Posted: August 21, 2008 at 9:03 am
By Chuck Zimmerman
Here’s the new Princess Kay of the Milky Way. She’s Kristy Mussman, a 19-year-old college student from Claremont, MN. Her crowning took place at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds on Wednesday.
As Princess Kay, Mussman, who represents Steele County, will serve as the official goodwill ambassador for Minnesota’s nearly 5,000 dairy farmers.
Kristy is the daughter of Mike and Julie Mussman of Claremont, and is a student at the University of Minnesota-St. Paul majoring in applied economics with an emphasis in marketing and a minor in mass communications.
One of Mussman’s first duties as Princess Kay will be to sit in a rotating cooler for nearly eight hours on the opening day of the Minnesota State Fair to have her likeness sculpted in a 90-pound block of butter. Each of the 11 other finalists will have her likeness carved in butter during the fair, as well. This year marks the debut of a bigger and better butter-sculpting booth. The new booth is more energy efficient than its predecessor, and will allow a greater number of visitors to get a good view of the sculpting.
Throughout her yearlong reign as Princess Kay of the Milky Way, Mussman will make public appearances to educate consumers about dairy farmers’ commitment to providing wholesome milk and dairy product and caring for their animals and the land.
Posted: July 16, 2008 at 10:15 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
One of the main dairy groups represented at today’s Joint Beef & Dairy Information Symposium here at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference was Dairy Management Inc. David Pelzer is Senior VP, Industry Image & Relations. DMI is a non-profit organization that manages the Dairy Checkoff.
I spoke to him today about dairy and beef producers getting together and discussing common issues. He says that on the dairy side of things it’s important for the industry to become more consumer driven instead of just production driven. As he puts it, “Give consumers what they want, when they want it and how they want it.”
He says that on-farm practices or the consumer’s perception of on-farm practices can affect buying habits. For this reason he says that all DMI related organizations are becoming increasingly focused on consumer perceptions. He wants to show consumers that it’s standard operating procedure for beef and dairy producers to care about their animals and the environment.
David thinks this Symposium is a great opportunity to get together.
Posted: July 16, 2008 at 10:11 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
Earlier this week the National Dairy Board met and like last year, that meeting ended just in time for attendees to meet with beef producers at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference, Joint Beef & Dairy Information Symposium. One of those people is Rob Byrne, Sr. VP Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, National Milk Producers Federation.
I spoke with Rob during today’s session. He was on the second part of the program that focused on animal care and welfare. Rob thinks that this joint meeting idea is fantastic. It’s an opportunity to discuss issues of common interest. Animal care just happens to be a primary one right now.
Rob says the dairy industry has actually worked on this issue for many years. Recently released videos have sensationalized what is a very uncommon practice though and that has brought this issue to the forefront. He says that the increased consumer interest probably won’t result in any significant changes since producers in general do take good care of their animals but the situation he says, has placed a renewed focus on it. Rob says that this is currently a primary focus for NMPF. To that end, he says they’re forming a national animal welfare and care program for the dairy industry.
Posted: June 23, 2008 at 8:08 am
By Chuck Zimmerman
Here’s the latest announcement from Cooperatives Working Together:
Cooperatives Working Together announced today that it accepted five export assistance bids last week for the sale of butter.
Two of the bids were from Foremost Farms of Baraboo, WI: 1,370 metric tons (3,014,000 pounds) of butter to Iran, and 38 metric tons of butter (83,600 lbs.) to Japan.
The other three bids were from United Dairymen of Arizona of Tempe, AZ: two separate bids were accepted for butter exports to Morocco, one in the amount of 140 metric tons (308,000 lbs.), and another for 120 metric tons (264,000 lbs.). The last bid was for 70 metric tons (154,000 lbs.) of butter to Egypt.
CWT will pay an export bonus to the bidders, only when delivery of the product is verified by the submission of the required documentation.
