Posted: September 13, 2011 at 10:04 am
By Melissa
A high-performance round baler, purposefully designed for producers who want capacity, speed and reliability in smaller 5′ x 4′ round bales, is now available from Vermeer. The new Vermeer 504N, modeled after the Vermeer Super M Series, produces 47″ wide x 60″ diameter (1.2 m x 1.5 m) packages that weigh up to 1200 lbs (544 kg), depending on moisture content.
Vermeer Introduces a New Generation of Rebel Balers — Twelve years ago, Vermeer introduced the first ever hitch ‘n go baler designed to meet the needs and pocketbooks of producers with low horsepower tractors looking to roll their own high-quality round bales. Today marks the launch of the new Rebel Baler generation, this time with two models – the Rebel 5420 and 5520 Balers – and several significant new features incorporated from larger Vermeer models, but still maintaining the user-friendly functionality and meeting the lower horsepower requirements of the popular original.
Vermeer Adds High-Capacity Wheel Rake to VR Series — A new, high-capacity wheel rake capable of raking 28′ (8.5 m) wide passes – yet nimble enough to maneuver like rakes much smaller in size – is now available from Vermeer Corporation. The heavy-duty VR1428 is designed to give operators more capacity and the ability to handle more acres in less time, with fewer maintenance issues. It combines smart, streamlined design and functionality with simple, tool-free adjustments, while incorporating outstanding operator conveniences.
Posted: September 13, 2011 at 9:58 am
By Cindy Zimmerman
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI) has announced the winners of the Dairy Life Photo Contest and prepared the 2012 Dairy Life Calendar featuring those winners which will be distributed at World Dairy Expo next month.
The winning photos for each month are:
January: Western Waves, L.L.C., Hilda Mitchell, D.V.M., Ferndale, WA
February: Wagner Dairy Farms, Marlene Wagner, Poestenkill, NY
March: George Grossi & Son Dairy, Nancy Grossi, Novato, CA
April: Red Rock Ayrshires, Mina Gumieny, Edgar, WI
May: Wagner Farms, Laura Wagner, Oconto Falls, WI
June: Enchanted Dairy, Jeannie Miller, Little Falls, MN
July: San Isidro Jerseys, Bernadette Estacio, Turlock, CA
August: Everson Jerseys Dairy, Jamie Everson, Canfield, OH
September: Pride View Dairy, Kelly Boelter, Markesan, WI
October: Miami Hills Dairy, Laura Frye, Logansport, IN
November: Southwind Dairy, Linda Squire, Hagerman, NM
December: Orange Patch Dairy, Shannon Seifert, Sleepy Eye, MN
Visitors to this year’s World Dairy Expo can get a copy of the Dairy Life Calendar by visiting the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. display at Booth 2806 in the Expo trade show. The winning photos will also be posted on-line and there is an order form to get a copy of the calendar if you can’t make it to expo.
Posted: September 9, 2011 at 6:29 pm
By News Editor
Congratulations to Kathryn Boor, the 2011 recipient of the International Dairy Foods Association Research Award in Dairy Foods Processing.
Kathryn J. Boor is the dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University. Boor has made outstanding contributions through her integrated extension and research programs in dairy microbiology quality and safety, dedicated to improving dairy product shelf life, wholesomeness, and safety through reduction of spoilage and pathogenic bacteria. Boor’s research provides dairy processors with the means to advance the quality of their products.
The International Dairy Foods Association Research Award in Dairy Foods Processing was created to recognize individuals whose research findings have allowed dairy foods processors to develop new products, and to make a significant improvement in the quality, safety, or processing efficiency of dairy foods.
The winner must have conducted research at public or private institutions, and their research findings must have clearly and significantly benefited the dairy foods processing industry in its ability to manufacture products with higher quality or safety (chemical and/or microbiological), or with increased processing efficiencies, or have led to innovative product development with a measurable impact on the market. The adoption of the findings must affect a significant portion of the dairy foods manufactured.
