Posted: March 31, 2008 at 4:58 pm
By News Editor
Leelanau Cheese Co.’s owners John and Anne Hoyt have seen a large increase in the interest for their artistian cheese, aged raclette, since winning the “best of show” last summer in the 24th annual American Cheese Society’s competition. Among the 1,200 entries for the title, were 200 producers ranging from farmstead operators to multimillion-dollar companies — including Cabot Creamery.
John, 49, the native Detroiter who went to Europe in search of his calling, and Anne, 46, the French shepherd he fell in love with, still make cheese together the way they always have, turning milk into something marvelous.
“We couldn’t find any investors, so we decided to do it very small,” Anne recalled. With $5,000 of their own money, a secondhand cheese-making kettle, a friend’s abandoned gas station in Omena, and their own sweat equity, they began making raclette in 1995.
“It was really the beginning of the artisanal cheese making,” she said. “In Omena, in the beginning, people would come to us and ask if we had any orange cheese. People had no idea. They just thought cheese should be orange.”
Raclette isn’t. It’s ivory to pale golden in color with a smooth, semi-hard consistency. Younger raclette, aged 3 to 5 months, has more moisture, a milder flavor and a distinctive aroma when melted. Aged raclette — the Hoyts’ best-of-show winner — is aged 8 months or more, which gives it a more pronounced aroma and a wonderfully deep, nutty, mouth-filling flavor.
Leelanau Cheese’s winning aged raclette, says Grotenstein of the ACS competition committee, was “perfectly executed, perfectly balanced. It’s got great flavor, devoid of harshness … just a very, very definitive raclette.”
Anne says she and John didn’t dare dream of winning best in show, even after being first runner-up to Cabot’s best of show in 2006. “We didn’t think it could get any better,” she says.
It wasn’t even a close call. David Grotenstein, chairman of the ACS judging and competition committee, remembers it as “kind of a runaway winner.”
Posted: March 31, 2008 at 4:32 pm
By News Editor
Nestle has opened a new ice cream factory in the Chinese city of Guangdong. The plant is part of the company’s plan to increase its market share in China.
The 22,000-sq-m plant will see the Swiss-based food giant treble its annual ice-cream output to 64 million litres. The facility cost 250 million Yuan (US$35.6 million) and will be utilized to push Nestle’s high-end ice-cream products in China to meet the growing demand in the country, Peter Brabeck-Letmathe was reported as saying at the opening ceremony. Nestle is the world’s largest food company. Since it entered the Chinese market in the 1980s, it has opened 20 factories, employing some 13,000 workers in 17 regions.
Posted: March 28, 2008 at 8:22 pm
By News Editor
A decline in corn planted in the U.S. this year could have far reaching effects - not only in the U.S., but globally. Analysts on average were predicting this year’s corn acreage at 87.387 million acres, down 6.2 million acres from 2007’s 93.6 million, which was the biggest corn area in over 60 years. Soybean plantings are estimated by analysts on average at 71.721 million acres, up from 63.6 million last year.
Indeed, with food prices racing higher around the world, and strong demand for corn from food companies, livestock producers and ethanol makers, U.S. corn production is considered a critical component of keeping people fed.
But as spring planting season draws near, now market analysts fear that many U.S. farmers will instead plant soybeans, which are commanding historic high prices at more than $13 a bushel (compared with $5.50 a bushel for corn) and are much cheaper to produce than corn.
Market experts say all signs point to a sharp decline in overall U.S. corn seeding this spring, which could spell a significant tightening of supplies that would resonate at home and abroad, impacting everyone from consumers to cattle feeders.
Because soybeans are typically planted later than corn, which goes into the ground in early to mid-April in many areas, those numbers could shift even further in favor of beans if current unfavorable wet and cool weather in the U.S. corn belt persists.
A shortfall in corn this year would follow last year’s short supplies of quality world wheat and soy crops, which caused prices to spike to record levels and contributed to rampant inflation in food prices domestically and abroad.
Fears are further compounded by the fact that farmers in Argentina, one of the world’s leading suppliers of soy, corn, wheat and beef, have gone on strike in a protest against new taxes, essentially shutting down the country’s grain export business.
“What does it mean for the consumer? More than likely higher prices yet to come,” Joe Victor vice president at Allendale said. “With higher grain costs, whether that grain is being fed for milk production, meat or egg production … it’s very likely we’re getting ourselves into a bind.”
Posted: March 28, 2008 at 8:06 pm
By News Editor
The California based butter company, Challenge Dairy, has come under fire by the Animal Legal Defense Fund and country singer Willie Nelson. An online petition alleges that the Dairy uses products from a calf ranch that “violates state anti-cruelty laws.”
