Speaking of videos, many of you have already seen the Peterson Farm Brothers newest video, “Farmer Style.”
If you haven’t it’s a must watch! And check out their famous “Farming and I Grow It Video” too!
The newest internet meme? College kids in the United Kingdom “milking,” the totally bizarre act of pouring an entire jug of milk on your head.
In the milking YouTube video that started the commotion, dairy deviants in Newcastle, England, purchase milk, stand in a random spot, then empty the entire milk jug over their heads.
Once the first video started racking up views, the students decided to milk the stunt for all it’s worth.
“We didn’t expect a reaction this large, the video was initially intended for our friends,” student and “milkman” George Hoyland explained to the Daily Mail.
The milking trend has since spread across the U.K. While media coverage so far has skimmed the deeper issues the stunt brings to the surface, others are keen to cry over the spilled milk.
Source: Huffington Post
Semex sires demonstrated their ability to shine on the national stage at both the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair’s Canadian National Jersey Show and at the All-American in Louisville, Kentucky.
Following a stellar showing at World Dairy Expo, Semex sires continued to excel across a variety of national Jersey shows and no matter the venue, modern, Semex sired cattle rose to the top. During the 2012 show season’s grand finales, both north and south of the border, a large number of Jersey sires wearing the 200 stud code claimed ribbons and hardware for their owners.
Results from the All American Junior Jersey Show:
• 0200JE00131 Bridon Comerica, a RepromaxTM and Show TimeTM sire: 1st Junior Three Year Old, Knapp Time Comerica Bonnel
• 0200JE00986 BW Venerable, a Repromax sire: Grand Champion, Senior Champion & 1st Senior Three Year Old, BW Venerable Korina S418
• SHF Centurion Sultan: 1st Five Year Old, TC Sultan 1211 Rosalynn
• Top five performances by other daughters of Sultan, Comerica and Top Gene Gold Action
Results from the All American Open Show:
• Select-Scott Minister:
o Jr Champion & 1st Summer Yearling, Highland-H Minister
o ResInterChampion&2ndSeniorThreeYearOld,RatliffMinisterPorsche
• Glenholme Counciller: 1st Aged Cow, Dalmacee-J Counciller Tauntra
• Other top five placing animals by BW Northstar, SHF Centurion Sultan, Select-Scott Minister, Bridon Remake Comerica, BW Venerable, Bridon Jamaica
• National Jersey Jug Futurity
o SHF Centurion Sultan: 2nd place, Harmony Corners Fozzy
o Bridon Remake Comerica: 3rd place, K&M Comerica Ginny
Results from the Canadian National Jersey Show at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair:
• 63 head or 27% of the show were 200JE daughters
• 21 different Semex sires represented
• 39 daughters in the top 10 of their classes
• 17 daughters in the top five
• 9 daughters in the top three
• Semex sired four class winners
o 0200JE00423 Lencrest Blackstone, a Show Time sire: 1st Jr Calf, Morningside BS Charlotte
o 0200JE00430 Lencrest On Time, a Robot ReadyTM sire: Hon. Mention Inter Champion & 1st Jr 2 Yr Old, Arethusa On Time Vogue
o 0200JE00136BridonExcitation,a ShowTime sire:
• Res. Grand Champion, Inter Champion & 1st Sr 2 Yr Old, Page-Crest Excitation Karlie
• Res. Inter Champion & 2nd Sr 2 Yr Old, Marynole Excite Rosey
o Bridon Jamaica: Res. Senior Champion & 1st 5 Yr Old, Big Guns Jamaica Vanilla
Source: Semex Jersey
Of the many foods we have to be thankful for in this nation, I’ll bet there are lots of people who are thankful every day for the gift of chocolate! Oh yeah!
This is an image of our sweet Thanksgiving greetings sent this year to some of our clients. Hopefully most received them before leaving for the holiday, but if not, it will be waiting for you at your desk on Monday. Some other clients will be receiving a sweet bag of Florida citrus next week. We want you to know how much we appreciate not only your business, but your friendship as well.
