Posted: October 31, 2008 at 3:41 pm
By News Editor
Charles Kuperus, New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture has announced he will resign his post (held since 2002) by the end of the year. Kuperus, 50, of Sussex borough, grew up on a dairy farm and founded his own garden center and nursery. He and his wife, Marge have six children.
“Secretary Kuperus has done an outstanding job at the Department of Agriculture, exemplified by the work he has done to help preserve farmland, and his focus on promoting economic development for farmers across New Jersey,” Sean D’Arcy, the governor’s spokesman said. “Secretary Kuperus has been an invaluable member of the Corzine administration and his efforts are greatly appreciated.”
Although his department narrowly survived elimination during last year’s budget negotiations, Kuperus’ standing with some in the farming community has been tenuous since the passage of the Highlands Preservation Act in 2004. In 2005, a faction of the State Board of Agriculture, which appoints the secretary with the governor’s approval, tried to force his resignation.
“Charlie has been taking the heat from many in the farm community who would rather be able to sell their land to developers, growing houses than crops,” Tittel said. “He has helped protect farming for the future.”
The secretary oversees the programs that affect the state’s 9,600 farms and a food and agriculture industry that contributes $64 billion annually to the state’s economy, according to the department’s website. Only six people have served in the job since 1938.
Posted: October 31, 2008 at 3:30 pm
By News Editor
Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has announced their updated export bids for the past week.
Seven of the bids accepted were from Dairy Farmers of America of Kansas City, Mo., for the export of the following products: 400 metric tons (881,849 lbs.) of butter to South Africa; 20 metric tons (44,092 lbs.) of butter to Guatemala; 140 metric tons of anhydrous milkfat to Mexico; another 36 metric tons (79,366 lbs.) of AMF to Mexico; 20 metric tons (44,092 lbs.) of AMF to the Dominican Republic; 40 metric tons (88,185 lbs.) of whole milk powder to Mexico; and 20 metric tons (44,092 lbs.) of WMP to Nicaragua.
Finally, one bid was accepted from Humboldt Creamery of Fortuna, Calif., for a whole milk powder export of 20 metric tons (44,092 lbs.) to Jordan.
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, 18,806 metric tons (41 million lbs.); cheese, 1,434 metric tons (3.2 million lbs.); whole milk powder, 1,228 metric tons (2.7 million lbs.); and anhydrous milkfat, 5,799 metric tons (12.8 million lbs.). The milk equivalent total of these products is 1.31 billion pounds.
Posted: October 31, 2008 at 2:15 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
Dairy Markets Week in Review
Cash cheese prices continue to weaken at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and block closed on Halloween at a ghoulish $1. 6075 per pound, down 13 cents on the week, 40 1/4-cents below a year ago, and the lowest its been since May 2007. Barrel closed at $1.6850, unchanged on the week, but 22 3/4-cents below a year ago. Thirteen cars of block traded hands on the week and none of barrel. The NASS-surveyed U.S. average price for block dipped to $1.8557, down 2.2 cents. Barrel averaged $1.8752, up 1.4 cents.
Butter closed the week at $1.6850, down 6 1/2-cents, but still 37 cents above a year ago. Only two cars were sold all week. NASS butter averaged $1.7202, up 2 cents. NASS nonfat dry milk averaged 92.24 cents per pound, down 6.2 cents, and dry whey averaged 19.23 cents, up 0.1 cent.
Cash Grade A nonfat dry milk closed Friday at 97 cents per pound, down 3 1/2 cents on the week, and Extra Grade closed at 97 cents, down 3 on the week.
Chase found that the factors of larger corn silage particle size and higher neutral detergent fiber for digestibility correlate with higher levels of milk fat and higher ration starch level correlates with higher milk protein levels.
“The longer particle may be a more normal ruminant environment,” Mr. Chase said. “The higher starch level may provide more energy for microorganisms and in the intestine.”