An online petition urges the California facility as well as St. Paul, Minn.-based Land O’Lakes to stop using milk from calves raised at the Mendes Calf Ranch in Tipton in the Central Valley.
“As a cowboy, I must stand up for cows,” Nelson said in a cover letter for the petition, which now has more than 23,000 signatures. “It’s a tragedy to see the small-town farmer, who cared deeply for his backyard animals, is rapidly being edged out by huge facilities that look more like factories than farms — and treat animals no better than machines.”
The petition was started in October. In June 2006, the ALDF filed lawsuit against Mendes for allegedly isolating and confining newborn calves in crates, which they say is illegal.
A press release from ALDF states that “Baby calves are almost immediately taken away from their mothers and shipped to the Tulare County facility, which houses as many as 12,000 calves at one time.”
Nelson’s letter describes the calves living “for extended periods in cramped, filthy crates — often without enough room to turn around or lie down completely.”
Posted: March 28, 2008 at 1:23 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
Dairy Markets Week in Review
Cash butter sales returned to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on March 24. It was the first sale since February 29, even though the price had crept up to $1.3975 per pound on unfilled bids. The next day the price dropped almost 4 cents, the first decline since February 21. It closed Friday at $1.36, down 2 3/4-cents on the week but 3 cents above that week a year ago. Eight cars traded hands on the week. NASS-surveyed butter averaged $1.2882, up a penny.
Block cheese closed Friday at $1.81, up a penny on the week and 39 cents above a year ago. Barrel closed at $1.75, down 2 1/2-cents on the week but 33 cents above a year ago. The NASS block average plunged 8.2 cents, to $1.9158. Barrel averaged $1.8915, down 8.3 cents. NASS nonfat dry milk averaged $1.2697, up 3.2 cents, and dry whey averaged 24.47 cents, up 0.2 cent. Eleven cars of block were sold on the week and 14 of barrel.
Provided courtesy of Dairyline.
Posted: March 27, 2008 at 8:53 pm
By News Editor
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Jerian Blackstar Vi, a 13-year-old cow at Jerian Holsteins near Barron, Wis. is the ninth dairy cow in the United States to produce more than 400,000 pounds of milk in her lifetime. The cow is owned by Ken Jackson and his son, Mike.
Vi reached that mark at her December AgSource Dairy Herd Improvement official test. Since then, she has surpassed 403,800 pounds in 3,822 days of milking, averaging 106 pounds a day on three-times-a-day milking. Dry since mid-January, she’s being flushed for embryos for the first time.
“She’s a once-in-a-lifetime cow,” Ken Jackson said. “She’s consistent year after year.”
With advances in nutrition, genetics and management, cows are reaching 400,000 pounds and beyond slightly more frequently than they used to, but it’s still “quite rare,” said Daren Sheffield, National Holstein Association production records specialist.
Ken Jackson said they started paying closer attention to Vi’s progress when she hit 300,000 pounds. They attribute Vi’s productivity to good genes and a voracious appetite.
Posted: March 27, 2008 at 8:28 pm
By News Editor
Can anyone believe that 30 years ago America’s freezers were empty of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream? The now ubiquitous pint is celebrating the big 3-0 this year with a special anniversary flavor, Cake Batter. Want to know if your favorite flavor will celebrate another birthday? Check out Ben & Jerry’s online “Flavor Graveyard.”
Ice cream giant Ben & Jerry’s is celebrating its 30th birthday this year. To mark the event, the company known for its numerous and creatively named flavors has launched a special anniversary ice cream — Cake Batter.
Trouble is, the company has released so many (and some might say so many unusual) flavors over the years, the folks who work there can’t come up with a tally. They think Cake Batter is No. 280. Or maybe No. 300.
Whatever its number, Cake Batter is a creamy mix of vanilla ice cream swirled with yellow cake batter and chocolate frosting.
Posted: March 26, 2008 at 5:42 pm
By News Editor
Jersey Juniors are reminded that the deadline for the public speaking competition, TalkJersey, is Monday, June 2, 2008.
The contest is open to all AJCA Junior or Lifetime Members, ages 7 through 20 as of January 1, 2008. The judging will be held on Thursday, June 26 at Piedmont Jersey Farm, Lincolnton, N.C., starting at 6:30 p.m. The contest will be preceded by a fun workshop for all Jersey youth attending the annual meetings on Wednesday, June 25. Cash awards sponsored by ABS Global Inc. and prizes offered by the American Jersey Cattle Association will be presented in all divisions at the opening of the National Heifer Sale, June 28.