We also are very grateful for the hundreds of other business associates and World Dairy Diary readers that we count as our friends. Wish we could send everyone a whole bushel of Florida citrus and sweet chocolate to let you know how much we appreciate you! You are all in our prayers of gratitude this holiday and we wish you the sweetest joys of the season!
This week marks the third annual AgChat #Foodthanks celebration, a time to reflect on the blessing of all the food choices we have in this nation. Farmers, ranchers, processors, butchers, bakers, chefs, grocers, truckers and more all make it possible for us to have healthy food on plates.
Today and tomorrow in particular, AgChat encourages you to show your #Foodthanks via social media.
Twitter – Join our monthly #FoodChat twitter conversation Tuesday, November 20 from 8:00pm – 10:00pm ET. We will be talking #Foodthanks and of course the upcoming Thanksgiving celebration. Direct message @Foodchat any questions you would like to have included in the conversation.
On Wednesday, November 21st, continue the #Foodthanks conversation. Tweet your favorite recipe, farm blog or tell us why you are giving #Foodthanks. Show the Twitter world your #Foodthanks story.
Facebook – On Tuesday, November 20th, we will be hosting our first ever Facebook Party from 8:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m. ET! Similar to our traditional Twitter conversations, we will be engaging in a conversation that focuses on #Foodthanks. Make sure to join the community and show your #Foodthanks.
On Wednesday, November 21st, we will be asking you to share with us your #Foodthanks story. Share your pictures, blog posts and thoughts on your own personal #Foodthanks.
Pinterest – Join us now as we are pinning our #Foodthanks. Follow our #Foodthanks board and we will ask you to join our community and pin your #Foodthanks. Do you have a favorite food blog? How about grandma’s secret pumpkin pie recipe? Pin a picture showing how your family farm makes #Foodthanks possible. Join us on Pinterest now.
What makes you give #Foodthanks?
Cow power is going to lift ski patrons this winter at Vermont’s Killington ski resort. The resort will use Green Mountain Power’s Cow Power program to power one of its lifts.
The Cow Power program turns local cow manure into methane gas which then produces electricity. Power customers can then purchase all or part of their electricity at a premium and support Vermont’s dairy farms.
The program works by collecting cow manure, mixing it with wash water from the milking equipment and then pumping that slurry into a digester where it is heated for three weeks.
The process converts the manure into biogas that is 60 percent methane.
The methane is then used to power a generator, which sends power to the electric grid.
Source: Copyright 2012 The Associated Press
Adisseo recently announced plans to build a new plant for the production of Smartamine® M, the rumen-protected methionine for dairy cows. The plant will be located in Commentry, France.
The new plant is expected to be operational by mid-2014 with capacity to follow Smartamine M customers’ demand for the foreseeable future.
The plant will be a fully new, state-of-the-art unit. It will incorporate a number of exclusive, patented process innovations. This will allow Adisseo to remain best-in-class for this technology, while continuing to provide the same top-quality, safe product to its customers.
Adisseo is the world-leading rumen-protected methionine producer. It manufactures and markets Smartamine M and MetaSmart®. The use of these products, when balancing amino acids in dairy cow diets, optimizes protein nutrition and has led to rapid growth in demand worldwide for Smartamine M and MetaSmart.
Smartamine M is the product of choice for non-pelleted protein and feed supplements and mineral & premix operations, with MetaSmart being the product of choice for use in pelleted feeds, liquid feeds, micro machines and high-temperature, abrasive feed mixing conditions.
Smartamine M and MetaSmart provide bio-available methionine for dairy cows. When rations are balanced for methionine, dairy cows typically increase their production, milk protein in particular, and use their diet more efficiently, reducing the environmental burden and improving animal health and fertility. Because lower crude protein levels are fed, producers realize costs savings and environmental benefits from reduced emissions.
Lancaster Dairy Farm Automation, a leading supplier of dairy equipment, supplies and services, is proud to sponsor four-time Pittsburgh Steelers Superbowl champion Rocky Bleier at the 2013 PA Dairy Summit.