With these accepted bids, CWT’s total 2008 export obligations are: whole milk powder, 170 metric tons (374,000 lbs.); butter, 2,029 metric tons (4,464,240 lbs.); cheese, 209 metric tons (459,800 pounds); and anhydrous milkfat, 210 metric tons (462,000).
The dairy industry continues to become more global, and with the help of dairy checkoff dollars, the U.S. Dairy Export Council is pursuing growth opportunities for U.S. cheese worldwide, including Asia. Brian Baxter provided us with this report featuring Jeff McNeill, USDEC – Japan Director, that says that major progress has been made increasing U.S. cheese sales in Japan.
More than 1200 members and industry guests are in Kansas City this week for the 10th annual Dairy Farmers of America annual meeting.
With the theme, “Ten Years and Building,” the two-day event features a line-up of dynamic speakers, as well as the annual delegate meeting, election of board members, member recognition and trade show.
Kicking off the meeting was Tom Camerlo, of Florence, Colo., chairman of DFA’s Board of Directors. He looked back on the first 10 years of DFA, highlighted 2007 and looked ahead to the future. He discussed the progress of DFA, industry trends and issues, and new areas such as sustainability.
“As a cooperative and an industry, we are making tremendous progress,” says Camerlo. “DFA has developed and changed significantly in 10 years, and as an industry, we are working more closely together than ever before. Growing worldwide dairy demand and the success of Cooperatives Working Together are just two examples of what can be accomplished with hard work, team work and determination.”
At DFA’s annual banquet, seven ‘Members of Distinction’ are being recognized for exhibiting vision, leadership and innovation in the dairy industry. The 2008 honorees, which represent DFA’s diverse membership, include: Abo Dairy, Sulphur Springs, Texas; DeBoer Dairy, Tulare, Calif.; Empire Dairy, LLC, Wiggins, Colo.; Esh Dairy Farm, Paradise, Pa.; Royal Farms Dairy, LLC, Garden City, Kan.; Spadgenske Dairy, Menahga, Minn.; and Wright Dairy, Lebanon, Ky.
Jim says that dairy producers are wondering if CWT has enough money to be effective this year and he says the answer is yes. He says they’re on display at World Ag Expo to get more producers to sign up.
Posted: January 29, 2008 at 4:32 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
The Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year was named by the International Dairy Foods Association and Dairy Today Magazine. Pictured are (l-r) The Fletcher family (Tyler, Melissa, Mikala and Charles) accept congratulations from IDFA Secretary Mike Reidy and Dairy Today Editor Jim Dickrell.
KBC Farms in Purdy, Mo., a member of Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. (DFA), was named the Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year. Operations Manager Charles Fletcher and his family received the award on Jan. 21 at the 2008 Dairy Forum in La Quinta, Calif. The award is co-sponsored by the International Dairy Foods Association and Dairy Today magazine.
The award recognizes U.S. dairy producers who apply creativity, excellence and forward thinking to achieve greater on-farm productivity and improved milk marketing.
“DFA is proud of Charles and congratulates him and his family on this accomplishment,” says Randy Mooney, of Rogersville, Mo., first vice chairman of DFA’s Board of Directors. “Charles and his family farm are a real success story. We can all be inspired by his example of innovation and excellence.”
Charles operates KBC Farms with his family, where they milk 600 cows on two pasture-based dairies. His father, Gene, started the farm in 1969, and started a partnership with his sons and son-in-law in 1993. Charles is the managing partner and farms with his wife, Melissa, and their children: Tyler, 15 and Mikala, 10.
Posted: January 28, 2008 at 10:33 am
By Chuck Zimmerman
Here’s the latest announcement from Cooperatives Working Together:
In the next herd retirement round conducted by Cooperatives Working Together, dairy producers submitting bids to retire their herds of milk cows also will have the option of selling all their bred heifers, CWT officials announced today.
A flat rate per bred heifer will be established by CWT to be paid to all producers choosing to include their bred heifers with their herd retirement bid. The producer will get retain the slaughter value of the bred heifers, so the price per heifer offered by CWT offers will be in addition to the animals’ slaughter value, just as the payment CWT makes to producers for their milk cows is in addition to the beef value of the animals.