Juniors will be divided into groups by their age on January 1, 2008: I – 7 to 10 years; II – 11 to 13 years; III – 14 to 16; and IV – 17 and older. Presentations must be the individual work of the contestants. The topic can be any aspect of the Registered Jersey™ business, including current affairs and dairy industry trends.
Division I (7-10 years) juniors present demonstrations between 4 and 6 minutes in length. Posters may be used in addition to demonstration materials. Juniors in Divisions II, III and IV present speeches between 5 and 7 minutes in length. Visual aids are not allowed. Speaker notes are permitted. No more than four (4) 4” x 6” notecards may be used. Judges will ask questions following each presentation.
Posted: March 26, 2008 at 5:35 pm
By News Editor
Dairy producers should take the time to explore the National Dairy Animal Well-Being website to learn more about the producer-led coalition. The coalition is encouraging producers to: “to forward your comments to your co-op or producer organization, enabling them to compile all comments from their members.”
The National Dairy Animal Well-Being Initiative is a producer-led coalition that includes members from every sector of the dairy industry. On October 4, 2007 at World Dairy Expo, the coalition introduced the first draft of proposed principles and guidelines intended to provide a uniform umbrella of assurance that the industry is meeting its ethical obligation for dairy animal well-being. Our goal is to protect consumer trust and confidence in the dairy industry by demonstrating dairy producers’ commitment to animal well-being.
Over the next several months, dairy producers will have an opportunity to review the draft principles and guidelines and provide their input via their co-op or industry association. Input on the principles and guidelines is requested by July 1, 2008. Once the input is received, the coalition will finalize the principles and guidelines.
Posted: March 25, 2008 at 6:43 pm
By News Editor
The folks in Calcium, N.Y. are now slimmer and healthier thanks to lowfat milk, exercise and the researchers at the University of Colorado at Denver. During a 16-week study, the community-based project called “Calcium Weighs In” provided residents of Calcium one-on-one nutrition counseling and group classes.
The battle against obesity in this country could be tackled one community at a time, according to a newly published study in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health. Adults in Calcium, New York, who increased calcium intake by drinking more lowfat milk and other milk products and walked more frequently successfully lost weight after a 16-week overhaul.
In this innovative “Calcium Weighs In” community intervention, researchers overhauled the health habits of 199 men and women in a small, rural community of Calcium, New York. The free program provided one-on-one nutrition counseling and group classes, urging participants to set reasonable health goals, choose lowfat dairy foods including milk, cheese and yogurt and exceed a 10,000 step per day goal to increase physical activity.
At the end of the 16-week program, the 116 participants who completed the program lost an average of 13.2 pounds. Total dairy intake increased to nearly 3 servings per day, on average, meeting the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommended goal.
Posted: March 25, 2008 at 6:08 pm
By News Editor
Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. (DFA) is pleased to announce the re-elected board of directors for the national dairy cooperative. Tom Camerlo, a dairy farmer from Florence, Colo., was re-elected to his sixth term as chairman of the national board.
Camerlo has served as DFA’s chairman since 2003. He is the chairman of the U.S. Dairy Export Council, serves on the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade and is on the board of Dairy Management, Inc. He has owned and operated Camerlo Dairy since 1963.
Randy Mooney of Rogersville, Mo., was re-elected first vice chairman. He chairs DFA’s Southeast Area Council and serves on the boards of National Milk Producers Federation, the Missouri Dairy Association and the Milk Processor Education Program. Mooney and his wife, Jan, milk 200 Holsteins and operate a cow-calf operation.
Tom Croner of Berlin, Pa., was re-elected secretary/treasurer and chairman of the Finance and Budget Committee. He chairs DFA’s Mideast Area Council and serves on the boards for the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program and the Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association. Croner has been a dairy farmer since 1964 and farms 700 acres and milks 200 cows with his son, T. Richard.
Four other board members were elected vice chairman, and each will chair one of DFA’s committees:
Jerrel Heatwole of Greenwood, Del., was re-elected as a vice chairman and chairman of the Government, Member and Public Relations Committee. He chairs DFA’s Northeast Area Council. Newly elected as a vice chairman was George Mertens of Sonoma, Calif., who will chair the Fluid Marketing and Public Policy Committee. He chairs DFA’s Western Area Council. Wayne Palla of Clovis, N.M., was re-elected as a vice chairman and chairman of the Audit Committee. He chairs DFA’s Southwest Area Council. Bill Siebenborn of Trenton, Mo., was re-elected as a vice chairman and chairman of the Value-Added Committee.
