World Dairy Diary

Weisz Wins Scholarship

Congratulations to Laura Weisz, of Hillman, Minn., for being awarded the 2011 National Dairy Shrine (NDS)/Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), Milk Marketing $1,500 Scholarship. Weisz is one of eight undergraduate students that earned $1,000 scholarships made possible by DMI and NDS to encourage students to pursue careers in dairy product marketing.

Weisz is an animal science major (dairy production emphasis) and is pursuing a mass communications minor at the University of Minnesota. The other winners are: Philip Bachman (Penn State University), Mandy Brazil (Polytechnic State University), Laura Elliott (University of Wisconsin), Jason Kaare (University of Minnesota), Rachel Manning (West Virginia University), Isaac Salfer (University of Minnesota), Theresa Twohey (University of Minnesota) and Hannah Wentworth (Penn State University).

The scholarships will be presented Oct. 6 during the World Dairy Expo.

Source: Dairy Checkoff

Dairy Checkoff Partnerships Spark Pizza, Cheese Sales Growth

Super Bowl Sunday is the biggest pizza delivery day of the year. Through a partnership between the dairy checkoff and leading pizza companies, dairy producers are capitalizing on this opportunity to grow cheese sales on Game Day, as Brian Baxter reports.

Just a few years ago, pizza category sales were in decline, but Tom Gallagher of Dairy Management Inc., which manages the dairy checkoff, says the powerful partnerships with Domino’s and others, have helped turn the tide.

“In Dominos, the specific is, they’re putting more cheese on. Their pizzas taste better. So they’re selling a tremendous amount more pizzas and the other side benefit to that is, all the rest of the pizza makers are having to follow suit and copy what they do,” says Paul Rovey, Arizona dairy producer.

Source: Dairy Management Inc.

Fuel Up to Play 60 for the Super Bowl

Whether you like the Patriots or the Giants – or neither one – Super Bowl time is a great opportunity to highlight the powerful partnership that dairy farmers, through their checkoff program, have forged with the National Football League.

The “Fuel Up to Play 60″ program encourages young people to get 60 minutes of activity daily, and to make balanced nutrition choices, including low fat and fat free dairy products. Mark Leitner of Dairy Management Inc., which manages the National Dairy Checkoff, says more than 70,000 schools with some 36 million students are now participating in the program.

“It makes the program by far the largest program of this type, nutritional and physical fitness program in the country, and gaining momentum because of that,” said Leitner. “Because of its scale and success we’re starting to attract additional resources, additional partners to the program — which is great for farmers, because of course, that means the message of nutrition and dairy products goes out to not just at the school level, but at the individual kid level.”

Fuel Up to Play 60 benefits from the NFL’s star power to encourage kids to be more physically active and enjoy the nutritional benefits of reduced fat dairy products including milk, cheese and yogurt. Leitner says one study of the 21 pilot markets with the program resulted in an additional 42 million pounds of milk sold.

UDIA Announce 2012 Board Officers

Congratulations to the new farmer leaders elected as officers of the United Dairy Industry Association (UDIA).

Chair – William Siebenborn, Trenton, Mo.
1st Vice Chair – Neil Hoff, Windthorst, Texas
2nd Vice Chair, Chair of ADA – Michael Ferguson, Senatobia, Miss.
2nd Vice Chair, Chair of NDC – Lester Hardesty, Greeley, Colo.
2nd Vice Chair, Member Relations – Paul Broering, St. Henry, Ohio
Secretary – Steve Frischknecht, Manti, Utah
Treasurer – Allen Merrill, Parker, S.D.

The UDIA is a federation of state and regional dairy producer-funded promotion organizations that provide marketing programs that are developed and implemented in coordination with its members. The UDIA is overseen by a board comprised of dairy producers elected by their respective boards of their member organizations.

Source: Dairy Management Inc.

Stuffed Cheesy Bread a Hit

Have you tried Domino’s Pizza® Stuffed Cheesy Bread yet? The new menu item contains as much cheese as a medium pizza, and sales of it are exceeding the chain’s initial expectations.

The success of Stuffed Cheesy Bread, which launched in late November, builds on a partnership between the dairy checkoff and the chain to help grow category sales.

