Posted: December 29, 2011 at 7:20 pm
By News Editor
Chobani yogurts are now available outside the U.S. Beginning last month, the Norwich, N.Y.-based yogurt maker began exporting to select markets in Australia and Canada.
“Our regional launch in the Greater Toronto Area and New South Wales is the first step towards making Chobani available nationwide in both Canada and Australia,” says Hamdi Ulukaya, CEO and founder of Chobani.
In Australia, seven flavors (Peach, Blueberry, Strawberry, Vanilla, Mango, Passion Fruit, and Pineapple) are available in Woolworths stores throughout New South Wales.
In Canada, five flavors (Black Cherry, Strawberry, Peach, Plain and Pomegranate) are available at a variety of Loblaw banner stores in the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton. Loblaw Cos. Ltd. will serve as the test market retail partner in the Greater Toronto Area for a one-year period.
Next year, Chobani will open a second production facility in Twin Falls, Idaho.
Source: The Gourmet Retailer
Posted: December 19, 2011 at 5:30 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
South Dakota’s milk quality has room for improvement, according to South Dakota State University extension dairy specialist Alvaro Garcia.
“A quick look at milk quality changes between 2006 and 2010 comparing South Dakota with two of our neighboring states shows there’s still room for improvement in the area,” Garcia said.
Since 2006, somatic cell counts have been decreasing at a similar rate for Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota, from approximately 300,000 in 2006 to 250,000 in 2010. The national average, based on the Dairy Herd Improvement Association in herds is around 300,000 cells. In South Dakota the number of tests above 400,000 has dropped over the years. He adds that back in 2006, South Dakota had 77.9 percent of the Dairy Herd Improvement Association test days above 400,000 somatic cell counts. By 2010, this figure had drop to 54.1 percent.
“Although highly encouraging this still means that over half of the test days of dairies in the state do not comply with the maximum somatic cell count limit accepted by the European Union,” he said.
The Agricultural Marketing Service of the USDA had a meeting earlier this month to discuss with industry stakeholders its proposed European Union certification program to meet the milk quality requirements imposed to shipments of dairy products imported by the 27-member countries of the EU. This program, which will officially begin on Jan. 1, 2012, is aimed at demonstrating the measures producers will have to take to be within the somatic cell and standard plate counts limits for raw milk set up by the EU.
Read more from SDSU.
Posted: October 3, 2011 at 8:04 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
After more than four years in limbo, trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama have finally been sent to Congress by the White House and could be voted on by next week.
“The series of trade agreements I am submitting to Congress today will make it easier for American companies to sell their products in South Korea, Colombia, and Panama and provide a major boost to our exports,” President Obama said in a statement.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said completing the agreements “will level the playing field and secure markets for America’s farmers, ranchers, growers and producers ahead of competitors in the global marketplace.”
Once the agreements were finally sent to Congress, the dairy industry began urging for immediate passage. Both the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) note that the FTAs have the potential to expand U.S. exports and create thousands of export-supporting jobs in the U.S. dairy industry, in particular.
Jerry Kozak, president and CEO of NMPF, says the South Korean agreement is especially significant. “hese agreements will not only expand export sales for such products as cheese, whey, skim milk powder, and other dairy products, they will also prevent our competitors from taking market shares that we currently have in those countries,” said Kozak.
Tom Suber, president of USDEC, agreed, pointing out that the industry estimates that as many as 10,000 additional U.S. jobs, both on and off the farm could be created by the Korea agreement alone. “The growth in exports of dairy products from these agreements will not only help bolster milk prices for America’s dairy farms, it will also expand jobs in the dairy processing and transportation sectors,” he said. “The FTAs represent a big win-win for all elements of the U.S. dairy industry.”
The dairy organizations noted that the export benefit from the Korea FTA to the U.S. dairy industry in the first few years after implementation will be approximately $380 million per year, on average, and the gains from the Colombia and Panama FTAs will add another $50 million annually.
