World Dairy Diary

New Officers at Promotion Groups

Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board (NDB) and the United Dairy Industry Association (UDIA) announced newly elected producers to national offices at the groups’ joint annual meeting in Orlando, Fla.

DMI, which manages the national dairy producer checkoff program, is funded by the NDB and UDIA. New DMI officers are: Chair – Paul Rovey, Glendale, Ariz.; Vice Chair – Michael Ferguson, Senatobia, Miss.; Secretary – Ryan Anglin, Bentonville, Ark.; Treasurer – David “Skip” Hardie, Lansing, N.Y.

NDC, founded in 1915, is the producer-funded nutrition education and research arm of DMI and provides nutrition information through national, state and regional dairy council organizations. New NDC officers are: Chair – Buckey Jones; Vice Chair – Paul Broering, St. Henry, Ohio; Secretary – Joan Smith, Sauquoit, N.Y.; Treasurer – John Crawford, Keller, Texas.

Accelerated Genetics Offers Scholarships

Accelerated Genetics is excited to announce several scholarships available to agriculture youth.

Accelerated Genetics awards four, $500.00 scholarships to high school seniors planning to major in agriculture at a short course, vocational technical college or four-year university degree program. Any high school senior who has participated in high school agricultural education, 4-H or any agricultural organization is eligible to apply. The applicant or their parents must be currently purchasing semen or products from an authorized Accelerated Genetics representative. Scholarship applications are due by February 15, 2008.

Accelerated Genetics also offers two, $1,000.00 scholarships to students currently enrolled in a short course, vocational technical college or a four-year university degree program. The collegiate scholarship program is for individuals who have completed their freshman, sophomore or junior year and are majoring in dairy, beef or an agricultural-related area. The applicant or their parents must be currently purchasing semen or products from an authorized Accelerated Genetics representative. Applications are due by February 15, 2008.

Dairyline Markets In Review

Dairy Markets Week in Review
The final week of November also saw a new record price on block cheese at $2.2025 per pound, topping the April 2004 record by a quarter-cent. But it also saw a crash on Thursday of 19 1/4-cents and it closed Friday at $2.01, down 19 cents on the week, but still 69 cents above a year ago. Barrel closed at $2.0175, down 6 1/4-cents on the week, but 71 3/4-cents above a year ago. Fourteen cars of block traded hands and three of barrel. The lagging NASS-surveyed block price hit $2.0387, up 5.8 cents. Barrel averaged $2.0016, up 3.5 cents.

Cash butter closed Friday at $1.32, down 5 1/4-cents on the week, but 4 1/4-cents above a year ago. 29 cars were sold. NASS butter averaged $1.3263, up a penny. NASS nonfat dry milk slipped 1.8 cents, to $1.8903. Dry whey averaged 44.6 cents, up 0.8 cent.

Provided courtesy of Dairyline.

2008 Price Outlook for Milk

At the recent National Association of Farm Broadcasters convention in their Trade Talk session I met Elvin Holland who is Director of Fluid Milk Marketing and Economic Analysis for Dairy Farmers of America. Elvin talked about the reasons for higher milk prices and his prediction for 2008.

To start with he says that global milk production has slowed and global demand has remained strong. He says that American dairy products remain a staple in the world demand for food. Looking ahead he thinks that the export market will remain good and even grow. However, he does see a decline in prices for class III milk in 2008.

You can listen to my interview with Elvin here:

Wis. Dairy Investment Tax Good News

The Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives (WFC) has announced continuing good news about the Wisconsin Dairy Farm Investment Tax Credit (DITC), which WFC was instrumental in drafting and advancing successfully through the 2003-2004 legislative session. The credit equals up to 10-percent of the amount a producer spends on dairy farm modernization or expansion.

The Department of Revenue has just completed a tabulation of credits claimed during the 2005 tax year, which was the second year of eligibility for the credit. The total claimed by 8,796 producers was almost $42 million, of which almost $38 million was claimed by 8,413 individual income tax filings and more than $4 million was claimed via 383 corporate income tax filings. Almost $14.5 million was used to offset taxes owed in 2005, and the balance is eligible to be carried forward to the taxpayers’ 2006 or future returns. The tax credits taken to date mean at least a $565 million reinvestment in Wisconsin dairy farms. This is a huge economic boost to the state of Wisconsin.

The DITC has been expanded to include eligible investments on livestock operations in addition to dairy farms, and the livestock farm investment credit is available for taxable years 2007 through 2011. The dairy investment tax credit was begun for tax year 2005 and will end in tax year 2009.

Have You Commented Yet?

