Posted: September 30, 2008 at 6:18 pm
By News Editor
The Heritage Cheese House, started in 1994 under Amish ownership as a place for the local community to sell its milk, closed its doors this week, causing more than 65 Amish dairy farmers to loose their market for milk. Now Agri-Mark cooperative which also owns Cabot and McCadam Cheese, is helping to build temporary storage and cooling stations, called community milk houses for these dairymen. The facilities will allow Amish milk to meet Grade A standards and open their dairy to a larger market.
“We are trying to help get a market for the Amish and make sure the state requirements are met,” said Doug J. DiMento, spokesman for Agri-Mark. To meet Grade A requirements, milk must be cooled within two hours of being harvested. The Amish are prohibited from owning the machinery to accomplish this because of religious restrictions.
The Amish producers will put the milk in stainless steel bottles and carry the containers to the milk houses. The milk house will hold bulk tanks that can cool 100 to 300 gallons of milk. The number of bulk tanks in the milk house will depend on the supply of the community.
The milk houses are being constructed by both Amish and Agri-Mark efforts. The Amish are providing the labor while Agri-Mark deals with everything that does not comply with the Amish religion, such as electricity.
The Heritage Cheese House was the only dairy plant in the area to accept Amish milk, but with these new facilities the milk could be shipped across the state. The Amish will rent the bulk tanks, which will be purchased by Agri-Mark, and some of the milk will be purchased by the co-op.
Posted: September 30, 2008 at 6:04 pm
By News Editor
China’s tainted-milk scandal has led to bans or recalls in 16 countries from companies including Cadbury, Kraft and Mars. No tainted products have been sold in the United States.
Cadbury said 11 types of chocolate bars made at its factory in Beijing and sold in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Australia were being recalled as a precautionary measure. Tests “cast doubt on the integrity of a range of our products manufactured in China,” Cadbury said in a statement.
In Indonesia, Kraft Foods and Mars also said they would suspend sales of Chinese-made Oreo cookies, M&Ms and Snickers bars in that country. The sweets were among a dozen allegedly tainted products that tested positive for high levels of melamine last week, according to Indonesia’s Food and Drug Monitoring Agency.
All three companies said none of their products were being recalled or suspended in the United States.
Both American food companies said they were mystified by the Indonesian test results, which reportedly found high levels of melamine — the toxin that has been at the center of a widening scandal that has left four infants dead, sickened more than 54,000 babies and ensnared 22 Chinese dairy companies.
Kraft said none of its Oreo products worldwide, including those sold in Indonesia, are made with milk ingredients from China. The Oreo wafer product that tested positive in Indonesia tested negative in Malaysia, Thailand and Korea, a company spokesman said.
Mars said its two Chinese suppliers of milk power were not among the 22 tainted Chinese companies. Mars’s milk powder tested negative for melamine at a lab in Germany, and its candy tested negative in Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand, a spokesman said.
Both U.S. companies have asked for clarification and additional testing from BPOM, the food safety agency in Indonesia.
Meanwhile, police in Hebei province arrested 22 people in an underground melamine-distribution network, the state-run New China News Agency said Monday. Hundreds of police conducted raids on pastures, breeding farms and milk-purchasing stations in the provincial capital of Shijiazhuang, seizing more than 480 pounds of melamine.
Shijiazhuang is home to Sanlu Dairy Co., the 50-year-old company that health officials say covered up the problem when complaints first started coming in from parents of sick children last December. Local doctors also issued warnings that went unheeded until a journalist posted Sanlu’s name online at a Chinese social portal Sept. 11.
Posted: September 29, 2008 at 11:17 am
By News Editor
Applegate Farms, has introduced Yogurt Cheese with probiotics. The product is a pre-sliced cheese that contains probiotics, beneficial microorganisms in the form of live active cultures.
Applegate Farms new yogurt cheese is made from yogurt that is certified with “live and active cultures,” having at least 100 million bacteria per gram at the time of manufacture. There are three main probiotic strains found in Applegate Farms Yogurt Cheese: Lactobacillus acidophilus; Bifidobacterium bifidus and Lactobacillus casei. Because these active cultures are not heated after fermentation, they retain their integrity throughout the cheese-making process.