“Rocky Bleiers story is about “fighting back” and overcoming what must have seemed like insurmountable odds to achieve in the career he chose,” Summit Chair Keith Spicher of Kish-View Farm in Belleville, PA said in announcing Bleiers role at the conference. “Every dairy family in the country demonstrates that same determination to succeed in the industry that they are passionate about.”
“We are excited about the opportunity to sponsor Rocky Bleier’s involvement in next year’s Dairy Summit,” said Dennis Milhoan of Lancaster Dairy Farm Automation. “We know that the dairy producers will not only enjoy hearing from and talking with Rocky, but they will quickly see the parallels to their own experiences and challenges”.
Lancaster Dairy Farm Automation is based in Lititz, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania with divisions in Belleville, Rebersburg, Martinsburg and Oxford working with 2,000 dairy farms milking over 200,000 cows.
The 2013 Pennsylvania Dairy Summit will be on Wednesday and Thursday, February 6 – 7, at the Lancaster Host Resort in Lancaster, Pa.
Source: Pennsylvania Dairy Summit
A desperate situation for California dairy farmers – experts in the industry estimate that by year’s end California, the largest dairy state in the nation, will have lost more than 100 dairies to bankruptcies, foreclosures and sales.
The nation’s drought and high corn prices are devastating California’s $8 billion dairy industry to the point where farmers can’t afford to feed their cows – and their professional trade organization has been regularly referring despondent dairymen to suicide hotlines.
Milk cows are being slaughtered at the fastest rate in more than 25 years because farmers need to save on corn costs. According to the Western United Dairymen, a California trade group, three dairy farmers have committed suicide since 2009, despairing over losing their family’s dairies.
The problems started in 2009, when milk prices bottomed out and grain prices soared, partly due to the government’s ethanol mandate. Congress is requiring that gasoline producers blend 15 billion gallons of ethanol, made from corn, into the nation’s gas supply by 2015. Dairy farmers were forced to borrow against their land and cows to make their bills.
Then, this year, the worst drought in half a century struck in the Midwest, and corn prices tipped the scale at more than $300 a ton. Historically, the price for corn has averaged $130 a ton. Even though milk prices have slowly come up – in November, it will be at a near record high of $23.17 for 100 pounds of fluid milk – farmers are barely breaking even because of grain and hay costs. Experts predict that consumers will start seeing a price increase for dairy products at the cash register starting in November.
Now, not only can’t farmers pay their feed bills, but they also can’t make their loan payments. As a result, farmers are having to slaughter productive milk cows once worth $2,000 each for meat, and are receiving only $1,200 a head.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle, written by Stacy Finz
No new farm bill means dairy producers will be left holding an empty bucket at the end of this month.
“With expiration of the farm bill, dairy farmers will lose what little safety net they have,” said Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) who led a failed attempt last week have the House consider the Senate-passed farm bill prior to adjourning until after the November election.
While expiration of the MILC program in and of itself will not have a significant short term impact on dairy producers, not having a new farm bill now is “a huge hit to dairy at a time when dairy is really struggling,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
Secretary Vilsack is frustrated and disappointed that House leadership failed to allow a vote on the bill passed by the agriculture committee, and he thinks they have ulterior motives. “I don’t think it’s simply issues involving nutrition assistance,” he said. “I think the House leadership also has plans to significantly cut and reduce support for farm programs – conservation programs, commodity title, as well as the crop insurance title.”
Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) told reporters last week before Congress called it quits that they would deal with a farm bill after the election because he did not believe there were 218 votes to pass either an extension or new legislation. “The current situation that we face is that we’ve got people who believe there’s not enough reform in the farm bill that came out of committee, and others who believe there’s too much reform in the bill that came out of committee,” Boehner said. “But when we get back, we will deal with the issue of the farm bill.”