Posted: March 24, 2008 at 9:22 pm
By News Editor
Wal-Mart Stores Inc is the latest and biggest retailer to declare that their private label milk will be rBST free. The move also includes the chain Sam’s Club.
Its private-label Great Value milk is now being sourced only from cows that have not been treated with artificial growth hormones, such as recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST). The retailer said its Sam’s Club chain also is offering milk selections from suppliers that have pledged not to treat cows with rbST.
While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said that milk from cows treated with rbST poses no risk to human health, Wal-Mart said it made the the change in response to customer demand.
Posted: March 24, 2008 at 8:45 pm
By News Editor
Any parent who has a teenager in their household knows how important online communities such as MySpace are to the social networking of this age group. The California Milk Processor Board is using MySpace to target teens with the “White Gold” advertising campaign.
White Gold(SM) is a rock star who through his music spreads his love of and devotion to milk. Thanks to the wonder tonic, he has shiny hair, strong nails and teeth as well as a beautifully, toned physique.
“Our target audience this year is teenagers,” says CMPB Executive Director Steve James. “With soda and energy drink consumption increasing rapidly while milk intake among teenagers is dropping, we feel we need to reach out to teens in their natural environment — the Internet — before losing these consumers forever. We want to reinforce the health benefits of milk with a fun message this audience will embrace.”
The new GOT MILK? campaign also has strong musical elements. As the GSP teen study cites, music plays a huge role in teenagers’ daily lives. If they’re not listening to music on their computers, their iPods are usually within reach. The campaign’s star, guitarist White Gold(SM), joined by drummer and bassist, the Calcium Twins(SM), currently have their latest single ‘One Gallon Axe’ listed online.
Posted: March 24, 2008 at 5:49 pm
By News Editor
The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has announced the nominees for the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB) Board of Directors 2008 election. Elections will be mailed to Wisconsin dairy producers in early April with ballots closing on April 28, 2008.
Here are the candidates and their representing districts:
District 1 - Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Rusk, Sawyer, Washburn Counties
Candidate: Benjamin J. Peterson (incumbent)
District 4 - Barron and Polk Counties
Candidate: Lyle K. Jensen (incumbent)
District 7 - Clark County
Candidate: Bill Herr (incumbent)
Candidate: Jeff Meyer
District 10 - Brown, Door and Kewaunee Counties
Candidate: Roger Buresh (incumbent)
District 13 - Buffalo, Pierce and Pepin Counties
Candidate: Lanette Harsdorf (incumbent)
Candidate: Dianne Erickson
District 16 - Fond du Lac, Green Lake and Marquette Counties
Candidate: Romona Averbeck (incumbent)
District 19 - Columbia and Dodge Counties
Candidate: Richard W. Fink (incumbent)
Candidate: Sarah E. Lloyd
Candidate: Russell Warmka
District 22 - Grant County
Candidate: Mary Wackerschauser (incumbent)
Candidate: Laurayne Fischer
Candidate: Ann Kieler
District 25 - Green, Rock and Walworth Counties
Candidate: Stacy Eberle
Candidate: David L. Kyle
Candidate: Doug Rebout
Posted: March 21, 2008 at 4:55 pm
By News Editor
BelGioioso Cheese, based in Wisconsin, will host the grand opening of its fifth cheese plant next week. The ceremony will take place on March 25 at the plant site in Freedom, Wis.
BelGioioso Cheese, which currently employs 350 people and sources milk from 200 area dairy farms, will host local officials and members of the media at a grand opening ceremony at its new Freedom plant. Featured speakers include BelGioioso Cheese President Errico Auricchio, State Agriculture Secretary Rod Nilsestuen, and Kim Cates, representing Senator Herb Kohl.
The new 90,000 sq. ft. Freedom cheese plant is the latest addition to BelGioioso Cheese’s growing Wisconsin dairy processing operation. The new plant will make Fresh Mozzarella and Fontina, two of more than 25 Italian specialty cheeses handcrafted by the company.
Posted: March 21, 2008 at 4:49 pm
By News Editor
Congratulations to Stephanie Nussbaum of Garretson, S.D. was crowned as the 54th South Dakota Dairy Princess on March 19th. Nussbaum won a $1,000 scholarship from the dairy princess program sponsor, Midwest Dairy Association – South Dakota Division.
Nussbaum is the daughter of Brad and Monica Nussbaum and is a student at South Dakota State University studying dairy production and ag business. During the next year, Nussbaum will represent the state’s dairy farmers at events and appearances to help explain dairy farmers’ commitment to good stewardship, animal care and wholesome products.