Source: International Dairy Foods Association
Posted: September 9, 2011 at 6:09 pm
By News Editor
Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 17 requests for export assistance from Darigold, Dairy Farmers of America, Foremost Farms and United Dairymen of Arizona to sell a total of 1,892 metric tons (4.171 million pounds) of Cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese to customers in Asia, North Africa and the Middle East. The product will be delivered September 2011 through January 2012.
In 2011, CWT has assisted members in making export sales of Cheddar, Monterey Jack and Gouda cheese totaling 30,153 metric tons (66.5 million pounds) to 20 countries on four continents. That is the equivalent of 665 million pounds of milk, the annual production of 31,600 cows.
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)
Posted: September 9, 2011 at 5:18 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
The House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry held an audit hearing Thursday on how USDA dairy programs are working, current conditions and productivity in the dairy industry, and possible public policy challenges moving forward.
“The events of 2009 exposed what many have long-held to be an inadequacy of some of our current dairy programs. While some observers may argue that additional funding may improve the overall effectiveness of our dairy safety net, our current budgetary outlook makes this option a non-starter,” said Chairman Thomas Rooney (R-FL). “Innovative and effective ideas are needed in order to ensure that our programs support our producers, facilitate product and market development, and continue to ensure the availability of safe, abundant, and affordable products for our consumers.”
USDA Deputy Administrator for Dairy Programs Dana Coale gave an update to the committee on implementation of the Mandatory Price Reporting Act of 2010. “We are on scheduled to hopefully have the program up and running by the first part of 2012,” she said.
Coale noted that USDA issued a proposed rule in June to implement the provisions contained in the Mandatory Price Reporting Act of 2010. Under the proposed rule, AMS would develop the electronic system and collect the data. The comment period closed August 9 and AMS is currently reviewing the seven comments received.
Coale was asked about the status of proposals submitted by the Dairy Industry Advisory Committee to address price volatility. “Of the 23 recommendations that were presented to the secretary, over half of them requested either new funding or higher levels of funding,” she explained. Others required the secretary to have new legislative authority.
“Of the remaining recommendations, the department has completed five of those,” and three others are being considered, said Coale. “So we have taken what the advisory committee has done and we’ve been reviewing it and analyzing it.”
Coale says USDA is also working with Congress to review legislation proposed by Reps. Collin Peterson (D-MN) and Mike Simpson (R-ID) which includes a margin protection program, a Dairy Market Stabilization Program and reforms to the Federal Milk Marketing Order system.
Posted: September 8, 2011 at 2:08 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
With three of the nation’s top ten dairy states being impacted by major flooding resulting from the Hurricane Irene last week, the USDA is pledging support for affected producers.
“We continue to closely coordinate with many partners to meet the immediate and plan for the long-term needs of those affected by Hurricane Irene,” said Agriculture Secretary Tim Vilsack. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to all who have suffered losses caused by this massive storm. USDA is ready to provide food, emergency assistance and other resources to the affected areas.”
On Saturday, Vilsack visited a New York dairy operation hit by flooding with Governor Andrew Cuomo, who pledged immediate aid of $15 million to New York farms devastated by flooding. USDA officials report that Hurricane Irene affected the ability of some dairy cooperatives and handlers in the Northeast to pick up milk at local farms particularly in Southern Vermont and Eastern New York.
In some instances milk was dumped on the farm when it was unable to be picked up on a timely basis or where loss of power impacted milk quality, rendering such milk as non-Grade A. Due to the impact of this natural disaster on dairy farmers in the Northeast, USDA is taking administrative action to include this milk as part of the Federal milk marketing order pool for the months of August and September as needed, although it was never delivered to a plant for processing. This decision will enable cooperatives and handlers to pay the Federal order blend price to affected producers on all the volume that they produced including any milk dumped due to Hurricane Irene.
USDA encourages all farmers, ranchers, producers, landowners and rural communities to contact their local USDA Farm Service Agency Service Center to report damages to crops or livestock loss.
Meanwhile, a measure has been introduced in Congress by members of the New York delegation to help farmers recover from losses incurred by Hurricane Irene. The Post-Irene Emergency Farm Aid Act would authorize $10 million to support the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and the Emergency Watershed Program (EWP) that provide emergency services and resources for agricultural communities following natural disasters.