Urged by several special interest groups, including Consumers Union, nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) and the Organic Consumers Association, more than 65 consumer, farm and agricultural, public health, animal protection and environmental organizations, food processors, retailers and dairy farmers today wrote to Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell to protest the recent Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) decision on misleading milk labeling.

Now is the time for you to voice your opinion too, make sure that Governor Rendell knows if you support or don’t support this critical action. Don’t delay - speak up today!

In late October, PDA informed 16 dairies that they cannot use certain labels on milk, including “Our farmers’ pledge: no artificial growth hormones,” “From cows not treated with the growth hormone rBST,” and “free of artificial growth hormones.” The ban on using these labels will go into effect on February 1, 2008.

The following organizations have signed onto the letter:
Boulder Ice Cream, Bridge View Dairy, The Campaign, Carl Colteryahn Dairy, Center for Environmental Health, Center for Food Safety, Center for Media and Democracy, Consumer Federation of America, Cornucopia Institute, CROPP Co-op/Organic Valley, Empire Organic, Endangered Habitats League, Family Farm Defenders, Farm Sanctuary, Farmer-to-Farmer Campaign on Genetic Engineering, Florida Organic Growers and Consumers, Food and Water Watch, Goldfinch Farm CSA, Government Accountability Project, Hahn Natural Foods, Health Care Without Harm, Humane Farming Association, Humane Society of the United States, Animal Protection Institute, Illinois Stewardship Alliance, Innovative Farmers of Ohio, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Institute for Responsible Technology, J&B Dairy, Kirschenmann Family Farms, Live Earth Farm, Livewater Farm, Martindale’s Natural Market, Milky Way Farms, Minnesota Food Association, Mississippi Livestock Markets Association, Moonglow Farms, National Family Farm Coalition, National Farmers Union, Natural Resources Defense Council, Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance, Northeast Organic Farming Association representing seven states (NOFA-VT, NOFA-NH, NOFA-MASS, NOFA-CT, NOFA-NY, NOFA-NJ and NOFA-RI), Oak Valley Dairy, Oneota Community Co-op, Ore Bank Farm, Oregon Ice Cream Company, Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, Organic Consumers Association, Organic Farming Research Foundation, Organic Trade Association, PennEnvironment, PennPIRG, Radiance Dairy, Rodale Institute, Science and Environmental Health Network, Genetic Engineering Committee, Stonyfield Farm, Inc., Tiffany Hill Farm, Turner Dairy Farms, Trader’s Point Creamery, Union of Concerned Scientists, Washington Biotechnology Action Council, Western Sustainable Agriculture Working Group, Willow Creek Farm, Wright Way Dairy

Woodworth Promoted at WMMB

Congrats to Stan Woodworth who has been promoted to Senior vice president of channel marketing at the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.

In this newly created position, Woodworth will direct all WMMB’s retail and foodservice channel activities, working closely with Wisconsin’s cheese manufacturers and marketers and with retailers, distributors and foodservice operators throughout the country, to promote Wisconsin dairy products. Woodworth joined WMMB in June, 2006, and assumes a number of management roles held by Ric Johnson who recently retired.

Cabot Introduces Yogurt

Cabot Creamery Cooperative–best known for its Cheddar cheese–has begun marketing Cabot Greek Style Yogurt. The product is currently available only in Shaw’s Supermarkets, a division of Supervalu with locations primarily in the Northeast, and Publix supermarkets in Florida.

Six-ounce packages will initially come in four flavors: Peach, Strawberry, Vanilla Bean and Honey. A 32-ounce plain size is also available. The company had initially planned on targeting the culinary and cooking markets for the product, but discovered through research that some people were looking at it as an indulgent snack, Davis says. Thus, the flavored varieties.

Greek-style yogurt has been increasing in popularity over the past year. This summer, Fage–an 81-year old brand–broke its first advertising in the U.S. with a two-page ad in New York Magazine. On the left side of the layout were fashion accessories like a watch or a strand of pearls, while on the other side was a picture of a white, creamy substance with an impression of the accessory embedded in it.

Researcher in New Zealand Needs Your Help

Alan Sharp, a dairy heritage researcher in New Zealand, needs your help! He is looking for people who might have information on families in the United States who were among the first to use elevated platform milking systems. Do you know of someone? Email Alan at herringbone@hnpl.net to share your information.

I am trying to locate people with knowledge, of the where abouts, of the pioneering families who had enough faith to experiment with the introduction of elevated platform milking systems. From a 1957 HOARD”S DAIRYMAN article I have been able to target a family in New York State and a family in Indiana, but America is a very big place and I require a whole lot more contacts, to put a human face and photos to the 60 + patents that I have been studying. Being 40 + years since the HERRINGBONE explosion of the 1960’s time is running out.