But Mr. Chase said a cause-effect relationship is not yet clear. He will next consider multiple factors compared to protein and fat content.
Teams from the university and Cornell Cooperative Extension collected samples of feed and water, herd and production records and data on the size and condition of cows.
The herds involved in the study ranged from those with 30 cows to those with over 1,000. They all used the total mix ration method of feeding, in which different feeds go into a mixer together so there is consistency in every bite.
With additional funding from the university, Mr. Chase will use the same process to examine component levels in other regions in a three-year study. Results are expected at the beginning of next fall.
“The cooperation has been incredible. It is a reason that we are locating here, along with the tremendous opportunity to add value to the raw milk supply that flows in this region,” said Brian Teator, the Saratoga Cheese Corporation Spokesman.
The Kosher cheese plant will be built in the Aurelius Business Park and provide 77 full-time jobs once it’s completed. And the local economy is expected to be enormously impacted. In fact, after the second year of production, the plant will purchase 240 million pounds of milk from New York dairy farmers. That’s more than $50 million worth of milk.
The cheeses that will be made at the plant are part of a growing worldwide market.
“These are specialty soft cheese. In Europe, they make up over 30 percent of the total cheese market. Here, it’s five percent, has grown to six percent over the last two or three years,” Lawrence Rosenbaum, Saratoga Cheese Corporation Chairman.
Posted: October 27, 2008 at 8:32 pm
By News Editor
You know that your favorite Wisconsin cheese tastes good, but have you ever thought about what kind of personality its flavor is comparable to? The folks at the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB) can help you out with their new campaign launching in November that illustrates the unique personalities of Wisconsin Cheeses.
The first ad in the series introduces the personality of Cheddar with a headline reading: “Wisconsin Cheddar — a Prima Donna he is not.” The copy reads:
“Cheddar. He’s reliable, hardworking, and there with a truck when you need to move a couch. Cheddar likes his beer, his burgers, and his baked potatoes. But at the same time, he’s not opposed to a glass of merlot or zinfandel if the mood should strike. Just don’t expect to see him drinking it with his pinkie sticking out.”
The WMMB campaign, created by newly hired Shine Advertising of Madison, Wis., was inspired by consumer research that revealed the personal relationships that cheese lovers have with Wisconsin Cheese. The first in the series of ads debuts in the November issues of Better Homes and Gardens, Food & Wine, Gourmet, Midwest Living and Cooking Light magazines.
With each ad, another unique Wisconsin Cheese personality will be revealed. For Wisconsin Parmesan, it’s “Long Live the Renaissance Man.” For Wisconsin Swiss, “A Simple Man with Expensive Tastes.” And for Wisconsin Blue, the cheese who “Never Holds His Tongue.”
Additional Wisconsin Cheese advertising will come in the form of four lighthearted 30-second radio spots that reflect the “cheese personalities” of Wisconsin Cheddar, Blue, Parmesan and Swiss and will encourage listeners to eat only Wisconsin Cheese.
An online microsite, will supplement the overall advertising campaign by offering Wisconsin Cheese pairing suggestions for consumers’ preferred beverage choices.
Posted: October 24, 2008 at 6:20 pm
By News Editor
Quebec dairy firm Saputo has permanently closed one of its U.S. cheesemaking facilities that was damaged in a fire last month. The plant at Hinesburg, Vermont, south of Montreal, is officially closed as of Wednesday, putting 80 permanent staff out of work.
The plant was damaged by fire on Sept. 29, since which time its cheese production has been moved to other Saputo facilities in the U.S. Some of the plant’s staff may be offered transfers to other facilities in Saputo’s U.S. dairy products division.
The closure is expected to cost the company about US$5.4 million after taxes, including an after-tax fixed-assets write-down of about US$4.4 million, which will be logged in its third-quarter ledger for fiscal 2009.
However, Saputo noted in its release Wednesday, it expects to see annual savings after taxes of about US$2.2 million, starting in fiscal 2010, due to the closure.