Dairy producers’ partnership with Domino’s is critical to growing sales. Adding one more ounce of cheese per pizza would require an additional 2.5 billion pounds of milk each year. Over the past few years, dairy producers have invested an average of $12 million annually in the Domino’s partnership. Domino’s invests tens of millions of dollars annually to help grow pizza (and cheese) sales.

Source: Dairy Management Inc.

Dairy Checkoff 2011 Review

The dairy checkoff’s strategic partnerships and strategy of working with and through the industry continued to drive sales in 2011, as evidenced by targeted partnerships with industry leaders and the work of the checkoff-led Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy®.

The dairy checkoff continued to leverage dairy producer investments in the checkoff with others to grow category sales. In fact, $800 million of non-checkoff funds and resources is helping sell more dairy. These efforts helped lead to an increase of 4.2 billion pounds of dairy sold for the 12 month period ending July 2011.

“This year’s progress further validates that the checkoff business plan is on the right track,” said Paul Rovey, Arizona dairy producer and chair of Dairy Management Inc.™ (DMI), which manages the national checkoff program. “We’re working with industry leaders in a collaborative effort and leveraging our resources that lead to a win-win scenario for producers, and the entire industry.”

Source: Dairy Management Inc.™ (DMI)

Specific 2011 results included:
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Nutrition News

As American’s gather around holiday tables this year, nutrition may not be top of mind. But, choosing low-fat dairy foods is always in season when it comes to bone health and sound nutrition. Listen to Brian Baxter interview National Dairy Council’s Greg Miller.

DairyCheckoffNews_Nutrition

Internships Available

Attention students! Midwest Dairy Association is seeking applicants to several internships.

These are an excellent opportunity for students interested in communications, public relations, marketing, food science or agribusiness. The intern must positively represent Midwest Dairy Association objectives as they gain practical experience in communication, public relations and marketing programs for dairy products.
2012 Summer Positions Available

Contact Samantha Carter, scarter@midwestdairy.com, for additional information.

Source: Midwest Dairy Association

Dairy Checkoff Drives Innovation

At the Joint Annual Meeting of dairy-farmer funded promotion groups in San Diego this week, one focus was on Innovation – and the progress of a 3-year old effort to bring the dairy industry together to solve common challenges.

The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy was established by dairy farmers in 2008, as a forum to bring the entire industry together to focus on priorities such as health and welleness and consumer confidence. Arizona dairy farmer Paul Rovey, who chairs Dairy Management Inc, which manages the dairy checkoff, says the Innovation Center is driving change. Brian Baxter has more.

Source: Dairy Management Inc.

U.S. Dairy Exports Gaining Ground

From a deep valley caused by global economic recession in 2009, U.S. dairy exports have made a strong recovery. Brian Baxter has the story from Tom Suber, US Dairy Export Council (USDEC). Hear the entire interview here: Dairy Checkoff Export News

The idea of consistently working to build a sustainable U.S. dairy export presence in the global marketplace got it’s start with the founding of USDEC, the US Dairy Export Council. Today, the results speak for themselves. Just 16-years after USDE was founded, U.S. dairy export volume represents more than 13-percent of total U.S. milk production.

With the help of dairy farmer checkoff dollars, Suber says USDEC has gained ground in a number of markets including Korea, where early efforts could now reach even higher with the new U.S.-Korea free trade agreement. Korea is one of the top markets for U.S. dairy exports, along with Japan, Mexico and the Middle East.

Source: Dairy Management Inc.

The Dairy Checkoff Really is Working

Nearly one thousand farmers and dairy industry leaders are gathered in San Diego this week for the joint annual meeting of farmer-funded dairy promotion groups. On the agenda is a review of dairy checkoff programs and their results over the past year.

Tom Gallagher, CEO of Dairy Management Inc., says the dairy checkoff has had great success with partnerships in the pizza category and in quick serve restaurants, moving billions of additional pounds of milk. “From July of 2009 to July of 2011, pizza cheese consumption increased almost 390 million pounds,” said Gallagher. “Think about that, that’s an enormous turnaround of a category that was really starting to slide downhill.”

In addition, Gallagher says a three-year partnership with McDonald’s has helped make that chain a “dairy destination” increasing consumption by over 1.7 billion pounds. “That’s milk, cheese, yogurt and other dairy products. And obviously, when McDonald’s does something, all the other quick serve restaurants follow, so the catalytic effect is just enormous,” he said.