(Photo from NY Farm Bureau Facebook page)
Posted: September 8, 2011 at 9:38 am
By Cindy Zimmerman
Summer’s not over yet, there’s still time to enjoy this Summer Strawberry Delight dessert recipe featuring Crave Brothers Mascarpone Cheese that recently won first place in the Second Annual Crave Brothers Farmstead Classics Cheese Recipe Contest.
Creative cooks from three states entered the contest, which was held on August 11 at the Waterloo Farmer’s Market. Deb Dunstan of Deerfield, Wisconsin, was named Grand Prize Winner for her Summer Strawberry Delight dessert that includes fresh strawberries and a creamy Mascarpone cheese and strawberry mixture in the cake batter.
Linda Jennissen of Brooten, Minnesota, won the Main Dish category with her Farmers Rope® of Pearls Pizza. Crave Brothers Farmer’s Rope-Part Skim Mozzarella was incorporated into the edge of the unbaked pizza dough, and toppings included Crave Brothers Marinated Fresh Mozzarella Cheese Pearls.
Rick Karlin of Chicago took top honors in the Side Dish category with Spinach Artichoke Mashed Potatoes. The recipe evolved out of an improvisation on Christmas Day, stirring leftover Spinach and Artichoke Dip from Christmas Eve into Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes. The cheese-rich dip recipe combines Crave Brothers Mascarpone and Crave Brothers Les Frères® cheeses.
Randy Hughes of Waterloo, Wisconsin, created the attractive winner in the Appetizer category—Fresh Mozzarella with Balsamic Drizzle and Walnuts. The stacked ingredients included sliced Crave Brothers Fresh Mozzarella balls and sliced tomatoes, drizzled with balsamic reduction sauce and topped with fresh basil, dried cranberries and candied walnuts.
Find out more here.
Posted: September 8, 2011 at 9:27 am
By Cindy Zimmerman
Babcock Hall Dairy Plant of Madison, Wisconsin is the Cheese and Butter Grand Champion and Gifford’s Dairy of Skowhegan, Maine was selected as the Grade A & Ice Cream Grand Champion in the 2011 World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest.
This year’s contest, sponsored by the Wisconsin Dairy Products Assn. (WDPA), received a record number of 705 entries for cheese, butter, fluid milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, ice cream, sour cream, sherbet, cultured milk, sour cream dips, whipping cream, dried whey and creative/innovative products from throughout the United States. “It is amazing how dairy manufacturers have embraced this contest,” says Brad Legreid, executive director of WDPA. “Due to the tremendous support from dairy companies throughout North America, the World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest has averaged a 25% annual rate of growth over its first nine years. This is unprecedented growth for a relatively new contest. This growth is a direct reflection of the high level of interest that dairy processors have in entering the only judging contest of its kind in North America. Because this contest is all encompassing, dairy manufacturers have the unique opportunity to compete in a prestigious, all-dairy national contest.”
The first place winning products in all categories will be auctioned off to the highest bidders on October 4 at World Dairy Expo in Madison. A portion of the proceeds from the auction will go toward the Dr. Robert Bradley Scholarship Fund for a scholarship that will be awarded annually to a deserving student pursuing a career in the dairy industry.
See list of all winners here.
Posted: September 7, 2011 at 7:44 pm
By News Editor
According to a recent National Milk Producers Federation press release:
Dairy farmers of all sizes will benefit from the risk management opportunities featured in the Foundation for the Future (FFTF) dairy policy program, designed by the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), and drafted into legislative form by Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN).
In particular, the Dairy Margin Protection Program (DMPP) presents farmers with the opportunity to insure up to 90 percent of their milk production against catastrophically low margins, due either to low milk prices, high feed costs, or the combination. Because the financial stability of dairy operations increasingly depends on margins, rather than milk prices, giving farmers a way to protect their operation’s equity when margins are tight is a huge improvement over the status quo government safety net programs, which are solely focused on milk prices, according to NMPF.