Democratic leaders in Congress, including Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-MN) have vowed to oppose an extension of the current farm bill in the lame duck session and get a new bill passed that would include a new dairy program. “I’m absolutely committed to doing everything humanly possible to complete the farm bill in November or December,” Stabenow said.
A non-profit center that’s helped support Wisconsin’s dairy industry is closing at the end of September.
Agricultural experts credit the Dairy Business Innovation Center for helping develop and promote specialty and artisan chees in Wisconsin.
The center’s 20 consultants have helped more than 200 dairy entrepreneurs and assisted more than 120 projects to increase the state’s market share for dairy products. The organization contracted with the consultants to provide dairy plants free or low-cost technical assistance.
Founder Dan Carter, in a letter to clients, says the loss of federal funding and no new sources of revenue means the virtual center will close. The center opened in 2004 with $1 million in federal help.
Martin Dairy LLC, a Registered Jersey™ dairy farm located in Tillamook, Ore., will be one of eight U.S. operations featured as a Virtual Farm Tour at the 2012 World Dairy Expo. Other Virtual Farm Tours feature dairy businesses located in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Arizona, Minnesota, Kansas, and Michigan. All presentations will be recorded and available for viewing on World Dairy Expo’s website after the show.
The program, which will be presented by Norman H. Martin, will start at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 3 in Mendota 1 meeting room in the Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center, Madison, Wis. The American Jersey Cattle Association is the program sponsor.
The storyline of Martin Dairy LLC winds its way from the Azores and Brazil to the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the date when Norm Martin’s grandfather arrived with his new wife on their way to the Holstein dairy he had already established near Oakland. Within two decades, the herd was moved south and increased to 300 cows, requiring 10 milkers. Norm grew up on the dairy as it modernized and continued to grow, into a management role in 1971, then complete ownership in 1975.
In 1995, Norm, his wife Gwen and their family moved to Tillamook to become producers for Tillamook County Creamery Association. In the beginning, the herd was set up to be 50% Holstein cows and 50% Jerseys. For almost four years, the herd was evenly split: “two separate pens of Jerseys, two pens of Holsteins, same milkers, same feed rations, everything exactly the same.” Norm determined that while gross sales were higher for the Holsteins, the net returns from the Jerseys were greater.
In early 1998, the decision was made to convert the herd to all-Jersey and it has increased to over 1,100 cows in milk. The 2011 lactation average was 18,331 pounds milk, averaging 5.0% fat and 3.7% protein, with 13 cows scored Excellent, 509 Very Good and 386 Desirable.
Genetic improvement is Norm’s lifelong passion, as demonstrated by the fact that he served 30 years on the All-West/Select Sires Board. For him, the conversion to Jerseys after 30 years of breeding Holsteins presented a steep learning curve, but using the services available from the American Jersey Cattle Association made it much easier to achieve his breeding goals.
Source: The American Jersey Cattle Association
Bob-White Systems, the micro dairy industry pioneer, is now an official representative for the full line of Farm, Ranch & Agriculture supplies and equipment from Nasco.
A wide selection of products will be available at the Bob-White Systems store and headquarters in South Royalton, Vermont, as well as online.
“Our goal is to simplify the work of running a farm, dairy or ranch whenever possible, and being a Nasco Dealer means we can get the right products to the people who need them most, faster and easier,” says Steve Judge, president of Bob-White Systems. “I use Nasco gear on the Bob-White Systems Micro Dairy, and have always been impressed by the quality and reliability.”
Product lines that will be available through Bob-White Systems will include Dairy Supplies, Calf Rearing, Animal Health, Sheep & Goat Supplies, Hoof Care and more. “We’re always on the lookout for the most useful products to offer our customers, and Nasco has a great selection of really well-designed items made for years of serious farm use,” adds Mr. Judge.
Source: Bob-White Systems
The Dairy Cares executive committee has raised $60,000 for Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin at their 2nd annual Dairy Cares Garden Party held July 28th, 2012. This event more than doubled last year’s contributions due to devoted sponsors and attendees.