Among her first appearances is the Kids Zone at the Central Plains Dairy Expo, where local elementary students will learn more about the dairy industry.
First runner-up in the contest was Ashley Vostad, 20, of Volga. Her parents are Ann and Kevin Vostad. Vostad attends Kansas State University with a major in ag communications and animal science. She received a $500 scholarship from Central Plains Dairy Expo.
Posted: March 21, 2008 at 10:55 am
By Chuck Zimmerman
Dr. Gerald Poppy has been promoted to Director, North American Dairy Business for Diamond V.
In his new position Poppy will be responsible for overseeing and interacting with all Diamond V dairy representatives working directly with Diamond V dairy products. Dr. Poppy joined the Diamond V team in 2006 as the Western Region Manager, where he was responsible for managing the western sales team and expanding the companys presence in the western United States. Before joining Diamond V, Poppy held several director and technical services roles for Monsanto Dairy Business. Prior to Monsanto, Poppy worked as a dairy nutrition and production consultant, as well as a practicing veterinarian.
Posted: March 21, 2008 at 10:54 am
By Chuck Zimmerman
The World Dairy Expo has elected some new leaders at their recent annual meeting as follows:
President: Mike Holschbach, Heatherstone Enterprises, Inc., Baraboo
Vice President: Phil Niemeyer, Nasco, Vice President, Fort Atkinson
Secretary/Treasurer: Dean Hermsdorf, Vita Plus Corporation, Cottage Grove
Also serving on the Executive Committee are:
John Dalton, Daltondale Farms, Hartland. Ray Kuehl, Purebred Breeders of World Dairy Expo, Waunakee; Roger Ripley Accelerated Genetics, Baraboo; Bill Barlass, Barlass Jerseys, Janesville; and Bob Kaiser, University of Wisconsin Extension, Juneau. World Dairy Expo General Manager, Mark Clarke and Will Hughes of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection serve as ex-officio members of the Executive Committee.
Holschbach succeeds Roger Ripley as president of the board. Ripley, who is the President and CEO of Accelerated Genetics, has served on World Dairy Expo’s Board of Directors since 1985. A member of the Executive Committee for 16 years, he served as board president for the past six years.
Posted: March 21, 2008 at 10:32 am
By Chuck Zimmerman
Dairy Markets Week in Review
The cash cheese market started the Easter holiday shortened week on a continued decline from the previous week but reversed gears Tuesday. The block price closed Thursday at $1.80 per pound, down just a penny on the week but 40 cents above a year ago. Barrel closed at $1.7750, up 3 1/2-cents on the week, and 36 1/2-cents above a year ago. Twenty one cars of block traded hands on the week and 22 of barrel. The NASS U.S. average block price averaged $1.9975, down 4.8 cents. Barrel averaged $1.9745, down 2.7 cents.
Butter closed Thursday at $1.3875, up 3 1/2-cents on the week, and 5 3/4-cents above a year ago. Nothing has sold in the cash butter market since February 29; the gains have all come on unfilled bids. NASS butter averaged $1.2785, up 7.9 cents. NASS nonfat dry milk averaged $1.2385, down 3 cents, and dry whey averaged 24.38 cents, down 0.3 cent.
Provided courtesy of Dairyline.
Posted: March 20, 2008 at 7:11 pm
By News Editor
Brad Gronli has been named South Dakota/Minnesota industry relations manager for Midwest Dairy Association, joining the checkoff organization’s staff serving dairy farmers in nine states.
In his new role, Gronli will provide information and services to dairy farmers in both states and will serve as a liaison to organizations and processors. He will also manage South Dakota’s state fair efforts and facilitate the South Dakota Division board of Midwest Dairy Association. Gronli lives near Princeton, Minnesota, but will spend significant time in South Dakota.
Gronli graduated from the University of Minnesota in agriculture education with an emphasis in animal science. He began his career as an agriculture education instructor before spending 17 years working for Land O-Lakes, Inc., and then moving to DQCI Services, Inc. More recently he was employed by Genex and also provided dairy consulting services for an international project in Vietnam.
In his new role in South Dakota, Gronli will replace Char Hovland, who will retire from full-time employment with Midwest Dairy Association in the fall. Hovland will continue managing the dairy princess programs in South Dakota, Minnesota and North Dakota after she leaves her full-time position. In Minnesota, Gronli’s duties will complement those of Sherry Newell, who carries out industry relations duties in the state while also serving as communications manager at the corporate level.
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