“More and more studies are suggesting that digestive wellbeing will trump heart health as the number one health concern. The consumer is becoming increasingly aware of the decline in nutritional health and is constantly seeking easy and sensible ways to incorporate better foods and more nutrients in their diet, “said Steve McDonnell, Founder/CEO, Applegate Farms.
Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms in the form of live active cultures. They are friendly bacteria that live in the digestive system and are believed to have a number of health benefits while making it difficult for harmful pathogens to survive.
Posted: September 29, 2008 at 11:02 am
By News Editor
Shamrock Farms is excited to introduce what may be the first chocolate-milk based sports beverage. The beverage was developed after the release of a 2006 report by the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism reported released a study that indicated chocolate milk may work as well as sports drinks for recovering from strenuous exercise.
Rockin’ Refuel has 20 grams of protein and other ingredients the company says help repair and rebuild muscles after exercise.
Shamrock Farms marketing director Sandy Kelly said focus groups that have tried its chocolate-milk drink have had an “overwhelmingly positive” reaction.
“The concept of protein to rebuild muscles isn’t new. But to have an option as . . . desirable as chocolate milk is something consumers sparked to,” she said.
Posted: September 29, 2008 at 10:42 am
By News Editor
Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has announced their updated export bids for the past week.
Nine bids were accepted from Dairy Farmers of America of Kansas City, Mo., eight of them for the following AMF exports: 54 metric tons (119,050 lbs.) of to Panama, another 54 metric tons (119,050 lbs.) of to Panama, 18 metric tons (39,683 lbs.) to Panama, 72 metric tons (158,733 lbs.) to Mexico, 54 metric tons (119,050 lbs.) to Mexico, 36 metric tons (79,366 lbs.) to Mexico, 18 metric tons (39,683 lbs.) to Mexico, and 19 metric tons (41,888 lbs.) to Saudi Arabia. In addition, a ninth bid from DFA was accepted to export 40 metric tons (88,185 lbs.) of butter to Saudi Arabia.
Four bids were accepted from Darigold of Seattle, Wash., for the following butter exports:
400 metric tons (881,849 lbs.) and 200 metric tons (440,925 lbs.) to Egypt; 200 metric tons (440,925 lbs.) to Morocco; and 13 metric tons (28,660 lbs.) to Hong Kong.
Finally, one bid was accepted from United Dairymen of Arizona of Tempe, Ariz., for the export of 70.125 metric tons (154,599 lbs.) of butter to Egypt.
CWT will pay an export bonus to the bidders, only when delivery of the product is verified by the submission of the required documentation.
With these accepted bids, CWT’s total 2008 export obligations are: butter, 19,437 metric tons (43 million lbs.); cheese, 1,351 metric tons (2.9 million lbs.); whole milk powder, 170 metric tons (374,000 lbs.); and anhydrous milkfat, 5,197 metric tons (11.5 million lbs.). The milk equivalent total of these products is 1.29 billion pounds.
Posted: September 26, 2008 at 11:50 am
By Chuck
Dairy Markets Week in Review
Cash block cheese continues to creep toward the $2 mark again but stopped short at $1.94, down 1 1/2-cents on the week but four cents above that week a year ago. Barrel closed at $1.9525, up two cents on the week and 10 1/4-cents above a year ago. Eight Cars of block traded hands on the week and none of barrel. The NASS-surveyed U.S. average block price hit $1.7686, up 5.1 cents. Barrel averaged $1.7702, up 6.1 cents.
Cash butter closed Friday at $1.7475, up 2 1/4-cents on the week and 43 1/4-cents above a year ago. Three Cars were sold. NASS butter averaged $1.6391, up 2.5 cents.
Cash Grade A and Extra Grade nonfat dry milk closed Friday at $1.10, down three cents on the week. NASS nonfat dry milk averaged $1.1597, down 5.4 cents, and dry whey averaged 21.54 cents, down 0.6 cent
Provided courtesy of Dairyline.