Three years ago a group of dairy industry individuals decided they would like to offer the Wisconsin dairy industry an opportunity to raise funds to help others. As a result the Dairy Cares of Wisconsin organization was formed. The goal is to raise funds for other non-profit organizations to further enable them to assist people and their families with such things as medical difficulties and related personal and family needs. The Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin has been the beneficiary of the funds raised in the first two years of the event.
Dairy Cares of Wisconsin recognizes the following Sponsors: American Foods Group, Bader Rutter, Baylake Bank, Bayland Buildings, Brian Retzlaff Trucking, Complete Concrete, CRA, Dan Ellsworth, Grassland Dairy Products, Greenstone, Hydoclean Equipment, JLS Electric, LDS, Mark’s Electric, Mike DeCoster Trucking, MilkSource, Modern Dairy Systems, Navigator Planning Group, Novak’s Cheese, Overhead Solutions, Pagel’s Ponderosa, Phil’s Pumping and Fabricating, River Valley, Schenck and Associates, Semex, Shiloh Dairy, Tri County Overhead Doors, Troy’s Transport, Waste Control Services. Member sponsors include: Dan and Janina Siemers, Jamie Endvick and Shannon McWilliams, John and Keri Vosters, Kristy Pagel and Rick Schwenck, Larry and Kay Ferguson, Michael Haddad, Mike and Jennifer North, Thomas Seifert and Nancy Thompson, Tim and Deb O’Harrow, and Zillges Materials.
Source: Dairy Cares of Wisconsin
A California judge has ruled that the state’s cows are well cared for, comfortable and safe, and therefore, the California Milk Advisory Board’s “Happy Cows” ad campaign is not misleading.
According to PETA, marketing claims made by the dairy industry violated state rules by misrepresenting the health and well being of dairy cows.
However, a Sacramento Superior Court Judge found the California Milk Advisory Board and the California Department of Food and Agriculture provided sufficient evidence to support their claim that dairy cows in the state are comfortable, safe and happy.
The decision was “rewarding” for California dairy farmers, said Jennifer Giambroni, advisory board spokeswoman. “We’ve always worked with experts on what we say. And we feel confident about the campaigns that we use to promote California dairy.”
The judge’s ruling relied heavily on testimony from CDFA officials, including veterinarians and other personnel in the Animal Health and Food Safety Services Division, as well as advisory board officials, many of whom are farmers.
The judge also made repeated references to testimony from industry professionals with the California Dairy Quality Assurance Program and the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management program.
PETA officials said they are considering an appeal.
Source: Merced Sun Star, Reporter Joshua Emerson Smith
ANIMART, Inc. announces the recent launch of their Dairysan™ dairy sanitation product line.
ANIMART’s Dairysan™ product line includes teat dips, bactericides and sanitizers, as well as CIP, manual, and laundry detergents and cleaners. Chuck Hutchens, Milk Quality Manager at ANIMART, will oversee the Dairysan line in addition to ANIMART’s Milk Quality Assessment services.
The introduction of a dairy sanitation product line is to further provide solutions to dairy producers by providing the highest quality products at an economical level to maximize profitability and increase milk quality.
ANIMART’s Dairysan™ line is environmentally safe with low/no phosphorus and NPE-free products to prevent soil loading and reduce negative environmental effects. ANIMART also provides iodine alternative solutions to dairy producers as a more economic teat dip without sacrificing effectiveness.
Source: ANIMART, Inc.
The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB) directors have elected a new slate of officers for Fiscal Year 2013, which began July 1, 2012 and concludes June 30, 2013.
Connie Seefeldt, a dairy producer from Coleman was elected as Board Chair. Other elected officers include: Ed Jasurda (Phillips), Vice Chair; Steven Sternweis (Marshfield), Secretary; and Jay Stauffacher (Darlington), Treasurer. Also serving on the seven-person Executive Committee are Lanette Harsdorf (Beldenville), Communications Committee Chair; Dean Strauss (Sheboygan Falls), Channel Management Committee Chair; and Kay Zwald (Hammond), Policy/Bylaw Committee Chair.