Posted: July 19, 2010 at 6:09 pm
By News Editor
Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) accepted one bid from Dairy Farmers of America and three bids from Darigold for a total of 176 metric tons (388,014 pounds) of Cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack to Africa and Asia. The product will be delivered in July and August 2010.
Since CWT reactivated the Export Assistance program on March 18, 2010, it has assisted members in making export sales of Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Gouda cheese totaling 17,271 metric tons (38.1 million pounds) to 22 countries on four continents.
Assisting CWT members in exporting American-type cheeses positively impacts producer milk prices in the long-term by helping members to gain world market share and expanding demand for U.S. cheese.
CWT pays 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 8, 2008 at 4:15 pm
By News Editor
Cooperatives Working Together (cwt) has announced its updated export bids.
The sole bid was from Dairy Farmers of America of Kansas City, MO, for the export of 18 metric tons (39,683 lbs.) of anhydrous milkfat to Panama.
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: butter, 16,400 metric tons (36 million lbs.); cheese, 1,315 metric tons (2.9 million lbs.); whole milk powder, 170 metric tons (374,000 lbs.); and anhydrous milkfat, 4,674 metric tons (10.3 million lbs.). The milk equivalent total of these products is 1.11 billion pounds.
Posted: September 2, 2008 at 4:18 pm
By News Editor
Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has announced its updated export assistance bids.
Two of the bids were from Foremost Farms of Baraboo, Wis.: one for the export of 500 metric tons (1.1 million pounds) of butter to Egypt; and a second for the export of 350 metric tons (771,618 lbs.) of butter to Morocco.
The third bid was from Dairy Farmers of America of Kansas City, Mo., for the export of 18 metric tons (39,683 lbs.) of anhydrous milkfat to Mexico.
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: butter, 16,399 metric tons (36 million lbs.); cheese, 1,315 metric tons (2.9 million lbs.); whole milk powder, 170 metric tons (374,000 lbs.); and anhydrous milkfat, 4,656 metric tons (10.3 million lbs.). The milk equivalent total of these products is 1.11 billion pounds.
Posted: August 26, 2008 at 5:42 pm
By News Editor
Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has announced their weekly export acceptance bids.
Both of the bids were from Dairy Farmers of America of Kansas City, MO, for the export of butter to Morocco in the following amounts: 125 metric tons (275,578 pounds), and 75 metric tons (165,347 lbs.).
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 these accepted bids, CWT’s total 2008 export obligations are: butter, 15,587 metric tons (34.2 million lbs.); cheese, 1,315 metric tons (2.9 million lbs.); whole milk powder, 170 metric tons (374,000 lbs.); and anhydrous milkfat, 4,638 metric tons.
Posted: August 18, 2008 at 9:16 pm
By News Editor
Your weekly Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) export update.
CWT has accepted four export assistance bids last week for the sale of butter, cheese and anhydrous milkfat.
Two of the bids were from Dairy Farmers of America of Kansas City, MO: one for the export of 200 metric tons (440,925 pounds) of anhydrous milkfat to Russia, and another for the export of 19 metric tons (41,888 lbs.) of Monterrey Jack cheese to Panama.
One bid was accepted from California Dairies Inc., for the export of 115 metric tons (253,532 lbs.) of butter to Honduras.
And finally, a bid was accepted from Foremost Farms of Baraboo, WI, for the export of 185 metric tons (407,855 lbs.) of Mozzarella cheese to South Korea. 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: butter, 15,349 metric tons (33.7 million lbs.); cheese, 1,315 metric tons (2.9 million lbs.); whole milk powder, 170 metric tons (374,000 lbs.); and anhydrous milkfat, 4,638 metric tons (10.2 million lbs.). The milk equivalent total of these products is 1.05 billion pounds.
Posted: May 5, 2008 at 7:54 am
By Chuck
![USDEC]()
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.