“It’s always being said that farmers are price takers, not price makers, but under this new safety net, dairy producers will have the option of making a smart investment to prepare for the type of worst-case scenario like what we experienced in 2009,” said Doug Nuttelman, a dairy farmer from Stromsburg, NE, and a member of the NMPF task force that developed the DMPP.
Nuttelman explained that the DMPP offers a Basic level of margin insurance at no cost to producers; all they will have to do is sign up for it, once the Foundation for the Future program is implemented. Under the congressional draft, 75 percent of a farm’s milk production history will automatically be eligible for protection at $4 per hundredweight margin (defined as the gap between the all-milk price, and a national average of feed costs).
But the real opportunity for farmers comes under the Supplemental option of the DMPP, according to Nuttelman, because up to 90 percent of a farm’s production history can be insured in increments up to an additional $4/cwt. The cost of any optional, additional insurance will be shared between the USDA, and producers who elect for Supplemental coverage.
“This gives farms of all sizes the chance to indemnify themselves at a level up to eight dollars per hundredweight, meaning that if the milk price is $14, and feed costs are above $6 per hundred, the insurance program will pay them on all their production that particular month. Or, if milk prices are $20, and feed costs are above $12, they’ll get paid,” Nuttelman said. If producers don’t want that level of protection, the Supplemental program offers a sliding scale of options, in 50 cent per hundredweight increments.
And the real attractiveness of this program to smaller-scale operators is that “the margin insurance program allows for risk management regardless of whether you produce 100,000 pounds of milk per month, or one million,” he said. “Many other types of private risk management tools require a minimum volume of milk in order to enter into a contract. But the DMPP is open to everyone, large or small. This brings a new degree of protection to even the smallest dairies,” Nuttelman said.
He also noted that the DMPP is compatible with other risk management programs already in use, such as forward contracts. That type of program allows farmers to lock in a future price that may be attractive and profitable to them, whereas the DMPP allows producers to insure against an unattractive scenario where poor margins may bleed away their equity.
For Nuttelman, whose multigenerational Nebraska farm involves two sons, having insurance against equity loss “would make it easier for us to sit down with the banker, because if he sees that we are protected against the downside, both he and I can invest more confidently in the future of our farm.”
Source: The National Milk Producers Federation
Posted: September 7, 2011 at 2:35 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
Idaho is synonymous with potatoes, but there is more corn in the ground there these days to support a growing dairy industry.
USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have found that some Pacific Northwest farmers can increase corn yields by using strip tillage and banding fertilizer instead of conventional tilling. Strip tillage and banding involves excavating a single row for planting about 6 to 12 inches wide and 6 to 8 inches deep with a knife-like shank that can also inject fertilizer directly below the seed.
The scientists found that using these practices increased corn grain yields on severely eroded soils st higher elevations by 12 percent the first year and 26 percent the second year. This translated into yield increases between 11 and 26 bushels per acre.
Read more from ARS here.
Photo courtesy of David Tarkalson, ARS.
Posted: September 7, 2011 at 7:27 am
By Chuck
Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “How many years before cellulosic ethanol matches corn ethanol production?” So what did you say? 42% said More than ten years; 23% said Five to ten years; 18% said Five years; 14% said Never and 3% said Next year. We’ve seen huge strides in the efficiency of corn ethanol production and research on the use of new feedstocks but we’re not quite there for mass quantity cellulosic production. Will we be? What do you think? Feel free to add your comments here.
Our new ZimmPoll is now live. We’re asking the question, “Which is more important to rural America: GPS Service or Broadband Internet?” We thought it would be interesting you get your thoughts on this in light of the Lightsquared rural broadband service that seems to pose some serious problems for GPS service. Your input and thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.
Posted: September 6, 2011 at 7:14 pm
By News Editor
World Dairy Expo is offering continuing education credits for the fifteen Expo Seminars and the Dairy Forage Tool Box Seminars to members of the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) and the American Association of Veterinary State Boards’ (AASVB) Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE).