CWT Chief Operating Office Jim Tillison said the decision by CWT’s operating committee to include a bred heifer option “is the result of many months of work by our members to devise a new program to enhance the effectiveness of CWT’s milk reduction activities. Our members asked us to come up with a way to make a bred heifer removal option work for them, and I believe this new initiative will meet their expectations.”
CWT has not announced when it will conduct a fifth herd retirement round. The last one was done in February 2007. When the next one is conducted, producers submitting bids for their milking herds will also then have the option of using the bred heifer program. Producers will have to indicate the number of bred heifers they have at the time the bid is submitted, and the location of the heifers. CWT will pay a flat fee, announced at the time the retirement program commences, for each heifer. Producers will have to sell all their bred heifers, regardless of age.
Tillison said that whether a producer elects to also sell his bred heifers will have no bearing on whether the producer’s herd retirement bid is accepted by CWT. Also, if the farmer’s herd retirement bid is not accepted, the bred heifers he or she offers will not be accepted, either. Additional details about the terms of the bred heifer program will be posted to the CWT website once a herd retirement round commences.
In other news, CWT announced today that it accepted an export assistance bid last week for the sale of whole milk power. The bid was from Humboldt Creamery of Fortuna, CA, for the export of 20 metric tons (44,000 pounds) of whole milk powder to Honduras. CWT will pay an export bonus to the bidder, only when delivery of the product is verified by the submission of the required documentation.
With this accepted bid, CWT’s total 2008 export obligations are: whole milk powder, 170 metric tons (374,000 lbs.), and butter, 291.2 metric tons (641,805 pounds).
Posted: January 22, 2008 at 11:36 am
By Chuck Zimmerman
Here’s the latest announcement from Cooperatives Working Together:
Cooperatives Working Together announced today that it accepted an export assistance bid last week for the sale of whole milk powder. The bid was from Humboldt Creamery of Fortuna, CA, for the export of 75 metric tons (165,000 pounds) of whole milk powder to Egypt.
CWT will pay an export bonus to the bidder, only when delivery of the product is verified by the submission of the required documentation.
With this accepted bid, CWT’s total 2008 export obligations are: whole milk powder, 150 metric tons (330,600 lbs.), and butter, 291.2 metric tons (641,805 pounds).
Posted: January 17, 2008 at 11:04 am
By Chuck Zimmerman
If you’re interested in learning more about dairy herd management there’s a relatively new consortium to turn to. It’s made up of 8 schools. The Southern Great Plains Dairy Consortium (SGPDC), will coordinate with industry and government to enhance the dairy industry’s competitiveness, as well as its ability to produce a safe, wholesome and competitively priced supply of milk and related products. The consortium has research, extension and teaching components. However, the first activity of the consortium will be to establish a large herd teaching program.
Consortium Teaching Program leaders Mike Tomaszewski of Texas A & M University, Bob Collier of the University of Arizona, and Robert Hagevoort of New Mexico State University describe the teaching program as the first of its kind for the dairy industry: a regional, multi-university program which provides a framework for coordinating dairy training in a large herd setting.
Consortium members are Abilene Christian University, University of Arizona, New Mexico State University, Oklahoma State University, Tarleton State University, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, West Texas A&M University, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Texas Cooperative Extension, Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab, and USDA Agricultural Research Service. In addition industry support is being provided by trade organizations such as Dairy Producers of New Mexico, Texas Association of Dairymen, Dairy Max and Southwest Dairy Museum.
The first program to be offered is “Advanced Large Herd Management Program” which will give 25 to 30 students a unique educational experience and employment opportunities.
Posted: January 15, 2008 at 9:57 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
Here’s the latest announcement from Cooperatives Working Together:
Cooperatives Working Together announced today that it accepted an export assistance bid last week for the sale of whole milk power.
The bid was from Humboldt Creamery of Fortuna, CA, for the export of 75 metric tons (165,000 pounds) of whole milk powder to Egypt.
