Marking another step in the dairy industry’s efforts to accelerate innovation and increase future demand for dairy, Dairy Management Inc.™ (DMI) and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy recently announced the formation of the Dairy Research Institute™ to strengthen the dairy industry’s access to and investment in the technical research needed to drive demand for dairy products and ingredients, globally.
The institute brings together leadership from across the dairy industry, scientific community, academics, government and other organizations to plan and fund leading-edge dairy research in three key priority areas: nutrition science, product development and sustainability.
The launch of the Dairy Research Institute builds upon the unprecedented efforts of dairy producers, processors and manufacturers to work together pre-competitively through the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, formed in 2008. The Dairy Research Institute is affiliated with the Innovation Center, and provides a forum for industry to identify major research needs to support dairy industry innovation, and grow dairy sales.
“The U.S. dairy industry has a long history of using science-based research to provide the knowledge, guidance and tools needed to foster innovation and promote the nutrient-rich value of dairy and the industry’s long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Greg Miller, executive vice president, research, regulatory and scientific affairs for DMI and president of the Dairy Research Institute. “Through partnerships and a commitment to sound science, we will support the importance of dairy in the diet and the sustainability of the products and ingredients we produce. The dairy industry needs to remain at the forefront of research to meet the challenges of today and those yet to come.”
The Dairy Research Institute builds on the legacy of nutrition and product research conducted by the National Dairy Council since 1915, and will leverage their expertise, as well as other partners, including five dairy research centers at major universities and government agencies, such as the USDA’s Agricultural Research Services and the Department of Defense’s Natick Soldier Center, and other leading scientific, health and nongovernment organizations. The Dairy Research Institute also will coordinate with the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), the National Milk Producers Federation, the Milk Processor Education Program, DMI, U.S. Dairy Export Council, Global Dairy Platform, and other industry and non-industry partners.
Do you love cheese? Love wine? Want to know which ones go with which? There’s an iPhone app for that and it’s called Wisconsin Cheese Cupid. Get the app here.
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.
Since it’s Dairy Month I got on the phone bright and early to find some good resources to point you to. I called up Matt Joyce, Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, and we talked about Dairy Month.
The WMMB has a lot of online resources for consumers and anyone who wants to know more about dairy and the role it plays in a nutritional well-balanced diet. Some examples I would point you to include, Wake Up With Dairy, which all about good recipes and where you can find the closest dairy breakfast. Another one is Dairy Doing More, where you can meet dairy farmers and learn more about dairy farming. One more I’ll point you to is Eat Wisconsin Cheese, which I do btw. And for you media types they’ve got a whole section of resources which includes information about the impact of the dairy industry.
So listen to my interview with Matt and pour yourself a cold glass of milk to celebrate. The program is the ZimmCast, which is my weekly podcast that you’ll always find over on AgWired.
We’re leaving beef month behind to enter into dairy month. Midwest Dairy Association invites you to celebrate and learn how dairy can make sense for you. Check out their blog.
June Dairy Month started out as a promotion to help distribute extra milk when cows started on pasture in the warm summer months. Today, its rich history continues, with communities, companies and people from all over the country observing June Dairy Month in a variety of ways. In the Midwest, dairy farms and families often open their gates to visitors at breakfasts and tours, while stores and other business feature dairy products. We’re excited to share facts and information about June Dairy Month, ones we hope you can use for your own recognition of the observance.
Client: Midwest Dairy Association, St. Paul, MN – Gregg Fogleman
Agency: Sullivan Higdon & Sink, Kansas City, MO – Parc Masterson accepting for agency
Message: To remind consumers that everything is better with cheese on it.
Audience: Mothers 25-54 with children 18-years-old and younger in the Ozark region.
NAMA Best of Show winner for Public Relations was awarded to:
Client: Dairy Management Inc.., Rosemont, IL – Jolene Griffin
Agency: Weber Shandwick , Minneapolis, MN – Polly O’Grady
Message: To use social media to tell the dairy industry’s story, reinforce and build its positive image and respectfully counter inaccurate or uninformed online commentary about modern farm practices.
Audience: Consumers, age 17-29 and dairy consumers.
I admit to being a St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan. Not a fanatic but a fan. Albert Pujols has been one of my favorite players in recent history and I’m glad to see him wearing the mustache.