Posted: October 24, 2008 at 6:11 pm
By News Editor
Cooperatives Working Together(CWT) will conduct a new herd retirement program this fall, the organization announced Friday. This will be the second herd retirement round conducted this year; the previous one was initiated in June. Detailed information can be found at the CWT website, including a bid application, a calculator to help estimate a farmer’s bid, and answers to frequently-asked questions.
All bids must be postmarked by Monday, November 24th, in order to be considered. All dairy producers submitting bids to sell their herds must be members of CWT as of January 2008, either through their membership in a fully participating cooperative, or as an independent member of CWT. Bids will be reviewed in early December, with field auditors then proceeding to visit each accepted farm to begin the cow removal process.
As farm-level milk prices drop to their lowest level in 18 months, CWT officials said it was time the program offered its members another opportunity to retire their herds to trim overall national milk production, and strengthen prices going into 2009.
This will be the sixth herd retirement round since CWT began operations in the summer of 2003. As it did earlier this year, this round offers bidding producers the option of including all their bred heifers, for a flat fee of $1,225 per animal. Producers must offer all of their bred heifers at that price.
As was the case with this past summer’s herd retirement round, regional safeguard limits will no longer be utilized and, therefore, CWT bidders will not be competing regionally, but nationally. Also, CWT is not targeting how many pounds of milk, cows, or herds will be removed. Approximately 25,000 cows were removed earlier this year.
Through the herd retirement program, if a farmer’s bid is accepted, CWT pays that farmer for the volume of milk produced by that herd in a 12-month period. Farmers submitting bids must provide their milk production records from Oct. 1, 2007, through Sept. 30, 2008. The farmer is responsible for selling the cows for slaughter, and he or she retains the proceeds from that transaction.
As in the past, any producer who had his bid accepted in any of the previous herd retirements is not eligible to participate again. Also, those producers who have a financial interest in more than one dairy farming operation must include all their cows in their bid. A dairyman cannot place a bid for just one of his herds, if he has an interest in multiple operations.
Posted: October 23, 2008 at 6:55 pm
By News Editor
“What’s for Lunch?” is a humorous and entertaining look at some of the issues related to the various ways food is grown prior to making it to our plates, whether for school lunch or elsewhere! The video reviews everything from organic farming (regulated by USDA) to sustainable agriculture (keeping our natural world in balance) to plant biotechnology (sometimes called genetically modified organisms or GMO). But remember, good nutrition is the key to keeping a body healthy.
Check out the video - it has some great messages; and is entertaining too!
Posted: October 22, 2008 at 7:06 pm
By News Editor
Scientists have found that eating yogurt every day could cut the risk of developing bladder cancer by up to 40 percent. The research showed that those who ate two servings a day were significantly less likely to go on to have the disease than those who ate yogurt only occasionally or not at all.
No benefit was found from regularly eating other dairy products, the study found. The scientists behind the research believe that bacteria in yogurt could help to fight disease.
The study, by researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, followed 80,000 patients over nine years.
Asked about their diet, those who went on to develop bladder cancer were less likely to have eaten yogurt regularly than those who remained cancer free, the scientists said.
According to the findings, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a couple of yogurts a day reduced the risk of developing the disease in women by 45 per cent and in men by 36 per cent.
“Cultured milk products, such as yogurt, contain lactic acid bacteria, which have been shown to suppress bladder cancer in rats,” according to the report.
“Our research suggests a high intake (of yogurt in humans) may reduce the risk.”
People who eat yogurt regularly could also be more health conscious generally and likely to look after their body better than others.
For Obama, the dessert scientists at the Baskin-Robbins ice-cream skunk works created a concoction titled “Whirl of Change” which featured peanut-nougat ice cream whirled with chunks of chocolate-covered peanut brittle and a caramel ribbon.