During the meeting, directors were also assigned to one of the organization’s two standing committees. Members of the Communications Committee include: Lanette Harsdorf, Chair, Mary Cook (Wilton), Rosalie Geiger (Reedsville), Tina Hinchley (Cambridge), Ed Jasurda (Phillips), Sharon Laubscher (Wonewoc), Jay Stauffacher (Darlington), Steven Sternweis (Marshfield), Jeff Strassburg (Wittenburg), Vivian Thompson (Cadott), Mary Wackershauser (Lancaster) and Kay Zwald (Hammond).
Members of the Channel Management Committee include: Dean Strauss, Chair, David Bangart (Greenwood), Stacy Eberle (Monroe), Ken Heiman (Marshfield), Lyle Jensen (Amery), Patricia Kling (Taylor), Robert Letter (Seymour), Sarah Lloyd (Wisconsin Dells), John Pagel (Kewaunee), Ben Peterson (Grantsburg), David Schmitz (Fond du Lac), and Judy Wubbenhorst (Westby).
Two WMMB directors were chosen to represent Wisconsin’s dairy producers in other industry organizations. Jeff Strassburg was elected to serve as chair of the Center for Dairy Research (CDR) liaison committee, and Jay Stauffacher was elected to serve as WMMB’s representative on the board of directors of the United Dairy Industry Association (UDIA).
Source: Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board
New York dairy farmer, George Mueller, is donating to Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) to support the hiring of a faculty member in Farm Business Management as part of the college’s Faculty Renewal Initiative.
It’s been more than 50 years since Mueller graduated from CALS, but the dairy farmer still remembers the professors that shaped his professional life and personal worldview.
Now, in an effort to ensure that future generations of Cornell students are similarly shaped by inspirational teachers, Mueller ’54 has made a $500,000 gift.
For Mueller, owner with wife Mary Lue of Willow Bend Farm in Clifton Springs, N.Y., it was Stan Warren and Herrell F. De Graff who had the greatest impact on his education.
“I have the fondest of memories of Stan Warren’s classes in farm management and farm appraisal,” Mueller said. “The knowledge and wisdom I learned from Professor Stan Warren have been the foundation of my farming decisions.”
De Graff was a highly sought-after international adviser following World War II, as nations scrambled to restore their agricultural production, and his popular introductory course in worldwide agricultural geography, history and economics was eye-opening for Mueller.
“The seed that Professor De Graff planted in me, as to the benefits of freedom and the free market capitalist system for feeding the world and keeping world peace, has been nurtured and grown in my mind for the past 60 years,” Mueller said.
Mueller said he would love to see Cornell continue to be a leader in international agricultural economics, especially as the world faces major challenges in sustainable food production.
“I have always been proud to have graduated from the best agricultural college in the world and an Ivy League school besides,” Mueller said. “Mary Lue and I are now in our twilight years, and we are looking for ways to pay back Cornell for the good boost it gave us in getting our career off to a good start and continued to help us along the way with its very effective Cornell Cooperative Extension.”
Source: Cornell Chronicle, Stacey Shackford
Happy 4th of July! Why not try making this patriotic pie from “The Secret Life of a Chef’s Wife“?
The Easiest Fourth of July Pie I’ve Ever Seen
Ingredients
1 pre-baked 9-inch pie crust
Pastry cream:
2 1/2 cups 1/2 & 1/2, or whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs + 1 egg yolk
2/3 cup sugar-divided
4–5 tablespoons cornstarch
4 tablespoons butter
2 bananas
Topping:
1 cup whipping cream
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
6–8 oz raspberries
3–4 oz blackberries
A few weeks ago, we posted about young dairy farmers from Sussex who parodied the hit song “I’m Sexy and I know It.”
This week, three brothers from a Kansas beef farm posted their version of the song, “I’m Farming and I Grow It.” Their singing and dancing has gone viral, and Fox and Friends interviewed the young men today.
Calling all dairy youth out there – we challenge you to make a response video on your dairy farm!