CWT will pay an export bonus to the bidder, only when delivery of the product is verified by the submission of the required documentation.
With this accepted bid, CWT’s total 2008 export obligations are: whole milk powder, 75 metric tons (165,000 lbs.), and butter, 291.2 metric tons (641,805 pounds).
Posted: December 17, 2007 at 11:46 am
By Chuck Zimmerman
Here’s the latest announcement from Cooperatives Working Together:
Cooperatives Working Together announced today that it accepted two export assistance bids last week for the sale of whole milk powder.
The first bid was from Humboldt Creamery of Fortuna, CA, for the export of 2,000 metric tons (4.4 million pounds) of whole milk powder to Venezuela. The second bid was from Dairy Farmers of America of Kansas City, MO, for the export of 20 metric tons (44,000 lbs.) to El Salvador.
CWT will pay an export bonus to the bidders, only when delivery of the product is verified by the submission of the required documentation.
These accepted bids increases CWT’s total 2007 export obligations for whole milk powder to 2,880 metric tons (6.34 million lbs.). In addition, CWT’s YTD export obligations for cheese are 5,595 metric tons (12.3 million lbs.), its YTD anhydrous milkfat export obligations to 4,385 tons (9.6 million lbs.), and its YTD export obligations for butter to 10,975 metric tons (24.1 million lbs.).
Posted: November 30, 2007 at 11:46 am
By Chuck Zimmerman
At the recent National Association of Farm Broadcasters convention in their Trade Talk session I met Elvin Holland who is Director of Fluid Milk Marketing and Economic Analysis for Dairy Farmers of America. Elvin talked about the reasons for higher milk prices and his prediction for 2008.
To start with he says that global milk production has slowed and global demand has remained strong. He says that American dairy products remain a staple in the world demand for food. Looking ahead he thinks that the export market will remain good and even grow. However, he does see a decline in prices for class III milk in 2008.
Posted: November 19, 2007 at 4:57 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
Here’s the latest announcement from Cooperatives Working Together:
Cooperatives Working Together announced today that it accepted an export assistance bid last week for the sale of whole milk powder.
The bid was from Land O’Lakes of Arden Hills, MN, for the export of 60 metric tons (132,000 pounds) of whole milk powder to Trinidad. CWT will pay an export bonus to the bidder, only when delivery of the product is verified by the submission of the required documentation.
This accepted bid increases CWT’s total 2007 export obligations for whole milk powder to 860 metric tons (1.89 million lbs.). In addition, CWT’s YTD export obligations for cheese are 5,595 metric tons (12.3 million lbs.), its YTD anhydrous milkfat export obligations to 4,385 tons (9.6 million lbs.), and its YTD export obligations for butter to 10,975 metric tons (24.1 million lbs.).
Posted: October 22, 2007 at 1:27 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
Here’s the latest announcement from Cooperatives Working Together:
Cooperatives Working Together announced today that it accepted two export assistance bids last week for the sale of whole milk power.
The bids were from Humboldt Creamery of Fortuna, CA, for the export of 250 metric tons (550,000 pounds) of whole milk powder to the Bangladesh, and another 60 tons (132,000 lbs.) to Mexico. This is the first CWT-facilitated export of to Bangladesh.
CWT will pay an export bonus to the bidder, only when delivery of the product is verified by the submission of the required documentation.
This accepted bid increases CWT’s total 2007 export obligations for cheese to 5,595 metric tons (12.3 million lbs.), its YTD anhydrous milkfat export obligations to 4,385 tons (9.6 million lbs.), its YTD export obligations for butter to 10,975 metric tons (24.1 million lbs.), and its YTD export obligations for whole milk powder to 560 metric tons (1.23 million lbs.).
Posted: October 17, 2007 at 7:00 pm
By News Editor
The National Dairy Council has announced the top 10 finalists in their “Ultimate Fridge Makeover” Contest, and wants you to help pick the winner! Vote for your local finalist by visiting their website from now until October 22. The grand prize winner will be announced the week of November 12. Give families a chance to get on the right path to healthier eating, by giving them the tips and tools they need to make nutritious foods a part of every family meal!