All fifteen of the seminars are qualified for one continuing education credit for ARPAS members. In addition, the Expo Seminar series is qualified for the RACE program credits. Members of ARPAS and AASVB will want to take advantage of these continuing education opportunities by attending World Dairy Expo.
2011 Expo Seminar topics include Livestock Gross Margin (LGM) for dairy, genomics testing, communicating with consumers, robotic milking, calf nutrition, feed costs, somatic cell counts and carbon emissions. The Expo Seminars will be held each day, Tuesday through Saturday, in the Mendota 2 meeting room in the Exhibition Hall.
The Dairy Forage Tool Box Seminars topics feature improving forage harvest; corn silage fermentation time and starch digestibility; forage feeding in top-producing herds; fall-grown oat option; minimizing bunker/bag silage losses; feed cost benefits of reducing greenhouse gases; and capitalizing on forages to reduce purchased corn and soybeans. These seminars will be presented on stage in the east end of the Arena Building where attendees may also view the winning forage samples on display.
Source: World Dairy Expo
Posted: September 6, 2011 at 7:06 pm
By News Editor
A new study published in the August issue of the Journal of Dairy Science, found milk produced at large and extra-large farms in Wisconsin had lower levels of both bacteria than that produced by small ones, although all the farms met standards for grade A milk certification.
The study used 2008 data collected by the Wisconsin government to look at levels of cells linked to mammary disease in dairy cows and bacteria tied to improper refrigeration or unclean equipment. The study defined small dairies as those with 118 cows or fewer and large ones as having 119 to 713 cows. Extra-large farms with 714 or more cows require special permits in Wisconsin.
Lead researcher Steve Ingham said he did the study because he wanted to see whether there was a link between milk quality and the size of a dairy farm. He said the results cast doubt on the perception that big dairies can’t matcher smaller ones in terms of quality.
“Certainly, the small-is-better blanket statement doesn’t appear to be true,” said Ingham, who started the study when he was a food science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is now a food safety division administrator at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
But a group that represents small farms said the study was irrelevant because of the way it defined milk quality. It looked at the amount of certain cells and bacteria in milk, which are factors agriculture inspectors use to evaluate cows’ health and farms’ cleanliness.
Because he used data exclusively from Wisconsin, the nation’s second-leading milk producer behind California, Ingham said he wasn’t sure whether the results would apply elsewhere, especially in warmer states where bacterial growth might be harder to prevent.
He said the perception that smaller was better seemed to spring from the belief that small farmers have a greater incentive to collect milk hygienically and avoid taxing their cows with over-milking.
However, he noted, larger operators also have an incentive to keep their herds healthy, including by removing cows that have udder infections so they don’t infect others. Bigger farms also keep bacterial counts down by investing in better sanitation and refrigeration equipment, he said.
Jayme Sellen, spokeswoman for the Dairy Business Association, which represents Wisconsin dairy farmers, said the study just shows that all dairies produce safe milk and consumers shouldn’t be concerned.
“The main point is that milk is extremely high quality regardless of the size” of the dairy farm, Sellen said. “And that’s not surprising. We have some pretty high standards here in Wisconsin. We know our milk.”
Source: Dinesh Ramde, Associated Press
Posted: September 5, 2011 at 6:59 pm
By News Editor
To all of our American farmers and allied industry workers, World Dairy Diary wishes you a Happy Labor Day!
Labor Day, always the first Monday in September, is a yearly, national acknowledgement of the contributions American workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.
This holiday was first celebrated in 1882 in New York City as a “workingman’s holiday,” complete with a parade of 10,000 workers. Over the next 12 years, Labor Day celebrations spread through half the country. By 1894, Congress passed an act that made Labor Day a legal holiday.
Today, many Americans view Labor Day as the unofficial end to summer, and celebrate with cookouts, parades, or a weekend getaway.
Source: Punchbowl
Posted: September 2, 2011 at 4:46 pm
By News Editor
School is back in session, and dairy farmers are helping provide a more nutritious pizza option to student through the national dairy checkoff’s work with the Domino’s® Smart Slice school pizza program.