Gallagher told dairy farmers at the meeting this week that these kinds of partnerships demonstrate that the dairy checkoff is working to increase sales, as it should.

Idaho Dairymen Award 15 Scholarships

Congratulations to the 15 students who were awarded $1,500 scholarships from the United Dairymen of Idaho (UDI) and its two branches – the Idaho Dairy Products Commission and the Idaho Dairymen’s Association!

The Idaho dairy industry’s first scholarship recipients include the following 15 students, who will graduate this spring:

UDI’s scholarship program honors the academic excellence of children of dairy farm families. Besides their academic success other factors in awarding the scholarships’ included; extracurricular activities, community and volunteer activities and an essay on how the applicant planned on using his degree in their chosen career path.

Source: Idaho Dairymen’s Association

Getting Social with the Dairy Checkoff

The Dairy Checkoff has been promoting the advantages of getting social to dairy producers for a couple of years now and one of the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board members found out just how important that is recently.

I talked to Brad Scott, a fourth generation family dairy farmer from Southern California, during the Talk Session at World Dairy Expo last week and he told me about why he finally caught the Twitter bug. “Just recently my state contacted me because they were having 13 “mommy bloggers” come out,” Brad said. “They got to see us, have dinner with us and have lunch with us for two days and I got to know them and got to understand what their concerns are.”

Not only did these “mommy bloggers” from urban areas get to learn about animal care, milk testing, and environmental stewardship on a working dairy farm, they also taught Brad a thing or two. “They got me on Twitter, so now I have a Twitter account and all these mommmy bloggers are following me!” he said, which gave him the opportunity to follow them and find out what they were saying to their followers about their experience on his farm. “Everything was positive. They were very excited about telling their followers our story and the great things we do on the dairy.”

If you want to follow Brad, he is Twitter.com/UdderDelite. Find out more from the Dairy Checkoff about Telling Your Story.

Listen to my interview with Brad here: Brad Scott

2011 World Dairy Expo Photo Album

Checkoff Annual Report Available

The 2010 Dairy Management Inc.™ annual report – featuring highlights of how the dairy checkoff helped impact sales of more than 6 billion additional pounds of milk is now available online.

The annual report provides an update of various dairy checkoff programs, including strategic partnerships with globally recognized companies such as McDonald’s® and Domino’s® Pizza.

“The dairy checkoff continues to show how it is leading change throughout the industry,” said Paul Rovey, Arizona dairy producer and chair of Dairy Management Inc.™, which manages the national dairy checkoff. “Thanks to the checkoff’s efforts, the dairy industry experienced unprecedented collaboration and innovation in 2010 that set the table for future success.”

Source: Dairy Management Inc.

Murphy New Pa. State Dairy Princess

Congratulations to Gabrielle Elizabeth Murphy, of Airville, Pa., she was crowned the 55th Pennsylvania Dairy Princess last week. Murphy is the daughter of Donna and Greg Kennard, and Sheri and Patrick Murphy, of York County.

Contestants were judged on public speaking skills, knowledge of the dairy industry, poise and personality. Each contestant prepared a speech, skit, radio spot and poster display promoting milk and dairy products, submitted a scrapbook of promotion activities, and participated in a personal interview with a panel of four judges.

For the next year, the new state royalty team will represent Pennsylvania’s dairy industry and its 7,400 dairy farm families. The dairy industry is the state’s top agriculture industry, contributing nearly $5 billion to the economy and 45,000 jobs across the state.

Source: All-American Dairy Show

Checkoff Seminar to Focus on Effective Messaging

Going to World Dairy Expo? Schedule time to join the Dairy Checkoff at seminar called “Leading the Conversation: Answering consumer questions about dairy.”

The seminar is scheduled for Wednesday, October 5 at 1 p.m. in the Mendota 2, Exhibition Hall. Learn how to more effectively engage and communicate with consumers about on-farm milk production.

Answering tough consumer questions about dairy can be challenging. This interactive workshop will help farmers and industry leaders develop skills to better connect with their neighbors, communities and consumers. Attendees will learn how to lead conversations in a positive and effective way using consumer-tested messages. Presenters Jane Hillstrom and Michele Ruby have worked with over 2,000 dairy producers across the country to help prepare them to share their positive stories with consumers.