Posted: September 26, 2008 at 11:16 am
By Chuck
Besides subscribing to the RSS feed of World Dairy Diary we’ve now got another option for you. World Dairy Diary has its own Twitter feed.
If you’re not familiar with Twitter then you can learn more here. Basically, the news feed from World Dairy Diary will post updates to the Twitter feed. Additionally, we’ll use the Twitter feed for custom special text posts when we have breaking information or are on-location at an event.
So here’s the links for each way to subscribe:
RSS Feed
Twitter Feed
Posted: September 25, 2008 at 10:21 pm
By News Editor
Congratulations to Patty Holbert, Magnolia, Ky. and Justin Edwards, Starkville, Miss. who have both has been named Area Representative for the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc. The USJersey field service team now has 11 full-time staff, just as the association is anticipating another record year for registrations and performance program enrollments.
Holbert joined the Jersey appraisal staff in February of 2004. She is a lifelong dairy producer, becoming owner of McDowell Farm after working with her grandfather and father for many years in operating the Registered Guernsey dairy. The farm now produces dairy replacement heifers and also beef cattle managed by her son Andy.
Patty was co-chair of the ninth World Guernsey Conference, held in March of 1998 in Louisville, Ky. She is currently a member of the dairy advisory committee for the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE), and previously served on the national show committee for the American Guernsey Association.
Her educational background includes coursework in accounting and dairy product manufacturing. She worked as a professional tax preparer with H&R Block, and most recently also operated a catering business.
Edwards holds a Bachelor of Science degree in animal and dairy science from Mississippi State University, with completion of his Masters degree anticipated shortly.
For the past five years, Edwards has worked on the university’s Bearden Dairy Research Center, becoming assistant herdsman in June 2005. In that position, he was responsible for day-to-day management of the 150-cow Holstein and Jersey herd, as well as training and supervising student employees. In addition to facilitating research trials using the dairy herd, Edwards conducted undergraduate lab classes and was teaching assistant for the basic course in reproduction and breeding.
As an undergraduate he was a member of the MSU team competing in Academic Quadrathlon, an event that tests students’ knowledge in management, nutrition and genetics in production animal agriculture, across all species.
A native of Forest, Mississippi, Edwards grew up on his family’s beef cattle stocker operation, with responsibility for herd health care and farm equipment maintenance.
Posted: September 24, 2008 at 6:01 pm
By News Editor
The recent China milk scandal in China has put that country at the top of the news filter. But there is some positive news regarding China for the dairy industry – as told by Tom Quaife at Dairy Herd Management – simple put, China matters to the future of the U.S. dairy industry.
Song Kun Gang proposes a Chinese version of the 3-A-Day program: milk for breakfast, cheese for lunch and yogurt as a bedtime snack.
The affable chairman of the China Dairy Industry Association would like to see people consume more dairy. And, he certainly understands the need. He was 35 years old before he took his first drink of milk ― not because he resisted milk all those years, but because it wasn’t available. He grew up in an era where milk was rationed out to children, the sick and the elderly, mainly in urban areas. Chairman Song grew up in a rural area on a diet consisting of steamed bread and vegetables. All the while, he was aware that milk was available to a privileged few, so it must have outstanding nutritional benefits.
Today, milk is much more available in China. And, annual dairy consumption has risen to 53 to 56 pounds per person in the urban areas. Although that is less than one-tenth of U.S. consumption, the growth curve is quite high. Chairman Song predicts that dairy consumption in China will rise 15 to 17 percent annually over the next several years.
This should matter to you.
Unlimited potential
OK, you say, the domestic market here in the United States still carries the lion’s share of demand. But did you know that exports now account for about 11 percent of total U.S. dairy production on a total solids basis? That can make an important difference to your milk check.
(more…)
Posted: September 24, 2008 at 5:45 pm
By News Editor
Dannon has become the 15th major food and beverage company to join the Council of Better Business Bureau’s Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative.
The Initiative was launched in November 2006 by the Council of Better Business Bureaus to provide companies that advertise foods and beverages to children with a transparent and accountable advertising self-regulation mechanism. The Initiative is aimed at shifting the mix of advertising messaging directed to children under 12 to encourage healthier dietary choices and healthy lifestyles. The guidelines are based on a variety of sources including the FDA and World Health Organization.