McCain, meanwhile, was represented by “Straight Talk Crunch,” an intriguing melange whose ingredients include caramel ribbon, chocolate pieces, candy red states, and crunchy mixed nuts swirled into white chocolate ice cream.
Nearly 500,000 people voted in its Flavor Debate, Baskin-Robbins said, and the Obama entree won 51 percent of the vote.
No word yet from Republican spin-meisters on whether this poll result is within the margin of error.
Posted: October 21, 2008 at 8:23 pm
By News Editor
Stremicks Heritage Foods has been named the recipient of the #1 Tasting Organic Milk in America award, bestowed by the prestigious American Masters of Taste. Headquartered in Santa Ana, Calif., the company operates in Santa Ana and Riverside, Calif.; Cedar City, Utah; Joplin, Missouri and Mexicali, Mexico.
Judged against other national organic milk products, Heritage Foods Organic Milk was selected as the winning product in the organic milk category for its superior taste in each of its varieties — Reduced Fat
2%, Low Fat 1%, Fat Free and Whole Milk Homogenized Milk. The judging was conducted by a panel of Masters of Taste executive chefs in a triple-blind taste test in Northern California. The Chef du Jury of this judging panel was famed Jesse Sartain, the founder and national director of the American
Masters of Taste and the Chefs In America Awards Foundation. Sartain also is a culinary winner of the Maitre du Gout award; the James Beard Foundation award; the Maitre Canardier de France award; and the Les Toques Blanches, Global and World Gourmet Society Hall of Fame award.
The protocols of triple-blind judging include several ground rules to ensure accurate and fair results. As an example, evaluators do not know the product’s manufacturer, its variety or appellation. In addition,
the judges do not know the scores and comments of other evaluators.
Posted: October 20, 2008 at 6:41 pm
By News Editor
Each American needs to head to the voting booth this November; and if you do, you’ll be rewarding with a sweet treat. Participating Ben & Jerry’s will be offering a free scoop of ice cream to voters! Ice cream and voting - a new perfect combination!
Come to participating scoop shops on November 4th from 5-8pm, show us you voted and you’ll get a free scoop of ice cream. Show us your “I Voted” sticker, a photo of you in front of your polling station, do the “I Voted dance” or just tell us you voted.
Two bids were accepted from California Dairies Inc. of Artesia, Calif., for the following butter exports: 100 metric tons (220,462 pounds) to Mexico, and 10 metric tons (22,046 lbs.) to China.
One bid was accepted from Darigold of Seattle, Wash., for a butter export of 100 metric tons (220,462 lbs.) to Singapore.
A fourth bid was accepted from Dairy Farmers of America of Kansas City, Mo., for the export of 18 metric tons (39,683 lbs.) of whole milk powder to the Dominican Republic.
And a fifth bid was accepted from Land O’Lakes of Arden Hills, Minn., for the export of 8.2 metric tons (18,078 lbs.) of Parmesan cheese to South Korea.
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, 18,386 metric tons (40.5 million lbs.); cheese, 1,434 metric tons (3.2 million lbs.); whole milk powder, 1,148 metric tons (2.5 million lbs.); and anhydrous milkfat, 5,603 metric tons (12.3 million lbs.). The milk equivalent total of these products is 1.28 billion pounds. The total for butter has been adjusted due to adjustments in the amounts of previously-accepted bids.
Posted: October 18, 2008 at 8:37 am
By News Editor
Heidi Klum is the newest “Got Milk” celebrity. The ad is set to be debuted this Halloween. Check out a video interview from the set of the photoshoot, where Heidi talks about the importance of milk in a healthy diet.
A catwalk queen and mother of three children, Heidi Klum shows some support for healthy life style, reminding people about the importance of good nutrition by starring in a new “Got Milk?” ad campaign. The German-born supermodel has her hair pigtailed and dons full costume as a milk maid for the promo.