Listen to the report here: usdec-report-5-5-08.mp3
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Posted: January 15, 2008 at 9:57 pm
By Chuck
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
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 19, 2007 at 4:57 pm
By Chuck
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: September 17, 2007 at 4:57 pm
By News Editor
The USDA announced the lifting of its ban on Canadian cattle that are 30 months of age or older, starting Nov. 19.
The U.S. has banned the older, or “cull cattle,” since Canada reported its first case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad-cow disease, in May 2003. The U.S. eased restrictions on cattle under 30 months old, which are the bulk of Canadian exports, in July 2005 because those younger cattle are believed to be far less likely to be infected with BSE.
But the USDA now believes that even if infected cattle come across the border from Canada, the protections in place here are sufficient to keep the disease from spreading in herds as well as out of the human food supply. The final rule unveiled Friday also lifts the U.S. ban on Canadian beef that has been produced from older cattle slaughtered there.
The forecast for the number of older Canadian cattle to be sent for slaughter in the U.S. – usually because they are too decrepit to produce milk anymore – was lowered substantially Friday, USDA Chief Veterinary Officer John Clifford said. The new forecast shows 75,000 head entering the U.S. in 2008, but predicts that amount will rise to 161,000 head per year by 2012. A previous USDA report predicted an average of about 610,000 head coming down from Canada yearly if the ban was lifted.
There are some U.S. cow-slaughter operations that specialize in processing older beef and dairy cattle. The U.S. was importing about 250,000 head of older Canadian cattle each year before the U.S. banned them, according to the American Meat Institute.
Posted: September 17, 2007 at 4:49 pm
By News Editor
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) expressed their concern over USDA’s rule to reopen the Canadian border to cattle over 30 months of age. CEO Jerry Kozak says the concern is in two areas.
For one, this will mean the border will again be open for replacement dairy heifers to come into the United States. Before the border was closed, Canada exported between 50,000 and 60,000 replacement animals into the U.S. each year. Now while that pales in comparison to the more than 4 million replacements raised in this country each year it is still a question as to whether we can absorb those additional animals. Kozak says the increased heifer numbers would mean increased milk production and lower prices. “Our analysis shows that a return to export levels of 2003 will reduce milk prices by 18% over the next five years, cutting dairy farmer income by $5 billion.” In fact, NMPF had requested USDA and then the Office of Management and Budget do an in depth analysis before opening the border.
The other concern says Kozak is the fact that Canada has had several cases of BSE in cattle that were born after their ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban went into effect. He says there is a pretty good chance there are more positive animals in Canada and that means the possibility that one crosses the border. “Our dairy farmers can’t take any comfort from USDA’s probabilities and statistical projections. The reality is that animals infected with BSE in Canada become our problem when they arrive in the U.S.”
Posted: July 24, 2007 at 8:05 pm
By Chuck
![USDEC]()
Brian Baxter was busy at last week in Denver between the Dairy and Beef Checkoff meetings taking place. Here’s one of the reports he put together for the U. S. Dairy Export Council.
Japan is one of the strongest economies in the world, but its population is aging. Those market realities are providing opportunity for U.S. dairy producers to grow their exports, as Brian Baxter reports. usdec-japan.mp3
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Posted: July 16, 2007 at 5:00 pm
By Chuck
Here’s the latest announcement from Cooperatives Working Together:
Cooperatives Working Together announced today that it accepted seven export assistance bids last week for the sale of cheese, anhydrous milkfat and butter.
Two of those bids were accepted from Land O’Lakes of Arden Hills, MN: one for 450 metric tons (990,000 pounds) of butter to the Netherlands, and one for 90 tons (198,000 lbs.) of butter to Angola (the first CWT export to that country).
The other five bids were from Dairy Farmers of America of Kansas City, MO: a pair of exports of anhydrous milkfat to the Netherlands, in the amounts of 252 tons (554,400 lbs.) and 200 tons (440,000 lbs.); 252 tons (554,400 lbs.) of anhydrous milkfat to Spain; and 3.5 tons (7,652 lbs.) of retail-packaged cheese to China, along with 1.6 tons (3,440 lbs.) of retail cheese to Panama.
