agriculture.
Posted: June 22, 2007 at 1:54 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
Dairy Markets Week in Review
Cheese prices saw more strength this week. Block closed Friday at $2.10 per pound, up a dime on the week and 92 1/2-cents above a year ago. Barrel closed at $2.0475, down a quarter-cent on the week, but 88 1/4-cents above a year ago. Nine cars of block traded hands on the week and five of barrel. The lagging NASS-surveyed block price averaged $1.8620, up 10 cents, while barrel averaged $1.9151, also up a dime.
Cash butter closed Friday at $1.49, up a penny on the week and 33 3/4-cents above a year ago. Nothing was sold. NASS butter averaged $1.5072, down 0.9 cent. NASS nonfat dry milk averaged $1.9082, down slightly, and dry whey averaged 76.19 cents, up 0.5 cent.
Provided courtesy of Dairyline.
Posted: June 21, 2007 at 6:59 pm
By News Editor
For those of us who milking a cow is second nature, you will surely find this video chuckle-worthy. ESPNRadio’s Mike & Mike hosted a unique guest this morning, the Holstein cow, Sox, there to settle a bet between the two co-hosts. Losing a March Madness wager forced Mike “Greeny” Greenberg to try his hand at milking a cow. Guaranteed to bring a smile to your day!
ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning co-host Mike Greenberg will pay up on a bet when the self-proclaimed metrosexual will doff his pressed khakis for overalls and milk a cow named Sox. Sox, provided by regional dairy market Stew Leonard’s, will arrive at ESPN’s Bristol, Conn. headquarters at 6:30 a.m. Thursday from the Doumas at Eddy Farm in Newington, Conn.
Mike & Mike in the Morning co-hosts Greenberg and Mike Golic traditionally match their NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament brackets, with the loser’s fate pre-determined by a listener/viewer vote. When Golic’s “sheet of integrity” prevailed this April, Greenberg was put in an utterly precarious position of having to milk a cow.
Posted: June 20, 2007 at 7:12 pm
By News Editor
The cheesehead state will take center stage on the History Channel’s Modern Marvels on June 27 at 9:00 p.m. Wisconsin cheesemakers and Alto Dairy will be featured in the hour long show about cheese.
The documentary takes a look at both ancient techniques and new technologies behind some of the world’s most popular cheeses as they visit several of the state’s cheesemakers.
“The main reason for including Wisconsin in the show is the great diversity in specialty cheeses that are made here, from Gruyere and Blue cheese to Cheddar and Mozzarella,” says Anthony Lacques, Modern Marvels Producer. “It’s also the tradition that Wisconsin has; everyone knows what they’re doing and can speak articulately about cheese.”
The Modern Marvels production crew spent several days in Wisconsin visiting Chalet Cheese Cooperative and Roth Käse USA in Monroe, the Wisconsin Center for Dairy Research in Madison, Alto Dairy in Waupun and Winona Foods in Green Bay.
Alto Dairy was selected as one of the feature operations because of our time-honored traditions, experienced employees, and state of the art facilities. “Alto prides itself on tradition and consistent natural products. We are excited to show America how we make cheese.” said Rich Scheuerman, Alto’s President and CEO. “It is an honor for us to be on a national television show and represent America’s Dairyland,”
Two of Alto’s master cheese makers, Kurt Heitmann and Ken DeMaa as well as our Whey Division Manager, Joel Denk, were also interviewed to be featured on the show.
Posted: June 20, 2007 at 6:59 pm
By News Editor
Nominations are now being accepted by the Iowa State Dairy Association for the Ralph Keeling Leadership Award. Applications are due July 16, 2007.
Nominations are open to educators, industry, and producers in the dairy field who have significantly contributed to the progress of Iowa’s dairy industry.
The award, presented annually since 1967, is in honor of the late Ralph Keeling. Mr. Keeling operated a successful dairy farm and business, devoting much of his time and talents to help the progress of Iowa’s dairy industry.
Presentation of the award will take place on Friday, August 10, 2007 during the Iowa State Fair. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and Iowa State Dairy Association President Wayne Dykshorn will present the award.
Posted: June 20, 2007 at 6:54 pm
By News Editor
The Midwest Dairy Association celebrated June Dairy Month in a unique way - they sponsored a local ball team and “pitched” dairy at the same time! Homerun!
Midwest Dairy Association sponsored the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks in their series opener against the Schaumburg Flyers. North Dakota Dairy Princess Stephanie Weinberger got things started right by throwing out the first pitch of the game, and the day ended with a handy RedHawks win, 12-3.
The game’s dairy focus included People Behind the Product banners on display and dairy products offered in the concession area, including cheese curds, wrist bands, 3-A-Day of Dairy pens, recipes and grocery list pads. Announcements made throughout the game reminded fans to honor June Dairy Month by getting 3-A-Day of Dairy products and thanking the dairy farmers for their hard work and dedication.
In true baseball tradition, Princess Weinberger and Char Heer, industry relations manager for Midwest Dairy Association, also led the audience in singing “Take Me Out To The Ballgame,” during the seventh inning stretch.
Posted: June 19, 2007 at 6:53 pm
By News Editor
One last ice cream story, this one international. The Windermere Ice Cream Company, based in the UK, has created a beer ice cream using a local beer, the Hawkshead Brewery’s Red Ale. The ice cream received rave reveiws at the beer festival, and will now be available for sale in the company’s shop.
Explaining the idea behind the new flavour, boss Steve Duffin, a 43-year-old father-of-two, said: “I’d read about beer ice cream before and the idea of combining the sweet produce with a bitter beer works quite well really.”
Mr Duffin said he went to the Hawkshead Beer Hall and sampled all the beers before deciding to give it a go. He added: “I chose the Hawkshead Red, which has a nice colour to it as well. We just reduced it down so we have a nice intense flavour and boiled off the alcohol. It tastes like ice cream but there’s something else there - there’s a different taste and body.”
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