They may represent completely different sports, but when it comes to the health and fitness of America’s youth, these athletes play on the same team. Today, MVP baseball slugger Albert Pujols joins fellow Milk Mustache athletes, NBA All-Star and Utah Jazz point guard Deron Williams and gold medal gymnast Shawn Johnson, as part of the Milk Mustache “Dream Team” to inspire teens to “Drink Milk for a Change.” They know that drinking milk can help make a difference – for their bodies and now through a special community service opportunity in their world.
Lowfat milk has nine essential nutrients, including calcium and vitamin D for strong bones and protein for lean muscle. Studies suggest being active, eating right and drinking three glasses of fat free or lowfat milk each day may help maintain a healthy weight.
Pujols ad, which reads, “Want muscle? got milk?” reinforces the importance of milk’s high quality protein. Along with regular exercise, protein can help build and maintain lean muscle – essential for athletes like Pujols to perform their best on the field.
“For me, I drink lowfat chocolate milk after a long day on the field,” said Pujols, who was on hand to unveil his new ad at the St. Louis Cardinals spring training facility in Jupiter, Fla. “It’s a natural source of protein plus it has carbs so it helps me rebuild and refuel my tired muscles after being active. It’s an important part of my recovery routine to get ready for the next nine innings, season after season.”
Posted: March 12, 2010 at 11:00 am
By Cindy Zimmerman
Easing regulatory hurdles that are impeding exports to Cuba could contribute to recovery in the dairy industry.
That was the main point of testimony presented Thursday before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee of Agriculture by John Wilson, senior vice president of marketing and industry affairs for Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. (DFA).
Speaking in support of the Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act (H.R. 4645), Wilson, who also serves on the board of directors for National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), emphasized that facilitating greater U.S. dairy exports to Cuba could be a step in the right direction toward helping the dairy industry regain ground lost during the 2009 dairy crisis.
“U.S. participation in the global dairy market is essential to putting the U.S. dairy industry on firmer footing going forward,” Wilson said. “It is critical that we work to expand opportunities for our dairy exports to allow our dairy producers, as well as their dairy manufacturing partners, to grow and prosper.”
H.R. 4645 seeks to address the most significant issues hindering trade to Cuba under the 2000 Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act (TSREEA). The bill calls for a clarification on the “cash in advance” requirement that – since being redefined by the Office of Foreign Asset Control in 2005 – has added complexity and expense for potential buyers. The bill also calls for the elimination of TSREEA’s “direct banking” provision, which similarly inflates costs and complicates transactions.
“Cuba is a market where we should be a natural preferred seller due to our strong proximity advantages,” Wilson said. “Yet it is clear that we are now among the least-preferred of suppliers given these technical and regulatory impediments to U.S. agricultural sales to Cuba.”
The bill – which was introduced by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) and Rep. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and is co-sponsored by more than 30 members of Congress – also aims to eliminate restrictions on Americans’ rights to travel to Cuba. Allowing Americans to travel to Cuba would help stimulate demand for and sales of dairy products in that country.
A June 2009 International Trade Commission Updated Study on U.S. Agricultural Sales to Cuba found that fully eliminating financing and travel restrictions on U.S. exports to Cuba would have boosted 2008 dairy sales to Cuba from $13 million to between $39 and $87 million.
Posted: February 12, 2010 at 10:15 am
By Amanda Nolz
If you’re young, savvy and into dairy, then have I found an organization for you. Recently established on Facebook, the Young, Savvy and Into Dairy (YSD) group met and enjoyed a night of social networking at the 2010 Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference in Frankenmuth, MI. YSD is a group of young people joined together by a common interest in the dairy industry. As their mission states, together, “We learn together, teach each other and have a great time doing it.”
Most of the YSD members are age 17 to 35, although there were several “older” dairymen that crashed the social last night! It was great meeting with so many folks who are passionate and enthusiastic about the agriculture industry, and I know this group will be a resource to lean on in years to come.
To become a fan of YSD on Facebook, click here. To follow all tweets on this conference, search #glrdc2010.
Posted: November 5, 2009 at 8:34 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
Even though they are facing their own tough times, Minnesota dairy farmers in Minnesota are still helping out those less fortunate.