Posted: October 11, 2007 at 9:19 am
By Chuck Zimmerman
Rising U.S. Dairy exports are being credited as one of the factors contributing to higher market prices this year. The U. S. Dairy Export Council and Dairyfield have named Darigold, Inc. the Dairy Exporter of the Year since they’ve been helping lead the way.
The Oscars and the Emmy’s represent the top awards in the entertainment world. But you may be surprised to know there’s a highly prestigious award in the U.S. dairy export world. Brian Baxter has the story.
Posted: October 6, 2007 at 2:33 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
The National Dairy Shrine is having a great year according to board member Tommy Martin. Tommy is an old friend of mine (he’s not old) from my home state of Florida. He works for Merial. I found him in the trade show this morning and asked him to give me an update on how the National Dairy Shrine is doing.
Tommy says the banquet they had here at Expo was very well attended. In fact, he thinks attendance at the show must be up since it sure seems busy. He says that at the banquet they honored their 2007 Distinguished Dairy Cattle Breeder of the Year, Bob Miller and Distinguished Guest, Dr. H. Duane Norman.
Here’s how the National Dairy Shrine benefits the industry: “National Dairy Shrine annually provides more than $35,000 in awards and scholarships for college students, dairy producers and industry leaders. Funds for these scholarships come from membership fees, interest on a $1 million endowment fund, and voluntary contributions. National Dairy Shrine also provides financial support for World Dairy Expo and National 4-H Dairy Conference.”
Posted: October 6, 2007 at 10:44 am
By Chuck Zimmerman
The International Forum for Women in Dairying will be holding its global dairy conference prior to the 2008 World Dairy Expo according to Kathy LaScala, chairperson.
Kathy was on hand for our media talk session so I asked her what this is all about. She says you can find out more on their website. The dates are September 28 & 29, 2008 at the Madison Concourse Hotel.
Kathy says the conference will feature many speakers and plenty of opportunities for women to network with each other since they face the same challenges regardless of what country they’re from.
Here’s the new Princess Kay of the Milky Way. She’s Kristy Mussman, a 19-year-old college student from Claremont, MN. Her crowning took place at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds on Wednesday.
One of the main dairy groups represented at today’s Joint Beef & Dairy Information Symposium here at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference was 
Earlier this week the National Dairy Board met and like last year, that meeting ended just in time for attendees to meet with beef producers at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference, Joint Beef & Dairy Information Symposium. One of those people is Rob Byrne, Sr. VP Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, 
Here’s the latest announcement from 
Kicking off the meeting was Tom Camerlo, of Florence, Colo., chairman of DFA’s Board of Directors. He looked back on the first 10 years of DFA, highlighted 2007 and looked ahead to the future. He discussed the progress of DFA, industry trends and issues, and new areas such as sustainability.
Out at the World Ag Expo, Bill Baker, 
The Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year was named by the 
If you’re interested in learning more about dairy herd management there’s a relatively new consortium to turn to. It’s made up of 8 schools.
At the recent National Association of Farm Broadcasters convention in their Trade Talk session I met Elvin Holland who is Director of Fluid Milk Marketing and Economic Analysis for 
The 
Here’s how the National Dairy Shrine benefits the industry: “National Dairy Shrine annually provides more than $35,000 in awards and scholarships for college students, dairy producers and industry leaders. Funds for these scholarships come from membership fees, interest on a $1 million endowment fund, and voluntary contributions. National Dairy Shrine also provides financial support for World Dairy Expo and National 4-H Dairy Conference.”
The International Forum for Women in Dairying will be holding its global dairy conference prior to the 2008 World Dairy Expo according to Kathy LaScala, chairperson.
Kathy says the conference will feature many speakers and plenty of opportunities for women to network with each other since they face the same challenges regardless of what country they’re from.