The ad reads: Haute cowture. Trick or treat? There’s no trick to it. The 9 essential nutrients in lowfat of fat free milk make it the perfect after-treat treat for your whole family. So this Halloween, dress up your costume with a look that’s always in style. Wunderbar!
Posted: October 18, 2008 at 8:22 am
By News Editor
Congratulations to Jeff King, Schuylerville, N.Y. for being the named to the Holstein Foundation board of trustees. King takes the place of retiring Trustee Elmo Wendorf, Jr., from Ixonia, Wis.
“I feel honored to join the Holstein Foundation Trustees,” said King. “I’m looking forward to working with an organization that has such a strong commitment to the future of the dairy industry.”
King and his brother, Jan, manage their 800-head registered Holstein herd, Kings Ransom Farm. They have marketed a great deal of genetics from their farm, both nationally and internationally. The farm was recently recognized as a Century Farm for being in the ownership of the same family for over 100 years. Jeff is also active with the New York Holstein Association, and serves as the chairman of the Sales Committee.
I normally don’t make editorial comments myself, but I believe this is a wake-up call for all farmers and ranchers. You MUST stand-up and be heard. You have to tell your story, because, as the episode illustrates, if you don’t, someone else will.
Consumers want to understand what you do on your farm and why; and only YOU can share your story. Farmers and ranchers are among the most respected and hard-working in this country and in general, most people are asking questions about your practices to ensure their families are safe and healthy.
Please take action and communicate with your neighbors and your community how you take good care of your animals and your land. Each positive interaction you have will make a difference! If you need more motivation to speak-up, just take 10 minutes to read the comments that Oprah viewers are making in regards to this show - I promise it will make you take action immediately.
“I believe how we treat the least of being among us determines our own humanity,” Oprah said in opening remarks on the show.
Reporter Lisa Ling visited both free-range farms and “factory” farms to show viewers the differences in how animals are raised. On the set of the program, Oprah stood next to replicas of cages and crates to show the size of some animals’ quarters in large-scale farm operations. Those who support California’s Proposition 2 say these animals have a right to more space during their lives. Opponents claim the new law would drive up costs, put farmers out of business and end the egg industry in California, and deny consumers the right to choose less-expensive food.
Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States, told Oprah’s audience that he supports Proposition 2. “This is just about basic decency,” he said. “It’s about, if animals are going to be raised for food – and that’s certainly the case in this country – then the least we can do for them is allow them to move. I mean, what’s more basic that allowing animals with legs and wings to move around?”
The show, however, was not one-sided. Opponents of Proposition 2 also had their say. Ryan Armstrong, a third-generation egg farmer from California, told the audience that if Proposition 2 passes, it will make eggs produced in California too expensive for most consumers, creating the possibility that eggs will be imported from places without these animal housing laws.
Oprah’s show provided an opportunity for opponents of Proposition 2 to voice their concerns over the possible new law. But make no mistake – Oprah is behind such efforts 100 percent. The show, and the reporting by Lisa Ling, was intended to grab at the heartstrings of viewers, and an attempt to gain ratings. I’m sure it succeeded at both.
Greg Henderson, Drovers editor: Oprah’s influence on American life is vast, and animal welfare issues will be no different. She believes consumers will vote on their animal care preferences at the grocery store. But when she makes such comments she ignores the fact that her vast wealth allows her to eat whatever she wishes – organic, free-range, etc. But for many Americans those choices have already been made as our economy dips further into recession.
Unfortunately, our battle over animal welfare is not winnable. We can only hope to contain the radical ideas and the implementation of unworkable laws. Our best tactics are to eliminate any form of animal abuse, properly train employees, and adhere to strict animal care guidelines.
Posted: October 16, 2008 at 6:50 pm
By News Editor
Congratulations to the Crave Brothers of Waterloo, Wis. for being named the 2008 World Dairy Expo Dairymen of the Year. The four brothers, Charles, George, Tom and Mark accepted the award at the World Dairy Expo. The brothers and their families are partners in Crave Brothers Farm, LLC and Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese, LLC.