Governor Tim Pawlenty was joined at the state capitol by representatives from Minnesota Farmers Helping Families, a coalition of state agriculture commodity groups, who donated approximately 85,000 pounds of pork and more than 36,000 pounds of cheese to Hunger Solutions Minnesota.
“Minnesota farmers are known for their willingness to help neighbors in times of need,” Governor Pawlenty said. “It’s heartwarming to see the agricultural community lending a hand, even as it faces its own economic challenges.” About 200 of the state’s dairy farms have closed in the past year as the worldwide economic crisis has resulted in record low prices and a sharp drop in demand.
“This donation is funded with Minnesota soybean, pork and dairy farmer dollars, and we are proud to play a role in combating hunger across this state with a donation of healthy and nutritious pork and dairy products,” said Pat Lunemann, president of the Minnesota Milk Producers Association and a dairy producer from Clarissa, Minn.
Luneman (second from left) is pictured here with Barb Overlie of the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, Jim Merritt of the Minnesota Pork Board and Gov. Pawlenty.
Recently reported in the Farm and Dairy, 22 dairy farms have kicked off a statewide Dairy Profit Team Program in New York. This team effort will focus on improving finances and milk production, among other things. These groups will use team work, cost sharing, I’m proud of these dairies who are teaming up to change their circumstances and quality resources to reach their goals. and I wish them, and other dairy producers, the best of luck in these hard economical times.
The farms are among the first in the state to sign up for a Dairy Profit Team, under a program by the NY Center for Dairy Excellence to establish 45 new teams this year.
Dairy Profit Teams are a group of advisers that help a farmer work through defined issues and opportunities on the farm, and develop strategies for change.
Team members are often agronomists, veterinarians, animal nutritionists, bankers and others. They may come from agribusiness, Cooperative Extension or elsewhere. Team members offer solutions and suggestions. The farmer is ultimately responsible for farm management decisions.
The Times-Standard announced an upcoming event, the 52nd annual District 1 Dairy Princess Contest. Tomorrow, three local women are competing for the honor of being crowned the new princess for 2009-2010 on Friday at the River Lodge. Kerilyn Ambrosini, Brooke Chrisler and Rachel Phillips, will vie for the Dairy Princess title, scholarships and awards. To learn more about these wonderful ladies, link here.
The contestants will be judged on poise, speaking ability, dairy background, community involvement and future plans. The winner of the contest will represent the dairy industry in Humboldt and Del Norte counties. She will succeed current Dairy Princess Alayna Renner of Ferndale, a senior at Ferndale High School who will be attending Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo as an agriculture science major this fall.
The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with a social hour, dinner at 7:30 p.m., followed by the contest and coronation of the new Dairy Princess and alternates. Reservations are suggested. Door prizes will be included for attending guests. Tickets and sponsorships are available by calling 725-9497. Sponsorships for $60 include two complimentary dinner tickets and inclusion in the program. Dinner tickets are $25 each.
This year’s conference will address current critical issues affecting the dairy industry, such as the fluctuations in markets and what lies beyond the current dip in prices. Keynote speaker Peter Luongo, former President and CEO of the Berry Company and current executive director of the Center for Leadership & Executive Development at the University of Dayton, will offer timely insights on effective executive leadership in challenging economic times. During his 33 year career with the Berry Company, Luongo not only “talked the talk,” but also “walked the walk” as he helped the company’s revenues grow from $75 million to $450 million during his final six years as head of the company.
“The 2009 Annual Conference features a terrific program this year with an impressive line-up of industry speakers. The Conference offers a unique opportunity for both proprietary and coop dairy processors, as well as numerous customers, suppliers and traders, to come together in Chicago to conduct business, network and to advance the overall interests of the manufactured dairy products industry,” stated Dale Kleber,
Chief Executive Officer, ADPI.
Over the course of two days, the ABI/ADPI conference will examine a variety of topic areas that include the dairy industry and consumption trends of the world’s largest dairy market in China (including a further look into the recent melamine scandals), policy updates from Washington, new dairy commodity futures and options products, and international whey products. The Tuesday lunch will feature Jeff Thredgold, President of Thredgold Economic Associates, who will help decipher the tangled maze of today’s economy.