Source: Dairy Management Inc.

WMMB Introduces Cheese Pairing App

Have an iPhone? Love cheese? Then download this app pronto!

What cheese goes with your wine? What beer goes with your cheese? These questions can finally be answered with Wisconsin Cheese Cupid. With this handy dandy iPhone and iPod Touch application, pairing a cheese with a like-minded beverage has never been easier or more fun. Bon appétit.

FEATURES
• Pairs wine, beer, and liquor with appropriate cheeses.
• Filters by beverage category (e.g., Red Wine) and beverage style (e.g., Merlot).
• Offers correct pronunciation of every cheese, beer, wine, and liquor.
• Cheese selector spotlights appropriate Wisconsin Cheese.
• Includes culinary information about selected Wisconsin Cheese.

Source: Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board

SUIDA to Work With Demeter

Southeast United Dairy Industry Association, Inc. (SUDIA) has engaged Demeter Communications to work with its Community Outreach program.

“Our dairy farmers will have even more opportunities to tell their story to the public with Demeter establishing the connections with grassroots community organizations,” says Janet Grubbs, Director of Integrated Communications and Special Projects for the association.

The non-profit SUDIA is funded by dairy farm families of the Southeast and works with schools, health professionals, retailers, dairy processors and the public to promote dairy foods throughout Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

Source: Demeter Communications

Nebraska Dairy Producer Pledges Support for “Fuel Up to Play 60” Program

The National Dairy Council teamed with the Midwest Dairy Council and the NFL to recently launch “Fuel Up to Play 60”, a program designed to encourage healthy eating habits and an active lifestyles to the nation’s youth who face a challenge battling the epidemic of childhood obesity.  The program is summarized by its motto: “Be Healthy, Be Active, Make a Difference.”

David Crook, a dairy farmer from Humboldt, was among those present at the September 12 press conference at the Nebraska State Capitol promoting the program to Nebraska’s schools. Crook operates a 100-head dairy along with his wife and brother and couldn’t be happier with the program. “We have an extremely great product for our kids. It’s a big part of the solution to childhood obesity. How can we beat this opportunity?”

Crook applauded Governor Heineman’s support for the program and was pleased by the fact that the governor was the first in the nation to pledge support for the program. Crook, in addition to other family dairy producers across the state, was highly encouraged with the strong support for the dairy industry and to Nebraska’s youth.

Listen to David Crook’s press conference comments here.

To learn more about Fuel Up to Play 60 program, visit FuelUpToPlay60.com.

Fuel Up to Play 60 Program Going Strong in Nebraska’s Schools

In a press conference on Monday, Linda Maly from St. John Nepomucene in Weston, Neb., and “Fuel Up to Play 60” Program Advisor of the Year, outlined the program which aims to raise awareness of healthy choices and empower students to choose healthy foods and be physically active through play for at least 60 minutes per day.

Listen to Linda Maly’s press conference comments here.

It has activated more than eight million students in 70,000 schools nationwide, including 10,000 Midwest schools to be healthy, get active and make a difference.

As a demonstration of this commitment, Midwest Dairy Council awarded $507,728 to 194 schools in their 10-state territory during the 2010-2011 school year to help them jump-start and champion school wellness efforts. As part of Fuel Up to Play 60, schools can receive a free Quick Start Resources kit with planning tools and in-school collateral materials to help them implement healthy eating and physical activity “Plays” to spark positive wellness change in their schools.

Students have the opportunity to participate in a series of three Fuel Up to Play 60 Challenges this school year, and a bonus Challenge in the summer, that help educate and motivate them to showcase their talents and collaborate with their peers through Fuel Up to Play 60. The first Challenge, which launched on August 22 and runs through October 10, is the Back to School, Back to Football Challenge. It is designed to encourage students to get their school and friends excited about Fuel Up to Play 60 by creating a poster or video or planning a pep rally to inspire a healthy start to the new school year.

As youth go through the program, they are encouraged to consume nutrient-rich foods, including low-fat and fat-free dairy foods, fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. The ultimate goal is to ensure changes made at school are sustainable, and to provide children with more opportunities to be physically active and choose nutrient-rich food.

To learn more about Fuel Up to Play 60 and to sign up for the 2011-2012 program, visit FuelUpToPlay60.com or MidwestDairy.com.