Posted: August 5, 2011 at 8:37 am
By News Editor
A recent news release from National Milk Producers Federation explains why the current federal dairy policies need to change, and how Foundation for the Future, including the Dairy Producer Margin Protection Program and the Dairy Market Stabilization Program, can help.
Dairy producers realize that the status quo protections offered by current federal policies have failed them during the past decade – especially in 2009 – yet some may understandably be apprehensive about advocating comprehensive reform of those policies.
The Dairy Product Price Support Program (DPPSP) and the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program combined constitute nearly 80 percent of the dairy budget baseline over the next ten years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. However, the DPPSP has become an ineffective safety net for farmers, and has created an unintended outcome whereby the U.S. has become burdened with balancing the world’s milk supply.
The MILC program also has been ineffective in providing a safety net for farmers, and treats farms and entire regions of the country unequally. More specifically, it does not address the rise in volatile feed costs, and has not prevented the exodus of farms during its decade of existence. In 2001, there were 97,460 U.S. dairy farms, but by 2010, that figure was 62,500 – a loss of 36 percent of the nation’s dairy farmers, almost all of which were small to medium-size operations of 500 cows or less. This clearly demonstrates the inadequacy of the current program and the need for better dairy policy.
The policy proposals contained in the National Milk Producers Federation’s Foundation for the Future (FFTF) eliminate the DPPSP and MILC programs, and create a more efficient and effective safety net in the form of a Dairy Producer Margin Protection Program, the costs of which are shared by dairy farmers and the federal government. FFTF also establishes a Dairy Market Stabilization Program to prompt producers to respond more quickly to economic signals from the marketplace and at no cost to the government.
Existing farm programs, including the dairy title within the Farm Bill, are expected to undergo further cuts as part of the new federal budget deal passed by the House and Senate. FFTF was created to achieve better economic protection for farmers, while also yielding a budget savings – compared to current baseline spending levels – precisely because farm safety nets are going to shrink in the future. The Congressional Budget Office says FFTF will save $166 million over the next five years, at a time when Congress has now pledged to cut more than a trillion dollars from federal spending.
Dairy producers have acknowledged that shrinking federal resources are the reality. Keeping the status quo is not an option, either economically, as the best safety net to producers, or fiscally, due to budget demands. Producers have been calling for something better for the past two years. We can’t stay where we are and change is needed, which is why Foundation for the Future was developed.
Source: National Milk Producers Federation
Posted: August 4, 2011 at 2:55 pm
By News Editor
Congratulation to Londa M. Johnson of Fitchburg, Wis. for being named an Area Representative for the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc., effective July 25, 2011.
Johnson will provide on-farm service in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota, and also travel nationwide as an evaluator for the AJCA Linear Type Traits Appraisal program.
Johnson has been a dairy production specialist with Landmark Services Cooperative providing nutrition management services since May of 2010. She earned a B.S. degree in dairy science from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, with a minor in business and professional communications. In 2009, Johnson was a member of the UW-River Falls team that placed second in the National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest, and was the eighth high individual overall. She also served as president of the UWRF Dairy Club and co-chair of the 2010 Falcon Premier Sale.
Londa was selected for the inaugural class of Jersey Youth Academy in 2009. That same year, she was a participant in the International Collegiate Ag Leadership Program for China and Vietnam and completed a progeny promotions internship at ABS Global Inc.
A native of Minnesota, Johnson grew up on her family’s Holstein and Jersey dairy farm in rural LaCrescent. In addition to helping with ongoing herd management, she coordinated mating decisions for the herd and prepared cattle for shows.
She was awarded the American FFA Degree and elected state sentinel for Minnesota FFA (2006). In addition to being runner-up in the Princess Kay of the Milky Way competition, Londa was chosen as a National Beef Ambassador (2006-07).
Source: The American Jersey Cattle Association
Posted: August 3, 2011 at 7:46 am
By News Editor
The new 2011 Baileys® Irish Champion Holstein Friesian cow has been crowned. Dalevalley OT1 J Lulu, owned by Irish farmers Eugene and Sean Murphy, has won the prestigious award.
Dalevalley OT1 J Lulu, is a six year old cow that beat 24 other bovine beauties from across Ireland to take the Baileys Irish Champion title. The competition recognises good body conformation with proven excellence in milk production and it is the first time that the Murphy family, who are from Co. Cork, has won this prestigious competition which dates back to 1983.
Dalevalley OT1 J Lulu has had four calves and produced 12,007 kgs of milk in her last lactation (approximately 2,500 gallons.) She was bred in the North of Ireland, in Donegal, as part of the Dale Valley herd, owned by Roy Cromie and was purchased by the Murphy’s as a heifer-in-milk. She is the daughter of sire, Astronomical and dam Dalevalley Cousteau Lulu. She adds the title of Baileys Irish Champion to her recent success at the Cork Show.
Commenting on his selection, competition judge, Iwan Morgan from Wales said: “It has been an ambition of mine to follow in my father’s footsteps and judge this competition. All of the cows here today were remarkable but the sheer power and capacity of the winner and in particular that incredible udder gave her the edge.”