This means 100% of TV and other advertising will be for foods with restricted fat content, caps on sodium and added sugars and minimum calcium requirements. The last shouldn’t be hard to meet, since Dannon makes yogurt and other dairy products.
Per initiative guidelines, the company will also restrict the use of licensed characters, agree not to advertise in schools, agree not to do any product placement in media targeted to kids under 12 and limit depictions of food in online gaming to those that meet nutritional criteria.
Childhood obesity and its related diseases — heart disease, diabetes, joint problems — are the top health threat facing the nation’s children, according to the Surgeon General, and could mean a shorter average life span for children than for their parents.
Posted: September 24, 2008 at 1:17 pm
By Chuck
It’s time to look forward to next week’s World Dairy Expo.
I’ll be on location again this year starting mid week and you’ll find lots of stories, including pictures and interviews as we resurrect The Milking Parlor Podcast.
Sponsors of our coverage this year include WestfaliaSurge and BASF Plant Science.
Posted: September 23, 2008 at 4:21 pm
By News Editor
Joseph D. Rosen, Ph.D., emeritus professor of Food Toxicology at Rutgers University and a scientific advisor to the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH) has released a new paper that he claims has debunked attempts by organic agriculture to prove that organically grown crops are nutritionally superior to conventional ones. His research can be found here.
Dr. Rosen analyzed a pro-organic report by Charles Benbrook and colleagues at the Organic Trade Association’s Organic Center and found the data had been selectively chosen and presented to “prove” the desired point. Dr. Rosen’s report, Claims of Organic Food’s Nutritional Superiority: A Critical Review, was published today by ACSH.
In the original pro-organic paper, Benbrook and colleagues had stated that organic produce is 25% “more nutritious” than that produced by conventional agricultural practices. But when Dr. Rosen actually recalculated some of their data, correcting several inaccuracies, he concluded that the conventional products were actually 2% more nutritious than the organic varieties:
The Benbrook paper had claimed that organically grown vegetables had much more quercetrin (a precursor of the antioxidant quercetin) than conventional varieties. But the organic vegetables studied had been sprayed with an organic pesticide that greatly increases plants’ production of quercetrin — so of course they beat the conventional plants on that measure.
Dr. Rosen also points out that the organic proponents included data of dubious validity in their review. They used data from articles that were not peer-reviewed, and in one case included nutrient content from an analysis of whole kiwi fruits — both the inedible skin and the edible pulp, though this is not what the consumer would eat.
Dr. Rosen’s analysis demonstrates how organic proponents have, once again, used misleading and inappropriately-evaluated data to support their agenda. More details on Rosen’s own methods and conclusions may be found here.
Posted: September 23, 2008 at 4:05 pm
By News Editor
Body By Milk is offering teenagers the chance for an exclusive VIP experience of a lifetime with their Go Pro For A Day sweepstakes. Three lucky winners win receive a trip for two for a once-in-a-lifetime sports experience where they can live a day in the life of sports superstars Dwight Howard, Jozy Altidore or Ana Ivanovic.
While your online to enter the contest, be sure to check out the Milk MVPs (Milk’s Valued Players), the athletes who have been nominated to be part of the first-ever nationwide Refuel Your School contest which rewards high school athletic teams that choose chocolate milk to refuel and rehydrate after that big game, practice or workout.
Milk MVP winners could receive a celebratory Refuel Rally, along with $1000 grant, plus $1,000 from adidas(R) for new equipment and more.
Posted: September 22, 2008 at 4:26 pm
By News Editor
Speaking of sparkly crowns, the Jersey Association is looking for candidates for their 54th National Jersey Queen. Applications must be received in the AJCA office on or before October 15. Judging begins on Friday, November 7.
The new Queen will be selected Saturday, November 8, 2008 at the conclusion of Junior Day activities at The All American Jersey Shows and Sale, held annually in conjunction with the North American International Livestock Exposition, Louisville, Ky. She will succeed the reigning Queen, Rachel White, of New Castle, Indiana.