Domino’s Smart Slice – which satisfies increasingly stringent school nutrition guidelines – will be delivered to more than 1,300 schools representing more than 220 districts this year. The chain aims to continue growing pizza sales at a solid pace throughout the year.
The launch and aggressive growth of Domino’s Smart Slice has made an impact within the school pizza marketplace, as frozen pizza reformulations and new product launches are creating healthier pizzas that are moving more cheese.
Most U.S. schools serve frozen pizza and most students prefer pizza to foods such as chicken nuggets and hamburgers, according to NPD Group research. However, of those students surveyed who select pizza, only 25 percent say they “like it a lot” and that “it tastes great.”
In contrast, Domino’s Smart Slice delivers a nutritious, kid-approved solution that helps increase school meal participation – a win-win for students and school nutrition directors.
“Domino’s Smart Slice is a great example of quick-service restaurants partnering with the dairy industry,” said Paul Rovey, Arizona dairy producer and chair of Dairy Management Inc.™, which manages the national dairy checkoff. “This partnership is creating a ripple effect throughout the pizza industry, because Domino’s Smart Slice is innovative and maintains cheese as the key pizza ingredient.”
The dairy checkoff began partnering with Domino’s in 2009 to help grow cheese sales. The collaboration included the creation of a specialty pizza line that used more cheese, an aggressive schedule of in-store promotions, and the use of DMI expertise and resources to help the chain develop its school lunch strategy. Domino’s tapped into the checkoff’s insights and culinary expertise to develop pizza and programs to improve the school lunch experience and keep pizza – and cheese – on school menus.
Domino’s Smart Slice appeals to school nutrition professionals because it features items such as whole-grain crust, reduced-sodium “100 percent real” light mozzarella, reduced-fat/reduced-sodium pepperoni, and sauce with 35 percent less sodium than the chain’s traditional sauce. And, in research tests, its taste appeals to kids as well.
Dairy checkoff chefs collaborated with Domino’s to develop the Smart Slice line, including the Bellroni Pie that uses light mozzarella and provolone and The Cheezzzilla Pizza that blends five cheeses while staying in line with nutrition guidelines.
Source: Dairy Management Inc.
Posted: September 2, 2011 at 4:29 pm
By News Editor
Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.’s (DFA) Reading, Pa., plant recently became the 10th Cooperative manufacturing facility to achieve Safe Quality Foods (SQF) Level 3 certification.
SQF certification is part of a broader initiative throughout DFA’s Global Dairy Products Group (GDPG), which emphasizes operational excellence, food safety and quality. A systematic effort is underway to achieve SQF certification in all 21 of DFA’s manufacturing plants.
Other DFA plants to recently earn this prestigious Level 3 designation include Turlock, Calif.; Fort Morgan, Colo.; Zumbrota, Minn.; Cabool, Mo.; Springfield, Mo.; and Mechanicsburg, Pa.; New Wilmington, Pa.; Winnsboro, Texas; and Plymouth, Wis. In addition, a DFA plant in Houston, Texas, has achieved Level 2 certification.
“In implementing SQF standards across our network, we are demonstrating to our diverse customer base that we share their deep commitment to quality and safety,” said Mark Korsmeyer, executive vice president of DFA and president of GDPG. “Consumers today have a heightened awareness about food safety and quality issues, and we are proud to have systems in place that ensure we can consistently deliver on their expectations for superior products.”
The SQF Program is a leading global food safety and quality certification and management system. It is designed primarily as a food safety program, and SQF is the only standard recognized by Global Food Safety Initiative that incorporates a quality certification component at Level 3. The certification allows suppliers to provide assurances that the food they produce, handle, prepare, process and distribute is of the highest quality, in addition to adhering to the strictest international and domestic food safety standards.
Through GDPG, DFA produces retail cheese and butter, foodservice cheese and butter, and a wide range of dairy protein ingredients. The Cooperative’s consumer brands include Borden® Cheese and Butter, Keller’s® Butter and Plugra® Butter and Cache Valley Cheese, among others. GDPG also is a leading contract manufacturer of shelf-stable products for national and international food companies.