With the assistance of the Massey University Archives in New Zealand, and Steven Larson, Managing Editor of Hoards Dairyman, my DAIRYING HERITAGE research is well on the way to finding the first dairy farming families, in America, to experiment with my Father’s HERRINGBONE system of milking cows. The Massey 1955 HERRINGBONE, being the shed that gained international recognition, for the revolutionary milking system.

Dairy Nutrition on a Budget

With the holiday season upon us, many are feeling a strain on their wallets - but the folks at the California Milk Processor Board are reminding consumers that healthy, nutritious meals don’t have to break the bank.

Just in time for the holiday season, GOT MILK? has developed $10 to $15 and $20 meal ideas that can serve up to a family of six. Delicious recipes such as Silky Pasta Primavera and Chilean Pastel de Choclo which are rich in nutrients (many are made with milk!), convenient and inexpensive. The meal plans are easy to make and include holiday staples like mashed potatoes, fresh salads and low-fat desserts like Holiday Spice Pumpkin Mousse

“We want to do our part to educate consumers that nutritious meals do not have to cost a lot of money, ” says Steve James, Executive Director of the California Milk Processor Board (CMPB), the creators of GOT MILK?. “People do not have to give up calcium, protein and other vitamins. They just need to use ingredients that get the most nutrition bang for the buck and our holiday meal plans do that.”

Australia Dairy Manufacturering Students Graduate

Students in Australia have graduated from the first industry-endorsed dairy manufacturers course. The National Centre for Dairy Education – Australia (NCDEA) and Dairy Food Safety Victoria (DFSV) joined forces to offer the course which is held at a dairy manufacturer through two four-hour sessions.

Since its inception, 44 trainees from around Victoria have completed the Fundamentals of Food Safety and Quality (Dairy) course. It covers all aspects of food safety and quality assurance and was designed specifically for small and medium-sized dairy food manufacturers.

Joanne Patterson, DFSV’s general manager of strategic policy, said although there were many food handling courses available, this was the first one specifically for dairy food manufacturers. She said holding it on site at a manufacturing facility allowed for hands-on learning.

USDA Seeks Producer Comments

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that dairy producers and the public have until Dec. 26, 2007, to comment on a proposed rule concerning the new Dairy Disaster Assistance Program III (DDAP-III). USDA published the proposed rule in the Federal Register today.

The proposal sets forth rules governing how this program will be administered. Comments may be made on proposed eligibility requirements, proof of production history, loss determinations, payment rates, payment rate calculations, appeals and other program provisions. Also, the proposal outlines the differences between this program and similar dairy disaster assistance programs carried out by USDA in recent years.

The “U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007″ (2007 Act), signed into law on May 25, 2007, by President George W. Bush, authorizes DDAP-III. DDAP-III provides $16 million in benefits to dairy producers for dairy production losses that occurred between Jan. 1, 2005, and Feb. 28, 2007. USDA administered two dairy disaster assistance programs in recent years; however, the programs were implemented in some Gulf and Southeast states only. Unlike other disaster programs authorized by the 2007 Act, Congress did not exempt DDAP-III from the rulemaking process.

Kids Influence New Flavors

The folks at Shamrock Farms are tapping into their local community to taste test new flavors of milk and other dairy products. “Roxie’s Taste Buds” is made up of 15 children aged 6 to 12 years and is in its second year of taste testing. Sounds like a good gig to me!

The 6-to-12-year-olds have an impact on the new flavors launched by the milk company. Representing various parts of the Valley and Tucson, they were selected out of a pool of nearly 180 applicants and meet with Shamrock quarterly. Last year, the kids helped influence the taste of Cookies & Cream and Root Beer Float-flavored milk.

They also bellied up to a table to taste-test ice cream: Pumpkin Patch Pie and Peppermint Stick Forest. A Shamrock representative wanted to know: How did the color look? How did it taste? The kids also had ideas for future milk flavors: caramel apple or maybe chocolate mint.

Documentary Premiers on Movement Founder

This past Monday, HBO premiered a documentary on Ingrid Newkirk, the founder of PETA. Farmers should take the opportunity to gain insight into the organization that would like to see the end of animal production.

I Am an Animal: The Story of Ingrid Newkirk and PETA offers a candid and introspective look at the beliefs and motives of the British-born Newkirk, who is both revered and despised for her uncompromising beliefs in the rights of animals. The program schedule will be repeated several times. Livestock producers will find much to criticize in this 72-minute documentary on the founder of PETA. But the film is not completely flattering to Newkirk. Some of her harshest critics are others from the animal rights movement.