A semester into my first year of college, I decided that I needed a part-time job, so I applied for a lab assistant job at Dairy Microbiology. I was pretty excited about the job as it paid well, and I was fascinated by the dairy industry. Plus, I got to take home free milk, cheese and ice cream samples home as a benefit. Free ice cream? Hello, dream job!
As I was given a tour of the facilities on my first day on the job, I learned that I would spend my days testing for fat content in milk samples. I would also wash dishes and test tubes. I would grid tests and fill out paperwork. I thought to myself, “Okay, I’m not a chemist, but maybe I’ll learn something new. It can’t be that bad can it?” However, as a journalism student, I quickly realized that detailed chemistry experiments, endless dishes to wash and tedious lab tests and paperwork were definitely not my thing.
One day, I was working in the lab when it suddenly dawned on me that I might not belong in a chemistry lab. I was testing for fat content in a batch of chocolate milk samples. The chocolate milk was constantly causing me problems, and I always ended up doing the experiment twice. That day I vowed that I would get it right the first time.
Unfortunately, I soon started day dreaming about my career goals, my weekend plans and how much homework I had that night. The next thing you know, I had put a chemical into my experiment earlier than it had called for. Well, in my mind, that called for another experiment. What would happen to my chocolate milk if I finished the test this way? I placed the test tubes into the centrifuge. I pushed the button to start the spin, and BAM! Chocolate milk exploded everywhere! Sadly, I cleaned up the mess in shame, knowing I would have to repeat the test to earn accurate results.
I walked home from work that day and thought that maybe a chemistry lab position wasn’t exactly the perfect fit for my skill set. I knew my dairy experimenting days were numbered. Throughout my college experience, I have tried new jobs and learned new things, but I will never forget the day I realized…I’m no chemist, but I sure like the dairy industry!
I thought I would highlight another great dairy blog for you to check out this weekend. It’s called, The Scoop, and it’s written by Ashley Messing, a senior dairy management and animal science student at Michigan State University. The Scoop is a blog that describes Ashley’s life in the dairy industry.
Ashley started this blog in 2007, and I had been following it in its early beginnings. I finally had the chance to meet her at the Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference in Grand Rapids, Mich. She is certainly a dynamic person that is truly passionate about the dairy industry. This is a great way to share with others the ins and outs of dairy production to those that might not understand this industry. Here is a little description from her blog. Be sure to check it out!
I would like to welcome everyone to my blog. I am an enthusiastic, animal lover who respects everything animals give the human race. I have a passion for working with cows and I want to show it to everyone. I encourage you to ask me questions because I am willing to share my knowledge, especially if you have a non-agriculture background!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Marking another step in the dairy industry’s efforts to accelerate innovation and increase future demand for dairy, Dairy Management Inc.™ (DMI) and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy recently announced the formation of the Dairy Research Institute™ to strengthen the dairy industry’s access to and investment in the technical research needed to drive demand for dairy products and ingredients, globally.
Two different dairy industry groups won national recognition from the 
Easing regulatory hurdles that are impeding exports to Cuba could contribute to recovery in the dairy industry.
“U.S. participation in the global dairy market is essential to putting the U.S. dairy industry on firmer footing going forward,” Wilson said. “It is critical that we work to expand opportunities for our dairy exports to allow our dairy producers, as well as their dairy manufacturing partners, to grow and prosper.” 
If you’re young, savvy and into dairy, then have I found an organization for you. Recently established on Facebook, the Young, Savvy and Into Dairy (YSD) group met and enjoyed a night of social networking at the 2010 Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference in Frankenmuth, MI. YSD is a group of young people joined together by a common interest in the dairy industry. As their mission states, together, “We learn together, teach each other and have a great time doing it.”
Even though they are facing their own tough times, Minnesota dairy farmers in Minnesota are still helping out those less fortunate. 
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A semester into my first year of college, I decided that I needed a part-time job, so I applied for a lab assistant job at Dairy Microbiology. I was pretty excited about the job as it paid well, and I was fascinated by the dairy industry. Plus, I got to take home free milk, cheese and ice cream samples home as a benefit. Free ice cream? Hello, dream job! 
I thought I would highlight another great dairy blog for you to check out this weekend. It’s called, The Scoop, and it’s written by Ashley Messing, a senior dairy management and animal science student at Michigan State University. The Scoop is a blog that describes Ashley’s life in the dairy industry. 
Here’s the new 
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