These accepted bids increase CWT’s total 2007 export obligations for cheese to 5,725 metric tons (12.6 million lbs.), its YTD export obligations for butter to 10,470 metric tons (23 million lbs.), and its YTD anhydrous milkfat exports to 2,984 tons (6.6 million lbs.).
Posted: July 9, 2007 at 1:51 pm
By Chuck
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 cheese and butter.
Both bids were accepted from Foremost Farms of Baraboo, WI: one for 500 tons of butter (1.1 million lbs.) to the Netherlands, and another for 190 tons (418,000 lbs.) of Cheddar cheese, also to the Netherlands.
These accepted bids increase CWT’s total 2007 export obligations for cheese to 5,720 metric tons (12.6 million lbs.), its YTD export obligations for butter to 9,930 metric tons (21.8 million lbs.), and its YTD anhydrous milkfat exports to 2,280 tons (5 million lbs.).
Posted: June 28, 2007 at 4:38 pm
By Chuck
![USDEC]()
It may come as a surprise, but many nations in the Middle East offer growing markets for U.S. produced dairy products, especially cheese. In this report from the U.S. Dairy Export Council, you can hear from Nina Dakht who manages market development programs for the USCDEC in the middle east region. Brian Baxter has more on this U.S. dairy export market, in this report.
You can listen to the report here: 
USDEC Report (1 min MP3)
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Posted: June 25, 2007 at 10:37 am
By Chuck
Here’s the latest announcement from Cooperatives Working Together:
Cooperatives Working Together accepted eight export assistance bids last week for the sale of butter and cheese.
The first bid was from Michigan Milk Producers Association for 190 MT (418,000 lbs) of butter to Egypt.
The second bid was from Darigold for the export of 300 MT (660,000 lbs) of butter to Saudi Arabia.
The other six bids were from Land O’Lakes for: 400 MT (880,000 lbs) of butter to the Netherlands, along with another 100 MT (220,000 lbs) of butter also destined for the Netherlands; two bids for 11.3 MT each (24,860 lbs) for Parmesan cheese to South Korea; 8.3 MT (18,260 lbs) of retail-packaged cheese to the United Arab Emirates; and .54 MT (1,188 lbs) of retail-packaged cheese to Egypt.
These accepted bids increase CWT’s total 2007 export obligations for cheese to 5,307 MT (11.7 million lbs); its YTD export obligations for butter to 7,994 MT (17.6 million lbs) and its YTD anhydrous milkfat exports to 2,180 MT (4.8 million lbs).
Posted: June 13, 2007 at 2:00 pm
By Chuck
Here’s the latest announcement from Cooperatives Working Together:
CWT announced today (Monday) that it accepted six export assistance bids last week for the sale of cheese, butter and anhydrous milkfat.
The first bid was from Dairy Farmers of America for the export of 500 Mt (1.1 million lbs) of anhydrous milkfat to Algeria.
The second bid was from Darigold for the export of 200 Mt (440,000 lbs) of butter to the Netherlands.
The other four bids were from Land O’Lakes for the export of small amounts of retail-packaged dairy products. These include 6.4 Mt (14,080 lbs) of cheese and 0.3 Mt (660 lbs) of butter to China; and 3.5 Mt (7,700 lbs) of cheese, and 0.4 Mt (880 lbs) of butter to South Korea.
These accepted bids increase CWT’s total 2007 export obligations for cheese to 5,279 MT (11.6 million lbs); its YTD export obligations for butter to 5,314 MT (11.7 million lbs); and its YTD anhydrous milkfat exports to 2,180 MT (4.8 million lbs).
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Chobani yogurts are now available outside the U.S. Beginning last month, the Norwich, N.Y.-based yogurt maker began exporting to select markets in Australia and Canada.