Dairyline Markets In Review

Dairy Markets Week in Review
Talk about Happy Thanksgiving….Cash block cheese this week matched the record $2.20 per pound set in April 2004 and closed the holiday-shortened week a nickel higher than the previous week and 81 3/4-cents above that week a year ago. Barrel closed Wednesday at $2.08, also up a nickel on the week and 65 1/4-cenet above a year ago. Only four cars of block were sold on the week and three of barrel.

Butter closed at $1.3725, down a quarter-cent on the week, but 9 1/4-cents above a year ago. Ten cars were sold.

Provided courtesy of Dairyline.

Happy Turkey Day!

I wish you and your family a happy, blessing-filled Thanksgiving day. At this time of thanks, I would like to thank all of our World Dairy Diary readers for their continued visits and comments - we appreciate it!

I can’t wait to eat lots of turkey, stuffing, sweet potatos and pie - I hope you enjoy yours too! Happy Thanksgiving!

Speak Up!

Here’s a chance for you as a dairy farmer to make sure your opinion is heard. Terry Etherton, dairy and animal science department head at Penn State University, is encouraging producers to make sure their governor and state leaders know how they feel about false or misleading milk labels.

Pennsylvania’s effort to rid milk labels of false or misleading claims has generated negative comments by some in the public. “There are folks telling the governor that this is stupid,” Terry Etherton, dairy and animal science department head at Penn State University, said last week at the Penn State Dairy Cattle Nutrition Workshop in Grantville, Pa. However, “the silence from the dairy industry has been deafening.” Share your opinion with the governor of your state — even if this issue has not yet reached your state. “Call them up, send a letter and say what you need to say about the issue,” Etherton said. “Animal agriculture is largely sitting there watching, and that’s a tragedy.”

A Quick Checkoff Update

At last week’s annual meeting of the National Milk Producers Federation/Dairy Management Inc. dairy farmers and industry professionals met to discuss a variety of issues. Several interesting highlights were reported by Dairy Herd Management:

Per-capita milk sales may decline
Per-capita fluid milk sales could decline again this year. Sales have declined every year since 1970, with 2006 being the one exception. Tom Gallagher, chief executive officer of DMI, blamed the presumptive decline this year on price volatility — a 25-percent increase in retail gallon prices that spiked too abruptly.

Exports continue to grow
Last week’s NMPF/DMI annual meeting in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., was another opportunity to spotlight the progress made in dairy exports. Exports now account for 11.2 percent of the milk solids produced in the U.S — more than double the level of just five years ago. Tom Suber, president of the U.S. Dairy Export Council, points to these factors:
• A higher standard-of-living in China and the oil-exporting nations.
• A weak U.S. dollar abroad has made our product less expensive to foreign buyers.
• The European Union doesn’t have a surplus to export anymore, since its milk production is now being absorbed domestically among former Soviet Bloc nations with a growing appetite for dairy products.

Value of Starch in Corn Silage

Along with higher corn prices, the value of corn silage has tracked notably higher. The industry used to reference corn silage values at “a penny a pound” or $20 per ton. However, the higher corn market and costs related to silage harvest have boost corn silage values in upwards of $50 per ton, says Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional services for Pioneer Hi-Bred. Mahanna provides suggestions on how growers might manage their corn crop to increase starch content, and in turn, the value of their corn silage.

Bill Mahanna on Value of Starch in Corn Silage (4:15 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.

Dairy Center Re-Named

The World Ag Expo has announced it will rename the Tulare Dairy Center to the Farm Credit Dairy Center. The 80,000 square foot dairy pavilion houses hundreds of dairy exhibits during the annual Expo every February. It is the most highly-trafficked area of the grounds by show attendees and well suited for involvement from Farm Credit. Don’t forget - this year’s World Ag Expo is February 12-14, 2008 in Tulare, Calif.

“It seemed like a logical fit. We’ve been supporters of the Agri-Center for years and agriculture since 1916. With the dairy industry being the single largest commodity in California, this is a perfect way to show our dedication to dairying and the largest showcase of dairy innovation and technology,” said Edward Jones, vice president of Farm Credit West.

A special ceremony to unveil the Farm Credit Dairy Center will take place in the coming months. A specific date has not been selected. Participating sponsors in the Farm Credit Dairy Center naming include: Farm Credit West, American AgCredit, Yosemite Farm Credit, CoBank/Farm Credit Leasing, Fresno Madera Farm Credit, Sacramento Valley Farm Credit, Farm Credit Services Southwest, Northwest Farm Credit Services, Farm Credit Services of America, Northern California Farm Credit, and Federal Land Bank Association of Kingsburg.