Source: Baileys® Irish Cream
Posted: August 3, 2011 at 7:42 am
By News Editor
Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) accepted eight requests for export assistance in the last two weeks from Bongards Creamery and Dairy Farmers of America to sell a total of 3,580 metric tons (7.893 million pounds) of Cheddar cheese to customers in the Asia, the Middle East, Central America, Europe and the South Pacific. The product will be delivered August through December.
In 2011, CWT has assisted members in making export sales of Cheddar, Monterey Jack and Gouda cheese totaling 26,136 metric tons (57.6 million pounds) to 20 countries on four continents. An earlier accepted bid for 500 metric tons was cancelled.
Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program positively impacts producer milk prices in the short-term by reducing inventories that overhang the market and depress cheese prices. In the long-term, CWT’s Export Assistance program helps member cooperatives gain and maintain market share, thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products.
CWT will pay export bonuses to the bidders, only when delivery of the product is verified by the submission of the required documentation.
Source: Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) Export Assistance
Posted: August 3, 2011 at 6:41 am
By Chuck
I’m very surprised at some of the response to our latest ZimmPoll. Although 37% responding say they have an iPad or other tablet, 33% said they don’t and don’t want one! And we had 30% who said they don’t have one but do want one. However, when you consider that no one had one less than two years ago you might consider the percentage who have or want one to be huge! I know I’m a geek and can’t have enough gadgets but not everyone is an agnerd.
Our new ZimmPoll is now live. We’re asking the question, “What do you think the biggest safety issue is at a biorefinery?” Your input and thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.
Posted: August 1, 2011 at 8:49 pm
By News Editor
The World Dairy Expo Executive Committee is pleased to announce that Jim Crowley, Jr. has accepted the position of Dairy Cattle Show Superintendent, effective at the March Annual Board of Directors meeting in 2012.
Crowley brings a substantial amount of experience to the position, having followed in his father’s footsteps by becoming an integral part of the World Dairy Expo cattle shows at a young age.
Most recently, Crowley has served as the Brown Swiss Superintendent, meeting the needs of Brown Swiss exhibitors from throughout the United States and Canada.
Crowley will be shadowing current overall Dairy Cattle Show Superintendent Bob Kaiser at this year’s show, in addition to serving as Brown Swiss Superintendent. This will be Kaiser’s fifth show serving as overall Dairy Cattle Show Superintendent, before that he served as Ayrshire Superintendent. From all of us at World Dairy Expo, we are extremely grateful for Kaiser’s efforts over the past five years and look forward to working with Crowley in the future.
Source: World Dairy Expo
Posted: August 1, 2011 at 8:46 pm
By News Editor
ANIMART, Inc. welcomes back Christine Lindner as director of strategic marketing overseeing the strategic marketing and branding initiates of the dairy and livestock division which provides animal health products, supplies and solutions to producers.
Lindner wrapped up her year of service in June as the 63rd Alice in Dairyland working on behalf of Wisconsin farmers connecting residents to our state’s diverse agriculture industry through face-to-face conversations, media interviews and classroom presentations to bring agriculture into the daily lives of Wisconsinites.
“Serving as Alice in Dairyland has been a life-long goal of Christine’s since meeting “Alice” in the 4th grade classroom spurring her desire to one day serve as our state’s agricultural ambassador,” says Ruth Metz, co-owner and founder of ANIMART with her husband, Dr. James Metz. “We are proud to help our staff and clients achieve their goals while advancing the dairy and livestock industry.”
Lindner graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture journalism and joined the ANIMART team in 2007 as Marketing Manager. She gained a passion for promoting agriculture growing up on her family’s fourth generation dairy farm near Beaver Dam and broadened her knowledge of the industry through internships, agriculture organizations and serving as a state FFA officer.
Source: ANIMART, Inc.
Posted: August 1, 2011 at 3:50 pm
By News Editor
Eight junior members of the American Jersey Cattle Association displayed impressive depth of breed knowledge and engaging presentation styles during the sixth national Jersey youth public speaking contest, TalkJersey.
The contest, offering cash awards sponsored by ABS Global Inc., De Forest, Wis. Contestants could speak about any topic related to Jersey cattle or Jersey milk, including current affairs and dairy industry trends. Presentations were scored on content and organization (25 points), language and voice (10 points), presentation (5 points), and total effectiveness (5 points). Each contestant received written evaluations from each member of the judging panel.
Rankings in each division were as follows.
Division I (7-10 years)
1. Katarina Emerich, Mooers, N.Y., “The Importance of Animal ID”
Division II (11-13 years)
1. Allison Foster, Portage, Wis., “Why Jerseys”
2. Gerret Boer, Dalhart, Texas, “Heat Stress and the Brown Cow”
Division III (14-16 years)
1. Sydney Endres, Lodi, Wis., “The Queen of Cows: Jerseys”
2. Meghan Skiba, Cambridge, Minn., “Jerseys: A Dairy Good Fortune”
3. Ben Grammer, Sebring, Ohio, “Why Go With Jerseys”
Division IV (17-20 years)
1. Kara A. Maxwell, Donahue, Iowa, “Sexed Semen”
2. Kaitlyn Riley, Gays Mills, Wis., “Spreading Word about the Farming Industry”
Source: The American Jersey Cattle Association
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