In the span of 30 years, the Crave brothers created a family dairy farm that has become internationally known for its productivity, innovation and environmental sustainability. Along the way, they also created a farmstead cheese plant that uses milk from their farm in award-winning artisan cheeses.
The brothers, raised on a 40-cow Wisconsin dairy farm, started their business in 1978, milking 57 cows on a rented farm. They now farm 1,800 acres and milk 1,200 cows three times a day. The Craves built one of the first modern free-stall milking facilities in their area, and were leaders in adapting TMR (a nutritionally balanced “total mixed ration” of feed for a herd). The brothers emphasize herd comfort and quality, and their animals earn top honors at state and national shows.
The Crave brothers make it a priority to protect the environment in all aspects of their agri-business. For example, they have an anaerobic manure digester that creates enough electricity to power their farm, their on-farm cheesemaking facility, and 120 homes. The Craves often partner with the nearby University of Wisconsin-Madison in engineering, profitability and on farm trials.
In 2002, the Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese plant was built to utilize the fresh milk from their cows, and George became a licensed cheesemaker. The family now produces an array of prize-winning, hand-crafted specialty cheeses, including fresh Mozzarella, Mascarpone and proprietary varieties such as “Les Frères” – a French term that translates as “the brothers,” a nod to the family enterprise.
The Crave brothers and their families actively support agri-business organizations and projects, and open their farm to tours of nearly 1,000 visitors each year.
Higher feed prices have put a new twist on developing a strategy for winter feeding for dairy producers. Leo Brown, Livestock Information Manager for Pioneer Hi-Bred, discusses steps livestock producers can take to make the transition to new feedstocks as efficient as possible from an economic and production perspective. “Every year is different,” says Brown. “Because a feed ration worked last year and the year before, doesn’t mean a producer shouldn’t look at options. Producers need to be efficient, making the most cost-effective choices while meeting production goals.”
Leo Brown on Winter Inventory Strategies (5:00 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.
Rickets first became a problem in the U.S. during the 18th century, in part because smoke from factories shielded people from the sun’s rays — an important source of vitamin D. Rates of the disease, which weakens bones, were brought down through improved nutrition.
“There’s been increased case reports and people describing it over the past five to 10 years; whether this is a true increase is unclear,” said Dr. Steven Abrams, a pediatrician at the Baylor College of Medicine who has been on previous AAP vitamin D guideline committees.
“The recommendation is going to be essentially a supplement for every child and adolescent in the United States,” said Dr. Frank R. Greer, a pediatrician at the University of Wisconsin and one of the authors of the guidelines.
Greer notes that while children could get an adequate amount of the nutrient from drinking six glasses of milk a day or eating fatty fish such as salmon and mackerel, children are unlikely to do either of those. But he also stresses that parents should not over-supplement their children.
But avoiding rickets may not be the only reason to get those supplements. Another motive for the revised guidelines, according to the AAP, is to build up the body’s defenses.
“New evidence supports a potential role for vitamin D in maintaining innate immunity and preventing diseases such as diabetes and cancer,” write the authors in their abstract.
Charles Kuperus, New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture has announced he will resign his post (held since 2002) by the end of the year. Kuperus, 50, of Sussex borough, grew up on a dairy farm and founded his own garden center and nursery. He and his wife, Marge have six children.
Dairy Markets Week in Review
Higher feed prices have put a new twist on developing a strategy for winter feeding for dairy producers. Leo Brown, Livestock Information Manager for Pioneer Hi-Bred, discusses steps livestock producers can take to make the transition to new feedstocks as efficient as possible from an economic and production perspective. “Every year is different,” says Brown. “Because a feed ration worked last year and the year before, doesn’t mean a producer shouldn’t look at options. Producers need to be efficient, making the most cost-effective choices while meeting production goals.”