Financial support is provided by the National Jersey Queen Development Fund. Major funding for this effort comes from proceeds of a donation heifer sold each year at a national Jersey sale. This year’s heifer, TC Militia 1244 Jayne, was donated by Kevin Lutz, Treasure Chest Jerseys of Lincolnton, N.C. She sold in the National Heifer Sale on June 28 for $4,400 to Maisey Wells, Leicester, N.C.
There are three eligibility requirements to compete for honor of National Jersey Queen. Contestants must be at least 16 years of age but not older than 20 on January 1, 2008. They must be either a current state or regional Jersey queen, or be an exhibitor at the 2008 Western National Jersey Show or The All American Junior Jersey Show. All contestants must be a Junior Member in good standing or Lifetime Member of the American Jersey Cattle Association.
Candidates for National Jersey Queen are evaluated on the quality of their application, interview, general dairy and Jersey breed knowledge, and public speaking, both prepared and extemporaneous.
Posted: September 22, 2008 at 4:18 pm
By News Editor
The Keystone state has new royalty – the 52nd Pennsylvania State Dairy Princess was chosen this weekend. The dairy crown was awarded to LeeAnn Kapanick of Meadville, Pa. Two alternates were chosen to support the Pennsylvania dairy princess. The first alternate is 16-year-old Nicole Wasson of Centre County and the second alternate is Lawrence County Dairy Princess Abigail Trotter.
Princesses from 26 counties competed for the title. The contestants were judged on their public speaking skills, knowledge of the dairy industry, poise and personality. Each contestant prepared a speech and skit promoting milk and dairy products, and participated in a personal interview with a panel of four judges.
A senior at Sagertown High School, LeeAnn works at Schmidt Farms, a local dairy, owns three Holsteins and is active in 4-H. LeeAnn’s parents John and Stephanie Kapanick operate a 400-acre crop farm and raise beef cattle. In school, LeeAnn is involved in the key, history and Spanish clubs; student council; and plays on the varsity basketball team. She also coaches third and fourth grade girls’ basketball.
An honorable mention speech winner, Nicole has been active in dairy promotion for 10 years. Nicole is the daughter of Ronald and Candace Wasson of State College, and they farm 800 acres and milk 45 cows, five of which Nicole owns. She is a 4-H member and a state and national Junior Holstein member. A junior at State College Area High School, Nicole is a majorette, FFA member, wrestling manager and a Little Lion ambassador.
Abby’s parents are Dave and Jill Trotter of Enon Valley where they operate Trotacre Farm and Cowlicks Ice Cream Store. The Trotters milk 150 Holsteins and Guernseys and farm 400 acres. Abby is active in 4-H and holds offices for Pennsylvania’s Junior Holstein and Guernsey associations.
A senior at Mohawk High School, Abby is member of the National Honor Society, a varsity cheerleader and involved in student council.
Bedford County’s Kim Ritchey was the skit and scrapbook winner. Butler County’s Anna Flick was voted “Miss Congeniality” by the other county princesses and was the runner-up scrapbook winner. Amber Curtis of Wayne County was the runner-up speech winner and Lancaster County’s Laken Hoffer was an honorable mention winner with her skit and scrapbook. Heidi Musshafen of Tioga County rounded out the scrapbook honorable mention winners.
Abby Flick, the 2007-2008 Butler County dairy princess was named the Tina M. Shultz Memorial Award winner. Abby completed 471 promotions, reaching more than 187,527 consumers and traveling nearly 6,422 miles within Butler County. Abby is the 19-year-old daughter of Randall and Elizabeth Flick of Fenelton, and is a sophomore at Butler County Community College.
Posted: September 19, 2008 at 7:14 pm
By News Editor
Kraft Foods has debuted a new system at their Lowville, N.Y. cheese plant that turns waste into energy. The system will save the plant between 30 and 35 percent of their current natural gas purchases per year.
The bio-methane system takes the waste product from the cheese plant and lets the bacterial breakdown of the waste create methane gas, which is then sent back to power the plant. The system was designed, built and operated for Kraft by Ecovation.