Source: Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.
Posted: September 1, 2011 at 11:24 am
By News Editor
“Becky Moo-Moo” was the winning name submitted by eight-year-old Alexa Cabrera in the “name the cow mascot” contest sponsored by Milk from the Heart. The charity provides fresh 1% milk to thousands of low-income families in undernourished communities in New York City, and uses the cow mascot to help educate children about the importance of milk for a healthy diet.
Alexa and her family won a tour of the Sweetman Dairy Farm, a working farm in Warwick, New York.
Alexa, a milk lover, was thrilled with the experience. “I loved meeting the cows and listening to the farmer talk about his job,” says Alexa, who was accompanied to the farm by her parents and two siblings.
The Cabrera family toured the Sweetman Dairy Farm, seeing the cows that provide milk to New Yorkers, and learning how milk gets from farm to table. The children pet the cows, saw where the animals were milked, where the milk was stored, and got to understand life on a dairy farm.
“The family got an overall feel and appreciation for the farm,” says Tunis Sweetman, the owner of the Sweetman Dairy Farm, which is home to 175 Holstein cows that produce fresh wholesale milk year-round. “We look forward to any time we can make a connection between our farm and the consumer.”
The trip was sponsored by the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council, Inc.
“Dairy farmers’ commitment to providing high quality milk begins with top-notch animal care and farming practices,” says Brenda Beltram, a spokesperson for the American Dairy Association. “Visiting a dairy farm is an ideal opportunity for those far removed from rural communities to see firsthand how dairy farmers preserve and recycle natural resources to produce foods that are nutritious and wholesome.”
Source: Homes for the Homeless
Posted: September 1, 2011 at 11:15 am
By News Editor
Utilizing improved mineral technologies, Novus International Inc. is introducing the BioOptimizedSM Trace Minerals Program. When using more efficient trace minerals, dairy producers can feed less mineral product and have less mineral waste through loss in excretion without sacrificing performance expectations.
With greater bioavailability, BioOptimized trace minerals from Novus are more effective at mineral delivery. Therefore, Novus proposes a three-step plan for dairy producers to use less mineral: Reduce, Replace, Reformulate.
“The best way to improve trace mineral performance is to get more use out of the mineral that’s being fed. Producers just need to meet the animal’s mineral requirement. The feeding of more bioavailable mineral sources at lower levels provides the same production responses and more efficiency,” says Geoff Zanton, Ruminant Nutrition Research Manager with Novus.
The BioOptimized Trace Minerals Program includes two product options: MINTREX® chelated trace minerals and MAAC® chelated trace minerals. Both are minerals that have the ideal ligand (or binder) for better bioavailability and greater results.
Source: Novus International, Inc.
Recent Entries »
A high-performance round baler, purposefully designed for producers who want capacity, speed and reliability in smaller 5′ x 4′ round bales, is now available from Vermeer. The new Vermeer 504N, modeled after the Vermeer Super M Series, produces 47″ wide x 60″ diameter (1.2 m x 1.5 m) packages that weigh up to 1200 lbs (544 kg), depending on moisture content.
Vermeer Introduces a New Generation of Rebel Balers — Twelve years ago, Vermeer introduced the first ever hitch ‘n go baler designed to meet the needs and pocketbooks of producers with low horsepower tractors looking to roll their own high-quality round bales. Today marks the launch of the new Rebel Baler generation, this time with two models – the Rebel 5420 and 5520 Balers – and several significant new features incorporated from larger Vermeer models, but still maintaining the user-friendly functionality and meeting the lower horsepower requirements of the popular original.
Vermeer Adds High-Capacity Wheel Rake to VR Series — A new, high-capacity wheel rake capable of raking 28′ (8.5 m) wide passes – yet nimble enough to maneuver like rakes much smaller in size – is now available from Vermeer Corporation. The heavy-duty VR1428 is designed to give operators more capacity and the ability to handle more acres in less time, with fewer maintenance issues. It combines smart, streamlined design and functionality with simple, tool-free adjustments, while incorporating outstanding operator conveniences.