“We look at ways that can help us become stronger in our facility and anytime we can take the waste and convert it into something that actually is displacing something like natural gas in this case, that certainly is a good business thing and it’s great for the environment and it certainly has made a difference in our facility,” said plant manager Darin Zehr.
Kraft is implementing a new green initiative and the Lowville plant is one of two in New York State currently using the bio-methane system.
Posted: September 19, 2008 at 6:55 pm
By News Editor
The folks at the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program (PDPP) are offering free paper placemats to dairy producers that celebrate the dairy farmers of the Keystone state. Be sure to get yours today for your next community banquet, meeting or farm tour!
Developed by PDPP, the full-color, two-sided placemats share the story of Pennsylvania’s dairy farmers on one side and offer dairy activities for children on the flip side.
“People waiting to eat are a captive audience. We have a chance to share that dairy farmers provide the best care for our animals, our land and our families,” said Tom Croner, a Somerset County dairy farmer and chairman of PDPP. “By the time they finish their meals, people will know that each dairy cow contributes $13,737 to the local economy and 3-A-Day™ of Dairy is recommended as part of a healthy lifestyle.”
Measuring 14 inches long by 10 1/2 inches wide, the placemats are shrink-wrapped in packs of 600. The placemats are available on a first-come, first-served basis; please allow two to three weeks for delivery.
More than 35 Hoss’s Steak and Sea House restaurants throughout Pennsylvania used similar placemats during June Dairy Month and in August to increase appreciation of Pennsylvania’s dairy farmers and the healthy products they produce.
Posted: September 19, 2008 at 6:28 pm
By News Editor
Cash cheese prices strengthened the third week in a row and block closed Friday September 19 at $1.9550 per pound, up 5 1/4-cents on the week and 14 cents above a year ago when they tumbled 17 1/2 cents, to $1.8150. Barrel closed at $1.9325, up a nickel on the week and 3 1/4 above a year ago. Only one car of block traded hands and none of barrel. The NASS U.S. average block price lost another 1.8 cents, hitting $1.7176, while barrel averaged $1.7092, up 1.9 cents.
Butter closed Friday at $1.7250, up 6 1/2-cents on the week, 35 1/2-cents above a year ago, and the highest price since September 2005. Nothing was sold. NASS butter averaged $1.6142, up 0.5 cent. NASS nonfat dry milk plunged 11.4 cents, averaging $1.2130, and dry whey averaged 22.15 cents, down 0.6 cent.
Cash Grade A and Extra Grade nonfat dry milk closed at $1.13, each, down 17 cents on the week.
Provided courtesy of Dairyline.
Posted: September 18, 2008 at 7:55 pm
By News Editor
Congratulations to Blake Renner, Fortuna, Calif., who has been named Area Representative for the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc.
Renner will provide on-farm service to Jersey owners located in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. He will also travel nationwide as an evaluator for the AJCA Linear Type Traits Appraisal program.
The recipient of the 2003 William A. Russell Memorial Scholarship, Renner graduated this past June from California Polytechnic State University with a B.S. degree in dairy science, with a minor in agribusiness.
He was an assistant herdsman at Renner Ranches, Inc., working in all departments of the operation with additional responsibility for sire selection and matings for the herd’s Jersey cattle.
As a member of the Cal Poly dairy cattle judging team, Blake earned high individual honors at the 2006 Western National spring contest and ranking in the top 10 for reasons at the NAILE contest in Louisville, Ky. He served as associate chair for the FFA state finals contest, and was an official judge for the finals held this past May.
For four summers (2003 to 2006) he was a counselor at the Barry Mendenhall Basketball Camps in Scotia, Calif., working on developing basketball skills with youth from the ages of five to 15.
Posted: September 18, 2008 at 7:46 pm
By News Editor
The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB) has created a new website for the media. The site is a great resource for all things dairy in Wisconsin!
This news media resource website connects you to:
* Story ideas and leads – searchable by topic or location
* The latest facts and statistics on all things dairy
* Downloadable high-resolution graphics, charts and photos
* RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed subscription
* COMING SOON – interactive video and audio Multi-Media Center
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